BOSSIER CITY — Residents near the former Tronox/Kerr-McGee Wood Treating Facility on Hamilton Road are invited to a public meeting tonight to receive updates on the completion of five phases of off-site contaminated soil cleanup and to learn about upcoming redevelopment plans for the long-contaminated site.

The meeting, hosted by the Multistate Environmental Response Trust and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Red River Missionary Baptist Church, 1831 Scott St., Bossier City.

The 32-acre site at 520 Hamilton Road, near Interstate 20, was operated from 1930 to 1987 as a railroad tie creosoting plant, leaving behind decades of soil contamination in a primarily residential neighborhood. Following a 2011 bankruptcy settlement, the Multistate Trust assumed ownership and cleanup responsibility.

Tonight’s agenda includes updates on completed cleanup phases, a market study and soil sampling plan for future redevelopment, and a local contracting opportunity for clearing and fence replacement work at the site.

Community members with questions may contact community liaison Tracey Smith at (318) 762-2588.

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BATON ROUGE – There was a drum corps.

A welcome video on the Pete Maravich Assembly big screen scoreboard.

A fog machine.

And shooting flames.

The only thing lacking was the P.A. system blaring the theme from Welcome Back, Kotter.

It may have been the best introductory press conference setting ever for a guy who was previously run out of the same town on a rail.

Four seasons after LSU fired Will Wade as its head basketball coach for being an exceptionally clumsy cheater piling up more NCAA violations than he did technical fouls, he strolled back into the PMAC on Monday as if he’d been on a sabbatical.

Having paid his penance by sitting out a season, then coaching two seasons for McNeese State and this past year for North Carolina State, he officially became the first SEC men’s head basketball coach in history to be fired and re-hired by the same school.

“We’re coming back to try to hang a banner, win a national championship, or I’m going to be the first coach fired from the same school twice,” said Wade, who was 105-51 with an SEC regular season championship and three NCAA Tournament appearances in his first LSU stint from 2017 to 2022. “One way or another, we’re going to make history.”

There was immediate laughter and applause from the estimated crowd of 500, something in short supply along with wins and hope under Wade’s second LSU predecessor Matt McMahon.

McMahon was a nice guy with the personality of a dripping faucet.

Wade gushes enthusiasm and one-liners. He has a fast-break tongue that doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t mind being a living, breathing lightning rod conductor of controversy.  

“I know people have been talking about us a little bit,” Wade said. “I understand, I’m not for everybody, and we understand also that LSU isn’t for everybody. But one thing we both understand is I’m for LSU, and LSU is for me.”

There’s no way Frank Williams Wade “LSU Part Deux” happens without former McNeese president Wade Rousse getting hired as LSU’s president last October. And then last Thursday, just hours before Wade announced on social media he was coming back to Baton Rouge, LSU hired McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer (who hired Wade as McNeese’s head coach in March 2023). His new unofficial title is senior deputy athletic director in charge of Wade.

“We had incredible alignment (at McNeese),” Wade said. “We can take that formula that made McNeese a regional power and won a first-round NCAA tournament game, move that to LSU, and make us a national force. The same formula with more resources and more support, just because of the financial aspect of it all.”

In Rousse’s introduction of Wade at Monday’s whoop-t-doo, he made it clear he doesn’t mind the $200 million LSU has invested in Wade and a coaching staff, and new head football coach Lane Kiffin and a coaching staff, while paying what is owed to fired head coaches McMahon and Brian Kelly and their fired assistants.

“Our athletic department drives the brand recognition that illuminates the remarkable research and educational opportunities present throughout the entire LSU system,” Rousse said. “The ignition point for the entire process is athletics. It drives the brand.

“At LSU, we do not gather to celebrate mediocrity. We aim to be elite. We want to win in this league. We want to win national championships.”

Rousse also knows he eventually has to fill seats in LSU’s new 12,500 to 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena to be built on the site of the well-worn campus golf course from Alex Box Stadium. Groundbreaking hasn’t started, but it should come soon after the goat ranch. . .uh, golf course is closed permanently in the summer.

It’s been proven time and again that LSU coaching hires who approach their jobs with unabashed passion equal to the Tigers’ fan base usually succeed.

Any coach taking the standoffish “it’s strictly a business approach” and doesn’t truly understand the fans here live and die, laugh and weep, love and mourn their Tigers, ultimately fails.

See former fired LSU football coach Kelly as an example of taking an NFL-type approach, insulating himself from the fan base.

Then see new head coach Kiffin totally embracing the Louisiana culture. He was the co-Grand Marshal for the Krewe of Endymion parade in mid-February.

Tigers’ head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey was born and raised just down the road in the sleepy Hammond suburb of Tickfaw, Her Louisiana vibe stayed with her 21 seasons at Baylor before coming to coach the Tigers five years ago.

And if you’re an outsider and coach at LSU long enough, like the national championship-winning head coaching Jay duo of Jay Johnson (baseball) and Jay Clark, you realize few places on earth embrace life like Louisiana.

Wade, a Nashville native, began learning this when, at age 35, he was originally hired by LSU in 2017. But it wasn’t until he was given his first head coaching chance at redemption, hired in March 2023 by McNeese State, a Lake Charles-based university still recovering from back-to-back hurricanes in August 2020 and October 2020, that he gained full respect and love for Louisianians.

“Make no mistake, this is home,” said Wade, now older and wiser at age 43. “I wasn’t born in Louisiana, but Louisiana is home for my family and me. We’ve got the best people in the world.

“Unless you’re from down here or unless you’ve been down here, it’s hard for other people to understand. It’s hard for other people to grasp the culture and the folks down here.

“You won’t find anybody that’s more proud to wear that LSU and state of Louisiana than this guy right here, and we’re going to find 15 players that are willing to lay it on the line for us every night.

“Our team is going to represent Louisiana the way it should be represented, with toughness, grit, and a lot of swagger, because that’s what we have down here. We don’t do anything halfway in this state.”

When Wade referred to his decision to return to a place that fired him as “extremely personal,” it meant he wanted to change the narrative of how his first LSU go-around crashed and burned.

He was fired in March 2022, a day after LSU was eliminated from the SEC tournament. He was accused of five NCAA Level I and two Level II recruiting violations.

“I’ve never connected with a fan base and with people as I have with LSU and Louisiana,” he said. “I feel like we left the book open a little bit. We left some chapters unfinished.

“To have the opportunity to come back and finish that off and to bring pride and joy to people that I care about and people that mean a lot to me, yeah, I feel a heavy burden towards that.

“There’s nothing like the meaning of winning with your friends. I feel like we have a greater purpose with this program than anywhere I’ve ever been. At the end of the day, that’s why I came back.”

In whipping together his staff, Wade is set to hire former LSU head coach and player Johnny Jones. The 65-year-old Jones resigned as Texas Southern’s coach on Monday.

Having the guy (Wade) re-hired by the school that fired him then hiring the head coach (Jones) who preceded him the first time in Baton Rouge before being fired, might be the most LSU thing ever.

At most places, it’s referred to as thinking outside the box.

Down here in the toe of The Boot, it’s called all the crazy you can handle.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

LSU Shreveport placed two standouts on the just announced NAIA All-America men’s basketball team, making the Pilots one of only two programs in the country to have multiple selections for the 2025-26 season.

Hayden Brittingham was named a first team All-American, and Khi Wallace received third team status.

They become the 23^rd and 24^th All-Americans in 14 seasons under veteran coach Kyle Blankenship at LSUS. Brittingham is the seventh first-team pick.

The Pilots, 28-6 overall, earned a spot in the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament Round of 16, and spent much of the season ranked inside the NAIA Top 25, peaking at No. 13.

Brittingham, a senior forward, emerged as one of the most complete players in the country. He led LSUS with averages of 17.5 points and 8.8 rebounds, shooting 56.4 percent from the floor. His versatility was on full display all season, contributing 2.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.

Wallace, a sophomore forward, averaged 15.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and shot an impressive 65.2 percent from the field. Wallace also added 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest, providing a consistent defensive presence.

LSU Shreveport showcased one of the most potent offenses in the NAIA, averaging 87.9 points per game and shooting 54.8 percent from the field.

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By all accounts, LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson is the baseball version of Nick Saban. With two College World Series championships in the past three years, he has the Tigers positioned as the sport’s gold standard.

Despite LSU’s stumbles and wobbles over the past month, does anyone really doubt Johnson’s 2026 club will make at least a deep postseason run? Have Tiger fans cancelled their hotel rooms in Omaha? Has Rocco’s lowered its Jell-O order?

Johnson has displayed a Midas touch that has college baseball’s modern-era goat, Skip Bertman, beaming with pride as he watches the program he built doing the things he made possible.

Except Sunday’s cloud-parting bat flip by home run hero Seth Dardar.

The moment was electric. The bat flip itself, predictable. From the big leagues to biddy league, bat flips have become as frequent as President Trump’s posts on Truth Social.

There was, as there has been since before Ty Cobb pulled up stirrups and sharpened his spikes, plenty of bench banter between the clubs. Sunday’s game decided the series. Kentucky wanted a statement win. LSU needed, for at least its own self-respect, to defend Skip Bertman Field, Alex Box Stadium.

Dardar’s tape-measure, three-run sixth-inning bomb put LSU ahead to stay. He justifiably bounded around the bases, feeding off the crowd energy and the joy of his teammates.  Goosebump stuff.

But that bat flip. To call it exuberant doesn’t do it justice. I’ll say excessive, at least. Of all the bats ever flipped, this may have been the most majestic/mortifying, depending on your perspective.

“Put it in the Bat Flip Hall of Fame,” said my pal Matt Moscona, the tone-setting Baton Rouge sports talk show host. “And if there isn’t a Bat Flip Hall of Fame, create one for this.”

Nobody in the LSU math faculty or department of science has calculated just how high the bat went. I expect more from the school that had a seismograph reading within hours after Eddie Fuller’s game-winning touchdown in the 1988 “Earthquake Game” win over Auburn at Tiger Stadium.

The stick could be seen tumbling, downward, to the level of the top of the outfield bleachers, as ESPN’s home plate camera panned to track the homer sailing toward the huge Intimidator sign listing the program’s eight CWS crowns, above and behind the right field stands.

Like most other NCAA regulations, the recent (2023) rule on bat flips has been unevenly, and recently, rarely enforced. It’s designed to avoid bench-clearing incidents. But the same rule, 5-17 Unsportsmanlike Conduct, also claims a standard preventing “negative comments directed at an opponent, umpire or spectator” and we all know that’s as valid as a Congressional investigation.

There is, however, common sense. Dardar was beyond excited. It was a spectacular moment, at an intense time. Few players could resist a bat flip. Fewer still could flip their sticks to threaten birds flying overhead. He tossed it FarFar.

The SEC umpiring crew briefly conferred and inexplicably didn’t eject him, presumably because the bat didn’t land near a Kentucky player. The Wildcats dugout was on the third base side. Nobody’s safety was threatened, partly because of Dardar’s accidental accuracy. Kentucky raged, and the Wildcats’ pitching coach apparently challenged Johnson to a scrap in a briefly heated dugout-to-dugout exchange, as the crowd cheered on.

If a player pulled a comparable act in a football or basketball game, at the very least there would be flags or technical fouls. In baseball, there at least should have been warnings issued.

Postgame, an understandably elated Tiger coach said, smiling, “I told him to flip it a little lower next time.” Johnson didn’t want to be the buzz kill.

Backstage, based on who he’s been and what he’s stood for, have to believe Johnson probably found a moment Monday to share with his players that Dardar’s heave – which appeared to be delivered with the same thrust used by an Olympic hammer thrower – was more than a bit much.

Hope so. I’ll give Dardar his due, but not to the height that bat flew.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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People have dreamed about coasting back to Earth from great heights from at least the 1470s when Italian Francesco di Giorgio Martini designed a cone-shaped canopy parachute.  It is the oldest known design for a parachute.  In 1485, Leonardo da Vinci designed a pyramid-shaped parachute.  For the following 300 years, several inventors, including Frenchman Louis-Sebastien Lenormand in 1783, jumped from trees to test their own parachutes, but none of their designs really worked as expected.       

In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin attached a parachute he designed to a hydrogen balloon in a test in Paris, France.  When the balloon reached an altitude of about 3,200 feet, Garnerin parachuted safely back to the ground and became the first person to design and test a parachute capable of slowing a person’s fall from a high altitude.  Two years later, his wife became the first female parachutist.  In 1802, Garnerin made a safe parachute jump in a demonstration in England from an altitude of 8,000 feet.  101 years later, in December 1903, the Wright Brothers made history with the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight in a heavier-than-air machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  In the following years, human flight became popular.  Pilots were seen as heroes and daredevils.  Pilots understood that if their airplanes failed during flight, the chances of survival were slim.  They recognized the need for a way to escape from a doomed aircraft and saw the life-saving potential of parachutes.  On March 1, 1912, during an exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri, parachutist Albert Berry jumped from an airplane flown by another pilot at an altitude of 1,500 feet.  He made a safe landing and became the first person to successfully parachute from a moving airplane.          

Parachutes eventually became standard equipment for airplane pilots after World War I.  They worked well for pilots of propeller driven aircraft and jet aircraft up to a point.  On October 14, 1947, Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager flew an experimental Bell X-1 jet around 785 miles per hour and became the first human to break the sound barrier.  Eight years later, in February 1955, test pilot George Smith was flying an experimental jet over the Pacific Ocean when the jet malfunctioned.  Unable to regain control, George had to bail out.  The only problem was that he was flying faster than the speed of sound and no one had ever ejected from an aircraft traveling at that speed.  George knew that staying in the jet meant certain death, so he made the split-second decision and ejected.  The force of the wind hitting him knocked him unconscious, but his parachute automatically opened.  He landed in the water near a fishing boat crewed by a former U.S. Navy rescue expert.  George remained unconscious for five days.  When he awoke, he was blind in both eyes.  George’s recovery required numerous surgeries and a seven-month hospital stay.       

The U.S. Air Force immediately began working to solve the problem of parachuting from a supersonic jet.  After seven years of testing, Air Force scientists created an escape capsule for a supersonic jet.  On March 21, 1962, a flyer with the call sign “Yogi” ejected from a jet flying at about 870 miles per hour, 1.3 times the speed of sound.  The parachute on the capsule opened as expected.  Yogi landed successfully and became the first flyer to safely parachute from a jet traveling at supersonic speed.  But Yogi was no ordinary human.  He was not human.  The flyer with the call sign “Yogi” was a two-year-old black bear.       

Sources:

1.     “First parachute jump is made over Paris,” March 4, 2010, History.com, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-22/the-first-parachutist.

2.     “March 1, 1912, This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/albert-berry/.

3.     “February 26, 1955,” This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/george-franklin-smith/.

4.     “March 21, 1962,”  This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026,  https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/21-march-1962/.

5.     David Cenciotti, “A bear named ‘Yogi’ was ejected from a USAF B-58 to test the Hustler’s escape capsule on this day in 1962,” March 21, 2016, The Aviationist, accessed March 22, 2026, https://theaviationist.com/2016/03/21/b-58-ejects-yogi-bear/.

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On Sunday, March 29, 2026, Alvie Lee Bullock, Sr. left this earth for his new home in heaven. Known as Al by his friends and loved ones, he was born in Bienville, Louisiana on October 6, 1944, to Stanley and Trudi Bullock. He spent his formative years in Bienville. He later moved to Bossier City and established himself as a barber. As such he made many loyal friends that admired him for his skill in his chosen field.

He met his Lord and Savior some time ago when he relinquished his will to Jesus through baptism at Carriage Oaks Church of Christ. He finally succumbed to his exposure to Agent Orange contracted while serving his country in Vietnam.

Al was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his wife, Betty Jean. Al also leaves behind two sons by his first marriage, Alvie Lee Bullock, Jr., and Joseph Bullock. With his marriage to Betty, Al received three more children whom he grew to love as much as his biological children. They are Ricky Tiller, Dolly Mitchell, and Tammy Field. Those who will also greatly miss Al are his sister-in-law, Dolly Brown, and brother-in-law, Gary Brown. In addition, he leaves behind his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial for Al will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr., Bossier City, Louisiana. Officiating the service will be Brother Gary Brown.

Garry Randall Bacle arrived in heaven on Friday, March 27, 2026. He was born on June 8, 1945, and was the son and third born child of Thomas and Dorothy Bacle. He grew up in a small farming community in Crowville, Louisiana, alongside his siblings, Dub, Claudine and Linda. As the son of a farmer, he spent much of his childhood on the farm tending calves and pigs and working the rich soil in Franklin Parish. As a young boy, Garry contracted polio and his life was forever changed. For months he was treated at the hospital in Alexandria, and had it not been for the March of Dimes, he never would have been able to walk again. Later the March of Dimes would also be responsible for paying for Garry’s college education. Despite his lifelong limp and other physical limitations, Garry became an accomplished sportsman. His passion for hunting and fishing would follow him his entire life.

He was a graduate of Crowville High School and later an honor graduate at Louisiana Tech University where he earned his degree in agricultural business. He would go on to work for State Farm Insurance and there met his wife of 53 years, his beloved Billie. After marrying, they moved to Haughton, Louisiana where together they raised three children, Jerry, Becky and Randy.

Garry had a long career in insurance spanning over for 30 years working for State Farm, Commercial Union, Querbes and Nelson, Farm Bureau and Southern General. After retiring from Southern General Agency, he pursued several passions including hunting, wood carving, taxidermy, reloading and gardening, actually earning the title of a Master Gardener.

Garry had a deep faith in Jesus Christ that fueled his love of service to his church and community. He served as an ambassador to the March of Dimes for years, working to raise money for children with debilitating disease and injury. After moving to Haughton in 1976, Garry and Billie joined First Baptist Church of Haughton. Over the years he would serve the church in numerous capacities including teaching RAs, singing in choir, teaching vacation Bible School, and serving as a deacon. He was well known for his lighthearted disposition, captivating storytelling, and hilarious sense of humor. Garry never met a stranger. He was a gifted communicator, always having a funny anecdote or story to share with anyone who would listen, leaving his audiences with a bigger smile and cheerier dispostion. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend.

Fully healed and free of all disabilities, Garry joyfully waits in heaven for his loved ones he has left behind. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca(Becky) and Tim Lewis; his son and daughter-in-law, David (Randy)and Andrea Bacle; his grandchildren, Grant and Garrett Lewis, and Birdie and Winston Bacle; his sister, Linda Ezell and husband, Jimmy; four nephews; three nieces; six great-nephews; five great-nieces, several close cousins, countless lifelong friends, and his church family at First Baptist Haughton. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Billie; his son, Jerry; his father and mother, Thomas and Dorothy Bacle; his brother, Dub Bacle, and sister, Claudine Strickland.

His family wishes to thank his loving church family at First Baptist Haughton, the staff at Pilgrim Manor, as well as the numerous friends and family that have demonstrated their love and faithfulness to Garry and the family over the years.

Honoring Garry as pallbearers will be Tim Lewis, Grant Lewis, Garrett Lewis, Randy Bacle, Winston Bacle, Chris Saucier, and Tucker Saucier. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Cary Winters, Jerry Houston, Claude Fry, James Russell, Ken Mason, Billy Carter, Ronnie Strickland, Seth Strickland, Britt Green, Danny Dean, Bill Burris, Steve Netherton, Jeb Lord and the Deacons of First Baptist Haughton.

A memorial service will be held in Garry’s honor on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, LA. Visitation is from 11 am -12 noon with the funeral immediately following at noon. Members of the family are invited to attend the graveside services at Haughton Cemetery.

In honor of Garry, the family asks you consider donating a monetary gift or the gift of your time to the March of Dimes.

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Alvie “Al” Lee Bullock, Sr.
October 6, 1944 — March 29, 2026
Service: Thursday, April 2, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.

Kathy Bruno
December 23, 1935 – March 28, 2026
Service: Friday, April 3, 2026, 2pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Garry Randall Bacle
June 8, 1945 — March 27, 2026
Service: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 12pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.

Leroy Glenn Azlin
November 23, 1955 – March 26, 2026
Service: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 3pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Deacon Robert Buckingham
August 9, 1938 — March 26, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 4, 2026, 11am at Midway Baptist Church No. 2, Shreveport. 

Diana Laney-Noble
February 19, 1968 — March 25, 2026
Service: Thursday, April 2, 2026, 1pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Clothilde M. Gonzales
October 3, 1938 – March 24, 2026
Service: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Kevin Ferris Leblanc
September 27, 1970 – March 24, 2026
Service: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Jnell Prince-Law
March 28, 1942 — March 24, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Ronnie Hubert Brasher
March 9, 1949 — March 23, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 3:30pm at The Covenant Church, Bossier City. 

Linda Jean Neely-Glass
August 13, 1941 — March 22, 2026
Service: Friday, April 3, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Alyne Shaw Watson
June 2, 1939 — March 22, 2026
Service: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City. 

Carol Ward
March 11, 1962 – March 17, 2026
Service: Friday, April 17, 2026, 11am at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Robert Charles Harris, Jr.
November 5, 1984 — March 16, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 4, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

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The Shreveport Police Department says a woman was arrested following a March 24 incident involving a stolen vehicle and alleged attempted assault in a south Shreveport parking lot.

Officers responded around 4:29 p.m. to a suspicious vehicle call at the Home Depot located at 110 East Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. When they arrived, they made contact with Caddo Parish deputies, who had already detained Elisa Maria Palma in connection with a reported stolen 2004 Toyota 4Runner.

Investigators allege Palma took the vehicle earlier in the day along with cash, a driver’s license, credit and debit cards, and an iPhone 11. Authorities say the victim later spotted the vehicle at the store, and before deputies intervened, Palma allegedly attempted to ram another vehicle, forcing the driver to jump a curb to avoid being struck. Surveillance video reportedly captured the incident.

Police say they recovered the victim’s property, including identification, cards, and the stolen phone, from inside the vehicle.

Palma was booked into the Shreveport City Jail on charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft, and aggravated assault. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr. swore in 10 new personnel for the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office during a ceremony held March 27.

The newly appointed deputies will serve in several divisions, including corrections, property, food service, and jail records.

Those sworn in for corrections include Contrell Capers, Kayja Mack, Kaitlyn Harvey, and Angel Hines.

Brandi Jenkins was appointed as property clerk, while Evan Hayes and Paulette Demery will serve in food service roles.

In jail records, Shylah Frake, Tyra Maxie, and Breanna Alexander were sworn in.

The sheriff’s office is also continuing to recruit new personnel. Officials say applicants must be 21 or older and are hiring for a variety of positions, including corrections deputies, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, building and groundskeepers, part-time courthouse security personnel, and part-time work release drivers.

More information about qualifications, benefits, and the application process is available at caddosheriff.org.

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Louisiana voters will decide May 16 whether to raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 70 to 75, a constitutional amendment that supporters say would bring the state in line with most of the country but that opponents argue voters have already rejected — twice.

The measure appears on the May 16 statewide primary ballot as Amendment 5, stemming from House Bill 63 of the 2025 Regular Session. It was authored by Rep. Kyle Green Jr. (D-Marrero) and co-authored by Rep. Jason Hughes (D-New Orleans), with Sen. Gregory Miller (R-Norco) carrying the bill on the Senate side. The amendment passed the Louisiana House 95-1 on final passage and cleared the Senate 31-3, before being certified for the ballot.

The ballot question voters will see reads: “Do you support an amendment to change the mandatory retirement age for judges from seventy to seventy-five, provided that a judge may continue to serve to complete a term of office?”

Under current Louisiana law, judges must retire at age 70, though a judge who reaches that age while serving a term may complete that term. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the amendment would raise the mandatory retirement threshold to 75 while keeping the term-completion provision intact.

Supporters argue Louisiana is an outlier on the issue. Of the 31 states that have mandatory judicial retirement ages, 16 — including Louisiana — set the limit at 70, the lowest in the country. Eight states, including Florida, Texas, Indiana and Pennsylvania, set their retirement age at 75. Proponents contend the change would allow experienced judges to continue serving at a time when judicial vacancies and caseload backlogs are persistent challenges across the state.

Opposition has centered on democratic accountability and voter precedent. Sen. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport) argued during the legislative session that Louisiana voters have considered and rejected similar proposals before. In 1995, voters rejected a similar amendment 62% to 38%. In 2014, voters rejected a separate amendment that would have eliminated the mandatory retirement age entirely, 58% to 42%.

“We put this on the ballot before,” Seabaugh said during debate. “It failed in 62 out of 64 parishes.”

Pennsylvania is the most recent state to approve a similar change, with voters there raising their judicial retirement age from 70 to 75 in 2016 by a 51% margin.

Amendment 5 is one of five constitutional amendments appearing on the May 16 statewide ballot. Louisiana polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

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Entergy Louisiana and Meta announced a landmark new agreement Friday that would add seven natural gas power plants, up to 2,500 megawatts of solar capacity, and approximately 240 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines to Louisiana’s power grid — all paid for by Meta — as part of a sweeping expansion of the technology giant’s hyperscale data center campus in Richland Parish.

The announcement, made March 27, represents a dramatic scaling of Meta’s already-historic commitment to Northeast Louisiana and positions the state as one of the nation’s most significant hubs for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Combined with a prior agreement announced in late 2025, the two deals are expected to deliver approximately $2.65 billion in total benefits to Entergy Louisiana customers over the life of the agreements — with Meta paying its full cost of service rather than shifting those costs to other ratepayers.

The Scale of the Buildout

The seven new combined-cycle natural gas plants alone will total more than 5,200 megawatts of generating capacity — roughly five times the average daily power consumption of the entire city of New Orleans. Combined with the three plants already approved under a prior agreement, Meta’s data center campus will ultimately be served by ten power plants with a total capacity of approximately 7,500 megawatts — a more than 30% increase to Louisiana’s entire existing grid capacity.

In addition, Meta agreed to fund up to 2,500 megawatts of additional solar generation and battery storage, along with approximately 240 miles of new 500-kilovolt transmission lines connecting South Louisiana to North Louisiana and Arkansas. The full buildout is expected to cost approximately $11 billion.

Customer Benefits

Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May said the agreement was structured to protect existing customers from bearing Meta’s infrastructure costs.

“This agreement reflects what’s possible when strong partners align around long-term growth and value,” May said. “We are making targeted investments that strengthen reliability, support economic development, and deliver meaningful benefits to customers — all while keeping energy rates affordable.”

Under the terms of both agreements, the combined $2.65 billion in projected customer savings include reductions in storm recovery charges — estimated to lower customer storm bills by an average of approximately 10% — and reductions in the bill impact of broader grid resilience upgrades. Over the prior 15-year agreement, Meta’s contributions toward Entergy’s system costs are projected to save customers approximately $650 million. The new agreement adds an additional $2 billion in savings over 20 years.

Meta Vice President for Data Centers Rachel Peterson said the Richland Parish campus reflects the scale of the company’s AI ambitions. “We are building foundations for the future of AI innovation right here in the United States,” Peterson said. “We’ve been working closely with Entergy since early on-site planning to ensure our power needs are met and, importantly, so that Entergy’s other consumers aren’t paying our costs.”

Amazon Also Building Near Shreveport

The Meta agreement is not the only major data center investment reshaping Northwest Louisiana’s energy landscape. Amazon has announced plans to invest $12 billion in data center campuses near Shreveport, further cementing the region’s emergence as a technology and AI infrastructure hub.

Regulatory Path

The new seven-plant agreement will be the first project submitted under the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s newly adopted Lightning Amendment, a framework designed to fast-track large-scale economic development projects through regulatory review within eight months. The Louisiana Public Service Commission must still approve the new plants.

The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs from 2026 to 2031, along with permanent roles in engineering, maintenance and support services, and increased tax revenues for schools, public safety and infrastructure across the region.

Entergy’s stock jumped 7% on Friday following the announcement, lifting its market capitalization to a record high of approximately $50 billion.

Amazon announces $12 billion data center investment across Caddo, Bossier Parishes

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By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Contributor

The Pearl at 6871 Fern Avenue, Shreveport opened a few years ago. I haven’t found a real reason to get up there and try it out — until I received a $100 gift card and was given the opportunity to go there with my daughter for an early dinner.

A pleasant surprise was that the appetizers were half-priced when ordered before 6 p.m. I was planning on trying one either way, it just made it more value added. We zeroed in on the Crab Au Gratin; it comes with garlic herb crostini.

This appetizer is, without a doubt, the single best appetizer I have had since moving to Shreveport 29 years ago.

You could hand me a spoon and a big bowl and you will not hear from me until it’s gone. I will be meeting friends at The Pearl for this dish and a couple drinks for happy hour. I must admit we ordered one of these to go as well, and it was just as good the next day.

For my entre I went with the Crawfish Caroline: crawfish in a spicy cream sauce tossed with penne pasta. The spicy was just the right amount for me, where I feel a bite but not where it overwhelms your taste buds. I was worried that the Crab Au Gratin set the bar too high, but this meal was so good, there was no letdown.

My daughter ordered the Pan-Fried Pecan Catfish, which I had briefly thought about getting until she ordered it.

She chose to have garlic mashed potatoes instead of the gouda grits. It also comes with garlic green beans as well. She loved it, but how could I tell you about it without getting a taste myself? She indulged us and made a little side plate for me with all three items. She was indeed right, it was fantastic. The catfish had the right amount of spice and encrusted pecans that the sear made the dish sing. The green beans were prepared very well, cooked through but still held their shape.

As I was ordering, the dilemma I faced was knowing I could not have both the oysters and the bread pudding. Since beginning this tour of local eateries, I have yet to get to a dessert, I chose the bread pudding.

That was just the right end to my meal. It was brioche topped with ice cream and a hot butter rum sauce. It’s too good for its own good. I can see myself gaining weight just on that bread pudding alone!

The one thing I failed to mention is that the serving sizes are so massive, you will definitely have left-overs for lunch the next day.

My next visit to The Pearl will include the oysters — my only regret when I walked out of the restaurant, as I headed for the nap I needed afterward. 

Contact David at dersoff@bellsouth.net

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The Louisiana Department of Education has announced semifinalists for the state’s Teacher and Principal of the Year awards, recognizing educators across Louisiana for excellence in the classroom and school leadership.

Representing Bossier Parish, Melanie Leigh Machen of Benton High School was named a Teacher of the Year semifinalist, while Alyshia Coulson of Bellaire Elementary School was selected as a Principal of the Year semifinalist.

In Caddo Parish, Monica Speyrer of C.E. Byrd High School earned recognition as a Teacher of the Year semifinalist, and Shannon Wall of Northwood High School was named a Principal of the Year semifinalist.

State officials say the program highlights educators who demonstrate exceptional student growth and serve as models in their communities.

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By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – No matter where his college baseball career path has taken him, from New York’s Columbia University to Kansas State and finally to LSU, Mandeville native Seth Dardar has forgotten he was raised a Tigers’ baseball fan.

So, when one of his dreams came true Sunday’s SEC series finale vs. Kentucky in Alex Box Stadium, perhaps he could be excused for drawing a stern warning from plate umpire Seth Buckminster for flipping a bat high in the air after hitting a lead-taking homer.

“I grew up watching LSU my entire life, so it means a lot to me being in the stadium with all those fans,” said Dardar, a transfer redsshirt senior second baseman whose two-out, three-run sixth inning blast accelerated 11 Tigers’ runs in their last four innings in a 17-10 victory over No. 19 Wildcats 21-5, overall 5-4 SEC)  for LSU’s (19-10, 4-5 SEC) first league series win of the season. “When I was running around third and going home, hearing the crowd cheer just meant the world to me.”

Dardar, who hit .326 for K-State last season and decided he would likely quit baseball if LSU didn’t acquire him from the transfer portal, hit .600 in the UK series (6-for-10 with a homer, four doubles, five RBI, four runs scored, and three walks).

“I’m proud of him,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said of Dardar, who improved his season batting average to .275 and who has a team-high 10 doubles. “He’s actually taken some pretty good at-bats in some clutch situations and hasn’t gotten rewarded for it.

“I had a good conversation with him after the game yesterday (Saturday), and I’m just really proud of probably the weekend that he put together. He’s had the toughness to stick through it.”

At least for this series, so did the Tigers.

Johnson headed into this past weekend forced to shuffle his starting pitching rotation. Usual Game 2 starter Cooper Moore is sidelined with triceps soreness in his throwing arm.

Game 3 starter William Schmidt took Moore’s Game 2 spot. He and reliever Zac Cowan blanked the Wildcats 7-0 on Saturday afternoon.

It was a much-needed win after Friday starter Casan Evans imploded early in a 7-4 LSU loss in the series opener. He allowed four runs in the first two innings, putting the Tigers in an immediate hole.

Four of his six walks, three of his four hits allowed, both of the two batters he hit and his lone wild pitch came in the first three innings.

The loss put LSU in a position of having to win Saturday’s and Sunday’s games to get a badly-needed series victory after the Tigers dropped their first two SEC series at Vanderbilt and home vs. Oklahoma.

After LSU evened the series with its Saturday shutout of the Wildcats, Johnson hoped he could piecemeal a pitching lineup because LSU had no clear, definitive Game 3 starter the equal of Schmidt.

Redshirt junior reliever Gavin Guidry again got rocked in Sunday’s emergency starting role. In 1.1 innings, he allowed six runs on three hits, walked four, and had a wild pitch. Eight of the 12 batters he faced reached base.

UK built a 7-0 lead through 2½ innings before the Tigers dug in their heels.

“We’ve gone down a lot in certain games this year, and we kind of laid down,” LSU sophomore centerfielder Derek Curiel said. “We’re sick and tired of it. The coaches decided, and the players made a decision that that’s not going to happen anymore.”

Keyed by John Pearson’s two-out grand slam, LSU’s six runs in the bottom of the third cut UK’s lead to 7-6. The Wildcats pushed their cushion back to 10-6 in the top of the fifth, but they wouldn’t score again.

Ten of LSU’s runs on the day were scored with two outs.

For the series, the Tigers batted .320 (32 for 100), including their 16 for 38 third-game barrage. Thirteen pitchers – three starters and 10 relievers (two of which pitched twice) combined for a 5.33 ERA.

“If you don’t throw punches back,” Johnson said, “I’m not talking about scoring runs, I’m talking about having your manhood challenged and (don’t) respond, you’re going to lose. We haven’t responded that way, and we’ve lost., Today (Sunday), you can’t ask for a better response beginning.”

LSU hosts Southern on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before traveling to Knoxville for a three-game SEC series vs. Tennessee (18-10, 3-6 SEC) on Friday, starting at 4:30 p.m CDT.

The Vols were swept at Vanderbilt this past weekend, losing 3-2 in 10 innings in Game 1, 6-5 in 16 innings in Game 2, and 16-15 in Sunday’s finale after Vandy scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Here’s an LSU-UK series recap:

GAME 1: KENTUCKY 7, LSU 4 – Kentucky right-hander Jaxon Jelkin (6-0) limited the Tigers to two runs on five hits in 8 innings on Friday night. He had seven strikeouts and one walk in 114 pitches.

GAME 2:  LSU 7, KENTUCKY 0 –Tigers’ starting pitcher William Schmidt (4-1) worked 5.1 scoreless innings on Saturday afternoon, limiting the Wildcats to six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.  Freshman designated hitter Mason Braun was 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and a run-scoring double, tying his career high with four RBI.

GAME 3: LSU 17, KENTUCKY 10 – The Tigers cracked 16 hits, including three homers and three doubles, in Sunday afternoon’s finale. Left fielder Chris Stanfield, the Tigers’ lead-off hitter, was 4-for-5 with one double, one RBI, and two runs.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fading fast and blowing a nine-point lead in the final 3½ minutes, third-seeded Duke needed a miracle to upset No. 2 seed LSU in an NCAA Sacramento Regional semifinal here Friday. 

The Blue Devils got two for the price of one. 

The first was LSU batting a potential game-ending defensive rebound out of bounds to the right side of Duke’s basket with 2.6 seconds left. 

The second one was letting the Dookie, who had already missed six of seven 3-pointers on the night, take a crack at being the hero.  

Off an inbounds pass, Blue Devils’ senior guard Ashlon Johnson’s 3-pointer did a victory lap around the inside of the rim before falling through the net as the game-ending buzzer sounded for an 87-85 victory that ended LSU’s season two wins shy of the Final Four. 

“You put yourself in a position to win the game, and a crazy shot like that beats you,” said LSU fifth-year head coach Kim Mulkey, who last lost in the Sweet 16 in 2018, which was the season before she won her third and final national championship coaching Baylor. “We just couldn’t get three stops in a row. We couldn’t rebound the ball to take off in transition. It was like we were moving through mud. 

“But we did fight to the bitter end and put ourselves still in a position to win.” 

The Tigers (29-6) trailed Duke 84-75 with 3:34 left when they scored 10 consecutive points. They took an 85-84 lead with 9.2 seconds left on two free throws by former Bossier City Parkway star Mikaylah Williams. 

On the ensuing possession, LSU played solid defense and forced Duke’s Taina Mair to miss a corner 3-pointer with five seconds left. A fierce rebounding scrum resulted in the ball ricocheting out of bounds off Tigers’ freshman forward ZaKiyah Johnson. 

Duke called a timeout, and then LSU followed with its timeout after it got a look at the Blue Devils’ alignment. 

“I’m so proud of our team’s resilience,” Duke head coach Kara Lawson said. “It can weigh on you mentally late in the game when you squander a lead, and the other team takes it. We stayed so strong in those huddles. All their eyes were on me, and we were very purposeful in what we wanted to do, and our execution on that last play was great.” 

The play unfolded just like Lawson drew it up. 

Duke’s Mair was the inbounds passer standing to the right of the basket. The other four Blue Devils stacked themselves along the right side of the lane – Delany Thomas closest to the baseline, then Ashlon Johnson, followed by Toby Fornier and Riley Nelson on the far end of the stack. 

As the play started, Nelson used a Fornier screen, looped to her right and swept along the baseline towards the left corner with LSU’s Jada Richard trailing her. 

When Nelson cut towards the baseline, Ashlon Johnson sprinted towards the Duke bench. She shook her defender, LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson, and squeezed between a shoulder-to-shoulder double-screen set by Thomas and Fournier. 

Mair hit Ashlon Johnson with a pass. She faked a shot to get the trailing Flau’Jae Johnson to fly past her long enough to launch the game-winning three-pointer. 

“The way it went in, I felt like I was in a dream and it was just, you know, playing back over and over again before the ball went in,” Ashton Johnson said. “It doesn’t even feel real right now. I’m on cloud nine.” 

As Duke (27-8) began celebrating the win that advanced it to Sunday’s Elite Eight regional final vs. No. 1-seeded UCLA, the stunned Tigers walked off the court like zombies. 

“As a competitor, nobody wants to lose, especially like that,” Williams said. “And then knowing that there were a lot of things that had us in that position. We couldn’t get a stop at that point in time. We didn’t get those key rebounds that we needed, and that put us in the situation that we were in in the first place. We couldn’t get rebounds when it mattered.” 

The loss negated the finest game of South Carolina junior transfer guard MiLaysha Fulwiley’s first LSU season. She scored a game-high and career-high 28 points, including 18 in the first half when she kept the Tigers within striking distance of Duke’s 47-40 lead at the break. 

Junior All-SEC first-team honoree Wiliams scored 22 points, including LSU’s last six points of the game. Senior guard Flau’Jae Johnson finished her fabulous college career with 13 points, including 10 in the second half after missing six of seven field goal attempts in the first half. 

After Duke shot 55 percent and dominated rebounding in the first half, 8½-point favorite LSU was in chase mode most of the day. 

Duke freshman forward Fournier had her way with just about any LSU defender who tried to guard her. She had 22 points (as did Mair) and her nine rebounds included five offensive boards. 

“Whatever this team needs me to do, I’m willing to do it, whether that’s scoring, rebounding, or just making the one more pass,” Mair said. “I’m just willing to do what it takes to win.” 

LSU was lucky not to trail by double digits at halftime. Fulwiley was the offense, including five layups through traffic and a couple of deep 3’s. 

The Tigers, who last weekend set an NCAA tournament record for most points scored in the first and second rounds, rarely ran any offensive plays in the opening half. 

While Duke systematically sliced up LSU’s defense – the Blue Devils moved the ball, shot 46 percent from the field in the first two quarters, including 26 points in the paint – LSU basically didn’t do any of that. 

Offensively, there was no ball reversal and too many quick shots. The Tigers didn’t create many Duke turnovers, and when they did often handed it immediately back in their haste to score quickly. 

Yet, it only took LSU the first 3:23 of the third quarter to wipe away the halftime deficit. Williams’ three-point play gave the Tigers their first lead since 2-0 with the game 16 seconds old.  

Though LSU trailed just 67-65 at the end of the third quarter., a 10-0 Duke run in less than two minutes put the Biue Devils in the catbird seat with 7:35 left to play. 

Despite giving up a season-high in points and allowing Duke to grab 20 offensive rebounds (it had just eight in its 93-77 home loss to LSU in December), the Tigers dug deep for one last rally. 

On the cusp of a fourth straight Elite Elight berth. It took a helluva shot to send them home, where Mulkey said she’ll re-coup, hire two assistants to replace Gary Redus and Daphne Mitchell (Redus was recently hired by Rutgers and hired Mitchell as an assistant), and pluck two or three players out of the transfer portal. 

Mulkey made it a point after Friday’s loss to shoot down social media rumors that she’s retiring. 

“It’s just a flat-out lie, I’ve never told anybody that,” she said. “I’m not retiring. Do I look that bad? I’m only 63. And I’m healthy, with a few stents in my heart. Doctor says I’m good to go. 

“I’m going to be in this game unless LSU fires me, until I can’t put a product on that floor that’s competitive, or my health fails me.” 

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Airline baseball coach Toby Todd reached an elite coaching milestone last week when the Vikings beat Byrd to give him his 500^th career victory.

They celebrated Saturday with extra pleasure, as Todd was recognized for his 500^th after picking up his 503^rd in a 5-2 homefield victory over last year’s Non-Select Division II state champion, North DeSoto.

Todd has been in coaching for 38 years. He’s been Airline’s head coach for the last 25, since 2002, and was also a head coach in 1994 at Woodlawn.

The Vikings are in second in the District 1-5A standings with a 14-10 overall mark and a 7-2 record in district.

Their win over the Griffins halted an eight-game win streak by North DeSoto (20-6).

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JOURNAL SPORTS

HOUSTON – Shreveport native Sam Burns shot 69-66 over the final two rounds of the Texas Children’s Houston Open but a second-round 72 cooled his chances to be in the mix for his first PGA Tour title since 2023.

Burns, 29, finished tied for 21^st with an 8-under 272 (65-72-69-66) at the Memorial Park Golf Course. Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, ran away from the field and won with a 21-under score (64-63-65-67) that was five shots clear of the closest contender.

Burns opened with a 5-uder 65 Thursday, but dipped out of the top 20 after Friday’s round. The solid weekend finish gave Burns a $96,525 paycheck, raising his season’s winnings to $1.25 million in four tournaments. He missed the cut in three others.

The Calvary Baptist graduate, a former LSU All-American and collegiate golfer of the year, will not play this weekend in the Valero Texas Open at San Antonio as he prepares for The Masters April 9-12.

Six of his last seven rounds, including the final three at The Players Championship, have been sub-70 outings. Burns tied for 13^th at The Players and tied for sixth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

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David Francis Kelly passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026, in a care facility in Natchitoches, Louisiana, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. He was 76. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to Raymond James Kelly and Mary Catherine Kelly (née Lueddeke), David was the third of six siblings: Ray Jr. (Josie) of Temecula, CA; Paul (Sara) of Wauconda, IL; Lauren (Bud Skuba) of Mundelein, IL; Sean (Rosemarie) of Lancaster, PA; and Anne (Dan Malmed) of Wilmette, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Ray and Paul, brother-in-law Bud Skuba, and sister-in-law Sara.

David attended St. Francis Elementary School and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, and New Trier High School in Winnetka. He later studied English at the University of Illinois Circle Campus.

He attended the Cook County Police Academy and served as a police officer with the Kenilworth Police Department from 1974 to 1984. He later worked as a private investigator.

Music was a lifelong passion for David. A talented guitarist, folksinger, and songwriter, he was an active member of the Chicago folk music scene. His career in law enforcement and his love of music coalesced with the 1989 release of his album Police Officer Blues, a collection of original songs (including one John Prine cover) reflecting his experiences and observations as a police officer. His brother Sean (banjo) and former wife Gail (vocals) performed on the album. David also organized and performed at fundraising concerts for the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and often performed at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine and The Irish Mill in Mundelein. David was smart, quick-witted, and adventurous. The latter half of his life was shaped by mental health challenges, including bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. This often led him to choose a more solitary path, and his presence, and at times his absence, was deeply felt by his family.

After some years living in the south, he returned to the North Shore for several years to help care for his aging parents in their Northbrook home. During this time, he was an active member and group administrator for Alcoholics Anonymous and enjoyed time with family. After their passing, he returned to a more isolated life in warmer climates, periodically coming home for family events.

There, he faced a number of serious health challenges, including a heart attack, lung cancer, and, in his last several years, Parkinson’s Disease. He was a resilient survivor and we often teased that he had nine lives. He will be missed.

David is survived by his former wife, Gail Burdick of Grayslake; his daughter Amanda Kelly; Amanda’s children, Makayla and Grace; great-grandchildren Avery and Enzo; and his son Tim Kelly. He is also survived by his second wife, Laura, and daughters Sara and Betsy and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate to a fund organized by his family to assist with funeral and aftercare expenses. http://spot.fund/j52cg6jsc (Spotfund.com: Memorial Fund David Kelly).

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Sarah B. Culpepper was born on June 2, 1954, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Andrew Jack and Louella (Robison) Biard and she passed away at her home in Stonewall, Louisiana, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Sarah graduated from Woodlawn High School in 1972 and went on to work as a customer service representative for Kansas City Southern railroad for many years.  Taking care of her family and grandchildren was one of her greatest joys in life.  Before being diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, she was actively involved in many church activities.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Sarah is survived by her high school sweetheart and her husband of 53 years, Hal Culpepper Jr; her children, Windy Williams (Jim) and Katie Haydin (Scott); her grandson, Austin Haydin; and her granddaughter, Chloe Haydin.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at www.hdsa.org.

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Leroy Glenn Azlin
November 23, 1955 – March 26, 2026
Service: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 3pm at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Diana Laney-Noble
February 19, 1968 — March 25, 2026
Service: Thursday, April 2, 2026, 1pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Kevin Ferris Leblanc
September 27, 1970 – March 24, 2026
Service: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 11am at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Jnell Prince-Law
March 28, 1942 — March 24, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 4, 2026, 1pm at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Ronnie Hubert Brasher
March 9, 1949 — March 23, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 18, 2026, 3:30pm at The Covenant Church, Bossier City. 

Jaymes Christopher Gale
January 26, 1960 — March 23, 2026
Service: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home Southside, Shreveport.

Linda Jean Neely-Glass
August 13, 1941 — March 22, 2026
Service: Friday, April 3, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Alyne Shaw Watson
June 2, 1939 — March 22, 2026
Service: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 2pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City. 

Aline S. Scott
July 2, 1930 – March 21, 2026
Service: Monday, March 30, 2026, 10am at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport. 

Louise Cummings Methvin
May 4, 1936 — March 20, 2026
Service: Monday, March 30, 2026, 10am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Alfred Carter
September 10, 1957 – March 18, 2026
Service: Monday, March 30, 2026, 11am at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, Shreveport.

Carol Ward
March 11, 1962 – March 17, 2026
Service: Friday, April 17, 2026, 11am at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

Robert Charles Harris, Jr.
November 5, 1984 — March 16, 2026
Service: Saturday, April 4, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport. 

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The Shreveport Police Department is warning drivers after reporting more than 2,200 crashes so far this year, calling the number preventable.

Officials said they will conduct a traffic checkpoint on Monday, March 30 from 3 to 7 p.m. in southeast Shreveport as part of ongoing efforts to improve roadway safety and reduce collisions.

Police are urging drivers to follow basic safety measures, including wearing seatbelts and avoiding phone use while driving. Officers said those who do not comply may face enforcement action during the checkpoint.

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