The Parish of Caddo is now accepting applications for its 2026 Youth Summer Work Program, with the deadline to apply set for March 30.
The program, open to Caddo Parish residents ages 16 and older, offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience across a variety of parish departments and partner agencies. Participants must be available to work from May 27 through July 31.
High school students selected for the program will earn $10 per hour, while college students will earn $12 per hour.
Work opportunities are available in multiple areas, including finance, human resources, facilities and maintenance, parks and recreation, animal services, public works, and juvenile services.
Officials said the program is designed to provide professional development experience while exposing students to potential career paths in public service.
Applications must be submitted online at caddo.gov/jobs. Those needing additional information or assistance with the application process can contact the parish’s human resources department at hrd@caddo.gov.
Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. has a warning for the people of Caddo Parish about a growing scam by criminals preying on people who try to do what they think the law requires.
“I want to take a moment to warn our community about the growing threat of scam telephone calls and scam text messages,” he says.
“We are seeing an increase in individuals posing as trusted agencies like the IRS, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, and even local law enforcement. These scammers may contact you by phone or text, claiming you owe money, have a warrant, or must act immediately to avoid penalties.
“Let me be clear: these are scams. As your District Attorney, I advise you to not send money to anyone claiming that you missed jury duty and that by making a payment to them you will end a warrant for your arrest for missing jury duty. And if you have a loved one in jail, do not send money to anyone claiming that payment of money can have him released from jail and placed into a District Attorney diversion program. Any defendant being placed into a diversion program by my office will be notified by letter only.”
Government agencies will not call, text, or email you demanding immediate payment, nor will they ask for sensitive personal information such as your Social Security number, bank account details, nor will legitimate law officers or government employees request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or apps.
If you receive one of these messages or calls:
Do not respond.
Do not send money.
Do not share personal or financial information. Instead, take these steps to protect yourself:
Hang up or ignore the message immediately.
Block the number and report it as spam.
Verify any claims by contacting the agency directly using official websites or phone numbers.
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If you feel threatened or unsure, contact the Shreveport Police Department or the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office, or your local law enforcement agency.
“Remember, scammers rely on fear, urgency, and confusion,” DA Stewart says. “Take a moment, pause, and verify before taking any action. At the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office, we are committed to protecting our community and holding those who prey on our citizens accountable. Stay alert. Stay informed. And help us spread the word because awareness is one of our strongest defenses. Thank you, and stay safe.”
Sam Goodwin died at his home last Friday night, at age 82.
On hearing the news, on came the memories, the earliest for me from 1976. Goodwin was the head coach at Parkview High in Little Rock at the time and had just directed the team to an 11-0 season and its second No. 1 ranking in the state in three years. Pondering his future for an Alexandria Town Talk story I was working on, he wondered in a phone interview if he should coach at a higher level.
“I just don’t know what I want,” he admitted. “I used to be real ambitious and wanted to make it to the college level … but every year I seem more content with what I’m doing.”
He stayed a few more years at Parkview and remained content, leading the team to five state championships in nine seasons. But he took the bait to coach at the collegiate level, accepting an offer he couldn’t refuse – from Lou Holtz, then the head coach at Arkansas. Goodwin spent two seasons (1981, ’82) in Fayetteville under the charismatic Holtz, who later led Notre Dame to a national championship. The two are presumably reunited since Holtz died earlier this month.
Coaching was something Sam wanted to do since his senior year at Pineville High School in 1960, when he helped the Rebels win a state championship. His PHS coach, Jimmy Keeth, said, “He was the kind of boy you would want to call your own.”
I don’t know that I’ve ever known a coach who was more humble, more sincere, more resilient and or more determined. He got his apprenticeship as a college head coach at Southern Arkansas University, where he worked two seasons before accepting the head coaching position at Northwestern State.
Although he had to leave Arkansas, where he thrived not only as a coach but as a two-sport star athlete (football and track and field) at Henderson State, Goodwin and NSU were seemingly meant for each other.
He coached the Demons to 102 victories, four conference championships, and one FCS semifinal in 17 seasons – easily making him the winningest football coach in the school’s history.
Another Goodwin memory that gently came wandering through my mind was the tribute he gave to his first wife, Janet, at her funeral in July 2000. She was just 54 when she died suddenly while visiting their oldest daughter in South Carolina. It was the first funeral ever at NSU’s Prather Coliseum, and it was shortly after he retired as Northwestern’s coach to accept the job as athletics director at his alma mater, Henderson State.
The place was packed, not only in respect for Sam but because Janet was one to easily make friends, especially someone who needed a friend. She was a second mother to the members of the team and active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She encouraged others to do as she had done and “Fall Madly in Love with Christ.”
At the funeral, Sam used some of his time for the eulogy to do something he had never done before in public – sing a song. He said he knew he would be remembered at NSU for his coaching career, but he wanted Janet to be remembered, too.
“I’m going to start this, and if I don’t finish, you pick it up,” he said to the crowd. Then he sang, “The Wind Beneath My Wings” (“I was the one with all the glory, you were the one who walked behind…”). He made it all the way through, but about two-thirds the way through his family huddled by him to hug him and weep as he continued singing.
“As a person,” former NSU basketball coach and athletics director Tynes Hildebrand once said, “I’d put Sam Goodwin in the top 10 percent in America.”
Hyperbole? Perhaps, but Sam Goodwin had an appropriate last name, not only for the many “good wins” he was part of on the athletic fields but on the fields of life, however rocky they sometimes were for him.
I think of his coming out of retirement to coach football at ASH at age 70, and the struggles he had with the Trojans that first year. He was their third coach in three years. The program was in the pits. But in his second and final year as coach, at age 71, he and his staff got the football juices flowing again at ASH. The Trojans went 6-4 in the regular season, made it to the playoffs and had an offense –directed by quarterback (and later LSU pitcher) Matthew Beck — that could score from anywhere on the field.
It was fitting and proper that he finish his head coaching career on a positive note – reflecting that optimism, resiliency, courage and determination that was so much of who he was throughout his lifetime.
AIRLINE ALUMNA: Sophomore outfielder Elena Heng, an Airline product, is one of Louisiana Tech’s top hitters heading into tonight’s visit to LSU. (Photo courtesy Louisiana Tech Athletics)
JOURNAL SPORTS
BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Tech fans have a short walk if they want to take in home baseball and softball games happening on the same day, even the same time in Ruston.
This evening in Baton Rouge, it won’t take long for them to bounce between ballparks, either.
The Tech teams are visiting their counterparts from LSU in a softball-baseball doubleheader. The softball contest has a 6 p.m. first pitch at Tiger Park; baseball’s start is 30 minutes later a four-minute drive away at Alex Box Stadium.
The Tigers’ softball team is the only nationally-ranked LSU team, coming in as high as No. 19 in polls this week. LSU’s baseball squad, which debuted at No. 1 in most preseason polls, has skidded recently, losing eight of its last 13 contests.
Both games will be carried on SEC Network+.
BASEBALL: The Diamond ‘Dogs (15-10 overall, 4-2 CUSA) face an LSU team that is 16-9 overall and 2-4 in league play after losing SEC series at Vanderbilt and at home to Oklahoma.
The Bulldogs hope to snap a two-game losing streak to the Tigers, having previously fallen to LSU in Red Stick in 2024 and 2025. The last time Tech defeated LSU dates back to 2022, when the ‘Dogs swept a two-game home-and-home series.
The ‘Dogs look to snap a two-game losing skid ending a CUSA series at New Mexico State to conclude the road trip. Tech will open a brief four-game homestand following tonight’s game.
LSU’s Jake Brown has been one of the nation’s top sluggers, ranking among the top 15 nationally in home runs and RBI. He is also 32nd in Division I and sixth in the SEC with a .794 slugging percentage.
Freshman catcher/first baseman Omar Serna Jr. batted .400 (6-for-15) in LSU’s four games last week with two doubles, two homers and four RBI.
The Bulldogs are led at the plate by infielder Trey Hawsey, who is hitting .320 with five doubles, one triple, nine homers and 25 RBI. Infielder Colby Lunsford is batting .319 with nine doubles, eight homers and 24 RBI, and outfielder Cade Patterson has a team-high 29 RBI with three doubles and four home runs.
SOFTBALL: LSU (21-10, 3-6 SEC) aims to extend its 29-4 all-time record over Louisiana Tech (17-14, 3-6 CUSA), including a 23-2 advantage in Baton Rouge. The Tigers have won 26 straight against the Bulldogs since 1982.
In their latest action, the Tigers took down South Carolina in a three-game series, 2-1, to earn their first SEC series victory of the season. LSU has a .259 batting average with 205 hits, and its 155 walks rank third in the league and fifth in the nation. The Tigers’ offense has produced 23 home runs and ranks No. 2 in the SEC with 48 stolen bases.
The pitching staff has a 2.87 ERA, 152 strikeouts, and five shutouts. The defense boasts a .973 fielding percentage and has turned 19 double plays, the seventh-most in the nation.
Quitman freshmen Cali Deal is 1-0 in the circle, collecting seven strikeouts in 9.0 innings.
Sierra Daniel leads LSU at the plate with a .337 batting average.
The Bulldogs were swept at Jacksonville State this past weekend by a combined seven runs, one loss coming in extra innings.
Reagan Marchant leads Tech with nine homers and is up to 27 in her LA Tech career, which ranks as the sixth most in program history. Marchant leads the team in RBI with 28 while Bradi Gallaway sits one behind with 27 runs driven in.
Airline product Elena Heng, a sophomore, registered her 100th career hit against Jax State on Saturday. Heng leads the team with 42 hits, which is tied for third most in CUSA. She led the team with four hits in the series against the Gamecocks.
Third-year head football coach Blaine McCorkle and the Northwestern State Demons open spring practice early this morning. (NSU photo by CHRIS REICH)
Longtime college football coach Jack Harbaugh once said, “attack each day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
That is exactly what third-year Northwestern State head coach Blaine McCorkle wants his Demon football team to do as it kicks off spring practice early this morning.
“I want to see them attack spring practice,” McCorkle said. “Start fast. Go after spring practice. Don’t hold back. We’ve talked about that a lot because I think one thing we fell victim to last year was we entered a lot of games feeling our way through and when we realized we could play with somebody it’s a little too late.
“That’s a product of being as young as we were but now we’re a whole lot older. So teaching them to go after it, not hold back. Don’t live in fear of the mistake. No hesitation. No fear. Go attack it and let things fall where they may. If you trust your training when you go on the attack, you’re going to be alright.”
Attacking the day will be made easier with early starts to the day’s work.
For the first time under McCorkle the Demons shift their practice time to an early morning window, taking the field at 7 a.m. for 14 scheduled practices across the next five weeks leading up to the annual Delaney Bowl on April 25.
“We’re excited for it and we’re ready to go,” McCorkle said. “I think we’ve had a really productive offseason as players and coaches. I think we’ve improved our program in a lot of areas. We’ve brought in some good talent to help enhance our roster, restructured our staff a little to help us be more detailed. We’ve had some self-scout and reflection there too. So, all together I think this is as excited as I’ve been to go into spring practice since we’ve been here.”
That excitement comes in part from what McCorkle believes is the most complete roster he has had in Natchitoches.
“We had a long staff meeting really analyzing and evaluating our roster from top to bottom with a lot of metrics and deviations and things like that,” McCorkle said. “This is hands down our more complete football team. We don’t have any what I would call superstars out there that are going to blow the scoreboard up by themselves, but our bottom end is much better. We’re a balanced football team across the board which is going to lend to as much depth as we’ve had.”
That depth has been building over the past three seasons as the once youngest team in Division I football continues to get more birthdays under their belts and continues to stick together as a group.
The Demons lost just 13 players to the transfer portal from a season ago, the second fewest in the Southland Conference. The addition of 20 transfers, 17 of which will take the field today, adds to the depth component as well as the top-end talent on the roster.
“They’ve fit in really well so far and put up some good numbers and done some impressive things in the weight room,” McCorkle said of the transfers. “We’ll be excited to see them get out there. A lot of new bodies on defense, especially in that defensive backfield. We’re glad those guys are here and excited to grow and get better.”
The class consists of seven defensive backs that address one of the biggest areas of need for NSU this offseason, along with the defensive line that is another excitement point for McCorkle.
“I’m really excited about the secondary and seeing those new guys there,” McCorkle said. “We’ve shuffled our staff and have two coaches back there now with Coach Mo (Maurice Stewart) to coach specifically the corners and brought in Darren Jackson to work with the safeties. That group by nature has a lot of personalities so having more hands-on attention with those guys and little bit different focus in that room, I’m excited to see what that looks like.
The Demons practice today, Thursday and Friday of this week.
It was the most elaborate presidential inauguration in the history of our country at the time. An estimated one million people witnessed the peaceful transition of power in person.
There was a 10-mile, two-and-a-half-hour inaugural parade which escorted incoming president Dwight D. Eisenhower from the Capitol to the White House. The parade was comprised of about 22,000 servicemen and women, 5,000 civilians, 50 state and organizational floats which cost a total of about $100,000, 65 musical units, 350 horses, three elephants, an Alaskan sled dog team, and the first public showing of our military’s most devastating piece of artillery at the time, an 85-ton atomic cannon called “Atomic Annie.” Overhead, a continuous stream of aircraft including 1,100 jet fighters and a fleet of super bombers flew over the parade route.
To handle the huge crowds, two formal balls were held simultaneously at opposite sides of the city with President Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower having to be shuttled back and forth between the two for maximum effect. While at previous inaugurations, one or two film stars made appearances, at least 40 stars of film and stage entertained or were guests at the inauguration, more than at any previous inauguration. Newspapers around the world reported that it was the “biggest show ever staged in Washington.”
Hotels charge premium prices, and many desperate people had to pay a “black market bonus” of $100 just to make a hotel reservation. Adjusted for inflation, that would be over $1,200 in today’s money. Some of Washington’s “old families” rented out their luxury homes to millionaires and their friends for up to $3,000 for the week. That would be nearly $37,000 in today’s money. 60 special trains set up “Pullman Cities,” named after the 600 Pullman parlor and sleeper train cars which accommodated about 10,000 visitors. Forty steam locomotives kept constant “full heads of steam” to provide heat and hot water for the Pullman cities. The accommodation committee set up for the purpose of housing the influx of visitors to our nation’s capital referred to it as Operation Headache.
Rather than paying exorbitant fees and fighting the maddening crowds, most people chose to watch the inauguration from the comfort of their own homes. It was broadcast on all three major television networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. An estimated 29 million people tuned in throughout the day for at least part of the inauguration.
President Eisenhower’s inauguration should have been the highest rated program on television during that era, but it was overshadowed by a regularly scheduled television sitcom shown the night before which depicted something that has happened to every living human being—a child was born.
More than 70% of American households, some 44 million people, 15 million more than watched the inauguration, watched the 30-minute sitcom which aired on CBS, a single network. It remains one of the most watched sitcoms in television history. The episode was filmed two months earlier and starred an actress who was really pregnant, a first for television. This comedy showed the fictional chaos that happened leading up to the actress having a baby. The actress in the sitcom went into labor and had a son, named after his father, on the day the episode aired. The episode was titled “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” and starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Sources:
1. The Mail (Adelaide, Australia), January 17, 1953, p.23.
2. Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California), January 20, 1953, p.3.
3. The Roanoke Times, January 21, 1953, p.18.
4. “Inaugurations: 1953 Inauguration,” Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, National Archives, accessed March 15, 2026, https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/eisenhowers-presidential-years/inaugurations.
5. “Lucy Goes to the Hospital,” IMDb.com, accessed March 15, 2026, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609259/.
Bobby G. Shaw was born on June 12, 1941, and passed away on March 22, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Shirley Shaw. Bobby was the last surviving of three siblings, Rodney and Cindi. He was the son of George Frank Shaw and Tressie Shaw of Leton, Louisiana.
Mr. Shaw is also survived by his two sons: William Wade Shaw, whose children are Triston Shaw and wife Alissa, Dalton Shaw and wife Bobbie Sue. His second son, Casey Jerrod Shaw, and wife Kathy, have three children: Cody, Robert, and Mia. He was blessed with seven great-grandchildren: Lynzie, Elizabeth, Weston, Riggs, Brooks, Garrett, and Landrie
Bobby was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a good man who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A private visitation for family will be held at Alds in Shreveport. There will be no graveside service.
The family extends special thanks to Hospice for their compassionate care during his final days.
Gary Stephen Couvillon (71), passed away on March 21, 2026, in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Gary was born in Alexandria, Louisiana on October 25, 1954, to Marie Rabalais Couvillon and Murray S. Couvillon, both of whom preceded him in death, along with his sister, Elizabeth C. Willis.
He is survived by his children, Stephen and Reed Couvillon; his longtime friend and close companion, Debbie Janicek; his brother, Paul Couvillon; and several nieces and nephews.
He was a devoted sports fan who rarely missed a game, unless he was busy watching another. A lifelong fan of the Houston Astros and New Orleans Saints, Gary passed his love of sports down to his son, Stephen. With Reed, he shared his love of Jimmy Buffett and the dream of carefree island days reminiscing about good times.
Like Jimmy, Gary had a natural gift for story telling and a special talent for telling the same story more than once. He often spoke fondly of his early years in Lafayette, Louisiana where he made life-long friends who became both the subject and audience of his many tales.
The many people who loved him will now keep those stories alive.
If you have a story about Gary, please join us for a “Celebration of Life” on Friday, March 27, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 275 Southfield Rd., Shreveport, LA 71105. Reception to follow.
Evelyn Dunn Pender September 16, 1933 — March 23, 2026 Service: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 11am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
N. Jean Wilson July 29, 1950 — March 22, 2026 Service: Friday, March 27, 2026, 10am at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City.
Gary Stephen Couvillon October 25, 1954 — March 21, 2026 Service: Friday, March 27, 2026, 2pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Shreveport.
Aline S. Scott July 2, 1930 – March 21, 2026 Service: Monday, March 30, 2026, 10am at St Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Shreveport.
Steven Lane Sanford January 19, 1970 – March 20, 2026 Service: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1pm at Bethel Assembly of God, Shreveport.
James Shawn Witherington ?-March 20, 2026 Service: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 11am at Rose Park Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Amanda Tucker October 19, 1976 — March 19, 2026 Service: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 12:30pm at Rose-Neath Funeral Home South Southside, Shreveport.
Sharon Teel Bennett January 31, 1940 – March 18, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10am at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Linda Jean Henson Perkins November 18, 1947 — March 17, 2026 Service: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1pm at Forest Park West Cemetery, Shreveport.
Eloise Hawkins James October 22, 1938 — March 15, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11am at Union Star Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Sybil T. Patten April 8, 1937 – March 14, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Shreveport.
Alex Harris February 4, 1957 – March 13, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10:30a, at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Walter Harold Buckmaster, Jr. September 24, 1937 – December 21, 2025 Service: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com.)
The 2026 race for mayor of Shreveport is growing, with six candidates now publicly declared ahead of the November 3 election. The field includes the incumbent mayor, two sitting Caddo Parish commissioners, a state representative, a veteran community challenger, and a former commissioner — setting up what is expected to be a competitive contest centered on public safety, water infrastructure, economic development, and blight.
The Candidates
Tom Arceneaux — The incumbent Republican mayor is seeking a second term. Arceneaux won voter approval for a major bond package to improve city infrastructure and has pushed for new data center development in west Shreveport. His administration has faced ongoing criticism over the city’s aging water system, most recently highlighted by the March 1 failure of a 42-inch transmission main that left residents without adequate water pressure for days.
Stormy Gage-Watts — The Caddo Parish Commission President entered the race late last year as the most prominent Democrat in the field. Her campaign has focused on a “one Shreveport” message emphasizing youth engagement and community unity.
Michael Mays — One of the earlier entrants in the race, Mays is 20 years old and would become the city’s youngest-ever mayor if elected. His platform centers on community trust, public safety, and neighborhood-level engagement. Mays has already called for public debates among the candidates.
State Rep. Tammy Phelps — The Louisiana state representative announced her candidacy in late February. Phelps has cited public safety, the Shreveport water crisis, and blight as her top priorities, and has noted her legislative connections as an asset for securing state capital outlay funding for the city.
Caddo Parish Commissioner John Paul Young — Young announced his candidacy in February on KEEL Radio, adding another established political figure to an already crowded field. His entry was described at the time as a significant new dynamic in the race.
Michael Williams — The most recent entry, Williams announced his candidacy March 20. A U.S. Army veteran and Booker T. Washington High School graduate, Williams spent 10 years with the Shreveport Fire Department and served as a Caddo Parish commissioner for more than 14 years. His campaign platform focuses on public safety, economic growth, infrastructure, affordable housing, and expanding opportunity. Williams addressed a past legal matter proactively in his announcement, noting a 2015 indictment related to a nonprofit he controlled is public record and encouraging voters to research the facts themselves.
How the Election Works
All six candidates will appear on the same primary ballot November 3. If no candidate receives more than 51 percent of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff election scheduled for December 12, 2026. All seats on the Shreveport City Council are also on the ballot this cycle, with two incumbents term-limited and unable to seek re-election.
BOSSIER CITY — What initially appeared to be a single unauthorized drone sighting over Barksdale Air Force Base on March 9 was in fact the opening of a coordinated, week-long intrusion campaign involving multiple waves of sophisticated unmanned aircraft, according to a confidential internal military briefing document reviewed by ABC News.
The scope and nature of the incursions have raised serious national security concerns at one of the United States military’s most strategically important installations.
What Happened
A shelter-in-place order was issued at Barksdale on the morning of March 9 after a drone was detected over the airfield. The order was lifted later that day, and the incident was initially treated as an isolated event. The base’s security posture was temporarily elevated to Force Protection Condition Charlie — a designation indicating a potential threat to personnel or facilities.
But the intrusions did not stop there.
According to the confidential briefing document dated March 15, security forces at Barksdale observed multiple waves of 12 to 15 drones operating over sensitive areas of the installation between March 9 and March 15, including directly over the flight line. The drones displayed non-commercial signal characteristics, long-range control links, and resistance to electronic jamming. The briefing further noted the drones entered and exited the base in patterns that suggested deliberate attempts to avoid having their operators located, and that lights on the drones indicated the operators may have been intentionally testing the base’s security responses.
Military analysts assessed with high confidence that unauthorized drone operations over Barksdale would continue in the near future.
Capt. Hunter Rininger of the 2nd Bomb Wing confirmed the incidents publicly on March 20 in a statement provided to ABC News. “Barksdale Air Force Base detected multiple unauthorized drones operating in our airspace during the week of March 9th,” Rininger said. “Flying a drone over a military installation is not only a safety issue, it is a criminal offense under federal law. We are working closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate these incursions. The security of our installation and the safety of our people are top priorities, and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace.”
The Louisiana State Police, which is assisting in the investigation, declined to comment. The FAA referred inquiries to the military.
Why Barksdale Matters
Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish is not an ordinary military installation. It serves as headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command, the command responsible for overseeing the entire United States nuclear-capable bomber fleet and intercontinental ballistic missile forces. The base is home to the 2nd Bomb Wing, which operates approximately 44 B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers — aircraft capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional weapons on long-range missions. It is one of only two bases in the United States that house the B-52H.
The base covers approximately 22,000 acres and has a population of roughly 15,000 military and civilian personnel.
Operational Impact and Broader Context
The briefing document noted plainly that the drone incursions required the flight line to be shut down during each wave, putting manned aircraft already in flight in the surrounding area at risk. The incursions occurred during a period of heightened military activity, with Barksdale playing an active role in U.S. operations.
Barksdale was not the only installation affected. Unidentified drones were also detected over Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reside. That sighting prompted a White House security assessment. Additionally, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida — home to U.S. Central Command — both elevated their force protection levels in recent weeks.
The Barksdale incidents follow a documented pattern of drone incursions over U.S. military installations stretching back to December 2023, when unidentified drones circled Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 consecutive nights.
Legal Exposure
Federal law strictly prohibits drone flights over military installations. Violations carry fines of up to $250,000 and up to one year in federal prison. Louisiana law may impose additional penalties, including fines and forfeiture of equipment.
The investigation is ongoing. No suspects have been publicly identified.
The Caddo Parish Commission recognized military service, community leaders and local student achievement during its March 19 meeting, adopting a series of special resolutions highlighting contributions across the parish.
The meeting opened with a remembrance honoring service members who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Commissioners held a candlelight tribute and presented yellow roses to local veterans, recognizing the sacrifices made by fallen service members and their families, as well as the continued service of active-duty military personnel.
Commissioners also proclaimed March 18 as “Prolific Pooh Day” in honor of Demetrick Lavell Alexander-Metcalf, known as “Poohly,” recognizing his life and lasting impact on the community.
Green Whitaker Sr. was honored for reaching his 100th birthday, with commissioners acknowledging his lifetime of faith, perseverance and service to the residents of Caddo Parish.
In addition, the Youree Drive Middle School football team was recognized for its athletic achievements, including back-to-back undefeated seasons and securing the 2025 City Championship title.
The commission also adopted a resolution urging the Louisiana Legislature to establish a statewide domestic violence registry, supporting efforts inspired by advocate Petrina Jenkins and her organization, Petrina’s Purple Passion.
Another Broken Egg Café, 855 Pierremont Road, Shreveport.
By DAVID ERSOFF, Journal Contributor
Brunch has always been one of my favorite meals. Sadly, I don’t get it very often, probably because I never plan well enough in advance. Sunday brunch is very popular and without thinking ahead, sitting through a long waitlist is the result.
Recently, I thought about brunch. Keeping long wait times in mind, I figured 10:30 a.m. would be a perfect arrival time, getting in before many of the churches let out. My strategy was shared by many others so I did have to wait for a bit, but I can always spend 20-30 minutes in anticipation of good food.
I’d been to Another Broken Egg Cafe, 855 Pierremont Road, Shreveport, many years ago and thought it was time to go again.
Another Broken Egg’s menu has a wide variety of brunch, breakfast and lunch options, many with a Cajun flair. The one that stood out to me was Biscuits and Gravy. I was glad I went that way; the gravy was rich and had a bit of a bite to it, the kind of bite that wakes up your tastebuds and won’t let you put your fork down. I don’t think they could have put too much on the plate for me if they tried.
The meal comes with two eggs, country potatoes and two of their homemade house sausage patties, made with brown sugar and sage. The sausage was what gave the gravy its flavor. This will be an item I get again, and again.
No brunch would be complete without somebody ordering Eggs Benedict. Not doing that would be a travesty of dining. Fortunately for me, one of my friends chose the Eggs Benedict. She opted for the grits instead of the country potatoes. Even better, I was able to get a small taste of it before she cleaned her plate. The bites I had were enough to remind me how much I love hollandaise sauce when made from scratch. Frustration for not ordering a dish with the hollandaise sauce creeped into my mind, so I took another bite of my gravy. Neither item will make you regret your choice.
While sitting in the dining room I couldn’t help noticing how many of the tables were familiar to the waitstaff. It was refreshing to hear the servers talking to their regulars in such a way.
It’s a testament to the restaurant as a whole that it has so many people coming back on a regular basis. People come back for two reasons: good service and good food. Another Broken Egg had both on our last visit, and I have no doubt it will when I’m back for the next time as well.
The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a scam targeting families of recently arrested individuals.
Sheriff Julian Whittington said scammers are using online booking information to identify and contact relatives while posing as law enforcement officers. The callers claim they can reduce a bond or arrange for a release if money is sent immediately.
Officials emphasized that the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office does not request money over the phone to reduce a bond or secure someone’s release.
Residents who receive such calls are advised not to send money, to hang up immediately and to contact the Sheriff’s Office directly to verify the situation.
The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging the public to share the warning to help prevent others from becoming victims of the scam. Additional information is available on the agency’s website.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office joined athletes, organizers and community members to kick off the Caddo Parish Special Olympics at Lee Hedges Stadium on March 20.
The event brought together participants for a day filled with competition, encouragement and sportsmanship. Attendees witnessed strong camaraderie among athletes, along with enthusiastic support from volunteers and spectators throughout the day.
The Sheriff’s Office expressed appreciation to Special Olympics Louisiana for the opportunity to take part in the event and support athletes from across the parish.
IN THE MOMENT: As senior Flau’Jae Johnson departed the Pete Maravich Assembly Center court in a game for the last time Sunday afternoon, she and junior Mikaylah Williams shared a celebration. Both scored 24 in the rout of Texas Tech. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – It seemed like yesterday that a precocious LSU freshman guard from Savannah, Georgia, named Flau’Jae Johnson was bearhugging the woman who recruited her, in the final seconds of the Tigers’ 2023 NCAA women’s national championship game win over Iowa.
“She almost knocked me to the floor, her just picking me up and celebrating,” LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said.
And in the blink of an eye, almost four years later, Mulkey and Johnson shared another long courtside embrace on Sunday afternoon.
It happened when now-senior Johnson exited the Pete Maravich Assembly Center court for the final time in her college career as No. 2 seed LSU advanced to the Sweet 16 by demolishing No. 7 seed Texas Tech 101-47 in the second round of the Sacramento 2 Regional.
A crowd of 11,095, many of them holding placards with Johnson’s No. 4 jersey number and the Cajun pronunciation “Feaux,” raised the roof when Mulkey called a timeout with 7:34 left to give Johnson her highly emotional curtain call.
“I knew I was going to lose it, but I was holding strong,” said Johnson, who teamed with Mikaylah Williams to score 24 points each and outscore Texas Tech by themselves.
“Then, my teammates came and hugged me. I heard in that (crowd) roar. I gave everything I had and just let everything out. It was the most beautiful thing that I’ve been a part of. Something I’m going to remember forever.”
So will Mulkey, whose 29-5 team advances to Friday’s regional semfinals vs. No. 3 seed Duke (26-8), which lost at home 93-77 to LSU on Dec. 4. She’s coached many great players in her 26-year Naismith Hall of Fame coaching career, but the effervescent Johnson has operated in a different stratosphere.
She somehow combined her career as a burgeoning nationally known rapper (which started as a tribute to her dad, who was also a rapper killed in a 2003 shooting six months before she was born) and a college athlete/student.
Thanks to her musical career and her endorsements, her NIL evaluation of $1.5 million is the highest in women’s basketball. She was honored on March 12 as the national winner of the inaugural Kay Yow Servant Leader of the Year award.
“She stayed here for four years and impacted so many people in this town that we don’t even know about,” Mulkey said of Johnson, who was the first McDonald’s All-American signed by Mulkey.
Johnson’s signing was followed by subsequent McDonald’s All-American signees Williams of Bossier City’s Parkway High in 2023 and Grace Knox in 2025, as well as Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year Jada Richard in 2024, and two-time New Mexico Player of the Year Bella Hines and four-time Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year ZaKiyah Johnson, both in 2025.
Sprinkle in fellow Class of ’25 recruiting transfers MiLaysha Fulwiley (South Carolina), Amiya Joiner (East Carolina) and Kate Koval (Notre Dame), and you get a team that set an NCAA record vs. Texas Tech for most 100-point wins (16) in a season.
It was Richard scoring the Tigers’ final basket – a 3-pointer – against the Red Raiders that etched the 2025-26 squad in the record book.
Texas Tech head coach Krista Gerlich was appropriately impressed after LSU outscored the Red Raiders 32-4 off 19 Tech turnovers, 24-0 in fast break points and 46-12 points in the paint.
“It’s incredible the type of players they have and how quickly they can move the ball up the floor,” said Gerlich, whose squad finished 26-8. “That offense sells tickets, and clearly everybody wants to watch them score the ball, and defense wins championships. It looks to me like they’ve got a little bit of both.”
LSU’s defense was relentless and suffocating. The only reason the Red Raiders trailed by less than 20 at halftime – 43-25 to be exact – was that six of their seven first-half field goals were 3-pointers.
The Tigers cut off the head of that snake in the second half when Texas Tech missed its first 13 3-point attempts and finished 2 of 21 in the last two quarters.
“I feel like this was our best defensive effort of the year as a whole team,” said Johnson after the Tigers held Texas Tech to 25.4 percent (16 for 63) from the field. “We were helping each other. I just thought it was amazing.”
So was LSU’s offense. In between Johnson’s swoops to the hoop, Williams’ sniper-like accuracy from all distances, and a pair of double-doubles from post players Joyner (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Koval (10 points, 10 rebounds), the Tigers hung a hundy on a Red Raiders squad that only allowed more than 70 points four times this season.
LSU’s Sunday beatdown came on the heels of hammering No. 15 seed Jacksonville 116-58 in Friday’s first-round game.
Against the Dolphins, the Tigers became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to score 30-plus points in three separate quarters and tied a tourney record with seven double-digit scorers. It was also the most points LSU has ever scored in an NCAA tourney game.
The two-game cumulative damage unleashed by LSU might be unprecedented.
The Tigers outscored their opponents by an average of 108.5 to 52.5 points, outrebounded them by an average of 44.5 to 24, and outshot them 59 percent from the field (78 of 122) to 32 percent (40 of 125).
LSU also outscored Jacksonville State and Texas Tech 70-17 in points off turnovers, 53-11 in fast break points and 112-34 in points in the paint.
But Mulkey and her team know the prelims are over. Standing in the way of the Tigers’ second trip to the Final Four in Mulkey’s five LSU seasons are Duke and possibly a Sunday regional final vs. No. 1 seed UCLA if the Tigers can beat Duke for a second time this year.
Despite the Blue Devils jumping to a 14-1 lead over the Tigers in the first 3:13 of the December matchup, LSU’s 93 points are the most the Blue Devils have given up this year.
Also, the Tigers beat UCLA 78-69 in the 2024 Albany Regional 2 semifinals but lost to the Bruins 72-65 in last season’s Spokane Regional 1.
“It’s hard to beat people twice,” said Mulkey of Duke, who has advanced to at least the Sweet 16 19 times in 24 NCAA tourney appearances. “They’re better, I’m sure, and I think we’re better.”
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Associate AD for External Relations
NATCHITOCHES — Sam Goodwin, the architect of Northwestern State’s golden modern era of football, died Friday night at his home in Natchitoches following complications from a recent surgery.
Arrangements are pending for the school’s all-time leader in football victories and a member of the N-Club Hall of Fame, Southland Conference Hall of Honor and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
“Northwestern State has lost a giant,” Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. “Coach Sam Goodwin’s ability to build winners on and off the field took the Demon football team to some of its greatest heights and its most memorable moments. Seeing coach Goodwin’s relationship with (current Demon head football) coach Blaine McCorkle the past couple of years gave those of us who were not here when coach was on the sidelines a look into what made him and his teams so successful. His impact on Northwestern and Natchitoches is unmistakable and everlasting.”
Goodwin, 82, won a school-record 102 games in 17 seasons at the helm of the Demon program, turning it into a perennial Southland Conference championship contender while setting the Southland Conference wins record.
A Pineville native, Goodwin led the Demons to four conference championships – the 1984 Gulf Star crown and the 1988, 1997 and 1998 Southland titles. He twice was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year.
His 1998 Demon team reached the FCS semifinals where it fell to eventual national champion UMass. That 1998 team equaled the school single-season record of 11 wins and featured four of the 22 All-Americans Goodwin coached at Northwestern.
His 1988 squad advanced to the FCS quarterfinals and is the only Northwestern team to go unbeaten in Southland play. That season, Goodwin’s “Road Warriors” picked up five straight conference or playoff wins away from Turpin Stadium, including a regular-season-ending 20-17 victory at Stephen F. Austin, which had previously been ranked No. 1 in the nation. Two weeks ahead of the win at SFA, the Demons took down another top-ranked team, North Texas, on the road.
That run included the Demons’ 22-13 victory at Boise State, which marked the first FCS playoff victory in program history and came amid wintry weather in Idaho. Northwestern’s 10 wins that season marked the program’s most victories in 49 years.
In addition to the on-field All-Americans he produced, Goodwin also coached two Academic All-Americans, a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes, 42 first-team All-Southland Conference selections and 38 players who reached the NFL.
Goodwin earned induction into the N-Club Hall of Fame – the highest honor the university awards to student-athletes and athletic staff members – in 1999.
Goodwin spent two seasons as an assistant on the late Lou Holtz’ coaching staff at the University of Arkansas after a stellar nine-season run at Parkview High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he won 72 percent of his games and led the Patriots to five state championships.
He then spent two seasons as the head coach at Southern Arkansas University before making his way to Northwestern.
At a teenager at Pineville High School, Goodwin was a two-way player (offensive guard and defensive tackle) who was named team captain his senior year. Goodwin helped lead Pineville to the Class 2A state championship his senior year after returning from a broken ankle suffered earlier in the season.
Following his prep career, he played at Henderson State, beginning his Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame career. Goodwin earned enshrinement in the Arkansas hall for both his playing career and his success at the helm of Parkview.
Goodwin later returned to his alma mater as athletic director after retiring from his coaching position at Northwestern in the summer of 2000. During his Henderson State playing career in the mid-1960s, Goodwin was a standout two-sport athlete.
An NAIA All-American selection in 1965 as a two-way player, Goodwin was the 1965 team captain for the Reddies’ football team and was a three-time conference champion in the discus, setting the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference discus record.
In addition to being selected as the Henderson State MVP in 1966, Goodwin was part of the AIC All-Decade Team as chosen by Dave Campbell’s Arkansas Football Magazine. He was enshrined in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
STANDARD BEARER: Senior outfielder Chris Stanfield’s hitting has been one of LSU’s few positives in the last two SEC series. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – It wasn’t long ago that Jay Johnson was placed on the mountaintop of head baseball coaches.
And it wasn’t just at LSU after the Tigers’ diamond boss won the school’s eighth national title last June.
It was all across college baseball where he became the first coach to win two national championships in his first four seasons on the job.
Last year, when all the magic fell in place, with a starting pitching rotation featuring the nation’s No. 1 and No. 2 strikeout leaders, with a lethal batting rotation one through nine, with flawless fielding at every position, the Tigers went 10-1 in the NCAA Tournament. They won five straight College World Series games for another national title.
The buzz from the LSU fan base was that the 48-year-old Johnson was young enough to surpass the five national championships won by legendary former LSU head coach Skip Bertman.
Now, just more than a month of the 2026 season in the books, nobody is talking about Johnson’s legacy. They’d just like LSU to master baseball fundamentals and win an SEC series.
The preseason No. 1-ranked Tigers (16-9, 2-4 SEC) have lost eight of their last 13 games, including their first two league series at Vanderbilt eight days ago and this past weekend at home vs. No. 8 Oklahoma.
“There are things that this group (the 2026 team) doesn’t do as well as that group (the 2025 squad) clearly,” Johnson said. “I’ve tried to subscribe when you’re playing great, like last year’s 17-game winning streak and the 16-game winning streak between the end of last year and the start of this year, that things aren’t always as good as they seem. That’s why we always keep it about the play.”
Which hasn’t been acceptable the last three weeks by a program that refers to itself as “The Powerhouse of College Baseball.”
Terrible pitching (an 11.07 earned run average) plagued LSU vs. Vanderbilt. Against Oklahoma, LSU’s hitting totally disappeared with a .202 batting average.
“Baseball is hard, especially hitting,” Tigers’ senior left fielder Chris Stanfield said after Saturday’s loss.
He had one of the team’s few consistent shining lights, hitting .333 in SEC games, including six runs scored. He had a homer and double in Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 Game 3 loss in the series finale after LSU won Thursday night’s contest 7-1 and lost 4-2 in Friday night’s game.
The only other Tiger who could hold his head high was sophomore Casan Evans.
Five days after the worst pitching performance of his college career, giving up five hits and five runs with five walks in just three innings as the Tigers’ starter in the series 13-12 opening loss at Vanderbilt, he struck out a career-high 15 batters and allowed no earned runs in 7.2 innings in Thursday’s opener against Oklahoma.
“Last week, I just had a slow tempo on the mound,” Evans said. “I don’t really know (why). I’ve always pitched with the fast tempo since high school. Same tempo, same wind up, same everything pretty much.
“I really think that was the reason why last week did not go the way I wanted. We sped up the tempo this week. I wanted the ball back right after I struck somebody out. Just got myself in the right headspace and went after the next batter.”
Evans was LSU’s lone highlight reel because most of the Tigers’ bats were ice cold.
Right fielder Jake Brown’s team-leading .400 batting average dropped almost 20 points to .381. He was 1 for 7, despite drawing six walks.
Returning national title team starters Brown, shortstop Steven Milam and centerfielder Derek Curiel batted a combined 4 for 29 (.138) with one RBI.
Once again, LSU’s defense was shaky. After committing four errors vs. Vanderbilt, the Tigers had five against the Sooners.
The most damaging was freshman second baseman Jack Ruckert bobbling a potential ground ball in the top of the eighth in Saturday’s game that would have allowed LSU reliever Devin Sheerin to escape the mess created by previous reliever Gavin Guidry.
Instead, OU tied the game at 2-2 on Ruckert’s error before Sooners’ catcher Brendan Brock’s sacrifice fly immediately scored what proved to be the winning run.
The worst news of the weekend was that LSU’s second-best starting pitcher Cooper Moore is sidelined for two to three weeks with swelling in his pitching arm.
“There’s nothing structurally wrong, but there is some swelling that we need to get down,” said Johnson, who pulled Moore after he uncharacteristically threw his first pitch of the fifth inning in the dirt in Friday’s loss. “The only way to do that is to give him some time.”
The OU series was part of a nine-game homestand for the Tigers, who host Louisiana Tech (15-9) on Tuesday night at 6:30, followed by a three-game SEC series vs. No. 15 Kentucky (19-4, 4-2) starting at 6:30 on Friday night.
Here’s the series recap:
GAME 1: LSU 7, OKLAHOMA 1 – The 15 strikeouts by Evans in Thursday’s opener were the most by an LSU pitcher in an SEC regular-season game since May 5, 2023, when Paul Skenes recorded 15 strikeouts at Auburn.
The Tigers expanded their 1-0 first-inning lead to 5-0 in the second. They took advantage of three Oklahoma errors, and LSU third baseman John Pearson stroked an RBI single.
GAME 2: OKLAHOMA 4, LSU 2 – OU starting pitcher LJ Mercurius allowed two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts on Friday.
Pearson’s lead-off home run in the second gave LSU a 1-0 edge and Tigers’ catcher Omar Serna Jr. hit a run-scoring single in the seventh. The Sooners scored a run each in the third, fourth, fifth and ninth innings.
GAME 3: OKLAHOMA 4, LSU 3 – Powered by Serna’s two-run homer in the first inning and Stanfield’s solo blast in the fifth, the Tigers built a 3-1 lead in Saturday’s finale.
They couldn’t hold on. OU scored three eighth-inning runs, capitalizing on two Tigers’ errors.
Sooners second baseman Kyle Branch had an RBI single, third baseman Camden Johnson contributed a game-tying run-scoring groundout and Brock launched a game-winning RBI sacrifice fly.
OUT FRONT: Ava Maria’s Michael Klekas heads in to score as LSUS’ Devonte Austin tries to catch up Friday at the NAIA Sweet 16. (Photo courtesy Ave Maria Athletics)
JOURNAL SPORTS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As expected, LSU Shreveport and Ave Maria lit up the scoreboard Friday in the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Championships at fabled Municipal Auditorium in the highest scoring game so far in Kansas City.
LSUS never led but rallied for three ties down the stretch before Ave Maria regained the upper hand as time wound down and prevailed 102-98, ending the Pilots’ season.
A double-digit deficit was chewed away in a stretch run rally by LSUS (28-6).
“Some teams fold. Some choose to fight. Down 15 and we never quit,” said Pilots coach Kyle Blankenship in a social media post. “Tied it with five minutes left and fought to the finish.”
Khi Wallace led the Pilots with 26 points and 11 rebounds while Hayden Brittingham added 23 points and 11 rebounds. Alexzaye Johnson delivered a strong all-around performance with 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Thaddeus Johnson chipped in 13 points.
Ave Maria countered with a balanced offensive effort led by Michael Klekas, who posted 26 points and 11 rebounds. Jack Watkins recorded 21 points and 11 boards with four assists and four blocks, while Jaylen White added 17 points, Alex Sherwood contributed 14 points, and 10 rebounds and Jonathan Effertz scored 13.
The Gyrenes set the tone early, using second-chance opportunities to build a first-half advantage. Ave Maria dominated the glass throughout the opening period and carried a 46-38 lead into halftime.
In the second half, the Pilots faced their largest deficit of the game at 61-46 with 17:04 remaining, but chipped away behind strong inside play, eventually tying the game at 83 following a Devonte Austin 3-pointer with 6:58 left.
From there, the contest turned into a back-and-forth battle for a few possessions before Ave Maria regained the edge for good. From an 87-all tie, the Gyrenes pushed away on an 8-2 run with two baskets and four free throws while LSUS missed four of five shots.
Despite late baskets from Wallace and Brittingham to keep the Pilots within striking distance, the Gyrenes sealed the game at the free throw line in the closing seconds.
LSU Shreveport shot 50.6 percent from the field and dominated points in the paint (64-44), but the Pilots were hindered by a 50 percent performance at the free throw line (9-of-18) and a rebounding deficit (48-36). Ave Maria converted 22-of-30 free throws and turned 48 rebounds into 26 second-chance points.
“LSU Shreveport should be proud. Shreveport-Bossier should be proud. This coach is heartbroken, but proud!” said Blankenship. “Our guys showed out all week (in Kansas City) – from community service to high flying, high scoring entertainment on the court.”
Ave Maria (30-4) knocked out Grace, the nation’s No. 2 ranked team, Saturday 99-86 to reach the Final Four and a semifinal matchup tonight with Langston.
Dawn Aleece Alexander-Stuber, a woman of remarkable strength, creativity, and dedication, passed away on March 17, 2026, at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. After 5 years of a prolonged battle with her health, and many prayers on her behalf, she went on to her Heavenly home. She was 56 years old. She is now at peace with our Heavenly Father.
Dawn’s story began on April 14, 1969, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas. She grew up with a natural drive that defined her professional life. For over 25 years, Dawn was a staple of the airline industry. She was a true “self-made” success, beginning her career in baggage claim and tirelessly working her way up to management. Her colleagues knew her as a hard worker and leader who they could always depend on.
Beyond her professional life, Dawn was a woman of many colors and quirks. She had an infectious laugh that would fill any room and would talk to anyone, strangers or not about how proud she was of her children. Stubborn at times, she knew what she wanted and had a drive to always keep pushing, even when the odds were stacked against her. Whether she was enjoying a great movie surrounded by her loving pets and husband or spending time with her grandchildren, she never took any moment for granted. Above all, her greatest joy was her family. She was at her happiest when surrounded by her children and grandchildren, sharing stories and making memories. Dawn’s legacy of hard work and love is carried on by her husband, John Stuber and his children Clare and Andrew; her mother, Betty Alexander; and her sister, Tricia Parr, along with Tricia’s children, Trinity and Tessie.
She was preceded in death by her father, Carnes Pierce Alexander, whom she was most excited to meet once again.
Her spirit lives on through her children and grandchildren: Her daughter, Tabitha Cates and her spouse, Ray and their daughter Paycen; Her daughter, Amber Cadenas and her children, Jamie, Addie, and Lucas; Her daughter, Stephanie Shafer; Her son, Carsen Shafer and his spouse, Fana.
Dawn was a light in the lives of those who knew her, and she will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and former colleagues.
Services will be held at the Alpine Church of Christ in Longview. Visitation will begin at 10:30am to 11:30am, with funeral services to be held immediately afterwards at noon.
Kayla Shaw Brossett, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and faithful servant of the Lord, passed away on March 19, 2026, at her home in Opelousas Louisiana. She was 91 years old. Born on February 15, 1935, in Oil City, Louisiana, to the late James Shaw and Lucinda Shaw, Kayla lived a life defined by devotion to her family, her community, and her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ.
Kayla was a consummate homemaker whose gifts extended far beyond the walls of her household. Her extraordinary cooking abilities led many to encourage her to pursue catering, and her home was kept with such care and elegance that one might have expected a photographer from Southern Living Magazine to arrive at any moment. Never one to stop learning, she studied Floral Design and Painting at San Jacinto College, adding yet other dimensions to her already remarkable talents. Perhaps her most cherished creation, however, was the family cookbook she lovingly compiled, making sure to include everyone’s favorite or special dishes. That cookbook remains in a place of honor on kitchen shelves throughout the extended family and may well stand as one of her greatest legacies.
Kayla’s life was one of constant movement and adventure. She followed her husband, A. L. Brossett, around the globe as he designed machines in numerous countries, embracing each new destination with grace and curiosity. Even after those years abroad, her love of travel never waned. She held a particular fondness for visiting Holland to see the tulips in bloom. She also enjoyed painting, collecting art, and working diligently to maintain the family traditions that bound her loved ones together across generations.
Above all, Kayla was eternally focused on her family, supporting her husband’s, children’s, and grandchildren’s endeavors with tireless encouragement. She devoted many years to serving as a Sunday School teacher, a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and a dedicated worker with the GA’s and the Women’s Missionary Union. Through every season of life, she sought to instill in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren a love for Jesus Christ and the importance of being in right relationship with their Lord.
Kayla was preceded in death by her husband, A. L. Brossett; her son, Stephen Brossett; her father, James Shaw; and her mother, Lucinda Shaw as well as seven brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Harris; her son, Keith Brossett and wife, Dawn; as well as grandchildren Robert Harris, Alan Brossett, Stephanie Harris, Joseph Brossett, and Michael Brossett; numerous great-grandchildren, extended family members and friends whose lives she touched deeply.
Services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Visitation will commence at nine o’clock in the morning, with services beginning at eleven o’clock. The Reverend Randy Ellis, pastor of Kayla’s home church, St. Claire Baptist Church, will officiate.
Kayla recorded a scripture on the inside leaf of one of her Bibles and highlighted it in another. First Peter 5:6-7 would be her message to all who love her: “Humble yourselves therefore under the Mighty Hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Steven Lane Sanford January 19, 1970 – March 20, 2026 Service: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1pm at Bethel Assembly of God, Shreveport.
Sharon Teel Bennett January 31, 1940 – March 18, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10am at Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Linda Jean Henson Perkins November 18, 1947 — March 17, 2026 Service: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 1pm at Forest Park West Cemetery, Shreveport.
Troy E. Bain September 9, 1936 – March 16, 2026 Service: Monday, March 23, 2026, 11am at Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Eloise Hawkins James October 22, 1938 — March 15, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11am at Union Star Baptist Church, Shreveport.
Sybil T. Patten April 8, 1937 – March 14, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, Shreveport.
Alex Harris February 4, 1957 – March 13, 2026 Service: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10:30a, at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Linda Lurana Reese December 30, 1948 – March 13, 2026 Service: Monday, March 23, 2026, 10:30am at Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Keithville.
Hill Smith August 5, 1939 — March 7, 2026 Service: Monday, March 23, 2026, 11am at Winnfield Funeral Home, Shreveport.
Walter Harold Buckmaster, Jr. September 24, 1937 – December 21, 2025 Service: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 10am at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Shreveport.
The Shreveport-Bossier Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or SBJNewsLa@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to SBJNewsLa@gmail.com.)
