Month: February 2026

Arrest Report

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.

1/18/26

Travis Carter of Ringgold was arrested for three (3) counts of Simple Battery (Misdemeanor).

1/19/26

Aylissa Loud of Ringgold was arrested for Battery of Emergency Room Personnel, Emergency Services Personnel, or a Healthcare Professional (Misdemeanor). 

1/20/26

Ladarius Lard of Ringgold was arrested for Telephone Communications – Improper Language, Harassment (Felony); two (2) counts of Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault (Felony); and Domestic Abuse Battery with Child Endangerment (Felony). 

1/21/26

Kendra Jenkins of Arcadia was arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (Felony); Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (Felony); Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycontin (Felony); Possession or Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor); Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession with Intent to Distribute Xanax (Alprazolam; Felony); and Possession of Schedule 1 with Intent to Distribute.

Jeffery Jackson of Doyline was arrested for Criminal Trespass (Misdemeanor); Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor); seven (7) counts of Theft (Misdemeanor); and four (4) counts of Theft (Misdemeanor). 

Johnny Cockerham of Gibsland was arrested for Possession of Schedule 1 with Intent to Distribute; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (Felony); Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine (Felony); Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycontin (Felony); Possession with Intent to Distribute Xanax (Alprazolam; Felony); and Possession or Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor). 

Carl Gray of Arcadia was arrested for Simple Battery (Misdemeanor).

1/23/26

Jermarquis Richardson of Arcadia was arrested for Taking Contraband to/from Penal Institutions Prohibited (Felony); Driver Must Be Licensed; Careless Operation; and D.W.I. – 1st Offense (BAC .08 to .15; Misdemeanor). 

Ken’Tayjia Jones of Arcadia was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Fireman (Felony) and Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities – Aggravated Assault (Felony). 

Adam Theriot III of Shreveport was arrested for two (2) counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine (Felony). 

1/29/26

Brandon Brooks of Ruston was arrested for Possession of Schedule I Less Than 28 Grams; Operating a Vehicle with Suspended License – No License Issued; Careless Operation; and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (Misdemeanor). 

1/30/26

Cody Husser of Shreveport was arrested for Fugitive.

1/31/26

Bry’Travious Millsaps of Winnsboro was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).

Jason Edwards of Taylor was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Misdemeanor); Criminal Trespass (Misdemeanor); Simple Robbery (Felony); Simple Criminal Damage to Property (Misdemeanor); Possession of Methamphetamine Less Than 28 Grams (Felony); Taking Contraband to/from Penal Institutions Prohibited (Felony); and Fugitive. 

Jacob Turner of Saline was arrested for Obstruction of Justice – Hindrance/Delay; Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities – Aggravated Assault (Felony); and Simple Battery (Misdemeanor). 

Elijahwon Armstrong of Gulfport, MS, was arrested for Unauthorized Entry of a Place of Business (Felony).

Madelin Allums of Saline was arrested for Obstruction of Justice – Hindrance/Delay and Simple Battery (Misdemeanor).

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bienville Parish’s Weekly Weather Forecast

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A stretch of bright, dry weather settles over the parish beginning Wednesday, bringing crisp mornings, sunny afternoons, and a gradual warming trend into the weekend. After a chilly start mid‑week, temperatures rebound sharply, offering several days of unseasonably warm conditions before clouds thicken again early next week.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

A cool, bright day with highs near 53°F and overnight lows around 29°F. Sunshine dominates, and winds remain light from the north.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Another sunny day with a slight warm‑up. Highs reach 55°F, dipping to 40°F overnight under clear skies.

Friday, Feb. 6

A noticeable jump in temperatures brings a mild, springlike feel. Highs climb to 72°F, with lows near 40°F. Skies stay clear and humidity remains low.

Saturday, Feb. 7

Still warm but slightly cooler than Friday. Expect 68°F for the afternoon high and 46°F overnight. Sunshine continues with calm winds.

Sunday, Feb. 8

Warmth builds again with highs near 74°F and lows around 51°F. Mostly sunny skies persist, though humidity begins to increase.

Monday, Feb. 9

Partly to mostly sunny with highs near 70°F and lows around 57°F. Clouds increase overnight with a slight uptick in moisture.

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Mostly cloudy and mild, with highs near 69°F and lows around 59°F. A small chance of light showers emerges as the next system approaches.

Forecast Summary 

Bienville Parish enters this forecast period with a classic early‑February cool‑to‑warm transition.

  • The mid‑week chill on Wednesday and Thursday gives way to a pronounced warm‑up beginning Friday, when temperatures surge into the 70s under clear skies.
  • This warm pattern holds through the weekend, offering several days of bright, comfortable weather more reminiscent of early spring than winter. Sunshine remains dominant, and rain chances stay extremely low through Sunday.
  • As the new week begins, moisture gradually increases, bringing more clouds on Monday and Tuesday. While temperatures remain mild—hovering near 70°F—conditions trend more unsettled, with a slight chance of showers by Tuesday.

Overall, the period is defined by dry weather, a strong warming trend, and only minimal precipitation risk until the very end of the forecast window.

Water billing notice released for Arcadia

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Arcadia Mayor O’Landis Millican announced that due to recent winter weather, snow covered water meters prevented the town’s antenna system from collecting readings, which may cause delays in February water bills.
 
All late fees for February bills will be waived.
 
The Town of Arcadia is actively working to restore accurate meter readings and appreciates the public’s patience and understanding during this weather-related disruption.
 
If anyone has questions or concerns, contact Town Hall.
 

St. Jude Radiothon set to air Feb. 5-6

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For 45 years, North Louisiana residents have tuned in to support children and families through the annual St. Jude Radiothon, which is returning Feb. 5-6 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Ruston radio station Z107.5.
 
During the event, listeners can make donations by calling 1-800-787-5288 or by giving online via the station’s website (Z1075fm.com), Facebook (Z107.5) or Instagram (Z1075fm) pages. In-person donations will be collected in related side events at the Ruston Walmart Supercenter and Super 1 Foods.
 
The local Zeta Rho chapter of the service organization Epsilon Sigma Alpha co-sponsors the event, which raised nearly $96,000 for St. Jude last year for the Memphis, Tennessee, hospital that focuses on treating catastrophic childhood diseases.
 
Radiothon Chair Nancy Darland said, “Through these four-and-a-half decades, North Louisiana has rallied around a large number of children from this area – and also from around the world – who have been treated at St. Jude. Currently, several from Ruston are in active treatment, and we send them our warmest thoughts and prayers.
 
“Donations are what keeps St. Jude running so that we can give hope to these children and their families. Our community has always been very generous in this regard. I ask you to continue that generosity this year, to help in the treatment of those with catastrophic childhood illnesses.”
 
Approximately 9,000 patients are treated by St. Jude each year, including more than 800 from Louisiana. About 89% of the hospital’s more than $2 billion annual operating budget must be raised through public contributions. Families are never billed for treatment, travel, meals or lodging.

Area artist donates original painting to St. Jude auction

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“Bay Runner” by Hooshang Khorasani

Ruston artist Hooshang Khorasani has donated one of his original equine paintings, “Bay Runner,” to the annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital fundraiser in Minden, to be held Feb. 5-8.

Khorasani is an internationally exhibited, award-winning artist who maintains working studios in Ruston and Orange County, California. He earned a bachelor of fine arts in painting, began his career as a
graphic designer and illustrator, and has worked as a self-employed artist in the U.S. and abroad since the early 1980s.

His bold contemporary works – including abstracts, landscapes and equine pieces – are held in private, corporate and museum collections throughout the United States and Europe.

“Bay Runner” is a dynamic 36-by-36-inch original acrylic-on-canvas painting valued at $3,000. To view the artwork or buy a chance to win the painting, visit mindenstjude.com/product/art-bay-runner.

Proceeds support lifesaving research and care for children with catastrophic illnesses.

Delta Utilities launches DU Cares Customer Assistance Program with United Way

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Delta Utilities announced the launch of DU Cares, a customer assistance program that will provide short-term financial relief to households struggling to pay their natural gas bills. Funded by the Delta Utilities Foundation and administered in partnership with United Way of Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA), the program reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting families and strengthening economic stability across Louisiana and Mississippi.
 
“DU Cares reflects our fundamental belief that no family should have to choose between keeping the heat on and meeting other basic needs,” said Tim Poché, CEO of Delta Utilities. “Natural gas is essential for daily living—from cooking meals to staying warm. Through this program, we’re not just helping customers manage a bill; we’re investing in the stability of families throughout our service area. Our partnership with United Way ensures that help is accessible, equitable, and delivered with the compassion every family deserves.”
 
Developed in partnership with UWSELA, DU Cares is part of Delta Utilities’ broader commitment to supporting the communities it serves and strengthening economic stability for families across Louisiana and Mississippi.
 
“For many ALICE households, even short-term disruptions can quickly turn into a financial crisis,” added Michael Williamson, UWSELA President and CEO. “Programs like DU Cares provide critical relief at exactly the right moment, helping working families stay stable and avoid falling further behind. United Way is proud to partner with Delta Utilities to ensure this support reaches those who need it most, strengthening household financial security and the overall health of our communities.”
 
Delta Utilities Cares Program Overview
 
DU Cares provides up to $250 in direct utility bill assistance for qualifying households facing unexpected financial hardship. The program is designed to deliver quick, meaningful support when customers need it most.
 
Eligibility Requirements:
  • Active Delta Utilities natural gas account
  • Residence within the Delta Utilities service area
Assistance Details:
  • Up to $250 applied directly to the customer’s natural gas bill
  • One assistance payment per household within a 12-month period
  • Applications reviewed and verified by UWSELA
Delta Utilities has committed up to $200,000 to fund DU Cares in 2026, with support deployed on a rolling basis as applications are approved. When funds are fully allocated, applications will temporarily pause until additional funding is available.
 
How Customers Can Apply:
 
Customers may submit an application online  at unitedwaysela.org/delta-utilities-cares and must provide:
  • A current Delta Utilities bill
  • A matching ID

Cartoon of the Week: Weather Mood Swings

/ Megan Lowe / Leave a comment

Louisiana weather has never been great at picking a lane — and that’s the joke. One minute you’re digging out a winter coat, the next you’re debating flip-flops, all while keeping an umbrella close just in case. This week’s cartoon leans into that familiar mood swing, featuring a character dressed for every season at once, staring suspiciously at the forecast like it personally betrayed them.

It’s a lighthearted nod to a shared Southern experience: the daily ritual of checking the weather and still being wildly unprepared.

Saline SWCD to host Tree Sale this week

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Saline Soil and Water Conservation District will have their Annual Tree Sale on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Depot in Arcadia. Sale hours are 9am to 3pm. 

On Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7 the sale moves back to the Saline SWCD Office at 2263 Hall Street, Ringgold. Sale hours are 9am to until 4pm.

The trees are sold first come, first serve and there are no pre-orders. Cash and checks only. For more information, call 318-894-2174.

SOLD IN 3 GALLON POTS – $20 each
Blueberry (Tiff Blue, Powder Blue or Austin)
Mayhaw
Red Mulberry
Magnolia Fuscata (banana)
Persimmon
Sweet Pecan
Jane Magnolia

SOLD IN 5 GALLON POTS – $27 each
Brown Turkey Fig
Keiffer Pear
Moonglow Pear
Methley Plum
Santa Rosa Plum
La. Feliciana Peach
Florida King Peach
Peggy Martin Rose

Pondering: The Party is the Prelude

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I think spending a week inside avoiding the dangers of sleetmageddon put me in a reflective mood.

Shouts of “Throw me something, Mister!” are echoing across our state again. Krewes are loading up their floats, folks are dusting off tuxes and gowns for the Balls, and everybody’s loosening up their throwing arms like they’re training for the Saints’ draft. In Louisiana, this can only mean one thing: Lent is sneaking up on us.

Most places prepare for Lent with quiet reflection. Down here, we crank up the brass band. When you see purple, green, and gold beads hanging from the power lines like Spanish moss, you know the season of repentance is right around the corner. Only in Louisiana do we get ready for fasting by throwing a monthlong party.

Lent, of course, is tied to the ancient discipline of fasting. Ever tried it? That’s where all those fishonFriday stories come from. McDonald’s once even tried a pineapple sandwich to help the Friday fasters. They won’t do that again—but somehow the McRib keeps coming back like a stray cat that knows you’re a soft touch.

But fasting isn’t about food so much as it’s about reality. It’s the spiritual posture of remembering just how dependent we are on God—choosing hunger so we can feel our deeper hunger. The truth is, we are always desperate for God; it’s just that our comforts and routines do a pretty good job of hiding it. Fasting cuts through the camouflage.

Fasting is a bold declaration that our stomachs don’t get the final say, that our bodies don’t get to boss our spirits around. In a culture that worships indulgence, fasting is downright rebellious. Yet Jesus fasted. He expected His disciples to fast. Scripture mentions fasting more often than baptism. It’s not a fringe practice—it’s a foundational one.

In the Bible, people fasted for guidance, for grief, for deliverance, for clarity, for dedication, for worship. And Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, told His followers to fast quietly—not with ashes smeared on their heads but with clean faces and anointed hair. In other words: don’t look miserable. Look like someone who knows God sees what no one else does.

The early church took this seriously. Clement of Alexandria tells us believers fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. By 340 AD, Athanasius tied fasting to remembering Jesus’ wilderness journey. John Wesley even refused to ordain Methodist leaders who didn’t fast weekly. (Yes, I know. I’m preaching to myself here.)

Jesus fasted. The early church fasted. Christians throughout history have fasted. So why do so few of us do it now? Maybe some are fasting quietly and we simply don’t know. Or maybe we’ve let the noise of our culture drown out a practice that once shaped the saints.

So as the parades roll, the beads fly, and the king cakes multiply, remember this: the reason for the revelry is that Lent is coming. The party is the prelude.

And it makes me wonder—how different would our faith look if we took the fast of Lent as seriously as we take the fun of Mardi Gras?

The College Crossroads: Finding Clarity in the Chaos of Admissions

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A family’s guide to navigating the biggest decision of a young adult’s life, and why a single Saturday in Natchitoches might hold the answer.

By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University

The kitchen table is often where the panic sets in. It starts with a stack of glossy mailers, each promising the best four years of a student’s life. Then come the spreadsheets, the deadlines, and the quiet, gnawing questions that keep parents awake at 3 a.m. Can we afford this? Will they be safe? Is this the place where my child becomes the person they are meant to be?

For high school seniors, the pressure is immediate. They are standing on the cliff of adulthood, trying to discern their future from a website or a brochure. For families, the challenge is different. You bring the weight of experience. You understand the long-term implications of student loans and the reality of living away from home. You want to protect them, yet you know you must let them lead.

This tension between parental wisdom and student autonomy is natural, but it does not have to be stunned by anxiety. The remedy is not found in more paperwork. It is found in experience. It is found in stepping onto a campus, walking the grounds, and feeling the texture of the community.

That is the philosophy behind Northwestern State University’s N-Side View Day.

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, NSU opens its doors for an event designed to cut through the noise of the college search. It is an invitation to move beyond the statistics and step into the reality of life in Natchitoches.

“Your future is calling and it begins here,” says Emily Miller, Director of Recruiting. “We want students and families to see not just what Northwestern offers, but how it feels to be part of our community.”

Finding the right college is about finding a value match. It is about aligning a student’s ambition with an institution’s culture. This is difficult to do from a distance. You need to see the residence halls. You need to sit in the classrooms. You need to look a professor in the eye and ask them how they will mentor your student.

N-Side View Day provides that access. It transforms the abstract idea of “going to college” into a tangible plan.

The day is structured to address the specific anxieties that families face. Financial stability is often the largest hurdle. Many students, and honestly, many parents, are inexperienced in managing large-scale finances. During the event, financial aid experts break down the process, comparing packages and explaining scholarships in simple terms. It turns a conversation about debt into a strategy for investment.

Academically, the event allows students to explore over 100 degree programs. This is where the student takes the lead. While parents look for security, students look for inspiration. They can connect directly with faculty, asking the questions that matter to them.

“We have designed N-Side View Day to go beyond information. It’s an experience that inspires,” Miller explains. “Families leave with clarity, confidence, and excitement about the future.”

There is also the undeniable influence of place. Natchitoches is Louisiana’s oldest city, a place where history and progress coexist. The campus reflects that balance. It feels grounded. It feels like home. When families visit, they often find that their preconceived notions shift. A parent might have envisioned a different path but seeing their student light up while walking through Alost Hall changes the conversation. It validates that the student knows themselves better than anyone else.

NSU President James T. Genovese views this day as a critical first step in a lifelong relationship. “We are committed to preparing students not just for jobs, but for meaningful lives of impact,” Genovese says. “N-Side View Day is a chance to experience that mission firsthand.”

The event acknowledges that this transition is emotional. Having family support provides a safety net that fosters confidence. By visiting together, you are not making the decision for them; you are standing beside them as they make it.

The day concludes with a classic collegiate experience: a Demon Baseball game. Every attendee receives a free ticket. It is a chance to sit in the stands, eat a hot dog, and watch the B-Stro Boys compete on the diamond. It is a moment to stop worrying about the application process and start enjoying the atmosphere.

“NSU is Louisiana’s best-kept secret,” Miller says. “Once students step on campus, they feel it. They know this is where they belong.”

The labyrinth of college admissions is navigable. It requires patience, honest conversation, and a willingness to explore. It requires a trip to Natchitoches.

Register today for N-Side View Day at www.nsu.la/nsideviewday.

What: N-Side View Day

Where: Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA

When: Saturday, February 28, 2026

Includes: Campus tours, academic sessions, financial aid guidance, and Demon Baseball.

Register: www.nsu.la/nsideviewday

When ‘In Sickness and in Health’ Is Put to the Test

/ NPJ / Leave a comment

Here’s my latest Q & A

Read Now

About Ida

Beginnings are tricky, but here we are—fresh page, blinking cursor, and a head full of questions. I’m Ida B. Torn, a lifelong Southerner from Kenner, Louisiana, who’s spent years working in newsrooms, design studios, and public service. I’ve seen my share of life’s chaos and comedy—and learned that sometimes, folks just need straight answers and a little laughter along the way.

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