Brandon Roberts, age 39 of DeRidder, was arrested on an out-of-jurisdiction Bench Warrant from Beauregard Parish. Roberts was transferred to the Beauregard Parish Jail.
Jason Dale McCarty, age 45 of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count Speeding, one count of Aggravated Flight from an Officer, one count Driving on Roadway Laned for Traffic, one count Failure to Register, and one count of Stop Signs and Yield Signs. Bond was set at $3665. McCarty posted bond and was released.
Romelzy Lele Strother, age 42 of Pitkin, was arrested and charged with Theft over $1500 and an outstanding Bench Warrant for Non-Payment of Child Support. Bond has not been set. Strother remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.
ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.
In early September of this year, the Leesville Fire Department responded to an RV on fire on Carl Street in Leesville. When fire crews arrived, a vacant apartment complex was also on fire. Following the fire-fight, investigators with the State Fire Marshall’s Office determined the fires were intentionally set.
Late last week, Johnathan Eaves, age 47, the owner of the property, was arrested by the State Fire Marshall’s office on two counts of Arson with Intent to Defraud and one count of Insurance Fraud. The investigation is ongoing.
ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and local fire crews battled ten wildfires on Highway 10 over a week ago caused by a freakish accident.
According to reports, the fires started near Marlow Baptist Church and ended near Honor Field at Ft. Johnson. A truck pulling a dual trailer blew out a tire next to the church. The operator of the truck drove an estimated nine miles while showering sparks from the bare rim.
The fires burned almost 15 acres of wooded area before being brought under control. Fires damaged timberland and threatened several homes. LDAF investigators and the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s office, acting on tips, located the vehicle and driver, who was issued a summons for careless operation.
Rain is expected this week. It has been over a month with no significant rainfall. Please remember there are burn bans in over 30 parishes including Vernon, Sabine and Beauregard.
The Leesville City Council met Monday at 3 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Phillip Hunt stood in for absent Mayor Rick Allen.
Monthly bills were presented in the amount of $40,015.92. Nicole Naral with Finance said three months into the fiscal year, the City should be at 25% of budget. They are recently at 26%.
The Council passed a resolution to cancel the Council meeting November 11 due to Veterans’ Day. The Council also passed a resolution disapproving of Carbon Capture Sequestration in Vernon Parish. They are opposed to test and actual wells.
City Engineer Mark McCarty reported that the Entrance Road lift project had crossed on to Jeane-Chapel Road and was nearing completion. The street rehab project is also winding down this week. Asphalt work is done, and concrete crews will finish the remaining driveway and curb work this week. RC Paving has repaired the culvert crossing on Belview Road, addressed the intersection of Herring and Carl Streets, patched Jean Street from Port Arthur Terrace to 10th Street, repaired Loblolly Lane, overlayed Merchants Boulevard from Merritt Street to Jean Street, and Merritt Street from Aaron Avenue to Merchants Boulevard. Repairs were also made on Powell Drive from South Whispering Pines Loop to North Whispering Pines Loop, as well as Port Arthur Terrace and Spruce Street.
City Administrator Patti Larney said that due to severe weather concerns this Thursday, the City will officially allow door-to-door trick-or-treating on Saturday, November 2, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Officials with Witch Way to Main Street will likewise not hold their downtown event on Halloween. It will not be immediately rescheduled due to several weekend events in the City. It will return in 2025.
Congratulations to football fan Melissa Fulks of Leesville for sweeping the field and going 10-0 in last week’s Pick-Em Contest. There were four entries that went 9-1 and several that were 8-2, but Melissa’s perfect mark earns her the $100 bill. Every entry comes with a free subscription to the VPJ. Click the link above this article to play and win. Entries must be received by the VPJ by Friday at 4 p.m. We’ll be giving away $100 every week through December 20.
Thanks to our inaugural sponsors: The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office, Mockler Beverage, Bud’s Auto and Towing, Mad Bullies-ATV Repair, Mark Smith Insurance, Cryer’s Sports, and Dairy Queen of Leesville.
Advertise your business with the Vernon Parish Journal and get results. Call 337-208-9253 and get started.
As Halloween approaches, Troopers urge all residents to prioritize safety. While children in costumes traverse neighborhoods throughout Louisiana, parents and guardians should exercise caution and be aware of potential hazards and dangerous situations. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treating experience for all, we recommend adhering to the following safety guidelines:
Ensure that your child remains as visible as possible by carrying a flashlight or glow stick and/or wearing reflective clothing or costumes to alert drivers of the child’s location.
Remember that masks can restrict vision and breathing, restricting sight of oncoming vehicles. Face painting is a safer option.
Avoid potential tripping hazards, such as costumes that drag on the ground.
Accompany children so they do not enter homes or vehicles without permission.
Plan your trick-or-treating route in familiar neighborhoods with well-lit streets.
Remember to walk on sidewalks when available. If walking on the street is necessary, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
Children should also know their address, phone number, and how to dial 911 for emergencies. Young children should have this information attached somewhere on their costumes in the event they get separated or lost.
Parents are urged to inspect all candy.
Motorists should also use caution and drive slowly through residential areas and intersections leading to neighborhoods. Trick-or-treaters may run across the street without looking for vehicles, or their vision could be obscured by masks. Also, Troopers ask that you drive with your headlights on, even during daylight and dusk hours, so that other vehicles and pedestrians can see you from farther distances.
Under current State Law, it is illegal for a registered sex offender to participate in Halloween trick-or-treat activities. Parents can find accurate information regarding the presence of sex offenders and predators in their neighborhoods by visiting the Louisiana Sex Offender and Child Predator Registry online at https://lsp.org/community-outreach/sex-offender-registry/. If you become aware of a sex offender who is attending costume parties or giving out candy where children are present, notify your local law enforcement immediately.
Halloween has also been a deadly night due to impaired drivers. Adults who participate in Halloween parties and trick-or-treating while consuming alcoholic beverages are strongly advised to have a plan for a safe ride home. This plan can involve calling a taxi, ride-share service, or having a designated driver. Additionally, sober partygoers are encouraged to help out by preventing impaired friends from getting behind the wheel.
Vernon Parish has big events for the public to enjoy this Halloween season.
Mayor’s Women’s Commission – The MWC invites you to view the entries in the Scare The Crows Off Main Street Contest. This family-friendly, fall-themed event will feature beautiful decorative works on Third Street in downtown Leesville. The Main Street (3rd Street) has been recently re-lit by CLECO. You may drive around day or night to view the displays.
Simpson Baptist Church- Hobo Stew Festival is Thursday, October 31. Hobo Stew served at 6 p.m. …trunk or treating at 6:30. Enjoy themed games, a photo booth, bounce house, cake walk, and more. Simpson Baptist Church is located at 4790 Highway 8, Simpson.
Town of Rosepine Trick or Treat hours in Rosepine City limits will be Saturday Nov.1 from 6-8pm…hours were changed due to expected bad weather.
Vernon Council On Aging – The VCOA will host a Fall Festival for area seniors Thursday, October 31, at 9:30 a.m. Come enjoy fellowship, meet old friends, snack a little, and see the colors of the fall. VCOA is located at 200 N. Third Street in downtown Leesville.
Dairy Queen of Leesville – A spook-tacular offer for your trick or treaters. Thursday, October 31, from 5-9 p.m., you can get a kids meal for $1 with the purchase of adult meal from the menu. Happy Halloween from Dairy Queen at 190 Highway 28 E.
Woodlands Health Care Center- Trick or treating for kids at the Woodlands starting at 6pm on Saturday November 1. Just drive up under the awning…residents and staff have candy and they love costumes.
VFW Post 3106/Leesville The VFW on Harriet Street downtown will open their doors to any vendor that would like to pass out candy to the kids. The public is welcome. Call the VFW at 337-238-0041 for details.
Friends of Main Street – The annual Witch Way to Main Street WILL NOT TAKE PLACE Thursday, October 31, due to expected severe weather. The Friends of Main Street apologize for any inconvenience.
City of Leesville – Trick or treaters will be permitted within the city limits to be on city streets from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Saturday November 1…the day and times have been moved for weather safety reasons.
Motorists be careful and watch for kids in costumes!
Leesville fans saw new school records set in the 2024 Homecoming win over Washington-Marion Friday, Pickering fans were shocked by the Big Red’s 41-point outburst, and Rosepine’s Eagles are staring at a winless season as they fell to Vinton last week.
LEESVILLE
Fans in the homecoming stands at Leesville witnessed history made in the 67-16 Wampus Cat win over the Chargin Indians. Trailing 16-6 at the end of the first quarter, Leesville went off for 7 TD’s and 52 points in the second quarter with an astonishing blend of run and pass. It would take a deep dive of the state record books to see if that is a state record. It most certainly is a school record!
Washington-Marion struck on an 80-yard screen pass the first play of the game. They ran another in from four yards out and completed both two-point plays. Leesville sandwiched a gadget trick play, a 58-yard pass from Davion Brtek to Mike Davis, in between the two scores.
THEN CAME THE SECOND QUARTER! If you left your seat for anything, you missed a TD! Leesville scored at the 11:32 mark of the half AND 9:19, 7:43, 5:56, 4:26, 2:16, and 1:08 marks.
Senior running back Xavier Ford, playing in front of the guy he is chasing for most career yards at Leesville, Cecil Collins, went off like a cheap firecracker. In the quarter, Ford had TD’s of 27, 55, 9, 6, and 20 yards. He added a 29-yard TD in the third quarter to finish with 6 rushing TD’s and one receiving. Ford is the all-time TD leader at LHS with 103, and he rushed for 5 two-point plays against the Chargin Indians.
There are two games left in the regular season for Ford to break Collins’s all time rushing record at LHS. He needs a little over 600 yards, and he has been over 400 yards twice this season, so it is do-able. Ford is the only LHS running back to go over 2000 yards in three straight years.
The Leesville offense is an 8-cylinder engine with Ford on the field, but lately the emergence of sophomore QB Trel Broom has given them 12-cylinder capability. Broom hit five passes out of seven Friday night for 132 yards and two TD’s. Broom tossed scoring passes of 31 yards to freshman Ju-Ju Brown and 32 yards to Mike Davis. This season Broom has 19 touchdown passes to seven different receivers and 1420 yards passing. He has thrown only six interceptions and boasts a QB rating of 114.00.
The aggressive Wampus Cat defense Friday night was led by Maysn Williams with ten total tackles. Jaylen Tucker and Jorryin Smith had interceptions for the Cats.
Leesville (6-2/2-1 Dist. 3-4A) is now ranked #7 among LHSAA Division 2 Select schools. The Wampus Cats will host Eunice Bobcats (1-7/1-2 Dist. 3-4A) for Senior Night at LHS Friday. Eunice fell to Iowa last week. Game time is 7 p.m. from Wampus Cat Stadium.
ON THE RADIO KJAE-FM/93.5 and KVVP-FM/105.7
PICKERING
The Big Red exploded for their highest point total of the season, hanging 41 points on Pine Prairie in a 41-20 win last Friday night. With two games left to play in the “Phoenix” season of rebuilding, fans will be energized by what they see.
QB A.J.Berry, after four weeks off with a hand injury, returned two weeks ago and shook off some rust. Friday night Berry torched Pine Prairie for 244 yards rushing and three scores. He hit 3 of 6 passes including a TD to Ladarius Privitera. Braden Ford rushed for 103 yards and a TD, while Israel Araiza had 33 yards rushing and a TD. The Pickering offense has scored in double digits the last three games after just one score in the previous four games. Bryan Dedios hit 2 of 3 extra-point tries, and Ricardo Sastro hit two PAT kicks. Augustus James was a beast on defense for Pickering with three solo tackles, five assists, one fumble caused, two fumbles recovered, and two sacks.
Pickering (2-6) will host Ringgold (3-5/1-2 Dist.1A) Friday night at 7 p.m. in O’Banion Stadium.
ROSEPINE
Hard times continued to plague the Eagles in their 43-8 loss to Vinton. The Eagles fell to 0-8 on the season, and it doesn’t get any easier this week at DeQuincy.
The lone Rosepine score was a five-yard pass from Gabe McKee to Brynnum Chaney. McKee hit Aiden Shell for the two-point conversion. Chaney led the Eagles with 109 carries on 16 carries. Devin James rushed for 28 yards, and Zane Wellmaker had 18 yards rushing.
Rosepine (0-8/0-2 Dist. 4-2A) travels to DeQuincy (7-1/1-0 Dist. 4-2A). Game time Friday is 7 p.m. DeQuincy shut out East Beauregard last week, 44-0.
Welcome to the Vernon Parish Job Opportunities page. Every month you will find current job listings from The City of Leesville, Vernon Parish Police Jury, Vernon Parish School Board, the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Leesville City Police. We will expand this feature to include jobs from the private sector in the weeks to come.
CITY OF LEESVILLE (Public Works) Contact Chris Fox at 337-239-2995 or apply on-line at http://www.leesvillela.gov/jobs.aspx These jobs feature great benefits. Street Supervisor, Wastewater Technician, Sweeper Truck Operator, Equipment Operator.
The City of Leesville has a new listing for a Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officer. Contact Grant Bush at 337-239-2444
VERNON PARISH POLICE JURY There are no listings this week for the VPPJ
LEESVILLE CITY POLICE City is always interested in hiring Patrol Officers. Contact Lt. Matt Warren at 337-238-0331
VERNON PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE The VPSO has two job listings this week: 1) Corrections Deputy – must be 18 years of age. Have high school diploma. No experience needed; 2) Louisiana POST Certified Patrol Deputy. Must have a minimum of two years’ experience. Must be POST Certified through Louisiana. For information, contact Chief Deputy Calvin Turner at 337-238-1311.
VERNON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Contact Joey Bartz, Personnel Director at 337-239-3401 (ext.58111)
Hiring 3rd grade English Teacher at Parkway Elementary
Hiring 4th grade Special Education teacher at West Leesville Elementary
Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development honored three alumni with induction into the Hall of Distinguished Educators and recognized a young alumnus as an outstanding young professional. The celebration took place October 26 in conjunction with Homecoming festivities. From left are Dr. Neeru Deep, interim dean of the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development; 2024 Outstanding Young Professional Jonathan Parish, 2024 Distinguished Educators Dr. William “Bill” Morrison, Andrea Martin and Julio Toro, Dr. Katrina Jordan, director of the School of Education; NSU President James Genovese and Dr. Greg Handel, executive vice president and provost.
The Pilot Club of Leesville will hold a Poinsettia sale on Monday, December 2, beginning at noon, at Leesville’s Dogwood Park on Belview Road.
6” plants in red or white are $12 8” plants in red or white are $20 10” plants in red or white are $30 Specialty 8” varieties (Christmas Mouse, Ice Crystal, Pink, or Picasso) are $25
The Pilot Club of Leesville has multiple civic projects going on that benefit our community. Support them and get into the Christmas spirit with lovely Poinsettias.
The City of Leesville is expanding the Jingle & Mingle Christmas event to three days this year with some exciting new ideas to help celebrate the holidays.
The event will be held at the new Leesville Event Center on Nolan Trace, December 6-8, both inside and outside the center. The highlight for many will be a new indoor ice skating rink. Skating sessions will be from 3-10 p.m. on Friday, December 6; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday, December 7; and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. Ages 5-11 will cost $5; ages 12 and up will cost $10. Buy your ice skating tickets today at Eventbrite.com.
The three-day event will also feature a visit from Santa and Joy the Elf, inflatables, merchandise vendors, raffle door prizes, and food trucks on site.
Judith Ann Dickinson, 87, passed away peacefully on October 16, 2024, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, Louisiana, with her family by her side.
Judith was born on March 2, 1937, in Millinocket, Maine, to Clarence and Anna Mae Dickinson.
After completing high school, Judith attended Catholic Nursing School at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine. After graduating nursing school in 1958, she would spend most of her adult life as a practicing nurse. She worked most of her career as an Operating Room nurse at various hospitals across the country including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and North Bay Medical Center in Pinellas County, Florida, where she was a nurse manager along with her everyday routine. She also worked in nursing administration. When she retired, she went on to work for Hospice in St. Petersburg, Florida.
She enjoyed tole painting, painting with acrylics, crossword puzzles, sudoku, genealogy, researching family history, and being with family.
She was predeceased by her parents, Clarence and Anna Mae Dickinson, and her brother, Reid Dickinson. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Michelle (Boudreau) Wyman and husband David of Waterboro, Maine; Suzanne (Boudreau) Cantu and husband Enrique of Leesville; Denise (Soucie) Wright and husband Steve of Portage, Indiana; brother, George Dickinson of Virginia Beach, Virginia; sister-in-law, Becky Dickinson of Atoka, Tennessee; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Judith will be laid to rest at a private family service alongside her mother and father in Millinocket Cemetery in Millinocket, Maine, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Judith to: National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana, Inc 8200 Hampson St. #229, New Orleans, LA 70118.
ELLA MAE WHITESIDE NOBLE August 23, 1927 – October 24, 2024 Service: October 27, 2024, at Beech Grove Congregational Methodist Church in Anacoco at 3 p.m.
DEBRA LENNICE HALE March 1, 1960 – October 26, 2024 Service: October 30, 2024, at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Hornbeck at 10 a.m.
JUDITH ANN DICKINSON March 2, 1937 – October 16, 2024 Service: at a later date
SHANE LOUIS TRAHAN August 25, 1971 – October 27, 2024 Service: none scheduled
The Vernon Parish Police Jury issued a parish-wide burn ban earlier this month due to a very definite threat to life and property to the citizens of Vernon Parish.
A burn ban is to be in effect in the parish and all private and open burning cease until further notice. This ban includes open flames in fire pits, campfires, barrels, bonfires, burn piles and the like. OUTDOOR COOKING IS NOT PROHIBITED. Grillers are urged to take safety measures and have a fire extinguisher nearby. This was done in accordance with Vernon Parish Fire District Number One.
The Vernon Parish Burn Ban went into effect October 16 and now TWENTY-EIGHT PARISHES IN NORTH AND WEST CENTRAL LOUISIANA HAVE ENACTED SIMILAR BANS. 174 COUNTIES IN TEXAS HAVE BURN BAN MEASURES IN PLACE. WEATHER IS DRY, CONDITIONS RIGHT FOR FIRES.
Ron Yule, center, was named a Louisiana Tradition Bearer by the Louisiana Folklife Commission and honored at a recent ceremony held at Northwestern State University. Yule was honored by, far left. Dr. Susan Roach, professor emerita of English and folklore at Louisiana Tech University and Dr. Shane Rasmussen, professor of English and director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University. Photo courtesy of Peter Jones.
By: Dr. Shane Rasmussen, Director, Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University
Fiddler and cultural historian Ron Yule was named a Louisiana Tradition Bearer by the Louisiana Folklife Commission and honored at a recent ceremony in the Magale Recital Hall on the Northwestern State University campus in Natchitoches. Serving as Folklife Ambassadors for the Louisiana Folklife Commission, Dr. Shane Rasmussen, professor of English and director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University, and Dr. Susan Roach, professor emerita of English and folklore at Louisiana Tech University, honored Yule at the event. The event was part of the 16th Annual Louisiana Studies Conference. Yule gave the conference keynote address, a history of Louisiana’s folk music, with the Medicare Stringband performing numerous fiddle tunes with Yule.
The well-attended ceremony was part of a series of events throughout the state for Folklife Month in Louisiana. Yule was honored with a certificate from Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, officially recognizing him as a Louisiana tradition bearer. The event was sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center, the Louisiana Folklore Society and the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Funding was also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works and the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in collaboration with the Louisiana Folklife Commission.
My younger brother, William Madison Turner (77), of Baton Rouge, used to live near what was the old Shankles Grocery, beside the Spillway of Anacoco Lake. Our mom was the ghost writer for the Commanding Generals out at Ft. Polk, (Ft. Johnson), which put us into the acquaintance of Ms. Madine Mueller, a Ft. Polk employee. Madine owned a small farm nearby and the remains of a farmstead from much earlier times. My brother and the Muellers became fast friends, playing board games, yakking, laughing, and singing with his ukulele to all hours back in 1976 or thereabouts.
Meanwhile, on the farm was a log crib that had recently fallen in. The roof had collapsed. You can bet that when the roof of any structure starts leaking, the decline of the entire thing is not far behind. Anyway, my brother, knowing of my interest in history and rural architecture, saved the cabin, and put it on our property, off the VFW Road, down near the lake. Carefully, he took the building apart, brought it over, and reconstructed it. As you can see, the logs are all hand notched. The exterior, above the log wainscot, is wrapped in ancient Longleaf Pine shakes, very unusual. The ‘new’ roof, he managed with recycled corrugated tin. I finished off the interior with Southern Magnolia and heart pine (Hurricane Rita, 2005) plus a few old windows from a Texas settler’s cabin. All in all, a true restoration and recycle project.
My brother did a great job. What we now call the “Log Cabin,” is being lovingly cared for. It enjoys the forest around and remembers the good old days when it served a settler’s family well over 100 years ago. Finally, it now provides a comfortable retreat for two. It is regularly used. Kids love it too.
KJAE-FM/93.5 Leesville (5-2/1-2 District 3-4A) hosting Washington-Marion for LHS Homecoming 7 p.m. at Wampus Cat Stadium (6:45 p.m. celebration to include the induction of Cecil Collins and Faye Anne West into the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame)
Congratulations to football fan Melissa Fulks of Leesville for sweeping the field and going 10-0 in last week’s Pick-Em Contest. There were four entries that went 9-1 and several that were 8-2 but Melissa’s perfect mark earns her the $100 bill. Every entry comes with a free subscription to the VPJ. Click the link above this article to play and win. Entries must be received by the VPJ by Friday at 4 p.m. We’ll be giving away $100 every week through December 20.
Thanks to our inaugural sponsors: The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office, Mockler Beverage, Bud’s Auto and Towing, Mad Bullies-ATV Repair, Mark Smith Insurance, Cryer’s Sports, and Dairy Queen of Leesville.
Advertise your business with the Vernon Parish Journal and get results. Call 337-208-9253 and get started.
Pictured: (L-R) Cecil Collins and former LHS Coach Danny Smith
By VPJ Staff
The radio station, KVVP-FM, that employed me, started broadcasting Leesville High School football games in the late ‘70’s. The long, strange trip certainly was down an interesting road! That road allowed me to watch droves of Wampus Cat games through the years, and I watched a trend of outstanding running backs develop. It seemed year after year there was a studmuffin toting the leather for Leesville.
I remember the smooth silkiness of Terry Holt and Travante Stallworth; the blazing speed of Oscar Joiner and Michael Ford’ the fabulous heart and work ethic of brothers Eddie and Vincent Fuller; Cory McCoy, D’Ante Gallishaw, Heggie Reynolds … the list goes on to the present day phenom Xavier Ford.
The buck stops, though, with Cecil Collins, and while Ford has passed his 93-career TD mark, he still has work to do to catch Cecil’s 7834 career yards. A close look shows it can be done. Considering his present pace, he needs to average about 330 yards per game the last three games. He’s done that four times this year in seven games. Ford is a really unique workhorse of a running back that does not mind the many carries he gets. He is physical and elusive. He is tireless as a student and a genuinely good dude! A real find for the right collegiate program! That would be Ford’s goal, and he’ll get a chance to get a chunk of it in front of Collins tonight as “The Diesel” gets inducted into the Wampus Cats Athletic Hall of Fame. Those ceremonies are before the Homecoming Game at 6:45 p.m. Collins will be inducted along with Faye Jean West (posthumously), a 1954 basketball star for Leesville.
Wampus Cat Stadium will be full tonight of proud fans. There might be as many in the stands as when Collins was running up and down the field, leading Leesville to their one-and-only state title game.
If you think your road in life has been a strange trip, consider Cecil Collins. The very first Mr. Football in the state, 1996. Courted by many, signed by LSU, but it wasn’t easy by any stretch. His ACT scores were suspect and kept him from playing as a true freshman.
During that time, he returned to Leesville on a Friday during an LSU bye week. Local attorney, Mike Anderson, was announcing for KJAE-FM. I was at the other end of the booth on KVVP-FM. Mike asked if I wanted to interview Cecil when he was done. My partner in the booth had other plans that night, and I talked Cecil into a “running interview.” I did play-by-play and he threw in color comments for the first half. He was engaging, comfortable on the mic, and quiet and shy. His peers might tell you differently. During his second year as a Tiger, he had almost 600 yards rushing in four games before breaking a leg against Vanderbilt. Trouble of his own making followed that would drastically change his life. He transferred to McNeese. Trouble followed and he was forced to leave the Cowboys.
Collins was drafted in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL draft by Miami. Trouble caught up to him again. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for trespass/burglary and was behind bars from 2001-2013 before being released.
Cecil Collins is certainly the most imposing, elusive running back I witnessed at Leesville High. He could take a big hit, limp off the field, and be back in one play to break one for 60 yards. When he squared those shoulders and ran downhill, you were in trouble as a tackler! He was dinged-up his senior year going into a quarterfinal playoff game at DeRidder. Dragon fans had the signs and the lungs to let him hear it. He took the kickoff back a way, then scored four TD’s on 247 yards rushing. Leesville won it 29-0.
Cecil left an impression on anyone who saw him churn out yardage. He was relentless and strong. In prison, he met a woman who had come to visit another inmate. They are married with three children and live a faith-based life in Houston, where Collins works for an electrical contractor.
It may have been a long, bumpy road The Diesel traveled, but it’s similar to many in the game of life. We all wish we had golf mulligans in life — a chance to re-do and do better. Collins has done that, and his transition is palpable. Just look for that big smile tonight on the sidelines! Sometimes, home is not such a bad place.
Fourth District Congressman and Speaker of the U.S. House, Mike Johnson, will make his staff available for a series of meetings to assist constituents in dealing with federal agencies. If you are having issues with Social Security, Medicare, or Veterans issues, please attend and get assistance. For information and questions call the Congressman’s Bossier City office at 318-840-0309.
Local meetings: Wednesday, October 30, 4-5 p.m. at South Beauregard Rec. Center; and Thursday October 31, 9-10 a.m. at Hornbeck Town Hall
