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SHREVEPORT
SEVEN
Seven candidates vie for Shreveport Mayor
PLUS
Where to go. What to do. Who to see.
A look at the new Bossier Parish students event center
25 restaurants open on Mondays
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COVER STORY
A cleaner, safer, sturdier city: Seven seek to be Shreveport’s next mayor BY ADAM DUVERNAY Staff Writer The board is set in the contest that will determine who leads Shreveport through the next four years. Shreveport voters go to the polls Nov. 3 to decide a number of contests for their city’s leadership, including who will sit in the mayor’s office and on the city council. There are incumbents running to keep almost all of those seats, but no shortage of challengers looking to take them. On his 74th birthday last October, Mayor Tom Arceneaux became the first to declare he would be in the race. An incumbent seeking his second term, Arceneaux early on flaunted an impressive war chest and signaled he’d run on his record as mayor with its several notable achievements. But Arceneaux, the city’s first Republican mayor since the ‘90s
and first white mayor since Keith Hightower left office in 2006, quickly racked up challengers. The field of hopefuls peaked at eight before qualifying, but reduced to seven in July with the departure of a longshot candidate.
The official ballot
The field is set for the Nov. 3 election. Arceneaux qualified for the race by collecting hundreds of signatures on a petition rather than paying a fee. He was the only candidate to do so. “I notice a change in people’s attitudes about Shreveport. I think people feel more confident about where we’re going and what our future is. They have learned that we all need to be cheerleaders for our community, that the issues that we have are no greater than any other community our size, and that we have proven ourselves up to the task,”
Arceneaux said. “And I actually think that’s a big deal.” But the incumbent mayor is not the only sitting politician seeking the job, and only one candidate has no experience at all in local politics. The first to declare a challenge to Arceneaux’s incumbency was Stormy Gage-Watts, a Caddo Parish commissioner now serving in her third term. The Democrat has become a leading voice on that body in recent years, serving consecutively as its president and then its vice president. “The citizens of Shreveport should remember who was there at the times they needed government services, whether it was crime prevention or infrastructure or jobs or keeping kids safe or youth programs or water crises or food deserts. One call. One person. Every neighborhood, every time,” GageWatts said. “If you think about a cleaner or a more attractive or a
more prosperous city, I would hope they think about me.” Michael Mays, a 20-year-old security guard at the Shreveport Convention Center, was next to declare but dropped out of the race in July. John-Paul Young, a two-term Republican Caddo Commissioner, announced his candidacy in February. The most vocally critical among all the candidates of Arceneaux’s first term, the 43-year-old has aimed to position himself as the youthful alternative ready to get his hands dirty. “Everybody wants exciting leadership here. Everybody wants somebody who will do the job instead of sitting in an office saying how the job is going to get done or is already being done when they can see it not being done,” Young said. “And I think I want it more than any of them.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 >>
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LIZ SWAINE
DONECIA PEA
Business Editor Shreveport journalist for 22 years
Digital Editor Shreveport native
ROY LANG III
Sports Editor Shreveport journalist for 27 years
BARBARA LEADER
Managing Editor Louisiana journalist for 23 years Welcome to 318 Digest, the latest addition to The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate. I’m Barbara Leader, the managing editor. I lead a team of 10 journalists based in Shreveport-Bossier who are committed to covering local news that impacts our community.
ADAM DUVERNAY Reporter Journalist for 15 years
ELIZABETH DEAL Features Editor Shreveport native
JILL PICKETT
Staff Photographer Photojournalist for 16 years
I’ve lived in Louisiana for most of my life. I know and love Louisiana’s people and our culture. I’m happy to be part of this group and to tell the story of our people and our community every day. More than three years ago, Publisher Judi Terzotis, President Kevin Hall and Executive Editor Rene Sanchez made many trips to northwest Louisiana to visit Shreveport-Bossier.
MOLLY TERRELL Reporter DeSoto native
LEE HILLER
Sports Writer Shreveport native
Business leaders and the community asked that our company, Georges Media, open an office in Shreveport-Bossier to cover local news. On July 17, 2023, we launched a digital site. As we celebrate our third anniversary and the debut of 318 Digest, we’re thankful for the opportunity to serve our community. In our three years, we’ve told many stories that have impacted our community and brought about change.
JUSTIN O’CONNOR Reporter Journalist for 4 years
BRIAN MCCALLUM Reporter Shreveport native
There are many more to tell. We look forward to continuing to serve our community with stories that tell you something that you may not know and reporting that goes behind the scenes to bring a deeper look at issues that matter to you.
Managing Editor 318 Digest The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate
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COVER STORY
State Rep. Tammy Phelps, a shows poor marks on its annuDemocrat representing parts al report card, and has been of Shreveport, was the next interrupted year after year by to announce her bid for the dysfunction. Violence, espemayoralty. Phelps spent much cially domestic violence, conof the campaign season so far tinues to regularly shock city participating in the legislative residents. The police roster is session, but she is running still too small. And blight still on a history of public service litters the landscape. across a number of roles. In interviews with The “We all want a better ShreveShreveport-Bossier City Adport,” Phelps said. “Leadervocate ahead of qualifying, ship matters. I think with my most of the other candidates experiences in education and expressed views that the city being from this city, I’ve seen remains on the decline. While different types of leadership some, like Gage-Watts, are exwhen there were better days. plicitly not casting their canI know it can be again, and I didacies as an opposition to bring what it takes to provide Arceneaux’s administration, that leadership.” Young is. Michael Williams, a one“He hasn’t been doing his time Caddo Commissioner job,” Young said. “Everybody who served 14 months in fedrealizes that our city is not eral prison for wire fraud, was functioning because it is leadthe next to declare he’s runerless. It is unsupervised. It ning to be mayor of Shreveis on autopilot while it’s colShreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux hands out campaign materials during a school port. Though he’s made efforts lapsing. We are on a ship that supply giveaway at Sheriff’s Safety Town on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Shreveport, to clear his name as his camis heading toward a waterfall, paign began, he’s also asserted La. Arceneaux is running for reelection. He is joined by his wife Elizabeth handing out and it’s on autopilot just headbuttons and schools supplies. this race is about the future. ing toward the waterfall.” “I’ve been proactive. I’ve Photo by Jill Pickett Young is promising to rebeen doing this. Whether electplace department heads ed or not, I love this city. I’ve across city government and been consistent in and out of “We have got to build the city bling trends contributing to the take a hands-on, micromanoffice. This ain’t nothing new to me. from the inside out. We need to start city’s ongoing decline. ager’s approach to them. GageI just do this regardless because I with the foundation. We need to go While he’s been mayor, violent Watts is planning out initiatives love Shreveport. I love the people,” back to the drawing board,” Ravari crime has slowed and police have including “neighborhood clean Williams said. “I don’t have to be said. “I would like to bring people been dispersed into new substa- teams” and encouraging regional elected to be effective.” back together. Division is killing us. tions throughout the city. In 2025, attraction to underutilized spaces Chauntra Mero, a real estate broAnd all we see in the country in the the mayor launched his “Block By like the riverfront. ker who served as confidential sec“I believe that families are still past two decades is division.” Block” initiative which began with retary for Mayor Adrian Perkins, neighborhood-level clean ups and dealing with some of the same only entered the race to be mayor The coming contest now is shifting into localized revi- things they were dealing with four in July. Before that she’d declared years ago, some of the same basic All the candidates to be Shreve- talization efforts. herself a candidate for City Council port’s next mayor are running on But the mayor’s signature concerns, some of the same safeDistrict D but said her early camessentially the same core issues. achievement was the 2024 bond is- ty issues, some of the same water paigning shifted her focus to cityEach of the seven candidates’ sue election during which voters issues, the blight and whether evwide issues. platforms include plans to clean up agreed to all three proposed project ery neighborhood is truly being “I truly have a heart to serve. I’m served,” she said. really more of a ‘less talk, more ac- the city, make it safer and improve packages, a $256 million investment Williams is proposing new proits infrastructure. For Arceneaux, in city road, water and other infration’ type of person. I am a no-nongrams, such as crisis interventhat’s a campaign about continuing structure. Arceneaux now can point sense type of person. I’m strictly tion specialists to assist police in businesses,” Mero said. “I am going the job he started in his first term. to actual construction as he runs for dealing with mental health issues, For the rest, it’s about proving reelection. to get the job done.” But Arceneaux said there’s more and Ravari wants to attract excitThe last to launch a campaign they’re more equipped to do the job than he is. to do and he wants to see through ing new opportunities to the city, was Sia Fakhriravari, who goes such as international flights. Both Since announcing his reelection the work he began in his first term. by Sia Ravari and is the owner of “Frankly, I think that I’ve earned say the city’s old guard leadership Flames Mediterranean Restaurant. bid, Arceneaux has touted claims failed residents. He lived in Houston for most of his that he’s kept the promises he made a second term by the work that Williams said others in the race in his first campaign for mayor. we’ve done in the first term. I’m life, but in late July announced he are indebted to cliques and spebelieves he’s a ready and capable Tackling blight and crime were very proud of my record,” Arcenecial interests, but he, despite four candidate to lead Shreveport in a major planks in his campaign’s aux said. new direction. platform, recognizing them as trouBut the city’s water system still CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 >>
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decades of public life, remains an outsider. “I’m something new. I’m a game changer. I’m a negotiator. I’m a moderate Democrat, the only one in the race. I don’t have political machines. I’m not beholden to nobody but the people of Shreveport, every zip code and every person,” he said. “I haven’t been part of the problem.” Ravari said he believes corruption and the failure of the city’s leaders to capitalize on its potential are responsible for its decades-long decline. “People promise, especially politicians, and never follow through,” Ravari said. “None of the city officials are doing their jobs. When we get closer to elections, all of the sudden they do a few pothole fixes and paint a few things and that’s it. You put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig.” Mero said she’s viewing the job as being CEO of the city, a role that would empower her to make government transparent and trustworthy.
“I’ve watched the city change over the years, and I’ve decided that it’s just time for me to step,” Mero said. “It seems like no one has hope.” Phelps also said she’s watched the city slipping, and though there have been successes, she blames leadership for not lifting up the whole city. “This is home for me. With the leadership that I bring to the table, I don’t want to see us continue to decline,” Phelps said. “No community can be neglected anymore ... There have been pockets of progress surrounded by neglect as well. I’m ready to try to bring Shreveport together.” Phelps said she’ll be looking for ways to improve the lives of average Shreveport residents by addressing poverty, including by raising the local minimum wage and partnerships with businesses. Mero hopes to revitalize Shreveport’s youth services division as a means of reducing crime.
COVER STORY
Chaunta Mero fills out a form to begin the process to qualify as a candidate for Shreveport Mayor on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at the Caddo Parish Clerk of Court’s office in Shreveport, La. Photo by Jill Pickett
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Celebrity designer from Shreveport to headline Paris Fashion Week: ‘Full-circle moment’ BY DONECIA PEA Staff Writer Her signature fashion pieces have been worn by celebrities and seen on some of your favorite reality TV shows, but come October 3, Shreveport native and renowned fashion designer Tiffany S. Walker and her Pink Lucy X Lucy Luxxe collection will be featured on an international stage as a headliner during Paris Fashion Week. Walker, a C.E. Byrd High graduate who grew up in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood, is no stranger to such high profile opportunities. This will mark her second Paris Fashion Week appearance since her first Paris show in 2022. Her Pink Lucy designs also have been featured twice during New York Fashion Week, most recently as a headliner last February at Manhattan’s legendary Gotham Hall. Additionally, her brand has appeared on “The Tamron Hall Show,” the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta,” while her pieces have been worn by celebrities such as singer/songwriter, reality TV star and media mogul Kandi Burrus, DJ Spinderella of the iconic Salt N Pepa, and famed gospel singer Erica Campbell of Mary Mary. Walker’s career began in 2003 in Shreveport where she first launched her fashion house, formerly known as T-Shemise, before relocating to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to expand her Pink Lucy brand into an international, ready-to-wear couture line. Walker credits her late mother Betty Walker as the inspiration behind Pink Lucy and through the years she regularly returned to Shreveport to host various pop-up shop events, style clinics and more. For her Paris show, she will be accompanied by her official glam team Loqual Elites, a collective of Shreveport-Bossier independent
hairstylists, makeup and wellness professionals founded by licensed hairstylist Tracie Allen. Walker recently chatted with The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate about her journey thus far, what inspires her work and what’s in store for her Paris show:
How did this Paris Fashion Week opportunity come along?
This opportunity actually came to me through an invitation. The organization had been watching my work and the growth of PINK LUCY for a couple of years, and they ultimately reached out to invite me to showcase my collection during Paris Fashion Week. That is what makes this moment so significant for me. I did not go looking for Paris — Paris came looking for PINK LUCY. To know that my work had been seen, followed and recognized from across the world, and that I was being specifically sought out to bring my collection to one of the biggest and most prestigious fashion stages in the world, was incredibly validating. This is not an overnight success story. It is the result of 23 years of consistently building my brand, developing a very distinct design identity and staying committed to my vision, even when no one was watching — only to discover that, apparently, people were watching. And now that journey is taking a girl from Shreveport, Louisiana, all the way to Paris.
What was your reaction when you got the news?
Disbelief first! Then gratitude. Then, of course, my designer brain immediately went into overdrive. (Laughs) But the closer we get, the more emotional it becomes. I am a girl from Shreveport, Louisiana, who
Shreveport native Tiffany S. Walker, fashion designer and owner of Pink Lucy. Ajia Jackson provided via Tiffany S. Walker on Facebook
318 DIGEST | SHREVEPORTBOSSIERADVOCATE.COM 9 was once told that becoming a fashion designer was not a “realistic” career. Now I am preparing to take PINK LUCY to a global stage during Paris Fashion Week. There are moments when I really have to stop and let that sink in. I think about my mother a lot, too. She believed in me tremendously, and before she passed, she told me that she could do more for me in heaven than she ever could on earth. I see so much of what is happening in my life now as the fulfillment of things she prayed for and believed were possible for me.
What can people expect to see from your show, or is it a surprise?
I am definitely keeping some surprises! But they can expect Pink Lucy on an international level — color, texture, structure, powerful silhouettes, exaggerated proportions, beautiful tailoring and pieces that command attention. The collection is very personal. I have been developing it almost like chapters of my life — where I came
from, the women who shaped me, my mother, resilience, ambition, loss, evolution and ultimately ascension. It is not just about making beautiful clothes. I want the runway to tell a story. There are references to my mother in the 1980s, pieces of my younger self, the woman I have become and the woman I am still becoming. So although this is Spring/Summer 2027, emotionally it is almost a visual autobiography.
Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to your designs?
Women inspire me — especially women who understand that clothing can change the way you enter a room. And personally, my mother will always be one of my greatest inspirations. She was bold, glamorous and unapologetic long before any of those words became part of my design vocabulary. I can look back at photographs of her and see things that are still present in my work today — strong
Your Future Starts Here.
silhouettes, confidence, color and presence. I am also inspired by my own life. Pink Lucy has never really been about following trends. My designs are usually born from a feeling, a story, a woman or a moment I want to translate into clothing.
Is there anything you want to say to Shreveport readers?
Absolutely. I want Shreveport to know that this belongs to them, too. I came from Cedar Grove. I graduated from C.E. Byrd High School. I went on to Louisiana Tech University — by way of Grambling State University, and the people who know, KNOW. (Laughs) Long before there was Pink Lucy, there was a young designer from Shreveport called T’Shemise with a huge dream and absolutely no idea how she was going to make it happen. So, when I walk into Paris, I am taking all of that history with me. I want some little girl or young creative sitting in Shreveport with
a dream that everybody around her thinks is too big to see this and understand: Your geography does not determine the size of your destiny. You do not have to come from New York, Paris or Milan to ultimately stand on those stages. I am incredibly proud to represent Shreveport, Louisiana, and I will never forget where I came from.
Will there be a way for people to view the show?
Yes! We are making sure this experience is documented so that the people who have supported PINK LUCY all these years can experience Paris with us. We will be sharing extensive content through PINK LUCY’s social media platforms surrounding the October 3 show, and if a livestream or additional viewing platform is confirmed, we will announce those details as we get closer. And I definitely want Shreveport watching. This is a full-circle moment for me.
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D
Major downtown Shreveport property owner is selling it all. He’s frustrated with the city. BY LIZ SWAINE | Staff Writer
owntown Shreveport’s largest non-government property owner is selling everything. Over the past 16 years, Hakim family corporations have purchased some of the most important of downtown’s historic properties as well
by Ed and Joseph Hakim of Monroe is more than 624,268 square feet. This is more than the roughly 500,000 square feet of the Regions Tower and Building, which takes up an entire city block, and more than the properties currently owned by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Beginning in 2010, the Hakim’s legal entities, through lawsuits and purchases, acquired the 17-story Slattery Building at 509 Marshall St., a three-story parking garage at 416 Crockett St., the 10-story Lane office building at 610 Marshall St., the 8-story Johnson office building at 412 Milam St., and the former Pano’s Diner at 422 Milam St,. More recent purchases included the former SporTran bus terminal at 400 Crockett St. and the 15-story former Chase Bank building at 400 Texas St. In an interview with The Shreveport Bossier City Advocate, Ed Hakim expressed frustration with the city, specifically in terms of parking and crime, reasons he blamed for ending his property rehab plans. “Somebody broke in this week and stole all the electrical copper,” he said of the long-vacant Johnson Building. “It’s just no end what’s going on in Shreveport. And that’s what makes people not want to do anything.” While the Slattery, Johnson, and Panos buildings and former SporTran bus terminal sat vacant, Hakim turned his attention to properties in New Orleans. His companies now own 17% of all office space in NOLA’s Central Business District. “We’re over 80%. We have the highest occupancy, I believe, in New Orleans because we really invest money in it. We bring people in. They have great management and we fill up everything we touch.” More recently, he has begun purchasing in north Dallas, where his company recently bought a 20-story building.
Initial downtown plans
Photo by Jill Pickett as a prominent high-rise office building. The properties are now listed by Marcus & Millichap, a California-based real estate company with offices in 80 U.S. markets. The total square footage of the properties owned
When the Hakims purchased the Johnson Building for $100,000 in 2012, it was with the intention of turning the 1920’s-era property into upscale apartments. “That’s right, where the people would pull up, somebody would take their car and park it, and it had an elevator that went directly to each floor, to each of the apartments,” said Hakim. “There would be one big suite on each floor, and the elevator went into their suite.” Hakim’s son Abraham began work on the floor plan and started gathering information for the historic tax credit submittals. In 2017, he purchased the former SporTran bus terminal at 400 Crockett, that was within a block of the Johnson Building, and the 1924 Slattery Building, a property that was once the tallest privately owned building in Louisiana. It, too, came with no parking. “We purchased it for parking,” he said of the tented bus terminal, “because we couldn’t do anything with the Johnson unless we had parking.” “I really overpaid for it,” he said of the $1,225,000
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An interior photo of the lobby of the Slattery Building in downtown Shreveport, La. Provided photo bus terminal. “But I had to have it for parking.” He said had there been a city garage to use, he would have followed through on the Johnson conversion and a planned conversion of the Slattery Building to market rate apartments. “Oh yeah, yeah, we would have already done it,” he said. “You don’t build a ship in dry dock if you can’t get to a body of water. That ship sitting on dry land, you ain’t going to take a cruise nowhere. Unless you have a parking garage, the people can’t park to go into their house or office.” “I think if I’d had parking and the crime was under control and people not breaking in. I think I would have had so much upscale living in those, all those buildings. I think they would be full,” Hakim said. Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Cedric Glover agrees that more targeted parking is needed and is planning to launch an update on the DDA’s 2012 parking study. The earlier study pointed to the need for two additional parking garages downtown to unlock the redevelopment potential of multiple vacant properties. On crime, he said there are several fronts: getting a handle on open containers of alcohol, addressing panhandling and homelessness concerns, and deploying more cameras downtown. He said more than
$50,000 was raised for additional real-time crime center cameras and license plate readers that “we will be deploying throughout the entirety of downtown.” And finally, getting more boots on the ground. “We’re looking for some outside of the box, innovative ways to be able to increase the security presence, the in-person security presence within downtown. We’re presently working on that as I speak and should hopefully have a little bit more to share in the near future.” Hakim, though, isn’t inclined to wait. His properties have been listed: • • • • • •
Bus Depot @ 400 Crockett St. $1.8 M; Slattery Building @ 509 Marshall St. - $2.2 M | $10 PSF; Lane Building @ 610 Marshall St. - $1.5 M | $13.01 PSF; Johnson Building @ 412 Milam St. - $1.5 M | $20.02 PSF; Old Panos Diner Building @ 422 Milam St, - $300,000 | $50.00 PSF; 400 Texas St. (former Chase Tower)- $4.5 M | $22.17 PSF.
Hakim said he is ready to move on. “I’m 76. I don’t want to pass it down to my children and have a headache.”
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New Bossier Parish Schools student event center will have theater, gym and more BY MOLLY TERRELL Staff Writer Construction should start soon at a new multi-purpose student event center for Bossier Parish Schools to provide more space for student activities. Earlier this summer, the board approved construction of the BPSB Center for Excellence, a 2,772-seat multi-purpose student event center at the John McConathy Academic Complex , to be used by every student and school in the district. Plans for the Center for Excellence are in two parts because, while there is an existing gymnasium, theater and adjoining spaces on the property that will be completely renovated, two buildings will be removed to make way for a newly constructed 45-thousand square foot activities center that is planned to include banquet space. There will also be 200 parking spaces added, along with improvements to a road encircling
A theater in a building at Bossier Parish Schools John McConathy Academic Complex in Bossier City, La., seen here Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. Plans by BPS include renovating the theater. Photo by Jill Pickett
Bossier Parish Schools Superintendent Jason Rowland stands in the gym, under renovation, at the John McConathy Academic Complex in Bossier City, La., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. The campus previously housed the ARC of Acadiana Northwest. Photo by Jill Pickett the property, which was purchased two years ago from the Arc of Acadiana. Altogether, the Center for Excellence will offer nearly 65,000 square feet of usable space for student and district activities. According to Bossier Parish Schools Communications and Media Officer Sonja Bailes, there are over 1,700 students in the talented arts program and over 500 in the gifted program. The center will also serve as a performance space for those students, as well as a consistent rehearsal space. “We don’t have a central location for them to really be able to gather for big performances, and so that’s what the Center for Excellence is going to enable us to do,” Bailes said. Bossier Parish Schools Superintendent Jason Rowland said that the theater will hold up to 300 people after it’s renovated, and it will be a space for smaller performances that won’t require using an auditorium. The gymnasium has already undergone a lot of work. Students involved in the district’s archery program will be able to use the space, as well as any other students. According to Rowland, one of their goals is to maintain as much of the look and essence of the buildings as possible while modernizing the space. Bailes said that while the entire property purchased, which is 55 acres, will eventually be used in the coming years, strides have already been made to centralize many of their special education programs at the new Bossier Parish Schools Evaluation Center.
Construction timeline
Residents can expect construction to begin on the $20 million facility at 5401 Shed Road in Bossier City during the 2026-27 school year. Rowland said that the demolition of the three buildings they can’t use on the property will start sometime in September or October, and that construction will hopefully begin in March 2027 and that the entire process will take from 18 months to two years. “The whole goal is to revitalize this I-220 corridor, and this is really going to put some life back into making the turn on I-220,” Rowland said. “That concept to continue to do things that other people don’t do, and to provide opportunities for our kids that other places don’t have, is the driving force behind most of our decision-making.” The center will be paid for using committed construction funds at no additional cost to taxpayers, according to a news release. “I cannot think of a better way to serve our students and community than with this one-ofa-kind facility,” Rowland said in the release. He said events like the i3 Art Expo, kindergarten and fifth grade graduations, and job fairs and military nights will be able to take place on Bossier Parish School Board property. “The opportunities are limitless for what we can offer.” Board members also offered their support for the Center for Excellence in the release. “This will be a highly utilized facility,” Board member Glen Bullard said. Board member Sandra “Samm” Darby also said she looks forward to having this facility under the board’s leadership.
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Shreveport mineral owners don’t have to sign. They can still be pooled. BY LIZ SWAINE Staff Writer Recently, the Pea family in Shreveport got a voicemail and text from a landman looking to sign them to a mineral lease. The family lives in one of the urban areas that APEX intends to begin drilling for natural gas in October. “I just want to make sure they understand that once APEX drills, they will receive a monthly payment (given the well produces), however, the payment they receive will be after APEX covers all their costs and they will not receive a signing bonus,” read the text. “What does this mean?” the family asked The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate. It is called forced pooling. Forced, or compulsory, pooling, means that land will be included in a drilling unit whether the owner signs a lease or not. The Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy has no numbers on forced pooling, which the state considers ‘private business contracts,’ said Patrick Correges, the Department of C & E’s communications director. The law has been in effect in Louisiana since 1940, put on the books, said Correges, to encourage the development of minerals “and not be kept from doing that by someone else.” That “someone else” could be a neighbor or neighbors who refuse to lease their minerals. Shreveport mineral consultant Skip Peel agrees this is one thing landowners have little control over. “All Haynesville drilling and production units are compulsory, whether the landowner wants to be included or not,” he said. Whether the landowner signs a lease will make a difference in what he or she is paid. The landowner could eventually
make something off of their property without a mineral lease, said Correges, “but it may be well past the peak production of the well because you have to pay for your share of the cost of drilling the well, and those Haynesville wells, they’re pretty expensive.” In other words, said Peel, “If they lease, they begin receiving royalty payments from first production. If they do not lease, they have to wait until the operator recovers the cost to drill and complete the well.” The landman in contact with the Pea family offered a 20% royalty and a $500 signing bonus, saying “Just trying to make sure they as mineral owners receive the most money they can out of this deal.” “If someone leases for a 20% royalty, they in effect are keeping 20% and giving the lessee 80%,” said Peel. “Those that do not lease will receive 100%, instead of 20%, of their proportional share of production but will get pencil whipped by deductions for leasing operating expenses after payout.” Peel said larger property owners can negotiate for a higher royalty and/or signing bonus, but success generally depends on the size of the acreage. Ultimately, each property owner has to make their own decision on whether to lease or not to lease, said Correges. “Some wells can last a very long time, so that 100% may pay out over a slower period of time. I mean that’s for every mineral rights holder to decide for themselves.” Peel’s advice would be to go on and lease, especially if the land is a small, urban tract. “I prefer those with small acreage and very little mineral knowledge to be leased and avoid the headaches of being an unleased mineral owner,” he said.
Residents looking at maps showing locations of sections, lines and drill sites proposed by APEX natural gas at a Pre-Application Notice meeting on Jan. 16, 2026. Photo by Liz Swaine
An aerial image shows gas well production in the area of StonewallFrierson Road area east of I-49. AP Photo - Douglas Collier
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United.com
Chicago
Denver
Houston
One Airport. One Airline. Three Non-Stop Destinations.
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25
sit-down restaurants
open on Monday nights in Shreveport, Bossier City BY ELIZABETH DEAL Staff Writer
So many restaurants are closed on Mondays that arranging a special occasion or work outing can be tricky. I put together a list of 25 local dining establishments across Shreveport and Bossier that are open on Monday nights for a sit-down meal. At first, I was surprised by the length of the list — until I realized how much area is covered geographically between both cities. Athena Greek and Lebanese Grill Athena specializes in authentic traditional family recipes and specialty Mediterranean options like gyros, kabobs and hummus.
Crawdaddy’s Kitchen Crawdaddy’s Kitchen is a Cajun restaurant with a relaxed vibe serving seafood platters and Cajun favorites, po-boys and burgers, and pasta and fish.
Flames Mediterranean Restaurant Flames serves fresh, authentic Persian cuisine like skewered chicken and beef with grilled vegetables and salad and rice with berries. And there is a large patio.
Frozen Pirogue Frozen Pirogue serves oysters, coastal dishes, and Cajun daiquiris. There is some open-air seating and picnic tables near the stage at Hurricane Alley.
Athena Greek and Lebanese Grill is located at 6030 Line Ave., Shreveport.
Crawdaddy’s Kitchen is located at 9370 Mansfield Road, Shreveport.
Flames Mediterranean Restaurant is located at 436 Ashley Ridge Blvd., Shreveport.
Frozen Pirogue is located at 515 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City.
BeauxJax Crafthouse BeauxJax Crafthouse is a Cajun and Creole restaurant with poboys, crawfish mac and cheese, jambalaya, and more. Outdoor seating is near the stage at Hurricane Alley in the East Bank District.
El Cabo Verde El Cabo Verde makes everything fresh in-house, including my favorite salsa around— which is served warm. They use glutenfree, non-GMO ingredients and sustainably sourced seafood and meat.
Frank’s Pizza Napoletana Frank’s Pizza Napoletana makes everything from scratch. The woodfired pizza is made in a custom oven from Naples. I love Frank’s filet and charbroiled oysters and there’s so much more.
BeauxJax is located at 501 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City.
El Cabo Verde is located at 1023 Provenance Place, Shreveport.
Frank’s is located at 6950 Fern Ave., Shreveport.
Imperial Cathay Imperial Cathay specializes in Chinese Mandarin cuisine with chicken, beef and veggie rice and noodle dishes and has a nice dining room. Imperial Cathay is located at 6359 Youree Dr., Shreveport.
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Stuffed shrimp at Orlandeaux’s Café Johnny’s Catfish and Seafood Johnny’s Catfish and Seafood is a family-owned restaurant that serves Southern dishes like chicken-fried steak and fried shrimp that are made fresh daily. Johnny’s Catfish and Seafood is located at 5130 W. Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport. Koi Asian Fusion Koi is an upscale dining experience in a fabulous setting. The fusion menu has items influenced by multiple regions in Asia including sushi and noodle and rice dishes. Koi Asian Fusion is located at 6104 Line Ave., Shreveport. Mae & Co. Mae & Co. is a cheery restaurant with the slogan “Chicken. Oysters. Beer.” Find wings, fried chicken, wraps, po-boys, a big ol’ pretzel and more. Mae & Co. is located at 1023 Provenance Place, Shreveport. Noble Savage The Noble Savage is a familyfriendly restaurant and a live music venue in downtown Shreveport. The menu ranges from cheese curds to filet mignon, muffuletta to mahi mahi tacos. Noble Savage is located at 417 Texas St., Shreveport.
Pizzas fresh out of a wood-fired oven sit ready to be sliced and served at Frank’s Pizza Napoletana Orlandeaux’s Cross Lake Cafe Orlandeaux’s sits on Cross Lake and serves historic and modern Creole, soul food, and Southern cuisine with made-from-scratch recipes passed down through five generations. Orlandeaux’s Cross Lake Cafe is located at 5301 S. Lakeshore Dr., Shreveport. Oyster Bar and Grille The Oyster Bar serves Gulf oysters, New Orleans-style po-boys, mesquite grilled burgers, chips and salsa, and more.
Grilled mahi-mahi, seasoned potatoes and hush puppies at Crawdaddy’s Kitchen
Ramirez Mexican Restaurant Ramirez is a lively Mexican restaurant with fresh-made chips and salsa and your favorite dishes, plus the festive crazy rice and queso Ramirez.
Sushikin Grill and Sake Bar Sushikin has an open sushi bar where you watch the chefs prepare dishes using fresh, locallysourced ingredients. Service and presentation is an important focus.
Ramirez Mexican Restaurant is located at 6715 Pines Rd. in Shreveport and 929 Westgate Dr. in Bossier.
Sushikin Grill and Sake Bar is located at 644 E. Kings Hwy., Shreveport.
Superior Grill Superior Grill Mexican restaurant, known for its fajitas and margaritas, has a vibrant atmosphere with two large dining rooms and a bar in between.
The Oyster Bar and Grille is located at 855 Pierremont Rd., Shreveport.
Superior Grill is located at 6123 Line Ave., Shreveport.
The Pearl The Pearl is much more than just an oyster bar. They serve Louisiana seafood, steaks, and sides like bacon jam Brussels sprouts, and specialize in handcrafted cocktails.
Superior’s Steakhouse Superior’s is a Chicago-style steakhouse with an extensive wine list, and has a separate bar area with a piano and windows that open when the weather’s right.
The Pearl restaurant is located at 6871 Fern Ave., Shreveport.
Superior’s Steakhouse is located at 855 Pierremont Rd., Shreveport.
Pham’s Vietnamese Asian Cuisine Pham’s is an outstanding Vietnamese Asian restaurant with a casual setting. They serve banh mi, vermicelli noodle bowls, pho, and more favorites.
Sushiko Sushi and Grill Sushiko has a sushi bar and plenty of table seating, plus a full bar including Japanese Sapporo beer and a selection of sake.
Pham’s Vietnamese-Asian Cuisine restaurant is located at 3544 Youree Dr., Shreveport.
Sushiko Sushi and Grill is located at 650 Boardwalk Blvd., Bossier City, by Bass Pro Shop.
Tsuyoi Ramen At Tsuyoi, you can choose from authentic ramen, poke bowls, Japanese curry dishes and sushi tacos to enjoy in a tastefullythemed dining room. Tsuyoi Ramen is located at 2113 Airline Dr., Bossier City. Windrush Grill Windrush offers regional American dishes like burgers and steaks, shrimp and catfish, dishes like chicken and waffles and specialty sandwiches. Windrush Grill is located at 1023 Provenance Place, Shreveport. Zaap Thai Cuisine Zaap Thai serves authentic Thai dishes and noodle soups with high quality ingredients in a cozy, inviting, and Asian-inspired atmosphere. Zaap Thai Cuisine is located at 3244 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City.
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‘Our only job is to make these guys smile.’ Pilots begin joint practices with youth baseball teams BY ROY LANG III Staff Writer While the LSU-Shreveport baseball veterans and newbies learn to blend in preparation for the start of the season in January, they’ll enjoy a respite two nights a week in the fall. The team will spend Mondays and Wednesdays through the end of October building relationships with the community through “Practice with the Pilots.” LSUS, a year removed the greatest season in college baseball history, hosts local youth baseball teams – ages 13 and under – at Pilot Field for some instruction, drills and to evoke a whole lot of emotion. “A lot of people are just excited to be out here with us,” Pilots infielder Rodrigo Bravo told the SBC Advocate. “It’s
definitely a blessing for us to be out here coaching them up and seeing the smiles on their faces. It’s awesome. I love doing this. “Our only job is to make these guys smile and teach them baseball.” Hitting stations, infield drills, shagging flies … the prospective future Pilots did it all. More than 30 kids attended the PWTP debut. “Anytime you get a chance to involve the youth from the surrounding areas and get our guys involved – let them get a little skin in the game as far as teaching and coaching and direction, it’s great,” LSUS head coach Brad Neffendorf said. “But (the kids) love nothing more than to be around our guys, that’s why they come.” Limited spots are available for the rest of the fall. For more information, visit LSUSbaseball.com
Young athletes go through drills Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, with LSU Shreveport baseball players on the campus in Shreveport, La., during a Practice with the Pilots session. Photo by Jill Pickett
Shreveport | Results May Vary | LA-26−21024
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SporTran unveils Shreveport’s new driverless bus, first in Louisiana, rare in the US
SporTran’s first autonomous bus begins a demonstration ride outside of Riverview Hall in Shreveport, La., Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The initiative is called SporTran Evolve. Photo by Jill Pickett
BY BRIAN McCALLUM Staff Writer porTran CEO Dinero Washington unveiled his secret to Shreveport on Thursday afternoon along Clyde Fant Parkway. It wasn’t just that the public transportation company has a new driverless bus, though that is true and was the focus of the demonstration of the 12-passenger vehicle. The bigger secret was that he and his co-workers have been riding around Shreveport in it for weeks, incognito, no decorative design applied. “It’s been driving on the side of you, in white, for a month,” Washington said. “We’ve been testing it; people just didn’t realize it. It’s safe.”
Thursday, the only such city bus in the state was decked out in new colors, unmistakable in its purpose and adorned with what will be the new name for a fleet of about 15 electric, driverless buses: SporTran Evolve. Washington said the idea has been percolating three years, but a U.S. government SMART Grant — Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation — of about $1 million joined with technology from Beep Inc. to make it reality. The vehicle is so rare that it brought Assistant U.S. Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology Seval Oz to Shreveport for the unveiling at Riverview Hall. According to her, Shreveport was one in just 10% of hundreds of applicants to receive a grant.
Oz said the program “is intentionally designed to allow SporTran workers and riders to evaluate the technology in a real-world environment, gather data, conduct training, identify operational needs and make adjustments along the way.” New and existing employees will learn to oversee, monitor and maintain the vehicles. A building to house and charge them will be under construction as of October. For now, there will be a driver behind the wheel. Jordan Dowdy, project manager for Beep, said the bus also will be monitored from the company’s facility outside Orlando, Florida, until local workers are trained. “At the remote command center, dispatchers are watching, so if any-
thing unusual comes up, they see it immediately,” Dowdy said. “They can guide it to safety.” A variety of dignitaries took the first ride of the day, including Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux. “It was great. It was interesting. You take that first leap of faith and realize nobody is driving,” he said, adding two positives that stood out to him: “It obeys the traffic signs, and it obeys the speed limit.” Also on the ride, Oz echoed the mayor and offered a challenge for the future of SporTran. “Shreveport made a very bold move after COVID, making transit free,” she said. “You have about five million rides. I’d like to come back in a year and see it double.”
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Customers collect their purchases at Ryan Farms Produce Caddo Parish, La., Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Photo by Jill Pickett
Agriculture in NWLA: ‘I never imagined I’d be doing this,’ Caddo farmer says BY JILL PICKETT Staff Photographer
f you wanted to be a farmer, and your father and grandfather raised row crops, you might figure that’s what you’d end up doing. That’s what Scott Ryan thought. “When I was little, I thought I would be doing what my dad and granddad did,” Ryan said. “I wanted to be a farmer, and I thought I would be doing what they did. But that didn’t work out. But I never imagined I’d be doing this, you know, but it’s kind of a niche though. I mean, I’m the only one kind of in the Ark-La-Tex right here that does
this. And so it’s, we just get more and more people every year. So, I’m very blessed. I’m thankful. It’s a lot of work. A lot of work.” His farm stand Ryan Farms Produce is on Dixie-Shreveport Road in Caddo Parish, where he sells both retail and wholesale, but only what they grow. Wholesale customers must pick up at the farm stand just like retail customers. Ryan has about 100 acres in fruit and vegetables, some of that acreage he double crops. Compared to row crops, it may seem small, but it’s plenty of work. “I don’t have time,” he said, when asked if he farms anything else. “Farming 100 acres of fruit and veg-
etables is way more work than farming several 1,000 acres of row crops, because it’s so much hand-harvested stuff. I’ve done both and I can promise you, this is way harder.” In addition to the need for more labor due to hand harvesting, Ryan said high susceptibility of the crops to disease, growing a variety of items and the need to have a product that looks appealing, as challenges in produce farming. But he said there are advantages over row crop farming, less land is needed to make a living and he can set his own prices. He also enjoys feeding people directly with his retail sales and seeing their appreciation. He grows tomatoes, sweet corn,
okra, purple hull peas, watermelons, cantaloupes, peaches, squash, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants. Customers can call for updates on availability. “Our biggest draw is the purple hull peas, the peaches, the watermelons and the cantaloupes. That’s kind of what brings people out.” He grows sweet potatoes for the fall. “I’m the only sweet potato grower in the state of Louisiana, this side of Monroe and this side of Alexandria. So, that’s our main deal in the fall. We also have a large pick-your-own mustard, turnip and collard green field that I’ve been doing for 30 years, and that’s a big hit.”
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Top 10 returning Shreveport-area QBs from 2025 prep football season: Peyton Houston leads way
Photo by Jill Pickett
BY LEE HILLER Staff Writer Evangel’s Peyton Houston, a four-star recruit who is committed to play for LSU, heads an impressive list of returning signal callers in the Shreveport area for the 2026 football season. Three threw for more than 3,000 yards, four more recorded more than 2,000 and two had in excess of 1,000 yards. Houston followed a 4,000-yard season with 3,836 yards last season to lead the list. His total yards included 42 touchdowns. He holds the national record for yards in a game with 817 in a 2024 game with Captain Shreve. He became only one of two from Louisiana, Elijah Haven being the other, and 11 in the country to land an NIL deal with Nike. Bryce Restovich of Loyola led the state with a school-record 48 touchdowns and broke his own school record with 3,406 yards. Haughton’s Taylor Weathersby became only the second Buc to pass for more than 3,000 yards in a season with 3,012, Seth Holloway passed for 3,128 yards in 2002.
Top 10 returning passers in 2026 Name, school, 2025 statistics
Peyton Houston, Evangel, 231-350-9, 3,836 yards, 42 TDs Bryce Restovich, Loyola, 206-290-9, 3,406 yards, 48 TDs Taylor Weathersby, Haughton, 183-298-10, 3,012 yards, 27 TDs Malachi Zeigler, Benton, 172-300-8, 2,698 yards, 23 TDs Devion Stewart, BTW, 147-244-11, 2,509 yards, 28 TDs Chase Williams, Airline, 180-258-6, 2,400 yards, 20 TDs Hudson Price, Calvary, 159-241-8, 2,324 yards, 27 TDs Javontaye Dean, Green Oaks, 88-149-9, 1,449 yards, 17 TDs Montrevell Lewis, Bossier, 96-158-6, 1,476 yards, 7 TDs Jaterrious Howard, Mansfield, 42-80-3, 896 yards, 13 TDs
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Bossier Parish Schools 1964 desegregation case closed at request of DOJ, AG, school board the BPSB “is not currently in compliance with its desegregation obligations,” particularly he decades-old school regarding student assignment, desegregation case that majority-to-minority transfers, brought federal overfaculty and staffing, and its obsight to Bossier Parish Schools ligation to reinstate a biracial was closed by a federal judge committee. in August at the request of the The district has only been school board, the Justice Dedeemed unitary in a few areas: partment and state Attorney transportation, extracurricular General Liz Murrill. activities and facilities. That It was the fourth desegregacame in a 2024 judgment that tion case in Louisiana closed kept other court injunctions under Murrill and the Trump and orders in effect. Administration following Likewise, there are many similar dismissals in Plaqueschools in the district with ramines Parish, DeSoto Parish cial makeups that don’t reflect and Concordia Parish, where the district in its entirety. For a case that set precedent cited instance, Meadowview Elein the Bossier Parish case was mentary School, Bossier Eleclosed on appeal in July. mentary School and Plantation The close of the lawsuit Park Elementary School each means Bossier Parish Schools are no longer under a deseg- Students arrive at Stockwell Place Elementary in Bossier City, La., for the first day of the have student bodies made up of less than 9% White students regation order requiring the 2026-2027 school year Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. despite them making up a pluschool board to submit com- Photo by Jill Pickett pliance reports and seek fedrality of the district’s enrolleral approval for changes ment at 49%. DOJ and the BPSB, were shot down have to go through the hearing prothat might impact the racial Still, in the BPSB’s announcemakeup of the district and its staff, by the court, paving the way for the cess required in past federal deci- ment of the case’s closure, Superlike redrawing attendance zones only two participants left in the case sions to show that desegregation intendent Rowland said they have has actually been realized. or changing majority-to-minority to agree to close out the lawsuit. “been very intentional in comply“This is a monumental day in “The role of the Justice Depart- ing with the court order, while also transfer options. While the lawsuit was launched Bossier Parish history,” Superinten- ment as a plaintiff-intervenor has meeting the needs of the school sysby the parents of eight Black chil- dent Jason Rowland said in a press long been to enforce federal law tem and how we educate students dren in the district in 1964, filings release. “Dismissal of the case al- and the guarantees of the Constitu- and employ staff.” in the case have long been between lows us the freedom to make our tion, and enforce statutory law as His words were similar to court just the school board and the Justice own decisions that are in the best in- well,” LDF attorney Kathryn Sadafilings from Murrill’s office on beDepartment, which has historically terest of all students, staff and our sivan previously told The Shrevehalf of the school board, which emoverseen compliance after stepping community, while keeping in mind port-Bossier City Advocate. “And phasized the BPSB’s compliance the Supreme Court has been really in as an intervenor in this case and the history of the past 61 years.” with filing requirements and in His words echoed Murrill’s, who clear, this circuit has been realothers like it across the South. seeking approvals from the DOJ. That is, until earlier this year said “it is long past time for these ly clear, about what is required to “We want to give credit to our when the New York-based NAACP old consent decrees to come to an demonstrate that you are entitled district staff and past board memLegal Defense Fund, which origi- end” and that these cases “take pow- to relief from a consent decree that bers for working to do what was was entered to end a racially dual nated the case in 1964, became ac- er away from local communities.” required to emerge out from under The closure of the case does not school system. tive again by twice trying to bring “And, you know, by not following the desegregation case, and our curnew plaintiffs to the lawsuit: the mean the district has wiped out the Louisiana NAACP and two Black vestiges of segregation from the that, the Justice Department is do- rent board for having the courage to mothers with children in the dis- Jim Crow era. Civil rights groups ing a real disservice to the children approve the joint filing and having trict who have allegedly faced dis- like the Legal Defense Fund have who continue to be affected by the trust in district leadership to ensure that everyone at Bossier Schools is parate racial treatment, particular- opposed closing these cases with policies and practices in Bossier.” just the consent of the DOJ and the As recently as 2018, the DOJ it- treated in the same manner,” Rowly around discipline. Those attempts, opposed by the school boards, arguing they should self contended in court filings that land said. BY JUSTIN O’CONNOR Staff Writer
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Portion of busy Shreveport highway dedicated in memory of former Calvary student Photo by Roy Lang III A portion of Bert Kouns will bear the name of Hayden “Lane” Mangum, a former Calvary student who died at the age of 15 in 2021. Submitted photo
BY ROY LANG III Staff Writer It was just one of those days for Chris Mangum. Work, personal matters — things piled up during a long drive home to Bossier City from Texas with his boys. One call in May changed it all. Ami Moss, a good friend and follow Calvary parent, was on the line, and she had some news. “I didn’t know anything about it,” Mangum said. Moss revealed the Louisiana Legislature had just passed a bill that would dedicate a stretch of Bert Kouns (Louisiana Highway 526) on either side of Interstate 49 to
Mangum’s late son, Hayden “Lane” Mangum, a Calvary baseball and football player who drowned at the age of 15 while fishing with a friend in 2021. August 17th, two days before Lane Mangum would have turned 21, “Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway,” was unveiled. The intimate ceremony, also attended by Lane’s mother, Jackie Tidwell, and several other family members, was made possible by Senate Bill No. 460, authored by Shreveport State Sen. Thomas Pressly — at the urging of Calvary parent Ami Moss. “I didn’t know what to say (when Ami called),” Chris Mangum said Monday, “between crying and not
having the words. I needed it. For someone like Amy and (the legislators) to fight for my kid and want to do this for him, it just means the world to us.” June 1 marked the five-year anniversary of Mangum’s passing near the Lake Bistineau Spillway. “When we found out it would be Lane’s 21st birthday this week, we wanted to make sure the signs got up,” said Pressly, who was flanked by Sen. Adam Bass and State Rep. Dennis Bamburg Jr. “This is a great way to honor his legacy, honor his commitment to others and to our community. I’m so grateful for my colleagues who joined me to honor Lane’s memory and his life.” Moss described Lane Mangum as
“more than an athlete” at Calvary. “Anyone who watched him … saw his competitiveness and his heart, but those who really knew him — family, coaches and friends — knew there was so much more. He had a light about him, the kind of light that made people feel welcomed, that made a room better just by him being in it,” Moss said. “Grieving and gratitude can live side by side. Today isn’t just about a highway sign; it’s about making sure every person who drives this stretch of road, for years to come, will see his name and remember that a life, even one cut far too short, mattered. It changed people. It still does.”
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We recently completed the Tremendous 13 – a list of the best players in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Today, we spotlight “Below the Radar” players from 23 local teams. They may be relatively anonymous today, or have an incomplete resume, but will emerge during the 2026 season.
Desmien Curry, Airline Junior, defensive back, 5-foot-10, 160 pounds
“He’s not the tallest kid, but I think he’s one of the best defensive kids around the area. A lot of people will know about him going forward. He’s a fantastic player.” Justin Scogin, Vikings head coach
Madden Raymond, Benton Sr., RB/TE/WR, 6-1, 195
“He started for us at tight end last year. He’s a baseball player, two-sport kid. In baseball, you have utility players. He’s a football version of a utility player, a Swiss-army knife. He’s going to play a little bit of a lot of bit.” Stephen Dennis, Tigers head coach
Javeon Mitchell, Bossier So., WR/DB, 5-7, 140
“No. 1, he does a great job in the classroom. He’s an athlete (sophomore WR/DB); about 135 pounds. He’s fast, he can catch. He’s good.” Gary Smith, Bearkats head coach
C.E. Byrd’s Kameron Mosley tackles Captain Shreve’s Chris Hill during a jamboree Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at Lee Hedges Stadium in Shreveport, La. Photo by Jill Pickett
Javyoun Wilkins, BTW Jr., WR/CB, 5-8, 160
Kameron Mosley, Byrd Jr., CB, 5-10, 142
“We call him five-star. He does everything right. If he had the height and the size, he would be a five-star (recruit). He’s a kid we can plug in wherever. He does a great job for us.”
“Hopefully he has a great year and is a great cover corner; he’s got the speed to do it.”
Gary Cooper, Lions head coach
Stacy Ballew, Yellow Jackets head coach
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Delancey Street, Calvary Jr., RB/LB, 6-2, 220
“He’s going to be a fantastic player. A lot of people will know who he is.” Rodney Guin, Cavaliers head coach
Ja’korion Spencer, Huntington So., Wr., 5-8, 130
“He sort of got lost in the shuffle last season -- too good to play on JV, not quite good enough for varsity.”
Zaylen Heard, North Caddo Sr., WR/S, 6-1, 185
“This is his first year playing football since his freshmen year. He’s very athletic and extremely physical.” Dewaski Davis, Titans head coach
John Simon, Raiders head coach
Charles McIntyre, Captain Shreve Jr., DT, 6-1, 250
“He’s special. Blue-collar kid. Strong, aggressive, very quick. He’s just an animal if he wants to be. He’s kind of understanding, ‘If I do this 100 miles-per-hour every snap, there’s nobody stopping me. He showed some class in the spring, Ruston was having to use two and three guys on him.” Jeremy Wilburn, Gators head coach
Javian Rogers, Evangel Sr., LB, 5-10, 195
“He plays every down. He’s a very gifted athlete. He runs well, he’s very physical. He never says a word. He loves God, loves his teammates. He listens; every coach’s favorite guy. He’s just wonderful.” Denny Duron, Eagles head coach
Jamarcus Hooper, Green Oaks Sr., CB/WR, 5-11, 160
“He doesn’t get that much recognition. Last year, he had over 700 yards receiving and (10) touchdowns. He was first-team all-district on defense and offense; that’s a hard thing to do. Still, I don’t think many people know much about him.” Nick Peoples, Giants head coach
Isaac Jennings, Haughton Sr., FB/LB, 5-8, 190
“He’s a great short-yardage back and a very good tackler. He’s the heart and soul of our defense.” Matthew Sewell, Buccaneers head coach
Jaylon Perkins and Jaydon Perkins, Logansport
Derik White, North DeSoto So., RB, 5-10, 160
Jr., DE/DT/TE, 6-3, 220
“D-Bo has been waiting in the wings.”
“These twins are going to be on a lot of people’s radar. They should have a breakout year.”
Dennis Dunn, Griffins head coach
Kevin Magee, Tigers head coach
Tristen Sedberry, Parkway
J.T. Taylor, Loyola
“It’s his first year playing football, was a basketball-baseball guy. He had two touchdown catches against Evangel (in fall scrimmage) and another big night against Airline (in the jamboree). Good hands, good physical body.”
Sr. RB/CB, 6-2, 210
“Played corner last year and nobody really threw his way a ton, so he didn’t get his name in the paper because he was shutting down half the field. Moving him to running back is going to open people’s eyes.” John Sella, Flyers head coach
Nicholas Holmes, Magnolia Sr., QB, 5-10, 220
“Not only is he a leader on the field, but in the classroom, in the hallway. That’s what we want our guys to be. We’re not looking at wins and losses (on the field), we’re looking at wins and losses in life.”
Sr., WR, 6-2, 185
Coy Brotherton, Panthers head coach
Colton Smith, Plain Dealing Jr., TE, 6-5, 245
“He has worked hard. In the month of July, he increased 45 pounds in the squat and 20 pounds in the bench, and he wasn’t weak. He has kicked it up a notch. It’s awesome when you see kid get serious and things starting clicking. I can’t wait to see what kind of year he has for us. He played basketball, so he moves well.” Jerry Byrd Jr., Lions head coach
Kelly Yancey, Mariners head coach
Jaterrious Howard, Mansfield Sr., QB
“Plays both ways. When you get to our level, and they’re that special, they need to.” Darrell Barbay, Wolverines head coach
Abreon Curry, Minden Soph., WR/CB, 5-10, 150
“He played corner last year, but this year we’re going to use him at receiver. He’s going to make a lot of plays on defense and be a vital part of the offense, too.” Spencer Heard, Crimson Tide head coach
Cedrick Beene, Southwood Jr., S, 5-10, 185
“I like everything about him. He’s an extremely smart man. He has the most starts on defense of anyone. His knowledge of the game -- he knows how to get everyone set up. That’s huge on the back end, basically having a quarterback there.” DeAumante Johnson, Cowboys head coach
Tristen Reynolds, Woodlawn So., WR, 6-0, 130
“Nice hands, can run good routes.” Lavelle Wilson Jr., Knights head coach
26 318 DIGEST | SHREVEPORTBOSSIERADVOCATE.COM
OCTOBER
EVENTS CALENDAR
WHERE TO GO WHO TO SEE WHAT TO DO
IN THE
Don’t miss these family-friendly activities for October in Shreveport, Bossier City Temperatures are beginning to drop and autumn is in the air in northwest Louisiana. Here are some fun, family-friendly activities to help you get in the spirit this fall. STAFF REPORT OPENS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
THE CORN MAZE
OCTOBER 8-11 and 15-18
RED RIVER REVEL
Don’t miss the 50th Red River Revel in Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport, with fantastic food, live music and original artwork and crafts. There’s also a large area of activities designed especially for children. Redriverrevel.com
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
BOSSIER MAKER’S FAIR
The Bossier City Makers Fair returns Saturday, Oct. 10. Shop local with 150+ handmade makers and vendors. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City. Admission and parking are free. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
OCTOBER 14-18
The Corn Maze brings farm-to-family joy to northwest Louisiana with attractions designed for people of all ages. The new Corn Maze opens Sept. 26 for family fun from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays at 8540 Highway 71 in Shreveport. When the corn reaches full height and the season opens, families step into an environment where exploration feels natural and every corner offers something new to try. Visit the website for more details on cost of admission, food vendors and live music along with other activities scheduled throughout the season. The Corn Maze 8540 Highway 71 - Shreveport TheCornMaze318.com
PRIZE FEST 2026
Get ready for five days of film, food, music, comedy, and photography competitions in Shreveport, Bossier. See short films produced in Louisiana, celebrity chefs work alongside favorite local chefs, up and coming comedians and more. Prizefest.com
PUMPKIN SHINE ON LINE
The 34th Annual Pumpkin Shine on Line Avenue is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 20 (rain date: Oct. 21), from 4 to 8 p.m. at Betty Virginia Park in Shreveport. The event is free and open to the community. See thousands of decorated and illuminated pumpkins created by local students, schools and nonprofits. There will also be live school performances and entertainment. The event is held in partnership with SPAR.
318 DIGEST | SHREVEPORTBOSSIERADVOCATE.COM 27
Teddy Allen: Missing the Momma Bear -- her life, love and burgers
BY TEDDY ALLEN Columnist
C
arolyn Rogers McIlwain was born in the summer of 1946 and passed away this summer of 2026, a few days shy of her 80th birthday. That’s eight decades of grace and sweetness and smiles that all who knew her will miss. We were never best buddies, never went out together, never talked on the phone. But she was one of my favorite people, and the only reason we didn’t do any of those things was because I didn’t want to get on her nerves. She was a quiet and efficient angel for Shreveport and Bossier City, a fount of good cheer, dynamite in a small and cheerful package, a lover of life’s smallest plea-
sures until dementia and a brief illness sidelined her. As many of you did, I met Carolyn (“Miss Carolyn” to me) more than 30 years ago when she and her husband of 55 years, Bo, owned and operated Teddy Bear Sandwich Den on Barksdale Boulevard in Bossier City. Didn’t know her when she worked for Arnold Pipe & Supply or McCary’s Jewelers. Didn’t know her as a greeter at First Methodist in Shreveport. But if they’d have sold burgers at those places, I’d have gone, of course to eat but mainly to see Miss Carolyn. I’m sure she was the same wherever she clocked in. She just made the air fresher and the day lighter and brighter. Just one of those remarkable people who quietly turned dark to light. Teddy Bear Sandwich Den was once voted to have the best burgers in town. After 14 years, it went into hibernation, 30 years ago this fall. I remember my final Friday eating there and I remember saying goodbye to Bo and to Miss Carolyn and walking to my car and not looking back. Hurt too much.
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This is how good and thoughtful Miss Carolyn was. I told her that Friday that I’d write about the restaurant closing. She preferred that I didn’t. She still had people to call, loyal customers, and she was scared she couldn’t get to them all before the Sunday newspaper came out. She was all about one-on-one. When she spoke to you, it wasn’t as if you were just her favorite customer; it was as if you were the only person in the world. When one of your favorite eating places closes, you lose a slice of yourself, a tiny piece of your life. The Bear goes, and so goes a part of me. Miss Carolyn goes, and so goes a part of us. No man is an island. No more Smokey Bear with cheese, add mayo and bacon. No more Panda Bear, a dessert so good they made it only on Fridays. No more Bo Burger. No more Teddy’s Trip with sauteed onions. No more Bo and Carolyn. Goodbye to Humphrey Beargart. Goodbye to Elvis Bearsley. All the little bears on the wall … Goodbye to Miss Carolyn, the
Momma Bear who made the honey. The last time I saw Bo and Carolyn, they were eating at Tacomania on East Kings in Shreveport. A joy to see them. Now they are both gone. As is Tacomania, which had the Teddy Bear “feel” to it. (El Compadre on East Kings is the closest thing we have to it now, and what a blessing it is.) Bo wasn’t feeling great then — he passed away in 2021 — but he was still Bo, and Carolyn was all smiles as usual. Just thinking of those two makes me feel better. I think of young Emily and “Our Town” and hear her saying from her grave, “Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? — every, every minute?” We don’t. We’re all just too human. But … … a person like Carolyn, she came as close as any of us can, forever appreciating her family and friends, loving the little things, living in the moment, spreading the love, either a smile or a hug or a burger at a time. Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu
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