Life

For the eighth year running, Caddo District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. has doffed his three-piece suit and donned a coat of red to play the role of Santa Claus to bring cheer and hope to parish students.

Former Parkway Panther and Centenary Gent Seth Lugo has a new home in Major League Baseball. The Bossier City native has a big new deal for next year. The MLB starting pitcher will be heading to the American League for the first time in his career. The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with Lugo on a 3-year, $45 million contract. That deal will pay him $15 million a season, which is the total of his Padres contract he signed last offseason.

The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission announced the return of Formula 1 Powerboat Racing to Shreveport-Bossier with the Red River Rumble F1 Powerboat Showdown, scheduled to take place from May 24 – 26, 2024, over Memorial Day weekend. This event will feature approximately 50 high-speed powerboats along the Red River. The North Shreveport Business Association had another big Operation Santa Claus toy drive this year. The effort netted 49 bicycles and over 160 toys to provide Christmas for needed children. With additional cash donations of over $4,000, additional bikes and toys will be purchased for this program sponsored by the Shreveport police and fire departments. Shreveport City Council has approved the return of a single pay plan for classified employees starting Jan. 1, removing the existing two-tiered system currently differentiating pay based on whether someone was hired before or after 2022.

Louisiana State Senator-elect Thomas Pressly has been named the 2023 Young Professional of the Year. Pressly received the award Friday night at the 17th annual 40 under Forty Awards and Gala held at Sam's Town in Shreveport. The 40 under 40 Awards recognizes 40 professionals under the age of 40 who have excelled in their chosen profession. Other criteria include education, professional development, community leadership and volunteer efforts. The event is sponsored by the Young Professionals Initiative. Johnny Gray Jones Youth Shelter in Bossier Parish closed on Nov. 30. The youth shelter had been open for 30 years and usually held about 30 children. It had been used to house runaways and youths accused of lowlevecrimes. The cost to maintain the shelter is $750,000 to $1 million a year. Bossier City’s Pay it Forward Networking makes the dreams of special needs kids come true through the power of networking. Sophia, who has Williams syndrome, dreamed of being a cowgirl. Pay It Forward founder Kassi Roberson got busy to make her wish come true. Roberson contacted local equine community members who had horses and local cowgirls who could teach Sophia a little bit about barrel racing. Bossier Parish Riding Club, located in Benton, helped make her cowgirl dreams come to life. Sophia’s night consisted of grooming a horse, riding a horse, hands-on training for the barrel racecourse, completing the course in front of spectators and receiving a medal. She also received generous gifts: a cowgirl hat, western wear, gift baskets and more.

For the second year in a row, a Shreveport nonprofit has received $25,000 from New York Life. Tim Fitzgerald presented the check to Shreveport Youth Boxing Club. The youth boxing club provides a safe space for kids to come together and channel their energy. Shreveport Youth Boxing Club trains kids from age 8 all the way up to 22 free of charge. It has 36 kids signed up.

'We ain't into competition,' the fierce, upcoming femcee Bray K declares on the 'In My Section (Remix),' from her immaculate debut mixtape 'WeWantBrayK'!

Jason Rowland, a 31-year educator who has served for the past four years as assistant superintendent of administration and personnel, has been selected as the next Bossier Parish superintendent of schools. Rowland was the unanimous choice of school board members Tuesday following his interview during a special board meeting. He will become the 15th school superintendent in Bossier Parish history following the Dec. 31 retirement of Mitch Downey. It’s a Thanksgiving tradition : the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Benton High School cheer and dance teams performed in the parade!

For 18 years, the Independence Bowl Foundation and Willis-Knighton Health System have partnered to award two $2,500 Community Service Scholarships to one graduating senior from Caddo and Bossier parishes. The recipients of the 18th annual scholarship are Analyce Jeane from North Caddo Magnet High School and Zachary Cryer from Benton High School. The annual scholarship has provided 34 students with a total of $85,000 in scholarships throughout the first 17 years of the program.