This document provides an overview of the history of Ruston and Lincoln Parish, Louisiana from its founding in the late 1800s to present day. It discusses how Ruston was established after the Civil War along railroad lines running through the area. Ruston grew steadily through the early 1900s as schools like Louisiana Tech University were founded, attracting more residents. Ruston continued growing in the mid-1900s with the GI Bill and construction of Interstate 20, and now has numerous historic buildings, a thriving downtown, and is a center for education and business in the region.
1. 2111 North Trenton Street • Ruston, LA 71270 • www.rustonlincoln.org
RUSTON - LINCOLN
USA
COMMUNITY &
RELOCATION
GUIDE
2016 EDITION
2. Goodnews!Excellence.
We’ve acquired a surgical center
for quality outpatient care.
At Northern Louisiana Medical Center, we are happy
to announce that we recently acquired Green Clinic
Surgical Hospital. Its new name is Northern Louisiana
Medical Center-Ruston Surgical Center. And in this
convenient location for outpatient surgery, you’ll find
quality services and the care of a dedicated staff. For
more information about Northern Louisiana Medical
Center-Ruston Surgical Center, call 318-232-7700 or
visit NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com.
One of the Top in the Nation
Three Years in a Row.
By focusing on quality care for patients and doing
what’s right, we have received national recognition – for
the third year in a row. Northern Louisiana Medical
Center* is recognized by The Joint Commission as a
Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® for achieving
excellence in performance on its accountability
measures during 2013 for Heart Attack, Heart Failure,
Pneumonia and Surgical Care. Find out more at
NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com.
318-232-7700
NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com
The Joint
Commission
Top Performer
on Key Quality
Measures®
2013
*Rushton Louisiana Hospital Company, LLC d/b/a Northern Louisiana Medical Center.
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2 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
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5. Proud of our history... excited about our future!
Welcome to our neighborhood!
From helping new ventures get started
to representing the interests of established
firms, and welcoming new neighbors into our
community, the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of
Commerce works to ensure that Ruston and
Lincoln Parish offer the best place in North
Louisiana to work, live, play, and raise a family.
We’re proud of our history, yet visionary for the
future.
You’ll hear it said that we’re “a Peach of
a Place,” and it’s not just because of the
wonderfully succulent peaches for which our
area orchards are famous. It’s our people,
our values, and our way of life that make our
community special. If you’re visiting, or planning
your move to our community, let us be the first to
say, “Welcome to our neighborhood.”
Ruston and Lincoln Parish are ideal for both
business and personal growth. Continued retail
development featuring a mix of large national
chain stores and locally owned businesses,
offers residents and visitors a variety of places
to shop, eat, and have fun.
Ruston is more than just a stop along the
interstate so come on over and enjoy the full
depth of Southern hospitality. Take in a ball
game or maybe a play at the historic Dixie
Center for the Arts; visit the Louisiana Military
Museum; or picnic at Lincoln Parish Park.
We’re here to help; we’re glad you’ve come to
our community. It really is a Peach of a Place
to visit, to live, and to do business.
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 5
6. Loving Ruston
Being that I’m from St. Paul, Minnesota, my
perspective of Ruston Lincoln Parish comes from a
midwesterner’s point of view. I came from a big city
to a small college town. From the midwest to the
south.
So far, the only part of Lincoln Parish I’ve had the
pleasure of exploring is Ruston. I feel like I have
gotten a good taste of Lincoln Parish, as Ruston is
the heart of the Parish. Ruston is a big enough city
to have sufficient entertainment, but small enough to
still possess that small southern town charm. There
are many cute shops, boutiques, and restaurants. It’s
a close knit community, but still very welcoming and
accepting. There’s that casual open friendliness that
can only be found in the south. It seems like a great
place to raise a family.
One thing that stands out to me as a
midwesterner is the richness of history. There
is that strong pride in history, which I find to be
characteristic of the south. People are born and
raised here, and choose to stay; you can tell they’re
proud to be Rustonites. The restoration of the
historic downtown area demonstrates the dedication
Welcome to our neighborhood!
After more than four decades of military life lived all
over the world, Tom Boniol had never really put down
roots. But that all changed when he crossed paths
with a lifelong resident of Lincoln Parish who would
eventually become his wife.
“When he married me, he got a community,” Cathi
Cox-Boniol shares. “And rest assured, his roots now
run deep.”
It didn’t take much for Boniol to embrace the
community-oriented life that his wife was known for,
becoming actively involved in her work with the Lincoln
Parish School Board as well as a host of other service
opportunities and initiatives.
“I didn’t know there were places like this,” Boniol
admits. “I had never been anywhere where I felt so
welcome, accepted, and valued. The people and
relationships in Ruston are incredible. You understand
why folks don’t ever want to leave here.”
Boniol immediately got involved with the local
school system, finding ways to help students, teachers,
administrators, and others involved in providing an
education that he saw as nothing short of amazing.
“I absolutely couldn’t believe the quality of education
here,” he continues. “I’ve seen schools in every corner
of this country and it would literally bring me to tears to
think that my children never had a chance at the type
of opportunities I see when in the schools with Cathi.
And it’s unbelievable to see how this community bands
together to get involved. It makes me so proud.”
His pride extends to other elements of the
community that have helped make Lincoln Parish
“home.” The personal touch felt when shopping or
doing business, his church family, the quality of health
care, the area’s natural beauty, and becoming an
adopted son of his wife’s alma mater, Louisiana Tech
University.
“What we have here is rare,” Boniol shares. “I truly
miss Ruston and the people here when I’m off working.
But there’s nothing like finally coming down I-20 and
seeing the glow from the city’s lights. Everything
changes because I know I’m home. I’d always heard
‘there’s no place like home.’ And now I understand. I
can’t imagine a more perfect place to call home.”
Tom & Cathi Cox-Boniol
Here to Stay
Passing Through
and pride the community has in its rich history, and in
keeping that history alive.
One thing this parish excels in is having and
maintaining a healthy business environment. They
might not have as many businesses as some big
cities, but what they do have thrives. They offer a
wide range of shops and eateries, all with a southern
flair. There are multiple restaurants offering many
tasty dishes that are unique to the region, and
literally cannot be found anywhere in the midwest.
From what I can tell, Ruston has a strong business
community, which I’m sure will continue to expand
and prosper.
The railroad system and interstate help to connect
the Parish with the outside world. I’ll never forget the
sound of trains passing through Ruston at all times
of the day. From now on, whenever I hear a train
whistle, I will remember Ruston fondly. If Ruston is
a good representation of the rest of the Parish, I look
forward to seeing more.
Anne Naber
6 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
8. When the Civil War ended in 1865, the
South had suffered massive destruction.
Individuals and families on both sides of the
conflict had their lives changed forever.
Here in the piney hills of north central
Louisiana, the war had kept its distance, the
closest military action having taken place
in the Red River Valley near Shreveport and
along the Mississippi River at Vicksburg.
With the countryside having been spared,
the war’s aftermath would help chart a new
course for the farmers and merchants who
called this area home.
As the Era of Reconstruction took hold, a
new parish was carved from existing ones
in 1873 and named after President Abraham
Lincoln. Word soon reached the young
parish that the Vicksburg, Shreveport and
Pacific Railroad would begin to run across
north Louisiana, linking the Deep South
with Texas.
For one individual, this brought to
fruition a lifelong dream of having people
live nearby whom he could call neighbors.
Little did Robert E. Russ know that his
dream for a new town to be located near his
plantation would eventually become known
as “Ruston,” short for Russ town.
By 1884, Ruston was incorporated. Russ
had donated roughly 640 acres for the
town’s location, and former Union Army
Historic
surveyors working for the railroad had
laid out unusually wide, spacious avenues
among the towering oaks and pines.
As the town began to take shape, new
churches, businesses, civic organizations
and schools were established. The vast
stands of virgin timber and the availability
of fertile lands for cotton farming fueled the
booming economy.
In 1890, the Louisiana Chautauqua
was chartered in Lincoln Parish and the
community’s foundation in education was
laid. Louisiana Tech, established in 1894,
and Grambling State, founded in 1901,
are the cornerstones upon which the area
strongly stands over a century later.
8 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
9. In 1900, a second railroad, running
north and south, was built through Ruston.
By the outbreak of World War I in 1917,
Ruston was well established as a center
for learning, a place of civic pride and as
an area of economic prosperity throughout
the region.
Ruston continued to grow steadily
during the post-World War II prosperity
of the 1950’s. The GI Bill, which sent war
veterans to college, helped fuel the local
economy, resulting in tremendous growth
at the local universities. By the late 1950’s,
news reached Ruston that would have
significant impact — a new interstate
highway was to be built that would run
through the northern fringe of the city.
Completed by the early 1970’s,
Interstate 20 made Ruston more easily
accessible, much as the railroad had done
a century before. This, too, brought new
opportunities for growth and development.
In the 1980’s, the state’s economy
lagged after the oil industry went “belly-
up.” Ruston, however, continued growing
steadily.
The city experienced unprecedented
growth during the 1990’s; and even
now, a decade into the new century, new
subdivisions are popping up everywhere,
shopping areas on the north side of
town are expanding at a rapid pace, and
opportunities for learning and recreation
continue to expand. Downtown continues
to offer a variety of retail shops and
eateries. Education remains cutting edge.
The Parish has preserved its history
well, and has also managed to expertly
incorporate their history with their modern
growth. True to Robert E. Russ’s dream,
Ruston continues to open its doors to
those looking for a healthy business
environment, an opportunity to receive
a quality education and a great place –
a Peach of a Place – to raise a family.
In the spirit of Ruston’s founder, the
Robert E. Russ Award is presented to one
community changing Ruston resident each
year. This award is the most prestigious to
be given by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of
Commerce.
The historic downtown district of
Ruston is home to many of these majestic
structures. More than 23 historic buildings
have been placed on the Louisiana
National Register of historic places. The
following buildings, all located in Ruston,
Lincoln Parish, are noted both for historical
significance, and their architectural style.
Ruston
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 9
10. The Townsend House
The Townsend House is one of two
of Ruston’s oldest buildings that still
stands today. It is said that the house
was moved to Ruston around 1885, after
originally being built in Vienna. The
house’s architecture is called Queen
Anne Revival, with an asymmetrical
appearance.The home was originally
a parsonage for the Baptist Church of
Christ, but in 1920 the Townsend family
moved in.
The Autrey House
The Autrey house, built in 1849, is
the oldest surviving structure in Lincoln
Parish. It’s also known for its significant
dog trot architectural style. It now
functions as a museum and is open to
all visitors by special appointments.
The Dixie Theatre
The Dixie Theatrer was built as Astor
Theatre in 1928. In 1932 it was re-named
the Rialto. It was finally named the Dixie
Theatre in the 1950’s sale to the Dixie
Theater Corporation of New Orleans.
The theatre experienced a devastating
fire in 1933. It was only in 1996 that the
Dixie Center for the Arts talked about
restoration. It was reopened in 2006, and
it is still running today.
T.L. James
The T.L. James house was built in
1884 by Colonel Thomas Cunningham
Standifer, a civil war hero, as a gift for
his family. It was owned by the Standifer
family until 1921, when it was then
purchased by T.L. James. The house is
classified as the colonial revival style.
James remodeled the home in 1926, but
many original features of the house were
left intact, and many features still remain
from the 1926 remodel.
The Kidd-Davis House
The Kidd-Davis house was built in 1886
for Captain Milton B. Kidd and his family.
The house is constructed in the Italianate
colonial revival style. The house is said to
contain an odd arrangement of rooms due
to the late additions of bedrooms as the
Kidd family kept growing.In 1921, it was
sold to Robert Wesley Davis. Davis did the
last major remodeling in 1938. The house
is now a museum open to the public. The
foyer of the museum contains murals
depicting historical scenes of the early
years of Ruston. The Parish walls really
speak and tell the story clearly.
Ruston High School
Prior to its current address on
Cooktown Rd, Ruston High School was
located on North Trenton Street until
around 1938, when 13 acres of land were
donated by Mr. T. L. James. Soon after,
more than 29 acres of land adjoining the
land was purchased. The high school has
gone through many improvements and
expansions. Two tragic fires, one on 1988
and another in 1995, have destroyed part
of the high school’s property’s. However,
both buildings have been reconstructed
and are still in use to this day.
10 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
11. Federal Building
The historic Federal Building, built in
1909, was the first building to be built with
Indiana limestone in Ruston. Today, it is
one of only two buildings left in the city
made out of limestone. It follows an Anglo-
American theme and it was constructed
mirroring renaissance architecture. The
building closed in 1960, but it was later
reopened after being remodeled in 1963.
Although the inside of the building will be
completely remodeled, the outside remains
true to it’s original appearance.
The Lewis House
The Lewis house was built in 1900, but it
has been newly restored. It is now a lovely
Victorian bed and breakfast, which hosts
visitors from all over. Its architectural
style is colonial revival Queen Anne. www.
thevictorianlewishouse.com
Ruston State Bank
The Ruston State Bank was built in 1910,
in the beaux arts style. Its entrance was
designed to look like a classic temple. An
antique clock, which was added in 1927, and
a coffered vault differentiate the building
from its other historic neighors as the most
elaborate.
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 11
12. • General Contractors
• Design/Build Services
• Commercial/Industrial
Construction
“From Concept to Keys”
FULL SERVICE GENERAL CONTRACTORS
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West Monroe (318)396-1790
Monroe (318)325-0777
Certified Technicians
Showrooms
Store Fronts
Mobile Service
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24-Hr Emergency Service
Pick Up & Delivery
Windshield Repair
Custom Mirrors
Shower Doors
BerniceNursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC
Intravenous Therapy
Peripheral Line • PICC Line Wound care
Certified Nurses on Staff • Tracheostomy Care
Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy
Long Term & Short Term Therapy Programs tailored to each individual patient’s needs
Single Floor Plan
We offer a single floor plan eliminating the need to be concerned with elevators
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Outdoor Recreation
Residents can take private walks. Our residents are able to enjoy the outdoors
in a safe, secure environment. Our facility offers a secure walking path with a
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We accept: Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance and Private Pay
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12 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
13. LONG-TERMACUTEHOSPITALCARE
fORMEdICALLyCOMPLExPATIENTS
1401 Ezell Street | Ruston, LA 71270 • 318.251.3126 | 318.251.5392
www.lifecare-hospitals.com/hospital/louisiana
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RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 13
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• Tumbled Stone
• Laminate
• Carpet
• Ceramic Tile
• Ceilings
• Vinyl Flooring
Design Center
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803 EAST GEORGIA • RUSTON, LA • (318) 254-0170
RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL
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CONNECTED
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Visit www.linnenergy.com or call 281.840.4000
to learn more about LINN.
LINN supports organizations that enrich
the lives of people in the communities
where we live and work.
LINCOLN
Ford - Lincoln
Sales, Service, Parts, Body Shop
J I M T A Y L O R
1605 N. Service Rd. East • Ruston • (318) 255-2590
www.jimtaylorford.com • 1-800-248-3825
Super 8 Motel
See you along the way.
• Free Continental Breakfast
• Wired & Wireless (Wi-Fi) High-Speed
Internet Connections Available
• Swimming Pool
• Iron & Alarm Clock in Each Room
• Microwave & Refrigerators in Each Room
• 0.5 Miles from Louisiana Tech University
• 3 Miles from Grambling State University
I-20, Exit 84 • 1101 Cooktown Rd. • Ruston, LA 71270
318-255-0588 • 1-800-800-8000 • Super8.com
105 South Monroe St.
1526 N. Trenton St.
(318) 255-3942
www.thecleanersofruston.com
14 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
15. Lifestyle Needs
Attractions and Recreation
(See pages 6-7 & 10-11)
Churches
Over 50 churches including:
Assembly of God, Baptist, Catholic,
Church of Christ, Episcopal, Lutheran,
Methodist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian,
non-denominational.
Convention and
Banquet Facilities
Davison Athletics Complex
(318) 257-3694
Eddie G. Robinson Museum
(318) 274-2210
Grambling State University Favrot Student
Union (318) 274-2205
Historic Ruston Fire Station
(318) 251-8621
John Thomas & Edith West Henning
Conference Center (318) 777-3460
Lincoln Hall (318) 255-8081
Lincoln Parish Park (318) 251-5156
Lincoln Parish Library Events Center
(318) 513-6444
Louisiana Tech Student Center
(318) 257-3479
Norton Building (318) 614-5312
Ruston Civic Center (318) 251-8613
Ruston Country Club (318) 255-1307
Scott Hamilton Warehouse Dubach
(318) 777-3409
Squire Creek Country Club Choudrant
(318) 768-7000
Meeting facilities may also be found at
many local hotels and restaurants.
Developmental and
Training Institutions
Louisiana Center for the Blind
(318) 251-2891
www.lcb-ruston.com
Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home
(318) 255-5020 www.lmch.org
Golf Courses
Private
Ruston Country Club (318) 255-1307
Squire Creek Country Club
(318) 768-7000
www.squirecreek.com
Public
Louisiana Tech Golf Course
(318) 247-8331
Emergency Health Care
Services
Amazing Care (walk-in clinic)
765 South Bonner St., Ruston
(318) 202-5935
Lincoln Medical Clinic
1831 North Trenton St., Ruston
(318) 224-7004
Quickcare of Ruston (walk-in clinic)
1809 Northpointe Ln., Ruston
(318) 255-3762
Animal Emergency Clinic
102 Downing Pines Rd., West Monroe
(318) 410-0555
Hospitals
See pages 32-33
Assisted Living
The Arbor and Terrace of Ruston
(318) 251-3116
www.arborandterraceofruston.com
Russ Place
(318) 251-9068
www.enlivant.com
Senior care facilities
Alpine Guest Care Center
(318) 255-6492
www.guestcaremanagement.com
Princeton Place of Ruston
(318) 255-4400
www.princetonplaceruston.com
Ruston Nursing & Rehabilitation
Center
(318) 255-5001
www.rustonrehabcenter.com
Hotels/Motels
10 choices; amenities include
meeting facilities, pools, fitness
centers, business centers, etc.
Contact the Ruston Lincoln
Convention & Visitors Bureau
at (318) 255-2031 or visit www.
rustonlincoln.com
Restaurants
Ruston has more than 60
restaurants specializing in American,
Soul, Asian, Italian, Mexican, and
Cajun food. Contact the Ruston
Lincoln Convention & Visitors
Bureau at (318) 255-2031 or visit
www.rustonlincoln.com
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 15
16. Recreation & Tourism
Experience one of USA
Today’s most charming
small towns in the South.
Between history, visual
and performing arts, sports
and outdoor adventures,
Ruston and Lincoln Parish
offer something for every
leisure-time pursuit.
The Ruston-based
North Central Louisiana
Arts Council (NCLAC) has
helped to enhance the arts
and culture of Ruston’s
historic downtown district.
NCLAC sponsors a Fall Art
Tours and Holiday Open
House allowing the public
to tour local galleries, meet
local artists, and watch
them work behind the
scenes.
“Ruston is very fortunate to
have quite a large creative
community,” local artist
Marlen Waters said.
Those who like the
performing arts will find
themselves right at home
in our community. The
Dixie Center for the Arts
brings nationally and
internationally known
performers as well
as musicals, theatre
productions and special
Dixie Center for the Arts
The historic Dixie Theatre, 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, is a 580-seat
performing arts hall in the heart of downtown used for live theatre, dance, music
performances of all kinds, and hosts the work of talented local artists. The Dixie is
home to the Ruston Community Theatre which produces four plays per season. The
theater, built in 1928, has been renovated but still features its old style, including an
elaborate crystal chandelier hung in 1932. The theatre is on the National Register of
Historic Places. For more information about the theatre or the current season, call
(318) 255-1450 or visit www.rctruston.org.
Louisiana Military
Museum
Re-live 200 years of
military history and touch
the lives of local heroes and
unknown enemies. From
the Civil War to Operation
Enduring Freedom in Iraq,
the Louisiana Military
Museum, 201 Memorial
Drive in Ruston, displays
the memorabilia of war
as seen largely through
the eyes of local and area
MUSEUMS
Area Attractions
events in conjunction
with Ruston Community
Theater and Troupe
Dixie. The Louisiana Tech
Concert Association, Stone
Theatre, and Grambling
State University’s Floyd L.
Sandle Theatre also offer
top-bill attractions.
Antique lovers,
collectors and treasure
hunters can spend hours
browsing the small, quaint
establishments full of
furniture, vintage clothing
and jewelry, books and
knickknacks with true
Southern character.
Lincoln Parish is home
to several museums full of
history and artifacts. The
Lincoln Parish Museum
documents the area’s rich
history with memorabilia and
the “Walls that Talk” mural
and tour. The Louisiana
Military Museum, offering
a unique local perspective
into our nation’s military
history through a collection
of weapons and relics, is a
hsitory buff’s delight. It also
features artifacts from Camp
Ruston, one of the largest
POW camps in the nation
during World War II. The
Eddie Robinson Museum
pays tribute to one of the
greatest football coaches in
American history. “Coach
Rob” led the Grambling
State Tigers from 1941
to 1997, amassing an
astounding 408 victories,
17 Southwestern Athletic
Conference titles and nine
Black College Football
National Championships.
He placed more than 200
former players into the
professional ranks.
16 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
17. Lincoln Parish
Museum
Lincoln Parish Museum
is located at 609 North
Vienna Street in the historic
Kidd-Davis house in Ruston.
The museum was built
in 1886, two years after
the founding of Ruston.
Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday, and
weekends by appointment.
For more information call
(318) 251-0018 or visit www.
lincolnparishmuseum.com
Eddie Robinson
Museum
Trophies, plaques
and other memorabilia
of legendary Grambling
State University football
coach Eddie Robinson
are on exhibit at the Eddie
Robinson Museum on the
Grambling State University
campus. In 1985, Robinson
became the winningest
coach in college football
history with 324 wins.
He retired in 1997 with
408 victories. For more
information call (318)
255-2031 or visit www.
robinsonmuseum.com or
www.sos.louisiana.gov/
museums.
FAMILY ORIENTED ATTRACTIONS
participants. From Bibles
to medals, uniforms,
weapons, and even aircraft,
the unique collection rivals
that of longer-established
museums. Museum is open
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday
through Saturday. Special
times can be arranged
for groups. For more
information call (318) 251-
5099 or visit www.sos.
louisiana.gov/museums
Sports fans can also light their competitive flame at places all around the
parish. There are seasonal leagues for adults and youngsters sponsored by
Ruston Parks and Recreation Department.
Garland Gregory Hideaway Park, on the Louisiana Tech University campus,
offers joggers and walkers the
perfect setting for breaking a
sweat or having a picnic, as
does Lincoln Parish Park, where
camping, fishing and biking are
also options. Not only does Lincoln
Parish Park feature some of the
nation’s best mountain bike trails,
but also it’s the site of Legacy Park,
a boundless playground designed
to accommodate special-needs
youngsters.
When it comes to college
athletics, Louisiana Tech University,
a member of Conference USA, and
Grambling State University, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference,
provide some of the best spectator sports entertainment in the country.
For more information about recreation and tourism in our area visit the Ruston
Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.experienceruston.com.
Spring Art Crawl
OTHER ENTERTAINING ORGANIZATIONS
NCLAC
(318) 255-1450 www.nclarts.org
Ruston Community Theater
(318) 255-5328
www.rctruston.org
LA Tech Concert Association
(318) 257-3942 - www.latech.edu/
performingarts/ltca
Floyd L. Sandle Theatre
(318) 274-2201 www.gram.edu
Stone Theatre
(318) 257-2930 -
www.latechuniversity theatre
Eddie Robinson Museum
(318) 274-2210 www.
robinsonmuseum.com
www.gsutigers.com
Collegiate Sports Schedules
www.latechsports.com
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 17
18. Lincoln Parish is
full of family oriented
activities for all different
age members of your
family! From summer
camps with leisure
oriented attractions, the
city of Ruston, along
with its neighboring
towns, makes sure your
whole family has plenty
family oriented fun all
year round.
Ruston Parks and
Recreation Department
(RPAR) provides the
citizens of Ruston with
numerous leisure-
oriented activities for
all ages. “RPAR strives
to inspire and sustain a
passion for recreation
and leisure experiences
that enhance the
quality of life for the
entire community,”
states their vision.
RPAR’s mission is to
offer a diverse array
of quality recreational
programs, events, and
park experiences that
enhance the quality
of life for the whole
community.
Activities range
from youth and adult
athletic leagues, to
sports camps, exercise
and wellness programs
and special events.
RPAR staff takes
pride in developing
and presenting
diverse programming
that allows people
from all ages and
economic backgrounds
the opportunity to
participate.
Bricks 4 Kidz
It is a summer camp
where children will be
engaged in problem-
solving and critical thinking
activities while still exploring
their creativity. Campers
will compete in challenges,
build models using
LEGO® bricks, and make
something they can take
home. These numerous
activities will stimulate the
camper’s learning skills
through balancing both
structured learning time
and fun, creative games.
The program is available in
both Ruston and Monroe.
Interested parties can
contact Sarah Wages for
more information.
They operate and
maintain 11 park sites that
include 16 athletic fields,
five tennis courts, five
outdoor basketball courts,
and 11 playgrounds. This
includes the Bobby James
Memorial Gym, McLane
Multipurpose Center,
Ruston Sports Complex
(old Regional airport), J.
C. Love Softball Complex,
Municipal Tennis Courts,
and the Ruston Municipal
Pool.
Explore Lincoln!
With all of these
activities available
to the public, RPAR
ensures that anyone
in the community who
is interested has the
chance to participate in
recreational events that
not only enhances their
quality of life, but brings
the community together.
For more information
about recreation and
tourism in our area
visit the Ruston Lincoln
Convention & Visitors
Bureau at www.
experienceruston.com.
18 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
19. IDEA Place
Located in Woodard
Hall on the Louisiana Tech
University, this hands-
on math and science
museum has everything
from aquariums to sound
and light experiments, plus
new 3D printers and an
adjacent planetarium. For
more information call (318)
257-2794 or visit www.
latech.edu/ideaplace.com.
North LA Exhibition Center
The North Louisiana Expo Center is located 5 miles north of I-20 from Exit 86.
It is also located 5 miles from Lincoln Parish’s finest hotels and restaurants. The
exhibition center hosts several large events like the Run for the Diamonds Barrel
Race and the D-Arbonne Range Riders. With tractor pulls, car shows and rodeos,
there is something for every sports enthusiast. For a schedule of events visit nlec.
lincolnparish.org.
Peach Orchards
Acres of peach trees that grow the best peaches in the country are in and
around Lincoln Parish. Nestled among the rolling hills of northwest Ruston,
Mitcham Farms is the largest peach orchard in the parish. Mitcham’s also
features a quaint country store filled with food items, gift baskets, peach-
themed products and local artists’ work. Mitcham Farms is located on Woods
Road, off LA 544. Take Exit 84 from I-20. For more information call (318)
255-3409 or visit www.mitchamfarms.com. Yak’s Peaches and Vegetables
is located 15 miles north of Ruston on Hwy. 33. Take Exit 86 from I-20. For
more information call (318) 368-0245 or (318) 368-3992. Thompson’s Peach
Farm is off I-20 at Exit 93. Call (318) 644-0854 for directions. Both Yak’s and
Thompson’s offer a variety of seasonal produce.
Squire Creek Country Club
Championship private golf course
and residential development located
on LA 820 in Choudrant, about 7
miles east of Ruston. Tom Fazio-
designed course, 40,000 square-
foot, is a fully equipped clubhouse
with ornate dining facilities and new
luxurious guest houses. The grounds
are worth a drive-through even if you
don’t play golf! For more information
call (318) 768-7000 or visit www.
squirecreek.com.
Piney Hills Gallery
The small gallery features work
of local artists and craftspeople.
Located in the lobby of the Dixie
Center for the Arts, 212 South Vienna
St., downtown Ruston in the historic
district. Maintained by the North
Central Louisiana Arts Council. For
more information call (318) 255-1450.
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 19
20. Garland Gregory Hideaway
Park, on the Louisiana Tech
University campus, offers
joggers and walkers the perfect
setting for breaking a sweat
or having a picnic, as does
Lincoln Parish Park, where
camping, fishing and biking
are also options. Not only does
Lincoln Parish Park feature
some of the nation’s best
mountain bike trails, but also
it’s the site of Legacy Park, a
boundless playground designed
to accommodate special-needs
youngsters.
Great fishing, boating
and water sports can also be
found nearby. Three of north
Louisiana’s largest lakes, Lake
D’Arbonne (15,000 acres) and
Lake Claiborne (6,400 acres)
and Caney Lake (5,250 acres)
are each less than a 50-minute
drive away from Ruston.
Lincoln Parish Park offers a
smaller 30 acre lake, great for
pier fishing or non-motorized
boats.
When it comes to college
athletics, Louisiana Tech
University, a member of
Conference USA, and
Grambling State University, a
member of the Southwestern
Athletic Conference, provide
some of the best spectator
sports entertainment in the
country.
For more information about
recreation and tourism in our
area visit the Ruston Lincoln
Convention & Visitors Bureau
at www.experienceruston.com.
NCLAC (318) 255-1450
www.nclarts.org
Dixie Center for the Arts
(318) 255-1450 www.
dixiecenter.org
Ruston Community Theater
(318) 255-5328 www.rctruston.
org
LA Tech Concert Association
(318) 257-3942 - www.latech.
edu/performingarts/ltca
Lincoln Parish Park
Located off LA 33, about 3 miles north of Ruston,
the park offers 260 acres for camping, walking,
jogging, biking, picnicking, nature watching, and
fishing in a 30-acre lake. The park is known for its
10-mile mountain biking trail, one of the nation’s
premier trails, offering challenging elevation
changes and beautiful scenery. The park also
has covered pavilions, primitive and RV camp
site, beach and playgrounds which includes a
boundless park for special-needs children. For more
information call (318) 251-5156 or visit www.park.
lincolnparish.org.
OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS
20 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
21. Lake Claiborne State Park
Off La. 146, about 40 minutes northwest of Ruston. The 620
acres of hilly woodlands overlook the 6,400-acre manmade
lake. Campsites, cabins, boat launch, rental boats, fishing piers,
swimming beach, picnic area, nature trails, reservable pavilion.
For more information call (888) 677-2524 or (318) 927-2976 or
visit www.lastateparks.com
Jimmie Davis State Park
About 35 minutes south of Ruston off U.S. 167. Situated amid
rolling woodlands on the 5,250-acre Caney Lake. Camping,
cabins, two lodges, picnic area, playgrounds, boat launches,
pier fishing, and a swimming beach. For more information call
(888) 677-2263 or (318) 249-2595 or visit www.lastateparks.com
Lake D’Arbonne State Park
Off La. 2, about 30 minutes northeast of Ruston. The 655-acre site
features excellent fishing and water sports on a 15,000 manmade
lake. Camping, cabins, two lodges, pier fishing, swimming pool,
boat launch, picnic area, pavilions, playgrounds and four lighted
tennis courts. For more information call (888) 677-5200 or
(318) 368-2086 or visit www.lastateparks.com
Feb. 26-27 - Bass Pro Shops Crappie Masters Tournament www.
crappiemasters.net
June 25 - Louisiana Peach Festival Bass Tournament www.
lousianapeachfestival.org
Regional State Parks
Dubach, Louisiana’s Outdoor
Wilderness Learning Center (The
OWL Center), an 800 acre wilder-
ness campus just twenty minutes
from Ruston, is the perfect venue
for a team building business trip,
a family getaway, or simply a
place to have some fun! Since its
founding as a recreational facility
for the LA United Methodist Chil-
dren’s Home, it has grown into a
premier location for conferences,
outdoor activities, equine psycho-
therapy, and weddings.
With ropes courses, horseback
riding, ball fields, gardens, camp-
grounds, and a maze, it is easy to
see why one would choose The
OWL Center for their leadership
training or summer camp. The
center provides equine therapy
for the youth at the LA United
Methodist Children’s Home along
with Therapeutic Riding for the
general public.
The Owl Center
This faith-based facility is oper-
ated by Louisiana United Methodist
Children & Family Services, Inc.,
but also raises funds by selling jelly
and salsa made from fruit grown
on the OWL property. Many of their
products are available for purchase
in local stores in Lincoln Parish
and are available online. If one
were to look at the label of an OWL
product, one would find the name
of the volunteer group responsible
for making that particular jar.
The high and low ropes courses
and the maze are open for anyone
interested in dropping in for a day
of fun, while cabins, bunk houses,
and tenting lots can be rented for
an overnight stay in the woods.
The Henning Conference Center
can also be rented for meetings,
conventions, weddings and more.
Reservations are required for all
OWL activities.
Find out more at www.owlcenter.
com.
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 21
22. R. L. Cook Park
2800 Kavanaugh Road (north Cook-
town Road)
Consisting of approximately 28 acres
of wooded and open terrain, R. L.
Cook is a popular location for walk-
ers. The facility has many amenities
for the entire family.
• Paved parking
• All-weather walking trail - Inner
loop = 1/4 mile (4 loops = 1 mile)
/ Outer loop = 4/10 mile (2 1/2
loops = 1 mile)
• Pavilion with restrooms (avail-
able for reservations)
• Gazebo
• Single-table shelter
• Two (2) playgrounds
• Exercise course with equipment
Duncan Park
1311 Arlington Street (corner of
Arlington and West Vaughn Ave)
Duncan Park consists of approximate-
ly 12 acres of open play areas as well
as athletic facilities. All of it is inter-
spersed among pecan, oak and bald
cypress trees. The facility includes a
variety of amenities for all ages.
• Two (2) pavilions (available for
reservations)
• Five (5) single-table shelters
• Two (2) playgrounds
• Two (2) basketball courts
• One (1) lighted baseball / softball
field
• Facilities
• Paved parking
Greenwood Park
1306 Cornell Avenue
Greenwood Park consists of ap-
RPAR Parks
proximately 10 acres of mostly open
play area with various clusters of
trees. This was the previous site of
the Greenwood School, although all
that now remains is the gymnasium,
known locally as “the Blue Building,”
and used as a modified recreation
center.
• Paved parking
• All-weather walking trail - 1/3
mile (3 loops = 1mile)
• Greenwood Recreation Center
with restrooms
• One (1) indoor basketball court
• One (1) youth baseball field
• One (1) youth football field
• Playground
J. C. LoveAthletic Complex
400 Ball Park Road (between South
Farmerville and South Vienna Street)
The crack of the bat can be heard
throughout the evenings during the
summer and fall as local and area
22 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
23. teams compete at this regional
sports complex. Adjoining com-
plexes are home to the Ruston Di-
xie Baseball League, Ruston Girls
Softball Association, and Ruston
High School Baseball.
• Paved parking
• Three (3) lighted softball fields
• Three (3) lighted youth baseball
/ softball fields
• Concession facility with rest-
rooms
• Two (2) playgrounds
• One (1) lighted pavilion (avail-
able for reservations)
Memorial Park
400 East Georgia Avenue
Memorial Park is best known as the
site of the Municipal Swimming
Pool. During the summer, parents
sit under the trees along the slopes
above the pool to watch their chil-
dren take part in swimming lessons
and other activities at the facility.
It is also located adjacent to the
Louisiana Military Museum.
• One (1) pavilion (available
for reservations)
• Playground
Regional Sports Complex
1501 South Farmerville Street (the
former Ruston Airport)
Soccer and flag football started in
late 2004 and both leagues have
continued to grow each year. The
Ruston Parks and Recreation
Department offers soccer and flag
football for youths and adults.
Paved parking
Two (2) lighted football fields
Six (6) youth soccer fields
Portable restrooms
Sidney Smith Park
600 Lee Avenue
Nestled among the houses just
north of the Ruston High School
James Stadium, Sidney Smith Park
provides just two facilities that
attracts students from Louisiana
Tech and Grambling State Univer-
sity.
• Paved parking
• Two (2) basketball courts
Elmore D. Mayfield Park
1701 Martin Luther King Drive
The largest city park, Woodland
Park encompasses 66 acres with
a spring-fed lake tucked among a
rolling and wooded terrain. The
facility includes both athletic and
natural facilities, truly offering a
variety of amenities for all ages.
• One (1) pavilion (available for
reservations)
• Five (5) single-table shelters
• Two (2) playgrounds
• Two (2) basketball courts
• One (1) lighted baseball /
softball field
• Lake area
• Facilities
James Street Complex
605 James Street
The Parks and Recreation De-
partment main office is centrally
located in the complex, which is
anchored by a recreation center,
a gymnasium and tennis courts.
This is the place for “one-stop
shopping” when wishing to re-
serve any facility or sign up for a
variety of programs throughout the
year.
• Paved parking
• Ruston Parks and Recreation
Main Office
• McLane Recreation Center with
restrooms (available for reserva-
tions)
• Bobby James Memorial Gym
with restrooms (available for
reservations)
• Five (5) lighted tennis courts
Huckleberry Trails Park
Magnolia Drive
Our newest park, located adjacent to
Cypress Springs Elementary School
is 23 wooded acres with special areas
being created for those who love
nature. A special feature is a one-
of-a-kind learning center. Future
development will include educational
information along trails identifying
trees and plant life.
• Paved parking
• Two (2) pavilions (available for
reservations)
• Playground
• Nature trails
• Connecting deck between play-
ground and pavilion
Roberts Park
1000 East Mississippi Avenue
Described as “Ruston’s Lost Jewel,”
Roberts Park is a quaint, wooded
park. The facility regularly hosts
small groups and individuals.
• Paved parking
• One (1) pavilion
• (available for reservations)
• Assorted outdoor
picnic areas
RPAR Parks
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 23
24. Lincoln Parish Library
and Events Center is
located at the intersection
of the two main roadways
in the parish – Interstate
20 and US Hwy 167 – and
serves as the gateway to
the historical downtown
Ruston area. The Library
is a state of the art facility,
boasting 68 public access
Lincoln Parish Library
centers. There are award
winning children’s classes,
homeschool classes,
a genealogy center, a
Spanish collection, and
a phenomenal teen
collection.
Classes and events
are offered to all ages.
Some events have
included piano concerts,
a children’s magician,
musical concerts of various
types, craft programs,
historical lectures, author
visits, zombie proms,
theater presentations, and
exciting summer reading
programs. Approximately
30,000 visits are made
to the library each month
and for the past 4 years,
Lincoln Parish Library has
checked out more materials
per capita than any library
in the state. In 2012, LPL
won the coveted James O.
Modisette Award for Public
Libraries, recognizing the
excellence and service
provided, making LPL
one of the most respected
computers with one-on-
one computer classes
available on request;
multiple databases on
many subjects, and online
homework assistance.
LPL offers Outreach
Services to anyone that
is homebound, including
nursing homes, assisted
living facilities and childcare
and admired libraries
in Louisiana and the
southeast united States.
In 2010 an Events
Center was added to the
library. This is a multi-
faceted center which allows
extended library events
including various kinds of
exhibits. The Center will
be home to a Smithsonian
traveling exhibit called
Hometown Teams in the
early fall of 2016. This
sports centered exhibit
will bring in some of the
well-known sports figures
of our parish, as well as
multiple local sports exhibit
vignettes.
When not in use by the
Library, the Events Center
may be rented by the
public. Past rentals have
included weddings and
receptions, conferences,
training sessions, classes
of all types, concerts,
birthday parties, piano
recitals, and baby showers.
Included in the center are
several rooms of different
sizes, a platform stage, and
two catering kitchens.
For more information on
any of the services offered
by the Lincoln Parish
Library, call 318-251-5030
or visit www.mylpl.org.
Serving our community
with pride!
24 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
25. Lincoln Lights Up
the Pines
Drive-Thru Christmas Lights Display in
Lincoln Parish Park
1st Weekend in December
Stuff Santa’s Sack & ABATE Toy Run
Toy drives serving in excess of 400 local
Lincoln Parish children
Winter Fest
• Santa in the Park • School Choir
Concerts • Artificial Ice Skating
Main Street Christmas Open House
• Pictures with Santa
• Holiday Music Window Decorations
& More
Christmas Parade
(318) 255-2031
Russ-Town Band Christmas Concert
At the Historic Dixie Theatre
(318) 255-1450
12 Days of Christmas Shopping
A chance to win $1,000 and other prizes
while you do your Christmas Shopping!
Begins December 5, 2016.
(318) 255-2031
Holiday Arts Tour
NCLARTS.ORG
Holidays in Cedartown
Shopping, Food, Entertainment,
Demonstrations & More!
November 10-12, 2016
(318) 255-7707
Christmas in the Village
Local Vendors, Chili Cook-Off, Santa &
Mrs. Clause & Kids’ Activities
(318) 768-4111
Check the calendar for more information and additional events, RustonLincoln.org/Events/Calendar
Christmas in Lincoln
With the holidays in Lincoln Parish comes a full calendar of events. Residents and visitors alike
come out to celebrate Christmas in Downtown Ruston and throughout the parish. Our community
gathers together each season to bring you activities for the entire family like ice skating, theatrical
productions, exclusive shopping events, drive-thru
Christmas displays, art tours and holiday concerts.
Artifical ice skating rink in downtown Ruston
Lincoln Lights at the Parish Park
Railroad Park
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 25
26. Lincoln Parish is home to a wide variety of active service clubs, civic, and community
organizations. Volunteers affiliated with these organizations in Lincoln Parish help to build
playgrounds, clean up roads and highways, organize food pantries and toy drives. This is not an
exhaustive list and we welcome additions. To add an organization or make corrections to the
list, please contact Ivana Flowers at (318) 255-2031 or email her at iflowers@rustonlincoln.org.
North Central Louisiana Arts Council
Faith Based & Civic
The North Central Louisiana Arts Council has
been active in our region’s cultural landscape
since 1987. NCLAC is a non-profit with the
mission to make north central Louisiana a
thriving and culturally rich area by fostering
opportunities for
expression and
growth through the
arts. NCLAC is based
in Lincoln Parish,
and also works in
Bienville, Claiborne,
Jackson and Union.
For over 25 years
NCLAC has been
providing summer art
camps for kids, working with older students to
supplement the arts in this region’s schools and
colleges, and promoting Lincoln Parish artists in
galleries and local businesses.
Summer Arts Camps are offered for students
in 1st
through 6th
grades. In 2016, at least two
public camps will be held in Ruston. During these
five-day camps students will explore 2- and
3-dimensional art, music and drama, through
classes taught by artists and art educators.
Other activities held by the arts council
throughout the year are
the Peach Art Exhibit,
Keep the Arts Afloat,
ARToberfest, and Holiday
Arts Tour. The group also
provides additional art
education and outreach
in such venues as the
Ruston Farmers Market,
the School Performance
Series at the Dixie Center
for the Arts, and My Vision, My Voice and Drama
Warehouse in its outlying parishes. NCLAC
thrives on strong community partnerships and
the desire to provide opportunities for artists.
For more information visit www.nclarts.org or
call (318) 255-1450.
4 PAWS Rescue
(318) 251-3647
www.4pawsrescueinc.myresq.org
Alcoholics Anonymous
(318) 582-0234
www.aa.org
American Association of University
Women
northlouisiana-la.aauw.net
American Cancer Society
(318) 398-7248
www.cancer.org
American Heritage Girls Troup
(318) 255-4628 First Baptist Church
(318) 381-9903, Laura Jones
www.ahgonline.org
American Legion Post 593
(318) 251-8840
American Red Cross
(318) 865-9545
www.redcross.org
Beta Sigma Phi / Eta Omicron Chapter
(318) 255-5452, Beth
Beta Sigma Phi / LA Preceptor
Laureate Chapter
(318) 255-6980, Joann
Big Brothers Big Sisters
(318) 232-1113
www.bbbsofnela.org
Blue Star Mothers of America
www.bluestarmothersla5.com
Boys & Girls Club of North Central
Louisiana
(318) 255-2242
www.bgcncl.club
26 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
27. Organizations
Boy Scouts of America
(318) 251-0758
Buddy Ball
Facebook.com/BuddyBallRuston
Christian Community Action (CCA)
(318) 251-3282
www.ccalincoln.com
Cosmos Club
(318) 255-8761
Daughters of the American Revolution
(DAR)
www.louisianadar.org/longleafpinedar
Dixie Center for the Arts
www.dixiecenter.org
(318) 255-1450
Domestic Abuse Resistance Team
(D.A.R.T.)
www.dartla.org (318) 251-2255
Girl Scouts of Louisiana
(318) 263-3941
www.gslpg.org
Habitat for Humanity
(318) 366-7380
Happy Gardeners Society
(318) 255-2635, Francis
Hope Center for Autism
(318) 202-8783
Junior Auxiliary of Ruston
Jaofruston.org
Kiwanis Club - Noon
www.kiwanisruston.org
Kiwanis Club - Sunrise
(318) 255-5020 Rev. Edith
DeVilbiss-Finch
League of Women Voters
www.lwv.org
La Leche League
(318) 251-1148 Marcella
(318) 513-2238 Amanda
(318) 548-0552 Courtney
Life Choices of North Central Louisiana
(318) 255-7377
www.lifechoicesncla.org
Lincoln Council on Aging
(318) 255-5070
Louisiana Retired Teachers
Association
www.lrta.net
Lions Club
www.e-clubhouse.org
Littera Club
(318) 255-4539, Alice
March of Dimes
(318) 387-3650
www.marchofdimes.org
Master Gardeners
(318) 251-5134
www.facebook.com/nclamg
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)
(318) 255-4628 First Baptist Church
Northeast LA Multiple Sclerosis
Support Group
(318) 255-0480, Barbara
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
(NAMI)
(318) 247-3982
National Federation for the Blind
(800) 234-4166
www.nfbla.org
National Organization for Women
www.now.org
North Central Louisiana Arts Council
(318) 255-1450
www.nclarts.org
Quota International of Ruston
Find them on Facebook
Rolling Hills Ministries
(318) 251-0065
www.rollinghillsministries.com
Rotary Club of Lincoln
http://www.rotary6190.org
Ruston Dixie Baseball
www.rustondixiebaseball.com
Ruston Girls Softball Assoc.
www.eteamz.com/rgsa
Ruston Ministerial Alliance
(318) 255-2542
Ruston Rotary Club
http://www.rotary6190.org
Ruston Community Theatre
(318) 255-1450 www.rctruston.org
Ruston Garden Club
(318) 251-1212, Rosy
www.facebook.com/RustonGardenClub
Ruston Republican Women’s Club
http://www.lfrw.com/RustonRWC
Ruston Woman’s Department Club
(318) 255-0889, Johnnie
United Way of Northeast Louisiana
www.unitedwaynela.org
Wounded Healers (Bereavement
Support Group)
(318) 251-0750 Trinity United
Methodist Church
Veterans of Foreign Wars
(318) 251-2722
Volunteers of America
(318) 221-2669
VFW - Ruston
(318) 251-2722
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 27
28. Pre-school through Professional
345-1155
Individual Attention Quality Instruction Positive Atmosphere
Home of
Louisiana Delta Ballet
Ballet
Jazz
Tap
Hip Hop
Contemporary
Studios in:
RustonSterlington
Monroe Calhoun
dance studios
Crain
Missy
missycraindance.comwww.crowderconcepts.com
Kathy Crowder
Owner
(318) 255-4545
Give Physical
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ChiLdren’s
hoMe
Call Us or Visit Our Website
www.owlcenter.com
The OWL Center is an 800 acre
wilderness campus that provides
recreational, educational and
therapeutic opportunities.
Where The Adventure Is Worthwhile.
1523 HWY 563 | Dubach, LA 71235
318-777-3460 or 318-548-4247
OutdoorWilderness
Learning Center
Our programs and events encourage
teamwork and personal growth!
• Team building events
• Conferences/Retreats
• Conference Center
• Fishing and Canoeing
• Wooden maze
• Pavillion
• Ropes Course
• Weddings
904 DeVille Lane • Ruston, LA
www.LmCH.org
(318) 255-5020
28 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
30. Education
Maintaining its status
as a Trailblazer District for
Louisiana, the Lincoln Parish
School District continues
to confidently advance
into the 21st
Century with a
public school system known
for embracing change,
demonstrating consistent
progress, and receiving
accolades along the way.
With rigorous standards
at the crux of its academic
foundation and in-depth
vertical alignment enriching
its instructional practice, the
district has rapidly moved
beyond the mere basics to
focus on challenging student
learning experiences honed
around rigor, relevance,
and relationships while
immersed in collaboration,
communication, and
creativity.
New Superintendent
Mike Milstead continues
leading the Lincoln Parish
District toward a world-class
educational experience
designed to empower
students for success.
Committed to providing
cutting-edge facilities,
exemplary educational
tools, and unparalleled
classroom facilitation, the
district remains committed
to attaining the highest level
of achievement and success
regardless of whatever
challenges may lay in its way.
A $1.9 million track
complex is nearing
completion at Choudrant
High School. After the
voters of the Ruston District
approved a $21 million bond
proposal, renovation and
construction got underway
within the Ruston schools.
Both the Cypress Springs
Elementary and Glen View
Elementary projects have
been completed while work
is underway at Ruston
Elementary, Hillcrest
Elementary and I. A. Lewis
schools. In addition, a $1
million dollar renovation
and construction project at
the Ruston High baseball
field is underway with a
$500,000 project to provide
additional playground
equipment for all elementary
schools in the parish also
in progress. Meanwhile,
the implementation of
technology remains a high
priority for instruction at
all levels and across the
academic disciplines with
close to $500,000 being
spent to equip and upgrade
schools. Within just over
seven years, Lincoln Parish
has pumped more than $5.5
million in technology into its
classrooms throughout the
district. Furthermore, more
than $1.7 million has been
infused for security system
improvements throughout
the Ruston District with
additional updates scheduled
for the remaining schools.
With graduation rates
continuing to increase,
the Lincoln Parish School
District saw each of its high
schools surge pass the state
average to further eclipse
the 2015 goal of 80% with
its current average of 87.4%.
Lincoln Parish has also been
named to the top of the list
among all state districts
for students who graduate
and enter post-secondary
institutions, attaining a 75%
entry rate. Choudrant High
School led the district’s
school performances with its
third consecutive grade of
“A,” as Ruston High School
returned to an “A” status,
becoming one of only four
stand-alone public non-
magnet high schools within
the 48 northern high schools
to achieve this designation.
With a district performance
score consistently rising, the
Lincoln Parish School system
now ranks in the Top 20
among 74 districts in the state
and is in a tight race among
the top three districts within
the 26 that comprise north
Louisiana, ranking second in
the northeast region.
The school system
maintains a staff of 98.2
percent certified and highly
qualified teachers, ranking it
among the highest districts
in the state. Thirty-three of
the teachers have earned
National Board Certification.
More than 46 percent of
all Lincoln Parish teachers
have master’s degrees or
above with 38 percent of all
teachers having 15 years or
more classroom experience,
including its recent finalist
for Louisiana High School
Teacher of the Year.
The Lincoln Parish District
completed its second year
under the state mandate that
all students regardless of
diploma path were required
to take the American College
Test (ACT). Despite this
challenge, the parish public
school composite score on
the ACT was 20.3, surpassing
the state average of 19.2
and ranking slightly below
the national average of 20.7.
This ranks Lincoln Parish
in the state’s fifth highest
place for composite ACT,
and it is the highest parish
score among the 26 northern
districts.
Strong partnerships
with Louisiana Tech and
Grambling State universities
continue to strengthen
instruction within a district that
now offers 26 dual enrollment
classes; 8 advanced
placement classes; 11 pre-
advanced placement classes;
2 science, technology,
engineering and math –
STEM for short – magnet
classes; 2 pre-STEM classes
at the middle school level;
and a nationally recognized
New Tech academy named a
National Demonstration Site
and Exemplary School for the
fifth consecutive year.
The Lincoln Parish School
System remains one of the
parish’s largest employers,
with a total of 869 full-time
employees including 467
teachers, and operates
on an annual budget of
approximately $77 million.
For more information
about the Lincoln Parish
public school system, call
(318) 255-1430 or visit www.
lincolnschools.org.
30 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
31. QUICK STATS
A
Quality
Education
for a Quality
Life
While Lincoln Parish may be
known for its peaches, its public school
system is quickly becoming known for
its commitment to cutting-edge STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, art,
mathematics) opportunities for students.
Already a trailblazer in the STEM
arena through its formal partnership with
Louisiana Tech University, the district
has now honed its focus around learning
experiences that are providing students
with specific skills designed to equip
them for the highest level of success as
they prepare to enter the 21st
Century
workforce.
The maker-space unit housed on the
Ruston High School campus is available
for cross-curricular teams across the
district. Similar to “The Thingery” on the
LA Tech campus, the cutting-edge multi-
faceted technology unit allows students
and teachers to bring innovation and
entrepreneurship together while exploring
new opportunities for teaching and
learning. It provides for rich collaborative
experiences around common design and
development activities, something that
is revolutionizing classrooms across the
parish.
“There can be no doubt that today’s
student not only values the opportunity
for collaboration, they expect it,” states
ACHIEVE Coordinator Cathi Cox-Boniol.
“And the same can be said about highly
innovative technology experiences.
Because of that you will see more and
more opportunities for both across this
district.”
This expectation was part of the
motivation for sending large groups of
Lincoln Parish students to Digifest South
when it came to the Bossier Parish
Convention Center. There students
explored how digital technology combines
with artistic creativity through digital art
genres that included 3-D design and
animation, digital sculpture (robotics),
graphic design and motion graphics,
digital photography, digital video and film,
computer graphics animation, mechanical
and architectural design, and digital sound
and music.
“With the maker-space now an
integral part of our day-to-day teaching and
learning experience, the students are now
able to see how to incorporate these high
level aspects of digital technology into their
standard practice,” Cox-Boniol continues.
“The tools going into their personal toolkits
are incredibly impressive.”
Equally impressive is how the
Lincoln Parish initiatives are now gaining
the spotlight on the national stage.
Lincoln Parish serves as the state hub
for the national Engineering by Design
consortium, part of the International
Technology and Engineering Educators
Association STEM Center for Teaching
and Learning. The EbD curriculum is
being implemented at the elementary
level in order for all students to engage in
integrated science classes that include the
design process as well as highly-engaging
STEAM learning.
New Tech @ Ruston has been
recognized as a National Demonstration
Site for the fifth consecutive year.
Designed to empower students for success
in the 21st
Century through authentic
learning crafted around collaboration,
innovation, and advanced technology, the
exemplary learning model has yielded
high-level film and video production
that has been utilized throughout the
community. The model is now evolving to
include an even higher level of engineering
and technology focus through cyber
initiatives that are also being started in the
middle grades.
The Ruston High School Eco-Car
Team has generated international attention
in its brief three-year existence. During the
2015 global event held in Detroit, Michigan,
RHS finished 11th
out of 42 entries that
included international high schools and
universities with a 3rd
place finish among all
high schools in the gas prototype division
and 6th
in the diesel division.
“We continue to be committed to
providing superb opportunities for students
of all ages to develop a skillset that is both
exciting and empowering,” Superintendent
Mike Milstead adds. “We want the
possibilities to be endless throughout this
district. By equipping our students with the
ability to allow their creativity to help define
what their life will look like as well as how
they will contribute to the overall success of
their community, we feel like we’re making
a critical investment in the future we all will
share.”
6,700 students
Employs 467
teachers, 402 prof and support
Budget approx. $77 million
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 31
32. In addition to public schools, Lincoln Parish has private schools, a
Montessori school, university laboratory schools, pre-school programs, a
home-school organization and is the home to the
Louisiana Center for the Blind.
A.E. Phillips
Laboratory School
Located on LA Tech
University campus
Grades K-8
(318) 257-3469
aep.latech.edu
Alma J. Brown Elementary
Located on Grambling State
University campus
(318) 274-3118
gram.edu
Bethel Christian School
Grades Pre-K-12
(318) 255-1112
bethel-christian.com
Cedar Creek School
Grades Pre-K-12
(318) 255-7707
cedarcreekschool.org
Christian Home Educators
Fellowship
(318) 202-5179
homeschool-life.com/la/rustonch
Choudrant Elementary
(318) 768-4106
choudrantelem.lincolnschools.
org
Choudrant High School
(318) 768-2541
choudranthigh.lincolnschools.org
Cypress Springs Elementary
School
(318) 255-0791
cypresssprings.lincolnschools.org
Dubach School
(318) 777-3470
Glen View Elementary School
(318) 255-5724
glenviewelem.lincolnschools.org
Grambling Middle Magnet
Located on Grambling State
University campus
(318) 274-6153
gram.edu
Grambling High School
Located on Grambling State
University campus
(318) 274-6531
gram.edu
Hillcrest Elementary School
(318) 255-0550
hillcrest.lincolnschools.org
Howard School
Located on LA United Methodist
Children’s Home campus
(318) 255-5763
lmch.org/howard-school-ruston
I.A. Lewis Elementary School
(318) 255-5963
ialewisschool.lincolnschools.org
Lincoln Parish Education
Contact Information
Lincoln Head Start Center
(318) 251-8864
Lincoln Parish Early
Childhood Center
Grade Pre-K
(318) 513-1470
lpecc.lincolnschools.org
Louisiana Center for
the Blind
(318) 251-2891
louisianacenter.org
Montessori School of Ruston
Grades Pre-K-8
(318) 251-1590
rustonmontessori.org
New Living Word School
Grades Pre-K-12
(318) 255-0270
nlwm.org
Ruston Elementary School
(318) 255-4714
rustonelem.lincolnschools.org
Ruston High School
(318) 255-0807
rustonhigh.lincolnschools.org
Ruston Junior High School
(318) 251-1601
rustonjunior.lincolnschools.org
Simsboro School
Grades K-12
(318) 247-6265
simsboro.lincolnschools.org
32 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
33. Visit
www.ruston.org
to see everything
the City of Ruston
has to offer. We
invite you to
explore Ruston
and discover why
Excellence is
made here.
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 33
34. Louisiana Tech
Founded in 1894, Louisiana Tech
University is a selective-admission
research university that offers bachelor’s,
master’s, and doctoral degree programs
that are accredited by the Commission
on Colleges of the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools. It enrolls over
10,000 undergraduate students from
45 states, Puerto Rico, and 64 foreign
countries. Louisiana Tech is recognized
as a Tier One National University by U.S.
News & World Report, and ranked #1 in
the nation for graduating students with
the least average amount of debt among
public national universities. Tech also
ranks #1 in Louisiana and among the best
in the nation for highest average mid-
career salaries for graduates and highest
return on investment (PayScale.com.)
Louisiana Tech’s 12,414 students
(2015 fall enrollment) thrive in a
challenging, yet safe and supportive
environment with collaborative research
opportunities alongside of extracurricular
and 16 NCAA Division I athletic programs
that enrich student life.
Students have access to faculty
and facilities on the cutting edge of
cyber engineering, bioinformatics,
nanotechnology and information
technology, as well as intellectual, social
and economic development. Of Tech’s
over 300 faculty members, nearly 80
percent hold their doctorate or equivalent
degrees in their field.
For more information call (318) 257-
3036 or visit www.latech.edu.
Lincoln Parish
offers exceptional
opportunities for post-
secondary education.
It’s home to Louisiana
Tech and Grambling
State universities, as
well as the Northeast
Louisiana Technical
College.
Higher Education
Grambling State
University
Five miles west of Ruston in the
city of Grambling is Grambling State
University, one of the best known
Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs) in the United
States.
GSU is home to 4,553
students. Founded in 1901,
Grambling is state supported
and is located on a 590-acre
campus. A member of the University
of Louisiana system, GSU is
fully accredited by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools,
and offers 42 degree programs in
five colleges, including an honors
college, two professional schools
and a graduate school. Grambling
was the first in the nation to offer a
doctoral program in developmental
education.
In addition to being one of the
country’s top producers of African
American graduates, Grambling
is the home of the internationally
renowned world famed Tiger
Marching Band and one of the
“winningest” coaches in college
football history, the legendary football
coach Eddie G. Robinson, Sr., whose
tenure is memorialized in a campus
museum, funded and operated by
the state of Louisiana.
Louisiana Delta
Community College
Ruston Campus
Louisiana Delta stands ready, willing,
and able to meet you where you are
and help you get to where you want
to be. Whether you are a high school
student or an adult, a business, a
corporation, or just someone looking
for a new path, you will find a variety of
educational opportunities at Delta.
You can choose a program that
prepares you to immediately enter the
workforce or one that prepares you
to transfer to a four year university.
Louisiana Delta offers dual enrollment
courses for high school students at a
reduced rate so that they can get a
jump start on college.
Maybe you didn’t have the opportunity
to finish high school or don’t have much
formal education. Delta offers GED and
literacy programs at many locations
throughout Northeast Louisiana. Want
to learn English as a second language?
They have programs for you as well.
And let’s not forget the workforce
training and community service classes
that make Louisiana Delta a “first
choice” for so many of our community
partners in business and industry.
Customized training—they are here to
help!
34 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
35. QUICK
STATS
Louisiana Tech:
A Nationally-Ranked
University for
All of North Louisiana
Kiplinger has ranked Louisiana
Tech University No. 1 in the state
and No. 66 in the nation for in-state
students at public institutions, in
its recently released Best College
Values 2016 report.
Based on quality
and affordability,
Kiplinger’s Best
College Value analyzed
over 1,200 colleges and
universities across the
country to determine
the top 300 best values.
Specifically, they looked
at factors such as
competitiveness, graduation rates,
academic support, cost of financial
aid and student indebtedness. The
quality measures account for 55
percent of total points with cost
measures accounting for 45 percent.
Louisiana Tech also ranked
No. 1 in Louisiana among public
universities for out-of-state students
and No. 80 nationally. Louisiana
State University was the only other
public institution to make the Best
College Value list, ranking No. 70 for
in-state students and No. 83 for out-
of-state students.
“Louisiana Tech has built a
national reputation for providing
our students with a high quality
education and college experience,
and an excellent value,” said
Louisiana Tech President Les
Guice. “I am pleased to see our
A FIRST TIER
UNIVERSITY
efforts recognized by respected
organizations like Kiplinger and
credit the faculty and staff of
Louisiana Tech for earning us
these national accolades.”
“We look forward to continuing
to build our brand on a foundation
of offering students the best
quality, value and return on
investment on their college
educations.”
A total of four Louisiana
institutions made the
overall list of the best
300 public and private
institutions including
Tulane University (162),
Louisiana Tech (249),
Louisiana State (257)
and Centenary
College (274).
Washington and
Lee University (VA)
topped the overall list followed
by Princeton University, Harvard
University, Davidson College (NC)
and Swarthmore College (PA).
Kiplinger’s Best College Values
report capped a strong 2015 for
Louisiana Tech that included a
number of national rankings. In
addition to a fifth consecutive Tier
One National Universities ranking,
U.S. News & World Report placed
Louisiana Tech at No. 1 in the
nation among pubic institutions
for graduating students with the
least average amount of debt.
PayScale.com ranked Louisiana
Tech No. 1 in the state and No.
70 in the nation in its 2015-2016
College Salary Report for average
mid-career salaries for graduates.
PayScale.com also ranked
Tech as the state’s top institution
in its 2015 College ROI Report
in both annual percent ROI and
20-year net ROI, for in-state and
out-of-state students, and No. 13
in the nation (in-state tuition) in
highest annual percent ROI for
students living on-campus and
receiving financial aid. Business
Insider, the Internet’s largest
business news website, ranked
Louisiana Tech the nation’s
sixth most underrated college,
according to its annual list of the
50 Most Underrated Colleges in
America.
Louisiana Tech
University
Degrees offered – B, M, PhD
Quick Stats
Ruston
Founded 1894
Enrollment 12,414
Degrees: B, M, PhD
www.latech.edu
(318) 257-3036
Grambling State
University
Founded 1901
Enrollment 4,553
Degrees: B, M, PhD
www.gram.edu
(800) 569-4714 or
(318) 247-3811
Louisiana Delta
College
Ruston Campus
Founded 1977
Enrollment 170
Degrees: AAS, TD, CTS, TCA
www.ltc.edu
(318) 251-4145
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 35
36. Trusted
Partner,
Unparalleled
Commitment
Argent provides a remarkable breadth
of comprehensive services—including
family wealth planning, trust
administration, and investment and
mineral management—for discerning
clients. Call us today to discuss
how we can help you manage,
grow, and protect your wealth.
The pioneering, sustainable,
fee-based, Southern U.S.
wealth management firm
founded and headquartered
in Ruston, LA
ArgentFinancial.com
318.251.5800
www.johnstondentalcare.net
• Cosmetic
• Implant
• Neuromuscular Dentistry
• Six Month Smiles - Short Term Braces
• Laser Dentistry
• Sleep Apnea
(318) 255-6780 • (318) 255-3280
306 E. Reynolds Dr., Suite 1 • Ruston, LA 71270
36 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
37. Local access to quality healthcare is of critical
importance, and Ruston provides top-notch care
to meet all of your family’s needs. From multi-
specialty groups to independent physicians,
long-term care facilities to walk-in clinics, this
area leaves little to be desired in the way of
comprehensive healthcare for North Central
Louisiana.
And when it comes to wellness, there are
also several health clubs and organizations here
that offer fitness classes, plus cardio and weight
training. Home-health agencies are plentiful, as
are hospice providers.
“We are excited about advancing healthcare
for our community by partnering with physicians
to bring revolutionary medical advancements to
our patients, recruiting physicians to our region,
and broadening the health services we provide
to Northern Louisiana,” said Roy Finch, CEO,
Northern Louisiana Medical Center.” .
“The training, knowledge and caring of our
medical community sets us apart and has resulted
in Lincoln Parish becoming a medical hub in
Northern Louisiana,” he said. “We hear on a regular
basis how wonderful new parish residents find the
access and caliber of physicians and facilities.”
Here’s a brief overview of the larger healthcare
facilities in Ruston.
Our Medical Community
Healthcare & Wellness
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 37
38. Northern Louisiana
Medical Center
Since 2007, Northern Louisiana Medical Center
has been serving primarily a six-parish area of north
central Louisiana. NLMC is an acute-care, 159-bed
facility with a 12-bed skilled nursing wing.
Ninety physicians representing 27 specialties
are on staff. In addition, 26 physicians are on
the courtesy staff and there are 23 consulting
physicians. NLMC services include a Level II
NICU, women’s center, cardiology, intensive care,
orthopedics, pulmonology, and the Healthy Woman
and Senior Circle programs. NLMC also has 36
allied health professionals.
Adjacent to the hospital is the NLMC Medical
Plaza that includes physicians specializing in a
number of areas including family practice, general
surgery, obstetrics, nephrology, and orthopedics.
Green Clinic
Green Clinic was founded in 1948 by long-time
Ruston physician, Dr. Marvin T. Green, Sr. It is a
multi-specialty physicians clinic that has grown to
include 45 physicians in 20 specialties.
The physician-owned clinic’s ancillary services
include diagnostic & neurological laboratories,
cardiac imaging, diagnostic radiology including
ultrasound, bone densitometry and mammography,
outpatient surgery, physical & occupational therapy,
combined cardio-pulmonary function testing, CT,
MRI and PET Scans.
Green Clinic’s main location on Farmerville
Street has an Urgent Care center, which serves to
address minor emergencies and to see patients
whose primary doctor is not immediately available.
Green Clinic’s satellite locations include
Northside, which serves as a sports medicine
Healthcare & Wellness
38 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
39. Ruston attracts top-notch physicians with national
and international credentials in specialties that range from
family pratice to oncology and pulmonology.
The area has become the medical hub of north central Louisiana.
and family practice clinic, located in Ruston;
Arcadia family practice; Calhoun family medicine;
Jonesboro/Hodge family medicine and PT; and
Green Clinic Aesthetics, located in Ruston.
For more information, call (318) 255-3690 or visit
www.green-clinic.com
LifeCare Specialty Hospital
of North Louisiana
LifeCare Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana
has 55 private beds, is located in Ruston, and offers
free parking. They have received accreditation by
The Joint Commission and are Medicare certified.
The hospital specializes in the treatment of
medically complex patients who require extended
hospitalization. The treatment team at LifeCare
Specialty Hospital of North Louisiana includes
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists
and therapists who are all certified in Advanced
Cardiac Life Support, across a range of disciplines
— physical, speech, occupational, respiratory,
recreational and psychological therapy.
In addition to long-term acute care services,
LifeCare also offers the following services: aquatic
therapy, inpatient plastic and general surgery,
bedside peritoneal and hemodialysis, inpatient
sleep studies, radiology and more.
For more information call (318) 251-3126 or visit
www.lifecare-hospitals.com
St. Francis Medical Center
St. Francis Medical Center is Northeast Loui-
siana’s largest healthcare provider. St. Francis is
licensed for 550 beds, employs nearly 2,000 team
members and partners with over 300 medical staff
members.
St. Francis has three campus locations lo-
cated within the city limits of Monroe: St. Francis
Medical Center at 309 Jackson Street in down-
town Monroe, St. Francis Medical Center-North
located on U.S. 165 North and St. Francis Com-
munity Health Center on Tower Drive in mid-town
Monroe.
St. Francis Medical Center will soon be
breaking ground for its first Lincoln Parish campus
opening in Fall 2016 - St. Francis Medical Office
Building - Ruston. This 11,788 sq. ft. building will
be located on Celebrity Drive behind Wal-Mart and
will include the following services: lab, imaging,
primary care, pediatrics, and urgent care. St.
Francis Medical Group physicians currently serve
Lincoln Parish residents with primary care clinics
located in Ruston and Calhoun.
Northern Louisiana Medical Center
Founded: 1962
Physicians on staff: 75
Specialties: 27 Beds: 159
Green Clinic
Founded: 1948
Physicians on staff: 45 Specialties: 20
LifeCare Specialty Hospital of
North Louisiana
Founded: 1997
Specialty: Treatment of medically
complex patients who require extended
hospitalization Beds: 55
St. Francis Medical Center
Founded: 1913
Physicians on staff: 340
Specialties: 50 Beds: 550
QUICK STATS
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 39
40. 496444-RustonCVB.indd 1 12/18/15 2:31 PM
™
318.232.1100
Featuring
• Most Comfortable Guest Rooms in Town
• Free Morning Medley™ Hot Breakfast
• Free High Speed Internet Access
• Business Center
• Meeting Facilities
• 32” Lcd TVs In All Guest Rooms
• Health & Fitness Center
• Indoor Heated Pool & Spa
• Refrigerator & Microwaves In All Rooms
• Guest Laundry
• And Much More!
• Free Managers Reception Tue-Thurs
• And much more!
Award Winning Service
l
l
106 South Service Rd. East
Ruston, Louisiana 71270
choicehotels.com/hotel/LA168
40 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
41. Green Clinic
1200 South Farmerville
Street
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 255-3690
Green Clinic Arcadia
1285 Pine Street,
Suite 104
Arcadia, LA 71001
(318) 263-4420
Green Clinic Calhoun
3030 Highway 80 West
Calhoun, LA 71225
(318) 644-2940
Green Clinic Aesthetics
742 Celebrity Drive
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 251-6254
Green Clinic Northside
1402 Celebrity Drive
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 255-1515
Green Clinic Jonesboro-
Hodge
4704 Quitman Highway
Hodge, LA 71247
(318) 395-1168
Green Clinic Winnsboro
502 Prairie Street
Winnsboro, LA 71295
(318) 435-4039
Green Clinic
Rehabilitation Services
1200 South Farmerville
StreetRuston, LA 71270
(318) 251-6373
Since 1948
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 41
42. Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, LLC
Farmerville
Our focus is exceptional long term
services and short term rehabilitation stays
Tracheostomy Care
Stroke Recovery
Advanced Wound Care
Certified Wound Care
Nurses
IV Therapy
PICC Lines
Urinary Incontinence
Program
Vital Stim for muscle re-
education
Facility Van
Hospice Contract
813 N. Main St. • Farmerville, LA
318.368.2256
Specializing In:
• Male/Female availability
• Separate entrance to the unit
• Private courtyard
• In-room TV and cable
• In-room private restroom
• Designated shower for the TSU
• Five star dining
• Wi-fi available
• State of the art therapy equipment
• Therapy 6 days per week
Call Us for A Tour
We understand that you may have questions regarding the services
provided at Farmerville. Our knowledgeable Director of Admissions
and Sales will be happy to assist you. Please call us at 318.368.2256 to
arrange a personal tour of our facility
We’re Easy To Find...
Conveniently located at 813 N. Main Street. From I-20, take exit 86
towards Farmerville. Follow LA-33 for approximately 22 miles. You’ll
find us on the left, 1 mile from Union General Hospital.
Striving To Exceed Your Expectations...
Providing quality care and personalized customer service is our con-
tinuing goal. The professional nursing staff, as well as our dedicated
support staff, is committed to treating each resident as if he or she
were their own family member.
We are committed to on-going staff development and training. By
emphasizing communications and caring, we are able to educate our
staff on new and changing standards that directly affect the care and
quality of al our Residents and Patients.
318-255-4202
511 E Georgia Avenue
Ruston
Shocks And Struts •
Brakes •
Mufflers & Exhaust •
CV Joints/Axles •
Custom Wheels •
AC Repair •
• Retreading
• Commercial Road Service
• Batteries
• Computerized Wheel
Alignment & Balancing
• Suspension Work & Leveling Kits
Established 1956
www.walpoletire.com
318-397-1744
207 Warren Drive
West Monroe
LARGEST Tire Selection in the Area!
Service Includes:
Store your stuff at
Conveniently located near Tech Campus
821 W. California • (318) 255-8750
Phone/Fax 318-251-2360
Free Breakfast Bar
All Rooms Come With
• Micro / Fridge
• Coffee Maker
• Complimentary Newspaper
• Free High-Speed
• Outside Swimming Pool
1801 North Service Rd. East • I-20 Exit 86
Ruston, LA 71270 • email:13064@hotel.cendant.com
512 E. Georgia Ave.
Ruston, LA 71270
318-255-3243
42 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
43. Stay Amazing!
Exit 86 at intErsEction of La. 33 and i-20
318.251.9800
1707 RobeRta avenue in Ruston
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 43
44. For All Your Commercial &
Personal Insurance Needs!
504 S. Service Road East
Ruston, Louisiana
“To be sure, insure with us”
255-2913
THE
L
A
INCOLN
GENCY, LLC
Serving the North
Louisiana Area Since 1985
Lincoln, Union, & Ouachita Parishes
• Randy Graham
• Joe Newton
• Andy Clark
• Jerry Houston
• Jackie Billberry
• Colin Wade
• Matt Graham
• Cullen Clark
• Free Hot Breakfast
• Fitness Center and Guest Laundry
• Business Center with Remote Printing
• Free Wireless High Speed Internet
• Large Flat Screen HDTV with SEC Sports
• Spacious Meeting and Hospitality Rooms
• Free Beer and Hors d’oeuvres Weeknights at
Manager’s Happy Hour
• Treat shop with all of your favorite snacks and
beverages
For reservations call (313) 251-3090
1315 North Trenton Street, Ruston, LA 71270
www.hamptoninn.com
NATIONAL JEWELRY
101 Reynolds Drive | Ruston, LA 71270
318.255.3906
w w w . n a t i o n a l j e w e l r y c o m p a n y . c o m
Communitysupportmakesour
Chamberstrong!
44 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
45. www.fbcruston.org
200 S. Trenton St.
Sunday Schedule
Wednesday Schedule
Traditional ................................8:45 am
Connection Groups...................9:50 am
Contemporary Service..............11:00 am
Students (Powerhouse) ...............6:00 pm
Children’s Classes.....................6:00 pm
Midweek Worship......................6:15 pm
First College .............................8:00 pm
211 W. Railroad Ave. • Ruston
318- 232-7084
Hours:*
Monday - Thursday 7am - 11pm
Fri. 7 am - 5 pm • Sat. 8am - Noon
*When Tech is in session. For other hours check our website.
FirstBaptistRuston
Stormy Maxwell, Velissa Rollins, Robyn Brown,
Ginny Shadoin Canterbury, Lisa Duncan
Make A Move.
Make A Difference.
1229 Farmerville Hwy
318.251.8282
How is
Heritage Realty Group,
LLC Different?
1. Professional photography for all listings
2. Give back program that invests in our
community with every sale
3. Online marketing
4. Team approach
5. Automatic email program that will
ensure that you are the first to know
about a property when it hits the
market.
heritagerealtyruston.com
Robyn Brown, Broker
P.O. Box 1263 • 401 Reynolds Drive
Ruston, Louisiana 71270 • 255-2245
Southern Yellow Pine Plywood
Veneer • Hardwood Lumber
www.huntforpro.com
Forest Products, L.L.c.
PROJECT MANAGERS & ENGINEERS
Delivering on Commitments. Building Long-Term Client Relationships.
Hunt, Guillot and Associates, LLC (Ruston, Louisiana)
www.hga-llc.com
HGA proudly supports the City of Ruston - its
people, businesses, and schools.
For more information about our company,
pending projects, employment opportunities, or
to receive consulting services visit us online or
email us at information@hga-llc.com.
Public Works ● Pulp & Paper ● Oil & Gas ● Wood Products ● Specialty Chemicals ● Pipeline Services
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 45
46. That Important
Few things are more important than your
children’s education. They only pass this way once,
and the opportunities that are available to them are
multifold when they have the right education.
That Worthwhile
Sending your child to a school like Cedar Creek
is certainly a sacrifice. But it pays off in many
ways: nurturing and safe environment, faculty
and staff who put your children’s needs at the
forefront, a proven comprehensive curriculum
for Pre-K through 12th grade, and much more.
We have the numbers to back up our claims. Feel
free to compare us to other area schools, too.
a8:1 student-teacher ratio in Pre-K
and Kindergarten
a12:1 student-teacher ratio in grades 1-4
a More than one-third of our 4th, 5th and 7th
graders scored at the 95th percentile on a national
standardized test, qualifying for the prestigious
Duke University talent program (2015).
a 95% of the Class of 2015 qualified for TOPS
a 28.5: the ACT average of 50 percent
of the class of 2015
a$17 million in college scholarship offers for
our classes 2012 -2015
a Since 2003, 38 students have been recognized
by the highly competitive National Merit Program.
#lovemycreek
Cedar Creek School practices an open
nondiscriminatory admissions policy.
2400 Cedar Creek Drive
Ruston, LA 71270
cougars@cedarcreekschool.org
www.cedarcreekschool.org
318.255.7707
That Good
CEDAR CREEK SCHOOL
46 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
47. Dear Ruston Visitors,
I would like to take this opportunity to
welcome you to Ruston…the greatest city in
North Louisiana. I hope that you will visit our
Historic Downtown shops and all of our retail
stores throughout Ruston; then take a break and
dine at one our many fine restaurants.
A trip to Ruston is not complete without a
visit to Louisiana Tech University, a nationally
recognized research university with alumni like Terry Bradshaw, Trace Atkins, Karl
Malone, Kix Brooks and Willie Roaf. Louisiana Tech University is at the forefront of
new developments, innovations and inventions.
Take some time to talk to our citizens and get a sample of what makes Ruston a
great place to live, work and raise a family. I believe you will agree with USA Today
when they named Ruston one of the Most Charming Towns of the South.
Thank you for visiting Ruston. I hope you will come again soon and perhaps even
consider making Ruston your home.
Ronny Walker Mayor of Ruston
City
of
RustoN
Our Communities
“Ruston... One of the Most
Charming Towns of the
South.” -USA Today
Please Join Us For Citywide Prayer Breakfast
3rd Thurdays, 7:30-8:00 a.m. • Ruston Civic Center
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 47
48. Simsboro
Ruston
Grambling
Dubach
Founded: 1901
Located: 13 miles north of
Ruston on U.S. 167
About: Known as “The Dog
Trot Capital of the World.” Home of
the Autrey House, one of the oldest
examples of dog-trot architecture
in the region, and believed to be
the oldest structure still standing in
Lincoln Parish. Also home of the
Louisiana Chicken Festival, 4th
weekend in September.
For more information: (318)
777-1964 or visit www.dubachla.com.
Dubach
Our Communit
Choudrant
Founded: 1883
Located: 7 miles east of Ruston
on U.S. Hwy. 80, exit 93 from I-20
About: Known as “Louisiana’s
Front Porch.” Home of Squire
Creek Country Club, one of the
finest private golf courses and
residential developments in the
South. Choudrant is also the home
of the National Outhouse Racing
Association, www.facebook.com/
OuthouseRacing.
For more information: (318)
768-4111 or visit www.choudrant.org
Choudrant
Ruston
Founded: 1883
Located: 50 miles east of
Shreveport on the crossroads of
Hwy. 167 and I-20, exits 84-86
About: Named after Robert E.
Russ who donated 640 acres for the
city in the 1800’s after the Pacific
Railroad linked the deep-south with
the wild-west. True to Russ’ dream,
Ruston still offers a healthy business
environment, quality education at LA
Tech University, and a great family
atmosphere.
For more information: (318)
251-8620 or visit www.ruston.org
Grambling
Founded: 1953
Located: 5 miles west of Ruston on
La. 150, exit 81 from I-20
About: Grambling, Louisiana, is a
small city with a huge impact. Home to
Grambling State University, Grambling
was founded in 1953 as an agricultural
village. It evolved into a college town,
and is now a small city focused on
family living. The city of nearly 5,000 is
located 70 miles east of Shreveport and
40 miles west of Monroe on the I-20
corridor in north central Louisiana.
For more information: (318) 247-
6410
Vienna
Founded: 1876
Located: 2 miles north of
Ruston on U.S. 167
About: Was a stagecoach
stop and relay station for
changing out horses on the
Monroe-Shreveport route and
was the original parish seat. The
region’s first telegraph wires were
strung on Old Wire Road.
For more information: (318)
254-8158
Vienna
Simsboro
Founded: 1849
Located: 8 miles west of Ruston
on U.S. 80, exit 76 from I-20
About: Site of Camp Ruston,
World War II prisoner of war camp
that was one of the largest in the
nation. At its peak in 1942, the camp
held 4,315 prisoners. Northeast
Supports and Services Center, a state
residential services facility for people
with developmental disabilities, now
occupies the site. A few of the Camp
Ruston buildings remain.
For more information: (318) 247-
6248
48 RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016
49. ties
Dubach Mayor Robert
Jenson wants to grow his
town’s small business district.
Located about 13 miles
north of Ruston on U.S. 167,
Dubach is ready for growth,
Jenson said.
“We’re a quiet town. We’re
a small community. We care
about others,” he said. “It’s a
good place to raise a family.”
Many of Dubach’s 967
residents have lived there all
of their lives. Now, second-
generation Dubach natives are
returning home, Jenson said.
The town is drawing other new
residents, too.
Dubach is home to the
Louisiana Chicken Festival,
an annual event held the
4th
weekend in September.
This small northern Lincoln
Dubach Mayor
Robert Jenson
Dubach
“Grambling is the ideal city
in which to live, work, and play,”
said Edward R. Jones, now in his
fourth year as the city’s mayor.
“We boast a low crime rate and
a high potential for great family
living, as well as personal and
professional growth.”
Jones, whose top priority is
economic development, recently
unveiled the city’s plans to
construct a retail plaza in the
city that will be anchored by a
full-service grocery store and a
state-of-the-art, 120-room hotel.
Expected to be completed in
2016, the plaza will be called
Legends Square in honor of four
Grambling State University greats
– Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones,
the school’s second president;
Eddie G. Robinson, legendary
coach with the second winningest
record in collegiate football;
Frederick G. Hobdy, head coach
with the winningest collegiate
basketball record in the state;
and Collie J. Nicholson, iconic
Grambling Mayor
Edward Jones
Grambling
With only 386 residents,
Vienna may be the smallest of
Lincoln Parish’s incorporated
communities, but it’s also well
established and “just a nice
place,” Mayor Walter Carpenter
said.
Located about five miles
north of Ruston on U.S. 167,
Vienna offers residents room
to spread out. Yards may be
anywhere from 2 to 4 acres,
Carpenter said.
Unlike the other outlying
communities, each of which has
its own schools, Vienna does
not. The village is in the Ruston
school district.
Vienna’s “just a nice
bedroom community,” Carpenter
said. “It’s quiet, and everybody
knows each other.”
Vienna
Vienna Mayor
Walter Carpenter
“It’s going the right
way,” Choudrant Mayor
Bill Sanderson said about
the village of 879 people
that calls itself “Louisiana’s
Front Porch.” Choudrant is
approximately 7 miles east of
Ruston.
Under Sanderson’s
leadership, the village has
implemented zoning, land use,
and building codes. Choudrant
residents have a variety of
housing options ranging from
rural acreages to million-dollar
golf-course homes at Squire
Creek Country Club.
Over the past dozen years,
home values in Choudrant
have doubled or better.
Sanderson attributes the
community’s growth to the
quality of the district’s schools,
the village’s location on
U.S. 80 with easy access to
Interstate 20, the affordability
Choudrant Mayor
Bill Sanderson
Choudrant
Simsboro is a village
in western Lincoln Parish.
It is part of the Ruston
Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Former State Rep. L.
D. “Buddy” Napper, who
served from 1952 to 1964,
and practiced law for a
half-century in Ruston, was
a Simsboro native and is
buried there at Simsboro City
Cemetery.
Simsboro is home to
numerous businesses
including manufacturing
companies, Ardagh Glass
and Roseburg Forest
Products. Simsboro is located
conveniently to Grambling
State University and LA Tech
University.
Simsboro
Simsboro
Mayor
Sybil
Smalling-
Foster
Ask the mayors of Lincoln Parish’s communities what makes
their towns special, and they each give the same answers:
location, lifestyle and a good place to raise a family.
of housing, and the openness
of Choudrant residents.
Though the village will
likely officially become a
town within the next five
years, Sanderson said being
village is an asset. “In a
village, everybody knows
their neighbor,” he said. “The
quaintness of a village and
what it brings is a title we want
to retain.”
Parish community welcomes
hundreds of people during this
event.
Jenson sees Dubach
as poised for development,
with location being one of
the town’s primary assets.
But most of all, said Jenson,
“Dubach is just home.”
sports information director whose
writing and reporting abilities and
perseverance “put Grambling
State University on the map.
A hub for African-American
culture, history and education,
the city of Grambling is known for
its annual Juneteenth celebration
which attracts hundreds of visitors
and vendors.
RUSTON-LINCOLN USA 2016 49