Shreveport, LA LSU Shreveport’s Debate Team is continuing its noteworthy streak of victories after its most recent competition, the Southern Forensics Championship. The Pilots won eight Louisiana State Championships against twenty-nine collegiate programs representing nine states. The late January contest was hosted virtually by the University of Central Arkansas.
The team’s winnings included top individual state prizes in the overall debate sweepstakes and in the overall Louisiana Tournament Championship. These triumphs were in addition to a second-place team victory in the overall debate and tournament championship.
In the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) portions of the competition, the team went home successful in both individual and team categories. Team IPDA freshman partners Jewel Thomas and Mathew Coleman finished the tournament as quarter finalists. Coleman was also the fourth-place speaker in the team division. In the novice division, freshman Mallory Ta
Shreveport, LA – William Joseph “Joe” Buffington, 59, a lifelong Caddo Parish resident, certified public accountant and avid sportsman, died suddenly Monday, January 18, 2021.
Joe was born on March 7, 1961, in Bastrop, Louisiana to Guy Jefferson Buffington, Sr. and Mitchele Rainwater Buffington. Joe attended Caddo Parish elementary and intermediate schools before graduating from Woodlawn High School. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and later, his Master of Business Administration, from Louisiana State University Shreveport.
In 2017, the Bossier Parish Police Jury appointed him as Treasurer to oversee all financial functions of the parish. Previously, he was the finance director for the City of Bossier City for more than a decade. Over the past 30 years, Joe served numerous residents and businesses of the greater Shreveport-Bossier area as both CPA and friend.
Debate team adapts, competes virtually
News Highlights: Debate team adapts, competes virtually
Although the pandemic hindered many campus activities, the Louisiana Tech Debate Team adapted with great success. In-person debating matches weren’t feasible this fall, but the team adapted by moving to virtual competitions.
In the season opener, hosted by Lee College in Baytown, Texas, junior communications major Kara Taylor was a starting semifinal. Skylar Dean, a senior political science major, won third place for speakers in the junior varsity division.
Junior Electrical Engineering Major Neel Patel was a starting quarter-finalist in the competition hosted by the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Tech alumnus Kendrick Kruskie, a budding competitor last year, took second place for speaker award in the professional division.
Although the pandemic hampered many campus activities, the Louisiana Tech Debate Team adjusted with much success. In-person debate competitions were not feasible this fall, but the team adapted by moving to virtual competitions.
In the season opener hosted by Lee College in Baytown, Texas, junior communication major Kara Taylor was a novice division semifinalist. Skylar Dean, a senior political science major, won the third place speaker award in the junior varsity division.
Junior electrical engineering major Neel Patel was a novice quarterfinalist in the competition hosted by the University of Arkansas in Monticello. Tech alumnus Kendrick Kruskie, a novice competitor last year, earned the second place speaker award in the professional division.
It looks like the Oregon School District will have at least one contested race for two open school board seats next spring.
Josh King and Aaron Heisler announced their candidacies for seats currently held by Steve Zach and Troy Pankratz, respectively, in the election set for Tuesday, April 6.
Zach, a long-time board member and president since 2016, announced last week he would not seek another term. He represents Area I, which covers the Village of Oregon.
Pankratz, the current treasurer, has been on the board since 2018 is seeking re-election. He represents the towns of Rutland, Montrose, Oregon, Brooklyn and Union, and the Village of Brooklyn.