The City Council voted to approve the policy and procedure for applications for rebate of Sales And Use Taxes for Natchitoches Economic Development District A And C at its Jan. 25 meeting. Sales/Use tax paid on supplies, materials, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment purchased and used on the site may be rebated. There’s 36 businesses in Districts A and C that the tax Commission will notify of the availability of the rebate program. This agenda item will be finalized

An amendment was added to the rebate program to drop the threshold to qualify for the rebate from $10,204 to $5,102. Rebates are retroactive back to when the Tax Commission began collecting the Sales/Use taxes, which was January 2020.

Items must be delivered during the rebate period indicated on the planning/zoning permit report. This rebate program created by the Tax Commission Office does not authorize any District Sales/Use tax exemption on any purchases. Claim for rebate must be submitted to the Tax Commission quarterly.

Jessica Broadway, with Thomas, Broadway, Cunningham and Todtenbier, presented the Council with an 89 page audit report for the City. She said the financial health of the city and its internal controls is doing well. One thing she explained to Council members is that because many roads were overlaid in the city last year, the capital project streets fund was left with a $4.1 million deficit. The finance department is working to pay off this debt with transfers from other funds each year to get this cleared out.

Other agenda items included:

ORDINANCES – FINAL:

Declare Certain Buildings Unsafe And Recommend That Same Be Demolished Or Put Into Repair To Comply With The Building Code, Authorizing Notice To Be Served, Fixing Hearing Date And Appointing Curator To Represent Absentees.

A Second Supplemental Bond Ordinance Amending and Supplementing Ordinance No. 1 of 2015 providing for the incurring of debt and issuance of not to exceed Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) of Utilities Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, of the City of Natchitoches, State of Louisiana; prescribing the form, terms and conditions of said Refunding Bonds, designating the date, denomination and place of payment of said Refunding Bonds, providing for the payment thereof in principal and interest; authorizing the agreement with the Paying Agent; and providing for other matters in connection therewith.

Amend The 2020-2021 Budget To Reflect Additional Revenues and Expenditures. Used $100,000 from the General Fund to pay for the storm until reimbursement is received from FEMA (SEE CHART BELOW). City Treasurer Debbie Miley said they should start receiving reimbursements in the next 60-90 days.

ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:

Approve A ‘Second Amendment To That Lease Entered Into With The United States Government’ For The Lease All Or A Portion Of The Property Located At 607 Trudeau Street/Depot Street And 720 Sixth Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, And Authorizing The Execution Of The Lease Amendment By The Mayor, Ronnie Williams, Jr., After Due Compliance With The Law, And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease Amendment And An Effective Date.

RESOLUTIONS:

Execute An Agreement With The Louisiana Department Of Transportation And Development (LADOTD) For Improvements At The Natchitoches Regional Airport For Obstruction Of Removal Runway 7 Approach – Phase I (Design)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Monday, February 8, 2021.

Mayor Williams and the City Council of the City of Natchitoches, will hold the Annual State of the City Address on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The State of the City address will be live-streamed on the Natchitoches Parish Journal.

 

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Another astounding season for the Natchitoches Central Chiefs boys basketball team is delayed, not at all derailed.

The Chiefs, who have captured 83 percent of their games in the past 10 seasons, are big winners again in 2020-21, with a 14-1 overall record including a 5-0 mark in District 1-5A. NCHS has recently been ranked No. 1 in the state.

But currently, the Chiefs are sidetracked by contact tracing related to the Covid-19 virus. A player on the Southwood team that NCHS defeated 58-49 on Jan. 15 received a positive test result, forcing a pause in action.

They’re scheduled to resume play at home on Wednesday, Feb. 3 against St. Edmunds in a non-district game. District play picks back up two nights later, also at the Teepee against a very good Benton HS team.

The coaching staff has been shuffled at the top as 15-year head coach Micah Coleman accepted an assistant principal’s position and shifted to assistant coach. Moving into the head slot is Ebarb native and NSU graduate Kolton Sepulvado, a master strategist as an assistant for the past 10 years.

Darius Burton, a former Chiefs star who played collegiately at East Texas Baptist, is in his ninth season on the coaching staff. Kaleb Usleton is in his fourth year.

“Very little has changed,” said Coleman, in how the staff functions. Virtually nothing has changed in how the NCHS team performs, and stacks up victories, although graduation in 2020 resulted in only two key contributors returning from last season’s powerhouse that finished 28-4, shocked in the regional round of the playoffs after earning a No. 1 seeding.

The Chiefs’ standard is high with state titles in 2014 and 2016, a 2015 state runner-up finish and a 2018 state semifinal appearance.

Returning starters are Darius Young, a 6-4 senior posting 22 points and 14 rebounds per game; and Jaiden Hare, a 6-5 senior defensive stalwart averaging 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Senior point guard Gerald Williams keys the Chiefs. He has a 4/1 assist-to-turnover ratio in district that sets the tone for success. The other starters are senior Sean Lacour, a zone-busting shooter with a nine-point average, and junior Dalyn Davis, scoring 10 per game.

Vital contributors off the bench are Justin “Juddy” Aaron, a versatile junior whose defensive prowess is a dynamic attribute; juniors Caylin Demars and Devin Helaire, and senior Tim Curtis.

Their only loss came at defending 5A state champion Alexandria in a game the Chiefs led until the final 90 seconds. Their best wins are at Benton, and against Sulphur (12-3) and a talented St. Martinville team.

Tremendous effort is the team’s hallmark.

Home games begin at 7:30 following a 6 o’clock girls’ contest. Capacity is capped at 265 under Covid restrictions, but walk-up tickets have been available at every game. Fans are urged to arrive early.

February will be busy with postponed games rescheduled as possible. Home district games are slated Feb. 5, 9, and 16, with bi-district boys playoffs beginning Feb. 26.

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By Mackenzie Bean via Becker’s Hospital Review

Natchitoches (La.) Regional Medical Center recently launched a public COVID-19 vaccination program in less than one week in partnership with local city officials, public health experts and educational leaders.

CEO Kirk Soileau said local community leaders’ collaboration was key to the program’s success.

“Where else can you send out a group text and have 15 leaders from throughout the community all on a call in 30 minutes?” Mr. Soileau said in a news release.

Once Natchitoches (La.) Regional Medical Center secured space to perform public vaccinations at a local events center, hospital staff said started calling the community’s oldest residents and first responders to ensure they had first access to the vaccine.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, the state’s largest rural hospital, said it vaccinated more than 1,200 people in three days without wasting any vaccine doses. The wait list for vaccinations has more than 1,000 names on it and continues to grow, in part because of the hospital’s aggressive social media and public communications efforts.

Demand for the vaccine continues to outpace the state’s supplies, and federal vaccine shipments are expected to remain flat at about 58,000 doses weekly, according to The Advocate.

“If more vaccines were readily available, based on the size of the event center and the team of associates and volunteers in place today, we could vaccinate up to 1,000 per day,” Sarah LaCour, MSN, vice president of quality, safety and reliability at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center said in a news release.

Please see original Article:
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com

 

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La Capitol Federal Credit Union announced on Jan. 25 that it will be closing its branch on University Parkway in Natchitoches. As the bank’s online service offerings have evolved and advanced over the past few years, the number of transactions at the Natchitoches University branch have declined. In 2020, transactions at the branch declined further due to pandemic. Because of this reduction, La Capitol FCU will merge the university office with its nearby office at 311 Keyser Avenue.

La Capitol FCU will transition all in-person transactions to its Keyser office beginning Thursday, April 1. Employees will also transition to the Keyser office at this time.

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BATON ROUGE, LA- State Fire Marshal Chief H. “Butch” Browning is announcing the agency’s 2020 performance outcomes which show, despite the operational limitations of the pandemic, taking on the new and fluid task of Covid-19 enforcement efforts and responding to multiple tropical system threats, that the agency maintained its productivity goals and remained resilient throughout the year.

“The hurdles this agency has jumped over this past year have been numerous and daunting, but I am so proud of how each section of the State Fire Marshal’s Office not only responded, but thrived, in what otherwise has been an incredibly strenuous year for so many agencies, businesses and families,” said Browning.

In 2020, deputies conducted around 35,000 final inspections of new commercial buildings opening across the state as well as compliance inspections of existing commercial buildings. In addition, deputies inspected hundreds of fireworks stands and displays and responded to thousands of impairment reports on life safety and property protection systems in commercial businesses. On top of those regular duties, deputies conducted COVID-19 compliance visits and complaint responses starting in May when Gov. John Bel Edwards moved the state from the Stay At Home order into Phase 1 of the “Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana” plan. That effort rendered more than 16,000 inspections by the year’s end, more than 12,000 of which were conducted by members of the State Fire Marshal’s Office alone. And that effort continues still today.

SFM deputies were requested to investigate almost 700 fire incidents. Of those fires, fewer than 300 were classified as incendiary, on par with the last two years’ figures. The agency’s arrest rate remains in the 40% range for a third year, more than double the national average.

Unfortunately, there were just as many lives lost this year to residential fires than the previous year, roughly 77. Only about a dozen of those cases involved structures with working smoke alarms at the time of the fires.

The agency’s Plan Review division saw a slight decrease in the number of new construction project submittals in 2020, totaling more than 15,600. However, there was a slight increase in the estimated total value amounting to more than $9.8 billion.

In addition, the SFM licensed more than 6,400 individuals and nearly 1,300 firms in 2020, bringing in around $1.7 million in revenue. Those licenses apply to a host of industries including life safety & property protection businesses, amusement ride operators, conveyance devices, firework permits and boiler systems.

Lastly, the agency’s Emergency Services division, with the Louisiana Urban Search and Rescue Task Force at the center, stayed in response mode for much of the hurricane season as the state found itself preparing for six tropical threats. Three of those– Laura, Delta and Zeta– resulted in deployment missions for a variety of needs including water rescue, evacuation and tens of thousands of building damage assessments.

“This past year has been one for the record books for all of us,” said Browning, “But I’m glad to say, for the State Fire Marshal’s Office, it’ll be a year we’ll be able to look back on with pride.”

 

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Northwestern State head baseball coach Bobby Barbier rounded out his 2021 coaching staff with a pair of familiar faces.

Barbier announced Monday the promotion of Spencer Goodwin to a full-time assistant role and the addition of former Demon right-handed pitcher Dan Hlad as a volunteer assistant. The pair joins assistant coach Chris Bertrand and graduate manager Trevor Wren on the NSU staff.

The staff changes are subject to approval of the board of supervisors of the University of Louisiana System, which governs Northwestern State.

“It is great to have two former Demons on our staff,” Barbier said. “They are both very familiar with how we do things and provide the players with comfort knowing that they were in their shoes not long ago.”

Goodwin has been part of the Demon program since 2016 after transferring from Bossier Parish Community College.

After his two-year playing career, Goodwin remained on staff as a graduate manager for two years before spending 2020 as the team’s volunteer assistant, working primarily with the Demon infielders. In his first season in that role, Goodwin was responsible for helping shortstop Cam Sibley and second baseman Daunte Stuart navigate their first seasons of Division I baseball.

Goodwin takes over for Taylor Dugas, who accepted a position at UT Arlington in December.

“Spencer has been such an asset to our program,” Barbier said. “He has done it the hard way from being a manager, then volunteer, and now full time and has earned each one of those promotions he has gotten. He makes us better. “

Hlad pitched two seasons (2017-18) for the Demons and was part of the first Southland Conference Tournament championship team in program history. Following a 2018 season in which he posted a 3-2 record and three saves with a 2.73 ERA in 56 innings, Hlad pitched for the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League.

A native of Midlothian, Illinois, Hlad spent the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season as the pitching coach at Meridian Community College in Meridian, Mississippi. While there, Hlad worked with two pitchers who moved on to four-year colleges.

Said Barbier: “Danny was always a player that I could see coaching here one day. He worked hard to find a spot as pitching coach at Meridian, and we were lucky enough to get him back. He will be a great attribute to our pitching staff and our team.”

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Voices 4 Autism is planning a Walk on Wheels 4 Autism event on Saturday, April 10 at 10 am in the parking lot at the Natchitoches City Park. Decorate your vehicles to help raise awareness for autism.

This event is a car parade inspired by similar ones that have brought joy to so many during Covid.

The registration fee is $25 per vehicle. Registration will be held the day of the event from 7-9:15 am (no pre registration). Vehicle lineup will begin at 9:30 am and the Walk on Wheels will begin at 10 am.

Face masks and social distancing will be enforced. For more information call 318-529-0638 or email lelaharvey531961@yahoo.com.

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Greetings Virtual Lakeview High School Family,

On Monday, February 1, 2021, Lakeview H.S. will facilitate a one day, in-person Virtual-Learning Student Orientation. The in-person orientation will serve high school students enrolled in Virtual Learning for the Spring semester. The in-person orientation will take place from 8:00 am – 10:30 am. Breakfast will be provided for those who arrive at 7:30 a.m. Student pick-up will be scheduled for 10:30 a.m. All students attending in-person orientation will need to be picked up at this time by a parent or guardian unless the student can drive themselves.

This in-person orientation is an opportunity for virtual students to connect with their school leaders and teachers before they go “behind the screens”. We will prepare you for your academic and non-academic life as you learn to navigate online learning for the Spring 2021 Semester. This orientation will serve as an introduction to your Spring classes and can help you answer your questions about the incoming online student-learning process.

While this year brings new challenges to the learning environment, rest assured that the Lakeview community is here to help you navigate your virtual semester. We value community and hope to build a virtual orientation session that provides an opportunity for students to build a connection to faculty/staff and their peers.

Please review the attached schedule for Lakeview’s High School In-Person Virtual Student Orientation Schedule, Monday, February 1st, 2021. If you have any questions contact the main office at 318-476-3360.

William Hymes
Principal

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June 29, 1941 – January 20, 2021

Funeral services for Julia Elaine Stroud Rowzee will be held Saturday, January 30, 2021, at Mt. Zion Cemetery near Montgomery, LA, at 10:00am with Brother Arron McGuffee officiating. Visitation will be made available at the cemetery preceding burial services between 9:00am and 10:00am.

Julia Stroud Rowzee, 79, of Natchitoches, LA, passed peacefully Tuesday, January 20, 2021, in San Antonio, TX. A native of Winn Parish, LA, she was a proud military spouse and spent many years in Zaragoza, Spain and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina raising her daughters and supporting her husband Charles. Upon his retirement, they returned to Natchitoches, LA, where she worked at Exchange Bank, and they eventually opened a successful car dealership as well as becoming active members in the community. Upon retirement, she focused even more closely on her family, spending as much time as possible with her daughters, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren.

Julia is preceded in death by her husband whom she loved dearly, Charles E. Rowzee; father Elbert Stroud and mother Ila Mae Stroud Adams; and siblings Martha Stroud McCaskill, John Elbert Stroud, and Donald Stroud.

Those left to cherish her memory include her two daughters, Cynthia Abraham of San Antonio, TX, and Sherrie Sharp of Huntsville, AL; sons-in-law Mark Sharp and David Abraham; four granddaughters, Stephanie Castaneda, Jessica Hudson and Katherine and Sarah Sharp; three great grandchildren, Zoe Hudson, and Mason and Olivia Castaneda; and her youngest brother, Michael Stroud.

Pallbearers are Mark Sharp, David Abraham, Aaron Castaneda, Dakota Hudson, and Jeh Horton.

Honorary pallbearers are Michael Stroud and Mason Castaneda.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to CASA of Central Louisiana (Court Appointed Child Advocates of Central Louisiana). Julia had the greatest love for her granddaughters and great grandchildren. She was always an advocate for family and children, extending her generous heart and positively influencing the lives of those who knew her.

Mt. Zion Cemetery
16240 State Highway 34
Atlanta, LA 71404

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City Bank and Trust Company is a proud game sponsor of Saint Mary’s Baseball. Best of luck and Go TIGERS!!

Pictured from left are Coach Brooks McMinn, Anthony Lirette, Patrick Vienne and Jeffrey Townson.

 

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The annual McCutcheon Honors Recital will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. The recital will be a virtual-only event and can be livestreamed at capa.nsula.edu/livestream.

Student winners are chosen from each musical area for having the most outstanding undergraduate fall jury performance. The students represent the areas of woodwinds, brass, strings, piano, percussion and voice. This year’s performers include soprano Emily Adams, Dania Briceño on violin, Julio Galvan on saxophone, Justin Garretson on tuba, Covie Latham on percussion andHannah Potter on piano.

This recital was established to honor Jim McCutcheon, a retired band teacher, who was active in instrument repair at NSU. McCutcheon wanted to do something to recognize outstanding student performance at Northwestern State and began offering a financial prize to students selected to perform in the recital. After his death, his wife Jo Lapeyrouse chose to continue this tradition and has funded a scholarship in his name.

 

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Job Position: Food Service Worker

Job Description: Same as a cafeteria worker, but will rotate schools throughout the week

Salary: 5 days a week; paid hourly based on experience

If interested, please send resume to either Child Nutrition District Manager, Shauna Hicks at shicks@nat.k12.la.us or Director of Personnel, Linda Page at lpage@nat.k12.la.us.

EOE

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NATCHITOCHES – After a longer than normal, much longer than normal, offseason Northwestern State volleyball begins the 2021 spring schedule on Tuesday night.

The beginning of the 14-match schedule in the first spring volleyball season pits the Lady Demons against in-state foe Louisiana Tech.

First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. inside Prather Coliseum. Live streaming video will be available at http://www.nsudemons.comor on the NSU Athletics Mobile App, a free download in either the Apple or Google stores.

There is no admission cost for any home NSU volleyball matches this season. Fans are encouraged to wear their masks and practice social distancing while inside the arena.

“All through these last few months it’s been crazy,” sixth-year head coach Sean Kiracofe said. “It was a frantic lead up to things being canceled and a lot of just hurry up and wait at times. It’s hard to sum out all the things that happened and didn’t happen that have us playing now. It definitely feels different.”

Playing matches in the first three months of the year rather than the last three will certainly look different and the same can be said for the Lady Demons. A senior and experience-laden squad from 2019 is now one filled with nine freshmen and sophomores.

The most notable non-senior departure is Hannah Brister. The 2019 Southland Conference Player of the Year completed her undergraduate work in three and a half years and moved into a master’s program elsewhere.

“She had an amazing career and that was something that we thought was going to be possible when we were recruiting her,” Kiracofe said. “To see and talk about the potential in that process and for it to actually play out that way is a great story.”

The task for Kiracofe is finding a way to replace over 500 kills and the killer instinct Brister possesses. With undoubtedly big shoes to fill, senior Darria Williams and freshman Breanna Burrell are the top candidates to get the lion’s share of the work on the outside this season.

“Everyone is just kind of moving up in terms of what they have to produce,” Kiracofe said. “Darria is going to be a big part of our offense and a lot of it is going to go through her. Reagan Lee is going to see a lot more through her, even more than what we saw at the end of last year.”

Among the handful or returners for the Lady Demons to go along with Williams and Lee is sophomore defensive specialist Haley Hoang. All three played over 90 sets a year ago and will be cornerstones for this year’s team.

Hoang moves from a defensive specialist role into the libero spot, continuing the line of excellence in that position Lady Demon fans have come to expect. The Plano, Texas, native tallied 241 digs in 2019 and led the team in reception percentage, fielding 97 percent of the almost 300 serves sent her way.

“She’s going to be fantastic and in my opinion be great from day one,” Kiracofe said. “There are a lot of different people around her defensively and some new people that are having to figure out how to fit within our defensive scheme.

“She’s going to put up great numbers but she’s also going to be asked to cover more of the court than we would normally hope. As we get into the season though and people grow into their roles, we’ll be able to refine what she has to do.”

The first test in a shortened non-conference schedule comes on Tuesday. The timeline is short for a new group to begin to gel with a pair of non-conference matches before facing three of the top five Southland Conference preseason favorites to begin league play.

The Lady Techsters (0-4) played a pair of matches in October, two 3-1 losses at Southern Miss, and went 0-2 this past weekend at the SFA Invitational losing to Tarleton State and Stephen F. Austin both in straight sets.

They return five starters from a 2019 team that went 13-15 but lost the top two offensive threats from that team who each averaged more than 2.4 kills per set.

For Kiracofe the main thing is seeing his young team start to come together under a philosophy and mentality that has brought NSU success over the past several years.

“Being able to compete and fight is something that we’ve fostered for the last three or four years,” Kiracofe said. “Going out there and having that determination on every single point. We’ve shifted to, in my time here, a ball-control, defensive team and adding the pieces offensively to put things away when we have those opportunities.

“While that’s what we expect to see on the floor it’s a brand-new group and a lot of new people standing next to each other. It’s not going to be perfect from day one but to see them go out and fight for every point and have that intensity that we’ve come to expect is something we’re looking forward to this week.”

Photo credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

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NATCHITOCHES:
Eddie Ray Pikes
May 25, 1952 – January 21, 2021
Service: Thursday, January 28 at 1 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Julia Rowzee
June 29, 1941 – January 20, 2021
Service: Saturday, January 30 at 10 am at Mt. Zion Cemetery near Montgomery

David G. Bryant
December 18, 1939 – January 23, 2021
Service: Tuesday, January 26 at 11 am in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Ola Henderson
January 23, 2021
Service: Sunday, January 31 at 1:30 pm at the North Star Baptist Church in Powhatan

Edward West
February 1, 1964 – January 20, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Carla Phillips
January 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, January 30 at 1 pm in the chapel of the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

WINN:
Wanda “Cookie” Kay Saucier
January 23, 1950 – January 24, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Max Allen Orr
January 18, 1960 – January 23, 2021
Service: Wednesday, January 27 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

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Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr. would like to announce he will give a State of the City Address on Monday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Natchitoches Council Chambers, located at 716 Second Street.

The purpose of the State of the City Address is to connect with our constituents and inform them of the City’s policy agenda for the year 2021. Mayor Williams will address his projections for economic development, capital outlay, and infrastructure improvements for the City of Natchitoches.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the venue for the State of the City Address will be reserved for the media and will not be open to the public. The address will be available on the City’s website at http://www.natchitochesla.gov/content/2021-state-city-address and via facebook @CityofNatchitoches.

For more information contact the Mayor’s Office at (318) 352-2772.

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BATON ROUGE, La. — Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin issued the following statement following the Legislature’s overwhelming passage of the most recent emergency election plan.

“I am pleased that this emergency plan passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support at every step of this process. This plan is a pragmatic response to the recent unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, the Clerks of Court, Registrars of Voters and their staff along with the entire SOS elections staff will provide the people of Louisiana safe, secure and accurate elections to which they are accustomed.”

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NATCHITOCHES – A little more time.

That’s one positive as Northwestern State football plays its regular season in the spring as opposed to the fall.

A Demons team that will feature eight new offensive starters and five new defensive starters started its spring process Friday with its first official practice.

Friday’s session lasted about two hours and is the first of four acclimation days before the Demons don full pads with contact Wednesday.

“There’s been a combination of new guys and then sophomores and juniors that have been here that have stepped up,” said NSU coach Brad Laird, who is beginning his third season as the Demons head coach. “We had an abbreviated spring practice (six practices) before the COVID-19 pandemic, and it took time for us to adjust to fall practice.

“But we got into our 15 practices in the fall, and that was huge for our guys. The mental part is the biggest thing, and we’ve seen a lot of carryover from the fall and from our walkthroughs so far that was evident in today’s practice.”

The team participated in strength and conditioning drills and well as walkthrough sessions before embarking on 20 preseason practices heading into its first game week, which culminates in the season opener Feb. 20 at Lamar.

In normal times, players endure the brutal Louisiana heat in August as they prepare for a regular season.

But tight end David Fitzwater and the rest of the Demons didn’t mind an overcast sky with temperatures hovering the 50s to open practice.

“It was really enjoyable, and that’s fun weather to play in,” said the Calvary Baptist product. “I’m really happy to be on the field today, and a lot of guys came out with excitement.

“Honestly I feel like that’s been missing in years before this. Guys were excited and ready to go today.”

Linebacker Landon King will be a key cog this season in NSU’s deepest unit.

King is one of five returning linebackers who made at least three starts this past season.

“I’m really looking forward to playing with this team,” said King, a Pineville native. “We were hoping to play last fall but didn’t get that chance.

“If we keep doing what we have to do and controlling what we can control, hopefully we can go out there on Saturdays, have our season and come out with a championship.”

Before the season-opener at Lamar, NSU’s 20 practices include scrimmages Jan. 31 and Feb. 6 before a mock game on Feb. 11.

NSU will play a six-game spring schedule, all against Southland Conference opponents that didn’t play in the fall.

After traveling to Lamar, the Demons host McNeese, the first college football game in Turpin Stadium in since NSU wrapped up the 2019 season in late November, which will be a 16-month span without NSU football in Natchitoches.

CREDIT: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

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NATCHITOCHES – The City of Natchitoches would like to notify the public of the following temporary closures next week. The Utility Department will be taking down the Christmas lights along Front Street and the Church Street Bridge.

Closures will occur as follows:

Monday, January 25th – Front Street (South End) – 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, January 26th – Church Street Bridge – 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 27th – Front Street (North End) – 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

This temporary closure is subject to change weather pending. The City of Natchitoches appreciates the public’s patience during this time and asks when traveling through the area motorists proceed with caution.

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It was a cool, cloudy day in Coushatta at the livestock show barn, but that did not dampen the spirits of the Natchitoches Parish 4-H members who were ready to kick off 2021 and show off their livestock projects. Organized by Extension Agents, Randall Mallette and Pam Pearce the event featured eight youth showcasing three species of animals: hogs, goats and beef. Serving as judge for the day was Dr. Ashley Edwards, Livestock Agent for the Northern Region of Louisiana.

The morning started with the showmanship competition. The judge was tasked with selecting the 4-H’er who best handled and presented their animal.

Showmanship placings were as follows:

Hogs
Champion: Cole Johnson
Reserve Champion: Cooper Johnson

Goats
*Senior division: first place – Cooper Johnson
second place – Cole Johnson
third place – Madeline Mitchell

*Intermediate division: first place – Addison Ivy
second place – Taylor Allen

Champion: Cooper Johnson
Reserve Champion: Addison Ivy

Beef
*Senior division: first place – Layton Parks
*Intermediate division: first place – Tatum Roberts
*Junior division: first place – Bayla Procell

Champion: Bayla Procell
Reserve Champion: Tatum Roberts

Following the showmanship competition, the youth then exhibited each of their animals by species and breed. According to Mallette, total of 26 animals were shown, representing numerous hours of work and care to get ready for this show. “It was a great day for our youth to be able to exhibit their projects. They are preparing for the district show that will be February 5”, said Mallette. Assisting as ring-steward was Travis Rachal, a member of the Natchitoches 4-H Junior Leaders.

Placings that were awarded are listed below by each participant.

Taylor Allen:
*First place Pygmy Doe, in 3 separate classes
*Champion Pygmy Doe
*Reserve Champion Pygmy Doe

Addison Ivy:
*First place Full Blood Boer
*Reserve Champion Full Blood Boer
*First place Percentage Boer
*Second place Percentage Boer
*Reserve Champion Percentage Boer

Cole Johnson:
*First place Market Hog in 2 classes
*Champion Market Hog
*Reserve Champion Market Hog
*Second place Market Goat

Cooper Johnson:
*Second place Market Hog in 2 classes
*First place Market Goat in 2 classes
*Champion Market Goat
*Reserve Champion Market Goat

Madeline Mitchell:
*First place Full Blood Boer
*Champion Full Blood Boer
*First place Percentage Boer
*Champion Percentage Boer
*First place Commercial Doe
*Champion Commercial Doe
*First place Myotonic Doe
*Champion Myotonic Doe
*Supreme Breeding Goat Champion

Layton Parks:
*First place Commercial Heifer
*Champion Commercial Heifer
*First place Brahman Bull
*Champion Brahman Bull
*First place Hereford Heifer
*Champion Herford Heifer
*First place early junior yearling Brangus heifer

Bayla Procell:|
*First place early summer yearling Brangus heifer
*Reserve Champion Brangus heifer

Tatum Roberts:
*First place early junior Brangus heifer calf
*Champion Brangus heifer
*Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer
*First place Brangus bull
*Champion Brangus bull
*Supreme Champion Bull

The Natchitoches Parish 4-H livestock participants would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Red River Parish Police Jury and Nancy Nettles for the use of the facility and Natchitoches Farm Bureau for the sponsorship.  Additionally, thank you to Tractor Supply, Raisin’ Canes and Dairy Queen for the kind donations.

Submitted by:  Tatum Roberts
Natchitoches Parish Livestock Club Reporter

 

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