As weather experts continue to narrow predictions for Tropical Storm Ida, LSMSA will dismiss classes at noon on Friday, Aug. 26 for the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Classes will resume Wednesday, Sept. 1.
The party is started. This evening, it turns into a free concert on the Rue Beauport downtown riverbank stage.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Induction Celebration got underway Thursday with a press conference and the La Capitol Federal Credit Union Welcome Reception at the LSHOF museum.
Today’s slate begins with the BOM Bowling Bash from 11:30-2 at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria, and reaches a peak this evening from 6-10:30 with rock ‘n roll and contemporary country music.
It’s the Rockin’ River Fest presented by Rapides Regional Medical Center, free to all in downtown Natchitoches.
The area’s most iconic local rock artist, Billy O’Con, and his band BaDD Apple will split the bill with the extremely popular Baton Rouge country band Parish County Line on the riverbank stage.
BaDD Apple starts the show at 6 and after a two-hour set, gives way to Parish County Line, with music lasting until 10:30, no admission required.
Along with great music, the family atmosphere offers free games for kids on the riverbank under the Church Street Bridge, thanks to Louisiana Propane Dealers.
Shortly after 9, the Class of 2021 inductees will be introduced on stage and a spectacular, holiday-season-level fireworks show will immediately follow.
The LSHOF inductees headlined by Saints great Marques Colston, LSU football legend Glenn Dorsey, Major League Baseball All-Star Rickie Weeks, and bass fishing icon Bo Dowden, a Natchitoches native.
There’s an upscale party up on Front Street at Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room, and outside on the bricks. The Hancock-Whitney Taste of Tailgating shindig runs from 7-10, with guests enjoying tailgating-inspired food stations, specialty cocktails, free beer and wine, a silent auction, and music by DJ Geaux.
A small portion of Front Street north from the Church Street bridge will be closed to traffic this evening to provide safe access for Taste of Tailgating patrons walking to the outdoor seating and riverbank area.
Tickets for the Taste of Tailgating are $100 per person ($50 for under 21 partygoers) and must be purchased in advance through the LaSportsHall.com website or by calling Gracen McDonald, the LSHOF Foundation executive assistant, at 318-554-9020. All COVID-19 protocols mandated by the state will be observed for the indoor event.
Saturday’s LSHOF festivities begin with a free Junior Training Camp and include the Roundtable Luncheon and the Taste of Louisiana Reception at the LSHOF Museum. Capping the schedule: the Taste of Louisiana Reception at the museum from 5-6:45 and the 7 p.m. Induction Ceremony at the Natchitoches Events Center, televised live by Cox Sports Television with coverage starting at 6 p.m.
Reservations are necessary for the free Junior Training Camp by visiting LaSportsHall.com or calling McDonald at 318-554-9020. Those are also pathways for tickets to the luncheon and induction reception and ceremony.
After hastily adjusting from Tuesday’s cancellation of the Natchitoches jamboree due to COVID issues, and finding an opponent for a jamboree tonight, the St. Mary’s football team is sitting it out.
Head coach Aaron York had arranged for his Tigers to travel to Minden to face another Class A program, Glenbrook School. When contact tracing and quarantines sidelined more players Thursday, York chose to pull the plug on tonight’s outing.
“For the safety of our players, our scrimmage with Glenbrook has been cancelled. Although this is not the ideal situation, I feel like cancelling is in the best interest of our program moving into the regular season,” said York.
When the Natchitoches jamboree was cancelled Tuesday, with Lakeview and St. Mary’s slated to play, Lakeview coach Brandon Helms decided to sit out any matchup this week in an abundance of caution.
York pivoted and quickly set up the trip to Glenbrook, a team that was originally slated to play the NCHS junior varsity. Most of the Tigers’ younger players were already idled by COVID issues, leaving SMHS with 18 players – nearly all more experienced veterans who were the starters.
But as the situation evolved, Thursday it became apparent to York that the Tigers would have too thin a squad to play tonight and the best move was to cancel, hoping for enough to be cleared and resume action next week as the regular season starts.
Early this month, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association announced a policy mirroring those adopted by the NFL and the NCAA, which requires teams unable to play in a regular season game due to COVID issues to be assigned a forfeit loss.
In 2020, teams were able to record a “no contest” instead of a forfeit, creating less damage to their power points that figure into playoff qualification. However, it became apparent in all sports that some teams were claiming COVID implications when they were actually unwilling to face stronger opponents and lose, leading to the revised 2021 policies.
None of the three parish high schools will play tonight in jamborees, hoping to get enough players through contact tracing and quarantines so they will be able to compete in season openers next Friday.
Due to the concerns for those students and families with serious medical conditions, the Natchitoches Parish School Board will be opening Covid Virtual registration for students kindergarten through 5th grade. NPSB will also be re-opening registration for 6th -12th virtual learning. Students will either qualify for NVA selective enrollment or Covid-19 virtual enrollment. Covid 19 virtual enrollment is in response to the surge of the Delta variant and may be dissolved as circumstances change.
Online registration will begin Monday, August 30th and run through Friday, September 3rd and can be found at https://npsb.la/natchitoches-virtual-academy. Priority will be given to those families who can provide documentation of serious medical conditions, either for their student or someone in their domicile. Once applications are received and processed, parents will then be informed of their child’s status. Online classes will begin on Monday, September 13th.
NPSB still believes based on data and consultation with physicians that face-to-face learning, with mitigation measures in place, is safe. Furthermore, NPSB believes face to face learning is a superior learning model but wants to recognize and address the serious concerns of many parents who have underlying health conditions.
August 06, 1930 – August 24, 2021
Dorothy Roig Knecht, fondly known as “Dot”, died peacefully on August 24, 2021, at the age of 91. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm Monday, August 30, 2021 at Trinity Episcopal Church, 533 2nd Street, Natchitoches, LA. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. Visitation with the family will be held on Monday the 30th from 10 am until 12 noon at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches.
Dot was born in New Orleans, LA on August 6, 1930. She grew up on North Rocheblave Street and graduated from John McDonough High School. She married the love of her life, Gene Knecht, and moved to North Louisiana to start their family and her life as the wife of a high school football coach. Dot and Gene, better known as Coach, began both their family and the Coushatta High School football program in 1952. Blessed with three sons; Gene, Jim, and Brett, they moved to WInnsboro, LA where a daughter, Pam, was added to the family. In 1961 Dot and Gene moved the family to Natchitoches when Gene joined the football and coaching staff at Northwestern State College. Her love for the NSU Demons never wavered and Dot remained an avid and loyal fan until her death. She always claimed that she “bled Demon purple” and refused to believe otherwise.
Dot’s greatest pride was her family and her loving relationship with her best friend, Gene. Together they enjoyed fishing on the river and lakes around Natchitoches in Coach’s trusty Duracraft boat. All of her children were very involved in athletics and competitions which provided her with a very full schedule of practices, games, road trips, and competitions in addition to being a coach’s wife and housewife. Dot somehow managed to attend all the events and cheer on her children and husband in every endeavor. Definitely a woman of great love for her family and God, she modeled the essence of a loving and devoted mother. Her dedication to Trinity Episcopal Altar Guild gave her much joy and peace and serving in our Lord. With her beautiful eyes, genuine smile, and a gift of gab, she was blessed with an abundance of friends and she dearly loved her Beta Sigma Phi sisters.
Dot was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene V. Knecht, Sr., her parents, Anton and Caroline Roig; eight brothers, and six sisters. She is survived by her adoring children, Eugene V. Knecht, Jr. and wife Judy, James D. Knecht, MD and wife Elizabeth, Brett O. Knecht and wife Darlene, and Pam K. Singletary and husband John. She also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren who have always looked up to their grandmother as their greatest supporter and inspiration in life.
A special thanks is extended to Ms. Iris Jean Gay for her constant loving care and dedication to our mother. She loved our mom like her own.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Brad Knecht, Matthew Knecht, John Singletary, III, Landon Knecht, Ji Theriot, Ricky Dugas, Darron Leach, Brad Duesler, Welles Fitzpatrick, Spencer Leon, and Jim McAshan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church of Natchitoches or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
One year after Northwestern State volleyball had its fall season postponed, the Lady Demons return to the court this weekend to open the 2021 season.
NSU plays three matches in the Tulane Invitational beginning with a Friday pair against the Green Wave at 12:30 p.m. and ending with Cal at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Demons’ season-opening match with Tulane will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
“The focus hasn’t really changed from what we were looking for going into Lafayette. In my mind it’s about figuring out what we need to change, tweak or add to be more successful as the season goes.”
That’s what head coach Sean Kiracofe said about the first three-match weekend for his team in two years. Following a successful exhibition bout with UL Lafayette and 3-1 win against a team ranked as high as 15 in last season’s polls, the focus remains internal for the Lady Demons as they continue to put many of the new pieces together.
“We have still such a new group out there that we’re going to show up and play and some things are going to work, and some things aren’t,” Kiracofe said. “It’s about what we do when those things don’t work.”
Following a nerve-filled first set, plenty seemed to work for the Lady Demons who cruised to a win on the heels of a spread out and balanced offensive attack to compliment the steady and reliable defense.
Junior Addison McDermott led the team with 12 kills from her more comfortable role on the right side, after a spring season that saw her, along with most of the thin roster, play positions and roles that were a little out of their element.
“A lot of us are taking on different roles this year giving us more offensive threats,” McDermott said. “Just having new people and new faces gives us the opportunity to do better and we’re able to take the load off each other to allow it to be more spread out.”
No stranger to playing many roles on the court, Autumn Gentry moves from ultra-utility player to setter in the 2021 version of the team and has the exciting prospect of choice when it comes to the NSU offense.
Of the 43 total kills in against ULL, 28 came from hitters on the outside or right side and 13 from the middle blockers. Sophomore Audrey Quesnel and junior Jaylibeth Garcia-Rosa combined for 11 kills on 23 error-free swings in the match.
“I try to see what’s on the other side of the net and know which one of my hitters is available, who’s the hot hitter, who can score in certain situations whether I’m on the net or off it,” Gentry said. “Having that many options is great and allows me and us to do a lot of different things.”
The first of four non-conference and three-match weekends begins Friday in New Orleans as the Lady Demons continue to work towards conference play at the end of September. A tough opening day with Tulane and Cal on the schedule will set the tone for those next four weeks.
“This season we have a lot to prove,” Gentry said. “I think that keeps everyone motivated and humble knowing we’re likely going in as the underdog. It helps us go in with a sense of urgency to keep our side clean, take care of the ball like we need to and push through the match keeping our energy high.”
Photo Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
I’ve been fishing tournaments since 1990 and have loved every minute with most of the guys or gals I’ve had the pleasure to fish with. I’ve participated in team and pro/am events and each format is unique unto itself. But one question I’ve been asked over the years, is what have I enjoyed the most? Well, my experience with team trails has been awesome and I have had the best partners an angler could ever ask for. Nothing is more fun than you and a buddy (team partner) going out and putting a pattern together and doing well. And nothing is more rewarding than crawling into the back of a touring pro’s boat and catching fish. Fishing at the highest level certainly has its rewards but it can also be your worst nightmare if you draw the wrong pro.
Some pros are super nice and will do whatever they can to help a co-angler catch fish. Then there are some who won’t give you the time of day even if they’re wearing a watch. But the majority of the pros are great guys who want to see their co-anglers succeed. I’ve always tried to make sure my co-anglers catch fish because I’ve been a co-angler myself before and know what’ it’s like to be ignored or even recognized that you’re in the boat. I’ve always looked at it like this… the co-angler that’s fishing in my boat has paid his hard-earned money to fish just like I have. But the difference is that my entry fee is double what the co-angler pays and that’s why you’re at the mercy of the pro/boater in a pro/am event as the pro/boater has complete control of the boat at all times.
But to answer the question of my most rewarding year; was fishing as a co-angler on the FLW Tour in 2004. What an awesome experience that was to get in the boat with some of the best anglers on the planet and watch them work their magic. But the one thing I figured out real early, was that there is no magic…professional bass fishermen are on another level when it comes to skills like reading the water, understanding their electronics, not to mention their ability to cast and put baits in places average anglers would not even attempt. The skill level of the B.A.S.S. Elite and Major League Fishing (MLF) Series guys is off the chart and amazing to see in person. In 2004, I had the pleasure to fish with some of the best to ever wet a hook like former FLW and Basmaster Classic Champion Dion Hibdon, 2020 Elite Series Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt, Japanese MLF Pro Shin Fukea and Texas MLF Pro Kelly Jordan. All of these guys were not only great anglers, but fine people as well. I learned a lot during my eight hours of fishing with each of these guys.
But why was 2004 the most fun I ever had fishing? First of all, I drew some of the top anglers on tour and caught a lot of fish behind these guys as I had three Top 10 finishes that year. But what I really enjoyed the most that year as a co-angler, I did not have to worry about all the details that come with fishing the pro/boater side. Co-anglers don’t have to worry about finding fish, putting gas in the boat, making sure they have enough oil in the reservoir, charging the batteries, or fixing and repairing things on the boat. Co-anglers don’t have to worry about a blown tire on their boat trailer or the wheel bearings going out. All I had to do was show up, put my tackle in the boat and go fishing with the best anglers in America! Not a bad way to go fishing and enjoy the day while learning from the best in the business.
One thing that’s very disappointing to me in 2021, is that MLF (formerly FLW) and the B.A.S.S. Elite Series Pro Circuits have eliminated the co-angler. The Elite Series does have what they call the Marshall program which is where you can apply and pay to sit in the boat and observed all day. But Major League Fishing (MLF) has not allowed that yet as their pros have a referee (who records each fish they catch) and a camera man. So, in the future when someone asks me “What’s the most fun you ever had fishing?” I’ll always reply 2004! Till we meet again, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!!!
Steve Graf
Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
And Tackle Talk Live
New leadership in Northwestern State University’s Department of Military Science has set recruiting for the program as a top priority in the hopes of growing the number of ROTC cadets to at least 100 and training them to become the nation’s future leaders.
“We are open for any student who is interested in the program,” said LTC Josh Drake. “People may think when they join ROTC they are signing up for something they can’t get out of. Whether you stick with the program or not, give it a shot. Even if you don’t commission, maybe you will change in a good way.”
Scholarships are available for ROTC cadets, which can be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
“The biggest challenge with recruiting has been the online and hybrid classes,” Drake said. “Military science is interactive, and you can’t commission someone virtually because they will not be ready.”
In additional to recruiting traditional students, Drake hopes to attract soldiers from the National Guard and Army Reserves who could continue to drill with their units while earning a commission as an officer. He will also target active duty soldiers at Fort Polk who may be interested in becoming officers through the Green to Gold program.
His priority after recruiting will be marketing and branding the program and increased visibility.
Drake comes to NSU from Fort Polk where he was observer, coach, trainer and Brigade S3 in the Operations Group, Joint Readiness Training Center. In the course of his career he served in many leadership positions beginning with Rifle Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader and Rifle Company Executive Officer in 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; Basic Training Company Commander, 1st Battalion 19th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia; Rifle and HHC Company Commander, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
He previously served as assistant professor of military science at University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, and also as Operations Officer, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment and Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk. He completed four combat deployments to Iraq in 2007 and 2012, Afghanistan in 2013 and Syria in 2018.
Drake is a native of Lakeland, Florida, and commissioned as an infantry officer in 2005 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Ranger School at Fort Benning prior to his first duty assignment. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University and completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and Command and General Staff College.
Another of Drake’s goals in growing the program is to increase training opportunities for cadets and field a Ranger Challenge team, in which cadets compete with other programs in non-tactical events that challenge their physical and mental toughness. The program has not fielded a Ranger Challenge team in 4 years. He also plans to strengthen the relationship between the program and the Northwestern Demon Regiment, the program’s alumni organization, to make them more a part of the organization.
“We want to show them appreciation and make them more a part of the program,” Drake said. “It shows cadets that one day they will have an opportunity to give back as alumni.”
He would also like to build better relationships with NSU faculty and staff and participate in projects or team-building events.
“We work for the Army, but we also work for the school,” he said.
Students who participate in ROTC can expect to take basic military science courses in their first year in which they learn the professional aspects of being an Army officer, military rank and how to drill and participate in ceremonies. Second-year students begin working on and learning tactics. Third year cadet lead the first- and second-year activities and fourth-year cadets focus on officership.
“I love seeing a change in them,” Drake said. “I love seeing the transformation from civilian to military officer. They change both mentally and physically and learn the Army culture. They learn it, accept it and live it.”
Drake and his wife Brittany have two daughters, ages 12 and 10, who attend NSU Elementary and Middle Lab Schools. The family enjoys traveling, visiting the beach, camping, and fishing. They are renovating a home on Cane River.
Information on NSU’s ROTC program is available at https://rotc.nsula.edu/.
NATCHITOCHES:
Dorothy “Dot” Roig Knecht
August 06, 1930 – August 24, 2021
Service: Monday, August 30 at 1 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church
John Thomas Colligan
January 23, 1975 – August 19, 2021
Service: Saturday, August 28 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Theresa “Terri” Durr
March 12, 1960 – August 25, 2021
Service: Tuesday, August 31 at 10 am at the Bethel Methodist Church
Virginia M. Wilson James
October 05, 1928 – August 25, 2021
Service: Friday, August 27 at 10 am at Beulah Methodist Cemetery in Marthaville
Lori Ann O’Bannon Savell
May 16, 1971 – August 24, 2021
Service: Sunday, August 29 at 10 am at 1st Baptist Church of Provencal
Paul O’Con
April 01, 1933 – August 24, 2021
Service: Saturday, August 28 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Porcia Hooper
August 24, 2021
Arrangements TBA
Pastor Carl Means
August 23, 2021
Service: Saturday, August 28 at 10 am at the Christian Outreach Center, 106 Brickyard Road, Natchitoches
Sylvia Morrow
August 20, 2021
Service: Saturday, August 28 at 2 pm at the MLK Center of Natchitoches
SABINE:
James Leonard LaRue
July 8, 1946 – August 23, 2021
Arrangements TBA
Stevie Carroll
October 6, 1941 – August 22, 2021
Arrangements TBA
WINN:
Barry Louis Phelps
September 24, 1957 – August 20, 2021
Memorial service arrangements will be announced by the family at a later date.
Sheri McManus Miller
February 17, 1969 – August 24, 2021
Service: Friday, August 27 at 1 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Annette Brigance Skains
May 10, 1964 – August 19, 2021
Service: Saturday, August 28 at 10 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Winnfield
RED RIVER:
Stephen Ray Elias
December 30, 1968 – August 20, 2021
Service: Saturday, August 28 at 11 am at Grand Bayou Event Center
In an effort to be transparent and provide the community with the most accurate and up to date information regarding the pandemic, the Natchitoches Parish School Board will be releasing weekly, district and school wide Covid-19 data. The data will contain the number of Covid-19 positive cases and quarantines of both staff and students.
Data will be released Friday at 5:00 pm under the Covid-19
tab. The first date that data will be released will be on Friday, August 27, 2021.
Check the Natchitoches Parish Journal for a copy of the data.
The Natchitoches City Council will hold a Special Called Meeting on Thursday, August 26 at 2 pm
Face masks are required for everyone during the meeting, regardless of vaccination
status. Social distancing is encouraged.
Any Citizen that wishes to observe the City Council meeting live may do so at
The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City
Council Chambers located at 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana.
NATCHITOCHES CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
A G E N D A
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. RESOLUTION:
#077 Nielsen Resolution Authorizing Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Hire
Carollo Engineers, MAVA Engineering, LLC, EJES Inc., And
Shuler Consulting Company For Grant Application Submitted To
The Louisiana Division Of Administration For Funding Under
Water Sector Program.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Monday,
September 13, 2021.
August 20, 2021
Life Celebration Services will unfold at the MLK Center of Natchitoches Saturday, August 28, 2021, 2:00p. m. with burial following in Lawrence Serenity Sanctum. The casketed remains will lie in state for public visitation from 12:00 noon until service time.
Photos: Courtesy The Real Views Archives
Here is a look at the week of August 29 – September 4 at Northwestern State University.
August 31 – Volleyball vs. UL-Monroe, Prather Coliseum, 6:30 p.m.
August 31 – Faculty recital featuring cellist Paul Christopher and keyboard faculty Chialing Hsieh, Daniel Ley and John Price, Magale Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. *
September 1 – Soccer vs. Louisiana Tech, Lady Demon Soccer Complex, 7 p.m.
* Livestream available at capa.nsula.edu/livestream
When Scotty Roblow arrived at Northwestern State, he did so having handled all the kicking and punting duties in high school.
In his second season as a Demon – the truncated six-game spring slate – Roblow found his collegiate calling as a punter. Roblow opened his true freshman season of 2019 as the Demons starting place kicker, appearing in four games before an injury sidelined him for the final eight games.
Handling punting duties for the first time as a collegian in the spring, Roblow became a Freshman All-American, averaging 41.7 yards per punt and dropping 11 of his 29 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. The move from kicker to punter went smoothly for the Shreveport product.
“It was going to be a slow transition,” said Roblow, who will join his teammates for their annual mock game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday inside Turpin Stadium. “I had to get comfortable. Once I started playing, it came easy to me.”
Easy and effective.
Eight of Roblow’s 29 punts traveled at least 50 yards, helping him rank 17th nationally in punting average. In the battle of field position, Roblow gave the Demons a solid, consistent weapon in terms of flipping the field.
“Football is so big on field position,” fourth-year head coach Brad Laird said. “He was able to flip field position in those situations. It was very positive moving forward in the spring and hope to see the same thing in the fall.”
Never did he do so more than against eventual national champion Sam Houston. Roblow said he felt he truly arrived as a punter against the Bearkats, averaging 50.5 yards per punt on four attempts, including a career-long 56-yard boot.
“I always took it one punt at a time,” Roblow said. “If I had a bad punt, I’d shake it off and go on to the next one. The Sam Houston game was probably my best, given I won the (Southland Conference) Special Teams Player of the Week award.”
Aided in part by Roblow’s field-flipping abilities, the Demons limited the Bearkats to 24 points, Sam Houston’s lowest regular-season output.
Having handled all three aspects of the kicking game may have helped Roblow find a home at Northwestern State, but focusing on punting allowed him excel.
“You go back to the fall of 2020, and we brought in Eddie (Godina) to be our kicker,” Laird said. “Coach (Jake) Olsen, at the time had Scotty strictly work on punting. He had done everything before and never really had the ability to hone in on one particular area and focus his skillset on that. Fast forward to the spring, and I think you saw the work he did in that area show up in competition.”
Roblow’s comfort level grew on the field and within the special teams room.
In addition to bonding with Godina over the technical aspects of kicking, Roblow formed a deeper bond with snapper Evan Gibson, a fellow Shreveport native.
“We’re all like brothers,” Roblow said of the specialists. “Off the field, we do our thing. I’m always on (Gibson) about Calvary. My cousin, Will (Derrick), is a wide receiver at ULM and played at Calvary with Evan. I didn’t know Evan at the time, but I knew he was going to Northwestern. Now we live together and we’re buddy-buddy. We’re basically brothers.”
Photo: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
By Katie Bedgood
This summer I had the opportunity to attend an FFA leadership camp that was held in Woodworth, La at the Wesley Center. The purpose of the leadership camp is to teach FFA members how they can be a leader in their home and community. We not only learned important skills to bring back home to our schools and FFA Chapters, but we also socialized with other FFA chapters, area and state officers.
At leadership camp we had many different activities to participate in. We had general sessions where the State officers taught us different ways you can be a leader. We also had free time where we could play games like corn hole or basketball. We participated in workshops that encouraged healthy living such as not drinking and driving, swimming, and zip lining. On the last day of camp there was a scavenger hunt all over the campgrounds. The last thing we did at Leadership camp was an award ceremony where my team and I won the campers vs Advisors wiffle ball tournament.
We not only had fun at camp but also learned lessons that will help us all throughout life and not just FFA. In one of our general sessions, they went into detail about Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and Leadership Development Events. The State Officers explained that when you are participating in your SAE it is giving you some type of job experience. A Leadership Development Event helps you develop skills needed to seek employment. They also explained to us different ways FFA can help you get scholarships for certain colleges.
Attending Leadership Camp was a good experience because I was able to interact with other FFA members and learned skills to help my FFA Chapter throughout the year. Meeting the State FFA Officers has inspired me to run for an Area office next year and eventually a state FFA office. I will definitely encourage other FFA members to attend Leadership Camp in the future.
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Natchitoches becomes Louisiana’s Cooperstown for the rest of this week.
With the start of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Induction Celebration this afternoon, our state’s oldest and friendliest town assumes the role of the quaint community in upstate New York that is the home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
That’s a comparison made many times by media and visitors over the nearly 50-year history of the LSHOF inductions in Natchitoches. It will certainly be rekindled over the next three days, when seven events are staged locally.
It all culminates with the Induction Ceremony Saturday night at 7 in the Natchitoches Events Center.
Eleven new members will be officially welcomed into the Hall of Fame.
For information and participation opportunities, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.
For a special ticket deal, call 318-588-2484.
Reservations are available for all ticketed events and for the free Junior Training Camp Saturday morning at 9 at the NSU WRAC and Turpin Stadium.
Festivities begin this evening with the free La Capitol Federal Credit Union Welcome Reception from 5-7 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum – at the traffic circle on Front Street. It is open to all.
Friday’s big event is also free – the Rockin’ River Fest concert, with Billy O’Con and BaDD Apple followed by Parish County Line playing from 6-10:30 p.m. The new Hall of Fame inductees will be introduced on stage at 9, followed by a 10-minute, sports-themed fireworks show over Cane River Lake, and then more music by PCL.
Games for kids presented by Louisiana Propone Dealers, and a Kona Ice truck, will be on the riverbank.
For those craving an air-conditioned environment, an array of Louisiana-themed delicacies and up-close access to the Hall of Famers, there’s the Taste of Tailgating party presented by Hancock-Whitney. The ticketed party is inside Mama’s Oyster House and Blues Room, and has outdoor seating on Front Street.
The stars being saluted include the New Orleans Saints’ all-time best receiver Marques Colston, LSU football great Glenn Dorsey, Southern Jaguars and MLB All-Star Rickie Weeks, 27-time NCAA team championship-winning LSU track coach Pat Henry, and LSU and NBA star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (formerly Chris Jackson).
Natchitoches pro fisherman Villis “Bo” Dowden, the 1980 Bassmasters Classic winner, is joined by Baton Rouge native Courtney Blades Rogers, one of the 11 greatest pitchers in college softball history.
Three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAuley, a Hammond native and LSU graduate now an officiating analyst for NBC’s coverage of Notre Dame and Sunday Night Football, is among the 11 honorees.
Three journalists, including Natchitoches resident and 30-year Northwestern State sports publicist Doug Ireland, will be enshrined. Trailblazing New Orleans sportscaster Ro Brown and Baton Rouge Advocate writer Sheldon Mickles are part of the Class of 2021.
All state pandemic protocols will be observed for indoor events, including masking and social distancing.
VIDEO: 2020 Welcome Reception from Chris Lecoq
Kyle Scott of Bossier City is this year’s recipient of the Big Al’s Rock It Scholarship. An education major at Northwestern State University, Scott is vice president of the Call Me MISTER program, which aims to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader and more diverse background, shortening the percentage of minorities in the classroom.
“We serve the community by going to a local elementary schools volunteering, helping teachers and students,” said Scott, who is majoring in health and physical education and plans to teach K-12.
The scholarship was created in 2017 by the Rev. Eric Williams, pastor of The Rock Church in Shreveport. Eligible recipients must maintain a 2.5 or better grade point average with preference given to a student from the Shreveport-Bossier City area.
Scott is part of the first cohort of MISTER students. The initiative seeks to recruit African American males to become teachers and mentors at low-performing schools. MISTER is an acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models. As a Call Me MISTER campus, NSU is part of a highly acclaimed recruitment and support program that includes a national network of universities.
Prospective MISTERS must be a minority male and come from an underserved, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and/or educationally at-risk community. They must major in early childhood education, elementary education, health and physical education or music education and demonstrate a record of high scholastic achievement and participation in extra-curricular and community service activities.
Applications for Call me MISTER are reviewed on a competitive basis each spring for consideration for cohorts that begin each fall semester. Preference is given to graduating high school seniors, two-year community college transfers and first-year college freshmen. Eligible candidates are selected based on their potential for teaching and their motivation for participation in the program.
For more information, contact program coordinator Ramona Wynder at (318) 357-4549.
POSITION AVAILABLE #1
JOB VACANCY: Pre-K Teacher
QUALIFICATIONS: Certification according to State Department of Education as a Pre-K Teacher.
SALARY: According to parish school salary schedule
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 9 months
DEADLINE: Friday, August 27, 2021
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcript, and one letter of reference.
POSITION AVAILABLE #2
POSITION: Early Childhood Community Outreach Liaison
SALARY: According to Natchitoches Parish Salary Schedule.
QUALIFICATIONS: • Associate’s degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred, education, counseling, social work, education, education policy, or related area preferred
• Knowledgeable of the Natchitoches Parish Community
• Leadership qualities and ability to work effectively with Early Childhood Education Community Engagement Coordinator, Early Childhood program partners, program partners, businesses, and community leaders.
• Authentic, effective, and professional communication, both verbally and written
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills and the ability to make presentations to large groups of people
• Strong project management and organization skills, with the ability to track intricate details and prioritize multiple initiatives and timelines
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 9 months, Part time position (Contracted)
DEADLINE: Friday, August 25, 2021
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcript, and one letter of reference.
POSITION AVAILABLE #3
JOB VACANCY: Early Childhood Office Secretary
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Knowledge of Early Childhood, Time and attendance (TOTS) system, Child Care Assistance Application (CCAP), Child Care Civil Background Check (CCBC), and LA B to 3 scholarship a plus
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Experience as a secretary or equivalent work: demonstrate knowledge of basic office procedures and current technology; typing/keyboarding/proficient in Microsoft Office; and other secretarial skills.
SALARY: According to parish school salary schedule
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 months
DEADLINE: Friday, August 27, 2021
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcript, and one letter of reference
POSITION AVAILABLE #4
POSITION: Early Childhood Education Family and Community Engagement Coordinator
SALARY: According to Natchitoches Parish Salary Schedule.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Associate’s degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred, Degree in early childhood education, counseling, social work, education, education policy, or related area preferred
• Leadership qualities and ability to work effectively with students, teachers, parents, businesses, and community leaders.
• Authentic, effective, and professional communication, both verbally and written
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills and the ability to make presentations to large groups of people
• Strong project management and organization skills, with the ability to track intricate details and prioritize multiple initiatives and timelines
• Ability to work a flexible schedule
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 months
DEADLINE: Friday, August 27, 2021
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcript, and one letter of reference
POSITION AVAILABLE #5
JOB VACANCIES: LIBRARIAN
SITE LOCATION(S): East Natchitoches Elem./Middle School
QUALIFICATIONS: Certification according to State Department of Education as a Librarian.
SALARY: According to parish school salary schedule.
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
Fax: (318) 352-8138
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
POSITION AVAILABLE #6
JOB VACANCIES: Physical Education Teacher
SITE LOCATION(S): East Natchitoches Elem./Middle School
QUALIFICATIONS: Certification according to State Department of Education as a P.E. Teacher.
SALARY: According to parish school salary schedule.
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
Fax: (318) 352-8138
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
POSITION AVAILABLE #7
JOB VACANCIES: Middle School Math Teacher
SITE LOCATION(S): Natchitoches Jr. High School
QUALIFICATIONS: Certification according to State Department of Education as a Middle School Math Teacher.
SALARY: According to parish school salary schedule.
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
Fax: (318) 352-8138
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
POSITION AVAILABLE #8
JOB VACANCIES: Middle School English Teacher
SITE LOCATION(S): Natchitoches Jr. High School
QUALIFICATIONS: Certification according to State Department of Education as an English Teacher.
SALARY: According to parish school salary schedule.
WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358
Fax: (318) 352-8138
APPLICATION WEBSITE: npsb.la
The Northwestern State men’s basketball tweaked its coaching staff responsibilities as two current coaches received new titles.
Blake Cochran and Jordan Luna solidified more permanent roles on the staff, announced head coach Mike McConathy on Tuesday.
Cochran assumes an assistant coach role after serving as a volunteer this past season.
“Blake came in with a recruiting base from his time at Southwestern Assemblies of God and at McMurry, having contacts in East Texas,” McConathy said. “We don’t really have many contacts in that area, so it gives us access to an area where we needed to have a better feel.
“With experience recruiting and with on-floor coaching, it’s an easy transition for him.”
Luna acquires director of basketball operations duties after completing his graduate assistantship with his two-year stint on staff.
“As a graduate assistant for two years, including one year as the only GA, Jordan has been around every aspect of the program,” McConathy said. “That’s allowed him to have a better feel of how every part of the program works.
“He’s had some really good interviews, and his wife Jennifer also has an important position in the community as the executive director of the Women’s Resource Center here in Natchitoches.”
The Demons open the season Nov. 9 at Oklahoma with their first home game Nov. 13 against Champion Christian.
