Phoenix Lodge #38 Free & Accepted Masons held an open meeting in their lodge hall on Monday, August 29th. After dinner, a check for $1,000 to the Louisiana Masonic Scholarship Fund from Phoenix Lodge. District Deputy Grand Master Roy Paul Wright accepted it on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana F&AM.

Pictured left to right are DDGM Roy Paul Wright and Scott Dugas, Phoenix lodge treasurer

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By Brad Dison

Red was small for his age, smaller than the other kids in his neighborhood of Yorkville, New York. In the first decade of the twentieth century, all young boys were expected, with few exceptions, to join the neighborhood gang. To be exempted and respected, a boy had to have a good excuse such as being crippled, small, or having tuberculosis. Even then it might earn a nickname such as gimpy, short sh*t, lungsy, or coughy.

“I wanted no part of running the gang,” explained Red during elderly years, “and size was a prerequisite of power. The biggest kid usually took control simply because he was the biggest. He could have been stupid, as some of the leaders were. But because he was big, he was the boss. That was fine with me. I never ran with the gang anyway.”

Red’s two brothers were on the smaller side as well. For this reason, their mother began teaching them to box.

In the evenings after school, Red’s mother cleared the small living room in their meager home and used it as a boxing ring. Two brothers boxed while the third one rested, all the while Red’s mother instructed them on foot movements, types of punches, and blocks. Red’s mother had learned about boxing from Red’s father, an amateur boxer turned bartender, who was usually away from home in a drunken stupor. When the bouts got too heated, as they often did, Red’s mother separated the boys and explained that to lose their tempers meant losing the fight. The boys and Red’s mother quickly noticed that Red had a knack for boxing. He was light on his feet, could get in, jab a punch, and get out before his opponent could react.

Word spread quickly to the boys in the neighborhood gang. “They would call me in to beat up a bully,” Red said. “The gang knew I was available. I became a kind of combination troubleshooter-backup man and never really part of the gang.”

The streets were full of bullies who pushed the younger, weaker kids around, usually to take what little money or candy they had. “Send for Red” became a regular request, and Red would appear and “clean some kid’s clock” who was usually far superior in physique. Red disliked having to fight on the streets, but he disliked bullies even more.

One day, Ed, Red’s younger and smaller brother, whom his family always referred to as Gentle Ed, was playing with a golf ball he had found in the street. A new bully on the block spied the golf ball and wanted it for his own. While the golf ball was in mid-bounce, the bully darted in, pushed Gentle Ed to the ground and grabbed the golf ball. Gentle Ed tried to reclaim the ball, but the bully shoved him to the pavement. Gentle Ed tried again, and the bully shoved him harder. This continued until Gentle Ed was bruised and bleeding. Gentle Ed returned home and told Red about the incident.

In a fury, Red began searching the neighborhood for the bully. When they finally met, a fight broke out like nothing any of the boys, especially Red, had ever seen. The bully not only took Red’s punches but was able to return them in equal measure. A large crowd gathered to watch. The boys fought tit for tat until a policeman broke them apart. They met up the next day at a prearranged spot and the fight continued. A larger crowd gathered before a policeman broke them apart again. On the third day, an even larger crowd gathered to watch what, to them, looked almost like a professional boxing match.

One woman yelled over the crowd, “These boys are killing each other. Where are their mothers?” No one knows where the bully’s mother was, but Red’s mother was in the crowd cheering for Red. During the bout, Red had broken four bones in his left fist, but the adrenaline allowed him to keep fighting. The bully sustained several injuries and was bleeding severely. Finally, the boys realized it was a draw and ended the fight with the stipulation that they would finish the fight once they had both healed.

In his adult life, Red became what he detested as a child, a bully and a gangster. Red detested the bully in his childhood, but he used those experiences to his advantage. Red and the bully never met again. The bully eventually became a semi-professional boxer. During the Great Depression, more than two decades after the boys fought, the bully sent Red a letter in which he explained that he, the bully, had fallen on hard times. The bully knew that Red had become successful and asked for, not money, not food, but for cigarettes and any extra clothing that Red could spare. Red sent the former bully a package with the requested items along with an undisclosed amount of cash.

You see, Red was only a bully and a gangster in films. He played characters based on the bullies he had known during his childhood. In real life, Red was described by everyone who knew him as a sweet, kind, and gentle man, which was exactly the opposite of the characters he was known for playing. So different were the parts Red played that Orson Welles opined, “[Red] maybe the greatest actor who ever appeared in front of a camera.”

The kids in his old neighborhood knew him as Red, but you and I know him as James Cagney.

Source: John McCabe, Cagney (New York, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1997), 16.

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When I make Crock Pot Carnitas (pork roast, a chopped onion, and Pampered Chef Carnitas Seasoning), I always have leftovers.  We usually make nachos or tacos one night and sandwiches the next.  I wanted something different, and this recipe was exactly it.

This is no different from a typical taco soup, but you’re using excellently seasoned meat and adding all the regular taco soup goodness to it.  Stick it in your slow cooker and let it come together all day on low.

Ingredients

1 pound cooked pulled pork (I use leftovers from Crock Pot Carnitas)
1 can pinto beans with jalapenos, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 can Rotel, undrained
1 package Ranch dressing mix
1 package taco seasoning
1 cup frozen corn
5 cups chicken broth
Toppings:  sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro, jalapeños

Directions

Heat all on the stove on low or in a crock pot.  Garnish with desired toppings.

Enjoy! https://thecopperwhisk.com/blogs/recipes/carnitas-taco-soup

Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom, and contributor to Webster Parish, Natchitoches Parish, and Shreveport-Bossier journals, as well as a published cookbook author.

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Billy Paul Plunkett, a chartering member of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at Northwestern State University, passed away on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 in Winnfield, Louisiana. He was 86 years old.

Graveside funeral services will be held at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Winnfield with Reverend Gary Willis officiating on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 2 p.m. Friends may visit with the family at Southern Funeral Home on Saturday from 12-1:30 p.m.

Billy was born in Atlanta, LA. on November 23, 1935, to Floda Baker Plunkett and Thomas Benson Plunkett Sr. He graduated from Winnfield High School and was a 1958 graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. He was a member of Rotary International and the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches. He was the owner of the Plunkett Store for Men in Winnfield for 14 years followed by a successful career in health care management for 22 years. He was active in civic and church activities throughout his life. He enjoyed an active social life through the years with his life-long friends from elementary high school, college, and especially his brothers of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.

Survivors include his beloved wife, Peggy Kerr Plunkett; his children, Kevin Plunkett and wife Wendy of Carrollton, Texas; his daughter Lori Foshee of Noble, LA; his stepchildren, Karen Townsend and husband, Bill of Natchitoches; Patti Weber and husband, Todd of Southlake, Texas; and Brent Carr and wife Andree’ of Humble, Texas. His grandchildren include Amanda Foshee and husband, Kenneth of Noble; William C. Townsend of Natchitoches; Anne Townsend Zeichner and her husband, Ben of Aledo, Texas; Gracie Weber and Claire Weber of Southlake; Rachel Carr and fiance Matt Kozma of North Richland Hills, Texas; Drew Carr of New York; and Davis Carr of Humble. He was blessed with two great granddaughters, Mackenzie Foshee and Madison McNeal along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters Margie Plunkett Deloach and Betty Plunkett Hicks; and three brothers Thomas Benson Plunkett Jr., Jack Plunkett, and Charles Leo Plunkett.

The family thanks the doctors, nurses and staff at Autumn Leaves Nursing Home of Winnfield for the care given to Mr. Billy. The family also would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ruby Efferson for the loving and generous care of both Billy and Peggy.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Several members of the Beta Omicron Chapter Founders’ Generation Group attended the service for Billy, including Charles Varnell, John Echols, Jack McCain, and Charles Bice. Echols also gave the eulogy.

Over the years, Plunkett was an active member of the Beta Omicron Alumni Chapter’s Founders’ Generation Group, hosting reunions at their Natchitoches home. Billy and Peggy were also loyal supporters of their alma mater, NSU. In fact, Oprah Winfrey made a surprise visit to their home in 2002 and rode with Peggy in the NSU Homecoming parade. They had earlier appeared on her show and told Oprah that everyone in Natchitoches loved her.

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Each taxpayer of Natchitoches Parish should read the entire lawsuit to understand this litigation.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board (Plaintiff) has sued Lloyd’s London, et al for unreimbursed costs for the damages caused by Hurricane Laura in 2020.

Excerpts from the petition:

…On Thursday, August 27, 2020, at around 1:00 am CDT (0600 UTC) the eye of Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, 35 miles east of the Louisiana/Texas border and then moved towards the North at near 15 mph (24 km/h). Hurricane Laura was a Category 4 hurricane at landfall with 130-kts (150 mph) sustained winds (10 m; I-minute over water)…

… Hurricane Laura caused significant damages to Plaintiff’s (NPSB) Properties including damage to the exterior, interior, other structures, as well as contents, and also resulted in the loss of use of the property and caused various expenses to be incurred for clean-up and other losses…

… Plaintiff (NPSB) timely and promptly reported the loss to LLOYD’S LONDON, et al through their representatives, who assigned claim number 4175716, and thereafter have cooperated fully and fairly with LLOYD’S LONDON, et al…

… As soon as practicable, Plaintiff (NPSB) mitigated their damages and losses as best as possible under the catastrophic circumstances at Plaintiff’s own expense…

… LLOYD’S LONDON, et al through their representatives were notified of the loss and provided satisfactory proof of Plaintiff’s claim for their damages and losses and were given full access to inspect all damages at the Insured’s Properties without limitation…

… Plaintiff (NPSB), at its own costs, engaged the services of professional contractors, adjusters, and engineers to complete a thorough inspection of the damage caused by Hurricane Laura and prepare an accurate, complete, and correct estimate of damages which totaled over $49,000,000.00 for the repair of the buildings and other structures, only, and which does not include any other covered losses, including but not limited to increased costs of construction/building materials and labor…

… Plaintiff provided LLOYD’S LONDON et al, through their representatives, with these estimates totaling approximately 6,636 pages of additional documentation detailing the true loss and made further demands for payment pursuant to the subject Policies…

… Despite being provided with satisfactory proofs of loss, including inspections by their representatives, LLOYD’S LONDON et al, failed to properly adjust this claim and pay the insurance benefits in connection with these policies in a timely manner, and Defendants are therefore in violation of La R.S. 22:1892 and 22:1973…

… As a result of the actions of LLOYD’S LONDON et al, which constitute breaches of contracts and policies, bad faith claims adjusting, misrepresentations, and other wrongful acts, Plaintiff has incurred the following, non­ exclusive damages, including building damages and the associated costs of repair, penalties, and attorneys fees:

a. Diminution in value of the Properties;

b. Actual/true cost to repair or replace damaged property;

c. Reimbursement for repairs at the Properties;
d. Actual costs related to contents and equipment, including the manipulation, cleaning, repair, and/or replacement of contents and equipment;

e. Damages to the buildings and properties, and any associated contents;

f. Loss of use expenses;

g. Inconvenience;

h. Penalties in accordance with applicable, including penalties described in La. R.S.

22:1892 and 22:1973, and as is described in paragraphs 41-50;

i. Fees, costs, and expenses of retaining counsel, adjusters, appraisers, building and roofing contractors and engineers, and other expenses to evaluate the extent of their losses and damages, all in connection with the extensive investigation, documentation, and preparation of the reports showing Plaintiffs extensive property damages and losses;

J. Attorney’s fees, other professional fees, expert fees, and litigation costs associated with the bringing of this action; and

k. Legal interest upon all amounts due and owing in accordance with applicable law…

… Plaintiff avers that they are entitled to and pray for a trial by jury…

… WHEREFORE, after due proceedings hereon, and after service of this Petition and Citation, and after all legal delays, Plaintiff, NATCHITOCHES PARISH SCHOOL prays for judgement in its favor and against Defendants…

Read the entire petition here:

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JOURNAL STAFF

College football officially kicks off next Saturday, Sept. 3, in the first week of an exciting regular season.

It’s going to be more exciting, week after week since you can win $250 by picking the winning teams.

Fans have until this Thursday afternoon at 4 to enter the Week One  Natchitoches Parish Journal College Football Pick ‘Em Contest. Anyone has the chance to win a $250 prize as the week’s top predictor of 10 college games, featuring NSU, LSU, Grambling, and other teams of local interest.

The contests will be conducted weekly during the football season. There is no entry charge, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Natchitoches Parish Journal.

Participation is very simple. Just click on this link:
CLICK HERE: WEEK ONE

The Pick ‘Em portal opens to a menu of game-by-game matchups, with an easy click to pick winning teams for each contest. Two games will be used as tiebreakers, with participants predicting the total points scored in those games.

It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.

Entries are open now for the first week’s contest picking the winners from Sept. 3.

Each week, the entries will remain open this week until 4 p.m. Thursday.

One person will win each week’s $250 prize, to be announced in the Journal early the following week as the subsequent Pick ‘Em Contest launches. All contest decisions by NPJ management are final.

Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail.

A panel of Journal writers and local celebrities will also pick the games each week, but won’t be eligible to win the cash prizes. Their individual picks will NOT be publicized, just the week’s final win-loss results and the season’s record for each picker.

It will be fun for participants to compare their weekly records to the panel of experts and celebrities to be announced next week.

Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $250, maybe more than once!

Note: Just ONE $250.00 winner per week.

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By Reba Phelps

Like many public school systems around the nation, they must make do with the meager budget they have to operate a school. This leaves very little to nothing left for sports. Natchitoches Junior High School is no different. They make excellent use of every single resource they can get their hands on.

The Head Custodian is also the Head Football Coach and the Head Baseball Coach. Custodian- Coach, Richard Moody, wears many hats. These hats include Head Custodian, Head Football Coach, Head Baseball Coach, counselor, dad, uncle, granddad, and friend. Whatever the students and employees need at Natchitoches Junior High School, he answers the call.

He credits many of his hats to the new Principal, Alexa-Bernard Howard.

“She is just a good person, I am forever in her debt. She gave me an opportunity that no one else would,” shared Coach Moody.

According to Coach Moody, the student-athletes at NJH were typecast as athletes who just wanted to hurt anyone they played against. After being on the staff at the school for eight years Moody knew better. He has long called these students the best and the brightest. He saw their potential even when they did not.

He is also the first to admit that they have a school full of children that would be easy for most to write off because of poverty or behavioral issues. The tides started to turn this year when Coach Moody encouraged over sixty students to pad up and play football. When the season started they realized that most of the student-athletes did not have access to the proper cleats needed for football. This is where the close-knit community rallied together to raise money for most of the shoes needed.

“A lot of our kids have never even been out of town before, some do not know that there is a better way. They are used to seeing everything run down and not good, I want to change that for these kids. Let them know there is hope and good things out there”, stated Moody.

Coach Moody was raised by a good mother and father, in a very stable home. His mother wanted to make sure he turned out to be a good person. She enlisted the help of a family friend, Danny Methvin. Moody attended St. Mary’s for his 9th and 10th-grade year. During this time he became close with Methvin’s sons; Chad and Trent. They played together most importantly, and worked together.

“We worked the farm, maybe we didn’t work as hard as we should have, but we knew where the shade trees were,” Moody recalls. He fully admits he wouldn’t be where he is today without the valuable lessons taught to him by the Methvin’s.

Coach Moody went on to graduate from Natchitoches Central High School in 1996. After working a few jobs he has found his home with the NJH Indians. He could not be happier with the staff they have at school this year. He also shared that Mr. Chase Stepp has been added to the staff and he has hit the ground running. “It is like he has always been here, we have a great family of people who are all about the kids and we will show them that hard work pays off”, stated Moody.

Principal Bernard-Conday is very proud of Coach Moody’s hard work and dedication to the students.

“Mr. Moody is an anchor in our school community. Many of our students look up to and respect him, not because he’s their coach, but because he cares for our students in a deep and rooted way, wanting to see them succeed every day,” shared Principal, Alexa Bernard-Conday.

She went on to say, “It is an honor and a privilege working beside him. His selfless acts for others is sincere and genuine. Our community is blessed to have him.”

There are still needs in the athletic department, but in true NJH Indian spirit, they are making do with what they have. The football team is now over sixty members strong and they are working hard to raise money for the program. They will be hosting a car wash at the school on September 22nd. The car wash will be free but they will be accepting donations for team expenses.

If you feel so inclined, try to attend the car wash and let these students know that their hard work is being noticed by the community. However small your donation, this school will take it and invest it directly into its mission of changing the narrative for kids who may not have had a chance otherwise.

jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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An LSU Fire and Emergency Training Academy (FETA) training session was held on Aug. 25 for districts throughout the Parish. Fireground operations were the topic with special emphasis on hose handling and pump operations.

Natchitoches Fire District along with Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts 1, 4, 5, and 6 joined together to refresh skills and test out new technology to measure water flow and pressure. Cooperation and hands-on opportunities with equipment help make departments as efficient as possible during emergency incidents.

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STEPHENVILLE, Texas – An impressive team performance bolstered by a freshman standout and a dramatic comeback all added up to a memorable ending to opening weekend for Northwestern State.

The Lady Demons (2-1) used their size and length at the night on the way to a record-setting 20 total blocks, including 10 from freshman Reaghan Thompson, to pull out the 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-21, 15-8) reverse sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson (1-2) on Saturday afternoon.

Despite late rallies in both the first and second sets, where they held off eight different set points, the Lady Demons found themselves with their back against the wall down two sets to none.

“We struggled with ball control for the first half of the match which prevented us from being aggressive on offense and allowed them to benefit from their height advantage,” head coach Sean Kiracofe said. “In the third they started to miss some serves which gave us an opportunity to take the set.”

Down by five near the mid-point of the third set, the combination of a more robust NSU block and errant FDU serves shifted the tide of the match.

A block from Symone Wesley and Jordan Gamble began a run of six straight points coming from either an NSU rejection at the net or FDU service error, including three straight errors during the sequence. Thompson provided a solo at the end of the run and combined with Breanna Burrell for the final that made it a one-point game.

Those blocks, and another from Madisynne McQueen, were part of a larger 8-2 run that put the Demons in the driver’s seat in the third. FDU was able to force extra rallies, holding off one set point, but two more errors helped NSU stay alive with the 27-25 set victory.

“We’re using something this year that the U.S. Marines say which is ‘protect what you earn,” Kiracofe said. “I told them before the fourth set that they earned that third by beating both FDU and themselves which isn’t an easy thing to do so go out and protect that win.”

After trading point for the majority of the fourth set, NSU trailed 20-19 before making the match-defining run that pushed them over the edge towards a dramatic win.

Burrell started the 6-1 run to win the fourth with a kill, which was followed by a block from Thompson and Addison McDermott, and ace from Jordan Gamble and another block from Burrell. McQueen provided the final dagger with a kill to send the match to a fifth and final set.

NSU had three blocks in the fourth set but 10 total in the third and fifth, with five of the 15 points needed in the fifth coming from NSU blocks.

“The blocking, especially later in the match, just came from a mix of staying consistent while making some minor pragmatic adjustments from earlier,” Kiracofe said.

The run that ended the fourth turned into an 11-2 stretch overall as NSU jumped ahead early in the fifth. Thompson, who had three blocks in the fifth set and eight in the final three sets, had back-to-back stops that gave NSU the 8-3 lead at the turn. NSU ended the match with a 4-1 run that featured kills from Gamble and Burrell and blocks from Gamble and McDermott and the game-winner from Thompson.

“Reaghan was great this match and during the weekend overall,” Kiracofe said. “This is only a peek at what I believe she is capable of. She led us in scoring over the weekend which is not an easy thing to do for a middle, and Jordan was third overall in total points.

“Two things came into play – one Reaghan is also a talented soccer player and two FDU had another five-set match right before ours. When we got to the fourth set, I told her to go run them into the ground. She went out and did that, and I think could have kept going for another five sets.”

Thompson is the sixth player in program history to have 10 blocks in a match, tying the record for third most all-time. Her seven solo stops is also tied for second most in a match. She just missed a kill-block double-double with nine kills. NSU had six players record five or more kills in the match, led by Burrell’s 11.

Photo: Courtesy of Tarleton State Athletics

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BATON ROUGE – Louisiana taxpayers have until Oct. 6 to claim millions of dollars in state income tax refunds before they become unclaimed property.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) sent letters to 20,400 individual and business taxpayers advising them to claim their refunds before they are transferred by law to the Unclaimed Property Division of the state treasurer’s office. More than $36 million in unclaimed refunds is due for transfer if not claimed from LDR.

To claim a refund, complete and return to LDR the voucher in the Notice of Unclaimed Property letter dated Aug. 18, 2022. The department will issue paper checks to all taxpayers submitting completed vouchers by the Oct. 6 deadline.

Any refund not claimed by the deadline remains the property of the taxpayer and can be retrieved from the Unclaimed Property Division.

Check for any unclaimed money here: CLICK HERE

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Thirteen Northwestern State University faculty have received tenure and 16 faculty have been recommended for promotion, according to Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Greg Handel. The university’s tenure and promotion recommendations have been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

Those receiving tenure are Hassan Ardakani of the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs. Alicia Book, John Jarvis and Leah Pearce of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, Anna Dugas, Li Ma and Daniel Rivera of the School of Biological and Physical Sciences, Benjamin Forkner and Rebecca Macijecki of the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies, Chialing Hsieh and Robert Richoux of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts, Weiwen Liao and Valerie Salter of the School of Business.

Receiving promotion to full professor were Jafar Al-Sharab of the Department of Engineering Technology and Masahito Kuroda of the of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts. Receiving promotion to associate professor were John Dunn and Melody Gilbert, Hsieh, Karn Richoux and Robert Richoux of the of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts, Forkner and Macijecki, Jarvis, Stacey Joslin, Pearce and Melissa Rennie of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, Dean Konstantaras of the Louisiana Scholars’ College, Ma and Vianka Miranda of the School of Business.

Ardakani earned his bachelor’s degree in theoretical economics from Shiraz University in Shiraz, Iran, and his master’s degree in economics from the Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran. After coming to the United States, he entered the doctorate program in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at Louisiana State University and received his doctoral degree in August 2009. After working on a project at LSU for 18 months, he returned to school and received a Master of Science in Analytics from LSU in 2013. He started his second doctoral program in 2013 in Business Administration with emphasis on business analytics at LSU and received his second doctoral degree in August 2020. He has been working as an assistant professor at Northwestern State since 2017.

His research interests are biofuel, big data analytics, human trafficking and statistical modeling. His teaching interests include data analytics, statistical methods, macroeconomics, microeconomics and international trade. Ardakani is teaching courses in macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Book, an assistant professor of nursing, completed her ASN at Louisiana State University at Alexandria, Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2005 and Master of Science in Nursing in Maternal-Child Nursing Education in 2007 at Northwestern State. Her areas of interest include active learning strategies in the classroom and utilization of simulation in nursing education.

Book began her nursing career in pediatrics, then moved to the emergency department. She served as a charge nurse and mentor new to new graduates. She began teaching as an adjunct faculty at LSUA in 2006, then moved to a full-time position after completing her MSN. She was tenured at LSUA and received the Bolton Award for Excellence in Teaching. She joined the Northwestern State faculty in 2016 when the ASN program expanded to the CENLA Campus. She is active with numerous committees within the NSU College of Nursing and the university. Book is involved with the National League for Nurses, the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society and several community organizations supporting mothers and babies.

Dugas instructs physics courses and is the principal investor for the Biological & Electrical Applied Physics (BEAP) laboratory where environmental sensing, robotics and biomechanical applications are explored. She also serves as the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium (LaSPACE) Affiliate Institutional Coordinator for NSULA and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, and is the mentor for the active LaACES sounding balloon student team who have launched three payloads to space for atmospheric study. Dugas is a 2021 winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award for the College of Arts and Sciences and has been involved in the cross-disciplinary project CAPA-COVID to design and make personal protective equipment for music classes.

Forkner was born in Nantes, France. After finishing his License and Masters in English at the Université d’Angers, Forkner moved to Baton Rouge and completed his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature in 2012 at LSU. As coordinator of the Foreign Languages Resource Center, the center has flourished, with the addition of more tutors, needed equipment and an extensive library of French and Spanish films. Forkner worked closely with the administration in the implementation of a highly successful international student exchange program between NSU and the University of Angers. Forkner’s recent scholarship has been fruitful. In 2020 he participated in the LFLTA regional conference and the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars conference. In 2021 he presented research at both the Louisiana Studies and ACLA annual conferences and has had two academic articles accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed Louisiana Folklife Journal.

An avid performer of contemporary music, Hsieh is devoted to promoting new piano solo and chamber works. Hsieh has been a featured pianist on seven CD’s for the Centaur, Innova, Enharmonic and Ballpark record labels. Hsieh has received several grants to promote new American music, including an Artist Enrichment Grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and Prince Endowed Professorship in Music.

Hsieh has performed recitals in Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States. A sought-after collaborative pianist, she performs regularly at universities and conferences for CMS, MTNA, NATS, SCI, North American Saxophone Alliance, National Flute Society, International Clarinet Association, International Viola Congress, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and the Southeastern Composers’ League. Hsieh has given master classes throughout the United States and abroad and served as a judge and adjudicator for competitions and events.

Jarvis is an associate professor of English and coordinator of graduate studies in English at NSU. Jarvis teaches courses on literature, especially British literature broadly defined in relation to British imperialism. He loves teaching “Introduction to Literature,” part of NSU’s core curriculum, and has recently conducted courses on Black British writers and conversation in and among 18th century novels. He is a faculty advisor for NSU’s Nu Iota Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta International English Society and humanities content editor for a regional peer-reviewed journal of undergraduate research “Papers and Publications.”

Jarvis specializes in British literature of the long 18th century (1660-1830). His research, which often focuses on interactions between literature and social systems, includes publication on Thomas Sprat’s “The History of the Royal Society” and political partisanship as social networking in late 17th century England. His article “Olivia’s Kingdoms: Referencing Carby’s ‘Imperial Intimacies in The Woman of Colour (1808)’ ” is forthcoming in fall 2022.

Liao is an associate professor of management/international business and holds the Karl & Linda Moore Endowed Professorship in Business. She joined NSU in 2015 after more than a decade of teaching and research in both China and Canada. Her teaching focus is international business and operations management. She holds a Ph.D. in Management.

Liao has more than 20 publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, proceedings, and books in both US and China. Her latest articles are with the Journal of Education for Business and the Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management. She is the member of the Academy of Management (AOM), the Academy of International Business (AIB), the Association of North America Higher Education International (ANAHEI), the National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association of America (NCBFFA) and Phi Beta Delta – Honor Society for International Scholars (PBD).

Ma is an associate professor in the School of Biological and Physical Sciences. Ma graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology and performed his postdoctoral training at Baylor College of Medicine before joining NSU in fall 2017. During his years at NSU, he has taught a number of courses at various levels ranging from General microbiology to chemistry for the College of Nursing and Allied Health. His research focuses on bacteriophage therapy. His research work has led to two endowed professorships, John McIlhenny Endowed Professor of Biology in 2018 and University of Louisiana System Foundation and NRMC Foundation Endowed Professorship in Biological and Physical Sciences in 2022.

Macijeski is an associate professor in the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies, where she is also coordinator of Creative Writing Programs. She earned her Ph.D. from University of Nebraska—Lincoln and her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Since joining NSU faculty in 2017, she has overseen the creation of a creative writing concentration and minor. She also serves as the faculty advisor for Argus, NSU’s student Art & Literary Magazine. Her poems have been published in dozens of journals and anthologies, including abroad. She has been nominated for Best of the Net and a Pushcart Prize, and her manuscripts have been named finalists for numerous prizes. She enjoys advising student writers in the development of their own aesthetic and voice, and finding new ways to collaborate with other areas of the University. Her poetry chapbook, “Autobiography,” will be released through Split Rock Press in late 2022.

Pearce has been a member of Northwestern State’s faculty since 2005 and has been Cenla campus coordinator since 2021. In that role, she is responsible for day to day functions of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health on the Cenla campus. Pearce plans and coordinates campus events and does strategic planning for the campus. As a faculty member, she was the instructor for didactic and clinical courses for the ASN and BSN program. Pearce worked in the private sector for a decade as a charge nurse, staff nurse and director. She has made presentations to several regional and state organizations and is active in professional organizations on the local, state and national level. Pearce earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Finance/Economics at Northeast Louisiana University, a Bachelor of Science, Nursing from Louisiana College and a Master of Science, Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice from Northwestern State.

Robert Richoux is a 2007 graduate of Northwestern State in Theatre: Design and Technology and Performance and Directing. He worked for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival for a year before entering graduate school. Robert Richoux attended The Florida State University where he received his Master of Fine Arts in Technical Production. He then moved to New Haven, Connecticut, to work for Global Scenic Services where he worked on Broadway and Off Broadway productions and fashion shows. He then moved to Austin, Texas, to work as the assistant technical director for the ZACH Theatre. He spent one year as the ATD, before becoming the technical director. He is director of new BFA in production and design, as well as the technical director for NSU Theatre and Dance. Some of his favorite shows to contribute to have been “Les Miserables,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Harvey,” “The Drowsy Chaperone,” “All the Way,” “Parade” and “One Man, Two Guvnors.”

Rivera has been a member of Northwestern State’s faculty since 2017, teaching undergraduate classes and laboratories of general chemistry for majors and non-majors and organic chemistry laboratories using a classroom-based approach and online course material. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Ph.D. in applied chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez campus. He held the Senator Gerald Long Professorship in the 2021-22 academic year. Rivera has been the co-author of nine publications for professional journals. He served as principal or co-principal investigator for five grants worth more than $140,000 to the university. The largest grant was $116,000 for the purchase of a desktop 80-MHz NMR instrument.

Salter holds a B.S. in Hospitality Management and Tourism from Northwestern State, an M.A. in Teaching from Louisiana College, and a Master of Hospitality Administration from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In her current role as interim coordinator of Hospitality Management and Tourism at Northwestern State, she teaches courses in professionalism, personal finance and serves as an internship supervisor. As a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) at Iowa State University, she is researching food safety at fairs and festivals.

Al-Sharab is serving as the Head of Engineering Technology Department at Northwestern State. He received B.S. In Industrial Engineering from the University of Jordan, M.Sc. in Metallurgical and Materials Science Engineering from the Science University of Malaysia, and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University/Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to joining NSU, Al-Sharab was an Instructional and Research Faculty at Rutgers University where he was heavily involved in research and teaching at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

Al-Sharab’s research interests are in the areas of nanotechnology, and structure-property correlations. He is an active member of the ICDD, ASEE and other professional organizations related to his professional career and research interests. He is currently serving as a director on the Engineering Technology Council (ETC). Al-Sharab authored more than 70 technical papers, most of which in high impact journals. In the last few years, he has been heavily involved in STEM related activates.

Kuroda joined the NSU faculty in 2001, teaching euphonium, tuba and sound recording. He received B.M. degree from Tokyo Gakugei University, M.M. from Morehead State University, and Artis Doctor Musica in euphonium performance from National Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Slovak Republic. Receiving full scholarship from Japanese Ministry of Education, he studied with many renowned low brass artists in the U.S, U.K., Netherlands, and Germany. He has appeared as a guest euphonium artist in music schools in the U.S., Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Far East Asia. Most notably, he held the county’s first euphonium recital/masterclass in Slovak Republic. He has performed with Baton Rouge Symphony, Rapides Symphony, South Arkansas Symphony, Shreveport Symphony/Opera, and Camerata Academica Chamber Orchestra Tokyo, and is a founding member of British Brass Band Society of Louisiana. Together with NSU Euphonium-Tuba Ensemble he directs, he researches the new possibility of musical expression utilizing various tuba family instruments and electronic enhancement.

Dunn serves as the course steward for the core curriculum fine arts courses. At NSU, he has taught fine arts survey, music history, music for stage and screen, a seminar on music and disability studies and several music theory courses. He is currently the President of the Faculty Senate and has been the faculty sponsor of the NSU Gamers’ Guild. He recently completed his doctorate at Louisiana State University in Musicology; his dissertation explored the representation of disability in the music of Alfred Hitchcock films. His emphasis of study is film music, romantic and 20th century music history, music and disability studies and music in popular culture, presenting papers on “WandaVision,” music, trauma and nostalgia and also magical realism and “Encanto” at recent Popular Culture Association National Conferences. Dunn is affiliated with the Film Music Society, the Society for Disability Studies, the American Musicological Society, the Popular Culture Society, the National Council For Faculty Senate and the Association of Louisiana Faculty Senates.

Gilbert is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who has directed, produced, filmed, and edited 12 feature-length documentaries (and a couple of shorts) that have screened at noteworthy film festivals and been distributed internationally via broadcast or VOD (Amazon, iTunes, Netflix, etc.). Two films she produced recently received national recognition: a national Emmy nomination for “BENEATH THE INK” (2019) and an Alfred I. duPont award for “LOVE THEM FIRST” (2020). Gilbert is also a passionate educator who has taught journalism and filmmaking for more than 20 years at universities around the globe, from Bulgaria (American University in Bulgaria) to Minnesota (Carleton College, University of Minnesota). A recipient of the prestigious McKnight Foundation Artist Fellowship, Melody is also the founder of Docuclub Minnesota, co-chair of the Film Fatales MN chapter, and founder of Docuclub MN. She is also a tutor for emerging filmmakers in Eastern Europe, most recently in Moldova. Prior to making films, Melody was an award-winning broadcast journalist. The Documentary Channel once called her “one of the most fearless filmmakers in contemporary documentary cinema.” To see trailers of all her films, go to: http://www.frozenfeetfilm.com.

Joslin, DNP, RN teaches in the Associate of Science in Nursing program at Northwestern State. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Louisiana College, Master of Science in Nursing at Lamar University and Doctor of Nursing Practice at Northwestern State. Joslin has more than 25 years of nursing experience in medical/surgical nursing, geriatrics, case management and rehabilitation. Her masters and doctoral work focused on identification and implications of hydration status among rehabilitation patients.

Kostantaras has been a member of the faculty in the Louisiana Scholars’ College since 2017. In addition to his teaching duties, he is the external relations manager for the Scholars’ College. He earned a Ph.D. at George Washington University in European history and is the author of “Nationalism and Revolution in Europe, 1763 – 1848” published in 2020 and “Infamy and Revolt: The Rise of the National Problem in Early Modern Greek Thought” published in 2006. Kostantaras has had 10 articles published in national and international professional journals. He has made numerous presentations at professional conferences. He has taught at Northern Virginia Community College, Prince George’s Community College, George Washington University, York University and the University of Illinois at Chicago before joining the Scholars’ College.

Miranda has been a member of NSU’s faculty since 2017. She has worked closely with colleagues on professional research and presentations which have helped enhance the reputation of the School of Business. Three publications have been published in the past three years in professional journals with one other article pending. Miranda is active as a peer reviewer for several professional publications.

Miranda is the School of Business’ coordinator of accreditation and strategic planning. She was the Tommy Johnson Endowed Professor in Business from 2019-22 and was named the Kilpatrick Life Insurance Endowed Professor in Business earlier this year. She has been responsible for developing two new courses in the graduate program in computer information systems. Miranda earned a Bachelor of Art in Economics from Tulane University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Doctor of Business Administration from Walden University.

Rennie has been a member of NSU’s faculty since 2008. In 2016, she became second level coordinator in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. In 2021, she was the recipient of Northwestern’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. Before joining NSU’s faculty, she worked for a decade in the private sector at Christus Schumpert Hospital and LifeCare Hospitals of Shreveport.

Rennie earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice at Northwestern State. She is active in professional organizations including being a member of the board of directors of the Shreveport District Nurses Association.

Karn Richoux received her M.F.A. in Technical Production of Theatre from Florida State University, where she met her husband and fellow Technical Director, Robert Richoux. They lived in Austin, Texas, for three years, where she expanded her love of teaching the next generation of theatre technicians and artists at McCallum Fine Arts Academy.

Originally from Minnesota, she went to Hamline University in St. Paul, and worked for four summers at the Paul Bunyan Playhouse in Bemidji, and one summer at the Guthrie Theater.

In addition to her role at NSU teaching Intro to Theatre, Applied Theatre, Stage Management and Portfolio classes, Karn Richoux is the technical director at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts.

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This project will be funded by Federal Funds, so no local funding or Bonds are required.

Notice is hereby given that the Natchitoches Parish School Board will receive sealed bids from LA licensed general contractors until 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, September 28, 2022, for:

JOB #2022-09 A NEW TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR NATCHITOCHES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA

Bids will be accepted until the date and time specified and will be publicly opened and read aloud at that time in the School Board’s Office, 310 Royal St., Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457. All submittal packages will be stamped or marked to acknowledge timely receipt. The sole responsibility for proper mailing or delivery of any bid in compliance with this advertisement is that of the bidder. Bids received after the date and time of opening will not be considered.

A non-mandatory Pre-bid Conference will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, September 19, 2022, at the school board office: 310 Royal St., Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457. Bidders must check in at the office.

All bids must be accompanied by bid security equal to five percent (5%) of the base bid and all alternates and must be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond written by a company licensed to do business in the State of Louisiana.

Complete bid documents may be obtained from Yeager, Watson & Associates, LLC, 118 S. Trenton St., Ruston, LA 71270-4432, (318) 202-5708, upon receipt of a deposit of $100.00 for each set of documents. The deposit is fully-refundable to all plan holders upon return of the documents, in good condition, no later than fifteen (15) days after receipt of bids. The deposits for all other sets of documents will not be refunded. Bid-related materials and electronic submittal of bids may be found at:

WWW.CENTRALBIDDING.COM

For questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at (225) 810-4814. Electronic bid documents are also available for a purchase price of $20 from the architect’s office or by the membership to the following Plan Rooms: LAGC, ConstructConnect, Dodge, or ISqFt.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board is an equal opportunity agency dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination regarding Title VI, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

 

/s/ Grant Eloi
Grant Eloi, Secretary-Treasurer Natchitoches Parish School Board

Publication Dates:
29 August 2022
01 September 2022
08 September 2022

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Natchitoches Central High School
Natchitoches Central  6
Loyola  7
* Natchitoches Regional Medical Center’s High School Football Jamboree

St. Mary’s Catholic School
St Mary’s  24
Lakeview  6
* Natchitoches Regional Medical Center’s High School Football Jamboree

Lakeview High School
* Lakeview played St. Mary’s – see above

Note:   See Coverage in today’s NPJ

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By Dwain Spillman Jr., Journal Sports

NATCHITOCHES — The 2022 edition of the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center’s High School Football Jamboree was disappointing for some, not so much for others.

Natchitoches Central fell to Loyola, 7-6, while St. Mary’s opened Friday’s jam session at Northwestern State’s Turpin Stadium with a 24-6 win in the annual clash against parish rival Lakeview.

“I have to be honest, I’m a little disappointed with our performance,” said Chiefs’ head coach James Wilkerson. “We made a lot of mistakes, and we just have a lot to clean up.”

The Chiefs mustered barely 20 offensive plays during two halves of football. After a scoreless first 15 minutes, the huge bright spot for the Chiefs came on a 70-yard catch and run when quarterback Adam Guillet connected with Cameron Davis to give the Chiefs the lead at 6-0 with just seven minutes left to play. The extra point failed.

The Flyers answered on their next drive, marching 68 yards down the field and scoring on a fourth-and-one situation. Loyola converted the point to grab the 7-6 advantage.

NCHS reached the Flyer 28-yard line on its final offensive possession, but a 45-yard field goal attempt fell just short on fourth down with 1:11 remaining.

“The regular season starts next week, and we have got a lot to do,” Wilkerson concluded. “We just have to perform on the field like we have been taught and coached in practice. I am not necessarily concerned with a win or a loss tonight. We just have to recognize that everyone has a job to do, and we must do it like we have worked on.”

In the jamboree opener, St. Mary’s tallied more than 200 yards of offense with 185 of those yards coming through the air via quarterback Adam Parker in just two 15-minute sessions of gridiron action.

The Tiger defense stifled any hopes of a Gator comeback in the second half.

St. Mary’s started the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run by Joseph Metoyer with six minutes left in the first half

But Lakeview wasn’t going away quietly, answering with an 82-yard touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Jones to receiver Kylin Collins to close the gap to 7-6.

Touchdowns by St. Mary’s receiver Ethan Busby and a quarterback keeper from three yards out by Parker at the end of the first half put the Tigers up 21-6 at the break. A lone 34-yard field goal by Payne Williams was the only score in the second session.

“I was very pleased with our offensive production in the first half,” said St. Mary’s head coach Aaron York. “Our defense played extremely well in the second half. I mean it was just lights out on defense.”

The Gators did not go down without a fight. The offense showed great potential but penalties and other miscues stalled drives.

“It’s all about going back to work this week and getting ready for D’Arbonne Woods (Charter),” said Lakeview head coach Brandon Helms said. “The thing we were concerned about coming into tonight — conditioning and tackling — really came to the forefront. We know what we need to work on, and it’s time to get back to work.”

The regular season kicks off next week with NCHS getting another taste of Shreveport by welcoming Woodlawn, a rematch of a 34-0 Chiefs victory from this past season.

Lakeview hosts D’Arbonne Woods Charter while St. Mary’s heads south to Abbeville as all three parish schools play on Friday.

Note: Listen all of the Natchitoches Central Games each Friday night on 95.9 Kix Classic Country

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(Campti)-A traffic stop on La. Hwy 9 north of Campti on Thursday evening led to the arrest of a north Natchitoches Parish man on felony narcotics and weapons charges according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

On Thursday evening August 26, 2022 at approximately 11:03pm, a NPSO Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau was patrolling on La. Hwy 9 north of Campti when he stopped a 2010 Ford Flex for speeding 72 miles per hour in a posted 55 mph speed zone.

Deputies identified the operator of the vehicle as 29-year-old Isaac Terrel Caldwell, of Creston, La.

Deputies say while speaking with Caldwell and asking him for his driver’s license, he informed the deputy, he did not have a valid driver’s license.

A LSP computer background check revealed Caldwell driver’s license was suspended and that he was wanted by the Natchitoches Police Department on outstanding warrants for driving under suspension and illegal window tint.

Caldwell also informed the deputy of a weapon being in the vehicle.

An additional NPSO Deputy responded to assist.

Caldwell was placed under arrest without incident.

During a search of Caldwell’s person incidental to his arrest, deputies discovered a cellophane bag containing approximately 28-grams or 1-ounce of suspected methamphetamine on his person.

A search of the vehicle also led to the discovery and seizure of a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Stevens .22 caliber rifle, weighing scales and other drug paraphernalia.

Isaac T. Caldwell, 29, of the 900 block of Five Forks Road, Creston, La. was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 2-counts of Failure to Appear in Natchitoches City Court for Driving under Suspension, and Illegal Window Tint, Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Illegal Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of a Firearm, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Caldwell remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center awaiting bond.

The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics identification.

Deputies ask that if you see suspicious activity in your community to contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 352-6432. Try to obtain and give accurate descriptions of the vehicles or persons when calling.

“All Persons are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty in Court or Administrative Process”.

NPSO Patrol Shift “B” made the arrest.

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The proposed Consolidated Budget of the Natchitoches Parish School Board for 2022-2023 is now available for public inspection at the School Board office in Natchitoches.  The following is a Summary Budget.

Annual Operating Budget	2022 – 2023
Budget Due	August 12, 2022
Budget Sent to Local Media	August 22, 2022
Publication Date	August 27, 022
Public Inspection (NPSB Room)	August 31, 2022 at 10:30 am until September 15, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Public Hearing	September 15, 2022, 5:00 pm
Board Approval	September 15, 2022 or immediately following
COPY PROVIDED BELOW	Please study!

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By DWAIN SPILLMAN JR., Journal Sports

Are you ready for some football?

The season starts in earnest next week, but today, the final tune-up looks like the real thing.

The Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Jamboree kicks off tonight at NSU’s Turpin Stadium with all three parish schools set for competition. St. Mary’s is slated for its annual clash with parish rival Lakeview in the opener, kicking off at 6 p.m.

Natchitoches Central faces off with Shreveport’s Loyola College Prep in the nightcap scheduled for 7 p.m.

Spring practice, summer workouts and 7-on-7 competitions are in the books.

Currently, fall practice is like a freight liner picking up speed and barreling down the track to its destination. It is time to get this party — the 2022 version — started.

“It’s go time,” St. Mary’s head coach Aaron York said this week as he begins his fifth season with the Tigers. “I am just ready for football.”

That seems to be the general consensus among our area’s coaches and teams. The excitement of kicking off this season is culminating daily as the Tigers, Chiefs and Gators can now see the official kickoff on the gridiron horizon.

“We are just ready to get back out there on the field,“ said NCHS head coach James Wilkerson, who is in his third season. “We did not end last season like we wanted to, so we are just ready to get back to full speed action.”

Lakeview head coach Brandon Helms said he’s proud of the Gators offseason work.

“This can be a very exciting year for us,” said Helms, who is in his fifth season with the Gators. “I am pleased with our preparation. A key to our season is that we are able to stay healthy.”

In tonight’s opener, St. Mary’s continues to renew its jamboree rivalry with Lakeview, which is just 15 miles from the other’s front door.

The Tigers are coming off of a successful campaign in 2021 in which they posted an overall 8-3 record and made the playoffs.

York said it’s time to get down the business. A Week 1 meeting with Class 3A powerhouse Abbeville is just around the corner.

”Our kids are upbeat,” York said. “You can just tell from the huge support we have had, especially during the steak supper and (last Friday’s) scrimmage, everyone from our coaches, players, faculty, and community are just excited to start the season.”

The Gators are hoping to improve on their 2021 effort, posting one win against nine losses a year ago.

Helms added that the annual parish jamboree meeting between the Gators and Tigers is a positive.

“It’s exciting. The parish fans get to see all of our kids out there on the field at one time,” Helms said. “The kids really look forward to playing against friends and kids they have known their whole lives.“

The Chiefs face a formidable opponent in Shreveport’s Flyers in tonight’s grand finale.

A perennial threat on the Class 2A level, Loyola comes into the jam session after an 8-4 season a year ago. Coach Scott Mallien’s Flyers advanced to the second round of the playoffs where they bowed out to Vanderbilt Catholic of Houma.

The Chiefs kicked off the 2021 season by posting a 6-0 record and gained much-deserved attention in the Class 5A rankings. After an injury at quarterback, the Chiefs lost four of their last five contests, including a first-round playoff defeat.

However, the playoff appearance was the first for the Chiefs in the last seven seasons, and they have high hopes of starting a playoff trend in the other direction this season.

“We are just ready to get back to full speed,” Wilkerson said. “Things are slower in practice and scrimmages. Everyone in our program is ready to get back to competition.”

Following tonight’s meeting with the Flyers, the Chiefs open the 2022 season at home on Sept. 2 against Woodlawn (Shreveport). The Chiefs dominated the Knights in the 2021 meeting 34-0.

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