The hits have come early and often for Northwestern State freshman Michael Dattalo in his first season as a Demon.

The awards have started to follow.

Dattalo, a freshman from Keller, Texas, was named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week for the first time in his career Monday, earning the honor in a vote of leaguewide sports information directors.

Dattalo batted .588 (10-for-17) with two home runs and seven RBIs as the Demons split four games, completing a season sweep of Louisiana Tech with a win in Ruston this past Tuesday before dropping two of three at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Dattalo had at least one extra-base hit in each game, doubling in Tuesday’s win at Louisiana Tech and Saturday’s game at Corpus Christi and hitting home runs in the series opener and the series finale against the Islanders.

His two-run, inside-the-park home run Sunday put the Demons ahead to stay in a 17-8 win that salvaged the final game of the series. The Southland Conference’s leader in hits (70) and batting average (.395), Dattalo slugged 1.059 and produced a staggering 1.678 OPS in the four games.

He becomes the third Demon hitter to earn the Southland honor this season, joining Daunte Stuart (March 6) and Jeffrey Elkins (March 20). It is the fifth Southland award for a Demon, joining Pitcher of the Week honorees Cal Carver (March 13) and Chase Prestwich (March 20).

Dattalo and the Demons return to action Tuesday night when they face No. 2 LSU at 6:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge in NSU’s final mid-week game of the season.

A stalwart bat in the Northwestern State lineup all season that produced the finest season of her career, Makenzie Chaffin was named Second-Team All-Southland Conference on Monday afternoon. 

Chaffin earned the designated player spot on the postseason squad as the Lady Demons’ top offensive weapon in terms of average, OPS, slugging, hits, and home runs. She finished second on the team in RBI and third in runs scored. 

The Bossier City native slashed a career-best .322/.381/.455 for the season with the second most multi-hit games (11) and tied for the most multi-RBI games (7) this year of any Demon this year. 

Chaffin tore through the month of March with 23 total hits that included a 7-for-11 weekend at the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic and a career-day against NSU’s opening-round tournament opponent Nicholls. 

She hit the first two of her team-best four home runs this year during the NHDDC with two different 3-for-3 performances at the plate to secure the conference’s hitter of the week award. 

Against the Colonels she collected her first four-hit game that also included a career-best two doubles. Three weeks later at UIW, Chaffin set her career-high with four of her team-leading 14 road RBIs in NSU’s win at UIW. 

She led the team with nine two-out RBIs and had 16 during conference games, a top 10 mark in the league. 

This is the second all-conference honor for Chaffin in her career.  

By Brad Dison

Simon “Sam” Marrix was born in 1859 in Alsace, France.  In 1880, he emigrated to New York.  Because of the country of his origin, his friends in America called him “Frenchie.”  Four years after moving to America, he married an immigrant from Dornum, Germany called Miene Schoenberg.  To lessen confusion over the pronunciation of her name, she adopted the spelling “Minnie.”  In Germany, Minnie’s parents worked on the fair circuit.  Her father was a ventriloquist, and her mother was a yodeling harpist.  In America, Minnie’s younger brother, Adolf Schönberg, began performing in shows under a stage name that was easier to pronounce, Al Shean.  With Minnie’s help, her brother entered the vaudeville circuit and eventually became half of the popular musical comedy team called Gallagher and Shean.

In 1885, Frenchie and Minnie had their first child, Manfred, who died at the young age of seven.  Between 1887 and 1901, they had five more sons, Leonard, Adolph, Julius, Milton, and Herbert, respectively.  Rather than having aspirations for her sons to become doctors, lawyers, or engineers, Minnie wanted her sons to join the family business and become stage performers.  Minnie worked untiringly to develop her sons’ talents.  By 1907, Julius and Milton joined Mabel O’Donnell in a singing trio named “The Three Nightingales.”  In 1908, Adolph joined the Nightingales.  By 1910, with the addition of Minnie and the boys’ aunt Hannah, they renamed the group “the Six Mascots.” 

The members of “The Six Mascots” most likely would have faded into obscurity had it not been for a team of runaway mules.  During one lackluster musical performance in Marshall, Texas, the crowd grew bored.  Suddenly, a great commotion occurred outside the theater.  Audience members in the back of the theater could hear all sorts of sounds of destruction including breaking glass.  Many members of the bored audience rushed out of the theater to see what was happening.  A runaway team of mules was running wild through the streets of the town.  The Six Mascots continued performing their musical act to a much smaller audience.  Finally, after the mules were caught, the crowd returned to their seats to see the remainder of the performance.  They had paid for it after all.  Julius, Milton, and Adolph, irritated that “the audience had deserted Mozart for mules,” began insulting the crowd with wise cracks.  The result was unexpected.  Rather than resenting the remarks, the crowd began to laugh.  The crowd’s laughter grew exponentially with each new insult.  They tried the same wise cracks at their next performance and got a similar reaction.  The brothers took the hint and revamped their whole show. 

Over the next few years, the five brothers, in varying combinations, fine-tuned their characters.  Their success continued into Hollywood films beginning in 1929 with Animal Crackers.   For the next decade, they worked on at least one film per year, all of which were successful.  They continued to work together as well as in solo projects for the rest of their lives.  Had it not been for a team of runaway mules, we may never had heard of Leonard, Adolph, Julius, Milton, and Herbert, who purportedly received their nicknames from a friend during a poker game.  Leonard became Chico, Adolph became Harpo, Julius became Groucho, Milton became Gummo, and Herbert became Zeppo.  You and I know them as the Marx Brothers.

Sources:

1.      The Decatur Daily, December 9, 1930, p.2.

2.     The Peninsula Times Tribune, August 20, 1977, p.5.

On behalf of the Natchitoches Parish School Board, member Russ Danzy presented the faculty and staff of Provencal Elementary with a cake to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.

Pictured: School Board member Russ Danzy, Principal Diana Curtis, and Coordinator Dwayne Poe

For the first time in its school history, a Lakeview High School junior has won the State of Louisiana Air Force JROTC Cadet of the Year award. Kaytlynn Walsworth is the LA-943 AFJROTC Cadet Corps Commander and has won the title of 2023 Air Force JROTC Cadet of the Year. Walsworth was one of 37 students chosen worldwide from 870 schools and over 126,000 cadets for this honor. She will advance to compete for the elite 8 cadets in the world.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board and Lakeview High School administration would like to congratulate Miss Walsworth on this incredible achievement. For more announcements regarding student achievement in Natchitoches Parish Schools, follow the Natchitoches Parish School Board on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057636872022.

The Northwestern State University Chamber Choir will release its second recording “The Silver Swan: the Choral Music of Richard Burchard” on May 12. It will be available for purchase online as a CD and on iTunes, NAXOS and Spotify.   

Director of Choral Activities Dr. Nicholaus B. Cummins said the project began with funding from the Prince Endowed Fellowship and was completed with assistance from Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Greg Handel, Director of the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Scott Burrell and Chair of the Department of Music Dr. Terrie Sanders. The recording will feature choirs from 2019-2021.  The Chamber Choir’s first CD was “For a Breath of Ecstasy” with composer Dr. Michael John Trotta.   

“We wanted to find a way to show a final product that exemplified the importance of funding projects like our commissions with Richard Burchard and previously Michael Trotta,” said Cummins. “The Lenn Prince Endowed Professorship and others funded at NSU provide faculty and students with opportunities to undertake more extensive artistic or research projects.  This CD will provide a concrete example to enable others to see the value of these endowed professorships and the great experiences they provide for our students and faculty at Northwestern State.” 

A college music educator of more than 30 years, Burchard has taught a variety of courses including composition and arranging, music technology, music theory and world music as well as courses in study abroad programs in Salzburg, Austria, and South Africa. A native of Meadville, Pennsylvania, he attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and received both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from the University of Louisville. 

Burchard’s choral works have been performed and premiered throughout the United States at a number of state, regional and national choral conferences including ACDA and NCCO. European premieres of his choral music have been in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Other works have been premiered in China and Australia. Burchard’s portfolio includes over 100 commissioned works, most of them written for A Cappella Choir. He is published with the Fred Bock Publishing Group, Gentry Publications, H.T. Fitzsimons Co., National Music Publishers and Pavane Publishing. Burchard also has two choral series with Gentry Publications: “The Choral Music of Richard Burchard” and “The Richard Burchard Choral Series.” 

The Northwestern Chamber Choir, founded in 1987, is the flagship choral ensemble at Northwestern State. The Northwestern Chamber Choir is made up of 34 undergraduates encompassing various majors throughout the university. The choir often collaborates with composers and conductors for projects. The Northwestern Chamber Choir was the featured choir at the 2017 Louisiana Music Educators Association conference and was selected to perform at the 2019 Eighth National Collegiate Choral Conference National Conference in Maryland.  In 2021, they placed in the top four of the Leonardo da Vinci Choral Competition in Florence, Italy.  The Chamber Choir has also placed second in the Laurea Mundi Budapest in Budapest, Hungary, and Second and Best Interpretation in the AVE VERUM ICC in Baden, Austria. Cummins and the Northwestern Chamber Choir have been invited to premiere the “Stabat Mater” by Burchard in London, England, at the Southwark Cathedral in June. 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Natchitoches, State of Louisiana (the “City Council”), acting as the governing authority of Natchitoches Economic Development District F, State of Louisiana (the “District”) will meet at its meeting place, Natchitoches Council Chambers, 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71457 on Monday May 8 at 5 p.m., at which time the District intends to take action regarding the levy and collection of a two percent (2%) sales and use tax upon the sale at retail, the use, the lease or rental, the consumption and storage for use or consumption, of tangible personal property and on sales of services in the District and a hotel occupancy tax of two percent (2%) upon the fee or rent for occupancy of hotel rooms located within the District commencing on October 1, 2023, all in the manner and subject to the provisions and terms of those portions of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, applicable to sales and use taxes and hotel occupancy taxes levied by the District for the purposes of funding construction of, acquisition of, and upgrades to economic development projects and any and all authorized purposes under the applicable provisions of Part II, Chapter 27, Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended (La. R.S. 33:9038.31, et seq.).

Natchitoches City Council will have a pre-council meeting on Monday, May 8 beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. to discuss non-agenda items. The City Council meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda.  The public is invited to both the pre-council meetings and council meetings with the understanding that items not on the agenda will not be discussed at the scheduled council meetings, but the public is welcome to discuss any topic at the pre-council meetings.  The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers located at 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana. 

AGENDA:

SPECIAL GUEST: Mike McConathy

SPECIAL GUEST: Mayor’s Youth Council

PROCLAMATIONS:

#035   Nielsen Proclamation Declaring May 7 – 13, 2023 As National Travel And Tourism Week In The City Of Natchitoches

#036   Smith Proclamation Declaring May 20, 2023 As Kids to Park Day In The City Of Natchitoches

#038   Petite Proclamation Declaring May, 2023 As Mental Health Awareness Month In The City Of Natchitoches

PLANNING & ZONING – INTRODUCTION:

#029 Harrington An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing

Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows:

Lot 190 Feet Front North Side Mill Street As Shown on Plat in Conveyance Book 317, Page 884 (104 Mill St.)

MOTION TO TAKE ORDINANCE NO. 024 OF 2023 FROM THE TABLE
ORDINANCES – FINAL:

#024   Nielsen     Ordinance Adopting The Budget For The City Of Natchitoches For The Fiscal Year June 1, 2023 Through May 31, 2024

#025    Smith Ordinance Authorizing A Franchise In Favor Of Paul’s Party Boat, To Operate A Tour Boat Business Within The City Limits Of The City Of Natchitoches, Confirming The Term Of The Franchise, Conditions, And Consideration For Said Franchise And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Said Franchise Agreement On Behalf Of The City Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.

ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:

#026  Harrington      Ordinance Adopting the Millage Rate For The Tax Year 2023.

#027   Petite Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches To Award The Bid For A Digger Derrick Truck For The City Of Natchitoches Utility Department (Bid No. 0659)

#028   Smith Ordinance Declaring Certain Buildings Unsafe And Recommending That Same Be Demolished Or Put Into Repair To Comply With The Building Code, Authorizing Notice To Be Served, Fixing Hearing Date And Appointing Curator To Represent Absentees

#030   Petite Ordinance Amending The 2022-2023 Budget To Reflect Additional      Revenues And Expenditures.

#031   Harrington Ordinance Amending The 2022-2023 Budget To Reflect Additional      Revenues And Expenditures. (Jefferson Street Sink Hole Project)

RESOLUTIONS:

#037  Nielsen Resolution Levying An Additional Sales And Use Tax Of Two Percent (2%) And An Additional Hotel Occupancy Tax Of Two Percent (2%) In The Natchitoches Economic Development District F, State Of Louisiana (The “District”); Designating The Full Amount Of Such Newly Levied Additional Sales And Use Tax And Hotel Occupancy Tax As The Local Sales And Use Tax And Local Hotel Occupancy Tax In The District From Which The Local Sales And Use Tax Increments And Local Hotel Occupancy Tax Increments Will Be Determined And Used To Finance Economic Development Projects In Accordance With And As Authorized By Part II, Chapter 27, Title 33 Of The Louisiana Revised Statutes Of 1950, As Amended; Designating The Initial Annual Baseline Collection Rate And Establishing A Monthly Baseline Collection Rate For The District; Pledging And Dedicating Such Tax Increments To Fund Economic Development Projects; Authorizing The Execution Of A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Governing The Use And Administration Of The Newly Levied Taxes; And Providing For Other Matters In Connection With The Foregoing.

#039 Harrington Resolution Designating Friday, June 16, 2023 As An Official Holiday For The Employees Of The City Of Natchitoches In Observation Of Juneteenth

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The next scheduled City Council meeting will be May 24, 2023.

Sharpco Hotels Group, a leading hotel development and management company, was featured during the most recent Choice Hotels International Annual Conference held in Las Vegas, NV.

The video highlighted its Comfort Suites Natchitoches property, which was renovated during 2022 utilizing the brand’s new recently introduced Rise & Shine design prototype designed for guests that want to feel refreshed and ready to take on the day. The package offers guestrooms and public spaces that can transform from day to night or business to leisure to better meet maximize customer experience and owner investment. 

Choice Hotels selected Shaprco’s Comfort Suites as a “Brand Hero” as its team exudes the spirt of the importance of teamwork, and listening to guests against a reimaged backdrop.  

“We’re honored to be chosen as a brand hero at this year’s convention, said Jay Sharplin, President of Sharpco Hotels Group. ” ‘It all adds up’, sums up our Sharpco Hotels philosophy’ when you do the little things and are consistent, success happens. I’m very proud of our team for showing other Choice Hotel branded properties and the world how we conduct our business.”

About Sharpco Hotels Group

Sharpco Hotels Group, a hotel development and management company headquartered in Natchitoches, Louisiana with a mission is to provide the best lodging experience always focusing on three principles: Value, Exceptional Service and Cleanliness. Connecting and creating memories for business or for pleasure is our ultimate commitment to each and every guest. visit www.sharpcohotels.com

About Comfort 

The Comfort brand, franchised by Choice Hotels, has been trusted by travelers and hotel owners for nearly 40 years. With over 2,100 hotels open worldwide, Comfort Inn®, Comfort Inn & Suites®, and Comfort Suites® properties are ready to welcome business and leisure travelers everywhere they need to be. The Comfort brand family recently completed a multiyear transformation initiative that resulted in updated guest rooms, refreshed public spaces, and a new, modern logo—signaling to guests on the outside of the hotel that something’s new on the inside. As the largest 100% smoke-free hotel brand in North America, Comfort hotels offer complimentary amenities that include a hot, hearty, and healthy breakfast, free Wi-Fi, business center, and fitness center or swimming pool at most locations. For more information, visit www.choicehotels.com/comfort-hotels.

Provencal Elementary/Jr. High School recently celebrated three students who scored advanced in all four subject areas on the LEAP test. The students were honored with a hallway banner on the Elite Scholar Wall of Fame. All students will have the ability to earn a new banner each school year. This years ELITE SCHOLARS include; Kennadi Starks, Natalie Broadway, and Bentley Mobley.

Cane River Creole National Historical Park and Cane River National Heritage Area are pleased to announce that the winner of the “Name Depot Street” student essay contest is Melodie Rice from Ms. Stuckey’s sixth grade class at East Natchitoches Elementary & Middle School.

Congratulations Melodie! 

A panel reviewed all submissions to the contest and Melodie’s essay proposing the name “Remembrance” was selected as the best overall as a name that reflects and honors the area’s rich Black heritage, history, and culture. 

For her efforts, Melodie received a monetary award of $1000.00 during a presentation at the school attended by Teacher Addoree Stuckey, Principal Chrystal A. Davis, and members of the Rice family. Melodie will read her winning essay at the official grand opening of the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot. We also want to congratulate all the students who participated; we received many outstanding entries.  Our only regret is that there can only be one winner. 

The grounds of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nearly 80 original buildings remain, many open for self-guided tours including several that are historically furnished from Wednesday through Sunday. Park staff conducts tours of the plantation grounds daily Wednesday through Sunday. In addition, the park offers tours on the NPS App. The Oakland Main House is open for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Magnolia Main House is privately owned and is not open to the public. For more information, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/cari, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/canerivercreoleNPS or call the park at 318-352-0383, ext. 316. 

Over the weekend, Natchitoches hosted two major Bassmaster tournaments for college and high school anglers capped by weigh-ins Friday and Sunday at the Grand Ecore landing, hosted by the Red River Waterway Commission.

The Strike King Bassmaster College Series saw 135 teams from colleges and universities in 19 states travel to Natchitoches for two days of competition Thursday and Friday. The Sky King Bassmaster High School Series event and the Bassmaster Junior Series for anglers not yet in high school took place Sunday after a practice day Saturday. It attracted 98 high school and 25 junior teams from seven states.

In the collegiate tournament, LSU Shreveport was by far the top Louisiana performer, landing two of its four teams in the top five on the leaderboard, taking third and fourth places. The high school action saw Haughton High School’s two-man team win a decisive victory. Unfortunately, local entries from NCHS and Magnolia Bend Academy were among the 19 high school teams who were unable to reel in a bass.

These tournaments are a major win for the local economy. This past week saw our city host several hundred visitors as the fishing teams, their friends and families bought gas, stayed at local hotels, and enjoyed our restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.

The tournament staff, the anglers, and their families were unanimous in their praise of the facilities at the RV park and the helpfulness of the city and parish officials and the Red River Waterway Commission.

This tournament is the first Bassmaster event to be hosted in our parish. There’s an unofficial commitment to return in 2025 and a locally-based unaffiliated event is being discussed for next year, which is promising news for local economic impact and young area anglers.

COMMERCE, Texas—The Northwestern State track and field teams won six gold medals Saturday, capping off a runner-up finish for both teams at the Southland Conference outdoor championships at Memorial Stadium. 

The women nearly completed an indoor/outdoor sweep, but came in second to Lamar, which had 155 points to NSU’s 145. They are the only schools to accumulate more than 100 points. 

On the men’s side, the Demons tallied 116.5 points, second only to UIW’s 142. 

“We did everything we could do,” assistant coach Adam Pennington said. “We fought until the end with both men and women. All the kids gave it their all, we just came up short. It’s part of the sport. Overall, I’m extremely proud of the way we fought. There was no lack of effort that’s for sure.” 

But both teams had the most outstanding performer of the championships in their respective genders. Sanaria Butler won the honor for the women and Djimon Gumbs for the men. 

Once again on the final day of competition, the sprints teams came to the forefront, and the units did not disappoint. 

The string of success in the sprints began and ended with a bang, starring the relay teams. 

In the women’s 4×100 relay team that broke the Memorial Stadium record by running a 44.99 to capture the gold, holding on to the lead despite a hard-charging Sydne Porter of Lamar who created a photo finish. 

That mark is also the seventh-best time in program history. 

The night ended with the Lady Demons in the 4×400 relay break a SLC championships record with a 3:45.77. The men came in second in the event with a season-best time of 3:08.57. 

“To end the competition with two relays running their seasons fastest time was unbelievable,” Pennington said. “I’m not sure how they even did it. They ran many races over the last three days and somehow they stood tall.” 

On the men’s side in the 4×100 relay, NSU collected the silver medal with a 39.54, only out-done by Texas A&M-Commerce’s group that set a conference championship record with a 39.38. 

Vanessa Balde walked away with the gold in the 100-meter hurdles by running a personal-best 13.46. Teammate Orsciana Beard came in fifth in the event with a 14.52. 

It comes as no surprise that NSU came away with the top two times in the women’s 400-meter dash, as Maygan Shaw came away with the gold with a 52.79 and Sanaria Butler ran a 53.01 for the silver. 

Despite missing about a month, Lynell Washington ran a blistering 100-meter dash, which is the 10th-best time in school history in the event and is her second consecutive win in the 100-meters in the conference championships. 

Washington now owns six of the top 11 times in the women’s 100 in NSU history. 

The Lady Demons collected three of the top four times in the women’s 200-meter dash. Butler ran a season-best 23.66 to come away with the silver and Shaw collected the bronze with a time of 23.67. Balde ran a season-best 23.73 to finish fourth and Washington placed seventh with a 24.60. 

Destine-Unique Scott walked away with the bronze in the men’s 400-meter dash, running a 47.32. SLU’s Eugene Omalla won the race by running a Memorial Stadium record 46.06. 

In the men’s 200-meter dash, Simon Wulff collected the bronze with a time of 20.73 while Cyrus Jacobs’ 21.06 is a season best to finish fifth. 

In the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Sian Weller also collected the bronze with a 59.30. 

The field athletes didn’t perform too shabby, either, highlighted by the Gumbs twins. 

For the second consecutive season, the Demons swept the podium at the men’s discus, but there was a new winner. After watching his twin brother Djimon beat him out for the gold in 2022, Diamante Gumbs took his turn at the top of the podium this time around. 

“It was probably one of the best feelings of the season,” Diamante Gumbs said with a smile on his face. “I was really focused going into the meet, trying to block out the pain from my injury. I was able to put the pieces together to come away with the win.” 

Diamante Gumbs tossed a personal-best 184-04 on his third attempt and never relinquished the lead. Twin brother Djimon Gumbs brought home the silver with a 180-08 and Tarajh Hudson earned the bronze for a second straight season with a throw of 169-04. 

“The guys’ throws today really gave us the opportunity to secure our second overall position,” Pennington said. “Going 1-2-3 I’m any event is never easy. Those boys are so valuable to this team.” 

Djimon Gumbs wasn’t done with winning medals quite yet, as he grabbed the bronze in the men’s javelin. Despite not specializing in it, he tossed a personal-best 189-9 to finish third in the event. 

Rei Park narrowly missed the finals, finishing 10^th with a throw of 156-08. 

The sixth attempt was the charm for Sanaria Butler in the long jump, leaping a personal-best 42-0.75, to vault from fourth to second place and earn the silver medal. 

Jaslyn Smith also won points for the Lady Demons, coming in eighth place with a jump of 39-3.25. Abria Paul nearly reached the finals with a 38-6.25, but came in 10^th. 

In the men’s high jump, Randy Kelly earned a silver medal, matching a personal-best by clearing 6-11.5 when being down to his last attempt at the height, also clearing the mark at the Leon Johnson Invitational. Only Southeastern Louisiana’s record holder Slavko Stevic cleared a higher bar, doing so at 7-0.50. 

Kelly, a freshman from Blythewood, South Carolina, credits his teammates for helping him complete his last attempt to tie a personal record. 

“My team came over,” Kelly said. “They helped me get over that bump I couldn’t at first. I was really excited. A lot of hard work was put in and it paid off.” 

Kaitlyn Washington earned NSU points on the women’s side with a fifth-place finish in the women’s discus. Teammate Bernesha Knowles placed 11^th with a toss of 124-03. 

Andrew Gilreath placed fifth in the men’s triple jump, posting a 48-5.5. Kelly finished 12^th in the event with a jump of 43-8.5. 

In the men’s 100-meters, Simon Wulff also finished in fifth with a time of 10.22, which is a season best. 

Ceyda Bayur earned four points by coming in fifth with a time of 2:14.34 in the 800-meter run. 

In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, Taj Morris finished eighth with a time of 14.53. 

Maison Wilbanks picked up a point in the women’s high jump with an eighth-place finish, clearing a season-best 5-3.75. 

To round out his first Northwestern State men’s basketball coaching staff, first-year Rick Cabrera reached into his past – both recent and much further back.

Cabrera announced the additions of associate head coach Anthony Figueroa and director of basketball operations Chad Bailey on Monday, completing the NSU staff for the 2023-24 season.

A member of Cabrera’s Lackawanna College staff from 2004-08, Figueroa brings a decorated resume from more than a decade as a head coach at Parkland College and North Central College in Illinois.

Figueroa spent the 2022-23 season at North Central, coaching the Cardinals to a 14-12 record and a berth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament.

Under Figueroa, the Cardinals played the No. 2-ranked strength of schedule in NCAA Division III and led the CCIW in 3-point shooting percentage. The Cardinals had two All-CCIW selections, one all-region pick and one first-team NABC All-District player in 2022-23.

Figueroa came to North Central following a decade as the head coach at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.

While at Parkland, Figueroa compiled an overall record 221-79 and led the Cobras to five Midwest Athletic Conference championships, four Region 24 titles and two berths in the Elite Eight of the NJCAA Tournament. Figueroa saw 55 of his Parkland student-athletes move on to four-year institutions.

In addition to coaching three NJCAA All-Americans, 29 all-conference and all-region players, there conference Players of the Year and one Region 24 Player of the Year, Figueroa also was an assistant athletic director at Parkland. He also was the M-WAC men’s basketball chairman.

Prior to his decade at Parkland, Figueroa spent the 2010-11 academic year as an assistant coach at Centennial High School in Champaign, his second stint there. His first came one season ahead of his time at Lackawanna where he teamed with Cabrera to form a juggernaut program that won 101 games in four years and three conference titles.

At Lackawanna, Figueroa recruited, developed and coached three NJCAA All-Americans, nine All-Region 19 players and one Region 19 Player of the Year.

Figueroa also spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Millikin University, in Decatur, Illinois. Figueroa earned his undergraduate degree in computer science from Millikin.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to work with one of my best friends,” Cabrera said. “Anthony and I worked together when I was the head coach at Lackawanna College from 2004-08. I knew that if I was fortunate enough to get this opportunity, he would be my first phone call. His knowledge of the game of basketball is on another level. He is one of the most detailed coaches I’ve been around. He also has a great ability to identify and recruit talent, which will help us bring top players to this program. I’m looking forward to him being a huge asset to our basketball family.”

Bailey, a Baton Rouge native, returns to his home state and to the Southland Conference after spending two seasons on Cabrera’s staff at Tallahassee Community College.

Before arriving in Tallahassee, Bailey spent three years as a student and a graduate assistant at Southeastern Louisiana, earning a pair of degrees from SLU while working under head coaches Jay Ladner and David Kiefer.

While with Cabrera at TCC, Bailey helped the Eagles reach the 2023 NJCAA Final Four and produce a 31-6 record. In two seasons at Tallahassee, Bailey helped the Eagles go 52-16, a .765 winning percentage.

Ahead of his time on Cabrera’s staff, Bailey worked closely with Southeastern’s Keon Clergeot, who was the Southland’s second-leading scorer in 2020-21. Bailey also helped tutor Marlain Veal, a two-time first-team All-Southland selection, the 2017-18 SLC Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team NABC All-Region selection, as well as all-conference selection Gus Okafor.

“Chad comes with me from Tallahassee where he helped us have two successful years,” Cabrera said. “Chad has a great eye for talent and recruited some high-level guys for me at Tallahassee. Being from Baton Rouge, as well as having experience in the Southland Conference, I knew that Chad would be a great asset to our program and watching him grow in the business.”

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Northwestern State baseball team knew there were plenty of hits at Chapman Field.

The Demons seemingly found them all Sunday afternoon.

Down early, the NSU offense roared back, establishing a season high in hits as the Demons routed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 17-8 to salvage the final game of the Southland Conference series.

“I think response is a good word – they responded,” seventh-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. “It was a big game today. It didn’t go our way early. We had the pop-up homer to right and the one that’s 30 feet foul that blows fair. It didn’t seem like it would be our day. I’m proud of them to keep fighting and to stick their nose in there. Drayton (Brown), too. He could have folded his tent. He’s got four runs when he had none, and he kept fighting on the mound.”

The Demons (25-20, 10-8) took a 1-0 first-inning lead that was erased on Leo Markotic’s wind-aided, three-run home run to right field in the bottom of the first.

After Chance Reisdorph’s solo home run to lead off the fourth, the Demons answered with a sacrifice fly from Jake Haze and an RBI single from Bo Willis in the third inning to cut the lead to one.

Brown (4-6) gave the Demons a pivotal shutdown inning in the third before Northwestern State began its offensive assault on the Islander bullpen.

Michael Dattalo’s two-run, inside-the-park home run with two outs in the fourth started a three-run inning – one of four straight multi-run frames for the Demons. Dattalo drilled a ball deep to left that Islander left fielder Cole Modgling could not corral on a dive.

Modgling was injured on the play and the carom allowed Reese Lipoma, who was on first, and Dattalo to score standing up. The blast highlighted a 4-for-4 day for Dattalo, who drove in a career-high four runs and raised his batting average to .395.

“I thought I hit it well, but with the wind, I wasn’t sure,” Dattalo said. “When it hit the wall and I saw the guy on the ground, I was thinking three, but he stayed down. I got lucky and made it all around. I was breathing pretty heavy. There was a lot of water after that.”

Brown and a trio of right-handed relievers – Dawson Flowers, Kyle Froehlich and Ethan Francis – finished off the Islanders, allowing only one earned run after the fourth inning.

“He kept fighting on the mound,” Barbier said of Brown. “The relievers came in and did a really good job. It was a good team win, and I’m really proud of our guys having good at-bat after good at-bat.”

Those good at-bats produced NSU’s first 20-hit game since posting that number against Lamar on March 15, 2022.

The first six hitters in the Demon order combined to go 18-for-30 with 15 of NSU’s 17 RBIs. The win allowed the Demons to stay even with the Islanders (22-25, 10-8) in the Southland standings with six games to play.

Four Demons produced multiple-RBI days, led by a season-high five RBIs from Bo Willis (3-for-5). Sunday’s offensive outburst also saw first-time starter Hayden Knotts drive in a pair of runs and Reese Lipoma (2-for-4) notch the first multi-hit game of his career.

“We got two guys in – Hayden and Reese – who hadn’t been in there, and I thought they both had really good days,” Barbier said. “It was good to see those guys play well. (Lipoma) made a really nice play against the wall after getting a good jump. He played really, really well. It’s what we’ve seen in practice, so we know he can do it, but it was really good to see in a game.”

The Demons return to action Tuesday when they face LSU in Baton Rouge. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.

Northwestern State 17, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 8

NSU       102 343 040 – 17 20 2

AMCC   310 120 010 – 8 8 3

W – Drayton Brown (4-6). L – Austin Dean (2-2). 2B – NSU, Jeffrey Elkins, Jake Haze, Bo Willis. AMCC, Christian Smith-Johnson 2, Tre Jones. HR – NSU, Michael Dattalo (7). AMCC, Leo Markotic (3), Chance Reisdorph (2). Highlights: NSU, Elkins 2-6, 2B; Gabe Colaianni 3-6, 2 RBIs; Dattalo 4-4, HR, 4 RBIs; Daunte Stuart 3-5, RBI; Haze 3-4, 2B, 3 RBIs; Willis 3-5, 2B, 5 RBIs; Reese Lipoma 2-4. AMCC, Max Puls 2-5, RBI; Smith-Johnson 3-4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBIs.

Records: Northwestern State 25-20, 10-8; Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 22-25, 10-8.

Liz Murrill, current Solicitor General for the State of Louisiana and candidate for Attorney General discusses her campaign and juvenile crime issues

Cane River Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) joined the Sabine Chapter, Coushatta Chute Chapter, Bon Chasse Chapter, Pelican Chapter, Shreveport Chapter, Frances-Rebecca Harrison Chapter, Claiborne Parish Chapter & Dorcheat-Bisteneau Chapter for a dedication ceremony at the North West Veterans Home in Bossier City.  Also, in attendance were Louisiana State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (LSDAR) State Regent Cheryl Gott; LSDAR Service to American State Chair Margaret Tyler and Sons of the American Revolution Representative & LSDAR Outstanding Volunteer Veteran of the Year Jerry Madden.  The LSDAR donated three recycled park benches made of recycled plastic caps and lids manufactured at Green Tree Plastics in Indiana.

State Chair Tyler learned of “Caps to Benches Project” and thought out it would be a great service project for the state. Tyler’s goal was for Louisiana Daughters to collect 1,000 pounds for five benches, one to be placed at each LA Veterans Home. The project began last July and continued through March of this year. The Louisiana Daughters answered the challenge by collecting 3,221 pounds of plastic caps and lids making it possible to obtain 17 benches. 

Cane River Chapter would like to thank Service to America Chapter Chair Martha Conde for her dedication and countless hours of work for handling and processing those collected. Also, we would like to extend a thank you to all citizens, schools & businesses for their participation.  

DAR members volunteer millions of service hours annually in their local communities including supporting active duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students and supporting schools for underserved children with annual donations exceeding $1 million. DAR’s motto is God, Home and Country and its objective is historic preservation, education and patriotism.

Eligibility for membership includes any woman 18 years of old, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.  For more information in DAR Membership, please contact the local Cane River Chapter, NSDAR @ caneriverlsdar@gmail.com.