The NCHS Football team held a Golf Scramble fundraiser Saturday, July 8 at the Northwestern Hills Golf Course. Eighteen teams of four golfers set out for a fun day of competition. Some of the holes had some creative interpretations of golfing rules, including one at which the golfer could choose to use a baseball bat in lieu of a golf club, a surprisingly effective way to get the ball to the green. The golfers enjoyed a jambalaya lunch after their 18 holes.

The scramble was fun for a good cause. The 128 young men of Chief football have been hard at work under veteran coach Jess Curtis. Coach Curtis is in his first year at the helm of the Chiefs after a legendary tenure at Many High School. The money raised will be used in defraying some of the program’s expenses such as uniforms and food on the road.

The NCHS Chief will make their first home appearance on the gridiron September 8 as they face off against the Opelousas Tigers. The Natchitoches Parish Journal extends its best wishes for a safe and victorious season. Go Chiefs!

Northwestern State’s biennial “Meet the Demons” Scholarship Auction presented by BOM returns this year, taking place Aug. 19 at the Natchitoches Events Center.

Tickets for the event are available at www.NSUDemons.com/auction2023.

The schedule for the event begins at 5 p.m. and includes a social hour, dinner, live and silent auctions as well as the “Final Five Drawing.” Proceeds from the event go towards scholarships for more than 350 Northwestern State student-athletes, many of whom will be in attendance to mix and mingle with Demons and Lady Demons supporters.

“During my first year and a half at Northwestern State, I have witnessed the dedication and passion of our fan base and our supporters,” Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. “The scholarship auction plays a vital part of our success as a department. It is a staple of our athletic calendar and has generated a tremendous amount of money for our student-athletes’ scholarships. This event is a chance for our student-athletes to mix and mingle with our fans and show all of our appreciation for their generosity.”

The social hour runs from 5-6 p.m. ahead of dinner. The program, which includes discussions of NSU Athletics, and live auction begins at 6:45 p.m. ahead of the “Final Five” drawing at 7:45.

Tickets for the “Final Five” can be purchased online, and those who do so do not need to be present to win. The winners of the “Final Five” will gather on stage and decide whether to split the pot or to battle through a drawdown until a winner is determined.

There will be a separate raffle for prizes with tickets on sale for $10 each or three for $25. NSU student-athletes will be traversing the crowd selling the tickets.

The silent auction ends at 8 p.m. with winners announced before the closing of the event. Silent auction items will be made available for bid on www.NSUDemons.com Aug. 5.

Tickets are available for $75 per person or $125 per couple. Reserved tables for eight are available for $500 and there are $1,000 VIP sponsorships open as well. VIP sponsors receive premium seating for eight, recognition on www.NSUDemons.com and on NSU Athletics’ various social media platforms, and eight endless margarita cups. Additionally, balloons filled with gifts are available for $25 or $50.

For more information, contact Associate Athletic Director for External Operations Darian Westerfield at 318-357-4560 or by email atwesterfieldd@nsula.edu.

The Chris Bertrand End of Summer Youth Camp is set for July 31-Aug. 2.

The event will take place at Parc Natchitoches, located at 4515 University Parkway. Registration for the three-day event, which is open to campers ages 5-14, is open through July 30.

The camp will run from 4:30-7:30 p.m. daily and costs $150 per camper.

Each camper must bring his own equipment – a glove, bat, batting gloves, helmet, running or turf shoes and anything else they feel necessary. Please mark the camper’s name on all items. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to the start of the session.

To register or for more information on all camps, visit www.collegebaseballcamps.com/demons.

Longtime Northwestern State director of athletics Greg Burke has been named Director of Business Development and Public Relations for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.

Burke, who drew national acclaim for his work as NSU’s AD from 1996-2022, started his new role this week, said LSHOF Foundation CEO/President Ronnie Rantz.

Burke’s initial focus will center on assisting with partnership opportunities, including attendance at events, for the approaching Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction weekend July 27-29.

Future priorities will include establishing a membership structure for annual support, developing annual and long-term sponsorship and partnership opportunities and embarking on long-term funding sources which will maintain and enhance the future profile of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

“It is both inspiring and a privilege to have a role in continuing to develop the brand and legacy of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in its ‘hometown’ of Natchitoches and on a statewide level,” said Burke. “I look forward to working with Ronnie Rantz, Doug Ireland, the Foundation board and others to further develop the vision and mission of the Hall of Fame and to position it for sustained success and growth.”

Except for four years at the University of Akron as a development officer in his home state, Burke has lived in Natchitoches since 1986, and traveled throughout Louisiana extensively in his roles as assistant AD and then AD at Northwestern State, and since retiring from the university.

He has done fundraising and development work along with marketing, public relations and extensive administrative duties, raising millions of dollars for NSU Athletics and contributing to a long list of milestones for the Demons. He has also been active in community and regional affairs as a board member and officer of multiple service and civic organizations, and is a board member of the Friends of Louisiana Sports and History (FLASH) local museum support group.

“The opportunity to bring Greg onto our Foundation team is a big step forward for us,” said Rantz. “He knows Louisiana, is well known around Louisiana, and loves Louisiana sports. He is widely admired around the state and country for who he is and for his career in intercollegiate athletics, and he has a passion for Natchitoches and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame that makes him an ideal addition for us.”

Burke worked in the private sector during the past year, traveling extensively to meet with stakeholders and potential partners.

“Greg is the consummate professional, and a people-person who will develop relationships around Louisiana and will strengthen existing bonds,” said Ireland, the Hall of Fame chairman and Foundation executive director since 1990. “His personality and skill set would be assets to any organization and they are tailor-made for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation.”

Burke can be reached via e-mail at gregburke@lasportshall.com or through the LSHOF Foundation office in Natchitoches at 318-238-4255.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame members, 18 Olympic medalists including 11 gold medal winners, 12 members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, seven of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players, seven National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 42 College Football Hall of Fame members, nine National High School Hall of Fame enshrinees, jockeys with a combined 16 Triple Crown victories, six world boxing champions, nine Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinees, seven College Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, 10 College Basketball Hall of Fame members, four NBA Finals MVPs, four winners of major professional golf championships, five National Museum of (Thoroughbred) Racing and Hall of Fame inductees and two Super Bowl MVPs.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, July 27, with a press conference and reception. The three-day festivities include two receptions, a free youth sports clinic, a bowling party, and a Friday night riverbank concert in Natchitoches. Tickets for the Induction Ceremony, bowling party and two VIP events, along with sponsorship opportunities, are available now through the LaSportsHall.com website.

The 2023 Induction Celebration will be hosted by the LSHOF Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame. The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.

Michael Dattalo’s 2023 season placed him among the best freshmen in the country and earned him a spot on Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman All-American Team this past month.

Dattalo’s special year garnered more acclaim Thursday as the Northwestern State third baseman was named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s All-Louisiana Baseball Team, earning second-team honors at third base. The team is selected by a statewide vote of sports information directors and media personnel.

A 6-foot, 200-pounder from Keller, Texas, Dattalo led Northwestern State in batting average (.372), hits (83), total bases (125), slugging percentage (.561) and shared the team lead with five sacrifice flies. He ranked second on the team with eight home runs and 27 walks while his 39 RBIs were third most, two shy of Jake Haze’s team-leading total of 41.

Dattalo’s 83 hits are tied for fourth most in school single-season history and established a freshman school record. His 125 total bases are eighth in program single-season history, and his 18 doubles left him one shy of a tie for 10^th in NSU single-season history.

Dattalo’s 25 multi-hit games were a team high and his 10 multi-RBI games were third on the team. Dattalo posted nine three-hit games, another team best, and had half of NSU’s six four-hit games this season.

Dattalo finished his first collegiate season ranked in the top 100 nationally in toughest to strike out (11.2, 34^th), hits per game (1.48, 72^nd), hits (81^st) and batting average (83^rd).

National champion LSU’s Tommy White was the first-team selection at third base.

There’s still time to participate in the Natchitoches Parish Library’s (NPL) Summer Reading Program (SRP)! Kids, teens, and adults are all invited to take part in the “reading for rewards” portion of the program until July 31. Sign-up is available on the NPL’s homepage at natlib.org.

Children (ages 0 to 11) can earn a “brag tag” for every two hours they read or are read to. With their sixth tag, they will also receive an SRP-themed t-shirt and an entry into the grand prize drawing. And for every two hours of reading logged thereafter, they will earn another entry into the grand prize drawing! And be sure you do not miss the final two SRP performances in the upcoming weeks.

The July 12 and 13 performances by “Say W.H.A.T. Now!” will use the arts to spread positivity. And on July 19 and 20, a previous year’s crowd favorite, “Dinosaur Experience,” will be making a return! The Wednesday shows will take place at 10 AM on the Downtown Riverbank Stage in Natchitoches and at 2 PM at the Northeast Branch in Campti. On Thursday, shows will be held at 2 PM and 6 PM at the Main Branch in Natchitoches. All shows are open to the public, and no registration is required.

Teens (ages 12 to 17) can earn a prize for every two hours of reading, up to 12 hours, with the sixth prize being an SRP-themed tote bag and an entry into the grand prize drawing. After completing 12 hours, for every additional two hours read, teens will earn extra entries for the end-of-program drawing.

Teens have two more exciting SRP events coming up. “Cultural Exchange Showcase” will take place on July 13 from 3:30 PM to 5 PM, and “Self-Care Sugar Scrub” will take place on July 20 from 3:30 PM to 5 PM at the Main Branch. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the NPL and sign-up is required for these events.

For every two hours that adults read, they will earn an entry into weekly prize drawings, and entries will accumulate from week to week. On the sixth and final week, a grand prize drawing will take place, so keep reading all summer long to increase your chances!

The two final Adult SRP programs will be “Container Gardening with a Master Gardener” (July 11, 6-7:30 PM and July 12, 3:30-4:30 PM) and “Mixed Media Art Night” (July 18, 6-7:30 PM and July 19, 3:30-5 PM).

To register for any adult or teen event, please call the NPL Circulation Desk at 318-238-9224 or send a message on the NPL’s Facebook page.

Join your community for this year’s SRP theme, “All Together Now,” and make new friends while improving your reading skills! For a full schedule of monthly events, visit natlib.org to view the current NPL newsletter (by clicking the envelope icon at the bottom of the page) and follow the NPL on social media.

The Louisiana Gumbo Cook-Off is returning to the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival on Saturday July 22, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the Northwestern State University campus in Natchitoches. In honor of this year’s festival theme, Celebrating Louisiana’s Cultural Gumbo, the festival will see the long-awaited return of the Gumbo Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in any of three categories and demonstrate their cooking skills. Registration and the Cooks’ Meeting will take place at 8 a.m. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30 p.m. with winners be announced at 2:30 p.m. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Gumbo must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum.

The Gumbo Cook-Off is the Louisiana Folklife Center’s way of celebrating the state’s unique and storied foodways, as well as the rich culture behind the cooking of gumbo. The ways of preparing gumbo and the ingredients used are as varied as the people who cook it, so there is no better way to embody this year’s festival theme of Celebrating Louisiana’s Cultural Gumbo.

Competitors will be given a 10’ x 20’ space outside of Prather Coliseum to set up either propane burners or cookfires to prepare their gumbo. Running water will be available on the premises, but all other supplies must be brought by the head cook. All gumbo must be cooked on-site, with no commercial or pre-made roux allowed. Poultry, meat, seafood, rice and broth or stock may be prepared in advance or on-site, and canned broth is allowed. Gumbo must be heated to a boil on-site, and gumbo must be prepared in as sanitary a manner as possible. Chefs must prepare at least two gallons of gumbo for the competition. For the complete list of rules, please visit our website at nsula.edu/folklife/.

“A Buck A Cup” gumbo sales to the public for the People’s Choice category will begin at 1 p.m. Festival attendees will be invited to purchase gumbo and vote on which gumbo they most enjoyed. Chefs participating in “A Buck A Cup” must provide their own bowls, spoons and napkins.

The Gumbo Cook-Off is being held at the Natchitoches-NSU Louisiana Folklife Festival. In addition to the cook-off, this year’s festival will include the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship, three stages with live music, and many crafts and food vendors. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 a.m., with live entertainment scheduled for 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5 p.m. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana.

The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches held its weekly meeting on Thursday, July 6 where club president Craig George gave updates on club news and upcoming events. Club secretary Craig Caskey gave a brief committee update on the October 7th 5K Color Run and Pancake Festival.

Former club president Richard Rose introduced head baseball coach Chris Bertrand. Bertrand gave a great presentation on the plans for the transition period on coach staffing as well as his outlook on preparing for the upcoming NSU baseball season.

Bath Days are held monthly from April until October, on the second Saturday of the month (unless noted). July’s Bath Day will be held on Saturday, July 8, from 9am – 1pm, at Tractor Supply in Natchitoches. FAUNA will be holding the event.

All funds raised go to the animals in our care and the upkeep of the facilities to house them, as well as assisting our fosters in caring for the animals they have graciously taken into their homes.

We will be offering baths for dogs, $10 up to 60 lbs. and $15 for over 60 lbs. Nail clipping and anal glad expression, performed by vet techs, for $10 for each service.

We encourage pet owners to bring any special shampoo you have specifically for your dog and a towel.

Funeral services for Retha Mae Ballard Justis will be held Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Beulah Cemetery in Marthaville.  The family will receive friends from 10 am until service time on Sunday the 9th at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home.

Retha, 95 years of age, passed away on July 4, 2023.  She was born on March 23, 1928 to Dudley Ballard and Bertie Mae Weeks Ballard in Marthaville, LA.  She was the granddaughter of Joe and Allie Ballard and Jonah and Lizzie Weeks.  She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; as well as a grandson, James McGehee; son-in-law, Louis Valentine; and sister and brother-in-law, Mildred and Jackie Lester.

She is survived by her daughters, Beverly Valentine of Marthaville and Suzanne Adcock and husband Bill of Shreveport; a sister, Patricia Megason and husband Kenneth of Natchitoches; grandchildren, Elizabeth Sims and husband Michael, Kris Hailey, Kasey Hailey, Lisa Delgado and husband Sergio, and Stacey Valentine; great grandchildren, Chance Sims, Mason Sims, Merissa Delgado, Mikayla Delgado, Sergio “Pac-Man” Delgado, Jr., Tessa Valentine, Connor Valentine, Destani Valentine, Sophie Hailey and Isabella Hailey; special nieces and nephews, Sheila Noe and husband Nick and their children Brooklyn and Weston, Sherry Kitchens and her children, Scott Megason and wife Judy and their daughter Julie, Andy Lester and wife Laurie and sons, Jack, Frank, and David; as well as her loving church family.

She was deeply devoted to her Christian faith and truly loved her Savior.  She was a loving and dedicated mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt who enjoyed spending time with her entire family.  She will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved her.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Scott Megason, Weston Noe, Chance Sims, Mason Sims, Michael Sims, and Sergio Delgado, Jr.

The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on July 6 around 1:12 am on Sixth Street.

Natchitoches Police Department officers received several phone calls in reference to gunshots in the area of Sixth Street near Lafayette Street.  Upon officers arrival they located the victim suffering from a single gunshot wound.  

The victim was transported to a hospital in Rapides Parish where they are listed in stable condition. 

This investigation is ongoing and the Natchitoches Police Department will release more details as they become available.

If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective William Connell at (318) 238-3911.  Remember all information given shall remain confidential.   

How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388.  All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $2,500 for the arrest of an offender.

Photo: File Photo

The Sabine Parish Waterworks District No. 1 was awarded $1 million by the Louisiana Department of Health’s Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund (DWRLF) Program to construct a new water well, including new chlorination equipment and transmission main near the district’s Ajax facility.

The new well will replace a defunct well at that site, according to Project Engineer Henry Shuler of Shuler Consulting Company.

“The Ajax system had two water wells in the past, but one of those wells is no longer operating,” Shuler said.  “The new well will replace that defunct well, and the primary benefactors of this investment will be the nearby residents of Powhatan, which this facility serves.”

Shuler said the $1 million investment is part of a larger project that is planned for the Sabine Parish Waterworks District No. 1 system.  The district expects to invest another $8 million in new pipelines, multiple water tanks and treatment facilities, as well as upgraded meters and monitoring programs over the next two to three years. These improvements will benefit several communities in Sabine and Natchitoches parishes, including Marthaville, Robeline, Ajax, Powhatan, Allen, Lake End, and Pleasant Hill.  More than 1,000 households will feel the impact.

“All of this is part of an effort that started in 2020, when the Sabine Parish Waterworks District consolidated with the Ajax-Beulah Water Association and began upgrading facilities at that time,” Shuler said. “All our efforts have been aimed at providing the safest, cleanest drinking water possible for the district’s water customers.”

The state’s DWRLF Program first awarded $2.295 million to the Sabine Parish Waterworks District No. 1 in October 2020 to take over the neighboring water system and restore it to compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

Funding for the 2020 project and current project was awarded through DWRLF’s Consolidation Initiative Program, which provides loans that are 100% forgiven for approved consolidation projects that eliminate existing public water systems that pose a threat to public health. 

Shuler said that consolidation effort has been completed, and now further upgrades are being made.  He said the new water well will be able to produce 300 gallons per minute, and it will include new chlorination equipment and approximately 14,000 linear feet of six-inch water main pipe.

DWRLF Project Manager Joel McKenzie said the most recent loan was awarded June 1, 2023. 

“All loan projects are approved based upon a priority ranking system. Projects that address the most serious risks to human health and those that ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act are given the highest priority,” McKenzie said. 

LDH Chief Engineer Amanda Ames said Congress established the State Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund programs in 1996 as part of amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The program is jointly funded by an annual grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (80%) and the individual participating states (20%).

In Louisiana, the program is administered by LDH’s Office of Public Health, which oversees DWRLF. Loans made through this program are low-interest and have a maximum 30-year repayment period.

“Safe drinking water is fundamental to community health, and this program helps communities throughout Louisiana keep their water as safe as possible without placing an undue burden in the form of expensive financing,” Ames said.

Few activities are as satisfying to me, a deer hunter, as to have driven the last nail and sawed the last plank on a deer stand I built myself. I honestly think I get as much satisfaction and enjoyment out of practicing my crude brand of carpentry on a deer stand I built myself as the hunting experience itself.

Over the years, I have come up with some doozies. The first box stand I ever constructed by myself had to have help to keep from toppling over. I nailed a two-by-four from one shaky leg of the stand to a nearby sturdy tree to give support. It lasted a couple of years before giving up the ghost.

My favorite homemade stand was built on the ground. Perhaps the elevated stand that toppled over taught me a lesson. Using a post hole digger, I placed four corner posts in the ground and built the stand from plywood around it, complete with floor and roof. If this stand were to fall over, I wouldn’t be hurt because I’d only have about six inches to fall.

One of the things that I dread is heading out to my deer stands during the off season to prepare them for fall and winter hunting. One thing I have learned is that during the off season, my stands enter the time-share program as other creatures take over in my absence.

On one occasion, I cautiously eased up to peer into my stand and found a hawk nest. Another time, I climbed into the stand and was preparing to take a seat on the cushion I’d left there at the end of last season. As I adjusted the cushion before sitting down, something moved inside the cushion. Puzzled, I poked a stick in a small hole in the material and jumped back astonished as eight flying squirrels vacated the warm and cozy cushion that had been their home for months.

On another occasion, I checked my stand to find that a family of buzzards had taken the window I’d left open as an invitation to come on in and make themselves at home. Have you ever had to clean up behind a family of buzzards? Believe me, it’s not for the person with a weak stomach. I debated about possibly dowsing on some gasoline, lighting a match and burning the stinking stand to the ground. Starting over may have been a better option.

A friend of mine made a pre-season check of his box stand to find that bats had worked their way beneath the camouflage material covering his stand, causing him to swat at fleeing bats for a few moments.

I eventually got to the point of making my stands critter-proof to keep flying squirrels, bats and buzzards away.

However, there is one pest I can count on, in fact almost guarantee that will be there once I make my first inspection of my stand before hunting season kicks off.

Wasps. No matter how tightly you think you have your stand closed, they’ll find a way to get in and frankly, wasps do not take kindly to being disturbed. Thus, before climbing the first rung of the ladder to my stand, I’ll have one hand on the rung and the other wrapped around a can of wasp spray.

There is a measure of satisfaction in sitting back with an air of smugness in admiring the deer stand that you have constructed by your own hands. However, time-share critters like flying squirrels, bats, buzzards and wasps apparently pay little attention to the contract that says they have to share. 

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com