The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches held its weekly meeting on Thursday, July 27 where club president Craig George gave updates on club news and upcoming events. George announced that the annual 5K Color Run registration is now live on Runsignup.com and asked the members to invite people to sign up.

George introduced Jessica McGrath, director of Rolling Hills Ministries Thift Store, here in Natchitoches. McGrath discussed about Rolling Hills Ministries and the thrift store operations.

Pictured left to right: club president Craig George and Jessica McGrath

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Losing highly respected 15-year veteran softball coach Donald Pickett last week was a blow to the Northwestern State athletic department, but his apparent replacement is an eye-opening hire.

Carencro native Lacy Prejean, an assistant coach at the nationally-ranked UL-Lafayette program, reportedly accepted the job Wednesday afternoon.

An announcement by NSU athletics director Kevin Bostian is anticipated as soon as today, with an on-campus introduction of Prejean likely sometime in the middle of next week.

Signs point to Prejean, 42, retaining third-year NSU assistant Lexi Smith, Pickett’s pitching coach who played at Texas A&M.

Pickett resigned last week, leaving a veteran team and returning home to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he will supervise high school softball coaches in a school district, and help run the family farm, he said. He is the winningest coach in NSU softball history with a long list of accomplishments, and in recent years, was invited to get involved with job openings at Memphis and Louisiana Tech, ultimately choosing to stay in Natchitoches both times.

By any measure, Prejean’s hiring is impressive. Media members who cover the Ragin’ Cajuns program conveyed great admiration for her coaching, leadership and interaction with players and program supporters.

Prejean twice competed in the Women’s College World Series as a standout catcher at Alabama, and later was a member of the 2006 USA Baseball Women’s National Team four years after taking part in the USA Softball National Team Camp.

The 42-year-old has served two stints on the Ragin’ Cajuns’ coaching staff, under two different head coaches. Under current coach Gerry Glasco since September 2018, she worked with catchers and instructed the entire defense. From 2005-07 on Michael Lotief’s staff, she helped the Ragin’ Cajuns to three NCAA Tournaments and an overall 149-40 record, and directed and implemented the program’s fall season camps.

Since she rejoined the UL-Lafayette program, the Cajuns have posted a 209-53 record, playing in NCAA Regional finals in each of the full seasons (discounting the truncated 2020 pandemic year) and winning the Baton Rouge Regional over LSU in May. The Cajuns fell in two games at Washington in the Super Regional, one step away from the WCWS.

After her first stay on the UL-Lafayette staff, she returned to Alabama in 2008 to serve as director of operations for two seasons, experiencing two more trips to the WCWS.

In 2009, Prejean came home and entered the private business sector but remained active in softball, including serving as a travel ball coach for Diamond Sports Hotshots from 2014-17.

Prejean earned a bachelor’s degree in business (May 2003) and master’s degree in sports administration (May 2009) from Alabama.

The 2000 SEC Freshman of the Year, she was an All-SEC performer at catcher for four seasons with the Crimson Tide and started all but seven games during her career.

Photo:  Courtesy UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajun Athletics

Although the sun had not yet appeared over the horizon, the air was already warm and sticky, typical of the onset of another hot July day in Louisiana just like what we woke up to this morning. This would have been a good day to work on articles in my air-conditioned office but fishing guide and friend Eddie Halbrook’s call the night before had a sense of urgency about it.

“I don’t care what you have planned for tomorrow,” Halbrook said, “put it off. The bass are schooling on Grand Bayou and you need to come with me.”

The “Grand Bayou” Halbrook mentioned is Grand Bayou Reservoir, a small 2,500 acre impoundment located 50 miles south of Shreveport on the east side or the Red River, not far north of Coushatta.

I don’t mind admitting a degree of skepticism when Halbrook mentioned that for the past week, he’d been catching at least a hundred bass a day. Skeptical or not, I found myself in the back of Halbrook’s boat as the bright, and soon to be hot, sun made its appearance in a cloudless July sky.

Somewhere around 7 a.m., Halbrook caught the first bass of the day. At a little past noon, I released bass number 100. We had, indeed, hit the century mark with bass in a half day of fishing that can only be described as “hot” — in more ways than one.

Grand Bayou Reservoir is like so many lakes around the country. The Red River Parish gem has a thriving population of baitfish, in this case, threadfin shad, that seek the highest levels of oxygen. In warm months, oxygen is more plentiful in the top of the water column. Wave action near the surface continues to replenish dissolved oxygen and huge schools of baitfish move about in comfort just beneath the surface.

For predator fish like largemouth bass, these roaming pods of baitfish are seen as a gourmet feast there for the taking. Slashing into baitfish schools, bass gorge themselves and in the process, make their presence known to alert bass fishermen from hundreds of yards away. Their feeding activity agitates the surface, often sending plumes of water flying in all directions.

Fishing for schooling bass can be at the same time exciting and frustrating. Here’s a typical scenario: a couple of anglers see a school of feeding bass erupt from 100 yards away. Starting the engine, they rush to within casting distance of the school only to see the surface become quiet again before the first cast is made. Looking back to where they just came from, they’re frustrated to see the fish thrashing the surface back there.

Thus, patience is one of the key ingredients in fishing for schooling bass. When the fish are active, the best bet is to avoid the temptation of dashing from school to school. Just be patient; they’ll soon be thrashing the water’s surface where you are. 

If you take a youngster along, there is no better way to spark an interest in bass fishing that could last a lifetime than to introduce him/her/them to fishing for school bass.

For starters, school bass are generally easy to catch, the fishing experience is filled with spine-tingling excitement, and the neophyte angler is almost always anxious to do it all over again another day. Equipment needs are simple and can be easily handled by a less-experienced angler.

As bass slash into baitfish on the surface, some of the bait will be injured or killed in the process and will likely be floating in the area. Scoop up a couple and determine their color but more importantly, the size. If they’re silver in color, as most baitfish are, and are two inches long, it’s not brain surgery to know what to do next. Simply dig in your tackle box and select a silvery lure, two inches in length. If you’re hungry for an ice cream cone, you’re not likely to head for the refrigerator and go slap-happy over a celery stick. Bass are no different; they want what they want when they want it.

If you get excited at the sight of bass exploding on the surface all around you; if you thrill to strike after strike; if you get pleasure at the look on the face of your youngster or your buddy fighting a tenacious bass, then school bass fishing may be right up your alley.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Voting remains open through the end of the week for the 2023 class of Northwestern State’s N-Club Hall of Fame.

All N-Club members who have paid their current dues are allowed to vote on those they would like to see the university’s highest athletic honor – inclusion in the N-Club Hall of Fame, which currently features more than 300 former NSU student-athletes, coaches, staff members and contributors throughout the university’s century-plus of athletic competition.

Voters can select 15 former competitors in the initial round and will remain open through July 30. Once whittled down, the N-Club Hall of Fame selection committee will count the votes and make the final decisions on the Class of 2023.

The 2023 N-Club Hall of Fame ballot can be found here.                                                                                                                                             

Former student-athletes can join the N-Club in order for their vote to count through the voting deadline.

The 2023 N-Club Hall of Fame class will be inducted ahead of Northwestern State’s Nov. 4 Homecoming football game against Houston Christian.

For more information on the N-Club, visit this link or contact Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Darian Westerfield at 318-357-4560 or via email atwesterfieldd@nsula.edu.

Goldonna Assembly of God will be hosting Johnathan Bond on August 17-18th at 6:30 in the evening. Mr. Bond is a singer and published author who will be sharing his testimony as well as leading worship.

They will also be the host church for the Goldonna Community Service that will take place on August 11 at 6:30. The guest Pastor for the night will Reverend George Procell of River of Life Church. The entire community is invited and encouraged to attend.

The intense heat from the dog days of summer did not deter Goldonna Baptist Church from hosting a successful Wiffle Ball Tournament. The proceeds raised from the event are going towards shipping costs of the Operation Christmas Child boxes. The church has a goal of packing three hundred boxes. They are still collecting items leading up to the community packing party that will take place in November.

Goldonna Elementary Elementary Junior High School will begin classes on August 9th. They will have staggered starting dates for Pre-K and Kindergarten that will be announced soon. Principal Cori Beth Manuel has been hard at work getting the campus in shape for the new school year. Online registration is still open for students. If you are a returning student it should only take minutes to have your child fully registered.

If you have news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

You’re invited, free of charge, this evening from 5-7 to a star-studded casual party — the La Capitol Welcome Reception kicking off the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration.

It’s in downtown Natchitoches, at the Hall of Fame museum at 800 Front Street (at the traffic circle) in Natchitoches. No need to dress fancy, just enjoy food and refreshments and music and a world-class museum, mingling with some of our state’s greatest sports stars and their families.

The Class of 2023 includes a two-time Super Bowl MVP (Eli Manning, who arrives Friday), a women’s basketball superstar from Shreveport with Natchitoches roots (Alana Beard), a College World Series-winning LSU coach (Paul Mainieri) and three more TIgers sports heroes (big league pitcher Paul Byrd, NFL receiver Wendell Davis from Shreveport and two-time USA track and field Olympian Walter Davis).

There’s another Pro Bowl NFL star, former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, a Tulane star from Slidell. He did things that only two other NFL backs ever have done, and now runs a charitable foundation and works in a ministry in Chicago.

For fans of the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers, Ron Washington will entertain you – he managed the Rangers to the World Series in 2010 and 2011, and as the current third base coach for the Braves, he was also in that role when Atlanta won the 2021 Fall Classic. He was also third base coach in Oakland during the “Moneyball” years (he’s a featured character in the movie headlined by Brad Pitt). 

Braves fans, this is a double bonus for you. Along with “Wash,” Byrd – whose LSU pitching accomplishments are on a short list with Paul Skenes and Ben McDonald – has been a color analyst on Braves TV game coverage who has won regional sports Emmy Awards.  Here’s your chance, this evening, to get the inside angle on the club.

Meet the amazing 86-year-old Walter Imahara, a Japanese-American who became a world-class weightlifter for decades – while running a Baton Rouge floral business, and serving in the United States military in the early 1960s. Another Baton Rouge hero is M.L. Woodruff, who won 11 state championships coaching baseball for Parkview Baptist, and now is also involved in a ministry.

Sports journalists Bruce Brown (Lafayette) and Lori Lyons (New Orleans/Houma) have covered many amazing games and highly-accomplished athletes, including plenty of LSHOF members, in their careers and will be inducted next weekend as well.

The Welcome Reception provides the best possible opportunity to stroll around the 27,500-square foot museum, which has just celebrated its 10^th anniversary. Lots of display items have been rotated into exhibits, and there’s a new Kim Mulkey exhibit showcasing the LSU women’s basketball coach.

Just ahead — the free Friday evening Rockin’ River Fest concert on the downtown riverbank stage. Music starts at 6, with Manning joining his 2023 classmates on stage at 9:15, followed by a 10-minute fireworks show set to sports-themed music. There will be a free kids zone presented by Louisiana Propane Dealers with games under the Front Street bridge.

You’re invited to all the fun. Visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255 to get more information and the schedule for the three-day celebration, and for participation opportunities for three ticketed events.

The City of Natchitoches Fire Department (NFD) announced the introduction of its new fire safety mascot, Ash the Alligator, at the City Council meeting, on July 24. Ash is set to become the friendly face of fire safety education and awareness within the Natchitoches community. At the meeting, NFD also launched a coloring book initiative featuring Ash’s adventures in Natchitoches as he shares vital fire safety tips.

The creation of Ash the Alligator and the illustrations and designs of the coloring book were developed by Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) in partnership with the City of Natchitoches Fire Department. The coloring book showcases Ash’s exciting escapades around Natchitoches, making it an engaging learning experience for children and individuals of all ages. Each page is filled with intricate scenes depicting iconic Natchitoches landmarks while promoting essential fire safety measures everyone should know. 

“We are delighted to introduce Ash the Alligator as our new fire safety mascot,” said Kory Leo, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention. “Fire safety education is a top priority for our department, and we believe that Ash’s friendly persona will resonate well with children, encouraging them to learn and implement fire safety practices in their daily lives.”

NFD and CRNHA would like to extend their gratitude to the sponsors of the coloring book, including Alliance Compressors, BOM, City of Natchitoches, Epictouch, Greg Baker Jr with State Farm, Natchitoches Parish Library, and Weyerhaeuser, for their support and commitment to fire safety education. It is through the generous support of these sponsors that the production of the coloring books has been made possible.

Coloring books have already been distributed to several of the above-mentioned local sponsors.  In addition, the Department is excited to announce that come September, every Kindergarten through 3rd-grade student in Natchitoches Parish will receive their very own copy of the “Seasonal Safety with Ash the Alligator” coloring book. The individual pages will also be available for free download on the City of Natchitoches website in the upcoming weeks.  This initiative aims to engage children in an enjoyable learning process about fire safety and foster a safer environment for the whole community.

For more information about Ash the Alligator or the Natchitoches Fire Department’s fire safety initiatives, please call 318-357-3860 and follow NFD on Facebook at Natchitoches Fire Prevention and on Instagram at @citynatfire.

About the Heritage Area: Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. (CRNHA) is a non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and presents the nationally significant heritage of the Cane River region. Located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, CRNHA works with regional partners to provide high-quality educational, cultural, and recreational experiences in the area’s unique historical settings through a linked system of attractions and historic districts within the Cane River National Heritage Area.

The Calico Belles is a local service organization for young ladies in the 7th to 12th grades who work to better their community through service and participation in historic preservation efforts. They also serve as ambassadors for the City of Natchitoches at various events.

The Calico Belles organization is sponsored by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) who believes that educating the youth of the community is an integral part of preserving the rich history and culture of Natchitoches and surrounding area.

If you are interested in joining this organization, there will be an interest meeting for the 2023-2024 year on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 4 pm at the Blue Exhibit Building, located at 454 Fairgrounds Rd. 

Brick & Row Merci Beaucoup’s Christmas in July Warehouse Sale at 214 Texas Street (old Tommy Stewart Showroom) this Saturday, July 29, 2023, from 8 a.m. till noon.

ALL warehouse merchandise will be marked down 60%, so take advantage of the sale and get a jumpstart on your Christmas Shopping with 60% OFF EVERYTHING!!!!

The sale will be inside the air-conditioned warehouse!

COME SHOP WITH US!!! SEE YOU THIS SATURDAY!!

The Natchitoches Parish School Board held its annual Back to School Expo at NSU’s Prather Coliseum Tuesday, July 25. Over 1,000 students and their families came to the event to meet their teachers and principals, learn what resources the district, and community offer and to have fun.

The school district and governor’s office combined forces to give out 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to the families who attended. The sheriff’s department’s youth services division was on hand as was the police department’s McGruff the Crime Dog. The fire department had a fire safety demonstration and plenty of their new Alf the Alligator fire safety coloring books for the youngsters to enjoy. A team from the Alexandria Medicaid Office was there with fun prizes for the children and important information for their parents about insurance coverage to keep their young men and women healthy. It was even possible for a family to register their children for school at several tables staffed by helpful teachers and support staff.

A group of civic minded volunteers from the Natchitoches alumnae chapters of Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta came out to help hand out backpacks and serve wherever needed. LOSFA was also at the expo to explain TOPS, a big help for the parish’s high schoolers and their families.

The 2023 Back to School Expo was an unqualified success. The over 1,000 attendees were able to meet their child’s principal, some of his or her teachers, register for school, learn about the various services offered by the district and state as well as win some really nice prizes. Every child in attendance also was able to leave with a backpack filled with school supplies. The expo was a wonderful way to prepare for the upcoming school year!

Northwestern State University alumna Brandi Brammer has been appointed senior vice president of global music operations at UTA (United Talent Agency), a leading global talent, entertainment, sports and advisory company that represents talent across film, television, music, sports, video games, branding and licensing, fine arts, broadcasting and several other industries. It’s one of largest agencies of its kind in the world.  

Brammer, who is based in Nashville, previously was vice president of people and business partnerships. She will now lead the day-to-day operational work of UTA Music worldwide, spanning human resources, legal and business affairs, finance, facilities and technology initiatives, as the practice continues its expansion. 

“I’ve already begun digging into the systems and processes across the department and am looking forward to getting to know all the staff on a deeper level,” she said. “I’ll be spending some time in our offices across the U.S. and just got back from our London office grand opening.”  

Brammer earned a degree in Hospitality Management and Tourism at NSU in 1997 and began her career in the music department at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles in 1999 with her career path leading to director of operations and special events for the Academy of Country Music.  She then returned to CAA for a decade of responsibilities in human resources before joining William Morris Endeavor (WME), first as a senior executive for operations and strategy and later as vice president of human resources.  She joined UTA in 2021, the year the company opened its Nashville headquarters.  

“I enjoy collaborating with colleagues and developing processes and structure to support the thriving business.  I also love helping folks develop in their careers,” Brammer said.  

Brammer said the music industry can be very rewarding, but success takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Those interested in that type of career need to be mobile.  

“If you want to be in the music industry, you likely need to move to Los Angeles, New York City or Nashville, which is where the majority of the industry is located,” she said. “Move, network and start building your career. You won’t regret putting yourself out there and going for it.” 

I learned life the hard way, I took all my knocks and lumps
But when I look back down the road at where I’ve been,
I can see that all the things I’ve done in this ol’ life have been more fun
’Cause I shared them with someone who was a friend.

 —  “A Friend,” written and recorded by Jerry Reed (and featured in the movie W.W. and the Dixie Dance Kings, which you should watch ASAP)

Few people if any enjoyed being themselves as much as Jack Brittain loved being Jack Brittain, or “Britt” as his friends called him, and he had more of those than you can find grains of sand and beer bottle tops at the Redneck Riviera.

This is the biggest weekend of the year for locals in my line of work; it’s the annual Louisiana Sports Writers Convention and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Natchitoches, where Britt has served as unofficial mayor for decades. You can find out more about the weekend and how you can enjoy it at LASportsHall.com. You can find out more about Britt by asking anyone in Natchitoches or in the LSWA.

A piece of work and then some, this guy.

So, it was a profound and unwelcome sadness when Britt, our LSWA brother, died two weeks ago at age 67 after a short and surprising illness.

He was the red on the candy cane, the helium in the balloon, the sunshine through any cloud.

His attachment to the LSWA was solid and eternal, even though Britt was a lawyer and financial planner. He didn’t write any stories. He was the story. 

He was so good at St. Mary’s that he’s in the high school’s Hall of Fame, then he lettered four years in football at Northwestern State before law school, but shoot, lots of people could do that. What set him apart was a heart and smile big as centerfield, his uncanny ability to see the best in people and the brightest side of things virtually all the time. He went around lettering every day in life, a seed-sower of joy and laughter and earthy charisma.

One of those ‘girls want to ride in his boat, boys want to be his best buddy’ kind of dudes.

It’s hard to describe the impact he had on the LSWA and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame because we don’t have anything to compare him to. He was just always there, a part of, a calm in a sometimes-stormy sea of egos and chaos, a smile to calm the tide.

In 2017, Britt was the recipient of the LSWA’s most prized honor, the Mac Russo Award, given to an individual who “contributes to the progress and ideals of the LSWA.” It was my lucky and treasured honor to present it to him. If memory serves, I said something clever like, “Here Britt; sorry it took us so long. We’d give you a half-dozen of these if we could — and you’d deserve every one.”

“Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,

And say my glory was I had such friends.” — W. B. Yeats

 Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington announced the guilty plea and sentencing last week in a felony firearms possession case. DeQuincy Rushing, 32 of Natchitoches, pleaded guilty possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In January, Rushing was arrested after being found possessing a firearm after attempting to flee law enforcement who were responding to a citizens’ call of gunshots being fired. While fleeing, Rushing threw away a bag containing a stolen handgun. Rushing has two prior felony convictions, including aggravated second degree battery. As a result of the accepted guilty plea, 10th Judicial District Court Judge Desire Dyess sentenced Rushing to 11 years of incarceration. First Assistant District Attorney Cloyd Benjamin, Jr. prosecuted the case.

Goldonna Baptist Church held its inaugural wiffle ball tournament on July 22. At the event, there was a water slide and concessions and With a total of 15 teams, the church raised over 1,500 dollars. All proceeds go to Operation Christmas Child which is one of the church’s biggest missions. Our goal at GBC this year is to send off 300 boxes so that kids all around the world will get the chance to hear about Jesus. We are very thankful for the community coming together and helping out such a good cause. 

Three graduates of the GeauxFAME Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) program were honored with a recognition ceremony July 25.  GeauxFAME AMT  is a workforce education and development program that produces highly skilled talent prepared to meet workforce needs in the manufacturing industry.  

The graduates are Douglas Floyd of Natchitoches, Hayden Stanley of Glenmora and Jackson Suire DeRidder. They are the fifth cohort of students to complete the AMT program that began in 2017. The recognition ceremony for family, friends and industry partners took place at Bossier Parish Community College’s Natchitoches Campus.  

In addition to AMT certification, the graduates earned associate degrees in engineering technology from Northwestern State University and are eligible to continue towards a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology.   

GeauxFAME is the Natchitoches chapter of FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) under the umbrella of the national FAME organization. Graduates said that the AMT program now only provided them with technical skills, but also time management, communication and work/life balance skills.  

Stanley was recognized as this year’s Distinguished Graduate.  Earlier this year, he was part of a team from NSU who won the Entrepreneurship Pelican Cup, a college entrepreneur competition, for Rise and Rotate, a device that assists individuals with limited mobility in getting from a bed to a chair.  Stanley was chief research and development officer for the team, which was awarded $25,000. He will also be serving in the U.S. Army National Guard.  

The program concluded with a lock removal ceremony, symbolizing a task completed.   

The AMT program was initially developed through agreements with NSU and Central Louisiana Technical Community College-Natchitoches, which was acquired by BPCC last year. Students attend classes two days per week and work for a sponsoring employer for three days per week at a competitive wage.  Industry partners include AFCO Industries, Alliance Compressors, Boise Cascade, International Paper, me&e, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, RoyOMartin, Stella-Jones and Weyerhaeuser.  

Information on the AMT program is available at https://fame-usa.com/.