The Natchitoches Police Department has been made aware of scammers who are attempting to defraud citizens out of money by posing as police officers. This is a common phone scam and the suspects are “spoofing” the phone number of the Natchitoches Police Department and are using the actual names of our officers. When scammers spoof a phone number it appears on the recipient’s caller ID as if the call is coming from the police department.

The Natchitoches Police Department would never contact any citizen in an attempt to receive any money for fine payment or for active warrants over the phone.

If you receive a phone call from a scammer never give them any personal information and end the call immediately.

If you have received a fraudulent phone call from a scammer posing as a police officer or if you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101.

The NPJ confirmed with the Natchitoches Police Department that the body of a deceased person was found in the area of the Washington Street Boat Launch on June 5. No foul play is suspected. No further information is available but a press release will be issued as the investigation continues.

The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University will present the program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” on Saturday, June 14 at 11 a.m. at the Many Depot Museum at 750 Highway 171 Bypass in Many. The event is free and open to the public.

Three past Louisiana State Fiddle Champions, Clancey Stewart, Joe Suchanek, and Ron Yule, will discuss the importance of the folk fiddling tradition with Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at NSU. Live music performed throughout the program will include various regional fiddle styles accompanied by demonstrations of fiddle stick playing and twin fiddling. A Q&A session on participating in fiddle competitions will follow. Fiddlers of all skill levels are invited to bring their instruments for a jam session with the invited musicians.

This year’s Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will take place as part of the 45th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, to be held on Saturday July 19 at 1 p.m. in the Magale Recital Hall on the NSU campus. Fiddlers may compete in the championship or non-championship division as well as in the twin fiddle category. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside the Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the Festival main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center. Support for the Festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, Cleco, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana.

The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu, or go to nsula.edu/folklife.

The poll will run until 7 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2025 when the link will no longer be active. The purpose of this poll is to gain insight to our readers opinions regarding the PARISH OF NATCHITOCHES TRASH COLLECTION within the Parish of Natchitoches (NPG).

Waste Connections Bayou, Inc. Sets the Record Straight on Natchitoches Parish Trash Service Transition

The Natchitoches Original Music Showcase (NOMS) returns for its second event on Saturday, June 7 beginning at 5 p.m. with an exciting lineup of original musicians and songwriters on St. Denis Street in downtown Natchitoches for a night of live music, local talent, and community connection.

Founded by Zach George, a local musician, and Mike Morton, owner of Laughing Sam’s Discs on St. Denis Street, NOMS was born out of a desire to foster original music by forming a community of artists and music lovers.

Featured Performers for June 7 Showcase:

Coming in Crutch
A punk/alternative rock trio from Natchitoches with a ‘90s edge, Coming in Crutch features founding members Zach George and Leif Nation on drums and guitar. Their sets are high energy, loud, and unapologetically fun—with shots and brewskis never too far behind.

Terry Diffey
Born and raised in Jonesboro, Terry started playing guitar at 13. “I try to write simple stories for simple people,” he said. With a focus on storytelling and heart, Terry brings an earnest Americana vibe to the stage.

Ghostridge
Known offstage as Kat Wilkinson, ghostridge is a singer/songwriter from Patterson. A former frontwoman of the band Open House—who opened for Mariah the Scientist and Emotional Oranges—she now performs indie originals and produces her own music, available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Organizers say the goal is to grow each year, attract more diverse performers, and bring a true music culture back to Natchitoches—one that includes younger audiences, fresh voices, and a wider variety of musical styles.

Whether you’re into folk, rock, indie, R&B, rap, or classical, NOMS welcomes all genres. To learn more, follow NOMS on social media @Natchitoches Original Music Stage. Organizers are still welcoming local sponsors who want to support original music and help the event continue to grow.

The NSU Summer Dinner Theatre will present “I Love You to Death: A Speakeasy Mystery” June 17-21 and June 24-28 at The Venue on Front Street located at 530 Front Street In Natchitoches. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the show starts at 6 p.m.

A.A. Fredericks Auditorium is undergoing a system remodel, so the dinner theatre shows are in a different location this year.

“This has allowed us to take a different approach to the show,” said Director Robert Richoux. “The show will take place at the Venue on Front Street, which means there is no stage, and the cast will be in and out of the audience to make you feel even more connected and immersed in the world of the play.

“I Love You to Death: A Speakeasy Mystery” was written by Robert J. Leblanc. In the play, a boxer, a gangster, a rival, a tortured vaudevillian, a woman on the prowl and a pair of star-crossed lovers enter the Irish Lyon Social Club. Who will leave the speakeasy alive? The jazz plays, illegal liquor flows and the bodies and suspects start piling up in this tale of crooked deals, jilted lovers, betrayal and mayhem. Try to pin the suspect with the crime to find out who did the deed in “I Love You to Death.”

The cast is Halle Ortego of Lake Charles as Siobhan Delaney, Shay Beatty of Shreveport as Iva Delaney, Tyler Sibley of Alexandria as Romeo Montano, Angel-Lena Wade of Colfax as Teresa Capo and Jezek Maxwell of Longview, Texas, as Sean “The Lion” Delaney.

“This show was chosen because of the venue,” said Richoux. “I wanted the Venue on Front Street to take on the role of the scenery, and this will allow you to really feel like you are in a speakeasy. The show is very funny, the cast is going to be amazing, and we want you to have a great time with us.”

The next Summer Dinner Theatre Show will be “A Fifties Doo-Wop Snapshot” on July 22-26 and July 29-August 2.

Tickets are available HERE.

For more information, call (318) 357-4483.

Here is a look at the week of June 8-14 at Northwestern State University.

June 8-14 – Summer and Fall 2025 semester registration available via NSU Connect

June 9 – Start of 8-week summer session and first 4-week summer session

June 9-13 – Summer Art Camp, “Medieval Madness,” Department of Fine and Graphic Art, Room 205, New Wing, Performing Arts Complex, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

June 11 – Flight Forward, Russell Hall, 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

June 12 – Freshman Connection, Natchitoches campus

June 14 — “Fiddlin’ with the Finest,” Many Depot Museum, 750 Hwy. 171 Bypass, Many, 11 a.m.

The City of Natchitoches would like to notify the public of the following street closures. Pine Street between Nelken and Percy is being closed due to repairs.

The duration of closures is unknown at this time. The City of Natchitoches appreciates the public’s patience during these repairs.

Join Marvin as he explains the Tale of Two Cities, Both Cities sign new utility rate agreements with LEPA. One City celebrates the saving being passed on to its Utility Customers, the other city remains silent about the use of the windfall margin.

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MANY, LOUISIANA, June 4 — Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) and Sabine State Bank and Trust Company (Sabine) announced today their mutual decision to not move forward with the planned acquisition and to terminate their agreement.

Both organizations highlighted the strength of their financial institutions and shared commitment to help people and businesses prosper in their respective states.

Natchitoches Parish, LA – June 2, 2025– Waste Connections Bayou Inc., a trusted waste management provider serving Natchitoches Parish for more than 20 years, is responding to the recent letter issued by Parish President John D. Salter regarding the Parish’s proposal to take over garbage hauling and transfer station operations.

President Salter’s message, made public, claims that moving these services in house will “stretch taxpayer money” and “have no effect on the City of Natchitoches.” These statements are incomplete, misleading, and fail to acknowledge the full financial and operational consequences for residents across the Parish and the City.

The Facts About the Contract Termination

Currently, Waste Connections holds two separate contracts with Natchitoches Parish Government (NPG):

1. Hauling Services – Transporting waste from over 30 rural drop-off sites to the Parish-owned transfer station, currently operated by Waste Connections Bayou,Inc..

2. Transfer Station Operations – Managing the transfer station, which consolidates and transports waste to a permitted landfill.

These contracts are active until June 30, 2025. However, the Parish President has announced that NPG will terminate both agreements and take over these operations internally. This shift includes taking over hauling responsibilities and operating the transfer station. On July 1st, the Parish will not have the capacity to handle the current amount of waste, potentially causing residents and businesses to take their trash to higher cost or farther facilities.

What President Salter Isn’t Telling You

While President Salter claims this plan “has no effect on the City of Natchitoches,” this is simply untrue.
Under Waste Connections Bayou Inc’ contract with the City of Natchitoches, if the disposal site changes or if operating costs increase due to changes outside our control, those costs are passed on to the customer. With the Parish eliminating the use of the transfer station, Waste Connections Bayou, Inc. will be forced to haul all city trash to a landfill much farther away – resulting in:

● An estimated $6–$8 monthly increase for residential customers

● Higher commercial rates due to increased transport and disposal costs

● Potential delays in service due to the need for more trucks and personnel

In short: This decision absolutely affects City residents and businesses.

Additionally, the Parish will now absorb all the risk and responsibility of servicing over 30 rural sites—an expensive and logistically challenging task that is not reflected in the “savings” President Salter is advertising

A Message to Residents

We urge residents to:

● Ask tough questions

● Attend council meetings

● Contact your Parish President or Council representatives

The long-term impact of this rushed transition could lead to higher costs, decreased service quality, and unforeseen liabilities for the Parish and the City alike.

Waste Connections Bayou,Inc. has proudly served Natchitoches Parish for over 20 years with a proven record of reliable, cost-effective service. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and working in the best interest of the community.

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