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The team that produces your Natchitoches Parish Journal is taking a holiday break. There will not be a Friday morning edition.

Thanksgiving is a family-centered holiday that leads into a long weekend. Our crew will pause its work to share time with those they treasure most.

With Friday comes shopping and plenty of football to watch, or some prime time in the woods looking for that trophy buck.

So pardon us as we do not publish our regular edition Friday. We’ll be back in your e-mail Monday morning at 6:55, online at NatchitochesParishJournal.com and on our Facebook page with the coverage you can’t get anywhere else.

We’ll have our usual news and lifestyle coverage and will recap Saturday’s basketball game in Prather Coliseum with NSU hosting Southern.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday weekend!

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Observations from conversations with young and not-so-young during early holidays encounters:

Puzzled looks when mentioning anniversary of Gettysburg Address.

“You know, ‘Four score and’,” I said, drawing blanks. Is that no longer required memory work? If so, how long?

Asking what might have been learned if Oswald had survived, more stares.  Didn’t bother to mention Jack Ruby.

Realizing whether we watched the games or not results would be the same.

Children and young adults who’ve never heard of, much less seen, The Wizard of Oz yet are gaga over Wicked.

Holiday week activities planned around the next Roblox event, whatever that might be.

How do you get to middle age in our state without knowing what grillades are?

Speaking of certain age, first-time home buyer stunned by just-received property tax notice, wondering if it’s every year and who decides how much.

Oh my. Hadn’t the heart to ruin his evening.

Remembering that at his age I planned to succeed Eddie Mathews as Milwaukee Braves third baseman (yes, they were not always in Atlanta), asked pre-teener if he knew yet what he wanted to do.

“I’m going to be a YouTuber.” Roger that.

As branches gathered, explained Thanksgiving origins to one member of early elementary age – Native Americans, Pilgrims, turkey. You know the story. 

Asked if understood. “Did they get out of school?”

The more things change …

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Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 533 2nd Street, in downtown Natchitoches, is renting out its spacious parish hall for Christmas Festival Day – December 6. The hall provides ample space for 80-100 people with a full kitchen and includes the use of tables, chairs, and tableware. Plus, there are several other convenient amenities, such as a large outdoor courtyard for your private use, on-site parking for up to 19 cars, private bathrooms, and a balcony perfect for viewing the parade. An ideal setting for a large gathering to enjoy all the holiday festivities! Contact Mother Kris Paul at 443-734-4243 for more details and to reserve the date!

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Journal Services Staff

Thanksgiving has always been more than a holiday. It is a pause button placed firmly near the end of the year—a reminder that despite the speed, noise, and pressure of modern life, there are some things too important to neglect. Chief among them is family.

In a world that constantly pushes us toward the next deadline, the next notification, the next obligation, Thanksgiving invites us to slow down long enough to truly see the people in front of us. It reminds us that our connections with one another are not distractions from life—they are life. The table we gather around, the conversations we share, and the traditions we pass from one generation to the next form the foundation of who we are and who we hope to be.

For many families, this year has not been easy. Economic uncertainty, rising costs, health challenges, and the lingering strain of national division have all taken their toll. Yet Thanksgiving teaches us that even in difficult seasons, gratitude can anchor us. It helps us focus not on what is missing, but on what remains: love, loyalty, shared memories, and the people who continue to stand by us even when the world feels unsteady.

Putting family first does not require grand gestures. It can be as simple as setting our phones aside for a few hours, listening without distraction, or offering a sincere thank-you to someone who quietly keeps everything running. It means showing up—with patience, with kindness, and with a willingness to forgive the small imperfections that every family carries. It means recognizing that time is precious, that moments are fleeting, and that the relationships around us deserve our best attention, not just our leftover energy.

This Thanksgiving, let us choose to be fully present. Let us remember that family is not defined solely by blood, but by commitment, compassion, and the people who walk beside us through every season. Let us honor the elders who shaped us, encourage the children who are watching us, and embrace those who may be feeling the weight of the holidays more than they want to admit.

Above all, let us make the conscious choice to put family first—not just on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the year ahead. Because long after the dishes are washed and the leftovers are gone, it is our bonds with one another that will sustain us, steady us, and shape the stories we pass down.

May this Thanksgiving bring warmth to your home, peace to your heart, and a renewed appreciation for the people who make your life meaningful.

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When it comes to finding the right place for skilled nursing care – whether temporary or long-term, you deserve a facility that treats your loved ones like family. At the Courtyard of Natchitoches, we combine expert medical care with compassion – creating a healing environment where comfort, dignity and safety come first.

Our team of highly trained and experienced medical professionals provides personalized care designed to meet each resident’s unique health needs and goals. Our nursing team consists of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants. We also offer comprehensive on-site rehabilitation services provided by our team of physical, occupational and speech therapists. Whether recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or seeking long-term support, our commitment to excellence ensures the highest quality of care and resident safety.

Our Services Include:

• Skilled Nursing Care
• Short and Long-Term Care
• Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
• Ultrasound Therapy
• Electro-stimulation Therapy
• IV Therapy
• Dietary Management
• Pharmacy & Medication Management
• Diabetes Care and Management
• Safety Awareness
• Daily Group Activities
• And more

At the Courtyard of Natchitoches, we understand that healing extends beyond medicine. That’s why we offer inviting common areas where residents can gather with friends and family, watch television, read a book, or take a peaceful stroll along our walking track surrounded by beautiful gardens and greenspace. We also have an onsite beauty shop to help residents look and feel their best. To support spiritual well-being, clergy from local religious organizations visit regularly and provide worship services. Together, these thoughtful touches create a warm, welcoming atmosphere that helps residents feel at home while giving families peace of mind knowing their loved one is in capable, caring hands.

Schedule a Tour Today!
Conveniently located in the heart of Natchitoches, come see why The Courtyard is the trusted choice for skilled nursing and rehabilitation care. Call us at 318.214.5730 to learn more or schedule your visit.

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Serving the Natchitoches Community Since 2015

Light City Martial Arts is proud to announce its grand reopening at a brand-new, highly visible, and easily accessible location on Keyser Avenue. Since 2015, we have had the honor of serving the Natchitoches community through martial arts, personal growth, and family-centered training. Now, we are stepping into an exciting new chapter at 242B Keyser Ave, and we can’t wait to welcome you.

At Light City, we proudly offer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts, providing classes for youth, teens, and adults. Each discipline brings its own benefits, but Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has become a favorite among students for both mental and physical development.

How Jiu Jitsu Helps You Thrive

Jiu Jitsu strengthens both the mind and body. Mentally, it teaches focus, problem-solving, resilience, and confidence. Physically, it improves strength, cardio, flexibility, and provides powerful self-defense skills—all while giving you a healthy outlet for stress.

Join Us for a Special First Night!

Our first class in the new location will be held Monday, December 1 at 6 PM at 242B Keyser Ave. This won’t be just any opening night—we will also be celebrating student awards and belt promotions, making it a meaningful evening for our team and our community.

We invite everyone—current students, former students, friends, and curious newcomers—to come see the new space, meet our coaches, and experience what Light City Martial Arts is all about.

Thank you, Natchitoches, for supporting us since 2015.

We look forward to many more years of growth, discipline, and community on the mats.

See you on December 1st!

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I’ve been out of school for so long it’s hard to remember things I learned at Goldonna High School and Northwestern State. The years have erased or toned down much of the “book learning” I was exposed to way back then.

There is one thing, however, that as a writer, I keep at the forefront of my mind and that’s working with my A, B, Cs. More specifically, I’m talking about writing Articles, Books and Columns.

I recently did an article for this publication about my 53-year career in writing columns for newspapers. That’s where my journalistic endeavors began. Later, I started dabbling into writing articles for magazines and thankfully have experienced some success in convincing editors that I could produce material their publication could use.

I look forward to this time of year for the past dozen or so years since LA Sportsman magazine asked me to locate, interview and write articles about big impressive bucks that deer hunters take around the state.

This has been, frankly, a bunch of fun. Someone informs me about a big buck taken, I contact them and in most cases, they are anxious to get their story told. I find out the hunter’s name and contact number, schedule the interview and then write the story. My main source of locating such hunters has been the internet as I daily scroll the pages of Facebook searching for successful hunters who are proud to post photos of the big buck they got.

Two years ago, I decided I wanted to complete my ABC’s and decided to try my hand at writing books. Here’s how that got started.

For a year, my daughter had asked me questions every month about my life – how I grew up, how I got into writing and such and unknown to me, had my answers published in a publication she gave me for Christmas. This triggered something in me that I could take what I had told her, add some stories to it and the end result was my book, “Bamboozled by a Bobcat” that was released two years ago.

With good results from this book, it occurred to me that I had 53 years of newspaper columns sitting dormant and I thought about turning some of those favorite columns into a book, and as a result, “Fathers, Sons and Old Guns” became a reality.

For the past several years, I had contributed to an on-line topic called “E-thoughts” where I wrote daily devotionals with scriptural references to things related to the outdoors. Again, another light came on in my brain as over the years, I had saved the devotionals I had written and thought why not put what I had written into a book. The result was my newest book, “Seasons – Connecting with God through the Year in His Great Outdoors.”

I still write weekly columns for several news outlets and during deer season, I am kept busy chasing down big bucks for LA Sportsman magazine. The fun thing for me now is promoting and selling my books, all of which are available at Amazon.com.

I suppose you’re never too old to get excited about still getting good use of what I learned early on in school, and that was my A, B, Cs.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

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Fleur de Lis Christmas Craft Market is coming to Natchitoches on Nov. 29. The Fleur de Lis Christmas Craft Market will celebrate its 21st year in operation on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 9 am – 4:30 pm at the Natchitoches Events Center at 750 Second Street in Natchitoches. This event is free and open to the public.

There will be gifts for the whole family, from adults to children. Over 110 vendors from a four-state area will come to Natchitoches to sell their wares.

“The best part is everything offered at our craft market is handmade,” said organizer Cheryl Gianforte.

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Thanksgiving Day Meal

New Hope Church will be serving free, hot, take-out Thanksgiving plates to anyone in need on Thanksgiving day, November 27, 2025 from 9am to 11am.

Location: 140 Bellwood Street, Provencal, Louisiana
Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Time: 9am to 11am
Delivery: Drive-through pickup

All are welcome, no sign-up needed.

New Hope Church

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The Natchitoches Police Department is reminding residents and visitors of a restricted drone fallout zone in place for the Christmas Festival weekends on Nov. 29 and December. 13.

The restricted area spans from the 100 block of St. Clair Avenue to the 100 block of Stephens Avenue and extends to East Second Street. The zone will be blocked off during the weekends when drones are deployed ahead of the fireworks show.

Police noted that patrons will not be allowed in the field within the designated area during these times.

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By Reba Phelps

The Village of Goldonna has come together to support Lydia and the Sanfillipo Foundation. Several area businesses have joined forces to create a basket raffle.

The much converted prizes include gift certificates, gifts from local businesses, deer processing, fishing baits, discount on a live Christmas tree, an Engel ice chest and much more. Tickets are available at The Stand or The Store for $10 each. The drawing will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Contact Kristen Dupree to purchase through Cash-App.

Fundraisers are still underway to help cover the expenses of the Christmas in the Park Festival. The Village will host a Split the Pot that promises to split the winnings with one lucky winner. Tickets can be purchased at The Store or from Eugean Garner or Reed Franklin. The drawing will be held at the end of the festival.

The Christmas in the Park Parade will happen on Dec. 13 and the Village is looking for participants. Contact Tanya Weaver at 318-413-4116 to register a float. They are accepting marching bands, beauty queens, politicians, churches and children’s marching groups.

There are still vendor spots available at the cost of $20. Contact Barbara Stewart at 318-663-1383 or Sharlene Settle at 318-481-4153 to reserve a spot.

The Village will also host their Annual Gingerbread House contest. The houses will be displayed at Christmas in the Park, and more details will be announced soon.

Goldonna Baptist Church recently held their annual Thanksgiving dinner while they prayed over their one hundred seventy Operation Christmas Child boxes. These boxes will soon make their trek around the globe to bless children worldwide.

Goldonna Assembly of God will be hosting Terry Terrell on Friday, Dec. 5 at 6 pm. It will be a fun night of worship and Bible Study. The public is invited to attend.

If you have news to share please contact Reba Phelps at 318-332-4260 or jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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By Courtney Freeman

We had a lovely time at the Village Thanksgiving Dinner this last Saturday. It turned out to be a beautiful day and it was so nice to see everyone visiting and having a good time. The kids made great use of the park, playing football and just making new friends. The food was great and we’re thankful to all those who donated ingredients and time to prepare the meal.

Before the dinner at the monthly meeting the Village council received the annual audit. The report was overall a positive one. The council also agreed with the advice of Meyer and Meyer to award the winning bid to David Lawler Construction for the sewer system rehabilitation.

Based on projections all the major aspects should be completed as well as maintenance on some of the lines and other plumbing needs.

While that was all good news to hear, the best news was that the Village had received a letter forgiving the remaining $220,000 of the grant proposal that would have been a loan to the Village. So all of the $990,000 project will be grant funded now. The sewer rates will stay the same. They were not raised to fund the loan repayment. They were raised to a sustainable level to make the system eligible to be considered for grants and loans. Without a sustainable income no system can maintain itself. The project will hopefully be completed before next fall and I’m sure they’ll be the pain of progress as things are fixed. But I’m sure we can muster through to see a major upgrade to our Village.

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The 17th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Multicultural Christmas Concert will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum located at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches. The concert is a benefit for Cane River Children’s Services. The concert is free and open to the public, with donations accepted.

The concert will include a variety of both sacred and secular Christmas performances. Seasonal songs will be performed by Faye and Otis, the LSMSA Chorale, Timothy Reeder, Lacee Smith, the Latin and Greek Singers of Natchitoches and the missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Instrumental performers will include Matthew DeFord and Clyde Downs, J.D. and Sienna Henderson, V. Anselmo Mata and Aylin Mata, Sophie Rasmussen and the Natchitoches Youth Orchestra of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The concert will also include a seasonal reading by Donna Baker, a dance performance by the Thistle Dancers and Pipers and a special appearance by the duo Wilson Parish. The Concert will conclude with “Silent Night,” with all in attendance invited to participate.

The Multicultural Christmas Concert is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. For more information please contact (318) 357-4332 or folklife@nsula.edu.

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Thanksgiving Day Meal

New Hope Church will be serving free, hot, take-out Thanksgiving plates to anyone in need on Thanksgiving day, November 27, 2025 from 9am to 11am.

Location: 140 Bellwood Street, Provencal, Louisiana
Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Time: 9am to 11am
Delivery: Drive-through pickup

All are welcome, no sign-up needed.

New Hope Church

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Reader-submitted opinion

Subject: Improper Water Service Interruption

To whom it may concern

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the recent interruption of water service at my residence, despite my account being paid in full.

My water service was disconnected without any explanation. When I contacted your office, I was met with dismissive and unprofessional responses. I was assured that someone would be dispatched immediately to investigate, yet no one arrived. Ultimately, my son had to call and escalate the matter before service was restored later that evening.

This incident caused unnecessary stress and inconvenience to my household. Reliable water service is essential, and the lack of communication and professionalism in handling this matter is unacceptable.

I trust that you will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and respond promptly.

Sincerely,
Angela Dawson
email: Click Here

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Serving the Natchitoches Community Since 2015

Light City Martial Arts is proud to announce its grand reopening at a brand-new, highly visible, and easily accessible location on Keyser Avenue. Since 2015, we have had the honor of serving the Natchitoches community through martial arts, personal growth, and family-centered training. Now, we are stepping into an exciting new chapter at 242B Keyser Ave, and we can’t wait to welcome you.

At Light City, we proudly offer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts, providing classes for youth, teens, and adults. Each discipline brings its own benefits, but Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has become a favorite among students for both mental and physical development.

How Jiu Jitsu Helps You Thrive

Jiu Jitsu strengthens both the mind and body. Mentally, it teaches focus, problem-solving, resilience, and confidence. Physically, it improves strength, cardio, flexibility, and provides powerful self-defense skills—all while giving you a healthy outlet for stress.

Join Us for a Special First Night!

Our first class in the new location will be held Monday, December 1 at 6 PM at 242B Keyser Ave. This won’t be just any opening night—we will also be celebrating student awards and belt promotions, making it a meaningful evening for our team and our community.

We invite everyone—current students, former students, friends, and curious newcomers—to come see the new space, meet our coaches, and experience what Light City Martial Arts is all about.

Thank you, Natchitoches, for supporting us since 2015.

We look forward to many more years of growth, discipline, and community on the mats.

See you on December 1st!

Light City Martial Arts
242B Keyser Ave.
Natchitoches, Louisiana

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DESTIN, Fla.—Vernell Atamah dropped in 27 points in her first double-double of the season, but Northwestern State’s comeback bid fell short in a 77-68 loss to Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday evening in the consolation game of the Emerald Coast Classic.

NSU (3-4) cut what was once a 16-point deficit down to five at the end of the third quarter, but that was as close as it became in the third-place game of the non-conference tournament.

After failing to score in double figures against Virginia on Monday, Atamah bounced back in a big way with 27 points and 11 boards, her first double-double of the season and seventh career early in her sophomore season.

“I am disappointed with our first half fight,” NSU coach Anna Nimz said. “But they came out of the locker room at half and played incredibly tough.

“I was happy to see Vernell earn All-Tournament honors. Our gauntlet of a non-conference schedule is all about preparing us for Southland Conference play. We can absolutely build off this trip.”

Atamah scored 19 of her 27 in the second half to bring the Demons back.

In the third alone, Atamah scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

But a fourth quarter run from PFW (4-3) put the game out of reach.

NSU fell behind early due to hot shooting from the Mastadons and turnovers from the Demons. Northwestern had six of its 22 miscues in the first quarter, which led to a 24-13 PFW lead after one quarter.

The Mastadons led the points off turnovers category for the game 25-12.

The turnovers were too much to overcome, despite a 48-31 rebounding edge.

“Turnovers plagued us terribly this week,” Nimz said. “When you dominate the boards, you always put yourself in a position to have success. Unfortunately, we just didn’t take care of the ball, so we didn’t reap the benefits of winning the rebounding war.”

In the final quarter, the Demons coughed the ball up three times in the first 2:32 and seven times in the fourth to help the Mastadons hold the lead and stretch it.

Nya Valentine had perhaps her best showing as a Demon, recording 10 points, seven assists, five rebounds and just a single turnover. She made two of her four 3-point attempts.

Next up is a break for the Demons before opening up Southland Conference play on the road against reigning regular season champion Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 7.

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Sports has been a huge part of my life, especially when it comes to baseball and football. I’ve always taken pride in the fact that I never used any form of performance-enhancing drugs to play at a high level. In my mind, this would be a form of cheating, and I made a conscious choice to never be a part of that culture of athletes.

I saw first-hand how some athletes abused and became victims of decisions and choices they made. It was a huge eye-opening experience my first spring training with the Montreal Expos organization as I saw how many players were using enhancers to perform at a high level.

I saw the organization basically turn a blind eye to what players were doing to become better. Oh, it was no secret, and most players did not try and hide what they were using as it was on full display in their lockers. It was just another form of cheating!

Cheating has now become rampant in the tournament bass fishing world. It seems that in every tournament, someone breaks a rule, fails a polygraph test and gets disqualified.

In the past three years, it has gotten worse — from professional anglers getting caught to amateur anglers trying to win specialty events like big bass tournaments. What happened to the days of anglers going out and fishing with honesty and following the rules?

Why has there been such a surge in anglers’ cheating? The first answer is probably the amount of money tournaments are putting up. Even the lower levels of MLF (Major League Fishing) and the B.A.S.S. organizations have anglers fishing for hundreds of thousands of dollars and opportunities to advance up the ladder of professional bass fishing.

Even big bass events have anglers fishing for over $100,000 for catching one fish! Like anything else, when there’s a lot of money on the line, it seems to bring out the worst in people. Just like in any form of criminal activity, just follow the money.

Some anglers will say that there are just too many rules. We all know that the more rules you have in any sport, the more that must be enforced. This makes a bass tournament director’s job even more difficult.

So how do we hit the reset button and get anglers to find their moral compass and follow the rules? I’m not sure we can put the genie back into the bottle, as our society in general has so many people with no morals who will do whatever they can in order to win or get ahead in life.

I think the first course of action must be making the punishment fit the crime. Organizations must come down harder on these individuals who think it’s OK to cheat! Guidelines need to be established for the severity of the rule or rules that have been violated.

We aren’t looking for anyone to go before the firing squad, but suspending anglers for the entire season would be a great start. The harder you come down on these anglers, the more they will think twice about cheating.

Maybe we need to go the legal route, as cheating in a bass tournament is considered fraud. By making a few examples with prosecution, it will probably make others think twice about bending the rules.

These are sad times we live in and it’s a shame we have so many anglers that think it’s OK to cheat. This is one of many reasons why tournament participation is down nationwide. But with more severe punishment, maybe we can reset the course of tournament bass fishing.

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Fleur de Lis Christmas Craft Market is coming to Natchitoches on Nov. 29. The Fleur de Lis Christmas Craft Market will celebrate its 21st year in operation on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 9 am – 4:30 pm at the Natchitoches Events Center at 750 Second Street in Natchitoches. This event is free and open to the public.

There will be gifts for the whole family, from adults to children. Over 110 vendors from a four-state area will come to Natchitoches to sell their wares.

“The best part is everything offered at our craft market is handmade,” said organizer Cheryl Gianforte.

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