Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s deputies and multiple units from Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District No. 2 responded on Jan. 26 around 8: 15 pm to a barn or shed fire in the 2500 block of Louisiana Highway 479 near Goldonna. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze, and the scene remained active for a period of time. No injuries were reported. Units from Bienville Fire District also assisted in the response.

Join Marvin for a candid conversation about violent crime in the City of Natchitoches. This discussion highlights a growing concern in our community and urges residents, leaders, and stakeholders to come together in search of solutions.

Brought to you by Lance Lopez with Farm Bureau, Harrington Law Firm and the Sharpco Hotel Group.

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By RICHARD SEARLES Special Assignment to the Journal

Higher education is facing a “market or perish” moment that mirrors the volatile restaurant industry: If you don’t serve what the customers are ordering, the doors eventually close.

As national enrollment data for 2026 confirms that more American college students are now learning entirely online than in physical classrooms, a fiscal debate is intensifying over how public universities allocate taxpayer dollars. While administrators continue to funnel billions into “brick-and-mortar” infrastructure, the “customers”—both traditional students and adult learners—are increasingly demanding a digital menu.

Serving a New Appetite

The demand for online instruction is no longer a niche preference; it has become the primary order for the modern student. Recent national surveys indicate that 69% of all students now prefer online or hybrid options. For adult learners, the preference is near-universal, with 80% selecting their programs based on the availability of online modality first.

“It’s a simple matter of market demand,” says education consultant Marcus Thorne. “If a restaurant insisted on only serving steak when the entire town was asking for salads, that business would be shuttered in a month. Yet, we see public institutions spending record amounts of taxpayer funds on physical dorms and dining halls while their ‘customers’ are trying to log in from home.”

Taxpayer Scrutiny and the “Demographic Cliff”

The allocation of state appropriations—totaling $129 billion in FY25—is coming under fire as federal “Workforce Pell” initiatives arrive in 2026. These programs prioritize “paychecks and pathways,” putting pressure on schools to prove that taxpayer-funded investments lead directly to employment rather than just maintaining a “traditional” aesthetic.

The urgency for a fiscal pivot is underscored by the “2026 Demographic Cliff.” This year marks the start of a projected 15-year slide in the number of traditional 18-year-old undergraduates. With fewer “traditional” students to fill those newly built dorms, the insistence on physical expansion is being labeled by critics as a looming financial disaster.

The Digital Frontier

As the 2026 academic year progresses, the data suggests that the “traditional college experience” is becoming a luxury item rather than the standard requirement. For the majority of students balancing jobs and families, the digital classroom isn’t just a convenience—it’s the only item on the menu they are willing to buy.

The question for university boards remains: Will they update their service model to match student demand, or will they continue to spend taxpayer funds on a “restaurant” that fewer people wish to visit?

St. Mary’s Catholic School announced that Pre-K teacher Kelly Savell was named the 2025–26 recipient of the Em W. Knipmeyer Excellence in Teaching Award, the highest honor awarded to a St. Mary’s educator.

The announcement was made following the school’s All-School Mass held in observance of Catholic Schools Week. Savell, a longtime and well-loved member of the faculty, was recognized for her dedication to students and her commitment to excellence in education.

Now in its 21st year, the Em W. Knipmeyer Excellence in Teaching Award honors educators who exemplify the spirit and legacy of Em W. Knipmeyer, a 1941 St. Mary’s graduate who later served the school as both a teacher and principal. The award highlights teachers who consistently go above and beyond in service to their students and school community.

Although Em Knipmeyer’s sister, Mrs. Joe Stamey, was unable to attend the presentation, school officials expressed appreciation to the Stamey family, a legacy family of alumni and longtime supporters, for continuing to honor Knipmeyer’s contributions through the annual award.

School leaders congratulated Savell on the recognition, noting her outstanding dedication to students and her positive impact on the St. Mary’s community.

September 1, 1950 — January 26, 2026

Gary Stephen DeBlieux passed away on January 26, 2026, at the age of 75. Gary was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana where he lived his entire life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary McQueen DeBlieux Young and Louis Hertzog DeBlieux. He is survived by his siblings Larry Hertzog DeBlieux (Becky), Mary Lu DeBlieux Wilkerson (Phillip), Judith DeBlieux Knecht (Gene), Jean DeBlieux Gill, James Michael DeBlieux (Pam), Thomas David DeBlieux (Jane), and Martha DeBlieux Berry (Jimmy).

Gary was a loving Big G or Uncle Gary to his nieces and nephews Denise DeBlieux Prattini (Jeff), Richard Joseph DeBlieux (Lori), Jennifer DeBlieux Landry (Grant), Lauren Wilkerson Clancy (Austin), Phillip Patrick Wilkerson (Lyndsey), Brad Eugene Knecht (Bonnie), Kelley Knecht Theriot (Ji), Michael Lawrence Gill (Allison), Lesley DeBlieux Dunn (Darren), Emily DeBlieux Poche (Jim), Andrew Michael DeBlieux (Madeline), Louis Taylor DeBlieux (Lindy), Kathryn DeBlieux Montgomery (Forrest), James Hertzog Berry, and Matthew West Berry. He was a doting great uncle to 25 great nieces and great nephews.

He was a 1968 graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic School, and a 1972 graduate of Northwestern State University. Gary served the Natchitoches community in his professional life as a commercial banker. Immediately after graduating college, he began his banking career with Peoples Bank and Trust Company. He retired in 2025 as Senior Vice President of City Bank and Trust Company, capping a career of 53 years in banking. He was a devout Catholic who actively practiced his Catholic faith as a lifelong member of The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Visitation will be held at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home on Thursday, February 5, 5:00 until 7:30. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:30. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, February 6, at 11:00. Reverend Louis Sklar will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Memory Lawn Cemetery.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Gerard Thomas, Steve Brown, Pat Johnson, Edwin Dunahoe, Mike McConathy, and Johnny Cox. Honorary pallbearers are Cliff Conine, Dave Galloway, Don Kelly, Robert “Skeeter” Salim, Johnny Muckleroy, and Griff Strange.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Gary’s memory to St. Mary’s Catholic School, 1101 East Fifth Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457; The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 145 Church Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457; or St. Jude Children’s ResearchHospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The defending Southland Conference champion Northwestern State Lady Demons tennis team finally opens play at home today, hosting Jackson State at the Jack Fisher Lady Demon Tennis Complex.

First doubles are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.  The original meeting, scheduled for last weekend, was postponed due to Winter Storm Fern.

NSU (1–1) enters the home opener following a challenging opening weekend in Baton Rouge.

The Lady Demons opened the season falling 7-0 to No. 5 LSU before responding with a convincing 6–1 victory over Xavier the following day.

“Last weekend showed our group’s willingness to compete at a high level and respond the right way,” head coach Marcos Morelli said. “Facing a nationally ranked team and then bouncing back the next day gave us valuable experience and confidence in our approach.”

Morelli said the early season has already provided signs of progress.

“We’re seeing growth in how the players handle adversity and stay present in matches,” Morelli said. “There’s been progress in competing point by point and trusting the work we’ve put in.”

When a team hasn’t played at home in two weeks, what’s another five days?

The Northwestern State women’s basketball team (9-9, 6-4) plays its first game in seven days after the postponement of last Saturday’s contest with East Texas A&M thanks to the winter storm affecting much of the country. Tonight will provide also its first home game in 19 days when Nicholls (10-8, 6-5) visits Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum.

Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. and the game can be viewed on ESPN+ or local fans can listen to it on KZBL 100.7 FM.

It is “Blackout Prather Night,” as well as “Greek Night,” with fans encouraged to wear black clothing and NSU gear.

The Lady Demons dropped a tight game in their last one at Stephen F. Austin a week ago.

NSU sophomore Vernell Atamah recorded a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds.

“This is our growth period,” NSU coach Anna Nimz said. “It stinks because sometimes, it comes with a couple losses. But we’re absolutely still growing and getting better as a team. Weather didn’t allow us to play on Saturday, but maybe these last couple days of a little more practice and ability to go a little bit harder and tougher in practice will put us in a quicker growing pattern.”

It is the second meeting between the two schools recently. Northwestern won the first matchup in Thibodaux 50-46.

Atamah led the way in that one too, pouring in a game-high 20 points, nailing 4-of-5 from deep, as well as grabbing eight rebounds.

“Any time you hold them to 46 when they have the ability to score 80 on any given night, that is a positive,” Nimz said. “I don’t think we saw their best in that game, and I don’t think they saw our best.

“Both teams have gotten a lot better since that matchup. We have tried to fix some of the areas that we saw in that matchup. It’s going to be a battle of will because both teams are incredibly talented.”

The Colonels have won two games in a row, including last time out at Southeastern Louisiana, forcing a late miss to escape with a three-point win.

Afterward, the Lady Demons go back on the road for three straight contests, starting with a trip to New Orleans on Jan. 31 for the first meeting with the Privateers this season. The next game NSU has at Prather Coliseum is a big one against league-leading McNeese on Feb. 12.

The East Texas A&M game has been rescheduled for a 4 p.m. start Feb. 16 and will be played as part of a doubleheader ahead of the men’s game against McNeese.

Natchitoches City Council will have a pre-council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 28 beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. to discuss non-agenda items. The City Council meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda.  The public is invited to both the pre-council meetings and council meetings with the understanding that items not on the agenda will not be discussed at the scheduled council meetings, but the public is welcome to discuss any topic at the pre-council meetings.  The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers, located at 716 Second St. in Natchitoches.

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Natchitoches Parish residents should prepare for continued cold conditions and periods of freezing fog through the end of the week, followed by a slow warming trend early next week.

Patchy freezing fog is expected Wednesday morning before skies turn mostly sunny. High temperatures will reach around 50 degrees, with northwest winds near 5 mph.

Wednesday night will remain cold, with partly cloudy skies becoming mostly cloudy overnight. Patchy freezing fog is expected in the evening, developing into areas of freezing fog after midnight. Overnight lows will fall into the mid-20s, with light winds.

On Thursday, patchy freezing fog is again possible during the morning hours before conditions become partly cloudy. Highs will climb into the mid-50s with light south winds. Thursday night will be mostly cloudy and cold, with lows dropping into the lower 30s. Winds will shift from southwest to northwest after midnight.

Cooler temperatures return Friday under mostly cloudy skies, with afternoon highs in the mid-40s. Friday night will be colder, with partly cloudy skies and lows near 20 degrees.

Saturday will be mostly sunny but cold, with highs in the mid-30s. Clear conditions Saturday night will allow temperatures to fall again near 20 degrees. Sunday will bring mostly sunny skies with highs in the lower 40s, followed by clear and cold conditions Sunday night with lows in the mid-20s.

A gradual warming trend begins Monday, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the lower 50s. Partly cloudy conditions will continue Monday night into Tuesday, with overnight lows around 30 degrees and daytime highs reaching the upper 50s.

Residents are encouraged to use caution during early morning travel due to freezing fog and to protect pets, plants, and exposed pipes during the continued stretch of cold weather.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board has announced that Lakeview Junior and Senior High School will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28 due to a water service outage affecting the town of Campti.

According to school officials, there is currently no estimated time for water service to be restored. The closure was deemed necessary to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.

All other Natchitoches Parish School Board schools will remain open and operate on a regular schedule.

The school board said it will provide an update on Wednesday regarding the status of water service and any potential impact on school operations for Thursday, Jan. 29. Officials apologized for the inconvenience and thanked families for their patience and understanding.

Due to hazardous icy street conditions, Waste Connections was unable to complete trash collection on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

Officials announced that regular trash pickup will resume Wednesday, Jan. 28 with crews operating on the normal Wednesday route. Customers whose service was missed on Monday and Tuesday will have their trash collected next week on their regularly scheduled pickup days.

Residents are thanked for their patience and understanding as crews prioritize safety while navigating winter weather conditions. The public is encouraged to continue using caution and staying safe as cleanup operations resume.

Following the recent winter weather event and after continued coordination with the National Weather Service and local officials, Northwestern State University will resume normal operations on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Due to ongoing winter conditions, the NSU Shreveport Campus and NSU at Barksdale Air Force Base will remain closed.

The decision to reopen reflects improving conditions across the region and careful evaluation of travel and campus safety considerations. The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors remains our highest priority, and the university will continue to monitor conditions as operations resume.

Safety Guidance While conditions have improved, members of the university community are encouraged to continue exercising caution, particularly during morning travel. Students traveling from outside the area or longer distances should use discretion and allow additional time for travel. Students who are unable to return to campus or attend class are encouraged to contact their professors or academic advisors as soon as possible so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Faculty and staff who are unable to safely travel are encouraged to work directly with their supervisors to discuss individual circumstances.

Be alert for any remaining icy patches on roads, sidewalks, and parking areas, dress appropriately for cold temperatures, and take reasonable steps to protect personal safety.

Campus Operations and Student Services Academic and administrative operations will resume on Wednesday as the university returns to normal operations. Classes will be held as scheduled, and faculty and staff will return to their regular work schedules, with appropriate flexibility for travel-related concerns.

Dining services will also return to normal schedules. Students and members of the campus community are encouraged to continue monitoring official university communications and dining services channels for any service-specific updates as operations fully resume.

January 28, 1986, stands as one of the darkest days in the history of space exploration. Just 73 seconds after liftoff, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all seven crew members and shocking viewers around the world.

The mission had drawn unprecedented public attention due to the presence of Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire schoolteacher selected to become the first civilian educator in space. Millions of students watched the launch live in classrooms, making the tragedy especially traumatic for a generation of Americans.

Investigations later determined that the disaster was caused by the failure of O-ring seals in one of the shuttle’s solid rocket boosters. Cold temperatures on the morning of the launch compromised the seals, allowing hot gases to escape and ultimately leading to structural failure. Evidence revealed that engineers had raised concerns about the risks, but those warnings were not acted upon.

In the aftermath, NASA grounded the shuttle fleet and launched an extensive review of its procedures, management culture, and safety protocols. The Rogers Commission’s findings led to significant changes within the agency, emphasizing the importance of engineering judgment and transparency in decision-making.

The Challenger disaster reshaped public perception of space travel, underscoring the inherent risks of exploration. Memorials, scholarships, and educational programs were established in honor of the crew, ensuring their legacy would inspire future generations.

January 28 serves as a solemn reminder that progress often comes at great cost. The lessons learned from Challenger continue to influence aerospace safety and remind the nation of the human lives behind scientific ambition.

Louisiana Christian University has announced the appointment of Dr. Marcia Hardy as the new dean of the Ray and Dorothy Young School of Business and the Martin MBA program, a move that brings a familiar name back into regional academic leadership circles.

Hardy previously served as a professor of business administration and management at Northwestern State University, where she taught in the College of Business and Technology. 

Hardy holds a Ph.D. from the University of California–Los Angeles, with specialization in management from the Anderson School of Management and research and evaluation from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education. Her doctoral research focused on the success factors of entrepreneurship. She also completed Ph.D. certification through the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in organizational leadership, strategic management, and planning.

Her academic background includes a master’s degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University New Orleans. Hardy also holds a certification in artificial intelligence and business strategy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with national certifications in Quality Matters, Google Analytics, and negotiation and leadership from Harvard Law School.

At LCU, Hardy said her initial focus will be on listening, learning, and building trust across the university community.

She said she plans to evaluate both undergraduate and graduate programs, engage with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners, and identify areas of strength and opportunity. Hardy noted that expanding experiential learning, internships, applied projects, and mentoring opportunities will be a priority, along with strengthening enrollment and partnerships with the business community.

Hardy also emphasized the role of values-based education, stating that Christian business education should prepare graduates who are skilled and competent while also being ethical and purpose-driven leaders.

LCU President Dr. Mark Johnson said Hardy’s appointment aligns with the university’s vision for graduate education and workforce development, emphasizing personal formation alongside professional preparation. He noted that her background in entrepreneurship, organizational leadership, and emerging technologies positions the university to expand its impact across Louisiana.

Hardy is the author of the book EDI: A Guide to Electronic Data Interchange and Electronic Commerce Applications and has published dozens of journal articles. She has delivered professional presentations at the local, state, and national levels and has received multiple awards for teaching and service, including a legislative award from the U.S. Department of Defense for leadership and dedication.

She currently serves as international president-elect of the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International

Scholars, which includes more than 200 chapters worldwide.
In addition to her academic career, Hardy has experience as a business owner and community leader.

She has served as co-founder and president of McLure, Moynihan Inc. in California, CEO and owner of The Nest Wellness Spa & Wellness Center, and recently as chairman of the United Way of Central Louisiana. She is also active at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Henry Robertson said Hardy’s experience and scholarship will strengthen the Young School of Business and its MBA program, noting her commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Hardy said her combined experience in academia, business, and community leadership allows her to bridge theory and practice while preparing students to lead with integrity and purpose in the business world.

Note: Dr. Marcia Hardy was a former professor in the College of Business and Technology and former faculty Senate President at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Do you have a drawer under your oven? And more importantly—what’s living in there? Cookie sheets? Muffin tins? A colony of plastic lids that haven’t had matching bowls since the Bush administration.

And the bigger question: Are you even using that drawer correctly?

My mother used that drawer for cookie sheets, and therefore—by the sacred laws of Southern motherhood—I was required to do the same. You don’t question Mama’s kitchen theology. You just obey and hope she doesn’t notice you put the castiron skillet in the dishwasher.

But who gets to tell you what’s right? Who shapes your choices? And when does “that’s how Mama did it” turn into “that’s how I got myself into trouble”?

Before we go any further, let me ask something bold: Do you know the truth about oven drawers?

Let me tell you a story.

There’s an old African tale about a man and his beloved lamb. He fed it by hand, played with it, probably let it sleep on the porch. Hard times came, and he had to take the lamb to market.

Three thieves heard about this and cooked up a plan.

As the man walked down the road with the lamb over his shoulders, the first thief said, “Why are you carrying that dog?”

The man laughed. “It’s a lamb.”

A little farther along, the second thief said, “Finelooking dog you’ve got there.”

The man frowned. “It’s… a lamb. Pretty sure.”

Near the market, the third thief shook his head. “Sir, they won’t let you bring a dog in there.”

That did it. The man set the lamb down, stared at it, and thought, “Well, if three different people say it’s a dog, it must be a dog.” And he walked away.

If he’d turned around, he would’ve seen the thieves scooping up his verymuchnotadog lamb and heading home for supper.

Now, back to the oven drawer.

For years, I never questioned its purpose. Mama said it was for cookie sheets, so it was for cookie sheets. End of discussion. But like the man with the lamb, I realized I’d let other voices define reality for me.

Then I learned the shocking truth: Some oven drawers are storage drawers… and some are warming drawers.

If your oven is older than your church’s carpet, it’s probably storage. But newer ovens? That drawer might be designed to keep food warm.

Which means: Trying to warm your biscuits in a storage drawer is just wishful thinking. Storing your plastic lids in a warming drawer is how you end up explaining yourself to the fire department.

It is not your mother’s oven.

And that’s the point.

In a world where everyone has an opinion—loudly—and where people will swear up and down that the lamb you’re carrying is a dog, you need a center that doesn’t wobble. You need truth that isn’t based on trends, polls, or whoever shouts the loudest.

You need someone who won’t call darkness “light” just because it’s fashionable.

You need the One who doesn’t change.

You need the One who won’t mislead you for His own gain.

You need the One who tells you the truth—even when three thieves insist otherwise.

And that place, that Person, is where I always end up: Jesus.

CENTURY 21 Buelow-Miller, Bolton Team continues to strengthen its position in the Natchitoches real estate market, demonstrating strong leadership, top-producing agents, and strategic growth, while celebrating exceptional individual production, expanded commercial capabilities, and an upcoming milestone marking one year since its merger.

According to year-end market data for 2025, agents with CENTURY 21 Buelow-Miller, Bolton Team dominated the local market, with Janice Bolton and Sarah Oubre ranking #1 and #2 in total sales volume in Natchitoches Parish.

Janice Bolton led the market with more than $7.02 million in total sales volume. With more than two decades of experience, her performance reflects deep market knowledge and a consistent, client-focused approach that continues to set the standard in the Natchitoches market.

Close behind, Sarah Oubre ranked second with over $6.05 million in sales volume. Approaching two years of licensure, Oubre’s rapid growth highlights both her strong work ethic and the impact of the training, mentorship provided by Janice Bolton, and the collaborative culture within CENTURY 21.

Beyond individual production, the office has reached a significant organizational milestone. Under the leadership of Kayla Walker, Broker/Owner, the CENTURY 21 Natchitoches office has earned the CENTURY 21 Commercial Investment Network (CIN) designation, reflecting advanced training and expanded capabilities in commercial real estate. This achievement further positions the brokerage as a comprehensive resource for residential, commercial, and investment clients across the region.

Reflecting on the team’s progress, Walker shared:

“I am incredibly proud of what our Natchitoches office has accomplished in just our first year together. The merger brought together talented professionals who truly support one another, and the growth we’ve seen has been exciting to watch. As we approach our one-year anniversary, I’m excited about what’s ahead and confident this next year will be even stronger.”

March 31, 2026, will mark the one-year anniversary of the merger that formed CENTURY 21 Buelow-Miller, Bolton Team. Since the merger, the office has experienced measurable growth in market share, agent performance, and service offerings—reinforcing the strength of its unified vision and strategic leadership.

Together, these accomplishments highlight CENTURY 21’s commitment to excellence through experienced leadership, rising talent, and forward-looking strategy. As the office approaches this milestone, it does so with strong momentum and a clear focus on continued leadership in the Natchitoches real estate market.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Northwestern State men’s basketball team clawed within striking distance late, but a cold shooting start and Stephen F. Austin’s free throw aim down the stretch sent the Demons to a 69–67 loss to the Southland Conference leading Lumberjacks Tuesday afternoon inside William R. Johnson Coliseum.

The Demons (6-14, 4-7) trimmed a double-digit second-half deficit to two in the final seconds and held the Lumberjacks without a field goal over the final 4:32.

However, Stephen F. Austin (18-3, 11-1) did just enough at the free throw line to secure the SLC victory and its sixth straight win. It was NSU’s third straight loss by a combined six points.

“We were better defensively at the end of the game,” said third-year NSU coach Rick Cabrera. “(We gave up) no field goals in the last four-and-a-half minutes. But now it’s about putting offense and defense together at the right time.”

Trailing 64–59 with just over four minutes remaining, Northwestern tightened defensively and made one final push.

Senior Willie Williams scored twice in the paint in the final minute to pull Northwestern within three, and the Demons nearly forced a turnover on the ensuing possession.

Jerald Colonel’s diving save preserved the possession, however, leading to Keon Thompson — the game’s leading scorer and reigning Southland Player of the Week — heading to the free-throw line with 10 seconds remaining.

Thompson’s two free throws pushed the margin back to five, effectively sealing the outcome.

SFA led for almost the entire contest, racing ahead 18-3 in the opening minutes. Behind 16 points from Chip Brunt, Northwestern fought back within 37-32 at halftime and tied the game at 37, but the Lumberjacks ran off seven straight points and pushed the lead to as many as 11.

Micah Thomas carried the Demons offensively in the second half, scoring repeatedly off the dribble. Williams added consistent production inside as the Demons chipped away, cutting the deficit to four with 5:47 remaining before SFA answered with its final field goal of the afternoon.

Brunt’s 16 points in just seven minutes of first-half action came while shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.

“Chip really woke us up in the first half,” says Cabrera. “If he doesn’t have the half he had, I don’t know where we’d be going into halftime. He gave us a huge lift.”

SFA’s Thompson led all scorers with 27 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting performance.

“He’s the straw that stirs the drink,” Cabrera said. “That dude is the LeBron James of the Southland. He’s so strong, gets to his spot and doesn’t get rattled. We had moments with our game plan, but we’ve got to be better.”

Northwestern received balanced offensive production with Thomas and Brunt combining for 37 points. Thomas finished with 18, including 14 in the second half, while Brunt paced Northwestern with a career-high 19.

Despite not scoring in the first half, Williams recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The Demons go south to New Orleans for a Saturday matchup against the Privateers.

Once again I’m going off the rails and taking a break from talking fishing. Those of you that have read my articles from the very beginning know about my history as a kid. Growing up on the streets of Rosenburg, Texas, and Houston, made me a little tougher than most kids my age. I knew first-hand by the age of 8 what it was like to be footloose and fancy free running the streets ‘til all hours of the night, with zero guidance. 

While my biological mother was more concerned with her modeling career and surviving the beatings she took at the hands of my stepdad, I was just trying to survive. I was the one sneaking into houses looking for a quick meal. 

The one thing I always wondered — where was my real dad during all of this and why did I never get to meet him? Why was he never involved in my life?

Was this his choice to avoid contact with me or was there some kind of a mutual agreement between my mother and him that he was to never reach out to me for any reason?

These are questions that I’ll never get the answers to until the day I’m reunited with my dad and the loved ones who have crossed over to the other side. But as a father myself, I cannot imagine having a child in this world and not knowing who or where they were. 

I’ve always heard that my athletic abilities came from my dad. I’ve heard stories from my older brother, Mike (we share the same mom and dad), on the kind of dad he was to him and how he supported him and his athletic career. 

But the same questions continue to go through my head today, even at the age of 64. How was it that we never met? Why didn’t he reach out to me? 

Every kid wants that relationship with their dad. A dad plays an important role in the development of a young boy growing into a man. He also provides a sense of security to all his children that no matter what, dad always has their back.  

He provides advice and guidance for life’s troubled journey and teaches how to navigate those trials and tribulations. He’s the man who jerks a knot in your tail when you need correcting or get out of line. He’s the rock you look up to and hope to make proud one day. He’s the man you only hope you can be one day. 

But for me, that connection was never made. The years went by with zero contact from the man that I only heard about from relatives. From what I’ve been able to learn over the years, he had a good side and a bad side. 

I’ve been told that he enjoyed his Friday and Saturday nights at local taverns, but he also had wandering eyes for the ladies and traded one for another frequently. Guess this is why he and my mother divorced while she was pregnant with me. All total, he was married seven times (the legal limit in Texas) and once to the same lady, twice. 

So, maybe those that knew him thought it was in my best interest NOT to have a relationship with him; that nothing good would come out of us having that father-son bond that a boy wants with his dad. 

But looking back, he missed out on so much of my life’s great experiences. Things that a dad is supposed to be there for like a high school state championship, graduation, signing an athletic scholarship, getting married, being drafted by a Major League Baseball team and so much more! He missed out on so many of my life’s ups and downs — and three great grandkids. 

Growing up, I had the best childhood a young boy could ever ask for while being raised by my aunt and uncle in an awesome small town in East Texas. My uncle, who I called Dad after being adopted, was a great provider and taught me about responsibility and hard work while growing up on a ranch. He assumed the role of a loving father as best he could, but it’s just not the same.

There’s something about having a relationship with the man you share the same DNA with as it completes the internal connection — the connection that only a father can have with his children. 

So, I know the day will come when I’ll get all my questions answered. I’ll finally get to meet the father I never met.  But in the meantime, I’ll do my best to be the best father I can be to all three of my children.  

Louisiana snow day essentials: space heater, extension cord, boiling water, generator, candles, and a phone at 3% battery. While some outside the South might chuckle at a Louisiana winter, we know how to stay prepared, make the most of any situation, and get through it together.