The seventh and final day of early voting in Natchitoches Parish for the May 16, 2026, election concluded on Saturday, May 9, with 285 ballots cast.

According to reports from the Louisiana Secretary of State, nearly all participants chose to vote at the polls, with 283 in-person votes and 2 absentee ballots processed during the day.

Voter Demographics

The demographic breakdown for Day Seven is as follows:

• Race: 170 White voters, 106 Black voters, and 9 voters identified as Other.

• Sex: 162 Female voters and 123 Male voters.

Party Affiliation

Party participation for the final day showed a strong turnout across the board:

• Democrats: 135

• Republicans: 101

• Other/Other Parties: 49

Seven-Day Early Voting Recap

With the early voting period now complete, a total of 1,491 ballots have been cast in Natchitoches Parish.

Early voting has concluded.

The sixth day of early voting in Natchitoches Parish for the May 16, 2026, election concluded on Friday, May 8, with 243 ballots cast.

According to reports from the Louisiana Secretary of State, the vast majority of voters continued to cast their ballots at the polls, with 230 in-person votes and 13 absentee ballots processed during the day.

Voter Demographics

The demographic breakdown for Day Six is as follows:

• Race: 143 White voters

• 87 Black voters, and

• 13 voters identified as Other.

• Sex: 141 Female voters and 102 Male voters.

Party Affiliation

Democrats saw their highest daily turnout of the early voting period on Friday:

• Democrats: 102

• Republicans: 96

• Other/Other Parties: 45

Six-Day Early Voting Recap

Through the first six days of early voting, a total of 1,206 ballots have been cast in Natchitoches Parish.

Early voting continues through May 9, 2026 at the Natchitoches Parish Registrar of Voters office.

By Edwin Crayton

A friend told me about a commercial in which a man sees a billboard advertising a hot new mobile phone. He ducks into a store and buys the phone and as he leaves the store, he sees workers replacing the billboard with an ad for a new, hotter version of the phone he just purchased.  Meaning of course, the phone he just bought is obsolete already.  The ad idea is funny and very true. Technology is advancing rapidly and it’s a struggle to keep up. Yet, we must, even when we don’t like many of the changes. Keeping up with technology isn’t cheap or easy. Like a damsel in distress in a Marvel Movie, you need a superhero to come to the rescue. The good news is, that hero is already nearby. It’s your local library.

One of Superman’s superpowers is x-ray vision. Today’s libraries have the superpower of future vision. They look ahead to what’s coming up in the future, and then democratically bring the hottest and smartest technology to the people—all the people, regardless of race, income or social standing.  Today, your library helps the have nots keep up with the haves. It empowers those who lack the resources to gain access to the latest and greatest technological tools. Quite understandably, there are a lot of fears about Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies that seem way ahead of regulators and safety borders. Understood. Well, it’s a lot easier to deal with something intimidating when you have a staff of librarians, young and old who can help you navigate through it all and use these new machines to serve your needs.

If all of this is news to some people, it’s understandable, because libraries have long had the image of being musty, overly quiet places filled with books and managed by fussy librarians who go around yelling, “Shhhh! BE QUIET!” Actually, that kind of library only exists in the movies—very, very old movies. Today, libraries have the superpower of being able to be many things to many people in a community. Sort of like a Swiss Army Knife of Knowledge. Libraries like our truly excellent Natchitoches Parish Library are employment centers, print shops where you can compose quality, professional looking programs and documents and make copies for amazing prices. Our Natchitoches Parish Library is also a kind of community center where you can take classes, pet animals, get good tutoring, and learn to handle limited legal matters. But best of all, its services help the poor, students and others who can’t afford new technology keep up. And it helps us invest in our young, which means also investing in our community’s future.

On Saturday, May 16, there is going to be a vote about whether or not to support the continued growth of the Natchitoches Parish Library through the millage tax which is how it has been always done, long as I can remember. Weird to use the word tax, because, really, it’s an investment that pays for itself. And it will cost very, very little. You make less, it will cost you a lot less. Here’s how the vote works. A yes vote means that we will continue getting our library services and the “completion of proposed branch-outs in Natchez and Robeline.” A no vote is not good.  It’s a step backwards. It means the library will not be funded and will actually have to cut back on operations, services and even close branches.  New branches if you vote yes. Closing branches if you vote no. You don’t have to have to be Super I.Q. Man tp know that for our community’s future, yes is looking a lot better than no.

This is serious. How serious? This parish-wide 8 mil property tax provides 97% of the library’s funding. Without this funding, the library’s next superpower will be disappearing. Not good. We need great libraries to build great communities.  Libraries promote literacy and learning. They also help economically, because when companies consider where to place a plant, they evaluate the quality of life and education in a town or city they are considering.  They favor towns and cities that rate high in education and that have a literate population. Literate populations need literate, smart libraries. Whatever you invest in your library will pay for itself. Walter Cronkite, the legendary CBS news anchor is quoted as having said, “Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheaper compared to that of an ignorant nation.”

The library has one superpower that I especially like—they give you lots of cool services for free. As a lifelong penny-pincher, free has always been my favorite price. A lot of the library’s best services come at no cost: There’s free portable W-Fi and laptop check out; free meeting room and private study room reservations; free in-person tutoring (online tutoring is available as well.); free tax preparation for the elderly through the Free Community Tax Services Program; free monthly fitness series; free art classes; free outdoor movies and family-oriented events. And that’s just a partial list.

Maybe the most compelling superpower of them all is the libraries ability to serve so many people from so many different walks of life, living in our community.  Think about this. In 2025, our local libraries had 43,744 visits to our branches. They hosted 935 events. 51,070 items were circulated—books, DVDs, audio tapes, etc. And there were over100,000 wireless connections.

To the Bookmobile Batman! There were 36 bi-weekly mobile library stops.

Anyone who knows me, knows I spend a bunch of time hanging out at the library. In fact, I am writing this article in the library lab right now. I am truly grateful that when I was about six or seven, my mother took me and my brothers and sisters two places that impacted my life and still do. She took us to church and to the library. She exposed us to Bibles and books. She signed all of us up for Sunday School and got us all library cards. I highly recommend new moms (and older ones) do likewise. Both the church and the library are matchless resources for knowledge. One of the best of all the superpowers in the universe is the superpower of intelligence.  But you have to invest in intelligence. I believe a “yes” vote on May 16 will help improve our future and our children’s in a time when change is occurring faster than a speeding bullet. *

“When in doubt, go to the library.” -J.K. Rowling

 “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” – Albert Einstein

 *An original copy of the first edition Superman comic book, from 1939, sold for 9 million dollars.

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The Louisiana Department of Health is urging residents to prioritize water safety as summer approaches, reminding families that strong safety practices can help prevent drownings and serious water-related injuries, particularly among children.

The reminder comes as Gov. Jeff Landry has proclaimed May as Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund Swim Safety Month.

According to recent data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the fourth leading cause of injury-related deaths among children ages 0 to 14 in Louisiana.

LDH officials said most drownings are preventable and often happen quickly and quietly. Between 2022 and 2024, 55 children drowned in Louisiana, according to the LDH Office of Public Health. More than half of those children were unsupervised, and 42 percent drowned in water areas without proper protective barriers. Most incidents occurred in swimming pools.

An additional 54 children were hospitalized due to nonfatal drownings or near-drownings, which health officials say can lead to lifelong disabilities and permanent developmental impacts.

State health officials are encouraging parents and caregivers to actively supervise children whenever they are near water, keep young children within arm’s reach and never leave children unattended around pools, lakes or other bodies of water.

The department also recommends enrolling children in swim lessons at an early age, installing protective barriers and self-latching gates around pools, ensuring pools and spas have compliant drain covers and teaching children to avoid pool drains.

Officials say extra caution should be used in open water environments such as lakes and beaches, where conditions can include low visibility, changing depths, currents and underwater hazards.

Families are also encouraged to use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets during boating and water recreation activities, avoid alcohol while swimming or supervising children and learn CPR and basic rescue skills in case of emergencies.

Additional water safety information, swim lesson resources and CPR class information are available through the Louisiana Department of Health.

She is clothed with strength, dignity and math skills. There isn’t a human on the face of this earth that could convince me that moms aren’t math geniuses.

For the past twenty seven years of my life, I have been a mother. And most recently a new empty nester, I have had droves of extra alone time to reflect. Or pout, about being alone. I sometimes find myself counting the days until one of my daughters come home. It also suddenly dawned on me one day that I measured the last twenty two years of motherhood by school years. Year after year, plans were always made from August until May to coincide with a public school year.

Prior to my girls being in school, I was constantly measuring other things. Baby formula. How many ounces of water per scoop of baby formula? Diapers. How many pounds should they weigh before they move up to the next size of diapers? Baby cereal. How many teaspoons of cereal per ounce of formula? Pediatrician visits. How often should you bring the baby in for wellness visits for each year of their young lives? Sitting up and rolling over. How old should they be before this mobility milestone happens? Walking. How many steps did they take for the first time before they fell down?

Moms are always calculating something.

Cooking. Preparing perfectly measured meals that fit an ever growing, ever changing and ever picky family. Time management and math skills are first cousins. Moms are always mapping out their schedules to fit in the maximum number of errands, appointments, and pickups before the end of day. Sometimes with only seconds to spare. But they get it done. Therapist. Every mom has to schedule extra time to help their children decompress from their day.

As my daughters became older, the math became a little more difficult. Making sure that each child had equal number of gifts and equal dollars spent for each birthday, holiday and Christmas. As much math that mom’s are responsible for, daughters keep up with their own math as well. Being a fair mathematician was always appreciated by my girls.

The mind of a mom is crammed full of the math that it took to raise our children. Each pound, each date, each doctor visit, each medicine dropper, each ounce, each birthday, every milestone of childhood, every holiday, every school play or sport, each haircut, each shopping trip, each trip to grocery store, every mile driven, every dollar spent, each pet, and every book read…all take up space in the math filled memory bank of a mother.

When God created mothers, he knew they would be the heart and soul of the family. He gave each one of us a strength for every season that we go through while raising a family. Some seasons require more math that others. Some seasons require more patience than others. Some seasons require you to give yourself more grace than normal. Some seasons even require you to love other people’s children as your own. Being a mother is a gift that you unwrap every single day with gratefulness, humility, and delight. May God continue to shine his light on all mothers on this Mother’s Day weekend. If you are blessed enough to still have your mom, I hope you take a minute to hug her tight and appreciate the many math problems she solved on your behalf.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
Proverbs 31:25-27

Reba Phelps
jreba.phelps@gmail.com

The fifth day of early voting in Natchitoches Parish for the May 16, 2026, election concluded on Thursday, May 7, with a total of 213 ballots cast.

According to reports from the Louisiana Secretary of State, 186 voters cast their ballots in person, while 27 absentee ballots were processed during the day.

Voter Demographics

The demographic breakdown for Day Five is as follows:

• Race: 152 White voters, 53 Black voters, and 8 voters identified as Other.

• Sex: 112 Female voters and 101 Male voters.

Party Affiliation

Republicans represented the largest turnout group for Thursday’s session:

• Republicans: 110

• Democrats: 71

• Other/Other Parties: 32

   

Five-Day Early Voting Recap

Through the first five days of early voting, a total of 963 ballots have been cast in Natchitoches Parish.

Early voting continues through May 9, 2026 at the Natchitoches Parish Registrar of Voters office.

Senior Chalin Gandy of St. Mary’s defended his Class A pole vault state championship Thursday at the LHSAA’s track and field meet in Baton Rouge, while his younger sister Corbin had two top five finishes.

Gandy cleared a personal best 12-6 to win the pole vault for a second straight year at Bernie Moore Track Stadium on the LSU campus. His sister was third in the girls vault, clearing 8-5 ½, and captured fifth in the long jump with a 15-10 ½ leap.

Meanwhile, the news was not as good back home. The St. Mary’s baseball team locked in a nailbiter in its Select Division IV quarterfinal battle at Cracker Brown Field with Central Catholic, with the teams playing two extra innings before the visitors escaped with a 4-2 victory.

The Tigers moved out to an early 2-0 lead over the Eagles, who tied the game in the sixth inning and pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the ninth of a very tense contest. For 16^th-seeded Central Catholic (19-15-1), it was a second straight upset victory against a higher-seeded opponent on the road, after knocking off No. 1 Opelousas Catholic last week.

St. Mary’s (16-10), the ninth seed, moved on top in the first inning on an RBI double by Haiden Nelson. An inning later, Tucker Johnson singled and later scored on an error for a 2-0 Tiger lead, but SMS couldn’t cross the plate again.

The Eagles got a fifth inning home run and plated the tying run in the top of the sixth.

LAKE CHARLES – A year later, Northwestern State and McNeese continued their pattern of one-run games.

After the final three meetings of the 2025 season between the teams were decided by the slimmest of margins, the first of a three-game Southland Conference baseball series at Joe Miller Ballpark followed suit as Easton Dowell’s two-out double in the 11th inning brought home the only run in a 1-0 Cowboy victory.

Junior right-hander Dylan Marionneaux, a three-time Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week, gave the Demons (25-22 overall, 16-12 SLC) their best start of the season, shutting out the Cowboys (26-23, 14-14) on two hits through nine innings.

Marionneaux covered the first nine innings in 99 pitches, striking out six without issuing a walk.

“I’m really proud of the job Slim (Marionneaux) did,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “Unbelievable start, unbelievable performance. I’m really proud of the job that (Caden) Fiveash did out of the bullpen. He was really, really good, too, and the ball was coming out of his hand really well. We posted a zero in the error column and turned some nice double plays to get ourselves off the field with two outs to be able to post the 10 zeroes that it took. We just need the offense to come around in the game’s most critical at-bats.”

During that time, the Demons had their chances against McNeese left-hander Cooper Golden, who tossed 7 2-3 shutout innings of his own.

Northwestern’s two best chances against Golden came in the sixth, eighth and 11th innings.

Two two-out walks by Thomas Marsala III and Ethan Menard put Golden on the ropes in the sixth before a flyout ended the threat.

Two innings later, Brooks Leonard and Marsala ended Golden’s day with back-to-back, two-out hits before reliever Jaden Bahl (2-1) got Ethan Menard to pop out to end the inning.

Northwestern again had its chances in extra innings as Menard led off the 11th with a double before Joe Siervo sacrificed pinch runner Lane Lusk to third. Michael McAloose’s hard line drive went right to third baseman Korey Cooper, who tagged out Lusk on an inning-ending double play.

Meanwhile, Marionneaux cruised through the McNeese lineup.

A junior from Zachary, Marionneaux never allowed more than one runner to reach base in an inning. Twice, he induced inning-ending double plays to maintain the scoreless tie through nine innings.

Fiveash (3-1) struck out four in 1 2-3 innings of relief, but a leadoff walk to Marcus Heusohn proved to be part of the difference as Dowell’s sinking line drive got by a diving JT Simonelli to score Heuson from first with the game’s only run.

“I thought we played really, really well,” Bertrand said. “We just couldn’t find ourselves in a position to cash in. We had a good plan against (Golden), but we stepped on some balls early in the game that, obviously, on a night like tonight, it’s not going to go anywhere. I don’t know that it’s as much unlucky as we need to find ourselves in a position to create a little bit of our own good fortune by executing offensive baseball a little more soundly throughout the game and not have it be as stressful as those moments have become.”

The series continues at 6 p.m. today, weather permitting, with a matchup of right-handers. Northwestern will send Kevin Robinson (0-3, 3.45) to the mound against McNeese’s Eric Nachtsheim (6-3, 3.63).

The Natchitoches Junior High JAG members have expressed appreciation to Mrs. Katrice Below and the Bank of Montgomery for their continued partnership and support of the program.

Through the bank’s contributions, JAG students are able to take part in a range of opportunities, including educational experiences, leadership development activities, workforce readiness training, and community service projects throughout the school year.

Program representatives noted that support from community partners such as the Bank of Montgomery plays an important role in helping students build skills that strengthen their academic, social, and professional growth.

The NJH JAG program extended its gratitude for the ongoing commitment to the success and development of its members.

WHAT: The Natchitoches Parish Voters and Civic League Foundation, Inc. will host a critical reorganization meeting to discuss the future of the league and provide updates on local elections.

WHEN: Friday, May 8, 2026, at 6 p.m..

WHERE: Winnfield Funeral Home, 318 North Street, Natchitoches

WHO: All concerned citizens, voters, and community members are encouraged to attend.

WHY: This gathering serves as a key session to reorganize the league’s foundation and ensure community participation in upcoming election cycles. Participation is vital for residents interested in shaping the civic future of Natchitoches.

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana families may qualify for SUN Bucks, a summer grocery assistance program providing a one-time $120 benefit for each eligible school-aged child to help purchase food during the summer break.

The program applies to children ages 5 to 18 and is designed to assist families while school meal programs are unavailable during the summer months.

Most eligible children will automatically receive the benefit and do not need to apply. Automatic eligibility includes children born between Aug. 20, 2007, and July 1, 2020, who received SNAP, FITAP, KCSP or income-based Medicaid benefits at any time between July 1, 2025, and Aug. 20, 2026.

Children may also automatically qualify if they attend a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and were approved individually for free or reduced-price meals.

Some families, however, will need to submit an application. This includes households with children attending Community Eligibility Provision schools where all students receive free meals but no meal application was completed. Families may also qualify based on household income even if they do not meet the automatic eligibility categories.

Applications for summer 2026 benefits will be accepted through Aug. 20, 2026. Approved applicants typically receive benefits within three weeks of approval.

Officials say SUN Bucks benefits will begin distribution in mid-May. Families already receiving SNAP or those who participated in SUN Bucks last summer will have benefits added to their existing EBT card. Other households will receive a preloaded EBT card by mail in a plain white envelope addressed to the child.

Families are encouraged to verify their mailing address information with Medicaid, FITAP, KCSP and their child’s school to avoid delays in receiving benefits.

SUN Bucks cards can be activated through the LifeInCheck app, by calling 888-997-1117 or online through the LifeInCheck EBT system. Cardholders will need the child’s Social Security information, birthdate and ZIP code to complete activation.

Officials also remind families to choose secure PIN numbers and avoid common patterns such as repeated or consecutive digits.

BOM Bank is proud to sponsor the Cane River National Heritage Area Mini Golf Tournament on Thursday, April 30! Proceeds from the tournament will support the future Cane River Discovery Center, an exciting new interactive visitor and learning space designed for children and families in our community. The event is at Timber Ridge Adventure Park (formerly Dark Woods).

Pictured left to right: BOM’s Jaliyah Addison and Kacy Young.

The monthly Young at Heart luncheon for seniors was held May 6 at First United Methodist Church, bringing together community members for music, food and fellowship.

Entertainment for the event was provided by the Amazing Rhythm Disciples Band, which performed a selection of old-time gospel music along with several “mash-up” arrangements combining hymns and secular songs. Band members included Henry Reggans, Johnny Dunn, Rodney Harrington, John Richmond and Keith Shirley.

The group also recognized May birthdays for June Durr and Deborah Caron, with Durr celebrating her 95th birthday this month. Pat Megason and Ken Megason were also recognized for their 64th wedding anniversary.

Harvey Polk served as master of ceremonies, while Gary Willis offered the prayer before the meal. Decorations for the luncheon were provided by the church’s Koinonia Circle.

Young at Heart meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. in Bostick Hall at First United Methodist Church. Organizers say the gathering is non-denominational and open to all senior citizens in the community. Attendees are asked to pay a $5 fee or bring a covered dish to share.

The group will take a summer break during June and July, with the next meeting scheduled for Aug. 5.

Phonetic: /DUJ-un/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

• Dudgeon is typically used in the phrase “in high dudgeon” to describe someone who is angry and offended by something they perceive to be unfair or wrong.
  
  The customer stormed out of the store in high dudgeon after the manager refused to give them a refund for their purchase.

NATCHITOCHES, La. — The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has released the 2025 water system grades for Natchitoches Parish, providing a comprehensive look at the quality and performance of local drinking water infrastructure.

The grading initiative was established under the Community Drinking Water Accountability Act (Act 98 of the 2021 Regular Session). This legislation authorizes the LDH Safe Drinking Water Program to issue letter grades based on seven key standards: Federal Water Quality, State Water Quality, Financial Sustainability, Operation and Maintenance, Infrastructure, Customer Satisfaction, and Secondary Contaminants such as iron and manganese.

The 2025 results show a significant performance gap across the parish, ranging from systems exceeding perfect scores to those receiving failing marks due to infrastructure and compliance issues.

2025 Natchitoches Parish Water System Rankings

The following table ranks parish water systems based on their LDH accountability score:

High Achievers and Bonus Credits

The Sandy Point 480 Water System achieved the highest marks in the parish with a 105% score. The system earned a perfect baseline and received five bonus points for its storage or well assessment and maintenance programs. Other top-tier systems, including Creston, Goldonna, Natchitoches Parish WWKS District 2, and Chee Chee Bay, all secured “A” grades with scores of 98%.

Critical Deficiencies in Municipal Systems

At the bottom of the rankings, the Provencal Water System and the Natchitoches Water System both received “F” grades.

The Provencal system faced the steepest challenges, losing 20 points for infrastructure deficiencies and 10 points for non-compliance with federal administrative orders. It also received deductions for secondary contaminants, specifically high levels of iron or manganese.

The Natchitoches Water System scored 55%, with maximum point deductions in infrastructure and customer satisfaction. Notably, the system lost 10 points for not having a certified water operator at the time of the state assessment.

Mid-Range Performance

Several systems fell into the “C” and “D” range. The Bellwood Water System (69%) was heavily penalized with a 30-point deduction for federal water quality violations. Meanwhile, Hagewood Water System (73%) saw its score drop due to a lack of financial sustainability, failing to submit an acceptable rate study or audit to the state.

The LDH uses these annual assessments to encourage local systems to address unresolved deficiencies, such as chlorine violations or infrastructure decay, to ensure long-term public health and safety.

You can visit the Community Drinking Water Reports:  https://ldh.la.gov/bureau-of-engineering-services/watergrade

The City of Natchitoches Planning and Zoning Department recently recognized Bobby Claibornefor more than 25 years of service to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

City officials thanked Claiborne for his longstanding leadership, vision and dedication to the community through his work with the commission.

The recognition honored his contributions to planning and development efforts in Natchitoches over more than two decades of service.

David Stamey Clerk of Court Natchitoches Parish 318-352-8152

When most people hear the word mortgage, they think about buying a home or making monthly payments to a bank. While that is a significant part of the process, mortgages also play an important role behind the scenes in the record-keeping system for Natchitoches Parish.

In Natchitoches Parish, the Clerk of Court officially records documents related to mortgages—including new filings, cancellations, and corrections. Once recorded, this information is shared with the Assessor’s Office, where it becomes part of a property’s broader history.

It is important to note that mortgages do not determine ownership or directly impact a property’s assessed value. However, they provide valuable context. Mortgage records help track financial activity tied to a property, clarify timelines, and support research when questions arise about a specific parcel.

These records are especially useful regarding property taxes. In many cases, a mortgage lender is responsible for paying property taxes through an escrow account. Having mortgage information on file helps the Assessor’s Office identify when an alternate party, such as a bank or servicing company, is responsible for receiving or paying the tax bill.

Understanding how these pieces fit together ensures that records stay accurate and tax notices reach the correct party. While mortgages may seem like purely financial documents, they are a vital part of maintaining clear, reliable parish records.

Residents with questions about property records or tax bill responsibilities can contact the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court or the Assessor’s Office for assistance.