Residents of Natchitoches Parish can expect a warm and increasingly windy midweek stretch before a slight rain chance moves through Thursday, followed by a return to sunshine heading into the weekend.

Today will be mostly sunny with highs reaching the upper 60s. South winds will range from 10 to 15 mph, setting the stage for a warmer pattern.

Wednesday brings mostly cloudy skies and windy conditions, with highs climbing into the upper 70s. South winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph at times.

Thursday remains mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the morning and a better chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs will again reach the upper 70s, with southwest winds between 10 and 15 mph. Rain chances stand at 40 percent during the day and decrease to 30 percent Thursday evening. Cooler air moves in overnight, with lows dropping into the lower 50s.

By Friday, sunshine returns with mostly sunny skies and highs in the mid-70s. Clear conditions Friday night will allow temperatures to dip into the upper 40s.

The weekend looks pleasant, with mostly sunny skies Saturday through Monday. Highs will remain in the upper 70s, while overnight lows settle into the lower 50s.

Overall, the forecast points to a warm and breezy midweek period, a brief opportunity for rainfall Thursday, and a dry, mild weekend ahead.

Spring is right around the corner. The winding, hilly road that leads to Goldonna is starting to turn faintly green making way for a beautiful show of lush Spring foliage that will put on a show for many weeks. While Goldonna is tucked away in the Northern part of Natchitoches Parish it is a well-kept secret of hospitality, flourishing churches and small businesses that cater to the population of the Village. It is the home of the Goldonna Christmas in the Park Festival and soon to be thriving community center that will be housed at the former elementary-junior high school. While some may have considered Goldonna to be closed like the school, elected officials want to remind you that they are open for business and truly want you to come visit the community to experience the benefits of a close knit community that care about as about everyone.

The Goldonna Assembly of God recently announced service time changes for their church. Sunday morning service will now take place at 10 am. Sunday night service has been moved to 5 pm. Wednesday night service is now at 6 pm. They also announced visiting ministers for the rest of the month of February.

February 21- Teen Challenge Street Ministry
February 22- Teen Challenge Men

Goldonna Baptist Church is continuing their Operation Christmas Child Ministry for 2026. The month of February they will be collecting wash clothes and loofahs for their boxes. Donations can be dropped off at the church. Church member, Dan Dupree won the recent “Breakfast for Supper Cookoff” with all proceeds being donated to the Operation Christmas Child Ministry within the church. The church will be hosting their 3rd Annual Clay Shooting Competition on Saturday, March 21 at 10 am. The event will be held at the 4H Shooting range located at 8882 Highway 34 in Winnfield. The entry fee is $25 per person. The competition will benefit Operation Christmas Child shipping costs. For more information please call 318-663-0302.

Revered George Procell would like to announce that the River of Life Family Worship Center will have a special guest Minister on Sunday, March 22. Brother Benny Anglin, who is no stranger to Goldonna, will be ministering. There will be a covered dish church fellowship directly after the service.

For news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

Ever notice how quickly opinions travel faster than facts? This week’s cartoon plays with that idea, leaning into the humor of how we debate, react and sometimes overreact in the digital age. Inspired by the game-show energy of Jeopardy!, it’s a lighthearted reminder that not every buzzer needs to be hit — and sometimes it’s okay to wait for the full answer.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The Northwestern State women’s track and field team is aiming for a fourth consecutive Southland Conference indoor team crown, while the men aim to rebound from its sixth-place finish in 2025, as the 2026 SLC Indoors begin.

The two-day competition schedule starts today at 8:30 with the men’s heptathlon and the women’s pentathlon.

Prior to 2023, the NSU women had not taken home a team conference championship but have won five of the last six championships combined in the indoor and outdoor seasons.

The running events start at noon with the 5000-meter run for the women, while the women’s weight throw and pole vault begin at 1 p.m.

It picks up against with the finishing of the men’s heptathlon at 9:40 a.m. on Thursday.

Despite losing key pieces from last year’s title, the Lady Demons have reloaded. Many Northwestern athletes for both sides are finishing the indoor season strong.

“We’re anxious, nervous, a little bit of everything,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “It’s going to be really tough for the women to the win again since there some really good teams in our conference and everybody wants to beat the defending champ. We have a target on our back since we’ve won three in a row, but we’re still one of the favorites and we’ll go out there and give it our best.”

No women’s team has won at least four conference indoor team titles in a row since Stephen F. Austin took home five straight titles from 2009-13.

While the men have not won the indoor crown since 2001, the Demons have finished in the top three on three occasions since 2018, including a second-place finish in 2023.

On the women’s side, sprinters Margaret Conteh and Rushana Dwyer are hitting their stride.

At the Jarvis Scott Invite, she was a part of the 4×400 relay team that smashed the Southland Conference record, as Conteh, Rushana Dwyer, Kahliyah Anderson and Dhakiya Blake ran a 3:32.47 to place second in the meet, only trailing home school Texas Tech, and broke NSU’s own conference record.

“To get another championship, it will take everybody at their best,” Conteh said. “We just need to go out and do what we’ve already been doing.”

Her 53.23 in the 400 and 24.18 in the 200 rank third and seventh in the SLC, respectively.

Dwyer, a transfer from South Florida, is poised to be a school record breaker in her one season at NSU. She joined Conteh on the relay team that broke the Southland record and also ranks second in the 400 in the SLC.

The women aren’t the only ones who are fast on the track, as the men are also strong as well.

William Achee, a school record holder in the 400-meter dash and as a member of the 4×400 relay team, is second in the Southland in the 400 and sixth in the 200.

Achee is one of three in the top six in the conference in the 400, as he is joined by Kason Jones and Desmond Duncan.

The Demons have three in the top five in the 60-meter dash, led by Kalen Beavers and Keontae Gaines, who are tied for third with a time of 6.70. Koen Beavers is right behind them in fifth with a time of 6.71.

In the field, Donroy Brown and Roy Morris for the men and Samari Finney and Ryah Dates on the women’s side are near—or at—the top in their events.

Brown, the reigning SLC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, leads the charge in the men’s shot put, while Morris is tops in the men’s long jump.

Finney is the No. 1 competitor in the women’s long jump and Dates is fourth in both shot put and weight throw.

RUSTON – As the Northwestern State baseball team’s five-game road trip ended Tuesday night, its search for complementary baseball remained unfulfilled.

The Demons shook off a slow start on the mound with strong work from the back end of the bullpen, but the offense could not find the key hit in a 5-2 loss to state rival Louisiana Tech on J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

“We continue to be proud of the competitiveness and of the fight, but if we are expecting or wanting a different result, then we have to do things that win,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “The crooked number (a three-run third inning) came after we got two quick outs. Three runs with two outs, and we talk about getting off the field. I don’t think that 13 strikeouts say we took advantage of our opportunities in the way we possibly should have. I do think a 5-2 game against an incredible team continues to show fight, and it continues to show grit. We just, at some point, have to mix our talent with clean baseball execution and that fighting spirit and put them all together in a complementary form of baseball.”

The Demons (5-4) fell behind early as Colton Coates delivered a leadoff home run on the fifth pitch of the game from Jacob LeBlanc (1-1).

Foreshadowing the work of five relief pitchers, LeBlanc settled back in and limited the damage to one run across two innings. Fellow sophomore Wesley Marien followed LeBlanc and appeared on his way to an uneventful third inning when he retired the first two hitters without incident.

Following a two-out Colby Lunsford double, though, things went haywire on the Demons.

Sebastian Mexico singled to left field where Bryce Johnson charged and threw home. Johnson’s throw was slightly up the third-base line, forcing catcher Sebastian Huerta to make a tag and a catch in the same motion on Lunsford, who was ruled safe.

The play was challenged and an obstruction call allowed the run to stand. The Bulldogs (8-1) added two more runs to the lead as five straight hitters reached to build a 4-0 lead.

Northwestern was able to battle back with a Thomas Marsala sacrifice fly in the fourth and a sac fly from Sam Ardoin in the fifth before both bullpens took over. The Demon quartet of Caleb Muffoletto, Kevin Robinson, Noah Spears and Brody Trosclair shut out Louisiana Tech across the final 4 1-3 innings, keeping the game within striking distance.

The Northwestern offense, however, could not fully solve the Bulldogs’ back end trio of Thomas Allen (1-0), Nate Crider and Riley Fisher. That group limited the Demons to three hits and a walk while striking out nine in the final four innings.

Northwestern built one final push in the ninth inning as Marsala and Joe Siervo singled to start the inning before Fisher retired the final three hitters to collect his first save.

“Very proud of the way those guys threw the ball out of the bullpen,” Bertrand said. “For them to put up four consecutive zeroes and hold the ball game where it was, that was a really good thing. We were never really able to capitalize on any type of spark we go. We gave up outs on the bases after we started to gain momentum. It seems like every time we were able to cut the lead, we allowed them to come back and answer. We showed flashes of it, but when you look at the game from start to finish, from inning one to inning nine, we were lacking that complementary nature.”

The Demons return to action Friday when they host Southeastern Louisiana in the opener of a three-game Southland Conference series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.

When you’re young and full of pee and vinegar, you think you’re bullet proof. You have a younger mindset that nothing can happen to you. But nothing could be further from the truth. For an angler, or anyone who spends a great deal of time in the outdoors, there are three words you never want to hear, “You have Melanoma.”

This is the number one form of cancer that takes more lives than any other. Like so many others, I thought something like this would never happen to me. But God had other plans as that day came for me in June of 2023. Never in a million years did I think I would be that guy who would have to battle cancer, but here’s my story.

A couple of years earlier I started seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis. Then one day while my sister-in-law was cutting my hair, she asked if I knew about this small black dot on the back of my ear. Since none of us can see the back of our ears, I had never seen this spot. She suggested I get it looked at, so I took her advice and made an appointment.

It was March of 2023 when I had this appointment, and my dermatologist suggested we try some chemo cream to help get rid of this spot. Well, after two weeks of chemo cream the spot went away. I thought my worries were over until mid-April when the spot returned. So once again, I made another appointment scheduled for the first week of May.

While I wasn’t overly concerned, we were planning a family vacation to Disney World the last week of May and I wanted this spot off my ear. But as fate would have it, my dermatologist had to go out of town to attend a convention, and my May appointment was cancelled. So, they rebooked me for the last week of June which was basically eight weeks.

Again, at this point, I’m still not overly concerned but really wanted this off my ear. Well, let’s just say when I returned for my appointment the last week of June, this spot had ulcerated and was now a deep purple color. Then the day of my appointment, the minute I was called to the back, the nurse took a look at my ear, and she instantly got very concerned and rushed out of the room to get my dermatologist.

This got my attention and now I’m nervous as my doctor walked in and said, “Oh, Steve this is not good, and I’ll go ahead and prepare you that this is probably going to come back positive for Melanoma.”

She biopsied the spot and overnighted it to a lab for testing. The next day around 10 that morning, she called and told me, “You have Melanoma.” My heart sank and I was a little overwhelmed and wasn’t sure what to think. But my dermatologist did an outstanding job of reassuring me that everything will be OK, as hopefully we’ve caught this early.

To shorten this story, I had two ear surgeries to remove the upper portion of my left ear and four difficult immunotherapy sessions that were hard to get through due to my reaction to the drug OPDIVO. But since then, all of my scans have been clear and bloodwork has been good.

Immediately I started the first year going to M.D. Anderson in Houston every three months. Then in late 2025, they scheduled me for testing every six months which is where I’m at today. Hopefully, if my PET scans, MRI’s and bloodwork continue to be clear, I’ll soon be moving to testing annually for the rest of my life.

The one thing my cancer doctor has told me is that Melanoma is the worst form of cancer that can hide in the body for long periods of time. It can come back at any point and that’s why I’ll continue to go back to M.D. Anderson from now on.

Here’s my advice to anyone (especially anglers) when it comes to protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun. First, understand this: Melanoma does not discriminate, and no one is immune to getting this form of cancer. Wear long sleeve SPF shirts with built-in sunscreen. Wear long pants instead of shorts to protect your legs. Wear a wide brim hat — even if you look goofy. I also wear fishing gloves to help protect my hands.

Always apply sunscreen to any portion of the skin that might be exposed. Do everything you can to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Because the words you never want to hear are, “You have Melanoma.”

I did not put my sense of humor away for Lent. Honestly, I’m not sure I could if I tried. My sense of humor has a mind of its own and occasionally needs to be told, “Hush now, we’re in church.” I once preached a funeral with the “Exit” sign burned out over the doors we’d be leaving through. My brain, unhelpfully, started processing the symbolism — we all exit eventually — and before I knew it, my mouth was dangerously close to sharing that observation with the grieving family. That’s when I realized: for Lent, I may fast from many things, but my sense of humor is apparently not one of them.

And speaking of Lent, that little moment of funeral foolishness reminded me how this season always brings out our quirks, our questions, and our wellintentioned attempts at spiritual discipline. Many congregations observe Lenten practices, and you can usually spot us by the annual question: “So… what are you giving up for Lent?” Some of my Roman Catholic friends give up meat on Fridays, which has sparked many a conversation — and, fun fact, is the reason McDonald’s invented the fish sandwich. Stick with these Ponderings long enough and you’ll be ready for Jeopardy!

Which brings me to one of my favorite Lenten stories.

John Smith was the only Protestant to move into a large Catholic neighborhood. On the first Friday of Lent, John was outside grilling a big, juicy steak. Meanwhile, all his neighbors were dutifully eating cold tuna fish. This went on every Friday. Finally, the Catholic men decided something had to be done — John was tempting them beyond what any human should endure.

So they set out to convert him.

They talked with him, brought him to church, and the priest sprinkled water over him saying, “You were born a Baptist, you were raised a Baptist, and now you are a Catholic.” The men rejoiced. Their Lenten temptations were over.

Until the next year.

The first Friday of Lent rolled around, and just as the neighborhood sat down to their tuna, the unmistakable aroma of steak drifted through the air. They rushed to John’s yard, ready to remind him of his new commitments.

And there he stood, sprinkling water over his steak, saying, “You were born a cow, you were raised a cow, and now you are a fish.”

It’s funny — and it’s also a gentle reminder. It’s not what our neighbors call us that defines us. It’s not even what we call ourselves. Our actions, our habits, our quiet choices — those speak louder than our reputations or our labels.

Lent invites us into that quieter truth. Not the showy kind, not the “look what I’m giving up” kind, but the kind that shapes us from the inside out.

This Lent is Jesus shaping your heart and your journey to Easter?

The Natchitoches Parish Council approved all items on its agenda during its regular meeting Feb. 23, including appointments, funding allocations and a tax renewal election.

The Council appointed Lori Frederick to the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission, replacing Dustin Dauzat, who moved in August 2025.

The council adopted Resolution 011-2026 in support of the Community Water Enrichment Fund Program, authorizing the parish to execute and submit a grant application for 2025-2026 funding on behalf of the Fairview Union Water System, which will be used for the purchase of a new filter to improve water quality in the area.

Members also approved Resolution 012-2026, calling for an election in Fire Protection District No. 10 on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Voters in the district will consider the renewal of a special tax.

In other business, the council approved an agreement with the Rapides Area Planning Commission to provide services for a building official and floodplain administrator. The agreement includes maintaining a staff presence through a satellite office within the parish for a flat monthly fee of $2,000 and authorizes the Parish President to sign the necessary paperwork.

The council also authorized $60,000 in funding for FAUNA. The funding includes $10,000 for its spay and neuter program and $50,000 for operating costs.

Additionally, members approved declaring two library vehicles as surplus property: a 1999 bookmobile and a 2005 Freightliner bookmobile.

The Natchitoches City Council met February 23, hearing updates from the Mayor’s Youth Council, approving two agricultural leases, introducing a water treatment facility improvement ordinance, and addressing multiple resolutions and financial reports.

The Mayor’s Youth Council continues to provide students across Natchitoches with opportunities to engage with the community while learning about local culture and government operations. The council meets monthly, with each session focusing on civic engagement, community service, and hands-on learning experiences.

Amelia Willis, a senior at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, shared her experience as a member of the council. “Last January, I’d only been living in Natchitoches for about a year and a half… I realized I need to be more involved in the surrounding community outside of just the LSMSA and NSU bubble,” Willis said. She described council activities ranging from a visit to Fort St. Jean Baptiste to hands-on lessons in cultural traditions, such as making king cakes with Fire Chief John Wynn. “None of us were particularly fantastic at it, but the overabundance of sugar was quick to cover any insecurities we had about the success of our baking,” Willis added.

The council is also planning future projects, including a collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club to encourage youth involvement citywide. Members say the council not only deepens their understanding of the city but also fosters lasting connections among students from different schools.

Ordinances – Final Approval

• Approve an agricultural lease with Russell & Mary Edith Stacy Farms for property located between Louisiana Highway 1 By-Pass and Waterwell Road.
• Approve a second agricultural lease for a 96.82-acre tract, 69.11 acres of which are farmable, also with Russell & Mary Edith Stacy Farms.

Both ordinances were previously tabled and finalized at this meeting.

Ordinance – Introduction

• Award a bid for Phase 2 of water treatment facility improvements (Bid No. 0682). The project will continue upgrades to Plant 3 after completion of Plant 2 improvements and includes funding coverage that leaves a small cushion for unforeseen costs.

Resolutions

• Enter into a task order agreement with KSA Engineers for T-hangar taxi lane design at Natchitoches Regional Airport. The project is FAA-funded.
• Approve a task order agreement with KSA Engineers for fuel facility improvements at the airport. The upgrade supports growing jet and agricultural aviation traffic and is fully FAA-funded.
• Approve the lease of a dozer for the city’s Utility Department with Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, replacing a previous rental arrangement and saving the city money.

Finance Director Clarissa Smith reported January sales tax collections totaled $1,400,000, up 1.12% from last year. Fiscal-year collections increased 3.2%, totaling $311,000 more than the previous year. Hotel occupancy and economic development district taxes also showed increases, while DMV collections were slightly down.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2026.

After years of planning, city officials have announced that Fire Station No. 3 on University Parkway is moving forward, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for March 3.

The project has been a priority for Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr., who has emphasized strengthening public safety infrastructure across the city.

City leaders also recognized the efforts of Fire Chief Wynn, City Lobbyist Ashley Tassin, members of the city council and state legislators for their roles in advancing the project.

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, at 3600 University Parkway. Residents and community members are invited to attend.

The St. Mary’s 5/6 Grade Team, coached by Evan Gandy, Ray Gandy, Jason Adcock, and Chad Methvin, brought home the championship at the February Frost Closing Tournament for the USSSA Junior High Baseball League!

After earning the #1 seed in pool play, the team battled their way to the title game and secured a hard-fought 4–3 victory over Herndon Magnet in the championship. The team received championship rings and a championship bag.

What makes this win even more special is the heart behind it. The boys prayed together before and after each game and played the entire tournament in honor of Mr. John Scott, our beloved SMS Religion Teacher who recently passed away.

This team showed what it truly means to represent St. Mary’s — faith, teamwork, perseverance, and character. We are so proud of each and every one of you! 

Natchitoches Parish Schools will begin Public Pre-K enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year on Monday, March 9.

Children who turn 4 years old on or before Sept. 30, 2026, are eligible to enroll.

Enrollment events will be held at each child’s zoned school on the following dates:

• Fairview Alpha Elementary School — March 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1439 U.S. 71, Campti

• Provencal Elementary and Junior High School — March 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 132 Cherry St., Provencal

• Marthaville Elementary and Junior High School — March 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 10800 La. Hwy 120, Marthaville

• L.P. Vaughn Elementary and Middle School — March 12 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. or March 13 from 8 a.m. to noon, 1500 Gold St., Natchitoches

Families interested in the Natchitoches Magnet Program must first enroll their child at their zoned school during one of the enrollment events. In addition, parents are required to complete the online magnet application form by March 31.

Parents or guardians should bring the following documents to enrollment:

• Child’s immunization record

• Child’s birth certificate

• Child’s Social Security card

• Parent or guardian’s driver’s license or photo ID

• Current proof of residence

• Proof of income

Families who are unsure which school their child is zoned to attend can verify zoning information through the district’s online portal. For additional questions, contact the Early Childhood Network team at 318-352-8389.

District officials encourage families to take advantage of the enrollment events to prepare young learners for a successful start to their educational journey.

Enrollment is now open for the 2026-2027 school year at NSU Elementary Laboratory School.

Parents interested in applying must complete the school’s enrollment application and submit it to the campus by 3 p.m. on March 6, 2026.

To be eligible, children must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 30, 2026. Proof of address is required as part of the application process.

Applications may be picked up and returned to the school at 1 Caldwell Drive, Warren Easton Building, in Natchitoches.

For additional information, parents may contact the school’s front office at 318-238-6385 or email Jessica Mooney, school secretary, at jessica.mooney@npsb.la.

RUSTON – The Northwestern State baseball team caps its first road swing of the season tonight armed with plenty of information gleaned from a long weekend.

The Demons re-establish their longtime rivalry with Louisiana Tech in Ruston at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Free streaming audio of the game at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park will be available through http://www.NSUDemons.com and the Northwestern State mobile app.

Northwestern (5-3) enters the matchup after dropping three of four games at Central Arkansas while earning its lone win of the series in a 15-inning nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader.

“We continue to discover a lot about our team, and we continue to try to find ways to get the most possible amount of value pulled out of each one of those experiences,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “That’s regardless of us not being exactly happy with the results on the scoreboard. We are very thankful for what it is we’re able to take away from it. When you look at it, the competitive spirit and the fight that continued to be shown on Friday and Saturday – the idea we picked up another extra-inning win – and the great things we did within the first three games of the season.

“I also think that maybe it was not necessarily a bad thing that we went through what we went through on Sunday in the way we got punched in the mouth a little bit, and we have to learn a lot of things when it comes to responding.”

That chance for the Demons to bounce back comes in a familiar place against a familiar face.

Northwestern makes its first visit to Louisiana Tech (7-1) since May 17, 2024, after the teams were unable to schedule a game in 2025. Tuesday’s matchup is the first of three midweek meetings this season, two of which will take place in Ruston.

The Bulldogs have won all seven of their weekend contests this season with their lone loss coming against McNeese a week ago.

Louisiana Tech swept three games this past weekend, defeating Ohio State twice and host Memphis. Former Demon head coach Lane Burroughs (at NSU 2013-16 as head coach, in 1997-98 as a assistant) has been head coach of the Bulldogs since 2017 and recently became the second-winningest coach in Tech baseball history.

“It’s again the ability to challenge your team against men that you respect and against such a quality ball club in an environment – that we continue to maintain – where each one of those experiences is going to do great things for the building blocks of our program,” Bertrand said. “With everything that Lane Burroughs meant to Northwestern State, and what we obviously think of him as a baseball man and the respect we have for him and the environment they have created – you see it being 7-1 right now. They’re coming off some huge weekend wins with the programs they defeated. We’re going to have a challenge in front of us, and it’s going to be an uphill battle for what the Demons are right now. However, we are very grateful for the opportunity to continue to go out and learn and discover against those teams and men in an environment that, hopefully, the Demons get used to playing in.”

Northwestern will be home this weekend beginning Friday evening for a Southland Conference series with Southeastern.

William J. “Bill” Blythe Jr. had recently been honorably discharged from the Army and had just been hired as an equipment salesman by the Mankee Equipment Company of Chicago.  Immediately following World War II, so many soldiers were returning home and looking for work that jobs were scarce.  29-year-old Bill could find no work in his hometown of Hope, Arkansas, and was lucky to find work even if it required him to relocate to the windy city.  It could not have come at a better time.  Bill’s wife, 22-year-old Virginia Dell Cassiday, was six months pregnant.  After calling home with the happy news, Bill began the 750-mile drive back to Hope, Arkansas, to prepare the family for the move.  

Just before midnight on May 17, 1946, Bill had driven about half of the 755 miles to Hope when, about three miles west of Sikeston, Missouri, one of the front tires on Bill’s 1942 Buick sedan blew out.  Bill lost control of the car, and it rolled over twice before coming to a stop on the side of the Brown Spur drainage ditch along Highway 60.  Sikeston was surrounded by drainage ditches to help prevent flooding.  Bill suffered a head injury and crawled out of the wrecked car.  He could hear the sounds of passing cars and could see their headlights as they passed.  He began crawling up the steep embankment toward the highway.  As he was crawling, he slipped and fell into the drainage ditch which contained four feet of water.  There, he drowned.

Virginia was devastated.  Three months after the accident, she had her child and named him William J. Blythe III in honor of her late husband. Everyone called him Billy.  Virginia, now a single parent, went to nursing school in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Virginia’s parents took care of Billy while she was away.  In 1950, Virginia returned to Hope and went to work as a nurse.  In that same year, she met and married a car dealership owner named Roger.  In 1956, Roger and Virginia had a son whom they named Roger Jr.  At some point, Billy Blythe began using his stepfather’s last name, and, in 1962, Billy legally changed his last name so that he and his half-brother would have the same last name.  In the following year, Billy was selected to be a delegate to Boys Nation, a special youth leadership conference held in Washington D.C.  Billy was among the other boys from Boys Nation who, along with the Girls Nation, were invited to the Rose Garden at the White House to meet President John F. Kennedy.  Billy was one of the first in line to shake JFK’s hand.  Billy said later that meeting JFK had a profound impact on his life. 

Imagine just for a second that Bill Blythe’s car wreck never occurred.  Billy Blythe III would probably have been born in Chicago.  The whole trajectory of his life would have been different.  He probably would not have become President of the United States.  If he had, we would know him as Bill Blythe rather than Bill Clinton.        

Sources:

1.      Daily American Republic (Poplar Bluff, Missouri), May 18, 1946, p.1.

2.     “It All Began in a Place Called Hope: Biography of the President Bill Clinton,” National Archives, accessed February 15, 2026, https://clintonwhitehouse5.archives.gov/WH/EOP/OP/html/Hope.html.

Bruiser’s heart is broken, and it breaks ours to see him this way. 

This sweet 7 year-old lab mix was once deeply loved by his dad, who passed away unexpectedly. Bruiser was an inside dog his entire life, a constant companion who rarely left his owner’s side. He wasn’t just a pet, he was family. 

Now, he finds himself in a shelter environment, and this has been especially overwhelming for him, and he’s showing signs of stress, refusing walks and playtime. Kind volunteers have been taking him out for car rides and pup cups to help lift his spirits. He loves the time away, but he seems sad to return. 

Bruiser is: 

• Calm and loving 

• House-trained 

• Neutered and up to date on vaccinations 

• Very well behaved 

• Gentle on a leash, he doesn’t pull or jump 

Because of his calm, easygoing demeanor, we think Bruiser would make a wonderful companion for an older person or anyone looking for a quiet, devoted best friend. 

We are hoping to find a temporary foster for Bruiser soon. Fostering a dog is a very rewarding experience that’s not a lifetime commitment, it’s simply providing a loving, temporary home for a dog in need. FAUNA will provide all supplies needed: food, medical care, toys, beds, etc. All you need to give is your love and care, helping a dog feel safe and cherished while they wait for their forever family

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Bruiser, please contact FAUNA (Friends All United For Natchitoches Animals) at npfauna@gmail.comor visit NPFauna.org

Baton Rouge, LA-Governor Landry formally requested on Feb. 23 that the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education’s investigation be expanded to include every public institution of higher education in Louisiana to ensure full compliance with federal law across the state. Letter attached.

“Let me be clear: Louisiana is done with woke DEI policies. Discrimination against ANY student will not be tolerated,” said Governor Landry. “This issue began under the previous administration, and we are fixing it. That is why, I’ve formally requested that the investigation be expanded to EVERY public higher education institution in Louisiana. If there are violations of federal law anywhere in our system, we want them corrected.”Enter the first part of your article here…

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #1 and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS were dispatched on Feb. 20 around 4:27 pm by NATCOM 911 Center to a reported single-vehicle crash involving a fire on La. Hwy 3279 in the Marco community according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Units arrived on scene finding the vehicle overturned and fully engulfed in flames. The driver was able to climb out of the vehicle with no injuries just seconds before the fire.

Deputies say the preliminary investigation, revealed that a 2007 GMC pickup truck operated by a 21-year-old Flatwoods man was traveling westbound on La. Hwy 3279 at an apparent excessive speed when he entered a curve in the opposite (eastbound) lane. While in the curve in the eastbound lane he met an oncoming eastbound vehicle which allegedly resulted in him overcorrecting the vehicle exiting the road on the right side traveling several hundred feet. The vehicle then crossed both lanes exiting the road on the left side traveling several feet striking a couple of trees overturning and coming to a rest on its right side. The driver was able to climb out of the vehicle just before it became engulfed in flames.

Deputies say EMS assessed the driver at the scene, however, he stated he was fine and refused medical aid.

Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #1 extinguished the blaze and remained on scene to assist with traffic control.

Deputies say the driver was cited for Careless Operation of a Vehicle.

A local towing service responded to the scene to remove the wreckage.

Deputies say speeding and distracted driving are leading causes of crashes; don’t speed, don’t drive distracted and always pay attention to the road, it can save your life and the life of others.