Northwestern State University is sponsoring two high school contests this year. In addition to the NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest, now in its 18th year, the university will also sponsor the NSU Louisiana High School Creative Expressions Contest. Both contests are now open for submissions until June 1. The contests are open to all Louisiana students in grades 9-12 regardless of type of school institution, including students in all types of private educational environments, as well as home schooled students.

The 2026 theme for both contests is “Remembering Louisiana.” The 2026 NSU Louisiana High School Creative Expressions Contest is an opportunity for Louisiana students to display their talents at interpreting Louisiana through photography. Entrants are invited to submit up to three photographs inspired by and taken in Louisiana. Each photo entry should have a title and an accompanying page or two of writing by the student; this writing should explain the significance of the subject of the photograph to the theme of Remembering Louisiana, as well as the student’s connection to that subject. Photos need not be shot on professional equipment. For example, photos taken on cell phones are acceptable. Photos should be submitted as individual image files such as jpegs. The accompanying writing(s) should be submitted in standard Microsoft Word files.

2026 NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest entrants are invited to address one of the following prompts: Interview any member of your family or surrounding community as long as your interviewee is at least one generation older than yourself, such as, for example, your parent or guardian. What does this person feel is the most significant historical event or societal change they have experienced over their lifetime? Personal reflections and experiences are valid as part of the essay content. Essays may be in narrative form if the student chooses. The second option is if you could meet and talk with any Louisianan from the past, present or future for one hour, who would you choose and why? Personal reflections and experiences are valid as part of the essay content. Essays addressing either prompt may be in narrative form if the student chooses.

Entries to either contest should include a cover sheet with the student’s name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address, school affiliation, and the title of their entry. Entries to both contests may be mailed to the Louisiana Folklife Center, NSU Box 5688, Natchitoches, LA 71497. Creative Expressions Contest entries may be sent via e-mail to Dr. Rebecca Macijeski, macijeskir@nsula.edu with the subject line “2026 NSU Louisiana High School Creative Expressions Contest.” Essay Contest entries may be sent via e-mail to Dr. Shane Rasmussen, rasmussens@nsula.edu, with the subject line “2026 NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest.” The deadline for contest submissions is June 1. Prize-winning students will be notified by July 15.

The top three winners of both contests will be awarded both cash prizes and a $200/per semester NSU scholarship with a value up to $1,600 if they attend NSU for four years (these NSU scholarship awards are in addition to other scholarship awards that the student may receive from Northwestern State). Winning entries of both contests will be published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal, an academic journal produced by the Louisiana Folklife Center. Contest winners will be invited to share their entries with attendees at the 18th annual Louisiana Studies Conference to be held on the NSU campus on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The winning entries will also be published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Submission of an entry to the Contest entails granting permission to publish their entry in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Entries may be subject to minor revision prior to publication. By entering the contest, students acknowledge that they also grant permission for their photos to be used in future promotional materials (posters, covers of programs, etc.) in association with the Louisiana Folklife Center. Additional information is available on the website for the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State at nsula.edu/folklife/highschoolessay.

The contests are sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center, the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Office of Recruiting at Northwestern State.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Charles Smith of Alexandria’s Peabody Magnet High School won another state championship over the past weekend, but this one was different than any of the other nine his Warhorses claimed during his 40 years as their head basketball coach.  

“My past state championship teams kind of built into that over a two-or three-year period,” Smith said the day after his second-seeded Warhorses whipped 12^th-seeded Northside of Lafayette, 82-61, in the Division II Select finals at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. “It usually took two-to-three years to mold a team that was championship caliber. But nobody from this team was on the ’24 team when we won our last title.”

His starters this year often included two freshmen, including 6-foot point guard Corey Blake Jr.,  a remarkable team leader as a freshman. His father, Corey Blake Sr., played high school basketball for Rapides and Alexandria Senior High before playing in junior college and for part of an injury-abbreviated season at the University of New Orleans. The young Corey was crucial in this year’s team success.

“He’s the best point guard (at Peabody) to ever come in as a freshman and start from day one,” said Smith. “He was an 8^th-grader last year, and this year he’s been leading the team. He’s an exceptional talent. He took the team on his shoulders, showed up and showed out.”

During the season the junior Blake scored a team-high 30 points in an 11-point victory over eventual Division I Non-Select runner-up Ruston.

“He’s got a great feel for the game, and he has a lot of poise,” added Smith. “In pressure situations, he was our go-to guy. He’s almost a carbon copy of his dad (although the senior Blake was 6-5), who has spent many hours working on his son’s game.”

Peabody’s top senior player, shooting guard/forward Devontre Sword, was voted the Division II Select MVP of the state tournament. He scored a cumulative 39 points total in the semifinals and finals.

A Peabody starter as a freshman, Sword then moved with his mother to Dallas, where he played for two seasons before returning to Alexandria to play for Peabody again this season. Like Blake, he has some basketball pedigree in that he is the nephew of former Peabody basketball star William McNeill (2008 all-state honorable mention) who later was a defensive star and all-conference honoree for Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

Sword was instrumental in Peabody’s big regular season victories over Ruston and Division IV Non-Select state champion Ferriday. He had four 3-pointers in his 20-point effort in the state championship game.

He and Blake were the team leaders, and they worked to earn that leadership role.

“After hours, they were in the gym working together in the evenings,” said Smith. “Both are excellent free throw shooters and 3-point shooters.”

Smith coached in the championship contest against his former player Troy Jones, who just completed his first season as Northside’s head coach. Jones played for two state championship teams at Peabody in 2010 and 2012.

“I talked to him after the game and gave him a big bear hug,” said Smith. “I told him, ‘You should be proud of your accomplishments as a first-year coach, taking your team to the state championship game.’”

In addition to Blake and Sword, Smith’s other significant players were senior forward Malachi Anderson, sophomore center Brayden Durant, junior guard Connor Rosenthal, freshman center JD Holden, and junior forwards Kaline Eddie and Keon Wilton.

Smith, who has worked 40 seasons as Peabody’s head coach, is 76 and will be 77 on May 15. The Warhorses finished the season with 30 victories (with three losses but only one that counted as an LHSAA game because two were out of state and one was an exhibition). That gives Smith 1,266 career victories, which puts him just nine wins away from overtaking legendary Morgan Wooten, who logged 1,274 victories in 46 years of coaching  (1956-’02) at DeMatha in Hyattsville, Md.

That would put him third overall on the career victories chart behind Ft. Worth, Texas prep coaching icon Robert Hughes (1333) and Gary McKnight, who has 1,306 victories and is still coaching at Mater Dei in Santa Anna, Calif.

Along with his 2019 induction in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Smith was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 2004. It was the first year he appeared on the ballot.

Natchitoches native and Natchitoches Central graduate Joe Dumars, also in the Naismith and LSHOF halls, presented him for induction into what is essentially the world’s basketball hall.

Smith, by the way, has a master’s in education from Northwestern State, and in January 2025, NSU president Jimmy Genovese attended a Peabody home game to present the coach with an elite “Nth Degree” award given to people who have brought credit to the Natchitoches university by their accomplishments.

Smith, married for 51 years to the former Rosa Bynog, is showing no signs of slowing down, and he wants to keep coaching.

“I still feel able to help young boys get to a higher level,” said Smith, who was an assistant coach for 10 years at Peabody under Ernest Bowman before becoming head coach, “and I’m not talking just basketball. I didn’t get into (coaching) to win awards or state championships (11 total with one as Bowman’s assistant). I wanted to move young boys to higher levels in life.

“I’m privileged to have gotten my two seniors college scholarships,” he said. “I tell people all the time what matters most to me is what the kids go on from college to do: work for and be vice presidents of Fortune 500 companies, be lawyers, doctors, engineers, airline pilots and all points in between.”

In the meantime, Smith has built such a fan base spread across the region and even America that he said fans traveled from Houston, Dallas and one alumnus even came from Seattle to cheer on the Warhorses in the semifinals and finals in Lake Charles.

He was told if he needed any inspiration for longevity as a high school basketball coach, there is Harold Mulhearn, who has coached for some 70 years for several schools and is now an assistant coach for Fairchild High School in Osseo, Wisconsin. He is 91 and he’s not ready to call it quits.

“I won’t be coaching that long,” Smith said. 

St. Mary’s Catholic School in Natchitoches is seeking warm, nurturing, and dependable individuals to support our growing Little Saints Program serving two-year-old children. Positions may be part-time or full-time, within a faith-filled and supportive environment.

Candidates must be available to work daycare hours, which may differ from the traditional school-day schedule.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in early childhood education (CDA or degree preferred, but not required)

• Be caring, patient, and organized

• Support and model our Catholic values and mission

• Be committed to fostering the developmental and spiritual growth of young children

• Work collaboratively with school staff and families

These positions are part of our continued effort to grow and strengthen our early childhood programs, which serve as the foundation of our PreK–12 Catholic school community.

To apply or learn more, please contact:
Principal Stephen Wren at swren@smstigers.org

Nearly 200 sixth grade students participated in the annual Historic Sites of Natchitoches Tour on March 12, an event organized by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

Students visited five local historic sites through a staggered rotation, including the Prud’homme-Rouquier House, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, Fort St. Jean Baptiste, the American Cemetery, and the Roque House. The tour provided an interactive learning experience focused on the history and cultural significance of the area.

The event was made possible through collaboration among several community organizations. The Cane River National Heritage Area contributed staff and materials for an art activity inspired by Clementine Hunter and provided support for student transportation. The Service League and site staff served as docents, while foundation board members led tours at select locations.

Additional support included meals for volunteers provided by Lott Oil and snacks and water donated by Super 1 Foods.

Organizers reported positive feedback from both students and teachers, noting the value of hands-on educational opportunities that highlight the parish’s historical heritage.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office proudly recognized two deputies with the “Excellence of the Quarter” Awards on March 12 during a brief ceremony held at the NPSO Human Resources Office.

Sheriff Stuart Wright presented the awards, commending each deputy for outstanding performance, compassion, commitment to duty, and exceptional service to the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.

“These deputies have gone above and beyond in their duties, and their actions reflect the highest standards of professionalism and dedication,” said Sheriff Wright. “We are honored to recognize their achievements and grateful for their service.”

Deputy Sergeant Collin Crow – Patrol Operations / SWAT Unit
Sgt. Crow consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. He works diligently to ensure his shift remains motivated, supported, and ready to respond to any call for service. His strong work ethic and commitment set a standard others strive to meet.

He brings a wealth of knowledge in both law enforcement and emergency medical care. Known by many as the agency’s resident medical professional, Sgt. Crow serves not only as a deputy but also as the SWAT Team Medic, using his EMS expertise to help protect and support fellow deputies in critical situations.

Sgt. Crow is a true professional in every sense of the word. Whether responding to difficult situations, assisting citizens in need, or guiding deputies under his supervision, he leads with fairness, responsibility, and respect. He is the kind of leader deputies trust, depend on, and look up to. Even outside of his duties with the Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Crow continues to serve the community through his work in EMS, further demonstrating his commitment to helping others.

Detective Sergeant Cody Olliff – Criminal Investigations Bureau / SWAT Unit
Sgt. Olliff recently transitioned from Patrol after earning a well-deserved promotion to Detective in the Criminal Investigations Bureau. During his time in Patrol, he made it clear he is always willing to help.

Whether someone needs guidance, reassurance, or assistance navigating a difficult situation, Sgt. Olliff consistently makes himself available.

He stands out among his peers through the respect and appreciation he shows for every division within the agency. Known for stepping in wherever needed, Sgt. Olliff works alongside others to accomplish tasks while maintaining a professional and respectful attitude, even in high-stress situations.

His leadership and support extend to everyone around him—those he supervises, those above him in the chain of command, and those outside his department. He is often one of the first to respond on the radio when assistance is requested, demonstrating his willingness to serve wherever needed. He also takes time to recognize the efforts of fellow deputies during critical incidents. Beyond his daily duties, Sgt. Olliff proudly serves as a member of both the Honor Guard and the SWAT Team. Prior to joining the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, he served in the United States Navy.

“Each recipient has shown tremendous effort and care in their work, and we’re proud to recognize their accomplishments,” said Human Resources Director Kellie Hataway.

Also attending the ceremony were Chief Deputy D. Winder, Major J. Byles, Captain G. Sers, Major J. Taitano, Cpt. S. LaCaze, and members of the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Human Resources Office.

The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will feature the winners of the annual NSU Concerto Contest on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Douglas Bakenhus is the orchestra’s music director. Andrej Kurti is assistant conductor.

Tickets are $16.50 each and can be purchased online at https://nnssla.org/. There is an added charge for buying tickets online. For more information, email NSUsymphony@gmail.com.

Featured performers will be NSU Concerto Contest winners Parrel Appolis on flute, Walker Libbe on marimba, soprano Lhareen C. Lazo, tenor Douglas Flores and Ever Naun Galeas Antunez on trumpet.

The concert program is “Festive Overture,” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Concerto for Trumpet in Eb major” by Johann Baptist Neruda featuring Galeas on trumpet, “Senza mamma” from “Suor Angelica” by Giacomo Puccini featuring Lazo and Appolis on “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” by Aram Khachaturian.

The orchestra will also play “Concerto for Marimba and Strings” by Emmanuel Séjourné with Libbe on marimba, “E lucevan le Stelle” from “Tosca” by Puccini featuring Douglas Flores on tenor,
“Mother Goose Suite” by Maurice Ravel and “San Pelayo” by Victoriano Valencia.

Parrel Appolis is from Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a graduate assistant in the flute studio of Dr. Stephen Clark at Northwestern. He holds a bachelor’s degree in flute performance from the University of Tennessee. As a flute instructor, his students have achieved success across all levels of primary and secondary education and have placed in regional and state ensembles.

As a performer, he has played with many ensembles, including the Knoxville Opera, Knoxville Symphony, and the inaugural International Pride Orchestra in San Francisco. In 2022, he was named as a member of the NFA’s Young Artist Mentorship Program, under the mentorship of Brandon Patrick George of Imani Winds. Parrel is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Band Award and the Gerald W. Barnes Woodwind Award. He is an active member of Sphinx, an organization dedicated to providing resources to Black and Latin-American musicians.

Flores began his studies at NSU in 2021, pursuing degrees in French horn and vocal performance. He studied horn with Dr. Alexis Sczepanik, voice with Dr. Robert Cardwell and worked with former NSU faculty members Dr. Kristine Coreil and Michael Rorex. During his time at Northwestern State, Flores has been an active and versatile performer, serving as principal horn in the Wind Symphony, tenor section leader in the NSU Chamber Choir, and a longtime member of the NSU Opera Theater with roles like Ferrando in “cosi fan tutte,” Frederick in “Pirates of Penzance,” and Leopold in “Im Weißen Rössl.”

As a horn player, Flores participated in the Midsouth Horn Workshop, where he received Honorable Mention as a soloist, and he regularly performs with regional orchestras across the southern United States. As a tenor, he is a two-time recipient of the Guillory Scholarship Award and earned second Place in the Graduate TBB Division at the 2022 Southern Regional NATS Conference. In 2023, he attended the International Performing Arts Institute (IPAI) in Kiefersfelden, Germany, where he was awarded Second Place in the institute’s vocal competition.

Libbe is a graduate assistant at Northwestern studying under Dr. Oliver Molina and Dr. Andrew Blair. At NSU, he has taught both the front ensemble and the drumline for The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band as well as applied percussion lessons. He helps Dr. Molina instruct the percussion ensemble and percussion method courses. Libbe earned a bachelor’s degree in music studies at Texas A&M University.

As an active percussion performer, educator, and clinician, Libbe has performed at conventions such as PASIC, LMEA and various state Day of Percussion events. Libbe is also experienced in session recording and has been a part of many different recording projects ranging from percussion ensembles, solo pieces, metal and rock bands, as well as various local projects.

Galeas is originally from Honduras and began his musical studies at the age of 14 at the Victoriano López Music School. In 2018, he was invited to perform with the Nicaraguan Youth Symphony Orchestra and participated in the International Festival of Oaxaca, Mexico.

In the spring of 2023, he began his trumpet studies with Galindo Rodríguez at Northwestern where he has been a member of the Wind Symphony, Jazz Combo and Jazz Orchestra. Last year, he was selected as one of the winners of the MacCutcheon Honor Recital. He plans to continue his studies by pursuing a master’s degree in music performance.

Lazo is pursuing a master’s degree in vocal performance at Northwestern where she studies with Dr. Terrie Sanders. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of the Philippines in 2024. Passionate about classical singing and opera, her operatic roles include Mother in “Hansel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck, Suor Angelica in “Suor Angelica” by Giacomo Puccini, Laetitia in “The Old Maid and the Thief” by Gian Carlo Menotti, Cunegonde in “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein, and Maria in “A Feast in Time of Plague” by César Cui.

Her recent recognitions include prizes from the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions (2025), the Guillory Scholarship Competition (2025), and the Ninth International JSFest Competition (2021). Lazo is an active member of the NSU Opera Ensemble, NSU Chamber Choir, Lyrica, Cane River Singers and the Northwestern Choral Artists.

Residents in Natchitoches Parish can expect a gradual warming trend and mostly sunny conditions through early next week, with temperatures climbing from the upper 50s into the upper 80s by the weekend.

For the remainder of today, mostly sunny skies are expected with highs in the upper 50s and light, variable winds.

Conditions will warm on Wednesday with partly cloudy skies and highs reaching the lower 70s. South winds between 5 and 10 mph will accompany the warmer temperatures.

Sunny conditions return Thursday, with highs in the upper 70s and light southwest winds.

By Friday, temperatures will rise into the mid-80s under mostly sunny skies, followed by clear conditions Friday night.

The weekend will bring even warmer temperatures, with highs in the upper 80s on both Saturday and Sunday under mostly sunny to sunny skies. Overnight lows will range from the upper 50s to around 60 degrees.

Looking ahead to Monday, partly cloudy skies are expected with highs in the mid-80s.

The extended forecast calls for a stretch of warm, dry weather across the parish, providing favorable conditions for outdoor activities.

Goldonna Baptist Church will be having a busy Saturday! The church will be hosting its Annual Skeet shoot on Saturday, March 21, at the Winn Parish 4H shooting range on Highway 34 in Winnfield. They will be having a junior division (17 and under), senior division (18 and up) and a Ladies division. The five shots from each station will be one single, one report double and one true double. Entry is $25 and 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards the church’s Operation Christmas Child outreach. Concessions will be served. First shot at 10 am. For more information you may contact Ben Dupree.

River of Life Family Worship Center will have a special guest preacher on Sunday, March 22. Brother Benny Anglin will be ministering, he is no stranger to the Goldonna community as he was the former pastor of ROLFWC before Brother George Procell. Services start at 10:30 am.

The Creston Baptist Church will be hosting a Revival all week that starts at 6 pm every night until Saturday, March 21. Tuesday through Wednesday will have Kelly Coleman as the guest preacher. Thursday through Saturday will be Jay Simms.

The Goldonna Cemetery will host a fundraiser Sunday, March 29. Lunch will consist of fried catfish, fries, hushpuppies Cole slaw and soft drinks. There will begin serving at 11 am The plates will cost $12 each.

There will also be a crawfish boil fundraiser on May 2, 2026 with more information coming soon!

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

The Natchitoches Parish Library Board held its first meeting of 2026 on March 16. The main topic discussed was the Natchez and Robeline branches progress. Thankfully everything seems to be clear that the purchase of the Natchez land will be concluded in the very near future. There are still some hurdles in the way of the Robeline purchase, but the hope was they could be dealt with in short order. So while not the very near future, hopefully the near future.

The plan is still that the construction of both buildings would begin at the same time. The board discussed getting multiple architecture firms to submit their ideas for the new branches and the board would choose based on their preference of plans, not by who submitted it. I think the board will receive some great presentations and I’ll be very happy to see what’s on paper come into fruition.

I have faith it will happen because I’ve seen other things the Library has worked for progress from paper into reality. Most will have seen the new book mobile van but the Library recently received their new large and in charge school mobile. I see another promise kept.

The Village of Robeline will hold its monthly meeting this Thursday, March 19 at the police depot at 6 pm, besides normal business I’m sure we’ll have updates on the sewer, ball park and roads. Come be a part of what’s going on in your community.

The Los Adais Foundation will hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 19. It will start at 7 pm or once the village meeting concludes. It will be at the old Methodist Church. The meeting is to work on financial requirements as we proceed forward. Everyone is welcome to join us, we’d love to see you.

Have you ever wanted to use prescribed fire on your property for wildlife or forest management? We’re hosting an interesting meeting to kick off a Prescribed Burn Association in Winn Parish and other surrounding areas!

March 24, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Winn Parish Library
200 N St. John St, Winnfield, LA 71483

Prescribed burning is a commonly recommended land management tool, but can present challenges for landowners with limited experience and confidence to carry out without professional help. Prescribed burning associations (PBA’s) consist of landowners and other concerned citizens creating partnerships to conduct prescribed burns – Neighbors Helping Neighbors Getting Fire Back on the Ground. Through the sharing of knowledge, equipment, time, and experience the PBA can reduce risk, safely increase burned acres and help landowners accomplish their habitat management goals.

If you’re passionate about wildlife habitat, forest health, wildfire risk or overall land management, this is for you. Let’s work together to use good fire safely and effectively.

Life has so many variables out of our control that makes navigating our daily situations difficult. But in some instances, there are a few things we can control and it’s up to each of us to make it happen. 

One thing we have zero control over is who our parents are. We as individuals have zero say on the DNA we are blessed with, nor the people it came from. Even though we are who we are, we do have the ability to become the person we truly want to be. In most cases, we can pave our own path to success or failure with the skills we have been blessed with. 

Even with bad DNA flowing through our bodies, we still have the task of shaping our lives into whatever we want to be. But only if we as individuals take control and ownership of who we are will our direction in life be confirmed. 

I learned at a very early age that the good Lord above had blessed me with good athletic abilities. I figured out before the age of 10 that it would be through sports, with hard work and determination, that I could possibly have some success. Sports gave me a purpose!

That’s what we’re all looking for … a purpose! Even if it goes against the beliefs of the people who raised us, we have to take control of our own destiny at some point.

Even when the odds are against us, there are also times when we have to accept the consequences of our actions. We have to make decisions that not only affect ourselves, but those around us.

Sometimes this means hurting the ones we love the most because the direction they want us to go may not be the same as the destination we had in mind. 

By the time we reach 17 or 18 years old, most people know who they are and possibly what direction or path they might want to take. They start to see things in a different light than, say, their parents. But as parents, we must recognize that even though we think we know what’s best for our children, that may not always be the case. We must allow them to spread their wings and continue to grow even if they make a few mistakes along the way. It’s called growing up! 

I’ve always heard the excuse that he or she was a product of the environment in which they were raised. Sometimes this can be true, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. 

For example, my stepdad was a wife beater and treated women like they were worthless. Even though I witnessed many of these incidents first-hand at a young age, I always knew in my heart that this was wrong, and I made a conscious decision to never be that kind of person.

I always felt that God instills in each of us the ability to know right from wrong when we are born.  He gave all of us a brain and the ability to reason when we see things that are not right. 

Just because you grow up in a house with little to no guidance doesn’t give you the excuse to ignore what is right. Subconsciously we still know right from wrong and it’s up to each of us to make good decisions and do the right thing. 

We all need direction in our lives, which was lacking early in my childhood.  Hopefully, we have those we can turn to for advice like a parent or maybe a grandparent, aunt, uncle, preacher, teacher or maybe a coach. No matter who it is, it should be someone we trust. A person who has our best interest at heart. 

Bottom line is this — at some point in our lives we must take control over our destiny no matter what our background is. But when we make a decision, we must accept the consequences for our actions. This is what we call accountability!   

It really does take less square footage to be a kid now than it did back in the olden days—by which I mean the 60s, 70s, and 80s, when dinosaurs did not roam the earth, but teenagers with giant stereos certainly did.

Back then, if you were a teenager, your bedroom looked like the back room of a Radio Shack. You had a stereo system that took up half the wall. Not a cute little Bluetooth speaker—no, no. This thing had a turntable, an amplifier, and speakers the size of end tables. If you turned the volume up, the windows rattled, the dog hid under the porch, and your mother yelled your full name from three counties away.

And the music collection? Albums were thin, yes, but they were the size of pizza boxes. And every album had a jacket, and the jacket slid into a cover, and some artists released double albums, which meant you needed a forklift to move your collection. Then came eight-tracks (which lasted about as long as a snowball in July), then cassettes, which required their own storage system—usually a shoebox with the lid missing.

If you were lucky, you had a phone in your room. It was attached to the wall by a cord, and the receiver was attached to the base by another cord. If you were really lucky, you had the long cord, the one that let you walk around the room, change albums, and still talk to your best friend about absolutely nothing for two hours.

You also had an alarm clock—or a clock radio—because you needed something to wake you up so you could enjoy that magical sleep between the alarm going off and your parent entering the room to announce, “I said GET UP.” Today we call that the snooze button. Back then we called it “living dangerously.”

Some studious kids had a desk with a typewriter on it. If you had a Pica typewriter, your term papers looked longer, which felt like cheating but wasn’t. And there was almost never a TV in the bedroom. The TV lived in the den, a 25-inch RCA color set that weighed more than a small car. The whole family gathered around it, and since there was no remote, the youngest child served as the official channel changer. It built character.

Fast-forward to 2026. Kids don’t need a whole room anymore. They need a pocket. Their music, alarm, computer, TV, telephone, camera, calculator, flashlight, and speakers are all in one device. Pull out your phone and look at everything it does. It’s a miracle of modern engineering.

There’s a tool that lets us do things we never dreamed possible.

iPhone.

But here’s the thing: for all the problems life throws at us—grief, illness, broken relationships, guilt, confusion, decisions that keep us up at night—there is no app for that. There’s no setting to toggle, no update to install, no notification that says, “Your peace has arrived.”

When you don’t know what to do…
When you’ve lost something or someone…
When the doctor is puzzled…
When your child or parent won’t listen…
When you’ve messed up and don’t know how to make it right…
When you need direction and can’t find the map…

There is one place to go.

Jesus.

He doesn’t fit in your pocket.
He doesn’t need charging.
He doesn’t go out of date when the next model comes out.
And He’s the only One who can hold everything your phone can’t—your fears, your hopes, your grief, your sin, your future.

Kids today may need less space to grow up. But all of us—no matter our age—need the same Savior to grow into the people God calls us to be.

The luck of the Irish was with the Rotarian with the Program Barb Duchardt when she welcomed NSU Head Tennis Coach Marcos Morelli to the March 17 Rotary meeting. Morelli gave an update on the Lady Demons matches and shared information about each team member. Pictured from left are Duchardt Morelli, and Rotary President Louie Bernard (Photo by Dr Ron McBride).

St. Anne’s Church in Old River will host a fish fry on Friday, March 20 from 5-8 PM. The church is located at 3659 Old River Road.

Attendees can enjoy a meal of fried fish, fries, coleslaw, hush puppies, and a piece of cake for $15 per plate. Dine-in and take-out options will be available. Drinks will be sold separately for $1 each.

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives are attempting to identify the owner of an abandoned safe containing several jewelry items discovered in the Kisatchie National Forest, according to Sheriff Stuart Wright.

NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies were dispatched by the NATCOM 911 Center on March 13 around 4:20 pm to a dead-end area off Forest Service Road #375 after a couple riding bicycles discovered an open safe containing jewelry items in the woods.

Deputies responded to the scene and spoke with the individuals, gathering information for a report. While on scene, deputies photographed the location and collected the items for future investigative purposes.

Detectives are now attempting to identify the rightful owner of the property.

Anyone who can identify the items or may have information is asked to contact Major J. Byles with the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau at 318-357-7830. All information will remain confidential.

A woods fire reported on March 16 in the Janie community was caused by a downed power line and has since been contained, according to local officials.

Deputies with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and firefighters with Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #1were dispatched at approximately 2:17 p.m. by the NATCOM 911 Center to a reported woods fire on G.R. Bardwell Road off Bay Springs Road.

Authorities said the fire was believed to have been caused by a downed power line in the area.

Due to high winds and nearby structures, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry was requested to assist with a bulldozer to help contain the fire.

According to Fire Protection District #1 Chief Michael Sanders, the fire has since been contained, though officials said the scene remained active as crews continued working in the area.

Deputy Jeff Franks was on scene representing the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The Natchitoches Parish Council addressed infrastructure projects, citizen concerns and several administrative matters during its regular meeting on March 16, including trail ride regulations, road system updates, budget amendments and reports of infrastructure damage linked to fiber installation.

During the guest presentation portion of the meeting, Bonnie Tolar spoke on behalf of residents along Highway 1226 and surrounding areas about issues related to trail rides that have taken place in the community. Tolar said past trail ride events attracted large crowds, with one event drawing more than 1,000 participants. Residents reported problems including riders entering private property and concerns about safety and property damage.

Tolar requested that the parish amend Chapter 125, Article 3 of the parish code of ordinances to specifically regulate trail rides. Her proposal included requiring health certificates for all animals participating in rides, prohibiting motorized vehicles from being included, limiting rides to no more than 25 animals in the area and preventing riders from entering private property.

She said current parish ordinances address gatherings but do not specifically regulate trail rides. Existing rules apply only to events with more than 50 people, which she said could allow organizers to request permits for smaller gatherings and later host larger events without sufficient enforcement.

Council members said they would review the request with the parish attorney to determine whether changes to the ordinance could be considered.

Jason East and Brad Slay with Seitel addressed the council regarding a proposed seismic survey project covering approximately 300 square miles in Natchitoches and Sabine parishes.

The project involves a modern 3D seismic survey that uses ground sensors and controlled vibrations to collect geological data used by energy companies to analyze subsurface formations.

Representatives explained that sensors placed in the ground collect signals produced by specialized trucks that create vibrations on road surfaces. In wooded areas, small drilled charges may be used to generate similar signals.

Council members asked questions about safety, proximity to homes and potential damage to roads or property. Company representatives said the equipment is designed to minimize ground impact and that any damages would be repaired.

The survey process is expected to take roughly 18 months and requires permission from property owners before crews can enter private land.

Public Works Director Joey Creamer reported that crews responded to storm damage the night before the meeting, removing several fallen trees and reopening affected roads.

Parish Treasurer Julie Lockhart presented financial reports including the check register, general ledger transactions and budget-to-actual comparisons for the general and highway funds.

Lockhart said parish sales tax collections were down approximately 31 percent but noted the decline may be tied to an issue with the parish e-filing system. She said the parish expects the numbers to rebound once the issue is resolved.

The council voted to reappoint Carletta Jones and Ludlow McNeely Jr. to the Natchitoches Parish Waterworks District 2 Board.

Council members introduced Ordinance 004-2026, which would amend the parish zoning ordinance to allow data centers, digital infrastructure facilities and power generation as permitted uses within the I-2 heavy industrial zoning district.

Officials explained that the ordinance would simply add those uses to the zoning language. Any specific development would still be required to obtain the appropriate permits and approvals before construction.

During public hearings, the council considered three ordinances.

An ordinance that would add 126 feet of Ucie Vascocu Road to the parish road system was discussed but ultimately failed when no council member made a motion to adopt it. Some council members expressed concern that the roadway appeared to function as a private driveway rather than a public road.

The council approved an ordinance adopting a 2026 budget amendment related to Blanchard Road and Clark Road projects. The amendment allows funds originally reserved for Blanchard Road to be shifted to Clark Road after the projects were funded through appropriations rather than the state capital outlay program.

Council members also approved an ordinance adding approximately 0.48 miles of Levy Taylor Road back into the parish road system. Officials said the road had been removed from the system in the early 1990s after residents moved away. With residents now living along the road again, restoring it to the parish system will allow maintenance and improve access for emergency and healthcare services.

The council approved a request from Parish President John Salter to officially change the title of the public works director from interim director to director of public works.

Members also approved providing $3,000 to the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce for signage and materials for Natchitoches Day at the Legislature at the Louisiana State Capitol.

During the visitor comment period, a representative from the Chestnut–Vicarra Water System reported damages caused by installation work conducted by Swyft Fiber. The representative said the work resulted in approximately $28,000 in damages, including multiple breaks to water lines between November 2025 and February 2026. He said crews replaced more than 400 feet of water line after several breaks occurred while fiber lines were being installed. The water system requested assistance from the parish in seeking reimbursement from the company.

Another resident raised concerns about deteriorating road conditions on Julian Drive, stating that patching and gravel repairs have not resolved ongoing issues with the road surface.

Residents also asked about access to fiber internet service in rural areas, expressing concern that some neighborhoods may not be included in the current phase of installation.

The council concluded the meeting after hearing public comments and completing agenda items.