Due to a significant increase in illness on campus, NSU Middle Lab will have a virtual learning day Friday, Feb. 6.

Approximately 30% of our faculty and 25% of our students have reported they have the flu or strep. In order to prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff, we have made the decision to transition to virtual instruction for the day. Teachers will communicate virtual learning expectations and assignments with students.

During this time, our campus will undergo thorough disinfecting and sanitizing to help prevent further spread of illness.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we work to keep our school community safe and healthy.

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The City of Natchitoches Planning and Zoning Department approved 31 permits during the month of January with an application value of $832,389.

See Full Report Here:

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Over the past several months, the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) has continued its proactive efforts to reduce crime throughout Natchitoches Parish. These efforts remain focused on identifying, disrupting, and dismantling criminal activity related to narcotics and associated offenses.

During this period, the DEU has worked in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on multiple federal investigations aimed at addressing ongoing criminal activity within the parish. These cooperative efforts enhance the ability of local and federal agencies to target offenders and improve public safety.

As a result of these enforcement efforts, the following individuals were arrested on various charges and outstanding warrants:
Travis Braden – Warrant x2 – 200 block of Rowena Street, Natchitoches
Harold Mathews –Possession of Marijuana/ 32:303
Tony Martin – Warrant x1
Lacey Harris – Warrant x1 – 200 block of Wilkerson Road, Natchitoches
Tommy Gordy – Fugitive Warrant x1 – 300 block of Robbins Lane, Many
Jordan Lacour – Warrant x2
Kenny Bynog – Possession of Marijuana – 100 block of Posey Road, Natchitoches
James Adams – Possession of Marijuana / Obstruction of Justice / Warrant x1 – 100 block of Smith Street, Campti
Kenwick Jewitt – Warrant x1 – 100 block of Carver Avenue, Natchitoches
Benjamin Jones – 40:966.C.3 / 40:1023.C – 100 block of Fox Run Drive, Natchitoches
Billy Smith – Warrant x1 – 800 block of Clarence Drive, Natchitoches
Destiny Daniel – 40:966.C.2 / 14:130.1 / Warrant x6 – 1000 block of Clarence Drive, Natchitoches
Christopher Westmorland – Warrant x1 – 500 block of Lakeview Drive, Natchitoches
Patrick Bell – Fugitive Warrant x2 – 300 block of Hwy 504, Natchitoches
Melissa Hudson – Fugitive Warrant x1 – 3000 block of Hwy 480, Campti
John Mitchell – 14:95.1 / 32:415 / 32:352 – 100 block of Michelle Drive, Natchitoches
Joseph Metoyer – 40:966.C.2 / 32:53 – 200 block of University Drive, Natchitoches
Travis Williams – Warrant x1 – 7000 block of Cedar Grove, Robeline
Jimmy Dryden – Warrant x1 – 500 block of Hwy 480, Campti
Kevin Prier – 40:966.C.2 / Warrant x2 – 100 block of Hwy 495, Cloutierville
Tatyanna Newton – 40:966.C / 40:966.C.2 – 900 block of Anita Street, Natchitoches
Cameron Lewis – 14:95.1 / 14:130.1 / 14:63 – 100 block of Keith Drive, Natchitoches
Chad Cebrynski – Warrant x1 – 1000 block of University Drive, Natchitoches
Rodney Frazier – 40:966.A x3 / 40:967.C x3 / 40:1023.C / 14:130.1 / 14:122.2 / 14:91.13 / 40:982 – 100 block of Anita Street, Natchitoches
Steven Raphiel – Warrant x1 – 900 block of Hwy 491, Cloutierville
Joshua Bass – 40:967.C / 32:415 / 32:353
Kenneth Skero – Warrant x2 – 800 block of Bethany Road, Marthaville
Eladio Tovar Jr. – 14:69 / 40:1023.C – 800 block of Prancer Road, Laredo, TX
Serinity Jackson – 14:68.4 / 14:100 / 32:1023 / 32:52 – 1800 block of South Drive, Natchitoches
Joshua Lacour – 14:67 – 200 block of Melle Street, Natchitoches
Zachary McClain – Fugitive Warrant (Tennessee) – 1400 block of Cool Springs, Logansport

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit would like to thank the Natchitoches Police Department Narcotics Unit and Louisiana Probation and Parole for their continued cooperation and assistance. These partnerships remain critical in ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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A traffic incident on Hwy. 9 north of Campti has resulted in the seizure of illegal narcotics and the arrest of a Montgomery man on felony drug charges, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Wednesday morning, Feb. 4, at approximately 12:54 a.m., deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau responded to reports of a vehicle in the ditch on Hwy. 9 near Lakeview School.
Upon arrival, deputies observed a 2022 Ford pickup truck in the ditch and the sole occupant slumped over the center console.

Deputies attempted to awaken the driver, but he was unresponsive. Emergency medical assistance was immediately requested from Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS.

Deputies and EMS were able to enter the vehicle and assess the driver for a possible medical condition. During the assessment, suspected narcotics were observed in plain view on the individual’s person.

The driver appeared disoriented and initially provided deputies with a false name. While EMS continued medical evaluation, deputies conducted a brief search of his person using gloves and discovered approximately 37 grams of suspected methamphetamine, nearly 10 grams of suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia commonly used to smoke illicit narcotics.

As EMS prepared to transport the individual, he identified himself as Edward Zumwalt, 52, of Montgomery, Louisiana. A warrants check revealed Zumwalt was wanted by the 10th Judicial District Court for Failure to Appear in April and September 2025 in connection with drug charges and a DWI offense.

Deputies also learned Zumwalt has a lengthy criminal history. Zumwalt later refused medical treatment and transport. He was placed under arrest without incident.

Zumwalt was transported and booked into the LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center on the following charges:
Careless Operation of a Vehicle
Open Container Violation
Possession of Marijuana
Possession of CDS Schedule II (Methamphetamine), 2nd or Subsequent Offenses
Resisting an Officer by Giving a False Name
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Two Counts of Failure to Appear in Court

Zumwalt remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center. The seized narcotics will be submitted to the crime laboratory for analysis. The vehicle was impounded by a local wrecker service. Deputy B. Desadier and Sgt. C. Crow made the arrest.

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The Krewe of Dionysos held its Grand Bal XXVIII on Jan. 31 under the thrilling theme “Krewe of Dionysos Around the World.” Brett Garfinkel served as the Grand event’s emcee and “Louisiana Red” was the band for the evening.

The Krewe took guests on a trip of a lifetime, with four different destinations, which required a passport provided to each ‘traveler’ complete with country stamps. The Krewe’s first stop was in Egypt where Captain Dionysos Brandi McManus made her debut with her page, Eleanor Grace Picou.

After a brief in-flight entertainment, the Junior Court was presented.

Lainey Bennett – Daughter of Krewe Members Jeremy Bennett and Hillary Bennett.

Ava Broadway – Daughter of Lindsey Broadway; Granddaughter of Krewe Member Shelby Borders.

Landon Carney – Son of Lonny Carney, Jr and Katie Dunn Carney; Grandson of Krewe Member Cindy Dunn.

Andrew Cockrell – Son of Brian Cockrell and Dr. Jennifer Poynter Cockrell; Grandson of Charter Member Brenda Poynter Reinhart and Krewe Member Paul Reinhart and the late Charter Member Mike Poynter.

Chalin Gandy – Son of Krewe Member Charlie Gandy and Matt Gandy.

Matthew Mayeux – Son of Krewe Member Dr. Michelle Ingram Mayeux and Chris Mayeux; Grandson of Charter Krewe Members Lucille Ingram and the late Ralph Ingram.

Kinsley McManus – Daughter of Melissa Brumley; the late David McManus and Captain Brandi McManus.

Ava Grace Mitchell – Daughter of Krewe Members Rick and Crystal Mitchell.

Addison Price – Daughter of Krewe Members Brad and Daviona Price.

Izabella “Izzy” Smith – Daughter of Keith and Jessica Brown; Granddaughter of Krewe Members Jerry and Darlene McElwee.

Queen Dionysos Jodi Shirley made her debut with her pages James David Shirley and Georgiana Lee Shirley; followed by King Dionysos Dr. Ted Jordan.

Next stop for the guests was Italy with the Duke and Duchess of Dance, Billy Meziere and Stacie Lonadier, where gladiators joined the two for their parade around the room.

The Duke and Duchess of Destiny, Shelby Borders and Elizabeth Greely landed the flight in Brazil.

Brazilian Dancers entertained the audience with an amazing dance and colorful costumes while the Duke & Duchess paraded around the room.

The flight landed in China next, with tumblers and a Chinese dragon greeting the Duke and Duchess of Decadence, John Greely and Kristina Meziere

The fourth and final stop was New York City, with the Duke and Duchess of Desire, Chris Garcia and Cathy McCauslin. As the royalty paraded one last time, the Times Square Ball dropped to begin the Mardi Gras Party. The King toasted the travelers and kicked off the start to the Grand Bal.

The next stop on the itinerary for the Krewe will be Natchitoches, LA for the Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, Feb. 14.

If your group would like to participate in our Feb. 14 parade, participation forms can be submitted online kreweofdionysos.com/parade and completing the “PARADE PARTICIPATION FORM.’ Questions or correspondence can be sent to KreweOfDionysos@gmail.com or SarpyL71@gmail.com.

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Partner Rodney Harrington says that with the proliferation of leasing going on in Natchitoches and surrounding parishes, many land owners are at a loss of what they should do and whether or not they are making the right move to lease their property. 

Harrington said he worked many years as a petroleum land man meeting with landowners on behalf of oil and gas leasing companies to try and convince them to lease their property.  

“It’s usually a good idea to lease your land as opposed to leaving it unleased,” said Harrington, “But you want to make certain you are making the best deal possible and that the terms of the lease are the most favorable to you.”

“You need to remember that the agents working for the leasing companies, or ‘lease hounds,’ as they are sometimes called.”  Harrington continued, “They are trying to get the best deal possible for their company and lease your property under the terms most favorable to them.  That’s their job.”  Harrington also said that his previous employment as a petroleum land man gives him a unique prospective.

“I know how these guys think,” he said.  “It’s not that they’re trying to take advantage of landowners for the most part, it’s just that, as I said, their job is to make the best deal possible for their employer.”  He did say there are also some “bad actors” out there.

Harrington said that he has recently represented several clients in Natchitoches Parish in lease negotiations and has been able to obtain significant increases in the bonus payments they were offered and significant improvements to their lease terms.  He also worked extensively in the field during the first Haynesville Shale Boom several years ago. 

The Harrington Law Firm is an AU Rated firm by Martindale-Hubble, ranking it in the top 10% of all law firms in the nation.            

The attorneys also represent clients in the areas of Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, Wills and Successions.

You can reach Rodney Harrington at the Harrington Law Firm at 352-5900 or call that number for a free consultation. 

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Dr. Debra Jo Hailey, an associate professor in the Child and Family Studies program at Northwestern State University, has been named the 2026 Light Up for Literacy awardee by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Hailey will be recognized for her work developing family literacy festivals and delivering childhood literacy experiences with an emphasis on community buy-in across Louisiana.

“The Bright Lights Awards celebrate those who protect, interpret and elevate Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage,” said Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. “These awardees reflect the depth, diversity and statewide impact of the humanities in Louisiana and the role they play in shaping who we are. They remind us why our cultural heritage is one of our greatest strengths.”

A LaSalle Parish native, Hailey’s work focuses on interrupting the poverty cycle and teaching parents about the importance of engaging children in conversation about stories, centering literacy on family well-being. In 2009, she developed, recruited volunteers, marketed and implemented her first family literacy festival, Reading on the River, in Natchitoches. From the start, Reading on the River engaged children and their families in developmentally appropriate stories and related hands-on activities.

“Year after year, high quality research studies indicate a strong connection between children’s school readiness and the language interactions they had in the home prior to school entry,” Hailey said. “Children who have basic literacy skills, strong vocabulary, conversational skills and experiences that broaden their understanding of the world along with the language to describe those experiences enter school ready to learn to read and put their thoughts on paper, which, in turn, develops into higher academic achievement throughout elementary school.”

After personally shepherding Reading on the River for several years, Hailey handed the reins over to a local service organization and it continues to thrive. Hailey also developed Tales on the Trail in southern LaSalle Parish, Once Upon a Time in the Park in Hammond, Once Upon a Time in Winn in Winnfield and Tales on Candy Cane Lane in northern LaSalle Parish.

Hailey and eight other Bright Lights Awards recipients will be honored during the organization’s annual awards dinner Tuesday, March 24 at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. Tickets are available online at leh.org/bright-lights.

For more than 40 years, the Bright Lights Awards have offered a collective opportunity to celebrate all the humanities have to offer and honored documentary filmmakers and photographers, literacy and language advocates, historians and authors, culture advocates and more. The awardees will be highlighted in the summer issue of 64 Parishes magazine, published by the LEH.

Presented in partnership with the State Library of Louisiana’s Center for the Book, the Light Up for Literacy award recognizes those who have made significant and lasting contributions to literacy efforts in the state.

“Unfortunately, children from poverty-stricken homes are more likely to experience family stressors like food insecurity, unstable housing situations and transportation issues,” Hailey said. “With those concerns on their minds, the parents are understandably more likely to spend money and time on basic needs rather than purchasing children’s book. Family Literacy Festivals help to fill some of these gaps by providing parents with information and models for reading aloud, questioning and making every day experiences into learning experiences.”

Hailey recently partnered with NSU professors Dr. Michelle Fazio-Brunson and Dr. April Giddens, Dr. Amy Weems and attorney Brett Brunson in writing a chapter titled “Remapping the Cradle to Prison Pipeline in the South: Family Literacy as a Vehicle for Change” for “Voices of Early Childhood Educators: Conversations about Change in the U. S. South,” a book published last year by the Southern Early Childhood Association. This chapter specifically highlights Louisiana and the literacy challenges it faces, as well as emphasizing the responsibility of educators to be change agents for the betterment of children, families and communities. Hailey’s family literacy festivals are described in the book as research-based support systems that empower young children and their families.

“None of this happens as the result of an individual,” she said. “It happens as the result of inter-agency collaborations, community engagement and fabulous volunteers. Good communication and having a core set of beliefs and goals are at the heart of what brings us together to make the Family Literacy Festivals thrive and serve our communities.”

Hailey continues to make books more readily accessible to every child and family across the state by strengthening ties to Natchitoches Parish, Winn Parish and LaSalle Parish with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL), a philanthropic project that sends high-quality books to young children monthly. Hailey worked with community leaders in the successful effort to secure funding for the project for the next five years.

“I am thankful for NSU students who are interested in getting involved at the Family Literacy Festivals and I am thankful for a university that is interested in helping surrounding communities,” she said. “The NSU Child and Family Studies Endowed Professorship has been so beneficial in supporting the Family Literacy Festivals and supporting ways to share my research.”

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The legacy of a long-time Northwestern State University faculty member and athletic trainer will live on through a scholarship bearing his name. The Edward C. Evans Health and Human Performance Scholarship will be awarded to a student in NSU’s Department of Health and Human Performance, where Evans was a valued colleague and mentor.

The scholarship was established at the time of Evans’ passing in September 2024 with many friends and former students contributing towards its endowment. It was fulfilled by Tommy McClellend, a former NSU football and track athlete who is now the athletic director at Rice University. McClelland serves on the alumni advisory board for NSU’s Department of Health and Human Performance. McClelland began his career as an intern for NSU Athletics while pursuing his master’s degree.

“We are truly blessed that our alumni and friends of our former colleague, Ed Evans, have pooled their resources to fund this much-needed scholarship,” said Dr. Tara Tietjen-Smith, department head. “Ed was truly an inspiration and had a long-lasting impact on thousands of students. The support from his former students and athletic training community has been amazing.”

Evans grew up in Georgia and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1972, serving as a hospital corpsman, which set him on the path that guided his career as an athletic trainer. He was stationed near Washington, D.C., when he met his wife Chris, the best friend of his roommate’s girlfriend. They were married 49 years and had three children, Jonathan, David and Timothy.

Ed and Chris Evans moved to Natchitoches in 1979 where Evans earned a master’s degree in physical education. He first worked as an athletic trainer at Natchitoches Central High School before joining the staff at NSU where he provided care for student-athletes for 23 years and taught classes in First Aid and CPR.

Dr. Haley Blount had the unique experience of being a student-athlete, coach, administrator and professor, all while Evans was NSU’s head athletic trainer.

“As an athlete I recall that Ed had a hard shell, but once you got to know him you realized how much he loved and cared for both his athletes and the hundreds of athletic trainers he mentored over the years,” she said. “His job was very demanding, but you could tell how much he loved it. I really grew to cherish our interactions, especially later in life, because he would always make me laugh, and he took genuine interest in how I was doing. He would absolutely love that we established a scholarship in his name, carrying on his legacy of impactful support of young people.”

Friends can contribute to the scholarship by visiting northwesternstatealumni.com/evans-hhp-scholarship.

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Latonzia Beavers, a teacher leader at Natchitoches Magnet School, has been selected by Stanford University to serve on a national working group examining the future of the teaching profession.

Beavers is one of 12 educators selected nationwide and one of five connected to the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching to participate in the Future of Educators Working Group at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. She serves as an NIET Fellow and represents Louisiana in the national cohort.

The working group will bring together teacher leaders from across the country to contribute firsthand experience and insight into discussions on strengthening the teaching profession. Members will convene four times during 2026 to examine challenges facing educators and explore strategies to improve instruction, leadership pathways, and long-term sustainability in the profession.

In addition to Beavers, those selected include Emily McLellan of White Castle High School in Louisiana; William Mock of Somerset High School in Texas; Paloma Peralta Carrillo of Ed Pastor Elementary School in Arizona; and Amanda Culver of Clinton Young Elementary School in Indiana, a Master Teacher from an NIET partner district.

NIET is a national organization focused on developing teacher leadership structures within schools. Through formal leadership roles, teacher leaders support colleagues, guide professional learning, and help ensure consistency and quality of instruction across classrooms and districts.

The Future of Educators Working Group aims to gather insight directly from classroom leaders as education continues to evolve in response to changes in technology, demographics, research, and governance.

If you want this localized even more — for example, tying it to the district, students, or Beavers’ role at Natchitoches Magnet specifically — I can tighten it further.

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BEAUMONT, Texas — During the last two seasons during the turnaround of Northwestern State women’s basketball, the 3-point shot has been a driving factor.

Last time out, NSU had one of the best 3-point shooting performances in school history, making 13-of-24 from deep in a 78-61 victory at New Orleans.

Now the Lady Demons (11-9 overall, 8-4 in the Southland Conference, fifth in the 12-team conference but one loss behind second place) take their 3-point ability on the road to continue a three-game road trip in a big SLC women’s basketball battle with second-place Lamar (13-7, 10-3) tonight.

Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. at Neches Arena. The game can be viewed on ESPN+ or fans can listen to it on KZBL 100.7 FM.

This is the second meeting between the Cardinals and Demons this season. While NSU has lost nine of the last 11 against Lamar, the Demons did win the first meeting this season in Natchitoches, 60-57.

In that first matchup, NSU came back from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter, its largest fourth-quarter comeback win since women’s basketball went to quarters in 2015-16.

Nya Valentine was sensational in the comeback effort, scoring seven points and dishing out two assists in the decisive fourth.

Tonight, rebounding will be a vital factor.

“They are the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in the conference,” Northwestern coach Anna Nimz said. “It’s their identity. It will be a battle of wills and who can keep who off the boards. In the first game, we did a great job defensively in the final two minutes. It was a game the entire time. Both teams have gotten better since the last time we played and any time we’re playing on their home floor, it’s going to be that much tougher.”

Overall, Lamar grabs 14.3 offensive rebounds per game. In the first meeting, NSU held Lamar to just eight offensive rebounds and 10 second chance points.

Like many games, the 3-point shot will also be key. Coming off making 13 triples, NSU’s confidence is high. The Demons are second in 3-point percentage during league play.

First place? Lamar, which has made 37.6 percent of its 3-point attempts.

The Demons held down the Cardinals from deep in the first matchup, forcing Lamar to go 2-of-12, including 1-of-10 in the final three periods.

Northwestern dominated at UNO despite turning it over 25 times. Nimz has stressed the importance of holding onto the ball because if the Demons cut that number close to in half, tight games could turn into clear victories.

“There is a positive to being able to win games when you haven’t been tight with the ball,” Nimz said. “It shows we have the opportunity to be a really darn good team. It is just putting an emphasis on turnovers without every thinking about them. If we get half or even a third of our turnovers back, that could be 10 points. Instead of playing in so many tight games, that could be us being able to play with a little bit more comfort.

“So many of our turnovers are unforced that maybe we’re just overthinking it, period. Maybe if we don’t put as much of an emphasis on it, maybe they’ll play a little smarter and care-free because the more you worry about something, the more you help it exist.”

Lamar dropped its last game, a 12-point defeat to league-leading McNeese, which halted a seven-game winning streak.

The only three games the Cardinals have lost in league play are to NSU and McNeese (twice).

The Lady Demons finish up their three-game road trip with a visit to East Texas A&M on Saturday before coming back to McNeese on Feb. 12, which starts a five-match homestand.

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The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will present a concert titled “Music for Chamber Orchestras” on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.

Douglas Bakenhus is the orchestra’s music director. Andrej Kurti is assistant conductor. Karla Gonzalez and Sofiko Tchetchelashvili are instructors.

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.

The orchestra will play “Divertimento for Brass and Percussion” by Karel Husa, “Serenade in D Minor Op. 44, for Winds, Cello and Double Bass” by Antonín Dvorák, “Concerto Grosso Op.3, No. 3, in G Major” by George Frideric Handel featuring soloists Oscar Andres Carballo Torres on violin and Tucker Uebersax on flute and “Symphony No. 6 in D Major,” (Le Matin) by Franz Joseph Haydn with soloists Parrel K. Appolis on flute, Carlos Diaz del Valle on violin and Brad Christian Powell on cello.

“The four pieces are from four different time periods: baroque, classical, romantic and 20th century,” said Bakenhus. “The piece by Husa is from the 20th century. The Dvorak work is 19th century romantic and are both Czech. Then the Handel piece is late baroque from the 1730s and the Haydn work is early classical from the 1760s.”

Bakenhus said both the Handel and Haydn works are influenced by baroque Italian “Concerto Grosso” which has groups of soloists. The piece by Handel has a flute and violin solo, and the Haydn piece has flute, violin and cello. However, the Haydn piece is composed in a classical style and is just influenced by the baroque concerto grosso, according to Bakenhus.

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During its Feb. 3 committee meeting, the Natchitoches Parish School Board explored a proposal to lease the former Goldonna school campus to the local village, while also discussing a strategic shift in teacher recruitment aimed at “growing our own.”

Mayor Cloud of Goldonna presented a proposal to the board to lease the grounds and facilities of the former Goldonna Elementary and Junior High School. The plan, which would involve a 11-page cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA), aims to transform the vacant property into a multipurpose community hub.

Cloud outlined several potential uses for the facility, including:

• A library and after-school tutoring center.
• An indoor exercise facility and walking path in the gymnasium.
• A venue for revivals, beauty pageants, and family clinics.
• Space for flea markets and small business vendors.

If the board approves the lease at next week’s meeting, the Village of Goldonna would then move to hold a municipal election to pass a one-cent sales tax specifically to fund the facility’s operations. Board members expressed interest in the plan, citing successful similar conversions.

After its conversion, the Dry Prong Junior High facility now houses a restaurant with a wood-burning pizza oven, law offices, and community spaces, proving that old school buildings can remain the heartbeat of a rural town even after the students have moved on.

To make this vision a reality, the Village of Goldonna must be able to afford the insurance, utilities, and upkeep of the buildings. The School Board would lease the property to the Village (likely for a nominal fee). A one-cent sales tax (paid by anyone shopping within the village limits) would be dedicated specifically to the “Goldonna Public Campus” fund.

In her first report as Director of Human Resources, Ramona Wynder told the board that the district’s future recruitment efforts will focus more on Natchitoches Parish students rather than national searches.

“The majority of our future teachers are sitting in our classrooms right now,” Wynder said, noting that research shows 60 percent of teachers eventually work within a 20-mile radius of where they attended high school.

The strategy aims to be more cost-effective and specifically addresses teacher burnout by encouraging local talent to reinvent themselves within the district. Wynder also announced a new digital “transfer portal” for employees to handle transfers, retirements, and sabbaticals efficiently.

The board revisited the agricultural lease for 330 acres in the Cloutierville area, which has sat vacant for several months following a lack of bids. Dr. Eloi noted that a constituent claimed only 280 of the 330 acres are actually farmable, which may have hindered previous bidding due to the per-acre minimum price. Board member recommendations included potentially converting the land to government-sponsored wetlands or hunting leases if agricultural interest remains low. The board scheduled a deeper discussion for next week regarding the management of existing hunting leases, with a focus on ensuring they do not legally block more lucrative oil and gas opportunities in the future.

Other Board Business:

• BESE Waiver: Dr. Eloi confirmed the district has requested a waiver for instructional minutes lost during the January ice storm to avoid adding makeup days to the calendar.
• ITAP Representative: The board moved to designate Superintendent Eloi as the official representative for the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITAP).
• Maintenance: Playground equipment for L.P. Vaughn is on schedule for a March installation.
• Executive Session: The board prepared for an executive session next week to discuss ongoing litigation involving Natchitoches Parish School Board vs. Lloyd’s of London.

Official votes on these items will take place at the regular board meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

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Residents can expect a wet start to the day before conditions gradually improve and temperatures trend cooler through midweek, followed by a noticeable warm-up heading into the weekend.

Today will bring a strong chance of rain across the parish, with showers likely this morning and continuing into the afternoon. A slight chance of thunderstorms is also possible. High temperatures are expected to reach the mid-60s, with southwest winds of 5 to 10 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Rain chances remain high at around 90 percent.

By Wednesday, skies will turn partly cloudy and cooler air will settle into the region. Highs are expected in the mid-50s, with north winds ranging from 5 to 10 mph. Wednesday night will be cold, with lows dropping into the lower 30s under partly cloudy skies.

Thursday will bring mostly sunny conditions with highs again in the mid-50s. Northwest winds will remain light, around 5 mph. Clear skies Thursday night will allow temperatures to dip into the upper 30s.

A warming trend begins Friday as sunshine returns and highs climb into the lower 70s. Clear skies Friday night will keep lows in the lower 40s. That warmer pattern continues into Saturday, with sunny skies and highs again reaching the lower 70s, followed by mostly clear conditions overnight and lows in the upper 40s.

Sunday will be partly cloudy and mild, with highs in the mid-70s. Clouds increase Sunday night, with lows remaining in the upper 40s. By Monday, mostly cloudy skies are expected, with daytime highs in the upper 60s.

Overall, the forecast points to unsettled weather early, a brief cold snap midweek, and spring-like temperatures returning just in time for the weekend.

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Motorists traveling from the interstate into town along University Parkway, and vice versa, are advised that the ongoing bridge and roadwork is part of a major state project to strengthen infrastructure near Youngs Bayou.

The project, which officially moved into the construction phase in early January, spans LA 6 from near Settles Boat Landing Road to the intersection with LA 1.

The $2.85 million project, awarded to Siema Construction, LLC, is a comprehensive effort to stabilize the area’s infrastructure. According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), the work includes:

• Strengthening bridge abutments and addressing long-standing drainage issues.
• Installing soil nail walls to reinforce the roadway.
• Clearing, grading and asphalt paving to improve the driving surface.

While the DOTD requires the contractor to maintain through traffic at all times, the nature of the work necessitates single-lane closures. These closures are the primary cause of the delays currently impacting daily commutes from the west side of town.

The project is estimated to take approximately 160 working days to complete. Based on that timeline, residents should anticipate intermittent lane closures and construction activity through mid-to-late summer 2026, depending on weather conditions.

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Louisiana weather has never been great at picking a lane — and that’s the joke. One minute you’re digging out a winter coat, the next you’re debating flip-flops, all while keeping an umbrella close just in case. This week’s cartoon leans into that familiar mood swing, featuring a character dressed for every season at once, staring suspiciously at the forecast like it personally betrayed them.

It’s a lighthearted nod to a shared Southern experience: the daily ritual of checking the weather and still being wildly unprepared.

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The Robeline ball park is coming along wonderfully. The Robeline Little League had replaced the dugouts last year. This year a grant was awarded in the amount of $60,000 to the improvement of parks for the youth. Sen. Seabaugh’s office was a big help in getting the grant.

The concession stand has been gutted and the siding replaced. The inside was just insulated and the electrical aspect is being wrapped up. The public safety commission also gave a grant that has replaced the lighting in the park. The pole plant in Noble also donated the poles that will serve as anchors for the new backstop netting that will be installed in the future. And the lower part of the field wall has been installed. It’s wonderful to see a central part of our community getting some TLC.

A BBQ Benefit for Nichole Christophe is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, at the Robeline Ballpark. The event will raise funds to support Nichole following her breast cancer diagnosis, with proceeds going toward medical expenses, travel for chemotherapy treatments, and lost wages.

Plates are available for $12 each and feature a menu of a chicken leg quarter, potato salad, baked beans, bread and dessert. Meals will be ready by 10:30 a.m., and delivery is available for orders of five or more plates. To place a preorder, those interested should contact Kenslee O’Con at 318-581-8880 or Celeste O’Con at 318-471-6367.

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I think spending a week inside avoiding the dangers of sleetmageddon put me in a reflective mood.

Shouts of “Throw me something, Mister!” are echoing across our state again. Krewes are loading up their floats, folks are dusting off tuxes and gowns for the Balls, and everybody’s loosening up their throwing arms like they’re training for the Saints’ draft. In Louisiana, this can only mean one thing: Lent is sneaking up on us.

Most places prepare for Lent with quiet reflection. Down here, we crank up the brass band. When you see purple, green, and gold beads hanging from the power lines like Spanish moss, you know the season of repentance is right around the corner. Only in Louisiana do we get ready for fasting by throwing a monthlong party.

Lent, of course, is tied to the ancient discipline of fasting. Ever tried it? That’s where all those fishonFriday stories come from. McDonald’s once even tried a pineapple sandwich to help the Friday fasters. They won’t do that again—but somehow the McRib keeps coming back like a stray cat that knows you’re a soft touch.

But fasting isn’t about food so much as it’s about reality. It’s the spiritual posture of remembering just how dependent we are on God—choosing hunger so we can feel our deeper hunger. The truth is, we are always desperate for God; it’s just that our comforts and routines do a pretty good job of hiding it.

Fasting cuts through the camouflage.

Fasting is a bold declaration that our stomachs don’t get the final say, that our bodies don’t get to boss our spirits around. In a culture that worships indulgence, fasting is downright rebellious. Yet Jesus fasted.

He expected His disciples to fast. Scripture mentions fasting more often than baptism. It’s not a fringe practice—it’s a foundational one.

In the Bible, people fasted for guidance, for grief, for deliverance, for clarity, for dedication, for worship.

And Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, told His followers to fast quietly—not with ashes smeared on their heads but with clean faces and anointed hair. In other words: don’t look miserable. Look like someone who knows God sees what no one else does.

The early church took this seriously. Clement of Alexandria tells us believers fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays. By 340 AD, Athanasius tied fasting to remembering Jesus’ wilderness journey. John Wesley even refused to ordain Methodist leaders who didn’t fast weekly. (Yes, I know. I’m preaching to myself here.)

Jesus fasted. The early church fasted. Christians throughout history have fasted. So why do so few of us do it now? Maybe some are fasting quietly and we simply don’t know. Or maybe we’ve let the noise of our culture drown out a practice that once shaped the saints.

So as the parades roll, the beads fly, and the king cakes multiply, remember this: the reason for the revelry is that Lent is coming. The party is the prelude.

And it makes me wonder—how different would our faith look if we took the fast of Lent as seriously as we take the fun of Mardi Gras?

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After a second-half surge that fell just short Monday night, Northwestern State caps a two-game homestand tonight, hosting East Texas A&M on Mike McConathy Court in Prather Coliseum in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game postponed for 11 days because of Winter Storm Fern.

Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. with the game telecast streaming on ESPN+. Radio coverage is available on the Demon Sports Network and flagship station 100.7 FM KZBL in Natchitoches.

It will be the Demons’ annual Fight For Literacy game. There will be copies of four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka’s book, “The Way Champs Play,” available for fans while supplies last.

NSU (6-16, 4-9) enters Wednesday’s matchup on a five-game skid, with four of the losses decided by a single possession.

Monday night fit that trend, as the Demons nearly flipped the script against Nicholls, overcoming a sluggish first half before falling 61–58.

Northwestern erased a 17-point deficit in the second half, with Izzy Miles leading the charge from the free-throw line and in transition and Chris Mubiru dominating inside and out.

The Demons briefly took their first lead of the night with just over eight minutes remaining after a Mubiru 3-pointer from the top of the key, but Nicholls reclaimed it down the stretch and held on for the win.

Mubiru finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Miles and Micah Thomas added 11 points apiece.

Tonight’s matchup will be Northwestern’s first look at East Texas A&M this season, an unusually late first meeting in conference play due to the weather postponement.

“Mother Nature’s undefeated,” third-year head coach Rick Cabrera said. “I felt like we could’ve gotten the game in (on Jan. 24), but you always have to worry about safety first. It’s definitely different playing a team for the first time this deep into the year.”

East Texas A&M (8-15, 3-10) enters the contest on a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 94–85 to New Orleans at home. The Lions shot 44 percent from the field in that contest, which featured a combined 73 free throws.

“East Texas is actually a good team,” Cabrera said. “They’ve beaten some good teams in this league. They’ve been in a lot of games and had some tough losses like us. They get up and down, they switch defensively, and they shoot a ton of threes.”

East Texas A&M leads the Southland Conference in assists per game (16.9) and 3-point attempts per game (27.0), though it is shooting just 32.8 percent from beyond the arc.

“That’s their mojo,” Cabrera said. “They’re not going to alter it. We have to be good at running them off the line, taking advantage of them on the offensive end, and getting stops defensively.”

The matchup also falls at the end of a demanding stretch of three games in five to six days, something Cabrera acknowledged presents challenges from a preparation standpoint.

“From a player standpoint, they love this schedule. They want to play games more than practice,” Cabrera said. “From a coaching standpoint, I can’t stand it. But it is what it is. You just make sure they’re prepared going into the games and let the chips fall where they may. It really tests your short-scout ability.”

Last season, the teams split the series, with each side winning on its home court. Northwestern shot 47 percent from the field in its home win, led by Thomas’ game-high 25 points, while East Texas A&M held the Demons to roughly 31 percent shooting in Commerce.

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Saturday services in Shreveport have been set for Northwestern State N-Club Hall of Fame basketball player Mickey Crknovic, who passed away last week.

A 2004 inductee into the N-Club Hall of Fame and a member of Northwestern’s All-Century Team as part of the “Fantastic 50” Legends Era, Crnkovic, 92, passed away peacefully at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier City on Jan. 28. Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Shreveport with a 10:30 a.m. mass of Christian burial at 10:30.

A Zwolle native who attended then-Northwestern State College for two years before being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Crnkovic was the lone senior on the Demons’ 1957-58 Gulf States Conference championship team. That season, Crnkovic earned Little All-American honorable mention honors along with a spot on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s All-GSC first team.

He also was the 1958 Louisiana Invitational Tournament MVP and an all-tournament selection in a season where he was Northwestern’s team captain. Crnkovic remained in the area following his playing career, establishing a long educational career as a coach and as an administrator.

Crnkovic also remained close to Northwestern basketball.

“He used to come to our reunions, and he was a regular when we had those fish fries in early October,” former Demon head coach and fellow N-Club Hall of Famer Mike McConathy said. “My dad (John McConathy) used to talk about him being a really solid player. He was a gentleman who was a competitor who really loved the game of basketball and took a great deal of pride in being a Northwestern alumnus.”

Moving southwest to Florien, Crnkovic became a fixture in Sabine Parish education, eventually working his way into a position at the parish’s central office.

Crnkovic’s reputation of building relationships with his students was evident – on and off the court – especially in one who enjoyed a full-circle relationship with Crnkovic.

“I was his student, then when I got out of college, we taught together for several years,” said Ed Corley, himself a three-time Northwestern graduate. “Then the year I became principal (at Florien High School), he moved from Florien to the central office.”

Crnkovic’s success on the sideline at basketball-obsessed Florien – a school that has captured eight boys basketball state titles – were clear. The former basketball player, however, was just as successful in all areas of education and showed a knack for administration even while in the classroom.

“Coach Crnkovic probably most impressed me as a professional my first year as a teacher,” Corley said. “We were K-12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) at the time at Florien. We were getting SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) certification, and our principal at the time wanted us to go line item by line item through those packets. We were meeting and the elementary teachers were driving us crazy. They spent 30 minutes arguing about fair versus mediocre. I was watching coach Crnkovic and noticed he didn’t have much to say. When he spoke up, we all of a sudden were on the same page and happy with him. He had his stuff all together.”

Although they did not coach together, Dewain Strother – another NSU alumnus and a 2026 inductee in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame – did share some time at Florien together with Crnkovic.

Strother said their interactions were limited with most taking place in the teachers’ workroom at Florien. Strother described his fellow coach and NSU alum as someone with “a dry sense of humor” who was “a big, likeable guy.”

That understated sense of humor was made clear to Corley when he was still in school at Northwestern.

Corley had spoken with Crnkovic about substituting for him for a week in December.

“I did a lot of substituting – a college boy needs money,” Corley said. “(Substituting for a week) was going to be a pretty decent paycheck. The principal told me, ‘Coach put his lesson plans in his gradebook and put it in his mailbox.’ I went to his mailbox and got his gradebook out. There was one sheet in it, it said ‘Improvise.’

“I was teaching social studies and P.E. so it wasn’t going to be a problem, but he probably wouldn’t have left that as his plans if it had been anyone other than me. That just tickled the fire out of me. Improvise. I truly respected him as a friend, as a teacher and a fellow worker. I loved that man to death.”

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Over the years of playing both baseball and football, along with fishing tournaments, so many of my life’s lessons have come from playing or participating in sports. Some lessons we learn the hard way and some we learn through experience. Today, we’ll look at a couple of lessons I learned even when things didn’t always go the way I wanted. 

This first lesson I learned came very early in my baseball career. In my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, my baseball playing days started at the age of 7 in what was called Pee Wee League. 

Spending my first summer in MP with my aunt and uncle, we lived on the west side of the town.

It was an awesome neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Every day we played baseball on a sandlot or on one of the neighbor’s side yards. Several windows were broken during these summer battles and like most kids our age, trouble wasn’t far behind. 

Then the day came for Pee Wee League tryouts. There were six teams in the league with a lot of very good players. This is where a man by the name of Coach James Stansell shaped and instilled confidence in me to be the best baseball player I could be. 

The day before tryouts, he asked me to pull back during the evaluation. He wanted me to “look bad” so that other coaches would not draft me onto their team. Being the new kid on the block, he did not want the other coaches knowing the ability I had.   

This was hard for me to go out and miss ground balls and look silly on fly balls as if I had never played before. But I played along and pretended I could not even throw a baseball much less catch one. 

Lo and behold, Coach Stansell called later that night and told me that I was going to play for him and the Yankees! 

The best part of all this was that our entire neighborhood, including my best friend Kevin, was going to be playing for the Yankees. And oh, how good we were! Over the course of two seasons, the Yankees went 24-0 for two straight years and won back-to-back city championships! 

Then at the age of 9 it was time to move up to the next level called Minor League. But then there was a draft, and this time there was no fooling the coaches into thinking I could not play. 

When it came to the draft, the team that finished last in the league the year before got the first pick of the draft, which meant it would be the Tigers.

Tigers head coach Ted Leach took advantage of this opportunity and picked me first in the draft. This was the last team I wanted to get picked by, because they were horrible and for the previous two years hardly ever won a game. 

When Coach Leach came to my house and told me I was his first pick, I wanted to cry but didn’t. They were absolutely the worst team every year! But he assured me that these Tigers were not going to be losers.

Then later that same night, Coach Stansell came by the house and explained how he was not able to draft me. But adding salt to the wound was the fact that Coach Stansell was able to get every Yankee player that went 24-0 over those two years, including my best friend (Kevin), to play for him and the Cardinals. 

When he told me this, the tears began to flow, and I thought my world was coming to an end. How in the world was I going play without all my buddies? How was I going to face them daily on the sandlot while being the only one not on the Cardinals? 

I was going to play for those losing Tigers while the Cardinals and all my friends would probably dominate the league and win the championship. I was crushed and did not know how to handle this. I was now the neighborhood outsider as a Tiger and not a Cardinal! 

But this is where one of life’s lessons began to take shape. After my first practice with the Tigers, I realized that maybe we weren’t going to be that bad. In fact, we might actually be pretty darn good. This is when I took ownership and decided I would do whatever I could to help my team win. 

Lo and behold, at the end of the season we played the Cardinals for the City Championship. We had one loss in that season before those games, and even won a game in the best of three championship series as I pitched and beat the Cardinals. But the Cardinals prevailed, and we finished league runner-up both years.  

So, what was the lesson I learned? Things are never as bad or as good as you think they are. You must believe in yourself and always think you’re just as good as any player on the field. Believe that “you” can make a difference on whatever team you’re playing on. Go out, compete, and prove to yourself that you are and can be a winner no matter what team you’re on. 

Over the years I’ve heard how kids quit playing a particular sport because they did not like the coach. One thing I’ve always told these kids and their parents is, “it doesn’t matter who the coach is because you don’t play for the coach; you play for yourself and your teammates.” Adolf Hitler could have been my coach, and it would not have changed how much I love the game or how hard I played. 

The next lesson learned was to be positive and have a good attitude, no matter what. Some things in life you cannot control, but the one thing you have total control over is your attitude. 

Playing sports has taught me that life doesn’t always go the way we want, but going through trials and tribulations help shape us into the kind of person we want to be. 

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