The Natchez Village Council met Thursday, September 7 at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The Mayor, Police Chief, Aldermen Johnson and Sarpy were all present as were several citizens and Parish Council member Bill Allen. Alderman Hoover was absent as was the village clerk who resigned in August to accept a new position. Mr. Cleve Davis of the sewer department was also absent.

After the meeting opened, Chief of Police Michael Gillie, Jr. gave his report, stating that there were: 4 tickets issued for parking in a fire lane at the bar, 2 tickets for speeding, 2 tickets for no driver’s license on person and a theft arrest at Dollar General. The fines total $2,975.50 with a court date of October 6. The National Night Out in Natchez will be on the second Tuesday of October at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in front of city hall.

Mayor Patsy Ward Hoover them gave her report. She thanked the residents who have worked so hard to clean up the village. Johnson Loop and Main St. were judged to be the cleanest of the village’s streets. The mayor also stated that the repairs on sewer lift stations 1,2,3, and 4 have been completed at a cost of $5,100.00, slightly under the projected $5,400.00 cost. There was some great news in the form of a letter from Governor Edwards letting the village know that they were awarded a grant of $25,000.00 for the purchase of a police car or police car equipment. The village has hired Ms. Sonia Williams. She is a CPA and is reconciling the village’s accounts and preparing for an upcoming audit.

The council failed to approve the minutes from the July 6, 2023 meeting with alderman Johnson voting yes and alderman Sarpy abstaining. The council did however approve the minutes of the August 3, 2023 meeting and the special called meeting August 14, 2023 with both aldermen voting yes.
There were no appointments to boards or commissions, first introductions of proposed ordinances, public hearings, or resolutions.

As for Other Agenda Items, the mayor and council discussed compensation for Mr. & Mrs. Leon Hamilton as lift station # 2 is on their property. This has been the case ever since the sewer system was built, but a formal agreement needs to be in place. The mayor and council also discussed ideas for spending the $123,882.06 in funds from the American Rescue Plan. The council members will bring written proposals to the October 6 meeting.

There were no visitors for non-agenda items. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

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One of the things that is music to a mother’s ears is that her children look like her. Even if it is only the slightest resemblance. Sometimes it is even a great thing when they act like you, sometimes not, greatly depends on who you ask. When my oldest was born I was constantly asked if she was mine. For some reason strangers thought it was amazing that a dark haired, dark eyed woman could give birth to a blond haired, blue eyed child.

I would always go through the same song and dance. Well, her dad has greenish blue eyes and he was very blond when he was little. The hopeful side of me would always add, “Her hair may turn darker when she gets older.”

It did not. But older she got she totally had my demeanor, my love for people, sales skills, a deep faith, a strong work ethic and love for family. Oh….and she had my forehead. Poor girl inherited my large forehead that has enough room to land a small plane.

When my second daughter entered this world, she was born with a thick mop of dark brown hair and brown eyes. She didn’t even try to have blue eyes like most infants. She came out brown like her mom. She was the spitting image of me.

Although I love my daughters equally, it sure was nice not having to explain how she was mine. She looked as though she was copied and pasted from dear old mom. The older she gets the more and more she acts like me too. She has my wit, humor, love for writing, my love to socialize, my need to give back and help others (her sister does as well). She has the same characteristics as her mom and sister. Even though my daughters do not look like twins, they sound just the same on the phone.

When they call me and all three of us are on the phone, I cannot tell them apart. It’s frustrating and lovely all at the same time.

When we think about how amazing God is that he can create families with the same DNA but still be completely different, it is overwhelming. When we think about God creating us in his image, for his glory, I can barely wrap my mind around it. He chose for us to be born, he knows the number of hairs on our head and he formed us in our mother’s womb. He created us for a purpose. When we call on his name, he knows which child is calling.

God made us in his spitting image even though he knew we would not always act just like him and he loves us anyway.

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and our every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female. He created them.”
Genesis 1:26-27

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By DWAIN SPILLMAN JR., Journal Sports

There is renewed excitement at the teepee over on Highway 1 South Bypass.

That’s the only description needed to explain the atmosphere circling around Natchitoches Central’s football program this season.

The Chiefs kicked off the 2023 prep pigskin campaign with a nail-biting victory over Woodlawn-Shreveport, 39-28, a week ago and look to remain perfect as they host Opelousas tonight at Turpin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Even with the excitement level at its highest point in more than a decade, the Chiefs must remain focused and continue to improve each and every week. Chief head coach Jess Curtis, who came to NCHS from an acclaimed and victorious career at Many, has installed a different strategic system in his first year at the helm and is pleased with his team’s progress. However, focusing on the overall mission remains the key.

“We definitely want to keep winning as we grow,” Curtis said earlier this week. “We have implemented two new schemes, both offensively and defensively, with these kids, and winning while we have done that certainly beats the alternative.

“We are experiencing some expected growing pains and it’s frustrating when we move the ball offensively and mistakes cost us points on the board. Defensively, we fly around the ball and our effort is excellent. But giving up big plays is a little frustrating. One thing I can tell you, our players are definitely motivated and working very hard to fix those issues on both sides of the ball.”

After knocking off Woodlawn of Shreveport in Week 1 of the regular season, the Chiefs look to continue their winning ways as Opelousas travels northward to meet NCHS on the turf. The visiting

Tigers will be a formidable opponent for the homestanding Chiefs.

Opelousas was the No. 3 seed in the Division II non-select division of the LHSAA playoffs a year ago and has advanced to the second round of post-season each of the last two seasons. OHS went undefeated in a tough Class 4A south Louisiana district en route to an overall record of 10-4 a year ago.

The Tigers dropped their 2023 season-opener in a hard-fought battle with Teurlings Catholic, 34-16. A year ago, Natchitoches Central yielded a 27-7 decision at Opelousas.

“We are really locked in on this one,” Curtis said. “This will be a big game for us. Opelousas is a tough team and they are consistently in the playoffs. Our schedule doesn’t get any easier from here on out.

“But (Curtis then paused briefly to gather his thoughts and a grin followed), we want it that way. To be the best, you have to beat the best. That is what we are here for. You only get valid results and see where your team really is by playing good teams. That is the best way to measure your progress and focus on where we need to work the most.

“To be successful, you have to put in the preparation and work hard. Our coaches and players seem to be on the same page with that. It’s really exciting around here.”

Against Woodlawn in the season opener, NCHS amassed 355 yards of total offense and moved the ball against a strong defense. Sophomore transfer quarterback Owen Smith led the new Chiefs’ offense with 262 yards through the air, accounting for two touchdowns, on a 14 of 20 aerial effort. Running back Zion Thompson led the maroon and gold rushing attack with 60 yards on the ground and two TD’s as well. Of special note, receiver Camryn Davis hauled in 10 receptions for 188 yards and two scores.

“We are pleased with our progress,” Curtis concluded. “But we recognize we are growing and still have many things to correct. But our team attitude is very good and our kids are receptive to coaching and want to improve. I could not be more pleased with that and excited where our efforts, by the players, coaches and fans, can take us in the future.”

Photo by KEVIN SHANNAHAN, Natchitoches Parish Journal

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By DWAIN SPILLMAN JR., Journal Sports

This week’s goal for St. Mary’s was to remain undefeated after Week 2. The Tigers did just that as SMS dispatched their second Class 3A opponent in as many weeks on Thursday night, sending the visiting Buckeye Panthers back to Rapides Parish with a memorable 44-12 drubbing on the gridiron.

Next week’s goal for the Tigers? Just call the team the clean-up crew for Week 3 of the regular season campaign.

“If we can clean up things, we’ve got a pretty special group and that means we can have a pretty special season,” St. Mary’s head coach Aaron York commented immediately following the action last night. “That has to be our goal. We have got to clean up the mistakes and hopefully get as many reps for as many players as we can get in that process. We did get a lot more depth in tonight and a lot of people played which is a big plus for us.”

SMS stalled on its first possession and failed to gain a first down. The Tigers rebounded after Mixon Bankston intercepted a Buckeye pass (his third pickoff this season) on the Panthers’ first offensive possession. St. Mary’s put together a typical Tiger drive, selectively mixing the rushing plays with the aerial attack as Ben Bienvenu powered up the middle to the end zone and a 7-0 advantage midway through the opening session.

Buckeye immediately answered with a long draw play going the distance to close the gap to 7-6 after a blocked PAT. On the ensuing kickoff, Drake Griffin fielded a wobbly kickoff at the 36 and bolted up the field for an immediate score.

The Tigers then methodically collected two additional TDs, going to the locker room up 28-6 at the break.

When Buckeye came out for the second half, the Panthers made quick work of moving the ball. Just when the tide seemed to be turning, SMS defensive back Payne Williams intercepted a Panther pass in the end zone to kill that momentum.

What ensued was both the Tigers’ upperclassmen along with the underclassmen mounting impressive plays both offensively and defensively to move to the victory. The upperclassmen’s effort was highlighted on one play after Bankston, at quarterback, left the game briefly with an injury. Freshman QB Preston Tilley then connected with Payne Williams on a 43-yard catch and run play for a TD.

“A win is a win, there’s no doubt about that,” York said. “Offensively, we played well but we have to clean up things like penalties, formations, route combinations and things like that. Defensively, Buckeye came out in a no-huddle offense and we have to recognize what our lineups should be and focus on our assignments. On special teams, we missed some blocking assignments and we will work to clean that up.

“Overall, our goal was to be 2-0 after tonight and we did that. We also came out of this game relatively healthy and that’s a plus for us too. Our goal now is preparation and planning leading up to Friday night,” said York.

The Tigers committed 14 penalties for 130 yards but recovered all three of Buckeye’s fumbles. The Tigers recorded 368 yards of total offense to 375 for the Panthers.

Bankston was 10 of 20 passing for 193 yards and two TDs while Griffin led all rushers with 43 yards on the ground. Griffin also had a career night defensively with 18 total tackles while Braylin Norman added nine.

Gracious in defeat, Buckeye boss man Ben McLaughlin expressed respect for the Tigers and praise for his team. McLaughlin, considered to be on the great offensive generals on the high school field in central Louisiana, said, “We didn’t cross the 50-yard line but just one time last season against this team. We moved the ball tonight. We were not able to convert a lot of those drives into points but we moved the ball according to plan.”

McLaughlin, a former assistant at Alexandria Senior High and Louisiana Christian College, concluded, “There are no moral victories in football. But our kids are believing in what we are doing. I am not taking anything away from them (St. Mary’s) because they made the plays. But when we put on the tape, what we call the silent film, that is without seeing the scoreboard and hearing the fans, I know we are going to be very proud of the way our kids played.”

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Searching for dependable Delivery Driver

Must be 21 or older. Pay dependent on experience – minimum $16.00 per hour + incentive pay. Class D (Chauffeur’s License) Driver’s license required.

Must meet DOT requirements and have the ability to lift up to 100 pounds with or without lifting devices on a recurring basis. We are seeking someone with warehouse experience in addition to driving skills and outstanding customer service. Also, must be comfortable with smart phone/tablet functions. Schedule includes working Saturdays. Great benefits available including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, etc.

Acceptable drug test, background check and MVR required.***

Apply to this job in person:

Ivan Smith Furniture

936 Keyser Avenue Natchitoches, LA 71457

Founded in 1961 by Ivan Smith, Sr, Ivan Smith Furniture is a third generation, family-owned business headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana. Ivan Smith Furniture employs over 600 employees and operates more than 45 locations in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. A cornerstone of our success has been our focus on customer service, quality, integrity and efficiency. We strive every day to keep those same principles alive to better serve our customers and staff.

Visit: www.ivansmith.com to learn more about Ivan Smith Furniture

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: From $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Day range:

• Tuesday through Saturday

Application Question(s):

• Are you at least 21 years old?

• Delivery Driving: 1 year (Preferred)

• Class D Driver’s License (Chauffer’s License) (Required)

Work Location: In person

Dane Terrell
I.S.F. General Manager #22
318-352-5889

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Tappedtober is Natchitoches, Louisiana’s very first Craft Beer and Wine Festival. This annual event is known for the family environment, top-notch entertainment, big screen football, and, of course, the best beer and wine there is to offer. Winnfield, LA native and up and coming artist Spenser Brunson will kick start the night accompanied by Deep Water Rehab. 2022 Texas Country Music Female Artist of the year, Sarah Hobbs, is set to open for this year’s headliner. Her old school, traditional country style will set the scene for the ‘90s country royalty to follow. The TappedTober line-up is loaded with the return of country music singer, songwriter, and record producer, Tracy Lawrence. Festival goers can expect to hear Lawrence’s top hits like “Paint Me a Birmingham”, “Texas Tornado” and “Time Marches On.”

Over 45 craft beer brands will be on hand in the beer pavilion. This family event has something for everyone: Kid Zone, incredible music line-up, live streamed football games, food trucks, games, and much more. 100% of all proceeds support the mission of the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Tappedtober is not just festival. It is a vital fundraising event the ensures healthcare excellence is available at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and the Northwestern Louisiana Cancer Center. We are grateful for our faithful and community caring sponsors.

The growth and community support of the Tappedtober Craft Beer & Wine Festival over the last five years has been a truly humbling experience for our dedicated team. To put on an event, which has attracted over 5000 attendees in such a short time, is no small task. Our team spends the better part of 6 months making things happen in preparation. You can learn more at tappedtober.com.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation exists to ensure NRMC is equipped to excel in delivering healthcare excellence to every member of our community. The Foundation does this through funding technology advancements (i.e. 3D mammography), new healthcare services, nursing & allied health scholarships, and community wellness grants.

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Topic: Ready Start Network Advisory Board Meeting

Location: Natchitoches Parish School Board, Title 1 Media Center. Large Conference Room.

Date & Time: September 12 , 2023 12:15 -1:30 PM

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The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches held its weekly meeting on Thursday, September 7th. Updates were given on the September 28th Annual Community Leader Recognition and Officer Installation Banquet as well as the October 7th 5K Color Run and Pancake Fest.

Club president Craig George introduced Fort St. Jean Baptiste’s Interpretive Ranger Felicia Brand. Brand explained the history of the fort and the various locations where the fort relocated to during the 18th century. The fort is open to visitors such as school class trips.

Pictured left to right: Felicia Brand, Craig George

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It isn’t as rare as sighting Haley’s Comet, but it was very unusual Thursday morning when Journal readers checked e-mail and didn’t find the normal 6:55 a.m. edition of your free local news source.

In fact, it’s the first time in over a decade of operating Journals around north Louisiana that happened.

Our e-mail distribution portal is operated by Constant Contact, which had a significant system disruption early Thursday. It was systemwide for them – a much bigger problem that goes far beyond our Journal community.

Fortunately, the problem was resolved mid-morning, and your Journal e-mail arrived about 10 a.m., three hours late. We apologize for the delay. It’s a first for us.

All Journal content was published as normal Thursday morning and is available through our websites and our social media pages that are specific to each Journal.

The folks at Constant Contact believe the problem is resolved, but just in case a snag happens again, Journal Services has a plan in place. Subscribers will quickly get an e-mail sharing different pathways to access the daily content that many need to get their day started just right.

That is always available by accessing our content through our websites, or social media.

The web addresses:

ShreveportBossierJournal.com

SouthCaddoParishJournal.com

NatchitochesParishJournal.com

LincolnParishJournal.com

RapidesParishJournal.com

WebsterParishJournal.com

E-mail subscribers to these Journals were impacted by the Thursday morning issue..

All our Journals have corresponding Facebook pages, except for the South Caddo Parish Journal, whose content all is housed on the Shreveport-Bossier Journal Facebook site.

We appreciate your patience dealing with this major disruption – similar to a power outage or the systemic problem United Airlines encountered a couple of days ago, but unprecedented in Journal Services’ existence that goes back well over a decade.

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By DWAIN SPILLMAN JR., Journal Sports

Coming off a huge win in Week 1, St. Mary’s is set to battle its second opponent in as many weeks from the Class 3A ranks as the Panthers from Buckeye make a stop at Turpin Stadium tonight. Kickoff is 7 o’clock.

The Tigers, a constant threat for championships in District 3-1A, dispelled Class 3A powerhouse Abbeville a week ago (21-18) for its first victory over the Wildcats in three tries. This time around coach Aaron York’s team will battle another much larger school, but resting on the laurels of their major victory in the first outing of the 2023 campaign is not a motivator for the second week of action. Continuing to build and get better provides plenty of motivation.

“The challenge is not to accept this (beating Abbeville) as our best we have this season,” York said earlier this week. “We have to grow each week and get better. If we can do that, then this is going to be a really good year for us.”

Those comments came after SMS bolstered its position in the power point ratings with the victory over the ‘Cats. An additional win this week could also improve the Tigers’ standing in the polls as well. That matters at the end of a season in relation to seeding for the playoffs.

“We have to get better, play smarter and be more disciplined,” York added. “But, it is hard to top the effort we gave last Friday. Our kids were very receptive to a big ballgame and they didn’t let it overwhelm them. We definitely have to figure out how to get back to that energy level each week. I was so proud of our effort.”

Looking at this week’s opponent, St. Mary’s gathered wins over the Panthers for the last two seasons. Buckeye was 3-7 a year ago and posts an overall mark of 8-27 over the last three seasons but York was quick to point out that is the past and this is the present. The Panthers dispatched Block last week by a 46-20 count on the road to begin their 2023 campaign.

“Buckeye will be well-coached and very disciplined,” York said. “Their coach is telling their kids this could be the one, the one time they can win. We are telling our kids we have to rise up after a big win and not let that happen.”

Leaving the Swamp north of Campti, the Gators will hit the road for a second straight contest. Lakeview fell to D’Arbonne Woods 42-12 in the season opener. The Gators face a familiar opponent just a short distance down Highway 71 at Montgomery this Friday night. Under first-year and veteran coach Andy Boone, the Gators are just looking for a victory.

“We just need to win, it’s that simple,” Boone said. “A win would really go a long way for us physically and mentally.”

The Gators did in fact move the fall offensively, gaining 203 yards rushing against D’Arbonne Woods. However, three fumbles in the red zone led to the host team going up 28-0 before Lakeview hit the scoreboard. The Gators matched the Timberwolves score for score in the second half and did not record a turnover in the final two quarters of play. Another positive for the Gators from the initial kickoff this season was that Lakeview also converted all fourth-down attempts. You see, the Gators do not punt the ball under the guidance of their new boss man.

“We just have to hold onto the football,” Boone concluded. “We moved the ball down the field without question. It is an absolute must that we finish drives with points. We have to stop making the mistakes that kill drives. We are working hard this week to just hold onto the ball. We are reviewing good decision making both on offense and defense and I believe we can be successful when we clean up the little things as well.”

The host Montgomery Tigers, a regular on the Gators’ schedule, were dispatched last week at Grant 49-13. Lakeview holds all three victories over Montgomery dating back to 2019, not playing in 2021. Most recently, Lakeview thumped Montgomery, 33-6, at the Swamp last year.

Kickoff in Montgomery is also scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night.

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Saturday evening, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State collide in football.

In a different time, and place, that sentence alone raised blood pressure for alumni, fans and students on both sides.

Not this century. After decades of being fierce rivals in everything, not just football and sports, Louisiana Tech chose a different course for its athletic program beginning in 1988, and that smothered the 318 area code’s most historic and long-term intense rivalry.

Yes, in that decade, Tech’s proximity to ULM (then Northeast) and the crossed bloodlines of Tech grad, former assistant and spurned head coaching hopeful Pat Collins being the head man in Monroe all brought the Bulldogs-Indians (nee’ Warhawks) contests to the boiling point, something unthinkable just a few years earlier.

Tech’s ’88 and-out-the-gate move eventually put the kibosh on that stadium-filling, argument-inducing annual I-20 showdown. The series survived for eight more meetings, all won by the upgraded Bulldogs, through 2000, but hasn’t been contested since. There was a 2020 try at Independence Stadium halted by the pandemic, but we can rejoice: the programs have contracted a home-and-home series — in 2030-31.

It’s likely that ULM and Tech will sooner-than-then land in the same conference. In the seismic shifting atop the college sports landscape, the trickle-down impact will shift some alliances, shatter others, bond left-outs and want-to-be’s, and probably blunt ambitions for some (McNeese, at least).

The core of the nearby Sun Belt membership (ULM, UL Lafayette, Southern Mississippi, Texas State, South Alabama and Troy) sure looks like a more appealing fit than having the Bulldogs continuing to line up against brand-new Conference USA colleagues of convenience Sam Houston, Kennesaw State (until recently, a Division II school), Jacksonville State and New Mexico State. Who’s gonna put more butts in seats?

That’s why scheduling NSU to come to Ruston makes sense, too. One of the biggest Joe Aillet crowds this century showed up Sept. 20, 2014 – a date that lives in infamy among Tech faithful, AKA “The Fireworks Game.”

Not for what happened during the game, but after. When the upstart visitors scored 20 fourth-quarter points, feeding off Tech turnovers, finishing when Chris Moore hammered a walk-off 47-yard field goal for a 30-27 Vic the Demon dance fest, there were fireworks. And music, including “Celebration.” 

The pyrotechnics, it was said later, had to be shot, already primed to go off, never considering the unimaginable – an NSU win. The music? Some poor distracted marketing minion didn’t have the sense to not play it, to the delight of thousands of ecstatic Northwestern fans.

Didn’t ruin Tech’s season – the Bulldogs went on to a bowl appearance. Didn’t help propel the best Demons team since 2004 into the FCS playoffs, though, but it was and is an infinitely better reason to remember Sept. 20 than the approaching 50^th anniversary of budding superstar Jim Croce’s six-fatality plane crash after a low-key, 42-minute concert across Chaplin’s Lake at NSU’s Prather Coliseum.

In 2017, young Tech AD Tommy McClelland (a former Demons deep snapper, tight end and javelin tosser) made his alma mater a Godfather offer – about $300k – to make the 89-mile drive through pine trees to Aillet Stadium. Until gutsy Demons QB J.D. Almond departed with severe cramps midway though the third period, that quite well-attended season opener was unresolved, but the Bulldogs pushed away and exorcised their Demons 52-24.

Saturday in Ruston, Northwestern and Louisiana Tech folks will tailgate (obeying state fire marshal restrictions), rekindle memories and make a few new ones. Trash will be talked, but more smiles and laughs exchanged.

Many players on both teams have faced each other, or played alongside each other, in high school. Demons’ coach and Ruston High hero Brad Laird will return to the community that treasures him for, among other reasons, quarterbacking the 1990 Bearcats not only to the state championship, but a No. 1 USA Today national ranking.

It will be more personal, in that regard, than any other game on either side’s 2023 schedule. But not like it once was, and never will be again.

It won’t carry the lasting impact of the week-long buildup with pranks and bonfires and pep rallies on campus and then in Shreveport, and the Rally in the Alley, for the State Fair Classic, the game both sides circled on the schedule every season for five decades.

But it will be a little whiff of Time in a Bottle. That makes it worth doing again, every once in a while.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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“Simple words can be come clever phrases,
And chapters could turn into books.
Yes if I could just get it on paper,
But it’s harder than it ever looks.”

— If I Could Just Get It On Paper, Jimmy Buffett, 1982

Was out of town this weekend and had trouble sleeping in a hotel as usual so I saw when the cell phone lit up with an alert at 2 a.m.

Jimmy Buffett, dead at 76.

Great way to start a weekend — if you want the weekend to be crummy.

It was autumn of 1979 and a friend said to come with him to a casual party on a weeknight, just a couple blocks from Louisiana Tech’s campus, off Spencer Street in someone’s yard. Maybe 50 students hanging around with Solo cups and a record player was spinning “The Great Filling Station Holdup,” my first exposure to Jimmy Buffett. I was about six years late to the party that wouldn’t end until early Saturday morning when Jimmy Buffett, a musical Boy of Summer, passed away from a rare form of skin cancer, holding on, fittingly, through the final day of the Unofficial Summer.

I backtracked and caught up. Scraped together loose change and when possible bought “A1A” and “Havana Daydreamin’” and “Changes in Latitudes” and “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” each an album or cassette when there were such things.

Loved Jimmy. Appreciated he could laugh at himself and find the humor in his fellow travelers and share it. We are, after all, an odd bunch.

Saw him twice in concert. I never recall anyone saying anything about going to a Jimmy Buffett concert to hear Utley on keyboards or Fingers on harmonica or even to hear Jimmy Buffett sing. It was all about going to have some fun.

In all the obits I’ve read, there were no stories of him being a big shot or a crazed rock star. They are all about his humor and generosity and blanket kindness. He sang about Margaritaville, but he didn’t live there.

He was a singer and a guitar player but mainly he was an entertainer and mostly he was a writer. And a great one. He was at his best writing short stories, so short that they could be three-minute songs.

Paul Simon and Paul McCartney, no less than titans in the art, have said this week that Jimmy Buffett was not only one of their best friends but also one of the best songwriters in the business. They know how hard it is.

You want silly, fun songs? Listen to “Margaritaville” or “Pencil Thin Mustache” or “Cheeseburger in Paradise” or “The Weather is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful.” “Fins” and “Volcano” and “Fruitcakes.”

Women and men songs? “Miss You So Badly.” “Distantly in Love.” “Come Monday.” “Cuban Crime of Passion.” “Who’s the Blonde Stranger.”

Want to make some quick trips? “Jamaica Mistaica.” “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season.” “One Particular Harbor.” “Tampico Trauma.” “Boat Drinks.” “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”

You want to meet some unforgettable people, read/listen to some textured short stories? Try “African Friend,” “Havana Daydreamin’,” “He Went to Paris,” “Somewhere Over China,” “The Captain and the Kid,” “Last Mango in Paris,” or “Cowboy in the Jungle.”

There’s some good stuff on those old albums.

If you are aware of him at all, you can hardly think of him and not smile. I appreciate that he had such a fascination with life, and that he wasn’t selfish about spreading the love. Secretly, that took a lot of work behind the scenes; all we saw were the beaches and the boats.

 “… Yeah if I could just get it on paper,

I could tell you what I think I did.”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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As anglers, we are always looking for the best bass fishing lake in the country. It’s our dream to catch 10-pound bass on every cast, but we don’t want anyone else to know about our secret destination.

It begs me to wonder, “Where is the holy grail of bass fishing?” Is there really a Bassfield USA and if so, is it a destination all anglers should put on their bucket lists?

This topic came up at lunch the other day with my so-called “Lunch Bunch” crew. We are a sad group of guys that eat lunch together at least twice a week to discuss everything from LSU football to the prettiest women of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. It is a group of both Republican and Democratic loyalists with a couple of Independents mixed in who have the answers to most of our country’s political issues.

It was during a conversation about a former NSU Demon that someone asked where he was from? Turns out, he was from a town by the name of Bassfield!

After some lengthy discussion, someone finally Googled to discover that Bassfield is in Mississippi, located in the northeast region of the Magnolia State. My peer group of misfits (the Lunch Bunch) thought it was funny that I did not know where Bassfield was since I am a bass fisherman.

While I failed to see the humor in their dubious accusation, they just could not understand how I could call myself a bass angler and not know the location of Bassfield, Mississippi! They pretended to be disappointed in my lack of knowledge, but I thought they were juvenile!

However, this topic did raise a question with me: are there any other towns called by another species of fish like catfish? Or might there be a town by the name of Sac-a-lait, otherwise known as a white perch to most southerners. How many fish towns are there?

Turns out, after extensive research and a waste of my time, there are at least 81 towns around Canada and the good ol’ USA that have a name associated with a particular fish species. Some include Catfish Paradise, Arizona; Fish, Georgia; Fishkill, New York (love that one); Marlin, Texas; King Salmon, Alaska; Sturgeon, Pennsylvania; and one of my favorites — Jack Fish, Ontario, Canada.

There’s even a Trout located in north Louisiana’s LaSalle Parish. Did you know there are three other town names with the word Bass in it? They are Bass Harbor, Maine, Bass Lake, Wisconsin; and Bass River, New Brunswick, Canada.

So, there you have it. More useless information that no one really cares about! But at least next time when my “Lunch Bunch” asks about a town with a fishy name, I’ll be able to hold my head high by spouting off the location of several.

It pains me to waste my valuable time on such trivial information, but when you have friends like the ones I have, you need all the ammunition you can get since these guys are ruthless when you don’t know the things THEY think you should know.  

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and when you get that bite of a lifetime, don’t forget to set the hook!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Northwestern State University’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics announces three upcoming events in which prospective students can explore career opportunities in STEM fields, meet faculty and fellow students and learn about degree programs.  The School of STEM includes the Department of Biology and Microbiology, the Department of Engineering Technology, the Division of Mathematics, the Department of Physical Science and the Department of Veterinary Technology.

STEM Day:

• September 29, 2023
• 8:00am – 12:00pm
• For high school students in grades 9-12, Northwestern State University’s School of STEM is offering an exceptional opportunity to dive deep into their fields of interest. Through engaging and interactive hands-on demonstrations, students can gain valuable insights into the exciting worlds of STEM. Participants will have the chance to choose from several specialized tracks, in biomedical/microbiology, natural science/ecology, veterinary science, chemistry and physics or mathematics/engineering.
• Registration is available at nsu.la/StemDay

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The Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival committee on Friday announced their 2023 Good Ole Days Parade Grand Marshal will be Laurie Gentry of Many. This year marks the event’s 31st anniversary, which begins Friday night, Sept. 29, at Fuzzy Hennigan Park downtown and continues Saturday, Sept. 30, with a 10 a.m. parade, all day music and activities, food and craft vendors.

“We are proud to announce this year’s Grand Marshal is Laurie Gentry,” Festival Director Fuzzy Hennigan stated at a small, surprise reception held Aug. 25 inside the former T. M. Middleton Store in Marthaville. “Our beautiful t-shirts will, for the first time ever, be pink,” he continued, explaining, “Breast Cancer Awareness Month kicks off immediately after Good Ole Days. Our slogan across the back of this year’s shirt will say ‘Tuff enough to wear pink.’”

Among other things, Gentry is a five-year breast cancer survivor and co-founded Pink Sisters of Sabine a few years ago, which serves local breast cancer patients. Since its start, the non-profit has provided over 100 patients with recovery supply tote bags, prayer, encouragement, fuel and food cards for use during treatment and other support. In addition, Laurie is a one-year survivor of endometrial cancer, which was unrelated to her previous issue.

“It is a privilege to be selected as this year’s Grand Marshal,” Gentry shared. “For a long time, I have considered myself an ‘honorary native’ of Marthaville. I love its people and its history as if they were my own. What a blessing to have married into such a special community that I can now proudly claim! Thank you to the Festival Committee for this honor, and I thank them for using their ‘small town, big heart’ leadership to shine a light on breast cancer awareness,” she said.

Laurie is the wife of Robert Gentry, longtime journalist, newspaper publisher, founder of Rebel State Historic Site and Marthaville native. She enjoys photography, graphic design, travel, writing and music.

Other Marthaville Good Ole Days event organizers include Karen Rawls, Sheila Noe, Mitzi Roe, Bruce and Jan Tatum, and Parade Directors Phillip Strahan and Greg Goings.

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For the past 24 years, the Cane River Zydeco Festival has been a mainstay of the Labor Day weekend in our parish. The festival, sponsored by the Magnolia Peace Officers’ Association, started with a “poker run” that attracted motorcycle enthusiasts from near and far who competed for fun prizes while enjoying a picturesque ride through our parish.

The festival attracted people from all over the local area and beyond who filled the riverbank seating area. The dance stage was continuously filled with dancers of all ages.

The concert consisted of two singers and their bands. Marcus Ardoin & Da Zydeco Legendz was the first act, playing a variety of Zydeco tunes. Natchitoches’ DJ Rob Real kept up a steady stream of music during the day keeping the crowd’s spirits high. The night’s headliner was Opelousas’ Lil’ Nathan & Zydeco Big Timers. He did not stop for a minute, keeping the crowd on their feet and dancing all evening to a high energy set of classic and new Zydeco music.

The festival is fun with a purpose. The Magnolia Peace Officers Association uses the proceeds for a wide variety of good works in the community. From fan drives to scholarships and school supplies, the money raised by the annual Zydeco Festival is returned to the community.

The Cane River Zydeco Festival is terrific family fun and is part and parcel of what makes living in Natchitoches so special.

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