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Dr. Herman Song, renowned forensic neuropsychiatrist will be a featured speaker Tuesday Oct 14th  at 6:00 PM at the Friedman Student Union on the campus of Northwestern State University and he joins Billy West Live to discuss the science and predictive behavior between animal abuse and violence to humans.

Dr. Song will provide insight on the predictive behavior of humans who abuse animals and how that behavior can be a warning sign of violence against humans. The “Cruelty Connection” and presentation is part of a week long “VET TECH” week on the campus of NSU and the public is invited to attend free of charge. Anyone  who cares about compassion and safety of animals and human beings could benefit from this presentation.  FAUNA invites everyone to help build a community that protects both animals and people.

 

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There was no way Kendall Hemperley was letting the Northwestern State soccer team lose its annual ‘Fork Cancer’ game.

The highly-motivated freshman from Katy, Texas, created the first goal on a cross that resulted in an own goal, helping lead the Demons (8-3-3, 3-1-1) to a 2-0 home Southland Conference soccer victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (3-7-4, 1-3-2) on Thursday evening at the Demon Soccer Complex.

Northwestern goes on the road for a key contest Sunday, visiting East Texas A&M in a battle for first place in the Southland standings as the back half of conference play begins.

Thursday night, Hemperley sported  ‘Mom’ written on her leg in support of her mother, DeAnne, who battled breast cancer while Kendall was in high school.

It was also DeAnne’s birthday.

“It felt amazing to help get that goal,” Hemperley said. “As soon as that goal went in, I looked straight at my mom. It was awesome.

“She couldn’t ask for a better birthday gift. All she asked for was a goal and I gave it to her.”

On the goal, Hemperley sent in a cross into the box and AMCC’s Dakota Merino stuck her leg out to try to knock away the cross, but it hit her leg and deflected into the back of the net to give the Demons the lead.

While Hemperley helped Northwestern grab the lead, it was Riley Stern who put the exclamation point on the Demons’ second straight victory midway through the second half.

Stern, a redshirt junior from Fort Worth, scored on a free kick to put NSU up 2-0 in the 62nd minute.

Madison Murphy booted a free kick into the box, and it was deflected by AMCC’s Ashley Wilson, who tried to head it away. But instead, she headed it right down to Stern, who did the rest.

“I got in on so many free kicks tonight,” Stern said. “I was hungry to put one into the back of the net. It just dropped right in front of me, and I just knew I had to put it away and that is what I did.”

From there, the Demons defense shut the door, as NSU only surrendered one shot attempt over the final 28 minutes after Stern’s goal.

“It feels good to get a big three points for us against tough opposition,” head coach Ian Brophy said. “I am really happy with the way we controlled possession, and I really thought we controlled the game throughout.”

Overall, NSU out-shot AMCC 11-7, including 5-2 in the second half. During league play, the Demons have recorded more shot attempts than their opponents in four of the five games, with them tying in the other game in shot attempts.

Kennedy Rist posted her fifth shutout, aided by a tremendous defense that only helped allow one shot on goal.

“We defended in transition really well tonight,” Brophy said. “The way we were able to snuff out their attacks and recycled possession was a real positive. We were really good on the defensive side, and we were able to match their speed and physicality.”

VOLLEYBALL:  The young Northwestern squad lost 3-0 (25-12, 25-12 and 15) Thursday night on the road to the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions in Southland Conference action.

The Demons (1-18, 0-5 SLC) were led by Deja Benjamin with nine kills while Reagan Hamm had 13 assists. Emmarie McFarland led the way defensively with 11 digs.

The Lady Lions (12-5, 4-1 SLC) moved to 7-0 at home in the University Center this season.

NSU will travel 50 miles south to New Orleans to face the UNO Privateers (6-11, 1-3 SLC) Saturday afternoon at 1.

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Join Marvin as he discusses the Economic Crossroads facing the City of Natchitoches.

Brought to you by Lance Lopez with Farm Bureau, Harrington Law Firm, Sharpco Hotel Group and the Mariner Restaurant.

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For Northwestern State freshmen soccer players Kendall Hemperley and Sabrina McCarter, tonight’s ‘Fork Cancer’ game is not just any other contest.

In addition to each being in their first year on the team, Hemperley and McCarter have a much greater challenge in common — they both have a family member who has dealt with cancer.

The annual ‘Fork Cancer’ night sends NSU (7-3-3, 2-1-1 in the Southland Conference) against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (3-6-4, 1-2-2) in a contest that kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Demon Soccer Complex. It can be seen on ESPN+.

The Demons are partnering with the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for the ‘Fork Cancer’ game. At the front gate, fans can grab pink swag as well as Hilinski’s Hope gear.

Both athletes echo the same sentiment — living life to the fullest.

“Through this, mentally, I’ve gotten way stronger and live every day to the fullest because you have no idea how fast your life can switch around like that,” McCarter said.

McCarter, a goalkeeper from Orem, Utah, had a personal experience with cancer at a young age, as her older sister Gabby was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2017 at the age of 15.

“I almost didn’t believe it when I was told she had cancer,” McCarter said. “It is one of those things where you think ‘It’ll never happen to us.’ When I first found out, I just cried because I didn’t believe it.”

She became more appreciative of life and who all helped her and her family through the journey.

“It made me more of a grateful person because it shows that everyone around you is good and does want to help out,” she said. ”Not only did it make me stronger, but it also made everybody around me stronger as well.

“It was 2022 or 2023 when I found out she was cancer free. It was the best news ever,” Sabrina said.

The night is extra special and meaningful for Hemperley, as not only is it the annual ‘Fork Cancer’ game, but it is also her mother, DeAnne Hemperley’s birthday.

DeAnne was diagnosed with 3D breast cancer toward the end of Kendall’s sophomore year of high school.

DeAnne did 16 rounds of chemo and 40 rounds of radiation. Kendall stated that she was her mother’s nurse for about a year and a half because she had d’flap reconstruction, which Kendall explained is a hip-to-hip incision.

But dealing with something like that drew Kendall even closer to her mother.

“It made my mom and me become best friends,” Kendall said. “We got very close during that time — and still are very close. I even spent one of my Homecomings getting ready in a hospital room.”

During the time when her mother was sick, Kendall would go on drives, listen to music or play soccer as an escape.

“The only time I didn’t think about it was while playing soccer,” she said. “Soccer was the one stable thing in my life, at that time. It was basically an escape.”

As an aspiring nurse and daughter of a nurse, Hemperley had hands-on experience working with her mother often, as well as helping her younger siblings.

“My mom is a nurse and being a nurse, I think helped with the whole process,” Kendall said. “She knows certain things and to ask about certain things and I want to be a nurse when I get older. So, her going through this kind of helped my future. I am going into college with a lot of knowledge that a lot of freshmen don’t have, wanting to be a nurse.”

Hemperley said that while her mother is now breast cancer free, since it is metastatic, she doesn’t know if it will pop up in other areas.

“Seeing her go through that and struggle to even stay alive, it definitely taught me that there are very important things in life,” Hemperley said. “It also taught me to take each day, day-by-day, and not to worry about the little things in life.”

VOLLEYBALL: The Demons continue a four-game road trip tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Hammond facing the Southeastern Louisiana University Lady Lions in Southland Conference action.

The Demons (1-17, 0-4 SLC) are seeking their first conference win after a pair of road losses last week.

Junior Deja Benjamin recorded her 400th career kill against A&M-Corpus Christi and finished the match with 11. Junior Jade Longlad continues to lead the Southland in aces with 33 and is 15th in the country in the category.

The Lady Lions (11-5, 3-1 Southland) enters Thursday contest undefeated at home (6-0).

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A big week that moved her into the program top 10 in career goals earned Emily Senatore another Southland Conference weekly award.

Senatore, a junior from Oxford, Conn., earned the Co-SLC Offensive Player of the Week honor after recording both of NSU’s goals in the 2-1 victory last Thursday over Southeastern Louisiana, handing the Lions their first conference loss.

Senatore broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 84th minute with a goal into the bottom left corner of the net, which turned out to be her fifth game-winning goal of the season. That total leads the SLC and is tied for second nationally.

The pair of goals are Senatore’s first two during conference play and brings her total to 10 this season.

Her two goals moved her to a tie for 10th place on the NSU all-time goal list, as she tied 2025 N-Club Hall of Fame inductee Heather Penico, who was introduced to the crowd at halftime.

Her 10 goals are tied for fifth in the country and six shy of the school record, set in 2000 by Britiany Cargill.

It is her third conference weekly award this season, also winning it Aug. 19 after her two goals at Texas, and Sept. 9 after a goal and assist against Grambling.

She joins goalkeeper Kennedy Rist as Demons who have three weekly conference awards this season.

NSU sits in third place in the Southland with a record of 2-1-1, tied with Southeastern. Every team has at least one win and just five points separate first place from 10th place.

Senatore and the Demons play in front of the home crowd Thursday as NSU hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 7 p.m.

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Marshal Randy Williams and the Natchitoches Ward One City Marshal’s Office congratulate Chief Deputy Steve Pezant for being named the National Deputy Marshal of the Year by the National Constables and Marshals Association during the recent 2025 President’s Awards Banquet in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The National Constables and Marshals Association is a non profit professional organization that represents Constables and Marshals across the United States. Founded to promote training, networking, and advocacy within the field, the association hosts annual conferences, provides educational resources, and works to uphold professional standards for its members. Each year, the group recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding service and leadership in their roles, including its National Deputy Marshal/Constable of the year.

Pezant has served in the Natchitoches Ward One City Marshal’s Office since 2020.

Pezant’s law enforcement career spans 35 years beginning at the Pike County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Office in 1990, then the Louisiana State Police in 1993 and the Natchitoches Ward One City Marshal’s Office in 2020. He retired from the Louisiana State Police in 2019 as Master Trooper after 27 years of service, and was the Louisiana State Trooper’s Association Troop E Affiliate President from 2009 to 2014, serving 6 years as Vice President in that same organization.

Of those 35 years of Law Enforcement Service, 33 have been served within Natchitoches Parish.

A native of Summit, Mississippi, Pezant is a 1989 and 1990 graduate of Northwestern State University.

“Steve was hired in 2020 and in 2021 was promoted to Chief Deputy because of the outstanding job he was doing in a short period of time. Steve goes beyond his duties in serving at the Natchitoches Ward One City Marshal’s Office and in the City of Natchitoches. I am so proud that the National Association saw what he and his wife have done for the association. Steve deserves the recognition, the plaque he was given, and more.” Natchitoches Ward One City Marshal Randy Williams

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By Journal Services Staff Writer

The 2025 Louisiana black bear hunting lottery concluded Aug. 28 with 1,330 applications from 1,119 applicants, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced.

Key Details:

• 26 permits will be issued for the Dec. 6-21 hunt, up from 11 in 2024
• Applications included 554 for private landowner lottery, 212 for LDWF Wildlife Management Area lottery in Bear Area 4 and 564 for general lottery
• Eight permits issued in Bear Management Area 1, three in Area 2 and 15 in Area 4
• Cubs and females with cubs are illegal to harvest; cubs defined as bears weighing 75 pounds or less
• Unsuccessful applicants receive preference points (capped at five) for subsequent years
• Hunters drawn cannot be selected again for two years

Impact/Analysis: The lottery drew 973 applications from 814 hunters in 2024. Population estimates and vital rate data determined permit numbers for each bear area. All lottery fees and license revenue fund the Louisiana black bear program, supporting live trapping, radio collaring, winter den checks and hair sampling to monitor range expansion.

Bottom Line: The Louisiana black bear was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1992 and delisted in 2016 following collaborative conservation efforts, marking one of the state’s most successful conservation programs.

For more information on the black bear hunting lottery, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/black-bear-hunting-lottery.

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By BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Sports Information

Missed chances and the visitors’ relentless rushing ended in a frustrating and disappointing Homecoming night for Northwestern State in its 40-10  Southland Conference football loss to East Texas A&M Saturday at Turpin Stadum.

The theme of the night played out in the first two series. Antonio Hall returned the opening kickoff 65 yards, setting up the Demons (1-4, 0-1) in prime field position. Six plays later a missed field goal denied an early edge.

East Texas A&M (1-4, 1-0) responded with a nine-play touchdown drive, gaining 27 yards on the ground on seven rushing plays ending in a two-yard score by E.J. Oakmon leading to a 17-3 halftime advantage.

The Lions rushed for 261 yards on 52 attempts behind a trio of backs to control the clock and the line of scrimmage.

“Can’t say I saw that one coming,” Demons’ coach Blaine McCorkle said. “That was one we all thought and hoped we would have played a lot better and have a chance to win. We still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of looking in the mirror to do as players, as coaches, with schemes, with how we practice, how we prepare our bodies. 

“All we can do is go back to work. Nobody said this thing was going to be easy. We’re frustrated now but the beauty is you get another chance next week.”

Falling short on the opening series was the first of two major misses in the first half for the Demons.

A blocked punt by Ty Moore following a defensive 3-and-out set the Demons up in plus territory at the Lions’ 31-yard line. A sack on third down pushed the Demons back, leading to a field goal attempt that sailed wide left, leaving the drive empty and NSU trailing 10-0.

The Lions took the ensuing possession down the field on a 14-play drive, the longest of the night, gaining 50 of the 80 yards on the trip via the rushing attack, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown run stretching the lead to 17-0.

The Demons found a spark on its final possession of the half that started with a Fernando Washington interception, his first as a Demon, at his own six-yard line. Quarterback Abram Johnston, engineered a quick and clean scoring drive to get the Demons on the board just before half.

A long completion to Camryn Davis and a long run from Kolbe Burrell put the Demons in position to convert on a Cooper Evans 30-yard field goal as time expired.

Any momentum the Demons gained with the scoring drive was squelched by the Lions to open the third quarter when ET’s KJ Shankle went around the right side for a 24-yard scoring run.

The Lions rushed for 139 yards on 28 carries in the second half, and took control as they scored touchdowns on all three of their third-quarter possessions and produced scoring drives four times on their five total in the second half.

The youthful Demons saw a pair of freshmen help fuel NSU’s lone scoring drive in the second half. Trevor Allen and Brenden Webb accounted for 34 yards on an eight-play drive the ended with a Burrell rushing touchdown, his first of the season.

“You saw Brenden Webb get his first action touching the ball and he showed that he can make plays, and same thing with Jimmie Duncan,” McCorkle said. “Trevor Allen got his first action of the season tonight and showed his capabilities. We had some guys step in on defense in their who had not played a snap yet this year. Proud of all those guys for that and we saw some more young guys get a chance to grow and develop.”

NSU plays its next two games on the road beginning next Saturday at Houston Christian.

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SAN MARCOS, Texas — The Northwestern State women’s tennis team closed out the Texas State Invitational on Sunday with a competitive showing across both doubles and singles, wrapping up a productive weekend of fall competition that featured several tightly contested matches. 

The Lady Demons opened the morning with an impressive doubles session, highlighted by two dominant wins.  

Zoi Spyrou and Honoka Umeda picked up a 6-4 victory against UIW’s Luciana Perez Hernandez and Alexandra Mille. 

Athina Grigoriadou and Martina Acebedo Bonocore continued their stellar form with a 6-2 triumph over UTRGV’s Mariia Bakhtina and Luna Buijtenhuijs.  

Lolita Hukasian and Maria Farina battled through a back-and-forth match before narrowly falling 7-6(5) to UIW’s Estefania Gonzalez and Ine Lamprecht. 

In singles play, Farina delivered one of NSU’s top performances of the day, securing a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over Texas State’s Emily Niers to close out her weekend on a high note. 

In two weeks, the  Lady Demons travel to Huntsville, Texas, to compete in the Bearkat Invitational, hosted by Sam Houston. 

VOLLEYBALL:  Deja Benjamin recorded her 400th career kill, but Northwestern was defeated by the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders, 3-0 (25-22, 25-15 and 25-18) Saturday afternoon on the road in a Southland Conference volleyball match.

The Demons (1-17, 0-4 Southland) came out strong as they had 15-11 lead midway through the first set highlighted by four kills from Samaya Wesson.

However, the Islanders (6-10, 2-2 Southland) rallied to tie the match at 22-22 before edging the Demons in the first set on three straight kills.

Despite the second set being controlled by the Islanders, Benjamin recorded her 400th career kill with the Demons trailing 18-10.

“I’m proud of Deja,” said Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. “She has been through several system changes, and it shows a lot of maturity and grit for her to keep getting better.”

NSU had 33 kills led by Benjamin with 11.

The Demons will be back in action Thursday night when they play on the road against the Southeastern Lions.

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By JONATHON ZENK, Northwestern State Sports Information

Whether it was the family that raised them, or the families they found at Northwestern State, the 13 people honored at the N-Club Hall of Fame ceremony Saturday morning at the Magale Recital Hall shared their success with those closest to them.

“It is a great honor to be inducted,” an emotional Josh Hancock said. “I lost my Dad a few weeks ago. I brought my Mom up to the stage because my parents gave me a lot of support. My parents worked hard and taught us to work hard and never give up.

“The appreciation I have for them is undeniable and I appreciate all the sacrifices they’ve made and that is one of the reasons why I worked as hard as possible so we got where we did at Northwestern.”

Hancock started a string of three brothers – Tramaine, then Keithan – who played at NSU.

He also poignantly thanked coach Mike McConathy for “making basketball fun for me again” when McConathy took over the program after Hancock’s sophomore season.

The slender Kountze, Texas, native (“I still have those skinny legs!” he cracked) was one of three Demon hoops stars spotlighted Saturday. All three helped NSU win NCAA Tournament games.

The point guard finished with 307 career assists, which was sixth in program history at the end of his career. Hancock also sealed the Demons’ first NCAA Tournament victory by draining a triple in the final minute to put away Winthrop in 2001.

On a day filled with reminiscing about tremendous moments in their careers, it was fitting that the man who made the biggest play in NSU Athletics history was honored.

Jermaine Wallace, who drilled a 3-pointer in the corner to defeat third-seeded Iowa in the 2006 NCAA Tournament, earned his spot in the Hall with much more than a moment that still lives indelibly in March Madness history.

A two-time All-Southland Conference selection, Wallace ranks 13th on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,427 points and helped McConathy’s teams win two straight Southland titles. A member of the Demons’ All-Century Team, Wallace’s 200 career 3-pointers stood as a school record for nearly a decade.

“Without my brothers on the team, there would be no me,” said the native of Heflin and product of Sibley High School.

“I remember the shot frame-by-frame. I remember every moment, but any time anybody asks me about that shot, I always revert to the comeback before the shot. I tell people that I just made the shot you remember, but my brothers and I made the (17-point) comeback to make it possible. That is what I remember the most.”

Wallace shared a locker room with Tyrone Mitchell, who has made an impact after his playing career as the head coach for a championship program at Xavier (N.O.).

Being the on-court leader of the “Demons of Destiny” helped Mitchell develop a successful coaching career after he finished playing professionally overseas.

“I was a scorer coming out of high school and six games into my college career, Coach Mike brought me into his office,” Mitchell said. “He said ‘Tyrone, if you lead us in scoring, we’re never going to win a championship.’ He said ‘Trust what I’m telling you. You’re a leader, we need you to lead this group. We need you to make the ultimate sacrifices. Still, those are the things I do today as a head coach, and it sticks with me.”

He wasn’t the only one of the 13 inductees who was born to be a head coach.

As a daughter of a Texas high school head football coach, a career path was almost ordained for former Lady Demons softball coach Gay McNutt.

“I grew up on the sidelines on Friday nights,” McNutt said. “I heard a lot of words I probably should not have heard, words that my mother probably didn’t appreciate. But that is where it started. I knew I wanted to coach all along.”

And coach she did, leading the program to its first two NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 2000) as part of a three-year run of Southland Conference titles from 1998-2000.

In that stretch, McNutt led NSU to a 112-55 mark, including a 40-18 record in 1998 and 41-19 mark in 2000. Her 161 career victories are third in program history.

A two-way softball standout almost a decade later, Amanda Glenn Peters’ name is scattered all over the record books.

She has two of the top four strikeout seasons in school history, and is second all-time in career strikeouts with 568 and third in innings pitched with 560. A two-time first-team All-Louisiana selection, she slugged 29 career home runs and Glenn’s 125 RBIs remain fourth in program career history.

When it came to who would win in a battle between Glenn as a pitcher and Glenn as a hitter, she was confident in her selection.

“If Amanda Glenn the hitter faced Amanda Glenn the pitcher, the choice was easy who would win,” she said. “It would probably be the hitter because that was where my heart was and we were winning games. But, 100 percent, if Amanda Glenn the pitcher thought Amanda Glenn the hitter was going to beat her, she would hit her.”

Layne Miller has made a giant impact on the softball program and NSU Athletics overall and was honored with the Distinguished Service Award. A former Demon baseball player, he has a daughter, Lauren, who played softball at NSU, and for decades, Layne has been a vital volunteer and avid supporter of Natchitoches and Northwestern.

Like many others being honored, his parents were big inspirations for helping him earn a spot in the N-Club Hall of Fame. It was his love of cooking that has been a cornerstone of his involvement.

“Both my father and mother were good cooks,” he said. “My dad used to cook at large crowds for camp and that is where I picked it up from. The first time I cooked for Northwestern athletics was for Jim Wells and the baseball team (in 1990) and it grew from there.

“Gay McNutt asked me if I had ever been to a Mississippi State baseball game. She told me ‘We need an outfield club like that.’ So, we got it started.”

Baseball great David Reynolds said he owes a lot to the city of Natchitoches and NSU.

As a position player and ultimately a pitcher, Reynolds spent six years in minor league baseball. At Northwestern, he was an immediate starter at shortstop and an All-Trans America Conference selection and All-Louisiana as a freshman when he batted .274 with six home runs and 34 RBI.

In the minors, he posted a record of 36-28 with a 3.47 ERA and 22 saves in the White Sox organization, appearing in 202 games on the mound and another 37 as an infielder.

“Natchitoches is more than special to me. I married a girl from Natchitoches and with my two kids, we come back here for the holidays. It is special that all my family was able to come here and see this.”

Many top track and field athletes have represented NSU over the years, but none have done what Cody Fillinich did, becoming a four-time All-American in the javelin, becoming the first male javelin thrower in the NCAA to earn All-American status four times. It’s only been matched once since.

The Golden Meadow native finished runner-up at USA Juniors before representing the USA at the Junior Pan-Am Games.

Fillinich always had a strong arm, and came to Natchitoches as a football-track competitor hoping to quarterback Scott Stoker’s Demons, but he credited much of his success to track and field coach Mike Heimerman, who introduced him at the ceremony.

“Coach Mike really taught me how to train,” he said. “He tweaked my technique a little bit and told me, ‘This is what it takes to get on that stage and compete.’ That is what got me to that next level.”

Heather Penico Morain left her mark next door at the Demon Soccer Complex.

She started her career with a bang, being named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year in 2002, helping lead the Demons to their second NCAA Tournament berth. Three years later, she led her team to another NCAA appearance in 2005 as a senior and was named conference Player of the Year.

The two-time All-Louisiana selection is tied for 10th in program history with 21 goals scored. She said her induction was sweeter now than had it come sooner.

“I think it is better that it has been 20 years,” Penico Morain said. “It has been great to reconnect with former teammates I might have lost touch with. My boys are really into soccer and when we were at Prather Coliseum yesterday, they saw my name on the wall and were so excited and got so proud, and it brought me so much joy.”

Lady Demon basketball great Amanda Bennett came out of Simpson having tried only two 3-pointers as a 5-11 post player, but became a great perimeter scorer and a versatile player. She earned a first team All-SLC nod in 2003-04 as a junior when the Lady Demons finished 24-7 and swept the conference regular season and tournament titles on the way to the NCAA Tournament in coach James Smith’s final season.

The sharp-shooter ranks eighth in program history with 177 3-pointers. From a young age, she always had one school she wanted to attend.

“I wanted to be a Lady Demon from the time I was in fifth grade,” she said. “I came every single summer to camp here to try to get Coach Smith to talk to me. Finally, I got the call and came on a (recruiting) visit. Coach Smith said, ‘I don’t even need to recruit Bennett, I know she’s coming.’ He knew my heart was set on coming to NSU.”

Football teammates Derrick Johnese and Toby Zeigler were pivotal in two Southland championships and playoff appearances in 2002 and 2004 under Stoker.

Johnese set the Demons’ career scoring record of 212 points, which is still the best by a non-kicker, as well as the still-standing touchdowns mark of 34, and is fourth all-time in rushing yards.

He was named the SLC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. Johnese had a specific reason for choosing Northwestern.

“I was being recruited by McNeese and NSU,” he said. “But the mistake McNeese made was they didn’t invite my parents on my visit. NSU invited my parents and my mom looked at the school and before we went into the las meeting, she told me, ‘Derrick, this is where I want you to go.’ So that is why I am here right now.”

A record-setting four-year starter at wide receiver, Zeigler’s most dynamic Demon plays came as a return specialist, capping his career as the Southland, state and school record-holder in career punt return average (1,361 yards, 109 attempts, 12.5 average), ranking second in FCS history at the time. His 99 career receptions were a then-school record and he also set Demons’ career all-purpose yardage record (4,943).

The former quarterback at Neville High in Monroe played in the CFL and he settled in Canada. He said positive peer pressure motivated his success with the Demons.

“With two all-conference running backs (Shelton Sampson shared the primary backfield role with Johnese), I wanted to house every return,” Zeigler said. “I wanted to make an impact on the game to help my guys win. The offense knew I wanted to do something special every time I touched the ball.”

He wasn’t the only player with a big special teams background to be inducted, joined by 1980s punter Mike Crow.

Crow still holds career records for punts (276) and punt yards (11,028) and was first-team All-Gulf Star Conference and All-Louisiana as a junior with a 42.4 average, then second-team All-Louisiana and All-Gulf Star as a senior. He was the primary factor why NSU led the FCS in net punting (40.4) in 1985.

“I wanted to play college football and Coach Sam Goodwin gave me that opportunity,” Crow said.

“There are three phases in football — offense, defense and special teams — and we took a lot of pride in our special teams. Coach Goodwin was the coach of special teams. There is pressure with 10 guys coming at you, but we took a lot of pride in doing it well.”

He was proud to be able to share the moment with former teammates and family.

“It’s great to have my kids and grandkids here today,” he said. “They are old enough to be a part of this and understand what is going on.”

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Cruelty to animals doesn’t just hurt pets.  It can be a warning signs of violence against people too.  Join us to learn how understanding this link can help create safer, kinder communities.  Together, we can build a community that protects both animals and people.

Guest speakers Dr. Herman Soong, M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine and the Honorable Hillar Moore, District Attorney from East Baton Rouge Parish, will present “The Cruelty Connection: Animal Abuse and Human Violence,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14 in the Sylvan Friedman Student Union Ballroom.  They will discuss how cruelty to animals can be a warning sigh of violence against people and how to create safer communities.

The event is free and open to the public.

Week Long events:

Paws for a Cause Week kicks off at Northwestern State University Monday, Oct. 13, launching a week of “compassion, education, and community action to support animal welfare in Natchitoches and beyond,” according to organizers. The week will include pet therapy, speakers, the 12^th annual Farm to Table fundraiser dinner and other activities to engage the community and bring awareness to animal welfare.

Paws for a Cause Week is a partnership initiative with Friends All United for Natchitoches Animals (FAUNA), NSU’s School of STEM, NSU’s Department of Veterinary Technology, and NSU’s Office of Economic Development and Advancement.

Monday, Oct. 13 will feature “Paws and Relax,” a stress-relief/pet therapy event in which students can interact with therapy animals provided through FAUNA’s Providing Animal Comfort Therapy (PACT) program. This event promotes student wellness and supports FAUNA’s mission of protecting and caring for animals.

The 12^th annual Farm to Table Dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Mariner’s Restaurant. This popular FAUNA fund raiser will feature a specially curated multi-course menu with wine pairings, highlighting the best of local flavors and seasonal ingredients. Seating is limited.  Reservations are available https://www.npfauna.org/event/farm-to-table/.

NSU Vet Tech students will present “Paw-traits:  Snap.  Smile.  Support” from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16 on the steps leading to the Columns on Normal Hill. Individuals can bring their pets and get a free photo available for download after the event.

Vet Tech will host a Bathe-A-Dog Day from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 in Bienvenu Hall Room 106 in which pets can get spa-style treatments that includes a bath, nail trimming, ear cleaning and anal gland expression. Pricing is based on dog’s weight starting at $13. Proceeds support the Vet Tech Club and their ongoing mission to provide animal care and learning opportunities for students.

“This partnership highlights the heart of our program, preparing students not only as skilled veterinary professionals but also as compassionate community leaders,” said Dr. Rachel Cezar-Martinez, director of Veterinary Technology at NSU. “I am excited for Paws for Cause Week because it will give NSU Veterinary Technology students the grand opportunity to receive hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom training with real-world practice, while instilling the values of service, advocacy, and leadership.”

For more information on Paws for a Cause Week contact FAUNA at npfauna@gmail.com.  Information on FAUNA is available at www.npFAUNA.org.

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National Flood Insurance Program lapses, affecting more than 434,000 Louisiana policyholders

Louisiana homebuyers and homeowners are experiencing immediate impacts from the federal government shutdown that began at midnight on October 1, 2025. The lapse in federal funding has suspended the National Flood Insurance Program, preventing new policies from being issued and blocking renewals until Congress restores funding.

Real estate transactions delayed

According to Andrea Tyler, a realtor with At Home Realty Group, she had to notify a client scheduled to close on a new construction home in Chalmette that the transaction might not proceed on time. The property is located in a flood zone, requiring the buyers to obtain coverage through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program before completing the purchase.

The National Association of Realtors reports that Louisiana has more than four hundred thirty-four thousand NFIP policyholders. The state ranks third nationally in total NFIP policies, behind Florida and Texas. Louisiana also has the highest percentage of NFIP policyholders in the country, with more than twenty percent of homes relying on federal flood insurance.

Coverage concerns and limitations

Jennifer Clements, sales manager for Dan Burghardt Insurance and president of Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana, clarified that existing policyholders need not worry about their current coverage. If a policyholder experiences damage requiring a claim, they should proceed normally as the claims-processing portion of NFIP remains funded during the shutdown.

However, Clements noted limitations on policy adjustments during the shutdown. Policyholders can make changes to their policies that do not increase premiums, but other modifications are restricted. Tyler expressed concern that additional hurdles will further complicate an already stressful homebuying process, particularly noting that sellers might lose potential buyers who have already invested significantly in inspections and other pre-closing activities

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Program consolidation aims to streamline services for Louisiana families

The Louisiana Department of Health officially began administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on October 1, 2025, marking the first step in consolidating multiple benefit applications under a single state agency. The transition was made possible through the state’s Project One Door legislation.

Program details and continuity

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, SNAP participants will continue to receive benefits without any interruption in service. No changes to eligibility requirements are part of this administrative move. The shift brings SNAP under LDH administration so that nutrition assistance can be better aligned with other services already under the department, such as Medicaid.

Additional programs transferred

In addition to SNAP, the Louisiana Department of Health is receiving several other programs previously administered by the Department of Children and Family Services. These include Disability Determination Services, Electronic Healthy Incentives Project, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, Kinship Care Subsidy Program, and Sun Bucks.

Long-term goals

The Department stated that over time, this consolidation will reduce paperwork and wait times for residents, increase efficiency for staff members, and create a more streamlined experience for Louisiana families. Individuals can continue to apply for benefits and access resources on the LDH website. The Department will notify SNAP recipients as any changes are rolled out.

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