The families of the Natchitoches Thomas Apartments community will soon be enjoying some of the nicest and most modern apartments in the area thanks to a $17,500,000.00 upgrade to the complex’s 120 apartments.

Mayor Ronnie Williams and Councilwoman Rosemary Elie joined Ben D. Johnson Center founder and President, Claire Prymus, in welcoming the first group of tenants to their newly renovated homes. Each apartment is certified as Energy Star Compliant, saving on energy usage and utility bills. The apartments feature a stacked washer and dryer, while the kitchen features a dishwasher, beautiful cabinets, countertops, and refrigerator as well as fire safety features. The renovation project also upgraded the parking areas and mailboxes.

The Natchitoches Thomas Apartments have 1,2-,3- and 4-bedroom units. The rent is based on the tenant’s income. 

Join Marvin as he talks about recent redistricting in the State of Louisiana

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

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By BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Sports Information

When then-true freshman Abram Johnston took the field for the first time as Northwestern State’s starting quarterback in the late stages of last season, nerves traveled with him. 

Through the understandable butterflies he flashed promise, throwing for 301 yards and a touchdown. But the growing pains of inexperience showed, too — including two costly interceptions.

A year later, Johnston carries himself like a different player.

“Last year there wasn’t as much confidence for me,” Johnston admitted. “I had never played in a college game yet. But this year it’s totally different. I’m much more confident, and I have the team behind my back.”

The confidence he carries into NSU’s Southland Conference opener Saturday night in Turpin Stadium against East Texas A&M, the same team he made his first career start against a year ago, hasn’t come overnight, but Johnston’s progress has been impossible to ignore. 

He remembers vividly the mistakes from that first start — a red zone turnover, another coming out of halftime. Those moments stuck with him, but instead of shaking his belief, they sharpened his resolve.

“It’s exciting to see how much I’ve grown and learned from last year,”  said Johnson, two years removed from his days as the star QB for Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge . “I remember making a couple of big mistakes … so being able to see how much I’ve learned and gotten better against the same team is a cool opportunity.”

His mindfulness and ability to celebrate the good while still believing there was still more he could do or do better, is an intangible that head coach Blaine McCorkle loves in his young signal caller. 

Two weeks ago against Prairie View A&M, Johnston produced his first three-touchdown game, throwing for two and rushing for another, a career-long 29-yard run that tied the game at 17 late in the third quarter. 

He finished with 232 all-purpose yards going 13-for-20 in the air and carrying the ball 15 times. Johnston did not throw an interception or turn the ball over in the game and only took one sack.

“You look at the stat line and how he played last time and you say this guy had a pretty good game,” McCorkle said. “But he’ll tell you there were a lot of things that he left on the table. He comes so far every week because he is really tough and really smart. He has the ability to self-correct, process information and his rate of growth will be really fast compared to a lot of quarterbacks as young as him. Because it is important to him and he wants to do well.”

That growth and progression since his first start is not only mental, but equally physical for the redshirt freshman QB. Plays, moments and situations that once felt overwhelming now come naturally.

“Mentally things have really slowed down for me,” he said. “Last year they would call in a play on the wristband and I’d check it two or three times just to make sure I got it right and said it right in the huddle. Now it’s second nature. Physically, having a full year with this strength staff, I probably gained 10 pounds and just feel stronger.”

That strength — and confidence — play hand-in-hand with his ability as a thrower and a runner with the football. Johnston has carried the ball 40 times for the Demons this year, an average of 10.0 rushing attempts per game, the most on the team, and is second on the team in rushing yards at 122.

Several of those carries have been designed quarterback runs, but his ability to extend plays and get positive yards will serve the Demons well as they enter the eight-game conference portion of the season.

“That (his strength) just adds to my confidence,” Johnston said. “You can’t run timid in football and I definitely don’t feel that at this point. Confidence to run and know when to use my legs but also when to throw the ball, stay in the pocket and make a throw.”

Johnston’s evolution has also been fueled by the players around him. A deep receiving corps, with 13 different players having at least one reception on the season, have embraced persistence and roles beyond just catching passes.

“It’s a really good group of receivers, and they’re all patient,” Johnston said. “The ball gets spread around, so nobody gets a ton of touches at one time. They’re patient and do their job. They’re good at stalk blocking, good at blocking on the outside. They do their part and when their moment comes they’ve all made plays this year.”

As Johnston prepares to face East Texas A&M again, it serves as a fitting measuring stick for himself and the Demons. A year ago, he was a newcomer learning hard lessons. Now, he’s a confident leader driving the Demon offense forward — a quarterback who continues to grow into the job, and learning to thrive in it.

The Northwestern State soccer team aims to bounce back tonight at 7 when it welcomes Southeastern Louisiana to the Demon Soccer Complex to begin an action-packed homecoming weekend.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. for a contest that can be viewed on ESPN+.

“It should be another good game,” Northwestern coach Ian Brophy said. “They’re off to a hot start to conference play with two wins and a tie. We know it will be a really tough game and we know we’ll have to go in and fight for a win and do all the little details we’re working on in practice and getting things right.  If we do that, then hopefully we can protect home field and come away with a big three points.”

The Demons are honoring former player Heather Penico, the 2005 Southland Conference Player of the Year, who led the Demons to the NCAA Tournament and is being inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame on Saturday, the sixth member of the soccer program to be inducted.

She joins Britiany Cargill, Erin Hebert, Holly Horn Broussard, Hillarie Marshall Coleman and Missy Payne Howe.

“Seeing these former athletes just goes to show you the history of this program that has won five Southland championships,” Brophy said. “It shows the program’s traditional success here, fighting for titles year in and year out, so it is great to see these ladies get recognized. I was really happy to see Hillarie get recognized last year, so we are really looking forward to Heather being recognized this year.”

It is also alumni night, as at least seven former NSU athletes are making the return to the Soccer Complex.

This year’s NSU (6-3-3) team is coming off a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Houston Christian, despite outshooting the Huskies 17-7.

The Demons and Lady Lions (3-4-3, 2-0-1) are no strangers to tight contests against one another.

NSU and SLU have clashed in epic contests in recent times, as 11 of the last 12 contests have been decided by no more than one goal, including last season’s tournament game won by the Demons and the Lady Lions’ 2-1 win in Hammond during last year’s regular season.

NSU has been locking down opponents during a 10-game stretch, as the Demons have allowed just four goals during those 10 and NSU has allowed no more than one goal in any of them.

SLU has started out league play undefeated, beating UTRGV and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and tying Stephen F. Austin.

VOLLEYBALL:  The Demon volleyball team gets back into action Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in Edinburg, Texas, against the UT-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros as Southland Conference play continues.

The Demons (1-15, 0-2 SLC) showed signs of progress despite Saturday’s loss to Houston Christian (7-8, 2-0 SLC). NSU had the match tied at 20-20 in the first set before falling 25-20 and then trailed just 24-23 in the third set before HCU clinched the win.

“It’s all a process,” said Demons coach Ben Kaszeta. “The results are important, but we can’t get too focused on it to where we are so worried about it that we don’t get better. Our energy and effort have been really good but now we have to start matching it with some execution.”

The Demons enter the weekend leading the conference in aces (100) led by junior Jade Longlad. The Calgary, Canada native has 33 aces which also leads the league and is tied for fifth in the nation. The University of Central Florida’s Skylar English has 38 to lead the country.

The Family Doctors of Natchitoches want to remind their patients that it’s time to get a flu shot. Their clinic now has both the regular and high-dose senior vaccines available.

An annual flu shot is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age.

Call (318) 352-6800 for an appointment today.

The Family Doctors of Natchitoches
615 Bienville St.
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457

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By TIM STEBBINS, MLB.com

CLEVELAND — In the aftermath of last Tuesday’s frightening scene at Progressive Field, when former Northwestern State star David Fry was struck in the face by a Tarik Skubal offering, there has been some debate about whether the ball tipped off Fry’s bat or struck him directly.

The pitch was ruled a foul, though Fry can’t say for certain one way or another. However, the 29-year-old has maintained a sense of humor about a trying situation.

“’I’ve heard both from many people. I know it made contact [with] my face,” Fry quipped on Sunday.

All jokes aside, Fry recognizes how fortunate he is. Cleveland’s DH, a 2024 American League All-Star and postseason hero for the Guardians, suffered multiple facial and nasal fractures after Skubal’s 99.1 mph offering hit him, and he is expected to need six to eight weeks to recover.

It certainly means his season is over, but Fry is not expected to need surgery and did not suffer a concussion or lose any teeth. He is able to eat soft foods. He received stitches for a cut on his nose, for which he is wearing a large bandage, and his face is swollen.

“I feel great, all things considered,” Fry said. “I mean, 100 percent a God thing; it could have been way, way worse. They just kept saying, ‘An inch up, an inch down, we could have had some real problems.’ But all in all, I feel great.”

Fry did not lose consciousness on the field on Tuesday, and he vividly recalls the moment. In a 2-1 count with a runner on second and the Guardians trailing 2-1, he recognized it was a good moment for a sacrifice bunt. He got the sign from third-base coach Rouglas Odor and was waiting for Skubal’s pitch to tail away, but it cut inside.

Being in a bunt position with a pitch thrown that hard, there is little time to get out of the way.

Fry went down immediately, and Progressive Field fell silent. His wife, Rebekah, who in a few days is expecting the couple’s second child, a daughter, was watching back home in Texas. She was able to fly in on Wednesday with their daughter, Evelyn.

Fry was worried about his family being concerned, but Evelyn, who turned 2 years old this week, has handled the situation well, by the sound of it.

“She immediately was giving me soft hugs, and [Saturday] she put a [bandage] on her nose and wanted to take a picture with me,” Fry said. “She gets it. She’s the best.”

Fry is appreciative of everyone who has supported him – and his family. The Guardians hosted a birthday party for Evelyn at the ballpark on Saturday, attended by Fry’s teammates – and stars of a touring cast of the musical Frozen, a favorite of Evelyn’s. She was going to have a party back home before the situation unfolded Tuesday.

Manager Stephen Vogt, outfielder Steven Kwan and his wife, Samantha, and other Guardians teammates visited Fry at the hospital after the game. Fry said as he was getting stitched up, he was joking around with Kwan about fantasy football, which made things easier for him.

Skubal was also among the visitors. The Tigers’ ace was visibly shaken up on the mound immediately after Fry was struck, and he caught a ride with Vogt to the hospital in order to apologize to Fry in person.

“Skubal coming was really cool,” Fry said. [He’s a] class act. I know a lot of guys said he was pretty shook up after the fact.”

Fry said he has another appointment scheduled for Thursday, after his swelling will have gone down, to recheck everything to ensure he is OK. By then, the Guardians could be on their way to the American League Division Series. 

They will have to go on without Fry in the lineup during their postseason run, but he will be around the team and said he will try to bring positive energy in the clubhouse.

Fry has embraced that role for a large portion of this season; he spent the first two months of the season recovering from November Tommy John surgery and did not make his season debut until June 1.

It has not been the easiest year, but Fry is no stranger to adversity as a guy who persevered to make his big league debut in 2023 at 27 years old.

“That’s part of it,” Fry said. “You don’t get a testimony if things are easy, and things my entire career haven’t been easy, so that just makes the story even better. I’ll be super excited to get back to playing next year.”

DOTD is reaching out because they would like your feedback regarding a the New Roundabout at HWY I-49/LA6 – LA504 (Shown Above).

Below is a link to a short survey.

They ask that you take a moment to complete it and let them know about your experience driving through the LA 6 – LA 504 roundabout in the past months.

Your feedback will provide useful input for future projects.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

• Survey provided by the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development.

Coaches and supporters of the Natchitoches Central High School basketball teams are hosting a fundraiser Friday with the public invited to enjoy $12 plates of jambalaya served on the west side of Turpin Stadium during the school’s Homecoming celebration.

The plates will be available this Friday from 11:30-1 for lunch, and from 5:30 until the 7 o’clock kickoff of the Homecoming football game at the stadium.

Delivery is available for lunch orders of 10 or more plates.

For more information or to order in advance, contact njones@npsb.la or ksepulvado@npsb.la via e-mail.

The proceeds will support the NCHS Lady Chiefs and Chiefs basketball teams. Coaches and team members will be selling the plates in advance.

Over Two Dozen New Leases Filed Since Last Report

Oil and gas exploration activity in Natchitoches Parish continues to show momentum with over two dozen additional leases filed at the Parish Clerk’s office since our last comprehensive report on the region’s energy sector revival.

The new filings add to the over 257 leases recorded since January 1, 2025, demonstrating sustained interest from energy companies in the parish’s position within the prolific Haynesville Shale formation. This steady pace of activity confirms that the initial surge we documented earlier this year represents an ongoing trend rather than a temporary spike.

Geographic Expansion Continues

The recent lease activity maintains the geographic diversification pattern we previously identified, with companies showing interest beyond traditional hotspots along the borders with DeSoto, Red River, and Sabine parishes. Areas around Robeline, extending toward Marthaville and the Shady Grove region along Highway 6, continue to attract exploration interest.

Legal Advisory Reminder

Property owners considering lease agreements should consult with experienced oil and gas attorneys before signing any documents. These complex contracts have long-lasting implications for mineral rights, royalty payments, and property use.

The continued filing of new leases demonstrates that Natchitoches Parish remains an active and attractive destination for energy sector investment.

A quick review of the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court records shows that over two dozen leases have been filed in the Parish records since September 15, 2025. (The NPJ pulled a list of leases from the Public Records in Natchitoches Parish online service – Attached)

The Northwestern State Demons’ volleyball team showed a ton of fight in a 3-0 loss (25-20, 25-16 and 25-23) Saturday afternoon to the Houston Christian University Huskies in Southland Conference play at Prather Coliseum.

The Demons (1-15, 0-2 in SLC) came out ready to battle as the first set was tied at 18-18 following an ace by Makenna Tryon. NSU tied the match again at 20-20 after an attack error by HCU but the Huskies scored the final five points of the opening set.

The Huskies (7-8, 2-0 in SLC) controlled the better part of the second set as they led 19-10 before cruising to win in set two.

The third set was anything but easy for the Huskies as NSU had HCU with its backs against the wall. The Demons had a 19-15 lead following an ace by the conference leader in the category, Jade Longlad, followed by another attack error by the Huskies.

However, HCU battled back to tie the match at 21-21. The Huskies finished the match with two kills and took advantage of two attack errors by the Demons to hold off the valiant third set effort by NSU.

“This is a great group of kids we have,” said Demon head coach Ben Kaszeta. “We are giving ourselves a chance but just are unable to get the big points in crunch time. But the effort and energy are there and now we just have to get the execution to match it.”

The Demons were led by Elsie Sanchez Oliver with nine kills while Samaya Wesson had eight. Emmarie McFarland finished with 13 digs while Reagan Hamm added 16 assists.

The Demons will be back in action Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at UT-Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.