For this country boy, the arrival of October carried with it a special meaning. It’s time to go squirrel hunting. Season opened in Louisiana last Saturday October 5.

Growing up in rural Natchitoches Parish, we had a number of choices as to where we’d go to open season. Goldonna hunters had several hickory, oak and beech-lined creeks to choose from and when I got old enough to hunt alone, my go-to spot early in season was Molideau Creek that tricked through the hardwoods half a mile from our home. Luster Creek was another near-by choice and if you wanted to mix it up with other hunters, bigger and wider Saline Creek was available.

Christmas was special; getting to shuck shoes and go barefoot in spring was exciting; going swimming in the creek for the first time was right up there. Nothing, however, could get the little hairs on the back of my neck activated better than to be able to step into dark woods on a cool October morning for opening day of squirrel season.

A squirrel is a rodent, sometimes carelessly called “tree rats.” I’m resentful when wild squirrels were treated with such disrespect. To a kid growing up in the country who had listened to his dad describe the hunt he had that morning, outwitting a wild squirrel was as big in my young eyes as a trophy buck is to some today.

As the years have gone by, something has happened to the sport of squirrel hunting. Not many kids today get to enjoy the thrill of tagging along behind dad or being able to sneak into the woods with a .22 rifle or shotgun to try to outwit a squirrel.

Sitting in a deer stand with dad watching for a buck to step out has just about eliminated the thrill of sneaking up on a squirrel and to me, that’s sad.

There are youngsters today who can sit in a stand and take a season limit of deer who would have no clue as to how to outfox a squirrel. Squirrels are usually seen as pests and nuisances as they rob feeders of deer corn or their noisy scurrying around in the woods around their deer stand disrupts enjoyment of waiting on a deer.

It’s a sad fact that the excitement and fun of squirrel hunting is not what it was when I grew up. Kids today have a plethora of stuff to occupy their time. We didn’t have computer-generated electronic gadgets to compete with what youngsters have at their disposal today. Life was simpler and we learned to enjoy what was available to us then, things like digging earthworms from dried cow patties in the cow barn and catching goggle-eyes in the creek, and squirrel hunting.

After I grew up and had kids of my own, it was a tradition on opening day of squirrel season when I came home with squirrels I had gotten to save a young tender one to fry. Side note – a fried squirrel leg will best anything Colonel Sanders could offer in the fried chicken department. Just last week, my daughter was remembering those special mornings when fried squirrel, biscuits and gravy were something she looked forward to.

Maybe I’ve become an old fuddy duddy still longing for the good old days that have passed me by and haven’t adapted to the changes of modern times. Maybe so, but it would be especially gratifying to know that there are still youngsters today who could catch the thrill of sneaking up on and downing a cat squirrel whittling beech mast, acorns or hickory nuts.

Squirrel hunting on opening day; it may be going the way of the Edsel but it carries with it memories I hope never fade away.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

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By DOUG IRELAND

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy said he can’t predict who will win the White House, but he foresees big economic opportunity in the timber sector in north Louisiana and potential for an energy bonanza statewide.

Speaking to members of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce and guests at a Tuesday luncheon, the second term Republican from Baton Rouge provided insight into national politics and pathways to local and statewide economic growth.

Cassidy expects the GOP will win the Senate in the upcoming elections, but says control of the House of Representatives is in doubt, noting he hopes his party holds on so Bossier City Congressman Mike Johnson can remain as Speaker of the House. As for the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, “You could flip a coin right now,” he told the audience.

Despite obvious polarization among voters, Cassidy said there’s increasing bi-partisan activity in Congress and he is hopeful for more collaboration when a new president and congress are seated.

“The people in Washington D.C. reflect the people of the United States, and the people are very divided. But we can be divided and first be Americans, and I guess that’s my challenge to us,” he said. “If the politicians in Washington know the voter expects them first to be an American, and not to be angry, they’ll respond to that. If they think they’ll get more contributions and more clicks by being angry, that’s the route they’ll go. Washington is going to reflect the mood of the people, and for a while, the people have been angry.

“In an election season, it gets particularly worse. Then after election season, it tends to settle down. There are positive things working on a bi-partisan basis, Republicans and Democrats working together behind the scenes. The press likes to stoke conflict. You sell newspapers, you get clicks, by being in conflict. There’s nothing wrong with being critical, but you want to do it in a way where it’s not personal.”

Cassidy noted industry leaders such as Weyerhaeuser have developed wood products that replace steel and concrete and result in cost savings in construction. With the abundance of timber in north Louisiana, the senator believes the area is positioned for economic growth.

“I think innovation is going to take our wood products and create a market that only exists now in a limited form. I’m incredibly bullish on the future of timber.”

Timberland, and the Haynesville Shale, also are key components in potential for the entire state due to a growing desire for carbon intensity.

“Our state has been an energy leader for decades. Now, Europeans and others are more conscious of the carbon intensity of the products we produce.

“I’m just saying if the Europeans, one of the largest markets in the world, are going to pay extra money for products made with lower carbon intensity – we can be on the front of that, or we can be the victims of that,” Cassidy said.

“When natural gas is produced out of the Haynesville Shale, you can take carbon dioxide out and you can put it right back in the ground.”

The senator said major companies like Dow, Exxon, and BP are willing to invest to lower carbon intensity and make their products more marketable.

“It means there literally can be tens of billions of dollars invested in our state. If a community decides to embrace this, you could have a billion dollars invested in your community.”

The movement, he said, has been endorsed by Gov. Jeff Landry and his predecessor, John Bel Edwards.

“They see this as a means to capitalize as an energy state,” said Cassidy. “You can grow trees on (that land) but you can also store stuff underneath it. That’s what they’ve been doing in Livingston Parish for 15 years and nobody knew it. The cities and parishes get tax revenue, and the landowners get royalties. That’s a good thing.”

A Republican-controlled Senate would make him chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee replacing Bernie Sanders. In that capacity, his priorities include lowering cost of prescription drugs, paid family leave, and prompting workforce development. He already has advocated social security reforms and adjusted financing to make it sustainable.

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The 2024 APHN Fall Tour of Homes is set for the second weekend of October, offering a unique glimpse into historic residences in Natchitoches. The event will take place on Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12, featuring two separate tours.

The Candlelight Tour on Friday, October 11, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, includes four homes located within a two-block radius, making it an easy walk for visitors. Guests can enjoy a wine and cheese reception at the Jefferson Street Townhouse to conclude the evening. Maps and directions will be provided to guide attendees through the picturesque tour.

On Saturday, October 12, the Town Tour will be held from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, featuring another set of four homes. This tour requires driving between venues, with maps and directions provided. Each tour costs $25.00, and tickets can be purchased at www.Givebutter.com/APHNTourOfHomes.

Candlelight Tour Venues:

• Laureate House (225 Poete Street): Built in 1840, this European-style townhouse features a wide central hall, separate room entrances, and a beautiful garden.
• Grenaux-Bishop House (200 Pine Street): Completed in 1914, this charming Queen Anne cottage retains its original features and has an extension added in the 1920s.
• The Nakatosh House (210 Jefferson Street): Built in 1923, this stucco-and-cypress home boasts four bedrooms, four baths, and a sunroom.
• Jefferson Street Townhouse (230 Jefferson Street): A Colonial Revival bungalow with a grand front veranda and high ceilings, this venue will host the wine and cheese reception following the tour.

Town Tour Venues:

• Lemee House (310 Rue Jefferson): A c.1830 home with Mediterranean-style architecture, it will also feature arts & crafts vendors in the garden.
• H.A. Cook Guesthouse (128 St. Denis Street): A converted 1920s commercial building now serves as a three-bedroom guesthouse filled with period antiques.
• Hill Haven (1525 Rue Washington Street): This home, over 100 years old, showcases regional artwork, including pieces by Clementine Hunter.
• Keegan House (225 Williams Avenue): A Colonial Revival home built in 1850, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Additional Weekend Activities:

• Melrose on the Cane (3533 LA-119, Melrose, LA): Tours will be offered at this National Historic Landmark on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Show your Fall Tour ticket for a $5 discount.
• St. Augustine Church Fair (2262 LA-484, Natchitoches, LA): Celebrate Creole culture with food, music, and games on October 12 and 13, starting at 10:00 AM each day.

Melissa Robinson serves as the Chairman for the 2024 Fall Tour of Homes. For more information, call 318-458-2485.

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Coach McCorkle joins Billy West Live to update Demon fans with this weeks home matchup with Texas A&M Commerce and the balance of the 2024 schedule

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Whoa! The day has arrived when one of the professional bass fishing organizations has made a major decision that will impact a lot of professional anglers both young and old. This decision was to ban forward-facing sonar. Finally, someone has shown some backbone and decided to level the playing field — or have they, and will it?

Let’s first look at who has decided to step up and save the sport of bass fishing as so many legendary pros think needs to be done. The NPFL (National Professional Fishing League) recently announced that forward-facing sonar will NOT be allowed for official practice or tournaments in 2025.

It will not be allowed for scouting (practice) or at any other time. It must be removed from boats, along with the black box and the transducer. As one joyful pro angler said, “Time to go back to old school fishing!” No longer will anglers be able to look at bass on a screen like a version of Xbox and catch fish.

Is this good for the sport or is this decision holding the sport back? The answer you get will depend upon what angler you ask.

A majority of the old school guys will defend this decision and say “yes” it is good for the sport. Most compare this decision to the banning of the A-Rig (or umbrella rig) which many of the pros thought was an unethical way to catch bass by using more than one bait or hook. Old school anglers feel the same about forward-facing sonar in that it’s an unfair advantage for the anglers versus the fish.

I tend to agree with the old school anglers now that I’ve been a user of forward-facing sonar for the last two years and understand how it works. With this device, no fish is safe anywhere on any body of water. It allows anglers to select and zero in on the bigger bass in a school or swimming solo. This is not good for any fishery and could have lasting consequences as anglers do what I would call selective fishing by targeting larger bass.

Let’s face the facts with this electronic device. It has made champions out of anglers who otherwise have never won a tournament. It’s become an equalizer or advantage for the younger or less experienced anglers that are fishing on the professional level. It has allowed them to not only compete but to win with little to no experience compared to the guys that have paid their dues and taken years to acquire the knowledge they possess.

Nothing has leveled the playing field quicker for the younger generation of anglers more than forward-facing sonar. Anglers competing on the NPFL now will have to rely on finding fish with more traditional ways by locating fish either by catching them or using side scan or down-imaging. No longer will they be able to just ride around on a body of water with three or more transducers and locate bass in real time.

While all organizations will not ban this new technology, there will be others that will follow. It’s still hard to understand how the three major electronic companies (Garmin, Humminbird and Lowrance) will move forward.

These companies will not sit on their hands and stop developing new technology. So, what’s next? Will the next advancement be banned as well? If so, how will these companies continue to survive without innovation and advancements in technology?

Here’s my perspective: we can’t just continue to ban every new piece of technology that comes out! Tournament organizations need to adapt by altering the rules presently in place; rules that work for both boaters and co-anglers. At some point, they will have to figure out how to make forward-facing sonar and any future innovations work for the benefit of everyone.

But understand this, just because it’s banned on the professional level, does not mean it will be banned for the everyday angler or anglers fishing on the lower levels of competition.

I do agree that anglers on the professional level should be held to a higher standard; that’s why they’re called professionals. It’s the same reason Major League Baseball does not allow aluminum bats. Hitters would have too much of an advantage over pitchers and it would completely change the game.

But with regards to forward-facing sonar, only time will tell if it is doomed or if it will return. I personally think at some point, it will once again be allowed.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to enjoy some great fall fishing as lakes are less crowded now that hunting season is upon us.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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By LORI LYONS, Journal Sports

Last week, the St. Mary’s Tigers were flying high following an historic, very lopsided win over Many.

This week the Tigers returned to Earth with a thud following a 50-0 thrashing at St. Frederick’s in Monroe. It was the first time this season that St. Mary’s was shut out and shut down. The Tigers finished with 13 yards of total offense. The defense allowed 154 yards and three touchdowns in the air.

St. Mary’s coach Kedrin Seastrunk said it was no fun being on the other end of the lashing.

“It was a repeat, we were just on the other end,” he said.

But, just as he has all season, Seastrunk looked for the positives.

“In all things I still give glory to God,” he said. “In games like this you have to look for the small victories. We got through the game. We got through it, for the most part, still healthy. We took some lumps. We took some bruises, but overall I am proud of the guys.

“The way we addressed this season with so many changes, so many different dynamics, to face one of the hardest schedules that’s been seen in the last 30 years of St. Mary’s history. Regardless of the record, got a lot of young guys and we’re expecting a lot of things out of them. Yes, we want to win but most of all we want to grow. I think these lumps, these situations give us learning points. These are learning experiences.”

Seastrunk said the 64-40 win over Many on Sept. 27 many have actually worked against his team as well.

“Coming off of a big win like Many, it’s hard to kind of reel young guys in,” Seastrunk said. “Sometimes you do have false expectations of them. Now they realize, yeah you beat Many, but you beat them with preparation. You still have to prepare. We got a glimpse of who we could be. But we didn’t get there by accident. This year we won’t win by accident.”

This week the Tigers (3-2) are preparing for “The Game of the Year” against No. 9 Logansport (2-2) in a crucial District 3-1A opening game.

The Lakeview Gators fell to 0-5 this week with a 44-0 loss to Avoyelles. The Gators still have not scored this season. 

“We played another tough opponent,” coach Lawrence Seawood said. “We had some opportunities,  we just didn’t take advantage of them. In the long run, we’re getting ready for district.”

The Gators open district play this week at LaSalle (2-3).

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By MATT VINES, Journal Sports

HAUGHTON – A furious Natchitoches Central rally appeared like it’d bear fruit Friday as the Chiefs looked like they would score their second touchdown in the final three minutes to overcome Haughton.

Down by 10, NCHS scored a touchdown with 2:27 left, recovered the onside kick and set up shop inside the 5-yard line with about a minute remaining.

But Haughton tackled NCHS quarterback Owen Smith for a big loss on second down and knocked away a third-down pass to force a short field goal attempt.

Kicker Mateo Restrepo, who was playing in his first game after suffering an injury in the season opener, narrowly missed as Haughton held on for the 28-25 victory.

It was the second time the Chiefs got inside the Bucs’ 10 but failed to score after halftime.

In a battle of teams seeking their first District 1-5A win, Haughton (2-3, 1-3) defended its home turf as NCHS (1-4, 0-4) lost its fourth straight.

Smith sparked the comeback attempt, leading the Chiefs on an 85-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown to Derrian Anthony, his first career touchdown. Restrepo added the extra point, NCHS’s first successful point after of the day following a failed attempt earlier in the game, to cut Haughton’s edge to three points.

After Restrepo recovered his own well-executed onside kick, receiver Mason Britain caught a 30-yard pass to get the Chiefs around the 5-yard line with about a minute remaining.

“Owen made plays with his arm and his feet, and we had guys step up and make plays to put us in the position at the end,” said NCHS coach Brad Laird. “Mateo had a great onside kick to get that ball back, but the big loss on second and goal put us in a situation for a tying field goal, and we didn’t make it happen.

“But looking back over the entire game, we were never able to sustain momentum. Haughton would score, and we would respond, but we never could keep that momentum going.”

It’s a comeback attempt that almost never was as Haughton appeared to score a game-sealing touchdown that would have pushed its 28-18 edge to three scores, but a penalty wiped out the points.

NCHS’s defense made a fourth-down stand, which led to the 85-yard drive.

Laird said Haughton’s overall success on fourth down, which included stopping NCHS on fourth-and-one inside the 5-yard line in the third quarter, was a difference maker.

“Converting fourth downs allowed Haughton to keep more of the momentum throughout the game, and we missed a couple that hurt,” Laird said.

Smith made big plays with his arm and his legs throughout the night, finishing with 258 passing yards on 12-of-22 aim  and three touchdowns along with 43 rushing yards and a score.

The Chiefs established a sorely needed rushing game with 154 yards (5.5 yards per carry), including NCHS’s first 100-yard rusher of the season. Kelton Howard gained 123 yards on 16 runs. Howard added a receiving touchdown and finished with 61 yards on two catches.

But mistakes at inopportune times torpedoed NCHS with the most glaring occurring late in the first half.

A Chiefs fumble around their own 30-yard line with less than a minute to go set the stage for a 3-yard Jakobe Delaney touchdown to boost Haughton’s lead to 21-12.

Smith sliced into Haughton’s edge himself with a 27-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to bring NCHS to 21-18.

Haughton quarterback Taylor Weathersby proved his dual threat capability as well, scoring on a 25-yard run to push Haughton’s edge to 28-18 midway through the third quarter.

Weathersby threw for 167 yards on 12-of-24 passing and added 94 yards on the ground.

Haughton had a 100-yard rusher of its own in Brandon Craig (164 yards) as the Bucs rolled up 294 rushing yards total.

NCHS’s road doesn’t get any easier as the Chiefs bring in reigning Division II Non-Select champion Opelousas (but just 1-3 this season) this week with trips to Byrd and Airline looming after that.

Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com

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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A short-handed Northwestern State football team needed a quick start in its Southland Conference opener Saturday night against rival Stephen F. Austin.

Instead, it was the homestanding Lumberjacks who broke quickly and cruised to a 59-17 victory at Homer Bryce Stadium in the first conference game between the schools since the 2019 season.

Two early turnovers allowed Stephen F. Austin (3-2, 1-1) to build a 24-point lead after the first quarter, and the Lumberjacks extended the lead to 38-3 by halftime.

“I’m really disappointed in how we started a game like this – first conference game and a rivalry game,” first-year NSU head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “To come out slow is really disappointing, and we’re in a place where we have to do some real soul searching.

“There are some people who have to decide what they want to do with this football team. It’s inexcusable the way we started. I appreciate the way we responded for two quarters after that, but the first quarter was a real kick in the pants that we never recovered from.”

After a sluggish start, the Northwestern (0-6, 0-1) offense awakened in the second quarter.

The Demons were held to negative yardage in the first quarter before putting up one of their most productive quarters of the season in the second. Redshirt freshman quarterback JT Fayard threw for 119 yards in the second quarter, but turnovers continued to haunt the Demons, who were missing a bevy of typical starters.

Twice after Reed Honshtein’s 24-yard field goal put Northwestern on the board with 10:25 to play in the half, Fayard marched the Demons deep into SFA territory before an interception ended the threat.

Both picks came at or near the end zone, including one that bounced off tight end Joseph Moreland as he nearly completed a leaping grab at the goal line. Instead, the ball popped free as Moreland hit the ground and found its way into the hands of SFA’s Jaheim Mullen for a drive-halting interception.

“That was a frustrating play,” McCorkle  said. “We had the right call at the right time. He hits him right in the chest, and it gets knocked out and they make a fluke play to intercept it. You have to secure it when it’s in your hands. Those are part of those growing pains. He’s throwing it to a redshirt freshman who is trying to find his way.

“We put a lot of true freshmen in the game as the injuries caught up to us. We had 10 starters out with injuries and let two guys go this week who weren’t living up to the standards of our program. That’s part of the growing pains of building this, but myself and my staff aren’t going to flinch through this thing.”

Following SFA quarterback Sam Vidlak’s fourth touchdown pass of the game – a 9-yarder to Kylon Harris with 12:07 to play in the third quarter – the Demons finally converted as Fayard connected with Myles Kitt-Denton for a 74-yard touchdown pass.

It was Kitt-Denton’s third touchdown catch of at least 71 yards this season and his team-leading fourth scoring grab overall. It also helped Fayard throw for a career-high 322 yards, the Demons’ first 300-yard passing game since Zachary Clement threw for 305 yards against Southeast Missouri State on Oct. 22, 2022.

“There were some things to build on, some things we haven’t seen from our offense in a few weeks,” McCorkle said. “They did find their rhythm. JT definitely found his rhythm, and I’m proud of him for that. Myles proved again he can make a play. We didn’t know until gametime if we were going to have him because he was pretty banged up.”

The Demons host Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday afternoon at 2 in Turpin Stadum.

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

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

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

The Doctors of Natchitoches
315 Bienville St.
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457

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Louisiana’s newest public art sculpture was unveiled in a dedication ceremony at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) on Oct. 3. “A Path Less Traveled” is an outdoor sculpture done by the Reed Madden Company of California. It is intended to honor pioneering Louisiana naturalist Caroline Dormon.

The piece consists of several bronzed stainless-steel trees with 6,000 needles made from steel. The sculpture is intended to be reminiscent of Louisiana long-leaf pine trees, a conservation interest of Dormon. The trees are placed in a curved path alongside a sidewalk connecting two campus buildings and feature several boulders along the path. The trees are outward facing with an open interior featuring information on Dormon.

The dedication took place during a student assembly in the LSMSA’s Treen Auditorium. LSMSA Director, Dr. Steve Horton, was joined by Scott Finch and April Baham of the Louisiana Division of the Arts. They explained the “Percent for Art” program that funded “A Path Less Traveled.” The program is the result of a law that directs one percent of the cost of construction or renovation of any public building be set aside for public art. Per Ms. Baham, “A Path Less Traveled” was produced at a cost of $260,000.

LSMSA Principal Lecturer of Art Chris King shared a painting of Dormon that is on permanent display at the school.

Dr. Art Williams, a former director of the LSMSA, then spoke about Dormon’s life and legacy. Jeffrey Reed and Jennifer Madden, of the Reed Madden Company, spoke by Zoom from California and answered student questions about the piece and its making.

The dedication concluded with a walk from the Treen Auditorium to the sculpture and a community dinner for the students and guests.

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By MATT VINES, Journal Sports

The tried and true football adage to take “one game at a time” prevails in locker rooms across America, and for good reason.

But that phrase doesn’t entirely sum up the importance of Natchitoches Central’s visit to Haughton tonight.

The Chiefs (1-3, 0-2 District 1-5A) and the Bucs (1-3, 0-3) have struggled in the incredibly deep district with both teams having lost each district game by at least 20 points (Haughton by 25).

NCHS and Haughton are two of three teams that don’t have a district win yet (joining Benton), and if the Chiefs aren’t able to claim a road victory this week, the upcoming schedule of Opelousas (Division II Non-Select state champions), Byrd, Airline and Huntington (latter three all undefeated in district play) is arguably the most difficult stretch.

But first-year coach Brad Laird said that’s not the lens in which he views the Haughton matchup.

For the Chiefs’ chief, it’s another opportunity to develop a young team.

“What increases the importance of this game is that it’s the next opportunity to continue to get better,” Laird said. “Week in and week out, there are tough football games in this district.

“We are doing some good things as a team, and we are moving forward and correcting mistakes we made so we can be the best team we can be on Friday.”

Most recently, NCHS couldn’t slow down Parkway despite starting quarterback Kaleb Williams getting hurt on the third play of the game in a 40-12 Panther win. A versatile Parkway squad rolled up 437 rushing yards and stopped NCHS’s ground game, which forced quarterback Owen Smith into three interceptions.

Haughton knows the feeling of a close season-opening win after they won a slugfest with Class 2A power Homer in a 48-46 victory.

But the Bucs’ defense has continued to struggle while the offense hasn’t been able to match the high-octane attacks of Byrd (49-14), Parkway (48-7) and Huntington (56-27).

Tonight’s contest represents more than just a chance to get a district win for either team, it’s a chance to rekindle the positivity that both NCHS and Haughton had after hard-fought season-opening victories.

A win against Haughton can lift spirits, something to push the Chiefs in practice as they prepare for the daunting slate ahead.

Of course, the Chiefs must focus on themselves and find ways to improve regardless of the opponent lining up on the other side.

NCHS is diversifying its passing attack as Smith completed passes to seven different Chiefs with six hauling in multiple passes against Parkway.

On the season, 11 different Chiefs have caught passes with four Chiefs catching at least eight passes through four games.

Dillon Braxton had his streak of three 100-yard receiving games broken against Parkway, but Braxton has caught a touchdown in all four games and leads the way with 16 catches for 360 yards.

Braxton was the only receiver returning with varsity experience, but KJ Newton (13-234 yards and two TDs) has emerged as a viable second option.

Running back Kelton Howard has surfaced in the passing game with all of his 11 catches for 79 yards occurring in the last two games.

But without a successful running game, defenses as good as Parkway’s can anticipate Smith’s passing lanes, which led to Friday’s three interceptions including one returned for a touchdown.

Haughton’s defense hasn’t proved it can string together stops, which could create chances for the Chiefs.

But the Bucs certainly aren’t void of weapons either. Quarterback Taylor Weathersby and running back Ethan Johnson are more than capable, and the game could feature offensive fireworks.

Whoever can force turnovers and create short fields for its offense will have a leg up in a matchup of teams angling for their first district win.

Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com

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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The more things change, the more they come back to the same.

Such it is for the Northwestern State football team as the Southland Conference portion of its 2024 season arrives Saturday with a 7 p.m. matchup at Homer Bryce Stadium against longtime rival Stephen F. Austin with coverage on ESPN+.

The Demons (0-5) and Lumberjacks (2-2, 0-1) will meet in Nacogdoches for the first time since 2018. The winner will claim possession of a newly designed trophy that will replace the retired Chief Caddo, which stood as part of the rivalry from 1960 to 2019.

“Rivalry games are fun,” first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “It will be fun to go across the state line to play that other school that wears purple and see what happens. When you get to rivalry games, records are out the window. There is a lot of history and tradition with this one. A lot of people will be watching and paying attention. This game means a lot to a lot of people. Our team needs to recognize that and understand the responsibility that comes with this game.”

For much of the Chief Caddo portion of the rivalry, the Demons and Lumberjacks often met late in the season. At times, Southland Conference championships were on the line.

Saturday’s meeting gives Northwestern a chance to start Southland play on the right foot while Stephen F. Austin will try to level its conference record.

“It’s exactly what we need,” wide receiver Twon Hines said of opening conference play against a longtime rival. “We’re going to be juiced up. We’re going to be ready. For those of us who were here and those of us who weren’t here – at this point we’re all a team – we lost to SFA last year. That leaves a sour taste in my mouth. This is our chance. We have a chance to determine what we’re going to make this into. We’re very optimistic. We’re ready to go and keep gelling as a team.”

Fast forward a little more than a year from that Sept. 16, 2023, meeting and Stephen F. Austin is back in the Southland Conference, adding more fuel to a rivalry that is etched deeply in both programs’ history books.

“I’m really excited about the matchup,” redshirt freshman defensive end Chancellor Owens said. “There is a lot of history that goes into it. I’m definitely excited for it, especially with them being in the conference.”

Owens collected the first full sack of his Northwestern career in the Demons’ Sept. 28 loss at No. 13 Southeast Missouri State, playing a key role on a defense that limited the Redhawks to 15 fewer points than their scoring average. Additionally, the Demons held SEMO – the then-No. 6 passing attack in the Football Championship Subdivision – to 55 fewer yards than its average.

That followed a game against Weber State in which the Demons limited the FCS’ then-No. 11 rushing attack to nearly 100 yards fewer than its season average.

SFA, however, presents a different challenge than both of Northwestern’s previous two opponents. The Lumberjacks enter Saturday’s game ranked sixth nationally in total offense in a much more balanced way.

Both SFA’s rushing and passing attacks are 14^th nationally in their respective categories.

“They’ve got a quarterback who’s on his fourth school and throws the ball around really well,” McCorkle said. “They’ve got a 230-pound running back who goes straight ahead. They have good receivers on the edge. They give you a good mix and play a balanced style of football. I enjoy watching them play. It’s something we’re trying to grow ourselves. We have our hands full on the defensive side to the ball to make sure we know where were and that we’re aligned right and assigned right, and we’re playing with that same effort we’ve been playing with to ensure we have another good showing on that side of the ball to give ourselves a chance to win.”

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A crowd of about two hundred supporters of the Natchitoches Women’s Resource Center gathered at the Natchitoches Events Center for the Center’s annual Celebration of Life Gala. The popular fundraiser, now in its 18th year, featured an enjoyable dinner, fellowship and a compelling speech by sisters Michele Smith of Many and Rose Fenchel of Morristown, New Jersey. The sisters, both survivors of abortion attempts, are speakers and ambassadors for the Abortion Survivors Network. The Gala is the WRC’s signature fundraiser.

The Women’s Resource Center, an integral part of our community since 1989 and an eminently worthy cause, serves several hundred women of every race and station in life each year. The center assists women from the moment they realize they are pregnant through their child’s first year. The expecting mothers receive prenatal vitamins, baby supplies such as car seats, diapers, baby clothes and other items. The center does more than help with baby supplies, however. The mothers are offered classes in parenting, healthy relationships, car seat installation, budgeting and much more. The WRC is there to assist with every aspect of a new mother’s life. Above all, the women know that they are not facing the situation alone. The volunteers of the Women’s Resource Center are there to help and support them.

If you wish to donate or volunteer your services to help some of our community’s young people who find themselves in difficult circumstances, please call the WRC at 318-357-8888.

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When my oldest daughter was in high school she under the strictest of strict curfews. We quickly learned that she did not have an inner “grandma” where she wanted to come home early. She easily would have been gone for three to five business days had we not given her a line in sand. She was a social butterfly and she was available for all of the shenanigans that high school had to offer. We were pretty blessed that she didn’t get into too much trouble, but sis loved to stay out.

Fast forward to the years of single parenting my youngest daughter. She was born with an “inner grandma” that often made her come home early. As soon as her high school years came about, she just always came home at a decent time. More times than not, it would be way before a curfew would have been enacted.

Sometime during her sophomore year she asked me, in front of her friends, why she didn’t have a curfew. I looked at her and stared for a while and simply said, “I really don’t know, it’s almost like the Holy Spirit just sends you home.”

It caused a great chuckle amongst the girls. One even said, “I wish my mom would tell me that.” It may have become the but of many jokes but deep down that was the only explanation I could think of. I constantly pray for both of my daughters and all of their friends. I pray for Holy Spirit wisdom so it completely made sense to me.

Homecoming week of her junior year all of the kids were planning their week full of tomfoolery even though there was homework to be done and volleyball games to be played. This did not stop the mischievous children from living their best life that week. After a few days of rolling houses, my youngest decided to tell me that she was going to be out later than normal. There was a special house that they could only “hit” after midnight.

I politely reminded her that it was a school night and she has been out the previous few nights. I could tell by her demeanor that she was not agreeing with my potential rules. We bickered back and forth like a normal mother-daughter but she was relentless. After a while she looked at me and said, “What happened to you letting the Holy Spirit tell me when to come home?”

The blood in my body immediately turned to its Zwolle Hot Tamale roots and wanted to choose anger. How dare she use the Holy Spirit against me? My mouth wanted to choose from my library of four letter words but a sudden calm came over me. She wasn’t testing the Holy Spirit, she was testing me. After a few deep breaths, I chose gentle parenting and simply said, “You know what? You are exactly right. The Holy Spirit has been the most amazing coparent all of these years and he has never let me down since I became a single parent. So yes, you are right. The Holy Spirit will indeed send you home when it is an appropriate time.”

Complete silence fell over my home as her face took on a proud look. She retreated to her room to get ready, I retreated to the dirty dishes. As I washed pot after pot and plate after plate I noticed she had not come back through the kitchen. All of the dishes were dried and put away, still not a peep from the daughter. I made my way to living room to relax with the remote when all of the sudden she came out of her room in her pajamas. Quizzically I looked at her…and before I could open my mouth she said, “I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open.”

She never admitted that it was a divine intervention from her step-parent, the Holy Spirit. She made it sound as if it was her decision to stay home. She didn’t have to elaborate. I knew where this mini-blessing came from. It was the sweetest reminder to me that when we put our complete blind faith in Lord, he takes care of every single detail of our lives that we surrender to him. This incident cemented my faith and is a constant reminder that I am not parenting alone. I am not a single parent with no one to rely on for the tough parenting moments that befall all of us. If you are a single parent I want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom while raising your children. Nothing can compare to the wit and wisdom that comes from above.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” – John 14:26

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A two-month long investigation into the illegal distribution of anabolic steroids has led to the arrest of a Natchitoches Police Officer according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

The investigation began approximately two-months ago, when Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives received a tip of a law enforcement officer allegedly selling illegal anabolic steroids in the Natchitoches area.

Anabolic steroids, a Schedule III, Controlled Dangerous Substance, is mostly used to increase lean muscle mass, enhance athletic performance and improve physical appearance when using them in conjunction with weight training.

A thorough investigation, ultimately led to sufficient evidence and probable cause to obtain criminal arrest warrants signed by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge for the arrest of Jonas McFerrin.
On Wednesday morning, October 2, 2024, McFerrin was arrested at the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau.

McFerrin, 36, formerly of Natchitoches but currently residing in Rapides Parish was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 2-counts of Distribution of CDS III Anabolic Steroids and 1-count of Malfeasance in Office.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.

No further details will be released at this time pending the ongoing investigation.

Detectives say Natchitoches Police Department were notified and briefed of the arrest.

If you see something suspicious or observe criminal activity in your community, contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-357-7851. Narcotic tips hotline: 238-8477.

Natchitoches Police Chief addresses arrest of an officer

NPD Officer arrested for selling drugs while on duty

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The NPJ has learned that Officer Jonas McFerrin has been arrested by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s office and is accused of selling drugs from his police car.

That is all the information that available at this time, the NPJ will provided more details as they become available from the NPSO and NPD.

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