The Natchitoches Police Department has arrested the following individuals over the past week:
Marcus Beaudion – Remaining, Improper Telephone Communications and Damage to Property
Del Berguin – Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
Nicole Mitchell – Animal Running at Large
Kevin Osborn – Resisting an Officer and Simple Battery
Anitra Payton – Animal Running at Large and Enclosure Requirements
Schakeetha Robinson – Reckless Operation of a Vehicle
Daquan Scarborough – Possession of Marijuana, Possession od Schedule II and Stop Signs
If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.
How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:
You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $5,000 for the arrest of an offender.
The Natchitoches City Council adopted an amended water tower lease agreement, and held an extensive discussion regarding utility revenues and potential water and sewer rate increases during its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Oct. 12.
The council also approved resolutions involving improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and construction of the new Fire Station No. 3 on University Parkway.
Council members unanimously approved Ordinance No. 036 of 2026, authorizing the city to execute a fourth amendment to its water tower lease agreement with a wireless communications company. The agreement increases the city’s monthly rental payment to $4,250, generating $51,000 during the first year, with a 3% annual increase thereafter. Before approving the new agreement, the council voted to remove Ordinance No. 022 of 2025 from the table and postpone it indefinitely.
City officials explained that the previous version contained provisions considered less favorable to the city, including language that could have allowed the company to sublease city infrastructure. The revised agreement includes additional protections governing the use of the water tower, equipment installation, structural analysis, and maintenance responsibilities.
Under the new terms, the company must ensure that equipment installed on the tower does not compromise its structural integrity. Any damage resulting from the company’s installations would have to be corrected at its expense. The agreement also places restrictions on replacement equipment, including weight and appearance requirements intended to protect the tower and maintain its appearance.
One of the meeting’s most extensive discussions centered on Ordinance No. 037 of 2026, which would formally authorize the use of revenue generated by the city’s electric utility to support its water and sewer operations and general fund. City officials explained that transferring electric utility revenue to support other municipal operations has been a longstanding practice. However, the practice has not been expressly established in the city’s Code of Ordinances.
The proposed legislation is connected to requirements associated with a $5 million Water Sector Program grant and a water rate study. According to city officials, the revenue generated by the water system must demonstrate sufficient financial sustainability to satisfy the program’s requirements.
Without formally documenting the transfer of electric utility revenue to water operations, officials said the rate study cannot include those funds when calculating the water system’s financial position. As a result, the city could face a required water rate increase or potentially risk the $5 million grant.
Officials said the ordinance could provide another option by allowing existing transfers to be considered in the financial analysis.
City financial officials emphasized that the ordinance would not authorize additional transfers without council approval. Instead, it would formally document a practice already incorporated into the city’s annual budgeting process.
The city’s current base water rate is $12.04 for the first 2,000 gallons.
Officials said the Water Sector Program’s rate study calls for an initial increase of approximately 10%, followed by annual increases of 2.8% over five years. Using the current base rate, a 10% increase would amount to approximately $1.20.
A separate utility rate study currently underway has produced preliminary findings generally consistent with the Water Sector Program’s recommendations. That study indicates the city may need increases of approximately 25% for water and 30% for sewer over time to address operating costs and financial sustainability.
Several council members expressed concerns about the proposed ordinance, the city’s reliance on electric utility revenue, and the potential impact of higher utility rates on residents. Questions were raised about whether the city should continue transferring electric utility revenue to support water and sewer operations rather than pursuing rate adjustments that would allow each utility to become financially self-sustaining. Council members also expressed concern that information about the completed rate study had been provided only shortly before the meeting. Other concerns focused on the potential financial burden on residents, particularly those living on fixed incomes and already facing increased electricity, food, housing, and other expenses.
Discussion also addressed whether large institutional and commercial water customers should bear a greater share of future increases. City officials explained that the rate study considers total water consumption and revenue from residential, commercial, and institutional customers.
Questions were also raised about the city’s financial reserves and the sustainability of continued transfers from electric utility revenues. Financial officials reported that approximately $4.2 million is designated for utility reserves, including funds that cannot be used for other city operations.
The city’s electric utility also faces financial pressures, particularly when considering aging infrastructure and the possibility of major equipment failures. City officials maintained that the proposed ordinance is intended to document existing financial practices rather than establish new spending authority. They also emphasized that adopting the ordinance would not automatically eliminate the possibility of future water and sewer rate increases.
Council members requested copies of the completed rate study and the study currently underway. Officials agreed to provide the information and explore having representatives involved in the analysis address the council, potentially at its next meeting.
Ordinance No. 037 was introduced for consideration only. No final action was taken.
The council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 068 of 2026, authorizing the execution of a certificate of substantial completion for equipment replacement involving Sludge Thickener No. 1 at the City of Natchitoches Wastewater Treatment Plant. Officials reported that the project was completed approximately a month and a half ahead of schedule and required no change orders. The project involved the replacement of equipment essential to the wastewater treatment process. Officials noted that both sludge thickeners at the facility had experienced failures within a relatively short period, requiring replacement work.
Council members unanimously approved Resolution No. 069 of 2026, authorizing Change Order No. 3 for construction of the new Fire Station No. 3 on University Parkway. The change order adds $26,371 to the construction contract, bringing the revised project total to approximately $3.36 million. City officials explained that most of the additional expense involves modifying the station’s exit driveway onto University Parkway.
The original design included a sharper turn that officials determined could create difficulties for large fire apparatus exiting the station. Following consultation with fire department leadership, the city determined that widening the driveway and adjusting its configuration would provide a safer route for emergency vehicles. Officials explained that fire trucks carry substantial amounts of water, making turning movements an important safety consideration.
The revised design is intended to accommodate existing apparatus and potential future equipment. The change order also addresses a structural issue involving the placement of a steel beam, masonry wall, and supporting angle iron. The original configuration could not be constructed as designed because of limited space between structural components. The modification involves extending a brick wall downward to accommodate the necessary support.
Council members also questioned drainage conditions near the station. City officials reported that public works crews had cleared vegetation and regraded portions of a drainage ditch to improve water flow away from the property. The improvements are expected to help address previous drainage concerns, although conditions will be monitored during future rainfall.
The next regularly scheduled Natchitoches City Council meeting is set for Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
The Natchitoches City Council unanimously approved the purchase of property at 408 Fifth Street for $195,000 during its Oct. 12 meeting, paving the way for a permanent location for the Natchitoches Police Department’s detective division.
The council adopted Ordinance No. 035 of 2026, authorizing the acquisition of the property, located directly across the street from the Natchitoches Police Department.
City officials explained that the department has been seeking a more suitable location for its detectives, who currently operate from a facility on Culpepper Lane. The existing location presents limitations that prevent the department from installing specialized investigative equipment and making necessary modifications to accommodate modern law enforcement technology.
Police department leadership said the current facility cannot be adequately modified to support certain investigative operations, including the installation of equipment used during interviews and criminal investigations.
The newly acquired property will provide an opportunity to develop a facility specifically designed around the detective division’s needs, including office spaces, interview rooms, and areas for specialized equipment.
Officials noted that the building’s interior is currently an open space, allowing the department to plan and configure the layout to meet its operational requirements.
In addition to providing improved facilities, the location will place detectives directly across the street from the main police station, making it easier for residents to follow up on reports, speak with investigators, and address matters requiring assistance from the detective division.
Funding for the $195,000 purchase will come from an existing tax dedicated to police department improvements. City officials said the tax has been in place for approximately 30 years and was originally intended to support upgrades to the department’s facilities and other capital assets.
While the purchase has been approved, officials indicated that additional planning and design work will be necessary before renovations can begin. The open interior will allow the department to develop a floor plan that accommodates both current investigative needs and future technology.
The property acquisition represents another step toward improving the Natchitoches Police Department’s facilities and consolidating its operations near the main police station.
Chamber Choir Fall Concert Tonight Northwestern State University
The NSU Chamber Choir will present its fall concert, “We Tell Each Other Stories,” at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Magale Recital Hall. The program draws on repertoire from many cultures built around music’s role in storytelling. Director of Choral Activities Shane Thomas conducts, with Dan Ley as collaborative pianist. Admission is free, with a livestream at nsu.la/capa-live.
The Chamber Choir is Northwestern State’s flagship choral ensemble, an auditioned mixed chorus that has competed across the United States and Europe and performed at state, regional and national conventions. Its 2026-27 season includes the Christmas Gala and Lessons and Carols at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in December, a Louisiana tour in January and a featured performance at Carnegie Hall in April.
Guest Pianist Kenneth Saxon Performs Wednesday Northwestern State University
Pianist Kenneth Saxon will present a guest recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, in Magale Recital Hall. The program includes works by Beethoven, Alexina Louie, Debussy, Grieg and Ravel. Admission is free, with a livestream at nsu.la/capa-live.
Saxon is professor of music at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and has performed on three continents, with recent appearances in Costa Rica, Sri Lanka and India. He has premiered works by Gary Smoke, Justin Writer and Kawai Shiu, and his recording of Rachmaninoff’s Preludes, Op. 32, was praised by MusicWeb-International for its “fineness of touch.” He often introduces pieces with a short story about them. His book “Steps to Success” is a sight-reading guide.
Free Movie Night on the Riverbank Friday City of Natchitoches
The City of Natchitoches and the Natchitoches Parish Library will host a free community movie night at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, on the riverbank. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets along with their own candy, popcorn, snacks and drinks. No glass bottles are allowed.
Halloween Week Shapes Up Downtown City of Natchitoches; Golden Star Chapter No. 62
Several Halloween events are set for the end of the month.
Pumpkin Glow runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, on the downtown riverbank, with decorated pumpkins displayed by local organizations and individuals and performances by area orchestras, dance groups and community organizations on the riverbank stage.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church holds its annual fall fair Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, with a hayride starting in the church parking lot Oct. 30.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, Witch Way to Main Street runs from 10 a.m. to noon alongside the farmers market downtown. Children 12 and younger in costume, accompanied by an adult, can trick-or-treat at sponsored booths. That afternoon, Golden Star Chapter No. 62 holds a Trunk or Treat from 4 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot at Ben Johnson Park, 616 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Whistling Duck Harvest Reports Due by Oct. 26 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Hunters who obtained a black-bellied whistling duck permit must report their effort and harvest by Oct. 26, whether or not they hunted. The reporting window opened Oct. 12 at louisianaoutdoors.com/bbwd-report. The special season, Louisiana’s first for the species, ran Oct. 3-11 with a daily limit of four birds.
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has released its comprehensive guide analyzing the 10 proposed constitutional amendments scheduled for the fall statewide ballot.
The independent, nonpartisan review is designed to explain the legal background, arguments for and against, and practical effects of each measure so voters can make informed decisions at the polls.
Seven of the 10 proposed changes address Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution, focusing on state and local tax policy, assessment rules, and public finance:
Amendment 1: Permits the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who qualified for a special property tax exemption to transfer that exemption to a new home in a one-time move.
Amendment 2: Grants local taxing bodies greater flexibility and time to determine whether to roll forward to their maximum authorized property tax millage or retain a lower rate.
Amendment 3: Prohibits bail for individuals convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law.
Amendment 4: Establishes a lifetime limit of two four-year terms for Louisiana governors, replacing the current consecutive-term limit.
Amendment 5: Gives the Louisiana Legislature and state retirement systems discretion over the order in which state surplus funds are applied toward retirement debt.
Amendment 6: Authorizes parishes and municipalities to increase property tax exemption levels for qualifying senior homeowners ages 65 to 81.
Amendment 7: Clarifies that public funds can be used to identify and replace lead drinking water service lines extending from public mains onto private residential property.
Amendment 8: Prohibits private corporations affiliated with designated foreign adversaries from exercising expropriation powers over private property.
Amendment 9: Increases the household income eligibility ceiling for property tax assessment freezes from $100,000 to $150,000.
Amendment 10: Authorizes parishes to create optional property tax exemption programs for the rehabilitation of blighted or derelict properties.
The Natchitoches Fire Department has achieved a historic milestone as the City of Natchitoches’ Property Insurance Association of Louisiana (PIAL) rating improved from Class 2 to Class 1, the highest rating available.
This marks the first time the Natchitoches Fire Department has received a Class 1 rating, an achievement Fire Chief John Wynn attributes to the hard work and dedication of the department’s employees.
PIAL, the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana, evaluates a community’s fire protection capabilities based on several factors, including personnel, training, equipment, communications, water supply, and the ability to respond to the community’s fire safety needs.
According to Wynn, the improved rating demonstrates the department’s continued progress in providing the highest level of fire protection possible for Natchitoches residents and businesses.
Firefighters work daily to maintain their skills, train for emergencies, maintain equipment, and prepare for dangerous calls. Their ongoing commitment to readiness and public safety played an important role in achieving the improved classification.
Wynn also recognized department leadership and those who supported improvements in equipment, training, staffing, facilities, communications, and water infrastructure. He emphasized that these expenditures represent investments in the safety and resilience of the community.
The improved rating may also benefit residents and businesses, as fire protection classifications can be considered by insurance companies when determining property insurance costs.
While the Class 1 designation represents a significant accomplishment, Wynn emphasized that the department’s work toward improvement will continue.
An improved rating is not the finish line, but an indication that ongoing efforts are making a difference and providing a foundation for future progress.
The department remains focused on ensuring firefighters have the training and equipment they need, maintaining effective communications systems, supporting firefighting operations through adequate water infrastructure, and preparing for future challenges.
Wynn expressed appreciation to firefighters for their dedication, professionalism, and service, as well as department leadership for continuing to identify opportunities for improvement. He also thanked elected officials, community leaders, and residents for supporting investments in the fire department.
He further acknowledged the businesses and families served by the department, emphasizing that every improvement is ultimately about protecting the people, homes, businesses, and future of the community.
The advancement from Class 2 to Class 1 reflects the department’s hard work, teamwork, and continued commitment to public safety.
Wynn concluded by thanking everyone who contributed to the achievement and the community for its continued support of the Natchitoches Fire Department, reaffirming the department’s pride in its progress and commitment to becoming even better.
Tighten the repeated achievement paragraphsTurn this into a polished news release
The City of Natchitoches would like to inform residents and businesses in the Grand Ecore/Highway 6 East area of a scheduled water outage on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
The temporary outage is necessary to allow City Utility crews to repair a broken 10-inch water main serving the area.
Areas expected to be affected include:
• Hidden Hills Mobile Home Park
• Melissa Place
• Beverly Rise
• Robert Circle
• Maryland Road
• Hargis Road
• Rex Waterwell Road
• Dawn Street
• Boston Fowler Road
• O’Con Street
• Payne Subdivision
• Payne Drive
• Michelle Drive
• John Drive
• Cherie Loop
• Keith Drive
• Mary Drive
• Miller Drive
• Brickyard Road
• Hoover Road
• Buck’s Grocery Road
• Pridgen Road
• St. Savior Church Road
• Industrial Avenue
• Holden Road
• Grand Ecore Spur Road
• Tauzin Island Road
• Natchitoches Parish Port
• Village of Clarence
City Utility crews will work diligently to complete the repairs and restore water service as quickly as possible. Please note that the estimated restoration time is subject to change depending on repair conditions.
The City of Natchitoches appreciates the public’s patience and understanding as crews work to maintain and improve the reliability of the city’s water infrastructure.
For additional information, please contact the City of Natchitoches Utility Department at (318) 357-3850.
The City of Natchitoches has installed more than 30 anti-litter enforcement signs throughout the city as part of an ongoing effort to promote cleaner streets, safer neighborhoods, and community pride.
The initiative, coordinated through a partnership between the city’s Office of Community Development and Public Works Department, places signs in various locations throughout Natchitoches to remind residents and visitors that littering is against the law.
According to the City of Natchitoches Community and Economic Development Department, the signs are intended to reinforce the importance of keeping public spaces clean and encourage individuals to take responsibility for maintaining the appearance of their neighborhoods.
The department announced the installations through a social media post, emphasizing that keeping Natchitoches clean is a shared responsibility.
The city also recognized Keep Louisiana Beautiful for supporting the initiative and helping promote community involvement in litter prevention.
The installation of the signs is part of the city’s continued commitment to improving the appearance of Natchitoches and encouraging residents to take an active role in keeping their community clean.
City officials encourage residents to help keep Natchitoches beautiful through everyday actions that contribute to cleaner streets and neighborhoods.
Size: 1 story / 1,300 Square Feet (approx.). New Driveway, paint inside/out, new flooring and blinds. Term: Lease – 1 year minimum Lease Rate: $2,500.00
Location: 301 Church Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana
For more information and/or a showing, please contact, 318-471-9955
The Natchitoches City Council recognized October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month during its Oct. 12 meeting, adopting Resolution No. 067-2026 and presenting the recognition to longtime breast cancer survivor and advocate Wanda Lucas.
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. proclaimed October 2026 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Natchitoches, encouraging residents to recognize the importance of early detection, regular screenings, and continued support for those affected by the disease.
The proclamation noted that breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women in the United States, with approximately one in eight women diagnosed during their lifetime. It also emphasized mammography as an important method of detecting breast changes before physical symptoms become noticeable.
The theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 is “Every Story Is Unique. Every Journey Matters.” The theme encourages survivors, patients, families, healthcare providers, and supporters to share their personal experiences and reasons for advocating breast cancer awareness.
During the meeting, Williams emphasized the importance of recognizing a disease that has affected so many families and communities.
“I think everybody knows somebody who’s been impacted by it,” Williams said, encouraging residents to prioritize screenings and early detection.
Williams also acknowledged that although breast cancer overwhelmingly affects women, men can develop the disease as well.
The proclamation recognized survivors, honored those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, and acknowledged the families, advocates, and medical professionals who provide support throughout treatment and recovery.
Wanda Lucas, a Natchitoches native, author, motivational speaker, and breast cancer advocate, was recognized during the meeting as the intended recipient of the proclamation.
Lucas is a nearly 23-year survivor of stage four inflammatory breast cancer and the founder of CARE Cancer Buddy Network, an organization dedicated to providing encouragement, emotional support, compassion, and companionship to individuals battling cancer.
She has also authored two books reflecting her personal journey through the disease.
Although the physical proclamation was not available during the meeting, Lucas was invited forward to be recognized and share remarks about her experience.
“My name is Wanda Lucas, and I am a 22, almost 23-year breast cancer survivor,” Lucas said.
She emphasized that her advocacy extends beyond breast cancer to individuals facing all forms of cancer, while reminding those in attendance that the disease does not exclusively affect women.
“I advocate and promote the opportunity to be able to go out and serve, not just breast cancer, but all cancers,” Lucas said.
Lucas expressed gratitude for the recognition and accepted it on behalf of those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
“I am honored to be able to receive and accept the proclamation on behalf of all survivors, their families, the ones who lost the fight, and to the City of Natchitoches,” she said.
Her message of advocacy and encouragement centers on a simple belief: “As long as there is life, there is hope.”
The proclamation encourages residents to promote breast cancer awareness throughout October and beyond, emphasizing early detection, timely treatment, and continued support for patients, survivors, and their families.
Dr. Kathryn “Kathy” Sullivan wanted to take a walk, but this was no walk around the block. She wanted to take a 140-mile walk. Let me explain. Kathy’s brother Grant had heard about the planned walk, had applied to be a participant, and encouraged Kathy to apply as well. She was uninterested at first because she wanted to take a seven-mile swim in the Pacific Ocean instead. Kathy disregarded Grant’s suggestion until she saw an advertisement for the upcoming walk in a scientific magazine. Shortly after she applied for the walk, William Ryan of Columbia University offered Kathy the chance to take the seven-mile swim that she had been dreaming of for years. William and Kathy discussed the walk and the swim, and they concluded that Kathy should wait to hear if her application to take the walk was accepted. Williams reassured Kathy that she would have another opportunity to take the swim but the opportunity to take the walk would probably never happen again. Kathy’s wait was worth it. She was invited for a week of interviews, psychological examinations, and physical examinations. Of the large group who were chosen, Kathy was one of six females selected. Grant, Kathy’s brother who had encouraged her to apply, was not selected.
The magazine advertisement I mentioned earlier said women could apply, but many scientists believed that women would be unable to complete such a walk because they were inferior to men. Scientists believed women would require more specialized equipment than men to complete such a walk. Of course, those scientists were mostly men. Kathy was fitted with a special pressurized suit which provided oxygen and blocked out the Sun’s rays. Kathy spent years training for the 140-mile walk which would last just a few hours. On October 11, 1984, 33-year-old Kathy dressed carefully in her specialized clothing which weighed more than she did. Then, she stepped out of the vehicle and began her walk. There were no trees, no sidewalks, nor automobiles on her route. Despite the initial doubts of scientists, she completed the walk without any trouble at all. Kathy made history.
Kathy still wanted to take that seven-mile swim, but it took longer than she had imagined. 36 years after Kathy completed her walk, she finally got the opportunity to take that swim in the Pacific Ocean. Just as she had for her walk, Kathy prepared well and used specialized equipment. On June 8, 2020, sixty-eight-year-old Kathy finally fulfilled her dream and completed the swim that she had dreamed of for decades.
Kathy does not consider herself an adrenaline junkie, but a scientist and explorer. You see, the 140 miles I mentioned was not the distance she traveled on her walk, but the height above the Earth she was when she took her walk. On October 11, 1984, Kathryn Sullivan became the first American woman to take a walk…a spacewalk 140 miles up in space. On June 8, 2020, she became the first woman to swim, well… descend, in a submersible to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, the deepest known point in Earth’s oceans. Kathy is the only woman known to have both walked in space and visited Challenger Deep.
Week 7 of the Natchitoches Parish Journal’s annual High School Football Pick ’Em contest is underway, giving local fans another chance to test their gridiron knowledge and win cash.
Each week, the contest features 10 selected matchups highlighting Natchitoches Parish high schools and marquee regional games. The second round of competition concludes Friday, Oct. 16, so make your selections before kickoff to get in the game.
Each weekly winner will take home $100 and be featured with a photo in the Journal.
Participants can submit their picks online through the NPJ platform throughout the season to see who truly reigns as the top football prognosticator in Natchitoches Parish.
Opens in a new tab.
Contest Rules & Details
Anyone is eligible to participate for free, and each week’s winning participant will win a $100 prize. Each week, the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 10 selected high school football games. Ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two designated weekly contests. The picker with the closest score, without going over, is the winner. All decisions by Management/NPJ are final. The contest can be modified and/or cancelled without notice to the public.
The only persons not eligible to participate are the publisher, the publisher’s immediate family, and regular content contributors to the Journal as determined by Management/NPJ.
There is no entry fee. All contest decisions by Journal management are final. Weekly winners will be notified on Mondays and must agree to have their photo published in the Journal.
Every participant receives a free subscription to the Journal, delivered directly to their inbox daily at 6:55 a.m.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana hunters using firearm suppressors will not face state penalties for lacking federal tax stamps or registration papers following recent changes to federal law, wildlife officials announced Monday.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued guidance clarifying how enforcement agents will address suppressors in the field after major federal shifts removed long-standing registration mandates.
Congress recently reduced the federal tax on suppressors to $0, and a federal court in Texas ruled in August that the federal government could no longer enforce specific registration requirements. On Oct. 9, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced it would no longer require agency approval or registration to possess a suppressor.
While Louisiana state law permits hunters to use suppressors, state statutes previously relied on the federal tax stamp as proof that the device was possessed legally.
LDWF officials said enforcement agents will adjust their field inspections accordingly. Agents will not cite hunters or seize equipment simply because an individual does not possess an ATF tax stamp or registration paperwork, provided the suppressor is legally owned and attached to a firearm permitted for the active hunting season.
Officials emphasized that standard hunting regulations and restrictions remain in effect. Agents will continue checking licenses, harvest tags, season dates, legal hunting hours, bag limits and approved methods of take.
Key rules that remain unchanged include:
Suppressors remain legal for taking game birds, wild quadrupeds, outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver.
Firearms must still meet legal specifications for the specific season and game pursued; attaching a suppressor does not make an otherwise illegal firearm lawful.
Individuals legally prohibited from possessing firearms may not possess suppressors.
Anyone convicted of a class four or greater hunting violation remains barred from hunting with a suppressor for five years following the conviction date.
Machine guns remain fully regulated under federal law.
Northwestern assistant head coach Norman Joseph has spent 50 years coaching football and pouring into the lives of his players. (NSU photo by CHRIS REICH)
By BRAD WELBORN, Northwestern State Sports Information
Norman Joseph has spent more than 50 years coaching football.
Longer than Bear Bryant. Longer than Joe Paterno. Two years shy of matching Nick Saban.
That kind of longevity is remarkable on its own. But when Joseph looks back on the path that has taken him through high school, every level of college football and stops at Northwestern State, Louisiana Tech, ULM, Louisiana College, Belhaven and Mississippi College, he doesn’t start with the wins or the years.
He starts with people.
“I was influenced by a lot of positive people,” he said.
Long before he became Northwestern State’s assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, a role he’s held the past two seasons alongside head coach Blaine McCorkle, and long before he coached three quarterbacks who would go on to earn Super Bowl rings, Joseph was a young player being shaped by coaches who saw something in him.
Kayo Dottley, a member of multiple halls of fame and a Southeastern Conferece legend at Ole Miss, was his elementary school coach, and challenged him to understand the game differently. Dottley’s experience with the Rebels and in the pros with the Chicago Bears, brought a new experience to a YMCA league where, as Joseph remembers it, nobody else was throwing the football.
“We threw the ball,” he said. “I was catching it.”
Then came Sammy Corolla, his junior high coach, who challenged his players while loving them. And then Glen Slay, Joseph’s high school coach, who left perhaps the clearest early impression.
Joseph’s high school had gone five or six years without a winning season. In Slay’s first year, Joseph’s senior season, the team went 8-2-1 and earned a trip to one of Mississippi’s major bowl games.
But Joseph remembers more than the wins.
“You never heard any foul language coming out of his mouth,” Joseph said. “He was always positive and upbeat. I saw that and I thought, ‘I want to be a coach.’”
As a player at Mississippi State, Joseph found another mentor in head coach Bob Tyler.
“I watched him, and I wanted to model, be as close as I could to what he did,” Joseph said. “It was a huge, huge positive impact on me as a player and then transitioning into coaching once I finished playing.”
That transition became a career that has stretched across more than five decades.
Joseph’s résumé now includes head coaching positions at Belhaven, Louisiana College (now Christian) and Mississippi College, multiple championships, both as a head coach and assistant, and experience at virtually every level of college football.
But Joseph doesn’t view that longevity as something he accomplished on his own, it’s something that means more to him than the positions he’s held through the years.
“I feel like coaching is my ministry,” he said. “I’ve never looked at any position I’ve ever had as a job. I look at it as an assignment from the Lord. I was greatly influenced by those men, those coaches in my life, and because of their impact on me, that’s the reason I wanted to go into coaching and why I still do it.”
That perspective has shaped the way Joseph has approached every stop along the way, including the ones he didn’t initially understand.
“There’s going to be duties and assignments that you absolutely love,” he said. “There’s going to be some duties and assignments you think, ‘Why in the world am I doing this?’”
But Joseph learned to embrace those opportunities, too. Every experience became another piece of the coach he would eventually become.
He has coached at every level from Division I to Division III and NAIA, along with high school football. He has worked in recruiting, academics, administration, fundraising, social media, scheme and organization.
“It’s all of these things that lend themselves to knowledge and how to run an organization, knowledge and how to scheme and to come up with your own system,” Joseph said. “It just helps you become the coach that you want to be.”
And while the game itself has changed dramatically during Joseph’s career, he believes one thing has remained constant. Players want to improve.
“They love the discipline,” Joseph said. “There is a discipline involved in playing the game and coaching the game. Players want to be challenged. They want to be coached. They want to win. And, at the end of the day, they want to know they are better than they were when they arrived.”
That may be the most important connection between the coaches who shaped Joseph and the coach he is today.
He knows what it feels like to have someone believe in you, challenge you and show you what is possible. Now, he gets the opportunity to do the same thing.
And through all those years, there has been another group of people making Joseph’s coaching career possible: his family.
His wife, Jane, and their three daughters grew up in football. Joseph jokes that all three are “football girls,” capable of discussing play-action passes, blitzes and tempo offense with the best of them.
But Joseph also understood that coaching could never be allowed to consume the family.
When his daughters were young, Thursday nights became family nights. When he was a head coach, Joseph tried to structure his staff’s schedule so coaches could get home and have dinner with their families, help with homework and be present for the moments that mattered.
It was a way of living out the example he continues to set for his players of what it means to be a man.
The lesson was simple: being a good coach and being a good husband and father didn’t have to be competing responsibilities.
There had to be a balance.
And perhaps that is another lesson handed down from one generation to the next.
Joseph has spent more than 50 years collecting those lessons from coaches, players, families and programs. He has gone from a young player influenced by men like Dottley and Tyler to a coach whose own influence now spans generations.
He’s grateful for the head coaches he’s worked for, the assistants he’s worked alongside and the administrators who supported the programs and people around them.
But ultimately, Joseph’s legacy won’t be measured simply by the number of years he spent on a sideline. It will be measured by the people who were better because he was there.
And that’s why, after more than five decades, he’s still coming back.
“Because of their impact on me, that’s the reason I wanted to go into coaching,” Joseph said of the men who shaped his life.
Northwestern State University’s 70th Mr. and Miss NSU are continuing a tradition of student leadership that dates to 1956.
Owen Stutzman, a senior accounting major from Gonzales, and Lauryn Vernon, a senior biology major with a minor in dance from Arcadia, were selected as Mr. and Miss NSU for the 2026-27 academic year.
Mr. and Miss NSU are elected by the student body each fall. To qualify for the ballot, candidates must be full-time seniors in good standing with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and receive nominations from at least five certified recognized student organizations.
Stutzman said he never expected to be selected as Mr. NSU and has focused his time at NSU on serving the university and its students.
“I’ve always just been the guy who wants to give back to Northwestern and keep serving,” Stutzman said. “I love everybody at Northwestern, and I have had such an amazing experience, so it’s been such an honor.”
During his time at NSU, Stutzman has held leadership roles in Freshman Connection, Pi Kappa Phi, the Interfraternity Council, Blue Key Honor Society and Order of Omega. He served on Freshman Connection in 2024 and 2025 before becoming student coordinator in 2026 and has also been involved in Demon VIP, Beta Alpha Psi, Alpha Lambda Delta and the President’s Leadership Program.
Through Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropic efforts with The Ability Experience, Stutzman raised $7,500 individually and contributed to more than $50,000 raised collectively during his time at NSU.
He said being part of the 70-year tradition has made him reflect on the generations of student leaders who have represented the university.
“It blows my mind that there are 70 individual students that have been selected for Mr. and Miss NSU,” Stutzman said. “I really think about all of the student leaders that Northwestern has created for so long. Northwestern has such a unique ability to create student leaders.”
Vernon said she came to NSU hoping to make an impact on those around her and views being selected as Miss NSU as recognition of the relationships she has built within the university community.
“Stepping foot on this campus, the first thing I wanted to do was to make an impact on people,” Vernon said. “The fact that they thought that I was worthy enough and that I would represent this honor with pride just goes to show that I was able to be a friend and be a smile to the people around me.”
Vernon has held leadership roles across campus, including serving as captain of the Purple Pizzazz Pom Line and president of the Theta Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has also been involved in the President’s Leadership Program, Alpha Lambda Delta, Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Purple Jackets, Demon VIP, Freshman Connection, Order of Omega and the NSU Dance Company.
Her experience in the President’s Leadership Program helped inspire Set Apart, a youth-focused initiative centered on leadership, faith and service that she created through her involvement in the Miss Louisiana Organization.
Vernon said she hopes she and Stutzman can use the honor as an opportunity to continue serving others and add to the tradition for future Mr. and Miss NSU recipients.
“I don’t want it to go down as just a plaque that we get and we just walk off the football field,” Vernon said. “I hope that we can start a tradition that can continue to go on for years and years and just continue to impact the people around us. Hopefully we will use it to keep serving and loving on our community.”
Mr. and Miss NSU
Lauryn Vernon, left, and Owen Stutzman pose in Northwestern State University’s new Alumni Center.
Natchitoches City Council will have a pre-council meeting on Sept. 28 beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. to discuss non-agenda items. The City Council meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda. The public is invited to both the pre-council meetings and council meetings with the understanding that items not on the agenda will not be discussed at the scheduled council meetings, but the public is welcome to discuss any topic at the pre-council meetings.The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers, located at 716 Second St. in Natchitoches.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s deputies, NPSO Impact Units and Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 were dispatched by the NATCOM 911 Center at 8:08 p.m. to a reported RV camper and woods fire in the 3400 block of Louisiana Highway 490 at Marco, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Within minutes of arriving on scene, NPFD No. 1 had the fire contained.
The RV camper was a total loss.
Units remained on scene.
The owner said an unattended candle is believed to be the cause of the fire.
Roses on the River Oct. 28 Honors Victims of Violence Project Celebration Inc.
Project Celebration will hold Roses on the River at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Riverbank Stage. The ceremony, expected to run 45 minutes to an hour, is held in support of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Project Celebration provides domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse services. For more information, contact Shaye Walker at 318-663-5961 or natchitoches.outreach@projectcelebration.com.
Shred Event Took In Thousands of Pounds of Paper Natchitoches Parish Library
The Natchitoches Parish Library’s Fall Community Shred Event helped residents and local businesses destroy thousands of pounds of documents on Oct. 2, the library said. The semiannual event pairs the library’s own routine document disposal with a scheduled visit from an industrial shredding truck, which the public can use free of charge. The next shred event is expected in late April, after tax season. Details will be posted on the library’s social media and in its monthly newsletter at news.natlib.org.
Planning Commission Meets Tonight; Council Next Monday Natchitoches Parish Government
The Natchitoches Parish Planning and Zoning Commission meets from 5 to 6 p.m. today. The Natchitoches Parish Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Room 211 of the courthouse, 200 Church St. The parish’s phone number is 318-352-2714.
