Courtyard of Natchitoches: Full Time, Part Time, & PRN

Required Education and Experience:

1. High School graduate or equivalent.

2. Current Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification in the State of Louisiana.

3. Current Basic Cardiac Life Support certification or must obtain within three (3) months of hire date.

Offering Sign-On Bonuses • Great Salaries & Benefits

To view and apply to these openings, please visit: www.nrmchospital.org/jobs/.

If you have questions or would like to speak to our Recruiter, please contact Larissa Cameron at 318-214-5819 or email her at larissa.cameron@nrmchospital.org

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Childcare Site: Juz’ Us Childcare of Natchitoches

Performance Profile Rating: 4 stars/5.47 High proficient

100% of Teachers using a Tier I Curriculum

75% of Teachers with a CDA or higher

Ages served: 6 weeks- 13 years

Vision: To support families and children with lifelong learning and developmental growth.

Mission: The mission of Juz’ Us Childcare Development Center is to provide a stimulating education experience, which promotes each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

What is special/unique about your site?

Our site has smaller classrooms which provides for a better 1 on 1 learning experience with each of our children. We can provide a high-quality learning experience which will help develop your child for the future.

Why should parents enroll their children into your facility?

Juz’ Us Childcare of Natchitoches will provide an environment for children that is conducive to learning. An array of activities will be provided so that we are able to foster your child intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development.

What is a major accomplishment your site has done?

Juz’ Us Childcare of Natchitoches has been able to continually improve academically over the years by consistently and effectively using a TIER 1 curriculum to help develop our young children.

The Natchitoches Parish Early Childhood Network serves children ages birth-4.

Start the process of educating your child TODAY by going online to teachingtomorrownow.com and filling out an application!

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Rotarian with the Program Eddie Harrington introduced Rodney Harrington at the April 12 luncheon. Harrington discussed the May 20-21 Natchitoches Jazz R&B Festival. For more information visit the website (NatchJazzFest.com). Pictured from left are President Tommy Caldwell, Harrington, and Harrington (Photo by Dr. Ron McBride).

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NATCHITOCHES:
Mary Ellen Averett
April 20, 1930 – April 6, 2022
Service: Saturday, April 16 from 1-3 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home.

Levonia Rachal Coutee
January 1, 1929 – April 10, 2022
Service: Wednesday, April 13 at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville

SABINE:
Elouise Potter
August 30, 1931 – April 8, 2022
Service: Wednesday, April 13 at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

WINN:
Marvin Eugene Denler
April 22, 1972 – April 9, 2022
Service: Saturday, April 16 at 1 pm in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home

RED RIVER:
Myrtis Rai Sullivan
August 23, 1935 – April 10, 2022
Service: Friday, April 15 at 11 am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

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After several continuances, the trial of Travis Heinze commenced on April 11 at 9am in front of Judge Robert Owsley. Heinze, whose application didn’t qualify for a public defender, represented himself regarding his actions on Jan. 22 at the Natchitoches Parish Library.

Natchitoches Police officers responded to a call from concerned library staff reporting a patron who was behaving bizarrely. This involved carrying multiple bulky bags into the building, setting up multiple cameras for recording purposes, trying to access areas restricted to the public, and pulling on door handles to areas that are off limits.

When officers made contact with the suspect he refused to give his name or provide them with an ID. Heinze was taken into custody for resisting arrest and brought to the corrections center where he bonded out.

After a lengthy trial with a long list of questions for seven witnesses, Judge Owsley weighed the evidence. Heinze was sentenced to 30 days in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center and $411 court costs. He was remanded immediately to the DC, where he is currently being held.

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When your team limits the No. 1-ranked softball squad in Class 5A to one run, no doubt some impressive pitching and solid defense was on display.

When your ballclub puts six runs on the board, it leaves no room for doubt.

The Natchitoches Central Lady Chiefs softball team notched a milestone victory at home Monday evening, sending Pineville’s Lady Rebels back down I-49 with a 6-1 thumping. It was only the second loss in 33 games for the visitors, who are ranked 13th nationally in one poll.

NCHS (20-8) looked every inch the team that returned all but one player back from last year, when the Lady Chiefs went 23-9 and reached the state playoff quarterfinals.

“We have played really well,” said coach Ronnie Abels of his team, which has six seniors. “We did today.”

That will boost the Lady Chiefs’ seeding a bit when the power rankings are compiled and state playoff brackets are announced on Thursday. Monday’s game was the final regular-season contest for both teams.

It was a memorable one for NCHS. Pitcher Maddie Robinson threw a complete-game six-hitter, striking out nine in seven innings and walking only two. She threw 126 pitches to the 30 batters she faced, and 87 were strikes.

The defense only stumbled once, and was otherwise error free.

The game figured to be tight and low-scoring, and it was for a while. But the home team never trailed.

NCHS leadoff hitter Desi Robinson opened the bottom of the first with a home run, the start of a remarkable performance. She later homered and doubled in a 3-for-4 day at the plate.

Pineville’s star, leadoff hitter Bailey Henderson, answered to open the third inning, clubbing a solo dinger for a 1-1 stalemate. It didn’t last long.

In the bottom of the fourth, Morgan Robinson (the pitcher’s younger sister) led off with a double and oved to third on a sacrifice bunt that also put the batter on base. Skylar Braxton followed with an RBI single, then Desi Robinson (cousin to Morgan and Maddie) cracked a three-run shot for a 5-1 Lady Chiefs’ advantage.

NCHS padded the lead in its last at-bat, on back-to-back doubles by Desi Robinson and senior standout Cat Stokes, who went 2-for-4.

It was the second two-homer outing in a week for Desi Robinson, who also smashed a pair last Monday in a win over Florien.

Saturday, the Lady Chiefs served notice they were ready for top shelf competition in a nailbiting 6-5, 10-inning loss to No. 5-ranked West Monroe.

Monday, they emphatically showed they’re as good as any team in the state, as the playoffs are about to begin.

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RUSTON – Deeply tied to one another, the Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech baseball teams will break a bit of a drought Tuesday night.

For the first time in nearly three years, the Demons and Bulldogs will tangle on the diamond at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the teams have not squared off since April 30, 2019.

Tuesday’s meeting will be the first between the teams in Ruston since March 5, 2019 – a span of 1,134 days. Free streaming audio is available on www.NSUDemons.com or through the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices.

Since 1990, the Demons own a 36-27 lead in the longstanding rivalry whose ties grew deeper six years ago when Louisiana Tech hired head coach Lane Burroughs from Northwestern State, which in turn promoted Bobby Barbier to the head coach after two years on Burroughs’ NSU staff.

“I played for (Louisiana Tech associate head coach and former NSU head coach) Mitch (Gaspard) and worked for Lane, so there’s a lot between us,” Barbier said. “But it’s about us coming off a tough weekend, responding, playing well. It’s not about wins and losses. It’s about us playing well, playing clean.”

The Demons (15-16) play their fifth straight game away from Brown-Stroud Field, two days ahead of the beginning of their second straight road Southland Conference series at Nicholls.

NSU faces a Louisiana Tech (23-10) team won four of five games this past week, including a sweep of Conference USA rival Rice in Ruston. The Demons’ first visit to the rebuilt J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park comes 10 months after the Bulldogs hosted the first NCAA Regional in school history.

“They’ve got a really good team,” Barbier said. “They just swept Rice. They’ve put together another good season after last year’s historic season.”

Northwestern State will start right-hander Andrew Cossio (1-0, 9.00) while the Bulldogs will counter with right-hander Greg Martinez (2-1, 5.67). The Demons expect to throw several pitchers as they continue to work their way through their mid-week slate.

“It will be good for us to get those guys on the mound who maybe didn’t have as much success as we wanted this weekend to get back on the mound again and for us to have good at-bats throughout the lineup,” Barbier said.

Whether pitchers or position players, the Demons do not have to look far for examples of what Barbier wants to see.

Freshman right-hander Chase Prestwich tossed four shutout innings of relief in Friday’s series opener at UIW while right fielder Gabe Colaianni has emerged as the Demons’ leading hitter in average through the first nine Southland Conference games.

“(Prestwich) was special Friday, and we needed him to be,” Barbier said. “We get all fall and early spring to determine who the guys are who can really help us. Sometimes those guys get off to slow starts. He’s been great since the first time he stepped on campus. His best days are ahead of him for sure. Last weekend was a glimpse of what he can be.

“What Gabe’s done is a credit to him for continuing to work. Everybody wants to be in the lineup. When he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it. Gabe’s a worker. He’s always been that way. He’s a fighter. He likes t compete. That’s the type of guys who have made this place what it’s been over the years. I’m proud of what he’s done. He just has to keep it up.”

Photo: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

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For the second time in three weeks Northwestern State pitcher Sage Hoover has been named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.

This is the second weekly award for Hoover and the fourth for an NSU pitcher in nine weeks.

For the third Friday and conference series in a row, Hoover got the Lady Demons in the win column with a dominating performance in the circle. This past week at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the freshman righty threw a game for the record books, nearly in more ways than one.

She went the first 6 2/3 innings of the game without allowing a hit to the Islanders and striking out 12 along the way. That, however, was just the beginning of what was a Herculean day for the NSU ace.

Locked in a 1-1 game through the first seven innings Hoover continued her dominance through five more innings to toss a 12-inning complete game, adding six more strikeouts along the way to set the NSU record with 18 strikeouts in the game.

The 222 pitches and 12 innings were the most by an NSU pitcher since Katelyn Boles threw 246 in a 13-inning loss in 2017.

Hoover added to her conference-leading strikeout total and sits at 142 for the year with an even more impressive 10.3 K/7 average. She ranks 33rd I the nation in total strikeouts and 22nd in K/7.

In her past three conference series-opening starts Hoover has struck out 45 and allowed just one earned run on 11 hits in three complete games spanning 26 innings.

Hoover and the Lady Demons begin a three-game home series with McNeese on Thursday at Lady Demon Diamond at 6 p.m.

Photo: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services.

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The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) invites the community to a reception on Wednesday, April 13, featuring this month’s gallery art show, “Entangled Reflections.”

Artists Sarah Nguyen, Eden Radfarr and Mami Takahashi joined forces to showcase each of their talents, including photography, video, and mixed media works on paper.

The free reception will be held from 4:30-6 p.m. and is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The exhibit will be on display in LSMSA’s art gallery until April 29, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.

LSMSA educates highly motivated, high-achieving incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors from throughout the state. Please visit www.lsmsa.edu to learn more about this tuition-free, publicly funded residential high school, or to submit an online application with transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and current teacher recommendations.

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Public safety agencies nationwide recognize the critical role played by Public Safety Telecommunicators. These professionals are true first “first responders.” They are the people who are answering the calls and directing First Responders, they are the most critical contact citizens have with emergency services.

Every year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety Telecommunicators in the United States. In 1991, Congress proclaimed it a national week of recognition.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office will celebrate this year’s National Telecommunicators Week from April 10th-16th to honor and recognize the professionals who handle thousands of emergency calls each year in Natchitoches Parish. These calls for service require the immediate response of public safety agencies to ensure the protection of life and preservation of property. Through their dedication, compassion, understanding and skill, our Telecommunicators ensure citizens get the help they need, when they need it.

When you dial 9-1-1 or the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Dispatch, a telecommunications professional answers the call. You can help by knowing your location, by staying on the line, and by following the directions given so the Telecommunicator can provide the assistance you need. You can rest assured there will always be someone on the other end of the line ready to help in an emergency. Please join us as we honor the men and women who serve our community as Telecommunicators

Between the Thin Blue Line and the Thin Red Line, Lies the Thinnest Gold Line. This Gold Line represents those who Rarely are Seen but Mostly Heard.

The Calm Voice in the Dark Night
The Golden Glue that hold it All together
DISPATCHERS

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Eve Roberts, Director at Artisan Center Theater in Hurst, Texas, recently visited Natchitoches, to do research for the theater’s upcoming production of the classic beloved story, Steel Magnolias, written by local resident, Robert Harling.

While here, she had the opportunity to meet with local residents, Pearl Walker and Angie Colwell. They were gracious in spending time with her and sharing information that she believes will better enable her to inspire her all female cast as they tell Robert’s story.

The play originally opened 35 years ago, Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre, in New York City, on March 28, 1987.

Pictured: Pearl Walker, Eve Roberts, and Angie Colwell.

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Two faculty members in the School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs at Northwestern State University have been named president of state professional organizations.

Dr. Charles Pellegrin has been named president of the Louisiana Historical Association. Dr. Greg Granger has been named president of the Louisiana Political Science Association.

Pellegrin has been a member of Northwestern State’s faculty since 2004, teaching areas including American history, Louisiana history, world history, U.S. military history, the history of modern China and modern Japan and the history of U.S. foreign relations. He is the director of NSU’s Southern Studies Institute and is editor of the acclaimed “Southern Studies’ An Interdisciplinary Journal of the South.”

Pellegrin has held the Clyde Bostick Endowed Professorship at NSU. His research has been published in state, national and international professional journals. Pellegrin has presented research at a variety of state, regional, national and international conferences. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Nicholls State University, a master’s at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his doctorate at Mississippi State University.

He is the third Northwestern State faculty member to lead the Louisiana Historical Association since its reorganization in 1958. Dr. John Kyser was president in 1960 and Dr. Donald Rawson was president in 1982.

Two NSU faculty to head state professional organizations

Granger has been a member of Northwestern State’s faculty since 1995. He completed his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of New Orleans in 1996. Dr. Granger served as interim director of the Louisiana Scholars’ College in 2004-05, followed by five years as Director of the School of Social Sciences. He is coauthor of “International Organizations: A Comparative Approach to the Management of Cooperation” (2001) with principal author Robert S. Jordan, as well as author of papers on U.S. foreign policies and international affairs.

Granger teaches classes in U.S. Government, nuclear weapons-related diplomatic history and global affairs. This is third time to serve as president of the Louisiana Political Science Association.

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Natchitoches Magnet School is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Natchitoches Magnet is a public school serving PreK – 8th grade for any qualifying students who reside in Natchitoches Parish.

In order to qualify for admissions to Natchitoches Magnet, parents or guardians need to complete a 1-page application found on our school website, https://www.npsb.la/o/nm/page/our-school or come by the school to pick one up between the hours of 8:30am – 2 pm.

The application deadline is May 1. After May 1, parents will be contacted for a testing date for their child. There are 40 pre-k slots available and various numbers of spots available in grades K-8. Once testing has been completed, parents will be notified of admissions status via email.

To find out more information about our school attend our open house event on Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m.

Come learn how Natchitoches Magnet School prepares students to be college ready through a whole child learning experience. We will be showcasing our excellence in academics as well as our many sports and extracurricular activities such as clubs and service organizations.

We are excited to meet prospective mustangs.

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NATCHITOCHES:
Denise Louise Underwood
December 26, 1958 – March 27, 2022

Mary Ellen Averett
April 20, 1930 – April 6, 2022
A celebration of Life will be from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, April 16 at Blanchard St. Denis funeral home.

Levonia Rachal Coutee
January 1, 1929 – April 10, 2022
Service: Wednesday, April 13 at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville

Barbara (Clark) Lasyone Stiefer
March 17, 1933 – April 9, 2022
A celebration of the life of Barbara (Clark) Lasyone Stiefer will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2022 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2010 Texas Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457. A private, family-led burial of her cremated remains will follow at Red Rock Cemetery near Vowells Mill at a later date.

SABINE:
Elouise Potter
August 30, 1931 – April 8, 2022
Service: Wednesday, April 13 at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Natchitoches City Council will have a pre-council meeting on Monday, April 11 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 Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana. 

WATCH LIVE:  https://www.facebook.com/NPJNatLa

A G E N D A

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. INVOCATION

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. READING AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF MARCH 28, 2022.

5. GUEST SPEAKER:  Alicia Pierce-Gonzales an Audra Edney – Association for Retarted      Citizens (ARC) 

6. PROCLAMATIONS:

#024   Nielsen            Proclamation Declaring The Week Of April 11 -15, 2022 As National Community Development Week In The City Of Natchitoches.

#029  Petite Proclamation Declaring Friday, April 22, 2022 As Earth Day In The City Of Natchitoches.

7. ORDINANCES –  FINAL:

#022  Smith Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City of Natchitoches To Award The Bid For The Purchase Of One 750 KVA Pad Mount Transformer (Bid No. 0645)

#025  Nielsen Ordinance To Designate Funds From The American Rescue Plan To The Workers Within The City Of Natchitoches Employed In Critical Infrastructure Sectors And To Otherwise Provide With Respect Thereto.

8. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:

#026   Harrington Ordinance Adopting The Budget For The City Of Natchitoches For The Fiscal Year June 1, 2022 Through May 31, 2023.

#027  Elie Ordinance, Upon The Recommendations Of The Finance Department, That The City Of Natchitoches Enter Into An Agricultural Lease Of A 96.82 Acre Tract At Which 69.11 Acres Is Farmable/Arable Land, More Or Less, With Russell & Mary Edith Stacy Farms, And Authorizing The Mayor, Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Execute Said Lease On Behalf Of The City Of Natchitoches, And To Provide For Advertising.

#028  Smith Ordinance Amending And Restating Ordinance No. 40 Of 2022 Approving The Terms And Form Of A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement Between The City Of Natchitoches And The Community Façade & Economic Enhancement Committee And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) Between The City Of Natchitoches And The Community Façade & Economic Enhancement Committee Which Will Provide For A Facade Grant Program For Texas Street And Washington Street Corridors.

9. RESOLUTIONS:

#025  Petite  Resolution To Reappoint Gary DeBlieux As A Member Of The Board Of Directors Of The Industrial Development Board Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

#026   Elie Resolution To Reappoint Glenn Moffett As A Member Of The Board Of Directors Of The Industrial Development Board Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

#027   Smith Resolution Approving The Execution Of The Contract By And Between The State Of Louisiana, Division Of Administration, Office Of Community Development, And The City Of Natchitoches For The Fy ‘2020-2021’ Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP) For The Amount Of $9,702.00 To Purchase Fire Hoses For The Natchitoches Fire Department.

#028   Harrington Resolution Authoring The Mayor To Advertise For Bids For Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation, Grand Ecore And Mill Street Lift Station, LDEQ-CWSRF (Bid No. 0646)

#030   Nielsen Resolution Of The City Of Natchitoches, State Of Louisiana, Providing For Interpretation Of A Lease Agreement By And Between The City Of Natchitoches And Cane River Partners, And Providing For Other Matters In Connection Therewith.

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Monday, April 25, 2022.

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The Service League of Natchitoches celebrated its 2020 payoff of the $750,000 loan to restore the Prud’homme-Rouquier House with a note burning ceremony on April 9.

Past presidents in attendance joined current president Christina Johnson to burn the note for the loan.

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By Kevin Shannahan

After a hiatus due to COVID, Northwestern State University’s The Flavor of Louisiana fundraiser made a welcome return as Prather Coliseum was once again transformed into what was arguably the finest restaurant in the state Friday, April 8. Thirty area establishments presented their best seafood dishes and drinks to over 1,000 Northwestern State University supporters. The diners enjoyed some of the best seafood dishes to be found anywhere while supporting our hometown university. Several NSU sororities also sold homemade goods and held a raffle.

The Flavor of Louisiana is a signature fundraiser for NSU’s Columns Fund. The money raised will be used to further the Columns Fund’s mission of supporting NSU students with scholarships and travel funds, as well as providing opportunities for students, faculty and staff to reach out to the surrounding community. The event is expected to raise over $72,000 for this worthy cause.

Lt. Gov Nungesser’s office, in conjunction with the Louisiana Seafood Board, provided the seafood served at the event. The Louisiana Seafood Board is charged with promoting the use of seafood from Louisiana’s waters. The dinner featured each of the six species of fish, alligator, crab, oyster, shrimp, and crawfish that are native to our state. Lt. Gov. Nungesser and the Seafood Board thought of the Flavor of Louisiana event as a way to both promote the use of local seafood and as a way to raise needed funds for our state’s colleges and universities.

The event is a true community effort on the part of the NSU family. NSU women’s basketball coach Anna Nimz was joined by her staff and 8 players in working at the evening’s event. They joined over fifty of their fellow students and staff members in working behind the scenes to ensure a smoothly running event. Friday’s Flavor of Louisiana marks the fourth year of what will hopefully be many more. The Bayou State features some of the best seafood to be found anywhere!

The young men and women attending NSU are a hardworking and talented group of young people. They make life in our community richer and better. The money raised at the Flavor of Louisiana will help young men and women achieve their dreams of a better life. Let us help make Northwestern State University an even better place!

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Two men suffered only minor injuries in a semi head-on crash on La. Hwy 1225 near Clarence on April 8, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a two-vehicle crash with possible injuries on La Hwy 1225 near Clarence. Deputies arrived on scene finding both vehicles off the roadway with the occupants suffering from non-life threatening injuries. Louisiana State Police and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS also responded to the scene.

Deputies say 39-year-old Daniel DeSoto of Walker, operating a 2004 Toyota passenger car was traveling northbound on La. Hwy 1225 for reasons still under investigation drifted across the centerline striking a 2006 Ford pickup truck operated by 72-year-old Robert Funderburk of Natchitoches. After initial contact the passenger car left the road on the left side striking a tree and two mailboxes coming to a rest just off of the road. The pickup truck left the road on the right side coming to a rest several feet off the roadway.

Both men were treated at the scene and released by EMS without transport.
The crash is being investigated by Troopers assigned to LSP Troop- E Alexandria.

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #3 along with mutual aid assistance from Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #9 responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a structure fire on April 8 in the 5800 block of US-71 in Clarence according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Units arrived on scene discovering the residence fully engulfed in flames. Two adults and three children were able to escape unharmed. The residence owned by Buddy Clemons and leased by Jonathan Meziere was a total loss. The cause of the fire is being determined by NPFD #3.

Deputies learned while speaking with Meziere and other occupants they were awakened by smoke shortly after 3:30am and called 911 immediately for assistance.

Deputies remind the public that smoke alarms save lives. Smoke alarms that are properly installed and maintained play a vital role in reducing fire deaths and injuries. If there is a fire in your home, smoke spreads fast and the smoke alarm(s) will warn you and give you time to get out. Local fire districts will normally be glad to assist you in installing smoke alarms in your homes.

PHOTO: NPSO

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Cannon and rifle fire reverberated through the quiet village of Pleasant Hill April 9-10 as the Union and Confederate armies clashed in one of the battles of Union General Nathan P. Banks’ Red River Campaign. Unlike the actual battle in 1864, the cannon and rifle fire did not result in a storm of lead and steel and the casualties “resurrected” after the battle was over.

Friday, April 9, marked the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Pleasant Hill. The first re-enactment was held in 1964 on the 100th anniversary of the battle. After a hiatus of several years, the re-enactment went on to become a beloved tradition held on the anniversary of the battle. This year’s re-enactment is the 42nd one. The Battle of Pleasant Hill re-enactment is one of only a few in that it commemorates a specific battle and takes place on the actual battlefield. The site is about 3 miles from the modern site of the Village of Pleasant Hill. This year’s re-enactment featured approximately 350 participants from Louisiana and surrounding states, and from as far away as Iowa and Florida.

Friday featured an open camp held for local educators so school groups could come and learn about life in the Civil War era. Saturday and Sunday each featured battles fought before a large crowd of visitors as well as the Battle of Pleasant Hill Queen, court and a contingent of festival and pageant queens from across Louisiana. Young men from Jennings’ Trail Life Troop 1273 raised the flag in the opening ceremony.

There was also a period church service Sunday as well as a memorial luminaria ceremony commemorating the soldiers who fell in the battle of Pleasant Hill.

2020-2022 Miss Battle of Pleasant Hill Queens: 2022 Battle Queens Baby Miss- Florence Rivers Toddler Miss- Raelee Stockton T’nincy Miss- Tynslee Ezernack Little Miss- Emma Kojis Deb Miss- Lexie Jones Jr. Miss- Haven Marr Miss- Landri Leach, 2020-21 Teen Miss Battle- Annabelle Bagley, Miss-Autumn Palmer

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For a third straight day, the Northwestern State baseball team could not find the big hits it needed on the road.

After taking an early lead for the first time in their three-game Southland Conference series at Incarnate Word, the Demons could not blow the game open early Sunday afternoon.

The homestanding Cardinals were able to do so, scoring in three straight innings to erase a pair of Demon leads in an 11-4 victory at Sullivan Field.

Northwestern State (15-16, 5-4) suffered its first sweep in conference play since 2017 after UIW (15-13, 5-4) notched double-figure hits for the third straight game.

The Demons struck first for the first time in the series on Larson Fontenot’s solo home run with one out in the third inning, breaking a streak of seven straight retired by UIW starter Kayden Cassidy. Cam Sibley followed with a double, and the Demons loaded the bases on back-to-back, two-out walks drawn by Jeffrey Elkins and Daunte Stuart.

Cassidy escaped the jam with a strikeout to keep it a one-run game.

Following a two-out Roberto Gonzalez RBI single off Drayton Brown (3-3) in the bottom of the third, the Demons regained the lead on Gabe Colaianni’s sacrifice fly and a run-scoring balk before again loading the bases with two outs.

Chandler David (2-0) entered and picked up a strikeout as the Demons left the bases loaded for a second straight inning.

The inability to build upon the lead reared its head as UIW answered with three in its half of the third, the last on Jimmy DeLeon’s first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field that put the Cardinals ahead to stay.

UIW built upon the lead with a four-run fifth and answered Jeffrey Elkins’ sixth home run of the season – a solo blast in the seventh – with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to complete the sweep.

Ridge Rogers, who homered in the eighth, led UIW with a 3-for-5, three-RBI performance.

The Demons continue their season-long, eight-game road trip at Louisiana Tech on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field in Ruston.

Incarnate Word 11, Northwestern State 4
NSU       001 200 100 – 4 6 0
UIW       001 340 12x – 11 12 2

W – Chandler David (2-0). L – Drayton Brown (3-3). 2B – NSU, Cam Sibley. UIW, Wilson Ehrhardt. 3B – UIW, Braxton Gerek, Ridge Rogers. HR – NSU, Jeffrey Elkins (6), Larson Fontenot (3). UIW, Ridge Rogers (2), Jimmy DeLeon (1). Highlights: UIW, Hernan Yanes 2-3; Rogers 3-5, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs; Nixon Brannan 2-4, 3 RBIs.

Records: Northwestern State 15-16, 5-4; Incarnate Word 15-13, 5-4.

PHOTO:  Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

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