An RV fire temporarily closed the southbound lanes of Interstate 49 on March 7 near the Ajax area.

According to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies and firefighters responded to the incident at about 10:56 a.m. near mile marker 152, just south of Ajax.

The fire led authorities to close the southbound lanes of the interstate while crews responded. Traffic was diverted off I-49 at Exit 155 near Ajax and rerouted to Louisiana Highway 1.

Deputies with the sheriff’s office assisted with traffic control while firefighters from Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #7 worked at the scene.

By 11:55 a.m., officials reported that all lanes had reopened. Motorists were advised to continue driving carefully and avoid distractions while towing and recovery crews worked to remove the burned vehicle from the interstate.

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A mobile home was destroyed in an early morning fire on March 7 in Marthaville, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies and firefighters were dispatched at approximately 2:59 a.m. by the NATCOM 911 Center to a reported mobile home fire in the 100 block of South 2nd Street.

When units arrived, the structure was fully engulfed in flames.

Firefighters with Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #7 responded to the scene and worked to extinguish the fire. Officials said the mobile home was a total loss.

Authorities reported that no injuries occurred as a result of the fire. Deputy Cpl. Thomas Freeman with the sheriff’s office responded to assist at the scene.

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PART 1:  Dr. Greg Granger joins Billy West Live to discuss the War in Iran and the Trump Administration’s decision to attack Iran in conjunction with Israel and his legal authority to do so, and the accomplishments to date, along with his thoughts on how Russia and China will react to this action as well as what America’s exit strategy may be or if one exists.

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The Lakeview Gators left no doubt in their state semifinal boys basketball state playoff game Friday night while the Natchitoches Central Chiefs came up a few points short in theirs.

Lakeview, the second seed in Non-Select Division IV, routed No. 10 Northeast 84-40 Friday night at The Swamp.

Natchitoches Central, seeded third in Non-Select Division I, was outlasted at The Teepee Friday night 56-48 by sixth-seeded Central (Baton Rouge), which reached last year’s state championship game.

Lakeview (29-4) will play a familiar foe, East Iberville (26-7), Tuesday at 2:45 in Lake Charles at the LHSAA’s Marsh Madness event in Burton Coliseum.

East Iberville shocked the Gators on their homecourt last year in the quarterfinals by hitting a buzzer-beating shot for a 47-46 upset.

This is the fifth time in 12 seasons Lakeview has made the state semifinals under coach Brian Williams.

The Chiefs led 22-21 at halftime but foul trouble became an issue for NCHS and Central took the upper hand late in the third period.

NCHS finished with a 28-5 record, missing the state semifinals for the first time in four seasons. Central improved to 24-7.

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Three athletes from the St. Mary’s Catholic School’s girls powerlifting team have qualified to compete at the state championship.

Freshman Ady Rhodes and juniors Rayanna Norsworthy and Alyssa Brewton each earned a spot at the state meet following strong performances this season.

Rhodes finished with a total lift of 570 pounds, while Norsworthy also posted a 570-pound total. Brewton recorded the highest total among the three with 760 pounds.

The athletes will travel to Lafayette on March 26, 2026, to compete at the state powerlifting competition. Their qualification marks a significant milestone for the program as they prepare to compete among the top lifters in Louisiana.

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SAN ANTONIO – Fittingly, it took extra innings for the Northwestern State baseball team to accomplish something eight years in the making.

Bryce Johnson’s three-run home run snapped a 12th-inning tie and the Demons held on for a 7-6 victory against Incarnate Word on Saturday to clinch a three-game Southland Conference series at Sullivan Field.

Friday evening, senior center fielder Joe Siervo added another chapter to his growing key-moment resume, delivering a tie-breaking, two-run home run as the Demons held on for a 9-8 victory in the nightcap of a doubleheader at UIW. The Cardinals grabbed a 13-9 win in the first game Friday, jumping to an early six-run lead.

The Game 3 extra-inning triumph marked the first time the Demons (9-7, 3-3) captured a series in San Antonio since the 2018 season.

“It’s a Demon type of win on a Demon type of day, and we did it in a Demon type of way,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “I continue to be the proudest leader of men because of the things we continue to exhibit. We’re going to continue to fight. We’re going to continue to put our fists up, and we’re going to continue to stay in it. Our guys exhibit grit and a never-say-die attitude. As long as it takes, whatever it takes, we’re always going to figure out a way. That’s what we enjoy the most – our guys want to be in that fire, because they are proud to be people who figure out a way to get it done.”

Johnson jumped the first pitch from UIW reliever Fawster Voytko (1-2) and drilled it out to left field, slicing it through a crosswind for his first home run of the season.

Johnson’s blast stood in direct opposition to how the Demons pulled even in the eighth inning.

Johnson ripped a leadoff double to left field by advancing to third on a productive ground out to first base by Michael McAloose and scored on Sam Ardoin’s chopper against a drawn-in infield.  

Northwestern starter Trent Hillen settled in after UIW (8-8, 2-4) scratched out a pair of two-run innings in the first and second to build a 4-2 lead. Hillen recovered to blank the Cardinals across the next four innings before turning the ball over to Wesley Marien, who spun four shutout innings of two-hit relief with four strikeouts.

“We talk a lot about learning, and we talk about pulling from those experiences,” Bertrand said. “Wes has been in that situation before. His ability to find a calm mentally and put those lessons learned and that value was pulled and call upon those experiences to deliver for the team is exactly what we talk about – who we want to be and what we want to be.”

The Demons held on for the win as Caden Fiveash (2-0) got Cole Tabor to fly out to center field after Tony DeJesus’ two-run home run cut into the Northwestern lead.

Fiveash worked two innings, working around a leadoff walk to strand the winning run at second base in the 11th inning to set up Johnson’s blast, which gave the Demons their sixth final at-bat win of the season.

Northwestern hosts Alcorn State Tuesday in a 6 p.m. game at Brown-Stroud Field.

SOFTBALL:  Friday in Houston, Northwestern State jumped out to another early lead but could not find the timely hit it needed as Houston Christian walked off with a 3-2 win in the Southland Conference opening series finale, after NSU swept a Thursday doubleheader, 7-1 and 11-6.

“We had opportunities throughout the game, we just couldn’t come up with that big hit like we were able to do a few times yesterday,” head coach Jenny Fuller said. “I was really proud of the way that (Mattison) Buster competed for us all day, especially after pitching a lot on Thursday. It’s tough to lose one like that, but we definitely saw more progress as a team this weekend and we won the series.”

The Demons had a chance to give Buster her third win of the weekend in the seventh when the first two batters reached base on a hit-by-pitch and a pinch-hit single from Aly Delafield. However, a fly ball to center, strikeout and ground ball to short from the next three batters left the go-ahead run at second.

HCU led off the bottom of the inning with a double by Ella Herrewig with a sacrifice bunt moving her to third with one out. After two intentional walks to load the bases and create a force play at home, Maddy Bailey lined a ball into left to bring in the game-winning run for the Huskies.

The Demons continue play on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in a midweek contest at Grambling and are home next weekend for an SLC series.

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LAKE CHARLES — In the Southland Conference women’s basketball race, few teams have been as hot down the stretch as Northwestern State.

Fifth-seeded NSU (17-13 overall, 14-8 in the SLC) enters the conference tournament today on a four-game winning streak and went 6-1 in its final seven regular season games.

The Lady Demons aim to carry that momentum forward against No. 8 East Texas A&M (13-16, 9-13) at Townsley Law Arena. The teams split the regular season meetings, with both winning on their home court.

Tipoff is at 11 a.m. today. The game will be carried on ESPN+ or fans can listen to it on KZBL 100.7 FM in Natchitoches. The winner of the game plays again at 11 a.m. on Tuesday against No. 4 UTRGV.

“The goal for every coach is to inch closer and closer to 40 minutes as you get to the end of the year,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “We’re not there yet, but we are absolutely playing some really good basketball.

“We have a lot of variance, which we still have to get better at to be able to make it through this tournament. But they are excited and they are ready. They believe and know they are a special group. We’ve had a couple of days to give our legs a rest, but mentally, still get after it.”

For the first time in 22 years, the Demons have won 14 conference games. That season was also the last time the Demon won conference player of the year until this season.

This season’s player of the year is Vernell Atamah, who is leading the league in both overall (19.3) and in conference games (19.0) and her 19.3 points per game are the most in the program since Beatrice Attura averaged 20.6 in 2016-17.

After reaching 1,000 career points in the regular season finale against Houston Christian, she has a chance to make some more history during the tournament. With 87 made 3-pointers this season, she is just one behind Attura’s school record of 88, set in 2016-17.

As a team, the Demons are also just one shy of tying the school record of 223, set just last season.

Nya Valentine is another major factor in the 3-point shooting, making 70, helping her earn a second team all-conference nod.

In addition to her prowess from beyond the arc, she is also one of the best in the conference at setting her teammates up, ranking second in assists per game, averaging five in league play.

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LAKE CHARLES — A tightly contested defensive battle for much of the first half slipped away from the Northwestern State men’s basketball team in the final 20 minutes as Nicholls pulled away for a 61–47 win in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament on Sunday night inside the Townsley Law Center.

After leading by just one point at halftime, the Colonels used a decisive run midway through the second half to create separation, outscoring the Demons 36–23 after the break to advance to tonight’s quarterfinal matchup against UT-Rio Grande Valley. NSU finished with a 10-22 season, but did make its third straight SLC Tournament appearance under coach Rick Cabrera in a season where 14 of the 22 regular-season conference games were decided in the final minute.

Sixth-seeded Nicholls (14-18) seized control with a stretch that began shortly after No. 7-seeded Northwestern  pulled within two points early in the second half.

Following Landyn Jumawan’s fourth 3-pointer of the night that cut the deficit to 33–31 with just more than 16 minutes remaining, the Colonels responded with a dominant run that flipped the game.

Nicholls outscored the Demons 19–4 during a span from the 16:08 mark to 7:53, turning defensive pressure into transition opportunities and building a 52-35 advantage.

The Colonels’ interior offense played a major role in the surge. Nicholls finished with 38 points in the paint and scored 12 fast-break points, repeatedly converting turnovers and steals into easy baskets. Nicholls also recorded 15 assists on 25 made field goals and tallied 11 steals, helping create an 18-11 edge in points off turnovers.

The Demons struggled to find an offensive rhythm during the decisive stretch, missing nine of 10 field goals over a six-minute span in the second half as the Colonels steadily extended the lead.

Nicholls shot 45 percent from the field for the game compared to 29 percent for the Demons.

“Give credit to Nicholls,” Cabrera said. “They did a heck of a job defensively against us. I thought we defended well enough to win the game. We just picked the worst night to have our worst offensive night. Shots just didn’t fall.

“I told the guys the game was going to be won on the defensive end,” he said. “That means getting stops and getting points in transition. They did that in the second half and we didn’t.”

Jumawan provided an early spark for the Demons, knocking down three 3-pointers in the opening half and finishing with a team-high 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc.

Despite finishing even on the glass at 34 rebounds apiece and receiving 18 points from the bench, the Demons were unable to overcome Nicholls’ second-half surge.

“I wouldn’t say they out-physicaled us,” senior forward Willie Williams said. “But we gave up a lot of second-chance opportunities, and that hurt us.”

The loss also marked the final collegiate game for several Demon seniors, including Micah Thomas, Williams and Jumawan. Thomas, all-tournament last year as NSU reached the semifinals, struggled Sunday and the SLC’s fifth-leading points producer scored just four points.

“I told them I’m sorry their senior year didn’t end better,” Cabrera said. “But these guys helped us have a good year last season. They’ve meant a lot to this program.”

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In celebration of the 100th Natchitoches Christmas Festival, the Cane River National Heritage Area (CRNHA) is inviting the public to help preserve the history of this beloved tradition by sharing their personal Christmas memories

CRNHA will host two community scan days offering residents the opportunity to have photographs, films, and memorabilia professionally digitized.

Community members are encouraged to look through photo albums, storage boxes, and family collections for items that capture Christmas celebrations in Natchitoches over the years. Materials from a variety of formats are welcome, including:

• Printed photographs and photo albums
• 35mm slides and photographic negatives
• 8mm and Super 8 home movies
• VHS, camcorder tapes, DVDs, and CDs
• Scrapbook pages, programs, posters, and other printed memorabilia

Even items that may seem ordinary — family photos under the Christmas lights, snapshots of the parade, old festival programs, or home movies of fireworks — can help tell the story of how generations of families have celebrated Christmas in Natchitoches.

The community scan days will take place Friday, March 20 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.

Participants simply need to bring their items. CRNHA staff will digitize materials on-site, allowing originals to be returned the same day. No appointments are necessary.

Materials collected will become part of a larger preservation project, ensuring that these treasured memories are not only preserved but shared with the wider community and festival visitors. Those who already have digital copies of photos or videos are encouraged to submit them by email to jessica@canerivernha.org.

This event is hosted by the Cane River National Heritage Area with support from the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum.

For more information about the community scan days or the Natchitoches Christmas preservation project, call the Cane River National Heritage Area at 318-356-5555 or email Jessica Mullican at jessica@canerivernha.org.

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Firefighters responded to a woods fire on Lime Kiln Road on March 5 after a fallen tree struck active power lines and ignited surrounding vegetation. Natchitoches Parish Fire District 6, along with Natchitoches Parish Fire District 5 and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, were dispatched to the scene.

According to fire officials, a dead tree fell onto power lines, sparking a fire that quickly spread through nearby vegetation. Crews from Fire District 6 responded with Engine 1 and Rescue 1, while Fire District 5 assisted with Engine 1. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry also responded and established a fire break to prevent the flames from spreading further.

No additional details were immediately released.

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The Louisiana Bankers Association recently presented its distinguished Service Award to Mr. Joe Pierson, Jr., Chairman of the Board of City Bank and Trust Company in recognition of an extraordinary 53 years of dedicated leadership and service to the banking industry and the community h e so faithfully served.

The award was bestowed as the longtime Chairman announced his retirement from the bank’s Board of Directors, marking the close of more than five decades of steady guidance, principled decision-making, and unwavering commitment. Throughout his tenure, he helped shape not only the growth and strength of City Bank and Trust Company, but also the character and culture that defines it today.

Under his leadership, the bank navigated seasons of economic change, industry evolution, and community growth; always grounded in integrity, fiscal responsibility, and a deep belief in community banking. Colleagues describe him as a steady hand and a visionary leader, equally respected for his wisdom in the boardroom and his genuine care for employees and customers alike.

The Louisiana Bankers Association’s Service Award recognizes individuals whose careers have left a lasting mark on the banking industry. In honoring Chairman Joe Pierson, Jr., the Association highlighted his decades of advocacy for community banks, his mentorship of emerging leaders, and his steadfast dedication to ensuring local financial institutions remain strong pillars within their communities.

As he steps away from the Board of Directors, he leaves behind a legacy defined by trust, stability, and service. His influence will continue to be felt in the institution he helped guide and in the countless lives touched along the way.

City Bank and Trust Company extends its deepest gratitude for 53 remarkable years of service and congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition. His retirement marks the end of an era; but his legacy will remain a foundation upon which City Bank continues to build for generations to come.

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Students in Mrs. Griffith’s FBLA class at Natchitoches Central High School recently completed their Lucky Bear Service Project, collecting 120 teddy bears to support children receiving care at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

Through the project, students partnered with the NRMC Foundation’s Lucky Bear Program, which provides stuffed animals to children who visit the hospital’s emergency room. The bears are given to young patients to help provide comfort during what can often be a frightening or stressful experience.

According to the school, the project was made possible through the generosity of community members who sponsored and donated the teddy bears.

School officials said service projects like the Lucky Bear initiative allow FBLA students to apply leadership skills while making a positive impact in the community.

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Middle school baseball teams will take the field at Northwestern State University this weekend as the 3rd Annual Coach Dodson Memorial Tournament returns on March 6–8.

The tournament was originally created in 2012 after a family discussion about hosting a middle school baseball event on a collegiate field. The idea was developed by Amy Dodson Stepp, her father — a longtime middle school coach and baseball enthusiast — her brother Blake Dodson, and her husband Chase Stepp. The goal was to create a unique event that would allow young athletes to experience playing on a college field while also helping raise funds for a cheer program.

The first tournament was held in 2013 and quickly grew in popularity, with participation increasing each year. At times, organizers even had to hold a registration drawing because of the high number of teams wanting to participate. In 2017, the NSU Middle Lab team, coached by Dodson’s father and brother, won the first-place trophy.

After retiring from coaching, Dodson’s father remained deeply involved in the tournament, helping plan the event each year and assisting throughout the weekend, including organizing details and preparing food for concessions.

The tournament was canceled in 2020 due to pandemic-related campus gathering restrictions. Shortly afterward, in April 2020, Dodson’s father was diagnosed with cancer for the third time and passed away on April 25 of that year.

In his memory, the family chose to continue the event as the Coach Dodson Memorial Tournament.

With assistance from Justin Fredieu, who previously served eight years as head umpire and now serves as tournament director, organizers continued the tradition to honor Dodson’s legacy and his love for the game.

The annual tournament continues to bring together student-athletes, families and supporters for a weekend of middle school baseball while remembering the coach whose passion helped create the event. Organizers encourage former participants, athletes, friends and community members to attend and support the tournament.

Register Now:

Justin_fredieu@kindermorgan.com   (318) 521-5703

mblakedodson@gmail.com   (318) 471-2743

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The Northwestern State Wind Symphony will hold its first on-campus concert of the 2026 calendar year on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. The concert will celebrate the 10th annual Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame and its inductees, Mark Poole, Sherman Desselle, and Chris Brown. A reception will follow the concert at the Orville Hanchey Art Gallery Lobby. Admission is free and open to the public. Director of Bands Anthony Pursell will conduct the Wind Symphony.

The concert on Saturday will be the second performance of the academic semester, after the Wind Symphony’s appearance in New Orleans as the premier ensemble for the Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) convention where they performed with the world-acclaimed Boston Brass.

The Wind Symphony will begin with David Maslanka’s “Traveler,” which was commissioned in 2003 by the University of Texas at Arlington Band Alumni Association, the Delta Sigma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Gamma Nu Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, in honor of the career contributions of Ray C. Lichtenwalter, retiring Director of Bands at UT Arlington.

“Traveler’ was selected for this concert to celebrate the three inductees into the CAPA Hall of Fame, not for their retirement, but for the contributions these individuals made while at NSU and the contributions they continue to make to the institution since becoming alumni,” said Pursell.

The Wind Symphony will then highlight faculty members Leah Forsyth and Douglas Bakenhus with Jenni Brandon’s “Orion Concerto,” a double concerto for oboe and bassoon with wind symphony. The composer describes her work as, “… a telling of the story of our galaxy, of the great unknown and what lies beyond, and where we belong within this vastness of space.” The work celebrates the conclusion of the Department of Music’s 2026 Double Reed Day.

The ensemble will perform “Variations on a Hymn” by Louis Bourgeois, which uses the Protestant hymn, “Old One Hundredth” as the basis for a highly energetic and virtuosic showpiece for the entire ensemble. Afterwards, the ensemble will perform “Gone,” a transcription for wind band of the sixth movement from Scott McAllister’s 60-minute concerto for clarinet, the “Epic Concerto.” Each movement is tied to an important moment of his life as a clarinetist. In the case of the sixth movement, an automobile accident ended McAllister’s career as a performer in 1994. The music represents the pain of loss, the process of healing and learning how to move on. The inspiration for the movement as a stand-alone piece was the death of his mentor, James Croft, a music professor at Florida State.

The Wind Symphony will showcase NSU graduate student Taylor Carrell, in the 1969 work “Concerto for Tuba and Band” by former Centenary College faculty member Rule Beasley. Carrell is completing a Master of Music in tuba performance this spring and has done extensive research into Beasley’s career and, in particular, this piece of music.

“We are proud of the work Taylor has done, not only in providing a new manuscript of the work for the wind and percussion players, but for all of the on-site research that he has done for over a year, including on-location interviews with Mr. Beasley,” said Pursell.

Following the tuba concerto, Brown, Desselle and Poole will be introduced into the Class of 2026 CAPA Hall of Fame, presided by CAPA Director Scott Burrell. Poole, director of bands at Lone Star High School in Frisco, Texas, will lead the Wind Symphony in the final selection, “British Eighth March.” NSU Demon fans will find the melody of the trio portion of the march familiar, as it is the tune used for the NSU Fight Song.

Brown has served as the official artist for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame since 2009. A former minor league pitcher turned nationally recognized sports artist, he is known for his dynamic athlete portraits and his ability to capture the emotion and motion of sport. His artwork has been featured in International Business Times, CEO Weekly and Beckett Magazine, and he has created pieces for major organizations including the Sugar Bowl.

Desselle is an evening reporter at Fox 26 Houston. His work blends artistic foundation gained at NSU with the demands of modern journalism: clear and compelling writing, narrative-driven reporting, audience-focused storytelling, and innovative digital and social media content creation. He anchored KALB-TV in Alexandria’s top-rated morning program “Jambalaya” for seven years and won numerous Associated Press and Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Awards before joining NBC affiliate WDSU-TV in New Orleans as weekend anchor. His work there earned a regional Edward R. Murrow award and a reputation for elevating stories that matter to the community.

Poole is originally from Mesquite, Texas, and is in his eighth year at Lone Star High School. The Lone Star Wind Symphony was awarded the 2024 TMEA 5A Honor Band recently and performed at the 2024 TMEA Conference. The Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 76th Annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2022. The Wind Symphony was recognized as a National Windband Honor Recipient of the Mark of Excellence in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The LSHS Marching band advanced to the State Marching Contest in 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and was a finalist in 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Poole was previously the director of bands at Forney High School for 12 years. The marching band made appearances at the Texas State Marching Contest five consecutive times. (2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017).

Concertgoers are asked to consider a donation to the band program’s efforts in raising funds for the Spirit of Northwestern’s 2027 performance in Dublin, Ireland, (which many of the members of the Wind Symphony also perform). For more information, please visit: https://northwesternstatealumni.com/band-ireland-trip/

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Many people struggle with loud snoring, constant fatigue, or restless nights without realizing they may be experiencing a treatable sleep disorder. The Sleep Center at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC) offers advanced testing and expert care designed to help patients get the rest they need to live healthier lives.

A good night’s sleep is essential for physical health, mental clarity, and overall well‑being. Sleep disorders can also have serious long-term health consequences if left untreated. Conditions such as sleep apnea and chronic insomnia have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and depression. Poor sleep can also affect memory, concentration, and overall cognitive health, making early diagnosis and treatment especially important. 

For residents of Natchitoches and surrounding communities, help is available close to home through the Sleep Center at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. At NRMC, patients receive comprehensive sleep evaluations and advanced sleep studies designed to identify and treat sleep disorders without having to travel far from home.

Recognizing the Signs of a Sleep Disorder

Doctors encourage individuals to speak with their healthcare provider if they experience symptoms such as loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, or frequent awakenings during the night.

Other warning signs may include:

• Loud snoring
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Gasping or choking while asleep
• Morning headaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Persistent fatigue or depression
• Insomnia or restless sleep

These symptoms are often associated with conditions like sleep apnea and other sleep disorders that can be diagnosed through professional sleep testing.

What Happens During a Sleep Study

A sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, is a non‑invasive test that monitors how the body functions during sleep. During the study, specialists evaluate brain activity, breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels, and movement.

The goal is to identify disruptions in normal sleep cycles and determine whether conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or narcolepsy may be affecting a patient’s health.

At the NRMC Sleep Center, patients may complete an overnight sleep study in a comfortable, private room designed to feel more like a bedroom than a hospital setting. In certain cases, physicians may recommend convenient take‑home sleep testing using a portable monitoring device.

A Comfortable Environment for Sleep Testing

The NRMC Sleep Center was designed to create a calm and supportive environment for patients undergoing evaluation. The facility features modern sleep monitoring technology and trained sleep technicians who guide patients through the testing process while helping them feel comfortable and at ease.

The center evaluates and treats a range of sleep disorders, including:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Central Sleep Apnea
• Chronic Insomnia
• Restless Leg Syndrome
• Narcolepsy

For patients diagnosed with sleep apnea, treatment plans may include CPAP therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and coordinated follow‑up care.

Local Care Without the Long Drive

One of the biggest advantages of the NRMC Sleep Center is convenience. Residents of Natchitoches and surrounding parishes can receive high‑quality diagnostic testing and care without traveling to larger cities.

Patients also benefit from coordinated care with their primary provider and access to other specialty services at NRMC if additional treatment is needed.

Taking the First Step Toward Better Rest

Sleep disorders can significantly impact quality of life, but many are highly treatable once properly diagnosed. Anyone experiencing loud snoring, daytime fatigue, restless nights, or other sleep‑related symptoms should consider discussing a sleep study with their healthcare provider.

For more information about the NRMC Sleep Center or to request an appointment, visit:

https://www.nrmchospital.org/clinic/sleep-center/

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History and this year’s seedings bode well for the boys basketball teams at Natchitoches Central and Lakeview as they host state playoff quarterfinal games tonight.

The Chiefs, seeded third in Non-Select Division I, play host to No. 7 Central of Baton Rouge at 6:30 in The Teepee.

The Gators, the No. 2 seed in Non-Select Division IV, tip off at 7 against 10^th-seeded Northeast at The Swamp.

NCHS is shooting for its third straight move under coach Kolton Sepulvado into Marsh Madness, the state’s final four next week in Lake Charles. The Chiefs have reached the state tournament eight times in the last 13 years.

Lakeview has made that trip eight times in the past 11 years under coach Brian Williams.

Both local teams own 28-4 records.

NCHS faces a sixth-seeded Central team that has a 23-7 mark after playing for the state championship last season.

The Chiefs beat 14^th-seeded East Ascension 68-50 Tuesday night, but led by only two starting the fourth quarter before they ran off 10 straight points in a decisive 14-2 burst.

Central blew out 27^th-seeded West Ouachita 73-39 in the first round, then handled 11^th-seeded South Lafourche 70-60 Tuesday night.

Lakeview will play a Northeast team that is 17-14 overall but has won its last four, including Tuesday’s 56-49 upset at seventh-seeded Midland. The Vikings won 81-57 at home in the first round over 23^rd-seeded Tensas.

The Gators are 21-1 at home in the playoffs under Williams, but were upset last year in the quarterfinals on a buzzer-beater from East Iberville.

Lakeview blasted 15^th-seeded Haynesville 75-46 Tuesday night after a first-round bye.

The Lakeview game will be broadcast on 97.5 KDBH-FM.

The NCHS contest will air on 100.7 FM KZBL.

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