LAKE CHARLES — The Northwestern State men’s basketball team begins postseason play Sunday night as the No. 7 seed Demons face No. 6 seed Nicholls in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament inside the Legacy Center at McNeese’s Townsley Law Arena.

Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be streamed live on ESPN+. Radio coverage is available on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 100.7 FM in Natchitoches.

The Demons (10-21, 8-14) enter tournament play after closing the regular season with a road matchup at UTRGV on Monday night. Northwestern battled throughout the contest behind a strong performance from Willie Williams, who recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Izzy Miles added 12 points while Micah Thomas finished with 10.

Now the focus shifts to a Nicholls team that edged Northwestern in both regular-season meetings.

“As the saying goes, this is March,” head coach Rick Cabrera said. “Nicholls is a very good opponent. Obviously, they clipped us twice by a possession each game, but we’re excited that we got in and we’re looking forward to battling them Sunday night.”

The season series against the Colonels (13-18, 12-10) told a similar story in both matchups — slow starts followed by strong second-half pushes from the Demons.

Defense has been a defining trait for the Colonels this season. Nicholls ranks 17th nationally in steals per game (8.9) and 28th in turnovers forced per game (14.5), both good for second in the Southland Conference.

In the first meeting on Jan. 9 in Thibodaux, NSU trailed by nine at halftime before responding with a strong second-half effort, outscoring Nicholls by seven after the break. Despite the rally, the Demons fell short.

The rematch in Natchitoches on Feb. 2 followed a nearly identical script. Nicholls built a 14-point halftime advantage, but Northwestern stormed back again in the second half, outscoring the Colonels by 11. Once again, the comeback bid came up just short.

Thomas, who transferred to Northwestern from Nicholls after two seasons and has played the last two years for Cabrera, has earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors after leading the Demons in points, assists, and steals.

He is fifth in the SLC in scoring with a 17.2 average, 2^nd in free throw aim at 92 percent (138-150), and ninth in field goal percentage (43), His free throw accuracy ranks seventh nationally and has surpassed the school record if it doesn’t drop. He connected on 36 consecutive free throws before a miss against Houston Christian. His 532 points this season rank 19th in school history.

Thomas made last year’s All-Southland Tournament team after leading Northwestern to the semifinals.

The Demons have been pointing toward this year’s SLC Tournament for some time, eager to convert playing down-to-the-wire losses in league action into wins in the postseason.

 “It’s hard to beat a team three times,” Cabrera said. “Nicholls has a winning pedigree. (Tevon Saddler) has done a great job with that program. But we know we belong. We know we can beat any team in front of us. The margin of error is small — for everybody — because it’s one and done.”  

The winner will move on to face No. 3 seed UTRGV as teams continue their pursuit of the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

“Turnovers, rebound, defend,” Cabrera said. “If we do those things, our offense will take care of itself. When we’re good, we defend — and then we just play basketball.”

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Clocks spring forward March 8 as Daylight Saving Time begins

Residents across Louisiana are reminded to set their clocks forward one hour before going to bed Saturday night as Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8.

The time change officially takes effect at 2 a.m. Sunday, when clocks move forward to 3 a.m., resulting in an hour of lost sleep but extended daylight in the evenings.

Daylight Saving Time is observed across most of the United States and is intended to make better use of daylight during the warmer months. The change means sunrise and sunset will occur later in the day through the spring and summer.

Officials often encourage residents to use the time change as a reminder to check smoke detector batteries, review emergency plans and update safety supplies in their homes.

Daylight Saving Time will remain in effect until Nov. 1, when clocks will “fall back” one hour.

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The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches recognized a member for his service, welcomed a new member and heard from a guest speaker during its most recent meeting.

Dr. Sapkota was honored as the club’s February Kiwanian of the Month in recognition of his continued dedication and service to the organization and the community.

The club also welcomed Dr. Jamie Perez as its newest member.

Northwestern State University Head Football Coach Blaine McCorkle served as the meeting’s guest speaker. During his presentation, McCorkle shared insights from the Demons’ previous season and discussed the upcoming season, including returning players, new additions to the roster and the team’s upcoming schedule.

McCorkle also announced that the annual Joe Delaney Bowl Spring Game will be held April 25 at Northwestern State University.

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Phonetic: /ab·struse/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

• difficult to understand; obscure.
  “an abstruse philosophical inquiry”
• Similar: obscure, arcane

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Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming spoke to a local audience about his background in public service, the responsibilities of the state treasury and his campaign for the U.S. Senate on March 4 at a State Budget Update luncheon held by the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Natchitoches Parish Journal.

Fleming was elected state treasurer on Nov. 18, 2023, and was sworn into office on Jan. 8, 2024. A physician, entrepreneur and military veteran, Fleming previously served as the U.S. representative for Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District. Following his time in Congress, he held several positions during the administration of Donald Trump, including deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, assistant secretary of commerce for economic development and deputy chief of staff to the president.

Before entering politics, Fleming served as a naval medical officer and later opened a medical practice in Minden, where he still lives with his wife, Cindy. The couple has four children and six grandchildren.

During his remarks, Fleming described his upbringing in a working-class household and said those experiences helped shape his approach to public service. He said he views his role in government as that of a “servant leader,” emphasizing responsibility to taxpayers.

Fleming detailed the primary duties of the state treasurer’s office, which include managing and investing state funds, overseeing debt approvals through the Louisiana Bond Commission and administering the state’s unclaimed property program.

According to Fleming, the treasury manages hundreds of millions of dollars in investments and works to maintain the state’s financial stability. He said Louisiana currently maintains strong reserve funds and recently saw its bond rating improve, which allows the state to borrow money at lower interest rates.

Fleming also encouraged residents to check the state’s unclaimed property program, which holds more than $1 billion in assets that belong to Louisiana residents. The funds can come from sources such as uncashed checks, forgotten deposits, insurance payments or inheritances. He said the average claim is about $900, though some claims can reach much higher amounts.

Another topic Fleming highlighted was government transparency, particularly in education spending. He said the state recently launched a public website that allows residents to review financial and performance data for K–12 public and charter schools, including payrolls, contracts and other expenditures.

Fleming said the transparency effort has already uncovered questionable spending in some school systems and charter schools. He said the goal is to ensure that education funding is reaching classrooms and teachers rather than being diverted to unnecessary expenses.

In addition to discussing his role as treasurer, Fleming addressed his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by incumbent Bill Cassidy. Fleming said he announced his candidacy about 15 months ago and has been campaigning across the state.

During the question-and-answer session, Fleming also addressed concerns about insider trading by members of Congress. He said he supports stronger restrictions on lawmakers trading individual stocks while in office and noted that he personally avoided such trading during his time in Congress.

Fleming said reforms aimed at increasing transparency and reducing conflicts of interest are important to maintaining public trust in government.

Fleming also discussed the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the infrastructure needed to support it, including the expansion of large-scale data centers. He noted that AI systems require enormous computing power, which in turn demands significant electrical capacity and physical server infrastructure. Fleming said states that can provide reliable energy, available land and strong fiber networks will be better positioned to attract these facilities and the economic development that comes with them. He described AI and data centers as an emerging industry that could play a major role in shaping future investment and job opportunities.

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Join Marvin for an interview with Congressman Cleo Fields

Cleo Fields is a Democratic congressman representing Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born Nov. 22, 1962, in Baton Rouge, Fields earned a bachelor’s degree and law degree from Southern University.

He was first elected to the Louisiana State Senate in 1987 at age 24, becoming one of the youngest lawmakers in state history. In 1992, he won election to Congress, serving two terms before returning to state politics. Fields later mounted a historic 1995 campaign for governor, advancing to the runoff.

After years in state government and community leadership, Fields returned to Congress in 2025. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and has focused on economic opportunity, voting rights and education.

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

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Dylan Kyle Poche was born on March 10, 1997, in Natchitoches, Louisiana

In just 18 short years, Dylan left a mark far greater than time could measure. After his tragic and violent passing, Dylan’s family made a decision to hold his first memorial Bass Tournament on May 8th  2016. 
Burt says, The event has grown bigger than we ever would have expected.

Each year, they host a memorial fishing tournament in his honor. Proceeds fund a scholarship through Northwestern State University, Dylan’s name continues to open doors and change lives for generations to come.

This year, a portion of tournament proceeds will also benefit Hope For Lydia

Registration Deadline:  March 27, 2pm

Tournament Information:  www.dylankylepoche.com

Online Registration:  https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/421EecWiVrOyjr7ynXJz

10th Annual Dylan Kyle Poche Bas Tournament
Date: March 28, 2026

Location: Cypress Bend Park

Activities
•Kids Fishing from the bank
•Food for all
•Prizes/Raffles
•Kids Jumpers
•Live Band

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The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation made farming in our parish quite a bit safer with the donation of a Grain Bin Rescue Tube and Rescue Auger to the Natchitoches Fire Department, Wednesday, March 4 at the Parish Fairgrounds. Grain Bin Entrapment is an extremely dangerous situation in which a person working in a grain bin falls in. Moving grain will cause the person to rapidly sink. The grain is heavy and exerts pressure on the body. A person in grain over their knees will not be able to be lifted out. As the grain rises, so does the pressure.

Rescuing a person in that situation requires special equipment and above all, the knowledge of how to properly rescue the victim and not cause further harm. Farm Bureau Senior Safety Instructor Benton Moseley of the Mississippi Farm Bureau presented a class on grain bin entrapment rescue. After the class, members of the Natchitoches Fire Department and Louisiana Search and Rescue got to practice on a simulator trucked in from Mississippi. The simulator has a cut down grain bin filled with corn. Louisiana Farm Bureau Assistant Manager Kyndal Harrell served as the victim. Natchitoches firefighters built the Grain Bin Rescue Tube around her from its interlocking parts and completed the rescue by using the auger to lower the level of corn around her and extracting her from the bin.

This generous donation will provide an extra margin of safety for area farmers and exemplifies the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s mission of supporting agriculture.

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FAUNA (Friends All United for Natchitoches Animals) is excited to announce that it will once again host the annual Natchitoches Pub Crawl. This event raises much needed funds for the 113 dogs and cats currently in our care, as well as allows us to help neglected, abused and homeless animals in our parish.

This year’s 11th Annual Pub Crawl will take place on Saturday, March 14 from 4:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. in downtown Natchitoches. This event will happen rain or shine. There will be five (5) pub crawl stops in addition to musical acts, food trucks and vendors on Front Street. Each crawler who registers will receive a goody bag and wristband entitling them to drink and appetizer specials and 2 free beers at the red beer truck. IDs will be checked at the registration/packet pick up table and at the beer truck.

A costume contest will be held at 6:00 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for best male costume and best female costume. Additionally, there will be first, second and third place prizes for the best pub crawl poker hand. All cards must be turned in by 8:30pm. The winners will be announced at 9:00pm. To register please visit ­­­­­­­­­­https://FAUNAPubCrawl2026.eventbrite.com.

Our packet pick-up party will be Friday, March 13 from 4-6pm at Flying Heart Brewery. We will have door prizes as well as Trail Boss free lunch coupons for the lucky first few who pick up their packets.

If you would like to sponsor this event, participate as a vendor or volunteer, please contact FAUNA Board Member Kathy Owsley at katcamcal@yahoo.com or text 318-471-6624.

Below is the schedule of events:

3:30 – Packet pick-up begins

4:00-8:30 – Pub Crawl & Vendors

4:00-6:00 – Jenny & Kelli

6:00 – Costume Contest

6:00-8:00 – Coming In Crutch

6:00-10:00 – Wrinkle Free Entertainment

8:30 – All cards must be turned in

9:00 – 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd place winners announced

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By Nutrition Agent, Erin Stockton

Recipe of the Month: Hearty Taco Bean Soup

Serves: 8 | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes (or 4 hours slow cooker)

This Hearty Taco Bean Soup is an easy one-dish meal that’s loaded with protein, fiber, and colorful veggies. It’s so quick and easy that you’ll even have time for a brisk evening walk after dinner. Pair with whole wheat tortilla chips, reduced fat shredded cheese, and a dollop of low-fat sour cream for a balanced, satisfying meal. 

 Ingredients:

– Vegetable oil cooking spray

– 1 medium onion, chopped

– 1 lb lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken

– 1 (28 oz) can no salt added crushed tomatoes

– 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies

– 1 (16 oz) can reduced-sodium chili beans

– 1 (15 oz) can no salt added black beans

– 1 (15 oz) can no salt added pinto beans

– 1 (14 oz) can no salt added whole kernel corn, drained

– 1 (1.2 oz) package reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix

– 3 ½ cups water

Stovetop Instructions:

 1. Spray a large pot with vegetable oil cooking spray. Sauté onions until soft.

2. Add ground meat and brown well.

3. Add all remaining ingredients and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Sauté onions and brown meat in a skillet.

2. Transfer to slow cooker.

3. Add all remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.

Erin Stockton is a Nutrition Agent with the LSU AgCenter in DeSoto, Sabine, and Natchitoches Parishes. A certified educator for over 20 years, she provides research-based programs to help families make healthy food choices and stay active. For program requests or questions, contact her at 318-872-0533, estockton@agcenter.lsu.edu, or on Facebook at LSU AgCenter DeSoto & Natchitoches Nutrition & Community Health.

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• Individual Tickets $60
• Two for $100 and $50 dollars a piece there after (during one transaction)
• NSU students $20 w/school ID
• Kids under 10 free admission

• Watch Delaney Bowl at Noon
• Exclusive tour of the new Performance Center
• Introduction of 2026 Demon Football team members – pictures and autographs will be available
• Performance by NSU Demon Band
• Performance  by NSU Demon Cheerleaders
• All you can eat crawfish
• Live Zydeco music by the Junior Lacrosse Band 5:00 – 7:00
• Live Auction:  autographed helmets, autographed jerseys, hunting trips, fishing trips, vacation weekends, Demon football memorabilia, and other live auction items – 7:00 – 8:00
• Live Music by PaperChase – 8:00 – 10:00
• Cash bar
• Demon football gear and attire available to purchase
• Golf Simulator
• 50/50 game of skill
• Former NFL player pictures and autographs,  including Ed “Coach O” Orgeron, and others
• Events and activities for the entire family 

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By Journal Staff

A federal law now allows workers to take a limited emergency withdrawal from their 401(k) retirement accounts without paying the traditional 10% early withdrawal penalty.

The provision, included in the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, took effect in 2024 and is intended to help Americans address sudden financial emergencies without facing penalties normally associated with early retirement withdrawals.

Under the law, eligible workers may withdraw up to $1,000, depending on account balance, per year from their 401(k) accounts for qualifying emergency expenses.

Workers under age 59½ who face an immediate financial need may qualify. Eligible expenses include unexpected medical costs, urgent home repairs, transportation problems and other sudden personal or family financial hardships.

Plan participants are allowed to self-certify that the withdrawal qualifies as an emergency expense, meaning plan administrators generally do not require detailed documentation.

Penalty waived, taxes may apply

The law eliminates the 10% early withdrawal penalty that normally applies to retirement distributions taken before age 59½. However, the withdrawal may still be subject to regular income taxes depending on the individual’s tax situation. Financial professionals often advise workers to consult a tax adviser before taking a withdrawal.

Repayment option available

Workers who take the emergency distribution may repay the withdrawn funds within three years. Repayment restores the funds to the retirement account and limits the long-term impact on retirement savings.

Workers who do not repay the withdrawal generally cannot take another emergency withdrawal under the provision until the three-year window has elapsed or the amount is repaid in full.

Not all plans required to offer it

Although the provision is part of federal law, employers are not required to adopt it. Some retirement plans may choose not to offer the emergency withdrawal option. Workers interested in the program should contact their employer, human resources department or plan administrator to determine whether the option is available.

A limited safety valve, with caveats

Supporters of the change say the provision offers workers facing sudden expenses a narrow financial lifeline while avoiding the full penalties normally tied to early withdrawals. Financial advisers caution that tapping retirement savings should still be considered a last resort, as early withdrawals can reduce long-term retirement income.

What workers should do now

As employers update their retirement plans to comply with new federal rules, more workers may gain access to the emergency withdrawal option. Experts recommend reviewing plan details and consulting a financial professional before making any decisions about withdrawing retirement funds.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional before making retirement account decisions.

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St. Anne’s Church in Old River will host a fish fry on Friday, March 6 from 5-8 PM. The church is located at 3659 Old River Road.

Attendees can enjoy a meal of fried fish, fries, coleslaw, hush puppies, and a piece of cake for $15 per plate. Dine-in and take-out options will be available. Drinks will be sold separately for $1 each.

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Notice is hereby given that the Natchitoches Parish School board will receive the following:

April 20, 2026 10 p.m.                        NPSB Milk and Milk Products Bid# 26-27:2

Bids/Proposals will be accepted until the date and time specified and will be publicly opened and read aloud on April 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the School Board’s Central Office, 310 Royal Street Natchitoches, LA 71457-5709. Please find bid-related documents and place electronic bids, is desired, at WWW.CENTRALBIDDING.COM.

For questions relating to the electronic bidding process please call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. Bids/Proposals received after the date and time of opening will not be considered. Facsimile transmissions will not be considered. Additional information may be obtained upon request by contacting Michelle Demery at Michelle.Demery@npsb.la or 318-352-2358 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

2/27/26, 3/5/26, 3/10/26

NPSB Notice of Advertising for Bid Signed letter.

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched by NATCOM 911 on March 4 around 2:34 pm to a report of an alligator taking up temporary residence under a vehicle in the 200 block of Independence Street, south of Natchitoches.

When deputies arrived, they spoke with the caller, Willie Rice, who advised that a jogger passing by spotted the squatter lounging under the vehicle and quickly alerted Willie and his mother. Willie said he immediately called the sheriff’s office, because while uninvited guests are one thing, ones with teeth are another.

Deputy A. Herrera, Deputy Cpl. N. Kerby, and Deputy J. Franks responded to the scene and located the young alligator enjoying what appeared to be a shaded afternoon siesta. Deputies safely wrangled the reptile and relocated it to a nearby waterway, where it can continue its sunbathing career without blocking anyone’s driveway.

Deputies believe the alligator was simply out exploring during the beautiful warm weather and decided to take a “shade break” before moving along.

Authorities say the gator did not have a driver’s license and was not authorized to park under the vehicle.
Residents are reminded that as temperatures rise, wildlife becomes more active. If you see something unusual, especially if it has scales and a tail, contact authorities and allow professionals to handle it.

No deputies, residents, or reptiles were harmed during the incident. The alligator was last seen heading toward the water, presumably reconsidering its real estate choices.

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HOUSTON – The Northwestern State softball team rides one of its most complete weekends in recent memory into the start of Southland Conference play today.

The confidence-boosted Demons face HCU in a three-game series beginning today.

“Coming off a 4–1 weekend, I think our team is feeling confident and excited about the start of conference,” head coach Jenny Fuller said. “We feel good about the progress in all phases of the game. Now we just want to carry that momentum into the Houston Christian series and play at the level that we are capable of playing.”

The Demons (9-13) open league play on the road for the first time since 2022 when they travel to HCU (3-16) for a three-game series. That conference-opening series four years ago took the Demons to then-Houston Baptist and was the last time NSU swept a road SLC series.

The weekend series was moved up a day due to the projected weather forecast in the Houston area and starts today with a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. with a noon single game on Friday. All games will air on ESPN+.

The Demons hit .339 as a team across five games in the City of Lights Classic in Natchitoches this past weekend, leading to that 4-1 record. That average also includes being no-hit in an improbable 5-3 win against Missouri State. They scored 40 total runs, had 12 extra-base hits and struck out only nine times.

“I think we gained a ton of confidence this weekend,” Makynlie Jones, whose three-run home run in the finale led to a 7-2 win against UAPB, said. “We won a game without getting a hit. It kind of shows us that anything is possible and we can do it if we set our minds to it.”

The win against the Bears marks the first time since 2024 that any team in the country has won a game will being no-hit.

All indications suggest that the five runs scored by the Demons in the game are the most without a hit in NCAA history.

Of the 40 hits the Demons collected across the four other games, JT Smith had four of NSU’s extra-base knocks on the weekend and reached base in more than 60 percent of her plate appearances. She finished the five-game weekend with an OPS of 1.838 and drove in three runs in back-to-back games to finish the fourth week of the season tied with Makynlie Jones for the team lead with 14 RBI.

Smith and Jones are two players flirting with a .300 batting average entering this weekend, both seeing their averages jump more than 30 points after successful homestand at the plate. They look to join the leading trio of Brynn Daniel (.393), Britt Bourgoyne (.327) and Hayden Andrews (.325) hitting over the .300 mark.

Daniel ranks seventh in the conference in batting this year and is second in the conference with a .528 on-base percentage. Her 14 walks this year are fourth most in the league. With Sister Arnold’s 12 walks this year, NSU and McNeese are the only teams with more than one player ranked in the top 10 in the conference in walks.

The 77 walks drawn by the Demons are the second most by a team, only behind McNeese’s 113.

The offensive outburst was more than enough support for a defense and pitching staff that were near perfect.

Mattison Buster picked up wins in two complete game performances, including her first career no-hitter, as well as a save in the finale. Brooklynn Stohler got her first win of the season and Grace Birk and Erin Kirkland combined for more than seven innings of shutout work.

Buster earned SLC pitcher of the week honors after allowing just two earned runs on six total hits in 14 2/3 innings in the circle. She now ranks in the top 10 in the conference in ERA, opponent batting average, and strikeouts and leads the league in wins and innings pitched.

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