Members of First United Methodist Church’s Young at Heart group gathered for their monthly meeting, held the first Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m., featuring a festive and creative theme organized by the Faith Circle.

This month’s gathering combined elements of several holidays, with decorations highlighting Valentine’s Day, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day and fall pumpkin accents, creating a colorful and lively atmosphere for attendees.

The group also recognized several birthdays during the meeting. Celebrated were Gloria Bryant, Kenny Megason and Murlene Parker. Mary Fosson was also recognized but was not present for the photo as she assisted in the kitchen.

As part of the group’s tradition, two newcomers were welcomed to the event and received a complimentary meal, while returning members contributed by bringing a covered dish or paying $5.

Entertainment for the meeting was provided by Steve Wells, who performed music on keyboard. In addition to the church gathering, Wells regularly performs Sunday afternoons from noon to 3 p.m. at the Flying Heart Brewery on Mill Street.

The Young at Heart group continues to provide an opportunity for fellowship, food and entertainment for members of the community each month.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.—On Friday, the 4×400 relay took center stage for Northwestern State’s track and field teams at the University of Florida Relays.

Competing with top-caliber competition, the Demons recorded the nation’s second-fastest time in the men’s 4×400 meter relay, a 3:04.67 school record by Desmond Duncan, Charlie Bartholomew, Kason Jones and Will Achee. The women’s 4×400 relay team was third in its race with a 3:34.04 mark that is top 10 in NCAA Division I.

On Saturday, it was the individual 400-meter dash where NSU athletes had breakout performances.

Rushana Dwyer and Margaret Conteh ran massive personal bests for the women, with Dwyer having the second-best time in the event in school history.

In the men’s 400, Achee ran a personal-best 46.07, which is the top mark in the Southland, No. 5 in the NCAA East and top 10 nationally.

“It was a great day at the track today led by our 400 group,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “They did a phenomenal job. Rushana led the way on the women’s side. That’s a all-time PR for her — 52 is a phenomenal time. She was the fastest collegiate runner which was very impressive and her mark is No. 2 all-time here, only behind Megan Shaw. She looks so smooth and she made it look kind of effortless, which is crazy. It’s even crazier as I think she’s got a little bit more left in where she can even run faster.”

Dwyer ran a 51.59, besting her previous best by more than a half-second, to place second in the event out of 46 competitors.

Not only is her time second in program history, but it also slides into the top 10 nationally.

Conteh clocked a 52.76, which is in the top 20 nationally. Her previous best was 53.50.

“It was another great day for Margaret as well,” Heimerman said. “It was Margaret’s first time running under 53 seconds, so it was very impressive and we’re very proud of her. She’s been working very hard and it looked great.”

Those two times are easily the top marks in the Southland this season.

Not to be outdone, the men also shined, led by Achee, whose 46.07 is also the top mark in the Southland and top 10 in the country.

Northwestern won two men’s field events. Friday, Roy Morris took gold in the long jump with a personal-best 25-2 on his final attempt. Saturday,  Tarajh Hudson (179-2) won the discus, while Shakera Kirk (167-4) was second in the women’s discus.

“A lot of (track and field) people know who Northwestern State is, but after this weekend, a lot more people do from some of the schools that we don’t see often,” Heimerman said. “There were a lot of high schools here and they saw what we did, and it was a very impressive weekend, so we feel like we got a lot of things accomplished.

“We have some things that we still need to work on and you know you’re never satisfied as a coach or an athlete so there’s things that we’re going to keep competing and working on, but it was a great meet and a great weekend and you know we represented Northwestern State to the best of our ability and I think everybody should be happy with what we did.”

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Newly-named Northwestern State women’s basketball coach Alan Frey will be introduced on campus to supporters and media this afternoon at 1:30, while nearby at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, the Lady Demon netters begin the last week of the regular season with a home match against Lamar.

COACH INTRODUCTION:  The public is invited to the ground floor of NSU’s Friedman Student Union, in the Lucille Mertz Hendrick Room, as athletics director Kevin Bostian introduces Frey. The 49-year-old New Orleans native spent last year as assistant coach at Loyola (New Orleans) helping that program to a 25-5 season, but he is best known for 18 seasons as the chief assistant to Lisa Stockton at Tulane.

College coaching giants Kim Mulkey of LSU and Vic Schaefer of Texas are among those who endorsed Frey for the Northwestern job. He follows Anna Nimz, who left last week following her sixth season to take over the program at North Alabama.

TENNIS:  After weather forced a delay in its final two Southland Conference matches of the regular season, Northwestern returns to the courts today at 11 against UIW at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

NSU (10-6 overall, 6-1 in the Southland) can lock up at least the No. 2 seed in the SLC Tournament with a pair of homecourt wins. The Lady Demons host Lamar Wednesday to finish the schedule.

UIW (5–9, 4–3) arrives in Natchitoches following a split week at home.

The Cardinals fell 6–1 to Texas A&M–Corpus Christi before rebounding with a 4–3 win over UT-Rio Grand Valley.

Despite its record, UIW has proven to be a competitive opponent in conference play.

“UIW is a tough team, they play good doubles, have strong players, and are well coached,” NSU coach Marcos Morelli said.

Wednesday’s matchup with Lamar will also serve as Senior Day, honoring Sofi Garcia, Zoi Spyrou and Lolita Hukasian for their contributions to the Northwestern program.

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EDINBURG, Texas – Fittingly, a final at-bat win gave the Northwestern State baseball team its first Southland Conference road sweep since 2016.

Thomas Marsala III’s RBI groundout in the ninth inning was the winning margin in a 6-5 victory at UT-Rio Grande Valley on Saturday, capping a three-game conference sweep and pushing the Demons’ win streak to four. After opening with a 17-9 rout Thursday night that was broken open with five-run innings in the seventh and eighth, a comeback victory Friday night was ignited in the seventh frame again for a 9-6 NSU triumph.

Saturday’s series finale resulted from another Northwestern rally. It was the Demons’ eighth last-at-bat win of the season.

“For those who know us, you don’t hear it often but I’m almost at a loss for words for what our guys continue to do,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “The reason they continue to do it is because of who they are. I couldn’t be any more proud of the entire ball club. I couldn’t be anymore proud for everyone who’s a stakeholder in this that our team continues to exhibit the characteristics they do. They continue to play in the manner they do. It’s not just winning on the scoreboard, it’s the way they continue to do things. They continue to overcome adversity. They continue to pick each other up and do what it takes to win.”

What it took Saturday was an offense that again found some late-game magic.

After seeing a pair of two-run leads disappear, the Demons (21-10 overall, 13-5 in the Southland) found themselves trailing for the first time as UTRGV (14-18, 9-9) took advantage of two seventh-inning errors to move ahead 5-4.

Bryce Johnson’s RBI single off the left-field wall scored Marsala with the tying run in the eighth before for the third time this season, Marsala delivered in his last at-bat, game-winning RBI of the spring an inning later.

Marsala’s one-out ground ball to second with the bases loaded off of Kike Cienfuegos (0-2) brought home Sam Ardoin with the go-ahead run that re-established a lead for the Demons, who last swept a road conference series May 13-15, 2016, at Nicholls.

“His changeup was looking really good, and it really tailed away a lot in that at-bat,” said Marsala, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. “I was just trying to get on the plate, put it in play and get a run for our guys. We have such great chemistry, and we’re short on position players, but I think that brings us closer together, because we’re really fighting for each other.”

Armed with the lead, Carter White (1-3) allowed a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt before battling back from a 3-0 count to strike out UTRGV leadoff hitter Rocco Garza Gongora for the second out of the inning.

Bertrand turned to Wesley Marien to close the game, which he did by delivering a three-pitch strikeout of Thomas Williams to cap the sweep.

White backed up a solid start from Trent Hillen (6 IP, 4 R) with 2 2-3 innings of relief, allowing only an unearned run. After the Vaqueros scored the unearned run in the seventh, White escaped the bases-loaded, no-out jam without further damage, setting up another comeback victory for the Demons.

“When we went out there to talk to Carter about it – albeit maybe a little forcefully – when Carter competes in the manner we need him to, that’s the result you get,” Bertrand said. “That’s what we want him to continue to do. That’s what we want him to get back to and be consistent with. His stuff is good enough and his experience is at a high level. He’s capable of doing really special things for the Demons when the competitive spirit is in the right frame of mind and the pitches are being driven with intent and purpose into the strike zone.”

After a couple of comeback victories to start the series, the Demons jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Brooks Leonard started the game with a triple and scored on Joe Siervo’s RBI single.

Leonard also started a two-run third inning rally with a leadoff walk. A junior from Pierre Part, Leonard finished the weekend 8-for-14 with five runs scored atop the lineup as he, Siervo and Marsala – the top three hitters in the lineup – scored five of the six runs Saturday.

“I don’t know that there are enough words and enough time to express what Brooks Leonard means to this baseball team and means to this baseball program,” Betrand said. “The model he sets in work ethic, in teammate and character, in I’ll do anything for the team coach, it’s absolutely incredible. He is the heart and soul of what we have going – make no mistake about it. Same thing for Tommy. Thomas having the type of season he’s having and doing what he’s doing for the Demons when everybody knows who he is and what he is for us and what he means to us – to be able to pull it off when the stakes are the highest is absolutely incredible.”

The Demons return to action Tuesday when they host Louisiana Tech in the first of a five-game homestand. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

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Winning a conference series on the road is never easy. On Friday, the Northwestern State softball team met those challenges head-on, delivering in key moments to secure its second Southland Conference road series win of the season.

After Stephen F. Austin (22-18 overall, 6-9 SLC) used a pair of four-run innings to take an 8-5 win in the opener, the Lady Demons (20-19, 9-6) turned to ace Mattison Buster in the finale.

She delivered again.

Buster tossed her third complete game of the week and second shutout of the series, while the Demons broke things open late in a 6-0 series-clinching victory. The win was Buster’s 17th of the season tying her with Kylie Roos for the most by a Demon pitcher since 2013.

“We talk a lot about handling adversity, and I think we did that really well this weekend,” head coach Jenny Fuller said. “With time changes, game changes, weather delays, they were super adaptable and flexible. I couldn’t be more proud. We talk about taking baby steps as a program in the right direction, but this feels like a big step.”

Including the 2-0 victory Thursday in the first game of the series, Northwestern has won six of its last seven games heading into a homefield SLC series next Friday and Saturday against UIW.

In the opener of Friday’s doubleheader, Northwestern threatened early, putting two aboard in the first via hit batters but failing to capitalize. The Demons stranded two more in the fourth after back-to-back hits from Brynn Daniel and Aly Delafield.

Those missed chances proved costly.

SFA strung together four straight one-out hits in the bottom of the fourth to score two runs. An RBI groundout and another hit extended the inning and gave the Lumberjacks a 4-0 lead.

NSU answered in the fifth. JT Smith was hit by a pitch and McKenna Rinewalt followed with an RBI triple down the right-field line. Peyton Young added a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-2.

SFA responded immediately with a four-run outburst and held off a late push from the visitors to win Friday’s first game and square the series at 1-1.

The rubber game Friday afternoon looked much like the opener, as Buster and SFA’s Crimson Bryant controlled the early innings of the finale, this time with little traffic on the bases.

Neither team mounted a serious threat through four innings. The breakthrough came in the fifth.

After a leadoff walk to Britt Bourgoyne and two quick outs, the Demons strung together three consecutive hits. Peyton Young started the rally with an RBI single to right, Brynn Daniel followed with an infield single, and Aly Delafield delivered another run-scoring hit for a 2-0 lead.

“As hitters, we were trying not to do too much, but that wasn’t really working,” Young said. “So we adjusted and stuck to it. Buster was dealing every inning, so we wanted to get it done for her.”

Buster faced her toughest test in the sixth when SFA loaded the bases with no outs. After a brief visit from Fuller, the Demons turned the defining play of the game.

A line drive to shortstop was snagged by Young, and she quickly flipped to Bourgoyne at second for a force out, erasing two runners and shifting the momentum.

“That was huge for us,” Young said. “That’s an uncomfortable situation, bases loaded, no outs, up by two. To flip the momentum like that gave us a lot of energy.”

Buster followed with a groundout to escape the jam and preserve the shutout.

“If Peyton doesn’t make that play, who knows how it turns out,” Fuller said. “That was a huge moment, and Buster did the rest to finish the inning.

The momentum carried into the seventh when NSU plated four runs and took command. Young delivered her second RBI single of the game, and after a pair of sacrifices plated another run, Makynlie Jones and Sister Arnold added back-to-back doubles to extend the lead to 6-0.

Buster secured her second shutout of the weekend, scattering seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks. She induced 10 fly-ball outs and eight groundouts, nearly mirroring her performance from Friday.

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NATCHEZ, La. — The Village of Natchez ended the 2024-25 fiscal year with more than $1 million in new capital investment and a dramatically improved net position, but auditors flagged recurring operational losses, multiple compliance violations and a warning that the small Natchitoches Parish community may struggle to meet its financial obligations in the years ahead.

The annual financial report, prepared by Rozier, McKay & Willis CPAs of Alexandria and covering the year ended June 30, 2025, shows the village’s total net position rising to $3.35 million from $2.34 million the previous year — a gain of more than $1 million. But auditors attached an emphasis-of-matter notice to the report, cautioning that the village “has suffered recurring losses from operations” and that doubt exists about its ability to meet future obligations.

The village received $988,373 in federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds during the fiscal year, channeled through the Louisiana Division of Administration’s Office of Community Development. Nearly $900,000 of that went toward sewer system improvements, while $88,530 funded construction of a new Town Hall. Those one-time infusions drove the net position gain and masked what auditors described as ongoing structural financial weakness.

Stripping out grant revenues, the village’s sewer enterprise fund posted an operating loss of $75,501 for the year. Sewer charges for services generated $66,847 against $144,895 in operating expenses — meaning the fund recovers less than half its operating costs from ratepayers before depreciation adjustments.

The village levied 3.68 mills in property taxes, collected $63,732 in sales taxes at a 1% rate and brought in $26,227 in franchise taxes during the fiscal year. Total general fund revenues reached $280,454 against expenditures of $240,803, leaving a year-end fund balance of $41,119 — up from $16,329 at the start of the year.

Four findings, three unresolved from prior year

Auditors issued four formal findings against the village, three of which carried over unresolved from the prior year’s audit.

The most serious, classified as a material weakness in internal control, involves inadequate segregation of accounting duties. Village management acknowledged the deficiency but cited limited staff size as the reason it cannot be corrected. The finding has persisted since at least the 2023-24 fiscal year.

A second finding faulted the village for failing to maintain records sufficient to reconcile its meter deposit liability — money held on behalf of sewer customers — to individual account balances. A third finding cited violations of the Louisiana Government Budget Act, which prohibits unfavorable budget variances exceeding 5% of overall revenues or expenditures without a budget amendment. The village’s actual expenditures exceeded its budgeted amounts without triggering the required amendment.

The fourth finding, also carried over from the prior year, found the village was not properly remitting fines, fees and court costs collected on behalf of the state and other entities. Auditors noted that village management was unaware of which amounts were required to be remitted — a condition they called potentially violative of Louisiana Revised Statutes. Village management pledged in its corrective action plan to ensure future compliance.

The Statewide Agreed-Upon Procedures report, also completed by Rozier, McKay & Willis, identified additional deficiencies, including the absence of written policies governing budgeting, purchasing, disbursements, payroll, ethics and other standard municipal functions. No documentation of required annual ethics training or sexual harassment training was available for review. The required fraud notice under R.S. 24:523.1 was not posted on village premises.

Board accountability gaps

Meeting minutes reviewed by auditors did not include references to budget-to-actual comparisons or other financial information as required. Auditors also found no evidence that the board had received written updates on the status of prior-year audit findings, a standard requirement under Government Auditing Standards. Village management committed to begin including that information at monthly meetings.

Outlook and management’s plan

Mayor Patsy Ward Hoover, who received $5,550 in compensation and $206 in reimbursements during the fiscal year, leads a governing board that also includes Aldermen Monique Sarpy, Shelia Johnson and McKindley Hoover, each of whom received $2,550 in per diem payments.

The village carries no long-term debt. Capital assets at year-end totaled $3.28 million, including a sewer system valued at $4.44 million before accumulated depreciation of $1.57 million. The village held $80,784 in cash across its governmental and enterprise funds at June 30, 2025, fully secured by federal deposit insurance.

Management’s plan to achieve financial sustainability rests on three pillars: steadily increasing sewer rates, reducing operating expenditures once the current sewer improvement project reaches completion, and increasing fines and forfeitures collected from offenders. Auditors noted that management expressed confidence those measures would allow the village to continue as a going concern, while stopping short of endorsing that assessment.

The village is incorporated under the Lawrason Act and provides police protection, general administrative services and sewer service to its residents.

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Source: Village of Natchez Annual Financial Report, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, Rozier, McKay & Willis, CPAs, Alexandria, Louisiana.

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Editor’s note: A review of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s public reports database returned no annual financial report for the Village of Powhatan for fiscal years 2024 or 2025. Readers seeking the most current filing status may verify directly at app.lla.la.gov. The Journal will continue to monitor.

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POWHATAN, LA.  — The Village of Powhatan’s annual financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, was not completed and submitted to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor until February 2025 — nearly 19 months past the statutory deadline — marking the second consecutive year the Natchitoches Parish village has failed to meet the state’s reporting requirements.

Louisiana Revised Statute 24:513 requires local governments to submit annual financial reports within six months of the close of their fiscal year. For the Village of Powhatan, that deadline for fiscal year 2023 was Dec. 31, 2023.

The compilation report prepared by the Natchitoches firm Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier, Certified Public Accountants, is dated Feb. 10, 2025 — more than a year after the filing deadline had passed.

The delay is documented in the report’s Schedule of Findings, which flags the late submission as finding 2023-001. The same schedule notes that an identical finding from the prior year, 2022-001, remained unresolved at the time of the 2023 compilation.

“For the year ended June 30, 2023, the Village did not submit the annual audit within six months after the close of their fiscal year,” the findings schedule states. The prior-year finding carries the notation: “Status — This condition was not cleared.”

A review of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s publicly accessible reports database found no annual financial report filed by the Village of Powhatan for fiscal years 2024 or 2025. Under state law, the FY2024 report — covering the year ended June 30, 2024 — would have been due no later than Dec. 31, 2024. No filing appears to have been made.

The Village is governed under the Lawrason Act with a mayor-aldermen form of government. Mayor Jamika Neal received total compensation of $4,021 for the fiscal year, according to the report’s Schedule of Compensation. Three aldermen — Willie Lee Davis Jr., Ezekiel Jewett and Pamela Rivers — each received $1,100 in payments during the year.

Financial condition summary

As of June 30, 2023, the Village of Powhatan presented a financially fragile picture across nearly all of its operating funds.

The village’s General Fund ended the year with a negative unassigned fund balance of $634 — meaning it was technically insolvent on a fund basis, with $1,000 in accounts payable against only $263 in cash. General Fund revenues of $11,170 — drawn from property taxes of $4,236 and franchise fees of $6,934 — fell well short of $33,645 in general government expenditures. The fund required a $17,593 transfer from the village’s utility enterprise fund to partially offset the shortfall.

The village’s Louisiana Community Development Block Grant fund, which accounts for state infrastructure grant money designated for sewer improvements, ended the year in stronger shape with an $18,137 balance. That fund received $45,601 in intergovernmental grant revenue and spent $9,720 on sewer-related expenses before transferring $28,183 to the utility enterprise fund.

The utility enterprise fund — which operates the village’s sewer system — reported an operating loss of $47,509 for the year on $43,871 in sewer charges against $91,380 in total operating expenses. Repairs and maintenance costs of $56,940 drove the majority of the shortfall. Cash in the utility fund fell from $47,278 at the start of the year to $9,363 by June 30, 2023 — a decline of nearly $38,000 in a single year.

Government-wide, the village reported total assets of $296,618, with the vast majority — $266,930 — tied up in the net book value of the sewer system infrastructure. Liquid assets across all funds totaled just $27,763. Total net position stood at $295,243, down from $329,733 the prior year, a reduction of $34,490.

The village’s governmental capital assets — consisting of a building and office furniture and equipment with a historical cost of $76,304 — carried zero net value after accumulated depreciation fully offset their cost.

The financial statements were prepared as a compilation, the lowest level of CPA engagement. Compiled statements carry no audit opinion and no assurance on the accuracy or completeness of the information presented.

Source: Village of Powhatan Annual Financial Report, fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, compiled by Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier, CPAs, Natchitoches, Louisiana. Louisiana Legislative Auditor: lla.la.gov.

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GOLDONNA, LA. — The Village of Goldonna’s water and sewer system lost nearly $20,000 during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, according to the village’s annual financial report reviewed by a Natchitoches accounting firm.

The water system recorded a net loss of $19,576 for the year, more than four times the $4,643 loss posted in the prior fiscal year. Operating expenses for the utility totaled $187,733 against revenues of $160,777, leaving an operating deficit of $25,562 before accounting for intergovernmental grants and interest.

Repairs and maintenance accounted for $55,356 of utility expenses, with general and administration costs reaching $95,066. The system’s net position declined to $196,706 from $216,283 the prior year.

The village’s general government operations fared better, with governmental activities posting a net gain of $11,448 for the year. Total assets for governmental activities rose to $113,430 from $80,924, driven in part by $41,913 in capital asset additions that included new outside equipment and walking trail improvements.

Tax revenues grew to $69,232 from $61,491 the prior year, and the village collected $16,896 in intergovernmental funds for public safety. The general fund ended the year with an unassigned balance of $23,006, up from $13,520 at the start of the fiscal year.

Mayor Gayle Cloud received $2,880 in salary and $452 in retirement benefits during the year, for total compensation of $3,332. The four-member Board of Aldermen received a combined $4,320 in compensation, led by Reed Franklin and Norrell Garner at $1,440 each.

The village carries $42,955 in long-term lease debt on governmental activities, including a lease entered during the current year for a 2024 compact tractor financed through Wells Fargo Financial Leasing at 5% interest. An older lease for a Ford F-150 remains outstanding through 2027. The utility fund carries $16,280 in remaining debt on a 1988 revenue bond with the Farmers Home Administration, which matures in 2028.

The financial statements were reviewed — not audited — by the Natchitoches firm Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier, which noted no material modifications were needed to bring the statements into conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. The review represents a lower level of assurance than a full audit.

The firm did flag one compliance matter in its management letter: the village failed to amend its general fund budget when actual expenditures exceeded budgeted amounts by more than the 5% threshold required under Louisiana law. In a written response, the village committed to conducting quarterly budget evaluations going forward.

The village had no pending civil suits as of June 30, 2025, and auditors found no violations of public bid law, ethics statutes or other compliance requirements reviewed under the Louisiana Governmental Audit Guide.

Goldonna is a small municipality in Natchitoches Parish. The village operates a police department, streets and drainage services, and the water utility system.

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Source: Village of Goldonna Annual Financial Report, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Reviewed by Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier, CPAs, Natchitoches. Report dated December 23, 2025.

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CAMPTI, LA. — The Town of Campti ended its 2024-25 fiscal year with a significant improvement in its financial position, but an independent audit released in November identified two compliance violations — including a recurring problem with late payroll tax and retirement report filings.

The annual financial report, prepared by the Natchitoches firm Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier CPAs and covering the year ended June 30, 2025, received an unmodified, or “clean,” opinion — meaning auditors found the financial statements to be fairly presented in all material respects.

Auditors found no material weaknesses in the town’s internal controls, a notable improvement from the prior year, when a software-related internal control finding was cited. That finding was cleared in this year’s report.

Town net position climbs to $2.35 million

The town’s combined net position — a broad measure of financial health — grew to $2.35 million at fiscal year-end, up from $1.71 million the prior year, a gain of $637,315.

Governmental activities, which cover police protection, general administration and grant-funded capital projects, posted a net position of $972,663, an increase of $611,202 from the previous year. Much of that gain was driven by $657,638 in grant revenues, primarily from the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant program, which funded capital construction work.

The town’s water and sewer enterprise fund — classified as a business-type activity — closed the year with a net position of $1.38 million, a $26,113 improvement. The water and sewer fund posted an operating loss of $212,502, as expenses including depreciation, salaries and maintenance totaled $530,773 against operating revenues of $318,271. The fund was kept in positive territory by $238,615 in non-operating revenues, including $120,749 in sales tax proceeds and $128,011 in grants from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs.

General Fund ends year in the red

Despite the government-wide improvement, the General Fund — the town’s primary operating account — ended the year with a deficit of $9,139, closing with a fund balance of $124,228. Total General Fund revenues were $321,204 against expenditures of $330,343.

Sales tax receipts of $120,748 substantially exceeded the $83,000 budgeted amount. Fines and forfeitures collected through the mayor’s court reached $38,097, far above the $2,750 budget projection. Those revenue gains were offset by general government expenditures of $294,529, which ran $140,079 over the $154,450 budgeted figure.

The town carried total long-term debt of $427,688 at fiscal year-end. That total includes $265,710 in outstanding revenue bonds and equipment financing associated with the water and sewer system, and a combined net pension liability of $138,528 spread across two state retirement systems — the Municipal Employees Retirement System and the Municipal Police Employees Retirement System of Louisiana.

Two compliance violations cited

Auditors cited two compliance findings required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards.

The first, finding 2025-001, involves the Local Government Budget Act. Louisiana law requires municipalities to amend their budgets when actual revenues fall more than 5 percent below projections or when actual expenditures exceed the budget by more than 5 percent. Auditors found that General Fund expenditures exceeded the approved budget by more than that threshold without a required amendment being made. The same violation was cited in the prior year’s audit as finding 2024-002 and was not resolved.

Town management acknowledged the noncompliance and said it will institute a formal review process to monitor revenues and expenditures throughout the year, with budget amendments initiated whenever a 5 percent variance is approached.

The second finding, 2025-002, addresses recurring delays in submitting payroll tax reports and retirement contribution reports. Auditors found multiple instances of filings submitted after required deadlines, attributing the problem to the town’s payroll system generating incorrect reports that forced staff into time-consuming manual data collection. The town faces potential penalties, interest charges and compliance citations if the problem continues. A similar violation — failure to file quarterly federal tax returns on time — was cited in last year’s audit as finding 2024-004 and was not cleared.

Management said it is working to correct system-generated reporting errors and will strengthen internal controls over payroll processing, including enhanced oversight and documented procedures.

Agreed-upon procedures flag missing deposit documentation

Beyond the main audit findings, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s statewide agreed-upon procedures — a separate compliance review — identified one exception: auditors were unable to locate supporting documentation for deposits tested during the review period. The town acknowledged the gap and said management will locate the missing documentation or implement stronger documentation retention practices going forward.

In a positive result from the agreed-upon procedures, auditors found no exceptions in bank reconciliations, disbursements, credit card usage, travel reimbursements, contracts, payroll, ethics compliance, debt service, fraud prevention, cybersecurity training or sexual harassment prevention procedures. A prior-year finding related to inadequate accounting and billing software configuration was cleared.

The policies and procedures review identified a remaining gap: written policies cover payroll and personnel functions but do not yet address budgeting, purchasing, disbursements, collections, contracting, credit card use, travel reimbursement, ethics, debt service or information technology disaster recovery.

Mayor’s compensation totaled $19,255

The audit separately discloses compensation paid to Mayor Katrina Evans for the fiscal year. Her total compensation was $19,255, consisting of a $12,000 salary, $1,680 in retirement benefits, $75 in cell phone allowance, $1,000 in registration fees and $4,500 in conference travel.

The five-member town council received a combined $4,940 in compensation during the year: Christopher James, $1,120; Mary Collins, $1,100; Etta Prudhomme, $940; Kevin Smith, $940; and Bence Nicholas, $840.

The audit was completed Nov. 26, 2025. Auditors noted no subsequent events requiring disclosure and found the town was not involved in any civil litigation as of June 30, 2025.

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Source: Town of Campti Annual Financial Report, year ended June 30, 2025, Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier CPAs, Natchitoches.

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PROVENCAL, LA.  — The Village of Provencal ended the 2024-25 fiscal year with a small improvement in its General Fund position while its water, sewer and gas utility system continued to lose ground financially, according to the village’s annual financial report.

The report, reviewed by the Natchitoches accounting firm Thomas, Cunningham, Broadway & Todtenbier, covers the year ended June 30, 2025.

The village’s governmental activities — its General Fund — ended the year with a net position of $41,142, an increase of $2,146 from the prior fiscal year. Unrestricted cash on hand stood at $40,848, up from $38,703 the year before.

General Fund revenues reached $84,601 for the year, significantly outpacing the village’s original budget of $51,500 — a favorable variance of $33,101. The overrun was driven primarily by stronger-than-anticipated franchise fee collections, charges for services and fines and forfeitures revenue.

Expenditures told a different story. The village spent $80,393 against a budgeted $51,500 — exceeding the budget by $28,893, or roughly 56 percent. Louisiana law requires municipalities to amend their General Fund budgets when actual expenditures exceed budgeted amounts by more than 5 percent. The village did not do so.

The village’s independent accountants flagged the failure in a management letter issued Nov. 3, 2025. Mayor Daniel Gongre responded in writing, acknowledging the lapse and committing to institute procedures to amend the budget in future years when expenditures exceed the 5 percent threshold.

The utility fund, which provides water, sewer and gas services, posted a net loss of $86,302 for the year. Operating expenses for the utility system totaled $431,366 against revenues of $342,827 — a gap of $88,539 before a $2,063 transfer from the General Fund. The utility’s overall net position declined to $1,992,490 from $2,078,792 the year prior. The loss was an improvement over the prior fiscal year, when the utility fund’s net position fell by $141,760.

Depreciation of the utility infrastructure accounted for $96,206 of operating expenses, meaning the cash deficit from utility operations was considerably narrower. Cash received from utility customers totaled $323,037 for the year.

The village added a new capital asset during the year — a police vehicle acquired through a Louisiana Municipal Lease-Purchase Agreement for $56,590 at an interest rate of 6.15 percent, financed through Capital Government Corporation. The remaining balance on that obligation stood at $43,147 as of June 30, with payments scheduled through 2029.

Total village assets as of June 30 were $2,103,320, with total liabilities of $69,688, leaving a combined net position of $2,033,632.

Mayor Daniel Gongre drew no salary during the fiscal year, receiving $14,622 in reimbursements. The five-member Board of Aldermen received a combined $2,200 in compensation for the year.

The village had $138,783 in bank deposits as of June 30, 2025, all of which were fully covered by federal deposit insurance. No litigation was pending against the village at fiscal year’s end.

The report was submitted to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor ahead of the Dec. 31, 2025, filing deadline.

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ASHLAND, LA.  — The Village of Ashland closed its 2024-25 fiscal year with a combined fund balance of $30,654.20, down from $47,427.72 at the start of the year, after total disbursements exceeded revenues by $16,773.52, according to sworn financial statements filed with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Mayor Terry Chesser signed the affidavit July 1, certifying the statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Because the village reported total revenues of $35,161.51 — below the $75,000 threshold established under state law — Ashland is not required to undergo a full audit.

The village’s general fund took in $34,561.51 in revenues while spending $51,154.87, a deficit of $16,593.36. The largest single expenditure was a $23,504 disbursement categorized as LGAP — the Louisiana Government Assistance Program — which was not included in the original budget and accounted for the majority of the general fund’s shortfall.

Excluding the LGAP payment, general fund operating expenses totaled $27,650.87, which would have resulted in a surplus against revenues received.

Revenue sources for the general fund included rent, insurance premium tax and citations at $17,395.30; governmental funds at $11,281.01; taxes at $4,424.12; permits and licenses at $1,000; and interest earned at $461.08.

On the expense side, payroll and withholdings represented the second-largest disbursement at $13,594.75, followed by utilities at $7,654.99, insurance and bonds at $3,370.81, maintenance and supplies at $2,497.08 and office expenses at $533.24.

The village also maintains a separate Community Center Fund, which began the year with a balance of $826.18, received $600 in facility rental income and spent $780.16, leaving an ending balance of $646.02. The community center generated less than half of its budgeted $1,800 in rental revenues, and neither its spring festival nor fall carnival events generated income during the fiscal year.

The village reported no liabilities and no debt at year-end. Total assets consist entirely of cash and cash equivalents — $30,008.18 in the general fund and $646.02 in the community center fund.

Statement C, which discloses compensation paid to the agency head, was filed with a zero total and a notation that the mayor does not receive compensation, benefits or other payments from village funds.

For fiscal year 2025-26, village officials have adopted a general fund operating budget projecting $31,375 in revenues and an equal amount in expenditures, with a beginning balance of $30,008.18 carried forward. The LGAP line item carries a zero allocation in the new budget. The community center fund projects $890 in revenues — primarily from facility rentals — against $890 in expenses, leaving the $646.02 balance unchanged.

Ashland is an unincorporated village in Natchitoches Parish. The notarized statement was executed before Red River Parish Notary Tresha Glover, Notary ID No. 62755.

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A national photography project focused on documenting the people and stories that make up the country is making a stop in Natchitoches on April 7, with a strong push for community members to take part.

“The Americans,” created by photographer Aaron Patton, is a growing archive of portraits capturing individuals across all 50 states. The project focuses on stripped-down, black-and-white images that remove distractions and center entirely on the individual.

Patton, an editorial and commercial portrait photographer based in Wichita, Kansas, said the project is rooted in curiosity and a desire to better understand the people and places across the country.

“I do this work because I’m constantly curious and this job lets me indulge that curiosity in ways I never imagined,” Patton said. “Being in Kansas means I can go just about anywhere in the country at the drop of a hat.”

The local session will be held from 4-7 p.m. at StoryBrew Coffee Cafe, located at 780 Front St. in Natchitoches. Participation is open to anyone, and Patton said the project relies on a wide range of individuals to fully capture the American experience. Participants can expect getting their portrait taken to last just a few minutes.

The Americans Project seeks people from all walks of life, including students, professionals, retirees and workers in every field. Patton said every participant contributes to building a broader picture of the country. He’s looking for a mix of blue collar, white collar, no collar, local characters, and the people that make a place unique.

“The local butcher is just as welcome as the risk analyst and the retired mechanic,” Patton added. “I’ve had participants aged 4-92. Anyone with a defined “role” that I can put in the caption can be photographed for the series. Unique jobs do stand out in the mix (especially when they present in an interesting way in the images), but the series needs the full spectrum of American roles to be complete. I’ve yet to meet someone truly ‘ordinary.’ If there are things you use in your role, bring them. And wear what you regularly do for that role. I like the mess of everyday life much more than too much preparation.”

So why did Patton choose to stop in Natchitoches?

“Small communities are the lifeblood of American culture,” Patton said. “They’re what keep America unique and vibrant. I love to visit the oldest places wherever I go, and the second I read that Natchitoches was the oldest city in Louisiana, I knew it had to be on my list.”

He also noted the importance of including places like Natchitoches in the project, pointing to the role smaller communities play in preserving regional identity and traditions.

Patton said the project is intended to document people in a direct and honest way, often through brief portrait sessions that last only a few minutes. Participants are asked to face the camera directly, creating a moment of focus and self-awareness.

The project, which began in early 2024, has since expanded and Patton said the experience has introduced him to a wide range of people and stories across the country—many of which have left a lasting impression.

“I’ve met so many unique and weird and wonderful and fascinating people doing this, it’s impossible to pick just one,” Patton said. “Whether it’s an 11-year-old rattlesnake butcher, Miss Navajo Nation herself, a cartoonist who turned my white backdrop into a mural, or a mom in Missouri taking care of her special needs son while juggling a career and a nonprofit, there are just countless ways that I’ve been surprised and overwhelmed by the stories that each person carries.”

Patton said that as the project continues, his vision of success extends beyond exhibitions and publications.

“Seeing the portraits on a museum or gallery wall will be a satisfying moment,” he said. “But success to me will be knowing that anywhere I go in the country, I’ll know a great story about someone not too far away.”

The long-term project, which is expected to remain in production through 2028, will include a book, a traveling exhibition and a growing archive of portraits from communities across the United States. Patton said the work is designed to live in multiple formats, allowing more people to engage with the stories being collected.

At its core, Patton said the project is about connection—both between the people being photographed and those who will eventually see the images.

“So that someone, somewhere, can be introduced to Natchitoches the same way I get to be,” he said.

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives are actively investigating a homicide that occurred late Wednesday evening, according to Sheriff Stuart Wright. NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies were dispatched by the NATCOM 911 Center on April 1 around 11:12 pm to a reported shooting at a residence in the 200 block of Independence Drive, just south of Natchitoches. Upon arrival, deputies discovered an adult male inside the residence suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.

Deputies immediately initiated life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived. Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded and transported the victim to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later airlifted to Ochsner LSU Health Medical Center in Shreveport. Preliminary information indicates the suspect or suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

The area was secured, and deputies utilized specialized lighting equipment to assist in processing the crime scene. Chief Criminal Deputy D. Winder and six NPSO detectives responded and worked throughout the night executing search warrants, interviewing witnesses and neighbors, and collecting evidence. Detectives recovered multiple shell casings from the roadway near the residence, which also sustained damage from numerous gunshots.

At approximately 2:51 a.m., Natchitoches Parish Coroner Steven Clanton was notified by Ochsner LSU Health that the victim, identified as 18-year-old Damarion Deshawn Tyrell Lewis of Natchitoches, had succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives traveled to Shreveport Thursday morning to attend the autopsy, which will assist in determining the exact cause and manner of death as part of the ongoing investigation.

This investigation remains active. Sheriff Wright stated that investigators are working diligently to identify and apprehend the individual or individuals responsible for the death of Mr. Lewis. The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Lewis during this difficult time.

Anyone with information, including home surveillance footage, is urged to contact the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau at 318-357-7830. This marks the first homicide investigated by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office in 2026.

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By Reba Phelps

Being on this earth for at least fifty Easters thus far, I’ve learned a thing or two about Easter fashion and finding the perfect Easter dress for myself and my two daughters. Having been a mother for the past twenty seven years, I’m also well aware of the Easter basket shuffle. There are so many man hours dedicated to compiling a legendary Easter basket that contains the perfect consistency of sugary confections, trendy items, and beauty supplies, most of which will likely be eaten, lost or broken before the following Monday. When I was a child we didn’t have a lot of extra money, but my mother always made sure we had an Easter dress. It may have been purchased from a clearance rack, a hand me down from a cousin or neighbor, or even from a garage sale, but we always had a dress. It was deemed one of the only Sundays where you had to look presentable. It didn’t matter if we looked like ragamuffins the other fifty one Sundays of the year.

Being a preacher’s daughter and a preacher’s daughter-in-law (for 22 years) I’m well versed in the different styles of Easter Sermons that come along with the fanfare of Easter Sunday morning. It’s that obligatory church attendance that will have you wondering who all of the new faces are in church. More times than not, you may not see these people until next year unless you run into them at the local Walmart.

Easter Sundays are simply different for a preacher’s family. There are weeks of preparations that go into the sermon, crowd control, and special music. They’ll arrive at church earlier than normal and typically stay longer as well. Meaning, the family doesn’t eat until much later, which has them running a high risk of having “hangry” kids and inpatient Preacher’s wives. My favorite Easter Sunday growing up was when my dad invited a lot of extra people over for lunch and my mother was very much unprepared. But, her four-letter vocabulary was very prepared for the occasion. We still chuckle at the thought of my soft spoken mother articulating her displeasure with her entire bank of swear words. (Yes, preacher’s wives occasionally swear).

Simply put, there is no stress like Holy Week stress for parents and preachers. 

This Easter season has been very different for me. My oldest daughter lives over 1500 miles away, my youngest daughter lives away at college, and we have lost several family members over the past year that will change the way our future holiday celebrations happen. This year Easter isn’t about the dress or a fashion show. It’s not about the perfectly filled basket. It’s not about the perfect family meal. It’s not about the perfect guest list for lunch. It’s not about perfectly well behaved children and a dozen pictures posted to prove how perfect our life is.

As a Christian, I am ashamed to admit that my prior Easters were all about the dress, the basket, the photo and stress.

I am walking into this Easter as a flawed Christian believer who’s faith has been tested tremendously for the last few months. But, this is the first year I’ve spent time reflecting on the many events that led up to the crucifixion of Christ. My eyes have been opened and my heart filled with the knowledge of the true stress that our Savior was feeling the hours leading up to his crucifixion. The scriptures tell us that he fell on his face in the Garden of Gethsemane, and begged God to let this cup pass him by. Jesus, God in human flesh, was in anguish. Pure anguish that had nothing to do with the worries and stress we feel around Easter. 

Even in agony and despair, Jesus still said, “Not my will but your will be done.” In his pain, he took every step to the cross with each one of us on his mind. He did this while we were yet still sinners. 

“Then Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate said unto them, Behold the man!”

John 19-5

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Statement from City Bank President and CEO, John E. Ackel

At City Bank and Trust Company, our greatest strength has always been our people. It is with great pride that I announce the promotion of six outstanding team members whose dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence continue to move our organization forward.

Please join me in congratulating these outstanding team members:

• Josh Pierson, SVP promoted to Chief Lending Officer
• Craig Guidry promoted to Senior Vice President / Chief Credit Officer
• Josh Manuel promoted to Senior Vice President / Chief Financial Officer
• Heather Fredieu promoted to Vice President
• Phyllis Anderson promoted to Assistant Vice President
• William Bradford promoted to Banking Officer

Each of these individuals has consistently demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and a deep commitment to serving our customers and communities. Their promotions are not only a reflection of their hard work and performance, but also of the trust and confidence we have in their ability to lead and make a meaningful impact in their expanded roles.

Promoting from within is something we value deeply. It speaks to the culture we have built; one that encourages growth, rewards consistency, and recognizes those who are committed to the mission and vision of City Bank.

On behalf of our Board of Directors and the entire City Bank staff, we congratulate each of these exceptional individuals on this well-earned achievement. We look forward to their continued contributions and leadership as we write the next chapter of success for City Bank and Trust Company.

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Understanding that some of her students might be struggling with food insecurity, Kerry Toups, director of clinical lab sciences and instructor at Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever, created a satellite food pantry in a student lab closet. 

“Many students face enormous pressure when returning to school balancing work, family responsibilities and schoolwork. When students attend school, they often work less hours, which reduces the financial resources available for food causing food insecurity for themselves and their family members,” she said.

Toups and her colleagues readied the space, which has clean cubbies and storage, and keep it stocked throughout the year. Another colleague wrote a grant to acquire a mobile cart to use as a traveling food satellite in classrooms and offices. Student organizations helped expand the service to additional classrooms and buildings on campus.

“Students felt empowered to talk about their use of the resources helping reduce the stigma and normalizing help-seeking behaviors in their peers,” Toups said.

Because of the initiative and unbeknownst to her, Toups was nominated by a colleague for a Promising Practice Award at the national level with the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). The award recognizes a person or institution at a two-year college that develops and implements a program or practice that is inclusive of a historically underrepresented group, promotes equity on their campus or encourages thoughtful contemplation of social justice. ACPA is the leading comprehensive student affairs association that advances student affairs and engages students for a lifetime of learning and discovery.

Toups, who is earning a doctoral degree in Adult Learning and Development at Northwestern State University, referred to the satellite food pantry initiative as a ripple effect of a review paper assigned by Dr. Laura Beth Norman in a Teaching Disadvantaged Learners class, a required course for Toups’ concentration area within the Ed.D. program. The assignment had a profound impact on her awareness of student needs.

“Reading about the first-hand experiences of students in the research article made me think about my own students. I wanted to make sure they knew the resources that existed on our campus and that I would never judge them for using the campus food pantry,” she said. “I also wanted to provide a discreet way for students to slip items into their backpack without others noticing. The article shared one participants’ story of dodging into the closest bathroom to conceal the bag from the food pantry so no one, including her peers or instructors, would see her using the food pantry.”

At Fletcher, Toups teaches aspiring medical laboratory technicians and phlebotomists and medical terminology alongside general education classes for students thinking of majoring in health professions. Student wellbeing has always been a priority for her at Fletcher, which serves a high percentage of students on Pell grants with many qualifying for the higher levels of assistance.

“During my first year as program director, our faculty met monthly with the director of Student Affairs to understand our student population, learn best practices in providing a supportive and inclusive classroom environment and discuss teaching strategies for neurodivergent learners. I became aware of the resources available to help students complete their program of studies fulfilling their goals,” she said. “Being aware of my student population allows me to better support my learners and become a connection to available resources on campus and beyond.”

Toups earned undergraduate degrees in microbiology from the University of Alabama and clinical laboratory science at Louisiana State University Health Science Center. She worked in a clinical laboratory for over 20 years in regional hospitals in Louisiana and in the state’s public health reference laboratory.

“During the pandemic, I took an online yoga teacher certification and remembered how much I loved learning. In 2021, I began my graduate school journey. I completed my master’s degree in May 2023 in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of North Dakota and began my Doctor of Education in Adult Learning and Workforce Development at Northwestern State in August 2023.”

Toups also participated in Fletcher’s Falcon Academy for Leadership Advancement (FALA) which encourages members to set professional goals for themselves, and she was encouraged to pursue the doctoral degree by Fletcher Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland. Fletcher and NSU have an articulation agreement in place that provides an affordable means for faculty and staff to continue their education while working. Toups said NSU’s Ed.D. program has advanced her knowledge of program accreditation, information useful during a recent self-study and site visit for the Medical Laboratory Technician program.

“I really enjoy the reflective practices of the program such as crafting our philosophy of education statements, demonstrating our individual learning achieved at the end of the semester and constructing promising practices for the classroom using the module materials,” she said.

“The Ed.D. program allows me to apply my knowledge from a course in real time demonstrating that my learning is relevant to my current work and impacts my current students,” she said. “I also feel a special connection to my learners since I am also a student dealing with my own deadlines in classes. I consider my professors in the Ed.D. programs as mentors helping me to grow into the best educator I can possibly be.”

Toups will graduate with her doctoral degree from NSU this December.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.— Coming off a strong performance at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational, the Northwestern State track and field teams are headed to face top competition.

The teams compete at the University of Florida for the Pepsi Florida Relays at the Percy Beard Track at James G. Pressly Stadium, a two-day event that begins today.

The field events start at 10 a.m. with the women’s hammer and the track events start at 1:30 p.m. with the women’s 4×100 prelims today.

NSU competitors will line up alongside some of the best athletes in the nation.

“It will be fun,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “This will be one of the biggest relay meets of the year around the nation and our school has never competed at it, to my knowledge. We’re very excited to go and mix it up with some of the best talent on the East coast and have some fun.”

Last time out, NSU won 19 events by 16 different players, as well as a pair of relays at the home meet, the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational.

The throwers, in particular, had a strong meet at home, as four athletes lead the Southland Conference in their respective events after setting marks this past meet.

Leading the Lady Demons was Eliska Zahradnickova, who tossed a 172-6 in the women’s discus, which not only won the event, but is also the top mark in the Southland Conference this outdoor season, more than eight feet better than second place.

That performance earned Southland Conference Women’s Field Athlete of the Week honors. She was joined by record-setting sprinter Rushana Dwyer, who won SLC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.

At the home meet, Dwyer led the sprinters by winning both the 200 and 400-meter dashes.

In the 400, she finished with a conference-leading time of 53.76, leading a Lady Demon sweep in the event.

Over in the 200, she clocked a 28.86. which was the top mark in the league this past week and second-best time in the Southland this outdoor season.

TENNIS: Northwestern’s weekend home matches against UIW and Lamar have been postponed due to anticipated inclement weather, prompting adjustments to the Lady Demons’ upcoming schedule.

The matches, originally set for Saturday against UIW and Monday against Lamar, will now be played later in the week.

NSU is now hosting UIW on Monday at 11 a.m., while the matchup with Lamar has been rescheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.  The contest against Lamar is also serving as Senior Day for the Demons, celebrating Sofi Garcia, Zoi Spyrou and Lolita Hukasian.

Northwestern enters the final stretch of the regular season with a 6–1 mark in Southland Conference play, second in the conference behind McNeese.

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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Good teams find ways to win games. The Northwestern State softball squad continues to make its case as being one of them.

In a pitcher’s duel Thursday night, the Demons (19-18 overall, 8-5 in the Southland Conference) capitalized on a pair of Stephen F. Austin (21-17, 5-8) errors and Britt Bourgoyne’s bat to score two runs, which was plenty of support for ace Mattison Buster, who tossed her fifth shutout of the season in a 2-0 win.

The Demons and Lumberjacks finish their series with a Good Friday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Only the first game of today’s pair will air on ESPN+.

“I feel like 2-0 wins aren’t as common these days, but when you have a pitcher like Buster in the circle, she can limit the runs and we scored enough to win,” head coach Jenny Fuller said. 

With both teams’ aces squaring off in the series opener, runs figured to be at a premium and each side would need to take advantage of their run-scoring chances.

Both the Demons and Lumberjacks put multiple runners on base in the first and second innings, and both teams left runners stranded on bases in those innings.

The relentlessness of the Demons finally paid off in the top of the third, as they took advantage of a pair of SFA errors, another trait that all good teams share.

An error at second put Aly Delafield on with one out, and following a Sister Arnold single to right and error on the play, the Demons had runners at second and third with one out. Bourgoyne made the Jacks pay shooting the first pitch she saw into the left center gap bringing in both Delafield and Arnold for the game’s only runs.

The game turned in the span of four pitches.

“We scattered some hits tonight so we were getting contact on the ball,” Fuller said. “Britt was tired of getting out so she bore down and got the hit that proved to be the game winner. Really proud of her and how she played tonight. But the approach was hunt good pitches early and it paid off.”

From there, it is was Buster’s game.

She allowed just three total baserunners afterward on three base hits, coming in the fourth, sixth and seventh. Only one advanced past second base, but she was quickly left standing at third on a ground ball to second to end the sixth inning.

Buster completed her 14th complete game of the season to earn her 16th win, matching Mikayla Brown (2017) for the most wins by a Demon pitcher since 2013. With just two strikeouts in the game, Buster relied on her defense for the other 19 outs, getting a near perfect split with nine fly ball out and 10 groundouts.

“She wants the ball in those high-pressure moments, and I trust her with it,” Fuller said about Buster. “She trusts her defense and it all kind of works together. As the game goes on, she just gets stronger so when you have a pitcher like that you can beat anybody.”

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EDINBURG, Texas – Being complementary in two phases was enough for the Northwestern State baseball team in its Southland Conference series opener at UT-Rio Grande Valley on Thursday night.

Led by a career night from Ethan Menard, the Demons posted a season-high in runs and rolled to a 17-9 victory against the homestanding Vaqueros.

The series continues tpday at 6:30 p.m. and wraps up Saturday at 1, with ESPN+ coverage. Northwestern will send junior right-hander Dylan Marionneaux (2-2, 5.01) to the mound today.

The Demons will carry momentum with them.

“I’m proud of our offense, especially the way we were able to string together quality at-bats from the middle of the game until the ending part of the game,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “From Menard’s swing on, the quality of the at-bat and the focus within the at-bat got better. You see that you’re able to pressurize when you’re able to string them together in an inning.”

Menard delivered two game-altering swings as he collected a career-high six RBIs. Menard’s first career home run was a game-tying, three-run blast off UTRGV starter Sergio Lopez (2-4) in the fourth inning. Menard’s rocket to left field opened one of four multi-run innings for Northwestern, which scored its most runs against a Division I team since a 17-8 win at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on May 7, 2023.

In the seventh inning, Menard’s two-run, two-out single helped the Demons break open a 5-4 game and started a five-run surge with two outs as Michael McAloose followed with his third home run of the season – a three-run shot to left.

“Just having a crowd like this gets the blood flowing,” said Menard, who added an RBI single in the eighth inning to match his career high with three hits. “The guys really showed up. The pitching staff held on the back end. It was driving to keep doing good and to keep getting their back at the plate.”

The Demons (19-10 overall, 11-5 for first place in the Southland passing the midpoint of the 30-game league slate) continued to pressure the Vaqueros (14-16, 9-7) in the eighth inning, putting the game away with a seven spot that featured a run of four straight RBI singles from the 6-9 hitters in the Demon order.

McAloose was involved in that streak, starting it with a flare single to right as he drove in the final of his career-high four RBIs.

“We stuck to our approaches,” McAloose said. “We started stacking ABs, especially with two outs. Everything started clicking, and we started doing it for each other.”

The Demon offense picked up freshman left-hander Brody Trosclair (5-4), who grinded his way through five innings, allowing four runs (three earned).

Junior right-hander Kevin Robinson followed with a scoreless sixth inning, allowing the Northwestern offense to erupt in the seventh and eighth innings for the second straight game. In their past two seventh and two eighth innings dating to Sunday’s game at Nicholls, the Demons have scored 18 runs.

“That’s the thing – gutsy and gritty,” Bertrand said. “That’s us being complementary in the way we picked each other up. Our offense picked up the way we gave up some of those runs where the defense was not complementary tonight. That’s a part of it. The defense didn’t have the best night in some tough conditions, but that complementary nature – at times you’re looking for all three, but at times you can be complementary if one or the other is able to pick it up. The way Brody closed his outing and how Kevin got the hold and how the offense picked it up meant the Demons got to complement each other even though all three phases weren’t going. That’s the sign of a good team. You learn how to win games in multitudes of ways.”

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