Sending text messages has become an integral part of life for most of us. It has become such a common activity that we instinctively reach for our phones and begin tapping out a message rather than placing a voice call. The most common text messages today are, “I love you,” “when will you be home,” and “where are you,” respectively. The birth of our modern text messaging system can be traced back to December 3, 1992.

In 1992, 22-year-old Neil Papworth was working as a software engineer for the now-defunct Anglo-French information technology company Sema Group Telecoms. For about a year and a half, Neil was part of a team that was searching for a way to transmit short text messages for Vodafone, a British telecommunications company. At the time, the only function cell phones could perform consisted of making and receiving telephone calls. Telecommunication companies knew that cell phones had the potential to do more, and they knew adding functions would lead to huge profits. Vodafone wanted to add a pager feature (remember pagers?) into cell phones. Neil and his team spent months testing and troubleshooting the one-way messaging system. The main problem was that they had to create a text messaging system that would interact flawlessly with any cell phone on the market.

Vodafone had invested a lot of money in the system and wanted to show the world that it worked. On December 3, 1992, Neil sat in his office in Newbury, England, hoping that the text messaging system he and his team created would function as expected. After checking and rechecking the team’s programming, Neil typed in the cell number of Richard Jarvis, the director of Vodafone, who was hosting a Christmas party on the other side of town at the time. He typed in a short message and, as he later explained, had two thoughts: “God, I hope this works,” and “what am I going to have for dinner?” Neil explained, “for me, it was just another day at work.” This was far from a random test; Vodafone had planned to reveal their technology to the world at this party if it worked. Vodafone had numerous members of the press present to be sure the word got out. The company had planned every detail of the reveal except for what the text message would say. Without much thought, Neil typed a two-word message and sent it. Because it was a one-way text messaging system and Richard could not send a reply, Neil had to call Richard to ensure that the test was successful. Neil said, “there was a lot of relief when it worked.” By the end of 2000, cell phone users sent an average of 35 text messages per month. Today, users send an average of 52 text messages per day. Neil had no idea that text messaging would make such an impact on our daily lives.

Neil Papworth, the 22-year-old software engineer who helped change the way the world sends and receives information, who is credited with sending the first commercial text message, did not own a cell phone. He bought his first cell phone three or four years later. Although it’s been said many times, many ways, I want to share the same message with you that Neil sent the director of Vodafone. The first commercial text message in history consisted of just two words, “Merry Christmas.”

Sources:

1. The Daily Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), June 30, 2006, p.57.

2. Ivan Blagojevic, “23+ Texting Statistics on Modern Messaging Habits,” 99firms, August 11, 2025, https://99firms.com/research/texting-statistics/#gref.

3. “The History of SMS – Neil Papworth w/ Bonin Bough | Messaging Summit 2019,” Bonin Bough, YouTube.com, July 9, 2019, https://youtu.be/odvj7CDGHys?si=cApKpHu6tnQyuTd9.

4. “Meet the Legend Behind the first ‘Merry Christmas’ SMS,” MoreThan160, YouTube.com, December 4, 2023, https://youtu.be/1EQffh6-Y2Y?si=DpndYabbyoLNtHhl.

The Cane River Branch of the Magnolia State Peace Officers Association held its annual Shop With a Cop event at Walmart on Dec. 20. The event brought together law enforcement officers and local students for a holiday shopping experience focused on community connection.

Students selected for the program were paired one-on-one with an officer and given the opportunity to shop throughout the store for items of their choice within a set price limit. The national Shop With a Cop initiative is designed to strengthen relationships between children and law enforcement while creating positive, lasting memories.

Walmart welcomed participants with hot chocolate and doughnuts, helping set a festive tone for the morning. Organizers also expressed appreciation to the event sponsors whose support helped make the annual program possible.

Margaret Mead was once asked about the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was.

The student expected an answer related to material artifacts, but Mead’s response was a healed femur. She explained that in the animal kingdom, a broken leg typically means death, as it prevents the animal from fleeing predators, accessing water, or hunting for food. A healed femur, however, indicates that someone took time to care for the injured, showing compassion and cooperation. This act of helping others in their time of need is considered the true beginning of civilization.

The Neolithic Revolution ushered us
To the fields of ‘amber waves of grain’;
We heard the bleatings of goats and sheep
From over the hills and across the fields.

We left the world of kill or be killed
Behind us;
We embraced the world of heal and be healed
Before us.

Saints and sages tell us
To love and heal our neighbors,
To heal and love our brothers and sisters.
For we are born in the broken world.

Scholars and philosophers tell us
to heed the wounded healers,
who know the pain of humankind.
For we are born in the broken world.

The Bard from Innisfail urges us on:
“We must laugh and we must sing,
We are blest by everything,
Everything we look upon is blest.”

But everyplace we look upon is conflict,
Almost all things we look upon is curst;
And yet we build community plank by oaken plank,
And yet we heal humanity bone by broken bone.

Though we are born in the broken world,
We are born with the hearts of gold;
We take time to care for our young and old,
Our compassion and cooperation make us bold.

K-9 Roka of the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and her handler, Sgt. A. Llorence, assigned to the NPSO Drug Enforcement Unit, were actively assisting Impact Units working in communities across Natchitoches Parish on the evening of Dec. 19.

The teams focused their efforts on addressing criminal activity while enhancing public safety throughout the parish. The operation was part of ongoing enforcement efforts by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office to support community safety and crime prevention initiatives.

Christmas is meant to be a season of joy, but for some, it carries an ache that never quite fades.

Join Billy West and Marvin Blake as they open their hearts and speak honestly about what it means to face the holidays after unimaginable loss. Billy shares the pain of his most recent heartbreak—the loss of his beloved son, Nick—and how Christmas now arrives with memories that both comfort and wound. In those darkest moments, Billy discovered that the most comforting support came through the outreach of friends whose presence, prayers, and quiet acts of kindness helped carry him forward when his strength was gone.

Marvin reflects on the weight of losing five family members and the deep emptiness their absence leaves behind during the Christmas season. For Marvin, the most powerful comfort came through the steady embrace of friends, family, and former coaches—people who had walked with him throughout his life and refused to let him face his grief alone. Their calls, visits, shared memories, and unwavering love became anchors during a season that might otherwise have felt unbearable.

Together, they speak not only of grief, but of love that never fades—and of community that shows up, surrounds you, and holds you together when your heart is breaking. Their stories remind us that even in profound loss, hope can still be found in the hands of those who care.

Question: Should the Natchitoches City Council request a state legislative audit immediately?

Number of participants who completed the form: 2,037

This survey was to gain insight among the readership of the Natchitoches Parish Journal.  This is simply a snapshot-in-time of the opinions of our readership. This is NOT a scientific poll.

Cheered by friends, family and faculty, Fall and Summer 2025 graduates collected diplomas during commencement at Northwestern State University this week. From varied backgrounds and academic journeys, graduates reflected on their experiences at NSU and their plans for the future.

Hillary Bennett of Natchitoches returned to school as a non-traditional student in 2021 and earned two degrees in psychology and addiction studies. She is a well-known volunteer in Natchitoches, holds leadership roles in several service organizations and is a founding member of the leadership team for Mind Over Matters, which facilitates mental health care in Natchitoches.

She was the only student to serve on a team to pilot Demons for Recovery, NSU’s college recovery program, working with faculty and administrators to develop a program to provide support and prevention services for students and co-writing a grant proposal to fund the initiative.

Bennett has been an active member and held leadership positions in NSU’s Addiction Studies Club, Psychology Club and the NSU chapter of Psi Chi, all while doing extra research and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She is applying for a Ph.D. program in January.

“I earned my undergraduate degree in fashion merchandising and design from Wade’s College. Although I continue to appreciate fashion, my path shifted as I became involved in mentoring women who were struggling under the weight of addiction, either their own or that of a loved one. Through these mentoring relationships, I developed a deep passion for recovery and healing. Several of the women I worked with encouraged me to return to school so that I could help others in a more professional capacity,” she said.

“After earning my Ph.D., I plan to study clinical psychology with an emphasis in neuropsychology. My long-term goal is to help individuals recovering from addiction by developing and implementing treatment plans that specifically target the brain and nervous system.”

JC Acosta of Lafayette earned two degrees, one in biology with a biomedical concentration and the other in applied microbiology with a concentration in medical and health professions and a minor in chemistry. Acosta was a pitcher on the Demon baseball team for four years, worked in the First Year Experience office and served as a Demon VIP, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

“My experience as a student athlete has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Acosta said. “The hundreds of people I have met, and who’ve helped me along the way, have made it such a special journey. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the people I have met through athletics, pushing me to be a better version of myself each and every day.”

Acosta’s dad, John Acosta, is also an NSU alum (1998), and they both were members of Presidential Leadership Program, headed by Dean of Students Reatha Cox.

“The first person I met on campus was Mrs. Reatha Cox. She helped me find an amazing group of people through PLP, which is how I was introduced to Mary-Katherine [Maggio] and how I got involved with First Year Experience and Demon VIP. I thank her for everything she has done for me, opening so many opportunities for me to get involved in the community.

Head Baseball Coach Chris Bertrand was also a significant mentor.

“I can’t thank him enough for giving me the opportunity to play baseball at NSU,” Acosta said. “He has always been in my corner, pushing me through every challenge that was thrown my way.”

Acosta has been accepted to medical school at LSU Health New Orleans and plans to become an orthopedic surgeon.

“I think I just always wanted to have a career that centered around helping people. When I was in high school, one of my best friends got hurt playing baseball, and I just wanted to help him get better. Ever since that happened, I became fascinated with medicine. This led me to wanting to pursue a career in medicine and hopefully become an Orthopedic Surgeon so that I can help people just like him.

Annamarie Sunderbruch of Sulphur earned a master’ s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. She is employed as executive assistant to the chancellor at SOWELA Technical Community College. She openly shares her sobriety journey to inspire and support others, never shying away from using her experiences to uplift those around her.

Sunderbruch began her academic journey as a first-time freshman at Sowela in 2017 employed as a student worker.

“Through that experience, I developed a deep passion for student affairs in higher education, largely because of the tremendous support I received when I first started college—at that time, I was just six months sober.”

This past semester, she lost her father, a United States Navy Veteran. Despite this personal hardship, she continued to move forward. She, too, has a perfect GPA and hopes to be admitted to the doctoral program in NSU’s Adult Learning and Development with a concentration in community college leadership next fall. Her professional dream is to one day serve as an executive director of Student Affairs, ideally at SOWELA, the very institution that changed the trajectory of her life.

“What motivates me most is my faith and my children,” she said. “I am a mom to 11-year-old twin boys, and we have recently opened our home to a foster son whose mother is struggling with addiction in ways that mirror my own past.”

John Bates of Denton, Texas, is an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He completed coursework in 3-1/2 years using a combination of Joint Service Transcript military credit, CLEP credit and required courses.

“I joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2021 with the intention of earning a college degree,” he said. “I did not realize that I could go during active duty till I arrived at Fort Polk. Once I enrolled in school, I made it my goal to complete my degree before the end of my Army contract.”
He earned an associate degree from NSU in 2023 and continued his studies during a 9-month deployment last year, along with other training and service obligations.

“I am going to be a police officer in Lake Charles while I attempt to complete my master’s degree in psychology,” he said.

Kari Davis of Bossier City, a cardiovascular and trauma intensive care nurse at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Academic Medical Center, is completing a Master of Science in Nursing. In order to fulfill mentoring requirements, she worked with fourth level Associate of Science of Nursing students this semester while maintaining her role as clinical educator at Oschner. She completed her studies while employed full-time and balancing home life.

“My final semester experience was deeply rewarding. I valued every opportunity to engage with the students — encouraging them, guiding them through complex scenarios and supporting their decision-making processes,” she said. That experience revealed a passion for working with nursing students and helping them navigate the challenges of their academic journeys.

“I thrive on knowledge and learning more ways to support the students and new graduate nurses I work with through the difficult time of school and first-time employment,” she said. She hopes to teach as an adjuct instructor for NSU while maintaining her clinical educator role at Oschner.

Registration for NSU’s Spring 2026 semester will continue through Jan. 11, 2026. Late registration (fees apply) will continue through Jan. 21, 2026. Visit http://www.nsula.edu for more information.

The Natchitoches Hawg Riders held their annual Shopping With a Biker event at the Natchitoches Walmart, bringing together members of the motorcycle group and local children for a holiday shopping experience.

The annual event is part of the Hawg Riders’ continued efforts to give back to the community and support local families during the holiday season.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center recognized Felicia Pagan, an EVS Technician, as its newest Guardian Angel on Dec. 18. Pagan was nominated by a patient who expressed appreciation for her attention to detail and the pride she takes in keeping the Emergency Room clean, safe, and welcoming.
Hospital officials noted that Pagan’s thoroughness, consistency, and commitment to maintaining a clean environment contribute to patient safety and comfort while supporting families and staff throughout the facility.

The Guardian Angel Program honors exceptional caregivers and team members across all departments, including doctors, nurses, environmental services staff, aides, therapists, and others who go above and beyond in their roles. Nominations are submitted by patients, families, and colleagues and include a contribution to the NRMC Foundation made in honor of the recognized caregiver.

NRMC encouraged community members to continue recognizing outstanding care and service by submitting Guardian Angel nominations through the NRMC Foundation.

Talent students at Magnet School performed during the school’s Christmas Program, showcasing their musical skills with a performance of Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel.

The ensemble featured LaCaze Boss on bass, Robert Williams on third violin, Everett Watson on second violin, and Nicholas Washington on first violin. The group was accompanied on keyboard by Mrs. Olson.

The performance was part of the school’s holiday program celebrating student talent and musical achievement.

There were three catalysts as the Northwestern State women’s basketball team rallied from nine down with under five minutes left to victory Sunday afternoon on Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum.

Vernell Atamah, Nya Valentine and Carla Celaya turned on the afterburners and the Lady Demons roared back.

Trailing 53-44 with four minutes left and staring its first Southland Conference defeat in the face, NSU (6-5, 3-0) scored 16 of the game’s final 20 points to capture a 60-57 victory over visiting Lamar (5-5, 2-1) in a matchup of two of the three early conference unbeatens.

“Wow,” Northwestern coach Anna Nimz said. “We started out hot, but then we got into foul trouble. But we were down nine with a little over four to go and there was no give-up. There was no resolve and there was some true belief we were going to come back. Nobody counted us out, at least not in our huddle. It was good composure by the girls; I just wanted to recognize that.”

It is the first 3-0 start in league play for the Demons since 2014-15 when they started the SLC season at 5-0.

A 3-pointer from Lamar’s KJ Walker with 4:48 left gave the Cardinals the nine-point lead. At the time, the Demons had scored no points in the quarter and were 0-of-8 from the field.

From there, Atamah, Valentine and Celaya took over. Celaya started and ended the rally with a pair of free throws to break the drought in the fourth and ended it on defense thwarting Lamar’s last-second bid for a tie.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Atamah and Valentine tied the score at 54, forcing a Lamar timeout with 1:48 left.

Following a bucket from Solenne Olenga to give the Cardinals the lead 56-54, the Demons’ duo struck again. Valentine found Atamah, who was cramping much of the fourth quarter, on a backdoor pass for a basket and foul.

“I was cramping a lot, and I know my team was giving their all,” Atamah said. “It was just about focusing in and knowing my team needs me. We were holding on and I was trying to do what I could to extend our lead and make sure we came away with a dub.”

Valentine had five assists with no turnovers to go along with a game-high 20 points. She made four 3-pointers after draining a career-high five in the victory at McNeese.

“I never lost faith,” Valentine said. “I believe in this group, and I just knew if we stuck through it and trusted the process, we were going to ultimately win.”

With the game tied at 57 with 54 seconds left, Valentine calmly swished a pair of free throws for a lead NSU maintained the rest of the way.

Celaya started the rally, so it made sense for her to end it, as she locked up Lamar’s Shaila Forman on a drive and Forman, who scored 11 points, but she stumbled and lost the ball out of bounds with three seconds to play. Atamah was fouled on the inbounds and sank a free throw before missing the second but after a rebound was controlled with under a second to go, Lamar had no chance to take it downcourt.

“On that last possession, I was just like ‘Just let me lock in,” Celaya said. “I knew if we got one stop, we win. I locked in and did what coach needed me to do, and we won.”

Each team forced 17 turnovers, but NSU scored 24 points off Lamar’s turnovers, compared to just 15 points off turnovers for the Cardinals.

Lamar averaged better than 15 offensive rebounds per game, but NSU held the Cardinals to just eight.

“Going into games, we always have game keys and keeping them off the offensive glass was our biggest priority,” Celaya said. “We needed to lock in and keep them from getting second chances.”

The Demons are back in action after Christmas with another big game against another perennial SLC power, hosting Stephen F. Austin on New Year’s Eve to round out 2025.

The Northwestern State men’s basketball team put together its most complete performance of the season Saturday afternoon, rolling past Southern-New Orleans 108–55 on Mike McConathy Court at Prather Coliseum to close non-conference play in decisive fashion. 

The Demons (3-8) set the tone early and never looked back, using relentless defensive pressure and efficient scoring to open a commanding halftime lead before erupting for 58 points in the second half. Northwestern shot 54.4 percent from the field and received 53 points from its bench, while forcing 16 turnovers and converting them into 18 points. 

“I thought for probably 30 to 33 minutes we looked really good defensively today,” head coach Rick Cabrera said. “We’ve been building defensively over our last three games, and the numbers show it. They’re starting to see the identity I want us to have.” 

Micah Thomas and Justin Redmond powered a balanced offensive effort, each scoring 20 points, with Redmond posting a career high. Thomas added four assists and four steals in just 20 minutes, while Redmond connected on three 3-pointers and went 5-for-6 from the free throw line. 

“Coach really emphasized defense,” Redmond said. “We wanted to focus on getting stops, getting deflections and getting out and running. That helps everybody get into rhythm.” 

Izzy Miles continued his strong offensive stretch after a career night at Cal, finishing with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting while sparking several transition opportunities as the Demons pushed the pace. 

Northwestern seized control midway through the first half with a decisive run, turning a single-digit margin into a 50-30 halftime  advantage. The momentum only accelerated after halftime.  

The victory closed non-conference play on a high note and sent the Demons into the heart of Southland Conference action with momentum following their most decisive win of the season. Northwestern returns to action after the Christmas break, hosting Lamar on Monday, Dec. 29, and Stephen F. Austin two afternoons later.

Natchitoches Junior High JAG recently recognized two students for demonstrating outstanding leadership during recent school-sponsored field trips.

Johnny King was awarded a gift card to Southern Classic for his leadership and positive attitude while participating in a community service trip to the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. Johnny consistently stepped up to help others, followed directions, and represented Natchitoches Junior High with maturity and respect.

Ronnie Wilson was also recognized with a Southern Classic gift card for displaying exceptional leadership during the JAG trip to New Orleans. Ronnie took initiative, assisted peers, and set a strong example throughout the trip, demonstrating the core values of the JAG program.

The JAG program believes in acknowledging students who lead by example and demonstrate responsibility, teamwork, and character. Recognitions like these encourage students to continue making positive choices and inspire others to do the same.

Natchitoches Junior High JAG is proud of Johnny King and Ronnie Wilson and commends them for their leadership and dedication both in and out of the classroom.

Kerry Mitchell, a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and veteran, passed away on December 18, 2025, in Marksville, Louisiana, at the age of 83.

Born on March 5, 1942, in Many, Louisiana, Kerry spent his early years in this close-knit community, where he developed a strong sense of family that remained important to him throughout his life.

Kerry proudly served his country in both the United States Air Force and the United States Army. His dedication to service culminated in his retirement from the Army as a Staff Sergeant, a role in which he demonstrated leadership, discipline, and a deep sense of duty.

Kerry enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. He loved watching sports, sharing meals with family and friends, and listening to his children sing. Before his health declined, he especially enjoyed attending his children’s musical performances.

He is survived by his children, Kimberly Mitchell McInnis, Kelli Mitchell Roberts, and Keith Richardson; his siblings, Bruce Mitchell and wife Nita, Louise Mitchell Martin, and Kent Mitchell and wife LeAnne; ten grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Willard Mitchell and Pinkye Simpson Mitchell; his siblings, Charles Mitchell, Glenda Mitchell Davis, and his twin brother, Keith Mitchell; his son, Timothy Lane Mitchell; his grandson, Aaron Richardson; and his brother-in-law, John Martin.

A visitation will be held for Kerry on December 23, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 1:00 p.m., with Bro. Bill Hudson officiating. Both services will take place at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Military honors will be rendered at the conclusion of the funeral service. Burial will follow at Fort Jesup Cemetery in the Fort Jesup Community.

Kerry will be remembered for his service to his country and the legacy he leaves through his family.

Bid Information for Leasing of Agricultural Property at NPSB Parcel8100002000A

Bids/Proposals will be accepted until January 5, 2026 1:00 p.m. and will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:00 PM in the School Board’s Central Office, 310 Royal Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71457-5709. Please find bid-related documents at WWW.CENTRALBIDDING.COM  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 Jordan Rowell,

Purchasing Coordinator, at Jordan.Rowell@npsb.la or 318-352-2358, Ext. 6373, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Bids may be mailed in or dropped off at 310 Royal Street address. The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Other terms and conditions:

1. I) Bidder must acknowledge their acceptance of the template lease and its terms which is attached herein on their bid

• All parcels of land up for bid have a minimum bid per acre of$85.00

• Each lease is for one

• Bidder must have bid in sealed envelope with parcel number identified on the outside of the envelop.
• Bidder must provide proof of easement to the parcel being bid Example is “Using Water Well Road as Easement”

12/15/25, 12/22/25 & 01/05/26

NPSB Approved Notice of Bid Information Packages signed letter.

The Krewe of Excellence will host its 3rd Annual Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Natchitoches. The parade will feature retired Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Victor Jones Jr. as grand marshal.

Route: Leaving NSU Campus, via Jefferson Street, traveling to Front Street, turning by LSHOF Museum on to 2nd Street, ending at NSU’s main entrance.

According to event information, the parade line-up will begin at 10 a.m., with the parade scheduled to roll at 12 p.m. Participants will stage at the NSU Prather Coliseum parking lot, located at 220 S. Jefferson Street in Natchitoches.

The Krewe of Excellence, established in 2004, continues to celebrate Mardi Gras traditions while highlighting community leadership and service through its annual parade.

Additional information about the event is available by email at kreweofexcellencenatch@gmail.com.

The Natchitoches Police Department has arrested Daqualon Brimsey (B/M, 20 y.o.a. of Natchitoches) for illegal possession of a firearm, aggravated criminal damage to property, aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of schedule I narcotics, unlawful handling of a machine gun and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Natchitoches Police Department officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Lakeview Drive on Dec. 9 around 7:56 pm. Upon officers arrival they located property damage to an apartment caused by gunfire.

Detectives with the Natchitoches Police Department and agents with the Violent Crime Task Force were called to the scene and were able to speak with several witnesses and collect evidence from the shooting.

After speaking with witnesses’ investigators were able to determine that, Daqualon Brimsey, was responsible for the shooting.

On Dec. 12 a search warrant was conducted at the residence of Daqualon Brimsey where he was placed under arrest without incident. He was placed in the LaSalle Corrections / Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective Charles Cassels at (318) 357-3858. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $5,000 for the arrest of an offender.

The Natchitoches Police Department has arrested Desmond Williams (B/M, 18 y.o.a. of Natchitoches) for illegal possession of a firearm, aggravated criminal damage to property and discharging a firearm within the city limits.

Natchitoches Police Department officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Pearl Street on Dec. 18 around 10:07 am in reference to gunshots in the area. Upon officers’ arrival they were notified that the suspect was on a bicycle and was possibly still in the area.

Officers, Investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division and members of the Violent Crime Task Force were able to set up a perimeter and locate the suspect several blocks away who then fled on foot. After a brief foot chase officers were able to place Desmond Williams under arrest.

Desmond Williams was placed in the LaSalle Corrections / Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective Davanta Stevenson at (318) 357-3817. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $5,000 for the arrest of an offender.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

NATCHITOCHES – They filled four pews at the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches Thursday morning, for one last meeting with their coach.

John Ropp passed away last week at age 95. At his funeral were more than two dozen players from each stage of his football coaching career — his days as an incredibly successful coach at Rusheon Junior High, then as the almost instantly-successful leader of the brand-new Airline High School football team, followed by the longest series of winning seasons ever at Northwestern State while he was offensive line coach.

Ropp coached and taught locally at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels for over 20 years.

He was a head coach at Plantation Point Elementary in Bossier City before moving to Rusheon Junior High, where he developed one of the state’s most successful middle school athletic programs from 1958-64. His football teams won four Northwest Junior High League championships and had a 50-7 record, including a 21-game win streak, in his eight seasons.

He then launched Airline’s football program when the school opened in 1964 and was 13-7-1, including a remarkable 9-1-1 mark (the only loss was 21-20 to Lee Hedges’ Woodlawn team featuring Terry Bradshaw and Tommy Spinks) in 1965, his second season.

Northwestern coach Jack Clayton added him as offensive line coach in July 1966. The Demons went a perfect 9-0 that season, the first of nine years Ropp was an assistant at NSU. The Demons had winning seasons in all but his last one, set many offensive school records, and he coached 21 all-conference players for Clayton, Glenn Gossett and George Doherty.

Bossier City resident Mike Pool played for Ropp on Airline’s first two teams after playing against his teams in junior high. Pool became an N-Club Hall of Fame quarterback at Northwestern playing behind Ropp’s offensive line.

When Airline’s first team went through spring practice in 1964, Pool knew of his new coach after competing against Ropp’s junior high powerhouse.

“I knew Rusheon was kicking our butts every year, so I was in awe of him. He turned out to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met, a super guy. He was such a positive person.

“I wish I could play for him again,” said Pool.

David Smith was Ropp’s last quarterback at Rusheon.

“We were really good. He was a really good coach and a great motivator. You’d run through a wall for Coach Ropp. He was a wonderful guy, a great influence on me and my teammates at an age where you need a positive, Christian person leading you. He was that.

“There are very few John Ropps,” said Smith. “Thank goodness for him.”

Smith, who was a Bossier High standout and went on to play defensive back at Northwestern,  had one regret.

“The way he succeeded so fast at Airline didn’t surprise me one bit,” he said. “We had seven guys sign college scholarships from our Bossier team, and if John Ropp had been our coach, I have no doubt we would have won the state championship.”

Jack Skaggs was a quarterback, backing up Pool, on the first two teams at Airline. The first spring practice was at Greenacres Middle School because construction wasn’t done at the new school. In those days, the campus was located well north of town, clear of traffic. Everything started from scratch.

“We picked the colors, the mascot, everything. Coach Ropp brought in different colored uniforms for us,” recalled Skaggs. “He did make one decision – he looked at those uniform styles, and said, ‘we’ve got to go with the UCLA stripe (on each shoulder) and we did. Those were great looking uniforms.”

The first Vikings team didn’t win until a midseason game at Springhill. Up 20-12 with under two minutes left, before two-point conversions were legal, Ropp’s heart took over, said Skaggs.

“Coach Ropp looked back at me and the other backups, and said, ‘We only got a minute and a half left, and these boys have worked so hard, let’s put them in.’ One of the assistants said, ‘Well, we can’t lose this one, why not?’ Getting to play in that first win meant the world to us.”

One of Shreveport-Bossier’s greatest running backs, Tony Papa, played against Ropp’s Airline teams as the star for Jesuit (now Loyola). The early-season 1964 game was played at Bossier High since the Vikings’ homefield wasn’t ready yet.

Something that happened afterward, in an era before teams met at midfield for handshakes, told Papa everything about Ropp.

“We won it by seven. We had a great team, and they had a young team, and still it was so close. After the game, we were on our bus, to go back to Jesuit, and the next thing we know, we’re looking out the windows and here comes the Airline team with Coach Ropp, to shake our hands and tell us what a great game we played. That’s class,” said Papa. “That’s what I never forgot.

“He was such a kind man, and a great coach,” said Papa, who ran behind Ropp’s line after transferring from Texas A&M to Northwestern.

Gordon Boogaerts starred at Captain Shreve for Lee Hedges, then was an N-Club Hall of Fame linebacker for the Demons. He lined up against Ropp’s players every practice for four years.

“He simply didn’t accept failure, and it permeated through the whole team. He taught us not to lose in everything we did,” said Boogaerts. “His offensive line, he’d spoil them, but he did put a little animal in them. He got everything they had.”

Smith treasured memories of Ropp attending Airline reunions.

“He always looked after us.  He was such a first-class individual,” he said.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com