Natchitoches City Council will have a pre-council meeting on Monday, June 23 beginning at 5 p.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. to discuss non-agenda items. The City Council meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda. The public is invited to both the pre-council meetings and council meetings with the understanding that items not on the agenda will not be discussed at the scheduled council meetings, but the public is welcome to discuss any topic at the pre-council meetings.The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers, located at 716 Second St. in Natchitoches.
PLANNING & ZONING – FINAL:
#020 Elie Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows: Lot on South Side Sidney Street Being The West 20 Feet of Lot 3 and The East 20 Feet of Lot 4 of The David Pierson Lots (119 Sidney St.)
ORDINANCES – FINAL: #019 Nielsen Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches To Award The Bid For The South Williams Water Line Project (Bid No. 0675)
#022 Smith Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Ronnie Williams, Jr., To Execute A Fourth Lease Amendment To Water Tower Option And Lease Agreement With New Cingular Wireless Pcs, LLC, Said Amendment Providing For An Extended Term, Providing For Consideration And Escalating Rent, The Ordinance Further Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:
#023 Petite Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches To Award The Bid For 2025 Street Rehabilitation Program (Bid No. 0676).
#024 Nielsen Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana, To Enter Into A Cooperative Endeavor Agreement With The Historic District Business Association Inc., Whereby The City Of Natchitoches Will Provide Employees To The Historic District Business Association Inc., In Exchange For The Services And Benefits That The City Receives From The Operations Of The Historic District Business Association Inc.,
RESOLUTIONS:
#058 Harrington Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into A Maintenance Agreement, Including Mowing And Litter Pickup, With The State Of Louisiana, Department Of Transportation And Development, Office Of Engineering Beginning July 1, 2025 Through June 30, 2026.
#059 Elie Resolution Appointing The City Attorney And Assistant City Attorneys For The City Of Natchitoches.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be July 14, 2025. The Offices of the City of Natchitoches will be CLOSED Friday, July 4, 2025 in honor of Independence Day.
The Natchitoches Parish Council will hold a special called meeting on Tuesday, June 24 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will take place in the Council Board Room, #211 on the 2nd Floor of the Courthouse.
Before there was Haleigh Bryant, Sarah Finnegan or Ashleigh Gnat, there was a 14-time All-American at LSU. An NCAA beam champion, and an SEC Gymnast of the Year, who was setting the foundation and helping vault LSU gymnastics into a perennial power.
That was April Burkholder, a native of Houston, but an LSU Tiger through and through. Just ask her legendary coach D-D Breaux, who experienced it all in her 43 years as leader of the LSU program.
Breaux coached 250 All-Americans and 89 All-SEC selections during her illustrious tenure that in 2017 landed her in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Burkholder was as driven as any of them, she said, high praise coming from one of the sport’s greatest pioneers.
“She was intense,” Breaux said. “She had that Eye of the Tiger. Nothing was going to stop her. Nothing was going to stand in her way. She wanted to win championships. She wanted to do anything she could possibly do to put an exclamation point on her gymnastics.”
Now Burkholder will join her coach in the state’s sports shrine during the 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration this weekend in Natchitoches. Check LaSportsHall.com for event information.
Not only did Burkholder’s greatness pay dividends for LSU on the mat, but it also translated into fan interest never previously seen in an LSU program that once competed in the Carl Maddox Field House or before sparse crowds in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
In 2025, the Tigers finished with four consecutive sellouts for the first time in school history. A total of 13,476 people attended the final meet against Georgia. Those numbers, historic in nature, were sparked by gymnasts like Burkholder and coaches like Breaux, who generated excitement that Tiger fans feel today.
“She was the beginning of us being able to market and promote and really put people in the seats,” Breaux said. “The fact that, when she left, we were selling season tickets and putting 6,000 people in the stands, that was the beginning of what we see now.”
When you boast a resume like Burkholder’s – whose list of accolades spill off the page – it’s almost impossible to pick one moment that stands out. For Breaux, it was the final event of her senior year, capturing the 2006 NCAA championship on balance beam. All that hard work culminating in the ultimate prize on the ultimate stage. How fitting.
“Everything she did was just awesome,” Breaux said. “She never won a national championship until her senior year. Numerous All-American honors and numerous SEC honors. But that coveted national title had evaded her. In my career, I’ve had three or four beam national championships, and every one are special people because the event requires so much focus and repetition of training.”
Burkholder got an early start in the sport, inspired by her big sister and encouraged by her parents.
“My sister was four years older than me and had been in gymnastics a year before I started,” she said. “I was 3 and I was jumping all over the place. I broke five bones before I was 5 years old, I cracked my skull open when I was 2, so I think part of my introduction to gymnastics was my parents wanting me to learn how to fall.”
She was a quick study, and gymnastics had a magnetic pull that became the dominant influence as she grew up. Although she thrived competitively, it came at a cost.
“I loved performing. Floor was always my favorite event because of that. Dance was a big part also for me,” said Burkholder. “It was all I knew, really. I was training 10 hours a day by the time I was 10 years old. I honestly didn’t even really have time for school. My education took a back seat and suffered a little bit, so I had to overcome a lot of obstacles.
“I had a scholarship waiting for me that I couldn’t take because I wasn’t academically eligible. I had to wait a year after I graduated high school to fix some things before I could come to LSU. D-D was very helpful in helping me get eligible, and she was pretty adamant about getting me to LSU.”
By then, she was a highly-coveted recruit.
“I pretty much had any choice I wanted, and LSU was my first trip. It wasn’t that far away from home, one state over, and it was my first choice, especially after I took my visit. It felt like home, all the way around,” said Burkholder.
Burkholder took her academics more seriously although she didn’t have the laser focus on her post-competitive career. She changed her major several times ad ultimately graduated in general studies with minors in sociology, communication studies and dance.
“That allowed me to take classes that I felt would be very useful in life, not knowing yet what I wanted to do for a career,” she said, noting that it proved to be an ideal foundation for what has become a career in alcoholic beverage sales for world-renowned Disaronno, which notably produces the world’s favorite Italian liqueur. She oversees the company’s accounts in south Texas and all of Louisiana.
That vocation introduced her to a Houston-area restaurant manager, Andrew Coulter, who has since entered the construction business. They married July 13, 2020 and last year April gave birth to 13-month-old daughter Adelyn Dawn, who shares her mom’s middle name and already, a love for dancing.
While national championships, record-breaking crowds, and billions of social media engagements have become the “new norm” for the Tiger program, it wasn’t always like that. Far from it, actually. Burkholder, along with Breaux, were key to building LSU gymnastics into what it is today – one of the hottest tickets in town.
Burkholder stepped onto LSU’s campus in 2002 as a rising star and left as the most decorated gymnast in school history four years later. Today, even after the program’s first NCAA championship in 2024 and numerous great teams and great gymnasts, Burkholder’s accomplishments still rank among the very best in LSU history.
When she left LSU, Burkholder had won a total of 108 individual event titles, setting a program record. Her eight perfect 10s (four on floor exercise, two on vault and two on beam) are still tied for the fourth-most in LSU history. And her 39.875 all-around score in 2003 in a meet with Centenary and Texas Woman’s University stood as the program’s best mark for 21 years until a 39.925 by Bryant in 2024.
During her time as a Tiger, Burkholder compiled 14 All-American honors (seventh-most ever at LSU), and was two-time SEC and NCAA Central Region Gymnast of the Year in addition to being a four-time All-SEC selection. As the program continued to grow, so did she.
“She’s an example of what it means to work hard and achieve more,” Breaux said. “Every year she got better, achieved more – and she was great when she arrived.”
Burkholder is deeply appreciative of her impending enshrinement in the state sports shrine – as only the fourth gymnast, following 1984 Olympic gold medalist Kathy Johnson, a Centenary legend, along with Breaux and another Tiger great, 2019 inductee Susan Jackson.
“After dedicating my life to this sport, and having to overcome a lot of obstacles, a lot of challenges, this puts it all together and makes it that much more meaningful,” said Burkholder, who turns 42 on July 2. “Hearing about the process and seeing everyone who’s been inducted and those who are in this class, it’s really special to reach this point. It solidifies things and makes it all worth it.”
Natchitoches’ Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest History Museum hosted Grammy winning Zydeco legend Chubby Carrier Saturday, June 21 for a fun afternoon of music and stories. Carrier, a native of Church Point, LA, delighted the audience with stories of his childhood in a sharecropping family and of his early days as a musician playing drums in his father’s band at the age of ten. Interspaced between the stories, Carrier would play selections from his vast musical repertory
Carrier also spoke of the history and origins of Zydeco music. He stated that Zydeco has elements of Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, Blues and Souls-a true musical and cultural gumbo. Chubby Carrier’s 38 year career has taken him to every state in America and numerous foreign countries. He and his accordion, named “Bernadette” are on the road over 275 nights each year.
If you missed his presentation at the LSHoF, no need to worry! Chubby Carrier will be the headliner at the 2025 NSU Folklife Festival, held at NSU’s Prather Colosseum, Saturday July 19.
The City of Natchitoches concluded its day-long Juneteenth Celebrations with a fun filled concert and fireworks show Saturday, June 21 at the downtown riverbank. The family-friendly event was attended by a capacity crowd who filled the amphitheater seating and enjoyed some superb music from the On Point Band followed by Zydeco legend Chris Ardoin. GODJ Chris kept the fun going in between sets. The indefatigable local civic leader Johnny Barnes of the Concerned Citizens Association of Natchitoches once again kept the crowd hydrated with free cold water.
The community’s newest annual celebration also featured food trucks, a mechanical bull, and inflatable play areas for children. The Juneteenth celebration concluded with one of our city’s magnificent fireworks shows.
The day’s celebrations began at the Natchitoches Parish. Texas and Pacific Railway Depot with a morning ceremony hosted by Natchitoches’ Mardi Gras Krewe of the 9. The ceremony honored two icons of the civil rights movement in our area, The late Ms. Edwina M. Lewis and Mr. Edward Ward, Jr. Ms. Lewis’ plaque was accepted by family members. Mr. Ward is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. Ms. Lewis was a member of Delta Sigma Theta. In addition to the awards, Park Service Guide Ms. Da’Nira Mc Clay gave a presentation on the history of the Depot, now the headquarters of the Cane River Creole National Historical Park.
The MLK Community Center hosted a community celebration earlier in the day that showcased our area’s young people. The celebration featured a health fair and basketball tournament. The tournament featured teams from the NSU Football squad, Kappa Alpha Psi, the Natchitoches Police and Sheriff Departments, and a celebrity matchup. The most eagerly awaited hardwood matchup, however, may have been an eagerly awaited clash between alumni players from the parish’s two powerhouses – NCHS and Lakeview
Juneteenth commemorates the day of June 19, 1865, in which Union general Gordon Granger landed his forces in Galveston, Texas and issued his famous Order Number 3 declaring: “…The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free ….”
On the first Juneteenth, a little over two months after the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox doomed the Confederacy, General Granger and his troops fulfilled the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. The Stars and Stripes once more flew from every corner of this nation. The Confederacy was crushed and the evil of slavery driven from our country. It is indeed a day worthy of remembrance and celebration!
Gabrelle McLeod, who previously held the title of Miss Cane River 2025, was crowned Miss Louisiana 2025 and will go on to represent the state in the upcoming Miss America competition.
McLeod is currently studying Kinesiology and Exercise Science at the University of Louisiana Monroe. Her academic background and passion for wellness align closely with her community work and platform.
As Miss Louisiana, McLeod will spend the coming year promoting her platform, engaging in community outreach, and preparing to compete for the title of Miss America.
Jack Jenkins, a dedicated electrician and proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 194 in Shreveport, Louisiana for 53 years, passed away peacefully in Natchitoches, Louisiana on June 20, 2025, at the age of 80. Born on December 24, 1944, in Bon Wier, Texas, Jack lived a life marked by service, dedication, and love for his family.
A veteran of the United States Army, Jack served honorably during the time of the Korean War, demonstrating his commitment to his country and community. With a diverse career as an electrician, he not only excelled in his trade but also contributed to public safety by serving as a reserve fireman and police officer for many years. His membership in the F&AM Lodge 325 in Ajax, Louisiana, and his pride in being a Shriner reflect his deep-rooted sense of community involvement and service.
Outside of his professional commitments, Jack was known for his wonderful personality, especially his ability to cultivate beautiful gardens. He enjoyed fishing during his free time, activities that brought him much joy and relaxation. Jack’s love for his family was paramount; he cherished his grandchildren and was actively present in their lives, leaving a lasting impact on them with his wisdom and kindness.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryl Rabalais Jenkins; his children, Jack Brian Jenkins and his wife Krista, and Tracy Stone and her husband Dennis. Jack was a proud grandpa to Jaqueline Keyser and her husband Trey, Apryl Jenkins, Holly Jenkins, Christopher Stone and his wife Taylor, and Cameron Stone; great-grandpa to Ava, Westin, and Karley Keyser and Sadie Stone. Jack is further survived by his siblings, Judy Lilley, Carolyn McCarthy, and Sandra Vinz and her husband Greg.
Jack’s passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of all who knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew J. Jenkins and Vera Moore Jenkins; as well as his siblings, Dora Baker, Bobbie Jenkins, Andy Jenkins, Dewel Lee Jenkins, Jim Jenkins, and Albert Jenkins.
A visitation will be held at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on June 23, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, followed by a funeral service at the same location starting at 11:00 AM being officiated by Bro. Bruce Mitchell and Bro. Logan Brock. A graveside service, with military honors, will take place at Tioga Cemetery at 2:00 PM that same day.
Jack Jenkins will be remembered not only for his contributions to his profession and community but also for the love and dedication he showed to his family. His legacy lives on through them, and his kindness will not be forgotten.
With a special thank you to all those who were such a great help with their care and kindness. Thank you Dr. Mary Long Fresenius staff on Keyser and NPMC staff and Hospice of Natchitoches.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Christopher Stone, Cameron Stone, Blake Tisher, Curt Oakes, Jr., Jeremy Prince, and Tyler Schlegal. Honorary pallbearers will be Dennis Stone and JW Johnston.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital.
Natchitoches Central is excited to offer their inaugural Little Chiefs Baseball Camp! Chiefs baseball will host a camp Wednesday-Friday, June 25-27 (Wednesday – Friday) at Chad Hargis Field for ages 5-14. Camp will be from 9-12 each day. Registration begins at 8:30 Wednesday morning.
“We are excited for the opportunity to get involved with the youth of our community,” said NCHS Coach Head Baseball Coach Matt Danna. “We look forward to meeting our future chiefs, giving them some insight of our program, and be able to start building the fundamentals of baseball. Every kid who steps on the field this week can expect to learn, grow, and have fun.”
Jack Jenkins December 24, 1944 — June 20, 2025 Service: Monday, June 23, 2025 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them tonpjnatla@gmail.com
Kory Leo, Chief of Fire Prevention at the Natchitoches Fire Department, was recently honored as a 2025 NFPA Rising Star by the National Fire Protection Association.
Leo represented the City of Natchitoches at the NFPA Conference in Las Vegas, where he joined fire safety professionals from around the world to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and discuss the future of fire prevention.
Reflecting on the experience, Leo expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with others dedicated to protecting their communities. He credited the support of his colleagues and the Natchitoches community for helping make the achievement possible.
The NFPA Rising Star award recognizes emerging leaders in fire safety who demonstrate outstanding commitment to advancing the profession.
The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a Heat Advisory for Natchitoches Parish and surrounding areas, in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 20.
Heat index values are expected to range between 105 and 109 degrees Fahrenheit across portions of north central and northwest Louisiana, south central and southwest Arkansas, and eastern Texas.
The combination of high temperatures and humidity increases the risk of heat-related illnesses. Residents are urged to take extra precautions by drinking plenty of fluids, staying in air-conditioned spaces, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, and checking on vulnerable neighbors and family members.
The advisory serves as a reminder to take heat safety seriously during extreme conditions.
Northwestern track and field coach Leon Johnson (center), who died Tuesday at age 86, points during a cross country meet. (Photo by GARY HARDAMON, NSU)
By JASON PUGH, Northwestern State Sports Information Director
As a track and field coach, Leon Johnson left an indelible imprint upon Northwestern State, the region it serves, the community of Natchitoches, and the entire state.
The impact he made upon those who competed for him – regardless of when or where – is of matching depth and importance.
Johnson, a legendary figure in Northwestern and the Southland Conference’s track and field history, died Tuesday at the age of 86. There will be a celebration of life for Johnson held at Magale Recital Hall on the NSU campus at 3 p.m. Sunday. Visitation will be held from 5- 8 p.m. Saturday at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home, located at 848 Keyser Avenue in Natchitoches.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend, coach and mentor, Leon Johnson,” said former Northwestern State President Dr. Chris Maggio, who ran for and coached under Johnson before ascending the ranks of university administration. “My life has been greatly blessed and enriched because this gentleman reached out to me 43 years ago and said, ‘My name is Leon Johnson, and I am the new track and field coach at Northwestern State University, and I want you to become my first recruit at NSU.’ Thankfully, I said yes to his invitation and words cannot adequately express the magnitude of life lessons that I learned from him.
“He will be remembered as a Hall of Fame coach who mentored 50-plus All-Americans and won several conference championships. I, too, will remember him for his coaching accolades, but I will also remember him as a Christian man, a great role model and for the hours and hours he spent working with young men and women on the track no matter their athletic abilities. It didn’t matter if you were an All-American or a beginner, Coach would be there for you teaching and coaching you to be better in your event and better in your life. Thank you, Coach Johnson changing the lives of thousands of young people.”
The individual and team accolades Northwestern compiled under Johnson were many. Three Southland Conference team championships and top-20 finishes in the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships. Fifty-seven All-Americans among nearly 100 NCAA championship qualifiers. Two Olympic triple jumpers.
There was the 1986 birth of the Lady Demon track and field program that also occurred on Johnson’s watch.
In other words, Northwestern could build a trophy case simply for Leon Johnson and his student-athletes’ accomplishments. What transpired in the past 48 hours could fill a virtual one as well.
“I first stepped foot on the Northwestern State campus 40 years ago this August,” former Director of Athletics Greg Burke said. “Even then, as an intern, I recognized what kind of man, what kind of mentor and what kind of coach Leon Johnson was. I had the good fortune to come back as athletic director and have him sitting at our head coaches’ table. The perspective he offered, the respect he had among coaches and staff within the department was really remarkable.
“One needs to look no further than social media in the past 48 hours and read the number of posts – and not just the number – but the heartfelt messages from so many track alumni,” Burke said. “Oftentimes, the true measure of a coach’s impact — and how lasting that impact is — will be reflected in the sentiments expressed by the student-athletes who practiced and competed under that coach.”
Johnson began his career as a high school basketball coach in Colorado before coaching state champion high school track and field track and field teams in Louisiana at Opelousas and DeRidder, ultimately taking over at Northwestern where his name became synonymous with the school.
Northwestern track and field athletes compete in the Leon Johnson Invitational each spring after entering the Walter P. Ledet Track and Field Complex via Leon Johnson Lane.
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s state cross country championships also conclude in that area, thanks largely to Johnson’s push to bring the event to Natchitoches where it has become a staple of the city’s athletic calendar, with Johnson and staff doing yeoman’s work each November to make it happen. They did the same each spring when NSU hosted high school district and regional track meets, and when Special Olympics or the American Heart Association came calling.
What Johnson built at Northwestern was done so on the foundation of a family feel – one that serves as a living testament to Johnson’s approach.
“He helped shape so many men’s and women’s lives,” said current Northwestern track and field coach Mike Heimerman, who competed under Johnson before coaching with him and, ultimately, succeeding him as the program’s leader. “Hundreds of athletes – probably closer to thousands – came through Northwestern under coach Johnson, and he helped shape and mold them into young men and women, good mothers and fathers, good husbands and wives.
“He made Natchitoches and Northwestern State a home for so many young men and women, including myself. That was an attraction to NSU and to Natchitoches. That’s something we’ve tried to instill in the program now. It’s something I learned from him, and we tried to take it up a notch. The other thing I learned most from him is making sure the student-athletes get a degree and that you care for them. When you care for them, they do more for you. That’s been very evident in the past here with the men’s and women’s programs and the success we’ve had.”
Johnson’s legacy was made working with Northwestern’s track and field athletes, but his influence permeated the athletic department as a whole.
Late in his career, former Demon men’s basketball coach Mike McConathy utilized Johnson’s ability to provide insight on flexibility and conditioning for McConathy’s team. It proved to be a learning experience for both the Demon players and their longtime coach.
“His impact was invaluable in the fact he taught me as well as the kids so much,” McConathy said. “It was the respect my players had for him. The way he taught and instructed them was amazing. He used the technique of lower volume. He had something they were interested in. They all locked in with no distractions. That taught me something, taught my staff something.
“The attention he gave them showed me they had a tremendous amount of respect for his ability. It was just incredible to witness. I don’t know that you can paint a word picture to describe what we actually saw.”
(Artwork by CHRIS BROWN, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)
By TEDDY ALLEN, Written for the LSWA
She picked up a basketball as a challenge when she was 9 and used it to prove a point, first in the back yard against her brother and two cousins in Coushatta, then on her way to becoming a two-time Kodak All-American at Louisiana Tech, then through 13 seasons in the WNBA and a concurrent 15 overseas, and now through another 15 seasons as a WNBA coach.
All the while, that crimson dirt of Louisiana’s rural Red River Parish on her hands proving she’d worked for it, that she’d earned it, Vickie Johnson has remained about the most genuine and gentle, polished, unassuming off-the-court ballplayer you could ever meet, even if, like her, you’d traveled from the banks of Loggy Bottom and Grand Bayou to the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston to Madison Square Garden to the gymnasiums of France and Hungary to Israel and Turkey.
“Polite, well-mannered, very bashful and shy,” said her long-ago summer ball AAU teammate Sarah Harrison Zeagler of Natchitoches.
“And,” Zeagler laughs at the memory, “insanely talented.”
It’s that delightful mix of sweet, super, and stubborn that vaulted Johnson, a 5-9 guard with a pure all-around game highlighted by a sweet baseline jumper, above the field at every level of basketball and has ultimately landed her a well-deserved, “it’s-about-time” spot in Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2025.
Family and friends from her Coushatta hometown will make the 30-minute trip south to Natchitoches for the Induction Celebration June 26-28. Event information is available at LaSportsHall.com.
It was back home in Coushatta that she wanted to prove a point to her big brother.
“I didn’t start playing because, ‘Oh, I love basketball,’” Johnson said. “I started because my oldest brother said it was for guys, for the boys. ‘Girls don’t play basketball.’ So I picked up a ball and went to the back yard. I was 9. From that day on, I loved it.”
A year later, 1982, she saw Louisiana Tech and USC, titans of the women’s college game at the time, playing on television.
“I watched with my mom and it … I was thrilled, you know?” Johnson said. “I told her, ‘One day, I’m playing college basketball. I’m gonna play for the team in the blue, the team with the stars going down their jerseys.”
The ‘team in blue’ was the Lady Techsters, only about 70 miles away through the pine trees and winding state highways from her back yard court.
“Well,” said the lady everyone in Coushatta called ‘Mrs. Susie,’ the single mom with three jobs, “if you’re gonna play for them, you’d better get back outside.”
She dribbled her way out the back door and kept shooting.
Often joining her was her father’s youngest brother from Shreveport, her Uncle John, a veteran of semi-pro hoops and a serious student of the game.
“He taught me how to play basketball,” Johnson said. “He just … how to dribble, to move, to guard, understanding the game. ‘What did you see? How could you have done better?’ He took care of me.”
Uncle John was a good teacher. By the time Johnson was a sophomore at Coushatta High (now Red River), she’d verbally committed to play for “the team in blue.”
But it wasn’t the same program she’d watched on TV in 1982. Tech fell out of the Top 25 in 1990-91 for the first time in 13 years, then lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The next season was equally mediocre.
“No question that Vickie coming to Louisiana Tech really helped put the program back on the national map,” Tech’s head coach Leon Barmore, a Louisiana Sports and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, said. “If we hadn’t signed that class — Vickie, Racquel Spurlock, Amy Brown — we would have disappeared from the national spotlight. Vickie wasn’t a savior by herself, but she sure was instrumental.”
As a rookie Lady Techster in 1992-93, Johnson helped take the team to the NCAA Regional Finals, a snapshot of things to come. During her four seasons with Tech, the Lady Techsters were 116-17 and finished as national runner-up in 1994 when Johnson, a sophomore, was chosen to the All-Final Four team.
“Vickie was the ultimate teammate,” Barmore said. “She did whatever it took to win, whether that meant playing defense or scoring or just being a leader.”
“She’s a winner,” said Brown, a former Parade All-American, Johnson’s Tech teammate, and now director of teacher education at Tennessee Tech after a successful, championship-filled coaching career there. “She was the type of player who wasn’t going to allow her team to lose. She practiced every day like she played every night. It was contagious with her teammates.”
Whether it was a trait developed in the back yard or through emulating Mrs. Susie, Johnson’s selflessness came early, as sweet and as necessary as her baseline jumpers.
“Vickie could have played all five positions by herself,” her AAU teammate Zeagler said. “She could see the floor, everything, everywhere, like she had eyes in the back of her head.
“But the thing that always stood out about her was I felt like I belonged on the court with her, and that was because she made us feel that way,” Zeagler said. “She made us feel like we belonged on the court as much as she did.”
Although as a freshman and sophomore she helped Tech claw back onto the national stage, turns out Johnson was just getting started when it came to giving the folks around Cut-Off Road and Lone Star Feed down in Coushatta plenty to talk about. She earned spots on both the Kodak and Street & Smith All-America teams the next two seasons, Sun Belt Conference MVP in 1995 and 1996, and 1996 Louisiana Player of the Year.
She did it with a silky grace and salty presence.
“She was as smooth a basketball player as I can remember coaching,” Barmore said. “The baseline was her home. She would roam the baseline and make that little jump shot all night. It was a beautiful thing to watch. She was one of the players that our fans enjoyed watching the most.”
Thomas Assembly Center proved to be only a launching pad. There was more where that came from.
In the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft, Johnson was the 12th player chosen. A quick look at only a few high points from her pro stat sheet, which is almost 30 years old — and counting…
Nine seasons with the New York Liberty and four with the San Antonio Silver Stars;
Twice an All-Star;
First person in the league to collect 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in a career;
Dependable-plus, a starter in 408 of 410 games played and the first person in WNBA history to play 11,000 minutes;
Won the league’s Sportsmanship Award in 2008, her last as a player, and has been a coach in the league since.
“As good a player as she was on the court, she’s a better person,” Brown said. “She deserves every honor she’s received for what she did as a player, but it’s even sweeter because of who she is off the court.”
“Quiet off the court, but once it was time to play, all that went away,” Zeagler said. “Never mean, but always purposeful. She was very sportsmanlike-minded: you got knocked down, she’d help you back up. Just an incredible all-around person.”
All that, the total package, game after game and year after year, in a sport that “girls don’t play.”
“A lot of people told me I wasn’t good enough,” Johnson said. “That was my fire. And that’s how I played. I wanted to guard the best players. When I chose to play overseas, I chose countries with the best players. That’s where I got my joy, from playing against the best.
“I played because I enjoyed it,” she said. “The accolades that come with it? They come with it. But my goal was to be the best I could be and get in Louisiana Tech, and I did that.”
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center recently hosted the “AHEC of a Summer” program, offering high school students a hands-on introduction to the world of healthcare.
Over the course of three weeks, participants explored various healthcare careers, learned the basics of human anatomy, practiced suturing techniques, and toured multiple hospital departments to gain real-world insight into the medical field.
The program aimed to inspire and educate the next generation of healthcare professionals. NRMC expressed pride in the students’ enthusiasm and commitment, calling them a promising group of future healthcare heroes.
One of the last segregated buildings in Louisiana will serve as the host site for the 2025 Juneteenth kick-off celebrations in Natchitoches Parish. Texas and Pacific Railway Depot (built in 1927) will be the gathering place for Crimson Cream and Coffee-recognition event, Saturday, June 21 at 8:15 am until 8:45. Hosted by Natchitoches Mardi Gras krewe-Krewe of The 9, the event will pay homage to two noted Natchitoches natives that are featured via exterior (life size) exhibits at the historic facility-which is occupied today by the National Park Service as an information center/museum-1927 Remembrance Way.
The late Edwina Mudrick Lewis and Edward Ward, Jr. are featured along with others at the depot-citing the depot’s usage for the Natchitoches community in general and the African-American experience. Lewis was a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Ward is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. The two college based organizations are constituent members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and are also known as part of the “Divine 9” collective. The two distinguished international organizations share the same (crimson and creme) colors! The event is open to the public at no cost.
Here is a look at the week of June 22-28 at Northwestern State University.
June 22-28 – Summer second 4-week session and Fall 2025 semester registration available via NSU Connect
June 23-27 – Destination Science Camp, Bienvenu Hall
June 23-27 – Summer Rock Camp, Fine Arts Annex, 8 a.m. – noon
June 24-28 – NSU Summer Dinner Theatre, “I Love You to Death: A Speakeasy Mystery,” The Venue on Front Street, 530 Front Street, Natchitoches. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the show starts at 6 p.m.
Charlie Leon Johnson August 5, 1939 — June 17, 2025 Service: Sunday, June 22 at 3 pm in Magale Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building on the campus of Northwestern State University with internment following at American Cemetery.
Daniel Matthew Hightower September 12, 1941 — June 8, 2025 Service: Saturday, June 21 from 10 AM to 12 PM at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home
Thomas Wilson Jones, Sr. May 19, 1946 — June 15, 2025 Arrangements TBA
Charles Earl Davis October 18, 1958 – June 13, 2025 Service: Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 3:30 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Natchitoches Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them tonpjnatla@gmail.com
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS, and Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #7 responded to reports from the NATCOM 911 Center on June 18 around 5:13 am regarding an overturned commercial vehicle on fire on Interstate 49 northbound near milepost 150, north of Powhatan, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Reports indicated the overturned truck had been hauling plywood.
Deputies arrived on the scene and found the driver and a passenger suffering from non-life-threatening injuries. Both individuals were transported by EMS to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop E in Alexandria investigated the crash.
Deputies stated there was no road blockage, but noted it would take some time to clear the wreckage and cargo from the scene.
In a national first, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed into law a sweeping new measure that authorizes state and local law enforcement to actively intercept and disable drones that pose credible threats to public safety.
The “We Will Act” Act marks the first time a state has granted its law enforcement agencies direct drone mitigation authority – a move typically reserved for federal entities. The law empowers specially trained officers to deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic technologies to neutralize unmanned aerial systems operating unlawfully near high-risk areas such as schools, public events, and critical infrastructure.
“This law puts Louisiana on the front lines of drone defense,” said Governor Landry. “We are taking bold steps now to protect our people and our skies before tragedy strikes.”
The legislation includes strict penalties for violators, including fines of up to $5,000, up to one year in jail, and mandatory forfeiture of the drone used in the offense.
The bill comes amid rising national concern over unauthorized drone activity near sensitive locations – including military facilities and large public gatherings. Governor Landry and President Donald Trump publicly addressed the threat earlier this year during remarks at Mar-a-Lago.
With this new law, Louisiana positions itself at the forefront of state-level drone policy, setting a precedent likely to influence future legislation nationwide.
The City of Natchitoches would like to advise the public that on Saturday, June 21 the following streets will be closed at 9:15 PM in preparation for a 9:45 PM fireworks display for the conclusion of the City of Natchitoches Juneteenth Celebration.
-Church Street bridge -Williams Ave., from Whitfield Ave. to Henry Ave.
All streets will open upon conclusion of the fireworks display once the Fire Marshal has given the all-clear. In preparation for these events, the Downtown riverbank will close to vehicular traffic at 6 AM, and Front Street, from Church Street to St. Denis Street, will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 6 AM on Saturday, June 21.
