Louisiana Senate Bill 123 (SB123), introduced in the 2026 Regular Session by Senator Jay Morris, is a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the Governor to recommend the suspension or removal of district attorneys and certain judges. The bill enables the Senate to affirm suspensions, with possible removal, aiming to impact judicial oversight and potential removal.

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St. Mary’s Catholic School continues to provide student-athletes with a well-rounded athletic program that emphasizes competition, teamwork, and personal growth, while remaining grounded in the school’s faith-centered mission.

As a member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, St. Mary’s competes at the highest level of interscholastic athletics in the state. This affiliation allows student-athletes to participate in district and state playoff competition and ensures that programs meet established standards for eligibility, safety, and competitive integrity.

“Being part of the LHSAA provides our students with meaningful opportunities to compete and grow,” said Coach Dennis Breland, Athletic Director and Head Baseball Coach. “Our teams consistently compete at a high level, and our athletes understand the commitment it takes to represent St. Mary’s both on and off the field.”

St. Mary’s offers a wide range of athletic opportunities for students, including baseball, boys and girls basketball, cross country, football, golf, powerlifting, softball, tennis, track and field, volleyball and wrestling. Participation in athletics begins in the middle school years and continues through high school, allowing students to develop skills, confidence, and leadership over time.

“Our goal is to create an environment where student-athletes are challenged and supported,” said Coach Stacey Aldredge, Assistant Athletic Director and Head Volleyball Coach. “Athletics at St. Mary’s is about more than competition — it’s about building character, discipline, and a sense of team.”

St. Mary’s athletic teams regularly qualify for postseason play, reflecting both the strength of the programs and the dedication of its student-athletes and coaching staff. The school’s emphasis on balance ensures that students are able to excel not only in athletics, but also in academics, faith formation, and service.

With a tradition of excellence and a commitment to developing the whole student, St. Mary’s Catholic School continues to provide opportunities for young athletes to compete, grow, and succeed.

Families interested in learning more about St. Mary’s Catholic School and its athletic programs are encouraged to contact the school office at 318-352-8394 or visit www.smstigers.org.

Joining an existing counselor, Doris Kochinsky, is Bobby Williams, LCSW. Williams has 18 years of experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy for persons with mild to moderate mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and other stress and adjustment disorders.

Williams is now accepting new patients. Call OMC’s Natchitoches clinic at (318) 352-9299 for an appointment.

Outpatient Medical Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center. We accept most insurances; however, uninsured or underinsured patients may apply for a sliding fee discount based on their income and level of poverty. Discounts may range from 20% to 100% of full charges. A patient who is below the federal poverty level is never refused services due to an inability to pay.

For more information, visit OMC’s Website: outpatientmedical.org. 

Northwestern State University is sponsoring two high school contests this year. In addition to the NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest, now in its 18th year, the university will also sponsor the NSU Louisiana High School Creative Expressions Contest. Both contests are now open for submissions until June 1. The contests are open to all Louisiana students in grades 9-12 regardless of type of school institution, including students in all types of private educational environments, as well as home schooled students.

The 2026 theme for both contests is “Remembering Louisiana.” The 2026 NSU Louisiana High School Creative Expressions Contest is an opportunity for Louisiana students to display their talents at interpreting Louisiana through photography. Entrants are invited to submit up to three photographs inspired by and taken in Louisiana. Each photo entry should have a title and an accompanying page or two of writing by the student; this writing should explain the significance of the subject of the photograph to the theme of Remembering Louisiana, as well as the student’s connection to that subject. Photos need not be shot on professional equipment. For example, photos taken on cell phones are acceptable. Photos should be submitted as individual image files such as jpegs. The accompanying writing(s) should be submitted in standard Microsoft Word files.

2026 NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest entrants are invited to address one of the following prompts: Interview any member of your family or surrounding community as long as your interviewee is at least one generation older than yourself, such as, for example, your parent or guardian. What does this person feel is the most significant historical event or societal change they have experienced over their lifetime? Personal reflections and experiences are valid as part of the essay content. Essays may be in narrative form if the student chooses. The second option is if you could meet and talk with any Louisianan from the past, present or future for one hour, who would you choose and why? Personal reflections and experiences are valid as part of the essay content. Essays addressing either prompt may be in narrative form if the student chooses.

Entries to either contest should include a cover sheet with the student’s name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail address, school affiliation, and the title of their entry. Entries to both contests may be mailed to the Louisiana Folklife Center, NSU Box 5688, Natchitoches, LA 71497. Creative Expressions Contest entries may be sent via e-mail to Dr. Rebecca Macijeski, macijeskir@nsula.edu with the subject line “2026 NSU Louisiana High School Creative Expressions Contest.” Essay Contest entries may be sent via e-mail to Dr. Shane Rasmussen, rasmussens@nsula.edu, with the subject line “2026 NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest.” The deadline for contest submissions is June 1. Prize-winning students will be notified by July 15.

The top three winners of both contests will be awarded both cash prizes and a $200/per semester NSU scholarship with a value up to $1,600 if they attend NSU for four years (these NSU scholarship awards are in addition to other scholarship awards that the student may receive from Northwestern State). Winning entries of both contests will be published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal, an academic journal produced by the Louisiana Folklife Center. Contest winners will be invited to share their entries with attendees at the 18th annual Louisiana Studies Conference to be held on the NSU campus on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The winning entries will also be published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Submission of an entry to the Contest entails granting permission to publish their entry in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Entries may be subject to minor revision prior to publication. By entering the contest, students acknowledge that they also grant permission for their photos to be used in future promotional materials (posters, covers of programs, etc.) in association with the Louisiana Folklife Center. Additional information is available on the website for the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State at nsula.edu/folklife/highschoolessay.

The contests are sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center, the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Office of Recruiting at Northwestern State.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Charles Smith of Alexandria’s Peabody Magnet High School won another state championship over the past weekend, but this one was different than any of the other nine his Warhorses claimed during his 40 years as their head basketball coach.  

“My past state championship teams kind of built into that over a two-or three-year period,” Smith said the day after his second-seeded Warhorses whipped 12^th-seeded Northside of Lafayette, 82-61, in the Division II Select finals at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. “It usually took two-to-three years to mold a team that was championship caliber. But nobody from this team was on the ’24 team when we won our last title.”

His starters this year often included two freshmen, including 6-foot point guard Corey Blake Jr.,  a remarkable team leader as a freshman. His father, Corey Blake Sr., played high school basketball for Rapides and Alexandria Senior High before playing in junior college and for part of an injury-abbreviated season at the University of New Orleans. The young Corey was crucial in this year’s team success.

“He’s the best point guard (at Peabody) to ever come in as a freshman and start from day one,” said Smith. “He was an 8^th-grader last year, and this year he’s been leading the team. He’s an exceptional talent. He took the team on his shoulders, showed up and showed out.”

During the season the junior Blake scored a team-high 30 points in an 11-point victory over eventual Division I Non-Select runner-up Ruston.

“He’s got a great feel for the game, and he has a lot of poise,” added Smith. “In pressure situations, he was our go-to guy. He’s almost a carbon copy of his dad (although the senior Blake was 6-5), who has spent many hours working on his son’s game.”

Peabody’s top senior player, shooting guard/forward Devontre Sword, was voted the Division II Select MVP of the state tournament. He scored a cumulative 39 points total in the semifinals and finals.

A Peabody starter as a freshman, Sword then moved with his mother to Dallas, where he played for two seasons before returning to Alexandria to play for Peabody again this season. Like Blake, he has some basketball pedigree in that he is the nephew of former Peabody basketball star William McNeill (2008 all-state honorable mention) who later was a defensive star and all-conference honoree for Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

Sword was instrumental in Peabody’s big regular season victories over Ruston and Division IV Non-Select state champion Ferriday. He had four 3-pointers in his 20-point effort in the state championship game.

He and Blake were the team leaders, and they worked to earn that leadership role.

“After hours, they were in the gym working together in the evenings,” said Smith. “Both are excellent free throw shooters and 3-point shooters.”

Smith coached in the championship contest against his former player Troy Jones, who just completed his first season as Northside’s head coach. Jones played for two state championship teams at Peabody in 2010 and 2012.

“I talked to him after the game and gave him a big bear hug,” said Smith. “I told him, ‘You should be proud of your accomplishments as a first-year coach, taking your team to the state championship game.’”

In addition to Blake and Sword, Smith’s other significant players were senior forward Malachi Anderson, sophomore center Brayden Durant, junior guard Connor Rosenthal, freshman center JD Holden, and junior forwards Kaline Eddie and Keon Wilton.

Smith, who has worked 40 seasons as Peabody’s head coach, is 76 and will be 77 on May 15. The Warhorses finished the season with 30 victories (with three losses but only one that counted as an LHSAA game because two were out of state and one was an exhibition). That gives Smith 1,266 career victories, which puts him just nine wins away from overtaking legendary Morgan Wooten, who logged 1,274 victories in 46 years of coaching  (1956-’02) at DeMatha in Hyattsville, Md.

That would put him third overall on the career victories chart behind Ft. Worth, Texas prep coaching icon Robert Hughes (1333) and Gary McKnight, who has 1,306 victories and is still coaching at Mater Dei in Santa Anna, Calif.

Along with his 2019 induction in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches, Smith was inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 2004. It was the first year he appeared on the ballot.

Natchitoches native and Natchitoches Central graduate Joe Dumars, also in the Naismith and LSHOF halls, presented him for induction into what is essentially the world’s basketball hall.

Smith, by the way, has a master’s in education from Northwestern State, and in January 2025, NSU president Jimmy Genovese attended a Peabody home game to present the coach with an elite “Nth Degree” award given to people who have brought credit to the Natchitoches university by their accomplishments.

Smith, married for 51 years to the former Rosa Bynog, is showing no signs of slowing down, and he wants to keep coaching.

“I still feel able to help young boys get to a higher level,” said Smith, who was an assistant coach for 10 years at Peabody under Ernest Bowman before becoming head coach, “and I’m not talking just basketball. I didn’t get into (coaching) to win awards or state championships (11 total with one as Bowman’s assistant). I wanted to move young boys to higher levels in life.

“I’m privileged to have gotten my two seniors college scholarships,” he said. “I tell people all the time what matters most to me is what the kids go on from college to do: work for and be vice presidents of Fortune 500 companies, be lawyers, doctors, engineers, airline pilots and all points in between.”

In the meantime, Smith has built such a fan base spread across the region and even America that he said fans traveled from Houston, Dallas and one alumnus even came from Seattle to cheer on the Warhorses in the semifinals and finals in Lake Charles.

He was told if he needed any inspiration for longevity as a high school basketball coach, there is Harold Mulhearn, who has coached for some 70 years for several schools and is now an assistant coach for Fairchild High School in Osseo, Wisconsin. He is 91 and he’s not ready to call it quits.

“I won’t be coaching that long,” Smith said. 

NEW ORLEANS – The complementary elements that accompanied the Northwestern State baseball team’s season-long six-game winning streak did not make the trip south Wednesday night.

The Demons got strong starting pitching and solid relief work, but Northwestern’s offense could not solve a quartet of Tulane pitchers in a 2-0 loss at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. The Green Wave pushed across its runs in the bottom of the seventh and kept the Demons off the board.

NSU comes home to host New Orleans Friday in the opener of a three-game Southland Conference series. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.

“We have to pull from the good things we did, and we have to learn from the things we didn’t do so well,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “Anytime your pitching staff puts up seven zeroes against a good offensive team in an offensive ballpark, that’s good. We put up a zero in the error column. We just never were able to generate anything offensively.”

In a rare midweek pitchers’ duel, the Demons (13-8) got a strong start from sophomore left-hander Carter White, who spun four innings of shutout ball before handing things off to Jacob LeBlanc.

White wiggled out of trouble in the first and second innings before retiring the final eight hitters he faced, keeping the game scoreless through four innings. White began the season as the Demons’ Friday night starter, but has suffered three rocky outings and shifted to midweek work or relief assignments recently.

“Incremental steps forward, and I think that’s what he did tonight,” Bertrand said. “He started to show more flashes of his pitch execution and his pitchability. He showed the ability to get out of some jams and not letting it snowball on him. The last two innings were significantly better, because he started to get ahead of hitters, and he started to pound the strike zone a little bit more. It was wonderful to see him take a giant step forward and, hopefully, with the next couple of times we roll him out there, he can continue to do that.”

White needed to be at his best to match Tulane starter JD Rodriguez and Jude Abbadessa (1-1), who limited the Demons to four hits in the first seven innings.

Northwestern was unable to move a runner into scoring position against the pair as Tulane (11-11) limited the Demons to five total hits.

The Green Wave broke through against LeBlanc (2-2) in the seventh inning as a pair of walks helped set up a Matthias Haas RBI fielder’s choice and a Kaikea Harrison RBI double to give Tulane all the runs it needed.

Thomas Marsala III drew a leadoff walk in the ninth inning before LuisPablo Navarro entered and retired the next three Demons to secure his first save of the season.

“I didn’t think the quality of the at-bats was where it needed to be tonight,” Bertrand said. “Obviously, we didn’t capitalize when we were able to muster a little bit of traffic. It’s a lack of complementary baseball, but I’m proud of the fight that they had. We showed some really good things we can pull some value out of.”

St. Mary’s Catholic School in Natchitoches is seeking warm, nurturing, and dependable individuals to support our growing Little Saints Program serving two-year-old children. Positions may be part-time or full-time, within a faith-filled and supportive environment.

Candidates must be available to work daycare hours, which may differ from the traditional school-day schedule.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience in early childhood education (CDA or degree preferred, but not required)

• Be caring, patient, and organized

• Support and model our Catholic values and mission

• Be committed to fostering the developmental and spiritual growth of young children

• Work collaboratively with school staff and families

These positions are part of our continued effort to grow and strengthen our early childhood programs, which serve as the foundation of our PreK–12 Catholic school community.

To apply or learn more, please contact:
Principal Stephen Wren at swren@smstigers.org

Nearly 200 sixth grade students participated in the annual Historic Sites of Natchitoches Tour on March 12, an event organized by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

Students visited five local historic sites through a staggered rotation, including the Prud’homme-Rouquier House, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, Fort St. Jean Baptiste, the American Cemetery, and the Roque House. The tour provided an interactive learning experience focused on the history and cultural significance of the area.

The event was made possible through collaboration among several community organizations. The Cane River National Heritage Area contributed staff and materials for an art activity inspired by Clementine Hunter and provided support for student transportation. The Service League and site staff served as docents, while foundation board members led tours at select locations.

Additional support included meals for volunteers provided by Lott Oil and snacks and water donated by Super 1 Foods.

Organizers reported positive feedback from both students and teachers, noting the value of hands-on educational opportunities that highlight the parish’s historical heritage.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office proudly recognized two deputies with the “Excellence of the Quarter” Awards on March 12 during a brief ceremony held at the NPSO Human Resources Office.

Sheriff Stuart Wright presented the awards, commending each deputy for outstanding performance, compassion, commitment to duty, and exceptional service to the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.

“These deputies have gone above and beyond in their duties, and their actions reflect the highest standards of professionalism and dedication,” said Sheriff Wright. “We are honored to recognize their achievements and grateful for their service.”

Deputy Sergeant Collin Crow – Patrol Operations / SWAT Unit
Sgt. Crow consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. He works diligently to ensure his shift remains motivated, supported, and ready to respond to any call for service. His strong work ethic and commitment set a standard others strive to meet.

He brings a wealth of knowledge in both law enforcement and emergency medical care. Known by many as the agency’s resident medical professional, Sgt. Crow serves not only as a deputy but also as the SWAT Team Medic, using his EMS expertise to help protect and support fellow deputies in critical situations.

Sgt. Crow is a true professional in every sense of the word. Whether responding to difficult situations, assisting citizens in need, or guiding deputies under his supervision, he leads with fairness, responsibility, and respect. He is the kind of leader deputies trust, depend on, and look up to. Even outside of his duties with the Sheriff’s Office, Sgt. Crow continues to serve the community through his work in EMS, further demonstrating his commitment to helping others.

Detective Sergeant Cody Olliff – Criminal Investigations Bureau / SWAT Unit
Sgt. Olliff recently transitioned from Patrol after earning a well-deserved promotion to Detective in the Criminal Investigations Bureau. During his time in Patrol, he made it clear he is always willing to help.

Whether someone needs guidance, reassurance, or assistance navigating a difficult situation, Sgt. Olliff consistently makes himself available.

He stands out among his peers through the respect and appreciation he shows for every division within the agency. Known for stepping in wherever needed, Sgt. Olliff works alongside others to accomplish tasks while maintaining a professional and respectful attitude, even in high-stress situations.

His leadership and support extend to everyone around him—those he supervises, those above him in the chain of command, and those outside his department. He is often one of the first to respond on the radio when assistance is requested, demonstrating his willingness to serve wherever needed. He also takes time to recognize the efforts of fellow deputies during critical incidents. Beyond his daily duties, Sgt. Olliff proudly serves as a member of both the Honor Guard and the SWAT Team. Prior to joining the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, he served in the United States Navy.

“Each recipient has shown tremendous effort and care in their work, and we’re proud to recognize their accomplishments,” said Human Resources Director Kellie Hataway.

Also attending the ceremony were Chief Deputy D. Winder, Major J. Byles, Captain G. Sers, Major J. Taitano, Cpt. S. LaCaze, and members of the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Human Resources Office.

The Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra will feature the winners of the annual NSU Concerto Contest on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Douglas Bakenhus is the orchestra’s music director. Andrej Kurti is assistant conductor.

Tickets are $16.50 each and can be purchased online at https://nnssla.org/. There is an added charge for buying tickets online. For more information, email NSUsymphony@gmail.com.

Featured performers will be NSU Concerto Contest winners Parrel Appolis on flute, Walker Libbe on marimba, soprano Lhareen C. Lazo, tenor Douglas Flores and Ever Naun Galeas Antunez on trumpet.

The concert program is “Festive Overture,” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Concerto for Trumpet in Eb major” by Johann Baptist Neruda featuring Galeas on trumpet, “Senza mamma” from “Suor Angelica” by Giacomo Puccini featuring Lazo and Appolis on “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” by Aram Khachaturian.

The orchestra will also play “Concerto for Marimba and Strings” by Emmanuel Séjourné with Libbe on marimba, “E lucevan le Stelle” from “Tosca” by Puccini featuring Douglas Flores on tenor,
“Mother Goose Suite” by Maurice Ravel and “San Pelayo” by Victoriano Valencia.

Parrel Appolis is from Knoxville, Tennessee. He is a graduate assistant in the flute studio of Dr. Stephen Clark at Northwestern. He holds a bachelor’s degree in flute performance from the University of Tennessee. As a flute instructor, his students have achieved success across all levels of primary and secondary education and have placed in regional and state ensembles.

As a performer, he has played with many ensembles, including the Knoxville Opera, Knoxville Symphony, and the inaugural International Pride Orchestra in San Francisco. In 2022, he was named as a member of the NFA’s Young Artist Mentorship Program, under the mentorship of Brandon Patrick George of Imani Winds. Parrel is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Band Award and the Gerald W. Barnes Woodwind Award. He is an active member of Sphinx, an organization dedicated to providing resources to Black and Latin-American musicians.

Flores began his studies at NSU in 2021, pursuing degrees in French horn and vocal performance. He studied horn with Dr. Alexis Sczepanik, voice with Dr. Robert Cardwell and worked with former NSU faculty members Dr. Kristine Coreil and Michael Rorex. During his time at Northwestern State, Flores has been an active and versatile performer, serving as principal horn in the Wind Symphony, tenor section leader in the NSU Chamber Choir, and a longtime member of the NSU Opera Theater with roles like Ferrando in “cosi fan tutte,” Frederick in “Pirates of Penzance,” and Leopold in “Im Weißen Rössl.”

As a horn player, Flores participated in the Midsouth Horn Workshop, where he received Honorable Mention as a soloist, and he regularly performs with regional orchestras across the southern United States. As a tenor, he is a two-time recipient of the Guillory Scholarship Award and earned second Place in the Graduate TBB Division at the 2022 Southern Regional NATS Conference. In 2023, he attended the International Performing Arts Institute (IPAI) in Kiefersfelden, Germany, where he was awarded Second Place in the institute’s vocal competition.

Libbe is a graduate assistant at Northwestern studying under Dr. Oliver Molina and Dr. Andrew Blair. At NSU, he has taught both the front ensemble and the drumline for The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band as well as applied percussion lessons. He helps Dr. Molina instruct the percussion ensemble and percussion method courses. Libbe earned a bachelor’s degree in music studies at Texas A&M University.

As an active percussion performer, educator, and clinician, Libbe has performed at conventions such as PASIC, LMEA and various state Day of Percussion events. Libbe is also experienced in session recording and has been a part of many different recording projects ranging from percussion ensembles, solo pieces, metal and rock bands, as well as various local projects.

Galeas is originally from Honduras and began his musical studies at the age of 14 at the Victoriano López Music School. In 2018, he was invited to perform with the Nicaraguan Youth Symphony Orchestra and participated in the International Festival of Oaxaca, Mexico.

In the spring of 2023, he began his trumpet studies with Galindo Rodríguez at Northwestern where he has been a member of the Wind Symphony, Jazz Combo and Jazz Orchestra. Last year, he was selected as one of the winners of the MacCutcheon Honor Recital. He plans to continue his studies by pursuing a master’s degree in music performance.

Lazo is pursuing a master’s degree in vocal performance at Northwestern where she studies with Dr. Terrie Sanders. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of the Philippines in 2024. Passionate about classical singing and opera, her operatic roles include Mother in “Hansel and Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck, Suor Angelica in “Suor Angelica” by Giacomo Puccini, Laetitia in “The Old Maid and the Thief” by Gian Carlo Menotti, Cunegonde in “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein, and Maria in “A Feast in Time of Plague” by César Cui.

Her recent recognitions include prizes from the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions (2025), the Guillory Scholarship Competition (2025), and the Ninth International JSFest Competition (2021). Lazo is an active member of the NSU Opera Ensemble, NSU Chamber Choir, Lyrica, Cane River Singers and the Northwestern Choral Artists.

Residents in Natchitoches Parish can expect a gradual warming trend and mostly sunny conditions through early next week, with temperatures climbing from the upper 50s into the upper 80s by the weekend.

For the remainder of today, mostly sunny skies are expected with highs in the upper 50s and light, variable winds.

Conditions will warm on Wednesday with partly cloudy skies and highs reaching the lower 70s. South winds between 5 and 10 mph will accompany the warmer temperatures.

Sunny conditions return Thursday, with highs in the upper 70s and light southwest winds.

By Friday, temperatures will rise into the mid-80s under mostly sunny skies, followed by clear conditions Friday night.

The weekend will bring even warmer temperatures, with highs in the upper 80s on both Saturday and Sunday under mostly sunny to sunny skies. Overnight lows will range from the upper 50s to around 60 degrees.

Looking ahead to Monday, partly cloudy skies are expected with highs in the mid-80s.

The extended forecast calls for a stretch of warm, dry weather across the parish, providing favorable conditions for outdoor activities.

If your current security team’s primary strategy is to “observe and report,” you are essentially paying for a professional witness.

By the time an unarmed guard observes a threat, dials 911, and waits for local law enforcement to arrive, the damage to your property, your people, and your corporate reputation is already done. In the high-stakes worlds of energy infrastructure, commercial real estate, and industrial logistics, minutes of downtime cost millions of dollars.

Waiting for an incident to escalate is no longer just an outdated strategy; it is a massive corporate liability.

The End of Reactive Security

Across Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, enterprise-level businesses are waking up to a harsh reality: standard security is failing them. The new mandate is proactive deterrence.

Fidelis Protective Services, an elite risk management firm headquartered in Louisiana with a massive four-state operational footprint, is actively replacing the outdated “observe and report” model with specialized, high-impact capabilities designed to neutralize threats before they paralyze your operations.

The Ultimate Deterrent: Specialized K-9 Teams

You can argue with a standard security guard. You cannot argue with a highly trained K-9 detection team.

Fidelis achieves a higher standard of safety by deploying specialized K-9 units alongside highly disciplined security personnel. These elite teams provide mission-critical advantages that standard guards simply cannot match:

• Unmatched Visual Deterrence: The physical presence of an FPS K-9 and a disciplined handler provides an undeniable, non-verbal statement of capability. It forces bad actors to immediately de-escalate or abandon their target.
• Rapid Post-Incident Stabilization: Whether responding to a bomb threat at a corporate campus, an arson risk at a petrochemical plant, or targeted violence at a distribution hub, a FPS K-9’s advanced detection skills allow for the rapid, precise clearing of an environment.

[ WATCH: The Fidelis Standard in Action ] See exactly how the FPS K-9 Division executes proactive threat deterrence and rapid environmental stabilization.

K-9 Tactical Breakdown  “A stabilized environment, when it matters most, requires specialized capabilities,” says Fidelis Protective Services CEO, Lee J. Taylor. “We aren’t just placing a uniform at a desk. By deploying proactive teams across the region, we are actively assessing threats and stabilizing high-risk scenarios so our clients can keep their businesses running.”

Protecting the Infrastructure of the South

From the relentless operational tempo of Oil and Gas facilities in Texas to the complex access control required at major shipping ports in Tennessee and the Gulf Coast, your security strategy must match your operational footprint.

Stop paying for a reactive presence. Invest in a partner that brings elite deterrence, specialized capabilities, and a multi-state standard of excellence to the facilities that power the South.

ABOUT FIDELIS PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Fidelis Protective Services is an elite, multi-state security firm specializing in high-level asset protection, tactical K-9 deployments, and comprehensive risk management solutions. Operating across Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee, Fidelis sets the standard for proactive security operations in the commercial, healthcare, and energy sectors.

Connect with an FPS Operational Specialist for a custom risk assessment:

• Phone: 833-257-3888
• Web: fidelisprotectiveservice.com
• Email: info@fidelisgroupla.com
• Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/fidelis-protective-services-la
• Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/FidelisProtectiveServices
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@FidelisProtectiveServices

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By Edwin Crayton/Opinion

I believe it’s only fair to start this article with a disclaimer. Here goes. DISCLAIMER: This article does not concern the actions of citizens who in February, applied to be on the board of the Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation (NCIF). They acted properly by applying for open seats. They have not done anything wrong. However, this article does concern the actions of current board members who held an election on February 19. I do mean to say, they did some very wrong things in how they conducted the so called “election” of board members.

In case you’re wondering what NCIF is and why you should care, here’s why it matters to you. The Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation (NCIF), is a community organization that distributes settlement money awarded when in the late 1990s, Tennessee Gas Company was involved with a pcb spill in Sibley Lake, the city’s drinking water supply. The court ordered that the money be given to the people of City of Natchitoches, in the form of grants and scholarships and distributed in four areas: education, recreation, housing and economic development/seed money for grants. In 2003, NCIF became the organization that was given the task of doing this. But NCIF often got bogged down in controversy. On the last board, several members overstayed their terms and had to be removed by a district judge in 2023. They were replaced by the current board which has also become bogged down in controversy. Recently, a certified public accountant reported that $22,345 in cash withdrawals were unaccounted for. That money is money from the settlement. In short, these funds are for you.

The election was not legitimate for several reasons. Here are the main ones:

• Although the election was advertised as a public meeting, some people who showed up were turned away at the door. I know because I was one of them. So was a lady who showed up at the same time.  I was able to get in only after showing NCIF President Harold Bayonne, the announcement advertising the election and pointing out that it was advertised as a quarterly meeting, which means the public can attend. I have heard of one additional person who was told the meeting was not open to the public. I wonder if other people were discouraged from attending?
• The meeting did not have a quorum. There were seven members present: Harold Bayonne, Deborah Roque, Gwen Rachal, Ernestine Armstrong, Kevin Stafford, Linda Franklin and Ernest Sawyer. It’s a 15-member board. The bylaws say you must have a majority to conduct business. Seven is not a majority. You need Eight. The election was not legitimate and needs to be done over. What if they had someone on the phone? Doesn’t matter. The bylaws signed by Judge Eric Harrington who approved them in 2014 say you cannot participate by phone at a quarterly meeting Section 3:12 reads: “telephonic conference or similar telecommunications device shall be permitted for specially called meetings, but not for quarterly meetings”. This was a quarterly meeting.
• The election itself was held in secret, making it virtually impossible to know if it was conducted fairly with checks and balances. Members of the public were asked to step outside while the election took place. I later asked Chairman Bayonne why they did that. He said there was no special reason. Then why did they do it? In the past NCIF like most organizations I know, allowed the public to watch the election. What’s the big secret? Yet, it’s one more way they freeze the people of Natchitoches out of funds designated for the people.
• The announcements for the election I saw did not have time and location. Perhaps they had one that did have it, but I couldn’t find one. This made it hard for the public to participate. I pulled out one particularly bad one and showed it to Bayonne. It was in a local paper’s community calendar and it just said, “February 19, NCIF quarterly meeting”. I pointed out to Mr. Bayonne that many people don’t know what NCIF is and that the announcement did not say where and what time the meeting was going to be held. His response? He said, “Everyone knows what NCIF is.” Dear reader, I would not be surprised if you didn’t know before you read this article. And even those who did know, would still like to know where the meeting is and at what time.
• As I mentioned earlier, NCIF was created to get settlement money to the people of Natchitoches. All the people who apply for grants, scholarships, etc. Yet, to be honest, it seems it has become like a private club. Many of the people serving on the board, old and new are related or friends, or connected in some way. When you combine that with these issues of lack of transparency and unaccounted for withdrawals, it’s not hard to start to feel that this board is not really open to the general public. This election did not really make these board seats available to all citizens. It also needs to make these funds more accessible to the citizens of Natchitoches. How do people get the funds for their projects? Let them know NCIF.  Recently, Judge Jimmie Peters suspended their ability to spend money. He gave spending authority to a master appointed by the court. That’s good and I hope he doesn’t lift it while this group is serving because they have not held themselves accountable. Dear Chairman Bayonne: Harry Truman had a sign on this desk that said, “The buck stops here.” That means he accepted responsibility for what happened on his watch. So, should you, Chairman Bayonne and all of the NCIF board members. This election should be re done. It was a non-election. Not legitimate. Sorry nominees.

Ironically, the key words in all of this are right there in the name of the organization. I am referring to the words “community improvement” The blunt truth is, Natchitoches needs these funds to help improve itself. Money Inc’s website picked Natchitoches as one of the 10 worst places to live in Louisiana. Among the reasons, they cited poverty and lack of family activities, which are both areas these funds are supposed to fund. In both the plan of allocation and bylaws, NCIF is supposed to offer citizens grants or scholarships in economic development and recreation—which would give families more activities to participate in.  Think of all the good that citizens will experience when we remove the bottlenecks and make this money begin to flow. But first we have to manage these funds right and get all of the money into the hands of the citizens of Natchitoches. The proposals and requests need to come from ordinary citizens and need to be the top priority for NCIF. After all, the settlement money was designated for them. Improving their lives was the whole idea when Judge Harrington signed the original judgement. And I believe it’s what Judge Peters wants now. But let’s be real. We need to stop the hemorrhaging of money first.

It has become obvious that the public will have to get involved and not be stopped at the door. Attend meetings. Check local papers. NCIF should be required to educate the public about how to access this money. We need an investigation into the unaccounted for $22,345. If you are a person who can and will act on at least one of the above recommendations, please do so. This money was meant for you and your community or neighborhood. But you will have to speak up. Last count I saw between 2 and 3 million in the foundation’s bank account.  $22,345 is already unaccounted for. What’s next? If you don’t spend your money, these guys will. Do you really want to just sit back and let that happen?

“Let everything be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” -James 4:17

Go to church Sunday and invite a friend or neighbor. God bless you.

Note: in a previous article on NCIF the word “ballots” should have been “nominations”.

Goldonna Baptist Church will be having a busy Saturday! The church will be hosting its Annual Skeet shoot on Saturday, March 21, at the Winn Parish 4H shooting range on Highway 34 in Winnfield. They will be having a junior division (17 and under), senior division (18 and up) and a Ladies division. The five shots from each station will be one single, one report double and one true double. Entry is $25 and 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards the church’s Operation Christmas Child outreach. Concessions will be served. First shot at 10 am. For more information you may contact Ben Dupree.

River of Life Family Worship Center will have a special guest preacher on Sunday, March 22. Brother Benny Anglin will be ministering, he is no stranger to the Goldonna community as he was the former pastor of ROLFWC before Brother George Procell. Services start at 10:30 am.

The Creston Baptist Church will be hosting a Revival all week that starts at 6 pm every night until Saturday, March 21. Tuesday through Wednesday will have Kelly Coleman as the guest preacher. Thursday through Saturday will be Jay Simms.

The Goldonna Cemetery will host a fundraiser Sunday, March 29. Lunch will consist of fried catfish, fries, hushpuppies Cole slaw and soft drinks. There will begin serving at 11 am The plates will cost $12 each.

There will also be a crawfish boil fundraiser on May 2, 2026 with more information coming soon!

For news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

The Natchitoches Parish Library Board held its first meeting of 2026 on March 16. The main topic discussed was the Natchez and Robeline branches progress. Thankfully everything seems to be clear that the purchase of the Natchez land will be concluded in the very near future. There are still some hurdles in the way of the Robeline purchase, but the hope was they could be dealt with in short order. So while not the very near future, hopefully the near future.

The plan is still that the construction of both buildings would begin at the same time. The board discussed getting multiple architecture firms to submit their ideas for the new branches and the board would choose based on their preference of plans, not by who submitted it. I think the board will receive some great presentations and I’ll be very happy to see what’s on paper come into fruition.

I have faith it will happen because I’ve seen other things the Library has worked for progress from paper into reality. Most will have seen the new book mobile van but the Library recently received their new large and in charge school mobile. I see another promise kept.

The Village of Robeline will hold its monthly meeting this Thursday, March 19 at the police depot at 6 pm, besides normal business I’m sure we’ll have updates on the sewer, ball park and roads. Come be a part of what’s going on in your community.

The Los Adais Foundation will hold a special meeting on Thursday, March 19. It will start at 7 pm or once the village meeting concludes. It will be at the old Methodist Church. The meeting is to work on financial requirements as we proceed forward. Everyone is welcome to join us, we’d love to see you.

Have you ever wanted to use prescribed fire on your property for wildlife or forest management? We’re hosting an interesting meeting to kick off a Prescribed Burn Association in Winn Parish and other surrounding areas!

March 24, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Winn Parish Library
200 N St. John St, Winnfield, LA 71483

Prescribed burning is a commonly recommended land management tool, but can present challenges for landowners with limited experience and confidence to carry out without professional help. Prescribed burning associations (PBA’s) consist of landowners and other concerned citizens creating partnerships to conduct prescribed burns – Neighbors Helping Neighbors Getting Fire Back on the Ground. Through the sharing of knowledge, equipment, time, and experience the PBA can reduce risk, safely increase burned acres and help landowners accomplish their habitat management goals.

If you’re passionate about wildlife habitat, forest health, wildfire risk or overall land management, this is for you. Let’s work together to use good fire safely and effectively.

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

April 20, 2026 10 a.m. NPSB Child Nutrition Program RFP 26-27-1:Food

Bid/proposals will be accepted until the date and time specified and will be publicly opened and read aloud on April 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the School Board’s Central Office, 310 Royal Street Natchitoches, LA 71457-5709.

Please find bid-related documents and place electronic bids, if desired, at WWW.CENTRALBIDDING.COM.

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

3/18/26, 3/20/26, 3/23/26

NPSB Notice of Advertising for Bid Signed letter.