NATCHITOCHES — Acclaimed Alexandria journalist Bob Tompkins was a major honor winner Sunday at the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Award Brunch held at Merci Beaucoup Restaurant in Natchitoches.

Tompkins won the state “Columnist of the Year” award for work published in the Rapides Parish Journal in 2024. His columns appear each Tuesday in the RPJ.

His three winning entries were about a conversation with golf great Jack Burke Jr., a Sunday afternoon LSU baseball game experience, and a heartwarming return to campus by Tioga High School football legend Chris Williams.

The headlines:

• Thankful for a visit with golf legend Burke
• Feeling the love even in a loss at Alex Box
• Return of a hero: Fitting Tioga honor for LSU great Chris Williams

The contest judge wrote: “Three well-told, human-centric pieces that tell us a story and then go just a little bit beyond that to find the deeper lesson. These pieces were very well-crafted and the writer should be proud of them.”

Tompkins took second place in the “prep columns” division for his piece on retired local basketball coach Alan Tinsley titled “Tinsley had a coaching career worth whistling about.”

The award-winning stories, all in the Class II division for publications with circulations under 10,000, can be found using the RPJ’s search button.

Writers for Journal publications in Natchitoches, Ruston and Shreveport-Bossier collected 21 awards. Content editor and provider Doug Ireland was named the LSWA’s state sportswriter of the year after eight of his stories from 2024 were cited for excellence in the contest, judged by out-of-state sports editors and journalists.

The Rapides Foundation has announced that the July Challenge Calendar is out. The Foundation is encouraging everyone to balance fitness and the joys of summer. Exercise with family and friends to kick things up a notch. The calendar offers daily tips and challenges designed to increase physical activity and healthy eating. The calendar is available for download below. 

NATCHITOCHES – The lens through which much of the nation views Louisiana was on full display Saturday night inside the Natchitoches Events Center as the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame welcomed in its 12-person class of 2025.

“A lot of people look at this state through the athletic programs at LSU,” said seven-time national champion college football coach Nick Saban, whose first title came in 2003 at the helm of the Tiger program. “When we were there, we raised the bar and the standard.”

The standard raising and bearing celebrated Saturday night did not begin and end with Saban nor did it end with on-field or competitive accomplishments.

Joining Saban in the induction class was one of his first recruits – West Monroe offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. Whitworth followed his two national prep titles and three state crowns with a 2003 national championship at LSU and a four-time Pro Bowl, 16-season NFL career that culminated in a Super Bowl victory that came three days after he took home the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Saban lauded Whitworth as epitomizing what the coach wanted his players to become in their post-collegiate career.

Whitworth attributed that to his home state’s culture and what it instilled in him during his formative years in northeast Louisiana.

“Culture is shared belief and values,” he said. “When you have that, it makes it special. I always want to make things better than I found them, and I have been given the blessings and ability to do that. Anything I’m a part of, it will be better because I’m there. The people I do it with are what matters most. That’s our way of life.

“When I think of being at West Monroe, I think about my parents and my teammates’ parents. When we were really successful, they were feeding the whole team and the coaches are pouring into us. At LSU, it was the same thing. You’re just further away from home, but it was a new home. Moms were having us over to eat. Dads were taking us to lunch, asking us what we wanted to do after LSU. It was a support system. Once you get to the league, you have to be the support system. Could I share the values I learned from Louisiana? Making others feel valued. Can you spread that love? Making everyone feel special and feel a part of something sets you up to be successful. That’s our way of life in Louisiana.”

Being that support system for others came naturally to Whitworth and was on display long before his 16-year NFL career that saw him help redefine the legacy of left tackles at football highest level.

“He always poured into other guys,” West Monroe strength and conditioning coach Kirk Frantom said. “Whit was always in tune with his body and always wanted to perform at his highest level, but it wasn’t just the competitiveness. It was the servant’s heart he has.”

Whitworth’s legacy extended to his final NFL stop, winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, a franchise that allowed him to lead almost in lock step with head coach Sean McVay. Whitworth’s relationship with McVay has been well documented, and the two remain close after Whitworth’s retirement from the game.

“Whit always said this is a blessing, not a burden, and that’s the approach he took every day,” McVay said. “He’s the only person to wear the Walter Payton Man of the Year patch and go out and win a Super Bowl to go out. He is the epitome of a special one and of a Hall of Famer.

While at LSU, Whitworth shared campus with another transformative force – one that came in a much smaller package than his hulking, 6-foot-8, 330-pound frame.

For the second straight year, the Hall opened its doors to a female LSU student-athlete who changed the trajectory of program in Baton Rouge. One year after women’s basketball’s Seimone Augustus walked into the Hall, 14-time All-American gymnast April Burkholder gained entry into the state’s sports shrine.

Just as Augustus did, Burkholder’s presence turned the Pete Maravich Assembly Center into the place to be when LSU competed.

“It was the same time that LSU women’s basketball landed Seimone,” said Hall of Fame coach D-D Breaux, who coached Burkholder throughout her LSU career. “There was so much gain and so much reward with April. She brought a real professional, polished look, a style and a self-confidence in the kind of gymnastics she wanted to do. The program continued to grow. The crowds continued to grow. She was the start of that.”

The All-American honors and the 2006 NCAA beam championship almost never happened. Burkholder faced injuries that threatened her career starting at age 2 with a concussion and a fractured skull.

There were two compound fractures and three surgeries on one of her arms. Amputation of that arm nearly happened.

Yet, Burkholder pushed through and became the standard bearer for an ascendant program that reached a national championship peak in 2024.

“My parents said at one point, ‘We’re OK if you don’t want to do gymnastics again,’” Burkholder said. “I said, ‘What would it all be worth? What would it be for?’ That’s what makes it all worth it. Grit, perseverance, it teaches you throughout your entire life. It teaches you life skills you use forever.”

In five seasons, Saban took a 3-8 team and turned it into a national championship, securing LSU’s first national crown in 45 years in 2003.

His first recruiting class included Whitworth with whom he shared induction Saturday. The pair was instrumental in helping broaden the horizons and setting new standards at LSU.

“You can’t recruit the type of players he did without the ability to connect,” said former LSU and Dallas Cowboy standout Marcus Spears. “Moving from tight end to defensive end was difficult at 17, 18 years of age. I trusted him blindly and he turned out to be right. There are hundreds of those stories. He has had consistency in his work and elevated people.”

Saban elevated the LSU program to that 2003 national champion, which he said gave him the best feeling in his professional life to that point.

What has transpired in the 21 seasons since also has made Saban flush with Bayou State pride even as he stood across the gridiron from the purple-and-gold clad Tigers.

“I’m proud of the fact that we contributed to the iconic brand LSU has and the state of Louisiana has,” he said. ‘All of us, when we get rid of the self-imposed limitations and accomplish something of significance, it establishes a new horizon. The next time you accomplish it, it’s a new horizon. Then, it becomes the standard, the example for other people. Transformational leadership helps other people reach those horizons as well. I’m really, really proud every time I see LSU. It was a great rivalry (with Alabama), but I’m always proud because we did something to raise the bar and the program has been outstanding ever since.”

Over 100 bowlers from all around the state, most from central Louisiana, were joined by two dozen state sports celebrities for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s annual Celebrity Bowling Bash presented by BOM at Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria.

The two-hour event included a catered lunch from Outlaw’s BBQ, a high-energy DJ, and plenty of spirited competition – and gutter balls – along the way.

After lunch and warmups, LSHOF Foundation president Ronnie Rantz – a former Menard Eagle and LSU baseball standout – introduced the sports figures, most who were either incoming Hall of Fame inductees or those from previous years. That group included Bolton High School and Louisiana College graduate Marie Gagnard, the winner of the 2019 Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award for her long career as a tennis official on the professional circuit. Gagnard called lines at 35 U.S. Open Championships.

Another local celebrity was Lyn Rollins, a longtime Pineville resident and one of the state’s best-known and well-respected sports broadcasters. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2018.

The incoming Hall of Fame class members participating Friday were LSU gymnast April Burkholder, Coushatta and Louisiana Tech’s Vickie Johnson, an WNBA pioneer and two-time All-Star; Danny Broussard, basketball coach at St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette; Delgado Community College baseball coach Joe Scheuermann; and LSU product Herb Vincent, a top-level Southeastern Conference administrator. Sons of two ailing, elderly inductees, LSU boxing national champion Bobby Soileau and Catholic High-Baton Rouge football coach Dale Weiner, represented their dads.

LSU football greats Andrew Whitworth and Nick Saban arrived later for Induction Celebration activities.

Officers with the Pineville Police Department responded to the 100 block of Hilton Court in reference to a home invasion on June 20. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the suspect entered the home armed with a handgun, robbed the elderly homeowners, and demanded both money and firearms.

In the course of this violent encounter, the suspect sexually assaulted one of the victims and intentionally set the home on fire, before fleeing the scene.

This heinous and unspeakable act of violence has deeply impacted the community. Chief Fore stated, “We will utilize every available resource to ensure this individual is held accountable for his actions.”

Well over 100 man-hours have been devoted to this investigation so far. On June 27 at 3:22pm, the lead detective was able to secure an arrest warrant for Calvin Williams (DOB: 3/29/95) for the following charges:

• 2 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder
• 2 counts of False Imprisonment with a Dangerous Weapon
• 1 count of Aggravated Burglary
• 1 count of Home Invasion
• 2 counts of Aggravated Assault
• 1 count of First Degree Rape
• 1 count of Obstruction of Justice
• 1 count of Arson

Williams is being held at the Rapides Parish Detention Center on parole violations and is currently being booked for the aforementioned charges.

It should be noted that Mr. Williams is a registered sex offender and convicted felon who was released from custody on June 13 and was on parole stemming from a previous conviction.

The Pineville Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a thorough and comprehensive investigation. Their officers continue to work diligently to gather additional evidence in this case.

The Alexandria Police Department responded to the 3700 block of 3rd Street in reference to a shooting inside a convenience store on Thursday, June 26, at approximately 10:30pm. The responding officers were able to locate and arrest the shooter, 48-year-old Glendell Wesley. Wesley was charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, negligent carry of a concealed handgun, possession of CDS II, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm with drugs, and resisting an officer. Fortunately, no one was injured during this incident.

This is currently an ongoing investigation.

If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number 318-441-6416 or APD Dispatch 318-441-6559. Information can be emailed to detectives at APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.

For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at 318-443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

June 29

Daveion Eric Davis, 26, Lecompte – OWI first offense, headlamps required, driving under suspension/revocation, $1,200 bail;

Donna R. Duncan, 66, Pineville – OWI second offense, no driver’s license, canceled plate violation, $1,700 bail;

Edward Fayejuan Ford, 26, Pineville – flight from an officer, running a stop sign, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, headlamps required, $200 bail;

Camron Davis Ray, 33, Alexandria – two counts domestic abuse battery, criminal mischief, simple assault resisting an officer, two counts criminal trespass, resisting an officer, $2,500 bail;

Rebecca Eve Sanders, 23, Deville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, tail lamps red light, $1,200 bail.

June 28

Andre Lamonte Blakemore, 35, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Raul Barrios Gonzalez, 36, Wichita (Texas) – OWI, reckless operation, driver’s license required, no insurance, $2,350 bail;

Destiny Johnson, 22, Alexandria – OWI first offense, safety belt violation, $1,100 bail;

Owen Johnson, 19, Alexandria – theft, $5,000 bail;

April Lashada Mingo, 36, Cottonport – two counts possession of CDS, contempt of court, Louisiana fugitive, $6,000 bail;

Dwain E. Morris, 48, Elm Grove – OWI second offense, wrong way one way street, driving under suspension, $1,700 bail;

Christie Nichole Mouton, 45, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, open container, resisting an officer, $1,700 bail;

Chalvez Jamal Pinkston, 40, Alexandria – four counts contempt of court, $17,000 bail;

Jarvorous Dewayne Sanders, 22, Alexandria – three counts producing manufacturing distributing CDS, domestic abuse battery, paraphernalia, aggravated assault, parole violations, $1,500 bail.

June 27

Richard Gordon Bishop Jr, 64, Pineville – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, parole violations, $3,500 bail;

Amanda Renee Cash, 43, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, failure to appear, probation violation, two counts contempt of court, $6,000 bail;

Arcadious Deshaun Jackson, 25, Alexandria – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, six counts contempt of court, $18,000 bail;

Amber Johnson, 49, N/A – first degree rape, criminal conspiracy, cruelty to the infirmed, $50,000 bail;

Michael Tyler Mayo, 31, Dry Prong – three counts contempt of court, $15,000 bail;

Eternity Lynne De’nee McCarty, 26, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, $1,500 bail;

Jacob Cade Richard, 37, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, $250 bail;

Destinee Mechele Wilson, 34, Alexandria – five counts contempt of court, $60,000 bail.

June 26

Lewis Daniel Allen, 44, Pineville – aggravated criminal damage, disturbing the peace, $5,500 bail;

Steven Kodie Bilbo, 23, Pineville – domestic abuse battery strangulation, $5,000 bail;

Deonte Javon Brown, 33, Alexandria – four counts contempt of court, $15,000 bail;

Taurus Contrell Brown Sr, 45, Alexandria – two counts possession of CDS, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, paraphernalia, bicycle reflectors required, resisting an officer, $9,600 bail;

John Buttirck, 36, Hopkinville, Ky. – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, illegal carry firearm with drugs, improper lane usage, $6,100 bail;

Keith Anthony Courville Jr, 31, Hessmer – possession of firearm by convicted felon, possession of CDS, improper window tint, no vehicle registration, two counts contempt of court, $7,700 bail;

Matthew D. Hodnett, 37, Pineville – OWI second offense, reckless operation of a vehicle, criminal damage to property, possession of CDS, switched license plate, failure to secure registration, $3,200 bail;

John Kennie Green, 57, Westlake – simple burglary, contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Jonathan Charles Harris, 40, Alexandria – simple battery, resisting an officer, three counts contempt of court, $7,000 bail;

Gary Randall Peart Jr, 48, Bentley – OWI second offense, expired plate/registration, open container, operating a vehicle under suspension for certain prior offenses, five counts contempt of court, $252,200 bail;

Stephanie Charlene Varnell, 36, Pineville – two counts possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, simple escape, two counts contempt of court, $7,000 bail.

June 25

Derek Jameal Bryant, 35, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, $10,000 bail;

Walter Keith Gammill Jr, 36, Dry Prong – OWI second offense, open container, operating a vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses, improper lane usage, switched license plate, two counts contempt of court, $13,700 bail;

Joshua Lewis Gremillion, 39, Mansura – home invasion, $5,000 bail;

Rashad O’Neal Jenkins, 31, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of firearm by convicted felon, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, two counts contempt of court, $47,500 bail;

Jamarrius Deshad Willingham, 29, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery with child present, domestic abuse battery, $4,000 bail.

Crews for the City of Pineville repaired a main water leak at 3308 Old Marksville Hwy on Friday. The follow streets will be under a boil advisory until further notice:

Following a successful market on June 26, the Alexandria Farmers Market announced that it is growing and will be adding new vendors throughout the summer.

The first new vendor to be introduced is Sourdough by Shawn, a familiar face to many who have taken one of her sourdough how-to classes. Shawn brings a mix that will compliment the market’s current bread lineup. Come by this coming Tuesday for the July 1 market and welcome them with us at 2727 Jackson St. from 3-6pm.

By JIM BUTLER

Thirteen years after an environmental debacle at Dresser Industries, and five years after the public was notified of its extent, litigation involving several hundred plaintiffs and seemingly that many lawyers is back in federal court Monday.

Claims by two plaintiffs in the stack of those in line went to trial in test last Fall, jurors finding for the defense on all claims.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are set aside for hearing evidence in a Lafayette courtroom from all parties on their versions of the Most Feasible Plan of corrective action.

Dresser, now in the Baker-Hughes family, says in its MFP that it has spent about $24 million on remediation so far and estimates another three to four to complete its plan.

An annotated timeline:

June 2012 – soil and water contamination toxic release occurs; March 2020 – residents of defined area around plant notified; June 2020  – class action suit filed in state court in Baton Rouge, DEQ subsequently ruled immune to charges; August 2020 – Dresser petition moves case to federal court; Covid disrupts;

September 2023 – Suit ruled not a proper class action, requiring individual litigation; October 2023 – Dresser seeks, gets order requiring each plaintiff claiming personal injury from exposure to TCE or PCE or on behalf of minor to provide from physician list of specific injuries, illnesses or conditions, date first suffered and treated, explanation of exposure and diagnosis with February 2024 deadline;

February 2024 – Deadline extended to May; August 2024 – Court orders both sides in cases to provide their versions of Most Feasible Plan; October 2024 – Dresser submits MFP; plaintiffs seek extension, granted; October 28-November 6, 2024 – “Bellwether” trial of damage claims of two plaintiffs, jury found for defense on all claims; such trials help both sides in such litigation assess their cases; December 2024 – Plaintiffs submit MFP;

April 2025 – Remediation hearing continued at plaintiffs’ request; plaintiffs ask to file supplemental MFP, denied; court notes length of time since cases began; hearing continued to May 19; May 2025 – Hearing re-set for June 30-July 2.

By JONATHON ZENK, Written for the LSWA

NATCHITOCHES — During Thursday afternoon’s introductory press conference for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s  Class of 2025, a couple sentiments were common threads — gratitude and relationships.

Memories and stories were shared by all the inductees, or those speaking on their behalf, as they reflected on the state where they built a legacy that led them to the honor they will officially receive Saturday night during the induction ceremony televised live on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Today the scene shifts to Alexandria’s Four Seasons Bowling Center for the Mardi Gras Bowling Bash then returns to Natchitoches where the evening offers the free Rockin’ RiverFest concert from 6-10:30 on the downtown Cane River Lake stage, including inductee introductions at 9:15 followed by a 10-minute sports-themed fireworks show.

Saturday’s activities begin with the Junior Training Camp led by the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans marketing staff from 9-11 a.m. at the Webb Wellness Center on the Northwestern State campus.

Two more inductees will join the festivities. LSU and NFL star Andrew Whitworth arrives today after his daughter’s dance recital last night in Los Angeles.  His LSU coach, Nick Saban, has been filming AFLAC commercials in Los Angeles and will arrive Saturday for the induction ceremony. Whitworth and Saban helped lead the Tigers to the 2003 national championship.

Relationships are a major theme during every induction, so it made sense Thursday afternoon that college chums Glenn Guilbeau and Herb Vincent were at the podium early in the chain of inductees.

“I am real proud of my friendship with Herb,” Guilbeau said. “We’ve been able to get along, dating back to when we were both at LSU at the same time.

“It was great to follow Herb’s career from the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL to the SEC. He’s been a great friend to have.”

Guilbeau, a two-time Louisiana Sportswriter of the Year, will receive the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.

LSHOF Foundation President & CEO Ronnie Rantz, a Menard High standout who pitched for LSU’s first two College World Series champions in 1991 and 1993, recounted a joke played on Guilbeau, who was working at the Alexandria Daily Town Talk when hometown hero Rantz played for the Tigers.

Rantz was pitching well but Vincent exaggerated when he called Guilbeau in Alexandria claiming Rantz had a no-hitter going late in a midweek game. Guilbeau quickly hung up, called the paper’s editors and told them be ready for a big story — before Vincent called back moments later saying while Rantz had a good outing going, it was not a no-hitter.

“Glenn hung up the phone before we could tell him it was a joke,” Vincent said. “We tried to figure out how to call him back to tell him to stop and wondered how long do we let this go? Finally, we called him back and told him the truth.

“That was when we realized Glenn would believe anything if he took the bait that Ronnie was throwing a no-hitter at an LSU baseball game.”

Vincent, now in his 12^th year as an associate commissioner of the SEC, will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award.

While those two had a relationship in the workplace, other inductees didn’t have to look so far for their big relationships.

In 1990, Rags Scheuermann was inducted into the LSHOF as a legendary Delgado Community College baseball coach.

After 35 years, Rags will be joined by his son, Joe. They become the fourth father-son combination in the Hall.

The younger Scheuermann has won a state-record 1,207 games as the Delgado CC baseball coach and has led the Dolphins to five JUCO World Series appearances.

“It is special being a father-son duo in the LSHOF,” he said. “You grow up and you have idols — my dad was my idol. I just wish he was here. You follow somebody and you try to emulate him. I remember sitting on his lap in the dugout. The fact that we’re in it together is special.”

While Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier dominate the present-day WNBA, former Louisiana Tech star Vickie Johnson walked so the current trio could run. The Coushatta native, currently an assistant coach with the Atlanta Dream, played in the WNBA’s inaugural season.

“The WNBA started in 1997, and I was one of the original 32 players in the league and I was placed in New York with some amazing players, Teresa Weatherspoon, Rebecca Lobo …. We didn’t make a whole lot of money, but it wasn’t about that. It was about the next generation and now you see the league’s growth with Clark and Angel Reese.”

Johnson was a two-time All-American for the Lady Techsters before playing 13 seasons in the WNBA. In her 13 seasons, she averaged 10.4 points, set the WNBA record for minutes played in a career,  and made a pair of WNBA All-Star teams.

A replay of the 2025 Induction Press Conference can be found at youtube.com/@LouisianaSportsHallofFame.

In observance of Independence Day, all City of Alexandria offices including City Hall, Customer Service, the Animal Shelter, Public Works, and others will be closed on Friday, July 4.

ATRANS Bus Service will not run Friday, July 4. Regular service will resume on Saturday, July 5. 

Trash collection will occur on the following schedule. There will be no pick-up on Friday, July 4.

• Thursday and Friday routes will shift.
▪ Thursday’s pickup moves to Wednesday, July 2.
▪ Friday’s pickup moves to Thursday, July 3.
▪ Monday (June 30) and Tuesday (July 1) follow the normal schedule.

UPDATE

June 26, 2025, in a 10th Judicial District Court, Rodrick T. McIntosh was arraigned on four (4) new counts which apparently have a different fact pattern then the previous charge in regards to fraudulent practices in his real estate business.

Court: 10th Judicial District Court, Natchitoches, Louisiana
Judge: Desiree Dyess

For the State: Amanda Todd & Darwin Miller from the LA Attorney General’s Office

For Rodrick T. McIntosh: Howard E. Conday *

Bond: $200,000.00 bond with special conditions

* Mr. McIntosh’s attorney for the first charge back in March 2025, Ms. Andree Jacques, filed a motion for severance stating that she did not have a contract for the four additional charges.  Judge Dyess granted the motion for severance and Natchitoches attorney Howard E. Conday appeared for McIntosh for the purposes of the arraignment.

ORIGINAL

Natchitoches Parish realtor arrested following fraudulent practices investigation

A criminal investigation by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau has led to the arrest of local realtor, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

The investigation began after a former client reported alleged fraudulent practices conducted by Rodrick T. McIntosh, a realtor based in Natchitoches. Detectives launched an inquiry into the matter, which resulted in Rodrick T. McIntosh, 39 of Natchitoches, being arrested on March 7 and booked into the LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center charged with 1-count of Felony Theft.

McIntosh currently remains in the detention center awaiting bond.

Detectives executed a search warrant signed by a 10th Judicial District Judge at McIntosh’s residence near Natchitoches on Friday morning, related to the investigation.

Sheriff Wright emphasized that this investigation is separate and unrelated to a story posted by a local social media outlet earlier on Friday.

“The investigation into McIntosh’s alleged actions is ongoing, and we remain committed to gathering facts and ensuring accountability,” said Sheriff Wight. “This case is entirely independent of other reports circulating on social media.”

The investigation is still active, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

If you have any information, you would like to share with case investigators contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau at 357-7830.

**All Persons are Presumed Innocent until Proven Guilty in Court or by Administrative Process**

Continue your article here…

The Cross Branded Cowboy Church Rodeo is coming on July 11 to the Cross Branded Cowboy Church Arena in Pineville. This youth rodeo is for the whole family with events for everyone, even without a horse.

Come out and experience the friendly atmosphere and fun. There will be Cowboy Church during the rodeo.

Youth events are for ages 18 and under. Open events are for anyone. 

Admission is free. Concessions will be available. Books open at 6pm, and the rodeo begins at 7pm.

For more information, contact Marshall at 318-542-3443

Paid Content

The 45th Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held on Saturday, July 19, in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum located at 220 South Jefferson Street on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The festival’s curated showcase of Louisiana folk musicians, food vendors and traditional crafts persons will open at 9 a.m., with live entertainment scheduled from 9:30am until 9:30pm. The family-oriented festival is fully wheelchair accessible. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets are $10 at the door for all events, or $6 for an evening pass to all events after 5pm. 

The festival features three stages of music. Music headliners include Cajun band Amis du Teche, zydeco band Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, blues artist D.K. Harrell, western swing artist the Kristyn Harris Band, roots band Smithfield Fair, gospel group the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples and swamp pop dance band the Has Beans. The festival also includes numerous food vendors offering traditional Louisiana cuisine. Outdoor activities feature demonstrations of traditional blacksmithing, Dutch oven cooking and a child-friendly hands-on demonstration of a 19th century wash day. 

In honor of this year’s theme, “Crafting Louisiana,” more than 80 crafts vendors have been invited to display and discuss their traditional work with those attending the festival. Craftspeople are expected to display beadwork, baskets, cowhide chair covers, alligator jewelry, Pysanky eggs, Native American crafts and pottery. Other expected craftspeople will display needlework, wood carvings, handmade toys and dolls, paintings, sculpture, homemade soap, spinning & weaving, handcrafted knives, handmade brooms, walking sticks, folk art quilts and more. 

The Festival will include a Red Beans and Rice Cookoff, in which professionals and hobbyists alike can compete in one of multiple categories and demonstrate their cooking skills. Registration and the cooks’ meeting will take place at 8am. Tasting and judging will begin at 12:30pm with winners to be announced at 3:30pm. There is no fee to compete in the Cookoff. Red beans & rice must be cooked on-site outside of Prather Coliseum, but beans may be pre-soaked. 

The Annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held at 1pm in Magale Recital Hall. There will be a non-championship class and a championship class. A twin fiddle category will also be held. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5pm. 

The festival includes several opportunities for patrons to engage directly with Louisiana folk culture. Free dance lessons include line dancing taught by the Classy Steppers, Celtic dance taught by the Thistle Dancers and Pipers and Cajun and zydeco dancing taught by the Cajun French Music Association Dance Troupe. Interactive activities include a yodeling demonstration by Kristyn Harris, dancing with the Louisiana Czech Heritage Dancers, a son jarocho fandango dance by the Armadillos Tejano and a musical spoons workshop taught by folk musician Clancey Stewart, with 50 free musical spoons given to workshop attendees. 

“The festival bridges the distance between artists and the festival patrons, thus breaking the artificial barriers between artists and audience,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the festival and NSU’s Louisiana Folklife Center. “Rather than watching from the sidelines, everyone who takes part in these activities will share and engage in Louisiana’s rich culture.” 

KidFest will be available from 9am to 4pm. Kidfest is an area dedicated to child-friendly activities and is a fun way for children to examine their own cultural and family traditions as well as those from around the state. 

Narrative sessions will be held in the festival N-Club Room from 10am to 6pm and feature presentations on traditional dolls and dollmaking, Creole architecture, Mexican fiddle styles and folk artist Clementine Hunter, with music informances on the blues with D.K. Harrell and roots music with Smithfield Fair. ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices and audio description for these cultural discussions will be made available upon prior request.  

This year also features several pre-Festival events which are free and open to the general public. Fiddlin’ with the Finest will be held at the Many Depot Museum on June 14 and will include several Louisiana State Fiddle Champions discussing and performing traditional fiddling. Attendees are invited to bring their own acoustic instruments for a folk music jam session. A second free pre-festival event, A Life of Zydeco, a Musical Informance with Chubby Carrier, will be held on June 21 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches with Grammy winner Carrier discussing the cultural significance of zydeco to Louisiana with Rasmussen. A third pre-festival event will be an interactive crafts workshop, with Creole and Native American tradition bearers sharing their cultural knowledge. It will be held at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on July 12. Free crafting materials will be provided for attendees. 

For a full schedule of events, as well as registration forms to participate in the Louisiana State Fiddle Championship and the Red Beans & Rice Cookoff contact the Louisiana Folklife Center at 318-357-4332 or email folklife@nsula.edu or go to louisianafolklife.nsula.edu. 

Support for the festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and the State of Louisiana. The festival is sponsored by C&H Precision Machining, City Bank, Cleco, Evans Family, LLC, Exchange Bank, the Family Doctors of Natchitoches, the Harrington Law Firm, Natchitoches Wood Preserving Company and Young Estate, LLC. 

We would like to invite all of our friends and neighbors to a special informational meeting focused on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and Eminent Domain—topics that are growing in importance across our region.

This educational gathering is not intended to persuade one way or another, but rather to allow you to become educated on an important topic that engages our families. We have invited qualified professionals to explain what CCS is, how it works, and what implications it and Eminent Domain may have for our communities. It will be an open forum where questions are welcomed and honest discussion encouraged.

July 1st, 2025 • 6pm • Pine Ridge Baptist Church

We must become better educated on the complex issues that have the potential to seriously affect our lives and the lives of our future generation to come. By understanding the facts, we can speak with wisdom, compassion, and truth when questions arise.

I sincerely hope you will make every effort to attend and join us in this thoughtful and respectful dialogue.

Let us remember the words of Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Thank you for your time,

Pine Ridge Baptist Church
6026 LA-112
Melder, LA 71433

The Elliot Cabrini route will end services early today June 27. Bus service for this route will operate from 6am to 2pm and will go down at 2pm.