By: Jason Pugh, Associate Athletic Director for External Relations

NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State athletic department and Rhodes Properties and Development have partnered to create a unique opportunity for fans and supporters of Demon athletics.

The two entities have combined to present the 2026 Rhodes Properties and Development Demon Dream Home giveaway – a raffle that will see the winner collect a brand-new Rhodes-built home in the Hidden Oak subdivision in Natchitoches, located along Louisiana Highway 3191.

Raffle tickets will be sold for $100 each beginning May 4 and can be purchased through Northwestern athletes or online through www.NSUDemons.com. The live drawing will take place Nov. 6 at Riverside Reserve in Natchitoches with additional prizes awarded at the event.

Proceeds from the raffle will go toward the Northwestern athletic department in support of its student-athletes.

“Working hand-in-hand with Rhodes Properties and Development to bring the Demon Dream Home to life was an easy decision,” Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. “Their support of Northwestern State athletics never has been in question, but it has reached another level with this partnership. We are far beyond grateful for Rhodes Properties and Development for their input and expertise in this process.”

The home, valued at $265,000, is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,450-square foot heated building in one of Natchitoches’ newest subdivisions that Rhodes Properties and Development and Rhodes Realty began developing in early 2026. Hidden Oak subdivision is located near Sibley Lake, west of Louisiana Highway 1 in Natchitoches.

“We at Rhodes Properties and Development, alongside Rhodes Realty, understand the importance of the Northwestern State athletic program to the Natchitoches community,” Rhodes Properties and Development owners and operators James and Justin Rhodes said. “We believe in the vision of Northwestern State athletics and where it is going. We presented this opportunity to Kevin as our way to support nearly 400 student-athletes as well as the coaches and staff members with whom we have developed relationships. The vendors who will help us bring this home to life share that same vision. Being involved in all facets of this project allows us to continue to demonstrate our commitment to Northwestern State and Natchitoches.”

Purchase Raffle Tickets: https://nsudemons.com/

“When a mother realizes her child is watching history unfold in real time—and feeling afraid—she faces a question no parent is ever quite prepared to answer: how do you explain a frightening world without making it feel even more dangerous?”

 See what Ida says 

Kenneth Wayne Barton, 65, of Homerville, died on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born on May 1, 1960, in Winnfield, LA, to the late Samuel Clayton and Billie Nell Calhoun Barton. Kenneth grew up working with his daddy, grandpa and uncles in the woods and was driving log trucks by the age of 14. He became a truck driver for Walmart in 1998, earning the distinction of 2.7 million safe miles during his 28 year career. He was known by many names, such as Cajun, Cajun Baby, Pretty Baby, Papa Cajun, Rueben and Cajun Bacon. He was also known as the Golden Nephew among his cousins and aunts in LA. Kenneth loved the Lord, LSU sports, enjoyed hunting, and loved spending time with his family, friends and fur babies. In the early 1970s, he, along with several of his friends, founded the now famous Atlanta Fish Fry in Winn Parish, LA. He also took great pride in designing commemorative coffee cups for the annual event. Kenneth was a member of Homerville Freewill Baptist Church.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Becky Feazell Barton of Homerville; his daughter, Kristen Till of Jacksonville, North Carolina; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael Hammond and Eunyoung Seo of Pyeongtaek, South Korea, and Christopher and Mayumi Hammond of Valdosta; his grandchildren, Mackenzie Turner, Madison Catlin (Will), Nealon White, Elliot White, Jayson Wynn, Anika Hammond, Maiyah Hammond, Ewan Hammond, Masa Hammond, Shin Hammond, Sachi Hammond and Mana Hammond; his great-granddaughter, Eleanor Catlin; a sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Glynn Webster of Atlanta, LA and aunts, Frances Rogers of Atlanta, LA and Lenora Feazell Johnston of Houston, TX; nieces and nephews, Jeremy Webster (Jessica), Rachel Dobbs (Skylor), Amanda Webster, Bridget Skinner (Chance); a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Suzanne Feazell of Guyton, Georgia; his fur babies, Allie and Buster; and his best friend, Al Denmark of Waycross. In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, John Nealon and Joyce Hodges Feazell.

Services for Kenneth Barton were held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Homerville Freewill Baptist Church with visitation one hour prior to the service. The family also received friends from 5-7 pm on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta. The burial took place on Thursday following the services at Friendship Cemetery in Hahira, Georgia at 3 p.m.

Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. 

A Winn Parish student is headed to national competition after securing a top finish in the 4-H state shooting sports contest.

Hallie Musgrove placed first in the state in the .22 pistol division. The victory qualifies Musgrove to represent Louisiana at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, which will be held in June.

By Richard Searles, Journal Contributor

State faces record 6,465 orphaned wells, a cleanup bill that could top $1 billion, and a broken oversight system

Louisiana’s oil patch is leaving behind a growing legacy of abandoned wells that leak, contaminate groundwater and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars — and on a per capita basis, the state’s problem is more than four times worse than Texas, which has drawn national attention for the same issue.

As of March 2025, Louisiana has 6,465 orphaned oil and gas wells — unplugged, abandoned sites with no responsible operator — according to the state Department of Conservation and Energy. Texas has approximately 10,029 orphaned wells, according to its Railroad Commission. But Texas has nearly seven times Louisiana’s population. Louisiana has roughly one orphaned well for every 711 residents. Texas has one for every 3,130. Louisiana’s per capita burden is more than four times heavier.

The Numbers Are Accelerating

Between 2014 and 2023, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found that an average of about 445 wells were added to the orphaned list each year. In 2025, more than 1,600 wells were added — more than three times the historical annual average. In just the first months of 2026, another 517 wells have already been added.

Behind those orphaned wells sits an even larger problem: inactive wells not yet orphaned but at risk. The Legislative Auditor found the inactive well count climbed 21.7 percent from 2019 to 2024, reaching 21,629 statewide.

What It Will Cost — and Why the Numbers Differ

The cleanup bill has been reported in different ways, and understanding why requires a distinction between two categories of problem wells.

The first is the orphaned well count itself — the 6,500 wells with no responsible operator. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor places the average plugging cost at $113,000 per well. Multiplied across the current orphaned well list, that produces the widely cited $730 million figure.

But that number covers only orphaned wells. A July 2025 white paper from the LSU Center for Energy Studies, commissioned by the state, calculated that plugging and abandoning both orphaned and idle wells in just the Monroe and Shreveport regulatory districts — two of Louisiana’s three oil and gas districts — would cost approximately $860 million. The Lafayette district, which holds roughly 41 percent of the state’s total orphaned and idle well inventory, was not included in that estimate. When all three districts and all idle wells are accounted for, the total cost to Louisiana taxpayers could well exceed $1 billion.

Since 2023, the state has plugged just 490 orphaned wells at a combined cost of nearly $90 million in state and federal funds — far behind the pace needed to make meaningful progress.

The Oversight System Failed

Louisiana’s attempt to manage the problem through a private industry-led entity collapsed. The Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association, created in 2019 to collect operator fees and fund plugging activity, was dissolved after a state audit found it falling far behind — and after allegations of self-dealing that included a $780,000 loan to a state official. An audit also found the association’s administrative partner was charging a 36 percent fee on revenues, nearly double the agreed cap. During fiscal years 2020 through 2023, the state plugged 976 orphaned wells through the program. During that same period, nearly 1,700 new orphaned wells were reported — meaning the system was losing ground even while operating.

The Louisiana Legislature responded in 2024 by creating the Natural Resources Trust Authority under the Department of Conservation and Energy, tasked with rebuilding oversight and funding. Financial security requirements — the bonds operators must post to cover future plugging costs — remain a structural weakness. Though coverage rose from 25 percent of wells in 2014 to 74 percent by 2024, the Legislative Auditor found the amounts collected still fall well short of actual plugging costs.

The Bottom Line

Louisiana is producing new orphaned wells faster than it can plug old ones, carrying a per capita orphaned well burden more than four times that of Texas, and facing a total cleanup bill that state and university researchers suggest could exceed $1 billion when all idle and orphaned wells statewide are fully accounted for. The consequences — contaminated groundwater, leaking methane, degraded land — fall most heavily on the rural communities where these wells are concentrated.

Sources: Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy; Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office; LSU Center for Energy Studies, “Orphan and Idle Wells in Louisiana,” July 2025; Texas Railroad Commission; Louisiana Illuminator.

“At what point does daycare cost more than your job is worth?”

 See what Ida says 

This is story from a book entitled “Moments for Mothers.” The Rogers family was a strong Christian unit. Mr. Rogers took seriously his role as spiritual leader. Often at supper the family would have a Bible quiz or discuss some spiritual truth. One evening the family was discussing what heaven will be like. 7-year-old Jimmy grabbed this subject and ran with it; he had a very creative imagination.

Jimmy said, “When we get to heaven, the big angel will call the roll. He will come to the Rogers family and say, ‘Daddy Rogers’ and Daddy will say ‘Here! ‘. Then the angel will call out, ‘Mommy Rogers,’ and Mommy will say, ‘Here! ” Then the same thing will happen for Susie and Mavis. Then the angel will call my name, “Jimmy Rogers,” and because I’m little and don’t want to be missed, I will jump up and shout real loud, ‘Here!’”

Just a few days later, there was a tragic accident. A car struck down Jimmy as he made his way to the school bus. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The family gathered round his bed and kept a prayerful vigil through the night. The doctors told them that he had suffered severe brain damage and could not recover.

Just before dawn, Jimmy seemed to be stirring a bit. The family saw his lips move; just one word was all he uttered before he passed from this life. But oh what comfort and hope that word gave for this grieving family. In a voice clear enough for everybody in the room to hear, Jimmy said, “Here!!” and then he was gone, to another world, to a better world, where a big angel was calling the roll.

We Christians believe this is true. It is why we can live with hope in the midst of such a crazy world. We know that we are all pilgrims, simply passing through this life. Our home is in heaven.

Easter people believe that one day we will all answer, “Here!”

Winn Community Health Center is now truly “Open for Business” at its spacious new facility at 407 W. Court Street in Winnfield as witnessed by the hundreds of well-wishers who gathered Monday for ceremony, speeches and tours.  The dream had been building for years.  Construction required two more years.  But WCHC didn’t waste any time after Monday’s ribbon cutting and opened the doors of the three-story complex for customer services first thing Tuesday morning.

WCHC had actually been open for business since mid-2009 but that was in a small office with 5 employees.  That has grown, under the umbrella of Trinity Community Health Centers of Louisiana, to 11 clinics in 7 parishes as well as numerous school-based clinics.  In opening remarks, Toni McAllister lauded the vision and determination of CEO Deano Thornton in realizing the local gap in rural healthcare that has led to this “celebration of a stronger future for healthcare in our community.”

Melissa Pillars, a community development banker with JPMorgan Chase, echoed that sentiment when she described the story that inspired JPMorgan Chase to invest in this rural Louisiana project.  She’d flown in from Chicago for Monday’s opening and related that years ago, Thornton’s son Barry was seriously injured in a car accident and how the family had struggled to access local care that accepted Medicaid.

“At that moment,” she told the gathering, “he made a decision that this isn’t right.  And that moment mattered, because civic leadership often starts with one moment like that, when someone sees a problem clearly and decides not to accept it.”  She pointed to the leadership, the persistence and the clear commitment from the community which convinced JPMorgan Chase to invest to build something stronger.

Thornton explained that piecing together the funding package for this $30 million project was most complicated than anything he’d faced before and took a good measure of cooperation as he thanked JPMorgan Chase, Community Business Investment Fund and Baker Tilly in the area of federal and state tax credits and the Rapides Foundation for ongoing support.

Thornton thanked the many who sat under the canopied tent or stood in the shadow of the three-story for their continued support, to the board’s trust in him, to the collaboration of medical providers including hospital organizations and to the many employees (identified by their aqua blue t-shirts).  He thanked the organization’s leadership and reminded that crowd that WCHC is a not-for-profit with a mission to “Provide access to quality healthcare despite one’s ability to pay.”  He cited Matthew 25:40.

The CEO thanked TBA Studio where lead architect Winn native Lisa Peddy Frontaura “took my vision and put it on paper, then Ratcliff Construction brought it to reality.”  Frontaura was present with her team Angie Parish, Sha’Derrika Edwards, Megan Young-Isom, Donna Cathey, Melanie Moffett and Trinity Smith.

The building is designed both for “more patients to get the services they deserve and also for the comfort and convenience for employees.”  Some 130 will be there on a regular basis.  The first floor will feature the in-house pharmacy, primary care (with 20 exam rooms and 4 behavioral health rooms), chiropractic, podiatry, radiology, warehouse plus a break room and patio for employees.

The escalator leads to the second floor which includes physical therapy with Winnfield PT Tyler Pyles and Doug James, dental department and optometry (hoped for soon), plus a break room with balcony.  The third floor is administration, though it was open for the public walk-through Monday.  Included departments are finance, credentialing, billing, medical records, board room, C-Suite offices, IT department, chronic care management, a large training center and the “Fleur de Lis Café” plus the break room with balcony.

The board gathered at the front door, the ribbon was cut and the viewing began.

That board includes chair Toni McAllister, vice chair Andre Bass, secretary Cindy Jamison, Kaye Pyles, Rhonda Deloach, Brent Hubbard, Brenda Jones, Stanley King, Marianne Little, Glenda Melton, June Melton, Tenico Myers, Katrina Nichols and Katina Smith.  Legacy Members are Ellen Russell, Betty Ashley, Alma Hobdy, Everlean Gibson and Mike Tinnerello.

TCHC and TCHC of Louisiana board of directors includes chairman Deano Thornton, secretary/treasurer Mallorie Gardner, Gerald Hamms, Josh McAllister, Katie Parnell and Matthew Walton.

The public is invited to celebrate 67 years of ministry and missions with Calvary Baptist Church at their Homecoming service on Sunday, April 26.  Service begins at 10 a.m.

Special guests will be Dr. Doug Allen and his wife Marsha, formerly of Winnfield. Dr. Allen served as pastor of Calvary for several years. He will bring the morning sermon.  Dr. Allen and his wife now live in Dumas, Arkansas, where he serves as pastor of First Baptist Church.

Following the morning service, a covered dish lunch will be enjoyed in the Family Life Center. “Everyone is invited to attend and help us welcome Doug and Marsha,” says Pastor Norris Curry. Calvary Baptist Church is located at 2888 Hwy 84, Winnfield, (about 13 miles east of Winnfield and about 8 miles west of Tullos).

The Melrose Arts and Crafts Show scheduled for this weekend, April 18-19, has been canceled due to the threat of severe weather and high winds, which is a safety concern for vendors, attendees and staff. The show has been rescheduled for Oct. 10–11, 2026.