Northwestern State University Theatre and Dance students participated in the annual Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region 6 held at the Strand Theatre in Shreveport. This is the first time Northwestern has taken part in the Festival, according to Director of Musical Theatre Andrew Lewis.

Students performed scenes from fall productions of “Smokey Joe’s Café” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as part of an evening of invited scenes.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation donated $1,000 in equipment to Stanley High School in DeSoto Parish and recognized a student displaying volunteer and leadership qualities.

Kisatchie National Forest closed the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area of the Kisatchie Ranger District on Thursday until further notice for a controlled burn or “prescribed burn.” The Wilderness area is made up of 8,700 acres of forest with some of the most unusually steep and rugged terrain to be found in Louisiana.