I am writing to you with great excitement and enthusiasm as the newly appointed principal of Lakeview Jr./Sr. High School. I am honored that Lakeview Jr./Senior High School is the school I will invest in, grow with, and soon call home.

It is both an honor and a privilege to join this esteemed educational institution and serve as a steward of your children’s academic journey.

As I embark on this journey, I am deeply committed to fostering strong relationships with all members of our community, including parents, stakeholders, and local residents. I firmly believe that collaboration and partnership are essential ingredients for the success of our students and the vibrancy of our school community.

Here are a few ways in which I hope to build and strengthen our relationships:

1. Open Door Policy: I want to assure you that my door is always open. Whether you’re a parent with a concern, a community member with an idea, or a stakeholder with a suggestion, I welcome your input and feedback. Your perspectives are invaluable in shaping our school’s vision and Over the next few months, I would love to meet with all stakeholders to hear what is most important to each of you.
2. Parent Engagement Initiatives: I recognize the vital role that parents play in their children’s Therefore, I am committed to providing opportunities for meaningful parental involvement. From parent-teacher conferences to volunteer opportunities, we will work together to support our students’ academic and personal growth.
3. Collaboration with Feeder Schools: Our school is an integral part of the wider community of Campti, and collaboration with all stakeholders is essential for our collective success. I am eager to forge partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and leaders to bring together our feeder schools and enrich the educational experiences of our students.
4. Safety & Behavior: It is of paramount importance to me that we are constantly aiming to foster a culture of safety awareness and responsibility among students, staff, and parents.
5. Transparent Communication: Transparent and open communication is key to building trust and fostering a sense of belonging within our community. I will strive to keep you informed about important school-related matters, decisions, and initiatives through regular updates, newsletters, and community meetings.
6. Celebrating Our Diversity: Our school community is a tapestry of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and I believe that embracing and celebrating our diversity enriches the educational experience for all students and strengthens the fabric of our community. I am committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. I value all programs at Lakeview and will have high expectations for all students in relation to academics, athletics, and the arts.

I am looking forward to working with our staff to ensure the success of our students both inside and outside the classroom. I will work with Pastor Harris, Mr. Fredieu, and the district as a whole to make Lakeview the best school in the parish, our students deserve nothing less!

We will be holding a FREE barbecue meet and greet event soon. I look forward to seeing everyone there and getting to know each and every one of you as we start this new chapter together!

Best regards,

/s/
Chase Stepp

The Ronnie Williams Administration approved two separate Electrical Rate increases last year.

The first 15% increase took effect in 2023. This initial increase provided $2.4M to the City. A portion of this cash flow fulfilled promised pay raises for our First Responders and provided enough funding to implement a second pay increase for them this year without having to increase Electrical Rates a second time. However,

A second 15% increase will hit your mailboxes, and pocketbook on… May 1, 2024

As Councilwoman-at-Large, Ms. Betty Sawyer-Smith had the ability to be the deciding vote on behalf of the Citizens of Natchitoches. Her vote was to tax you without considering how this would affect you.

The Williams Administration can tax our community for increased cash flow at any time without a citizen vote, do you want that to happen again? Residents across the city have already experienced a hardship with the first increase, a second one will be completely unsustainable.

Don’t reward The Ronnie Williams Administration with another term!

Paid for by the Lee Posey for Mayor Campaign

Oxford Dictionary defines mud-slinging as the use of insults and accusations, especially unjust ones, with the aim of damaging the reputation of an opponent. Often times online definitions are accompanied by an example sentence. No shock that the example sentence reads as follows: Politicians seem to rely on mud-slinging instead of argument.

I refuse to engage in mud-slinging because I have a strong and compelling argument for a second term. I have led with integrity and transparency. The residents of Natchitoches have never had as much access to their mayor as they have now. I literally sit in front of my office and meet with ANYONE who walks up. No appointment necessary. Yet my opponent is trying to paint my administration as one shrouded in secrecy. I realize I am facing an opponent who will do and say anything to be reelected.

The personal attacks against me—attacks that affect my wife and children—were not working. We met every single attack with facts and accompanied our facts with evidence.

When my opponent told residents he would rescind rates, we shared a document he signed in 2020 and only then did he admit he was going to raise utility rates. He hasn’t mentioned rescinding the rate adjustment since.

But now, the attacks have started on men and women who work tirelessly for our City every day. My City Attorney, a member of my Grants Team, and most recently, my City Clerk who has served the City of Natchitoches for almost 20 years.

These vicious attacks paint members of my team and me as incompetent money grabbers. The claims are categorically untrue and ugly. Lee Posey, let’s focus on facts and allow the residents to make their decision based on the truth. Stop the mud-slinging!

City funds under the Posey administration paid to Corkern, Crews, and Guillett—the immediate past City Attorney’s firm—totaled approximately $742,000 in the 4 years of Lee Posey’s 2nd term.

City funds under the Williams administration paid to Washington and Wells—the current City Attorney’s firm—total approximately $283,000 over the course of my 1st term.

Stacy McQuery has been an amazing clerk who works diligently and is extremely knowledgeable. The courts found that the City was not timely, but the facts do not support a personal attack on the performance of my City Clerk.

This is clearly not about getting the facts right. This is about finding anything to try to make me and my administration look bad. Don’t forget why politicians turn to mud-slinging. The facts are, my team has been incredibly successful and the City of Natchitoches is thriving.

Paid for by the Ronnie Williams Campaign for Mayor

Baseball fans in north Louisiana whose dads and granddads were raised on the radio sounds of KMOX and St. Louis Cardinals baseball remember Whitey Herzog, who led the Cardinals to a World Series title (1982) and two other World Series appearances (1985 and 1987) in his 10 years as the team’s colorful manager. 

The prematurely white-haired Herzog passed away last week at 92, one of the last “characters” of the old-school game.

A tip of the ballcap to Whitey, the architect of one of the great nights of my otherwise feeble life. 

It was a July Tuesday in Busch Stadium in 1986, and the San Francisco Giants were in town and so was I, writing stories on some former Shreveport Captains who were now Giants. The Cards were defending world champions but were struggling through a .500 summer, a team built offensively on speed while the Giants were an offense built on power.

St. Louis would sweep the series but it’s that Tuesday game that was the one to remember. The Cards led 10-2 in the fourth. 

In the bottom of the fifth, they stole a base.

It’s sort of an unwritten rule that you don’t steal with a big lead. Roger Craig, the Giants manager, knew this and seemed to take it personally when San Francisco reliever Juan Berenguer (blast from the past, right?) came into the game and threw at the first hitter he saw; it was the only batter he faced.

This brought Herzog out of the Cardinals dugout to protest to the home plate umpire and, a scenario you don’t see often, Craig came out of the Giants dugout and joined the conversation. The last time you’ve seen both managers yelling at the home plate umpire at the same time is … when? Only time I’ve ever seen it. 

Neither manager, as it turned out, was yelling at the umpire. They were yelling at each other. Fairly quickly they were nose to nose. Fingers jabbing. Spit flying. Then the dugouts emptied, and it were as if Herzog and Craig were each a point on opposing spears, with each team forming an arrow behind their guy.

Heated down there on the Busch Stadium turf, sure, but beautiful from where I sat in the press box, listening to 23,000-plus yelling in favor of Whitey “The White Rat” Herzog.

You knew what the argument was about, and after the game, Herzog explained it to me and other writers, his sock feet on his desk in his office underneath the stadium, leaned back in his swivel chair, a can of beer in his left hand. (A former player, Herzog batted, threw, and drank lefty.)

“Does Roger think he invented the game?” Herzog was saying. “I told him if he promised not to hit any three-run homers, I’d promise we wouldn’t try to steal any more bases. We can’t score the same way he can.”

Some other names from that weekend: Chris Brown, Robby Thompson, Jeffrey Leonard, Chili Davis, Mike LaValliere, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Tom Herr, Terry Pendleton. Steve Carlton actually hit a three-run homer in the Monday night opener, the only runs his team scored in an 8-3 loss. Only time I ever saw him pitch live — or hit a home run live. Hit it good too; slapped it off one of those columns in right in old Busch.

Good times. 

But the most beautiful part of the whole thing was after the game and Herzog explaining, with a big smile, his side of the argument. His beltless baseball pants unbuttoned to allow that 56-inches-or-so of waist a little freedom. And him holding that can of beer. Of course, in Busch Stadium it was a Busch beer. A freebie. 

The funny part was it was a Busch Light.

Whitey, always looking for an edge.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

The Briarwood Nature Preserve held its 16th annual Spring Picnic Fundraiser on the grounds of the 212 acre nature preserve Saturday, April 20. A crowd of approximately 125 supporters and friends of the preserve enjoyed a catered lunch, door prizes, tours and expert talks on irises and bird habitats.

The year’s Iris theme was commemorated by well known local artist Morgan Lasyone who donated several colorful floral themed paintings to the fundraiser.

The Briarwood Nature Preserve, opened in 1972, is the birthplace and childhood home of famed naturalist Caroline Dormon. Dorman was a naturalist, author and the first woman hired by the US Forest Service. She was also instrumental in the creation of the Kisatchie National Forest. The Briarwood Nature Preserve serves to carry on her legacy of preservation and education about the natural world.

The preserve also holds the distinction of hosting some of the few surviving specimens of the endangered tree Torreya Taxifolia. The tree originally grew in an area on the Florida/Georgia border. Caroline Dormon brought some seedlings home from a trip to Florida in the 1930’s. The trees disappeared from their original habitat and now only exist in a few places. According to Louisiana Scholars’ College professor, Dr. Betsy Cochran, the Briarwood Nature Preserve boasts the largest number of Torreya Taxifolia trees in the United States.

From wildflowers to birds, animals and miles of walking trails, there is indeed something for everyone at the Briarwood Nature Preserve.

The Demon Brothers Booster Club, an organization of former Demon football players and family members backing NSU’s football team, held its third annual fundraiser Saturday, April 20. The Crawfish Boil, held in conjunction with the football team’s Delaney Bowl, raised funds to be used in assisting the NSU football team in its mission. In addition to delicious, extremely large crawfish from Cajun country, and Layne Miller’s trademark jambalaya, guests enjoyed a silent auction of sports memorabilia and NSU gear.

Former Demon football players including NFL veterans Gary Reasons, Odessa Turner, Floyd Turner, Mike Green, and the legendary Bobby Hebert were on hand to support the young men who are carrying on the Demon legacy.

It is more than a fundraiser, however. The young men of the NSU football team are part and parcel of a tradition that stretches back decades to the earliest days of the university. It is fitting indeed that the Demon Brotherhood gathered after the Delaney Bowl, the spring game named after a man who personified what a student athlete, and man, should be.

Joe Delaney ran track and field as well as playing football, setting school records in both sports. After graduation, Joe went on to play for two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs where he was named “Rookie of the Year” by United Press International.

It wasn’t simply his feats on the gridiron that earned him an honored place in Northwestern State University’s history however, but rather his courage and character on and off the field. On June 29, 1983, Joe went with some friends to a park in Monroe, Louisiana. While there, he saw a group of three children who had gotten in a drainage pond trying to beat the summer heat, only to discover they were trapped, and were calling for help. Despite reportedly not being able to swim, Joe Delaney went in to try to rescue the children. One survived, but tragically the other two and the man who gave his life to try to rescue them did not. President Ronald Reagan posthumously awarded Delaney the Presidential Citizen’s Medal. President Reagan’s remarks at the ceremony sum up this remarkable man’s legacy well.

“He made the ultimate sacrifice by placing the lives of three children above regard for his own safety. By the supreme example of courage and compassion, this brilliantly gifted young man left a spiritual legacy for his fellow Americans…” said the president.

Through the annual Delaney Bowl, a display underneath the west stands at Turpin Stadium, a portrait that hangs in the Friedman Student Union, and the Delaney Memorial Leadership Awards bestowed on each year’s permanent football team captains, NSU perpetuates the incomparable legacy of Joe Delaney. The Demon Brothers, whose core members include many of Joe’s teammates, are committed to helping the NSU football program and the young men of today aspire to the highest caliber of citizenship and accomplishment, personified by Delaney’s life.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

St. Mary’s basketball star Ayden Warren says he’s willing to work and wait if necessary for playing time in the Northwestern State basketball program.

His St. Mary’s coach, Jake Bankston, believes Warren may not have to wait long at all.

But in any case, Warren is in it for the long haul with the Demons of second-year head coach Rick Cabrera. He made that official Tuesday morning in a ceremony at the St. Mary’s gymnasium, where he scorched the nets as the Tigers had two highly-successful seasons.

“I’m willing to wait, work as hard as I can, and contribute to the team, with playing time sometime, hopefully in the near future. Even if that’s not in the first 2-3 years, maybe my fourth year, I’ll have a breakout season,” he said after signing a letter of intent with NSU. “I’m just going to work and hopefully it will all pay off.”

Demons’ assistant coach T.J. Cox headed recruitment of Warren, who considered some junior college and lower division opportunities but settled on Northwestern. Bankston thinks his 5-11 All-State shooting guard fills a need at NSU, a prospect endorsed by Cox.

“He pitched to Ayden that if he works hard enough, he can see results and find his way on the floor,” said Bankston. “He shoots it well enough to help them right away, a team that didn’t shoot it effectively from beyond the (3-point) arc. I think there are some ways he can contribute right away.

“Over the last two years his offensive game has been so spectacular. We had to add a lot of sets to get him the ball off screens, and he turned into a great offensive player. When he got here, his weakness was defensively he had shortcomings, but he turned into an excellent defender. A lot of kids, they just want to score, but Ayden bought into his role on the defensive side and made a huge change,” he said.

Warren averaged 17.8 points as a senior when he was a second-team Class A All-State selection, leading St. Mary’s to the district title and the state quarterfinals, just three points shy of a trip to Marsh Madness. Warren was the district MVP and played in the coaches’ state All-Star Game and the Fastbreak All-Star Classic.

Choosing Northwestern, where he will be a business administration major, had some basic influences – notably his willingness to challenge himself by playing with, and against, NCAA Division I competition.

“My family lives here in Natchitoches and I didn’t want to be too far away. My best route is to go this level. I’ll get more reps, and better reps, than a lot of other players by competing at this level,” said Warren. “Every part of my game can improve – shooting, ballhandling, defense, but mainly defense and ballhandling. I can compete but it’s a whole other level so I’ll have to improve in every way.”

Warren is undaunted about making the climb from small school high school ball to a program that annually lines up against Power 5 teams in non-conference games before a rigorous Southland Conference schedule.

“(St. Mary’s) is Class A, but we’ve played some top-tier, big school teams like ASH and Northside, and I’ve played AAU travel ball in the summer, so I have a lot of confidence I can compete with the best,” he said.

“I really like the way (the Demons) play, and I think I fit into their style – a drive and kick offense. I have to play a role, as a catch-and-shoot 3-point guy, and I believe I can definitely fulfill that role.”

While he approaches an uncertain future with confidence, he looks back on his two years at St. Mary’s gratefully.

“I loved it. When I moved here, it felt like family. I loved my teammates, fit in with the offense well, and everybody believed in me when I got here. We fell short of getting to the state tournament,” said Warren, “but I loved every minute of it.”

It’s finally time to put the topic of forward-facing sonar to rest. Last week I gave a great breakdown on this topic. Now, I’m tired of all the debates of banning this new technology. I’m tired of hearing all the whining from anglers who either can’t master it or just refuse to learn it. It’s time to put this topic to rest and move forward!

This controversy is no different than any other issues that have risen in other sports. This is not about some drug that is enhancing an angler’s ability to perform and fish better. It has nothing to with any one angler having a bigger advantage over another. Why? Because every angler has the right and access to the same technology as the next one.

The problem with this controversy is the fact that it’s not the young anglers who are complaining. It’s the guys who have helped build the sport of professional bass fishing into what it is today. It’s the legends of the sport and guys who have made a good living fishing with B.A.S.S. or Major League Fishing (MLF).

They don’t like the fact that today’s young anglers are stepping out onto the big stage and not just competing with them, but winning tournaments. They feel that forward-facing sonar is the only reason this is happening. So rather than get on board and get better with it, some have chosen to file complaints.

I relate to this topic the same way I had to become a better hitter in order to get the opportunity to get drafted by a Major League Baseball team.

One thing that separates an average hitter from a great hitter is the ability to hit the curve ball. This one thing has kept more baseball players out of the highest level than any other baseball skill. 

Until I got better and learned how to go with the pitch, I was only an average hitter. But I spent two years of my college career getting better with countless hours hitting in a batting cage and working off a batting tee. This was hours of what is referred to as soft toss, programming my body to hit the curve ball and go with the pitch.

I didn’t go and complain to Major League Baseball and push for a “no curve ball rule!” No, I worked at it and got better by putting in the work! This same effort needs to be applied by these fishing pros. Instead of using the offseason to go hunting, it might be a good career move to get on the lake and get better using forward-facing sonar. 

Here’s some food for thought. If the older anglers on tour were winning with this new technology, would anyone be complaining about it? If Rick Clunn or Kevin Van Dam was kicking everyone’s butt with it, I’ll bet a dollar-to-a-donut that all pros would be figuring out how to get better with forward-facing sonar! 

So, for all the anglers that just can’t seem to grasp this new forward-facing technology, you’ve got two choices:  either get better with it or load your boats and go home. You cannot stop technology in an age where a new computer today is out of date before the end of the month you bought it. 

It’s like any other advancements in the bass fishing world, forward-facing sonar is here to stay. Stop waiting on B.A.S.S. or MLF to make rule changes to accommodate the older anglers. In the words of my team partner who got tired of my negative complaining, “Shut up and fish, you big baby!”

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

• Goldonna is 2% of the district population and is utilizing 7% of the district budget.
• Cost per student is over $26,000.00. (See Chart Below to Compare)
• Tax would only support 100 students at a ‘C’ or ‘D’ school. (See Chart Below)
• Many of Goldonna classes have less than 10 students (3-5 in attendance on any given day)
• Student population has declined every year for the past decade (and except 5) for the past 20 years.
• Last school that was closed in the parish had almost 3 times the number of students Goldonna does.
• If Goldonna did close, students would have more opportunities at another, larger school.
• The declining trend in population for Goldonna will not stop if the tax is passed, only making this tax ineffective and resulting in Goldonna closing anyway.

Many of the families in Goldonna send their children and grandchildren to neighboring school districts, but have the nerve to ask others in the Tax District to pay for their choice!

Paid for by the Citizens for fairness in Taxation

Natchitoches’ Fort St. Jean Baptiste hosted a cleanup event in conjunction with Louisiana’s “Love the Boot” week Saturday, April 20. Community volunteers joined the fort’s staff in picking up litter in the streets adjacent to the fort.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste is a replica of a colonial era French fort that was built in 1979 near the original site. The replica was built using plans from the era and used many historic building methods. The fort’s staff are extremely knowledgeable about our area’s history. More importantly, they all share an enthusiasm for sharing their knowledge with visitors.

Office Building for Sale:

Size: Over 3,500 sq. feet of office space.  Large conference room, eat-in kitchen and multiple offices
Bathrooms: 2

Convenient to Downtown Natchitoches and Front Street.

Price: $375,000.00

Location: 220 Rue Amulet, Natchitoches, Louisiana.

For more information and/or a showing, please contact, Office: 318-357-8296 or Cell: 318-663-1279

Serious Inquiries Only

PETITION FOR MANDAMUS, STATUTORY PENALTIES AND ATTORNEY’S FEES

Plantiff: Dmitry Paniotto

Defendants: City of Natchitoches (a municipal corporation) and Stacy McQueary, as City Clerk for the City of Natchitoches.

Relief Requested: Attorney’s Fees, $100.00 per day for delay of response and all costs of the proceedings.

Relief: Granted

Amount Awarded: $1,600.00 or $50.00 per day for the collective 32 days delay.
$3,000.00 in attorneys fees and all court costs shall be cast to Defendant – The City of Natchitoches.

Please view and read the attached court documents

As former elected Administrators of Natchitoches, we have several times expressed through this media, our growing concern over the unprecedented Tax increase in the form of an Electrical Rate Increase, and the transfer of Utility Revenue and Reserves to the General Fund of the City for Non-Utility uses. These massive transfers to the General fund have severely crippled the future planning for Natchitoches and jeopardized reliable electrical service to our citizens, especially if emergency situations occur. We all need reliable electricity, and have to pay the rate hikes or our service will be cut off! Many of our citizens just cannot afford such a monthly rate increase

We all must be aware that the increases $$ in electrical service is NOT being used for the cost/service of your Utilities, but to fund the mayor’s other projects.

This unwarranted electrical increase(tax), has led to business closings and has impacted the business climate of Natchitoches. Some might not be aware that a 2^nd increase is due to be implemented on May 1,2024, in 2 weeks!

Now that the mayor has been questioned about the increased revenue usage for the General Fund, he has stated that “some” of the money will be used for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Water Treatment Plant! We have NEVER heard of indiscriminately using funds from one utility for a different utility need. Each Utility is set up to be independently self- sufficient. In the past, our citizens voted on a ½% Sales Tax for Water and Sewer expansion and maintenance. Last year ,2023, that dedicated Tax generated $2,733,465.00. Where is that yearly reoccurring revenue? Where is the $6,400,000 American Rescue Plan money?

When Mayor Williams took office in 2020, Mayor Posey had put in place an executed letter of Intent that he had with the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, for the purpose of rehabilitating and expanding the capacity of the existing Water Treatment Plant. The cost was $17,200,000. In 2021, Mayor Williams spent $163,000 to hire another consultant to plan a totally new Water Treatment Plant with an estimated construction cost of $52 million. By changing the scope of the project, Williams delayed the time line another year or more, and allowed him to contract with different engineers of his choosing, some of whom have political connections.  All of the expense and work that was painstakenly done on plans for the water plant in the prior years, was wasted!!

But, when the Plans for the new proposal were presented to the Water Sector Commission, the Commission bypassed the proposal! No action was taken? As a result, the City Administration reverted back to the original proposal of 2020, to rehabilitate and increase capacity of the existing Water Treatment Plant.  As we all know, you cannot go” Back” and expect all to be the same. Some of the prior funding available in 2020 was no longer there. Due to the 4 years Delay of the Water project, interest rates increased, construction costs increased, and Inflation skyrocketed, costing $$$millions.

Through our research we present a potential funding scenario that estimates the cost to you, citizens of Natchitoches, to be $12,568,750, due to delays, and in our opinion, mismanagement!

Posey Bond Request 2020

$7,950,000 @2.45% for 30 Years = $31,205 per month + interest $3,284,100

Total costs= $11,234,100

Williams Bond Request 2024

$11,645,000@ 5.5% for 30 years = $66,119 per month + interest of $12,157,850.

Total Costs=$23,802,850

Now we are at a crossroads for the FUTURE of Natchitoches!  The city has increased the rates on all your utilities, including garbage, with yet another electrical rate increase coming in two weeks.  You have no choice other than to PAY or your utilities will be cut off!  If you are like us and feel that using YOUR utilities as a TAX is WRONG, YOU have an opportunity to make a CHANGE!  GO VOTE!  No more TAX and SPEND!!!

Wayne McCullen
Councilman-at-Large 1980-2000
Mayor 2000-2012

Don Mims
Councilman-at Large 2000-2020

Jack McCain, Jr
Councilman District 1 1988-2012       

PAID CONTENT                                                                                                                                                                                          

• Goldonna is 2% of the district population and is utilizing 7% of the district budget.
• Cost per student is over $26,000.00. (See Chart Below to Compare)
• Tax would only support 100 students at a ‘C’ or ‘D’ school. (See Chart Below)
• Many of Goldonna classes have less than 10 students (3-5 in attendance on any given day)
• Student population has declined every year for the past decade (and except 5) for the past 20 years.
• Last school that was closed in the parish had almost 3 times the number of students Goldonna does.
• If Goldonna did close, students would have more opportunities at another, larger school.
• The declining trend in population for Goldonna will not stop if the tax is passed, only making this tax ineffective and resulting in Goldonna closing anyway.

Many of the families in Goldonna send their children and grandchildren to neighboring school districts, but have the nerve to ask others in the Tax District to pay for their choice!

Paid for by the Citizens for fairness in Taxation

The 27th annual Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival will be held in historic downtown Natchitoches on the riverbank of Cane River Lake, the festival will kick off Friday evening, May 10th with “Tribute to Legends Night”. Appearing first at 7:00 p.m. will be “Lone Star Skynrd”, the award nominated Lynyrd Skynrd tribute act from Texas which faithfully recreates the atmosphere and energy of Lynyrd Skynrd concerts. Closing out Friday at 9:00 p.m. will be “Rumours-ATL”, the award-winning Fleetwood Mac tribute band out of Atlanta, Georgia which is widely recognized as the ultimate Fleetwood Mac tribute with its note for note recreation of the Mac’s hit songs.

Craig Morgan and Chapel Hart are set to headline the Main Stage on Saturday, May 11th.

Craig Morgan has been a country hit maker for over a quarter century and during his award-winning career has had seventeen charting country hits including the number ones “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and “Redneck Yacht Club”. Morgan is known for his high energy performances and is also a huge supporter of the military and veterans causes. He currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Opening for Morgan is the super-hot Nashville group “Chapel Hart” who were finalists on the hit television show “America’s Got Talent” a few years ago and then emerged again on the show’s special “Fantasy League” series which aired just a few weeks ago.

Millions have seen them on TV, they are selling out venues nationwide performing their number one hit “You Can Have him, Jolene” and many others.

Preceding “Chapel Hart” will be regional favorites “Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs” who have been hailed as “Louisiana’s top show band” and are the only band to have appeared in all twenty-six previous festivals. They are making this a stop on their 30th anniversary “Over the Moon Tour” and promise some “special surprises” during their performance. The Moondogs performance is scheduled for 5:20 p.m. As always, they’ll deliver a high quality and high energy mix of rock and roll and R&B horn-driven favorites.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.natchjazzfest.com.

There will be 20 bands in all performing on three stages, which will feature a wide variety of music, including country, rock ‘n’ roll, funk, soul, Gospel, Latin, Celtic, and yes, plenty of jazz and R&B. This is a family event, and as always, there will be plenty of great food and fun activities for the kids.

A consistent pattern in this election cycle is Lee Posey makes a claim and then the truth emerges. John Adams, our nation’s second president stated, “Facts are stubborn things.” No matter how hard my opponent tries to skirt the truth, the facts are the facts.

He stated he did not abruptly leave his post as mayor. The facts indicate that he did abandon the position of mayor just days before Hurricane Laura appeared. There is a recording of him on a Monday stating he and I still have more meetings before I was set to take over as mayor. The very next day, he didn’t show up, and I had to be sworn in as mayor.

He stated he would rescind the rate adjustment. He said it is a burden on the people. Then, the truth came out. Posey had already made plans in 2020 to take out a loan and raise utility rates to pay for the borrowed money. Had he been elected to a third term as mayor, he intended to raise the average water and sewer bill on Natchitoches residents by over 52%. He is recorded saying, “I can’t help that some people can’t afford to pay.”

His latest claim is so outrageous, it’s almost laughable. He’s claiming that I, after serving as mayor for 3 ½ years, am totally responsible for the brown water that too many of our residents still receive at their homes. How would this even be possible? The cast iron pipes are more than twice my age!

It’s more plausible, however, that Posey, having served 20 years on the council and 8 years as mayor bears a great deal of responsibility for neglecting our water system.

I’m sure he will make more phony claims before April 27^th. But facts are facts. I’m going to be focusing on the future of my great city.  

Paid for by the Ronnie Williams for Mayor Campaign