Natchitoches Parish President Rick Nowlin and staff, representatives of the Natchitoches Parish OHSEP, and Mayor Lee Posey of the City of Natchitoches met today with Mark Riley, Deputy Director of Recovery, and Teresa Basco, Region 6 Coordinator with GOHSEP. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the post-event activities and documentation that will be required in the event that the Parish is covered under a Federal Declaration of Emergency.

Regulations require the Governor to request a Presidential declaration within 30 days from the last date of the Event. The flooding of the Red River in Natchitoches Parish started on May 28th and it is anticipated that the Event will be kept open with FEMA until the flood waters have receded. In light of the potential for new flooding due to Tropical Storm Bill, GOHSEP is working with FEMA representatives to keep the current Event open as a continuing event. As many of the tributaries are still full, Louisiana could see another round of flooding in early July once the new rainfall moves down the Red River.

If it is determined that the damage caused by the flooding exceeds the monetary damage indicator as published by FEMA, a Preliminary Damage Assessment will be requested and performed in conjunction with FEMA, GOHSEP and the Parish OHSEP office. In the event that the Parish does receive a FEMA Public Assistance Declaration, all recovery activities will require the Parish to have a 25% cost share.

Press Release: NPG-Parish President Rick Nowlin

Two to four inches with higher amounts possible from near Tyler to Clarksville, with expected amounts less further east. Flash flooding will be possible, especially if rainbands set up and train over the same areas repeatedly. A flash flood watch is in effect for portions of the region through 7 PM Wednesday.

Tropical Storm Bill is expected to make landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast near Matagorda Bay later this morning. It will move into central Texas by late tonight and into North Texas during Wednesday, bringing heavy rainfall and the potential for isolated tornadoes for portions of the region.

The Natchitoches Parish Government held its regularly schedule meeting for the month of June tonight at the Parish Courthouse. In attendance were Council Members John Salter, A.J. Johnson, Rodney Bedgood and Ricky LaCour. Chris Paige was not in attendance.

Parish Council – June 15, 2015

When a motion was made to adopt the minutes of the previous meeting from May 2015, Ms. Debbie Miley asked that a conversation be added to the minutes. Ms. Miley read the conversation to the Council. This conversation was a recap of Mr. Chris Paige’s speech in which he was upset about a mail out and wanted it investigated. A motion was made and the Council voted to add Mr. Paige’s speech to the record of the May meeting.

The Council will consider introducing a $10 fee to be added to all guilty plea or convictions after the trial, with the exception of traffic violations. On a motion made, a second received the motion carried.

An agenda item to consider paying Charles Cloud for maintenance at the bin site on land temporary leased from him received no motion and died.

The Council adopted a resolution to authorize the Parish President to advertise for public bids for improvements to the Coco Bed Road.

The Council tabled applying for the Block Grant for one month to acquire more information.

Mike Wolff spoke on behalf of the Natchitoches Community Alliance regarding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Parish Government and the newly formed Natchitoches Community Alliance (NCA) whereby the Parish is required to issue payment to NCA in the amount of $10,000. AJ Johnson, Ricky LaCour and Rodney Bedgood voted to approve and Mr. John Salter voted to reject.

The Council authorized the Director of Public Works to advertise for the temporary lease of additional road work equipment for the summer months.

Head Start presented next year’s calendar which was accepted – the vote was unanimous.

The Council asked the Parish President what chance we would have in receiving FEMA money for the flooded homes. FEMA wants all flooded homes to be inspected; Flood Plain Manager, Greg Lemoine stated that the current number of homes flooded is 350 and rising. Mr. Nowlin stated that we would first need a Federal Emergency Declaration before we could expect FEMA funds.

Finally, Mr. Nowlin reported that the 6 week summer interns have been selected.

There were no visitor or public comments made.

The Parish Council then voted to go into Executive Session to take up an employee matter?

Natchitoches Parish Port – North

The Natchitoches Parish Port continued normal operations Monday as the Red River began to drop after cresting at 42 feet, approximately 9 feet over flood stage.  Red River is now at 41.85 and continues to drop.  Though lock and dams along the Red River remain closed, the Natchitoches Parish Port has been able to continue normal on-site activity, such as truck and rail activities.
Attached photos show the water levels relative to freeboard elevation of the port site.

The Natchitoches Community Alliance Foundation, Inc. was formed in late 2014 with the mission to provide support and leadership for economic development and workforce solutions affecting economic activity in our parish and region.

Press Release: NACC & NPPA

Natchitoches Parish Port – South

Celebrate summer with an FREE yoga class at the beautiful lawn at Beau Jardin! Summer officially kicks off June 21. Whether it’s the longest day or shortest night of the year for you come check out the benefits that yoga can offer you as we welcome summer! For all ages and levels!

We’ll check out a few key yoga postures, find out what the Summer Solstice has to do with yoga and participate in a class that will be accessible and refreshing for all! Feel free to bring a mat, towel or blanket.  We will be accepting donations to the Red Cross for flood relief in our area.

June 20, 6:30pm at the lawn at Beau Jardin (in front of Maglieaux’s on the Riverbank)

FREE & open to the public!

Restore, Renew, Reignite with Spark studio, yoga for all!  Stay tuned for Spark Studio – Fall 2015!

Spark Studio Website

Please take about two minutes to read this.  by Melanie Rowland Poynter

A young man went to seek an important position at a large printing company. He passed the initial interview and was going to meet the director for the final interview. The director saw his resume, it was excellent. And asked, ‘

– Have you received a scholarship for school?’ The boy replied, ” No ‘.
-‘ It was your father who paid for your studies? ‘
-‘ Yes.’- He replied.
-‘ Where does your father work? ‘
-‘ My father is a Blacksmith’
The Director asked the young to show him his hands.
The young man showed a pair of hands soft and perfect.
-‘ Have you ever helped your parents at their job? ‘
-‘ Never, my parents always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, he can do the job better than me.
The director said:
-‘ I have got a request: When you go home today, go and wash the hands of your father and then come see me tomorrow morning.’
The young felt his chance to get the job was high.
When he returned to his house he asked his father if he would allow him to wash their hands.
His father felt strange, happy, but with mixed feelings and showed their hands to his son. The young washed his hands, little by little. It was the first time that he noticed his father’s hands were wrinkled and they had so many scars. Some bruises were so painful that his skin shuddered when he touched them.
This was the first time that the young man recognized what it meant for this pair of hands to work every day to be able to pay for his study. The bruises on the hands were the price that he payed for their education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his father’s hands the young man stood in silence and began to tidy and clean up the workshop. That night, father and son talked for a long time.

The next morning, the young man went to the office of the director.
The Director noticed the tears in the eyes of the young when He asked him: -‘ Can you tell me what you did and what you learned yesterday at your house?’
The boy replied: -‘ I washed my father’s hands and when I finished I stayed and cleaned his workshop ‘
-‘ Now I know what it is to appreciate and recognize that without my parents , I would not be who I am today . By helping my father I now realize how difficult and hard it is to do something on my own. I have come to appreciate the importance and the value in helping the family.

The director said, “This is what I look for in my people. I want to hire someone who can appreciate the help of others , a person who knows the hardship of others to do things, and a person who does not put money as his only goal in life”. ‘ You are hired ‘.

A child that has been coddled, Protected and usually given him what he wants, develops a mentality of ” I have the right ‘ and will always put himself first, ignoring the efforts of their parents. If we are this type of protective parent are we really showing love or are we destroying our children?

You can give your child a big house , good food , computer classes , watch on a big screen TV . But when you’re washing the floor or painting a wall , please let him experience that too.

After eating have them wash the dishes with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you have no money to hire someone to do this it’s because you want to love them the right way . No matter how rich you are, you want them to understand. One day your hair will have gray hair, like the father of this young man.

The most important thing is that your child learns to appreciate the effort and to experience the difficulties and learn the ability to work with others to get things done. “

In the Methodist Church we baptize in three modes.

Sprinkling, which involves very little water, is done primarily with infants. There is a mode called affusion. By this method of baptism, water is poured over the head of the individual. The third method is immersion. In Greek, the word baptize means “hold them under until they bubble.” Josephus wrote that King Herod baptized two of his sons to death. In the Methodist church, you can choose your mode of baptism. Last Sunday I was in a swimming pool, doing a full body dunking! It was great.

It did remind me of my first baptism. The church of my baptism would ordain anything willing, and I was. I was licensed to preach in 1976 and ordained in 1978. Barely out of High School, I was serving as the associate pastor of a church. In that church the mode of baptism was immersion. It was a Sunday night and the minister wanted to give the neophyte associate minister baptism experience. I was very excited about my first baptism. Clergy do have a low threshold of whoopee.

The candidate was a young man named Henry Dale. He was a part of our youth group and I had prayed with him that morning at the altar as he gave his life to Christ.

The church had a font or baptistry behind the choir loft. I put on the sacred duck waders and the robe the minister wore to hide the sacred waders from the congregation. Clearing my throat loud enough for the choir director to hear, the switches on the curtains and the lights were flipped. There I stood in the lit baptistery. The only light in the whole sanctuary emanated from pool holding the waters of baptism. I was thinking that I certainly must look wise and dignified standing there. It was a very satisfying moment for a novice minister.

I reached out my hand signaling Henry Dale to enter the waters of life. As we stood waist deep in the baptistry, I discovered something about Henry Dale. I should have known given the history I had with that particular minister. I was not being given an opportunity. I was handling a problem. Henry Dale was terrified of water.

I moved Henry Dale into place. Made sure his feet were properly placed in the anti-feet-floating-box hidden in many baptistries. I spoke the words of the ritual.

“Henry Dale I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

I placed one hand on his neck and the other on his hands clasped reverently in front of him. I started to put him under. As I headed him back, he slipped one foot out of the anti-feet-floating-box. His legs were now in the spread position. I was pushing and he was pushing back. At that time, I was a legalist. I knew that all of Henry Dale had to go under or his soul would burn in not properly baptized hell. So I lifted my left leg up and with my left knee caught him in the chest and powered him under.

Amen.

He came up spitting and coughing, but he was properly baptized.

You know when you bend down into the water with duck waders they will fill up on you. Those suckers are heavy filled with water. Another insightful moment came with the realization that the choir was already baptized and they were not overjoyed by all the water that splashed on them during that baptismal debacle. The baptistry is not a very good wave pool and water will slosh into the choir loft in copious amounts.

I was told to hurry back into the sanctuary. My duty was the concluding prayer. I was walking around with water in my waders. It necessitated a trip outside to get out of the waders. Then I rushed back into the sanctuary to face the music at the end of the service. There I stood in my soaked suit pants, muddy socks and wet dress shirt with the still trembling Henry Dale. He had a change of clothes with him. He was dry I was all wet.

I’m thankful that Jesus doesn’t count style points.

Swimming Lessons Begin Monday June 15

NATCHITOCHES – The City of Natchitoches Recreation and Parks Department announces that City Pool will officially open to the public on Saturday, June 13, 2015 with swimming lessons starting Monday, June 15, 2015.  City Pool is located at 311 Amulet Street in Natchitoches.

The opening of the pool had been delayed due to weather and renovations being completed at the pool.  Renovations to City Pool included updating and repairing pump room equipment, filling in the deep end of the pool so that the pool has a max depth of five feet, and replastering the pool to prevent leaks.

“We are sorry for the delay in opening the pool, but feel like these improvements will be a great addition to the community,” stated Kendrick Llorens, Recreation and Parks Department.  “In the past, we have been limited to the amount of kids we can safely have in the pool.  With the pool now being five feet at its deepest level, we will be able to accommodate up to 100 kids in the pool for swimming lessons as well as increase the amount of play area in the pool for recreational swim.”

City Pool will be open on Saturday, June 13 for recreational swimming beginning at 2:00 p.m.  City Pool will be open for recreational swimming Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The cost for recreational swim is $1 per person.

Swimming lessons will begin on Monday, June 15 at 8:00 a.m.  Swimming lessons are offered in sessions and cost $20 for the first child enrolled and $17 for each additional child.  The sessions are June 15 – 26, June 29 – July 10, and July 13 – 24, 2015 and will be offered at 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. time slots.  Registration for each session ends the Friday before the session begins.

For more information about swimming lessons and recreational swimming at City Pool, please contact the City of Natchitoches Recreation and Parks Department at (318) 357-3891.

Contact: Samantha Bonnette, City of Natchitoches

Phone: (318) 352-2746

By MELINDA DESLATTE Published: Jun 11, 2015

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Time was growing short Thursday for Louisiana lawmakers to strike a deal on next year’s $24 billion budget and the tax plans that will finance it.

Work in the 60-day regular legislative session must end by 6 p.m.

House and Senate leaders were trying to reach an agreement on how to raise taxes, shrink tax breaks and scale back business subsidies, as a way to drum up hundreds of millions of dollars for the budget. The money would stop deep cuts to colleges and public health services.

Lawmakers also were haggling over whether to meet Gov. Bobby Jindal’s criteria for the tax changes he’ll consider. If they don’t, they risk a veto of some of the tax bills that would pay for the spending plans in the budget.

Jindal, who is expected to announce his presidential campaign in two weeks, is threatening to veto bills he considers a net tax increase unless lawmakers find a way to offset them with what he considers a tax cut. He’s closely guarded his record on a no-tax pledge he signed with an organization led by national anti-tax activist Grover Norquist.

The Senate has agreed to create a tax credit – only on paper – that would satisfy Jindal’s terms. But so far, House members have balked. They have called that idea a deception to the public, designed solely to benefit the Republican governor’s White House ambitions.

If the governor gets his wish on a budget deal, it will be a rare victory in a legislative session that has shot down two of the centerpieces of his agenda.

Lawmakers rejected Jindal’s push to give special protections in state law to people who oppose same-sex marriage, killing the bill after its first hearing.

They also refused the governor’s effort to strip the Common Core education standards from Louisiana’s public school classrooms. Instead, they ended the legislative controversy with a compromise that leaves much of the long-term decision-making on standards to the state’s next governor and state school board members elected this fall.

By Thursday, lawmakers had cleared away nearly everything not connected to finances, leaving the final day’s focus the same as when the session started: how to close Louisiana’s $1.6 billion budget gap in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The Senate was seeking a much higher tobacco tax rate that also would sweep in more types of tobacco products than the House sought. Also, the House disagreed with the Senate’s plan to make deeper reductions to Louisiana’s generous film tax credit program. In addition, the House has resisted a Senate plan to raise a fee on car buyers by $50.

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, said he was confident the House and Senate could reach an agreement to “save higher education, fund health care and have a balanced budget” on time.

But whether that will include the offsets sought by Jindal remained unclear.

Without a tax credit or some other offset proposal, about $371 million used by lawmakers in next year’s budget to pay mainly for public health care services and higher education risks a veto from the governor.

Ninety-four of the 105 House members signed onto a symbolic measure indicating a willingness to hold a veto override session if Jindal jettisons money tied to health care and colleges. The Senate has resisted the idea, and it’s unclear if the Legislature would have the two-thirds votes required to override the governor’s vetoes in such a session.

© 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Original Story shared here as provided by AP

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Northwestern State University has been named one of the top five online master’s degree programs in the country, according to gradschoolhub.com.

The listing placed NSU at no. 5, above colleges such as Texas A&M and the University of Georgia. The site qualified the Natchitoches-based university by saying it “is another top public school with an “e-Campus” branch of its main university. Through “eNSU” you can attain an advanced graduate degree in Adult Education, Student Affairs, Educational Technology Leadership, Gifted Education, Early Intervention, Professional Teaching Standards, School Librarian, and much more. Northwestern State offers more unique online master’s in education degrees than any other school on this list, most of which cover teaching/instruction and administrative topics. Post-graduate and add-on certifications further increase the number of options for aspiring teachers attending NSU. The overall low tuition rates at this university provide an added appeal to budget-conscious master’s students.”

Northwestern State listed as one of nation’s top online master’s degree programs.  President Jim Henderson said via a social media post, “Yet another great ranking for NSU online programs.”

Graduate degrees in education are a popular choice for online learners. In many cases, students earn a B.S. or B.A. at a “traditional” school, and then eventually enroll in an online college to earn advanced credentials while continuing to work full-time. Perhaps the biggest draw for graduate programs is the increased salary potential; depending on the subject area, teachers with advanced degrees can make $5,000-$10,000 more a year!

The rankings were determined by tuition, undergrad GPA, delivery modes, number of programs, and categories of study. See more below

The Entire Report

The Original Story – Biz.com

The Natchitoches Parish Journal received the following submission from Mr. Dennis Coleman, formerly of Marthaville, La. The views expressed are those of Mr. Coleman and not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal:

For whatever reason, some seem to remember, with nostalgia, the previous form of government in Natchitoches Parish; I do not. Growing up in Marthaville in the 50’s and 60’s, I remember well the hardworking men of the road crews as well as the diligence of our police juror in Ward 5. The first one I remember was Mr. Travis Durr and then Mr. Rufus Knott, both fine men. The equipment they had to work with, however was always “worn out.” The “Ward System” was most effective at splitting the revenue ‘pie’ into small edible bites which could be easily swallowed by this antiquated system. The available parish budget was split up between the 10 Wards until the late 60’s when the road department was centralized. This was an improvement, but resulted in “turf wars” among the jurymen. There was a certain amount of ‘what’s in it for me?’ and, frankly, some of the jurymen were simply more politically savvy than their colleagues. Some wards seemed to do much better than others at first, but generally the parish suffered. As a direct result the citizenry lost confidence in the system and began a succession of defeats for any tax proposal that might be proposed. Finally, it was recognized that a change had to be made and the citizens voted to adopt the Home Rule Charter form of government which began in 2012. The vote to do this was delayed by the police jury for one year, but was ultimately passed and a new era in Natchitoches Parish began.  Though the HRC began with the deficit left them, they did end the year in the black, for the first time in a long time.  Now, in 2015, it was decided to form an Advisory Commission to assess the situation with the parish roads and develop a strategy to repair, rebuild and maintain the roads of the parish. The commission came up with three different scenarios; two of these call for an increase in tax millages. For me, the third option is the most palatable. It would fund an $80 million bond issue and would permit the more severely damaged roads to be fixed sooner. Strangely, as I see it, the most costly option is to do nothing. It would still require spending $2.9 million (the same as 1985) and parish would still have inadequate funding for the proper maintenance of the roads. So, the voters can sit back and fondly remember their former police juryman and decry the merits of the current system while prematurely tearing up their automobile, or can take up the challenge of actually having a plan for the immediate and long term future. The choice is yours.

Dennis Coleman is a graduate Marthaville High, Attended NSU, grad. La Tech, Worked in heavy construction/Oil industry until 1987, has been licensed insurance agent since.  Married 44 years next month, to his wife Delinda also from Mville, 3 adult children, 7 grandchildren. Dennis and Delinda are members of the Baptist Church.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal received the following submission from Clif Hart. The views expressed are those of Mr. Hart and not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal:

To the people who are trying to get a handle on what is going on with the roads in Natchitoches parish and what is being done to repair decades of abuse and inattention I offer this letter as a place to start. BEWARE: you are being fed a daily stream of poison and misinformation designed to further an agenda. I offer you this insight. Take a couple of hours of your time and go back to the beginning of the posts/discussions on Fix Our Roads in Natchitoches Parish on facebook and read not only the articles on it but each and every comment to those articles. As time progresses you will see how comments from the same people start a subtle shift in direction. As you read these comments and see the subtle shift in direction ask yourself “Now why would they say this when just a little while ago they were saying that”. Let your conscience be your guide while you are reading.

Not long ago I retired from a job that was the love of my life. I drove a truck cross-country for over thirty years and was forced out of the truck because of a defibrillator being planted in my chest as the result of a failing heart. One side of my heart is dead and I have only 20% function. I don’t say this looking for sympathy. Lord, no. I’ve lived a full and wonderful life and if God says it’s time to come home one day soon then I’m ready. I say this just so you will know that I have no axe to grind in this charade. There is no benefit to be had by me by taking sides or slinging poison darts. I’m here to do what I can to help care for my soon to be 86 year old mother and nothing else.

While I was in the truck I drove hazardous chemicals out of the Houston area and after my step father died I would take one long three or four-day weekend per month off to come back here and do the mowing, bush hogging, house and fence repairing etc. As the years progressed and the roads deteriorated it caused me concern. When I retired recently and came back here I set out to see if I could find out why. I asked Mom who our Police Juryman was because I wanted to pay him a visit and was told that we don’t have a Police Juryman any more. She couldn’t comprehend what the changes were and couldn’t tell me where to go to find out why. Well, after they installed my satellite dish I started searching for answers. It was there that I learned that the form of our parish government had changed from the Police Jury form to the Home Rule Charter. The deeper I searched the more questions I had so I went to some folks that had been family friends for over forty years and were once involved in politics on the state level and started finding out some of the answers.

I won’t go into all the sordid details that I was told but suffice it to say that the wonderful folks in Natchitoches parish where I was born and raised haven’t always been told the truth. Imagine that. I always joked when I was younger that Louisiana had the best politicians that money could buy. Little did I know how close to the truth that was. My purpose in starting this quest was to find out why the roads were in such horrible conditions. It still is. In making my monthly trips home it was completely obvious when you crossed the state line. Sure didn’t need signs to let you know when you crossed from Texas into Louisiana. Didn’t matter which way I came you knew instantly that you were now in Louisiana.

My families old home place and the one I now live on is in western Natchitoches parish between Robeline and Marthaville. As a kid my cousin and I would ride our bicycles down these backwoods dirt roads. From where we lived you could ride down the Freeman Loop to the Rawls loop down Rock Hill (loved flying down that hill on a bicycle), to Anthony Church road and continue on seemingly into infinity without ever crossing out on a blacktop road. As I grew older and started driving we went down that same hill in an old 54 Ford pickup without a bed on it and it was still exciting to fly down hill. My point in this is that indeed you could fly down that hill and feel somewhat safe. Can’t do that down Freeman Loop, Rawls Loop, Rock Hill Rd., Anthony Church Rd. now. Can’t do that down ANY Natchitoches parish rural road unless you are suicidal and have a death wish. One of the roads I used to drive down frequently was the Robeline to Provencal Rd. I tried it when I first came home. Only once. That is a hideous excuse for a road. Almost need a half-track or at least a tractor to go down it.

So anyone who tells me that I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to the roads in western Natchitoches parish can stuff it. I was raised on them. In college I dated a girl from Readhimer and got very familiar with some of the dirt roads over in that section of the parish (ever gone down a strange dirt road near midnight looking for a place to go parking?) Nah, me either. So when I tell you that there have been decades of abuse and lack of maintenance I know of which I speak.

Fast forward to today and the conditions. One by one I found what I believe to be the answers to the questions I sought. Those of us older folks can remember back to 1986 and the prices of various items of the time. A loaf of bread, a can of tuna, a Coke and a candy bar etc. Look at those prices today. I have a life long love of tuna and very well remember getting three cans for a dollar at regular price and four cans for a dollar on sale. The cheap stuff is a dollar a can now and we won’t even go into a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. I had a budget for groceries then and could easily feed my family if we bought judiciously. Could I feed my family the same way now on that same budget? You already know the answer to that question. My monthly budget for groceries would be gone in a week. What I found out in my researching is that we are asking our highway department to do just that with our roads. We are graciously giving them the same amount of money today as we did in 1986 to repair and maintain our roads. Doesn’t make a tea tinkers darn what form of government we have it just can’t be done. What little was done was done by robbing Peter to pay Paul and folks just as in your personal finances it doesn’t work. Someone isn’t going to get paid at the end of the month. But there are lots of folks on here who will tell you that’s exactly what they want the road crews to do. Fix the roads and bring them up to spec. using the same amount of money that we gave them thirty years ago. Anyone with just a smidgen of common sense will tell you it can’t be done. WAKE UP. You’re driving on the answer to that question. And now you’re stomping your feet and pointing your fingers like a school kid and saying that parish government isn’t fixing your roads. Grow up. They’re not going to be fixed as long as you keep hog tying their hands. Just as you can’t feed your family on a 1986 budget you can’t properly repair and maintain roads on a 1986 budget.

Without going into all the details that the naysayers don’t want to hear I believe that the current way of governing lends itself to a very transparent entity that can be trusted to spend money wisely. Some folks on this site are saying “So they balanced a budget. Want a cookie?? Well, as a matter of fact you can have a cookie because there is money in the budget to give you one. You’ve gone from a form of government that was audited by the state 15 times in 18 years because of spending “irregularities” to one that has shown they know how to budget properly and all you can do is point fingers at it. That’s one heck of an accomplishment. You’ve got a parish President who makes 87,000/year. So what. I made twice that in the truck and didn’t have to put up with all the BS he does on a daily basis. I personally wouldn’t have his job at double the salary. Let’s see, the current administration saved the taxpayers almost a quarter million dollars in it’s first year versus the old NPPJ??? Pretty good return on investment if you ask me. Is it perfect?? Not by a long shot. There is always room for improvement and I believe that those weak areas are being addressed. And then I get hit with the obnoxious statement that “Well, they’ve been there three years and nothing’s been done on my road.” Go back and re-read the previous paragraphs. Because of the court battle with the NPPJ they didn’t take office until the end of 2012 and had to operate under a budget that the NPPJ came up with in 2013. Last year was the first year for them to come up with a budget and tackle what they did and come in balanced. Not a bad way to start. In one year they accomplished what hadn’t been done in the previous twenty or longer.

What they have done is appoint an ad-hoc committee to study parish finances and the road/bridge department to try to come up with some answers so that we out in the woods can have some decent roads. That committee has had two meetings open to the public (which very few cared to come to) but has made some major headway into solving the problem and has come up with three possible alternatives. Alternative number one: Do nothing and just carry on day-to-day while we watch our roads disintegrate into nothing and our vehicle maintenance costs skyrocket. Let them completely collapse so that police, fire and EMS can’t get back into our homes, school buses will start refusing to pick up your kids and you’ll be forced to drive them to school. Oh, and while you’re out swing by the post office because your mail carrier can’t get to your house. Alternative number two: find an additional 1.3 million dollars in revenue. This would allow the parish to completely rebuild all its road network in ten years and improve all of our quality of life. And finally alternative 3: Take this same additional 1.3 million and float an 80 million dollar bond issue. You get all of the benefits of alternative number two but it can be done in five years by using contractors who build roads for a living and will do it the right way while at the same time freeing up the local road dept. to be able to do much better maintenance. Would this 80 million dollars just be given to them right away to spend?? Nope. It would be deposited into a trust account with a trustee who has a long list of qualifications that must be met before they will release one dollar on any project. Hmmm. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see which is the better of the three alternatives.

The committee will be wrapping up their investigations at the end of this month with an open meeting on June 25th at five o’clock in the courthouse. I urge all Natchitoches parish residents to be there and hear what they have to say. I would also request that all parish residents attend the monthly Council meetings so that you can see first hand what they are doing and the floor is open for you to say what you feel and ask questions. This way it is you who has your hand on the checkbook and your say in what checks are written. They are your employees and just as you expect them to have rules for their employees, you make the rules for yours.

Thanks for listening.

Clif Hart

My son, Sean Stewart,  will be 10 years old on June 24, 2015. Sean has an Autism Spectrum Disorder and is hearing-impaired. He is the sweetest and most warm-hearted little guy you will ever meet! Sean has had so many struggles, but he takes it on with courage in his heart and a smile on his face. As some of you know, he loves getting mail. Would you consider sending him a postcard or a birthday card? He absolutely loves mail and has not received any in over two months. Please share this with everyone you know. Would love to receive 1, 000 pieces of mail! Let’s beat the Christmas card campaign of 500! (The Natchitoches Post Office and their employees were so helpful during the Christmas card campaign. Thank you to Missy Troquille and staff for helping Sean achieve his wish.) He loves to collect the stamps and look at all the places he receives mail from. He is fascinated with geography. In addition, Sean has developed friendships via penpals. Socialization is so important with children on the spectrum. We read every piece of mail and he picks out mail for him to respond to. Please help support his birthday wish!  Spread the word! ‪#‎TeamSean‬‪#‎IamSean

Please send all mail to:

Sean Stewart
P.O. Box 359
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71458.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal will mail their card in time for Sean’s birthday!

HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE

Northwestern State junior Ashley Aldredge, pictured March 14 at McNeese State’s Cowboy Relays in Lake Charles.

Ashley Aldredge, a Natchitoches native who also grew up in Montgomery and Ruston (Cedar Creek School product), bolted for the big college spotlight of Texas A&M after being a highly recruited prospect.  She lasted just eight weeks, saying she was homesick for the closeness of her small town.

Aldredge said coming back home and to Northwestern State is one of the best decisions she’s ever made, having a support system of family and friends to help raise Tate while she attends school, practice and even assists in managing the family restaurants (Mama’s Oyster House and Papa’s Bar and Grill) on Natchitoches’ Front Street.

Aldredge will make her first NCAA Women’s Track and Field Championships appearance Thursday in Eugene, Oregon.

Welcome Home!

Ashley Aldredge, pictured April 25 at NSU’s Leon Johnson Invitational

CREDIT: Gary Hardamon/NSU Photo Lab

City Council Meeting

June 8, 2015

Special Recognition:

Dr. Thomas Burns was awarded the “You Made a Difference” award for his 9 years of service with the City Planning Committee.

Planning & Zoning:

#030: Approved-Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows:

Lot Containing 0.233 Acres Being A Portion Of An 8.75 Acre Tract Located In Westwood Commercial Lots In Section 40, Township 9 North-Range 8 West, Shown On A Survey Recorded At Map Slide 643-B From B-3 Commercial To Additional B-A Zoning To Sell Beverages Of High And Low Alcoholic Content For Consumption On Premise. Los Nopales, LLC d/b/a El Patio Mexican Grill (5412 University Parkway).

#031: Approved– Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows:

Lot 86 Feet Front, East Side 2nd Street, North By Johnson, East By Bayou Amulet, South By Pace From R-1 Residence To R-2 Residence Multiple Family To Convert A Garage Into An Apartment. Gary Griggs (335 Second Street.

#032: Approved- Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows:

Lot 60 Feet Front West Side 4th Street North And South By Brown Between Buard Street and Pavie Street (Being A Portion Of Lots 100 And 101 Of Fleury Plat) From R-2 Residence Multiple-Family To R-2 Special Exception To Operate Counseling/Administration Office. Jennifer Johnson Karle (830 Fourth Street)

Ordinance- Final:

#029: Approved- Ordinance Authorizing The City To Lease To Frank R. Hall And Sidonia B. Hall A Tract of Land Being That Portion Sidney Street Situated Between Jefferson Street And Cane River Lake, Setting The Terms And Conditions Of Same, And Authorizing The Execution Of The Lease By The Mayor, Lee Posey, After Due Compliance With The Law, And Further Providing For Advertising Of The Lease And An Effective Date.

Ordinances- Introduction:

#033: Approved- Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches To Award The Bid For The 2015 City Street Project (Bid No. 0568) to T.L. Construction, LLC for $1,068,119.60.

#034: Approved- Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana, To Enter Into A Memorandum Of Understanding With The Natchitoches Community Alliance Foundation, Inc., Which Said Memorandum Provides For Services To Be Provided By The Natchitoches Community Alliance Foundation, Inc., Providing For A Three Year Term, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance. The city will provide $50,000 in funds for economic development.

Resolutions:

#047: Approved-Resolution Appointing Michael D. Lewis To The City Planning Commission For The City Of Natchitoches.

#048: Approved- Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into A Contract With Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services For The One Beacon Insurance Group Casualty Package Insurance Renewal Effective June 30, 2015 Through June 20, 2016.

#049: Approved- Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into A Contract With Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services For The Tenant User Liability Insurance Policy For The Natchitoches Events Center And Beau Jardin For The City Of Natchitoches.

#50: Approved– Resolution Fixing The Time, Day, Date and Place of Regular Meetings Of The City Council Of The City Of Natchitoches For The Next Twelve Months. At 5:30 p.m. on every 2^nd and 4^th Mondays of the month at the Natchitoches Art Center.

#051: Approved– Resolution Establishing Meeting Times And Places Of: Natchitoches Planning Commission, Historic District Commission, Airport Advisory Commission, And Waterworks District No.1.

Planning and Commission meetings: 5:3o p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Natchitoches Arts Center.

Historic District Commission Meetings will take place at 5:00 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Natchitoches Arts Center.

Airport Advisory Commission will meet at 5:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Natchitoches Regional Airport Terminal.

Waterworks District No. 1 will meet at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at the Waterworks District Office.

#052: Approved- Resolution Appointing Members To The City Planning Commission For the City Of Natchitoches.

Charles Whitehead, III

Rev. Bobby Claiborne

Eric Davis

Michael D. Lewis

Betsy Widham

Rickey McCallister

Jamie Flanagan

John Bonnette

#053: Approved- Resolution Appointing Members To The Natchitoches Historic District Commission For The City Of Natchitoches.

Jared Dunahoe

Dr. Virginia Crossno

Mrs. Sharon Gahagan

Dr. Steve Horton

Mrs. Theresa Vallien

Mrs. Melissa Robinson

Mrs. Marion Salter

#054: Approved- Resolution Appointing Stacy McQueary As Clerk Of The Council For The City Of Natchitoches

#055: Approved- Resolution Appointing The Auditor For The City Of Natchitoches. The firm of Johnson, Thomas and Cunningham from May 31, 2015-May 31, 2016.

#056: Approved- Resolution Appointing the Fiscal Year Agent For The City of Natchitoches- MidSouth Bank in Natchitoches.

#057: Approved-Resolution Designating The Natchitoches Times As the Official Legal Journal For The City Of Natchitoches For The Next Twelve Months.

#058: Approved- Resolution Approving A Subordination Non-Disturbance And Attornment Agreement By And Between City Bank & Trust Company, Cane River Aero, LLC And The City Of Natchitoches, In Connection With Financing Of The Construction Of A Hanger Facility By Cane River Aero, Llc On Property Leased From The City Of Natchitoches, And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Subordination Non-Disturbance And Attornment Agreement On Behalf Of The City Of Natchitoches.

Announcements:

The next scheduled City Council meeting will be June 22, 2015.

The Offices of the City of Natchitoches will be CLOSED Friday, July 3, 2015 in honor of Independence Day