Sabine State Bank joined Northwestern State University’s Heritage Club with a donation of $2,500 to the NSU’s Columns Fund. From left are NSU Alumni and Development staff Jill Bankston, Brittany McConathy and Tiffany Chasteen with NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, Sabine State Bank CEO Jim Cole, Senior Vice President John Godfrey and Lacy Merrill, market development manager. Tax-deductible contributions to the Columns Fund provide support for student scholarships, building renovations and academic programs. “Northwestern State has been a foundation of our community that we have built around,” said John Godfrey, Sabine State Bank’s senior vice president/regional manager for Natchitoches and Red River. “We have several NSU alumni on our banking team and are proud to support the school.” “We are so grateful to our business and industry partners for supporting scholarships and programming for our students,” said Tiffany Chasteen, assistant director of Development. For more information on how to contribute to Northwestern State, contact the Office of University Advancement at (318) 357-4414.

By Junior Johnson

Nestled among the pine trees on a hill in the Emmamuel Community, also affectionately known as “The Lake,” is a beautiful Prayer Garden overlooking the valley of this wonderful Community. Across the road is the Cemetery of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. This Prayer Garden, constructed in 1987 by the loving hands, and at the expense of the people in the Community, provides a comforting place for people who come to the Cemetery to pay respects to their loved ones. This wonderful Community is located in a little valley between Cloutierville and Chopin and is, and was, the home of some of the most wonderful people that I have ever known. During the summer, people from the Community bring their families to the Burbie, a stream of water that meanders through the area with white sandy beaches along the way. The smoke from BBQ pits rise and hover over the area as families and friends share precious time together. I know people, myself included, who scrimp and save their nickels and dimes to take a vacation miles from here. We are cheating ourselves by not taking advantage of what is literally in our back yard.

Parish President Rick Nowlin has announced his intention to make an appointment to the Parish Library Board of Control. Persons interested in serving on the Parish Library Board of Control may submit their name and contact information by mailing it to the Office of the President, P. O. Box 799, 200 Church Street, Natchitoches 71458-0779; by calling Mrs. Lynda Vance, Executive Assistant to the President at (318) 352-2714; or by sending an email to admin@npgov.org). Mrs. Vance will provide all interested persons the application instructions.

Natchitoches and Cane River made Southern Living’s Top 20 list for the South’s Best Small Towns to Visit in 2016. Southern Living says, “Local historians swear this is where New Orleans got the idea for all that wrought iron in the French Quarter. Judging by the facades along Front Street, which predates the French Quarter, we believe them.”

To view the full article go online to: www.southernliving.com/travel/2016-souths-best-small-towns/natchitoches-louisiana-image.

While Thursday’s meeting of the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission (NHDDC) was a light one, organization representatives gave plenty of updates on projects.

Edd Lee said workers started pouring concrete Thursday for the Chateau St. Denis parking lot behind the Events Center.

The riverbank sewer line relocation project started Monday and the goal is to complete the work before the Meat Pie Festival in September.

The walking trail, parking lot, bus unloading area and handicap ramps, part of the City Park renovation project, are almost complete.

The City will start bidding to redo the section of Lafayette Street from the traffic circle to its intersection with Second Street. The plan is to lower the level of the road by 9 inches at its intersection with Second Street to make pedestrians more visible to traffic.

Work on the Park on East Fifth Street in East Natchitoches should be finished in 3 weeks.

Parish President Rick Nowlin said he’s working with the U.S. Mary Corps of Engineers and the Cane River Waterway Commission to address the need for bank stabilization of 700 feet on endangered banks on Cane River across from the St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Sharon Gahagan said the aeration and fertilization of the trees along Front Street is complete and she will meet with workers in a few weeks to develop an erosion plan for the trees on the hill overlooking the downtown riverbank. However, she said after a lot of work and some trimming, new growth can be seen on the trees, which means they’re healthy.

Cynthia Sutton said the momentum at the Grand Ecore Visitors Center continues as they’ve expanded their hours to accommodate the increased visitation in the evening hours. The billboards along the interstate will be replaced soon with Christmas Festival advertisements.

Cathy Seymour said members of the Natchitoches Historic Foundation met with FEMA to address fixing flood damage to the Roque House on the riverbank.

The Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Association held their annual conference in Natchitoches, July 19-20. Forty seven Bed and Breakfast owners attended and were welcomed by Mayor Lee Posey, Sherry Gomez, Executive Director of the LA Bed & Breakfast Association and Arlene Gould, Executive Director of the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Program speakers included Marie Lanier, Charlie Waltman of Louisiana Travel Promotion Association, and representatives from the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Kyle Edmiston, Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Office of Tourism spoke during lunch about recent and future updates with the Office of Tourism. An afternoon session was on the Gen X, Y, and Millennials and how to attract a new generation to B&Bs followed by Charlie Waltman with the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association discussing mobile friendly websites.

Alicia Rachal, Community Development Administration and Grants Assistant, has been named the Employee of the Month for July 2016. Alicia has worked with the City of Natchitoches for only one year and has been recognized for her positive, upbeat attitude and willingness to learn and work with all departments.

“Alicia has had a very positive and upbeat attitude since she was hired last year. She came in willing and ready to learn, asks questions and is always courteous no matter the situations we were discussing,” said Lisa Braxton, Purchasing Buyer I. “Alicia gets along well with all of the co-workers in her office, and everywhere I have seen her in public, she has the same disposition as she does in the workplace.”

Purchasing Office Manager Regina Walker added, “She has a bright future with the City.”

Alicia Rachal was presented with an Employee of the Month Plaque by Mayor Lee Posey and received a gift certificate to Trail Boss Steakhouse for her hard work and dedication.

The following supply lists were released by schools in Natchitoches Parish. Lists will be added as they are released.

The Council on Aging held its annual membership meeting July 19. Those members reappointed to the board include Michael Lewis, Gerald Longlois and Kelvin Porter. Newly elected members include Laura Teddlie, Herbert Baptiste, Roberta Garner and Betty Smith. Outgoing board member Shirley Chevalier was presented with a plaque recognizing her devoted and valuable years of service to the COA from 2010-16.

Director Alice Barrios presented her annual report on the accomplishments of the COA.

Orlando. Paris. Dallas. Nice. Baton Rouge. ————.

Yes, that’s a blank in the previous sentence. Unfortunately, it’s likely to be filled in soon with the next Islamic attack or murderous ambush of American police officers.
I don’t think I’ve experienced such systematic violence against civilians in my rather long life. Some say that 1968 was worse than 2016, what with the assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the race riots in burning cities and the ongoing war in Vietnam. You could make a case for that, I suppose.

But this sadly violent year, I hate to say, still has five more months to run. Who knows what terrors we will witness in the near future. And even in 1968, Americans and the residents of the great cities of Western Europe did not live with the possibility that at any moment, their hometown would be the object of a terrorist attack or a murderous assault on police.

I’m glad that so many people, including usually ultra tolerant liberals, are speaking out in strong terms against what’s happening. Everyone is saying that this behavior, particularly the attacks on police, will not be tolerated and that the attacks are no answer to what is perceived as undue police violence.

The purpose of the attacks, of course, is simply to kill, to take the lives of our protectors. As my wife Mary just told me, “What have they accomplished except to rob wives and children of their husbands and fathers?” What, indeed.

As I said in last week’s column, I know police officers well. I’ve ridden with them in night patrols and I’ve socialized with them. They are indeed the first line of defense against a chaotic society. We talk about law and order. Let’s for now, put the emphasis on order. Because without it, a civil society cannot exist. The center cannot hold, as they say.

The murders of the Baton Rouge police touched a little closer to home for me, also. The fiancé of my grand niece is a Baton Rouge police officer. I haven’t met the young man, but I’ve seen his photo with my niece and he looks like a fine fellow.

He had just gotten off work at 6:30 a.m. the day of the shootings but was called back into work a couple of hours later, when it was still not certain if any other shooters were out there. So my niece is a member of that brave and stalwart group of citizens who love a police officer, and who are never sure that when the beloved officer puts on the uniform to go to work if he or she will be seen again.

This may or may not get worse before it gets better. But we must hope and pray that it does. Our civilization depends upon it.

City Marshal Randy Williams wanted to inform the following people that they have outstanding bench warrants through the Natchitoches City Marshal’s Office. The names on this list did not pay their fines in full nor did they return to court on the court date they were sentenced to by City Court Judge Gahagan. These individuals will need to clear up their fines and bench warrant fees at the City Marshal’s Office located at 373 Second St. to stop any further actions:

FINE PAYMENT (F):
Andrea Austin, 1531 Salter St, Natch, La – NCR
Kenyatta Barfield, 1108 Berry Ave, Natch, La – Simple Battery
Danielle Holden, 123 Pecan Court, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Mikal Zeno, 1815 South Dr Lot 1312, Natch, La – No DL
Antonio Coutee, 936 Anita St, Natch, La – SPDP
Dequan Evans, 1436 Stella, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Joshua Evans, 1410 Bivens, Natch, La – Theft
Latoya Finister, 500 North St #28, Natch, La –DP
Monique Henderson, 294 Hwy 119, Natchez, La – Theft
Shawonda Jones, 440 Fairgrounds Rd Lot #47, Natch, La – DP, Simple Battery
Kiawa Lacaze, 500 North St Apt. D-2, Natch, La – Improper Equipment
Keneesha Morris, 3018 Dennis St, Natch, La – Theft
Ronald Osborn, 5964 Hwy 6, Natch, La – Theft
Brittany Penegar, 1785 Fish Hatchery Rd, Natch, La – DP, Theft
Erica Spearman, 1319 Philips St Apt 1, Natch, La – Theft
Antonyo Turner, 240 Hampton St, Natch, La – Resisting Arrest
Demetric Walker, 216 Tammey Ln, Natch, La – SPOM
Laphiama Yeargin, 198 Cedar Grove, Natch, La – Discharging Firearm
Devonte Aaron, 517 Sanford, Natch, La – No DL
Breana Brown, University Columns, Tarlton Dr #511, Natch, La – Theft

Trial (T):
Jonathon Carter, 315 Hedges St, Natch, La – DWI 1st, Unlicensed Driver
Naketha Coleman, 802 Posey, Natch, La – DUS
Nettie Smith, 1324 ½ Berry Ave, Natch, La –DWI 1st, Improper Lane Usage, DUS
Daniel Melson, 7824 Lovers Ln, Portage, MI – DP, Remaining on Premises, Resisting an Officer
Cavashaie Mims, 116 Abnet St, Minden, La – SPOM
Lakriesha Sheperd, 712 Winoma St, Natch, La – DP

Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. is expanding the weekend visitor hours at the US Army Corps of Engineers Grand Ecore Visitor Center. Beginning July 23, 2016, the Grand Ecore Visitor Center will be open from 12:00pm to 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday. Weekday hours will remain 10:00am to 4:00pm Wednesday through Friday. Admission is free.
For more information please visit http://www.CaneRiverNHA.org or contact us by phone at (318)356-5555.

Free Admission
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday-Friday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Saturday-Sunday: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Monday-Tuesday: Closed

Sweat equity was the name of the game as 75 plus alumni and their families painted, cleaned, shampooed and updated several areas of campus during Social/Service Weekend at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.

Approximately 135 people participated, traveling from as far away as Colorado, South Carolina and Massachusetts.

Projects included building six picnic tables for the residence halls, painting the floor in the Music and Arts Building painting room, cleaning upholstered benches in the Art Gallery, cleaning the walls in Caddo, installing curtains on Caddo kitchen cabinets, pressure washing the front of the High School Building and Caddo front entrance, painting curbs in front of Caddo and Prudhomme halls, updating records in the Foundation database, repairing damaged textbooks, painting outdoor handrails and bike rack in courtyard, cleaning light fixtures in Caddo, shampooing carpet in the board room, collecting abandoned bikes and moving them to storage, cleaning the grill at Caddo, tightening screws on chairs at Caddo and installing a stepping stone path behind the MAB.

“The weekend was very successful,” said Jennifer Stewart, a graduate of the class of 1993. “We self-funded our weekend, for the first time, through our small meal fee and donations. The project list was completed. Everyone ate well and visited with the members of the tribe they love the most. Attendance for the weekend was at an all-time high and only has the potential to be better every year to come.”

Social/Service Weekend is an annual event that allows LSMSA alumni and their families to return to Natchitoches to perform service projects in and around the LSMSA campus that the school may not otherwise be able to complete.

“Alumni from all over the country return for two days, taking residence in our old dormitories to ‘rough it’ and execute these tasks,” said Stewart. “We also use the opportunity to reminisce about the good old days.”

The event began in 2008 when about a dozen alumni worked in Caddo reupholstering desk chairs, replacing ceiling tiles, painting and much more.

Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity believes that leadership isn’t positional; it can come from anywhere in the organization. In that spirit, three younger members of the Beta Omicron chapter at Northwestern State University are now prepared to utilize that potential lead on campus.

Sophomores Noah Baudoin, Joseph Magnan and Dedrick Lewis are among 100 of nearly 12,000 undergraduate members selected for Pi Kapp College for Emerging Leaders, an intensive, six-day leadership development experience that challenges and inspires better leaders and better men. The week included group discussion, education sessions, a challenge course, unique subordinate rituals and history.

Baudoin was elected chapter vice president in May, leading the Beta Omicron’s recruitment efforts. His first year at NSU, he joined the Student Activities Board, the NSU Rowing team and KNWD Radio.

“This week was phenomenal,” he said. “Bonding with other fraternity brothers and diving deep into what our values truly mean to me was a meaningful experience. I can now bring this back to NSU and implement change in an effective way. I have truly begun to learn what lifelong brotherhood feels like!”

Magnan has also had a taste of leadership since arriving at NSU, joining the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band and serving on the NSU Interfraternity Council Executive Board. He was elected treasurer of the Beta Omicron Chapter in May.

An emerging leader on campus, Lewis joined the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band, IFC, SAB, IFC, NSU Crew, and the lacrosse team.

“I can honestly say I am a different person from the first day of Pi Kapp College for Emerging Leaders to today,” he said. “This experience is incomparable to any other fraternal experience. Pi Kappa Phi was founded on the basis of leadership, chivalry, and honesty. And it’s my duty as a loyal brother of Pi Kappa Phi to uphold those standards and to encourage not only brothers, but my peers and community as well.”

St. Mary’s cheerleaders delivered goodies to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Police Department, and Natchitoches Fire Department July 19 to show their appreciation for local law enforcement and first responders.

The Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation presented a $5,000 check to the Natchitoches Parish Council on Aging at its annual membership meeting July 19. The grant funding will allow the COA to purchase six computer to create a computer lab in its newly constructed building. Computer classes will educate seniors on the use of technology.

Lynn MacQuarrie will volunteer her time to teach the class. She received an associates degree in computer science, a bachelors degree in sociology with a minor in anthropology and a master’s in counseling. She worked in in-home counseling as a contract worker. While she was working on her doctorate, her father’s declining health brought her home to Campti. Her father, the late John Bell of Fairview Alpha, and her mother Elinor met in California during WWII. Her mother, originally from Michigan, was working at a factory building airplanes and her father was flying them.

After moving to Natchitoches Parish a few years ago, MacQuarrie started volunteering at the COA. However, computer failure led the classes being put on hiatus. She is eager to start them back up again. “I’m just cut out to help people,” she said. “I enjoy teaching and I’ve fallen in love with the food and music in Natchitoches.”

MacQuarrie plans on developing a curriculum as the new equipment will lend itself to more structured classes.

Dr. James J. Mischler has been named head of the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies at Northwestern State University. His appointment has been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

Mischler has been acting department head since 2015. In that time, he has worked to update and expand academic programs, revamp and improve the department’s class schedule and reimagine and remodel departmental classrooms.

“Most Northwestern students come through our department at one time in their college career, so we understand the important role we play in student retention which is vital in the current environment,” said Mischler. “The programs in our department plan to work to better serve the needs of students, faculty, the university and the community in the years to come.”

The department includes the Bachelor of Arts in English, Master of Arts in English, a graduate certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), a new graduate certificate program in writing for business, industry and technology, the NSU Writing Project, Louisiana Folklife Center and Argus Literary Magazine.

A member of Northwestern State’s faculty since 2008, Mischler has taught at Oklahoma State University, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Northeastern Illinois University, North Park University, several community and vocational colleges and Odawara Christian Center in Odawara, Japan.

At Northwestern State, Mischler was director of the Writing and Academic Resource Center for five years and has been coordinator of the graduate program in TESOL for four years. He designed the TESOL program and serves as its primary instructor and student advisor.

He received a bachelor’s degree at Wichita State University, master’s degrees from Pacific Lutheran University and Northeastern Illinois University and a doctorate at Oklahoma State University and did graduate work at Wichita State and The Pennsylvania State University.

Mischler was the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Mildred Hart Bailey Faculty Research Award for research in cognitive linguistics. Those nominated for the award are evaluated on scholarly or creative significance, national, regional or local impact; originality and ingenuity of project design and critical recognition by experts in the field.

He has made 17 presentations to national and international professional conferences in his academic career on TESOL, linguistics, grammar, language and related subjects. Mischler is the author of the book, “Metaphor across time and conceptual space: The interplay of embodiment and cultural models,” published by John Benjamins and several other peer reviewed publications.

Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. (CRNHA) will host a lunch and learn lecture entitled, “Smothered, Fried & Baked: A Discussion on Cane River Cooking Traditions with Connie Jones” Friday, Aug. 12 from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Grand Ecore Visitor Center. A licensed nutritionist, Jones is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Jones will discuss the foods and cooking techniques that make Cane River cuisine stand out amongst traditional southern foods. Specifically, Jones will cover topics including the history of the Cane River meat pie, teacakes, southern fried, and smothered foods. Jones will hone in on what makes this region’s creole style food unique and examine themes like the Holy Trinity vs. Holy “Quad,” and the sustainability and economics of traditional food preservation techniques. “Connie Jones is entertaining and knowledgeable on all things food and we are delighted to hear what she has to share about Cane River’s unique cuisine,” said Steven Fullen, CRNHA’s Director of Interpretation.

Coffee, tea, and water will be provided to attendees. Participants are invited to bring a bag lunch. The lecture is free, but space is limited. RSVP to Steven Fullen at sfullen@canerivernha.org or at 318-356-5555.

Students, faculty and administrators at Northwestern State University gathered for a peace vigil Tuesday to honor victims of violence and law enforcement officials who lost their lives in recent weeks. Campus leaders encouraged others to look past race and religion, be slow to anger, embrace community and maintain an open dialogue to help engagement. The event included the lighting of candles, singing, a moment of silence and a prayer for healing and unity.

“The Police Vigil was a beautiful event highlighting the unity between law enforcement and the citizens that they lay their lives on the line for everyday,” said SGA Vice President Tre’ Nelson, a Baton Rouge native. “There were marvelous speeches given by leaders across the NSU Campus that brought closure to many of the audience members. Regardless to who you are, every life has just as much value as another. Social unity begins in communities such as Natchitoches on small scales and grows across the masses.”

Bobby Barbier and Chris Bertrand began their college baseball coaching careers around the same time approximately a decade ago, crossing paths on the recruiting trail.

The two now will work together as Barbier has announced Bertrand as the new Northwestern State pitching coach. Bertrand’s hiring is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, which oversees NSU.

Bertrand brings with him a wealth of experience as a pitching coach and as a head coach, spending the past four seasons as the head coach at Texas-Tyler. Bertrand compiled a 119-69 record as the Patriots’ skipper, leading UT Tyler to three American Southwest Conference championships and three NCAA Division III regional appearances.

Bertrand coached 41 all-conference and eight all-region selections at UT Tyler.

“It’s a chance in Division I baseball, which has always been a goal and a dream,” Bertrand said of what drew him to the NSU opening. “It’s hands down the chance to work with Bobby and to work at a very historic place when it comes to college baseball coaches and who have sat in those seats. To be able to do that and to do it with Bobby was the most attractive part of it.”

Bertrand, 33, returns to his home state. An Abbeville native, Bertrand played collegiately at Louisiana College and Bossier Parish Community College.

He holds an associate’s degree from BPCC, a bachelor’s in business administration from Louisiana College and an MBA from LSU-Shreveport.

Bertrand is married to the former Lori Quigley of Shreveport and the couple has a daughter, Rayleigh (5), and a son, Callen (2).