Members of Northwestern State University’s Theta Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., collected relief supplies to aid flood victims in South Louisiana. The group also raised nearly $650 in funds to help purchase more supplies. Reaching out from the community, several churches took part in the collection efforts.

They included: Living Word Ministries in Natchitoches, Abundant Life Church, Evergreen MBC in St. Maurice, Antioch#2 Church in Pleasant Hill, Rockford Baptist Church, First Baptist Church on North Street, St. Joe Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church, Greenville Baptist Church and Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Abundant Life International, Northstar Baptist Church, Christian Baptist, Churches for Survival and Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Other contributions came from Sheriff Victor Jones and Natchez Chief of Police Gerold Johnson.

Natchitoches Junior High-Frankie Ray Jackson School will be hosting the very first Cane River Rumble Junior High Jamboree on Saturday, August 27th. This event will take place at the school stadium on the campus of NJH-FRJ. Please note that we are playing on our OWN FIELD on our OWN CAMPUS this season, and we are very excited about that!

This Jamboree will be made up of 9 local teams and will consist of 9 different pairings throughout the day. It is sure to be a must see event for area sports fans. After you take in the High School Jamboree at Turpin Stadium Friday night, come out and watch these young players show their stuff the next day.

The teams involved will be NJH-FRJ 8th Grade, NJH-FRJ 7th Grade, St Mary’s, Provencal, Natchitoches Middle Magnet/Lab, Red River Jr High, Mansfield Middle School, Many Jr High, and Logansport Jr High. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and proceed throughout the day. It should last until around 6:30 p.m.

Admission will be $5 and you may sit in our bleachers on either side. Lawn chairs will be allowed.

Natchitoches Young Professionals (NYP) is collecting donations for south Louisiana flood victims at certain branches of Sabine State Bank (Keyser Avenue and LA-1 Bypass branches) and at any branch of BOM (formerly Bank of Montgomery). Donations can be dropped off at any of these locations before noon Monday, Aug. 29. Items needed include toiletries, cleaning supplies and pet food. Lott Oil is providing a semi-trailer and truck to bring these items, as well as items collected by other groups in and around Natchitoches, to south Louisiana.

Local organizations and churches collecting items can bring their items directly to the Natchitoches Conference Hall between noon and 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29 and they will be included with the delivery. The Conference Hall is located between the Best Western and Comfort Suites Natchitoches, at 5133 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71457. Photos will be taken with groups or representatives of groups as donations are picked up or delivered to the Conference Hall.

Lauryn Sharplin, Philanthropy Chair for NYP, notes the intent is to get a large delivery of supplies delivered at once, from Natchitoches, to the most affected area. “We want to bring a truck from Natchitoches so our friends and families in south Louisiana know that our entire community stepped up to this challenge. We want to put together a great photo album and listing showing all the different groups around Natchitoches that worked together to provide these much-needed supplies for those that have lost everything.”

For specific information on how your group can be involved, contact Lauryn Sharplin at 225.572.9724 or email to LPrescot001@yahoo.com.

By Kevin Shannahan

The Natchitoches Central Chiefs started off their school year on a patriotic and musical note as the award winning NCHS Orchestra played the National Anthem before a packed atrium Tuesday, Aug. 23. Third year principal Bill Gordy outlined some of the school’s achievements and policies before parents picked up their child’s schedule and met their teachers.

NCHS’ 1,400 students have 16 sports to choose from as well as 27 clubs and activities. Some of them have gone on to make quite a name for themselves. Aaron Beaubouef’s Future Farmers of America is the best chapter in the state for the 4th year in a row. The Future Business Leaders of America chapter has sent two members to Nationals and 10 to state competitions while the state president of 4-H hails from NCHS. In addition to the superb orchestra, musically inclined students can join 90 of their fellow musicians in the Chief’s marching band. Nikki Murphy’s Lady Chiefs Volleyball is making its debut this year, adding a new sport to the Chief’s lineup. Lt. Col. Anthony Mault leads NCHS’ 130 Army Junior ROTC cadets. There is something at NCHS for every interest and there is no reason for any student not to join in on the fun and learning.

Principal Gordy is particularly proud of Natchitoches Central’s school grade which improved to a B this year/ This is no small achievement for a school its size and is an indication of the attention paid to academics by the faculty and administration.

Veteran Northwestern State athletic administrators Adam Jonson, Haley Tatiano and Dustin Eubanks have been promoted by director of athletics Greg Burke.

Jonson is now senior associate athletic director. Tatiano has added the Senior Woman Administrator role along with her job as assistant athletic director for development and marketing. Eubanks, NSU’s longtime director of NCAA compliance and an assistant AD, is now associate athletic director for compliance and special services, said Burke.

The promotions are pending approval by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, which includes Northwestern State.

Jonson has oversight for all revenue producing initiatives in the department, notably the annual fund, endowment/deferred giving, sponsorships, tickets, merchandising, special events, licensing royalties, and tailgating, and related staff members. He serves as Executive Director of the Demons Unlimited Foundation.

Jonson is the administrator overseeing the equipment room, which includes management of the department’s Adidas contract. He manages marketing and promotions and game management operations for all sports, and is the athletic director’s sport liaison for softball and volleyball.

Jonson, in his fifth year on the full-time athletic staff after four years as a student staff member in sports information, returned to his alma mater three years ago as the chief development officer for athletics and has continually added responsibilities since.

“While the external relations part of his job is highly visible, Adam does so much behind the scenes work for our department which may go unnoticed externally but internally, makes a huge difference for our coaches and staff,” said Burke. “He is well-respected both on-campus and in the community as an individual who functions every day with a great deal of passion, energy and creativity. He has unselfishly assumed additional responsibilities beyond external relations almost from the moment he returned to NSU three years ago and this promotion, with even more responsibilities, reflects his value to our department.”

Tatiano has taken over as the primary administrator for all women’s sports and has specific oversight for soccer and men’s and women’s track and field. She is directly responsible for Demons Unlimited Foundation annual fund campaign, deferred/endowment giving, and the N-Club athletic letterwinners organization. She assists with game management operations and manages most special events conducted by NSU Athletics.

Tatiano, who set the school pole vault record in 2006 as a senior competitor for the Lady Demons, is a candidate for a doctoral degree while her departmental duties expand.

“As a former NSU student-athlete, Haley is a perfect fit for the Senior Woman Administrator role. She has also gained experience as a coach and now as an administrator, making her perspective that more valuable to our student-athletes and department,” said Burke. “She has made great strides in working with the Demons Unlimited Foundation annual fund and in rejuvenating the N-Club and has thus positioned herself well for this increased level of responsibility.”

Eubanks, nearing his 20th anniversary on the administrative staff, remains as the primary staff member with oversight for the university’s NCAA rules compliance program. He has added responsibilities for oversight of special services for the department, including the bookstore, dining service, and residential living office. He remains as Burke’s sport liaison for baseball.

“Dustin has been a loyal and valuable member of our department for nearly 20 years, including the last 15 during which he has overseen the ever-changing and intricate area of NCAA rules compliance,” said Burke. “He also dedicates time and energy to several other areas of our department, including academics serving as a liaison with several other units on campus such as the dining service and housing. He is well-respected by coaches, staff, and student-athletes and I am pleased to recognize his many contributions with this promotion.”

Natchitoches Parish Fire District 9 in Campti completed training Aug. 22 on water shuttle operation. This training is for large fire situations in a rural area where fire hydrants are scarce. Firefighters set up multiple “drop tanks” that hold 3,000 gallons of water. One truck drafts or pulls water from the tanks as tankers come in and dump water into them. The draft truck is usually pumping to another truck that fights the fire. It’s not used very often but it is very important to know how to do it as a rural fire department. It comes in handy on anything from large forest fires to commercial structure fires.

Members of Northwestern State University’s Theta Chi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., collected relief supplies to aid flood victims in South Louisiana and delivered a truck load of the supplies – water, paper goods, cleaning supplies, towels and more – to the NSU Student Services Center. From there the supplies will be sent to south Louisiana with local recovery workers. The group also raised nearly $650 in funds to help purchase more supplies.

On the front row from left are Nestor Mercado, Fraternity Vice President Marvaeya Edwards and Malcolm Cooper. On the back row are Vice President for the Student Experience Dr. Chris Maggio, Director of First Year Experience Reatha Cox, Fraternity Treasurer Demetri Hill, NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson, Chapter President Richard Duncan and Gabriel White. Northwestern State will continue to collect flood relief items. Donations can be dropped off at the Student Services Center.

A small gesture can go a long way and residents in the Natchitoches community are showing their appreciation by giving St. Michael visor clips to law enforcement officers.
St. Michael the Archangel is the Patron Saint of police officers. He is described in scriptures as a warrior angel who battles the devil.

Father Blake Deshautelle from Immaculate Conception blessed the visor clips Aug. 22 and Larry Paige presented them to Police Chief Mickey Dove and some of his officers Aug. 23.
Paige ordered 55 clips for the NPD, including the motorcycles. He’s also ordered 70 for the Sheriff’s Office and plans to continue collecting money until the City Marshal, NSU Police, EMTs, patrol units in outlying areas and firefighters have the protection of St. Michael as well.

“This is a way for us to give back and show our support for you guys that are out in the trenches every day,” said Paige.

He asks that anyone interested in contributing to the project call him at 318-792-1660 or 318-352-6433. The medals are $9 each. Checks should be made out to: Mary’s Heart Catholic Gifts. This is where Paige is ordering the medals from.

Gift shop owner Tinsley Ducote reached out to Paige to help spread Project Honor: Our Heroes Campaign from Rapides to Natchitoches Parish.

“This hit a nerve in me,” he said. “We needed to do something about it. Without you (law enforcement officers) it’d be total chaos in the world.”

Appreciative of the community’s gesture Chief Dove said, “This outpouring of support is overwhelming.”

Giving a St. Michael devotional item to someone who works in law enforcement helps bring them peace and comfort in the knowledge that they have a warrior by their side. A prayer is also said to shield law enforcement against the many dangers they face.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS and Natchitoches Fire District #1 arrived on the scene of a single-vehicle crash on I-49 (southbound) at the Cloutierville/Derry exit, milepost #119 reported Aug. 23 at 8:26 a.m.

The road was blocked.

The operator of the 1999 Toyota SUV refused medical transport.

The crash is being investigated by Troopers assigned to LSP Troop-E Alexandria.

As Northwestern State wrapped up Wednesday morning’s preseason football practice, cloud cover parted and revealed blue skies above.

The Demons hope that’s a metaphor for the cornerback position, which went through a major makeover in 2015 when young players got on-the-job training that at times, especially early in the season, was trial-and-error.

With sophomore Ike Warren leading four veterans back to man the two corner spots, defensive backs coach De’Von Lockett has more cause for confidence at this point than last year. That doesn’t mean the seventh-year assistant is any more relaxed. Warren, a highly-regarded true freshman last fall, played in all 11 games and started the final six, leading the corners with 32 tackles while breaking up three passes. Having a season under his belt is a great help, he said.

“The difference is knowing to come out and work on my technique every practice, being smarter, practicing well. All we have to do is play with great technique, play strong, play smart,” said the 6-1, 194-pound Tyler, Texas-John Tyler product.

Lockett appreciates the leadership of his starters, Warren and junior Manuel Mukes, who started every game last fall.

“Ike and Manny Mukes have stepped up their games with fundamentals and understanding the defense. Caviaan Rachal, Damian Raymond and Ian Edwards are the guys I’m hoping will step up to be that third, fourth and fifth guy, and we have the transfer from Baylor, Justin Barnes, who will get an opportunity,” he said. “They’re battling for playing time.”

Rachal, a senior from Natchitoches Central who began his Demon days as a walk-on, said his early experiences have helped position him to assist Raymond (a redshirt freshman NCHS product) and Edwards (a redshirt freshman from Denton, Tex.-Guyer) and Barnes, a sophomore.

“It was a steep learning curve, but I jumped right on the train with Coach Lockett, and the coaches rallied around me to help me get better. Now I have a chance to help the corners who are younger and not as experienced, to show them the ropes and hopefully set an example, and raise my level of play,” said Rachal, who has played primarily in nickel and dime packages and on special teams in past seasons.

“Everybody is getting better every single day, listening and being coachable, working hard,” he said.

NSU worked in shorts and helmets Wednesday morning after two days of “pounding” in shoulder pads, said head coach Jay Thomas. The Demons will practice Thursday and Friday mornings at 8:30 before staging the major scrimmage of preseason Saturday morning in Turpin Stadium.

There was an outpouring of support for B.J. Miller from Provencal and the surrounding communities Aug. 19-20. The Provencal Benefit Committee, Fire District 4 and the Brother’s Keepers Motorcycle Club 17th, Natchitoches Chapter (BKMC) co-hosted fundraising events to help FD4 Chief Bryan Miller and his family with medical expenses.

Bryan’s 17-year-old son, B.J., was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He underwent open-heart surgery to implant a Left Ventricular Assist Device. The LVAD is a mechanical heart pump that assists damaged and weakened muscles by pumping blood, thus allowing the heart to heal.

B.J., known to family and friends as “Beej,” faces up to a year of LVAD use, which runs on an external battery pack and is plugged in at night to recharge. If the LVAD doesn’t work, a heart transplant is a real possibility.

The Provencal community decided to band together to help to help their neighbors in their time of need.

The event included “Beej’s Bingo,” silent auctions, a chicken and sausage lunch plate, a Cornhole Tournament, a Heart Walk, a Wild Game Cookoff, a Poker Run and a Motorcycle Officer Skill Course for riders to test skills.

By Junior Johnson

My precious brother Terry and I were probably born 100 years too late; however, neither of us would want to change our lives as they have played out to this point.

Born while our parents lived in a sharecroppers house on CoCo Bed Road near the Village of Cloutierville, myself in the late 40s andTerry in the early 50s, we shared a wonderful childhood that children today would envy. Our parents were the most hard working and loving people that we have ever known, and to this day we are the men that we have become because of their love and guidance.

We lived on the banks of Cane River and would use that setting to provide our enjoyment when we had the opportunity after our chores were completed.

Since I was older my brother would always be there to assist me in projects that we would use to provide our entertainment. We never got into the Cowboys and Indians games that were popular during that time period. We were more inspired by what the two of us talked about, and our biggest project was building a raft.

Our dad had some timbers that he let us have for our project and we went to work on our vessel for Cane River navigation. We even had a tent in which we could sleep on our overnight trips on the Cane. Dad quickly overruled that genius plan because of our young age.

We did spend hours poling our raft up and down Cane River from our home and those memories are etched in our minds, and will be forever. Mom would make us a lunch of sandwiches and kool-aid, along with some of her delicious banana pudding.

Obviously we did not know of the exploits that Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer had back then, but years later we both agreed that we could have been those rascals looking for Becky Thatcher.

I would manage to get some of our dad’s Chesterfield cigarettes and we would get on our raft and, once settled in a spot away from where he could see the smoke, we would light up and puff on them like toads as we waited for the fish to bite on the lines of our cane poles. No license needed back then.

That was many years ago and in a much different time than the young people growing up today. Our parents did not have to worry about some pervert putting us in harm’s way. I will not presume that my brother and I had a better childhood than those growing up today; however, I believe without a doubt that the creativity that Terry and I had went a long way into developing us into the individuals that we are today. Cane River was, and still is, a place that my brother and I hold dear in our hearts.

By Natalie Covher

SEE NOTES AT END FROM RESIDENTS

There were only a few seats left open at the City Council meeting Monday evening, Aug. 22. The room seemed divided as residents showed their support or opposition for the Council’s final vote on Ordinance No. 35.

The ordinance, which passed unanimously, authorizes the City to lease a 1.863 acre tract in the ADM facility on Mill Street to the owners of Cane River Brewery.
Opposition came from South Williams residents who are still concerned about potential noise pollution from the brewery. Mayor Lee Posey said, “At the end of the day it’s only going to be 65 decibels and this is not unpleasant to the ears.”

However the residents beg to differ.

After they requested a meeting with an acoustician, Posey agreed to set it up at a July 25 Council meeting. Residents expected to be included in the on-site meeting with the acoustician, however, Posey set up a post-meeting with them at City Hall. Posey apologized for the miscommunication, however the residents feel they were intentionally left out.

“If this was your backyard, you know you’d be standing up here,” said Marion Salter.
Posey disagreed. “I’d be over there with a drink in my hand, hoping to hear music.” His statement was met with applause from the supporting side in the room.

Councilman Dale Nielsen said he feels the focus of this project is being taken away from the business itself and diverted to the “entertainment” factor.

“When this project got started we were excited,” said Posey. “But somewhere people started calling it an ‘entertainment district’ and we never called it that here at City Council. But the Natchitoches Times did on the front page of the paper.”

One of the brewery owners, Justin Krouse, said he’s looking forward to working with South Williams residents and anyone else who has concerns about his business.

“We’re not trying to be the bad guys here,” he said.

The Council recognized Elizabeth Wysingle for her outstanding volunteer work with the Natchitoches Council on Aging and the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.

Other agenda items included:
• Award bid for Lafayette Street Rehabilitation Project to Progressive Construction of Alexandria for $329,881
• Award bid for 2016 City Street Rehabilitation Project to Progressive Construction for $842,207
• Ordinance granting Atmos Energy and its successors rights to acquire, maintain, construct, lay, repair, remove, replace, install, operate, and dispose of a gas system for the sale, transportation and distribution of natural gas within and beyond the municipal boundaries of the city and to the residents and businesses located therein for light, heat, power and any other purposes and the right to use the present and future streets, roads, highways, alleys, bridges, public ways and immovable property for such purposes.

• Award bid for the purchase of a bucket truck for the City Utility Department to Altec Industries of Daleville, Va. For $187,582

• Approve purchase of tract of ground situated between Rapides Drive and Fairgrounds Road for $346,000. Posey said the land is needed for the future expansion of the water treatment plant, the airport and the construction of a road out of Town South and Pan Am neighborhoods.

• Advertise for bids for Liquid Chlorine for the water treatment plant

• Advertise for bids for the water system improvements-phase I and II

• Resolution in support of elevating the El Camino East-West Cooridor/Highway 6/84 to a higher priority to make available the 20 percent funds for “ready projects”
The next City Council meeting will be Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

By Natalie Covher

District Governor Mike Trainor visited the Natchitoches Lions Club at its meeting Aug. 22. He inducted new member Josh Pierson. A blindfold was used in the induction ceremony. His sponsor Brandon McKee led him from the back of the room, to the front.

“Hopefully this will be the last time that you’ll ever have to be guided through the dark,” said Trainor. “You have done something that a person without sight does every day.”

During the induction, Trainor explained how Helen Keller requested the Lions Club be the knights of the blind. He spoke of Lion pride for their efforts to eradicate the dreaded disease of blindness. McKee then presented Pierson with his pin, placing it on his lapel. Trainor presented McKee with a special “100-year sponsor” pin to commemorate the club’s 100^th year.

Trainor thanked the club for its donation. “It goes a long way,” he said. “Only 30 percent of the clubs actually donate.”

He also recounted the story of how he became a Lion at heart. He saw a man experiencing head pain and convinced him to have his eyes checked. After the screening, a blood vessel was found that was about to burst. The man immediately scheduled an appointment with a doctor. If the blood vessel had burst, the man would have been blinded.

“That was when I knew I knew Lion-ism was in my heart,” said Trainor. “If I hadn’t been there, that man would be blind today.”

Lions are preparing the district conference Sept. 24 in Shreveport. The speaker will be Phillip McMillan from Duck Dynasty.

Nearly 1,000 students moved into residence halls at Northwestern State University Saturday with help from student, faculty and staff volunteers. A few ghouls from Dark Woods Haunted Attraction, including 2016’s Dark Carnival host Boogey the Clown, were on hand to welcome a fresh crop of new Demons with KNWD and the NSU Freshman Connectors. Move-In Day kicks off Demon Days, several weeks of activities and events that begin with a Welcome Back Bash, New Student Convocation, President’s Picnic and opportunities to get involved with university life. Classes at NSU will begin Monday, Aug. 22.

The Natchitoches Humane Society shared this first hand account from a flood victim being united with her pets. Freddy was a Natchitoches Humane Society rescue and Sasha was a rehome that the organization assisted with.

Jackie Cobb was forced to leave her adopted pets Freddy and Sasha when the flooding in Southern Louisiana forced her to evacuate from her Denham Springs home. She was told Freddy and Sasha would be okay but no one took her name or any information. It was extremely hectic.

She messaged the NHS to ask if Freddy was microchipped because she couldn’t locate him. Sadly, Freddy was adopted at a time when the NHS didn’t have microchipping.
The great news is that Jackie was reunited with her beloved pets and they are safe.

Here is her account of what happened:

It’s been a nightmare.
My cat Sasha is skeletal thin because of age and kidney disease. I told them I couldn’t leave her, that she would die if someone wasn’t making sure she had water. They made me leave both of them.

The next day they sent a few of the animals to where I was. There was Sasha’s carrier…with someone’s dog in it.

I thought she’d died until two days later when Sasha’s former owner sent me a message. An animal shelter treating Sasha for dehydration and fleas had read her microchip.
As for Freddy, I had an army of people looking for him. I was told the animals were being sent to Slidell and then I was told church families took them, one story after another.
The Denham Springs animal shelter flooded. They had to open kennels and let dogs swim for it. Freddy ended up at Livingston Parish Animal Shelter. I have him now, but he is going to go with fosters which is best so I can focus on getting a place to live.
So many animals displaced and we’ve learned so little since Katrina. People were still being forced to leave their pets for one reason or another. Animals in shelters before the flood were being shipped out of state so shelters could house rescues. I am lucky. But others…..

I lost everything but I have a good job and resources. I sat in a shelter and watched the aged, infirm and disabled. Some won’t make it.

The bag Jackie packed with a few clothes, shoes and pet food when she was rescued from her home never arrived at her shelter. She had to get food from someone the short time she had her pets with her. She even refused to be moved from the first shelter she was placed at because she couldn’t take Sasha and Freddy. But none of that matters anymore. Sasha and Freddy are both alive, safe in foster homes and Jackie’s next mountain to climb begins now.

The NHS extends its thoughts and prayers to ALL the “boots on the ground” rescues and city and state municipalities involved in this crisis. And to the people that have lost everything, including their pets.

The organization can’t stress enough the importance of microchipping pets. There is no telling what can happen in a split second to separate owners from their pets. Having them microchippped ensures a way to get them back.

BOM, the premier bank of northwest Louisiana, has completed its previously announced purchase of Tri-State Bank and Trust. With the agreement, BOM acquires all assets and assumes all liabilities of Tri-State Bank and Trust’s two locations in Haughton and Shreveport, Louisiana.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Staffing at both locations was unaffected.

With approximately $300 million in total assets and approximately $275 million in total deposits, BOM has 12 locations in Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides and Sabine parishes.

“We welcome our new customers in Haughton and Shreveport, and we remain committed to our local communities,” says BOM President and CEO Ken Hale. “We offer quality, personal service combined with all the conveniences of modern technology.”

BOM was advised by the law firm of Fenimore, Kay, Harrison & Ford, LLP and Jeff Fair with American Planning Corp. Tri-State Bank and Trust was advised by the law firm of Pickering & Cotogno.

CONTACT: Ken Hale, BOM President and CEO, (318) 238-8000 ext. 1400, khale@bankmontgomery.com

BOM was established in 1903 in Montgomery, Louisiana and has a strong tradition of supporting the northwest Louisiana communities in which it operates, combining hometown values with modern, full service personal and business banking products in a number of convenient locations. For more information, visit bofm.com.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

The occasional downpour and sea of mud didn’t stop loyal Tiger friends and families as the St. Mary’s Tiger Athletic Association continued a 40 plus year tradition this Friday, Aug. 19 with the annual steak supper and scrimmage fundraiser. The TAA pre-sold 550 steaks with more being sold on site. The organization supports all aspects of St. Mary’s athletics and the steak supper is their signature event and a Natchitoches tradition. In addition to the supper, the event featured an evening of football scrimmages played by Tigers from third grade to high school. A Varsity Tiger victory against the Rosepine Eagles under the field’s new lights capped off another successful event.

Matthew and Sarah Axsom started their cooling and heating company,“AxsomAir”, in the Spring of 1997 in a small shop on the west side of Natchitoches. With seven sons at that point in time, there was never a shortage of eager helpers for installing and servicing air conditioning systems and Matthew often wryly claimed that AxsomAir would always be the original “duct dynasty” in Louisiana.  According to the couple, the family business setting provided the perfect opportunity to teach timeless lessons of integrity and customer service which continue to be the guiding principles of the company to this day.

Fast approaching their 20^th anniversary, the company has grown to 10 trucks and 18 employees and they are pleased to announce the opening of  their new plumbing service division with the hire of master plumber Josh Oden from Shreveport. “Many customers have asked us when we would start a plumbing service,” said co-owner and GM Matthew Axsom. “It has always been the matter of finding the experienced master plumber who embraces our culture and Josh Oden who has been a family friend for over 10 years is an exact fit.” Oden ran his own business in Shreveport for 11 years and is bringing 25 years of experience to the AxsomAir team.

In addition to Oden starting up the new plumbing division for AxsomAir, the company is also adding duct cleaning and attic insulation  to its offering of services. With the purchase of a state-of-the-art duct cleaning machine, excessive dust and allergens can be removed from your air conditioning duct work which can significantly improve the indoor air quality. AxsomAir techicians can now also blow in any thickness of new insulation to your attic, increasing the “R Value” ,which is known to reduce the power consumption of your air conditioner while significantly lowering your electric utility bill.

AxsomAir primarily serves Natchitoches Parish but is expanding to Rapides, Grant and Sabine Parishes as they are the sole authorized A/C installation company for Lowe’s in Alexandria and Pineville.

By Ida B. Torn

I’ve talked to a lot of people over the last few months since the Parish Council voted to put a sales tax initiative on the ballot in November. I have found that most people are willing to discuss their feelings about the situation with our Parish roads with a certain level of intelligence and with their emotions kept in bay. You will not find one person, including me, who thinks our roads have seen improvements since the change in form of government. Some people are basing the success of the Home Rule Charter solely on the condition of our roads. I take issue with this argument. To me, that is a very dangerous way of looking at our Parish Government. Our Parish has operated without creating new deficits for the last three years. It has managed to obtain and regain funding for numerous road projects through the Capital Outlay program, which means State funding for local projects. The Parish successfully negotiated the paving of a Parish road by the Red River Waterway Commission, another State agency. It has successfully negotiated the expansion of the Parish landfill with DEQ.  Without the new permitting, Parish residents would not have a local option for dumping. And, maybe most importantly, the Parish renegotiated its contract with the Sheriff’s Office for the cost of housing prisoners at the Detention Center.  This accomplishment alone is projected to save the Parish at least $150,000 per year. Putting aside the condition of our roads, the new form of Government has proven to be very effective.

Some people seem to forget that Natchitoches Parish experienced a severe drought prior to the form in change of government. You may remember that the Cane River was so low that you could almost walk across it in places without getting your knees wet! Since the change in form of government, the Parish has experienced two major federally declared disasters due to flooding. Just this past week alone we’ve had heavy rainstorms every single night. The sinking of buses and other heavy equipment are pretty good indicators that our roads are super-saturated. The Parish has yet to have any real “dry season” since coming out of the drought.

A friend of mine recently told me that I need to discuss things in a “peas and carrots” kind of way. Provide information that people can obtain themselves that support your argument removing any doubt.  For example, anyone who requests a copy of the road maintenance database from the Parish would learn that the Parish has over 975 roads in its system. Anyone can go to the State Auditor’s website and download any of the Parish’s audits all the way back to 1995. If you want to find specific information on how much tax was paid into Road District 40 or any other taxing district of the Parish, you can research it through the Louisiana Tax Commission’s website.

In looking at these three sources of factual information, one can deduce that, in 2015, the Parish Road Maintenance Fund received $1,772,611 in revenues from various sources.  If you divide that number by the number of roads (rounded down to 975), the Parish had approximately $1,818.06 to maintain each road in its system in 2015. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.  The Parish cannot provide the quality of roads that residents are demanding with the resources that the residents are affording it and it has absolutely nothing to do with our form of government.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal received this submission. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal.  If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the NPJ, please send it to NPJNatLa@gmail.com.