Northwestern State University’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health grew its number of students by 10 percent as part of an overall university enrollment increase to 9,819 students for the fall 2016 semester. This fall’s enrollment was 640 students (7 percent) higher than last fall.

A total of 2,425 students were enrolled in the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, an increase of 222 from last year.

“I was looking for a top nursing program and found Northwestern,” said freshman Alexandra Piedrahita of Baton Rouge. “I came for a visit and fell in love with the campus and the nursing program. I found they cared about me as an individual.”

Piedrahita, a graduate of University High in Baton Rouge, said the program’s high success rate on nursing exams was a factor in choosing Northwestern State.

“I’m confident I will do well in the profession after the preparation I will get here,” she said.

The total number of students at Northwestern State was the highest since 2005, the first year of selective admissions.

“Enrollment growth is a strong indicator of market responsiveness,” said Northwestern State President Dr. Jim Henderson. “When you combine high quality, relevant academic programs and an enriching student experience with the rich traditions and innovative spirit of Northwestern State, growth is inevitable.”

Northwestern State developed a Strategic Framework a year ago with a vision to become the nation’s premier regional university. The five-point plan focused on the student experience, academic excellence, market responsiveness, athletic prominence and community enrichment. Nursing, allied health and teacher education programs remain the university’s traditional core.

Over the past 18 months, the university has re-established the College of Business and Technology; created the Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts; and strengthened the School of Biological and Physical Sciences by adding the state’s only applied microbiology degree. NSU’s Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts is a designated Center of Excellence and the Louisiana Scholars’ College at NSU is the state-designated honors program.

“We know that a college education is the surest pathway to a high quality of life.,” said Henderson. “It is incumbent upon our state colleges and universities to find ways to expand access, and we at NSU embrace that responsibility. Doing so opens opportunities to our students and promises our employer community a talent-based competitive advantage.”

Other academic areas of the university recording large increases in enrollment included social work, which went from 208 to 271 students (30 percent), the School of Business which increased its student count from 1070 to 1178 (10 percent) and biology, which enrolled 542 students, 45 more that the fall of 2015 (nine percent).

Is your dog microchipped? If not, come out to the Natchitoches Humane Society’s Bath, Chip and Clip event Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m at Tractor Supply on South Drive. Anyone who has lost their pet for even a short period of time can understand the worry in trying to locate their furbaby. Microchipping provides a quick way of finding your lost pet. Local Vet will administer microchips for only $30. After you have your pet microchipped you can have him or her bathed. Baths for dogs over 40 pounds are $10 and baths for dogs under 40 pounds are $5. Nail clipping is $5.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies are searching for a Rapides Parish man reported missing to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office on Friday afternoon according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies are currently looking for 45-year-old James D. Treadwell, W/M, Hgt/510, Wgt/180, Hair/Brown-Crew Cut, last seen wearing blue jeans, white tennis shoes and no shirt of Alexandria, La. who was reported missing by his mother and sister to the NPSO on Friday afternoon, September 9th at approximately 4:10pm.

Deputies say Treadwell and his mother were visiting a family member in the 5000 block of La. Hwy 117 south of Bellwood, La., on Friday afternoon, when Treadwell became upset over a family member’s illness and ran into the woods.

Shortly after Treadwell entered the woods, family members and church volunteers searched the woods but were unable to locate him.

Since that time, volunteers, and NPSO Deputies along with the assistance of DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Air Support and US Forest Service have searched several hundred acres of thick woods by air and ground with dogs and all terrain vehicles and have not been able to locate Treadwell.

Deputies ask that if you see Treadwell to please contact the NPSO at 352-6432 Detective Jonathan Byles at 357-7830, or the NPSO High Tech Crime Unit.

The investigation is continuing at this time.

Treadwell has been entered into the National Crime Information Center as a missing person.

Two proclamations were presented at the City Council meeting Monday night, Sept. 12. One declared Sept. 22 as Jeff Kemp Day in the City. Kemp is the keynote speaker for the Women Resource Center’s Celebration of Life fundraising gala, which will be held Sept. 22 at the Events Center.

The second proclamation was presented to Rosie Finical. It declared Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week. Finical said the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will display a special exhibit at the Natchitoches Parish Library through these dates in honor of Constitution Week.

In other business, the City declared 13 homes unsafe, recommending they be demolished or put into repair by the owners to comply with the building code (a full story on this agenda item will be published soon). A public hearing was held at 4:30, before the Council meeting, to discuss the upcoming Rue Beauport Riverbank Renovation project (a full story on this agenda item will be published soon).

Other agenda items included:

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

• Ordinance amendment changing the zoning classification of 1202 and 1204 College Ave., owned by Joseph Raggio, from R-2 Residential to B-3 Commercial to sell used cars

• Purchase of a tract of land for $346,000

• Award bid for Hancock and Watson Street underground electrical service to Sunstream Inc. of Natchitoches for $150,000

• Authorize a franchise in favor of Cane River Paddle and Peddle Company LLC

• Advertise and accept bids for sewer extension north along LA 504 from LA 6

• Resolution concerning the 2017 Capital Improvement Plan for the Natchitoches Regional Airport (see photos below)

By Junior Johnson

A historic event will take place in the Village of Cloutierville on Nov. 19 of this year. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church will celebrate it’s 200th Anniversary.

Built on land donated by Alex Cloutier, founder of Cloutierville, it began as a little Chapel and was Blessed Nov. 10, 1816 by Father D. F. Maybes, Pastor of St. Francis Catholic Church in Natchitoches.

In 1889 the Church opened the St. Mary’s Convent, operated by the Sisters of Divine Providence Order. They provided an excellent Christian education for the young people in the community, but it closed in 1965.

As more people moved to Cloutierville, additions were made to the Chapel. In 1921 Father Michael Becker arrived from New Orleans on a motorcycle with a side car that held all his Earthly possessions. He became the new Pastor of the Church and under his watchful eye and hard work the parishioners and Chapel grew. The Chapel was renovated in 1934 and then again in 1954. Father Becker worked tirelessly in the effort to enlarge the Church. Eventually, with its twin towers the Church was the most beautiful landmark in the area.

Sadly the Church was destroyed by fire June 20, 1985. Only a statue of the Crucified Christ remained behind the ruins, as if watching over the remains.

Almost 15 months later on Sept. 20,1986, Father John Cunningham lead a congregation in procession from where the old Church had stood to the new Church, and celebrated Mass for the first time in the new building.

The parishioners will now come together, 30 years after the dedication of the new Church, to celebrate 200 years of prayer and worship. Father Christian Ogbonna is the new Pastor, and under his guidance this celebration will be conducted.

The Church is using this historic occasion to make improvements on and around the Church, such as lighting and improvements to the walls of the sanctuary area, and other things that have declined through the years.

To help finance improvements on the Church a committee will be putting together a beautiful brochure as a special dedication to the history of St. John the Baptist Church. Businesses and community members can purchase advertisement space in this wonderful publication. The cost is as follows:

Full Gold Page
8 1/2×11……………$100
Full Silver Page
8 1/2×11……………. 75
Full White Page
8 1/2×11……………. 50
Half White Page
4 1/4×5 1/2……….. 25
Quarter White Page
2 1/8×2 1/4……….. 20

To purchase an advertisement just indicate the size and message that you would like to make and include a check made out to St. John’s Jubilee Fund – P.O. Box 40 – Cloutierville, La. 71416. It must be received by Sept. 30. For information call (318) 379-2231.

There will be a Mass Saturday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m., followed by the official Blessing and opening of the Statue of St. John the Baptist, a life-size statue installed as a special memorial of this historic occasion.

Following the dedication there will be a banquet and program for all to attend at the Catholic Hall. A delicious meal will be provided and there will be a number of key-note speakers who will give a detailed history of this wonderful institution. There will also be musical entertainment both during and following the banquet.

If you plan to attend please RSVP so the church can prepare food and seating. For reservations call (318) 379-2231.

I encourage all of you to make plans to attend this wonderful celebration in my little Village of Cloutierville. For those who have never been there, you will not meet anyone, anywhere, who are more honest, hardworking, and Christian people. I am Blessed to call this wonderful area home.

By Kevin Shannahan

On this, the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks, media is saturated with various tributes and commemorations all imploring us to “never forget.” As I look back over the past 15 years, each of which have seen the nation at war, I see the Sept. 11th attacks recede into historical memory. This is natural as time passes, and not an entirely bad thing. Time does not always heal all wounds, but it does provide perspective.

What I do find objectionable is the passive tone of many of the commemorations. The attacks were indeed a tragedy. Over 3,000 people lost their lives that day as they went about their everyday business, unaware of the impending attack. The lives cut short, the families torn asunder by the loss of a spouse, the orphans created, that was a tragedy. All too often however, the commemorations fail to make the distinction that the deaths were the result of an unprovoked attack upon innocent civilians, rather than the result of a tornado or other agent of random chance and misfortune. Nor do they celebrate the courage of the police officers, firemen and ordinary citizens who rose to the occasion, often at the cost of their lives.

I want to celebrate Rick Rescorla, Jorge Velazquez, and Godwin Forde. They repeatedly went back into the burning World Trade Center to lead people out. They died on their last attempt as the Tower collapsed with them still inside. This was not Rescorla’s first time in the World Trade Center after an attack. In the 1993 bombing, he spent 12 hours inside the building helping firefighters find and rescue people. As a platoon leader in Vietnam, he fought in the Ia Drang Valley, earning a Silver Star. He was 62 when he died fighting a different enemy.

Hundreds of police officers and fire fighters died doing their duty, faithful unto death to the citizens they were charged to protect. First responders and ordinary citizens pulled people from the rubble. In the Pentagon, Air Force Lt. General and surgeon, P.K. Carlton found himself the only trauma surgeon in the area. He personally rescued people trapped in the rubble and organized the medical response to the attack, treating people on site and commandeering passing civilian cars to take the wounded to hospitals.

I want to celebrate the men and women of Flight 93. When it became apparent what the hijackers’ true intentions were, they did not flinch from what had to be done. They were not soldiers or police officers. They were ordinary men and women. They fought the hijackers with bare hands and improvised weapons in a desperate attempt to retake the plane. We will never know with certainty what Flight 93’s target was to be. The passengers may have saved the Capitol building or the White House. Their courage launched the first counterattack of the war. They died with their face to the enemy and turned a field in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania into sacred ground.

On this Sept. 12th, after the flags come down and the television and radio goes back to normal programming, take a look around you. The real lessons to be drawn from the 9-11 attacks are all around us. The police officers on patrol, the firefighters at the station today are no different than the men and women who ran into the World Trade Center and a burning Pentagon. When the call comes, they will answer it. Look at those harried business travelers at the airport. People just like them saved Washington D.C. from another attack.

Several young men in my old Scout Troop are starting out on their enlistments in the Marine Corps. They were toddlers in 2001 and grew up in a nation at war. They are now taking their place on the ramparts doing the hard, dangerous work that keeps our nation’s enemies at bay. Fifteen years after the attacks, I look around me from the vantage point of age and see that we still produce men and women like Todd Beamer of Flight 93 and Rick Rescorla. When the need arises, they will be there. America will endure.

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.

The quality of life experienced by the people of a parish is directly related to the type of public infrastructure in the parish, and the condition of its roads is a major part of that infrastructure. Road conditions impact public safety, economic development (jobs) and many other facets of public life. Here, in Natchitoches Parish, our roads are suffering from decades of inadequate maintenance and improvement. The primary reason for the lack of road improvements has been the lack of funds to conduct a proper road program.

On November 8, 2016, the people of Natchitoches Parish will have the opportunity to choose between two different futures for the Parish. The Parish Council has decided to allow the people to vote on whether they support better roads by providing more revenue to the road department. It was a difficult decision for the Parish Council to approve putting the tax propositions on the ballot, and they are to be commended for giving the people the right to decide the question.

There will be 2 sales tax propositions on the ballot. One is a ½ cent sales tax in the parish, including the City of Natchitoches (except for Campti which is already at the maximum tax rate). The other is a ¾ cent sales tax in the area of the parish outside of the City of Natchitoches and Campti. The revenues from both taxes are dedicated strictly to the maintenance and improvement of parish roads and bridges. By law, the funds cannot be used for any other purpose.

The folks that support passage of the taxes understand that we must improve our roads to improve the quality of life of our people, ensuring safe travel, delivery of mail, bus transportation for our school children, emergency medical services and everyday travel to work.

Those in opposition may question the need for more funds, but, to anyone who has examined the facts, the need is clear. Some in this group simply do not want another tax to pay. What the “no more tax” folks do not appear to understand is that they are already paying a heavy road tax. When they pay for front-end alignments, new tires, struts, or other vehicle damages, they are paying a hidden road tax. This cost can run into hundreds of dollars a year.

If both taxes were to be approved by the voters, the cost for many of our families would be about $2.00 per week, or about $100.00 per year. That is much less than the “hidden road tax” many are paying for having poor roads, not to mention the discomfort from driving on bumping roads or roads that are impassable due to the mud and ruts.

The question is, which road to the future will the people choose. Will they support the taxes dedicated to road improvements, or will they choose to keep things as they are, with continuing decline in road conditions and the associated decline in the quality of life? One thing is sure, the federal government is experiencing its own financial problems and we cannot count on it to solve our road problems. Also, the State of Louisiana has its own money problems, even though our senators and representatives have worked hard to assist us. The bottom line is, it is up to us. Which road will we choose?

The Natchitoches Parish Library’s “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” is a program designed to help parents prepare their children for one of life’s biggest milestones: kindergarten. Research has shown that children get ready to read long before they enter school, and an excellent way to prepare one’s child for the classroom is by reading to her. Reading with one’s child can be both a special time together, and a demonstration of the value and joy of reading.

Any child who has not yet entered kindergarten and lives, or goes to school, in Natchitoches Parish may participate in the program. The program can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on how often you read. If parents read three books a day for 1 year, that is 1,095 books, just over the goal of 1,000. Or one book a day for 3 years will also get one’s child over the 1,000 book mark. Anytime a child listens to a whole book, it counts: it can be a library book, a book from home, a book read in story time, or even an audio or e-book. Parents can even count multiple readings of the same book! Books can be read to a child anywhere, at anytime, by anyone.

Children’s Librarian, Annabel Jones, encourages parents to enroll their children, reminding them, “You are your child’s first and most important teacher!”

Parents wishing to register their children may visit the Children’s Circulation Desk anytime during library hours and receive a “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” reading packet. For more information regarding 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, parents may call the Children’s Circulation Desk at 318-238-9222.

Zach Bloxom points to his star in the 1,000 books goal area. Bloxom is the first Natchitoches Parish library patron to reach the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten goal.

Nine Northwestern State University faculty members have received tenure and 10 faculty members have earned a promotion in rank effective with the start of the 2016-2017 academic year, according to Dr. Vicki Gentry, chief academic officer and dean of the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development and the Graduate School. The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System approved the tenure and promotion recommendations.

Faculty receiving tenure are: Mary Deville, John Dunn and Kirsten Riehl of the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice Estelle Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts, Sharon Green of the Department of Criminal Justice, History and Social Sciences, Suzanne Green, Joel Hicks and Juanita Roberts of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, Thomas Reynolds of the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies and Ali Ahmad of the College of Business and Technology.

Those receiving promotion to full professor are: Sarah McFarland of the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies, Davina McClain of the Louisiana Scholars’ College, Douglas Bakenhus of the School of Creative and Performing Arts, Shirley Snider of the Department of Criminal Justice, History and Social Sciences and Begona Perez Mira of the College of Business and Technology.

Faculty receiving promotion to associate professor are Riehl, Reynolds, Green, Hicks and Kari Cook of College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.

Natchitoches, LA –A representative from George Washington University visited with students at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the College Counseling Center. Carol Lee Concher, a regional director in the Office of Admissions, spoke about what the school had to offer students.

Pictured are, from left, Adriana Walker, a senior from Natchitoches, Varun Amin, a senior from Lake Charles, and Concher.

Lakeview FFA had a great showing at the 87th Louisiana FFA State Convention, held in June. The SAE is a required component of a total agricultural education program and intended for every student.

Through their involvement in the SAE program, students consider multiple careers and occupations, learn expected workplace behavior, develop specific skills within an industry, and apply academic and occupational skills in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment. Through these strategies, students learn how to apply what they are learning in the classroom as they prepare to transition into the world of college and career opportunities. The best SAEs are submitted to state for placement through FFA’s proficiency program.

Fourth place poultry production:
Hunter Layfield, a junior. Hunter, with his mother, run a small quail farm where they managed them for egg production. In addition to quail, they also raise chickens, guinea, and rabbits.

4th place agricultural education:
Posey Hemperley, a recent graduate. Through her project Josey taught agricultural lessons, led workshops and coached students to be public speakers. Josey is now pursuing a degree in ministry from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.

State Champion Vegetable Production:
Bali Quick, a senior. She keeps a vegetable garden with her father. They also hold farmers’ markets in the Ashland community. As the state champion in Vegetable Production, Bayli submitted her project to National FFA to represent Louisiana this fall at the 89th National FFA Convention.

Career Development Events (CDEs) help FFA members develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly, and perform effectively in a competitive job market. At the state convention, the following teams and individuals placed at the state level:

Third place marketing plan: Morgan Ragan, Emily Johnson and Josey Hemperley
Students construct a custom marketing plan for a local agricultural business and present this plan to a panel of judges. Their plan outlined ways that Eric Smith’s farm could be more profitable.

State runner up: Beaux Teach Ag:
Baileigh McTire, a senior. This competition helps students learn how to be an agriculture teacher. They plan a lesson, write a lesson plan, and teach a 15 minute lesson. Baileigh’s lesson was on career opportunities in agriculture. In January she competed at an area competition at Florien High School and placed second, which earned her a spot at state competition.

State Runner-Up Gulf of Mexico Speaking:
Bali Quick, a senior. She researched a subject pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico, wrote a 6-8 minute speech, and presented it to a panel of judges. Bayli competed at an area competition in January at Florien High School and earned a spot at the state competition. Bayli was state runner up with her speech on the brown pelican and the fluctuations in their population.

State Champion Gulf of Mexico Speaking:
Kelsey Shoemaker, a senior. She researched a subject pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico, wrote a 6-8 minute speech, and presented it to a panel of judges. In January, Kelsey won the area competition held at Florien High School, earning her a spot at the state competition. Kelsey was crowned the state champion with her recitation of her speech on the Asian Tiger Shrimp.

Retiring State Reporter:
State convention is conducted by the Louisiana FFA state officer team. Lakeview High School valedictorian and Natchitoches parish 12th grade student of the year, Josey Hemperley, served as the FFA state reporter for the 2015-2016 school year.

Elected state Vice President:
New state officer candidates are nominated and elected to the new state officer team for the 2016-2017 school year. Bayli Quick was appointed as State Vice President by the nominating committee. Bayli is the 8th Louisiana FFA state officer from Lakeview and the first Vice President since Keith Gates in 2000-2001. Bali has led camps and workshops, will represent the state as a voting delegate at the National Convention in October, and will tour the state as a voice for FFA and agricultural education.

National Chapter Award: Superior Chapter
In addition to star students, the Lakeview FFA chapter was awarded the title of Superior Chapter for the 2015-2016 school year through FFA’s National Chapter Award Program. This program highlights chapters who have outstanding programs in student, chapter and community development.

By Ida B. Torn

I’ve read a lot of complaints online about how much money residents have to pay on car maintenance due to the deplorable condition of the roads in our Parish. I’ve also seen a lot of discussions by many of the same people who say that they refuse to vote for the sales tax initiatives that are on the ballot in November. The excuses for why they aren’t going to vote for the tax are as numerous as the potholes on most Parish roads. The proverb “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” comes to mind.

I decided to see how much certain vehicle repairs cost on average and gathered the following information from the website repairpal.com using the zip code of 71469:

There are two separate tax propositions on the ballot. Proposition 1 is a City and Parish Roads Sales Tax, which affects all Parish residents except those living inside the city limits of Campti. If Proposition 1 passes, it is anticipated to increase the Parish’s annual road maintenance budget by more than $2 million. Proposition 2 is a Parish Roads Tax and affects all Parish residents except those living inside the city limits of Campti and Natchitoches. This tax is three-quarter of one cent proposition and, should it pass, it is anticipated to increase the Parish’s annual road maintenance budget by $1.5 million. Just imagine how many roads can be brought into the 21st century with an additional 3.5+ million dollars every year!

The Parish government recently released the chart below to demonstrate to voters what the tax will cost them should it pass.

SALES TAX COST INCREASE TO CONSUMERS:

NOTES:

a. NEITHER TAX PROPOSITION WOULD APPLY TO SALES INSIDE THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF CAMPTI DUE TO MUNICIPAL SALES TAX LIMIT.
b. CITY OF NATCHITOCHES SALES TAX INCREASE LIMITED TO 0.5 CENT DUE TO MUNICIPAL TAX LIMIT.

So, the next time you’re dropping your vehicle off to the mechanic’s shop for the umpteenth time, I’d love to have half a penny for your thoughts.

Kevin’s Gallery

Congratulations to Adriana Walker, Miss Merry Christmas 2016. With her on stage are her Christmas Belles, Madelyn Peluso, Elizabeth Long, Bailey Thompson, Mary Elizabeth Whitehead, and Rylee Page. The Barbara Kirsch Award recipient was Meredith Phelps.

Congratulations to all the girls that competed tonight!

From the Left: Madelyn Peluso, Rylee Page, Elizabeth Long, Mary Elizabeth Whitehead, Miss Merry Christmas Adriana Walker, Santa Stanley Ferguson, Bailey Thompson, and Barbara Kirsch Award Winner Meredith Phelps.

Northwestern State University Assistant Director of Bands Oliver Molina will present a percussion concert Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

Molina will perform on several different percussion instruments in a concert that will start a recruiting tour of Louisiana and Texas. The program will include works by Anderson, Becker, Moore and Trevino. Molina will be assisted by NSU Percussion Studio members Chris Ball of Haughton, Andrew Boyd of Little Elm, Texas, James Leach of Longview, Texas, Xavier Matthews of Gray and Donald Myers of Springhill.

The Fair Woods Cottage is one of the locations on the 62nd Annual Natchitoches Fall Pilgrimage of Homes, which isscheduled for Oct. 14-16.

The Cottage was built in 1835 and is one of only three houses in Natchitoches noted for their French Creole design. The two-story home with Greek Revival features has six exterior doors and six fireplaces. The cottage was restored in 2008 by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation and is on the National Historic Register.

The largest exhibit of the paintings of Clementine Hunter in history, including many rare pieces from several families’ private collections, will be the focus of the Pilgrimage of Homes. Hunter is the world-renowned Folk Artist who lived and painted at Melrose Plantation.

The Pilgrimage is sponsored annually by the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN). This year’s event will provide the only opportunity for most people to ever see the myriad paintings, which are held in private collections and rarely displayed.

Art Shiver, well-known author and former television broadcast news and station manager, will be the featured speaker, hosting the world premier of his new documentary video, “Clementine Hunter’s World.” Shiver will present his program in the David Treen Auditorium of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Refreshments will follow.

The pilgrimage tour will include a dozen homes, churches, and plantations throughout the City of Natchitoches and Natchitoches Parish. Rare paintings by Hunter will be featured throughout the tour sites as a part of “The Clementine Hunter Biennial,” organized by Tommy Whitehead. Shiver and Whitehead collaborated several years ago in the writing of the book, “Clementine Hunter, Her Life and Art.”

The pilgrimage tour will begin Friday evening, Oct. 14, with visits to three sites in the City: Fair Woods Cottage, Cunningham Law Office and Trinity Episcopal Church.

The event continues Saturday with tours of the Lemee House, Jeanne’s Country Garden, Soldini House, Jefferson Street Townhouse and Shiver’s presentation of “Clementine Hunter’s World” at LSMSA.

Sunday’s tour features four plantation homes and a unique chapel.

The tour also offers free admission Saturday to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. Each ticket serves as admission to the museum.

For information call the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 259-1714 or go online at melroseplantation.org.

St. Mary’s 5th grader, Lora Cole, celebrated her birthday over the weekend. In lieu of gifts, Lora asked her guest to bring gift cards for the flood victims in South Louisiana. She presented the gift cards to Principal Jacque Horton during morning prayer. The gift cards will be sent to St. Joseph’s Academy, an all girl Catholic high school in Baton Rouge. Lora is the daughter of Jim and Beth Cole of Natchitoches.

Dr. Morgan Trahant Lang, a Natchitoches native, is one of six finalists for the Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman Award. Credentials for selected finalist include community leaders, generous volunteers, a commitment to helping those in need and more.

The first female orthodontist in northwest Louisiana, Lang has offices in Shreveport and Natchitoches. Before beginning dental school, she worked as an orthodontic assistant and spent two years as an orthodontic resident, following her degree in dentistry. Lang is passionate about her profession as an orthodontist. She loves helping her patients achieve their goals of straight teeth while getting to know each individual beyond the treatment chair.

Lang graduated from Natchitoches Central High School in 2000. She is the daughter of Kenny and Geneva Trahant of Natchitoches.

The award is named for civic leader, businesswoman and philanthropist Virginia K. Shehee, who passed away in 2015, after decades of service to northwest Louisiana. The award honors women who have made significant contributions to their community.
A finalist will be chosen by a panel of community members and will be honored at an awards luncheon Sept. 8 in Shreveport. The event also raises money for Holy Angels, a cause Virginia Shehee championed.

Other finalists include: Wynette Ballangee, Caroline Chartier, Renee Ellis, Rachel Scott, and Linda Biernacki.

Students in a meal management class at Northwestern State University made Natchitoches meat pies from scratch and served to Archie Metoyer, left, and Tina Rachal, right, organizers of next weekend’s Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. The Hospitality Management and Tourism students are Laura Cornish, Colby Cranford, Ebony Lee. Lee is majoring in Family and Consumer Science with a minor in culinary arts. Several students will present a meat pie-making demonstration at the Festival, which celebrates one Louisiana’s official state foods. Cornish and Cranford are HMT majors.

An oil painting by George Wolfe, the late Natchitoches artist whose whimsical creations were familiar to many in central and south Louisiana, has been donated to the Alexandria Museum of Art from Northwestern State University Professor of Art Michael Yankowski.

The painting entitled “Toy Store Window” was created in 1966 and was given to Yankowski by Wolfe’s sons, Phillip Wolfe and Michael Wolfe, both Northwestern State alumni. As Wolfe’s estate was being disbursed, his sons donated a vast amount of art and supplies to NSU students and faculty, Yankowski said.
Wolfe was a well-known artist, art educator and supporter of the arts who passed away Sept. 25, 2014. Philip Wolfe, Yankowski’s former student, personally gave him the painting, along with another in a similar style. Philip Wolfe approved of Yankowski’s idea to donate the painting to AMA.

“Mainly I wanted to get George a little permanent notoriety. Every artist wants to be in a museum,” Yankowski said. “George was a kind and generous man and an excellent artist. While he was a student and even long after, he would wander the halls encouraging students, taking a sincere interest in their work.”

A New Orleans native, Wolfe spent a full career teaching at the Isadore Newman School in New Orleans. After earning two master’s degrees at LSU and UNO, he moved to Natchitoches and earned a master’s degree in art at NSU. Last year, his family created the George Wolfe Endowed Scholarship to honor the legacy of the long-time artist and educator who inspired creativity in those around him.

“He is remembered for his encouraging words to students and as a very versatile artist in a variety of media including painting, printmaking and sculpture,” Yankowski said.

At one time, from Wolfe’s own backyard, a fire breathing dragon sculpture overlooked Bayou Amulet in Natchitoches. A life-size steel rhinoceros first graced the NSU campus and then Wolfe’s front yard on Jefferson Street. A devoted Methodist, Wolfe created a sculpture for the lawn of the NSU Wesley Foundation. He also created marching dragons for the Krewe of Tucke in New Orleans and authored a book on dragon construction titled “3-D Wizardry.”

The Alexandria Museum of Art collects work by modern and contemporary Louisiana and Southern artists and has a large collection of work by teaching artists. The museum’s collections committee reviews all work offered to the museum for its style, technique and relevance to the mission and collecting scope. As a talented artist and educator, Wolfe easily passed their scrutiny and the painting was gladly accepted as part of their permanent collection, Yankowski said.

“George was a wonderful colleague and I am pleased to offer this painting,” he added. “I am grateful that the museum realizes the importance of George as an artist and educator and that he will receive some level of recognition for his lifetime dedication to the arts and art education. His work belongs in this museum.”

For most college graduates seeking their first job, relevant experience will likely be replaced by flowery language about work ethic and dedication.

But Northwestern State University senior Leighann Westfall won’t have that problem.

The hospitality management and tourism major in the Louisiana Scholars’ College, interned with the Academy of Country Music awards show this past spring in Los Angeles before her summer internship with the CenturyLink Center in Shreveport.

Westfall wasn’t just on the West Coast rubbing elbows with some of her favorite country music stars — she played a key role in visible features of the show’s production and organization.

“I did the whole signage plan and the transportation for the awards show,” Westfall said. “I organized how artists got from the show to the festival and back to their hotel.

“I worked on the overview schedule throughout my internship as well. On the awards show side, it was just my boss and I. I had real projects and real responsibilities.”

Westfall communicated with artists and their managers to relay show details and schedules.

“In my NSU role working with first-year experience and being a freshman connector, you learn the details of putting on an event — things like how to set up a check-in,” Westfall said. “But I hadn’t interacted with business professionals on that level.

“It was really cool learning how to conduct meetings and phone calls, even write emails professionally.”

The groundwork for the ACM internship was laid at NSU when she and a group of 10 students volunteered at the ACM awards show in Dallas in the spring of 2015.

Westfall worked on the festival side that year, learning the ins and outs of the process while networking with NSU alums Dwayne Jones and Brandi Brammer.

“I knew how the event worked after that experience, and I learned about the series of events that were put on leading up to the awards show,” Westfall said. “We had a weekly operations meeting, and I was able to offer input (in Los Angeles) when some of the other interns couldn’t because I had been a part of those meetings (in Dallas).

“I met my (Los Angeles) boss in Dallas, and people like Dwayne and Brandi (former ACM employees) recommended me and told me what I needed to do to get the internship.”

Westfall’s dream is to be an event planner in the sports entertainment industry, and she transferred her awards show experience into a successful stint with the CenturyLink in Shreveport this past summer.

“Developing a signage plan and an overall plan were pretty similar between the two internships,” Westfall said. “The biggest difference is at an arena, people are coming to you for events. At the ACMs, I was reaching out to people to communicate details and schedules.

“Now I have experience on a few different sides of the entertainment industry.”

The Houston native would love to work for Minute Maid Park or NRG Stadium, home of the Houston Astros and Houston Texans, respectively.

Westfall wished her internships would have been closer to her graduation date so she could have accepted job offers from both places.

But she wouldn’t change anything about her college choice or experience, which she believes has prepared her for future success.

“One of the reasons I came to NSU was because I thought I would be able to get experience in so many different things,” Westfall said. “I’ve had so many roles in Phi Mu, being a freshman connector and with first-year experience.

“I don’t know if I would have been able to do all that at a bigger university.”

BOM is a sponsor of the 2016 Natchitoches Central High School Football Program.

From left are Ashley Bailey, Dustin Dauzat, Taylor Garland, Morgan Howard and Brittany Barton.

Madison Vercher, center, of Natchitoches is the 2016 recipient of a scholarship created by the Natchitoches Jaycees, which is presented to a first year freshman from Natchitoches Parish attending Northwestern State University. Vercher is a graduate of Natchitoches Central High School majoring in criminal justice. She is the daughter Craig and Denise Vercher.

From left are Jaycees and NSU staff Jon Caliste and Alan Pasch with Vercher, Jason Stelly and Chris Lyles. For information on established a scholarship or planned gift at NSU, call (318) 357-4414.