Larry Paige presented Northwestern State University campus police with St. Michael visor clips for patrol vehicles Monday. The visor clips were blessed by priests at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and have been presented to officers from the Natchitoches City Police Department, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and the City Marshall’s Office. Paige intends to provide the visor clips to law enforcement officers in outlying municipalities, to EMTs and first responders as well. St. Michael is the patron saint of police officers and the gift is intended as a special measure of protection and support for officers, Paige said. He would also like to provide St. Florian visor clips to firefighters in the parish.

From left are Chief Jon Caliste, Chief Craig Vercher, Officer Chase Voorhies, Captain Wesley Harrell, Paige, Officer Rachel Head, Officer Michael Chelette, Sergeant Kerry Anderson and Dr. Marcus Jones, vice president for University Affairs.

The NHDDC Full Commission Meeting will take place next Thursday September 15 at 10:00 am at the Arts Center on Second Street.

For this precious pup, now named Mister Beau Coup, life was anything but calm. He spent a long time alone on the streets. When he was captured, over half of his body was a solid black mass of matted hair and sores from the hair pulling. This boy lived in pain and fear.

At the shelter he cowered in the corner. The wonderful shelter personnel did what they could and one day June Bug, as he was known at the shelter, captured the heart of an Natchitoches Humane Society member. The NHS dug in their heels and set a plan in motion to right this terrible wrong. They had him vetted, groomed and spent time giving him the affection he was lacking.

He eventually caught the eye of Maurice Morelock. Dr. Morelock showed him the love he had been missing. Now Mister Beau Coup follows him around from room to room barely taking his eyes off of him.
The NHS wishes them happy days cruising down Cane River on a boat and lazy days sitting on their porch watching nature on the river.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Jeanne’s Country Garden is one of the locations on the 62nd Annual Natchitoches Fall Pilgrimage of Homes, which is scheduled for Oct. 14-16.

Jeanne’s was constructed in 1895 as a general store. It has served as a carpet showroom and has been a flower shop for more than 40 years. A collection of Hunter floral paintings will be exhibited at this site. 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.

At 1:41pm, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Fire District #9, and La. Department of Transportation and Development are on the scene of an overturned load truck on La. Hwy 6 East at its intersection with La. Hwy 486 (Campti Cutoff).

The operator of the 2014 Kenworth eighteen is reportedly uninjured.
Logs are reportedly spilled on the roadway causing traffic delays.

If you are traveling through the area, drive carefully, pay attention to the roadway, avoid distractions and expect some delays while DOTD and others attempt to clear the roadway.
The crash is being investigated by Troopers assigned to LSP Troop-E Alexandria

Proceeds will benefit the Natchitoches Central Lady Chiefs Softball Program. Because of the flood last year the team lost a lot of equipment. This was not covered by insurance. The biggest loss was a pitching machine. Funds raised from this 5K will go toward purchasing a new pitching machine.

Runners can email Kathy Owsley at katcamcal@yahoo.com or call 471-6624 for a form. The registration fee is $25, which includes a T-shirt. The deadline to register and receive a shirt is Saturday, Sept. 10. Race day registration is $30.

$25 gift certificates will be awarded to the first male and female runners over 18 and the first male and female runners under 18.

The race will start at the Downtown Riverbank, go up the ramp, across the downtown bridge, onto Williams Avenue, down Salter and East Fifth to St. Clair, continue up St. Clair to Williams, across downtown bridge, continue down Front Street to ramp and end at Riverbank stage.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives arrested a north Natchitoches Parish man in connection with a burglary in the Clarence area according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

NPSO Patrol Division deputies responded to a reported burglary Aug. 28 in the 100 block of La. Hwy 1225 near Clarence.

Upon their arrival, they spoke with the complainant, learning forced entry had been gained into a shed behind the residence.

A new Briggs and Stratton air compressor was stolen.

Deputies processed the crime scene, completed an offense report and turned the investigation over to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division for investigative purposes.

As the investigation progressed, detectives learned the stolen air compressor had been pawned in the Natchitoches area by a person identified as Steven C. Crumble.

Detectives continued the investigation and learned Crumble was in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center on unrelated charges of Theft and three-counts of Failure to Appear through the Natchitoches Police Department.

Deputies arrested:
Steven C. Crumble, 33, of the 100 block of La. Hwy 1225, Clarence, who was booked and charged with one count of Simple Burglary and one count of Theft .

Crumble remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center awaiting bond on all charges. Detectives say Crumble confessed to the burglary. The stolen item has been recovered and returned to the owner.

By Natalie Covher

The meeting of the Natchitoches Parish School Board Thursday, September 8 was very brief. The board approved all agenda items including eight travel requests. Brooklyn Hampton and Preston Tibbett of Natchitoches Central High School’s FFA chapter spoke to the board about their upcoming trip October 19-22 to FFA nationals in Indianapolis.

“If we win we will be the first school in Louisiana to do it,” said Hampton. “So if we win we are not only representing our school but our Parish and our State.”

“Last year over 60,000 members attended nationals,” said Tibbett. “I personally met people from 48 of the 50 states.”

Natchitoches Central FFA won six of the 24 state events this year. No other school in the state won more than two.

“I get FFA coaches who call from Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio that get scared when they hear we are coming to nationals.” said Aaron Beaubouef, FFA Advisor/Agriscience Teacher at NCHS. “We’re going to beat them like a rented mule.”

By Natalie Covher

The last Kiwanis meeting before the vote on proposed changes was held Thursday, Sept. 8 at the NSU recreation complex.

Members were given a preliminary October calendar to show how the month would look if the I-Plan vote passes. The calendar included several service projects and clearly mapped out how the club would meet under the I-plan.

David Waskom expressed concern over casting his vote and wondered how the board will hold future presidents accountable to upholding the proposed changes. Sighting that not all past presidents continued the work of their predecessors and wondered if the club would lose traditions if the cycle continued.

“I have had a front row seat to watch this club go from a 160-member club to a 30-member club,” said Waskom. “I’m not saying that it is a bad thing but I am wondering if we should be having exit conferences with parting members to see why they are leaving. I also don’t buy in to the ‘get more members to do more service’ idea. I believe that if we build it they will come.”

Dion Boyett responded by reiterating the basis of the I-plan.

“This is not a problem unique to our club,” said Boyett. “The I-plan helps get members involved from bottom to top. Going and getting 20 new members so we can do something doesn’t work. If we want to grow our group, we have to get out there and do service projects to help the community. Then incoming members that have seen the work we do will want to be involved because they want to make a difference. Hopefully this format will help disperse the work amongst the entirety of the club.”

During the meeting, the date for this year’s Kiwanis Kid’s Day was set for Oct. 29.

Guests included Sandra Foster and Caroline Miller of Legacy Hospice.

We are living through an information revolution and life will not be the same when the dust settles. If you are a history buff, take comfort this revolution happened once before. It is summed up in a silly story.

A man loved old books. He met an acquaintance who had just thrown away a Bible that had been stored in the attic of his ancestral home for generations. “I couldn’t read it,” the friend explained. “Somebody named Guten-something had printed it.” “Not Gutenberg!” the book lover exclaimed in horror. “That Bible was one of the first books ever printed. Why, a copy just sold for over two million dollars!” His friend was unimpressed. “Mine wouldn’t have brought a dollar. Some fellow named Martin Luther had scribbled all over it in German.”

Gutenberg’s printing press and the changes connected with it led to the Renaissance and then the Protestant Reformation. Many of the struggles the church and society have with each other are the mature plants of seeds sown during the printing revolution of the late 15^th and early 16^th centuries. If you are member of a Protestant or Free Church you can trace your church, not back to John the Baptist or to Jesus but to Johannas Gutenberg a German blacksmith.

The printing press freed knowledge and spirituality from the University and Cathedral. The masses could freely consume information.

The revolution today is similar. We call it the digital revolution. Rather than the masses consuming the information, we now produce it.

In this revolution knowledge, opinion, and even spirituality have become what you make it. In the digital world, you can be your own guru, monk, publisher, scholar, philosopher, talking head, fantasy sports expert, day trading broker and political insider. The first information revolution moved knowledge from public institutions to private consumption. One did not need to attend a lecture or a sermon; one could read in the privacy of their own dwelling. This second revolution is ironically retrograding in nature. In the digital world we have moved from private back to public.

Everything in our lives is made public. Our public exhibitionism is all done from the privacy of our desktops or devices. We can anonymously and without accountability express any opinion, weigh in on any debate and publish our opinions for the world to see. The town square, the barber and beauty shop have been replaced by the WiFi Hotspot. We now sit in a room filled with people on our devices ordering our world, while the big world keeps on spinning. This revolution is personal and private, yet we share the results without filters in public ways. Some newspapers and blogs have seen the danger of unfiltered opinion and removed the public comment sections of their electronic editions. Bubba sharing his opinion with Bambi over a beer is one thing, publishing it for public consumption another.

We are fire away at the ignorance of “them” while waxing eloquent about “our” virtues. “We” can do it better than “they” can. Just ask us.

After forty years of doing this, here is the truth. “Some people are saying,” means “The other day my wife said to me.” “Lots of people think,” means, “I think this and need to bolster my opinion with the notion that other people share my opinion.” When a politician says, “My constituents tell me.” That is simply a damn lie! Some people and lots of people are concerned about them and what they are doing. If they were more like us then we would be happy with them. This digital revolution has allowed the inmates to comment on and shape the public view of the asylum. And because no one wants to rock any boat these days, guess who is now running the asylum? No longer is the scholar, scientist, philosopher, or wise person the shaper of ideas. Bubba and his high speed bandwidth can get in the mix now! If lots of loud people get on public media they can fix the LSU offense.

Revolutions are messy and leave casualties. They are also the seedbed for great change.

Jesus started a revolution that is still going on. It is a revolution that can save our current revolution from leading us to self-centered disaster. Jesus calls his people to transformation and to be agents of transformation. He called us to be saved. Here is my uncomfortable thought for the article. How would Christians live differently if we believed that Jesus needs to save the world from us?

The British writer G.K. Chesterton gave a famous two word response when a newspaper asked its readers to share what they thought was wrong with the world.

“I am,” he wrote back.

Me too!

BOM is a $100 sponsor of the Provencal Christian Academy Knights basketball and volleyball teams. From left are Jannie LaCour, Rhonda Sanders, Henry Rachal, Sami King and Elizabeth Sanders.

The Miss Merry Christmas Pageant will take place this Sunday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. at the Natchitoches Events Center. Admission to the pageant is $5.

Contestants will compete in scholastic achievement, interview, eveningwear and onstage question. The winner will be crowned Miss Merry Christmas and will receive a NSU tuition scholarship, cash scholarship and other prizes and awards. Christmas Belles will also be selected from the pageant. Miss Merry Christmas will serve as the official hostess of the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. She and the Christmas Belles will represent Natchitoches at various events throughout the holiday season.

Competing in the pageant are:

“Graduates of Northwestern State University’s Engineering Technology programs are equipped to understand, design, analyze and work effectively in industrial settings utilizing product/process control systems and electrical power systems,” said Bill Fontenot, chief operating officer for Cleco Power. “Cleco is proud to support NSU’s Engineering Technology programs as we are dependent on graduates who understand local, national and global issues related to the electrical power industry.”

As a show of support for NSUs’ Engineering Technology program, Cleco recently completed three years of funding $15,000 in scholarships that are awarded to five students each academic year. Three are for entering freshmen focused on Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) or Industrial Engineering Technology (IET). Preference for the entering freshmen scholarships is given to residents of Allen, Avoyelles, Grant, Rapides and Vernon parishes. Two scholarships are awarded to senior students with preference to students from Avoyelles and Rapides parishes.

“I was brought to this program by my love for structure and system,” said Shane Perkins, a freshman from Leesville. “I have always love creating things since I was young.”

Perkins said that uncertainties in the oil and gas industry left his father worrying about paying for Perkins’ tuition and expenses. Being awarded a Cleco scholarship made a big difference.

“This scholarship means more to me than most would assume,” he said. “It’s things such as this scholarship that mean the world to me.”

NSU’s Engineering Technology programs have a long history of providing workforce training and qualified graduates to meet the demands of employers such as Cleco. Students in the Electronics Engineering Technology concentration learn to analyze, build, test, operate and maintain electrical systems. The programs were designated an Area of Excellence by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

“I love how open and willing the professors are not only to teach in front of an entire class, but also work side by side with you to find solutions and acquire your goals,” Perkins said. “To any future student interested in joining the engineering program, I encourage you to take this opportunity and dive in head first. These professors are some of the smartest men I know, and I am certain that they share the same vision as any of their students and will do whatever it takes to see you reach your goals.”

Cleco is a regulated utility company headquartered in Pineville. In business since 1935, the company has approximately 1,200 employees serving approximately 287,000 customers from Mansfield to Patterson through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi. Cleco owns 10 generating units with a total nameplate capacity of 3,333 megawatts, 11,830 miles of distribution lines and 1,300 miles of transmission lines.

“We are extremely grateful to Cleco for their outstanding support of our Engineering Technology programs,” said Dr. Ali Ahmad, department head. “Enrollment continues to grow in our programs which is helping to meet the demand for technologists capable of using appropriate theory, mathematics and computational technology in support of the electrical power industry.”

For information on NSU’s Engineering Technology program, visit engrtech.nsula.edu.

Cleco Power COO Bill Fontenot, left, presented scholarship funds to Dr. Ali Ahmad, head of Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology.

By Nico Van Thyn

Football people in the state knew Jim Bruning in 1969 when he was the Class AA “Coach of the Year” after guiding a talented, dedicated team.
Led by a talented backfield — All-State quarterback Gene Knecht Jr., tailback Rand Dennis and junior fullback Jim Knecht — that was as big as the Red Devils’ linemen, the team just kept winning.

It survived a close call in the season opener (7-6 vs. Mansfield), routed its next seven opponents (scoring between 28 to 42 points each week), then survived five close games in a row (the first three playoff games) to reach the state championship game vs. Tallulah at Northwestern’s old Demon Stadium.

Tallulah also came in 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state poll — behind Natchitoches. The Trojans had a strong football tradition and powerful running game, led by fullback Larry Cox.

But the game wasn’t close. Bruning’s guys dominated it — and won 27-7.
Natchitoches scored in every quarter, controlling the ball with drives of 7l, 78 and 84 yards — three TDs in its first five possessions.

Gene Knecht, soon to be named All-State, was 12-of-15 passing in the three scoring drives. He sneaked two yards for the first TD, then threw TD passes of 11 and 10 yards to Joe Beck Payne.

Dennis had 55 rushing yards in 15 carries, with an 8-yard run for the final TD.
Linebacker Ricky Whittington set that up with an interception, one of five Tallulah turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions).

Cox ran for 94 yards on 25 carries, but Tallulah managed only one long drive (75 yards, 18 plays). Its longest drive other than that was 29 yards, and it had only 49 rushing yards after halftime.

Joining Knecht (18 TD passes for the season) on the All-State team were center Steve McCain (also the next season), Whittington and Payne (as a defensive back).
Dennis and Jim Knecht went on to play at LSU, starting together as defensive backs; Gene Knecht also signed with LSU, but after a year there, transferred to NSU, which Gene Knecht Sr. was the longtime defensive backs coach.

Bruning “was an exceptional coach,” said Jim Knecht. “A good motivator. He motivated you to go beyond what you thought you could do.

“He expected you to do your best. If you didn’t, he’d let you know. He got the best out of his players.”

Dennis said Bruning was “a figurehead type head coach” who let his assistants handle the details, such as Levi Thompson devising different offensive schemes each week.

“We had kids who had brains,” said Jim Knecht, “… who were smart, fast and strong. We lined up in slots and trips (formations); no other teams had seen those then.”

In the state-title game, the Red Devils threw in an unbalanced line and a couple of tackle-eligible passes, both caught by Jerry Sherrill (who’d never caught a pass in a game before.)

“We had good players across the board,” said Dennis.

“Smartest group of kids I ever coached,” said Dan Poole, for a decade the school’s defensive backs and track/field coach until — in his words — he was “demoted” to school principal. “It was the whole team, and they were also very competitive, adjusted to changes very quickly.”

And he credits Bruning for this: “I don’t know how he could read the kids so well. We had kids who didn’t look very good in practice, but Jim would play them. He knew which ones would come through in critical situations; he would pick the right ones. He was just great at picking personnel.

“He grew up here, so he knew the families and the kids.”

The connection started early. Stuart Wright, Natchitoches-Central’s starting quarterback for three seasons (1970-72) and as a freshman the backup to Gene Knecht in 1969, remembers that “what made a difference in our program (in high school) was that he was at every one of our junior high games. He knew us better than we knew him.”

To be continued…Read PART 3 Sept. 16

Nico Van Thyn was a sports writer/editor for more than 45 years, including stints in his hometown with The Shreveport Times and Shreveport Journal. He finished his career with a decade at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is retired, living in Fort Worth with his wife Bea. They have two children and four grandchildren.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

NSU’s Turpin stadium was anything but quiet Wednesday Sept. 7 as the student body, led by President Dr. Jim Henderson, held the biggest pep rally in the school’s recent history to kick off Thursday’s football game against the Incarnate Word University Cardinals. The NSU sideline hosted a stage with a huge jumbotron that played a message from President Henderson as well as highlights from past Demon greats such as Joe Delaney.

The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band kept up a steady beat of music as cheerleaders, the Demon Dazzlers and Pom Pon line performed for the large and fired up crowd of students. ROTC cadets with camoflaged face paint ran on the field with American and NSU flags leading a group of new freshman on to the field.

Dr. Henderson delivered a firey speech fit for the ages as he poked fun at some of NSU’s opponents and ecouraged the crowd to engage in “civil hostility” during the game. He also praised other NSU fall sports such as Volleyball and Soccer whose seasons are underway as well. As befitting a university whose student section is named “the inferno,” Dr. Henderson quoted the inscription over the entrance to Hades in Dante’s Inferno “Abandon hope all ye who enter here”-in the original Italian. The pep rally closed with the traditional playing of the Alma Mater by the Spirit of Northwestern Band. The NSU Demons take on the Cardinals Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. Wear white as this is the annual “white out game”!

By Kevin Shannahan

NSU’s Magale Hall was the host for a truly eclectic concert Wed, September 7th as NSU instructor Luke Brouillette lent his considerable guitar skills to everthing from J.S. Bach to Jimmy Hendrix. He was joined on stage by fellow NSU faculty member and cellist Paul Christopher, local drumming legend Sammy Nix, Antoine “tut” Stewart and James Armstrong. Billy O’Con made a guest appearance singing with the Purple Gang Rock Band. The Diabolic Fusion Band and D-Monic String Quartet rounded out an entertaining evening of music.

Kevin’s Gallery

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing of the Natchitoches City Council will be held on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 4:30 p.m. at the Natchitoches Arts Center, 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 to discuss the Rue Beauport Riverfront improvements.

By Joe Darby

I’ve been doing my best to ignore the presidential race. As I’ve written previously, it’s pretty clear that we have nominated the two worst candidates for president in the history of our country.

But Mary and I were eating at a restaurant Tuesday night that had CNN on television and all of the talk was about the race. So, as much as I would like, it’s not something I can ignore all the time. So I decided to write another political column.

Almost every week there are new reasons to not vote for Hilary Clinton or Donald Trump.
New allegations surface almost daily about Hilary’s email scandal, showing that both her veracity and her good character are almost non-existent. Just this week, it was revealed that one of her aides had coached one of the Democratic senators with soft ball questions to feed her during the hearings on Libya some time back. That tells a lot about character doesn’t it?

And what can we say about “The Donald” that hasn’t been said before? Well, there was one thing that came up a few weeks back that just about stunned me. In an interview he said that since we have nuclear weapons, we should use them. What’s the use of having nukes if we’re not going to use them, the good man wanted to know.

Does he not know what affect using a nuclear bomb would have on this planet, both environmentally and politically? What kind of sensibility, or lack of it, must this man have to even suggest such a thing?

Of course, we have the Libertarian Party and Mary is thinking of voting for the Libertarian candidate. I tell her that, it’s good to stick to principles, but that in fact she would be wasting her vote, because that party does not really have a chance.

So, what are we to do?

Well, here’s my secret plan, although after this column is posted, I suppose it won’t be secret any more.

I’d like to see all the good, sensible Republican and Democratic members of Congress have a secret meeting and vow that no matter who wins the election, they will immediately impeach the president. It should be no difficult matter to find high crimes and misdemeanors of which Clinton and Trump are guilty, as called for in the Constitution.
Surely, with all their shenanigans, Congress could find crimes to meet the standards of impeachment.

Then, once Hilary or Donald, as the case may be, are kicked out of office, the vice president would take over. Now I’ll admit that I don’t know a whole lot about Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. But, gosh almighty, either one of those gentlemen would be so much better than the two No. 1’s on the tickets.

Heck, you or I would be better than them. As long as we’re sane and relatively honest, we could be a better president.

So, there’s my plan. You may take this idea as being tongue in cheek. Or should we really start a phone-in campaign to our Congress members to be brave and save the country?

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):
Tysheena Coleman, 420 B McDobson Way, Natch, La- TBS
Christa Daniels, 124 Ann St, Natch, La- TBS
Tai Evans, 815 Woodyard Dr, Natch, La- TBS
Nathan Adkins, 266 Bennett Loop, Natch, La- NSB, Exp Licenses Plate
Kendrick Balthazar, 816 E 4th St, Natch, La- Simple Battery
Anthony Jefferson, 1226 Phillips St, Natch, La- Remaining on Premises
Henry Johnson, 226 Melissa Place, Natch, La- DP
Ashante Calhoun, 267 Allen Beulah Rd, Natch, La- TBS
Steven Matthews, 174 Harbor Estate Rd, Campti, La- TBS
Destinie Newton, 169 Blanchard Rd, Natch, La- TBS
Catrena Petite, 500 North St Apt R-6, Natch, La- TBS
Jeffrey Pier, 409 Dixie St, Natch, La- DP
Philmore Evans, 328 Scott Loop, Natch, La- Exp Licenses Plate
Dominique Richardson, 816 Jordan St, Natch, La- Criminal Abandonment, DP
Christopher Washington, 142 Washington, Natch, La- Loud Music
Alvin Bolton, 1313 Primrose, Natch, La- DWI
Roosevelt Culbert, 850 Dixie St, Natch, La- Simple Battery
Markayla Farley, 1431 Grace Ave, Natch, La- TBS
Deneitra Goff, 903 Lennox Place, Natch, La- TBS
Ramona Freeman, 1036 Highland Pk, Natch, La- TBS
Patricia Hubbard, 911 Second St, Natch, La- DP
Demetric Walker, 216 Tammey LN, Natch, La- SPOM

Trial (T):
Coudy Bonner, 105 Boyce, Natch, La- NSB, DUS
Christine Charles, 2115 Winnona, Natch, La- Remaining on Premises
David Hardwell, 121 Robert Circle, Natch, La- SCDP, Resisting Arrest
Cory Lyons, 154 Miller Dr, Natch, La- SPOM
Shernise Pye, 106 Chinquapin Dr, Natch, La- SPOM, Remaining on Premises

Mary Ann Nowlin introduced Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser at the Chamber Luncheon Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 7 in Natchitoches.

Nungesser spoke to Chamber members about the flood in South Louisiana, cuts to the budget, upcoming opportunities for tourism and arts programs. After the state was hit with two floods, the one in March and the most recent one in August, Nungesser is working with Volunteer Louisiana.

In 1993, Volunteer Louisiana was established in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to rekindle the spirit of service and citizenship in the state. Nungesser continues the commitment to service in Louisiana. Because over 80 percent of people had no flood insurance because their homes weren’t in flood zones, “If it rains on your home, your in a flood zone.”Nothing is sacred when the flood waters begin to rise.

With $11 million in cuts to his budget this year, Nungesser said the Lt. Governor’s budget has been cut 50 percent over the last 10 years. He’s sat with Governor John Bel Edwards two weeks after the election and told him there’s a need for them to work together for what’s in the best interest of the state.

What’s in the best interest of the state is taking advantage of opportunities for economic development and finding self-sustaining streams of income to take the burden off the backs of the tax payers.

“We have think outside the box,” he said.

A few ways to do this that he mentioned include:
•Open a coffee shop in the state library, which could cover the costs of operating the library

•Form a foundation to raise revenue for cultural recreation, historical sites and state parks

•Build a conference center on a 500 acre tract of land next to Lake Pontchartrain near Fontainebleau State Park, which would bring millions to the foundation

•Sell building in French Quarter for development, which would pay into the foundation

“There isn’t anything we won’t consider,” said Nungesser. “But we’ll make sure it won’t affect local businesses negatively.”

Something near and dear to his heart is the arts programs in the state. They’ve been zeroed out in the past, but he said his office will continue to fund programming out of the tourism budget.

“Our arts programs across the state are hurting,” he said. “It’s a crime not to nourish and grow the talent we have here.”

Overall, Nungesser said it’s the people that make visitors to Louisiana feel like they’re welcome here.

“It’s the people that sell Louisiana,” he said. “It’s their love and passion that makes the state so unique.”

Born December 1948, Bryan (67) was raised on a rice farm in Church Point, Louisiana. From early on and throughout his life, he was a tough, focused, driven, multi-skilled and strong man with an engineer mind and incredible work ethic. Bryan received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) in Lafayette. His education did not end there as he continued throughout the rest of his life acquiring training, education and specialties for his many career and volunteer positions.

At the time of death, Bryan was a devout catholic and member of The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He also wore many hats. He served as the Director of Utilities for the City of Natchitoches, Chief of Natchitoches Parish Fire District 6, and served on the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit and Rescue Team. Bryan also enjoyed horses, team roping and the sport of scuba diving; becoming a specialties diver, rescue diver, and master dive instructor. He left us doing what he loved on a dive in the Dry Tortugas off the coast of Florida on September 3, 2016.

Although often perceived as a strong silent type, Bryan had a soft side for this family. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Donna Hanks Wimberly; one daughter, Laura Wimberly Davis and husband Donovan Davis of Alexandria, Louisiana; six grandchildren, Anna Chelette, Emma Davis, McKenzie Davis, Kendall Davis, Asher Davis and Carson Davis all of Alexandria, Louisiana; one brother, Elliott Chuck Wimberly and wife Judith of Clifton, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Joseph Wimberly and Elsie Rita Johnson Wimberly.

Pallbearers will be friends and coworkers from Natchitoches Parish Fire District 6 and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Department; Ralph Hernandez, Michael Sesvold, Chuck Stoker, Doug Rachel, and Sammy Ragan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Sunday, September 11, 2016 – Wake 5pm to 9pm at Blanchard – St.Denis
Monday, September 12, 2016 – Funeral 10am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Interment will be held at Alexandria Memorial Gardens in Woodworth, Louisiana.

Wednesday, Sept. 7

Recital-Luke Brouillette and Friends: 7:30-9 p.m.
Magale Recital Hall on NSU campus

Luke Brouillette with special guests Antoine Stewart, Billy O’Con, James Armstrong, Paul Christopher, and Sammy Nix.
Free and open to the public.

Demons Pep Rally: 8-9:30 p.m.
Turpin Stadium on NSU campus

Show your Demon spirit and get ready for football season at the “Demons Come Out at Night” Pep Rally! Meet the players and coaches, members of NSU Spirit Groups, and the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. University President, Dr. Jim Henderson, has a special message to share.

Thursday, Sept. 8

NSU Home Tailgate vs. UIW: 3-6 p.m.
Collins Alumni Pavilion on NSU campus

Tailgate before the first home football game of the season, but don’t forget to wear white to support the White Out Game. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, chips and drinks will be available. Cost to attend is $10 (all you can eat) and FREE for NSU Alumni Association members.

NSU Football vs. Incarnate Word: 6 p.m.
Turpin Stadium on NSU campus

Friday, Sept. 9

Les Amies Service Organization Sip and Stretch Social: 6 p.m.
Front Street

Hosted by Les Amies Sustainer Jennifer Sheffield, this ladies only social will include an hour yoga session, appetizers, and a specialty drink for $35. Cash bar optional.

Three Reeds Duo, CD Release Recital: 6 p.m.
Magale Recital Hall on NSU campus
Free and open to the public.

Saturday, Sept. 10

Todd Roque Memorial Roping Event: 5:30 p.m.
Horshoe Arena in Chopin (199 Old Marco Road)
SEE STORY – CLICK HERE

Natchitoches Meat Pie Beauty Pageant: 2-5 p.m.
Gym at Natchitoches Jr. High-Frankie Ray Jackson

Ice Cream Social: 2-4 p.m.
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum

Enjoy the last days of summer and get the “scoop” on upcoming events and programming at the museum, all while enjoying some free ice cream. This event is free and open to the public.

Basic Photography Classes: 1-6 p.m.
Room 225 of Kyser Hall on NSU campus
SEE STORY – CLICK HERE

To submit upcoming events, email information to NPJNatLa@gmail.com with the Subject “Stay Social.”