The Soldini House is the featured site of the 62nd Annual Natchitoches Fall Pilgrimage of Homes scheduled for Oct. 14-16. It was built in 1847 by Soldini and Triscini in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The home was purchased by J.H. Williams Sr. in 1916 and has remained in his family for five generations. The Williams family will celebrate its 100th anniversary in the home this year and will share several of the family’s Clementine Hunter original paintings.

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 Saturdayto 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.

Northwestern State junior Scott Stearns never thought he’d be standing at the head of his own ROTC battalion when he came to Natchitoches three years ago.

But the four-year National Guard veteran relied on lessons learned from his military family and his own determination to become the commander of the 67th Demon Battalion.

“When I started the program, I didn’t think I would end up in this position,” said Stearns, who moved around the country throughout his childhood but spent most of his high school years in DeRidder. “You meet other people, and you think they’ll do way better than you.

“But I’ve gained a lot confidence in the ROTC, and I’m honored to take this position. Not many people can say they’ve been in charge of their own battalion, and we’ve got a lot of good cadets that should make this year a successful one.”

Stearns’ responsibilities include managing cadets in a number of tasks throughout the year, including flag raisings on holidays, the color guard and firing the cannon during NSU football games and organizing the ROTC’s participation in Operation Christmas Child. The Cadet Lt. Colonel also serves as the liaison between cadets and ROTC instructors, ensuring effective communication between the two parties.

Stearns’ father served in the Army as both an enlisted soldier and an officer, advising Stearns to position himself for the latter route.

“I enlisted in the National Guard at age 17 (with parents’ permission), but he highly encouraged me to go the officer route if I wanted to pursue active duty, which is I want to do,” Stearns said. “The (NSU ROTC) is preparing us to be a platoon leader in the Army upon graduation.

“I grew up seeing all the respect and prestige that comes along with being an Army officer, and that partly influenced my dream of being an Army officer. But I really wanted to go into a career that made a difference and inevitably helps people, both here at home and in other places.”

Stearns has already made a difference in the National Guard.

Stearns, who will turn 21 in September, started as a combat engineer, handling demolition and infantry tactics based out of Baker, La.

Now he’s part of the Chemical Emergency Response Force Protection, and he’s trained to participate in mass decontamination in case of a major biological attack.

Stearns said his father, who served in the infantry, told him infantrymen do similar tasks each day.

So Stearns, an Industrial Engineering Technology major, is using his interest in math and science to serve his country in a different way.

“I originally wanted to go into the infantry like my dad, but he thought I would want variety in my daily tasks,” Stearns said. “As a kid, I enjoyed building things and playing with Legos.

“I still want something combat-oriented like my father and other family members, but now I can use the physics and calculus that I’ve learned.”

Stearns said his ROTC and National Guard experience have been invaluable, and he encourages students who have the slightest interest in the Army to visit the NSU ROTC at the North Hall – Gov. James A. Noe Military Science Building (across from Turpin Stadium) or visit rotc.nsula.edu to learn more.

“The ROTC attracts people from all walks of life, so you learn different ways to work with different people,” Stearns said. “You learn to stress professionalism.

“It’s been a really good ride here at NSU.”

All it took was a photo to rally the Marthaville Gators, a close knit baseball family. The photo, which has gone viral, was of a boy named Ethan crying in his room after he discovered all of his baseball belongings destroyed during the flood in South Louisiana. Wanting to help get him some baseball decorations, the team’s efforts quickly turned into something bigger.

The Marthaville Good Ole Days Queens and Marthaville First Baptist Church were already collecting donations. Stacy Strahan contacted Ethan’s mom on Facebook and began collecting donations. Ethan was already receiving stuff from people around the country because of his heartbreaking picture, so his mother asked the Gators to help her community.

Dana Durr and Stacy were trying to figure out how to get Ethan a bedroom set, but finances weren’t working so they prayed for help. Right after Stacy get a message from Susie Riggs, a former Gator parent, who had a whole baseball themed bedroom set including a bunk bed, sheets, comforter and all the décor to match.

“We wanted to help Ethan,” said Stacy. “It could have easily been one of our kids.”

Stacy got loaves of bread, peanut butter and jelly to pass out with 61 already packed storage bins full of necessities, from clean up gear, to toiletries and supplies. This would go to 61 families down in the French Settlement community when the Gators and their families drove down.

They also prayed for the means to feed people plate lunches. Prayers answered, a local business donated everything they needed to cook for the community on their trip. Another business supplied 85 cases of water.

“The Marthaville community came together and helped so many families down south,” said Stacy. “It was an amazing experience that touched all of our lives.”

By Ida B. Torn

It’s Labor Day weekend and I’m heading off to the beach for some rest and relaxation. I wanted to pen a quick note to everyone before I hit the road.

I’m sometimes dumbfounded by the things I hear on the street or see on the Internet. I heard this week that some folks who don’t support the sales tax think we should force other Parish entities to fork over a portion of or all of their reserves. I’d like for those good folks to know that it simply won’t work and there’s a very simple explanation why. Parish Government, by law, is required to support most of the other governmental entities associated with the Parish. If you look at a copy of the Parish budget, you will find that the Parish provides funding and/or support to the Registrar, the Coroner, the State Health Department, the Clerk of Court, the Tax Assessor, the 10th Judicial District Court, the District Attorney’s Office, the Veteran’s Affairs Office and the LSU AgCenter, just to name a few.

If the Parish tries to reach over and take from any one of these entities those same entities can force the Parish to give it all back and then some. Therefore, for this reason, the Parish should not and cannot take these agencies’ money to fund parish roads.

If you ever have a day with lots of time on your hands or you have a night where you need help getting to sleep, check out the Louisiana State Legislator’s website and read the Revised Statutes section. It’s a great source of information for understanding the governmental agencies that serve you and how they work together.

I value that people are having conversations on how to get funding for the Parish road system. I only ask that they look at solutions that will actually have positive results for the Parish and not create more battles for the Parish to fight.

Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day!

A ribbon cutting Thursday marked the formal opening of Café DeMon, Northwestern State University’s newest coffee spot in Watson Library. The café is operated by Sodexo and sells Starbucks products. From left are Jennifer Kelly, Academic Support and Auxiliary Services; Steve Kauf, Sodexo, and NSU President Dr. Jim Henderson.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will offer a beginning ceramics class starting Thursday, Sept. 8. The class will be held each Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Room 113 of the Fine Arts Annex until Nov. 10.

The fee for the class is $150 plus a $20 material fee paid directly to the instructor on the first day of the course. Beginning Ceramics is an introduction to working with clay. The student will learn hand-building and sculptural techniques, as well as work on the potter’s wheel. There will also be room for intermediate and advanced students to take the class and use the art facilities during the class time.

For more information or to register for the class, e-mail bedgoodm@nsula.edu, visit ece.nsula.edu/non-credit/ or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.

As the 2016-17 Northwestern State athletics seasons are beginning, the NSU Athletics department has issued an advisory notice to businesses in the community and region with warning regarding third-party companies falsely representing themselves as advertising partners with NSU.

“A number of individuals and businesses have been contacted by companies claiming to be sales representatives for NSU Athletics, offering logo placement on spirit items,” said Adam Jonson, senior associate director of athletics. “These companies are, in fact, not partners with NSU Athletics. We want any and all businesses wishing to support our program to receive full benefit for their investment and to achieve the objectives desired for their advertising dollars.”

These companies, including Adverteez and Touchdown Sports, claim to be producing items such as shirts, spirit towels and banners to be used at NSU athletic events. They have not secured the rights through NSU athletics to represent the department or institution, nor have they received permission for their products to be used at NSU athletic events.

Any businesses contacted with offers to advertise on products are encouraged to contact the NSU Athletic Department to check on the validity of the offer. Jonson can be reached at jonsona@nsula.edu or 318-357-4295. Haley Blount, Assistant Athletic Director for Development and Marketing can be reached at blounth@nsula.edu or 318-357-4278. Andrew Clausen, Director of Marketing and Promotions can be reached at clausena@nsula.edu or 318-357-5450.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will an Introduction to Sign Language course beginning Tuesday, Sept. 13. The class will be held each Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. through Nov. 15 in Room 320 of the Friedman Student Union.

This course will introduce participants to the varying levels of communication within the deaf world. From general signing of words to finger spelling. This course is designed to broaden the understanding of those who live in a world of silence.

The fee is $49 plus a $35 required book fee paid directly to the instructor on the first night of class. For more information, e-mail bedgoodm@nsula.edu, visit ece.nsula.edu/non-credit/ or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.

All campuses of Northwestern State University will be closed Monday, Sept. 5 for the Labor Day holiday.

The campus will reopen and classes will resume Tuesday, Sept. 6.

The Wellness, Recreation and Activity Center will be open normal hours Saturday through Monday. Watson Library will close Friday at 2 p.m. and will reopen Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.

Mayor Lee Posey met with the Citizens for Democratic Action (CDA) for an informative discussion Thursday evening, Sept. 1.

Arthur Welch asked Posey about the Recreation Complex project. Posey said the City is in the process of buying 100 acres by the NSU Hidden Hills Golf Course. Northwestern State University has close to 100 acres. Combined, the land will accommodate walking and biking trails and facilities for baseball, football, softball and soccer.

“We’re behind what everyone else is doing recreationally across the state,” said Posey.

The City will interview three design firms for the project that have a history of building these types of complexes.

When asked if there will be a spinoff for other businesses to profit from the complex being built in Natchitoches, Posey said this is the whole reason for doing it. The complex will allow them to increase the amount of teams that can be accommodated at tournaments.

“People love coming to Natchitoches,” he said. “Besides our food and atmosphere, our centralized location is key. This can become an economic driving force in the City to bring more people to town.”

He hopes to get the firm on board in the next 60 days. The next step is for the National Guard and Armory to clear approximately 50 acres of the land. Construction is projected to begin in fall of next year, with completion sometime in 2018.

With bookings already set for October, the Chateau St. Denis hotel is planning a soft opening the first or second weekend in October. Posey said with the amount of rainfall this year, it’s held up every project the City has in progress.

Welch asked about the lawsuit filed against the City by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, saying it “needs to be put to bed.”

Posey said they’ve made a response to the initial letter they received. “We don’t intend on losing the battle,” he said.

When asked if the shortfalls in state funding have affected the City, Posey said they’re doing well despite it. His plan is to get very aggressive with the streets, doing drainage and street maintenance. However, he did say that he doesn’t anticipate any big money from he state for capital outlay projects.

Harold Bayonne asked about the construction of safety entrance/exit roads in Town South and Pan Am Subdivisions. Posey said the City has finished buying the land needed for the project and hopes to start in the next 60 days.

Pedestrian crosswalk signs at the Church Street Bridge and removal of dilapidated houses on the West side of town were other topics of interest to the group.

Summing it all up, Posey said one of the first things any industry looks at when expanding operations is the quality of life in the area. All these projects and ideas are working toward improving Natchitoches and its quality of life.

“We’ve got to catch up,” he said.

On that note, he was excited to announce the City’s purchase of three ballparks near the MLK Center. He wants to buy an additional piece of land from the Parish and use grant funding to do something really special for the community in the area.

By Natalie Covher

Kiwanis members had a little fun and discussed proposed changes to the club Thursday, Sept. 1 at the NSU recreation complex.

No one can say that Kiwanians don’t have fun. Club members Greg Dunn, Jason Methvin and David Waskom volunteered to play a fun game. They each stuffed marshmallow after marshmallow in their mouths without swallowing. After each marshmallow they had to say “Kiwanis is about service.” Jason Methvin won by fitting in the most. After a good laugh members got down to business, discussing the changes to be voted on Sept. 22.

“The changes will help us focus on what Kiwanis is all about, the children,” said Rodney Boswell. “Reducing our dues will hopefully attract new members to help us with service projects so we can reach more children.”

The other big change is how the club meets. If the proposed changes go through the club will meet on the first Thursday of the month at noon at the recreation complex to listen to a speaker. This meeting will be open to anyone interested in becoming a Kiwanian. The club will meet the second Thursday of the month after hours for a social. On the third Thursday members will meet at noon at the recreation complex to have an interactive meeting focused on planning service projects. In lieu of a fourth meeting the club will get together to complete a service project.

“Everything is being refocused towards service,” said Dion Boyett. “The drop in dues hopefully means more members but it also means more fundraising. We want a club full of active members working for the community.”

Guests were Sandra Foster of Legacy Hospice and Meredith Phelps, NCHS senior and Miss Merry Christmas Pageant contestant.

The annual Kiwanis Banquet will be held Sept. 29 at the Natchitoches Events Center.

The Kiwanis School Uniform Drive is underway and will last through the month of September. Drop off locations include Waskom-Brown Associates and Bank of Montgomery. New and gently used donations are being accepted.

“We don’t understand it, but your muffler is disintegrating from the inside.”

For once the description of the sound the truck was making was congruent with the sound the truck made. Many times you attempt to describe a noise to the service technician and the vehicle won’t cooperate, but Saturday it did.

“Eventually your muffler will disintegrate and your truck will become very loud.”

There are two ways you know you are old. The first way is when you don’t like the idea of your truck being loud. When you are old, you want the muffler to silence the sound. Loud and old don’t mix, whether in music or in clothing selection. The other way one notes their arrival at old age happens in some elevators. If you hear Muzak playing the elevator and it is the same melody of the music of your adolescence you are old. If your parents said, “Turn that garbage down!” And you hear that music playing at the doctor’s office, you are old.

Saturday, Muzak was playing at the car dealership as the service man described the disintegrating muffler. I am old. I was wondering if a loud truck would be accepted in a funeral procession. Would the truck be heard pulling into the parking lot on Sunday morning? What would the Baptists think? What would the Catholics say?

How much to fix a disintegrating muffler? It was going to be expensive because rotting from the inside was not covered under any warranty.

How is your muffler?

The diagnosis of a muffler disintegrating from the inside was spiritually enlightening.

Do you know what it feels like to rot from the inside? Discouragement is interior rot. You start out with faith, hope and love and if you don’t constantly stay centered in Christ, the world can whittle away at all three. You start disintegrating spiritually. Discouragement most often happens when you get something fixed into your head and heart rather than seeking out what God would have you do. Most often you are discouraged when God is not doing things your way.

The other thing you might discover is that when your muffler disintegrates you become loud. That seems to be the gist of public discourse today, just get louder than the other side. Conversation has been replaced by competition and ideas are rapidly giving way to idiocy.

There is a verse of scripture that comforts and confronts at the same time. The same eight words can bug the fool out people with mufflers that are disintegrating and offer hope to those who need to have their muffler restored. If you need faith, hope and love restored, hear the word of the Psalmist:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

I get it, Lord.

Will you help me repair my muffler?

Natchitoches, LA, August 30, 2016 – The LaCour Trio will be performing at the Natchitoches Parish Library on Tuesday, September 6, beginning at 5pm in celebration of Library Card Sign-Up Month. The performance will take place on the front lawn of the Library, facing Second Street, weather permitting. Popcorn, face painting, balloons,and games will also be available outdoors.The event will take place indoors should there be rain. Library Card Sign-Up Month is when the nation’s public libraries highlight the valuable resources they make available to the communities they serve.

For existing patrons who have worn or lost cards, the NPL will be waiving card replacement fees through September 31.

Pictured are LaCour Trio members Rainey LaCour, Katrice LaCour, and Denver Shoup.

By Nico Van Thyn

With his children at home, and with his kids at school — particularly the football players — Jim Bruning was a tough, old-school disciplinarian.
Also, underneath an often gruff and opinionated exterior, he was good-natured, funny and fun, and full of mischief. Still is, when he can manage it.
And here is what anyone who spent much time around one of the best-known men in Natchitoches knows: He was a light-hearted true friend, with an endearing personality.
What he achieved in coaching and teaching, with his family, and the people in the town where he spent almost all his life, was everlasting love and respect.
And in football at Natchitoches’ public high school, Bruning and his 1969 Red Devils team stand alone. He was the head coach for the only state championship in the program’s history.

That magical 14-0 perfect season came in the last year of old Natchitoches High School’s existence.

The next year, the school became Natchitoches-Central High School … a court-ordered integration of most all-white Natchitoches High and all-black Central High. The athletic teams’ nickname changed from Red Devils to Chiefs.

A new facility housed the combined school on the west side of the city; Natchitoches High was on the Northwestern State University campus. But the head football coach remained the same.

In the only coaching job he ever had, Bruning — a fine athlete at Natchitoches High and then Northwestern State — was an assistant to his own coach, Trent Melder, for eight years and then his successor, starting in the 1966 season.

His 12 years as head coach (1966-77) included six consecutive playoff seasons, four district championships in a six-year span … and 1969 when Natchitoches ruled the state in Class AA.

—

He is 83 now, and his health has been a concern. The issues have multiplied. Walking is difficult, he can’t hear much, and even breathing is a problem. Being in an assisted-care facility and in a hospital is a burden he doesn’t like accepting.

He’s had a lonely existence of sorts since 2009 when Bettye, the attractive dark-haired girl he married in 1956, died of breast cancer, eight years after the first diagnosis. They spent a lot of their last two decades traveling together.

Their three children — Janyce, 59; Harryette, 55, and Jim Jr. (“Bubba” to everyone), 52 — are long gone from Natchitoches. Two live in Texas, one relatively closeby in North Louisiana, but they check on Dad often. So do his many friends.

And he’ll call those friends, anytime he feels like it. He likes to stay in touch. It’s mutual. His existence isn’t quite as lonely because of this:

“I’m amazed that every time we visit,” said his son-in-law, Allen Kinley, “there are a lot of his ex-players around to visit with him.”

Bruning’s oldest child, daughter Janyce Kinley, said that even in the assisted-living facility and the hospital, “He’s very social. The more people around, the more he likes it.
“He cares about people. He’ll tease them, get on them about their bad habits, and so on, but he has a bigger-than-life personality.

“At the hospital, a nurse asked him, ‘Is there anyone in town who doesn’t know you?’ ”

To be continued…Read PART 2 Sept. 9

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.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center hosted a reception and dedication ceremony to honor those physicians with 25 years of active service on the hospital medical staff. Those recognized were: William Zeichner, Bryan Picou, Otis Barnum, Archie Brezeale, Christa Rodriguez, William Pierson (Doris James, granddaughter), Margaret Wheat-Carter, Cissy Picou, Oscar Bienvenu (Marion, wife), Roy Cook (Mary Squires, daughter) and James Knecht. Also honored were: Drs. Joseph Bath, Ira Campbell, Charlie Cook, James Kaufman, Edna McLeod, John Sandifer, Rueben Sanford Roy, Robert Sills, Joseph Thomas, Reginald Wheat, Wilhelmina Wise, Eleanor Worsley.

The custom made Legacy Tree, has a leaf to commemorate each physician and is located in the lobby of the Keyser Avenue Entrance.

The start of year 34 at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts saw the addition of six new faculty and staff members to its roster while the LSMSA Foundation adds one staff member.

The new staff members are Melissa Hardaway, Victoria “Tori” Lloyd, Dr. Mauricio Escobar, Karn Richoux, Joshua Chambers and Dr. Pablo Molina. Angela Robinson joins the LSMSA Foundation staff.

Melissa Hardaway serves as the new educational technology manager. Hardaway earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science from Louisiana Tech University. She received a master’s from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in educational technology. She worked for the Bienville Parish School Board as the instructional technology technician for nine years prior to joining the LSMSA staff. She is also an adjunct educational technology instructor for Louisiana State University at Shreveport. Hardaway said she is excited to be a part of such a special and interesting place.

Tori Lloyd is a student life advisor in Caddo Hall. She is a Baton Rouge native who transferred to LSMSA her sophomore year. She graduated from LSMSA in 2012. During her time as a student, she served as an ambassador and a peer mentor for first west. She attended Oglethorpe University and spent one semester at the L’Universite Catholique de Lille in France. She obtained her B.A. degree in theater with minors in physics and French in May 2016. While living in Atlanta, Ga., she interned and worked for the Imperial OPA Circus. She is excited to begin this chapter of her life at LSMSA.

Dr. Mauricio Escobar, who was born in Barranquilla, Columbia, will teach physics. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics in 2002. During his time as an undergrad, he taught in small institutes and worked as a private tutor. Once he completed his degree, he worked in several local high schools and colleges. In 2006, he left the country to pursue a master’s degree in physics from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, which he earned in 2009. Soon after, Escobar was admitted to the physics doctoral program at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. In 2016, he completed his doctoral thesis dissertation on Quantum Diffusion of Ultra-Cold Neutrons in Rough Waveguides. He likes to dissect apparently hard topics and make them accessible to people to understand them.

Karn Richoux will teach technical theater. Richoux, of Minnesota, has been involved in technical theater since her junior year of high school. She has a B.A. in theater arts from Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minn., and then earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in technical production of theater from Florida State University. She has worked at summer theaters in Minnesota and Maine, and most recently she was the technical director and technical theater teacher at McCallum Fine Arts Academy, a high school in Austin, Texas, for three years.

Joshua Chambers will serve as an adjunct visual arts teacher. Chambers received his B.A. from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. In 2009, he earned a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana Tech University. He is a painter who works in acrylic, pen and ink and printmaking. His style has been described as “illustrative and illusive.”

Dr. Pablo Molina will teach Latin. He earned his B.A. in chemistry from USAL in Argentina, M.A. in science education from the University of Iowa, a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Iowa, an M.A. in Latin from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Ph.D. in classical and Medieval Latin from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His teaching and research interests include Latin Christian writers, Roman historians, Latin prose, textual transmission of Latin translations of the Book of Acts, Greco-Roman roots of Christianity, Greco-Roman roots of modern science, myth, Roman/Greek civilization, word formation and medical terminology.

One new staff member joined the LSMSA Foundation. Angela Robinson is a member of the LSMSA class of 1993. She recently returned to Natchitoches to serve as the assistant director of development and external relations for the Foundation. Originally from Mangham, Robinson earned a B.A. in social studies education from Northwestern State University in 1997 and her M.Ed. in gifted education from Northeast Louisiana University in 1998. Most recently, she worked at the University of Louisiana at Monroe for 10 years, serving as an academic advisor and later as coordinator of advising support. She was instrumental in updating the articulation agreement between LSMSA and ULM in 2014 and designed the 2015 memorandum of understanding that allows LSMSA students to earn an associate degree from ULM using t heir LSMSA coursework. She has been an active member of the LSMSA Alumni Association for a number of years and is very excited to be back at LSMSA in a role that allows her to serve as the liaison between the Alumni Association and the school.

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):
Demetris Burnett, 334 Caspari St Apt 224, Natch, La- TBS
Adneatria Bush, 500 North St Apt S-4, Natch, La- DP
Shacondria Calhoun, 1003 Calvin St, Coushatta, La- TBS
Shaquita Coleman, 409 MLK, Natch, La- Exp MVI, Simple Battery, No DL
Ebone Culbert, 230 Fairgrounds Rd Apt 13, Natch, La- TBS
Joshua Evans, 1410 Bivens, Natch, La- TBS
Marterrione Evans, 169 Caspari St, Natch, La- DP
Latoya Finister, 500 North St #28, Natch, La- DP
Samuel Futrell, 211 Dunn Rd, Natch, La- DWI
Calvin Hayes, 6612 Eugenia, Natch, La- DWI
Ebony Helaire, 214 Johnson Loop, Natch, La- DP
Damontra Jones, 910 West St, Natch, La- Remaining on Premises
Shawonda Jones, 400 Fairgrounds Rd Lot #47, Natch, La- DP
Shaquinta King, 806 5th St, Natch, La- DP, Unlicensed Driver
Shaquanna Mayfield, 1910 Jones St, Coushatta, La- TBS
Asia McGraw, 525 Myrtle Dr, Natch, La- TBS
Stephanie Metoyer, 1607 Shady Glen, Dallas, Tx- Exp MVI, Unlicensed Driver
Qynthia Phillips, 926 Anita St/500 North St, Natch, La- TBS, Criminal Mischief
Bonnie Rainey, 251 Cherrie Loop, Natch, La- DP
Richard Smith, 233 Pierson St, Natch, La- SPOM

Trial (T):
Karly Williams, 289 Deanna Rd Lot 12, Natch, La- TBS
Kelvin Williams, 1327 Hickory St, Natch, La- TBS
Tyrian Vanburen, 813 Williams Ave, Natch, La- TBS, SPOM, SPDP
Jimmy Shelton, 9467 Arleen Ave, Zachary, La- Resisting Arrest, DP, ROP
Ashley Solitaire, 841 Clarence Dr, Natch, La- TBS
Roosevelt Pier, 708 Brahma Dr, Natch, La- Violation of Protective Order, Domestic Abuse
Kyle Monk, 429 Hwy 3278 Lot 13, Natch, La- Remaining on Premises, TBS

BY RYAN WARE

Dr. Robert Z. Selden, Jr. received a grant from NCPTT in 2014. With this grant, Selden used 3D preservation, documentation, and geometric morphometrics on intact Caddo NAGPRA vessels that were in the Turner Collection at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has since expanded the program to artifacts curated at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

With a desire to examine and study artifacts while preserving their integrity, Selden used 3D geometric morphometrics to scan artifacts and created digital renderings for other experts to examine. The benefits of this method are numerous and include the identification of numerous subcategories of vessel form within the currently defined categories. Additionally, this allows for the preservation of individual artifacts that otherwise would go through more contact and degradation using traditional methods of analysis. To see a result of Selden’s work, click on the picture below.
With permission from the curators at Northwestern State University and the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, Selden was able to scan and create a 3D workable model of an artifact, a Belcher Ridges vessel that originated at the Belcher site in Northwest Louisiana. He scanned several artifacts, such as this one, at Stephen F. Austin State University as well as at NSU. As a result of his work at NSU, many artifacts were returned to the tribe through a repatriation agreement.