I wouldn’t have made a very good hippy. My formative years were in the late 1950s and early ’60s — my high school and college years — which were a little early for hippies anyway.

But lots of guys of my age in the late 1960s, my late 20s, decided to tune in and drop out. To any younger folks who don’t know what that means, it referred to the hippy lifestyle, which included not having a job, indulging in recreational drugs and maybe even living in a free-love commune.

Some of that (though not the drugs) may have sounded like fun, but I always thought there was something chaotic, or simply too disorganized about the hippy lifestyle. I always preferred structure.

Now I won’t deny that my college friends and later my young reporter buddies at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans liked to party. But our substance of choice was beer and liquor, not marijuana, coke or LSD.

We showed up for work everyday (well almost), kept our own apartments as opposed to having a communal living arrangement and, with a couple of exceptions, didn’t wear our hair too long. I had a crew cut until about 1968 or ’69.
But, as I said, I chose to live the way I did because a certain structure to life just seemed right.

I’ve maintained that preference until today and my predilection for order even gives Mary cause to tease me about being obsessive-compulsive. I might be, but only in minor ways.
For example, I organize my things from bath towels to socks, shirts and paints, so that they each get used in turn. Let me give you an example of why I do that. Let’s say I just stack my bath towels and take one off the top when I shower, Well, if I did that, the few on top would get used over and over again while the ones on the bottom would never get used. So I’d end up with some worn out towels and some brand new ones. Not orderly enough for me!

Same thing for my socks. They are in organized little rows in my chest of drawers.
I organize my books by subject and chronologically. So if I want to find a particular volume on military history, US history or true crime, I know just where to find it. Breaking it down, the books on early US history will be placed before books on more recent topics. That makes good sense, no?

I used to organize my CDs by music genre and composer and artist, but one day my biggest CD rack was accidentally turned over, the CDs scattered n the floor, completely mixed up. I’ve never gone back and reorganized them. That’s a job I may tackle one day. Or maybe not. Maybe I’m just getting old.

But even if I am a little obsessive-compulsive, I’m not an extremist. For example, my drinking glasses are not neatly lined up in rows in the cabinet. And occasionally you’d even find a couple of somewhat sloppy piles of paper on my desk (though generally it’s pretty neat)..

So, overall, the structured life works for me. And I also have the advantage of having all of my towels in an equally used condition. I’ll bet not everyone can say that!

At 3:46pm, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and Natchitoches Fire District #9 were on the scene of a residential fire in the 300 block of Jim Bell Road north of Campti, La.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

Photos courtesy of NPSO.

The Independent Motorcycle Riders of Natchitoches, sponsors of the Meat Pie Festival, presented the Boys and Girls Club with a check for $10,000 at its Celebrity Chef Dinner Tuesday night, Oct. 26.

“We’re all about keeping kids off the streets,” said Tena Rachal. “The Boys and Girls Club does just that.”

The backyard of the Prud-homme Roquier House was packed with guests as they sampled tomato bisque, shrimp and grits, desserts and more.

Featured waiters Billy Jo Harrington, Trini Triggs and Leonard Sarpy served guests drinks, collected tips and entertained the crowd with song and dance. Justin Metoyer provided music through the evening.

A former Boys and Girls Club member, Brandon Rachal, was unable to speak at the event. Peggy Braxton spoke on his behalf. Rachal is a basketball player at Natchitoches Central High School who just signed to play ball at LSU.

“I saw Brandon grow up,” said Peggy. “If you ever wonder where your money goes or who’s benefitting from it, he’s a great example. We’re proud to know he’s one of the kids the Boys and Girls Club gave a positive place to be.”

Celebrity chefs included: Cane River Kitchenware, Mariner, Merci Beaucoup, The Landing, Front Street Marketplace, Culinary Students D’Marcus Dumars, Southern Quality Catering, Almost Home, Huddle House, Lasyone’s, Eagle Distributing, Grayson’s and French Market Express. Host couples included: Edward and Jennifer Colbert, David and Angela Guillet, Cody and Carrie Beth Hough, Victor and Deloris Jones, Bryan and Cissy Picou and John and Susie Winston.

The Parish of Natchitoches has placed two new sales tax propositions on the ballot for the November 8, 2016 election. These propositions were placed on the ballot to allow the voters of Natchitoches Parish to determine if they would support additional revenue for the maintenance and improvement of Parish roads. All funds derived from these taxes would be dedicated strictly for road repairs and improvements.

The Parish is pleased to announce that two former Administrators under the old Police Jury government have publicly stated their support for both tax propositions. First, Mr. David Dollar stated his support in a letter to local media. That was followed by the video endorsement of Mr. Louie Bernard, who also served with distinction for many years as our Parish Clerk of Court.

Because of their knowledge of Parish road conditions and the financial structure of the Parish that prevents adequate maintenance of our roads, Mr. Dollar and Mr. Bernard stepped forward to state their support. They understand that no Police Jury or Parish President and Parish Council can carry out the work required on our roads without sufficient personnel and equipment or the ability to contract out major road improvement projects.

These gentlemen understand that tax propositions are not popular, but they also understand that bad roads endanger public safety, make it difficult for our people to get to work or school or medical services and frequently result in costly vehicle repairs which are hidden taxes on the people. Bad roads are also a disincentive to economic development. What company would want to expand or locate in an area where its potential employees would have problems getting to work or the company in getting its products to market?

We thank these two gentlemen for their support for the new Parish road taxes. Now, it is up to the voters to decide which road to the future they want their Parish to take.

Rick Nowlin
Parish President

Louie Bernard Video – CLICK HERE

David Dollar Letter – CLICK HERE

The publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, presented the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau with a 2016 Readers’ Choice Award.

“ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award,” said ConventionSouth Publisher J. Talty O’Connor. “The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States’ top meeting professionals who hold events in the South. These planners demand the highest level of customer service and quality facilities, and they have contributed in determining that Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau indeed displays the commitment to professionalism, creativity and service that they require.”

The Natchitoches CVB is among 250 convention and visitor bureaus (CVBs), meeting facilities and hotels located across the South to receive this year’s Readers’ Choice Award. Throughout the year, meeting professionals nominated the meeting sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. The nominated sites are then compiled onto an online ballot where meeting professionals and fans are asked to vote for the best of the best. With over 4,000 voters participating in the selection process and the highest social media interaction to date, this has been the most successful and engaging year yet!

Since creation in 2001, this is the first time the Natchitoches CVB has received the award, making it an even greater honor to present it with a 2016 Readers’ Choice Award. The Natchitoches CVB will be featured as an award recipient in the December Awards Issue of ConventionSouth magazine. This exciting issue will also showcase some of the most talented meeting professionals in the nation as ConventionSouth also presents planners with its annual “Meeting Professionals To Watch” designation.

“Featuring peer advice and trade secrets from our Meeting Professionals to Watch in 2016, our Awards Issue is one of the most popular must-read resources within the meetings industry,” O’Connor said.

Celebrating over 30 years as a leading meeting planning resource, ConventionSouth magazine is based in Gulf Shores, Ala., and is distributed to more than 18,000 meeting professionals located across the country who book meetings held within the South, according to O’Connor.

NPSO Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS, along with Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts #1 and #5 responded to a three-vehicle injury crash on Interstate-49 near Chopin Oct. 22 at 8:45 p.m.

Deputies say the primary cause of the crash is believed to be the result of a cow being in the roadway.

Three people were transported from the scene by EMS to Rapides Regional Medical Center with moderate non-life threatening injuries.

Initial reports were two-vehicles involved but when deputies arrived on the scene, they learned three-vehicles were involved.

The deceased cow was removed from the roadway.

The crash is being investigated by Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police, Troop-E Alexandria.

BOM is a sponsor for the NCHS Chief Basketball Team’s 2016-2017 gym sign. Pictured from left are Dustin Dauzat (University Branch Manager & Lender), Micah Coleman (NCHS Head Coach) and Kessler Barnes.

The 24th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Angels Pageant will be held Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall at Northwestern State University. There will only be an impromptu rehearsal that day from 10 a.m. – noon.

The entry fee is $60 per child, with a $10 discount for the second child. The contest is open to all young ladies enrolled in Natchitoches Parish Schools from Pre-K to 6th, 7th and 8th grade. Judging is separate for the two different age categories.

The deadline to compete in the Natchitoches Christmas Angels Pageant is Friday, Oct. 28. Entries, with payment must be submitted should be dropped off or mailed to Big Tease Salon, 114 C South Drive, Natchitoches, LA 71457.

Entry forms are available on the Natchitoches Christmas Angels Facebook page or online at natchitocheschristmasangels.eventbrite.com.

A Queen, first and second runner-up will be chosen in each age group. The winning queen in each group will receive a crown, trophy, and banner. The runners-up will receive a trophy. Every entrant in PreK-2nd grade will receive a participation trophy. There will be a Peoples Choice Award for each category. The winner in this category will be determined by the number of votes ($1 per vote with no limit) purchased for each participate. The participant with the most votes in each age group will receive an award.

Admission to the 24th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Angels Pageant will be $3 for adults and $1 for children under the age of 12, including parents of contestants.

Space is limited, so it is recommended that entry forms be turned in as soon as possible. Download forms or register online. For additional information call Amber Howell at (318)-652-0336.

Natchitoches Parish President Rick Nowlin has declared a burn ban due to extremely dry conditions as a result of inadequate rainfall in the Parish. The burn ban is in effect for thirty (30) days unless terminated earlier by the Parish.

Northwestern State University will host a copyright workshop for creative professionals in Natchitoches this Saturday, Oct. 29.  Mark J. David, entertainment/copyright attorney and author of “The Teacher’s Guide to Copyright” and “Legal Issues in the Music Industry,” will present the third in a series of ongoing legal workshops for creative professionals through Words in Progress Louisiana.

This workshop is designed specifically for musicians, songwriters, performers, writers, artists and other creative professionals who want to protect their intellectual property and creative work from theft and illegal duplication.

The workshop will be from 1-3 p.m. in the art history lecture room, Room 206 of the Fine Arts Annex.

The workshop agenda includes the following:

•    Introduction
•    Why copyright?
•    What is copyright?
•    The 6 Exclusive Rights
•    Trademarks, Patents & Trade Secrets
•    Copyrightable works
•    Not copyrightable
•    Joint Authorship
•    Work-for-hire
•    Duration of protection
•    -BREAK-
•    Public Domain
•    Registration
•    Poor Man’s Copyright
•    Infringement
•    Damages
•    Fair Use (It ain’t what you think it is)
•    Questions

Admission is free for creative professionals who live and/or work in north Louisiana.

Those interested should RSVP to Debbie L. Hollis, director of Works in Progress Louisiana, at Debbie@WorksInProgressLouisiana.com.  Seating is limited. The workshop is sponsored in part by a from the Community Foundation of North Louisiana.

The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Unit held its annual banquet on Thursday evening, Oct. 20, at Lakewood Inn near Creston.

The speaker was Natchitoches Fire Department Chief of Training/Safety/Hazardous Materials Michael Sesvold.

Deputy Charles Roge was named “2016 NPSO Reserve Deputy of the Year.”
Sheriff Victor Jones, Chief of Patrol Douglas Rachal Jr. and Reserve Deputy-President of Reserve Deputy Board Louis Byers presented Certificate of Appreciation certificates to all members of the Reserve Deputy Unit.

Members of the Unit also presented a Memorial Plaque to the family of Deputy Bryan Wimberly who died during a diving incident Sept. 3, 2016 off the coast of Florida in Dry Tortugas. The plaque honors his service and dedication to the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.

Dep. Wimberly was vice president of the Reserve Deputy Board, a member of the NPSO Search and Rescue Dive Team, City Utilities Director and Chief of Fire District #6, along with many other duties he loved to do while helping others.

Deputies elected to retire his call sign: NP-219

During closing remarks, Jones expressed his thanks to the Reserve Deputy Unit for their loyalty and dedicated service to the citizens of Natchitoches Parish. He also extended his appreciation and thanks to the spouses and family members of reserve deputies for their support.

The NPSO Reserve Unit is a voluntary division of the sheriff’s office, which supplements the patrol division, school activities, festivals, traffic details and other calls for service. The reserve unit is based on very simple concepts: promote citizen involvement in law enforcement and protect the integrity and professionalism of the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Members of the unit are: Deputy Charles Roge, Deputy Emile Metoyer, Deputy Tommy Fatheree, Deputy Louis Byers, Deputy Michael Gillie, Deputy Steven Clanton, Deputy David Stevenson, Deputy J.D. Bonds, Deputy Douglas Rachal III, Deputy Joseph Kay, Deputy Josh Axsom, Deputy Silas Axsom, Deputy Markalyn Williams, Deputy James Maxey, Deputy Bryan Carnline, Deputy Larry Atteridge, Deputy Michael Delrie and Deputy Niandria Harris.

At least eight more reserve deputies are expected to graduate from the NPD Reserve Academy in the next 3 weeks.

A panel version of the powerful and poignant traveling exhibition “Purchased Lives: The American Slave Trade from 1808 to 1865” will be coming to the Magnolia Plantation Unit of Cane River Creole National Historical Park in November 2016. “Purchased Lives” examines one of the most challenging eras of U.S. history. The panel display will be on view at Magnolia Plantation Nov. 1 – Dec. 13 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Over the next two years, the panel display will visit 10 sites around the state.

“Purchased Lives” examines the period between America’s 1808 abolishment of the international slave trade and the end of the Civil War, during which an estimated two million people were forcibly moved among the nation’s states and territories. The domestic trade wreaked new havoc on the lives of enslaved families, as owners and traders in the Upper South—Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC—sold and shipped surplus laborers to the developing Lower South—Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Many of those individuals passed through New Orleans, which was the largest slave market in antebellum America.

The display will be made up of 10 panels, which will allow it to travel more widely than the version containing original artifacts. The informative yet vibrant design will feature reproductions of period artifacts such as broadsides, paintings and prints illustrating the domestic slave trade, as well as ship manifests, financial documents and first-person accounts conveying the trade’s reach into all levels of antebellum society.

Magnolia Plantation is located at 5589 Hwy. 119 in Derry. Admission is free. Call 318-356-8441, ext. 200 or visit http://www.nps.gov/cari for more information, including details on exhibition-related programming.

NSU recognized three outstanding alumni with distinguished service awards during its Homecoming festivities Oct. 22.  Honorees were Tommy Chester, Distinguished Alumnus; Dr. Cade Brumley, Outstanding Young Alumnus; and Nicole Shunte Gray, Alumni Volunteer of the Year.  Each award is presented to a Northwestern graduate who has exhibited dedication and loyalty to the university’s programs and missions and has demonstrated continued interest in service as a volunteer, donor or advocate.

The Distinguished Alumnus award is presented to an alumnus who has a demonstrated record of service to NSU and long-term interest in serving the university.  The recipient must have graduated at least 10 years prior to nomination and must be 40 years of age or older at the time of nomination.

Chester earned a bachelor’s degree in 1967 and a master’s in 1969 from NSU. He has been involved with the Natchitoches Parish Police and Fire Board and the board of the Boys and Girls Club of El Camino Real.  He is past president of the NSU Alumni Association and Demons Unlimited. He is a deacon at First Baptist Church and a member of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches.

The Outstanding Young Alumnus Award is presented to a young alumnus has demonstrated an early record of service to Northwestern State.  Recipients must have attained alumni status within 10 years and must be 40 years old or younger at the time of nomination.

Brumley is actively involved with Northwestern State University alumni engagement initiatives. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Northwestern State in 2002. He and his wife, the former Toni Vail, also a graduate of Northwestern State, are the parents of two boys.

The Volunteer of the Year award is given to a member of the NSU Alumni Association who demonstrates an exemplary record of volunteering time, talents and service to the Alumni Association and demonstrates active involvement with a chapter, alumni interest group, affiliate program, NSU Alumni Board or other forums of volunteer service to the university.

Gray has been a strong advocate for NSU and its growth, having organized and established the NSU Black Alumni Alliance, which promotes the expansion of the alumni network.  In 2008, she established the James Oliphant Memorial Football Scholarship, which is named for her father, a 1977 graduate of NSU. She currently serves on the executive committees for the Northwestern State University Foundation Board of Directors and the Demons Unlimited Foundation Board of Directors. She also serves on the fundraising committee and is a member of the Dallas chapter of the Northwestern State University Alumni Association. She has a strong alumni presence both on and off the campus with a primary mission of helping others achieve a quality education.

Gray graduated from Northwestern State with a degree in journalism in 1994. As a student, she was president of the student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Relations Society of America and Northwestern’s first student chapter of the NAACP. She also competed in the 1992 Lady of the Bracelet pageant and was selected to represent Northwestern State at Texas A&M’s annual Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference.

TONIGHT: Tuesday, Oct. 25

Celebrity Chef Dinner: 6-8 p.m.
Prud-homme Roquier House

Featured waiters including Billy Jo Harrington, Trini Triggs and Leonard Sarpy will serve guests tastes of food from Cane River Kitchenware, Mariner, Merci Beaucoup, The Landing, Front Street Marketplace, Culinary Students D’Marcus Dumars, Southern Quality Catering, Almost Home, Huddle House, Lasyone’s, Eagle Distributing, Grayson’s and French market Express. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Justin Metoyer will provide entertainment. Tickets can be purchased from any BOM, City Bank or MidSouth branch, featured waiters or host couples. Host couples include: Edward and Jennifer Colbert, David and Angela Guillet, Cody and Carrie Beth Hough, Victor and Deloris Jones, Bryan and Cissy Picou and John and Susie Winston.

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Fall Carnival: 5-7 p.m.
Natchitoches Jr. High-Frankie Ray Jackson

Activities include bingo, a cake walk, face painting, pony and train rides, a fortune teller and dunking booth and more. Special guests include Dark Woods Haunted Attraction, the Natchitoches Parish Library and the NSU men’s basketball team.

Fall Festival: 6 p.m.
Freedom Life Church
Activities include games, hayride, treats and more.

Trunk or Treat: 5:30-7 p.m.
Trinity Baptist Church
Join in an evening of fellowship and fun with this gospel themed trunk or treat event.

Thursday, Oct. 27

NSU Natchitoches Alumni Chapter Social: 5:30 p.m.
Bon Ami, 530 Front Street

Join this newly developed chapter for local networking, friendship and food. For more information contact Ron McBride at Mcbride.ron67@gmail.com

The Legend and Reality of Marie Laveau: 7 p.m.
Student Union Ballroom on the NSU Campus

This lecture by researcher and author Carolyn Morrow Long will seperate the myth from the historical truths about legendary New Orleans Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. Q&A and book signing to follow the lecture.

Natchitoches Treasures Recognition Ceremony: 11 a.m.
Events Center

Honor the Blue: 6 p.m.
Downtown riverbank

Pumpkin Glow: 5:30 p.m.
Beau Jardin

Lawyers in Libraries: 10 a.m. – noon
Third floor of the Natchitoches Parish Library
A local attorney will host a free legal advice program.

NSU Chamber Choir: 7:30 p.m.
Magale Recital Hall on the NSU Campus

Friday, Oct. 28

Marthaville Elementary School’s Halloween Carnival: 6-8 p.m.
Activities include a Velcro wall, car bash, cakewalk, costume contest, hay bale bowling, witch pitch, football toss and more.

NSU Opera Theater Ensemble presents Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi: 7:30 p.m.

Treen Auditorium on the LSMSA Campus
Saturday, Oct. 29

Cane River Green Market: 8 a.m. – noon
Downtown riverbank

Music at Merci: 5-8 p.m.
Merci Beaucoup

Kiwanis and Vic’s Kids Day: 3-9 p.m.
Turpin Stadium on the NSU Campus

Trick-or-Treat in Donald’s Demon Alley. NSU will play Nicholls at 6 p.m. and this special Halloween themed Tailgate Party will feature inflatables, food and drinks, games and more. The event is $5 or free for members of Vic’s Kids Club. For more information call 357-4099 or email blounth@nsula.edu.

Outdoor Movie Night: 7 p.m.
Natchitoches Parish Library
The Library will show “Monster House” on the hill behind First Baptist Church with free popcorn and punch. Bring blankets and chairs for seating.

Deer Fest: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Robeline First Baptist Church

Tickets are on sale until Oct. 28 from any church member for $25, which includes entry into the competitions for the deer, door prizes, a brand new rifle and a 2016 Honda Recon. Activities include deer skinning and quartering for $50 (bring a labeled cooler), lunch plates for $5 beginning at 11 a.m., a children’s carnival from 4-6 p.m., a gumbo dinner at 6 p.m. and more.

Fall Festival: 6 p.m.
Red River Cowboy Church

Activities include Trunk or Treat, hay ride, cupcake walk, costume and trunk contests and more. For information contact Brittany Jordan at 332-8523.
Sunday, Oct. 30

Family Round Up: 4-6 p.m.
First Baptist Church

Activities include mini hayrides, food and more.

Fall Fest: 6 p.m.
Westside Baptist Church

Activities include Trunk or Treat, costume contests, inflatables, games and a chili cook off.
Monday, Oct. 31

Witch Way to Main Street: 5-7 p.m.
Front Street

Fall Festival: 6-8 p.m.
Fairview Baptist Church

Fall Fest: 5 p.m.
Marthaville First Baptist Church

Activities include games, costume contest, hay ride, chili cook off and more.

NNSS Symphony Concert: 7:30-8:40 p.m.
Magale Recital Hall on the NSU Campus

Admission charge for public. NSU, LSMSA and BPCC-NSU campus students are admitted with current, valid student ID.

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Old Tyme Town Hall Meeting: 6:30 p.m.
Marthaville Heritage Building

ONGOING:

Haunted Museum: 7-10:30 p.m.
Rebel State Historic Site in Marthaville

The Louisiana Country Music Museum will be converted to an “abandoned” building inhabited by ghosts and other creepy ghouls. For those children not quite up to the scares, there will be games and hay-rides. Admission to the museum is $5 for adults, with children 12 and under and seniors 62 and over admitted for free. For more information call 472-6255.

Early Voting: Oct. 25-Nov. 1

Traveling Panel Exhibit on Slave Trade: Nov. 1 – Dec. 13
Magnolia Plantation (Open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

“Purchased Lives” examines the period between America’s 1808 abolishment of the international slave trade and the end of the Civil War, during which an estimated two million people were forcibly moved among the nation’s states and territories.

Beyond Sunday: Fifty Years of the New Orleans Saints

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame: Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Exhibit runs through September 2017

Coushatta Basket Traditions: A Grand Ecore Exhibit
Grand Ecore Visitors Center
Exhibit runs through Nov. 27

A joint investigation by the Natchitoches, Rapides and Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Offices led to the arrests of two men in connection with the theft of a camper and other items, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Victor Jones.

NPSO Patrol Division deputies responded to a reported theft in the 700 block of Janie-Gorum Road near Gorum Sept. 26 at 8:30 p.m.

Deputies spoke with the complainant, learning that a 1979 Layton camper trailer  had been stolen from his hunting camp.

Detectives returned to the crime scene Sept. 27. It appeared as if the suspect(s) pulled the camper from beneath a metal shed then drove off with it, leaving the septic line down the road.

Leads led detectives to a business in Rapides Parish, where detectives identified two persons of interest as Carl Wayne Stanley Jr. of Pineville and John Oliver Perkins III of DeQuincy.

Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office recovered the stolen camper abandoned on La. Hwy 121 in Vernon Parish Sept. 28.

NPSO Deputies met with the complainant Sept. 29 after taking possession of the camper and learned that a Marlin .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle, camouflage clothing, Samsung stereo, and approximately 75-feet of copper tubing was stolen from the interior of the camper, all worth $5,000.

NPSO Detectives learned Oct. 4 that Alexandria Police had recently arrested Stanley in connection with a stolen handgun and he was being held in the Rapides Parish jail.

Then, learned Oct. 17 that Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Deputies had Perkins in custody on unrelated charges.

NPSO Detectives recovered the Marlin .22 semi-automatic rifle in the Pineville area.

Stanley, 21, was charged with Felony Theft over $3,000. Perkins, 19, was charged with Felony Theft over $3,000. Both suspects remain in the Rapides Parish jail on Rapides Parish charges and will be released to the NPSO on a detainer at a later date.

 

The agenda item that held the most attention at the City Council meeting Monday night, Oct. 24, was a resolution confirming the appointment of Chris Laurence as the recreation director for the City.
Other agenda items included:

• proclamation declaring Nov. 11 as Veterans Day in the City
• proclamation honoring the law enforcement officers of Natchitoches Parish
• ordinance declaring certain buildings unsafe and recommending they be demolished or put into repair to comply with the building code
• ordinance changing zoning classification of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
•   ordinance amending the 2016 – 2017 budget to reflect additional revenues and expenditures
• resolution authorizing a one-time salary supplement payment to City employees

Dylan Frese, a junior mass communications major at Northwestern State University, spoke to the Lions Club Oct. 24. Currently enrolled in Comm4520: Special Problems in Communication, Frese told the Lions about the program his class is working on: Community Renewal International (CRI).

As people, neighborhoods, and communities struggle with increasing disconnect and dysfunction, CRI has pioneered a way to connect people and create safe and caring communities with measurable and transformative results.

According to Frese, kids in low income and high crime neighborhoods need someone to care about them too. With the theft, burglary and robbery rates in Natchitoches double the national average and with triple the crime rate of Ruston, Frese said it’s important to get people involved.

One way to do this, is to designate “Haven Homes,” which are seen as beacons of light near loe income and high crime areas. Haven House is a concrete strategy to take a city back, systematically, block by block. People can e-mail, text, call and fax friends and family members around the world, but often they don’t know their neighbors, who are living a few doors down. In the Haven House strategy, private citizens make friends with neighbors on their block. This facilitates neighbors to become caring friends, instead of isolated strangers – respecting, talking and walking together.

In Lions Club news, Tina Ragan was presented with a Key Award Pin, recognizing her for her sponsorship of two Lions who have remained in the club for at least a year.

Natchitoches Krewe of Dionysos donated to the local Hope for Paws for their recent Farm to Table Dinner. Pictured are Krewe members Dicky and Debbie Moore, NHFP officers Kay Kaufman and Leah Forsyth and Krewe members Pete Johnson and Doug Lewallen.

By Junior Johnson

The year 1976 was a milestone of many events besides the 200th Birthday of the United States. The Apple Computer Company was established by Steve Jobs, NASA introduced its first Space Shuttle Enterprise, an outbreak of Legionaries Disease affected 4,000 people at an American Legion Convention, the Son of Sam terrorized New York City for almost a year, Fidel Castro became President of Cuba and the $2 bill was introduced.

These are just a few of the headlines that grabbed front pages of newspapers and television screens. However, an event took place in a little community called Whitehouse, Texas that made these events seem trivial.

I was working as a Branch Manager for Bancroft Paper and Chemical Company in Tyler, Texas and in my spare time worked as a Volunteer Fireman with the Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department. I had the pleasure of working with a group of wonderful men who didn’t mind putting their lives on the line to help the people of our community.

Although I was never in a life threatening situation, I grew to respect the hard work.

The leader of our Fire Department was also the Chief of Police of Whitehouse and was a true professional in both areas.

There was a beautiful body of water called Lake Tyler near Whitehouse where, on summer weekends, hundreds of families and young people would span the shoreline. Smoke from BBQ Pits filled the air as everyone enjoyed the water. Cars would also cruise the beach, similar to the way kids would do on the streets in the movie American Graffiti.

Just for a day this all changed and the entire area was evacuated. In place of the swimmers and picnic goers there was local law enforcement personal and units from as far away as Dallas and Houston. Television stations had their remote vans broadcasting to all the major networks. Reporters from newspapers in the East Texas area were preparing their stories for publication.

Prior to the events of this day our Volunteer Fire Department traveled to Texas A&M University in College Station to complete a Fire Safety Course. Their program was one of the best in the area and we were pushed to our limits.

Six of us decided we deserved a treat for our hard work, so we drove two hours to Galveston. We arrived by mid afternoon and began to unwind with adult refreshments. We remained on the beach in Galveston until almost midnight and decided it was time to make the four hour trip back to Whitehouse.

As we were about to leave someone spotted a five foot sand shark that had washed ashore. Humor spread like wildfire and it was suggested that we pack the shark with ice and bring it back with us and place it at the waters edge in Lake Tyler.  This seemed like a wonderful prank at the time and we set it in motion.

We arrived at Lake Tyler around 4 a.m. and placed our shark in a good location. We then hurried home for some much needed rest.

It seemed that I had just put my head on the pillow when the phone began ringing. It was around 8 a.m. and the Chief of Police was on the other end. I asked if there was a fire and he frantically said it was worse than that.

He first asked if I had told anyone about the shark and my response was a definite NO. He said that he had just returned from Lake Tyler and the place was swarming with law enforcement from Tyler, Houston, and Dallas, along with Television Crews from all the major networks. To top this off there was a crew of Marine Biologists on the way down from Texas A&M to try to understand how a sand shark came to be living in a fresh water lake, and how many more there may be in the water.

He was frantic and said that what had started out as a little joke had gotten out of hand. He was certain that he would lose his job as Chief of Police if anyone found out about his involvement. I assured him my lips were sealed.

The shark had been discovered early that morning by some young people who had arrived to get their spot set up by the water. Everyone had CB Radios back then and it was not long before authorities were there and had the area sealed off.  All civilians were told to leave.

All the area Television stations ran the story at noon and newspaper reporters were preparing their story for the next edition. East Texas was buzzing about the shark in Lake Tyler.

It was not until late that afternoon when the wonderful Marine Biologists from Texas A&M released their findings which put everyone at ease.  They concluded that pranksters must have put the shark in the water and the lake was safe to swim in.

Our little community finally returned to normal and not a word was said about our little adventure……..until now.

Hopefully after 40 years the Statute of Limitations has expired….