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):
Penny Anderson, 230 Fairground Rd Apt 33, Natch, La – NSB
Lasoraca Blaze, 3800 University Pkwy #1013, Natch, La – No DL
Ashlay Kilpatrick, 805 Chickasaw Pl, Sallsaw, OK – No DL
Donald Cooper Jr, 440 Fairground Rd, Natch, La – Failure to Yield, No Insurance
Vance Coutee, 1514 Dean St, Natch, La – NSB
Carlton Efferson, 1418 Northern, Natch, La – NSB, Exp MVI
Eric Fisher, 1517 Lake, Natch, La – (2) NSB
Eric Hayes, 903 Dorothy, Natch, La –NSB, No DL
Patrice Howard, 117 T Joe St, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Oshonta Marchand, 400 Lakeview Dr #4101, Natch, La – Exp Registration
Niaya Monnette, 471 Canal Rd, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Derrick Pye, 808 Dorothy, Natch, La – No DL
Tysheena Coleman 420 B McDodson Natch La – TBS
Christopher Jones 716 Myrtle Dr Natch La – Switched Plates.
Celina Turner, 817 Merilyn, Natch, La – NSB, No DL
Jimmy Carter, 529 Keegan St, Nat, La – TBS
Terrence Hatchet, 219 Beverly Rise, Natch, La – Criminal Mischief
Damarius Manning, 107 John Banks Rd, Robeline, La– Theft, Resisting an Officer
Trevor Pier, 1439 Hill Ave, Natch, La – Resisting an Officer
Danielle Taylor, 1815 South Dr Lot 1357, Natch, La – TBS
Tialesha Thompson, 243 Melle St, Natch, La – DP
Brian Walker Jr., 520 Keegan St, Natch, La – SCDP

Trial (T):
Amanda Bailes, 440 Stephens Ave, Natch, La – Domestic Abuse, Simple Battery
Nelsoner Bush, 509 Scott Loop, Natch, La – Theft, Resisting an Officer
Christopher Carter Sr., 310 Sanford St, Natch, La – Letting a Disorderly Place
Vanity Roberson, 218 Rowena St/J W Thomas Apts, Natch, La – TBS
Iitiana Hunter, 500 North St Apt F1, Natch, La – TBS, SPOM
Johnny Washington, 170 Robinson St, Natchez, La – DWI

NOTE: The Bench Warrant fee went up to $65.00 on February 1, 2017?

By Kevin Shannahan

Natchitoches’ Boy Scout Troop 60, sponsored by the First United Methodist Church, competed this weekend at Norwela Council’s annual Iditarod race. The young men were part of 180 Scouts, Venturers and Cub Scouts from 14 units throughout Northern Louisiana and East Texas.

The Iditarod has been a long standing tradition of Norwela Council, having been held for over 15 years.Teams of Scouts tow a sled loaded with a variety of items on it. They go through a series of stations that test different Scout skills and are given clues needed to figure out the next step. The race rewards problem solving, working together and Scout knowledge as much as speed.

Troop 60 meets every Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. All young men between the ages of 11-17 are welcome to join.

Join the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum for “The Saints Are Coming” documentary film screening and Q&A with producer Doug Tatum Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.

The documentary weaves through the apocalyptic effects of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints’ subsequently nomadic 2005 season, the tireless efforts of countless many to salvage both New Orleans and the Superdome, the reorganization of the Saints’ coaching hierarchy led by Loomis and Payton, the overhauling of the Saints’ roster highlighted by the addition of a wounded Brees, and the behind-the-scenes musical inspirations led by musical icon The Edge and the importance that New Orleans has on the global music community. The documentary culminates with the unforgettable events surrounding the Saints’ return to New Orleans on Sept. 25 and the team’s 23-3 victory over NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons. The Saints Are Coming was produced by Saints Executive Director of Digital Media Doug Tatum in partnership with Raycom Media. The program is free and open to the public.

Is it time for a vacation? Would you like to go to Cozumel, Cancun or Cabo? How about Australia, or a little closer to home with Branson, Orlando, Destin, or Las Vegas destinations. Keep reading to find out how you can enjoy a free 7-day trip for two.

This time of the year is slow for the HVAC industry, making February the best month to buy a new unit. Not only does Axsom Air offer the best prices, but they’ve purchased a bundle of getaways.

“We need to keep our crews busy, even in the slow month of February,” says Josh Axsom. “So we’re giving a away a limited number of vacation packages on a first come-first serve basis during the month of February only.

The two-person packages offer a selection of over 3,000 destinations. Once you invest in a new AC system, you have up to a year to book your travel dates.

Has your air conditioner been giving you problems? Do you have hot rooms in your house? Is your electric bill high in the summer? Maybe it’s time to think about investing in a new system.

Units installed before 2007 are still using R-22 Freon, which was banned in 2007 by the EPA because it’s an environmental hazard. About 60 percent of people are still running these old AC systems. Replacement parts and Freon is becoming almost impossible to find and the cost is so high, it’d be a good idea to think about replacing the unit.

“With a new unit it’s amazing how much money you’ll save off your electric bill, not to mention the comfort a high efficiency air conditioner can provide for your family,” said Josh. “New units have achieved such a high efficiency level, usually double that of your old unit.”

So what do an air conditioner and a weeklong getaway have in common? Relaxation and peace of mind. Contact your friends at Axsom Air today to find out how they can save you money on your electric bill and that vacation you’ve been dreaming of.

Axsom Air makes purchasing your new unit easy with zero percent financing and payments as low as $96 per month. For more information and a free consultation call 352-7777.

Rebecca Blankenbaker, Director of Communications of Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. was installed as a member of the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA) Board of Directors at the association’s annual meeting Jan. 26 at the Natchitoches Events Center.

“I am honored to be serving LTPA and the 750 members the association represents throughout the state,” said Rebecca Blankenbaker, LTPA Board Member. “This organization has worked to lead and strengthen Louisiana’s tourism industry for 56 years, and I look forward to working with my fellow board members to keep the momentum going.”

New officers installed on the executive board committee include the following: Mark Romig, with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, as chairman; Travis Napper, with Ruston-Lincoln CVB, as vice-chairman; Janice Delerno Verges, with the Stockade Bed & Breakfast, as secretary; Ben Berthelot, with Lafayette CVC, as treasurer; and Phil Frost, with Baton Rouge Zoo, as immediate past chair.

New members on the board of directors are Dickie Brennan, Dickie Brennan & Company; Alana Cooper, with Monroe-West Monroe CVB; John Crook, with Vernon Parish TC; Brandy Evans, with Shreveport-Bossier CTB; Marion Fox, with Jeff Davis Parish TC; Eric Hoffman, with Hoffman Media, LLC; Ralph Ney, with Marriot Hotel Baton Rouge; Donna O’Daniels, with St. Tammany Parish TC; Lynnette Tanner, with Frogmore Plantation & Gins; and Denise Thevenot, with Louisiana Tax Free Shopping.

Returning members on the board of directors are Kerry Andersen, with Pinnacle Entertainment; Marc Becker, with New Orleans Hotel Collection; Peggy Benoit, with Carmel Inn & Suites Thibodaux; Melissa Cloutier, with J Bennett Recruiting; Kyle Edmiston, with Louisiana Office of Tourism; Kevin Kelly, with Houmas House Plantation & Gardens; and Andy LeBouef, with Mardi Gras World.

“Our executive committee and board of directors are responsible for helping us meet the needs of our members and making sure we accomplish our goals of providing educational and marketing opportunities while also advocating on the industry’s behalf,” said Jill Kidder, LTPA President and CEO. “We are excited to be starting off another year with a great group of industry leaders that represent the entire state.”

Officers on the executive committee and members of the board of directors are elected during the annual meeting. Each year, the chairman of the board selects a nominating committee that is comprised of members who are not up for re-election and who are not seeking office. This committee is responsible for presenting a slate to the members of the association that recognizes all regions of the state and all segments of the tourism industry.

Meet Janna Jenkins, the new Director for the Natchitoches Main Street Office.

She originally came to Northwestern State University three years ago from Monroe. While studying at NSU she completed an internship at the Monroe-West Monroe Visitors Bureau in the Communications Department. After graduating in 2016 with a major in hospitality and tourism management and a minor in communications, she left Natchitoches.

Although she left, Jenkins always wanted to move back.

“I always felt like Natchitoches was my second home,” she said. “When I heard about the director position at the Main Street Office I knew it was meant to be. Within two weeks of accepting the position I was here.”

Jenkins said she’s excited because her new job also entails PR for the City and she’s always been focused more toward the PR and marketing side of things, particularly with her strong background in communications.

“Main Street and Front Street are the heart of Natchitoches,” she said. “I’m excited about this opportunity to represent this historic area. It was something that spoke to me. I knew it was a job I could put my heart and soul into and it would be rewarding.”

Jenkins is diving into the community and planning upcoming events such as Bloomin’ on the Bricks. Regarding the challenges she faces with the ongoing riverbank renovation project this year, she said, “I’m not only doing these events for the first time, but I’m doing them differently. I’ll try to make everyone happy, but I couldn’t ask for a better small town community than Natchitoches.”

We live in a world of words. Stop means “quit” or “don’t go.” Go means “proceed.” How about “run?” That word will slow you down with all the ways it can be properly used in English. I can affirm I don’t run any longer and I won’t run again. In one sentence I used “run” two different ways.

Our language contains some rare treasures.

Jentacular.

Derived from jenatculum, the Latin word for a very early breakfast consisting of foods like bread, cheese, dried fruits, honey, milk–and even wine. Exactly when it came into use as the English adjective jentacular is unknown, but it was commonly used in the 18th and 19th centuries. An example of its use can be found in the New Family Receipt Book (receipt, in this case means “recipe”), published in London in 1819. Its authorship was attributed to “A Lady” but it is known to have been written by Maria Eliza Rundell, author of the most popular cookbooks in the ear in both England and the United States. Rundell writes that “coffee for breakfast is earnestly recommended as a most wholesome and pleasant juntacular beverage.” The word is basically obsolete, but is still used, mostly stylistically, by some writers today. I just did!

I wonder if you could use the word at Lasyone’s this weekend?

Yarborough.

Charles Anderson Worsley was the second Earl of Yarborough, an earldom in east-central England, from 1846 until his death in 1862. He is best known for having a standing offer to his bridge-playing friends; a 1,000 to 1 bet against them being dealt a bridge hand containing no ace and no card higher than a nine. If someone took the bet and won he would pay them 1,000 pounds. If they lost they paid him one pound. The legend of that bet lived on after the earl’s death, and in the late 1890’s, that hand started being called a “Yarborough” after him, and bridge players still use the term today. (It is also commonly used to refer to any weak hand.) Actual odds against being dealt a 13 card hand with no ace, and no cards higher than a nine, from a standard 52 card deck of cards: approximately 1,827 to 1. So it was actually a pretty smart bet for the Earl of Yarborough to make.
There are other words that are in the good ole Oxford Dictionary that we don’t use much here in Natchitoches Parish.

Apricity: The warmth of the sun during winter or on a particularly cold day. From the Latin apricus, meaning “warmed by the sun.” Despite the icy temperature, she was able to enjoy a moment of apricity as the sun emerged from behind a cloud.

Brabble: To squabble or argue noisily about inconsequential things. The word is believed to come from the 16th century Middle Dutch brabbelen meaning “to quarrel or jabber.” The incessant brabbling at the Natchitoches Parish Council meetings gives me a headache.
There are more, but you have endured this lengthy introduction.

Grace.

Grace is described in the Bible like this, “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” When you need it but don’t deserve it and can’t earn it, grace is God’s gift to us in Jesus.” God is Jesus giving grace to all who ask. Asking is actually the only qualification to receive His grace.
Thus endeth the lesson.

Rotary Club of Natchitoches’ Jan. 31 meeting was held at Alliance Compressors. General Manager Gardner presented a PowerPoint on the company’s mission and goals. As of October 2015, they have made 20 million compressor units and in March they will celebrate 20 years of operation. They have received many awards and are proud of their safety culture. Pictured from left are David Zolzer, President-elect of Rotary of Natchitoches; Gardner; and Arthur Welch, Rotarian with the program.

A poem by Northwestern State University Professor Emeritus of English Julie Kane, “Used Book,” will be read on NPR’s “The Writer’s Almanac” Friday, Feb. 3. This is the third time Kane’s work has been featured on the NPR show. “Particle Physics” from Kane’s book “Jazz Funeral” was read on the program in 2009 and “Used Book” was previously read in 2011.

“The Writer’s Almanac” is hosted by Garrison Keillor, the former host of “A Prairie Home Companion,” and is broadcast in northwest and central Louisiana on Red River Radio stations KDAQ-FM (89.9) in Shreveport and KLSA-FM in Alexandria (90.7) at 9 a.m.

“Garrison Keillor believes that poetry belongs to everyone and that it can enrich our everyday lives,” said Kane. “I was told he sometimes repeats poems he likes. I am thrilled at the opportunity to have my words connect with his nearly 800,000 listeners.”

“Used Book” is a sonnet Kane wrote about finding a signed copy of a book of her poetry in a used bookstore.

“It’s a cheerful sonnet until the last two lines,” said Kane. “I pick it up, look at the dedication page and see who has sold the book back.”

“Used Book” was a winner of the Open Poetry Sonnet Competition, a competition sponsored by the United Kingdom-based Open Poetry Ltd.

Kane was Louisiana poet laureate for two years. Her latest book is “Paper Bullets.” She won the Donald Justice Poetry Prize for “Jazz Funeral.” A former Fulbright Scholar, Kane was a winner of the National Poetry Series Open Competition for her book “Rhythm & Booze.” She was a finalist for one of the major prizes in American poetry, The Poets’ Prize for the Best Collection of American Poetry, and a judge for the 2005 National Book Award in Poetry. Northwestern State honored her with the 2004 Mildred Hart Bailey Research Award.

“The Writer’s Almanac” is a daily radio program in which Keillor presents a list of cultural events and anniversaries, many associated with literary figures, then ends with the poetry reading.  The program is broadcast to nearly 400 public radio stations around the country.

The program audio is also streamed and podcast from and archived at writersalmanac.publicradio.org and may be streamed or archived on station websites.

The Louisiana Home Builders Association Remodelers Council hosted its 2016 Louisiana Remodeling Excellence Awards (LREA) Jan. 26 at an LHBA Installation and Awards Banquet. The awards were presented for projects completed between May 1, 2015 and Oct. 1, 2016.

The Louisiana Remodeling Excellence Awards celebrates the best in remodeling throughout Louisiana. Awards are open to all Louisiana licensed remodelers, builders, interior designers and kitchen and bath professionals.
Contest Winners:
Category: 1A Kitchen under $50,000
1st Wayne Golden -Design Management Group
2nd Devon Sweeney -Sweeney Restoration

Category: 1B Kitchen over $50,000
1st Ryan McCroskey -Design Management Group
2nd Rachel Courville -Accessibility by Design

Category: 2A Bath under $20,000
1st Shane Ponthieux -Crain’s Remodeling & Maintenance

Category: 2B Kitchen over $20,000
1st James Crain-Crain’s Remodeling & Maintenance

Category: 3A Whole House under $250,000
1st Richard Earls -Richard Earls Construction
2nd Fred May-May Investments
3rd Ryan McCroskey-Design Management Group

Category: 3B Whole House over $250,000
1st Fred May-May Investments
2nd Scott Waskom -Edgewater Construction of Natchitoches
3rd Steve Wobbema -Quality Home Repair of LA

Exchange Bank announces expansion with the opening of its new Loan Production Office in Pineville as well as the promotion of three new officers. The Exchange Bank Board of Directors announced the promotion of Jared Ganey, Laura Lyles, and Claire Harrington at their January Board Meeting.

Jared Ganey was named Vice President and Loan Officer at Exchange Bank. Jared will manage the new Exchange Bank Loan Production Office, located in Skyline Plaza, 3493 Hwy 28E, in Pineville.  Jared has been in banking over 16 years in the Rapides and LaSalle Parish areas. He graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University and served as President of the Louisiana Bankers Education Council. Jared is a graduate of Jena High School and the Northwestern State University School of Business. He is married to Mandy Ganey and has two kids, Rylon and Raegan, who attend First Baptist Church Pineville.

The new Loan Production Office will be devoted to lending activities and will include space for client meetings and closings. Lending options will include residential, consumer, small business and commercial loans. According to Mike Newton, President and CEO, “A significant percentage of our customer base is from our neighbors in Rapides, Grant and LaSalle Parishes, and having a local office in that area is a natural growth path for Exchange Bank.”

In Natchitoches at the Exchange Bank South Drive branch, Laura Terrell Lyles was named Branch Manager and Loan Officer.

Laura is a Natchitoches native and graduate of Natchitoches Central High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern State University in Hospitality, Management & Tourism, and went on to earn her MBA from Nicholls State University. Laura brings 10 years of experience in sales, marketing, and business management to the Exchange Bank team. In addition to commercial, consumer, and mortgage lending, she will serve as Branch Manager for the 104 South Drive location and will be heavily involved in the marketing and advertising for the bank.

Laura is married to Dr. Chris Lyles, NSU alumnus and Assistant Professor of Biology at NSU, and they have two boys: Carson, age 5, and Cooper, 18 months. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches, an Ambassador for the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Natchitoches Young Professionals, and an active alumna of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

Located at the Main Office on Front Street in downtown Natchitoches, Claire Harrington was named Operations Officer. Her job duties will include accounting, accounts payable, and payroll.

Claire is a Natchitoches native who graduated from St. Mary’s High School and went on to Northwestern State University to graduate with a Bachelor degree in General Studies, with a concentration in Culinary Arts. Claire is engaged to be married to Brandon Mayeaux. They are members of the St. Anne Catholic Church in Natchez. Claire is also an Ambassador for the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Natchitoches Service League, and an active alumna of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.

“It’s an exciting time for Exchange Bank,” states Joe Henry, Chairman of the Board. “With the addition of several bright young employees and our expansion into Pineville, we have a great level of energy and momentum going into 2017.”

Newton says of the expansion, “We are excited to welcome Jared, Laura and Claire to our team. They are each valuable assets who share our bank philosophy of providing exceptional customer service. We look forward to serving the Pineville area with the same level of customer care.”

Exchange Bank Board of Directors includes Chairman J.M. “Joe” Henry III, Michael S. Newton, John W. Luster, Sidney Evans, and Harold J. Boutte’ Sr.  Founded in 1892, Exchange Bank is the oldest bank in Louisiana! Learn more about Exchange Bank at http://www.exchange-bank.com.

Northwestern State history professor Dr. Greg Granger received a first-hand glimpse of the complex world of “contrast and even contradiction” during a trip to Cuba in early January.

Granger visited the Caribbean island nation as part of a 15-professor cohort organized through the Council for International Educational Exchange where the American group spent 10 days with Cuban professors, economists and healthcare professionals discussing a variety of topics and touring Cuban facilities.

“I am still processing it — it was fascinating,” said Granger, who toured the country from Jan. 3-13. “The country is in transition, and we don’t exactly know where it’s going.

“One thing I got a real feel for that may surprise people is that there is a great deal of participation in policy-making. It’s not a free country as we know, but it’s not all a top-down, dictatorial style, either. There were a lot of people at the neighborhood level in offices and apartments that discussed hundreds of reform proposals, and they were open and critical discussions, which surprised me.”

“Overall, Havana was a clean, pleasant and friendly place with good music and good food.”

He likened it to New Orleans for its Spanish-influenced cultural liveliness and hospitality to visitors. The group purchased fresh fruit daily in markets teeming with vendors such as elderly ladies selling bread from basement ovens, sporadic music flowing from street corners and shoppers sipping superb coffee. Cars from the 1940s and 1950s are used as taxis, charming yet emitting levels of pollution that caused Granger a sore throat even 10 days after leaving the country.

One of his colleagues used the term “decrepit grandeur” to describe Havana, meaning structures might be falling down from the outside but were well maintained inside.

But as tourism booms with recently softened U.S.-Cuba relations — Granger said American tourism contributed greatly to about four million tourists this past year to Cuba, an island nation of just more than 11 million –Cubans worry about the effect of large outside investment overshadowing their culture and customs.

“You don’t see great gaps of wealth and poverty, so we want them to advance but not lose their sense of social justice or pride in education. Personally, I have a problem treating healthcare like a commodity, and I think (Cubans) have a better sense of taking care of one another. I also think we need to adopt their pride in education and advancing literacy. We’ve got some serious issues competitively in key areas of education. We have so many opportunities in this country, but I can’t help but to feel we lose some of them by just getting comfortable and complacent. But when you can’t afford to be complacent, you strive and you work. I think we need to get a new sense of that.”

 

The Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Awards Luncheon Feb. 2 at the Events Center.

With over 3,600 votes cast (up 10 percent from last year) the Business of the Year winners are:
3 J’s Fourway: Small Business of the Year
AEP SWEPCO: Large Business of the Year
Maggio’s Package Liquor: Mid-Size Business of the Year
All Hours Fitness: New Business of the Year

2016 Chamber Board Chair Janice Bolton handed the gavel to 2017 Chair Kirk Soileau. She also gave special recognition to Dion Boyett for all his contributions to the Chamber.

“The Chamber has accomplished a lot,” she said. “We’re ready to expand and have new businesses come to Natchitoches. We’re one big family working together in every component to make this community a better place to live and work.

Natchitoches Young Professional members Lauryn Sharplin, Valencia Jones, Howard Conday and Justin Rhodes were presented with the NYP’s 4 Under 40 Award.

Read the agenda below to see some of the Chambers accomplishments in 2016 and its goals for the coming years.

 

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies are reporting that Mrs. Arlene D. Prince reported missing on Wednesday afternoon has been found near the Hagewood area.
Mrs. Prince does not require medical attention and is safe at this
time.

Two private citizens reportedly traveling on La. Hwy 6 West this morning, Feb. 2 at 8:30 a.m. observed who they thought was Mrs. Prince exiting some woods with her dog walking.

Deputies and Robeline Police responded to the area confirming it being Mrs. Prince accompanied by her black lab.

Deputies are in the process of reuniting Mrs. Prince with family members.
Sheriff Victor Jones extends his appreciation to NPSO Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana State Police Air Support, Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts #4, #5, #7, #9, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and all of the volunteers who took part in the search to return Mrs. Prince to her family safely.

Photo: NPSO

PRESS RELEASE: February 2, 2017

Fire District No. 1 will hold an information session at its fire station on Melle St. (off Patrick Road) in Point Place on Saturday, February 4, 2017, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m.

The purpose of the session is to provide information about the Fire District to interested residents of the District and to solicit volunteers to serve in the department. According to Board Chairman Harry Hawthorne, the District needs volunteers throughout the District, but especially in the Point Place area.

All interested persons should try to attend the session on Saturday. Representatives of the Fire District will be on hand to explain the operation of the District and the duties and responsibilities of a volunteer firefighter.

Rick Nowlin
Parish President

A combined search effort by the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana State Police Air Support, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries along with Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts #4, 7 and 9 are underway in west Natchitoches Parish for a missing Assumption Parish woman according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriiff Victor Jones Jr.

A search team by air and ground are currently looking for 60-year-old Arlene D. Prince, W/F, 5’02”, 180 pounds, with brown hair with highlights and brown eyes, last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt riding a green Polaris Artic Cat 500 ATV with her dog a black labrador retriever with an orange collar.

Deputies say the search began Feb. 1 at 4:38 p.m., when the woman’s husband reported her missing.

The couple is from the Thibodaux area, has a hunting camp and leases a hunting area on the Yellow Jacket Road off of La. Hwy 117 south of Hagewood. They were in the area Wednesday afternoon picking up deer feeders and other items on the lease.

At 1:15 p.m. The couple was traveling back to the camp. Mr. Prince was driving his pickup truck while Mrs. Prince and her dog were following possibly one-hundred yards behind because of dusty road conditions on the ATV.

Mr. Prince reported that he arrived at the camp, but noticed awhile later that Mrs. Prince and the dog failed to arrive.

He began to search the area repeatedly but failed to locate Mrs. Prince, the dog or the ATV and that’s when he contacted the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office for assistance.

A combined search effort by the NPSO, LSP, LDWF, Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts, and numerous volunteers and friends this evening is continuing at 11:52 p.m. to locate Mrs. Prince, however, at this time, she has not been located as those efforts continue according to Sheriff Jones.

Louisiana State Police Air Support with FLIR capabality flew the dense piney wooded area this evening which also includes rugged terrain and ravines in areas but were unsuccessful.

Deputies, and volunteers are currently searching the area on ATVs and UTVs as the search efforts continue.

If you see Mrs. Prince or her black Lab with an orange collar please contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-352-6432.

Press Release:  NPSO

Northwestern State University Acting President Dr. Chris Maggio expressed support Tuesday for the university’s international students and faculty in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven countries.

Maggio said, “Northwestern has historically maintained a culture of diversity that focuses on respect for all of its students and faculty regardless of race, gender, creed or national origin.  We will maintain that spirit of diversity by providing assistance and support in every way possible for those in the NSU family that are affected by the immigration policy.”

Enrollment of international students has increased significantly in the past decade at Northwestern, and Maggio said, “These individuals enhance and expand the culture of the university through their participation in student activities, creative and performing arts programs, intercollegiate athletics and their respective academic pursuits.”

Maggio said Northwestern embraces and supports the position of its governing body, the University of Louisiana System, on the executive order on immigration.

The UL System, which is headed by former Northwestern president Dr. Jim Henderson, has issued the following statement on the travel ban:

“The Universities of Louisiana provide campus cultures of inclusion that offer students the opportunity to develop their natural talents.  We welcome students and faculty from around the globe who contribute to the diverse learning culture only available on a college campus.  Our universities are working closely with students, faculty and staff who may be impacted by the executive order.

“We value immensely the work of our faculty and staff from the U.S. as well as those from other countries including employees from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.  Our international students and faculty are a vital part of our campus communities who contribute greatly to the missions of our universities.”

Maggio said Northwestern, which has more than 100 international students from 21 countries and several international faculty members, has personnel and resources available to assist individuals that may be affected by the executive order on immigration.

Students with questions or concerns may contact the International Student Resource Center in Room 230 of Russell Hall.  Center director Telba Espinoza-Contreras may be reached at contrerast@nsula.edu. or by calling 318-357-5939.  Vivian Pedroza, graduate assistant at the center, can be reached at Vpedrozaoo6310@nsula.edu or 318-357-5937.

Faculty with questions or concerns should contact Chief Academic Officer Dr. Vickie Gentry at 318-357-5361 or by email at gentry@nsula.edu.

“We want to reassure our students who may be uneasy about the repercussions of the new immigration policy that we are here to assist them,” Espinoza-Contreras said.  “Our university is better because of its international students, and we offer support to them and the international community here.”

OPINION

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

The other day I was driving through Payne Subdivision.  I was interested in the Nick Verret Memorial Bridge. There is a bridge closed in Payne Subdivision which limits the residents to one way in and out of their subdivision. Nick Verret claims that it would cost over 150,000 to fix the bridge. I use the term bridge loosely. On a temporary basis that bridge could be safely reopened for a fraction of that estimate. Here’s the rub for our two engineers in Parish government; it could be opened but it wouldn’t be perfect! Nick has a list of reasons the bridge can’t be fixed economically. Of course when an engineer speaks they are always are correct. We simpletons don’t understand their lofty wisdom. I also have some land 175 miles south of Lafayette I’ll sell you.

In looking at the bridge and thinking back over all I have heard from the people who are charged with maintaining the roads, I had a moment of clarity. We have too many engineers in charge of things. The reason nothing gets fixed is that both Rick and Nick are guilty of over-thinking and over-engineering every project. If it can’t be done perfectly in terms of engineering; it isn’t done. Since we don’t have enough money to do things perfectly, both of them are content to leave things as they are, or let them get worse. It seems that great engineering is trumping common sense when it comes to our roads.
Hey you engineer guys, we have no money. Quit trying to fix things perfectly or to your lofty engineering standards. You are smart guys. We recognize that most of what you would be doing would be “temporary.” So put your slide rules down, forget perfection and use some of that engineering knowledge for the benefit of the drivers and tax payers of Natchitoches Parish. Nick you have over used your “fixing the storm damage” excuse. Quit telling the public what you can’t do and give us a plan of what you can do. Even better, tell us what you will do.

By the way, the “bridge” in Payne Subdivision could be fixed for the amount Nick Verret is paid annually. I wonder what would be more valuable to the tax payers, Nick Verret’s salary or an opened bridge in Payne subdivision.

Both of you engineers need to forget over engineering and learn the concepts of “value engineering.” You might have the book learning but you both seem to lack common horse sense, at least when it comes to roads.

Which leads one to wonder, what do you guys have on each other? Nothing is happening, the roads are getting worse, the voters are pissed and you guys are content to do whatever it is you do all day. What gives?
Sincerely,

Mr. Silence Dogood.

Public Advised to Use Alternate Routes Where Possible

The City of Natchitoches would like to advise the public that Lafayette Street, between Front Street and Second Street will be closed to traffic beginning Monday, Feb. 6 due to a street rehabilitation project. The rehabilitation project is estimated to take 75 calendar days to complete.

The contractor for the project is Progressive Construction Company.

The City of Natchitoches appreciates the public’s patience while these improvements are being made and reminds everyone to please drive with caution near the construction site.

This weekend we will motor down to Baton Rouge to see a performance by one of the foremost exponents of Louisiana French culture and music — Zachary Richard.

You may well have heard of Zachary, a singer, musician, composer, poet and a devoted and emotional champion of la Louisiane Francaise.

His songs range from the hauntingly beautiful love song, “Au Bord du Lac Bijou” (On the Shore of Jewel Lake) to the angry “Le Fou” (The Madness) about the Deep Water Horizon oil rig explosion and its devastating effect on the state’s coastal environment.  He also mournfully sings of the grand derangement, the expulsion by the British of the French Acadians from Nova Scotia in the mid 18th century.  Thankfully, many of those exiles ended up in Louisiana, to be known as the Cajuns.

Since I have a lot of French dna in my system, though, unlike Zachary none of it Cajun, I have become emotionally involved in the struggles of my own Gallic ancestors.  The first Darby in my line to come to Louisiana arrived in New Orleans in 1719.  Jonathas was an Englishman, the son of an Anglican priest, but Jonathas had converted to Catholicism and came here as a clerk for a huge private concession, or land grant holder, just outside New Orleans.

Jonathas married a French girl, as did his son, grandson and great-grandson.  In the late 1700s the  son, Jean Baptiste Darby, settled along Bayou Teche, or the Attakapas country, and Attakapas just happens to be the name of Zachary Richard’s show.

Like many folks I’m intensely interested in my ancestors and I often wonder what they all looked like.  I have images in my mind, but I’m sure they are completely inaccurate.  But I like to think about how they dealt with all the challenges that Louisiana residents faced throughout the centuries, disease, crop failures, civil war, economic depressions, etc.

The Louisiana French also had to deal with the clash of cultures after the United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.  All the history books on early Louisiana are rife with stories of how the French and the Anglos struggled to get along.  They had different dining and eating habits, religious differences, social customs (for example the French didn’t mind a drink or two on Sunday but the Protestant Anglos thought it sinful), and different political traditions.

They even disagreed on music.  When Americans began pouring into New Orleans after the Purchase, the Anglos and French would get into fights at dances and balls over whether “English” or French music should be played.  Gov. Claiborne eventually had to decree that the styles of music would be alternated at all dances.

Natchitoches, of course, was founded by the French, French Canadians to be exact. We’ve all heard of Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, the colorful and intrepid founder of our little town in 1714.  (Can it already be three years since we celebrated our tricentennial?)   I also happen to be a descendant of St. Denis, but that’s a whole other story.

Anyway, the French culture was dominant here for many years, until the more prominent Anglo-Saxon culture of the rest of north Louisiana finally took hold in the late 19th and early 20th century.

I enjoy the fact that my pastor, Father Marc Noel of Holy Cross Catholic Church, is of French Canadian ancestry.  Around holiday time I tease him that his name in French, Pere Noel, means Father Christmas.  “That’s why I go by Father Marc,” he answers.

I could probably write forever on Louisiana’s French culture.  It has contributed ever so much to our state, as have all the other cultures and peoples who have settled here in the past 300 years  Suffice it for me to say at this time, Vive la Louisiane Francaise.

Cliff Hart, a customer of the Robeline-Marthaville Water System, submitted a photo of the utility meter at the Water Office in Robeline. Hart visited with office staff, who were sitting in the dark. The NPJ exhausted all of its resources trying to get an explanation for the power shut-off, but no one was reachable or willing to go on the record.

The NPJ has also been informed to expect more board member resignations, but no official letters have been tendered at the time of publication.

 

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #2 and SWEPCO responded to a single-vehicle crash on La. Hwy 156 close to the Mammy Trail near Goldonna Feb. 1 at 8 a.m.

Deputies say 25-year-old Whitney Winn of Campti was operating a 2008 Chevrolet Impala traveling eastbound on La. Hwy 156 when she apparently lost control of the vehicle leaving the roadway on the right side striking a utility pole.

Winn’s two children were passengers in the vehicle.

The impact of the crash caused two utility poles to break, at which time, the poles and power lines fell on and along the roadway causing power outages to area including Goldonna Elementary School.

Just minutes after the crash, a second vehicle 2010 Toyota pickup truck operated by sixty-seven-year-old Larry Easterling of Goldonna traveling through the area became tangled in the power lines hanging above the roadway.

SWEPCO was contaced and responded to the scene immediately while Easterling remained in his vehicle.

SWEPCO arrived on scene insuring it was safe for Mr. Easterling to exit his vehicle.

Deputies say there were no injuries although EMS checked all parties at the scene.

The power outage caused early class dismissals at Goldonna Elementary School.

NPSO Deputies assisted SWEPCO officials with traffic while they restored power to the area until approximately 12:07pm.

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

PHOTOS: NPSO