Briarwood Nature Preserve celebrated a momentous occasion at its Spring Picnic April 1. It unveiled the plaque which will mark the 200-acre nature conservatory as a location on the National Register of Historic Places.

The nomination was drafted by Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc. staff in coordination with the members of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Caroline Dormon Nature Preserve.

Caroline Dormon made monumental contributions to the conservation of Louisiana’s natural and cultural resources. Her passion for native plants and old-growth forests, coupled with a strong feeling of kinship with Native Americans, shaped Dormon’s life and work. In the 1920s and 1930s, she was instrumental in persuading the US Forest Service to establish a national forest, now known as Kisatchie National Forest.

The beautiful spring weather was the perfect setting for a picnic as board members visited with the community, all while being serenaded by music from the Back Porch Band. Tickets were drawn for door prizes and the grand prize of an overnight stay at the Writer’s Cabin. Prizes were donated by Maglieaux’s Riverfront Restaurant, Merci Beaucoup and other local restaurants and businesses.

Board members include Gladden Willis, Mary Guidry, Richard Johnson, Daniel Murchison, John Dillon, John Geiser III, Rose Johnson, Evelyne Taylor, Burton Weaver, Mary White, Betsy Cochran, James Durham, Julie Callihan, Marion Bienvenu, Chris Evans, Joe Stamey, Marjorie Thomas, Ginger Weaver, Arthur Williams and Emily Wofford.

Contemporary jazz artist Jessy J will perform with the Northwestern State Jazz Orchestra on Monday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Galindo Rodriguez directs the Jazz Orchestra.

Jessy J’s song “Tequila Moon” hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart for Jazz. “Tropical Rain” from her 2009 release, reached the top of the Groove Jazz Music chart and also took the No. 1 spot on the Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown as well as the R&R and Billboard Jazz charts.

In 2008, Jessy J was named Radio & Records Debut Artist of the Year. She also received the Contemporary Jazz Song of the Year award from R&R and Billboard for “Tequila Moon.” That year, she was featured on the cover of Jazziz Magazine. In 2009, she was on the October cover of Saxophone Journal and Latina Style Magazine.

Jessy J’s Album Hot Sauce debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Jazz in 2011 and was featured in People Espanol and Latina magazine. The album includes performances by jazz legends Joe Sample, Harvey Mason, and Ray Parker Jr.

In 2014, Jessy was invited by producer Gerry Gallagher to record with Latin rock legends El Chicano as well as Alphonse Mouzon, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Vikki Carr, David Paich, Siedah Garrett, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Lenny Castro, Salvador Santana, Marcos J. Reyes, Pete Escovedo and Peter Michael Escovedo and is featured on saxophone on a cover of a Selena song Thinking Of You that is part of Gallagher’s most recent studio album due out this year.

Earning a scholarship to University of Southern California, she obtained a degree in jazz studies and was named the “Most Outstanding Jazz Student.” After graduating from USC, she worked in the studio with Michael Bublé. She toured with The Temptations, Jessica Simpson, Michael Bolton and Seal and also performed as a member of the Henry Mancini Jazz Orchestra.

Jessy J has built up a Latin following, lending her hand in Hispanic music programs and performing with the Hispanic Musician Association Orchestra. Jessy J had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with Paquito D’Rivera as part of the Latin Jazz Project.

The Jazz Orchestra will play “Chicago” by Fred Fisher and arranged by Joe Clark featuring Ronald Rodriguez on piano, Laura Lovell on tenor saxophone and Wes Scholten on trombone, “Old School” by Bob Lark and arranged by Andrew Janak featuring Francisco B. Savas on trumpet, Lovell, Ian Cassidy on alto saxophone and Scholten and “Makin’ Whoopee” by Gus Kahn and Walter Donaldson and arranged by Dave Wolpe. The Jazz Orchestra will also play “What’s New” by Johnny Burke and Bob Haggart and arranged by Wolpe featuring Galindo Rodriguez and Sayas on trumpet and “My Ship” by Ira Gershwin and Kurt Weill and arranged by Dave Rivello featuring Jack Dyre on baritone saxophone.

Jessy J will perform her compositions of “Hot Sauce” and “Tropical Rain” along with “Tequilla Moon,” which she wrote with Paul Brown and “Rainbow Gold,” which was written with Joe Sample. Arrangements are by J.A. Diaz.

Even though they work in different professions, the careers of Dr. James Henderson and Gerard F. Thomas Jr. of Natchitoches and Lenn Dohmann Prince of Ruston have been shaped by their willingness to serve others.

Henderson, Prince and Thomas will be honored by Northwestern State University on Friday when they are inducted into the University’s alumni hall of distinction, the Long Purple Line along with Dr. Julian E. Bailes of Chicago and the late Joe Delaney.

Honorees will be honored at a luncheon on April 7 at 11:30 a.m. in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom. Tickets are $20. For more information, call (318) 357-4414 or go to northwesternalumni.com/lpl17.

Henderson has devoted his career to providing educational opportunities to students. He became president of the University of Louisiana System on Jan. 1, overseeing one of the largest university systems in the United States with more than 90,000 students on nine campuses.

Henderson was president of Northwestern State for two years. In that period, NSU increased overall enrollment and improved its retention rate. Enrollment in the fall 2016 semester increased by seven percent to 9,819, the highest total since selective admissions were implemented in 2005. Northwestern State worked to strategically develop new programs that give students access to high demand skills and give employers in the region a competitive advantage.

As NSU’s president, Henderson worked closely with students, faculty, staff, alumni and stakeholders to strengthen the university. He was honored at the spring 2016 commencement ceremony with a resolution from Northwestern State’s Faculty Senate for his “multiple creative and innovative efforts to revitalize the life of the university.”

Henderson was chancellor of Bossier Parish Community College from 2009 – 2014. In that time, BPCC grew its enrollment by more than 84 percent and increased annual certificate and degree completions by 90 percent. He was senior vice president, workforce and economic development/career & technical education for the Louisiana Community & Technical College System from 2005 to 2009.

From 2001 to 2005, he was director of administration and director of workforce development for the Louisiana Department of Labor.

Henderson was in the private sector for 10 years in hotel management.

Prince is a native of Opelousas who began studies at Northwestern State in 1972, where she was a member of the NSU Chorale and played French horn in the NSU Orchestra. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and represented NSU in the 1974 Miss Louisiana Pageant as Miss Northwestern-Lady of the Bracelet. She graduated in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance education and later earned a master’s degree in vocal performance form the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

While living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Prince continued her vocal studies with teacher and pedagogue Jane Snow, performing in many vocal ensembles in Albuquerque and Santa Fe and with the Southwest Opera Chorus in Albuquerque. While working towards her master’s degree, Prince was awarded a scholarship from the University of Miami to study in Salzburg, Austria, during the Salzburg Opera Festival where she studied and was coached by numerous world-renowned opera performers and teachers.

After moving to Ruston in 1992, Prince was host for many years to Northwestern State’s north-central Louisiana recruiting reception in her home. She was also a member of the Ruston Masterworks Chorus and the soprano soloist for many performances.

Prince and her husband Danny own and operate several businesses in several states, including nursing and rehabilitation centers, pharmacies and therapy companies, as well as Port au Prince restaurant on Lake Claiborne and Port au Prince Cross Lake. The Princes established two endowed professorships at NSU in 2012-13, one music and one in vocal education.

She was inducted into the Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice Estelle Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts Hall of Fame in 2016.

Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State in 1943. He was on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1943 to 1946. Thomas received a degree from LSU Law School in 1948.

He became a highly regarded attorney with the firm of Thomas, Dunahoe and Gregory practicing primarily in the field of negligence, workman’s compensation and general trial practice. Thomas was selected by his peers to appear in the publication, “The Best Lawyers in America.”

As an attorney, Thomas devoted countless hours to the profession through his activities in professional organizations. He was state committeeman for the American College of Trial Lawyers and American Trial Lawyers Association and president and state committeeman of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association.

Thomas served as a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates, chairman of the State Bar Association section on negligence, worker’s compensation and admiralty and president of the LSU Law School Alumni Association. He was a member of the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana from 1983 to 1987, serving as chairman in 1987.

It is not too late to learn more about and apply to attend LSMSA as it hosts its final Exploration Day of the year on Monday, April 10.

Prospective students in grades eight through 11, along with their families, are invited to tour the campus, meet the staff and current students and sit in on a variety of classes. Exploration Day is designed to give an overview of the academic, social and residential life programs that LSMSA offers.

LSMSA is the only state-funded residential high school for high achieving and highly motivated sophomores, juniors and seniors. Each year students from all across the state seek admission. Students from public, private and parochial schools, as well as those who are home schooled, are encouraged to apply. Admission is highly competitive. The school offers college level classes in a disciplined, nurturing environment. Students are exposed to rich opportunities through an extensive curriculum in all subject areas.

Named a Blue Ribbon High School by the U.S. Department of Education, LSMSA has articulation agreements with all schools in the University of Louisiana system, which award up to 74 hours of college credit for LSMSA courses. The scope of the courses and the number of semester hours of credit vary from institution to institution.

Articulation agreements are above and beyond the typical dual enrollment program, but LSMSA students also have access to more than 30 dual enrollment courses through a local university. These courses are part of the regular LSMSA curriculum and taught by LSMSA faculty. Additionally, LSMSA students are highly recruited by colleges all over the country.

To register for Exploration Day, visit the admissions section. For more information call 1-800-259-3173.

It’s the middle of April, right about the time when music from the Natchitoches Jazz and R&B Festival is known to fill the streets in the Historic District. While the festival is postponed this year, the Jazz Fest Board is planning for a bigger and better 2018 festival, according to Rodney Harrington.

The board announced its decision to postpone the event In August of last year. Cancelling the festival, which was set for April 2017, wasn’t what they wanted to do. Construction scheduled for the Rue Beauport Riverfront Project from January until October forced them to consider other options, but the board decided that taking the festival away from the riverbank wasn’t an option at all.

“Naturally we’re disappointed,” said Harrington. “At the same time we’re excited about the renovations that are underway, which I watch everyday from my office. We promise to be back next year with the biggest and best festival ever April 20-21, 2018.”

Also, stay tuned for mini music events until 2018, geared toward keeping the festival in the public eye and keeping music at the heart of Natchitoches.

Join the Natchitoches Young Professionals at its April Social and Membership Drive Thursday, April 20 from 5:30-7:30 pm at Cane River Bar & Grill. These events are super casual and a great way to meet people and enjoy Natty.

Old members: You know the drill! Only now it’s time to renew your dues for 2017.
New members/potential new members: Stop by and find out what NYP is all about. There are always new faces to meet, new connections to make, and fun times to be had at the socials.

Mission Statement: NYP is dedicated to development and engaging our community’s current and future business leaders with membership available to anyone between the ages of 21-40 who lives, works, learns, or plays in the greater Natchitoches area.

Membership is only $35 per year, and provides access to exclusive NYP networking and professional development opportunities, like our Lunch with Leaders Series (monthly Q&A luncheons with local and state leaders), Philanthropic opportunities, community outreach, networking events and more. NYP is here to bring fun and exciting events and spaces to the community (like the Pub Crawl), and the current Dog Park project being worked on.

There will be food and drink specials at the event, which is casual, so come and go as you please.

COMMCARE is the ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR for the NRMC FOUNDATION GALA Natchitoches Community Care (CommCare) is the Entertainment Sponsor for the 30th NRMC Foundation Gala to be held May 20th. This year’s event is a “Flashback to the 80s”  featuring the Molly Ringwalds, widely known as THE BEST 80s tribute band! Sponsorships are still available and general admission tickets will go on sale April 17th. For more information, call Cathy Jacobs 318-214-4513.

Shown front left to right: Tom Matuschka, NRMC Foundation Executive Director; Doug Feazell, Maintenance Supervisor; Chris Delrie, Administrator Natchitoches Community Care; Tina Ray, Accounts Manager; Cloyd Benjamin, NRMC Foundation Board Member; Ijetta Joseph, Clinical Care Coordinator; Cathy Jacobs, Gala Chairperson; Myrtis Payton, Household Coordinator; Sonya Voight, Clinical Care Coordinator; Jolean Strahan, Clinical Coordinator; Jared Ferguson, Marketing Director and Doris Mitchell, Receptionist.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS, Natchitoches Rescue and Natchitoches Parish Fire District #6 arrived on the scene of a two-vehicle injury crash on La. Hwy 6 near Hargis Road that occurred April 4 at 9:20 pm, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say injuries were reported.

Get ready for an enchanted evening of dancing and fun. The ladies of Les Amies will host a Father Daughter Dance Saturday, April 8 from 6-8 pm at Freedom Life Church. All father figures are invited to join in making this evening a memorable occasion with their daughter, stepdaughter, granddaughter, niece, sister or other extended family. The event is open to all Natchitoches Parish Residents.

-Ages: PreK – 8th Grade girls

-Attire: Sunday Best

-Live DJ provided

-Light refreshments will be served

-Father dance contest and prizes

-Tiara/corsage packages available for purchase*

-Photo packages available

(*Additional charges apply. Ask for details.)
Tickets are $35 per couple, $15 for each additional daughter and $10 for each additional father. Tickets are available via: Les Amies Members or by emailing lesamiesladies@gmail.com.

This event is a fundraiser hosted by the Les Amies Service Organization. All proceeds from this event are donated back into the Natchitoches community.

For more information email Lesha Etheredge at leshae.91314@gmail.com.

Dr. Chris Maggio invites the Natchitoches community to the Flavor of Louisiana, a spring fund raiser and seafood extravaganza that celebrates Northwestern State University’s donors, supporters, alumni and students.

The Louisiana Seafood Board partnered with the NSU Foundation on this event, which allows the foundation to showcase specialty dishes from some of the greatest restaurants across Louisiana.

The Flavor of Louisiana will begin Friday, April 7 at 6 p.m. with music, cocktails and specialty dishes at Prather Coliseum. In conjunction with this event, the Office of the Student Experience will host a silent auction exhibiting special items to help support our students and their scholarships…. There will be performances from the Creative and Performing Arts Department featuring musical ensembles, vocalists and dance exhibitions. There will also be specialty desserts provided by the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management and Tourism Department.

This event is hosted by the NSU Foundation and the Louisiana Seafood Board. This will be the Foundation’s signature event for the year. All proceeds go to support the NSU faculty, staff, programs and scholarships.

Tickets can be purchased online or over the phone. Individual tickets are $65 and couple tickets are $125. Sponsorship packages are available upon request.

By Leah Jackson

Northwestern State University and South Louisiana Community College will sign 2 + 2 agreement that will allow students who earn an associate degree in criminal justice at SLCC to transfer credit hours towards a bachelor’s degree at NSU. Administrators say the partnership saves students time and money as they pursue a four-year degree in criminal justice.

Northwestern State University Acting President Dr. Chris Maggio and SLCC Chancellor Dr. Natalie Harder will formalize the agreement with a signing ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 5 in Room 102 of the Ardoin Building at the SLCC Lafayette campus, 1101 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette. Area news media and the public are invited to attend.
For more information, contact Leah Jackson, NSU’s Director of Informational Services, at jacksonl@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4553.

National Crime Victims Rights Week, April 2-8, was observed at the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse April 4. A short program showed the community’s support for Victims of Crime in Natchitoches Parish.

To raise awareness to the community of the victims and how the victimization can be stop. Probation and Parole helps victims find reparation and get them to counseling. They get information out to victims so they know who to call and where to go.

The District Attorney’s office in Natchitoches is known for prosecuting, but it also helps victims. There is a Victims’ Assistance Coordinator at each of the 42 DA’s offices in the state. This person is dedicated to visiting with victims, notifying and taking care of them. Alice Hardison is the Victims’ Assistance Coordinator for the Natchitoches Parish DA Office.

“When a crime is committed and law enforcement goes to the scene they provide a victims’ notification form that goes to the DA’s office and other agencies. The DA can then get the victim into the office and explain the criminal process, inform them of upcoming court dates and keep them apprised of what is going on in the case,” DA Billy Joe Harrington said in an interview prior to Tuesday’s event.

The local office is located at 945 Fourth Street and can be reached at 357-3139. The statewide contact is Gail Guerin, 225-342-1069. For more information or to see how to can get involved and help those in need visit: http://victimsofcrime.org/.

The NSU Trumpet Ensemble, NSU Euphonium/Tuba Ensemble and NSU Tuba quartet will present a joint concert on Thursday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The Trumpet Ensemble is directed by Associate Professor of Trumpet Galindo Rodriguez. Associate Professor of Euphonium Dr. Masahito Kuroda conducts the Euphonium/Tuba Ensemble.

The Trumpet Ensemble will play “Festival Trio” by David Newell and “Festival Overture” by Dmitri Shostakovich and arranged by Caleb Hudson.

The Tuba Quartet will play “Dances” by John Stevens featuring graduate student Keith Sanders of Pineville as soloist. The quartet also includes Brendan Raincrow of Burleson Texas, Jordan Whatley of Paris, Texas, and Travis Pope of Longview, Texas.

Works to be performed by the Euphonium/Tuba Ensemble are “Scarborough Fair” arranged by Reichenbach, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach and arranged by Thurston and Joseph Haydn’s “Achieved is the Glorious Work” from “The Creation” arranged by Michael Forbes.

A fundraiser will be held to honor Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser Thursday, April 6 at 7 pm at a local restaurant, located at 530 Front St. in Natchitoches. The host committee includes Mayor Lee Posey, Senator Gerald Long, DA Billy Joe Harrington, Warren Reuther Jr., and Parish President Rick Nowlin. For more information call 225-347-8589 or email billyn@live.com.

 

New LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron, a former Northwestern State football standout who began his coaching career with the Demons, is the featured guest Friday, May 5, at NSU Athletics’ 2017 Legends Gala.

The sixth annual event, benefitting the Demons Unlimited Foundation, will be staged in Natchitoches for the first time. Orgeron will be joined in the spotlight by many of the other 20 NSU sports standouts spotlighted since the inaugural Legends event in 2012, said Dr. Haley Taitano, executive director of the DUF and associate athletics director at NSU.

Guests can join Orgeron at a 5 p.m. VIP Cocktail Hour at the new Chateau St. Denis Hotel at 751 Second Street in downtown Natchitoches. At 6 p.m., the event shifts across Second Street to the Natchitoches Events Center, where a dinner, auction and Legends panel discussion will ensue, followed by Orgeron as the featured speaker.

Details on the various participation levels and an online purchasing opportunity are available at NSUDemons.com/LegendsGala.

Orgeron, a 1984 Northwestern State graduate, was named LSU’s coach Nov. 26 after leading the Tigers to a 5-2 record as interim coach over the final two months of the 2016 season. His Tigers blasted Missouri, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M by double-digits and dropped close contests to Southeastern Conference Championship Game participants Alabama and Florida by a combined 16 points, battling the Crimson Tide scoreless in the first three quarters and falling a yard short of beating Florida.

The Larose native, who teamed with fellow Demon Legend Bobby Hebert to help South Lafourche High School win the 1977 Louisiana Class 4A state championship, was a standout on the NSU defensive line form 1980-83 under coaches A.L. Williams and Sam Goodwin. He was the first recipient of the Joe Delaney Memorial Leadership Award for Defense in 1983, voted by teammates as a permanent team captain.

A 1984 liberal arts graduate of NSU, Orgeron began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Goodwin that season, helping the Demons win the Gulf Star Conference championship.

Individual tickets at $75 include access to the Legends VIP Cocktail Hour featuring Orgeron followed by the Legends dinner, auction and program, which is $50 to those not attending the Cocktail Hour. A special rate at the Chateau St. Denis Hotel is available until April 13 by calling 318-951-4105 to make reservations by mentioning Legends Gala.

Auction items will be available online leading up to the Legends Gala, said Taitano. Those who cannot attend the event can make bids at NSUDemons.com/auctions.

Taitano is available for additional information by calling 318-357-4278 or at blounth@nsula.edu via e-mail.

The event was initially announced for Saturday, May 6, but an unresolvable scheduling conflict resulted in the shift up a day to Friday, May 5, said Taitano.

Sponsor packages range from $500 to $2,500 including various benefits and access, detailed at NSUDemons.com/LegendsGala.

Orgeron was 6-2 as interim head coach in 2013 at Southern California, and was head coach for three years (2005-07) at Ole Miss, where he arranged to play his alma mater in 2006 and 2007 guarantee games that produced $650,000 in revenue for NSU Athletics.

Noted as one of the most successful recruiters in college football in the past two decades, Orgeron served two stints on staff at USC, and made his name as defensive line coach at Miami from 1988-92. He also coached at Arkansas and Syracuse, and with the New Orleans Saints in 2008.

Orgeron was named in 2007 to the Top 100 Demon Players of All-Time roster chosen during the NSU football centennial celebration. At end and tackle in his final two seasons, he made 121 tackles, including 17 for lost yards.

In 2014, he was enshrined in the N-Club Hall of Fame and was also spotlighted at that year’s Legends event along with Hebert and two more football greats, Gordon Boogaerts and Kevin Lewis.

The NSU Middle Lab School Orchestra competed for the third time at Festival Disney in Orlando Florida March 30 – April 1. Here is a video submitted by a parent. Congratulations Katrice Lacour and all the kids for a wonderful job.

A full story on the competition is forthcoming.

Video courtesy of Steven Hines

From Mary Brocato

We are in terrible danger of losing Hodges Gardens State Park. If the state does not find the money to fund the park adequately, it will close on June 31 and revert back to the Hodges Family Foundation. Do your part to help save this treasure in Sabine Parish. Write a letter or call the elected officials listed below and tell them to find the money, and keep Hodges Gardens State Park open. Do your part, please if you want to keep Hodges Gardens open. Please share.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE FROM SABINE OR VERNON PARISHES OR EVEN LOUISIANA TO WRITE TO THESE STATE OFFICIALS. THE MORE PEOPLE THEY HEAR FROM, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO SOMEHOW FUND THE PARK. PLEASE SHARE.

Governor John Bel Edwards
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
225-342-7015

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser
P.O. Box 44243
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
225-342-7009

Senator John R. Smith
District 30
611-B South 5th St
Leesville, LA 71446
337-238-2709

Senator Gerald Long
District 31
332 Monroe Dr
Natchitoches, LA 71457
318-628-5799

Representative Frank A. Howard
District 24
1601 Texas Hwy
Many, LA 71449
318-256-4135

Representative James K. Armes III
District 30
2255 University Pkwy
Leesville, LA 71446
337-238-7004

The Natchitoches Shooting Range hosted a Spring Clay Hunt through the National Sporting Clay Association (NSCA) April 1.

This was the first NSCA tournament the range has held since 2001 and there were 60 shooters participating in the event. Shooters ate Grayson’s BBQ for lunch.

Terry Sklar (Class E) and Brian Carroll (Class E) said Jim Talmidge is responsible for getting them and other friends into the sport in Natchitoches. Carroll, president of the Natchitoches Range, said anyone interested in getting started could contact the range.

Jim Talmidge (Class B), Chris Lee (Class E) and Mike Murphy (Class B) agreed that the sport has a lot to do with friendship and camaraderie as it brings together members from all over.

“This is our golf,” said Jim Rambin. “Golf with a shotgun.”

NSCA is the largest Sporting Clays association in the world with over 22,000 members in all 50 states.

“This sport teaches discipline,” said Rambin. “It teaches you to focus on what’s going on around you and to be precise.”

David Lansou (Class AA) and David Warren (Class C), both from Lafayette, said every shooter learns from his fellow NSCA members. Lansou said he’s done shotgun sports since the late 70s (trap and skeet) and was introduced to sporting clays in Scotland in the mid 80s.

According to the NSCA, the sport dates back to England in the early 1900s when trap shooting used live pigeons. When clay targets were introduced, the sport began to take on the popular form known today. Sporting clays courses are designed to simulate the hunting of ducks, pheasants and even rabbits.

View Standings:  All American Points

 

 

St. Mary’s competed in the State Power Lifting Meet at University of Louisiana at Monroe on March 17. Results of the State Power Lifting Meet:

Hannah Deranger lifted 460 lbs, placing 3rd in her weight class
Clayton Jackson lifted 1120 lbs, placing 3rd in his weight class
Damon LaGrande lifted 1255 lbs, placing 3rd in his weight class
David Thibodaux lifted 1330 lbs, placing 3rd in his weight class
Matthew Thibodaux lifted 1385 lbs, placing 2d in his weight class

Pictured from left are Damon LaGrande, David Thibodaux, Hannah Deranger, Clayton Jackson, Sean Grappe, and Matthew Thibodaux.

The Northwestern State University Presidential Search Committee selected four semifinalists to interview at the end of the month for the school’s top post.

The semifinalists are:

Neal Barlow, Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Arkansas Tech University

 

 

 

Chris Maggio, Acting President and Vice President for the Student Experience, Northwestern State University

 

 

 

 

Timothy Quinnan, Vice President for Student Affairs, University of Texas at Arlington

 

 

 

 

William Wainwright, Chancellor, Northshore Technical Community College

 

 

 

 

 

“The NSU search is especially meaningful to me and I am pleased with the incredible talent found in the four semifinalists,” UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson said. “The university is on a positive trajectory and its next leader is poised to create an even better environment for students.”

Candidates will sit for public interviews on Northwestern’s campus April 26 and 27 to select finalists who will interview with the UL System Board at a special meeting May 4. UL System staff will release a detailed interview schedule when it is finalized. In addition to public interviews, candidates will meet with NSU faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members. Comments and questions can be submitted by emailing NSUPresidentialSearch@la.gov.

Voting members of the search committee include UL System board members Edward Crawford, Lola Dunahoe, Pam Egan, Jimmie Martin, Shawn Murphy, Alejandro Perkins, Mark Romero, Winfred Sibille and Student Board Member Antonio Torres. Also serving as a voting member is NSU Faculty Senate President Marcia Hardy.

Serving as advisory, non-voting members are NSU Student Government Association President John Pearce, NSU Foundation President Scott Andrews, NSU Alumni Association President Monty Chicola and community member Gail Jones. UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson serves as the non-voting committee chair.

UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson led NSU prior to beginning his new role in January. Semifinalist candidate Chris Maggio is serving as the university’s acting president.

John and Kathy Richmond sample the signature drink “Purple Rain” for the Patron’s Party to be held in conjunction with the 30th Annual Foundation Gala. The Patron’s Party is an exclusive event held prior to the Gala to give special recognition to our corporate sponsors, with special hors ‘oeuvres and drinks as well as other fun perks. This is the second year that Maglieaux’s will sponsor the event in the Chateau St. Denis’ “Lounge 1714”.

This year’s Gala will feature an 80’s theme with the legendary  Molly Ringwalds performing a genre of music from that decade. The party will begin at 7:30 PM at the Natchitoches Events Center.   Sponsorships are still available and individual tickets will go on sale April 17th. For more information contact Cathy Jacobs at 318-214-4513.

Due to flooding, loss of electricity, and road conditions in Rapides and Vernon Parishes, Northwestern State University has cancelled classes at the Learning Center for Rapides Parish and the NSU Leesville-Ft Polk campus. Closures at these sites are for Monday, April 3, 2017.

Classes on the Northwestern main campus and the Shreveport campus will remain open. Students should notify their advisor or professors and faculty/staff should notify their supervisors if they have weather-related circumstances that prevent attendance today.