Northwestern State University will host a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8 for Dr. Chris Maggio who was named the university’s 19th president by the University of Louisiana System.

The press conference will take place in the Sylvan Friedman Student Union ballroom and will include time for photos and interviews. In addition to media, the public is invited to attend.

For more information, contact Leah Jackson, director of Informational Services, at jacksonl@nsula.edu or call (318) 357-4553.

The Natchitoches Lions Club performed free eye screenings for children at Bright Beginnings May 2. One out of every 20 children in Louisiana has an eye problem other than a need for glasses. The Louisiana Lions Eye Foundation, along with Lions Club volunteers, operates the CubSight Program to provide free vision screening to help identify children with visual problems.

Vision screenings can be provided at pre-schools, day care centers, head starts, Sunday schools or any place that children regularly gather.

Bright Beginnings Director Jessicus Berry said four of the children from the screening in 2016 are now in glasses.

“This is a service for my families,” she said. “Most people may not think about getting their children screened this young, but it benefits the kids if you can catch these vision problems early.”

Lions Club volunteers are trained by the CubSight Program to operate special handheld screening instruments that can detect eye problems that can cause lazy eye, refractive errors and congenital cataracts in children ages 1-5 who are too young to communicate these issues. These vision disorders are more easily treated in young children and the screening is completely noninvasive.

The results of the screening are evaluated by the LSU Health Science Center, Dept. of Ophthalmology. Results are sent out within 3 weeks of the screening. If a problem is detected, it’s recommended that child be seen by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.

Most exams should be covered by individual health insurance, LaChip or Medicaid. Plans vary and you may need to contact your child’s primary care doctor. Assistance may be available through the LLEF and the LSU Dept. of Ophthalmology.

For more information call Lions Club member Kelli Sampson at 318-471-7766.

Two undrafted Northwestern State 2016 senior football players, running back De’Mard Llorens and receiver/returner Shakeir Ryan, are getting an opportunity to reach the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams.

Llorens and Ryan, two of the most productive players in school history, will get tryouts during the Rams’ upcoming rookie mini-camp May 12-14 in Los Angeles.

“De’Mard and ‘Shake’ had tremendous Pro Day performances here this spring, and put up numbers that day that combined with their production for four years as Demons to earn them an opportunity at the highest level,” said veteran head coach Jay Thomas. “They’re excellent representatives of our program and bring great skill sets to the table at the professional level.”

They could add to the NSU Alumni chapter with the Rams. A standout blocker for them until last season, offensive tackle Pace Murphy, made the Rams’ 53-man active roster last season as an undrafted free agent. Former Demons center and assistant coach Bill Johnson joined the Los Angeles coaching staff as the defensive line coach earlier this year.

NSU has two more active players, Seattle cornerback Jeremy Lane and New York Jets defensive tackle Deon Simon. Another former player, Barry Rubin, is the veteran strength and conditioning coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ryan (5-8, 162) was honorable mention All-Southland as a punt returner after he finished second in the conference with his 10.1 punt return average. The Lafayette-Northside product finished his career second all-time at NSU with 140 career receptions.

Llorens (5-11, 213), a hometown product and Natchitoches Central graduate, was a first-team All-Southland running back last fall. He finished 10th all-time in Demon history in rushing yards (2,381 yards) and scored 180 career points (30 touchdowns, 25 rushing).

He led the Southland with an 85-yard overall rushing average in 10 games (12 yards better than the second-ranked runner) and a 99-yard average (nearly 17 yards ahead of No. 2) in eight conference contests. That included an abbreviated outing at Central Arkansas where on his second carry, he sustained a shoulder injury that benched him for the rest of that game and the next contest.

Discounting that brief appearance, Llorens’ averages would jump to 94 yards rushing overall, 112 yards per conference game, and he would also have topped the league in all-purpose yardage in conference play (133 ypg).

Finishing with 853 yards rushing on 134 carries (a 6.4 average per carry), Llorens ran for eight touchdowns. He caught two TD passes while making 158 yards with his 19 catches.

Llorens finished fifth in school history, tied with Sidney Thornton (1973-76), by scoring 25 touchdowns on the ground. He added five pass reception scores, with his 180 career points ranking sixth in school history for non-kickers, trailing only Derrick Johnese (212 from 2002-04), Shelton Sampson (198 from 2002-05) and Tony Taylor (198 from 1998-2001), Joe Delaney (188 from 1977-80) and Charlie Tolar (182 from 1956-58).

State Police conducted a traffic stop April 25 on a vehicle driven by Mitchell Lee Bayonne, 35. As a result of the traffic stop officers located approximately 9 grams of suspected methamphetamine from Bayonne’s person. They contacted the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force in reference to the arrest.

NMJDTF agents were conducting an ongoing narcotics investigation on Bayonne selling illegal narcotics in the Natchitoches area. Agents obtained a search warrant for Bayonne’s residence at 1402 Roy Dr. in Natchitoches where Bayonne’s wife Jennifer Bayonne, 34, was located.

Agents located and seized approximately 43 suspected Ecstasy pills, approximately 1 gram of suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia used in the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics. During the execution of the search warrant agents noticed that illegal narcotics were flushed down the toilet.

As the investigation continued it was determined that prior to NMJDTF agents arrival illegal narcotics were flushed down the toilet and illegal narcotics were removed from the residence and taken to another location. NMJDTF agents, with the assistance and cooperation of both suspects, located the narcotics that were taken from the residence. Agents recovered an additional 60 grams of suspected synthetic marijuana, 21 grams of suspected methamphetamine, another digital scale, approximately 8 grams of suspected high grade marijuana, 60 suspected Ecstasy pills, 3 suspected Alprazolam pills, 18 suspected Tramadol pills, 7 suspected hydrocodone pills, and 3 suspected Ultram pills.

Both suspects were charged with the following and taken to NPDC:

Mitchel Bayonne charged with:

· 3 counts of possession of CDS I with intent to distribute

· 2 counts of possession of CDS II with intent to distribute

· 3 counts of possession of CDS IV with intent to distribute

· 1 count of second or subsequent offenses

· 1 count of possession of drug paraphernalia

Jennifer Bayonne was charged with the following:

· 1 count Obstruction of Justice

NMJDTF requested that Mitchell Bayonne be held without bond and any and all other bonds are revoked due to the numerous narcotics arrests Bayonne has in Natchitoches Parish. The Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office is currently working on this request.

The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force would like to thank the Citizens of Natchitoches for their support. Many times an investigation begins with a simple phone call or tip from a concerned citizen. For this reason the Task Force encourages all citizens to report any crimes in their neighborhoods anonymously by calling 318-357-2248, The Natchitoches Police Department, or the Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office.

Girl’s golf placed 5th, out of 12 teams, overall at Regional’s April 24 at Les Vieux Chenes in Lafayette. St. Mary’s is proud of this great group of young ladies and would like to say thank you to their coaches, Chris Lee and Jenny Moses. Pictured from left are Coach Jenny Moses, Gracie Chasteen, Abigail Ramian, Mallory Lee, Anna Kate Jackson, Renea Cunningham and Coach Chris Lee.

A Student Success Center will be created thanks to an anonymous donation from an alumna of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.

“The creation of a professionally staffed and centrally housed Student Success Center represents a tremendous opportunity for our Living-Learning Community,” said Dr. Kristi Pope Kay, director of academic services at LSMSA.

Drawing from a collegiate model and utilizing the most current best practices in this field, LSMSA will be able to offer its students a more holistic academic support experience in their time on campus with the addition of a Student Success Center.

“We envision a space that allows for personalized academic counseling, for group sessions, for students to drop in for consultation or to simply work independently in a quiet and comfortable space,” said Key.

Anticipated to be located in the Center for Performance and Technology, this space offers the potential to create something very exciting for LSMSA students and faculty.

“We hope to work closely with colleagues at Northwestern State University, offering employment and internship opportunities to graduate students and recent graduates in the areas of education, English, counseling and psychology in order to extend the range of our services,” she said. “The $20,000 gift will seed the infrastructure needed to get the SSC on its feet with initial furniture, technology and supplies investments.”

The Student Success Center seeks an intern to for the 2017-18 academic year. To learn more about this opportunity, contact Kristi Key at kkey@lsmsa.edu or call 318-357-2518.
Attachments area

Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology will host free summer robotics camps for beginners and advanced students. There is no charge to attend the campus, but space is limited to the first 12 applicants for each session. The deadline for registration is June 15.

Beginner Camp Session are for students ages 7-12. Session I will be held from 10 a.m.2 p.m. July 10-11. Session II will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 13-14. The camp will cover basic electrical circuits, robot building and assembly and basic programming to navigate a robot.

Advanced Camp will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 17-18 for ages 13-18 and will cover Arduino programming and advanced sensing.

The camps will be held in Williamson Hall. Participants will provide their own lunches.

The program is supported by the Natchitoches Chamber Education Fund and NSU’s ET Department.

To register, email Curtis Desselles at dessellesc@nsula.edu or Dr. Jafar Al-Sharab at jafar@nsula.edu.

By Kevin Shannahan

A group of around 25 local history lovers came to The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum to a book signing April 4. The book is titled “The Battle of the Longs” by Rev. Bill Nash, a lifelong history buff who pastors a church in Mangham when he isn’t writing about events in Louisiana’s history.

The book is a collection of stories about the Long family, one of the most storied families in Louisiana political history. The book’s title refers to the US Congressional race in 1964 between cousins Speedy and Gillis Long in which Speedy pulled off an upset victory that strained relations between the two cousins for years.

The signing is part of the museum’s continuing efforts to bring a variety of educational programming to tell the stories of our state to visitors and local residents.

Deborah Jean Bain
December 31, 1956 – May 05, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, May 6 from 5-8 pm and Sunday, May 7 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm at Southern Funeral Home in Winnfield
Service: Sunday, May 7 at 2 pm at New Hope Cemetery

James Melvin Whatley
June 26, 1956 – May 04, 2017
Visitation: Sunday, May 7 from 5-9 pm at Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home in Jena
Service: Monday, May 8 at 2 pm at Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home
Interment: Belah Cemetery in Trout
Henry Daniel DeKeyzer
June 28, 1925 – May 3, 2017
Service: Saturday, May 6 at noon at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church
Interment: St. John The Baptist Catholic Cemetery

Maria del Pilar Lorio
August 22, 1931 – April 30, 2017
Visitation: Saturday May 6 from 12-1 pm, at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, May 6 at 1:30 pm in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church
Interment: Sunday, May 7 at noon in Hope Mausoleum in New Orleans

Johnny Atkins
Service: Saturday, May 6 at noon at Mt. Mariah Baptist Church in Kingston
Interment: Bethlehem Cemetery in Gloster

Dorothy Taylor
Service: Saturday, May 6 at 11 am at Union Spring Baptist Church in Mansfield
Interment: Morning Glory Cemetery in Mansfield

Mamie Peterson
Service: Saturday, May 6 at 1 pm at Union Vine Baptist Church in Logansport
Interment: Mt. Zion Cemetery in Logansport

Larry Don Kirkland
April 22, 2017
Service: Monday, May 22 at 2 pm at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches

The N.S.U. Middle Lab School Orchestra visited the Natchitoches Parish School Board at its meeting May 4 to share the good news about their victory at Festival Disney in Orlando, Fla. March 31 – April 1. Festival Disney is the premiere international music festival where seventy-five orchestras, bands and choirs performed with hopes of winning one of the coveted Mickey Mouse trophies.

The Lab School Orchestra was the only middle school orchestra attending so they were moved up to the High School orchestra division. Receiving the highest score, 97.3 percent, of all orchestras Middle Lab won the coveted 1st place Gold Mickey Mouse Trophy.

On a more serious note, at Tuesday’s meeting, May 2, the School Board received recommendations from a Citizens Advisory Committee, led by Chairman Steven McAlister, on possible measures that could be taken to cut or save costs for the system (SEE DOCUMENT BELOW).

While cut backs were being discussed, board member Emille Metoyer questioned the financial feasibility of using Durham Bus Services to manage the drivers of the 10 buses that service the system. At around $500 per day for 180 days during the school year, it adds up to around $90,000 per year. The bus driver base pay is around $18,000. Metoyer asked if the board could look into other services because their current contract with Durham is up on June 30.

“It doesn’t make sense to pay them that much to manage our routes,” said Metoyer.

At Thursday’s meeting Budget Director Steven Solomon said that on the up side, there are only 170 days scheduled for bus services next school year, which will decrease the overall amount of the board’s contract with Durham to around $82,000. While this is still a lot of money, Solomon checked with other services who told him it was too late in the year to consider starting a new contract. There’s not enough time to mobilize a fleet that large.

An agenda item was added to consider approving out of state travel for board members who wish to attend a Southern Region Leadership Conference in Hot Springs, Ark. July 16-18. Metoyer, Steven Harris and Joella Collins expressed interest in attending the event. However, board member Thomas Melder said, “I appreciate that you want to go, but with the tight finances I don’t think we should be spending money on out of state travel.”

A motion was put toward the board to pay for travel  – It Failed.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board presented its 2017 Teachers of the Year, Support Staff of the Year and Principal of the Year with certificates recognizing their contributions to the schools and their leadership for the students in the parish.

Elementary Teachers of the Year included:
Claudine Madison – Parks
Vanessa Birdwell – Provencal
Amy Stepp – Marthaville
Rhonda Allen – Cloutierville
Kathy Holman – East Natchitoches
Theresa McLaren – Fairview Alpha
Bobbye Akin – Magnet
Kelly Norman – LP Vaughn
Veronica Johnson – E-Lab
Cristy Gentry – Weaver
Emella Walker – Goldonna

Veronica Johnson was chosen to represent the Natchitoches School District and was a Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist.

Jr. High Teachers of the Year included:
Deanna Elkins – Provencal
Mary Anderson – Lakeview
Carol Steward – Cloutierville
Addoree Stuckey – NJH
Rebecca Roy – Magnet
Gwendolyn Foy – Frankie Ray Jackson Technical Center
Robein Abels – Goldonna

Addoree Stuckey was chosen to represent the Natchitoches School District.

High School Teachers of the Year included:
Lesa Thompson – NCHS
Rosalind Lowe – Lakeview

Lesa Thompson was chosen to represent the Natchitoches School District.

Support Staff Members included Lisa Dupree, Mack Hayes, Trichel Sykes-Scott, Lawanda Dumars, Barbara Stewart, Ethel “Pearl” Forest and Amy Clark.

Barbara Stewart was chosen to represent the Natchitoches School District.

Stephonie French was selected as a Semi-Finalist for Principal of the Year. Under her leadership Natchitoches Magnet School’s performance score has improved to a 125, the 2025 definition of a “Mastery School.” Last year’s school rankings showed that Magnet is number 12 for elementary schools and number 2 in the state for middle schools.

In her tenure the school has added a National Junior Honor Society and this year, a National Elementary Honor Society. Last year two 7th grade students received national recognition from the Duke TIP Program for their outstanding ACT scores of 26 and 27. The school has also implemented student-led parent teacher conferences.

 

Three people were injured in a two-vehicle injury crash on La. Hwy 494 near Natchez on Wednesday afternoon according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 2:23pm on May 3, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, NMJDTF Agents, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Fire Department Rescue, Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts #5 & #6 along with Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded to 911 reports of a two-vehicle injury crash on La. Hwy 494 west of Natchez.

Deputies say the operator of the 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser was extricated from the wreckage by responding fire rescue units.

The operator was transported from the scene by EMS to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center with moderate what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

Both the operator and passenger of the 2015 Ford F-150 were transported from the scene by EMS to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Troopers assigned to LSP Troop-E Alexandria investigated the crash.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

The NSU golf course was the place to be for great food and company Thursday, May 4th as nine teams from around the community battled for bragging rights on who makes the best kabobs in the parish. The popular Crave program is in its 3rd year and is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The teams were judged by a panel of professors from NSU’s Hospitality and Tourism program as well as a “people’s choice” award to be decided by votes from the 150 attendees. Each Crave event has a different theme with this year’s theme being Kabobs.

The program does have a serious purpose in addition to fun and competition. The money raised is used to fund scholarship help for the NSU students who serve as interns with the Chamber of Commerce. The competing teams were: Alliance Compressors, Dickey’s Barbeque, Maglieaux’s, Natchitoches Fire Department, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, Bank of Montgomery, Exchange Bank, and the Natchitoches Parish SWAT team.

The other day I was in the metroplex of Gibsland, Louisiana. My bride and I are doing renovations to the Baptist parsonage in Gibsland. When we finish the renovations I will tell you the whole story. For now you may speculate as to why the Methodist preacher is renovating the Baptist parsonage in Gibsland. I am telling everyone that we are converting the Baptist parsonage! We arrived about 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon to begin our work. It is not breaking the Sabbath if you work “inside” the house. I spent the afternoon doing my best electrician imitation. Nothing shocking happened!

From the moment we arrived we heard a dog yelping. It sounded like someone left a puppy outside the house and the puppy was begging to get in the house. It was a loud, forlorn yelp. If you are not a dog lover this yelp would get under your skin very quickly. To us it sounded sad and like a dog in need of humans. We both looked for the dog but couldn’t find it. The afternoon progressed and so did the yelping.

After a couple of hours of this, I decided to find the dog. The yelping was more than a puppy wanting in the house. This was a dog in distress. I walked a couple of houses over to an abandoned house on the street. The front yard featured an abandoned car. The front porch was decorated with stuff from the house that had been discarded. There was an impressive stack of beer cans along the front porch. I came to the backyard, if you could call it that. I found the puppy.

The puppy was in a garbage can.

I don’t know how the puppy got into the garbage can, but there he was. He was standing on his back legs and could almost get his nose over the top of the can. I slowly tilted the trash can on its side and let the puppy go free. I saw the pup later in the afternoon reclining in the field next door to my house-flip in the Gibsland metroplex. The puppy was not in the mood to be handled on Sunday, but I’m going to find him and make sure he’s cared for. I think I will purchase a bag of puppy food, just in case!

A yelping puppy can drive you crazy. A yelping puppy might need help too.

I wonder if the sounds we hear from humanity, sounds that drive us “nuts” could be cries and pleas for help. The next time someone is really getting under your skin with the words they are speaking or the actions they are taking, take a moment to ask yourself,

“Is this a plea for help?”

Natchitoches Parish, LA 1
Milepost 296.49 Bridge # 053-03-0811-1
Control Section 053-03

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), advises the public that bridge number 053-03-0811-1 will be reduced to one lane for Bridge Inspection from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. This structure is on LA 1 over Cane River and is located at logmile 8.11. Bridge is located .5 miles North of LA 495.

Permit/Detour Section
Bridge will be reduced to one 12’ lane. Please no wide loads.

Safety Reminder
DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

The Northwestern State University Police Department is working some vehicle burglaries which occurred on the night/day of May 2. These burglaries occurred in the University Columns Parking Lots and involved damage to vehicles by breaking door glass and removing items from the vehicle.

The perpetrator seemed to target vehicles that had purses, wallets or cash money that were in plain view in the passenger compartment.
The Police Dept. and staff of Housing want to send out an alert so that all residents can be advised that this is an issue that needs to be addressed with the assistance of our residents on campus.

1. Park in well lighted areas.
2. When you park your vehicle, always be cautions as to what you leave in the passenger compartment. Remove purses, check books and money from view.
3. Be alert as to who is around the area that just doesn’t belong. IE :Someone that is not a student, someone looking in cars, an individual walking around and pulling on car doors.
4. Always lock your vehicle when you exit.
5. Be aware of your surroundings and people that are around you.
6. Report it. If you see something, hear something or have concerns of any kind, Report to the proper authorities immediately.

Your assistance and awareness is greatly appreciated by everyone within the University Community. It takes all of us working together and sharing information to make our institution a safe environment for all of us to live and work in.

As always the University Police are here to aid and assist you. If we can be of any assistance at all, please feel to contact us immediately at 357-5431. Or if an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Henry Daniel DeKeyzer
June 28, 1925 – May 3, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 5 from 5-10 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many
Service: Saturday, May 6 at noon at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church
Interment: St. John The Baptist Catholic Cemetery

Georgianna “Corky” Grubb
July 15, 1924 – May 1, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 5 from 9-10:30 am
Service: Friday, May 5 at 10:30 am in the chapel of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Interment: Pineville National Cemetery

Maria del Pilar Lorio
August 22, 1931 – April 30, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 5 from 4-8 pm and Saturday May 6 from 12-1 pm, at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held Friday, May 5 at 6 pm in the Kramer Chapel Service: Saturday, May 6 at 1:30 pm in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church
Interment: Sunday, May 7 at noon in Hope Mausoleum in New Orleans

Johnny Atkins
Visitation: Friday, May 5 from 6-8 pm at Mt. Mariah Baptist Church in Kingston
Service: Saturday, May 6 at noon at Mt. Mariah Baptist Church in Kingston
Interment: Bethlehem Cemetery in Gloster

Dorothy Taylor
Visitation: Friday, May 5 from 6-7 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 6 at 11 am at Union Spring Baptist Church in Mansfield
Interment: Morning Glory Cemetery in Mansfield

Mamie Peterson
Visitation: Friday, May 5 from 7-8 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 6 at 1 pm at Union Vine Baptist Church in Logansport
Interment: Mt. Zion Cemetery in Logansport

Kathleen Ida Simmons
June 22, 1938 – May 1, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 5 at 10:30 am at Rocky Mount Congregational Methodist Church
Service: Friday, May 5 at 2 pm at Rocky Mount Congregational Methodist Church Interment: Rocky Mount Cemetery

Jessie Lee Washington Wallace
October 14, 1950 – May 2, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Evelyn Jones
May 2, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Larry Don Kirkland
April 22, 2017
Service: Monday, May 22 at 2 pm at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches

Natchitoches Magnet School is currently accepting applications for the 2017-2018 school year. Natchitoches Magnet serves children from grades 1-8. Magnet is a progressive school that provides an enriching educational experience by developing learners through academic excellence, exploration in and beyond the classroom, instruction through innovative curriculum, extracurricular opportunities in athletics, STEM, and service, and family and community partnerships. The goal of Natchitoches Magnet is to facilitate learning among all stakeholders. Natchitoches Magnet values hard work, diversity, responsibility both for self and community, and cultural growth.

Teachers are highly qualified and a continually trained in new educational ideas and practices to help students reach their fullest potential. As one of the top schools in the state, we would like to encourage everyone who has a child in grades K-7 to apply.

Applications for the 2017-2018 school year can be obtained from Natchitoches Magnet School at 800 Koonce Street, Natchitoches, LA or by emailing Kristen.Procell@nat.k12.la.us .

Magnet application 2017-2018

Congratulations to Dr. Chris Maggio, the 19th President of Northwestern State University.‬

The Moondogs will play a headlining set this Friday, May 5, at Mayfest in downtown Leesville.

“We’ve performed several times at Mayfest over the years, but this the first time we’ve headlined, said Rodney Harrington. “This will be a very special performance that you do NOT want to miss.”

John Crook, Executive Director, said folks in Leesville are looking forward to having The Moondogs back.

“We are very excited to have The Moondogs headlining Friday night at Mayfest,” he said. “Year in and year out they are one of our most popular bands. They are a fun, high energy, and put on a great show that always draws a crowd.”

Sabine State Bank (SSB) is proud Footloose Sponsor of the NRMC Foundation Gala on May 20th.

Pictured are left to right Roger Williams, SSB Market Development Manager, Shay Ball, NRMC Foundation Board Member, Cathy Jacobs, Gala Chairperson, bank Senior VP, John Godfrey and Meagan Cobb, Market Development Officer.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board recognized 15 high school valedictorians from Natchitoches Central and Lakeview at a Dessert Reception May 2. Students include Jacob Boyt, Alana Branam, Dylan Daniels, Zachary Dubois, Katlynn French, Emmalyn Houghtby, Calyton Kendrick, Cameron Owsley, Carli Raupp, Rae’Gan Rogers, Alexis Sanders, Kelsey Shoemaker, Bailey Thompson, Huey Virece Jr. and Jill Wiltz. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Melody McCain, Brenda Melder and Em Horton coordinated the event.

Students presented themselves to the board and shook the members’ hands as part of the “McCain Walk of Fame.” Superintendent Dale Skinner said, “We have great young people in our school system today. They’re doing great and excelling.” Addressing the students he told them not o let anything get in the way of their life goals.