Just about a month before the June 22-24 festivities in the 2017 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, the golf tournament is nearing a sellout and reservations are climbing for the Friday night Tailgating Louisiana Style party and the Induction Dinner and Ceremony on Saturday night.

LSU’s David Toms, whose 13 PGA Tour golf wins include a major championship, is joined by nine-time Pro Bowl football star Ed Reed, three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel, and World Series champ Juan Pierre headlining eight 2017 competitive ballot inductees chosen for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

LSU has a heavy impact in the Class of 2017. Two more Tiger heroes, football and track great Eddie Kennison and iconic gymnastics coach D-D Breaux, are included along with Raymond Didier, who has impressive LSU credentials coupled with coaching feats at Nicholls and UL Lafayette. Rounding out the class is Southeastern Louisiana basketball legend C.A. Core. Core and Didier will be inducted posthumously.

Sue Donohoe, a Pineville native and former Louisiana Tech graduate assistant basketball coach who remains one of the college game’s most accomplished administrators of all time, will receive the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award. Also honored with enshrinement will be New Orleans Saints radio play-by-play man Jim Henderson and Lafayette sports media giant Dan McDonald, chosen as the 2017 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.

The 2017 Induction Celebration will kick off Thursday, June 22 with the La Capitol Kickoff Reception. It includes the expanded Friday night Tailgating Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Style party, a significantly-enhanced Friday, June 23 golf scramble at OakWing Golf Course in Alexandria and a Saturday morning free youth sports clinic hosted by the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. Reservations for the Friday night party, the Saturday night Induction Dinner and Ceremonies, and golf entries, are on sale through the LaSportsHall.com website.

The 2017 Induction Celebration weekend will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame.  The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.  For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com.  Standard and customized sponsorships are available.

The 2017 Induction Class will be showcased in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum, operated by the Louisiana State Museum system in a partnership with the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. The striking $23 million, two-story, 27,500-square foot structure faces Cane River Lake in the National Historic Landmark District of Natchitoches and has garnered worldwide architectural acclaim and rave reviews for its contents since its grand opening during the 2013 Hall of Fame induction weekend.

Adding to the 326 sports competitors currently enshrined, 16 previous winners of the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership award and 58 prior recipients of the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism, there are 400 members of the Hall of Fame prior to this summer’s ceremonies.

The 2017 Induction Celebration weekend will be hosted by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the support organization for the Hall of Fame.  The LSHOF Foundation was established as a 501 c 3 non-profit entity in 1975 and is governed by a statewide board of directors.  For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Foundation President/CEO Ronnie Rantz at 225-802-6040 or RonnieRantz@LaSportsHall.com.  Standard and customized sponsorships are available.

What are you fretting about today?

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we are purchasing the Baptist parsonage in the thriving metroplex of Gibsland, Louisiana. I have enjoyed your speculation as to why we are making the purchase. At sixteen dollars a square foot, I was not turning down the house! You can quit fretting about the preacher, his wife and their second house.

The house is our camp. There is a ditch out front in which I can float my rubber ducky. There are bushes in the backyard in which I can locate my deer stand (treehouse). The place is so rural, that I was forced to purchase satellite internet and TV. We are roughing it for sure. I have played with power tools and created a certain level of sawdust. I am enjoying playing contractor. When everything is done, I can go to the Gibsland camp on my day off and take care of the yard and the house. My bride has a place to stay during the work week. I re-read this paragraph and noted, I have two yards and houses to keep clean. I’m fretting over how this connects to last week’s article on Sabbath-keeping.

We have not closed on the house. Although I’m demolishing things like the house is all signed, sealed and delivered.

Everyone has agreed to everything. We are ready to write the check. There is one fly in the ointment. The attorney rejected the property description for the house. According to the property description, not only are we buying the house we are also purchasing the Baptist church across the street. The property description for the parsonage included the land next door to the house and the land on which the church is located. I hear you laughing but this is not funny; yet.

I had a professor in college who bought an abandoned Baptist church and turned it into his camp. So there is precedence for this. I don’t believe that the Baptists in Gibsland would be very happy with a Methodist minister owning their church property. I can think of all sorts of fun I could have if I owned the church. Some of my Pentecostal brethren own their church property. They seem to have a good time owning their buildings. The way my luck is the church I bought would have a leaky roof, a water leak that no one can seem to find, termites and bats in the belfry. Church ownership is not in my future.

We will solve this property description dilemma. I will assure you and the members of First Baptist in Gibsland that I am not interested in a takeover. If I did take over, Sunday nights would not count against you. Does anyone have Sunday night church? What about Wednesday night Bible Study? I’m wondering how many of the things of my childhood are still happening in the church of my baptism. What happened to Brush Arbor meetings and Revivals? How about All Day Singing and Dinner on the Grounds? Decoration Day?

No job is complete until the paperwork is done. In my case the paperwork will always have some flaw in it. A flaw in the property description messed up all sorts of other things necessary in a real estate transaction. I am only interested in the house, not the church. This situation will be funny years from now when I tell the story, but right now it is causing me to grind my teeth.

The key to joyous living is learning to laugh sooner rather than later.

The Psalmist told us thousands of years ago, “Fret not.”

Bobby McFerrin sang, “Don’t worry, be happy.”

Our Savior Jesus said, “Do not worry.”

By John Brewer

The poet waxes “In the spring a young man’s fancy often turns to thoughts of Love!”

In this area the redneck waxes “in the spring a young man’s fancy often turns to thoughts of Love………BUGS!”

They’re everywhere. Those black and red bugs. They pile up on your grill and windshield. And if you don’t get them off soon they can damage the paint, or so the story goes.

Wikipedia says “The love bug (Plecia nearctica) is a species of March fly found in parts of Central America and the southeastern United States, especially along the Gulf Coast.It is also known as the honeymoon fly or double-headed bug. During and after mating, adult pairs remain coupled, even in flight, for up to several days.”

The only good news is when you hit one with your windshield, you get two!We are in Love Bug season. So enjoy it while you can.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

Jonesboro-Hodge and Homer High Schools faced off against the Lakeview Gators as Lakeview hosted a Spring Football Scrimmage Friday, May 12. The three schools’ offensive and defensive units squared off against each other for a set number of plays before switching out. This rapid pace gave each team a offensive and defensive workout against an actual opponent as well as providing non stop football action for the Gator fans in the stands.

Lakeview’s Head Football Coach Byron Keller is returning for his second year at the helm of the 38 strong Lakeview Gators. His no nonsense style and insistence on fundamentals, self-discipline and academics is already paying dividends for this young team on the rise.

The Lakeview Gators will open their season at NSU’s Turpin Stadium agaist the St. Mary’s Tigers on September 4.

 

Michael Yankowski, professor of art at Northwestern State University, had two works of art selected for an international exhibition at the Alexandria Museum of Art.

The 30th September Competition is an annual juried exhibition highlighting the work of contemporary artists in all media and styles created within the past two years. There were over 250 international submissions with only 52 works selected. This year 45 artists represent 4 countries, 18 states and 44 cities.

One of only seven artists with two works, Yankowski will exhibit “Ezekial 37, Dry Bones Rise Up”, a walnut and oak tryptic which includes brass, porcelain and airbrush.  It was inspired by the Old Testament scripture reading concerning the resurrection.  His second work “Eternity, Everything all at once” is a mahogany construction with a hand carved bass wood heron skull and copper spider lilies.  The theme is the eternal circle of life and death.  Both works were on display at the Annual NSU art faculty exhibition last September.  Yankowski has been a member of the NSU Art faculty for 30 years and has participated in numerous national competitions. His web site is MichaelYankowski.com

The juror was Mark Tullos Jr., former executive director of the Alexandria Museum of Art and current president and CEO of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience. Tullos has served as assistant secretary for the Office of State Museums and the Director of the Hilliard University Art Museum of Louisiana at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The 30th Annual September Competition will be on display June 2 through September 23. Tullos will discuss his selections and award prized at the public opening reception on June 2 from 6-8 PM at the Alexandria Museum of Art, 933 Second Street (formerly Main St.).

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):
Jerica Ardison, 200 Lakeview Dr #2101, Natch, La – TBS
Consuela Burton, 126 T Joe, Natch, La – Cyberstalking
Christa Daniels, 124 Ann St, Natch, La – TBS
Shaunkeylius Efferson, 1401 Dixie St, Natch, La – Loud Music
Monterrance Jackson, 220 Fairgrounds Rd Apt D-10, Natch, La – SPOM, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, SPOM
Byron Bennett, 859 July St, Natch, La – Right of Way, Signaling
Penny Anderson, 230 Fairgrounds Rd Apt 33, Natch, La – Careless Operation
Damon Johnson, 400 Lakeview Dr, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Terri Black, 4523 Tannehill LN, Austin, TX – No Vehicle Registration
Connie Helaire, Lakeview Apts #4216, Natch, La – Telephone Harassment
Patricia Hubbard, 911 Second St, Natch, La – DP
Brenika Lewis, 1318 Amulet, Natch, La – Speeding
Andre Murphy, 135 Dogwood Ct, Natch, La – NSB, DP
Ronald Osborn, 5964 Hwy 6, Natch, La – TBS
Breonne Rainey, 216 Pierson, Natch, La – DP
Reginald Shields, 620 Genti St, Natch , La – No DL, Follow too Close
Courtney Telsee, 708 Brahma St, Natch, La – No Insurance
Demetric Walker, 216 Tammey Lane, Natch, La– SPOM
Eric Ware, P.O Box 240, Coushatta, La – DWI

Trial (T):
Charlene Beaudion, 294 Bennett Loop, Natch, La –Criminal Conspiracy
Leonard Ellis, 745 Fifth St, Natch, La – DWI 2nd, One or No Headlights, License Plate Lights Required
Carodja Queen, 119 American Way, Natch, La – SPOM, No DL, Ran Stop Sign, NSB, Unlicensed Driver, No License Plates
Frederick Tousant, 500 North St, Natch, La – Simple Battery
Ashley White, 1327 Berry Ave, Natch, La – DP
Trayvontrell Akins, 247 Lake Dr, Campti, La –TBS

TBS – Theft by Shoplifting
SPOM – Simple Possession of Marijuana
SCDP – Simple Criminal Damage to Property
NSB – No Seat Belt
Exp MVI – Expired Inspection Sticker
SPDP – Simple Possession of Drug Paraphilia
No DL – No Driver’s Licenses
DP – Disturbing the Peace
DUS – Driving Under Suspension
NCR – No Child Restraint
DWI – Driving While Intoxicated
LM – Loud Music

Paid Notice

Terrence Gates
May 16, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Gail Warmsley
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 11 am at New Eastside Baptist Church in Mansfield
Interment: Truevine Cemetery in Mansfield

Darrell D. Ballard
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 1 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Interment: Community Cemetery in Logansport

Jennie R. Brown
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 1 pm at Memorial S.D.A. Church in Mansfield
Interment: Union Cemetery in Mansfield

Laney Thomas Walker Jr.
May 15, 2017
Service: Thursday, May 18 at 1 pm at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Leesville
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Natchitoches Humane Society.

Clarence Forest
May 13, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Delrix Dwain “Big D” Carter
November 3, 1976 – May 12, 2017
Service: Thursday, May 25 at 1 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Breda Town Cemetery

Harold Michael Hernandez
March 12, 1949 – May 12, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 5-9 pm with a rosary at 7 pm
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 11 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Natchitoches
Interment: Emmanuel Cemetery in Chopin

Margaret Chanta Mills
December 15, 1960 – May 17, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Vertie Mae Lawson Davidson
June 01, 1935 – May 17, 2017
Visitation:  Friday, May 19 from 5-9 pm and Saturday, May 20 from 9-11 am at Northside Baptist Church
Service: Saturday May 20 at 11 am at Northside Baptist Church Interment: Mt. Zion Cemetery

Eloise Sanders
June 21, 1931 – May 5, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 10 am – 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, May 19 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home of Natchitoches
Interment: Briarwood Cemetery near Saline

Agnes Seraphine D’Angelo
October 23, 1926 – May 13, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-1:30 pm in the Kramer Chapel
Service: Friday, May 19 at 2 pm in St. Frances Cabrini Church with Rev. Chad Partain officiating
Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home

Alton Smith
May 11, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, May 20 from 9:30-11 am
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 11 am at the Choctaw Island Baptist Church
Interment: Choctaw Island Baptist Church Cemetery

 

By John Brewer

 

SWEPCO’s Dolet Hills Lignite Company (DHLC) at Mansfield moved a dragline from the Dolet Hills Mine west of I-49 to the Oxbow Mine on east side of I-49. In the planning for two years, the entire move takes 40-45 days. The dragline is a BE 1570 walking dragline, powered by electricity. They weigh eight million pounds. The bucket is 88 cubic yards, and the boom is 325 feet in length. The draglines can move about 17 million cubic yards of overburden annually. Mammoet (mah-moot) is the moving contractor, a veteran of almost a dozen dragline moves of this magnitude.

The dragline crossed south of Exit #162 (Highway 177 Pleasant Hill/377). Dirt and wooden pallets were placed across I-49 to facilitate the move, and then removed. Interstate traffic was redirected to Highway 1 during the crossing.

Mission Accomplished!

The Bob Wangenstein Memorial American Flag Project began in 1973 as a way to honor a wonderful Lion and America on patriotic holidays. Ol’ Glory is displayed by Natchitoches Lions Club members at nearly 150 businesses throughout Natchitoches seven times during the year.

Many of these flag sponsors have participated in this project for the entire 42 years. Each sponsor makes an annual donation of $50 to the Lions Club to have the American flag displayed at his or her business on Patriot Day Sept. 11, Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11, President’s Day on the third Monday in February, Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday in May, Memorial Day on the last Monday in May, Flag Day on June 14 and Independence Day on July 4.

With these monies the Natchitoches Lions support many charities including the LA Lions Camp for children with physical and mental disabilities and diabetic youth, the LA Lions Eye Foundation, The LA Lions Eye Bank, Natchitoches Dixie Youth, Natchitoches 4-H Club, Boys and Girls Scouts, Relay for Life, the Women’s Resource Center, Special  Olympics and the Natchitoches Lions Scholarship for two NSU students. Flag sponsors are proudly giving back to the local community (and beyond) more than seven times by allowing Lions to fly Ol’ Glory on these patriotic holidays.

The Louisiana Law Enforcement Special Olympics “Flame of Hope” Torch Run involving area law enforcement entered Natchitoches Parish on Hwy. 1 North at the Natchitoches-Red River Parish line May 15.

Runners traveled on Hwy. 1, turning left on Texas Street, then right on Third Street, turning right on Church Street, left on Fifth Street, and concluded on Northwestern State University’s campus.

Torch Run runners left NSU May 16 and traveled down Hwy. 1 through the communities of Natchez, Cypress, Montrose, Derry, Cloutierville, Monette Ferry, and then into Rapides Parish.

Each year the torch relay involves over 1,500 law enforcement officers and personnel representing over 200 law enforcement agencies across the State of Louisiana. The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics is to increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics movement. Each year, the LETR initiative grows bigger and better.

For more information contact Chief of Youth Services Wendy Llorens at 352-6432.
Photos from Louisiana State Police.

United Way of Northwest Louisiana is a sponsor of the City Park Grand Reopening set for Saturday, June 3 from 10 am – 1 pm.

The City of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University and the Natchitoches Parish Journal are co-hosting this event, which is free and open to the public. National Recording Artist and DJ Trini Triggs will be the event Emcee. There will be live music in the City Park amphitheater, free food, T-shirt raffle, activity booths, Zumba, face painting, inflatables and more.

United Way fights to improve the health, education, and financial stability for all citizens living in Northwest Louisiana while maintaining essential needs for those in crisis or struggling.

“This is a great fit for us to partner with the Natchitoches community to improve children’s lives,” said Lynn Stevens, Chief Operating Officer.

The deadline for Activity Booth registration is Friday, May 19. Your organization must be a non-profit, church, government agency or educational institution. You must provide a hands-on activity. You must stay for the entire event. You must offer free activities. You must provide your own tent, tables and chairs. Ideas for activity booths include: carnival games, arts & crafts, field games, board games, trivia, etc…

For more information email Dallas Russell at DRussell@natchitochesla.gov or Corey Poole at NPJNatLa@gmail.com.

Paid Announcement

By Joe Darby

A dog’s mind, like ours, may be a terrible thing to waste.  But I’m darned if I can figure out how they arrive at some of the decisions that they make.

Are they even aware of the fact that they’ve made a decision or a choice?  Or is it some hidden instinct that drives them to do what we may consider odd things.

Take my great little rat terrier, Mosby.  No, not literally.   I don’t want you to take him.  But our gutsy little guy has medical problems which cause a cough that can be alleviated through medications.

At first, he was glad to take his pills wrapped in rolled up cheese balls.  Then he started refusing those and Mary, his primary care taker, had to force the pills down his throat.

Then she tried a substance supplied by vets.  You’re supposed to cover the pills in the substance and your dog should want to wolf it down, with gusto.  Well, Mosby didn’t think so.  Now these meds are vital to his health, to his life in fact, so some solution had to be found.

One day Mary picked up Mosby and placed him to her left in her favorite green chair.  She offered the substance-covered pill to the little rat terrier and he all but snatched it from her hand, looking around to see if she had another.

Mary subsequently tried to give Mo his pill with him just standing on the floor, but, no way would he go for that.  It had to be in the green chair.  And once or twice Mary put him to the right of her but Mosby realized that side just wasn’t proper.  He had to be on the left to take his med.

We took a little trip for Mother’s Day weekend and while we were gone we called our faithful pet sitter to see how he was doing.  The entire three-dog pack was fine, she said,  but she was having a terrible time getting Mosby to take his pills.

So Mary told Erin the secret, emphasizing for her to make sure Mosby was on her left side when offered the medicine.  Sure enough, when we checked the next day, Erin said all was well and Mo had followed out the strange little routine that he had designed for himself.

Now, I am rather amazed that this odd method, and no other, is insisted on by little Mo to get his pills.  If only we could ask him to explain his reasons it would be great.  And though he is pretty good about letting us know his needs, he remains silent on his method of taking his medicine.

Some years back another one of our favorite dogs developed a strange quirk, similar to though not quite as elaborate as Mosby’s.  Belle was a very sweet pointer mix and she loved to rest and stretch out on “Papa’s” lap.  But, like Mosby, she had to jump up in my recliner from the left side only.  To test her, I blocked my left side and practically begged her to jump up on the right side of the chair.

Well, she’d just sit right down and look at me as if to say, “Come, on, Papa.  Do this right.  You know the rules.”

Of course she had taught me the rules and taught me well, so naturally I gave in to her inner need to jump into my chair just the way she wanted to.

Oh, here’s another quirk of Mosby’s.  When we open the back door for the pack to run out and play or do their business, Kate, the cocker mix, and Bea, a beagle-basset combination, dash out barking, racing to see who can reach the back fence first.

But not Mosby.  He always, and I mean always, has to stop at Bea’s feeding dish to munch a bite or two, whether he’s hungry or not.  Only after he’s partaken of his fast food needs, does he go outside with his “sisters.”  If her bowl is completely empty or if it’s been picked up and put on the counter, he seems to get confused for a moment then realizes there’s nothing for him to do but go outside without raiding Bea’s supper.

Now I can see some rationality behind this behavior.  He’s taking advantage of Bea’s absence to steal a little grub.  But the behavior is so compulsive, it is rather funny to watch.

I could probably think of lots more quirky behaviors from all the dogs I’ve had but space precludes me from writing about them now.  In the meantime, watch your canine carefully.  I bet a dollar to a donut you will see some strange and funny antics.

Pictured from left are Lakeview Principal William Hymes; Angelia Carpenter, Central Louisiana Adolescent Pre-Diabetes Prevention Coordinator/Outreach Specialist; and Lakeview Assistant Principal Jennifer Martin.
Lakeview Senior High School and its School Based Health Center recently received $500 for participating in the Adolescent Pre-Diabetes Prevention Program. The program is a grant to Richland Parish Hospital from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Richland Parish Hospital partners with West Feliciana Parish Hospital and Christus Health Central Louisiana to provide personnel and programming help. A total of 66 students were screened during the Fall 2016 semester. The screening measured height, weight, and blood pressure. Students with family risk factors, for diabetes, had a blood test done to determine their hemoglobin A1C levels. Students found to be at risk, for pre-diabetes, are receiving healthy lifestyle education to encourage healthier eating habits and more physical activity. Angelia Carpenter is the Central Louisiana Region Adolescent Pre-Diabetes Prevention Program Coordinator for Lakeview Senior High School and can be contacted at acarpenter@delhihospital.com.

Pictured from left are Melanie Johnson, LHS School-based Health Center Nurse Practioner; Cindy Fredieu, LHS School-based Health Center Nurse; and Brenda Riggs, LHS School-based Health Center Department Secretary.

 

Article and photos by Dr. Ron McBride

A number of representatives of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) attended the Rotary Club of Natchitoches meeting May 16. Pictured from left are CSM (Ret) Frank Huff, COL (Ret) John Pugh, ESGR Guest Eddie Wise, Rotarian with the Program LTC (Ret) Bob Gillan, ESGR Guest Tina Kingston, COL (Ret) Patti Woods, ESGR Guest, Keith Kingston, and ESGR Ricky Fife. Huff summarized the many functions of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Rotarian LTC (Ret) Bob Gillan (left) received the Rotary Medal from President Fred Terasa and the James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award for his years of dedicated service to the National Guard and Reserve, presented by COL (Ret) John Pugh.

Christopher Robinson B M 39 1011 Allen St., Natchitoches Interference with Officer

Dennis Quinn B M 21 1661 West Court, Natchitoches Unauthorized Use of Access Card as Theft

Keith Hampton B M 20 200 Settles Ridge, Hiram, GA Criminal Mischief; Remaining on Premises

Tremane Johnson B M 19 202 Miranda Lp., Natchitoches Two cts Simple Assault; Stalking

Tyreunne Johnson B F 18 202 Miranda Lp., Natchitoches Simple Assault; Stalking

Leonard Solitaire B M 33 440 Fairgrounds Rd., #44, Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Reckless Operation; Expired Registration)

Tramaine Phillips B M 17 515 Fairgrounds Rd., #50, Natchitoches DWI (underage)

Genesha Franklin B F 18 127 Amanda Dr, Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Expired Registration; No Proof of Insurance)

Reginald Sarpy B M 22 1662 Bermuda Rd., Natchez, LA Failure to Appear (Driving Under Suspension; No Seat Belt)

Jaleel Tousant B M 20 822 Jordan, Natchitoches Domestic Abuse Battery

Quinessia Smith B F 21 519 Rowena, Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Driving Under Suspension)

Shelbie Howard B F 24 428 Payne St., Natchitoches Theft by Shoplifting (Accessory)

Alvin Bolden B M 27 313 Primrose St., Natchitoches Theft of Goods; Possession Sch IV; Firearm in presence of CDS; Two counts CDS in presence of a juvenile

James Lee, III B M 22 1404 Amelia St., Natchitoches Simple Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Firearm with CDS; Possession of Legend Drug

Kevon Efferson B M 22 1416 Northern St., Natchitoches Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Legend Drug; Parole Violation

Thomas Robinson W M 21 730 University Pkwy, Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Theft)

Braylan Bayone B M 18 105 Klaire Circle, #2, Natchitoches First Degree Murder (attempted)

Michael Raymond B M 20 1815 South Dr., Lot 1356, Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Obedience to Police Officer)

Scotty Carter B M 11417 Stan Ave., #3, Baton Rouge, LA Failure to Appear

Rogelio Campos W M 64 1533 Salter St., Natchitoches Disturbing the Peace

Devin Hamilton B M 23 819 July St., Natchitoches Possession Sch V; Possession Sch I (Marijuana); Window Tint; Expired Registration

Derrick Rainey B M 22 251 Cherry Lp., Natchitoches Possession Sch V; 2 Headlights Required; Suspended Drivers’ License

Stacey Thomas B F 33 436 Howell St., Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Hit and Run)

Tamekia Robinson B F 33 1815 South Dr., #1342, Natchitoches Simple Battery

Douglas Dewayne Colbert B M 18 617 Amulet St., Natchitoches Failure to Appear (No Drivers’ License, two cts)

Charles Kirtley, IV B M 35 302 Scarborough, Natchitoches DWI (1st); Driving Under Suspension; Speeding

Mia Taranto W F 18 179 Carmane Rd., Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Unlicensed Driver; Hit and Run)

Broderick Law B M 36 1225 Grace Ave., Natchitoches Failure to Appear (Remaining
Vincent Hickman B M 34 515 Fairgrounds Rd., #38, Natchitoches Possession Sch I (Marijuana)

Jermichael Braxton B M 29 108 Ellen St., Natchitoches Remaining after Forbidden

Tarentino Charles B M 20 1410 Berry Ave., Natchitoches Disturbing the Peace by Fighting
Tristen Paige B M 18 1479 Bermuda Rd., Natchitoches Disturbing the Peace by Fighting

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

The Boys and Girls Club of El Camino Real held its 18th annual Steak & Burger Dinner Tuesday, May 15 at the Natchitoches Event Center. The dinner, a long time community favorite, is expected to raise over $20,000 to further the Boys and Girls Club’s missions. Every dollar raised stays in the community and is used to help our children.

The club serves over 100 children ages 6-18 each summer. The club members take fun and educational field trips each week throughout the area. They also have activities at the club that focus on the Boys and Girls Club’s five core areas: character and leadership, health and life skills, education and career development, the arts as well as sports and fitness. The Boys and Girls Club in Natchitoches provides a wonderful opportunity to the youth of the parish and their families.

This year’s event featured Will Wade, the newly named head coach of men’s basketball at Louisiana State University, as a guest speaker. Coach Wade was introduced by Brandon Rachal, a Boys and Girls Club member and standout NCHS athlete, who will be playing for LSU Basketball this fall.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating this event’s photography. Photo protection is off and downloads are enabled. You may download any you wish for free. If you download a photograph, please consider making a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of El Camino Real in lieu of payment.

 

The Natchitoches Recreation and Parks Department (NRPD) announced that the City Pool, located in City Park at 311 Amulet Street, will be open for residents and visitors beginning Tuesday, May 30. The pool will close on Saturday, Aug. 12 until the summer of 2018.

“The Natchitoches Recreation and Parks Department is making a splash this summer with new and exciting programs at the City Pool including Mommy & Me Swimming every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-6:30 pm along with evening swim lesson hours for those who can’t make it to morning swim class,” said Chris Laurence, director of the NRPD.

“We have made registration, not only for our pool programs but all of our sports registrations, easier this summer, by adding an online registration option that is available by visiting http://www.cityofnatchitoches.maxgalaxy.net. Also, we have renovated the locker rooms by installing brand new stalls, toilets, and sinks, to make the interior more pleasing for our citizens.”

Daily rates for open swim will remain at $1 per person (including parent/guardian). Open swim hours are 1-4:30 pm, Monday-Saturday. However, swim lessons will be $25 per child and $20 for each additional child. Also, there are some new pool rules that have been added for the safety of the children in our community, such as all children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a paying adult and that proper swimwear must be worn while swimming.

Aqua Zumba is still available for adults and will be offered for $25 per month or $5 per day on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7 pm during June and July,

For the full summer pool schedule and additional information on swim programs, visit the Natchitoches Recreation and Parks Department webpage at http://www.natchitochesla.gov/recreation-parks/recreation-parks

For more information about the City of Natchitoches, please visit http://www.natchitochesla.gov or Follow the City of Natchitoches Recreation & Parks Department page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NatchitochesRec/

By Carla Bond

Five students from L. P. Vaughn Elementary School Kids Hope USA program, sponsored by First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches, gathered at Johnny’s Pizza on April 18 for a graduation program. Kids Hope USA, FUMC, and L. P. Vaughn have had a 18 year partnership mentoring students who were identified by the school as needing help in areas of academics, behavior, socialization, or simply some individual time with a caring and consistent adult.

Over the course of this partnership, more than 200 children participated in the program, some for just a year and some for as many as six years. Over 250 church members served as mentors, prayer partners, teacher shepherds or activity supporters. Each mentor and child relationship was daily lifted in prayers by a prayer partner, who would also pray for the family, the teachers and the school.

In addition to the mentoring sessions the children participated in activities at the church and other locations for holiday parties, camps, good nutrition activities, swimming lessons, art projects and etiquette training. Northwestern State University’s Creative Art Department as well as NSU’s Helping Hands organization reached out to the Kids Hope children through various areas of their programs. Sara Kate Shorter, Christine Ferrell, and Carla Bond served as directors for the program over this 18 year span.

This is not the end of a partnership or of FUMC’s care for all children in our Natchitoches community, it is a time to take a breath, assess and rejoice at the different ideas that are already being brainstormed in church meetings. Stay tuned!

Students pictured are Braylon, Christian, Eric, Cedrick and Brian.

Natchitoches Police Department officers responded to a call May 12 of a burglary in the 1400 block of Roy Drive. The complainant said she arrived home and saw that someone broke out the kitchen window and gained entry into her residence. Once inside the suspect took approximately $5,000 worth of items.

The complainant reported that someone was in her residence after seeing them on her home security camera on May 17 at noon. Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division and Officers with Traffic and Patrol responded, searched the home and found the suspect in a closet.

Artrell Griffin, 20 of Natchitoches, was charged with two counts of simple burglary. Griffin was placed in The Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. Following the execution of a search warrant at the suspect’s residence much of the stolen property was recovered.

Terrence Gates
May 16, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Gail Warmsley
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 11 am at New Eastside Baptist Church in Mansfield
Interment: Truevine Cemetery in Mansfield

Darrell D. Ballard
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 1 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Interment: Community Cemetery in Logansport

Jennie R. Brown
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 12-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home in Mansfield
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 1 pm at Memorial S.D.A. Church in Mansfield
Interment: Union Cemetery in Mansfield
Laney Thomas Walker Jr.
May 15, 2017
Service: Thursday, May 18 at 1 pm at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Leesville
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Natchitoches Humane Society.

Clarence Forest
May 13, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Delrix Dwain “Big D” Carter
November 3, 1976 – May 12, 2017
Service: Thursday, May 25 at 1 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Breda Town Cemetery

Harold Michael Hernandez
March 12, 1949 – May 12, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 5-9 pm with a rosary at 7 pm
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 11 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Natchitoches
Interment: Emmanuel Cemetery in Chopin

Eloise Sanders
June 21, 1931 – May 5, 2017
Visitation: Friday, May 19 from 10 am – 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, May 19 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home of Natchitoches
Interment: Briarwood Cemetery near Saline

Agnes Seraphine D’Angelo
October 23, 1926 – May 13, 2017
Visitation: Thursday, May 18 from 6-9 pm with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:30 pm and Friday, May 19 from 12-1:30 pm in the Kramer Chapel
Service: Friday, May 19 at 2 pm in St. Frances Cabrini Church with Rev. Chad Partain officiating
Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home

James A. Gabour Sr.
October 22, 1913 – May 14, 2017
Visitation: Thursday, May 17 from 12-1:30 pm in the Kramer Chapel Visitation
Service: Thursday, May 18 at 2 pm in St. Frances Cabrini Church
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens

Bobby Ray Hawthorne
February 4, 1933 – May 14, 2017
Visitation: Thursday, May 18 from 9-10 am at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church
Service: Thursday, May 18 at 10 am at St. Frances De Sales
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens

Mavis Catherine (Harp) Steen
June 29, 1918 – May 14, 2017
Visitation: Thursday from 11 am – 1 pm at the Nolley Memorial United Methodist Church
Service: Thursday, May 18 at 1 pm in the Nolley Memorial United Methodist Church
Interment: Nolley Cemetery

Alton Smith
May 11, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, May 20 from 9:30-11 am
Service: Saturday, May 20 at 11 am at the Choctaw Island Baptist Church
Interment: Choctaw Island Baptist Church Cemetery

 

Lt. Col. Katherine Carlson, left, administered the oath office to graduating cadets of the Reserve Officer Training Program Autumn R. Mitchell and Te’Amara Jazmine S. Judkins, who were commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Army in conjunction with Northwestern State University’s spring commencement Friday. Mitchell, who completed the honors program and graduated from LSU-Alexandria with a degree in history, will serve on active duty as an engineer.

After completing the Basic Officer Leader Course and Sapper School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Mitchell will serve with the 937th Combat Engineer Group, Fort Riley, Kansas.  Judkins, who earned a degree in unified public safety administration with a concentration in fire and emergency medical services administration, will served on active duty in the Ordance Corps.  After completing the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, she will serve as a platoon leader for her unit in Fort Hood, Texas.

Photo credit:  Karalee Scouten

By Garry McCollum

It seems to me that there’s an extreme amount of debate among anglers surrounding the “actual” senses of fish and what they can perceive. I’ve found that although fish live in an entirely different atmosphere than we do, they still maintain similar senses and characteristics. To survive in any situation, a fish relies on its ability to acquire information from its environment through its senses.

Fish can see, smell, touch, feel, and taste. They’ve developed some senses we don’t have, such as electroreception.

Fish can sense light, chemicals, vibrations, touch and electricity.
Vision: 

Fish have a very keen sense of vision, which helps them find food, shelter, mates, and avoid predators. A bass can see in color, and can see in extremely dim/turbid water or light. The eyes of fish have perfectly spherical lenses, which allow them to see underwater.

Smell and Taste: 

Chemoreception is well developed in predatory fish, that use it to detect their prey. Fish have two nostrils on each side of their head although there is no connection between the nostrils and the throat.

Fish have have taste buds on their lips, tongue, and all over their mouths. Some fish, such as catfish, have barbels, whiskers with external taste buds on them. This allows the fish to actually taste something just by rubbing against it with one of their barbels. (Would make a great diet program, tasting without eating!)

Hearing and Touch:

Have you ever seen a fish’s ear? I never have, but they have them. They’re located within their bodies as well as a lateral line system that actually lets them feel their surroundings. Sound vibrations transmit from the water through a fish’s body to its internal ears. The ears are divided into an upper and lower section.
The upper section gives the fish its sense of balance. The lower section gives the fish its ability to hear.

Do fish attractants work? The answer is a definitive YES! How can I be so sure? I have caught fish just as each and every one of you has.
Fish are attracted to the things that their senses tell them may be food.
Eyes: The flash of a spinner, the profile of a bait, the color of a jig,
Ears: The vibration of a rattle, the thump of a Colorado blade.

Smell/Taste/Touch:

Bass have no hands to touch with and will “pick up something” with their mouths to determine if it’s food or not. The taste or smell of an attractant (shad/garlic/anise/crawfish/pheromones) and touch (plastic worms/pork/jig trailers) may help a fish hold onto the lure just a moment more.

To decipher what a winning pattern is, you first must understand what senses a bass utilizes. If you think like a fish will you catch more fish? I can’t say, but if you understand what a bass uses to define its world, you’ll be on your way to eliminating the things that will not attract a bass and increase the things that will.

Be Safe, Tight Lines.