Johnnie Earl Ross
November 16, 1939 – June 14, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Nellie Marie McCurdy
November 8, 1937 – June 17, 2017
Graveside Service: Sunday, June 18 at 1 pm at the Oak Grove Cemetery

Deborah Kay Byrd
October 16, 1957 – June 15, 2017
Service: Monday, June 19 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Mt. Carmel Cemetery

Gary M Jenkins
Nov 17, 1946 – Jun 16, 2017
Visitation: Wednesday, June 21 from 5-8 pm at John Kramer & Son Funeral Home with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 5:30 pm in the Kramer Chapel
Service: Thursday, June 22 at 3 pm at St. Rita Catholic Church
Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park at a later date

Frankie Davis
December 29, 1931 – June 16, 2017
Service: Monday, June 19 at 10 am in the Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Gayla Traina Memorial Cemetery

Deborah Henderson Collier
December 29, 1948 – June 10, 2017
Service: Friday, June 23 at 2 pm at The New Life Evangelism Center of Natchitoches, located at 4810 University Parkway

Ponderings with Doug will return next week.

Three Northwestern State women’s track and field competitors – Tyra Duma, De’Shalyn Jones and Jacqueline Rushford – have earned spots on the 2017 Southland Conference All-Academic Team for their sport.

The conference office announced the team Wednesday. A total of 41 women were named to the squad, some like Jones who were automatic qualifiers for posting at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and won an event at the Southland Indoor or Outdoor championships, others who were voted onto the All-Academic Team by a panel of coaches, academic advisors and sports information personnel from the 13 conference members.

Jones, a junior from Tyler, Texas, and John Tyler High School, has a 3.17 GPA in psychology. She was voted the Southland’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year and Track Performer of the Year honors after earning the High Point Scorer award for the Southland Outdoor Championships, winning four gold medals and scoring 25 points.

The sprint star won the 100 and 200 meter dash crowns at the Southland Championships, and ran decisive legs on the Lady Demons’ victorious 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

Duma, a sophomore from Winnipeg, Canada, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA in health and exercise science. A long and triple jumper, she finished 12th in the triple jump at both the indoor and outdoor conference championships. She had bests of 38/3 ¼ in the triple and 18-4 ½ in the long jump.

She was one of nine members of the women’s Southland All-Academic Team to record 4.0 GPAs.

Rushford, a junior from DeRidder, has a near-perfect 3.99 GPA in health and exercise science with a concentration in pre-physical therapy. She runs cross country and distance races for NSU. On the track, she competed in the 1500, 3000, 5000 and the 3000 meter steeplechase this spring, finishing 13th in the steeplechase at the Southland Outdoors.

Rushford began the 2016 cross country season as NSU’s top returning runner, but an early ankle injury sidelined her for all but one competition last fall.

Northwestern State University Percussion was represented at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy at the University of Arkansas last month. The students were engaged in various sessions, networked with professors and industry leaders from around the country, and performed at the student recital concert.

The NCPP is an annual conference in its 16th year that attracts interested thinkers in percussion teaching from across the country.

Cane River Lake is now at 98.0 MSL Pool Stage, The lake and all landings are open. Please remember to boat safely, wear your life jackets and never drink and drive.

Happy Father’s Day to All,

The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission talked about its budget at its meeting June 15.

Each year the NHDDC approves its yearly budget allocating funds for Administration Expenses, Streetscape/Landscape, Markering/Redevelopment and Special Events and Projects. For the past four years the NHDDC has received their capped amount of $360,000 from Louisiana’s Visitor Enterprise Fund to divide amongst its projects.

“A lot of people think that their tax dollars go to the hanging baskets downtown but it is really the state portion of the hotel motel tax that goes to beautification of downtown,” said David Stamey. “There was a house bill that wanted to defund commissions like these and that didn’t get off the ground but because the house is still in session and there is the chance of cutbacks we are going to work with 85 percent of our predicated budget. We don’t want to promise people money we can’t deliver.”

That leaves the NHDDC with $306,000 to budget for annual expenses. NHDDC receives their funding over four quarters.

“If we are funded fully we will put that 15 percent in reserve and talk about what to do with it in our January meeting,” said Stamey.
“This year the reserve money went to marketing. That doesn’t mean that next year the money couldn’t go towards special events or somewhere else.”

“There are still categories that have funds available in the 2016-2017 budget but for the most part they are all accounted for,” said Stamey. “We will need to clean up this budget and nothing will be changed to the proposed 2017-2018 except adding the money remaining from this past year. We try to spend everything we get each year. Our mission is to spend money, not hold on to money, but spend it where it needs to be spent within the district.”

Jim Rhodes inquired about rolling over the estimated $10,000 into the “Other Special Projects” budget. The board recalled times in the past the unforeseen events and incidents came up where they were able to use “Other Special Projects” to help the community.

“It needs to be where we can get to it,” said Sharon Gahagan.

The board approved the budget and the roll over.

The Regional Construction Youth Softball Team took 1st place this season in the 7-8 Dixie Darlings age group.

Pictured on front row from left are Raychel Wilson, Kayla Jackson, Kendall Rhodes and Kaylie Rhodes. On back row are Coach, Ali Rhodes, Head Coach Kristen Procell, Maggie Sampey, Kylee Hickman, Kassidy Mouton, Bayla Procell, Julia Riggs, Coaches, Joni Riggs and Josh Sampey. Not pictured are Raygan Jackson and Gabrielle Miles.

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):
Antonyo Turner, 240 Hampton St, Natch, La – Resisting an Officer
Devonte Aaron, 845 Posey Rd, Natch, La – (2) No DL, NSB
Breonne Rainey, 216 Pierson St, Natch, La – DP
Luauthur Bell, 1128 Pavie St, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver, DP
Bonnie Rainey, 251 Cherrie Loop, Natch, La – DP
Brittany Jones, 200 Lakeview Dr Apt 2501, Natch, La – TBS
Latarus Calvin, 812 Woodyard Dr #2, Natch, La – DWI
Willie R. Easily, 298 Vienne Rd Lot 20, Natch, La – SPOM
Dequan Evans, 1436 Stella, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Trevor Graham, 557 Parsonage Rd, Natch, La – Public Poss of Alcohol Under 21
Willie Hatchet, 845 Hope St, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Dennis Janice, 220 Fairground Rd, Natch, La – DP
Geneva Daniels, 823 Mlk Dr, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Edward Jones, RT 4 Box 253, Coushatta, La – DP
Catherine Merritt, 400 Lakeview #4303, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Latosha Sykes, 1901 Hwy 1 South Lot 981, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Tanya White, 637 East 2nd St, Natch, La – No DL
Kenyatta Barfield, 1108 Berry Ave, Natch, La – Simple Battery
Andrea Austin, 1531 Salter St, Natch, La – NCR
Kelly Williams, 421 Julia St, Natch, La – NCR, Ran Red Light
Shacondria Calhoun, 1003 Calvin St, Coushatta, La – TBS

Trial (T):
Trevor Waldrup, 1620 Meadows Dr, Natch, La – Improper Parking, Interference with Police Officer, SPOM
Leangelo Caldwell, 4204 Glen St, Bossier, La – No DL
Miandra Ellis, 2722 Lincoln Dr, Richwood, La –SPOM
Brenda Fisher, 158 Fisher St, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Brenda Hudson, 1324 Breda Ave, Natch, La – SPOM
Kyle Monk, 429 Hwy 3278 Lot 13, Natch, La – TBS, Remaining on Premises

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Federal Highway Administration will conduct a public meeting Tuesday, June 20 from 4-7 pm at the Natchitoches Arts Center on Second Street in support of the safety and mobility recommendations contained in the LA 6 Feasibility Study.

The public meeting will be an open house event.

The meeting will include a continuously playing recorded presentation of the project information. Representatives of DOTD and the project team will be present to answer questions and discuss issues related to the location and design features of proposed improvements, the relocation assistance program, and any other matters of interest.

Verbal and written comments on the project can be submitted at the meeting. All interested citizens are invited and encouraged to attend.

Should anyone require special assistance due to a disability to participate in this public meeting, please contact Barry Brupbacher of Neel-Shaffer, Inc., 3 Sanctuary Blvd., Suite 101, Mandeville, LA 70471, or by telephone at (985) 674-9820, at least five working days prior to the public meeting.

Written statements must be submitted to the address below and postmarked by Friday, June 30, 2017. Written statements also may be submitted through that date by electronic mail directly to LA6stagezero@neel-schaffer.com. All comments must include the name and address of the person commenting.

LA 6 Feasibility Study
Attn: Nick J. Ferlito, Jr., P.E., PTOE
Neel-Schaffer, Inc.
10000 Perkins Rowe, Suite G360
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Contact information:

Erin Buchanan
Public Information Officer
District 08 (Grant, Natchitoches, Winn & Sabine Parishes)
(318) 549-8402
erin.buchanan@la.gov

Five hundred and seventy-three students were named to the Spring 2017 President’s List at Northwestern State University. Students on the list earned a grade point average of 4.0. Those named to the President’s List listed by hometown in Natchitoches Parish and surrounding areas are as follows.

Alexandria – Lewis Davis, Dalan Dorsey, Teresa Foshee, William Griffin, Martha Hopewell, Jaliyah Jasper, Micaelee Jeansonne, Spencer Jones, Luke Laborde, Rachel Lavergne, Allyson McCowan, Ashley Mitchell, Katherine Mitchell, Wade Morris, Benjamin Murphy, Emilye Netherland, Ryan Ware, Eric Weinzettle, Elaina Williams;

Bossier City ­– Shelby Ansley, Sara Blankenship, Alexander Butler, Austin Coffey, Amanda Davis, Taylor Freeman, Joshua Greer, Ashlynn Henderson, Oai Lee Huynh, Nourain Jamhour, Tiffany Johnson, Emily Juarez, Chelsea Laverdiere, Mary Katheryn Lummus, Hang Lian, Myra Martinez, Alexa McKnight, Madison Morris, Yadira Ocanas, Shelby Peebles, Taylor Powell, Jerdine Robinson, Madison Rowland, Kevin Smithey, James Taylor, Kellie Toms, Gennadiy Vavrenyuk, Jordan Wilcox;

Boyce – Curtis Fennell, Carlie Gauthier, Hannah Miller, Lachan Misner;

Campti – Bridget DaGama, Floyd Turner;

Chopin – Daisy Delrie, Mary Guimaraes;

Coushatta – Sydney Anderson, Caroline Doughty, Jon Hester, Baley McAlexander, Shalondria Rainey, Jacob Shaver, Macie Wood;

Florien – Cullen Hopkins, Caroline Matthews, Megan Wilmore;

Fort Polk – Jamie Curtis, Robyn Foxworth, Shaunda Gordon, Kelsey Hart, Kenisha Smith, Sandra Valdez;

Goldonna – MacKenzie Johnson, Harley Godwin;

Leesville – Destin Bennett, Kelly Bishop, Alexis Bynog, Charlotte Cassin, Caitlin Deon, Brianna Easterling, Ovina Forque, Jessica Gabor, Emily Jackson, Zachary Keeton, Jessica Mango, Miranda Mize, Brooke Perkins, Victoria Perkins, Danielle Smyth, Haley Tucker, Jacob Underwood, Lakyn Ward, Matthew Ward, Jessica Taylor;

Lena – Tracy Benjamin, Nathaniel Dubois;

Many – Hannah Allen, Chelsea Beasley, Jacob Ellis, Nicholas Ezernack, Angelica Galban, Sarah Heard, Abby Hinds, Heidi Knight, Emily Leone, Chastity McCrory, Jonathan Pilcher, Sabrina Ross, Samantha Simmons, John Sullivan;

Marthaville ­– Kelsey Claspill, Hanna Pardee, Lirette Thomas;

Melrose – Molly Dickerson;

Natchitoches – Tyler Anderson, Francisco Ballestas-Sayas, Kayla Bordelon, Harvey Briggs, Deasia Burrell, Daniel Coffey, Fabian Correa Guette, Jessica Cross, Mazie Dubois, Kirsten Fontenot, Carlos Gomez Garcia, Angel Greer, Hannah Haigh, Ashytn Hare, Zachary Heard, Ashlyn Hogan, Jennifer Johnson, Shayla Johnson, Jeremy Jones, Emilie King, Florence Kilgore, James Lake, Lindsay Lee, Robert Lee, Heather Lockwood, Alba Maloff, Thomas Matuschka, Marissa Oster, Abigail Poe, Jonah Poe, Kaytie Proctor, Brandy Ranel, Amelia Ryland, Emily Salter, Josie Stamey, Faith Stanfield, Nicholas Swank, Madeline Taylor, Eva Venzant, Barbara Vercher-Smith, Richard Walks, Madysen Watts, Ryan Wright;

Oak Grove – Heather Allen;

Pineville – Raegan Brocato, Snow Buckley, Mason Caubarreaux, Kaylee Chronister, Raymond Fletcher, Lacey Hebron, Morgan Humphries, Michael Martin, Ashlee Mitchell, Stacey Ramsey, Katie Rayburn, Jodie Roberts, Candice Smith, Allison Williams;

Pleasant Hill – Samatha Davis, Laura Spann;

Provencal – Taylor Craft, Kara Gandy, Bailey Scarbrough;

Robeline – Bergen Oge, Courtney Rachal, Fawn Slaughter, Jeffrey Watley, Caleb Wester;

Shreveport – Lindsey Adkins, Karianna Baker, Brittany Barnes, Angelica Bartlett, Ezar Bess, Hannah Bolton, Crystal Brown, Erin Brown, Brianna Burke, Nicollette Carswell, Phillip Clark, Crystal Claunch, Celeste Clifton, Hannah Crnkovic, Emily Dean, Kaitlyn Doyal, Sarah Dunn, Reagan Escude, Lashayla Ester, Ronald Evans, Irishia Finister, Tyler Gardner, Nickolas Juneau, Adrianne Kelly, Emalee Kennon, Cole Laird, Bih-Lih Lau, Erin LeClair, Jaylon Lewis, Casey Long, Joycelyn McConnell, Rici McDonald, James McGrail, Rosemary McMaster, Madison Milligan, Hannah Nicholls, Hayden Pilcher, Taylor Poleman, Emily Rankin, Anna Richardson, Zachary Sanders, Jarred Sepulvado, Kathryn Shrader, Tyler Smith, Destini Sweet, Rachel Taylor, Michael Thrower, JeVannica Williams, Suzanne Williams Tiffani Williams, Jonathan Zavalydriga;

Winnfield – John Collins, Mia County, Andrew Harrel, Rebecca Hodnett, Anissa Jones, Kelsey Jordan, Brittany Parker;

Zwolle – Cheyanne Ebarb, Holden Rivers;

Frankie Davis
December 29, 1931 – June 16, 2017
Visitation: Sunday, June 18 from 5-9 pm at Edmonds Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Service: Monday, June 19 at 10 am in the Edmonds Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Gayla Traina Memorial Cemetery

Opal Robinson Wood
September 1, 1930 – June 15, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, June 17 from 6-8 pm at the funeral home
Service: Sunday, June 18 at 3 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta
Interment: Springhill Cemetery in Ringgold

Karon Irene (Poole) Wells
December 25, 1949 – June 15, 2017
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 11:30 am at Christ Temple Pentecostal Church
Interment: Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson

Richard Fortney Carvell Jr.
February 25, 1956 – June 13, 2017
Visitation: Sunday, June 18 from 3-6 pm in the Chapel of Southern Funeral Home

Claudine M. LaCaze
November 1, 1932 – June 13, 2017
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Interment: Weaver Cemetery

Ronald Michael Brazzell, Sr.
October 5, 1940 – June 14, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, June 17 from 12-2 pm at the funeral home
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church of Winnfield
Interment: Garden of Memories, in Winnfield

Floydia Tinley
August 06, 1921 – June 14, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Johnny Hawthorn
November 17, 1954 – June 14, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Gloria Jean Washington Turner
June 13, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, June 17 from 12:30-2 pm at St. Paul Baptist Church
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 2 pm at St. Paul Baptist Church
Interment: St. Paul Baptist Church cemetery

Mortria Lee Claiborne
June 16, 1946 – June 12, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, June 17 from 9-11 am
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 11 am
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Deborah Henderson Collier
December 29, 1948 – June 10, 2017
Service: Friday, June 23 at 2 pm at The New Life Evangelism Center of Natchitoches, located at 4810 University Parkway

The Communications Commission meeting regularly scheduled for June 20, 2017 is cancelled.  The next scheduled commission meeting will be July 18, 2017.

Willis Carter, Chief (Ret.)
9-1-1 Director
Natchitoches Parish Communications District

716 Second Street
P.O. Box 1411
Natchitoches, La.  71458
Office:  318.238.8301
Cell:  318.402.9823
Email:  wcarter@natchitoches911.org
Web:  http://www.natchitoches911.org

The family of the late Allen and Mary Lee Posey has fulfilled a Northwestern State University endowed scholarship that honors the couple who were active in the Natchitoches community and at Northwestern State University for more than 50 years.  The Allen and Mary Lee Posey Distinguished Graduate Scholarship in Education is awarded to a graduate student seeking an advanced degree and career in education.  The Posey family recently added $30,000 to the existing scholarship fund, which will be matched by the Board of Regents to complete the full amount of $100,000.

“We have chosen to ensure that the scholarship will continue in the memory of our parents by fulfilling the endowed scholarship,” said Lee Posey, the couple’s son. “The scholarship will support an early childhood education major that has a love of children and a passion for making a difference in the lives of those he or she teaches.”

“We are so thankful to the Posey family for their gift to establish a scholarship for graduate studies in memory of their parents, Allen and Mary Lee Posey,” said Dr. Kimberly McAlister, head of the Department of Teaching, Leadership and Counseling in NSU’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development.  “Very few scholarships are available for advanced degrees and their generosity will benefit many students seeking to make a difference through teaching and leadership.”

Allen Murph Posey Sr. and Mary Lee Sigler Posey were natives of Red River Parish who met at Northwestern State in 1946. Allen had served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and spent 23 months in German POW camps. After the war, he returned home and enrolled at Northwestern majoring in agriculture. His children recounted that he would stop by the bus station in Coushatta on Sunday evenings to see if anyone wanted to ride to Natchitoches rather than ride the bus and Mary Lee always took him up on his offer.  Their first date was made in the library at Northwestern where he asked her to a movie.  They were married in January 1948.

In 1947, Mary Lee was the first NSU graduate in child development, a new program in the home economics curriculum.  At that time, state certifications did not allow child development graduates to teach in public schools, so she continued her studies at night and during summers to earn bachelor’s, master’s and +30 in education. Allen was involved with agriculture, raising cattle as a hobby, and retired from the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles. He also served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Allen Posey passed away in 2003.  Mary Lee Posey passed away in 2016.

“Many former students continued to stay in touch with our parents, sharing fond memories of their days in school, whether from elementary school or college,” said Sheila Clark of Logansport, the couple’s daughter who just retired after more than 39 years in education. “It is not unusual to meet teachers who still remember Mrs. Posey and the positive impact she had on their education career.

“My teaching experience actually began when I helped in my mother’s kindergarten classroom,” Clark said. “Mother was very influential in my education. Her example, her passion and her love of teaching rubbed off on me as well as numerous former students.”

Two of the Posey children, Allen Jr., a Baton Rouge attorney, and Clark, have teaching degrees earned in 1971 and 1976. Lee Posey (1974), who is mayor of the city of Natchitoches, has a demonstrated history of support of education and programs for youth in the Natchitoches community.

Allen and Mary Lee Posey’s association with NSU began even before they met.  Mary Lee’s parents, Abner Lee and Nyease Dowies Sigler, were graduates of Louisiana State Normal College, as NSU was then known.  Allen and Mary Lee were second generation students.  Their three children and several grandchildren are NSU alumni.

“With four generations of family, ties are close,” Lee Posey said.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Posey family, whose generosity will directly benefit deserving and passionate graduate students,” said NSU Development Officer Jill Bankston, CFRE. “This is especially meaningful because Mrs. Mary Lee Posey was well-known for her work with several generations of preschool students and made lasting contributions to early childhood education for children throughout Louisiana.”

For information on fulfilling a scholarship to benefit Northwestern State University students, call (318) 357-4414 or visit northwesternalumni.com.

James Eugene Hubbard
January 25, 1934 – June 13, 2017
Visitation: Friday, June 16 from 1-2 pm at The Family Church in Winnfield
Funeral Service: Friday, June 16 at 2 pm at The Family Church in Winnfield

Donald F. Maddox
Apr 13, 1934 – Jun 13, 2017
Visitation: Friday, June 16 from 12- 2 pm at Kramer Funeral Home in Alexandria
Service: Friday, June 16 at 2 pm at Kramer Funeral Home in Alexandria

Karon Irene (Poole) Wells
December 25, 1949 – June 15, 2017
Visitation: Friday, June 16 from 5-8 pm at Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home in Jena
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 11:30 am at Christ Temple Pentecostal Church
Interment: Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson

Richard Fortney Carvell Jr.
February 25, 1956 – June 13, 2017
Visitation: Sunday, June 18 from 3-6 pm in the Chapel of Southern Funeral Home

Claudine M. LaCaze
November 1, 1932 – June 13, 2017
Visitation: Friday, June 16 from 5-9 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Interment: Weaver Cemetery

Ronald Michael Brazzell, Sr. 
October 5, 1940 – June 14, 2017
Visitation: Friday, June 16 from 5-8 pm at Southern Funeral Home and Saturday, June 17 from 12-2 pm at the funeral home
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church of Winnfield
Interment: Garden of Memories, in Winnfield

Floydia Tinley
August 06, 1921 – June 14, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Johnny Hawthorn
November 17, 1954 – June 14, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Gloria Jean Washington Turner
June 13, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, June 17 from 12:30-2 pm at St. Paul Baptist Church
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 2 pm at St. Paul Baptist Church
Interment: St. Paul Baptist Church cemetery

Mortria Lee Claiborne
June 16, 1946 – June 12, 2017
Visitation: Saturday, June 17 from 9-11 am
Service: Saturday, June 17 at 11 am
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Deborah Henderson Collier
December 29, 1948 – June 10, 2017
Service: Friday, June 23 at 2 pm at The New Life Evangelism Center of Natchitoches, located at 4810 University Parkway

Gloria B. Lemoine
May 18, 1942 – June 8, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Sitting in the back of a pickup truck parked down the third base line after Sunday church, overlooking a then-fenceless Cracker Brown Field on Northwestern State’s campus.

It’s not David Antilley II’s first memory of Demon baseball games with his father, also named David Antilley, but it’s a vivid image illustrating the Antilleys’ relationship watching NSU athletics.

“Davey” and “Pops” haven’t just watched NSU sports together all of Davey’s life — they’ve actively played various roles.

Davey, executive director of NSU TV, helps NSU athletics by filming interviews, engineering football radio broadcasts and directing student television crews at basketball games.

He started with the college campus radio station KNWD in 1988 as a student and became a statistician at local station KZBL for NSU sports broadcasts in 1989, ushering in a nearly three-decade run of working at NSU sporting events.

Shortly after, Davey involved his father as a statistician, and the pair have built an Antilley legacy behind the scenes of Demon athletics.

“A lot of people go to athletics events with their fathers, but I’m lucky because I’ve been able to work events with my dad,” Davey said. “It’s something nobody can take away from me.”

Antilley roots run deep in Natchitoches as a branch of the Prudhomme/Cloutier family tree — two of the oldest family names in the area.

Davey and his siblings never looked outside of NSU for rooting interests or for college.

“We bleed purple, and it blessed my heart to take my kids to the NSU ball games to see the Demons,” said Pops, a two-year letterman with NSU baseball in 1963-64. “All three of my kids went to Northwestern — it’s a family university to us.”

Baseball is Pops’ favorite sport. One can still find the senior Antilley keeping the score book in the old school baseball press box. His veteran eyes, although he says he can’t see as well as he once did, aid younger scorekeepers in football, basketball and baseball.

While father and son might not sit elbow to elbow in crowded press boxes or press rows much anymore, working NSU contests still has a family feel.

Davey, who lives an hour from Natchitoches in Grant Parish, will spend the night at his father’s house on Cane River Lake before a football game and visit.

“The next day, I get to see him do his work with the television and radio guys,” said Pops, a 72-year-old who retired from Suddenlink Communications this spring after 20 years with the company. “It means a lot to me.

“It’s special because we do it together. We went to a lot of games. Now my grandchildren come to games, and my granddaughter will be coming to NSU next year. We love coming to watch Northwestern State sports.”

One of Davey’s best recent memories occurred when his twin sons Joshua and Jacob (now eight years old) were in his arms, sitting next to Pops while he scored a baseball game in the Brown-Stroud press box.

“Three generations of Antilley’s in a baseball press box — you can’t take that memory away,” Davey said. “We try to get our boys to as many NSU games as possible.
“In two more years, they’ll be working cameras for me during breaks from school.”

Davey also credits his wife Janna for allowing him to work countless nights and weekends.

“We joke that even though my wife isn’t a coach’s wife, she kind of is,” Davey said. “It’s about making NSU look great and sharing NSU with the world, whether it’s streaming radio or TV or whatever.

“We want to put out a good picture with good sound and have people enjoy it. We’re sharing with people who might not be able to come to a home event so they can share in the excitement.”

Davey says he’s strong in his Christian faith, but there’ll be some music representing Demonland at his funeral.

“When I die, I want them to play the fight song as they roll me out of the church,” Davey said. “’Go Ye Demons’ will be blaring.
“I live and die for the Demons.”

 
Hardamon/NSU Photographic Services

We are gearing up for our second weekend of Destination Downtown Natchitoches on June 24th. The weekend kicks off early on Friday night with the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Tailgating Event. Don’t miss out!

FRIDAY – June 23rd
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Tailgating Event (FREE TO THE PUBLIC)
South End of Front Street

Live music starts at 6pm!
Parish County Line – 6:00-8:00pm
Chase Tyler Band – 8:00-10:30pm
FIREWORKS over Cane River – 9:15pm

Free sports games for kids courtesy of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans marketing department!

 

SATURDAY – June 24th
South End of Front Street

Corn Hole Tournament – Registration begins at 1:00pm in front of the stage.
Tournament will kick off at 2:00pm
$25 registration fee per two-man team
1st, 2nd and 3rd place cash prizes awarded – Winners will split the pot!
Call Jill at 318.652.7078 to register your team

Live music starts at 1:00pm
Louisiana Sideman Band- 1:00pm-4:00pm
Mike McKenzie Band – 4:30-8:30pm

Take advantage of drink specials at each of our participating restaurants!
Mayeaux’s Steak & Seafood, Papa’s Bar & Grill, Mama’s Oyster House & Pioneer Pub

Enjoy face painting, FREE Inflatables for the kids, lawn games (corn hole, jenga, etc) and MORE!

Don’t forget your lawn chair!

Contact Jill Leo at 318.652.7078 for more information or visit our website at http://www.ddnatty.com

By Joe Darby

What was I thinking, indeed! I want to relate to you a couple of anecdotes that will cause me embarrassment but which I hope will provide you with a moment or two of amusement.

I know that all of you are “guilty” of one of these. The other, you probably have never done. But I have an old buddy, Bob, who has. As have I, of course.

The more common mental lapse probably occurs fairly frequently in our fair town, because it seems we have more than our share of power outages, even when the sun is shining and the wind is calm.

Of course I’m referring to the times when the electricity goes off and you walk into a darkened room to get a flashlight and turn the light switch on so that you can see better.

It instantly hits you — oh, wait. The power’s off and that’s why I’m looking for a flashlight in this darkened room in the first place.

And there’s a similar and related mental lapse. You may have tried to get cooler because the air conditioning is off too. You notice that with no power, the house growing warm so you try to turn on the ceiling fan to stir up some air. Then, uh-oh. That won’t work.

I have never actually tried to turn on the fan in that situation but I have found myself approaching the switch with the intention of doing so, before the reality of the situation caught up with me.

The second mental embarrassment, I’m sure, is rarer, but I’d be willing to bet that at least one or two of you readers out there have done it. I have. And, as I said, so has Bob.

I worked with Bob for more than 40 years at the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Like me, he is now retired and a full-fledged geezer. We shared many adventures (and beers) together when we were young men, including a great vacation to Mexico City in 1966 We talked about that trip for years and still bring it up from time to time.

We visited the magnificent “lost city” of Teotihuacan, about 30 miles outside of Mexico City. A mysterious and isolated civilization created this place, with its majestic pyramids and other structures more than 1,000 years before the mighty Aztecs ruled the area.

And I’ll never forget the time that Bob and I were walking down a street in Mexico City and something had irritated me, so I hollered out “Viva Zachary Taylor and viva Winfield Scott.” Those were the two American generals who conquered Mexico in our war with that nation in the 1840s. Well Bob, who speaks Spanish did everything but put his hand over my mouth in order to shut me up. That was not the best judgment I had ever shown, I suppose.

Anyway, I digress. Let me get back to the goofy momentary loss of awareness of our surroundings that Bob and I both experienced, at different times and places, of course.

We were having a phone conversation a couple of years ago. I have no idea how the subject came up, but Bob recalled that he had once driven up to a stop sign, and like the good motorist he is, stopped. And then he waited And waited. It seems that subconsciously, Bob was waiting for the sign to change to “Go.”

Eventually, he “came to” and drove off. Well, I laughed at the story and then admitted that I had done the same thing. Right here in Natchitoches, just a few blocks from my house. Bob’s tale fitted what happened to me almost exactly. I do recall that when I became aware of what I was doing, I was very thankful that no one else was around and that I hadn’t caused a mini-traffic jam behind me. I got away with it that time.

I don’t know whether the cause of these driving incidents was that we are truly senior citizens, with all that that implies, or whether we are such brilliant old men that our sharp minds have other intriguing things to think about rather than driving off from a stop sign.

But come to think about it. Wouldn’t it be a really good idea if stop signs did in fact change to “Go” when no traffic was coming?

The Les Amies Service Organization delivered donation checks to the Natchitoches CASA office and the Natchitoches Parish Juvenile Drug Court. The members of Les Amies hope their donations will assist children in the Natchitoches community.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #1 with mutual aid assistance from Natchitoches Parish Fire Districts #4, #6, and #9 responded to 911 reports of a structure fire June 14 at 8:31 pm in the 500 block of Hwy. 495 in Cloutierville, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say upon their arrival the unoccupied residence reportedly over 100 years old was fully engulfed in flames.

Multiple fire units attempted to contain the fire for over two hours, however, the structure was a total loss.

There were no reported injuries.

SWEPCO also responded to the scene with electricity reportedly out in the Cloutierville area, which was restored at 11 pm.

Deputies say at this time, they are attempting to verify the current owner of the residence who is believed to live in Baton Rouge area.

This residence is where the late Natchitoches Mayor Joe Sampite grew up.

The preliminary cause of the fire is currently unknown although residents in the area reported a thunderstorm containing thunder and lightening strikes in the area on Wednesday afternoon that caused electrical outages.

Sheriff Victor Jones who responded to the scene, expressed his appreciation to Fire Districts #4, #6 and #9 who responded to assist Fire District #1 in an effort to contain the fire and protect nearby structures”.

“Winning becomes an obligation, a state of mind, an expectation, in the end—an attitude.” ~NHL Hall of Famer, Ken Dryden

These words are certainly applicable to the Natchitoches Central FFA Chapter as they wrap up the most successful year in program history.  In addition to a national championship won last fall, the Natchitoches Central FFA Chapter’s accomplishments this year include winning the state championship in eight separate events, placing in the top four of another seven events, and winning the overall state championship for the fifth consecutive year.  “We are very fortunate to have such hard working advisors but also to have such hard working teammates” said Preston Tibbett, who graduated this spring.  “There is no secret to our success—the harder you work the more successful you become.  FFA is a perfect example of that concept.”

All schools with Agriculture departments have an active FFA chapter and compete against each other.  FFA chapters are not separated by school size or classification, so when a chapter wins state, they beat everyone else that has a program.  The state is divided into four geographic areas and the top four teams from each area compete at state competition.  Natchitoches Central FFA won eight of the 24 state events this year.  No other school in the state won more than two.

The Natchitoches Central FFA Chapter could not be so successful without the hard work of all the students enrolled in Agriscience at NCHS and the dedication of the team members.  Furthermore, these accomplishments are not possible without the support of the faculty and staff at NCHS, the support of the Natchitoches Parish School Board, and the support of so many of the residents of Natchitoches Parish.  Natchitoches Central FFA would like to extend a sincere “Thank You” to all who have encouraged our success.

 

 

Northwestern State’s longest-running summer tradition returns Saturday, Aug. 5 as the Lady Demon basketball team presents its annual Don’t Die Wondering Golf Classic at Northwestern Hills Golf Course.

The 29th annual golf tournament remains the largest fund-raiser for the Lady Demons program as it approaches the completion of its third decade.

Its impact goes beyond the operating money it generates for the Northwestern State program.

“The Don’t Die Wondering Golf Classic is such a great tradition for our program,” second-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said. “It is the biggest fund-raiser of the year for us, but it also allows us the opportunity to thank and interact with our fans who give us so much support throughout the year.”

The tournament is an 18-hole scramble with four-person teams competing. There will be an 8 a.m. flight and a 1 p.m. flight. Entry fees are $400 for a foursome or $100 for individual entrants.

Merchandise and prizes will be awarded and there will be low-gross and low-net handicap divisions.

Dupuy is in his second year as the tournament steward, carrying on the legacy started by James Smith, the program’s all-time leader in coaching wins.

“We are hoping to make this year the biggest one yet as we strive for 36 (teams),” Dupuy said. “I want to have both the 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. flights filled. We look forward to seeing everyone there. Let’s make the 29th annual Don’t Die Wondering Golf Classic the best one ever. Fork ’em!”

For more information or to enter the Don’t Die Wondering Golf Classic, contact Dupuy at 318-357-5891 or by email at dupuyj@nsula.edu or by calling David Stamey at 318-663-8803.