The Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival, held Sept. 15-16, filled the air with hot air balloons, energetic music, the spicy aroma of meat pies and even a few screams. Vendors sold their wares and a kids area offered pony rides and a variety of other fun activities. Hot air balloon rides gave the public a bird’s eye view of the festival grounds. A performance by Dark Woods zombies treated the crowd to a thriller dance toward the end of Saturday night. Friday night featured a brew fest.
By Ida B. Torn
When I traveled to North Carolina on a family vacation in the 1980s, acid rain was a hot topic in the news. The Blue Ridge Mountains’ majestic beauty was scarred by large swaths of dead and dying trees. This past Labor Day weekend, my family and I were once again traveling this great country of ours and I was reminded of that trip to North Carolina, but not because of the landscape that passed me by in the car.
During our travels, we stayed at three different hotels, all of which offered free wi-fi access. Like most people, all of my technology is cloud based. Tech companies tout “the cloud” as being the silver lining solution for all of your data needs. Try spending half an hour working on an important document that gets lost because the hotel you are staying in has spotty wi-fi and you lose all of your work when the connection cuts out. Suddenly, I was one of those trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains, scorched and poisoned by the very source of sustenance I was relying on!
Thanks to the cloud, you no longer have to think for yourself. You can literally have your head in the clouds and marketers will gladly do your thinking for you. Just download an app to your phone and the same mobile geofencing technology that is used to track criminals under house arrest can tell you where you should eat, buy gas, go shopping and do all of your banking. The irony that we are prisoners to the cloud is not lost on me.
If the marketers can access your every move through their cloud, how difficult must it be for identity thieves to access it? The security breach at Equifax has put as many as 143 million Americans at risk for identity theft. As a consolation prize, Equifax is offering one year of free credit monitoring services, once again seeding their cloud with your private information and producing another bumper crop for identity thieves to harvest.
Clouds can aid in the production of life sustaining resources but they can also produce life threatening storms. Just as in nature, we cannot control which kind of technological clouds we find ourselves living under. Unlike in nature, we cannot predict when a technological storm is going to hit, which greatly increases our risk for catastrophic damages. And now, thanks to cloud-based technology, we need to add identity theft protection to our insurance portfolio. Lucky for us, the cloud can tell us which insurance companies are in our immediate vicinity.
I, for one, think it is high time that we get our heads and our data out of the clouds.
By Kevin Shannahan
Our nation gathered one of its own back home this week. Corporal Raymond Clark Snapp, United States’ Marine Corps, was laid to rest Friday, Sept. 15 at the Northwest Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Corporal Snapp was 24 years old when he was killed on the first day of the 96 hour Battle of Tarawa in 1943. The fighting was some of the fiercest of the war in the Pacific. Of the roughly 12,000 Marines of the 2nd Marine Division at Tarawa, 3,166 became casualties. The ferocity of the fighting was such that the dead could not be be buried until the battle was won and the island cleared of Japanese forces. Corporal Snapp was buried on the island of Betio where his body remained until being repatriated to the National Cemetery in Oahu, Hawaii in 1947. Unfortunately, his remains were not identifiable at the time and he was buried in 1949 with fellow unknown casualties from the battle named only as Tarawa unknown X-275.
That is where the matter would have ended were it not for the efforts of a truly remarkable group of men and women, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Their mission is to account for missing service members from the nation’s wars. The chaos of battle, aircraft crashes, the sheer destructiveness of modern weapons, incomplete records and the passage of the years are some of the factors making the agency’s mission difficult. Advances over the years in methods of identification meant there was a chance to positively identify at least some of the men lost at Tarawa. In October 2016, Tarawa Unknown X-275 and 93 of his fellow Marines were exhumed and sent to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s Laboratory. Using DNA and a variety of other methods, they were able to establish that Tarawa unknown X-275 was Corporal Raymond Clark Snapp. It was time to bring him home.
Corporal Snapp was flown from Hawaii to Dallas, escorted by brother Marines. From there, he was driven to a funeral home in Shreveport. For that final trip, his remains were escorted by Marines, law enforcement and the Patriot Guard Riders as ordinary citizens paid their respects along the way. The military honors were rendered by Marines from B Co., 1st BN of the 23rd Marines, a reserve unit out of Bossier City. Lt. Col. Reginald Williams, USMCR, presented the flag from Corporal Snapp’s coffin to his family.
Corporal Snapp fell in Battle 74 years ago. None of the Marines in his burial detail nor all but a few of the Veterans present were alive then. That does not matter. The service and the obvious care and respect shown by the Marines, both current and former, the meticulous upkeep of the cemetery, the everyday men, women and fellow Veterans who came to the funeral of a man they did not know, are all part of what Sir Winston Churchill called “The long continuity of our institutions.” This respect for the past is part of the glue that holds our nation together from generation to generation. Corporal Snapp is part of a thread that runs from our country’s founding through Belleau Wood, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Chosin, Hue, Afghanistan, Iraq and hundreds of other places. From the youngest private in the burial detail to the oldest Veteran in attendance, all are part of a legacy that will endure as long as our nation does.
We do not know much about Corporal Snapp, almost nothing aside from the historical record. That record does, however give us an insight into his character. The Navy Chaplain who gave his eulogy researched his record and found out that he had been seriously wounded during the Battle for Guadalcanal. He was evacuated to Hawaii. At that point, he could have been repatriated back to the United States, having been wounded. He could have honorably gone home, having done his duty. He refused to do so and asked to be returned to his unit. On the 20th of November, 1943, he died with his face to the enemy, faithful until death to his fellow Marines and his nation. On the 15th of September Tarawa unknown X-275 was finally brought home – fair winds and following seas, Corporal Raymond Clark Snapp.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal was honored to be able to photograph the service for Corporal Snapp. Copy protection is off and downloads are enabled. Anyone may download any they wish.
By Kevin Shannahan
Several thousand festival goers enjoyed themselves at the Annual Marthaville Good Ole’ Days Festival, held this past weekend, Sept. 15-16. This year’s Festival marks the 25th anniversary of what has become one of our parish’s most beloved traditions. This year’s event was especially noteworthy in that former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards was the parade’s Grand Marshal. He and his family rode in a beautifully preserved 1931 antique car. The former governor, 90 years young, showed he hasn’t lost a step as he spoke to the crowd after the parade.
While the parade was the highlight of the festival, it was far from the only activity going on. There was an antique car judging, singing groups from various churches, performances by school dance and cheer groups and a Nashville Music Show. A kids’ area entertained the younger set. The festival also served as a reunion for the Marthaville High School’s classes of 1947, 1957 and 1967. The parade featured 73 entries ranging from the Lakeview’s USAF Junior ROTC Color Guard to Natchitoches Central’s Chiefettes, Cheerleaders and Maroon line. The hometown Marthaville Hawk cheerleaders and spirit group were joined by Sabine parish’s Ebarb High cheerleaders. The First Baptist Church of Marthaville even brought a tank for “The Lord’s Army.” The fire department, antique cars, library bookmobile and a full complement of area pageant queens rounded out the parade roster. The popularity of this fun family event can be deduced from the fact that Randall “Fuzzy” Hennigan reported he threw 71 pounds of candy and 2,700 beads from his 1964 Mustang (a beautiful, one owner, car I might add!)
The Marthaville Good Ole’ Days Festival is a superb weekend of family fun and togetherness. It is small town America at its best! The NPJ is looking forward to next year.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating this event’s photography. Copy protection is turned off and downloads enabled. Anyone may download any the wish. If you do download a photo you like, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society in lieu of payment. I was particularly touched by Miss Cure on the Cane’s speech during the Queen’s Presentation.
Natchitoches Police Department officers, NSU police and other local Law Enforcement Agencies went through Harmon and Jean Drew’s 2018 True Blue Drew Class. The True Blue Drew Book includes information that all Louisiana law officers need.
It’s written by Jean T. Drew and Harmon Drew, who have a combined 86 years working with Louisiana criminal laws and a combined 78 years teaching criminal law.
The 2nd Annual Antonio’s Dream Arena Memorial Rodeo will be held Sept. 22-23 at 8 pm nightly. Events include bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding, ranch bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie down roping. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free.
The arena, located at 10867 Hwy. 1, is the fulfillment of a dream Antonio Esparza had ever since he was a boy. Antonio passed away two years ago, but his mother Pam made sure his dream came true last year by hosting the inaugural rodeo in his honor.
Antonio always loved going to the rodeo when he was growing up. He especially loved to watch the bull riding. His dream was to raise bulls and own an arena. He was looking at buying land to make this dream a reality when he passed away. Pam bought the exact piece of land Antonio wanted and constructed an arena in his memory.
The arena is also a tribute to the special bond Antonio shared with his friends, the late Brandon Boyd, the late Todd Roque and the late Blaine Foshee. These cowboys are all rodeoing in heaven together. A special feature at this year’s rodeo will be a balloon release in their honor Friday night at the opening ceremonies.
The Sabine River Rodeo Company will provide stock and cowboys. The LA Rodeo Cowboy Association and the Tri-State Rodeo Association will participate. PRCA entertainer and barrel man Trent McFarland will provide the entertainment. To sponsor an event or donate, contact Pam Esparza at 318-471-9996.
The Provencal Christian Academy Basketball Team is getting team shoes, t-shirts, and warm up suits for each player. The school is very small and has limited funds. Most of the players can’t afford to get this gear on their own. For this reason, the team is asking for donations or sponsorships. The t-shirts will have sponsors on the back. The size of the sponsorship depends on the amount of money given.
The sponsorships will be a minimum of $50. The team appreciates any amount they receive. These shirts will also be available for purchase for $20. Buy a shirt to help show support for the PCA Knights.
Contact Angela Jennings at 318-472-6334 or Michael Jordan at 318-332-9197.
“What would you do in the last hour of your life?”
Journalist Tom Rinaldi asks the question in his poignant and inspiring book “The Red Bandanna,” an account of the life and character of Welles Crowther, who saved many lives before losing his own in the collapse of the World Trade Center’s South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001.
Rinaldi will speak at Northwestern State University at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 in A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Sponsored by NSU’s Student Government Association and the Office of First Year Experience, the event is free and open to the public. A question and answer discussion will take place following the lecture, moderated by ESPN reporter and NSU alum Carley McCord.
A correspondent for ESPN since 2002, Rinaldi contributes to a wide variety of programs and fills a number of roles at the network. He is a weekly contributor to College Gameday, and serves as a sideline reporter for some of college football’s biggest games, including the Rose Bowl and the national championship. Rinaldi has also written pieces for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. “The Red Bandanna,” Rinaldi’s first book, was released last year. The story had previously been a Rinaldi television feature.
Crowther was a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer fire fighter who worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s South Tower. Crowther habitually carried a red bandanna in his pocket and survivors of the terror attacks described a young man wearing a red bandanna over his face to protect himself from smoke and debris as he guided injured and dazed people to safety.
“The story is about character, doing for others and being part of something greater than yourself,” said Reatha Cox, director of First Year Experience, the office that connects first year students with people, programs and resources to provide a strong foundation for academic success and personal growth. Cox plans to incorporate “The Red Bandanna” into the curriculum for students in the President’s Leadership Program. “It ties in with our 1 of 7 service initiative and the concept of doing for others.”
“When Reatha presented this to us we knew Mr. Rinaldi would be perfect to bring to campus as a speaker, so we partnered with First Year Experience to sponsor him,” said SGA Academic Affairs Commissioner Jacob Ellis of Athens, who was four years old on 9/11. Ellis noted that many of today’s college students were small children in 2001 and have little memory of life before the terrorist attacks changed many aspects American life.
For more information on Rinaldi’s appearance at NSU, contact Ellis at jellis067345@nsula.edu.
Alta Yvonne Cryer
June 1, 1947 – September 16, 2017
Service: Monday, Sept. 18 at 2 pm at Beulah Baptist Church
Interment: Beulah Cemetery
Argus Moore
March 11, 1931 – September 17, 2017
Visitation: Monday, Sept. 18 at 6 pm at Lakeside Baptist Church
Service: Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 2 pm at Lakeside Baptist Church
Interment: Lakeside Baptist Church Cemetery
Faye Clarese Mathews
March 11, 1940 – September 14, 2017
Visitation: Monday, Sept. 18 from 8-9 am at the Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Monday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 am at St. Margaret Catholic Church
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens
Faithlynn Lorraine Meshell
April 9, 2016 – September 14, 2017
Visitation: Monday, Sept. 18 at 5 pm at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Florien
Service: Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 2 pm at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church
Interment: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Florien
Dr. Joseph Christopher Maggio was installed as the 19th president of Northwestern State University Sept. 15 in a formal Investiture ceremony attended by students, faculty, alumni, friends, family, dignitaries and honored guests from throughout the state. The installation of Maggio as president capstones a life and career dedicated to service and student success at the university where he has served on faculty and/or staff in numerous leadership and instructional capacities since 1988.
“I am honored to be surrounded and supported today by so many members of my families. The word families is plural because I am referring to my parents, wife, children, siblings and other relatives and to our Northwestern State family of students,” Maggio said. Dr. Maggio and his wife, the former Jennifer Zeagler, were joined by their children, Melanie, Scott and Emily.
A procession of faculty and staff in full academic regalia began the ceremony that incorporated many Northwestern State traditions and acknowledgements of the school’s 133-year history. The Natchitoches-Northwestern State Symphony Orchestra, NSU Concert and Chamber choirs and 68th Demon Battalion participated in the ceremony. Offering welcome to those assembled were Natchitoches Mayor Lee Posey (Class of 1974), Student Government Association President Otha C. “Tre” Nelson of Baton Rouge, Faculty Senate President and Associate Professor of English Dr. Thomas Reynolds and Alumni Association President Monty Chicola (Class of 1980), who during the ceremony presented Dr. Maggio with a presidential NSU class ring and Mrs Maggio with a matching pendant. Rev. Dr. Calvin Phelps offered the invocation.
Pulitzer Prize winning veteran journalist and NSU alumnus Gary Fields (Class of 1982 and 1984) was guest speaker, who said Maggio has a way of connecting with people and bringing them together.
“Chris was headed for this job from the moment he was born,” Fields said, noting that each position Maggio held at NSU throughout his years built upon the previous one.
Throughout the program, the new president and others spoke of the Maggio family’s long relationship with the city of Natchitoches and with the university. The grandson of immigrants, Maggio recognized many members of his extended family in attendance, referencing their emphasis on faith, family, education and hard work.
Dr. James B. Henderson, president of the University of Louisiana System and immediate past president of Northwestern State (Class of 1994), assisted Nelson in bestowing the vestments of the office of president and formally installed Dr. Maggio into office with the President’s Chain. The robes, in school colors of purple and white, are a gift from the Student Government Association and represent the mutual collaboration between the students and the administration. The President’s Chain was presented to NSU President Emeritus Dr. Randall Webb in 2009 by the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the founding of Northwestern State University. It bears the engraved names all presidents of the university.
The Investiture program concluded with the university’s alma mater and a benediction by Dr. Hayward “Sonny” Hargrove Jr. (Class of 1964), a member of the NSU Alumni Association Board.
Earlier in the day, the Maggio family was joined by the university and Natchitoches community at a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception with hymns performed by the NSU Chamber Choir. Principal celebrant was Rev. Blake Deshautelle, pastor of Immaculate Conception. Concelebrants were the Very Rev. Scott Chemino, the Rev. John Cunningham, the Rev. Monsignor Carson LaCaze, the Rev. Marc Noel, the Very Rev. John O’Brien, the Rev. Craig Scott (Class of 1986), the Rev. Brian Seiler (Class of 2006) and the Rev. Louis Sklar (Class of 1990). Readings and hymns from the Mass reflected Dr. and Mrs. Maggio’s expressed values of service, faith and diligence.
Maggio served as interim president for four months during a national search before being named president May 4. Since then, NSU reported an unprecedented increase in grants and private gifts for the first half of 2017 and a 7.7 percent increase in enrollment for the Fall 2017 semester. Current enrollment is 10,572 students, the largest in the university’s history.
Following Dr. Chris Maggio’s Investiture as Northwestern State’s 19th President, the Maggio family received visitors at the Arnold R. Kilpatrick President’s Residence Sept. 15. The community event featured the talents of students from NSU’s Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts. Artwork by students, faculty and alumni selected especially for the occasion was on display in the home and refreshments included Italian delicacies made from recipes passed down through the Maggio family.
All photos by Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
By Brooke Shirley
The NPJ sat down with NSU’s 19th President, Dr. Chris Maggio, just before his investiture ceremony Sept. 15. Maggio expressed his excitement over continuing to grow with Northwestern State University as its new president.
Q: What is one thing you want to accomplish during your tenure?
A: Well, I think first and foremost, I want to show the world what we have at Northwestern State University. We have a world class university situated right here in Northwest Louisiana with excellence in education, nursing, creative and performance arts, science and technology, and liberal arts. You can tell by the momentum that we’ve experienced over the last several years the amount growth of Northwestern on campus here in Natchitoches. Also in our online education because folks are learning about Northwestern and we are very proud of what we have to offer. I’m also proud of the world class faculty we have to deliver the education at the university.
Q: What is your vision and time frame for any infrastructure repair to Northwestern’s campus?
A: We’ve experienced growth over the last several years and thats very exciting! This year is our largest class of enrollment at the university with 10,572 students. We want to continue to grow and we’re aware of the infrastructure needs for that growth to continue. We want to grow in all facets of the university. If we’re going to grow with our face to face students here on the Natchitoches campus, we’re going to need some additional housing. We’ve started the ground work for the framework to provide additional housing.
Q: Do you think we’ll see a return of the college of journalism?
A: Yeah, we’ve actually rebranded our school of journalism. We’ve actually started back and its called New Media under Communications. It was one of our areas of excellence for many years so we are glad to not only bring the School of Journalism back, but to modernize it. We can now focus on not just the traditional journalism, but also broadcast journalism and social media.
Q: What do you attribute this years record enrollment to?
A: Well, I think its a lot of things. I think it’s the Northwestern family which includes the wonderful students, faculty and staff, and alumni. I also want to give credit to Dr. Henderson who is my predecessor of the university. He really set a great tone and a vision for our university.
Hospice of Natchitoches is a proud sponsor of the St. Augustine Church Fair, which will be held Friday-Sunday, Oct. 13-15 in Melrose. Pictured is Father Charles Ray and Dominic Metoyer, Hospice of Natchitoches RN.
The residents of Isle Brevelle will come together the second weekend every October, to celebrate the Annual St. Augustine Catholic Church Fair. Each year this rich community of faith welcomes visitors to share good times, good food, and great history. The Church Fair will feature tours of the Church and Cemetery, crafts, games, food, a turkey shoot and entertainment. Friday night, Fish Fry. Saturday and Sunday, all activities include old fashioned carnival games, bingo, music and authentic Creole foods.
For directions or for more information, call the Church at (318) 379-2521 or call the Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 259-1714.
The NSU community gathered at the Freedom Tree on the lawn of the President’s Residence for a POW/MIA Day observation Sept. 15. NSU’s Department of Military Science and the 68th Demon Battalion hosted the program. Cadets honored the military service of Lloyd A. Ponder, local resident and former WWII Pacific Theater Prisoner of War.
All photos by Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
Dr. Randall Keator, representing Natchitoches Family Eye Care, presented Mike Hilton, President of Wings Over Natchitoches (WON), with two pair of Ray Ban sunglasses for the silent auction fund raiser sponsored by WON. In addition, Dr. Keator and Dr. Pete Wardell are contributing sponsors for the air show which is free to the public on Oct. 14. Mike Hilton expressed sincere appreciation for the support of Natchitoches Family Eye care and noted that one of the air show aircraft will be of the same type flown by Dr. Keator’s father in WWII. Hilton emphasized that the air show is not only great fun for the whole family but also educational for those interested in aviation history.
Natchitoches Central High School
Natchitoches Central 28
Southwood 14
St. Mary’s Catholic School
St. Mary’s 40
North Caddo 48
Lakeview High School
Lakeview 8
Montgomery 40
With La Cap’s All Access Advantage checking account, you have the chance to earn dividends as you make purchases (4.25% APY).* With no monthly fees and no minimum balance, it’s a great way to make the most of your checking account. It’s just our way of showing you that we care about giving you the best rates and services possible.
Open your account today – online at https://www.lacapfcu.org/ or at your closest Natchitoches Branch (318-357-3200).
* APY = Annual Percentage Yield. La Cap Checking (Share draft) Accounts are variable rate accounts. La Cap may change the dividend rate for your account as determined by the credit union Board of Directors. Dividends are posted and compounded monthly. No minimum balance required to maintain the account. Applicable fees and conditions could reduce the earnings on your account. Qualification to earn dividends: – 25 or more posted non-ATM debit card transactions per month: – 4.25% APY on balances up to but not exceeding $5,000 – .15% APY on balances exceeding $5,000. If qualification stated is not met: – .15% APY on entire balance. Must meet criteria for opening a checking account.
**Foreign ATM fees are charged when accessing a La Cap account through another financial institution’s ATM. By signing up for eStatements on your All Access Advantage checking account, you can receive surcharge refunds of up to $25 per month on Foreign ATM fees. La Cap reserves the right to discontinue this feature at a future date.
†The Elite Saver account is a savings account that pays a higher interest rate than a regular share account. This account is available to members with All Access Advantage checking accounts. You are not required to open an Elite Saver account if you have an All Access Advantage account. You must maintain a minimum daily balance of $5,000 in your Elite Saver account. If during any month your balance falls below the required minimum daily balance, your Elite Saver account will be subject to a low balance fee of $5.00.
‡$2.00 Monthly Service Charge. Any checking account enrolled in eStatements will receive a monthly service charge waiver of $2 per month while enrolled in eStatements. To sign up for eStatements, you must first be enrolled in Online Banking.
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Free online tutoring, job search assistance, and academic and career resources are all available for free, all you need is your Natchitoches Parish Library (NPL) card!
Whether you need help with math homework, an English paper, finding a job, or preparing for a test, the NPL’s free database, HomeworkLouisana, can help! At homeworkla.org, NPL patrons can access FREE online tutoring and academic resources from Tutor.com. Kindergarten students through adult learners can get help in math, science, social studies, or English from a live tutor. The service also makes available one-on-one, real-time assistance with your job search. Online tutors are available to help navigate online job sites, complete applications, write or review resumes and cover letters and even offer practice interviews. All services can be accessed from the NPL, from a home computer, or from a mobile device at http://www.HomeworkLA.org.
Students who use HomeworkLouisiana’s online tutoring and homework services report they are able to better complete homework assignments, build confidence in their academic abilities, and improve their grades.
The HomeworkLouisiana Online Classroom is designed to optimize a one-on-one learning session. This includes real-time chat, an interactive whiteboard, math tools (drag and drop shapes, commonly used equations, graphing paper, and much more). A student and tutor can also share files or browse educational resources on the web.
Adult Education Center tutors are available Sunday through Thursday, 10AM-10PM. Live Homework Help tutors are available Sunday through Thursday, 2PM-10PM. The SkillsCenter is available 24/7!
To register for a library card, you may visit either the Natchitoches or Campti location’s circulation desks. Please bring a valid photo ID, and if it doesn’t list your current address in the parish, also bring a bill or lease showing your name and current address. For any further questions, you may call the Main Branch at 318-357-3280 or the Northeast Branch at 318-476-3280.
By Carl I. Walters II., Chief Executive Officer, Outpatient Medical Center Inc. (a Federally Qualified Health System)
Federally Qualified Health Centers have a moral, ethical, social responsibility and federal mandate to provide personalized, professional, medically-appropriate and culturally-sensitive primary care services to anyone needing them. Additionally, they have a federal mandate to reach out and help improve the health of our nation’s most vulnerable patient populations; which is the objective of this article. Did you know?
As part of Outpatient Medical Center Inc’s commitment to keeping you informed and healthy, if you have a family history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, behavioral instability and you’re not currently under the care of a primary care clinician, I personally encourage you to pick up the phone and call us today at:
Natchitoches Health Center: 1640 Breazeale Springs St., Natchitoches, LA 71457 1-800-268-5872
Leesville Health Center: 1603 B Boone St., Leesville, LA 71446 1-800-308-7569
Tallulah Health Center: 804 Beech St., Tallulah, LA 1-800-308-7566
Let Outpatient Medical Center Inc. partner with you to help keep your family and you healthy and whole. On a personal note, after being a healthcare executive for close to 30 years, I am tired of seeing our community family members debilitated and/or dying at alarming rates and at increasingly younger ages – because we won’t go to the doctor consistently to stay healthy and whole.
I close, pleading with you to help us curb the number of community family members we continue to lose because they won’t come to the doctor. Whether you have the ability to pay for your services or not, our dedicated staff would be honored to be afforded the opportunity to care for your family. At Outpatient Medical Center Inc. it is not about money. It’s about you; because keeping your family and you healthy and whole is what we do. Be healthy, in touch; informed and it remains our privilege and pleasure to care for you.
OMC is JCAHO accredited, one of the highest national seals for providing the highest quality medical services. We also applied to become Patient-Center Medical Home recognized; a distinction we’re committed to adding to our health system quality awards by the end of 2017.
OMC has been awarded $175,700 to expand its Behavioral Health services.
If you haven’t received core medical or dental preventative services in awhile or you’re not under the care of a primary care clinician, pick up the phone and call an OMC office in your area to schedule an appointment.
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Tuesday from 8 am – 6 pm
Wednesday from 8 am – 5 pm
Thursday from 8 am – 8 pm
Friday from 8 am – 1 pm
OMC is now accepting new patients and welcomes active duty, reserve, retired military Veterans and their families. OMC is now offering flu shots. Visit our website at http://www.outpatientmedical.org.
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Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will offer a beginning ceramics class starting Thursday, Sept. 21. The class will be held each Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Room 113 of the Fine Arts Annex until Nov. 16.
The fee for the class is $150 plus a $20 material fee paid directly to the instructor on the first day of the course. Beginning Ceramics is an introduction to working with clay. The student will learn hand-building and sculptural techniques, as well as work on the potter’s wheel. There will also be room for intermediate and advanced students to take the class and use the art facilities during the class time.
For more information, call (318) 357-6355, (800) 376-2422 or go to nsula.edu/ece/non-credit-programs.
The Rapides Foundation brought acclaimed author Wes Moore to Central Louisiana for its fourth annual Symposium on September 6. Moore, a Rhodes scholar, decorated Army combat veteran, youth advocate and CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, spoke about the transformative power of education and leadership and its impact on improving our community. He first brought his message to 3,500 school students at a morning event at the Rapides Parish Coliseum and then spoke before a group of 675 community members at the Riverfront Center. Students from Natchitoches Parish School District attended the Symposium student presentation.
The Rapides Foundation Symposium focuses on a topic of importance to Central Louisiana and is presented each September as a way of celebrating the anniversary of the Foundation’s creation in September 1994. The focus of the 2017 Symposium was Transforming Communities.
Joe Rosier, President and CEO, said the Foundation’s mission of improving the health status of Central Louisiana includes two critical components that contribute to the health of a community – educational attainment and civic leadership and engagement. For this reason, the Foundation focuses its work in three strategic areas to support this mission: Healthy People, Education and Healthy Communities. Directing his comments to students, Rosier said, “Find a place of service, find a place to contribute, both to your own self and to your family and your community.”
In both presentations, Moore shared his personal story of overcoming adversity through education, embracing personal responsibility, and emerging as an inspirational leader.
His moving life story is the subject of an upcoming motion picture from Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey based on Moore’s New York Times best-seller, The Other Wes Moore. The book tells the story of how educational opportunities, strong parental influence, mentors and a community support network helped him transcend the fate of a man with the same name who lived just blocks away and took a tragically different path to prison.
Moore told the group he was “beyond humbled to be here,” and praised the work of the Foundation. “When I first heard about the work of The Rapides Foundation, and when I heard about the focus on education, it made perfect sense. You cannot talk about education without talking about the importance of health in that conversation. At the same time you can’t have a conversation about health if you don’t also understand the role that education is going to play in it.”
Moore lost his dad at a young age, leaving his mother to make sacrifices to provide for her children. She eventually moved the family from Baltimore to the Bronx to get help from her parents. “Almost immediately after I got there I found myself picking and choosing what days to go to school … hurting the people that actually did love me so I could trust people who couldn’t care less about me,” Moore said. He was only 11 when he felt handcuffs on his wrists for the first time. When he was 13, his mother followed up on what he considered idle threats and sent him to military school.
“As soon as I arrived, I made it clear I wasn’t going to stay,” Moore said of his initial experience at military school. After several unsuccessful attempts to escape, he pleaded with his mother to take him home. “I started going through this whole list of things she needed to do to make my life easier. This is the woman who would sacrifice everything for her kids. I think my little sister said it best when she said, ‘Our mother wore sweaters so we could wear coats.’ And now I’m telling her what she has to do to make my life easier,” he said. Eventually, Moore understood what his mother had been trying to explain – that there were many people who were sacrificing on his behalf and rooting for him.
Moore ending up thriving at military school, went on to college and received the prestigious Rhodes scholarship, reserved for only 32 recipients a year. The same day the Baltimore Sun wrote a story about his accomplishment, it ran an article about four young Baltimore men accused – and later convicted – of killing an off-duty police sergeant in an armed robbery. One of the individuals was named Wes Moore.
The article made Moore question why two men who grew up in the same part of town with the same name and similar backgrounds could take such widely different paths. Moore ended up conversing with the “other” Wes Moore, who remains in prison serving a life sentence. Their correspondence and Moore’s research resulted in his famous bestseller.
“I share this story … to help us remember how thin that line is between our life and someone else’s life,” he said. “The truth is there are Wes Moores that exist in every one of our communities. People who are one decision away, people who are one policy decision away, people who are a natural disaster away from going in one direction or going in a completely different direction — people who every day are straddling the line of greatness and they don’t even know it. The fact is, our society is full of ‘others.’
Addressing the 3,500 students in the Coliseum, Moore said, “Every single one of you are here because the expectations that people have of you are high. Every single of one you are here because there are people who love you and who believe in you and who want you to succeed and there are people who want you to understand that your success will never simply be about how you did on a test or what your GPA is. Your success also comes back to a measure of understanding of what is it that you can do to help people understand the lives of other people better so we don’t have to continue having tragedies happen over and over.”
He urged both audiences to make their lives matter. “Whether it’s time to leave school, whether it’s time for you to leave your job, whether it’s time for you to leave your community, or whether it’s time for you to leave this planet, make sure that it mattered that you were ever even here,” he said. “The truth is, none of us are promised anything. So while we’re here, let’s actually do something with it. When you see a human suffering, do something with it. When you see a chance to actually use your voice for something bigger, use it. Because there is nothing more powerful than you individually and collectively choosing to embrace how impactful you can be.”
Dr. Rosaline Caldwell currently serves as the Pediatric Surgery Nurse Practitioner for Pediatric Surgical Associates at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Rosaline received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. As a newly registered nurse in 1997, she went to work at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport in the department of pediatrics. There, she provided superior nursing care to acutely ill children in the emergency department, the intensive care unit, and the general pediatric wards. Her desire to care for sick children fueled her passion to further her knowledge base. So in 2003, she began her pursuit of an advanced practice degree in nursing. Two years later, in May of 2005, she received her Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a concentration in Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Shortly after completing graduate school, she completed her certification in Primary Care. Rosaline has been with Pediatric Surgical Associates since that time and now has over 20 years of experience providing care to acutely and chronically ill pediatric patients. Rosaline completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in August of 2017 from Northwestern State University.
In July 2005, Rosaline, along with two Pediatric Surgeons, formed the only pediatric surgery team in Northwest Louisiana. For at least six years prior to that time, there were no pediatric surgical services available to the people of Northern Louisiana. Rosaline and her team, now consisting of three surgeons, care for the pediatric surgical needs of a population of 1.2 million in Shreveport and her surrounding areas.
Rosaline was nominated for the 2010 Louisiana Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year. In March of 2013, she was a participant in the Nurse in Washington Internship, where she had the opportunity to address legislative issues affecting nurses with Senators and Louisiana Representative, Dr. John Fleming. In March of 2015, she was voted Outstanding Medical Professional by the Shreveport/Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce.
Rosaline’s professional organizations include: the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association, in which she has served as member, Legislative Special Interest Group Chair, and Development Chair on the Board of Directors; the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners and has served as the President of Northwest Louisiana Pediatric Society.
Rosaline is a published author of five peer-reviewed medical journal articles, a content reviewer for the 3rd edition of Nursing Care of the Pediatric Surgical Patient, and a speaker on the local, regional and national levels.
Rosaline is happily married to Minister Fred Caldwell, II. The Caldwells have a beautifully blended family of five children and two grandchildren.