The deadline to reserve your seat at the Farm to Table Dinner at the historic Cherokee Plantation is Friday, Oct. 13. You do not want to miss out on this spectacular event.
The dinner will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $85, which includes a four-course meal with wine pairings. Catering is provided by Maison Louisiane.

For more information call 318-446-0027.

Send your check to NHFP- P. O. Box 2552 – Natchitoches, La. 71457
You will not receive tickets. Your name will be listed at the event.

 

 

 

The American Cancer Society chose Nolton and Lanell Causey as two of its Tributes of Hope. Nolton is a retired pharmacist, practicing for 35 years.He enjoyed working with people and families to help solve problems of medication management and health related issues. Lanell has served as a caregiver to many family members with cancer and has been a patient herself. On August 9, Lanell turned 39 yet again thanks to the “official sponsor of birthdays,” the American Cancer Society.

To purchase tickets to the Belles and Beaus on the Cane, which will be held Oct. 26 at Melrose Plantation, call 318-219-1668.

Tickets can also be purchased by visiting TICKETS ONLINE .   Tickets are $100 and include a live and silent auction, dinner catered by Maison Louisiane Catering, and live entertainment by Grammy Award Winning Artist Wayne Toups.

BOM is proud to sponsor the annual Ducks Unlimited Banquet! Pictured from left are Brandy Tilley, Meg Michael, Patrick Johnson, and Stephen Van Sickle.

 

 

 

The Natchitoches Parish School Board will hold a special called meeting Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5 pm at the School Board office to discuss Judge Dee Drell’s declaration of unitary status for the school system. A lawyer will be present to explain what this means for the school system and answer any questions.

 

 

 

 

I know I can find a cup of coffee on Sunday morning at church. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

It’s good! A Dutch study found that people who drink two to four cups of coffee a day have a 20% lower risk of developing heart disease than those who drink no coffee.

It’s bad! The caffeine in coffee increases the activity of catecholamines, which are stress hormones.

It’s good! According to a Finnish study, people in their 40’s and 50’s who drink between three and five cups of coffee per day have a 65% lower chance of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life. (Nor such connection was found with tea.)

It’s bad! Caffeine stimulates the production of cortisol, which leads to general inflammation.

It’s good! In a study of women by the Harvard School of Public Health, those who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were 25% less likely to develop endometrial cancer, compared to women who drank no coffee.

It’s bad! Caffeine addiction decreases insulin sensitivity. Insulin is the hormone that processes carbohydrates and turns them into energy. Coffee makes it slightly harder for your body to process carbs.

It’s good! More than 1000 different antioxidants have been isolated in unroasted coffee beans. A few hundred more develop during roasting.

It’s bad. Coffee is well known to cause stomachaches, and it can also lead to dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut flora–the bacteria in your stomach that help digest food.

So as you are drinking that cup of coffee right now is it a good thing or a bad thing? It appears as though that answer has something to do with the number of cups of coffee you consume each day. Is it good or bad. Things change, don’t they? Wine is good today and a study will come out tomorrow telling us it is bad. Oats are bad for you then a study will come out and suddenly oats are good again. This has also happened with eggs a couple of times. I’m waiting for a study that shows a Big Mac won’t hurt your heart.

If you are waiting for the latest scientific evidence to determine what to eat, drink, or how to live you might be waiting for a long time for a scientifically definitive answer to any question. The scientific process leads the scientist to ask questions about every answer to the previous question.

Who can you trust for good information? How about a government study? I simply can’t go there, this article will go on forever!

The Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation will accept applications until 12 noon on October 15, 2017. Grants are awarded for those projects and programs that provide and promote healthcare services, health education and healthy lifestyles and wellness activities in the community.

Applicants must have 501c3 non-profit designation to qualify. Applications for construction and remodeling projects and salaries will not be accepted. Grant applicants must match up to 50% of the funds awarded.

Applications may be obtained on the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center website at http://www.natchitocheshospital.org under the “Hospital Foundation” tab or by calling Cathy Jacobs at 318-214-4513.

Grants will be awarded in December.

Paid Notice

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):
Shenthia Arthur, 119 Sylvan, Natch, La – SPOM
Alvin Bolden, 1313 Primrose, Natch, La – DWI
Travis Manning, 4806 Shed Rd Apt 204, Bossier, La – DP
Ryan Fowler, 1514 Amulet St, Natch, La – SPOM
Joann Howard, 460 Jean Marie, Natch, La – NSB, No DL
Stephan Varice, 142 MLK Dr, Natch, La – Telephone Harassment
John King, 724 Lafayette St, Natch, La – SPOM
Petula Lacour, 515 Fairground Rd Lot 46, Natch, La – Theft
Janice Page, 1220 Lake St, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Alvin Petite, 500 North St Apt J1, Natch, La – TBS, Obedience to Traffic Device
Lawrence Phillips, 1236 Holmes St, Natch, La–Reckless Operation, Impeding Flow of Traffic, DUS
Dominic Richardson, 1327 Berry Ave, Natch, La – DP
Ebonie Slate, 183 Hwy 3191 #209, Natch, La – Obedience to Traffic Device
Fredrick Tousant, 500 North St, Natch, La – Simple Battery
Divontez Winters, 206 Tilley Dr, Anacoco, La – One or No Headlights
Aviante Alexander, 4138 Tristan Loop, Shreveport, La – Exp MVI
Shawn Bradford, 178 Franklin Lane, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Demesha Hubley, 313 Fairgrounds Rd, Natch, La – Exp Registration
Damon Johnson, 400 Lakeview Dr, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Tareanesha Johnson, 1021 Clarence Dr, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Anqunetta McNeal, 211 Miranda Loop #2, Natch, La – NCR, Exp MVI

Trial (T):
Alvin Petite, 500 North St Apt J1, Natch, La – TBS
Quanteanna Charles, 1410 Berry Ave, Natch, La – TBS, Telephone Harassment
Latreyvon Durham, 1411 Dixie St, Natch, La – TBS
Keiayra Galloway, 1815 South Dr Lot 1309, Natch, La – Theft
Calvin Hoover, 396 Main St, Natchez, La – TBS
Tamira Ledet, 275 Sisson Rd, Natch, La – Careless Operation, Unlicensed Driver

Donna H. Horn was sworn in Thursday night at the Village of Ashland’s monthly meeting.  Ms. Horn was nominated to replace Mayor Gahagan Lee, who retired.

Bobbye Lou Lafitte
November 7, 1931 – October 4, 2017
Service: Friday, Oct. 6 at 10 am at First United Methodist Church of Many
Interment: Many Cemetery
Visitation: Thursday, Oct. 5 from 5-8 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many

Bernard B. Miller
March 15, 1926 – September 28, 2017
Service: Saturday, Oct. 14 at 11 am at Prospect Cemetery in Florien

Joseph Garrett, Sr.
October 1, 2017
Arrangements TBA

Renita Sonia Henry Sikes
June 18, 1958 – September 29, 2017
Service: Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1 pm at the Morning Star Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Drive in Winnfield

United Way of Northwest Louisiana, in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, presented 500 new backpacks to the Natchitoches Parish School Board Oct. 2.

The backpacks and supplies were collected by the South Central Region group of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Members as far as New Mexico donated supplies to K-12 students in Northwest Louisiana.

According to the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) Study of Financial Hardship, 54 percent of that population is struggling to afford basic needs. It is a goal for United Way and Alpha Kappa Alpha to fight and reverse this statistic.

“Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority understands the value of an education and we’re proud to have such a large member base that supports the communities we live and work in. It’s an honor to partner with United Way to distribute these school supplies where they’re needed most,” said Sigma Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Chapter President, Alice Cooper.

Nearly a quarter of children in Natchitoches Parish entering kindergarten are unprepared. In response, United Way of Northwest Louisiana offers a reading program to address the issue. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) is available to all children under five years of age living in Natchitoches Parish. The program addresses early childhood literacy and helps children become kindergarten ready. This nationally recognized program provides every child who enrolls with an age appropriate book each month mailed to their home, creating their own personal library of 60 books over five years. It inspires families to read more frequently to their children and catalyze our community to invest more time, talent and treasures to better prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to succeed.

United Way grant fundraising made this possible.

“Change doesn’t happen alone,” said Corporate Relations Manager of UWNWLA, Serena Gray. “One of my favorite things about the Natchitoches community is that no matter the issue, we unite to fight. This is just one example of how United Way NWLA and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority unite to fight for education.

 

Mayor Lee Posey presented a Hometown Hero Award to Jordan Rachel, an eighth grader at Natchitoches Magnet School. The presentation took place Oct. 4 during the school’s morning assembly. Jordan and his great grandparents, Don and Judy Montet, were driving on Interstate-49 toward Breaux Bridge for a Natchitoches Central game on Sept. 29 when Don experienced a heart attack. He collapsed on top of Judy, who was sitting in the front passenger seat. Jordan stayed calm despite being scared and took control of the situation. He jumped over the back seat and took hold of the wheel to steer them to safety. Magnet’s theme this year is Super Heroes and Principal Stephonie French told all the students at the assembly that they were lucky to have a real hero among them. Posey commended Jordan for his brave and selfless act.

Groups of neighbors gathered in small groups in every corner of Natchitoches Parish Tuesday, October 3rd for National Night out. Officers from the Natchitoches Police Department joined Sheriff’s deputies in discussing crime prevention tips with citizens over soft drinks and snacks.

The National Night Out Event held in the Martin Luther King Community Center featured the NSU men’s and women’s basketball teams as well as the NSU track and field team. The athletes were joined by McGruff the Crime Dog and church praise dance teams.

The purpose of the National Night Out is to reduce crime by providing a place for neighbors to get to know each other and the law enforcement members who protect the community.

 

Winn Parish – After a lengthy investigation, 10 Winnfield residents were arrested by Troopers for distributing narcotics in Winn Parish and will face state charges. The individuals were arrested Oct. 3 by State Police Bureau of Investigations/Alexandria Field Office (LSP AFO) and booked into the Winn Parish Detention Center.

Representatives at a press conference held Oct. 4 at the Winn Parish Courthouse declined to comment on the area of distribution for the methamphetamine regarding parishes surrounding Winn, stating this is something that will be expounded on in court.
In April 2016, investigators began investigating a narcotics distribution ring in Winnfield. Based on information obtained from the intensive investigation into these illegal activities, investigators were able to secure arrests warrants for multiple offenders. These arrests warrants were executed yesterday.

Agencies involved in and responsible for this investigation are Louisiana State Police, Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Additional arrests were made by federal agents and those individuals will face federal charges. SEE DOCUMENT FOR ALL NAMES

According to the federal indictment, beginning on Oct. 27, 2015 (and continuing through to date), in the Western District of Louisiana and elsewhere, the defendants conspired to distribute (and to possess with the intent to distribute) 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a picture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

Winnfield Suspects names

 

The Natchitoches Soil Water and Conservation District will hold a Feral Hog Workshop Oct. 19 from 6-8 pm at the Red River Waterway Grand Ecore RV Park at 1071 Tauzin Island Road in Natchitoches. Registration will begin at 5:30 pm. Landowners are invited to attend the workshop to learn about the Districts Feral Hog Control Program such as aerial gunning, trapping and pre-baiting. Topics on diseases, what’s being done on poisons and the new changes in Feral Hog Laws. These topics will be discussed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Northwestern State University Biology Department, and the LSU Ag Center. A light meal will be served.

Landowners need to RSVP by Oct. 11 by calling the office at 318-357-8366 ext. 3 or email brandy.hinds@la.nacdnet.net. For more information contact the Natchitoches SWCD at the above number or email.

Rotarian with the Program Marilyn McMurtry introduced the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) Guest Speaker Barbara Bailey to the Rotary Club of Natchitoches at its meeting Oct. 3. She shared information about the Candlelight Tour on Friday (10/13/17: 6-9 pm); the Town Tour on Saturday (10/14/17: 9 am – 4 pm), and the Cane River Country Tour on Saturday and Sunday (10/14/17-10/15/17: 9 am – 4 pm). In addition to the Tours, a Speaker Series will be offered at the Lemee House, 310 Rue Jefferson on Saturday only (10/14/17: 10 am – 3 pm) with expert speakers scheduled every 30 minutes beginning at 10 am, and the last speaker at 3 pm.

Pictured from left are Rotary President David Zolzer, McMurtry, and Bailey (Photo by Dr. Ron McBride).

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

Northwestern State University kicked off a busy day of activities Sept. 30 with the “Fork Cancer” 5K run. The run started at the NSU Alumni Tailgate Area, wound its way through the picturesque NSU campus and city before returning to NSU. Over 150 runners came out in picture perfect running weather to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society.

NSU President and dedicated runner Dr. Chris Maggio turned in a solid performance. The 2017 Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet, Maria Rome was the first woman to cross the finish line while NSU freshman and Health Education major Jarrett Fulton was the first across. Student-athletes from the NSU Track and Field team provided timing for the race. This year’s fun event is expected to raise $1,000 for the local American Cancer Society.

 

By Joe Darby

My friends, we must fact the fact.  It’s part of the world we live in and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it.

Mass murder, whether the weapons are automatic rifles, vehicles, airplanes or bombs, will be part of our society for a long time.  Whether the perpetrator is a hate-filled Muslim jihadist, a white supremacist looney, a left-wing fanatic like the man who shot U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise  or a twisted lone-wolf killer like the Las Vegas shooter, it’s going to continue.

Who in the world would have thought that the next mass killer would be a 64-year-old man who lives in a retirement community?  We expect most of the killers to be a angry young men.  Now we have to start worrying about senior citizen killers too?

And as I said, there’s nothing we can do about it.  If we tripled the size of our police forces and placed an officer on every downtown corner, we still could not stop these massacres.  The bad guys know exactly when and where they will strike next.  We have no clue as to the time and place.

I’m sure that good police investigative and undercover work has in fact stopped many nefarious plans of mass killings.  But there are so many of these people out there that we can’t stop them all, that’s my point.  And there are so many  copycat killers yet to be heard from.

I think now that residents of any large city are at risk.  My daughters live in the New Orleans area and I worry about them.  The chances of anyone actually ending up as the target of a mass killer must statistically be quite small, but that doesn’t stop us from worrying about it.

So far, to my recollection, smaller communities like Natchitoches have not been the target of terrorism.  But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

Remember the fear and apprehension that all Americans went through after 9-11?  Our lives had changed.  We had our society pre-9-11 and post-9-11.  Two different worlds.  Anyway, after a while, when the terrorists were unable to hijack anymore airliners things seemed to calm down a bit and we started to concentrate on everyday aspects of our lives again.

Now, although terror doesn’t come from the skies, it’s again a pervasive part of our existence, usually carried out by just one person.  You had the right -wing nut who crashed his car into the crowd in Charlottesville, Va.  Now we have Las Vegas.  Every time this happens it burns a little lesion into our psyche, I believe.

I don’t expect it to end in my lifetime, because I’m already well into senior citizen territory.  For you younger folks, I imagine this will eventually end, as almost all things do.  But how many more ruined lives must we endure before that finally happens?

Perhaps I should apologize for writing the gloomiest column I have ever written. I usually write on much lighter subjects.  But last week’s column on the athletes’ protest touched a nerve for many readers and this week’s effort is actually far more serious.

However, it’s about what is now happening in our society.  And it needs talking about.  God bless all.

 

The Natchitoches Chamber Luncheon held Oct. 4 featured an education panel with prominent leaders in Louisiana’s education system: April Giddens, Kimberly Eckert, Kenneth Champagne, and Hannah Dietsch.

Eckert has taught in West Baton Rouge Parish for nine years. She holds degrees from Northwestern State University. In 2016, she was named as the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators (LACUE) Teacher of the Year for high schools. Previously, she won the same award for middle schools, and in 2013, Kimberly was selected as the West Baton Rouge Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year for work as a special education teacher.

Eckert said that every door that’s ever opened for her is thanks to NSU and the Natchitoches community where she received her education. She put her social work and special education degrees to use before becoming a teacher.

“Switching to the classroom is the most powerful thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “Teaching is the most amazing profession ever.”

April Giddens presented a slideshow of her experiences as a Teacher of the Year in 2012. Teaching for 22 years, 19 of which were spent with Natchitoches Parish School Board, Giddens is currently an Assistant Professor of Education at NSU.

Champagne has 30 years financial, accounting and operations experience in public accounting and financial service industries, including insurance and consumer lending. He serves as chairman of Dream Teachers, a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with its mission to inspire excellence in education, enhance learning outcomes, and recognize and reward Louisiana’s most-effective educators and school leaders.

Dietsch serves as Louisiana’s Assistant Superintendent for Talent, overseeing educator preparation, licensure, and workforce management initiatives.

Chamber Education Panel 2017

The Master Gardeners of Natchitoches Parish invite the public to their meeting Oct. 11 at 10 am at 560 Second Street in Natchitoches. Refreshments will be available at 9:30 a.m.

For more information or for daily tips on North Louisiana gardening, go to https://www.facebook.com/NatchitochesMasterGardener/

 

Natchitoches Police Department officers were dispatched to Mayberry Trailer Park, located at 5650 Hwy. 1 Bypass, in reference to an attempted burglary on Oct. 3. The complainant reported that she returned to her home and noticed two subjects on the side of her residence. One of the two was at her back door and immediately left as she approached.

Officers began checking the residence and noticed that the back door showed obvious tamper marks, but it didn’t appear that entry was gained. Officers began searching the area and were later contacted by the complainant who was able to provide officers with the identity of the suspects.

Those suspects, now identified as Shanice Kelly and Dmario Moran, were located by NPD officers. Kelly had an active warrant through the City Marshal and Moran had an active warrant through The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. They were transported to The Natchitoches Police Department along with a backpack that each had in their possession. As they were being removed from the police unit, Moran and Kelly fled on foot and a chase ensued. Both were quickly caught by officers and brought back into The Natchitoches Police Department.

While arrest paperwork was being completed, another police officer was taking a report from a separate burglary and that complainant noticed one of the backpacks and quickly made claims that it was hers. This complainant went on to identify the contents of the backpack as items that were taken during her burglary. One of these items happened to be a 9mm handgun. As a result of both crimes Dmario Moran, 26, was charged with attempted burglary, carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts illegal possession of stolen things and simple escape. Shanice Kelly, 23, was charged with attempted burglary and simple escape.

This is not the first time that the NPD has dealt with Kelly or Moran. Kelly was previously charged with simple burglary nine times, has had multiple counts of theft (including felony and misdemeanor) and a prior charge of simple escape.

Moran has previously been charged with simple burglary 17 times and aggravated burglary six times.

Both are currently on probation for previous burglary charges and are scheduled to get off probation in 2022.