The St. Augustine Historical Society announced its 2017 Advisory Board Members. Appointments, approved Dec. 7, include the following:

Lyn Christophe, Bank of Montgomery.
Christophe served SAHS as an advisor for youth engagement, having successfully promoted a Zydeco Heritage Day in January, 2016, which was a celebration commemorating the completion of the SAHS tomb project.

Dr. Pete Gregory, NSU Creole Heritage Center
Dr. Gregory is a long-time friend and supporter of SAHS and the Isle Brevelle community. He is the director of the NSU Creole Heritage Center and a professor of anthropology. He received a Louisiana Culture Award for Archaeologist of the Year and was named a 2016 Natchitoches Treasure. In the 70s, he performed the first archeological assessment of Badin-Roque, which is on the National Register of Historic Places (circa 1770s).

Sarah Marie Jackson, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.
Jackson is an Architectural Conservator at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. She helped a SAHS team during its Tricentennial develop a guide for the public to tour homes designated as “SAHS Treasures on the Isle.” She provides ongoing technical guidance regarding tomb restoration and Badin-Roque architectural and bousillage needs.

Carrie Mardorf, Cane River Creole National Historical Park.
Mardorf began her new position as Superintendent of CRCNPS Sept. 4. Prior to that she served Kalaupapa National Historical Park, on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Molokai, where she oversaw the preservation of over 300 historic buildings, 1,200 grave markers, two cultural landscapes, hundreds of archeological sites, museum collections, and an ongoing collection of oral histories. SAHS visited with Mardorf early in her arrival to the area, to hear her insights for the unique cultures of the area, and to obtain insights on how to best move forward with a plan for Badin-Roque.

Cathy Seymour, National Historic Foundation.
Seymour and her husband Dan have been great friends to the SAHS and have made efforts to assure it has a voice and role in Natchitoches historical activities. They also participated in SAHS Tricentennial “Treasures Tours” of historic homes along Isle Brevelle. Cathy is a retired NSU Professor and currently, a NHF leader. She received the Louisiana Culture Award for Preservation Education in recognition of the NHF’s Characters, Customs and Crypts Tour, mourning display and accompanying Natchitoches curriculum units for eighth grade students in Natchitoches Parish.

SAHS President Dr. Mark Guidry, said, “We appreciate the advice and input of many but those appointed have a special mark of distinction. Each of them have demonstrated interest, availability, and culturally-congruent support of our efforts to preserve our culture, heritage and historical properties.”

Since the organization reactivated in 2013, it has benefited from great technical advisors in many ways, including its highly successful campaign to restore, upgrade, and historically mark the tomb of founder Augustin Metoyer (1768-1856). In 2017 Guidry says they anticipate addressing the needs of the historic Badin-Roque House (circa 1770s), which is one-of-a-kind in Louisiana and one of a few in the United States. The organization will also continue fundraising and efforts to engage youth in its mission.

Advisors will be recognized on Saturday, Jan. 21 during a Cochon de Lait dinner, meeting, and membership drive, which is all part of a schedule of events for Creole Heritade Day.

Little Moises Soto arrived at 2:34 PM on January 1, 2017 becoming the first baby of the New Year at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center! He weighed 7lbs. 10ozs. He is the son of Moises and Blanca Soto of Natchitoches, who is shown with Dr. Martin Aviles, OB/GYN. Moises was welcomed by his two sisters, Isabella and Natalie; maternal grandparents, Isidro and Rocenda Alvizo and paternal grandparents, Ever and Victoria Soto.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), advises the public that starting Monday, Jan. 9, the North end of Flora Natchez Road in Natchitoches Parish will be closed from its intersection with LA 478 to approx. 2,000 feet south. Work is being performed to replace an existing cross drain that was damaged during the March 2016 flooding. The road will remain closed and no detour will be provided for the duration of the project which is estimated to last thirty (30) calendar days.

The scope of work includes Grading, Drainage Structure Replacement, Asphaltic Concrete Patching, and Related Work. This project was bid on Oct. 17 and the contract was awarded to T.L. Construction, LLC for the amount of $101,420. There are 30 calendar days allowed for this project.

Call (318) 561-5100 or (800) 542-3509 or 511 or visit http://www.511LA.org for additional information.

Northwestern State basketball sophomore forward Malik Metoyer may miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury sustained in a pickup game while at home during the recent Christmas holiday, Demons’ coach Mike McConathy said Tuesday.

Metoyer, a versatile 6-7 forward from Lakeview High School, suffered a torn knee ligament and is sidelined indefinitely, McConathy said. The injury is one which may allow him to rehabilitate the knee and return to competition later this season, said athletic trainer Devin Thulin.

“Malik is at a decision-making crossroads. We reach a lot of crossroads in our lives, and he is truly at a crossroad determining whether to have surgery now, or opt to wait to have surgery later and rehab the knee now in hopes of playing again later this season,” said McConathy. “We’re too deep into the season for him to be able to get a medical redshirt year, which is very unfortunate especially because of the progress he has shown in his sophomore season.”

It’s the second major injury suffered by a member of NSU’s playing rotation. Leading scorer Zeek Woodley sustained a broken wrist in the Dec. 19 game at Rice and had surgery Dec. 23. He may be able to return in late February with a few games remaining in the regular season, if his recovery goes well, said Thulin.

Metoyer played in NSU’s 10 games before Christmas, averaging 14 minutes, 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while hitting 48 percent of his shots and 69 percent at the free throw line. He scored 10 points, had six rebounds and three assists at Oklahoma, and shagged 10 rebounds against LSU Shreveport.

“His stats don’t reflect the improvement in his game and the importance of his role on our team,” said McConathy. “Malik can guard down low or on the perimeter. He can run the floor with the guards. He can score outside and in. Nobody in our program is more committed to our team, and to making himself better, than Malik.

“We’ve seen in the two games without Zeek and Malik that we have guys capable of helping compensate for their loss. Because we had been using up to 12 players (a dozen have played in at least 10 games) we were confident that was the case,” said McConathy. “Now their challenge is to be consistently more productive as we adjust their roles. That can take time and hopefully it happens sooner than later.”

The Demons (6-6 overall, 0-1 in the Southland Conference) play on the road twice this week, Thursday at Incarnate Word and Saturday night at A&M-Corpus Christi. NSU is home again next Thursday, Jan. 12, and Jan. 14.

Several 4-H Club members from Northwestern State University Elementary Lab School completed projects that qualified to compete in the State Fair. Students and their awards, from left, are as follows. Gabriel Churchman placed sixth in swine competition. Victoria Wiggins competed for watercolor, acrylic and charcoal art pieces and children’s clothing and placed second in recycled goods. Gracie Moore participated in colored pencil and pastel art divisions. Kaylee Stacy won first place and Reserve Grand Champion in children’s clothing. Brynn Landry won Grand Champion and first place for her leaf collection and second place for muscadine jelly.

Victoria Wiggins was chosen from the 4-H Talent Show to be part of the entertainment at the State Fair livestock sale. She is the daughter of Van and Lisa Wiggins and a student at NSU Elementary Lab School.

BOM is a $250 sponsor of the Dreams Scholarship Fund. This Foundation strives to provide educational opportunities to disadvantaged high school students around the Natchitoches area.

Pictured from left are Wanda Wynder (Dreams Scholarship Fund Board Member), Sylvia Madison, (DSF Board Member), Cloyd Benjamin Jr. (DSF President), Katrice Below (DSF Board Member & BOM Assistant VP, Keyser Branch Manager and Lender) and Felicia Murphy.

Cane River Lake is currently at 98.2 MSL.  Pool Stage for the lake is 98.0 MSL.  The Spillway landing is closed for safety reasons.  Please remember to boat safe, sober, and always wear your life jackets.

Thanks,
Betty Fuller
Cane River Patrol

By Ida B. Torn/Opinion

Like most people in the United States, I traveled for the holidays. I couldn’t help but notice all of the economic growth in each place I passed through. I could not help but wonder why Natchitoches Parish doesn’t have that feel. In 2016, it seemed to me that the largest sector for economic growth in Natchitoches Parish was the dining industry. We cannot eat our way to prosperity.

In March of 2016, the Louisiana Economic Development issued a press release announcing that more than 800 direct and indirect jobs would be created with the establishment of IBM’s Client Innovation Center. The Center is being developed on an 88-acre site and it is a public-private partnership. The State of Louisiana is funding $4.5 million over 10 years to expand higher-education programs and all three universities in the area are getting involved, too, by expanding their technology programs. Natchitoches Parish has lots of land and a growing university, so why didn’t we get that project?

CBS’s 60 Minutes recently ran a segment on the Golden Triangle in Mississippi and the amazing accomplishments of Joe Max Higgins, CEO of Golden Triangle Development. Mr. Higgins, through his efforts, has reduced the area’s unemployment from 20% to 6% and has brought in more than 6,000 jobs since 2003 which has replaced almost 50% of the jobs lost over the last 25 years. Mr. Higgins focused on the theory “build it and they will come.” The Golden Triangle boasts highway, rail, port and air. Natchitoches Parish has all of these things, so where’s our economic boom? I suspect that if Mr. Higgins came to Natchitoches Parish, he’d tell us the same thing he told the people in the Golden Triangle. We don’t believe in ourselves; we have a losing attitude; we expect to be a loser; and we don’t expect to be a winner.

I have a sister who loves to tell people how miserable she is; so much that people audibly groan when they see her coming. It seems to me that Natchitoches Parish suffers from the same Poor Pitiful Me Syndrome. There are countless social media pages bemoaning everything that is wrong with Natchitoches Parish and very few that shine a light on all of the wonderful assets that we have to offer. If we don’t believe in ourselves, no one else will. It’s time to stop simply complaining about what’s wrong with our Parish. It’s time to work together for a better future for our Parish. It’s time for us to believe that our children deserve a good education; that our workforce deserves good paying jobs; and that our Parish deserves prosperity. It’s time to drink the Kool-Aid!

Please watch these videos:

The Golden Triangle – 60 Minutes

How Far will Joe go for jobs – 60 Minutes

By Kevin Shannahan

Northwestern State University is not in the Ivy League or anywhere close to it. While one may never know the future, it is a safe bet that Harvard’s record of eight presidents will be safe from the Demons for the foreseeable future. Nor will anyone write any how-to books on admissions secrets of the University of Louisiana system. Such is not the nature of the regional university.

When Dr. James Henderson assumed the presidency of NSU, he spoke of making NSU the premier regional university in the south. It was at that moment that I became a believer in Dr. Henderson and his vision for Northwestern, a vision I hope continues after he leaves to assume the presidency of the ULS system. He did not say he wanted NSU to become a research university, move up in the rankings on U.S. News and World Report or chase any of the dubious metrics that constitute “branding” in the Darwinian world of college recruiting. The educational landscape is littered with overly ambitious and shallow “leaders” who are not comfortable in their institution’s role and chase a chimera of false prestige.

Just what is a regional university anyway? What kind of places are they? A good regional university is a first step, a bridge between worlds. It is a place of hope, ambition and opportunity – a start on a changed life. It is a place that welcomed the daughter of a small town storekeeper whose grandfather came to America as a stowaway. She graduated and was followed by her younger sister, my wife. Twenty -five years prior and a thousand miles to the north, Harpur College took in my father, the son of an electrician with an 8th grade education. A regional university’s mission is simple. Meet the students where they are, show them what is possible and help them get there.

The late Dr. Hugh Bailey was president of Valdosta State College when I graduated in 1985. I was sitting in my new dress uniform with my fellow lieutenants who had just been sworn in. It was hot in that gym, the uniforms were not designed to be comfortable, and my mind was definitely elsewhere. I do, however, remember one thing Dr. Bailey said that’s stuck with me for 31 years. I don’t remember his exact words, but he thanked our parents and families and told us to do the same. He reminded us that many of us had been kept in school by mothers and grandmothers scrubbing floors, fathers and grandfathers working in the fields; that our being there was the result of a lot of hope and a lot of hard work.

That is the kind of place Northwestern State University is, and should always be. Many of its students are from small towns and modest backgrounds. Many are the first in their family to attend college. The regional universities of this nation bear a heavy responsibility. They are entrusted with the hopes and dreams of parents and grandparents that tomorrow will be better than yesterday; that their children will have opportunities that may have been denied them. There are men and women at NSU who are working and scrimping to build a better future for their families.

Oh, as for Harvard’s presidential record of eight presidents? Sometime in the future a graduate of Scholars’ College will throw the fork during his or her inaugural speech. One down, seven to go….

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Louisiana State Police, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS and Natchitoches Parish Fire District #9 responded to a single-vehicle injury crash on US-71 north of Campti reported Monday, Jan. 2, at 12:06 p.m., according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say the 2013 Ford Fiesta was traveling southbound on US-71 north of Campti, on the wet roadway, when the operator apparently lost control of the vehicle leaving the roadway on the right side, striking a culvert causing the vehicle to overturn.

The driver and two passengers who were reportedly trapped in the vehicle were able to free themselves from the wreckage before NFD# 9 arrived on scene with extrication equipment.

All three occupants were transported by EMS to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The crash is being investigated by TFC D. Morvant assigned to LSP Troop-E Alexandria.

As law enforcement fatalities nationwide rose to their highest level in five years in 2016, Louisiana ranked third in the nation for police officers killed in the line of duty. Nationwide, 135 officers were killed in the line of duty, according to preliminary data compiled and released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) in their 2016 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report.

The 135 officer fatalities in 2016 are a 10 percent increase over the 123 who died in the line of duty last year and is the highest total since 2011 when 177 officers made the ultimate sacrifice.

Among the states, Texas had the highest number of officer fatalities, with 17, followed by California with 10, Louisiana with nine, Georgia with eight, and Michigan with six.

Eight multiple-shooting death incidents claimed the lives of 20 officers in 2016, tied with 1971 for the highest total of any year since 1932. Those incidents included five officers killed in ambush attacks in Dallas (TX) and three in Baton Rouge (LA) spanning 10 days in July.

Firearms-related incidents were the number one cause of death in 2016, with 64 officers shot and killed across the country. This represents a significant spike—56 percent—over the 41 officers killed by gunfire in 2015. Of the 64 shooting deaths of officers this year, 21 were the result of ambush-style attacks—the highest total in more than two decades.

Six Federal law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2016, along with four from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico and one tribal officer. Six of the fallen officers in 2016 were female. Among the officers who died this year, the average age was 40, and the average length of service was 13 years.

Fifty-three officers were killed in traffic-related incidents in 2016, which was 10 percent more than the 48 killed on roadways in 2015. Of the 53 traffic-related deaths, 28 died in automobile crashes, 15 were struck and killed while outside of their vehicle and 10 were killed in motorcycle crashes. Prior to 2016, traffic-related incidents have been the number one cause of officer fatalities in 15 of the last 20 years.

Eighteen officers died from other causes in 2016, including 11 who died from job-related illnesses—mostly heart attacks—while performing their duties. Other causes included beatings (3), a drowning, a fall, an aircraft crash and a stabbing.

“Public safety is a partnership and, too often, the service and sacrifice of our law enforcement professionals is taken for granted,” observed NLEOMF President and CEO Craig W. Floyd. “We must never forget that 900,000 law enforcement officers nationwide risk their lives every day for our safety and protection. And, this year, 135 of those men and women did not make it home to their families at the end of their shift. As we begin the new year, let us all resolve to respect, honor, and remember those who have served us so well and sacrificed so much in the name of public safety.”

Fallen Officers in Louisiana include:

November 8, 2016
Police Officer Jude Williams Lewis
New Orleans Police Department LA

August 13, 2016
Police Officer Shannon Brown
Fenton (LA) Police Department LA

July 17, 2016
Corporal Montrell Jackson
Baton Rouge Police Department LA

July 17, 2016
Deputy Sheriff Brad Garafola
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office LA

July 17, 2016
Police Officer Matthew Gerald
Baton Rouge Police Department LA

July 3, 2016
Sergeant David Elahi
Sterlington Police Department LA

June 22, 2016
Deputy Sheriff David F. Michel, Jr.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office LA

June 7, 2016
Police Officer Natasha Hunter
New Orleans Police Department LA

June 4, 2016
Sergeant Derrick Mingo
Winnsboro Police Department LA

There are currently 20,789 names of officers killed in the line of duty inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, dating back to the first known death in 1791. Over the past decade (2006-2015) the average annual number of officer fatalities has been 151. The deadliest year on record for law enforcement was 1930 when 307 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty. The last time officer fatalities dipped below 100 for a single year was 1944.

The statistics released are based on preliminary data compiled by the NLEOMF and do not represent a final or complete list of individual officers who will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in 2016. For a complete copy of the preliminary 2016 Law Enforcement Fatalities Report, go to: http://www.LawMemorial.org/FatalitiesReport.

Board Chairman Tommy O’Con announced Dec. 31 that a Boil Water Advisory will remain in effect for the Robeline-Marthaville Water System until the middle part of next week when testing of water samples is complete. The public will be notified as soon as the boil advisory is lifted.

In an effort to improve transparency, the Louisiana State Police (LSP) will equip Troopers statewide with body cameras. LSP announced their forthcoming statewide deployment of TASER’s “Axon Body 2” body cameras. This statewide deployment will be the first of its kind among state public safety agencies in the country. LSP intends to purchase over 1,500 body cameras with a five year unlimited system license to be utilized by uniformed Patrol Troopers.

While Trooper interactions with the public traditionally take place during traffic stops in front of their vehicles, their day-to-day activities are increasingly putting them in situations that occur away from their vehicles and out of sight of the current in-car camera system. This has increased the need for LSP to be able to document these encounters for the purposes of evidence collection and for the protection and safety of our Troopers and the public. In January of 2016, Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent, directed his staff to research recording devices to include body camera systems. Additionally, staff researched other law enforcement agencies’ deployment of various recording systems and the capabilities and compatibilities of the various recording systems. Twenty-two Troopers across the state successfully piloted the “Axon Body 2” cameras from February through September of this year. These Troopers’ duties ranged from foot patrol on Bourbon St. to vehicle patrols in rural communities in North Louisiana.

With the purchase of the “Axon Body 2” cameras, LSP will be able to outfit over 700 Patrol Troopers. LSP will also maintain additional cameras for replacement and for use by Troopers on special assignments. Troopers will also continue to utilize their in-car cameras in conjunction with the “Axon Body 2” cameras. Additionally, the “Axon Body 2” camera is able to integrate with and is fully compatible with the TASER X2 currently carried by Troopers.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of the public we serve and the Troopers committed to that service. We must ensure that we maintain transparency and accountability through proper training, sound procedures and the latest technology,” said Colonel Edmonson. “For nearly twenty years our Troopers have used in-car cameras to document interactions with members of the public, but I am pleased to announce that we will now be taking that capability a step further.”

“Fully deploying HD body cameras, let alone taking the innovative step of purchasing two per officer, is undoubtedly a bold move in the direction of improved accountability and officer protection,” said TASER CEO and co-founder Rick Smith. “Combine that with our Axon Signal technology, which virtually ensures that important interactions don’t go unrecorded, and you’re looking at an agency whose technology can help them go above and beyond. We commend them on being the first major, statewide agency to take these steps.”

Jordan Dupuy loves being the NSU Lady Demons’ head basketball coach.

When he was 12, he told his parents he wanted to be a basketball coach. Twenty-four years later, on Veterans’ Day, the Baton Rouge native walked onto the court at Prather Coliseum for his first game in charge of a Division I program.

While he is almost totally consumed by coaching basketball, he’s not addicted. Warm days ahead tantalize him even though he’s living a childhood ambition.

“The actual job itself isn’t my calling. It’s a dream come true, but it’s not my calling. How I do the job, that’s my calling. If you don’t treat people right, if you don’t have their best interests at heart, what a shame.”

Dupuy and his wife Elizabeth are doting parents to sixth-grader Alex (11) and fourth-grader Maddie (9), who get picked up by Dad at their NSU Lab Schools and do homework in his office after practice.

While Dupuy’s players might find it hard to believe, he considers his wife the tougher person in their marriage.

“She’s tough minded. She’s physically stronger than I am. Her toughness extends to how good a coach’s wife she is. When I go home, I’m there physically, but mentally I’m often somewhere else. She’s always been so understanding with me and so tremendous as a parent,” he said. “There’s no way I could have reached this point in my career without her.”

Dupuy is living the life he’s dreamed about. His parents and Elizabeth’s were in the stands for his head coaching debut, and will be there for many more games. He’s confident that his teams will hang more championship banners in Prather Coliseum. He’s determined his players will enjoy their experience as Lady Demons, and be well equipped for success past basketball.

He’s a basketball coach. But fundamentally, he’s a life coach, and he can’t imagine doing anything else.

“I have no idea. I haven’t thought about it. Something involving people, something involving kids. I loved coaching and teaching in high school because I was able to reach a lot of kids, even those I didn’t coach or teach,” he said. “That’s the special opportunity we have, and we have to make the most of it.”

This feature originally appeared in the Metro Leader monthly newspaper, and is redistributed here courtesy of the Metro Leader.