NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Eryk Taylor
September 19, 1978 – June 6, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, June 16 from 10-11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Shady Grove Community Cemetery

SABINE PARISH:

Beatrice Davis Tramel
May 3, 1926 – June 11, 2018
Visitation: Sunday, June 17 from 6-8 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many
Service: Monday, June 18 at 11 am at St. John’s Catholic Church in Many

RED RIVER PARISH:

Freeman Tucker, Jr.
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at Zion Chapel Baptist Church
Interment: New Hope Cemetery in Lake End

Earl Sloan
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: King Chapel Cemetery in Many

Arthur Bush
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 12 pm at Many High School Gym
Interment: New Jerusalem Cemetery in Many

Robbie Jones
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 2:30 pm at Travelers Rest baptist Church in Longstreet
Interment: Good Hope Cemetery in Keatchie

On Nov. 14, 2016, the Cane River Waterway Commission retained Womack and Sons Construction Group, Inc. to construct the “Cane River Lake Pump Station” and related structures. The purpose of the project was to provide a means to pump water, as needed, from Hampton’s Lake (an oxbow of Red River) into Cane River Lake, during times when the water level of Cane River Lake dropped below certain limits.

The project was originally scheduled for completion in January 2018. At the contractor’s request, the Commission voluntarily extended this date by about one month.

During initial tests, it was determined that the discharge rates from the pumping and filtering system were lower than the project specifications. All of the persons involved in the project, including its engineer, contractor, and subcontractors, immediately began work to evaluate and address this issue. At present, those persons are continuing to address this issue.

Based on the information provided by the engineers, contractors, and subcontractors, the Commission currently estimates that it shall take at least two more weeks to fully test the system. It is hoped that a solution to the current problem shall be developed during that testing. As a public entity, the Commission shall require compliance with its public contract and other specifications of the job.

Chairman Jim Rhodes has explained that this is the largest project of its type in the United States. “We understand that some troubleshooting is not unusual for a project of this scope,” he said. Nonetheless, the Commission “must protect its interests, and will do so.” Right now, Rhodes believes that the responsible persons are all working together to promptly address the issues. “We want to give them time to complete their work,” he said.

 

A Juneteenth Celebration will be held at the Ben Johnson Park Tuesday, June 19 from 6-9 pm. The entire Natchitoches community is invited to attend. There will be hot dogs, water slides and music by Uncle Ug and Hardrick Rivers.

Event Organizer Randy Stelly has been involved with Juneteenth celebrations throughout the years. Friend and State Rep. Al Edwards introduced the bill that made Juneteenth a state holiday in Texas in 1979.

The Juneteenth festival, held annually on June 19, commemorates emancipation from slavery in Texas on that day in 1865 when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston
to spread the good news that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved African Americans had been freed by President Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, while the Civil War was still being fought.

“I celebrate June 19, however, it couldn’t exist without the Fourth of July,” said Stelly. “It’s not just a black celebration, but a memorial. Before Juneteenth could happen, hundreds of thousands of white men died in the Civil War to make it happen. Juneteenth should be a day of celebration and remembrance.”

“Eight dollars and five cents!”

I said it loudly and with all the patience I could muster without using four-letter words. A commentary on the American educational system was playing out right in front of me.

They both looked at me like I was speaking in tongues.

I repeated myself, “Eight dollars and five cents! You owe the man eight dollars and five cents in change.” I was thinking that this was neither brain surgery nor rocket science.

I was shopping at a grocery store, which shall remain anonymous. The nice lady at the register was exasperated. She was telling everyone who would listen that she needed a break. It was time for her break. She was late for her break. “Someone needs to come relieve me, so I can take a break.” Meanwhile the nice man in front of me made his purchase. His total came to eleven dollars and ninety-five cents. He did something rarely seen in grocery stores across America. He paid cash.

He gave her a twenty-dollar bill.

She tapped in the amount tendered and the machine gave her the answer for the change he would receive. But before she gave him his change. She tapped in another set of numbers so that she could go on her break. Her “taking a break” numbers erased the man’s change numbers.

A nice manager walked over and said, “Why don’t you go on your break.”

She said, “I will as soon as I give this man his change.” Then she looked at the register which she had now “erased.” She looked down at the twenty like it was some creature that was going to bite off her arm. She started fumbling for a piece of paper to do some mathematical computations. While she was fumbling for the paper and pencil. The manager was pulling out her phone and trying to get her calculator program up and running.

The customer was distracted. He was talking to a guy two checkout lanes over. He couldn’t see the mathematical mayhem brewing at the checkout line.

“Eight dollars and five cents. That is what you owe the man in change.”

“Oh.”

About that time calculator girl finished punching in her numbers and said, “You owe him eight dollars and five cents in change.” Duh! No kidding!

I had done the math in my head two different ways. I had done the math. I also “counted the change” back to the nice man in my head. My brain is slow. I don’t have a high-powered processor up there. But counting change, c’mon man! The year I went to work at Sears they introduced electronic cash registers. They trained us on those marvels, which would do a transaction and “tell” the clerk how much to give in change. Our store manager insisted that all the employees needed to be able to “count back” the change to the customers. He was especially insistent that all his High School part-timers learn the “right way” to make change.

These two didn’t know how to “make change.”

I was struck at that moment by the awesome responsibility that rests upon the shoulders of teachers.

Even those of us who teach scripture know, “Not many of you should become teachers… for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” James 3: 1

 

NSU– Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will present a Family & Friends CPR course Monday, June 18 and Monday, July 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 118 of Fournet Hall. The fee is $10 plus a $5 material fee.

The course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult hands-only CPR, adult CPR with breaths, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR and mild and severe airway block for adults, children, and infants. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment using the American Heart Association (AHA) research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which provides students with the most hands-on CPR practice time possible.

Family & Friends CPR is for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a CPR course completion card to meet a job requirement. This course is ideal for community groups, new parents, grandparents, babysitters and others interested in learning how to save a life. A certificate of participation will be provided at the end of the course.

For more information, call (318) 357-6355, (800) 376-2422 or go to nsula.edu/ece/non-credit-programs.

By Reba

 

Divorcing after 23 years of marriage was never my plan in life. No one plans for failure. Sometimes failure is the only option. From my failure there were lessons to be learned and strangely enough laughs to be had. I never dreamed I would find so much humor and wisdom all at the same time.

1. Divorce under the most peaceful of circumstances is still a roller coaster of emotions. Every single day. Sometimes several emotions at the same time during the same day.

2. If you lose friends during the divorce they were not your true friends in the first place. You cannot lose what you never had.

3. Getting mail addressed to the “______ family” will always be a gut wrenching experience. Not sure how to let junk mail know that we are divorced.

4. It is easier to get a divorce from a spouse than get your cell phone bill separated. Cell phone companies are firm believers in “Family Plans.”

5. Christmas card season is super awkward. Cudos to my friend on Starlight Point for winning this award. She must have read a helpful article on this one. When I received her family Christmas card I didn’t feel like I wasn’t part of a family anymore.

7. You will fight over things you never imagined were important. ie WalGreens points and Brookshire’s points for gas (When Super 1 took over this ended the race to gas station for points).

8. You will be lonely at times. Extremely lonely. But you will survive.

9. Your children will be sad. They will be angry. No matter how good you are getting along with your ex-spouse they will not be at peace with the divorce decision. Patience and honesty is key here.

10. There are so many kind people in this world and our community. Let them help you. It’s okay to need others. Reach out.

11. Always put your children first. Even when they don’t want you to. Focus on your children. They act like they don’t want the extra attention but they need reassurance that they will be okay and they are loved.

12. Bitterness is better left behind. The main loser in a bitterness battle is yourself. The people closest to you will suffer too if you do not get this in check. No one wants to hear the bitter version more than once or twice.

13. If you shared children with your ex-spouse they will forever be in your lives. Make the most of it. The kids will cherish and appreciate this one day.

14. The first time you have to sign school documents listing two separate addresses for parents will leave you feeling like a failure as an adult. I haven’t even crossed the bridge of taking back my maiden name yet. Two addresses. Two Names. #fixitJesus

15. Everyone has a opinion on how and where your marriage went wrong. The only opinion that matters is the truth.

16. Broken people attract broken people. There will no shortage of people who love attending pity parties. A true friend will attend two maybe three pity parties and then refuse to allow them and attend them.

17. Change is so hard. I’ve been through so many changes this year I’m actually looking for more ways to change. Go big or go home.

18. You might drink too much. You might eat too much.

19. Alcohol and Country Music are depressants. Stay away from both. Especially both at the same time. However, Taylor Swift Essentials Play List on Apple Music is so therapeutic.

20. Not everyone loses weight during a divorce. This one made me sad. I was looking forward to this but it didn’t happen.

21. Reminder- you will be lonely. This bears repeating. Lonely will not kill you. Divorce hurts and you have to feel every bit of it to heal properly.

22. I’ve learned and made peace with the fact I am not perfect on any level. Being imperfect builds character. Or so, I keep telling myself.

23. You absolutely unequivocally cannot make it through a life changing event without your faith. I’ve heard so many people criticize others for “finding Jesus in critical times”….this is what you are supposed to do. Our God is a patient and forgiving God who will give you peace during the storms.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

 

Northwestern State Education faculty and alumni met at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans for the 2018 Teacher Leader Summit. The annual event brought together approximately 6,500 educators, content experts and educational leaders who focus on creating meaningful growth and positive outcomes for students. The summit provided opportunities for attendees to collaborate and share best practices, while preparing for the 2018-19 academic year. Northwestern State faculty who attended the summit were Dr. April Giddens, Dr. Kimberly McAlister, Dr. Terrie Poehl, Dr. Steve Westbrook and Ms. Ramona Wynder. Giddens and Wynder were co-presenters for two of the over 300 sessions offered to attendees.

The goal of the summit is to improve the everyday practice of educators in Louisiana by building their knowledge and skills in areas related to their roles. ​

CASA of Central Louisiana operates off a grant through the Louisiana Supreme Court. However, what most people may not know is that they’re limited on what they can do with that money. It’s more for day to day office operations, not for the needs of the kids.

But CASA’s mission is to do what’s in the best interest of the children it serves. So when a special case was brought to their attention, CASA jumped in to help.

A 3-year-old lost an eye and suffered severe skull damage after a gun accident earlier this year. An ophthalmologist said a prosthetic eye would be necessary to keep parts of the skull in place because of the severity of the damage.

The problem arose when the child’s insurance company refused to pay for it. With the help of BOM, a love fund was established June 8 to raise the funds needed to purchase a prosthetic eye. Several more prosthetics will be needed as swelling goes down and everything repairs itself in the skull.

“If it wasn’t for one of our CASA advocates, who documented this issue in their report, we’d never have known about the problem,” said CASA Executive Director Jack Duty.

Donations can be made to the “CASA Love Fund” at any BOM location, or directly to CASA.

CASA is currently in need of volunteers who are interested in becoming advocates for children in need. Text “2HELP” to #21000 to find out how you can make a difference.

It takes grant money, volunteers, fundraisers, and donations for CASA to function. “Sometimes what’s best for the child isn’t eligible for use of our grant money,” said Duty. “This is one reason why we started our Pillars of CASA Program.”

Pillars of CASA is a way for community members to provide CASA with a base of support through monetary donations. This is an opportunity for people to become involved if they’re unable to become an advocate, due to time constraints or other issues.

For more information call (318) 238-2446.

The St. Mary’s Varsity Cheerleaders had a great showing at camp this year. They placed 1st in Cheer, received 2 Gold Superior Ribbons, placed 3rd in Rally Routine and won the overall Spirit Award, The “Big Banana.” ​Camp was held at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine Texas June 6 – 9.​

Six squad members, the most of any team at Camp, were named UCA All-Americans:
Bailey McConnell
Lexie Brossett
Emily Maggio
Izzy Peluso
Carissa Kautz
Mary Anna Scruggs

Additionally, 3 Squad members received Pin-It Forward Awards.
They are:
Bailey McConnell
Carissa Kautz
Mary Anna Scruggs
Lexie Brossett was chosen to try out for UCA staff.

Squad Members are:
Captain Bailey McConnell
Co-Captain Lexie Brossett
Lieutenant Katie Aldredge
Carissa Kautz
Madison Lester
Emily Maggio
Maci Messenger
Isabella Peluso
Mary Anna Scruggs
Maggie Gilmore
Jessi Lucky
Jensen Parker
Maggie Wheat
Abby Williams
Kadence Creamer
Anna Kate Jackson

 

The Natchitoches Parish School Board voted 6:5 to close Cloutierville Elementary. Board members Willis, Graham, Danzy, Metoyer and Harris voted against closing the school.

Several residents from the Cloutierville community appealed to the board to keep the school open, to no avail.

Danzy motioned to look into keeping the school open as a virtual learning center. Metoyer called this idea “a sham to pacify parents.” “Once you close the school it won’t be reopened,” he said.

The motion however, was passed unanimously.

“Next year we’re gonna be right back in this same boat,” said Metoyer. “Which school will we be looking at closing then?”

 

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Harry Coutee
November 23, 1926 – June 10, 2018
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 5:30-8:30 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, June 15 at 10 am at Blanchard-St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Eryk Taylor
September 19, 1978 – June 6, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, June 16 from 10-11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Shady Grove Community Cemetery

SABINE PARISH:

Beatrice Davis Tramel
May 3, 1926 – June 11, 2018
Visitation: Sunday, June 17 from 6-8 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many
Service: Monday, June 18 at 11 am at St. John’s Catholic Church in Many

WINN PARISH:

Marlon L. Blake
November 30, 1947 – June 8, 2018
Visitation: Friday, June 15 beginning at 9 am in the Family Church of Winnfield
Service: Friday, June 15 at 11 am in the Family Church of Winnfield

RED RIVER PARISH:

Freeman Tucker, Jr.
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 6-7 pm at Zion Chapel Baptist Church
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at Zion Chapel Baptist Church
Interment: New Hope Cemetery in Lake End

Earl Sloan
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 7:30-8:30 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: King Chapel Cemetery in Many

Arthur Bush
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 6-7 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 12 pm at Many High School Gym
Interment: New Jerusalem Cemetery in Many

Robbie Jones
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 1-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 2:30 pm at Travelers Rest baptist Church in Longstreet
Interment: Good Hope Cemetery in Keatchie

Erma Ruth Croff
October 12, 1940 – June 9, 2018
Service: Friday, June 15 at 10 am in the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Martin Baptist Church Cemetery in Martin

By Julie Bosman
The New York Times
Reprinted/Shared with permission

ARENA, Wis. — Ten-year-old Lola Roske grabbed her backpack and headed to elementary school for the last day of class, the final check on her to-do list before the unstructured bliss of summer.

At drop-off, her mother, Kellie Roske, was determined not to linger. All around her, parents were hugging their children. Teachers were brushing away tears.

“I surprisingly held it together,” said Ms. Roske, who for weeks had steeled herself for an “ugly-cry day.”

Lola was among the last students to attend Arena Community Elementary. After classes let out last Monday, the school was shuttered permanently by the River Valley School District, whose administrators say that unforgiving budgets, a dearth of students and an aging population have made it impossible to keep the school open. For the first time since the 1800s, the village of Arena has no school.

Arena Elementary is the second small rural elementary school in two years to close in the district, nearly 300 square miles of rolling pastures and dairy farms in southwestern Wisconsin. The one in the neighboring village of Lone Rock closed last spring. The district now has just one open public elementary school, in Spring Green, nine miles away.

The same scene is playing out across rural America. Officials in aging communities with stretched budgets are closing small schools and busing children to larger towns. People worry about losing not just their schools but their town’s future — that the closing will prompt the remaining residents and businesses to drift away and leave the place a ghost town.

Rural schools have been closing in waves for decades, but the debate has taken on sharp urgency this year, particularly in communities in the Midwest and New England that have grown smaller and older since the recession. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, who is under pressure as he campaigns for a third term, signed a bill in March increasing aid to nearly 150 sparsely populated school districts. A legislative committee in Madison, noting the major shifts in population from rural areas to cities and suburbs in the last decade, has convened public sessions across the state to search for solutions and hear from frustrated parents and administrators.

Arena’s last day capped a long, bitter and personal debate that has divided the rural community far more than any political debate or presidential election has.

Friendships soured. Co-workers took sides. Elected officials held long and emotional hearings. Residents voted on a referendum attempting to raise money and save the school. School board officials faced a recall election, and after the vote last year, one member was told by friends that it might be best if he didn’t show up at the Fourth of July celebration in Lone Rock. He stayed away.

Ms. Roske, a multitasking force of energy who runs both the school’s parent-teacher organization and a nearby horse farm, said she had fought the closure of the Arena school, where both of her daughters were educated.

Administrators say they hardly had any choice.

The numbers are there for anyone to see: The River Valley School District graduated 105 seniors this year, and expects only 66 kindergartners to start school in the fall.

But the fight over Arena Community Elementary is bigger than the school, a small building where moody sconces line the hallways, a nod to Frank Lloyd Wright, whose landmark studio Taliesin is carved into a bluff a 10-minute drive down the road.

Residents worry about what will happen to Arena, population 834, without the school. There isn’t much else on this two-lane stretch of Highway 14: a gas station, a cheese outlet, a cafe called Grandma Mary’s, beloved for its Friday fish fry and beef stroganoff.

But the reality of rural life in the Midwest, school officials say, is that younger people are fleeing. They want Starbucks and Thai restaurants, plentiful jobs and high-speed internet, and when they start families, they want schools with amenities and big, thriving athletic programs.

“In any small community, anywhere in this country, our kids grow up and move away,” said Mark Strozinsky, a River Valley school board member. “They go to college and get a job, but it’s not here, because the opportunity is not here. So who’s left here? Grandma and Grandpa.”

‘It was hell’

Across rural Wisconsin, school administrators facing the same painful trend are having to choose which schools to shutter. Elementary schools in remote areas tend to be the most vulnerable, while those in slightly larger towns or villages survive longer, said Kim Kaukl, the executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance, an advocacy group that represents 145 districts.

“At times it can pit the so-called country folks against the village or city folks,” Mr. Kaukl said. “Over the last 10 years, it’s unfortunately become a way of life.”

Two schools in the Portage school district in central Wisconsin closed several years ago after enrollment declined sharply, the district administrator, Charles Poches, said.

“You can’t have four teachers for 40 kids,” he said.

As the public face of the district, Mr. Poches said that he bore the brunt of residents’ fury at public hearings.

“It was hell,” he said. “We’d have 50 people, some who didn’t even have kids there but had gone to school there. They felt it was part of their community. It was very traumatic.”

Mr. Poches submitted his resignation and plans to depart this month after 11 years.

Over five school years, ending with the spring of 2016, 71 percent of rural districts in the state saw a drop in enrollment, said Sarah Kemp, a school demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In Potosi, a town in western Wisconsin, Ronald S. Saari, the district administrator, said his district was down to 320 students from kindergarten to 12th grade, all housed in one building. Nothing is left to cut, he said.

“We’re an agricultural area,” Mr. Saari said. “At one point, they tell me, back in the ’80s there were 600-some kids in this district. But the smaller farms have consolidated into bigger company farms. Sometimes you sit back at the end of the day and reflect on how touch-and-go things are from year to year. When is that going to end?”

‘Their schools were their life’

About 15 years ago, the graduating classes in the River Valley School District, then a relatively robust 160 students, began to shrink.

Administrators were faced with several choices, none appealing: Get more money from taxpayers through a referendum; reduce costs by closing elementary schools and eliminating staff positions; or cut more programs, like electives at the middle school and Advanced Placement classes in the high school.

The Arena school, which had 94 students in its final months, tried remaking itself into a public charter school with a STEM focus in 2014, receiving grants of more than $350,000 for new iPads and laptops, teacher training and consultants. But it was not nearly enough. Thomas R. Wermuth, the district administrator, studied enrollment projections and saw that the student shortage was not going to turn around. The state doles out aid partly based on head count; the new law to aid thinly populated districts wouldn’t help River Valley, which has too many students overall to qualify.

“For us, it was a no-win situation,” Mr. Wermuth said. “We didn’t want to start eliminating or reducing the music experiences that our children receive, our art experiences. We’re a pretty bare-bones operation already.”

In November 2016, the district asked residents to vote for an additional $9.3 million in taxes to keep the schools open, at least for several more years.

“We all knew it was going to be close,” said Lisa Kjos, an Arena resident who works for the school district. “For the parents in the village, their school was their life. The elementary school was what kept them going.”

The ballot measure failed by 207 votes.

The referendum opened wounds throughout River Valley, pitting the district’s four villages — Arena, Lone Rock, Plain and Spring Green — against one another. Spring Green, with its largest population and the most central location, stood to gain the most, while Lone Rock and Arena appeared most at risk.

“There were friendships that were split over one opinion or the other,” said Karen Wilkinson, a longtime substitute teacher at Arena. “Some of those have healed. But for some people, I don’t think there’s any going back.”

Jean Alt, a resident of Spring Green for more than 40 years, said her neighbors seemed unmoved by the possibility that a smaller village would lose its school. “They’re of the opinion: ‘If it’s going to save us money, great,’” said Ms. Alt, who taught at the Arena school. “But they’re not seeing the big picture of what’s happening in the other three towns. I got to the point where I didn’t even talk about it with other people. It just wasn’t worth the argument.”

In December 2016, the school board voted to close the elementary schools in Arena and Lone Rock. The village of Plain would keep a school serving preschool and kindergarten.

“I remember thinking, I will pay for this vote,” a board member, Frederic Iausly, said.

“A lot of this was based on feelings that we were picking on one community over another,” Mr. Iausly said. “That had nothing to do with it. It was based on numbers. How do we provide the highest possible education for our kids?”

‘Nobody’s moving here’

At Arena Community Elementary School, teachers were determined to put on a brave face in the final weeks.

Students were cheered by a roller skating party, a field trip to the Wisconsin Dells, and on the last day, an end-of-the-year celebration and potluck.

Melissa Schmid, whose 10-year-old stepson, Evan, completed fourth grade this year, said she wished she had fought harder to keep the Arena school open. When the time comes for her 1-year-old daughter, she and her husband have decided to send her to school in a different district to spare her a long bus ride.

She worries about the value of their house. New people aren’t moving to Arena much anyway. But they definitely won’t now.

“We basically have a bank and a cheese factory,” Ms. Schmid said. “It’s not going to be a growing community.”

Mr. Wermuth, the district administrator, walked through the halls of the Arena school on a recent morning, pointing out the library, the gym, the classrooms where children in Packers sweatshirts huddled over books and puzzles. He is unsure what will become of the building.

There has been talk of turning it into a day care, a food pantry, maybe some sort of town hall. In the meantime, Mr. Wermuth is hopeful it will be used for basketball games and other community activities, just so it won’t be left to stand empty.

Original Article

In 2018, St. Mary’s Catholic School will celebrate its 130th anniversary. Athletics has been an important part of our school’s history. St. Mary’s established football and basketball teams during the 1930’s while softball, basketball and volleyball became the school’s first women’s sports. St. Mary’s is attempting to create a database of it’s athletes who were named All-District, All-Parish, All-State, All-State Academic and All-American. If you or someone you know received any athletic achievements, rewards or recognition, will you provide this information to Payne Williams, who can be reached at 318-352-6695 or willwill@cp-tel.net. Thank you for any assistance and for your support of St. Mary’s Catholic School.

NSU– Less than a week after signing his first professional baseball contract, David Fry continues to rack up awards for what he did in his senior season at Northwestern State.

Fry, a seventh-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers this past week, was named second-team All-Central Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Wednesday.

The ABCA selects regional teams in eight regions across the country. As part of the Central Region, Northwestern State is included with teams in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.

It marks the second straight season Fry has earned all-region honors, following a first-team selection after his junior season.

For the second straight year, Fry paced Northwestern State in the Triple Crown categories, leading the Demons in batting average (.327), home runs (12) and RBIs (55) as well as runs (49), hits (80), total bases (148), slugging percentage (.604), walks (40) and doubles (26).

“I’ve said it before, he deserves every honor he has received,” second-year coach Bobby Barbier said.

Fry’s 26 doubles established a new NSU single-season record and are tied for fifth nationally with just the College World Series remaining. His 74 career doubles are one of three school career records Fry holds. He also established new school career marks in total bases (431) and at-bats (851).

A third-team Collegiate Baseball All-American and the sixth Demon selected in the top 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, Fry also shares the school career home run record (31) and has the only two 20-double, 10-home run seasons in school history.

Fry finished his Northwestern State career ranked in the top 10 in nine career categories. In addition to his school records, he ranks second in RBIs (156) and hits (256), third in hit by pitches (40), fifth in games played (219) and sixth in runs scored (154).

His 12 home runs are the most by a Demons hitter in the BBCOR Era (2011-present) and are tied for seventh in school single-season history.

Fry’s selection marks the third straight season a Demon has been named to the All-South Central Region team. Right-handed pitcher Adam Oller started the run with his first-team honor in 2016 before Fry’s first-team nod in 2017.

Natchitoches Mayor Lee Posey announces the upcoming temporary closure of East Fifth Street to through traffic, at a point approximately 0.25 mile north of St. Mary’s High School, or 0.1 mile south of Salter Street.

This temporary closure is planned for the week of June 18 to allow for the installation of a cross-drain pipe under East Fifth Street by Regional Construction, LLC. It is anticipated that the duration of the closure will be for only one day, weather permitting.

During the temporary closure, through traffic will detour around the cross-drain site via other adjacent City streets, including Williams Avenue and St. Maurice Lane.

Upon completion of the cross-drain installation, subsequent construction work on East Fifth Street in this area will consist of the installation of a storm drain pipe in the adjacent roadside ditch, followed by cement-treated base work and placement of new asphalt surfacing.

For questions relative to this temporary closure, please call the Mayor’s office at (318) 352-2772.

PEO Chapter BG were told about the Spring 2018 convention highlights during the program recently. Pictured are seated Lynn Dix, President Pam McCalister, Donna Greene and Mary Dranguet. Standing (left to right) are members Kathy Autrey, Becky Wolff, Denise Bailey, Christy Price, Bette Maroney, Peggy Gilbert, Diane Doughty, and Chrissey Henry.

Have you registered your 4-year-old in a public Pre-K Program? Registration and enrollment opportunities are still available Wednesday, June 20 and Wednesday, June 27 from 11 am – 1 pm at the Natchitoches Parish Title 1 Media Center, located at 310 Royal Street.

Please bring the following documents:

Proof of income
Proof of residence
Child’s birth certificate
Child’s shot record

Your child must be 4-years-old on or before Sept. 30. For more information call 318-352-8389

By Joe Darby

When I visited Clerk of Court David Stamey earlier this week, we got to wondering about that card game.

The card game in question happens to have been played 249 years ago. Somebody lost their shirt — and their land — and it’s all recorded on the back of two beautiful playing cards that are part of the Clerk of Court’s records.

There’s some information on the two cards, written in French, but there’s still a lot of unanswered questions. It’s dated 1769. The cards are signed by one Monsieur Bonnafons. I looked him up in some of my reference books and I found him in, of course, the last book that I searched. Kathleen M. Byrd, in her book “Colonial Natchitoches,” identifies Jean Louis Bonnafons as a native of Ambrun, France, who came to Natchitoches in 1742. He was a merchant and a surgeon. And, evidently, a gambler.

The sum of 25 livres (vingt cinq livres”) is also written on a card as well as the term “terre” or land, and “Beaufort.” I could not decipher other bits of the writing because 18th century French script is not the easiest in the world to read. So, as I said, lots of questions remain. One reference I have indicates that Beaufort Plantation was not named until the 1790s, so one of our questions pertains to exactly what land was involved.

Obviously land changed hands. That’s why the cards are filed as official records with the clerk of court. And who was the other player?. We could not make that out. But David marvels at the beauty of the two cards, one the jack of spades and the other the jack of diamonds, and both are hand drawn. Obviously, factory-made cards were hard to come by in Natchitoches in the 1760s.

With Natchitoches being the oldest settlement in the state, it’s only to be expected that the Clerk of Court’s office has a fabulous collection of historic colonial documents. And Stamey considers it an honor to care for them.

“I think there’s nothing more important in this office than keeping these original documents safe,” he said. Copies are available to researchers, but the originals are kept under lock and key in vaults.

Among the documents he has are many connected to the Natchitoches founder, Louis Juchereau de St. Denis. Among the papers in the possession of the office of the clerk of court are St. Denis’ last will and testament from March 26, 1744; lists of his slaves, and several documents on St. Denis property exchanges that occurred after his death. His widow, the former Emanuela Sanchez, was head of his estate until her own death in 1781. Her funeral records are here too.

Another fascinating document is a detailed outlay, signed by St. Denis, of the costs to build the second French fort here, which came to 30,200 livres, surely a somewhat hefty price for that time.

Stamey said that the Louisiana State Archives in Baton Rouge has asked several times that the Natchitoches documents be donated to that institution. But Stamey said he and his predecessors have always refused, because the papers were originated here and they should stay here.

The office is a treasure trove for genealogy researchers also. It has, for example, marriage records going back to 1855. It also has military discharge records from both World Wars and Korea. “Those are available only to children and grandchildren and to siblings, because they contain personal information,” he said.

David Stamey is clearly a man who loves his job. When he gets among his historic records, his face lights up and he obviously loves to tell a visitor about the significance of the office’s collection. It’s one of Natchitoches’ little known and hidden treasures, I say.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), advises the public that on Monday, June 18, construction will begin on LA 478 in Natchitoches Parish. This work will begin at the intersection of LA 120 and proceed Northeast for approximately 3.5 Miles to the interchange with I-49.

The intent of this project is to replace existing cross drains, cold plane the existing asphalt pavement, cut a 12” in-place cement treated base and subgrade, and lay 3 ½” of Superpave Asphaltic Concrete. Associated work includes seeding, replacing mailboxes, and permanent thermoplastic striping.

The contractor will be required to maintain thru traffic at all times, but periodic lane closures and delays can be expected. The public is advised to remain alert to construction signs and changing roadway conditions.

The project was awarded to the low bidder, Diamond B Construction Co. LLC, in the amount of $1,237,786.75. The work associated with this project should take approximately 45 working days to complete.

Permit/Detour section
Thru traffic will be maintained and there will be no detour routes for this project.

Safety Reminder
DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

 

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Harry Coutee
November 23, 1926 – June 10, 2018
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 5:30-8:30 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, June 15 at 10 am at Blanchard-St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Eryk Taylor
September 19, 1978 – June 6, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, June 16 from 10-11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Shady Grove Community Cemetery

SABINE PARISH:

George M. Ross
October 21, 1946 – June 8, 2018
Service: Thursday, June 14 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. John The Baptist Catholic Cemetery

WINN PARISH:

Leigh Jutzi Jordan
March 23, 1926 – June 12, 2018
Visitation: Thursday, June 14 from 9-11 am at Southern Funeral Home
Service: Thursday, June 14 at 11 am at Southern Funeral Home
Interment: Garden of Memories in Winnfield

Marlon L. Blake
November 30, 1947 – June 8, 2018
Visitation: Friday, June 15 beginning at 9 am in the Family Church of Winnfield
Service: Friday, June 15 at 11 am in the Family Church of Winnfield

RED RIVER PARISH:

Freeman Tucker, Jr.|Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 6-7 pm at Zion Chapel Baptist Church
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at Zion Chapel Baptist Church
Interment: New Hope Cemetery in Lake End

Earl Sloan
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 7:30-8:30 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 11 am at Jenkins Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: King Chapel Cemetery in Many

Arthur Bush
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 6-7 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 12 pm at Many High School Gym
Interment: New Jerusalem Cemetery in Many

Robbie Jones
Visitation: Friday, June 15 from 1-6 pm at Jenkins Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 16 at 2:30 pm at Travelers Rest baptist Church in Longstreet
Interment: Good Hope Cemetery in Keatchie

Erma Ruth Croff
October 12, 1940 – June 9, 2018
Visitation: Thursday, June 14 from 6-8 pm at the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta
Service: Friday, June 15 at 10 am in the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Martin Baptist Church Cemetery in Martin

By Edwin Crayton

 

 

In the powerful movie “12 Angry Men” Henry Fonda played a man who was a juror on a jury deciding a case in which a minority teenaged boy was accused of murdering his dad. The film shows how the Fonda character gradually convinces the other 11 men that the evidence against the boy although it initially seemed strong is really not what it appears and is in fact not enough to convict him. The film makes clear how racial prejudice, a rush to judgment, and the selfish desires of distracted jurors to reach a verdict speedily all converge to mislead the jury to overlook key evidence in the boy’s favor. For me, this film illustrates a simple, compelling reason why a new constitutional amendment being debated in the Louisiana Legislature should be passed: If we can do anything to stop innocent people from going to jail or especially prevent their being executed unjustly, we should do it. This amendment seeks to reverse current law in Louisiana that allows juries to convict someone without all 12 jurors agreeing. Only Louisiana and Oregon have laws that allow juries to convict someone in this way, which is referred to as “non-unanimous”. Some supporters of the amendment point out that because of non-unanimous laws, historically, many Africans Americans in Louisiana have been unjustly convicted because they lacked the benefit of being tried under a more rigorous and humane system that requires all 12 jurors to agree—much like the teen in my example from “12 Angry Men”. In an article on Louisiana Public Broadcasting’s website, Senator J.P. Morrell, New Orleans, who proposed the amendment said the current law stemmed from “a Constitutional Convention in 1898 that tried to maintain white supremacy after the Civil War. He adds, “This was totally unnecessary and was born out of the fusion of racism and disenfranchisement.” The article points out that although Louisiana and Oregon are the only states to allow non-unanimous juries, Oregon requires unanimous juries for murder cases and Louisiana does not. Big difference. Equally notable is a comment in the article attributed to Angela Allen Bell of the Southern University Law Center. She contends the current law fast tracks people to prison. The article points out Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in America.

On the other side of this argument, opponents of the new amendment claim that requiring such a change in law would lead to costly trials because it’s hard to get a dozen people to agree on anything. It is true that Louisiana is very cost conscious and is dealing with a budget crisis so intense, at one point even the security of nursing home patients was at risk. But then again, how do you put a price on a person’s freedom and life? Natchitoches has a majority African American population so such a bill would have impact here if juries were ordered to agree unanimously. I say that because, while it’s true all people would be impacted, there is a growing sense in the African American Community that blacks—particularly black males—historically have been and still are unjustly treated in the justice system. Would changing the law make a difference? Should the amendment get a yes vote—providing it makes it to the public? As you know, 12 people serve on a jury. So I figured, why not go out on the streets of Natchitoches and asked 12 random people of various races to give their thoughts? Here’s their verdict:

Freddie Anthony: “I think we need a unanimous jury law. If you have 10 jurors who give one verdict and two who give an opposing verdict, the two might be right.”

Kevin Jones: “Yeah, the current system hurts minorities. It’s time to overhaul the Louisiana justice system. The amendment would help.”

Joey Matheson: “The current law feeds into a mob mentality because we look the other way when it comes to determining whether someone is guilty or innocent. Like in the film “The Oxbow Incident” they hung this guy and then found out he was innocent. They agreed he was guilty without the evidence. Their main goal was to find the guy guilty, not to find out if he was innocent.”

Herbert deLaunay: “I have mixed feelings on the subject. Sometimes in life you have to settle for probability because certainty is unattainable. But in capital cases involving crime or the death penalty, then certainty is more important.”

Mr. Miles: “I think our laws should be like everyone else’s. I think the current law does hurt blacks and minorities.”

Eula Coutee: “Yes, I think the law should be changed because it’s unfair. Too many people are going to prison who shouldn’t be.”

James Lorenz: “I thought all the states had unanimous juries. So yes, we should have a law that makes juries unanimous.”

Jerry Goff: “I think we need to change the law. We should be consistent with (the rest of the country).”

Tyrone Levi, ( University Student): “You’re better off when you have more opinions. All the votes should be equal and you should have all 12 jurors agree.”

Vade Gordon (former lawyer): “For criminal cases you need unanimous juries. However for civil cases it may work to have nonunanimous juries. The reason you need unanimous juries is because if you can’t get 12 people to agree on a verdict it’s an indication that something is wrong.”

Patrick Jackson: “Yes we need the new law. We need more justice, especially for black people.”

Amos Bradley: “If 10 people vote one way and 2 vote the opposite way, I say the case needs to be looked into further. So yes, I support changing the law.”

This amendment has passed the State Senate and will be voted on by the State House of Representatives next. If it makes it through, it will most likely be on a ballot for public vote in the fall. Call, text or email your state representative and urge him or her to vote your way. You can find yours at http://house.louisiana.gov/

“But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Amos 5:24

Northwestern State University (NSU) Professor and Department Head of Theatre and Dance Scott Burrell spoke to Rotary Club of Natchitoches at the June 12 meeting. NSU Theatre and Dance will offer two summer dinner theatres. The first will be The Honky Tonk Angels. The dates are June 13-16 and June 20-23. The second will be Here’s Killing You Kid on July 25-28 and August 1-4. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling 318-357-4218.