The Northwest Louisiana Community Tennis Association hosted a grand opening of the Paz Pavilion at the Natchitoches Tennis Courts Sept. 14. The pavilion is named after Willie Paz, who has helped build the tennis community in Natchitoches. Nearly 100 community members helped celebrate the opening.
“We have to get tennis going in our community just like other communities around the state,” said Willie Paz, director for the NWLACTA. “That’s my goal.”
Mayor Lee Posey believes that the opening of this complex will benefit the community in a multitude of ways.
“We’re trying to get something we lost back,” the mayor said. “It’ll help us bring more people to Natchitoches and have them stay overnight.”
All parents and guardians are invited to attend the first Parent Advisory Council meeting for the 2018-2019 school year, which will be held Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 11 am – 12 pm in the Title 1 building behind the Natchitoches Parish School Board Office on Royal Street. For more information call Helen Calhoun at 318-352-8389.
September 11 marked the start of week 2 at the Natchitoches Fire Department Firefighting Academy. Class began Aug. 28 and will run weekly for a total of 14 weeks from 8am-5pm, Tuesday-Thursday. The class is located on the Natchitoches campus of the Central Louisiana Technical Community College where the Natchitoches Fire Department Training Center is located.
Michael Sesvold serves as the lead instructor and director of the program. He is assisted by various instructors including Chief of Fire Prevention Kory Leo, NFD Chief Wynn, and Shift C Captain Josh Pulley. Additionally every member of NFD eventually plays a role in the success of the program by assisting with instruction, live drills, providing resources, etc.
Training Officers Dillon Broadway and Brent Dupree manage the physical training program during the course. There are three NFD Recruits, one Fire District 4 Recruit and one Fire District 6 Recruit for a total of five Recruits attending the class. The class consists of lecture, physical training, and practical skills training to prepare each recruit to successfully become a Firefighter.
With the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the U.S. Fire Service being heart attack and stroke, this course places a heavy emphasis on physical health and fitness. In honor of September 11, instructors organized a memorial stair climb for the morning physical training to honor the 343 firefighters who lost their lives 17 years ago. While being reverent to the thousands of other lives lost that day the group focused its attention on the brave firefighters who scaled the towers through various stair wells, while pointing surviving victims to safety.
“Firefighting is a calling, not just a job,” said Sesvold. “This is what we stressed to each recruit as we scaled the endless rows of bleachers at NSU’s Turpin stadium. We stressed the example set by the fallen 343 Firefighters as they courageously continued up as countless victims retreated down the stairs. It was extremely challenging for each Recruit and Officer who walked beside them as well as personally rewarding to reach the end of what was the equivalent of 110 stories of stairs. We walked in their honor and made a statement to ourselves that this is what we were made to do.”
Each Recruit was given chance after chance to quit, yet they pressed on. They found victory over their weaknesses and limitations and pressed forward as a team to complete the task that was ahead. Sesvold said he hopes that sharing this story will encourage anyone to pursue his or her dreams even if it looks like they are “110 stories away.” Find your purpose, answer your calling, and know that sometimes your greatest enemy rests right between your ears.
Judy Bolton
August 24, 1940 – September 12, 2018
Visitation: Friday, September 21 from 5-10 pm at Provencal United Pentecostal Church
Service: Saturday, September 22 at 10 am at Provencal United Pentecostal Church
Interment: Shady Grove Cemetery in Bellwood
Juanita Morris
September 13, 2018
Arrangements TBA through Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Annette Johnson
February 17, 1948 – September 10, 2018
Arrangements TBA through Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
SABINE PARISH:
Jessie Sims
October 13, 1961 – September 12, 2018
Service: Monday, September 17 at 10 am at Holly Grove Nazarene
Interment: Lambert Town – Shamrock Cemetery
Congratulations to Miss Merry Christmas 2018- Kerrie Spillman. With her on stage are her Christmas Belles Callie Owsley, Sara Hicks, Haley Franks, Katie Aldredge, Bailey McConnell and Kate Methvin.
The 62nd Annual Natchitoches Queens Scholarship Program was held Sept. 16.
Jourdan Waddell of Slidell was selected as the winner of the 61st Annual Miss Northwestern – Lady of the Bracelet Pageant held Saturday at Northwestern State University. Waddell will receive more than $8,000 in scholarships and prizes and will represent NSU in June’s Miss Louisiana Pageant.
Waddell is a junior psychology major. She is a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Alpha Lambda Delta and Sigma Alpha Pi honor societies and was a Demon Days Volunteer. Waddell is a President’s List student. She was first runner up in last year’s pageant and was a top five finisher at the 2018 Miss Louisiana Pageant.
“I am elated and excited at winning the pageant,” said Waddell. “I hope to use this title as a way to promote my platform of mental health awareness.”
McKay Crews of Bossier City was first runner up and Casey Williams of Leesville was second runner up.
Waddell won the won the talent and swimsuit competition along with the Liz Carroll People’s Choice Award voted on by the pageant audience. Crews was named Miss Congeniality. Jansen Chisley of Monroe received the Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award for her fundraising efforts on behalf of the organization.
Take the family out on Sundays for a meal at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Natchitoches and save a few bucks on the bill. Kids eat FREE on Sundays. Get one free kid’s meal with $10 purchase per adult. This offer is for dine-in only and is not valid with other offers or promotions. Children 12 and under are eligible. Free meal must be ordered from the Kid’s Meals.
Have you ever felt extremely imperfect? Unworthy? Less than? Unorganized? Are you perpetually losing in the game of comparing yourself to others? Everyone else is way more attractive. Their kids are always on the “A” honor roll, perfectly behaved and always well dressed with impeccable manners. Their car is always clean and their kid’s never lose their lunch bill. You know the type. Everything they touch turns to perfection.
Personally, I have never fallen into this category. Not even close. Not even distantly related to perfection. Some days I feel like I have it all together but most of the time I’m 10 minutes late for a meeting that I forgot or 10 minutes early for a meeting on the wrong day.
This particular week so boldly reminded me that I’m not in control of my life and it also reminded me to be grateful for who is in control of my life.
Earlier this week while ironing a dress for work my youngest daughter ran across the house yelling, “Oh my gosh I have Student Council today. I have to be there at 7:15!” Startled at her tone and possibly a bit exasperated I left the iron neatly settled on my dress while I educated her in the ways of always being prepared (those who cannot do…teach).
I didn’t notice the state of my dress until the steam began to rise. My pretty dress was scorched. With time being of the essence I chose to wear the dress anyway with the hopes that my necklace would cover it up. Never mind the burnt smell that saturated the dress. That should fade during the day. Have to stay positive.
The only makeup on my face was my eyebrows. I never break this rule when it comes to the vehicular application of makeup. Thou shall not apply eyebrows while driving. Most makeup offenses can be covered up but not the eyebrows. Between large shades and tinted windows no one should be able to tell the state of my face while rushing the child to school.
Once the child was safely deposited I proceeded to my office where I would continue my crazy and imperfect day.
Not long after I arrived I received a text message from a good friend who is also a customer. She wanted to stop by. For some reason I felt the need to let her know that I had scorched my dress and I was a hot mess. Friends don’t judge.
Having worked in the public for over 20 years I have become accustomed to making a pass by a bathroom mirror to double check the state of my appearance. You know, checking to make sure I don’t have broccoli in my teeth. Who am I kidding? I was checking for Doritos. This quality control measure was not taken before my customer visit. Once I made the inspection it was most obvious that one eyebrow was way more surprised than the other. Epic face fail.
Hot mess express.
The day progressed with a series of minor follies that continued until I took my child to volleyball practice. Once I arrived at practice I decided I was going to wash the day away. Who cares that my dress was burnt, my eyebrows were jacked up and I had zero makeup on my face. I was going to immerse myself in the moment. Visit with parents and coach from the sidelines.
It was an amazing break from the flawed day. Once we left practice I made a stop by the local grocery store. It was your typical visit and I even felt like God was smiling on me when I found pork medallions on clearance for $4. I was thinking it was a well deserved ending to a stressful day until I heard my child utter the words, “Oh, I need to bring homemade cookies for the bake sale tomorrow.”
I stopped in my tracks.
These are the words that no mother wants to hear at 8 o’clock at night. She could tell by the expression of my face and crooked eyebrows that I was beyond mad. I proceeded to tell her that I don’t own a bakery. I don’t have an arsenal of baking supplies at my fingertips and with her lack of planning she can pick some pre-sprinkled cookies, bag them up and hope for the best.
We purchased the pre-made cookies and headed home.
Once we arrived home after this extra-long hot mess of a day my daughter noticed that we had some break apart cookies she could bake to add in with the pre-made cookies. Around the time she turned on the oven I discovered that we had left my pork blessing and the bags for the cookies in the store.
With the oven pre-heating we headed back to the store for the second time.
Once the items were retrieved we headed home again. I used this car ride to educate my youngest daughter about being organized, unforgetful, steadfast and punctual. Hopefully teaching her to be better than her mother.
When we walked in the house it was completely filled with smoke. This would be because I forgot to wipe the stove cleaner off from two days before. The perfect ending to an imperfect day.
Lots of things could have went wrong, truly wrong, during the day. But, I chose to remember who is in ultimate control of our daily lives. Jesus meets us right where we are. Imperfect. Late. Unorganized. Unholy. Unworthy. Incomplete. Ridiculous. Dramatic. Burnt dress. Crooked eye brows. Smoky house. Store bought cookies and hot mess express.
“On a good day, enjoy yourself; On a bad day, examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days. So that we won’t take anything for granted.”
Pull out those old bingo daubers and head on over to the Les Amies Service Organization’s Basket Bingo Tuesday, Sept. 18 at the Best Western Conference Hall. A Chicken Spaghetti Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and Bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and the dinner includes chicken spaghetti, green beans, roll, with tea and water to drink. This event is BYOB. Bingo prizes are baskets of goodies worth $50 or more. Basket themes include Date Night, Spa Day, Home Decor, Garden, Wine, Car Care and more!
Les Amies is a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer services and host fundraisers. The proceeds from the fundraisers are donated back into the community through Relay for Life, Council on Aging and more.
For information or to buy tickets contact any Les Amies member, Cady Caskey at cadywhite19@gmail.com or GET TICKETS HERE
I, Phil G. Brown, am announcing my candidacy for the Natchitoches Parish School Board seat representing District 4. District 4 includes areas surrounding Sibley Lake, portions of NSU’s campus, and areas north to Posey Road.
Over the years, I have been the beneficiary of the Louisiana public education system: graduating from Baton Rouge High School; and B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University. My Ph.D. work was done at the University of Cincinnati in Environmental Health (Industrial Hygiene). My work experiences in governmental and private industry jobs have allowed me to see the benefits of education.
We the people of Natchitoches Parish want: high quality schools for ALL our children, a more cooperative/less divisive School Board, more direct employment from high school skills certification and apprenticeship programs, and educational relationships built with local industries and businesses. When elected, I will actively advocate and work to achieve the “wants” of our Parish.
About Me:
Growing up in Baton Rouge, I first experienced Natchitoches at Christmas as my family drove to my grandparents’ home in Shreveport. Highway 1 crossed Cane River Lake on the Church Street bridge, and the lights reflected brilliantly in the water. It was a highlight of the trip.
In my senior year at LSU, I met Mary Lou Pierson from Natchitoches, daughter of Ed and Gingie Pierson. We married in 1967 and entered the United States Air Force in 1968.
While stationed at Brooks Air Force Base (AFB), San Antonio, Texas, our three children were born. Subsequently, our children attended public schools in Ohio, Virginia, and Utah.
My assignments in the US Air Force included: the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, US Department of Labor, Washington, DC; the USAF Surgeon General’s Office, Washington, DC; the Air Force Secretary’s Office, the Pentagon; Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah; and the Air Force Logistics Command Headquarters, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Upon completing nearly 24 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel, in 1992 I went to work for the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York.
Working within the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Organization of Kodak, my responsibilities included budget development for the HSE Organization, HSE Information Technology oversight, development and implementation of an electronic medical record system for Kodak employees, and Deputy Director of the Kodak Medical Department. Following 11 years of employment with Kodak, I retired in 2003 and Mary Lou and I move “home” to Natchitoches.
In 2004, I joined the faculty of Northwestern State University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Technology where I taught for 12 years. During this time, I noticed problems with some students’ backgrounds in such basic foundation issues as fractions, which concepts would become a major obstacle for them.
I searched for tools within the elementary and secondary system to assist teachers in assuring students understood and could successfully demonstrate the application of these concepts. It was at this point I found a potential solution for enhancing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curricula.
I am a huge advocate of “Project Lead the Way (PLTW),” a program which provides curricula and tools for teachers to teach STEM. In 2009, with the assistance of our NSU President, Louisiana Board of Supervisors and Regents, NSU was authorized to become the PLTW Engineering Affiliate University for the State of Louisiana. I became its Affiliate Director. Since 2009, we have trained many teachers from Louisiana and other states. I am always willing to share information and my excitement about PLTW with anyone who will listen about this excellent program.
Every place we have lived over the years, we have become involved in the local community. I have enjoyed being part of Natchitoches’ community and have served and continue to serve in several ways: Cane River Food Pantry board member; APHN past treasurer; Habitat for Humanity past president; “Lunch on Us” mission, First Presbyterian Church. We have also enjoyed supporting some of Natchitoches’ treasured programs: Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Society, NSU’s Creative and Performing Arts Theatre, and our Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Summary:
I thank the voters of District 4 who have graciously spent time with me at their homes as I have walked your neighborhoods, introducing myself. To those District 4 voters who have been recipients of my door hang tag, I am sorry we did not have the opportunity to directly visit. To those who have not seen me yet in their neighborhood, I’m on my way!! I believe my varied professional experiences, as well as my passion for a solid education system, will serve Natchitoches well. To all voters, I greatly appreciate your consideration of my candidacy, and humbly request your votes in the upcoming election, Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
Once elected, I look forward to serving on the Natchitoches Parish School Board. I will devote myself to helping improve our schools and building relationships with industries and businesses which will support our children.
Most Importantly! Remember to vote!
It’s your right and responsibility as a United States citizen!
BOM is a gold sponsor of the NCHS “Pride of the Tribe” Band. The band participates in many community activities including football games, local festival parades and concerts throughout the year. Pictured from left are Joshua Goings, Dustin Dauzat, and Alesia Hudlow (NCHS Director of Bands).
Enjoy the artwork of Northwestern State faculty and students and community members that attended the Art Department’s annual trip to New Mexico. See artwork inspired by the enchanted landscape, people and culture of New Mexico. There will be a reception Monday, Sept. 17 from 5-7 pm in the Hanchey Gallery in the New Fine Arts Building on the NSU campus.
For more information about the upcoming 2019 New Mexico trip, please contact Matt DeFord at defordm@nsula.edu.
Juanita Morris
September 13, 2018
Arrangements TBA through Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Sam Rodrigues
May 23, 1947 – September 10, 2018
Visitation: Friday September 14 from 5-7 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, September 15 at 11 am at Emmanuel Cemetery in Chopin
Annette Johnson
February 17, 1948 – September 10, 2018
Arrangements TBA through Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Gayla Banks
September 10, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, September 15 from 10-11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Service: Saturday, September 15 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Evergreen Baptist Church Cemetery (SPANISH LAKE COMMUNITY)
RAPIDES PARISH:
James Daniel Dewees
March 11, 1929 – September 12, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, September 15 from 12-2 pm at Christian Worship Center
Service: Saturday, September 15 at 2 pm at Christian Worship Center
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home.
Helen Marien Richardson
January 30, 1943 – September 12, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, September 15 from 8:30-9:30 am at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, September 15 at 10 am at St. Rita Catholic Church
WINN PARISH:
Wanda Lee Murphy
January 11, 1924 – September 12, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, September 15 from 10-11 am in the Saint Patrick Catholic Church of Montgomery
Service: Saturday, September 15 at 11 am in the Saint Patrick Catholic Church
Interment: Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
Debra Kay Roy
June 26, 1963 – September 11, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, September 15 from 12-3:30 pm at the Laurel Heights Baptist Church
Service: Saturday, September 15 at 3:30 pm at the Laurel Heights Baptist Church
Interment: Garden of Memories Cemetery
Seven seniors from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts were among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The students are Colt Crain of Zachary, Jayaditya “Jojo” Deep of Natchitoches, Will Heitman of Baton Rouge, Lucien Maloney of Mandeville, Zachary Schleter of Lake Charles, Shivam Shah of Bossier City, and Benjamin Walker of Mandeville.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC with its own funds and by approximately 410 business organizations and higher education institutions that share NMSC’s goals of honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.
Over 1.6 million juniors in about 22,000 high schools entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest- scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record through- out high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.
Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2019. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 230 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 180 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,000 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.
Watch today’s Magnolia Minute episode to learn more about the the Creole Heritage Center’s 20th Annual celebration this weekend with Markita Hamilton-Small from the Creole Heritage Foundation.
The theme of the celebration sponsored by The Creole Heritage Center at NSU is “Struggles & Persistence – But Still We Rise.”
Registration for all events is $75 for Creole Heritage Center members and $90 for non-members. Tickets to just the banquet are $40 for Center members and $50 for non-members. Tickets to the dance only at $20 per individual and $30 for a couple for members and $25 per person and $40 per couple for non-members. Tickets can be reserved online at creoleheritage.eventbrite.com.
SCHEDULE:
Friday, Sept. 14
Registration and a welcome will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Friedman Student Union at Northwestern State University. The morning will include programs on how the Creole Heritage Center Started and showcasing Creole organizations. Afternoon sessions are on the Amedé Ardoin project and “What is Creole music?”
The banquet and awards ceremony is set for 6 p.m. in the Friedman Student Union featuring keynote speaker Lt. Gen. (ret.) Russel L. Honoré with appearances by Melissa Anderson, USA Ambassador Mrs. and Miss Louisiana Hollí Conway. The awards ceremony will honor the winners of the annual Creole Peoples Award along with a special recognition.
Welcome and registration will be held on Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the Friedman Student Union. Sessions on Saturday morning will be on Creole language, a viewing of film “First Cousins” with filmmaker Moriah Istre and discussion of the book “Creoles of South Louisiana.” A mass will be held at 4 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church on Fifth St. in Natchitoches. Events will conclude with a performance of “Creole Lady Sings the Blues” featuring Annette Metoyer and the Guys.
Exhibits from the Cammie G. Henry Research Center, Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Los Adaes State Historic Site, Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Commemorative Area, Cane River National HeritageArea are also planned.
Authors Elista Istre, Darrell Bourque, Elvin Shields and Honoré will have copies of their books for sale.
For more information, contact the Creole Heritage Center at (318) 357-6685 or at creolecenter@nsula.edu.
On September 3, 2018, a local pastor was accused by the guardian of a local juvenile charging that the pastor had committed a violation of the Statute/Ordinance: MOLESTATION OF A JUVENILE.
A parent of the juvenile contacted the Natchitoches Parish Journal providing a copy of the complaint for inspection, review and reporting. The complaint stated the details of the “Forcible Fondling/Child Molesting” that allegedly occurred at the pastor’s place of residence/home in Natchitoches Parish.
The complaint states that a warrant will be requested. At the time of this article, no arrest had been made public.
According to the parent, the incident took place on August 27, 2018.
This is the only information the NPJ has at this time. NPJ will update as events unfold.
NOTE: If you or anyone in your family has been or is currently being subjected to this abuse, please contact Local Law Enforcement at once.
BOM is a proud sponsor of the KA golf tournament benefitting the Julian Foy Memorial Scholarship! Pictured from left are Claire, Lake Lowry, Dawson Cranford, Blaise, Brooke, and Dakota Schudalla!
A walk-thru of the Natchitoches Parish Library-Campti Branch by Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies on Sept. 10 at 3:40 pm led to the arrest of a convicted sex offender according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Victor Jones.
NPSO Patrol Division deputies were walking through the Natchitoches Parish Library-Campti Branch when they recognized 61-year-old Richard W. Black, a known sex offender inside the library.
Deputies asked Black to step outside where he was placed under arrest in violation of state sex offender laws which prohibits convicted sex offenders from being on public library property when victims are under the age of 13.
Black was convicted in the Tenth Judicial District Court in 1988 for Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile and again in 2016 for Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile.
The victims were under the age of 13.
Black is classified as a Tier III offender which requires him to register as a sex offender for life.
Richard W. Black, 61, of 200 block of Sonny Black Road, Campti, La., was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 1-count of Unlawful Presence of a Sex Offender in a Public Library.
Deputies say while interviewing Black, he stated he had been visiting the library off and on for over a year.
In 2016 and 2017, Black signed a Sex Offender Registration Notification Act Agreement stating that a sex offender convicted of a sex offense when the victim is under the age of 13 cannot physically be present or on the property of a public library.
Black remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center awaiting judicial criminal proceedings.
NPSO Sex Offender Coordinator Detective J. Byles is also assisting in the investigation.
Farm Bureau Insurance selected two area athletes to spotlight as Players of the Week. This week’s featured athletes include Parker Bankston, a student at St. Mary’s Catholic High School and Trevor Williams Jr., a student at Natchitoches Central High School.
Williams, #25 is a Senior. This was Trevor’s first start and he had 1 interception and 4 deflective passes. Coach Keller said he had a Flawless Game on Defense. Trevor says he was shocked to play the way he did for his first start. He also said Farm Bureau’s “Player of the Week” motivates him to do a good job in the game.
Bankston is a Senior quarterback who rushed for 125 yards and averaged over 35 yards a punt during Friday’s game. Parker said he works hard all week and looks forward to the games.
Natchitoches Jr. High JAG would like to extend its gratitude to the Howard Conday Law Offices for sponsoring its program. Pictured above are Howard Conday Jr. and Jacqueline Rainwater (JAG Instructor).
The Natchitoches Arts Council will unveil the Natchitoches Christmas Festival poster on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. at Dickens & Co., located at 524 Front Street in Natchitoches. This year’s Natchitoches Christmas Festival poster was created by artist Matthew Yerby.
Numbered prints of the 39th Annual Limited Edition Natchitoches Christmas Poster will be available for sale to the public after the unveiling. Earnings from poster sales are used to fund an Art Scholarship at NSU and to sponsor art camps and projects in the community. “It is our goal to sell as many posters as possible so that we can expand our donations to additional art endeavors. We believe that art is a vital part of our culture here in Natchitoches as well as a creative outlet for all to enjoy!” stated Karen Terrell.
The price for all available posters is $35 each. This includes one mini poster. Extra mini posters can be purchased for $3 each. Posters may be purchased at the Natchitoches Arts Council office located at the Community Development Office (City Hall Annex), 420 Fourth Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana. All of the original artwork can also be viewed at the Natchitoches Arts Council office.
For more information, please call Alicia Rachal at (318) 357-3838.
