NSU’s Prather Coliseum was an exciting place to be for Demon hardwood fans as the men’s and women’s basketball teams gave a fun preview of their upcoming season Tuesday, October 30th. NSU’s famed “Purple Haze” band was on hand to keep everyone’s spirits high with their high energy sound and distinctive spirit, (The Natchitoches Parish Journal almost, almost mind you, feels sorry for the opposing coaches, players and errant referees when the band is unleashed upon them.) Students were able to enjoy free pizza while watching the Pom Line and cheerleaders perform. There was a children’s dunking contest as well as scrimmages by the men’s and women’s teams purple and white squads. The fun continued with a dunking and 3 point competition. The Tipoff Event was a great opportunity to have some family fun and meet this year’s Demon teams.
The first Men’s home game will be at Prather Tuesday November 6th against Centenary College. This game will also feature the Demon Volleyball team going into action against Southeastern Louisiana University, making it a unique two sport doubleheader. The Women’s team will have their first home game at Prather on Monday November 12th v. Letourneau. The NSU Demon teams are superb young men and women who are a joy to watch. The Natchitoches Parish Journal Wishes them all the best in their upcoming seasons. Fork ’em Demons!
Josh Pierson of City Bank & Trust Company was a guest speaker to the Natchitoches Junior High School JAG members on Oct. 25. Mr. Pierson discussed various banking topics such as: checking & savings, loans and the importance of establishing “good” credit.
Spots remain available for Northwestern State’s Fall Super 60 Showcase, the lone camp the Demons will host this fall.
The Nov. 11 camp at Brown-Stroud Field includes a pro-style workout in the morning followed by games in the afternoon. Players will run a 60-yard dash, throw from infield and outfield positions and take batting practice on the field. Radar readings for each player’s throws will be given to the players.
Cost for the one-day event is $150 for position players and $100 for pitchers. Players who want to both pitch and play a position during the games must sign up for both. The camp will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Campers need to bring their own equipment, including a glove, bat, batting gloves, batting helmet, running shoes or turf shoes and anything else they feel necessary. Please mark the camper’s name on all items.
The Natchitoches Parish Bar Association will hold its 13th Annual Red Mass at Trinity Episcopal Church on Friday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. A reception will follow. The Mass and Reception are open to the public.
History of the Red Mass
The Red Mass is a service celebrated annually in the church for judges, prosecutors, attorneys, law school professors and students, and government officials. The Mass requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek justice, and offers the opportunity to reflect on what Christians believe is the God-given responsibility of all in the legal profession.
Its traditional name, the Red Mass, is derived from the color of the vestments that may be worn by the celebrants of the service and traditional scarlet robes of the attending judges.
The exact date of the first Red Mass is uncertain. The tradition of celebrating this service goes back many centuries in the ecclesiastical courts of the Roman Catholic Church in Rome. During the reign of Louis IX, a chapel was designed for and dedicated to the celebration of the Red Mass in 1245. In England, the custom of judges and lawyers attending the Red Mass annually in Westminster Cathedral began in 1310 and continued even during World War II.
The Red Mass came to the United States in 1928 in New York City. In the District of Columbia, Justices of the highest courts in the land gather for the observance of the Red Mass at the Washington Cathedral. At this special celebration, persons of all faiths and from all branches of government, foreign diplomats and other distinguished guests join together to ask God’s help in their roles as administrators of justice.
The first Red Mass in Louisiana was offered in New Orleans’ St. Louis Cathedral on October 5, 1953. The tradition spread throughout the state, including Shreveport, where the first Red Mass there was held in 1993.
The Natchitoches Parish Bar Association felt it was important to ask God’s guidance and blessings for the work of the judges and lawyers living and working in Natchitoches Parish and the surrounding communities, so the Mass was brought to Natchitoches in 2006, and celebrated here at Trinity Episcopal Church. Since then, the Natchitoches Parish Bar Association has alternated hosting the Red Mass with the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and have included others who work in public service.
Moriah Summer is thrilled to be a new member of the BOM family in the Loan Administration department. A Saint Louis native, Moriah attended Southeast Missouri State University, where she was president of her pledge class in Gamma Sigma Sigma, and an active member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. In 2013, Moriah moved to Alexandria, Louisiana, and transferred to LSUA, where she graduated with her Bachelors in English and a minor in Communications. Moriah is a host parent to three LSMSA students, is newly married, and enjoys working with her BOM family and getting to know the Natchitoches community.
Sign up now for Adult Beginner Classes through the Tennis Apprentice Program at the Natchitoches Tennis Center. Classes run Nov. 15 – Dec. 16 on Thursday nights from 6:30-8 pm. The cost is $70 for four weeks and includes: racket, six hours of lessons taught by a tennis professional, One league or Step Up league season paid for, and a player party. For more information call 225-769-0337 or visit http://www.thetennisapprentice.com to register.
Students in PreK and K at LP Vaughn received Terrific Kid certificates for the month of October from the Natchitoches Kiwanis Club recognizing them for their character development, self-esteem and perseverance.
Students were: Trey Calhoun, Rensey Holmes, Arievana Gordon, Taylor Stewart, Terry Powell, Emmerson Laurence, Harley Stewart, Kennedy Morrisette, Paisley Jones, Gonzalo Gonzalez, Emilie Sales, Ally Vanzant, Amelia Arredondo, Kylie Jefferson, Terrell Dorsey Jr., Delainey Edmunds, Mariya Young, Amira Abubaker, Khloe Mauthe, Corey Logan and Melanie Lewis.
Drop off leaders for West Central La met to discuss plans for National Collection Week on Nov. 12-19. Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are packed with prayer, hygiene items, school supplies, a WOW item, toys, a note from the packer to the child receiving the box and $9 for shipping.
Pictured are Patsy Kitchings, Martin Baptist in Red River Parish, Brenda Ingram Central Drop Off at Westside Baptist Church in Natchitoches, Tonia Cates Mitchell Baptist in Converse and Cherry Wells Calvary Baptist in Sabine Parish. Not pictured is a Jeanine Ford First Baptist in Winnfield. For more information call Brenda Ingram at 471-9415
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville will hold a Mini Fair Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 3-4. Music will be provided by DJ Doc Couty. The fair opens after the Vigil Mass Saturday at 4 pm with food (gumbo, meat pies, tamales, hamburgers), a sweet shop and a country store. Prize bingo will be held from 5:30-8:30 pm with a trail ride at 5:30 pm. For more information call Pete or Marie Jones at 318-379-0002.
The kitchen will open Sunday at 11 am with baked turkey and cornbread dressing with all the trimmings, gumbo, meat pies, tamales, hamburgers, a sweet shop and a country store. Prize bingo will be held from 1-4 pm. There will be two prize raffles for the following items:
Parish President Rick Nowlin has announced the Parish of Natchitoches is seeking applicants for the position of Registrar of Voters for the Parish.
A copy of the full job requirements and employment application can be obtained from Natchitoches Parish Government Room 210. Please send application, resume, and three references to Natchitoches Parish Government Attn:
Cathy Creamer
PO Box 799
Natchitoches, LA 71458
or
email ccreamer@npgov.org with the subject line Registrar of Voters.
Natchitoches Parish Government is an equal opportunity employer and the Parish of Natchitoches is a drug-free workplace.
Deadline for applicants is 4:30 p.m. NOVEMBER 12, 2018.
Watch today’s Magnolia Minute with Steve Harris – School Board District 8
If you, your business or a member of your non-profit organization would like to appear on The Magnolia Minute, then contact us at the email or number below!
The Magnolia Minute Natchitoches Parish Journal magnoliaminute.npj@gmail.com 318-354-4000 #6
Charles Edward Cloud
August 5, 1944 – October 29, 2018
Visitation: Thursday, November 1 from 5-9 pm and Friday, November 2 from 10:30 am – 2 pm at Creston Baptist Church
Service: Friday, November 2 at 2 pm at Creston Baptist Church
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery in Goldonna
Jeanne St. Andre
November 26, 1927 – October 30, 2018
Visitation: Thursday, November 1 from 5-9 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, November 2 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Memory Lawn Cemetery
Charlie Vascocu
June 14, 1971 – October 21, 2018
Visitation: Wednesday, October 31 from 8:30-9:30 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Wednesday, October 31 at 10 am at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Natchitoches. Interment: Weaver Cemetery in Flora
Joshua Lynn Desadier
March 10, – October 28, 2018
Service: Wednesday, October 31 at 2 pm at Christian Harmony Baptist Church
Interment: St. Maurice Cemetery
Carolyn (Conna) Glass Cloutier
August 5, 1934 – October 24, 2018
Memorial Service: Saturday, November 17 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Natchitoches
John Jones Jr.
October 24, 2018
Service: Saturday, November 3 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches
Interment: St. Davis Baptist Church Cemetery in Cloutierville
WINN PARISH:
Carolyn Fay Hudson Phillips
August 24, 1943 – October 27, 2018
Arrangements TBA
Robert Neil “Bob” Smith
September 8, 1936 – October 18, 2018
Service: Saturday, November 3 at 1 p.m. at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Winnfield
SABINE PARISH:
Janice Ann Treese
January 27, 1933 – October 28, 2018
Visitation: Wednesday October 31 at 5 pm at Warren Meadows in Many
Service: Thursday November 1 at 10 am at the Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel in Many
Interment: Prospect Cemetery in Florien
Bill Dean Zuel
July 7, 1955 – October 25, 2018
Service: Wednesday, October 31 at 1 pm at Spring Ridge Cemetery
Janet Eason
July 16, 1939 – October 26, 2018
Service: Saturday, November 3 at 11 am at McCormick Cemetery in Many
Gwendolyn Gail Johnson
July 4, 1947 – October 25, 2018
Service: Wednesday, October 31 at 11 am at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florien
RED RIVER PARISH:
Sammy Charles Brown
June 13, 1947 – October 27, 2018
Service: Wednesday, October 31 at 2 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
Floyd Hathman Jordan, Jr.
December 10, 1967 – October 27, 2018
Service: Wednesday, October 31 at 1 pm at Pentecostals of Martin Church
Interment: Mt. Zion Cemetery
Parish Council members Rodney Bedgood, Russell Rachal and Chris Paige shut down the creation of road tax districts 1-4 at a special called meeting Oct. 29. Each ordinance died for lack of a second (Patsy Ward Hoover was Absent and Doug de Graffenried gave the motion for each).
The Council did pass an ordinance to create a sales tax district 2 containing all of the Parish except the City of Natchitoches and the Town of Campti because they are at their max for sales tax. Sales tax is something everyone pays.
Rachal said the only fair tax is a sales tax and Nowlin agreed because then everyone would have some skin in the game. However, Nowlin said a sales tax is also a regressive tax because it disproportionately impacts low income people.
Paige seemed uninterested in the road tax districts. “This is you guys’ thing as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “You know where I stand…I’ve been sitting here [Parish Council] 8 years where we went from one-point-something million dollars to half-a-million dollars now and no work has been done [in Payne Subdivision]. It doesn’t take that long to do the little work we have done out there. I have talked till I’m blue in the face over Payne Subdivision.”
“You also have people around Sibley Lake waiting for us to pass this,” said de Graffenried. “The City is waiting to see what we’re gonna do with Ward 1 because they want to suck up Sibley Lake into the City limits.”
“You can’t stop that anyway,” said Paige. Doug’s response was, “You fix their roads.” Doug suggested the Council perform an experiment and at least create Road District 1, which would have the best chance of passing.
“Let’s let the voters speak,” he said.
Paige said he won’t vote against the people in his district. “You [de Graffenried] sit and vote against Head Start and I’m always gonna have a problem with you and I don’t know if it’s from a racist standpoint or what, but it’s a serious problem.” This statement was in reference to de Graffenried voting against the submission of an application for Head Start. Doug told the NPJ that he voted no because he believes it would be better for the children if the Head Start was managed by an entity with more educational experience.
“I care about the kids,” said Doug at Monday night’s meeting. To which Paige responded, “I see you do. That’s why you voted against it. This clannish attitude is what you have to deal with down here.”
In reference to Payne Subdivision, Parish President Rick Nowlin said funding for has bounced around over the last several years, totally due to actions by the state of Louisiana and its Capital Outlay Program. It had nothing to do with the Parish of Natchitoches or anyone working for the Parish. Nowlin has been corresponding with people in Baton Rouge over the last two weeks to get this thing moved forward. There is $500,000 committed. Of that, $200,000 is Priority 1 money and $300,000 is Priority 5 money, which won’t be available until after July 1, 2019. The Parish could go to construction on the project and wait to be reimbursed by the state when it gets the $300,000. However, if the Parish moves forward and spends all the money ($300,000 plus the Parish’s approximate $167,000 project match) and doesn’t get reimbursed, it’s just spent the money it would need for road maintenance in the second half of the year. “I don’t think we have the funds to take the risk,” said Nowlin.
Christian Worship Center will hold a Fall Fest Wednesday, October 31 from 5:30-7:30 pm with a costume contest, games, a cake walk and any ride, free hot dogs, bouncers, prizes and an obstacle course. The CWC is located at 1513 Hwy. 494 in Natchitoches.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 318-352-4593.
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding all eligible voters to take advantage of early voting. The last day of early voting will be TODAY – Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“Many Louisianians have already cast their ballot during early voting ahead of Election Day,” said Secretary Ardoin. “These are important mid-term elections, and I encourage all Louisianians to exercise their right to vote.”
Voters should utilize Louisiana’s award-winning smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to find out where to early vote as well as what’s on their ballot. Voters can also access this information in our Voter Portal by visiting https://voterportal.sos.la.gov. Across the state, ballot items include candidate races, constitutional amendments and local and parish propositions.
Citizens who want to vote early may do so in person at the parish Registrar of Voters Office or at other designated locations. For a complete listing of early voting locations, visit https://voterportal.sos.la.gov/EarlyVoting.
In addition to a Louisiana driver’s license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may now use LA Wallet, the new smartphone app by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Poll commissioners have received training regarding the digital license as an acceptable form of picture ID.
Election Day for the open general/congressional/special primary is Saturday, Dec. 8.
John Oswald Colson was honored by the Louisiana Department of Culture Recreation and Tourism as an Honorary Louisiana Tradition Bearer Oct. 27 at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest History Museum. Dr. Shane Rasmussen, Louisiana Folklife Ambassador for the Louisiana Folklife Commission, opened the program by presenting Colson with the state Proclamation on behalf of Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser.
Anthropologist Dustin Fuqua, Colson’s long time apprentice, delivered a slideshow presentation which highlighted the process of making Filé. He explained the traditional ecological knowledge and sensitivity involved in the beloved Cane River tradition.
Dr. Pete Gregory, renowned NSULA Professor of Anthropology and Curator of the Williamson Museum, led a discussion of the Native American pille and pilon, mortar and pestle, which Colson uses to prepare gumbo Filé.
The Art of Filé Making was part of the Louisiana Folklife Month cultural programs, sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center at NSULA. Special thanks to the LA Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest History Museum for hosting the event. Dr. Rasmussen further announced that Colson will be inducted into the LA Folk Masters Hall of Fame at the 40th Natchitoches-NSU Folklife Festival July 20, 2019.
Northwestern State University recognized two individuals by naming them Honorary Captains for the Oct. 27 Homecoming football game.
Colonel Eric Sweeney, U.S. Army Retired, served 26 years in the Army Corps of Engineers. In 2000, he completed a peacekeeping mission to Bosnia just before deploying to Afghanistan as part of the U.S. initial entry forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Colonel Sweeney immediately deployed again with initial entry forces in 2002 – 2003, this time to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Colonel Sweeney is a 1986 NSU alumnus. He commanded the ROTC Black Knights Drill Team, was a Distinguished Military Graduate, the President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and selected for Who’s Who among College Students.
Colonel Sweeney’s hometown is Bossier City, and he now serves as the JROTC Director of Army Instruction for Caddo Parish Schools.
Captain Justin Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Master of Science degrees from Northwestern. He was the Kappa Alpha Psi Theta Lambda Chapter President, vice president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and African American Caucus, Class Senator for the Student Government Association and treasurer for NAACP.
In 2010, he commissioned in the Military Intelligence Corps through NSU’s ROTC program and has served 12 years in the Army, including a deployment to Afghanistan.
Captain Thompson’s hometown is Shreveport. He is currently assigned as a Sustainment Observer Coach with JROTC Operations Group at Fort Polk.
Northwestern State has a tradition of honoring those who served in the military prior to all home football and basketball games.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), advises the public that Bridge number 053-04-1463-1 on LA 1X over Cane River Lake, Church Street will be closed for bridge inspection.
Permit/Detour Section
The structure will be from 9:00am -2:00pm on November 2, 2018. The detour will be LA 494 at the intersection with LA 1X to LA 6X.
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.
Additional Information
Call (318) 561-5100 or (800) 542-3509 or 511 or visit http://www.511LA.org for additional information.
