NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Evelyn Marie Mitchell Lee
September 24, 1937 – February 11, 2019
Visitation: Friday, February 15 from 5-8 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 16 T 2 PM at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Rocky Mount Cemetery in Robeline

Willie Beard
February 10, 2019
Service: Saturday, February 16 at 2 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery

Connie Ruth Burton-Lincoln
February 8, 2019
Visitation: Saturday, February 16 from 10-11 am at the First Baptist Church, located at 1116 Amulet Street in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 16 at 11 am at the First Baptist Church
Interment: Jackson Square Cemetery

Frances Armstrong McKenzie
February 7, 2019
Visitation: Saturday, February 16 from 9-11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home in Natchitoches|
Service: Saturday, February 16 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. Savior Baptist Church (Cane River) Cemetery

WINN PARISH:

Gaynell Gresham Wallace
December 24, 1917 – February 9, 2019
Service: Sunday, February 10 at 3 pm in Atlanta Cemetery

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The Natchitoches Police Department is once again calling the Additional Street Patrol Team (or A.S.P. Team) into service. This team will focus on areas that are a threat to public safety throughout the City. During their activation, A.S.P. will be working in areas that have recently seen a lot of “shots-fired calls”, noted areas of suspected drug activity, as well as locations that have experienced an increase in burglaries and thefts. This team will be working in conjunction with all traffic and patrol shifts as they add additional officers on the street serving the public.

Adding additional Officers to our streets will increase the chances of apprehending these individuals that violate the law. Individuals who violate the law will then be arrested and referred to the District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

The Natchitoches Police Department is strongly encouraging the public to report criminal behavior by calling 318-352-8101, or by submitting an anonymous tip through our website. The Police Department is giving 110% to capture these bad guys but we cannot be everywhere and cannot see everything as it happens. We need the public’s eyes and ears to supplement a law enforcement presence.

“If you see it, report it.”

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By Jonathon Zenk, NSU Sports Information Graduate Assistant

The Northwestern State tennis team has added a home match Saturday against NAIA power Xavier (New Orleans) at 11 a.m. at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

Xavier (2-2) is No. 3 nationally in the NAIA and is coming off a 7-0 romp over Loyola of New Orleans Sunday. NSU also last played Sunday, scoring a 4-2 win at Texas State by rallying from a 2-0 deficit with singles wins from Nos. 3-6.

Following the match against Xavier, the Lady Demons hit the road to play Feb. 22 at North Texas. NSU returns home March 1 and begins Southland Conference competition with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

Photo Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

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The Natchitoches Parish Communications District announces the relocation of the parish 9-1-1 main addressing office to 911 Public Safety Blvd., Natchitoches, La., 71457. Effective Feb. 19, anyone wishing to submit a 9-1-1 Address Application, may do so in accordance with the information that follows.

9-1-1 Address Applications may be processed without appointment at 562 Second Street (next door to Central Fire Station) in the historic district satellite location between the hours of 8:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week.

9-1-1 Address applications may be processed by appointment only by calling 657-8300 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:430 p.m Monday – Friday.

Willis Carter, Director
Natchitoches Parish 9-1-1 Communications District

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July 14, 1951 – December 31, 2018

Joe David Varner, age 67, passed away December 31, 2018 in his home in Keller, Texas. He was born in Magnolia, Arkansas on July 14, 1951 to Jamie Dean Varner and Robert Gentry Varner. A private service was held on January 5, 2019 in Stephens, Arkansas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his children, Teresa Varner Freeman and husband Robert Peyton Freeman of Rockwall, Texas, David Lee Varner and wife Amanda Christine Varner of Ft. Worth, Texas, Anna Marie Alexander and husband Travis L Alexander III of Aubrey, Texas; grandchildren, Ella Freeman, Caleb and Abby Varner, Isabella, Ross, Wyatt, and Fynn Alexander; siblings, Frances Trundle of St. Petersburg, Florida, Bobbie Lee Scaife and husband Billy Scaife of Rio Hondo, Texas, Connie Varner Prudhomme and husband John Prudhomme of Leesburg, Florida, Bobby Jack Varner and wife Gail Varner of Arcadia, Florida.

Joe will be mostly remembered as a father and his accomplishments as a young commercial pilot, and a successful entrepreneur in oil & gas and real estate.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! II Corinthians 5:17

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Members are invited to take part in the activities of the Natchitoches Parish Farm Bureau’s annual meeting Saturday, February 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Knight of Columbus Hall, located at 1105 East 5th St. in Natchitoches.

Program:
Natchitoches Central FFA National Champions

A catfish dinner will be provided for member and one guest only.
Door prizes will be given away.

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Radiation Oncologist Dr. Troy Richards recently joined the Northwestern Louisiana Cancer Center family. Dr. Richards is currently the Radiation Oncologist for Ochsner Health System Shreveport | LSU Health System Shreveport and has served as their Medical Director for the past 3 years.

Dr. Richards was working toward a degree in electrical engineering when a pre-med friend invited him to volunteer at a hospital in New Orleans. The very first night he volunteered, he fell in love with medicine and, while he graduated with his electrical engineering degree, he stayed in school to become a doctor. Radiation requires a lot of physics and computer modeling, which Dr. Richards said compliments his electrical engineering background.

“People are scared when they hear ‘cancer’ and all the implications that word has,” said Dr. Richards. “My job is to develop a game plan to cure the disease.”

Richards has exceptional clinical skills, educational background, training, expertise, and over 12 years of experience in the field of Radiation Oncology; including Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, Brachytherapy, IMRT, 3D Conformal Radiation, SBRT, VMAT, 4D Planning, Prostate Seed Implants, Cyberknife, Tomotherapy, and Total BodyIrradiation.

“My goal at the Northwestern Louisiana Cancer Center is to help the patient and do the best I can to take care of them,” said Dr. Richards. “This small town cancer center serves a great purpose, especially when it comes to radiation, which is a daily service. Transportation can be difficult for our patients and having a center in Natchitoches makes treatment more accessible.”

Some of Dr. Richards greatest strengths are his honesty, integrity, bedside manner, and ability to really connect with his patients on a one to one basis. He is able to communicate a difficult concept with both patience, understanding, and compassion. It is easy to see that Dr. Richards is a people person, loves people, and especially his patients; and is able to instill this enthusiasm into everyone he interacts with.

Troy Richards, M.D.
Board Certified Radiation Oncologist
Medical Director Department of Radiation Oncology
Ochsner Health System| LSU Health Shreveport
Northwestern Louisiana Cancer Center

Education:
Medical School: Tulane Medical School- New Orleans, Louisiana
Internal Medicine Internship: UTMB- Galveston, Texas
Radiation Oncology Residency: UTMB- Galveston, Texas
Chief Resident Radiation Oncology- UTMB- Galveston, Texas
Professional Memberships:
American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)

Northwestern Louisiana Cancer Center
211 Medical Drive Natchitoches, LA 71457
Sarah Stewart- 318-464-3850
NLCC Administrator

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Northwestern State University’s production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” has been invited to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Region VI Festival on Feb. 25-28 at the Abilene Convention Center in Abilene, Texas.

Forty productions from colleges and universities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas were viewed in person by Region VI representatives this fall and NSU’s version of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” was one of six plays chosen to be presented at the regional conference. NSU’s production could be selected for performance at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Festival in April in Washington, D.C. Pia Wyatt is the director. This is the second time in six years a Northwestern State production has been selected.

“Having been selected out of the entire Region VI of the Kennedy Center American College festival is a huge honor,” said Wyatt. “To have seen what our region produces and be part of the selected six productions that represent this region is truly a delight. ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’ by Tom Stoppard is a literary whirlwind of words that allows the intellect to be stimulated and tickled.”

Behind the scenes of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” the play follows the antics of the Prince of Denmark’s two childhood best friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they grapple with understanding their existence. This play deals with Shakespeare’s language in a delightfully humorous manner that allows today’s audience to grasp the heartache, the confusion and the plight of life on this rollercoaster of staying afloat in what can be very confusing and chaotic times.

Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center’s founding chairman, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 20,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide annually. For 50 years, the organization has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 700 academic institutions throughout the country.

The goals of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival are: to encourage, recognize, and celebrate the finest and most diverse work produced in university and college theater programs; to provide opportunities for participants to develop their theater skills and insight; and achieve professionalism; to improve the quality of college and university theater in America and to encourage colleges and universities to give distinguished productions of new plays, especially those written by students; the classics, revitalized or newly conceived and experimental works.

Through state, regional, and national festivals, KCACTF student and faculty participants celebrate the creative process and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, dramatic criticism, directing, and design.

In January and February of each year, regional festivals showcase the finest of each region’s entered productions and offer a wide range of activities, including workshops, symposia and regional-level scholarship and award programs.

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The mother and girlfriend of a Natchitoches Parish Work Release Inmate that fled from a south Natchitoches Parish work site on on Feb. 9 were arrested in connection with their involvement in his escape according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Victor Jones Jr.

Natchitoches Parish Detention Center Chief of Corrections Roger Henson said 33-year-old Jale Christopher Hopwood was assigned to the NPDC Work Release Detail. He arrived at his assigned work assignment detail in south Natchitoches at 7pm. His supervisors discovered him missing at 9 pm.

Sheriff Victor Jones, NPSO Patrol deputies and Corrections Divisions responded to the area. Deputies combed the area but were unable to locate Hopwood. An all points bulletin message was issued to regional law enforcement agencies to BOLO for Hopwood.

The US Marshal’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit was notified and began assisting deputies. During the course of the overnight investigation, deputies and corrections division investigators developed reliable information learning that Hopwood’s girlfriend identified Stephanie Fruge Howe, of Shreveport traveled to an undisclosed location near Chopin and picked Hopwood up after he jumped a rear fence at the job site.

Deputies work security at the work site, however, this area is restricted to only company personnel and not law enforcement. Howe and Hopwood then traveled back to Shreveport where he remained on the run. The NPSO issued a press release featuring Hopwood on its website and social media page. Media sources also assisted featuring on several news stations.

A concerned citizen contacted Opelousas Police Department on Feb. 11 after they recognized Hopwood during a newscast. The citizen reported seeing him and a female at an Opelousas hotel. At 7:45am, Opelousas Police took Hopwood into custody along with a female (his mother) identified as Raylene June Hopwood, 57 of Shreveport, without incident.

Natchitoches Parish Detention Center Captain G. Sers and Investigator Y. Spillman traveled to Opelousas and transported both suspects to the Natchitoches Detention Center.

As a result of the investigation, corrections division investigators arrested the following:

*Jale Christopher Hopwood, 33, booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Simple Escape.

*Stephanie Fruge Howe, 34, (Girlfriend) of 5000 block of Belle Chase Drive, Bossier City, La. booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Assisting with an Escape.

*Raylene June Hopwood, 57, (Mother) of the 3100 block of Bert Kouns Drive, Shreveport, La. booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Assisting with an Escape.

All three remain in the Natchitoches Detention Center awaiting bond.

According to Chief Henson, potential work release inmates go through background reviews by the Department of Corrections and the NPSO Work Release Program before they are approved. Inmates then are interviewed and tested by the employing company before they are hired. This program has been successful with other inmates in the past with re-entry as it allows them to have some money and teaches them how to keep a job when released. It’s unfortunate that we placed trust in Hopwood to participate in this program when he only had 8-months left to serve on his sentence.”

Chief Henson expresses his thanks to Opelousas Police Department, the citizens who called in tips to law enforcement, the US Marshal’s Service, media and all of the deputies that took part in this investigation.

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Shreveport– The Department of Children and Family Services has teamed up with Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana to seek the public’s feedback on the foster youth program in the State of Louisiana.

The Focus Group meetings will occur on Friday, Feb. 15 at the Natchitoches Council on Aging. The first session will be for community partners, government officials and social service agencies and will begin at 9:30am. The second session will be for foster parents and interested parties will begin at 12:30pm. The last session will be for any current or former foster youth and will begin at 4:30pm. All sessions will last approximately one and a half hours.

For those unable to attend, there is also a way to participate virtually by conference call. For more information on this or to RSVP for the meeting email Carmen Spooner at c.elizabeth.spooner.lcsw@gmail.com.

There will be one additional Focus Group meeting in Alexandria on Monday, Feb. 25.

About Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana

Goodwill is a nonprofit leader in providing education, training and career services for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities, lack of education or work experience and homelessness. Goodwill is ranked 11th on the Forbes 20 Most Inspiring American Companies list, the only nonprofit to be included. Since 2010, Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana helped place more than 38,000 individuals people in jobs.

Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana’s, 11 retail locations provide not only affordable goods and services, but also jobs for those in need and revenue to support Goodwill’s charitable mission. Goodwill also provides multiple job resource centers, equipped with job-search experts, computers, Internet access and telephones. Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust and friendships. Everyone deserves this chance. For more information on Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, please visit http://www.goodwillnla.org.

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St. Mary’s Catholic School students and Powerlifting Team members Matthew Thibodaux and Jace Miley competed in a National Qualifying Powerlifting Meet on Feb. 9. Matthew lifted a total of 1,345 lbs and Jace lifted a total of 1,000 lbs. Both will go on to compete in nationals later this year.

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NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Evelyn Marie Mitchell Lee
September 24, 1937 – February 11, 2019
Visitation: Friday, February 15 from 5-8 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 16 T 2 PM at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Rocky Mount Cemetery in Robeline

Willie Beard
February 10, 2019
Service: Saturday, February 16 at 2 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. Paul Baptist Church Cemetery

Vicky McNeely Sanders
July 26, 1965 – February 8, 2019
Memorial Service: Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
Life Church, 1530 Keyser Avenue, Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Connie Ruth Burton-Lincoln
February 8, 2019
Visitation: Saturday, February 16 from 10-11 am at the First Baptist Church, located at 1116 Amulet Street in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 16 at 11 am at the First Baptist Church
Interment: Jackson Square Cemetery

Frances Armstrong McKenzie
February 7, 2019
Visitation: Saturday, February 16 from 9-11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday, February 16 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. Savior Baptist Church (Cane River) Cemetery

RAPIDES PARISH:

Gaylynn Chaya Paddie
March 24, 1960 – February 8, 2019
Visitation: Wednesday, February 13 from 10 am – 1 pm at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Wednesday, February 13 at 1 pm in the chapel of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens

WINN PARISH:

Gaynell Gresham Wallace
December 24, 1917 – February 9, 2019
Service: Sunday, February 10 at 3 pm in Atlanta Cemetery

Monday night’s City Council meeting, Feb. 11, was short with just the following items on the agenda:

Resolution proclaiming the month of February 2019 as African American History Month in Natchitoches

Introduction of ordinance to change zoning classification of a resubdivision of lots 16, 17, 18 and a portion of lot 15, block C of east Natchitoches and for variances of the side and front yard setbacks.

Ordinance to enter into a lease of a 125 acre tract of land at the Sewer Treatment Plant for hay operations with McNeely Cattle LLC

Resolution to advertise and accept bids for Christmas lighting supplies

The next City Council meeting will be Monday, Feb. 25. City offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 18 in honor of President’s Day.

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The Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) held its annual Luncheon on Feb. 9. APHN President Dr. Vicki Parrish and First Vice President Anne Stevens welcomed the crowd which filled the restaurant.Rev. Ellis Newman provided the invocation and benediction.

Parrish said that while progress can be scary, organizations like APHN and communities like Natchitoches need to take stock of who they were, who they are presently, and who they want to be moving forward.

Mayor Lee Posey spoke about the number of people and organizations like APHN that have helped through the years to put Natchitoches in a position for success for the future. It’s an old community, but Posey gave an update on some of the projects that are underway to improve the overall quality of life and infrastructure. He also said that he’s always open to suggestions on what things could be implemented to make the community even better.

Author Patricia Austin Becker spoke about her book “Cane River Bohemian.” A National Historic Landmark with a complex and remarkable two-hundred-year history, Melrose Plantation near Natchitoches, Louisiana, was home to many notable women, including freedwoman and entrepreneur Marie Thérèse Coincoin and artist Clementine Hunter. Among that influential group, Cammie Henry, the mistress of Melrose during the first half of the twentieth century, stands out as someone who influenced the plantation’s legacy in dramatic and memorable ways. In Cane River Bohemia, Patricia Austin Becker provides a vivid biography of this fascinating figure.

The Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) was organized in 1944 and now operates as a nonprofit organization in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Its mission is to promote and preserve an understanding of the rich cultural heritage of Natchitoches and the Cane River area. In consonance with that mission, its purpose is the long term preservation of areas of historic value, sites, cultural landscapes, artifacts, archives and cultures of the people.

After the presentation, the event entered its business session. Parrish recognized APHN board members and Melrose staff, introduced new Melrose Facilities Managers Stephanie and Brian Wilson, and held an election for new board members.

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Natchitoches Police Department Patrol Shift C officers were dispatched to 247 Keyser Avenue (Shop Rite) on Feb. 10 at 11:29 pm in reference to a robbery.

The victim stated that while inside her parked vehicle at 97 South Drive (Swoop), she was robbed of $358.08 by a male subject that she had recently met online. The victim identified the suspect as Emmanuel Winslow, B/M, 35 of Oklahoma City. The victim went on to state that Winslow exited her vehicle after taking her money and walked to Shop Rite.

NPD officers quickly responded and were able to apprehend Winslow on scene. He was charged with the offense of Simple Robbery and was placed in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. NPD reminds citizens to exercise caution and be safe when performing a rendezvous with any persons met online.

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The Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA) will be hosting “An Evening of Contemporary Dance,” showcasing the work of the school’s Dance Ensemble. The event will take place Feb. 21-22 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 23-24 at 2 p.m. in the school’s Center for Performance and Technology Black Box Theater.

The full performance will be 45 to 50 minutes long and will be comprised of several five to eight minute movement pieces. Most of the dances have been choreographed by LSMSA’s Instructor of Dance Crystal Lewis, but the evening will also feature works that students have created together.

“The students split into teams and co-collaborated to come up with choreography for two duets,” said Lewis. “They are very excited to show what they have been working on since last semester.”

The Dance Ensemble consists of Riley Scott (’19), Abigail LeBlanc (’19), Madeline Lorio (’21), and Colby Alexander (’19). Senior Jada Bezue will also be joining the showcase, putting on a solo self-choreographed piece.

Renowned dancer Jackie Best Shilcutt will be making a guest appearance during the show. Last fall, Shilcutt provided a Masterclass to LSMSA students and choreographed two pieces that will appear in the show.

Northwestern State University dance students may give a surprise performance.

The event is free and open to the public.

Dance classes at LSMSA allow students to survey multiple styles and techniques of movement. For a deeper look, visit http://www.LSMSA.edu/arts.

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NATCHITOCHES – Six hundred and fifty-four students were named to the Fall 2018 President’s List at Northwestern State University. Students on the list earned a grade point average of 4.0. Those named to the President’s List are listed by hometown (SEE DOCUMENT BELOW).

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NSU– One thousand two hundred sixty students were named to the Fall 2018 Dean’s List at Northwestern State University. Students on the list earned a grade point average of between 3.5 and 3.99. Those named to the Dean’s List are listed by hometown (SEE DOCUMENT BELOW).

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