District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington announced a grand jury indictment and a probation revocation in separate cases in the 10th Judicial District Court.
Christopher Carter, of Natchitoches, was convicted in 2017 of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He sentenced to 5 years of incarceration, which was suspended an was placed on five years supervised probation.
In December 2017, the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole filed a petition to revoke Carter’s probation alleging that he had absconded to Texas in violation of his probation. After a hearing in the 10th Judicial District Court, it was determined that Carter violated the terms of his probation. The court ordered Carter’s probation revoked and was remanded to serve his original five year prison sentence.
In an unrelated case, a grand jury returned a true bill indictment of second degree murder against Quincy Nash. Nash, 27, is charged in the 2018 shooting death of Brian Williams, Jr. An arraignment date has not been set.
Pictured above on front row from left are Jennifer Williams, John DeSoto, Zoie Britt, Kerya Williams, Amber Hembree, Sophia Kerry, Kyla Williams, Shiann Harris, Braylee Layfield-Bruce, and Serenity Bush. On middle row are Shaneta Williams, Jaron Petite, Stephan Prudhomme, Adrian Davis, Harli Thomas, Carleigh Tune, Tramon Lloyd, and Emma McDonald. On back row are Myla Porter, Joshua Graham, Jo Porter, Nicholas Wiggins, James Earp, Simon Messengmba, Kain Custis, Victoria Lane, Jordon Kirts, and Mathew Johnson.
The Lakeview Jr.-Sr. High Concert Band was the recipient of the Sweepstakes Trophy at the LMEA District II Large Ensemble Performance Assessment at NSU on Friday, March 22. The band received a superior rating from all six adjudicators, both in stage performance and in sight reading. Their stage performance consisted of three selections. First, the band performed The High School Cadets March by John Philip Sousa, arranged by Michael Story. This was followed by Three Scottish Folk Songs by John Edmondson. The conclusion of the program was Trails of Glory: A Western Overture by James Swearingen. Lakeview had previously performed at a concert band festival at the Sabine Theater in Many on February 26, where they also received superior ratings from every adjudicator.
“The performance at NSU on March 22 was a difficult one for us,” commented band director Denise Roper. “One of our band members, Freshman snare drummer Kentrae Jones, passed away on Monday, March 18. We were mourning the loss of a beloved student throughout the week, and on Friday, we dedicated our program to him. At the end of Trails of Glory, we received a standing ovation, and several of the students and I were moved to tears by this. I told my students I have never been more proud of them. They were very brave to perform when we were in such an emotional state.” The funeral of Kentrae Jones was the next day, and the band performed an arrangement of Nearer, My God, to Thee as a tribute to their classmate.
“This performance is a form of closure. It was a promise that we made to ourselves to uplift and pay homage a fellow band member and, more importantly, a very close friend. The tragedy we as a family, not by blood but by love, have overcome together has lent itself to making us stronger as individuals and as a group,” said sophomore trumpet player Jo Porter. “This victory, this milestone, is dedicated to Kentrae.”
Junior trumpet player Nicky Wiggins had this to add, “It’s honestly amazing what music can do to you. All of that grief held in all week, and all it takes is a couple of good songs for it to all come out. We may not have been the closest of friends, but I definitely lost a good friend, and a comrade. Salute to you, Kentrae.”
Sophomore percussion student Amber Hembree stated, “My favorite memory of the festival was when we all got a standing ovation after our stage preformance. I’m glad that we did the festival. We pulled together as a band, as a family and did it for Kentrae.” Amber also reminisced, “My favorite memory of Kentrae was when I was in 4th grade, I was the new kid at Fairview Alpha. I came in the middle of the year. My teacher sat me by Kentrae. He was the first friend I had when I got here. We talked all that day and he anwsered all my 20 billion questions. He was so sweet and will be missed greatly.”
“Kentrae had a wonderful attitude. He was respectful, responsible, and dependable, He always played his best, never missed rehearsal, and was always willing to help others. He was already in a position of leadership as one of the captains in charge of the drum line, even though he was only a Freshman,” Roper added. “We are truly devastated by his passing. The complex emotions that the students and I are dealing with really came out in our recent performances. Playing music has helped the students to find focus and has given them a way to express what words cannot say.”
Pictured below is a photo taken after a performance in Many on Feb. 26. On the first row from left are Kentrae Jones, Serenity Bush, and Jordon Kirts. On second row are Braylee Layfield-Bruce, Amber Hembree, Sophia Kerry, Kyla Williams, and Jennifer Williams. On third row are John DeSoto, Zoie Britt, Carleigh Tune, Harli Thomas, Shiann Harris, and Tramon Lloyd. On fourth row are Stephan Prudhomme, Kerya Williams, Adrian Davis, Victoria Lane, Emma McDonald, and Jaron Petite. On fifth row are James Earp, Nicholas Wiggins, Jo Porter, Myla Porter, Simon Messengmba, Joshua Graham, and Kain Curtis. Not pictured are Mathew Johnson and Shaneta Williams.
Freedom Life Church will hold a viewing of the Pink Impact 2019 “Uncommon” Conference Simulcast March 29-30. Registration is $35.
Since 2006 women from Gateway Church and around the world have gathered together annually for Pink Impact. This event provides relevant and challenging content that will encourage and spur every mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, and friend to pursue the God dreams in her heart.
For more information contact Pam Clemons at 318-228-5116 or Tori Solomon at 318-352-1210.
Lane Luckie is bringing more than a decade of experience his new role as president of the Northwestern State University Alumni Association board of directors.
In this volunteer capacity, the 2008 graduate will lead a 32-person board in working to promote the advancement of academic excellence by developing coalitions among alumni, students, friends and the university community while supporting our university’s traditions, values, and future.
The NSU Alumni Association accomplishes this mission through the support of the Annual Fund, which supports reunions, local chapter programs, Grad Fest, Homecoming Activities, faculty recognition awards, quarterly Alumni Columns, monthly E-newsletter and most importantly provides scholarships to Northwestern students.
An Emmy Award-winning news anchor in Tyler, Texas, Luckie has served on the NSU Alumni Association board of directors since 2011, including a term as treasurer. He is also actively involved in organizing alumni in East Texas and serves on the NSU Department of New Media, Journalism, and Communication Arts Advisory Committee.
Luckie, who took office after the October 2018 Homecoming meeting, steps into this leadership position after a long stint as president of the NSU’s Beta Omicron Alumni Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, which connects a network of more than 600 alumni members through newsletters and new media, alumni events, reunions, and career development opportunities. In that role, he oversaw the day-to-day activities of a volunteer board of directors and its long-term vision plan. The organization earned several accolades, including Pi Kappa Phi’s National ‘Alumni Chapter of the Year’ award in 2013 and 2015, the 2016 ‘Excellence in Advising’ award, and the ‘Alumni Chapter Excellence in Engagement’ award in 2017 and 2018. The organization also manages multiple scholarship programs and fundraisers.
The NSU Alumni Association executive committee’s focus areas for 2019 include increasing membership in the alumni association, developing alumni chapters in key regions of the country, and expanding engagement of alumni through digital media.
The 2019 officers also include 1st VP Patty Hrapmann, 2nd VP David Stamey, Secretary Virginia Monceret and Treasurer Dr. Nikki Ceaser-Small.
“We’ve assembled an outstanding executive committee, which will ensure steady leadership of our board for years to come,” Luckie said. “Our board of directors, working hand-in-hand with our talented and dedicated Alumni Center staff, are really in a great position to connect and engage more NSU graduates in meaningful ways than ever before.”
Luckie succeeds Caron Chester Coleman as president.
Arthur Brown, Jr. January 25, 1935 – March 05, 2019 Visitation: Wednesday, March 27 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches Service: Wednesday, March 27 at 10 am in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home Interment: St. Maurice Cemetery in St. Maurice
Mildrage Mallory` March 23, 2019 Arrangements TBA
Willie Williams March 16, 2019 Arrangements TBA
Dennis L. Raybon March 08, 1955 – March 19, 2019 Arrangements TBA
Maria Sanchez February 27, 1929 – March 5, 2019 Arrangements TBA
RED RIVER PARISH:
Ernest Ray Lawson July 13, 1952 – March 22, 2019 Service: Monday, March 25 at 2 pm in Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel in Coushatta Interment: Hickory Grove Cemetery Friday, March 22 at 6 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
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
Northwestern State University’s Prather Coliseum was once again transformed into what was arguably the finest restaurant in the state Friday, March 22nd as 35 area establishments presented their best seafood dishes and drinks to over 800 Northwestern State University supporters. The diners enjoyed some of the best seafood dishes to be found anywhere while supporting our hometown university. NSU’s different colleges also held raffles and other fundraisers. Local live event artist Morgan Lasyone donated a painting of the festivities that she created over the course of the evening.
The Flavor of Louisiana is a signature fundraiser for NSU’s Columns Fund. The money raised will be used to further the Columns Fund’s mission of supporting NSU students with scholarships and travel funds, as well as providing opportunities for students, faculty and staff to reach out to the surrounding community. The event is expected to raise over $72,000 for this worthy cause.
Louisiana’s Lt. Gov., Billy Nungesser, made his third appearance as the guest of honor for the event and was presented the Nth Degree Award by NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio. The Nth Degree is the highest award Northwestern State University can bestow upon an individual who is not an alumni.
Lt. Gov Nungesser’s office, in conjunction with the Louisiana Seafood Board, provided the seafood served at the event. The Louisiana Seafood Board is charged with promoting the use of seafood from Louisiana’s waters. The dinner featured each of the six species of fish, alligator, crab, oyster, shrimp and crawfish that are native to our state. Lt. Gov. Nungesser and the Seafood Board thought of the Flavor of Louisiana event as a way to both promote the use of local seafood and as a way to raise needed funds for our state’s college’s and universities.
Friday’s Flavor of Louisiana marks the third year of what will hopefully be many more. The Bayou State features some of the best seafood to be found anywhere!
The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating tonight’s photography. Copy protection is off and anyone may download any they wish. If you do see a photo you like, please consider a donation to the NSU Foundation in lieu of payment. Let’s help make Northwestern State University an even better place!
The Natchitoches Central High School Band attended the Louisiana Music Educators Association District II Large Ensemble Assessment March 22 at Northwestern State University. The NCHS Band achieved Excellent ratings in the concert portion and Superior ratings in the sight-reading portion of the assessment. The students worked hard for this achievement, and their scores improved since the previous year, which was the first time that the NCHS Band participated in this event in over a decade.
PARISH PRESIDENT TRIP REPORT WASHINGTON, D.C. MARCH 11, 13, 2019
One purpose of the trip was to meet with a number of our senators and representatives in Congress to discuss matters important to the Parish of Natchitoches. While there, we met with Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy and Representatives Mike Johnson and Clay Higgins. Meetings scheduled with Representatives Abraham and Graves had to be cancelled due to last minute changes in their committee meetings schedules. In each meeting we stressed the importance of federal support for infrastructure improvements, including those administered by local governments.
In particular, we requested information on Parish applications for the funding of improvements to Bermuda Road, Harmony Road and Pardee Road under the new federal “BUILD” program that was supposed to have set aside funds for local projects. Senator Cassidy assigned a staff member to investigate on our behalf and to report back to us.
While there, we also met with Dr. Zack Valdez who serves with the American Geophysical Union (AGU). Mr. Valdez is the program manager assigned to the Parish project to improve the storm water drainage situation in the area east of the City of Natchitoches. The project area extends from the eastern edge of the City to Hampton Road.
The project was initiated with the guidance of the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio in 2017 due to the flooding problems experienced during the flood of March 2016. LSU is using its professional staff to model the project area to serve as a tool to evaluate storm water hazards and potential infrastructure improvements. LSU also contacted the AGU to obtain their support and involvement. AGU has a long established with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has had a number of its projects supported on the federal level. All of these agencies are donating their time and expertise to the Parish project.
This project is in the Hydraulics and Hydrology study phase which should be completed by the end of the year. Following phases will address the development of an infrastructure plan, financial requirements of the plan, and identification of any City and Parish planning ordnance revisions that may be advisable to improve the implementation of the plan. These phases are estimated to require 18-24 months to complete. Thereafter, depending upon the availability of federal, state and local funding, the project could be commenced.
Northwestern State University inducted five distinguished individuals into the Long Purple Line, the university’s alumni hall of distinction, during a luncheon, induction program and unveiling of portraits in the Sylvan Friedman Student Union Ballroom Friday. Since 1990, 130 NSU alumni have been named to the Long Purple Line based on personal and/or professional achievements and service to their communities and to Northwestern State.
Honored this year were, from left, Billy Montgomery of Haughton, Luther “Buddy” Lott and Pat Pierson of Natchitoches, Stewart Ewing of Monroe and Tommy Wright of Natchitoches.
Parish Council 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 or 213. Please send application, resume, and three references to Natchitoches Parish Government Attn: Sheryl Frederick, PO Box 799 Natchitoches, LA 71458 or email sfrederick@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. April 8, 2018.
PARISH OF NATCHITOCHES NATCHITOCHES PARISH COUNCIL 200 CHURCH STREET P. O. BOX 799 NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA 71457
Students at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) have the chance to take specialized courses in topics that traditional schools do not offer. One example, the Modernism class, taught by Associate Lecturer of English Dr. Pamela Francis, recently traveled to Houston to explore some of the museums and historical artifacts housed in the area.
“Modernism was a literary and artistic movement in the U.S. and Europe that began around the 1890s and ended before the start of the Second World War,” stated Francis. “This period of time encompassed a significant shift in ideas of art and literature, and had a lasting effect on visual and print culture.”
Modernism strived to break social conventions, with much of it being heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche and the social disillusionment of World War I. This period recognized the rise of iconic visual art movements such as Cubism, Expressionism, Abstraction and Surrealism.
During the trip, students observed Surrealist art at the Menil Collection. Afterward, they visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston (MFAH) to observe the gallery’s collection of Van Gogh and German Expressionist works. Among other exhibits, the group also had the chance to explore ancient Roman, Egyptian, Aboriginal and African art and artifacts. The day concluded with a visit to Rice University’s Berlin Wall Memorial which was installed at the college in 2000.
“I feel like it was one of the best trips I’ve had at this school,” said Nyihaji Woods (’20), who has aspirations to major in both art and biology in college. “My favorite part was probably exploring the African exhibit. I also enjoyed seeing Van Gogh’s drawings in real life, because it demonstrated how he has evolved as an artist. Seeing works by him that aren’t well-known and seeing him struggle—how he messed up things but then later improved—showed his resilience and dedication to his art.”
Other students who attended the trip were Alby Algawi (’20), Luke Boston (’19), Kay Creel (’20), Ian Crochet (’19), Elyse Duplantier (’19), Abigail Fischer (’19), Reeci Foy (’19), Hadley Hines (’19), Chance Lester (’19), Andrew Luse (’20), Lily Orgeron (’19), Garrett Pattison (’19), Jessie Rabalais (’19), Sydney Schroedter (’19) and Halie Thielepape (’19). LSMSA Lecturer of History Dr. Kelly Lankford co-chaperoned the trip alongside Francis.
LSMSA offers a diverse selection of Humanities courses. Students have the chance to engage in specialized, exploratory courses in history and literature. Students with a heavy interest in humanities can register for the 2019-2020 school year now at www.LSMSA.edu/apply.
The Honorary Colonel of the Northwestern State University Demon Regiment, Lieutenant General Joseph Cosumano, Jr., U.S. Army Retired, invites the community to attend the 69th Demon Battalion Military Ball Saturday, April 13 on the campus of Northwestern State University. The black-tie event is co-hosted by NSU’s Department of Military Science and the Northwestern Demon Regiment. It will be held in the Friedman Student Union Ballroom with Brigadier General Vincent Barker, Deputy Commanding General for the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, serving as the keynote speaker.
A social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with formalities beginning at 7 p.m. The ball will open with recognition of cadets who will commission as U.S. Army Second Lieutenants later this year. Their movement through the “Arch of Steel” is a tradition long-steeped in military history. It symbolizes the unique transition and acknowledges the special honor the nation will soon bestow upon each of them. Commissioning in 2019 are Cadet Adam F. Barnes, Cadet Dominitra L. Charles, Cadet Logan T. DeOre, Cadet John A. Ham, Cadet Brandon Homan, Cadet Karl J. Marzahl and Cadet Aliona G. Salter.
Lieutenant Colonel Wendell F. Bender, NSU’s Professor of Military Science, holds the honor of serving as the 23rd Colonel of the Demon Regiment. The Senior Military Instructor is Master Sergeant Christopher Upp. Tickets are $40 per person and include a buffet dinner of carved slow-roasted beef and sautéed chicken marsala. For more information and reservations, please contact Sid Hall at halls@nsula.edu or (318) 357-6951 or LTC (R) Arthur Smalley at ajsmalley@msn.com.
Women who think they have equal rights should look in their purses. In Louisiana, white women who work earn 70 cents on the dollar compared to white men–while black women earn 47 cents. The Equal Rights Amendment could fix this situation and only one state is needed to ratify the ERA.
Most people think the rights of women are already protected by the Constitution. They are wrong. Right now, no Constitutional protection exists–but this could change in 2019.
Senator J. P. Morrell has just announced that on the first day of the 2019 Legislative Session he intends to file a Senate Concurrent Resolution that provides for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Louisiana has the opportunity to make history.
The ERA amendment will end employment discrimination and advance fair pay. Louisiana women and others throughout the United States will be able to earn 100 percent of the wages men earn for comparable work. The ERA provides more opportunities for women in school and athletics. The ERA requires law enforcement and the legal system to respond to rape and sexual assault more effectively. The ERA Amendment clarifies that sex discrimination violates Constitutional rights.
Louisiana could lead the way…. but probably won’t unless you and other people let their legislators know women are ready for more opportunities.
On March 22, 1972, Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution. It said, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Now, it’s almost fifty years later…and there is only one state to go to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
Tell your legislators you want them to vote yes on Senator Morrell’s resolution and ratify the ERA. We need equal pay in this state…. because right now Louisiana women have the worst pay rate in the nation. That is a fact.
Dolores Blalock President Natchitoches League of Women Voters
Parents of all children age 5 (by Sept. 30, 2019) are invited to attend L.P. Vaughn Elementary’s Kindergarten Round-Up March 26, April 9, April 23 and May 7 from 9 am – 11 am. The school is located at 1500 Gold Street in Natchitoches. These events are for new to the school students only. You will need to bring your child’s official birth certificate, immunization record, social security card, proof of residency (utility bill).
Arthur Brown, Jr. January 25, 1935 – March 05, 2019 Visitation: Wednesday, March 27 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches Service: Wednesday, March 27 at 10 am in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home Interment: St. Maurice Cemetery in St. Maurice
Doris Rachal Metoyer March 25, 1914 – March 15, 2019 Service: Saturday, March 23 at 11 am at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Isle Brevelle Interment: St. Augustine Catholic Mausoleum
Dennis L. Raybon March 08, 1955 – March 19, 2019 Arrangements TBA
Kentrae Marquis Jones January 2, 2003 – March 19, 2019 Service: Saturday, March 23 at 11 am at Lakeview High School Visitation: Saturday, March 23 from 10-11 am at Lakeview High School Interment: Gilgal Baptist Church Cemetery on La Hwy 71
Maria Sanchez February 27, 1929 – March 5, 2019 Arrangements TBA
Ruby Johnson May 26, 1933 – March 12, 2019 Visitation: Saturday, March 23 from 10-11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches Service: Saturday, March 23 at 11 am at the St. Davis Baptist Church in Cloutierville Interment: St. Davis Baptist Church Cemetery.
Bertha Mae Bloodworth Service: Saturday, March 23 at 11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel Visitation: Saturday, March 23 from 9-11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Interment: Fern Park Cemetery on Texas Street
SABINE PARISH:
Olga Jean Blanco January 13, 1934 – March 17, 2019 Visitation: Saturday, March 23 at 12 pm at Beulah Baptist Church Service: Saturday, March 23 at 1 pm at Beulah Baptist Church Interment: Beulah Cemetery
Shirley Hildebrand Lee December 25, 1928 – March 15, 2019 Visitation: Saturday, March 23 from 1-2 pm at the Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many Service: Saturday, March 23 at 2 pm at the Warren Meadows Funeral Home Interment: Florien Cemetery
WINN PARISH:
Morris Lee “Mac” McManus January 24, 1942 – March 21, 2019 Visitation: Saturday, March 23 from 10:30 am – 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home Service: Saturday, March 23 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Henry Lewis, Jr. March 15, 2019| Service: Saturday, March 23 at 11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home chapel Interment: Winnfield Cemetery, located off of Hwy. 167
RED RIVER PARISH:
Minola Cason Buford November 14, 1932 – March 19, 2019 Visitation: Saturday, March 23 from 12:30-2 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Service: Saturday, March 23 at 2 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel Interment: Zion Cemetery Friday, March 22 at 6 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
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
Northwestern State University’s newest performance venue will debut this Friday during DemonFest, the annual spring music and art festival presented by KNWD. The stage at Iberville Green, former site of Sabine Hall, was developed over the last five years with input and support from the University Programming Council (formerly called the Student Activities Board), KNWD, the Student Government Association, Alumni and Development and the Student Union Life Concert Committee.
“The new stage is equipped with four anchor points which are load bearing in order to hang industrial and concert lighting,” said Yonna Pasch, director of Student Activities. “The venue will be open to recognized student organizations as well as departments and can be reserved through NSU’s Event Management System. It’s meant for concerts, but I am sure we will host many things at Iberville Green, such as Freshman Connection follies, Spring Fling crawfish boils, fraternity and sorority step shows, movies on the lawn, summer camp activities and other entertainment events.”
Planning began in 2014 when NSU was awarded $10,000 from the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation following a Lunchtime Likes competition. Students voted to use the award as seed money to develop an outdoor venue for concerts and other performances and chose the location at Iberville Green, a wide plateau next to Iberville Dining Hall and conveniently close to university residence halls. The Green has in recent years become a popular place for student events, including this weekend’s DemonFest, which will take place from 1-9 p.m. Friday, March 22.
“I’m just ecstatic to see that the stage initiative was carried on past its inception and that it’s complete and available for student use,” said John Pearce, former SGA president who spearheaded student involvement in the project and encouraging cooperation among campus groups to move it forward. “It was meant to be a focal point of student activity, and from seeing the completed stage, it looks like that’s exactly what it will be. The stage is something I knew I’d never get to use as a student because big projects take a lot of time and a lot more determination. So, my advice to the students is this: when it comes to thinking of ways to better NSU, think big; the end result may be bigger than you thought it could be.”
In the 1980’s, Jay Winsten, a public health professor at Harvard got interested in the idea of a “designated driver.” He’d picked up the concept in Scandinavia where it was the norm. At the time, the concept did not exist in the US. None of us knew what a designated driver was.
Winsten and his team at Harvard made it a goal to create a social norm in the United States: If you are going out drinking, you would pick a designated driver who would commit not to drink for the evening. How do you create a social norm out of thin air? Winsten’s inspiration was that you could make the behavior contagious by repeatedly exposing people to it, in many different contexts, even if those contexts were fictional.
Winsten and his team collaborated with produces, writers, and actors from more than 160 prime time TV programs, sprinkling designated-driver moments naturally into the plots. Segments featuring designated drivers appeared on Hunter, The Cosby Show, Mr. Belvedere, and Who’s the Boss? On one episode of the smash-hit L.A. Law, the heartthrob lawyer played by Harry Hamlin asked a bartender to call his designated driver. A designated-driver poster appeared in the bar on Cheers.
Winsten’s plea to the media was for “five seconds” of dialogue about a designated driver. He didn’t want a full episode or even a whole scene. He simply wanted the words mentioned repeatedly. Grant Tinker said about it, “Considering the simplicity of it all, it was very hard for us to feel our independence was being challenged.”
In 1991, three years after the campaign launched, nine out of ten people were familiar with the term designated driver. And they were behaving differently as a result. Thirty-seven percent of all Americans reported having acted as designated drivers, and 54% of frequent drinkers had been driven home by one. The behavioral change saved lives. Alcohol related traffic fatalities declined from 23,626 in 1988 to 17,858 in 1992.
I want you to ponder this under the rubric of “words create reality.” A new reality was created when two words were used repeatedly in media. This is a positive story about words creating reality. I’m sure you can think of the other side of this issue where words create another reality when they become a constant drum-beat in the media.
What words have created your reality?
Better yet, whose words have created your reality?
Members of West Central Louisiana Operation Christmas Child team shared information, resources and materials to those who attended the Church Resource Expo at Clara Springs. The West Central team includes participants in Red River, Natchitoches, Sabine and Winn Parish. To obtain more information and to become involved in Operation Christmas Child call Brenda Ingram, Logistics Coordinator, at 471-9415. Pictured are Tonia Cates, Beth Martin, Dewayne Martin, Brenda Ingram, Helen Antilley, Virginia Crossno and Pansy Morgan.
City Bank is honored to donate to the James Chad White Memorial Scholarship. Pictured from left are Kim Howell, Erin Dupree and Shanna Baker.
A scholarship in the name of James Chad White is being established at Northwestern State University. James was a Captain with the City of Natchitoches Fire Department where he worked for 11 years. He also worked for the Natchitoches Parish Hospital Emergency Medical Services as an EMT. The newly established scholarship will benefit firefighters and first responders (and their immediate families) from the Natchitoches area. Donation are being accepted at this time to be used towards the goal of having this scholarship fully endowed.
James was first and foremost a family man. He was very devoted to his wife of 10 years, Liz. Together, they had two children, Zachary and Jordan. His boys were his world. He taught them about God, fishing, and baseball (in that order) and took great pleasure in spending time with them while pursuing those interests. Family meant everything to him.
James began working for the City of Natchitoches Fire Department in 1996. He was promoted to Captain in 2005. James was also an EMT for the Natchitoches Parish Ambulance Department. The work he did at both the Fire Department and the Ambulance Service meant a great deal to him. He had a work ethic that is rare in today’s world. He loved working alongside each and every one of what he considered to be his brothers and sisters while helping the community. James was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor on June 17, 2006, which resulted in him having to take a leave of absence from both jobs. Not one single day went by that someone did not drop by, phone or meet a need for James and his family during that time, demonstrating the bond that he had with his co-workers whom he considered his second family. James passed away June 20, 2007.
A work by Matt DeFord, professor of art and head of the Department of Fine and Graphic Arts at Northwestern State University, was one of five winners in the Re:Houston virtual exhibition.
The exhibit is available on the app Popwalk, which makes virtual art available in a particular geographic location. DeFord’s piece is accessible at the grounds of the famous Rothko Chapel in Houston.
According to a description on Popwalk, “Re:Houston is an exhibition about rebuilding, remembering, rejuvenating, and reinventing Houston. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the whole world saw the resilience and sacrifice of Houston. As the city works on the difficult task of arising from that disaster Re:Houston gives artists from all over the globe an opportunity to commemorate those places within this great city that they love, remember those places that have been lost or changed, and celebrate the heroism of the individuals and the city itself.”
Artists can make an artwork for any location within the boundaries of Popwalk’s Houston map, and then users will discover the work by using the Popwalk app on their smart phone.
