United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Reginald T. Warren, 37, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was sentenced Tuesday to 300 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug- trafficking crime. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents with the Natchitoches Multi- Jurisdictional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on March 7, 2018, for Reginald Warren’s residence in Natchitoches. Agents found a total of more than 4 pounds of methamphetamine in the residence. They also found a loaded Charter Arms .38-caliber revolver in close proximity to 1 pound of the methamphetamine. Warren admitted to possessing the illegal drugs and firearm at a March 21, 2019 guilty plea hearing.
Warren’s co-defendant Temisan Smith, 32, of Pasadena, Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ecstasy on December 13, 2018. According to her guilty plea, she was transporting illegal drugs at Warren’s direction that same day from the Houston area to Natchitoches Parish when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on her vehicle. Agents found a shoebox in the trunk containing approximately 16,000 ecstasy pills and a pint of suspected promethazine syrup.

“Illegal drugs are wreaking havoc on our communities and prosecuting those responsible for selling this poison is a priority of our office,” Joseph stated. “This defendant will be spending 25 years in prison for his crimes. I want to thank the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and the Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office for their hard work and collaboration with federal law enforcement and my office in this case.”
“Methamphetamine brings turmoil into the lives of those who are addicted to or live around it,” DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley said. “DEA, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to attack the scourge of methamphetamine distribution in the Western District of Louisiana and beyond. The lengthy sentencing of this individual should be a warning to those who want to sell drugs. We are going to catch you and put you in prison for a long time if you distribute this poison in our communities. ”

“I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts in this case and for their ongoing partnership with us in investigating and prosecuting illegal narcotics cases in Natchitoches Parish,” said Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington. “I also thank the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force for their continued relentless work in identifying and arresting narcotics traffickers and, in effect, curbing the flow illegal narcotics in our parish.”

Smith was sentenced to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release on April 15, 2019.

The DEA, Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force and Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in Texas conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Flanagan prosecuted the case.

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The Northwestern State athletics media relations department has a new leader as Jason Pugh was promoted to the position, announced athletics director Greg Burke on Wednesday.

Pugh will take over the assistant athletics director for media relations slot after working under long-time director Doug Ireland, who finished his 30-year tenure as the Demons and Lady Demons top promoter.

Matt Vines will assume Pugh’s former position as the assistant sports information director.

Both promotions are subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System, which governs Northwestern State.

“Jason and Matt are both perfect fits to sustain the continuity of NSU’s media relations office that was a staple of the NSU athletic program under Doug Ireland’s leadership for so many years,” Burke said. “They will give our department’s outreach efforts a good combination of what has been in place while at the same time, broadening the scope of what we do in the media relations area to further expand the profile of Demon and Lady Demon athletics.

“Jason and Matt are well-liked and respected by coaches and staff members alike, which will further make for a smooth transition in the media relations office. The fact that both also have the unique perspective of having covered NSU Athletics as sportswriters has further strengthened their affinity and passion for our program.”

Pugh has spent five years at NSU as the assistant sports information director and has been the primary sports information contact for baseball, women’s basketball and volleyball and the secondary football contact since his arrival as well as publications coordinator in charge of the department’s various media guides.

The Bossier City native spent 12 years covering high school, college and professional sports at The Shreveport Times before joining the NSU sports information department in 2014. Pugh has won ample awards in journalism and in media relations, including helping promote two baseball All-Americans in Adam Oller and David Fry.

Vines joined NSU athletics in 2015 as a graduate assistant before serving as the assistant communications director in 2016.

The Shreveport native has been the primary contact for soccer and softball while assisting with the department’s publications and social media.

Vines covered high school and college sports for three different newspapers in seven years, the last being The Shreveport Times, winning multiple writing awards in Tennessee and Louisiana.

“I’m thrilled to see Jason and Matt receiving well-deserved promotions,” Ireland said. “They are incredibly skilled professionals who bring great passion to Northwestern State athletics and I’ve been honored to work alongside them. They are greatly admired and appreciated by the coaches and student-athletes with whom they’ve worked at NSU, as well as their peers in our profession around the state and Southland Conference.”

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Take a look at NSU’s non-credit course offerings below for July.
Northwestern State University’s Non-Credit Short Courses – July

For more information on our Non-Credit programs call (800)376-2422 or (318)357-6355.

Water Aerobics
Using the unique properties of the water, this class provides you with a fun and challenging workout designed to increase your heart rate, strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, and enhance endurance. Water Aerobics meets the demands of the most skilled movers and is gentle enough on the joints for those seeking a low impact alternative.

Date: July 2-31 July

August 1-15 August

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Time: 12:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.

Fee: $45- July

$22.50 August

Location: Robert W. Wilson Recreation Complex

Instructor: Katherine Yandell

Driver Education
Registration Deadline-Friday, July 5

This course will consist of 30 hours of classroom instruction and a minimum of 8 hours of practice driving (behind-the-wheel instruction). You will receive a certificate verifying successful completion of the course. Please provide proof of age. Must be 15 years old on or before October 15 to be eligible to enroll in this class. NOTE: MANDATORY PARENT MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 11 AT 6:00PM

Date: July 15-18, Monday – Thursday

(Driving Schedules will be set once class begins.)

Time: 7:30 am-4:00 pm

Fee: Contact the Office of Electronic and Continuing Education for more details or visit checkout.nsula.edu to register

Location: 2nd Floor South Hall

Instructor: Kevin Warner

TEAS Test Boot Camp
3 hours of intense MUST KNOW information! Receive study tips for test success!

Review material on each TEAS section:

· Reading

· Math

· Science

· English

Date: July 6, Saturday

Time: 10:00 am-1:00 pm

Fee: $35 (pre-register)

$45 (day of offering)

Location: 2nd Floor South Hall

Instructor: Amy M. Garcie, DNP, RN, CNML

***DISCLAIMER: Persons participating in one of the review courses listed above to help prepare for the ATI TEAS test must realize that there is no guarantee stated or implied that participation will assure a passing score on the test.

Introduction to Keyboarding
(Seating is limited)

An introductory class to keyboarding. This course is designed for students enrolled in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grades and will introduce all the keys on the keyboard with a focus on correct technique, speed, and accuracy.

Date: July 8-July 18, Monday – Thursday

Time: 1:00 pm-2:30 pm

Fee: $150

Location: 106 South Hall

Instructor: Jennifer Anderson

Pick Up Your Brush – Painting Classes
In these classes, you will learn the art of painting using step-by-step instructions to create a masterpiece of your own. No special or prior skill required. Just relax and enjoy each class. Students will take home a completed painting at the end of every class. Children ages 7 – 12 years old may enroll, but a parent MUST accompany the child the entire class. Parent does not have to enroll unless they participate. Each date is a separate session. All supplies included.

Dates: July 11, Thursday Crawfish Platter

July 27, Saturday Pallet Knife Nest

Times: 5:30 pm-8:30 pm Thursday

9:00 am-12:00 pm Saturday

Fee: $45 per session

Location: 2nd Floor South Hall

Instructor: Shanna Dees Gaspard

Phlebotomy Technician Training at NSU Cenla Campus
This seven (7) week course is broken down into two parts: five (5) weeks of classroom and two (2) weeks of clinical. It is designed to teach entry-level phlebotomy skills to students interested in pursuing a career in Phlebotomy. Students are required to complete 100 clinical hours and 100 venipunctures before they will be allowed to take the board exam. Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be eligible to take the National Board Certification Exam on site through the American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals. This course also includes Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through the American Heart Association. NOTE: Possibility of random drug screening at the student’s expense at clinical sites. Requirements:

Must provide proof of high school diploma, GED, or official transcript
Must pay $150 National Board Certification & material fee to instructor the first night of class
Set of solid scrubs for clinical days (any color/do not purchase until after first class meeting)
Student must purchase required textbook prior to the first night of class: Phlebotomy Essentials, 6th edition (Wolters Kluwer). This book is not available through our bookstore but may be purchased through a variety of locations. The book may also be checked out from the instructor at no cost. However, it must be understood that if it is returned damaged or not returned at all, there will be a $60 fee that must be paid before being allowed to sit for the National Board Examination.

Date: July 29-August 30, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm (classroom)

September 2-September 13, Monday-Friday (Clinical Lab/Students have up to two weeks to complete clinical labs/Hours vary)

Fee: $950 + $150 (Paid directly to the instructor first night of class – National Board Certification & material fee).

A minimum payment of $475 must be included with registration and does not include material fee or board fee. Remaining balance must be paid through checkout. nsula.edu prior to Monday, August 26.

Location: NSU Cenla Campus, Rm. 164

1410 Neel Kearby Boulevard

Alexandria, Louisiana 71303

Instructor: Sherry Hinton, CPI

Stick It Phlebotomy, LLC

Security+ Intensive Boot Camp
Security+ Intensive Boot Camp- This intensive boot camp is designed with one thing in mind: Certification. In this course you will study, at your own pace, for the CompTIA Security+ (SYO-501) exam. You will be provided resources, lecture notes, and access to a live professor that will prepare you to take the certification exam.

This comprehensive package includes the software, recorded lectures, a test voucher (good for 1 year) and a free retake, and a weekly live session should you need it. These tools will help you succeed and become Security+ certified.

This course is self-paced so that you may begin any time and will have 9 months of live access.

Date: Online/Open Enrollment

Fee: $1,899

Location: Online

Instructor: Eddie Horton

For more information on our Non-Credit programs call (800)376-2422 or (318)357-6355.

To register for classes, go to checkout.nsula.edu

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Dr. Sharon Emerson-Stonnell, National President of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society for First-Year Success, announced that a Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 has been awarded to Elizabeth Coleman of Napoleonville, a student at Northwestern State University. Coleman is a hospitality, management, and tourism major. The scholarship is for the 2019-20 academic year.

Each year, Alpha Lambda Delta awards 37 Trow scholarships to outstanding students from across the country. Selection is based on maintaining a 3.5 grade point average, academic records, participation in Alpha Lambda Delta activities, campus and community service activities, and the applicant’s essay answers. The national selection committee was faced with a difficult task as there were 74 applicants who qualified.

Coleman is treasurer of NSU’s Student Government Association, a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and a member of Order of Omega. She is a Morgan Extra Mile Scholar and Morgan First Generation Scholar.

The Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship was started in 1988, in honor of a past National President of Alpha Lambda Delta. Jo Anne J. Trow is the former Vice President for Student Services at Oregon State University. This award was originally established to give chapters of Alpha Lambda Delta an annual opportunity to reward an outstanding sophomore member with a small stipend. The scholarships currently offer five $6,000 awards, ten $3,000 awards, seven $2,000 awards and fifteen $1,000 awards. Trow served National Alpha Lambda Delta as a District Advisor from 1974 to 1979, as National Secretary from 1979 to 1983, as President-elect from 1984 to 1985, and as National President from 1985 to 1988. During her presidency, the Society’s governing body, the National Council, was restructured to provide more streamlined operations.

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes students’ academic success during their first year at a college or university. Founded in 1924, Alpha Lambda Delta has over a million lifetime members and is present on over 280 campuses nationwide. Alpha Lambda Delta’s mission is to “encourage superior academic achievement, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their unique roles in society.”

For more information, contact Trish Maxwell at trish@nationalald.org or (585) 364.0840.

Pictured above: Northwestern State University student leader Elizabeth Coleman, center, is a recipient of the Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship awarded by Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society for First-Year Success. She was congratulated by NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio and Reatha Cox, director of Student Affairs.

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Stephen Hernandez, a 1995 and 2001 graduate of Northwestern State University, was promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U. S. Air Force Reserve and is currently the Deputy Commander of the 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron. In August he will be reassigned as the Reserve Augmentee to the Dean of the U.S. Air Force, School of Aerospace Medicine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing at NSU, Hernandez, a Shreveport native, completed a Ph.D. in Nursing in 2012 through the University of New Mexico. He was an assistant professor in NSU’s College of Nursing from 2002-2007 and 2008-2013, having taken a year-long break to work at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport.

Hernandez joined the Army Reserves in 1997 and was assigned to the 94th Combat Support Hospital. He was deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center from March 2003 to March 2004 in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served in the Combined Intensive Care Unit.

“When I returned, the Bossier City portion of my unit was being deactivated. I chose to join the Air Force Reserve in late 2004 and served with the 307th Medical Support Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base,” he said. “I accepted a position with the University of New Mexico and joined their faculty as an assistant professor in July 2013. At the same time, I transferred to an Air Force Reserve unit in Colorado, the 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron. I served in successive leadership position including Chief Nurse, Interim Squadron Commander and I am currently the Deputy Commander for the unit.”

Hernandez was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2018. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in June.

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NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Jean McConathy
January 4, 1939 – June 25, 2019
Service: Friday, June 28 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches

Mercie Dee LaCour Honore
December 22, 1946 – June 17, 2019
Visitation: Friday, June 28 from 6-9 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville

Maggie Elam
August 9, 1957 – June 23, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Shane Kerry
March 01, 1937 – June 20, 2019
Visitation: Thursday, June 27 from 2-4 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Dessie Davenport, Jr.
November 17, 1959 – June 19, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Kendall “K.D.” Hardison
March 9, 1991 – June 19, 2019
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at North Star Baptist Church in Powhatan
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Kendrick Mancell Williams Sr.
February 23, 1980 – June 18, 2019
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Springville Cemetery of Coushatta

RED RIVER PARISH:

Anna Marie Patrick
May 09, 1937 – June 21, 2019

WINN PARISH:

Mary Frances McHenry Taylor
August 08, 1945 – June 19, 2019
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 2 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 117 MLK Drive in Winnfield

Danny Glyn Carter
February 08, 1952 – June 24, 2019
Visitation: Thursday, June 27 from 12-2 pm at Bethlehem Baptist Church
Service: Thursday, June 27 at 2 pm at Bethlehem Baptist Church
Interment: Bethlehem Cemetery

Rufus Green
August 21, 1982 – June 15, 2019
Service: Sunday, June 30 at 11 am in the Chapel of the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Interment: Winnfield City Cemetery

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Eddie Harrington – District 1 City Councilman

Many of our citizens are very upset regarding recent activity within the city concerning the cost of chamber renovations and a proposed 1% tiff tax.

I was not in agreement to the renovations on the council chambers. In fact, I cast a “No” vote.

I am also not in agreement with the 1% tiff tax increase. Many of the businesses which would be affected do not want this to happen. The sales tax in that area is already very high. A further increase could hinder several businesses and make them less competitive. I am also under the belief that the sports complex maintenance and upkeep can be funded without the tax increase.

To end on a positive note, the sports complex will be an incredible addition to our city. There are already out of town tournaments booked every weekend from February to July. These travel ball tournaments will be a great boom to our economy. We must ensure the complex is maintained efficiently and I believe we can without the added tax.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Call me at 318-352-5900
email: eddie.harrington@theharringtonlawfirm.com
Facebook @natchitochesdistrict1.

The Natchitoches Parish Council met in regular session on June 17, 2019. There were several agenda items, but most of them were appointments/reappointments to various boards and Ordinances for zoning changes.

One item of interest was the employment of the Director of Public Works, which is occupied by Mr. John Richmond. Mr. Richmond is running for the position of Natchitoches Parish President. Several constituents of various Council members have expressed concerns in relation to Mr. Richmond being employed by the Parish Government and seeking election to the President position, which is ultimately the over the Director of Public Works position. The constituents have expressed concerns stating that it appears that Mr. Richmond is suddenly starting to fix roads now that it’s election year, when nothing seemed to be getting done prior to his announcement that he was running for the President position. We, as the Council, were advised that no one was sure if this was allowed or not.

On May 29, 2019 the Council was advised by email that Department of Public Works was currently unable to purchase a certain type of road repair material, and in order for Mr. Richmond to purchase a different type of material we will need to either call a special meeting to pass an emergency budget amendment Ordinance or issue an emergency declaration. I advised the administration that I wanted a meeting instead of allowing the Parish President to declare an emergency. The Chairman of the Council allowed the emergency declaration because a quorum of Council members was not available for an emergency meeting. I responded by email that I was in opposition to this, as there were some unanswered questions that remained.

On May 30, 2019 I sent an email to Mr. Rick Nowlin and Mr. John Richmond, pursuant to the Public Information Act requesting the following information:

1) In the email that I received from the Natchitoches Parish Clerk on May 29, 2019 I was advised the Department of Public Works is currently unable to purchase a certain type of road repair material. Please provide what type of material this was in reference to, as the Emergency Declaration states, “Certain types of road repair materials, including but not limited to, Winn rock, crushed concrete, stone and gravel.

2) What constituted the emergency, being that I was advised by Mr. Richmond on May 20, 2019, during the Regularly scheduled Natchitoches Parish Council meeting that there was no emergency in the rock budget.

On June 01, 2019, I received a phone call from Mr. Richmond stating that there was actually no emergency, but he just needed the money to get work done faster so it would look better.

During the meeting on June 17, 2019, I asked Mr. Richmond if it was true that he called me and advised me of this on June 01, 2019. Mr. Richmond advised that he did indeed call me and advise me that it was no actual emergency. I advised Mr. Richmond that I was in receipt of a Facebook post by Councilwoman Patsy Ward Hoover on May 22, 2019 at 7:21 pm stating that, “Mr. Nowlin has promised to visit Bermuda Road tomorrow. I have asked for emergency funding. I can be reached at 318-527-9294”.

Mr. Richmond had already stated that this material was placed on Bermuda Road. I advised Mr. Richmond that I was already aware a week prior to his request to declare an emergency that he was going to ask for one.

I was advised that our legal counsel advised the Administration that this was not an emergency, and advised them not to declare one, but they did it anyway.

Please understand that the Council has not changed the way we report roads and projects that are in need of repair. If the administration can fix roads now, they could have been doing it.

Thank you for your continued support and God Bless you and your families.

Sincerely,

Russell Rachal
Natchitoches Parish Council
District 5
(318)652-0382

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The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal.  If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the NPJ, please send it to NPJNatLa@gmail.com.

The Special Called Parish Council meeting was short Tuesday evening, June 25. The meeting was called so the Council could consider Introducing Ordinance 010-2019 to consider putting on the ballot to let the People of Natchitoches Parish to decide for the current form of Government or the Police Jury form of Government. It was also publicized that a Public Hearing would be held July 1, 2019 at 5:30 pm.

The Council’s attorney said the date for the public hearing is too soon in regards to the Home Rule Charter, which states the public hearing must be set after 4 weeks have elapsed from the time of the introduction. Council Clerk Cheryl Fredricks then informed the Council that the Secretary of State’s Office needed the approved ordinance by July 9 in order to get it on the ballot for the October election. The soonest it can be put on the ballot with the required time constraints would be the March/April runoff for the general election. Fredricks said she will check on the exact dates with the SOS Office.

Councilman Doug de Graffenried was absent from the meeting. Russell Rachal motioned to approve the introduction of the ordinance and Chris Paige seconded it. It was passed with yes votes from all present.

A public hearing should be set some time in August and the Council will be able to cast its final vote at the August Parish Council meeting.

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By Kris James

Hello Stylers! I know we love fashion and the beauty it creates, but it’s the ugly side that we never see. No, I’m not talking about the lack of diversity. I’m talking about Fast Fashion. Fast Fashion utilizes trend replication, rapid production, and low-quality materials to bring inexpensive styles to the public. Unfortunately, the results leave a harmful impact on our environment. I know you’re probably wondering what’s wrong with spending money at your favorite online stores like Fashion Nova, Forever 21 and H&M. Well, what do you think happens to your clothes when we throw them away?

The average consumer purchased 70% more items of clothing in 2018 than in 2000 but now keeps the clothes for half as long. This is simply because the garments fall apart, or go out of style, or maybe just because it’s so cheap we view it as disposable. According to thegoodtrade.com, “Each year, the clothing that is simply thrown away amounts to about 11 million tons in the US alone…Fast fashion’s carbon footprint is giving huge industries like air travel and oil a run for their money.”

Most of our clothes are full of pesticides, lead, and numerous other chemicals, which never break down, spending the rest of their lives releasing toxic chemicals into the air. Not only does this affect our world but think about the people who make them. Some garments have large amounts of lead in them and this increases the risk of heart attacks, infertility and more.

As a kid, I remember getting clothes every season. I would get special outfits throughout the year, but these clothes were meant to last for years. I’m sure we all remember those favorite items that held so much value to us. Mine were these Guess over-alls. I would wear them every week to school and cried when one of the buttons broke. That was my first investment because I was emotionally attached. Now can we still say that? I spent most of my 20s mad at my girlfriends because they could find outfits for under 20 dollars but, on the other hand, had to drop a few dollars. I never realized this was the beginning of Fast Fashion.

I’m not telling you to give up shopping at some of your favorite stores, just be more mindful. In the past few years, thrifting and shopping at vintage stores has become very popular. There are a lot of vintage dealers like Washington Ave who is local. Try revamping all the oldies by making them new. H&M, one of those affordable but exploitive brands, has done more than other stores. They released a “Conscious Collection” where the items are made from recycled clothes and organic cotton. They also now carry a selection of premium quality products, which cost more but last longer. Conscious fashion means there are brands and individuals who care about us and our fight to save our earth. I like to think that we spend thousands on an iPhone every two years because we believe in its value. Why not put that same value back into our clothes?

“Fast fashion isn’t free. Someone, somewhere is paying.” – Lucy Siegle

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St. Mary’s Catholic School is pleased to announce that Mrs. Laura Hogg will serve in the position of Elementary Religion Teacher for the 2019-2020 school year. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, she began her teaching career. This year will be her 18th year as an educator. Mrs. Hogg is married to Dr. John Hogg and has two children that attend St. Mary’s Catholic School. Sophia is an eighth grader and Carter is a fifth grader. Mrs. Hogg enjoys tennis, traveling, and reading in her spare time. She and her family are parishioners at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Artists are being sought to design the 2019 Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster. The theme for the poster is “Christmas in Natchitoches.” Artists who would like to enter the contest should submit a drawing or painting to the Natchitoches Arts Council using the chosen theme. The size of the completed sketch or painting should be 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall. If chosen, the painting will become the exclusive property of the Natchitoches Arts Council. The chosen artist will receive a commission of $600.

The deadline for entering the competition has been extended to July 24. All entries should be submitted to Alicia Rachal, Community Development, 420 Fourth Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457. The Natchitoches Arts Council is not responsible for insuring the safe or timely delivery of the art work to the appropriate party.

Numbered prints in the form of a poster will be available and on sale to the public in early October. All posters are $35 each. The 1980-2004 collage posters are $15 each. The small posters (3 ¾” x 5”) are $3 each or two for $4. Special prints of the 2008 Fleur de Lis Poster (11” x 17”) and the 2016 Christmas in Natchitoches Poster (11” x 14.5) are $20.

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster has been a tradition for 39 years. All of the original artwork can be viewed at the Natchitoches Arts Council office located at the Community Development Office (City Hall Annex), 420 Fourth Street, Natchitoches, LA.

For more information about the poster contest, please call Alicia Rachal at (318) 357-3838 or Karen Terrell at (318) 352-6925.

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Natchitoches Young Professionals, an initiative of the NatchitochesArea Chamber of Commerce, is hosting their second annual “Louisiana Young Professionals Conference” onFriday, July 26, 2019. The goal for the conference is to bring together young professionals from across the state to learn about topics that affect young professionals and immediately put that information to use in their career or business.

The Louisiana Young Professionals Conference will kick off on Thursday, July 25 at 6:00 p.m., with a social and registration at Cane River Brewing. This evening event will include networking opportunities and door prizes. Registration will resume the following morning Friday, July 26 at 8:30 a.m. at Chateau St. Denis and the conference will begin at 9:00 a.m. The agenda will include a lunch keynote delivered by Community Coffee’sCandace Tucker, and several breakout sessions from other speakers throughout the day.

“Our first conference had a fantastic speaker line up, and this year we feel we have an equally excellent group of speakers from all different fields to speak to our attendees. I am personally excited to shake hands with andhear from each of our speakers,” says long-time NYP Board Member and conference coordinator, Carrie Hough.

Breakout sessions include topics that affect young professionals and feature speakers from across the region.These breakout sessions will include “Beating Burnout” by Mark Springer (Austin, TX), “Making Room at the Table: Cultivating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” by Ruben Henderson (Lafayette, LA), “Work-Life Balance” by Alberta Greene (Monroe, LA), “Leadership Lessons from the Killing Fields” by Tom Matuschka (Natchitoches, LA), “A Road Less Traveled” by David Meaux (Lafayette, LA), and “Only in Your State: Best Summer Spots” by WilliamBloom (Baton Rouge, LA).

“Our young professionals saw the need for a statewide conference like this and took the initiative to lay the framework for a very successful, annual event. Last year’s conference brought groups in from both north andsouth Louisiana. We are proud to showcase our beautiful city while hosting this event in Natchitoches,” saysChamber Events Coordinator and NYP member, Maggie Harris.

NYP is very thankful to its LYPC sponsors who include our title sponsor, Community Coffee; our corporate sponsors: BOM and NHDDC; our gold sponsors: the Louisiana Crawfish Company, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, and Northwestern State University; and our silver sponsors: the City of Natchitoches, Howard E. Conday, Atmos Energy, and Lauren Anderson MD.

Tickets for this conference are $60. Tickets may be purchased by any professional, of any age, from anywhere. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For anyone interested in sponsoring, call 318-238-1941. To learn more about the conference, visit natchitocheschamber.com/lypc.

Natchitoches Young Professionals (NYP) is dedicated to developing the community’s current and futurebusiness leaders, with membership available to anyone between the ages of 21 and 40 who lives, works, learnsor plays in the greater Natchitoches area. 

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Northwestern State University’s Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program has been ranked fourth in the country by RegisteredNursing.org,

Nursing programs were assessed on several factors which represent how well a program supports students during school, towards licensure and beyond. You can learn more about the methodology used by visiting https://www.registerednursing.org/rankings-methodology/.

The highly revered and rewarding pediatric nurse practitioner role is a popular choice for nurses who want to make a difference in the health of children. This advanced nursing career can be achieved through a master’s or doctoral level pediatric nurse practitioner program, and most allow students to choose between primary or acute pediatric care. Online and campus-based options are available.

“Over the last four to five years we’ve had one to eight graduates each spring. Everyone has passed boards although two students passed on a second attempt,” said Meredith Eastin, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner coordinator. “Everyone, besides those that graduated in May, is currently practicing as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Many are employed in primary care clinics, but there are graduates employed in pediatric specialty clinics, community health centers and school-based health clinics.”

The field of pediatrics is a particularly rewarding one for advanced practice RNs. Building lasting relationships with children who are ill or injured is just one asset of Pediatric Nurse Practitioner care. Choosing the right Pediatric NP program is of great importance, and RegisteredNursing.org’s rankings of the top online/hybrid Pediatric Nurse Practitioner programs help students find their perfect fit.

Northwestern State trains the next generation of Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners through its Master of Science in Nursing specialty program. The curriculum is comprised of 42 total credits, with 720 clinical hours required. Enrolled students take courses in Genomics for Nursing Practice, Family Dynamics, Research in Nursing and much more. Both part-time and full-time study options are available.

MSN Programs

· Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Online/Hybrid

· Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PCPNP), Campus

RegisteredNursing.org is an organization of registered nurses who care deeply about the profession and provide the resources future nurses need to succeed. Helping to bring those interested in nursing from the research phase to enrollment to landing that first RN job and beyond.

“Overall the feedback has been great,” Eastin said. “Students felt a close connection with instructors. They felt well prepared when entering clinical practice and they would recommend our program to future students. Students reported they liked the small size of the class. They were able to communicate with one another and learn together as a team.”

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David Guillet was installed as the new President of Rotary Club of Natchitoches at the June 25 meeting. Past President Richard White passed the gavel and presented him with a Rotary pin for his outstanding service.

Rotary President David Guillet then awarded Past President Richard White a plaque with a gavel honoring his service. Guillet spoke to the Rotary members about the future goals and objectives of the club (Photos by Dr. Ron McBride).

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NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Mercie Dee LaCour Honore
December 22, 1946 – June 17, 2019
Visitation: Friday, June 28 from 6-9 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville

Maggie Elam
August 9, 1957 – June 23, 2019
Arrangements TBA
Shane Kerry
March 01, 1937 – June 20, 2019
Visitation: Thursday, June 27 from 2-4 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Dessie Davenport, Jr.
November 17, 1959 – June 19, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Kendall “K.D.” Hardison
March 9, 1991 – June 19, 2019
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at North Star Baptist Church in Powhatan
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Kendrick Mancell Williams Sr.
February 23, 1980 – June 18, 2019
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Springville Cemetery of Coushatta

RED RIVER PARISH:

Tommy Hayward Pardee
June 15, 1942 – June 23, 2019
Service: Wednesday, June 26 at 11 am at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

WINN PARISH:

Mary Frances McHenry Taylor
August 08, 1945 – June 19, 2019
Service: Saturday, June 29 at 2 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 117 MLK Drive in Winnfield

Shelby Ray McGuire
April 21, 1955 – June 23, 2019
Service: Wednesday, June 26 at 2 pm at Northside Baptist Church
Interment: Mars Hill Cemetery in Verda

Danny Glyn Carter
February 08, 1952 – June 24, 2019
Visitation: Wednesday, June 26 from 5-8 pm and Thursday, June 27 from 12-2 pm at Bethlehem Baptist Church
Service: Thursday, June 27 at 2 pm at Bethlehem Baptist Church
Interment: Bethlehem Cemetery

Rufus Green
August 21, 1982 – June 15, 2019
Service: Sunday, June 30 at 11 am in the Chapel of the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Interment: Winnfield City Cemetery

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by J. R. “Randy” Stelly/Opinion

What do the failures of the Home Rule Charter have in common with the former Police Jury form of government? I’ll give you three guesses.

Both Rodney Bedgood and Patsy-Ward Hoover have repeatedly admitted on the record that they are too stupid to understand what is going on. Chris Paige has made it known, almost from day one, that he does not support the HRC form of government and that he will do whatever it takes to destroy it.

It is time for the people of our Parish to vote for a change, but it has nothing to do with our form of government. We need a Council that is free of the ignorance and scheming that were the cornerstone of the old Police Jury and continues to be a plague on the HRC. Don’t vote out our government, vote out the Police Jury once and for all!

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal.  If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the NPJ, please send it to NPJNatLa@gmail.com.

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EZ Street Delivery is partnering with local restaurants in Natchitoches to deliver food. Each restaurant’s menu is built into EZ Street’s website and users can simply choose their food, pay online, and it will be brought directly to them.

There is a $5 delivery fee for each order, but delivery is free on the first order if the customer uses the code FIRSTDELIVERY.

After placing the order, customers receive email notifications to let them know the status of their order. They are notified when their order has been received by EZ Street and the restaurant, when the driver arrives at the restaurant, and when the driver leaves the restaurant with their food. The process is super simple and user friendly.

EZ Street Delivery has an app that can be downloaded for FREE through Google Play and Apple’s App Store. Customers can order through the app or enjoy food delivery with an “EZ” 3 step process through the website:

1. Visit ezstreetdelivery.com and select the Natchitoches location

2. Choose a meal

3. Relax and wait for us to deliver

“I decided to come to Natchitoches because our small towns want the same conveniences of larger cities but often get over looked by the big companies,” said Owner Beverly Sanders. “Plus, Natchitoches has some of the best food in Louisiana and EZ-STREET delivery wanted to take part in that. I am very excited about being here in Natchitoches because the people of Natchitoches are excited to have us here! We have been very well received and are working hard to make this a success for both our customers and the restaurants we partner with.”

EZ Street is adding new restaurants weekly, and several will come on line in the next few days. Restaurants can also check out the website and fill out a vendor form if they’re interested in partnering for food delivery.

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