By Kevin Sannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

NSU’s Prather Coliseum was once again transformed into the finest musical venue in Louisiana for the 2019 Folk Life Festival, July 26-27. Several thousand festivalgoers were entertained by a diverse group of over 20 musical acts performing on three stages. Zydeco, Rockabilly, Blues and the World Music sound of the 50 Man Machine, complete with bagpipes, were just some of the styles available to listeners. Lessons in Cajun and line dancing were also held throughout the festival. In addition to the music, an eclectic group of craft booths were joined by the National Park Service, Louisiana Office of State Parks, Creole Heritage Center, National Park Service, NSU’s Cammie Henry Research Center and Cane River National Heritage Area on the main floor. The vendors displayed and sold homemade crafts and educated festival goers on various Louisiana and Native American folk ways. Blacksmiths and Dutch oven chefs held demonstrations outside of the festival.

One of the highlights of the festival was the induction of five deserving artists into the Hall of Master Folk Artists. Blues singer Tab Benoit, Cajun Musicians Jamie Berzas and Bruce Daigrepont, singer Vanessa Nieman, aka the “Punk Rock Patsy Cline” and Natchitoches’ own master file maker and cultural historian, John Oswald Colson, were presented with proclamations from the Louisiana House of Representatives. The U.S. Forest Service’s iconic Smokey the Bear was on hand and was wished a happy 75th birthday on stage. Vernon Parish’s Mr. Ron Yule, a past champion and long time fixture in our state’s musical scene, was named the 2019 Louisiana State Fiddle Champion.

The festival is a long standing favorite as evidenced by its loyal following. Many of the attendees and performers have been coming for years. Natchitoches resident, business woman, and indefatigable dancer, Shirley Dunagan, has come to the festival with a group of friends for over 25 years.

The Folklife Festival, now in its 40th year, is designed to showcase, preserve and perpetuate Louisiana’s unique culture. This year’s theme was “Vive la Louisiane!” For a modest admission fee, the Festival featured two solid days of superb music, arts and crafts, and education.

By Melanie Wilson

I’m writing this just to make people aware, not to call anyone out. There’s just a few things we can all be more aware of. Before I was a foster mom I thought the same things and said the same stuff.

There are several things that people say to me or my family that aren’t helpful. I know most people don’t mean it offensively and they can’t wrap their heads around the process of foster care and adoption.

“I just couldn’t give them back.”

Well, if you don’t it’s called kidnapping. When you go through the process of becoming a foster parent you know what’s coming. It isn’t easy by any means when a child leaves and if it is easy you might need to rethink what you’re doing.

“I would get too attached.”

I am too attached I can promise you that. One baby was the first to call me momma and the other I have seen grow from 6 weeks to 9 months.

“You don’t want him?”

It isn’t that I don’t want the baby. I am the baby’s mom and I have to make tough decisions like every other parent does. My decisions are just a little different.

“Well you get paid for this.”

Yes I do get money each month so that I can meet their needs. I honestly don’t know how anyone makes money off of being a foster parent because I spend more money on these babies than I get each month. This is probably the most offensive statement.

Like I said earlier I’m not writing this to make anyone feel bad. I just want to make everyone aware. Maybe instead of saying these things you could use the following statements.

“You must be strong.”

I can tell you I didn’t know I was strong. But I can also tell you my strength comes from God.

“You must have a big heart.” or “you must care a lot.”

I could not do any of this without knowing God asked me to do this and He will help me through all of it.

“It must be difficult.”

It is difficult! Every day is different and at any moment you can get a call saying there is another baby, the baby is leaving in a few days, or there is a new meeting set up you have to be at.

I know that foster care isn’t for everyone. I never knew it was for me. Adoption isn’t for everyone. But caring is for everyone! I get not understanding how someone does it but think about being encouraging or figuring out how you can help that family.

DID YOU KNOW: The recent bill passed and signed in the state of Louisiana extends foster care to the age of 21. It takes an average of 3 -4 years for a child to be adopted so sadly many children age out of the system at 18. Some have amazing homes that keep them and help them but unfortunately that is not always the case and they are thrown out the day they turn 18 when the payments stop. This bill helps 18-21 year old foster children if they become full-time employees, participate in job training programs or education, or if for medical reasons they can’t work or get training/education. This bill will help so many foster young adults and in my opinion is an amazing step.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

Natchitoches’ Christ the King Lutheran Church was the host of the “Cruisin’ With The King” car show, Saturday, July 27. The show, now in its second year, featured over 50 cars, trucks and motorcycles. The younger set had a train to take them on rides around the field and a bouncy house to play in. The church supplied burgers for lunch. Natchitoches’ musical favorite The Kelli Roberts Band performed for the steady stream of visitors who dropped by throughout the day. The car show was planned by Pastor Eric Klemme as an innovative way to “meet our neighbors and get out in the community.” It was an enjoyable day of family fun for one and all.

By Holy Penta

Liz Miller has been working at St. Mary’s Catholic School for 11 years. For two years she was the Student Council Advisor, but she began teaching nine years ago. This year, she will teach 6th through 8th grade English Language Arts.

She graduated from Northwestern State University and Louisiana College and is married to Pat Miller. Together they have two sons. Zac graduated from St. Mary’s School in 2018, and Jordan is a senior there this year.

Miller has always known that she wanted to be a teacher. As a child, she would “torture” her brother and sister by making them play school with her. She was the teacher, and they were the students learning in her classroom.

To future teachers she says, “Don’t do it for the money. Teachers need to love the job and be willing to put their whole heart into it.” Without the love of the job, many teachers come to resent it, and neither the teacher nor the student wins in that type of situation.

Clearly, Miller truly does have this love for the job. She loves teaching middle school and knows it’s where she’s supposed to be. Her excitement about teaching translates into student’s excitement about learning. This helps them reach and go beyond their full potential. She says her young students typically come to class in the beginning of the year with an awkward “too cool” attitude, but by the end of the school year, they’ve matured socially and academically and made connections that show where really deep, skillful learning has taken place.

She also loves being the Student Counsel Sponsor, which allows her to work with some really great high school students. They are all compassionate, driven, and are always looking for ways to help others. Miller likes to watch them grow into leaders in the school and in the community. “Sometimes they teach me more than I teach them,” she said.

The working atmosphere at St. Mary’s is incredibly positive and Miller says that she gets to work with some of the best teachers around. The teachers all make sure to have positive relationships with the students, parents, and each other. Miller and all her colleagues make sure the kids are reaching their academic potential as well as learning Christian values.

As an ELA teacher she has the opportunity to share her passion for reading with her students. She makes sure her lessons are effective and engaging to hold her students’ attention and convince them to love the subject just as much as she does. One of her favorite parts of teaching is hearing students say that her class has made them love to read, or when parents say that they cannot get their children to put their books down.

“These comments leave me smiling for days,” she said.

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

The Tri-State Federation of the Ladies’ Bass Angler Association held a tournament on the Cane River Saturday, July 27. Five boats took to the waters of the Cane for a day of fishing competition before returning to Shell Beach for the weigh-in.

This event is the first tournament held in our parish by the LBAA. The Tri-State Federation comprises female bass fishers from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. The LBAA offers the only all female professional bass fishing tour in the country. The Cane offered a challenging fishing environment as well as opportunities to visit our well known attractions and restaurants when not on the water.

The winning team was Tiffany Hart of Magnolia, TX and Ashley Manuel from Lake Charles. The winning Co-Angler was Rebecca Briley from Lake Charles and the winning Boater was Tiffany Hart from Magnolia, TX,

The Natchitoches Parish Journal wishes to extend a warm welcome and best wishes to the women of the LBAA. We trust they enjoyed their visit to our city and parish and are looking forward to future tournaments on the parish’s waters.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating the event photography. The anglers and their families are welcome to download any they wish.

POSITION: Planning and Zoning Director

DESCRIPTION: Responsible for the coordination and administration of all activities in the areas of Planning and Zoning, including enforcing zoning and subdivision ordinances and policies, serve as Flood Plain Administrator to review development proposals for compliance with National Flood Insurance Program guidelines, conducts routine site surveys of projects and developments as required, serve as Administrative Liaison for the Historic District Commission and supervise the daily work and activities of department employees.

Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Land Use, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or similar degree and at least two years experience in a responsible administrative position.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 1400 Sabine St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches LA 71458-0037. Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall located at 700 Second St. or you can download an application on line at http://www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through
August 6, 2019

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Doris Jean Eason
March 01, 1938 – July 26, 2019
Service: Wednesday, July 31 at 10 am at Marthaville Cemetery

Mary Eli Monette
July 25, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Amazona Waldrup McDuel
January 08, 1944 – July 19, 2019
Service: Tuesday, July 30 at 11 am Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. Titus Baptist Church Cemetery near Campti

Johnnie M. McGlothurn
July 24, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Billie Sue Lonadier Trissler
February 16, 1935 – July 21, 2019
Arrangements TBA

RAPIDES PARISH:

Milford Weeks Crumplar Sr
April 29, 1922 – July 24, 2019
Service: Monday, July 29 at 2 pm at Mt. Olivet Cemetery

Aline Aleta Garon
August 26, 1929 – July 25, 2019
Service: Monday, July 29 at 10:30 am at John Kramer & Son Funeral Home

RED RIVER PARISH:

Phyllis Dupree Cole
April 27, 1924 – July 26, 2019
Service held July 28

WINN PARISH:

Sam Houston Melton, Jr.
April 29, 1940 – July 26, 2019
Visitation: Tuesday, July 30 from 5-9 pm and Wednesday, July 31 from 9-11 am at Southern Funeral Home
Service: Wednesday, July 31 at 11 am at Southern Funeral Home
Interment: Melton Cemetery near Winnfield

Dr. Marvin Morgan Allen
April 18, 1930 – July 20, 2019
Service: Saturday, August 3 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Interment: Allen Cemetery in Winnfield

By Kris James

Happy Saturday Stylers! We all know the best part of heading back to school is shopping! Not just for clothes but new supplies as well. I told you on Wednesday that this week was a double feature and I’m a man of my word. Just as much as I love clothes, I love accessories. I know your school supplies list might say “pens, notebooks, color pencils,” but I don’t see why you can’t get gel pens, a neon notebook, and a furry case for your pencils! School is hard enough, so your school supplies should be fun AF. Of course, I can’t leave my stylers out who are teachers. I have a few items that will make you the envy of all the faculty. Because let’s face it. Your classroom is your new home for the next nine months so why not make it stylish too. When you grab your school supplies list, don’t forget to bring mine with you.

Happy Shopping Stylers!

Statement Backpacks: Your backpack is the first accessories everyone sees. So make your personality stand out.

Pom Pom Clips: Bring fun to all paperwork.

Three Desk Set: Be stylish and organized.

GEL Pens: These will NEVER get old.

Locker Essentials: Perfect for the younger stylers who want to to keep a fashionable locker.

Fun Pencil Cases: These are a great way to show off your fun and personal style. I wish I had more options growing up.

Bold Journal: Plan out your year in a bright neon notebook.

Inspirational Teacher Tote Bag: Just like any other job sometimes we need some motivation to get us up in the morning.

Find out the impact that packing a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child on August 18 at 6 pm at First Baptist Church in Natchitoches. Jamacia David, a Full Circle Speaker for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, will be speaking to us. She grew up in Guyana, a South America Country, and received a shoebox as a child. Jamacia will be presenting her story and how it was a life changing event for her and for her family.

Jamacia’s father was often away for months at a time because jobs were scarce and in order to provide for his family, he traveled to another country for work. While he was gone, Jamacia’s mother struggled to make ends meet on her own. One Sunday, God gave Jamacia a surprise-an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox gift full of new items just for her. Come hear how this prompted her to learn more about Him and years later, teach The Greatest Journey, a 12-lesson follow-up discipleship course for shoebox recipients. You also will not want to miss learning how God used the Samaritan’s Purse Documentary Facing the Darkness to connect her to her current role.

Jamacia will encourage and motivate you to pack one more shoebox this year so that more children can hear the gospel, more families will be reached, and churches will be planted.

On July 19, 2019 around 8:25 p.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department were dispatched to the 1500 block of Pauline Street in reference to a cyber stalking complaint. Upon officers arrival they located Clarence Jenkins, the suspect, (B/M, 18 y.o.a. of Natchitoches) driving his vehicle down Raphiel Street. Officers then attempted to pull over Clarence Jenkins but he refused to stop and led officers on a pursuit throughout the neighborhood. During the pursuit Clarence Jenkins continued to drive in a reckless manner and crashed into two Natchitoches Police Department vehicles.

Clarence Jenkins

Clarence Jenkins is charged with two counts of attempted first degree, two counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle upon a peace officer, aggravated flight, hit and run, careless operation, resisting an officer by force or violence, sixteen counts of failure to stop at a stop sign, seventeen counts of no turn signal, stalking, cyber stalking and simple assault. Clarence Jenkins was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

If you have any additional information in regards to this investigation please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

Anonymous Tips by Smartphone:

You may also provide tips that will be anonymous via our Tipsoft Product. Simply send the tip by using your smartphones (download the free application) or by texting (Text-A-Tip) to CRIMES (274637). Use NPDTIPS before typing your message. You can also submit a Web Tip from our Police Protection page.

Keep Your Butts in Your Pants is a campaign aimed to reduce cigarette butt litter by distributing pocket ashtrays to smokers and encouraging them to properly dispose the butts.

Keep Natchitoches Beautiful has recruited several convenient stores and gas stations in Natchitoches to partner and implement this campaign. Please refer to the list below to receive a free pocket ashtray with a tobacco purchase.

Free pocket ashtrays are available at these locations:

Shop Rite located at 247 Keyser Avenue
McFarland Center’s Super Stop located at 1207 Texas Street

A cleaner Natchitoches can be accomplished by raising awareness of the cigarette butt litter problem and distributing free pocket ashtrays to smokers. This gives smokers an opportunity to do the right thing by using a pocket ashtray instead of littering the butt. It is Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s hope that after repeated use of the pocket ashtray that smokers will adopt this new behavior and it will become a habit resulting in a reduction of cigarette butt litter.

Cigarette butts remain the most littered item in Louisiana and across the globe. Dropping cigarette butts and cigar tips to the ground, putting them in planters, and disposing of them in waterways is littering. Littering cigarette butts and cigar tips is unsightly, costly to clean up, illegal and harmful to waterways and wildlife. In fact, 32% of litter in storm drains are tobacco products. Litter traveling through storm drains and water systems, ends up in local streams, rivers, and waterways.

Interesting Facts:

• Most cigarette litter occurs in the car or at transition points.

• 95% of cigarette filters are not biodegradable but the majority of smokers believe that cigarette butts are biodegradable.

• Due to cigarette litter’s small size many view it on a different scale than other litter.

About Keep Louisiana Beautiful

Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Inc. is the state’s anti-litter and community improvement organization focused on education, enforcement, awareness and cleanups. Affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Keep Louisiana Beautiful’s mission is to promote personal, corporate and community responsibility for a clean and beautiful Louisiana. For more information visit www.keeplouisianabeautiful.org.

On July 26, 2019 around 7:50 a.m., the Natchitoches Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen that an individual fitting the description of Johnny Dubois was sitting on the steps of a residence in the 500 block of Howard Street. Upon officers arrival they were able to positively identify the individual as Johnny Dubois and he fled on foot toward Sirod Street. Natchitoches Police officers, with the assistance of deputies from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office tracking team were able to successfully locate Johnny Dubois and place him under arrest.

Johnny Dubois is charged with attempted first degree murder for attempting to hit a police officer with his vehicle, aggravated flight from an officer, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of resisting an officer, nine counts of failure to stop at a stop sign and three counts of failure to stop at a red light. Johnny Dubois was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.

Original Story: Natchitoches Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Johnny Dubois

The Natchitoches Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating the suspect, Johnny

Dubois (W/M, weighing 165 pounds, around 5’11” and 33 y.o.a.).

On July 25, 2019 around 7:47 p.m., an officer with the Natchitoches Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle on Keyser Avenue. The driver of that vehicle, Johnny Dubois, refused to stop and led police on a pursuit that ended near Ralph Street.

If you have seen Johnny Dubois please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101. Do not attempt to apprehend or detain this individual by yourself. Johnny Dubois is considered to be armed and dangerous. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

Officer John Greely

Natchitoches Police Department Release Date: July 26, 2019

Following action by the Louisiana Legislature and Gov. John Bel Edwards, restaurants and distributors that offer cooked or prepared crawfish or shrimp must notify their customers if these seafood items came from outside the United States. The notice must be printed on menus.

Gov. Edwards signed the legislation, Act 372, into law on June 20, 2019.

The Louisiana Department of Health will begin to enforce the law on September 1, 2019.

The menu notice must be immediately adjacent to the menu listing of the seafood item, and must be in the same font, size and shade as the item listed on the menu.

The law allows for the notice to be paper-clipped to the menu, with the same location, font and shade restrictions required on menu labeling.

Provide a sign posted at the main entrance to the establishment that states: “Certain crawfish and shrimp originate from a foreign country.”
The sign must be at least 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide, written in English.

Lettering must not be less than 1 inch in size.  The sign must be posted in a conspicuous location not less than 36 inches from the floor.

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Mary Eli Monette
July 25, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Amazona Waldrup McDuel
January 08, 1944 – July 19, 2019
Service: Tuesday, July 30 at 11 am Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: St. Titus Baptist Church Cemetery near Campti

Johnnie M. McGlothurn
July 24, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Billie Sue Lonadier Trissler
February 16, 1935 – July 21, 2019
Arrangements TBA

RAPIDES PARISH:

Ada Authement Bergeron
October 19, 1938 – July 24, 2019
Service: Saturday, July 27 at 1 pm at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral

Alice Barbara Fritchie Ware
November 20, 1929 – July 23, 2019
Service: Saturday, July 27 at 11 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Alexandria
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens

RED RIVER PARISH:

Howard Daniel Dickson
September 26, 1935 – July 25, 2019
Service: Saturday, July 27 at 2 pm at Davis Springs Southern Methodist Church

SABINE PARISH:

Freddie LaVell Nash
September 1, 1940 – July 24, 2019
Service: Saturday, July 27 at 2 pm at Pendleton Assembly of God
Interment: Bayou Scie Cemetery

WINN PARISH:

Bro. Jeffery Alan Dick
November 25, 1959 – July 25, 2019
Service: Saturday, July 27 at 11 am at Union Hill Baptist Church
Interment: Iatt Cemetery

Lorene Howell Doughty
November 09, 1928 – July 26, 2019
Service: Sunday, July 28 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Interment: Hargis Cemetery in Montgomery

Dr. Marvin Morgan Allen
April 18, 1930 – July 20, 2019
Service: Saturday, August 3 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Interment: Allen Cemetery in Winnfield

By Kevin Shannahan

Kevin’s Gallery

It is October 1941. The Imperial Japanese fleet was to attack Pearl Harbor in a few months, drawing the United States into the war that had been waging for years.

The newly constructed Camp Polk housed thousands of soldiers who had participated in the massive Louisiana Maneuvers. This week’s Pieces of Our History takes its, admittedly minor, place in the annals of the era’s history.

While looking through the card catalog of NSU’s Cammie G. Henry Research Center’s University Archives, I came across a card that described correspondence “relating to accusations of rude treatment of soldiers from Camp Polk.” Any thought of what I came to research flew right out of my head as I delved into the world of Northwestern’s rather imbalanced social dynamics of 1941 and of a group of several young soldiers and female students who came up with an obvious, if unapproved, solution.

What followed is a rashomonesque series of events, the truth of which is unknowable 78 years later. The student body of then named Louisiana State Normal College was “approximately 65 per cent girls…” The U.S. Army, with tens of thousands of soldiers training throughout Northern Louisiana, was most assuredly not. Human nature being what it is, both the co-eds, as they were called then, and the soldiers were bound to notice this complimentary discrepancy. Nature does, after all, abhor a vacuum.

Standing in the way of youthful desire was a powerful counterweight, the Dean of Women and the Matrons of the girl’s dormitories. Combined with the social mores of the era and the rather restrictive rules the female students lived under, both the co-eds and the lonely boys in khaki faced a formidable challenge.

What follows is drawn from a series of letters between a group of soldiers who sent a letter to Collier’s Magazine, the magazine’s editor, and Dr. Joe Farrar, then president of Louisiana State Normal College. In their October 4 1941 letter to Collier’s Magazine, the G.I.s, a self described “group of well-mannered, well groomed enlisted men were extended a verbal invitation to attend a dance given by the students of the college.” Upon arrival, they were given a “warm welcome at the door” and observed “scores of girls who were cutting the few male dancers”, but were prohibited from dancing with any of them. The soldiers stated that the girls were “quite willing to dance with us; but were afraid of the penalty for infraction of the rule that ‘no girl attending the Louisiana State Normal College was to accompany or associate with any soldier.’ The penalty Mr. Editor,– is possible expulsion from the school.” The soldiers did a “short poll of the students” and found that “The trouble is not with the students but with a few elderly women holding executive posts at the college. The students also feel that this situation should be corrected.”

The G.I.’s letter was forwarded to Dr, Farrar by Gurney Williams, Collier’s Magazine’s Army Editor who was asking for his side of the story before considering publishing the soldiers’ letter in their weekly feature about life in the Army.

Dr. Farrar’s reply tells a different version of events, that, in addition to a bluntness no college president would use in these days of measured bureaucracy, also sheds an unintentional light on the society of the time. He stated the soldiers attempted to “crash a student dance.” They were invited to come in and sit by the Matron but were told that “civilians or soldiers were not permitted to participate in dances unless they came properly recommended” and that, if they had been invited, the invitation was “extended by someone without authority.”

Dr. Farrar goes on to state that “Our girls stay in dormitories on campus and in approved private homes in town. They are not permitted to have dates with either civilians or soldiers until such young men are approved by the head of the Department of Student Welfare and the Dean of Women. It is possible to gain such approval through letters of recommendation from the hometowns of the young men involved.”

He then noted that the campus had hosted large numbers of soldiers during the recent maneuvers and had hosted dances for the soldiers then. He has “every sympathy for the man in khaki but I have no sympathy for the man in khaki who believes that his uniform gives him the right to be un-American in his behavior or in his demands.” He ended by saying that he had served in the last war and hoped that Collier’s Magazine would not permit itself “to be used as a tool by a half dozen ill-mannered, disgruntled boys in uniform.”

Not all contact, social or otherwise, was prevented as this November 1941 photo of a pilot at the Natchitoches Airport whose camouflaged position was no doubt happily compromised by a group of co-eds who came over to “study aviation-and aviators” as the Current Sauce put it. Young love will find a way!

The administration, faculty, staff, guidance, custodians and cafeteria workers at Natchitoches Central High School are excited about the coming school year. There are many planned events the first of school that parents and students should be aware of.

NCHS REGISTRATION

Seniors July 31 9:00-12:00
Juniors August 1 9:00—12:00
Sophomores August 2 9:00-12:00
Freshmen August 5 9:00-1:00

Registration forms can be found on the NPSB website under NCHS. Parking permits will be issued during registration. Any student that owes any fees such as library fine, lab fees, JROTC fees, lost books, etc., these fees must be paid to the school bookkeeper before registration. If not paid by July 31 students will not be able to purchase a parking permit until the August 6.

NCHS will have their annual Open House on August 20 at 6 pm. Parents are encouraged to come and meet the faculty and staff at this time. There will be a meet the Chiefs football team for parents in the atrium at 6 pm on August 16. The Pride of the Tribe NCHS Band will have a parent meeting on July 30 in the outside gym beginning at 6 pm. The Chiefs Homecoming football game will be October 11 at 7 pm. Classes having reunions are encouraged to contact the school to make arrangements for advanced ticket sale and reserved seating.

The students report for the first day of school on August 8. NCHS will begin school at 7:40 am this year and release students at 3 pm.

The Natchitoches Police Department received a tip on July 25 at 11 am that Steven Vercher Jr. (B/M, 20 y.o.a, from Natchitoches) was in the 2300 block of Highway 6. Upon officers arrival to the area they located Steven Vercher Jr. who fled on foot into a wooded area. Officers and deputies from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office were able to set up a perimeter and take Steven Vercher Jr. into custody without incident.

Steven Vercher Jr. is charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder and was placed in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center where he awaits bond.

Original Story: Natchitoches Police investigate shooting on Berry Avenue

On June 28, 2019 around 1:33 a.m., the Natchitoches Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Berry Avenue in reference to a shooting. Upon officers arrival to the area the located Marcus Beaudion in the 1100 block of Berry Avenue suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. Marcus Beaudion was transported to the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and later to the Rapides Medical Center where he is listed in stable condition.

If you have any additional information in regards to this investigation please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or Detective Sergeant Bobby Beard at (318) 238-3914. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Former Northwestern State All-American sprinter Micah Larkins drew a stacked heat in the opening round of the 100 meters in the USA Track & Field Outdoor National Championships on Thursday.

Larkins clocked a 10.46 in his initial appearance at the national championships, finishing 0.05 seconds outside of an automatic qualification for Friday’s round of 16.

Running just his second meet since injuring a tendon at the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships in early May, Larkins finished 20th overall among the 32 competitors. The top three times in each of the four heats and the top four remaining times advanced to Friday’s semifinal round.

The Haughton High School product, who signed a professional contract with World Express Sports Management earlier this month, trailed Ronnie Baker (10.26), Kendal Williams (10.37), Kenzo Cotton (10.41), Cameron Burrell (10.43) and Bryce Robinson (10.45) in the third of four heats at Drake Stadium.

Isiah Young of Team Nike ran the top time of the four eight-man heats, clocking a 10.14, 0.02 ahead of 2017 world champion Justin Gatlin.