BOM is proud to be the Official Bank of NSU! We presented NSU with our 2020-2021 Scoreboard Sponsorship check. Pictured from left are Mike Jacklich, NSU Assistant AD for Ticket Operations and Special Events, Haley Taitano Ed.D., NSU Deputy Athletic Director & Senior Woman Administrator, Blaise LaCour, BOM Marketing Assistant, and Micah Murchison, BOM Marketing Assistant.

The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band may not be performing on Saturday nights this fall, but the band’s directors remain active working with students and raising the profile and reputation of the program.

Director of Bands Dr. Jeffrey C. Mathews was recently appointed Louisiana state chair for the National Band Association. The National Band Association is the largest professional organization for bands in the world. It was organized for the purpose of promoting the musical and educational significance of bands and is dedicated to the attainment of a high level of excellence for bands and band music.

Mathews has accepted an invitation to serve as the College Band Directors National Association representative on an international task force on band curriculum in the COVID-19 environment. The task force recently released a survey to band directors all over North America asking details about how they are teaching this fall. Mathews will aid in data collection, interpretation and presentation of the data collected from the North American Band Survey. The task force is a joint project between CBDNA, the American Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association and the National Federation of High School Associations.

Assistant Director of Bands Dan McDonald was elected state chair of the Louisiana Chapter of the College Band Directors National Association. In this capacity, he organizes the schedule of college bands at the annual LMEA conference and serves as chair of the biannual Louisiana Intercollegiate Concert Band.

McDonald is also serving on the national CBDNA Athletic Bands Committee. This spring, the committee presented a completely free Virtual Athletic Bands Symposium and opened it to all music educators around the world. The committee continues to pursue ways to assist and guide the music education community through advocacy, lesson planning resources, guidance and research during the current pandemic.

Assistant Director of Bands Dr. Oliver Molina currently serves as Education Committee chair of the Percussive Arts Society and the vice president of the Louisiana Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.

“None of this happens without the support of the university administration and we sincerely appreciate that support,” said Mathews. “Our students’ dedication to excellence and loyalty to the program make our jobs easy and contributes significantly to the success of the band program.”

Over the past 15 months, Mathews led the NSU Wind Symphony in performance at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles International Conference in Bunol, Spain. The band was selected to perform by a panel of wind band conductors from around the world. The Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Southern Division Conference. Mathews served as the host of the conference at NSU. Twelve university, high school, and middle school bands performed at the conference. Over 80 band directors and 1,300 students were on campus for the event.

A video of the “Spirit of Northwestern” marching band submitted by McDonald to the CBDNA Southern Division Conference was chosen to be highlighted at the conference. The Spirit of Northwestern performed in front of over 100,000 fans in the Demons game at LSU last season. The halftime included a combined performance with over 650 band members that filled the field.

The Wind Ensemble led by McDonald performed as a clinic band during a conducting symposium at the CBDNA Southern Division Conference. McDonald assisted with rehearsals and conducted a portion of the program on the Wind Symphony’s performance in Buñol, Spain.

In the fall of 2019, Molina’s students won the 2019 Percussive Arts Society International Convention Concert Chamber Ensemble Competition. A percussion ensemble led by Molina was also recently selected to present a New Literature Showcase concert at PASIC in 2020. This performance has been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19.

By Royal Alexander/Opinion

The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it. – George Orwell

We are living in a strange time when our country’s elite seek to create, rather than discern, the truth they want.

We are viewing the equivalent of a distorting mirror in a carnival or fair. We’re not allowed to say what we are truly seeing because it doesn’t fit the national media political narrative that our form of government is oppressive and that we are a nation of irredeemable racists.

We’re not supposed to remember that people are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt or that fear of a mob shouldn’t determine who is prosecuted and who isn’t, or who is thrown out of college or fired from their job. It’s grotesque to have hundreds of people outside of a courtroom demanding that someone be found guilty. What if they’re not? (This is why courts require evidence of a crime, not perceptions, opinions, or grievances).

We aren’t allowed to point out that the crime, violence, vandalism, and destruction we see occurring nightly in American cities is illegal and should be punished, and that these are not “peaceful protests.” We aren’t allowed to say that all black lives matter—not just the fraction of black lives taken by white police officers—but also the hundreds of thousands of black babies aborted every year as well as the thousands of black lives tragically lost as a result of black-on-black crime in American inner cities every year.

We aren’t supposed to notice that the months-long rioting, looting and destruction has only occurred in states and cities headed by Leftist governors and mayors. We also aren’t allowed to point out that the virus mandates are arbitrary at best; or, that we find it transparently stupid and indefensible that people are allowed to march in massive protest rallies but not to attend church or the funeral of a loved one.

Or, to remember that the original goal was to “flatten the curve” not commandeer our lives and wreck the economy. Or, that the damage we have done to our national economy during the shutdown is likely worse than the virus itself. If we suggest anything like this we are attacked as being anti-science and wanting people to die.

We’re not supposed to say that the most critical problem destroying many American inner cities is crime—armed robbery, murder, gang violence, drug dealing and drive-by shootings—because the national media political narrative is that the police are the problem and somehow if we defund them everything will be better. Or, that what is really needed in crime-filled inner cities is not less law enforcement but more.

Or that our form of American free-market capitalism is the greatest economic system ever created and has lifted millions out of poverty, inspiring millions more worldwide who urgently seek to come here for the great freedoms, hope and promise of a better life. And that maybe we shouldn’t create in America the very socialism these people are desperately fleeing!

Don’t state that Communism, and Socialism, its precursor, is a cold, dark, atheistic ideology that denies people basic human rights and views the individual as nothing more than a cog in the wheel of an all-powerful government; or that historians estimate roughly 100 million were killed under communist rule in the 20th century; or that the anarchy and chaos of Antifa and the Marxist tactics and public embrace of Marxist ideology of Black Lives Matter (“if this country doesn’t give us what we want, then we will burn down this system”) is not the way to advance freedom and justice or make democratic change because they guarantee the opposite will occur.

We are not allowed to agree that while America is, indeed, an ethnic and cultural melting pot, the large majority of those who immigrated to America did so legally, and we shouldn’t be forced to subsidize the healthcare, welfare, education and Covid-relief of those in the country illegally.

Particularly now, we have an obligation to speak the truth about what we are seeing, and we must do so in order to preserve the America we love.

 

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.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board are proud to announce the selection of chefs from across the state to represent their areas in the 13th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off. For safety reasons, this year’s event will have a little different look, switching from the kitchen stadium format to virtual for 2020 and include a chance for viewers to participate.

“It’s unfortunate we will not be able to gather together for this great celebration of Louisiana seafood and cuisine, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to celebrate and crown a King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “And since we can’t be together, we are bringing the competition to the people of Louisiana through a virtual event, recipes they can recreate in their kitchens, and a chance to show these chefs their appreciation for continuing the great culinary traditions that have made Louisiana a place where you can Feed Your Soul.”

The main competition will be recorded on Monday, September 28, and Tuesday, September 29, with each chef being assigned a time slot to prepare and cook their dish, then present it to three judges for scoring. Judges will score dishes on presentation, creativity, composition, craftsmanship, and flavor. Additionally, each dish will be prepared from a recipe which includes ingredients commonly found in grocery stores, and include instructions on how to prepare the dish so viewers can recreate it in their own kitchens.

This year’s competing chefs are:

Logan Boudreaux; Cinclare Southern Bistro; Thibodaux, LA
Justin Componation; Parish Restaurant & Bar; Monroe, LA
Anthony Felan; Fat Calf Brasserie; Shreveport, LA
Ben Fidelak; Mariner’s Restaurant; Natchitoches, LA
Devan Giddix; Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House; New Orleans, LA
Scott Ricci; Drago’s Seafood Restaurant; Baton Rouge, LA
Dominique Schexnayder; Dominique’s Wine Boutique & Bistro; Houma, LA
Amy Sins; Langlois; New Orleans, LA
Robert Vasquez; Pepe’s Sonoran Cuisine; Covington, LA
Chris Vazquez; Redfish Grill; New Orleans, LA

New for 2020 is the addition of a “People’s Choice” award. The preparation and cooking of each dish will be recorded and posted to the Louisiana Seafood website for everyone to view, along with step-by-step instructions from each chef for you to prepare at home.

Viewers will be directed to a website where they can vote for their favorite dish or chef.

Chef videos will be posted for viewing on Thursday, October 15, and “People’s Choice” voting will be open until Monday, October 27. Then on Wednesday, October 28, you can join the finale of the 2020 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off “LASCO@Home” Edition online for the announcement the “People’s Choice” winner and the 2020 King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood. As we get closer to the finale, more information will be available.

For the biographies and photos of the 10 chefs competing this year, please see the attached document of visit www.louisianaseafood.com/louisiana-seafood-cook-chefs.

For more information on the 2020 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, please visit LouisianaSeafood.com

The Friends of the Natchitoches Parish Library (FONPL) mini book sale will be ending on Oct. 2. That means you have just over a week to browse the hundreds of items available for purchase, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, in the Natchitoches Parish Library (NPL) Meeting Room. All proceeds will go towards NPL programming and literacy initiatives. All items are being offered for 50 cents each and new selections are added daily. Come and find some movies, books, and audiobooks, at a great price and for a good cause!

The NPL is following the state’s occupancy guidelines and will be limiting the number of people in the building. Masks are required upon entry. For more information on library events, you may visit natlib.org or call 318-357-3280. For the most up to date information, follow the library’s Facebook page for announcements.

Northwestern State University’s Cane River Reading Series will present Leigh Camacho Rourks for a virtual read via Zoom beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, followed by a question and answer session.

Rourks is a Cuban American author who lives and works in central Florida where she is an assistant professor of English and humanities at Beacon College. She is the recipient of the St. Lawrence Book Award for a collection of short stories titled “Moon Trees and Other Orphans.” She is winner of the Glenna Luschei Prairie Schooner Award and the Robert Watson Literary Review Prize and her work has been short-listed for several other awards. Rourks’ fiction, poems and essays have appeared in a number of journals, including Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner, RHONO, TriQuartely, December Magazine and Greensboro Review.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Dr. Andy Briseno at brisenoj@nsula.edu.

Scott Burrell has been named director of The Mrs. H.D. Dear Sr. and Alice E. Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University. Brian Gabrial will remain as interim head of the Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts and Terrie Sanders has been named as interim head of the Department of Music. The appointments have been approved by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

Burrell recently coordinated a $500,000 renovation to NSU’s A.A. Fredricks Auditorium that will enhance the facility which hosts a variety of university and community events.

Before becoming Director, Burrell was the head of the NSU Theatre and Dance program for 12 years. Burrell has been a member of the theatre faculty since 1998. Under his guidance the theatre/dance program grew its enrollment by 30%, established a BFA in Dance, four faculty lines were created and over $300,000 in grant funds were awarded.

Burrell has graduated a number of successful students who have moved into all areas of professional theatre and dance. Before the pandemic, there were five NSU Theatre/Dance alum on Broadway. His educational background includes a B.A in Theatre from Catawba College and an M.F.A. in Directing from Virginia Commonwealth University.

He has served in a number of leadership roles at Northwestern including the University Registrar Search Committee Chair, Grievance Committee Chair, Vice President of the Faculty Senate, and many other committee memberships. He was also awarded the NSU Faculty Advisor of the Year in 2017. Burrell is a member of the University of Louisiana System’s Management and Leadership Institute. Institute participants include faculty and staff members from each of the System’s nine member institutions who have exhibited upper management potential and a desire for leadership development.

Burrell holds a Teacher Certification in the Michael Chekhov Acting Technique.

Gabrial served as interim department head in 2019-20. Over the past year, Students and faculty in the department were awarded a Bronze Telly Award in the Non-Broadcast Educational Institution category for a March 19 NSU-TV Newscast. Gabrial served as executive advisor for the newscast. He joined NSU’s faculty two years ago as the Erbon and Marie Wise Endowed Chair in Journalism. Gabrial serves as chair of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee.

He was a member of the journalism faculty at Concordia University from 2004 to 2018. Gabrial was the Mitchell V. Charnley Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Minnesota in 2011-12.

Gabrial was a news producer at RFD-TV, KETV-TV in Omaha, Nebraska, and at KSTP-TV and KARE-TV in Minneapolis. He was also a research project manager for the Minneapolis-based National Jury Project.

He earned a bachelor’s degree at Creighton University and a master’s and doctorate at the University of Minnesota.

Gabrial was the recipient of the Hazel Dicken-Garcia Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Journalism History, presented at the Symposium on the 19th-century press, the Civil War, and Free Expression, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He is the author of the book “The Press and Slavery in America, 1791-1859: The Melancholy Effect of Popular Excitement” published by the University of South Carolina Press. He has published four peer reviewed journal articles, two co-authored articles and seven book chapters along with book reviews and more than two dozen professional presentations along with participating in panels at professional conferences.

Sanders has been a member of NSU’s faculty since 1992, teaching voice and vocal pedagogy.She holds degrees from Emmanuel College, Lee University and Northwestern State University. She also holds a certification with the McClosky Institute of Voice and is a Master Teacher for that organization. Sanders is a doctoral student at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Sanders is an active performer and lecturer. As a soloist, some of her Oratorio appearances include Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” Handel’s “Messiah,” Poulenc’s “Gloria,” Brahms’ “German Requiem,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Requiem,” Haydn’s “Nelson Mass,” Bach’s “Magnificat,” Mozart’s “Requiem,” Vaughn Williams’ “Hodie,” Mendelsohn’s “Elijah” and Honegger’s “King David.” Her opera performances include Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and “La Bohѐme,” Menotti’s “The Telephone” and Warren Martin’s “The True Story of Cinderella.”

Sanders has been a member of the Summer Seminar Faculty for the McClosky Institute of Voice based in Boston since 2005. She has presented at state, regional and international conferences including the International Congress of Voice Teachers (2012 and 2017) and the Southern Region Conference for the National Association of Teachers of Singing (2014). She regularly presents master classes and lectures throughout the state and region on alignment, relaxation and breathing techniques for the singer.

Sanders has served as coordinator of academic advising activities for the School of Creative and Performing Arts and the program coordinator for the BM degrees. She was chair of the Music Curriculum Committee. Sanders is the Danny and Lenn Dohmann Endowed Professor for 2020-21. She is a two-time recipient of the Donald F. Derby Endowed Professorship and was the 2017 recipient of the Joanna Magale Endowed Professorship, which funded an invitation to present at the 2017 International Congress of Voice Teachers in Stockholm, Sweden.

NATCHITOCHES:
Patricia Ardison
September 13, 2020
Service: Saturday, September 26 at 11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

SABINE:
Magda Lea McCormick
February 20, 1929 – September 20, 2020
Service: Thursday, September 24 at 10 am at the First Baptist Church of Many

Herman Sepulvado
February 14, 1931 – September 20, 2020
Service: Wednesday, September 23 at 2:30 pm at Ramah Cemetery in Ashland

WINN:
Franklin DeLeon Howell
December 27, 1974 – September 16, 2020
Service: Wednesday, September 23 at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Winnfield

RED RIVER:
Nora Elizabeth McEachern
December 01, 1955 – September 20, 2020
Service: Wednesday, September 23 at 10 am at Minden City Cemetery

Lonnie “Nubby” Eli Giddings, Jr.
December 28, 1958 – September 21, 2020
Service: Wednesday, September 23 at 10 am at Zion Baptist Church

Perhaps the most interesting portion of Monday night’s Parish Council meeting, Sept. 21, dealt with tax exemption applications for Roy O Martin that were denied at the Aug. 17 meeting.

Roy O Martin III, CEO of Martco LLC, came before the Council to ask them to reconsider their previous vote. The applications presented at August’s meeting were the 60th or 70th tax exemption applications that have come before the Council and formerly before the Police Jury.

Roy said they monitor government entity websites so they know whenever an agenda item comes up that concerns them within the 32 parishes they do business in throughout the state. The Parish Government failed to publish the agenda for August’s meeting to its website.

Roy came to the September meeting to let the Council know that he’s submitted an appeal to the Louisiana Board of Commerce and Industry and to ask the Council to reconsider its vote from August and write a letter of support for the tax exemption applications instead. Northwestern State University President Dr. Chris Maggio and State Senator for District 31 Louie Bernard came to show their support.

When a motion was made to amend the agenda to approve said letter (which requires an unanimous vote) Council member Patsy Ward Hoover voted no.

The Council has until Oct. 14 to submit a letter of support and Council member Chris Paige said they can hold a special called meeting if they need to in order to get the ball rolling on this.

In other news, the Parish’s Office of Community Services relocated and has been operating out of its new location at 700 Trudeau Street for a week now.

Parish Treasurer Julie Lockhart reported that the recent audit came back with no findings and that this is the second time in 10 years that the Parish has had a clean audit. It will be presented at the Council’s October meeting.

Other business included a presentation by Kristin Delahoussaye with the Capital Area Finance Authority, which is a housing finance authority based out of Baton Rouge that offers grants to first time home buyers through its lending partners. Operating in 49 parishes now, Delahoussaye asked the Council to consider entering into a cooperative endeavor agreement. First time home buyers would benefit from grants giving them up to 7% toward their downpayment and closing costs, while the Parish would benefit from some income from fees associated with the process (dependent upon parish and lender participation).

During his Parish President report, John Richmond updated the Council that TESI has indicated their intent to require “compensation” before they’re willing to donate the sewer system for the Payne Subdivision Sewer Improvement project. Richmond said he notified Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell of TESI’s change of heart and asked for his involvement. He also said that the CEA for the Fish Hatchery Road project has been received and signed. Surveying has begun and bid documents are being prepared. While the project was delayed due to Hurricane Laura he expects work to begin before the end of the year.

In other business, the Council tabled an agenda item to amend the Parish of Natchitoches Personnel Manual to provide that effective Jan. 1, 2021, the job position of Council Clerk is a part-time position, and to set the salary for that part-time position.

Other agenda items included:

Reappointment of Mark Swafford, William D. Musselwhite and Mary Ann Motter to the Fire District #3 Board.

Emergency Ordinance 16-2020 to authorize the Parish Planning and Zoning Department to waive all fees on permits issued for work to repair damage caused by Hurricane Laura (retroactive to Aug. 27), which shouldn’t exceed an estimated $5,000. This will only be available to parish residents through the end of October.

Approve the assessed value levied by Natchitoches Parish Tax Assessor Dollie Mahoney for Alliance Compressors c/o Emerson Climate (Assessors Value is $25, 847, 867 and Alliance requested $11, 375,000), Dollar Tree (Assessors Value is $642,400 and Dollar Tree requested $445,668), and Family Dollar (Assessors Value is $525,400 and Family Dollar requested #333,198).

Adopt Ordinance 015-2020 for budget amendment for Highway Fund, CoCo Bed Capital Outlay Fund, Fish Hatchery Capital Outlay Fund, Old River Road Capital Outlay Fund and 201 Capital Outlay Fund.

Approve Resolution 042-2020 to allow Natchitoches Parish Government to provide Health Insurance and other benefits to employees and retirees which meet eligibility requirements for the following departments: Highway, General Administration, Finance, Solid Waste, Planning and Zoning, Health Unit, Government Buildings, Library, Tenth Judicial District Court, District Attorney, Criminal Court, Public Safety/Civil Defense, Registrar of Voters, and OCS employees.

Award bid for highway department pneumatic roller to Scott Equipment.

Award RFP 2020-01 to DRC Emergency Services for debris removal due to Hurricane Laura and RFP 2020-02 to Witt O’Brien’s for debris monitoring services, which are estimated to cost a combines total of $1.5 million (75% of which will be reimbursed by FEMA with the potential for 90% reimbursement should Louisiana breach a threshold for total damage. Richmond feels this is very likely considering the amount of destruction throughout the state.).

Enter into a lease and/or CEA with Hagewood Water System to allow the system to use a portion of the Parish’s property at 6354 Hwy. 485 in Robeline to connect the system to the Sabine Water System for emergency backup water supply.

Authorize purchase of a new loader under State Contract #4400015170 in the amount of $155,715 from Scott Equipment, which failed with a 3-2 vote (Hoover, Kilcoyne and Salter voted this agenda item down).

Approve selection of projects and submission of applications for Capital Outlay funding by the state of Louisiana for the following roads: Payne Subdivison Phase II, Pardee, Hart, Harmony, Goldonna, Bayou Derbonne and Blanchard.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is joining registrars of voters across the state the week of Sept. 21-25, 2020 to host Voter Registration Week activities aimed at registering eligible citizens to vote.

“Registering to vote is the critical first step in making your voice heard at the ballot box,” Ardoin said. “This fall, voters will select leaders at all levels of government and I encourage all unregistered voters to register to vote. 

Louisiana was one of the first states in the nation to implement an easy, convenient online voter registration portal. Citizens with a valid Louisiana driver’s license or Louisiana Special ID card can register online 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the convenience of their home or office by visiting https://voterportal.sos.la.gov.

Residents of Louisiana can also register in person at their parish Registrar of Voters Office, when they apply for or renew their driver’s license at any Office of Motor Vehicles or when obtaining services at public assistance agencies and Armed Forces recruitment offices. Citizens wishing to register by mail can download and print the application from our website at GeauxVote.com, or complete an application found at public libraries or through registration drives.

To register and vote in Louisiana individuals must:

· be a U.S. citizen;

· be at least 17 years old (16 years old if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or at the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles) to register and 18 years old prior to the next election to vote;

· not be under an order of imprisonment for conviction of a felony or, if under such an order not have been incarcerated pursuant to the order within the last five years and not be under an order of imprisonment related to a felony conviction for election fraud or any other election offense pursuant to La. R.S. 18:1461.2;

· not be under a judgment of full interdiction for mental incompetence or partial interdiction with suspension of voting rights;

· be a resident in the state and parish in which you seek to register and vote;

· apply at least 20 days prior to an election if registering online or 30 days prior to an election if registering in person or by mail.

The deadline to register to vote in person or by mail is Monday, Oct. 5. The deadline to register to vote online is Tuesday, Oct. 13.

For a complete listing of voter registration activities in individual parishes, visit the Secretary of State’s website and social media platforms. For more information about elections and voting, contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov.

Applications now open for 2021-22 school year.

Do you want to attend a high school that is ranked in the top one percent of ALL high schools in the nation? The time to apply to attend LSMSA for the 2021-22 school year is now.

The application process is now officially open at LSMSA for current freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Our Enrollment Services Team is available to answer your questions and speak with you about changes to the application process brought on by COVID-19.

Priority deadline for applications is April 1. This does not mean the school stops accepting applications. Students who complete their applications after this date may be placed on a waiting list.

The first step is to complete and submit the online application found at www.LSMSA.edu/apply. The application contains sections which must be completed by the applicant and the parent/guardian.

The next step is to register to take the ACT, SAT, or CLT. If taking the ACT, the Office of Enrollment Services recommends the Dec. 12 or Feb. 6 test dates. If taking the SAT, the Dec. 5 or March 13 test dates are recommended. If taking the CLT, the Dec. 5 and Feb. 27 dates are recommended. When registering for tests, please be sure to use code 6351 in the four digit space for reports to colleges and scholarship programs. This code will ensure that test scores will be sent to LSMSA in a timely manner.

Complete the online request for letters of recommendation from a principal or guidance counselor, a math teacher and an English teacher.

After winter break, submit a copy of your mid-year report card to our Enrollment Services team. Students applying to enroll at LSMSA as juniors should submit a transcript with prior credits earned as well.

Make plans to visit LSMSA’s campus! Private tours can be scheduled at any time by contacting the Office of Enrollment Services. If conditions allow, we will host Campus Exploration Days in the Spring. We will also be hosting a variety of online meetings and seminars throughout the fall and winter. For more information, visit http://www.lsmsa.edu/admissions/learn-more.

Most interviews are completed over the phone, so it will not require a separate campus visit for the student.

For more information, contact the Office of Enrollment Services by calling 318-357-2503 or emailing admissions@lsmsa.edu.

POSITION: Electrical Department – Groundman Laborer

QUALIFICATIONS: A working knowledge of principles and practices in overhead and underground electrical power line installation, maintenance procedures and operating/maintenance of substations including

low voltage service work is desirable, trim trees and branches and assist the Right of Way Crew.

Must work towards obtaining a CDL license. Overtime, standby and dependability is required.

EDUCATION: High School diploma or equivalent.

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 may download an application on line at www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through October 2, 2020

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

The Women’s Resource Center of Natchitoches is pleased to announce that their 14th Annual Celebration of Life Gala will be held this upcoming Thursday, Sept. 26. The program will be live-streamed at no charge on their Facebook page and will officially begin at 6:30 p.m.

The WRC hosts this event every September to allow them to continue to serve the more than 400 women they see every year. These women come from over seven different parishes, most of them young, in need, and experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Services include information, emotional and spiritual support and encouragement, and material assistance up to a year after her child is born. These services are designed to give a woman the confidence she needs to make a life affirming choice for her unborn child, aid her in having a healthy pregnancy, and to equip her to be a successful woman and mother.

This is the major fundraising event held by the WRC each year and plays a large role in allowing WRC to continue to provide all services free of charge to clients. The only difference is the location, that it will be fully virtual. Due to COVID-19, the WRC aims to allow anyone near and far in Central Louisiana and beyond to safely join in from their homes, churches, workplaces, and more to watch this live-streamed program. There will also be a call center set up the night of the Gala, where volunteers can take donations during the program or provide information on the center’s services to any woman in need that may be watching.

The keynote speaker this year is Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life. Louisiana Right to Life, established in 1970, works through education, activism, legislation and service to restore the right to life in Louisiana. During his years with Louisiana Right to Life, Clapper has built a volunteer-run organization into a professional operation making an impact in Louisiana from the State Capitol to the high school classroom. During his time working to advance pro-life legislation, Louisiana has been at or near the top of the list of most pro-life states in the nation. Clapper has worked on the political side to elect pro-life leaders to office.

Within walking distance of NSU, the WRC was founded in 1989 to offer assistance and guidance to young women facing difficult life situations most often due to unplanned pregnancies. Since that early beginning, thousands of young women have been served by providing them with pregnancy tests, counseling, prenatal education, ultrasounds, childbirth instruction, breastfeeding education, car seat safety classes, parenting classes, material assistance, and liaisons to community assistance. Thousands of hours each year in service are provided thanks to the numerous trained volunteers and nurses on staff.

Thanks to the generous contributions of individual supporters, organizations, churches, and businesses, the WRC reaches hundreds of young women each year from all walks of life to ensure that when they walk into the Center, they will never receive any type of bill after they leave.

The event page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/297934961434063/. In lieu of tickets this year, donations can be made to the Women’s Resource Center located at 107 North Street in Natchitoches or by calling (318) 357-8888.

Members of the Northwest Louisiana Human Trafficking Task Force (Task Force), which is comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and non-governmental organizations, have noticed a disturbing trend in the rise of sexual predator cases. For instance, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has reported a 200 percent increase in online sexual predator cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Because of this trend, the Task Force has launched “Project R.I.S.K.” (Reliable Internet Safety for Kids).

Since March of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has pushed our youth more to the internet than ever before. Today, the internet not only entertains and connects our youth with their peers, but a vast majority of them are using the internet for virtual schooling. This increase in internet activity allows more opportunity for predators to interact with our youth. As we see in all cases, predators will also adapt to their changing environments.

In this Public Service Announcement (PSA), which launches Project R.I.S.K., leaders of area law enforcement agencies provide advice to help prevent predators from victimizing children. Leaders advise all guardians (parents, teachers, custodians, etc.) to place ALL devices (computers, laptops, tablets, and phones) in common areas. Phones, even those with no service, allow the same access to predators as a computer or other device. Guardians need to know what apps are on these devices and also know their children’s passwords. Project R.I.S.K. encourages all guardians to engage in their children’s activities.

All agencies in our Task Force share a united front to eliminate all human trafficking type cases; however, to be more successful, we need assistance from the public. We understand many guardians want to protect their kids but may not know where to look for “reliable internet safety information.” Project R.I.S.K. has asked all agencies in our Task Force to post this reliable information on their websites, so guardians will always have this information at their fingertips. Finally, members of the Task Force will be available to meet with citizens, local government officials, community organizations, school boards, churches, and other groups to discuss Project R.I.S.K. and internet safety.

Due to the current health crisis, the 2020 Kids’ Creative Canvases Competition, sponsored by the Natchitoches Art Guild and Gallery, originally scheduled for June has been moved to September. We announce this call to art, open to students from 1st grade to 12th in the Natchitoches Art Gallery at 584 Front Street, Suite 102 in Natchitoches.

NAGG is currently accepting applications for the event which runs from Sept. 13-27. Application forms and canvases can be obtained from the gallery during regular gallery hours Sunday through Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm.

The entry fee of $10 provides each participant the opportunity to display original work in the gallery and the required canvas. Each student will be allowed (1) one entry, with a maximum of 60 total entries. Due to legal restrictions, works cannot be sold through the gallery.

Prizes will be awarded in each category – Elementary, Junior High and High School, with awards being presented on Sept. 27. In compliance with current guidelines, and in order to do our part in keeping safe, each category award will be presented at staggered intervals to minimize contact. Sadly, we must limit attendance to the artist and parents/guardian.

If more information is needed, call the gallery at 318 352 1626

POSITION: Utility Department – Electrician

DESCRIPTION: Performs skilled work in the operation, maintenance and repair of electrical systems and equipment. Operates a variety of specialized related equipment.

QUALIFICATIONS: Performs skilled work in the reconstruction, maintaining and repairing electrical systems and equipment and lift stations. Inspects, test, calibrates and adjusts various controls or meters used in electrical, water and sewer systems. Working knowledge of design, layout, assembly, installation, testing and maintenance of electrical systems. Working Knowledge of low voltage systems, control wiring and the ability to understand high voltage systems.

EDUCATION: High School diploma or equivalent. Two (2) years related experience.

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 may download an application on line at www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through October 2, 2020

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

JOB TITLE: Meter Reader

DEPARTMENT: Utility

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Will be required to read all types of water and electric meters both electronically and visually. Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. Responsible for connecting and disconnecting utility services. Must be able to learn how to operate various electronic meter reading equipment and software. Basic math skills are required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  High School diploma, or GED Equivalent.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches
Human Resources Department
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 may be downloaded at www.natchitochesla.gov

Applications will be accepted through: October 5, 2020

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

NATCHITOCHES:
Walter Poche’, Jr.
December 25, 1946 – September 19, 2020
Service: Tuesday, September 22 at 11 am at Fern Park Cemetery in Natchitoches

Joseph Lawrence Roque, Sr.
March 06, 1930 – September 13, 2020
Service: Tuesday, September 22 at 11 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

SABINE:
Patricia Ardison
September 13, 2020
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Franklin DeLeon Howell
December 27, 1974 – September 16, 2020
Service: Wednesday, September 23 at 10 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Winnfield

Natchitoches Parish and surrounding parishes should begin to feel the outer bands of rain from Tropical Storm Beta as early as today. The weather service is forecasting an 80% chance of rain.

From the National Weather Service Shreveport office:

Here’s the 4am CDT advisory on from the National Hurricane Center on Tropical Storm Beta. Rain from Beta will quickly spread northward and become widespread today. Showers and thunderstorms will likely persist for much of this week. Through Saturday morning, rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are still possible for much of the area.

Beta is forecast to approach and make landfall on the central Texas Coast later on Monday with flooding rains extending northeastward from the center.

As Tropical Storm Beta continues to move slowly toward the Texas Coast, Tropical Storm and Storm Surge warnings remain in effect along the Gulf Coast from the middle Texas coast to Southwest Louisiana. Within the storm surge warning areas, there is the danger of life-threatening storm surge near periods of high tide through Tuesday. Because of the storm’s slow motion, Beta is expected to produce a long duration heavy rainfall event, with flooding likely from the middle Texas coast to southern Louisiana. Heavy rains are forecast to spread northward across eastern Texas, Oklahoma and the lower Mississippi valley over the next few days.

For the Natchitoches area, showers and isolated embedded thunderstorms associated with Beta will become numerous to widespread by Monday afternoon and should continue in this fashion through Wednesday. Some of the stronger storms within the rain bands may produce gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall, especially south of Interstate 30. As soils become saturated and soft from the rain, the risk of isolated trees being uprooted will increase. Showers and thunderstorms will become more scattered Thursday and Friday and total rainfall amounts by Saturday morning of two to four inches are expected. Isolated rainfall totals of up to six inches will be possible across portions of Central and Northeast Louisiana, which may lead to a threat for flooding later this week.