The Crossroads Duo performance at Northwestern State University scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 17 has been cancelled due to weather conditions.

https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2021/02/11/crossroads-duo-to-perform-at-nsu-feb-17/

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POSITION: Part time, Natchitoches Farmers Market Garden Assistant

DESCRIPTION: Will assist in the weekly operation of the Natchitoches Farmers Market’s small gardens, weeding, planting, fertilizing, harvesting and other projects that pertain to gardens. Work week is Monday through Friday with some evenings and weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS: Experience in agriculture, farming and gardening. Must also possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent and have a valid driver’s license.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 1400 Sabine Street or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches, LA 71458-0037. Applications may be picked up upstairs at City Hall located at 700 Second St. or downloaded online at http://www.natchitochesla.gov

Visit www.readysetgonatchitoches.com for more information about the gardens and the Farmers Market

Deadline for Applications: February 26, 2021

The City of Natchitoches is an equal opportunity employer.

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It may be 37 degrees today and in the midst of a winter storm event but it didn’t keep a Webster Parish couple from professing their love for each other and stating their vows the day before Valentine’s in Natchitoches according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

It all started this morning when Natchitoches Parish Justice of the Peace Patrice Harper contacted the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office requesting a couple of deputies witness the wedding of John Sutton and Kelly Delamar of Minden at the Guy residence in Natchitoches.

Deputies normally aid and assist in all kind of functions so why not the honor of a wedding when asked.
Both deputies looked at each other and said why not, let’s do it”.

Lt. Shane LaCaze and Deputy Chris Creighton arrived shortly thereafter at the wedding venue to witness the service performed by JP Patrice Harper.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Sutton from all of us at the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and JP Harper.

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Baton Rouge – Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development continue to work with public safety partners across the state to ensure citizen safety during the winter weather event.

Citizens are urged to remain indoors and stay off of affected roadways. Bridges and overpasses across the state are the first to accumulate ice and can cause dangerous situations. Over the past two days, Troopers have investigated nearly 150 crashes. Travel at this time is highly discouraged. Motorists can find the most up-to-date road closure information by visiting http://www.511LA.org, calling 511, or downloading the Louisiana 511 smartphone application.

If travel is unavoidable, LSP offers the following winter weather driving tips:

· Reduce speed and allow extra time to reach your destination

· Increase your following distance behind other vehicles

· Do not drive using the cruise control in icy conditions

· Anticipate stops (such as stop signs and traffic signals) and brake gently while stopping

· Be aware that ice may be difficult to see and is especially likely to be present on overpasses, bridges,
and shady spots on the roadway

· If you encounter a skid, take your foot off of the accelerator and steer into the skid until you regain
control

· Use low beam headlights if it is raining or sleeting

· Watch for slow-moving DOTD vehicles as well as first responders

· Move over or, if unable to move over, reduce speed for emergency vehicles on the shoulder

· Ensure all vehicle occupants are properly restrained

If you experience difficulties or witness hazardous situations while on the highway, you may notify the nearest State Police Troop by dialing *LSP (*577) from your cell phone.

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SHREVEPORT– Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) has ended the controlled outages implemented today, Feb. 15, in an emergency procedure prompted by extreme winter temperatures.

The rotating controlled outages were implemented when SWEPCO and other utilities were called upon by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the regional organization that manages the electric grid across 17 central and western U.S. states. The planned and coordinated interruption of service is part of emergency procedures to reduce load on the electric system and prevent wider area outages.

The combined efforts of SWEPCO and other utilities achieved the required reduction in demand for electricity and SPP returned to a lower emergency level focused on continued energy conservation.

SWEPCO is completing the restoration of power to any remaining customers impacted by the temporary outages.

“This is an extraordinary weather situation, and we are continuing efforts to maintain reliability across the entire region,” said Malcolm Smoak, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers as we all work together to make it through this emergency.”

SWEPCO will keep customers informed of any changes over the next few days as the region continues to deal with persistent, widespread and extreme cold.

SWEPCO is asking customers to continue energy conservation efforts. Use energy needed for personal safety and to protect against property damage. Minor adjustments to thermostats, plus reduced use of lighting and appliances, can make a significant difference to the overall electric system.

At the request of SPP, SWEPCO on Sunday issued a public appeal to conserve energy Monday and Tuesday. However, conditions across the SPP system worsened and controlled outages were implemented.

SWEPCO will provide updates through the news media, on SWEPCO.com, and on the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

SPP is a regional transmission organization: a not-for-profit corporation mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices on behalf of its members. SPP manages the electric grid across 17 central and western U.S. states and provides energy services on a contract basis to customers in both the Eastern and Western Interconnections. The company’s headquarters are in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at SPP.org.

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Due to potentially dangerous weather conditions, Natchitoches Parish Schools will continue to conduct virtual learning for the remainder of the week. All school campuses and offices will be closed until Monday, February 22, 2021.

“After consultations with local officials and the National Weather Service,” says NPSB Superintendent, Dr. Grant Eloi, “we feel this is the best and safest decision for all of our students, faculty and staff.”

Students were sent home on Friday, February 12th with paper packets and iPads to assist them with remote learning. Principals are prepared to work with parents during this time to excuse any absences related to loss of electricity.

Please continue to check the NPSB website and social media pages for future weather closure updates.

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All classes on all Northwestern State University campuses will be held virtually beginning at noon Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 19. Employees on all campuses will telework beginning Tuesday, February 16, and will continue working remotely through Friday, February 19, according to NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio.

Administrators closely watching the Natchitoches-area forecast determined that roads could remain hazardous for several days following the arctic blast that crept into Texas and Louisiana overnight Sunday.

“It is with an abundance of caution that we move to remote instruction the remainder of the week,” Maggio said. “Many of our students had traveled to their homes for Mardi Gras break and it could be unsafe for them to attempt to return to Natchitoches this week. Students who are experiencing power outages will receive excused absences.”

Information will be made available atwww.nsula.edu and the university’s social media channels as the situation develops.

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NONE REPORTED

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that all state maintained roadways with the exception of I-20 and I-49 (sections that remain open) in the 7-parish Northwest region have been deemed impassable due to winter weather conditions.

There has been significant accumulation of snow and ice on bridges, overpasses, and roadways resulting in travel conditions that are considered to be inadvisable. With additional winter precipitation expected to impact the region over the next few days, DOTD is strongly urging motorists to avoid ALL unnecessary travel, including on interstates that remain open.

The major impacted routes include but are NOT limited to:
US 71 (Natchitoches/Red River Parish line to Arkansas state line)
US 171 (Sabine/DeSoto Parish line to I-20 in Caddo Parish)
LA 1 (Natchitoches/Red River Parish line to Arkansas state line)
US 84 (Texas state line to US 171 in Mansfield)
LA 2 (Texas state line to Union Parish line)
LA 9 (Natchitoches/Bienville Parish line to Arkansas state line)
US 371 (I-49 to the Arkansas state line)
US 79 (Minden to Arkansas state line)
LA 3 (Bossier City to Arkansas state line)
LA 526 (LA 3132 to I-49)
LA 3132 (I-20 to LA 523)

While these and many other routes have not been barricaded and marked as ‘closed’, it is the intent of DOTD to warn motorists that roadway conditions have deteriorated and travel could be hazardous. If travel is absolutely necessary, DOTD urges drivers to adhere to the following safety tips:

Drive slowly and carefully.
Avoid driving while distracted.
Always allow for extra driving time.
Avoid using cruise control.
Reduce speeds when visibility is low.
Make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles.
Be on the lookout for DOTD crews and other emergency responders and their equipment.

Remember that it’s unlawful and unsafe to drive around a road closed barricade for any reason.

Also, beware of black ice – a thin, transparent layer of ice accumulation that can be visually hard to detect on bridges, overpasses, off-ramps and in shady spots. As always, DOTD reminds motorists to buckle up and refrain from distracted driving or driving under the influence.

511 Traveler Information: Travelers can find information regarding road closures by downloading the Louisiana 511 mobile app or by visiting the 511 Traveler Information website at http://www.511la.org. This website is updated in real time with changing road conditions.

Photo: DOTD- I20 at Greenwood

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Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), acting upon a request of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), is asking all customers to conserve electricity for 48 hours beginning at 12:01 a.m. Monday as extreme cold grips the region. SPP, the regional organization that manages the electric grid across 17 central and western U.S. states, reports a high demand for electricity that is expected to increase over the next several days because of persistent, widespread and extreme cold.

Steps to reduce electricity use include:

· Turn down the thermostat 2 to 3 degrees, especially overnight. (Consider wearing additional layers of clothing to remain comfortable.)

· Set programmable thermostats to lower temperatures when no one is home.

· Limit use of large appliances (i.e., dishwasher, washer, dryer, etc.)

· Avoid using unnecessary lighting and other electrical devices.

Open curtains on the sunny side of the house to warm up your home. If there’s no sun, close the shades to keep warm air inside.

SWEPCO asks its customers to take whatever measures they can to limit the use of electricity, so that no further actions are necessary. Customers’ combined efforts can reduce overall demand for electricity and help ease the situation.

SWEPCO will provide updates through the news media, on SWEPCO.com.

SWEPCO customers in East Texas and the Panhandle also may hear advisories from neighboring grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which serves much of the rest of the state. SWEPCO is not part of ERCOT. SWEPCO is part of SPP, which is a separate regional reliability grid.

SPP is a regional transmission organization: a not-for-profit corporation mandated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure and competitive wholesale electricity prices on behalf of its members. SPP manages the electric grid across 17 central and western U.S. states and provides energy services on a contract basis to customers in both the Eastern and Western Interconnections. The company’s headquarters are in Little Rock, Arkansas. 

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By Kevin Shannahan/Opinion

“The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.” – V.I. Lenin

Vladimir Lenin’s prescient quote is more relevant today, 97 years after his death, than it was during the early days of the Soviet Union. After all, aside from oil, vodka and the AK-47, Lenin and his successors had little influence upon the world economy. Regretfully, such is not the case for Communist China.

When the first Top Gun movie came out in 1986, I was a young Air Force officer in a subterranean and considerably less glamorous area of the military, North Dakota being rather bereft of beach volleyball opportunities. The movie was a tremendous amount of fun. Top Gun had flying, cheesy lines and singing to Kelly McGillis. Then there was the opportunity to poke jest at our Naval brethren in those days before “don’t ask, don’t tell” about the disturbing lack of a feminine touch in the shirtless, oily beach volleyball scene and the really good time everyone seemed to be having in the locker room.

And now, 34 years later, there will be a sequel to Top Gun. From the trailers I have seen, it promises to be a stunning piece of cinematography. Advances in filmmaking make the flying scenes simply breathtaking. I was also interested in how the film would treat a Pete “Maverick” Mitchell who was no longer the young officer of 30 plus years ago. For all the campy and over the top scenes, the first Top Gun was, at heart, a serious film. Sacrifice, self-discovery, overcoming adversity and courage in fulfilling your responsibilities marked Maverick’s journey through the movie. At the end, he was more than a gifted, if immature, aviator, he became a Naval officer.

I was looking forward to the second Top Gun movie’s release. A pity, as I will not be seeing it and I rather hope it is a dismal failure at the box office. The movie may be a superbly beautiful paean to military aviation. The characters may exemplify all that is right and good about military service. That is of no import, the movie is irredeemably marred by its maker’s moral failure.

There is an iconic part of Maverick’s uniform, his father’s aviator’s jacket from Vietnam, that he wears in scenes throughout the movie. In the 1986 movie, there was a patch on the back of the jacket with the US, UN , Japanese and Taiwanese flags. In the trailer for the second Top Gun, Cruise’s character reaches into a locker festooned with unit stickers, takes out the jacket and puts it on. Superficially, it is the same jacket. A closer look shows a telling difference. In that single scene, my desire to see the movie turned to ashes in my mouth. The Japanese and Taiwanese flags were replaced with flags containing meaningless shapes in colors similar to the flags in the original jacket. Communist China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and relations with Japan have always been fraught since the second world war. Their flags disappeared.

This change may seem to be minor and of no consequence, but it is not. The movie’s credits include Tencent Pictures, a Chinese company. Nor is this an isolated incident. Another movie, an animated children’s film “Abominable” about a Yeti in China, had a scene in a child’s room in which there was a map of China on the wall. The map included the Chinese “Nine-Line” maritime border, a border disputed by its neighbors. Nor is the exercise of Chinese soft power confined to the movie industry. The NBA is incredibly popular in China and makes quite a bit of money there. The reaction of the league, and some of its more famous players, to an executive tweeting support of democracy protesters in Hong Kong and the subsequent economic threats to the league were telling. China represents a huge part of the international market for movies, the entry of which into the country is controlled by the government. Lenin must be looking up from his dank corner of Hell and wishing that his sealed train stopped in China rather than Finland Station.

The situation with the second Top Gun movie is the most disturbing, however. Parts of the movie were filmed on an aircraft carrier. Military aircraft are used throughout the film. Naval aviators helped with filming the movie. It is probably unknowable if the Navy knew of the switched patches. At this point it does not matter. In China’s eyes every time that scene plays, their view of the world is advanced.

There is another quote from V.I. Lenin we would be wise to remember: “You probe with bayonets: if you find mush, you push. If you find steel, you withdraw.”

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and multiple fire units from Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #6 arrived on the scene of a structure fire in the 500 block of Eight Mile Loop in the Oak Grove community near Natchitoches on Feb. 13 at 5:25pm, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.
There were no reported injuries.

The residence owned by Wiley Sharbino of Natchitoches was fully engulfed.

SWEPCO and State Butane/Propane Agents responded to the scene.

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne is announcing that state offices will be closed statewide Monday, February 15, as a winter storm passes through the area.

All agency heads are responsible for determining those essential personnel who should remain on duty, report for duty or those who should report to alternate work sites as necessary. Officials continue to monitor conditions throughout the state, and this announcement may be updated.

This office closure applies to all nonessential employees, including those authorized to work from home due to COVID-19.

State employees should be aware of the following phone numbers to call, which will be updated: 1.800.360.9660 or 225.342.0498.

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NATCHITOCHES – Maybe the Northwestern State Athletic Department should distribute “Demon defibrillators” for NSU men’s basketball games.

The Demons notched their fifth straight victory Saturday afternoon, doing so in what has become their signature style, holding off visiting McNeese, 69-66, inside Prather Coliseum.

“As I told them after the game, we found a way to win when I thought we didn’t play our best,” 22nd-year head coach Mike McConathy said. “That’s the beautiful part of this. After the November and December struggles and the early January struggles, we found a way to win. Case in point, it’s a three-point game and Carvell Teasett comes up with an unbelievable play to keep them from getting a shot off. Dalin Williams at UCA takes a charge with 1.1 seconds to play. At UIW, we get a great defensive stop on Wednesday night.

“Finding a way to win and doing it a little bit unconventionally is a big thing.”

For the second straight game, Teasett, a freshman from Baton Rouge, factored into a late-game stop that preserved a win for the Demons (7-14, 6-4). With the Demons up three with 5.8 seconds to play, Teasett missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw.

Undeterred, the freshman cleanly swiped the ball from McNeese’s Zach Scott and ran out the clock as Northwestern State posted its first five-game win streak since Feb. 14-March 2, 2015.

“I know this streak is very important to us,” said Teasett, who led Northwestern State with 17 points, including nine in the second half. “When I missed that free throw, I knew I couldn’t hang my head because there was still five seconds left. I had to give it all I got. I saw him put the ball straight in my face, and I said, ‘I’m going to take this.’”

The victory gave NSU a sweep of the two-game season series with the Cowboys (8-11, 2-8) and extended the Demons’ run of success in close games.

NSU is now 5-0 in games decided by three points or less, a stretch that began with a 78-75 win against the Cowboys in Lake Charles on Jan. 9.

It continued with consecutive wins this week with defense as the theme, especially in the closing seconds. In Wednesday’s win at Incarnate Word, Teasett and LaTerrance Reed forced Keaston Willis to miss a tough shot with less than 5 seconds to play, sealing a one-point win.

It was the Demons’ defense that allowed NSU to take a four-point lead into the halftime locker room as Reed turned a late steal into a three-point play.

“First and foremost, it’s a team effort,” he said. “Guys are locking in on defense. We know our shots weren’t falling early, so we had to find a spark. This team is finding its way. We’re turning defense into offense.”

After a first half that saw neither team crack the 44-percent mark from the floor, both teams awoke offensively in the second half. McNeese outshot the Demons 57.1 percent (16-for-28) to 56 percent (14-for-25), but NSU overcame that by connecting on 6 of 10 3-point shots.

Four of the biggest 3s in the second half belonged to a pair of Demon guards.

Trenton Massner knocked down two of them – one from each corner – 58 seconds apart to swing a one-point NSU deficit to a five-point lead the Demons never relinquished in the final 2:55.

Massner had all 10 of his points in the second half.

“I was mentally out of it all game, and I don’t know what caused it,” Massner said. “I’ve heard people say defense sparks your offense, and when we got that scrum on the ground, that got me going. I pulled up in the corner and hit a tough shot, and when I hit a tough shot, the hoop feels like an ocean.”

That scrum came around midcourt in a tie game with 6:13 to play. Massner emerged from a mass of bodies with the ball, flipped it up to Jamaure Gregg who fed Reed for a left-wing 3 that broke a 53-all tie.

After McNeese regained the lead with a 4-0 spurt, Massner’s 3s put NSU ahead to stay despite another quick four-point burst from the Cowboys.

NSU maintained their advantage because of another massive 3 – this one from White, whose top-of-the-key, step-back 3 beat the shot clock and gave the Demons a 65-61 lead with 59 seconds to play.

That was enough as the NSU press forced McNeese to take time off the clock and allowed the Demons to ride out their fifth straight win.

“Our focus was big, trying to get this five-game win streak,” White said. “We had been struggling at home, so we all locked in and got it home. Like I said after the last game, (after the first McNeese game) we had a practice where we worked on straight defense. That had been our problem, giving up too many points. Since then, we’ve done pretty good.”

The Demons return to action Wednesday when they travel to Nicholls for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Colonels.

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City Bank provided lunch for the Southwestern Electric Power Company – SWEPCO team in Natchitoches on Feb. 12 as a way to say “thank you” to all the SWEPCO employees for their hard work over the last several months.

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Northwestern State University is launching an engagement campaign to compile an oral history archive that will unite alumni across generations, professions, geography and life experiences.

“This project not only will help clean up data of our constituents and alumni, but it allows the alumni of Northwestern State University to share memories and highlights of their time at NSU,” said Danielle Cobb, associate director of Alumni Affairs. “Many of us have fond memories of attending events, having a favorite professor and forming lifelong friendships while at NSU. This project will allow us to all be taken back in time and share those lasting memories with others.”

Publishing Concepts (PCI) will be contacting alumni by mail, phone and email asking alumni to participate and update their information. The year-long project will be compiled into a book available for purchase in February 2022. Alumni can also submit two photos along with their information.

“We hope that alumni will share their life experiences and the meaningful experiences they had at Northwestern State,” Cobb said.

More information is available by contacting Cobb at cobbd@nsula.edu.

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Two Northwestern State University student co-authored a new book intended to share insight and encouragement with their peers. Marissa Guillory and MoniQue Ardoin, both of Sulphur, coauthored “Sis, You Got This: 5 Affirmations to Help You Not Sweat the Small Stuff.” Published by Kingdom Life Publishing and targeted to pre-teens, teens and young adults, the book is an interactive journal that includes Bible scriptures and is appropriate for an individual reader, a girl’s Bible study group or a girl’s book club.

“My chapter is titled ‘No Matter What You Got This,’” Guillory said. “My chapter focuses on staying encouraged and never giving up. We shouldn’t let fear, insecurities or doubt stop us from completing anything we put our mind to. So, have faith, persevere and trust in the plan that God has personally designed for you.”

Guillory is a sophomore majoring in secondary education with a concentration in social studies. She is involved with African American Caucus, La Belle Femme and is a Demon VIP.

Ardoin is a junior nursing major involved with Kappa Phi and the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, currently serving as a GUILD leader.

“’Sis, You Got This,’ is an interactive book/journal that encourages girls in every part of their life, from encouraging them that they can do anything to encouraging them to value themselves above all else,” Ardoin said.

Inspiration for the book came from Minister Kenneth Trent and Dr. Ranyel Trent, who are cousins to Ardoin, ministers and youth leaders at Pleasant Green Baptist Church in Sulphur, where Guillory and Ardoin attend church. After selecting the five writers, the Trents discussed their ideas and the topics they wanted to cover before the writing project began.

“Minister Kenneth and Dr. Ranyel are the CEO’s of Kingdom Life Publishing, a subsidiary of Kingdom Life Enterprises,” Guillory said. “It meant the world and more to write something so inspirational to these ladies. I love encouraging and helping others already, so to have something geared towards younger girls and my peers was perfect. I hope that our readers will receive that they are rich, pure and precious. They can do any and everything that they put their minds to.”

“They [the Ranyels] gave us each a topic to talk about and we wrote on that topic,” Ardoin said. “Then, we meditated and prayed on it for a while before writing to make sure that everything we wrote was everything God wanted to say to His daughters.”

The writers want readers to value themselves, learn to let go of toxic relationships, be careful and mindful with their bodies and stay encouraged no matter what challenges arise.

Guillory and Ardoin are also cousins.

“We’re actually two weeks apart so we grew up together,” Ardoin said. “We also attended the same schools together since elementary school. In other words, we’ve been really close since diapers. And, yes, we do go to the same church.”

Other contributors are Nevaeh Barriere, Gabriela Trent, Kristian Barriere and Dy’Jah Doucett.

“Co-authoring this book was such a great experience. It was actually something that I doubted myself on,” Guillory said. “I felt that what I said for my chapter wasn’t going to be ‘good enough’ to complete such an amazing opportunity. But through prayer and my faith in God, I pushed through and I am so excited and thankful that I did.”

“We’re currently doing a book tour where we go to middle schools in our local area and talk about our books to the girls there,” Ardoin said. “From February 27th-March 27th, we’re having a virtual book club where we meet on Zoom every Saturday for five weeks and talk about our book with other girls and really break it down. That is available to any girl ages 10-23 who desires to join us. They can register for it at http://www.kingdomlifellc.com for only $5.”

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Early Sunday morning, Feb. 14, at approximately 4:39am, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and multiple units from Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District #6 responded to 911 reports of a structure fire in the 100 block of Rex Waterwell in the Grand Ecore area near Natchitoches according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Initial reports were that occupants may have been inside the residence although everyone was able to exit safely.

There were no injuries.

The residence owned by Judy Sowell was a total loss.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by NPFD #6.

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