The NSU Jazz Orchestra will perform on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. University COVID protocols will be in effect. Those attending are asked to wear a mask. A livestream of the concert will be available at capa.nsula.edu/livestream.

Galindo Rodriguez will direct the Jazz Orchestra. John David Floyd is graduate assistant director.

The Jazz Orchestra will perform “Harlem Airshaft” and “Jack the Bear” by Duke Ellington and transcribed by David Berger featuring Sadoc Silva on trumpet, Ethan Maynard on soprano sax, Jonathan Chaparro Romero on bass and Jessica Debose on trombone and “Chico and the Man” by Jose Feliciano and arranged by Victor Lopez with Blake Taggert on cornet and Rodriguez on trumpet.

Two works by Derek Brown, “All Figured Out” and “Hoping for the Best” will be performed featuring Taylor Pettus on alto saxophone and Maynard, “Nueces River” by Victor Rendon and arranged by Joe Mannozzi featuring Daniel Scott on flute, Pettus and David Berrocal Barrios on piano and “Mambo Boulevard” by Mannozzi featuring Juan Arrietta on trumpet, Mario Orellana on piano, Barrios on piano and Henry Pineda on timbales.

---

Scout Troop 60 took a short break during their 5 mile hike as they walked toward completing the Hiking Merit Badge. This badge is not for the faint of heart but, if a scout can commit to it, they truly have the determination needed to become an Eagle Scout. To earn the hiking merit badge, a scout needs to complete a dreaded 20-miler, plus five other difficult hikes.

Scout Troop 60 was chartered in 1928 and is one of the oldest BSA Scout Troops in Norwela Council. The Troop is open to 6th-12th graders. It meets every Monday at 6 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches.

---

Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana is excited to open a club for Natchitoches youth in March 2022 in the Ben D. Johnson Auditorium. With the closure of the Boys & Girls Club of El Camino Real in 2018, there has been an absence of youth development programs in Natchitoches. The re-establishment of a Boys & Girls Clubs will fill that void with robust after-school and summer activities for Natchitoches’ youth.
The club will open in The Ben D. Johnson Auditorium, which has served as a space for the community to come together for many years and will ensure that youth recreational sports remain available at the MLK Center. The club will continue Ben D. Johnson’s mission, uplifting the communities’ youth by providing a safe, positive place for kids ages 6-18 to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.

Boys & Girls Clubs worked with Claire Prymus, owner of the Ben D. Johnson Auditorium and niece of Ben Johnson. She is excited to bring the vision to life saying, “Thank you Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana! I am so excited about the Boys and Girls Club coming back to West Natchitoches to groom and develop our children. This partnership will help The Ben Johnson Educational Center fulfill its mission to build community in Natchitoches and give access to social and economic success to all its residents. If my Uncle Ben was alive today he would say, ‘This is helping society helping itself.’”

A Community Breakfast will be held at the Center on Friday, Feb. 25 at 9:30 am to provide community members an opportunity to learn more about the Club and hear from Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Chief Operations Officer, Lorraine Orr. Sponsorships and tickets for the event are now available by calling 337-268-9555.

“BGCA is committed to providing a safe space, quality programming, and positive mentors to the youth in Natchitoches. Our goal is to give all youth who need us, opportunities for a bright future,” said Rhyan Wheeler, Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana President and CEO.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana

This year marks the 51st anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana operates under a mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Serving 1,0006 children in six different locations, Boys & Girls Clubs provide opportunities through school programs and summer camps with activities focusing on Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles & Habits, and Good Character & Leadership. A seventh location in Natchitoches, Louisiana will open in February 2022.

---

The Campti Community Development Center (CCDC) is having its first Mardi Gras Parade in history. Organizers are asking for donations. They need items to make it a successful event such as: Mardi Gras beads and candy. They are asking individuals to either donate cash so they can make purchases, or donate beads and/or candy.

The Mardi Gras Parade will be on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 pm. If you are interested in being in the parade, please contact Amanda Davis, Program Director, at (318) 476-2323.

PARADE LINE UP AT 2846 HWY 71 @ 12:30PM (Old Sambo’s)

ROUTE WILL CONTINUE ONTO LAKE, MILL, EDENBORNE ENDING @ 121 A RAPHIEL ST

(CAMPTI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER)

*ABSOLUTELY NO 4-WHEELERS*

SIDE BY SIDES & HORSES ARE WELCOME

EVERYTHING MUST BE DECORATED

 

---

NATCHITOCHES:
Clyde Harold Masson, Jr.
June 22, 1938 – February 7, 2022
Service: Monday, February 14 at 10 am in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Sandra Marie Carter Class of (1978)
June 3, 1960 – January 22, 2022
TBA

SABINE:
Ezra James Powell
October 30, 1950 – February 11, 2022
Service: Thursday, February 17 at 1 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

---

The Natchitoches Parish School Board approved three agenda items to help attract people to staff larger than usual summer school program at its meeting Thursday evening, Feb. 10. The board approved an increase to certified teacher stipends from $25 per hour to $50 per hour effective May 31, 2022, for the 2022 district summer learning program only (Certified = OFAT, TAT, PL, or regular teaching certificate). It also approved a pay rate of $28 per hour for Monitor and Cafeteria Managers as well as a $14 per hour for Cafeteria Technicians during the 2022 District Summer Program. Another motion approved a $5,000 stipend to summer learning site coordinators.

Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi explained to board members that because of the ESSER money the School District is receiving, summer school will be required for all UIRA schools (Urgent Intervention Required due to Academics) or CIR schools (Critical Intervention Required). For any school with this designation, the district is bound by law to offer those students summer school. All the UIRA and CIR schools amount to almost 70-75 percent of students in the district.

According to Eloi, this means summer school is going to be really big.

The staff who will be receiving these pay increases for the summer school program have had a rough year so far. Eloi said he feels it will be hard to attract people to summer school.

In other business, new School Board Representative for District 5 Lela Harvey introduced herself at the committee meeting on Feb. 8. She has 11 grandchildren and is a retired social worker with over 30 years of experience. She has a non-profit organization, Voices for Autism. She described herself as compassionate and happy to serve District 5 to the best of her ability and work with everyone.

The Natchitoches Parish School District is in the process of redistricting. Dannie Garrett with the Louisiana State Bar Association owns a strategic demographics company. The district is working to choose two multi-purpose days to hold a workshop focused on the redistricting effort.

It has taken a year and countless man hours to review salary schedules.

“It is the most important thing you will vote on probably in your entire tenure,” said Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi. “It is the mechanism that will modernize us quicker than anything else.”

The salary schedules will affect every employee except the superintendent.

“I’m good with that and it’ll affect them positively,” said Eloi. “Every employee in this district whether you’re a custodian, a school food service worker, a secretary, a nurse; every employee will be affected by that.”

Administrators want to sit down with board members and really go through the salary schedules because it is a massive document. Once dates are chosen it will be announced as a meeting open to the public. Eloi said he expects the general public to be more interested in attending the redistricting part of these meetings than the salary schedule part.

The district is also working on creating a calendar. Some employees want more dates after Christmas or longer summers. The next step is to have focus groups of teachers and principals that will come in and look at two different calendars that are being proposed and refine them. Later in the month all school employees with vote on their preference for either Option A or Option B.  Their vote will then go to the board for their consideration and vote at the March board meeting.

“We’re really excited about the calendar options,” said Eloi. “I think they’re going to be pro-teacher but also everything we do now whether it’s discipline or calendar building is all about how this can work toward greater student achievement.”

Other agenda items included:

Motion to approve the 2020-2021 audit report as presented by TCBT Accounting.

Motion to approve out-of-state travel for board members to attend the NSBA conference in San Diego, CA, April 2-4, 2022, and follow all NPSB travel policies and guidelines.

---

Hospital working toward Telehealth pilot program at Natchitoches Magnet, looks to bring health equity to all schools in Natchitoches Parish

The Natchitoches Parish School District is working to invest ESSER money into a digital telehealth clinic system that will be a big benefit to rural areas that don’t have access to healthcare. The pilot program will begin at Natchitoches Magnet.

Magnet was chosen both because of the distance between its campus and the hospital and the fact that it covers pre-k through eighth grade, which would give the hospital the best kind of litmus tests for expanding this elsewhere.

Details are being ironed out, but the goal is to start the pilot program at Magnet as soon as March, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The hospital would like to have the program in almost every school by the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

“We got into Telehealth in a big way with the onset of Covid,” said Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Executive Director Kirk Soileau, who gave a presentation at the board’s committee meeting on Feb. 8. “When everything shut down we had no other way to be able to connect to our patients.”

The hospital has developed its infrastructure around telehealth at its walk-in clinic, which is at 740 Keyser Avenue. This service is actually expanding to take over one entire side of the building to create a telehealth hub where the hospital will have nurse practitioners that answer and respond to all telehealth visits.

“We see this as twofold,” said Soileau. “It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to provide access to care to those people that don’t have access to services and what a good way to be able to do it but inside the school systems.”

Not all the schools have nurse practitioners or clinics inside of them, so this is an opportunity

for NRMC to continue to further partner with the school board to provide that service there through telehealth robots

This Telehealth service was recently launched at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA). It’s been working very well. There’s even testing on site with the school’s nurse. The hospital’s nurse practitioner dials in so they can listen to the heart, look in the student’s eyes, listen to breathing, etc… Everything is run through stethoscopes and equipment that’s connected to the machine. The nurse practitioner will then order a strep test or flu test.

Parents will give their consent to allow the hospital to provide these non invasive health screening. There will be communication with the parents to let them know if the child needs medication, etc… As the hospital moves forward with the opening of its outpatient pharmacy on April 1, they can even begin to prescribe medications and deliver those either to the school or to the student’s home.

This doesn’t replace the primary care physician’s role in the patient’s life for ongoing care. It’s just a matter of getting a quick visit for sick care in a timely manner

“We’ll see how this works the rest of the semester and then continue the dialogue on how we can potentially broaden that service to a bigger audience,” Soileau explained.

---

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center is currently hiring Licensed Practical Nurses in the following departments:

• Courtyard of Natchitoches: Full Time, Part Time, & PRN
• Insights: Full Time
• Orthopedic Clinic: Full Time
• Walk in Clinic: Full time

Required Education and Experience

1. Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
2. Current State of Louisiana Nurse Licensure.
3. Current BCLS certification must be available upon hire or certification must be obtained within 6 months of employment. 
4. Current ACLS certification must be available upon hire or certification must be obtained within 6 months of employment. 
5. Current PALS certification must be available upon hire or certification must be obtained within 6 months of employment.
6. Successful completion of arrhythmia course must be available upon hire or certification must be obtained within 6 months of employment.

NRMC Offers Great Salaries & Benefits.

To view and apply to these openings, please visit: www.nrmchospital.org/jobs/.

If you have questions or would like to speak to our Recruiter, please contact Larissa Cameron at 318-214-5819 or at larissa.cameron@nrmchospital.org

---

Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi informed Board members at the Feb. 8 committee meeting about a new initiative the district will have this year where at almost every board meeting, members are going to hear from one of the school principals with a spotlight time for them to let the board know of the amazing things they have going on on their campus.

“We have all been working very hard the past few years and it’s good to see that work come before us,” said Eloi.

The first principal was Armetrice Williams from Weaver Elementary. She’s been principal for two years now, but she’s been at the school for a total of four years.

“I am loving it,” she shared with the board.

Williams, who is a big data person, said she’s always looking at ways to improve things at the school. They perform a checkpoint called “STAR” to look at academics every nine weeks, which gives the administration an indication of where students are. When students took the STAR last year, which usually shows how well they will do on the annual LEAP test. Among third graders there were 45 students that performed at the mastery and advanced levels in ELA, 48 in Math, 31 in Science, and 6 for Social Studies. Williams said these numbers show that third grade is growing. Administrators examined Social Studies and implemented some things to help bring up those scores.

Fourth grade had 28 students testing at mastery and advanced levels for ELA, 24 for Math, 5 for Science and 4 for Social Studies.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our scores and where we are,” said Williams. Mastery and advanced scores is what drives Weaver’s School Performance Score…and I couldn’t go over these great scores without recognizing the teachers that are responsible for them.”

Forty-four percent of Heather Burrell’s students scored mastery or advanced on the third grade STAR in ELA. About 30 percent of Esther Hoover’s students scored mastery or advanced on the third grade Math STAR. Twenty-nine percent of Caelon Powells’ students scored mastery or advanced on the fourth grade STAR. Kelci Latchie had 26 percent of her students score mastery or advanced in Science.

Each student that scored mastery or advanced received a star mask and were able to participate in a celebration.

The next thing students were recognized for was growth.

“While we are looking for mastery and advanced, growth is still very very important…so my objective is also to recognize those kids that are growing because that is important as well,” said Williams.

In third grade alone 232 students showed growth so they received a treat as well. There were 187 fourth grade students that showed growth on their STAR test.

Every afternoon there is also a student that delivers announcements over the intercom.

With PBIS the school does a weekly drawing. Each homeroom teacher has a behavior tracking chart. Students have to have four or less marks on their conduct sheet to be entered into the drawing and 19 prizes with certificates are given away each week, one for each homeroom. Each week a different homeroom gets to design “Flyer Bucks,” which are given out as prizes. Once a student receives 50, they get to order lunch out from a local restaurant.

Ongoing construction at the school is addressing some safety concerns. A door was installed just inside the main entrance to the school so that anyone visiting must be buzzed in in order to gain entrance to the building. There’s also new playground equipment, which the kids are excited about. There are also brand new restrooms. There’s also a beautiful new fence and a new lawn service cleaned off the old fence and old playground equipment.

“The kids love seeing the transformation,” Williams added.

---

Natchitoches Jr. High Principal Alexa Bernard-Conday provided a School Spotlight presentation to the Natchitoches School Board at its Feb. 10 meeting.

She brought three students to the meeting to highlight. They recently attended the Regional Science Fair. Two of them are advancing to the state competition.

“STEM is an area where we’re seeing that’s where the future is going so it’s great to see some of our young scholars interested in that,” said Bernard.

The school’s facilities have also been updated and the school has been beautified. Positive quotes were put up all around the school. A new camera system was installed with 80 new cameras throughout the facility. Blindspots are now minimal to none. Windows are being updated and three metal detectors were installed.

The “Coach De’s Closet” project has taken on a life of its own at the Jr. High. A former staff member, Coach De, started the closet project to offer clothing, uniforms, shoes, toiletries and other things to students who might need them. Anyone is welcome to contribute to the closet.

The school has also been recognizing Black History Month with door judging contests and black history projects for students to participate in.

There is also a new NJH-JROTC Program operating with the help of Sgt. Selby from Natchitoches Central. Around 40 student volunteers come in every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to help build up the program, which will in turn support Central’s JROTC program.

Over 200 students grew levels with their STAR tests in ELA, Math, Social Studies and Science. These students were given star masks to wear as recognition for their STAR growth and academic scholarship. Other students were recognized for A Honor Roll, B Honor Roll and Principal’s List.

Besides new uniforms for the cheerleading team, student of the year, teacher of the year, and countless community service opportunities through organizations like the Frankie Ray Jackson Elites, JAG and Boys to Men, Bernard wanted to highlight their “Clusters,” which are groups of teachers who get to work with instructional specialists to help them grow and develop in their instructional practices in ELA, Math and Science.

---

Thursday’s matchup against Houston Baptist was all rainbows and free throws as Northwestern State held the lead for nearly 32 minutes.

But the Demons suffered seven turnovers in the final 2:50 as the Huskies clawed all the way back to hand NSU a 76-69 loss.

NSU (7-18, 3-5 SLC) led by 15 points early in the second half before HBU (8-13, 4-4 SLC) made its methodical march back into the game.

But the Huskies didn’t regain their advantage until the four-minute mark on a pair of Darius Lee free throws (70-69).

It was part of a 13-0 run as NSU was held scoreless for the final 5:32.

The Demons committed seven of their Southland Conference high 23 turnovers in the final 2:50 and managed just three shots and two free-throw attempts. It’s the second-highest turnover total this season (25 vs. ULM).

“Part of the problem was nobody came to meet the ball,” said NSU coach Mike McConathy. “The kids are trying really hard, and sometimes it might be even too hard.

“It’s disheartening and frustrating to drop this game after being on the road so much this season. We weren’t stepping into shots and instead faking and putting it on the floor.”

HBU’s 13-0 run was similar to NSU’s 18-3 run to end the Feb. 3 win (97-87) as the Demons tied a program-record with 17 3-pointers.

While the Huskies were adamant in preventing another long-range outburst, the deep ball helped NSU build its largest lead of 15 points early in the second half.

Freshman Emareyon McDonald helped NSU end the first half on a 7-2 run by scoring five of his eight first-half points (40-33 edge).

Then the Demons opened the second half with the first eight points, including 3-pointers from Carvell Teasett and Brian White. NSU made five of its first seven 3-point attempts before missing its last six.

A Kendal Coleman fastbreak bucket pushed NSU’s lead to 48-33, but the Demons scored just 21 points in the final 18:30.

“You go back to when we were up 15 points, and we came down and missed five straight open shots that were really quick,” McConathy said. “We didn’t get rebounds in that stretch, and HBU started to make their way back.

“It’s not just the last couple of minutes that cost us tonight, there are things throughout the game that could have made the difference.”

Coleman logged his 12th double double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, his 11th double double in the last 15 games.

But the typically sure-handed point guards Teasett and White combined for 11 turnovers, and Coleman added another four.

White led the conference in assist-turnover ratio at 1.98.

White and Teasett did have 12 points each but just three assists. NSU’s 17 assists per game is among the nation’s leaders, but the Demons mustered just eight Thursday.

HBU scored 25 points off those 23 NSU turnovers, and the Huskies made 16-21 from the free-throw line in the second half.

The Demons sunk 18-25 overall from the stripe.

In the first half, NSU attacked the paint and scored 20 of its 40 first-half points from inside.

White scored five of NSU’s first 10 points, including a bucket to spark an 11-2 NSU run to build a 17-9 edge.

The Demons pressed their inside advantage early, having a 10-2 edge in points in the paint although HBU matched NSU’s 20 paint points by the end of the first half.

HBU’s Brycen Long scored 10 of the Huskies’ first 12 points to support a struggling offense early, and Lee (reigning Southland Conference Player of the Week) finished the half strong to score 11 points.

Lee led all scorers with 22 points to go with eight rebounds, and other Huskies chipped in as Long (13), Khristion Courseault (16) and Tristian Moore (12) all reached double figures.

The Demons try to snap their two-game skid Saturday as they welcome McNeese to Prather Coliseum for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday.

Photo: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

---

After a blistering finish to the second quarter, Northwestern State had all the momentum entering the second half, but nine second-half turnovers that led to 12 HBU points proved the difference in a 52-42 loss on Thursday night.

“It made it hard, even on really good possession, to stay in the rhythm of the game,” head coach Anna Nimz said. “They’d make really good plays, make a stop on defense and then maybe we turn it over and they capitalized on it. They scored 17 points off our turnovers and that’s just hard to win when you’re giving the ball up.”

It took more than a quarter and a half for either team to find consistent effectiveness on the offensive side of the ball as the defenses on both sides forced tough shot after tough shot.

The Huskies (10-9, 6-2) made a 3-pointer coming out of the media timeout to go ahead 7-6, their only field goal in 10 attempts surrounding the break. The Lady Demons (9-10, 2-6) went 1-out-of-5 in a similar stretch after Jordan Todd made a wide-open layup after a crisp bounce pass from JaMiya Braxton.

A late 3 from the Huskies gave them the 12-8 lead after the first 10 minutes where both teams shot less than 26 percent from the field.

The deep shot to end the first was the first of three straight for the Huskies in the game as the first two of the second quarter found the net pushing their lead to double figures and forcing an early NSU timeout.

After a more than three minutes scoreless stretch by both teams the Lady Demons found a hot streak thanks to Jiselle Woodson. She broke the game’s scoring drought with a jumper from the baseline igniting a 14-0 run for the Lady Demons to close the half.

Woodson’s back-to-back 3-poiners, the only two conversions of the night for NSU, gave her eight of the 12 points that were scored in a stretch of five straight possessions where NSU did not miss a shot. A jumper in the paint from Jasmin Dixon capped the run and gave the Lady Demons a 24-20 lead going into halftime.

A week ago, HBU was able to carry its 12-0 run to end the half into the second quarter, adding 11 more to start the third. The Lady Demons weren’t able to return the favor on Thursday, and although they held the Huskies without a point for more than nine minutes and without a field goal for nearly 10, HBU quickly erased the slim lead in the third quarter.

Monette Bolden scored the first six points for NSU in the third quarter, doing so in six minutes of game time, to cling to the four-point lead. But just two field goal attempts and four turnovers in the final four minutes of the quarter allowed HBU to fight its way back into the lead, finishing the quarter with a 9-1 run.

A layup from Todd and a pair of free throws from Candice Parramore to start the fourth evened the game at 35, but the cold shooting continued to haunt NSU the rest of the way.

Despite going 3-for-14 from the field in the fourth quarter, Bolden’s layup after collecting her game-best 12threbound that gave her a second straight double-double had NSU only down by three with five minutes remaining.

Two HBU free throws, that followed the first of three straight NSU turnovers, led to a 7-0 Husky run, the dagger coming on a 3-pointer with 2:30 left in the game that made it 50-40.

NSU held HBU to one of their lowest field goal percentages of the season of .304, but finished the game making less than 20 percent from the field in the second half.

“I’d love to say we’re a defensively driven team right now, but I think we’re offensively minded and unfortunately we’re not scoring,” Nimz said. “It’s making it hard for the girls, but I think they’re trying. I think that they put forth a lot of effort, it’s just not showing on the win-loss column.”

Photo: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

---

Parent Teacher Conference time in my household as child was never really a good time for me, personally. This is when the teachers exaggerated about the state of my presence in their classrooms. It was the same song and dance every nine weeks.

My parents attended the Anti-Reba conference and then came home to discuss the myriad of issues that smeared my good name. It really was only one issue though. I simply talked too much and had more fun in class than what was approved by the teachers. I wasn’t disrespectful or caused damage to property, I was just there to have a great time and tried to recruit others to do the same.

Unfortunate for me, I had an older sister who was the angel that every teacher hoped for. Straight A’s, listens in class and even helped her neighbors in class. Every teacher gushed over her and always told my parents that they wish they had a class full of students just like her. I was always compared to our resident Junior Einstein.

And, fortunately for me I had a little brother who tested all the patience and all of the nerves of every teacher that crossed his path. His grades were not the best and he was more mischievous than a barrel full of unsupervised monkeys. When he made it to Campti Junior High School my mother asked me to ride to Parent Teacher Conference with her. I did not ask questions, I merely hopped in the car ready for a ride.

The strangest thing happened when we pulled into the parking lot. My mother asked me very politely to attend the conference in her place. I was a Sophomore in High School and very mature for my age but never once did I think I was capable of playing mom for my little brother. I asked my mother if she was feeling okay, she replied that she was not…..and she shot me one of her famous Zwolle looks.

I knew better than to keep questioning her. It also hit me that the preacher’s wife told a fib.

As I entered the gym where the teachers were set up I was so curios why my mother was avoiding the teachers. Once I found his homeroom teacher and introduced myself it took a matter of seconds for me to realize why my mother was hiding in the car.

It was one story after another that detailed all of the havoc he had wreaked during his nine weeks. I took mental notes to share with my mom and was trying to find a way to break the bad news to her. I also left there that day not feeling as bad about my own poor behavior in class.

Looking back, there was no doubt that my mom knew exactly what the teacher was going to say and she just couldn’t handle it on that particular day.

As I think about it today, I just am super grateful that we have a savior that keeps no records of our wrongs. He sees the wrong that we commit and loves us anyway. From all biblical accounts, I cannot even find scripture that says he is so embarrassed by our behavior and refuses to show up for our Parent Teacher Conferences. He wants an intimate relationship with us that cannot be severed or mended by our works. He just loves us unconditionally. Period.

“Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 8:39

---

Over the years, Louisiana has put out some great high school football players who have gone on to professional football. Terry Bradshaw, Bert Jones, Stan Humphries, Joe Delaney, Mark Duper and Bobby Hebert, to name a few. These guys left their mark on the NFL and represented Louisiana in a big way. Well, in the bass fishing world, Louisiana has, and is still, sending guys to the highest level of professional bass fishing with the Bassmaster Elite Series. Today we’ll look at some past anglers, as well as those who are competing now.

First, let’s look at the history of those who set the standard for all Louisiana anglers. Louisiana’s only two Bassmaster Classic Champions are Jack Hains of Many, Louisiana, who won it on Currituck Sound in North Carolina in 1975, and Villis Bo Dowden of Natchitoches, Louisiana, who won the Classic on the St. Lawrence River in 1980. Both anglers set the bar extremely high for all the anglers that followed. Just like so many great fishermen from this region, they cut their teeth on Toledo Bend. The names of anglers who have come off Toledo Bend and made it to the professional level read like a Who’s Who of bass fishing.

But presently, probably the most famous Louisiana angler, and one of the most popular on the Bassmaster Elite Series today, is Greg Hackney of Gonzales. This guy has the reputation as one of the toughest anglers on tour and is considered one of the best power fishermen to ever hold a rod. If there’s a shallow bite going on, Greg Hackney will have a jig rod in his hand and will be a definite favorite to win. Greg continues his winning ways on tour and continues to strive for the one championship that has eluded him…the Bassmaster Classic. He’ll get another shot at a Classic win March 4th -6th on Lake Hartwell, which sits on the Georgia/South Carolina line. Hackney should be one of the favorites, as Lake Hartwell is known for being a shallow water fishery. Here are some facts about Greg….he’s been in the Classic 15 times, has won 6 B.A.S.S. events, has 59 Top 10 finishes, has been in the money 80% of the time, and has accumulated over $2.5 million in winnings over his career with B.A.S.S. All of Louisiana will be pulling for Greg as he competes in this year’s Classic.

Another Louisiana angler headed for this year’s Classic is Tyler Rivet of Raceland, Louisiana. If memory serves me right, Tyler is a product of the Nichols State University Fishing Program and is headed into his 5th season on the Elite Series. Tyler developed his skills fishing for redfish, speckled trout and largemouth bass in the marsh and canals of South Louisiana with his grandfather. Just like Greg Hackney, Tyler is also a shallow water expert who could be a threat to win the Classic.

Next week we’ll cover two more Louisiana anglers looking to make a name for themselves by winning the most prestigious bass tournament in the world…the Bassmaster Classic! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook! Stay up to date with bass fishing’s latest news from both Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend with the Tackle Talk Live Show. We air every Tuesday morning live at 11:30 on our Facebook page or on our You Tube channel.

Steve Graf

---

The Northwestern State University Saxophone Studio will hold its annual Sax Fest on Saturday, Feb. 19 in Magale Recital Hall beginning at noon.

Guest artist Derek Brown will hold a master class and extended technique clinic and will discuss the music business. NSU Professor of Saxophone Paul J. Forsyth will hold a master class for high school students.

At 6 p.m., Brown will be featured in a concert which will include the NSU Jazz Orchestra and NSU Saxophone Choir. The concert will feature the premiere of Brown’s composition “Whatever the Case May Be.”

From his 30+ million views across social media to his appearance on international television and NPR’s Weekend Edition, Billboard-charting saxophonist/innovator Brown and his one-of-a-kind solo “BEATBoX SAX” project has been exploding across the world music scene. He is noted for being able to crossing genres from jazz to classical to funk, without looping or electronic effects,

As described by jazz journalist/historian Scott Yanow, “Brown performs unaccompanied solos that occasionally make one recall Bobby McFerrin in his early prime and the great saxophonist Eddie Harris . . . utilizing slap-tonguing, circular breathing, a wide interest in musical styles and dazzling coordination to create rather unique music.”

Brown has performed solo concerts in all 50 United States and over 25 countries around the world (over 200 total international shows). Known for his boundless energy on stage, creative audience interaction, and musical depth, His live shows always surprise and delight. His ongoing “BEATBoX SAX” music videos and tutorials on YouTube have been enormously popular among saxophonists and music lovers alike (over 150,000 Youtube subscriptions), leading to endorsements with Legere, JodyJazz, P.Mauriat, BG France, and Austrian Audio.

Brown was the director of jazz studies at Abilene Christian University for six years. He received his BM in Music Performance (Classical and Jazz) from Hope College in 2006 and his MM in Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music in 2008.

---

By Joe Darby

In answer to my headline’s question I would answer unequivocally yes. I wouldn’t bet on that happening though, because historically in the U.S., third party challengers have had dismal success and short lasting prominence.

Just in the last few decades, we had Ralph Nader trying his luck in 2000 and 2004, Patrick Buchanan in 2000, Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996, Southern segregationists George Wallace in 1968 and Strom Thurmond in 1948. A candidate of the Progressive Party — not to be confused with today’s progressives — managed to gather 4.8 million votes in 1924 and Teddy Roosevelt himself failed with his new Bull Moose Party in 1912. There were lots of false starts with third parties in the 19nth century, ranging from the Anti-Saloon Party to the Free-Love Party.

None of those outfits made any real lasting impact on American political history, although Porot may have prevented George H.W. Bush from beating Bill Clinton in 1992. But prospects for a viable new party today are not good.

But, by gosh, from my point of view, we sure need one. The two most recent United States presidents both scare the hell out of me, for very different reasons. It’s obvious, even to Democrats, I believe, that Joe Biden may be the most incompetent president we have ever had. Like many, I think he should take a mental competency test also. He appears to be a man in the beginnings of dementia.

But rather than trying to govern as the moderate the American electorate hoped he would be, he has swung to the far left with his ridiculously bank-breaking spending proposals, his war on our petroleum energy industry, which would be by far the most efficient method of meeting our energy needs for decades, and his disastrous foreign policy, in which he has committed one blunder after another. If these were not such perilous times, it would be funny. But it’s not funny, it’s as serious as a heart attack.

So, Biden is the person the Democratic Party has thrust upon us, backed up by the also scary Kamala Harris, who is also obviously in way over her head. The primary alternatives to Biden were from the extreme left, some of them admitted socialists. The Democratic Party is badly broken and I don’t see any of its politicians who might be able to fix it. (Where are you, Hilary, now that we need you? Ha! Just kidding. She’s scary as hell too.)

And what has the Republican Party, a party of which I was proud to be a member for many years, done for us lately.? The egregious Donald Trump. It is truly scary how many GOP Party members still think this man would be good for the country. The blindness with which people follow him is truly disturbing because he is a man of absolutely no principles and no morals.

I know you Trump fans are fuming now, but consider this for a moment. Many say he puts the country first. Well, that’s a sad delusion. Here’s a great example. Last year, he told Georgia voters they would be better off with the left wing extremist Stacey Abrams as governor, in lieu of GOP incumbent Brian Kemp. And that is simply because Kemp did not go along with Trump in his appalling effort to overthrow the 2020 election. So we see plainly that The Donald puts his personal pride above principle.

Even conservative members of his own team and Republican judges found that he had no basis on which to challenge the election. It was all ego — nothing else. I am pretty convinced that if Trump were to be reelected, God forbid, he would attempt a coup and try to take over as a dictator.

There are some good moderate conservatives in the GOP, but whether they can successfully challenge Trump remains to be seen.

I would like to see reasonable people, socially and financially conservative who support a strong military and ready to reach out to moderate African Americans and Hispanics, form a new party, one that would provide true leadership and not embarrass this nation in the eyes of the world, as the two most recent presidents have. I’m not holding my breath, but one can always hope.

---

The Mystic Krewe de St. Denis is pleased to announce the Royal Monarchs for the 44th Tableau and Ball, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Natchitoches Events Center.

Sarah Christine Stamey

Miss Sarah Christine Stamey will reign as Queen for the 2022 Mystic Krewe de St. Denis Tableau and Ball. Queen Sarah is the daughter of Krewe members Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bath Stamey. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Owen Stamey, Jr., the late Mr. Stamey, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph William Pope. She is a 2020 graduate of St. Mary’s High School and was Valedictorian of her graduating class. She also served as Student Council President and was elected Homecoming Queen.

Currently, Queen Sarah is a sophomore at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette where she is majoring in Biology with a Medical and Allied Health Sciences concentration, as she plans to pursue a doctorate in a healthcare field. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and is the Director of Community Service and Philanthropy. In addition, she is a member of the Pre-Professional Society. Queen Sarah has made the President’s List or the Dean’s List each semester. In her spare time, she enjoys fitness activities, cooking, watching certain baseball games, and enjoying time with her family and friends.

John Clifton Conine Sr.

John Clifton Conine Sr. will reign as King of the 2022 Mystic Krewe de St. Denis Tableau and Ball as St. Denis Jet Sets Through The ‘20s. Conine has lived in Natchitoches since 1956 when his family moved from Dallas to develop one of the first commercial poultry production operations in the area. He is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lane Clifton Conine, and is married to the former Frances Watkins. The couple has two sons, John Clifton Jr. and Joseph Watkins. They also have one grandson.

King Cliff studied Business at Northwestern State University and was active in student government. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert School of Law in 1980. While in law school, he worked for the Louisiana Legislative Council. Prior to starting his law career in Natchitoches, he was employed in the oil and gas industry in the Baton Rouge area and Sell’s and Gray Circus. He is a former partner in the Law Firm of Luster, Conine, and Brunson, which specialized in commercial practice. He also operated as legal counsel and Executive Director of the Natchitoches Area Drainage and Levee Board for eight years. He is currently self-employed and serves as a Trustee for the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Louisiana. He is a member of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Louisiana Bar Association, and the Natchitoches Bar Association.

Conine served for over 10 years as a board member, president, and legal counsel for the Natchitoches Council on Aging and served on the board and as president of the Natchitoches City Planning and Zoning Commission. He reigned as King of the St. Denis Art League Spring Festival andis a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Natchitoches. He has been a member of the Krewe for 26 years and previously served as a Duke in 2002 and 2007, and as Captain in 2015.

Sidney Bunyan Evans III

Mr. Sidney Bunyan Evans III will serve as the 2022 Mystic Krewe de St. Denis Captain. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Bunyan Evans Jr. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Forestry Science in Forestry in 1987. He is self-employed as a Forester/Land Manager and manages his family’s timberland properties.

Mr. Evans serves on the Board of Directors for Exchange Bank and Trust. He also is a member of the Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Committee, the Natchitoches Parish 4-H Foundation Board, LSU College of Agriculture Alumni Association Board, and is the Chairman of the Natchitoches Soil and Water Conservation District. He is a member of the Agitators Club and attends First United Methodist Church.

Evans’ hobbies include boating, hunting, traveling, and attending college sporting events. Sidney and his wife, the former Joelle Dalton are the parents of three daughters, Courtney Evans Sprunk, Laura Leigh Evans Romig, and Anne Dalton Evans. They have one grandson, Cooper Dalton Sprunk. They have been members of the Krewe for 26 years and he has served previously as a Duke and as King in 2013.

Emilyn Matthews Horton

Emilyn Matthews Horton will serve as the 2022 Mystic Krewe de St. Denis Belle of the Ball. She is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Harold Matthews and is a Natchitoches native. Mrs. Horton received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 1987, Master of Education in Early Childhood Education in 1993, and Specialist in Education in 2001 from Northwestern State University. She is currently the Child Search Coordinator and an Educational Diagnostician for the Natchitoches Parish School Board and has been in education for 31 years. She also is an adjunct professor in the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development at NSU. Horton is currently serving her second term on the Executive Board of the Louisiana Association of Educational Diagnosticians as the Region 6 Representative. She also currently serves on the NSU Alumni Association Board and Boys and Girls Club Advisory Council.

Horton has served Phi Mu Fraternity on local and national levels for the past 34 years. She also served as President of the Service League of Natchitoches and currently is a member of the Prudhomme Rouquier Foundation Board. She is a member of Chapter BK of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and Beta Sigma Phi. Her hobbies include playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She and her family are members of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Horton is married to Krewe President, Dr. Steven Giles Horton, and they have two daughters, Elizabeth Horton John and Mary-Katherine Millspaugh Horton. They have been members of the Krewe for 26 years.

---

Here is a look at the week of Feb. 13-19 at Northwestern State University.

Feb. 13 — Softball in Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic, Lady Demon Diamond

Feb. 13 – Tennis vs. Stephen F. Austin, Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex, 11 a.m.

Feb. 16 — Spring Graduate Career Fair, Friedman Student Union Ballroom, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Feb. 16 – NSU Jazz Orchestra, Magale Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. #

Feb. 17 – Faculty recital featuring Sofiko Tchetchelashvili, violin, and Chialing Hsieh, piano, Magale Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m. #

Feb. 18 – Tennis vs. Texas-San Antonio, Jack Fisher Lady Demon Complex, 1 p.m.

Feb. 18-20 – Baseball vs. Stephen F. Austin, Brown Stroud Field

Feb. 19 – Sax Fest, Magale Recital Hall, noon

Feb. 19 – Saxophonist Derek Brown, Magale Recital Hall, 6 p.m. #

---

The team at KALB, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, and the Food Bank of Central Louisiana delivered a check to Provencal Elementary School, for winning the 2021 Christmas Cheer Food Drive’s elementary division and $500! All together the schools of Natchitoches Parish collected over 5,000 pounds of food combined. Provencal Elementary collected 1,753 pounds.

The Provencal Elementary administration would like to thank the students and parents for helping the school redeem this privilege.

Pictured: Gavin Herring, Mason Vallery, Charleston Kemp, Jaxson Presson, Tamia Couty, Macee Holt, Triniti Nicholas, Landrie Moss, Paxtyn Jordan, Brielle O’Bannon, Matthew Lacour, D Poe, V Birdwell, and J Martin.

---

NATCHITOCHES:
Tanya DavisBernice “Jean” Morvan Caldwell
November 7, 1932 – February 2, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 12 at 11 am at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Spanish Lake Community

Kayson O’Con
December 20, 2021 – February 4, 2022
Service: Friday, February 11 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Dr. David James
December 27, 1962 – February 3, 2022
A memorial visitation will be held at Blanchard-St. Denis on Friday, February 11 from 5-8 pm. A private family service will follow on Saturday with concluding services at Catholic Cemetery in Natchitoches.

Joseph Earl LaCour, Sr.
April 4, 1935 – January 30, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 12 at 10 am at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church

WINN:
Johnny Garner
June 14, 1950 – February 06, 2022
Service: Friday, February 11 at 11 am at the United Baptist Church

Johnnie Lee Rainwater
July 07, 1929 – January 31, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 12 at 11 am at Morning Star Baptist Church

---

The 10th Judicial District sent out subpoenas for February 14, 2022:

DATE: Monday, February 14, 2022.

The February 14 date has been cleared. If you received a subpoena to appear on February 14, your obligation is over and you don’t have to do anything else.  No Further action is required on our part.

The 10th JDC thanks you for your service.

David Stamey
Clerk of Court Natchitoches Parish
318-352-8152

---

Natchitoches Parish School Board meeting, February 10, 2022 at 5 p.m. located at 310 Royal Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Supporting documentation for the meeting can be found at :  www.npsb.la

Comments from the public will be received for the duration of both meetings. Comments must be on a specific agenda item. Submitting a comment will generate an email to the Natchitoches Parish School Board which will be read when the appropriate agenda item is being discussed.

To Send an Email: npsb@nat.k12.la.us

WATCH LIVE TONIGHT

https://www.facebook.com/NPJNatLa

Capacity of the room is at 100% which allows for 50 people maximum. 

---