BOM is a sponsor of the Natchitoches Central High School Fishing Team. Pictured left to right: Dakota Simmons, Max Hines, and BOM’s Brittany Barton.

By Corey Poole

The love for Louisiana’s history bloomed at a young age for Anthropologist Dustin Fuqua. Growing up in Marksville, his family’s property was located close to Marksville Historic State Park, the location of sacred Native American burial grounds containing ancestral remains from Tunica-Biloxi citizens that once-inhabited the area.

While hunting, fishing and exploring, a young Dustin would find arrowheads and shards of pottery. He’d ride his bike to the library and find books to identify the artifacts.

From playing at the park to volunteering, Dustin became an employee by the age of 16. It wasn’t long before he became known as a high school prodigy who collected everyone’s artifacts.

When it was time for college, Dustin was thinking of majoring in Journalism. On a tour of the campus at Northwestern State University, he was hooked on anthropology as soon as he took one step into the Williamson Museum.

The Williamson Museum, which turned 100 years old in 2022, houses over 100,000 artifacts, including art objects and baskets from 41 Native American tribes in the southeastern United States, many that date to prehistory.

Dustin transferred to Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site during college, which turned out to be the best place to study history and culture as employees dressed in time period clothing while educating the public.

These were formative years for Dustin as he met great people (shout out to Rhonda Gauthier and Tommy Adkins). His job at the fort anchored him and was a positive force as he focused on his grades and avoided the pressures of partying.

The late John Oswald Colson was one of the first authentic people Dustin met when he first came to Natchitoches.

“He reminded me of home and we clicked instantly,” Dustin said with a smile. “We became family and he opened up the world of medicinal plants and changed my life.”

Dustin would drive Os to pick sassafras in Kisatchie to make file’, as Os was known as “The File’ Man.”

While working a booth at the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, Dustin was introduced to National Park Service employee Laura Gates. 

Gates gave Dustin the best advice: Look for where you can make the most impact and focus there.

The state park system was fun, but for Dustin, the National Park Service took things to a whole new level professionally. He started as a museum aid at 19-years-old at the Cane River Creole National Historical Park’s curation facility with additional responsibilities at Oakland and Magnolia Plantations.

When the park service found out he could speak French, Dustin was quickly sent out to conferences and events. It was a big responsibility and was stressful, but he worked his way up and is now the cultural resource program manager for the CRCNHP.

An interesting side note, administrative titles like Dustin’s used to be considered “division manager chiefs.” Under the Biden administration, there’s been a focus on righting some wrongs. For example, the title of “chief” could be insulting. According to Dustin, there’s also been an awakening in the park service to rename places on maps with indigenous language.

“It’s been pretty cool to be a part of this,” said Dustin.

In January of 2022, the City of Natchitoches, the Cane River National Heritage Area, and the CRCNHP hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot Rehabilitation Project. On top of this project, the NPS transferred around 1 million artifacts to a nearby warehouse, which is now one of the best curating facilities in the Southeast region. It now features a conservation lab, loading docks, and a freezer to treat objects with molds or pests.

Dustin has always adhered to the old ways and has always honored them, from taking on the mantle of “The File’ Man” to attending a ceremony to promote “la francophonie louisianaise,” where Emmanuel Macron, President of France, confirmed his commitment to French language and culture.

A fun side note Dustin shared on the event was listening to Zachary Richard sing “Aux Natchitoches.”

On a more local level, Dustin established a French Table chapter in Natchitoches. With chapters throughout the state, French Table events are free to all levels and dialects of French speakers. No matter one’s proficiency, French Tables are a great place to improve one’s understanding and speaking of French. 

He also works with the Creole community in the Isle Brevelle area (shout out to FJ Delphin) to celebrate its culture with events like cochon de laits (pig roasts) and old style la boucheries, a communal tradition where people come together to slaughter a hog and share the meat. Another shout out goes to Elvin Shields, who Dustin works with to tell the stories of the African American culture on the plantations.

Moving to Alexandria in 2017 is the hardest part of the job, just due to the daily drive to Natchitoches. It requires careful scheduling, but Dustin enjoys everything he does.

Another challenge Dustin is facing is watching the spoken French language end with the recent passing of the last two fluent speakers in the region.

“It’s about finding the fun parts of it and not letting it become a chore,” Dustin shared.

Through it all, the most rewarding aspect of Dustin’s job as an anthropologist is working with the cultures of the Cane River region in Natchitoches Parish, the creole community, the families and their stories, and the wonderful traditions.

“It’s rewarding to bring attention to Cane River through all areas of work I do,” Dustin added.

He’s had opportunities to move up in the park service system, but has declined them all because it would mean leaving the Natchitoches area behind. Let’s not even mention that it would mean missing the opening weekend of squirrel season with his daughter, picking sassafras in May, and Mardi Gras!

“You can’t take the Louisiana out of me,” he said. More importantly Dustin wants to issue a call to action to everyone in Louisiana to learn their histories and not let it disappear.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – A hot start Tuesday night inside Reed Arena put the Northwestern State men’s basketball team within reach of its second win against a Power Five opponent this season.

The Demons, however, were unable to sustain that momentum in the second half and fell to Texas A&M, 64-52, in their final non-conference game of the regular season.

Playing for the first time in seven days, NSU (8-5) broke quickly and built as much as a 15-point lead in the first half against the Aggies (7-5).

Starting with Ja’Monta Black’s 3-pointer 14 seconds into the game, the Demons did not trail in the first half thanks in large part to a hot shooting performance from beyond the arc.

NSU hit seven of its 15 first-half 3-pointers, nearly reaching its average of almost nine made 3s in a game. Both Isaac Haney and Black connected on three 3s in the opening half.

Black’s final 3 of the first half gave NSU its largest lead of the game, a 27-12 advantage with 9:04 to play in the half.

That’s when the Aggies began to find their legs, finishing the half by holding NSU to 2-for-8 shooting to end the half with both baskets coming from Haney 3-pointers. Buoyed by that defensive prowess, Texas A&M sliced the lead to five at the break, Northwestern State’s smallest advantage since a 14-10 lead with 14:38 to play.

Even with the sluggish finish, the Demons shot 46.7 percent (7 for 15) from 3-point range in the opening half.

The Aggies were the faster-starting team in the second half, starting on a 9-0 run across the first 3:04 of the second stanza.

Again, it was a Demon 3-pointer that quelled the run as DeMarcus Sharp knocked down a step-back 3 to pull NSU within one.

With both defenses tightening, the Demons were able to pull even again on a Black 3 with 13:14 to play, squaring the game at 42.

The 3 remained nearly the Demons’ sole source of offense in the second half. NSU missed all seven of its two-point field goal attempts in the half and hit six of 25 3-point tries.

NSU finished with a season-best 13 made 3s on a school single-game record 40 3-point attempts.

The only second-half point for Northwestern State that did not come from a 3-pointer was a Jalen Hampton free throw with 3:11 to play.

The Aggies got 13 second-half points from Tyrece Radford as part of a 121-point, 10-rebound double-double. Radford and Henry Coleman III (24 points) keyed a 36-6 advantage for the Aggies in points in the paint.

Haney (16), Sharp (15) and Black (15) led Northwestern State in scoring while Sharp grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds and handed out six assists.

The Demons return to action Saturday when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christ in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. in Prather Coliseum.

Credit: Twitter/TexasA&MBasketball

In good ol’ 2022, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of Love Languages, a lady named Amy earned $1 million-plus and made the Jeopardy! TV game show cry “Uncle!”, LSU’s football team won more games than even the Tigers’ most loyal and optimistic fan thought possible, and Port-O-Lets again made their presence known during Mardi Gras as one of the best inventions since indoor plumbing — which turned out to be heavy plastic outdoor plumbing.

Good times.

These were just some of the more light-hearted and trivial happenings of a somewhat gray 2022, a year that had this One Big Thing going for it: it wasn’t 2021 or, Lord help us all, 2020, when our leaders didn’t.

I was born at night, but not last night.

Actually, I was born at 8:15 in the morning, just in time to clock in, and have been carrying my little tool box and lunch pail since. Like you, the past two years have beaten all I’ve ever seen and have tried, overly hard, to beat us down.

But here we are, still flying the flag, like the old man in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, a little thinner and gaunt, showing some deep wrinkles and splotches, some deep-creased scars, but our eyes are bright and cheerful and undefeated.

We can hardly afford to buy the toot off a whistle if they were selling for a nickel apiece, but we soldier on. The world keeps spinning and we’re happy to be along for the ride into what we trust will be a more upbeat 2023.

2022 was the year that brought us Wordle. Remember last year this time when everybody was Wordleing? The fad has worn off a bit, but last spring, Wordle was almost as popular as Taylor Swift.

2022 was also the year when Top Gun: Maverick became required viewing. Is it the best sequel since The Godfather Part II?

Fair Grounds Field was demolished in 2022 — until it wasn’t. Red tape and bat poop sort of sums up the year; the higher-ups don’t want to admit a mistake and get things back on greased grooves.

Closer to home, we became grandparents in July 2022, a definite highlight. She’s a healthy five months old. Because we are good grandparents, we took her to see Top Gun: Maverick five times and sold all we have except our toothbrushes to get her a Taylor Swift concert ticket. She’ll have to go alone because one is all we could afford but the kid has got to learn to stand on her own at some point.

We did not get her a ticket to Monday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando when 9-4 LSU takes on 8-5 Purdue/Purdon’t because although we love Chees-Its, one of the highest quality dairy foods you can eat, who knew LSU could threaten a 10-win season? This is a team that started a receiver at quarterback and had 38 players on scholarship in last year’s bowl game, something called the TaxAct Texas Bowl when Kansas State beat what was left of the Tigers, 42-20.

Hat tippage to new coach Brian Kelly and Tiger fans everywhere for their expectation-exceeding results this fall.

Since this is the first time ever the two programs have met and since the only alum of Purdue people in these parts might know is New Orleans Saints forever-hero Drew Brees, you might find it of interest that the nice lady who invented Stovetop Stuffing, Ruth Siems, went to Purdue, as did Orville Redenbacher, the popcorn magnate. Doubtful that either of those things will come into play during Monday’s game — unless the Boilermakers have Stovetop Stuffing and popcorn for pregame. Then we really like LSU to cover the two-touchdown spread. Kick is at noon Monday, Jan. 2.

2023 kicks off the day before.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Goldonna Elementary Junior High School student, Grace Day, was chosen to have her poem, “No More Bully’s” published by Appelly Publishing. Grace entered the contest through her school and was chosen as a “Rising Star”.

“ I’m honored to have been chosen for my writing to be published. My writing came from the heart,” said Miss Day.

Grace Day is in the 6th grade at Goldonna Elementary. She is also a past winner of the NPSB Student of the Year Competition. If you see Grace be sure and congratulate the rising star.

Goldonna Elementary Junior High is pleased to announce their Students of the Year for 22-23. The 5th grade Student of the Year is Bryson Carter. 8th grade Student of the Year is Carlie Spears! The students will now move on to the District competition. They will compete with portfolio and interviews with a panel of judges.

On December 30th at 6:00pm there will be a community church service held at Goldonna Assembly of God Church located at 108 Talley Street. Come join the community as they gather to worship and leave the past behind. “Behold I am making all Things New” is the theme of the evening. Mr. Tom Gresham will be ministering during the service.

If you have News to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

BATON ROUGE- The final fireworks sales season of the year kicked off this week, so the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) wants to encourage all Louisiana residents to not only be safe when using fireworks, but knowledgeable when buying them.

More than 500 retail fireworks permits have been issued for this end-of-the-year season, as it is state law for wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be appropriately licensed by the SFM, in the parishes and municipalities where they are legally allowed.  The sales season extends through 11:59 p.m. on January 1.

The SFM encourages, first and foremost, that families choose to enjoy public fireworks displays over creating their own. However, if purchasing fireworks is your preference, we advise families to be mindful of whether the stand they are purchasing from has been permitted by this office. You can request to see permitting information from any retail fireworks business you patron. The SFM encourages reporting any suspicious or illegal sales of fireworks to 1-800-256-5452 or by visiting our website, lasfm.org.

In addition, we want everyone to enjoy fireworks in the safest way possible. Some of the top ways to do that are:

• Detonating devices at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles and rubbish
• Never allowing children to light fireworks
• Never operating fireworks while impaired
• Lighting devices one at a time and monitoring embers released with a bucket of water or hose nearby
• Discarding detonated items by wetting them down to prevent reignition and not disposing of them in a trash container immediately

Facing another billion-dollar Entergy bill for the cost of hurricane recovery, the Louisiana Public Service Commission may use a new theory suggesting that company shareholders split the cost with customers.

“Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, Entergy customers have borne 100 percent of the cost of storm recovery — $20 billion,” said LPSC member Foster Campbell. 

“Now we have learned we may have the option to make the company and its shareholders share that burden.”

Last week the commission delayed ruling on Entergy’s request to pass on to ratepayers another $1.6 billion in costs associated with recovery from five named storms in 2020 and 2021.  That delay came after testimony by New Orleans lawyer Pat Patrick, hired by the LPSC at Campbell’s request to research its legal obligations on storm recovery.

Patrick told the commissioners that legal limits placed on the LPSC suggesting utilities are entitled to 100-percent recovery of storm costs are “not absolute.”

He said: “The statutes do not require pass-through of 100 percent” of storm costs to customers.

Campbell said two prominent regulatory lawyers previously told him “there’s no way” the commission can demand utility shareholders share storm costs.

“This commission voted in February to charge Entergy customers $3.2 billion in storm costs (the first part of Entergy’s recovery case for the five named storms; Campbell voted ‘no’).  We were told, ‘There’s nothing you can do about it.’ 

“Now you’re saying we can do something different.”

Campbell added: “We should try our best to see how much of these costs should be shared by the company.  They are asking for $1.6 billion more today.  Now we know there is no such thing as ‘can’t do it.’

“This company is making billions of dollars in profits and paying big dividends to shareholders.”

The first part of Entergy’s case for recovery from 2020 and 2021 storms cost ratepayers $3.2 billion.  That February decision by the LPSC imposed an average storm surcharge to customers of $10 per month for 15 years.

Campbell said the second part of the bill, $1.6 billion, would result in an average surcharge for Entergy customers of another $6 per month for 15 years.

In voting against that charge in February, Campbell asked LPSC staff to determine if anything in the law forces the commission to impose all storm costs on customers.  He also asked if North Louisiana Entergy ratepayers should pay even if their storm damages were slight to nonexistent, an issue that remains outstanding.

Campbell said the commission has an obligation to test Patrick’s opinion.

“It is imperative for the LPSC to see if this is some crazy idea that won’t work, or if it’s not so crazy.  Entergy can either compromise and pay some of the cost, or they can go to court.”

The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred early Saturday morning on Melissa Place in Hidden Hills Mobile Home Park.

On December 24, 2022 around 12:17 a.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department responded to the 200 block of Melissa Place in reference to gunshots in the area. Upon officers arrival they located Loyd Brown Jr. (B/M, 27 y.o.a. of Natchitoches) and another victim who were suffering from gunshot wounds inside of a residence. As a result of his injuries Loyd Brown Jr. was pronounced deceased by the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office. The second victim was transported to the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center and later to a hospital in Shreveport for further treatment where they are listed in critical condition.

This investigation is ongoing and the Natchitoches Police Department will release more details as they become available.

If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective Shermaria Lewis at (318) 238-3914. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $2,500 for the arrest of an offender.

Corporal John Greely
Public Information Officer
Natchitoches Police Department

There has been an injunction filed in State Court to prevent the Louisiana’s Office of Group Benefits from entering into a $2 billion pharmacy contract with CVS Caremark. The Journal reached out to two local pharmacies, but the calls were not returned.

KALB TV reported, “A temporary 10-day restraining order has been granted by Judge Kelly Balfour in the 19th Judicial District Court.” The contract would potentially impact over 200,000 State workers, including teachers and other State employees, on where they go to fill prescriptions and get vaccines. A hearing on the injunction will be held in Alexandria on Wednesday.

Locally, the change by the Office of Group Benefits will effect the Parish’s largest employers, Northwestern State University and the Natchitoches Parish School Board, in addition to all other State employees.

The Journal will provide more details and the results of the hearing as they become available.

Background:

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, over 200,000 state workers under the Office of Group Benefits (OBG) could see a change that will impact where they fill their prescriptions locally.

This change is a result of the a decision made by the State of Louisiana  to sign a $2 billion pharmacy agreement OGB and CVS Caremark for State employees, despite repeated opposition from both lawmakers and pharmacists.

State employees should contact their pharmacy to see what impact this change may have on their family.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The last long break of the 2022-23 season for the Northwestern State men’s basketball team – as well as its non-conference schedule – comes to an end Tuesday evening. 

The Demons (8-4) return to action after a seven-day break to face their lone Southeastern Conference opponent of the season, Texas A&M, at 6 p.m. inside Reed Arena. 

The game can be seen on the SEC Network. Free streaming audio is available on www.NSUDemons.com and through the Northwestern State Athletics mobile app, which can be downloaded free for Apple and Android devices.   

Northwestern State last played Dec. 20 when they fell to No. 12/13 Baylor, 58-48, in a game where the Demons cut a 16-point second-half lead in half before eventually falling to the Bears. 

“These guys are so well-loved,” first-year head coach Corey Gipson said. “I know they would have loved to have been home with their families on Christmas day, but we’re a family here. Our guys understand that dynamic.” 

Tuesday’s game marks the third straight road game for the Demons, who return home Saturday to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.  

Ahead of conference play, however, lies the Aggies, who are coached by former NSU assistant coach Buzz Williams. 

Like the Demons, Texas A&M (6-5) is playing for the first time in a week, having suffered their first home loss of the season on Dec. 20, falling to Wofford, 67-62. The loss to the Terriers ended an overall seven-game home win streak for Texas A&M dating to a loss to LSU on Feb. 8, 2022. 

The Aggies enter Tuesday’s game as the SEC’s top team in both free throws made (19.0) and attempted (27.2) per game.  

“Iron sharpens iron,” Gipson said. “Competition expedites the growth of the organization. We’ve seen that come to fruition. We still have to grow in so many ways, even in conference play. We’re going from one season to another season. We have a mature enough group to understand what’s at stake.” 

A pair of veteran guards – DeMarcus Sharp (16.3 ppg) and Ja’Monta Black (14.4 ppg) – continue to lead the Demons’ offense while a third tri-captain, sophomore guard Isaac Haney, leads NSU and ranks fourth in the Southland Conference in steals per game at 2.0.  

Following the Demons’ loss to Baylor a week ago, Gipson praised his team for rededicating its efforts on the defensive end.  

NSU held the Bears to nearly 30 points below their season average and limited Baylor to its fewest points in a game this season. 

“Nothing really changes,” Gipson said. “We have to continue to grow together, stay together and keep the main thing the main thing as we always say. This will be a very good test (Monday). We’ll get there and have a good practice then deal with (Tuesday) when it gets here.”