By Paige Nash

Family members, friends, colleagues and elected officials convened at the Louisiana Tech Academic Success Center at the Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) Wednesday, May 3, to honor local law enforcement officer Siggie Silvie.

Mike Johnson, Congressman for the 4th District, recognized and presented this year’s five Congressional Commendation recipients.

“Scripture tells us it is really important to give honor where honor is due, and it says in the Book of Romans that we are supposed to delight in doing that and we do,” said Johnson. “Today we want to recognize some people and organizations who deserve that. We are going to present them with the biggest honor that I am capable of giving and that is a certificate of ‘Congressional Commendation’ in appreciation of their work.”

Johnson expressed his respect for those who serve in the nation’s military and local law enforcement agencies including Natchitoches Parish’s very own.

He went down a long list of Silvie’s accomplishments including half a century of service to his community serving at both the Natchitoches Police Department and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office over the span of his career.

“He has earned a reputation as a man of integrity and character. He is unquestionably ‘by the book’ and always fair,” said Johnson. “He has been an example of indisputable ethics and positive encouragement. We sure can use a lot more of that these days.”

Silvie credits his success in life to His “merciful God” who has directed his path along the years. Johnson said, “He is known by friends and colleagues as a God fearing, caring and humble man worthy of honor.”

Silvie currently serves as a security officer at the local courthouse.

Many attended in support of Silvie including Natchitoches Sheriff R. Stuart Wright and local author Walter Delphin.

Congressman Mike Johnson also recognized Vince Maggio with Maggio Grocery who just celebrated a century of serving Bossier Parish, Jeff Warren with Dream Hunt Foundation in Desoto Parish, Mary Cross with New Step Outreach in Beauregard Parish and Webster Parish Veteran Colonel Carl Thompson.

If I were to begin this column telling my readers how much I love to turkey hunt, you’d likely to be shaking your head and mumbling “there he goes again.” Okay, so turkey hunting is my absolutely favorite outdoor pursuit and forgive me if I mention my passion again.

Actually my purpose in writing this column focuses on someone else. The district attorney for Lincoln and Union Parishes, John Belton, is the focus, but first you’ll have to indulge me just a bit.

I started my turkey hunting career in 1992 when I downed my first wild turkey gobbler.

Something happened to me that day that totally redirected my interest in things to do outdoors. I fell for the sport of hunting wild turkeys like a bluegill for a cricket and for the next 25 years, I lived for spring and the opportunity to be in the woods somewhere to listen for the gobble of a wild turkey on the roost and take off through the woods to be setting up 100 yards from his roost tree before he flew down.

Facing reality, my birthdays seemed to occur more frequently than when I was younger and advancing age along with creaky joints have prevented me from taking off through the woods at daylight to be there when the gobbler flew down. I haven’t been able to hunt turkeys for the past few seasons but I have a storehouse of special exciting memories to polish off and recall special times and special gobblers I have run across over that quarter-century of chasing them.

Among my most favorite memories is one late afternoon among the tumbleweeds on a prairie in South Dakota when a long-bearded Merriam’s gobbler stopped just long enough, before flying up to roost, to allow me to draw a bead on his warty neck and squeeze the trigger. I ran out to claim a special bird. Why was this one such a prize? It was the fourth in the sub-species of wild turkeys I had taken to lay claim to a coveted feat. With him I had completed the wild turkey Grand Slam.

This brings me to my purpose in sharing today. I received a note from District Attorney John Belton last week sharing with me a photo of a magnificent Merriam’s gobbler he recently took, a bird that was the final step in his completing his wild turkey Grand Slam. I had to talk with him to hear his story, which was every bit as exciting to him as mine was to me.

“I started out with my first of four gobblers that I hoped would ultimately result in my completing a Grand Slam. I got a Rio Grande gobbler on a hunt in Texas,” Belton said.

“Then I had the chance to travel to south Florida where I was successful in downing a big Osceola. Next, I hunt property I own in Caldwell Parish and got my Eastern and this left just one more to go,” he said.

Last week, it all fell into place when Belton, sensing the completion of his mission was in sight, took advantage of traveling to Nebraska when a big Merriam’s gobbler fell to his gun.

Of these four gobbler Belton brought down, which one in his opinion gave him the most trouble?

“The toughest to hunt to me are those right here at home. Nothing is harder to fool than an Eastern gobbler, partly because the other three species usually hang out in more open country where you might see one 300 yards (away) while the Eastern makes its home in piney woods with thickets that are tough to see. Before I finally got my Eastern, I called a bird in within shotgun range but there was so much brush I couldn’t get a shot,” he said.

His job as district attorney is important and involves controlling every criminal prosecution in his district. Should there be a brief lull in the courtroom, I can imagine his mind for a brief moment drifting back to images of those four gobblers that occupy a special niche in his memory.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

It’s impossible to envision anyone fitting the title of “Mr. Louisiana Basketball” any better than the 2023 recipient, Mike McConathy.

From his family roots to his high school and college playing career, to his more than 40 years coaching the game at the high school, junior college and NCAA Division I levels, his entire basketball story is as Louisiana as the red clay hills on the McConathy family homestead in Bienville Parish, and the bayous and levees in the southern part of the state.

McConathy will receive the Mr. Louisiana Basketball award during the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches’ 49th Annual Awards Banquet this Saturday night at the Baton Rouge Marriott.  It is the most prestigious annual award given by the LABC and is presented annually to someone who has made a significant, long-term contribution to the game of basketball at any level in the state of Louisiana.  The banquet is sponsored by the Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic and Universal Coin & Bullion, Ltd.

It’s not unreasonable to suggest that in his 39 years coaching college basketball – the first 16 starting a Bossier Parish Community College program from scratch and building a junior college powerhouse, the next 23 returning a long-struggling program to national prominence at Northwestern State, his father’s alma mater – there are aren’t many state highways that McConathy hasn’t driven as he searched for players and built relationships with high school coaches, administrators and community leaders.

One colleague said he may have been happiest with a steering wheel in his hands, driving on roads where the tree tops touch over the center line, heading for a nearby gym or a far-away game, or on the way to a home visit with a prospect, and frequently, hustling to a wedding or a funeral, because those are priorities in McConathy’s family-values, Christian-centered mindset.

However, McConathy isn’t being honored by the LABC for his travel log.  It’s his credentials in the game, and the respect he’s earned along the way, that bring him into this spotlight.

It’s not simply that he is the winningest college basketball coach in state history, in the men’s or women’s game, with 682 victories in 39 seasons.  It could be, but there’s much more.

He is already in the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame for his exploits as a player, just like his father, Johnny, and his uncle, George.  They starred for Northwestern State in the decade after World War II.  His daddy was the Number 5 pick in the 1951 NBA Draft and his number 14 jersey is retired and hanging in Prather Coliseum at NSU.

McConathy was named one of the top 100 prep players in the nation after a spectacular three seasons at Airline High in Bossier City, averaging 28 points per game as a senior.  He went on to play at Louisiana Tech (1973-77), where he was a two-time honorable mention All-American and finished as the school’s second leading career scorer with 2,033 points for a 20.7 average.  In 1976, he earned Southland Conference Player of the Year honors when he led the Bulldogs to the conference championship, then he went in Round 4 of the 1977 NBA Draft following a 27.5 scoring average as a senior.

After being told he would make the Chicago Bulls’ roster, then getting cut on the last round, he briefly went to play in Europe but abandoned that to begin his teaching and coaching career, back at Airline High, starting the Lady Vikings’ basketball program.

In 1983, Bossier Parish Community College hired him to start a men’s team.  There was no gym, barely a budget.  After 41 wins in his first three seasons, the fourth year netted 24, and from there, 10 of the next 12 included 22 W’s or more, totaling 352 against just 159 losses in 16 years.  His teams were nationally-ranked and twice reached the junior college national tournament.

After getting passed over for NCAA Division I head coaching posts at six different schools, he was finally the pick to take over the Northwestern State Demons’ downtrodden program in March 1999.  There had been only five winning seasons in 24 years of Division I membership.  Northwestern had never been in a conference championship game at that level and hadn’t sniffed the NCAA Tournament.

He didn’t gut the roster and bring in a horde of junior college players.  He added a couple, gradually sold the players on his approach, and led that first team to 17 wins and the Southland Conference Tournament finals.  A year later, they were back in the conference tournament title game, in his hometown of Bossier City, and edged top-seeded McNeese State to reach the NCAA Tournament.

It was the first of three NCAA Tournament trips for the Demons, who won a pair of games in March Madness – the first-ever opening round game, over Winthrop, in 2001, and a stunning last-second comeback over third-seeded Iowa, the Big Ten Conference Tournament champion, in 2006.  All told, McConathy’s Demons won 330 games and two Southland Conference regular season championships, played in seven Southland Conference Tournament championship games (winning three), while notching regular-season road wins over Mississippi State, Auburn, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State and raising about $4 million in guarantee money for the general athletic budget by going against Power 5 foes over 100 times. 

That’s a Cliff’s Notes version of McConathy’s basketball resume.  It barely scratches the surface of why he personifies the “Mr. Louisiana Basketball” award.

In his 23 seasons in Natchitoches, almost 90 percent of his players earned diplomas, while the graduation rate around NCAA Division I hoops hovered around half that number.  Northwestern drew commendation from the NCAA for ranking among the nation’s top 10 percent in the Academic Progress Rate report.

Community service was a cornerstone of McConathy’s Demons.  One initiative, an educational program with area junior high schools, brought him into the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ ring of honor when he received the 2012 Pillar of the Game Award for Education at the Final Four in New Orleans – chosen over nominees from every level of college basketball.

He was also a leader in the LABC, serving terms as an officer, and as a catalyst for years of a coaching clinic in Baton Rouge on the day of the LABC’s annual awards banquet.  For 15 years, McConathy was a voter on the USA Today coaches’ Top 25 poll, and his ballot was late only once – after a return flight from a game in Hawaii.

Servant-leadership continues to be a core principle in his life, including six decades of involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Remember his love of driving?  Ask members of various Bossier Parish CC sports teams about him driving not only the basketball team bus, but also buses and vans for tennis, baseball and softball during his 16 years there.

A few years ago, Northwestern State’s cross country team had no professional driver to get the runners to a meet at Nacogdoches, Texas.  “Coach Mike” found out, went to renew his Commercial Drivers’ License, discovered a physical exam was required, and got that done just in time to get the CDL so he could get the team on the road.

“What other Division I head coach, any sport, does that?” said Demons’ track and field coach Mike Heimerman.

“Nobody. Just Coach Mike,” said associate head track coach Adam Pennington.  “That’s just him.”

McConathy was something of a unicorn around the Northwestern campus, seen wielding a weed eater to trim grass, sometimes around Prather Coliseum before women’s basketball recruits were arriving during a holiday when the grounds crew was off.  If it wasn’t a weed eater, it might be a power washer, or a paint brush, and it wasn’t limited to athletics facilities or grounds and it happened again and again, winter, summer, spring and fall.

“Coach Mike saw a need, and next thing we knew, we were following his lead and headed out to do whatever we could to make something better,” said longtime assistant coach Jeff Moore, now at LSU.  “Not for recognition, but just because it was the right thing to do.  Talk about teaching life lessons to his staff and players, and leading by example, that’s Mike McConathy.”

At too many NCAA Division I schools, there’s not much of a relationship between the men’s and women’s basketball programs, although almost always, they share facilities and must collaborate on schedules and practice times.

“From the day we arrived in Natchitoches, Coach Mike welcomed us with open arms and shared his time, wisdom and knowledge with nothing expected in return.  He taught me so many valuable lessons about leading a program with integrity and developing relationships within the department and community,” said current Louisiana Tech women’s coach Brooke Stoehr, who led the Lady Demons from 2012-16.

His decades of impact as a coach have overshadowed his beginnings as a player.

After averaging 28 points and being listed among the nation’s Top 100 high school seniors, McConathy resisted the pitches of LSU’s Dale Brown and his assistant, Homer Drew (later the iconic Valparaiso coach whose son, Scott, has won a national championship at Baylor); and among others, Oklahoma’s John McLeod (later the Phoenix Suns’ coach).  The college choice came down close to home, to Louisiana Tech, coached by future NBA coach Scotty Robertson, and Northwestern, led by Tynes Hildebrand.  McConathy’s grandmother’s sweet tea in Bienville Parish helped sway him to nearby Ruston.

Billy Grisham had a very close view of McConathy the player.  He refereed many of McConathy’s games in high school and college.  The Shreveport native first saw McConathy play in junior high, and watched him work his way into a breakout star as a sophomore at Airline High.  By then, McConathy was known as “Opie” since he had a head full of red hair, like Andy Griffith’s TV son, played by Ron Howard in Mayberry RFD.

“He wasn’t anything special until his sophomore year at Airline.  From then on, he just grinned when he shot it, ‘cause most of the time, it went in, like ole (Steph) Curry in the NBA,” said Grisham.  “If they’d had a 3-point shot in his time, he would easily have averaged in the 30s.  He was one of the most prolific scorers I ever saw, along with Lou Dunbar, Jackie Moreland, Cotton Nash and a very elite few.

“He could shoot it, from way out and mid-range, and he could drive it.  When he got to the free throw line, he was automatic.  And he was a really fine point guard, but what a shooter!  He could light up a scoreboard,” said Grisham.  “You had to keep extra light bulbs around, because he’d burn ‘em out.”

At Louisiana Tech, two future college head coaches were teammates – Tim Floyd, who along with stints at New Orleans, Iowa State and UTEP, coached NBA teams in Chicago and New Orleans; and Jim Wooldridge, who coached at Texas State, Louisiana Tech, Kansas State and Cal-Riverside. They said “Opie” earned everything he accomplished.

“I’ve seen and coached a lot of athletes through the years, but even now, I can say Mike McConathy is the most dedicated athlete I have ever been around,” said Wooldridge. “He was unrelenting in his drive to improve. He would often wear ankle weights, and he was constantly jumping rope. After practice, many nights he would return to the gym and shoot and shoot and shoot.”

“He was completely self-made and his numbers each year reflected how hard he was working,” said Floyd.  “He could have started for North Carolina, UCLA or anybody else.”

That work ethic has remained constant.  Since he left coaching in March 2022, he’s still up before dawn and on the road, visiting friends and making new ones, finding ways to be of service.  He’s taken a timeout from hoops, but for his friends in college basketball, he left an indelible impression.

“He’s the Lone Ranger in a lot of ways,” said LSU’s legendary Brown.  “He followed every rule.  Two, he knows the game very well.  Mike loves kids.  He gave my grandson a break.  Peyton is indebted to him.  If you were going to send a son someplace to learn the game and learn lessons about life, you sent him to Mike McConathy.”

Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams got his first full-time coaching job on McConathy’s first Northwestern State staff, and it changed his life.

“In my career in college athletics, I am not sure if there’s ever been a better example of a leader on and off the floor than Coach Mike.  Wherever he coached, his name is attached to every record there is, but what isn’t quantifiable is the impact he has made to all of those who were part of his program, regardless of their position.  His impact has changed thousands and thousands of lives for the better, including mine.”

Said Brown: “Generally players don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Mike had that down really well.”

“His record-setting career will be what many recognize,” said Stoehr, “but the legacy he has left and the lives he’s touched through the years will go on to impact generations.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

West Monroe High School is announcing its new football coach today and it’s not new Natchitoches Central coach Jess Curtis.

Curtis interviewed for the position last Thursday. After a round of interviews with top candidates, he emerged as one of four finalists and was expected to get a second interview this morning.

But instead, Tuesday night the school issued a press release announcing the hiring of a former WMHS assistant coach, Todd Garvin, who was the sitting head coach at rival Ouachita Parish High School. He will be officially introduced at West Monroe this afternoon.

Garvin spent 16 years at West Monroe as an assistant coach under Don Shows and then Jerry Arledge, but was demoted a few years ago by Arledge amid some staff tensions.

Garvin was hired by Jerrod Baugh at Ruston High as quarterbacks and running backs coach, then got the head football coach and athletic director’s job at Ouachita two years ago. In his first season with the Lions, he took a team that was 1-5 in the pandemic year, and guided his first OPHS squad to a 9-4 record including the school’s first win over West Monroe in 27 years.

He was preparing for his third season at Ouachita before taking the West Monroe job Tuesday night.

Curtis led the Chiefs through their first two spring practices Monday and Tuesday. He was hired in early January after an extremely successful last decade at his alma mater, Many High School, and has brought along several members of his Many coaching staff to NCHS, along with blending a few holdovers from the previous staff and bringing in former Red River Parish head coach Jeff Harper as offensive corrdinator.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

COMMERCE, Texas—Throughout his career at Northwestern State, he has been a consistent threat on a deep sprints team. 

However, the one piece Dylan Swain has not been able to achieve is a team conference championship. 

Swain, along with his teammates, can accomplish that feat during the Southland Conference outdoor championships, which begin Thursday at Memorial Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M-Commerce. 

Thursday’s events start at noon with the combined events as well as the women’s hammer throw finals. All events lead to the 4×400 relay Saturday night, which was the event that cemented the first ever women’s indoor championship title in February. 

All three days will be streamed on ESPN+. 

Winning that elusive team title would top off a terrific career for the senior. 

“I don’t want to say a conference championship would be the icing on the cake because the icing is the finish,” Swain said. “I kind of want to say this would be the starting point. Last year, we were so close, but had our mishaps in the 4×100. 

“Last year, we were low-key broken-hearted after not winning the championship last year. At regionals, Simon (Wulff) and I had a talk and agreed we can’t have another year like last year. It is not the final piece, but it is definitely a piece that we’re missing.” 

Watching the women walk home from the SLC indoor championships with the team title, he was surprised the women didn’t tease his teammates about the title. 

“Our girls are very humble,” Swain said. “That is one of their best features. They could be popping their stuff, but they’re definitely not, even though I think they should. They are a good group of girls and they are very talented, so I feel like they should tease us more.” 

The senior helped the men to a second-place finish in the conference indoor championships, earning a silver medal in the 60-meters with a 6.70. 

Swain, whose nickname among his teammates is “Canman,” ranks in the top 10 in the SLC this outdoor season in both the 100-meters and 200-meters, the latter of which is third in the conference. 

“Dylan works really hard and when the lights shine, he shines very bright,” head coach Mike Heimerman said. “He deserves everything he has worked for this year.” 

He has improved as the season has gone along, posting personal bests in each of the past two meets. 

Canman posted the 200-meter mark of 20.73 last time out at the Michael Johnson Invitational at Baylor, and he trails just a pair of sprinters from host TAMUC in the event this season. 

Swain’s 100-meter dash ranks 10th in the SLC this season with a 10.39 at the Leon Johnson Invitational. 

“Dylan has really been more controlled in all the things he does since arriving at NSU,” sprints coach Adam Pennington said. “He has learned how to get out of the box correctly, controlling his fast-twitch muscles a little bit better.” 

He has also run a leg in the 4×100 relay team four times this season, including on the team that advanced to the finals at the Texas Relays with a time of 39.74. 

While he has had a productive career, the start could have been better. 

“I ran well at the start and while I had Division I offers in track, my grades held me back,” he said. “It’s cool, though, because I learned from it and it made me a better man.” 

That took him to Butler CC, where he turned it around, both on and off the track. On the track, Swain was a top 15 national finisher in the 100 (10.49, 15th) and 200 (11th, 21.13). He also ran a leg of the fourth-place 4×100 relay which clocked a 39.80. 

Those times improved once he arrived at NSU, so much that he made the 2022 NCAA East Prelims in the 200 after running a season-best 20.63 in the event at the NSU Leon Johnson Invitational. 

“It was a great experience to go to the prelims,” Swain said. “It prepared me for this year because I know the competition is like. I really train my body now and I stretch a lot more to prevent injuries. I am grateful for where I am at in the regional rankings, but I am not satisfied.” 

When looking to go back to Division I in track, he knew quickly what school he wanted to attend early on after talking to (sprints) Coach (Adam) Pennington. 

“Coach Pennington had me hooked like a fish,” Swain said. “He is like an older version of me. He had me hooked from the first phone call. I remember telling my mom that this was it. There was no need to visit. You know where home is when you feel it.” 

It didn’t take long for Swain to make an impact, running a leg on the 4×100 relay team in his first meet at Bobcat Invitational, placing third. The relay team matched the third-place finish the following meet at the Baylor Invitational. 

At the 2022 home meet, he placed in the top five in both the 100 and 200-meters. 

While on the track, he has made a name for himself, but quickly, he also learned how to be a leader from fellow track athletes. 

“Being around leaders has really helped me become a better leader,” Swain said. “I had a coach when I was young who always told me I was a natural leader. I never got what it meant until coming to NSU and thought ‘Oh, okay, I see it now.’ 

“People just naturally look to me for answers and for advice. Being around Destine (Scott), who is a great leader, and Simon, who is a quiet leader. When he gives instructions, people listen.” 

Now, he and fellow seniors lead a young group of sprinters on how to prepare for the conference outdoor championships, which is what the athletes have been aiming toward as a team since the season began. 

He has at least one more opportunity to run and compete with his teammates, to avenge the indoor season after coming in second. 

Swain has a chance to capture that ever-elusive conference outdoor championship, which begins Thursday. 

Jordan Guillory learned a lot about himself on his journey to becoming an educator and he leaves Northwestern State University with a desire to improve upon himself, build community and make a positive impact on his students.  

Guillory is NSU’s first graduate of the Call Me MISTER program, an initiative to recruit African American males to become teachers and mentors at low-performing schools.  MISTER is an acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models. As a Call Me MISTER campus, NSU is part of a highly acclaimed recruitment and support program that includes a national network of universities.   

Prospective Misters must be a minority male and come from an underserved, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and/or educationally at-risk community. They must major in early childhood education, elementary education, health and physical education or music education and demonstrate a record of high scholastic achievement and participation in extra-curricular and community service activities.   

Guillory graduated from Northwest High School in Opelousas in 2019.  He originally majored in secondary math education at NSU but credited Jessie Church, at the time a clinical instructor at NSU, with steering him toward elementary education.  

“I was helping with the first Educators Rising conference we had on campus,” he said. “She said, ‘You do so well with younger kids.’” He changed his major to elementary education in the spring of 2020.   

Guillory first became aware of the Call Me MISTER program through a high school mentor acquainted with Ramona Wynder, who launched Call Me MISTER at NSU in 2019. Guillory was admitted to the program and arrived at NSU with enough dual enrollment credits to allow him to go straight into the education curriculum, doing observation hours at elementary, middle and high school classes before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools.  

“That experience will tell you, ‘Yes, I want to be a teacher,” he said.  “My being exposed to those classes helped me decide to go forward.  And I’m glad I had that first semester because the next semester everything was virtual. Our involvement with the kids was so abbreviated. I’m upbeat. I like to have fun.  You can’t do that with high schoolers. It made me reflect on what I wanted to be as a teacher.” 

While completing his residency with third graders at Weaver Elementary in Natchitoches he realized how much COVID affected the kids and their literacy skills, so his goal was to get them to the proper reading level for the end of third grade. Although balancing the residency, his coursework and an extra job was a challenge, it was also rewarding. 

“In college, you need to make a community out of who you meet. Be open-minded about what is asked of you.  A lot of things seem little but it’s a big thing.  Working on a school supply drive opened my eyes up to poverty and what I can do personally to help my students. You have to show compassion to the school and the organization. I loved every minute of it.”  

Black men make up only two percent of America’s public schools. Misters are encouraged to be an example and expose youth to Black males in education.  

“In the Mister program, they teach us to take on leadership roles and gave us the opportunity to take on leadership roles. Being in the classroom gives you an opportunity to put someone where you can learn to be a leader. Through triumphs and errors, you represent through your actions.  

“When I went to college, my mom said, ‘Take advantage of anything that is offered, scholarships, volunteering.  Take all you can get and put it back into what you do as a teacher and what you do for your community.’”  

At NSU, Guillory was an honor student, a Resident Advisor and worked with Louisiana Gear Up and Educators Rising, activities that helped him learn time management.  With his graduation set for May 10, he presented his final portfolio this week and is waiting for the word on where he will be teaching this fall.  

“I love talking about teaching.  I’m a good teacher and hope to be an excellent teacher in five years and see a lot of growth,” he said. “We are all just ready to get into the classroom.”  

Applications for Call me MISTER are reviewed on a competitive basis each spring for consideration for cohorts that will begin each fall semester. Preference is given to graduating high school seniors; two-year community college transfers; and first-year college freshmen. Eligible candidates are selected based on their potential for teaching and their motivation for participation in the program. Information on Call Me MISTER at NSU is available athttps://www.nsula.edu/education/callmemister/. 

NSU’s spring commencement will take place in three ceremonies May 10-11.  Information on commencement is available at https://www.nsula.edu/commencement/. 

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Natchitoches Parish Technical and Career Center graduation will be held at A.A. Fredericks Fine Arts Center on Northwestern State University’s campus on Wednesday, May 17 at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5 p.m., but graduates will need to arrive at A.A. Fredericks by 4:30 p.m. Each student participating will receive ten tickets for family and friends. We will have mandatory graduation practice on May 17 at 9 a.m. Graduates will need to arrive to practice by 8:45 a.m.

Dress code for graduation will be as follows:

Lady Warhawks

Black dress (dress MUST NOT be visible outside of graduation gown)

Dress shoes (NO stiletto heels)

*Please bring your heels to graduation practice.

Warhawks

White button-down dress shirt

Tie

Black dress pants

Black dress shoes

*NO Crocs/tennis shoes are allowed

Senior dinner will be held on Monday, May 15 at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, located at 1105 East Fifth St. in Natchitoches.  Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Each graduate is allowed to bring only one guest to the senior dinner. Dress attire for senior dinner will be business casual. At the senior dinner, graduates will receive their cap and gown and graduation tickets. Please RSVP by Friday, May 12. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call and speak with Chelsea Calhoun or Bobby Benjamin.

Thanks,

Bobby Benjamin, NPTCC Principal

Chelsea Calhoun, NPTCC School Counselor

Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology will host the annual Astro STEM Robotics Camp June 5-9.  Registration is free and will be open May 15 through noon Friday, May 19.   

The camp will be conducted with synchronous and asynchronous activities for children ages 8-14. Times are 9 a.m.-noon at Williamson Hall on the NSU campus and from 3-4 p.m. online via MS Teams.  Camp activities are intended to generate interest in STEM-related fields among youngsters. Only 30 spots for the camp are available.  

To register and get more information, visit https://www.nsula.edu/engrtech/annual-robotics-summer-camps/ or contact Dr. Shahriar Hossain, department head, at engineering@nsula.edu or Kenyetta Jackson at jacksonke@nsula.edu or call (318) 357-6751.A link to the Registration Form can be found here: Registration Form or by visiting the QR code below. 

            The camp is sponsored by A+ Coalition, the ET Department at Northwestern State University, and STEM Pioneers Organization. 

POSITION:  Water & Sewer Department – Maintenance Mechanic I

DESCRIPTION: Performs a variety of semi-skilled maintenance work and operates a variety of equipment in the construction, operation, repair, maintenance, and replacement of City water, sewer and storm drainage facilities and systems.

QUALIFICATIONS: Must be able to acquire a LA Water or Sewer Operator Certification. Applicants that already have certification are preferred and will be eligible for an increased pay rate.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department, 750 Second St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches LA 71458-0037.

APPLICATIONS:  May be picked up upstairs at City Hall located at 700 Second St, Natchitoches, LA or you can download an application at www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE:  Applications will be accepted through: May 19th, 2023.

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNIY EMPLOYER

Teachers/school administrators: Early identification is important so that children can get the help they need. Work with families and healthcare professionals if you have concerns about the mental health of a child in your school.

pikappNSU- Cade Mitchell, an alumnus of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at Northwestern State University, was recently named the Central Louisiana EMT of the Year for Acadian Ambulance.

The 2019 initiate of the Beta Omicron Chapter joined Acadian Ambulance in 2021. It is one of the largest ambulance services in the nation, offering emergency and non-emergency transportation to areas in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Mitchell serves as a field training officer and Explorer post advisor.

“He has always been drawn to mentorship because he enjoys helping others build their ethical foundations,” a news release stated. “While on duty, Cade is a stickler for being ready for his next call.”

Mitchell recently began paramedic school at National EMS Academy. Eventually, he would like to complete his bachelor’s degree in nursing and become a flight nurse with Acadian Air Med.

“I am exceedingly grateful to be named CENLA’s EMT of the Year. This is more than an award, but an encouragement to continue bettering myself for my future endeavors. Undoubtedly, I would not have received this recognition without the support from my friends, family, and fellow medics.”

UPDATE: May 3, 2023

Attached – Northwestern State University Tenured Faculty – Retirement/Resignation Incentive Plan – Fall 2023; University of Louisiana System Policy Number FS-111.11.G-1

ORIGINAL: May 2, 2023

TO: Northwestern State University Classified Employees

Subject: General Notice of Impending Layoff Avoidance Measure

Date: May 1, 2023

In accordance with the requirements of Civil Service Rule 17.5(a), notice is hereby given of an impending layoff avoidance measure to be implemented at Northwestern State University for its classified employees. The plan for this layoff avoidance measure is being submitted to Civil Service for approval. This measure is necessary because of a projected decline in student enrollment for the upcoming semesters creating a significant financial challenge for the University. We hope that by adopting this measure we will avert the need for layoffs.

We are proposing to offer a Retirement Incentive Plan for classified employees who meet retirement eligibility as defined by the State of Louisiana.

Once the layoff avoidance plan has been approved by the Director of State Civil Service, the plan will be made generally available to eligible classified employees.

Any questions concerning this matter should be directed to Ruth Chatman, Human Resources Director, at 318-357-4199, Tina Knueppel, Human Resource Analyst, at 318-357-4052 or by email at retirement@nsula.edu.

We regret the need for this action.

Human Resources

By Corey Poole

Assistant Art Professor Edgar Cano’s introduction to Northwestern State University happened over breakfast with one of his professors while he was a student at the Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa, Veracruz in Mexico.

While earning an arts degree, Edgar was introduced to Marcus Jones, who currently serves as the president of NSU. At the time, Jones was visiting Mexico and he bought a few pieces of Edgar’s art. He also hired Edgar as a translator over the course of multiple other trips he made to the country.

Before we go any further with our story, let’s rewind and talk about Edgar for a minute.

Growing up by the beach in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz Edgar started drawing as a young age. He entered some art contests in elementary school and won, but hadn’t yet realized his talent. 

As a teenager, Edgar found a magazine featuring the art of Fransisco Toledo, who was widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most important contemporary artists. Introduced to all the different art forms (sculpture, etchings, etc…) Edgar fell in love with Toledo’s work. 

While Edgar became known for his art in high school, he didn’t immediately pursue a path to college. Instead he spent four years after graduation drawing caricatures at different restaurants, illustrating on a freelance basis, and even working as a cashier at a Costco.

Edgar doesn’t regret this time period in his life because he collected a lot of different skills from a lot of different sources.

When it was time, he applied to the Universidad Veracruzana to earn his college degree. He wasn’t accepted the first time he applied, or the second. 

“I was confident in my skills but got rejected,” Edgar explained. “I felt bad, of course, but not totally bad. I saw it as an opportunity to do something different.”

After taking an intensive 1-year art workshop, Edgar was accepted into the university. This made him one of five siblings to earn a college degree.

It was tough studying art at college. Edgar had his family’s support emotionally but not economically, and so, to make ends meet, he found himself working as a cashier, a security officer, and as a model for art classes.

But he was always drawing, even at work.

“I work so hard in my art because I love it so much,” he said.

Edgar was older than the usual kids at college, which was good thing. He worked hard, focused and took his art seriously because it was what he wanted to do.

When he had the opportunity to display some of his art in an exhibition, he asked one of his professors if he could focus on creating art instead of attending her drawing class. The drawings he created for the exhibition took the place of class and in one semester Edgar finished his big collection (20 pieces) for his first exhibition in 2005.

Around this time, Edgar decided that art was what he wanted to do with his life. He started working as a full time artist after he graduated and eight years later he received a national grant in Oaxaca. As a result, he had a painting on display at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Oaxaca (MACO Museum). 

With his art on display at such a large scale, Edgar waited to receive calls from galleries, but none came. With a passion for theater, films, and music Edgar could walk anywhere and be surrounded by some form of art. But good art wasn’t enough. 

The day of the deadline to register for a master’s program he’d been accepted into at the University of Mexico, Edgar rejected it.

He also wanted to try to find another way to live with his wife Gabriela and their three girls. He wanted to be able to show his children that they could go anywhere in the world and be anything they wanted to be.

A firm believer in the power of networking, Edgar also thought going to the United States would help him on his path to artistic success.

While he’s continuing to make moves in the art world, the small town of natchitoches is a bit removed when it comes to networking. The world may be at your fingertips via the internet and social media, but Edgar said it’s just not the same as the connections you can make in person.

“I’m having success but not in the way I was thinking originally,” he shared. “It can be hard for immigrants, but we’re learning and adapting.”

Edgar came to Natchitoches to earn a master’s of fine arts from NSU, which he completed in 2021.

Why Natchitoches and why Northwestern? 

It was Edgar’s wife who originally suggested they try living in another country after the couple watched a documentary about identical twin brothers Joel-Peter (photographer) and Jerome (painter) Witkin, two artists working in different media who shared a childhood but whose lives took very different directions.

In the end, it was thanks to that breakfast introduction to Dr. Jones all those years ago (an example of networking in action). Edgar called him to inquire about NSU’s master’s program and the rest…is history.

“I chose to come to Natchitoches because of my past meeting with Dr. Jones,” said Edgar. “It had left an impression on me.”

When they moved to Natchitoches in 2020, within three months the world shut down because of Covid, making for one very rough introduction.

The Cano family has really enjoyed the area and has found it to be quite and relaxing, however they were a bit disappointed when they discovered that a lot of things require a car for transportation.

With a little English under his belt, Edgar knew he’d need a better command of the language for his academics so he took a three-week course before coming to NSU. Covid hindered his family’s ability to learn English better because they were all hoping to have more face to face conversations. The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it and being stuck at home was counter productive.

The path from student to faculty member at Northwestern was hard for Edgar. He had the experience doing workshops and exhibitions, but to work directly with students to boost their art skills was a learning experience for me. However, he’s forever thankful for the opportunity.

“I like learning anything and everything,” he added. “It’s a good way to keep brain active and stay alive while living your life.”

He teaches print making, painting, drawing, and figure drawing.

“The student is like a mirror for me,” Edgar said. “They look at reality and their art work represents their unique perspectives.”

Remaining student themselves, Edgar and his wife are currently working to play music and dance. Gabriela is also working on a master’s degree and plans to become a Spanish teacher. The couple also enjoys gardening, going on walks, and going out to the movies.

One of the biggest challenges Edgar faces as an artist today is the fight against technology because there are so many people working to garner attention on social media.

One of the best pieces of advice Edgar received was from a professor/mentor, who told him to, “Try to see slowly.”

“We are wasting a lot of time doing many, many things,” Edgar explained. “We’re trying to arrive first…trying to finish a drawing in 10 minutes…These kind of feelings come from technology. We want everything fast. I may be thought of as a lazy artist because I spend so much time on a painting, but it’s time spent thinking what I’m doing, what my next step is.

Some of Edgar’s latest work is on exhibit at the Mexican Consulate of New Orleans over the next two months. The exhibit Arcano is a collection consisting of varied pieces, having realism as a driving thread, as well as metaphorical visual games. 

“These pieces of work offer something secret, something hidden,” Edgar explained. “They’re asking people to see a little bit more.” 

In his more than 15 years of art production, Edgar has been distinguished and awarded in various national and international competitions. To date, he has 17 solo exhibitions in Mexico and abroad and more than forty-five group exhibitions in various cities within and outside of the country. He has shown his work in Buenos Aires, Argentina, England, Venice, Canada, United States, Japan, Sweden, and Serbia.

Future projects include more shows, more collections, an upcoming exhibit in May in Mexico City called “Modern Love” and a solo show in October at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA).

THE 1ST ANNUAL CITY OF LIGHTS CRAWFISH BOIL COOK-OFF WILL BE HELD MAY 6TH AT THE NATCHITOCHES PARISH FAIRGROUNDS. THIS EVENT IS THE 1ST OF ITS KIND IN OUR AREA AND IS SURE TO BE A BIG DAY! THE GATES WILL OPEN AT 10:00 AM AND WILL FEATURE THE FOLLOWING:

· $25 ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CRAWFISH FROM 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

· LIVE ENTERTAINMENT FEATURING: KELLY ROBERTS BAND, THE LACOUR TRIO, & BECKY & THE SHUFFLE KINGS

· KIDS PLAY AREA WITH CANE RIVER INFLATABLES BOUNCING HOUSES, & CORN HOLE GAMES

· OTHER FOOD AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE – A TASTE OF HEAVEN FOOD TRUCK, CANE RIVER PIZZA CO., AND NENE’S CAKES & COOKIES

· ANTOON’S SELLING BEER – MUST SHOW ID & BE 21 & OVER-A SEPARATE WRIST BAND WILL BE ISSUED

· AVAILABLE EATING AND SEATING AREA UNDER A BIG TENT; LAWN CHAIRS ARE ENCOURAGED

· EVENT T-SHIRTS WILL BE ON SALE FOR $25 AND KOOZIES FOR $5

TEAMS WILL BOIL THEIR BEST RECIPES TO COMPETE FOR CASH PRIZES OF -1ST -$1000; 2ND – $750; 3RD – $500; AND THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE WILL RECEIVE FREE ENTRY INTO NEXT YEAR’S COMPETITION!

(BUSINESSES & INDIVIDUAL TEAMS MAY STILL ENTER ON THE CITY OF LIGHTS FACEBOOK PAGE OR CONTACT LYNN LACAZE -AT 318-332-0419)

*NO OUTSIDE FOOD, DRINKS, OR COOLERS

*ALL BAGS WILL BE CHECKED AT THE GATE (CLEAR BAGS ONLY)

***ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL BE DONATED TO: THE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER AND ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHARITIES! BOTH ORGANIZATIONS ARE INTEGRAL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY!!

THE NATCHITOCHES PARISH FAIR BOARD WOULD LIKE TO THANK SPONSORS: RHODES PROPERTY & DEVELOPMENT, EASTON & CO. CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE, SERVICE WORKS OF MARTHAVILLE, BOM FINANCIAL, CITY OF NATCHITOCHES MAYOR RONNIE WILLIAMS, SENATOR LOUIE BERNARD, NRMC, CITY BANK & TRUST, AND CAMPBELL MONUMENTS.

Thank you Chancellor, distinguished guests, proud parents and family members, fellow alums, my probation officer, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, and most of all thank you, the newest crop of graduates.

It is a pleasure and honor to be here today, though the flight was tough. I just flew in from Vegas and boy are my arms tired!

No, that’s just a little commencement humor. Ha! Seriously, great to be here. Better than being in jail. Or in Russia. Same thing, right? Where are my geography and history majors? There you are! Nice to see you two.

I congratulate you because I know how hard you’ve worked to get here. Well, I don’t know from personal experience and all, but I can imagine. Just getting those square hats and tassels to stick to your heads long enough to get a diploma today is a testament to your ingenuity and persistence. And talent with bobby pins. I’m impressed.

Your administration, ill-informed but well-meaning, has asked me to speak today in hopes you’ll be inspired. After all, if I can get a job, you can, right?

Lessons learned from my experience are both timeless and proven. Also simple. Some of it you will not believe until you’ve tried, and failed. No problem; it’s called being human.

But remember what John Wayne said: Life is hard. It’s harder if you’re stupid. Don’t overdo tempting fate. The world loves to chew up people who insist on having self-induced brain cramps.

Don’t spit into the wind. If you’re a cowboy, drink upstream from the herd. If you’re a plumber, don’t bite your fingernails. Bet a home dog on Monday Night Football, and if you’re in a plane, wear a seatbelt. Muhammad Ali once told a stewardess, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” But the stewardess then told The Greatest, “Superman don’t need no airplane.” Ali put on his seatbelt. Know your limitations.

Don’t scoff at the simplicity of “a penny saved is a penny earned.” Compound interest is a beautiful thing. Granted, a penny saved is hard to do, especially if you have children, if you like to eat, and if the transmission goes out on your car.

But mainly – and I wish I’d have accepted this several years and tens of thousands of dollars ago – know that life is difficult. For the prince and the pauper, it’s a tough row to hoe. Not everything is an Orioles-Red Sox game in September. Not everything is your favorite TV show or CD or Sunday dinner or vacation. I used to think that if things weren’t funny, I must be doing something wrong. Very depressing.

But a rule here is that not everything IS funny, or easy. Each of us is always heading into, coming out of, or in the middle of a violent life storm. How do we react? There’s your moment of truth. Learning how to put those fires out, knowing they’re part of the game. Nothing’s wrong with you if “bad” things happen. Just means you’re human.

There are no secrets. Simply, life will put you through the meat grinder. Expect it, and you aren’t perpetually surprised and disturbed. Then instead of getting ground up, you can grind it out. Make every inning, every game, count. Never give an at-bat away.

You have teammates. And they have you. Stick together.

You’re today’s starting pitcher. Until this moment, it’s all been warm-ups. The game starts now.

(From Prom Season, May, 2011)

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu or Twitter @MamaLuvsManning