(This is the first in a series on aging, or Getting On Up There. If you or a shriveled loved one are wondering how to get Social Security or Medicare or other things I know nothing about but need to explore, you are welcome to come along for the ride. Seems like one day you are coaching Little League and the next you are filling out complicated forms that will be some of the last forms you will ever fill out. Sobering. Will keep you in the loop every couple of months for a while — unless a vital organ vetoes that plan. Meanwhile, wrote this in 2010 when I was a spry 50. Those were the days…)

I am a half-century old. If my money math is correct, I can retire, somewhat comfortably, when I am 107.

Sweet!

By “somewhat comfortably,” I mean I’ll have to work only half-days by then.

Or teach myself how to get by without a few things. Like food.

(Air’s still free, right? Except at the gas station? Where is the gas station importing this air from that costs money?)

But that’s OK because I recently bit the prune and joined the American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP. I have the $16 cancelled check and a membership card to prove it.

Joy!

It would seem odd that a man would join a retired persons organization when that man plans to keep working for a while. But that is one of the beautiful things about AARP, besides our red, white and gray team colors and the fact that our shuffleboard squad is undefeated this season — you do not even have to be retired to join! Do you hear what I am saying, you AARP members out there with hearing aids turned up to “Say WHAT?” You don’t even have to be retired!

The AARP has been recruiting me with a vengeance for several years now. They’ve wanted me. Badly. It’s a good though unfamiliar feeling. 

First they sent random mail. “We’re keeping up with you. Good luck this year.” That sort of thing.

Then there were phone calls, first from AARP marketers, then from some of the higher-ups. I remember a particularly poignant call from one of the vice presidents on my 50^th birthday. “Boy, you are really getting UP there!” 

At first it was bothersome. But dogged sincerity won me over. A couple of guys in suits came to recruit me, to see how long it took me unravel myself and stand up straight on my way to the bathroom on any of the six trips I make there a night. They saw me take naps on Sunday afternoon, fall asleep in a drive-thru line, have trouble lifting things, like myself. 

With each limp, I impressed. You can’t coach this stuff, really. A lot of it is just natural aging ability.

Finally, there was the free swag, probably illegal, like my canvas “travel bag” that has “AARP” on the side and a pocket for cell phone, loose change, wallet, passport, contact information for my primary physician, and next of kin, dentures and Depends.

They beat me down, is what I’m saying. Made me an offer I was getting tired of refusing.

So last week, I made the call. “I’ve decided,” I said to the toll-free operator, “to take my talents to AARP.”

Somewhere, a dog barked.

So, I am in. At least until I’m out. And so far, I like it.

My Official Membership Card (in big-letter type) scans for discounts at restaurants and movies and the drugstore, and the association sends me a monthly magazine called “Geezer Illustrated.” (I’m joking! We old folk, we like to joke, we do.) It’s called “AARP The Magazine” and Harrison Ford (Indy Jones!) was on a recent cover that included stories like “Live Your Motorcycle Fantasy!” and “Your Doctor Is Stumped: Now What?”

Not bad for 16 bucks annually. Plus, online I’m kept informed on money matters and retirement issues, freeing me up for things I want to do in my never-able-to-retire state.

Anybody up for a game of shuffleboard? Or Stump the Doctor?

Over the years of doing my radio show, Hook’N Up & Track’N Down, we’ve had some great outdoorsmen who have shared their expertise on both hunting and fishing. They have come from all sorts of  backgrounds across this great country. With each guest we have always made a point to ask one specific
question: “Who had the biggest influence in you becoming an avid angler or hunter?” Most have said either their dad or grandfather, but some have named other important people in their lives who are responsible for their passion of the great outdoors.

Today, we’ll step back in time and look at how and who is responsible for my passion of the outdoors. At the age of 8, I was first introduced to hunting by my best friend’s dad. Tracy Owsley, or “Uncle Tracy” as I
referred to him, was an avid outdoorsman who took the time to take his son Kevin and I on our first squirrel hunt. It didn’t take long for each of us to inherit the nicknames “Lead Foot” and “Stumblebum.” Not sure who was which, but I’m sure we earned those nicknames based on our inability to
navigate through the woods quietly.

First, he taught us the importance of gun safety. We learned what direction to point the gun when hunting with others, how to leave the gun on safety until time to shoot, how to properly load a gun, how to cross a fence with a gun and to never point your gun at another person no matter what. These are
just a few of things he took the time to teach us.

Today’s young kids and teenagers are not as mature as my generation of the 1970s. By the age of 9, I hunted or fished by myself more times than I can count. I can’t imagine a 9-year-old kid heading into the woods with a shotgun or rifle today without supervision. Parents of my generation allowed
their kids a lot more freedom than parents of today.

This freedom allowed us to grow up and develop life skills quicker than today’s kids. Growing up, my generation also had more common sense, a trait which has virtually vanished over the last 20 years. We understood a good idea from a bad one. Now that’s not to say we didn’t do stupid things,
because we did. But we knew there was a fine line between dumb and crazy decisions that might not end well.

My fishing background was developed on what is known as farm ponds or tanks, as they are referred to in Texas. Our ranch had five fully stocked ponds that became the training ground for my obsession with bass fishing. My cousin and I spent many a day with walking from one farm pond to another all
day long, catching largemouth bass. He was an avid angler who introduced me to Bassmaster Magazine. By the age of 10, I was a subscriber to this publication that was full of great tips and techniques on bass fishing. I became a student of the sport and today I still subscribe to this same
magazine, along with the B.A.S.S. Times.

Make no mistake, to this day I still have a deep passion for the outdoors, but more on the fishing side since I decided to start fishing tournaments in 1990. I will still make an occasional trip to the woods, but I’m not as hard core on hunting like I used to be.

The problem today involves a time factor. There are just not enough hours in a day any longer to get things done. Today, we are too busy and no longer have the so-called “free time” when the world moved at a much slower pace back in the ‘70s. While I still enjoy an occasional hunting trip when time
allows, tournament bass fishing tends to consume a lot of my time since I want to be competitive. And believe it or not, my wife occasionally has a honey-do list of household chores that need to be handled.

It’s always good to take a moment to look back at where we came from. This is how we grow both as people and as outdoorsmen. It’s the experiences of our youth and our training ground that help to shape us into the people we are today. Whether it was a dad, uncle, grandparent or a friend, someone
took the time to introduce us to the hunting and fishing world. Without these mentors, we would just be lost souls wondering throughout the world looking for something to do.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on YouTube.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com 

Northwestern State University’s Department of Engineering Technology will hold the first ever inaugural departmental alumni reunion Saturday, April 6 at Collins Pavilion. Alumni of the department are invited to bring their families, reconnect with classmates, networking with current students and faculty and expand their professional network. The event will include games, souvenirs and refreshments.  

The NSU ET Alumni Reunion will be from 3-7 p.m. Registration is due by March 31.  Tickets are available at  https://engrtech2024.eventbrite.com.   

For details contact Dr. Shahriar Hossain, associate professor and interim department head, at hossains@nsula.edu.   

By Doug De Graffenried

“Eight dollars and five cents!”

I said it loudly and with all the patience I could muster without using unforgivable four-letter words. A commentary on the American educational system was playing out right in front of me.

They both looked at me like I was speaking in tongues.

I repeated myself, “Eight dollars and five cents! You owe the man eight dollars and five cents in change.” I was thinking that this was not brain surgery or rocket science.

I was shopping at a grocery store, which shall remain anonymous. The nice lady at the register was exasperated. She was telling everyone who would listen that she needed a break. It was time for her break. She was late for her break. “Someone needs to come relieve me, so I can take a break.” Meanwhile the nice man in front of me made a purchase. He bought several packages of bottled water. His total came to eleven dollars and ninety-five cents. He did something rarely seen in grocery stores across America. He paid cash.

He gave her a twenty-dollar bill.

She tapped in the amount tendered and the machine gave her the answer for how much change he would receive. But before she gave him the money. She tapped in another set of numbers so that she could go on her break. Her “taking a break” numbers erased the man’s change numbers.

A nice manager walked over and said, “Why don’t you go on your break.”

She said, “I will as soon as I give this man his change.” Then she looked at the register which she had now “erased.” She looked down at the twenty like it was a creature that was going to bite off her arm. She started fumbling for a piece of paper to do mathematical computations. While she was fumbling for the paper and pencil. The manager was pulling out her phone and trying to get her calculator program up and running.

The customer was distracted. He was talking to a guy two checkout lanes over. He couldn’t see the mathematical mayhem brewing at the checkout line.

“Eight dollars and five cents. That is what you owe the man in change.”

“Oh.”

About that time calculator girl finished punching in her numbers and said, “You owe him eight dollars and five cents in change.”

I had done the math in my head two separate ways. I had done the math. I also “counted the change” back to the nice man in my head. My brain is slow. I do not have a high-powered processor up there. But counting change, c’mon man! The year I went to work at Sears they introduced electronic cash registers. They trained us on those marvels, which would do a transaction and “tell” the clerk how much to give in change. Our store manager insisted that all the employees needed to be able to “count back” the change to the customers. He was especially insistent that all his High School part-timers learn the “right way” to make change.

These two didn’t know how to “make change.”

I was struck at that moment by the awesome responsibility that rests upon the shoulders of teachers.

Even those of us who teach scripture know, “Not many of you should become teachers… for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” James 3: 1

Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology hosted a panel of banking professionals Feb. 20 for a discussion with students on career options in the banking industry.  Moderated by Louisiana Bankers Association CEO Ginger Laurent, panelists Carrie Hough of BOM Bank, Luke Brandon of Merchants and Farmers Bank and Trust, Kim Nevils of Bank of Winnfield, George Clancy with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, Shanna Banker of City Bank and Trust and Billy Gray of Exchange Bank discussed their individual career paths and offered tips on networking, internships and advancement in the banking industry.  Representatives from Concordia Bank, First Federal Bank of Louisiana, United Community Bank and b1 Bank were also available to engage with students who brought resumes and could register to win a $1,000 scholarship from the Louisiana Bankers Association. Administrators say that events tho encourage engagement between students and industry professionals facilitates relationships with industry and employment opportunities. Information on NSU’s School of Business  is available at https://www.nsula.edu/business/.  

Briarwood Nature Preserve Curator Bayli Brossette discussed Briarwood Preserve, the birthplace and home of naturalist Caroline Dorman, with the oldest collection of Louisiana irises in the world at the Feb. 20 Rotary luncheon. Pictured from left are Brossette, Junior Curator and daughter Clovis Brossette, and Rotary President Joe Sers (Photo by Dr. Ron McBride).

On February 19, 2024 around 1:01 a.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department were notified by the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center that an individual arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. Upon officers arrival they were able to learn that the victim was shot in the 500 block of North Street.

The victim was later released from the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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 Davanta Stevenson at (318) 357-3817. 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 $3,000 for the arrest of an offender.

Corporal John Greely
Public Information Officer
Natchitoches Police Department

Release Date: February 19, 2024

The Journal is giving our readers the opportunity to participate in an online poll regarding CRIME in the City of Natchitoches.

John Winston joins Billy West Podcast to defend accusations of racism with regards to a letter he penned to the community.

John Winston’s Letter: Click Here

Ms. Dodd’s Letter:  Click Here

In conversations with Natchitoches residents on their doorstep, on the street or in other
settings while on the campaign trail, the topic of their safety and security inevitably is
discussed.

Statistics have been presented which indicate that crime in our town is on the decline –
and there is some merit to that narrative – but more needs to be done to ensure that
Natchitoches residents genuinely feel safe and secure in their homes, in their cars and
in general, as they live their lives.

To the previous point – a survey of Natchitoches residents would no doubt reflect that
they are still very concerned about crime.

Again, perception is reality.

The mayor and city council must take the lead in providing the resources, support, and
accountability which law enforcement needs to mitigate crime. Governor Landry recently
expressed concern over statewide record-low police and sheriff department
employments. Natchitoches must go against this trend by continuing to make progress
towards fully staffing – and retaining – its law enforcement personnel. The retention part
of that process is especially noteworthy since it costs $4,000 to hire and train a new
officer.

Juvenile crime, specifically, must be curbed. There must be a way to incarcerate
perpetrators for longer than 36 hours before turning them loose to repeat the same
crimes. More punitive measures need to be instituted, even if short term – pick up trash,
paint buildings…hard labor! Hold the parents/families more accountable. Enforce curfew
(remember that?). I am hopeful that Governor Landry lowers the age for an adult
criminal charge from 18 to 17, which will make being arrested at age 17 come with
harsher consequences. Bottom line – the Natchitoches community needs ongoing
assurance that the city will implement a multi-level plan to alleviate crime.

The citizens of Natchitoches also must take ownership of this issue. To steal a lyric from
the “Hair Band” days, there must be a “we’re not going to take it anymore” attitude and
approach. Lock cars/doors/gates, light up residences and surroundings, report
suspicious activity, set up additional neighborhood watches, and more. There is still
strength in numbers!

One more time – perception is reality. Crime remains at an elevated level of concern in
Natchitoches and needs to be addressed in our neighborhoods, in the historic district,
on the streets, and in all corners of town.

Paid for by Greg Burke, Candidate for Councilman-at-Large

In position for a slight upset, Natchitoches Central faltered in the fourth quarter on the road in Ruston Monday night, and the Lady Chiefs’ basketball season came to a frustrating finish.

In the regional round of the LHSAA girls playoffs, Lakeview rolled into the quarterfinals while St. Mary’s was sent home from Baton Rouge by top-seeded Southern Lab.

The 10th-seeded Lady Chiefs made a third-quarter surge and built a lead that was as large as 11 points with 7:25 to go against No. 7 Ruston, coached by former NCHS standout Meredith Graf.

But the tables turned dramatically. NCHS did not score for over five minutes as the Lady Bearcats roared to life.

Ruston outscored NCHS 16-5 in the final quarter.

After the Lady Bearcats drew even at 45-all, the teams traded clutch 3-pointers in the final two minutes. Tootie Gallien nailed a 22-footer with 1:40 to go for a 48-45 Lady Chiefs’ advantage, but Ruston tied it on a 3-ball from Jaliyah McWain with 1:05 remaining.

McWain, who led all scorers with 19 points, gave Ruston its first lead since the second quarter when she sank two free throws with 12 seconds left. The Lady Chiefs hustled upcourt and took timeout with 10 seconds left, but didn’t manage to get a shot up to tie or take the lead, suffering a turnover with two seconds to go.

NCHS got 15 points by Alyssa Christophe and 12 from Akeelah Wade. The Lady Chiefs finished with a 23-11 record. Ruston rose to 24-7 and will face second-seeded Denham Springs on the road in the state quarterfinals.

Lakeview advanced to the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year with a 59-29 win over No. 12 Merryville. Timberlyn Washington led the effort for the Lady Gators with 29 points.

No. 5 in Non-Select Division IV, Lakeview takes a 25-3 record to play at No. 4 LaSalle (24-2). The Lady Gators played in the state championship game last season.

St. Mary’s, the No. 16 seed in Select Division IV, fell to top-seeded Southern Lab 64-21. The Lady Tigers finish the season 13-19.

Join the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum on Friday, Feb. 23 from 12:15-12:45 pm as Kevin Shannahan discusses Northwestern State University during World War II. The Second World War brought many changes to life “on the hill” at Northwestern State. From the rationing of everything from nylon stockings to food and tires to former students scattered all over the world as many of them went into the military, the insular world of Northwestern-and Natchitoches-was changed forever.

Free and open to the public.

Visitors are welcome to bring their lunch and eat during the presentation.

Call (318) 357-2492 for more information.

The LA Lightning 10U travel ball team coached by Donovan Ohnoutka won second place in the USSSA February Frost tournament at Parc Natchitoches. There were seven teams entered in the tournament. Pictured left to right: (bottom) Jax Errington, Archer Johnson, Liam Mahloch, Cohen Gandy, Carter Hough, and Noah Patin. (Back row) Carson Gentry, Luke Fair, Ryne Williams, Callen Bertrand, Murphy Linebaugh, Coach Donovan Ohnoutka, Adam Todtenbier, and Gavin Key.

Office Building for Lease:

Size: 2 story / 2,170 Square Feet; Downstairs: 3 offices, file room and 2 bathrooms; Upstairs: 1 office, conference room, kitchen and 1 bathroom
Term: Lease – 1 year minimum
Lease Rate: $2,200.00 per month
Location: 101 Hazel Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana

For more information and/or a showing, please contact, 318-663-9077 or 318-471-9955

Serious Inquiries Only

Northwestern State University’s School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs hosted students from schools in surrounding parishes for the 58th annual Region IV Social Studies Fair Feb. 3.  Students exhibited almost 70 individual and group projects in a wide variety of fields, including anthropology, economics, geography, history, Louisiana history, political science and sociology.  Faculty from NSU’s School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs served as judges for the competition, which included elementary and middle school divisions.  First and second place winning entries are eligible to compete at the Louisiana State Social Studies Fair in Lake Charles.         

Division 1 (Grades 4-5) categories with first and second place winners are as follows.

Anthropology (Individual)

First place, Emmalyn Brooks, St. Frances Cabrini

Second place, Jaxson Butler, St. Frances Cabrini

Anthropology (Group)

Morgan Brown and Maci Reeves, Horseshoe Drive Elementary      

Economics (Group)

London Frazier and Elijah Brown, Horseshoe Drive Elementary   

Geography (Individual)

First place, Rosalyn Burks, Natchitoches Magnet

Second place, Camryn Vance, Natchitoches Magnet       

Geography (Group)

Ed’Mira Johnson and Erica Dempsey, Horseshoe Drive Elementary  

History (Individual)

First place Amelia Cook, St. Frances Cabrini

Second place, Jermall Pikes, East Natchitoches        

History (Group)

First place, Karlei Hall and Trust Hall, Horseshoe Drive Elementary,

Second place, Jaide Smith and Paris Frazier, Horseshoe Drive Elementary       

Louisiana History (Individual)

First place, Kinsley Sward, St. Frances Cabrini

Second place, Kadence Swart, St. Frances Cabrini           

Louisiana History (Group)

Kevin Turner and Daniel Christmas, Horseshoe Drive Elementary        

Political Science 

First place, Adrian Garcia, St. Frances Cabrini

Second place, Jace Lair, St. Frances Cabrini

Sociology

First Place, McKinzy Bolden, East Natchitoches Elementary

Second place, Lamaya Wright, East Natchitoches Elementary

Division 2 (Grades 6-8) categories with first and second place winners were as follows.

Anthropology

First place, Rosaley McCroskey, St. Frances Cabrini

Second place, Colin Parrish, Holy Savior Menard

Economics (Individual)

First place, Jack Dailey, Holy Savior Menard

Second place, Miguel Delacruz, St. Frances Cabrini

History (Individual)

First place, Phillip Mullin, St. Frances Cabrini

Second place, Sawyer Brown, Holy Savior Menard        

Louisiana History (Individual)

First place, Madeline Francis, Holy Savior Menard

Second place, Charlee Fee, St. Frances Cabrini

Political Science

First place, Jacques Roy, Holy Savior Menard

Second place, Zephyr Basco, St. Frances Cabrini

Sociology

First place, Isabelle Simons, Holy Savior Menard

Second place, Abigail Greenbaum, St. Frances Cabrini

Northwestern has played an important role in the Social Studies Fair since 1966, when it was created as a separate event from the State Science Fair program.  The director of the State Science Fair that year was Dr. James L. Roades, associate professor of chemistry at Northwestern State College.  Northwestern hosted the inaugural Region IV Social Studies Fair in 1967 and continues to host the event today.

“The Social Studies Fair represents a unique opportunity to celebrate social studies and to introduce students and their families to NSU and its faculty.  This is an exciting time for the NSU School of Social Sciences and Applied Programs,” said Department Head Dr. Mark Melder.  “As Universities and degree programs around the state face enrollment challenges, NSU’s Bachelor of Arts program in History celebrated a 6 percent increase from Spring 2023 to Spring 2024.”

Now in its 82nd year, the NSU history program has made numerous changes to enhance real-world learning experiences for its students, Melder said.  Last year, history faculty designed and implemented a new public history internship class for history majors.  The 100-hour (3 credit hour) internship is structured to allow students to experience working in historical settings including archives, museums, oral history projects and heritage sites.  To date, NSU students have completed internships at Melrose on the Cane Historic House, Los Adaes State Historic Site, the Central Louisiana African American Historical Society and the Cane River National Heritage Area.  

Information on NSU’s Department of Social Sciences and Applied Programs is available at https://www.nsula.edu/ssap/. 

The non-profit organization Empower Nepali Girls will offer a unique fundraising experience in which individuals can participate in a virtual cooking class streamed live from Kathmandu, Nepal. The class will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28 with participants preparing momos, traditional Nepali dumplings. Participants who sign up will receive the recipe and a grocery list through email 10 days prior to the event. The cost to participate is a suggested donation of $20-$120.  

The fund raiser is taking place in conjunction with a service-learning experience in which Northwestern State University students and faculty will travel to Nepal over spring break to share information about physical and mental health in remote areas of Nepal.   

Dr. Patrice Moulton, professor of psychology at NSU, became involved with Empower Nepali Girls several years ago and has made several trips to Nepal.  She and Dr. Shaun Wheat, assistant professor in the College of Nursing, will lead a group of graduate students from the Department of Psychology and a student from the Doctor of Education program.  This will be Wheat’s third trip to Nepal.  The Ed.D. student, Angela Wilson, is faculty chef at Delgado Community College, and will lead the cooking class. All proceeds will go towards scholarships for Empower Nepali Girls, which provides mentoring, career guidance and subsistence for girls and young women who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend school and pursue careers in medicine, engineering, business, teaching and other professions.  

Moulton said the psychology students will conduct school and home assessment visits, distribute scholarships, conduct a therapy techniques workshop for a peer cohort graduate group in Nepal and complete approved qualitative research activities. 

Wheat will lead a rural health initiative, distribute materials and information regarding maternal mortality rates, train health workers and deliver safety kits with basic first aid equipment and medical supplies to families in a remote village. She consulted with a medical doctor in Nepal to identify the need for thermometers, antiseptic ointment, bandages and betadine along with instructions for use. 

In addition to fund raising, students prepared for the experience by researching cultural issues of poverty, mental health, physical health and how to link with global initiatives. 

Individual projects correspond with teach member’s skill set as the group visits schools and interacts with the girls receiving ENG scholarships. Moulton said they will utilize their theory and therapy training to design workshops and learn how to apply qualitative methods. Their research will be presented during NSU’s Research Day April 18.   

Tickets for the momos cooking demonstration are available at https://nsu.la/MomosTickets.   

Information on Empower Nepali Girls is available at http://www.empowernepaligirls.org/.