My son and his family had to cover their children with their bodies last Saturday night to protect them because people were holding a drive-by shooting outside their home.
- Big Lots closing
- Sonic #2 – closed
- HIbbets has been closed for days
- Rainbow – closed
- Maglieaux’s – closed
- Pizza Hut on Keyser -closed
- Fontenot on college Ave – closed – I am sure I have forgotten several others that have closed
- Empty buildings everywhere.
- Houses, vehicles, and shops getting robbed.
- Businesses with boards on windows from drive-by shootings.
- NSU enrollment is at its lowest.
- Businesses being neglected by rude and untrained employees.
- Stores on front street are hurting. – When will we start seeing closures there.
Parc Natchitoches – (a gold mine for attracting tourist) is being neglected: grass growing in turf. Fields are getting worse. Pot holes everywhere. Not hosting any tournaments on weekends to bring people to Natchitoches.
Farmers Market: This past Saturday – weeds and vines are over taking stairs and wheel chair access leading down to river bank.
Crime Rate: Need I say more…. No matter how much they try and keep the truth buried, tourist are learning about the sky-high crime rate and are choosing to not visit as much.
People are starting to sell their homes and are leaving.
To my fellow community members – Natchitoches is imploding!
Melissa Megason
Note: I originally posted part of this on social media. Here are some comments:
Natchitoches has been on a gradual decline for the past 10 years. Unfortunately, the beautiful town we grew up in no longer exist.
Natchitoches could be a tourist destination that would pump money into a dying economy but instead of focusing on this it seems the city is trying to survive on the residents and unfortunately the wages, long term jobs, and inflation will not allow this. I hate coming “home” and seeing what could be a thriving town wasted and dying. – Josh Spears
Very sad to see our city in such terrible shape. The current mayor had the city in shambles and then when election time rolls around, we re-elect him. We need change very badly. – Parker Bankson
The sad part about it all is that THEY see it and are not doing anything about it!! If their pockets are lined, they could care less. I am willing to bet within the next 3-5 years, this place most of us call home is going to be a ghost town. – Demetric Latigue
Agreed! – Rhonda Sanders
I agree 100% it is a shame that the place some of us call home with so much History is falling apart before our very eyes!! – Shanell Baines
It is sad to see our town going down the way it is. – Larry Graham
I am Praying for Natchitoches … I love this place. Wish I could help more to turn this place around. – Daryl Walker
The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal. If you have an article or letter to the editor of interest for publishing consideration by the NPJ, please send it to NPJNatLa@gmail.com.
