Classes Begin Today; Downtown Closures Expected to Snarl Morning Commute
Natchitoches Parish students return to class today, with a second group starting Tuesday, Aug. 11. The School Board advised that construction underway in downtown Natchitoches will bring temporary road closures and detours affecting travel to and from schools beginning this morning.
The district asked parents, guardians and staff to allow extra travel time and use alternate routes where possible, and said the disruption is expected to be heaviest during the morning commute. Superintendent Grant Eloi told the School Board committee Aug. 5 that he would ask the City of Natchitoches and the Natchitoches Police Department for help with traffic flow while deferring to police on officer placement.
Qualifying Closes: 23 Offices Filled Without Opposition, 15 Races Set
Qualifying for the Nov. 3 election closed Friday at 4:30 p.m. at the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court’s Office. Because Louisiana does not permit write-in candidates, offices drawing no more candidates than available seats are filled without opposition.
Three parishwide offices were decided at the close. District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington was returned without opposition, as were Desiree Dyess for Division A judge and Lala Sylvester for Division B judge in the 10th Judicial District.
Seven School Board districts drew a single candidate each — Tan’Keia Palmer in District 2, Dorothy McGaskey in District 3, Billy Benefield in District 4, Lela Harvey in District 5, Reba Phelps in District 6, Chad Fredieu in District 7, Micah Nicholson in District 9 and Kevin Warner in District 10.
Three School Board seats will be contested. District 1 drew Barbara Page and Lee Waskom. District 11 drew Dane Terrell and Brandi Carpenter. District 8 drew three candidates — Christopher Bush, Linda Davison and JD Samuel Jr.
The two Ward One offices are both races. City judge drew Robert Owsley and Cloyd Benjamin Jr. City marshal drew Randy Williams and Carl Sias.
Campti will see the parish’s most crowded contest. Four candidates qualified for chief of police — Quatasha Phillips, Christopher Houston Sr., Syreetta Evans and Rickey Armstead. The mayor’s race drew Katrina Evans and Jasmine Lewis, and seven candidates qualified for the town council: Mary Donaway Collins, Sarah Reliford, Robin Washington, James Evans Jr., LaQuita Arnold, DaNetta Prudhomme and LaTia Beavers.
Robeline drew a three-way mayor’s race between Rodney French, Chase Collins and Gordon O’Con, along with six alderman candidates — Bubba Ivy, Pamala Jennings, James R. Walker, Anthony Freeman, Martha Solice and Wannetta Jo French. Shelby Borders was unopposed for chief of police.
Ashland, Goldonna and Provencal produced a mix. Denise Pardee in Ashland, Gayle Cloud in Goldonna and Dan Gongre in Provencal were all unopposed for mayor. Ashland’s three council seats drew exactly three candidates — Kim Schmidt, BayLeigh Quick and Connie Adams — as did Provencal’s three alderman seats, with James Dupree, Dewayne Lindsey Jr. and Dustin Adcock. Goldonna drew four alderman candidates: Reed Franklin, Tim Harris, Norvel Garner and Larry McGee. Shannon Garner was unopposed for Goldonna chief of police, while Ashland’s chief of police race drew Tom Ouzts Jr. and Shellie Pullig, and Provencal’s drew Eric Upchurch and Virginia Salter.
Among ward offices, Patrice Harper in Ward 2 and Rhonda Sanders in Ward 4 were unopposed for justice of the peace, as were Kenneth O’Con for Ward 3 constable and Dale Carter for Ward 4 constable. Ward 2 constable drew Monte Trichell and Lynn Layfield, and Ward 3 justice of the peace drew George “Dwain” Spillman and Celeste O’Con.