The Winn Parish Police Jury / Saline Lake Game and Fish Preserve Commission and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the scheduled drawdown of Saline Lake, in Natchitoches and Winn parishes, starting May 31, 2022. The primary purpose is to control the growth of giant Salvinia during the upcoming summer months when growth potential is at its highest. The 2021 WLF aquatic vegetation management plan can be found on the LDWF website (Fisheries-Publications and Brochures-Inland Vegetation Management Plans-Saline Lake, Winn Parish).

The lake will dewater at a rate of 3 to 4 inches per day until it reaches a target drawdown level of 8 feet below normal pool stage. The control gates will close on approximately October 3, 2022, to allow the lake to refill for fall, winter and early spring recreational activities.

During the drawdown, an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 acres of water will remain in the lake. Boaters can still access the main waterbody from the Mulligan Inn Boat Ramp with small craft, but caution is advised. Numerous additional obstructions will be present due to the lower water level.

This action is a necessary component of LDWF’s integrated management plan to control overabundant aquatic vegetation growth and to improve access for recreational activities. An annual cycle of high and low water fluctuation can provide beneficial effects similar to a natural overflow lake system.

During the drawdown, property owners have the option to take advantage of the low water to repair boat docks, seawalls, boat slips, etc. However, a Corp of Engineer permit is required from the USACE Regulatory Branch for any such activities in and around Saline Lake before any work is started. Basically a shovel cannot be placed in the lake bottom until a permit is obtained.

Saline Lake is considered a Section 10 waterbody, and any work conducted over, in, or under the lake would require permit authorization from the Regulatory Office of the USACE. Outside of the lake itself, any dredging or filling activities within a wetland or stream may also require authorization prior to the impact. You may contact your local Police Jury / Parish Government or the Saline Lake Game and Fish Preserve Commission for help with your permit.

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By Joe Darby

Just in case two or three of you good readers were wondering why I haven’t had a column in the last few weeks, the answer is my computer illiteracy and inability to get to the bottom of my technical problems.

For some reason the email provider that I was using wouldn’t accept my password and when I tried to change the password, it posed a security question that, no matter what I answered, was not correct — in their eyes. They wanted to know my favorite grade school teacher. I named all the teachers who had taught me in the early years of school, but none suited the nameless, faceless entity that controlled my email. (Why couldn’t they ask me Mother’s maiden name, or the make of my first car?)

Anyway, I tried a live online chat but after I went through the Robot chatter (who even had a name, bless her little electronic heart) they put me on chat hold. And I waited. And waited. And waited. Patience is not my best virtue. So I hung up and tried again the next day. Same thing. I had tried over and over again typing to the little Robot chat girl that I wanted to speak to a human being but her little digital brain could not comprehend such a request. Or maybe it hurt her technical sensitivities. But she refused, or was unable, to help.

I tried calling, with the same essential result. I ended up screaming “Give me a real person,” but the cool and collected electronic voice informed me that I needed to give her — it — him –more information. You’ve probably seen some comedic memes on Facebook about people in that situation One of the woes of 21st century life. One of the very many.

Anyway, I changed my internet and email provider and am now in the process of trying to give my new email address to all those folks, companies, institutions, sales outfits, etc, etc., that need to have it for my life in 2022 to continue more or less as I’ve become accustomed.

So I was getting ready a couple of hours ago (Thursday afternoon) to write and send this column. But then along came a little passing thunderstorm and knocked out my power for about an hour — a not infrequent occurrence here, as I’m sure you know. Anyway, technology once again thwarted me and I had to await the resumption of the juice before I could accomplish my goal.

I will readily admit how convenient emails, Facebook messages, etc., are, how easy they make it to communicate and so forth. But when they go down, there’s little we — or at least I – can do about it. Snail mail might be slow, but at least the system didn’t shut down every time we had a thunder storm.

Or try going to a restaurant with the power out. They can’t serve you. Not because they can’t cook — they have gas stoves mostly, most have large windows to let enough light in to be able to see. No, they can’t serve you because their almighty computers are down. How will they charge you for your meal and how will they get compensated by the credit card companies if the mighty computer cannot enter the transaction into cyber space?

Okay. I’m going to knock this off and go read a good book. And if the power goes off again, I’ve got plenty of candles.

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In an uncharacteristic display of brevity and comity, the Natchitoches Parish Council disposed of its single item of business in less than five minutes. The council unanimously, and without debate, approved a proclamation calling for a special election in district 2 to replace Councilwoman Patsy Ward Hoover. Ms. Hoover will be resigning to take her place as the newly elected mayor of Natchez. Her last day on the Parish Council will be June 23rd.

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By Steve Graf

As humans, we tend to repeat things over and over. We like routine and we hate change. Bass fishermen are no different in this respect. As tournaments go, we usually pre-fish for three days, which seems to be the norm. For me, when it comes to scouting, I’ll always start in shallow water (less than 5 feet) and see if I can catch a few fish early as bass go through a feeding frenzy as the sun is on the rise. Then after the sun gets higher in the sky, I’ll move out into deeper water searching brush tops or deep structures. This is the routine I have followed for years, but I’ve always been known as a shallow water angler.

This time of year, I have another routine of always starting out throwing a topwater bait like a Zara Spook or a Yellow Magic. Some days the bass want a walking style bait like the Spook, but on other days they want a popper style bait like the Yellow Magic or a Pop R. The fish will tell you what and how they want the bait. There are times when you must slow down, and other days you can’t turn the reel handle fast enough. Once the sun has risen and I have determined whether the topwater bite is on or off, I will pick up my flipping rod and see if I can put a pattern together using soft plastic.

As for boat launching, anglers are very picky and follow their own specific routine in order to get the boat ready to drop in the water. For me, first I unhook both trailer straps, then I turn on the power supply for the boat and remove the trailer tow bar that the motor rests on. Then I make sure the plug is in and my life jacket is out and connected to my kill switch. The last thing I do is unhook the front strap from the boat (if I have someone backing me down the ramp), so I can slide the boat off the trailer. So many times, I’ve had co-anglers or partners try and help with these chores, but that’s when something gets forgotten and can get a little embarrassing when you can’t get the boat off the trailer because someone forgot to unhook the trailer tie downs. Advice…let the boater do everything himself! He’ll ask for help if he needs it. This way, no steps get missed on the boat launching procedure.

Another thing tournament anglers are very conscious of….making sure they have fresh lines on their reels. Nothing will make an angler madder than to lose a big fish due to his neglect of having fresh line on his reels. After three days of practice, I will always take the reels that I plan on using for the tournament and put a fresh line on each of them. It’s attention to detail like this that can be the difference between finishing in the top 10 or 35th. One more thing, that may be the most important…where will we eat each night? The group I travel with has a routine that we will not waiver from. Example: At Lake Sam Rayburn, we will always drive into Jasper on Thursday night and eat Mexican food at Martin’s. Then on Friday night, we’ll eat at Rayburn Country Clubhouse (which has a great chef). Even the snacks I carry during practice and tournament days will be the same for each event…a handful of turkey, string cheese stick and jerky. This is probably why I lose weight every time I go fishing! Oh, and I will always have three bottles of water and two small screw top bottles of Coke. (No canned drinks are allowed in my boat due to the potential of spilling them.)

As you can see, anglers really are creatures of habit, and we prove it each and every tournament we fish. If you want to mess with a bass tournament fisherman, take him out of his routine. It’s almost the same as a pitcher in baseball, if you can break his rhythm or routine, it can take him completely out of his game. Tournament anglers are no different! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf – Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
& Tackle Talk Live

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Five hundred and forty-two students were named to the Spring 2022 President’s List at Northwestern State University. Students on the list earned a grade point average of 4.0. For questions about the honor lists, contact the University Registrar at (318) 357-6171, toll-free at (800) 807-8849 or registrar@nsula.edu.

Those named to the President’s List by hometown in Sabine Parish are as follows.

Campti — Kristen Breedlove, Morgan Etheredge, Hannah Walker;

Goldonna – Madison Dupree, Rachel Dupree;

Lena – Deanna Ashcraft, Devin Hilger;

Marthaville — Zachary Slaughter;

Natchitoches — Naomi Adams, Sharvel Addison, Sarah Aldredge, Samantha Austin, Sarah Aviles, Alaidrian Bolton, Gracie Borders, Alexandra Brossett, Jazzare Burrell, Abbie Butler, Cody Coleman, Aziza Coutee, Bess DeFord, Carlos Diaz del Valle, Kylie Dornbush, McKenna Emmott, Hannah Ferguson, Kayla Graham, Peyton Green, Valentina Herazo Alvarez, Katherine Hughes, Courtany Jackson, Taylor Johnson, Corynn Lacaze, LiZhang Matuschka, Kelsey McDonald, Montel Mercier, Kelsie Moore, Bradford Morrison, Jessica Mullican, Emily Nobles, Meya Nutt, Isabella Peluso, Nicholas Pierson, Anna Poe, Katherine Rachal , Kira Raymond, Kristin Smith, Mary Smith, Ellie Starks, Kasey Strother-Leone, Veronica Sturman, Anna Taylor, Hayleigh Todd, Lauren Vienne;

Robeline – Georgia Dowden, Jeffrey Watley;

Saline – Grace Mathews.

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Eight hundred two undergraduate students were named to the Spring 2022 Dean’s List at Northwestern State university. Students on the Dean’s List must be enrolled full time and earn a grade point average of between 3.5 and 3.99.

For questions regarding the Dean’s List, please contact the NSU Registrar’s Office at (318) 357- 6171.

Those named to the Dean’s List by hometown in Natchitoches Parish are as follows.

Campti – Alyssa Breaud, Jordan Hoppock, Jaylee Riggs, Jason Smith;

Cloutierville – Alexis Coutee;

Lena – McKenzlea Wise;

Marthaville – Gabrielle Dyes, Morgan Sparks;

Natchez – Tanner Delphin, Walker Roe Jackson, Daisy Noel, Madison Simms;

Natchitoches – Stephen Eversull, Thomas Balthazar, De’Keayah Bell, Jordan Bevels, Chloe Blank, Marcella Bradley, Stephani Bradley, Hannah Branam, Stephen Bryan, Tam Bui, Tyler Burr, Cory Campbell, Elainna Casson, Alexandra Ciaccio, Mary Clark, Melissa Collier, Ana Corrales Santos, Alexander Daigle, Alicia Davis, Heather Day, Blake Fowler, Hannah Gribble, Abby Guillory, Kali Hall, Jennifer Hamilton, Lynda Hammett, Madeline Harper, Kevin Harris, Naji Helaire, Madeline Joubert, Baylee Lroux, Aisha Latchie, Grace Lemoine, Raegan Lindsey, Jennifer Loftin, Chloe Longlois, Dylan Lorenz, Nicholas Lott, Hailey Martin, John Martinez, Caitlyn Matthews, Tristan Neitte, Flynt Nelson, Weston Noe, Myles Nolley, Ember O’Bannon, Ryan Olchoway, Brandy Poole, Wyant Quinn, Devin Reyes, Trinity Sarpy, Emily Scott, Mary. Scruggs, Leidy Natalia Serna Tobon, Erin Smith, Katelyn Stevens, Heather Steward, Destiny Tyler, Maeli Usleton, Catrice Wafer, Derek Walle, Charity Samber, Raegan Washington, Thomas Watkins, James Wilkins, Jalen Wilson, Natalia Zapata Yonoff, Kayla Barfield, Meredith Matt;

Provencal – Madison Grace, Dylan Jennings, Mckenna Rowe;
Robeline – Keely Dubois, Taylor Johnson, Lillian Rachal, Tiffany Tousek.

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Six hundred sixteen undergraduate students at Northwestern State University were listed on the Spring 2022 Honor List. Students on the Honor List must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern and have a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49.

For questions regarding the Honor Roll, contact the NSU Registrar’s Office at (318) 357- 6171.

Students listed by hometown in Natchitoches Parish are as follows.

Campti – Shannon Bledsoe, Mary Gill, Alexis Keith, Alexis Smith;

Lena – Weslee Pickering;

Marthaville – Samantha Nettles, Madison Pleasant, Katelyn Jordan;

Natchez – Reagan Davis;

Natchitoches – Jose Arrieta Cuesta, Victoria Ashworth, Lauren Bartels, Laura Cabarcas Vargas, Christian Coutee, Starkeia Davis, Hannah Deranger, Ashley Duffus, Hannah Forsythe, Kendall Foster, Randi Galyean, James Gillyard, Zoe Johnson, Alexis Kitishian, Morgan Landry, Jamauri Lee, Maya Levo, Caleb Martinez, Cameron Mcalister, Bailey McConnell, Rochanee Myles, Matthew Nelson, Jace Nobles, Alyssa Price, Bertilia Ramirez Castallano, Catherine Roquemore, Slade Sanders, Ashton Smith, Ladarius Smith, Katelyn Steelman, Caroline Stokes, Adrion Sudds, Haley Summerlin, Chloe Townsend, Alex Wade, Patrick Walker, Trevor Williams, Mallory Nugent;

Provencal – Morgan Grace;

Robeline – Abbie Baker, Hunter Dubois, Kelsey Elkins, Tyler French, Stevie Lane, Katelyn Miley, Reagan Moore

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The City of Natchitoches will kick-off the Natchitoches Farmers Market tomorrow (Saturday) and will be open every Saturday every Saturday from now until July 23, 2022.

The Natchitoches Farmers Market will be downtown on the riverbank from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

June 4, 2022 – “The Chicken or The Egg?”
June 11, 2022 – “Mini Makers Day”
June 18, 2022 – “Blue Grass Day”
June 25, 2022 – “Contest on the Cane!!!”
July 2, 2022 – “4-H Day”
July 9, 2022 – “Blending for Health”
July 16, 2022 – “One Mans Treasure!!”
July 23, 2022 – “Farming on the Cane”

For more information, please contact the Farmers Market at (318) 663-5190 or (318) 214-7911.

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NRMC Walk-In Clinic is located at 740 Keyser Avenue, just down and across the street from the main hospital campus. The Clinic offers immediate diagnosis and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. For more serious and life-threatening illnesses and injuries, please go to NRMC’s Emergency Department at the hospital’s main campus.

The following is a quick guide to help you determine where you should go for medical care based on your health needs:

Walk-In Clinic
Allergies
Coughs/Congestion
Minor Burns
Stomachache
Eye Infection
Minor Injury
Sprains
Indigestion
Sore Throat

Emergency Department
Severe Allergy Reaction
Chest Pain or Discomfort
Severe Burns
Loss of Consciousness
Severe Abdominal Pain
Sudden Vision Impairments
Head Injury
Trauma with Broken Bones or Bleeding
Drug Overdose
Severe Dehydration

NRMC Walk-In Clinic is open seven days a week from 8:00am to 8:00pm with onsite laboratory and x-ray services. The Walk-in Clinic provides care at a lower cost than the full-service Emergency Department, and patient visits are much quicker with a shorter waiting period. Due to the complexity of Emergency Department cases, the team triages cases to ensure critically ill or injured patients are seen immediately. A patient with a minor illness or injury generally will wait longer in the ED for care. So please use the Walk-in Clinic for minor illnesses and injuries, because it is specifically designed to help patients get in and out quickly and provides the care level these patients need. Emergency care is available 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week and is backed by the full services of the hospital.

When to Call 9-1-1

If you think you have a life-threatening injury or illness including a heart attack or stroke, call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance or go to the nearest ER. NRMC’s Emergency Services provide paramedics and ambulance coverage for the parish.

Insurance

Both the Clinic and Emergency Department accept Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance, and self-pay.

For more information, please visit NRMChospital.org.

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When you think of well-known sports personalities who have made a name for themselves in the outdoors, it’s easy to gravitate rather quickly to names like Ray Scott, Bill Dance, Will Primos, Harold Knight, David Hale, et al.

During my 40-plus years as an outdoor writer, I have been privileged to cross paths with and wrangle interviews with a few of these fellows and I always come away impressed with just how good they are at what they do, be it the ability to catch big bass or bag big bucks.

There is another group of guys I have gotten to know over the years who are passionate about the outdoors while making their living in the professional sports arena. Here are seven of these fellows who have sat down with me to talk outdoors.

GEORGE STONE – The first professional athlete I interviewed was Ruston’s George Stone who at the time was still an active major league pitcher. He and I shared a day of fishing on Lake Claiborne and I picked up a common thread that runs through practically all these guys I’ve been privileged to interview – they were introduced to hunting and fishing by someone at home. In Stone’s case, it was his dad.

BERT JONES – Although Jones, the 1976 NFL MVP as quarterback of the Baltimore Colts, and I never shared a boat or a hunting blind together, we have visited several times and there is no doubt in talking with him that spending time in the outdoors has been a major part of his becoming who he is today. He and his dad, Dub, who also had a record-breaking career in the National Football League, used to spend hours together in the outdoors

JACKIE SMITH – For years, Smith held the record for most yards gained by a tight end in the National Football League as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. I got to spend a day with this Pro Football Hall of Fame athlete while fishing and paddling Hobie kayaks on the Cane River near Natchitoches. 

PATRICK RAMSEY – Selected in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, quarterback Patrick Ramsey is a die-hard outdoorsman. He and I have shared a bass boat as well as a duck blind on several occasions.

KARL MALONE – One of the highlights of my writing career was watching Basketball Hall of Fame member Karl Malone put his prized squirrel dog through its paces in his back yard in Ruston. Malone credits his mother, a single mom, for getting him involved in the outdoors as a youngster, a pursuit that he actively follows today.

WILLIS REED – Reed, another Basketball Hall of Fame icon, enjoyed a stellar career at Grambling and in the NBA with the New York Knicks. Born and reared in Bernice, Reed’s father started him early in life chasing squirrels. His exploits after big game took him all across the country.

KYLE WILLIAMS – While Stone, Jones, Smith, Ramsey, Malone and Reed have all long since retired from professional sports, Kyle Williams, a six-time Pro Bowl star, is the most recent NFL retiree of this group, after a 13-year career the Buffalo Bills. Following outstanding careers at Ruston High School and LSU, Williams — known for his blue-collar work ethic – established quite a name for himself in Buffalo. As much as he enjoyed playing football, he headed home to north Louisiana once season ended to chase deer and ducks, activities he was introduced to as a youngster by his dad.

Williams is being inducted in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches June 25, when he will join Bert and Dub Jones, Malone, Reed and Smith as members. There are many other outdoors enthusiasts among the Hall’s 455 members inducted since 1958.

Your son or daughter may never make it to the “bigs” but you can do them a huge favor by introducing them to the Great Outdoors, that area of life that will give them direction to whatever profession they choose to pursue. 

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Here is a look at the week of May 29 – June 4 at Northwestern State University.

June 5-11 – Registration for summer, fall semesters

June 6 – “Ballin’ With The Ballers” – Men’s Basketball Meet ‘n Greet, Magee’s Patio Café, 6-8 p.m.

June 6-9 – NSU Creating Writing Camp, A.A. Fredericks Center for Creative and Performing Arts,  9 a.m.

June 6-9 – Art Camp 1, “Myths and Legends,” CAPA/Department of Fine and Graphic Art, 1-5 p.m.

June 11 – ACT testing, Kyser Hall, 8 a.m.

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Join the Mayor’s Health and Fitness Council for a 3 mile bike ride.  This event is completely Free!  

The ride will begin and end at the Eugene P. Watson Library parking lot on the Northwestern State University campus on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at 8am.

Eugene P. Watson Library
911 University Parkway
Natchitoches, Louisiana

Please remember, safety first!  Helmets are required.  The first 100 registrants will get a FREE T-SHIRT

Registration on site from 7:30-8:00am or scan the QR Code at the bottom.

Registration is Required

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The Natchitoches Virtual Academy will begin accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year from Wednesday, June 1 through Wednesday, July 20 for students in grades 6-12 who meet the following criteria and requirements.

The guidelines for the 2022-2023 admissions into the Natchitoches Virtual Academy are as follows:

• Students must have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher for admission into this program. Students must also maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher while in the program.

• Parents must have and maintain reliable internet services (a minimum bandwidth of 3 Mbps per virtual student) throughout the duration of the program.

  Parents must provide the following documents at the time of the application process. Parents may either upload the required documents listed below in the application form OR email the documents tovirtualacademy@npsb.la.

• Proof of reliable internet services (this may be the most current bill or a letter from the internet service provider—please send the part of the bill that shows the bandwidth of services provided and the date of the bill).

• Your child’s final report card from the 2021-2022 school year.

  All applications and supporting documents must be submitted no later than 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 20. Applications with missing documentation will be discarded after 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 20.

  To apply today please visit https://forms.gle/hAMR3Dkc7oTtbXnx9.

  Parents will receive emailed correspondence to the email provided in the application. If you have any questions regarding our enrollment criteria or process, please contact us by phone at (318) 238- 1193 or by email at virtualacademy@npsb.la.

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Artists are being sought to design the 2022 Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster.  The theme for the poster is “Christmas in Natchitoches.”  Artists who would like to enter the contest should submit a drawing or painting to the Natchitoches Arts Council using the chosen theme.  The size of the completed sketch or painting should be 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall.  If chosen, the painting will become the exclusive property of the Natchitoches Arts Council.  The chosen artist will receive a commission of $600.  

The deadline for entering the competition is Friday, August 5, 2022.  All entries should be submitted to The Office of Community Development, 420 Fourth Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457.  The Natchitoches Arts Council is not responsible for ensuring the safe or timely delivery of the artwork to the appropriate party.  We do reserve the right to refuse any submissions and to extend the deadline.    

Numbered prints in the form of a poster will be available and on sale to the public in early October.  All posters are $35 each.  The 1980-2004 collage posters are $15 each.  The small posters (3 ¾” x 5”) are $3 each or two for $4.  Special prints of the 2008 Fleur de Lis Poster (11” x 17”), the 2016 Christmas in Natchitoches Poster (11” x 14.5”) and the 2019 Sacred Crossroads (11” x 14” reprint of the 1986 poster) are $20.

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival Poster has been a tradition for 43 years.  All of the original artwork can be viewed at the Natchitoches Arts Council office located at the Community Development Office (City Hall Annex), 420 Fourth Street, Natchitoches, LA.

For more information about the poster contest, please call Alicia Christophe at (318) 357-3838 or Karen Terrell at (318) 792-7234.

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NATCHITOCHES:
Michael “Mickey” Walker, Jr.
January 16, 1946 – June 1, 2022
Service: Saturday, June 4 at 11 am at United Baptist Cemetery, formerly L.C. Weaver Memorial Cemetery in Campti

Leroy Irchirl, Sr.
September 6, 1953 – May 29, 2022
Service: Saturday, June 4 at 11am at First Baptist Church Amulet Street

Gloria Marie Moore
Visitation: Friday, June 3 from 6-8 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.
Service: Assemble at the funeral home Saturday, June 4 at 9:30 am to form a procession to St. Paul Baptist Church in the Bermuda community for an 11 am service

Dr. Susan Dollar
Service: Saturday, June 4 at 11 am at the First Presbyterian Church

Randy Sanderson
August 10, 1954 – May 29, 2022
Service: Friday, June 3 at 12 pm at Central Baptist Church in Robeline

SABINE:
Larry Wayne Rivers
January 22, 1950 – May 31, 2022
Service: Tuesday, June 7 at 10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church

Rowena Jo Evans
February 21, 1936 – May 28, 2022
Service: Wednesday, June 8 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

WINN:
Chloe Boullion
November 8, 1939 – June 1, 2022O
Service: Monday, June 6 at 11 am at Bethlehem Cemetery

RED RIVER:
Sandra Sharlene Bockstanz
June 8, 1966 – May 29, 2022
Service: Friday, June 3 at 10 am at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

Margaret Bierden Downs
July 24, 1928 – May 28, 2022
Service: Saturday, June 4 at 12 pm at Beulah Cemetery, located at 2279 Hwy 487 in Marthaville

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A City Council special meeting will be held on Friday, June 3 at 12 p.m. and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda. The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers located at 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana.

WATCH LIVE: CLICK HERE

A G E N D A

RESOLUTION:

048 Nielsen Resolution Of Support For A Grant Application Submitted To The Louisiana Office Of Community Development, For The 2021 – 2022 Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF) Grant For The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana

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The City of Natchitoches Planning and Zoning Department approved 20 permits during the month of January with an application value of $1 million.

See Full Report Here:

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Campti)-A suspicious vehicle complaint has led to the arrest of a Red River Parish man on outstanding warrants and felony narcotics charges according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday morning, May 31, 2022, at approximately 1:25am, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked near an old residence in the 100 block of Wesley Myers Road near Campti, La.

While deputies were responding to the area, the complainant contacted NATCOM 911 Center reporting the suspicious vehicle, reportedly a motorcycle had left the area traveling towards Campti.

Deputies intercepted and stopped the black 2002 Honda motorcycle near the intersections of La. Hwy 9 and US-71 in Campti.

The operator was identified as Brandon J. Streetman of Coushatta, La.

During the traffic stop, deputies learned Streetman’s drivers license was suspended and that he was wanted by the 10th Judicial District Court on outstanding bench warrants for Failure to Appear in Court on 4/6/2022 for a Review Hearing on Possession of Marijuana, and Illegal Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of a Minor, Failure to Appear in Court on 3/9/2022 for Criminal Pre-Trial for Unauthorized Use of a Moveable, and Failure to Appear in Court on 3/9/2022 for Arraignment on the charges of Driving under Suspension, Possession of CDS Schedule II Narcotics, Switched License Plate and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Deputies say after placing Streetman under arrest and during a search incidental to the arrest, they asked if he had any illegal or sharp items on his person in which he replied “yes some dope”.

Streetman removed a plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine from his jacket pocket turning the narcotics over to the deputy.

The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis.

Deputies say while interviewing Street, they asked why was he parked on the Wesley Myers Road and he stated he was talking on his cellphone.

Streetman, 39, of the 300 block of Salt Springs Road, Coushatta, La. was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 3-Counts of Failure to Appear in the 10th Judicial District Court and the new charges of Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine-2nd or Subsequent Offenses.

Streetman remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center.

Lt. R. LaCaze made the arrest.

If you observe suspicious activity in your area, contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 352-6432.

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on the scene of a boating crash on June 1 at 8:15 pm on Cane River near the 2400 block of Fish Hatchery Road, south of Natchitoches according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also responded to the scene.

The Cane River Waterway Commission was notified.

There were no reported injuries.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will investigate the crash. All other information will be released by LDWF.

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Summer is officially here and the Natchitoches Parish School Board’s summer program is ready to take flight! NPSB’s Summer RISE Pathways begins in June.

Ecco Ride and NPSB officials have released the official bus routes for summer school, as well as the summer school site locations for students.

To see the full list of bus routes for Summer RISE Pathways 2022, please visit www.npsb.la/summer-bus-routes.

All students will report to their assigned school site each day during Summer RISE Pathways. Please see below for the school site locations:

• NSU Lab Schools and Natchitoches Magnet registered students will attend the closest school to their home address
• Natchitoches Virtual Academy (NVA) registered students will attend their home-based school
• East Natchitoches registered 6th grade students will attend NJH
• East Natchitoches registered 5th grade students will attend M. R. Weaver
• Marthaville registered students will attend Provencal
• Goldonna registered students will attend Fairview Alpha

If parents have any questions regarding bus routes for Summer RISE Pathways 2022, they can contact Felicia Washington at (318) 352- 2358.

 

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Greg Roberts Fire Hydrant Repair and Supply will conduct fire hydrant flow testing on Monday, June 6 in the following areas:

Sibley Street, the Downtown Area all the way to Fairgrounds Road, and the surrounding areas.

The purpose of this test is to check the operation and flow rate of each fire hydrant in the given areas. Please be aware, hydrants are fully opened when performing these tests and may stir up sediment in the City’s waterlines.

For more information or questions regarding hydrant flows contact the Utility Department at (318) 357-3850.

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Northwestern State women’s basketball is now accepting registrations and sponsorships for the 34th Don’t Die Wondering Golf Classic.

The annual event, set for Sept. 10 at Northwestern Hills Golf Course, on the state Highway 1 bypass, remains the primary fundraising effort for the women’s basketball program, alongside the Fastbreak Club, under third-year head coach Anna Nimz.

Entry fees are $400 per team or $100 per player. The four-person, 18-hole, scramble format tournament will begin at 8 a.m., with a possible second flight later in the day added if necessary.

During their round, golfers will have the opportunity to shoot for a new car with a hole-in-one challenge as well as have their golf skills challenged throughout the course with various games, skill challenges and other surprises along the way.

Food and drinks will also be available at the club house and throughout the course.

For more information, contact the women’s basketball office at 318-357-5897.

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