While the Fall elections for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Natchitoches Parish School Board Members and municipal elected positions are a long way off (Tuesday, November 8), qualifying for those positions is right around the corner (July 20-22).
FINAL DAY
All Natchitoches Parish School Board Member positions run in November and qualify this this week -July 21-22.
The municipalities of Ashland, Campti, Goldonna, Provencal and Robeline all have Mayor, Councilmen/Aldermen and Chief of Police elections. Also both Clarence and Powhatan will have elections to fill unexpired terms for Mayor.
Also qualifying for the November 8th ballot is Parish Government Council District 2 position. This will fill the unexpired term of Patsy Ward Hoover who is now the Mayor of Natchez.
All of those positions also qualify this week – July 20-22. Please call if you have questions at 318-352-8152.
To see those who qualified YESTERDAY – July 20th and July 21st.
When, oh when, will we finally get this Covid disease behind us? From the looks of it, it may be quite a long time, or maybe never. Like the common cold and the flu, it may be with us for ever.
People I know, friends of people I know and some I don’t know at all, but have heard about, have contracted the persistent bug in the last couple of weeks. This latest outbreak appears to be a good bit milder than the early versions, and that is a fact much to be thankful for. It seems to be more like a mild flu or bad cold — headache, sore throat and fatigue, but not so much the life-threatening breathing problems that we feared so much in 2020 and ’21.
Of course there’s always the possibility that another mutation will spawn a new strain that will be as bad as or worse than the earlier versions. The world and this country, with all the current turmoil, definitely does not need such a plague upon us.
I use the term plague deliberately because, as a history buff, I look for comparisons and similarities of past events to what’s going on today. I know you have heard of the Bubonic Plague, or Black Plague of the Middle Ages. It was the worst pandemic in the history of mankind.
It was brought to Europe by the rampaging Mongol hordes, who were bent upon conquering the world in the 1200s and 1300s. It seems like they were well on their way to doing so when the plague broke out, first in Asia, then transmitted over trade routes, ending up in the Mediterranean before spreading to first southern then northern Europe in the late 1340s.
Allow me a quick aside here. More and more historians are blaming Christopher Columbus and all the European settlers who followed him to the new world for bringing germs that the native American tribes had never encountered and for which they were thus very vulnerable. These historians make it sound like this was a deliberate thing, although the Europeans had never heard of nor could conceive of, the microscopic germs that caused the spread of the various diseases in the New World. But, strangely, I have never read of these same historians blaming the Asians for bringing the Black Plague to Europe. Just saying.
The plague, spread by the bites of fleas whose basic hosts were rats, was utterly devastating. From the time of the first symptoms, swelling and pain in the glands and bleeding from bodily orifices, the patient was often dead within 24 hours.
The dead had to be buried in mass graves because people were dying so quickly that there was no time for regular funerals. Folks reacted in various ways. Many prayed and became more devout and some thought the plague was the wrath of God upon mankind for its many sins. Some walked through the streets of Europe’s cities, flagellating themselves in penitence, hoping they could assuage God’s wrath. Others reacted just the opposite, eating, drinking and making merry, because they were pretty sure that tomorrow they would die. Extended drunken orgies were common.
Estimates are that between 30 and 60 percent of the European population was wiped out. Let’s apply those figures to Natchitoches, whose population is about 18,000. Between roughly 5,500 and 11,000 of us would have died. Louisiana, with a census of about 4.5 million, would have lost between 1.35 and 2.7 million. In the United States, with about 330 million, the death toll would have been between 100 million and 200 million. Unimaginable numbers, to be sure.
So, as bad as Covid has been, it certainly could be a lot worse.
Johnathan Harmon grew up hearing about the Cincinnati Reds’ Nasty Boys bullpen from his father.
Now Northwestern State’s first-team All-Southland Conference pitcher will have a chance to be a part of that same franchise after the Reds selected Harmon with their 13th-round selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.
“Growing up in the 90s, my dad was a big fan of the Nasty Boys,” Harmon said. “I think I’m going to fit in with them. They have that gritty mentality, and I’ve been like that my whole life. I’ve been the underdog. I’m ready for the next step.”
A third-year sophomore right-hander from Hornbeck, Harmon earned first-team All-Southland honors this spring after leading the Demons in ERA (3.52) and complete games (two) and sharing the team lead with five wins while ranking second on the team in innings pitched (79.1).
Harmon becomes the sixth Demon drafted by the Reds, and the first chosen by Cincinnati since OJ King in 2002.
“I want to thank my parents for the sacrifices they made,” said Harmon, who watched the draft with 25 to 30 people in Hornbeck. “They took me to all the tournaments, supported me through the ups and downs. To have them with me was special. Those were the first people I wanted to thank.”
Harmon’s selection extended Northwestern State’s streak of years with a player drafted to five, the longest in school history. It also marked the third time in the past four drafts that the Demons had the Southland Conference’s first player selected.
A Freshman All-American in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Harmon has won 12 games through three seasons while pitching 169 2-3 innings in his three seasons as a Demon. He is the seventh NSU draftee since 2018.
“(The NSU coaches) gave me every tool I needed – development, confidence,” said Harmon, who was the No. 393 pick overall. “They made it easy on me. I could make a couple of mistakes – I made plenty in my career – and they supported me and told me it was OK. They gave me the confidence and support I needed it, which allowed me to do the best job I can do.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana received a donation of classroom furniture and storage shelves from the City of Natchitoches Early Childhood Education and Development on behalf of Amy Metoyer-Roberson, Early Childhood Coordinator and Advisory Council member for the Boys and Girls Club.
We have all heard the phrase “Sharing is Caring” and that is exactly what these programs displayed. Materials in great condition were donated to Bright Beginnings, Inc by Save the Children’s Head Start and then to the City of Natchitoches. So many programs within our community such as these are dedicated to provide high-quality education and care for all children in our community by sharing resources amongst all programs.
Materials went towards enlarging their wonderful reading area with shelves easily accessible for children and staff, storage shelves to organize wonderful educational activities and art materials.
”Although my direct job description for the City of Natchitoches is to be an advocate for Type III Childcare Centers, but by being a member of organizations such as Save the Children Policy Council and Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana Advisory Council we are able to build relationships with all programs with the same goal -meet the needs of all our children,” said Amy. “We are pleased to contribute to ALL organizations that focuses on our future by providing a safe, welcoming place for young people to gather and helping them develop their skills and drive to make a difference regardless of the program’s name.”
During the summer, an average of 60-80 students per day visit the Boys and Girls Club where they can enjoy activities based on a variety of subjects. Some of these subject areas include careers, academic, health and wellness, recreation, stem, life skills and the arts. These activities help youth combat learning loss during the summer, build character and leadership skills.
“We are grateful for the amount of support the Natchitoches community has shown the Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana-Natchitoches site. We are excited to grow the number of programs and resources the club can offer. Receiving this donation will directly affect how efficient we are at serving you. Club members were very excited to see donated materials being carried into the club,” said Coach Dee.
The organization also plans to continue to provide a sustainable program for youth here in Natchitoches. Boys and Girls Club of Acadiana is dedicated to providing youth with a safe environment to learn, develop and play.
Use technical knowledge of manufacturing processes, as applies to such supervision
Utilize computer skills to facilitate processes and software used
Pursue objectives with organizational skills to meet goals
Work with personnel at all levels of the organization
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
Two (2) year Associates Degree, plus one year of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Excellent communication skills; both oral and written
Great computer skills (Excel and Word
BENEFITS:
We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.
Shift is 4:30 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. Overtime requirements are based on customer needs to meet business objectives.
If qualified and interested, please apply online at www.emerson.com
Equal Opportunity Employer Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
Fishing with plastic worms has been around ever since Nick Crème stunk up his kitchen and poured the first soft plastic worm in 1949. This one bait revolutionized bass fishing forever, and it became, and still is today, the number one way to catch bass.
Anglers like Roland Martin and Larry Nixon made a great living winning tournaments with the plastic worm. In the beginning, there were mainly three colors to choose from: black, blue, or purple. But over the years other manufacturers like Zoom, Strike King, Berkley, and V&M now offer worms in a multitude of colors and sizes. Today let’s look at a couple that have made their mark on the bass fishing world.
One worm that has withstood the test of time is the 6-or 7-inch straight tail worm, or as Zoom calls it, a “Trick” worm. More fish have been caught on a straight tail worm than any other worm ever made. Over the years, no bait has brought more fish to the scales or put more money in the pockets of anglers. It’s a bait that allows anglers to use an array of techniques to fish it. A shakey jig head, drop shot, Texas rig, or a Carolina rig are the most popular ways to fish it, but it’s also a great bait when fished weightless.
The straight tail worm will flat out catch fish when other lures will fail. Why? I think it’s because it can be fished so many different ways, and it always seems to look natural in the water. One key for me when fishing this bait is to not over-weight it. Simply put, don’t use a real heavy weight with this worm, as it tends to take away the action of the worm. My personal set up for a 6-or 7-inch “Trick” worm is Texas rigged with a 2/0 Gamakatsu Round Bend Hook and a 3/16 Elite Tungsten weight fished on 14- or 15-pound fluorocarbon line…but I will go to a ¼ ounce weight if the wind is blowing.
Another worm that has caught fire is an oversized version of the Zoom Trick Worm called the “Magnum” Trick Worm. It’s an 8-inch worm and is 2 inches longer than its cousin, “Trick” worm. This bait has really come to the forefront of bass tournaments in our region. There’s a saying among anglers, “Big baits catch big fish.” Well, if you think the 8-inch Magnum
Trick Worm is good, tie on a V&M J-Mag 10-inch worm! This worm defines what a big worm really is and will put fish in your live-well that any angler would be proud to have. Either of these big straight tail worms will work. Some days they seem to want the smaller 8-inch version, but then are days when the big fish want that bigger 10- inch bait. You just have to try both to see which one they want.
Both of these, when Texas rigged, may require a heavier weight like a Tungsten 3/8 or ½ ounce. I like to fish either of these in shallow or deep- water conditions. So, if you want to upgrade your catch and put quality fish in the boat, tie on either the 8-inch Magnum Trick Worm or a V&M J- Mag 10-inch worm. Nothing gets me more excited than catching bass on a worm. There’s just something special about getting a Texas rigged worm bite and you feel that slight “tick” and you set the hook! Warning: this type of fishing may cause heart failure! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!
Conceptualize, develop, and initiate process improvements and cost reductions
Use Lean principles to reduce cycle times and reduce waste
Manage problem solving teams from inception to corrective actions. Will often involve leading a team through the process.
Self-initiate improvement and / or corrective actions for safety, quality, cost and productivity concerns using formal six sigma problem solving tools
Develop documentation for operators and maintenance on proper equipment operation and care
Effectively communicate changes to all levels of the organization and at all stages of implementation
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:
BS degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent engineering technology degree
Excellent interpersonal skills
Strong computer skills (Microsoft Excel and Word)
Self-starter able to work independently
If qualified and interested, please apply online at www.emerson.com
BENEFITS:
We offer medical insurance plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more. We also provide you flexible time-off plans, including parental leave, vacation, and holiday leave.
Equal Opportunity Employer Emerson is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.
NATCHITOCHES: James “Junior” Nolan Jennings, Jr. July 14, 1930 – July 17, 2022 Service: Saturday, July 23 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
David “Jap” LeDoux April 29, 1961 – July 18, 2022 Service: Monday, July 25 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Dennis “Beaux” Edward Gourdon, Jr. May 24, 1970 – July 16, 2022 Service: Sunday, July 24 at 2 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Brian D. Olliff May 9, 1970 – July 16, 2022 Service: Friday, July 22 at 10 am at First Baptist in Natchitoches
Willie Edward Vercher August 8, 1939 – July 15, 2022 Service: Saturday, July 23 at 10 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville
Wanda Sue McCain December 4, 1955 – July 13, 2022 Service: Saturday, July 23 at 10 am at St. Anthony Catholic Church
“Pixie” Cora Lynn Woods/Coldiron July 3, 2022 Service: Saturday, July 23 at 5 pm at 218 Archie Woods Rd. in Campti
SABINE: David Brian McCormic October 10, 1958 – July 18, 2022 Service: Friday, July 22 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Marilyn Hardy Bridges November 5, 1959 – July 18, 2022 Service: Friday, July 22 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
WINN: Bronwyn Daye Chandler October 29, 1989 – July 19, 2022 Service: Saturday, July 23 at 11am at Gloryway Church in Brewton’s Mill
John E. Creel January 5, 1951 – July 18, 2022 Service: Friday, July 22 at 2 pm in the chapel of Southern Funeral Home
Retha Jean Hatten October 29, 1945 – July 17, 2022 Service: Friday, July 22 at 10 am at Faith Baptist Church
Natchitoches Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or npjnatla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to npjnatla@gmail.com)
NPSO WELCOMES TWO NEW DEPUTIES; GRADUATES OF SHREVEPORT POLICE REGIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies Eric Fobb Jr. and Nathaniel Greene completed the 86th session of the Shreveport Police Regional Training Academy in Shreveport on Friday, July 15, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
The graduation ceremony was held at the RiverView Theater on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway in Shreveport, La.
Cadets received training in areas of criminal law, patrol activities, vehicle stops, report writing, DWI enforcement, survival tactics, ethics, taser, first aid, chemical weapons and other topics in law enforcement.
NPSO Deputy Eric Fobb Jr. received the training academy’s “Honor Graduate” Award.
Deputy Fobb is a 2018 graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and a member of the US Army Reserve.
NPSO Deputy Nathaniel Greene received the training academy’s “Physical Fitness” Award.
Deputy Greene is attending Northwestern State University majoring in criminal justice. Greene also served as a MP in the Louisiana Army National Guard.
Deputies Fobb and Greene will return to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office for additional in-house training in policy and procedure, CAD report writing, National Incident Command Systems, and assigned to a Field Training Officer before they are released to patrol and other duties in Natchitoches Parish.
Sheriff Stuart Wright, Major Doug Rachal, Director of Training Deputy Rodney May, family and friends attended the graduation services and welcomed the new deputies to the NPSO team.
Congratulations Deputies Fobb and Greene we thank you for your service and wish you well in your law enforcement career.
We also thank Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith and the entire Shreveport Police Regional Training Academy Staff for the professionalism and integrity.
Monday morning, I listened to Greg Sankey, the most powerful man in college sports as the Southeastern Conference commissioner, cite the necessity to be “thoughtful but nimble” in the constantly evolving landscape of conference affiliations.
New Southland Conference commissioner Chris Grant has certainly been thoughtful but nimble as he’s navigated the turbulent league landscape since coming on board as the No. 2 guy last summer, then emerging as commissioner in waiting last fall. He gets a lot of credit for Southland cornerstone McNeese choosing to stay put (for now, since the Cowboys unabashedly admit they are looking for upward mobility).
He also is lauded for helping bring Lamar back from the Western Athletic Conference to the Southland after a miserable year flying teams all around three time zones, and for helping Incarnate Word realize the folly of trying the same thing. UIW walked to the DMZ, looked at the other side, and decided not to defect, after Grant helped encourage the Southland’s San Antonio member to stay put. ,
The Southland was a conference in crisis a year ago, with longtime members (Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston) departing, dragging Lamar and Abilene Christian along; with Central Arkansas also bolting, and McNeese wavering on joining the wacky WAC. Now, largely credited to Grant playing a pivotal role, the league has 10 committed members (eight football schools) and an even split between Texas and Louisiana campuses. As it staged the Southland Football Media Day event Wednesday in the defacto conference headquarters, Lake Charles, the Southland has pulled off quite the comeback.
In an 11th-hour switch in June, Lamar chose to rejoin the Southland for this season, not 2023-24 as indicated this spring. That produced a scramble to rearrange the league’s schedules in all sports. Football, in scope and profile, presented the biggest logistical hurdles.
And the biggest, oldest, most tradition-laden rivalry in the Southland didn’t survive.
When the Southland proudly trotted out its revamped football slate eight days ago, the Northwestern State-McNeese game was wiped away. The Demons and Cowboys have met every season since 1951, but are no longer to scheduled to play this fall.
It was to be the final home game for the Demons and the closing contest of the regular season for both teams. If played on that date, or any other, it’s a series with 70 years of annual history, almost double the next closest in the Southland, It’s the one game left on NSU’s slate that every year, players, coaches, and fans on both sides circle as soon as that season’s schedules are set. Until now.
Kicking off SEC Media Days in Atlanta Monday, Sankey addressed scheduling – the SEC’s issue is not a quick fix, but what to do when Texas and Oklahoma join, presumably in 2025. He cited the SEC’s policy of three “permanent” rivalries (LSU has Ole Miss, Alabama and Florida).
The Southland doesn’t have permanent rivalries – well, not any longer. In a statement issued to The Journal, Grant tried to explain why not.
“As a conference with deep pride in its history of competitive excellence, the Southland Conference has profound respect for the legendary rivalry between McNeese State and Northwestern State. We also understand the fan frustration that organizers had to hit the pause button for a year due to multiple intersecting obligations. As schools worked to build non-conference schedules for this fall, they did a fantastic job accommodating the welcome presence of Lamar University and the University of Incarnate World, a scheduling alliance with the Ohio Valley Conference and several prioritized dates on campus for multiple schools. We apologize to the student-athletes and fans for the necessary pause on this annual tradition and look forward to the rivalry’s spirited resumption in 2023.”
Sorting through: “profound respect for the legendary rivalry?” Horse hooey.
“Had to hit the pause button for a year due to multiple intersecting obligations.” Don’t think you “had to,” Mr. Grant. You just didn’t care enough to have your crew work a little bit harder to preserve a 70-season series between in-state rivals. Truman was president when the Demons and Cowboys first teed it up. You’re right about one thing – it is a “legendary rivalry.”
“Several prioritized dates on campus for multiple schools.” Uh, we can easily read that, as Homecoming. Every school has it. Everybody loves it. But shouldn’t the oldest active, continuous series in the Southland also be “prioritized?”
“Necessary pause on this annual tradition.” Totally unnecessary, that is. I get that there’s a rush to produce a schedule. The season is nearing, but there are six weeks before the Sept. 3 season opener, and nine weeks before Southland games start on Sept. 24. The Southland didn’t pause on the annual tradition. It trashed the annual part.
Remember the words of Greg Sankey – commissioner of the Southland, by the way, from 1996-2002: “thoughtful but nimble.”
During the crush of the pandemic, we saw countless examples of “nimble” when it came to scheduling, to practices, to travel, to … everything. Some games played on Saturdays were set up just days earlier.
What we have here is a refusal to admit a correctable error. The conference office will tell us that the schedule announced last week was “approved” by each school. I know it caught the NSU football staff by surprise, after they heard a couple days earlier from McNeese colleagues that the game would probably move off the final date to accommodate McNeese-Lamar there. Fine. But to toss it aside? Terrible.
Even worse? There’s ample time to fix this — if only Grant and crew could show us a little “nimble.” But they won’t. In Lake Charles Wednesday, Grant talked about the value of traditional rivalries, citing McNeese and Lamar. NSU-McNeese wasn’t mentioned until Sheldon Mickles of the Baton Rouge Advocate asked him.
Give Grant this much: he can tap dance. Moments after saying “rivalries are the most important thing in college athletics … rivalries are the most important thing to keep our Southland brand … we had to be sure we maintained those, and that will be our priority as we move forward,” he wouldn’t say the tradition of playing for 70 straight seasons in a rivalry mattered enough to preserve it this fall.
“Trust me, we won’t miss again on that, and we’re going to try our best going forward to make sure that doesn’t happen again in this conference,” said Grant, who has yet to be seen at a game or public event in Natchitoches since joining the Southland staff a year ago.
“Trust me”? It will take a LaMark Carter-esque leap of faith for this Demon. Grant has very deliberately discarded the only significant football rivalry left for NSU, in favor of appeasing Lamar, which has now left and returned to the Southland two times – you can’t call Lamar loyal. But the Cardinals were nonetheless the priority over a member that joined the Southland and has been an anchor for the conference since 1987, hosting countless championship events that no other league member wanted.
Of note: the Lamar-McNeese football series also began in 1951, but it’s taken pauses of 10 and 30 years between games. The Cardinals and Cowboys have played 39 times along with those gaps. Their “traditional” rivalry resumed in 2010. I’m not saying they shouldn’t play this season, but Grant cannot convince me that NSU-McNeese in 2022 should be a casualty of that or any other circumstance.
It took under three weeks to produce this altered slate. This flaw could be fixed faster, if anyone truly cared to put in the extra work at the Southland office. It only matters to the players, coaches and fans. That’s all.
While the Fall elections for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Natchitoches Parish School Board Members and municipal elected positions are a long way off (Tuesday, November 8), qualifying for those positions is right around the corner (July 20-22).
All Natchitoches Parish School Board Member positions run in November and qualify this this week -July 21-22.
The municipalities of Ashland, Campti, Goldonna, Provencal and Robeline all have Mayor, Councilmen/Aldermen and Chief of Police elections. Also both Clarence and Powhatan will have elections to fill unexpired terms for Mayor.
Also qualifying for the November 8th ballot is Parish Government Council District 2 position. This will fill the unexpired term of Patsy Ward Hoover who is now the Mayor of Natchez.
All of those positions also qualify this week – July 20-22. Please call if you have questions at 318-352-8152.
To see those who qualified YESTERDAY – July 20, 2022:
This Saturday, July 23, 2022, is the last Natchitoches Farmers’ Market of the summer season.
Please come to the downtown riverbank from 8AM – 12PM with your EBT card and double your spending power. Also, bring your Louisiana Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program card to purchase goods from The Natchitoches Farmers’ Market.
This is the last weekend to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities!
We hope to see y’all on the riverbank this Saturday.
July 23, 2022 – “Farming on the Cane”
For more information, please contact the Farmers Market at (318) 663-5190 or (318) 214-7911.
Randall Mallette of Natchitoches, Louisiana has received the Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association Achievement Award. Randall serves as the County Agent for Natchitoches and Red River Parishes in Northwest Louisiana.
The Achievement Award recognizes excellence in the field of professional Extension for members with less than ten years of service. Randall grew up in Lucedale, Mississippi and earned his bachelors in Animal and Dairy Science from Mississippi State University. He began his extension career in 2015 as county agent in Natchitoches Parish, with both 4-H and agriculture responsibilities. In 2018 he took on additional agriculture responsibilities in Red River parish as well, becoming Red River parish chair in 2020. Randall works closely with producers, home owners, and 4-H youth in his parishes by conducting on-farm crop demonstrations, instructing artificial insemination courses, leading pesticide recertification courses, teaching Master Gardener courses, and training youth for contests such as forestry and plant science.
Randall was recognized at the National Association of County Agricultural Agents conference in West Palm Beach, Florida in July.
Bids/Proposals will be accepted until the date and time specified and will be publicly opened and read aloud at that time in the School Board’s Central Office, 310 Royal Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana, 71457-5709. Please find bid-related documents and place electronic bids, is desired, at WWW.CENTRALBIDDING.COM.
For questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. Bids/Proposals received after the date and time of opening will not be considered. Facsimile transmissions will not be considered.
Additional information may be obtained upon request by contacting Michelle Demery, Purchasing Coordinator, at 318-352-2358, Ext. 1155, or email at Michelle.Demery@npsb.la between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
/s/ Lee Waskom Director of Business Affairs
/s/ Grant Eloi Secretary-Treasurer Natchitoches Parish School Board
In a turn of events described as “unique, inspiring, and out-of-this-world,” a team from NASA visited Natchitoches. The NASA scientists participated in the ASTRO STEM Robotics camp hosted by the Department of Engineering Technology at Northwestern State University. Although the camp is an annual event, this is the first time that representatives from the space agency attended.
“We are indebted to the NASA team,” said Dr. Jafar El-Sharab, head of the ET department. “I was delighted to see camp participants touch and try items used for training NASA astronauts. The kids asked penetrating questions and obviously enjoyed themselves.”
The NASA team’s demonstration “Living and Working in Space” was a camp highlight. Students learned about the details of astronaut life, from spacesuits to sample foods. Students donned spacesuits while experts explained different attachments and equipment. Additionally, NASA team members reviewed different technologies that astronauts use to communicate and interact with others. Students glimpsed into the astronauts’ daily routines such as what foods astronauts eat, how astronauts sleep, and the challenges of personal hygiene in a zero-gravity environment. The demonstration included an EVA simulation activity where students mimicked tasks that astronauts complete on the International Space Station. At the conclusion of the demonstration, the NASA team used a portable planetarium to unveil a fun, educational presentation about space exploration.
“My girls thoroughly enjoyed it and are continuing to explore NASA and space,” reported Ms. Ashwini Weber, a parent whose children attended the camp. After the “Living and Working in Space” demonstration, the NASA team interacted with camp participants and their parents and observed the robotics competition. The team was highly impressed by the campers’ engagement and by the knowledge and problem-solving skills gained by the students in such a short period of time. Camp directors and instructors echoed this sentiment.
“The camp was a cheerful gathering of energetic kids. It reminded me of a research lab full of future engineers and scientists,” said Dr. Shahriar Hossain. “Their enthusiastic participation in problem solving amazed me, especially when I saw them repairing broken robots with a screwdriver, glue gun and tape. Almost all of the kids who came on the first day continued to join every day of the camp. They were very committed which I appreciated as a part of the organizing team for the camp.”
“Teaching at the ASTRO STEM Summer Camp 2022 was an interesting and rewarding experience,” agreed Dr. Ali. “Interacting with a wide range of young learners who were thirsting for knowledge was satisfying yet challenging because I mostly instruct mature students. However, the aid and support from the ET Department at NSU, the Natchitoches public library staff, and parents/guardians made this mission’s objectives easily attainable. I would be delighted to take part in such an activity next year!”
For over 10 years, the ET department at NSU has conducted summer robotics camps and various STEM activities. Throughout the year, the ET department collaborates with the non-profit STEM Pioneers to host summer camps, NASA Day, after school STEM activities, RC&S3 (an annual robotics competition for middle schools), First Robotics, Boys & Girls STEM Day, and Makers Club. Such programs are designed to ignite problem solving, enhance critical thinking and promote teamwork in a fun yet educational environment.
“The STEM summer camp that I volunteered at was very fun and exciting. Every day there was a new obstacle that I would find a solution too. We explored many subjects ranging from coding to building robots, and every subject had the fun aspects of stem. At the end of the summer camp, I was able to code with scratch and use the technology of the robots to make it as if it was a Mars rover. I would recommend it because it makes you a complete thinker and good problem solver.” Commented Omar AlSharab
Campers at the ASTRO STEM summer robotics camp engaged in hands-on projects across a range of technologies, including robotics, coding, electric circuits and space exploration. Participants in the camps and other community programs enjoy the exposure to STEM education and competition-based learning. The ASTRO STEM camp provides professors and volunteers with the opportunity to pass on their knowledge to local youth.
“Camp was a great opportunity for me to gain volunteer hours, increase my experience with teaching young students, and bolster my presentation skills. I enjoyed the lessons I got to present, especially the games I created using Scratch programming,” said Mohammed AlSharab. “The students were very excited to present and were active in the sessions we had together. They put together some amazing projects for students who were new to coding.”
For the past three years, the robotics camp adopted the theme “To Mars and Beyond…” This theme draws on the science behind real-life space missions like returning to the Moon and exploring Mars. Also included are topics of particular interest to young learners such as the search for alien life. The goal is that the ASTRO STEM camp fosters dreams of future and farther space exploration among the next generation. “We strongly believe that the ASTRO Camp Team inspired youth, families and educators to explore the realms of space and the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Dr. Jafar Al-Sharab. “It is very evident based on student participation and students who return to the camp every summer that we are on the right track to inspire the Artemis generation and to prepare a future STEM workforce. It is our hope that these programs increase and sustain youth engagement through authentic experiences with NASA and STEM.”
Activities from the ET Department and STEM Pioneers promote the national interest in STEM careers, bring added value to the community, broaden the experiences of participating students and create a pipeline of future NSU students. Additionally, these organizations are committed to providing STEM education at no cost to the student. There is an imperative to provide all students with access to quality education especially those who come from backgrounds that are under-represented in STEM fields. These programs hope to attract a diverse group of motivated students. Having a chance to communicate with real-life NASA scientists motivated the ASTRO STEM campers to seriously consider careers in STEM.
About 95% of the participants in the Boys and Girls STEM day identified themselves as a people of color and underprivileged community. “ Our youth were very excited to tell me about their experience during STEM Day. I am excited about the partnership with the Engineering Technology Department at NSU and STEM Pioneers. We hope to have more fun filled STEM Days at The Boys and Girls Club.” Said Coach DE, Director Boys and Girls Club at Natchitoches.
As a celebration of achievements, participants received certificates of completion from STEM Pioneers and ET Department and also educational materials from the NASA team. Parents are already requesting that the camp return. “I am in high hopes that you guys will have this camp again next year. Thank you again for making it so enjoyable for our kids,” praised Lisa Ryder.
The ASTRO STEM camp is presented by the Department of Engineering Technology at NSU and STEM Pioneers. The involved team is highly professionally. It consists of university professors who are capable of introducing complicated concepts in a simplified manner. It also consists of dedicated and self-motivated volunteers. The ET Department will continue offering STEM activities in collaboration with STEM Pioneers, an official NASA Partner. For more information about these activities, you may contact the ET department head, Dr. Jafar AlSharab (Doc J), jafar@nsula.edu.
The Natchitoches Parish School Board will hold a Backpack Drive-Thru Giveaway on TODAY, July 21 from 3:30-5 pm at the Media Center, located behind the School Board Central Office at 310 Royal Street.
Families are encouraged to come drive through and pick up a FREE backpack filled with school supplies. Please bring your child with you to receive your free gift.
Mayor Ronnie Williams invites residents to join him Sunday, July 24 at 6:30 pm at the City Pool for a Community Forum about Natchitoches City Pool renovations.
The Pool Forum is an opportunity for us to discuss, as a community, what the space may become.
Sydney Jones comes to Northwestern as the new Assistant Athletics Director for Business and Finance and Senior Women’s Administrator and discussed the future of NSU Athletics and the challenges ahead
DESCRIPTION: Responsible for receipting of utility payments and various other payments, and posting monies to appropriate accounts. Receives the public and answers questions, and responds to inquiries from employees and citizens. Setup, close and amend utility accounts, as well as preparing and monitoring work orders.
CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources Department located at 1400 Sabine St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches LA 71458-0037.
Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall located at 700 Second St., or you can download an application on line at www.natchitochesla.gov
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be through August 1, 2022
THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
Registration for the 2022-2023 school year will begin Monday, July 25th through Thursday, July 28th. This is for all students attending Natchitoches Parish Technical and Career Center for the upcoming school year. Even if your child was a student last year, you must still register your child for this year. If you need assistance with registration, staff will be available at the school Monday – Thursday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm next week. In order to register your child, you must bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate, your driver’s license, and proof of residence. If you do not bring these items with you to registration, you will not be able to complete the registration process for your child. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the school to speak with Mr. Benjamin, Ms. Calhoun, or Mrs. Armstrong.
The Natchitoches Lions Club participates in the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program every year. Unused, discarded and/or out of date glasses are collected, sorted and then donated to the disadvantaged outside of the United States. These eyeglasses improve the quality of life for children and adults living in low and middle income communities around the world. Many of those served experience corrected vision for the first time, which helps them to lead a more productive life. The Natchitoches Lions recently gathered donated glasses and sorted them before shipping the glasses to their facility in New Orleans where glasses are cleaned and classified. Once classified, the glasses will be sent to the disadvantaged in Mexico. All glasses are prescribed by doctors and recipients receive evaluation and glasses all free of charge. The Natchitoches and Many Lions Clubs were recently able to send over 500 pairs of glasses to their New Orleans facility.
Pictured sorting glasses left to right are: Shantura Payne, Vallery Washington, Susan Hilton, Ellen Mathis and Sarah Gianonne. If you would like more information about this initiative or if you have unused eyeglasses that you would like to donate, please contact any Lions Club member today or place them in one of the many collection boxes around town. Collection boxes are also available to businesses wishing to participate in the program.
