Business Affairs Supervisor Lee Waskom addressed the School Board at its March 4 regarding the need he has seen for a grant writer and a grant administrator and a property manager so the district can identify what land it actually owns.

The board currently has an employee that could assist with grant writing for an additional stipend, but an administrator would still be needed.

The hope is that the grant positions would hope that this would always be self-funded. The property manager will only get paid when they make money for the school district.

There’s 13 acres in Lena that’s inside Natchitoches Parish that has timber on it that Waskom said he didn’t even know existed. Joe Cooper manages timber property for the district, but there’s actually a lot of other property that the district owns that could be leased out or in some way rented out to a farmer.

Waskom could extend duties to Cooper for hunting leases at $7 an acre. He would only require $1 from that and the school board will get the rest. They also discovered through talking that someone is harvesting timber off the land the School Board owns in Lena. The board also owns land in Black Lake and 640 acres of Clear Lake. There’s also acreage owned by the School Board in Grant, DeSoto, Rapides Parishes.

“We’re going to want to have a complete understanding of what’s going on in our parish with our property,” said Waskom. “I just need to have somebody other than myself driving around the parish and observing what’s going on with our property and even knowing where it all is.”

Waskom said he is aware of 16 property tracts currently owned by the School Board, but he’s working with Clerk of Court David Stamey to find all the land that the board owns.

Taking stock of what the district owns and seeing what could be leased for hunting tracts, farming and other uses would all be new found money that would help the budget. Waskom said he will present some options at the board’s April meeting.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” said Waskom, who said this comprehensive list of properties is something Board Vice President Reba Phelps has been asking him for.

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The Natchitoches Parish School Board approved moving the Natchitoches Parish Technical and Career Center where it needs to be, which is right next to CLTCC. It just so happens that Natchitoches Central is building a building that has six classrooms, an office, and bathrooms for everyone and a tornado shelter and that building is right next to CLTCC so students would be able to do their first two years (freshman and sophomore year) on the campus and then they’d be able to do their junior and senior year at CLTCC in a dual enrollment setting.

Natchitoches Parish School Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi said they would move the campus in January 2022 assuming that’s when they’re finished. Eloi added that he thinks they’re on schedule except for the winter storm.

This is something that only a few other districts in the state have access to. Eloi said he thinks this is something where there are resources at CLTCC that the district will never have. NPSB is already utilizing them for welding and instruction like that so this is building that relationship and making it more robust in letting students get an experience of post-secondary.

“I mean let’s be honest,” said Eloi. “A lot of times we throw a lot of money at our kids who are the gifted and gonna get tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships. This is one of the few times where we can really invest in our kids that are good kids with a bright future but they’re not interested in college and I think that’s very important because oftentimes we pay lip service that career and college are equal but when we look at our budget they’re not really equal because we’re paying a whole lot more for the college bound kids and I think it’s just time that we kind of realign those because if Covid has shown us anything it’s blue-collar workers are more essential than us guys with “doctor” in front of our name so that’s what this effort is about.”

In relation to the campus move, Eloi also mentioned that the district is planning to create a stand alone virtual program that will continue in perpetuity past the Covid pandemic that will take homebound students/expelled students and bring them into the virtual setting. This would also be for students who want to accelerate and for students who need to make things up. A bigger update is forthcoming as plans progress.

While NPTCC is still seen as an “alternative” school, it’s really a technical school. Taking struggling students out of the equation will help give all students more robust opportunities. This will also make NPTCC a true technical school. It also makes more sense to have these students on the campus near Natchitoches Central and CLTCC instead of where they’re currently located on the same campus at the Natchitoches Magnet School.

“We just feel like this is a win win for everyone involved,” said Eloi.

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The Natchitoches Parish School Board approved a new position and job description for 14 new Instructional Specialists at its meeting on March 4. The timetable to start advertising statewide is March 7. There will be two informational meetings on April 9 and April 12 for any local employees interested in applying. Then dates will be set for interviews.

According to Natchitoches Parish School Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi the biggest issue for the district is that there are a lot of employees who aren’t certified to teach and need help with the teaching profession.

Helping these people will be the main job description for the Instructional Specialists because teachers need support. They will also run the PLCs by looking at formative assessments and finding ways for consistent improvement.

These will be 9 month positions with 10 extra days. Salaries will be based on teacher pay scale plus a $10,000 addendum. The addendum amount was chosen after careful consideration and discussion with other administrators.

Natchitoches Central will have 3, LP Vaughn will have 2 and other schools will have one. These are based off of population numbers at the schools. The district currently has two employees working in this role.

Once every two weeks they will meet with the Central Office’s Curriculum team to ensure they’re on the right path. Their first task will be to create proficiency exams that will be given every nine weeks to see where our students are. These assessments have to be content and grade specific and they have to be truly aligned to the LEAP test.

Business Affairs Supervisor Lee Waskom will chart the finances for 14 additional positions, which includes taking current employees and giving them the stipend as well. Waskom will look at what impact this will have.These additional positions will cost the district $1,387,000, which includes their payroll, stipend, matching sales tax money, and everything else. Of this total, $250,000 will come through Title 1 funding and $500,000 is part of a Redesign initiative by State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley.

“We will be coming almost $1 million more efficient with our current payroll and realigning certain things,” said Waskom. “This action will actually save the general budget $328,000.”

Waskom added that the district is administratively high in some of its schools and they’re becoming efficient as they create better leaders so they can actually save substantially.

“We’re not going to go out there to roll heads or anything,” he added. “It’s nothing like that. It’s just creating through attrition a natural efficiency in our current operations.”

Eloi elaborated by saying this is abiding by district policy staffing formulas and addressing these correctly through attrition. What’s happened in the past is in previous administrations, you add positions and you think you’re just doing a nickel here a dime here, but they add up over time to the tune of millions of dollars.

“We’re just making a commitment to follow our staffing policy fully and make sure at the same time that we’re also still giving the same support to our schools that they need.”

A component of the positions will be looking at literacy across the content areas and making sure standards are aligned so that we are making sure students can read no matter what age level they are.

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At its March 4 meeting, the Natchitoches Parish School Board authorized Business Affairs Supervisor Lee Waskom to move forward with preparation of legal paperwork for possible donation of Cloutierville Elementary facility for the purpose of providing a community center to the area.

Ricky Sanders, chairman of the board for the Natchitoches Parish Fire District No. 1 in Cloutierville, came before the board to talk about the Cloutierville Elementary facility that’s been sitting vacant for 3 years now.

“We are in search of not only a place for a community center, but we need a place to store our fire trucks,” said Sanders. “We are looking to make a station but we need a place to do that.”

Sanders said he’s also been in touch with the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, who is interested in coming on board to put an ambulance station and maybe a clinic, which would put them more on the south end of the parish. The Sheriff’s Office is also interested in having a place on that end of the parish where their deputies can hold someone and for other needs. The school is big enough to hold all this, so it’d be a multi-use type facility.

Sanders also said that his wife is trying to get Cloutierville incorporated, which involves tons of red tape. The fire district has the funds to maintain the building. It receives about $328, 000 in taxes a year and right is currently running on a budget of $150,000.

“We would like to have a little section for our fire trucks but the rest of it we wanted to go back toward the community where they’ll have these other entities that would be paying too,” said Sanders, who has also talked to different drug stores about making the facility a drop-off point

Natchitoches Parish School Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi presented his superintendent report. According to him, the District is starting to turn a corner with its Covid numbers. There were less than four cases reported during the week of Feb. 14 and zero reported during the week of Feb. 24 because of the snow days, which acted like a kind of self-imposed quarantine.

He added that with the state going back into Phase 3 and record numbers of people receiving the vaccine he recommends that parents of virtual students can send their children back to school

“I know it’s a personal decision but we just think that that’s what’s best for kids especially as we see these cases go way down,” he said.

Eloi said there’s been a lot of questions about summer school and the district is planning on holding summer school. They would like to it to be as face-to-face as humanly possible, but it’s still too early to put out a master plan. In order to have summer school the district also needs to finalize its policy on promotion and retention. Eloi feels the policy needs to be readdressed with the context of Covid and a new state program called Accelerate that will add some caveats to summer school.

The district also has a social media campaign that will kick off in April to highlight all the good things that are going on.

Eloi added, “We do recognize that there’s still things that need to be addressed but this district as I like to say is a 90 foot barge and it takes it takes a while to turn that barge around and so some of these things are going to take a little longer. There’s a lot of stuff we want to tell the parents. This year’s been rough but you need to join us next year because it’s getting exciting and it’s improving every day.”

Eloi also bragged on a long-term substitute teacher who logged 71 hours on the 240 Tutoring over the past month and another logged 36 hours. The district started this program after some discussions with Northwestern State University to tutor long-term subs in the praxis exam because many of them can’t get past that little hump so the district is actually paying them to to do the tutoring themselves and then they can take the test and if they pass the district will pay the fees. Once they get that program the district will also pay for a portion of that ($1,000 for every three credit hours).

The meeting turned back to the budget and Waskom pointed out $1.133 million that’s the increase in sales taxes and ad valorem tax collections so the difference between these two is about $275,000. Waskom said he had to make adjustments throughout the rest of the budget to tighten up some things.

Sales tax collections are up and maintaining about a seven percent increase since the first of July. This includes the December sales which Business Affairs Supervisor Lee Waskom said he was nervous about. Collections were in a bit of a decline until the December number of 6.73 but 7.13 means it’s kind of turning around.

Waskom also informed the board that the district lost $1.4 million from the budget on MFP dollars, but it recovered through ad valorem tax collections as well as the 5 percent increase in sales tax enough to where it was only $275,000 in total difference but still losing $1.4 million is really troubling. This came from the loss of children that did not come back to school due to the fact that they were staying home. The average parish lost. over a million dollars. Eloi said he’ll be reaching out to the 204 students that are listed as homeschooled to see if he can bring them back into the district or learn ways the district can improve from these families experiences.

Shawnna Hicks updated the board with good news on the budget under child nutrition. There was a $500,000 gap between the revenue and the expenditures.

Between the time the report given to the board was printed and March 2 is that the district received two of claims from December and January so the difference is now is only $47,000. With FEMA paying us back $96,000 Waskom shared that he believes it will be in the positive by the end of this year.

Other agenda items included:

Notice: At its public meeting April 8 at 5 pm the School Board will consider adopting a resolution ordering and calling elections to be held in Consolidated School District 8 and 10 to authorize renewal of ad valorem taxes therein.

Approve resolution on broad band internet

Adopt revised budget

Declare 13.4 acres in Lena as surplus property (TABLED)

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NATCHITOCHES – Natchitoches Police Chief Michael “Micky” Dove announced his retirement on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, after 32 years of service. Chief Dove began his tenure with the Natchitoches Police Department in 1989 and rose through the ranks until he was appointed Chief of Police in 2009. His terminal leave will commence on March 15th and end on June 15th. On behalf of Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr. and the City of Natchitoches, we wish Chief Dove the best in the next chapter of his life.

A nationwide search for applicants will be conducted to select a new Chief of Police. The hiring period and requirements for Chief of Police will be announced soon. Approved applicants will be required to take the Natchitoches Police Chief exam per the requirements of the Natchitoches Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board. Those who make the grade will head to the second round, where the City’s Administration will conduct interviews.

Stay tuned for more details about the hiring period and requirements for Chief of Police. Assistant Chief Harman Winters will serve as Interim Chief of Police until a replacement is found.

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Warren Griffith found his way to Natchitoches from the rural Florida Panhandle, then he made a name for himself by paving the way for others.

He started three seasons on an offensive line that created space for future NFL stars like Joe Delaney, Mark Duper and Bobby Hebert in the late 1970s.

Griffith will be recognized as the Exchange Bank and Trust Demon Great of the Game during the first quarter of NSU football’s contest against Nicholls on Saturday. Kickoff is at 6:05 p.m. for a game that will be broadcast on 94.9 The River, The Demon Sports Network and  ESPN+.

“We had a group of guys that appreciated each other, that had each other’s back,” Griffith said. “To block for (Delaney) was the greatest.

“I would get out to the linebacker, and if Joe got to the secondary, he’d beat a defensive back and he’d be gone. All those guys were great guys, and I had a good relationship with everybody.”

Griffith started his career on the defensive line in 1976, then shifted to the offensive line in 1978, eventually earning All-American honors in 1980.

Griffith helped NSU offenses break 33 records during his tenure.

He said NSU signed him as a linebacker, spent time on special teams and as a reserve defensive end before coaches noticed him as an offensive lineman on the scout team.

“I wasn’t getting in the game, so I decided that the scout team reps would be my game time,” Griffith said. “I flattened a linebacker named U.L. Finister on a play, and then on the next play, I tied him up and he couldn’t make the tackle.

“Finister was much bigger than me, had huge legs, and I thought he’d come find me after practice. But when he came up to me, he shook my hand. The coaches wanted to move me to center that spring (1978), but I had never snapped a ball in my life. They worked with me 15 minutes every day, and I became a center.”

The Baker, Florida, native was chosen as a Top 100 Demon Players of All-Time in 2007 and inducted into the N-Club Hall of Fame in 2010.

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POSITION AVAILABLE

POSITION: MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN / WAREHOUSEMAN

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Basic reading and writing skills. High School Diploma.
2. Valid Louisiana Driver’s License.
3. Basic knowledge of the various phases of maintenance and repair.
4. Any mechanical certification is a plus (preferred).
5. Additional criteria as the Board may establish.

SALARY: Starting salary: According to parish school salary schedule.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 Months

DEADLINE: Friday, March 12, 2021 3:00 p.m.

WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda G. Page, Personnel Director
Natchitoches Parish School Board
P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
Phone: (318) 352-2358
Fax: (318) 352-8138

APPLICATIONS: Application packet should consist of a letter of application, resume’, official transcript, and one letter of reference.

 

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By Tommy Rush

Last weekend, my wife and I took a short trip to east Texas to look for some antique items to use in a house that we’re renovating. We have seen the signs along Interstate 20 advertising the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas for years, but never ventured into town to check it out until last weekend. I’m not sure that I have the words to describe it, other than “The Junk Capital of the World!” I have enjoyed going to Saturday morning yard sales for several years, but the Canton Trade Days was the Super Bowl of Yard Sales! There were literally thousands of people buying, selling, swapping, and trading as far as the eye could see.

I had a great time talking to people, while my wife was looking for old doors and farm sinks. I met an old man who introduced me to a title that I never had heard before, he referred to himself as a “Junker.” He told me that he had worked in the oil fields for over 30 years, but after retiring he had become a full-time “Junker.” He said, “Mister, if I don’t have what you’re looking for, I can find you one, and if I can’t find it, you probably don’t need it.” I never realized “Junking” was a vocation, but I actually like the idea of it all. It’s a gift to be able to look at trash or an old banged up piece of metal and see something the rest of us just don’t see.

On our way back home Saturday, I shared with my wife that Jesus would have loved “Junking!” I believe He would have loved the title, “Junker.” He was definitely a master of looking at broken and banged up people and seeing what no one else could see. When he first met Simon Peter, He said, “You are Simon son of John but from now on you will be called Peter or Rock.” Most people saw Simon as an unpredictable, erratic kind of guy who was always sticking his foot in his mouth. But Jesus looked at him and saw a leader. Most people saw Zacchaeus the tax collector as a man full of greed and dishonesty. Jesus saw a man longing to be different with a desire to give rather than take. He saw a man who longed to be forgiven, who wanted to be a forgiver. There are more stories of Jesus transforming messes into masterpieces than junk in Canton!

I’m very thankful that Jesus was and is a great “Junker.” What a blessing to know that the Lord is always searching for those whose lives are broken and banged up in order to turn their stories into testimonies of grace! I believe He desires for all of us to be better “Junkers.” Imagine all the lives that could be touched if more people were willing to stop for those that others are walking past and throwing away or even trashing. A good “Junker” would always be willing to pick them up, dust them off and remind them of how valuable they really are.

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POSITION: Electrical Department – Groundman Laborer

QUALIFICATIONS: A working knowledge of principles and practices in overhead and underground electrical power line installation, maintenance procedures and operating/maintenance of substations including low voltage service work is desirable, trim trees and branches and assist the Right of Way Crew. Must work towards obtaining a CDL license. Overtime, standby and dependability is required.

EDUCATION: High School diploma or equivalent.

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 may download an application on line at www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through March 10, 2021

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

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PROVENCAL-Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives are actively investigating an armed robbery at the Dollar General in Provencal on Wednesday evening according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Wednesday evening March 3, 2021 at approximately 9:43pm, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Division responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of an armed robbery with a gun at the Dollar General in the 1800 block of La. Hwy 117 in Provencal, La

Deputies and Provencal Police arrived on scene a short time later.

Deputies say while speaking with store employees, they learned that a suspect described as a black male wearing a grey hoody, khaki pants and a black mask produced a handgun robbing the store clerk of approximately $750 dollars.

The suspect then fled the store on foot.

Several units from the NPSO and Provencal Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

Detectives assigned to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.

Deputies processed the crime scene, interviewed witnesses and completed an offense report for investigative purposes.

The investigation is currently ongoing and active. If you have any information or observed suspicious activity in the area prior to the armed robbery, please contact the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 357-7830. Case agent: Detective Lt. Jonathan Byles.

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My 2021 bass fishing season got off to a slow start this year with a 41st place finish at Sam Rayburn. I fished the ABA South Texas Division and let’s just say, things did not go as planned. Now as a true angler, I know in my mind what went wrong, or should I say where I went wrong. Like any great angler, I have plenty of excuses that I will attempt to explain and then we’ll break it all down and see exactly what really went wrong.

First, there was another major event taking place on Sam Rayburn at the same time as my event called the MLF Toyota Series which included some of the greatest names in bass fishing with Rick Clunn (who is arguably the greatest angler of all time) Paul Elias (one of the legends of the sport) and many other top names that fish the MLF Pro Tour. With over 200 plus anglers in this event alone, the lake was very crowded making it difficult to have fish to yourself. Second excuse, too much fishing pressure on the lake with Toyota, ABA Open Series and guys practicing for a Sunday event called the Sweet 16. Unstable weather was another reason I had trouble (while others did not) as a front came through with high wind and rain. Oh, and did I mention we were in the middle of a full moon cycle.

As you can see, anglers are full of reasons why they did not catch fish for a particular event. I did have 3 days of good pre-fishing in which I was able to put together a Rat-L-Trap (a flat sided crankbait) pattern along with everyone else on the lake. But this time of year, that’s a normal pattern that a lot of anglers will make a part of their game plan. This is a great technique especially when you have a lake like Sam Rayburn with plenty of hydrilla (aquatic vegetation). I was also able to catch a few fish on a Yamamoto Swimming Senko slow rolling it through the hydrilla in 5 to 6 feet of water.

After picking up my co-angler (Lat Nichols of Paris, Texas) for the day, I decided to start our fishing in the same area I found and caught 4 bass in practice on a 100-yard stretch. There were 70 boats (pros) in this

tournament and we were boat 47 at takeoff on Saturday morning with our scheduled weigh-in time of 3:30. We spent the first two hours on this so-called hot stretch that did not pay off with an early morning bite. So, we made a few moves here and there but still had nothing to show for our hard work and commitment. But with little to no success, I still maintained my focus and felt there would be a late bite in the afternoon just before weigh-in time. Turns out, I was right as I proceeded to catch 3 of my four keepers in the last hour of the tournament. Just like touring MLF Pro Mike Iaconelli says, “Never give up!” Always keep this in mind the next time your tournament day does not go according to plan.

Tune in to Tackle Live every Monday at 12:30 CST. on our Facebook or You Tube channel as we discuss the latest news and tournament results from Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and other great bodies of water found right here in the Ark-La-Tex region. Until next time, don’t forget to set the hook!!!

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NATCHITOCHES – The Natchitoches Historic Foundation and the Cane River Waterway Commission have partnered on a project to preserve and renovate one of the state’s most iconic buildings, the Pacale-Roque House at Rue Beauport Riverfront on the downtown banks of Cane River Lake.

NHF leaders made a formal presentation to the Commission Wednesday evening (March 3) and the panel voted to approve the partnership and authorize funding the project up to an anticipated cost of $1.5 million.

The NHF will mount a vigorous effort to include federal, state and other local governmental agencies, educational institutions, business and industry, civic and professional organizations, as well as individuals in a fundraising campaign to complement the CRWC support. The outreach in developing concepts for the project already has included dialogue with local and regional preservation and historical entities, notably the St. Augustine Historical Society, which serves the area on the south end of Cane River Lake where the Pacale-Roque House was constructed.

The Pacale-Roque House, relocated in 1967 to downtown Natchitoches from its original location in the Isle Brevelle community down Cane River Lake, was built in 1803 by Yves Pacale, a freed man of color. It is a circa 1790s French Creole post on sill house with three rooms.

“Procuring one’s freedom and the freedom of other family members was no small accomplishment for a man who had spent most of his life as a slave. Already aged (65), Yves Pacale managed to buy land, his mother, wife and daughter’s freedom, and establish a close relationship with a freed man of color, Augustine Metoyer,” said the NHF proposal.

“It may be a string of coincidences. However, Pacale’s ambition as a slave and fortitude as a freed man suggests he provided a home for himself and his family, and that home was the Pacale-Roque House.”

The initial project focus by NHF was on restoring the house and adding a small support building, but after consultation with the City of Natchitoches and designers, the scope was expanded to include renovations to the footprint where the Pacale-Roque House stands at the north end of the downtown riverbank area. Notably, the house is expected to be shifted so its front doors face Cane River Lake, and necessary structural fortifications will be accomplished along with landscaping and other exterior improvements.

The construction and renovations, projected to take a year or slightly longer, is targeted to begin in September. Anticipated completion is mid-May 2022.

Preserving the Pacale-Roque House is part of the fundamental mission of the Cane River Waterway Commission, said president Jim Rhodes.

“The Pacale-Roque House is essential to the story of Cane River Lake that truly shapes the history of this area. It is one of the very few structures in Louisiana remaining from days as the Louisiana Purchase was finalized and we became part of the United States. The building remains a historic and cultural icon in remarkable condition, available for thousands of residents and visitors to appreciate, thanks to the care in the past three decades by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

“This project fits hand in glove on the mission of the Cane River Waterway Commission, which among our top priorities includes historic preservation relevant to the lake and its people, and celebrating our diverse and vibrant culture,” said Rhodes.

In the course of regular, routine care for the building, NHF leadership began to realize the necessity of addressing its continuing viability.

“As the caretaking organization of the Pacale-Roque House, it’s our responsibility to assure it is preserved for future generations to appreciate. Almost a half-century after it was relocated to the downtown riverbank, we recognize the need to significantly fortify the building and provide enhancements that will make it an even greater experience for visitors and local residents,” said Terri Cunningham, president of the Natchitoches Historic Foundation.

“We have begun this endeavor working to unite all of the communities that make up the very special fabric of Natchitoches Parish, so we can all share in celebrating this focal point of our history,” she said. “We initiated the project, and we are eager to embrace everyone who has an interest in the rich history of our parish and in particular, the Pacale-Roque House.”

Pacale was one of the earliest persons of African decent in the region. He was baptized Jan. 2, 1736. His carpenter skills allowed him to earn enough money to eventually buy his freedom. He purchased 91 acres of land where he made his home.

The house is a remarkable example of the creole style of French architecture along Cane River. Constructed in typical French colonial fashion with hand-hewn cypress and a bousillage fill (a mixture of mud, Spanish moss and animal hair), the structure was topped with an oversize roof of durable shingles. A close inspection of the house reveals the craftsmanship of Pacale in the jointing. It contained no nails.

The Pacale-Roque House is among the oldest surviving examples of Creole architecture in Natchitoches Parish, home of the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Natchitoches was founded in 1714. The structure may be the only remaining circa 1790s French Creole post on sill house built by a freed man of color.

The renovations, after the planned shift of the building to face the river, will include providing space in the pantry allowing spacing for cultural displays, that community groups and educational entities will be invited to develop and display.

Windows will be cleaned and interior lighting installed to enhance viewing by visitors even when the house is closed. It will be open at no charge on select afternoons and during various events, and a video presentation will be accessible inside.

The roof will be replaced, as will be the interior fireplace. The new exterior building, with the same appearance, will include restrooms and storage/janitorial space.

A security barrier will be constructed to secure the Pacale-Roque House and adjoining Beau Jardin garden and reception area for private events.

Tipton Associates has been the consulting architect engaged by NHF to develop the proposed relocation of the house and renovations, along with construction of the support building, with an anticipated cost of $1.2 million. Carbo Landscape Architecture prepared the plan for work on the grounds, which has a projected cost of $250,000.

The Natchitoches Historic Foundation, formed in 1994, is organized and operated for the exclusive purpose of supporting and promoting the preservation of history in Natchitoches Parish through education and advocacy.

The NHF provides the Mildred Bailey Scholarship at Northwestern State University for students who have been actively involved with historical preservation. It contributes to the maintenance of the historic American Cemetery in Natchitoches, founded in 1737 and with gravesite markers dating back as far as 1797. The NHF conducts tours of the cemetery for parish eighth-graders studying Louisiana history.

The NHF hosts the annual Christmas Tour of Homes in Natchitoches, one of the focal events in the community. It collaborates with the Natchitoches Main Street Program, the Association for Preservation of Historic Natchitoches, the Historic District Business Association, the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau and other entities on tourism initiatives.

Joining Cunningham as board members for NHF are Hillary Bennett, vice president of communications; Susan Barron, vice president of property; Jackie Horton, vice president of projects; Kathy Bundrick, treasurer; and Nancy Rutledge, secretary.

The NHF has authorized the Pacale-Roque House Steering Committee to direct the project. Members of the committee are Ben Barron, chairman; Danny Seymour, co-chair; Susan Barron, Jim Rhodes, Bennett and Cunningham.

Membership in the NHF is available online at the http://www.natchitocheshf.com/shop link at rates starting at $20 for students and $25 for adults. For more information about the NHF, call 318-471-7489.

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School/Site: Save the Children Red River Region Natchez Head Start

Ages served: 3-5 year olds

Vision: To build positive relationships with children and their families, and to set the foundation for their educational success.

Mission: To inspire children to become life-long learners, problem solvers, and creative thinkers through teaching and learning.

The teachers at Natchez Head Start truly have a passion for the growth and development of each student. Every student is different and as teachers LaQuita Arnold and Natalie Ratliff-Johnson must be sensitive to their needs. Natchez has a warm, and loving environment where students and families feel welcome. Learning takes place through a variety of teaching strategies such as art, small group learning, individual learning, and experiential learning. The teachers also believe that learning is achieved through play and it’s imperative to have a fun atmosphere.

The Natchitoches Parish Early Childhood Network serves children ages birth-4.

Start the process of educating your child TODAY by going online to teachingtomorrownow.com and filling out an application!

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The Service League of Natchitoches welcomes all children to attend Reading on the River this Saturday, March 6, 2021, from 10am-1pm on the Natchitoches Riverbank. Reading on the River is the organization’s annual free literacy event promoting the importance and enjoyment of reading outside the classroom. Each child will be able to pick out a book to take home and can enjoy fun activities and crafts at the 22 different booths lined up down the riverbank.

One of the main features of the day will include the “Read with Leaders” tent where community leaders will participate in reading stories aloud to kids. Each reading session is approximately 30 minutes long and will take place at the tent in front of the stage. The schedule for each reading session is below.

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM Natchitoches Parish President John Richmond and wife, Kathy Richmond

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM NSU President, Dr. Chris Maggio and wife, Jennifer Maggio

11:15 AM – 11:45 AM Natchitoches Fire Department & Sparky the Fire Dog

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr.

12:15 PM – 12:45 PM Andy Field, a voice actor who will utilize his gifts to read and entertain. He will also read several books in Spanish for a bilingual story time.

Our country is facing a literacy crisis. Currently, 63% of fourth graders read below grade level. Sadly, children who aren’t reading at grade level by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, limiting their life opportunities. Increasing familiarity with books and language early in a child’s life can help address the literacy crisis. The Service League’s goal for this event is to unite with community partners and encourage a new generation of young readers by exposing them to the wonderful world of books. We hope you will join us!

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Early voting for the March 20 Municipal Primary Election for BESE District 4- Parish Wide and Village of Goldonna 1% 10 Year Tax will run Saturday, March 6 thru Saturday, March 13 (Closed Sunday, March 6) from 8:30 am – 6 pm at the Registrar of Voters Office in the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse.

Absentee Voting by mail in intended for voters who will be out of the Parish on Election Day and the week of Early Voting, or if a person is over age 65, or has a mobility impaired ID card (must provide copy). Fax request to 318-357-2212 or mail to Registrar of Voters Office, PO Box 677, Natchitoches, LA 71458.

The deadline to request an absentee by mail ballot is March 16 by 4:30 p.m. You can request an absentee by mail ballot online through our Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office (other than military and overseas voters).

Your request must include: Voter’s name, Natchitoches Parish address, date of birth, social security number, or driver’s license number, reason the ballot is being requested, election date (March 20, 2021), address to mail ballot and voter’s signature.

Mail and hand delivered ballots must be returned to the Registrar of Voters Office by 4:30 p.m. the day before the election. Military and overseas ballots must be returned before noon of Election Day.

Call (318) 357-2211 for additional information.

 

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By Bud Denega, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — It has been quite a while since the Northwestern State soccer team last battled Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. But even in that long hiatus — 503 days, to be exact — NSU hasn’t forgotten the significance of that last matchup.

“We were in a really, really good position to not only finish as a high seed and put ourselves in a great position going into the tournament, but we were really close to putting ourselves in a position — on the final day of the season — to be competing for a regular-season championship,” said co-head coach Jess Jobe. “We look back at the Corpus game as being one we felt, as a program, we let slip away from us.”

The Lady Demons opportunity at exacting some revenge will occur Friday in Corpus Christi. The match is set for 7 p.m. at the Dr. Jack Dugan Soccer and Track and Field Stadium.

NSU enters with a 6-0 overall record, which includes a 4-0 mark in Southland Conference play. The unblemished mark through six games marks the best such beginning to a season in school history.

That torrid start comes with its fair share of challenges. And they’re challenges that NSU is welcoming.

“We know the circumstances, and we know with continued success comes continued targets,” Jobe said. “Right now, we’re feeling like we are getting our opponents best versions of themselves and best games, and that’s making it difficult.”

It hasn’t stopped Northwestern State from setting another applaud-worthy mark. Five straight shutouts matches the best such streak in school history that the 2009 squad accomplished.

That’s a credit to all 11 on the field at any given time, but particularly the back three and most specifically junior goaltender Acelya Aydogmus. She hasn’t allowed a goal since midway through the first half of the season opener at Louisiana Tech.

That’s a stretch of just over 519 minutes. That impressive streak includes three consecutive Southland Conference Goalkeeper of the Week honors.

Offensively, NSU has received contributions from all over the roster. Junior Kalee Williams leads the way with four goals, but she’s received plenty of help and quite a bit recently.

Sophomore Olivia Draguicevich has a pair of scores this season. Fellow sophomore Hallie Field netted the game winner Sunday in overtime for her first goal of the season. The freshmen trio of Delaney Wells, Cianne Talamo and Kyle Nolen round out NSU’s goal-scorers.

Those aforementioned seven and the rest of NSU’s roster will be making the longest trip it can make in conference. It’s over seven hours on a bus to travel from Natchitoches to Corpus Christi.

While that distance is a hurdle in need of clearing, NSU is confident in its ability to do just that.

“It’s a business trip for us,” Jobe said. “We’ll avoid a lot of distractions that would potentially have been present had we been home. There are pros and cons, but our team is road warriors. We proved that last year, and we’ve done so far this year.”

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi sports a 2-3-1 overall record and a 1-1 mark in Southland Conference play. The Islanders are fresh off a 3-0 victory at McNeese.

Maggie Murray, Abby Deakin and Olivia Alvarez pace Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, as each have scored three goals this season. Kyleigh Hall has started the last three games in net, boasting a GAA of 1.00.

It’s a single-game trip to south Texas for Northwestern State with no other conference matches scheduled. Following the match against the Islanders, NSU returns to action a week from Friday at home against Stephen F. Austin.

Currently, the Lumberjacks are the other unbeaten team in Southland Conference play. They sit a half game back of NSU with a record of 3-0 in league play and 5-2-2 overall mark.

Photo Credit: Chris Reich / NSU Photographic Services.

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NATCHITOCHES:
Johnnie Williams
March 3, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Annie Thompson
March 2, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Miguel Raoul Garcia
December 01, 1975 – February 23, 2021
Service: Saturday, March 6 at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

SABINE:
Douglas Wright Curtis
October 31, 1926 – February 14, 2021
Service: Saturday, March 13 at 2 pm at Zion Hill Cemetery in Negreet

WINN:
David Anthony Hinson
March 08, 1951 – March 03, 2021
Service: Saturday, March 6 at 11 am at Garden of Memories Cemetery

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Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and Natchitoches Parish Fire District #9 responded to the scene of a vehicle fire on La. Hwy 9 near the United Baptist Church in Campti on March 3 at 2:18 pm, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

There were no injuries. The vehicle is a total loss. The driver of the vehicle stated the engine was overheating.

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For those in the community with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and HMO Louisiana, Inc., Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC) is pleased to be part of your network. From emergency rooms visits, to our clinics and the hospital, NRMC is committed to serving you and providing healthcare to you and your family.

“We understand that some people in our community have had questions about whether or not the Emergency Room physicians at NRMC are in network for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and HMO Louisiana, Inc.,” explained Kirk Soileau, Chief Executive Officer of NRMC. “While our hospital is managed by Christus Health, we are not owned by Christus Hospitals. So while the emergency medicine group at Christus Hospitals is currently out-of-network, NRMC’s emergency department physicians remain in network for families and individuals with Blue Cross and Blue Shield Louisiana and HMO Louisiana. We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this network as do the emergency department physicians at NRMC.”

For more information about insurance questions, please contact our Business Office at 318-214-4510.

While NRMC has enjoyed a greater than 20 year managed relationship by CHRISTUS Health, the hospital is operated as a public not-for-profit hospital service district and governed by the Natchitoches Parish Hospital Service District Board of Commissioners.  The NRMC Emergency Medicine Physician group remains in good stating with BCBS of Louisiana.

Board of Commissioners
In 1956, the people of Natchitoches Parish passed a special property tax to raise money to build a service district hospital. Today, NRMC is the largest rural hospital in the state and is the sole healthcare system within a 35-mile radius.

Natchitoches Regional Medical Center is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Parish Council. The Board has a management agreement with CHRISTUS Health who employs NRMC’s Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Commissioners gives direction and governance to the CEO who leads the senior management team. The Board of Commissioners ensures legal and regulatory compliance and is responsible for the oversight of hospital operations.

Commissioners:
NRMC is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Parish Council.

Ronald Corkern, Chairman
John Luster
Chris Ingram, MD
Arthur Welch
Samuel Jackson
Michael Newton
James Kilcoyne, Parish Council Representative

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The Marie Shaw Dunn Child Development Center at Northwestern State University has been reaccredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children for another five-year term, through July 1, 2026. The CDC is a preschool center for 3- and 4-year-old children that was recently named a five-star center.

Accreditation demonstrates the CDC’s commitment to quality and continuous quality improvement. By accepting accreditation, NAEYC-accredited programs commit to ensuring their environment, policies and practices are continually aligned with NAEYC’s early learning standards and recommended practices.

The CDC enrolls 40 students with two full-time teachers and eight student workers coordinated by CDC Director Faith Stanfield and Assistant Director Joni Prewitt. According to Stanfield, the CDC’s connection to the university has many benefits, such as access to workers who are pursuing careers in early childhood or child and family studies.

“As a training site for early childhood graduates, our student workers are able to contribute to the curriculum with the latest research and pedagogy,” Stanfield said. The CDC’s location on a college campus and within a K-5 school is also an advantage.

“By communicating with the staff at this school, we are afforded the opportunity to ensure that our preschool students are kindergarten ready,” she said.

This past year, COVID created challenges with staffing and logistics for the CDC, its students and their families. With only credentialed staff were allowed inside the building, no volunteers could help, and new family regulations were enacted to mitigate potential exposure.

“We have been innovative in how we involve parents and families in keeping with developmentally appropriate standards,” Stanfield said. “Maintaining a sense of normalcy has been priority for our team and we have had to use our unique abilities in adapting to this new way of teaching children and families alike.”

Stanfield decided to pursue early childhood education as a career after taking a class with Dr. Cheryl McBride, former professor and advisor for undergraduates concentrating in early childhood, also one of Stanfield’s former teachers at the Child Development Center.

“Knowing that early childhood is one of the most important developmental periods in a child’s life, I fell in love with the opportunity to serve children and be one of their first teachers after their parents,” she said.

Stanfield said that having the CDC recognized as a five-star center is one of her proudest accomplishments.

“A five-star center is recognized for having exceptional instruction and relationships with young children in the areas of emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support. Every five years the center is reviewed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This year the center was evaluated and received its Accreditation scoring above 95 percent in all 10 domains,” Stanfield said.

The Child Development Center began in 1935 as a laboratory experience for students majoring in home economics with a concentration in child development. The Center is named for Dr. Marie Shaw Dunn, who created the child development concentration and started the nursery school, the first of its kind at a college in Louisiana. It was originally open to the children of faculty and employees. Eventually, child development broadened into early childhood education and is now part of the School of Education.

Information on the CDC and applications for enrollment are available at http://cdc.nsula.edu/.

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