Baton Rouge, La. (April 7, 2020) — The Louisiana Department of Health has updated its website to reflect the latest number of COVID-19 positives and will continue to update its website at noon each day.

As of noon on April 7, the Department reported 1,417 additional cases since yesterday, bringing the total to 16,284 positive cases.

Hospitalization
Hospitalization information reported to the Department of Health yesterday was incomplete. 1,809 hospitalizations were reported yesterday but that number should have been 1,981 hospitalizations. The number of patients requiring ventilation yesterday should have been 552, which is lower than what was reported yesterday.

Today, a total of 1,996 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized; of those, 519 patients require ventilation.

Information on available hospital beds, ICU beds and hospital vents is on the LDH dashboard.

“Hospitals across the state continue to do incredible work to aggressively treat COVID-19 patients. Physicians are using innovative treatments and practices to minimize the time patients spend on ventilators and reduce the length of hospitalization for patients,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health. “We remain grateful for our health care heroes in every region of our state.”

Deaths
The Department reports an additional 70 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 582 deaths. Deaths are listed on the LDH dashboard by parish under the by parish tab and information by age can be found on the by age tab.

Yesterday, additional information was added to the LDH website to share a breakdown of deaths by race and underlying conditions by percentage.
About the Louisiana Department of Health

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. The Louisiana Department of Health includes the Office of Public Health, Office of Aging & Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid). 

According to an Associated Press article, over 70 percent of the coronavirus related deaths reported in Louisiana are African American, and two-thirds of these victims were dealing with high blood pressure before they became ill. The latest information from the Louisiana Department of Health shows there are over 16,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state.

Governor John Bel Edwards discussed these statistics at a press conference on April 6 where he also shared progress the state has made combating the virus. He said his administration is trying to find ways to address the disparity in Covid-19 victims.

Natchitoches Parish continues to work together as a team to fight COVID-19. It is important that each of us do our part: Stay-at-Home – Stay 6ft apart from others – No groups of 10 or more people.

In support of ’staying-at-home’ Natchitoches Parish leaders, President John Richmond, Sheriff Victor Jones, and Mayor Lee Posey have issued a curfew from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM each day until further notice. No vehicular or pedestrian traffic is allowed except for emergency events or the operation of an essential business.

During the daytime hours, we strongly encourage staying at home and following the guidelines to remain socially distant.

Just like you, we all want to return to our normal lives as soon as possible.

That’s why it is so important for each of us to work together to defeat COVID-19.

In a recent Facebook post the Louisiana Workforce Commission addressed why unemployment filers have not yet started to receive the additional $600 a week promised in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 – Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Program that was signed into law by the President on, March 27, 2020.

The post reads:

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 $𝟲𝟬𝟬? 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆.

All states are waiting on Federal Guidance. We know that the people of Louisiana are hurting and dealing with bills and living expenses that have come, especially with the first of the month. We have spoken with the US Department of Labor (USDOL) at the very highest levels about when our state will be receiving the promised federal funding so we can let our people know when they may begin receiving their checks. The USDOL advises, as of today, no states have yet received the funding for the additional $600 payments. All states are waiting on Federal guidance (expected next week) and the funding to begin paying the additional $600. These payments will be retroactive for payment for the week of March 29th through April 4th and will continue for up to four months. So please try to access Louisianaworks.net to file if you have not already done so. With the high volume of applications, it is going to take some time for you to get through. Please do not give up! The Louisiana Workforce Commission will begin payments to those who have filed as soon as possible.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟵𝟵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟬/𝟭/𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴 𝘁𝗼 𝟵/𝟯𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀?

Contractors and those who are self-employed are also facing extraordinary challenges. Historically, these “1099” workers have not been eligible to receive unemployment benefits. These individuals may soon be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Every state labor agency, including LWC, is awaiting guidance and receipt of funding from USDOL. LWC does not have a definitive time table from USDOL, and thus we cannot provide an exact date of when we will be able to make payments. LWC’s goal is to provide assistance as soon as we possibly can. These payments will be retroactive.

In a News Release dated, April 4, 2020 the U.S. Department of Labor stated “To provide assistance and assurance to those eligible, the benefit payments under FPUC may begin as soon as the week after the execution of a signed agreement between the department and states. The timeline for these payments will vary by state. As states begin providing this payment, eligible individuals will receive retroactive payments back to their date of eligibility or the signing of the state agreement, whichever came later. All states have executed agreements with the department as of March 28, 2020. The CARES Act specifies that FPUC benefit payments will end after payments for the last week of unemployment before July 31, 2020.”

You can read the full News Release here U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PUBLISHES GUIDANCE ON FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

In accordance with Executive Order JBE 2020-30, issued by Governor John Bel Edwards on March 16, 2020, this notice shall serve as a certification of the Natchitoches Parish Planning Commission’s inability to otherwise operate in accordance with Louisiana Open Meetings Law due to a lack of a quorum as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and the measures put in place to protect the health and safety of the public.

Considering the foregoing, and in accordance with Section 4 of Executive Order JBE 2020-30, a special called meeting of the Natchitoches Parish Council will be held via teleconference on Wednesday, April 8 at 3 p.m. in a manner that allows for observation and input by members of the public.

Anyone wishing to participate and offer comments in the meeting should call in by dialing (425) 436-6302 and when prompted enter the PIN 780273.

Additionally, the public may email comments on the agenda item prior to the meeting. Comments should be emailed to sfrederick@npgov.org no later than 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8. All comments received prior to the meeting shall be read aloud during that time when the corresponding agenda items are considered by the Commission.

A G E N D A

Resolutions:

Council to consider the approval of Natchitoches Parish Regional Hospital request for a bond application and the supporting NPHSD bond resolution.

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 3:36pm

The NRMC needed a resolution to apply for COVID19 Federal Funds for the Hospital. This meeting was required to approve the required resolution to the Bond Commission and then to the Feds

At the bottom of the NPJ Article. You will find the Resolution. It was not provided at the time of the press release, but was sent to the NPJ just now.
NPJ

NSU– The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University has revised guidelines for the 2020 Louisiana High School Essay Contest due to social distancing challenges. The 2020 Contest theme is “Remembering Louisiana.”

“Entrants may interview any member of their family or surrounding community as long as their interviewee is at least one generation older than themselves, such as, for example, their parents or guardians,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center. “As well, we encourage entrants to consider remote interviewing methods such as by phone, WebEx, etc., that enable them to converse while still practicing safe social distancing. Entrants may include information from multiple interviewees in their essays if they so choose.”

Entrants are invited to discuss how Louisiana has changed over the interviewee’s lifetime. What do they feel are the most significant changes they have experienced over their lifetime? Personal reflections and experiences are perfectly valid as part of the essay content. Essays may be in narrative form if the student chooses.

Submissions for the 12th annual Louisiana High School Essay Contest will be accepted through June 1. The essay contest is open to all Louisiana students in grades 9-12 regardless of type of school institution, including students in all types of private educational environments, as well as home schooled students.

Essays should be 1,000 – 2,500+ words, should have titles and should be typed (double spaced, 12-point font, standard margins). Entries should include a cover sheet with the student’s name, school affiliation, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address and the title of their entry. Entries may be submitted via e-mail to Dr. Shane Rasmussen, rasmussens@nsula.edu, or mailed to the Louisiana Folklife Center, NSU Box 3663, Natchitoches, LA 71497. The subject line of e-mails should be “2020 NSU Louisiana High School Essay Contest.” Prize-winning students will be notified by July 15, 2020.

The prizes for the contest winners are $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place. In addition, essay contest winners will receive a $200 per semester NSU scholarship with a value up to $1,600 if they attend NSU for four years. This award is in addition to other scholarship awards that the student may receive from Northwestern State University. Winners must have at least a 20 ACT composite or 950 on the SAT, as well as at least a 2.0 GPA to be eligible. Essay winners need to submit proof of the award.

Winning essayists will be invited to read their paper at the 12th annual Louisiana Studies Conference held at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches on Saturday September 19. The top three winning entries will also be published in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Submission of an entry to the Contest entails granting permission to publish the essay in the Louisiana Folklife Journal. Entries may be subject to minor revision prior to publication.

By Kris James

Happy Wednesday stylers! Before I continue I just wanna thank all my readers because we made one year! Happy birthday to us. While the world is at a standstill this is the time to think positively. The idea is to come out of this situation better than ever. Use this time to focus on the things that matter the most to us: our career, kids, family and most importantly ourselves. Change means reinvention. Each time a major shift happens in our lives from leaving a job or a relationship, moving, or losing a loved one we have to choose who we want to become to reach our full potential. Reinvention is a big word for a reason. Here’s the full meaning: “The action or process through which something is changed so much that it appears to be entirely new.” I’ve reinvented myself a few times in my life. Most adults have. It’s a sign of growth.

I didn’t reinvent myself overnight, or in 30 days, or even in a year. Hell, I’m a work in progress but one thing I have learned is that we have to choose reinvention. This entire process is an opportunity. It’s not something to be afraid of or put to the side. It’s a chance to be that person you never thought you would be, somebody to be proud of.

Last year I embarked on my own journey. I set a few small goals like losing weight, starting my column, elevating my style, and hosting more events. These are just some small things I felt would make a difference. I was still feeling unfulfilled, but why? One night I woke up and realized that I was having so much trouble moving forward partly because I had no idea what it was that I wanted to move toward. I was thinking about my past, but not what I wanted my future to be. It’s not about how long it takes to reinvent yourself that matters, it’s the why. Knowing why you want to reinvent yourself will help the process and stop you from giving up. How long it takes is entirely on you.

The journey of reinvention starts now. These are steps I’ve identified to reinvent yourself.

Be prepared to start again. As you look back on the events and experiences from your life, you’ll start to see life from the rearview mirror. Knowing where you’ve been can provide some insight into where you might want to go. You want to be somebody different, but who are you right now? That’s a question you should ask yourself when it comes to reflection. If you want the life you’ve never had, you’ve got to trade the one you currently have in for an upgrade.

Create a vision for your future. Sit quietly, with your eyes closed, and imagine the people, places, or situations that you need to leave behind. Now, imagine the future that you want, it can be simply a feeling, new people in your life, or a situation such as a wonderful new job or career.

Write about your reinvention. Documenting your own process gives you a point of reference that shows where you started and where to go. Make the future come alive. Write about how it will feel to be there, create lists and plans. This can be useful for you and it could be useful to somebody else if you share it.

Now that you have a vision of your future, break it up into realistic tasks. What do you need to do every day to create that vision? Should I Look for work, meet new people, or search for a place to live in your dream town. Be specific. Make a list of everything you need to do and a schedule for when you’ll do it. Then do it and commit to doing it, one day at a time.

Every day, go to that vision of you walking toward your future. Either morning or evening, close your eyes and see yourself walking into the rising sun, toward your dreams, and reconnect with why you’re moving toward this new opportunities. Reinvention is never easy or smooth. Most times we find resistance, we don’t want to let go, even of those that cause us pain. Each time you find yourself slipping into old habits ask yourself.“What can I do at this moment to keep moving forward?”

Thankfully, towards the end of March the rain slacked off and we had some streaks of drier weather. As the ground dried out, I saw many gardens being tilled and planted, including mine. As we get into April, I look forward to seeing the lush green gardens producing!

Garden Prep

Hopefully you have taken soil samples already and gotten the results back, as well as putting out your pre-emerge herbicides. Any needed soil amendments should be added prior to tilling. If possible, making your application prior to a rain will hasten the breakdown of the amendments.

Even though we do not need garden irrigation yet, it is a good idea to go ahead and get your irrigation system in place. Many people use sprinklers in their gardens. Sprinklers work, but are not very efficient. Plants absorb water through their roots instead of foliage, so wetting the foliage doesn’t benefit them. Instead, it creates opportunity for disease. Use soaker hoses instead of sprinklers. Since the weather is not hot yet, it’s a great time to go ahead and lay out soaker hoses on your rows. This way, once the time comes for irrigation, all you have to do is turn on the water. Another pointer for irrigation is that it is best to water in the early morning while the temperature is still cool. Watering in the hot afternoon/evening results in more evaporation.

Planting

A question I get quite often is how deep to plant transplants such as tomatoes. Sturdy, healthy transplants should be planted at the same depth as the pot they are in. However, transplants often get “leggy” while they are waiting to be planted. In this case, leggy transplants can be planted deeper. This allows the soil to physically support the plant. Additionally, planting leggy tomato transplants deeper allows additional roots to grow from the portion of the stem that is underground.

Tomatoes cannot be grown without proper support. Staking and tomato cages are the most common ways that tomatoes are usually supported, but they can be supported using other setups. If you grow lots of tomato plants like I do (I have about 90 tomato plants), you may get very tired of staking and tying, and it seems like the tomato cages that you can buy are not great quality. With the extra time at home that you probably have on your hands, you can get creative with your tomato support. One option is to make a trellis system. Its fairly easy to make and doesn’t require a degree in engineering or carpentry know-how. All you need is end posts, clothesline, s-hooks, twine, and vine clips. The system I use is pictured and is fairly self-explanatory.

Peppers are another plant that can require support. Since they are season-long garden residents, they can grow into decent sized plants that are heavy when they are producing. In some cases, they can fall over, causing root and limb damage. Staking or supporting will protect your plants and ensure a long harvest season per plant.

Another common question is how to deal with squash vine borers. The problem with this pest is that by the time you realize you have a borer problem, it is often too late. The good news is that you can prevent them from attacking your plants by using a simple household item: aluminum foil. Borers lay their eggs at the base of the plant just above the soil. By wrapping a collar of aluminum foil around the base of the plant, you can prevent the eggs from being laid, therefore preventing the larvae that cause the problem.

For more information contact Randall Mallette, County Agent, at the local LSU AgCenter Extension Office 318-357-2224.

During the COVID-19 Motor Vehicle office closures, Envoc, the developers of LA Wallet, are allowing the download of the app free of charge to Louisiana residents. The app is available on Apple and Android devices by searching LA Wallet. Current users of LA Wallet will need to update their app to the newest version through the app store.

Louisiana is leading the nation, not only as the first state to implement a digital driver’s license and ID, but as the first state in the US to offer renewal of driver’s licenses and IDs through LA Wallet. “We are very excited for Louisiana residents to have another option to renew their driver licenses and identification cards,” stated OMV Commissioner Karen St. Germain. The in-app renewals operate just like current online renewal options, but in addition to receiving your physical credential by mail, users will receive an updated LA Wallet digital license/ID within 24 hours of renewal.

An instructional video on using LA Wallet’s new functionality, and other help information such as password resets, can be found by visiting LAWallet.com.

As I write this column the Louisiana Department of Health website indicates that Louisiana is approaching 15,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has exceeded 500 deaths attributable to the virus. However, the latest data appears to indicate that we are effectively “flattening the curve” and may be approaching the peak of the outbreak and getting to the downward arc of the curve sooner rather than later. The social distancing guidelines recommended by President Trump and state and local officials are working, but we must stay the course and do an even better job of self-compliance with the recommended social distancing measures in the coming days.

By now most of us are familiar with the recommended steps we can each take in regards to personal hygiene and social distancing to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and to ensure that our healthcare system is not completely overwhelmed by a rapid increase in the number of infected persons. There is very little I can add to this discussion except to ask that everyone simply uses common sense and practices the Golden Rule – treat others like you want to be treated. If we respect our neighbors and take common sense steps to stop needlessly endangering others, then we can get this viral outbreak behind us and emerge from this crisis stronger and more unified than ever before.

Of course, the public health issue is our primary concern at this time, but we cannot ignore the impending economic crisis looming as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Small businesses have been especially hard hit by this crisis, and the federal CARES Act recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump contains provisions for two different types of loans available to small businesses: the Economic Injury Disaster Loan(EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program(PPP).

The EIDL low interest loans are available to businesses and 501c3 organizations with less than 500 employees and is administered by the SBA directly. You may apply at SBA.gov\disaster. The PPP loans may be especially beneficial to small businesses in District 22 as they are forgivable loans administered by local banks. PPP funds can be utilized by small businesses to cover payroll costs for an 8 week period, as well as some expenses such as mortgage interest, rent, and utility costs. Please contact your local lender for additional information regarding the Paycheck Protection Program.

Our office has been getting numerous calls from workers who have been laid off due to the COVID-19 crisis and who are having a difficult time filing an unemployment insurance claim with the Louisiana Workforce Commission. This is due to the sheer volume of claims being filed, and we have been assured that LWC is in the process of adding staff and upgrading their computer and phone systems to handle the increased claim volume. I recommend filing a claim on the Louisiana Workforce Commission website at laworks.net rather than calling the LWC office.

If you have trouble applying for any of these programs, or if you simply have questions please contact my District Office at (318)765-9606 and check out my Facebook page @GabeFirment22 for regular updates. Stay Safe and God Bless.

BY Judy McIntyre

My first two articles dealt mostly with the birds on Sibley Lake, but there are many more residents in my cove that teach me things about life.  As quarantine drags on, I find myself spending more and more time on my dock.  I love to be there for sunrises and sunsets, but most of the time, I follow the fishing times posted according to the Solunar theory, and I fish.  The Solunar theory posts major and minor times which tell fishermen when the fish are most active and most likely to bite.  Over the last ten years, I have created a list, “What I Learned From Fishing” on my iPhone.  So today, I would like to share with you what I have learned from the Crappie (aka White Perch, Sac au Lait) in Sibley Lake.

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM CRAPPIE FISHING:

• There is a veritable zoo around my dock for me to enjoy while I am fishing. (And this makes being quarantined much more bearable.)
• Unlike some fishermen, I don’t have to catch anything to have a good time!
• In the spring, God teaches me patience (I am a slow learner!) as the Crappie (Pronounced Croppie) start towards the bank to spawn, the weather changes and they move out to deeper waters.  So I wait!  They start and stop multiple times. I have to wait on the dock for them to come to me.   Patience is painful to learn.
• If I don’t get to fish I get a “crappie” attitude!  (I have this T shirt!)
• A fool and his/her money are soon parted in WalMart’s fishing department.  
• If you leave your minnow bucket lid up, the blue heron will throw a party on the dock and your minnows will be the appetizers!
• Every sunrise and sunset is the prettiest one I have ever seen!
• The lake water wears many different colors.
• I have learned that the minute I look away from my cork, I get a bite!  Always!
• White Crappie and Black Crappie wear their stripes differently.
• Crappie are like small children, sometimes you have to work the bait to get their attention.
• There is nothing quite as pretty as warm lake water and cold air—the wisps of evaporating water makes the lake look like the meringue on a pie!
• Toward dusk, the tree frogs all start singing at the exact same moment.  I have determined that they must have a conductor.
• I can doze on the dock with a crappie pole in my hand and still catch a fish.  I have skills!
• Red eared turtles sit on a log and watch me fish.  They tease me by chasing my cork and eating my minnows.   They are not my friends!
• Alligator gar and big carp are the mafia families of Sibley Lake.  When they visit the cove, every creature in the cove goes into hiding.
• It is tough to be a minnow.  When you are the lowest one on the food chain, your life is spent running from danger.  They live every minute under a red alert.  Now that is stress.
• Crappie are picky about their jig colors (jigs are artificial baits with a head and a fancy tail that hides the hook).  Crappie prefer obnoxious colors spiced up with feathers, a little glitter, and silver tinsel!  They are fans of Lady Gaga’s wardrobe.  
• Male Crappie have multiple roles to play in the spawn as they have to go to the shallows and use their tails to make a round nest for the female to lay her eggs in.  The first fish to come to the bank are the males.  As a fisherman, early in the morning, I can spot where they are working on their nests.  There will be mud swirls in the water, and if I throw a minnow in their direction they will take a work break and eat it up.  And then there will be a tug of war!
• The first fish I catch during the spawn are males with tattered tails.  I guess that is where we got the saying “work your tail off!”
• A lake can get all whipped up over nothing but a little bit of hot air.  A gossipy woman can do the same thing!
• Just like the government is watching people’s temperatures during this Pandemic, fishermen start watching water temperature as a clue to when the Crappie will spawn.  Because I am fishing from a dock, I don’t have access to a GPS which would tell me the temperature of the water, BUT I have this cute hippo with a digital temperature indicator on his belly.  It is a baby bath thermometer and it works just fine.  I tie a string to it, drop it in the water and I get excited when the water is approaching 65 degrees!  Take that Bass Pro!
• Nothing beats fishing on a clear, starry night with a lighted cork.   
• When my cork goes under, my adrenaline goes up.
• Crappie like to hang out close to a hiding place (sunken tree tops), sort of like sticking close to a storm shelter during a tornado alert.  
• When you pull up a fish basket full of your day’s catch, be prepared for a violent protest and a shower of water.  
• When I catch a Crappie, the bigger the fish, the wider my grin.
• I have learned that if I want to be a fisherman, I need to practice observing everything at the lake:  the weather, water temperature, wind direction & speed, egrets gathered on the shoreline, preferred colors of jigs, the Solunar theory, the clarity of the water, the depth of a catch, and the wonder of it ALL!  My God is an awesome God.  And He loves fishermen!

Parish President John Richmond has announced that all Parish Government offices will be closed April 10, 2020, in observance of Good Friday.

The Parish landfill will also be closed Friday, and will reopen at 7:30a.m. on Saturday, April 11. Parish bin sites will be open for normal operating hours Friday and Saturday.

For questions about the closures, please call the Parish Government offices at 318-352-2714.

NATCHITOCHES – Mayor Lee Posey would like to inform the citizens of Natchitoches of a few updates with the COVID-19pandemic. Currently, Natchitoches Parish has 24 confirmed positive cases and has conducted 15 state tests and 163commercial tests. While the number of positive cases has increased, this was expected as testing became more available in our area after implementation of the drive thru testing site. The drive thru testing site is still operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Central Louisiana Technical College Campus located at 6587 Highway 1 Bypass in Natchitoches. If you have symptoms related to COVID-19, we strongly encourage you to visit the testing site and complete the screening process to further protect yourself and the spread of COVID-19 in our area.

In addition, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending wearing a mask or face covering when going out in public or in a setting where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain such as grocery stores and pharmacies. This measure is being recommended as a means to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and may not know it from transmitting it to others. It should be noted this recommendation does not include N-95 masks that are in short supply and should be reserved for health care workers and first responders.

In the interest of public safety and health in conjunction with Governor John Bel Edwards Stay-at-Home Order, a mandatory curfew order for Natchitoches Parish will be in effect beginning tonight April 7th, 2020 starting at 10:00pm until 5:00am. The curfew order will remain in effect until the order is rescinded.As we approach Easter weekend and the traditions we look forward to each year, please limit your outings and contact with individuals as we continue to work towards flattening the curve of COVID-19.

Lastly, Governor Edwards has implemented “Lunch-Fasting Before God on Tuesday” where he, along with Legislators, Members of Congress, Mayors and other State and Local Officials are fasting weekly on Tuesdays at noon for the next four weeks. During this time, people throughout Louisiana will unite by fasting from their midday meal in earnest, private prayer in the presence of our Savior.

Northwestern State University First Lady Jennifer Maggio is introducing the second edition of “In Good Taste,” the popular cookbook produced by the Campus Women’s Organization in 1989.

The 2020 edition of “In Good Taste,” features an updated cover design by NSU’s retiring Director of Publications Beth Mann and recipes from recent first ladies Brenda Webb, Tonia Henderson and Maggio. NSU alumna Cheryl Gianforte designed the original cover and produced the drawings found within the cookbook.

“Thirty years ago, the NSU Campus Women’s Club created the cookbook, ‘In Good Taste.’ This was the heartfelt labor of so many NSU faculty, staff and alumni. It is full of amazing recipes,” Maggio said. “I received the cookbook as a wedding gift many years ago. You can see which recipes are my favorite by the food stains on the pages. We hope to continue the legacy of the Campus Women’s Club with this second edition printing.”

The cookbook is available for purchase online at http://www.northwesternstatealumni.com/ingoodtaste/ at an introductory cost of $25 with a $3 shipping and handling fee. Proceeds will support scholarships for students.

Please note that the State Law limits number of people during the visitation period and attendance at the service to ten (10) or less and that social distancing be observed! This must be strictly enforced! Thank you in advance for your cooperation. It is designed for the safety of the family, our staff and the general public.

NATCHITOCHES:
Rodney Richard
April 1, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Mary Isaac
March 31, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Florida Mae Brown
September 2, 1944 – March 19, 2020
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Linda Lou Hardy
November 5, 1949 – April 5, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Blanche Procell
June 10, 1923 – April 6, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Natchitoches Parish continues to work together as a team to fight COVID-19. It is important that each of us do our part: Stay-at-Home – Stay 6ft apart from others – No groups of 10 or more people.

In support of ’staying-at-home’ Natchitoches Parish leaders, President John Richmond, Sheriff Victor Jones, and Mayor Lee Posey have issued a curfew from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM each day until further notice. No vehicular or pedestrian traffic is allowed except for emergency events or the operation of an essential business.

During the daytime hours, we strongly encourage staying at home and following the guidelines to remain socially distant.

Just like you, we all want to return to our normal lives as soon as possible.

That’s why it is so important for each of us to work together to defeat COVID-19.

SWEPCO is committed to the health and safety of our customers, communities, and employees. We know businesses are hurting from the effects of the COVID-19 virus, and we want to help. We have suspended disconnects during the event to help customers weather this storm, and we have made plans to ensure we can continue to serve customers.

Many businesses may already be aware of the help that was recently made available to you, but we wanted to make sure all of our customers know of the federal assistance available to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To support our business customers, we’ve compiled available resources that may help you determine what is available to you and the steps you can take as a business owner to access this help. We realize it can be difficult to know where to find reliable information, and we hope you will find these resources helpful. Details are on our website.

To be clear, we are not the experts regarding these programs, but the information and contacts for assistance are available at the link below.

SWEPCO RESOURCES: To Learn More, just CLICK HERE

The Louisiana Department of Health has updated its website to reflect the latest number of COVID-19 positives and will continue to update its website at noon each day.

As of noon on April 6, the Department reported 1,857 additional cases since yesterday, bringing the total to 14,867 positive cases.

Hospitalization
A total of 1,809 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized; of those, 563 patients require ventilation. Information on available hospital beds, ICU beds, and hospital vents is on the LDH dashboard.

Deaths
The Department reports an additional 35 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 512 deaths. Deaths are listed on the LDH dashboard by parish under the by parish tab and information by age can be found on the by age tab. Today, additional information was added to the LDH website to share a breakdown of deaths by race and underlying conditions by percentage.

Long-term care facilities
COVID-19 cases have been reported by 70 nursing homes in Louisiana. For context, there are a total of 436 nursing homes and adult residential care facilities in Louisiana. Within nursing homes, 363 patients have been reported to have COVID-19; among nursing home residents 103 deaths have been reported. These facilities care for thousands of Louisianans, including older people and those with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complications and death from COVID-19.

In many cases, a nursing home resident is tested and diagnosed with COVID-19 by a provider outside of the long-term care facility. The facilities have begun self-reporting positive cases to the Department of Health. Due to the volume, the Department is no longer listing individual facilities. The Department continues to work with facilities to minimize the spread of the illness and protect residents and staff. Facilities have been given guidance to minimize the spread of illness.

The Department will update the number of nursing homes with COVID-19 cases, the number of nursing home residents who are confirmed to have COVID-19 and the number of deaths among these residents on Mondays and Wednesdays.

About the Louisiana Department of Health

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. The Louisiana Department of Health includes the Office of Public Health, Office of Aging & Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid). 

Today the Louisiana Supreme Court, in accordance with declarations by Governor John Bel Edwards and President Donald Trump, released two Orders in its continuing effort to reduce the number of new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) by citizens, including judges and court staff. Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson said, “It is the Court’s responsibility to remain steadfast staving off newly contracted cases of the Coronavirus. In doing so, we yield to reasonable alternative methods to adhere to the constitutional rights of all citizens; both litigants and court staff to provide due process in an environment of safety to the public health of all.”

The first Order repeals and replaces the Supreme Court’s March 16, 2020, March 20, 2020 and March 23, 2020 Orders and advises on court proceedings and reads as follows:

Acting under the authority of Article V, Section 1 of Constitution of 1974, and the inherent power of this Court, and considering the continuing spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards’ declaration of public health emergencies in Proclamation Numbers 25 JBE 2020, 27 JBE 2020, 30 JBE 2020, 33 JBE 2020, and 41 JBE 2020, President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on March 13, 2020, the Orders of this Court dated March 16, March 20, and March 23, 2020, and in consideration of ongoing public health recommendations to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus and slowing the spread of the disease while balancing the need to protect the constitutional rights and public safety of the citizens of the state by maintaining access to Louisiana courts,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

1. Prior Orders: This Order shall repeal and replace the Orders of this Court dated March 16, March 20, and March 23, 2020;

2. Jury Trials: All jury trials, both civil and criminal, scheduled to commence in any Louisiana state court between the date of this Order and May 1, 2020, are hereby continued to a date to be reset by local order no earlier than May 4, 2020.

3. In-person emergency matters only: Until at least May 4, 2020, courts may only conduct in-person proceedings to address emergency matters that cannot be resolved virtually. Courts must continue to take measures to limit access to courtrooms and other spaces, with absolute minimum physical contact, to practice social distancing and limit in- person court activity to only the emergency matters set forth in sections 4 and 5 below. As this situation is constantly changing, courts are further instructed to follow all guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control, the President and the Governor, and to further limit access to courtroom and other spaces to the maximum number of people set forth in any future guideline or official proclamation that may be issued. All emergency matters should be conducted with the use of video and telephone conferencing whenever possible. Any court lacking the technological capabilities to implement this mandate shall notify the Judicial Administrator of the Louisiana Supreme Court so that accommodations can be made.

4. Criminal Matters: In criminal matters, the following matters are deemed emergency matters for purposes of section 3 above: criminal initial appearances for adults and juveniles, arraignments for incarcerated individuals, bond hearings, criminal protective orders and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.

5. Civil Matters: In civil matters, the following matters are deemed emergency matters for purposes of section 3 above: civil protective orders, child in need of care proceedings, emergency child custody matters, proceedings for children removed from their home by emergency court order, proceedings related to emergency interdictions and mental health orders, temporary restraining orders and injunctions, and matters of public health related to this crisis and other emergency matters necessary to protect the health, safety and liberty of individuals as determined by each court.

6. Remote Proceedings: This Order expressly does not prohibit any court proceedings by telephone, video, teleconferencing, or any other means that do not involve in-person contact with consent of all parties and the judge. This Order does not affect courts’ consideration of matters that can be resolved without in-person proceedings. This authority does not extend to any matters suspended by executive action by the Governor, including but not limited to evictions.

7. Speedy Trial Computations: Given the public health concerns and the necessity of taking action to slow the spread of the disease, the continuances occasioned by this Order serve the ends of justice and outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial. Therefore, the time periods of such continuance shall be excluded from speedy trial computations pursuant to law, including but not limited to those set forth in the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure and the Louisiana Children’s Code, and presumptively constitute just cause.

8. Clerk’s Offices: Courts should work with parish clerks to encourage in-person filings of court pleadings to be replaced with filing by other means, such as U.S. mail, e- filing, email or facsimile. In all criminal, juvenile and civil matters handled on an emergency or expedited basis, a record shall be kept under the direction of the acting judge for each action.

The second Order amends a March 20, 2020 Louisiana Supreme Court Order regarding filing deadlines with the state’s high court, and states, “All filings which were or are due to this Court between Thursday, March 12, 2020 through Friday, May 1, 2020 shall be considered timely if filed no later than Monday, May 4, 2020. Parties who are unable to meet this deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency may submit motions for extensions of time, supported by appropriate documentation and argument.”

In response to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court is posting Orders and information from Louisiana’s courts on its website, http://www.lasc.org and http://www.lasc.org/COVID19. We ask and encourage all who are seeking information on Louisiana courts and the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the Supreme Court’s website for information.

NSU – Northwestern State University’s Wellness, Recreation and Activities Center is continuing to offer live group exercise classes through WebEx during the mandated closures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Classes in kickboxing, cardio, yoga, barre and more are scheduled each week and can be streamed through a laptop, computer of smart device.

“The schedule changes week to week, but once one gets on board, they will see these changes and be able to connect with all of these classes daily during each week,” said Patric Dubois, WRAC director.

To access from a laptop or computer, use the link provided on the NSULA WRAC Facebook page or nsulafitness on Instagram, join the meeting using your browser or download the WebEx app for your laptop/computer. Enter your information (name and email) or sign in if you have an account already.

If using a smart device such as a cellphone, tablet or iPad, go to nsula.webex.com or download the app on your smart device. Click “Join a Meeting” and use the meeting number and password in the spaces provided

People who are not on social media can email Kaitlyn Hamm at richardsk@nsula.edu to be added to the email list to receive links, meeting numbers and passwords.

“It is something nice people can enjoy that NSU can provide to them,” Dubois said.

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced on April 4 that Vice President Mike Pence confirmed Louisiana will receive an additional 200 ventilators from the federal Strategic National Stockpile in response to the coronavirus pandemic. With this commitment, Louisiana will have received a total of 350 ventilators from SNS. They are expected to arrive soon.

Today’s reported positive cases and deaths:

Cases: 12, 496 ( an increase of 2,199 since yesterday)

Deaths: 409 (an increase of 39 since yesterday)

“We are grateful to both President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence for keeping Louisiana at the forefront of this fight against COVID-19 and appreciate them understanding the necessity of these ventilators for the survival of our people, especially in light of today’s sobering numbers. I spoke to the Vice President this morning and reiterated Louisiana’s ongoing needs,” said Gov. Edwards. “Based on our modeling, we know that we will exceed our capacity to deliver health care to those who need it, first in the New Orleans area, but because of these ventilators and others that we are sourcing around the world, we will be able to prolong that inevitable day and have fewer people go with unmet medical needs.

“However, the degree to which we are able to prevent overwhelming our hospitals depends on people’s compliance of the Stay at Home Order and other mitigation measures,” Gov. Edwards said. “We know that social distancing efforts work and will in fact flatten the curve. I am imploring all of our people to stay home, slow the spread and save lives.”

In addition to the ventilators, Louisiana is getting several hundred thousand surgical gowns for the medical community in the Greater New Orleans area.

To date, Louisiana has received a total of 553 ventilators. The first shipment from SNS of 150 ventilators was announced on March 30 and arrived days later. Click here.

150 – SNS (an additional 200 ventilators are expected soon)
400 – Private vendors
3 – Louisiana National Guard

Visit www.ldh.la.gov to view the dashboard with the latest numbers and information.

By Brad Dison

At about 2:30 a.m. on December 11, 1964, the Los Angeles Police Department received a call from a hysterical 22-year-old Elisa Boyer. She told the police dispatcher that she had been at a party and had decided to leave. A man she had conversed with during the night generously offered to give her a ride home and she accepted. Rather than taking her home, however, he drove her to the Hacienda Motel. Elisa told the dispatcher that the man held her against her will. Once in the hotel room, the man removed his clothing and began “to rip my clothes off.” At one point, the naked man went into the bathroom. Elisa saw this as her opportunity to escape. She grabbed her clothing and, in the process, inadvertently grabbed his pants, underwear, shirt, and socks. She ran from the hotel room to the manager’s office-apartment. She banged on the door but the manager failed to open it. Fearing that the man would chase after her, she fled to a nearby telephone booth and called the police.

When the naked man exited the bathroom, he realized the woman had left. He flew into a rage. He put on the only clothing that Elisa had not taken with her, his shoes and a sport coat. He ran from the motel room to the manager’s office-apartment and banged on the door. Inside the apartment, 55-year-old Bertha Franklin armed herself with a .22 caliber pistol. When Mrs. Franklin failed to open the door, he kicked it in. The man yelled “You got my girl in there!” A confused Mrs. Franklin tried to explain that his “girl,” whoever she was, was not in her apartment. The man attacked Mrs. Franklin and punched her twice. Mrs. Franklin raised her pistol and fired three shots, one of which struck the man in the chest. Mrs. Franklin and the man scuffled over the gun, which fell from Mrs. Franklin’s hand. The man grew weaker as a result of the gunshot wound. Mrs. Franklin broke free and picked up the nearest object she could find. The man charged toward Mrs. Franklin, and she struck him several times in the face and head with her broom handle. The man collapsed from loss of blood. Policemen located Elisa hiding in a telephone booth near the hotel, and located the man’s lifeless body in Mrs. Franklin’s apartment. Officers questioned both women at length and released them.

Five days later, the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office held an inquest to determine whether or not the shooting was justified. Elisa and Mrs. Franklin took and passed lie detector tests. Seven jurors heard from both witnesses. Elisa described the events to the jurors and testified that she feared the man intended to rape her. Mrs. Franklin described the events just as she had to the police on the night of the shooting. After just fifteen minutes of deliberation, the jury concluded that the homicide was justifiable. Mrs. Franklin, they agreed, had acted in self-defense. The man she shot was famous for hit songs including “You Send Me,” “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “Chain Gang,” “Wonderful World,” “Cupid,” “Twistin’ the Night Away,” and “Bring It On Home To Me.” His name was Sam Cooke.

Sources:
The Los Angeles Times, December 12, 1964, p.4.
New York Daily News, December 12, 1964, p.4.
The San Francisco Examiner, December 12, 1964, p.5.
Santa Maria Times, December 16, 1964, p.24.
New York Daily News, December 17, 1964, p.779.
The San Francisco Examiner, December 17, 1964, p.17.