(Marthaville)-In a month, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives continue to search for clues or any information in connection with the suspicious disappearance of Steven Burkett of Marthaville according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

Steven W. Burkett, 49, W/M, described as 5’11”, 175 pounds, with medium length brown hair, and brown eyes of the 100 block of Eddie Williams Road, Marthaville was last heard from during the early morning hours of February 12, 2022.

Burkett was reported missing to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office around 11pm on February 13 by a female friend who reported his disappearance as “suspicious”.
He was reportedly last seen driving a dark gray GMC 4X4 pickup truck with fender flares and a decal in the rear glass.

Detectives immediately began speaking with family and friends in an effort to gather additional information or any other specific information about Burkett.

One month later, family and friends have not heard from him.

Last week, detectives executed a search warrant at Burkett’s residence on Eddie Williams Road near Marthaville searching for any additional clues or evidence.

NPSO Detectives, along with assistance from the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, Many Police Department, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #7, cadaver dogs from Shreveport Fire Department, Ark-La-Tex K-9 Rescue, and retired Sheriff Victor Jones who volunteered his time and personal equipment searched four separate locations on Preston Hayes Road near Marthaville and on the Eddie Williams Road near Marthaville on foot, all-terrain vehicles and horseback looking for Burkett or any clues to his whereabouts.
Sheriff Stuart Wright said detectives are continuing to investigate Burkett’s disappearance and ask that if you have any information as to his whereabouts or disappearance to please contact the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau at 318-357-7830 or Crime Stoppers of Natchitoches at 318-238-2388. You may be eligible for a reward.

Northwestern State University has earned the 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School designation. This is the 12th time Northwestern State has received the honor.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard. NSU was rated as a silver institution.

The 2022-2023 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

Northwestern State serves the nation’s military by offering in-person classes on its Leesville-Fort Polk campus, at Barksdale Air Force Base and online at nsula.edu/ensu.

“Northwestern State University has been recognized as a military friendly university for more than a decade. With service centers located on the bases of Barksdale and Ft. Polk, NSU is a clear choice for military service members and their dependents,” said Vice President for Technology, Innovation and Economic Development Dr. Darlene Williams. “Our goal is to provide flexible academic programs and support services that create a clear path to degree completion for our military.”

Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined by Viqtory with input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey scores with the assessment of the institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans.

“Military Friendly® is committed to transparency and providing consistent data-driven standards in our designation process. Our standards provide a benchmark that promotes positive outcomes and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the Military Community. This creates a competitive atmosphere that encourages colleges to evolve and invest in their programs consistently. Schools who achieve awards designation show true commitment in their efforts, going over and above that standard,” said Kayla Lopez, National Director of Military Partnerships, Military Friendly®.

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate.

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA)’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Advisory Council is proud to announce that Dialogue on Race Louisiana (DORLA) is coming to LSMSA on Thursday, March 17 at 4:15 p.m. in Treen Auditorium. Sponsored by the IDEA Council and the LSMSA Foundation, this preliminary interest meeting will preview and prepare participants for the six-week original series from the week of March 21 through the week of May 6, with a break the week of April 18-22. DORLA is a structured, facilitated, educational process with a goal of eliminating racism.

“These discussions are much needed and long overdue,” said Steve Horton, Executive Director of LSMSA. “We’re grateful to the IDEA Council for facilitating them, and to the LSMSA Foundation for making them possible.”

The City of Natchitoches announces the MLK Recreation Center will close due to the presence of Stachybotrys (Black Mold) in certain locations in the building effective March 15. The building will remain closed until remediation is complete. Therefore, ALL scheduled activities at the MLK Recreation are canceled until the problem is resolved. A temporary location for the Recreation Department’s staff will be the City’s Municipal Building located at 560 2nd Street during normal business hours.

For more information, please call the City of Natchitoches at (318) 352-2772.

POSITION: Animal Control Officer

DESCRIPTION: Enforcement of the Animal Control Ordinance; maintain records and reports regarding impounded animals, animal bites, quarantines, investigations, citations and daily statistics; ability to operate Microsoft Word and Excel; clean and disinfect kennels and cages; provideanimals with proper food, water, and medical care; must be available for after hours and weekend work.

EDUCATION: High School diploma or equivalent. Must be a licensed driver.

CONTACT: City of Natchitoches, Human Resources​ Department located at 1400 Sabine St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches La 71458-0037. Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall, located at 700 Second St., or you can download an application online at http://www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through March 21, 2022.

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

BOM was a sponsor of the Rockin’ H Farms Christmas Cash Barrel Racing event. Pictured from left are BOM’s Jarrod Abraham, Brooklyn Johnson, Presley White, BOM’s Sabrina Liles and TJ Mitcham.

The Natchitoches Central High School performed in the LMEA Large Ensemble Festival on March 11 at the Louisiana College in Pineville under the direction of Syll-Young Lee Olson. They were awarded the sweepstakes trophy for their sight reading and performance.

NATCHITOCHES:
Michael Glenn Sparks
January 16, 1978 – March 11, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 19 at 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Mary Anne Erwin Giering
November 18, 1945 – March 12, 2022
Service: Thursday, March 17 at 11 am at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches

Maniel Bacon
November 22, 1933 – March 8, 2022
Service: Wednesday, March 16 at 3 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Clyde Francis Vienne
October 19, 1936 – March 9, 2022
Service: Tuesday, March 15 at 11 am at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

All of his 66 years, or at least since he became addicted to a ball, a basket and a gymnasium, Mike McConathy has played or coached basketball, until Monday.

That’s when he told his bosses at Northwestern State University that he was retiring as head basketball coach, following 23 years that not only transformed the Northwestern program, but also deeply impacted the university and the Natchitoches community.

The announcement came in a press release from the university Monday afternoon. A press conference is scheduled Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the court in Prather Coliseum. The public is welcome to attend, entering on the east side of the arena.

The decision, said McConathy, was entirely his.

“I’m at peace with it,” he said. “I’m going to miss coaching something fierce. But God’s got a plan and I’m just going to follow a different path. I’ve been incredibly blessed and I’m deeply grateful.”

He steps away as the winningest college basketball coach in state history, with a combined total of 682 victories in 39 seasons, 16 (1983-99) starting and building a powerhouse program at Bossier Parish Community College in his hometown of Bossier City, and since 1999 at his father’s alma mater, Northwestern.

Along with three NCAA Tournament appearances, seven Southland Conference championship game berths, two outright Southland regular-season titles and the most significant victory in more than a century of athletics at Northwestern – the 2006 NCAA Tournament upset of 15th-ranked Iowa – McConathy brought immense value to the university, community and region.

McConathy’s teams have graduated almost 90 percent of their players. He was named a “Pillar of the Game” for education by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Community engagement and service has been a cornerstone of NSU basketball under his leadership. McConathy himself, staff and players were often seen doing landscape maintenance, trash pickup and other projects, along with making school visits and taking part in civic events and projects.

He was a high school All-America player at Airline High School in Bossier City, recruited by power programs including LSU and Oklahoma. He chose Louisiana Tech and became one of the Bulldogs’ all-time greats, averaging 21 points in 98 career games, leading Tech to a 1976 Southland Conference title.

Hired just a week shy of exactly 23 years ago, McConathy took over a once-proud basketball program that had only five winning seasons in 24 years since NSU joined NCAA Division I in 1977. He produced 11.

His impact was immediate. Instead of running off players from a losing squad, he embraced them, built around them and in his first season led the Demons to not only their first winning record in eight years, but the brink of their first NCAA Tournament appearance, reaching the program’s first Southland Conference championship game.

A year later, McConathy guided the Demons to the Big Dance and made an even bigger splash, with NSU (19-13) winning the first-ever NCAA Opening Round Game in Dayton, Ohio, 71-67 over Winthrop in front of a nationwide TV audience.

It was the first of three NCAA Tournament trips for McConathy’s teams. The next, in 2006, brought lasting acclaim for NSU, with a stunning, last-second comeback triumph over 15th-ranked Iowa, the Big Ten Conference Tournament champions, 64-63.

A third NCAA appearance came in 2013 after his last 20-win season, when a 23-9 squad lost to Florida in March Madness. The Demons made another postseason appearance two years later, falling at home in the College Invitational Tournament to Tennessee-Martin, finishing a 19-13 season.

However, that was the last overall winning record NSU has posted. A knee injury to star player Jalan West in the next game, the 2015-16 season opener at Ole Miss, ultimately crippled the team for that season and the next two as West unsuccessfully tried to regain his form.

NSU has had winning Southland Conference records in 2020 and 2021 and had a 15-15 overall mark in 2019-20.

Natchitoches City Council will have a pre-council meeting beginning at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m. to discuss non-agenda items. The City Council meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda. The public is invited to both the pre-council meetings and council meetings with the understanding that items not on the agenda will not be discussed at the scheduled council meetings, but the public is welcome to discuss any topic at the pre-council meetings. The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers located at 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Any Citizen that wishes to observe the City Council meeting live may do so at:

https://www.facebook.com/NPJNatLa

VIEW THE AGENDA HERE:

Natchitoches’ Front Street was the scene of two events, both beloved local traditions, Saturday, March 12. Several hundred people came to enjoy a morning of family fun and shopping. The Annual Bloomin’ on the Bricks featured face painting for the little ones, a bouncy castle, the parish library’s bookmobile and a variety of gardening vendors for the Green Thumbs among us. The popular event, now in its 22nd year, is a great way to kick off the spring season.

Right next to Bloomin’ on the Bricks, the Natchitoches art community celebrated the 20th Annual Art Along the Bricks. This celebration of creativity featured The Natchitoches Art Gallery as well as 16 vendors in a variety of artistic styles.

In addition to the two events, visitors to downtown could also enjoy rowing crews from NSU and around the country scrimmaging on the Cane River. Natchitoches has long been a preferred location for college rowing teams to train on the Cane River during their Spring Break.

An accomplished group of high school students and their families came to learn more about the Louisiana Scholars’ College at the school’s Spring Scholars’ Day held at NSU’s Morrison Hall Saturday, March 12. The students attended an organizational browse, sample classes and a lunch with Scholars’ College alumni at which they could get firsthand information about the college’s programs from recent graduates.

The Louisiana Scholars’ College was founded in 1987 as the state’s only designated honors college. The school features a great books based curriculum with small class sizes averaging 15 students per class. The school’s 100 students excel in not just academics, but in every aspect of campus life from athletic teams to Greek life and student government. The college offers a superb education at a modest price compared to private universities and colleges.

Mia Adams is the recruiter for the Louisiana Scholars’ College. She may be reached at 318-357-4622 or 318-663-0137.

Join the Natchitoches Parish School Board’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) on Zoom with Sandy Irchirl to discuss ACT Testing and what high school students and parents can expect during testing at Natchitoches Parish schools. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 15 from 11 am – 12 pm.

Zoom Meeting ID: 871 6436 0760
Passcode: nabBB9

Contact Helen Calhoun or email questions to PAC@npsb.la for more information. 

Dear Parent/Guardian,

THe NPTCC will hold Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, March 17 from 3:30–6:30 PM. High school and junior high report cards will be given out, and this will also be an opportunity for you to meet with your child’s teachers. If you are not able to attend, your child will receive their report card Friday, March 18. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call to the school.

Bobby Benjamin
NPTCC Principal

Northwestern State University hosted over one thousand students, faculty sponsors and families from 30 schools from throughout the region for the Northwest Louisiana Literary Rally. The Louisiana High School Rally, an academic competition held throughout the state since 1909, with the regional competition being held at NSU since the 1960’s, is an academic competition in which high school students compete by taking exams in a variety of subjects taught in high school. The Northwest Louisiana Rally held at NSU featured 51 different tests ranging from Agriscience to Calculus. Natchitoches parish was ably represented by students from Natchitoches Central and St. Mary’s. Students who earn qualifying scores on their test or performance will advance to compete at the state literary rally at LSU in Baton Rouge in April. In addition, seniors who win an event at the regional or state rally are eligible to earn an honors stipend to NSU or the Scholars’ College.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal wishes to commend the faculty members of the parish’s high schools whose hard work and guidance made it possible for these sharp young men and women to attend this competition. The High School Literary Rally is a truly wonderful event. It is a joy to see young people from throughout Louisiana competing at a high academic level. We would also like to commend Northwestern State University for their unflagging hospitality and well organized logistical support over the past several decades in hosting the regional rally.

Hard working teachers raising our children’s sights and encouraging academic excellence are part and parcel of our schools’ mission. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for the hours of hard work, dedication and belief in your students’ abilities. Lastly, the Natchitoches Parish Journal wishes all the best to our parish’s students who will go on to represent our parish at the state rally in Baton Rouge. Well done!

Over 383 runners came out on a beautiful Saturday morning to compete in the 2022 Steel Magnolia Run Saturday, March 12. This year’s edition of the popular event was held for the first time on the downtown riverbank with the course taking runners through our picturesque city. Runners had a choice of a one mile “fun run” or a 5K race. There was also an opportunity for those who could not actively participate to support the cause by becoming a “virtual runner.”

This event, sponsored by the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Foundation, was more than a chance for fun and competition. The race is a major fundraiser for the NRMC Foundation’s various initiatives to improve the health of the parish’s citizens. This year’s race is raising funds to support patients facing a battle with cancer.

The annual race is a true community effort. The Natchitoches police department directed traffic and ensured a safe environment for the runners. NSU cheer and spirit groups were joined by Elite Cheer-Nastics in cheering on the runners as they ran the course. NSU Greek organizations and Nursing students helped with set up and passed out water. Scout Troop 60, sponsored by First United Methodist church presented the colors before the race.

One notable feature of this year’s Steel Magnolia Race is that the top trophies are pieces of art! NSU Assistant Professor of Art, Corbin Covher, sculpted the awards for the top male and female runners. His unique, handcrafted trophies helped make the race a special experience. The NRMC Foundation makes our community a better place. Let us help them as they help us!

HAMMOND – The Northwestern State tennis team made quick work of Southeastern Louisiana in its Southland Conference opener on Saturday.

The Lady Demons topped the Lions, 6-1, with no matches reaching a third set and only one set needing a tiebreak.

Aside from SLU’s one point in the No. 1 singles slot, only in two of the remaining eight sets did the SLU opponent win more than two games.

“It’s super important to start 1-0 in Southland Conference play given that we have just six league matches,” said NSU coach Jonas Brobeck. “There was tough conditions today with the cold wind, but we handled those and playing on the road well.

“We got another good doubles point, and we have a long week to clean up some things in singles play this week leading up to a great test at UNO this weekend.”

NSU (8-4, 1-0 SLC) handled business up and down the lineup starting with freshman Ayu Ishibashi in the No. 4 slot.

Ishibashi, the reigning SLC Player of the Week, disposed of Sonya Kanarskaya 6-0, 6-1. Ishibashi is 6-1 in her last eight singles matches.

Wins in the No. 5 position by Viktorie Wojcikova and in the No. 6 slot by Thitirat Kanaphuet weren’t far behind.

Wojcikova improved to 7-3 overall with her 6-1, 6-2 win against SLU’s Bogi Csordas.

Kanaphuet logged her third win of the season in the No. 6 hole, besting Jordan Burdett 6-2, 6-1.

With the team victory already in hand, NSU tacked on the final two singles points with wins by Mariella Minetti (No. 3) and Tjasa Klevisar (No. 2).

Minetti squeezed by SLU’s Flory Bierma in the first set 6-4 before coasting 6-1. Minetti improved to a team-best 8-2 in singles.

Klevisar pieced together her second straight win with a 7-6, 6-2 decision against Paulina Paunova.

SLU picked up their only point in the No. 1 slot with Putri Insani topping Rozalie Dohnalova 6-3, 6-2.

The Lady Demons started by sweeping the doubles point, winning the first two doubles matches that finished.

The pairing of Ishibashi/Patrycja Polanska handled Burdett/Csordas 6-1, while Dohnalova/Wojcikova pushed by Kanarskaya/Paunova 6-2.

The SLU tandem of Bierma/Insani were leading Klevisar/Minetti 5-4 when the doubles point was decided.

NSU hasn’t dropped a doubles match in the four team matches.

PHOTO: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

The Northwestern State baseball team took equal parts of its offense from the first two games of its series against Alcorn and rolled it together Sunday afternoon.

The result was a patient, productive approach that – coupled with another strong starting pitching performance — netted the Demons a 16-1 victory and a three-game sweep of the visiting Braves.

“That’s three or four weekends in a row where our starters have come out and set the tone,” sixth-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. “They pounded the zone with strikes and threw multiple pitches for strikes. That allows you to settle into a game. We’ve done that pretty much throughout the season.

“We got better today. We gave some good at-bats. We played pretty good defense. It was good to see us get better as the weekend went on.”

Drayton Brown (1-2) gave the Demons a third straight strong, five-inning performance on the mound.

A sophomore right-hander from Nacogdoches, Texas, Brown threw one-hit shutout ball across those five innings to earn his first career win as a starter.

With Brown carving up the Braves (0-11), the Demons (6-9) did not have to worry about scoring in every at-bat as they did in Saturday’s doubleheader.

In that sweep, NSU drew a school-record 17 walks in the opener and pounded a season-high 14 hits in the nightcap.

Sunday’s victory was powered by a combination of those two approaches. NSU posted double-figure walks for the third straight game, drawing 12 free passes and reached double figures in hits for the second straight game, tallying 11.

Jeffrey Elkins again was in the middle of the offense, drilling an opposite-field, three-run home run off Alcorn starter Jermel Ford (0-3) in the second inning. It was Elkins’ second three-run home run in as many games and part of a weekend in which the junior left fielder went 6-for-9 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.

Elkins’ blast was the biggest strike in a five-run second inning after Ford kept the Demons off the board in the first – NSU’s first scoreless frame of the series

An inning later, Cameron Parikh extended the lead with a two-out, bases-clearing double to right-center field that blew the game open as part of a four-run third inning.

“We had two outs, bases loaded, I was trying to see something I could put in right or right-center,” said Parikh, who drove in a career-high four runs. “I’ve been working with the coaches on staying up the middle, and I think I did that pretty well in that at-bat.”

NSU’s seven-run fourth inning put the game away as Elkins’ RBI single was the lone run-scoring hit in the inning. Cam Sibley, Gray Rowlett and Daunte Stuart drew bases-loaded walks while Parikh notched his career-best fourth RBI on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.

Elkins went 2-for-4, joining Rowlett (2-for-3, 3 RBIs) and Bryce Holmes (2-for-3, RBI) in the Demon multi-hit club.

“It’s going to take all of us,” Barbier said. “We’ve got some guys who are pretty banged up, and it was good to get them some rest. Good for Cam (Parikh) to get in there. He hadn’t been in there all year long. He got in there in the opener and had some really good at-bats. Good to see Bryce get a couple of hits. Jeff had a big weekend with the home runs and RBIs. It’s good to see those guys get going. “

Northwestern State returns to action Tuesday night when they host Lamar in the fourth game of a nine-game homestand. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Brown-Stroud Field.

Northwestern State 16, Alcorn 1
ASU 000 001 0 – 1 3 0
NSU 054 700 x – 16 11 1

W – Drayton Brown (1-2). L – Jermel Ford (0-3). 2B – NSU, Cameron Parikh, Bryce Holmes. HR – NSU, Jeffrey Elkins (2). Highlights: ASU, Ryan Sonnier 2-3. NSU, Gray Rowlett 2-3, 3 RBIs; Holmes 2-3, 2B, RBI; Elkins 2-4, HR, 4 RBIs.

Records: Alcorn 0-11, Northwestern State 6-9.

Photo: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission (NHDDC) is celebrating 318 Day on March 18. The purpose of 318 Day is for North and Central Louisiana to celebrate local businesses by eating and shopping locally.

Leading up to the celebration, there will be a scavenger hunt in the Historic Landmark District with the prize of $250 starting Friday, March 18. All clues will be sent out as push notifications through the Go Natchitoches app and posted on the Natchitoches Main Street Instagram. Download the Go Natchitoches app and follow and like the Natchitoches Main Street Instagram page for more information.

In celebration of 318 Day, large “318” numbers will be placed on Natchitoches Front Street for photo opportunities. NHDDC encourages individuals to visit the numbers and use the hashtags #318Day and #GoNatchitoches in front of the “318” numbers for a chance to win the Go Natchitoches basket.

For any questions or more information contact Amy Lee at alee@canerivernha.org.

The Brothers of NSU’s Zeta Iota Alumni Phi Beta Sigma chapter joined forces with Lifeshare and the Ben D. Johnson Center’s superb Legacy Café to host a first (and hopefully not last!) of its kind event Saturday, March 12 at the Ben D. Johnson Center.

The fraternity men of Phi Beta Sigma sponsored a free BBQ lunch give away, serving several hundred chicken lunches barbequed over a wood fire by Natchitoches BBQ chef “The Mogee Man”, with sides prepared by The Legacy Café. The delicious lunches were free to anyone from Natchitoches who asked.

There was more to the event than superb food. The Lifeshare blood donation bus was also on hand, looking to collect its goal of 12 units for the day. There is no substitute for human blood, and there is always a chronic shortage in hospitals around the state. From elective surgeries to accidents, cancer treatments and any number of other needs, there is a constant need for blood. It is not a question of if, but of when, a need will arise. The blood collected from the event’s donors will save at least one life and improve others.

The Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded in 1914 and has been a fixture of the NSU community since 1973. The Alumni chapter was founded in 2014. The Natchitoches Parish Journal commends this community minded group of gentlemen for seeing a need and acting to fill it. The community is a better place with men like them.

Northwestern State University’s chapter of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars will host a Language and Culture mini-lecture “Italy” on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the David Morgan Auditorium (Room 107) of Russell Hall.

The registration fee is $5 for NSU, LSMSA and BPCC@NSU students and $20 for all other participants. Proceeds will support scholarships for NSU students participating in international studies. The public is invited to attend. To register please visit http://pbd-lecture-series.eventbrite.com. The event will be in-person and virtual via WebEx at the same time. On site registrations are welcomed. Registered participants will receive the meeting invitation after registration. Online access to the lecture recordings will be available for all registered participants.

Elisa Silicato and Dr. Richard Bach Jensen will be the guest lecturers.

Silicato is from Umbria, Italy, and an exchange student at NSU. She is studying translation in her home university and came to Louisiana to study abroad. Her biggest interest is nature, literature and art. She is very proud of the Italian culture and loves her home country.

Jensen is professor emeritus of modern European history at the Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern. He previously taught at Northwestern University in Evanston, Southern Illinois University, and Skidmore College. He has published two books: “Liberty and Order: The Theory and Practice of Italian Public Security Policy, 1848 to the Crisis of the 1890s” (New York: Garland Publishing, 1991) and “The Battle Against Anarchist Terrorism, 1878-1934: An International History” (Cambridge University Press, 2014). The latter is based on archival research across Europe, the United States, and Argentina. He has written more than 30 articles and book chapters. His most recent articles have explored not only the evolving history of 19th and early 20th century terrorism but also the evolving understanding and definition of sub-state terrorism.

The Phi Beta Delta Language and Culture Series supports funding for Northwestern State University students participating in international studies and expands all participants’ knowledge of different countries, languages, and cultures. Previous lectures in this series have introduced the cultures of China, India, Latin America, Spain, France and Japan. Organizers hope these short classes will expand attendees’ knowledge and understanding of world cultures as well as encourage interest in international study and travel.

Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars has goals to increase the recognition, credibility, and importance of the international experience and create a catalyst for international academic-based programming on college campuses while providing support and recognition to those individuals on campuses involved in international education. The Northwestern State Chapter, Eta Mu, was established in 2010 and continues to sponsor campus-wide activities and scholarships on the NSU campus. The Chapter was awarded the 2020 Eileen Evans outstanding Chapter Award in May 2020 at the annual PBD conference.

For more information, contact Becky Stephens, 201 Russell Hall, (318) 357-5162.

NATCHITOCHES:
Maniel Bacon
November 22, 1933 – March 8, 2022
Service: Wednesday, March 16 at 3 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Pamela Ann Roque
February 9, 1968 – March 7, 2022
Service: Monday, March 14 at 10 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Clyde Francis Vienne
October 19, 1936 – March 9, 2022
Service: Tuesday, March 15 at 11 am at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church