Dianne Alexander, outgoing president of Chapter AP, PEO, installed the 2022-2023 officers on March 8 at the regular meeting hosted by Fran Bernard and Sandy Sharplin.

New Officers are as follows: Jane Hall, President; Laura Wiggs, 1st Vice President; Gina Puls, 2nd Vice President; Mary Lou Brown, 3rd Vice President (not pictured); Dottie Mims, Recording Secretary; Mary White, Corresponding Secretary; Linda Lytle, Treasurer; Renee Crews, Chaplain; and Susan Long, Guard (not pictured).

Gabe Firment talks reapportionment and his newly drawn district lines which now encompass more of Natchitoches Parish and all of Northwestern State University. Representative Firment also discusses the budgetary issues facing Louisiana and the upcoming legislative session.

The Northwestern State football team announced the addition of three transfers with Football Bowl Subdivision experience Tuesday.

Head coach Brad Laird welcomed linebacker Jordan Banks, defensive end/edge Miles Dickens and running back Kolbe Burrell into the fold for the Demons, whose first spring practice was moved by weather from Tuesday to Wednesday afternoon.

“We had the opportunity to add three players with prior experience at the college level, and those players will help us continue to fill holes as we prepare for the 2022 season,” said head coach Brad Laird, whose fifth season at the helm of his alma mater begins Sept. 4 at Montana. “Jordan Banks comes from an Arizona State program where he gained a great deal of knowledge from a staff with NFL ties, Miles Dickens was part of an emerging program at Georgia State, and Kolbe Burrell was in a similar situation at Buffalo. All three of those young men will help make us a better team in 2022.”

Banks, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder, played in seven games in two seasons at Arizona State.

With the Sun Devils, Banks appeared in three games as a true freshman in 2020, recording three tackles and intercepting a pass against Arizona.

A five-star recruit out of Narbonne High School in Los Angeles, Banks was the No. 8 inside linebacker prospect nationally in his recruiting class and was the No. 17 recruit in California. In his final two seasons at Narbonne, Banks recorded 128 tackles (30 for loss) and 15 sacks in 20 games.

A versatile athlete, Banks also added five pass deflections, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries – one he returned for a touchdown – in those two seasons.

Dickens comes to Natchitoches after spending two seasons at Georgia State.

A 6-3, 247-pounder, Dickens was a three-sport standout in high school, playing football and basketball and running track and field at Deerfield Beach High School and Stoneman Douglas High School in south Florida.

Dickens was a 247Sports.com composite three-star recruit after helping lead Deerfield Beach to a 13-2 mark as a senior and a berth in the Class 8A semifinals. As a junior, Dickens produced 15 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hurries, nine sacks and two pass deflections. He clocked a 22.4 200 meters as a 230-pound sophomore track athlete.

Burrell spent two seasons at Buffalo before coming to NSU.

The 5-9, 200-pound Burrell was a three-time All-Catholic League selection at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s Prep and earned honorable mention All-American honors from USA Today.

Burrell, a four-year letterman, rushed for 3,273 yards and 44 touchdowns and was the Offensive Player of the Game in the 2019 Pennsylvania Class 6A state championship game, rushing for 190 yards in the Hawks’ title-game win.

LSMSA Senior Tum Tum Adeleye selected as finalist for Student of the Year Competition

Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) Senior Tum Tum Adeleye of Natchitoches is one of 21 students selected as finalists in the state’s annual Student of the Year Competition. Schools were asked to submit one candidate from their student body. The finalists represent one elementary, middle and high school from each of the state’s seven regions.

Prior to selecting the three state winners, the state selection committee will conduct interviews and review portfolios and writing samples from each finalist.

“This competition gives us another way to celebrate our students,” said Executive Director Dr. Steve Horton. “We’re so pleased that Tum Tum is a member of our community and that she represents LSMSA in this role.”

Students are selected based on academic achievement, leadership skills, character, and service to their schools and communities. Regional selection committees also use electronic portfolios of accomplishments, along with student writing samples and interviews to assess the communication and critical thinking skills of each candidate.

Tum Tum and the other finalists will participate in an awards ceremony on April 13. The winners for each grade level will be announced.

“I’m proud of each of these students and honored to have them represent us as Louisiana Student of the Year finalists,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley.

LSMSA has educated highly motivated, high-achieving high school students from throughout the state since 1983. Inquiring parents and students may visit http://www.lsmsa.edu to learn more, complete online applications, and submit transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and current teachers’ recommendations.

Never say the Wordle Word of the Day if “a wordler,” someone who works the daily Wordle puzzle, is around.

I’ll explain.

First, Wordle is a five-letter word that can, if you’re aggravated enough, become a four-letter word.

Wait. We better explain some more…

If you are part of the Great Unwashed who don’t know Wordle, consider yourself both blessed and cursed. Same as the ones of us who DO know.

Wordle is the new pickleball of word games, pickleball being our country’s fastest growing sport, not counting Pin the Tail on the Fauci. Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, ping pong, and, of course, cucumbers. Look it up, grab a racquet and a wiffleball and go play — IF you can find a free court.

Not kidding. It’s a 24/7 Pickleball Party out there.

Same with Wordle, except it’s right there on your laptop device, just waiting to either reward you or make you want to hit yourself upside your head with a pickleball racquet.

The game was created in October by an engineer in Brooklyn named Josh Wardle, who was obviously born to create a word game. (“You say Wardle, I say Wordle.”) The game starts with six rows of five blank boxes each, and you get six guesses to figure out the five-letter word that changes every day.

One day this week was “hoard.” Others were “cloth” and “brine” and “mourn.” March 1 was “rupee,” a unit of Indian money, which apparently a lot of people didn’t know, and we know this because It Was In All The Papers, stories about Wordle-ites who felt they’d been ripped off — an interesting take on the American mindset since Wordle is, after all, free.

(I got rupee; sixth and final try. Makes me think of another five-letter word: lucky.)

The Guardian reported that Wordle had 90 players in November, 300,000 by January, and now more than three million around the world. Mankind is caught in a Wordle vice of biblical proportions. The game’s traveling faster than gossip down a church pew.

Its charm is that it’s not overwhelmingly hard to solve — but it’s hard enough. Simple, but keeps you on your toes. Sort of like your colon does as you age.

Sign up through Google, or wherever you subscribe to your addictive, fun, time-wasting, sucking-the-life-out-of-you word games. Again, it’s free, and the rules are simple, which the Wordle site will explain.

The first day I played, a good friend — my “Wordle dealer/supplier” since he got me hooked — gave me a two-minute tutorial. One minute I’d only heard of Wordle and the next, I was a Wordle Junkie.

A Final Word to the Wordle Wise: Do not casually mention to anyone the Wordle Word of the Day unless they ask. My rookie day, I said, “Hey, took me four shots but I figured out ‘shake’ was the Worldle wor…”

“Nooooooooo!” That was the sound from a friend (now ex-friend) walking by; they had not Wordled yet on that day.

Wordle word for me at that moment? Idiot. Or loser. Either five-letter word would have worked.

Moral of story? Keep your Wordle to yourself. Otherwise … “YIKES”

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

If you drive the beautiful and winding road to Goldonna you truly feel like you are one with nature. The trees will be debuting their green spring wardrobe soon and it will even be more beautiful!

Also debuting in the coming weeks will be a temporary cell phone tower to make way for a permanent one in a few months. Goldonna has almost been a dead zone since cell phones were in existence but our kids should be texting in church some time in the real near future! Village of Goldonna officials have been working on this for a while and the residents are very excited and grateful.

Goldonna Dusty Cut League will have registration on March 12th from 12:00 to 2:00pm. You will need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate if they did not play last year. Age groups are 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, and 14-17. The cost is $35 per child and $15 for siblings.

Fiber optic internet should be up and running at Goldonna Elementary Junior High any day now. The students will be enjoying internet at a faster speed.

March water bills included the information for the new water leak protection coverage. Bills were placed inside blue envelopes containing the flyer with more information on this valuable service. The new program goes into effect April 1st. You can opt out of this service by calling 318-527-0400. ServLine Company also offers a sewer option but it is contracted directly between the customer and the company. The cost is $2.35 per month or $28.20 annually for up to $2500 worth of coverage. This could save households hundreds of dollars in the event of an unforeseen leak.

Sales tax dollars are still coming in and being used to repair roads in Goldonna. Savell Road is now complete. Gates Road should be receiving some much needed attention soon.

Christmas in the Park will be having their first fundraiser for the 2022 Event. There will be a Community Fish Fry on April 10th and an Easter Egg Hunt for the children. The committee will be asking local churches and volunteers for meal items and eggs for the children.

The Spring Fish Fry will have photo ops with none other than the Easter Bunny himself. There will also be a scavenger hunt for the older children. Dinners are $9 each and include fish, fries, coleslaw, hushpuppies, dessert and a drink. Orders of 8 or more can be delivered. Please contact the Mayor or Alldermen for tickets for this family friendly event.

Goldonna Assembly of God will hosting a Revival on March 18-19 at 6:00 pm and on March 20th at 10:00am. Reverend Gerald Crabb will be the minister and all are invited to come out and be blessed. Please contact the church for more information.

If you have news to share please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

Lakeview High School will hold a Senior FAFSA Day (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) on Thursday, March 17 from 12 – 4 pm in the JH Conference Room for all parents in need of assistance in completing their child’s FAFSA.

Representatives from Career Compass will be available for guidance in completing your FAFSA and to answer any questions you may have.

All seniors must complete a FAFSA as a part of their graduation requirement. Please bring the following items to complete your child’s 2022 – 2023 FAFSA:

1. Valid email address

2. Social Security number

3. Date of birth

4 2020 Federal Income tax and W-2 forms

6. Records of investment or untaxed income (if applicable)

If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Wynn at 476-3360.

Description: Experienced and reliable Property Manager to oversee operations at our 40-unit complex. In this position, you will create leasing contracts for new and current tenants, ensure units are ready for tenants, fulfill repair requests efficiently, collect monthly rents, and track daily expenses, to provide regular status reports on the condition of the property and any issues that arise and maintain a positive relationship with renters and tenants.

Qualifications: Our ideal candidate has at least five years of property management experience. High school degree or equivalent; bachelor’s degree in related field preferred. Proficient with Microsoft Office and property management software. Organized and able to create multiple timelines, budgets, and schedules. Excellent communication skills

Deadline: Applications will be accepted through March 28, 2022

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

Please mail resumes to:
Willa Point Apartments
ATTN: Human Resources
PO Box 255
Natchitoches LA 71457

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

By Brad Dison

Kerri Rawson was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1978. She had a happy childhood with loving parents and good friends. When Kerri was about ten years old, she and her parents watched a news report on local tv about a serial killer in Wichita, her hometown. The news anchor briefly told of the murders, explained that the killer was still on the loose, and asked anyone with information to report it to police. Kerri was terrified. What if the killer came for her next? Her parents did as most parents would do and assured her that she was safe. Kerri was not so sure.

The news program explained that on January 15, 1974, Charlie, Danny, and Carmen Ortego returned home from school in Wichita and discovered the lifeless bodies of their father, 38-year-old Joseph, mother, 33-year-old Julie, sister, 11-year-old Josephine, and brother, 9-year-old Joseph, Jr. They had been tied up, torture, and murdered. The police found few clues.

At about 2 p.m. on April 4, 1974, 20-year-old Kathryn Bright and her 19-year-old brother, Kevin, returned to her residence in Wichita, and discovered an intruder in the home. The man said he would not hurt them, he just wanted to rob them. The man forced Kevin to tie his sister to a chair and led him into another room. The man attempted to bind Kevin and began choking him. To the man’s surprise, Kevin fought back. During the struggle, the man pulled a gun and shot Kevin in the head. Thinking Kevin was dead, the man returned to Kathryn. Somehow, Kevin escaped from the house and alerted police. Kathryn had been stabbed multiple times and died that evening in the hospital. Kevin survived but was unable to provide much information about the killer.

On March 17, 1977, Shirley Vian Relford’s three children, ages 8, 6, and 4, ran to a neighbor’s house in Wichita. The panicked children explained that their mother had been murdered. Police located Shirley’s lifeless body on a bed in her home. She had been bound, tortured, and murdered.

On the morning of December 8, 1977, a man called the Wichita Police Department and reported a murder. He provided the address and hung up. Police went to the residence and found the body of Nancy Fox. She had been bound, tortured and murdered.

In 1978, a television station in Wichita received a letter from someone who claimed to be the killer of the Oteros, Bright, Vian Relford, and Fox. In this letter, the writer provided several nicknames for himself that the press could use when reporting on his crimes. One of them stuck. From then on, he was referred to as BTK, which stands for Bind, Torture, Kill, his method of murder. The press finally reported that Wichita had a serial killer.

In 1979, BTK stalked 63-year-old Anna Williams and intended for her to be his next victim. He studied her schedule and had everything planned. Anna failed to return home at her normal time. BTK waited impatiently. Anna was visiting friends. After waiting for several hours, BTK, furious that his target had evaded him, drove away. Anna’s visit to her friends saved her life.

April 27, 1985, was the last time friends saw 53-year-old Marine Hedge. A few days later, police found her car at a shopping center in Wichita. On May 5, police located a body in rural Sedgwick County. They positively identified her through dental records.

On December 31, 1987, Mary Fager returned to her home in Wichita and found her husband, 37-year-old Phillip, lying on the living room floor. He had been bound, tortured and murdered. In a panic, she ran to neighbor’s house for help. Police arrived at the Fager home and found the lifeless bodies of Mary’s 16-year-old daughter, Kelly, and 9-year-old daughter, Sherri. BTK wrote a letter in which he denied killing the Fagers. However, evidence on the letter proved that he was their killer.

On February 1, 1991, police found the body of 62-year-old Dolores Davis under a bridge in Sedgwick County. She had been bound, tortured, and strangled. They later learned that BTK had killed Dolores on January 19th.

Police wondered when the next murder would occur. They hoped he would make a mistake which would give away his identity. They were building evidence against BTK but still had no idea who he was. They waited but no more murders fit BTK’s method. Local news stations occasionally reported on the cold case. Each time she saw the news story about the serial killer, Kerri’s fear of the killer was renewed. One day, Kerri and her father were walking hand-in-hand near their home. She explained her fears to her father. As he had done many times before, he told her she was safe to ease her mind.

BTK’s downfall came with his desire for public attention. He taunted investigators with postcards and letters. He sometimes left packages to be found by police which contained mementos he had removed from his victims. On one occasion, BTK sent a package to a television station which contained a letter on a floppy disk and more mementos from one of his murders. Investigators located information stored in the metadata of the floppy disk and learned the true identity of BTK.

On February 25, 2005, Kerri heard a knock at the door. She had not thought about BTK for some time, but the stern FBI agent on the other side of the door sent chills down her spine when he told her that after 31 years of searching they had arrested BTK. At first, Kerry was confused as to why the agent would be alerting her specifically. Then she learned that the man who had reassured her all those years that she was safe, her father, was BTK.

This article is dedicated to the victims of BTK. The absence of his name from this article is no mistake. Kerri Rawson (her married name) filed a no-contact order against her father and works as an advocate for victims of abuse, crime, and trauma.

Sources:

1. The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), April 5, 1974, p.1.
2. The Salina Journal (Salina, Kansas), March 18, 1977, p.15.
3. The Wichita Beacon (Wichita Kansas), December 9, 1977, p.32.
4. The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), May 7, 1985, p.77.
5. The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), February 26, 2005, p.1.
6. Investigation Discovery. “’BTK: A Killer Among us’ Unmasks ‘Normal Dad’ Dennis Rader.” Accessed March 6, 2022. investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/id-shows/btk-a-killer-among-us-dennis-rader-kerri-rawson.

Retirement planning isn’t just about saving. We all need to consider tax planning. As April 18th quickly approaches this becomes very real.

Taxes and taxation of income is a key component of retirement strategy. I work with clients to lessen the impact of taxation on their retirement dollars. Believe it or not it can and does make a difference when you take various forms of income. Do you know when to pull dollars from what source of funds? Are you kicking the tax can down the road? Thereby, making a larger than necessary tax burden for you and your beneficiaries? Roth verse traditional? Leave your 401k with employer or move to private account? What is the truth?

Make sure you know the facts and not just the myths. Give me a call to discuss your specifics. Know that you know the best plan of action.

Contact Reinette today!
rfoster@reinettefoster.com
318-481-6539
www.ReinetteFoster.com

Natchitoches Junior High JAG members would like to extend their appreciation to Katrice Below and Bank of Montgomery for their continued support of our program. We are extremely grateful!!

Pictured: Emily Breedlove, Sylvia Madison, Rayonna Raphiel, Allison Holmes, Barbara Clark, Maria Cano Campos, Mariah Golston, Katrice Below and Jacquelyn Rainwater.

The NSU Veterinary Technology Club is having another Bathe-a-Dog Day on Friday, March 11 in Room 106 of Bienvenu Hall (These sessions are for baths only, not veterinary services).

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY!

There is limited cage space so the dogs will need to be picked up as soon as their baths are done.

Prices are:
Under 25 lbs. $13
26-50 lbs. $17
51-75 lbs. $24
Over 75 lbs. $30

*Included in this price: bath, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression.
*Please no matted dogs. There are no grooming facilities.

NATCHITOCHES:
Lenora Owen Merrell Brown
June 2, 1934 – March 7, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 12 at 10 am at Galbraith Church of God near Lena

SABINE:
Grover Wayne Woodle
November 25, 1941 – March 4, 2022
Service: Wednesday, March 9 at 3 pm at Little Flock Baptist Church

In a hearing this afternoon, counsel for the defense and the State jointly moved the court to change the location for juror selection in the Hanna Barker case from Opelousas in St. Landry Parish, to Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish citing the need for use of a courtroom instead of an event center as would have been the case in Opelousas. The court accepted the agreement and ordered the change. However, in doing so, the April 25, 2022 trial date had to be changed also, now scheduled for June 6, 2022. Barker is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the death of toddler son, Levi Ellerbe in 2018.

Shreveport attorney Dhu Thompson is representing Hanna Barker and representing the State is Special Prosecutor Cliff Strider. The presiding judge is Desiree Duhon Dyess.

When Ainsley Ross was growing up, she loved watching pageants and even putting on fancy dresses like those who were competing. The nursing major at Northwestern State later found out she was good at competing in pageants by recently winning the title of Miss Louisiana Teen USA.

She will compete for the title of Miss Teen USA later this year.

“This was my second and last time competing for the title of Miss Louisiana Teen USA. I knew it was now or never,” said Ross, who is from Bossier City. “Now that I have competed in pageants, I learned pageantry is more than the dresses. It allows you to become the best version of yourself, have a platform to be able to impact the people around you and learn life skills that you can take throughout all of life.”

Over the next year, Ross plans to make appearances for charity events, host fundraisers and give back to the community.

“I hope to be an example,” she said. “I want to show young men and women that no matter where you come from or who you are, you truly have the power to become whoever or do whatever you want to do in this life.”

Watching the efforts of healthcare workers helped Ross decide to major in nursing. Both of Ross’s parents are in the medical field. Her mother is a Northwestern State alumna.

“I was taught from a young age the importance of taking care of others and loving people,” said Ross. “When the pandemic hit, I watched our healthcare workers on the frontline be our heroes through it all. I decided I also wanted to be a hero in someone’s life and take care of people on some of their darkest days.”

Ross’ schedule was already busy between college, modeling and being a social media influencer.

“I’m still learning every day. I am still working on balancing it all,” said Ross. I use my planner and Google calendar religiously. I’ve learned to not feel overwhelmed but learn to be grateful for it all. I know there are many women who would do anything to be in my position, so I hope to make the best of my reign.”

According to Ross, she uses her social media posts to encourage others to stay authentic to themselves, live a healthy lifestyle and take care of their mental health.

“I’ve always used social media, like most people, but I really fell in love with the way that I’m able to impact people from all over the country that I wouldn’t be able to without the power of social media,” she said. “Social media can be a dark place that is full of comparison, but I began using it for good. With this title, I hope to continue doing that but bring it to the next level.”

Dr. Eddie Horton, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems at Northwestern State University received the Outstanding Educator Award for 2021-2022 at a Federation of Business Disciplines Conference, held March 2-5 in New Orleans. The FBD is composed of 10 different associations. One of which, the Association of Business Information Systems, Dr. Horton is the outgoing president of.

Faculty members from NSU’s School of Business attend the conference regularly. Dr. Horton presented a paper he worked on with his peers, Daniel Gordy and Danny Upshaw, titled “Apple’s NeuralHash: An Exploration of Security, Public Trust, and Law.”

Dr. Horton said he was honored to receive the award and was so glad to return to the conference. He last attended one in Texas in 2020. He and other NSU faculty members received word that NSU was shutting down for the pandemic. What started as one week turned into two years.

As an instructor who loves to foster independence in his students by giving them the tools they need to find solutions on their own terms, Dr. Horton said being back in the classroom is weird, but he loves it.

“Covid took a lot out of a lot of teachers,” he explained. “Communication between faculty and students has been really difficult through the pandemic and I’m just honored to have been nominated by my peers for this award.”

Horton’s focus area includes networking, network security and forensics. He oversees the Cisco certification at NSU as well as the CompTIA certifications. He has teaching experience with both online and traditional classes. Horton works directly with industry and education to grow current programs at NSU and provide graduates who meet employer’s needs.

The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place Friday evening on University Parkway near the Highway 1 By-Pass.

On March 4, 2022 around 6:37 p.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department, deputies with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office and officers with the University Police Department responded to 3000 block of University Parkway in reference to an individual being shot. Upon officers arrival they located a person that was struck several times by gunfire. As a result of their injuries that person was airlifted to a hospital in Rapides Parish and is listed in critical but stable condition.

While on scene officers were able to make contact with several witnesses. Witnesses were able to tell officers that the incident began when one of the parties involved was almost hit by a car in the business parking lot. This caused both parties involved to exchange words that led to a physical altercation inside store and in the parking lot. After the physical altercation one of the individuals involved returned to his vehicle and brandished a firearm which led to both participants exchanging gunfire.

Investigators spoke with one of the individuals involved with the shooting and are scheduled to meet with the other party once their condition at the hospital improves.

This is an ongoing investigation and the Natchitoches Police Department will release more details as they become available.

If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective Trent Perritt at (318) 238-3914. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.
How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $2,000 for the arrest of an offender.

Senator Louie Bernard advises the public of impending changes to election laws in Louisiana and the history of integrity of Louisiana Elections and the Elections systems presently in place. Senator Bernard reassures the public of our present election process and the need or lack of need to change our system.

The City of Natchitoches Planning and Zoning Department approved 40 permits during the month of January with an application value of $1.6 million.

See Full Report Here:

The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority City of Natchitoches is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. A. “Weda” Anthony to the role of Executive Director, following the upcoming retirement of Mrs. Monica Llorence. Mrs. Llorence has served in the role since 1999. We are deeply grateful for her service and wish her well on her new adventure. Mrs. Anthony will begin her new position on May 1, 2022.

Weda has been a dedicated and highly respected staff member and leader at the agency for over 22 years, with an impressive mix of management and administrative experience that has positioned her well for this role.

Weda has demonstrated an enduring commitment to the Housing Authority City of Natchitoches residents and communities. She is a lifelong Natchitoches resident, who has strong family roots to the Natchitoches Parish area. Her passion for people, her faith, empathy and ability to connect with others makes her a strong leader for our organization, and makes us excited for the Agency’s future.

By Edwin Crayton/Opinion

I don’t think there is an African American on the planet who hasn’t suffered the devastating humiliation of having been denied an opportunity simply because of the fact that they were born black. Unfortunately, in America, being born two shades darker than the general population still matters. However, unlike mankind, God is just. He knows what every injustice feels like and he, always causes the long moral arch of the universe to eventually “bend toward justice”, as Dr. Martin Luther King once said. What is also helpful, is remembering that God Almighty usually makes this righteous change happen in mysterious ways, using odd instruments— meaning faithful people who do his will and whose actions have a lasting, positive effect on history. In every generation, these individuals give over their will to his and he works through them. He wants to do the same through us. The Scriptures themselves advise us to “Let this mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). In other words, attempt to see the world through the eyes of Jesus and think aided by his brilliant mind. This is not achieved through intelligence. It is achieved only by sincerely surrendering to God’s will.

To do so means giving up worldly notions about self: race, gender and anything that would cause us to be in conflict with the will of Jesus. For example, when someone calls me the “N” word, I have two options. I can either respond as an African American. Or I can respond as a Christian. It is not an easy choice. But it is an effective one, When I heard that President Biden had announced his nominee for the vacant Supreme Court seat needed to be a black woman, I realized I had such a choice. I could respond as a black man and be happy that a black person would get the seat. Or I could put on my Jesus lens and respond as Christian. Believe me it makes a huge difference. I have tried the second option and have searched the Scriptures for answers on Biden’s insistence that the nominee be a black woman. Here is what I have learned from studying the Bible:

1)Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7:12). This verse sums up the situation for me. Remember the first statement I made about how devastating it feels to be denied and opportunity simply because of your race? That is exactly what I think is happening in this case. In order to agree with Biden’s decision to pick only a black woman to become a justice on the high court, I would have to violate this treasured biblical principle. In other words, I would have to be willing to say it is alright to deny every judge out there an opportunity to serve simply because they were born with the “wrong race or gender.” If you are not born a black female, no matter how qualified and talented you are, sorry, you are out. In case you are wondering, yes, I think it would be good to see a black woman achieve the honor of becoming a justice on the Supreme Court, but not this way. Why must we commit the very sin we fought so hard against—discrimination— to achieve that goal? Jesus was right. How can I do to someone else what I would not want done to myself?

2) You shall have no other Gods before me (Exodus, 20:3). Many biblical scholars and pastors define an idol as anything or person that we humans place before God on the priority list. Most of us know that money can be an idol. But so can racial pride. If you are a Christian, you are called to place your faith at the top of the priority list. That means, nothing– even your race or any kind of other identity— should be more important than God. We are Christians first. That requires us to view the world through a Christian lens. Prayer helps us humbly surrender to Christ and allow him to decide what our proper response should be.

3)Do not give your alms before men (Matthew 6:1) This verse tells us not to perform our good deeds before other people (in order to receive praise). Of course, politics works in the opposite way doesn’t it? Politicians do good deeds so they can impress people enough to win their vote. I am not sure, but I would not be surprised if politics played a role in Biden’s very public announcement that he would pick a black woman for the vacancy on the court. Did that really need to be broadcast? The trouble with Biden making race the top priority in qualifications, is that it endorsed discrimination against anyone who is not a black female—and that’s a lot of people. What for instance, about the many talented and qualified legal minds in America who don’t happened to be black and female? By the way, that would even include black men. Are we entirely comfortable attempting to eliminate discrimination by practicing it in another form? Isn’t it kind of weird and a little scary when we use the methods of racists to fight racism? And when we go as far as to announce our preference, are we creating a dangerous precedent by promoting the idea that although we have said in the past that hiring based on race is wrong, we now seem to be willing to practice it ourselves? What would have worked better? Actually, I believe it would have been better to handle this the way you would handle any regular, fair job opening: Simply open the job up to all qualified, talented candidates, regardless of race or gender. Isn’t that what we fought the Civil Rights Movement for in the first place? Weren’t we striving for a day when race did not win over character and talent? Why abandon that moral concept now? I believe we have so many talented African Americans in the legal system that if Mr. Biden had just opened the door to all talented legal minds, several of these best and brightest would naturally be black and possibly black female. But by announcing that race was the top consideration, Biden made it appear that his choice was picked for her race first and talent second. Not fair to the nominee. In many minds, that puts an asterisk by her name in history which may read: “this justice was picked to be a black female justice*. By the way, let me pause to say, I am not criticizing the nominee Ketanje Brown Jackson (or endorsing her). I am criticizing the process used to pick her.

4)In the end, the “ultimate” Supreme Court is not on earth. If you are a Christian, I am almost sure you will agree that the greatest judge is God. He is the Supreme Court and final decider on all matters. His standard of righteousness will last for an eternity. If you are a Christian, therefore, isn’t it more vital to be Biblically Correct than politically correct? “Let this mind be in you that is in Christ Jesus.” That’s good advice for picking a Supreme Court Justice and for daily living.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” -Psalm 127:1