NOW is the time to apply. The Natchitoches Parish Early Childhood Network is putting out its last call for Scholarship applications. Currently 14 children, birth through age 3, are receiving free full time education and care at a local Type III Childcare facility.
This scholarship provides free tuition financial assistance to eligible working families in Natchitoches Parish.
The program has funding for 11 additional children/families, FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.
If your family household income meets the eligibility requirements and your child(ren) was age 3 (48 months) or younger as of October 1, 2020; you should apply today for the Birth – 3 Scholarship, also known as Preschool Development Grant (PDG).
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
1. You MUST be a Natchitoches resident who is working/employed a minimum of 20 hours per week, in an approved training program or attending school. For families where both parents live within the same household, both parents must meet all eligibility requirements.
2. You MUST be in need of full time childcare from the date of application submission until July 2021. Child must attend daily between 8am – 3pm minimum. (additional after 3pm care is optional if needed).
3. You MUST have a child(ren) UNDER the age of 48 months as of Sept. 30, 2020.
4. You MUST be willing to enroll your child(ren) in a qualifying TYPE III CHILDCARE CENTER if the child is not currently enrolled.
QUALIFYING TYPE III CHILDCARE CENTERS:
· A to Z 123 Preschool & Learning Center · Bright Beginnings, Inc. · Cobblestones Child Development Center, LLC · Fay’s Daycare & Learning Center · Funtime Palace Day Care · Juz Us Childcare of Natchitoches · Tiny Tots Daycare & Preschool
To apply visit www.TeachingTomorrowNow.com to complete the B-3 Scholarship Application. TO BE CONSIDERED, DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION. Paper applications can be picked up and COPIES of verification documents can be dropped off at 420 Fourth Street Monday-Friday from 10 am- 2pm.
Please contact Amy Metoyer-Roberson 318-238-7505 for any questions.
BOM is excited to welcome Sabrina Liles as a Loan Processor in our Operations Department. Sabrina was born in Galveston, TX. Growing up, she traveled and was home-schooled until moving to Natchitoches in 2004. She has now been in Natchitoches for 17 years. Sabrina is a graduate of Natchitoches Central High School class of 2007. She has over three years of banking experience. For the past 3 years, Sabrina has also been a member of the Service League of Natchitoches and holds the position of Webmaster. Sabrina is married to Sheldon Liles. She has one daughter, Lily Liles, who is nine years old and attends NSU Elementary Lab School. She enjoys spending time with family and friends while not at work. Welcome, Sabrina!
A recent traffic stop near Campti has led to the arrest of a north Natchitoches Parish man on felony drug and weapons charges that resulted in the seizure of illegal narcotics and a handgun according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
On Thursday morning December 30 at approximately 12:30am, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Division were patrolling on US-71 in the City Limits of Campti when they stopped a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe for a traffic violation.
Deputies identified the operator of the vehicle as 33-year-old Marvin Deandrea Kirts of Campti, La.
During the traffic stop, deputies smelled a strong marijuana odor coming from within the vehicle. Deputies say after they informed Kirts of the marijuana smell he stated there was a firearm and some marijuana in the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of approximately 3 ounces of suspected promethazine syrup, 121 suspected ecstasy tablets, 36 grams of suspected marijuana, and a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number.
Deputies arrested: Marvin D. Kirts,33, of Campti was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, Illegal Possession of a Firearm during a Felony Narcotics Offense, 2-Counts of Possession of CDS Schedule I Narcotics and Illegal Possession of CDS Schedule V Narcotics.
Kirts has been released on $15,000 bond set by a Tenth Judicial District Court Judge pending his court appearance.
The seized narcotics will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis. Deputy K. Samuel was assisted by Deputy C. Crow in the arrest. Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force Agents are assisting in the investigation.
Thank the good Lord above…2020 is behind us and once again we have hope! Hope for a new year and that 2021 will be our celebration year as we conquer Covid 19. While we’re not out of the woods yet, there’s optimism that we will take control of this awful virus that has literally crippled our country. But while so many suffered financially, physically and mentally, there were some who benefited greatly especially in relation to the great outdoors. Boat manufactures, RV and ATV dealers absolutely flourished. They achieved record numbers in sales, numbers that have never been seen before. So many people headed for the outdoors in order to get away and escape the grind and mental strain Covid 19 brought to our world.
But with all the success within the outdoors industry in 2020, that means there will probably be a crash in 2021. Dealers are a little nervous about this year and the fact that so many people bought boats, RV’s and ATV’s, that sales will fall off for 2021. Dealers will have to rely on the one thing that truly makes all outdoor dealers successful….service! Service in most cases is the number one reason people buy from a particular dealer. Just like anyone in the car business will tell you, service carries sales. A great service department with quality mechanics who know how to fix and maintain their products, will trump other dealers who can’t offer that. Nothing frustrates me more when I take my boat, vehicle or ATV into the dealer (where I bought them) and they can’t fix my issues. Especially when it comes to your outboard engine. Not all mechanics are created equal, just like any other field, good mechanics can be hard to find. Today’s outboards are so technical and computer driven, that the day of the shade tree mechanic is over. Without the proper equipment to evaluate your motor, no mechanic can really diagnose your problems.
Just like in last week’s article, the word trust come into play once again. I want to deal with a service department and people I trust. I want to know that when I drop off my boat, car, RV or ATV, that someone is not going to try and fix things that don’t need fixing or charging me for things they did not really service. This has happened to me a couple of times. A mechanic told me that he greased my boat trailer bearings on my annual service, only to find out two weeks later as a bearing went out, that this was not the case. But yet they charged me for it! I’ve also discovered before, that my batteries were not serviced properly (water added. ) When a week later, one went out and as I checked them myself, I discovered all my batteries were low on water! But once again, I was charged for a service that was not performed! Burn me once shame on you, burn me twice , shame on me!
So be careful and make sure to hold your dealer responsible for doing a good job with all your service work. Boats, ATV’s and RV’s are very expensive and require proper maintenance. Don’t allow your dealer to cut corners on service work. Hold their feet to the fire and accountable for everything you request on service work. Make sure to keep a log book of all the service work done to your unit. This comes in handy when you decide to sell your boat, RV or ATV. A maintenance log can go a long way in making a sell as it shows proof that you took good care of and performed routine maintenance on your unit. Till next time, best wishes for 2021 and as always, don’t forget to set the hook. Make sure to tune into the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show every Wednesday live from 11:00 till 1:00 and Saturday mornings from 6:00 till 8:00 on AM 1130 The Tiger KWKH or go to our Facebook page or YouTube Channel.
Steve Graf Owner/Co-host Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
School/Site Performance Rating: 5.63 (Highly Proficient) 100% of teachers using a Tier 1 Curriculum 100% of Teachers certified (CDA, BA, or higher)
Vision: The mission at Provencal Elementary/Jr. High School is to prepare all students for lifelong success.
Mission: The school prepares all students by providing rigorous, effective instruction in a safe and positive environment that promotes growth and accountability.
What is unique/special about this school/site?
Provencal Elementary/Jr. High School is a special school because teachers, paras, and administration work in unison to create a positive, productive, and safe learning environment for all children.
Each year, Pre-K strives to include family members by getting them involved in their child’s learning experiences in the classroom and beyond. The strong collaboration among the parents and teachers has helped to develop a lifelong love of learning in the children attending Provencal Elementary.
The NSU Music Academy is accepting students for the spring semester. The academy is under the direction of Northwestern State Assistant Professor of Piano Dr. John Price and Associate Professor of Piano Dr. Francis Yang and offers piano, guitar and percussion lessons for students from age six as well as adults. Due to COVID 19, lessons are taught face to face or online.
Northwestern State students in the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts provide lessons. The teachers are piano majors Shihuan Wang, Claudia Musgrove, David Paz and Hannah Potter, guitar major Naydu Daza Maya and percussion major Jackson Forrester.
Last semester, academy students performed in a virtual Halloween Concert and Christmas recital. Students in past years participated in the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival, the Central Music Teachers’ Association Sonatina Festival and the Louisiana Music Teachers Association Upper Elementary Auditions. For further information, contact Yang at yangf@nsula.edu.
NATCHITOCHES: Alton Hightower November 23, 1938 – January 01, 2021 Service: Friday, January 8 at 3 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Laney A. Wright June 20, 1951 – December 31, 2020 Service: Friday, January 8 at 1 pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville
Alice Oliver December 24, 2020 Arrangements TBA
McTavish Raymond June 22, 1972 – December 21, 2020 Arrangements TBA
SABINE: Maggie Sepulvado Manshack September 29, 1916 – December 29, 2020 Service: Saturday, January 9 at 10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zwolle
WINN: Daniel “Danny” Earl Boyett May 18, 1957 – December 29, 2020 Arrangements TBA
Janet Brookins August 26, 1957 – December 25, 2020 Arrangements TBA
Based on CDC and LDH guidance, at this time healthcare workers are priority for receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine. As vaccine appointment availability happens, NRMC is extending vaccines to community members that are 70 years of age and older. Please contact NRMC if you qualify based on the criteria above and would like to receive the vaccine. As the CDC and LDH give more guidance NRMC will adjust eligibility.
We are experiencing extremely high call volumes. If you leave a message we will return your call. Thank you for your patience.
he IRS has already started sending out second stimulus checks. If you’re asking yourself “where’s my stimulus check,” the IRS has an online tool that will let you track your payment. The tool is called the “Get My Payment” portal, and it’s an updated version of the popular tool Americans used to track the status of their first-round stimulus checks.
With the updated tool, most people can check the status of both their first- and second-round stimulus payments (if you received more than one first-round payment, the tool will show you only the most recent payment information). According to the IRS, the revised tool is available in both English and Spanish, too.
You receive Social Security payments or other federal benefits, and the IRS doesn’t have enough information from the appropriate federal agency to process your payment.
What Does the Stimulus Check Portal Do?
The updated “Get My Payment” tool lets you:
Check the status of your stimulus payment;
Confirm your payment type (paper check or direct deposit); and
Get a projected direct deposit or paper check delivery date (or find out if a payment hasn’t been scheduled).
Unlike with the first-round stimulus checks, you can’t enter your bank account information to have your payment directly deposited into your account. That’s because second-round stimulus payments are only being issued based on information the IRS already has on file – that is, bank information from:
Your 2019 tax return;
The IRS online registration tool for non-filers used for first-round stimulus checks;
The “Get My Payment” portal if entered before December 22, 2020; or
A federal agency that sends benefits to you (e.g., Social Security Administration, Veteran Affairs, or Railroad Retirement Board).
This bank information can’t be changed, either. Also note that, if you have federal benefits deposited to a Direct Express card, your second stimulus check may also be deposited to that card. The bank information shown in the “Get My Payment” portal will be a number associated with your Direct Express card and may be a number you don’t recognize.
You also can’t request payment by debit card.
The portal is updated no more than once daily, typically overnight. As a result, there’s no reason to check the portal more than once per day.
What Information Will You Need?
To access the tool, you’ll be asked to provide a:
Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN);
Date of birth;
Street address; and
Five-digit ZIP or postal code.
If you file a joint tax return, either spouse can access the portal by providing their own information for the security questions used to verify a taxpayer’s identity. Once verified, the same payment status will be shown for both spouses.
If you submit information that doesn’t match the IRS’s records multiple times, you’ll be locked out of portal for 24 hours. Don’t contact the IRS if that happens. Instead, just wait 24 hours and try again.
For additional tips on entering data into the “Get My Payment” portal, see the IRS’ FAQ page.
What Will the Status Report Look Like?
For second-round stimulus checks, the “Get My Payment” portal will display one of the following:
1. Payment Status. A payment has been processed, a payment date is available, and payment will be issued either by direct deposit or mail.
2. Payment Status Not Available. If you receive this message, you were either not eligible, or eligible but the IRS was unable to issue you a second stimulus check. You will need to claim any additional amount you may be entitled to on your 2020 tax return as a “recovery rebate” tax credit.
If you get the “Payment Status Not Available” notice, this means the IRS can’t determine your eligibility for a payment at that time. There are several reasons this could happen. Two common reasons are that you didn’t file either a 2018 or 2019 tax return or your recently filed return has not been fully processed.
The following statement was issued by the Natchitoches Parish Fire District No. 7 on Jan. 5:
Everyone is aware of our road conditions. State roads and parish roads. What most people is unaware of is that with the condition of our state and parish roads is that it slows our response time down. The fire department is rated every 5 years. The response time is included in the rating. With a slow response time it can and will affect our rating. Which means your property insurance will go up. I urge everyone to call your elected officials starting from local government to state government. We have got to get something done. When saving a life or someone’s property ever second counts. We’re estimating our response time has dropped by 20% due to the condition of our roads.
In light of a busy but successful first day of vaccine distribution to pharmacies, the Department of Health has given guidance to hospitals that any remaining current or future vaccine allotments that exceed hospital uptake can be used for any currently eligible groups.
“We are so encouraged by our residents’ clear demand for the COVID vaccine,” said Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, Secretary of LDH. “While demand is clearly outpacing supply, this is just the start. We do anticipate vaccine will become increasingly available in the coming weeks and months, and as it does we will continue to bring additional vaccination sites online. For now, 10,700 newly eligible residents will have the opportunity to get vaccinated this week, and that’s progress. Thank you for your patience
“In the meantime, we will continue to work with our hospital partners to make the COVID vaccine increasingly available for their eligible patients and community members,” Dr. Phillips added.
LDH remains in support of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for vaccination. On December 20, 2020, ACIP recommended vaccination for Phase 1A (healthcare personnel and long-term-care facility residents). ACIP also recommended that if vaccine was still available, the 1B priority group should also be offered vaccine. Louisiana’s 1B COVID vaccine priority group includes persons ages 70 years or older; and various outpatient healthcare provider types.
Effective immediately, LDH is encouraging hospitals to begin using any remaining current and future vaccine allotments that exceed hospital uptake to begin vaccinating any and all of the following:
Persons ages 70 years or older in the community, Outpatient clinic providers and clinic staff, Urgent care clinic providers and staff, Community care clinic providers and staff, Behavioral health providers and staff, Dialysis center providers, staff and clients (if not already being vaccinated by their dialysis centers), Home health service providers and recipients, Dental providers and staff, and Students, residents, faculty and staff of allied health schools (if not already receiving vaccine or in a plan to receive from their respective schools).
Reminders:
LDH cannot make appointments at participating pharmacies for eligible residents. LDH has published the list of participating pharmacies, along with their locations and contact information, on its website: covidvaccine.la.gov. Eligible residents must contact a participating pharmacy and make an appointment at the pharmacy.
We are committed to the equitable distribution and administration of vaccines, and are actively working to enroll more pharmacies in our LINKS system — especially those in underserved communities. Louisiana is still in the middle of a pandemic: Wear a mask
On January 4, LDH reported 1,891 COVID hospitalizations — the highest number of COVID hospitalizations since April 16, Louisiana’s first surge of the pandemic. And, the impact of the holidays remains to be seen.
Residents should continue to follow public health measures, like wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, to keep themselves, their loved ones and their communities safe.
The Natchitoches Police Department is currently accepting applications for its upcoming Reserve Officer Training Academy. We will accept applications from now through February 5, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
The Academy will begin on February 15, 2021 and will last approximately 9 weeks. Classes will be held Monday through Thursday beginning each night at 6:00 p.m. at the Natchitoches Police Department Training Center. If accepted, cadets in the academy will undergo training in areas such as search and seizure, building clearing, traffic stops, firearms and defensive tactics.
If you are interested in applying you can pick up an application at The Natchitoches Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division located at 416 Shady Lane or contact Reserve Commander, Lieutenant Jeff Townson at (318) 357-3852. Applications can be obtained Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Applicants must have a high school diploma, be at least 18 years of age and pass a background check. This is a great opportunity for citizens to serve their community in a positive manner.
It’s a sign…that Hobby Lobby is getting closer to its projected opening date in mid-March. The location will bring 35-50 jobs paying $17 per hour (FT) and $11 per hour (PT) to the community.
Tomorrow afternoon Congress will meet in joint session to vote on certifying the electoral votes for President of the United States. I want the citizens of District 22 to know that I share your concerns about the integrity of the election and have urged our congressional delegation to object to the certification of the electoral votes until we can be assured that the election was fair and that every vote was counted. If we lose faith in the integrity of our election process, then we are in danger of losing our great Republic itself.
Join me in praying this evening that the resolve of those voting on our behalf will be strengthened, and that our voices will be heard loud and clear in the hallowed halls of the U.S. Capitol. And let us not forget the eloquent warning of President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed down for them to do the same”
An Open Letter to the Louisiana Congressional Delegation By Royal Alexander/Opinion
Dear Louisiana Congressional Delegation:
I respectfully request that you object in the joint session on Jan. 6th.
Whether the election outcome is altered as a result is not the point. The point is that millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Louisianans believe as an article of faith that this election has been stolen and the outcome, therefore, is illegitimate. The theft that has occurred, particularly in the disputed battleground states, is both alarming and unacceptable in a free society like ours.
In addition to the large, inexplicable flips in online vote counts, the massive unverified mail-in ballots and the magical appearance of “midnight” ballots, a witness at a hearing this week hacked into a voting machine live, in real time, during a hearing on voter fraud.
The fact that a fearful and impotent U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear this case on its merits makes even more important the exercise of your constitutional prerogative, duty, and responsibility. The Framers, in Article II, clearly gave the power to determine electors to state legislatures and that express constitutional power simply cannot be squared with the non-legislative election activities in many of these states. We simply cannot allow the sacred vote—the constitutional right that preserves and protects all the others—and the most powerful tool we possess to choose the kind of country we will live in—to be degraded or stolen. Our republic cannot last if Americans become convinced their vote no longer counts and that they truly have no voice. The core constitutional principle of our “government by consent of the governed” is mortally threatened. If this is not challenged now, political corruption of this kind will only become more widespread and more sophisticated.
Please object. I realize that you will be harshly maligned by the often dishonest national “news” media and perhaps by the Republican Senate Caucus as well. However, you will be beloved by many in this state. And, your actions regarding this constitutionally and statutorily created remedy—designed for these very circumstances—will be viewed as a profile in courage. To remain silent, however, could be interpreted to suggest a tacit endorsement of the organized corruption of Nov. 3rd.
I note that those now calling for the country to “move on” from the election certainly never did so in 2016. Not only did the losing 2016 presidential candidate never stop attacking others after her loss but the winning candidate was never given a fair opportunity to govern, facing as he did a coup attempt to remove him—a duly elected president, a completely false three-year Russia collusion hoax investigation, and an impeachment effort with no legal or constitutional basis, to name only three.
Please remember that dozens, if not hundreds, of brave individuals came forward to describe the fraudulent activities they witnessed. To ignore them is inexcusable. At the very least, Congress has a duty to hear and consider the information brought forth by our fellow citizens. These witnesses, at a significant personal cost to themselves, certainly believe their actions were necessary to save the country. The least we should hope for is that our elected officials demonstrate the same resolve. Facts don’t lose their stubborn durability because they are ignored. The truth doesn’t lose its intrinsic value because it is rejected, suppressed, or denied.
Thank you for considering my request.
The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Natchitoches Parish Journal. If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the NPJ, please send it to NPJNatLa@gmail.com.
Marion had always surrounded herself with animals. “I’ve loved animals since I was in the womb,” Marion proclaimed. “It is so embedded in me.” When Marion’s parents brought her home from the hospital, she joked that if their marmalade cat named Toby had not approved of her, she would have been sent back to the hospital without a second thought. One of her earliest memories was riding in the mountains in the saddle with her father. Marion’s parents spent a lot of time in the mountains in California. There, she learned a deep respect and love for nature.
Marion’s parents often brought home pets. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, Marion’s father worked as an electrical engineer. Even with the advanced position, Marion’s family struggled financially. To make extra money, Marion’s father built radios to sell. Most people struggled to afford food, much less a radio, and sales were sporadic. Potential customers wanted the radios but had no expendable income. Marion’s father often traded the radios for other goods. Many times, Marion’s father traded a radio for a dog. Providing food for his family became increasingly difficult with each trade. “Now, the radios didn’t eat,” Marion recalled, “but the dogs did, which was not the best business thing in the world.” At one point, Marion remembered that they wound up with about twenty dogs.
Marion’s love of animals inspired her to become a U.S. Forest Ranger. Her mission was to devote her life to wildlife preservation. However, those dreams were dashed early on when she learned that women were not allowed to be forest rangers. At that time, men and women had clearly defined gender roles. Marion had no choice but to select another career path.
Following high school graduation in 1939, Marion entered a career field which was open to both men and women. Unfortunately for her, it was not in the field of wildlife preservation, her dream profession. However, her successful career afforded her the ability to help with wildlife preservation in other ways. For over fifty years, Marion worked with the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens and is still on the board of trustees. She once pointed out in an interview that “I’ve even got my own key to the Los Angeles Zoo.” Marion usually visits the zoo before it is open to the public. She has spent so much time at the zoo that many of the animals recognize her, approach her, and go for walks with her. Marion and many of the animals have bonded over the years.
On November 9, 2010, Marion got her childhood wish. The U.S. Forest Service proclaimed her an honorary forest ranger during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. During the ceremony, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell apologized to Marion; “I am sorry you couldn’t join us before…You would have made marvelous contributions to our agency and to the cause of conservation across the United States.” “Your passion for animals, for nature, for wildlife, perfectly suits you to our profession.” Marion responded, “Whether I’ve been a legitimate forest ranger or not, I’ve been working for the cause for the last 89 years, and I will continue to work for it as much as I can. In my heart I’ve been a forest ranger all of my life. Now I’m official. I know this is an honorary position, but it’s also one where I can use a voice to try to protect the remaining beautiful parts of this gorgeous world we live on.” Marion stressed the importance of protecting natural habitats for wildlife. “Wilderness is getting harder and harder to find these days on our beautiful planet, and we’re abusing our planet to the point of almost no return. Once you pave it over, it never comes back.”
As she hugged a Smokey Bear teddy bear and proudly wore her ranger hat and badge, she said, “I cannot thank you enough. As excited as I am today, as grateful as I am – I know two people who would be over the moon – my mom and dad.” At the conclusion of her speech, Marion told the crowd of onlookers, “I’m going to a wonderful celebration for Tina Fey this evening, and it’s a formal affair. Do you think it would be alright if I wore my hat?” The onlookers laughed and applauded.
Marion continues to work at her mission. Her professional career has enabled her to better help with wildlife preservation than if she had become a U.S. Forest Ranger all those years ago. Marion’s career began with a single spoken word in a live radio commercial. The word she had to say was “Parkay.” She was worried enough that she would make a mistake that she had the word written down in front of her during the broadcast. The broadcast was a success and Marion’s career flourished soon thereafter. She began working in the television industry in the 1940s, when television was in its infancy, and has never stopped. She has worked on several memorable television shows such as “Petticoat Junction,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “The Love Boat,” “Mama’s Family,” “Empty Nest,” and many more. Marion holds the Guinness World Record for the “Longest TV career by an entertainer.” In addition to her television roles, Marion has also starred in many motion pictures, but she is probably most associated with her character, Rose, on the television series “The Golden Girls.” Marion, whose continuing lifelong mission is wildlife preservation, is the middle name of Betty White.
Sources: 1. Guiness World Records. “Longest Tv Career by an Entertainer (Female).” Accessed December 3, 2020. guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/107740-longest-tv-career-by-an-entertainer-female. 2. YouTube.com. “Betty White Interview – Part 1 of 5 Emmytvlegends.org.” Accessed December 3, 2020. 3. USDA.gov. “Forest Service makes actress Betty White honorary ranger.” Accessed December 3, 2020. fs.usda.gov/news/releases/forest-service-makes-actress-betty-white-honorary-ranger. 4. AARP.org. “Betty White: My Life at the Zoo.” Accessed December 3, 2020. aarp.org/entertainment/books/info-12-2011/betty-white-life-at-the-zoo-author-speaks.html. 5. YouTube.com. “Betty White Becomes Honorary Forest Ranger.” Accessed December 3, 2020. 6. The Province (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), November 19, 1989, p.7. 7. Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens. “Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.” Accessed January 1, 2021. lazoo.org/about/glaza/.
It has been nearly a month since the Northwestern State men’s basketball team has played a game inside Prather Coliseum.
After a 25-day absence from their arena, the Demons return home to face Incarnate Word at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in NSU’s Southland Conference home opener and the visiting Cardinals’ first SLC tilt.
“I think if the ball’s thrown up here in Natchitoches, you should be able to get motivated,” said 22nd-year head coach Mike McConathy, whose team has played six straight games away from Natchitoches since a 77-44 win against Champion Christian on Dec. 12, 2020. “We look forward to seeing our fans here. It’s nice to be in town, not get on a bus and do the things we did for many, many days. We’re happy to be playing basketball and encouraging people in town to come out and see us play.”
Wednesday’s game can be heard on 95.9FM and the Demon Sports Network. Free streaming audio and subscription video are available through http://www.NSUDemons.com.
Northwestern State (1-11, 0-1) concluded a six-game road trip with a 99-93 overtime loss at Houston Baptist this past Saturday. Despite the team result, the Demons witnessed the continued improvement of senior Larry Owens, who built on a strong finish to NSU’s five-game-in-six-days pre-Christmas trek with the best offensive game of his career.
Owens hit 8 of 10 shots from the field and connected on all eight of his free throws against HBU, finishing with a career-high 24 points. In his past three games, Owens has averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, upping his season averages to 5.5 and 3.4, respectively.
“One simple word, confidence,” McConathy said about Owens’ surge, which began with a 10-point outing at No. 1 Gonzaga on Dec. 22. “Just unbelievable confidence in his play. The beautiful thing to me is he moved it from before Christmas to now. The other night, one of the highlights was a pass from Jamaure Gregg to Larry Owens. That’s teamwork, and we have to have it.”
UIW (3-4, 0-0) played three games from Dec. 29-Jan. 1 after not playing since Dec. 5. The Cardinals defeated McMurry twice after dropping the first game in that span to then-No. 13 Texas Tech.
UIW features the Southland Conference’s leading scorer in sophomore guard Keaston Willis, who averages 21 points per game. It won’t be only Willis, however, who will put pressure on the Demon defense.
“It’s a tough matchup,” McConathy said. “They play four guards around one post guy, which makes a lot of difference in guarding people. That’s the thing about league play a lot of people don’t understand.”
Compared to the Demons’ non-conference schedule, which included three games against ranked teams and three against Power Five conference competition, the Southland Conference season should bring about more common matchups, especially for NSU’s guards.
“The size of the guards you face is more like that of your team,” McConathy said. “You’re not facing 6-4 guards like (Gonzaga’s) Jalen Suggs. That makes for a tough matchup for CJ (Jones) or Brian (White).
“We need those guys. They give us a two-headed monster, because they’re two different types of guards. Both have the capability to lead the team. CJ had a huge game in the (Southland) tournament last year against (Texas A&M-) Corpus Christi. Brian has had some big moments in big games for us.”
If you’re of the opinion Tennessee is a fun place to visit and would be a beautiful spot to live, take a number and get in line. U-Haul® customers are well ahead of you.
The Volunteer State posted the largest net gain of U-Haul® trucks crossing its borders in 2020, making it the No. 1 U-Haul growth state for the first time.
Growth states are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state in a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-way U-Haul truck customer transactions that occur annually.
Tennessee’s influx of do-it-yourself movers during a turbulent year marked by the coronavirus pandemic means that a state other than Florida and Texas tops the growth rankings for the first time since 2015, when North Carolina led the way.
U-Haul customers made Texas and Florida their top two destinations from 2016-19. Texas had the largest net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks for three consecutive years before Florida flipped the order and became No. 1 last year. Texas is second for growth, and Florida third, for 2020.
Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Georgia round out the top 10 states for 2020 growth as self-movers continue to migrate to the Southeast, as well as markets in the Southwest, Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions.
California ranks last by a wide margin, supplanting Illinois as the state with the greatest net loss of U-Haul trucks. California has ranked 48th or lower since 2016. Illinois has been 49th or 50th since 2015, when U-Haul began ranking states based on annual net gain.
“I’m seeing a lot of people from California move (to Tennessee) because they’re attracted to our lifestyle,” noted Jeff Porter, U-Haul Company of Nashville president. “Tennessee has no income tax and is very business-friendly. There are plenty of jobs. People and companies are taking note. Places like Nashville, Murfreesboro and Clarksville are attracting tons of new residents. Nashville is ever-growing, and even the era of COVID-19 isn’t slowing that. We were seeing movement before the virus hit, but I think the situation has pushed a lot more people away from the West Coast to our state.”
East and Central Tennessee are enjoying the biggest gains in U-Haul arrivals. The top growth cities include Knoxville, the Tri-Cities, Cookeville, Clarksville, Cleveland, Murfreesboro and Maryville.
Arrivals of one-way U-Haul trucks into Tennessee jumped 12% while departures rose only 9% over 2019, with that disparity catapulting it up the charts. Arrivals accounted for 50.6% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Tennessee, which ranked No. 12 among growth states a year ago.
“The best thing about Tennessee is the southern hospitality. People are decent to one another,” said Clay McQuade, U-Haul Company of Knoxville president. “I believe the draw to Tennessee is the rural atmosphere. The government is still not so oppressive on zoning and regulation, so people are able to build, and cities are friendly to business. Tourism is a big draw in this region, mostly for the Great Smoky Mountains. There’s plenty to do outdoors.
“U-Haul is growing right alongside the state. We just added adaptive reuse conversions of closed Kmart® stores for new facilities in Kingsport and Bristol, and are currently building a ground-up store in Knoxville to meet customer demand for our products and services.”
While U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the Company’s growth data is an effective gauge of how well cities and states are attracting and maintaining residents.
U-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 22,000 U-Haul truck- and trailer-sharing locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry.
* On charts (see below) previous year’s rankings in parentheses. Washington, D.C. is its own U-Haul market and is listed among growth states for migration trends purposes. Hawaii is not included since state-to-state truck transactions are inapplicable.
A beginning ceramics class, “Playing in the Mud,” will be offered through Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education starting Thursday, Jan. 14. The class will be offered on Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. through Feb. 18 in Room 113 of the Fine Arts Annex. The fee is $125 plus a $20 material fee paid directly to the instructor on the first night of class. Enrollment to the class is limited.
This course is an introduction to working with clay. The student will learn hand-building and sculptural techniques, as well as work on the potter’s wheel. There will also be room for intermediate and advanced students to take the class who want to use the facilities during the class time.
NATCHITOCHES: Laney A. Wright June 20, 1951 – December 31, 2020 Service: Friday, January 8 at 1 pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cloutierville
Bonnie Edwards Rachal December 28, 2020 Service: Wednesday, January 6 at 11 am at New Life Evangelism Center
Alice Oliver December 24, 2020 Arrangements TBA
McTavish Raymond June 22, 1972 – December 21, 2020 Arrangements TBA
WINN: Daniel “Danny” Earl Boyett May 18, 1957 – December 29, 2020 Arrangements TBA
Janet Brookins August 26, 1957 – December 25, 2020 Arrangements TBA
RED RIVER: Glennie “Glenola” Stone August 24, 1952 – January 02, 2021 Service: Wednesday, January 6 at 12 pm at Hickory Grove Cemetery
