SWEPCO leaders, the Louisiana National Guard and Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell met with local leaders, community members, and Department Supervisors. Some of these included Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright, Northwestern State University President Dr. Chris Maggio, Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr., and District 31 State Senator Louie Bernard.

Mutual assistance between power companies like AEP, SWEPCO, and Entergy has been instrumental in the recovery efforts following Hurricane Laura’s path of destruction through Louisiana. It also took cooperation with the Parish and City governments and NSU, who housed hundreds of linemen on its campus. Officials held four discussions about transmissions, distribution, communications, and external affairs.

“I pray that we don’t ever have another tragedy like this one,” said Campbell. “Thank God they [SWEPCO] bought Valley Electric, a great little rural electric co-op formed in the 40s. They got where they were broke. They didn’t have any money. Had this [Hurricane Laura] happened during Valley Electric it would have been a lot worse… SWEPCO is a strong national company with a lot of resources. I hate the storm but I’m glad SWEPCO owned Valley Electric territory when this storm happened.”

https://www.facebook.com/NPJNatLa/videos/328917675014349

By Edwin Crayton/Opinion

As you probably know, because of the Coronavirus, most organizations that serve the public are trying creative alternatives to the conventional meeting in order to keep the public in the loop. Some hold video conferences. Others give the public call in numbers and allow them to attend meetings by phone. At the very least, they put up a notice on their usual meeting location site telling whether they are meeting or not and offer further instructions on how to do business with them, or list contact numbers. As far as I could determine, for their last quarterly meeting, the Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation (NCIF) did none of the above. Yet, you would expect them to do at least the minimum, as they have been given the responsibility of distributing 1.8 million in funds designated for the citizens of Natchitoches in the form of grants and scholarships. But recently, when I tried to find out whether and where they were having their July quarterly meeting, it was a real struggle and expedition to get any kind of response from NCIF. The simple truth is, when it comes to accessing meetings, I have found it has kind of always been this way. Even before Covid 19 hit town.

Here is specifically what I mean. In June, I began to try to find out if there was going to be a July meeting and if so, where it would be held. It is supposed to be advertised in the paper two weeks in advance. For a month I searched the local paper but there was nothing in it about any meeting. So I mailed a letter to the secretary, Mildred Joseph asking if the foundation was meeting and if so when and where. I got no response. At a store, I saw Board Member Brenda Milner and asked where the meeting would be held. She said she did not know anything. Another day, I saw NCIF Treasurer Oswald Taylor and put the question to him. He said there would be no meeting and vaguely shared that he did not want to do an online meeting. But even if they were not going to meet shouldn’t a notice have been put out saying so? Their bylaws require NCIF to notify the public about quarterly meetings in advance. So shouldn’t notices about meeting cancellations be part of that?

Then, something happened that I believe serves as the ideal illustration of what is wrong. I found the Natchitoches Community Improvement website online. I went on the homepage it had a heading about meetings alright, but they were all for 2019 only. Yes, 2019. No listings at all for 2020. Check out the visual of screen shot accompanying this article, (sorry the typeface is very light and hard to read). The dateline in the corner of the computer screen reads “9/8, 2020”). But wait, not only that, the site did not even tell where the meetings were to be held. It just listed date and month of each meeting and again, it was for last year. In other words, if you went on their site this year to find a meeting date for this year, you got only meeting days, with no locations for last year. And even then, it said at the end, TBD (to be determined). Implications are that even last year, they did not post the locations of the meetings. Wow. Hey, it’s simple: If you are not having public meetings, tell the public.

How then can the public attend public meetings when they cannot find out where they are being held? I showed the screen shot to a few random citizens. I asked what their impressions would be if they logged on and saw it. One woman said, “Doesn’t sound like they want you to attend”. A young man then pointed to the “TBD” noting that even last year, they never posted locations. A second woman mentioned it looked like they need to update their website and shared it would not give her confidence in them.

Perhaps, if NCIF made it easier for the public to attend meetings, they would not be in a position where $19,500 is still unaccounted for. I am referring to a 2014 by an auditor which reported $19,500 in money managed by NCIF as being unaccounted for. To this day, the foundation has not documented or explained what happened to that money. NCIF is a foundation that was court ordered by a District Judge to distribute money awarded in a settlement after Tennessee Gas spilled pcbs in Sibley Lake in the late 1990s. The funds are to be given to citizens in Natchitoches in the form of grants and scholarships in the areas of education, recreation, housing and economic development. The foundation has 1.8 million in money designated for the public. It has been involved in both controversy and lawsuits. How they manage meetings and advertise or rather, do not advertise them maybe gives you a clue as to why.

The Natchitoches Community Improvement Foundation board members are: Oswald Taylor, Mildred Joseph, Gwen Antee Hardison-Davis, Shaniqua Hoover, Brenda Milner, Gwendolyn Williams, Edwin Deon Powe, Renee Porter, DeMarquis Hamilton (the following are sitting on the board although according to NCIF bylaws, their term limits are up: Leo Walker, Diane Blake Jones).

Visit them at: http://natchitochescommunityimprovementfoundation.org/grants

Virtual Application Process Rolling Out in Phases, Starting September 10th

BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) received approval on Sept. 8 to begin virtual Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) operations in sixteen parishes to provide additional food aid to families impacted by Hurricane Laura. The program will run in phases, with the first phase beginning Thursday, Sept. 10.

DSNAP, formerly called Disaster Food Stamps, provides food assistance to eligible households who do not receive regular SNAP benefits and who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. The state must request that the federal government initiate DSNAP, but can only make the request after the president activates the Stafford Act and approves the parish for Individual Assistance (IA). Each IA-approved parish must also request DSNAP before the benefits can be provided to eligible residents of that parish.

The 16 parishes that have been approved for IA and have requested DSNAP are Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Vermilion, Vernon and Winn.

DSNAP will operate in the approved parishes in two phases, with Phase 1 beginning Sept. 10 for nine parishes and Phase 2 beginning Sept. 17 for seven parishes. If additional parishes are approved for IA and request DSNAP, DCFS will add a third phase of DSNAP beginning Sept. 23. For a complete schedule, see below.

SNAP recipients are not eligible for DSNAP and should not apply. Information about SNAP benefits changes related to Hurricane Laura, including replacement benefits for food lost due to power outages, can be found at http://www.dcfs.la.gov/SNAPLaura.

What Applicants Need to Know

Due to concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, DSNAP applications will be handled by phone, and benefits cards will be mailed or sent through FedEx to approved applicants.

Residents in the approved parishes for each phase will be assigned a day, based on the first letter of their last name, to call the LAHelpU Customer Service Center to apply for DSNAP. On their designated day, residents will call 1-888-LA-HELP-U (1-888-524-3578), between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Translation services are available for individuals whose primary language is not English.

DCFS is anticipating significant interest in the DSNAP program. Three steps residents can take before calling to apply that will help reduce call wait times are:

Register online first. Step-by-step instructions for this can be found at http://www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.
Download the LA Wallet mobile app for identity and residency verification. Information on the app, including download links, can be found at LAWallet.com.
Gather all information needed for the application. A list of what is needed can be found in the FAQs at http://www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.

When residents call to apply, a worker will verify the applicant’s identity and residency, and obtain information about their income, resources and disaster-related expenses. Applicants will be told on the phone immediately after completing their application whether they have been approved to receive DSNAP and, if so, the amount of benefits they will receive. Applicants also will receive a letter by mail, confirming the eligibility decision made on their application.

Applicants may name an Authorized Representative (AR) to apply for DSNAP benefits on their behalf. The head of household must authorize the person to serve as AR on their behalf, and the worker will need to speak to the head of household to confirm that they agree for the AR to speak on their behalf.

Application Schedule

Phase 1: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion and Vernon Parishes

Application period opens on Thursday, Sept. 10, with residents calling to apply according to the following schedule:

Day 1 (Sept. 10) – Residents with last names beginning with A-C
Day 2 (Sept. 11) – D-G
Day 3 (Sept. 12) – H-L
Day 4 (Sept. 13) – M-R
Day 5 (Sept. 14) – S-Z
Day 6 & 7 (Sept. 15-16) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 1 parishes

Phase 2: Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Sabine and Winn Parishes

Application period opens on Thursday, Sept. 17, with residents calling to apply according to the following schedule:

Day 1 (Sept. 17) – Residents with last names beginning with A-C
Day 2 (Sept. 18) – D-G
Day 3 (Sept. 19) – H-L
Day 4 (Sept. 20) – M-R
Day 5 (Sept. 21) – S-Z
Days 6 & 7 (Sept. 22-23) – Open for all (letters A-Z) in the Phase 2 parishes

Additional information about DSNAP can be found by texting LADSNAP to 898-211 or at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.

The Red Cross Disaster Relief Team wants to meet the public impacted by Hurricane Laura according to Natchitoches Parish Asst. Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Mary Jones.

TODAY – The Red Cross will be feeding approximately 500 hot meals Thursday, Sept. 10 at 5 pm at St. John the Baptist Caholic Church Parking Lot in Cloutierville.

The address is 423 Hwy 495, Cloutierville, La.

Everyone is invited to meet the Red Cross.

Deputies will also bring bagged ice for distribution.

New Orleans − Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson announced today that considering the state of emergency declared statewide by Governor John Bel Edwards as a result of then-Tropical Storm Laura on August 21, 2020 in Executive Proclamation Number 108 JBE 2020 and the catastrophic damage that Hurricane Laura has caused in the state, the Louisiana Supreme Court has issued an emergency Order suspending deadlines in criminal matters in 21 parishes: Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, and Winn.

The Order reads as follows:

Emergency suspension of time limitations. All time periods, limitations, and delays pertaining to the initiation, continuation, prosecution, defense, appeal, and post-conviction relief of any prosecution of any state or municipal criminal, juvenile, wildlife, or traffic matter within the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Bienville, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Union, Vermilion, Vernon and Winn are hereby suspended for a period of 30 days commencing from August 21, 2020.

Prior Order. Part 2 of the Order of this Court dated September 2, 2020 suspending time limitations in Calcasieu Parish for ninety (90) days commencing on September 2, 2020 is hereby rescinded in accordance with Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 955D and replaced with the time limitation specified above. All other provisions of the September 2, 2020 Order remain in effect.

For more information visit lasc.org or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at (504) 310-2590.

 

The Service League of Natchitoches partnered with several local businesses and entities to provide meals to local Linemen, City of Natchitoches workers, Parish workers and the Water Works District 2 workers. On Friday, Sept. 4 these organizations partnered with NSU to fix barbecue plate lunches to deliver to local linemen working in our area to restore power. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Merci Beaucoup so graciously fixed pans of Chicken Fettuccine, Green Beans, Rolls and dessert to provide to the City of Natchitoches workers, Parish workers and Water Works District 2 workers.

The following businesses joined forces with the Service League of Natchitoches to make this event a success: Exchange Bank and Trust, Ronnie’s Collision, S&S Industrial Supply, Cunningham Insurance Agency, Wurster Oil, Platinum Driving School, Friends of Terri Ann Callia, Lions Club of Natchitoches, Eric’s Auto Paint and Collision, Kindred at Home, Merci Beaucoup Restaurant, Engage Federal Credit Union, Lil Rascals Learning Center, Trinity Integrated Health and Wellness Center and International Paper-Red River Mill. We are glad we were able to show appreciation to the individuals who have been working tirelessly to get our great city operating once again!

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Annual Student Athlete Scholarship Awarded for Outstanding Contribution to Northwestern Community

Lott Oil Company is excited to announce Waylon Washington as the 2020 Recipient of the annual Luther W. Lott Sr. Memorial Scholarship. The Annual Luther W. Lott Sr. Memorial Scholarship is a four-year scholarship established by the Lott family for a full-time NSU student who is an exemplary member of the Northwestern State University Community and a dependent of a Lott Oil Employee. Waylon’s father, Martin Washington, is a six-year employee of Lott Oil’s Natchitoches facility.

A Junior Communications major and member of the Demon Football Team, Waylon is a transfer from Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota where he received multiple academic and athletic awards including Dean’s List in 2018 and All-Conference Defensive Back in 2019. He was a member of the 2019-20 Elite Team selected by the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. According to the Red River Parish Journal, the MCAC conference stated, “The Elite Team award recognizes student-athletes who combined outstanding academic and athletic performance through the 2019-20 season. Honorees must have earned MCAC All-Academic as well as All-Division, All-Conference, All-Region and/or All-American honors. There were a total of 117 athletes who earned this prestigious award.”

A graduate of Red River High School in Coushatta, Waylon is actively involved in the Natchitoches community as a volunteer with Feed My Starving Children and Chris Waddell Day.

The Luther W. Lott Sr. Memorial Scholarship is a four-year scholarship established by the Lott family for a full-time NSU student who is the dependent of a Lott Oil employee. Waylon’s father, Martin Washington, is a six-year employee of Lott Oil’s Natchitoches facility.

About Lott Oil

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Natchitoches, Louisiana, Lott Oil is a regional leader in fuels, lubricants, and related products and services for industrial, commercial fleet, automotive, and retail customers throughout Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. Winner of the Chevron Regal Award and the Exxon Mobil Circle of Excellence Award, Lott Oil is a trusted leader in the national oil and gas industry.

For information on supporting student scholarships through the NSU Foundation call the Foundation at 318.357.4414.

Multi-Parish Burn Ban Continues

Baton Rouge, La. (September 9, 2020) – Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., said a multi-parish burn ban issued after Hurricane Laura remains in effect.

“I’d like to remind everyone that a burn ban is still in place. Between dry conditions, areas that are still struggling to get water systems up and running again and rural fire departments in which resources are already stretched, it is important that citizens abide by the burn ban restrictions,” said Strain. “What we do not need are people burning piles of debris and those fires getting out of control with limited resources to put out those fires.”

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is currently working with the timber industry to establish damage assessments post Hurricane Laura. Timber is the largest commodity in the state valued at approximately $3.5 billion.

At the end of August, Strain and State Fire Marshal H. Butch Browning issued a cease and desists order for all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602, for the following parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Union, Vernon and Winn.

The ban does not apply to prescribed burns by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), by those trained and certified by the LDAF, or by those who conduct prescribed burning as a “generally accepted agriculture practice” as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law (R.S. 3:3601 et seq.).

Natchitoches, LA — Cane River Creole National Historical Park is pleased to announce that Oakland Plantation will reopen to the public on Thursday, Sept. 10, following a two-week closure due to Hurricane Laura.

Over the past week, park staff and members of the National Park Service Arborist Incident Response team have worked to remove a significant number of downed and hazard trees throughout the plantation grounds. Staff have been working tirelessly to clean and stabilize the park after Hurricane Laura caused minimal to moderate damage on Thursday, Aug. 27.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be able to reopen Oakland Plantation so quickly, largely in part to the outside assistance we received from our neighboring national park units and specialized arborist team. Power was restored to both plantations on Friday, which allowed clean-up efforts to move quicker than anticipated,” said Cane River Creole National Historical Park Superintendent Carrie Mardorf. “However, as Oakland reopens, Magnolia Plantation will remain closed due to ongoing hurricane clean-up efforts.”

Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Cane River Creole National Historical Park is also opening the visitor restrooms and an outdoor visitor services tent and bookstore at Oakland Plantation. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 10, the park will offer new access to the following buildings at Oakland, with limited occupancy.

Visitor Restrooms at the Oakland Plantation Entrance Pavilion
Outdoor Visitor Services Tent at Oakland Store with Cooperating Association Bookstore
Oakland Plantation Cook’s Cabin
In addition, the following spaces continue to be available:

Oakland Plantation Grounds
Oakland Trails
Oakland Visitor Parking Lot
Oakland Plantation Overseer’s House
Oakland Plantation North Slave/Tenant Cabin
With public health and safety in mind, the following facilities remain closed at this time:

Oakland Plantation Main House
Oakland Plantation Store
Other sites at Cane River Creole National Historical Park remain closed or have limited access due to Hurricane Laura recovery:

Magnolia Plantation, closed until further notice as work continues to remove downed trees and hazardous limbs from the park grounds.
Park Headquarters and Curation Facility, open by appointment only.
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Cane River Creole NHP, our operational approach continues to be centered on examining each facility function and service to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and are regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public areas and workspaces are safe and clean.

A safe and enjoyable park experience begins at home. The NPS encourages visitors to plan their visit by checking the park’s website and social media for current conditions and travel tips. The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We ask the public to be our partner in recreating responsibly, by following CDC and state and local guidance, social distancing, and wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained.

The Historic District Business Association will hold its 9th Annual “Crows on the Cane” Scarecrow Contest, on Oct. 9. This is a great opportunity to showcase your creativity while also decorating the downtown area as we welcome the fall season! Entry forms are due by October 8th to the Natchitoches Main Street Office (781 Front Street/ctucker@natchitochesla.gov).

Any businesses, organizations, non-profits, schools, or individuals are welcome to participate in the scarecrow contest. All entries will be displayed in the Historic District for judging (Businesses may display in front of their store or in their store windows). We encourage all entries to remain on display throughout the month of October. Cash prizes will be awarded.

Check-in will be at the Natchitoches Main Street Office (781 Front Street) on Oct. 9 from 8-10 AM.

For more information, contact the Main Street Office at 318.357.3822

In case you missed Part I.

We have now seen the national conventions of both major American political parties. Each presented their plans and platforms for governing. There should be no confusion about any of this because they have each written and stated them clearly and emphatically. What did we learn about their respective policies and agendas? The differences are stunning.

Let’s begin this week with the Biden-Harris agenda. It embraces virtually all of the socialist platform advanced by Bernie Sanders.

This includes the effort to destroy suburban neighborhoods, posing a threat to roughly two thirds of the American people including a substantial number of Black, Latino and Asian Americans who live in suburbs across America. How so? Biden-Harris seeks to advance a social engineering scheme—entitled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing—that would result in a federal takeover of local zoning laws. The Biden-Harris plan is to, regardless of local preferences and local control, mandate that suburban neighborhoods with single-family homes and minimum lot sizes build high-density affordable housing right in the middle of these neighborhoods.

Biden-Harris also means vigorous support for abortion generally but also specifically allowing our taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions up to and through the ninth month of pregnancy; open borders and free federal benefits, including Covid relief payments, to those in the country illegally; Biden’s commitment to Beto O’Rourke that he would lead the gun control effort, including compulsory confiscation of firearms, in direct violation of the 2nd Amendment; Support for defunding the police while praising weak, leftist Democratic mayors who coddle, and prosecutors who won’t prosecute, criminals and their violence and destruction.

Biden-Harris means support of the national teachers’ unions that, among many other things, completely oppose charter schools and school choice, which would unquestionably free millions of American schoolchildren from failing schools. Some teachers’ unions have also threatened that they won’t return to school until the police are defunded and will no longer allow for Resource Police Officers on campus when they do return. Regarding unions, there would also be a major effort to repeal right-to-work laws and advance other efforts such as “card check,” a process that deceptively leads employees to vote to organize when they believe they are only agreeing to a secret ballot election.

More disturbing is that this agenda is based upon political identity and “critical race theory.” Critical race theory has as its foundation the belief that every societal flaw is based upon sexism, racism or some other form of prejudice or “systemic bias”—and so the interactions and relationships of our citizens must be closely monitored for conformity with ethnic and gender categories. All of this, of course, is to say nothing of the forced redistribution of wealth (our taxes), a massive dose of new taxes and regulation, government-run health care, elimination of the oil and gas industry and feverish devotion to the false religion of climate change.

Next week we will review the Trump-Pence agenda.

PART TWO
https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2020/09/09/part-ii-the-case-for-the-presidency-has-been-made/

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.

NATCHITOCHES:
Derrick Ray Amoriko
June 25, 1969 – August 26, 2020
Service: Saturday, September 12 at 2 pm at Coldwater Baptist Church in the Hagewood community

SABINE:
Martha Youngblood
April 9, 1941 – September 4, 2020
Service: Thursday, September 10 at 11 am at Ebenezer Baptist Church

WINN:
Ronnie Lynn Walker
January 18, 1972 – September 09, 2020
Service: Tuesday, September 15 at 3 pm at Hurricane Grove Baptist Church, located at 337 Hurricane Grove Rd. in Sikes

Hazel Ruth Chapman
January 18, 1933 – September 8, 2020
Service: Friday, Sept. 11 at 2 pm at the Jena Cemetery

Frances Marlene Milner
August 30, 1933 – September 07, 2020
Private Service will be held due to Covid 19

Roseanna Gorham
April 24, 1935 – September 08, 2020
Service: Thursday, September 10 at 10 am at Garden of Memories

Ricky Richard Ferguson
August 21, 1954 – August 27, 2020
Service held Aug. 30

Elinor Anne Derr
July 24, 1925 – August 28, 2020
Service: Saturday, September 12 at 10 am at the Southern Funeral Home Chapel in Winnfield

Rhonda Moore
August 27, 2020
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER:
Timothy John Lewandowski
May 06, 1952 – September 05, 2020
Service: Friday, September 11 at 10 am at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church, located at 7738 Barksdale Blvd. in Bossier City

Alvin Martin
June 08, 1948 – September 05, 2020
Service: Thursday, September 10 at 6 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

Mark “Thro Down” Owen Carden
September 27, 1962 – September 07, 2020
Service: Friday, September 11 at 5 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

The Northwestern State University Foundation created a Hurricane Laura Relief Fund to help NSU students, faculty and staff with financial assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, which struck central Louisiana as a Category 2 storm Aug. 27.

“Similar to our efforts to help members of the NSU family during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSU Foundation created this relief fund to help those in the NSU community who have been directly impacted by Hurricane Laura and have demonstrable financial insecurity,” said Director of Development Jill Bankston.

Alumni, supporters, businesses and individuals are invited to donate to the fund through the NSU Foundation website at https://www.northwesternstatealumni.com/hurricane-fund. Some corporations are providing grants for hurricane assistance, and the NSU Foundation is preparing applications for grant funds as well.

An online application form has been established an APPLICATION HERE. Applicants should include details, receipts and the amount of the request of expenses, damages and loss of income related to Hurricane Laura.

The NSU Foundation has established a committee to research submitted requests, determine an appropriate amount to be distributed to the applicant and expedite funds in a time-sensitive manner to best serve the people of Northwestern State.

The NSU Foundation is a non-profit organization with a primary mission of supporting Northwestern State University and its constituents with continued success.

By Brad Dison

The Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna, Austria, houses a large collection of artifacts spanning five centuries of Austrian military affairs. The collection consists of weapons, tanks, airplanes, vehicles, as well as a plethora of other war-related items. In the Sarajevo display of the Franz Joseph Hall in the museum sits an antique 1911 Gräf & Stift convertible automobile which still displays its original license plate; AIII118. If you look closer, you will spot evidence of something sinister.

On June 28, 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph sent his son, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, to Sarajevo to observe military maneuvers. Well-wishers waited to greet the Archduke and Duchess. Members of a terrorist group also waited.

In 1901, officers in the Army of the Kingdom of Serbia formed a secret military society known as Unification or Death, more commonly known as the Black Hand. Their singular goal was the unification of Serb-inhabited territories by training guerrilla-type fighters in the art of sabotage and assassination. By 1914, the Black Hand had hundreds of members who operated in small cells of three to six members. Supervisors each handled a small group of cells. Secrecy was of the utmost importance, and members of a cell rarely knew anything about the activities of other cells. Cell members went about their daily lives until their supervisor gave them a mission.

In the Spring of 1914, a six-member cell comprised of Vaso Čubrilović, Cvjetko Popović, Gavrilo Princip, Trifko Grabež, Nedeljko Čabrinović, and Muhamed Mehmedbašić, received the order to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand during his trip to Sarajevo. The Black Hand trained the six cell members and furnished them with six bombs, five Browning FN Model 1910 automatic pistols with .380 ammunition, an undisclosed amount of money, suicide pills, and maps. The members of the cell planned and trained for the Archduke’s and Duchess’s upcoming visit.

On Sunday morning, June 18, 1914, Franz Ferdinand, his wife, and several members of the royal entourage arrived at Sarajevo by train, where a motorcade of six automobiles waited. Franz Ferdinand, his wife, and two other officials rode in the third car, a 1911 Gräf & Stift convertible automobile with license plate number AIII118. Within minutes of their arrival, the motorcade set off through Sarajevo on its pre-announced route toward the Town Hall.

The assassins anxiously awaited their target. The Black Hand strategically placed each of the assassins at different points along the route as a failsafe of sorts. If one assassin failed, the next would step in. Mehmedbašić stood in front of the Mostar Café armed with a bomb. Čubrilović stood nearby with a pistol and another bomb. Čabrinović stood a short distance away on the opposite side of the street near the Milijacka River armed with a bomb.

The unsuspecting passengers in the motorcade passed Mehmedbašić and Čubrilović without incident. For some reason, both failed to act. At 10:10 a.m., the motorcade approached Čabrinović. He removed the safety from the bomb and threw it. His aim was good. The bomb hit the folded down convertible top of the Franz Ferdinand’s car, bounced off, landed under the next car in the motorcade, and exploded. Some contemporary newspaper accounts reported that “the Archduke saw the missile hurtling through the air and warded it off with his arm.” The bomb wounded some twenty people and left a small crater in the street. The other three assassins, Popović, Princip, and Grabež, heard the bomb blast and assumed Franz Ferdinand had been killed. They watched in shock as the remaining cars in the motorcade, including Franz Ferdinand’s car, passed them by at a high rate of speed toward the Town Hall.

Čabrinović swallowed his cyanide pill and jumped into the river, but his suicide attempt failed. The cyanide pill was weak and only induced vomiting. Due to a drought, the water level in the river was only a few inches deep. The crowd pulled him from the shallow river and gave him a severe beating before police took him into custody.

Franz Ferdinand was visibly shaken as he spoke at the reception at the Town Hall. During his speech, the Archduke said, “…as I see in them an expression of their joy at the failure of the attempt at assassination.” Franz Ferdinand and Sophie abandoned their planned schedule and decided to visit those injured in the bombing at the hospital. The drivers in the motorcade were confused about the route to take to the hospital, and drove along the same route they had taken from the train station to the Town Hall.

Undeterred by the unsuccessful first assassination attempt, Princip stood in front of a delicatessen near the Latin Bridge and waited for the Archduke to pass by on his return trip. The drivers of the first, second, and third cars in the motorcade, which included the Archduke’s car, made an incorrect right turn at the Latin Bridge. Governor Potiorek, who was riding in the car with Franz Ferdinand, told the driver to stop because he had made a wrong turn. The driver applied the brakes and stopped the car right beside Princip.

Princip would not fail this time. He pulled his .380 pistol, stepped onto the car’s running board, and fired into Franz Ferdinand and Sophie. One shot penetrated Franz Ferdinand’s jugular vein, and another struck Sophie in the abdomen. Princip attempted to commit suicide with the pistol but was seized by the crowd before he could pull the trigger. Sophie lost consciousness immediately, followed by Franz Ferdinand a couple of minutes later.

The driver sped the injured couple to the Governor’s residence for medical treatment. Sophie died before they reached the Governor’s residence and Franz Ferdinand died a few minutes after their arrival. June 28, 1914, the day of their assassination, was Franz Ferdinand’s and Sophie’s fourteenth weeding anniversary.

Most historians agree that Princip’s shots were the spark which ignited World War I, one of the deadliest conflicts in human history. This “war to end all wars” killed an estimated nine million combatants and thirteen million civilians, in addition to many millions more who died as a result of genocide and the related Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918.

If you visit the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in person or by virtual tour, you will see the macabre artifacts from the assassination including the pistol Princip used in the assassination, the clothing worn by Franz Ferdinand and Sophie, the cot on which the injured Archduke died, and the car in which they were assassinated. Some people have argued that the automobile’s license plate, AIII118, was prophetic. If you convert the letters and numbers of the license plate into a date format, the result is 11/11/18. The license plate on the car in which the Archduke was assassinated, the assassination which began the First World War, prophetically gave the date of the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the date on which the fighting ended in World War I.

Sources:
1. The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, Montana), June 28, 1914, p.39.
2. The Guardian (London, England), June 29, 1914, p.9.
3. The Daily News and Star (Lawton, Oklahoma), June 30, 1914, p.1.
4. “Heeresgeschichtliches Museum.” Accessed August 12, 2020. https://www.hgm.at/en/.

SWEPCO is asking most Central Louisiana customers who remain without power after 10 p.m. last night (Tuesday-09/08/20) to report their outage again.

For some customers in the Hicks area, especially along Hwy. 121 to Leander, repair work will continue into Wednesday evening. Customers in the Hicks area who don’t have power by Wednesday night should report their outage again at that time.

“Hicks is one of our hardest hit communities, and work continues through the extensive damage in that area,” said Drew Seidel, SWEPCO vice president of Distribution Region Operations.

“As we finish work on all the main circuits, we know there may still be individual customers without power,” Seidel said. “Reporting any remaining outages will help assure that we don’t miss anyone in this final stage of service restoration.”

To report an outage call 1-888-218-3919.

Some customers have damage to their weatherhead, which will need to be repaired by a qualified electrician before SWEPCO can safely reconnect power. Typically, this is the pipe rising from the meter box and other parts of the service entrance, which can be pulled away from the building or otherwise damaged by high winds and downed trees. These facilities are owned by the customer. After repairs are made, call SWEPCO to have service reconnected restored.

As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, crews were working to restore service to about 2,500 Central Louisiana customers, including some new outages that occurred today.

SWEPCO has restored power to almost 40,000, or about 94% of the 42,000 customers who lost power in Bienville, DeSoto, Grant, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Vernon and Winn parishes.

For all of SWEPCO, power has been restored to more than 133,000 customers, or 98%, of those without power after Hurricane Laura struck SWEPCO’s service area as a Category 2 storm on Thursday, Aug. 27.

 

By Royal Alexander/Opinion

PART ONE
https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2020/09/10/re-print-part-i-the-case-for-the-presidency-has-been-made/

We have now seen the national conventions of both major American political parties. Each presented their plans and platforms for governing. There should be no confusion about any of this because they have each written and stated their goals clearly and emphatically. What did we learn about their respective policies and agendas? The differences are stunning.
Last week we reviewed the Biden-Harris agenda. This week we review the Trump-Pence agenda.

In summary fashion, the Trump-Pence ticket, running on a strong prosperity agenda, includes a heavy focus on continued job creation which had exploded after the Trump Tax Cuts prior to the virus. The Trump Administration plans on creating 10 million new jobs in 10 months, creating 1 million new small businesses, cutting taxes to boost take-home pay, and keeping jobs in America. It also plans to continue enacting fair trade deals that protect American jobs and advance “Made in America” tax credits, expand Opportunity Zones, and continue its deregulatory agenda for energy independence. On the Covid front, the Trump Administration will continue pushing aggressively to develop a vaccine by the end of 2020, manufacture in the U.S. all critical medicines and supplies for healthcare workers, while also refilling stockpiles and preparing for future pandemics.
The Trump Administration also plans to continue addressing the China threat by bringing back 1 million manufacturing jobs back from China and d0ing so by providing tax credits for companies that bring back jobs from China; allow 100% expensing of deductions for essential industries like pharmaceuticals and robotics companies who bring their manufacturing back to the U.S., while also prohibiting federal contracts from being awarded to companies who outsource to China.

Regarding healthcare, the Administration will continue to fight to lower prescription drug prices and put patients and doctors back in charge of our healthcare system while also lowering healthcare insurance premiums and ending surprise billing. The health plan would also continue to cover all pre-existing conditions. It would further protect Social Security and Medicare, while also protecting our veterans and providing them quality healthcare and services based upon the individual veteran’s choice.

On the education front, the Trump Administration would provide school choice to every child in America and teach actual and accurate American history while emphasizing American Exceptionalism. The Administration’s governmental reform plan includes passing congressional term limits, ending bureaucratic government bullying of U.S. citizens and small businesses, continuing to expose the “swamp” and Washington, D.C.’s corrupt money trail, while seeking every method by which to delegate powers back to the states and the people.

The Administration’s law enforcement agenda includes strong support of law enforcement—including fully funding and hiring more police and law enforcement officers, increasing criminal penalties for assaults on law enforcement officers, and prosecuting drive-by shootings as acts of domestic terrorism. This includes bringing violent extremist groups like ANTIFA to justice and keeping dangerous criminals locked up until trial, when merited.

The Administration further plans to end illegal immigration and protect American workers including blocking illegal immigrants from becoming eligible for taxpayer-funded welfare, healthcare, and free college tuition. It also includes mandatory deportation for non-citizen gang members, dismantling of human trafficking networks, while also ending sanctuary cities in order to restore our neighborhoods and protect our families. The agenda also includes prohibiting American companies from replacing American citizens with lower-cost foreign workers. Perhaps most importantly, it would require new immigrants to be able to support themselves financially.

The Trump Administration’s “America First” policy includes stopping endless wars and bringing our troops home, demanding our allies pay their proportionate share of their defense, maintain and expand America’s military strength, wipe out global terrorists who threaten to harm Americans and build great cybersecurity and missile defense systems.

Defense of American values includes continuing the nominations of constitutionalist Supreme Court and lower court federal judges, protecting unborn life through every means available, defending religious liberty and the sacred free exercise of religious believers and organizations, and strongly supporting the exercise of Second Amendment rights.

This is the pro-America agenda—pro-life, pro-family, pro-2nd Amendment, pro small business, pro-jobs and employment of Americans, pro-national defense, and pro-American constitutional values. The Trump-Pence agenda could not be more different from the Biden-Harris Democrat agenda.

 

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.

After much public engagement in the Natchitoches Parish Library (NPL) community survey, put out in June, the NPL will be responding to a some of the public’s input. The library’s five-year strategic plan will be steered by the survey results and will help the Library Board of Directors and NPL administration plan for the future of the library system. The NPL addresses some of the responses below:

Q: How does the library publicize programs and services?

The library regularly distributes press releases to local media outlets, including: the Natchitoches Times and the Natchitoches Parish Journal. In addition, the Outreach Coordinator has regular appearances on the Journal’s “Magnolia Minute” and also has spoken on KALB’s “Good Day Cenla” program. The library regularly attends local events to promote library services. We utilize parish teachers to make kids and parents aware of the educational resources we provide. In addition to information available on the library’s website, natlib.org, we also maintain active social media accounts with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Lastly, a monthly newsletter is made available via email and in print.

Q: Do you offer books-by-mail or homebound delivery?

Both services are offered under the umbrella of the Library Express program. For patrons who are blind or visually impaired, materials may be mailed out and returned free-of-charge via USPS. For patrons who are homebound due to age, sickness, or other reasons, red carpet delivery service is available.

Q: Is curbside service permanent?

While initially implemented due to the constraints of the COVID-19 epidemic, the library will continue to provide curbside service indefinitely. Patrons can call the NPL (357-3280) or NEB (476-3280) to request items for checkout before coming to the library. Once at the library they can call again to have their items brought out to them.

Q: How do I suggest material?

If the NPL does not have the item you are looking for, you may request it for purchase or inter-library loan at any circulation desk or by calling either branch. We will do our best to acquire material for patrons and will notify you when they arrive.

Q: How can the library help students with at-home learning?

The NPL provides access to Tutor.com through its Homework Louisiana service. This grants access to free, live, homework help, and has several learning modules covering topics from kindergarten to introductory college level. They even have an option for parents to get help so that they can then help their kids. Learning Express, another digital database, has practice tests for ACT, SAT, and AP prep. And their School Center has skill-building resources for classroom and homework success as well. All of this and more is accessible from the library’s website natlib.org.

Q: Why can’t I pay for prints/copies/faxes with a credit card?

You can! The NPL has recently added the ability to pay with credit or debit at both branch locations.

Q: Why isn’t Ancestry.com available remotely?

Ancestry only allows in-library access to the library edition of its subscription service; however, those wishing to do remote genealogical research can use the My Heritage database from home.

Q: Don’t fines inhibit the use of the library?

The NPL has recently transitioned to fine-free for most circulating materials. And while damages and lost items will still be charged to accounts, along with fines for Wifi-2-Go and laptops, there is the opportunity each year in November for patrons to reduce fines with the library’s “Fine For-GIVING” program. Even with a fine on an account that might prevent a patron from checking things out, all other library programs and services remain available during that time. Once fines are reduced below $5, checkouts may resume.

Q: Why doesn’t the library have textbooks?

Textbooks frequently and quickly become outdated. Also, these types of materials are also traditionally kept for long periods. Due to the limited space for housing books we focus on more in-demand items/titles.

Q: Why does the library have bookmobile services?

In the 1980s, all satellite locations closed. Then, in 1997, after the current library millage was approved, multiple branches were requested by the public to service different parts of the parish. Over the years, the NPL system has worked within its budget to save and pay for its current facilities with no need for borrowing money or counting of future revenues. During this time an independent study, paid for by the library, was conducted. It determined that with the large size of our parish and the distance between communities, that the bookmobile and schoolmobile services where vital to the goal of library accessibility for all parish residents.

Q: Isn’t everything online?

While the internet age has meant easier access to information, that information does not come without cost. Firstly, you need to be able to afford a computer, then an internet connection, plus other costs involved in getting the content you are looking for. Many residents in our community cannot afford these extra costs. The library makes this “free” info accessible to anyone with our public computer labs and laptop and wifi-2-go checkout.

Additionally, the library pays for databases, learning resources, and digital materials that are not free to access. These cover a wide range of topics including scholarly research, hobbies and crafts, Consumer Reports, genealogical research, live homework help, live job search help, and so much more. And through the Hoopla and Libby apps the NPL provides access to digital movies, tv shows, books, audiobooks, comics, and music, all of which would normally have to be paid for individually. On top of that, we provide in person seminars and activities for the public, which is something you definitely can’t get online. Library staff are also available to help patrons sift through all the information available to find what is interesting, relevant, and useful to them. They will even help setting up apps on your smartphone, tablet, or Kindle so that you can use digital checkout services.

Q: Why are there interactive toys in the children’s area?

Studies have shown that imaginative play and problem solving, especially with other children, greatly improves a child’s mental development from an early age. We provide this sensory engagement in a public environment so that children can interact with others in a constructive way.

Q: Why doesn’t the library reallocate funding to other parish projects?

Library operations are funded by a dedicated property tax. This means that any funds collected must be used in accordance with the millage, which limits expenditures to the operation of the library.

Q: Why was the library’s copper roof siding replaced?

The library’s flat roof was having regular leaking issues and in need of replacement. In the process of inspection for replacement work to be done, it was noted that the copper roof had also sustained hail damage over the years. If only the flat roof was replaced, the roof’s integrity could not be assured, and leaks might have remained. The library complied with the Historic Business District ruling to allow roof replacement with the same materials. The replacement of the copper roof was paid for using funds from an insurance claim.

 

The Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Society has announced the opening of its 2020-2021 season that will begin Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Magale Recital Hall on the NSU Campus.

Last season ended abruptly in March due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. After considerable organization and planning, Symphony Board president Tony Smith, Music Director Doug Bakenhus, and CAPA Director Scott Burrell have forged a workable, responsible, and exciting return of the symphony for another season that complies with the University’s COVID-19 restrictions.

“For this season, we have chosen more chamber music and smaller orchestral compositions and temporarily set aside the full-orchestra masterworks to better socially distance the musicians when on stage,” said Symphony Music Director, Dr. Doug Bakenhus. “There is a treasure trove of classical music for smaller ensembles that we can showcase this season that fits well into our priority concern for both musicians and patrons.”

To maximize safety concerns, CAPA Director Scott Burrell stated that Magale Recital Hall is now capped at 72 persons with only single seats available that are 6 feet apart.

“To accommodate students and the public, each concert will have two consecutive evening performance dates; the first reserved exclusively for the students and the second for the public,” said Burrell. “This will eliminate any competition between students and the public to attend a single performance.”

Symphony President Tony Smith acknowledges the impact these changes will have on the new season, but he and the Board are committed to do the best it can to get the symphony beyond the pandemic and adapt to any changes that may need to become permanent.

“Our organization is no different from any other in this respect,“ says Smith, “and everyone is doing their best to adapt to the current situation and keep moving forward.”

When asked about changes in operations for the symphony season, Smith stated that since attendance is capped at 72, those wanting to purchase tickets at the door are requested to arrive early to be placed on the waiting list.

Season ticket holders are requested to make their reservations by calling the CAPA Office at 318-357-4522; however, reservations will be released if not claimed by 7:20 p.m. on any season concert night. Patrons may also attend the concert from the comfort of their homes via livestreaming by visiting https://capa.nsula.edu/livestream/ the night of the concert. Of course, all patrons attending must be masked.

“We are aware of the impact these restrictions will have on season ticket holders, but we are encouraging all patrons, now more than ever, to become season ticket holders as a vote of encouragement and confidence for NSU and the Symphony,“ says Smith. “Despite this changing landscape, one thing has not changed — the Symphony’s mission to foster and support gifted NSU student musicians through the many scholarships it provides each year.”

The 2020-2021 Symphony season will start Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Magale Recital Hall on the NSU Campus. This opening concert is dedicated to the late Mrs. Pat Thomas, Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Society President for the 2019-2020 season, who died suddenly last March after a brief illness. She was a tireless life-long supporter and leader of the Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Society as well as many of Natchitoches’s cultural and philanthropic organizations. In tribute, Maestro Douglas Bakenhus will conduct “Rest” by Louisiana-born composer Frank Ticheli and Haydn’s Symphony #45, “The Farewell Symphony.” Tickets are $15 at door. Season tickets can be purchased by calling 318-352-8055. For immediate updates on the Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony, join the Symphony’s Facebook page.

Jerry L. Glover, President of the Bank of Coushatta, has announced that he intends to retire from the Bank within the next twelve calendar months. Joes Ossman, currently a Vice President and Shreveport Area Manager of Bank of Coushatta is the President Select and will become the active President upon Jerry’s retirement.

After Jerry’s retirement, he will remain on the Board at the Bank and he will also be involved on various Bank committees. He will also remain available in an advisory position as needed after retirement from the office of President in order to better facilitate a smooth transition of management. Jerry began working at Bank of Coushatta in 1990 and has served in the office of President since 2003.

Jerry intends to spend more time with family, children, grandchildren, friends and do some traveling.

Joel began working for Bank of Coushatta as Vice President and Shreveport Area Manager in 2015. Joel has been in banking for 22 years. He is a native of Shreveport and holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and has completed the three year LSU Graduate School of Banking program.

Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), donated semi-trailers of food to Natchitoches Parish Schools and a DeRidder church after the closure of the utility’s Natchitoches base camp on Monday, Sept. 7.

At its base camp on the Northwestern State University, SWEPCO provided meals and lodging for more than 800 line workers and support personnel assisting in restoration efforts throughout Central Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

“As we demobilized our base camp, we saw an opportunity to provide food to local organizations,” said Malcolm Smoak, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer. “District Resource Planning Supervisor Todd Nottingham and his logistics team worked with local officials to identify organizations in need.”

The Natchitoches Parish Schools lost much of its food in Hurricane Laura. Another delivery was not expected until the end of next week. Two 18-wheelers of frozen foods and dry goods were taken to a food warehouse for Natchitoches Parish Schools.

“This is so incredibly timely because, although we are having food replaced, it takes time,” said Shauna Hicks, Child Nutrition District Manager for Natchitoches Parish Schools. “We sat here with empty freezers. This is going to patch us through until we can take delivery on replacement food. This is huge for us.”

Mary Jones, assistant director of the Natchitoches Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, helped coordinate the delivery.

“I am so thankful to SWEPCO for the donation,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed that you have this food, and you’re donating it to the parish.”

A third 18-wheeler of food transported a full trailer of non-perishable items to First United Pentecostal Church in DeRidder.

Chance Lewis, the church’s executive pastor, said he is appreciative of the canned vegetables and other non-perishable items his church received from SWEPCO, adding it came at the ideal time.

“We set up as a distribution center. Anyone needing non-perishable items can come and get what they need,” Lewis said. “We were actually running quite low on supplies. When we received the donation, we were able to stock our shelves back.”