The Three Reeds Duo will perform a virtual concert Wednesday, June 24 at 4 p.m. The concert can be viewed at leahforsythmusic.com/three-reeds-duo.
The chamber ensemble includes Leah Forsyth on oboe and Paul Forsyth on saxophone. They will be joined by pianist Chialing Hsieh. The Three Reeds Duo was selected to perform at the 2020 International Double Reed Society conference in Iowa City, Iowa. The conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus.
The concert will include three works, two of which are on the duo’s most recent album, “Metamorphosis.”
The City Council unanimously approved the bicycle and pedestrian master plan and bike share feasibility study for Natchitoches at its meeting Monday evening, June 22. Through a combined effort with the Rapides Area Planning Commission, Bantam Strategy Group, and local stakeholders, a solid structural plan for bike share and micro mobility transit and infrastructure is now in place.
The Council also recognized Sheriff Victor Jones for his 20 years of service as Natchitoches Parish Sheriff and 43 years with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. New Sheriff Stuart Wright was sworn in early Monday morning in a private ceremony amidst Covid concerns.
Other agenda items included:
PLANNING & ZONING – FINAL: Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows: South One-half of Lt 7, Lot 8 & East 39.4 Feet of Lt 9 of East Broadmoor Subdivision, Unit #2 from B-3 Commercial to additional B-A to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content for consumption on premise. Application by Redolpho Vargas – 115 South Drive.
ORDINANCES – FINAL: Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Lee Posey, To Execute An Agreement Or Lease Of Public Property And Airspace With Ronald Mooty And Marilyn D. Mooty Whereby The City Of Natchitoches And The Board Of Commissioners Of Waterworks District Number 1 Will Lease Public Ground And Airspace Pursuant To The Terms Of R. S. 33:4712 And R. S. 33:4712.1 To Ronald Mooty And Marilyn D. Mooty , To Provide For A Public Hearing, To Provide For Advertising, And A Savings Clause.
Amending Ordinance No. 17 Of 2020 Adopted On February 24, 2020 To Provide For The Removal Of A Pledge And Dedication To The Natchitoches Economic Development District D Of The Incremental Revenues Generated By The City’s One Percent (1.0%) Sales And Use Tax Now Being Levied For General Purposes And Collected By The City; And Otherwise Providing With Respect Thereto.
Approving A Smartnet North America Reference Network Reference Station Host Agreement With LEICA Geosystems, Inc. And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Said Agreement On Behalf Of The City, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION: Adopting Setting Forth the Adjusted Millage Rate(s). The Public Safety FAC/SER Fire & Police will be at 9.690 mills and the General Alimony will be at 6.820 mills.
Adopting to Roll Forward to Millage Rates(s) Not Exceeding the Maximum Authorized Rate(s) with a 2020 Levy of 10 mills for the Public Safety FAC/SER Fire & Police and 7.030 mills for the General Alimony.
RESOLUTIONS: Adopt The Natchitoches Bicycle And Pedestrian Plan And The Natchitoches Feasibility Study And Implementation Plan Developed By The Rapides Area Planning Commission.
Execute A Certificate Of Substantial Completion To The Contract Between The City Of Natchitoches And Regional Construction, LLC For La-6 West Turn Lane And J-Turn (Bid No. 0624)
Enter Into A Maintenance Agreement, Including Mowing And Litter Pickup, With The State Of Louisiana, Department Of Transportation And Development, Office Of Engineering Beginning July 1, 2020 Through June 30, 2021.
Adopt The Required Plans, Policies, Appointments And Authorization Of Individuals For Compliance With The LCDBG Program.
Execute A Grant Agreement With The Rapides Foundation For The 2020 Healthy Behaviors Program Grant For Ready, Set, Go!
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The next scheduled City Council meeting will be July 13, 2020. The Offices of the City of Natchitoches will be CLOSED Friday, July 3, 2020 in honor of Independence Day.
As COVID-19 Cases Increase, Louisiana Will Stay in Phase Two Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana will stay in Phase Two of reopening, as the number of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations have started to rise in several regions across the state. The Governor will extend his Phase Two order for another 28 days, keeping in place occupancy limits and other restrictions.
As of today (June 22), Louisiana ranks seventh out of 23 states across the country experiencing an increase in COVID-19 positive cases. Those include the neighboring states of Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
“Louisiana reached two sad milestones today as we surpassed 3,000 deaths and 50,000 positive tests in our state. Each of these Louisianans is someone’s child, sibling, parent or friend, and we mourn every one of these losses,” Gov. Edwards said. “It is clear that COVID is alive and well in Louisiana, and as we see more people testing positive and admitted to hospitals, we simply are not ready to move to the next phase, and ease restrictions further as businesses open widely. Many of you are doing the right thing and I thank you for it. It’s incredibly disappointing to hear that there are still some people who refuse to wear masks in public, which puts all of us at greater risk of becoming sick. I implore Louisianans to be good neighbors, to stay at home when they are experiencing symptoms, to avoid crowds, physically distance, and to wear a mask when not around their immediate household whether inside or outside. These are simple things we can do to protect ourselves and each other.”
“While we know that increasing testing means that we will see more positive cases, we are still troubled by the rising case counts across the state, especially since around 90 percent of these new cases are coming from the community and not from congregate settings like nursing homes,” Gov. Edwards said. “It is up to all of us to check our own behaviors and to take responsibility for slowing the spread of COVID. We do not want to have to go back to a time of increased restrictions where fewer businesses could operate. It is my hope that all of us – from government officials to business owners to students – will do the right thing.”
Louisianans should wear face masks whenever they are in public, practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently and avoid going out in public when they are experiencing any symptoms.
Smoothie King’s Hydration is a refreshing way to hydrate/recover after working out and/or hot summer activities. Available in two flavors Watermelon and Pineapple Mango, these smoothies are a healthy way to cool down by helping replenish electrolytes and stay hydrated.
FREE SMOOTHIES – TODAY:
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 from 2p until 6p – TODAY
WHERE: Smoothie King of Natchitoches located at 810 University Pkwy
WHAT: Get a free 12 oz Hydration Watermelon or Mango Pineapple smoothie with the Healthy Rewards app
Defend Against COVID-19. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Recognize the symptoms. Cover your cough. Wash your hands. Stay home especially if you are sick.
Phase Two continues.
Maintain a Social Distance of 6ft. Social distancing means keeping 6ft. of physical space between yourself and others. This helps to prevent the spread of illness.
Eleven pieces of work composed by Dr. Al Benner, senior lecturer of instrumentals, theory and composition, and chair of the Department of Arts at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA), will be featured by the National Federation of Music Clubs.
The original compositions and pieces will be released in the upcoming competition bulletin for the years 2020-2024.
The eleven pieces are: Through the Hymnal for piano duet Mary and Her Little Lamb for piano duet Idyll for horn and piano Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (arr.) for organ How Sweet the Sound – Variations on Amazing Grace for organ Dancin’ on the County Line for string bass and piano Daydreaming (from Family Matters) for violin trio Music to Hear for voice and piano There You Go for voice and piano The Request for voice and piano In My Father’s Arms for voice and piano
Every three years, composers and publishers submit scores for consideration for the approved repertoire list used in the competitions that take place throughout the United States. As a piece is selected, it goes into the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) bulletin, which is distributed to every NFMC member. Those pieces are then used for the annual local and state competitions for a three-year period.
Since its founding in 1898, the National Federation of Music Clubs has grown into one of the world’s largest music organizations with clubs and individual members of all ages. It is chartered by the Congress of the United States and is the only music organization that is a member of the United Nations.
NFMC provides opportunities for musical study, performance and appreciation to more than 200,000 senior, student and junior members in 6,500 music-related clubs and organizations nationwide.
Members are professional and amateur musicians, vocalists, composers, dancers, performing artists, arts and music educators, music students, generous music patrons and benefactors and music lovers of all ages.
During his campaign for Parish President, John Richmond posted a video where he tearfully reminisced about his father’s advice, which was “First thing you do, put all your faith and trust in Jesus Christ that He’s going to give you the power, even when you don’t think they need it or deserve it, to love the people you come into contact with; and He’s going to give you the strength to teach; and He’s going to give you the humbleness to learn.” In the video, Richmond says that he doesn’t know that he’s ever heard it put any better, and I agree. Richmond goes on to promise anyone listening that “that’s what I do every day.”
At the time that video was released, I was reminded of the movie Elmer Gantry about the smooth-talking traveling salesmen who convinces a female lay preacher to make him an indispensable part of her roadshow. Just as in the movie, Mr. Richmond was using Christian references in his sales pitch to the voters of Natchitoches Parish and a lot of people fell for it including many of our Black religious leaders who delivered on the majority of the African-American votes cast last year.
Fast forward to May 15th when John Richmond, now Parish President, was involved in an altercation where he bum-rushed Derrion Shields, one of his employees that was being accosted by another employee, Brad Haigler. If you’ve watched the video of the fight, which was recently leaked on Facebook, I ask you, did you see any hint of love or humbleness emanating from John Richmond? Did you see any sense of regret or remorse on Mr. Richmond’s face? Did you feel that Mr. Richmond was taking ownership of his lapse in his good Christian morals?
We initially learned about this incident, not because Mr. Richmond decided to seek forgiveness for his involvement in the altercation but because he filed an incident report with police wherein he alleged that Mr. Shields was the aggressor and that he was merely defending himself. Had the video not been leaked, many of us might have been inclined to believe that or any one of the many other “alternative truths” that were being put out on the street. Thanks to the video evidence, Mr. Richmond and Mr. Haigler have been charged with Simple Battery.
More than likely, Mr. Richmond will get off with nothing more than a mere slap on the wrist for his involvement in the altercation. After all, the charge is only for a misdemeanor, which will not result in his removal from office.
On June 8th, Mr. Richmond spoke during a 100 Black Men event where he stood on the steps of the courthouse and once again turned on the charm by proclaiming to the people of Natchitoches that we can all make a difference. He is right. We, the people, need to demand that Mr. Richmond resign. As Louisianans, we are accustomed to our politicians lying to us but we cannot tolerate violence. Just as with the protesters fighting for equality and justice for all across the world today, we cannot rest until John Richmond is no longer a representative for what Good Government looks like in Natchitoches Parish.
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.
Attention NPTCC Parents & Students! The following is your 2020 graduation information. The first full week of July will be important for all NPTCC seniors who are eligible to participate in graduation. All course work MUST be completed and all student fees paid in order to engage in the 2020 commencement ceremony.
• July 7, 2020: Senior dinner will be at 6pm at the Ben Johnson Auditorium. Due to Covid 19 restrictions only ONE guest per student. Students MUST RSVP through NPTCC’s Facebook page via Messenger with the name of their guest by Monday, June 29, 2020 at 3pm. Students and guest must arrive with a mask and temperatures will be be taken at the door.
• July 8, 2020: Graduation practice will be from 8am-10am at Turpin Stadium on NSU campus. In order to participate in graduation, seniors MUST attend practice!! Due to Covid 19 restrictions only the student will be allowed at practice. Students will be required to wear a mask.
• July 9, 2020: Graduation will be at 9am at Turpin Stadium on NSU campus. Gates will open at 8am and seniors need to arrive at this time. Due to Covid 19 restrictions and guidelines, each senior will be given 10 tickets. Families will be required to sit in the section printed on their tickets on the same row with an empty row between each family section. (There will be staff there available to assist you.) Everyone must arrive with a mask and once seated they may be removed. All pictures taken MUST be done within your seated area. No one will be allowed to walk to the railing and take pictures. Once you leave the campus, you are free to take all the pictures you like. Also, movement is limited once you enter the stadium to only restroom trips or emergencies. There will be no visiting between family sections. These guidelines will also be addressed at the Senior dinner.
Nearly 70 percent of Northwestern State student-athletes who competed in spring sports qualified for the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Spring Honor Roll, which recognizes student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA during a semester in which they competed.
Northwestern State placed 123 student-athletes on the team, placing ninth in the conference despite NSU not sponsoring four of the conference’s recognized spring sports.
All eight Lady Demon tennis players were named to the team while softball (90.9 percent), baseball (78.4 percent) and women’s track and field (71.1 percent) crossed the 70-percent mark.
Thirty-eight NSU student-athletes produced 4.0 GPAs during the spring semester, a total that stood seventh in the Southland Conference.
Three programs produced at least seven student-athletes with 4.0s, led by 11 from the Lady Demon softball team. Tennis and women’s track and field each had seven student-athletes who posted perfect marks.
The 38 Demons and Lady Demons who earned 4.0 GPAs in the Spring 2020 semester are: softball’s Maggie Black, Makenzie Chaffin, E.C. Delafield, Jordan Dickerson, Kacee Mertens, Alexis Perry, Bronte Rhoden, Kaitlyn St. Clair, Sierra Stone, Codi Vernace and Elise Vincent; tennis’ Olivia Alfredsson, Judit Castillo-Gargallo, Emilija Dancetovic, Ela Iwaniuk, Gig Kanaphuet, Mariella Minetti and Patrycja Polanska; women’s track and field’s Nadia Carney, Sydney Cowgill, Isabella Hudson, Marlee Paulk, Brooke Petkovich, Olivia Slayter and Erin Wilson; baseball’s Hayden Brown, Levi David, Peyton Davis, Donovan Ohnoutka, Kyle Swanson and Cameron Taylor; women’s basketball’s Jasmyn Johnson, Victoria Miller and Jocelyn Scott; men’s track and field’s Clayton Casner, Laron James and Austin Simoneaux and men’s basketball’s Dalin Williams.
Photos: Pictures of fall student-athlete graduates. Credit: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
The National Park Service and City of Natchitoches are partnering to preserve the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot, which will become the administrative headquarters for Cane River Creole National Historical Park. The building will also feature an interpretive center and combination theater and community room. NPS photo.
by Carrie Mardorf
Across the nation we as a people are addressing the ongoing struggle of racism, inequality, and the injustices that members of the Black community live with every day. Even as we celebrated Juneteenth last week, recent events centered on racial injustice were at the forefront of our minds. Many of us have realized the increased need to listen to, rely on, and support each other to build a more inclusive environment within our communities. At the National Park Service, our commitment to our mission to preserve and share a truly inclusive story of America is more critical and important than ever.
National parks tell the stories, even the difficult ones, of powerful places, important people, and pivotal moments that helped define America. Our mission at Cane River Creole National Historical Park, headquartered in Natchitoches, is to accurately and fairly tell this shared story related to plantation life, including enslavement. These are stories of struggle, inspiration, celebration, and pain. That has been our mission at Oakland Plantation and Magnolia Plantation for 25 years, and we are honored to be able to continue that mission into the future in a new location.
Several months ago, Natchitoches newspapers featured a story about how the National Park Service will be moving into the former Texas and Pacific Railway Depot on Trudeau Street and the Eagle Distributing building on Sixth Street. It’s true. We are. And the first phase will be happening in the next few months. A team of National Park Service staff, City employees including Mayor Lee Posey, and designers have been working diligently to make all the pieces come together.
Phase 1 of the move will take place this fall and will focus on moving Cane River Creole National Historical Park’s museum collection into the former Eagle building. The structure will be converted into the park’s new curation facility with 10,000 square feet of storage, new climate control, fire suppression, and staff offices. The park manages an extensive museum collection of nearly 500,000 three-dimensional objects and archival items related to the history of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations. Much of the collection includes vernacular, one-of-a-kind handmade tools and decorative items made and used by enslaved workers, Native Americans, Creoles, and others who lived and worked along Cane River. This nationally significant material culture represents the enslaved, sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and day laborers, all of African American descent, and is a key portion of the collection. The former Eagle building finally gives these objects the home they deserve and provides us the proper facility in which to care for them in perpetuity.
Phase 2 will involve moving the park administrative offices into the Texas and Pacific Railway Depot at a later date. This historic building is particularly significant to Natchitoches, not only as a train depot, but also as one of the last physical vestiges of segregation and the Jim Crow era within the State of Louisiana.
Over the next year, we will be reaching out to the community, particularly the African American community and our new neighbors, to get input on the building’s history, its stories, and how to share them within the context of Natchitoches Parish. We fully realize that these are the community’s stories to tell. Not ours. And it’s something that we do not take lightly. Particularly in light of current events, the National Park Service and the City are working together to preserve this history and tell the stories of African American heritage within our new space. We want to tell those narratives of overcoming hardship from slavery to abolition, from segregation to civil rights—all within the context of Black history, no matter how difficult they may be so that future generations can learn from those stories.
In addition to administrative offices, current plans for the depot include an interpretative center and combination theater and community room space. The interpretive center will be centered around the community’s stories, ties to the surrounding plantations, and exhibits and objects from the park museum collection. The combination theater and community room will be available to the public to rent out for meetings or special events.
While we work toward moving into our new home, I invite and encourage all of you to visit Oakland Plantation in Natchez and Magnolia Plantation in Derry. Both historic sites are free and open to the public from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM daily and are a short 20 to 30-minute drive south of Natchitoches. Although COVID-19 has hampered the park’s operations and ability to give guided tours for the time being, visitors can walk the grounds and take a self-guided tour – either via cell phone or paper map.
Uncomfortable histories are difficult to confront. We all continue to grapple with these histories within our own community and nation, and Cane River Creole National Historical Park is committed to sharing these stories. All stories. From the Quarters to the back of the Big House. Lesser-known stories. Regardless of race or skin color.
Carrie Mardorf, Superintendent of Cane River Creole National Historical Park, can be reached at Carrie_Mardorf@nps.gov or 318-352-0383, x 100.
PHOTO: The former Eagle Distributing building on Sixth Street will become the museum collections storage facility for the park. The building will house 500,000 artifacts from Oakland and Magnolia Plantations in museum quality conditions. NPS photo.
PHOTO: Cane River Creole National Historical Park preserves all history and stories related to Oakland and Magnolia Plantations. The park has strived to accurately and fairly depict life on the plantations, particularly the experience of African Americans from the late 1700s to the 1970s. Image courtesy of Dr. Ambrose Hertzog collection.
Ben D. Johnson Educational Center (BDJ Center) has been awarded $2,148 in community grant funds from Walmart. The grant to the BDJ Center will support the Legacy Youth Workforce Development Program. The purpose of the program is to help young people ages 17-24 enter and remain in the workforce.
Located in the Ben Johnson Auditorium Complex at 400 MLK Drive, the BDJ Center offers a 16-week program that teaches job readiness, financial literacy, nutrition, and foodservice skills training. Upon completion students earn their ServSafe and Legacy Foodservice and Hospitality Training Program Certifications. Students earn a stipend while learning and are offered breakfast and lunch daily.
In addition to the Legacy Youth Workforce Development Program, the BDJ Center also serves the community through its social enterprise, Legacy Café and the BDJ Garden. The Legacy Café is open for business and serves breakfast (7:30AM – 10:30AM) and lunch (10:30AM – 2PM) Monday through Friday.
Claire Prymus, Founder and Board Chair, “We are grateful to Walmart for their support as we work to fulfill our mission of Transforming Lives and Building Community.”
Founded by Claire Prymus in honor of her late uncle, the Ben D. Johnson Educational Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to build community in Natchitoches and give access to social and economic success for all of its residents.
Pictured: JoAnna Cooper, BDJ Center Executive Director and Carla Mercier, Walmart General Manager
Story by Matt Vines, Assistant Sports Information Director
With the relaxing of quarantine standards during the COVID-19 pandemic, Northwestern State wants to spread enthusiasm by land and by water.
Demons fans can grab one of NSU’s ALL IN yard signs at the Vic The Demon “Ride Around” or have it delivered by boat on Cane River Lake or Sibley Lake
The Ride Around, which will visit different locations in Natchitoches, and the boat delivery will occur Thursday – weather permitting.
The Ride Around will start at 11 a.m. on NSU’s campus at the Jimmy D. Long Sr. Student Services Center near the corner of Caspari St. and Sam Sibley Drive. The boat delivery will start around 1 p.m.
Vic will roll in his convertible to downtown on Front Street, turn on Texas Street and take a left on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive before looping around on Amulet St. past Natchitoches City Park.
The route will turn right on Jefferson Street, crossing the Keyser Ave. bridge.
The Ride Around will visit the St. Clair neighborhood before traveling to Chinquapin Village and ending at Beau Riviera at the house of NSU head football coach Brad Laird. The Ride Around is expected to last two hours, and fans not living in those neighborhoods are encouraged to see Vic in the downtown area.
Laird will then captain one of the boats that will set sail on Cane River Lake to deliver additional yard signs. If you are an NSU football season-ticket holder who lives on Cane River or on Sibley Lake and would like a yard sign placed in your yard, contact Deputy Athletic Director Dr. Haley Taitano at 318-357-4278.
Fans are encouraged to adhere to all Center of Disease Control guidelines, including social distancing, during the Ride Around.
“We wanted to bring a little cheer to the community, and we want to encourage our fans to sit outside in lawn chairs and wave at Vic when he rides by,” Taitano said. “Vic will be wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, but we want to show that NSU is still ALL IN with the Natchitoches community and its residents.”
Fans can display their ALL IN yard signs to show continued support for NSU and the #GoNatchitoches community. Fans can also wear their ALL IN T-shirts designed by Posey’s Sports Center. A couple dozen shirts are still available in store.
The Ride Around is a Demon Rewards event, which fans can attend to earn points toward cool prizes. Download the free NSU app on your phone, click on “Rewards” at the top left of your home screen and check in at the event to receive points in the first Demon Rewards event of the 2020-21 academic year.
Cade Stepp, an assistant director in NSU’s recruiting office, is this year’s Demon Rewards winner. Stepp, who accumulated the most points at Demon Rewards events, will receive an orange Yeti cooler filled with NSU merchandise and prize packs, which includes two sideline passes to NSU football’s home opener vs. Incarnate Word on Sept. 3
Fans can earn points toward prizes like NSU keychains, T-shirts and other merchandise, including sideline passes.
“NSU coaches, staff and administrators are preparing for a Demon football season in which fans can remain safe yet still enjoy the action under the Turpin Stadium lights,” Laird said.
In addition to the ALL IN signs, season-ticket holder yard signs for those not participating in Thursday’s drop-off day are available and can be secured at the NSU Athletics Fieldhouse upon renewal of a season-ticket purchase. Contact Mike Jacklich for season-ticket packages at 318-357-4268.
NATCHITOCHES: Rosa L. Baker June 20, 2020 Arrangements TBA
SABINE: Steven Wade Rodrigues July 21, 1970 – June 17, 2020 The funeral service will be available live on the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Many, Louisiana Facebook page starting at 10:00 AM on Monday.
Doris Miller Wright November 18, 1926 – June 21, 2020 Service: Tuesday, June 23 at 3 pm at Zion Hill Baptist Church
This morning, R. Stuart Wright was sworn in as Natchitoches Parish Sheriff by Third Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Van Kyzar during a private ceremony at the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Chief Deputy Gregory Neal Dunn was also sworn by Judge Kyzar.
Deputies assigned to operational bureaus took the oath and were sworn in by Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court David Stamey.
Sheriff Victor Jones term expires June 30, 2020.
Sheriff Wright stated that he is humbled to be Sheriff and expects to carry on the professional services the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office offers the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.”
On June 18, 2020, the Unheard Voices of Natchitoches released a video on a social media site. The Video appears to show Parish President John Richmond and Maglieaux’s Chef Brad Haigler assaulting a Black man on May 15, 2020
This Video, which appears to be a recording from a security camera, is presented here for your review.
This video contains explicit language and violence which may be offensive to some viewers and/or inappropriate for children. The content within this video is intended for mature audiences only.
The following video is a clip of just the altercation footage.
Remember, This video contains explicit language and violence which may be offensive to some viewers and/or inappropriate for children. The content within this video is intended for mature audiences only.
In the following clip, Parish President John Richmond tried to explain to the victim that no one hit him!
On June 17th and 18th, Parish President John Richmond and Maglieaux’s Chef Bradley Haigler were charged and arrested by summons.
Natchitoches City Council meeting open to the public social distancing in place
The Natchitoches City Council meeting will be open to the public at the next regular meeting on Monday, June 22, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Occupancy for the Council Chamber is limited to 25% or 26 people total. Temperature checks will be given before entering the chamber. Seating markers will be placed on the chairs. Any Citizen that wishes to observe the City Council meeting live may do so at:
If you have any comments that you would like to make on any agenda item, you can email those comments to smcqueary@natchitochesla.gov and they will be read into record. Also during the meeting if you have any comments on the agenda item being considered, you may call 318-521-1023 and you will be placed on speaker phone to make your comments. You must state your name for the record and you will be limited to 3 minutes for your comments. Please remember that this is not a question and answer session and please speak clearly for the record. Since we are allowing for a public comment period, agenda items will take longer than usual because we will allow 45 seconds between the reading of the item and the vote being taken, for any public comment. For additional questions, please call 318-357-3821.
The City Council meetings will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month and will be reserved to only items on the Agenda. The City Council Meetings are held at the Natchitoches City Council Chambers located at 716 Second Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana.
NATCHITOCHES CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 22, 2020
5:30 P.M.
A G E N D A
CALL TO ORDER
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
READING AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 6, 2020
PLANNING & ZONING – FINAL: #035 Harrington Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing
Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows:
South One-half of Lt 7, Lot 8 & East 39.4 Feet of Lt 9 of East Broadmoor Subdivision, Unit #2 from B-3 Commercial to additional B-A to sell beverages of high and low alcoholic content for consumption on premise. Application by Redolpho Vargas – 115 South Drive.
ORDINANCES – FINAL: #033 Mims Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Lee Posey, To Execute An Agreement Or Lease Of Public Property And Airspace With Ronald Mooty And Marilyn D. Mooty Whereby The City Of Natchitoches And The Board Of Commissioners Of Waterworks District Number 1 Will Lease Public Ground And Airspace Pursuant To The Terms Of R. S. 33:4712 And R. S. 33:4712.1 To Ronald Mooty And Marilyn D. Mooty , To Provide For A Public Hearing, To Provide For Advertising, And A Savings Clause.
#038 Mims Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 17 Of 2020 Adopted On February 24, 2020 To Provide For The Removal Of A Pledge And Dedication To The Natchitoches Economic Development District D Of The Incremental Revenues Generated By The City’s One Percent (1.0%) Sales And Use Tax Now Being Levied For General Purposes And Collected By The City; And Otherwise Providing With Respect Thereto.
#039 Morrow Ordinance Approving A Smartnet North America Reference Network Reference Station Host Agreement With LEICA Geosystems, Inc. And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Said Agreement On Behalf Of The City, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.
#041 Harrington Ordinance Adopting to Roll Forward to Millage Rates(s) Not Exceeding the Maximum Authorized Rate(s)
RESOLUTIONS: #041 Batiste Resolution Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana To Adopt The Natchitoches Bicycle And Pedestrian Plan And The Natchitoches Feasibility Study And Implementation Plan Developed By The Rapides Area Planning Commission.
#042 Batiste Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Execute A Certificate Of Substantial Completion To The Contract Between The City Of Natchitoches And Regional Construction, LLC For La-6 West Turn Lane And J-Turn (Bid No. 0624)
#043 Morrow Resolution Authorizing The Mayor To Enter Into A Maintenance Agreement, Including Mowing And Litter Pickup, With The State Of Louisiana, Department Of Transportation And Development, Office Of Engineering Beginning July 1, 2020 Through June 30, 2021.
#044 Nielsen Resolution Authorizing Mayor Lee Posey To Adopt The Required Plans, Policies, Appointments And Authorization Of Individuals For Compliance With The LCDBG Program.
#045 Mims Resolution Approving The Mayor To Execute A Grant Agreement With The Rapides Foundation For The 2020 Healthy Behaviors Program Grant For Ready, Set, Go!
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The next scheduled City Council meeting will be July 13, 2020. The Offices of the City of Natchitoches will be CLOSED Friday, July 3, 2020 in honor of Independence Day.
Smoothie King’s Hydration is a refreshing way to hydrate/recover after working out and/or hot summer activities. Available in two flavors Watermelon and Pineapple Mango, these smoothies are a healthy way to cool down by helping replenish electrolytes and stay hydrated.
FREE SMOOTHIES THIS TUESDAY:
WHEN: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 from 2p until 6p
WHERE: Smoothie King of Natchitoches located at 810 University Pkwy
WHAT: Get a free 12 oz Hydration Watermelon or Mango Pineapple smoothie with the Healthy Rewards app
Early voting for the 2020 election for mayor of Natchitoches, Clarence and Powhatan, Natchitoches city council seats, police chief of Clarence, alderman for Clarence and Powhatan as well as presidential primaries for both political parties got underway Saturday, June 20 at the parish courthouse.
Mr. and Mrs. Major and LaFern Ward were once again the first voters of the election cycle, arriving at the courthouse at 0615 in order to be the first to cast their votes. The couple was joined by a crowd of citizens who stretched down the courthouse hallway. It is Democracy in action and a joy to see. Early voting will continue from 0830 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day but Sunday at the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse. The early voting started today and will continue until July 4. The Natchitoches Parish Journal urges every citizen to exercise their right to vote. Early voting is an excellent opportunity to insure that your voice will be heard! The Natchitoches Parish Journal wishes to commend Mr. & Mrs. Ward for their dedication to actively participating in our democratic freedoms. In the years we have been covering the first day of early voting, the Wards have been the first in line each time. We would also like to thank Mr. Ward for his service to our nation in the Vietnam War. The Registrar of Voters may be reached at 318-357-2211 if you have any questions.
Various local community groups came together to host our area’s inaugural Juneteenth celebration at the downtown riverbank Friday, June 19. Juneteenth is the name given to the day in June 19, 1865 at which Union forces under General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas. One of the General’s first actions was to issue his famous General Order Number 3 which stated in part:
“…The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection therefore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer….”
This year’s Juneteenth Celebration, much like the original event 165 years ago, was a joyous celebration of freedom. The evening started at Natchitoches’ city park and progressed to the downtown riverbank. DJ J. Corey Lamar and his crew kept spirits high with a variety of music as the crowd enjoyed pulled pork from mayoral candidate Ronnie Williams and hot dogs and meatpies from Natchitoches District Attorney Billy Harrington. The incomparable Sweeties’ BBQ was also on hand with their signature side dishes and over 250 pieces of chicken, all cooked to perfection.
The Natchitoches Chapter of the NAACP held a membership drive. The people at the party also had the opportunity to register to vote.
Northwestern State University’s Athletic Department came out to support the Juneteenth celebration in a major way. NSU Athletic Director Greg Burke was joined by NSU’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches, Track and Field Coach, Football Coach several assistant coaches, Sports Information Director and several student athletes in attending the celebration.
On the first Juneteenth, General Granger and his troops fulfilled the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 as the Stars and Stripes once more flew from every corner of this nation. The Confederacy was crushed and the evil of slavery driven from our country. It is a day worthy of remembrance and celebration!
The Natchitoches Parish Journal would like to commend all of the men and women who worked diligently to bring about this celebration. It was a delightful evening and we are looking forward to next year’s event!
