The Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newest member at 780 Front St., Suite 105 Tuesday, February 25. Mike’s Gallery was welcomed to the Chamber of Commerce, and to our community, with a traditional ribbon cutting.
Mike’s Gallery is the newest addition to our area’s art scene. The gallery’s owner is Mike Cornelius, a native of Mobile, Alabama who married into a Natchitoches family. Cornelius is an avid historian who noted the numerous connections between Mobile and Natchitoches in the colonial era. This love is reflected in the gallery’s mission: “To procure and show wondrous, beautiful artworks for the enjoyment and illumination of all gallery visitors in support of the heritage and arts of Natchitoches, Louisiana.”
The gallery’s art is an eclectic combination of painting, shell art, sculpture and gift items. The artists are mainly local, but are joined by artists from Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Arkansas.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal extends its best wishes to Mike Cornelius and the artists in his gallery.
For the second consecutive week, Northwestern State has won the Player of the Week with Ela Iwaniuk taking home the honor this week. This is the second Player of the Week honor for the senior, winning once in 2018. It is the first time the Lady Demons have won the award in back-to-back weeks since 2018 when they won three times in a row. Iwaniuk was in the middle of that trio.
“This is a well-deserved honor for Ela this past week,” head coach Patric DuBois said. “She played solid and steady against very tough competition.”
Mariella Minetti earned the honor this past week.
Iwaniuk, a senior from Konarskie, Poland, had a convincing victory to begin the weekend at No. 2 singles against Southern Miss’ Katia de la Garza. Iwaniuk dispatched the previously unbeaten de la Garza in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
On Sunday, she and fellow senior Emilija Dancetovic came back from a 4-1 in doubles against UTSA to emerge with the victory 7-5 and clinching the doubles point for the Lady Demons. That was proceeded by another straight sets triumph.
Iwaniuk won in decisive fashion against UTSA’s Laura Cabrera, winning 6-3, 6-3, to finish a perfect weekend.
She leads the Lady Demons into conference play, which begins Friday at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi before traveling to Lamar for a match Sunday.
Photo Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
More than 350 high school students interested in pursuing careers in education attended the Educator’s Rising Louisiana Conference at Northwestern State University Wednesday. Participants heard from speakers, participated in workshops and competitions and browsed vendors to learn about topics that addressed anti-bullying, using technology, awareness of social issues and degree programs at NSU.
Keynote speaker Dr. Leslie Blanchard, executive director of the Leadership Development Institute at Louisiana State University, opened the conference by addressing several misconceptions about teaching and the negative feedback that young people often receive when they express a desire to go into teaching. Blanchard encouraged students to find the common ground in what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs and what they will get paid.
“I think it was a fantastic event so many students came out to learn about becoming an educator,” said Jessie Church, event chair. “They seem to really enjoy all of the session speakers and the competition judges said that the students were very prepared and amazing with her presentations.
Competition winners were as follows.
Educators Rising Moment – Jadyn Brunk, Brame Midddle School, first place; Charles Washington, Neville High School, second place, and Carson Savoie, Barbe High School, third place.
Public Speaking – Andrea Hernandez, Wossman High School, first place; Audrey Livigni, Neville High School, second place, and Trinity Baugh, Alexandria Senior High, third place.
Creative Lecture – Kaylee Raper, Brame Middle School, first place; Zoe Noel, Beau Chene High School, second place; Braxton Michel, Southeastern Louisiana University, third place, and Trinity Baugh, Alexandria Senior High, fourth place.
Ethical Dilemma – Jalisa Garth and Raytisha Jackson, Wossman High School, first place, and Jenna Mullican, Kenzie Harris, Maddie Dowden and Katie Cooley, South Beauregard High School, second place.
Impromptu Speaking – Fallon Lincoln, Barbe High School, first place; Gage Simoneaux, Brusly High School, second place, and Zane McCaughey, Sulfur High School, third place.
Lesson Planning and Delivery – DeMarcus Washington, Wossman High School, first place, and Jasmine Crockett, Wossman High School, second place.
NSU has hosted regional EdRising meetings in the past, but this was the first time the state conference took place on campus.
Sponsors of the event include BOM Bank, Tony Davis, vice president of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and District 4 representative; Reba Phelps, Natchitoches Parish School Board District 6 representative; Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, Louisiana Association of Educators and the Gallaspy College of Education and Human Resources.
Educators Rising Louisiana, formerly known as Future Educators of America (FEA), is the non-profit student organization and/or class for middle and high school students interested in the field of education-related careers. At the national level, Educators Rising and Phi Delta Kappa partner to create a national network that helps students build resources and create connections that can significantly impact educational opportunities through co-curricular and extracurricular activities. As a national affiliate partnered through LaSTOY (Louisiana State Teachers of the Year), Educators Rising Louisiana offers students, through school or individual membership, opportunities to participate in coursework and projects that assist and recognize educator practices through local, state, and national conferences as well as performance-based competitions.
Good Wednesday stylers! With fashion month in full swing and spring collections trickling into stores, there’s no time like the present to get informed on what the must-have S/S 2020 trends will be. There are hundreds of runway shows each season, and I certainly don’t expect you to go digging through them all. That’s what we’re here for.
This S/S 2020 season is one I’m excited about, and I know my fashion lovers will be too. Designers gifted us with collections that were the perfect marriage of wearable and innovative. These trends are the ones that are the most digestible and the ones I’m predicting that will be the heavy hitters all season.
You’re probably familiar with the slip dress and bustier tops, but this season, lingerie is taking center stage in the ready-to-wear world. Lingerie dressing is going way beyond the confines of the bedroom as traditional lingerie detailing such as hook and eye clasps, boning, garters, sheer paneling, tons of silks, lace, corsetry, and much more have worked their way into some of the most prominent spring collections.
Besides, lingerie-inspired pieces, Satin is back. Designers incorporated the high-shine fabric in almost everything from suits to dresses, and separates. So if you want to go corporate with your look, prefer something slinkier, or would rather a happy medium, there’s optiosn to make the trend your own and in any color your heart desires.
It’s common for a particular decade to surface as the major inspiration behind a collection, but when you see most of your fav designers sending out models that look like they just stepped out of an episode of That ’70s Show, I knew something’s up. What now feels almost a tad necessary among the ongoing rise of simpler bourgeois dressing is the colorful stark contrast of mod prints, bohemian layers, and retro accessories straight out of the ’70s. Speaking of inspiration from the past, there is just so much to love about the return of the tube top. Aside from the ’90s nostalgia and minimalistic nature of the trend the tube top is also a breeze to style and can be worn in any season.
Whether there’s an actual trip in the future or just chilling around the city, thanks to this particular spring and summer trend, you’ll at least be able to dress like you’re headed on the tropical vacation of a lifetime with nature and fruit-inspired prints. Channel your inner J.Lo or go more casual with a matching set. Either way, feel the island breeze and try not to notice that it’s just air coming from the AC.
In the last edition of the Capitol Briefing I stated that the number one priority facing the state legislature this session is to pass common sense Tort Reform legislation designed to lower personal and commercial automobile insurance rates. “Tort” Reform simply refers to changes in the civil justice system that aim to reduce the ability of plaintiffs to bring frivolous lawsuits against defendants and to ensure that monetary awards are commensurate with the damages sustained. Our broken legal system has tilted the scales of justice in favor of billboard trial lawyers whose unethical advertising methods have convinced scores of Louisianians that an automobile accident is the equivalent of winning the lottery.
As a result of our toxic legal environment, Louisiana has been named a “Judicial Hellhole” for 7 straight years and we currently have the second highest auto insurance rates in the nation. Hard-working lower and middle class families across the state have been among the hardest hit by the insurance crisis, with many families simply unable to afford the exorbitant automobile insurance premiums. The situation is even more desperate for small business owners such as logging contractors, farmers, and truckers who have no choice but to purchase commercial auto policies in a marketplace where most insurance companies have left the state or been forced to raise their rates due to the trial lawyers zeal for suing anyone with higher policy limits and deeper pockets.
Comprehensive tort reform measures are required to stop the precipitous climb of auto insurance rates and put money back into the pockets of Louisiana families. I will be supporting legislation to decrease the civil jury trial threshold from $50,000.00 to $5,000.00, which will help prevent personal injury attorneys from shopping their cases for judges known to blatantly favor plaintiffs. Louisiana’s $50,000.00 jury trial threshold is clearly an outlier compared to the rest of the nation, with the next closest state having a $15,000.00 limit, and 36 states with a $0.00 threshold.
Another important piece of tort reform legislation will address the collateral source rule which essentially allows juries to see only the “sticker price” for medical costs instead of the actual cost incurred by the plaintiff. This typically results in a windfall for the trial lawyer and plaintiff, and is perhaps the biggest driver of our excessively high rates. Legal reform bills filed this session will also address “Direct Action”, or the trial lawyer’s ability to file a lawsuit against a defendant and their insurer, clearly resulting in higher damage awards.
I will also be supporting repeal of the preposterous “seatbelt gag rule” which prevents a jury from knowing if an injured plaintiff was wearing a seatbelt when the accident occurred. Believe it or not, each of the aforementioned measures were introduced last year and shot down by trial lawyers in the legislature and governor’s mansion. Although abuse of the legal system by trial lawyers is the leading cause of our high insurance rates, we must also hold insurance companies accountable and ensure that rates are based on verifiable actuarial data and not on arbitrarily determined standards.
I look forward to the spirited debates that will no doubt accompany our efforts to pass this common sense legislation our state urgently needs. Please know that my decisions as your state representative will always be made prayerfully with the best interests of the men and women of District 22 in mind.
The Ninkasi Percussion Quartet will present a recital at Northwestern State University on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. The group will perform the percussion music of Marc Mellits, who is a faculty member at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Members of the Ninkasi Percussion Quartet are Dr. Gregory Lyons of Louisiana Tech, Dr. Gustavo Miranda of Nicholls State, Northwestern State faculty member Dr. Oliver Molina and Dr. Joe Moore of Benedict College. Mellits was the subject of Molina’s doctoral dissertation.
The recital at NSU wraps up a six-day concert tour that includes performances at Wheaton College, The University of Illinois, Lindenwood University in St. Louis, the University of Memphis and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.
The Natchitoches Lions club welcomed Harriet Hudson to its meeting on Feb. 24. Harriet is currently serving as Lions District 8-L Campaign 100 Chair. She is pictured with Mary Hooper and Sara Giannome. Campaign 100 is a 3 year program to raise funds for International disasters, blindness prevention, childhood cancer research, providing diabetic supplies to impoverished countries and environmental improvements. If you or your company has a desire to help fund any of these projects locally or worldwide, please contact any Lions Club member.
Over the weekend of Feb. 14-15, hundreds of student athletes from across the U.S. converged on the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) for a weekend-long sports tournament.
LSMSA competed against sister schools Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science (TAMS), the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts (ASMSA), and the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS).
TAMS took first place in the tournament, with LSMSA coming in second, ASMSA taking third and ASMS getting fourth.
Due to LSMSA’s proximity to Northwestern State University’s facilities, the competition has been held at the school since 2013.
“It’s great for community building,” said Cayla Garrett (’20), “but I would love to go to their schools and see their campuses.”
Events included tennis, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, girls basketball, boys basketball, and volleyball. After the event, students were treated to an awards banquet and spirit competition, as well as an after party behind the Prudhomme residence hall.
“I really like the spirit competition,” said Sarah Johnson (’21). “I thought ASMSA had a great cheer routine.”
LSMSA has athletic opportunities in many disciplines, and allows students to play more competitively as a member of the local high schools’ teams.
Guest artist Lindsey Strand-Polyak will perform with Northwestern State faculty Dennette McDermott, Douglas Bakenhus and Francis Yang of a program of baroque music from the court of Dresden on Tuesday March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.
Strand-Polyak will play violon, McDermott will play baroque flute, Bakenhus will play baroque bassoon and Yang will play harpsicord.
The program will be “Sonata a Tre für Violine, Flöte und basso” by Pierre Buffardin, “Sonata a Flute,Violin, basfono e cembalo” by Georg Ph. Telemann but attributed to Handel,
“Passemezzo” by Johann Vierdanck, “Sonata Detta La Desperata à 2“ by Carlino Farina, “Solo Suite” by Johann Vilsmayr, “Trio Sonata Violin e Flauto” by Jiri Čart(Georg Zarth) and “Concerto in sol minor per flauto, violino, fagotto e basso” by Antonio Vivaldi
Praised for her “rococo gracefulness,” Strand-Polyak is active throughout the West Coast as a baroque violinist and violist. She performs with ensembles such as the American Bach Soloists, Musica Angelica, SeaXle Baroque Orchestra, Pacific MusicWorks and Bach Collegium San Diego. Strand-Polyak has appeared at the Oregon Bach Festival, Twin Cities Early Music Festival, and the Fringe Series of both Boston and Berkeley Early Music Festivals. She was the assistant director for the UCLA Early Music Ensemble from 2011-2015 and is co-artistic director of baroque chamber group Ensemble Bizarria and of Los Angeles Baroque—Southern California’s first community baroque orchestra.
Her lecture-recitals include events at McGill University, the University of Texas at Austin, and national meetings of the American Musicological Society. She has served on the faculty of the Colburn School and the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA and was recently appointed adjunct professor of baroque violin and viola at Claremont Graduate University. She earned her Ph.D./M.M. in musicology and violin performance from UCLA.
NATCHITOCHES: Jerry Larpenter August 13, 1930 – February 21, 2020 Service: Tuesday, March 3 at 2 pm at Friendship Church of the Nazarene in Robeline
Will Smith March 26, 1951 – February 21, 2020 Arrangements TBA
Steve Wiggins May 14, 1948 – February 21, 2020 Visitation: Thursday, February 27 from 3:30-5:30 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Crawford Ficklin, Jr. February 23, 2020 Service: Saturday, February 29 at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church, located at 411 Second Street in Natchitoches
Mary Jane Jackson Parker February 22, 2020 Service: Saturday, February 29 at 9 am at Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Anna Lou Evans Beasley February 7, 1918 – February 18, 2020 Service: Saturday, February 29 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches Interment: Weaver Cemetery in Flora
Cleveland Lewis February 15, 2020 Arrangements TBA
WINN PARISH: Dr. William “Bill” Robertson November 13, 1952 – February 24, 2020 Visitation: Thursday, February 27 beginning at 5 pm at Fellowship Baptist Church in Jena Service: Friday, February 28, 2020 at 10:00AM at the church under direction of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home
James Cecil “Gabby” Freeman Sr. August 13, 1930 – February 24, 2020 Visitation: Thursday, February 27 from 5-9 pm and Friday, February 28 from 10-11 am at Northside Baptist Church in Montgomery Service: Friday, February 28 at 11 am at Northside Baptist Church
If you, your business or a member of your non-profit organization would like to appear on The Magnolia Minute, then contact us at the email or number below!
The Magnolia Minute Natchitoches Parish Journal magnoliaminute.npj@gmail.com 318-354-4000 #6
The Parish Council voted to put plans for the creation of a sewer district for Payne Subdivision on hold while the Parish enters further negotiations with TESI. The original arrangement was that the Parish would accept the donation of the system from TESI, the company sent a letter, received by the Parish on Feb. 24, stating their continued willingness to participate in the transfer of the Payne Subdivision Sewer System and three other systems in Natchitoches Parish (Cedar Grove, Cedar Point and Point Place). And according to Council member Patsy Hoover and Marty Cheatwood, they’ve talked to constituents in at least one of these other subdivisions who said conditions are not great and TESI is not keeping up its systems.
Parish President John Richmond said he and the District Attorney are proceeding with negotiations for only the Payne Subdivision System. The Parish is not interested in taking on multiple sewer systems.
The problem is that the State Block Grant officials requested a timeline for the Payne Subdivision Sewer Project of March 21, 2020. According to Richmond, given the current state of negotiations with TESI, he’s requested the assistance of Senator Louie Bernard and Senator Jay Luneau to work to have this deadline extended.
Another big agenda item was a resolution for the Council to consider for or against keeping the Home Rule Charter and Council-President form of government and to vote by motion to begin an introduction ordinance to repeal the Charter and to give the pleasure of the voters of Natchitoches Parish in regard to continuing to utilize the Home Rule Charter Council-President form of government or repeal the Charter for this form of government and replace it with the Police Jury form of government. Council members Jim Kilcoyne and Cheatwood voted against this resolution.
In other business, the Office of Head Start offered to donate two classroom buildings in Mansfield to the Parish and pay to have them moved to the Natchitoches Parish Landfill. They were blocked and placed in their permanent locations and estimates of cost to remodel are being compiled. They are looking at using the buildings for a Solid Waste Scale House office and for storage.
Richmond also asked the Council to vote against an ordinance, which would approve a cooperative endeavor agreement between the Parish and Save the Children to lease Parish property at 700 Trudeau Street. Richmond said he feels the property would be better put to use to move the Parish’s Office of Community Service into. The OCS is currently housed at the Natchitoches Parish Council on Aging, but they don’t have adequate space to operate. The Trudeau building would give them seven offices versus the three they have now. Not much work would be needed to bring the building up to par and there’s already office furniture inside. The Council voted the ordinance down, except for Chris Paige who abstained.
Moving on to other business, Interim Director of Public Works Johnny Salard was approved as the new Director of Public Works for the Parish based off the Search Committee’s recommendation to the Council (Salter voted no on this item).
The Council also reviewed a cost benefit analysis regarding the current agreement with IBTS to provide services for permitting, building inspections code enforcement, and floodplain management to the Parish. The 2-year agreement will expire in June/July of 2021.
Lastly, the Council went into executive session to hear an update on a recent motor vehicle accident. It was stated that a grader operator backed the grader over a resident’s car. The Parish is dealing with a property case first and will have to face a bodily injury case to come. After the session, the Council voted to allow the Parish’s legal representation negotiate with the plaintiff’s lawyer on the matter.
Other agenda items included:
Reappoint George Minturn, Lainey Wright, and Leslie Bayonne to the Natchitoches Parish Planning Commission (Salter and Hoover voted against the reappointment of Minturn).
Reappoint Johnny Poissot to the Natchitoches Parish Fire District 5 Board
Reappoint Emile Metoyer to the Natchitoches Parish Water Works District 2 Board
Appoint James Kilcoyne to the Natchitoches Parish Hospital Service District Board (Paige abstained).
Appoint Matthew Dodson to the Saline Lake Game and Fish Preserve Commission
Introduce ordinance 001-2020 authorizing the transfer of the title to property identified as the Breda Head Start Center to Save the Children.
Introduce ordinance 003-2020 authorizing the transfer of title to property identified as the Campti Head Start Center to the Town of Campti
Introduce ordinance 004-2020 authorizing the transfer of title to property identified as the NSU Head Start Center to Northwestern State University.
The City of Natchitoches would like to invite citizens to view the embargoed draft of the Natchitoches Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and Natchitoches Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan at the following locations between February 27th and March 17th.
Natchitoches City Hall 700 Second Street Natchitoches, LA. Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau 780 Front Street, Suite 100 Natchitoches, LA. Office Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
This final phase of the project will allow citizens to view the documents as well as issue public comments. The City encourages citizen participation for anyone interested in enhancing the quality of life by improving walking and biking infrastructure within the City of Natchitoches.
For more information, please contact City Hall at (318)352-2772.
Natchitoches City Council a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
PLANNING & ZONING – FINAL:
#018 Harrington Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 64 Of 2001 By Changing Zoning Classification Of Property Described As Follows: 4.567 Ac. In Sec. 81-9-7 S Side Robeline Hwy. Being N Part of Lot 5 On Map By Hyams, Less 0.082 of An Acre To Hwy. Dept., Less 1.1130 Ac. To Robert C. & Peggy Hughes, Et Al from B-2 Commercial to R-1 Residential Single-Family to conform with the current single-family use of the parcel (4273 University Parkway)
APPROVED
ORDINANCES – FINAL:
#004 Mims Ordinance Extending The City Limits Of The City Of Natchitoches Annexing Property Situated To The North And West Of The Current Corporate Limits Of The City Of Natchitoches, Located In Sections 13, 14, 125, 126, 132 And 134, Township 9 North, Range 7 West, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, And Adjacent To The Existing Municipal Limits Of The City Of Natchitoches, Being A Total Of 275 Acres, More Or Less, And Further Providing For The Fixing Of A Public Hearing, Advertisement, Fixing Council District For Same, Fixing Zoning Classification And Providing For An Effective Date Of The Ordinance. Tom Moore appeared before the council and spoke against the Annexing of the proposed property. Mr. Moore was unsure that all of the signatories obtained were in fact authorized by the actual person.
Councilwoman Syliva Morrow stated she felt like many of the petition signatories were “pushed in to signing.”
Billy Weaver appeared before the council and explained the hard work that was done in obtaining the petition and that he supported the effort.
APPROVED 3-2 with Morrow and Batiste voting NO
#009 Morrow Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Or His Designee To Advertise An Airport Hanger Lease For Maintenance Shop, Establishing The Terms And Conditions For Said Lease Which Will Include Obligation Of Lessee To Provide An Experienced Aircraft Mechanic And Aircraft Mechanics Shop For Fixed Wing And Rotor Wing Aircraft, Authorizing Mayor To Execute Lease After Due Advertisements And Compliance With Law In Accordance Louisiana Revised Statutes 2:135.1. (Aero-Mech)
APPROVED
#011 Nielsen Ordinance Authorizing The Mayor Of The City Of Natchitoches To Award The Bid For LA – 6 West Turn Lane And J-Turn (Bid No. 0624)
APPROVED
#012 Mims Ordinance Authorizing A Concession Agreement In Favor Of Lasyone’s Meat Pies, Inc., To Handle Concessions At Parc Natchitoches Including Right To Sell Food, Beverages, Confections, Merchandise Products And Other Similar Items, Confirming The Term Of The Agreement, Conditions, And Consideration For Said Agreement And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Said Concession Agreement On Behalf Of The City, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.
APPROVED
#017 Nielsen Ordinance Creating The Natchitoches Economic Development District D, State Of Louisiana And Defining The Boundaries Thereof; Pledging And Dedicating Incremental Sales Tax Revenues Collected Therein; Requiring The Initial Annual Baseline Sales Tax And Monthly Collection Rates Therein To Be Certified By The City’s Finance Director; And Otherwise Providing With Respect Thereto.
APPROVED
#019 Mims Ordinance Authorizing A Beverage Agreement In Favor Of Shreveport Coca-Cola Bottling Company, To Provide Beverages At Parc Natchitoches Said Agreement Providing For Term, Consideration, And Commissions And Other Conditions, And Authorizing The Mayor To Execute The Said Beverage Agreement On Behalf Of The City, Providing For Advertising, Further Providing For Severability, And Further Providing For A Repealer And Effective Date Of Ordinance.
APPROVED
#020 Batiste Ordinance Amending The 2019-2020 Budget To Reflect Additional Revenues And Expenditures.
APPROVED
#021 Harrington Ordinance Amending The 2019-2020 Budget To Reflect Additional Revenues And Expenditures.
APPROVED
#022 Batiste Ordinance Amending The 2019-2020 Budget To Reflect Additional Revenues And Expenditures.
APPROVED
ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION:
#023 Morrow Ordinance Amending Chapter 28.1 Of The Code Of Ordinances, Entitled Stormwater Code, By Adopting Sections 28.1, Article X, Subsections 28.1-192 Through 28.1-195 Providing For Drainage Standards.
INTRODUCTION ONLY
#024 Nielsen Ordinance To Amend And Reenact Ordinance Number 1103 Of 1974, Also Known As The Zoning Ordinance, Which Is Appendix B To The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Natchitoches, Louisiana, Specifically Amending Section Ii(A)(4), Dealing With Annexed Territory Zoning For Mobile Home Placement, And Section Iii(A)(4), Dealing With Supplementary Use Regulations, And Sections Viii (B)(4) And (B)(5), Dealing With Amendments, And Sections Vii (A)(7) And (B)(3)(B) Dealing With Violations And Enforcement Of Zoning Regulations, And Sections I And V(B)(3)(A) To Add Provision For Permeable Parking, And Further Adopting A Preferred Use Plan For The Development Of Property On The Louisiana Highway 478 Corridor.
INTRODUCTION ONLY
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Monday, March 9, 2020.
The Natchitoches Chapter of Brother’s Keepers, a motorcycle club whose members are all associated with firefighting, was the place to be Saturday, February 22 as they held their quarterly BBQ plate lunch fundraiser.
The plate lunches were truly superb and featured a choice of BBQ Chicken, burger or sausage with beans as only a firehouse can make them, potato salad and a drink.
The Natchitoches Brother’s Keepers chapter is one of around 35 in the United States, Canada and Australia. Each chapter supports a charity of their choice. The Natchitoches Chapter’s main focus is the Shriner’s Hospital in Shreveport.
Come out to the next plate lunch fundraiser, enjoy a wonderful meal, and support the Brother’s Keepers MC as they help the Shriner’s Hospital in their mission of making children’s lives better.
In the late 1960s, Lee was a young piano player in a band which performed on military bases. Lee and the other band members enjoyed playing for the troops, and they got varying responses. Sometimes the crowds were well-behaved, but on other occasions it was “high times and flying furniture.” Lee and the other members of the band preferred something in between. While onstage, the band enjoyed themselves. Offstage, however, they were bored. There was little for the band to do offstage to entertain themselves. The monotony of the military bases drove the band to long bouts of boredom. Lee remembered that all of the buildings and people in uniform looked alike.
After their late show one night at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which ended around 2 a.m., the band sat around their van talking. Their conversation varied from topic to topic and, somehow, they got on the subject of learning to drive. Lee explained that he had never driven an automobile. There they found an escape from the monotony.
Lee was from a poor, broken home. His parents had split up while Lee was an infant, and, shortly after his father left, his mother abandoned him. He lived a short time with his impoverished grandparents who were unable to take proper care of the young child. They sent him away to a boarding school at the age of five. It was at school that Ronnie Lee discovered his love and talent for music.
The band members poured into the band’s van. The parking lot was deserted by that time, which offered Lee the perfect place to learn to drive without obstructions. Lee sat in the driver’s seat. Guitarist Stan Reece sat behind Lee to give him instructions. The other band members were just along for the ride. Stan explained that he would push on Lee’s left shoulder to turn left, would push on his right to turn right, and would tell him when to speed up or slow down. What could go wrong?
Lee struggled to drive the band’s van. Rather than soft, fluid motions, Lee jerked the wheel left and right. Lee overcorrected each time Stan pushed on one of Lee’s shoulders. Stan told Lee to slow down and he slammed on the brakes. The van came to a screeching halt. The drummer flew from the back seat into the console between the front seats, and decided it would be safer for him to walk.
With one less passenger, Lee decided to leave the safety of the parking lot and drive on the street. Lee had just a single turn from the main street of the base to get to their hotel. No one objected. They drove down Bragg Boulevard in a sort of zig-zag pattern. As they neared the exit gate of the base, the few cars that were in front of them suddenly stopped. Just as before, Lee brought the van to a screeching halt. At the front of the line of cars, a military policeman glanced back at the van then turned back to the car nearest him. MPs had set up a roadblock to check for drunk drivers and were checking everyone’s driver’s license.
Lee, who was driving without a license, had no opportunity to switch places with any of the passengers. Lee had no choice but to face the consequences. He slowly pulled forward. When he reached the front of the line, the MP told him to exit the car, something he had not done with the other drivers. Lee politely and respectfully followed all of the MP’s instructions. The MP asked to see Lee’s driver’s license. Lee replied that he had not planned to drive that night and left his license in his hotel room. The MP became furious and scolded him for driving on the base without his license. Lee calmly explained that he and the band had played a gig for the soldiers on the base and the other members of the band were too intoxicated to drive back to the hotel. The MP’s anger subsided.
Lee knew the MP had seen him weaving while driving and assumed the MP thought he had been drinking. The MP spoke with Lee for a few minutes to make sure he was sober, and finally allowed him to continue on his way. The MP told Lee not to ever let him see him driving that way again. As soon as Lee pulled the van out of sight of the MPs, he pulled over and Johnny Christopher, the bass player, drove the rest of the way to the hotel.
That was Lee’s first and last time driving an automobile. To this day, Lee tells the story of his Fort Bragg driving lesson with a smile on his face. Lee still laughs at how he was too embarrassed to tell the MPs that he was guilty of driving while blind. For the blind man behind the wheel that night at Fort Bragg, who is credited with thirty-five number one country hits, whose middle name is Lee, was six-time Grammy Award winner Ronnie Milsap.
Source: Ronnie, Milsap. Almost Like a Song. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990.
The Natchitoches Soil & Water Conservation Tree and Shrub Sale, March 11-13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the vacant lot at the corner of St. Clair Ave and Williams Ave in Natchitoches.
There will be a variety of bare root and potted trees and shrubs, including River Birch, Live Oak, Sawtooth Oak, Strawberry Bush, Chinquapin, White, and pink Dogwood, Crape Myrtle, Fern, Azalea, Native Azalea, Gardenia, Hydrangea Red, Indian Hawthorne, Sweet Olive, Sago Palm, Mayhaw, Apple, Peach, Pear, Plum, Blueberry, Fig, Grafted Pecans, Satsumas, Lemon, Avocado, Pomegranate, Paw-Paw and others.
The tree sale is the NSWCD’s largest fund-raiser of the year. All proceeds benefit the community through sponsoring area projects including: conservation essay, and soil and water stewardship week, conservation education programs, forestry awareness and restoration of wildlife habitats and feral hog control.
For more information call 357-8366, ext 3, or email benny.dobson@la.nacdnet.net or brandy.hinds@la.nacdnet.net . Go to our district website http://www.nswcd.org to PRE-ORDER by clicking the shop tab under tree sale and find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. There are a limited number of seedlings available, so far best selections come early.
Carolyn Ann Buckley Aldredge, age 77, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. The family will receive friends at the Blanchard St Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Tuesday, February 25, 2020, and the funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm in the Chapel. Interment will be at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches.
Carolyn was born on January 19, 1943. She was a native of Natchitoches, graduated from Natchitoches High School and attended Northwestern State College. Carolyn loved helping young people, loved to dance, and often spoke fondly of the time she spent as the St. Mary’s dance line sponsor. She also enjoyed the many years she spent as a real estate agent before her retirement. Carolyn was known lovingly to her family as “MawMaw”, and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a loving, compassionate and spunky lady, a great mother, and a good friend. She will be dearly missed.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Dessie Edwards Buckley; two brothers, Marvin and Roy Buckley; and two sisters, Mary Beth Greeson and Janet Radasinovich. She is survived by her three sons, J. Corwyn Aldredge, Jr. and wife Missy of Natchitoches, Jason K. Aldredge of Natchitoches, and J. Trevor Aldredge and wife Heather of Colfax; seven grandchildren, Justin C Aldredge and wife Stacey of Natchitoches, Ashley Brooks and husband Lawrence of West Monroe, Katie Aldredge of College Station, Texas, Austin Aldredge of North Little Rock, Arkansas, Tucker Aldredge of Alexandria, Paige Aldredge of Baton Rouge, and Drake Aldredge of Colfax; two great-grandchildren, Tate LaCour and Boston Brooks; and two brothers, Dick Buckley of Lake O’ the Pines, Texas, and Jimmy Buckley and wife Paula of Natchitoches.
Pallbearers will be Justin Aldredge, Paige Aldredge, Drake Aldredge, Lawrence Brooks, Miller Parker, and Chris Kendrick. Honorary pallbearer will be Tucker Aldredge.
NSU– A print by Northwestern State University Professor of Art Michael Yankowski has been accepted into two national print competitions. His limited edition, hand-drawn lithographic print is entitled “He Just Couldn’t Shake the Feeling.” Entries from across the nation in a variety of print media were juried into the exhibitions. Only 50 works were accepted into each show.
The print depicts a lone figure entering an aging forest as a murder of crows assemble on the treetops.
“The image is an expression of anxiety and what the future may hold. Its stark use of black and white gives the idea an ominous vibe” said Yankowski. “I was quite surprised to have the same print selected for two national shows at the same time. It is a bit unusual. Luckily it is an edition of five.”
“Under Pressure” is a National Printmaking Exhibition at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Colorado which will open February 29 and run through April 11.
“Ink Matters”, also a national competition, will be on display at the University of Indiana Kokomo Art Gallery, March 6-21.
Yankowski is a senior faculty member in the Department of Creative and Performing Arts. More of his work can be seen at the Carol Robinson Gallery in New Orleans and on-line at MichaelYankowski.com
Natchitoches Parish – On February 24, 2020, just after 11:30 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle, fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 174 east of Interstate 49. This crash claimed the life of a Natchitoches woman.
The initial investigation revealed a 2002 Toyota Camry, driven by 26-year-old Teshika Delry, was traveling westbound on Louisiana Highway 174. For reasons still under investigation, Delry traveled off the right side of the highway and into a ditch. Delry then overcorrected her steering which caused her vehicle to travel across the westbound travel lane and collide with a 2007 Dodge pickup truck traveling eastbound.
Delry, who was unrestrained, sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, who was properly restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Buckling up is the most effective way to protect yourself in a crash. Failure to take a few seconds to buckle up can have devastating consequences. Louisiana law requires every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, to be properly restrained day or night.
In 2020, Troop E has investigated seven fatal crashes resulting in eight deaths.
Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Deputies, Red River Parish Sheriffs Deputies, Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS, Red River EMS, Natchitoches Parish Coroners Office and La DOTD also responded to the the scene to assist Louisiana State Police.
