The Ben D. Johnson Educational Center is now enrolling for its workforce program. The 16-week program serves young people ages 17-24 years old that are out of work, not in school and have barriers to employment. Students learn leadership and soft skills, are trained in food service and receive support to overcome their barriers.

The program is free for students to attend, additionally they earn $25 each day they attend class and are given breakfast and lunch daily. At the end of the program we help them find permanent employment.

If you know of anyone who you think could benefit please direct them to our center:

400 MLK Drive, Suite A
Natchitoches, Louisiana 
(318)-460-7460

NATCHITOCHES:
Ina Ruth Pleasant
March 24, 1927 – January 02, 2020
Service: Monday, January 6 at 11 am at St. Ann’s Catholic Church
Interment: St. Ann’s Cemetery in Robeline

R.D. “Joe Achord
October 16, 1931 – January 01, 2020
Services held January 4

Gloria McGaskey Caruthers
January 02, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Kanick Lewis, Sr.
November 19, 1918 – December 29, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Mattie Mae Sanders
October 25, 1918 – January 03, 2020
Services held January 5

Carol Ann James
January 28, 1963 – January 04, 2020
Service: Monday, January 6 at 10 am at Southern Funeral Home

Anita Coleman
July 23, 1951 – January 04, 2020
Service: Tuesday, January 7 at 2 pm at Gloryway Church
Interment: Antioch Community Cemetery in Brewton’s Mill

RAPIDES:
Claudette Polk Jones
July 8, 1931 – January 3, 2020
Services held January 4

RED RIVER:
Kay Austin McElwee
July 27, 1938 – January 04, 2020
Service: Monday, January 6 at 2 pm at the First United Methodist Church in Coushatta
Interment: Zion Cemetery in Fairview Alpha

July 24, 1989 ~ December 28, 2019

Her many talents came from the same place our pain now emanates – the heart.

Carley Ann McCord (30), was flying high with friends traveling to cover the LSU game for WDSU – TV when God re-routed the flight calling her home on December 28, 2019. The sum of one’s life is the mark they leave upon the world. Carley left a bigger mark in 30 years than most leave in a lifetime. You are now reading she has tragically died, but our strength lies in knowing she is more alive today than ever. Carley would not want to be remembered for her list of accolades, but the story she penned on our lives.

From birth, she smelled of raw talent. Lucky us, she chose to share it freely. Early on, Carley met her passion for sports on the floor of St. Michael the Archangel High School’s gym, becoming a national powerlifting champion by age 15. Upon graduation from St. Michael’s, Carly enrolled at Northwestern State University.

In college, Carley found herself in a wonderland between tiaras, touchdowns and true friendships. It was never Carley’s idea to enter a pageant, but her Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority sisters refused to take “no” for an answer. Forcing her to enter her first-ever pageant, Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet, which she won by a landslide her sophomore year. With ingenuity and this new title, she came to realize she could fund her education and capitalize on her career goal of becoming a sideline football sports reporter.

Carley went on to further her education at Southeastern and Louisiana State University graduating in broadcast journalism, all the while claiming 4 other pageant titles and multiple awards from the Miss America Organization for her singing talent, physical fitness and interview style. She was first runner-up to Miss Louisiana two consecutive years. Some may deem this a loss, to Carley it was an unanswered prayer. The phone rang the next day, on the other end – Michael Lombardi. He offered a unique position he carved out just for her with the Cleveland Browns; with her acceptance the stage was set.

With NFL experience under her belt, Carley returned home to Louisiana where she laid her personality on us through television and radio. She became a firebrand sports analyst and household name for her marked intelligence, infectious personality and megawatt smile. The confident directness in her voice echoes as we reflect on reporting from sidelines of the Superdome, Tiger Stadium, the floor of the New Orleans Pelicans, and interviews with legends like Archie Manning, Drew Brees, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Carley’s career’s expansion came from her entrepreneurial initiative to step into the role of independent freelancer. At the time of her death, she held eight jobs: in-house media host for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, TV sports reporter for WDSU, sideline reporter for ESPN and Cox Sports, in-house digital media manager for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, travel agent, and international instructor teaching children in China to speak English as a second language. When she could break away, you would find her jumping on the trampoline with her niece and nephew, hosting king cake parties, dancing with friends, schooling others how to do hair and makeup, traveling to the beach or spending time with her dog – Reggie Bush. Throughout it all, she was given loving support from her husband Steven Ensminger, Jr.

In the stories of our lives, some things are handed to people, others like Carley have to roll up their sleeves and show some teeth. Carley once remarked, “I like to do things women are normally underestimated to do.” She lived between two sub-titles: I have something to prove, and I am uniquely me. In her life story, she marked the recipe for the making of a star – sheer talent, encouragement, a clear passion, work ethic, a sprinkle of ingenuity and a dash of love. And on the last page, she left a quote: “Only rainbows after rain, the sun will always come again.”

Carley is preceded in death by her grandparents Dr. V.L. McCord, M.D., and Joseph Culotta of Slidell. Carley is survived in death by her husband, Steven Ensminger, Jr., her parents Tracy and Karen McCord, siblings Carson McCord and Kaleigh McCord-Pedersen, brother-in-law Todd Pedersen, nieces and nephews Palmer and Parker Pedersen, grandmothers Frances McCord and Miriam Culotta.

Services will be held at the church where Carley was a member since birth, St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Baton Rouge on Saturday, January 4, 2020. Visitation is at 9:00am-1:00pm. Funeral Mass is at 1:00pm. Graveside service follows immediately for family only. A fellowship remembrance social with food and refreshments will be held after Mass in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Carley McCord’s Northwestern State University scholarship fund online: http://www.northwesternstatealumni.com/donations/carley-mccord-memorial-scholarship/ Donations can also be mailed: NSU Foundation, Attn: Carley McCord Memorial Scholarship, 535 University Parkway, Natchitoches, LA 71497.

Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

The Great Contemporary worship band, Five Man Electrical Band sang a protest anthem back in the early 1970’s. I have previously alluded to this song entitled “Signs.” The lyrics of the first verse are:

And the sign said “Long-haired freaky people need not apply”
So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said “You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you’ll do”
So I took off my hat, I said “Imagine that. Huh! Me workin’ for you!”
Whoa-oh-oh
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

The Five Man Electrical Band even had a verse for the church. It is a good reminder to pastors:

And the sign said, “Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray”
But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all
I didn’t have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign
I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine”
Wooo!

I think about this early 70’s anthem when I’m driving. I confess that I read road signs and bumper stickers while driving. I don’t text and drive. I read the signs outside the car and drive. As general rule, I enjoy longer drives. There are some amusing signs out there.

I spent the last Monday of 2019 driving from our fair city to Clinton, Louisiana. I am the coach for Clinton United Methodist Church. It is funny that in your own church you are a dufus but drive a couple of hundred miles and you magically become an expert with all the answers. I think Jesus said something about not being honored in your own town. I digress. I was down there helping that church keep its doors opened and its lights on.

I took the scenic route down Highway 1 to Clinton. North of Marksville traffic was backed up by an 18-wheeler. The truck must have been heavily loaded because the most speed it could muster was 48 miles an hour. I was behind this truck for at least ten miles. After a while I started giggling uncontrollably. On the back door of the truck, in large letters was the name of the trucking line. SWIFT. If you are driving a truck under the moniker of SWIFT trucking, you need to be!

I did take a picture of the truck so I would remember to write about him, or her.

I didn’t attach that picture to this article. I attached another one.

The other day I was pumping gas into my bottomless gas tank. There is not much to do when pumping gas. I looked down and noticed the gas pump. The pump had two signs on either side of the gas pump that were in contradiction to each other. I still don’t know if I was pumping gas that contained ethanol or ethanol free gasoline. It is not a big deal. I was struck by the contradiction of signs in very close proximity.

It gave me pause. Am I consistent in my Christian walk? Do I tell people to do one thing and I do another? Do I say, “Jesus loves you” with open hands or closed fists when I’m speaking? I didn’t kneel at the gas pump to pray. But I did pray.

“Lord forgive me when I send mixed signals, or I don’t live as a shining witness to your light.” If you have been harmed by my inconsistent signage, I ask your forgiveness as well.

My name is Eddie Harrington and I am running for a second term as Natchitoches’ District 1 City Councilman. I took office four years ago and have truly enjoyed the work and have been humbled by your support. As a City Councilman I will continue to fulfill the promises I made four years ago. Promises such as; to always be truthful and open; to always be open minded; to follow the rules and ordinances which govern the city; to treat everyone as equals; to always be available via telephone, face to face meetings or via my Facebook page. If you elect me you are electing an individual who will think for himself, consider all options and strive to make the best decisions based on the facts of the situation and the rules/ordinances presented. I believe my voting record clearly reflects that. Thank you all for your continued support throughout these past four years. I humbly request your vote for me on April 4, 2020.

C. Edward “Eddie” Harrington
318-352-5900
Eddie.harrington@theharringtonlawfirm.com
www.facebook.com/natchitochesdistrict1

The regular monthly meeting of the Airport Commission will take place on Tuesday, January 21 at 5 p.m. at the Airport Terminal building and not on its usually schedule date of Monday, January 20. This change is in observance of the MLK Holiday.

BOM sponsored the Robeline First Baptist Deer Festival this past fall. Pictured are LeeAnn Edwards, Carolyn Jones, and Katrice Below.

NATCHITOCHES:
Gloria McGaskey Caruthers
January 02, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Bonnie Jeanette Rasberry Settle
July 28, 1938 – December 29, 2019
Service: Friday, January 3 at 10 am at First Baptist Church of Marthaville
Interment: Marthaville Cemetery.

Kanick Lewis, Sr.
November 19, 1918 – December 29, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Annois Willie Christial
October 10, 1951 – December 27, 2019
Service: Saturday, January 4 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

O. P. Moore
December 27, 2019\
Service: Saturday, January 4 at 12 pm at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

WINN:
Russell A. Ducote
August 13, 1948 – December 12, 2019
Service: Friday, January 3, 2019 at 1 pm at Pollock Cemetery

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A surging Northwestern State team that’s seemingly found its stride will attempt to keep its winning streak going Thursday when the Demons visit Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

NSU (4-7, 1-1 SLC) won its past two games in victories against Lamar and Champion Christian, its first winning streak since taking three in a row from Dec. 15-30 of 2018.

The Demons bump into an Islander (4-9, 0-2 SLC) squad trying to end a four-game slide, but three of those losses have come by six points or less.

TAMU-CC dropped close contests to Texas A&M (three points), Nicholls (six points) and Central Arkansas (four points) before falling at Nebraska by 21 points.

Listen LIVE to all the action with Patrick Netherton on the Demon Sports Network on 959 Kix Country.    CLICK HERE TO LISTEN  Game Tips at 7 p.m.

By Reba Phelps

Until a few years ago I had always kept my business life completely separate from my spiritual life. The two had never been formally introduced to each other. It was almost as if I were living two lives and took extra measures to ensure that church and state (business state) were completely separate. It was as if I left my faith at the door and picked it up again when I went home for the day.

Not that I was a backsliding hooligan during business hours, I just didn’t see the need to bother the man upstairs with these issues.

Being in the insurance industry for over twenty-five years I have witnessed a lot of devastation and misery through the eyes of my clients. Since day one I have always held a high regard for my clients and have taken care of them with so much compassion. In my career it is so easy to ask God, “why?”. It is very hard to see bad things happen to good people.

But, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I started whole heartedly praying for my clients as well as my coworkers. I began totally relying on the wisdom gained from the good book and applying it as needed. Once I added this small ingredient to the recipe of my career, my whole world changed. My eyes started opening up to the fact that God does not clock in and out of our lives like a time clock.

His interest in us is not seasonal or confined to Sunday mornings.

The following is five simple areas that I have tried to surrender and let my faith take over as needed:

Faith reminds me to always put God first. In a world that is so ambitiously competing for our attention it is almost encouraged to make your career your God. Nothing in this world lasts unless you whole-heartedly put God first. I am so blessed to work for a company that encourages God first, family second, and then work.

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17

Faith reminds me to not hold grudges. In the business world it is so easy to carry hard feelings and baggage from one transaction to another. No one is perfect all of the time. People make mistakes. People are late. People can be unkind. People will disappoint you every time. There is only person who never disappoints us.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

Faith is there to be sure that I do not sacrifice honesty and integrity for large accounts or accolades that do not belong to me. When you are in the business of sales, numbers are important. It is easy to cut corners and treat people like numbers. When you treat people the way they are supposed to be treated, the numbers take care of themselves. When you lessen the focus of who gets the credit you will win in the end.

“His master replied, ‘well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come share your master’s happiness.’”

Mathew 25:23

Faith helps me understand closed doors and open doors. Things happen and don’t happen for a reason. We may not always understand the how’s and the why’s, but things do truly happen and don’t happen the way they are meant to occur. It may take years to know why something didn’t work out but it will always be for our own good when we rely on our faith.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Faith is helping me and reminding me to understand that goals are unachievable without plans and plans are unachievable without discipline. This year I hope to maximize every minute of every day that God has graced me with to be a better and more faithful, mom, sister, friend, employee, manager, public servant, and writer. I pray he orders my steps and my actions all year.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

Colossians 3:23

In the new year, I encourage you to hold a meet and greet with your personal faith and your career and to continue to incorporate them on a daily basis in 2020. Bringing your faith to work is not a name tag you wear or a title on your business card or desk plate. It is not a glaring eye that you give to coworkers or clients who are not perfect. Faith is what will sustain you through the tough days and the small voice inside that reminds you that everything will be okay.

Faith lives in your heart and changes you from the inside out. Happy New Year.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A surging Northwestern State team that’s seemingly found its stride will attempt to keep its winning streak going Thursday when the Demons visit Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

NSU (4-7, 1-1 SLC) won its past two games in victories against Lamar and Champion Christian, its first winning streak since taking three in a row from Dec. 15-30 of 2018.

The Demons bump into an Islander (4-9, 0-2 SLC) squad trying to end a four-game slide, but three of those losses have come by six points or less.

TAMU-CC dropped close contests to Texas A&M (three points), Nicholls (six points) and Central Arkansas (four points) before falling at Nebraska by 21 points.

“(TAMU-CC) coach Willis Wilson will run his stuff, and they should have won against Texas A&M, a like opponent for us,” said NSU coach Mike McConathy, who surpassed the 650 career-win total Sunday and is just one shy of 300 wins on the NSU sidelines. “They pass the ball extremely well, and Myles Smith is a really good player.

“They attack and move the ball, and they take the air out of the ball and attack the clock. You have to rebound with them and stay in front of them. We can’t give up second chance opportunities against a strong, physical team. We have to take care of the ball.”

The Demons started their positive progression in a hard-fought loss at Sam Houston State before winning against Lamar and Champion Christian.

NSU’s offense is warming up, shooting better than 45 percent in its last three games after having five outputs below 40 percent in its first eight contests.

NSU shot 49 percent against SHSU, 45 percent vs. Lamar and 58 percent vs. Champion Christian.

Chudier Bile (11-13), Nikos Chougkaz (12-20), Larry Owens (5-7) and Robert Chougkaz (4-4) have contributed heavily to the accuracy improvement in the past two games. Jairus Roberson has improved significantly, shooting 9-of-20 and 7-of-16 from 3-point range in his last two contests.

The Demons’ defense is better, too, allowing 61 points each to Lamar and Champion Christian after allowing nearly 79 points per game in the first nine contests.

NSU forced CCC to shoot just 25 percent from the floor and 16 percent from deep.

While this season’s Islanders might be battling a four-game losing streak, they have a different type of streak in this series.

The Islanders have won the last six against NSU, although four of those games have been in the American Bank Center.

The last two meetings have come down to the final possession as the Islanders pulled out a one-point win this past season in Natchitoches and a two-point victory two years ago.

Myles Smith, who leads the Islanders with more than 15 points per game this season, hit a last-second shot two years ago to lift TAMU-CC to a win.

A win Thursday would be NSU’s first 2-1 SLC start since 2014-15, but the victory could open the door to an even better start with a home game against winless Houston Baptist (entering Thursday’s play) on Sunday followed by a road game at Incarnate Word (3-9) next week.

Photo Credit: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

By Joe Darby

Well, folks, I promised in my column a couple of weeks ago to keep you informed about our coming adoption of a pup from Hope for Paws. And I think there’s some neat things to tell you about what’s happened.

Mary and I are now the official owners, or human companions if you will, of a terrific little 12-pound bundle of love and energy. She’s described as a poodle mix and she very well may have poodle in her because of her very curly hair. She is what some would refer to as a Heinz 57, because she has maybe 57 varieties of pooch in her

But her DNA background is not really important. Her loving personality is her most salient feature. More on that later. And her energy is rather astounding too. Her foster mom Carla Salard thinks she might have some Jack Russell in her and everybody knows how much energy those little fellows have.

It’s not every dog that has such a loving personality. Woah. Just as I finished the previous sentence, sitting and writing on my computer, she jumped into my lap. In fear that she might start walking over the keyboard and creating something that might look like this — e8hs,pt2,90k — I had to put her down.

So, where was I. Oh yes. Carla had named her Sadie, a perfectly good name. But we wanted to give her a name that indicated our feelings for her and we came up with Baby. It is very fitting because she sometimes acts like a baby and also because, when pronounced, Baby sounds like Sadie, so she should not be confused when we call her.

For the first hour or so after Carla dropped her off at our house last week, she cried for her departed “Mama.” And that was fine, because it showed she has loving feelings for us human folk.

But after she started to settle in, she showed what an affectionate pooch she really is. She was seemingly careful to show that she loved us both. She would spend about 10 minutes in Mary’s lap, as they sat in Mary’s green chair, then she would hop over to me on the couch, giving me about the same amount of time. She is certainly an equal opportunity dog!

Then we started to play with her, using a little squeaky toy that Karla had left with us. When I threw the little toy across the room, she ran top speed to retrieve it, skidding a few feet on the floor after grabbing it, then showed her mountain goat-like agility by jumping from couch to couch to chair, walking precariously along the top of the backrests. Once I caught up with Baby I tried to take the toy but she gave me a friendly growl and gripped it like a bulldog. Then, like her ancestor wolves did, trying to break the neck of their prey, Baby shook the toy from side to side, so fast that her little head was a blur.

She has had a couple of little “accidents” in the house, but we think that’s because she is just settling in to a new environment. She handles pretty well on a leash, only pulling a little when taken on a short walk. And she loves our big back yard and is sometimes reluctant to come inside when we call her. An offer of a treat after she goes out seems to be curing that problem.

So, here we are, with Baby, a precious little animal that we hope to cherish and enjoy for years to come. Like I said, she is just a little ball of love.

Mary and I went out to eat on New Year’s Eve afternoon. When we came home, Baby was nowhere in the house. We frantically searched every room. No dog. Panic. Fear. Both doors were locked and she was definitely inside when we left. Did someone come in, take her then lock the door behind them? Not very likely.

So we go outside to look for her in the neighborhood, although it bends reality to think she could have left the house. I look back at our house and there she is. She’s sitting on a window ledge, between the glass and the curtain, looking out at me as if to say , “Hey, what are you doing out there.”

The rascal had to have heard our voices when we were searching for her. Maybe this was her way of getting back at us for leaving her alone. Hang on, I said to Mary, having Baby is going to be an interesting ride.

Anne Cummins, Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau intern, was recently recognized as an Academy of Country Music Volunteer of the Year for 2019. Volunteers are nominated by the Volunteer Leads, Captains and ACM staff for their outstanding volunteer service and valuable contribution the Academy.

Cummins volunteered during the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2019 in Las Vegas, NV.

“It was an honor to be recognized as a Volunteer of the Year for the ACMs,” said Cummins. “So many people volunteer and pour countless hours into this organization and their event, and it is humbling to be recognized by such an amazing organization.”

Cummins is a senior at Northwestern State University studying hospitality management and tourism. She has worked for the NACVB for the past three years as a travel counselor and currently as the Groups and Tourism Sales Intern. Anne will graduate from NSULA in May 2020 and plans to continue working for the NACVB.

After a quick trip out of Southland Conference play, Northwestern State returns to league play with a pivotal three-game home stand to start the New Year.

The Lady Demons (3-8, 0-2) begin the three game stretch on Thursday with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (8-4, 2-0) making the trip to Prather Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. with LIVE coverage available on 92.3 The Fox – click here to listen today.  

NSU showed plenty of bright spots in the two SLC losses prior to the Christmas break. A tie game midway through the fourth quarter against Sam Houston slipped through the fingers, and a three-point loss at Lamar make the Lady Demons 0-2 in conference.

With a trip to Austin and a matchup with a surging, ranked Texas team, the Lady Demons look to build on the progress they showed in those two games before Christmas, and move passed the one immediately following.

“You just have to regroup after a game like that and understand that conference is the most important,” fourth-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said. “We were right there in those first two conference games.

“If you do the little things there we’re 2-0 instead of 0-2. We’re not far off and we just have to continue to work on executing those little things in order to pull out victories in conference.”

Missed free throws and layups, fouls and turnovers have plagued the Lady Demons all season with one of the top teams in the conference the next challenge to be faced.

The Islanders lost their last outing at Texas A&M on Sunday 85-48, but enjoyed a four game winning streak prior to that, including two conference wins against Nicholls and Central Arkansas.

“They’re always physically tough and defensively oriented and going to do what they need to do to score,” Dupuy said. “It’s going to be a tough, hard-nosed, hard-fought game where possession by possession is going to be critical.”

Corpus averages 63.6 points per game, sixth most in the conference, led by seniors Dalesia Booth and Alexes Bryant who are putting in more than 11.0 points per game each.

Relying on their defense, the Islanders have held their opponents to 60 points or less nine times out of 12 this year, going 8-1 in those games. They have the fifth best scoring defense in the conference at 59.3 points per game.

With the next three games, and four of the next five, played at Prather Coliseum, the Lady Demons have the chance to set themselves up for a good first half of the conference schedule.

“We have to make sure that we take care of home court,” Dupuy said. “Especially with the front end of our schedule being loaded with home games. We have seven of our last nine games on the road this season so we’ve got to make sure we get off to a good start here. It’s absolutely critical that you take care of your home court.”

Stay connected to NSU women’s basketball by following @NSUDemonsWBB on Twitter, @nsuladydemons on Instagram or by liking Northwestern State women’s basketball on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

NATCHITOCHES:
Bonnie Jeanette Rasberry Settle
July 28, 1938 – December 29, 2019
Visitation: Thursday, January 2 from 5-9 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Service: Friday, January 3 at 10 am at First Baptist Church of Marthaville
Interment: Marthaville Cemetery.

Kanick Lewis, Sr.
November 19, 1918 – December 29, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Annois Willie Christial
October 10, 1951 – December 27, 2019
Service: Saturday, January 4 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

O. P. Moore
December 27, 2019
Service: Saturday, January 4 at 12 pm at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Lugene Cox
December 26, 2019
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Mary Ruth Loupe
June 17, 1921 – December 31, 2019
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Carl Justin Greer
January 01, 1938 – December 30, 2019
Service: Thursday, January 2 at 11 am at Southern Funeral Home

Russell A. Ducote
August 13, 1948 – December 12, 2019
Service: Friday, January 3, 2019 at 1 pm at Pollock Cemetery

Tina Tobin Smith
August 4, 1963 – December 29, 2019

Funeral services for Tina Tobin Smith will be 2 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020 at Rose-Neath Bossier Chapel. Officiating will be Father Duane Trombetta. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Minden, LA. Visitation will be 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at Rose-Neath Bossier Funeral Home.

Tina was born August 4, 1963 and passed away December 29, 2019. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Natchitoches, LA and was a bookkeeper for Northwestern State University.

She was preceded in death by her father, William J. Tobin, Jr.; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Tobin, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Harper; great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Tobin, Mr. and Mrs. Oved Irvin, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence LaCaze; great-great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Octave LaCaze, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Gallien and father-in-law, William Raymond Smith.

Tina is survived by her husband Randy Smith of Bossier City, LA; mother, Yvonne Tobin of Natchitoches, LA; mother-in-law, Carole Smith of Minden, LA; son, Bruce Tobin of Natchitoches, LA; daughter, Tiffany F. Willis and husband, Chad of Natchitoches, LA; stepson, Graham Smith of Shreveport, LA; stepdaughters, Taylor Smith of Bossier City, LA and Ava Lester of Gurdon, AR; sister, Barbara T. Roberts and husband, Dwight of Natchitoches, LA and grandchildren, Caitlyn Tobin, Railey Tobin, Hallie Jade Willis and Ella Lynn Willis.

Honoring Tina as pallbearers will be, Chad Willis, Steve Murphy, Johnny Murphy, Lynn Cook, Mark Blake and Dwight Roberts.

As the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center moves into 2020 outstanding associates from this past year we’re recognized. These seven associates truly embody the NRMC mantra of Inspiring Excellence Everyday!

NRMC Associate of the Year: Billy Tousaint, Dietary

Leader of the Year: Mona Chatman

R.N. of the Year: Lamarcus Moore

Senior Leadership Award for Non Clinical Services: Jerry Forrest

Senior Leadership Award for Clinical Ancillary Services: Marteel Simpson

LPN of the Year: Dale Jordan

CNA/Technician of the Year: Kalicia Williams

NATCHITOCHES:
Bonnie Jeanette Rasberry Settle
July 28, 1938 – December 29, 2019
Visitation: Thursday, January 2 from 5-9 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Service: Friday, January 3 at 10 am at First Baptist Church of Marthaville
Interment: Marthaville Cemetery.

Kanick Lewis, Sr.
November 19, 1918 – December 29, 2019
Arrangements TBA

Annois Willie Christial
October 10, 1951 – December 27, 2019
Service: Saturday, January 4 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

O. P. Moore
December 27, 2019
Service: Saturday, January 4 at 12 pm at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Lugene Cox
December 26, 2019
Arrangements TBA

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The Northwestern State University family came together in grief following the tragic loss of alumna Carley McCord, a well-known sports journalist and digital media reporter who was one of five people killed in a plane crash in Lafayette Saturday, Dec. 28. Friends remembered McCord as a remarkable and involved student who stayed in touch with her NSU family and was a devoted Demon supporter.

McCord, 30, earned a degree in journalism at NSU in 2011. As an undergraduate, she worked in NSU’s Recruiting Office for four years where she was a Student Ambassador and gave tours to prospective students.

“She was driven, energetic and was out to set the world on fire,” said Jana Lucky, NSU’s former director of Recruiting, now director of Enrollment Services. “Carley was very determined, but also kind and genuine. She was well-known in sports media throughout the state and always used the hashtag #womeninsports. She was a loyal Demon.”

NSU Athletic Director Greg Burke first built a connection with McCord when she approached him about career advice in athletics.

“I told her the best commodity you have is time and how you use it. She invested time and energy to advancing her career, which was on an upward trajectory,” Burke said. “She was vibrant, energetic, professional and detail oriented. She knew sports and she was good with people. A word I think of when I think of Carley is aspire. I know she was headed to a bigger stage and wanted to be a pioneer for women in sports media. The loss of someone of her ability is shocking and sad but her legacy will carry itself forward.”

McCord was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. A talented vocalist, she was crowned Miss Northwestern-Lady of the Bracelet in 2010 when her fellow contestants voted her Miss Congeniality.

McCord was a frequent visitor to Northwestern State and supported the NSU Foundation as a Columns Fund member. By Sunday, family and Tri Sigma alumnae were working with Director of Development Jill Bankston and Associate Director Danielle Antoon Cobb, a sorority sister and family friend, to create the Carley McCord Memorial Scholarship. Bankston said she and her staff will work with the McCord family to finalize scholarship criteria, which will most likely benefit young women pursuing careers in media.

McCord was a Baton Rouge native who followed her older sister Kaleigh McCord Pederson to Northwestern State. She worked as a digital media reporter for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches and was the in-game host for the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.

The group on the twin engine plane was traveling to Atlanta to attend the Peach Bowl, where McCord’s father-in-law Steve Ensminger Sr. would help coach the LSU Tigers to a win. Because of the connection to LSU, as well as McCord’s vast network of friends and colleagues in media, news of the tragedy traveled quickly and initiated an outpouring of love and support to the McCord and Ensminger families.

“Anyone who knew Carley knew she was the most energetic, passionate person, a person who embraced opportunity,” said NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio. “The news took our breath away. So many of us knew her as a very motivated and involved student and watched her career blossom into the professional that she was. She loved her university and always remembered where she came from. Carley was a role model and an inspiration to so many while she walked this earth.”

To make a contribution to the Carley McCord Memorial Scholarship, visit http://www.northwesternstatealumni.com/donations/carley-mccord-memorial-scholarship or contact Bankston at bankstonj@nsula.edu or (318) 357-4241.

By Brad Dison

Late one night in the 1860s, the exact date is unknown, Lincoln stood on a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey, and watched as the other passengers purchased tickets for their sleeping car places from the conductor. Lincoln patiently waited for his turn to board the train. The platform was crowded and the number of passengers grew quickly with every passing moment. As more and more people forced their way onto the platform, there was nowhere for them to go until they received their tickets and boarded the train. The conductor worked as quickly as he could, but three to four passengers arrived to purchase tickets in the time he finished helping a single customer. The passengers were not interested in visiting with Lincoln, whom many of them knew at a glance; they just wanted to be on their way.

As the crowd grew, they pressed Lincoln against the train’s car body. An ever-patient man, Lincoln said not a word of his situation. He saw no danger. His feet were on the platform, his body was pressed against the passenger car. The gap between the platform and passenger car was narrow. Suddenly, and without warning, the train jolted into motion and knocked Lincoln off of his feet. As he was falling, his feet went into the gap between the station platform and the moving train. Unaided, both of Lincoln’s feet would have been crushed between the platform and the train. It is more likely that he would have been pulled further into the gap by the movement of the train and crushed to death.

But someone did aid Lincoln this night. At the very moment that Lincoln lost his footing, a bystander saw what was happening and sprang into action. In a letter to a friend, Lincoln wrote that the he “was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform.” Lincoln, safe and uninjured, turned to thank his rescuer. Lincoln recognized his rescuer immediately because he was one of the most famous actors of the era. Many people professed that Booth as the greatest American actor of the 19th century. Lincoln thanked the man and called him by name. Booth,… Edwin Booth. The older brother of John Wilkes Booth had just saved the life of President Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln.

Danny Bob Turner’s place in Northwestern State baseball history has been sealed for more than half a century.

Going forward, it will be easier for all to see.

The Northwestern State Athletic Department announced Monday that Turner’s No. 7 will be retired in a ceremony this spring, honoring NSU’s first baseball All-American. Turner’s jersey retirement is the first under the department’s new policy, which incorporated input from various sources to compile a list of criteria for this honor.

Northwestern State Director of Athletics Greg Burke delivered the news to Turner personally earlier this month.

“I am very humbled by it,” said Turner, named a 1967 All-American after finishing fifth in the nation with a .411 batting average. “I really loved my years at Northwestern State. I had a wonderful time, and he surprised me when he told me what they were going to do. It’s quite an honor. It hasn’t been done that many times at Northwestern State. For me to be chosen, it’s a thrill for me.”

Turner was a three-time All-Gulf States Conference selection and helped lead the Demons to the 1967 GSC championship under coach Jack Clayton. That Demons team became the first NSU squad to advance to NCAA postseason play, reaching the College Division Midwest Regional.

Turner’s No. 7 will join four other retired numbers that reside on the center field wall at Brown-Stroud Field – Billie Roy Cook’s No. 10, Jim Wells’ No. 17, Jim Willis’ No. 28 and Brian Lawrence’s No. 29.

“What a well-deserved honor this is for Danny Bob, who was a great baseball player and is an even better person,” Burke said. “He truly was a leader on the diamond for Demon baseball but, more impressively, has been a leader in his community and profession for many years. You love seeing good people like Danny Bob receive this sort of recognition, especially knowing how much it means to his family and friends.”

The excitement over Turner’s number retirement spread to his former teammates.

“I’m so excited right now,” said Terry Alario Sr., who pitched for the Demons from 1966-69. “I can’t tell you how pleasing this is to me. Danny Bob was a remarkable athlete. He was probably one of the best teammates anybody could ever have. As far as his abilities on the baseball field, it was magnificent the way he would swing the bat. He never let you down. He was the kind of guy we always hoped would be at the plate in a key situation.”

Alario said Turner “loved RBIs,” a fact that was clear from his 1967 batting line.

Turner knocked in 27 runs in just 90 at-bats, but it was his performance in a doubleheader at the then-University of Southwestern Louisiana that stood out to both him and Alario.

Turner tripled in four consecutive at-bats across the twinbill against the Ragin’ Cajuns. In addition to being a unique feat, Turner recalled how similar all four of his three-baggers were.

“In the first game of the doubleheader, the last two times I was at bat, I hit balls to the left-center gap, and I got up the first two times in the second game and hit triples to the same spot,” he said. “You could have videotaped all four and you would have thought it was the same at-bat. They were almost the same identical hit – the same line drive, hard hit to left-center.”

Alario’s memory of the feat nearly was a carbon copy.

“That’s still the greatest accomplishment I’ve seen in baseball at any level,” Alario said. “The third time he was up, the left fielder and center fielder got closer together, and he hit it between them again. The next time, they were 20 feet apart, and he hit it in the same spot. They were rockets, absolute rockets.”

Turner’s Northwestern State athletic resume also included a spot on the undefeated 1966 football team, allowing him to play for legendary coach Jack Clayton in both sports.

Following the conclusion of his football coaching career in 1966, Clayton took over the Demon baseball coaching job and led NSU to the national postseason.

“Coach Clayton was one of the finest men I’ve ever known,” Turner said. “He was all about building character, building relationships and loving the young men who played for him. It was really a thrill to have him coach me in both baseball and football in the same year.”

Turner’s character showed off the field as well.

He created the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle on NSU’s campus, a legacy that now will be joined when his No. 7 is placed alongside the other four retired Demon baseball numbers this spring.

“I have so many wonderful memories of my time at Northwestern,” Turner said. “I spent a lot of time at the Baptist Student Union and started the first FCA huddle at Northwestern in 1964. When I think back on my time at Northwestern, I loved the time I was able to play on the national champion football team and play baseball, starting all four years. I loved my off-field life, too. I met so many Christian friends during that time.”

Pictured above: Demon baseball All-American Danny Bob Turner (left) and Northwestern State Director of Athletics Greg Burke pose for a photo after Burke informed Turner his baseball No. 7 will be retired by Northwestern State. Credit: Submitted Photo