Natchitoches Hope for Paws is pleased to present its 6th Annual Farm to Table Dinner Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 pm at the historic Cherokee Plantation. A Farm to Table Dinner is truly a special event. It promotes the overall feeling of community pride: an old fashioned flare with a modern twist.

This special autumn fundraising event will showcase local and regional products in a skillfully prepared four-course dinner presented with wine pairings.

In the spirit of community, there are limited and unique sponsorship opportunities for this event; thus allowing Natchitoches Hope for Paws to continue its mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and adopting countless unwanted animals within Natchitoches parish.

To reserve your seat bring payment to Kay Kaufman at the City Bank Keyser Avenue branch by Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Tickets are $85.00 per person

MENU:

Signature Drink: Old Fashioned

Appetizers: Boudin Board with crawfish, pork, shrimp and alligator with gourmet mustards, local honeys, baked brie and pumpkin tartlets. Paired with Champagne.

Salad: Fresh greens with roasted baby beets, pumpkin seeds, charred pork belly, gorgonzola and vanilla whiskey vinaigrette. Paired with white wine.

Entree: Smothered tomahawk pork chops with country vegetables and Cornish game hen with jalapeño cheese grits. Paired with red wine.

Dessert: Layeres apple pie with maple custard, salted caramel and whipped cream. Paried with dessert wine.

Northwestern State University was ranked ninth among regional universities in the south for campus ethnic diversity in a study by U.S. News and World Report. NSU was the only school in Louisiana in the top 10.

The study aimed to identify colleges where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own. U.S. News factored in the total proportion of minority students, leaving out international students, and the overall mix of groups. The data was drawn from each institution’s fall 2018 total undergraduate student body.

The ethnic categories used in the calculations are non-Hispanic African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Asian, non-Hispanic white and multiracial (two or more races). Students who did not identify themselves as members of any of those demographic groups were classified as non-Hispanic whites for the purpose of these calculations. The formula produced a diversity index that ranges from 0 to 1. The closer a school’s number is to 1, the more diverse the student population.

“Diversity and inclusion in the Student Experience is a strategic goal for us at Northwestern,” said Frances Conine, dean of students and vice president for the student experience at NSU. “I believe the experiences we attempt to provide our students are valuable in becoming better citizens of the world. I’m delighted we’ve achieved this ranking but recognize we always have more work to do in Inclusion and equity.”

Last year, NSU formed a Workplace Inclusion Taskforce after several faculty, staff and administrators attended the University of Louisiana System workshop on Ensuring a Healthy and Productive Workplace. This year, the ULS Board of Supervisors endorsed the task force policy recommendations that contribute to combining greater awareness, increased knowledge, and enhanced technical skills to practices of incorporating attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, values and mission-driven policies across the UL System and institutions that are consistent with ethical ideals of respect and inclusion. Such practice provides opportunities for increased creativity in problem-solving and innovation, increased civility and more effective and impactful System and institutional outcomes.

Under the leadership of faculty Dr. Allison Rittmayer and Dr. Eddie Horton, NSU’s Campus Wide Diversity Committee continues to discuss and monitor diversity and inclusion efforts at Northwestern State University. At the same time, a team of faculty, staff and students is working to develop a new diversity and inclusion plan for NSU, said NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio.

Conine and Dr. Greg Handel, provost and vice president for academic affairs, cochair the Diversity and Inclusion Planning Team.

“The Planning Team has developed goals and is working on strategies to be implemented over a five-year period,” Maggio said. “Several members of the Planning Team also serve on the Campus Wide Diversity Committee. Ideas and suggestions from the Campus Wide Diversity Committee have been very helpful and are guiding the actions of our Diversity and Inclusion Planning Team in developing the new five-year plan. The team is working diligently to have a new plan in place by January 2020.”

NSU’s Center for Inclusion and Diversity (CID) is located on the first floor of the Student Union. Faculty member Brittany Blackwell Broussard coordinates CID programming, sits on the Campus Wide Diversity Committee and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Planning Team. The first CID website will be launched in a few weeks and for the first time will bring together and highlight University goals, activities and resources related to diversity and inclusion.

In case you weren’t able to hear the big news on the radio:

Ever since I began my campaign for Natchitoches Parish Sheriff, people have asked me if there was anything I could do for the parish roads. We have school buses, ambulances, firetrucks, elderly and sick people, and other vehicles that have serious problems traveling our parish roads. We also have to be able as Deputies to get to people in their time of need.

I have traveled most of the roads in Natchitoches Parish during my campaign for sheriff and I agree completely that our roads are in very bad shape. I began thinking about our roads and wondered if there was anything I could do as Sheriff to help. After all, the sheriff’s primary job is public safety. I knew the Parish Government was paying the Sheriffs Department for housing inmates at the Detention Center. They are current on what they owe each month, but they are paying an additional $5000 per month toward a past due debt owed to the Sheriff’s Department. This debt was incurred because the Police Jury years ago stopped paying for housing inmates, and that past due balance reached approximately $1,000,000.

I reviewed the Sheriff Department’s budget and financials and realized this $5000 per month didn’t make a significant difference to the $17,000,000 budget, and the money could possibly be used to improve our roads.

I made contact with the Legislative Auditor’s office for guidance. Here’s my proposal: I am willing to forgive the debt that is owed to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Department by the Parish Government. The law states that I cannot out right forgive the debt which is lawfully owed unless we get something in return. I think better roads will qualify for that.

I will agree to do this, providing there are no legal issues with my proposal and under the condition that the Natchitoches Parish Government adopts a resolution that a minimum of $5000 a month (which is the amount they are currently paying to the Sheriff’s Department) will continue to be paid directly to the Road Fund and not the General Fund. This money will have to be spent solely on our roads to make them safer and usable.

I am willing to make this offer and small sacrifice so that we may have safer roads in our parish. This resolution may expire when the total amount owed is met.

NSU– Here is a look at the week of Oct. 13-19 at Northwestern State University.

Oct. 14-17 – Lifeshare campus blood drive, Kyser Brickway, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Oct. 15 – Faculty recital featuring Andrej Kurti, violin, Magale Recital Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 – Phi Beta Delta Study Abroad Panel, David Morgan Room, (Room 107) Russell Hall, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Oct. 16 – Cane River Reading Series, Friedman Student Union Ballroom, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 – J. Walter Porter Forum, David Morgan Room, (Room 107) Russell Hall, 9:30 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 18

Alumni Association Board Meeting, Henderson Conference Room, Caspari Hall, 9 a.m.

NSU Foundation Board Meeting- Red River Waterway Commission, 10 a.m.

Homecoming Golf Tournament (Noon lunch, 1 p.m. Tee Off)

Homecoming Parade- Second Street, Rue Touline, Riverbank, 5:30 p.m.

Homecoming Pep Rally- Downtown Riverbank Stage 6 p.m.

Rockin’ on the Riverbank- Homecoming Festival, Fleur de lis stage, Downtown Natchitoches, 6:30 p.m.

NSU Black Alumni Alliance Mixer- The Loft, 530 Front St, 7 p.m.

Soccer, NSU vs. Texas A&M- Corpus Christi plus soccer reunion, Demon soccer complex, 7 p.m.

Homecoming Awards- During Rockin’ on the Riverbank featuring Live5!, 7:30 p.m.

LA Roxx Concert- Cane River Brewing (admission charge), 8 p.m.

Book signing with children’s author Perry Anderson, NSU Campus Marketplace, 10 a.m.

Reception for School of Business’ Hall of Distinction Honorees, Natchitoches Room, Russell Hall, 11 a.m.

BAA Meeting/Membership Drive- Student Union-Cane River Room, 11 a.m.

Department of Social Work Open House- Kyser Hall Room 345B, 11 a.m.

Volleyball, NSU vs. McNeese plus volleyball reunion-Prather Coliseum, 11 a.m.

XI Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.- 45th Anniversary Celebration, Ben Johnson Auditorium, 12 p.m.

BAA Tailgate Party, NSU Practice Field, 1 p.m.

College of Education Reunion/Reception- TEC Commons, 1 p.m.

Hall of Distinguished Educators Induction Ceremony- TEC Auditorium, Pod A, 1:30 p.m.

Demon Regiment Open House- James A Noe. Military Science Building, 2 p.m.

Tailgating Activities- Collin’s Pavilion, Donald’s Demon Alley and Practice Field, 2 p.m.

Xi Epsilon Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. tailgate, 2 p.m.

NSU Men’s Basketball Alumni BKB Game- Prather Coliseum, 2 p.m.

English, Foreign Languages and Cultural Studies Tailgate- near tennis courts, 3 p.m.

Pregame Activities- Turpin Stadium, 5:30 p.m.

Distinguished Educators and College of Business honorees and new N Club members-recognized on football field, 5:45 p.m.

Football, Demons vs. Central Arkansas- Turpin Stadium, 6 p.m.

Halftime Ceremonies-Turpin Stadium, approximate time, 7:30 p.m.

NSU BAA After Party- The Loft, 530 Front St., 10 p.m.

Back in the day, the Five-Man Electrical Band hit the nail on the head when they sang,

“Sign, sign everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breaking my mind.”

The political yard-sign-on-any-empty-lot-on-a-major-road season is nearly over. After voting this weekend, the many will be pared down to the few. Then on November 16th, one of the few will be elected. And the season is officially over. The yard signs will be with us for a while, even though there is likely a law about removing them quickly.

There are men and women who have lost considerable weight walking door to door asking people for their vote. They have borne the heat of the late summer. They have spent money on signs and flyers. They have given speeches to anyone who will listen. They have asked for endorsements and written letters. They have promised better…everything…if you vote for them. Most of them have real jobs alongside the activities related to running for office. I wanted to expressed appreciation to the candidates running for office. They were willing. They gave it their best effort. They believe they can do better for you, the voter. They believe they can make a difference for the good of all. They are not timid souls. They endured while daring greatly.

Congratulations to all of those who ran the good race.

On April 23, 1910, Theodore Roosevelt gave what would become one of the most widely quoted speeches of his career.

Roosevelt delivered a speech called “Citizenship in a Republic,” which would come to be known as “The Man in the Arena.”

In addition to touching on his own family history, war, human and property rights, the responsibilities of citizenship, and France’s falling birthrate, Roosevelt railed against cynics who looked down at men who were trying to make the world a better place. “The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer,” he said. “A cynical habit of thought and speech, a readiness to criticize work which the critic himself never tries to perform, an intellectual aloofness which will not accept contact with life’s realities—all these are marks, not … of superiority but of weakness.” Then he delivered an inspirational and impassioned message that drew huge applause:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Heavenly Father, we bring the needs of our state and parish before You and ask You to bless our state and parish through godly leaders. We magnify the name of Jesus and declare that He is Lord over all, even our political process. Amen.

My opponent James Kilcoyne is, I’m sure, a fine gentleman. He boasts a record of 18 years managing a logging road crew. While I respect his experience as a road crew supervisor of a two man crew, I believe that those skills are not the skills needed on the Parish Council at this time. I believe those skills are covered by the President and those he or she hires for that purpose.

The council needs a person who is expert in tax matters and finance and administration to include experience to lead an effort to secure, and issue, bond financing sufficient to rebuild all the parish roads to state construction standards.

As I said, with all due respect to my opponent, I am the candidate who has the education, skills and experience to fill the needs desperately needed on the Natchitoches Parish Council.

I also have skills and experience in finding mutually acceptable solutions in an adversarial environment.

For these reasons I am asking for your vote for me, Alan McMurtry, for Natchitoches Parish Council District #3.

The Northwestern State soccer team aims to build on a successful road weekend when it welcomes Sam Houston State to the Lady Demon Soccer Complex Friday. The game begins at 7 p.m.


NSU (6-6-1 overall, 3-1-1 Southland) tries to get over the .500 mark for the first time this season against the Bearkats. The Lady Demons are coming off an exhilarating 2-1 overtime victory at UIW. Overall, they are 6-1-1 in their last eight.

The last nine Lady Demons contests have been decided by one goal or fewer. This past weekend, they tied league-leading Abilene Christian Friday before handing UIW its first conference loss of the season, as freshman Olivia Draguicevich sent home a shot less than three minutes into the extra session to give them the victory.

NSU improved its record to 3-0-1 in its four overtime contests, and 2-0-1 on the road in conference play.

SHSU (4-6-1, 2-1-1) lost its first conference match of the season Sunday, dropping a 5-0 decision at Lamar after going through the first three unbeaten.

Draguicevich leads the team in goals (5) and points (10) after her game-winner at UIW. Her three game-winning goals this season is one shy of the school record for game-winners in a season.

With her early goal against UIW, sophomore forward Jalen Donaldson has five points on the year, which is second on the team. She also leads the Lady Demons in both shots (26) and shots on goal (14). Defender Natalee Henry is tied with Donaldson with two goals.

Draguicevich, as well as fellow freshman Rachel Brandt, give the Lady Demons a strong pairing off the bench.

“We’ve been talking since day one that this will be one of the strengths of this team,” co-head Jess Jobe said. “We were really excited to see how some pieces came together. We saw the competitiveness for spots and for playing time and for playing time and we think that’s a really healthy thing.”

Coming off the bench is something Draguicevich knows the value of.

“It can be helpful to come off the bench because you can see the rhythm of the game before stepping in,” Draguicevich said. “You can see how the game is flowing and see what else you can do to impact the game when I do go in.”

Freshmen Olivia Mattsson and Jayme Haynes are tied for the team lead in assists with two.

On defense, NSU has had contributions from everyone. There have been two Lady Demons to earn Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, Hallie Field and Natalee Henry.

Over the weekend, junior Ashley Medawattage helped thwart the opposition’s attack to help earn the four-point weekend. On Friday, the ball got past Bomben late in the game, but Medawattage booted the ball over the crossbar and out of harms way. On Sunday, she stopped an attack and helped keep the Lady Demons in front in the first half.

Senior Kayla Bomben was the goalkeeper in both games over the weekend, and was tremendous. Her 12 saves at Abilene Christian were tied for the 10th most in school history for a single game. She followed that with allowing just one against UIW.

“We work in practice with our defense to see what the other team does attacking-wise,” Bomben said. “The shots I stop, I credit them to the defense in front of me to make those saves and make it pretty predictable where the shots are going.”

She has played in seven matches, starting five. Bomben has allowed just seven goals in more than 554 minutes for a goals against average of 1.14. She has one shutout against Jackson State.

Sophomore Acelya Aydogmus has played really well this season too, especially her past six games. Aydogmus has two shutouts this season, including the first conference match at Stephen F. Austin. She has allowed just two goals in her last four games, with all four being NSU victories.

Four players for the Bearkats have at least two goals, led by Sammi Mayock with three. Courtney Pawlik leads the team with seven points.

They have played two goalies this season, Abby DeLozier and Tatum Krueger. The latter started in the win against reigning conference champion Central Arkansas and relieved DeLozier in the loss to Lamar. In the other two conference games against Houston Baptist and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, she allowed a combined two goals in a combined 200 minutes.

Admission is free thanks to the sponsorship of the Louisiana Army National Guard.

This is the first of a three-match homestand, as the Lady Demons have two matches at home next weekend against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist.

Photo Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services

BOM is a proud sponsor of the Delta Waterfowl Foundation – Cane River Chapter. The Delta Waterfowl event will take place tomorrow, Thursday, October 10 at 6:00pm. In the photo from left to right: Lyn Christophe, Keith Miller, Ricky McConnell, and Carrie Hough.

On 10/8/19 at approximately 1550 hrs, Agents assigned to the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force (NMJDTF) conducted a search warrant in the 100 block of Cedar Grove Dr, in reference to an ongoing investigation into the sale of illicit narcotics. Upon execution of the search warrant,

Agents seized the following items from inside the residence:
• Approximately 353 white oblong tablets marked (G3722), which are suspected be Alprazolam (Xanax)
• 40 multi colored suspected MDMA tablets.
• Approximately 2 grams of suspected high grade marijuana.
• One functioning digital scale.
• $1,053.00 US currency
• One Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun.

After the conclusion of the search warrant, Agents arrested Donovan Bush, 22, B/M, for the following charges:
1. Possession of CDS I (Marijuana)
2. Possession with intent to distribute CDS I (Ecstasy)
3. Possession with intent to distribute CDS IV (Alprazolam)
4. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
5. Possession of a firearm in the presence of CDS

Bush was placed into the NPDC awaiting a bond

The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force would like to thank the Citizens of Natchitoches for their support. Many times an investigation begins with a simple phone call or tip from a concerned citizen. For this reason the Task Force encourages all citizens to report any crimes in their neighborhoods anonymously by calling 318-357-2248, The Natchitoches Police Department, or the Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office.

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

L. (Laurence) Michael Caruthers
August 07, 1971 – September 28, 2019
Service: Sunday, October 13 at the 1:30 pm at the Rosa Chapel United Methodist Church in the Marthaville Community

Business closures is a hot ticket item in Natchitoches. Residents keep an eye on things in town and closures are counted. After hearing some information floating around about Taste-e-Vapes, the NPJ made a phone call to confirm. Owner Garry McCollum said he’s closing his doors after 4 years in the vaping business because of misinformation regarding vaping products that’s being spread by the media.

According to McCollum, vaping products are nothing compared to statistics for actual cigarettes. They’re the most successful smoking cessation device in history. The goal, after all, isn’t to keep vaping, but to quit cigarettes with an end goal to quit smoking all together.

McCollum smoked cigarettes for 26 years and has now been smoke free for 10 years. Knowing it was a risky business venture from the beginning with the way big tobacco and politics are, McCollum just can’t compete with the message that “Vaping Kills.”

But he’s still taking care of his customers. He’s added discount codes on the shop’s Facebook page and group so they can order through his distributor.

Shoppers may have noticed some changes at Stage’s Natchitoches location. It’s been confirmed that Stage will convert fully to a Gordmans off-price in 2020. Stage Stores Inc. announced its acquisition of selected assets of Gordmans Stores Inc. in April of 2017 to expand its portfolio by attracting customer demographics in new markets. Stage announced back in July that it intended to increase its pivot toward off-price by converting another 100 stores by 2020. They’re working on converting 89 in 2019 alone. This puts the number of Gordmans Stores in excess of 400.

Parishioners of St. Augustine Catholic Church will host a Creole Festival featuring a taste of Creole cuisine, culture, and history. Visitors are invited to a weekend of hospitality; explore the history of this locale, and partake of the regional cuisine.

Festivities start with a fish fry on Friday evening October 11 beginning at 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., with DJ Butchie Wutchie providing music.

Saturday and Sunday midmorning events take on a festive atmosphere on the church grounds, with DJ Doc Couty playing music throughout the day. Family friendly, there will be a country store, bingo, and music. An array of Creole foods such as chicken gumbo, turkey dinners, meat pies, dirty rice, hot tamales and home-baked goods will be served in the church dining hall. Carnival foods including burgers, candied apples, funnel cakes, etc. will also be featured.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 24 September 2014, visitors are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of the Church and cemetery.

In addition, St. Augustine Catholic Church was the site of Shelby’s Wedding. Notably, this year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the movie “Steel Magnolias”. Members of the community filled the pews during the wedding scene.

As always, visitors are welcomed to join in the celebration of Mass. Times are: 5:00 p.m. on Saturday evening and at 10:30 am on Sunday morning.

St. Augustine Catholic Church is located at 2262 LA Highway 484, Natchez, Louisiana. Contact information: St. Augustine Church Rectory (318) 379-2521; Fair Chairman, Chad Nelson (318) 663-8584; Publicity, Dianne Moran (318) 471-4339

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When the Northwestern State football team returns from its open week, it will find itself on a familiar network.

The Southland Conference announced Monday the Demons’ Oct. 12 Southland Conference game at No. 15 Nicholls will air on Cox Sports Television, marking the second straight NSU game to air on CST. The announcement was made as the conference office and its television partners revealed its Week Seven broadcast schedule.

For viewers outside the CST footprint, the game will air on ESPN+.

The announcement from the league office marks the third Northwestern State game this year to be carried by an over-the-air provider, following the Sept. 14 SEC Network game at LSU and the Sept. 28 CST matchup against Southeastern Louisiana.

The meeting with the Colonels also will air on the Demon Sports Network, flagshipped by 94.9 FM The River and including 710 AM KEEL in Shreveport and 105.5 KBKK in Alexandria.

Photo: Myles Ward (left) stiff arms Southeastern Louisiana’s Lorenzo Nunez during Saturday’s game at Turpin Stadium. Credit: Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services

There will be fireworks for the Tapped-Tober Craft Beer and Wine Festival held on Cane River Lake on Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 8:30 pm. Visit http://www.caneriverwaterway.com to view the newest laws affecting navigation during fireworks displays. (click on Commission -scroll down and click on ordinances -scroll down and click on Ordinance 5 of 2019) Yellow buoys mark the safety zone area.

Cane River Lake is now at 97.1 MSL
Property owners and boaters utilizing Washington Street Landing need to keep in mind that this landing closes at 97.0 MSL for safety. For lake level information-on the Commissions web site click on the news tab, scroll down and click on Lake Status. The lake, Point Place landing, and Shell Beach landing will remain open. Please use caution during low water conditions while navigating and/or performing water sport activities as underwater debris is now being exposed and/or just under the water line (especially close to shorelines) that could cause damage to boat props or hulls and/or personal injury.

Contact Betty Fuller 318-617-3235 for more information. Remember to boat safe, sober, and always wear your life jackets.

Seniors Charity Smith, Kaylie Delacerda, Ta’Kerria Kahey, and Caitlyn Matthews pose for a quick pick as part of Natchitoches Central’s Homecoming week activities. The girls are dressed to support their favorite colleges and are excitedly looking forward to the upcoming Homecoming football game!

The Rotary program for Oct. 8 featured Deputy Site Manager for Valiant Integrated Services (VIS) Scott Stetson. He is a retired 23-year Army veteran and now Army contractor with VIS and manages training exercises for the Army at Fort Polk. 

President David Guillet also welcomed two new members: Frank Mobley and JoAnna Washington. Pictured from left are Mobley, Guillet, and Washington (Photos by Gary Hatch).

Lakeview FFA members participated in Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) conference, on October 8, 2019 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, which is held annually in each of the four FFA areas in Louisiana. The Area II Officer team plans and facilitates the conference for chapter officers in those areas. This year’s conference focused on diversity/inclusion, career development events, and premier leadership. Lakeview members were able to meet FFA members from the surrounding areas while developing their leadership skills. Gracie Niette, Area II Vice President, and Emily Windham, Area II Secretary, facilitated the conference along with their Area officer team.

Pictured above: Lakeview FFA members who participated in the COLT conference from left are Emily Windham, Allison Cherry, Isaac Coleman, EmmaLee Viers, Tanner Gardner, Hannah Walsworth, Za’Niyah Grayson, and Gracie Niette.