Here is a look at the week of July 10-16 at Northwestern State University.

July 10-16 – Registration for fall semester

July 16 – ACT testing, Kyser Hall, 8 a.m.

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By Steve Graf

Some athletes are just born to be great, and some must work hard to develop their skills in order to be great. The great ones do things that are unexplainable and sometimes there’s no logical reason for what they do or why they do it. They’re blessed with natural talent and abilities that help them make “in the moment” decisions that seem to always work out. The great ones have unmatched character and determination, that in layman’s terms means….they hate to lose!

In the bass fishing world, there are anglers who fit the definition of a “natural,” like Kevin Van Dam, Rick Clunn, Larry Nixon, and Skeet Reece. These are just a few of the guys who, at one time or another, have made and continue to make a good living as touring professionals and have dominated tournament trails for many years. But every now and then, another one comes along that just seems to fish on another level with unmatched instinct and abilities that other anglers just don’t have…a guy who is totally committed to the process of catching bass. The latest angler to possess these God given talents is Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, Louisiana. He is a guy who has worked hard for years, through commitment and dedication, to refine his skills in order to compete at the highest level.

There’s a saying that I’ve heard for a long time and I’m not sure who really said it first…”Good things come to those who wait.” Well for Nick, the wait is over with his two latest ($100,000 each) tournament wins on the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Tour. Nick became only the third person in MLF history to ever win back-to-back events. To win one time is a major accomplishment, but to win back-to-back events is the stuff legends are made of. His hard work, sacrifices, and years of tournament experience is starting to pay dividends.

Nick joined the Tackle Warehouse Pro Tour full time in 2019 after winning the 2018 FLW All-American event on his home waters of Cross Lake and has quickly made a name for himself, both as a very versatile angler and as a person. A devout Christian, Nick never takes full credit for his good fortunes. He gives all the praise and glory to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for putting him in position to be successful. The next person he gives praise to is his wife, Jolene, who has stood by his side with support and encouragement even when things weren’t going well. Like any professional bass fisherman, there are high and lows that can really strain a relationship, but Jolene has been the glue and the support that has allowed Nick to fulfill his dreams. Like they say, ”Behind every successful man is a supportive wife.” Jolene Lebrun is the perfect example of this quote.

The life of a professional bass fisherman is a tough way to make a living and is not attainable by everyone. Just like any other professional sport, many have tried and failed. There’s a very small percentage of anglers nationwide with dreams of fishing for a living that have actually made it to the highest level. A lot of anglers have gone broke and ended up in divorce court trying to achieve this dream. But if you are an up-and-coming angler and are looking for a great example of a person to follow, make it Nick Lebrun! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf – Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show &
Tackle Talk Live

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BOM would like to welcome Madeline Taylor to the team at our University Parkway location as a teller.

Maddie is a Natchitoches native. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s High School, and she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University. She and her boyfriend, Skylar, have two cats, Sunnie and Stormie. Maddie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching movies, and relaxing at home in her spare time.

Maddie said, “I’m so excited be a part of the BOM family. I look forward to getting involved in our community as well as making personal connections with our customers!”

Please stop by our University branch and welcome, Maddie!

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Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education is offering a Driver Education Third Party Road Skills Test course.

This course is for registration for a session to complete Road Skills Testing. Individuals will only register for one session and each session is limited to one person. Times and dates will vary. There is a $40 registration fee and a $10 vehicle fee.

For more information or to register, call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.

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NATCHITOCHES:
Herbert Dewey Dalme
August 2, 1954 – July 5, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 1 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Dorothy Ruth Brown Haymon
August 21, 1930 – July 3, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 11 am at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

Carmen Delores Holland
September 22, 1959 – July 4, 2022
Service: Monday, July 11 at 10 am at Friendship Cemetery

Linda Apponey Sandefur
June 16, 1950 – July 4, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Donna Airhart
January 13, 1952 – July 3, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 11 am at Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches

Laura Hope Harlan Boles
March 24, 1960 – June 28, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 23 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

SABINE:
Samuel Bracey Branch
March 3, 1951 – July 5, 2022
A visitation will be held Friday, July 8 from 12:30 – 1:30 at Warren Meadows Funeral Home in Many. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Florien.

WINN:
Richard Wayne Skains 
July 04, 1925 – July 06, 2022
Service: Monday, July 11 at 10 am at East Winnfield Baptist Church

Memory Hollon French Jr.
April 6, 1948 – July 4, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 2 pm at Old Union Cemetery in Joyce

Zagan Johnson
July 7, 2021 – July 4, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 10 am in the Chapel of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home

Thelma L Bumpurs
February 9, 1940 – July 4, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Charles “Chuck” Tilden Johnson, Jr.
September 22, 1963 – July 3, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 10 am at First Assembly of God

Sarah Lynn King Jones
February 22, 1950 – July 3, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 10 am at Cypress Creek Cemetery

Johnnie Little
July 4, 2022
Arrangements TBA

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The Natchitoches Parish School Board released newly drawn maps for the 2022 redistricting process.

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In support of Operation Dry Water, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division arrested 12 boaters statewide for alleged driving or operating a vessel while intoxicated (DWI) from July 2 to 4.

On July 2, agents arrested:

Christopher L. Cupp, 58, of Ball, on the Cane River in Natchitoches Parish.
Bryan A. Noland, 45, of Napoleonville, on Bayou Magazille in Assumption Parish.

On July 3, agents arrested:

Adam Kertz, 47, of Dry Prong, on the Red River in Rapides Parish.
Peyton Ross, 21, of Baton Rouge, on the Tickfaw River in Livingston Parish.
Dennis Bussell, 54, of Orange, Texas, on the Old Sabine River in Calcasieu Parish.
Peter M. Janise, 22, of Lafayette, on False River in Pointe Coupee Parish.

On July 4, agents arrested:

Garrett Brown, 20, of Ruston, on Lake D’Arbonne in Union Parish.
Dustin L. Crowe 33, of Denham Springs, on the Blind River in Livingston Parish.
Jeremy Blanchard, 45, of Pierre Part, on the Belle River in Lower St. Martin Parish.
Paul Bergeron Jr, 61, of Napoleonville, on Bayou Magazille in Lower St. Martin Parish.
Kip Robichaux, 59, of Houma, on the Houma Navigational Canal in Terrebonne Parish.
Corey J. Angelle, 43, of Breaux Bridge, on the Atchafalaya River in Upper St. Martin Parish.

In Louisiana, a DWI on the water carries the same penalties and fines as on the road and includes jail time, fines and loss of driving and boating operator privileges.

Anyone cited for a DWI on the water or on the road will lose his or her driver’s license and boating privileges for the specified time ordered by the judge in the case. Also, each offense of operating a vehicle or vessel while intoxicated counts toward the total number of DWI crimes whether they happened on the water or road.

In Louisiana a DWI can be issued to anyone operating a moving vessel or vehicle while impaired. First offense DWI carries a $300 to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

Operation Dry Water was started in 2009 and is a joint program involving the LDWF/LED, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the U.S. Coast Guard.

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Verity Gentry is running for Judge in the 11th Judicial District, Parish of Sabine and she joins Billy West Live to discuss her candidacy. As a Sabine Parish native and with her experience as a practicing attorney, Verity Gentry is asking Sabine residents to support her efforts to become Judge.

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Natchitoches Parish Fire District 9 was dispatched to the 2200 Block of Hart Road in Campti on Wednesday, July 6 at 4:33 pm. Units arrived 6 minutes later to find the abandoned structure fully involved with fire, with fire extension into the grass and brush around the house. Firefighters extinguished the grass/brush fire to protect the surrounding property. Louisiana Forestry was called to plow a line around the fire due to extreme dry conditions.

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With the way his summer has gone, it is a good thing Kyle Washington pledged to be a lifetime learner.

The first-year Northwestern State quarterbacks coach will have a chance later this month to learn from an NFL staff, taking part in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Indianapolis Colts. Washington will spend approximately 10 days with the Colts at their Westfield, Indiana,

“I’m excited to be a part of it,” Washington said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lean and grow within the profession. I made a vow to myself to be a lifelong learner, and this is another opportunity to exercise that.”

Washington departs July 22 to join coach Frank Reich’s staff and work closely with offensive coordinator Marcus Brady, who is in his first year with the Colts. Washington said mutual connections between himself and Brady led to the Demon coach’s latest opportunity for professional development at the highest level.

For the better part of the past quarter century, Indianapolis has been home to two of the best quarterbacks of their generations – Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. That fact is not lost on Washington as head takes part in his second piece of continuing education this summer.

In June, Washington spent two days as a participant in the Ozzie Newsome General Manager Forum and fifth annual Quarterback Coaching Summit.

“I vividly remember watching Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Edgerrin James and them light it up,” Washington said. “Peyton’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. To be able to walk those same hall and soak in all that stuff while learning is a great experience. Not too many people can say that.”

Washington said he wants to take a holistic approach to his 10-day stay in Indiana, which dovetails with his commitment to learning.

“There are different ideas for practice planning, for drill work, different ideas for installation,” he said. “There are a lot of different ideas to just plays and play calling. With any aspect of the game of football, there’s a lot to be learned and a lot to add to your toolbelt. (Colts quarterback) Matt Ryan is a veteran in this league who has played for a lot of different coordinators. It will be educational to see how he acts and works as a professional. I’m excited to learn from Marcus and Matt and the other coaches on the staff.

“I’ll have my notepad with me. It’s been filled up pretty good already. It’s all about learning, especially as young as I am in my career. You can never stop learning. I learned that quicky in this profession. I’m going to go up there in learning mode.”

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Northwestern State University is partnering with Red River Parish Schools and the Realization Initiative to provide students with scholarship packages to help cover the cost of college. The partnership focuses on eight prioritized areas, but applications in all academic areas are welcome.

“We are fortunate in Red River Parish to be able to enter into this valuable partnership with Northwestern State University,” said Alison Strong, superintendent of Red River Parish Schools. “With this partnership, we expand the academic and financial opportunities to attend a local accredited university. Northwestern State University has been a leader in the field of education in Louisiana for decades and Red River Parish is proud to promote to promote the wonderful work of NSU.”

Scholarship packages will be awarded to Red River Parish students attending NSU beginning in the Fall 2023 semester. Focus areas are students majoring in computer information systems, engineering technology, mathematics, radiologic sciences, education, nursing, biology and business.

Depending on ACT score and grade point average, students could be awarded scholarships starting at $500 per semester, along with TOPS awards up to $2,900. Students can also earn college credits while still in high school through various means including scores on the ACT, AP scores or CLEP scores.

Students who score above 27 in math and/or English on the ACT can earn three or six credit hours. Additionally, AP scores in several academic disciplines, including advanced math and sciences, languages, art, history and social sciences, can be translated to college credit at no cost to the student.

Students who score 50 and above in CLEP exams for business, composition and literature, history and social sciences, math, science and languages are eligible for three to 10 credit hours per exam. Four-year valedictorian and salutatorian scholarships are also available and students who enroll in the Louisiana Scholars’ College, NSU’s honors college, can earn scholarships based on ACT score and GPA.

The Realization Initiative is designed to create a pipeline for students going from high school to college.

“This program removes barriers and provides financial benefits for students,” said Vanner Erikson, NSU’s director of recruiting and interim director of enrollment. “We will work one-on-one with students to assist them in getting started on their path to a college degree.”

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office is mourning the death of a retired K-9 officer following the discovery of an extensive tumor.

Monty, a 12-year-old golden Labrador who joined the SFM in 2012, died peacefully Tuesday, July 5.

K-9 Monty served all across the state, but primarily in south Louisiana, alongside his handler Lt. Brian Mashon. He retired in July 2020.

Monty assisted in determining the origin and cause of numerous fires, including suspected arson fires where his alerts led to evidence that resulted in arrests. Some of his most notable cases included a suspicious fatal fire in St. Helena Parish, an intentionally set fire at an occupied apartment complex in Slidell where children had to be rescued and the 2019 St. Landry church fires where Monty’s skills led investigators to discover the gas can used in one of the fires, which helped identify the suspect, and eventually connected that suspect to all three fires.

In 2017, Monty beat out almost 60 other K-9s from across the country to receive the ATF’s Top Dog award.

Monty actually began his career of service as a guide dog for the visually impaired with the Guiding Eyes Foundation in New York. He was eventually certified as an accelerant detection K-9 through the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) Bureau and came to work for the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM).

“Monty was my friend, buddy, and partner,” said Lt. Mashon, “I am going to miss him until we meet again.”

“Monty was a special dog and contributed so much to the success of this agency, not only in crime-solving, but in our public education efforts, both of which saved lives,” said State Fire Marshal Chief Dan Wallis, “Monty will be greatly missed and always remembered for his stellar service to the people of Louisiana.”

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A beginning ceramics class, “Playing in the Mud,” will be offered through Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education starting Thursday, July 7. The class will be offered on Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. through August 11 in Room 113 of the Fine Arts Annex.
The fee is $125 plus a $20 material fee paid directly to the instructor on the first night of class. Enrollment to the class is limited.

This course is an introduction to working with clay. The student will learn hand-building and sculptural techniques, as well as work on the potter’s wheel. There will also be room for intermediate and advanced students to take the class who want to use the facilities during the class time.

For more information or to register for classes, call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.

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NATCHITOCHES:
Dorothy Ruth Brown Haymon
August 21, 1930 – July 3, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 11 am at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

Carmen Delores Holland
September 22, 1959 – July 4, 2022
Service: Monday, July 11 at 10 am at Friendship Cemetery

Linda Apponey Sandefur
June 16, 1950 – July 4, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Donna Airhart
January 13, 1952 – July 3, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 11 am at Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches

Laura Hope Harlan Boles
March 24, 1960 – June 28, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 23 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

Audrey Rachal Gallien
April 4, 1933 – July 1, 2022
Service: Thursday, July 7 at 2 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church

WINN:
Memory Hollon French Jr.
April 6, 1948 – July 4, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 2 pm at Old Union Cemetery in Joyce

Zagan Johnson
July 7, 2021 – July 4, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 10 am in the Chapel of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home

Thelma L Bumpurs
February 9, 1940 – July 4, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Charles “Chuck” Tilden Johnson, Jr.
September 22, 1963 – July 3, 2022
Service: Friday, July 8 at 10 am at First Assembly of God

Sarah Lynn King Jones
February 22, 1950 – July 3, 2022
Service: Saturday, July 9 at 10 am at Cypress Creek Cemetery

Johnnie Little
July 4, 2022
Arrangements TBA

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A Goldonna man was seriously injured in a single-vehicle crash in the City Limits of Goldonna on July 4, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

At approximately 5:07 pm, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies, Goldonna Police, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #2, Natchitoches Parish Fire District #9 Rescue, and Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a single-vehicle crash with 1 injury and possible entrapment near the 1400 block of North Goodwill Street in Goldonna, La.

Units arrived on scene discovering the sole occupant of the vehicle suffering from serious injuries. Firefighters were able to free the victim from the wreckage.

Air EVAC LifeTeam helicopter was dispatched to the scene where a landing zone was set-up at Goldonna School.

Deputies say a 55-year-old Goldonna man operating a 1991 Toyota pickup truck was traveling southbound on North Goodwill Street in Goldonna when he exited the road on the left side for reasons still under investigation causing the vehicle to overturn and come to a rest on it’s top against a tree.

Troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop-E Alexandria also responded to the scene to assist Goldonna Town Marshal Sampey with the crash investigation.

The victim was airlifted from the scene to an Alexandria hospital with serious injuries.

The crash investigation is currently continuing by Goldonna Police with the assistance of LSP Troop-E Alexandria.

The name of the victim is currently not being released.

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Most things considered — like where they were a few months ago, without football — this past weekend could not have ended much better for Skip Holtz and J’Mar Smith, the coach and quarterback, respectively, of the USFL’s inaugural champions.

These past few months while most of us weren’t caring much about football since there was grass to mow, golf to play and springtime to enjoy, something weird was going, something just curious enough that a few of us had to pay attention to, of all places, Birmingham.

Former Louisiana Tech football personnel kept showing up on Birmingham’s USFL roster.

By the time it was over, six former Bulldogs were Stallions. Plus there was Holtz, the coach and general manager. Even Bill Johnson, former Tech assistant and former player and assistant at Northwestern State, coached the defensive line.

Birmingham had a Winnfield East feel to it.

If anyone around here cared, it was probably because the two Stallions you kept wondering about most were Holtz, the former Tech head coach, and Smith, his three-year starter at quarterback. To see how this latest chapter between them would turn out, their head-shaking history demanded your attention — even though caring at all was sort of like holding a lit firecracker.

Be careful…

If you saw it up close, you can attest that it was a history both heartbreaking and happy, misunderstood and mystical. One of those “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” deals.

In a football throne room in some alternate universe where futures are formed from circumstances that mere mortals could never have dreamed up, some pigskin wise guy had to think it would be fun to take a football lifer in this 50s and, for a few spasmodic years, join him to the hip of a wildly athletic, happy-go-lucky teenager from Mississippi.

There’s no other way to explain the long relationship between these two. Seems they’ve been together longer than the Rolling Stones.

Football makes strange bedfellows.

Holtz began recruiting Smith when he was in high school in Meridian. The two teamed to help the Bulldogs win bowl games in 2017, 2018, and 2019, when Smith was Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Year.

No conference titles, though. Holtz really couldn’t let Smith run much as a sophomore and junior because the backup spot was thin. And when Smith was a senior, he missed two late-in-the-season conference games due to breaking a team rule. Tech lost both — although in defense of the team, the Bulldogs dropped a pass on a late bomb against UAB that likely would have won the game. And the Division. And a spot in the title game.

Tech shut out Miami, 14-0, in the Independence Bowl and finished a “what if?” 10-3.

Goodbye J’Mar, hello pandemic. In 2020, Tech stopped and started its way to a 5-5 record, including a 38-3 loss to Georgia Southern in the New Orleans Bowl. In 2021, Tech lost last-play games to Mississippi State, SMU, and N.C. State and limped in at 3-9.

Holtz was fired in late November before the final game of the 2021 season.

Two months later, he was named coach and GM at Birmingham. And in the USFL draft in the 12^th round, Holtz selected J’Mar Smith, who’d had no success with New England as a free agent and with Hamilton in the CFL. Six months after he was cut by the Tiger-Cats, Smith was in Birmingham and, finally, a pro football player.

Six weeks later when the 2022 season opened, probably the best thing that could have happened for Holtz, Smith, and Birmingham, did. Starting quarterback Ale McGough left in the second half with a minor injury and Smith, who majors in the unrehearsed, helped bring the Stallions back from trailing three times, including scrambling for a 2-yard touchdown on a drawn-in-the-sand play with :29 left that gave Birmingham a 28-24 win, the first of eight straight victories.

The Stallions needed a guy who could wing it on the fly with Holtz’s direction; J’Mar is the blueprint for that.

Sunday it was McGough’s turn to spell a cramping Smith and complete a couple of key passes late as Birmingham beat Philadelphia, 33-30, to win it all.

With a different cast and almost entirely different circumstances, what didn’t quite happen in Ruston for the Odd Couple happened in Birmingham. Afterward a smiling and blunt Holtz, for the first time the coach of an 11-win team, said he’d “really enjoyed coaching professional football, every minute of it,” emphasizing the “professional.” And Smith was all near-tears smiles when he said he “owed” this one to his coach.

Funny how ball does that sort of thing. Puts people together at just the right or wrong time in just the right or wrong situation. For some, the time never comes, or comes too late. For Holtz and J’Mar, maybe too late for Tech was, in a future no one knows, right on time for them.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

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Morning of Hope – First Annual Ladies Prayer Breakfast

Goldonna, LA — River of Life Family Worship Center will host the First Annual “Morning of Hope” Ladies Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, July 9, 2022. The breakfast will be held at the church located at 3135 Highway 479, Goldonna, LA and starts at 9:00am.

“Women have a huge impact on the Kingdom of God and we want to use this breakfast to encourage them in their journey,” said organizer, Reba Phelps.

The breakfast will have a coffee bar that will be open at 8:30am. The event is free and open to the public. Mrs. Sondra Walker, Atlanta Baptist Church, will be the guest speaker. Mrs. Walker is a wife, mother and daughter of the King. She is a Sunday School Teacher for the class named, “Soul Sisters”. She is also a devotional writer who loves encouraging people.

“We could not be more excited to have Sondra participate in our first annual breakfast, she is overflowing with the joy of the Lord and I know people will see that!”

River of Life Family Worship Center is a Non-denominational Community Church that was founded in 1978. Reverend George Procell has been the Pastor since 1987.

For more information:
Reba Phelps
318-332-4260
Jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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The Northwestern State Athletic Department announced Dr. Susan Campbell as its Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) on Tuesday.

Campbell, an assistant professor of Social Work, is in her fourth year as part of the NSU faculty after a career devoted to community improvement. Campbell has broad experience in the non-profit sector, having worked for over 25 years in educational, social service, and research settings.

Prior to joining the Northwestern State faculty, Campbell worked as a researcher at Shriners’ Hospitals for Children—Shreveport, a program monitor with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Behavioral Health-Addiction Services, and LINCC program development and grants management at the Community Foundation of North Louisiana.

Campbell came to Northwestern State in January 2019.

“As a social worker, I value athletics and how it can enhance child development and community engagement,” Campbell said. “From a social work standpoint, I recognize the value of athletics. As the mother of an athletic high school student, I have spent a lot of time on the sidelines the past 15 years, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Campbell replaces the recently retired Jody Biscoe as NSU’s FAR after Biscoe served 16 years in the role.

“Northwestern State thanks Jody Biscoe for the work he did as our Faculty Athletic Representative,” NSU Director of Athletics Kevin Bostian said. “Jody was an integral part of our department for more than a decade, and we are very appreciative of the time and effort he poured into our student-athletes and to the NSU Athletic Council.”

The Faculty Athletics Representative plays a strategic role at the institution, ensuring the academic integrity of the intercollegiate athletics program, facilitating institutional control of intercollegiate athletics, and enhancing the student-athlete experience at Northwestern State University. The FAR represents NSU and its faculty in the relationship between the NCAA and the institution. The FAR also provides significant leadership in the governance of NSU’s intercollegiate athletics programs and represents the president—in academic and student-athlete matters—to the athletic department and NSU’s faculty.

“The Faculty Athletic Representative is vital to the success of our athletics program and we are extremely excited to have Susan take on this role,” Bostian said. “In addition to being a respected professor and member of the University community, Susan understands the importance that athletics plays here at Northwestern State. She will be a great bridge between our student-athletes, coaches and staff with the University faculty and administration.”

Campbell said her meeting with Bostian and the NSU Athletics academic services team reaffirmed her interest in the position.

“(This position) speaks to a lot of what I value in terms of promoting academic integrity at the institutional level as well as facilitating the integration of athletics and academics,” said Campbell, who is married with a college-age daughter and a high school soccer-playing son. “When I met Kevin and the academic staff, I appreciated that they saw their long-term goal as building that future citizen who graduates with a degree from Northwestern and is able to go out in the world.

“It’s what we want for all of our students – to have that experience. I appreciate that athletics are important, but they understand the balance of academics and athletics and how they promote the whole person. That struck a chord with me.”

Campbell earned her Ph.D. in social work from the University of Kansas in 2009. She has been published in various professional publications, including the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, the American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Medicine and the Journal of Interprofessional Care.

She also holds a master’s degree in community counseling from The Citadel and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Carolina.

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A Funeral Mass will be held for Donna Airhart on Friday, July 8 at 11 am at Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches. There will be a reception immediately following the Mass hosted by The Catholic Sisters. All who knew and loved Donna are invited and welcomed.

Donna loved to read, was a talented piano player, and a lover of the arts. She was a prayerful and involved member of the community who gave her time as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, CCD teacher, and a member of The Catholic Sisters. She was a loving mother and grandmother and a caring wife. Her laughter was infectious and she will always be remembered with a smile.

She passed away, after a long brave fight with cancer, at her home on Sunday, June 3, 2022, surrounded by love and her family.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Elijah Cain Eldridge, and her parents Nathalie and Claude Irwin.

She is survived by her children, Christopher and Kelly Airhart, and husband John Airhart; Brothers Patrick, Mark and wife Laura, Charles and wife Melissa, and James and wife Dawn Irwin; 10 nieces and nephews, 14 great-nieces and nephews, and her cat Catty.

Flowers and prayers are appreciated.

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Many veterans in our parish utilize the services of the Veterans Administration medical facilities in Shreveport, Natchitoches, Alexandria or other locations. The Journal has received a request to alert veterans to the possibility of fraud in the billing system.

The VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a fraud alert regarding VA being billed for care veterans did not receive. This alert advises veterans and their representatives to help detect health care fraud by carefully reviewing benefit explanations and bills they receive from VA.

If you see potential evidence of fraud or have concerns about patient care, please contact the VA OIG office at 800.488.8244.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Action Corps Weekly contributed to this report.

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By Brad Dison

Roy Sullivan was born in 1912 in Greene County, Virginia. Beginning in 1936, Roy spent his whole working life as a park ranger in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Friends described Roy as being “as gentle and upright as a person can be. He pays his bills, loves his family, goes to church, has never harmed a soul.”

In April of 1942, a thunderstorm blew into the national park. Roy took refuge in a newly-built fire tower. Unbeknownst to Roy, the fire tower’s lightning rods had not been installed. Lightning struck the tower up to eight times and set it on fire. Roy said “fire was jumping all over the place.” Roy ran from the burning tower when… BOOM!!! The lightning struck Roy and traveled down his right leg. The powerful strike left a burn mark down his leg, blew his big toe nail off, and left a hole in his shoe. For 27 years, Roy thought that getting struck by lightning was a once in a lifetime sort of thing.

In July 1969, Roy was driving his truck with the windows down in the mountains during a lightning storm. Roy felt safe because the body of the truck and its rubber tires would normally have provided protection against a lightning strike. A bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree and deflected into the truck’s open window. Roy was momentarily knocked unconscious and, luckily, the truck slowed and eventually stopped safely. The heat from the strike singed off his eyebrows and eyelashes, and caught his hair on fire.

In July 1970, Roy was in his front yard when a bolt of lightning struck an electrical transformer and deflected to Roy’s left side. The heat from the lightning bolt seared his left shoulder.

On April 16, 1972, Roy was working in a ranger station when a bolt of lightning struck a fuse box and arced onto him, which set his hair on fire. Roy used a wet towel to douse the fire in his hair.

After getting struck by lightning four times, Roy kept a can of water with him just in case his hair caught on fire as it had twice before. He also got into the habit of pulling over and getting down into the floorboard of his truck if a storm came up while he was driving.

On August 7, 1973, Roy was driving in the park when he saw a storm cloud forming. He quickly drove in the opposite direction to what he thought was a safe distance. He got out of his truck and … BOOM!!! He was struck by lightning again. The lightning traveled down his left side and blew his left shoe off. Once again, Roy’s hair caught fire. He retrieved his water can from his truck and doused his hair.

On June 5, 1976, Roy was checking a campground when he noticed a storm cloud above him. He tried to run to his truck but was struck by lightning. As before, his hair caught fire and he doused it with his water can.

When asked why lightening was attracted to him, Roy responded, “Lordy, I wish I knew. It’s awful. I don’t believe God is after me. If He was, the first bolt would have been enough… Best I can figure is that I have some chemical, some mineral, in my body that draws lightning. I just wish I knew.”

Roy pointed out that he “wasn’t right in the storm all those times. Once I was a good 10 miles away. But if there is a single dark cloud in the sky, out will come a bolt and get me.”

Roy said, “Just before it strikes, I smell a certain smell, like sulphur, and my hair bristles all over. That’s the signal. In about two seconds, no longer than three, it hits.” By the time Roy recognized the signals, it was never enough time to hide. “Ever been shocked real bad?” Roy asked one reporter. “It’s worse. Ever been scalded? It’s much worse. It’s like being cooked inside your skin.”

News of Roy’s unfortunate ability to attract lightning spread through the region. While walking with the chief ranger at the park one day, lightning struck way in the distance. The chief ranger said, “I’ll see you later, Roy,” and quickly distanced himself from Roy. Some local restaurants were off limits to Roy, especially during storms, and some of them refused to let him enter if the sky was overcast. “I can’t blame them,” Roy said. “Who wants to be near somebody that’s all the time getting hit by lightning?”

In 1976, Roy Sullivan retired from his beloved job at Shenandoah National Park. While working as a park ranger, Roy lived within the park itself, one of the many perks of the job. Once he retired, Roy had to move out of the park. He and his family bought a house trailer and a little piece of land near the park.

Roy took precautions to protect himself and his family from lightning strikes. He installed a lightning rod on all four corners of his trailer house. He attached lightning rods to each of the six tall trees on his property. He even attached a lightning rod to his electric meter pole and his television antenna. Each of the twelve lightning rods were connected to a heavy-duty large-diameter pure copper wire which Roy drove seven feet into the ground. He kept the ground on his property wet. During storms, Roy’s wife and three children stayed in the living room while Roy sat in the kitchen.

On June 25, 1977, Roy fished from the bank at a pond near his home. There were no storm clouds in the sky and Roy felt safe. BOOM!!! Lightning struck his head, traveled down his body and burned his chest and stomach. Once again, Roy’s hair caught fire.

Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning seven times and holds the Guinness World Record for surviving the most lightning strikes. Many of us would have taken the name of the small town Roy moved to in Virginia following his retirement as a bad omen. It was called Dooms.

Sources:
1. Most Lightning Strikes Survived, GuinnessWorldRecords.com, accessed June 20, 2022, guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-lightning-strikes-survived.
2. The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee), October 23, 1977, p.16.

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Past-President Tommy Caldwell was recognized and honored by the Rotary Club of Natchitoches for his service as 2021-2022 Rotary President at the July 5 luncheon.

Pictured from left are Caldwell and current 2022-2023 Rotary President Aaron Johnson awarding the plaque (Photo by Dr. Ron McBride).

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