BOM is a proud sponsor of the St. Augustine Creole Festival this weekend! Join us this weekend for fun games, delicious food and fellowship! Pictured from left are Susan Begnaud, Blaise Lacour, Carrie Hough, Chad Nelson, Anastasia Christophe, and Carolyn Jackson.
Festivities begin with a fish fry this evening from 6-10 p.m., with DJ Butchie Wutchie providing music.
Saturday and Sunday mid-morning events take on a festive atmosphere on the church grounds, with DJ Doc Couty playing music throughout the day. Family friendly, there will be kid activities, 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 Sept. 24, 2014, visitors are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of the Church and cemetery.
As always, visitors are welcomed to join in the celebration of Mass. Times are: 5 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.
The NSU Track Team is partnering with the NHS to hold an NSU Fun Run for NHS on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 12-1 pm. This event will help raise money and awareness for rescue animals. This race is a 2 mile course and costs $10 to enter. Race bibs can be picked up at the purple building at the NSU Track complex between 7-11:30 am the day of the race. Deadline to enter is Oct. 17 at 5 pm.
The Brocato family has generously supported the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) Sciences Department with a gift of one Nikon Labophot Phase Contrast Microscope and one Nikon Optiphot Phase Contrast Microscope. The two microscopes were given in memory of Dr. Robert M. (Bobby) Brocato, by his wife, Mary Key Brocato and their son, Dr. Robert A. Brocato.
Dr. Robert M. Brocato was a well-respected dentist in Many for many years while Mary Key Brocato enjoyed a lustrous career as an educator in Many and Natchitoches.
Officials at LSMSA are honored to have received the microscopes in Dr. Brocato’s legacy.
“Though I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Mrs. Brocato at Northwestern State for more than 20 years, I’m especially pleased that her former Many High School student, Dr. Allison Landry, who heads our Sciences Department, was able to receive this gift on behalf of the sciences faculty,” said Executive Director Steve Horton. “These microscopes will be frequently used not only by students across the science curriculum, but also by our faculty who are engaged in their own research projects.”
Landry said that the new microscopes will be very beneficial for students in many of LSMSA’s Biology classes.
“These microscopes will enhance our students’ ability to view living cells such as aquatic invertebrates and microorganisms much beyond our current capabilities,” said Landry. “They will also increase student opportunities for research that require advanced optics.”
The LSMSA Foundation intensifies the academic excellence at LSMSA by supporting educational and intellectual endeavors that go above and beyond a typical classroom experience. To make a contribution, visit http://www.LSMSA.edu/donate.
In the past months, I have received a couple of requests for articles. These were serious requests. “I wish you would write an article about. . .” Then person unpacked the issue they wished me to address. After they explained their requests I understood. But writing the articles per their requests could be dangerous to my health. Since I have deep admiration and respect for both anonymous women making the requests; here goes.
The first matter deals with the problem of frivolous lawsuits, especially those involving “fender-bender” accidents in parking lots. It seems that the Morris Bart’s and the Gordon McKernan’s of Louisiana are driving the cost of car insurance through the roof, because people are having accidents and are suing. That is their right! But c’mon man! “I got sideswiped and I called Morris.” Insurance exists to restore value, not to create wealth.
The matter could be remedied by tort reform, which will not happen in Louisiana. It could also be solved by placing limits on liability, which will also not happen in Louisiana. It could also be remedied by changing the limits at which a matter can go to court. That one woke up the attorneys, expect comments below!
The problem is not the attorneys. The problem is the system. Don’t get mad at Morris and Gordon, they are playing the hand the legislature dealt. Call ,write or protest to Baton Rouge. There is a problem if you bump a car in a parking lot and the bump costs your insurance company $41,000 for property damage.
Any incident involving an automobile has the potential to be the next Powerball payout.
Lawsuits have become the new lottery. Now you might understand why pointing out the flaws of a legal system was the catalytic dynamic that led to the crucifixion of Jesus. The Jewish religious leaders wanted Jesus silenced because he was advocating tort reform. I remind you that the Pharisees were the lawyers in that culture.
Lawsuits are way too controversial to write about. The second request was no less nettlesome. It involved pet peeves. The nice person’s pet peeves were two-fold. Yoga pants and pedestrians who walk on the wrong side of the road.
A yoga pants article would get me in more trouble with public than the request for tort reform. There is no way I could say anything about that. Instead, I will tell a joke.
There’s an old joke Democrats used to tell about President Coolidge, a man of few words. It seems the president attended church one Sunday, while Mrs. Coolidge remained at the White House.
On his return, anxious that she might have missed something significant, the
First Lady asked her husband about the preacher’s sermon topic.
“He spoke about sin,” the president replied.
What did he say,” Mrs. Coolidge inquired?
“He was against it.”
I gave up wearing yoga pants for Lent. I do walk on the wrong side of the road. I do that so I can jump out of the way of some car which is driven by a person not paying attention to his driving. So here is my theological question.
If a pedestrian is struck by a car and the pedestrian is wearing yoga pants and walking on the wrong side of the road, can they call Morris or Gordon even though they were pedestrians? What if the driver was distracted by the yoga pants, doesn’t that change the liability? What if the driver of the car was also wearing yoga pants?
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” But until the truth makes you free it is likely to make you miserable.
To my two friends, I told you I would write the article. . .
New Members on front row from left are Carleigh Lofton, Lexy Adams, Kinley Nelson, Emily Corley, and Tierra Stacks. On back row are Anna Smith, Hailey Thompson, Amber Hembree, Avery Slaughter, and Shaliyah Smith.
Lakeview Junior Senior High School chapter of the National Honor Society is proud to present this years group of new inductees. These students, along with our current members, indicate the continued emphasis on excellence that we represent for our school and community. Throughout the year, members of the chapter will serve as role models for other students. In addition to the strong academic records which established the school’s eligibility for membership, its chapter members are leaders in many student organizations and serve the school and community. Lakeview welcomes these new members who bring new energy in support of the school’s continuing work as National Honor Society Members. The new and returning members strive to uphold the four stations of Character, Scholarship, Leadership and Service; the cornerstone of the National Honor Society principles.
Members of the Lakeview Junior Senior High School chapter of the National Honor Society on front row from left are Hunter Thomas, Dillion Longino, President Latia Beavers, Carliegh Lofton, Lexy Adams, Kinley Nelson, Emily Corley, Tierra Stacks, Treasure Joshua Graham, Kabrian Bonier, Jasmine Williams, and Matthew Vaughn. On middle row are Emily Windham, Anna Smigh, Hailey Thompson, Amber Hembree, Avery Slaughter, and Shaliyah Smith. On back row are Ashanti Garner, Kaycee Smith, Jaquan Bobb, Julie Daniels, Parlimentarian Arimaya Williams, Historian Nicholas Wiggins, Shamarcus Page, Secretary Salem Johnson, Karmen Jarriett, and Vice President Ke’Aira Thomas
Jason Summerlin, of Natchitoches, was arrested Oct. 8 on a criminal warrant signed by a 10th Judicial Court Judge, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm in connection with an incident that occurred on Oct. 6 involving family members. He was booked into the Detention Center and released on a $5,000 bond pending a court appearance. The investigation is ongoing.
There will be a fireworks display Saturday, Oct. 13 at 9 pm on the south side of the the downtown riverbank hosted by the Northwest Louisiana Cancer Foundation for the Tapped-Tober Beer and Wine Festival. Boat operators must move their boats behind the designated yellow buoys 1 hour prior to the display for safety.
Cane River Lake is at 97.1 MSL (10/11/18)
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 that could cause damage to boat props or hulls and/or personal injury.
Lake Pool Stage: 98.0 MSL
Low Water Lake Closing: 96.0 MSL (Ordinance 2 of 2011)
High Water Lake Closing: 99.0 MSL (Ordinance 2 of 2011)
Questions contact Betty Fuller 318-617-3235 cell, 318-357-3007 office.
Remember to boat safe, sober, and always wear your life jackets!
Mary Frances Brown
September 27, 1925 – October 10, 2018
Arrangements TBA
Edgar “Eddie” Johnson, Sr.
July 30, 1937 – October 8, 2018
Visitation: Friday, October 12 from 5-8 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, October 13 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery
Nellie McQueen
August 4, 1932 – October 5, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, October 13 from 9-10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, October 13 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Coldwater Baptist Church Cemetery in Hagewood
Wilbert Payton
October 4, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, October 13 from 9-11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, October 13 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches
Interment: Rockford Baptist Church Cemetery on Old River Road
WINN PARISH:
Thelma Gunter Smith
August 13, 1926 – October 9, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, October 13 at 10 am in the First United Methodist Church sanctuary
Service: Saturday, October 13 at 11 am at First United Methodist Church
Interment: Garden of Memories Cemetery
RED RIVER PARISH:
Betty Mae Windle
July 2, 1930 – October 9, 2018
Service: Friday, October 12 at 1 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Ajax Cemetery
Watch today’s Magnolia Minute with Tori Thompson – Fork Cancer at NSU.
If you, your business or a member of your non-profit organization would like to appear on The Magnolia Minute, then contact us at the email or number below!
The Magnolia Minute Natchitoches Parish Journal magnoliaminute.npj@gmail.com 318-354-4000 #6
Moving forward with revamping the town water system and other infrastructure improvements occupied council members at the October Town Council meeting Tuesday night. Agenda items included the next steps in financing major upgrades to the town’s drinking water supply as well as requesting grants for other improvements.
First on the agenda was Alan Offner of the law firm of Foley and Judell in New Orleans. They are the town’s bond attorneys. Offner spoke about a resolution to issue $4,174,000 in Water Revenue Bonds for improvements to the water system.
Offner said his firm would prepare a proposal to go before the Louisiana Bond Commission on November 15th. Offner said, “The resolution before the council allows submitting to the state bond commission for approval of the notice of intent and the issuing of the bonds themselves.” He added when approved the council would advertise locally and hold a public meeting on December 11th to get public input and finally approve the issuing of the bonds.
The town isn’t obligated to do anything by this step. Offner said, “It just allows to move forward and get the Bond Commission approval and hold a public hearing. We will not issue bonds until there are bids for the project and other measures are accomplished.”
Mayor Johnny Cox explained that the city is not going to borrow $10,000,000 as reported elsewhere. He said it is a total of $7,000.000 in bonds and grants. Cox said the project would be paid for by the money from the bonds first, then they could spend money from the grant. He also explained that when talking about the city getting a loan for the project it really means funding from the sale of bonds.
The Town Council voted to approve the resolution.
Other resolutions were approved concerning the town applying for grants and capital outlay funding for infrastructure improvements. The town will apply for capital outlay funding for streetlights and sidewalks ($905,280.00), sewerage repairs ($240,000.00), renovations to the Community Center ($630,300.00), street improvements ($5,580,000.00), and wastewater treatment rehabilitation ($500,000.00).
Other resolutions adopted would apply to the LGAP grand program for sewerage repairs of $35,000.00 and to apply to the CWEF grant program for water repairs of $35,000.00. The council approved those resolutions.
Watch today’s Magnolia Minute with Jerry Konklin – CenLa VR Game Truck.
If you, your business or a member of your non-profit organization would like to appear on The Magnolia Minute, then contact us at the email or number below!
The Magnolia Minute Natchitoches Parish Journal magnoliaminute.npj@gmail.com 318-354-4000 #6
The Boys & Girls Club of El Camino Real in Natchitoches will hold its 24th Annual Celebrity Chef event Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 6 pm at the home of Calvin and Peggy Braxton, located at 142 Starlight Point Road. This event will feature Celebrity Waiters: Coach Mike and Connie McConathy and Coach Brad and Renee Laird. For more information and tickets call 318-352-6268 or 318-581-1950.
The Northwestern State University Jazz Orchestra will present a concert on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m.in Magale Recital Hall. The Jazz Orchestra is directed by Associate Professor of Music Galindo Rodriguez.
The Jazz Orchestra includes saxophone section members Alex Guillory of Goldonna, Stephen Garrett of Arlington, Texas, Adam Normand of Panama City, Florida, Kenyon Johnson II of DeRidder and Jordan Davis of Yantis, Texas; trombone section members Michael Dailey of West Monroe, Jacob St. Pierre of Laplace, John Floyd of Henderson, Texas, and Byron Walters of Bentley.
Members of the trumpet section are Nathan Roth of Luling, Lane Clevenger of Bush and Sebastian A. Fontalvo and Sadoc S. Calderon of Cartegena, Colombia. On piano are Romulo Osorio Herrera of Cartagena, Colombia and James Armstrong of Natchitoches. Bass players are Jon Colon of Cartagena, Colombia, and Abigail Hoy of Juneau, Alaska. Andrew Boyd of Frisco, Texas is on vibraphone and Elias Castro Caballero and Luis Colon of Cartegena, Colombia, are on drums.
The Jazz Orchestra will perform “Who’s Sorry Now” by Ted Snyder with words by Bert Kalmer and Harry Ruby and arranged by Sammy Nestico featuring Dailey and Johnson, “Back Home in Indiana” by James F. Hanley and arranged by Gregg Yasinitsky featuring Normand, “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock and arranged by Erik Morales featuring Normand, Armstrong and Boyd, “Recordame” by Joe Henderson and arranged by Erik Richards featuring Normand, Boyd and Herrera.
The orchestra will also play “Havana” by John Fedchock featuring Dailey, Boyd and Guillory and “Struttin’ With Some Barbecue” with words and music by Lilian Hardin Armstrong and Don Raye and arranged by Mike Tomaro featuring Dailey, Normand and Caballero.
Join members of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) for three exciting days of historic property tours! Get an up close and personal view of the area’s most captivating historic properties and hear special presentations from expert guest speakers, all while supporting the abundant history of the Cane River region.
FRIDAY:
Friday evening is the crowd favorite Candlelight Tour, featuring a special look around Northwestern State University’s campus. Buildings on tour include the President’s Home, Russell Hall, Varnado Hall, and Nelson Hall (NCPTT). Two performances will be held of “Cane River Ladies” play by Dr. Vicki Parrish in the Varnado Hall Ballroom at 7:30 and 8:30 pm.
The Natchitoches Historic Foundation will hold its annual American Cemetery and Mourning Tour on Friday Oct. 12 from 5:30-8 pm (last tour begins at 7:30 pm). Tour one of the oldest cemeteries in the vast Louisiana Purchase. Traditions and customs of mourning will be shared by docents through memorabilia and displays. Learn about burial practices and headstone design. Completing the comprehensive tour, visitors will partake of a “funeral repast” including wine and food historically offered to mourners after a funeral. NHF members will portray persons of local, state, and national interest interred here including: Louis Juchereau de St. Denis and his wife Manuela, Claude Thomas Pierre Metoyer, Susan Harling, John Gideon Lewis, Dr. John Sibley, and Cammie Henry. Tickets are $20 for adults (children 13 and under are free). For more information go online to natchitocheshf.com or call 318-471-7489.
SATURDAY:
Saturday, tour several lovely Natchitoches landmarks including Lemee House, Prudhomme-Rouquier House, Hill Haven, and more. Saturday also boasts a full schedule of expert guest speakers at Lemee House and the Barn at Melrose Plantation.
Both Saturday and Sunday offer visitors the option to tour the Cane River area’s most impressive plantations, including Melrose, Cherokee, Oakland, and more.
La Capitol Federal Credit Union is taking applications for the position of Full-Time MEMBER SERVICE OFFICER (TELLER) for the Natchitoches Branches. LaCap is looking for friendly, dependable, accurate, and self-motivated individuals. Starting hourly rate depends on experience. Excellent benefits package included.
If you would like to apply for a position at LaCap, you may submit your resume to La Capitol Federal Credit Union(ATT: Human Resources), P.O. Box 3398, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3398, email to dmarshall@lacapfcu.org, or stop by either Natchitoches location for an application. LaCap is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
NSU Crew would like to formally thank all our sponsors, the community, and volunteers that helped make the Inaugural St. Denis Head Race a huge success. Without your continued support, the race would not be possible.
We would like to give a special thanks and recognize
The Cane River Waterway Commission for their planning, sponsorship, and support. In addition, we would like to thank Mrs. Betty Fuller, of Cane River Patrol, for spending hours helping set our course.
The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission (HDDC) for their generous sponsorship and support.
To the community, Mayor Lee Posey, and Dr. Chris Maggio, who all took the time to come out and show the visitors some southern hospitality.
We hope to grow and showcase beautiful Natchitoches and Cane River Lake. Your support and love are necessary for our unique sport. If you have any questions about the regatta or NSU Crew, do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely
St. Denis Head Race Committee & Northwestern State University Rowing
Northwestern State University alumna Kimberly Eckert was selected as a NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow and attended the “Keeping the Promise of Public Education” symposium in Washington, D.C., on World Teachers Day, Oct. 5. The NEA Foundation, a separate entity from National Education Association, developed the Global Learning Fellowship to allow educators the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to integrate global competency into their daily classroom instruction, advocate for global competency in their schools and districts and help students thrive in our increasingly interconnected world.
After a selection process, one fellow is selected from each state to embark on 12 months of professional development that culminates in an international exchange that enables them to design lesson plans with global focus connected to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to become better equipped for advocacy.
Eckert’s task will culminate in South Africa next summer.
Eckert is a high school English teacher at Brusly High School. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work is 2004 and Master’s of Education in special education in 2013 at NSU and is also a reading specialist. In addition to serving as an NEA Global Fellow, she is also a Stand for Children’s LEAD Fellow, recently received Louisiana’s Public Interest Fellowship for work with Educators Rising and is the 2018 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year.
“I can’t imagine a better way to have celebrated World Teachers Day 2018 than by listening to the beautiful stories of teachers inspiring us to keep the promise of public education,” Eckert said. “I got to meet the other 2019 Fellows for The NEA Foundation and I’m so thankful to be a part of this group committed to global education.”
Broker and Owner of Bolton Realty Janice M. Bolton spoke to the Rotarians at their Oct. 9 meeting about the housing industry. Pictured from left are Rotary Club of Natchitoches President Richard White, Bolton, and Rotarian with the Program Kendell Perkins.
Rotary Club of Natchitoches Student of the Month Coordinator Tommy Melder honored Natchitoches Central High School (NCHS) Senior Natalie Sheffield with the Student of the Month award. NCHS Principal Bill Gordy described Natalie’s many accomplishments as a student softball athlete and honor student. She will be attending Benedictine University in Atchison, Kansas. Pictured from left are Gordy, Melder, Sheffield, and Natalie’s father Jay Sheffield (Photos by Dr. Ron McBride).
I am always several generations behind the latest available device in computers and other electronic devices. We just got our first “tablet” a few weeks ago, but it’s an inexpensive one and sometimes doesn’t work very well.
Our basic computer is still a desk top and I understand that fewer and fewer people are using those these days. To be up to date you must have a small hand-held device, evidently. We don’t like change, though. Whenever Windows practically orders us to switch over to their latest version of software, we hate to do it. We had just gotten used to the old version, after all.
But, heck, you know what worked really well? With it, you didn’t have to worry about new software, didn’t have to worry about it crashing or freezing up and you didn’t even have to worry about a power outage.
Yeah, I’m talking about the good old manual typewriter. For those of you who may not know what that is, it was a fool-proof and speedy method of getting your thoughts down on paper. The QWERTY keyboard, still used on computers today, was actually invented for the old typewriters.
And grand old machines they were, too. They weren’t something you’d want to be lugging around, though. They were about, oh 16 or 18 inches wide, tall and deep, I would guess. And they weighed probably 15 or 20 pounds. They were made out of good, solid metal, you see.
So what you did was, you’d roll a piece of paper into them and just type away, the same as you do on a computer keyboard today. When you got to the end of the line, you’d flick a lever and drop down to the next line. Simple, no?
And if you wanted an extra copy, no problem. All you had to do was to insert a piece of carbon paper between two sheets of typing paper and you had your copy.
When I became a reporter with the New Orleans Times-Picayune in 1965, manual typewriters were still in use. And we couldn’t have imagined any other sort of writing device for the future, either. We used soft pulp paper to write on and made copies with our carbons. The top sheet would go to the city editor, who would edit the copy by making hand marks on the paper. If he (and they were all he’s in those days) wanted to make big changes, he would use scissors and paste to rearrange the news story.
The carbon copy would go into the “carbon box” on his desk and the original, once edited, would go to the copy desk, to be looked over once more and have a headline written for it.
Then it would be sent down to the composing room via conveyor belts. There, a linotype operator would convert the copy into metal type, using melted lead, and it would be formed into a column. it would be placed, along with other news stories and advertisements, into a page dummy that would end up on the printing press and become, say, Section 1, Page 5 of the next day’s paper.
I may have left out a detail or two of the composing room process, but the bottom line is that we were using essentially 19th century technology to produce a daily newspaper in the 1960s. And it all worked fine, day after day after day. There were occasional typos, of course, misspellings or other mistakes in the printed copy. But those were relatively rare, considering the many thousands of words printed every day.
My point is, it all worked, and darned well. A retrograde geezer like me cannot hope to hold back time. But sometimes I do think, hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The Boys & Girls Club of El Camino Real in Natchitoches offers an After School Program Mondays-Fridays from 3-7 pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreational Center, located at 66 MLK Drive. There is a one time fee of $10. The program offers homework help, arts & crafts, outside fun, indoor games and more. Optional: Transportation available for $25 monthly. For more information call 318-352-6268.
I am always several generations behind the latest available device in computers and other electronic devices. We just got our first “tablet” a few weeks ago, but it’s an inexpensive one and sometimes doesn’t work very well.