BOM is sponsoring the Northwestern State University Chamber Choir and Lyric Women’s Chorale. They will be competing in the Laurea Mundi Choral Competition in Budapest, Hungary this May. They will also be performing a concert in the Basilica of St. Mary in Krakow, Poland.

Pictured above from left are Dr. Nicholaus B. Cummins (Director of Choral Activities & Assistant Professor of Music at the School of creative and Performing Arts at NSU) and Dustin Dauzat (University Branch Manager & Lender).

Northwestern State University has organized a student chapter of the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education. Laura Lovell of West Monroe is the group’s president, Lane Clevenger of Bush is vice president and Michael Dailey of West Monroe is secretary/treasurer. Associate Professor of Music – Trumpet, Jazz Studies Galindo Rodrigues and Associate Professor of Music – Saxophone Dr. Paul Forsyth are faculty sponsors.

Members and sponsors of the chapter are, front from left, Tristian Zamora, Kenyon Johnson, Galindo Rodriguez, Laura Lovell, Lane Clevenger, and Dr. Paul Forsyth. On the middle row are Adjunct Professor of Guitar Luke Brouillette, Jack Dyre, Michael Dailey, James Armstrong, Michael King and Ronald Rodriguez. On the back row are Aaron Martin, Stephen Garrett, Nathan Roth, Matt Howeth and Alexander Guillory.

The Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches (APHN) will host its Annual Membership Luncheon Saturday, Feb. 24 at 11:30 am. Dr. Mark Guidry will speak on “Isle Brevelle’s Legacy of Faith and Spirit of a Culture” (SEE BIO BELOW).

Calico Belles will be there to offer a hand. The newly republished Calico Ladies cookbook will be on sale at a discount for members and tax free.

Reservations are required by by Feb. 16. Tickets are $28 per person, which includes choice of entrees and dessert buffet. Tickets can be purchased online at melroseplantation.org under “Support.” For more information contact Gayle Howell at 318-352-8055.

cookbook cover copy

Dr. Mark Guidry Bio

Robert Crew’s love of photography will translate into a scholarship to benefit students in Northwestern State University’s Department of New Media, Journalism and Communication Arts. The legacy of the career educator and administrator, who passed away Jan. 14, will live on through a gift that acknowledges his long-time love of Northwestern State and its students.

“Northwestern was such an important part of our lives,” said Jacque Crew, his wife of 52 years. “Robert’s grandfather was the registrar there and we went to school there. Robert had always talked about establishing a scholarship in his grandfather’s name. I thought this would be a good way to honor Robert.”

Mr. Crew retired as executive assistant to the president of NSU in 2013. Before his appointment to the administrative position at Northwestern in 1997, Crew held several leadership roles in the Louisiana State Department of Education for 27 years. He had served for a number of years as director of the department’s Bureau of Higher Education, Teacher Certification and Continuing Education. Mr. Crew, who had also held the positions of deputy superintendent of education and acting deputy superintendent, served on numerous evaluation teams for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

A Natchitoches native, Mr. Crew earned a bachelor’s degree at NSU in 1965 and a master’s in education in 1968 and began his career as an educator in classrooms in Caddo and St. Mary parishes. Mr. Crew was a member of NSU’s Hall of Distinguished Educators and twice received the university’s Nth Degree, which recognized meritorious service to the university and/or the community. Upon his retirement, the School of Creative and Performing Arts named the photography studio in his honor.

A widely-acclaimed photographer for more than four decades, Crew photographed hundreds of weddings and captured numerous interesting characters and significant architectural and historic sites. He was the official photographer for two gubernatorial inaugurations in Louisiana. Crew’s photographs are included in a number of private collections and have been displayed in exhibits across the state.

“Robert loved taking pictures of children. Later he got into landscape photography, particularly historic landscapes and pictures of buildings and cemeteries,” Mrs. Crew said. “He had an eye for seeing interesting things. He loved to take pictures and we have boxes of pictures of NSU students and activities.”

Mr. Crew once took a picture of the Africa House at Melrose that hung in the dining room of the Big House for many years, Mrs. Crew said. A few years ago, someone looking at the picture noticed that the roof of the Africa House was sinking, as compared to Mr. Crew’s picture, which prompted preservationists to stabilize and repair the historic building before it deteriorated any further.

“Without that picture, no one would have realized the building needed repair,” Mrs. Crew said, noting that his granddaughters appear to be carrying on his interest in photography. “He always had to have the latest new camera. He loved gadgets, period.”

The Robert G. Crew Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a student from Louisiana majoring in digital media/journalism who maintains a 2.5 grade point average. It will be awarded annually and can be renewed.

“We thought it would be appropriate to designate the scholarship to the New Media program, since they named the photo studio in his honor,” Mrs. Crew said. “Robert would be pleased to carry on that legacy with the department.”

NSU Development Officer Brittany McNeely had a special relationship with the Crews and worked with the family to create the scholarship.

“Mr. Robert and Mrs. Jacque have always been like a third set of grandparents to me,” McNeely said. “When I first started here as a freshman in 2011, we both immediately adopted each other. They have made such an impact not only on myself but on thousands of students. NSU was very lucky to have Robert and Jacque.”

To contribute to Robert G. Crew Scholarship and for information on other scholarships for NSU students, visit northwesternalumni.com or call (318) 357-4414.

DATE: February 15, 2018
LOCATION: MLK Head Start Center, 415 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Natchitoches
TIME: 6:00 p.m.

AGENDA

I. Call to order
II. Invocation
III. Roll call (establish quorum)
IV. Introductions and Welcome Visitors
V. Approval of Minutes
VI. Reports

A. Personnel Report- Mrs. Cathy Creamer, Human Resources Coordinator

B. Financial Report – Mrs. Debbie Miley, Parish Treasurer
1. Budget
2. USDA Report
3. Credit Card Report
4. Non-Federal Share (In-Kind) Report
5. Notice of Award

C. Head Start Director – Mrs. Chriscella Metoyer
1. Updates
2. Black History Week
3. Licensing
a. Mandated Reporting Policy (Child Abuse)
4. Average Daily Attendance

D. ERSEA – Ms. Patricia Telsee- Disabilities/Family and Community Engagement/ERSEA Coordinator
1. Enrollment
2. Disability Report

VII. Old Business
A. Natchitoches Parish Government Head Start Policies and Procedures Handbook- Ongoing
B. Child Abuse Policy

VIII. New Business

IX. Questions/Concerns/Announcements/Comments

X. Next Meeting Date

XI. Adjournment

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Cliff LaCaze
September 19, 1946 – February 11, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5-8 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches
Interment: Catholic Cemetery

Karen Patterson Vivas Davis
December 29, 1948 – February 12, 2018
Visitation: Friday, Feb. 16 from 12-2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, Feb. 16 at 2 pm in the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Montgomery Cemetery in Montgomery

Pat Charrier
May 18, 1951 – February 10, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 13 after 5 pm at Bay Springs Baptist Church, located at 140 Hwy. 490 in Chopin
Service: Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 10 am at Bay Springs Baptist Church in Chopin
Interment: Bay Springs Cemetery

Helen Walters
February 28, 1927 – February 6, 2018
Service: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 1 pm in the Chapel at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral home in Natchitoches

Lodie Marie Hamilton
February 6, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, Feb. 17 from 8-11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home
Service: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11 am at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Natchitoches
Interment: Mount Olive Cemetery

DeEtte Wilkinson Tomka
February 16, 1944 – January 24, 2018
Service: Saturday, Feb. 24 at 11 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 533 Second Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Trinity Bell Tower Columbarium

SABINE PARISH:
RAPIDES PARISH:

JoAnn Monk Langston
June 5, 1943 – February 10, 2018
Visitation: Thursday, Feb. 15 from 5-9 pm and Friday, Feb. 16 from 1-3 pm at Kingsville Baptist Church in Ball
Service: Friday, Feb. 16 at 3 pm at Kingsville Baptist Church
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens

Carolyn Gaye Armand Verzwyvelt
March 3, 1929 – February 10, 2018
Visitation: Thursday, Feb. 15 from 9-11 am at John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Thursday, Feb. 15 at 11:30 am in Alexandria Memorial Gardens

Sarah Kelly Vincent
May 9, 1941 – February 10, 2018
Service: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 2 pm at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church
Interment: Greenwood Memorial Park

Leonard James Wallmuth
June 19, 1948 – February 9, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 8:30-10 am at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 10 am in the John Kramer & Son Chapel
Interment:Czech National Cemetery
WINN PARISH:

Leona DuBois Sharbono
December 3, 1931 – February 11, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5-8 pm and Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 9am – 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Service: Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home
Interment: French Cemetery in Verda
RED RIVER PARISH:

Alice Faye Adams Gillespie
October 6, 1954 – February 10, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 6-8 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home
Service: Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 2 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Bethany Cemetery in Coushatta

Step back in time at St. Mary’s Catholic School’s Second Annual “Whatever Happened To…A Trip Down Memory Lane,” which will be held Saturday, March 10. Get ready for an evening of stories and tales from St. Mary’s alumni and former employees including:

Barry Guillet, International Entrepreneur, Class of 1964

Henry Chandler, Celebrity Chef, Class of 1977

Dr. Chris Maggio, NSU President, Class of 1982

Mrs. Nona Bobo, St. Mary’s Librarian, 1973-2008

The evening will feature Live Auction Items, Light Hor d’oeuvres, and a Cash Bar. Social Hour starts at 6 pm, and the program begins at 7 pm in the St. Mary’s Gym.

Tickets are $50 per person. Contact Susan Wright, 318-352-8394, swright@smstigers.org or Payne Williams, 318-352-6695, willwill@cp-tel.net.

Kevin’s Gallery

Over 150 members of the Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana gathered at a local hotel Saturday, Feb. 10 to celebrate the state of Louisiana formally recognizing their tribe. The tribe’s branches are indeed far flung, with people coming to the event from North Carolina, Seattle, and even as far as Paris, France. District 23 State Representative Kenny Cox, sponsor of the bill recognizing the tribe, presented copies of the resolution to the group after which it was read aloud to all present.

The Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana members are documented descendants of Natchitoches’ original Native American population who were here when Bienville came up the river. Over the years, they intermarried with the French and Spanish settlers. According to the Vice Chief of the Tribe, Belinda Brooks, “They hid in plain sight” after the Indian Removal Act of 1835. The Tribe, long thought to be extinct, actually never was and is coming forth to reclaim its heritage. Currently, the Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana has over 600 registered members.

Mssr. Clement Lagouarde of Paris, France is the most far flung member of the Natchitoches Tribe of Louisiana. His great grandfather was from Natchitoches and enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWI. While serving in France, he met Clement’s great grandmother, Mme Fernande Jasinsky. Lagouarde discovered his Natchitoches tribal roots while researching his family history. He also designed the tribe’s seal.

This paragraph from the event’s program aptly sums up the tribe’s quest: “Today, the Natchitoches Indians, in honor of our ancestors, have come out of hiding and have reestablished our tribe openly. A Constitution and Bylaws are in place and a tribal council has been appointed. Our people have joined together to walk in the paths of our ancesotor with honor and dignity.”

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Over 30 students are learning the sport of boxing in a safe and comfortable environment for the spring semester at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, the state’s residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana’s high-achieving, highly motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Taught by Jonathan Roberts and Kelvin Samuel on Thursday evenings during the spring semester, students are learning to master essential basic skills and conditioning exercises that form the regular regimen of real boxing training without the risk of injuries caused by full-contact sparring.

Sgt. Roberts, who is a full-time narcotics investigator with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office; and Deputy Samuels, who is a full-time patrol officer with NPSO, both worked with LSMSA to design a physical education course that would offer students a chance to build a self-esteem skillset and also to provide opportunities to develop good physical conditioning skills. The LSMSA Foundation’s Student Enrichment Fund covered the costs for a majority of the equipment purchases necessary to offer the course. Both sections of the class are at enrollment capacity.

Samuel has been boxing competitively and as a hobby for over 20 years; Roberts, who was a student of Samuel, also has boxing competition experience and holds certification as a boxing instructor from the Boxing Fitness Institute. They both offer private instruction in boxing technique during their free time.

“Sgt. Roberts and Deputy Samuel quickly earned the respect of their classes not only because of their skillset in boxing, but most importantly because of the positions they hold with NPSO,” Dr. Steve Horton, Executive Director of LSMSA, said. “We’ve never had the opportunity to have law enforcement officers on campus as part of our teaching faculty.

“The boxing class has been a wonderful addition to our physical education program,” said Dale Clingerman, coordinator of athletics and recreation. “The students are extremely excited and passionate about learning a new skill and getting in shape.”

“We are very pleased and blessed to have Coach Jonathan and Coach Kelvin teaching the class. Both of them bring a strong desire to teach our students and inspire them to work hard and get better every class.”

According to Roberts and Samuel, learning the sport of boxing is a fun way to relieve stress, gain self-confidence and get stronger, leaner and faster while developing a sense of boxing ethics.

“So far, this class has taught me the correct stance and way of punching,” said Abigail Fischer, a junior from Livingston. “My favorite aspect of boxing is getting to learn a beneficial skill in a fun and safe environment.

“The instructors teaching the class are great. They explain everything perfectly and are willing to work one-on-one with students if they are struggling. I am looking forward to everything they have to teach us this semester.”

Garett Byrne, a senior from Walker, chose to enroll in boxing because he needed another physical education credit for graduation, and he has always been interested in learning self-defense and becoming more fit.

“I really enjoy incorporating boxing as a way to work out,” he said.

Veronica Sturman, a junior from Natchitoches, took karate when she was younger and it sparked an interest for learning self-defense/martial arts. She had to give it up due to a busy schedule, but she always planned to revisit it when the chance arose.

“When I learned that boxing would be offered this semester, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to do just that,” she said. “My favorite aspect of the class is that it encourages us to pursue personal fitness and aims to guide us in that respect.”

Horton added that the students see Roberts and Samuel as role models and mentors.

“I’ve witnessed the interactions between our students and these men; they’ve connected with our student body quickly,” he said.

Other students enrolled in the class include Kiara Barclay, a senior from Bogalusa; Santhosh Bomminani, a senior from West Monroe; Brielle Dunn, a junior from Denham Springs; Andrew Huze, a sophomore from Baton Rouge; Ariel Johnson, a senior from Baton Rouge; Catherine Kennon, a senior from Bossier City; Olivia LaCour, a senior from St. Amant; Caitlyn Morrison, a senior from Leesville; Lyrren Mwaghore, a senior from Luling; Abby Pace, a senior from Iowa; Sofia Rivera, a senior from Covington; Sydney Schroedter, a junior from Lafayette; Benjamin Walker, a junior from Mandeville; Nathan Ward, a senior from Anacoco; Cece Warren, a sophomore from Many; Andrew Bagert, a junior from Kenner; Matthew Bailey, a senior from Haughton; Athena Cai, a sophomore from Madisonville; Jerry Chen, a senior from New Llano; John Luke Heying, a sophomore from Bossier City; Emma Miller, a senior from Meraux; Shemya Mozeke, a senior from Homer; Emma Simpson, a senior from Shreveport; Kynedi Stevens, a junior from Lake Charles; Halle Thielepape, a junior from Elizabeth; Diamond Wilson, a junior from Natchitoches; Amaya Young, a junior from Natchitoches; and Raymond Zheng, a junior from Natchitoches.

The Natchitoches Central High School Orchestra under the direction of Syll-Young Olson, 34 members and 20 chaperones will travel to Washington DC to attend the Capital Orchestra Festical to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 19. Additionally, they will spend time sightseeing which will include laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, touring the White House, the Air and Space Museum, the African American Musuem, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial and more. If you would like to donate any amount it would be greatly appreciated. Payable to NCHS Orchestra, 6513 Highwasy 1 Bypass, Natchitoches, LA 71457, Attention: Syll-Young Olson.

Axsom Air has a new club membership. Current Axsom Air club members can covert their old membership to the new Prestige Service Club that’s only $11.95 per month.

“There’s nothing like it in town,” said Josh Axsom. “We’re excited to provide a greater value for our customers and we look forward to taking care of them in the future.”

The Prestige Service Club now covers AC and plumbing systems. Your membership provides valuable services and discounts on repairs for your heating, cooling and plumbing. You are guaranteed at all times that repairs are fixed right or they are FREE!

Regular service of your equipment can save you thousands of dollars over the long haul in energy costs. In fact, as much as 30% per year. And regular service can extend the life of your heating, cooling and plumbing systems. Your membership will literally pay for itself year after year.

When you’re a preferred client you can expect our highly trained and competent technicians to become completely familiar with you and your air conditioning and heating equipment. Your membership is transferrable either to the buyer of your current home or to your new home is associated service centers throughout the state. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with our service or repair, you do not pay.

As a member you’re guaranteed the following for your heating and cooling system:

Breakdown appointments in 48 hours
A free precision tune-up
A 20% discount on repairs
A $19.95 diagnostic service

As a member you’re guaranteed the following for your plumbing system:

Plumbing service within 24 hours
Yearly plumbing inspection
Yearly water heater flush
10% off plumbing repairs
5% off plumbing accessories

*membership fee per heating, cooling and plumbing system

“I want to thank our existing customers for their loyalty,” said Matthew Axsom. “I encourage them to call in and update their memberships to take advantage of our new Prestige Service Club.”

For more information or to convert your membership today call 318-352-7777

www.axsomair.com

The Kiwanis Club of Natchitoches dropped off around 30 coats at the Natchitoches Parish School Board Feb. 9. The Kiwanis Club’s “Coats for Kids” is an annual community service project to provide coats to those in need in the Parish.

The City of Natchitoches Main Street Office is seeking vendors for the 2018 Bloomin’ on the Bricks spring festival. The 18th Annual Bloomin’ on the Bricks, Natchitoches’ spring garden festival, will be held on Saturday, March 17 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., downtown on Front Street.

The event will feature an exhibit area of lawn and garden vendors who will display and sell an assortment of items related to garden and lawn care. Vendors of lawn and garden merchandise such as landscaping, nurseries, lawn furniture, ironwork, yard art, garden décor, etc. are invited to participate in this year’s show. Vendor spaces are available for $50 per each 10×10 space.

Bloomin’ on the Bricks, organized by the Natchitoches Main Street Program, is a celebration of spring throughout the City’s Historic District. The event will also feature live entertainment and food booths. Bloomin’ on the Bricks is free and open to the public.

For those interested in becoming a vendor at Bloomin’ on the Bricks, please contact the City of Natchitoches Main Street Office at (318) 352-2746 for more information.

Blooming Vendor Form 2018

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will present a Family & Friends CPR course Monday, Feb. 19 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Room 119 of Fournet Hall. The fee is $10 plus a $5 material fee.

The course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult hands-only CPR, adult CPR with breaths, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR and mild and severe airway block for adults, children, and infants. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment using the American Heart Association (AHA) research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which provides students with the most hands-on CPR practice time possible.

Family & Friends CPR is for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a CPR course completion card to meet a job requirement. This course is ideal for community groups, new parents, grandparents, babysitters and others interested in learning how to save a life. A certificate of participation will be provided at the end of the course.

For more information, call (318) 357-6355, (800) 376-2422 or go to nsula.edu/ece/non-credit-programs.

The Master Gardeners of Natchitoches Parish invite the public to their meeting Wednesday, Feb 14 at 10 am at 560 2d Street in Natchitoches. Refreshments will be available at 9:30 a.m.

The guest speaker, Judy McIntyre, will discuss plans for a potential Monarch Butterfly Waystation. For more information on the subject, go to http://www.monarchwatch.org and look for “way station projects.”

The Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a volunteer development program offered by the LSU AgCenter. Master Gardeners are highly trained and provide proven, research-based educational programs to Louisiana residents.

A new class for potential Master Gardeners starts April 2 at 3pm. The 10-week course costs $150 per student. For that fee, each student receives a stack of valuable reference material covering everything from soil to trees, bugs to berries, landscaping to disease diagnosis. Presenters are experts from across the state, and they don’t just teach. They become part of your network of advisors. Sign up at the Parish Extension office at 624 Second Street.

For more information or for daily tips on North Louisiana gardening, go to https://www.facebook.com/NatchitochesMasterGardener/.

NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Pat Charrier
May 18, 1951 – February 10, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, Feb. 13 after 5 pm at Bay Springs Baptist Church, located at 140 Hwy. 490 in Chopin
Service: Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 10 am at Bay Springs Baptist Church in Chopin
Interment: Bay Springs Cemetery

Lucille Sparks
January 11, 1921 – February 9, 2018
Service: Monday, Feb. 12 at 10:30 am at Central Baptist Church Cemetery in Robeline

Helen Walters
February 28, 1927 – February 6, 2018
Service: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 1 pm in the Chapel at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral home in Natchitoches

Lodie Marie Hamilton
February 6, 2018
Arrangements TBA

DeEtte Wilkinson Tomka
February 16, 1944 – January 24, 2018
Service: Saturday, Feb. 24 at 11 am at Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 533 Second Street in Natchitoches
Interment: Trinity Bell Tower Columbarium

SABINE PARISH:

Joann Skinner Wright
May 24, 1934 – February 9, 2018
Service was held Feb. 11 at Antioch Baptist Church
Interment: Antioch Cemetery

RAPIDES PARISH:

Leonard James Wallmuth
June 19, 1948 – February 9, 2018
Visitation: Monday, Feb. 12 from 4-8 pm and Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 8:30-10 am at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 10 am in the John Kramer & Son Chapel
Interment:Czech National Cemetery

Gertrude Kullick Campbell
April 21, 1925 – February 1, 2018
Visitation: Monday, Feb. 12 from 1-2 pm at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Monday, Feb. 12 at 2 pm in the Chapel of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Interment: Alexandria Memorial Gardens Mausoleum

WINN PARISH:

George Thomas Terral
November 14, 1947 – February 10, 2018
Service: Monday, Feb. 12 at 10 am at Temple Baptist Church
Interment: Woodland Cemetery in Jena

When it came time for the budget update at the School Board committee meeting Feb. 6, board member Steven Harris broached the fact that there hasn’t been a balanced budget for the Natchitoches Parish School District in 4 years.

The budget was negative $357,000 in 2013-14, negative $3.8 million in 2014-15, and negative $2.1 million in 2015-16. Each year the budget is zeroed out by dipping into reserves.

“I’ve been told the budget was balanced, but we don’t” said Harris. “If this happened in the corporate world, the CEO would be fired. From this point on we need a true balanced budget. We need to stop spending more than we take in. We need to stop misleading the people. We need to stop backfilling. In accounting, where I’m from, they call that ‘fast and loose.’”

Tommy Melder said he was fully aware they were using reserves. He didn’t like it, but that it’s the position the state put the district in when it required millions for teacher retirement pay.

But there’s no more reserves and the budget can’t be zeroed out anymore. Supervisor of Business Affairs Richard Foshee said the actual expediters are trending below budget. “It’s close but we should come in under budget,” he said.

Patricia Roque said that for the last 5 years the board has been presented with a balanced budget and were told each time that if spending wasn’t changed the amount would have to come from the reserve to balance it.

“The accounting department has been letting the board know every year we’ve been going in the hole,” she said.

Superintendent Dale Skinner said the district overstaffed to raise the district’s score from a ‘C’ to a ‘B.’ Then cuts had to be made and people complained.

“You [the board] sat here and let us spend the money,” he said.

Emille Metoyer said that for the past 4 years he’s been voting against the budget. He voted against spending the money to open the Jr. High, which Skinner said is one of the best things the district has done.

“We can’t even get people to vote for a tax to improve schools for the kids in their neighborhoods,” Skinner said. “If the faculty, staff and employees would vote, we could get a tax passed. When it fails, it means we’re not dedicated to the students in our district.”

​

Members of the Northwestern State Volleyball Team and First Lady of NSU, Jennifer Maggio, joined Mrs. McCart’s first grade class at Weaver Elementary for their annual Mardi Gras Parade. Jennifer Maggio is pictured along with the following members of the volleyball team: Cayman Sutton, Victoria Harris, Alexis Warren, Megan Lohmiller, Kylie Spencer and Head Coach, Sean Kiracofe. The team has also been to Weaver to read to the classes in the school for Community Service.

​

NSU – The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University has received a $10,000 Challenge America grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for the 2018 Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival.

The Challenge America category features NEA support for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability.

“We are deeply honored that the festival has received a Challenge America award from the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Dr. Shane Rasmussen, the director of the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival. “This year’s festival will be a fun-filled, educational event that will highlight some of the finest folk music, food, crafts and cultural traditions in Louisiana.”

The grant was among more than $25 million awarded as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018.

“It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to Northwestern State University’s Louisiana Folklife Center, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed and increase the quality of our lives,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities and connections the arts bring.”

The 39th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held on July 20-21 in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the Northwestern State University campus in Natchitoches. The 2018 festival theme is “Celebrating Louisiana’s Folk Roots.” The festival will include a wide variety of traditional crafts, folk foods, Kidfest, three stages with live music, narrative sessions, music informances and a Cajun fiddle workshop, which will be free for Festival attendees. In addition, the annual Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will be held in the Magale Recital Hall on the afternoon of July 21.

The 2018 festival will include classic country by Hugh Harris and the Drifting Cowboys with special guest Gina Forsyth, blues with Lil’ Buck Sinegal and Hardrick Rivers and the Rivers Revue Band, zydeco by Joe Hall and the Cane Cutters, French Creole la la music by Goldman Thibodeaux and the Lawtell Playboys, Cajun music by Donny Broussard and the Louisiana Stars, Jo-El Sonnier and the Jambalaya Cajun Band. There will also be traditional acoustic folk music by the Back Porch Band and Smithfield Fair, swamp pop with Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, rockabilly with Jim Oertling and Friends and special performances by Estelle Brown (of the Sweet Inspirations) and guitar legend James Burton.

The festival audience will be greatly edified, enlightened and entertained at the Folk Festival, Rasmussen said.

The Louisiana Folklife Center was established at Northwestern State to identify, document and present Louisiana’s cultural and folk traditions and to provide public access to this material via the Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival.

For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news. To learn about this year’s Folk Festival, go to louisianafolklife.nsula.edu/2018-natchitoches-nsu-folk-festival.

​

The Natchitoches Parish School Board approved the transportation of students to Outpatient Medical Center for dental care at its meeting Feb. 8.

At the committee meeting Feb. 6, Carl Walters, OMC’s Chief Executive Officer, gave board members an update on the school based health center that services LP Vaughn and the Natchitoches Jr. High. He was joined by the center’s Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Mary Lancaster and Site Director Ruby Mitchell.

Since the center opened Nov. 27, there’s been a decrease in student and staff absences. It’s also helped parents stop missing work and decreased unnecessary hospital emergency and urgent care visits.

The center is funded through a 3 year grant form the Rapides Foundation, which allows MOC to provide immediate on-site medical relief. The goal is to have a self sustaining center once the grant ends and Walters said he is confident they will achieve this.

The center opened and started seeing 2-4 patients per day. It is currently seeing 8-10 patients per day. The staff is encouraging more staff to use the center. It needs to see 20-25 patients per day to reach its goal of being self-sustaining once the grant runs out.

“We’re not here to take away any school nurse jobs,” said Walters. “ We’re working in partnership with them to make sure kids receive the medical care they deserve. We’re also not trying to take patients away from their primary care clinicians. We’re simply there when and where you need us. We accept all insurances, but will see any patients regardless of their ability to pay. I appreciate Skinner’s support in finding innovative and creative means to ensure the students are taken care of.”

Transportation of the students to OMC for dental care will occur one day a week. The transportation itself will cost the district a bit of money, but is worth it to keep students healthy so they can continue advancing in their education.

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A record amount of money was donated during the ninth annual phonathon held Jan. 29 – Feb. 1 and sponsored by the LSMSA Foundation.

The event raised more than $105,000, the most in the phonathon’s history. Gifts came from more than 450 individual donors, more than 10 percent of which were first-time donors to LSMSA.

Fifty-two student volunteers completed nearly 2,200 phone calls to parents, alumni and other friends of LSMSA to seek their support. Additionally, alumni volunteers in Houston, Austin and Washington, D.C., made coordinated phone calls to alumni friends to help raise funds.

Many of the student callers volunteered because they recognize the important role the LSMSA Foundation plays in the school community.

“Once I graduate, I will most likely donate to Phonathon every year,” said Kaleb Ray, a junior from Opelousas. “It contributes so much to the entire student body and affects the LSMSA experience in many ways.”

When asked about her most memorable phonathon moment, Dakota Trim, a junior from Baton Rouge, said it was receiving a $500 donation from one of the LSMSA supporters she called.

“Over the last nine years, the LSMSA Foundation’s phonathon has grown into our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Angela Robinson, executive director of the Foundation. “It has become a spring tradition at LSMSA and is overwhelmingly successful because of the collective efforts of our student and alumni callers as well as our many alumni and parents who help raise awareness on social media by encouraging classmates and friends to support our school.

“The phonathon continues to set new records each year, and that is a testimony to the impact that the school has had on the lives of so many students over the last three and a half decades.”

Gifts from the phonathon are intended for the Foundation’s annual fund. The annual fund provides support to LSMSA where and when it needs it most. Examples of recent annual fund support to LSMSA include new and replacement textbooks, athletic equipment, costumes and set materials for theatrical and dance productions, scientific equipment and mathematics supplies.

Student volunteers included Caroline Adkins, a junior from Shreveport; Colby Alexander, a junior from Franklin; Kiara Barclay, a senior from Bogalusa; Chirstan Bates, a sophomore from Ruston; Jada Bezue, a junior from Hammond; Gabrielle Blanchard, a senior from Houma; Marlies Carter, a junior from Madisonville; Alvaro Carvajal, a senior from Jefferson; Ian Crochet, a junior from New Iberia; Keaton Dicapo, a junior from Denham Springs; Kerry Doyle, a senior from Eros; Makayla Dupre, a senior from Jeanerette; Angela Fang, a senior from Mandeville; Caitlin Foster, a senior from LaPlace; Geoffrey Glover, a senior from Breaux Bridge; Sarah Green, a senior from Houma; Kaylen Green, a sophomore from Lake Charles; Samantha Hernandez, a senior from Slidell; Emma Istre, a junior from Crowley; Kiran Kaur, a junior from Lake Charles; Clara Kolterman, a senior from Sterlington; Bryson Landry, a senior from Franklin; Julianne Le, a sophomore from Lake Charles; Amy Liu, a senior from Alexandria; Destin Lopez, a sophomore from Lake Arthur; LiZhang Matuschka, a senior from Natchitoches; Emma Miller, a senior from Meraux; Bryce Moulton, a senior from Natchitoches; Alena Noakes, a senior from Dry Prong; Jessenia Ortiz, a senior from Oberlin; Stephanie Osten, a senior from Crowley; Gabriella Papillion, a senior from Oberlin; Morgan Phelps, a junior from Baton Rouge; Kaitlyn Randall, a senior from Vidalia; Kaleb Ray, a junior from Opelousas; Hannah Rice, a senior from Mandeville; Andrea Richard, a sophomore from Sunset; Zoe Roques, a sophomore from Broussard; Cynthia Russell, a junior from Pitkin; Avaion Ruth, a junior from Brusly; Emma Shupe, a senior from Baton Rouge; Presley Simmons, a senior from Walker; Jordan Smith, a junior from Geismar; Sydney Sorbet, a sophomore from Covington; Siobahn Stanley, a sophomore from Stonewall; Mary Edna Tanksley, a senior from Lake Providence; Kaitlyn Thompson, a sophomore from Montz; Casey Tonnies, a junior from Bossier City; Dakota Trim, a junior from Baton Rouge; Diamond Wilson, a junior from Natchitoches; Samantha Wright, a senior from Crowley; and Amaya Young, a junior from Natchitoches.

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Young at Heart, a group of residents over 50, met Feb. 7 at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. Valentine decorations were by the Bradley Bostick circle of the United Methodist Women.

Program: Steve Wells played and sang with the accompaniment of his trumpet and drummer, to a variety of music and ended with a special rendition of “America the Beautiful.”

Pictured above are members with February Birthdays, from left: Sam Watson, Carol Otto, Bennie Rhodes and Ruth Harlan.

New Attendees were Tom Osborn, Louise Booty, Ruth Milam and San Watson.

The Young At Heart meets on first Wednesday of each month at 11 am for a program and pot luck lunch.

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