Johnny Barnes, president of the Concerned Citizens Association for the Bailey Heights Community, presented award at the Natchitoches Parish Council on Aging Feb. 8.
The award recognized the following:
Alice Barrios
Sheila Hampton
Hattie Ware
Sandy Davis
Janice Peyton
Elizabeth Smart
Margaret Walker
Ed Johnson
Thomas Stephen
Natchitoches Parish Detention Center
Willie Ladkin
Helen Raymond
Hazel Washington
The COA oversees a Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which assists around 250 people in the parish.
Community members can Adopt-A-Senior through the Food Bank of Central Louisiana. The Adopt-A-Senior Program is designed to help supplement impoverished seniors nutritional needs so they are not faced with the difficult decision of choosing between medicine, rent and food. Seniors in the program receive 50 pounds of food per month for a year.
Eligibility is limited to those whose income falls below federal poverty guidelines and whose age is at least 65, or 60 and disabled. The income guideline for one in the household is $1,245; for two is $1,681; and three is $2,116. Proof of income, proof of disability if disabled, birth date and address is required.
There’s a waiting list of senior citizens on fixed incomes. Sponsorships of $150 will enable a senior citizen to receive a 50 point box each month for a year.
For more information call the COA at (318) 357-3250 or the Food Bank of Central Louisiana at (318) 445-2773.
The Cane River Fly Casters invites the public to its next meeting, featuring guest speaker Captain Steve “Scooby” Stubbe of Mudfish Adventures. The meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 pm at Westside Baptist Church’s Family Life Center, located at 6834 Hwy. 1 Bypass in Natchitoches.
Captain Steve has been working and playing on the water since 1977 from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Canadian tundra.
For more information call Sunny Arceneaux at 318-471-0156.
Christie Griffin accepted the position of Director of Student Services for St. Mary’s Catholic High School. Her first official day will be Feb. 14.
“We are proud to welcome Mrs. Griffin to our St. Mary’s staff,” said Principal Andrea Harrell. “We believe she will be a great asset to our team.”
Griffin attended Catholic school from Pre-4 – 12th grade at Opelousas Catholic School. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northwestern State University. She also received her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from NSU. She is a Louisiana Board of Education Certified School Psychologist. She is coming to St. Mary’s from the Natchitoches Parish School System where she has proven herself to be a great asset. She has many talents that she can provide for the St. Mary’s faculty and student body.
She is married to Frank Griffin. They two children who currently attend St. Mary’s: Drake, 6th grade, and Kennedy, 3rd grade.
Each year through no fault of their own, thousands of Louisiana’s children enter into complex social welfare and juvenile court proceedings. They are the victims of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. Helpless and scared, they belong to no one as they sit silently waiting for the courts to decide their futures.
According to Jack Duty, executive director of CASA if Central Louisiana, in December there were 15 children without advocates in CASA’s service area, which includes Natchitoches, Red River and Sabine Parishes.
“Becoming a CASA volunteer is an investment of time, energy and heart,” he said. “But many volunteers have told me they get just as much out of it themselves as the child they’re advocating for. They find it rewarding and eellike they’re helping to change that child’s situation.”
CASA if Central Louisiana will hold an Advocate Training Class Thursday, Feb. 15 from 5:30-8:30 pm at its office, located at 1200 Keyser Avenue, Suite B.
Breeland Johnson has served as a CASA advocate in the Natchitoches Parish area for 3 years. CASA gives him an opportunity to give whatever abilities he has to children who may be abused or neglected. He is a voice for them.
“I’ve seen many cases now where the kids are angry or confused,” he said. “They just need someone to listen; someone to be a friend. Being an advocate is one of the better things you can do in your life. The children you may save, may save someone else someday. It’s a rewarding job to be able to see a child pull through and do something good for themselves.”
CASA’s Advocate Training Class marks the beginning of the 30-hour course, which will be held over several weeks. There will be study material sent home, but volunteers will be asked to attend four more classes at the office. These classes will be scheduled on a weekly basis. At the end, there will be a 2-hour courtroom observation before volunteers are officially sworn in as advocates.
Become a CASA Advocate and help CASA of Central Louisiana ensure that every foster child has a caring competent volunteer in all judicial proceedings. If you are at least 21 years of age, respect the inherent rights of children to grow up with dignity in a safe environment, and would like to advocate for a child’s best interests in court, become a CASA Advocate today! For more information call (318) 238-2446.
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
Marlene Bradley Carter
February 5, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, Feb. 17 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence
Service: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11 am at the Greenville Baptist Church
Interment: Greenville Baptist Church 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
SURROUNDING AREAS:
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
Raymond Babers Sr.
Visitation: Friday, Feb. 9 from 6-7 pm at Springville Baptist Church in Coushatta
Service: Saturday, Feb. 10 at 11 am at Springville Baptist Church
Interment: Springville Cemetery
Weather forecast has resulted in cancelling the Parade scheduled for Saturday, Feb 10th
Natchitoches, LA, February 9, 2018: The weather forecast for downtown Natchitoches does not look favorable for the scheduled Krewe of Wag-uns Children and Pet Parade planned for a 3 p.m. rollout tomorrow, Saturday, February 10th.
The Natchitoches Humane Society and the City of Natchitoches have officially decided to RE-SCHEDULE the parade for Saturday, March 17, 2018 – St. Patrick’s Day! Additional information will be forthcoming for the new date and time. Please don’t change a thing regarding your costumes and floats – We will still have awards for best float, best dressed pet and best dressed child – you can even add a St. Pat’s Day theme! It will be loads of fun for all! More info to come soon.
The majority of the School Board meeting Thursday night, Feb. 8, was spent discussing the approval of the reorganization of schools per grades for next school year.
For more information on the reorganization read the story from Tuesday night’s committee meeting:
After learning of the School District’s plan to reorganize Weaver, East Natchitoches, LP Vaughn and the Natchitoches Jr. High, parents and community members filled the board room to voice their concerns.
Jason Edwards, director of Durham Bus Services, assured everyone that he doesn’t feel the reorganization would cause a time delay in the bussing of students, or affect the in-town routes in any significant way.
One parent summed it up best when she said the problem lies not with the reorganization itself, but the lack of communication from the school district to the parents and teachers. It seems most people found out about the plan to reorganize the school through social media and text messages late Wednesday evening.
Susan Horne, director of Curriculum and Instruction, said they’ve been looking at this reorganization for 6 years now, but this is the first time they’ve been able to do it. Horne said she is confident the move won’t be disruptive for the students and said the idea was just brought up prior to the meeting to possibly consider staggering school starting times to accommodate parents with children at multiple schools.
Ideas like this are welcome and while the board approved the reorganization plan, Horne assured the crowd that there will be plenty of opportunity for input as to how the plan is carried out.
Scott Stetson spoke as a concerned community member. “This doesn’t affect me,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care. It matters to me how it affects my neighbors. We’re a community and we’re in this together.”
Horne said that the curriculum and instruction team that designed the reorganization plan didn’t jump into it lightly. Lots of districts nationwide and statewide are already modeled like this or are moving toward it.
“We will involve you [parents/teachers] along the way as we go through the rest of this process,” she said. “We want to do what’s best for the children in this parish and we believe this reorganization will be beneficial for them.”
It was a close call but the Natchitoches Parish School Board approved Superintendent Dale Skinner’s 2-year contract extension at its meeting Thursday night, Feb. 8.
Board member Tommy Melder thanked Skinner for all the hard work he’s done for the school district over the years.
Melder: Yes
Metoyer: No
Harris: No
Daniels: Yes
Willis: No
Guidroz: Yes
Hilton: Yes
Wilson: No
Danzy: Yes
Graham: No
Garner: Yes
The good and the bad have been brought before the board. Many good things have happened in Natchitoches Parish in the past three years, according to the administration at the central office.
During the 2014-15 school year:
Out of 75 districts only eight grew more than Natchitoches, which grew 4.2 points
Out of 69 school districts only eight grew in graduation rate more than Natchitoches, which grew 8 points
6th in the state for increasing opportunities for students with disabilities, growing 17.8 points
7th in the state for increasing opportunities for African American students, growing 12.1 points
8th in the state for increasing opportunities for economically disadvantaged students
During the 2015-16 school year:
Parish among top 10 districts in the state for ACT gains
Graduation rate improved 14 points in last two years
Improved from a ‘C’ to a ‘B’ district when 2015-16 state scores were released
72% of the 2016 graduates earned either NSU dual enrollment credit or an industry-based credential, an increase from 67% in 2015
ACT growth during the 13-14 and 15-16 school years from 17.4 to 18.2. Only 41% of students were scoring 18 or above on the ACT in 13-14, but this grew to 50% over the next two years
During the 2016-17 school year:
NPSB grew 0.6 points in its first year of computer testing and maintained the letter grade ‘B.’ Over half of the districts who computer tested last year dropped, most of them significantly, in their District Performance Score. Natchitoches Parish was unable to computer test last year due to flooding. NPSB current DPS is 88.8, two points higher than the state average of 86.8
Since 2015, NPSB has grown in all nine indicators measured by the state: Annual DPS, Assessment Index Grades 308, Dropout Credit Accumulation Index, Assessment Index for End-of-Course Exams, Assessment Index for ACT, Strength of Diploma, Cohort Graduation Rate Index, Cohort Graduation Rate, and Progress Points. NPSB is currently abovee the state average in six out of nine indicators.(SEE MORE INFO IN DOCUMENTS BELOW)
While the school district has improved under Skinner’s leadership, there are some who were against the idea of extending his contract.
Steven Murray, a rep for the northern region of the Louisiana Association of Educators, read a letter that was written by a former NPSB employee who likened her working relationship with Skinner to the bullying students sometimes face amongst their peers. (SEE LETTER BELOW)
At Tuesday’s committee meeting Earnestine Winslow, President of the Natchitoches Association of Educators spoke to the board regarding the contract extension. (SEE DOCUMENT BELOW)
Skinner said he would be more than happy to discuss any of these issues with the people who have concerns. And as always, he considers what’s best for the children of Natchitoches Parish above all else.
Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development will host a conference for high school juniors and seniors who are considering the field of education as a career. The “Educators Rising Conference” will be held from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26 at the Teacher Education Center on the NSU campus.
Keynote speaker for the event will be Katy Smith, 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Multiple break-out sessions will be available. Lunch will be provided. Participants can sign up electronically until Feb. 19. A
Information on Educators Rising is available at WATCH VIDEO
For more information, contact Susan Roberts, clinical instructor, at robertss@nsula.edu call (318) 357-6288.
Natchitoches Parish School Board members elected Michael Hilton as the President of the Board for 2018 at its meeting Thursday night, Feb. 8. Hilton served as Vice President for 2017. Tommy Melder was elected to serve as Vice President for 2018.
John Wesley never dreamed he was starting a church. He never intended to. He was seeking to revive and renew the Anglican Church in England. The ecclesiastical descendants of John Wesley are found in the United Methodist Church, other bodies with the name Methodist, the Nazarene Church, the Assemblies of God and many of the Pentecostal churches across this country. You can also find “Wesleyan” theology in some “Non-Denominational” churches. We are all cousins who don’t really claim each other. We should!
Wesley was a pragmatist. He believed in what worked. One author opined that Wesley was “theologically promiscuous.” This is a tantalizing way of saying Wesley believed in what worked.
Wesley also fancied himself as an expert on medicine. The truth is that Wesley was a bit of a hypochondriac so he was always trying out remedies on himself. I have been researching this subject matter in preparation for Confirmation class. Since the class is only one night and I have much more to share. I thought I would share some of John Wesley’s medical treatments with you. You might enjoy them, but I would say, “don’t try this at home, or any place else for that matter.”
To cure Baldness
Rub the part morning and evening, with onions, till it is red; and rub it afterwards with honey.
Or wash it with a decoction of box-wood.
Or electrify it daily. (Since Wesley lived in the 18th century, one wonders what the source of the electrifying was.)
Hard Breasts
I have no idea what this is. Once my mind ruled out all other options, I decided that this must be what you and I would call chest congestion.
Apply turnips roasted till soft, then mashed and mixed with a little oil of roses. Change this twice a day, keeping the breast very warm with flannel.
The Itch
Wash the parts affected with strong rum. (Wesley noted that he tried this. He didn’t note if it worked or not. This was before the advent or rum cakes or Christmas Fruitcakes. I’m wondering what would happen at the drive up alcohol places here, if you said, “I have the itch and I would like the Wesleyan cure?”)
Or, anoint them with black soap.
Or, steep a shirt half an hour in a quart of water, mixed with half an ounce of powdered brimstone. Dry it slowly and wear it five or six days. Sometimes it needs repeating.
For One Seemingly Killed with Lightening, a damp, or suffocated.
Plunge him immediately in cold water.
Or, blow strongly with bellows down his throat. This may recover a person seemingly drowned. It is still better if a strong man blows into his mouth. (Even a stopped clock is correct twice a day! Wesley got one right.)
A windy Rupture.
Even from the “cure,” I have no idea what a windy rupture is. I know that I would never want it nor would I desire John Wesley’s treatment of it. Which is,
Warm cow-dung well. Spread it thick on leather, strewing some cumin-seeds on it, and apply it hot. When cold, put on a new one. It commonly cures a child (keeping his bed) in two days.
Mr. Wesley was much better giving advice for those seeking the assurance of salvation in Christ. His answer was always God’s grace.
Have you checked on your authoritative sources recently?
BOM attended the National Signing Day luncheon Feb. 7 at NSU. Pictured above from left are Jacob Murchison, Credit Analyst; Luke Rasberry, Credit Analyst; Luke Lucky, Operations; Micah Foshee, Marketing Asst.; Katrice Below, VP and Lender; Jennifer Simms, Loan Admin.; and Craig George, VP and Mortgage.
Last week I began to tell you about a travel writers’ trip I had taken to Argentina in 1979. I’d told you how the huge and beautiful country was under a harsh military dictatorship and how the leftist opposition murdered Argentina’s minister of utilities in a car bomb just a few blocks from my hotel in Buenos Aires.
Now, with the background on the country’s political and economic problems in hand, I want to tell you what I saw and did on the trip — which was 39 years ago, another example to me of how time is flying.
Two weeks ago I’d shared with you details of an 18-hour airplane ride I took to a NATO air base in Europe and how I struggled to keep awake to interview the Louisiana fighter pilots and ground crew members there.
Well, the flight to Argentina was almost as long. The airline, one of the trip’s sponsors, first flew us from New Orleans to New York then down to BA, as the Argentines call their capital city. As I recall that was 14 hours in the air. However, that trip was made more comfortable by the fact that I and my fellow travel writers were put in business class, which meant free cocktails all the way down to southern South America.
By the time we reached BA, we were all fairly mellow and had dozed intermittently on the trip. Even I, who normally can’t sleep on a plane, had no trouble relaxing, thanks to my seat partner, Mr. Jack Daniels.
BA is a beautiful, sophisticated city, called by its natives the Paris of Latin America. And indeed it does have the appearance of a European city. It was clean, full of traffic and had many streets full of posh shops, hotels and night clubs.
Social life in BA doesn’t get started until around 11 p.m. or midnight. I don’t know how its residents get up and go to work every morning. In any case, we were taken to a plush supper club, which featured a lovely Argentine stand up comic, but with my lack of Spanish, I could not understand a word she said. She got lots of laughs, though. I doubt if she was criticizing the government, however or she would have wound up in one of Argentina’s secret prisons.
We were fed some Argentine beef. It was quite tasty but rather tough for those of us used to eating good old American steaks.
The reporters were given an extensive driving tour of the city, which included the area where working class Argentines had invented the tango, back in the early 20th century, and we saw a dance performance to the strains of that mesmerizing music.
We made a side trip to one of the most fascinating places on earth — Iquasu Falls, up near the border of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. After a long, long road trip, we arrived at our lovely hotel, right smack in the middle of the jungle. Except for the tourist facilities there were few or no other signs of civilization. Consequently, when I went out on my balcony that night I saw the most amazing sky I’d ever seen in my life.
First of all, it was the Southern Sky, which us northern hemisphere residents cannot see from where we live. So all of the familiar constellations were gone and the sky was full of new star formations I’d never even imagined. And the brilliant clarity of the stars, because no ambient light was around for miles, made for the most brilliant view of the heavens I’d ever seen.
The next day they took us out in small boats on to the water above the falls. (If you want to get a sense of this place, look it up on the Internet.) It was rather scary because the boats were powered by a single outboard engine that looked like it had been built in the 1930s. If the engine had conked out, there was nothing to prevent the whole boat from being swept over the edge of the falls, which we approached as near as about 25 yards away.
Another interesting side trip was to a ski resort in the Andes, the mighty South American mountain chain that separates Argentina from Chile. By the time we got to our destination, the weather had turned and it began to snow heavily. I don’t know if it was a genuine blizzard, but it sounded like one to me, as the wind howled shrilly. But, we all piled into a small car suspended from a cable, to be lifted up to the resort. On the way up the car began to sway back and forth, causing some measure of concern among some of the writers, but we arrived safely at the top. After we enjoyed refreshments and snacks, the weather eased up and we once again entered the car for what turned out to be a more gentle descent.
It was a beautiful, intriguing country, but I was glad to return to New Orleans, where no soldiers armed with automatic weapons were patrolling every street corner. I wrote a story detailing the nation’s attractions, but also emphasized the political problems as well as an inflation that made everything one purchased quite expensive.
Next week I want to tell you about another fascinating Latin American country, but one that could not be more different from Argentina — in size, wealth and culture — and that will be Guatemala.
City Marshal Randy Williams wanted to inform the following people that they have outstanding bench warrants through the Natchitoches City Marshal’s Office. The names on this list did not pay their fines in full nor did they return to court on the court date they were sentenced to by City Court Judge Gahagan. These individuals will need to clear up their fines and bench warrant fees at the City Marshal’s Office located at 373 Second St. to stop any further actions:
FINE PAYMENT (F):
Brandy Collier, 184 Sorgee Rd, Natch, La – No DL
Calvin Newton, 728 4th St, Natch, La – Follow too Close
Mark Bynog, 142 Sisson Loop, Natch, La – No DL
Rebecca Walker, 1217 Old Robeline, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Sandra Lowery, 1224 Grace Ave, Natch, La – NSB
Julius Washington, 208 Kingston Dr, Natch, La – No DL, Exp MVI
Matina Dorsey Jr., 831 Clarence Dr, Natch, La – No Proof of Insurance
Alvin Holden, 144 Cherry Loop, Natch, La – Unlicensed Driver
Carrolyn Neal, 500 North St Apt C-3, Natch, La – NSB
Kavonte Evans, 2115 Urbandale St, Shreveport, La – Right of Way, DUS, SPOM
Charles Demars, 606 Sabine Alley, Natch, La – DP
Ronsheka Matthews, 1014 Berry Ave, Natch, La – (2) Letting a Disorderly Place
Jessica Moses, 500 Lakeview Dr #536, Natch, La – Follow too Close, No DL, TBS
Jerode Nash, 154 Nash Rd, Natch, La – DWI
Thomas Robinson, 730 University Pkwy, Natch, La – Theft
Laqueitchi Sykes, 859 Posey St, Natch, La – DP, Theft
Ronald Reliford, 199 Cedar Grove, Natch, La – TBS
Roshonda Young, 1733 Johnson Chute Rd, Natch, La – Theft
Lionel Dawson III, 313 Jackson St, Natch, La – Exp MVI
Jerland Anderson, 722 Bossier St, Natch, La – NCR, Exp MVI, Poss of Drug Para
Trial (T):
Christiana Howard, 172 Johnson Loop, Natch, La – Remaining on Premises
Kalem Mayweather, 1403 Shallowhome St, Mansfield, La – No Vehicle Registration, SPOM
Joey Monette, 417 Canal Rd, Cloutierville, La – SPOM
Andrew Moore, 1120 Magnolia St, Natch, La – Resisting an Officer, No DL, One or No Tail Light, SPOM
Ronald Reliford, 139 Keith Dr, Natch, La – (5) TBS
Lionel Dawson III, 313 Jackson St, Natch, La – SPOM, One or No Tail Light
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
Marlene Bradley Carter
February 5, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, Feb. 17 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence
Service: Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11 am at the Greenville Baptist Church
Interment: Greenville Baptist Church 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
SURROUNDING AREAS:
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
Raymond Babers Sr.
Visitation: Friday, Feb. 9 from 6-7 pm at Springville Baptist Church in Coushatta
Service: Saturday, Feb. 10 at 11 am at Springville Baptist Church
Interment: Springville Cemetery
Northwestern State University’s computer information systems program has been ranked as the number five program in the nation by thebestschools.org. The ratings are available at thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-bachelors-computer-information-systems-degree-programs/. This is the fourth time in 2017-18 an education website has ranked the program as one of the best in the country.
“We are glad to be consistently ranked among the top programs in the country,” said Curtis Penrod, coordinator of the computer information systems program. “Our faculty and students work to maintain high standards. The fact that our graduates are hired by leading national and international companies shows that we are preparing students for the workforce.”
Enrollment in the CIS program has gone up by 77 percent since 2014-2015 while the number of degrees awarded has more than doubled. During that period, new concentrations in application development, networking and systems management, web development and core programming have been implemented. Penrod said additional concentrations are being considered.
In 2015, the program entered into a collaborative endeavor agreement with Louisiana Economic Development and CSRA. This agreement supplied funds to hire new faculty/staff, provide student scholarships, update equipment, expand marketing and recruiting efforts. This partnership allowed NSU to work closely with CSRA to ensure the curriculum aligned with the company’s needs. CSRA brings speakers to classes, provides internship opportunities to students and provide a meaningful real-world perspective.
Recent graduates have gained jobs with firms including Real Vision Software, State Farm, WalMart, CenturyLink, CGI and USAA.
Students in the program have placed first at the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) National Collegiate Conference 17 times in the last 18 years.
For more information on Northwestern State’s program in computer information systems, go to nsula.edu/computer-information-systems.
It’s time for Mardi Gras parades in Natchitoches. Two fun filled parades will roll through the downtown area Saturday, Feb. 10.
The Krewe of Wag-uns Children and Pet Parade will roll out at 3 pm. Registration begins at 2 pm and parade line up begins at 2:45 pm in the Bank of Montgomery parking lot, located at 814 Washington Street.
Route:
Bank of Montgomery on Washington Street
South on Front Street
Turn right onto Amulet Street to end at the City Park amphitheater
Awards will be presented for best float, best dressed pet and best dressed child. There is a $10 entry fee per family. Register your pet to be eligible for celebrity status as “King Rex Rufus” and “Queen Mutt A Gras.” All funds benefit animal spay and neuter programs in Natchitoches Parish.
The Krewe of Dionysos will roll out at 6 pm from the River South Common Shopping Center parking lot.
Route: Down South Drive to Keyser Avenue
Turn left and cross the Pine Street bridge
Turning right on Jefferson Street
Down to Front Street and Washington Street
Turn left onto Texas Street
Turn left onto Second Street to Church Street to end the parade route.
Kimberly Eckert, 2018 Louisiana Teacher of the Year, spoke to Rotary Club of Natchitoches at its meeting Feb. 6 about the activities she is involved in as Teacher of the Year.
Kimberly just returned from Google Headquarters in California where she participated in professional development with every state’s Teacher of the Year. She encouraged the Rotarians to support teachers and to guide students into education. Kimberly earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Northwestern State University and recently received the Nth Degree, an award in which NSU recognizes remarkable service and/or achievement by alumni or friends of the university. Pictured above from left are Rotary Club President David Zolzer, Eckert, and Rotarian with the Program Dr. Barb Duchardt.
Three Rotarians were honored for their work with the Veterans Memorial Park. Pictured from left are Dr. Bob Gillan, Perter Yacoe, and Dr. Frank Fuller (Photos by Dr. Ron McBride).
The Natchitoches Parish School Board will vote Thursday, Feb. 8 at 5 pm to approve a school reconfiguration for Weaver, East Natchitoches, LP Vaughn and the Natchitoches Jr. High.
What does this mean for your child? Beginning next year, the schools will be separated by “grade bands,” which puts students together with others in their same age group.
The reconfiguration will be as follows:
Students in grades PreK-2 will be moved to the LP Vaughn facility Building 1: 417 students
Teacher to student ratio of 1:20/21 in first grade and 1:21/22 in second grade Building 2: 393 students
Teacher to student ratio of 1:19/20 in PreK and 1:20/21 in Kindergarten
Students in grades 3-4 will be moved to the Weaver facility: 371 students
Teacher to student ratio of 1:19/20 in third grade and 1:24/25 in fourth grade
Students in grades 5-6 will be moved to the East Natchitoches facility: 395 students
Teacher to student ratio of 1:25/26 in fifth grade and 1:23/24 in sixth grade
Natchitoches Jr. High will go back to grades 7-8 only
The way this was designed is to equalize the ratio of teachers to students across the grade bands. Before, one school may have a ratio of 1:15, while another may have 1:21. This new model will maximize the staff the school board employs without requiring additional staff.
“We want to work smarter, not harder,” said Dr. Mary Vansickle, NPSB instructional supervisor. “This is something I think Natchitoches is ready for.”
INFORMATION PRESENTED AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT:
Infant/Toddler-Grade 2 band: Setting a good foundation
Purposeful staffing secures experts in infant/toddler- Grade 2 field who can support the unique social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of children- decreasing the need for intense interventions at higher grade levels
Leadership, parent and community involvement can focus more specifically on the developmental stages of the students
School routines, assemblies and activities can be more grade and age focused and routines are not interrupted during the administration of LEAP 2025 and LEAP 360
The physical building and lay-out supports children at each grade level having:
Access to grade appropriate restrooms, gymnasiums, computer labs, intervention/specialty rooms, and close proximity to the lunch room
Ample outdoor space for recess, outdoor classrooms, and potential gardens to support math and science
Access to in-house health and counseling programs/staff
Substantial Academic Improvement for Students:
Consolidation of teachers and resources for specific grade levels
Creates a positive, developmentally appropriate environment
Less behavioral problems on campus equals more time for instruction
More opportunities for collaboration and job-embedded training that is specific to each grade band
Enhanced focus on student achievement because of grade level instruction
Natchitoches Jr. High:
Students will be able to engage in more academically and socially appropriate content
Teachers will have more opportunity to vertically plan with high school teachers to prepare students for the transition to high school
Students will have more opportunities to engage in reading intervention programs that link directly to the high school
Cohesive scheduling
Educating students with disabilities in smaller age span groupings indicates:
Promotion of natural cultural diversity
Allowance for more appropriate services through pupil-teacher ratio, resources and specially designed instruction
Ability to target individual professional development
Provision for teacher collaboration teams and mentoring
Smaller age span facilitates better peer relationships and interactions
Facilitates the implementation of transition across grade levels and locations
Provides for implementation of specialized serviced when needed
Federal Programs:
All school will receive Title I funds to continue support with English learners, homeless students, students in foster care, migrant students, and students from low socio-economic backgrounds
Title II will be used to support teachers in implementation of Tier I curriculum and grade-specific professional development
Title IV funds will be used to support fitness, behavior interventions and suicide prevention
“Our sole wish is to empower the children of Natchitoches Parish by increasing knowledge and skills,” said HR Director Linda Page. “Both on personal and national levels, education has been shown to increase economic growth and stability. Research further shows that we live longer, fuller, and happier lives as learned and knowledgable individuals. We believe that data and research driven decisions, fueled by commitment to excellence is why we are now a ‘B’ district. Our staff here, administrators, teachers and support staff believe that we can do better. We have talked about reconfiguring schools for years, but this is the first time we’ve been able to put this vision into action. The State Department has already approved this plan if you [School Board] agree.”
Natchitoches– District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington announced Feb. 7 that Darrell Derone Small of Clarence has been sentenced to 22 years in prison by the 10TH Judicial District Court.
Small was convicted in October 2017 of one count of aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce. The District Attorney’s office filed to have Small be considered as a habitual offender, which was granted by Judge LaLa Sylvester, which enhanced the sentence.
The August 2014 incident to which Small was convicted involved Small intentionally crashing his vehicle into a police vehicle while attempting to evade capture from law enforcement. The crash injured three law enforcement officers who were occupants of the vehicle. At the time of the incident, the United States Marshal Fugitive Task Force was previously notified by Texas authorities that Small was a fugitive from Texas and was in the Natchitoches area.
Assistant District Attorney Loren Lampert prosecuted the case.
“This conviction and sentence are evidence that we recognize the serious dangers that these law enforcement officers faced when enforcing the law to keep our community safe,” stated Lampert.
District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington said “the seriousness of this crime and the risk the defendant posed to the public safety dictated our action in this case. Our law enforcement officers risk their lives every day for our safety and for the benefit of the entire community.”
