Northwestern Opera Theatre Ensemble will perform Johann Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” March 23-24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Treen Auditorium at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public. Dr. Marcy McKee is musical director of the Opera Theatre Ensemble.

“Die Fledermaus” is an fun operetta about old friends, one of which is orchestrating an elaborate plan to get revenge for a previous joke played upon him.

The cast is Rachael Bryant of Gonzales as Rosalinda, Amanda Charles of Houston as Adele, Billy Gorr of Houma as Gabriel Eisenstein, Jenson Wall of Denham Springs as Alfred, Gabriel LeMoine of Kaplan as Dr. Blind, Aaron Rogers of Amarillo, Texas, as Dr. Falke, Michael Martin of Pineville as Frank, Nadya Cesario of Fort Smith, Arkansas, as Sally, Daniela Salas of Cartagena, Colombia as Prince Orlofsky and Michelle Moline of Miami and NSU faculty member D’Nissa Hester and party singers.

The chorus is Emily Adams of Raceland, Matthew Armand of Plaucheville, Valentina Herazo of Cartagena, Colombia, Kenyon Johnson II of DeRidder, Morgan McCrory of Deville, Zachary Moreau of Marksville, Lee Whitney of Theriot, Ashleigh Pope of Beaumont, Texas and Zachary Gaultier of Avoyelles.

Dr. Chailing Hsieh is collaborative artist and assistant music director.

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NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Anna White
September 16, 1950 – March 20, 2018
Arrangements TBA

Elva Lee Berry Gates
August 7, 1924 – March 19, 2018
Visitation: Friday, March 23 from 10-11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, March 23 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Marthaville Cemetery in Marthaville

Rosie Young
March 26, 1956 – March 20, 2018
Service: Saturday, March 24 at 12 pm at First Baptist Church on North Street
Visitation: Saturday, March 24 from 10:30 am – 12 pm at First Baptist Church on North Street
Interment: Lawrence Serenity

Debbie Stalsby Charrier
November 12, 1953 – March 18, 2018
Service: Thursday, March 22 at 10 am at Bay Springs Baptist Church in Chopin
Interment: Bay Springs Cemetery

Joseph Steele
February 9, 1957 – March 17, 2018
Service: Saturday, March 24 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Janie Rachal Allen
March 19, 2018
Visitation: Saturday, March 24 from 1-2 pm at the Agape Church, located at 1515 Texas Street in Natchitoches
Service: Saturday March 24 at 2 pm at the Agape Church
Interment: Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery off Hwy 6

Gerard Francis “Sonny” Thomas Jr.
January 20, 1923 – February 10, 2018
Service: Friday, March 23 at 4 pm at Merci Beaucoup Restaurant, located at 127 Church Street in Natchitoches
WINN PARISH:

Velma R Ainsworth
October 1, 1933 – March 19, 2018
Visitation: Friday, March 23 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home in Jena
Service: Friday, March 23 at 2 pm in the chapel of Kinner and Stevens Funeral Home

Robin Slack
December 29, 1976 – March 19, 2018
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER PARISH:

Sara Ann Harrison Garrett
November 3, 1939 – March 21, 2018
Visitation: Friday, March 23 from 5-7 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta
Service: Saturday, March 24 at 10:30 am at First Baptist Church of Coushatta
Interment: Mount Zion Cemetery

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Kevin’s Gallery

Over 100 community members, leaders and supporters of Natchitoches’ Boys and Girls Club gathered at the Northwestern State University Ballroom for the 19th Annual Steak & Burger Dinner. The popular event serves as both an opportunity to showcase the club members’ talents and accomplishments and to raise much needed funds for the club’s mission of serving the community’s youth. The dinner this year is expected to raise about $25,000.00, all of which will stay in the local area assisting our children.

This year’s dinner featured Miss Louisiana 2017, Laryssa Bonacquisti as the keynote speaker. She spoke of her journey to the Miss America Pageant and of the four steps of “developing your own superpower.” Her talk concluded with a ventriloquism performance similar to the one she performed at the Miss America Pageant.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal is donating tonight’s photography. Copy protection is turned off and anyone may download any they wish. If you do download a photo, please consider a donation to the Boys & Girls Club in lieu of payment.

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Tickets are still available for Flavor of Louisiana, Northwestern State University’s spring seafood extravaganza and spring fund raiser. Flavor of Louisiana will feature cuisine prepared by nearly two dozen chefs, restaurants and caterers from throughout the state, including several local favorites, along with specialty cocktails, a coffee and dessert bar, music, baskets, raffles and more.

Flavor of Louisiana is presented by the NSU Foundation in partnership with the Louisiana Seafood Board. Guests can stop at each food station for a tasting of a specialty dish, including options for meat-eaters.

Proceeds from the event support student scholarships and academic enhancement, said Rebekah Burleson, event coordinator.

“With all the delicious offerings that will be available, we are expecting a large turn-out for our second annual Flavor of Louisiana,” Burleson said. “The response from the community has been very positive.

“It takes a lot of teamwork to make an event like this happen and our students, faculty and staff are fully engaged in the planning and execution,” Burleson added. “Whether they are culinary arts students preparing food or those helping with tickets and clean-up, they are more than willing to volunteer with an event to raise funds for scholarships and programming.”

As a new feature, each college will have a booth to raise funds for their individual programs, Burleson said.

Flavor of Louisiana will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March 23 in Prather Coliseum. Tickets are $65 per person or $125 per couple. Sponsorships are available at the $5,000, $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 and $500 levels and include reserved seating and other perks.

Flavor of Louisiana is a highlight of several events planned this week, which include the dedication of the Wellness, Recreation and Activities Center in memory of former NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, followed by a celebration tailgate party at 4 p.m. and baseball game versus Louisiana Tech at 6 p.m. At noon Friday, March 23, NSU will honor outstanding alumni with induction into the Long Purple Line, NSU’s alumni hall of distinction. Tickets for the induction luncheon and program, which will take place in the Sylvan Friedman Student Union, are $20 per person.

Tickets and sponsorship information for Flavor of Louisiana, Long Purple Line induction and other events is available at northwesternalumni.com or by contacting Burleson at burlesonr@nsula.edu or (318) 357-5213.

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BOM is a Festival Stage Patron of the 2018 Natchitoches Jazz Festival on April 13-14. Pictured from left are Micah Foshee, Emily Settle, Daniel Page (Jazz Festival Board Member), Tara McKenney, and Dewayne Chelette.

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Attend Tri Sigma’s 7th Annual Dancing with the Sigmas event Wednesday, March 21 at AA Fredericks Auditorium on the NSU Campus at 7 pm. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Th event will feature special guest emcee Miss Louisiana 2017 Laryssa Bonacquisti.

The dancers are as follows:

Greg Burke
NSU Director of Athletics

Leonard Sarpy
NSU Maintenance Foreman and DJ Extraordinaire

Trini Triggs
Country Music Star and the Voice of 94.9 The River

Dustin Cross
Financial Planner at Cross Financial Group

Steve Boyd
Pharmacist

Dane Terrell
Manager, Ivan Smith Furniture

Van Erikson
NSU Associate Director of Alumni Affairs

Kiley Bell
NSU Recruiter and former NSU Cheerleader

Justin Rhodes
Owner of Rhodes Properties & Development & Rhodes Realty

The event is a fundraiser for Tri Sigma’s philanthropy “Sigma Serves Children” through Tri Sigma’s philanthropic partner March of Dimes. Sigma Serves Children is the philanthropic initiative to benefit children’s health. Whether Sigmas provide play therapy grants to children’s hospitals or light their campus purple for Prematurity Awareness Month, they raise money to impact lives.

Tickets will be sold at the door and cost $10 per person. VIP seating is $20.

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According to the Social Security Administration, a person is disabled if he or she suffers from a mental or physical impairment that will likely result in death, or is expected to last for over a year and that individual is unable to do any job whatsoever full time.

Becoming disabled is understandably one of, if not the most difficult event in someone’s life. Fortunately, a disabled person may be eligible to receive financial benefits from Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI; Social Security Disability Insurance, called SSDI; or both.

C. Edward “Eddie” Harrington at The Harrington Law Firm represents SSDI and SSI claimants on a regular basis. He has a thorough and detailed procedure for developing the claimant’s case and Social Security record.

“Unfortunately, the majority of those who initially file for disability are denied,” said Harrington. “It appears most are even denied by Social Security without them even reviewing all medical records reported by the disabled individual. Many people just give up after denial, which is what Social Security hopes for. However, denial is not the end.”

If an application is denied at the initial determination and the individual disagrees with the decision, he or she must file an appeal within 60 days of the decision. After the appeal is filed, eventually a hearing will be held in front of a Social Security Administrative Law Judge. At this level it’s highly recommended legal counsel is hired for preparation and representation at the hearing.

“The appeals process can involve a lot of government forms, and the time and effort required can be intimidating,” said Harrington. “If you’re applying for SSI or SSDI benefits, or just received a denial of your application, contact an experienced Social Security attorney who is familiar with the system and can help relieve the burden of this often complex process.”

Results may vary. If you’ve been denied for Social Security Disability call Eddie today at 318-352-5900 or visit http://www.theharringtonlawfirm.com for more information.

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Leaders from Natchitoches will join Keep Natchitoches Beautiful and hundreds of community, business and political leaders this Friday, March 23 to stand in unity for a cleaner and greener Louisiana by participating in the Keep Louisiana Beautiful signature event, Leaders Against Litter. Now in its fifth year, Leaders Against Litter is designed to educate, cultivate and actively engage leaders throughout the state in support of a litter-free Louisiana.

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser has invited more than 2,000 community, business and political leaders to join him in support of a cleaner, greener state by attending one of the 28 local events to be held throughout the state on this date. Here in Natchitoches, Leaders Against Litter event will begin at 8:30 a.m. will a welcome reception followed by a cleanup at the MLK Recreational Community Center located at 660 Martin Luther King Jr Dr in Natchitoches. The group will travel along Martin Luther King Jr Dr. and surrounding streets collecting litter and wearing Leaders Against Litter T-shirts. Following the cleanup, leaders will sign a pledge, stating that they will SPEAK UP and spread the word that litter is not acceptable, PICK UP litter whenever they see it, and STAND UP and lead the way for a litter-free Louisiana.

The day will end with state leaders in Baton Rouge announcing the combined impact of all Leaders Against Litter events from around the state, and by each making a personal commitment to “Speak Up, Pick Up, and Stand Up” against litter by signing the Leaders Against Litter pledge. For more information please contact Keep Natchitoches Beautiful 352-2746.

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NSU Middle Lab School teacher, Laurie Berry, teamed up again this year with Go North Adventure Learning, found at polarhusky.com and based in Willow, Alaska, to experience first-hand the excitement of the Start of the Iditarod, the longest arctic dog sled race in the world. While there, she had the opportunity to interview sled dog racers, known as mushers, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Aliy Zirkle, and Jeff King.

In an interview with Norwegian musher Joar Ulsom, who holds the record as fastest rookie to have ever run the Iditarod and one of only two mushers to be in the top 7 five times in five years, he answers student questions about what it’s like out on the trail.

NSU Middle Lab School eighth grader, Koda DeBlieux asks, “What does the Iditarod mean to you and does this particular race have any special impact on you?” Joar’s answer: “It’s been a childhood dream to run this race. There’s a lot of history behind it. We’ve had a Norwegian champion, so there’s a lot of history in it for me and a lot of pride for running it.” And then he speaks the kids’ language when he finishes with, “It’s the longest race there is, so that’s super cool.”

Eighth grader Dalyn Davis wants to know, “How do you pick your lead dog?” Joar replys, “They kind of pick it themselves. If I see a dog that wants to be up there in lead and learns the commands fast, he’s in tune with me and he wants to do the right thing, then it’s very easy.”

Ann Marie Nelson, also an eighth grader, asks, ” How many hours a day do you train with your dogs and is that year-round?” Joar’s answer: “It’s pretty much year-round. We normally give [the dogs] the hottest part of the summer off, but by August first we start up full time again with training. Then we get them back in shape and run for about an hour. Before the race we are up to about eight, nine, ten hours a day. Sometimes we go for three or four days straight and stop three or four hours at a time and then go another six or seven hours. We put on a lot of miles trying to simulate the race. So, it’s not much sleep and a lot of training.”

While at the Downtown Anchorage Ceremonial Start March 3, Berry also ran into musher Aliy Zirkle, who began racing the Iditorod in 2001 and has raced and finished every year since then. She asked Aliy to tell the kids watching back in Louisiana a little something about the race. Aliy’s responded, “Well, we’re here at the start. It’s not snowing right now, but we hear there are blizzards out to the west. I think the weather should be pretty good by the time we get there. So it’s 3-2-1 we’re outta here. Let’s go!”

At the Restart in Willow, Alaska where the race officially began on March 4, Berry caught up with musher and four-time Iditarod winner, Jeff King, to find out what new innovation he is implementing this year as a strategy to win the race. His response: “[This year] my sled has exceptionally wide runners, almost twice as wide as anything you’ll see here. This year’s soft snow, I think, will make this innovation be the time to try it. I’ve thought about it for a lot of years and I’m hoping that the floatation of the wide runner will make it easier for my dogs to pull the sled.”

You can follow the race at Iditarod.com and download full video interviews and teaching materials at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Literary-Wanderings.

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St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in the Bermuda Community will celebrate its Senior Choirs’ 65th Year Anniversary Sunday, March 25 at 2:30 pm. Special Guest will be Rev. Roosevelt Toussaint, Pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church in Natchez along with the Morning Star Baptist Church Choir and Church Family. For more information about this announcement contact Rosa Shields at (318) 352-5047 or (318) 652-0753.

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NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Elva Lee Berry Gates
August 7, 1924 – March 19, 2018
Visitation: Friday, March 23 from 10-11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Service: Friday, March 23 at 11 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Interment: Marthaville Cemetery in Marthaville

Rosie Young
March 26, 1956 – March 20, 2018
Arrangements TBA

Debbie Stalsby Charrier
November 12, 1953 – March 18, 2018
Visitation: Wednesday, March 21 after 5 pm at Bay Springs Baptist Church located at 140 Hwy. 490 in Chopin
Service: Thursday, March 22 at 10 am at Bay Springs Baptist Church in Chopin
Interment: Bay Springs Cemetery

Joseph Steele
February 9, 1957 – March 17, 2018
Service: Saturday, March 24 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Janie Rachal Allen
March 19, 2018
Arrangements TBA

Gerard Francis “Sonny” Thomas Jr.
January 20, 1923 – February 10, 2018
Service: Friday, March 23 at 4 pm at Merci Beaucoup Restaurant, located at 127 Church Street in Natchitoches
SABINE PARISH:

Waylon Eddie Isgitt
October 22, 1971 – March 17, 2018
Service: Wednesday, March 21 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Rocky Mount Cemetery
WINN PARISH:

Robin Slack
December 29, 1976 – March 19, 2018
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER PARISH:

Ellen Delaney Garcia
April 21, 1953 – March 18, 2018
Visitation: Wednesday, March 21 from 11 am – 1 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta
Service: Wednesday, March 21 at 2 pm at Zion Cemetery

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Despite Parish Council Chairman Rodney Bedgood’s highest hopes, the meeting Monday night, March 19, did turn into a bit of a circus. It seemed that the majority of residents who packed the courtroom already made up their minds that it’s in the best interest of the Parish to revert to the old Police Jury form of government.

Only 3.7 percent of the $30 million collected annually in property taxes goes to the roads. “Changing the form of government won’t change anything,” said Parish President Rick Nowlin. “It’ll only put the people back in charge that messed it up to begin with.”

Nowlin is referring, in part, to the approximate $1 million debt he inherited to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center when he took over. Since he’s been in office he’s paid around 1/3 of it.

While residents are fed up with hearing Nowlin and the Council members chalk up the Parish’s problems to a lack of money, it’s the root of all the problems. While the Parish claims it’s a matter of raising adequate funds for the road fund, residents blame expensive salaries and mismanagement.

David Lewis and Robert Jackson Sr. requested that the Council vote to consider the introduction of an ordinance to be proposed by a referendum to the voters during the Nov. 6 election, in the form of a question as to whether or not Natchitoches Parish residents want to continue under the Home Rule Charter form of government or revert back to the Police Jury form.

Council members Russell Rachal and Doug de Graffenried were unwilling to vote in favor of this agenda item because they agreed with Nowlin that changing the form of government won’t change the financial problems the parish is currently facing (No vote was made).

“Your road problem is a $233 million problem,” said de Graffenried. Rather than let the public decide, three of the five Parish Council members (Hoover, Paige and Bedgood) chose to vote down an ordinance geared towards fixing the deplorable road system in Natchitoches Parish at the Council meeting July 17.

The meeting ran well after 8 pm and while there was a courtroom full of people waiting to talk before the Council, Rachal called for a vote to adjourn. Patsy Ward Hoover and Chris Paid voted against it, but were outvoted, so the meeting came to an abrupt end.

Agenda items included:

Appoint Billy Joe Harrington to the North LA Criminalistics Laboratory Commission Board

Reappoint Richard Galloway and Peggy Braxton to the Natchitoches Parish Housing Authority Board

Introduce ordinance for budget revisions to the 2018 operating budget to the general fund, highway department, solid waste, sales tax, and Hampton and CoCo Bed Roads.

An item to consider allowed another attempt to repair and rehabilitate the Shady Grove Community Center, or in lieu of its current status, to allow it to return to the church was tabled till next month’s meeting

Roll forward on the ad valorem taxes: General Alimony of 3.47 percent (increased from 3.39 percent in 2017) and Exempted Municipalities of 1.73 percent (increased from 1.69 percent in 2017). Parish Treasurer Debbie Miley said both of these taxes (about $964,000 annually) go to the Parish’s General Fund. With the Parish providing over $1 million toward inmates, criminal court, public safety, the coroner’s office and more; every dollar of it makes a difference.

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BOM is a Platinum Sponsor is the 2018 Dancing with the Sigmas -All Star Edition. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 21 at 7 pm at A. A. Fredericks Auditorium on NSU’s Campus. Tickets are available at the Natchitoches BOM Branches.

In the picture from left to right: Kirk Leone, Reba Phelps, Carrie Hough, Abigail Reynolds, Rebekah Aultman, Morgan Horn, Chari Addison, and Dewayne Chelette.

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Natchitoches Coalition on Homelessness monthly Share a Meal was held at the Skybox on Martin Luther King Jr Drive on March 1, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 22, but was cancelled due to inclement weather. The next Share a Meal is scheduled for March 22 at the Skybox. The Coalition invites all those that are homeless or in need of a meal to come out and join them from 4-6 pm.

Pictured are participant Vincent, members of Coalition Pamela Lockridge, Charles Brossette, Marie Brossette and Mark Lockridge.

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Northwestern State University’s Department of Military Science and the Northwestern Demon Regiment will host the 68th Demon Battalion Military Ball on March 24 on the campus of Northwestern State University. The event will be held in the Sylvan Friedman Student Union Ballroom. This occasion also serves as a reunion for alumni of the Black Knights Drill Team who will be honored during the program.

The ball will open with recognition of cadets who will commission this year. Their movement through the “Arch of Steel” is a tradition long-steeped in military history. It symbolizes this unique transition and acknowledges the special honor our nation will soon bestow upon each of them.

Captain Jimmy Watson, 2011 alumnus and Commander of C Company, 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk will serve as the guest speaker. Later, Colonel (Retired) James F. Bowie, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward T. Milligan, and Major (Retired) Leonard “Ted” Fowler will be inducted into the Demon Regiment Hall of Fame. Colonel (Retired) Richard G. Brown will also be inducted posthumously.

The purpose of the military ball is to instill Army traditions while teaching organizational and leadership skills. It allows for essential interaction between cadets and university and community leadership. This interaction assists in building relationships that are beneficial to Cadets and ROTC recruiting efforts. Lieutenant Colonel Katherine Carlson, NSU’s Professor of Military Science, holds the honor of serving as the 22nd Colonel of the Demon Regiment. The Senior Military Instructor is Master Sergeant Christopher Upp.

Honorary Colonel of the Demon Regiment, Lieutenant General (Retired) Joseph Cosumano, Jr., invites the community to enjoy the evening with the Battalion and Demon Regiment. The ball will begin with social hour followed by dinner and dancing. The cost is $40 per person, which includes a buffet dinner. For additional information or to make reservations, please contact Mrs. Sid Hall at halls@nsula.edu or (318) 357-6951. You may also contact the Demon Regiment Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Arthur J. Smalley at ajsmalley@msn.com. Formal attire is required.

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MidSouth Bank has promoted Ken Freeman to Commercial Relationship Manager for its North Louisiana market.

Freeman, who has served as the Mayor of Many for 32 years (earning the distinction as the longest-serving mayor in the state), most recently was Assistant Vice President for Security/Facilities and has 42 years of banking experience. He has been with MidSouth Bank since 1989.

In addition to his lending duties, Freeman will be responsible for business development throughout the region. “Ken has such a deep knowledge and understanding of our local economy and has developed relationships throughout North Louisiana, all of which make him an invaluable member of our team,” said MidSouth Bank Regional President Rhonda Jones.

A Many native, Freeman earned a bachelor of science degree in finance, banking and investments from Louisiana Tech University and completed Southern Methodist University’s SW Graduate School of Banking.

About MidSouth Bancorp, Inc.
MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, with assets of $1.9 billion as of December 31, 2017. MidSouth Bancorp, Inc. trades on the NYSE under the symbol “MSL.” Through its wholly owned subsidiary, MidSouth Bank, N.A., MidSouth offers a full range of banking services to commercial and retail customers in Louisiana and Texas. MidSouth Bank currently has 48 locations in Louisiana and Texas and is connected to a worldwide ATM network that provides customers with access to more than 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs. Additional corporate information is available at MidSouthBank.com.

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Winners of the Natchitoches Humane Society’s 2018 St. Pat’s Children and Pet Parade, held March 17, are as follows:

Her Royal Highness, Queen O’Green – Ripley – owned by Reinette, Eddie and Aaron Foster
His Royal Majesty, King McG-Ruff – Grizzly – owned by Barbara Smith

1st Place Children’s Costume – Easton Graves Easton (parents Haley and Blake Graves)
1st Place Float–Easton and Kinsley Graves (parents Haley and Blake Graves}
2nd Place Float – Puppy Palooza – Reinette, Eddie and Aaron Foster

1st Best Pet Costume – Huggers owned Huggers – Owned by Hillary, Jeremy, Kylie & Lainey Bennett
2nd Place Dog Costume – Grizzly owned by Barbara Smith
3rd Place Dog Costume – Daisy owned by Mitzi and David Motz

Judges:
Judy Armour, Patricia Franks, Karen Bretthauer, Jana Armour, Mary Gallian and Ron McBride

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NATCHITOCHES PARISH:

Debbie Stalsby Charrier
November 12, 1953 – March 18, 2018
Visitation: Wednesday, March 21 after 5 pm at Bay Springs Baptist Church located at 140 Hwy. 490 in Chopin
Service: Thursday, March 22 at 10 am at Bay Springs Baptist Church in Chopin
Interment: Bay Springs Cemetery

Joseph Steele
February 9, 1957 – March 17, 2018
Service: Saturday, March 24 at 11 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

Janie Rachal Allen
March 19, 2018
Arrangements TBA

Gerard Francis “Sonny” Thomas Jr.
January 20, 1923 – February 10, 2018
Service: Friday, March 23 at 4 pm at Merci Beaucoup Restaurant, located at 127 Church Street in Natchitoches

SABINE PARISH:

Mary Lou Veuleman
November 3, 1938 – March 17, 2018
Service: Tuesday, March 20 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
Interment: Rosepine Cemetery in Rosepine
RAPIDES PARISH:

Larry Dean Book
July 13, 1964 – March 16, 2018
Service: Tuesday, March 20 at 10 am in the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home Chapel

Vincent Giuseppe Drago Sr.
July 26, 1931 – March 17, 2018
Visitation: Tuesday, March 20 from 10 am – 1 pm at the John Kramer & Son Funeral Home
Service: Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30 pm at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church
Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Mausoleum

WINN PARISH:

Robin Slack
December 29, 1976 – March 19, 2018
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER PARISH:

Ellen Delaney Garcia
April 21, 1953 – March 18, 2018
Visitation: Wednesday, March 21 from 11 am – 1 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home in Coushatta
Service: Wednesday, March 21 at 2 pm at Zion Cemetery

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By J. R. “Randy” Stelly

We cannot solve our problems with the same
thinking we used when we created them.

Albert Einstein

Rumor has it that the residents of Harmony Road have jumped on the Chris Paige bandwagon and will be at tonight’s Parish Council meeting to reminisce the glory days of the Police Jury. Oh, how quickly they forget! Harmony Road has been in bad shape for decades. As far back as 1980, the Police Jury was dealing with problems on Harmony road and had it listed on their Capital Outlay plan.

In November of 2000, the Jury again voted to put the overlay of Harmony Road on its Capital Outlay plan for a cost of $304,402.36 and that total was for materials only. Did the fact that the Police Jury didn’t factor in the cost of labor indicate that they had no intention of completing the project?

Fast forward to 2009 and Harmony road again appears on the Jury’s Capital Outlay plan with a 2” overlay project scheduled for 2011 for an estimated cost of $406,040.48 with an anticipated inflation cost of $487,248.58. 2011 came and went with no improvements made.

The residents of Harmony Road again were ignored in November of 2012 when the Police Jury voted on a whim to expend almost $900k on overlay projects in an effort to bootstrap the Department of Public Works’ budget for the incoming form of government.

It seems to me that no matter which way you look at it, all bad roads lead back to the Police Jury! Why in the world would anyone think that it’s a good idea to go back to it?

Other folks are saying that we need to go back to a Police Jury because the new government keeps asking Parish residents to pass a tax for road improvements. Here’s some fascinating facts for you to chew on:

If you search the State Tax Commission’s website, you will find that there are 44 tracts of land along Harmony Road on the tax rolls (Certificates Attached below). Of those, 29 of the properties are 100% tax exempt. The remaining properties paid a total of $141.98 into Road District #40, which funds the Parish’s road maintenance department. In 2017, the Parish spent $17,256.23 maintaining Harmony Road. Chris Paige is always pounding his fist and yelling about fairness. Do those figures seem fair to you?

In the last 20 years of its existence, the Police Jury called for additional tax revenues for road maintenance no less than 9 times. It seems obvious to me that lack of funding is the real road block to major road improvements in our Parish, not its form of government.

Don’t fall for the lies that come from the likes of Chris Paige. People should remember that he was on the Police Jury for decades with no real accomplishments to speak of and he has been against our government from day one. The Police Jury was rife with corruption, major deficits and multiple audit findings. Is that really what we want to go back to?

Harmony Road Tax Certificates for each Property 2017

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Twelve teams vied for bragging rights in the NSU Demon Digfest tournament held Saturday, March 17 at Prather Coliseum. The popular fundraising event, a fixture of our community for over 5 years, is raising money this year for a new locker room for the team. This year’s event is expected to raise about $1,400 for a phenomenal group of student – athletes.

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NSU’s School of Creative and Performing Arts hosted Music Morning, an educational and fun filled day of musical activities Saturday, March 17. The event, now in its 5th year, featured 30 NSU Music Education majors presenting classes and activities to 25 children from the parish elementary schools. The children built instruments, learned about different musical instruments, danced and sang. At the end of the morning, the children sang for their parents and family.

The Natchitoches Parish Journal would like to commend the young men and women of NSU’s Music Education program who put on the event. An observer of the classes would not know that they were students and not experienced educators. They are quality young men and women who are being well prepared by NSU. We would love to see them teaching in the parish schools upon their graduation.

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Get lasting relief from heavy periods caused by abnormal uterine bleeding

Her Option® is a safe and effective treatment that uses sub-zero temperatures to destroy the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium).

It is this tissue that sheds during your period that causes bleeding. By destroying most or all of this lining, your periods will be reduced or eliminatd.

Is your menstrual bleeding excessive?
Bleeding that soaks through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours.
Bleeding so heavy you need to double up on sanitary protection. Bleeding that causes you to change protection during the night. A period lasting longer than seven days.

Menstual flow containing large blood clots.

Heavy periods that interfere with your regular lifestyle
(i.e. physical activities, sexual intimacy, career, recreation, self-confidence)

Constant pain in your lower abdomen during your period. Severe cramps or headaches during your period.

Irregular periods.

Tiredness, fatigue or shortness of breath (symptoms of anemia). Depression or moodiness during your period.

If you’ve experienced one or more of these symptoms, your heavy periods could be the result of a condition called abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) or Menorrhagia.
You do not need to live with heavy periods and the limitations associated with AUB.

Moshood Olatinwo, M.D.
617 Bienville Street, Suite A
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457
318-352-1108

www.summitobgynofnatchitoches.net

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