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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Johnnie Little
July 4, 2022
Arrangements TBA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The name of the victim is currently not being released.

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

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

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

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

Birmingham had a Winnfield East feel to it.

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

Be careful…

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

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

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

Football makes strange bedfellows.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Morning of Hope – First Annual Ladies Prayer Breakfast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campbell came to Northwestern State in January 2019.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flowers and prayers are appreciated.

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

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

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

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

By Brad Dison

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Lakeview High School AFJROTC Marksmanship Team recently received a Grant from the NRA Foundation valued at over $1,000. This grant capped off a great year for the Marksmanship team which brought home several trophies, including a first-place finish.

Major Wiggins, Lakeview’s Senior Aerospace Science Instructor stated, “this NRA grant takes us one step closer to our goal of reaching nationals in the next few years.”

The NRA grant provided Lakeview with a much-needed new Crosman Challenger air rifle along with some targets and pellets. This new rifle will replace one of the older types of air rifles which have become very costly and hard to get repaired due to lack of parts or qualified technicians to repair them.

Chief Thomas, Lakeview’s Aerospace Science Instructor, said “in order for us to take our team to the next level, we’ll have to invest in new equipment.” The investment Chief Thomas refers to includes rifles, range improvements, and other equipment such as spotting scopes.

Lakeview Marksmanship will submit for another grant through the NRA Foundation this upcoming school year with hopes to reach their competition goals as well as furthering their efforts to teach life skills such as safety, discipline, concentration, and good sportsmanship.

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

Ronnie Rine
December 16, 1981 – July 3, 2022
A private service will be held at a later date.

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

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

Lana Frank Scott
July 2, 2022
Service: Wednesday, July 6 at 11:30 am at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

SABINE:
Jack Craig
December 21, 1972 – June 25, 2022
Service: Wednesday, July 6 at 10 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church

Sammy Ray Foote
November 9, 1975 – June 30, 2022
Service: Wednesday, July 6 at 1 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

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

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

Johnnie Little
July 4, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Downtown Natchitoches’ Riverbank was the place to be to celebrate our nation’s independence Saturday, July 2. The celebration featured a concert and fireworks show giving hours of family fun at no cost.

The evening began with a local favorite, The Kelli Roberts Band. The band lived up to its reputation for high energy fun as they played a variety of songs in several genres for two solid hours before the fireworks show. Several food trucks were on hand serving local cuisine to the crowd packing the riverbank.

The fireworks show, as always, did not disappoint with its usual strong beginning and a crescendo at the end worthy of an artillery barrage. The City of Natchitoches is one of the finest fireworks venues in the USA.

The Village of Natchez held an Inauguration Celebration for its new Mayor, Patsy Ward Hoover; Aldermen McKinley Hoover, Sheila Johnson, and Monique Sarpy; and Chief of Police Michael Gillie Jr. on July 1.

Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court David Stamey swore them in before friends, family, and community members. Attorney Howard Conday was Master of Ceremony and Rev. Joe Williams Sr, pastor at the Pentecostal Baptist Church in Natchez, led the invocation. Amiyah Akins and Des’lyn Hoover held up American flags as they led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

First Assistant District Attorney for Natchitoches Parish, Cloyd Benjamin Jr., greeted everyone in attendance and Barbara Bradley welcomed them to the event.

“It’s a new day in Natchez,” said Benjamin.

After the swearing in was complete, Earnestine Armstrong performed a moving vocal solo. The message to Pasty Ward Hoover was, “You have been faithful and true. It is your time.” Next, Natchitoches City Councilperson-at-Large Betty Smith recognized elected officials and special invited guests that were in attendance.

Then, Attorney Carmella Parker gave some words of encouragement to the newly installed officials. She said that everyone is cheering for their success as they enter their respective offices.

“You are the leaders for the moment,” she elaborated. “It’s your time.”

Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. introduced the Keynote Speaker, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Designee for the Delta Regional Authority, Roderick Scott.

Scott said it was an honor to be a part of such a special occasion. He said that perseverance with strategic planning is key to overcoming obstacles and that in the time he’s known Hoover, he’s been fascinated by her tenacity, her work, and her compassion.

“I know that she will show up for this community [Natchez],” he added.

Hoover presented him with the keys to the Village of Natchez before she was presented with the official keys to her office by Police Chief Gillie.

Caddo Parish District 7 Commissioner and President of the Louisiana Police Jury Black Caucus Association, Stormy Gage Watts, presented Hoover with an award in appreciation and in recognition for her commitment and dedication through her years as a member of the Natchitoches Parish Council.

Hoover then presented Conday, Danny Byrd, and Lee Edgar Dumars Jr. with certificates of recognition for the work they do for the community in Natchez.

Bishop James Johnson, pastor at the Rose of Sharon Baptist Church in Natchez, blessed the food provided by Southern Quality Events Service & Beaux Brothers. Rev. Rufus Sowell, pastor at New Birth Baptist Church in Natchez, closed out the event with a benediction. Special Coordinators included Gloria Smith-Gandy, Gwendolyn Robinson, Tonia Schnyder, Rose Payton, and Camilla Parker.

“For God get the glory,” said Hoover. “I want to thank each and every one of you in Natchez for your support. I’m going to be a mayor for all the people.”

The City of Natchitoches Planning and Zoning Department approved 44 permits during the month of June with an application value of $2.8 million.

See Full Report Here:

Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on July 1 at approximately 4:15 am on Louisiana Highway 6, west of Many. The crash claimed the life of 48-year-old Ronald Williams of Powhatan.

The initial investigation revealed a 2013 Lincoln MKT, driven by 22-year-old Chas B. Pilcher of Many, was eastbound on Louisiana Highway 6. For reasons still under investigation, Pilcher’s vehicle crossed the centerlines into the westbound travel lane and collided with a westbound commercial vehicle. This impact caused both vehicles to exit the roadway. The Lincoln subsequently impacted an unoccupied structure and the commercial vehicle impacted a creek ditch embankment.

Pilcher, who was restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Williams, who also was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.

In 2022, Troop E Troopers have investigated 18 fatal crashes resulting in 19 fatalities.

Cane River Creole National Historical Park will host a FREE painting class at Oakland Plantation on Saturday, July 23. The class will take place from 9 am to 11 am and is limited to ten participants. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 318-352-0383 x316.

Come experience painting in your park! Join professional artist Kelly Jackson at Oakland Plantation for this special free class. No painting experience is needed, and all supplies are provided. Oakland Plantation is located at 4386 Highway 494, Natchez, LA.

The grounds of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nearly 80 original buildings remain, many open for self-guided tours including several that are historically furnished from Wednesday through Sunday. Park staff conducts tours of the plantation grounds daily Wednesday through Sunday. In addition, the park offers a cell phone tour. The Oakland Main House is open for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Magnolia Main House is privately owned and is not open to the public. For more information, please call the park at 318-352-0383, ext. 316.

POSITION: Assistant – Programming & Promotions Department

DESCRIPTION: Assist in Riverbank/Beau Jardin rentals including communication with City Departments and event coordinators. Perform all clerical and administrative duties as assigned by supervisors, including answering phones, entering requisitions, mailing, copies, etc. Receive visitors and all inquiries concerning Beau Jardin, Main Street promotions, assist with the organization and maintenance of all calendars of scheduled events, websites and social media. Assist in preparation and execution of programs and promotions as needed. Applicant must be available to work nights and weekends for the execution of events as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS: High School Diploma or GED. At least 6 months experience in a clerical position is required.

CONTACT: Human Resources Department at 1400 Sabine St. or P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches LA 71458-0037. Applications may also be picked up upstairs at City Hall located at 700 Second St. or online at http://www.natchitochesla.gov

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Applications will be accepted through: July 15, 2022.

THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

By Edwin Crayton/Opinion

Once upon a time, there was a pretty college freshman named Goldilocks. She was smart, and charming. Naturally, she was quite popular on campus—especially with the boys– but also with many of the girls. This meant she was invited to all the right parties and social events and had a very active dating life. She tried many new things and explored several lifestyle choices. She would drink or smoke whatever was passed around and indulged in her new freedoms the way some people indulge in a large, tasty bag of potato chips. When Goldilocks was a teen she had been warned about all this by Brad, her youth director at church, nevertheless, she ignored all that. She was free. Yet, somehow all of it left her feeling empty.
One day, she attended an event on campus and received a small Bible. She read it and the words began to fill the empty spaces in her heart. She gave her heart to Christ, accepting him as savior and Lord of her life (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10). Goldilocks realized she needed to learn more about God and also needed to be among other believers for encouragement (Hebrews 10:25). So, she began to look for a church. And well, that is when things got interesting.

One bright Sunday morning, she got up early and headed for a well-manicured, tree-lined street known for having three large churches. One was on the far left side of the street. Another sat on the far-right side and there was one in between. She decided to visit all of them. She started with the church on the far left first. Once inside, she was surprised to notice that everything in the church was pushed to the far left: the pews, the altar, the people. It was pretty wild because the right side of the sanctuary was completely empty. The members did everything on the left. During the sermon, the pastor talked a lot about tolerance and not being judgmental. Goldilocks thought to herself “Well, they sure have judged the right side of the building.” In the Sunday School class after church, Goldilocks mentioned that she was a new Christian and that she was there to learn the truth about God. The teacher told her that it was not about “the” truth but about the truth as Goldilocks saw it—her truth. Goldilocks asked about sin and repentance and the teacher asked her, “What are those?” Goldilocks became confused. This church seemed to disregard many of the teachings and moral concepts in the Bible she was reading. Yet it was a church. It didn’t believe in hell, sin, repentance or absolute truth. It seemed in this church, there was no right or wrong. You could really just do what you wanted and still be a Christian. Everything was so far left of the Scriptures. As she walked away disillusioned, she noticed that even a statue of an angel only had a left wing.

Next Sunday, she visited the church on the far-right side of the street. Inside, everything was pushed to the far right. Goldilocks thought, “Here we go again.” While the other church seemed to think nothing was wrong, this one spoke a lot about sin and right and wrong. But even though they were accurate about their Bible concepts, they leaned right even as they worshipped. In fact, the teacher in her Sunday School class leaned so far right he actually fell over and hit the floor. Plop! There was a lot of flag waving, and political talk. In this church, like the other one, it mattered how you voted. Although they talked about America a lot, everybody in the church was the same color. And Goldilocks got the feeling they liked it that way. They served a snack after church. But Goldilocks lost her appetite when she noticed the featured item on the menu was a chicken dish of right wings.

As she walked home, Goldilocks was feeling a little down. But then, just as suddenly, she became hopeful when she remembered there was still one church left to visit. She cautiously walked to the church in between the other two. As she approached, she heard laughter. Inside, she was welcomed by a young Asian woman about her own age who hugged her and handed her a church program. Goldilocks already felt better. This was the kind of Christian love she had been reading about in the Bible. The sermon was inspiring and Goldilocks remembered the references from her own reading. There was no obsession with politics, left or right. The members were not all one color. They talked about serving God and reaching lost people here and abroad. In fact, afterwards, they went out to hand out spiritual literature and witness in a shopping center. Her Sunday School class talked about giving out lunches to needy families. But most impressive of all, the church reminded her of the first churches as described in the Bible. In those churches, people focused on salvation. They worked hard to spread the Gospel to people who did not know Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20). They pooled their money to do the work God commanded: feeding the poor, evangelizing, and building up the kingdom, sacrificing in order to build good churches that trained members in strong doctrine and godly living. Goldilocks reflected on it all, “Wow! The first church she had visited was too far left. The second one was too far right. But this one was just right!” She appreciated the fact that this church was not part of some culture war. They knew the real war is a spiritual war between God and Satan. In this war, the devil is trying to deceive people into disobeying God so they will suffer eternal damnation. By contrast, God’s followers are sharing the gospel so people can be saved (Ephesians 6:12). In the third church, the teaching and preaching were strictly from a biblical viewpoint. She felt she was hearing from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The church did not fashion itself after worldly ideas of morality and boldly taught against the current spread of immorality. At this church, Jesus was not just savior but lord. They didn’t try to give Christianity a patriotic slant, or a liberal slant, or black or white slant or a gay (LGBT) slant, or a feminist slant. They let the Bible speak for itself.

Right away, Goldilocks began to think of who she could invite. Many of her friends on campus were struggling with moral and spiritual issues. There was Little Red Riding Hood who had the weird habit of hanging out with wolves who dressed up like grandmothers. And Jack who had the expensive habit of selling valuable livestock for a handful of beans.
The moral? Jesus wanted his followers in the first churches to influence the world so whoever accepted him as savior and lord would be saved (Matthew 28:19-20). But unfortunately, just the opposite happened. The world influenced the church and this corrupted many churches and hindered the work of reaching out to the lost. Yet, some churches did remain faithful and became pathways for the salvation of the lost. Such churches are still being built. Goldilocks found one. There is one for each of us. If you feel you need to find such a church, call upon God in the name of Jesus and ask him to lead you to the body of believers he has prepared for you (Mark 11:22-24).

As for fairy tale endings, God promised something much better: an opportunity for all who surrender their lives to Christ to live happily ever after in heaven for an eternity.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
-Jesus in Matthew 11:28

Look for this opinion article at least twice monthly in the Journal.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will offer a Pick Up Your Brush painting class on July 7 and 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the second floor of South Hall. The fee is $45 per session. Each class is a separate session.

In the class, participants will learn the art of painting using step-by-step instructions to create a masterpiece. Students will take home a completed painting at the end of every class. On July 7, participants will create a painting called “Watermelon.” On July, they will paint “Barn Floral.” No special or prior skills are required. Children ages 7 – 12 years old are allowed to enroll, but a parent must accompany the child the entire class. The parent does not have to enroll unless they participate. All supplies are included.

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

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has received reports of West Nile virus present in more than 175 mosquito pools this year, a number much higher than last year at this time, when 13 pools tested positive.

The high number of positive cases in the pool samples means there is a greater risk of West Nile virus spreading to humans. The Office of Public health is urging the public to take protective measures against mosquito bites.

West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes and can cause illness in people and animals. While 80% of human cases are asymptomatic, many people can develop West Nile Fever. Symptoms of West Nile Fever, which is a flu-like illness, can include fever, headache, body aches, nausea or rashes.

A small percentage of people sickened by West Nile Virus can develop a severe form of infection called West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease or West Nile Encephalitis, which can result in hospitalization and death. Symptoms can include high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, numbness, coma and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks and carry the risk of death or permanent brain damage.

While anyone is at risk of developing severe disease, individuals with pre-existing medical conditions and those who are over 60 years of age are at a greater risk. The number of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease cases fluctuates each year due to many environmental factors and the weather, with previous case counts in Louisiana ranging between 4 and 204 cases each year.

“Now is the time to start protecting yourself from mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding sites around your home,” said LDH State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter. “We’re getting early warning signs from our Mosquito Abatement District samples across the state that West Nile Virus could result in higher case counts among humans this summer.”

There are many ways to protect yourself from mosquito bites:

If you will be outside, you should wear EPA-registered approved mosquito repellent and always follow product label instructions.
Apply repellent on exposed skin and clothing, but do not apply under your clothes or on broken skin.
If you are also using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and insect repellent second.
To protect yourself from being exposed to mosquitos while indoors, make sure that windows and doors are tight-fitting, and that all screens are free of holes.

You should also take measures to protect your home from mosquitoes:

Reduce the mosquito population by eliminating standing water around your home, which is where mosquitoes breed.

Dispose of tin cans, ceramic pots and other unnecessary containers that have accumulated on your property that may collect water. Turn over wheelbarrows, plastic wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children’s toys or anything that could collect water.

Drill holes in the bottom of outdoor recycling containers. If a recycling container has holes on the sides, there is still room for the container to collect water for mosquitoes to breed, so holes should be added on the bottom if not already present.

Check and clean roof gutters routinely. Clogged gutters can produce millions of mosquitoes each season.

Water gardens and ornamental pools can become major mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate. Take steps to prevent stagnation, such as adding fish or aeration.

Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used. A swimming pool that is left untended by a family for a little as a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints.

Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.
Contact local mosquito abatement districts to report problem mosquito areas.