DES MOINES, Iowa – Two Northwestern State sprint greats, 2014 senior Justin Walker and 2018 senior Amir James, finished 4-6 Sunday evening in the storm-delayed 200 meter dash final at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships.
Walker, competing professionally, took fourth in 20.80. James, in his last meet officially representing Northwestern, claimed sixth in 20.818 to the 20.817 by Kenzo Cotton of Arkansas.
Ameer Webb was the winner in 20.47, followed by Kansas State’s Terrell Smith (20.74), Andrew Hudson of Texas Tech (20.797), Walker (20.789), Cotton, James, and Marqueze Washington, who cruised across in 24.67. The remaining qualifier for the finals, Michael Norman, did not start the race.
Walker and James finished 3-4 in Heat 2 of the 200 semifinals earlier Sunday to advance to the eight-man final, originally slated for 4:10 but delayed by thunderstorms until 7:20.
Walker ran 20.61 and James 20.71 into a slight headwind to earn their spots in the national final.
Both won a pair of All-America honors competing collegiately. This was James’ final competition for NSU.
James set the NSU school record, 20.41, in May at the NCAA East Preliminary Round after initially breaking it with a 20.47 at the Southland Conference Championships.
James ran the pivotal third leg of the Demons’ record-shattering 4×100 team that posted a 38.92 in the NCAA semifinals earlier this month and earned first-team All-America honors with a seventh-place finish in the finals. Two years earlier, he was a second-team All-American in the 4×100 after the Demons finished 15th at the NCAA Outdoors.
Walker took third in the 200 at the 2014 NCAA Outdoors, after finishing fourth in the 100, to earn his two first-team All-America honors.
Sabine Parish 4-H will collect eyeglasses that you NO LONGER use for the Lions Club through August 1. The 4-H members will donate these glasses to those in need through the Lions Club. There are several boxes in the front office where you can drop these glasses off for collection. You can also give them to any Junior Leader. Giving back to the community is our first priority.
BATON ROUGE— With a theme of “We’re all in this together,” nearly 1,500 4-H’ers from across the state won educational trips, participated in educational programs and selected new officers for the 2018-19 school year during 4-H University.
The 104th annual event was held on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge on June 19-22. 4-H University consists of 33 competitive contests, 11 Clover College tracks, electing new state officers and regional representatives for the state 4-H executive board, and selecting national conference delegates and members of six state leadership boards.
In the competitive contests, youth contended for educational trips to the Gulf Coast and San Antonio. They also vied for the right to represent Louisiana 4-H in several national competitions and cash prizes.
“For many 4-H members, 4-H University is the highlight of their year,” said Janet Fox, LSU AgCenter 4-H department head. “Some have been preparing for their contests all year, and others look forward to components like Clover College and other educational programs.”
4-H University also allows the participants to experience what life is like on a major college campus. They stay in dormitories during the event, and the contests and programs are held across the LSU campus, exposing 4-H members to a college-like experience.
“Some of our participants come from rural areas and attend small schools. 4-H U gives them a taste of the college atmosphere, and hopefully, they will find it less intimidating if they go off to college someday,” Fox said.
Nearly 250 students attended Clover College, a selection of seven-hour programs that are non-competitive and focus on education and exposing young people to campus life. Sessions included forensics, graphic design, horsemanship, learning about opportunities in the LSU College of Agriculture and lessons regarding the basics of video production.
State 4-H president, vice president, secretary, historian/reporter and parliamentarian were elected during the week. Westin Cobb, of Livingston Parish, was elected president, and Tay Moore, of Bienville Parish, will serve as vice president.
Eugenia Williams, of St. Landry Parish, was elected secretary; Nydia Cooper, of St. James Parish, was elected historian/reporter; and Clay Leblanc, of Iberville Parish, was chosen parliamentarian.
Members were also designated to serve on the boards for citizenship, fashion, food and fitness, performing arts, shooting sports, and science, engineering and technology (SET).
Delegates to represent Louisiana 4-H at the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., in spring 2019 were also selected during 4-H U.
Representatives were chosen from five geographical regions to serve as liaisons between the state executive board and their respective regions and help in the planning and staging of regional and state 4-H events.
“I’m really excited about the next six months of Movies in Many, Music in Many, and Happy Hours Creative Classes at the Depot Museum,” says Many Mayor Ken Freeman.
“Our Cultural District Advisory Committee has worked really hard during the last few weeks to plan and finalize these programs from July through December, and I want to thank them for coming up with such appealing programs,” Freeman continued.
“Let me just hit some of the highlights,” the mayor explained. “Our popular Movies in Many program will be showing Jurassic World and Ferdinand in July. We’ve got a really special movie and party on September 15. The movie is Grease and we’re giving a 1950s sock hop along with the movie. We want people to dress in costume, and we’ll have some fun activities along with the movie. We are showing the acclaimed film Dunkirk on Nov. 10 in honor of Veterans Day. And we’re showing Justice League in November. And, of course, we’ll have Halloween and Christmas movies and parties for the children.”
The mayor emphasized that all movies are free to everyone, with concessions for only $1 each. Movies are shown on the first and third Saturday of each month. They are family friendly movies with ratings from G to PG 13. An R rated movie may be shown rarely if the story line is important enough to merit showing it. Freeman said he could think of only two movies in the past four years that received R ratings.
The mayor explained that people are warned in advance of an R-rated movie. The R rating is posted on the theater marquee, on Save the Date Facebook page and also the Town of Many’s Facebook page, as well other pages. Local media are also advised through news releases.
Freeman is also looking forward to the popular Music in Many concert series. The fall music concerts will begin in September, after taking a break for July and August. Freeman said that a parish wide gospel singing concert will be a new addition to the music shows. It will be performed on October 13 and will feature some outstanding gospel singers and praise dancer from around the Central Louisiana region.
Willie Stewart, Family and Friends will perform their second annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 15. Last year’s Christmas show was the first time the popular Stewart family had performed at the Many Community Center. “The show was a huge hit and one of our most popular music shows in 2017,” Freeman said. “So we asked them to come back this year, and Willie accepted.”
Freeman is especially proud of the Happy Hour Creative Classes taught on Saturday afternoons at the historic Depot Museum.
Members of the Depot Art Guild work closely with the Cultural District Advisory Committee to feature creative classes in several areas.
The creative classes last for three hours on the second, third and fourth Saturday afternoons of each month. Painting classes are taught on the second Saturday of every month starting on July 14. Well-known artist JoAnn Cason will teach the classes through November.
Crafts with Art Guild President Shanna Gaspard will begin on August 18 and will run through November. These are popular classes to bring children and grandchildren to, and they’re taught on the third weekend of each month.
One of the most popular classes to be taught is the Jewelry Design and Jewelry making class taught by professional jewelry designer Cheryl Pearsall. Pearsall has almost 20 years of experience in designing and creating one-of-a-kind jewelry. She shares her skills with her students. And students can take home their creations! Pearsall’s classes are taught on the fourth Saturday afternoon of each month.
Each of the Happy Hours creative classes have small class fees to cover the cost of materials and supplies that are provided.
Mayor Freeman emphasized that many hours go into planning and providing all these activities for the people of Many, Sabine Parish, and the surrounding areas.
“I don’t like to hear that there’s nothing to do here in Many,” Freeman said. “Now, thanks to some hardworking volunteers, our people can attend movies, concerts, plays, and different events at the Many Community Center. And they can also learn to paint, make something for their homes, or make a beautiful piece of jewelry.”
“We are lucky indeed to have these activities and we hope to add even more,” Freeman concluded. “Many is a great place to live with great people. And now we have some great activities for them.”
NSU– Northwestern State University announced the names of 1,087 students named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2018 semester. Students on the Dean’s List maintained a 3.5-3.99 grade point average. Students, listed by hometown (in the Sabine Parish area) are as follows.
Alexandria — Chris Vincent Advincula, Evelyn Allen-Lewis, Lili Bedoya, Heather Bergeron, Tianna Bowens, Lydia Branch, Morgan Bryant, Thomas Crowe, Noel Cusick, Angela Dunn, Aubrey Farque, Claudia Gauthier, Ian Grant, Monnie Guillory, Tameka Hammonds, Tyraneisha Hayward, Roderick Henry, Martha Hopewell, Jaliyah Jasper, Whitney Joffrion, Jordan Johnson, Kelli Leone, Hunter Lewis, Jimmie Magee, Aaron Martin, Ceerah McNeal, Jennifer Miranda, Kylah Porter, Sailor Reed, Savannah Sices, Shacora Simpson, Christopher Warren, Shanequa Watkins, Amber Williams Taylor;
Ashland — Victoria Roderick;
Bossier City — Alexander Bequette, Kendall Caple, Jael Ahmad, Lauryn Bakalis, Abigail Barkley, Breanna Black, Elizabeth Blair, Brittany Boothe, Steven Braddock, Katie Briggs, Jonathan Castillo, Peyton Davis, Anthonia Dogbey, Madison Edwards, Bailey Freeman, Karli Freeman, Laschae Gadson, Kelsey Gallman, Julie Golden, Mizzani Grigsby, Candace Guillory, Devonte Hall, Oai Lee Huynh, Anton Inyakov, Dejaney Jackson, Nourain Jamhour, Anqumesha Jeter, Shane Kaiser, Tina Kile, Danielle Lombardino, Alexandra Madrid, Samantha Maiette, Caroline McKee, Amanda Mings, Stacy Moore, Katherine Parson, Kennedy Parson, Brittani Phillips, Kathryn Pierce, Rachael Pierce, Tatyana Porter, Timothy Rice, Jami Rivers, Jasmine Roberson, Kassidy Robideaux, Madison Rowland, Rheagan Rowland, Jeremy Ryals, Dakota Schudalla, Ranya Shihadeh, Hope Spaw, Tabitha Stevenson, Susan Stone, James Taylor, Jazmine Tom-Jones, Giselle Trejo, Lacey Velasquez, Madalyn Watson, Meagan Willis, Nour Zeidan, Eric Zheng;
Boyce — Tiffany Barnhart, Ekaterina Bordelon, Sarah Hill, Sonya Hill, Hannah Miller, Ashley Smith;
Many — Rachel Bensinger, David Bourgeois, Toby Bruce, Jocelyn Cannon, Tyler Colston, Skyler Ezernack, Tiarra Frazier, Alison Garcia, Brittney Garcie, Savannah Garcie, Sheridan Gowen, Emmy Hinds, Emily Holcomb, Jenifer Meadows, Matthew Peace, Lincoln Pearce, Jonathan Pilcher, Bailey Walker;
Marthaville — Dillon Hagan, Mallory Powell, Madeline Procell, Daniel Rachal-Claspill;
Natchez — Victoria Bradford, Courtney Sarpy;
Natchitoches — Alissa Addison, James Armstrong, Cass Arnold, Adam Barnes, Behrend Behrendsen, Lauren Bennett, Joshua Bolton, Kayla Bordelon, Megan Bouchie, Taylor Burch, Deasia Burrell, Ebone Burton, John Byone, Ana Cardaba Garcia, Valerie Chadick, Hannah Chelette, Laura Coffey, Donna Cooper, Whitney Crooks, Dalton Dark, Cieara Davis, Sean Day, Jacob Ellis, Fred Fontenot, Daniela Forero Salcedo, Ashley Fortenberry, Mark Gallien, Luis Gallo Quintero, Taylor Garland, Christopher Gistarb, Samuel Greene, Pamela Gross, Hannah Haigh, Michaela Haigh, Jorgia Hamel, Jett Hayes, Emily Heard, Marcie Jenkins, Regina Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Jeremy Jones, Brian Jordan, Daniel Killian, Michael Kingsley, Abagael Kinney, Lyndon Knueppel, Jiyoon Lee, Robert Lee, John Lindsey, Luke Lucky, Kary-Katharine McCormick, Amber Minor, Shanteria Montgomery, Destiny Moody, Sarah Moody, Brooklyn Noe, Karmen O’ Connor, Joseph Parrie, Kevin Price, LaKendria Remo, Antavious Roberson, Cayla Roberts, Tyler Roberts, Aaron Rogers, William Rogers, Kayla Roquemore, Dante Samuel, Spencer Sepulvado, Anna Sibley, Josie Stamey, Scott Stewart, Harrison Thomas, Margaret Thompson, Victoria Thompson, Kaleb Usleton, Kristan Valdez, Ricardo Ventura, Ryan Wade, Kathryn White, Sarah Kay, Nicholas Wiggins;
The Natchitoches Parish Journal received this Letter to the Editor on June 19. The town of Many in Sabine Parish ranks number 22 nationwide.
NATCHITOCHES: I have always been proud of our little town, its historical significance, its beauty, and its festivals. However, there is another real fact that we must confront. According to a USA TODAY article published June 18, in towns with populations of 1000 to 25000 people, Natchitoches is the 6th poorest in the country. Listen to me: Not in the state, but in the entire country. Something has to be wrong if there are only five other towns in this entire country where the people are poorer than those in Natchitoches.
I don’t know where the fault lies but I would start with our political leaders, since they should be looking after the welfare and promoting businesses to ensure those who live here can earn a living wage. Further, while tourism is good, Natchitoches needs to attract industry, not chicken and other fast food franchises.
This negative national exposure that Natchitoches has just received can do nothing but harm Natchitoches. What parent will want to send his son or daughter to college in Natchitoches now? Very few, so it will have an adverse impact on NSU also.
To the powers that be, you need to do something and do it immediately or our little town will die a slow death!!
Michael J. Bonnette
Cloutierville, LA
(318) 332-6718
NSU– One thousand and ten students were named to the Spring 2018 Honor Roll at Northwestern State University. Students on the Honor Roll earned a grade point average of between 3.0 and 3.49. Those named to the Honor Roll listed by hometown (in the Sabine Parish area) are as follows.
Alexandria — Raven Adams, Iris Barrera, Samantha Bergeron, Ariyanna Bonton, John, Jasmine Brown, Kayla Busby, Keana Byone, Joshua Cain, Alyssa Carpenter, Brandy Danzy, Josyf Das Neves, Anne David, Joshua Dorsey, Tai Fletcher, Bailey Gaspard, Mallory Halford, Adrienne Jett, Jasmine Johnson, Tadriel Jones, Leslie Katz, Dean Mayeux, Claudine McGlory, Olivia Mosley, Deasheneire Payne, Kellie Pebbles, Madeline Pharis, Ragan Richey, Imani Ricks, Kenya Sariale, Nadage Scott, Taijha Silas, Carlos Sykes, Payton Tassin, Alexander Trotter, Hailey Urena, William Welch, Tashiana Whitehead, Elaina Williams;
Bossier City — Austin Averitt, Adriana Avie, Colton Bailey, Ashley Bennett, Leah Benoit, Jontil Benson, Mickayla Blue, Alexandra Borrmann, Kayli Brewer, Alexander Brooks, Courtney Brooks, Takeynea Brown, Mckay Crews, Karla Cruz, Marda David, Jordan Davis, Kasey Dice, Kelly Flores, Courtney Giddens, Sydney Gootee, Jacob Hammons, Adrianne Hampton, Asylynn Henderson, Angelo Hurtado, Haley Joncas, Emily Larosee, Mikayla Lehane, Savannah Lewwe, Rance Mason, Claire McMillan, Michelle Moline, Brittany Morris, Reondrick Owens, Michael Phelps, Khayla Pugh, Nigmeh Rahman, Sierra Richard, Johnathon Schluter, Sydney Shannon, Allisyn Steele, Crystal Tuggle, Tomaya Turner, Jacory Williams;
Boyce — Hannah Aslin, Seth Baggett, Brooklynn Basco, Devin Hilliard, Amanda Land, Lizabeth Lee, Eli Maffioli, Alexandra Morgan;
CLTCC Executive President Jeremy Gray was sworn in as a student member in the Board of Supervisors June 13 and attended his first Board meeting in Baton Rouge. Gray was elected into this position through the Council of Student Body Presidents (COSBP) and will serve on this Board as a member for the 2018-2019 term.
The Sabine Council on Aging, Inc. is gearing up to elect additional members to its Board of Directors. Residents are invited to fill out an application to apply for a board membership.
The Board of Directors meet monthly at a time and place designated by the Council, usually the fourth Thursday of each month. Special meetings may also be called, as necessary.
The length of each Board Member’s term shall be for a period of three years and may be renewed for a second three year term.
The deadline to submit applications for membership is on or before July 16. The
annual Board Meeting will be held July 26 and new Board Members will be elected at that time.
Fill out the applications forms below and return to the Legacy Building in Many.