To help stay cool this summer and reduce energy usage, Cleco partnered with councils on aging and other agencies to donate over 200 fans to the elderly across Louisiana.

Shirley Turner, Cleco vice president of customer experience, said fans can make a big difference during hot, summer months and significantly lower home energy usage.

“We recommend setting the thermostat at 78 degrees to keep electric bills manageable along with using a fan which makes the air feel 10 degrees cooler,” said Turner. “Doing these things will keep the temperaturecomfortable while saving energy.”

According to Turner, air conditioners are typically the largest energy users in a home. In addition to adjusting thermostats for energy efficiency, Cleco recommends the following tips to help lower electric bills:

Take advantage of the Bill Analysis and Saving Tips features on Cleco’s Energy Efficiency Program page atwww.cleco.com/energy-efficiency-programs
Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows.
Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day
Use heat generating appliances, such as clothes dryers or the oven, in the evening when temperatures are cooler
Clean or change air filters regularly

The agencies that received fan donations include:

Acadia Council on Aging
Allen Council on Aging
Avoyelles Council on Aging
Beauregard Council on Aging
Calcasieu Council on Aging
Campti Seniors Group
DeSoto Council on Aging
Eunice Food Bank
Evangeline Council on Aging
Grant Council on Aging
Iberia Council on Aging
Natchitoches Council on Aging
Rapides Council on Aging
Rapides Senior Citizens Services
Red River Council on Aging
Sabine Council on Aging
St. Martin Council on Aging
St. Landry Council on Aging
St. Mary Council on Aging
St. Tammany Council on Aging
Vernon Council on Aging
Washington Council on Aging

Pictured above are Tripp Dungan, Cleco principal governmental services representative, and Campti Mayor Roland Smith.

 

Over $1.1M reinvested into health, education, financial stability and essential needs

Shreveport – Through hard work, faithful donors and passionate volunteers, United Way of Northwest Louisiana will reinvest more than $1.1 million in local communities. The competitive process awarded grants to programs at 47 nonprofit agencies (some agencies were awarded multiple program grants). All agencies are located within United Way NWLA’s ten parish coverage area.

At an announcement today, company and nonprofit representatives saw their contributions at work. Fifty-eight programs were funded through the grant allocation process for programs in the areas of education, financial stability, health and essential needs. In 2017, more than 800 companies and organizations plus more than 15,000 individual donors participated in United Way’sWorkplace Campaign. Through the community’s donations, more than $1.1 million will be reinvested into our communities. This investment is expected to reach more than 100,000 residents living in northwest Louisiana.

The funds raised each year help children, families, elderly, the homeless, the sick, the abused and the neglected. Those in need are helped through various programs including financial counseling, free children’s books, tutoring, mentoring, health screenings, literacy, housing, food assistance, after school programs, and so much more.

One of the newest programs to be funded is United Way’s 2-1-1 help line. The easy-to-remember phone number links people in need to relevant community resources. The confidential line is available 24/7 and connects callers to a live operator. The most common referrals tracked in northwest Louisiana have been for utility, rental and food assistance.

United Way NWLA also presented an outstanding nonprofit with their “Hidden Treasure Award.”Each year the award is given to a nonprofit making an impact that the general public may not be aware of. The 2018 award was received by Family Resources for Education and Empowerment, Inc. also known as F.R.E.E. The nonprofits most popular program is known as School of Greatness where they aim to reach at-risk youth before their high school graduation. The 2017 award was given to Training, Education, and Mediation for Students, otherwise known as T.E.A.M.S.

The following list makes up the 47 nonprofit agencies to receive a United Way NWLA grant for the 2018-2019 grant cycle:

American Red Cross of North Louisiana
Bossier Arts Council
Caddo Council on Aging, Inc.
Campti Community Development Center
Career Compass of Louisiana
Catholic Charities of North Louisiana
Christian Service Program Institute
City of Natchitoches – Community Programs
Claiborne Voluntary Council On The Aging, Inc.
D.A.R.T. (Domestic Abuse Resistance Team)
Desoto Council on Aging, Inc.
DeSoto Habilitation Services
Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries, Inc.,
dba Evergreen Life Services
Family Resources For Education and Empowerment
Gingerbread House Bossier/Caddo
Children’s Advocacy Center
Girl Scouts of Louisiana Pines to the Gulf
Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, Inc.
Heart of Hope Ministries, Inc.
HOPE Connections, Inc.
Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry, INC.
Junior Achievement of North Louisiana, Inc.
Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH)
Martin Luther King Health Center & Pharmacy
Natchitoches Parish Council on Aging, Inc.
Northwest Louisiana Food Bank
Norwela Council, Boy Scouts of America
Plant A Seed In Our Youth Foundation Inc.
Project Reclaim of Minden, Inc.
Providence House
Renesting Project, Inc.
Sabine Council on Aging, Inc.
Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission
St. Luke’s Episcopal Mobile Medical
Ministry, Inc.
The Arc Caddo-Bossier
The Food Bank of Central Louisiana
The LSU in Shreveport Foundation, Inc.
The Philadelphia Center
The Salvation Army Shreveport Corps
The Shreveport Bar Foundation
Training, Education and Mediation for
Students (T.E.A.M.S.)
United Christian Home, Inc.
United Way of Northwest Louisiana
Volunteers for Youth Justice
Volunteers of America of North Louisiana
Women’s Resource Center
Youth Enrichment Program (YEP)

 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reminds all sportsmen that all 2017-18 recreational fishing and hunting licenses will expire on June 30, 2018. Licenses for the 2018-19 seasons are available for purchase beginning June 1 and are valid until June 30, 2019.

Licenses can be purchased in several ways. They may be purchased online at https://la-web.s3licensing.com, at local license vendors or at LDWF offices in Baton Rouge, Opelousas, Lake Charles, Pineville, and Monroe. Acceptable methods of payment for purchases made online are Visa, MasterCard, Discover.

Earlier this year, the department transitioned to a new license sales system with added conveniences for outdoor enthusiasts. The new system allows license holders to reprint copies of their license during the year at no charge, create login information, and eventually the option to auto-renew.

If you need assistance with your online purchase, please contact the 24-hour help desk at 888-362-LDWF (5393). If you have other licensing questions call the license office at 225-765-2887 or 225-765-2898, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at http://www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email alerts, signup at http://www.wlf.la.gov/signup.

 

 

 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries invites anglers across the state to take part in the agency’s Free Fishing Weekend this Saturday-Sunday, June 9-June 10. The weekend is an opportunity for Louisiana residents and visitors alike to fish Louisiana waters without an otherwise required fishing license. While a fishing license is not required, all fishing regulations, including size, season, catch limits and gear restrictions will remain in effect.

 

Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many City Council and Many Cultural District Advisory Committee present Movies in Many to residents in Sabine Parish. Concessions are always only $1 and admission is always FREE! Movies are shown at the Many Community Center on San Antonio Avenue in downtown Many at 7 pm on the following dates:

July 7- Jurrasic World
July 21- Ferdinand the Bull
August 4- The Legend of Tarzan
August 18- Titanic
September 1- Guns of Navarone
September 15- Grease, the Musical Party
October 6- The War Room
October 27- Casper, The Friendly Ghost
November 10- Dunkirk
November 17- Justice League
December 1- National Lampoon Christmas Vacation
December 22- Star

The first day of June is the start of the hurricane season. Louisiana has had its share of tropical storms and hurricanes over the years. Last year we had two hurricanes come through our state. Already this year the US has had to deal with one tropical storm. It missed Louisiana and several local farmers say we could have used the rain.

Everyone remembers the disastrous Hurricane Katrina that hit the state on August 29th, 2005. That was nearly thirteen years ago however most of us remember the path of flooding and destruction Katrina left in her wake.

In 2017 we experienced Hurricane Harvey in August and Hurricane Nate in October. Fortunately neither packed the knock-out punch of Katrina. Here in our parish the effects were minimal last year. Over the past decade, the biggest months for hurricanes in Louisiana are August and September. They have occurred as early as June and as late as November.

State and local governmental bodies are making plans for dealing with storms should one come our way. It might be a good time for you to get out your family emergency plan and revise it.

The Village of Florien won First Place in the Regional Cleanest City Contest sponsored by the Louisiana Garden Club Federation and 2nd place in the State contest for our region. Feedback from the judges stated that “Your approaches were excellent! The Dollar General was very clean. High School Drive was neat and clean as was Roselawn, Diamond, Jarvis, and Pinetree Lane. Your community involvement and your book of evidence were wonderful! Your churches and old depot were great!”

The Sabine Parish Leaders Against Litter wants to thank all of the employees, FHS student groups, and other concerned residents for helping keep Florien clean and for making Sabine Parish a better place to live! Remember, lets all do our part to help Keep Sabine Clean!

 

The Florien Lions Club presented graduating seniors with scholarships. The 2018 Bobby Chance Memorial Scholarship was given to Colby Matthews and The Larry Miller Memorial Scholarship was given to Ryleigh Rutherford. Pictured with them is Betty Chance.

Ft. Jesup Nazarene is hosting their second annual Fort Fest Saturday, June 2 celebrate Fort Jesup’s 196th anniversary and to help raise funds to restore the fort in hopes of opening it to the public. As of right now, the fort is only open by special appointment.

This year, Fort Fest will include:

Live music with Jacob Heard and Friends at 3:30 and Sterodrive at 7:30

A historic fashion show

Historic demonstrations and displays on the Texas Revolution, Mexican War, the Civil War and World War II

Some of the original buildings will be open such as the 1837 army kitchen.

Built in 1822, Fort Jesup was built to protect the western border of the United States against the Spanish when the two sides could not agree where the Louisiana Purchase border ended. Some important historical visitors to the fort are Zachary Taylor, William Travis and Sam Houston among others.

Gates open at 10 am. The cost of admission is $3. For more information contact Scott at 318-461-5376.

 

NSU– With one swing in the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, David Fry helped rewrite Northwestern State baseball history, putting the Demons in position to reach the NCAA postseason since 2005.

Early Thursday morning, Fry added to that history by being named third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Magazine. Fry became the second Demon in the past three years to be named to an All-American team, joining former teammate Adam Oller, who was named to a pair of All-American teams (Collegiate Baseball, American Baseball Coaches Association).

“We’re out here (at the NCAA Corvallis Regional) to win games, but it’s cool when you get recognized like that on a personal level,” Fry said. “It’s a cool feeling.”

A 6-foot, 195-pound senior, Fry becomes the fourth Demon to be named All-American since 1994, joining Oller, shortstop Ryan Anholt (1998, 99) and pitcher Reggie Gatewood (1994). Fry is NSU’s first non-pitching All-American since Anholt repeated the feat 19 years ago.

Fry, Northwestern State’s all-time leader in at-bats (841), doubles (74) and total bases (430), added his All-American honor to the Southland Conference Player of the Year and SLC Tournament Most Valuable Credentials he accrued earlier this month.

Building on a first-team ABCA All-Region junior season, Fry hit .336 with 26 doubles, 12 home runs and 55 RBIs as the Demons captured their first Southland Conference Tournament championship and tied a school record by winning 17 more games than a season ago.

Fry’s 26 doubles and 12 home runs give him back-to-back seasons of at least 20 doubles and 10 home runs, a feat no one else in NSU baseball history has accomplished.

“I said it before, he deserves everything he’s received,” second-year head coach Bobby Barbier said. “It’s nice to be recognized by people outside the region who can look at the body of work he’s put together. He’s been a great competitor for us for four years and earned every bit of it.”

Entering the Corvallis Regional, Fry ranks four nationally in doubles (26) and holds top-100 individual rankings in total bases (17th, 147), hits (56th, 79(, slugging percentage (56th, .626), RBIs (67th, 55) and home runs (100th, 12).

Fry’s 26 doubles are an NSU single-season record, and he stands in the single-season top 10 in school history in total bases (2nd, 147), at-bats (5th, 235), home runs (T-7th, 12) and slugging percentage ((8th, .626).

Fry and the Demons will play their first NCAA Regional game since 2005 when they face Oregon State at 9 p.m. (CDT) Friday at Goss Stadium.

 

By Samantha Maiette

Toledo Bend will be seeing a lot of fisherman on its waters as the annual Toledo Bend Open Shoot Out takes place. The event takes place anywhere between once a month to three times a month.

The cost of the competition is $80 per boat. However, it is possible to compete as a team. Payouts will be based on the number of boats competing.

All proceeds will benefit local high school fishing teams such as East Beauregard, Evans and DeRidder.

Five fish are needed for weigh in and ¼ of a pound will be taken off for any dead fish.Fishers are required to follow all safety laws.

Upcoming competitions:

Saturday June 2 – 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Saturday June 16 – 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Saturday June 30 – 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Saturday July 14 – 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Saturday August 11 – 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.

Saturday September 8 – 7 p.m. until 3 a.m.