Many High School Principal arrested for alleged sexual assaults dating back to the 90s

Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announced the arrest of Many High School principal, Norman Ural Booker III, age-49 of Many, for alleged sexual assaults of juveniles while he was a coach in Sabine Parish in the mid-1990s. Two victims have come forward in recent months disclosing sexual acts by Booker while they were students in high school. Detectives obtained two arrests warrants from the 11th Judicial District Judge for Sexual Battery, Oral Sexual Battery, Misdemeanor Sexual Battery and 2 counts of Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. No bond has been set at this time.

Covid Update from Sabine Parish School Board

Dear Parents,

This school year has certainly been full of challenges! Unfortunately, several teachers and students have tested positive or are on quarantine for COVID 19. After consulting with the Louisiana Department of Health and our administrators, we are going to close Florien High School, Zwolle Elementary School and Zwolle High School beginning Oct. 29, through Tuesday, November 3, 2020. All Sabine schools will be closed Tuesday, November 3, Election Day. Students return Wednesday, November 4, 2020. If your child is on quarantine, they must stay home the entire quarantine period of 14 days. If your child has tested positive, they must stay home the entire ten days. We are hoping this time away from school will slow the spread of COVID19. We are hopeful everyone who is ill has a full recovery.

These days will count as Virtual Instruction and assignments will be sent home via Google Classroom or traditional pencil and paper assignments. Assignments will be graded and will count.
These are trying times; please know that I do not take the health and safety of our students and staff lightly. It is very difficult for me to close a school for any period of days, because I know the students need to be in school. Health and safety must be a priority.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have questions, please contact the school or our office.

Sincerely,
Sara P. Ebarb, EdD
Superintendent of Schools

Cloutierville Residential Contractor arrested on fraud charges

Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announced one arrest made for felony residential contractor fraud. Charles Nathan Beaudion of Cloutierville was arrested and charged with two counts of Residential Contractor Fraud. The victim reported to Detective Greg Sculthorpe that early in the month of September 2020, he contracted Beaudion and Courtney Rene Dipley to repair damage to his roof from Hurricane Laura and he wrote Dipley two checks for $6500 each. The victim told Detective Sculthorpe that the checks were cashed and the work was never started. An arrest warrant was also obtained for Dipley for 2 counts of Residential Contractor Fraud. In 2018, Beaudion was arrested for the same crimes he committed in Rapides and Natchitoches Parishes and it was learned several complaints had been filed against him with the Better Business Bureau in recent years.

Two ATVs stolen in Sabine Parish, located in Natchitoches Parish

Sabine Parish Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announced the recovery of two ATVs that were stolen last week. Two separate victims reported their green Honda ATVs missing from their homes. Detective Todd McNeely said the ATVs were located in Natchitoches Parish with help from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. One arrest has been made and more are pending. Sheriff Mitchell commends Detective McNeely and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office for their work in locating the ATVs and finding the suspects.

Softball: Northwestern State set to hold intersquad scrimmages this weekend

There are two things Northwestern State softball head coach Donald Pickett is looking for this weekend. When his team takes the field for a three intersquad scrimmages Saturday and Sunday, Pickett wants to see confidence and aggressiveness.

The Lady Demons will play a total of three games this weekend – a doubleheader Saturday and one final scrimmage Sunday – and fans are welcome to attend. Saturday’s pair of games begin at 1 p.m., span five innings each with about 20-30 minutes between each contest. Sunday’s seven-inning affair starts at 12 p.m.

“Physically, we have a lot of talented kids on this team, so the big thing is the approach to the game,” Pickett said. “I want to see them being confident and aggressive in everything they’re doing.”

The Lady Demons have participated in full fall practices for the last few weeks. That’s nothing new. What is new, however, is the way in which NSU is practicing.

COVID-19 has made day-to-day activities quite different from years past. But that alteration hasn’t stopped the Lady Demons from improving and growing as a unit, and that credits goes to the leaders on the team.

“The team has been able to adapt to not only the COVID situation, but also to the new routine,” Pickett said. “We’ve got a lot of kids that have been around here for a few years, and they’re used to a routine that has been the same way every year. Now that’s been turned upside down. The coaches have had to adjust to that as have the players.

“We’ve had a lot of good leadership, and that’s paid off during this time.”

A good portion of that leadership had their spring season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NSU played 22 games in 2019 – sporting a 15-7 record – and began Southland Conference play with a three-game sweep of Sam Houston State.

The hot start to the season made the abrupt end to it that much more disappointing. That has made for an even more competitive fall ball period, and the team is looking forward to a weekend of game-like scenarios.

“It has been awhile since we’ve played some games,” Pickett said. “We’ve had two shortened versions of intersquad scrimmages so far, and the girls are excited about the weekend, and I’m looking forward to kind of seeing where we are at right now.”

NSU Fall Commencement will include 5 ceremonies

Northwestern State University has modified Fall Commencement plans to follow health and safety protocols. Degrees will be conferred during five ceremonies beginning Thursday, Dec. 17-Friday, Dec. 18 in Prather Coliseum.

“Obviously, we want our graduates and their families to be able to celebrate their accomplishments, but we must keep health and safety in mind,” said Dr. Greg Handel, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “We have put a lot of thought into planning a series of ceremonies and ask for the help and understanding of graduates and guests as we do our best to present safe and memorable commencement programs.”

Students who completed their degrees in May and August who wish to participate in Fall Commencement should contact the Registrar’s Office by emailing registrar@nsula.edu by Dec. 4.

There will be two ceremonies for the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 17, degrees will be conferred to graduates earning the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Beginning at 1 p.m. Dec. 17, degrees will be conferred on graduates earning the Associate of Science in Nursing and bachelor’s and graduate degrees from the School of Allied Health.

Three ceremonies will take place on Friday. Dec. 18.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Dec 18, degrees will be conferred to all graduates of the College of Business and Technology and to graduates earning associate degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Beginning at 1 p.m. Dec. 18, degrees will be conferred to all graduates earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences.

Beginning at 4 p.m. Dec. 18, bachelor’s and master’s degrees will be conferred to all graduates of the College of Education and Human Development.

The ceremonies will all be ticketed events with Prather Coliseum limited to 25 percent capacity. Graduates will be allowed four guest tickets and tickets must be obtained in advance. Information on requesting tickets will be available in the coming weeks. Graduates and guests must wear masks and practice social distancing as Phase 3 health and safety protocols will be enforced. Handel recommended that guests with tickets arrive at least 40 minutes prior to each ceremony.

All ceremonies will be livestreamed at http://www.nsula.edu and will be recorded.

Updated information will be posted on the Northwestern State University website as plans are finalized.

“Although circumstances will limit the number of guests in the audience, we are working very hard to make this a special occasion for our graduates, especially in light of the challenges they have overcome in the last several months,” Handel said. “We look forward to a series of meaningful and memorable commencement ceremonies this December.”

Notice of Death – October 29, 2020

NATCHITOCHES:
Warren Ronald Shepherd
August 25, 1927 – October 28, 2020
Visitation: Sunday, November 1 from 4-7 pm at Blanchard-St Denis Funeral Home.
Funeral services and entombment adjacent to his wife, will take place in Bakersfield, California.

Rhonda Rodriguez Maroney
February 27, 1967 – October 26, 2020
Service: Saturday, October 31 at 1 pm at First Assembly of God Church in Coushatta

Dorothy Holland
April 24, 1926 – October 25, 2020
Service: Friday, October 30 at 11 am in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Edwin Davidson, Jr.
September 12, 2003 – October 19, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Joe Louis Williams of Derry, Louisiana
October 29, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Larry Lee Davis, Sr.
October 28, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Two students awarded Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarships

Alyssa Taylor of Charleston, Tennessee, and Kolton Splettstosser of Jasper, Texas, are this year’s recipients of the Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarship. Taylor, who is pursuing a degree in nursing, is the first female angler to receive the scholarship. Splettstosser is pursuing a degree in mass communications.

The students were recognized by the Poche family during a socially distanced scholarship presentation Monday. Taylor and Splettstosser were awarded $4,500 each. The remainder of funds go to the Fishing Team’s general fund to help defray expenses as they attend tournaments around the country.

“Although COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the annual Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Tournament earlier this year, the Poche family was able to continue their support of members of the fishing team through these scholarships,” said Director of Development Jill Bankston, CFRE.

Next year’s tournament is set for March 27, 2021, on Toledo Bend Lake.

The Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarship was established by Poche’s parents, Burt and Shelley Poche and Misty Ott. Poche was a 2015 graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and an avid outdoorsman. He excelled at tournament fishing and was a member of the NCHS Fishing Team and the NSU Fishing Team as a freshman. He passed away in January 2016.

The NSU Fishing Team is open to all students and taps into the growing popularity of organized competitive bass fishing. The team competes in FLW, B.A.S.S. and Collegiate Bass circuits. NSU Fishing Team Sponsor Juddy Hamous said he encourages incoming members to apply for the scholarship and the award has been a great help to incoming students.

For more information on the NSU Fishing Team, contact Hamous at juddyh@nsula.edu or call (318) 332-0565 or visit the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NSULABassFishing/.

A Tale of Two Americas

By Royal Alexander/Opinion

This election provides us with a choice as profound as it is clear: do we want America to remain America?

Do we wish to remain a nation that is governed by a constitution and adheres to a rule of law? Should we fight for and cling to the numerous, and rare, individual rights and liberties guaranteed to us; Do we continue to protect freedom of speech and freedom of religion and religious expression; do we really believe in the 2nd Amendment and the individual right to keep and bear arms; do we still believe that our life, liberty and property cannot be denied us without due process of law—while we are presumed innocent.

Should we citizens defer to government, or is government supposed to be responsive to us; do we preserve a limited federal government with specific, enumerated powers that governs only with our consent, or a socialist model of the kind we’ve seen fail throughout history in so many places; do we believe we know best how to run—and are better at running—our lives, as well as our families and our children’s lives than the government is, or do we cede those rights of self-determination to government bureaucrats, social engineers and the ever-encroaching tentacles of the “nanny” state.

Should we pay exorbitantly higher taxes to the federal government—a government that cannot even fully block robocalls—because if we do it will somehow be able to control the warming and cooling of the earth; do we allow abortion on demand, along with the violation of conscience entailed in using the tax dollars of we who are deeply opposed to the barbaric procedure, to pay for them; do we want a vigorous oil and gas industry—even as we continue to move toward renewable energy sources—so that we are not foolishly reliant on oil from hostile foreign governments.

Do we believe that massive new taxes, regulation and a restricted, managed form of capitalism are necessary to provide our best life and society, or do we wish for a vibrant free-market economy where we may pursue our dreams of small business ownership; do we want the public schools to educate our children, or to indoctrinate them.

Do we want the best, highest-quality health care in the world, or do we turn the critical provision of health care over to government agencies and bureaucrats who are often more concerned with limiting and rationing care than with whether we are healed and cured; do we want to live under a government—as we’ve graphically witnessed this year—that defunds the police and tacitly condones violence, looting and destruction of property, or do we desire a society that is based upon law and order and a democratic process through which to seek lasting social change.

Do we seek a society filled with free and robust speech, press, petition and peaceful assembly, or the kind of country in which Political Correctness and Groupthink get us shouted down and cowed by threats of one kind or another when we seek to express the truth and our beliefs in relation to it.

We repudiated and defeated communism in the last century. It’s precursor, Socialism, is also a dark and hopeless ideology. Today, desperate, freedom-seeking people all over the world continue to perilously strap themselves and their families onto “boats” consisting of broken boards and logs, buoyed by empty plastic milk jugs, risking their lives in the hope of reaching America. They are fleeing Socialism. Why would we even conceive of granting it a stronghold here?

Do we desire a country in which elites rule, or one in which any child, of any faith, background or upbringing may grow up to be president, or anything else they dream of, pray and work for?

Do we seek a society based upon “critical race theory” that has as its foundation the belief that every societal flaw stems from American sexism, racism or some other form of prejudice or “systemic bias”; or, one in which were are judged not “by the color of our skin but by the content of our character”?

Do we want an admittedly imperfect country that never stops seeking to improve itself, or one in which social and cultural change is impossible because the ruling elite—our “government”—has arrogantly assumed it “knows better” than we, the unenlightened, the rubes, deplorables, or “maggots” as Keith Olbermann said about Trump supporters.

We should pray and vote to have America remain America.

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Sabine Parish Journal. If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the SPJ, please send it to SPJManyLa@gmail.com.

NSU’s oldest graduate celebrates 110th birthday Oct. 28

Earline Hart Andrews, NSU’s oldest living graduate, celebrates her 110th birthday this week. Though her hearing and eyesight are poor and she uses a walker for mobility, Andrews’ memory and intellect are as sharp as ever. Andrews graduated from Louisiana Normal, as NSU was then known, in 1931, and spent 43 years teaching in Texas before retiring in 1975.

Born Oct. 28, 1910, she described riding a horse to Vivian High School from her father’s farm just over the Texas line and falling into the habit of racing — and outrunning — Model Ts, for which she was reprimanded by her parents. She enrolled at Normal after graduating from Vivian High and arrived in Natchitoches with seven other girls from her class, never having been away from home before. At that time, girls only left their dormitories at prescribed times and students paid a quarter to watch silent movies on Saturday evenings.

Andrews was awarded her diploma in the heart of the Great Depression when jobs were scarce and some schools had to pay their teachers with “scripts” that didn’t necessarily cover their salaries. She sought employment in an oilfield town near El Dorado, Arkansas, taught there for four years at a salary of $120 a month. She returned to Texas in 1934 to teach at Overton near Kilgore at a salary of $100 per month and held that position for 14 years. She earned a master’s degree in history at Stephen F. Austin and later retired after teaching in Tyler, Texas, for 26 years.

“I was a very dedicated classroom teacher,” she said.

Her memories of Normal include campus buildings and codes of conduct that are long gone. Like many alumni, Andrews recalls her days at Normal as a time of learning and forming close friendships with her classmates. Many were from rural areas and away from home for the first time. Because trips off-campus were limited, the students entertained themselves with social and cultural programs, athletic events and recitals.

An avid reader and traveler, Andrews during her life visited 48 states in the U.S., and every continent except for Antarctica and Australia. She is also a genealogist who traced her ancestors to the 500s.

Andrews was a long-time resident of Tyler but relocated to the Fort Worth-area to live with a niece a few years ago.

A Fake Farce

By Brad Dison

On the morning of February 20, 2005, Mike Bolesta and his son Christopher visited a Best Buy in Lutherville, Maryland, about twenty minutes north of Baltimore. They were shopping for a cd player for Christopher’s car. The carefully considered the pros and cons of each model until they finally decided on just the right one. The technician assured Mike that the cd player would fit perfectly in Christopher’s dashboard without any alterations. Mike agreed to pay a $114 installation fee in addition to the cd player once it was installed. After a while, the technician returned with bad news. The cd player would not fit but Best Buy had another model which would fit, and it was $67 cheaper. Mike and Christopher were disappointed, but the technician’s offer to waive the $114 installation fee was too good to pass up. Mike had the technician install the cd player. After the technician completed the installation, Mike paid the cashier for the cd player and said he would be glad to pay the installation fee. The cashier was aware of the technician’s offer and did not charge him for installation. Mike and Christopher left the store pleased with their purchase.

As the old saying goes, “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” The following day, a representative from Best Buy called Mike and threatened to call the police unless he returns to the store and pays the $114 installation fee. Mike mentioned that the technician had waived the installation fee because of their inability to install the cd player they had originally chosen. The Best Buy representative stood his ground. Mike agreed to come in the following day to settle up.

On the following day, Mike returned to the Best Buy to pay the installation fee. He handed the cashier $114 in cash. The cashier noticed that some of the ink on the bills was smeared. She suspected the bills were counterfeit. She pointed out the smearing to Mike and said, “I don’t have to take these if I don’t want to.” Mike replied, “If you don’t, I’m leaving. I’ve tried to pay my bill twice. You don’t want these bills, you can sue me.” The cashier took the money and checked each of them with an anticounterfeit pen. The ink showed that the bills were real but the cashier was still uncertain. Other employees became curious and inspected the bills. “Are these real?” they asked. “Of course, they are,” Mike contended, “They’re legal tender.” They too suspected the bills were counterfeit. One of the employees discreetly called the police.

Within minutes, police arrived and inspected the bills. One officer noticed that, in addition to the smearing, the bills ran in sequential order. One of the officers asked where he got the bills and Mike replied that he got them from his bank. “You got a problem, call the bank.” By this time, all of the customers and employees in the area were gawking at Mike. He later said, “I am 6 feet 5 inches tall, and I felt like 8 inches high. It was humiliating.” Like the Best Buy employees, the officers concluded that the money was counterfeit. One of the officers handcuffed Mike and told him, “We have to do this until we get it straightened out.” Mike retorted, “I can’t believe you’re doing this. I’m paying with legal American money.” The officers were unyielding.

One of the officers transported him to the county police lockup in Cockeysville, about 10 minutes north of the Best Buy. They walked Mike into a jail cell which had a metal pole attached to the floor and ceiling in the center of the room. Next to the pole was a single chair. An officer sat Mike in the chair and uncuffed one hand. Mike assumed he would remove the handcuffs. Instead, the officer handcuffed Mike to the pole. Mike was even more shocked when the officer shackled his legs to the pole. Mike said, “at this point, I’m a mass murderer.” Mike sat and waited.

Three hours after being handcuffed and shackled to the pole, United States Secret Service agent Leigh Turner arrived at the jail. She examined each bill for size, thickness, weight, tested the paper’s ink, and paid close attention to the sequential numbers. She concluded that the bills were absolutely real, legitimate American currency. She had the final say in the matter. In her report, agent Turner noted that “sometimes ink on money can smear.” Officers released Mike and apologized for the inconvenience.

A few days later, Mike’s son asked him for some money. Mike pulled his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a few bills. Mike’s son suddenly remembered the story of Mike being arrested and decided that he no longer needed the money. Why were the Best Buy employees and officers confused about Mike’s form of payment? Why was he arrested? Mike paid the cashier the $114 cd player installation fee in fifty-seven crisp, real… $2 bills.

Source:
The Baltimore Sun, March 8, 2005, p.B1.

Good News in 2020? – Car Insurance Prices Dropping!

Several companies in Louisiana were able to lower rates for their policyholders using more advanced actuarial technology and rating systems. The Commissioner of Insurance, James Donelon announced, “Louisiana Farm Bureau Group (Farm Bureau) submitted a rate filing for a decrease of 7.5% on new and renewal business.” Although Farm Bureau’s rate decrease is industry leading, several other companies showed significant decreases in the upcoming months.

Rates for Farm Bureau are dropping on November 1, 2020 for new customers, and at renewal (after the six month billing cycle) for existing customers.

If you want to pay less for car insurance, here are some essential tips!

1. Build Credit! Credit score plays a huge role in all insurance companies’ rating process.

2. Drive safe. This one may seem obvious, but every ticket, bump in a parking lot, and insurance lapse can end up on your permanent record and effect your cost of insurance for years!

3. Keep insurance in force. Even when bills get tight, make sure that you keep your insurance paid and in force. A lapse in coverage is not only illegal, it costs huge fines at the DMV, increases your insurance costs in the future, and can even make it impossible to get insurance with many companies. If you can’t afford your insurance bill, get quotes from other agencies or turn your tags into the DMV and stay off the roads.

4. Get to know your agent. Regular account reviews and conversations with your agent can adjust coverages to cover only what you need covered, and ensure that you have the correct insurance for you.

5. Find discounts. If you or your child has a GPA over 3.0, you could be saving huge! There are military discounts, defensive driving discounts and more!

6. Bundle your home, auto and life insurance. You need all kinds of insurance so why not save on everything by putting it together?

7. Get a quote today. If you’re with Farm Bureau already, find out what your price will be after renewal by calling (318)352-8111. If you’re with another company, give them a call and find out how much you could be saving in minutes!

Notice of Death – October 27, 2020

SABINE:
Nickolas Charles Parrie
September 28, 2001 – October 25, 2020
Service: Thursday, October 29 at 11 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church

NATCHITOCHES:
Edwin Davidson, Jr.
September 12, 2003 – October 19, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Marjorie Remo
October 22, 2020
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Gary Higgs
September 28, 1941 – October 25, 2020
Service: Wednesday, October 28 at 11 am in the Southern Funeral Home Chapel

RED RIVER:
Roy Ricky White
October 26, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Extra Compensation For Election Workers

Senator Louis Bernard is delighted that the Senate has passed a bill to provide extra pay for election commissioners this fall. Final Senate vote of 37-0 came late morning Thursday. Bernard said the bill now goes to the Governor.

“I don’t think there is any opposition to the Governor signing it,” said Bernard. The money for the November 3rd election is in the CARES Act and funding for December 5th election will be in the Supplemental Budget the Legislature is working on.

The Journal spoke with Senator Bernard on the chamber floor. He said the bill started out in the house, introduced by Rep. Beau Beaullieu of New Iberia. The state House passed the bill on October 13th. Bernard told The Journal he managed the bill in the state Senate. The goal was to get it passed and over to the Governor before the special session ended.

“It’s not a lot of money,” said Bernard. Commissioners will get an additional $100 for working an election. The bill states that it goes into effect when there is an emergency situation called by the Governor, as is the case during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senator Bernard said, “Election commissioners were our unsung heroes of the election process. They have to sit at elections 15 hours, even when turnout is very slow.”

Many commissioners may be already at a health risk during the pandemic. Bernard said, “They are exposing themselves to more people than they normally would. This is an expression that we think you are doing a good job and we appreciate it.”

Spirit of Northwestern to present Band Extravaganza

The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band will present a Band Extravaganza on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. in Turpin Stadium.

Admission is free and open to the public. Seats are limited and those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/386479219047000/.

A livestream of the performance will available at https://www.facebook.com/NSULA.SpiritOfNorthwestern.

Those attending are asked to wear masks when entering the stadium and any time they are not in their seats. Masks can be removed at the seat if individuals are socially distanced or are sitting with members of their household.

“Each area of the marching band is rehearsing their components of that show and we will bring all the parts together for the performance,” said Director of Bands Dr. Jeffrey C. Mathews. “We know that our students need some sense of normalcy and working toward a goal like this together definitely fits the bill.”

The band will play some traditional school songs, stand tunes as well as a show featuring the entire SON performing together as one. The performance will also feature the Demon Heat Color Guard and the Demon Dazzlers.

Mathews said band members have continued to rehearse after returning to campus for the fall semester. In preparing for this event, band directors have collaborated with other directors around the country and with healthcare professionals to establish protocols to ensure the safety of band members and the directors. During rehearsals, the 340-member band has been split into five ensembles to follow best practices.

 

LDH and LPHI to host three tele-town halls on flu and COVID-19

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) are hosting a series of tele-town halls called “Protecting our Communities from the Flu & COVID-19.” Each event will be moderated by Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, deputy director of LDH’s Office of Community Partnerships & Health Equity, Joynetta Bell Kelly, associate deputy director of LDH’s Office of Community Partnerships & Health Equity, and Shelina Davis, CEO of LPHI. Local panelists will include each region’s medical director, faith-based leaders, and community physicians.

The goal of these informational sessions is to educate the community about the importance of getting the flu vaccine this year, especially given the similarities between flu symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms. The dialogue will also focus on equitable health outcomes for all Louisianans, especially the African American community who has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 28
Region 1, 2 & 9 (Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammond, and North Shore Areas)
2 – 3:30 p.m.
https://bit.ly/30GNgVl

Wednesday, November 4
Region 3, 4, & 5 (Houma-Thibodaux, River Parishes, Acadiana, and Lake Charles Areas)
10:30 a.m. – noon
https://bit.ly/2FfrCA0

Wednesday, November 18
Region 6, 7, & 8 (Alexandria, Shreveport, and Monroe Areas)
9 – 10:30 a.m.
https://bit.ly/2HoOFJs

WHERE: Each tele-town hall will be hosted through GoToWebinar. Registration is available using the links above.

NSU announces unique “All In Ticket” for 2020-21 athletic year

NSULA- Perhaps the busiest three-month stretch in Northwestern State’s athletic history begins in mid-February when nearly every NSU team is in action.

For those who want to be a part of the jam-packed schedule, there is one simple way to do – follow the NSU department’s #ALLIN mantra and grab your perfectly packaged “All In Ticket.”

“It’s been a long while since we’ve offered a total-ticket package,” said NSU Assistant Athletic Director for Ticketing and Special Events Mike Jacklich. “The unique circumstances of our condensed schedule this winter and spring provide fans an exciting and affordable way to watch all the NSU athletic events they can handle.”

Available at two different levels, the All In Ticket secures admission to all NSU football, men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball games, beginning with the Dec. 1 men’s basketball game against ULM.

The Reserved All In Ticket runs $350 and includes a seat in Sections S or L (mid-court) for both men’s and women’s basketball, upper reserved seating at baseball, reserved seating at softball and chairback seating for football games.

For $850, the VIP All In Ticket provides seats in the purple VIP seats at basketball, lower VIP reserved seating at baseball, reserved seating at softball and suite tickets for football games.

The All In Ticket covers three home football games, at least nine home men’s and women’s basketball games each, and between 40 and 50 total baseball and softball games. Additionally, the All In Ticket can be purchased only by calling the NSU Athletics Ticket Office at 318-357-6468 or in person at the ticket office.

COVID-19 restrictions will be in place at the beginning of the season, requiring facemasks to be worn inside Prather Coliseum unless you are eating or drinking. Additional restrictions, including the number of people allowed in the arena, could be enforced as well.

For more information on other NSU ticket options, log onto http://www.NSUTickets.com.

Notice of Death – October 22, 2020

SABINE:
Betty Remedies Tryon
November 8, 1937 – October 20, 2020
Service: Saturday, October 24 at 10 am at Bethsadia Baptist Church

Robert “Rabbit” Sepulvado
October 17, 1948 – October 20, 2020
Service: Friday, October 23 at 11 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church

NATCHITOCHES:
Ronald D. Kennedy Sr.
October 9, 2020
Service: Saturday, October 24 at 12 pm at 750 Second Street in Natchitoches

Brent Druien Thompson
October 04, 1930 – October 19, 2020
Service: Saturday, October 24 at 2 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Ken Babers
October 15, 2020
Service: Saturday, October 24 at 11 am in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Billie Hayes
October 14, 2020
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Dylan Scott Parker
May 30, 1990 – October 20, 2020
Arrangements TBA

Genevieve Ozelle Adams
November 10, 1927 – October 17, 2020
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER:
James Edward Adams
October 09, 1942 – October 20, 2020
Service: Saturday, October 24 at 10 am at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bradley, AR

Stanley’s Stump

By Brad Dison

Stanley Bert Eisen was born on January 20, 1952 in New York City. On that day, doctors and nurses immediately realized Stanley had been born with a congenital deformity known as Microtia. The deformity prevented his ear from forming properly and left him deaf in his right ear. Rather than being deaf in his right ear, it would be better stated that he was deaf on his right side because there was no right ear. Stanley was born with a stump where his right ear should have been.

Stanley recalled that he had a “less than optimal childhood.” His parents refused to acknowledge that Stanley had a deformity. Rather than explaining his deformity and that he was half-deaf, his parents simply ignored the issue altogether. Stanley recognized his deformity at an early age when people would stare at the right side of his face. Stanley looked into mirrors and compared his left ear and the stump on the opposite side. He knew he was different. Stanley had trouble hearing on his right side but his family never spoke of his half-deafness. Stanly recalled, “I was an angry, dysfunctional kid with a real image problem and a hearing problem that put me under constant scrutiny. My family’s way was, ‘Everything’s OK. Forward, march.’ But the idea that you make someone stronger by ignoring their pain shouldn’t be called ‘tough love.’ It should just be called ‘no love.’”

Stanley also struggled to fit in at school. Being deaf on his right side, Stanley found it hard to tell from which direction sounds originated. When everyone else responded to a sound by looking in a certain direction, Stanley usually looked the other way. In a crowded room, he had a hard time differentiating people’s voices. All of the voices sounded like jumbled up gibberish. Because of his deformity the other students at his school treated him cruelly. They teased and bullied him endlessly. Stanley struggled with depression and social isolation. He became a loner as his distrust of people grew.

Stanley found solace in music. His parents listened to classical music, which Stanley loved. Stanley aimed his good toward the speakers and eagerly absorbed everything from Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach, to Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, and Stephen Sondheim. On February 9, 1964, the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan Show in what were the early years of the British Invasion. Twelve-year-old Stanley watched in awe. The Beatles wore their hair long, which quickly became fashionable. Stanley realized that wearing his hair long would hide his deformed ear and it was in style. Once his hair grew long enough, strangers stopped staring at his deformity. “What I found over the years,” Stanley said, “was that what you deny and cover up doesn’t cease to exist, and even if you can hide something from the public, you can’t hide it from yourself.”

Stanley became an artist. Through the years, he has earned millions of dollars off of his artwork which includes portraits, abstracts, and logos. Art collectors around the world proudly display his work among their collections. The prestigious Wentworth Gallery still sells his original artwork in their galleries. Stanley’s work in the arts afforded him the required surgeries to rebuild his disfigured ear. In 1982, 30-year-old Stanley had fiver surgeries in which doctors removed cartilage from one of his ribs and constructed a new right ear. Still self-conscious, Stanley kept his hair long, which was in style in the 1980s.

In 1988, Stanley saw the London company perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. He claimed that that show changed his life. Stanley said “I had this momentary revelation, an epiphany where I went, ‘Wow, I can do that.” For ten long years, Stanley dreamed of playing the part of the Phantom, a disfigured musical genius who was in love with a young protegee whom he had trained. Finally, in 1998, Stanley got an audition to play the Phantom in the Toronto, Canada, production of The Phantom of the Opera. In its ten-year run at the Pantages Theatre, the play had sold more than seven million tickets at $135 each for decent seats. Stanley felt a personal connection to the Phantom. He explained, “Here’s somebody who has a disfigurement that they’re covering and they’re trying to reach out to a woman, and, as much as they want to do it, they don’t know how. Well, that pretty much summed up my life…”

To play the part of the Phantom required multiple auditions for singing, movement, and acting. Stanley realized that this audition process was probably his only shot to play the Phantom. Stanley prepared as best he could. He had seen the play numerous times and knew the songs by heart. There was no need for Stanley to worry. Stanley passed the audition and got his coveted role. For the first time since the 1960s, Stanley cut his long hair. He had a month of rehearsals and voice lessons six days a week to prepare for the production. Stanley told a reporter that playing the part was “the hardest work [he had] ever done.” The critics, doubtful at first, thought he brought something special and new to the character. Once his stint with the Toronto company ended, Stanley returned to his artwork.

His most recognizable piece of art is well known around the world. He was the artist who created the logo for the band KISS with its lightning bolt s’s. He created the artwork for several of their album covers as well. He was also one of the four artists who created KISS. Stanley adopted the first name of one of the Beatles, the band he watched on the Ed Sullivan Show so long ago. For the last half century, the world has known Stanley Bert Eisen as Paul Stanley.

Sources:
1. The National Post (Toronto, Canada) March 12, 1999, p.4.
2. The Windsor Star, March 12, 1999, p.16.
3. The Star-Phoenix, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada), May 26, 1999, p.29.
4. Calgary Herald, May 27, 1999, p.48.
5. Lansing State Journal, June 27, 1999, p.40.
6. The Leader-Post (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) January 3, 2001, p.20.
7. New York Daily News, April 7, 2014, p.34.
8. The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), April 13, 2014, p.B2.
9. The Vancouver Sun, April 25, 2014, p.42.
10. WentworthGallery.com. “Paul Stanley.” Accessed June 14, 2020.
wentworthgallery.com/stanley.html.

Waskom, Brown support NSU Food Pantry

Waskom, Brown and Associates donated non-perishable food and other items to the Northwestern State University Food Pantry, which stocks food, personal hygiene items, toiletries and cleaning supplies to NSU and BPCC@NSU students. The company has been a long-time supporter of the NSU Food Pantry, making monthly donations to help those in the university community with food insecurity.

From left are Dr. Denise Bailey, professor of social work and an advisor to food pantry volunteers, with Heather Martin, executive assistant, and David Waskom, company CEO. The NSU Food Pantry is located on the south side of Trisler Power Plant on NSU’s Central Avenue. Donations are always welcome.

To obtain a list of needed items, donors should contact Bailey at garlandd@nsula.edu or Director of Student Affairs Reatha Cox at coxr@nsula.edu. Monetary donations are also accepted through the NSU Foundation. Donors can visit http://www.northwesternstatealumni.com and support the NSU Food Pantry in the Make A Gift section and specifying the NSU Food Pantry.

Censorship By Twitter & Facebook Is Stunning

By Royal Alexander/Opinion

Only days before the election, these tech giants block access to damaging news about the candidate they support

The censorship we have witnessed this week is a perfect example of why millions of Americans trust neither the national media nor social media. This is the behavior of totalitarian regimes and dictatorships. Not America.
The New York Post, one of the oldest and largest newspapers in the world, broke a story regarding the discovery of credible evidence in the form of emails revealing that Hunter Biden, the son of presidential candidate, Joe Biden, clearly leveraged his dad’s then-position as Vice President by gaining favors from his dad that benefited the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. One 2015 email indicates that Vadym Pozharskyi, a Burma adviser, thanked Hunter Biden for “giving an opportunity” to meet former VP Joe Biden.
This new, independent revelation regarding influence-peddling by Hunter Biden is obviously newsworthy given that the former VP has repeatedly said he had “never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings.” The new emails strongly suggest that former VP Biden was not only aware of his son’s business dealings but actually participated in meetings to benefit him.

Regardless, Facebook immediately stated that it “was reducing [the New York Post article’s] distribution on our platform.” What this really means is Facebook would tweak and alter its algorithms to limit the ability of users to view, discuss or share the article.

Twitter’s effort to suppress the Post article went well beyond Facebook’s. Twitter entirely banned all users’ ability to share the article on both its public timeline and private Direct Message function. Twitter first responded to attempts to link to the article with the “error” response. It later changed its response by telling users who tried to post and circulate the article that it judged its contents to be “potentially harmful.”

Twitter then continued its censorship efforts by locking the account of the New York Post itself! The next day, the Post published a similar article highlighting likely influence-peddling by Hunter Biden with, this time, a Chinese energy company for which he was apparently to be paid $10 million a year for “introductions alone.” Twitter banned that article as well. (Imagine the screaming we’d see if even a whiff of this kind of corruption could be attributed to Don, Jr., or Eric Trump regarding Pres Trump. On behalf of Joe Biden, though, there is media blackout).

It’s simply insufficient to say that no duty of fairness and evenhandedness is owed by Facebook and Twitter because the First Amendment only applies to government, not private, actors. Government censorship of speech is not the only kind. Private sector suppression of speech is equally threatening, chilling and damaging. Democracy can only function with a free exchange of information. Facebook and Twitter may not be government actors, but they are quasi-public entities, and they are behemoths. They are essentially monopolies and possess enormous leverage as a result.

They owe a duty of fairness for many reasons, not least because Twitter and Facebook directly benefit from a valuable legal advantage contained in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This law protects them from any legal liability for content published on their sites, much of which may be defamatory. These two giants should not be allowed to receive valuable federal benefits on the one hand then also take the position that “we are private companies so we can suppress speech whenever we like.”

These two companies are no longer, if they ever were, neutral arbiters simply operating information exchange platforms. They have become the equivalent of media companies who regularly make editorial decisions in the composition of their news feeds and in so doing, reflect a distinctly Leftist bent. They remain legally unaccountable for damage done by the content on their platform and they have broad discretion to censor 3rd party speech. This is too much. I am hopeful changes to Section 230 will be made to limit the legal protections of social media companies.

Given the special status they enjoy, Twitter and Facebook have an obligation to act in the public interest and they are not doing so. I would support the DOJ either breaking them up on grounds of antitrust and monopoly or Congress removing their Section 230 advantage and regulating them as public utilities.

The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Sabine Parish Journal. If you have an article or story of interest for publishing consideration by the SPJ, please send it to SPJManyLa@gmail.com.