By Reba Phelps

My friend, Sandra Williams, has a story of generational blessings and no one can tell it better
than her. She lived it and so did her daughter and granddaughter.

I don’t really know how to start it off so I will just tell the story.

In 1979 I was divorced. I found myself as a single mom of a three year old. I was working as an Office Administrator at Kisatchie Legal Services. The job did not pay much so I had to take a second job working at Fred’s. I also worked on my lunch break and weekend nights at my dad’s restaurant, Blake’s Drive Inn, to support myself and my daughter. In 1980 I was offered a better paying job at the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, but because the courts were not kind to me only awarding me $100 a month in child support, I continued to work weekends at my dad’s and holidays at the store. It was a struggle but I was blessed to have a very supportive family who helped out as much as they could.

My daughter loved to play softball. She started playing at the age of six with Dixie Youth. Little did I know that being on the softball field every Tuesday and Thursday would prepare her for a promising future. She continued to play third base all through high school. She was known as the home run hitter. She made 1 st team All District every year
and was even the Cenla Player of the Year her senior year. I began to worry how I would pay for college (of course she did not want to go, she wanted to go to technical college for cosmetology).

I said,“No we will find a way, you’re going to college, you can go to cosmetology school
later, but get your degree first.”

My worries were coming to an end as I suddenly had the opportunity to temporarily lease my house to some friends who moved from New Orleans. Needless to say I was in debt over my head and charging whatever I needed to just get by. I thought this would give me a chance to send my daughter to school and catch up some of the overdue bills. I asked my mom if we could move in with her for a while. My mom agreed.  I moved in and leased my house. Even though I was embarrassed having to do this, I realized it was the only way to save my house, so I did it. My mom made me feel welcome and I still have no regrets.

My daughter’s efforts and God’s mercy paid off in a big way. We were contacted by a few coaches who wanted her to play softball. When she received a full scholarship offer to Northwestern State University our prayers had been answered. She also was an excellent student who received an academic award and Tops. I did not have to pay anything for her to attend college. She received her degree without any loans to pay back. Now, that is what I called blessed beyond measure.

My friends from New Orleans stayed a little longer than planned. At the time I did not think of it as a blessing to have to move back in the house with my mom, but it really was a huge blessing in disguise. I was able to help her pay down her bills and I was blessed enough to have saved enough money to move back into my own house. I was even able to have some much needed renovations, buy new furniture and appliances (since all of mine were stolen from my storage house). Life was not easy but as a single mom I was determined to do whatever I needed to do to ensure my daughter’s future. God took care of us.

Another blessing was my granddaughter. My daughter got pregnant her senior year in college. Because she was a softball player the baby stayed with me. When my daughter finished college she moved away, then came back for a while and moved to Texas. The plan was for me to keep the baby until she got on her feet, but because we did not have family to help out with the baby it was just better for her to stay with me a while so she wouldn’t have to spend most of her life in daycare. Well, the years went by really fast and the next thing we knew she was going to elementary school, then junior high and high school. She followed in her mom’s footsteps and started playing softball at the age
of 5. Can I say history repeated itself in a good way? She was blessed to earn an athletic and academic scholarship to Southern University to play softball. She graduated in 2019 with no student loans to payback. She is now attending graduate school at Southern University.

So life is good. Yes, I had to make a lot of sacrifices for my family, but I have no regrets and would do it all over again if I had to.

Because of my blessing I try to be a blessing to others in whatever way I can. “I lift my eyes unto the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2

NATCHITOCHES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER RIVERBANK STAGE:

1:00-2:00–The Nakatosh Rhythm Chiefs (Classic and modern Jazz from the legendary Luke Brouillette and friends)

2:20-3:50–Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers–(High energy music from the Grammy-nominated member of Louisiana Zydeco’s royal family.)

4:10–5:10–Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs–(Regional favorites performing a tribute to R&B and Soul music as part of their “Great Outdoors Tour”).

5:25-6:25–Peter Rivera (Former lead singer of 70’s hit-making Motown recording artists Rare Earth, performing hits like “(I Just Want To) Celebrate”, and “Get Ready”).

7:00-8:30–Neal McCoy–(Country superstar with several chart-topping hits to his credit. His live shows are legendary for their high energy)

9:00-10:30–Back in Black–(Widely regarded as the World’s Greatest AC/DC Tribute Band, Back in Black will be performing a pitch-perfect recreation of an AC/DC live concert)

Southern Scripts Stage (Roque House)

12:00–Kelli Roberts Band (Variety)
1:00–LA Sweet T–(Latin Rhythms/Jazz)
2:00—50-Man Machine feat. The Thistle Scottish Dancers (Celtic/Americana)
3:00—Cane River Soul (Soul/funk/R&B)
4:00–Billy O’Con and Badd Apple (High energy classic rock)
5:00–Lucas Jagneaux–(Country singer-songwriter)

Alliance Compressors Stage (Fleur De Lis)

12:15–The Armadillo Jackals (Americana/Variety)
1:15–The Louisiana Sidemen Blues Band (Blues/R&B)
2:15–Breaktime for Frances (Alternative original rock)
3:15–TBA
4:15–The Turn-Ups–(Classic Rock/Variety)
5:15–The Snake Doctors–(Blues/Americana)

MC: Trini Triggs

The Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival has announced the lineups for the side stages at the Festival which will be held on the downtown Natchitoches Riverbank on May 22.

According to entertainment committee member Daniel Page, the Festival gives local and area musical acts an opportunity to shine. “I know our area musicians look forward to this opportunity every year”, said Page, “We feel like we have some of the best, most talented acts anywhere right here in our area and we want to spotlight them.”

The lineup on the Southern Scripts and Alliance Compressors stages continues with the festival tradition of featuring and wide and eclectic variety of music, featuring Celtic, Latin, Alternative, Americana, Country, Blues, Rock, and, of course, plenty of Jazz and R&B.

These acts are in addition to the lineup on the Natchitoches Regional Medical Center Riverbank Stage, which will feature headliner Neal McCoy, Rare Earth lead singer Peter Rivera, Grammy-nominated Zydeco star Dwayne Dopsie and The Zydeco Hellraisers, AC/DC Tribute band Back in Black, regional favorites Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, and local Jazz great Luke Brouillette and the Nakatosh Rhythm Chiefs.

Page said the general admission tickets are $30 for adults and are “selling like hot cakes”.

“I think folks are just ready to get out and see and hear live music”, Page continued “And they realize what a bargain it is to pay $30 to see 17 high-quality acts and enjoy a day of music. That’s less than $2 per band and you’d pay that to see Neal McCoy by himself!”

The Festival will be Covid-compliant and because of that, the number of people who can be present on the riverbank is limited by the Fire Marshal and right now are limited to no more than 3000. Once those are sold, the event will be “Sold Out”.

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The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission (NHDDC) and its partners kick off Spring and Summer celebrations and encourage residents and visitors to download the GoNatchitoches app. The app serves as your one-stop-shop trip planner and a community calendar that serves as an interactive way to map out everything visitors and residents want to see and do in Natchitoches.

The GoNatchitoches app provides a new way to explore what Natchitoches offers, including upcoming events, popular attractions, restaurants, tours, lodging, shops, landmarks, and much more. Users can view it all at once or search by categories like Attractions, Dining, Arts & Culture, Lodging, and many others.
See a festival you don’t want to miss? Click “Add,” and the event will be added to your plan, and you’ll be sent a reminder.

That restaurant everyone keeps telling you about? Click “Add,” and you won’t forget to try it. Want to invite some friends? Share your plan with them via social media, email, or SMS text message. Need a reminder for upcoming events? Turn on the push notifications for the app! No need to waste time or another sheet of paper. With this planner, GoNatchitoches can help you get organized and maximize your time so that you can have more fun in Natchitoches.

Already on your way to Natchitoches or live here? Download the app for your iPhone or Android and take your plan with you! Just type “GoNatchitoches” in the search box of your app store.

The “GoNatchitoches” project is a coalition between the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the City of Natchitoches, Cane River National Heritage Area, Northwestern State University, the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission, the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association, the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.

It’s a sad time of year for most bass anglers as the spawn is over and the fish are in transition back to their summer haunts. It’s the time of year anglers call “post spawn.” The fishing can be pretty tough but there’s also a feeding period at this time for bass as they fatten up from the weight they lost during the spawn. The spawn takes a lot out of bass physically and they need time to recover. This is also the time of the year when the shad spawn kicks in. Funny how Mother Nature knows exactly how and when to make things happen. Her timing is impeccable and with the shad in their spawning stage now, this allows the bass to feed up and recover quicker.

So where can you find the bass after the spawn? Well, you might want to start looking at the same place you looked when they were in the pre-spawn stage which is mainly the first drop off headed back out to deeper water. Understand that the first drop might be as small as a one-foot break line, or it could be the first 5-to-10-foot drop. Deep water drop off is relative to what lake you’re fishing. For example, the Red River the first drop might only be the first two-foot break line off the bank. But on Toledo Bend or Sam Rayburn, it could be the first 10 to 15 foot drop off the bank. Every lake is different but any slight change in depth is all it takes to hold fish, but this gives you a starting point to look.

Another place to look, the boat docks; especially docks close to deeper water. Bass like to get next to something vertical for some reason and I don’t know why. Boat docks that are on main lake points are great places to look for bass after the spawn. Another feature to look for is brush tops around the boat docks. These make great places to fish because brush tops usually hold bait fish for the bass to feed on whether it’s shad or bream. Bass really go after the bream this time of year as the bream pull into the shallows and spawn after the bass are done. This is a great time to throw bream-colored baits like green pumpkin, watermelon/red and just about anything with green flakes will work like the color called Junebug.

I cannot state enough how tough the bass fishing can be this time of year. But once the bass recover and get into their summer patterns, bass fishing will improve. Now is also the time when the big 10- and 12-inch worms (like the V&M Wild Thang) become a big player in catching bass. Deep diving crank baits are also a great choice as some bass will pull out and suspend over deeper water. Chartreuse and blue or shad colored crank baits are a good choice depending on watercolor. Small ¼ oz. spinnerbaits thrown in shallow water will also catch bass as the small blades tend to match the hatch of the shad spawn.

I hope this helps you understand the dynamics of what anglers call the “post spawn” and where you can expect the bass to be. Just like any other time of year, you just have to go into search mode and figure it out. But hopefully I’ve given you an idea of where to start your search for the largemouth bass. Till next time, don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf
Owner/Co-host
Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show
And Tackle Talk Live

SABINE:
Griffin H. Warren
February 28, 1933 – May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church of Zwolle

WINN:
Bill W. Sanders
December 21, 1940 – May 19, 2021
Service: Sunday, May 23 at 3 pm at Goldonna Cemetery

Claude L. O’Bryan
August 22, 1936 – May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 10 am at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Calvin

Earnestine Durahm
May 10, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at the Winnfield Funeral Home, located at 117 MLK Drive in Winnfield

RED RIVER:
Billy Roy Wren
May 02, 1954 – May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at Creston Baptist Church

NATCHITOCHES:
Henry Braxton
May 18, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Doretha Charles
May 18, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 1 pm at the Abundant Life Ministries Church on Ben Drive in Natchitoches

BJ Miller
September 05, 1998 – May 14, 2021
Service: Friday, May 21 at 10 am at the First Baptist Church Provencal

Charles R. Rushing
May 14, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 2 pmat the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Dan P. Roberson
May 12, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North St. in Natchitoches

Margaret Carter Cooper
November 2, 1961 – May 10, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Phillip Lloyd Gillis
March 13, 1968 – April 29, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 29, 2021 from 1-5 pm at the home of Ryan and Bekah French Home, located at 1615 Williams Ave. in Natchitoches

MANY, La – The Town of Many and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office Team up with the United Way to Make a Community Garden at Nursing Homes in Many.

The Town of Many applied for and received a grant from the United Way for $2,616 in late 2019, but COVID restrictions in early 2020 delayed the project until this month.

The Sheriff’s Office partnered with the town and Sabine Parish Sheriff Deputy Johnny Rivers along with his Trustee helper, built three raised garden boxes that are 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 18 inches deep. The boxes were delivered to both nursing homes in town, filled with sand and garden soil, and were ready to plant this week.

Sharon Chance, Activities Director at Sabine Retirement and Rehabilitation on Fisher Road, along with three CNAs helped seven residents plant tomatoes, okra, and zucchini squash on a recent sunny day. “We really appreciate you thinking of us for this project”, said Chance. “Our residents have been so excited when they were told they could garden right here at their home”, she added. Two additional pots for the Alzheimer’s Unit were planted with okra in one and a tomato plant in another.Stephanie Holden, the Activities Director at Many Healthcare and Rehab Center on Natchitoches Highway expressed her thanks to the Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Many for placing two of the raised garden boxes at their facility. “Our residents have been isolated for so long due to the pandemic, and now they are excited to have something fun to do outside”, she said.

Holden went on to say that “they are ready to get outside and play in the dirt and to grow vegetables and flowers in their boxes.”

The Town of Many wishes to thank the United Way for funding the grant and the Sheriff’s Office for providing the labor to build the boxes. Grant monies paid for the lumber and the plants, soil, and gardening supplies.

SOURCE: SPSO

LaTrinda McGee of Zwolle and Naomi Adams of Natchitoches were named winners of the Northwestern State University Department of English, Foreign Languages, & Cultural Studies Excellence in First-Year Writing Award.
McGee, a freshman nursing major from Zwolle, won Best Narrative Essay for her story, “8 Minutes 46 Seconds.” The essay was written for Instructor Mariann Wilson’s online English 1010 class. Her personal narrative centers on the murder of George Floyd, a cousin she knew personally as Perry, and recounts McGee’s journey to D.C. to participate in the August 2020 March on Washington in Floyd’s memory.

“My work revolved around the death of George Floyd that basically reignited the civil rights movement and sparked global change,” said McGee. “With me being the cousin of George, or “Perry”, as we called him it touched me in such a different way. It was difficult to handle all of the media attention his death was received. Whether it was good or bad it still took a toll.”

McGee said she could not pass up the chance to go to Washington D.C., with family members to take part in the march done in Floyd’s name.

“I reconnected with family I hadn’t seen in years and it was definitely one of the highlights in my life,” said McGee. “Throughout this tragedy, our family rekindled some of our relationships and made me realize how precious life is.

“I’m not sure if this work will encourage me to seek out any other opportunities to write only because this was so personal to me. I just wrote about my experiences and what our family went through during that tough time.”

Adams, a freshman fine and graphic art major, won Best Research Essay for “Why Serial Killers Flooded the 1980s,” which analyzes the environmental and psychological factors that could explain the historic number of serial murderers in the United Stated during the 1980s. Adams wrote the essay for Instructor Katie Rayburn’s English 1020 class.

“I love true crime, especially documentaries, and have always had a strong interest in serial killers,” said Adams. “The most prolific serial killers in history killed during the late 70s and the entirety of the 80s, and this greatly interested me. When I was presented the opportunity to write a research essay, I immediately decided to write it on this specific situation. Writing this essay also allowed for me to catch a glimpse into the minds of serial killers, which plays into another huge interest of mine—psychology.”

Adams said she was encouraged by receiving the award and said it will make her work to improve her personal writing so that future essays will reach the same level of excellence.

This was the second time the award was presented by the Department of English, Foreign Languages, & Cultural Studies. They were given in 2019 but not in 2020. Wilson created the awards and coordinates them.

“I created the awards after learning about similar awards at other universities,” said Wilson. “We teach over 2,000 students each year in our freshman writing classes, so I was eager to recognize our students and faculty for their valuable work at NSU”

English 1010 and 1020 faculty are encouraged to nominate the best essays submitted in their classes during the academic year. A small committee from the department selects winners in two categories: Best Narrative Essay and Best Research Essay.

This year’s winners were notified by e-mail and will receive a certificate and monetary prize.

BATON ROUGE – Jeffrey Elkins’ big hit against LSU came early this time, and the rest of the Northwestern State baseball team followed his lead.

Elkins’ second-inning solo home run put the Demons ahead to stay and a cadre of NSU pitchers silenced the Tigers’ powerful lineup, lifting Northwestern State to a 7-3 victory at Alex Box Stadium on Tuesday evening.

“I’ve been feeling good,” said Elkins, whose two-run double was the difference in the Demons’ 3-1 win against the Tigers on March 12, 2019, in Natchitoches. “We’ve been working on an approach with (assistant coach) Spence (Goodwin) and coach (Bobby) Barbier and the guys. We’ve been sticking with it, and it’s worked. We had 12 hits, and everybody came up big.”

Coming off a tough weekend series where they dropped three of four games, the Demons (27-24) responded with arguably their best all-around performance of the season.

Northwestern State collected 12 hits, paced by a 4-for-5 performance from Larson Fontenot at the top of the order. Elkins and Marshall Skinner added two hits apiece while Elkins and Tyler Smith each had a pair of RBIs.

It was Elkins’ hit that put the Demons at ease in a game that was moved up 90 minutes from its original 6:30 p.m. start.

“Jeff, with the big homer early, lets you settle in,” Barbier said. “We get out of the jam in the first, and he comes up with the big homer, and it gets you into the game.”

Making his first career start, sophomore right-hander Ethan Francis (1-0) was the pitching equivalent of Elkins, who put the Demons ahead to stay on a full-count pitch from Will Hellmers (6-2).

Francis tossed two scoreless innings, working around a pair of first-inning walks, to set the tone for a quintet of Demon pitchers to limit the Tigers to five hits in the game.

Peyton Graham (one inning), Andrew Cossio (3 1-3 innings), Cameron Taylor (2-3 inning) and Drayton Brown (two-inning save) finished off the five-hitter as the Demons notched their first win at Alex Box Stadium since April 12, 2011.

“They all competed,” Barbier said. “It’s hard when you’re a pitcher and you don’t get in for weeks. You throw in the bullpen, and you stay ready. Then you get your opportunity on the big stage.

“All of those guys did a good job competing in the strike zone against some really good hitters. That’s as good of a lineup as there is, and each one of them did a good job.”

The Demon lineup did the same, extending the early lead.

Elkins’ two-out single in the third added a run before Fontenot (walk) and Smith (hit by pitch) drove in runs with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. NSU took advantage of a one-out error by first baseman Tre Morgan in the sixth as Jake Haze scored on a wild pitch and Smith added a sacrifice fly.

“Before we played today, coach (Barbier) told us to have fun,” said Fontenot, who played 28 miles from his hometown of St. Amant. “How can you not have fun coming back to your hometown and letting it go? Everyone had that mind-set of whatever happens, happens, and let’s just play ball.”

LSU converted on a rare threat in the seventh, slicing the Demon lead in half with a three-run inning highlighted by Dylan Crews’ two-run triple.

Once Taylor escaped further damage, Brown worked two perfect innings with three strikeouts to notch his sixth save of the season.

“I thought today we played without expectations,” said Barbier, who has presided over NSU’s first back-to-back wins against LSU since April 2-3, 1996. “Whether that was because we’re playing LSU, an SEC team, or we’re playing a mid-week game, I don’t know. I thought we played that way, which allowed us to play more freely. Usually when you come into these parks, it goes one way or the other.

“You can tighten up or play more free. We did a good job of playing more freely and not getting down when some things didn’t go our way early. Hopefully this team can learn from that and play like that when they have a little more expectations this weekend.”

The Demons return to action Thursday when they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the opener of a four-game Southland Conference series at Brown-Stroud Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

Northwestern State 7, LSU 3
NSU 011 202 001 – 7 12 2
LSU 000 000 300 – 3 5 2
W – Ethan Francis (1-0). L – Will Hellmers (6-2). S – Drayton Brown (6). 2B – LSU, Cade Doughty. 3B – LSU, Dylan Crews. HR – NSU, Jeffrey Elkins (6). Highlights; NSU, Larson Fontenot 4-5, RBI; Elkins 2-5, HR, 2 RBIs; Marshall Skinner 2-4.

Records: Northwestern State 27-24; LSU 32-20.

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Nancy Hanks was born on February 5, 1784, in what is now Antioch, West Virginia. As with most women of the era, Nancy learned the required skills needed on the frontier. She learned to cultivate crops, to cook what she grew, to make and mend clothing, and to read the Bible. She eventually became known as an excellent seamstress.

On June 12, 1806, Nancy married a man named Thomas. They had three children, a daughter followed by two sons, one of which died in infancy. Thomas took whatever work he could find. He worked odd jobs, and at different times worked as a farmer, carpenter, and cabinetmaker. By all accounts, Nancy was superior to her husband. She was mild tempered, caring, and intellectually inclined but not classically educated. It was she who taught her surviving children to read and write. Thomas could neither read nor write.

Nancy and her family lived in southern Indiana, where it was exceptionally dry in the summer of 1818. The cattle were unable to find enough grasses in the pastures on which to graze and went into wooded areas in search of food. In the rich, moist soil just along the edge of the woods, the cattle found an abundance of plants to eat. One plant that the cattle grazed on was White Snakeroot. With its fluffy, snow-white flowers which reached heights between 18-48 inches, White Snakeroot was an attractive and easy food source for the cattle.

In September of 1818, a large number of people in the area began to sicken from an illness known by names such as puking fever, sick stomach, the slows, and the trembles. Symptoms included loss of appetite, weakness, listlessness, muscle stiffness, vague pains, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, severe constipation, and, in the worst cases, coma before death.

Nancy went from house to house to help those who contracted the sickness. Among those she helped was one of Nancy’s best friends, a Mrs. Brooner. Nancy spent countless hours at Mrs. Brooner’s bedside. Few people who contracted the illness survived. Mrs. Brooner was sure she would die from the disease and expressed her concern to Nancy. With a warm smile and a gentle touch, Nancy reassured her that she would soon recover. Nancy meant well and did everything she could to comfort Mrs. Brooner as well as several other sick neighbors.

Nancy soon began to show symptoms of the sickness. Within a short time, she became so unwell that she could no longer aid others. Like her sick neighbors, Nancy was confined to her bed. Nancy’s condition worsened with every passing day. During that time, several of her neighbors, including Mrs. Brooner, died from the illness. Nancy’s health continued to deteriorate, and she slipped into a coma. On October 5, 1818, after suffering from the illness for about two weeks, Nancy died. She was just 34 years old.

Preparing for a funeral on the frontier was difficult. There was no funeral home in the area, and Thomas and his two children had to make all of the preparations for burial themselves. Thomas’s eleven-year-old daughter took care of the household affairs while Thomas and his nine-year-old son-built Nancy’s coffin. Thomas measured and cut planks while his son whittled pegs to hold the planks together. They had no nails. With the help of neighbors, Thomas and his son dug Nancy’s grave and held a short but meaningful graveside service for her.

What was this mysterious illness that killed Nancy and several of their neighbors? Until the twentieth century, medical science had almost no understanding of this particular sickness. Scientists discovered that the illness that struck many in southern Indiana in that summer of 1818 was what we now call “Milk Sickness.” Nancy and her neighbors drank fresh milk from local cows who grazed on White Snakeroot, which is poisonous to humans but, evidently, not to cows.

Like Nancy, her son was intellectually inclined and self-educated. He became a successful attorney and climbed the ladder of success. He became a legislator, a U.S. Congressman, and then, President of the United States. Nancy’s married name was Nancy Hanks Lincoln. It was she who named her son… Abraham.

Sources:
1. Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minnesota), April 15, 1923, p.67.
2. “White Snakeroot: The Plant That Killed Abraham Lincoln’s Mother,” National Park Service, accessed May 12, 2021, nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/milksickness.htm.

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By Royal Alexander/Opinion

“If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more ‎violence. If The Jews put down their weapons ‎today, there would be no ‎more Israel’.” Benjamin Netanyahu

On May 14, 1948, 73 years ago, Israel became an independent nation state. It was soon attacked and has been ever since. As rockets again rain down on Israel—a country of about 9 million that’s roughly the size of New Jersey—from the Gaza Strip the world is again confronted with a narrative that never changes: much of the Middle East—and their proxies—seeks the annihilation of that country as an article of faith and first principle of their governments.

The current violence being imposed on Israel is being carried out by terror groups Hamas, the Iran-supported Palestinian militant group, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Over 1,800 rockets have been fired into the country in the last few days with most of them targeting Israeli civilians. (There Would be far more harm done and deaths resulting without Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system which exists with U.S financial and technical support).

What we must understand is that Hamas runs the Palestinian government in Gaza even though every recent U.S. Administration, Republican or Democrat, has declared Hamas a terrorist organization. So, this terrorist organization that is the elected government of Gaza is firing missiles and rockets into the civilian population of Israel. However, when Israel defends itself and responds Hamas often puts children in front of the targets it knows Israel is likely to attack so when they are killed Hamas can dishonestly appear to claim the moral high ground by accusing Israel of killing innocent children. This is truly sickening but a simple if grotesque summary of Israel’s Existence.

The Biden Administration has now ham-handedly responded with a call for “de-escalation” of this situation as though there is a moral equivalence between the unprovoked attacks on Israel by these terror groups and Israel’s unquestioned right to defend itself. This new conflict reveals the stark contrast between the Trump Administration, which shepherded a number of historic peace agreements in the Middle East (and for which President Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations), and the Biden Administration, which in 4 months has led to the outbreak of any war in the Middle East.

(The Biden Administration is modeling its Middle East policy after the Obama Administration which clearly and conspicuously favored Iran. Recall President Obama’s disastrous nuclear “deal” in which Iran “committed” to halting its development of enriched uranium for at least 10 years. In return, it had strict economic sanctions lifted and received billions of dollars from the Obama Administration. This cash was very likely used by Iran to fund acts of terror, wars, and purchase weapons to kill Americans and Israelis. This is all a fraud. Iran cannot be trusted. The only way to ensure that a perennially bad and dangerous actor like Iran stops developing nuclear weapons is to destroy its capability to do so and then closely monitor it).

Israel is simply unlike any of the U.S.’s other allies in the world and there are many reasons Americans Passionately love and support it. Those Reasons include its ancient religious history and sacred role as the birthplace of Christianity and origin of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Its eternal significance is founded on its connection and proximity to Christ’s birth, death, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. They also include God’s promise to Abraham that the Jews were His chosen people and that He would grant to Abraham and his descendants the land that is Israel today. Lastly, Israel has always been America’s Strongest ally in the region and one of its strongest allies in the world.

The Biden Administration must quickly and clearly signal to the world that it will stand with Israel. The U.S. cannot appear to accept that there is any moral equivalence between the actions of Israel and these terrorists. There is none and America undermines its credibility in the world and weakens our trusted ally when it hesitates to decisively note and embrace this fact. As we learned from President Obama’s cowardly and impotent “red line “approach to Syria after it gassed its own people, when the U.S appears to hesitate between good and evil, evil forces like Hamas—and its sponsor, Iran—are emboldened.

SABINE:
Peggy Lynn Teasley
October 24, 1951 – May 12, 2021
No arrangements listed

WINN:
Earnestine Durahm
May 10, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at the Winnfield Funeral Home, located at 117 MLK Drive in Winnfield

RED RIVER:
Imogene “Jean” Brown
March 07, 1930 – May 15, 2021
Service: Wednesday, May 19 at 1:30 pm at Ajax Cemetery in Ajax

NATCHITOCHES:
Doretha Charles
May 18, 2021
Arrangements TBA

BJ Miller
September 05, 1998 – May 14, 2021
Service: Friday, May 21 at 10 am at the First Baptist Church Provencal

Dr. Lawrence (Larry) Russell Burke
February 02, 1936 – May 15, 2021
Service: Thursday, May 20 at 10 am at the historic American Cemetery in Natchitoches

Charles R. Rushing
May 14, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 2 pmat the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Dan P. Roberson
May 12, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 22 at 11 am at Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North St. in Natchitoches

Margaret Carter Cooper
November 2, 1961 – May 10, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Phillip Lloyd Gillis
March 13, 1968 – April 29, 2021
Service: Saturday, May 29, 2021 from 1-5 pm at the home of Ryan and Bekah French Home, located at 1615 Williams Ave. in Natchitoches

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announces four of his Deputies have completed their Louisiana POST Level 1 Certification for Basic Law Enforcement Peace Officers on May 12, 2021.

Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) was established by Act 397 of 1976 to develop training standards for peace officers in the State of Louisiana.

Deputy Josh Sandel, Deputy Jarod Weldon and Detective Shelly Sepulvado completed their 17 weeks, 305 hours of training at the LaFourche Sheriff’s Regional P.O.S.T. Academy in Thibodaux, LA.
Detective Chris Abrahams completed his 16 weeks of training at the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Training Academy in Plain Dealing, LA.

Deputy Sandel is a Patrolman under Lieutenant Jason Heard. Deputy Weldon is a School Resource Officer under Lieutenant Walter Meshell. Detective Sepulvado and Detective Abrahams are assigned to CID under Chief Detective Anthony Lowe Jr.

Sheriff Mitchell congratulates and commends these Deputies for their determination and sacrifice over the last four months. Sheriff Mitchell knows first-hand it was not an easy task, but these four Deputies have proven they have what it takes to serve and protect the citizens of Sabine Parish.

SOURCE: SPSO

UPDATE: Chief Daniel Thomas announced Thursday that the ZPD has now completed another round of forensic training.

“Zwolle PD Completes level 2 of DNA analysis training. We would like to express our gratitude to The North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center for making this training possible.”

Original Story: 

On Thursday, May 6th The Zwolle Police Department announced their completion of class one of a DNA analysis training course.

The local police department, led by Daniel Thomas, attended first part of the training class at the North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center in Shreveport this week.

Everyone from the Zwolle Police Department was in attendance and ready to learn.

The Center, located in Shreveport, opened in 2017 and has been serving as the location for all DNA testing within North Louisiana.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff was eager for the center to open in 2017 stating; “”People think that DNA is something you can get by in just a matter of minutes,” Prator said. “The truth of the matter is it takes weeks to get a DNA sample back and it’s about $600 worth of work fo r each sample. There’s a lot of work to it. This will help to streamline that some and it will help to put everything under one roof.”

Now having served the community for nearly five years, the center has served its purpose and then some.

Chief of Police for Zwolle, Daniel Thomas, said that officers will continue to be trained “in order to make them more effective in solving crimes and making our community a better and safer place”

Chief Thomas would like to thank the North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center for hosting this class. Chief Thomas is very proud of his officers on this great accomplishment.

SOURCE: Zwolle PD

May is all about moms and I am very blessed to share Stephanie McKinney’s story with you this week. She is teacher in Natchitoches Parish who cherishes the fact that she can use her past hurts and life lessons to assist parents and students as they go through the same things that God has delivered her from. These are Stephanie’s words…..

Beyonce praises it but it is very challenging to go from a, what you thought, happy family of four to a single mom raising two boys ages 13 and 8.

When I was married, I worked as a Teacher’s Aide in my hometown in Texas. I brought home about $800 a month. It was fine when I was married because he had a good job. I just worked to pay a few bills and then had some fun money leftover. After the divorce, I was broke. I had a house note, all the bills, and two sons to raise. I received a little child support. And my parents helped when needed but they couldn’t do much financially.

But guess what?

Every month my bills were paid, we never did without meals, and I had a little left over so we could continue to do occasional fun things. Every single month. I worried how I was going to make it happen? How can I pay my bills not to lose my home? I had so many worries and fears but God always provided. I vividly remember, I was down to my last few dollars and my monthly paycheck was still a week away. Thankfully, every bill was paid that month but I still needed gas money and one of the boys needed something for school. I could either get a few dollars in gas or give the money to my son. I chose my son. I always chose my sons.

I would have enough to get back and forth to work but we couldn’t go anywhere else. When I opened my wallet to give him the money, tucked behind my few one dollar bills there was a twenty dollar bill. He knew what I needed and He provided it for me. I swear it wasn’t there before. I cried thankful tears for hours

A year after the divorce, I decided to go to school for my teaching degree. I had an amazing group of teachers and administrators helping me and encouraging me. Every time I thought I couldn’t make it, one of them would step in, without even knowing it was needed, and encourage me to keep pushing.

My entire college education was provided by grants and it would have been impossible otherwise.

It took me longer than the average person because I had to work while raising two kids alone. But, with God, I made it. My whole reason for wanting to be a teacher is because my oldest son has a learning disability. In third grade he was considered a bad kid. Talking and disruptive, the whole nine yards. He’s actually a great human, but the teachers only saw the bad. In fourth grade, he had amazing teachers who knew right away that he didn’t have ADHD, he had a reading comprehension problem. They helped guide us through what accommodations he needed and it helped tremendously.

I remember crying in the meetings thinking that I somehow let my baby down. They assured me that I hadn’t and that we would all get through it together. And we did. I learned many things I could demand for him. I learned to push him when he needed it but mostly, I learned to stand up for his rights. It took a year but he got on the right track.

God laid it on my heart to get my degree so I could help other mom’s get through that.

I wanted to be there to hug them when they are scared when educators are telling them, “Something isn’t right with your child.” I can say, ”I honestly know how you feel. I promise, we will get through this.” Even though the chips were stacked against me, God knew what He had called me to do and He provided the path for that to happen. Next year, I will be doing SBLC full time on my campus, and I truly believe this was my calling from the beginning.

Divorce is hard. Being a single mother is hard. I would honestly do it all over again. I’ve learned so much about myself.I have wonderful memories of just me and my boys all piled into my full size bed for the first few months after he was gone because we all wanted to be close to each other. Memories of special times, birthdays, holidays, and just regular days. My sons and I have a very close bond that is unbreakable. It is because of what we went through together and what they saw me go through alone. With God’s help, I picked myself up, and pushed on because not doing so would have negatively impacted their lives and they deserve better than that. God made sure the three of us came out of top.

If I had to give advice to women going through a divorce or separation, it would be this: It’s hard. There are times you want to scream, cry and be angry. Keep your dignity and your pride. Hold your head up. You’re walking through darkness right now and it might seem like you’ll never come out of it, but I promise you will. And the other side is so much better than your past life. Just keep moving, reach out for help when needed, pray, and always remember, you not only have God but you also have a lot of people who support you that He has placed along your path. They are there for a reason. And if you don’t have anyone like that, I’ll be happy to hold your hand until the sun is shining on you again.

One verse that held true during that time was this, “The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.” Because I never once, did I want.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

The Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission (NHDDC) and its partners kick off Spring and Summer celebrations and encourage residents and visitors to download the GoNatchitoches app. The app serves as your one-stop-shop trip planner and a community calendar that serves as an interactive way to map out everything visitors and residents want to see and do in Natchitoches.

The GoNatchitoches app provides a new way to explore what Natchitoches offers, including upcoming events, popular attractions, restaurants, tours, lodging, shops, landmarks, and much more. Users can view it all at once or search by categories like Attractions, Dining, Arts & Culture, Lodging, and many others.
See a festival you don’t want to miss? Click “Add,” and the event will be added to your plan, and you’ll be sent a reminder.

That restaurant everyone keeps telling you about? Click “Add,” and you won’t forget to try it.
Want to invite some friends? Share your plan with them via social media, email, or SMS text message.
Need a reminder for upcoming events? Turn on the push notifications for the app!
No need to waste time or another sheet of paper. With this planner, GoNatchitoches can help you get organized and maximize your time so that you can have more fun in Natchitoches.

Already on your way to Natchitoches or live here? Download the app for your iPhone or Android and take your plan with you! Just type “GoNatchitoches” in the search box of your app store.

The “GoNatchitoches” project is a coalition between the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the City of Natchitoches, Cane River National Heritage Area, Northwestern State University, the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission, the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association, the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce, and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts.

POSITION: Bus Drivers – Ecco Ride

DESCRIPTION: Ecco Ride is now accepting applications for Bus Drivers in Natchitoches Parish.

· Health, Life, Dental, Vision, 401K

· Drivers have daily minimum, plus charter opportunities

· Air-conditioned buses

QUALIFICATIONS: Must be 21 years of age with a clean driving record, no criminal background, pre-employment drug screen, ability to obtain a CDL Class B license with P and S endorsements, and a passion for children and giving back to the community. Full training is provided.

CONTACT: Call to learn more 318-352-6465 or apply online at http://www.eccoride.com

USA Olympic boxer Tim Dement, a Bossier City native, will be the featured guest Saturday afternoon at 2 for a free Olympic Glory program at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches, to share his memories of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Dement will take questions and talk in the museum’s Atmos Energy Gallery. Admission is free beginning at 1 o’clock. The museum is located facing the traffic circle at the north end of Front Street.

He competed in the flyweight division at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Dement, a 17-year-old underdog, beat Bobby Hunter during the 1972 Olympic trials in the flyweight class, shocking the world and becoming a favorite of ABC Television’s Howard Cosell.

In Munich, Dement finished ninth overall at the 1972 Olympic Games, losing his second bout to Calixto Pérez. He became a Bossier Parish sheriff’s deputy and has retired after a long law enforcement career, but remains active as a coach and mentor in the Shreveport-Bossier boxing community. He was recently involved in hosting the USA Boxing Association Championships held in Shreveport.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum is bringing four world-class Olympians to the museum as part of a month-long lecture series called “Olympic Glory.” The program will inspire conversations about the role of sports in American culture and how the values of discipline, determination, sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, perseverance, and doing your personal best mirror the values necessary to achieve success in everyday life.

“Olympic Glory” is supported through a Rebirth Grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Friends of Louisiana Sports and History (FLASH). The four-part series will involve interviews between Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Chairman and FLASH president Doug Ireland and Dement, along with two more Olympians from Louisiana. The programs began last Saturday with two-time Olympic medalist Hollis Conway, who grew up in Shreveport and lives in Lafayette.

On May 22, Baton Rouge volleyball icon Danielle Scott (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics) is the featured guest. The series concludes May 29 with Alexandria’s Warren Morris, the LSU baseball legend who medaled in the 1996 Atlanta Games a few weeks after hitting the walk-off home run giving the Tigers their 1996 College World Series championship.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, 800 Front Street, Natchitoches, is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Normal admission, not charged for programs like the Olympic Glory series, is $6 for adults, $5 for students, seniors, and active duty military, and free for children six and younger. For more information, visit LaSportsHall.com.

PHOTO:  Tim Dement (at right, in white USA gear) is shown competing in the 1972 Munich Olympics.