The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating a social media threat to a local school after receiving several tips from the community.

On October 22, 2021 around 10:18 p.m., officers with the Natchitoches Police Department were made aware of a social media threat towards “Central High School.” Investigators have been working throughout the night and are conducting an extensive threat assessment to determine the validity of this threat and to identify the responsible party for making it.

This is an active investigation and we will release more details as they become available.

Please contact the Natchitoches Parish School Board at (318) 352-2358 or Natchitoches Central High School at (318) 352-2211 if you have any questions about school operations.

If you would like to report suspicious activity, contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101 or if you have additional information in regards to this investigation please contact Detective William Connell at (318) 238-3911. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.

How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:

You can also report a tip anonymously by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $2,000 for the arrest of an offender.

Corporal John Greely
Public Information Officer
Natchitoches Police Department

Release Date: October 23, 2021

For the first time this season, the Northwestern State football team scored first Saturday afternoon.

The Demons’ fast start they had been seeking, unfortunately, did not last against visiting ninth-ranked Southeastern as the Lions pulled away after a breakeven first quarter for a 51-14 Southland Conference victory at Turpin Stadium.

“We knew we had to get off to a fast start,” fourth-year head coach Brad Laird said. “Defensively, we did, forcing them to punt on two of the first three drives. Then offensively, our second drive we go down and score. When you have the opportunity – I say against Southeastern, but against any team in your conference – you have to sustain and finish drives.”

Northwestern State (1-6, 1-3) finished their second drive behind quarterback Zachary Clement, who made his first career start.

The freshman capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive with a 10-yard run that gave the Demons a 7-0 lead and marked the first time NSU put the initial points of the game on the board this fall.

It appeared the momentum would stay affixed to the home sideline of Turpin Stadium in short succession.

Two plays after Clement’s rushing touchdown – his fifth in the past four games – Taron Jones fumbled after an eight-yard gain and Nathalohn Nanai pounced on the loose ball at the Lion 33-yard line. After a video review, the fumble was overturned and the Lions (6-1, 4-0) maintained possession.

Seven plays later, reigning Walter Payton Award winner Cole Kelley bulled in from 9 yards out for the first of his four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) on the day.

“Sometimes things don’t go as you plan, and you saw the outcome,” said linebacker Jared Pedraza, who finished with a game-high 10 tackles. “(The overturned fumble) was bumming, because we thought we had it. We’re on the sidelines, in the chairs, thinking we have the ball, and they get it back and end up scoring. Things like that happen, and we have to stop them when we have the chance.”

Following SLU’s second-chance touchdown drive, Northwestern State forced the Lions to punt on their ensuing possession. After that, Kelley and the Lion offense came alive, scoring on six straight drives before running the clock out in the final quarter.

SLU also added a defensive touchdown on Justin Dumas’ 52-yard interception return in the fourth quarter.

The Lions kept several drives alive with third- or fourth-down conversions, going 6 for 10 on third-down tries and converting their lone fourth-down attempt.

On the biggest momentum-swinging drive of the game, Southeastern did not see a second down, let alone a third down.

With the Demons trailing 14-7, punter Scotty Roblow (4 punts, 51.5 yard average) pinned the Lions at their 4-yard line as LC Greenwood downed the ball.

Five passes from Kelley later, the Lions were up 21-7 after Kelley found Nolan Givan for a 26-yard score.

“They had some other big plays in the game, but especially on that drive, they hit big plays on us,” Laird said. “We weren’t able to get off the field, and it was a big momentum switch in the game. We got a good punt from Scotty, who was challenged this week to place his punts against a really good returner. He did a good job pinning that one inside the 10, but we couldn’t take advantage.”

While the Lions were successful on more than 63 percent of their third- and fourth-down tries, extending drives, the Demons went 6-for-16 on third downs and were 3-for-6 on fourth downs.

Laird took an aggressive tact throughout the game, knowing it would take more than field goals to secure a win against a top-10 team.

As such, the Demons saw three drives end in or near the red zone on downs.

“I knew we’d need seven points, not three, so that was my decision to go for it in the red zone,” Laird said. “We had a third-and-1 at the plus-10, and we lose two. It’s fourth-and-3 and we go for it and didn’t get any points. We just could not take advantage of the opportunities we had early on in the game.”

The Demons capped the scoring as Clement found Stanley King for a 45-yard touchdown for his first career scoring pass and King’s first touchdown catch.

In his first start, Clement rushed for a game-high 96 yards and threw for 206 with a touchdown and two interceptions.

“I’ve got to fix the little things,” Clement said. “I made some mistakes out there I shouldn’t have made. That’s what I’m going to work on this week in practice. I was excited to get that first passing touchdown, but I want to continue to grow and get better from here.”

The Demons return to action Oct. 30 at Nicholls, starting a stretch of three road games in four weeks to end the regular season. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. in Thibodaux.

Northwestern State University inducted six distinguished alumni into its Alumni Hall of Distinction, the Long Purple Line, as part of Homecoming festivities Friday.

This year’s inductees are, from left, NSU Vice President for External Affairs Jerry Pierce of Natchitoches, businessman Harvey F. Marcus Sr. of Monroe, state official Sujuan Boutte of Prairieville, former NSU faculty member Thomas Whitehead of Natchitoches and Fed Ex executive John A. Smith of Memphis, Tennessee.

Not shown is Louisiana State University Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron of Baton Rouge.

The Long Purple Line was established to provide recognition and appreciation to individuals whose career accomplishments or service to their fellow man have enhanced the reputation and prestige of Northwestern State. Selection may be based upon past or continuing achievements in individuals’ careers, exemplary and extraordinary service to community, state and nation or both career accomplishments and service to mankind including service to their alma mater. A total of 136 Northwestern State alumni have been inducted into the Long Purple Line. 

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University hosted a dedication program for the Seven Oaks Stage Thursday as part of Homecoming Festivities.

The Seven Oaks Stage is at the former site of Sabine Hall, an area now referred to as Iberville Green, and honors the first seven Black students to attend Northwestern State, Steve Jackson, June Cofield, Doris Ann Roque-Robinson, Hyams J. Baptiste, James Johnson, Johnnye Britton-Paige and Pearl Jones-Burton.

The venue is open to recognized student organizations and departments and is designed for concerts and a variety of campus events.

From left are Student Government Association President Tja’h Edwards, Coby McGee, president of National Pan-Hellenic Council and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Roque-Robinson, who delivered a message of inspiration and encouragement, and NSU Interim President Dr. Marcus Jones.

NATCHITOCHES:
Iris Victoria Dixon
April 24, 1957 – October 20, 2021
Service: Tuesday, October 26 at 10 am at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Spanish Lake

Jean Attaway Jennings
February 23, 1943 – October 20, 2021
Service: Monday, October 25 at 12 pm at Bethel Congregational Methodist Church near Pleasant Hill

WINN:
William Terrance Boyer
July 20, 1957 – October 21, 2021
Service: Monday, October 25 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

Friends call her “Ginny.” Supporters call her “The woman for the job.” History will call her the first female President of Northwestern State University if Dr. Virginia Burkett is selected by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors on Nov. 8.

Many believe Dr. Burkett, a longtime resident of Sabine Parish who works in Washington DC, leads the pack of the top six semi-finalists, from whom will be named a new President of NSU.

Dr. Burkett is currently Chief Scientist in the U.S. Department of the Interior, heading up the Climate and Land Use Change, Office of International Programs, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

She is the only candidate for NSU President with local roots who has earned global respect. Her legacy of intellect and integrity reaches from Louisiana to Washington, DC, and across the world.

“In my opinion and experience, integrity is the essence of successful leadership,” Dr. Burkett shared in her Letter of Interest submitted recently to the University of Louisiana (UL) System Board, along with her 25-page resumé.

Her extensive Curriculum Vitae (CV) credentials include

– Proven leadership and administrative expertise statewide, nationally, and globally

– Management of State and Federal budgets of over $140 million dollars annually

– Management of over 750 full-time employees

– Contributing Author to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007

– Recipient of the Diversity Award five times by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior (2021) and the U.S. Geological Survey (2020, 2017, 2015 and 2014)

– Recipient of Minority Student and Faculty Enhancement Award (2003), National Urban & Community Conference for Minority and Underserved Communities

– First female in the United State to direct a state fish and wildlife agency

– Invited lecturer at Harvard, Stanford, West Point, Columbia, Princeton, Wheaton, U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, Royal Institute of Foreign Affairs (UK) and other respected institutions

– Appointed by the White House to Co-Chair a $2.4 billion Global Change Research Program

– One of three generations to attend and graduate from NSU

– Long Purple Line inductee in 2011

– NSU Foundation Board from 2012 until present

– Service on approximately 70 other Boards, Committees and Science Panels

There are those who say Dr. Burkett does not have enough experience in academia to get the job. But her supporters say a lifetime spent in academia does not a leader make. They feel her stronger administrative skills are by far more desirable.

“As I have during every position I have every held, I would pour my energy, passion, and experience into leading NSU,” Dr. Burkett shared with the UL Board.

Her career is an achievement-filled example of commitment to excellence, intellect, an extraordinary work ethic and integrity.

When she left state government, the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate captured the great loss that was felt with an editorial cartoon depicting a bear sitting on a stump reading a newspaper with a headline about her departure. “Who will take care of me now?” the bear is lamenting.

Dr. Burkett has been published in dozens of peer-reviewed journals and definitive, encyclopedic publications (about 100 entries are listed on her CV) and one may doubt that is a complete list. She is that prolific. She also serves as Editor of the international scientific journal Regional Environmental Change and on the Editorial Board of Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics.

Dr. Burkett has given scores of media interviews ranging from The New York Times and US News and World Report to Louisiana Public Broadcasting and The Economist magazine. Those are only a few of the more recent examples. So, supporters say, she certainly has the experience and the wherewithal to represent NSU not only nationally, but around the world, and to represent it very well.

Dr. Burkett is a licensed Arborist, Master Gardener and holds a Private Pilot’s license. In addition, she is a beekeeper who harvests her own honey. She is a current member of the Louisiana State Museum of Geoscience Associates, (Charter Member); Louisiana Wildlife Biologists Association, (Life Member); American Association for the Advancement of Science and International Society of Arboriculture.

“To top it all off, Dr. Burkett is genuinely a nice person,” Laurie Gentry of Many shared on the supporters’ Burkett for NSU President Facebook page. “If you don’t know a lot about her, that’s because she is not the sort to self-promote or aggrandize her truly amazing achievements. Her work speaks for itself. The report she helped author which won a Nobel Prize is credited by many scientists and policymakers as being the catalyst for environmental change worldwide. Northwestern State University needs that kind of leadership.”

The UL System Board of Supervisors is welcoming input on whom they should select as NSU President. To send a letter of support, email northwesternpresidentialsearch@ulsystem.edu. Email will be forwarded to all Board Members. They are Vice Chair Elizabeth Pierre of Monroe, Parliamentarian Jimmy Clarke of Lafayette, Barry Busada of Shreveport, John Condos of Lake Charles, Steve Davison of Ruston, Lola Dunahoe of Natchitoches, Thomas Kitchen of Metairie, Mimi Methvin of Lafayette, Alejandro “Al Perkins of Prairieville, Dana Peterson, Virgil Robinson Jr. of New Orleans, Mark Romero of Lafayette, Kristine Russell of Thibodaux, Joe Salter of Florien, Brad Stevens of Hammond, and Southeastern Louisiana University Student Board Member L’Oreal Williams.

“I pledge to work with our Board of Supervisors, faculty, administrators, alumni, and Natchitoches community and, most importantly, the students of our wonderful university in leading NSU to achieve new levels of success with all of our endeavors. …I cannot think of a more important investment of a lifetime of hard work and experience other than serving as the President of NSU,” Dr. Burkett shared.

Dr. Burkett’s
Curriculum Vitae/Resume: https://tinyurl.com/kpbxpjkk

The Many Tigers football team is No. 1 ranked across the board heading into Alexandria tonight to face Holy Savior Menard for the fourth district game of the season.

The Tigers took over the top spot in the LHSAA’s power points ranking after rallying past Avoyelles 34-30 at John W. Curtis Stadium last Friday night. Many already owned the No. 1 spot in the Louisiana Sports Writers top 10 poll, but jumped from third to first in the more important rankings while Avoyelles suffered its first loss and dipped from second to third.

The No. 1 LHSAA ranking guarantees homefield opportunities in the state playoffs.

Many comes in with an overall record of 6-1 and 3-0 in District 3-2A. Menard has a 1-6 record and 1-3 in district. Game time is 7 o’clock with the game broadcast on 99.9 KTEZ with Randy Bostian and Brad Ford starting at 6:25.

The Tigers, the defending 2A state champions, are trying to win the district for the ninth year in a row. They have won six straight games since an opening 42-32 loss to Union Parish.

When Tiger head coach Jess Curtis was asked about the No. 1 ranking and the rest of the season, he said, “We’re proud of our team. We take it one week at a time and we’re ready to rock-n-roll.”

This week, the Menard Eagles are front-and-center for the Tigers. Their 1-6 record may be deceptive.

Menard tries to do a lot of different things on offense. According to Coach Curtis, Many has had a great week of practice and will be well prepared to shut down Menard’s offense.

Team awards last week for the Avoyelles game included the entire defense winning the game ball. The defense made a huge stop on fourth down with Many trailing 30-26 late in the game, giving the ball back to the offense for a short game-winning drive.

The Hard Hat Award went to quarterback and safety Tackett Curtis, who scored the winning touchdown on a 15-yard run with just under a minute left in the game. The Sledgehammer Award went to both Marquise Maxie and Garet Culverson for setting the edge on their side of the defense.

The Tigers will come home for their final regular-season contest in Many next Friday night against Bunkie.

The Sabine Parish Tourist & Recreation Commission (SPTRC), a quasi-governmental agency for the State of Louisiana tasked with promoting Sabine Parish as a destination place for tourism and recreation, has begun searching for its new Director this week. Advertisements for the position have been placed in a number of publications statewide, on social media sites, and job-seeker websites. Several of the online advertisements for the position are nationwide in scope.

The Sabine Index carried the first print ad last week, and other newspapers running the announcement for the open position include The Advocate in both Lafayette and Baton Rouge, The Shreveport Times, and the American Press in Lake Charles.

Online recruiting websites include LinkedIn and Indeed, Louisiana Travel Association, Southeast Tourism Society, and Destinations International, along with Facebook pages for Toledo Bend Lake Country and Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, and the Toledo Bend Lake Country website.

A three-member team made up of Louisiana tourism professionals from different parts of the state, not from Sabine Parish, have agreed to help the SPTRC collect, vet, and score applicants and their work records according to their credentials and experience. The skillset that the SPTC Board of Directors requires for the new Director include, in no particular order but are not limited to, experience, management, financial acuity, supervision, marketing, education, grant writing, knowledge of outdoor recreation, advocacy for the Commission at the Capital along with an understanding of the political process. All applications are due November 2, 2021, by 4 p.m., with the scoring of applicants being done November 3-5.

A slate of the most qualified candidates on paper will be recommended to continue the process with interviews by Board President Lauren Moore and two other Commission board members. The entire Board will vote on who to hire as the next Director after interviews are completed. 

An application and job description can be found at https://toledobendlakecountry.com/about.

Update: 

The NSU Homecoming Court visited with Mayor Ronnie Williams on Oct. 19 for their Paint the Town Purple event! The students dispersed flyers to businesses downtown and hung signs down Front Street to promote this week’s homecoming events!

Be sure to get out and support the Demons as they take on the Southeastern Lions at Turpin Stadium this Saturday! Fork ’em Demons!

After more than a year of uncertainty due to COVID-19, life was finally returning to normal for assistant coach Stacey Aldredge and the Northwestern State volleyball program. 

In an instant, however, even during a routine trip to the store, your entire world can change. 

Aldredge, formerly DiFrancesco, made a simple trip across a bridge in downtown Natchitoches that she’s made thousands of times before, this time it led her to an utterly different place. 

“I talk to my mom every day, we’ve always done that,” Aldredge said. “I was going across the Church Street bridge heading to the store, and I called her since I didn’t hear from her the day before, just to check in. She told me she had been admitted to the hospital and they weren’t really sure what was going on, but they thought it was cancer. 

“I immediately felt my stomach fall to the ground. I pulled over because I was sobbing uncontrollably and remember thinking this can’t be real. I was just praying and crying. About a week later we found out from the bone marrow test that it was leukemia.” 

Words no person wants to hear. 

In early July, a week after her son’s wedding, Diann DiFrancesco got the call from her doctor that her white blood counts were dangerously low. After several weeks of feeling “off,” that prompted the initial doctor’s visit, the call and subsequent admission to the hospital put in motion a series of tests and treatments that opened a new world for Aldredge and her family. 

The Lady Demons (8-14, 2-5) host their annual #ForkCancer game on Thursday against New Orleans (1-14, 1-6) beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Prather Coliseum. After four years of playing in the annual event and a handful more as a coach on the sideline, this one means just a little bit more for Aldredge and her family. 

“I feel like I stepped up in those games and so did my teammates because we were fighting for other people not just ourselves,” she said. “Obviously this game Thursday is going to be very personal for me.  

“I can only do so much as a coach, but it’s, ‘How can I be the best coach to help my girls fight for other survivors or people who are warriors right now going through that hard time?’. Doing whatever I can to help prepare them to go to war and keep fighting like all the people like my mom are.” 

The treatment of DiFrancesco’s acute myeloid leukemia began immediately and after rounds of testing, it was determined that a stem cell transplant would be needed. 

Even during her time as a player for the Lady Demons from 2011-14, Diann and Stacey would speak on a regular basis, creating a bond unlike many others between a mother and daughter. That close-knit relationship and the miles between Natchitoches and her hometown of The Woodlands, Texas, have made the past few months some of the hardest. 

“That’s your best friend and you only get to see them through a screen,” Aldredge said. “How the treatments were wearing on her body. You know the cancer is there, but the physical effects hit you harder.  

“It’s been hard but I think it’s made us all so much stronger as individuals. They say you don’t realize what you can handle until you’re going through it, so I think I’ve become so much stronger for my family. We’ve all held on to each other.” 

The regular phone calls became mandatory twice-a-day FaceTime calls as the volleyball season rapidly approached and Aldredge devoted the bulk of her time to preparing for the new year, using the same fight her mother has displayed through her treatment. 

“Life’s not easy sometimes,” Aldredge said. “It can be hard, but you can either choose to roll over and be down and mad at the world or you can learn to step up, keep chugging away, be positive and fight through it. It’s been hard being away from her but I’m passionate about volleyball, I love these girls and I’m doing something that I like to do.” 

With the return to a normal fall schedule and an influx of new players this year, Aldredge has leaned on her knowledge of the offense to help usher a young group of attackers and setters along. While there are still things to accomplish, the work and the season have provided a respite from the potentially overwhelming thoughts that accompany a cancer diagnosis.  

“It’s kept me busy, so I don’t just sit and dwell,” Aldredge said. “This has been a crazy season after COVID. It’s finally a normal season like what it has always been but this one feels a little extra crazy. It has been good to be able to keep my mind off just her and focus on other things, the girls, the program. It’s been a nice escape.” 

After one round of chemotherapy treatments Diann is in remission and awaiting her stem cell transplant. Eyeing an early November date, preparations have already begun for the transplant by DiFrancesco and the donor, her son Chris. 

“It’s so cool that my brother gets to be the donor,” Aldredge said. “He’s saving mom’s life. She is one tough lady. She’s my hero, my role model and someone who always makes lemonade from the lemons life gives you. She’s done that my whole life still done it over the past few months.” 

Northwestern State fans can give back to those like Diann DiFrancesco throughout this week by texting “FORKCANCER” to 71777 and making a donation to the American Cancer Society. 

Photo Credit: Gary Haradamon

Community Rally
Saturday, October 30th 3pm-6pm
Highland Park, Natchitoches, Louisiana

~ MASK MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES DURING THE RALLY ~

FREE FOOD

Performances by Uncle Ugg, NCHS Band and Weaver Elites.
Inspirational Speakers and Youth Groups

For more information contact:

Dorothy McGaskey 318-527-1968
Betty Smith 318-332-8668
Rev. Steve Harris 318-419-0802
Edward “Ugg” Lewis 318-332-1863

Committee Members: Elton Wade, Rasul Abdullah, Marie Santiago, Linda Queen, Dominick O’Con, Edward “UGG”
Lewis, Betty Smith, Dorothy McGaskey, Chris Petite, Rev. Steven Harris, Gwen Antee Hardison-Davis

NATCHITOCHES:
Jean Attaway Jennings
February 23, 1943 – October 20, 2021
Service: Monday, October 25 at 12 pm at Bethel Congregational Methodist Church near Pleasant Hill

Blanche Solomon Marshall
March 26, 1926 – October 16, 2021
Service: Friday, October 22 at 10 am at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Natchitoches

Rev. Wayne Hicks
January 17, 1938 – October 07, 2021
Service: Saturday, October 23 at 1 pm at Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches

WINN:
DONALD WAYNE PRATHER
May 20, 1950 – October 15, 2021
Service: Sunday, October 24 at 3 pm in Montgomery Cemetery

Service: Saturday, October 23 at 1 pm at Calvary Baptist Church in Natchitoches

Project Celebration provided a breakfast for the deputies and officers of Sabine and Natchitoches Parish as a thank you for all the officers do during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 

This local non-profit provides a multitude of services for survivors of domestic violence as well as those still in these situations. 

Project Celebration, Inc. (PCI) is a nonprofit organization located in Northwest Louisiana. The agency provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and children experiencing violence. They currently provide services in Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster Parishes. 

PCI has carefully designed their services to fit the needs of the community. They currently operate 2 domestic violence shelters that provide safe housing for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Taylor House DV Shelter is located in Sabine Parish and PCI DV Shelter is located in Caddo Parish. They also have outreach offices in each parish to provide services to nonresidential clients. PCI also offers free services to sexual assault survivors such as medical, personal and court advocacy. They offer visit coaching and parenting classes through their Family Resource Center. The Child Advocacy Center conducts forensic interviews for children. 

​All services through our organization are free and confidential. We never share your name or information with anyone outside the organization and work tirelessly to ensure they provide safe and effective services to all in need.  

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office recently took to social media to thank Project Celebration for the breakfast provided saying, 

Calvary Baptist Church in Many is ready for National Collection Week on November 15-22. Calvary is a drop off center for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. Thousands of shoeboxes will be delivered to the church filled with toiletry items, school supplies, toys, clothing/shoes, and a stuff animal. These boxes will be delivered to over 100 countries sharing the gospel with each child. To be involved in this ministry go to Samartanspurse.org or call Cherry Wells at 663-2449.

Louisiana’s Class of 2021 earned an average ACT Composite score of 18.4, down from 18.7 in 2020 and 18.8 in 2019.

“Our students have faced extraordinary challenges over the last two school years,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “More than ever, we must empower Louisiana students with the necessary resources and opportunities to assist them in reaching their full academic potential.”

The ACT, used for college admissions consideration and TOPS scholarship eligibility, was adopted as a measure of college and career readiness in Louisiana in 2013. Since that time, the performance of Louisiana students on the ACT has informed policy. The state has noted a continuing decline in student performance on the ACT. An issue which has surfaced as a result of this trend is the question of the degree of alignment of the ACT with Louisiana Student Standards.

In response, The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has commissioned LSU to conduct a study of the alignment between the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards and the Louisiana Student Standards. Ultimately, a report will be produced to inform future decision-making around what further supports are needed by educators and students to best prepare students for ACT success.

50,101 students in the Louisiana Class of 2021 took the ACT – an estimated 98% of the graduating class. LDOE has invested Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds in various programs, such as Louisiana ACT® Now and The Louisiana Pre-ACT® Initiatives, to help sustain and grow Louisiana’s ACT participation rate. For more information on these programs, please visit LDOE’s website.

“Persistence from the Louisiana education community around participation in ACT testing, encouraging students to take the test multiple times and requesting and using fee waivers to improve testing affordability for students resulted in some notable achievements for our state despite the COVID disruption,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed. “While significant improvements are necessary, we see that the emergency policies and practices embraced by educators, legislators and Governor John Bel Edwards paid dividends, giving students more opportunities to succeed in college. However, today, the race, background and zip code of our students tell us too much about their likelihood of success and we must change that. Improving minority student performance as it relates to college readiness benchmarks must be a priority in order to expand prosperity in our state.”

Louisiana calculates its ACT data using the “best score” calculation used by colleges and for school letter grades. ACT calculates Louisiana’s average score for all public and private school students anticipating graduation that year using a student’s “most recent score.” The Board of Regents and BESE have a joint goal that, beginning with the freshman class of 2025, all Louisiana public high school graduates will complete high school with college credit (academic and/or career-technical), a postsecondary credential of value, or both.

Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology will honor three individuals with induction into the College’s Hall of Distinction this weekend in conjunction with Homecoming festivities. The College will host a reception for inductees beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 in the Natchitoches Room at Russell Hall.

This year’s honorees are Nicholas C. Courville (Accounting), the late John G. Williams (Business Administration), Barbara Russell and Jack Russell (Computer Information Systems).

Courville is a certified public accountant who joined Heard, McElroy & Vestal in May 2011 and works in the audit department. Prior to joining HMV, he was employed at KPMG, LLP, as an audit associate. His duties included performing audits and attestation engagements of closely held businesses, financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations. Additionally, he prepares financial statements, journal entries and reconciliations of client information and researches technical issues and formulates the appropriate conclusions in order to effectively communicate the solution to team members and clients. He became a partner in 2019.

Courville received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in May 2010. He was a participant in the Greater Shreveport Leadership Program in 2014 and the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organization Community Leaders Program in 2013. In November 2014, he was recognized as a ‘40 Under 40’ recipient by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.

He holds membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants (LCPA). He serves his community as a member of Holy Angels’ Champions advisory committee, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church finance council and Provenance Institute for the Arts, Culture and Environment board.

Williams taught business law and was a member of Northwestern State’s faculty for 47 years. He was an adjunct faculty member for 19 years and became a full-time faculty member for 28 years and was a professor of business. Williams also maintained a law practice in Natchitoches and was first assistant district attorney for Natchitoches Parish. He enjoyed teaching over the course of 47 years, sometimes teaching the children and grandchildren of former students. He was known for his educational anecdotes that included Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Hobart Macgroniac, Lillie Lickskillet, and Susie Stepingofetchit.

A 1962 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, he earned a degree in agribusiness from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and graduated from Tulane Law School with a Juris Doctorate Degree in civil law. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps on active duty in September 1968 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February 1969. He graduated from the Naval Justice School in August 1969 and joined the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California, where he was a defense lawyer, a prosecutor and finally was appointed by the Secretary of the Navy as a military judge. Williams returned home and began to practice law.

His wife, Suzanne, is teacher certification coordinator for NSU’s School of Education.

Williams passed away in May 2020.

After receiving her Master’s in Computer Science in 1979, Barbara Russell worked in industry for five years as a Programmer-Analyst. She and her husband Dr. Jack Russell moved to Tarleton State University in Texas in 1984 to begin her 33-year teaching career. She and Jack moved to NSU in 1999, beginning their 16-year career at NSU, retiring in 2015.

While at NSU, she served as faculty sponsor of the Association of Information Technology Professionals and helped many students achieve national recognition at annual National Student Conferences. AITP awarded her the national Advisor of the Year award in 2002.

She published several papers in national journals, presented topics several times at state and national conferences and was awarded the Excellence in Teaching award at NSU in 2002.

Dr. Jack Russell was a professor of Computer Information Systems at NSU’s College of Business and Technology from 1999 to 2015. He served as coordinator of CIS for several of those years and helped to bring a nationally recognized CIS program to NSU. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in Computer Science Teaching and an M.S. in Computer Science from Florida Tech.

During his career he was named Information Systems Educator of the Year by the AITP Education Foundation, awarded the Ben Bauman Outstanding Award for Excellence by the International Association of Computer Information Systems and authored two textbooks in Business Programming Logic & Design. Russell was as a Regents Professor with the Texas A&M University System before coming to NSU. He helped train and educate over 600 graduates in CIS at NSU and helped prepare and coach six student National Champion teams in Systems Analysis and Design. He also published 26 articles regarding the teaching and delivery of CIS courses and curriculum.

Northwestern State University is continuing its tradition of honoring those who served in the nation’s Armed Forces by recognizing a veteran during each home football game this season. Major Richard G. Hooter (US Army Retired) of Natchitoches was recognized during the Oct. 16th game.

Hooter was drafted in 1970 for service in Vietnam. There, he served with C Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade, 23rd Infantry Division (Americal). He was released from active duty in 1972 with the rank of Sergeant. MAJ Hooter then enrolled at Northwestern and joined NSU’s ROTC program. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1974. He was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned in the Army Infantry Corps.

Hooter served twice as a Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, first, with B Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Infantry, then with Delta Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th US Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). He also served as Combat Company Commander for the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.

His other assignments include Post Commander of Fort DeRussy Military Reservation, Honolulu, Hawaii; Director of Tactics, Missile and Munitions School, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama; Executive Officer for the 5th Recruiting Brigade, Little Rock, Arkansas; Executive Officer, 2nd Battalion, 10th Infantry, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; and Director of Tactics, US Army Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Hooter’s military schooling includes the Officer Basic Course, Fort Benning, Georgia; Officer Advanced Course, Fort Benning, Georgia; Personnel Management Course, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana; Command and General Staff College; and Strategic Studies, US Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also completed US Army Ranger, Airborne, and Pathfinder Schools, all located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

In addition to the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Hooter’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. His badges and tabs include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

Hooter retired from the Army in 1992 and spends much of his spare time fishing in various Fishing League Worldwide tournaments. He has qualified for four All-Americans. He also mentors NSU’s ROTC Cadets and Cadre and is their devoted grill master. Major Hooter serves as the Marketing Officer for Northwestern’s Demon Regiment, the alumni arm of the NSU ROTC program. In March 2020, he was named to the Demon Regiment Hall of Fame.

Hooter and his wife, the former JoAnn Aamons, have been married 53 years and have lived in Natchitoches since 1993. Mrs. Hooter is a Natchitoches native and an NSU alumna. They have two sons, John and Philip, three grandchildren and two step grandchildren.

Pictured: Major Richard G. Hooter (US Army Retired) was honorary captain for the Oct. 16 football game. From left are Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Smalley, US Army Retired, Chief of Staff, Northwestern Demon Regiment; Peyton Lise Faucheaux, Hooter and NSU Interim President Dr. Marcus Jones.