MANY, La – Shortly before 2AM Saturday morning, unknown suspect(s) in a tan Ford F250 4-door truck attempted to gain access into the Bank of Montgomery ATM at Toledo Pharmacy on LA Highway 6 west of Many. The incident was not discovered until after 5AM when a passerby noticed the ATM doors were forced open.

Cyndle Eyre was diagnosed with Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with CNS in 2020 and have been undergoing treatment at MD Anderson. 

NATCHITOCHES:
Lonnie Green
May 30, 1952 – Jan 23, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 2 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

Charles Benny Cofield
Nov 7, 1946 – Jan 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Junnie Neal
January 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Donald Ray Jackson
January 16, 2022
Service: Saturday, February 5 at 11 am at the Greenville Baptist Church in Clarence

Marie Roberts
July 30, 1934 – January 27, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 1 at 12 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis

Gary Lirette
February 10, 1945 – January 27, 2022
Service: Monday, January 31 at 10 am at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Natchitoches

Frederick Lawson
Aug 15, 1956 – Jan 26, 2022
Service: Friday, February 4 at 10 am in Lawrence Serenity Sanctum

James Rachal
Arrangements TBA

Irene Johnson
Walk-through visitation/viewing: Friday, February 4 from 3-7 pm at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches, coupled with a private family funeral service on the following day at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Natchez (formerly called the Bermuda Community). Interment in the church’s cemetery will immediately follow that family celebration.

Nicholas Flakes
Dec 5, 2000 – Jan 10, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Cornell Robinson
Jul 27, 1962 – Jan 15, 2022
Arrangements TBA

WINN:
Conrad Allen Broomfield
December 16, 1942 – January 28, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Sammy J. Franklin
May 24, 1940 – January 28, 2022
Service: Tuesday, February 1 at 1 pm at Midway Baptist Church in Jena

Cindy Renee Blake
November 16, 1973 – January 27, 2022
Service: Monday, January 31 at 10 am at Southern Funeral Home

Barbara Gayle Alderman
October 5, 1943 – January 7, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Sabine County, Texas- (Jan. 29, 2022)

Hemphill, TX- As of this press release the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office continues to search for Matthew Hoy Edgar, who was sentenced by a jury, to 99-years, in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division for the murder of Livye Lewis on October 31, 2020.
Edgar had failed to show up for the trial on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. His trial continued in his absence through his attorney.

After the search Thursday which involved the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Lufkin Police Department, Texas Parks and Wild Life, and the United States Marshall’s Office the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office continued to search. The Sheriff’s Office has responded to a number of sightings of Edgar throughout the County overnight, and this involved additional locations in both Jasper and Orange Counties. The Sabine County Sheriff’s Office has never stopped searching for Edgar and will continue to do so with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies. To date, Edgar, has not been located and the search continues both in Texas and Louisiana with the assistance of Texas Rangers from the Texas Department of Public Safety, US Marshall’s Service, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Tom Maddox would like to remind residents to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (409)787-2266 or 911, if they either see or encounter, Edgar, in or around Sabine County. He asks that residents do not contact Edgar, but rather contact the Sheriff’s Office or nearest law enforcement agency.

The two photos were attached by Sabine County Sheriff’s Office

The Sabine Parish School Board will be offering a 30 Hour Pre-Service Training Course for persons interested in pursuing a Louisiana CDL with a school bus and passenger endorsement. 

Classes will be held Monday, February 7th, Tuesday, February 8th, Thursday, and February 10th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The classes will be held at the Sabine Parish Support Center at 265 Middle Creek Rd. Many, LA 71449.

The cost to participate will be $75

If anyone is interested, please contact Diette Ezernack at (318) 431-6234 ext 210 to reserve a seat. 

Natchitoches Police officers responded to the Natchitoches Parish Library on Jan. 22 in response to a call from concerned library staff reporting a patron who was behaving bizarrely. This involved carrying multiple bulky bags into the building, setting up multiple cameras for recording purposes, trying to access areas restricted to the public, and pulling on door handles to areas that are off limits.

When officers made contact with the suspect he refused to give any information or provide them with an ID. Later identified as Travis Heinze, the suspect was taken into custody for resisting arrest and brought to the corrections center where he bonded out.

Heinze stated that he was just using the library and looked around the building since he’d never been to it before. When asked for identification he responded, “What does that have to do with anything,” and “How are you going to go above my constitutional protections on this because there is no crime?”

So who is Travis Heinze? He’s a “First Amendment Auditor” or “Police Auditor” from Aberdeen, Wash. What’s an auditor? These are individuals who film encounters with law enforcement officers/public officials. If an actual/perceived violation of the auditor’s protected rights occurs, the video will likely be posted on social media and/or serve as the basis for a claim or suit.

According to cirsa.org, one Colorado municipality recently agreed to pay a “First Amendment Auditor” $41,000 to settle a wrongful detention claim.

Heinze’s claim is that he was arrested illegally for not giving his name, but according to LRS 14: 108, resisting arrest is the refusal by the arrested or detained party to give his name and make his identity known to the arresting or detaining officer or providing false information regarding the identity of such party to the officer.

One of Heinze’s many internet followers commented, “Failure to I.D. is a secondary charge, these guys don’t have a primary charge of a crime committed.”

According to the NPD, Heinze was legally detained because of the reports regarding his suspicious behavior in the library and his refusal to provide identification. Under Louisiana law this gave officers probable cause for making the arrest.

What about those cameras Heinz set up in the library? From three different angles he filmed officers arriving in the library’s parking lot, his conversation with them inside, and his arrest. He publishes videos like these to his YouTube page for his followers. He also posted his “Top 10 Complaints Against My Arresting Officers in Natchitoches, La.” on Twitter with a link to his blog on a wordpress site.

On his Twitter profile, Heinze describes himself as “a homeless bum who lives out of my car, travels, offers health advice and shares anything on my mind.”

Following the posting of the Natchitoches videos, the library and police station began receiving an onslaught of calls from Henize’s first amendment audit peers/followers voicing their concern/disdain over the arrest and the fact that the library called the police on him in the first place. These same people have also taken to Facebook, flooding comment sections on the library and police department pages with links to the YouTube videos and comments along the lines of:

Don’t go to this place unless you want to get arrested. These horrible people are bigoted against folks using their facility stay away its for your own good. we need to close this place down. #TravisHeinze #ExchangeIDs

As he documents his travels across the country on his YouTube page “Life in a Car with Travis Heinze,” he documents his encounters with law enforcement along the way on his “Lets Exchange IDs with Travis Heinze” account, which dates back to 2017. These videos sport titles like:

“Reading and proofreading my lawsuit against Williston, ND”
“Officer Harris arrests me at city hall in Bethany, Missouri”
“Deputy Mortensen was called twice on me in Pembina, North Dakota”
“Comments about arrest in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho; showing a picture ID is the law?”

The City of Bethany, Mo. released a statement on Nov. 4, 2021 reporting charges were dismissed against Heinz, who entered the City Hall on Nov. 2 and began making repeated inquiries with the staff regarding parking regulations and parking availability. City Hall Staff members attempted to answer questions, but soon became uncomfortable and called police as a security measure. Heinze refused to identify himself when questioned by officers. He was placed under a 24-hour investigative hold at the Harrison County Detention Center. He was charged with Disturbing the Peace and Second-Degree Harassment by the Harrison County Prosecutor.

The bottom line is that there’s two sides to every story, so are these auditors “professional agitators” or are they performing a service for the American people?

TOP 10 COMPLAINTS:
https://acumagnet.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/my-top-10-complaints-against-my-arresting-officers-in-natchitoches-louisiana/

ARREST (CAM 1):
https://youtu.be/U34cBFaFMl0

ARREST (CAM 2):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsJ8wHmo6zg

ARREST (CAM 3):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNNQ_i8l0lg

PICK UP BELONGINGS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PqQAtsrQ1A

POLICE RECORDS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv0N4m67Qfw

Northwestern State University will hold Spring 2022 commencement exercises with four ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, May 12, according to University Registrar Barbara Prescott. Commencement will take place in Prather Coliseum. The ceremonies will be streamed live on the university’s website, http://www.nsula.edu.

Graduates and guests should note some changes in entrance and exit procedures for the upcoming ceremonies. Graduates will enter the Coliseum on the west side facing the Kappa Sigma House. Guests for graduates with last names beginning A-L should use entrance and exits on the east of Prather Coliseum, which faces the tennis courts. Guests for graduates with last names beginning M-Z should use the entrance and exits on the west side of Prather Coliseum, facing the Kappa Sigma House.

ADA accessibility entrance is located at the main entrance at the front of the Coliseum.

Faculty and stage party will enter on the east side of Prather Coliseum, the side facing the tennis courts.

Detailed information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found at http://www.nsula.edu/graduation.

The Spring 2022 commencement schedule is as follows.

10 a.m. Wednesday, May 11

College of Nursing and School of Allied Health (Bachelor and Associate Degrees)

BAS – Allied Health
BS – Radiologic Sciences

BSN – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
ASN – Associate of Science in Nursing

2 p.m. Wednesday, May 11

Graduate School (Graduate Degrees)

College of Arts and Sciences

MA – Art, English

MM – Music

MS – Homeland Security

College of Nursing and School of Allied Health

DNP – Doctor of Nursing Practice

MS – Radiologic Sciences
MSN – Master of Science in Nursing

Gallaspy Family College of Education & Human Development

EDD – Adult Learning and Development

EDS – Educational Leadership and Instruction

MA – Adult Learning & Development, Counseling, Student Affairs in Higher Education

MAT – Early Childhood Education-Grades PK-3, Elementary Education-Grades 1-5, Elementary Education and Special Education Mild/Moderate-Grades 1-5, Middle School Education-Grades 4-8, Middle School Education and Special Education Mild/Moderate-Grades 4-8, Secondary Education-Grades 6-12, Secondary Education and Special Education Mild/Moderate-Grades 6-12

MED – Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Technology Leadership, Special Education
MS – Health and Human Performance, Psychology-Clinical

College of Business and Technology (Bachelor Degrees)

BS – Accounting, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Hospitality

Management &Tourism

10 a.m. Thursday, May 12

College of Arts and Sciences (Bachelor and Associate Degrees)

BA – Communication, Criminal Justice, English, History, Liberal Arts
BFA – Dance, Fine and Graphic Arts

BGS – General Studies

BM – Music

BS – Applied Microbiology, Biology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Industrial Engineering Technology, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Theatre, Unified Public Safety Administration
AD – Veterinary Technology
AGS – Associate of General Studies
AS – Engineering Technology

Louisiana Scholars’ College (Bachelor Degrees)

BA – Communication, Criminal Justice, English, History, Liberal Arts

BFA – Fine & Graphic Arts
BM – Music

BME – Music Education-Instrumental-Grades K-12, Music Education-Vocal-Grades K-12

BS – Accounting, Applied Microbiology, Biology, Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Electronic Engineering Technology, Elementary Education-Grades 1-5, Health and Exercise Science, Hospitality Management and Tourism, Industrial Engineering Technology, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Psychology, Secondary Education and Teaching, Theatre, Unified Public Safety Administration

BSW – Social Work

2 p.m. Thursday, May 12

Gallaspy Family College of Education & Human Development (Bachelor Degrees)

BME – Music Education-Instrumental-Grades K-12, Music Education-Vocal-Grades K-12, Music Education-Vocal/Instrumental -Grades K-12

BS – Addiction Studies, Child and Family Studies, Early Childhood Education-Grades Pre-K-3, Elementary Education-Grades 1-5, Health and Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education-Grades K-12, Psychology, Secondary Education and Teaching

BSW – Social Work

“Just say no!” This has been the slogan to fight the drug war going on in this country since former First Lady Nancy Reagan introduced it in 1982. Her work was extensive and diligent in fighting the war on drugs. This fight still continues today and it appears it’s a war we’re losing. With little to no border control and our government leaders refusing to recognize that we have a border crisis, the battle rages on. As a teen growing up in East Texas, I had very little exposure to the drug world, but knew it existed. In the 1970’s, marijuana, speed and cocaine were the drugs of choice for those that chose that route looking to get high. Today I’ll give you my perspective on my drug of choice back then, one that I’m still addicted to and crave today.

As most of you already know, athletics have played a huge role in my life and are responsible for the opportunities that have come my way over the years. I enjoyed a great high school career, running track and playing both baseball and football, which included winning the Texas 3A State Baseball Championship in 1978. I was blessed with a football/baseball scholarship to Northwestern State that resulted in being drafted by the Montreal Expos (today’s Washington Nationals) in 1983.

Sports for me, was a drug that came with both highs and lows. Drug addicts talk about how they just can’t get enough of whatever they’re craving. For me, I could relate because I was the same way. I could not get enough of the rush that sports gave me. I thought about it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I would dream of getting my next high by hitting a home run, making a great play, or scoring a touchdown. Success in the sports arena came fairly easy for me, as God blessed me with good athletic ability.

But let’s talk about my first addiction…. bass fishing. Fishing has been an addiction for me since I caught my first bass as a kid walking the banks of our ranch stock ponds. This all started for me in the summer of 1969 when I got my first Zebco rod and reel combo. I was basically self-taught. I remember getting my hands on a copy of Bassmaster magazine that was full of tips and technique illustrations anyone could follow. One of the gifts I got on my 10th birthday was a subscription to Bassmaster magazine. BEST GIFT EVER!!!! Back then there were only a few fishing shows that existed. I watched “Fishing with Virgil Ward” and “Outdoors with John Fox.” Both were great, but then I found a show called “The Bassmaster’s,” hosted by legendary Bob Cobb. This introduced me to guys who actually fished for a living. Are you kidding me? You could make a living catching bass?!!! Now this had my full attention, and I could not wait for it to come on each week. I remember watching anglers like Tommy Martin, Bill Dance, Rick Clunn and Roland Martin, guys who became legends of the sport.

For me, there’s always been something about the moment you set the hook and a fish starts to pull drag. The adrenaline rush is unmatched and unexplainable! You don’t know how big your catch is until you see it jump out of the water as it is trying to throw your bait, or you swing it in the boat. Even today, despite the many bass I’ve caught over my lifetime, I still get this huge rush of excitement. So, I guess this makes me an addict! I just can’t get enough bass fishing action! It can be so rewarding, whether you’re catching small one-to-two-pound bass or five and six pounders. It’s still the same rush!

To wrap this up, if you’ve never had a fishing experience before, find someone to take you who knows what they’re doing. Go hire a fishing guide or an experienced angler who can teach you the ins and outs of fishing. If you want to get high, go fishing…whether it’s for bass, crappie, redfish or trout! The species doesn’t matter; the high is still the same. But beware, it can be addicting! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget to set the hook!

Steve Graf

NATCHITOCHES, LA- The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) has successfully registered students as test takers for the nationally recognized physics F=ma Exam focusing on mechanics, including kinematics, statics, Newton’s laws, momentum and energy, oscillations, orbital mechanics, fluids, and elementary data analysis. The exam will take place Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the school.

Students taking the exam include Adam Deslatte (’23) of Hammond, Joy Dong (’23) of Lake Charles, Sam Dugan (’23) of Mandeville, Liliana Geier (’22) of Mandeville, Joshua Gillet (’23) of Lake Charles, Reese Nordan (’23) of Lake Charles, Anh Pham (’23) of Ruston, Brandon Randle (’24) of Destrehan, and Julian Vertigan (’24) of Baton Rouge.

“Our school’s Physics teachers selected this group of students to take the F=ma Exam due to their high academic performance during the past Fall semester and due to their interest in Physics and the exam,” said LSMSA Associate Lecturer of Physics Dr. Mauricio Escobar.

The F=ma Exam is organized and sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the American Institute of Physics. It is offered every year as the first step to qualify for the USA Physics Team Exam (USAPhO), which is a more rigorous exam used by AAPT to select the team that will represent the US in the International Physics Olympiads.

“It’s great to have a number of students representing LSMSA in the F=ma Exam,” said Escobar. “A dream come true would be to have some of our students scoring enough to take the USAPhO, and heaven on Earth would be to have one LSMSA student make it all the way to the US Physics team.”

LSMSA has educated highly motivated, high-achieving high school students from throughout the state since 1983. Inquiring parents and students may visit http://www.lsmsa.edu to learn more, complete online applications, and submit transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and current teachers’ recommendations. For more information about this tuition-free, publicly funded residential high school, please visit https://www.lsmsa.edu.

SABINE:
Kathy Lea Kirk
December 5, 1952 – January 26, 2022
Service: Sunday, January 30 at 2 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

NATCHITOCHES:
Thomas Lattier Hennigan
November 26, 1929 – January 26, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 29 at 12 pm at the Chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Jessie B. Williams
Service: Saturday, January 29 at 11:30 am at the Kingdom Life Center, located on Hwy 71 in Campti

Ruby Tamara Balthazar
January 3, 1966 – January 22, 2022
Visitation: Saturday, January 29 from 1-2 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Burial will follow at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Cloutierville.

Frederick Lawson
Aug 15, 1956 – Jan 26, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Myrtis Marilyn Brett Otteman
January 23, 1938 – January 17, 2022
Service: Friday January 28 at 1 pm at The Minor Basilica of The Immaculate Conception

Sameria Pearrie
Service: Saturday, January 29 at 11 am at the Winnfield Funeral Home Chapel.

Nicholas Flakes
Dec 5, 2000 – Jan 10, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Cornell Robinson
Jul 27, 1962 – Jan 15, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Mildred Louise Eckhardt McTyre
March 26, 1935 – January 4, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 29 at 11 am at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

WINN:
Charles Renay Tant
September 21, 1944 – January 26, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 29 at 1 pm at Corinth Baptist Church

Lillian Bernadine Crain Hyde
August 19, 1928 – January 22, 2022
Service: Friday, January 28 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

Patrick Kevin Hale, II
November 18, 1983 – January 22, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 29, at 1 pm at the VFW Hall, located at 1859 Highway 71 in Montgomery

Barbara Gayle Alderman
October 5, 1943 – January 7, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Correction* We were made aware of an error making the link inaccessible. The issue has been fixed and the link is now live. Please follow the link below to participate in the DRA Speed Test for Sabine Parish. 

The Sabine Parish Economic Development Council (EDC) is working to help bring high-speed broadband to all Parish residents, but your help is needed. Government grants for high-speed broadband infrastructure may be available for our Parish. Help us identify the areas that have poor internet service, or no internet service, by participating in the following link for data collection:  DRA Speed Test

If you have poor internet service, list the address where you are at the time of the test. If you do not have any internet access, using your smart phone, go to the website at the above link and select the “no available service” option. 

You can participate in this data collection as many times as you want, but all data must be completed by January 31, 2022. This data will be used to help map the areas in the Parish where broadband infrastructure is needed. The more data entered, the better opportunities for Sabine Parish to receive adequate funding for high-speed broadband throughout the Parish. 

UPDATE: There have been possible sightings of Edgar but he has still not been captured at this time. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous. 

ORIGINAL:

SABINE COUNTY, Tx – Matthew Hoyt Edgar did not show up for court this morning and is considered armed and dangerous according to the Sabine County Texas authorities. 

Edgar is on trial this week for the murder of 19-year-old Livye Lewis in October 2020. 

At this time his whereabouts are still unknown. 

According to the Sabine County Reporter SWAT has arrived on the scene in Texas to aid in the search of Edgar and a search warrant has been secured for a property at the end of Richard Dr. in Sabine County, TX.

BOM is a sponsor of the Sabine Parish Spring Livestock Show. Pictured left to right: Darrell Simmons and BOM’s Linda Guay. 

“And the answer is: What do you call a person who has no chance of correctly answering more than three questions, tops, on any single episode of Jeopardy!?”

“What is a Jeopardy! Deadbeat?”

“Correct! The judges would have also taken ‘What is Most any Normal Person?’”

No one is in jeopardy of me beating them on Jeopardy!, four decades old and the most-watched TV game show of all-time. The questions — or answers, if you prefer — are cast-iron tough. Harder than an acre of ash.

There is every reason to watch Jeopardy! and one big reason not to. What I hear most is, “It makes me feel stupid.” Legit response. Makes me feel more stupid. I passed feeling stupid a long time ago.

But … to those using that excuse, we offer this:

Consider an attitude adjustment. I know going in I’m not the most mature apple on the tree, so when I watch, it’s with low expectations. Extremely low. Barrel-bottom low. Again, me and millions of other stupid people have made it the most popular game show ever.

That anyone can ever actually win a match, even one, is what makes the current goings-on all that more confounding. The show’s reigning champ isn’t just beating people, she’s destroying them. Sherman through Georgia. She’s the game show equivalent of football’s 1970’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

A historic champ is Amy Schneider, a 41-year-old engineering manager from Oakland, Calif., who after Monday’s just-another-day-at-the-office rout had won 39 consecutive matches and moved into second place all-time and all by her lonesome.

She’d also pocketed $1,319,800. Hello.

She’s still way behind all-time champ Ken Jennings and his 74 straight wins. If she were chasing Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak, she’d be around 30. Lot of pitchers left to face.

That said, Schneider’s got game. Monday alone, she answered questions from the categories of, among others, Government Agencies, Bodies of Water, The Crusades, Rhythm & Blues, Roman Life & Culture — quite the varied array.

As usual, she won by $10,000 — and that was after losing $25,000 in Final Jeopardy. LOST 25 large and still won by 10.

Some of Monday’s answers/questions, with the correct response in parentheses. Good luck:

“Moses’ mom put him in an ark made of this plant?” Me: “Reeds!” (Bullrish.) Dang! I KNEW I had that one …

“The mission of BLM, short for this, is ‘to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands.’” Me: “What is the Big Land Machine?” (Bureau of Land Management)

“Croatia’s border rivers, the Sava & Drava, are both tributaries of this one.” Me: “Uh ….” (The Gulf of Sidra)

“Pope Eugenius III launched the Second Crusade in 1145 with ‘Quantum Praedecessores,’ one of these documents named for its seal.” Me: “No WAY there was a whole other Crusade after the first one. No livin’ WAY!” (The Papal Bull.)

My guess would have been The Mama Bull. So close…

The show airs 4:30 weekdays on ABC. Sometimes I’ll record it and, if I’ve had a good day, I’ll watch maybe 10 minutes, just to be humbled, just to remind myself that while a contestant is winning on Jeopardy! each weekday, I barely know the difference between the Gulf of Sidra and the Gulf gas station down on the corner.

Always felt I had a fightin’-man’s chance back in the day with Match Game. The Price is Right. Even Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. But Jeopardy! is a different animal. It’s always the windshield; I’m always the bug.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Source: Billy Graham, Just as I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham (San Francisco: HarperCollins Worldwide, 1997), 3-20.

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) announces the promotion of several of its staff members as it bids farewell to Assistant Director of Student Services Jenny Schmitt, who has joined the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics at its new Morganton campus as Dean of Students. Schmitt first joined LSMSA in 2011 as a Student Life Advisor after completing graduate work in Higher Education.

Associate Director of Academic Services Ro Slutsky will assume the new role of Director of Support Services. In addition to advancing to a senior administrative role, Slutsky will assume responsibility for all support services, including mental health and personal counseling.

“Jenny has done so much for LSMSA during her tenure here, and she is already sorely missed by everyone,” said Executive Director Dr. Steve Horton. “Congratulations to Ro, who has for always been a strong advocate for both students and faculty.”

The school will advertise for a Dean of Students and Chief Student Affairs Officer position to assume responsibility for the student activities functions, including residential life, activities programming, discipline, and student organizations.

Once the Dean of Students position is filled, Director of Enrollment and Student Services Emily Shumate will assume the role of Director of Enrollment Management and Institutional Research. This shift will allow her to devote her time to overseeing the recruiting and admissions process that is coordinated by Assistant Director of Enrollment Services Heather Tichenor. Shumate will also begin to address the state and federal demands for institutional data collection, analysis, and reporting. Those responsibilities have been managed across divisions; however, much of the school’s accountability is now driven by data management and reporting.

“Since Emily’s innate strength involves data analysis and interpretation, she will provide fantastic oversight for our strategic plan while identifying our next year’s student body,” said Horton.

Dr. Kristi Key’s title will change from Director of Academic Services to Director of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer. Though her responsibilities will not change significantly, the new title better aligns with the traditional higher education model.

“This year has continually proven that the Covid quarantine impacted all of us — particularly the three classes who are on campus this year — so we are excited to realign our organizational structure to accommodate the changing needs of our student body,” said Horton. “We are grateful that our team of such dedicated educators and administrators have both paved the way, and continue working with and for students, faculty, and staff.”

LSMSA has educated highly motivated, high-achieving high school students from throughout the state since 1983. Inquiring parents and students may visit http://www.lsmsa.edu to learn more, complete online applications, and submit transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and current teachers’ recommendations. 

CASA of Central LA, is looking for new volunteers to assist us in serving the almost 4,000 children in Louisiana foster care. CASA volunteers are Court Appointed Special Advocates who are appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of a child in court. CASA volunteers are different because we remain appointed to the child’s case throughout its duration. While the child may have multiple attorneys, social workers, therapists, and foster placement throughout the life of the case, they will have only one CASA volunteer. By being that caring consistent adult, CASA volunteers have been the certainty in uncertain times for these children.

CASA of Central Louisiana specifically advocates for the abused and neglected children of Natchitoches, Red River, and Sabine Parishes. For more information call (318)238-2446.

NATCHITOCHES:
Mathias da Gama e Silva, Jr.
May 5, 1950 – January 21, 2022
Service: Wednesday, January 26 at 1 pm in the chapel of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Myrtis Marilyn Brett Otteman
January 23, 1938 – January 17, 2022
Service: Friday January 28 at 1 pm at The Minor Basilica of The Immaculate Conception

Sameria Pearrie
Arrangements TBA

James Rachal
Arrangements TBA

Irene Johnson
Arrangements TBA

Jessie B. Williams
Arrangements TBA

Nicholas Flakes
Dec 5, 2000 – Jan 10, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Cornell Robinson
Jul 27, 1962 – Jan 15, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Mildred Louise Eckhardt McTyre
March 26, 1935 – January 4, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 29 at 11 am at First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

WINN:
Lillian Bernadine Crain Hyde
August 19, 1928 – January 22, 2022
Service: Friday, January 28 at 2 pm at Southern Funeral Home

James Everett McAnally
November 9, 1940 – January 23, 2022
Service: Wednesday, January 26 at 2 pm at Cox-Guin Cemetery

Rodney Reynolds
April 4, 1947 – January 24, 2022
Service: Wednesday, February 2 at 10:30 am at Southern Funeral Home

Patrick Kevin Hale, II
November 18, 1983 – January 22, 2022
Service: Saturday, January 29, at 1 pm at the VFW Hall, located at 1859 Highway 71 in Montgomery

Barbara Gayle Alderman
October 5, 1943 – January 7, 2022
Arrangements TBA

Rev. Katie Florence Moore
April 5, 1972 – January 14, 2022
Service: Thursday, January 27 at 11 am at Southern Funeral Home

RED RIVER:
Eleanor Vivian Peterson
April 9, 1936 – January 22, 2022
Service: Wednesday, January 26 at 1 pm at Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home Chapel

The Sabine Parish School Board announced promotions on Monday, January 24th. The release stated the following:

We are pleased to announce several new promotions of staff to start 2022.

Tené Leach is the new Director of Administrative Services. Mrs. Leach has 20+ years as an educator. She served as the Principal for Zwolle Elementary and most recently Many Elementary before transferring to the Central Office as Elementary Supervisor. As the Director of Administrative Services, Tené will oversee the District’s Human Resources department as well as K-2 curriculum and interventions.

Jonathan Campbell has been made the District ’s Transportation Supervisor. In addition, he is also Purchasing Coordinator and Warehouse Supervisor. Mr. Campbell has served the Sabine Parish School Board as a Teacher (2006-13), Administrative Assistant (2013- 17), and Assistant Principal (2017- 20). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree from Northwestern State University.

EBARB SCHOOL HAS NEW PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Donya Tatum is Ebarb School ’s new Principal. Ms. Tatum was the Assistant Principal at Ebarb for the last year. She has a total of 16 years as an educator.

Taylor Lee is the new Assistant Principal at Ebarb. Mr. Lee has a total of 10 years as an educator. Coach Lee also serves as the EHS Athletic Director and is Head Coach for the Boys’ Basketball Team.