BATON ROUGE, La. – The registration deadline is fast approaching for the 2022 Louisiana Small Business Summit, the annual Louisiana Economic Development event that connects small business leaders with an array of resources available to them from the state.

Open to all small business owners and entrepreneurs in Louisiana, the summit will feature informational sessions, presentations about LED’s small business programs and engagement opportunities designed to facilitate contracting relationships with state agencies and other partners.

The summit will take place Tuesday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Registration is open through March 29. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.

“Since taking office, Gov. John Bel Edwards has made support for Louisiana’s small business sector a top priority for his administration, and LED is proud to support that with events like this one,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “The Louisiana Small Business summit is a unique opportunity to network and explore the wealth of resources, skills training and procurement opportunities that Louisiana offers small business owners, who account for 98 percent of employers in the state.”

Summit attendees will have the opportunity onsite to become certified in the Hudson and Veterans initiatives and register as vendors with the state. Participants can also visit the reverse trade show, which connects business owners with procurement representatives from state agencies, sponsors, and key partners.

Scheduled speakers include Gov. John Bel Edwards, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, LED Secretary Don Pierson and Small Business Administration Region VI Administrator Ted James. Panel discussions will be led by representatives of LED’s Small Business Services team, as well as representatives of the Office of State Procurement, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network.

“The LED Small Business Services team is committed to ensuring Louisiana small businesses have the resources and opportunities to grow, supporting economic activity in our communities and providing great jobs to Louisiana residents,” said Stephanie Hartman, director of LED Small Business Services. “Our Louisiana small businesses demonstrate the skill and initiative necessary to thrive, and we want to connect these businesses with more opportunities and resources to do just that. The statewide Small Business Summit will be a prime event to establish those connections.”

About LED
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy. In 2021, LED attracted 64 new economic development projects representing over 18,100 new direct and indirect jobs, 9,700 retained jobs and more than $20.5 billion in new capital investment. LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana, and promotes business opportunity for employers of all sizes. For more information, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com.

Kansas is a 4.5-points favorite against Villanova Saturday in the first of two NCAA Tournament semifinal games. Duke and North Carolina will follow at approximately 7:49; the Blue Devils are a 4-points favorite.

Hello, Awesome Saturday Night. Except …

If you see a Kansas fan between now and then, and if he or she is gnawing on tree bark and unable to mumble a complete sentence, move along. Yes, the Jayhawks are favorites. Yes, Kansas has a basketball tradition as rich as anyone’s.

But yes, Kansas come Tournament time is a heartache waiting to happen.

East Coast. West Coast. Midwest. Deep South. Historically, the Kansas basketball program has arguably left more hoop-loving hearts broken all over this great land and on the Final Four Road than any other program that’s ever dared nail up a peach basket.

They’ve got the awesome old-school gym. The simple, bright, cheerful uniforms you could probably wear to church and get away with. That happy-go-lucky Jayhawk mascot.

It’s a program that’s strung together a ridiculous 31 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the most ever. All the Jayhawks do is win.

Until it’s time to finish. Kansas has only three NCAA Tournament titles in its illustrious history.

Which is three more than lots of programs, for sure. Most anyone would trade for what Kansas has been able to do, generation after generation.

And still, their reputation is that of a Bracket Buster. Kansas giveth, and Kansas taketh away. Saturday will mark the program’s 16^th trip to the Final Four, which means that for all their trips to the mountaintop, the Jayhawks have left as King of the Hill only once every five times.

They’ve been runners-up six times, college basketball’s equivalent of baseball’s 1950s’ Brooklyn Dodgers and 1990s’ Atlanta Braves.

Bridesmaids City.

Recent history:

In 2010, Northern Iowa, historically one of the finest programs in all of the great state of Iowa, bounced them out.

In 2011 as the Tournament’s No.1-seed, Kansas was dismissed by VCU in the Elite Eight. (Time flies; Shaka Smart seems like last week.)

2014, they got Stanford-ed, although it’s important to remember that Kansas was Joel Embiid-less thanks to an unfortunate injury.

2016 and 2018, well, we’ll come back to that in a sec.

In 2020, the Jayhawks were ranked No. 1 in some polls and … The Ultimate Indignity … the Tournament was pandemically cancelled.

So here they are again with head-scratching Kansas, never ranked No. 1 this season, yet champions of the Midwest Regional and the only No.1 Regional seed left in the ballgame. If you are a Kansas fan, you are probably preparing for a dagger where it hurts.

But who knows? Bill Self could become just the 16^th guy in the college game to win multiple national titles. Kansas could do what the 1952 and Self’s 2008 team did and win it all.

Very un-Kansas-like, they’ve even won it when they weren’t supposed to. I happened to be there hanging around in Kemper Arena in Kansas City in 1988 when “Danny Manning and the Miracles,” a 6-seed, upset No.1 Oklahoma, 34-3 and winners of 21 of its last 22 games, 83-79. The game was tied 50-50 at the half, the small (for a Final Four) arena was an explosion of cheers and colors and gasps and drama, and the whole thing was more fun than a little bit.

And maybe the same will be true this weekend. Maybe. With Kansas being a favorite over Villanova in the Saturday semis, that’s a step in the right direction.

Except … remember we mentioned 2016 and 2018? Kansas played Villanova in the tournament both those years. And lost. First, in 2016 when the Jayhawks were the top-seeded team in the tournament.

And then in 2018, when Kansas lost to the underdog Wildcats … in the semifinals.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

March is National Kidney Month – a time to give some thought to just how well you are taking care of these important bean-shaped organs. At Natchitoches Regional Medical Center (NRMC), we want to help increase awareness about the role of the kidneys in your overall health and the early signs of kidney disease.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), millions of people in the United States have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Unfortunately, many people do not even know they have it until the disease progresses. Often considered a silent disease, it is important to diagnosis CKD in its earliest stages. Those in the highest risk group for developing kidney disease are those with diabetes and/or high blood pressure, but there are also many other conditions and illnesses that can affect your kidneys.

What the Kidneys Do

We have two kidneys located just below the rib cage on both sides of the lower back. About the size of a fist, these important organs help filter the blood in our bodies and remove waste. The kidneys also produce Vitamin D, which is essential to good health, help balance fluids within the body, and serve to regulate salt and potassium. The kidneys also produce red blood cells and regulate pH. As a specialized branch of medicine, doctors who specialize in caring for the kidneys are called nephrologists.

Managing CKD

“The kidneys are the body’s filter similar to the filter in a car that helps keep the car engine clean,” explained Board Certified Nephrologist Dr. Alfred Ajise. “The job of the kidneys is to remove waste from the blood and produce urine that carries the waste to the bladder and then out of the body. When the kidneys begin to fail, a person will still produce urine for a while but will begin to lose the ability to filter the blood. Eventually, the ability to produce urine becomes impaired, resulting in severe fluid buildup in the legs and throughout the body, including the lungs.”

Nephrologists help patients by diagnosing and treating the cause of kidney disease with the hope to stabilize the kidney and/or improve kidney function through the management of hypertension, nutrition, exercise, and medication management.

Know the Warning Signs of CKD

If you notice any changes in the amount or frequency of your urination, you should see your doctor. Watch for changes in color, foamy urine, or any odors.

Get a routine physical and have your urine checked for blood and protein– both can be signs of kidney disease.

Many people also experience lower back pain.

Make a Commitment

Talk to your doctor about your kidney health. Watch your diet, limit additional salt, drink enough fluids to stay hydrated, and exercise. If you have other health issues such as high blood pressure, get regular blood pressure checks, take your medicine as prescribed and get enough exercise. For more information about your health, visit NRMChospital.org.

By Brad Dison

When Mary Porter was in her final year of high school, she wrote an essay entitled “The Influence of Misfortune Upon the Gifted.” She had no way of knowing how well that title fit the life of her son, William Sydney Porter. In 1882, twenty-year-old William Sidney Porter decided to relocate from Greensboro, North Carolina to rural Texas to alleviate his persistent coughing. While in Texas, William worked as laborer on a sheep ranch, as a surveyor, as a newspaper writer and cartoonist at the Houston Post, and finally, in 1891, as a paying and receiving teller for the First National Bank of Austin. During his tenure at the bank, William worked part time on a humorous weekly newspaper of his own creation called The Rolling Stone.

It was while he was working for the First National Bank of Austin that misfortune struck. In 1894, William’s boss accused him of embezzling $1,100.00. William defended himself as well as he could, but the bank’s accounting ledgers were rarely balanced due its “loose methods.” He explained that he had been a loyal employee of the bank for four years. There was nothing William could say that would save his job. After being fired, William worked on The Rolling Stone full time. He was lucky not to be prosecuted.

In 1895, William moved with his family to Houston to work at the Houston Post after The Rolling Stone failed to turn a profit. William’s luck ran out when the First National Bank of Austin was audited. After reviewing the bank’s ledgers, the federal auditor found evidence of embezzlement. William’s ex-boss told the auditor that William had been fired for embezzling money. William was indicted on the embezzlement charge and arrested in Houston. William’s father posted bail and William was released. His trial was set for July 7, 1896.

On the day before his trial was to begin, after much discussion with his wife, William fled to New Orleans then took a ship to Honduras. At the time, Honduras had no extradition treaty with the United States. William’s wife, Athol, and daughter, Margaret, were to join William in Honduras at a later date. Misfortune struck William again when his wife contracted Tuberculosis. Despite being a fugitive, William quickly returned to Austin to be with his wife. William’s wife, 29-year-old Athol Estes Porter, died on July 25, 1897.

While grieving over the loss of his wife, William stood trial for embezzlement. He tried to persuade anyone who would listen that he was innocent, but on February 17, 1898, he was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison. He began serving his prison sentence at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus, Ohio the following month. It must be noted that William’s predecessor in the job had a nervous breakdown and his successor tried to commit suicide. The First National Bank of Austin, the loosely-run bank in which William was convicted of embezzling of money, eventually failed.

William was able to turn the misfortune of prison into a fortunate situation. One newspaper reporter claimed “The prison term, to a man of Porter’s sensitive temperament and culture—he was of the best blood of Virginia and North Carolina—was crushing, yet it revived and stimulated his genius.” For the entirety of his prison term, William wrote short stories with a fervor. He knew no one would publish stories sent from a convicted criminal in the penitentiary, so William enlisted the help of a friend. Each time he completed a story, William mailed it to his friend. Upon receiving it, his friend discarded the prison envelope, addressed a new envelope to William’s publisher, and the publisher was none the wiser. To ensure that no one learned that the stories were written by a convict, William chose a pen name that he had used on occasion.

William’s stories became wildly popular. Newspapers proclaimed after his death that his “name and fame…is secure in American literature. He was one American writer who was touched with the fire of genius. After Poe, he was the greatest American master of the short story, and in depicting American life he excelled Poe and was equal to Mark Twain.” William entered prison “a man chastened by misfortune.” He emerged as an American icon, a man “whose genius had been stimulated and inspired.” William Sydney Porter became famous for stories such as “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Ransom of Red Chief,” and “The Caballero’s Way” in which he introduced his most famous character, Cisco Kid. His pen name was … O. Henry.

Sources:
1. Austin American-Statesman, August 1, 1897. P.3.
2. The Chattanooga News, November 3, 1916, p.4.

PHOTO: William Porter Working in the Teller Cage of First National Bank of Austin circa 1892

NATCHITOCHES:
Carol Ann Murphy Tynes
April 6, 1935 – March 26, 2022
Service: Thursday March 31 at 2pm at Memory Lawn Cemetery

Patsy LeRoy Longlois
November 19, 1932 – March 24, 2022
Service: Thursday, March 31 at 10 am at Weaver Cemetery in Flora

By Gary Mccollum

It burns my biscuits that Congress and our current POTUS are speaking of increased taxation on US oil producers.

As an Industry, we have been forced to find any areas where we can become more efficient, reduce costs, reduce down time, and make it profitable to be able to survive in a _$45 dollar a barrel oil. To remain profitable with a $2.75 MCF or MBT natural gas price.

Many things have been considered and implemented, from the basics of shopping vendors and getting bids to the extreme of attempting with some success to remote operations, and less we mention the ability to drill extreme horizontal plays that overall reduce the ROI over time producing more volume and lengthening the life of wells as opposed to just 20 years ago.

Now that the US Oil/Gas industry has become a much more efficient Has been able to sustain itself under attacks from “Green Energy Activists”, from OPEC increases in production attempting to break the back of US shale producers, even to limited investment and funding from financial institutions. We find ourselves under attack by the government that needs our services more than ever. They wish to tax the industry, preventing innovation, new exploration, and more efficient and more environmentally friendly drilling/extraction methods. The US Govt would rather spend money on Tankers, than pipelines. They would rather spend Billions of dollars with countries that would like nothing more than to destroy our country, than invest or just allow right of ways and pipelines to be put in place that are, by definition, much safer than Rail, Truck or Cargo ship. Also creating a much greener footprint.

In my humble opinion, I believe the “Green” issue is, for the most part, a cover story for the government and others who wish to shut down the largest producer of Natural Gas and Oil in the world. We (The USA) have reserves that are unmet on a global basis.

President Biden in a recent speech basically accused US oil producers of price gouging the public. How dare such a person, who has never spent a day in his life in an actual job, make such an accusation. He has no clue of the R&D it takes to be successful. How many issues/failures/dangers it takes to overcome and be successful. Yes, Oil is a lucrative business. It is also fraught with many failures over the past 130 (see Spindletop) years. Many oil companies have come and gone during that time. Many people’s lives have been lost and many lessons learned

Oil/Gas is responsible for the industrial revolution. If it weren’t for the Oil & Gas industry, World War II may have ended in a completely different fashion. (Special thanks to the “Roughnecks of Sherwood Forest” …A Fantastic TRUE story).

Over 6,000 products are made from oil. Does the US and its president wish to travel in time back to 1850? Think of the innovation that has occurred in your own lifetime. I am 57 years old. I think back to a time when we had “Party lines” on our phones, when black and white television was the norm, rabbit ears and aluminum foil were a thing. The first video game was pong and the internet was supposed to lead to a vast wealth of knowledge for the betterment of society, instead of being a bastion of… well I’ll not delve into this. My point is, none of this technology would be present without the sacrifice of the Oil & Gas industry.

The US President fails to recognize that it is not the US producers that set the price for oil. It amazes me that uncaring politician’s and the uneducated public believe this to be true. We need better social influencing / marketing in today’s society. I like to challenge anyone that I have a “discussion” with regarding the petroleum industry to attempt to live ONE day without the influence of oil and gas in their lives. Doing so is quit literally impossible. Please excuse my rant, but the constant bashing of an industry that has transformed the world into what it is today, irritates me to no end.

If you wish to lower prices at the pumps, encourage oil and gas exploration in the United States, limit/reduce regulation and allow access to the “9,000” existing drilling permits. There is no infrastructure to be able to access those “permits” so without lying to the public, the government is in fact lying to the public

Table scraps …

From the “You Really Aren’t Having A Bad Day” Files: It’s been nearly two weeks since several news services reported that two men at a Tennessee farm were killed by a “rampaging camel.” The farm housed several kinds of animals and no reason was given for the camel’s rampage. The bottom line is that, if you get attacked by a camel, and in Tennessee of all places, it ain’t your day…

A baseball team I follow has some long bus trips so I suspected it would be thoughtful and different to get them some playing cards along with some silly things, games children play with like Etch-A-Sketches and a magnetic checker set and some Wooly Willy drawing games, the ones where you put the “magic wand” against the plastic and it pulls little slivers of iron where you want them to go so you decorate the face of Willy. And then I thought how that was the stupidest idea I’d ever had—and it’s a long line—because all these dudes do is play on their phones and listen to music. Would have been a great idea—in the mid-80s…

Can’t give you the link here ’cause we don’t want you jumping to another site BUT in honor of these first days of spring, take 30 seconds and find “Welcome, Sweet Springtime: The Andy Griffith Show” on YouTube or the site of your choice and listen to Barney, very flatly, usher in the new season. Good ol’ 14A in your songbook. Never gets old …

To paraphrase Kris Kristofferson, my NCAA Tournament Bracket woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold its head that it didn’t hurt. Over the span of 48 hours, from the Opening Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament through Saturday of the Second Round, my little black-and-blue bracket went from “tightness in the joints” to “full body cast.” …

BUT … to paraphrase singer-songwriter Travis Tritt, “Here’s a quarter, call someone who cares.” Because no one cares about your NCAA bracket. No one but you cares that you had Kentucky and flamed out on ascent or that you pulled a rabbit out of the hat and picked St. Peter’s. No one even cares if your bracket is leading in any of the groups you have joined, because everyone knew SOMEbody was going to win—somebody besides them. Nobody knows the trouble your bracket has seen—but no gives the slightest rat’s rip either. If it makes you feel any better, anything your bracket can do, mine can do worse. We might be enjoying the first days of spring, but it remains a cold, cold world. (Just ask anyone who’s been attacked by a camel, hard by the Tennessee River)…

Speaking of hoops, one good thing that’s come from the pandemic is that very few men’s basketball coaches wear coats and ties on the sidelines anymore. They dress down. They used to look like they were going to call time out, then take up offering. Most women’s coaches still dress up for games, but for them, dressing down is still dressing up when compared to guys. We like to think we’re dressed up if we have our shoes tied…

Country Music Hall of Famer and perpetual wonder woman Dolly Parton has teamed with bestselling author James Patterson to write a climbing-the-charts mystery, “Run, Rose, Run,” a novel about a young female singer with hopes to make it big, but a secret from her past might destroy her. I’m good as long as the secret isn’t that she killed Porter Wagoner…

For all you Bracket Folk, good luck this weekend in the Sweet 16 (and no, do NOT tell us who you’ve picked; it’ll save us both the embarrassment).

And, if at all possible, stay away from camels: any one of them might have picked Kentucky or Wisconsin to win it all and be in a surly mood.

Welcome, Sweet Springtime.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

While retirement planning isn’t just about saving.  It isn’t just about tax planning.  Social Security effects almost everyone. 

Statistics show approximately 90% of those currently receiving Social Security did not maximize their benefits.  Current regulations allow for close to 300 options for a married couple to draw these benefits.  What is the right answer for you?  Begin drawing early?  Wait, but to what point to gain the most dollars?  Can you still work and receive Social Security? Some of the answers to these common consumer questions may surprise you.

 If you are a Louisiana state employee or a public educator, you and your spouse both maybe adversely effected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO)?  Both WEP and GPO reduce the Social Security benefits you actually receive each month.  What you don’t know really can hurt you. 

 An informed decision is always a better decision.  Call for your own complementary Social Security retirement benefit analysis and personal consultation to select the best option for you and your family!

Contact Reinette Today!

Samuel Wilson was born in 1766 in Arlington, Massachusetts, then one of the North American colonies of the British Empire.  Tension between the mother country and the American colonies was a topic of discussion in the Wilson home even before Samuel was born.  In 1765, the year before Samuel Wilson was born, the Parliament of Great Britain imposed a direct tax on the American colonies.  The Stamp Act required almost all printed materials including legal documents, newspapers, magazines, and even playing cards, to have an embossed revenue stamp.  Printed materials not containing the revenue stamp were contraband and deemed illegal.  More taxes and other forms of control followed including the Townshend acts, the Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, and the Quebec Act.  The situation had reached a boiling point, and in February of 1775, nine-year-old Samuel’s home state was declared to be in a state of rebellion.  Two months later, large-scale fighting erupted at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.  

Samuel wanted to do his part, but he was too young.  The fighting continued for six long years when, in March of 1781, fourteen-year-old Samuel joined the Continental Army.  As a young soldier, most of Samuel’s responsibilities were focused on the Army’s cattle, their main supply of fresh meat.  He mended fences, made sure the cattle were healthy and properly fed, and slaughtered and packed the meat for transportation.  One of his most important duties was to guard the cattle against enemy saboteurs.  It was common for enemies to steal or poison an enemy’s cattle as well as their supply of meat. 

The War for Independence ended in October of 1781 when Cornwallis surrendered at the Siege of Yorktown.  Following the war, Samuel and his brother moved to Troy, New York where they operated several successful businesses.  In 1793, drawing on his experience in meat packing, Samuel and his brother, Ebenezer, opened what became a profitable meat packing business under the name of E & S Wilson on the Hudson River.  Company profits increased when Samuel and his brother built a loading dock for ships on the river. 

In June of 1812, America clashed with the British again in what is called the War of 1812.  The United States Army was again in need of fresh meats.  Samuel’s company received a one-year contract to supply 2,000 barrels of pork and 3,000 barrels of beef to the Army.  When the contract expired, the Army appointed Samuel as meat inspector to ensure the meats were fresh and properly packed.  He stamped each barrel of meat with a company insignia and the letters “U.S.” for United States.  Soldiers in New York, many of whom were from the Troy area, recognized the company’s insignia and knew the meat had been inspected by Samuel.  Local soldiers proudly nicknamed the U.S.-stamped barrels of meat after Samuel.  Word quickly spread throughout the ranks and the nickname evolved to include anything which displayed the U.S. stamp.  Samuel Wilson, a man who ensured that American soldiers received fresh, safe meat during two wars, was the origin of the image of a man which represents the United States itself.  Because Samuel stamped each barrel of meat with “U.S.”, and because of the nickname the soldiers called him, on September 15, 1961, the United States Congress adopted the following resolution: “Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives that the Congress salutes [Samuel] Wilson of Troy, New York, as the progenitor of America’s National symbol of Uncle Sam.”

Sources:

1.  “United States Nicknamed Uncle Sam.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, November 24, 2009. Last modified November 24, 2009. Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-nicknamed-uncle-sam.

2.  “Uncle Sam.” Visit the Main Page. Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Uncle_Sam.

Inflation is high. Something we all see when we go to the gas pumps, grocery store, pay our utility bills etc. Year over year inflation for February was at 7.9% according to the Government. As per Shadow Stats it’s over 16% using the same metrics they used in 1980. This isn’t including Food prices which in some cases are up between 15% and 100% on some items. You may be able to purchase the same items for the same price but if you pay attention, you will see a dramatic decrease in the amount of product you are getting for the same amount of money. For example: Not even a year ago, I purchased a 4 pack of canned chicken, just recently I picked up a 2 pack of canned chicken for one dollar more than I picked up the 4 pack for. The Fed just raised interest rates by .25% (25 basis points) This isn’t going to accomplish anything in the fight for inflation, with the amount of Government debt if it went to where it needs to go to deter inflation the Federal Government couldn’t afford to pay the interest on our debt. Fed Chair J.Powell stated, in his latest statement, that inflation is going to get much worse before it gets better

I won’t devolve into politics, just the facts. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine produce approximately 12% of the world’s calories, 30% of the world’s wheat and 70% of the world’s cooking oils. Russia produces 90% of fertilizer used throughout the world. The sanctions on Russia, will prevent us from importing fertilizer from Russia and our large industrial farms may have issues in the coming years producing enough food for the American people. This also doesn’t take into account the oil and natural gas that is exported throughout the world (Europe and the USA)

The US has already converted tens of thousands of acres to corn (for ethanol) production. This corn isn’t the best for human consumption. Without wheat/corn the US is no longer the breadbasket of the world.

China has been in talks with Saudi Arabia about purchasing oil for Yuan. If this goes through it will be a huge detriment to the Dominance for the US Dollar as the world’s reserve currency. We are a debt society, the banks aren’t paying any interest on your savings, bonds aren’t paying any interest to hold onto for 2, 5, 10 or 30 years. We are currently seeing an inversion in the bond market. Basically, a short term bond is paying more interest than a long term bond. Why is this important? This is historically an indicator of an oncoming recession. The government has reduced our GDP forecast to 0.0% and our Debt on the books exceeds 30 trillion dollars. We’ve outsourced our manufacturing to other countries. China, India, South Korea, Indonesia, etc. Again, I won’t get into the politics of this, but it has crippled or left vulnerable the United States. For example, China is now beginning to raise prices (well beyond inflation) on antibiotics and many of the medicines we need daily.

It’s no secret that China and Russia are currently in a quasi-alliance with each other. They are two of the largest countries in the world with vast natural resources. Minerals being one of them. They have both been stockpiling gold and getting rid of US Treasury notes. China has stockpiled 50% of the world’s grain over the last year or possibly more. They both frequently under report the amount of Gold / Silver they hold in their own central banks. Both countries have multiple mines for these resources.

All these things being discussed, create a possibility for a great famine, rise in inflation and possibly the destruction of the West without even firing a shot. That being said, the threat of shots being fired towards the West have already been made by Russia. I wish to help you get prepared a little bit. Things aren’t going to get cheaper. I remember the 70’s and we still had penny candy. 10 cent ice cream cones at McDonalds and gasoline WAY under a dollar a gallon.

A lot of folks can spend a couple of hundred extra dollars a week on necessities and many can’t. I wish to show you how with just $25 extra you can buy 2-4 weeks of food for your family.

Also, when you can buy extra canned goods (they last years longer than the “best buy date”) Buy soups, stews, pasta sauce, pasta, multivitamins, soap, toothbrushes/toothpaste, OTC drugs such as Ibuprofen, aspirin, triple antibiotic ointment, first aid supplies, etc. by doing this and stocking your pantry a bit at a time you may be able to stave off or reduce the upcoming disaster I believe is imminent.

Grow a garden, get with neighbors, and grow a community garden. Learn some skills that have been forgotten. How to can, how to preserve meats via smoking /dehydrating, learn to trap, fish, hunt. If you don’t know these skills there are many in our community that do and can help you, if possible, get chickens. (a small flock of 6 hens can lay enough eggs for a family of four to have 3/day with extra for 2-3 years),. You only need a rooster if you wish to have chicks. rabbits are easy to keep. 2 does and 1 buck can feed your family meat all year long.

Prepare yourself. Get right with your walk with God! Be confident. Stay calm, Don’t panic, become self-sufficient. Spend time with family and friends. Become a group of likeminded people and become prepared.

There are many different scenarios that could play out in the future. The best option is to not live in fear (except of God) but to be ready for what may come. I was always told to expect the worst and hope for the best. I’ve lived through volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, the cold war, 9-11, Iraq, Afghanistan and of course the recent pandemic. If you buy some extra food to be prepared and nothing happens, look at it as an investment as food is not going to get less expensive.

Lastly, provide security for your family/community. There will come a time when you may have to.

SABINE:
Pamela D. Salter
June 20, 1959 – March 20, 2022
Service: Wednesday, March 23 at 2 pm at Little Flock Baptist Church

NATCHITOCHES:
Preston “Rusty” Milam, Jr.
October 22, 1957 – March 20, 2022
Service: Thursday, March 24 at 10 am at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Arthur Welch
Viewing: at 10a, March 26, 2022; First Baptist Church, 508 Second Street, Natchitoches
Service: at 11am, March 26, 2022; First Baptist Church, 508 Second Street, Natchitoches
Mask will be required

Pamela Dawne Gourdon
January 23, 1951 – March 20, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, March 24 from 5-8 pm at the Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home
Recitation of the Holy Rosary: Thursday, March 24 6:30 pm in theBlanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home chapel

Stephen Andrew Champagne
January 12, 1950 – March 15, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 26 at 1 pm at Beulah Methodist Church

WINN:
James Lee Hyatt
July 27, 1943 – March 17, 2022
Service: Friday, March 26 from 5-7 pm at the Colfax RV Park in Colfax

The Tiger’s Powerlifting team is making the final preparations to go head-to-head and bring  home the 2022 State Champion Trophy on Thursday, March 24 at ULM in Monroe, LA. A victory  on Thursday would be a repeat of their 2021 State Champion Title. The competition is fierce,  but they are ready. The 11-man team will compete in (8) weight classes. Unlike other high  school sports, powerlifting teams, compete in the same division whether a public or private  school. Divisions are then determined by student population. Many High School Powerlifting competes in Division 4. These athletes have just three short months of specific weight training  for this sport. Led by returning Seniors and outstanding power lifters, London Williams,  Sardavion Darwin, Ethan Williams and Evan Williams, this team has the determination and drive  to win it all again. Head Coach, Jesse Curtis is dedicated to proper lifting form and demands safe  lifts before increasing in weight. Now, when it counts most, he has confidence he can push each  competitor to their full potential. 2022 MHS Powerlifting Team freshmen competing in 114lb. weight class are Demario “Deuce” Woods and Jeremiah Williams, followed by Sophomore  Chase Higginbotham lifting in 123lbs. weight class. Ethan Williams, a senior and Kentavious  Maxie, sophomore both lift in the 132lb. bracket. Sardavion “Dayday” Darwin, senior lifts in the  148lb class and London Williams, a senior, lifts in the 165lb. class and is expected to lift record  weights in Monroe. Juniors, Cole Pickett and Dutch Kor will be competing in the 181lb. group.  MHS Junior, Colton Boswell lifts at 198lbs. and competing in the 275lb. class is MHS Junior, Adam Miller. Evans Williams, a Senior is the team manager after a football injury sidelined him  for the powerlifting. Everyone is welcome to attend the 2022 LHSSA Powerlifting State  Championship. The event will be held on Thursday, March 24 at University of Louisiana  Monroe, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana 71209 in Fant Ewing Coliseum. Results will  be posted in real time on http://lhspla.net/. Let’s get together and cheer on the Many Tigers to  a repeat victory.

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that John Matthew Tatum, 45, of Converse, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Donald E. Walter to 63 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy in Sabine Parish between August 2020 and May 2021.

Tatum pleaded guilty on November 18, 2021 to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, following an investigation by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office.

On May 6, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant upon Tatum’s residence and located a safe containing approximately 413 net grams of pure methamphetamine. Also found in Tatum’s possession were 22 firearms, including a stolen handgun inside his vehicle, and cash proceeds from drug sales.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cadesby B. Cooper and Mike Shannon.

**Interested students are encouraged to apply before March 25 deadline**

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is still accepting applications for membership from high school students who have an interest in representing the voices of other young people around the state. High school students from around Louisiana are encouraged to apply before the deadline on March 25, 2022. LYAC is an annually appointed body composed entirely of students that tackle issues affecting the youth of Louisiana.

The purpose of LYAC is to facilitate the communication between youth and the legislature, and to give students a unique opportunity to be involved in the workings of state government. The council studies and addresses a variety of issues of importance to young people such as education, mental health, civic engagement, the environment, and school safety.

Members of the council are selected from a wide pool of statewide applicants who display a strong interest in civic involvement. The thirty-one-member council includes three students representing each of the six congressional districts and the remaining members serve at large. Applicants must be between the ages of fourteen and nineteen and enrolled in a public or private high school, charter school, home school, or GED skills program during the 2022-2023 school year.

The deadline to apply is March 25, 2022, and available spots are limited. The application may be accessed at civiced.louisiana.gov and then by clicking on LYAC at the top of the page. All applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters in addition to the eight short essay questions and application form. For additional information, please contact Megan Bella at bellam@legis.la.gov or 225-342-2370.

MARCH 8

Converse 14 (4-2)
Southwood 4 (2-5)

North Desoto 18 (6-3)
Florien 1 (2-2)

CONVERSE TOURNAMENT

MARCH 10, 11, 12

Converse 13 (5-2)
Stanley 1 (2-4)

Logansport 5 (5-5)
Converse 3 (5-3)

Zwolle 17 (6-2)
North Caddo 2 (4-4)

Zwolle 10 (7-2)
Logansport 0 (5-6)

MANY TOURNAMENT

MARCH 10, 11, 12

Rosepine 17 (7-2)
Florien 0 (2-3)

Many 12 (9-0)
Florien 2 (2-4)

DeQuincy 14 (7-3)
Florien 3 (2-5)

Many 6 (10-0)
DeQuincy 5 (7-4)

Rosepine 5 (9-2)
Many 1 (10-1)

HICKS TOURNAMENT

MARCH 10, 11, 12

Hicks 10 (3-0)
Negreet 0 (0-4)

Pitkin 25 (5-3)
Negreet 2 (0-5)

An online phlebotomy technician training course through Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will begin in Natchitoches on April 25.
This course is designed to teach entry-level phlebotomy skills to students interested in pursuing a career in phlebotomy. Students are required to complete classroom instruction and 50 venipunctures before they will be allowed to take the board exam.

This nine-week course begins with a mandatory face-to-face orientation class meeting in South Hall on NSU’s Natchitoches campus on April 25. There will be six weeks of online classroom instruction followed by a face-to-face hands-on portion that will meet June 6-10 in South Hall from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Once the skills/hands-on portion has been completed, students will be given two weeks to obtain their required clinical time. Clinicals will be held from June 13-24 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. and are scheduled by the instructor. Clinicals may last from two days to two weeks per student.

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be eligible to take the National Board Certification Exam on-site through the American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals. This course also includes Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through the American Heart Association. There is a possibility of random drug screening at the student’s expense at clinical sites.

Requirements for the course include proof of high school diploma, GED, or official transcript and the payment of a $150 National Board Certification and material fee to the instructor at the first face-to-face class meeting. This fee is in addition to any registration fees. Those taking the class must have a set of solid scrubs for clinical days. The scrubs can be of any color and should not be purchased after class begins. An electronic book is available at no cost and will be posted in the online class.

The fee is $950 plus the $150 National Board Certification and material fee due at the first class meeting. A minimum payment of $475 must be included with registration and does not include the material fee or board fee. The remaining balance must be paid prior to Monday, Monday, June 6.

For more information call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.

The National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom accepted Magnolia and Oakland Plantations, managed by Cane River Creole National Historical Park, as two of over 700 sites, programs, and facilities within the Network. The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom is a federal program that commemorates the stories of the men and women who risked everything for freedom and those who helped them. It honors, preserves, and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight worldwide.

“Magnolia and Oakland Plantations preserve powerful and emotional stories about the struggle for freedom,” said Chief of Interpretation Barbara Justice. “These are stories of courage and determination that show how enslaved people actively fought against enslavement and challenged systemic racism in our nation.”

Although written documentation is scarce, Magnolia Plantation is associated with escapes by enslaved Africans during the 1804 Insurrection from Rivière aux Cannes (Cane River), where at least 30 enslaved people left the plantations of Maria Dupre, Alexis Cloutier, Emmanuel Derbanne, Ambroise LeComte, and Louis Derbanne. These freedom seekers crossed the LeCompte (Magnolia) Plantation land enroute to Los Adaes (another Network to Freedom site) and sought freedom in Spanish Texas. The plantation is also associated with an 1863 freedom seeker named Anderson who escaped with two others named Arnold and Alfred from adjacent plantations.

Oakland Plantation is unique in that several historical records remain, helping piece together what life would have looked like at the plantation. However, the written records are primarily from the perspective of the white, planter class of the Prud’homme family and there are few mentions of the enslaved population. The few records that do remain indicate that several enslaved people escaped to freedom, just prior to the end of the Civil War. During the 1864 Red River Campaign, thirty-six enslaved men, women and children left with the U.S. soldiers as the army moved through the area. Edmo, Andrew, Charles, Cesaire, Jules Russel, Seraphine Edmonds, and Collins Page are a few of the named individuals that escaped to freedom during that time. Though there may be other undocumented freedom seekers from earlier years, there is no mention of them.

The grounds of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nearly eighty original buildings remain, many open for self-guided tours from Wednesday through Sunday, including several that are historically furnished. Park staff conduct tours of the plantation grounds daily Wednesday through Sunday. In addition, the park offers a cell phone tour. The Oakland Main House is open for self-guided tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Magnolia Main House is privately owned and is not open to the public. For more information call the park at 318-352-0383, ext. 316.

SABINE:
Earl Ray Carver
July 13, 1953 – March 18, 2022
Service: Monday, March 21 at 1 pm at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel

NATCHITOCHES:
Stephen Andrew Champagne
January 12, 1950 – March 15, 2022
Service: Saturday, March 26 at 1 pm at Beulah Methodist Church

Tonya Gene Reese
July 8, 1967 – March 15, 2022
A celebration of her life will be held by her family and friends on her birthday July 8 at her home in Flora.

Arthur Welch, Jr.
Repast: First Baptist Church, 1116 Amulet Street, Natchitoches at 10am, March 26, 2022.
Burial: Fern Park Cemetery, March 26, 2022

Hardrick Rivers
Service: Monday, March 21, 2022 at the Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 at 11am. The casketed remains will lie in state from 9:00 a. m. until service time.