The Northwestern State University Foundation will hold the popular spring fund raiser Flavor of Louisiana on Friday, March 15 in Prather Coliseum. Flavor of Louisiana is a seafood extravaganza featuring samplings of seafood dishes prepared by chefs from around the state, along with options for non-seafood eaters, coffees, desserts, specialty cocktails, craft beers, music, dancing, raffles and silent auctions.

Flavor of Louisiana is presented in partnership with the Louisiana Seafood Board with special guest Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser. All proceeds go to support NSU student scholarships and faculty development.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $80 per person. Sales end March 14.

There was plenty of opportunity to be found for NSU students nearing graduation at the university’s career fair held at the Friedman student union Tuesday, February 27. The fair featured 40 employers, ranging from a mix of governmental agencies to private industry. Over 150 students took advantage of this opportunity to meet with recruiters and jump-start their careers after they earn their degrees.

NSU will also be sponsoring a career fair in the month of March for teaching positions.

One particularly noteworthy aspect of the career fair is the positive impression NSU alumni have made on their employers. Many of the recruiters were alumni who have done well and have been sent back to help recruit for their firms. Alumni doing well and making a good impression creates opportunities for the next generation of graduates.

January 1, 1977 — February 22, 2024

Chasity Dianne Hassan, 47, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at her home in Robeline, LA. She was born on January 1, 1977, in Natchitoches, LA to her parents Joseph Benson Harrell Jr. and Sherry Dianne Teague Harrell.

By Jeanni Ritchie

Ordinary Angels, a faith-based Lionsgate film, tells the true story of  “snow baby” Michelle Schmidt and the community effort to save her life after Louisville is hit by a major snowstorm during the 1994 North American cold wave.

Struggling hairdresser Sharon Stevens, played by the award-winning Hillary Swank, is the titled angel in this story, her selfless heart and no-nonsense attitude displayed as she takes on the plight of Michelle’s widowed father to save his critically ill daughter’s life.

This is a true story, not a rom-com, so expectations of a love connection between the two should be left at home. This is a selfless love, that innate desire to find meaning and make a difference when an innocent child’s life is in danger.

 This is the story of what one woman’s determination can do to move mountains. The message is that we can all make a difference in the world, that we all have something to share if we are just brave enough to do so.

Swank plays one of life’s Ordinary Angels beautifully on screen. We should all play one in real life.

Ordinary Angels is playing nationwide at a theatre near you.

Jeanni Ritchie is a journalist on a journey, drawing inspiration from pop culture as well as her faith.

By Doug De Graffenried

Truth has always been true, right?

Let us ponder colors for infants. A truth regarding infants is that pink is the color for girls and blue is the color for boys. That has been true since WWII.

In the 19^th century, boys and girls were primarily clothed in white dresses. The color designation for children began appearing in the later part of 19^th century. The colors were opposite of what they are today.

In the early part of the 20^th century boys wore pink and girls wore blue. Baby books, new baby announcements and cards, gift lists, and newspaper articles from the early 1900s indicate that pink was just as likely to be associated with boy babies as with girl babies. For example, the June 1918 issue of the Infant’s Department, a trade magazine for baby clothes manufacturers, said: “There has been a great diversity of opinion on this subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy; while blue, which is more delicate and daintier is prettier for the girl.” Blue is also the color most associated with the Virgin Mary, which helped cement the idea of blue for girls.

The reversal of this trend occurred in the late 1940’s. The catalyst for this reversal was drab army green which was a primary color of uniforms for the military. During WWII, women entered the work force in societal shifting numbers. During WWII, the ladies had a limited color pallet for their clothing options. It seemed to the baby clothing gurus that pink would be much more appropriate for girls now. Pink was viewed as a softer color and thus more appropriate for females. It would help soften the army’s green world created by the war effort. One must ask what happened to cause the color shift. In the early part of the century blue was dainty and pretty and by the mid-century pink became dainty and pretty.

Can truth be a moving target? What is true today might not be true tomorrow? Is truth changed by a study or by our assent to the results of the study? Take wine for instance. Is wine good for you or bad for you? It depends on which study you are reading. Each new study contradicts the previous study.

Here is a novel idea, why not trust your common sense? Humans thrived for thousands of years before the advent of “a scientific study.” Living joyously and freely is about using good common sense. 

Living in a world in which the truth is stranger than it used to be is not easy, but there is hope. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.” The truth He described was not about a construct, but about a person. Do you follow the One who spoke and lived truth? His truth is the only source of freedom.

It is true!

I would like to preface this article by letting you know it might be a little long, but worth the read….enjoy!

Over my many years of fishing Pro/Am bass tournaments, I have run across some very interesting characters. For me, one of the most intriguing parts of fishing these types of tournaments is the people you meet, anglers you get to spend eight hours with inside a bass boat. It’s an opportunity to learn even if they are a novice angler in terms of skills. Most are very cordial and pleasant to be around. But then there are the ones who you can’t get out of your boat soon enough.

I’ve only had two that fall into the category of “get off my lawn” or in my case “get out of my boat!” One angler I had the pleasure of drawing was at a National Championship event on Red River. That’s right, a huge event in my backyard and I was in position to win. After day one, I was sitting in 3^rd place going into the final day just a little less than three pounds behind the leader. My day one partner (co-angler) was an awesome guy and we both had good 5-fish limits as he was sitting in 4^th on the co-angler side of the event. We had a great time and a great day while enjoying each other’s company.

Then day 2 rolled around and I drew a Tennessee co-angler who turned out to be the co-angler from hell. For me, it usually doesn’t take long to get a feel for how someone will be simply by his demeanor. Unaware of this co-angler’s crazy reputation, I had a bad feeling from the second he “jumped” into my boat, and I literally mean “jumped” into my boat. This guy was hyped up on some kind of drug or he must have had 15 cups of coffee that morning.

He had 15 rods and 4 tackle boxes along with a huge thermos ( I can only assume was coffee), almost a complete change of clothes, and enough food to feed a small nation. It was as if Boy Scout Tennessee Ted was now in my boat and prepared for any and all situations including an attack on US soil.

You must remember, this was at a time in my life when I had zero patience and a low tolerance for craziness…. which will be revealed here shortly. As I helped the angler get situated with all his gear, he started talking and pacing on the back deck of my boat at such a high rate of speed, I thought my carpet was going to catch on fire. He also spoke a language that I think was a combination of Italian and southern slang. Either way, we had trouble communicating from the start.

I was already frustrated with this guy, and we had not even left the boat dock yet. It was all I could do to prepare myself mentally for eight hours with the crazy man from Tennessee. Finally, it was time to go fishing which meant I would get at least ten minutes of peace while we ran to our first fishing spot. We stopped on the river to fish a certain piling next to a rock jetty.

This one specific piling for some reason held a good bass on it every time I fished it and was a great place to start each day. Sure enough, on my first cast I hooked a 3-pound bass and as I swung the fish into the boat Tennessee Ted decided to make a cast past the front of the boat to the same piling.

Now there are rules in most Pro/Am tournaments that don’t allow for a co-angler to make casts past the pro/boater in the front of the boat. But he decided to ignore this simple rule and proceeded to catch a 4-pound bass off the same piling, which really irritated the hell out of me! I expressed my displeasure with him and reminded him of the rule. He sincerely apologized and I reluctantly forgave him, but also reminded him to please not do that again.

So, now that he had been reminded of the rules, we made stop number two on a cut just off the river. I made one cast into the cut and caught a 2 ½ pound bass! Well low and behold, Tennessee Ted struck again by flipping his spinnerbait into the same cut past the front of the boat and catches a 3-pound bass! Now I’m really ticked off and proceeded to reprimand him with a few extra choice words that you might hear in a locker room. Once again, he gave another full apology for his bad judgment as I continued to pull the trolling motor up and head for my next stop.

Then on our fourth or fifth stop, not sure due to my state of mind, I hooked a four-pound bass on a spinnerbait and as I swung the bass into the boat, I hear a cast go within inches of my ear as his bait hit the water twenty feet in front of the boat! After I dropped my fish into the livewell, I simply reached up, grabbed his fishing line with my hand and bit his line in two! That’s right, I was done and so was the bait at the other end of his line that fluttered to the bottom of Red River like a wounded baitfish.

Tennessee Ted was in shock as I quietly stepped back onto the front deck and began to make a cast as if nothing had ever happened. I truly believe, for the first time in his life, he was speechless. He then asked me why I did that? I told him that after three warnings, I had run out of both patience and forgiveness and needed to make sure he understood what I meant by “do not cast past the front of the boat!” He was then told that if he continued to break the rules, I would not sign his weigh slip at the weigh-in, therefore getting him disqualified.

Sometimes you must take matters into your own hands (no pun intended) in order to make a point. He finally calmed down, which I think was due to the fact his thermos was empty, and he did not have a whole lot to say the rest of the day. This was music to my ears as I continued to fish hard trying to win this event. While I caught my limit for the day, I was unable to overcome the three-pound deficit, falling short by less than a pound.

Ever since this event, I have made it a point to remind all my co-anglers about specific rules they may have forgotten. So far, this has worked in my favor, saving me and my sanity, by making sure they know the rules. It’s also saved my co-anglers a few baits by getting their line bit in two! Till next time, good luck, good fishing and I hope you never have to fish with a Tennessee Ted!

Steve Graf                                                                                               

Angler’s Perspective

By Brad Dison

Mary Louvenia Bynog Gandy
July 16, 1938 — February 25, 2024
Service: Friday, March 1 at 12 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Chasity Dianne Hassan
January 1, 1977 — February 22, 2024
No service information

Donna Suzanne Deville
June 6, 1962 — February 2, 2024
Service: Saturday, March 2 at 1 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Sherald Lloyd Hicks
January 16, 1938 — February 25, 2024
Service: Thursday, February 29 at 1 p.m. at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home

Doris Robinson
February 25, 2024
Service: Saturday, March 2 at 2 pm in the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 318 North Street in Natchitoches

John Timothy Evans
March 11, 1966 — February 21, 2024
Service: Monday, March 4 at 1 pm at Blanchard- St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Perhaps you would like to know? Andrew J. Hodges began his enterprise with a little over 100,000 acres of cutover land in Vernon and our surrounding parishes. He was to participate in and encourage the reforestation of these hills. He and his bride, Nona Triggs Hodges, loved to scout around in the heart of the acreage (approximately 4,700 acres) that they ultimately kept for themselves. 1,500 acres within these was to become the boundary of the “Garden in the Forest.” An old stone quarry (a curious 60-acre abandoned quarry) supported their curiosity. Ancient Longleaf pines still stand where the boulders and vistas enjoy an astonishingly dramatic landscape. Here they built the formal gardens, Hodges Gardens. Old timers remember these gardens with their waterfalls, lookouts and unique plant collections. Upon their death, the gardens went to their family via an endowed foundation. This plan went forward covering the cost of running one of America’s truly great garden wonders. For forty years the public enjoyed Andrew and Nona’s great works with pride. After all, it was out in the middle of nowhere. The guest ledger held names from the Atlantic to the Pacific! It was loved and adored.

After the family was unable to continue the plan, Hodges Gardens became a Louisiana State Park, whose funding also dried up after yet another shorter but decent run. The garden, as it had been known, closed in 2017. Or did it?

The family’s non-profit foundation took over yet again, and the Board members and their families went to work with a very challenged lifeline. New directions were required to stay afloat, so to speak. A. J. Hodges’ grandson, “Andy,” has pine trees in his DNA. The new direction was to focus on the ecological plant associations of the Longleaf pine forest. Today, this forest is the largest privately managed Longleaf stand west of the Mississippi River. It is astonishing to behold. What’s more, it is actually helping to pay its way. The core gardens have not survived, but significant potential to realize something new is still possible. The most encouraging aspect of the gardens, and the original acres nearby, is the program to share the place once again with the public. That is to say, the new Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center is set up to support research groups, nature study groups, birders and butterfly folks, universities, and other educational classes, and so on. They have a new, refurbished lodge for overnight guests. I was even fantasizing about our Gallery 111 artists dropping in for a session. We would be most welcome. The dynamic, young land manager, Mr. Rodney McKay, welcomes guests and programs that foster appropriate uses. Indeed, a dozen programs are already underway thanks to his energy and commitment. A. J. Hodges’ granddaughter, Nona Dailey, met me there yesterday, and we will be working together with the land manager to imagine where the old core gardens might head. It’s all pretty exciting.

James Turner is a local author, artist, builder, historian, and landscape architect.  His most recent novel, Wolf Rock Cave, takes place in the prehistoric forests in Vernon Parish.

By Doug De Graffenried

“Eight dollars and five cents!”

I said it loudly and with all the patience I could muster without using unforgivable four-letter words. A commentary on the American educational system was playing out right in front of me.

They both looked at me like I was speaking in tongues.

I repeated myself, “Eight dollars and five cents! You owe the man eight dollars and five cents in change.” I was thinking that this was not brain surgery or rocket science.

I was shopping at a grocery store, which shall remain anonymous. The nice lady at the register was exasperated. She was telling everyone who would listen that she needed a break. It was time for her break. She was late for her break. “Someone needs to come relieve me, so I can take a break.” Meanwhile the nice man in front of me made a purchase. He bought several packages of bottled water. His total came to eleven dollars and ninety-five cents. He did something rarely seen in grocery stores across America. He paid cash.

He gave her a twenty-dollar bill.

She tapped in the amount tendered and the machine gave her the answer for how much change he would receive. But before she gave him the money. She tapped in another set of numbers so that she could go on her break. Her “taking a break” numbers erased the man’s change numbers.

A nice manager walked over and said, “Why don’t you go on your break.”

She said, “I will as soon as I give this man his change.” Then she looked at the register which she had now “erased.” She looked down at the twenty like it was a creature that was going to bite off her arm. She started fumbling for a piece of paper to do mathematical computations. While she was fumbling for the paper and pencil. The manager was pulling out her phone and trying to get her calculator program up and running.

The customer was distracted. He was talking to a guy two checkout lanes over. He couldn’t see the mathematical mayhem brewing at the checkout line.

“Eight dollars and five cents. That is what you owe the man in change.”

“Oh.”

About that time calculator girl finished punching in her numbers and said, “You owe him eight dollars and five cents in change.”

I had done the math in my head two separate ways. I had done the math. I also “counted the change” back to the nice man in my head. My brain is slow. I do not have a high-powered processor up there. But counting change, c’mon man! The year I went to work at Sears they introduced electronic cash registers. They trained us on those marvels, which would do a transaction and “tell” the clerk how much to give in change. Our store manager insisted that all the employees needed to be able to “count back” the change to the customers. He was especially insistent that all his High School part-timers learn the “right way” to make change.

These two didn’t know how to “make change.”

I was struck at that moment by the awesome responsibility that rests upon the shoulders of teachers.

Even those of us who teach scripture know, “Not many of you should become teachers… for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” James 3: 1

(This is the first in a series on aging, or Getting On Up There. If you or a shriveled loved one are wondering how to get Social Security or Medicare or other things I know nothing about but need to explore, you are welcome to come along for the ride. Seems like one day you are coaching Little League and the next you are filling out complicated forms that will be some of the last forms you will ever fill out. Sobering. Will keep you in the loop every couple of months for a while — unless a vital organ vetoes that plan. Meanwhile, wrote this in 2010 when I was a spry 50. Those were the days…)

I am a half-century old. If my money math is correct, I can retire, somewhat comfortably, when I am 107.

Sweet!

By “somewhat comfortably,” I mean I’ll have to work only half-days by then.

Or teach myself how to get by without a few things. Like food.

(Air’s still free, right? Except at the gas station? Where is the gas station importing this air from that costs money?)

But that’s OK because I recently bit the prune and joined the American Association of Retired Persons, or AARP. I have the $16 cancelled check and a membership card to prove it.

Joy!

It would seem odd that a man would join a retired persons organization when that man plans to keep working for a while. But that is one of the beautiful things about AARP, besides our red, white and gray team colors and the fact that our shuffleboard squad is undefeated this season — you do not even have to be retired to join! Do you hear what I am saying, you AARP members out there with hearing aids turned up to “Say WHAT?” You don’t even have to be retired!

The AARP has been recruiting me with a vengeance for several years now. They’ve wanted me. Badly. It’s a good though unfamiliar feeling. 

First they sent random mail. “We’re keeping up with you. Good luck this year.” That sort of thing.

Then there were phone calls, first from AARP marketers, then from some of the higher-ups. I remember a particularly poignant call from one of the vice presidents on my 50^th birthday. “Boy, you are really getting UP there!” 

At first it was bothersome. But dogged sincerity won me over. A couple of guys in suits came to recruit me, to see how long it took me unravel myself and stand up straight on my way to the bathroom on any of the six trips I make there a night. They saw me take naps on Sunday afternoon, fall asleep in a drive-thru line, have trouble lifting things, like myself. 

With each limp, I impressed. You can’t coach this stuff, really. A lot of it is just natural aging ability.

Finally, there was the free swag, probably illegal, like my canvas “travel bag” that has “AARP” on the side and a pocket for cell phone, loose change, wallet, passport, contact information for my primary physician, and next of kin, dentures and Depends.

They beat me down, is what I’m saying. Made me an offer I was getting tired of refusing.

So last week, I made the call. “I’ve decided,” I said to the toll-free operator, “to take my talents to AARP.”

Somewhere, a dog barked.

So, I am in. At least until I’m out. And so far, I like it.

My Official Membership Card (in big-letter type) scans for discounts at restaurants and movies and the drugstore, and the association sends me a monthly magazine called “Geezer Illustrated.” (I’m joking! We old folk, we like to joke, we do.) It’s called “AARP The Magazine” and Harrison Ford (Indy Jones!) was on a recent cover that included stories like “Live Your Motorcycle Fantasy!” and “Your Doctor Is Stumped: Now What?”

Not bad for 16 bucks annually. Plus, online I’m kept informed on money matters and retirement issues, freeing me up for things I want to do in my never-able-to-retire state.

Anybody up for a game of shuffleboard? Or Stump the Doctor?

Over the years of doing my radio show, Hook’N Up & Track’N Down, we’ve had some great outdoorsmen who have shared their expertise on both hunting and fishing. They have come from all sorts of  backgrounds across this great country. With each guest we have always made a point to ask one specific
question: “Who had the biggest influence in you becoming an avid angler or hunter?” Most have said either their dad or grandfather, but some have named other important people in their lives who are responsible for their passion of the great outdoors.

Today, we’ll step back in time and look at how and who is responsible for my passion of the outdoors. At the age of 8, I was first introduced to hunting by my best friend’s dad. Tracy Owsley, or “Uncle Tracy” as I
referred to him, was an avid outdoorsman who took the time to take his son Kevin and I on our first squirrel hunt. It didn’t take long for each of us to inherit the nicknames “Lead Foot” and “Stumblebum.” Not sure who was which, but I’m sure we earned those nicknames based on our inability to
navigate through the woods quietly.

First, he taught us the importance of gun safety. We learned what direction to point the gun when hunting with others, how to leave the gun on safety until time to shoot, how to properly load a gun, how to cross a fence with a gun and to never point your gun at another person no matter what. These are
just a few of things he took the time to teach us.

Today’s young kids and teenagers are not as mature as my generation of the 1970s. By the age of 9, I hunted or fished by myself more times than I can count. I can’t imagine a 9-year-old kid heading into the woods with a shotgun or rifle today without supervision. Parents of my generation allowed
their kids a lot more freedom than parents of today.

This freedom allowed us to grow up and develop life skills quicker than today’s kids. Growing up, my generation also had more common sense, a trait which has virtually vanished over the last 20 years. We understood a good idea from a bad one. Now that’s not to say we didn’t do stupid things,
because we did. But we knew there was a fine line between dumb and crazy decisions that might not end well.

My fishing background was developed on what is known as farm ponds or tanks, as they are referred to in Texas. Our ranch had five fully stocked ponds that became the training ground for my obsession with bass fishing. My cousin and I spent many a day with walking from one farm pond to another all
day long, catching largemouth bass. He was an avid angler who introduced me to Bassmaster Magazine. By the age of 10, I was a subscriber to this publication that was full of great tips and techniques on bass fishing. I became a student of the sport and today I still subscribe to this same
magazine, along with the B.A.S.S. Times.

Make no mistake, to this day I still have a deep passion for the outdoors, but more on the fishing side since I decided to start fishing tournaments in 1990. I will still make an occasional trip to the woods, but I’m not as hard core on hunting like I used to be.

The problem today involves a time factor. There are just not enough hours in a day any longer to get things done. Today, we are too busy and no longer have the so-called “free time” when the world moved at a much slower pace back in the ‘70s. While I still enjoy an occasional hunting trip when time
allows, tournament bass fishing tends to consume a lot of my time since I want to be competitive. And believe it or not, my wife occasionally has a honey-do list of household chores that need to be handled.

It’s always good to take a moment to look back at where we came from. This is how we grow both as people and as outdoorsmen. It’s the experiences of our youth and our training ground that help to shape us into the people we are today. Whether it was a dad, uncle, grandparent or a friend, someone
took the time to introduce us to the hunting and fishing world. Without these mentors, we would just be lost souls wondering throughout the world looking for something to do.

‘Til next time, good luck, good fishing and make sure to check out Tackle Talk Live podcast, as well as the Hook’N Up & Track’N Down Show on YouTube.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com 

By Brad Dison

Volodymyr Palahniuk was born to Ukrainian parents in rural Pennsylvania. In his youth, he worked alongside his father in Pennsylvania coal mines. In the late 1930s, Volodymyr became a professional boxer under the alias Jack Brazzo because no one could pronounce, much less remember, Volodymyr Palahniuk. Volodymyr won his first 15 bouts, 12 of which were knockouts, before he lost by a close decision to future heavyweight boxer Joe Baksi. Punches by his opponents usually left Volodymyr’s face bruised, swollen, and bloody. “Then, I thought, you must be nuts to get your head beat in for $200.” (Adjusted for inflation, $200 in the late 1930s would be about $4,400 in today’s money.) Thus ended Volodymyr’s professional boxing career.

There was a more important reason for Volodymyr’s career change. In 1942, the world was in the midst of World War II. Volodymyr wanted to do his part for his country and volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps. In the following year, 1943, Volodymyr was among a group of airmen on a mission in a B-24 Liberator bomber. During the flight, something went horribly wrong. The full details of the crash have never been released, but one of his outboard engines purportedly failed during an air battle. The engine failure was just one in a series of unfortunate events which led to a fiery airplane crash. Volodymyr sustained severe facial and head injuries and burns. Newspapers reported that Volodymyr’s injuries were so severe that he required facial reconstruction. For his service, Volodymyr was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. After months in the hospital, Volodymyr was discharged from the military. Later in life, Volodymyr spoke vaguely about the crash. He mentioned the story about his airplane crash and repeated the rumor that his “face had to be put back together by way of plastic surgery. If it is a ‘bionic face,’” he quipped, “why didn’t they do a better job of it?” He also said of his airplane crash, “There are some moments you never get over. That was one of them.”

Following World War II, Volodymyr began studying journalism then drama at Stanford University under the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly called the G.I. Bill. Charles E. Miller, Volodymyr’s college roommate, remembered the wannabe actor “pacing back and forth past the fourth-floor windows as he rehearsed his lines for a play.” Volodymyr had a “face seemingly carved out of granite and a voice filled with equal parts gravel and menace.” In 1947, Volodymyr returned to the east coast and, due to his “distinctive looks and resonant voice,” got a part in The Big Two. In the following year, he acted in the Broadway production A Streetcar Named Desire, and eventually replaced Marlon Brando in the part of Stanley Kowalski. In 1950, he made his film debut in Panic in the Streets. Two years later, he was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of a villainous husband in Sudden Fear. Volodymyr’s menacing face and gravelly voice kept him working as film villains for the rest of his life. Four decades after his film debut, Volodymyr finally won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work as a villainous cowboy Curly Washburn in the Western Comedy City Slickers. As Volodymyr, then 73 years old, walked onstage to accept the Oscar, he suddenly dropped to the floor and performed several one-armed pushups. The audience roared with cheers and laughter.

As far as the story of his facial reconstruction following his airplane crash during World War II, Volodymyr would probably repeat the line he used to end every episode of the television show he hosted in the mid-1980s, “Believe it….or Not.” You and I know Volodymyr Palahniuk as Jack Palance.

Sources:

1. Brian Eule, “Requiem for a Heavy: Jack Palance was more than a good bad guy.” Standford Magazine, January/February 2007, accessed February 18, 2024, https://stanfordmag.org/contents/requiem-for-a-heavy#:~:text=He%20served%20as%20a%20bomber,journalism%2C%20but%20switched%20to%20drama.

2. “Jack Palance.” http://www.tcm.com. Accessed February 18, 2024. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/146687%7C76031/Jack-Palance#biography.‌

3. “Jack Palance – Biography.” IMDb. Accessed February 18, 2024. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001588/bio/.

Amy Louise Prudhome
December 1, 1942 — February 18, 2024
Service: Saturday, February 24 at 11 am at The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 145 Church Street in Natchitoches

Thurman Taylor
February 18, 2024
Arrangements TBA

Yemiah Hall
February 17, 2000 – February 15, 2024
Arrangements TBA

Earlene Turner
February 12, 2024
Visitation: Friday, February 23 from 6pm until 8pm at the New Zion MBC of Winnfield

Elizabeth Walker Johnson
July 10, 1937 — February 2, 2024
Service: Friday, February 23 at 1 pm at the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches

Doris Goodlatte Walmsley
April 8, 1939 — January 30, 2024
Service: Saturday, February 24 at 1 pm at Blanchard St Denis Funeral Home

The University Programming Council and The Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts at Northwestern State University will present a Taylor Swift Tribute concert featuring NSU alumna Sarah Jessica Rhodes on Thursday, February 15 at 6 p.m. in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. NSU students are admitted free with a current student I.D. Tickets for the general public are $25 and are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/twist-on-taylor-tickets-810202396177?aff=oddtdtcreator. 

Rhodes has been portraying Swift in her show “Twist on Taylor” for more than a decade and did her show in Las Vegas for the first time last year.

Fans call “Twist on Taylor” “the next best thing” when it comes to a Swift-themed concert. This live music experience includes a troupe of top-notch Las Vegas musicians and dancers. Hear all the hits, as well as some of your favorite deep cuts from all of Taylor’s eras. Whether you are a dedicated “Swiftie” or just a music-lover, you are sure to be entertained by this high-energy performance.

Rhodes is a singer, dancer, actor, MC, and choreographer in Las Vegas. She has appeared in a number of Las Vegas shows including “Raiding the Rock Vault” as a dancer and singer; as a swing for the Green Fairy character in “Absinthe;” as Ginger Spice the “Spice Wannabe” Spice Girls revival at Excalibur’s Thunderland Showroom; and in her own band SJ & The Ruckus.

Rodney Boswell, Lori Cumberland, Kim Boler, Bettina Troquille and Charlene Young, would like to introduce their new company and exceptional team members to the Natchitoches community and surrounding areas. 

IHS Group, an experienced tax and accounting firm, has four locations open in Natchitoches, Many, Pineville, and Leesville. 

“At IHS Group, we are committed to extending our assistance to individuals and companies, wherever they may be located,” said Boswell, who explained that he’s been building toward this new business venture for years.

With over 80 years of accumulated experience in the tax and accounting services field and 30 years of experience as a leadership coach, the IHS Group team is a force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re looking to improve your tax strategies, streamline your accounting processes, or enhance your leadership skills, IHS Group is here to guide you. This includes tax planning and strategy consulting, accounting services, payroll services, business consulting and leadership coaching.

“As an Enrolled Agent, I have the opportunity to help people and businesses maximize their tax benefits, ensuring they keep more of their hard-earned money,” said Kimbra Boler, EA.

At IHS Group, the vision is clear: We exist to inspire individuals to reach their full potential. We’re here to team up with entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them scale their business, save on taxes, and accumulate wealth. Our mission is to guide you through the intricacies of the accounting and tax industry while providing invaluable leadership coaching and consulting services.

“Rodney’s leadership skills are exceptional. He is invested in his team’s well-being and growth. He encourages everyone he meets to strive to reach their full potential,” said Catherine Whittington.

“We understand that your needs are unique, and we’re here to provide the right solutions to help you achieve your business goals,” Boswell added.

To get started and schedule a consultation TODAY, go online to www.ihsgroup.co or call 318-302-0879.

Once again out of frustration, I am going off course today and away from fishing to express my discontent with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. From the day I completed potty training, I was a Dallas fan. I earned how to spell Cowboys before my own name.

Since being labeled “America’s Team,” they have become the most valuable franchise in all of sports. The Cowboys set the standard for winning all through the 70s, 80s and 90s with five Super Bowl  championships. So why am I so disappointed with “MY” Dallas Cowboys?

Let’s first begin by looking at their history. They have the all-time highest winning percentage in the history of the NFL at 57.4. The Green Bay Packers are No. 2 at 57.2 followed by the Baltimore Ravens at 56.1. That being said, the ‘Boys have not won a Super Bowl since January 1996. That’s a
drought of 28 years by a franchise that prides itself on winning Super Bowls.

So, what’s the problem? Why are the Cowboys no longer winning Super Bowls? Not only are they not getting to the Super Bowl, but they also aren’t even getting to the NFC championship game which determines who goes to the Super Bowl. Despite all the coaching changes since the late 90s, Dallas is not any closer to winning a Super Bowl.

Of all the issues and the many excuses over the years, what is the one constant? We don’t have to look far. It’s the father-son duo of Jerry and Stephen Jones. I’m all for family-owned businesses, but every now and then you must be able to recognize your weaknesses and be honest with yourself.

After so many years of failure, you would think they would look in the mirror and realize it’s time to bring in a real general manager who knows football and can make educated decisions about selecting the coach and draft picks, and recommendations on who to hire for key positions within the organization. They need to put their egos aside and do what’s right for the organization. They owe that much to their fan base.

Since the worst divorce in all of sports between head coach Jimmy Johnson and team owner Jerry Jones, the Cowboys only have five playoff wins. Egos played a huge roll in the divorce, as neither were able to set aside their differences. Champagne bottles have remained in the wine cellar for 28 years since their last championship victory. We could dive deeper into the reasons Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson parted ways, but that would be a story for another day.

Jimmy left in 1995. The Cowboys won the Super Bowl the following year with head coach Barry Switzer. But it was Jimmy’s talent that allowed them to win their fifth Super Bowl. Since then, the Cowboys have hired one head coach after another looking for the secret recipe to winning a championship. Five
other head coaches have come and gone including a coaching legend in Bill Parcells. The Cowboy fan base thought Parcells would be the answer since he had won multiple Super Bowls and was a proven winner.

After being let go by Jerry Jones, the greatest departing quote ever heard came from Parcells when he made the following comment at his final press conference: “They want me to cook the dinner, but I can’t shop for the groceries.” What a great analogy, a shot directly at Jerry Jones for his controlling and meddling of football operations. This is why the Cowboys need to hire a true general manager.

As Cowboy fans, I think we are destined for failure as long as the Jones family is in charge. In 2008, in one of the last conversations I had with my dad, he said Jerry Jones would be the demise of the Dallas Cowboys due to his controlling nature as an owner. Sixteen years later, he’s been right so far.

The Cowboys have had great success in the regular season over the years, but for Dallas fans that’s not good enough. Their recent three straight 12-4 seasons is not good enough. Most NFL organizations would be shouting from the roof tops with that kind of regular season success. But when it comes to
the Dallas Cowboys, they are judged on winning Super Bowls, not just divisional titles.

We’re still waiting … and hoping.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By Doug De Graffenried

My ashes blew away.

That Ash Wednesday was a blustery day. I had agreed to do “drive by ashes” for those wanting to receive the Imposition of Ashes. I had ample ashes to do the “drive by ashes” from 6:30 until 7:30 a.m. I had the ashes on a flat dish. These ashes were a bit dryer than I like my ashes. Like gumbo in Louisiana, there are all sorts of recipes for the ashes used on Ash Wednesday. Some are very moist and very dark, almost like graphite. Other ashes are dry and gray in color. Our ash maker made some very dry ashes this year.

The morning passed without incident. People would drive up. I would walk the ashes out to their car. They would get out of the car, and I would say “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. Repent and believe the gospel.” I made the sign of the cross on their foreheads with the ashes. Because the ashes were dry, the finished product looked more like a smudge than the cross. I knew the recipe needed modification prior to the evening service.

As the morning progressed the wind picked up. One family pulled up and I imposed the ashes on them. They had their pet dog in the car and asked if he could get “ashed” on Ash Wednesday. I’m such a dog fan that I gave the pooch the full treatment. The dog didn’t get ashes, but I laid hands on him and blessed him. They got back in the car and drove off. They told me later the dog seemed to be calmer. 

As I walked back into the church I looked down at my ashes. They had blown away. I told you those ashes were dry. I was thankful that I was at the end of my allotted time. 

I bring this up because Ash Wednesday is on Valentine’s Day this year. That is always a tough call for those of you who have decided to fast from chocolate during Lent. Many of you will participate in an Imposition of Ashes service. The service is to remind us of our nature. We are dust and to dust we shall return.

It is a solemn and humbling service to officiate. I am reminded that I am mortal. I’m reminded that my friends, whom I love, are also mortal. I really don’t want to think about that. One day, we all end up like my Ash Wednesday ashes: blown away.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. The season of Lent calls us to repentance and preparation for Easter.

The risen Christ of Easter is our seal and promise that Jesus’ followers have eternal life. What seems blown away here on earth is gathered in eternity and made whole and fully alive in Christ. We start with ashes; we end with an empty tomb. It is the amazing story of One who overcame death and the grave and promises to do the same for us.

We tell the story every year because it is still true. 

I’m blown away thinking about it.

POSITION: Technology Support Specialist

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Associates degree or Military/Technical School Training in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field preferred
• 2+ years of experience in an administrative or technical support role
• Intermediate knowledge of LAN topographies and monitoring tools
• Strong familiarity with Apple iOS devices, MDM’s and their operation
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office including Access Database Management
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Ability to lift 30 lbs.

WHERE TO APPLY:
Linda Page, Director of Personnel
Natchitoches Parish School Board
310 Royal St., P. O. Box 16
Natchitoches, LA 71458-0016
(318) 352-2358

Website: npsb.la

DEADLINE:
Monday, February 26, 2024

APPLICATIONS:
Application packets should consist of a letter of application, resume’, diploma or official transcripts and one letter of reference.

EOE

By Brad Dison

When the forefathers of the United States of America began considering a total separation from Great Britain, our leaders had to plan ahead.  If the efforts of the colonists were successful, they would have to construct a new form of government almost from the ground up.  They would have to take bits and pieces from governments from all over the world to create what they later described in the preamble to the Constitution as a “more perfect union.”  What would the union be called?

When, in June 1775, the Congress appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the Army, our country was referred to as the “United Colonies.”  The moniker itself defined the colonies as being an offspring of and answerable to the mother country, Great Britain.  Our forefathers recognized the need for a new title for our collection of colonies.  In early draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson began the document, “A Declaration of the Representatives of the UNITED STATES OF AMERCA, in General Congress assembled…”  Notice that each letter in the name of our country is capitalized for emphasis.  After several revisions, the final version of the Declaration of Independence began, “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America…”  The final version of the Declaration included less emphasis on the title.  The “thirteen united States” was used as a description of the colonies, to show that they stood together against Great Britain, rather than an official name.

Four days later, July 8, 1776, the words “United States of America” was included in the first draft of the Articles of Confederation, but the articles were not ratified by the states until 1781.  In September 1776, our forefathers approved several resolutions including payments to the soldiers.  The fifth resolution stated, “That in all continental commissions, and other instruments, where, heretofore, the words ‘United Colonies’ have been used, the stile be altered for the future to the “United States.”  It was on that Monday, September 9, 1776, that our country officially adopted its legal name.  During the American Revolution, government inspectors needed an easy way to show which casks of gunpowder had been approved for use by colonial soldiers.  In August 1776, a month before “United States” became an official title, government inspectors began marking casks of approved gunpowder with the initials “U.S.A.”   

In 1891, Lucas Miller became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s 6^th district.  He thought our country was not living up to its full potential and he, a first term representative, was the person to lead the country toward its destiny.  He introduced numerous bills which, if they had passed, would have forever changed our country.  Miller proposed 46 bills that, if they had become laws, our daily lives would be much different.  His proposals would have provided for the governmental control of “pretty much everything that can be controlled, and some things that cannot be.”  He proposed that 37 departments, each controlled by a secretary, such as the secretaries of fluids, forces, fairs, lectures, amusements, and more.  “The comfort of the general public,” he proposed, “is to be provided for by a department of public health, their cleanliness enforced by a department of public baths, and their clothing washed through the medium of a department of public laundries.”  Had his bills been approved, the government would have had control over every aspect of our lives in America, the home of the free.  A couple in love would have to petition the government for permission to marry.  Governmental permission would have been necessary to have children or to get divorced. 

The United States of America is always changing.  We have enlarged the United States with the addition of states and territories, but Miller’s proposals went too far.  Lucas Miller completed his first term in 1893.  His bid for a second term was unsuccessful.  One of the main reasons why his reelection campaign failed was his desire to change the name of our country.  He reasoned that “it is possible for the Republic to grow through the admission of new States into the Union until every Nation on Earth has become part of it.”  Miller rationalized that he was just planning ahead.  His plan even included a new title for our country which reflected its eventual growth.  The new title Miller proposed for our country was “the United States of Earth.”

Sources:

1.     The Union Times, February 24, 1893, p.1.

2.     “The 0th Article of the U.S. Constitution,” National Constitution Center – Constitutioncenter.org,https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/preamble.

3.     ‌ “Five ‘Unusual’ Amendments That Never Made It into the Constitution,” National Constitution Center – Constitutioncenter.org, 2018, https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/five-unusual-amendments-that-never-made-it-into-the-constitution.

4.     “On This Day, the Name ‘United States of America’ Becomes Official,” National Constitution Center, Constitutioncenter.org, https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/today-the-name-united-states-of-america-becomes-offici#:~:text=Blog%20Post-.

I love you more than football,
I love you more than hoops.
I love you more than baseball —
And that’s almost the truth.
         n.From “Love is a Ball,” a work in progress

There is no way to win on Valentine’s Day.

Sports is about trying to win and sports is about pressure, either imagined or for real. But you can’t win on Valentine’s Day. Can’t do it. Too much pressure for even the best of us. 

You have to do something on Valentine’s Day. Gotta make the free throw. Gotta complete the pass. Gotta get on base.

It’s ridiculous.

It’s like being on the Kiss Camera, or “Kiss Cam,” a popular thing at sporting events. It’s a public torture chamber and should be banned. They show a “couple” on the Kiss Cam and they’re supposed to kiss. Even if it’s a first date, even if it’s a last date, even if they’ve just had a fight over who’s going to get the beer. The guy who invented the Kiss Cam should have to go on a date with Rosie O’Donnell. 

The only time Kiss Cam has hit a homer was when it caught Mr. and Mrs. Met kissing at Citi Field. And that was in the summer. When Valentine’s Day should be.

No one can be perfect all the time. Baseball millionaires get a hit just 30 percent of their at-bats. But Valentine’s Day demands that you barrel it up. On demand. Not just a hit, but extra bases. 

Tip of the hat to the guy who made up Valentine’s Day. He’s rolling in the dough and the rest of us are trying to figure out how to do “something special” for our significant others on a blah day in February, which would be just another day if this Valentine’s Day Creator hadn’t ruined up.

The best way to combat Valentine’s Day is to admit it. Admit your romantic game is in the cellar. What I know about women and relationships, you could fit in a walnut shell. But I DO know that when you’re staring into the loss column, the best thing to do is to say so.

“I love you but I don’t know what to do today to express that. BUT, would you like to go eat out in a couple of weeks? Also, I will buy you new underwear and some socks.”

Boom.

That’s what works for me. Just move Valentine’s Day to another day. A random day when you express to your beloved that you think they are Johnny Unitas reincarnated. Give him or her a card on Valentine’s Day, then eat out and send flowers on a Wednesday in March. Watch a March Madness game with them. 

End of story.

That’s really what’s wrong with Valentine’s Day. There is nothing to do, sports-wise, in mid-February. Super Bowl’s done. Basketball is mid-season. Spring training just started, but how many of us can take time off in winter to go to Scottsdale or Cocoa Beach?

Too bad, because America’s best sports song is about dating. It’s about love.

“TAKE ME OUT … to the ballgame. Take me out to the crowd…”

If only there were a game to go to.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Notice is hereby given that the Natchitoches Parish School Board Child Nutrition Department will receive sealed bids as follows:

Monday, March 4, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – NPSB Warehouse Freezer/Cooler Bid# 2024:1

Bids will be accepted until the dates and times specified and will be publicly opened and read aloud at those times in the School Board’s Central Office, 310 Royal Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457. Please find bid-related documents and place electronic bids at www.centralbidding.com. For questions relating to the electronic bidding process, please call Central Bidding at 225-810-4814. Bids received after the date and times of opening will not be considered. Additional information may be obtained upon request by contacting Shauna Hicks, District Supervisor, at 318-352-3438, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

Bids may be mailed in or dropped off at 310 Royal Street address. The Board reserves the right to reject
any or all bids.

Please See Attached/Download below.

/s/ Lee Waskom
Director of Business Affairs

/s/ Grant Eloi
Grant Eloi, Secretary-Treasurer Natchitoches Parish School Board

2/8, 2/14, 2/29