The River of Life Church held a summer social after services this past Sunday. The church parishioners gathered and enjoyed a lighter summer fare that included finger foods and salads. The Assistant Pastor, Marty Cheatwood, preached after the Praise and Worship Leader, Jennifer Garner, led the church in morning worship.

Church always seems to be shorter when there is food waiting in the back!

If you wish to visit River of Life, Sunday Services start at 10:30. Wednesday night Bible Study starts at 6:00.

The Goldonna Assembly of God will hold their Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, August 14th beginning at 8:30 at the church. You will be fed physically and spiritually. Bring your Bible and bring your friend.

Dinners are served beginning at 5:30 every Wednesday night at the Goldonna Baptist Church. This week’s meal includes jambalaya made with smoked chicken and sausage, green beans, garlic bread, dessert and a drink. These meals will continue until the end of August. The week after Labor Day they will resume their Kingdom Kid ministry on Wednesday nights 6:00 to 7:15. This ministry was put on hold during COVID19. Everyone is looking forward to this excitement as it is one of the community favorites!

Don’t forget two major youth events coming up with the first one being this week.

On July 24th the committee will be hosting an “Etiquacy Tea Party” for young girls ages 5-14 at the Goldonna Baptist Church. Drop off is 12:00p.m. and pickup will be at 5:00pm. The girls are encouraged to dress up in a fun dress. They will decorate their own cupcake, learn to make punch and enjoy a fun tea party while learning proper etiquette. Limited spaces are available, but you contact Cesa Day for more information.

Not to be left out, there will be a “Boys Outdoors Back to Basics” event on July 31st that targets ages 5-14. They will enjoy a game day and learn the basic skills of tool recognition, knotting ropes, how to tie a tie, and they will learn the fine skill of shining shoes. The location of this event will also be Goldonna Baptist Church with a drop off time of 12:00pm and pick up time of 5:00pm. All of these proceeds will benefit the funnel cake booth at the Christmas in the Park festival.

If you have news to include, please email Reba Phelps at jreba.phelps@gmail.com

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By Brad Dison

William Brodie was born in 1741 in Edinburgh, Scotland.  He was from an elite family and was himself a prominent Scottish citizen in the late 1700s.  He was a successful cabinetmaker and was the president, or deacon, of the trade guild called the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons.  His position as deacon made him a member of Edinburgh’s city council.  He was also a member of the Edinburgh Cape Club, a tavern-based social club.  He socialized with other upper-class citizens including Robert Burns, regarded as national poet of Scotland, and Sir Henry Raeburn, who served as portrait painter to King George IV of Scotland.

Today, Deacon Brodie would be seen as a man of many talents.  In his time, however, his job as cabinetmaker meant that he performed many tasks in his daily routine in addition to building cabinets.  He was an undertaker.  In those days, it required more skill to build a coffin than to prepare a body for burial.  He installed and repaired locks and other security devices of the era.  His standing in the community meant that he often served the most prestigious families in Edinburgh.

Deacon Brodie liked to gamble.  He spent many evenings in taverns and pubs shooting dice or playing cards.  Deacon Brodie engaged in many types of gambling and enjoyed the intoxicating excitement he felt upon winning but losing humiliated him.  As most gamblers can attest, they usually lose more often than they win, which was the case with Deacon Brodie.  When he lost at a game of cards or dice, he would bet more on the following game to make up for the loss.  This turned into a vicious and expensive cycle.  Before he realized it, Deacon Brodie was addicted to gambling and in debt.    

Deacon Brodie’s perfectly respectable façade as a gentleman hid a darker side.  He needed a way to afford his gambling addiction and to pay off his gambling debts.  In about 1768, Deacon Brodie’s gambling was catching up with him.  He set into motion a most daring plan.  On jobs where he repaired his rich clients’ locks, he used wax or putty to make impressions of the keys.  Back at his workshop, he created exact duplicates of the keys.  Deacon Brodie’s situation allowed him to inspect which, if any, type of crude security system their houses had.  Security systems included dogs and other animals which would make noise when startled, bells and chimes which rang if doors were opened, and many other homemade contraptions.  Deacon Brodie’s position in society allowed him to learn the routines of his rich clients.  Once the occupants of a targeted house were out, Brodie simply unlocked the door, took whatever valuables he could find and remove with ease, and locked the door behind him as he left.  He sold the stolen goods for cash, and no one suspected him of any wrongdoing.    

Investigators had little to go on.  Unless there was an eyewitness to the crime, or unless a suspect was caught with the stolen goods, the crime usually remained unsolved.  Investigators were unable to determine how the burglar entered the homes.  

At first, Deacon Brodie worked alone, but in 1786, he was joined by three other thieves, a fugitive named John Brown, a fellow locksmith and grocer named George Smith, and a shoemaker named Andrew Ainslie.

Two years later, on March 5, 1788, the foursome planned to rob a tax collection office.  The burglars knew the routines of the office workers and the night watchman.  Just after 8:00 p.m., the burglars entered the office with a key Deacon Brodie had copied.  Ainslie remained outside as a lookout.  They expected to have plenty of time, about two hours, to carry out the burglary.  As the thieves were searching for money to steal, Ainslie alerted them that someone was coming.  An employee, James Bonar, returned to the office unexpectedly.  The thieves fled with little to show for their efforts.  Deacon Brodie realized he needed an alibi.  He quickly went to the home of one of his many mistresses.  

Deacon Brodie was counting on the silence of his partners.  There is an old expression which says, “three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead.”  Within hours of the thwarted burglary, Brown confessed in exchange for a full pardon.  He told investigators that Smith and Ainslie were the other thieves but did not mention Deacon Brodie.  Brown also led investigators to the hidden stash of duplicate keys used in other burglaries.

Police arrested Smith and Ainslie and learned of Deacon Brodie’s involvement.  The evidence was stacked against Deacon Brodie.  He had no choice but to flee Scotland.  Investigators pursued Deacon Brodie from Scotland to England, the Netherlands, and Amsterdam.  While evading capture, he once returned to Edinburgh in disguise and under a false name.  Deacon Brodie was finally caught in Amsterdam where he was making plans to sail to the United States.

In August of 1788, Deacon Brodie and Smith went on trial for multiple burglaries.  Ainslie must have made a deal with prosecutors because he was not put on trial.  Brodie and Smith were found guilty and sentenced to death.  On October 1, 1788, Deacon Brodie and George Smith were hanged.

Deacon Brodie’s double life would most likely have faded away with time had it not been for a playwright who was fascinated by Brodie’s contrasting characters.  Almost one hundred years after Brodie’s execution, he wrote a play about Brodie, but it was unsuccessful.  Undeterred, he penned a novel based on Deacon Brodie which has become a classic and has been the basis of numerous Hollywood films.  The name of the author was Robert Louis Stevenson.  The title of his book is “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde”.

 

Sources:

1.  The Ipswich Journal, July 12, 1788, p.2.

2.  Stevenson, Robert Louis. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1886.

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By: Royal Alexander/Opinion

The recently announced veto override session is as unprecedented as it is necessary and reveals the extraordinary nature of the vetoed legislation.

The heated and unrelenting opposition to both allowing biological boys who “identify” as girls to participate in girl sports against biological girls as well as the restrictions on concealed handguns reached a boiling point this week when the Louisiana Legislature—both the House and Senate—failed to turn in enough ballots to stop this year’s automatic veto session.  In the past—over nearly five decades—a majority of lawmakers have always returned enough ballots to cancel the constitutionally-required veto session.  Not this time.

While multiple vetoes of bills by Gov. John Bel Edwards may be considered it is clear that two bills in particular energized, and provided the catalyst for, the veto session.  The first, as alluded to above, was a bill introduced by State Senator Beth Mizell and vetoed by the Governor that would have prohibited biological boys who now “identify” as girls to compete on school sports teams against biological girls.  This is only the latest lunacy from the Left to reach Louisiana.  “Allowing males to compete in female sports is not progressive; it’s abusive,” asserts female powerlifter Beth Stelzer.  This is why we must steadfastly maintain and demand that “sex” means objective biological sex, not subjective gender identity.

In sports, biology is the most important characteristic of all and biological girls simply do not possess the physicality or musculature to fairly compete against biological boys.  This legislation is necessary not only because allowing biological boys to compete against biological girls denies girls the opportunity for personal development and the enrichment that comes from athletic training and competition, but because it also denies them athletic scholarships without which many girls simply have no chance to attend college.  This is sexism, purely and simply.

The second veto by the governor involves the legislation, by State Senator Jay Morris, allowing people 21 and older in Louisiana to carry a concealed handgun without needing a permit, safety training or background check.  Louisiana strongly supports the Second Amendment’s guarantee of the right to keep and bear arms and so this pushback by the Legislature was predictable.  [It is worth remembering that the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark 2008 Heller decision, held that the right to keep and bear arms is both a collective (i.e., law enforcement and military) right as well as an individual right].  

We must remember that the 2nd Amendment was included in the Bill of Right to provide citizens the means to protect themselves from the government when it breaches the constitutional barriers the Framers put in place and threatens the very citizens who created it and consent to its governing—and who are free to withdraw that consent.  This is why efforts by the government to restrict 2nd Amendment rights must be very carefully, and skeptically, scrutinized by our citizens and by the courts.

The legislative battle is not over, however.   While a simple majority was required to trigger a veto override session, Republicans will need two-thirds of their members in both houses to actually override the vetoes.  Nevertheless, this session will put every elected member on the record regarding their position on these bills and that, in and of itself, has great value to our state.

The views and opinions expressed in the My Opinion article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Winn Parish Journal. Any content provided by the authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

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Vertical Bridge 500, LLC is proposing to construct a 210-foot overall height monopole telecommunications structure near 317 Thomas Mill Road, Winnfield, Winn Parish, Louisiana (N31° 56’ 47”; W92° 38’ 34.5”). This tower is anticipated to utilize FAA Style-E lighting.

Vertical Bridge 500, LLC invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts, sites, buildings, structures, or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering, or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under National Historic Preservation Act Section Comments may be sent to Environmental Corporation of America, ATTN: Annamarie Howell, 1375 Union Hill Industrial Court, Suite A, Alpharetta, GA 30004 or via email to publicnotice@eca-usa.com. Ms. Howell can be reached at (770) 667-2040 x 136 during normal business hours. Comments must be received within 30 days of the date of this notice.

In addition, any interested party may also request further environmental review of the proposed action under the FCC’s National Environmental Policy Act rules, 47 CFR §1.1307, by notifying the FCC of the specific reasons that the action may have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment. This request must only raise environmental concerns and can be filed online using the FCC pleadings system at www.fcc.gov or mailed to FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554 within 30 days of the date that notice of this proposed action is published on the FCC’s website. Refer to File No. A1195709 when submitting the request and to view the specific information about the proposed action. X1459/JJG

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has released its 2021-22 hunting regulations pamphlet online at the LDWF website. Click here to view the upcoming season’s regulations or visit the LDWF website at https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/seasons-and-regulations.

The pamphlet contains hunting rules, regulations and season dates for the 2021-22 season, including hunting information on LDWF’s Wildlife Management Areas and Louisiana’s federal lands.
 
Printed copies of the pamphlets will be available in August at LDWF offices throughout the state and at vendors where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.
  
This season’s regulation pamphlet also has season schedules for the state’s 10 deer hunting areas and major changes for the 2021-22 season.
 
For more information, contact Tommy Tuma 225-765-2349 or ttuma@wlf.la.gov.

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WINN:
Bobby Ray Sanders
November 28, 1944 – July 19, 2021
Service: Thursday, July 22 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church

NATCHITOCHES:
Bennie Mitchell
July 13, 1969 – July 20, 2021
Arrangements TBA

Jennifer Kay Grigsby
June 06, 1975 – July 17, 2021
Service: Wednesday, July 21 at 2 pm at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home

Glennie Grace Dowden Scarborough
August 11, 1930 – July 17, 2021
Service: Wednesday, July 21 at 10 am at Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home

Terry Glenn Smith
February 15, 1954 – July 14, 2021
Service: Wednesday, July 21 from 4:30-6 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Cynthia D. French
May 15, 1958 – July 05, 2021
Arrangements TBA

SABINE:
Cynthia “Cindy” Alaine Mary
September 25, 1960 – July 19, 2021
Service: Thursday, July 22 at 2 pm at Old Pisgah Baptist Church

Marjorie Wylodine Nelson Savell
January 19, 1932 – July 19, 2021
Service: Wednesday, July 21 at 2 pm at Pleasant Hill Cemetery (Ward 2) in Florien

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A dark day turned into a show of extraordinary heroism for the Winnfield Fire Dept. on July 17th.

At 09:37Hrs. Police dispatch alerted the department of a residential fire on Mccloud St with people being trapped inside. Engine 4, Engine 3 and Ladder 1 responded with 11 personnel. Winnfield police officers arrived and advised that the house was on fire.

Upon arrival, fire personnel found a disabled person inside, along with six other people who lived there trying to get him out. Command staff transmitted a second alarm. Engine 4 and Ladder 1 crew arrived first on the scene. Heavy fire and smoke were coming out of the Charlie/Delta Side of the residential home.

Capt. Phillip Wilkerson and FF/OPR. Ben Murphy donned all necessary PPE, went inside where the disabled male was in an adjacent room and dragged him out of the smoke-filled area along with getting the rest of the people out as well. While Det. Roberts sprayed water from the outside of the structure.

Engine 3 arrived and established a water supply to Engine 4 and the Asst. Chief took command of the scene and dispatched Advanced Ambulance and city utilities to the scene. The primary crew then deployed the front bumper attack line off Engine 4 and quickly extinguished the fire with additional personnel.

The fire was contained to a bedroom where the fire originated from. Ambulance service arrived and checked on all the victims as well as monitored firefighters’ conditions due to the heat temperatures. All victims turned out to be ok and were not transported.

Once the fire was out, a PPFan was set up and overhaul operations took over. Command made the scene safe, and gas and utilities were turned off by the utility companies.

A great job to all those involved, and a special shout out to Capt. Wilkerson and FF Murphy.

This is why we do what we do!!!!!
Agencies involved:
Winnfield Fire Dept
Winnfield Police Dept
Advanced Ambulance
Winnfield City Utilities
Atmos energy

Pictured above: Capt. Phillip Wilkerson and FF/OPR. Ben Murphy

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City of Winnfield Police Department

Name: Latanya C. Burton
Date: 7-12-2021
Address: Montgomery, LA
Race: Black
Gender: Female
Age: 61
Charge: Driving Under Suspension, Security Required
Bond: $1,000

Name: Garland Walker
Date: 7-12-21
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 31
Charge: Failure to Appear
Bond: $250

Name: Lindsey M. Morton
Date: 7-12-2021
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White
Gender: Female
Age: 35
Charge: Unsafe Vehicle, Possession of Scheuld I, Possession of Schedule II, Possession of Schedule IV, Prohibited Acts
Bond: Unknown

Name: Eden T. Womack
Date: 7-17-2021
Address: Winnfield, LA
Race: White 
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Charge: Simple Burlary
Bond: Unknown

Name: Isiah Delano Louicious
Date: 7-17-2021
Address: Longview, TX
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Charge: Disturbing the Peace
Bond: Released on Summons

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After recently taking the helm as Interim President for Northwestern State University, WPJ’s Natchitoches affiliate the Natchitoches Parish Journal sat down with Marcus Jones to discuss his journey to get where he is today, his 23 year history with NSU, and outlook for the future of Demonland.

Born one of 20 children in Winnfield, Marcus started working on a quarter horse farm at the young age of 11. The farm’s owner, Leo Shelton, also owned a pharmacy in town and his wife Dorothy was a teacher. With a strong foundation at home from his parents, John and Eloise Jones, and encouragement from the Sheltons, Marcus quickly developed a love for education and an understanding of its importance as a means to advance economically and to pave the way to a better life.

After graduating from Winnfield High School Marcus came to Northwestern on a scholarship to major in business administration with an emphasis in finance. He signed up for the Federal Work-Study Program, where he was assigned a job in the computer center in St. Denis Hall.

He also requested to have an international roommate, which was granted and he ended up bunking with a student from El Salvador. He also met a group of international students from France, which led to a decision to study abroad for his junior year. Marcus spent a year in England studying international economics at The University of Plymouth (called Polytechnic South West at the time).

Smiling while reminiscing about his student years at NSU, Marcus couldn’t recall why he made these decisions or how much they would affect his life.

“Traveling abroad was quite impactful on my professional career,” he said. “It was one of the best years of my life.”

Marcus returned to the states to finish his last semester at NSU and then went to Grambling State University where he earned a masters of science in international business and trade.

Then, at age 25, he was asked to come back and teach economics at NSU from 1995-1996. While this was a good, positive experience for Marcus, he wasn’t done advancing his own education.

He went to law school in August of 1996, graduated, and came right back to NSU to teach business law and international business in 1999.

It wasn’t until February of 2020 that Marcus left NSU once again to work with Dr. Jim Henderson at the University of Louisiana System Office.

Not long after this move, Marcus’ dear old Demonland was calling him back home. Henderson asked Marcus if he’d be willing to assume the responsibility of interim president of NSU starting July 1, 2021.

Marcus said when the question first came up, he immediately felt a tremendous amount of pressure.

“When you’re assuming the reins of a university like NSU that’s been here for 137 years, there has been a period where for several years people like me couldn’t come to NSU and some of those individuals are still around, in town. The idea of someone like myself even in an interim capacity was a moment of excitement for all of those people who never had the opportunity to attend Northwestern. That added to the pressure of not wanting to let anyone down. NSU is the reason I am where I am professionally because of the educational foundation it provided me and I’ve always wanted to give back.”

That now means being the face of the university, which is taking some getting used to for Marcus, but he loves the people he’s getting the opportunity to work with…again.

“It’s a blessing, perhaps the most rewarding part of the job,” he shared. “I’ve been given the chance to work with people I know, people who want to see the university survive, who want nothing but excellence for the students that enroll here, whose main goal is to turn out healthy and progressive graduates.”

With his strong connection to NSU explained, here is the Q&A portion of our interview with Interim President Marcus Jones.

What’s on your mind as you take the helm at NSU?

Northwestern and other universities are emerging from one of the most challenging periods in our history, and my goal is to help ensure the continued stability and progress of the university. With the help of students, faculty, staff, alumni and other stakeholders, I am confident we can achieve that goal.

What attracted you to NSU originally?

I grew up in Winnfield and was well aware of Northwestern’s reputation for excellence in higher education and for supporting and assisting its students. We had a large family, and a number of the children had attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe. But I had family members in Natchitoches and was interested in the community and the university. Northwestern offered me a scholarship, and that influenced my decision to enroll here.

What drew you to higher education as a career?

Looking back, I think I was always a teacher at heart. In high school and even junior high, I would lead study groups and discuss ideas and philosophies with classmates. In law school, many of my classmates gravitated to me because of my interest in sharing different concepts and views with my peers. That was just natural for me. I knew for a long time that I wanted to be involved in education and to work on a university campus. Most of my career has revolved around higher education.

One of my college mentors, Terry Jackson, reached out to me during my last year of graduate school to let me know that there was a teaching position open in the College of Business and to ask about my interest. I wanted to come back to Northwestern because my experience as a student here was so positive. Even during my time at law school, I wanted to return to Northwestern because I enjoyed the atmosphere of higher education and has such rewarding experiences here as a student, faculty member and later as an administrator.

What moments in your career thus far do you think are most influential to how you think as a leader?

My experiences in working closely with former Northwestern presidents Dr. Randy Webb, Dr. Jim Henderson and Dr. Chris Maggio had a major impact on my leadership skills and philosophies. They provided me the latitude and flexibility to implement new and innovative concepts, and I plan to take that same approach with others at the university who are under my direction and supervision. My feeling is that you have to trust people, allow them the space and provide them the support to do their jobs and give them the resources they need to succeed. That thought process comes from the level of trust that previous presidents placed in me.

What do you do for fun?

I have a wide assortment of varied interests. Traveling and collecting art from different parts of the world have always been enjoyable to me. I love cooking and especially trying new and different recipes. Many people are surprised that I like to restore furniture. I enjoy buying pieces of old furniture, especially chairs, and bringing them back to life. I love working with my hands and building things when I have time.

What is the future of public higher education?

Higher education must always be not just at the cutting edge but even a step ahead of the rapid and monumental changes in our society. Most of us cannot even imagine the jobs and workplaces of the future, because they change to quickly and dramatically. Colleges and universities have always been and will continue to be not just a force in preparing for those changes but a catalyst in the creation of ideas and concepts in every realm of society.

What is NSU’s most important role in the region?

Preparing graduates for the workplace to give employers in this region a competitive advantage in business, industry, government, the professions and other areas will always be a major role for the university. That, of course, contributes to the economic development of Northwest Louisiana and beyond. The university must also continue to enhance the quality of life in the region through its role as a center for cultural, educational and social resources and activities.

What do you think are the most pressing issues facing NSU right now?

The pandemic, hurricanes and ice storms over the past year had a tremendous negative impact on students financially and emotionally. We are striving to assure retention of students who have struggled through difficult circumstances by offering scholarships and other means of support and to attract new students to the university. Restoring normalcy in academic programs and other student activities in a major focus as the fall semester approaches.

What role can an institution like NSU play in the important work related to diversity and inclusion?

A major part of Northwestern’s mission as an institution is to prepare an increasingly diverse student population to contribute to an inclusive global community. The NSU community embraces a culture of equity and inclusion and is engaged in a number of initiatives to maintain that climate on our campuses.

What have we learned from the pandemic that can guide institutions like NSU in the future?

Primarily, we learned that we were able to adapt quickly and effectively to overwhelming and rapidly changing circumstances. We learned to think outside the box to solve problems and acquired new skills to be able to work and learn remotely if necessary. We also learned that sometimes we have to look at the big picture, adjust our priorities and support and empathize with those who may be overwhelmed. We demonstrated amazing flexibility and resilience. Now we can evaluate in retrospect what worked and what can be enhanced and improved upon going forward.

Do you foresee any challenges with funding for the upcoming school year?

Northwestern will have its best operating budget in 13 years because of some increased state funding and an influx of federal COVID-relief monies. Most of those funds, obviously, will be earmarked for revenue losses and increased expenses created by the pandemic.

The university is continuing to receive capital outlay funding for the construction of a major, $35 million facility to replace Kyser Hall as NSU’s major academic building. But capital outlay funds are becoming increasingly insufficient to meet the needs created by aging infrastructure and deteriorating buildings and facilities. Public-private partnerships will become increasingly important in addressing those issues.

What do you think the community should know about NSU at this moment in time?

In perhaps the most challenging year in its history, the NSU community rose to the occasion and made the best of a traumatic situation through teamwork, collaboration, innovation and a good measure of patience and understanding.

Sometimes institutions—like individuals—discover their greatest strengths when they are severely tested. That was true last year at Northwestern and throughout the University of Louisiana System.

I would want the people in the community and this region to be assured that I will focus my full attention as interim president on the continuation of the university’s expansive efforts to serve students effectively and to continue and expand physical improvements and other programs and projects to enhance NSU.

We are preparing every day for a robust new academic year beginning in August and look forward to welcoming students back to campus under normal conditions. There will be full-scale events and activities, face-to-face interaction and new opportunities for growth and success for our students and the university.

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The Winn Parish Police Jury will meet today for a Regular Meeting at the Parish Courthouse, located at 119 West Main Street, Room 112, at 5:00 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order.
2. Invocation and Pledge.
3. Amendments or deletions.
4. Adoption of Agenda.
5. Adoption of Minutes-June 21, 2021-Regular Meeting, June 29, 2021-Roads, Bridges & Solid Waste Committee Meeting and June 29, 2021-Special Called Meeting.
6. Announcements and Comments.
7. GUESTS: 1) Mr. Nicholas Fowlkes, Auditor with Kolder, Champagne, Slaven & Company LLC-to present the 2020 audit of the Jury.
8. BUSINESS:
   1.  Mr. Kirk Miles-Motion to approve monthly invoices.
   2. Mr. Frank McLaren-Motion to lower the speed limit to 15 mph on Preacher Sanders Road.
   3. Mr. Joshua McAllister-Motion to adopt a Resolution to pay for Administrative Services of Frye Magee, LLC for the 22/23 LCDBG Public Facilities program.
      –Motion of lntent to reduce the speed limit to 25 MPH on Country Club Road 730 feet north of the nursing home entrance and 730 feet south of the nursing home entrance.
9. Announcements and Comments:

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Have I ever told you how much I hate summertime? Not sure if it’s an age thing or the fact that there’s just not much going on in the outdoors world when it comes to hunting and fishing. But I’m really starting to think it is an age thing. I just don’t handle the heat or enjoy being outside on those hot summer days like I did when I was younger. But for the sake of this article, I’ll go back in time and see if I can determine why I feel the way I do.

As a kid, I can remember that feeling you had on the last day of school before summer break. It was a buildup that occurred all day long till that final count down and the clock struck that magical time of 3:30. The sound of that school bell going off was music to my ears! No more homework, no more having to study for a test, no more report cards and no more teachers telling me to sit up straight. I was a free man (kid) and ready to attack the nearest sandlot or stock pond. Now most of my days would be filled with baseball every day from sunup to sundown six days a week. But on the seventh day after church, God said to go forth and fish! So, I did just that as I was fishing a local farm pond (in Texas they call them tanks) from noon till dark.

While getting up at 6:30 for school was a challenge every day, not now, it was summertime! I was up with the chickens and on my bike headed for town by 7:00 AM making sure my buddies and I got the best backstop on the sandlot. It was amazing how my perspective on life changed within 24 hours of school letting out. But there were also chores that had to be taken care of and while I have never confirmed this fact, I always heard that this was the reason parents had kids. To take care of the things they did not want to do like cutting the grass, taking out the trash, cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping off the carport and my all-time favorite chore…hoeing the garden! But like THEY always said, “It made me the man I am today!” Yeah…right!!! I mean if had I committed a crime severe enough to be sentence to prison with hard labor, no doubt I would have been well prepared!

I do remember having my deepest thoughts while push mowing the two acres around our house with sweat dripping off my nose. Or hoeing the garden and pulling grass with sweat dripping off my nose. And nothing was more pleasant than sweeping off our massive carport in 100-degree heat with once again…sweat dripping of my nose. During my daily “hard labor” work, I would also dream of the day I no longer had to cut the grass, hoe the garden, clean the bathrooms or sweep off the carport. One day my parents would regret how they abused me as a child by making me do so much work. Just wait till I leave home, they’ll miss me then! But like THEY always said, “Hard work never hurt anyone.” While I’m not sure who THEY were, I’ll bet THEY were parents too.

Fast forward to 2021… I still hate taking out the trash, cutting the grass (which actually I hire someone to do now) and very seldom do I clean the bathrooms and I surely don’t have a garden to hoe. I think that’s a line in a country song “Didn’t have a row to hoe.” But for me, there’s another verse that goes with that… I don’t want a row to hoe!

Today at the age of 60, the summer heat is more than I can bare especially when the temps hit that 100-degree mark. That’s when I become miserable during those hot summertime bass tournaments with once again…sweat dripping off my nose! Ah ha!!! That’s it…it’s the sweat dripping off my nose that makes me hate summertime. It all goes back to my childhood when I thought I was the male version of Cinderella!

Now it’s all very clear to me why I hate summertime. It’s too damn hot outside and that’s why God made air conditioning. So that I would never have to deal with sweat dripping off my nose ever again! But God does not promise air conditioning all the time, so I guess I’ll just have to suck it up, wear the proper clothing, put on my sunscreen and drink plenty of water during those hot summertime tournaments and count my blessings for my parents teaching me the value of hard work and to appreciate everything that I have. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and this summer, try and stay cool. Oh, and don’t forget to set the hook!!!

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

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has scheduled a drawdown of Black and Clear Lake (Natchitoches Parish) for giant salvinia control, organic reduction and fish habitat improvement. The drawdown is designed to reduce the further expansion of giant salvinia as summer and early fall temperatures promote maximum growth.

The water control structure is scheduled to be opened on August 2, 2021, and the lake should dewater at a rate of 3-6 inches per day depending on the Red River Pool 3 water level. The lake will be lowered to a maximum drawdown water level of approximately 4 feet below normal pool stage (95 Mean Sea Level).  The Black and Clear Lake control gates are scheduled to be closed on January 31, 2022, to allow the lake to refill for early spring recreational activities.

During the drawdown, an estimated 7,000-8,000 acres of water will remain open in areas of Black and Clear Lake. Boaters may still access the lake from either Black Lake Resort and Campground or Chandler’s Camp ramps located on the North side of the Hwy 9 bridge. Boaters are also advised to use caution when on the water, as numerous obstructions that are normally not seen will be present.

This action is a necessary component of LDWF’s integrated management plan to control overabundant aquatic vegetation growth and to improve access for recreational activities. An annual cycle of high and low water fluctuation can provide beneficial effects, similar to a natural overflow lake system.

The current LDWF Black and Clear Lake Vegetation Control Plan can be viewed at: http://ow.ly/gwYd50FxFq7

For additional information regarding the drawdown, contact Villis Dowden, LDWF Biologist Manager, at vdowden@wlf.la.gov or (318) 357-3214. 

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WINN:
Martha George Hall Hanson
June 19, 1942 – July 16, 2021
Service: Tuesday, July 20 at 10 am in the Southern Funeral Home Chapel

Sandra Dean Knight DeFreese
June 27, 1950 – July 14, 2021
Service: Monday, July 19 at 2 pm in the chapel of Kinner & Stevens Funeral Home of Jena

NATCHITOCHES:
Terry Glenn Smith
February 15, 1954 – July 14, 2021
Service: Wednesday, July 21 from 4:30-6 pm at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches

Cynthia D. French
May 15, 1958 – July 05, 2021
Arrangements TBA

RED RIVER:
Irma Jean Lee
October 25, 1932 – July 16, 2021
Service: Monday, July 19 at 2 pm at Salt Springs Worship Center

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The global obesity rate among adults has tripled in the last three decades, and it is estimated that over 500 million adults are obese. Since 1980, the rate has increased by about 10% for men and 14% for women. In the past, obesity has been a problem for wealthy adults, but as other countries became more affluent, their diet has changed. Adults overeat on the Western diet, and obesity has become a disease of the world. If this trend continues in the United States, by 2030, over half of adult men and women will be obese.

Adult Obesity in Louisiana

Louisiana is one of the 13 states with an obesity rate for adults over 35% and ranks 9th in the list of states. The report was compiled by a nonprofit called Trust For American Health. The rate has increased over the last few years. Obesity is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and more. In 2012, 31% of adults in Louisiana who were obese did not eat enough fruits and vegetables or exercise regularly.

The rates have increased in adults in Louisiana because the residents are more sedentary, and adults have lower incomes, leading to food insecurity. This means there’s not enough money to buy healthy foods in many households.

Obesity in Winn Parish

Dietspotlight.com, a health and wellness resource covering topics like weight loss, meal replacements, and workout programs, recently shared detailed data on the men and women in Winn Parish, Louisiana. Well, at least the women.
Based on the data collected, men in the parish aren’t actively searching for help losing weight, but women are.
The average Winn Parish woman weighs about 178 pounds. She has a body mass index (BMI) of 30.2. That’s 0.2 points over the obese line.

What’s more interesting is that the average woman in the parish needs to lose about 47 pounds to reach a healthy BMI. “That’s 26% lower than the state average of 63 pounds and 21% lower than the country average of 59 pounds,” according to Dietspotlight.

Based on this data, Winn Parish is faring much better in the fight against obesity than the rest of the state. There are programs throughout Louisiana helping men, women, and children break the obesity chains.

Programs For Obesity in Louisiana

Well-Ahead is an organization in Louisiana with an Obesity and Wellness Collaborative that connects consumers to medical, educational, and programs that promote better health and fight obesity. They have obesity resources, education, and a group working on policy changes within the state.

Well-Ahead has a workplace wellness program that provides programs for diet and fitness that can address obesity in working adults.

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