HHERALDING OOVER A CCENTURY OF NNEWS CCOVERAGE •• 1903-20131903-2013 LIFESTYLES SPORTS Melrose Arts and Crafts The Melrose Plantation Arts and Crafts Festival is Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 100 vendors from around SPRING the region will exhibit and sell their original DISTRICT work on the grounds of Melrose Plantation. FESTIVAL Admission is $5 per person for all day. Guided CHAMPS tours of the museum are an additional charge. Melrose Plantation is located 14 miles south of ROYALTY Natchitoches at 3533 Hwy. 119, Melrose. Funds raised will be used for the preservation and main- See Page 1B See Page 6A tenance of Melrose Plantation. The Natchitoches Times And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, John 8:32. Weekend Edition, April 13-14, 2013 Natchitoches, Louisiana • Since 1714 Seventy-Five Cents the Copy Letters to the Editor Let us know what you think, Permits important write a letter to the editor. See Page 4A for details. Natchitoches Times e-mail [email protected] to pump project for Visit our website at: www.natchitochestimes.com Cane River/Red River WEATHER The Cane River Waterway HIGH LOW (CRWC) is moving to the next High water 78 54 stage of the project to pump water from Red River into closes Cane River Cane River. Area Deaths CRWC Patrol Officer and Cane River Lake was secretary Betty Fuller said closed because of high Mrs. Enola Peltier DeGruy last week that the commission water April 11. Travis Wayne Maxwell approved signing the option to It will remain closed Franklin Ray Shepherd Sr. buy property for the pumping until the lake reaches 98.5 and falling. The only Obituaries Page 2A station and right-of-way at the Jan. 15 meeting. boats allowed on the lake The contract calls for an during this time are non- Streets will close initial payment of $10,000 for a powered and electric The Federal Highway Administration is paying for 95 percent of the new Natchitoches trolling motors with no sign on Interstate 49 and the City is paying for 5 percent. 2-year option to buy .45 acres for festival from the Hampton family. The other type of motor cost will be $55,000 plus an aboard. Saturday, April 13, 2013 Anyone with questions 6 a.m.-11 p.m. - Downtown Federal dollars paying major part of costs additional $7,000 for right-of- way. The landowners are list- can call Betty Fuller at Riverbank 318-617-3235 cell, 318-379- 6 a.m.-11 p.m. - Front Street ed as Richard Todd Hampton, for highway enhancement project Christina Morgan Hampton, 2878 home, 318-357-3007 from Church Street to St. office. Denis Susan Dianne Hampton Story and Photos 6 a.m.-5 p.m. - Front Street Abraham and James Daniel by Steven Niette Abraham. Fuller said the commission from Church Street to With the opening of IHOP and work on a Trudeau Fuller said the next step still has a target date of some new welcome sign, the I-49 exit to will be the permitting phase time in 2014 for the pumps to 6 a.m.-11 p.m. - East side Natchitoches is getting a makeover. parking spaces on the entire conducted by the U.S. Army be operational. The sign construction is part of a joint Corps of Engineers. It will Fuller said one important length of Front Street will be venture enhancement project between the closed include finalizing engineering part of the project will be per- Federal Highway Administration and the plans and environmental mitting riparian land owners City that costs approximately one-half mil- studies and conducting public who irrigate crops, fill ponds, lion dollars. comments and review. water livestock and irrigate “The I-49 enhancement project is 95 per- Neither Fuller nor CRWC lawns and plants. cent funded by federal funds and 5 percent by attorney Tommy Murchison “The permits are a positive the City,” DOTD engineer Jeffery Kanella could estimate the time factor. for the project to determine said.The La. Dept. of Transportation and Murchison said the permit- the size of pumps needed,” Development is administering the contract The La. DOTD is rehabilitating a 40-mile section of shoulders along I-49. ting must show no negative Fuller said. Engineers will because it involves federal money. determine the size of the Saturday, April 13 impact of moving water from “It’s an unusual project for the DOTD to be Construction is also occurring along I-49 pumps by gauging the water Cane River (Main) Stage Red River to Cane River or no involved in because we’re not building roads north of Natchitoches. According to Kanell, usage by landowners plus the 11:40 a.m. Opening negative impact of water qual- or bridges but doing landscaping,” DOTD the work is a separate project to rehabilitate evaporation rate. Ceremony with Mayor of ity. engineer David Pugh said. shoulders for a 40-mile section. To obtain a pump permit, Natchitoches The biggest concern will be “We’re providing quality assurance, which The joint I-49 enhancement project should call Fuller at 617-3235, 379-2878 11:50 a.m. NSU Jazz whether the system can effec- means we make sure the materials and instal- be completed sometime in May. tively filter zebra muscles that or 357-3007. Orchestra lation procedures are up to standard.” 1:10 p.m. DC & the Zydeco clog pipes. Country Boys 2:30 p.m. Billy O’Conn & School resource officers undergo training; response to school violence is collective effort The Convicts Natchitoches Parish of human aggression and roots Other tactics and techniques Eight Natchitoches Parish Youth Services and SRO 3:50 p.m. Trini Triggs Sheriff ’s Deputies assigned as of violence, taught the class. cannot publicly be released Sheriff ’s Deputies are School Supervisor Deputy Wendy M. 5:10 p.m. Johnny School Resource Officers Deputies attending last because of its sensitive law Resource Officers throughout Llorens. Earthquake & the Moondogs received additional training in weeks training classes included enforcement nature and safety parish schools. These deputies have attend- 6:10 p.m. Joe Stampley “how to be prepared” to detect Chief Siggie Silvie Jr., Myron the of law enforcement officers. SRO’s daily are faced with ed numerous training semi- 7:30 p.m. Eddie Money human aggression, roots of vio- Robinson and Michael Deputies attended other problem solving matters that nars focusing on active shooter 9:25 p.m. LA Roxx lence, terrorist attacks, and Longino; and SRO’s Sammy training seminars in Pineville deal with a variety of concerns situations, school safety, vio- Fleur de Lis Stage active shooter situations that Ragan, Anthony Ruffin, Donte and Ruston April 8 and April including disrespect, threats, lence, bullying, and how to 11:45 a.m. Brad Dison may result in school violence Latchie, Rodrick Johnson, 10. fights and misunderstandings. interact and to gain student 1 p.m. The La Cour Trio according to Natchitoches David Dorsey Jr., and Kevin Roy Murray, director of Deputies form alliances with trust. 2:15 p.m. Low Key Parish Sheriff Victor Jones Jr. Lewis Sr. security for Caddo Parish students and faculty that Jones said there is a collec- 3:30 p.m. Josh Hyde & The Deputies attended a training Grossman spoke on chil- schools, focused on school safe- entrust their protection and tive effort between the Sheriff ’s Hitchhikers seminar in Monroe April 4 dren, violent video games, tele- ty, active shooter situations, respect. Office, Natchitoches Police 4:45 p.m. Kelcy Mae sponsored by the Regional vision and bullying. He talked and how to assess threats and Monthly, deputies meet to Dept., NSU Police, La. State 6 p.m. Doc Couty & The Counterdrug Training about how law enforcement vulnerability of schools. critique each other, engage in Police, Natchitoches SWAT and Natchitoches AllStars Academy. Lt. Col. Dave should recognize symptoms of Deputies learned about hav- training drills and discuss Natchitoches Multi-jurisdic- Roque House Stage Grossman, retired US Army, violence and learn to control ing plans in place, including problem solving methods to tional Drug Task Force to Noon The Glenn Rainey recognized scholar, author and things they can including sur- security measures and knowl- serve their school community respond quickly to a school in Band speaker and expert in the field vival skills. edge of school campuses. better according to NPSO an emergency. 1:15 p.m. The Lukejazz Quartet 2:30 p.m. Caleb Elliot McConathy will speak at Steak and Burger dinner; 3:45 p.m. Justin Merritt Band club will recognize contributions of Sam Coker 5 p.m. Robin & The Bluebirds Boys & Girls Clubs of El speaker but ideas and Front Street Stage Camino Reál hosts one of it fell during dreams are 1 p.m. NSW Wednesday Jazz Natchitoches’ most popular the same important Combo fundraisers April 18 at the week that and meaning- 3 p.m. Hardrick Rivers & Natchitoches Events Center. NSU was ful, which is Rivers Revue Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with heading to why we do the program beginning at 6 the NCAA what we do at p.m. tournament. the Boys & The Steak & Burger Dinner So the dinner Girls Clubs benefits programs and ser- was resched- McConathy for our Club Coker vices offered by the Boys & uled. Members Index Girls Clubs of El Camino Reál. This year’s event also fea- every day. With this year’s Area businesses and citizens tures a presentation Charlsie event’s speakers and presenta- Obituaries 2A have already reserved their Coker, widow of the club’s tions, I hope it will prove to be The Parish Council proclaimed March 18 “Reverend tables, but tickets and sponsor- founding member, the late Dr.