Potential Financial Disaster Looming with School Board's Failure to Adopt
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HHERALDING OOVER A CCENTURY OF NNEWS CCOVERAGE •• 1903-20151903-2015 LIFESTYLES INSIDE SPORTS BIKE AND BUILD TORCH YOUTH SOCCER ARRIVES IN TOWN RUN CAMP See Page 1B See Page 8A See Page 6A The Natchitoches Times And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, John 8:32. Weekend Edition, June 6-7, 2015 Natchitoches, Louisiana • Since 1714 Seventy-Five Cents the Copy INSERTS INSIDE Potential financial Rite Aid Best Buy disaster looming Walgreens Dish Network with school board’s Verizon Dick’s Sporting Goods failure to adopt taxes The Natchitoches Parish Letters to the Editor School Board failed to renew Loss of tax millage at its meeting Let us know what you think, Thursday sparking a possible write a letter to the editor. personnel See Page 4A for details. Officials from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness financial disaster that could (GOHSEP), the Louisiana National Guard and the Louisiana State Police stopped in cripple the public education Natchitoches Times e-mail Natchitoches June 3 to determine what actions may need to be taken if the flood waters system. imminent [email protected] increase in the area when the Red River is forecasted to crest at 40.5 Monday, May 8. At issue was renewal of tax Visit our website at: millages that fund the system. without taxes www.natchitochestimes.com State and City officials determine plan Approval required a 2/3 vote of the 11-member school board As a result of the failed WEATHER that met Thursday afternoon. adoption of the 2015 mill- Apparently still angered age rates at the regular HIGH LOW of action for rising flood waters over the 6-5 vote last week not to meeting June 4, the name the new junior high after 94 71 State and Parish Officials Natchitoches Parish Frankie Ray Jackson Sr., five met at the Natchitoches School Board will now members voted not to renew Regional Airport June 3 to dis- have to re-advertise to host the millages. Area Deaths cuss what preparations are a public meeting July 9 to The drama began early in Lambert Peterson necessary if the floodwaters attempt to adopt millage the meeting when Joella Lynn Estes in the Parish continue to rise rates for the 2015 tax roll Wilson, Ralph Wilson, Harry Patricia Martin as the Red River reaches its according to Supt. Dale Graham, Emile Metoyer and Shirley McGee crest Monday, June 8. Skinner. the Rev. Steven Harris voted not Stephen Lacaze The Red River is projected If the school board fails to approve the minutes of the to rise another 6 inches in the to adopt millage rates at May 26 meeting with board Obituaries Page 2A Shreveport and Caddo areas. the meeting, the members Tommy Melder, The governor has declared a Natchitoches Parish George Rhymes, Russ Danzy, state of emergency. “We’re all School system will be School board calls Eugene Garner and Mike standing by, ready to assist,” From left Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland faced with an estimated Hilton voting to approve the said Kevin Davis, the director Security and Emergency Preparedness Kevin loss of $3,766,000 to the special meeting minutes. The motion failed of the Governor’s Office of Davis,Adjutant General for the Louisiana National Guard general fund along with an because of the tie vote. School Homeland Security and Police Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis and Captain Mark additional estimated There will be a special- Board member Carroll Daniels Emergency Preparedness Richards with the Louisiana State Police met with Parish $5,062,000 loss intended for called meeting of the was not at the meeting. (GOHSEP). Davis, the President Rick Nowlin at the Natchitoches Regional maintenance and upkeep Natchitoches Parish School It was at the May 26 meeting Adjutant General for the Airport. of facilities and bond Board on Monday, June 8, at 5 six of the school board voted to Louisiana National Guard indebtedness. p.m. in the Board Room of the just came to help,” said Davis. dump into the Red River will name the new school Police Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Skinner said the losses Central Office of the Parish President Rick cause backwater flooding in Natchitoches Jr. High. Five Curtis and Captain Mark would be devastating to Natchitoches Parish School Nowlin said, “There’s any Natchitoches Parish. I called members argued at length in Richards with the Louisiana the school system, espe- Board Office. area with about 360 families my hydrologist and asked him favor of naming the school the State Police toured cially considering the pro- that depending on how high if it would impact us, if we’d Frankie Ray Jackson Sr. Jr. Natchitoches, Caddo and jected budget shortfall for the water gets, could need to go a half-foot up here and he High. Bossier Parishes June 3 to the 2015-16 school years. be moved out in the Black said it depends on what the The junior high school will Voters League determine pre-planning and “It is imperative that Lake area.” corp does and how much the be in the building on Welch pre-staging measures. you contact and share Davis asked if there would locks release. Cane River Lake Street that formerly housed the “Adjunct General Curtis is your thoughts with your meeting set be any additional impact this and the Natchitoches Port will alternative school that was here with his team. All of the school board member if he far south. not be a problem. The water named the Frankie Ray The Natchitoches Parish state agencies are on notice or she voted against the National Weather Service could get close to topping Jackson Sr. Technical Center. Voters and Civic League will including DOTD, Wildlife and adoption of the millage Warning Coordination some of the levees along the When remodeling of the meet Tuesday, June 9 at 6 p.m. Fisheries and the State Police. rates. Meteorologist Bill Parker building began last year in at the Old North Street Day Ya’ll are doing a great job. We See Flood Waters Page 3A “These losses will nega- said, “All the tributaries that preparation for locating the Care Center across from the tively impact students, as junior high there, the alterna- Winnfield Memorial Funeral well as employees of the tive school was moved to Parks Home. Annual membership system. Sheriff adds extra patrols in flooded areas Elementary. dues are $5. A registration “The vote, as it stands, The junior high school is set period will be held prior to the will mean closing schools, to open at the beginning of the meeting. Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Victor Jones Weather Service in Shreveport on Friday, having larger class sizes Jr. assigned extra patrols of areas of forecasts/crest on Thursday or Friday of 2015-16 school year. and reducing the number Natchitoches Parish affected by the potential next week at 42.5. When the vote came to renew of principals, counselors, City Council flooding of Red River Friday, June 5. Flood Stage is 33 feet. The river is on the millages, the motion master teachers, school These deputies will be assigned to areas Friday was at 38.7. received as 5-5 vote. The motion nurses, cafeteria workers, will meet Monday that are experiencing high water conditions Deputies will also be reporting conditions appeared to fail because of the custodians, tutors, para- at this time. Deputies will patrol these areas of the flooding to NPSO 911 Center to for- tie vote but it actually failed professionals, buss drivers in an effort to reduce suspicious activity and ward to the Natchitoches Office of because it did not receive a 2/3 and all other personnel. The City Council will meet to assist citizens if needed. Homeland Security & Office of Emergency majority vote which is required Monday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m. in The latest advisory from the National Preparedness. for renewing the millages. the Natchitoches arts Center. The five who previously approves the millage, she can- There will be a pre-meeting at voted no voted to approve sever- not prepare tax rolls and can- 5 p.m. for non agenda items. Rededication of taxes for road maintenance al other motions including not collect school board taxes See Page 3 for agenda. approval of the May 7 minutes, for 2015. acceptance of bids, renewal of Mahoney said the entities would be possible with vote of the people insurance policies and supported by ad valorem taxes usually have a June deadline to Parish President Rick Nowlin said rededication out a corresponding reduc- approval of next year’s budget. submit their millages to the Nowlin said Thursday in an would only happen with a tion in certain other taxes. When the millage vote failed, assessor’s office. email that he is hesitant to vote of the people. In any case, an election Supervisor of Finance Steven She then prepares the tax propose a rededication of There is legal authority would have to be called by Solomon said the system could roll to submit to the La. existing taxes such as those for a Parish Government to the Parish Council in accor- end the fiscal year with an $8 Legislative Auditor. that support the library, gov- seek voter approval for ad dance with the formalities million deficit instead of the On Friday, Skinner said ernment buildings and valorem taxes for general required by the election law. projected $4 deficit. there would be a special called health unit. fund or for road maintenance State law presently pro- On Friday morning, meeting Monday, June 8 at 5 He wants to wait until the purposes according to Jerry vides four dates a year at Assessor Dollie Mahoney said p.m.