Economic Downturn Finally Reaching City As Sales Tax Is Flat for 3 Years
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HHERALDING OOVER A CCENTURY OF NNEWS CCOVERAGE •• 1903-20141903-2014 LIFESTYLES SPORTS FARM TO TABLE HIGH SCHOOL EVENT FEATURES FOOTBALL LOCAL PRODUCE BEGINS See Page 1B See Page 6A The Natchitoches Times And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, John 8:32. Weekend Edition, September 6-7, 2014 Natchitoches, Louisiana • Since 1714 Seventy-Five Cents the Copy INSERTS INSIDE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES NSU presidential hopefuls Walmart SALES TAX COLLECTIONS will interview on campus, Rite Aid Walgreens meet and greet the public Best Buy $5,500,000 The interviews are set for the four Northwestern State Dr. James Henderson Letters to the Editor $5,000,000 University Presidential and Dr. Lisa Abney are Let us know what you think, Semifinalists according to an scheduled for forums and $4,500,000 write a letter to the editor. announcement by the interviews on Wednesday, See Page 4A for details. Sept. 10. $4,000,000 University of Louisiana Natchitoches Times e-mail System. Henderson will meet with community leaders at [email protected] $3,500,000 Two interviews will be held Visit our website at: per day Wednesday, Sept. 10 8 a.m. in Theatre West. www.narcosynthesis.coma $3,000,000 and Thursday, Sept. 11. Henderson’s Search On Friday, Sept. 12, the Committee Interview will $2,500,000 search committee will deliber- be at 10:15 a.m. in Magale WEATHER ate and decide who will move Recital Hall, followed by HIGH LOW $2,000,000 forward to be interviewed by media interviews in the the Board of Supervisors for Green Room of the 91 70 $1,500,000 the University of Louisiana Creative and Performing Arts Building. $1,000,000 System Sept. 23. The public interviews and Abney will meet with community leaders at 9 Area Deaths $500,000 search committee meeting a.m. in Theatre West. Martha Jean LaCaze 2011 2012 2013 2014 will take place in the Magale Recital Hall in the Creative Abney’s Search Committee Jewell Lillian LaCaze Jones and Performing Arts (CAPA) Interview will be at 1:30 Trudy Hilkemeyer Conine building on Northwestern’s p.m. in Magale Recital Period 2011 2012 2013 2014 Diff 2013/14 Diff % Hall, followed by media Obituaries Page 2A Natchitoches campus. They JAN $.9 M $.93 M $.96 M $.88 M -$78,023 -8.89% are scheduled as follows: interviews in the Green FEB $1.58 M $1.66 M $1.64 M $1.6 M -$37,014 -2.31% Wednesday, Sept. 10 Room of the Creative and School board MAR $2.48 M $2.42 M $2.36 M $2.31 M -$52,628 -2.28% •10:15 a.m.-James B. Performing Arts Building. APR $3.39 M $3.24 M $3.27 M $3.23 M -$47,254 -1.46% Henderson (D.M.-University Dr. Renva Watterson and Dr. Linda Rinker are MAY $4.2 M $3.92 M $4. M $4. M -$2,661 -0.07% of Maryland), Chancellor, calls meeting Bossier Parish Community scheduled for forums and JUN $4.98 M $4.71 M $4.78 M $4.78 M $7,146 0.15% interviews on Thursday, The Natchitoches Parish College Natchitoches Tax Commission Graphic Sept. 11. School board will hold a spe- •1:30 p.m.-Lisa Abney Watterson will meet cial meeting to address safety City sales tax collections are down for 5.5 percent since 2011 and have not rebounded. (Ph.D.-University of Houston), with community leaders at concerns at Natchitoches Provost and Vice President of 8 a.m. in Theatre West. Central High School Tuesday, Academic and Student Affairs, Northwestern State Watterson’s Search Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the NPSB Economic downturn finally reaching Committee Interview will central office board room. University Thursday, Sept. 11 be at 10:15 a.m. in Magale City as sales tax is flat for 3 years •10:15 a.m.-Renva H. Recital Hall, followed by Watterson (Ed.D.-University media interviews in the Sanders although total enrollment was ple are shopping on-line and The Natchitoches of Arkansas), Interim Green Room of the seeks economy has remained flat for approximately 6,000 students. having their purchases deliv- President, Georgia Highlands Creative and Performing Justice the past three years, if city Some of the students were at ered by Fed Ex or UPS rather College Arts Building. of Peace sales tax collections are an other campuses but the major- than shopping at •1:30 p.m.-Linda K. Rinker Rinker will meet with seat in indication. ity of students were taking on- Natchitoches stores. (Ed.D.-Columbia University community leaders at 9 Ward 4 City sales taxes collections line courses and do not live Other drains on the city Teachers College), Provost a.m. in Theatre West. for the first six months of here. sales taxes are the Family and Executive Vice President Rinker’s Search each of the years have Uncertainty exists on the Dollar and Dollar General See Page 3A for Academic Affairs, Committee Interview will changed little. NSU campus while awaiting a stores being built out side the Davenport University be at 1:30 p.m. in Magale While the rest of the nation new president and change of City limits. These type stores Friday, Sept. 12 Recital Hall, followed by suffered from the financial administration. not only carry items the •9 a.m.-Northwestern State media interviews in the Melder crisis of 2008, Natchitoches Nationwide construction of neighborhood convenience University Presidential Green Room in the seeks and Northwest Louisiana new homes and businesses stores stock, but also have a Search Committee Meeting to Creative and Performing were buffered by the has been down so the local large selection of other items. Select Finalists Arts Building. School Haynesville Shale natural gas wood product companies have The dollar stores are short- The Search Committee Board In addition to public inter- activity. not been that strong. stopping customers from views with the search commit- will meet to select finalists seat in Local sale taxes fell 5.5 per However, Weyerhaeuser, that going into the City and shop- tee, each semifinalist will at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12 in District cent after 2011 and have makes laminated beams for ping at Walmart or meet with faculty, staff, Magale Recital Hall. 6 remained flat. moderate to upscale homes, Brookshire’s. This causes the administrators, students, and More information is The local economy has been has a back-log of orders, city to lose sales tax dollars. community members. available at nsula.edu. See Page 3A stagnate because none of the Yet Alliance Compressor, The state motor vehicle major economic drivers has the local air conditioner com- department reports that auto- been strong and retail buying pressor manufacturer, has mobile sales over the last four Branded cow habits are changing. laid off some production line year for Natchitoches Parish Major cuts by the state to employee until Oct. 6. residents have risen 25 per- the NSU budget for the past The fate of Fort Polk will cent. Automobile sales have found at large three years have been devas- have a big influence on the been the one bright spot. Sheriff Victor Jones reports tating. Curriculums have employment in the southern Jan-July 2011 1,339,715 that deputies and La. Livestock been cut. Professors have left. portion of Natchitoches and Jan-July 2012 1,394,511 + 4% Brand inspectors are trying to Those professors remaining Sabine Parishes. Jan-July 2013 1,537,571 +10% identity a stray branded cow have not seen a pay raise in Presently, the troop Jan-July 2014 1,693,609 +10% found “at large” on La. 487 in several years. strength is down and the the community of Marthaville. The way students attend future of the post is uncer- Also suffering is the Tax Anyone with questions or college has changed so there tain. There is speculation that Incremental Fund (TIF) that is information can call the are not has many students the Obama Administration is down 24 percent, or $3,766, Sheriff ’s office at 352-6432 or physically on campus. holding the post a political from the same period a year Carnie Burcham with the NSU, now, has a large per- hostage to get Democratic ago. Brand Commission at 318-949- centage of its enrollment tak- Sen. Mary Landrieu re-elected The TIF tax is what the City 3225. The cow is penned and ing courses over the Internet. in November. intends to use to help pay off stored with a livestock contrac- Last spring, the university A major impact on city its financial commitment to tor.If no owner comes forward, had fewer then 2,000 students sales tax growth is Internet the developer of a hotel down- the cow will be sold on the next on the Natchitoches campus shopping. More and more peo- town. auction day. Ethics commission appeals ruling on candidate Index The La. Board of Ethics on Wednesday filed to file a financial disclosure statement in 2011. an appeal with the Third Circuit, Court of The Board of Ethics filed suit to object to his Obituaries 2A Appeal, of the ruling Judge Dee Ann candidacy because of the unpaid fine but also Hawthorne issued Tuesday concerning the because he signed qualifying documents Editorial 4A candidacy of Ralph Wilson in his bid for re- acknowledging that he owed no fines. election to the Natchitoches Parish School Before the hearing Tuesday, Hawthorne said Annie’s Mailbox 6B Board. she had a lengthy discussion with ethics attor- The panel of judges wants to hear the appeal ney Suzanne Williams and Wilson’s attorney Lifestyles 1B Monday, Sept.