Monday, Feb. 26
The Robeline/Marthaville water office has closed. The new office location is 660 Hwy. 171 Bypass in Many. You can call the office at 472-9581 with questions about your water bill. The drop box will still be open for us who drop off our payments. No cash payments will be accepted, only checks or money orders. You can pay your water bill on line which is a big plus for many customers. Lots of good things have already been taking place since Sabine Parish Waterworks District #1 purchased the water system. We have had our share of low pressure or no water at all but like with everything else, it just takes time. The Marthaville 4-H community service project for February is a book drive for the library.
March is National Reading Month. 4-H members and Clover Buds are asked to donate a new, appropriate book to the school library by Friday, March 2. I know I am late in getting this out but I am sure you can be a little late in turning your unused books in. Take your books to Kelly Mitchell or Laura Strahan. Little Angels of God are in need of help for the Easter project. They need donations and sponsors for Easter baskets. Each year, they fill baskets and give them to displaced or foster children in Sabine, Red River, Webster, DeSoto and Natchitoches parishes. The baskets are for newborns to age 17.
Items that can be donated include, but are not limited to, money, donations, bibles, toys, ball caps, new stuffed animals, crosses and individually wrapped candy. A cross is included in each basket. Donation deadline is March 19 and the basket filling party will be March 24. For more information, call Stacey LaCour at 472-6430 or Crystal Adams at 471-0154. Items can be dropped off at 7071 Hwy. 6 West, Natchitoches.
A new business has opened in Robeline. The Pit Stop Diner opened Feb. 26 at the former Cow Patties location. The address is 9055 Texas St., and the phone number is 472-7012. New owners Tony and Lesley Jordan welcome everyone to come in and place their orders from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 11 will be time to spring forward for Daylight Savings Time. Dora Allen is home from rehab and her daughter, Michelle, is staying with her. Remember this family in your prayers.
Monday, Feb. 26
Happy birthday to Albert Gillie, Jr., March 1; Franchisca Forest and Ray Hoover March 2; and Karen Curry March 4. Congratulations to Jeff and Esther Hoover who will celebrate their wedding anniversary March 5. The Village of Natchez council met Feb. 1. Absent was Alderman Amos Bradley. Community members present were Patsy Ward-Hoover, Viola Porter, John Metoyer, Cotina Morris, Monique Sarpy, Pearlie Hamilton, Henry Braxton and Naomi Petite.
There was also a representative from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. Parish Council Representative Patsy Ward-Hoover said she is part of the community and will assist in any way possible. She is eager to work with the newcomers in the upcoming election. Ward-Hoover said there are new laws governing the overlay of streets. There are procedures to follow to get the Parish Council’s attention. An individual can’t call to report work on roadways. It has to be in writing from the Mayor. The governing authority approves the resolution asking that the Parish of Natchitoches perform maintenance on streets and roads within the limits of the Village.
Heritage Festival Committee member Henry Braxton stated is taking over as Heritage Festival committee chairman and the Pearlie Hamilton is stepping down. There are some new members as well and he will notify all of the first meeting. There was to be a rally on Feb. 27 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Natchez Pecan Park for those who qualified. Old business consisted of bylaws governing the junk cars in homeowners’ yards. This issue was again tabled. The new business consisted of the LMS Mid-Winter conference that was Feb. 20-21 in Baton Rouge. Chief of Police Gerald Johnson covered police business. Assistant Chief Michael Gillie was also present. Sewer business was next on the agenda. The financials were covered and the bills were paid.
Mayor Humphrey made her final comments. She is asking the board to assist her with a block party for the community. She will have more information at the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m. The Village of Natchez will meet March 1 at 6 p.m. Natchitoches Parish Fire District 5 will meet March 5 at 7 p.m. at the Alton Lambre Subdivision. Waterworks District 2 holds its meetings on the third Wednesday of each month. The next scheduled meeting is March 21.
The Black History program at St. Martha Baptist Church was indeed a success. Several of the Natchez community youths portrayed leaders, activists, etc., at the program Feb. 25 at the Village of Natchez. Pastor Albert Gillie and First Lady Bridgette Gillie want to thank everyone for their participation. Daylight savings time ends March 11.
Monday, Feb. 26
Sunday was an awesome day at Old Bethel. Lottie Collier led the singing. The songs included “I Don’t Have to See You to Believe”, “Be Still and Know that I Am God”, “There’s a Healer in this House”, “Old Country Church” and “I Know the Water Walker.” Old Bethel sang happy birthday to Annie Broadway, Dean Steadman, Mandy Weeks, Dianne Steadman, and Emily Windham. Also having a February birthday was Alex Froust. Bro. Jay brought the message on John 10:27. After the worship service, Old Bethel had a hamburger plate lunch. George Posey grilled the hamburgers. Jan Posey baked beans and got everything else together for the meal.
This was huge success and we are planning more fundraisers. Old Bethel is planning a High Attendance Sunday March 11, with breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday School is at 9:45 a.m. Daylight Savings Time begins that day. Thursday will be the Natchitoches Association prayer breakfast at Trinity Baptist Church at 8 a.m. Trinity senior luncheon is March 8. The guests will be from Council on Aging who will demonstrate chair aerobics. Clara Springs fish fry in February was supposed to be cooked by Social Springs. They had a death in their church and they had to minister to this family.
The fish fry was cooked by Aimwell, Emmanuel, First Baptist Converse, Old Bethel, NSU BCM, Union Baptist Belmont, Westside and Clara Springs Staffers. Thank you to Bro. Ron Thompson for helping round up volunteers. Thank you Bro. Lee and Barbara for being the cashiers. We served 290 people that night. Old Bethel will cook the fourth Friday fish fry March 23. Brothers Keepers Motorcycle Club #17 will sell plate lunches March 10. On the menu are chicken or Down Home sausage or hamburgers with baked beans, potato salad, bread, dessert and a drink. The cost per plate is $8 or $10 for two meats. They will be at the City Bank on Keyser. Get a ticket from any member of BKMC #17. Also, on March 23, Brothers Keepers will have a crawfish boil from 5-8 p.m. Get four pounds of crawfish, two potatoes and one piece of corn and a drink for $20. Order your ticket by March 16. Contact Mark Waskom at 318-332-9870.
First Baptist Marthaville will host Ladies Night Out Thursday, March 15. The theme is Hee Haw. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $10 and is due by March 11. Toledo Bend Baptist Resort Ministry will have a spring workday Saturday, March 17 at 8 a.m. Calvary Baptist Church will have a luncheon March 25 for a fundraiser for Calvary’s kids to go to camp at Clara Springs. The meal will be chicken spaghetti, green beans, bread and dessert for a donation of $7 for adults and $5 for children. Take-out plates are available. Weaver Methodist Church will have an Easter egg hunt March 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Flora Community Center. They will serve fish plates for $8. There will be face painting, a silent auction, spring pictures and Teen Treasure Hunt for ages 12-16.
Monday, Feb. 26
Provencal Little Hoops wrapped up its season Saturday and kids are now gearing up for summer baseball and softball. Provencal Little League will have its final sign up March 3 from 10 a.m.-noon. Organizers will be at Provencal City Hall. Children ages 3-18 are eligible and the cost for each child is $45. If your child has never played take a copy of the child’s birth certificate to registration.
Provencal and area residents are dealing with flooding once again. Hwy. 120 near the I-49 Flora/Cypress Exit began to flood on Saturday and by Sunday was under water. As of Monday, the highway remains closed with barricades in place. With more rain in the forecast, the water will likely not recede before the weekend. Motorists are reminded that moving barricades or driving around them is illegal and drivers can be ticketed.
