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Fostering community The life of Dr. John R. Foster northwestern state university’s student-run newspaper
news Early voting for U.S. Senate begins
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arts & living Where did the holiday spirit go?
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sports Men’s and women’s basketball recaps
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opinions Party girl returns for a Thanksgiving rant
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Photo by Gary Hardamon
Dr. Foster (right) visited Baton Rouge with a group of students to strip houses after the Photo Caleb New recent flooding. He passed away on Nov. 24, 2016.
KASI PATTEN Contributing Reporter Communications professor, Dr. John Robert Foster passed away on Thursday, Nov. 24 at age 68. He spent 25 years at Northwestern State University before leaving behind a loving wife, four children and eight grandchildren. Foster’s funeral was on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at First United Methodist Church in Natchitoches. Young Army cadets lined the entrance to the sanctuary where a flag-draped coffin sat at the front. Family and friends lined the pews to remember his life and pay their respects. Foster served in the military for 20 years, pastored numerous congregations in the community and touched countless lives as an educator at NSU. As a professor, he challenged every one of his students to rebuild a caring and connected society. Beau Voinche, a senior general studies major, enrolled in Foster’s group dynamics course and expected it to be like any other speech class. “Group dynamics threw you for a loop,” Voinche said. “Not just the project you were working on, but getting to know the people you were in a group with.” Voinche explained how each individual person was integral to the group’s success. Voinche and Dr. Foster were a part of a group that stripped
houses in Baton Rouge after the summer with a vision that gave us a true purpose flooding. “All of the sudden he turned in life that was bigger than ourselves.” into Superman,” Voinche said. “He SGA President and senior outworked the five of us, and we’re all in communications major John Pearce was our twenties.” one of Foster’s advisees, and Foster was Mack McCarter, founder of integral in Pearce’s decision to become a Community Renewal in Shreveport, communications major. Louisiana, met Dr. Foster when they were During his sophomore year, Pearce teenagers and McCarter was a counselor emailed a random communications at the church camp Foster attended. professor to guide him his decision They later renewed their friendship to change majors. Dr. Foster was that while at Brite Divinity School at Texas random professor. Pearce went on to take Christian University, the seminary where courses with Dr. Foster for three years. Foster earned “His work his Master’s had a habit in Religious of making Education. you bond You never know where “ J o h n you would be if you with other was very tudents,” take one person out of sPearce interested to said. your life. - SGA President John Pearce “…You never solve basic problems know where in society,” you would be McCarter said when asked about his if you take one person out of your life.” relationship with Foster. “[He] saw the While on this Earth, Dr. John rebuilding of relational foundation that’s Robert Foster lived a life of service necessary for society, where we can come to his community, not only with his together under our capacity to care for commitment to the armed forces and one another.” education, but with helping individuals When McCarter was asked about the in any way he could. Not every NSU one thing he wanted to tell NSU students, student had the opportunity to meet Dr. he said, “If you ever wanted an effective Foster, but NSU and the surrounding role model, you don’t need to look any communities will remember him further than Dr. John Foster...He was a forever. Thank you, Dr. Foster, for man who understood that we were to live your service.
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U.S. Senate runoff voting begins
Police Blotter 11/17 • Public assistance - Columns 2328 hrs (1 arrest made, ongoing)
11/19 • Suspicious person - HPE 2231 hrs (handled by officers)
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Ashley Wolf Editor-In-Chief
11/23 • Complaint - Sam Sibley 0955 hrs (toilet was fixed)
Meg Denny Managing Editor Alec Horton Visual Editor, PR Manager Jordan Reich Copy Editor Jessie Gabor Copy Editor Josh Fontenot A&L Editor, Online Editor, Social Media Coordinator An-gel Samuel Opinions Editor
John Kennedy Republican Early voting for Louisiana’s U.S. Senate seat began on Nov. 26 and will continue until Dec. 3. The election date is Dec. 10. John Kennedy (R) and Foster Campbell (D) won the primary senate election on Nov. 8. Now, the two face off in the only senate runoff in the nation. While the Republicans won the majority of the U.S. Senate seats during the Nov. 8 election, Louisiana voters have the chance to either change the numbers by electing Campbell or fortify the Republican presence by voting for Kennedy.
Foster Campbell Democrat In Natchitoches Parish, voters will choose between two candidates for senate as well as two candidates for the 4th Congressional District: “Mike” Johnson (R) and Marshall Jones (D). The Natchitoches Parish Courthouse will be open for early voting until Dec. 3, from 8:30 a.m to 6 p.m. For more information about polling locations, voting districts or ballot content, Louisiana voters can go to geauxvote.com, the Secretary of State website.
11/26 • Suspicious person - CAPA Building 1953 hrs (unfounded)
11/27 • Armed robbery with NPD-Dodson way (off campus) 0433 hrs (assisted NPD with call)
11/28 • Auto accident - UP 1 1117 hrs (ongoing) • Complaint - UP 1 2236 hrs (report filed)
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NSU hosting art exhibit for Crafts Guild LEAH JACKSON Director of Informational Services
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orthwestern State University’s Department of Fine + Graphic Art is partnering with the Louisiana Crafts Guild for an exhibition of fine crafts that will be on exhibit at the Orville Hanchey Gallery through Dec. 9. A reception will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. The public is invited. The Louisiana Crafts Guild is a juried organization of fine crafts artisans from throughout the state of Louisiana and the southern region of the United States. Because of the organization’s stringent jury requirements and dedication to excellence in
fine craft, only three out of every 10 applicants is approved for membership. Members of the Guild are active in their community and give back by providing demonstrations to schools, churches, libraries and other organizations. Members’ generosity support community events, non-profit organizations and fundraisers. The exhibition features scarves, carved chairs, jewelry, ceramics, woodwork and more featuring the best in Louisiana artisanship. All items are available for purchase. Orville Hanchey Gallery is located at 140 Central Avenue on the NSU campus. Hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-noon on Friday. For more information, contact Leslie Gruesbeck at gruesbeckl@nsula.edu
This lidded jar was created by artist Michael Flaherty. Photo by Leah Jackson
ROTC will hold comissionary ceremony LEAH JACKSON Director of Informational Services Northwestern State University’s Department of Military Science will wrap up the Fall 2016 semester with a Dec. 1 awards program to recognize cadet accomplishments and a Dec. 16 commissioning ceremony for Cadet Gavin Bazer. “NSU’s Army ROTC cadets are wrapping a very busy fall semester,” said Sid Hall, Military Affairs coordinator and ROTC program manager. “From field training exercises, to a commemoration ceremony honoring Vietnam veterans, to supporting student organizations and athletic events, they have certainly made a mark on campus.” The awards program will begin at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 in the ballroom of the Sylvan Friedman Student Union. A reception will follow the ceremony. Cadet Bazer will take the Oath of Commissioned Officers at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, also in the Student Union Ballroom. Guest speaker will be Colonel Nelson G. Kraft, commander, 6th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command. The commissioning will take place in conjunction with Fall Commencement. A reception will follow the ceremony.
Photo courtesy of The Potpourri
For more information or to RSVP for the ceremonies, contact Ed Kelly at (318) 357-5157 or kellye@nsula.edu
Calling all feral cats of Natchitoches! The Veterinary Technology Program is implementing a feral cat Trap-Test-Neuter-Release Program (TTNR) as a service project for NSU. From mid-November to mid-February, people can contact the Veterinary Technology Program at 318-357-6019 or woodardb@nsula.edu if they notice feral cats around their building that might benefit from TTNR.
arts & living
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The holiday season brings feelings of joy to children, but college students often report higher stress levels and clashing with family members. Photo by Alec Horton
Does adulthood kill the holiday spirit? Students reflect on change MADDIE FRY Reporter
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e can all remember a time when the Thanksgiving turkey looked bigger, the lights on the tree looked brighter, and the presents felt heavier. From elementary school holiday-themed parties to family pumpkin patch adventures, the coming of Thanksgiving and Christmas was always an exciting time in our youth. But alas, life has a tendency to make a person bitter and stressed, and the holiday times are no exception to this. Let’s face it: in college, nobody is handing you a festive cookie or giving you an A+ for drawing a picture of The Grinch. When you
grow up, Santa stops coming in for cookies and just flies right past your house, dropping your gift down the chimney as he goes. The overwhelming excitement of the holiday traditions from childhood grow and evolve into avoiding the topics of dating, grades and politics at the table with your extended family. Junior social work major Stone Smith said that for him, the holidays could be a stressful time even as a kid. “Having split parents meant meeting at a gas station halfway between Bossier and Cotton Valley, Louisiana and then spending half of the break at one parent’s, the second at another’s,” Smith said. “As an adult though, I just want to spend the holidays with my love, Bianca, and have a friend’s Thanksgiving in my apartment.”
Smith strives to someday work in adoption because he empathizes with children of broken families, especially during the holiday season. Some families keep their holiday traditions sacred and find comfort in the familiarity. This is true for Shelby Noustens, a senior hospitality and tourism major from New Orleans, whose family still practices the same traditions from her childhood. Going to church on Christmas Eve and sharing a steak dinner with her family is something she looks forward to every year. “If something changes, it just seems off, like something isn’t right,” Noustens said. Being far away from home and family members can take a toll, and for Noustens it
is important to have time to go home and just relax with her family. Of course, “grown ups” experience some advantages during the holidays. Music education major Theresa Sharp has traded in her seasonal marshmallow hot chocolate for coffee and Kahlua. “I no longer wait for the crack of dawn on Christmas morning. Instead, I use it as a day to sleep in,” Sharp said. “Even though most of the ‘magic’ is gone from Christmas, it is what I look forward to each year.” Whether you’re chasing around younger siblings and family members or curled up with your pet drowning your sorrows in eggnog and homemade fudge, we hope that all of you can have a safe, relaxing and foodfilled holiday season.
Celebrating Christmas the Greek way AN-GEL SAMUEL Opinions Editor This Christmas season, Alpha Phi Alpha member Jalen Clark said that his fraternity will adopt a family and provide for them. “We plan to help provide what they lack this holiday season with a care package that will include food, toys and any other items they may be in need of,” Clark said. Throughout the fraternity and sorority system at NSU, the Christmas season is celebrated with service and community building.
Anthony Cannata of Pike Kappa Alpha said that members of his fraternity will gather at the Pike house for a potluck and enjoy Christmas Fest together. “We will also decorate our house, which we’ll be doing when we get back from Thanksgiving break,” Cannata said. “It’s all part of the tradition.” Delta Sigma Theta will spend the season practicing fellowship. Shania Dauterive said that her and her line sisters also plan to congregate with the Natchitoches Alumni chapter.
Christmas caroling is on the agenda of Sigma Sigma Sigma and Sigma Alpha Iota. “We’re just going to go door to door doing that,” Sigma Sigma Sigma member Josie Stamey said. “Before then, on Nov. 30, we will have a Christmas party for the actives and for potential new members that may want to pledge in the Spring.” Sigma Sigma Sigma also hosted a tacky Christmas party for their members. On Dec. 3, Phi Mu Alpha will have a motherdaughter gingerbread house decorating event after their alumni ornament exchange earlier
that week. The fraternity also hosted an open house for interested students. The Natchitoches Christmas Festival is on Saturday, Dec. 3, and attendees can expect to see many NSU Greek members strolling through the streets wearing their letters. “Getting to spend time with my sisters during the holiday season reminds me of how blessed I am,” recent alumni member of Phi Mu Ashleigh Daniels said. “Everyone puts aside their differences and comes together to celebrate giving, compassion and sisterhood; Christmas just makes it better.”
arts & living
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CAPA spotlight: A night at Gala rehearsal
Blayne Fugere plays french horn in the orchestra. Preparations for this year’s Christmas Gala started as early as summer of 2016 for Photo by Valentina Perez some cast members.
JOSHUA FONTENOT A&L Editor The lights are up on Front street, Christmas carols are playing over the loud speakers and tourists are running rampant in Natchitoches. This can only mean one thing: prepare for the 28th annual NSU Christmas Gala. Over a span of nine shows, CAPA students from all departments will come together to spread Christmas cheer with their performances. But it does not all happen overnight. Music and dance ensembles began rehearsing individually in mid-October and the production team had meetings as early as Summer of 2016. “I’ve allotted four rehearsals to get the entire show organized before we leave for Thanksgiving,” artistic director Corey Trahan
said. “We will reconvene Sunday evening, Nov. 27 for a review before adding the final touches Monday and Tuesday evening.” Annie Dauzat, a dancer involved in four ensembles and four-time Gala cast member, said she feels like she’s been involved in Gala for a lifetime. “Rehearsals are strenuous. Eventually my legs just go numb,” Dauzat said. “It’s kind of refreshing – oddly therapeutic.” Audience members can expect to see returns from their favorite acts such as the toy soldiers, drum line, and the rockettes – along with some fresh routines. This year the ballet and contemporary dance numbers combined to make a never-before-seen Arabic piece, as well as a movement incorporating sign language. Choreographer of the “hot chocolate” piece, Taylor Smith, said he is happy to see his artistic expression come to life.
“It’s amazing because my whole family comes out [for Gala] and it’s a huge part of the Christmas Festival here in Natchitoches,” Smith said. “This opportunity has given me one of the biggest credits I can get while in college.” Trahan said the cast is set to perform Nov. 30 - Dec. 2 for an estimated 10,000 people. Orchestra member Hammond Lake said that the early morning children’s performances have always been his favorite. “The child audience is by far the best crowd every year,” said Lake, who has participated in Gala for five years. “They seriously lose their shit every time; it makes performing so early worth it.” Performances of the 28th annual Christmas Gala will happen Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 in the A.A. Fredericks Auditorium. Performance times are 7 p.m. each evening with a 9 p.m. performance on Dec. 2. The children’s showings are at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
sports
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DEMON SPORTS C A L E N DA R November WED
30
Women’s Basketball at Memphis 5:30 p.m.
December THU
Men’s Basketball vs. LSU-Shreveport 6:30 p.m.
SAT
Men’s Basketball at UTEl Paso 8 p.m.
SUN
Women’s Basketball vs. UL-Monroe 1 p.m.
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Senior Guard Beatrice Attura plays in a game against Central Baptist. Attura has a 19-point score average per game this season. Photo by Gary Hardamon
Women’s basketball gets tough road test JACOB HICKS Sports Editor
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he women’s basketball season will see a real test this Wednesday when they travel to Tennessee to take on Memphis. NSU, who are 3-2 on the season, started off strong with three straight wins against Letourneau, LSU-Alexandria, and Central Baptist. All three games turned out to be easy wins for the Demons, with their closest win being an 80-68 win against Letourneau in the first game of the year. The Demons then travelled to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns, where they were overmatched and lost 86-39. Texas outscored
the Demons 71-24 through three quarters, but powered through the fourth, with both teams scoring 15 in the fourth quarter. “They were still pressing in the fourth quarter, and we handled it,” first-year head coach Jordan Dupuy said. “They changed defenses, and we did a decent job. At that point, the game is out of hand. If we do that and carry it through all four quarters, who knows what can happen?” In their last game, Mississippi Valley State pushed the Demons to the brink, with NSU losing in a thriller, 68-64. The third quarter made the difference for the Devils, outscoring NSU 26-16, with that helping them win the game. “Mississippi (Valley State) pushed us to the brink on Friday,” guard Beatrice Attura
said. “It was a close game on both ends, and it was a big test. I know we will rebound strong against Memphis, however.” Attura had a game high 25 points, while forward Victoria Miller was a monster for the Demons on the glass, with 16 rebounds on the game. The road doesn’t get any easier for the Demons, with Memphis in their crosshairs this Wednesday, Nov. 30. The Tigers who are 2-4 on the season, won their last game against Illinois 64-54, and kept the game close against college basketball powerhouse Kanas, losing 68-58. The Demons’ next home games see them taking on the Warhawks from ULM this Sunday, Dec. 4, before having a week off to play Jackson State, Sunday, Dec. 11.
Men’s basketball takes on LSUS JACOB HICKS Sports Editor The Demons won their last two home games against Letourneau and LSU-Alexandria last weekend, but couldn’t beat their next two division one opponents. They lost to Missouri 84-60 on Nov. 26. Zeek Woodley gained the most points with 16, next to Ishmael Lane with 12 points and eight rebounds. NSU started off well, but could not get past the 15-4 burst from the Tigers, leading 39-27 late in the first half. The Demons were never able to recover, losing the game 84-60.
The Demons then traveled Southeast to Starkville to take on Mississippi State, where it was a close game to the end. The game saw nine ties and eight lead changes and it came down to the last 1:20, where the Bulldogs scored the last five points of the game to win 65-59. Zeek Woodley dominated the stat sheet for NSU, scoring 28 points off 10 of 19 shots. No one else from the team had more than seven points. Junior Devonte Hall had six points, five assists and three steals in the game. “Our ability to score at the basket was big, epically in the closing minutes,” Demon head coach Mike McConathy said. “They made our turnovers costly. We had 19 and they scored
26 points off them. We only got 13 points off of 13 turnovers. It’s a big difference.” Now the Demons will take the floor against LSUS on Thursday, Dec. 1 in a home game. The Pilots are currently 5-2, with their most recent game a loss against Oklahoma City University, 101-90. “We had two difficult games on the road, but now we’re ready for this game against LSUS,” sophomore Reginald Kissoonlal said. “Zeek (Woodley) had been a monster for us, but now the rest of the team needs to step up and help him, help each other.” The Demons will travel to El Paso for their next game against the University of Texas – El Paso on Saturday, Dec. 3.
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Nov. 16-29 Athletic Scores Volleyball 11/18 LOSS vs. Sam Houston State
1-3
Women’s Basketball 11/19 WIN vs. LSUAlexandria 11/21 WIN vs. Central Baptist 11/23 LOSS vs. UT-Austin
97-76 93-42 39-86
Men’s Basketball 11/18 WIN vs. LeTourneau 11/22 WIN vs. LSUAlexandria 11/26 LOSS vs. Missourri 11/28 LOSS vs. Mississippi State
92-87 82-69 60-84 59-65
Football 11/19 LOSS vs. Stephen F. Austin
31-45
opinions
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Thanksgiving is totally BS
PARTY GIRL Contributing Writer
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urprise, bitch. I bet you thought you’d seen the last of me. Luckily for you, I have found time in between popping Prozac and my crying sessions - scheduled at 3:15 p.m. sharp daily - to fill you in on the glorified mass genocide often referred to by my upper middle class white family as Thanksgiving. I woke up Thanksgiving morning with the smell of a feast, which only reminded me that I need to lose 5 pounds before Christmas. As my parents and I caravanned to my grandparents for the traditional family gathering, I was already planning my drunken escapade of the day. No longer would I sit through a family holiday hunched over my obsolete iPhone (even though I got it last year). No, this year I would down an entire bottle of wine and tell my condescending uncle to shove his bigot opinions up his ass. I always loved holidays, but as I got older and noticeably more cynical, they have seemed to lose their appeal. Every year is the same thing - family I don’t want to see, topics I don’t want to talk about and wanting to go home directly after eating. This year we were the first to arrive, giving me enough time to get to the store, buy the large bottle of Cabernet, and down two glasses before the rest of the family arrived. My favorite aunt showed up next, walking through the door smelling like a Colorado dispensary equipped with all of her hippy glory. As she was telling me about how great her screen printing business was doing these days, she stopped abruptly to ask what kind of wine I was drinking. She then said something that I will never forget. “I absolutely adore wine,” she said. “It’s like liquid Klonopin.” We all shuffled inside to listen to my grandfather use the dinner blessing as a way to ask blessings for every single individual he has ever come across in his life. But as he
neared the end of the list, the now four glasses of wine began to fight for dominance inside me. Here we were, a privileged, “blessed” upper middle class family celebrating a holiday that essentially marks the outright destruction of the Native American population. In fact, on the other side of the country, Native Americans were being blasted with pressure hoses, shot with rubber bullets and tear-gassed on their own burial grounds. But don’t worry, your fuck-up of a cousin brought potato salad. These thoughts were rushing through my mind like a girl trying to do her contour on her face while her friends wait in the car, when suddenly I just screamed out to 30 family members, “I think we should be thinking about the Native Americans in Standing Rock being attacked at this very moment instead of this!” My mother looked up at me and said, “You’re totally right. I agree.” I then proceeded to sip my wine, serve myself and sit at the dinner table. Conversation resumed to the usual “What are your plans after graduation?” and “Have you had any job offers?” But I knew I had done my civic duty as an activist on the rise. I pulled an Irish goodbye and dragged myself to the back seat of my parents car. As we drove home, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Did I piss people off? For a split second, did I make them experience the discomfort that minorities have faced for years?” I guess I’ll never know, but I’ll always find solace in the fact that I’m going to be the wine-drunk family member at all gatherings from now on.
xoxo,
Party Girl
Wolf stares into her selfie camera looking for answers the day Photo by Ashley Wolf after the election.
The Divided States of America ASHLEY WOLF Editor-in-Chief Politics passed out the jerseys, and we wore them proudly. Red for Trump. Blue for Clinton. Nothing for third-party voters, bystanders or children. Figures, I guess. Voting booths passed out the stickers. And we wore them proudly. Every player receives a participation trophy. Rodriguez’s blue dog stared blankly back at us. On election day, our own NSU students separated into two different rooms for the SGA-hosted watch party. One room for Democrats to watch CNN coverage. Another room for Republicans to watch Fox News. In both rooms, refreshments were provided. Everyone gets a sticker. And now, Donald Trump is PresidentElect, and about half of America stares back at the blue dog. Why did this happen? Did my participation mean nothing? “Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division. It is time for us to come together as one united people,” Trump said in his acceptance speech. We stared at our screens. Welcome to the Divided States of America. And I get it. This is how it is. So let’s deal with it, right? Let’s just accept the fact
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that not everyone’s a winner. But it’s not about winning. It’s about being able to stare back at the blue dog and say that I feel like an American. I know that I’m an American, obviously. But I want to feel like one. I’ve recently been watching this HBO series about John Adams that came out a few years ago. Paul Giamatti plays John Adams, naturally, and the whole things just makes me feel super pumped up about freedom and all of this liberty that the revolutionaries fought for. He sacrificed everything, and for what? So that fake news could spread around on Facebook? So that we could rant like our words are louder than actions? So that Native Americans could be tear-gassed and abused for defending what they believe in? Liberty is not only a right. It’s also a privilege. And I don’t want to squander it. I have a right to speak my mind, to vote, to worship whoever I please, to speak against America like a rebellious teenager rebels against their parents. But I also have the privilege of utilizing it, and that’s what I hope we all will do. I don’t believe in letting my opinions waste away on my Facebook wall. I believe in action. I believe in freaking John Adams. And most of all, I believe that, if I’m gonna wear that voting sticker, I’ve earned it. I will stare back at that blue dog, goddammit.
The Current Sauce presents
Puppies & Papers Wednesday, December 7 Alumni Plaza 11:30-3:30 Sponsored by the Natchitoches Humane Society www.natchitocheshumane.com