Dale Bernard of Lake Charles has honored his two sisters with a gift of $10,000 to the Northwestern State University Foundation to endow a scholarship to benefit a student pursuing a degree in education. Bernard, who graduated from Northwestern in 1953, established the scholarship to honor his sisters, Melba Bernard Allison of Plano, Texas, and the late Esther Bernard Reed. The donation will be matched with a $1,500 grant from State Farm Insurance.

Members of Beta Beta Beta at Northwestern State University oversaw the restoration of a decades-old monument in front of Bienvenu Hall.

Robert B. Blow has announced his candidacy for Vernon Parish School Board member, District 6.

Four year incumbent, Vernon Travis is seeking reelection to his position to the Vernon Parish School Board, he announced.

Wanted: Strong, well-educated and experienced leader who can guide at least $290 million in budget cuts, take repeated and angry criticism from state lawmakers and get paid less than the university chiefs you will oversee and coordinate.

Experts say a cap of $75 is realistic for students moving into a room furnished with a bed, dresser and desk but nothing else.

“Academic concerns are pretty much the same at any high school,” explained Mike Kay, newly appointed principal at Evans High School. “We must make sure that we are adequately preparing students for life. This includes preparation for college, entering the workforce, or entering the military. A daunting task, but it is one that my staff and I accept readily.”

A report released by Louisiana's Board of Regents indicates that graduates of teacher preparation programs at Northwestern State University meet or exceed expectations in student performance for new teachers.

Louisiana has lost its bid to get a slice of the billions of dollars in federal education grant money available in the "Race to the Top" competition.

Louisiana motorists convicted of second-offense DWI must wait 45 days to apply for a hardship driver’s license under a new law that took effect this month.

Every school day buses from Vernon Parish Schools stop at the corner of North Gladys and Nona Streets in Leesville for elementary and middle school children to scamper down the hill on Gladys to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center as Director Leroy Stokes watches at the front door.

Addressing poor educational performance, hunger and other issues related to poverty, Jim Hurley has spent the last nine months coordinating service projects aimed at helping the community.  As an Americorps VISTA volunteer hosted by Northwestern State University, Hurley arrived in Natchitoches last November committed to fighting illiteracy, improving health services, strengthen community groups, and other service endeavors.

A new feature on Northwestern State University's web site will allow those with an interest in the University to receive a response directly from President Dr. Randall J. Webb.

Northwestern State University's Department of Engineering Technology and Computer Information systems hosted its final summer training session for high school teachers who will be teaching Project Lead the Way classes this fall.

The project to construct a new Student Services Center at Northwestern State University took a major step forward as a bid has been awarded for construction of the facility.

Morning Minutes: August 22

Leesville Leader, Feb. 21, 1929 reported a parcel of land consisting of 30 acres has been secured by a six year lease on which is to be established Leesville's airport. The location is in what is known as the Watson field a mile north of town and situated between the Anacoco and Kurthwood highways. - from Tall Pines II, A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise.

Word of the Day
Eisteddfod eye-STETH-vawd (noun) A usually Welsh competitive festival of the arts especially in poetry and singing - www.merriam-webster.com

Website of the Day
Ray Bradbury
www.raybradbury.com
This site is the official website for novelist Ray Bradbury, and it's a great resource for those interested in his life and works. The site goes beyond a traditional bio and book list; there are video interviews and even a message board.

Number to Know
18: Number of times baseball great Carl Yastrzemski was named an All-Star. "Yaz" was born on this date in 1939.

This Day in History
Aug. 22, 1950: Althea Gibson becomes the first black competitor in international tennis.

Today's Featured Birthday
Author Ray Bradbury (90)

Daily Quote
"Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things." - Ray Bradbury
 

Morning Minutes: August 21

The Dreamland Theatre has always been popular on account of its fine pictures, but from now on it will be doubly so, for the pictures will be alive. Every character that appears upon the screen will be heard as well as seen. They will speak, sing, laugh as distinctly and naturally as if they were actual flesh and blood. - from Tall Pines II, A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise.

Word of the Day
Sirenian sye-REE-nee-un (noun) Any of an order (Sirenia) of aquatic herbivorous mammals (as a manatee, dugong or Steller's sea cow) that have large forelimbs resembling paddles, no hind limbs and a flattened tail resembling a fin - www.merriam-webster.com

Website of the Day
DownBeat Magazine
www.downbeat.com
The online home of the jazz magazine DownBeat, this site has the latest jazz music news, reviews of new albums, extensive artist profiles and more. There's a "Jazz 101" section for those who need a primer on the style.

Number to Know
36: Number of field goals Wilt Chamberlain made in his historic 100-point game. He also made 28 free throws. Chamberlain was born on this date in 1936.

This Day in History
August 21, 1959: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union.

Today's Featured Birthday
Musician Kenny Rogers (72)

Daily Quote
"Hawaii is not a state of mind, but a state of grace." - Paul Theroux
 

Steve Woods has announced that he is seeking re-election to the Vernon Parish School Board District 1.
“When I announced my candidacy for school board four years ago I promised that I would faithfully pursue the following: I would be a  voice on the Board for every taxpayer and citizen, I believe the public school system belongs to the public school system belongs to the public and they deserve a voice, and I believe that I have faithfully fulfilled that promise,” Woods said.

Northwestern State University's Cammie G. Henry Research Center will host a "Workshop on Practical and Cost-Effective Practices to Care and Maintain Archival, Manuscript and Book Collections."  The workshop will address challenges in the maintenance, care and handling of records, documents, manuscripts, maps and photographic and book collections.

Morning Minutes: August 20
 
Leesville Leader, July 24, 1930 reported Those who have looked forward to a session of the legislature which would meet and adjourn without enacting any legislation of any kind came near to realizing their hopes with the session that just adjourned. - from Tall Pines II, A History of Vernon Parish, Louisiana and its People by Erbon W. Wise.

Word of the Day
Inchoate in-KOH-ut (adj.) Being only partly in existence or operation, especially imperfectly formed or formulated - www.merriam-webster.com

Website of the Day
The H.P. Lovecraft Archive
www.hplovecraft.com
If you're a fan of "weird fiction" author H.P. Lovecraft, this is the site for you. Read about his life, fictional creations and writing. There's a great section on how Lovecraft influenced others - in art, music, pop culture and more.

Number to Know
1889-1893: Years when Benjamin Harrison served as president. Harrison was born on this date in 1833.

This Day in History
August 20, 1866: President Andrew Johnson formally declares the Civil War over.

Today's Featured Birthday
Musician Robert Plant (62)

Daily Quote
"I never ask a man what his business is, for it never interests me. What I ask him about are his thoughts and dreams." - Writer H.P. Lovecraft, who was born on this date in 1890.