Why Were You Interested In Your Current Role/Job in the Beginning?

We had relocated to Natchitoches for about three years and I had gotten around and met a lot of different people and made some really good friends. My wife had gone back to work and I was working with a local company (Rhodes Property) but still felt like something was missing. I had been involved with my neighborhood down south but just neighbors getting together to make the area a better place for our families. But wanting to become a part of the total community here I started looking for an opportunity to make our forever home a better place. I saw the advertisement for Cane River Waterway and applied. The rest is history.

What Are The Roles Of Your Position?

I basically have two roles on the Commission. First is as the representative for Natchitoches Parish Government. That is a pretty straight forward assignment. Second is as Chairman of the Commission. This is the one that really requires the most of my time and energy. As I am responsible for making sure the Commission is administered ethically and legally.

What Kind of Strategies And Mindsets Are Required For This Role?

Alot goes into this position. This calls for being aware of legal, monetary and ethical rules and laws. It helps to have an administrator that can handle the daily issues but at the end of the day it falls upon the Chairman to be the one that makes sure it all has been accomplished. It requires a forward thinking mindset but also one that looks back to the past to make sure the same issues don’t occur again. One has to be aware of budgets that to be kept current and potential cost overruns on projects.

How Do You Stay Motivated In Your Work?

The biggest motivation is having citizens from the entire Parish thank you for what we have done so far. And also its trying to make The City of Natchitoches and the Parish of Natchitoches a better place for our families and visitors.

Describe A Time When You Failed In This Role And The Lesson You Learned?

I don’t know if failed is the term I would use. But it would have to be when our pumping project was not successful. That was a years long project that I walked into the middle of which is not an easy thing to do. Fortunately other Commissioners were still on the commission and were able to help make the decisions as they came up. We are still pursuing this project and hopefully will succeed.

Tell me something fun that not many people may know about you.

There are a lot of things in my past that I will never let become common knowledge. And there was plenty fun to be had. But not everyone is aware that I am a Tennessee Volunteer fan. And still am. I will cheer for LSU as long as they aren’t playing the Vols. But fun can be many things. I like to be with friends and family and enjoy each other. But to answer the question it would have to do with a high school talent contest. The particular skit was the 12 years of school and I was the 11th grade performer and it had something to do with a dress and shaved legs. But for me to explain it would take another interview.

If You Could Time Travel, When Would You Go?

Time travel. If it was possible it would always be into the past. We don’t know what the future holds because we haven’t been there. I don’t ever want to know the future let it happen as it happens. History, especially early history has a lot of guess work in it. Somebody has filled in the blanks with their own ideas. I would really love to go back in time and be able to see what really happened.

What’s Your Best Natchitoches Memory?

The cliche answer would be the birth of my five granddaughters here. But for the intent of this article, it would be the unveiling of Rue Beauport (downtown riverbank).

What Is The Best Piece Of Advice You’ve Received?

Listen to everyone’s opinion but when it comes time to make that decision make it your decision and use your heart or inner strength as the biggest part it will tell you what’s right.

What Accomplishment Are You Most Proud Of?

That question has many answers. Strictly talking of my role with CRWC it would be all of the projects we have been involved in. Those include the riverfront, road repairs, Roque House renovation and all the others. But it is the feeling that we have taken the taxpayers money and used it wisely and for the betterment of the entire community. But on a personal side it would be the accomplishments that family has made in this community also. And convincing the best person in this world that I was worthy of her love.

NPSO - A Natchez man incarcerated in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center on unrelated charges has been arrested in connection with a series of thefts on Cane River according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

During the course of a couple of months beginning in September of 2022, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives began investigating several cases of fishing equipment, and gas being stolen from boats and boat houses mostly in the areas of Plantation Point, Natchez and Bermuda communities on Cane River.

Detectives estimated the value of the stolen property to be approximately $20,000.

Sheriff Stuart Wright and the Cane River Waterway Commission began networking and established additional patrols on the river in effort to curb criminal activity.

Detectives continued the investigation by talking with theft victims and other residents along Cane River for over 2 months.

Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau who responded to the initial theft calls were briefed frequently on the cases and what to look for if they encountered any of the items while on patrol.

On Tuesday evening, November 15, Detectives got a break in the case, when NPSO Patrol Deputies were following-up on a domestic abuse investigation and suspicious vehicle complaint in the 700 block of La. Hwy 484 south of Natchez.

NATCOM 911 Center received a call from a homeowner in the 700 block of La. Hwy 484, (near the domestic abuse victim) reporting that a black Ford F-150 was parked on their property without any headlights on.

The Ford F-150 then left quickly traveling westbound on La. Hwy 484.

NPSO Deputies intercepted and stopped the vehicle near the intersections of La. Hwy 484 and La. Hwy 493 in the Melrose community.

Deputies identified the operator of the vehicle as 25-year-old Hunter Ross of Natchez.

The private property owner wished to pursue trespassing charges.

Ross was placed under arrest without incident.

A local wrecker service was contacted to impound the vehicle.

During an inventory of the vehicle, deputies discovered and seized suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and a Mossberg 12-gauge pump action shotgun.

Deputies observed, photographed and documented fishing equipment and other items in plain view in the vehicle.

Ross, was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Aggravated Assault of a Dating Partner with Child Endangerment Law, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Felony, Possession of CDS Schedule II Narcotics, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Trespassing and Illegal Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of Narcotics.

Detectives were briefed then began to focus on the Cane River thefts.

On November 16, NPSO Detectives obtained a search warrant signed by a 10th Judicial District Judge to search the vehicle (Ford F-150) impounded at a local towing service.

A search of the vehicle led to the seizure and recovery of one Garmin, and two Lowrance fishfinders that were reported stolen in the Cane River thefts, a bag of suspected methamphetamine, syringes and other drug paraphernalia.

Detectives continued the investigation, executing an additional search warrant signed by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge on Ross’s apartment located on La. Hwy 484 south of Natchez.

During a search of the apartment and exterior curtilage, detectives discovered and seized over 55 rod & reels, several tackle boxes containing fishing lures, fishing nets and other fishing equipment all believed to be stolen.

Detectives also observed a pump installed in Ross’s boat believed to be used for the purposes of siphoning gas from other boats parked along the river.

On November 18 at approximately 4:45pm, NPSO Detectives went to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center and arrested Ross on the charges of:

(1). 4-Counts of Theft over $5000 but less than $25,000

(2). 1-Count of Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine

Ross remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center.

Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.

Detectives believe most of the thefts occurred during the late evening and early morning hours.

Sheriff Wright said we are pleased to have cleared several of these thefts on Cane River. The investigation remains ongoing as we sort through some of the evidence and contact potential owners of the recovered property. Our patrol and criminal investigations division did an outstanding job networking and working with each to solve these cases for residents along the river and others that come to fish along our beautiful Cane River”.

If you had any fishing equipment stolen along Cane River and did not report it, contact the case agent.