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January 8, 2008

CONTACT:
Maria Mercedes Tio
225 342 8153
mtio@crt.state.la.us
or
Doug Ireland
318 357 6467
ireland@nsula.edu

NATCHITOCHES - Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu will be the keynote speaker Thursday afternoon during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Louisiana State Museum-Natchitoches, a project which will be home to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum and the North Louisiana Regional History Museum.

Joining the Lt. Governor at the groundbreaking will be Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen, Representative Taylor Townsend, Senator Mike Smith, NSU President Dr. Randy Webb, Louisiana Sports Writer Association President Kent Lowe, CRT's incoming Secretary Dawn Watson and Hall of Fame Director Jerry Pierce.

Some of the 253 members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will be honored guests, along with the Hall of Fame committee of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, the parent organization for the Hall of Fame.

Funding for construction of the new museum, initially estimated as a 27,500-square foot facility, was approved last fall by the state bond commission after passing through the state legislature. The facility will operate under the Louisiana State Museum system and will utilize cutting-edge technologies while showcasing a wide array of exhibits and memorabilia.

The Hall of Fame has honored the great figures in state sports history since 1958, with a collection of memorabilia and portraits of all members on display in Natchitoches at the Northwestern State University campus since 1972.

Who:
Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, Mayor Wayne McCullen, Representative Taylor Townsend, Senator Mike Smith, NSU President Dr. Randy Webb, Louisiana Sports Writer Association President Kent Lowe, CRT's incoming Secretary Dawn Watson, Hall of Fame Director Jerry Pierce, members of the Hall of Fame Committee and Sports Hall of Fame Honorees

What:
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Louisiana State Museum-Natchitoches, a project which includes the Sports Hall of Fame Museum and the North Louisiana Regional History Museum

Where:
Museum site, located at the corner of Washington and Lafayette streets
(Natchitoches Event Center, 750 Second Street in inclement weather.)

When:
Thursday, January 10, 2008 @ 1:30 PM