Louisiana Christian University will host a Homeschool Preview Day Tuesday for any homeschool student interested in attending in the fall.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Renee Melder, executive director of Enrollment Management, said this will differ from the traditional Preview Day.

“Students will be able to sit in a class of their choosing, attend Chapel, have lunch and meet with professors in their area of interest,” she said.

President Dr. Rick Brewer will speak to students, along with representatives from financial aid and student development.

“Louisiana Christian University is a tremendous place for students who have been homeschooled to flourish academically and spiritually,” Brewer said. “Most of our leading student scholars on campus are students who were blessed to have been homeschooled. And, we have numerous homeschool alums who are achieving great things as Marketplace Missionaries world wide.”

For more information or to register visit the LCU Preview Day web page.

By T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT, Lincoln Parish Journal

Larry Cordaro has spent the past nine seasons relishing in the success of his basketball coaching stint at LSU-Alexandria.

But on Monday, Cordaro shifted into a bit of football mode in calling an audible, or a baseball mode in throwing a change-up curveball, as he announced via social media that he will not return as head coach of the Generals next season.

That came after LSUA athletics’ director Tyler Unsicker announced that Cordaro will not return as head coach of the Generals.

The Ruston High School graduate was the first and only head coach in LSUA men’s basketball history, leading them to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Championship game in 2017 – where they lost on a 3-pointer at the buzzer — and compiling an overall record of 224-50, going 107-10 at home and leading them to eight NAIA National Tournaments.

While the idea initially may not have been his own, Cordaro said he realized the time was right. After all, what else could he do, except continue leading teams to the national tournament and hopefully win it all at some point? Administrators changed. Philosophies changed. Cordaro and the Generals didn’t. They kept producing, in a big way.

But was Cordaro really growing in his role? While widely respected in Rapides Parish not only as a coach, but a community leader and man of faith, his basketball acumen needed stimulation.

“I was checking the same boxes off year after year at LSUA,” Cordaro said. “I just felt like it was time for me to learn from somebody else. Take a different class. 

“It’s just time for a change. Time to let somebody else put their footprint on this program and give a young guy or somebody else an opportunity. That’s what I’m hoping to do myself.

He helped develop seven players into professional athletes, guiding his team to eight national tournament appearances, five regular-season titles, three conference tourney championships, two Final Four appearances while also reaching the NAIA title game six years ago.

Why now? Codaro isn’t as concerned with that as he is with finding out what his next step will be. He has a clean slate, with an impressive resume, as he takes an unanticipated leap of faith. Ten days ago, he Tweeted about recruiting his 10^th Generals team. Now he’ll clean out his office and look for a new one, in a new gym.

“I don’t know if there’s ever a good time in this business to make a change like this,” Cordaro said. “I’m a spiritual guy and try to listen to the Spirit. I just felt like now is the time to do something different, step out of my comfort zone and to try my body of work, the network that I’ve built over the last 23 seasons coaching college basketball.”

“And I don’t know what that will be yet. I don’t have any birds in the hand right now. There’s probably two or three in the bush that hopefully I can grab. I’ve talked to a lot of coaches today,” he said Monday. “It’s been a very emotional, humbling day with the number of phone calls and texts I’ve been bombarded with. There are no definite job opportunities yet, but news that I’m now in the market so to speak will help me with that next opportunity because now people know that I’m actually available.”

Cordaro said he’s been close to taking other opportunities in recent years. He interviewed for head coaching posts at Southeastern Louisiana, where he had previously been an assistant, and at Grambling.

“But now it’s kind of like sink or swim,” Cordaro said. “I’m in full pursuit to see who’s next out there for me and what program I can assist or lead.”

Cordaro said he has had a few people ask if he’s getting out of coaching altogether.

“I responded with a one-word message in all caps – NEVER,” Cordaro said. “I hope I get to coach as long as I can stand, walk and see. Coaches change. It’s part of our industry. It’s odd to change after such a successful run, but it’s where we are today and I’m ready to see what next is out there for me.

“It doesn’t have to be as a head coach. It doesn’t have to be in state. Change is about growth and that’s what this is for me. I just want to kind of expand my basketball resume, knowledge and expertise. I just came to realize that the time feels right.”

The Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office announced on March 20 that Jamaria Xavier Randle was sentenced to life in prison for Second Degree Murder. The case against Randle stems from the January, 2022 shooting that resulted in the death of Deven Brooks, 27 of Ball. Assistant District Attorney Lea Hall prosecuted the case.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces a project to significantly improve a heavily traveled corridor in Pineville, Rapides Parish.

The $10.5 million project includes the replacement of the existing concrete with hot mix asphalt concrete on US 167 (Pineville Expressway) from Donahue Ferry Road to US 165.

The purpose of the project is to lengthen the service life of the roadway, which sees an average of approximately 53,300 vehicles per day.

Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 27, 2023 with lane closures on US 167 between Edgewood Drive and US 165 in both the outside north and southbound lanes.

Additionally, the US 167 northbound exit ramp to US 165 will be closed. The US 167 southbound entrance ramp from US 165 will also be closed.

This particular phase of work is anticipated to last approximately one month, at which time the contractor will move on to the next phase.

In order to help alleviate congestion and delays, all truck traffic is encouraged to avoid utilizing US 167 between I-49 and US 165 and to seek an alternate route when possible.

The entire project is expected to be complete in Fall 2023, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that may impact construction timelines.

Alternate routes:

There will be a 12’ lane restriction on US 167 associated with these lane closures.

LA 28 Westbound to US 165:
Traffic will take US 167 southbound, and exit on I-49 northbound. Traffic will then take Exit 86, and continue on US 165 northbound.

US 167 Northbound to US 165:
Traffic will take Edgewood Dr. exit, turn left on to LA 3144. Traffic will then turn right onto US 165-B, then continue on US 165-B to US 165.

US 165 Southbound to US 167:
Traffic will turn left onto US 165-B, then make a left turn onto LA 3144. Traffic will then turn right onto the US 167 on ramp.

US 165 Northbound to US 167:
Traffic will continue on US 165 towards US 165-B. Traffic will then take a right onto US 165-B, then a left onto LA 3144. Finally, traffic will turn right onto the US 167 on ramp.

US 167 through traffic from I-49:
Traffic will take US 165 northbound to US 167. Traffic then will turn left onto US 167 on ramp and continue north.

Safety reminder:

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.

Additional information:

Call 511, visit http://www.511la.org, or download the Louisiana 511 mobile app for additional information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at http://www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MyDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

By Jim Smilie

Alexandria attorney J. Michael “Mike” Small offered insight into how defense attorneys think when handling murder trials during a presentation Tuesday to members of the Rotary Club of Alexandria in Convention Hall.

Small, 77, specializes in criminal defense, including white collar crime and public corruption cases, murder cases and death penalty cases. Over the years, he has represented a number of high-profile candidates, including former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Small represented Edwards in a federal trial when Edwards faced a 43-count indictment including charges of conspiracy, mail and wire fraud, and witness tampering. Edwards was ultimately found not guilty on all counts in that case.

“I find the murder cases to be the most interesting,” Small said. “The more lucrative side of my business are the white collar crimes. But I find it more interesting to debate if someone acted in self defense in a homicide case than if the value of collateral was inflated and resulted in bank fraud. I would rather have a who-done-it than a paper case.”

For nearly three decades, Small specialized in representing clients facing the death penalty. “I am unalterably opposed to the death penalty,” Small said. “To me, winning a death penalty case means not getting the death penalty.”

Small noted that with only one exception, each of the clients he represented in death penalty cases was guilty of the crime. “In 99 percent of the death penalty cases there was overwhelming guilt.” Knowing that, Small said he focused on convincing the jury to spare the defendant’s life, not trying to convince them the person wasn’t guilty. “If an attorney is smart, the first thing they will do is tell the jury this client is guilty, and they need to be punished. But we need to talk about their life,” he said.

One of the key things a defense attorney has to decide, especially in a murder case, is whether to have their client testify. “It’s risky not to let a defendant testify. Juries want to hear from the defendant,” Small said. But there are times when Small felt doing that could result in more harm than good.

To illustrate his point, Small discussed a recent case he handled in Evangeline Parish in which his client was accused of murder. The defendant argued he acted in self-defense. Small explained there was no doubt that his client shot and killed a man, but that the evidence clearly showed he acted in self-defense.

Typically, Small said, he would want the defendant to tell the jury their side of the story. But in this particular case, the defendant had issues in his past that Small feared would be brought up and harm his case. “I couldn’t say that my client has been a scoundrel in other parts of his life that have nothing to do with this case,” Small said. So, he chose not to call him as a witness. In fact, he didn’t call any witnesses at all.

“It was the first time in my career that I didn’t call a single witness,” Small said. He explained that under the law, in a self-defense case the prosecution has the burden to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the incident was not self-defense.

In this case, Small said the homicide investigators did a very thorough job of documenting everything that happened. That included documenting that the deceased individual was armed with a loaded shotgun with the safety off, had methamphetamine in his system, and that his client never got out of his vehicle and actually fired through a closed car window. All things Small said supported self-defense.

Small knew all of those details based on discovery motions he filed before the trial. “If an attorney will get off their butt and file the motions you can get everything,” he said. So as the prosecution attorneys called their witnesses, Small was ready to let them make his case. “These weren’t defense witnesses, they were prosecution witnesses – but sometimes you couldn’t tell that,” Small said. Ultimately, he won the case.

When asked by a club member if Small could argue for a not guilty verdict even if he knew his client had committed a crime, Small said defense attorneys can make that argument.

“Most of the people who retained me maintained their innocence,” Small said. “After 50 years, I am convinced there are probably more innocent people in prison than there are guilty people who got off.”

Kees Park will look a lot different after renovations are completed, funded in part by a $25,000 Healthy Behaviors Program Mini Grant from the Rapides Foundation. The total amount for the project is $300,000, with the City of Pineville covering the remaining balance. Work will include an upgraded playground area with new equipment (some designed for children with special needs) and other amenities for families to enjoy.

The City of Pineville announced the closure of the playground on social media on Dec. 15, 2022. Installation of new playground equipment began on March 16, 2023. The park is expected to reopen in time for the community to enjoy the warmer Spring weather.

Louisiana Christian University’s 7th Annual God in the Workplace series began this year with a guilty confession.

“My name is Kenny, and I’m a chocoholic,” announced Dr. Kenny Holt, dean of the Young School of Business—as a way of introducing this year’s speaker, Shawn Askinosie.

His addiction—shared by much of the audience by the reaction—led Holt to Askinosie Chocolate during a visit to Springfield, Missouri—and as they say, the rest is history.

Askinosie, the founder and CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, left a lucrative 20-year career as a criminal defense attorney to start the small bean-to-bar chocolate company, headquartered in Springfield, 13 years ago on a quest to find more meaning and purpose to his life.

“I loved my work until I didn’t,” he said.

Following a routine day in court, Askinosie said he starting having panic attacks and feeling like something was missing. He had spent decades defending people accused of murder and other serious crime and had never lost a jury trial, but he also was in a very high stress career field that included death threats.

“My path is not a prescription, it’s a story,” he said.

Askinosie spoke to LCU Monday night and Tuesday during Chapel.

“We were thrilled to have him share his mesage, which is so meaningful to today’s students,” Holt said. “Whatever you do, find a way to serve your fellow man.”

This sentiment was echoed by LCU President Dr. Rick Brewer.

“Mr. Askinosie was able to engage with Rapides business leaders, LCU students, faculty and staff about his transformation and pursuit of his passion and purpose,” Brewer said. “It was a powerful message about what it means to live your life and lead your business on mission with God and not be driven by monetary success or external rewards.”

Askinosie’s journey to chocolate began with soul-searching and prayer—and led him to the corners of the impoverished world. He has since written a book about this journey, “Meaningful Work: A Quest to Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul.” His daughter Lawren, CMO of the company, co-wrote the book with him.

“God in the Workplace is me,” he said. “It’s me. It’s the changing of my heart. In my own life, I want to find God in every place. I don’t have to go 10,000 miles away to have that.”

He encouraged the audience to search their own spiritual lives to realize that finding God in your surroundings must start by looking in the mirror.

His inward journey began by volunteering to work with dying patients in a local hospital—and simply talking with and praying for them. The joy he found in doing something for which he expected nothing in return, in fact, gave him the most incredible gift.

He found joy.

“Those seconds I spent focused on someone other than me, turned into joy in doing something totally for others.”

Askinosie’s decision to start one of the first bean-to-bar chocolate businesses in the country was not easy. He joked that his wife—upon telling her of his idea—asked if he could just increase his anti-depressants to find more happiness.

Today, the couple has been married more than 37 years—and Askinosie has made 46 trips foraging for the perfect beans.

He works directly with cocoa bean farmers in Tanzania, the Phillipines, the Amazon and Ecuador and shares in the profits of his company with them. Two of the four main farms he works with are owned by women.

Askinosie also invests in them and their communities—and encourages them to take ownership. He does not put his or his company’s name on anything he does in their villages, despite the fact that he has provided more than 1 million lunches for children in the Phillipines and Tanzania, helped build a preschool, and created educational programs through his Chocolate University progam.

He has taken high-schoolers from Missouri each summer for over a decade to experience the work first-hand, and they are changed by the experience.

Photo: Karen Carter

Jason Dewitt, of Boyce, recently announced his candidacy for State Representative – District 25.

Dewitt graduated from Menard High School in 1985 and graduated from Northwestern State University in 1989. He worked as a first responder for DEQ for 30 years and then owned and operated his own business, Terminator Pest & Pond Management, for the past 12 years.

He decided to run because he’s tired of Louisiana as a state being 41st, and not in the good section. The main reason he decided to run is because of the children and grandchildren in the community.

“I look forward to meeting everyone on the campaign trail,” Dewitt shared. “I’m going to hit the ground running.”

He went on to speak of respect and higher pay for law enforcement officers. He also spoke on early vocational workforce training and education for students and work to prevent graduates from going out of state for their college education.

Dewitt also mentioned supporting teachers throughout the state, as well as addressing the conditions of roads and bridges. He supports the second amendment and he’s pro-life and very conservative. He assured everyone that he’s going to work hard and do the best job he can.

Congratulations to Tracy Vorrice on being named a semifinalist for the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2024 Principal of the Year! The Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists and New Teacher of the Year finalists were announced on March 21. These 57 teachers and principals represent schools and systems across the state.

“Schools across Louisiana are beginning to make significant gains thanks to the commitment of our teachers and principals to remain focused on what matters most – improving academic outcomes,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Congratulations to Louisiana’s Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists and our New Teacher of the Year finalists. They represent the many dedicated professionals leading our Louisiana Comeback.”

All Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists and New Teacher of the Year finalists will be honored at the 17th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, which will be held at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on the evening of July 22. This exciting event is co-sponsored by Dream Teachers.

Twenty-four teachers and 24 principals have been named Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists. Nine teachers have been named New Teacher of the Year finalists. A full list is available below.

Louisiana Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

Ascension Parish: Kelly Landry
Avoyelles Parish: Dannon Dauzat
Bossier Parish: Cory Craig
Bricolage Academy: Ronnika Allen
Caddo Parish: Janet McCrevan
City of Monroe School District: Kody Chase
East Baton Rouge Parish: Kylie Altier
Evangeline Parish: Timothy Comeaux
Franklin Parish: Jessica Parker
Grant Parish: Erin Melton
Iberia Parish: Bernadette Fruge
Iberville Parish: Devante Williams
Jefferson Davis Parish: Aerial Storer
Lake Charles Charter Academy: Kayla Hebert
Natchitoches Parish: Michelle Shirley
Ouachita Parish: Brittany Ellis
St. John the Baptist Parish: Tariane Placide
St. Mary Parish: Chasity Toups
St. Tammany Parish: Kellee McClain
Tangipahoa Parish: Dennis Pevey
Vernon Parish: Christopher Deon
Warren Easton Charter: Ryan Gilbert
The Willow School: Richard Martin
Zachary Community School District: Sandra Saye-Foucqueteau

Louisiana Principal of the Year Semifinalists

Allen Parish: Jennifer Doucet
Ascension Parish: Marvin Evans
Beauregard Parish: Mark Weldon
Bienville Parish: Scott Canady
Bossier Parish: Michael Pedrotty
Calcasieu Parish: Jose Cobian
Cameron Parish: Lindsey Fontenot
DeSoto Parish : Barry Carter
Jefferson Parish: Monya Criddle
Lafayette Parish: Tia Trahan
Lafourche Parish: Ragan Lorraine
Lincoln Parish: Jennifer Martin
Lincoln Preparatory School: Gordan Ford
Livingston Parish: Jason St. Pierre
Plaquemines Parish: John H. Vanison, Jr.
Rapides Parish: Tracy Vorrice
St. Charles Parish: Shannon Diodene
St. James Parish: Angie Poche
St. Landry Parish: Mitchell Fontenot
St. Martin Parish: Wanda Phillips
Terrebonne Parish: Blaise Pellegrin
Vermilion Parish: Sonya Louviere
West Baton Rouge Parish: Taya Loupe
West Feliciana Parish: Karolyn Taylor

Louisiana New Teacher of the Year Finalists
Elementary:

Bossier Parish: Camille Cole
Livingston Parish: Payton Onellion
St. Landry Parish: Rebecca Spears

Middle:

Livingston Parish: Phoenix LeBlanc
Plaquemines Parish: Emily Barker
Zachary Community School District: Tristan George

High:

Bossier Parish: Brad Winstead
Calcasieu Parish: Spencer Butts
West Baton Rouge Parish: Anthony Felder

The LDOE recognizes that great teachers and school leaders are critical to student success. Annually, the Department, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional educators through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs. This is the second year of the state’s New Teacher of the Year program, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of first-year classroom teachers.

These programs provide an opportunity to acknowledge those teachers and leaders who are making exceptional gains with students. Their commitment to student success exemplifies Louisiana’s education profession. School systems from across the state submitted nominations for the state-level Teacher, Principal and New Teacher of the Year process. Additional information about these awards programs is available on the LDOE website.

Gladys Cole Beebe, 92, of Alexandria, LA, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, March 19, 2023.

Visitation will be at 1 pm on Wednesday, March 22, at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Alexandria, immediately followed by funeral services at 2 pm. Services will be officiated by Reverend Darian Hosch. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery, where she will rest next to her beloved husband.

Gladys Cole was born in Alexandria, LA, to Clem and Catherine Cole on May 5, 1930. She was the youngest of twelve children. Gladys attended Rosenthal elementary and Bolton High School. She married her soulmate, Dr. Harold Beebe, on January 23, 1950. While Harold attended Loyola Dental School in New Orleans, Gladys worked at the phone company. After moving back to Alexandria, she helped Harold as a dental assistant at his practice and later did the billing when they started Business Management Services. Dr. and Mrs. Beebe were the owners and operators of the first home health agency in Louisiana, Professional Home Health, which has been in business for over 50 years, serving numerous locations throughout the state.

Gladys enjoyed dedicating her time to serving in the Junior League and Dental Auxiliary. Harold and Gladys were avid golfers and loved watching golf and LSU football games together. However, she stated that her most significant accomplishment in life was marrying her soul mate Harold and having her three daughters. She was also incredibly proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers, and eight sisters.

Gladys is survived by her three daughters, Cheri Crouch and husband, Joe, of Alexandria, Gail Smith and husband, Greg, of Austin, TX, and Lisa Grubbs and husband, Hal of Alexandria; six grandchildren, Stephanie Johnson and husband, Keith, of Athens, GA, Lance Smith and wife, Crissy, of Austin, TX, Candace Leak and husband, Tim, of Austin, TX, Grace Rumbley of New Orleans, Jessica Holmes and husband, Scotty, of Alexandria, and Jason Grubbs and wife, Kelly, of Atlanta, GA; and seven great-grandchildren: Cole Leak, Elsa Rumbley, Cydney Leak, Easton Holmes, Silas Rumbley, Brielle Smith, and Madison Holmes.

Rene Birabent, Jason Grubbs, Scotty Holmes, Tim Leak, Cole Leak, Greg Smith, and Lance Smith will be pallbearers. Keith Johnson is an honorary pallbearer.

The family is incredibly grateful to all those that have provided loving and compassionate care to Mrs. Beebe. Those include but are not limited to Sherry Spivey, Sally Orlando, and Hand in Hand Hospice staff for their loving and compassionate care. We would also like to include all of her fabulous sitters-Jennie Ashworth, Kim Craig, Rhonda Gray, Jolene Harper, Alexis Kline, Ann Russ, and Carolyn Wilson.

Louisiana Christian University history majors took first and second-place honors for their research papers presented March 17 at the regional meeting of Phi Alpha Theta in Alexandria.

Community Development Works, a program of The Rapides Foundation, announces its free skill-building training schedule for Cenla residents and nonprofits. Classes run from March 21 through May 16.

The Staffbuilders Training Calendar is a free professional development resource for nonprofit staff and volunteers and for people interested in improving their communities. The schedule consists of workshops held in The Rapides Foundation Building in downtown Alexandria and webinars offered online at BigMarker.com/cdworks. Participants do not need to download software to attend the online courses.

Spring trainings cover three topic areas: starting a nonprofit, fund development and internal operations.

Spring class titles are as follows:

• Start-Up Series for Nonprofits: To Be or Not To Be a 501(c)(3); Introduction to Finding Funders; Keeping It Real – Telling Your Story; Nonprofit Fundraising 101.
• Fund Development Series: Fundraising During Hard Economic Times; Basic Grant Writing; Readiness for Federal Funding; How to Craft the Evaluation Section of Your Application; Nice or Necessary: Prove Your Program’s Need; Developing Outcomes to Demonstrate Impact.
• Internal Operations Series: Bring Back the Joy to Your Nonprofit Team; Introduction to Using QuickBooks Financial Reports; QuickBooks Online for Nonprofits – Part 1; QuickBooks Online for Nonprofits – Part 2.

Participants have the option of attending all trainings in a series or choosing only the ones that interest them. Residents who register for a webinar but are unable to attend at the designated time will be given a link to watch at a later date.

Visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org/attend-training to find a list of the classes and to register. Call CDW at 318-443-7880 or 800-803-8075 for more information.

CDW trainings are part of The Rapides Foundation’s Social Environment Initiative and have the goal of building the capacity of nonprofit staff and volunteers in Central Louisiana. Trainings are offered in the spring and the fall.

he DOTD advises the public that the Jackson Street Bridge on US 165 Business over the Red River will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 for repairs.

Traffic will be detoured via I-49 and US 167 (Purple Heart Memorial Bridge).

State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies have concluded their investigation into a house fire in Pineville that claimed the lives of two residents including a teenager.

The Pineville Fire Department responded on March 18 just before 2:30 am to a report of a house fire located in the 500 block of Grant Street. When firefighters arrived, they located four people outside of the home reporting that two more were still inside. Unfortunately, their bodies were later located in what was believed to have been the stairwell and the living room which was below a second-floor bedroom that had collapsed into the living room.

While official identifications and causes of death are pending with the Rapides Parish Coroner’s Office, the victims are believed to be a 54-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl.

Deputies learned there were six people in the home at the time of the fire—a grandmother and her brother, her two adult sons and two grandchildren, one a 16-year-old girl and the other a 5-month-old boy.

Following interviews with the survivors, deputies learned everyone in the home was asleep in the house except one individual who returned home late after a work shift. The man reported seeing the front porch on fire several minutes after coming back inside from smoking a cigarette. He told deputies he first woke up his brother who was sleeping in the living room then attempted to put the fire out with water. He then went upstairs to alert the rest of the occupants which included his mother and the two young relatives who were all sleeping in the same room. The man told deputies he helped his mother out of a second-story bathroom window before dropping the baby to his brother below who caught the infant safely. Once he also escaped out of the second-story window, the group realized the teen and the grandmother’s brother were still inside.

At this time, deputies have determined the fire began on the front porch and was an accident related to smoking near combustible materials. In addition, the family also reported using the home’s oven to warm the house overnight. While the oven is not believed to be the initial cause of the fire, it is a dangerous home heating practice that the SFM would like to remind Louisiana families not to utilize when cold weather hits. Other home heating safety tips include:

• Place space heaters 3-5 feet from combustible objects like blankets and curtains
• Plug all heating appliances directly into wall outlets, not power strips or extension cords
• Do not use stoves, ovens, or grills to heat homes
• Don’t overfill fireplaces/wood-burning stoves
• Do not leave candles/open flames (or space heaters) left unattended

When it comes to safe smoking practices, the SFM always advises smoking outdoors and ensuring smoking materials are fully extinguished and discarded in appropriate containers. Also, keep smoking materials, especially spark-producing objects like lighters, out of the reach of children.

Among all of this year’s college basketball coaching transactions, not many are more surprising than the sudden split between LSUA and the only men’s basketball coach the Generals have ever had, Larry Cordaro.

Monday afternoon, LSUA athletics director Tyler Unsicker announced that Cordaro “will not return” next season.

“I want to thank coach Cordaro for the incredible job he has done building our men’s basketball team into the successful program it is today,” Unsicker said in a university press release. “We appreciate all of the time and effort he gave to our student-athletes and our university during his nine years at LSUA.”

Cordaro created LSUA men’s basketball history, as the program’s only coach. He took the Generals to the NAIA national championship game in 2017, one of eight national NAIA appearances, and owns an overall record of 224-50 (.818), going 107-10 (.915) at home.

In a statement he released on his social media accounts, Cordaro expressed gratitude and pride, although he did not mention administrative leaders.

“I’m grateful for my time at LSUA, however, to pursue my ultimate goals, I have decided not to return next season. From starting a program from scratch to taking it to a national power, much was accomplished. We created the winningest program in a tradition-rich basketball state while becoming the fastest NAIA program in history to reach 100 victories.

“To our fans, supporters and students, we could not have done it without you as we defended The Fort with an overall home record of 107-10. Much respect is to be given to what we accomplished together as we won in the class, on the court and in the community. All the credit goes to our student-athletes for working as hard as we pushed them in our players-first program. A special thanks to all our assistant coaches, managers, trainers and SID’s. Not only did we have a positive impact on many young men, but the Alexandria community as well.

“Equally impressive to the on-the-court results, we are proud that the LSUA student enrollment grew more than 30 percent during the rise of the men’s basketball program. This was no coincidence. After building this strong foundation and creating tradition, I am looking forward to the next chapter in my career.”

Cordaro’s program recorded 10 national tournament wins in its eight appearances, and won five regular-season Red River Athletic Conference championships and three conference tournament titles. The Generals reached a pair of NAIA Final Fours and played in that 2017 national championship game.

Ten days ago on his Twitter account, Cordaro said he was “recruiting for season 10.”

“Me doing this is as shocking to me as it is to probably all those fans that we’ve created here in the Fort,” Cordaro told KALB-TV’s Dylan Domangue Monday. “This is not something I saw coming, necessarily. This is not a Larry Cordaro thing or an LSUA thing. It may seem odd from the outside looking in, but this is just me wanting to grow, wanting to expand.”

Cordaro called himself “a free agent” and said he is actively in the coaching job market. The Ruston native came to LSUA after coaching on the Division I level as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana and Texas-Arlington. At times during his tenure with the Generals, Cordaro was reportedly interviewed for head coaching posts at Grambling and SLU.

The City of Alexandria (“City”) announced the next steps for Project RESTOR on March 20. Beginning the week of January 23, 2023, charges billed to customers returned to normal rules for payment and delinquency. RESTOR balances continued to carry forward not accruing penalties or delinquencies subject to the RESTOR assistance and payment plans for qualified customers. Charges billed on or after January 23, 2023 are subject to the normal rules, for payment, penalties, delinquencies, and eventual disconnection for non-payment.

Customers are reminded of the importance of paying their post-RESTOR charges on time and in full to remain in good standing.

Project RESTOR grant applications opened March 6, 2023 and closed March 10, 2023 and 2,398 applications were received online and in-person. Applications are still in the review and processing stages. Applicants will be notified of a final decision via email or US Mail within the next seven (7) business days.

To find more information about Project RESTOR visit www.cityofalexandriala.com/restor.

Verna Elaine Spence Clancy, of Jena, Louisiana, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

Verna was born November 13, 1942, to James L. Spence and Willie Louise Spence (later Barrett) in Alexandria, Louisiana.

In the years of her childhood and youth, Verna spent her summers in LeCompte, Louisiana, with her grandmother Alma Spence and her grandfather Dr. William Spence, after losing her father, who was serving in the Merchant Marine during WWII.

Verna graduated from Jena High School and had the honor of serving as homecoming queen for the class of 1960. After graduating from high school, she attended Louisiana College, graduating in 1964 with a Degree in Elementary Education.

After graduation, Verna started her career as an educator, teaching elementary school for many years, touching many lives. In the summer of 1968, Verna married George “Corky” Clancy. George and Verna had two sons, George and James Clancy.

While raising her family, Verna was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jena, where she taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School for many years.

After 23 years, Verna retired early from the education system so she could spend more time with her family. In the early years of her retirement, Verna enjoyed visiting with her beloved grandmother, Olivia Wilson, until her passing. Verna also loved spending time in her garden, with her cats and soon enough, with the four beloved grandchildren she was blessed with.

Verna is preceded in death by her father James L. Spence, her mother Willie Barrett and her brother Richard Barrett.

Verna is survived by her husband George “Corky” Clancy, Jr., her son George Clancy III and wife Erika, her son James Clancy and wife Sarah and her four grandchildren, Ryan, Drew, Ella and Susan Grace. Verna is also survived by her siblings, Judy Baker, Glynn Ellen King and Johnny Barrett. Of special note, she is survived by her uncle, Sherman “Bo” Wilson, who was always more of a big brother to her than an uncle.

Verna would also want it known how much she loved her friends who brightened her spirit during her early life and her later years. Of special note are Virgie Wilson (deceased), JoAnn Stevens and Margaret Gray.

Arrangements will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at Pineville Park Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 2:00 PM with services starting at 2:00. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana.

Pallbearers will be Drew Clancy, Ryan Clancy, Kevin Wilson, Bernard Kendrick, Jamie Ogden and Sherman “Little Bo” Wilson.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ella Clancy, Susan Grace Clancy, Scott Morgan, Lola Berry, Crystal Cripps, Phyllis Lee, Linda Garrett and Cheire Sharp.

Funeral services for Mr. Milburn Peter Gaspard will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home with Father Dan O’Connor officiating. Interment will be at Cushman Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Marksville.

Mr. Gaspard, age 85, of Marksville, LA., passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in his home in Marksville. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifton Joseph and Marie Sayer Gaspard; brothers, Paul Gaspard and Alton Gaspard.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 61 years, Barbara Poche Gaspard; sons, Melvin Gaspard of Fifth Ward, Glenn Gaspard (Paula) of Bordelonville; daughter, Rhonda Gaspard Couvillion (Terry) of Marksville. He also leaves behind 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home and will reopen on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. until time of services. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Hixson Brothers Chapel.