A new law went into effect as of June 12 (HB 43) that requires payment of a nonrecurring lump-sum supplemental payment to retirees and beneficiaries of the Firefighters’ Retirement System (FRS).

“It’s good to see that HB43 has been signed by the Governor and is now Act 337,” said Gabe Firment, District 22 State Representative. “I started working on HB43 over one year ago when a retired firefighter approached me about helping retired firefighters across the state receive a cost of living adjustment to counter the record inflation that had hit retirees and their survivors especially hard. After months of working with the Firefighters Retirement System board, employers, and retirees, we were finally able to reach an agreement that granted retirees and their beneficiaries a one-time supplemental payment up to $2,500 to be paid by the system at no additional cost to taxpayers. Thanks to all of the retired firefighters who worked so hard to help get this legislation passed!”

Photo: File Photo

Rapides Parish Jail felony bookings:

June 13

James Beard, 21, Alexandria — Criminal conspiracy;

George Carter, 19, Alexandria — Murder 2nd degree;

Darius Jackson, 35, Alexandria — Possession firearm by convicted felon;

Brandon Smith Sr., 39, Ruby — Possession CDS II < 2 grams.

June 14

Alaijah Keller, 21, Alexandria — Attempted murder 2nd degree, Contraband to or from penal institution;

James Mims, 33, Alexandria — Possession fentanyl, carfentanil 2-28 grams;

Amanti Moss, 24, Alexandria — Accessory after the fact. 

June 15

Cody McGuire, 35, Pineville — Theft credit card fraud 5 counts, Theft of identity 3 counts, Theft of firearm, Criminal conspiracy;

Alexis Stewart, 28, Alexandria — Aggravated assault with firearm;

Cassidy Tassin, 23, Alexandria — Simple assault domestic abuse battery with child present 2 counts, Aggravated battery 2nd degree.

June 16

Sean Bennett, 33, Pineville — Possession CDS II 2-28 grams;

Jesse Bordelon, 19, Simmesport — Possession, manufacture, distribution < 2.5 pounds marijuana, tetracycline, analogues, counterfeit thereof;

James Clinton Jr., 51, Pineville — Assault aggravated with firearm;

Tyrone Davis, 45, Lecompte — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Lorenzo Givens, 30, Alexandria — Illegal carrying firearm, Possession, manufacture, distribution, dispense CDS IV;

Bruce Jones, 38, Lecompte — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Jeffery Nichols, 59, Lecompte — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Joshua Sanders, 40, Alexandria — Illegal carrying firearm with drugs, Possession firearm by convicted felon, Possession CDS II 2-28 grams. 

June 17

Benjamin Biddle, 35, Pineville — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Steven Jacobs Jr., 20, Alexandria — Firearm possess/sell with obliterated serial number;

Derrick Long, 22, Alexandria — Possession firearm by convicted felon two counts;

Timothy McDowell Jr., 41, Pineville — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

James Nelson II, 40, Boyce — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Chad Peavy, 31, Pineville — Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Carolee Procter, 40, Alexandria — Battery aggravated 2nd;

Keldric White, 35, Alexandria — Illegal possession stolen firearm, Possession CDS I third offense, Illegal carrying firearm with drugs, Possession fentanyl, carfentanil < 2 grams, Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Daniel Whitehead, 40, Alexandria — Battery 2nd degree. 

June 18

Randall White II, 33, Jonesville — Assault aggravated with firearm. 

June 19

Leroy Lowe III, 50, Alexandria — Possession, manufacture, distribution > 2.5 pounds or more marijuana, tetracycline, cannaboids synthetic, counterfeit substitute thereof, Possession CDS II < 2 grams;

Sonnya Piper, 52, Alexandria — Flight from officer, Fugitive. 

All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

By JIM BUTLER

Most students and teachers are doing other things now but the business of education continues summer or otherwise.

In addition to normal “off-season” maintenance and catch-up activity the Rapides system has a number of irons in the fire.
Part of that is due to having bond issue proceeds available in several school districts , part is the annual reloading of goods and services.

For instance, on July 13 the system will accept bids for supplying its cafeterias fresh produce for the school year beginning in August.

And providers of everything from milk and bread to meat and potatoes for a system of more than 22,000 students have to be selected.

Also on July 13 the board seeks bids for renovations to the stage at Alexandria Senior High. How’s that for a shift in subjects?

Before then there are other bids sought:

Today, offers for supplying track equipment to Northwood High;

June 26, LED scoreboard for Tioga High;

June 27, mitigation, remediation services for facilities;

June 27, Construction of Rapides High soccer fieldhouse;

June 29, cafeteria equipment and supplies;

July 6, sale of 1.8 acres at 1225 Windsor Place, former site of Miss Muffett Head Start Center;

July 20, Request For Proposals for turnkey purchase, installation of telephone bell and intercom system, J.B. Nachman Elementary;

July 25, softball fieldhouse, Northwood High.

Students report back on Aug. 14.

K- 12th grade student interested in science, technology, engineering or math are encouraged to check out this FREE STEM Central Louisiana event happening this Saturday, June 24 from 9 am – 12 pm at the Youth & Teen Center on Sylvester Street in Alexandria.

Click this link to register: https://registration.stemnola.com/#/register

OMAHA, Nebraska — It was a night of redemption for Gavin Guidry.

LSU’s freshman pitcher came out of the bullpen Wednesday night in an immensely difficult spot — one even more daunting than the one he had previously faced in the team’s College World Series opener on Saturday.

More on that disappointing debut a little later. 

During Wednesday night’s contest against top seed Wake Forest, LSU entered the seventh inning holding a three-run lead.

That advantage was quickly put in jeopardy as middle reliever Griffin Herring started the frame by giving up a leadoff single and then promptly hit the next batter.

The Demon Deacons had two on with no outs, and the tying run in cleanup hitter Brock Wilken strolling to the plate. Not an optimal situation for any relief pitcher, much less a true freshman, but that is exactly when Guidry got the call and started making his way to the mound at Charles Schwab Field.

And this time around he didn’t disappoint. 

The former Barbe High star stood tall and struck out Wilken on three pitches, then got out of the inning with another strikeout — this one of Justin Johnson. Guidry not only helped get the Tigers out of the jam, he helped them earn a 5-2 victory that moved LSU one win away from advancing to the national championship series this coming weekend. This evening at 6, the two teams that held the game’s No. 1 ranking this season square off once more, with a berth in the CWS championship series on the line.

Wouldn’t be happening if not for a great bounceback performance by Guidry.

Four nights earlier, he was called out of the bullpen in front of 25,000 fans to relieve Paul Skenes. LSU’s All-American had pitched masterfully but had just given up an RBI single in the top of the eighth against Tennessee.

So Johnson turned to Guidry to come in and get the final out of the inning, preserving a four-run advantage.

The confidence had been justly earned as he became one of the few guys in the bullpen that Johnson trusted, particularly during the Southeastern Conference Tournament and the NCAA Regional and NCAA Super Regional.

Which is why the first arm Johnson called for out of the bullpen was Guidry.

His CWS debut though was a brief one — like one-pitch brief.

The first pitch he threw back on Saturday night got out of the ballpark in a hurry as it sailed over the center field wall for a two-run home run that cut LSU’s lead down to two runs.

Guidry was immediately pulled and had to wait four days to get a shot at redemption — and boy did he deliver.

That’s not to say that Guidry was perfect on Wednesday.

After getting a quick two outs to start the eighth, Guidry gave up back-to-back singles and was promptly pulled for Riley Cooper. who went on to earn the save.

Guidry may not have been perfect but he did redeem himself, restored his confidence and most importantly, helped LSU  move one win away from playing for its seventh national championship. The last time LSU did that was in 2017 when the program lost in the title series to the Florida Gators — who clinched their spot in the title series earlier on Wednesday.

That means there could be another redemption story written in Omaha in the coming days, one that Guidry could very well have a hand in penning.

Contact Raymond at sportswithrp3@gmail.com or on Twitter @RPIII_Sports

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/TV

I don’t think people around Louisiana realize the sleeper talent that comes out of the Cenla area, but there have been tons of sleepers I have seen over the years, kids that don’t get offers till their senior year is over.

Chris Brown, a talented running back for Alexandria Senior High, signed with Oklahoma late and became a prime example of what I’ve seen by earning All-Big 12 Conference honors. More recently, Cody Ford, a 6-4, 315-pound offensive lineman out of Pineville High School, also went on to the Sooners, had an All-American career at Oklahoma and is in the NFL now.

Neither of those young men were offered by LSU. Both would have been top-caliber Tigers.

A Cenla sleeper in the Class of 2024 to keep an eye on is athlete/WR/DB Dartavin Dupass from Peabody Magnet. Dupass looks the part at 6-2, 185 pounds and is set to have a breakout year in his senior season this fall at both defensive back and receiver. His consistent 4.5 speed and athleticism are immediate indicators of his potential.

To get insight on Dupass, I talked to former LSU starting linebacker and former LSU starter Harry Coleman. Not only is he Peabody’s head coach – but he’s Uncle Harry to Dupass.

“He has a chance to be a great player,” Coleman said. “He is already a great track athlete who competed in regionals and the state meet in the long jump. Last fall he made second-team all district as a defensive back.

“My nephew is from my hometown of Baldwin, and first started at West St. Mary in South Louisiana. I am really excited to see this kid come full circle in 2023. He does everything for us on the field and is one of our leaders. The exciting part is he hasn’t scratched the surface of his ability yet.”

His wide receivers coach at Peabody, Deqarius Thomas, liked what he saw in their first meeting, and hasn’t been disappointed.

“The first day I met Dupass, I was blown away by his height. Once I learned that he was a junior, and I was gone to be able to coach him for two years, I knew he would be great. As the year progressed in 2022, I realized he is a very coachable player, a great leader, and an outstanding athlete. He plays both sides of the football, and also handles his business when it comes to school. The most impressive thing to me is the way he is humble about everything, even though he plays the game on a different level.”

Dupass plays receiver and halfback on offense, and cornerback, strong safety and free safety defensively. In track and field, he competes in four sprint events – the 100, 200, 4×100 relay nd 4×200 relay – and the long jump, where he punched his ticket to the state meet.

Until last school year, his life had been spent in south Louisiana, but he’s adjusted well to the move.

“Being from the southern part of the state the only difference to me is the food we cook is with a little more spice than up here, but other than that it’s great people, a great school for me, and I love the city of Alexandria,” he said.

His uncle’s background is one of the factors that has Dupass very Tiger-centric when he considers his future, although he has a couple other big-time favorites.

“I grew up liking LSU. I wanted to play for LSU growing up mainly because my uncle played there. Seeing the energy LSU fans bring in the stadium it just feels like a dream to possibly play for them one day. But I also have always liked Ohio State and Florida State.

Athletic ability runs in the family.

“There have been several people in my family play college sports. Along with Uncle Harry at LSU, my cousin Tremaine Morrison played football for Southeastern in Hammond; my cousin Ronald Moore played baseball at Southern in Baton Rouge, and so did my cousin Kayron Ceaser,” said Dupass.

He’s been looking around at possible college destinations and getting exposure on the camp circuit.

“I’ve been to some college camps and colleges this spring and summer. So far I’ve been to Southern Arkansas and Louisiana Tech and I’ll be back again for a Southern Arkansas camp July 11,” he said.

Notes on Dartavin Dupass:

He is a man for all seasons, competing in football, track, basketball and baseball.

Dupass has a 3.0 GPA at Peabody.

Last season, he caught passes for 778 yards and scored six touchdowns, and recorded 483 rushing yards as a halfback, scoring three TDs.

When he has spare time, he enjoys paint ball and riding outdoors on ATVs.

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com

Lee Brecheen has operated Louisiana Football Magazine for over 30 years and is one of the state’s foremost experts on high school football and especially recruiting. Based in Baton Rouge, Lee travels statewide to watch practices and games and has broken down film and tape since the late 1980s.  He has converted the printed product to a website (Lafootballmagazine.com) that will preview every high school and college football program in the state before kickoff this fall. Lee also hosts a football-centric TV show on YouTube, The Sports Scouting Report, on weekdays.

Having lost power for several hours last weekend due to a storm, memories emerged of a column I wrote years ago for Louisiana Conservationist magazine. With your indulgence, I’m sharing that column with you. 

Dragging a teenager down memory lane

As I have experienced more and more birthdays, I have noticed that I seem to possess the uncanny ability to dredge up and bring into sharp focus vivid details of things that happened to me ages ago. It thus seems a paradox that I can’t ever seem to remember where I laid my glasses. It takes very little to get me off on a stroll down memory lane taking with me, whomever happens to be within earshot.

My most recent, if reluctant, companion for a trip down the lane was Melissa, our teenager. She actually had no choice because a brief but savage storm had zapped us, rendering inoperative everything electrical. And that included TV, stereo and jam box.

With no juice, there were no Night Court re-runs; no screeching disc jockey spinning such ditties as I’m Too Broke To Pay Attention, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.

Boredom was closing in on her, so I mercifully came to her rescue. Sitting her down, I began blazing a trail down memory lane, kicking off with a phrase teens love to hear from the lips of their parents —”When I was your age ….”

Not wanting to appear overly eager to hear my “back when” stories she masked her glee with a facial expression like the one you get when the dental assistant comes to the door, calls your name and asks sweetly, “Ready for that root canal?” 

“Back when I was your age, we didn’t have electricity, television, running water, indoor plumbing but boy, did we have fun!”

(I’ll bet…).

“You wouldn’t catch us sitting around the house bored. No sir-ree, we’d go down to the creek and catch frogs, crawfish and bugs.”

(I think I’m going to be sick…)

“We’d take the shovel and dig in cow patties for fish bait. Then we’d go catch us a bunch of mudcats.”

(Well WHOOP-de do…)

“And we’d go snipe hunting down in the deep woods after dark. You talk about scary, especially when the rest of the kids went off and left you all alone there in the dark holding the sack and waiting for a snipe. Bet you’d get a kick out that, wouldn’t you?”

(I can’t believe I’m missing Three’s Company…)

“And the games we played…deer and dog, red rover, pop-the-whip. Then for some real excitement, we’d sneak over after dark and turn over a neighbor’s privy.”

(Dear Lord, PLEASE make the power come back on!)

“If you can find an old inner tube, I can make us a sling shot. When I was your age, we’d get us a pocketful of rocks, take our sling shots and shoot snakes, turtles and frogs.”

(Personally, I’d rather have chicken pox…)

Without warning, the power came back on and, like a shot, she was up to the television. “Wait,” I called after her, “I didn’t get to the good part about how we made flying jennies and cars out of grandma’s snuff bottles. By the say, have you seen my glasses?

(You’re wearing ‘em….)

“Oh….”

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

You know I love sharing all the best apps.  When I came across a few recipes with honey and sriracha, I knew a good combo had to happen.  This recipe can easily be doubled.  

We devoured this on the back porch with some cold drinks.  (This Louisiana weather is ridiculous!)  This one is spicy and full of flavor.  Keep it easy by using precooked fajita meat.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 large bag precooked chicken fajita meat
• 1 (8 ounce) container cream cheese spread
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup sriracha sauce
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Ritz crackers or Fritos Scoops for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large bowl mix chicken, cream cheese, 1 cup cheddar and mozzarella cheese.  Stir in sriracha, honey, salt and garlic powder.  Pour into an 8×8 baking dish.  Top with remaining cheddar cheese.  Bake 16-18 minutes.

Ashley Madden Rowton is a wife, mom and published cookbook author who lives in Minden, La.

During the summer months there is an increase in vehicle and residential burglary in Pineville, so the Police Department would like to urge residents to make sure they are following the 9PM Routine, which includes locking cars, locking homes, and turning on porch lights.

August 20, 1944 – June 10, 2023

Lola Bradley Denton, age 78, of Mableton, Georgia and formerly of Alexandria, Louisiana passed on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

A service celebrating her life and legacy will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, 1401 10th Street, Alexandria, LA 71301.

Public Viewing and Visitation will begin at 11:00 am and continue until the start of service which will begin at 12 Noon.

Lola will be laid to rest in the Garden of Memories Cemetery immediately following the service.

Please keep the family in prayer.

Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree presented the Cajun Catfish House with a plaque as they celebrated 50 years in business. The Cajun Catfish House is still family owned and operated – and still serving some of the best catfish around.

Lola Bradley Denton
August 20, 1944 – June 10, 2023
Visitation: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11 am at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Service: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Noon at Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Alexandria.

Kenneth R. Simmons, Jr.
July 24, 1944 – June 20, 2023
Visitation: Friday, June 23, 2023 at 5 pm at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.
Service: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11 am at Hixson Brothers Funeral Home, Pineville.

Rosemary Ann Zelipsky Bonial
September 30, 1939 – June 10, 2023
Service: Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 11 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Ball.

Robert Charles Lee, Jr.
September 23, 1950 – June 7, 2023
Visitation: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 10 am at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria.
Service: Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11 am at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Alexandria.

The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $80. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)

Deputy Corrections Officers at Rapides Parish Detention Center 1 (downtown) responded to an altercation on June 14 around 2:30 am that occurred in a secure dorm between an inmate and another Deputy Corrections Officer.  

According to the initial investigation, an altercation occurred between the deputy, identified as Alaijah Shanell Keller, 21 of Alexandria and the inmate which resulted in the deputy producing a sharp instrument in an attempt to cut the inmate. Keller, as well as the inmate, were both secured by other deputies. No injuries to either party were reported. 

Sheriff’s Detectives responded to begin their investigation and through that investigation, probable cause was established to obtain arrest warrants on Keller for one count attempted second-degree murder,  one count introduction of contraband into a penal facility and one count malfeasance in office.

On June 14 at approximately 7:30 PM, Keller turned herself in to RPSO and was placed under arrest and booked on her charges. Bond was set at $305,000 and Keller remains in custody at the time of this release. Keller’s employment with RPSO was also terminated.

Sheriff’s Detectives say their investigation is still ongoing. 

All Persons Are Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty In A Court Of Law Or Administrative Action

By JIM BUTLER

The Louisiana Housing Authority has approved issuing up to $9 million in multi-family housing revenue bonds for a new development in Alexandria.

Cedar Rapids (IA) Bank is the purchaser of the 40-year bonds, with an annualized 10 percent interest rate, according to the LHA resolution.

The bond debt is to be retired by revenues from the 64-unit affordable housing development packaged by MGM Development of Calhoun.

MGM’s Jeff Glover is among the more widely-known affordable housing advocates in the state.

According to documents filed with the LHA, the gated community will consist of nine buildings on a tract at 4721 South MacArthur. The land was purchased earlier this year for $325,000.

The construction plan, records show, is for 38 two-bedroom, two-bath units; 16 three-bedroom units; and 10 one-bedroom, one-bath apartments.

Financing includes $5.77 million in Community Development Block Grant funds and an estimated $6.9 million in low-income housing tax credits.

Total development costs, including the $2 million developer fee, are $16.9 million, records show.

CUTLINE – A simply constructed sign marks the location of an approved 64-unit affordable housing location on South MacArthur Dr., adjacent to Fresinius Kidney Center.

By Jim Smilie

Louisiana has lost more than 2,000 square miles of land along the Gulf coast since 1932 and could lose another 4,200 square miles by 2050 if aggressive coastal restoration efforts are not enacted according to Rudy Simoneaux, chief of engineering with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).

“Louisiana has already lost the equivalent of the state of Delaware,” Simoneaux told members of the Rotary Club of Alexandria Tuesday afternoon. “We could see that land loss rate double by 2050. We have data that shows the sea level is rising, and our ground is sinking. We have to do something.”

While Louisiana has been losing coastal marshland since the 1930s, when the levee system was built to control the flow of the Mississippi River, the issue “got a lot more high profile after the hurricanes of 2005,” he said, referring to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that ravaged the Louisiana coast causing billions of dollars in damage and wiping out significant areas of wetlands and barrier islands. “People see the damage done to homes and communities, but the natural buffers that protect the state are damaged too,” he said. “Barrier islands are incredibly important to the state. They are our first line of defense for storm surge.”

More recently, in 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall near Grand Isle destroying roughly 30,000 acres of marshland in that one event.

Noting the Mississippi River built the marshlands as it shifted its path centuries ago, Simoneaux said engineers are looking to the river to help rebuild the coast. “We are working to reconnect the river to the marshland,” he said. The plan is to dig a 2.5-mile-long canal from the Mississippi River to carry sediment from the river into the marsh. The 5-year, $2 million project is expected to restore 30,000 acres of marshland in Plaquemines Parish. “Sediment diversion is new. Nothing like this has been done anywhere else in the world,” he explained.

CPRA, which employs approximately 170 people, is budgeted to spend $1.74 billion on restoration projects in fiscal year 2024. Simoneaux said 85 percent of those dollars will go for construction costs. The bulk of the funding comes from the settlement with BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, which accelerated land loss and destroyed estuarine habitats along the state’s coastline. “Only 15 percent of our funding comes from the state,” Simoneaux explained. “The rest comes from federal dollars and the BP settlement.” Noting the BP settlement funding runs out in 2032, Simoneaux said they are pushing to utilize as much of the funding as they can to do projects now.

The group is working from a master plan that calls for spending $50 billion over a 50-year span to rebuild as much of Louisiana’s coastal marshland as possible. “We know that we can’t rebuild everything that we have lost,” he said. “But if we are going to allow places like this to exist, we have to be aggressive.”

That approach includes projects like the sediment diversion efforts to rebuild marshland, relocation efforts where restoration isn’t feasible, and projects to raise homes and businesses above the water level. Since CPRA was established in 2007, they have restored 55,807 acres, or roughly 87.2 square miles of land. Simoneaux said they have moved more than 193 million cubic yards of sediment as fill, restored 71.6 miles of barrier islands, improved 369 miles of levees and secured $21.4 billion in funding.

In addition to protecting residents along the coast, where an estimated 2 million people live within 50 miles of the Louisiana coastline, Simoneaux noted economic and business interests need to be protected as well. Simoneaux said Louisiana is the nation’s seafood supplier. The state has the largest fish hatchery in the continental U.S., is the leading harvester of blue crab, shrimp, oysters and alligators and is the second-largest seafood supplier. Specifically, 70 percent of U.S. oysters are harvested in Louisiana, 66 percent of sport and commercial fish in the Gulf of Mexico are found in Louisiana and 95 percent of all marine species in the Gulf of Mexico are found in Louisiana.

As far as economic impact, 1 in every 70 jobs in Louisiana is related to fisheries and the industry generates $2.4 billion annually. He estimated $550 million is at stake annually in revenue losses to fisheries due to eroding wetlands by 2050.

Simoneaux said there has been some pushback from shrimpers over the impact current restoration efforts have had on their catches, but they are slowly understanding that something has to be done. “Shrimp need marshes to survive, to get the food and nutrients they need to live. So do redfish and crabs,” he said. “Without the work we are doing, there won’t be shrimp to catch. And we know, a shrimper can’t be relocated to Baton Rouge.” As a result, he said, the two groups have to work together to maintain that industry.

Oil and gas is another industry the group is working to protect. Referring to Louisiana as “the nation’s energy backbone,” Simoneaux explained the state ranks second for total energy, second for natural gas production and third for crude oil in the U.S. Louisiana houses 20 percent of the nation’s refining capacity, 25 percent of all petrochemicals production, 52 percent of all liquified natural gas exports. With 25,000 miles of natural gas interstate pipelines and 3,450 miles of crude pipelines, Louisiana handles 10-15 percent of all foreign and domestic oil and more than 95 percent of the Gulf of Mexico’s Deepwater Energy Production.

“The resources below the ground in Louisiana fuel the nation, and if we don’t protect that, it will go away,” Simoneaux said.

Rapides Parish Fire District 3 C-Shift recently visited with the Tioga High School EMR students regarding the different career options that are available with EMS training while also showing how EMS and fire blend together for a great career.

The Alexandria Police Department (“APD”) responded to shots fired on June 17 around 9:35 pm at or around the 3300 block of Willow Glenn Road. The incident, as will be communicated by this release, involved the risk of continued active shooting or mass casualty. The shooting was spontaneous in nature, during a funeral repast, increasing risks to multiple unaware and unsuspecting targets. 

The deadly force encounter and extreme violence erupting Saturday, in Alexandria, ended after a standoff in Pineville. The suspect involved in the Alexandria shooting Saturday night fled to Pineville (what we will call a “dynamic crime scene”). There, the standoff required securing citizens after the suspect was isolated/contained by law enforcement. The standoff occurred for hours, after exhaustive attempts to conserve life. Multiple agencies were involved and are thanked for their bravery, resources and commitment. APD acknowledges the critical efforts by Pineville PD, RPSO, and LSP.

After initial investigation, APD can report four persons were shot in Alexandria, and one person, the suspect, in Pineville. In Alexandria, one person, Lakeisha Hayward (female, 37, San Antonio, Texas), was killed. Three other individuals are being treated for serious injuries. The suspect, Augusta Moore (male, 59, Pineville), was killed in Pineville during the standoff with APD and other agencies.

Initial After-Incident Information:

1. APD responded immediately to calls for help in Alexandria.  APD learned the suspect, Augusta Moore, fled to his residence on East Shamrock, in Pineville, where he barricaded himself and hunkered down to engage law enforcement.
2. The suspect is deceased after being shot during gunshot exchanges with law enforcement.
3. Based upon what witnesses confirm; what was learned dynamically through investigative means; and what was discovered during negotiations by APD with the suspect, APD has determined Augusta Moore shot the four individuals in Alexandria. Further, APD believes the suspect acted alone in a spontaneous homicidal event. However, this remains under investigation.
4. We now know the suspect was convicted of killing his wife in another state where he received a “life sentence,” being released after 28 years. Moore used an illegally possessed weapon to commit mass harm in Alexandria, without warning.
5. We now know what started in Alexandria Saturday night ended Sunday, just before noon, in Pineville.
6. We can confirm after all attempts to safely have the suspect peacefully surrender, including hours of negotiation, the suspect chose to engage in a firefight with officers in a manner ending the suspect’s life.
7. We now believe the suspect in the homicide and the serious injuries to three other persons stemmed from an argument between or among parties who knew each other. As of now, it appears this spontaneous tragedy resulted from the suspect’s attendance of a funeral, in which he served as a pallbearer, confirming APD’s belief the parties were acquainted. The suspect tragically ended the life of one person and destroyed the lives of countless others. Our prayers and thoughts are with those families. While they were grieving and attending to each other during mourning at a funeral, the families were again aggrieved when attacked by Moore.
8. APD transferred the officer-involved shooting investigation to LSP based on APD’s use of deadly force.
9. The determinations made in real time revealed the incident was dynamic; the public risk was mitigated and the suspect contained; and therefore the best approach was limiting investigative leads and disclosure of special tactics until an after-incident report. This release is the first such report.

Communication Internal Assessment: The City must continue to weigh when, in similar events, an earlier release of information may be permitted when active shooting or the risk of mass casualty has subsided. In weighing this, however, APD shall consider an early release can change the dynamics by giving information to the suspect(s). The City will consider a quicker disclosure of the linkage of two related events (such as when, as here, two jurisdictions were involved, i.e. from Alexandria to Pineville). Such a disclosure must weigh when public risk truly is determined to have ended. Again, the City must balance investigative information that could be used in dynamic events against the risk suspects will gain from it more than the public benefits from the release.

Glossary:

By “spontaneous” we mean without warning or the chance to mitigate by law enforcement or citizens; by “active” we mean at the time shots were fired, shots were multiple in nature and likely could/would continue regarding citizens or law enforcement; and by “dynamic” we mean the crime scene and activities surrounding it were actively moving from one place to another, with continued risk of active weapons capable of deadly force.

By “risk of continued active shooting or mass casualty” we mean those circumstances in which law enforcement has information multiple injuries or deaths are due to, or likely could result from, the use of a deadly weapon. Law enforcement may further consider when such a weapon has been or could be used to harm multiple people, especially when those harms can be inflicted quickly based on firepower or multiple suspects. 

During information releases when a crime scene or scenes are “dynamic,” we consider how to do the least harm. Our first test is to balance information the public needs to protect itself from a continuing threat against that same information being used to increase threats to citizens or law enforcement. Today, modern social media can provide suspects with real-time information that could be used against law enforcement. Our releases will follow an assessment of those risks made in the context of what we know at the time: the likelihood and gravity of any danger to the public weighed against its mitigation and doing no harm to the public.

Media Policy:

In general, the City of Alexandria’s “do no harm” rule means the City will consider these two concerns, first:

• What information is crucial to convey in initial messages in order to prompt appropriate public responses after a crisis situation?
• What are the messages to be delivered prior to, during, and after an incident?

By JIM BUTLER

The Alexandria City Council will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. July 11 on the proposed rezoning of a tract on North Bolton Avenue.

The Zoning Commission recommends approving redesignating 226 North Bolton to allow for construction of single-family homes as well as expansion of North Park Village Subdivision.

The property is currently restricted to light industrial uses.

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