The Sanctuary of Praise in Pineville held a special service on July 16 honoring 50 years of Pastoral Leadership for Bishop David & Edwina Roberts. Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree presented them with a plaque on behalf of the City of Pineville, which declared July 16, 2023 as “Bishop David & Edwina Roberts Day.”

The City of Alexandria issued a press release on July 11 stating that a report aired by KALB on July 10 concerning utility disconnects for non-payment presented only one side of the story. These are the facts KALB knew but chose to minimize or omit from its report:

1.      The disconnect order in question was dispatched well before any weather advisory was in effect.  

2.      KALB also knew, but failed to report, that the City made no further disconnects for the remainder of the week ending June 30, 2023.  

3.      For almost two weeks, the City corresponded with KALB staff, specifically Alexander Orenczuk, to provide correct and accurate information concerning KALB’s alleged tip.

4.      Through Project RESTOR, the City has awarded 1,873 grants valued at over $1 million to low and moderate-income customers.  In addition, over 7,200 customers have been afforded installment plans of up to twelve months to pay back another $7 million in past-due utility charges.  

5.      The City is not regulated by the LPSC but has chosen to exercise its discretion and adopt policies and practices which parallel the LPSC’s 2007 General Order concerning disconnects during extreme weather.  

6.      The City staff did not email “the entire newsroom,” as KALB alleged. It emailed its written responses to news@kalb.com just as it has with countless other press releases, updates, road closures, boil advisories, and similar critical information, the customary practice for over a decade.

7.      With regards to the anonymous tipster:

Although KALB has attempted to protect the tipster as anonymous to the public, it has directly identified him by name to the City; he is not the account holder for the Laurel St. account mentioned in the story.

The account holder, not the tipster, owed over $2,358 in past-due utility charges.

Only 6 of the last 16 bills had been partially paid; in fact, no payment in any amount was made between May 2022 and April 2023.  

This account has not had a zero balance since October 2019.

A payment arrangement was defaulted, resulting in the disconnect order being printed.

This account holder did not apply for assistance under Project RESTOR.

The report also stated that all utility services were disconnected; that is not true.  Initially, only the electric service at delinquent accounts is disconnected; water and gas service will remain on until the account is reinstated or closed.

This administration has been charged with the daunting task of stabilizing rates, ensuring routine billing and collection cycles, and guaranteeing the long-term creditworthiness of the utility as a whole. No other utility – municipal, cooperative, or investor-owned – has offered the complexity and scope of discretionary installment payments, extensions, grants, and different innovative approaches to managing past-due balances as has the City in the last seven months. Ultimately, the City’s utility is a business; services are delivered, and payment for those services is expected.  If a customer is facing financial difficulties, we encourage them to contact the City now to discuss payment arrangements or other options.  There are also community assistance programs available for those who qualify. Taking action now can help keep bills manageable and utility services connected.  

Pineville Police Department presented their newest officer, Kyle Smith, and the Pineville Fire Department presented their newest Firefighter and EMT, Jackson Mosley, at the July 11 City Council meeting.

Rapides Parish Jail felony bookings. Charges are accusations, not convictions:

July 4

Cartavis Austin, 22, Alexandria — Self-mutilation by a prisoner, Aggravated strangling domestic abuse battery strangulation;

Dennis Roy, 25, Mansura – Fugitive, Illegal carrying a firearm with drugs Illegal possession of stolen firearm, No driver’s license, General speed law;

Dorion Sweazie, 30, Alexandria  — Battery aggravated 2nd degree.

July 5

Chad Deville, 48, Deville — Illegal carrying firearm

July 6

Jose Contreras,39, Boyce — Battery aggravated

Lee Coyne, 34, Foxworth, MS — Criminal conspiracy.

July 7

Demarcus Davenport Jr., 25, Alexandria — Battery 2nd degree, two counts;

Biron Reed, 35, Alexandria – Flight from an officer.

July 8

Sam Lloyd, 35, Pineville — Battery aggravated, Battery 2nd degree, Resisting arrest, Criminal trespass, Unauthorized entry to an inhabited dwelling. 

July 9

Robert Robinson, 26, Pollock – Illegal use of weapons/dangerous instrumentality, Cyberstalking electronic mail, Home invasion (intimidation), Trespass remaining after forbidden. 

July 10

Tyler Temple, 23, Winnsboro — Indecent behavior with juveniles, Pornography involving juveniles intentional possession, two counts; Carnal knowledge of juveniles; Contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.

Rapides Parish felony drug bookings. Charges are accusations, not convictions:

July 4

Marcus Walker, 34, Alexandria  — Possession CDS II < 2 grams.

July 5

Trenton Chumney, 23, Alexandria — Possession CDS II 2-28 grams;

Chad Deville, 48, Deville — Possession CDS II 2-28 grams;

Samantha Trussell, 37, Pineville  — Possession CDS III, Possession CDS IV except flunitrazepam.

July 6

Tiffany Bosarge, 34, Alexandria  — Possession, manufacture, distribution, dispense CDS I > 28 grams or analogues or counterfeit thereof, Possession, manufacture, distribution, dispense CDS II < 28 grams;’

Terry Chisenhall, 51, Boyce — Possession CDS III, Resisting arrest;

Jeremy Daigrepont, 43, Pineville — Possession CDS II < 2 grams, Possession paraphernalia;

Gregory Hardy, 37, Pineville — Possession CDS II 2-28 grams; Possession, manufacture, distribution, dispense possession with intent CDS II <28 grams or analogues;

Micha Washington Jr., 47, Alexandria — Possession fentanyl, carfentanil < 28 grams, Possession CDS II < 2 grams.

July 8

Luther Brandin, 47, Ball — Possession CDS II < 2 grams, Possession paraphernalia, Illegal carrying firearm with drugs, Signal devices and signal lamps;

Charles Steiner Jr., 30, Deville — Possession fentanyl, carfentanil < 2 grams, Possession paraphernalia.

July 10

Shantelisa Michael, 40, Alexandria — Possession fentanyl, carfentanil < 2 grams;

Torren Newman, 40, Alexandria — Possession CDS IV except flunitrazepam; Creation, distribution, possession with intent to distribute counterfeit CDS II, two counts; Possession CDS I 1st 14 grams or less marijuana, tetracycline or derivatives thereof; Parole violations, Weapons possession of firearm by convicted felon;

Timothy Recard, 35, Alexandria — Possession CDS I 2-28 grams, Probation violation, Contempt of court, 3 counts;

Joseph Smith Jr., 44, Alexandria — Possession CDS III, Resisting arrest, Criminal trespass, Contempt of court;

Lawrence Tureaud, 55, Alexandria — Possession CDS II < 2 grams, Remaining after forbidden, Contempt of court;

Jenna West, 39, Alexandria — Possession CDS III, Possession paraphernalia, Monetary instrument abuse/possession counterfeit or forged monetary instrument;

Mekal Williams, 30, Alexandria — Possession, manufacture, distribution, dispense CDS I >28 grams or more or analogues thereof; Possession, manufacture, distribution, dispense, possession with intent CDS II 28 grams or more; Contempt of court, 3 counts. 

By Adam Lord

Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) is pleased to announce the promotion of Deron Thaxton to Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration and Chief Financial Officer.

Thaxton has served as the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administrative Services and CFO since 2014, though he began his career at LSUA in 2003. The new titles and associated job duties include expanded responsibilities above and beyond a traditional Vice Chancellor position. In addition to CFO duties, Thaxton will provide executive leadership in the administration of campus operations and increase the level of direct support he provides to the Office of the Chancellor.

Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor, said, “Deron has the proven leadership qualities and abilities that are needed for this role, and I feel confident he will continue to make tremendous contributions that will help us achieve programming excellence and enrollment growth in the years ahead.”

Over the last 20 years, Thaxton has held various key roles, including Computing Services Director, Executive Director of IET Services, Chief Information Officer, and Financial Aid Director. Thaxton’s commitment to excellence and his vast experience in higher education management have significantly contributed to LSUA’s growth and success.

Under Thaxton’s stewardship, LSUA has experienced a substantial transformation. Notably, the fall semester of 2014 marked a turning point, with a 22% increase in total enrollment compared to the previous year. Since then, LSUA has witnessed a remarkable surge, with fall 2022 recording the highest enrollment in its history at 4,278 students—a 91.6% increase over the years. Furthermore, LSUA’s university auxiliary and restricted accounts have grown from a combined $200,000 in fiscal year 2014 to a stable $9M this past year, solidifying the university’s financial strength and stability.

Abbey Bain, Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement and fellow member of the Senior Leadership Team, expressed her support saying, “Deron is a critical piece of the LSUA team and well respected across campus. His vision and oversight have put LSUA in the healthiest financial position it enjoys today and set the stage for record-breaking enrollments. He is extremely deserving of this promotion.”

Of his new role, Thaxton commented, “So much has changed at LSUA over the past 20 years, but one thing that has remained constant is the supportive family environment we experience every day. I take immense pride in being a part of the remarkable growth we have achieved as an institution. Looking ahead, I am excited to contribute my efforts toward our goal of reaching 5,000 students by 2025 and doing everything in my capacity to ensure LSUA remains the university of choice for our employees and students.”

LSUA’s administration, staff, and faculty expressed excitement towards the promotion of Thaxton to the new roles and responsibilities, demonstrating confidence in his experience and leadership to sustain and promote the university’s growth and success. 

The LSUA Office of Finance and Administrative Services is primarily responsible for the stewardship and enhancement of the University’s financial, physical, and human resources. The office supports the University’s mission of instruction and public service by providing good fiscal management, accounting for the financial and physical assets, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, timely procurement and delivery of goods and services, operation of the physical plant, and oversight of other service and business functions of the institution for both on- and off-campus users.

Photo credit – LSUA Strategic Communications

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/TV

Every year Louisiana has some diamond in the rough recruits who don’t get the early national pub but deserve it, and these guys end up being a big-time signees and produce at the next level.

This year, one of those big-time players comes out of Alexandria Senior High, Jeremiah Wright, who I’ve seen play in person since his sophomore year when I watched the Trojans scrimmage at Hahnville. This kid has all the tools to be great in college.

Wright has great feet, is a hard worker, goes full throttle in uniform and to me has the stuff to be a Division I starter as either a defensive end or tackle at 6-1, 275 pounds.

I’ve seen all the defensive linemen coming back in Louisiana, and he’s one of the best among the returners. At 275 pounds, I think he’s quick enough to play defensive end in college, fitting in the right system because of his feet.

Wright is pleased to be well-coached at ASH.

“My head coach, Thomas Bachman, is a great leader and he always holds us to a high standard. My position coach, I would say, is very gritty and always expects the best from us.

“Our team coming into the year is pretty young, but the people we do have are hard workers with lots of talent.”

Wright gives his father great credit for his progression to being a college prospect as he enters his senior season.

“My dad has had a great impact on my life because he provided for literally everyone who has been through our household,” said Wright. “He’s responsible for me playing sports because in my opinion he could’ve gone pretty far with his talents, but he had me and my older brother at a young age.”

As he looks ahead to this fall, he looks north for District 2-5A competition at a high level.

“I can’t wait for this year. I love playing teams like West Monroe and Ruston because that is great competition for our program every year.”

As for his personal targets for improvement to reach the next level, it’s pretty simple.

“I just need to work on my fast twitch and ball get-off to play football in college one day,” he told me.

Jeremiah Wright Tidbits

This year he’s been to camps at Harding in Arkansas, and at Grambling. He said he learned a lot from both camps.

His junior year statistics are impressive: 103 tackles, 68 solo, 35 assists. He made 23 tackles behind the line, including 3.5 sacks, and added 13 QB pressures.

Wright has his eyes on a psychology major in college.

He is a shot putter for the ASH track and field team.

So far, he’s picked up two college offers, from Cohoma Community College and from across the Red River, Louisiana Christian’s Wildcats.

Wright has a different way to enjoy himself than almost anyone else his age.

“I love cutting grass.  I love the way grass looks when it’s neat,” he said.

When it comes to hitting the field, he and playing the game “because I have fun with friends.”

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com

NOTE — This is part of a series of stories profiling the 12-person Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2023, who will be inducted to culminate three days of festivities in Natchitoches July 27-29. For tickets and more information, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.

By BRUCE BROWN, Written for the LSWA

Never look back. That’s not where you’re going.

If anyone had a reason to look back and wonder why things were as they appeared, Walter Imahara might have had a reason.

Imahara is a Japanese American citizen, born on Valentine’s Day, 1937, in Sacramento, Calif.

When he was 4 years old, Japan attacked the U.S. Navy fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, drawing the United States into World War II.

Shaken by the attack, U.S. officials ordered all West Coast citizens of Japanese descent to be moved inland to “work camps” for the duration of the war.

“My family was kept in a concentration camp for 2 1//2 years during the war,” Imahara said. “They called them relocation centers, but they were camps.”

Conditions were less than acceptable, but the family with nine children adapted the best they could.

“One bit of Japanese philosophy is that we never look back,” Imahara said. “We always had a quiet determination to better ourselves, even though we didn’t have anything.

“We got that philosophy from our parents. Education was stressed to all my brothers and sisters, and myself,”

He added, “Japanese Americans comprise one-half of one percent of the population, and we have one of the lowest crime rates, highest rates of education, and lowest rates of marriage failure passed down.”

Strengthened by that outlook, Imahara sought his path in life.

The family moved to New Orleans and then to Baton Rouge after the war, and Imahara graduated from Istrouma High School in 1955.

He found LSU students unaccepting and so headed for Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), where he discovered the two things — weightlifting and horticulture — that would steer his course for the rest of his life.

“The people at LSU looked at you funny,” Imahara said. “When I went to SLI, I got a good feeling from the beginning. People there weren’t prejudiced.”

In college, a chance meeting with Mike Stansbury prompted Imahara to try the sport of weightlifting.

“Mike asked me if I’d like to try it, and I did,” Imahara said.

In his first meet, competing as a bantamweight, Imahara pressed 130 kg, snatched 125 and had a clean and jerk of 170 for a modest 425 total that placed second.

It lit a fire that led to three national collegiate individual titles in 1957, 1959 and 1960 as well as team titles for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was the first athlete to receive a letter in his sport, and by the time he received his degree in agriculture and horticulture, he was introduced as the school’s first “Asian Cajun.”

He kept competing after college, wedging competition into his service in the U.S. Army after college. His sense of citizenship and duty helped him to serve the nation that packed him off to work camps. He became a lieutenant in artillery and at one point was stationed in Dacau, Germany.

In competition, Imahara won the U.S national title six times from 1962-68, and won the Pan American Games gold medal.

At his peak in 1968, competing at 140 pounds at the Southern AAU meet in New Orleans, Imahara had upped his totals to 255 press, 240 snatch and 320 clean and jerk for a total of 815.

Imahara retired from the sport, then returned in 1980 at the masters level, where he won 25 gold medals in US. competition, 10 more golds in World Masters action and 16 golds in Pan American Games meets.

He competed until 2005 to compile a remarkable lifting career that began almost by chance.

“Everything has a beginning and an ending,” Imahara said, “And there are cutoff points to each phase of one’s life. The Japanese believe in completions and in making the maximum effort possible in each phase as you live it. When you have completed that phase, you move on to another phase of your life.”

To many, Imahara is as well known for his horticulture career as he is for weightlifting. He has created three remarkable Japanese American gardens in St. Francisville guided by Imahara Landscape and Nursery in Baton Rouge,

The Legacy Gardens, open to the public from 2011-18, was sold in 2018. Now open to the public is Imahara’s Legacy Garden at Hemingbough. He puts just as much attention for detail into his gardens as he did on the weightlifting platform.

Imahara and wife Sumile have traveled the world, eager to discover new horizons.

One prized acquisition is an Imahara family monument, found in a church yard in Hiroshima, Japan, undamaged by the U.S atomic bomb dropped on that city to help end World War II.

The same war that dislodged the Imahara family and sent them — and Walter — to their destiny.

When Kay and I were dating, a snake may have figured into her decision to marry me. She and her daughter Melissa were visiting me in my mobile home when she looked out the window and there was a big snake in the yard. Summoned, I reached in the closet, picked up my .22 rifle, opened the window and put a bullet into the serpent’s head. She told me later that my heroic action regarding the snake prompted her decision to want to marry me, which she did.

Thirty-nine years of wedded bliss later, another snake incident occurred that validated her decision that she’d married the fellow who would take care of her, at least as far as protecting her from snakes was concerned.  Sunday afternoon, while I was gathering household garbage to take to the dumpster, she was checking her flower beds out front when she called my attention to a snake — not just any snake but a deadly coral snake crawling through her flower beds.

My machete was in the corner in the garage, I retrieved it and I walked over to where she was pointing and sure enough, I immediately recognized a coral snake crawling along. A couple of quick whacks and the deed was done.

A few days earlier, a friend had reported on social media of an encounter his six-year-old daughter had with a coral snake.

He reported that she had found the brightly colored snake in the front yard, picked it up to bring to show him where he was sitting on the back porch. She told him it bit her finger; he immediately identified it as a coral snake and headed with her to the doctor. A helicopter ride to the hospital followed, and thankfully, the snake had apparently not been able to release much venom. She recovered nicely, leaving her and her dad with quite a story to tell. Not many people are bitten by a coral snake are so fortunate.

After I posted a photo on Facebook of the snake in our yard, there was a flood of responses that varied from a couple who were not in favor of killing any snake to upwards of 80 who were relieved that I had put this poisonous snake out of its misery. Most respondents had never seen a coral snake with a few reporting encounters a time or two; finding coral snakes are relatively rare occurrences.

OK, so just what is a coral snake and why are most people so interested in them? I did a Google search on coral snakes and confirmed much of what I already knew. The number one criterion in identifying a coral snake from other similar species is the little rhyme that says, ”Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, venom is lack.” The one in our yard had the telltale markings where the narrow band of yellow was touching the wider band of red. There was no doubt about this snake’s identity; it was a coral snake and at about 30 inches long, a mature one at that.

Unlike other poisonous snakes which are pit vipers, coral snake venom is neurotoxic which affects the way the brain communicates with muscles, slurring speech, affecting movement and ultimately ceasing cardiac or respiratory function. Coral snakes are related to mambas, cobras and sea snakes. Differing from pit vipers, coral snakes do not strike but because of such small mouths, they latch on and chew, releasing the toxic venom. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported since 1967 when antivenin was developed.

I love living in the country. I love to watch the deer over in the pasture, see an occasional fox and turkey. But coral snakes? No thank you, even if dispatching one affirms the fact that Kay married the right guy, at least as far as protecting her from snakes is concerned.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

A celebration of life and legacy of Michael Atwell will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Reverend Micah Murrell officiating. Burial will be in Lincecum Cemetery, Pollock, under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Pineville

The family requests visitation be held Friday, July 14, 2023 at Hixson Brothers, Pineville from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., and will resume Saturday at the Church from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m.

Mr. Atwell, 63, of Pollock passed from this life, Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at CHRISTUS Central Louisiana Surgical Hospital.

He loved traveling in the mountains and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. During his working career, he was an opti-mill operator.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Grover D. and Georgia Lee Starks Atwell; sister, Georgia Ann Lee.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 43 years, Susan Morse Atwell; son, Christopher Atwell and wife, Brittany; daughter, Stacey Atwell Jobe; brother, Jimmy Atwell; grandchildren, Wyatt Atwell, Katelynn Jobe and Marlee Atwell; and a host of other family members and friends.

Pallbearers will be Christopher Atwell, Wyatt Atwell, Logan Dubois, Andrew Traylor, Justin Crooks, and Sam Morse. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Hatten, Keith Bruce and Steve Cockerham.

This Louisiana summer heat is no joke! So when you gather with family and friends you need something light and cool but of course the yummiest. This Grinder Dip is perfect for all of those things! You could also add this as a filling to some French bread for a sandwich as well.

I am loving all things seasoned with pickled pepper juice. Add in that Italian seasoning, and you’ve got a mouthful of flavor!

Ingredients:

1/4 pound small pepperoni, diced
1/4 pound salami, diced
1/4 pound thin ham, diced
8-10 slices provolone cheese, diced
3/4 cup red onion, diced
1/2 cup banana peppers, minced
3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon pickled pepper juice
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
3 1/2 cups finely chopped iceberg lettuce

For serving:  crostini, pretzels, pita chips, carrot or celery sticks

Directions:

To a large mixing bowl add chopped meats, cheese, onions, and peppers. Stir. In a smaller mixing bowl add mayo, sour cream, Italian seasoning, and pepper juice. Whisk until smooth. Pour into the larger mixing bowl and gently toss until evenly combined. Add lettuce right before serving.

Ashley Madden is a wife, mother, and published cookbook author from Minden, La.

By Jim Smilie

An Alexandria resident was ordered to be removed by police officers from the Alexandria City Council meeting Tuesday evening while objecting to a proposed appointment.

When council members were considering a resolution to appoint City of Alexandria Utility Director Michael Marcotte to serve as a director on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA), city resident Patrick Lacour stepped to the podium when Council President Lee Rubin asked if there was any public comment. As he approached the podium, Lacour was asked if his comments would be germane to the motion, to which he replied that he opposed the resolution.

Once at the podium, Lacour began to explain his reasons for opposing the appointment, at which time he was told by Rubin that his explanation was not needed, and that the objection to the appointment was noted. Rubin made reference to legal matters involving the City and Lacour. Lacour asked why he couldn’t give an explanation for his objection, at which time City Attorney Jonathan Goins advised Rubin that the remarks were “not germane to the motion” and advised him to have Lacour take a seat.

When Lacour remained at the podium, Rubin asked if he needed to have him removed. When Lacour continued to try to give his explanation, Rubin ordered APD officers to remove him. As the officer approached, Lacour noted that he was leaving under protest and then peacefully left the meeting.

The council ultimately unanimously approved the appointment of Marcotte to the LEPA Board of Directors.

In other business, the council approved an ordinance to rezone property at 226 North Bolton Avenue from Light Industrial District to Single Family High Density District. The rezoning was requested in preparation for plans to build new housing on the property. During a meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee prior to the main council meeting, Mayor Jacques Roy said the administration originally opposed the rezoning out of concerns about flooding in the area. Roy stressed that the city has learned from previous housing projects the importance of building above the Basic Flood Elevation.

However, Roy said he understands that effective August 1, FEMA will be requiring builders to build at least 1 foot above the basic flood elevation. With that caveat, Roy said he didn’t object to the rezoning.

The council also approved two ordinances related to the recruitment and retention of police officers. Roy explained the motions are part of the administration’s broader plan to recruit and retain police officers. The plan involves a marketing campaign as well as improvements to benefits and pay for officers.

Roy cited the increased difficulty cities across the country are facing to recruit candidates for commissioned officer positions. He also said that, from a planning standpoint, the city must assume that the number of officers leaving due to retirements, resignations and dismissals will outpace the number of officers being hired and that extraordinary measures must be taken to ensure public safety.

By Jim Smilie

Former Louisiana Governor Huey Long was never a student at LSU, but he fell in love with the university and became its biggest supporter from 1931 until he was assassinated in 1935. Long’s devotion to LSU, and the unorthodox approaches he took to accomplish his goals, provide the material for the book Kingfish U: Huey Long and LSU by author Robert Mann.

“Long saw himself as the assistant coach, band leader and head cheerleader,” Mann, a longtime journalist, press secretary, author and current Manship Chair at the Manship School of Mass Communication at LSU, told members of the Rotary Club of Alexandria Tuesday afternoon at Alexandria Convention Hall.

Mann explained that in the late 1920’s, LSU was a small, undistinguished school. Few imagined the university being anything more than an agricultural college with around 3,000 students. “He (Long) really saw the university’s potential in a way very few people did,” Mann said. At the time, other schools in the South, most notably Alabama, Georgia and Georgia Tech, were gaining regional and national prominence based on the success of their football programs.

“Long saw the glory Alabama brought to the South when it won the Rose Bowl,” Mann said of Alabama’s 20-19 upset win over Washington in 1926 and follow-up 24-0 shutout of Washington State in 1931. “Huey saw the shortcut to getting LSU on the map was not just hiring good faculty — which he did — but building a football team and a band.” With that in mind, in 1931 Long took over control of the university, firing the football coach, band director and the university president in his first week and replacing them with his choices. And his quick-action approach worked. One example Mann cited was the band, which went from 37 members in old uniforms and worn instruments to more than 200 members with new uniforms and instruments.

Building the program took large amounts of money, which was a challenge as the nation was struggling with the Great Depression. Undeterred, Long used what Mann termed “questionable approaches” to finding the funds needed to achieve his vision for the university. For example, Mann noted the school owned land and buildings in the downtown Baton Rouge area. Long sold the property to raise funds for improvements. The “questionable” part, as Mann explained it, is that Long sold the land and the buildings to the state.

Opponents questioned the legality of such actions at the time. “Huey’s plan was to move so fast that the work would be done before the lawsuits were settled and they could take the money away,” Mann said. As an example, Mann said the project to renovate the Field House was let for bids in May of 1931. Bids were opened the next month and the project was completed in June of the following year. “It was very well built, but it was done very quickly before they could take the money away,” Mann said. He added Long drew up the plans for the project while playing golf one afternoon.

Long’s support of the athletic and band program lead to rapid growth, but there were strings attached as Long enjoyed being present and hands-on. “He would sit on the sidelines and would give pep talks to the team before the game and at halftime,” Mann said. He would also draw up plays and give them to the coaches, despite the fact he knew very little about the game of football. Mann shared one story claiming Long commented before an LSU game with Arkansas that he expected Arkansas would kickoff since LSU kicked off the previous year. “He didn’t even understand the coin toss,” Mann said. But, that didn’t stop him from consulting magazines for sample plays and then copying and enhancing them before sending them to the coaches.

In another incident, Long had some injured Tiger football players stay at the Governor’s Mansion to recover. It turned out to be a very enjoyable time for the players. “When they went back to the team, they had gained so much weight they could barely play,” Mann said. Long also reportedly summoned students to the football stadium for cheer training after he felt they didn’t properly support the team during a game.

With a successful football team and band as a draw, Long expected there would be an influx of students and set to work to create on-campus housing. This included building dorm rooms as part of the football stadium. “At one time, 40 percent of the students lived under Tiger Stadium,” Mann said.

Knowing money was tight, Long also ensured students had access to the university. Mann said that any Louisiana resident student who could show a high school diploma or could pass an entrance exam could attend the school without tuition. Tuition for out-of-state students was only $60. “Long regarded education as a public good, not a private benefit,” Mann said.

Long’s plan was ultimately a success. Mann noted that within four years — during the depths of the Great Depression — LSU’s enrollment increased 330 percent while the national average was only a 27 percent increase. And the football team and band quickly gained notoriety. “Everywhere they went, people knew about LSU. And they knew about Huey, so it helped with his popularity too,” Mann said.

While admitting Long’s tactics were not always above board — Mann said of Long, “he did some of the best things in the worst possible way,” — he believes there are parts of Long’s approach that could benefit higher education today.

“We talk a lot about what to do to improve higher education. We talk about it like it’s brain surgery or rocket science and that we need a 10-year plan,” Mann said. “Huey showed that it’s not that hard. His plan was in his coat pocket.” Mann said Long’s fundamentals — providing strong support from the state and making college affordable to everyone as a public good rather than a private benefit — are still viable approaches.

“Huey Long transformed LSU in 3-4 years,” Mann said. “If he could do that, in the depths of the Great Depression, what excuse do we have?”

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office spoke with citizens of the Cotile Area Neighborhood Watch on July 10.

Deputies from the Patrol Division as well as Detectives from Criminal Investigation Division attended and were able to answer questions as well as listening to their concerns.

Recent Operating While Intoxicated bookings, Rapides Parish Jail. Bookings are accusations, not convictions:

July 4

Nyame Wallace, 38, LaPlace — OWI 4^th, Open container, No signals, Driving under suspension/revocation.

July 5
Yatesha Clemons, 31, Alexandria — OWI 1st;

Samantha Trussell, 37, Pineville  — OWI 1st.

July 8

William Andrews, 30, Deville — OWI 1^st, Muffler required excessive noise, View out or in obstructed improper tint, Improper lane usage;

Cruz Rodriquez-Gomez, 26, Alexandria — OWI 1^st, No driver’s license, Improper lane usage.

By JIM BUTLER

Rapides Sheriff Mark Wood, buoyed by more than $200,000 in campaign funds, will formally announce his re-election bid at a Kees Park function this afternoon (5-7 p.m.).

Qualifying for the Oct. 14 primary is in August and first campaign finance reports for this year are not due until September.

Wood, elected in 2019, enters the contest, if in fact he has opposition, with a campaign account bolstered by 2022 fundraising.

According to his year-end report, Wood raised about $240,000. Added to $12,400 on hand as 2022 began and adjusted for campaign expenses, he started this year with a war chest of about $222,000.

In addition to monetary donations Wood’s campaign received about $6,600 in in-kind contributions of goods and merchandise for a fund-raising golf tournament he hosted in June.

About $16,800 spent by the campaign for that tournament, including $5,500 for use of Oak Wing Golf facilities and $850 for cart rentals accounted for just over half the Wood campaign spending for the year.

Contributions as a result of the golf day are not itemized. Such events have become a staple in political fundraising efforts.

The rest of the $30,000 expenses for the year were the customary mix of donations to schools, churches, benefits, other politicians’ funds, supplies, food and special gifts.

On the income side, 37 individuals or businesses reached the maximum contribution of $2,500 for the campaign.

Only one Political Action Committee – Local 247 PAC Fund (plumbers & steamfitters) is among them.

Others listed at that level (Rapides Parish address unless otherwise noted) include:

PoBoy Express, Stephen Anderson, Barth Properties, Robert Beauregard, Central Management Co. (Winnfield),
Sharon Chicola, Correctional Food Services (Dallas), Country Living Manufactured Homes, D-MAX Tint Audio,
Diamond B Construction, Douglas Farms, Robert Fountain, Paul Guillory;

Higgins Law Office, Damin Horieh, JCL Power, Melinda Mahfouz, Mike Slocum Enterprises, Susan Mosley,  National Waste Management LA, Neblett Beard & Arsenault, OneStop Smoke & Vape, OneStop Smoke & Vape (Natchitoches),Phillip Terrell Campaign Account, Precision Paint & Drywall,
Provosty, Sadler & DeLunay, Ratliff Construction, RMP Management, Jennifer Roberts, Rozier McKay & Willis CPA, Abbie Spurgeon, Samuel Spurgeon, Tarver Land Development, The Tower of Alexandria, Family Holdings Mark K. Thompson, Billy Timmons. 

The complete report can read at the La. Ethics Administration website.