Northwestern State University President Dr. Marcus Jones addressed the upcoming academic year’s highlights and challenges during the university’s Faculty Institute and faculty/staff lunch Monday.  The annual event provides an opportunity for the president to deliver a state of the university address directly to faculty and staff. While Jones’ remarks outlined positive developments at the university, he also acknowledged challenges the university is facing and how they will be addressed.  

“To remain competitive in the landscape of higher education, we continue to place a high value on career readiness, learner goals and the individual pursuits of our students,” Jones said. “Providing an education of enduring value and creating gainful employment opportunities for our students in Louisiana and beyond is of utmost importance.” 

Jones said NSU’s three priorities regarding students are to stay career-focused on academics, provide critical skills that address workforce needs and provide an enriching student experience. He shared results from a recent economic impact study, which reported that the university contributes $520 million to the regional economy and supports the creation of 7,200 jobs in the region, or one out of every 53 jobs in northwestern and central Louisiana.  

“Outside of the classroom, NSU is proud to be a driving force for economic growth, job creation and development in our region. These benefits are real and measurable,” Jones said.  

Earlier this year, the Louisiana legislature approved a 2 percent pay raise for faculty at public universities in the state, sourced from the governor’s budget.  NSU is also slated to receive $65.1 million in capital outlay funding for several infrastructure projects.  Funding for the faculty raises and capital outlay projects are not part of the university’s operating budget.  

Over the past year, the NSU Foundation secured $6.6 million in contributions, a 15 percent increase in giving to the university, and secured $5 million in increased private grant funding, including contributions from industry partners. The Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development received a combined $11 million in grants to support initiatives that include the child welfare training academy, the child and family network, and career exploration in the high demand fields of psychology, addiction studies, social work, nursing and allied health.      

However, due to declining enrollment, the university is facing revenue shortfalls, prompting strategic preparations to address this issue.      

“Educational institutions throughout Louisiana and the nation have been expecting a decrease in the number of high school graduates and traditional college-age students,” Jones said. “This trend has been aggravated by the lasting effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Current job market demands have created attractive short-term opportunities for college-age individuals to enter the workforce instead of pursuing higher education.” 

“It’s crucial to acknowledge the trials that lie ahead,” Jones said. “Some key aspects of our near-term operations, such as fiscal year budgeting and Fall 2023 enrollment data, are yet to be finalized. However, it is evident that we will be confronting a significant operating deficit.” 

To address the shortfall, Jones said the university will reevaluate personnel and operating budgets, place a pause on new hires for vacant positions and eliminate positions through attrition (retirements) while nurturing the existing talent pool.  

The university will utilize 50 percent of its reserve funds to soften the financial blow, but future personnel reductions may be necessary, he added. Addressing the revenue shortfall and budget gap will follow six guiding principles.  

“As a campus community, we will remain committed to our fundamental mission as a public regional university in northwest Louisiana, while dedicating our efforts to achieving financial stability and organizational resilience; prioritize the needs of our students and their educational experience; develop and invest in strategies that manage costs and result in savings and revenue growth; utilize data-driven strategies and continuously monitor their efficacy, leverage the creative thinking and recommendations of NSU stakeholders across campus, community, and alumni base; and prioritize a decision-making approach that is inclusive, equitable and transparent to the campus community.” 

Jones said that while robust recruiting efforts and improved marketing initiatives are expected to impact future enrollment, positive interaction and the daily efforts of faculty and staff to serve students and provide assistance is crucial to student retention.  

“I take great pride in the work we have accomplished and have full confidence in our ability to sustain our progress despite the obstacles we encounter,” Jones said. “I thank you in advance for joining hands with us in this vital endeavor. Together, we can make a significant impact and steer our institution towards an even brighter future.” 

Fall classes at Northwestern State will begin Aug. 14.  Registration via NSUConnect is available through Aug. 13. Late registration will continue through Aug. 22.  Data on enrollment should be available by Aug. 29.  Registration information is available at www.nsula.edu/registrar.   

Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Youth Hunter Education Challenge “Rapides Pioneers” competed in the Central Region “National” Championship on July 24-29 in Bentonville, AR.

NRA’s Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) provides a fun environment for kids 18 and under to improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills. Through its simulated hunting situations, live fire exercises, educational and responsibility events, YHEC helps build upon skills learned in basic hunter education courses and encourages safer, lifelong hunting habits. YHEC is designed to promote safe and responsible lifelong hunting.

YHEC Team members competed in several events including Safety Trail, Shotgun, Rifle and Responsibility Exam.

Rapides Pioneers Jr. Team was made up of (pictured below L-R) Tyler Layssard, Jack Dailey, Tye Tarver, Baron Paul and Jameson Gray.

Team Awards were as follows:
1st – Safety Trail
2nd -Shotgun
2nd -Responsibility Exam
3rd – Rifle
3rd – Overall

The following YHEC Members won Individual Awards:

Tyler Layssard-1st Safety Trail & 3rd Responsibility Exam

Jameson Gray placed 3rd Shotgun

Tye Tarver placed 3rd Safety Trail

Sheriff Mark Wood and RPSO would like to congratulate all of our Rapides Pioneers and look forward to a great year next year.

We would also like to say a very special THANK YOU to Kim Cedars, YHEC Coach and Coordinator, for her outstanding devotion and commitment to the youth of Rapides Parish as well as all of the parents of the competitors who are always there to lend help and support.

If you have children that may be interested in participating in YHEC, please call Kim Cedars, RPSO Training Center at 318-442-9229.

Rapides High welcomes new employees to its Mustang Family for the 2023-2024 school year.

Hello! My name is Gay McDonald, and I am so very pleased to be teaching at Rapides High School this upcoming year. My first 39 years as a professional were spent educating and treating dental patients as a Registered Dental Hygienist. The Covid pandemic gave me space to think about a change, and as
a result I have happily spent the last 3 years teaching in Rapides Parish and acquiring my secondary teaching certification in biology.

I am a mother of three and a grandmother of four. My husband and I live in the Lecompte area, and I’m thrilled to be allowed to teach my favorite subject in the community where I live. My hobbies include gardening (roses, especially), and caring for our chickens, barn cats, and dogs. Being an educator has been an unexpected joy and privilege for me. Exploring the biology of the plants, animals, and environment we live in is relevant to each of us, and I look forward to joining the Mustang community here at Rapides High School.

***

Amanda Rexrode is originally from the Shenandoah Valley area in Virginia, but as a military child, she was lucky to have lived in places all across the United States and Europe. She graduated with honors from Northwestern State University, obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology. Ms. Rexrode joined the Louisiana National Guard in 2006, where she served for 12 years as an Army Aviation Electronics Mechanic, attaining the rank of Sergeant, E5. In 2018, she left the military and became a local youth counselor, working with young people ages 5-21 in Central Louisiana. She also worked as a counselor for the Office of Juvenile Justice through a federal grant plan, and has dedicated herself to helping young people learn to improve themselves and their futures. In this pursuit, Ms. Rexrode began her career as an educator. She taught CORE last year at Bolton High School.

***

Hi Mustang family, I am Krystle Coleman and I will be working in our Special Education department. I am very excited to be joining the Mustang family and look forward to learning lots of new skills as well as gaining new colleagues and building relationships with everyone. I have been teaching Special Education for 18 years. I started my teaching career while coaching at Northwestern State University, I taught/coached at NSU for 3 seasons as assistant softball coach. I then returned to my alma mater Northwood High School where I worked in Special Education and coached multiple sports for 10 years. Next up was Bolton High School where I worked in the Special Education department for 3 years as well as coached multiple sports there. The last 2 years I have been working at Pinecrest Supports and Services working with severe students and coaching at Pineville High. I have 1 son Hayden Coleman (19), I love the outdoors and am an avid deer hunter! I also enjoy working out (a lot)! Looking forward to a great year with new adventures!

Rapides Parish 4-H members recently attended a Junior Leader Retreat. Parish planning was successful with a focus on giving back with a theme of “Rapides Reaches Out.” Community involvement and a presence of 4-H in the local communities was a priority as members laid out framework for the year.

By JIM BUTLER

Jenea Croom is back in the Rapides Parish lockup.

Croom, 37, now of Dry Prong, was jailed on several felony drug charges Aug. 2, her second booking this year and at least her seventh since 2014.

Her current-case bail was set at $16,500 on the following charges:

Possession CDS I < 2 grams,

Possession CDS I 4th or subsequent offense,

Possession CDS II < 2 grams, three counts,

Possession CDS II 2-28 grams,

Possession CDS III,

Possession CDS IV, except flunitrazepam,

Use of CDS in presence of person under 17 and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On May 16 this year Croom posted $1,000 bond an hour after being charged with criminal trespass and theft.

Hers is a not-atypical case of the revolving door law enforcement deals with.

In July 2022, Croom was charged with possession of CDS I, III and IV as well as possessing, sale or distribution of legend drugs without prescription. She posted $4,500 bond the same day.

A two-year gap in arrests may reflect incarceration. Judicial records are not available through the jail logs.

In July 2020, Croom was picked up for contempt of court, and released an hour later on $6,000 bond.

In August 2019, she was charged with two counts of probation violation and five possession counts, including less than two grams of heroin, mixture or analogues thereof. She was held 12 days, then posted $14,500 bond.

Three months earlier, May 2019, Croom was charged with parish probation violation, four possession and one theft count. She posted $4,500 bond six hours later.

The current records recovery system does not predate 2016.

However, Croom’s arrest in April 2015 did receive media attention. She was charged with felony theft, identity theft and three counts of forgery involving checks stolen from a male acquaintance.

A simple marijuana arrest occurred in September 2014.

Note – arrests are not convictions. Charges are accusations, and persons are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.

In June 2023, the Alexandria Police Department (APD) requested Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations/Alexandria Field Office (LSP AFO) to investigate APD Officer Jim Lewis’ actions during the arrest of a shoplifter.

On March 10, 2023, Lewis, while on duty, witnessed a shoplifter fleeing a local business. Lewis apprehended the shoplifter and recovered the stolen items. Lewis then released the stolen items to the business in order to obtain the value. 

As a result of the investigation and information obtained, it was revealed that Lewis falsified information to increase the total value of the stolen items. The increased value enhanced the criminal arrest from a misdemeanor to a felony. 

On August 3, 2023, LSP AFO obtained a warrant for Lewis’ arrest for Malfeasance in Office and Injuring Public Records. Earlier today, Lewis was arrested for the outstanding warrant and booked at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail.  

The Louisiana State Police will serve as the lead investigative agency. The investigation remains active and ongoing. There is no further information available at this time.

The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is also available to the public through a convenient and secure reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. Citizens can access the form by visiting www.lsp.org and clicking the Suspicious Activity link.

By JIM BUTLER

The good news is almost half the Rapides students taking the LEAP tests earlier this year reached mastery level.

The bad news is slightly more than half did not.  Mastery means the student is considered ready for the next grade level.

For parents and educators perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the annual measurement is that the mastery percentage rose from last year’s 42 to 47 as the parish and state continue rebounding from pandemic-driven setbacks.Rapides’ 47 percent mastery rate compares to the state’s woeful overall rate of only 33 percent.

The five levels of testing results are advanced, mastery, basic, approaching basic and unsatisfactory.

High school students must score “approaching basic” to meet state graduation requirements, nothing to write home about but the standard in place.

Rapides educators are encouraged by a five-place increase in 3rd grade reading proficiency, to 47 percent at mastery or advanced level.

And parish 4th graders finished first in reading proficiency growth statewide.

Reading and reading comprehension in the early elementary grades are considered vital to learning in later grades.

Absent that foundation, educators say, students have an often insurmountable barrier.

The parish outperformed state averages in math (a protracted decline continues statewide), science, social studies and elementary English Language Arts.

Average score for Rapides students taking the ACT rose from 18.1 to 18.9. The national average is 21.

A wide range of statistical breakdowns of the tests results can be viewed or downloaded at the state Department of Education website.

Football is a graveyard for plain speaking English. When a wide receiver, for example, is talented enough to catch any pass thrown in his zip code, you’ve got to discuss his great “catch radius.”

Forget the old days when guys used to say about football, “It’s not rocket science.”

Well, it’s still not rocket science but its language sounds as if it is.

A “catch radius” involves metrics that examine a player’s ability to “get vertical” (jump high) and catch a pass in “3-dimensional space.” The shelves in my desk are three-dimensional, and I’d prefer if we just put this obtuse language on the shelf. An even better place for it would be the nearest garbage dump.

From a definition found on the internet: “Catch Radius affects a player’s ability to succeed in the red zone, particularly on fade routes and 50-50 balls. The equation squares a player’s 40-time, 20-yard shuttle, and 3-cone and multiplies it by the square of a player’s height, arm length, and vertical jump. The values of all six data inputs are normalized to have equal weight.”

You read that and you either start breaking out in a cold sweat with nightmares of past bouts with calculus tests, or you are zapped into a deep sleep.

In the likely event this sort of highfalutin jargon doesn’t ebb but continues to flow, I’d like to contribute. It could fill some jargon vacuums.

In addition to “catch radius,” there ought to be a “blocking diameter” and a “tackling circumference.” A good “blocking diameter” would measure the “hold time” in which an offensive lineman can hold off a defensive lineman (without being penalized for holding) from sacking the quarterback, particularly on three-step drops as opposed to five-step drops. It would also factor in the frequency with which an offensive lineman can block more than one defender on a play. Square the diameter of the breadth and length and depth of the lineman’s reach and divide by the hold time to get his blocking diameter score.

Basically, the same sort of metrics in reverse could apply for a “tackling circumference.” Think  of the old pictures of legendary linebacker Dick Butkus charging into a scrum of blockers and a running back, arms outstretched to either side as if to collect them within his circumference reach and tackle them all.

Several coaches follow the same template for coachspeak. Dennis Allen, the Saints’ second-year head coach, has a similar speaking style as his predecessor, Sean Payton. When they stop to talk to the media, it’s time for “look” and “listen.”

As in: “Look, at the end of the day, we have a ton of respect for Joe Billy Sixpence, as far as his knowledge of the game, and yet he’s an even better human being.”

Or, “Look, we understand what Freddy Frenchloaf is going through with this nagging injury, but we expect him back soon to help our football team. He brings a lot to the table. He’s a high-motor guy and has great football IQ and he’s a great locker room guy.”

Add it all up and square the coaches’ jargon in 3-dimensional space, and at the end of the day (they really love that phrase), you’ll feel like you’ve fumbled on a fade route and you’re bracing to go hard for a 50-50 ball.

Bob Tompkins enjoyed a 43-year newspaper career as an award-winning writer and editor, serving the last 39 years at the Town Talk in Alexandria through most of 2015. He is a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as a past winner of the LSWA’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. An Alexandria resident, Tompkins is a contributing columnist sharing his talents with Rapides Parish Journal readers.

By JIM BUTLER

The Cheneyville water system is again advising customers and users of a system shortcoming, now corrected.

Officials note there is no public health emergency or need to boil water but point out some health issues are possible.

The problem was a failure to properly treat residential drinking water in May and June, a shortcoming detected in Dept. of Health regular sampling and testing.

Treated drinking water poses little or no risks to users’ health. Untreated water is another story.

The system’s failure to provide minimum residential water disinfecting was due to error in the system calibration, officials said.

That has been corrected and minimum treatment levels returned in the July sampling.

Back in June officials notified customers and the public of different shortcomings detected by health officials.

Responding, the system replaced a mesh screen over the overflow pipe in May.

With passage of a cross connection ordinance by the town council, plans are to have it fully implemented by early December, correcting the other deficiency.

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE — Everything you need to know about how much importance LSU second-year head coach Brian Kelly places on tight ends in his offense is wrapped neatly in one simple stat.

In his 12 seasons in his previous job guiding Notre Dame, nine of his tight ends were drafted by the NFL — including five in the first two rounds.

Compare that to LSU’s barren wasteland of tight ends, viewed by past Tigers’ coaches like Les Miles as extra blockers who know had to catch an occasional pass. LSU has had nine tight ends taken in the past 41 NFL drafts with just one picked in the first two rounds.

Kelly’s renovation started last season when freshman tight end Mason Taylor started the last 13 games and finished with 38 catches, the second-best single-season mark in LSU history.

When Taylor now looks around the tight end meeting room, there’s even a dramatic difference from a year ago.

“Coach Kelly did a great job of getting some depth,” said Taylor, a preseason All-SEC first-team selection. “They’re freshmen, they’re young, but they all have a lot of potential and each of them has attributes.”

The one common bond between the tight end freshman trio of Mac Markway (6-4, 250 pounds), Ka’Morreun Plimpton (6-6, 242) and Jackson McGohan (6-4, 235) is they are athletic and have frames to add pounds without losing athleticism.

Then there was the late tight end addition of junior college transfer Connor Gilbreath, a 6-6, 268-pound behemoth who Taylor characterized as “an extremely good blocker who can put his hands on people.”

Taylor, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery, believes his blocking will improve this season from adding 10 pounds of muscle. The 6-6 son of Miami Dolphins great and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor increased his weight from 245 to 255.

“I played a little light last season,” Taylor said. “I wanted to be at 255 at the start of this season.”

Though Taylor was just a three-star rated recruit by 247Sports for the Fort Lauderdale-based high school powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, he quickly showed in the Tigers’ 2022 preseason training camp he fits what Kelly wants in a tight end.

And that’s a big body with magnet hands who can line up and run block or in the slot and run routes creating mismatches against linebackers and occasional turns in wideout spots.

Kelly is seeing the same thing in this year’s newbies that he discovered in Taylor.

“You’ve seen Plimpton out there, he’s a big body guy with soft hands,” Kelly said. “He certainly has the tools. He’s much bigger, he’s up to about 245 pounds already. When he got on the campus, I think he was 222. He’s done a great job of taking care of himself and doing the right things, (paying attention to) nutrition.

“Markway is moving much better. He’s leaned out, much more agile, because he’s a big body guy that can help us. I think we’ve really built the depth there at the tight end position that we needed around Taylor. So, I think it’s going to be a good group.”

Having four tight ends with similar physiques and athleticism substance will give Tigers’ offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock more playbook options.

“That’s the plan for us this year,” said Taylor, whose freshman season was highlighted by his game-winning two-point conversion catch to beat Alabama in overtime in Tiger Stadium. “He’s going to dial some stuff for us offensively.

“I’m just playing my role. There’s only so much I can do and Coach Denbrock and the offensive staff is going to do a good job of putting me in a position to take advantage of the moment.”

CAMP NOTEBOOK: During a spirited 11-on-11 session in Monday’s preseason practice No. 4, a scuffle broke out between wide receiver Kyren Lacy and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. Lacy apparently pointed at Perkins and kept talking trash and the two players had to be separated. Perkins was so angry that Kelly took him aside for a five-minute conversation. When 11-on-11 ended, Kelly gathered the entire team to address the fight. “It was hot, it was humid and people weren’t in their right mind,” junior defensive end Sai’vion Jones said of the brief melee. “He (Kelly) told us things like that are going to happen when you’re passionate about playing football. But we always need to remember we’ve got to respect the (team) brotherhood.”

A true freshman definitely turning heads is five-star offensive tackle Zalance Heard of Monroe Neville. The 6-6, 340-pound Heard is currently on the second team at right tackle. … Backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was 7 for 7 passing in a 7-on-7 drill and starter Jayden Daniels was 6-for-9. … LSU, which spent the first half of last season trying to find a punt returner who wouldn’t fumble, had five players Monday catching live punts and punts from the jugs machine. The best candidate might be Alabama freshman transfer wide receiver Aaron Anderson. The 5-8, 190-pound New Orleans Edna Karr product is an absolute blur when he heads upfield.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By Adam Lord

LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil, along with staff members Cathy Robinson, Melissa Whitley, and Teresa Seymour received accolades for their exceptional leadership and support of Online Programs at the LSU Online & Continuing Education’s (OCE) 2023 Spring Innovation Series event. The event, held as part of LSU’s ongoing commitment to promoting a culture of innovation and transformative change, explored trends and best practices in online and continuing education.

Hosted by the LSU Online & Continuing Education team, the “Innovation Series” serves as a platform for fostering conversations around emerging developments in the realm of online and continuing education. With an aim to deliver quality online educational experiences that meet learners’ expectations, LSUA is dedicated to remaining strategically focused on current trends in higher education.

Paul Coreil was presented with the 2023 Spring Innovation Series “Leading Transformation” Award, recognizing him as a visionary and strategic leader. Under his guidance, LSUA has achieved remarkable milestones, with over 75% of bachelor’s degrees now offered online. With the goal of 5000 students by 2025 well within reach, Coreil’s leadership has paved the way for LSUA’s thriving presence in the online space. His foresight and dedication to meeting the needs of students have resulted in transformative changes, including virtual commencement ceremonies and healthcare programs for frontline workers.

Cathy Robinson, Program Director of Allied Health, and Melissa Whitley, Department Chair and Clinical Coordinator, both received the 2023 Spring Innovation Series “Innovative Contributions to Online Learning” Award for their exceptional work in opening access to LSUA’s BS in Health Professions degree with a concentration in Medical Imaging for the military population. Their proactive efforts in building bridge programs and offering credit for prior learning opportunities have transformed educational opportunities for military students, enabling them to earn degrees in less time and at reduced costs. Through their dedication and innovative approach, Robinson and Whitley ensure that all students, regardless of background or circumstances, have access to high-quality educational opportunities.

Additionally, the 2022 Fall Innovation Series “Reinventing the Student Experience Award” was presented to Teresa Seymour, Director of Distance Learning at LSUA. Seymour’s passion for ensuring students matter is unparalleled, making her a true embodiment of the core of human fulfillment. Her student-centric approach and dedication to tackling challenges head-on have had a profound impact on improving the student experience at LSUA. Her exceptional contributions have played a vital role in the online student success at LSUA, making her a deserving recipient of the Reinventing the Student Experience Award.

In the pursuit of excellence, LSUA remains committed to exploring and embracing innovative solutions, ensuring learners have access to transformative educational experiences that prepare them for the dynamic challenges of tomorrow.

For more information about LSUA’s Online & Continuing Education programs, visit http://www.lsua.edu/elearn.

BATON ROUGE- Due to the extremely dry conditions statewide and the concern over first responder safety in these dangerously high temperatures, State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis, along with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, has issued a statewide cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602. 

Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government. 

This order is effective as of 5:00 p.m., August 7, 2023, and shall remain in effect until rescinded. 

This ban shall not apply to prescribed burns by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, by those trained and certified by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or by those who conduct prescribed burning as a “generally accepted agriculture practice” as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law 

(R.S. 3:3601 et seq.). 

The use of barbeque grills, fire pits and small campfires for brief, recreational purposes are allowed and not affected by the burn ban. 

Violation of this Fire Marshal order could result in criminal and/or civil penalties. 

The Diocese of Alexandria announced the retirement of Catholic Schools Superintendent, Mr. Thomas E. Roque, Sr. effective Aug. 4. Roque has served the diocese as superintendent for the past twelve years during which time the schools advanced in many important areas and successfully navigated the challenges of the global pandemic. The Diocese of Alexandria Catholic Schools’ Office assists the bishop in implementing his vision for Catholic education and provides support to principals and pastors of the eight schools located in the Diocese.

Accepting Roque’s decision, Bishop Robert Marshall stated, “The Diocese of Alexandria is very grateful to Roque for his dedicated service as Superintendent. He was of great assistance to me when I arrived in Alexandria in 2020, helping me to learn about our parishes and schools. Roque noted in his letter to me that he reached this decision after prayer and consultation with his family. Our heartfelt prayers go with him and his family in all their future endeavors.”

In this interim period, Sylvia Davis will serve as the Coordinator of the Catholic Schools and will be assisted in this task by Janet Burgess.

Davis is presently the Curriculum Specialist for Middle and High Schools and the Administrative Secretary for the Catholic Schools Office.

Davis is a retired public school educator who taught in both public schools and our Catholic schools for 47 years. Burgess is the Curriculum Specialist for Elementary Grades as well as the Child Nutrition Supervisor for the Catholic Schools Office. Burgess is a retired public school principal with 43 years of experience.

The Catholic Schools Office will continue to provide support for our Catholic schools to ensure that we offer the highest quality education for our young people. Over the next months, the Diocese will undertake a thorough assessment of the present and future needs of the schools and of the Catholic Schools Office.

Questions may be directed to Deacon Richard Mitchell: dcnrmitchell@diocesealex.org

The Rapides Foundation’s 2022 Annual Report is now available. The theme of the report is “Stories of Progress” and highlights work done in support of the Foundation’s Healthy People, Education and Healthy Communities priority areas.

“In this Annual Report, you’ll hear from Central Louisiana residents whose lives have improved. Their stories show us that progress is measured not only in how quickly generational issues impacting health status can be reversed or eliminated but also in the paths and opportunities provided to help people live longer, healthier lives,” said Foundation President and CEO Joe Rosier.

The Annual Report can be read online by visiting the Foundation’s website at www.rapidesfoundation.org under Newsroom/Annual Reports.

Print versions can be picked up at The Rapides Foundation during normal business hours. To request that a report be mailed, please contact The Rapides Foundation at 318-443-3394 or 800-994-3394.

The annual Friends of the Rapides Library book sale is off to a great start! Come by the main library (411 Washington St. in Alexandria) during open hours on Aug. 4 or 5 to find a bag full of treasures. Pay $10 to fill a logos Friends tote and you get to keep the tote. Books are measured by thickness. $10 to fill a bag sale on Friday and 25 cents per inch on Saturday. Antique Appraisal will be offered for $3 an item. 

By JIM BUTLER

The state has brought another big gun into the on-going war on drugs, now in its sixth decade.

Effective Aug. 1, the penalties increased substantially for conviction of possessing or dealing fentanyl.

Law enforcement hopes to turn the rising rate of fentanyl usage, in the process reducing the instance of its worst penalty – death by overdose.

Until Tuesday the sentence for conviction of possessing up to 28 grams of any substance containing a trace of fentanyl was 2 to 10 years imprisonment. It is now 5 to 40 years.

The risk to users as well as dealers is now far greater for the same reward.

A first conviction for dealing 28-250 grams is now 7-40 years.

A second conviction is a minimum 30 years.

A third conviction  is 99 years minimum.

First conviction for dealing more than 250 grams (that’s about 8 ounces) is mandatory life, with no parole possibility for the first 25 years.

While fentanyl gets most of the attention, use of other Controlled Dangerous Substances is widespread.

Nancy urged us 40 years or so ago to just say no. Many didn’t listen.

Corrections and judicial records are littered with cases of buyers and sellers, with no let up in sight.

The decades-long struggle since President Nixon’s declaration has created new bureaucracies and cottage industries – drug courts,  specialty attorneys, rehab and addiction centers, expanded probation and parole agencies, larger jails and prisons.

The state drug laws have wrinkles and nuances. What is CDS I? Or II? Which is a more serious issue? How many categories of CDS are there?

There are five categories of substances grouped under the law.

CDS 1 includes heroin, LSD, marijuana, mescaline, MDMA and psilocybin.

While marijuana is now labeled a recreational drug in some states that is not the case under Louisiana law.

Lumping it with heroin, etc. may seem out of place to some but the law is the law.

As for heroin, not as much is heard of it as once was the case. In fact advocates of stiffer drug sentences point to their impact on heroin usage as evidence a heavier hammer works. Others argue the proliferation of alternatives was more the case.

A heroin conviction means a minimum 5-40 years hard labor (state prison).

More than 14 but less than 28 grams marijuana conviction is 1-10 years with or without hard labor; more than 28 is 1-20 hard labor.

CDS II in addition to fentanyl includes opium, morphine, OxyContin and meth. Penalties vary, up to 20 years.

CDS III includes pentobarbital, ketamine, anabolic steroids and limited narcotic compounds.

CDS IV has tramadol, barbital, diazepam, flunitrazepam and rohypnol.

CDS V includes therapeutic drugs with small amounts of narcotic (for example codeine) ephedrine, ezogabine.

Penalties for Class III-V convictions are 1-5 years, except flunitrazepam up to 10 years, and $5,000 fine.

In Louisiana a second or not drug conviction requires twice the normal sentence.