During the weeks of Feb. 7-18 the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit (CSU), working in conjunction with the Alexandria Police Department and the Alexandria District, Louisiana Department of Probation & Parole, conducted a crime suppression operation concentrating on violent criminals, gun crimes and outstanding felony warrants.
During this operation, RPSO reports the following results:
· 130 felony arrests
· 13 firearms seized from felons in possession
· 2 stolen firearms recovered
· 5 grams fentanyl seized
· 2 ounces powder cocaine recovered
· 2.5 ounces methamphetamine seized
· 8 ounces marijuana seized
· 150 ecstasy pills seized
· $5,866 currency seized
This does not include the statistics from the Alexandria Police Department of the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole.
“Through our combined efforts, we will continue this aggressive enforcement of violent crime and gun crime in our community” said Sheriff Mark Wood. “Our partnerships with the other agencies is crucial in helping keep our community safer.”
If anyone has any information on violent crime, they are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of CenLa at 318-443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster app may also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for reward. P3 app: https://www.p3tips.com/community/mobile/index.htm
NOTE: Crime Stoppers is a private non-profit organization. Crime Stoppers is not a law enforcement agency.
Troyvonta Green, 26, was arrested in Conroe, Ark. on Feb. 28 on an outstanding warrant for Second Degree Murder and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The Alexandria Police Department was assisted in this capture by the United States Marshals Service. Green’s charges stem from an October 2023 homicide in the 2500 block of Culpepper Road.
The Alexandria Police Department would like to thank the United States Marshall’s Service for their assistance with this arrest.
This is currently an ongoing investigation.
If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number (318) 441-6416, or APD Dispatch (318) 441-6559. You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.
For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile.
Their sound is as much a seasonal signal as the whistling of migrating ducks’ wings.
Overnight it comes, house by house, like a virus spreading unseen.
It is the whine of a Briggs & Stratton rotary engine, attached to a 22-inch blade (though more and more turf warriors are shifting to seated, self-propelled, zero-turn behemoths for their relatively tiny portion of the green Earth) swishing through the winter growth and dandelions like Gillette through a three-day beard.
March 1 marks the unofficial opening of the mowing season, and seemingly no one in these parts missed this year’s first day/weekend.
Turf was attacked with ardor that by June will give way to angst and by August to downright antipathy.
Most of the grass now is really clover and other junk dropped off by all those birds fed during the winter.
The season unofficially closes on the Saturday before Thanksgiving — “aren’t you going to trim the yard before everyone comes?”
That’s nine months, every four to seven days. An hour or so each time. Gallons and gallons of sweat, dozens of six-packs, all to create a golf course look.
Not likely to get much sympathy from friends still shoveling snow or living through another sub-freezing day.
Loren Lampert’s campaign committee has raised far more money than Allie Nowlin’s in the 9th District judge’s race though she entered the campaign’s last month with more on hand.
The Alexandria attorneys are vying for John Davidson’s unexpired term. He retired in September. The primary is March 23.
Candidate committees are required to file campaign finance reports 30 days before the voting.
Lampert’s campaign reported raising $113,000 and spending $90,000, with $23,000 on hand (totals rounded).
Nowlin’s campaign had raised $45,000, which includes a $15,500 loan from Nowlin. Expenses of $6,000 left $38,000 on hand The candidate was also owed about $8,000 in reimbursement for campaign expenses.
Lampert, a former prosecutor and police chief, received about $78,000 in $2,500 donations, $17,500 from Rapides contributors, the remainder from other locales.
The Rapides list includes Samuel T. Mahfouz, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault, Phillip Terrell, Villar & Green, Thomas O. Wells, Hunter & Beck and Jeffrey Richardson.
Nowlin’s Rapides contributors included $2,500 donors Eugene P. Cicardo Jr. and Mrs. William B. Owens.
LSU junior forward Angel Reese waves goodbye to the crowd after what could be her last regular season home game Sunday, the Tigers’ 77-56 win over Kentucky. Reese has not decided yet whether she will turn pro. (Journal photo by RON HIGGINS)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Angel Reese has just lost once on the Tigers’ homecourt in two seasons.
So, she certainly wasn’t going to be defeated on Senior Day Sunday afternoon in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Reese had 22 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and 3 steals, running her PMAC homecourt record to 33-1 as the No. 7 Tigers handled Kentucky 77-56 to close regular season play.
While LSU (26-4, 13-3 SEC) will likely host NCAA regional first and second-round games in three weeks, Reese, a junior who transferred to LSU last season from Maryland and led the Tigers to a national championship, participated in Senior Day activities.
She hasn’t announced whether she’ll follow her pre-determined plan of entering the WNBA draft, so Sunday’s crowd of 13,044 repeatedly chanted “One more year” as Reese exited the court after the halftime ceremony honoring her and Louisville grad transfer Hailey Van Lith, who is also eligible to return for another season.
“It was a lot of pressure,” Reese said with a smile after hearing the public cry for her to return to LSU for another season. “This fan base is amazing. I probably will never see anything like this again. You think about that when you’re trying to make a decision. The support here made me who I am. I am the Bayou Barbie because of LSU.”
Reese and Van Lith both said they won’t decide on their futures until the season concludes.
“I’m not thinking about anything but trying to win a national championship,” Van Lith said.
Reese’s mom and LSU basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, wearing matching Angel T-shirts honoring Reese’s daughter, accompanied her to midcourt for the halftime presentation. Everyone roared long and loud when Reese got her curtain call, exiting the game with 2:20 left with LSU holding a 22-point lead.
Freshman guard Mikaylah Williams of Bossier City and Parkway High, until Sunday the only LSU player to start every game this season, did not play because of plantar fasciitis. She sat on the Tigers’ bench wearing a walking boot. Coach Kim Mulkey said it was a precaution, but it was also a problem for her team.
Williams’ 3-point shooting, mid-range jumpers and precision entry passes to the post were greatly missed.
The Tigers went 1 for 12 in 3s and the lack of mid-range jumpers allowed Kentucky’s defense to crowd LSU’s post and result in the majority of the Tigers’ 17 missed layups and a large portion of their 15 turnovers.
It forced LSU to find other ways to score, many buckets off defensive plays. Guard Flau’jae Johnson had 21 points, 7 rebounds and a team-high 4 steals, forward Annesah Morrow added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Van Lith contributed 15 points and 2 steals.
“I felt like we played the entire game like we could not be beat, and I don’t like coaching kids like that,” said Mulkey, whose team finished second in the SEC.
“We get offensive boards, and we kick it out for 40-footers. We get another ball, and we kick it out. But that’s what they see in the pros. That’s the kind of basketball that will get you beat down the stretch.”
Kentucky (11-19, 4-12 SEC) was led by former LSU forward Ajae Petty, who had 13 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.
Wildcats’ coach Kyra Elzy was proud her team didn’t let the game get away until the final two minutes, even though 23 UK turnovers led to 26 LSU points.
“The two words we used to prepare for this game were purpose and passion,” Elzy said. “I thought we came in and did that. We had fight in us and we needed it.”
Without Williams available, Mulkey adjusted by moving starting point guard Van Lith to shooting guard and inserting Last Tear-Poa at the point.
Though the Tigers missed 8 of their first 10 shots, they managed to find a rhythm with their defense. They converted 9 UK turnovers into 10 first-quarter points as LSU established a 20-9 lead heading into the second quarter.
When it appeared that the Tigers would pull away for a 20-point plus halftime lead after a 10-2 run inflated LSU’s lead to 17 at 31-14 with 6:28, the Wildcats dug in.
LSU missed 9 of its last 10 field goal attempts and committed 3 turnovers, fueling UK’s first half closing 13-2 rally. It sliced the Tigers’ lead to 33-27 at the break.
LSU re-focused and opened the third quarter hitting its first seven shots. UK missed 7 of its first 10 shots. LSU pushed the lead back to 19 points at 50-31.
But the Tigers never got the spurt to blow the game open with a 20 points-plus lead until the game’s final three minutes.
LSU doesn’t play again until next Friday as it earned a double bye in the SEC tournament that starts Wednesday in Greenville, S.C.
Mulkey said although Williams could have played Sunday with her aching foot, she also may sit her out of action for the SEC tourney.
“This is March Madness now,” said Mulkey, whose 60 NCAA tournament wins ranks fourth all-time among Division 1 head coaches including the best Final Four winning percentage (8-1, 88.9 percent). “You make sure you’re rested enough, and you stay sharp on the floor. You make sure you rest any aches and pains. That’s why I did it with Mikaylah. Today and the next games (in the SEC tournament) are not more important than the NCAA playoffs.”
Oak Hill senior Krystina Greene (1) fights through JS Clark’s triple team during the Division V select championship game in Hammond Friday. (Journal photo by LAMAR GAFFORD)
By LAMAR GAFFORD
HAMMOND – Oak Hill’s road to repeat ran into a dead end Friday.
In a rematch of last year’s Division V Select state championship girls basketball game, the roles were reversed as Oak Hill lost 67-45 to JS Clark at the RoofBuilder University Center.
“You hate for (the senior class) to have to go out like that,” Oak Hill coach Kaci West said. “I just love these kids so much with my heart. I hate for them to go out with a loss, but it doesn’t shake the fact of all the things that they’ve accomplished in their careers.”
Oak Hill senior and LSU Alexandria commit Alexis Dyer closed her high school career with 28 points and 12 rebounds, but it was a struggle for the team as it shot 26.5 percent as a whole and went 5-for-20 from 3-point range.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point of the game as Oak Hill (28-14) missed all 16 of its field goal attempts amid a 26-4 run by Clark.
When Dyer ended the shooting slump with a jumper to cut the deficit to 49-31, it was all but over as Clark stayed ahead by double digits the rest of the way.
“I thought they did a great job of closing the lane up and getting back every single possession,” West said. “They played with a lot of intensity and I think that was the difference in the game.”
Clark sophomore Taylor Barnaba was named as the game’s Most Outstanding Player after scoring 18 points with six assists, four rebounds and eight steals. Fellow sophomore Akeelah Williams posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds as Clark (24-6) won its first state championship in girls basketball.
With her 28 points Friday, Dyer reached the 3,000-point mark – closing her career with 3,001 points and 1,843 rebounds. With her set to sign to LSUA soon, she was emotional when reflecting about her time at Oak Hill.
“(Being a member of this team) means absolutely everything,” Dyer said. “This was the highlight of my life and playing with Coach West and these girls was everything. We just have such a great bond and the love that this team has is unmatched.”
This is the third straight season that Oak Hill has reached the championship game at the LHSAA girls basketball state tournament. It won the Division V select title last year and finished as the Class B runner-up to Fairview in 2022.
Northwood senior Rhianna Battles (5) is guarded by Southern Lab’s Tanner Pruitt in the Division IV Select state championship game Friday in Hammond. (Journal photo by LAMAR GAFFORD)
By LAMAR GAFFORD
HAMMOND – There was no three-peat for Northwood this season.
The Lady Gators’ road to their fourth state title game appearance was filled with many hurdles, but they could not overcome their final one Friday, losing to Southern Lab, 56-41, in the Division IV Select championship game at the Pride Roofing University Center.
“Tough loss for sure, but I can honestly say that my girls were locked in and they gave 100 percent,” Northwood coach Lashonda Cooper said. “We just came up short. I think it was the matter of the experience, but we kept playing all the way until the clock hit zero.”
Unlike last season when the Lady Gators rallied from an 18-point deficit to win their second straight title, they never held the lead in any point of the game despite senior point guard Rhianna Battles’ best efforts.
As she has all season, Battles willed Northwood (19-13) with 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals, but was not enough to slow down a Lady Kitten team that dominated in the paint.
“(Rhianna) put us on her back,” Northwood assistant Darius Cooper said. “She gave us everything that she had. Southern Lab is a really good team, y’all. They’re probably one of the top two or three teams in the state (in any class).”
Southern Lab (28-7) had two players with double-doubles in sophomore Asia Patin (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Kinsley James (13 points, 10 rebounds). Patin was named as the game’s Most Outstanding Player after shooting 8-for-12 and grabbing seven offensive rebounds.
While it was a tough one to swallow, Battles reflected on her career of being just the fourth Rapides Parish girls basketball player to play in four state championship title games this century. The first three were Plainview’s Abigail Pippen, Jordan Thompson and Mackenzie Willis from 2017-2020.
“I knew that I had to play my game every night,” Battles said. “I showed that every year and I most definitely showed that this season.”
The Lady Kittens’ win is their second championship over the last three years – winning the Division IV title in 2021 against Cedar Creek.
The LSUA Generals celebrate their Red River Athletic Conference Tournament championship won Sunday afternoon at the Rapides Parish Coliseum. (Photo courtesy RRAC)
The LSUA Generals left no doubt – they were the class of Red River Athletic Conference basketball this season.
Sunday, LSUA returned to the top of the mountain as the champion of the 2024 RRAC Men’s Basketball Tournament. The top-seeded Generals (24-6) overwhelmed No. 6 Southwest for a 90-72 victory in Sunday’s championship game at Rapides Parish Coliseum.
It was the first tournament title for LSUA since 2018, when the Generals powered to the final one in a stretch of three in a four-year span under Larry Cordero. This year was a return to that glory under first-year head coach Dimario Jackson who made the jump from high school and immediately put the LSUA back in the top echelon of the RRAC, winning league Coach of the Year honors.
It helped that Jackson has RRAC Player of the Year Kashie Natt and JD Allen on the roster. In the title game, the dynamic duo accounted for 44 of LSUA’s points with Natt scoring 24 and Allen dropping in 20 including four three-pointers.
Natt was named the tournament MVP after scoring 26, 24 and 24 points on three consecutive nights. Allen joined Natt on the all-tournament team for his efforts with 50 total points and 24 total rebounds.
LSUA opened with a 77-67 win over Paul Quinn Friday night, then dispatched LSU Shreveport Saturday evening by 89-74.
LSUA’s next step is to wait to see where it will be playing when the NAIA national tournament field and schedule is announced this week.
The LSUA women reached the tournament semifinals but were eliminated by No. 2 Xavier, which bowed to regular-season champ LSUS Sunday.
Earning All-Tournament honors were LSUA’s Dannah Martin-Hatwick and Princes Goff of Louisiana Christian.
LSUA’s Lady Generals won in Friday’s first round 61-45 over Our Lady of the Lake, but were overwhelmed Saturday by No. 2 Xavier 64-41.
Tournament champion and top seed LSU Shreveport plastered LCU 90-47 Friday despite Goff’s 28 points.
It has been a long time coming for the Pineville boys basketball team to return to the LHSAA state tournament for the first time since 1990.
That time came Friday as the Rebels defeated Edna Karr, 46-45, in the Division I select quarterfinals.
Senior guard Kylan Edwards scored a team-high 16 points, but none was more important than his 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to break the 43-43 tie. Edwards scored the final eight points for Pineville as it rallied from a 37-30 deficit.
The Cougars had a chance to get the win in the last second but could not get the shot off in time.
Pineville will face St. Thomas More in the semifinals Wednesday.
THOMAS MORE 57, ASH 50
It was a valiant effort for the Trojans Friday in their matchup against top-seeded St. Thomas More, but they came up short in their trip to Lafayette.
Junior guard Jordyn Johnson scored a team-high 12 points as ASH finishes its season at 22-12.
The Cougars were led by senior Chad Jones, who had 19 points and eight rebounds.
PEABODY 60, L.B. LANDRY 50
The Warhorses are returning to the LHSAA state tournament after defeating L.B. Landry in the Division II select quarterfinals.
Peabody will take on defending champion George Washington Carver in the semifinals at 2:45 p.m. Thursday in a rematch of last year’s semifinal matchup.
The Warhorses lost to the Rams, 46-44, in the semifinals last season.
RAPIDES 45, PLAINVIEW 40
The Mustangs got the best of their cross-parish rival Hornets in the Division V select quarterfinals to return to the LHSAA state tournament for the second straight season.
Rapides senior Christopher Newton notched a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds on 9 of 22 shooting.
Plainview kept the game close with it being tied at 20-20 at halftime and trailing 27-26 after three quarters but could not seize the lead. It ends its season at 20-13.
Forty teams converge on the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles this week to play in the 2024 LHSAA boys basketball Marsh Madness state tournament.
Three are local. The Rapides Mustangs play this afternoon at 1. The Pineville Rebels take the court at Burton Coliseum Wednesday at 4:30. The Peabody Warhorses tip off Thursday at 2:45.
Other schools from near Rapides Parish qualifying for the LSHAA boys semifinals are Anacoco, Rapides’ opponent Avoyelles Charter, Lakeview, Marksville, Negreet, Natchitoches Central, Pickering, District 1-5A’s Ruston and Zwolle.
LHSAA boys basketball Marsh Madness
Burton Coliseum
Lake Charles
TODAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. V – (4) Rapides (23-11) vs. (1) Avoyelles Charter (24-11), 1 p.m. Se. Div. V – (3) Episcopal of Acadiana (25-9) vs. (2) JS Clark (22-8), 2:45 p.m. Sel. Div. III – (3) University (23-7) vs. (2) Dunham (27-7), 4:30 p.m. NS Div. V – (6) Gibsland-Coleman (16-9) vs. (2) Anacoco (34-7), 6:15 p.m. NS Div. V – (4) Negreet (30-3) vs. (1) Zwolle (30-3), 8 p.m.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
NS Div. III – (7) Richwood (21-13) vs. (6) Marksville (20-16), 1 p.m. Sel. Div. III – (13) Episcopal (22-15) vs. (1) Newman (18-3), 2:45 p.m. NS Div. IV – (6) Franklin (22-7) vs. (2) Ringgold (25-9), 4:30 p.m. NS Div. III – (13) Red River (22-14) vs. (8) Donaldsonville (19-10), 6:15 p.m. NS Div. IV – (4) Pickering (24-9) vs. (1) Lakeview (26-6), 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. IV – (5) Lincoln Prep (19-8) at (1) Crescent City (23-5), 1 p.m. Sel. Div. I – (6) Southwood (25-8) vs. (2) Liberty (30-4), 2:45 p.m. Sel. Div. I – (4) Pineville (24-4) vs. (1) St. Thomas More (28-1), 4:30 p.m. NS Div. II – (3) Carroll (27-8) vs. (2) Wossman (32-4), 6:15 p.m. NS Div. II – (4) Brusly (28-1) vs. (1) Iowa (28-4), 8 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Semifinals
Sel. Div. II – (4) Shaw (25-2) vs. (1) Madison Prep (25-2), 1 p.m. Sel. Div. II – (3) Carver (22-6) vs. (2) Peabody (26-5), 2:45 p.m. Sel. Div. IV – (6) Hamilton Christian (16-9) vs. (2) St. Martin’s Episcopal (24-6), 4:30 p.m. NS Div. I – (8) Ruston (22-9) vs. (5) Natchitoches Central (28-7), 6:15 p.m. NS Div. I – (3) New Iberia (28-5) vs. (2) Ponchatoula (28-4), 8 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Finals
Sel. Div. V – noon Sel. Div. III – 2 p.m. NS Div. IV – 4 p.m. NS Div. V – 6 p.m. NS Div. II – 8 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Finals
NS Div. III – Noon Sel. Div. IV – 2 p.m. Sel. Div. II – 4 p.m. Sel. Div. I – 6 p.m. NS Div. I – 8 p.m.
David McDaniel, 22, Alexandria — possession, open container, paraphernalia, suspension/revocation, improper plate display, running stop sign, safety belt violation, expired MVI, flight, $2,100 bail;
Edward Sims II, 46, Pineville — possession 3 counts, OWI 1st, contraband penal facility, improper plate display, safety belt violation, suspension/revocation, careless operation, wrong way on one-way, hit & run, aggravated obstruction of public highway, $8,500 bail;
Christopher Veal, 44, Alexandria — possession with intent, possession, contraband penal facility, $24,000 bail;
Tina Whatley, 46, Pineville — possession CDS in presence of person under 17, safety belt violation, suspension/revocation, $3,700 bail.
March 2
Kieron Richardson, 30, Pineville — possession 3 counts, obstruction of public passage, $3,500 bail.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office recently spent some time educating Rapides Parish high school students about how the Fire marshal’s Office serves the community and the importance of working smoke alarms.
Lucille Dickens Singletary August 9, 1937 – February 29, 2024 Service: Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 11am at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
Troy M. Stuckey October 29, 1940 – March 1, 2024 Service: Wednesday, March 6, 2024, 2pm at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
Perry Dean Lockwood March 18, 1940 – February 20, 2024 Service: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 11am at New Scott Olly Baptist Church, Alexandria.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. 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)
Amazon announced Thursday it is entering into an agreement for a new last-mile facility in Boyce, similar to ones previously announced for Shreveport and Monroe.
The 65,000 square feet delivery station will be on La. 1 just north of Rapides Station Road, alongside Interstate 49 in the immediate vicinity of the Love’s-Arby’s development, several miles south of downtown Boyce.
“Last mile” is a bit of a misnomer. A last-mile delivery service isn’t limited by a mile radius. It’s simply a logistics term to describe the last leg of any delivery’s journey.
Companies ship packages to a local transportation hub. When the package arrives at the hub, a last-mile carrier – whether third-party or in-house – picks up the delivery and takes it to its final destination.
Launch plans for the center are in the very early stages, an Amazon release noted, adding construction is scheduled to start in the coming weeks.
“This last-mile facility will allow us to better serve customers in Central Louisiana,” said Jessica Breaux, senior manager of economic development for Amazon.
Most hourly employees in customer fulfillment and transportation earn between $17 and $28 per hour, the release says.
Jobs, both full-time and part-time, will be offered closer to the facility’s operational launch, as well as further details regarding career opportunities.
Louisiana Central, the regional economic development organization, sees this project and announcement by Amazon as a key to supporting the organization’s mission of making Central Louisiana a thriving hub for sustainable economic growth.
“This project is significant for so many reasons,” Jim Clinton, President and CEO of Louisiana Central, said.
Once again it is time for he annual General Membership meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to elect three (3) directors and to address other business that may come before the board.
Please make sure you follow the instructions on your copy of the document (sample) shown below.
The Candidates are:
Michael Bergeron Shawnta’ Bolinger Marc Kelly Karen Watkins
Date & Time: March 12, 2024 at 7pm Place: Office located on 405 Mudge Road Website:https://gardnerwater.com/
The original ballot, as mailed to you, must be returned. NO COPIES.
The Alexandria Police Department arrested Stanley Goldsby Jr., 36 of Shreveport, on Feb. 28 around 3 pm for one count of Second Degree Murder in connection with the homicide in the 1300 block of Enterprise Road.
Original Press Release:
The Alexandria Police Department responded to the 1300 block of Enterprise Road on Feb. 27 around 6:55 pm in reference to a shooting. The responding officers located 21-year-old Anthony Bell of Alexandria LA deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
This is currently an ongoing investigation.
If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number (318) 441-6416, or APD Dispatch (318) 441-6559. You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.
For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile.
The Arc Rapides’ mission is to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a place of work and enrichment.
They are matching actions to their words with the grand opening of a new thrift store at 1715 MacArthur Drive today.
The Arc Rapides, founded originally as the John Eskew Training Center, has been in Cenla since 1954. They are dedicated to creating, through education, advocacy, and support, a greater Central Louisiana community that includes, accepts, and celebrates people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Approximately fifteen of the program’s participants are employed daily by The Arc Rapides Thrift Store.
Adrian Chandler, Store Manager, explains the scope of their duties. “They learn how to interact with the public and perform basic retail skills such as running a register and merchandising.
The need for these young adults is obvious. While public school educational programs are instrumental in growth and development, resources are limited once special needs students graduate or age out of the school system.
This is where Arc Rapides comes in.
A member of The Arc of the United States, whose mission is promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes, they are committed to making a difference in the lives of the special needs population right here in Louisiana. Assisting with job and life skills, as well as providing enrichment classes in the arts, The Arc Rapides is dedicated to helping these young men and women live independent, fruitful lives.
The Alexandria City Council will have a ribbon cutting for the thrift store at 8:30 A.M. Friday and the doors will open at 9. Store hours are 9-6 Tuesday through Friday and 9-2 on Saturdays.
Donations of gently used clothing, small appliances, toys, and housewares are accepted both at the store location and The Arc Rapides, 1700 Ashley Avenue, Alexandria.
Volunteers are welcome as well to help sort and display items. It’s a great opportunity for someone needing school or community service hours to work in a nurturing environment. It’s also a worthy cause for individuals looking for ways to do good in today’s society.
Walking around the store with Arc participant and store employee Drew Jasmine, he pointed out his various duties to prepare for the grand opening.
“I hung clothes, stacked dishes, and built shelves.” Asked what he liked most about working at the thrift store, Jasmine didn’t hesitate. “It’s a great opportunity for me to give back to the community.”
I became distracted as we reached the toys and failed to overcome the urge to push the button to make Baby Shark start dancing. As I began dancing around, I asked if he had a hard time not playing when he worked in the toy area.
Smiling, he shook his head. I’m sure he was thinking it would be a dereliction of duty.
Meanwhile I was thinking Drew makes a much better employee than me.
Jeanni Ritchie is a journalist when not playing with toys and believes in the power of community to make a difference in the lives of its citizens.
Alexandria Senior High senior guard Chavez Whitehead (2) tries to split Jesuit’s double team during Tuesday’s regional round action. (Journal photo by LAMAR GAFFORD)
By LAMAR GAFFORD
Five Rapides Parish boys basketball teams are a step away from Marsh Madness in Lake Charles next week, if they can win one more time. Three – Peabody, Pineville and Rapides – host LHSAA quarterfinal playoff games tonight. Plainview goes to Rapides and Alexandria Senior High travels south for a tough test.
Although it held a seven-point lead at halftime Tuesday, the ASH team knew it could do better in its regional round game against Jesuit.
Answering the challenge, the Trojans defeated the Blue Jays, 78-58, to advance to the Division I select quarterfinals tonight in Lafayette against No. 1 seed St. Thomas More.
“We knew it was going to be a struggle because of how they space you out and nobody could shoot it,” ASH coach Lance Brasher said. “We felt like if we guarded like we are capable of guarding, we’d wind up wearing them down. This is one of the few games that we’ve played for four quarters defensively.”
The Trojans forced seven steals as senior guard Chavez Whitehead had four of those.
With that, the offense came alive as Whitehead’s controlled pace helped them get a rhythm. Whitehead had 18 points and eight assists as ASH only had nine turnovers in the game.
“We played with efficiency and effort,” Whitehead said. “We wanted it more.”
ASH also got a spark from senior Jaylin Johnson, who led in scoring with 23 points and four 3-pointers.
“In the second half, they trusted me,” Johnson said. “We had the same gameplan, but I was just hitting shots. If we play together, no one can beat us.
Jesuit was led by Brewer Nitcher’s 14 points.
PINEVILLE 65, ST. PAUL’S 61
Little changed in a year’s time as the Rebels defeated St. Paul’s in the Division I select regionals for the second straight season.
Senior guard Evyn Goree led the way with 20 points as the Rebels found themselves in a back-and-forth battle.
Pineville will host Edna Karr in the quarterfinals Friday for the right to head to the boys state tournament for the first time since winning the Class 3A title in 1990.
PEABODY 67, JOHN F. KENNEDY 37
A week-and-a-half’s worth of rest did not slow down the Warhorses as they defeated John F. Kennedy in the Division II select regionals Tuesday.
Trailing 20-19 at halftime, Peabody outscored the Cougars, 48-17, in the second half for a comfortable win.
“We made those adjustments on defense and we picked the tempo up,” Warhorses coach Charles Smith said. “We trapped a little bit more and harder and that turned the game around.”
Peabody will face another New Orleans team in the quarterfinals – this time welcoming L.B. Landry to the Emerald Palace on Friday.
RAPIDES 70, FAMILY COMMUNITY 25
It was also smooth sailing for the Mustangs as they made quick work of Family Community in the regional round of the Division V select bracket.
Rapides senior Christopher Newton scored 21 points and went 9-for-12 from the floor with three 3-pointers to pace his team. He also recorded three of Rapides’ 24 steals.
The Mustangs will once again play in-parish rival Plainview, playing in Lecompte tonight in the quarterfinals for the right to go to Lake Charles.
ARCHBISHOP HANNAN 57, BUCKEYE 37
The Panthers’ historic season unfortunately ended Tuesday as they lost to Archbishop Hannan in Covington.
While junior Gavin Hoffpauir led Buckeye with 18 points, it could not slow down 6-foot-6 Hawk forward Drew Timmons. Timmons scored a game-high 25 points in his fourth game back from an ankle injury.
The Panthers opened the year with 25 straight wins and added their first playoff victory in over 20 years.
