By JIM BUTLER

The price of freedom has gone up for Tito Wilson Jr.

Wilson 19, was booked Monday on charges of criminal conspiracy, introduction of contraband in a penal facility and narcotics possession with intent to distribute.

Bail is set at $150,000.

Baby Tito, as he’s known in the social media sphere, was out of jail on bond when arrested this week.

He was arrested July 30 on illegal possession of a stolen firearm, illegal possession of stolen things and resisting arrest allegations.

At his 11:40 p.m. booking bail was set at $10,500. He posted bond at 3:25 the next afternoon.

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – After committing $16.11 million for the next three seasons to hire a new defensive staff, LSU head football coach Brian Kelly expects an immediate return on a massive investment beginning with basic non-negotiable expectations.

“It starts with the players having an energy and enthusiasm for the coaches in which they’re playing for,” Kelly said Wednesday with the 2024 season opener vs. USC in Las Vegas on Sept. 1, just 12 days away. “I thought at times we’ve lacked that, but I’m now seeing that on a consistent basis.”

Well, what about that Harold Perkins?

“The defense feels like he (new defensive coordinator Blake Baker) gives us the confidence to go out there and just do we do best,” said Perkins, the Tigers’ junior preseason AP first-team All-American linebacker. “And that’s attack.”

Kelly, who has always coached more on the offense side of the ball, also prefers a defense that keeps quarterbacks guessing.

“If you don’t know where (defensive) guys are lined up every down, the quarterback doesn’t know what he’s getting every play,” Kelly said.

Such guesswork and confusion can also trickle down to the offensive linemen.

“The stunts and the footwork that we’re using to be put in certain positions is definitely creative,” said Gio Paez, the new LSU starting defensive tackle transfer from Wisconsin. “It’s going to create a lot of problems for the (offensive) tackles and guards.”

But all of the above doesn’t matter if a defense caves on third down and allows the opposing offense to make plays to extend drives.

Of LSU’s many terrible defensive stats from last year’s 10-3 season, being ranked 114th nationally in third-down conversion defense (44.8 percent allowed) in the 130-team FBS was the worst indictment of the Tigers’ ineptness.

“Blake has done a really good job with the defenses that he’s coached, having ways to get off the field on third down,” Kelly said.

Tigers’ linebacker Whit Weeks thinks he and his defensive teammates are now suitably armed with such schemes to make big plays on key downs.

“We get to fly around and go make plays and have fun doing it because we have a lot of blitz packages now,” Weeks said. “There’s way more blitzes, which cause negative plays.”

Several LSU defenders have raved about the football education they’ve received from the new assistants.

Starting senior defensive end Sai’vion Jones, who has just seven sacks in 38 career games (16 starts) as a Tiger, has shown a consistent knack in the preseason for pressuring quarterbacks. He gives full credit to new edge rush coach Kevin Peoples for opening his eyes to fresh techniques.

“Kevin Peoples introduced me to things I can work on, like improving my reaction off the ball by studying the first thing that moves on each (offensive) lineman when the ball is snapped,” Jones said.

“I also didn’t know there are two different pass rush tracks. If I want the offensive lineman to turn his shoulders more and make him get high on me, I do a speed track which is six yards behind him. But if I want him to plant his feet and be able to work him with a finesse move, I’ll go four yards behind his feet.”

Starting sophomore cornerback Ashton Stamps said being coached by new defensive backs coach Corey Raymond has been a revelation.

Raymond, a former LSU defensive back who spent the last two seasons at Florida, produced seven first-team All-Americans and 14 NFL draft choices (including four first-rounders) as the Tigers’ secondary and cornerbacks coach from 2012 through 2021.

His resume gives him automatic credibility with Stamps and the rest of the secondary.

“He focuses on the smallest details,” Stamps said of Raymond, “and he’s a tough coach. He’s not there to be a friend.

“I thought about his past (LSU) players like `Sting’ (former two-time All-American cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.). Coach was tough on them and that’s maybe why they’re successful. If he’s tough on you, he cares about you. He sees potential in you, so he keeps pushing you.”

Kelly is eager to see his defense against live bullets a week from Sunday vs. the Trojans.

“I like the way our corners have held up (in preseason) on the outside,” Kelly said. “We all lived through last year (allowing) too many big plays on defense. We’ve eliminated those chunk plays.

“We’re still moving guys around inside (on the defensive front), but we’ve got five guys that we’re rotating in. Our edge is going to be pretty good, but our pass rush is going to be manufactured.

“It’s not going to be just four down (linemen), pin your ears back. It’s also going to be nickels and safeties and linebackers and different guys coming from different pressures.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine

There are three positions in football recruiting — offensive line, defensive line and linebacker — that colleges will tell you are the hardest to find when it comes to recruiting for both small and big colleges.

The college coaches will also tell you finding a kid who plays center in high school and can do that at the next level is even tougher. Most centers in college are offensive guards who learn to play center in college.

Today we talk about a kid who plays offensive line for Holy Savior Menard in Alexandria, Jack Roy, who I believe is a sleeper prospect. He has good feet, a good frame and is a strong leader for his team going into his fourth varsity year.

Jack stands 6-3 and weighs a strong 255 pounds. He easily should add 20-25 pounds of more muscle on his frame in college. He is a legit center already for college and plays there at Menard. Most centers that colleges look for are 6-1 to 6-4 with good feet and are quick off the ball. Those guys are usually under 280 pounds, and this kid can do those things right now and will only get quicker and bigger in college.

Roy finds the most joy in the game comes from the guys he lines up with.

“The thing I like about football is the friendships that I have formed. My teammates are not just teammates, they are my family,” he said. “We all share a brotherhood and really look out for each other, on and off the field.”

He’s gotten good guidance from coaches with the Eagles and through a well-regarded local camp.

“My coaches never pushed or required any certain college camps. Each of my four years at Menard, I have successfully completed the Don Fields Training Camp for strength and conditioning. I have always found this to be as beneficial as any other camp I could have attended,” said Roy. “It always has me physically ready for the season.

His experience and focus on OL play has helped him hone his craft.

“I only play offensive line and have started since my freshman year on varsity. Several of us have been together since our freshman year. Some of my fellow linemen are Ben Good, Hollis Chatman, Aaron Brevelle and Lane Evans.”

The Eagles’ offensive line coach, Morgan Redmon, is a big fan.

“When I took over the offensive line last season, one of my first priorities was to figure out who the center would be. I try and make sure that the center is a guy that not only is physically capable of regularly going up against the biggest and strongest guys on the other team, but understands every position on that line so that he can lead the entire group.

“Although Jack was going to be a junior he clearly became the guy that was the best suited for the job. As a junior he was the best center in the district and after a full offseason and summer program, I think he could be one of the best in Class 2A during his senior year.

“He works hard as any kid I’ve had the opportunity to coach and that work ethic carries over to all the other guys on the team. Jack is the type of lineman that when you need a yard to get that first down, you can challenge him, run it right behind his block, and he will deliver every time,” said Redmon.

It’s not all business with Roy.

“He keeps it light at practice by joking around with the rest of the team and he is a bit of a jokester around the fieldhouse, but when it comes to work, I wouldn’t trade him for anyone,” said Redmon. 

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com 

Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on Twitter @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.

Glenn Wheeler is a longtime friend of mine. As a fellow outdoor journalist, our friendship developed over the years through our association with outdoor writer conferences. In addition to being a journalist, Wheeler is also Sheriff of Newton County Arkansas and from time to time, his duties involve trying to locate a missing person. This is where Mellie Martin enters the picture.

Martin, who along with husband Jay, own and operate Dubach Heat and Air but her sideline involves raising and training hounds, not just any hounds. Her focus is on bloodhounds. A few weeks ago, Martin learned of a missing person in Newton County Arkansas and offered to bring her hounds there to assist. Here’s where I entered the picture. Martin conveyed a message from my friend Sheriff Wheeler that piqued my interest enough to try and learn about raising and training bloodhounds.

“As a member of the Delta Elite K9 Search and Rescue team, I have been involved in raising and training bloodhounds for the past eight years,” Martin said.  “My interest in bloodhounds was the result of an incident where a special needs child left home and met with a tragic accident. I thought that if the child could have been found and rescued before the accident happened, the result would not have ended in tragedy.”

The more she learned about bloodhounds and what they can do, the more intrigued she became so she began raising and training bloodhounds some eight years ago. What she has learned about these remarkable dogs is fascinating.

“Bloodhounds have about 270 million scent receptors in their noses compared to about 5 million we humans have. These dogs can be trained to find a specific person even after they have been gone two or three days,” she said.

“Each person’s scent is individualized in the same way that no two people have the same fingerprint. Before a search begins, an article, such as a cap or pillow case that no one else has used is presented to the dog and it is homed in only on that one person.”

Martin says she is called on average about two times a month to bring her dogs to where a missing person has been reported. Not only do they search for run-aways but also criminals who may be on the run.

“We don’t compete with law enforcement agencies that utilize dogs; we work with them. Our area of responsibility involves serving all of Louisiana north of Alexandria over to East Texas and just south of Little Rock, AR as well as portions of Mississippi. We wait for law enforcement agencies to contact us before offering the services of our dogs,” Martin said.

Martin’s work with her dogs is on a strictly volunteer basis where no fee is charged. I am reminded of the similarity of what she does with her dogs and the organization deer hunters utilize to find wounded deer.

“My most rewarding event took place in south Arkansas when an elderly and sickly gentleman had been missing for 36 hours and family assumed he had probably passed away somewhere. My dogs were able to locate him, alive but dehydrated, and when we came back with him riding with us on a side-by-side, I joined with the family shedding happy tears. Just seeing that dog I have trained find someone in such a situation is so rewarding,” she said.

To learn more about what has been done and can be done with bloodhounds, go on-line to Delta Elite K9 Search and Rescue Team.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations not convictions. 

August 20

Weapons

Jonathan Payne, 28, Cypress, TX — illegal possession stolen firearm, expired plate/registration, $5,100 bail;

Eric Sherman, 20, Alexandria — felon possessing firearm, contempt 2 counts, $5,000 bail.

Other

Tyrhonda Coutee, 39, Alexandria — fugitive, flight, no child restraints, contempt 3 counts, $150,600 bail;

Dustin Duck, 37, Pineville — burglary inhabited dwelling, burglary, parole violations, $50,000 bail;

Areon Jones, 32, Alexandria — aggravated battery, $10,000 bail;

Damon Pearson, 55, New Orleans — fugitive, no bail set;

Annalee Watson, 22, West Monroe — domestic abuse battery serious injury, $1,500 bail. 

This date: 21 arrests, 10 including one or more contempt counts. 

Arrests are accusations not convictions. 

August 20

Terry Dearbone, 35, Alexandria — possession 2 counts, paraphernalia, $8,000 bail;

Tito Wilson Jr., 19, Alexandria — criminal conspiracy, contraband penal facility, possession with intent, $150,000 bail. 

By Jeanni Ritchie

Losing a child is one of the hardest things a parent will ever go through. Whether the child is still in utero or grown with a family of their own, it is unnatural for parents to outlive their offspring. Becoming a bereaved parent makes you a member of a club you never wanted to join.

While We’re Waiting is a national faith-based bereavement support group for parents who’ve lost children of any age. While they are a non-denominational faith-based organization, there is no requirement or expectation that attendees of their events share their faith. Their mission is to help those as they navigate their grief.

Jan Schmitt, Alexandria, has found the group to be invaluable in her journey. “My husband Doug and I found While We’re Waiting right after [our 25-year old daughter] Alexandra died. The group has been an integral part of our support network. When we lost Alexandra, we lost a part of ourselves. Unimaginable pain. We didn’t know how to do life without her. We still don’t. But over the past 10 months, the other members have become friends that are there for us when we need them. They help remind us that God has a plan and to trust that we will see her again.”

My own daughter died thirty years ago. As much as I appreciated the friends who rallied around me, it was the strangers who’d also buried children that I gravitated to the most. We had several support groups in Central Louisiana at the time that were instrumental to my healing. I was dismayed to see they’d all disbanded while I’d been living away but delighted to discover a While We’re Waiting chapter had been founded in our area.

Susan Cartwright emphasizes this importance of fellowship with other parents. “We welcome all parents who have lost a child because we know your foundation has been cracked and shaken to the core. At While We’re Waiting Cenla, you can form bonds and make connections with other parents who truly understand the experience of child loss.”

Along with her husband Tommy and Joyce Toups, Cartwright facilitates the monthly meetings on the fourth Friday of each month. “Come and learn with us how we can live abundantly while we’re waiting to be reunited with our children someday.”

For more information on While We’re Waiting, support group locations, and the free bereaved parent weekend retreats held across the country, visit www.whilewerewaiting.org.

For more information on While We’re Waiting Cenla, call Susan Cartwright at 318-206-8102.

While We’re Waiting Cenla meets this month on August 23 from 6-8 PM at the Book Nook, 6025 Monroe Highway, Ball.

Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.