Arrests are accusations not convictions.
August 15
Kimberly Goodman, 42, Alexandria — possession, running stop sign, $1,100.
August 16
Joshua Rabalais, 29, Pineville — possession, paraphernalia, parole violations, $1,000 bail;
James Rhodes Jr., 67, Pineville — possession, contempt 3 counts, $9,000 bail.
August 17
Brandie Welch, 41, Alexandria — possession with intent 3 counts, possession, paraphernalia, improper display license plate, $58,100 bail.
By Bonnie Culverhouse
While the sun was high and the heat still on around 7 p.m. Wednesday, three Chinook helicopters from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) landed in a cloud of dirt and dust at the Minden Airport.
Sgt. Caleb Pautz said this exercise is the second long-range exercise the Combat Aviation Brigade has done.
“This is the second one going all the way to Fort Johnson,” he said.
“This one is across multiple states,” Capt. Hurley added. “We want to make sure we are ready to go.”
This week, the Chinooks will be seen in Oxford and Tunica, Miss., Minden, Monroe and Alexandria, La.
According to Capt. Hurley, the training is not just for the aviators.
“It’s also for support personnel,” she said. “It’s for maintainers for aircraft and equipment as well as fuelers.”
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is a part of the Army’s effort to pioneer the evolution of vertical envelopment with modern equipment and well-trained soldiers, and to prepare the nation to win in any future military combat environment or conflict.
By JIM BUTLER
Recently released audit reports:
Assessor’s Office – General Fund 2023 revenue was $2.4 million, almost all from tam millage. Expenses were $1.9 million, with personnel costs taking $1.5 million.
Fund balance $4.8 million, $2.7 million uncommitted, $2.1 million receivable.
Assessor Rick Ducote base salary $162,620, total compensation value $202,024.
District Attorney’s Office – General Fund revenue $5.1 million, expenses $5.0 million.
Fund balance $1.4 million.
DA J. Phillip Terrell Jr. base salary $204,482, total compensation value $240,358.
Pineville City Court – General Find revenue $271,490, from court costs. Expenses $269,935 with salary supplements taking $170,000. Fund balance $202,500.
Judge Gary Hays base salary City of Pineville $20,933, City Court $95,054, Supreme Court $53,944, total compensation value $230,517.
Reviewing things learned, or relearned, in the short span from school’s out to classes resume:
Realize don’t know lyrics to one 21st Century song, karaoke night not for me; Great-grandsons’ baseball interest is done once Little League and concession stand season ends; They’ve no idea what work-up, flies and grounders, pepper are; Mantle, Maris, Musial, Mayes unfamiliar names to them and many others;
Fortnite is not, as I first thought, a place in a Western movie; Speaking of westerns, Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers strangers to many; Whatever happened to Randolph Scott?; Love is reckless;
80 is not new 60, more an older, slower 79; Five early nine-hole rounds a week in this heat more enjoyable than two 18; Teachers cannot be paid enough; Many public servants take that role to heart; Home office too quiet – no police scanner, no keyboard clicks, no hollering desk to desk; Cell phones rule regardless venue; Immunizations still matter; Professed believers who can’t list them all much less live by most of them like the Commandments posted in schools; Some think political beliefs define friendship’s boundaries; Imaginations know no boundaries when naming newborns; Protective orders don’t seem to protect much; Frequency of domestic abuse strangulation shocking; Break dancing?;
50 years later conclusion – Nixon did the right thing; Football fever rising, bring on USC.
Arrests are accusations not convictions.
August 9
Charles Gray, 64, Glenmora — OWI 3rd, suspension/revocation, open container, improper backing, 1:42 am, $30,300 bail;
Lisa Seay, 49, Pollock — OWI 2nd, improper lane, 12:56 am, $2,200 bail.
August 10
Shuntavica Busch, 21, Lecompte — OWI 1st, restricted driver’s license violation, speeding, 5:19 am, $1,300 bail.
August 11
Joseph Blackshear, 43, Pineville — OWI 1st, 7:21 pm, $1,000 bail;
Visie Castaneda, 49, Boyce — OWI 1st, careless operation, 3:59 pm, $1,100 bail;
Kaden Cross, 20, Pineville — OWI, open container, reckless operation, speeding, 3:41 pm, $1,500 bail;
Tonya Jenkins, 39, Alexandria — OWI, no license plate light, improper lane, suspension/revocation, no insurance, open container, 4:09 pm, $3,300 bail;
Christina Jones, 39, Pollock — OWI child endangerment, 7:07 pm, $750 bail;
Elbert Pierre, 42, Alexandria — OWI 1st, improper lane, 3:22 am, $1,100 bail.
August 13
Charlene Allen, 27, Ruston — DWI 1st, speeding, suspension/revocation, no insurance, expired MVI, fugitive, 2:21 am, $1,100 bail.
August 14
Markus Butz, 31, Huffman, TX — OWI 2nd, reckless operation, suspension/revocation, 11:42 pm, $2,100 bail;
Charles Fitzback, 42, Pineville — OWI, no plate light, 12:26 am, $600 bail;
Shane Racine, 54, Pineville — OWI 1st, open container, suspension/revocation, improper lane, 11:17 pm, $1,300 bail.
Community concerns about alleged sale of THC-laced products to underage buyers has resulted in arrest of a Pineville man.
THC is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects.
The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit received several complaints early this summer alleging the Pineville Smoke Shop on U.S. 165 was the outlet.
Agents identified Ahmed Gaber, 40 of Pineville, as the alleged distributor.
Agents were able to develop probable cause to search the Smoke Shop and Gaber’s apartment on Hwy. 28 East.
On August 7, a search of the business and apartment allegedly yielded an overwhelming supply of THC-infused products such as vape liquids, gummies, and a variety of other illegal edibles.
Agents also seized more than $7,000 in Garber’s possession that is believed to be revenue from the distribution of THC products.
Gaber was taken into custody without incident, placed under arrest and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for Distribution of CDS I (THC) > 2.5 pounds. Gaber was released the same day on a $10,000 bond.
RADE agents say their investigation is still ongoing as more complaints are received in reference to THC and other vape products being sold to juveniles.
If anyone has a complaint, they are asked to contact the RADE office at 318-445-0357 or may leave anonymous tips by sending direct messages to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/
By JIM BUTLER
Jermy Mitchell could use a Get Out of Jail Free card.
Records indicate he has spent about $6,500 this decade to secure bond, including a $28,500 bail-setting in 2022, not counting his arrest this week.
Mitchell was booked Tuesday on charges carrying a $65,500 bail. He was out on a July case bond at the time.
Posting the current case bond will more than double his bail expense for the past four years.
Mitchell, 36, of Alexandria has posted bond eight previous times since 2021, sometimes within hours of booking, once requiring two weeks.
That arrest sheet includes July this year, twice in 2023 and 2022 and three times in 2021. He was in DOC custody for a period over that span.
The range of allegations on the rap sheet is wide, from dealing narcotics to felony domestic abuse, trespassing to theft, resisting arrest to disturbing the peace.
His current case includes two firearms charges.
By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
One of the best two-sport recruits in the Cenla area in 2024 is Haidyn Boone, a Class of 2025 football and baseball prospect at Buckeye.
Boone will have the opportunity to play either sport, or both, at the next level.
He’s mostly a receiver and a good one in football, snagging 952 yards on 52 catches (18.3 yards per grab) including 11 touchdowns as a WR in 2023. Boone made the Rapides Parish Journal’s All-Parish Team and was first-team all-district.
In springtime, he is a really good shortstop and pitcher, earning honorable mention All-State honors for a second straight season as a junior.
Haidyn stands 5-9 and weighs 165 pounds, and is accomplished in the classroom with a GPA of 3.5.
“The very first time I ever put on football pads was my eighth grade year. I never realized what I had been missing,” said Boone.
“I was very fortunate to have some of the best football coaches who believed in me, taught me and pushed me to this game I have grown to love. Our new head football coach Aaron York is a great coach. He pushes us in every aspect.
“Two of his acronyms that are said on the daily are GATA which stands for Get after Them Academics and EAT which stands for Effort Attitude Toughness,” said Boone, who buys into both mindsets.
York hasn’t been with the Panthers for long, taking over at the end of spring, but it was easy for him to gain great appreciation for this young man.
“He can be a great football player in college or Baseball player he’s very good at both and a great kid,” York said.
Boone admits he prefers baseball.
“I have been playing baseball since wee ball. It is my favorite thing to play,” he said. “There is no better feeling than making that diving play or getting that clutch hit and having all your teammates high fiving and cheering you on. My head baseball coach Stuart Morgan has truly been a mentor, helping with the recruiting process, showcases and camps that I have attended.”
Morgan is also a football assistant so he’s got great perspective on this Buckeye standout.
“I have the pleasure coaching of Haidyn in two sports and he is a standout at both. He works as hard or harder than any athlete I have ever coached and he shows up with a positive attitude every day,” said Morgan. “Haidyn leads by example and elevates the level of play of his teammates through his work ethic and consistency. I am excited to watch Haidyn’s future unfold because no matter what he will be successful.”
Boone is focused on his senior season with the Panthers’ football squad, but does have eyes and ears open about his future.
“I have always dreamed of being able to play college sports,” he said. “Right now I have one visit set this fall, at Louisiana Christian in Pineville for baseball, which I am looking forward to. Football or baseball, I just want the opportunity to prove myself at the next level,” he said.
Tough, smart, talented, versatile … I have no doubt Boone will be playing somewhere next season. I just can’t say which sport he’ll play – or if it might be both.
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.
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – When entering your post-graduate years of playing college football, you’ve learned a few things about the sport.
“I understand this is a business,” said new LSU defensive tackle Gio Paez, a sixth-year Wisconsin graduate who in late March transferred after the Badgers lost to the Tigers last January in the ReliaQuest Bowl. “But I wasn’t making crazy (financial NIL) demands (when transferring). I’m not all about that.”
Neither is new Tigers’ fifth-year senior wide receiver CJ Daniels, who graduated and transferred from Liberty in mid-January after leading the Flames to a Fiesta Bowl berth vs. Oregon.
Though unhappy Liberty head Jamey Chadwell told Yahoo Sports that LSU is paying Daniels $300,000 and providing him a car and apartment, that’s not necessarily why he’s now a Tiger awaiting the Sept. 1 season opener vs. USC in Las Vegas.
On his LSU recruiting visit, Daniels walked into the Tigers receivers (meeting) room (in the football complex) and glanced at a mural. It was filled with action portraits of LSU’s first-round NFL draft choices such as Ja’Marr Chase, Odell Beckham Jr., and Justin Jefferson.
“When I saw all those players, I was like `I want to be a part of that’,” said Daniels, who had a four-year Liberty career total of 106 catches for 1,954 yards and 21 touchdowns. “I wanted to go somewhere where I compete and grow every day.”
Paez and Daniels sought situations where they could develop untapped parts of their talents, become immediate starters and increase their NFL Draft stock.
The 6-3, 305-pound Paez, a Los Angeles native, played in 33 games with 6 starts (all last season) in five years for Wisconsin. He said he had no clue he would transfer, even before the bowl game in which he admitted he aimed a steady stream of trash-talk at his future LSU teammates.
But after the bowl, Paez wanted to become a well-rounded D-lineman. He felt it wouldn’t happen if he stayed with the Badgers.
“At Wisconsin, we were all about stopping the run,” Paez said. “I wanted to be able to transition to pass rushing, getting free from being blocked and being disruptive. That’s what (LSU D-line) Coach Bo (Davis) has helped us do. I’ve had a lot of great line coaches, but Coach Bo is definitely bringing out the best in me.
“He says it’s not a sin to get blocked, but it’s a sin to stay blocked. You take that philosophy to what I’ve done in the past of eating blocks and letting our linebackers flow, to now being encouraged to be disruptive and aggressive.”
Paez said it wasn’t long after entering the portal that Davis made initial contact.
“I just asked him to be authentic and straightforward,” Paez said Davis. “He’s done nothing but that.”
The 6-2, 205-pound Daniels, originally a three-star rated recruit from Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview High, entered the transfer portal just days after he finished his best college season.
“My phone blew up,” said Daniels, whose 55 catches for 1,067 yards and 10 TDs immediately got calls from Florida, Texas and Arizona among others. “LSU wasn’t even in my top schools until (offensive coordinator) Coach (Joe) Sloan called me.
“I’d see a few (LSU) games (on TV) last season. I knew with (Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback) Jayden Daniels and (first-round NFL draft choice receivers) Malik (Nabers) and B.T. (Brian Thomas), they were a very explosive team.
“He (Sloan) told me to come visit. They had a great plan for me. They’d already set in stone a lot of things I wanted to do (to improve).”
Daniels admitted he struggled in spring practice adjusted to Sloan’s offense.
“For me, it’s easier to learn the offense as a concept instead of learning a specific spot,” Daniels said. “The spring was definitely cloudy for me. You have to learn the plays here faster than I did at Liberty.
“But between (the end of) spring and (the start of) fall camp, I met every day with the coaches just to get everything down. It makes it easier for me to play fast.”
CAMP NOTES: LSU head coach Brian Kelly said Wednesday that the Tigers’ third practice in as many days was about pushing through fatigue in temperatures with a heat index of more than 105 degrees. “You’re trying to build a mindset with your team,” Kelly said after the Tigers’ 11th preseason practice. “Today was trying to really put our guys in stressful situations, both on offense and defense, and, you know, being able to, you know, handle those with the right balance of emotional control, execution, smart decisions.
“We’re going to have to win close games. We’re going to have to be mentally strong late in games, and we’re going to have to have that kind of mindset that when things get difficult we’re going to be able to overcome and win, and in particularly on the road.”
LSU has three more days of consecutive practices before taking off Sunday followed by the final six days of preseason practice leading into game week preparations for the season opener.
“We are getting close to moving day, like in golf (tournaments),” Kelly said. “These guys need to understand that over the next few days, we need to see who the guys are who can stack days together. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are kind of moving days for us. We need to see those guys who can stack days together.”
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com
Fortunately for us humanoids, we come equipped with a variety of things that help us navigate the world, especially when you like to hunt and fish. It’s our senses; those inborn things that give us the ability to see, to hear, to feel.
Take squirrel hunting for example. You’re sitting in the woods on a cool fall morning and you hear a variety of sounds, like birds singing, leaves falling, the rustle of trees when there is a breeze. Then you detect something different. You hear the sound of tiny claws on bark or the soft “whack…whack” of something eating a hickory nut. You don’t need to see it; you already know it’s a squirrel.
Fishing for an unseen quarry lurking beneath the surface calls into play most of our senses. We hear surface feeding fish, we see our line twitch when a fish takes the lure.
It’s the sense of touch, the ability to feel what’s going on down there out of sight that may be of utmost importance. Fishing rods made of graphite and boron used by most anglers today are super-sensitive scientific marvels allowing the angler to feel the gentle pick-up when a bass inhales a plastic worm. Even with these sensitive fibers working on the side of the angler, though, sensitivity to touch is of utmost importance.
Some fishermen have a sense of touch that is more acute than other anglers. Mike Lowrance, a Murfreesboro, Tenn., angler, is one of those. He has become a nationally-known specialist at catching fish by “feel”. He competes in national tournaments matching his skills, cast-for-cast, with the best in the business and he is able to hold his own with any of them.
Lowrance’s secret is that he has perfected the fine art of super-sensitivity more so than most anglers.
“I am of the opinion,” says Lowrance, “that my senses are no better than anybody else’s. The big difference is that when I’m fishing, I don’t let anything distract me. My attention is on what I’m doing while others may be distracted by something else. They only feel about 40 percent of what they should because they’re not paying attention.
“I cannot use a closed face reel….it has no feel. I prefer a revolving spool reel and I’ve learned you have to keep your finger in contact with the line at all times.
“When you use your line as the sensitivity device, you’re feeling it all, right down to the vibration of the lure. You know what your lure is doing. You can feel if you’re running it properly. I feel I have a quicker response with the line than the rod. As a matter of fact,” he added, “I know I do.”
One of Lowrance’s secrets is that he uses a line that has a smooth finish and that lays down smooth and flat on the spool. While he uses graphite rods because of their quickness and fast response, the line is of more importance to Lowrance.
“The rod is the casting equipment. I feel the fish with the line,” he said.
Hearing about Mike Lowrance and his ability to fish by feel, I couldn’t help but speculate that most anglers would do a better job at what they do if they forced themselves to concentrate more on feel.
Try to imagine how it would be to spend a day anchored at a favorite worm hole wearing a blindfold. After a period of adjustment where you cast out into blackness and felt the lure settle to the bottom, it is logical to imagine that your sensitivity would begin to improve as you are forced to rely strictly on the message the line is conveying to you as you slowly work the plastic worm over structure.
Mike Lowrance developed his sensitivity in this manner, after a fashion. He did it, however, out of necessity rather than choice.
Mike Lowrance is totally blind.
Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com
Arrests are accusations not convictions.
August 13
Weapons
Jarred Guin, 47, Alexandria — felon possessing firearm, criminal conspiracy, improper bicycle operation, resisting, criminal damage, burglary, contempt, $6,600 bail;
D’Aryion Lee, 21, Lutcher — illegal possession stolen firearm, $5,000 bail.
Other
Dandre Blue, 36, Alexandria — home invasion, intimidation, sexual battery, $50,000 bail;
Zachary Coleman, 23, Alexandria — aggravated assault domestic abuse, domestic abuse battery, $4,000 bail;
Darnell Cole, 33, Alexandria — unauthorized entry occupied dwelling, criminal damage 2 counts, $3,500 bail;
Michael Hickson, 32, Pineville — domestic abuse battery strangulation, aggravated domestic abuse battery child present, $10,000 bail.
This date: 20 arrests, 6 including one or more contempt counts.
Arrests are accusations not convictions.
August 13
Willie Hicks, 41, Deville — firearm with drugs, possession 5 counts, paraphernalia, $35,000 bail;
Natalie McGraw, 22, Pineville — firearm with drugs, possession 2 counts, $15,000 bail;
Jermy Mitchell, 36, Alexandria — firearm with drugs, felon with firearm, possession with intent 2 counts, CDS in presence of person under 17, paraphernalia, $65,500 bail;
Michelle Normand, 32, Alexandria — possession, paraphernalia, resisting, contempt 2 counts, $6,500 bail.
(Alexandria, LA) – The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is proud to announce that Donald J. Baker, a member and esteemed professional within our community, has been honored with the 2024 Presidential Field Forester Award. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of forestry and acknowledges the recipient’s commitment to excellence in forest management and conservation practices.
Baker was employed by a major forest products corporation upon completion of his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Louisiana Tech University in 1976. After leaving the major forest products corporation Baker began his forestry consulting firm, Baker Land & Timber Management, Inc., in October 1986. The firm acts as an agent for non-industrial landowners in connection with all facets of forest management and maintenance of the client owned timberland properties in Louisiana and east Texas.
Baker’s professional designations include Association of Consulting Foresters of America, licensed registered Forester (#538) with the state of Arkansas, Certified Forester by the Society of American Foresters, Director Emeritus with the Louisiana Forestry Association, and licensed sales agent with Louisiana Real Estate Commission for Baker Agri-Forest Properties, LLC.
“Only an exceptional commitment to applying the art and science of forestry and land stewardship merits the Presidential Field Forester Award. On behalf of all of us at the Society of American Foresters, we applaud the professional talents, innovative methods, and record of excellence this year’s winners have demonstrated throughout their careers,” Rebecca Barnard, SAF Board President.
For additional information or comments from the award recipient, please contact donaldjbaker@aol.com
For more information about the Society of American Foresters and the Presidential Field Foresters Award, please visit eforester.org or contact Shanna Bellingham, Communications & Outreach Director at sbellingham@safnet.org
By JIM BUTLER
A man and woman are accused of rape in a case involving a disabled person, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.
RPSO began investigating the allegations last Saturday after receiving complaints. The victim was evaluated by local medical personnel trained in sexual assaults.
Detectives worked with the Children’s Advocacy Center to interview the victim and obtained evidence that supported the allegations, according to a news release.
Clarence Albert Frazier Jr., 46, of Lecompte was identified as a suspect. He is also a registered sex offender.
Frazier was arrested August 11 for first-degree rape, sexual battery, cruelty to the infirm and criminal conspiracy. He was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a $550,000 bond.
Amber Johnson, 49, no address given, was arrested on August 12 for first-degree rape, cruelty to the infirm and criminal conspiracy. She was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on a $275,000 bond.
Detectives say their investigation is still active and ongoing. If anyone has any further information about this incident, they are asked to contact Detective Shelby Anderson, Main Office CID, 318-473-6727.
