On December 17, 1903, history soared to new heights when Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered, controlled flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Their airplane, the Flyer, managed a modest 12-second flight covering 120 feet, but it marked the dawn of modern aviation.

The Wright brothers’ invention revolutionized transportation, making the world more interconnected. In just over a century, we’ve gone from that humble first flight to commercial airliners, space exploration, and unmanned drones. Their work also inspired countless innovations in engineering, travel, and global communication.

Wright Brothers Day celebrates not only their achievement but also the spirit of innovation that continues to inspire humanity to reach for the skies.

By JIM BUTLER

Sentencing in two 9th Judicial District cases concludes a more than four-year span from arrests to denouement.

***

Keisha Green, 29, was booked January 12, 2020, in the killing of Khalid Boyd, age 1. He would have been two on March 18 that year.

The charge was murder 1,  amended to murder 2 in December 2021, with trial set for September 2022, then reset for December after the charge was amended again, to battery 2nd degree.

Last week she got 25 years for conspiracy to commit 2nd degree murder.

***

Cartinez Hammond, now 30, was charged in June 2020 with 1st degree rape, armed robbery, burglary of inhabited dwelling, conspiracy and other allegations.

He had been jailed four months earlier on unauthorized entry and contributing to delinquency. A teenage girl home alone hid in the house when the interlopers broke in, it was reported at the time.

In November 2020 Hammond was charged with kidnapping and sexual battery.

Two years later he was accused of possessing/introducing contraband onto a penal facility.

Last week he was convicted of 2nd degree kidnapping, sexual battery and armed robbery with firearm and sentenced to 16 years.

***

A third trial, of a case that started in March 2022, began last week.

Derrick Bayonne, 41, is accused of killing a man and a 16-year-old girl on Tulane Avenue. Trial dates in June and November last year were rescheduled.

The criminal court dockets for this month have about 80 cases on them, ranging from scheduled trials to arraignments.

About 3,000 criminal cases will be filed through the court this year. That does not include traffic charges or civil actions.

Judicial opinions issued on the case of Darnell Robinson, convicted in 2001 of the 1996 slayings of four Poland residents, with local context reported by Jim Butler.

A Jan. 29 story backgrounds the case and the latest appeal by the Angola convict, now denied — https://rapidesparishjournal.com/2024/01/29/murder-conviction-overturned-in-1996-slayings-of-four-parish-residents/

Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jay McCallum for the four-justice majority:

“Twenty-eight years ago, on May 28, 1996, four people, including a ten-month-old child, were ruthlessly murdered. 

“The victims – Billy Lambert, his sister, Carol Hooper, Carol’s daughter, Maureen Kelly, and Ms. Kelly’s ten-month old son, Nicholas Kelly – were all shot in the head; Lambert was shot twice. 

“The infant’s dislodged baby bottle came to rest on the floor just inches beyond his outstretched grasp; a grim illustration of the helpless victims’ plight.

“The order in which the victims were slain cannot be determined from the record; there are twenty-four possible permutations.

 “Nevertheless, logic dictates the certainty that three members of the family, in addition to suffering the fear of their own impending doom, had to sequentially endure the indescribable horror of witnessing the slaughter of one or more of the people they loved and cherished. 

“The final impressions of life that swept these three victims to their graves would have been the explosions of gunpowder propelling .38 caliber lead projectiles toward the helpless targets, the sight of the destructive trauma inflicted by the blasts, and the muffled moans and labored gasps for air as death overshadowed its victims.”

Chief Justice John Weimer for the three-justice dissent:

“The defendant could have used the high-velocity spatter information to counter the State’s trial argument that the unidentified blood resulted from work on the victim’s farm, unrelated to the murders.

“This would have provided the defendant with physical evidence suggesting another person was involved in the murders.

“The non-disclosure of this evidence takes on even more significance in light of the fact that post-conviction investigators compared the unidentified DNA to alternate suspect Mark Moras and found it was a match. 

“At the time of the murders, Moras had been charged in Rapides and Avoyelles Parish with multiple counts of theft and forgery for having written himself checks using victim Billy Lambert’s checkbook. 

“Shortly before the murders, Lambert and Moras fought, with the exchange ending in gunfire.

“In the final analysis, when considered in the aggregate, as it must be, the undisclosed impeachment and blood-spatter evidence, along with other crime scene!evidence not disclosed, support the conclusion reached on original hearing: that defendant did not receive a fair trial, or a verdict worthy of confidence, and that he is entitled to a new trial.”

Justice Scott Crichton concurring with majority opinion and assigning reasons:

“Following this Court’s rehearing grant and an even deeper examination into the particular issues urged by the state in its briefing, I conclude that the evidence withheld by the state in this case would not have ‘caused at least one juror to entertain some residual doubt about defendant’s guilt…’

“I therefore agree with the majority opinion overturning our prior decision reversing defendant’s convictions and death sentences. 

“I write separately to articulate why I find, even in the absence of the undisclosed evidence, the death sentences imposed in this case are ‘worthy of confidence’ and should not be overturned.”

***

Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell is quoted as saying his office is pleased and will move on to the necessary steps leading to execution. 

Robinson, as of Friday the 13th, is back on Death Row. He is now 55.

Curtis Malone competed in Austin Texas this week in the Speedo winter Junior nationals competition in the 100 yard back and the 200 yard back.

This is next level Swimming for him two steps away from Olympic trials.

He is a Pineville high school swimmer and Louisiana State Champion in the 100 yard backstroke. He swims year-round for City of Lafayette Aquatics.

Kashie Natt’s double-double performance, including 18 rebounds by the 6-3 senior guard, led the LSUA men’s basketball team over visiting North American University, 77-67, Saturday at The Fort.

The Generals (11-1, 8-1 in the Red River Athletic Conference) needed a 45-point second half to score the win.

“It was ugly, but kudos to the guys for answering the challenge at halftime,” LSUA coach Dimario Jackson said. “In the first half, we got beat. They were tougher and more disciplined. That’s not our brand of basketball. Kudos to our guys for the challenge we put on them in the second half to be tougher and come out more disciplined.”

Natt led the Generals with 16 points and 18 rebounds. His 18 rebounds ties the second-most rebounds in a single game in LSUA history.

He finished 6-for-13 from the field and 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Natt also recorded four assists, one block, and one steal. Jordan Decuir’s 14 points came on perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including three from deep.

LSUA trailed for the first 11 minutes of the first half. A slim Generals’ lead stayed within a possession until a 12-0 run opened up a 14-point second-half advantage.

NORTH AMERICAN WOMEN 71, LSUA 69:  A second half surge from North American (6-6, 3-6 RRAC) keyed the upset, on a putback basket in the final seconds Saturday.

“We fought,” LSUA Head Coach Billy Perkins said. “We were up 10 and we let it slip away. We had some big turnovers at the end. We have to play as a unit, we didn’t do a good job communicating and made some stupid mistakes. We’ve been harping on turnovers and we need to regroup and go back to the fundamentals.”

Dannah Martin-Hartwick topped the Generals (10-3, 7-2 RRAC) with 17 points.

LSUA struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the first half, shooting just 19 percent from the floor. LSUA opened the fourth with an 8-0 run for a seven-point lead, 50-43. The Generals pushed their lead to 10 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining, but a pair of turnovers allowed the Stallions to put up a 6-0 run, cutting the lead to 66-62.

The Stallions tied the contest, 69-69, with a layup and 14 seconds on the clock. Another LSUA turnover put the ball back in the Stallions’ possession. After an initial missed shot, North American grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the second effort for a 71-69 victory.

LSUA teams go to San Antonio for RRAC games Thursday at A&M-San Antonio and Saturday at Our Lady of the Lake.

A&M-TEXARKANA MEN 63, LCU 60:  The Wildcats’ first on-campus home game in 307 days came down to the last shot but LCU’s Bryce Weinmunson’s game-tying corner three rimmed out.

He led Louisiana Christian (3-8, 2-6 Red River) with 15 points while 10 came from both Chukweumeke Nwoashai (also with 10 rebounds) and Kevin Wiltz. Texas A&M-Texarkana (7-4, 6-3 Red River) was led by 15 points by Deovaunta Williams.

The Wildcats made just 34 percent of their shots in their first game back in H.O. West Fieldhouse since a Xavier player tore down a goal dunking late last season.

A&M-TEXARKANA WOMEN 75, LCU 69:  After getting hit by a game-opening 17-0 run, the LCU women rallied to take the lead with a 24-6 outburst, but the visitors won the fourth quarter 23-12 and headed home happy.

Princis Goff rattled off a club-leading 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, went 3-for-4 from deep, and was a board shy of a double-double for Louisiana Christian (2-7, 2-6 Red River). Texarkana got a welcomed road win to rise to 2-11, 2-7 RRAC.

The LCU teams host Paul Quinn in a 5:30/7:30 doubleheader Thursday at H.O. West Fieldhouse.

Arrests are accusations not convictions.

December 12

Arcenio Bowie, 35, Lecompte — felon with firearm, $100,000 bail ($1.5 million on two prior charges – murder 2 and attempted murder 2);

David Wade II, 35, Ball — sex offender failure to register, obstruction evidence tampering, resisting, probation violation, $6,500 bail.

This date: 12 arrests, 8 including one or more contempt counts and 9 with at least one prior.

December 13

Weapons

Raydrion Fisher, 18, Alexandria — attempted murder 2nd degree, firearm-free zone violation, contempt, no bail set;

Other

Brianna Carter, 26, Boyce — unlawful communication telephone/telecom, cyberstalking electronic mail, $2,500 bail;

Jason Miles, 40, Alexandria — insurance fraud 4 counts, obstruction evidence tampering, resisting, no driver’s license, criminal trespass, speeding, theft, $1,200 bail;

Randy Perry, 42, Alexandria — aggravated assault home invasion, probation violation, $50,000 bail;

Bailey Summerlin, 21, Pineville — accessory after fact, obstruction evidence tampering, no bail set;

Chelsey Ware, 35, Pineville — cruelty to juveniles, no bail set;

This date: 17 arrests, 9 including one or more contempt counts and 7 with at least one prior.

December 14

Sharon Turner, 56, Pineville — criminal conspiracy, stalking, no bail set. 

This date: 15 arrests, 6 including one or more contempt counts and 8 with at least one prior. 

Arrests are accusations not convictions.

December 12

Damien Vallien, 31, Bunkie — possession with intent, $1,000 bail.

December 14

Malinda Moore, 30, Bunkie — possession 3 counts, OWI 1st, open container, improper lane use, $1,700 bail;

James Shelfo, 24, Boyce — possession 2 counts, paraphernalia, cruelty to juveniles, $500 bail. 

Louisiana Christian University invites the public to campus on December 21 from 5-7 pm for pictures with Santa. This event is free and open to the public.

On National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day, chocolate lovers unite to celebrate the endless possibilities of dipping snacks into the beloved confection. From strawberries and pretzels to almonds and bacon, the combination of chocolate and a contrasting texture creates a universally irresistible treat.

The appeal lies in chocolate’s unique chemistry. Its smooth texture and rich flavor pair beautifully with salty, crunchy, or tangy ingredients, creating a sensory delight. Popular options include chocolate-dipped fruit for a sweet and healthy twist or decadent desserts like chocolate-covered cheesecake bites.

This day invites you to get creative—experiment with new combinations or visit local chocolatiers for inspiration. No matter your choice, dipping into chocolate is sure to bring a moment of sweet indulgence.

By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports

NEW ORLEANS – Alexandria Senior High’s dream of a state football championship came to a disappointing end Saturday afternoon.

The Trojans, who had put together the greatest season in school history with an unbeaten regular season, saw their 13-game winning streak end in a 53-8 loss to top-seeded Edna Karr (14-0) in the Division I Select state championship game at the Caesars Superdome in the LHSAA Prep Classic.

The game unraveled quickly for the No. 2-seeded Trojans, who threw a pick-six on their second play from scrimmage and were down 21-0 before they picked up a first down.

Karr junior safety Aiden Hall picked off Karsen Sellers and returned it 32 yards for the first touchdown just 33 seconds into the game. The Cougars then forced a three-and-out and took a 14-0 lead when John Johnson hit TaRon Francis on a 48-yard touchdown.

Johnson’s 5-yard run with 6:30 to play in the first quarter gave Karr a three-score lead before the Trojans even knew what hit them.

ASH did not score on its first seven possessions. In fact, back-to-back safeties on tackles by Richard Anderson and Lyric Hawkins put Karr ahead 25-0, and Johnson’s 5-yard touchdown run gave Karr a 32-0 lead with 5:38 left in the first half.

“The start was certainly not what you wanted to get into,” Bachman said. “… You can’t spot a team of that caliber 18 points in a half and have much of a chance there.”

It wasn’t until sophomore Max Gassiott scored from 5 yards out late in the first half that the Trojans (13-1) got on the board, but they were unable to score in the second half. The Trojans finished the game with just 188 yards of offense, a season-worst for a team that had scored 40-plus points in all but one game before heading to the Superdome.

JT Lindsey, ASH’s superstar running back, led the Trojans with 115 rushing yards on 22 carries. He finished 24 yards shy of 2,500 rushing yards for the season.

Karr coach Brice Brown said the key for the Cougars’ defensive performance was trying to shut down Lindsey, who had one long run of 36 yards but was otherwise bottled up by Karr’s stout defensive line led by senior Ole Miss signee Corey Amos and Anderson, a 335-pound junior LSU commitment.

“All week in staff meetings, we talked about stopping the best player,” Brown said. “We can’t let the best player on the opposing team beat us. We keyed in on him. … When you have a great defensive staff and great defensive players, it equals to eight points in a state championship game and a running clock.”

“Stop JT,” said Anderson, who had six tackles for loss in the game, when asked about the defensive gameplan. “That’s all we had to do. Stop JT. He’s going to LSU. I’m going to LSU. Some of the plays, I was just talking to him while I was running after him. It was just a fun moment playing against him.”

ASH managed just 60 passing yards in the contest with Gassiott and Sellers combining to go 7-for-21 passing. Sellers was sacked three times, as  the Cougars stopped ASH 13 times behind the line of scrimmage.

Karr, meanwhile, racked up more than 500 yards on offense. Johnson threw for 197 yards and ran for 161 more, combining for five total touchdowns in earning the game’s Most Valuable Player award. Bryant Sanchez rushed for 111 yards and a score, while Francis caught two touchdown passes.

“It’s been an incredible year,” Bachman said. “A lot has been accomplished. It’s hard to put in perspective sitting here right now, 10 minutes after this game. A lot’s been accomplished, a lot that we’re incredibly proud of. The season that we had is one of the greatest in the history of our area, but we didn’t want to enjoy the experience. We came down here to win a football game, and we came up short.”

The main positive for the Trojans was they were able to pick off Johnson four times, including two by junior cornerback Jay Frazier and one apiece by sophomore cornerback Jaytun Terry and senior safety Jaden Lewis.

Bachman said Saturday’s loss did not diminish everything that the Trojans were able to accomplish during the 2024 football season.

“I could not be prouder as a coach, as a man, to sit here with this group of young men,” Bachman said. “… It’s been a lot to get to this point. It’s been a lot. It’s been a lot. These kids are incredible. They have worked their tails off. No matter what anybody told them, they kept believing. I’m proud of them.”

State football championships were determined in eight divisions over three days in the annual LHSAA Prep Classic at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Our local team, the ASH Trojans, lost for the first time Saturday.

No. 1 Edna Karr 53, No. 2 Alexandria Senior High 8 (Division I Select)

The complete Prep Classic scoreboard:

Thursday

No. 1 Vermilion Catholic 33, No. 11 Ouachita Christian 21 (Division IV Select)

No. 2 South Plaquemines 20, No. 1 Haynesville 7 (Division IV Non-Select)

No. 6 Sterlington 35, No. 1 St. James 28 (Division III Non-Select)

Friday

No. 1 Archbishop Shaw 28, No. 3 E.D. White 25 (Division II Select)

No. 7 Catholic-New Iberia 31, No. 1 Dunham 28 (Division III Non-Select)

No. 18 Cecilia 35, No. 1 Franklinton 32 (Division II Non-Select)

Saturday

No. 1 Edna Karr 53,  No. 2 Alexandria Senior High 8 (Division I Select)

No. 4 Central (Baton Rouge) 42, No. 3 Ruston 0 (Division I Non-Select)

EDNA KARR COUGARS 53, ASH TROJANS 8

SCORE BY QUARTERS

TROJANS             0              8              0              0              –              8

COUGARS           21           11           14           7              –              53

EK – Aiden Hall 32 interception return (Braylon Castellon kick), 11:27 1^st, EK 7-0

EK – Taron Francis 46 pass from John Johnson (Castellon kick), 10:06 1^st, EK 14-0

EK – Johnson 5 run (Castellon kick), 6:30 1^st, EK 21-0

EK – Safety, Richard Anderson tackle, 9:36 2^nd, EK 23-0

EK – Safety, Lyric Hawkins tackle, 7:25 2^nd, EK 25-0

EK – Johnson 1 run (Castellon kick), 5:38 2^nd, EK 32-0

ASH – Max Gassiot 5 run (Alex Fontenot pass from Gassiot), 3:27 2^nd, EK 32-8

EK – Bryant Sanchez 1 run (Castellon kick), 7:44 3^rd, EK 39-8

EK – Francis 22 pass from Johnson (Castellon kick), 4:01 3^rd, EK 46-8

EK – Johnson 18 run (Castellon kick), 10:42 4^th, EK 53-8

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – Alexandria (35-128, 1 TD): JT Lindsey 22-115, Gassiot 5-45, 1 TD; Vaughn Darbon 4-14, Team 1-minus 19, Karsen Sellers 3-minus 27. Edna Karr (40-315, 4 TDs): Johnson 19-161, 3 TDs; Sanchez 15-111, 1 TD; Jermound Macklin 1-18, Tre Garrison 3-17, Daejawn Smith 1-9, Team 1-minus 1.

PASSING – Alexandria: Gassiot 6-15, 64; Karsen Sellers 1-6-1, minus 4.  Edna Karr: Johnson 10-17-4, 197, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING — Alexandria: Jimmie Duncan 4-33, Darius Washington 2-8, Alex Fontenot 1-19. Edna Karr: Smith 5-81, Francis 3-66, 2 TDs; Oliver Mitchell 2-50.

A car crashed into the Flying Wok Buffet in Alexandria on Thursday, Dec. 12.

This is not the first time this has happened. A similar incident occurred in Feb. 2023, with the car at that time crashing into the exact same spot. 

Despite the damage to the building, the Flying Wok will not close and plans to remain open as scheduled. They plan to isolate that part of the dining area for repairs. The manager indicated that they will also be open on Christmas Day.