DHS Secretary Observes Deportation Flight Out of Alexandria
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Monday observed a deportation flight departing Alexandria, Louisiana, that removed 100 Salvadoran nationals to El Salvador. The flight was part of the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration enforcement operations.
The DHS release highlighted five individuals aboard with serious criminal histories, including convictions for homicide, first-degree manslaughter, child sexual abuse, assault on a law enforcement officer, and multiple DUI offenses.
“Mass deportations save lives,” Mullin said in the release.
Mayor Roy Invites Public to Charles Smith Park Ribbon Cutting Thursday
City of Alexandria
Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy is inviting residents to a ribbon cutting and grand re-opening of the Charles Smith Park Playground at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 8, at 2820 Harris Street in the Sonia Quarters neighborhood of southwest Alexandria.
The renovations, part of the city’s REIGNITE capital improvements program, replaced an aging playground with new age-specific play structures for children 2–5 and 5–12, featuring the themed Sprig® and Tree Tops® environments. The project also added a 16-by-16-foot SkyWays® shade canopy, new sidewalks, improved park access, drainage upgrades, new site furnishings, and landscape improvements. The existing basketball court was preserved.
REIGNITE is the City of Alexandria’s program to accelerate public infrastructure investment across the metropolitan area, combining projects of scale in strategic corridors to attract private-sector investment and improve quality of life.
Louisiana Christian Holds Inaugural Presidential Gala
Louisiana Christian University
Louisiana Christian University held its first-ever Presidential Gala Thursday evening at the Alexandria Convention Center, drawing more than 300 guests to an event honoring the school’s 120-year history and recognizing outstanding alumni and athletes.
Distinguished Alumni honorees included Alonzo “Buzz” Kelley of the Class of 1957, who received an honorary degree during the ceremony after spending his career building long-term care facilities in Central Louisiana; Tommy Bankston, also Class of 1957, who served as principal of Winnfield Senior High School and later superintendent of Winn Parish Schools before entering the nursing home industry; and Debbie Curtis Eutsler, Class of 1975, who has served for more than 40 years in education and currently serves as Lower School Principal at John Curtis Christian School in River Ridge.
The university also inducted two new members into its Sports Hall of Fame: former softball standout Savannah Settle Davis, a four-time First Team All-ASC selection from 2015–2018, and former women’s basketball coach Jason Tinsley, who compiled an 89–25 record and led the Wildcats to three ASC East Division Championships and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances from 2010 to 2014.
LCU President Dr. Mark Johnson used the occasion to launch the university’s five-year capital campaign — Restore, Rebuild and Reimagine — with a goal of raising $12 million. The campaign received an initial $1.2 million grant. Among the attendees were Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy, State Senator Jay Luneau, State Representative Mike Johnson, and Lance Maxwell, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Jeff Landry.
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