Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

January 31

Darrin Watkins, 62, Pineville — aggravated battery, $20,000 bail;

Jamarral Williams Jr., 18, Alexandria — assault by drive-by shooting, illegal use of weapons, criminal damage, $155,500 bail.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

January 31

Russell Free Jr., 46, Deville — possession, $2,500 bail.

Rapides school menus are subject to last-minute changes.

Monday, February 5

Hamburger
French fries/ketchup
Stack salad
Sliced peaches
King cake
Milk

Tuesday, February 6

Chicken fajitas
Spanish rice
Shredded cheese
Lettuce and tomato
Salad/dressing
Pear halves
Milk

Wednesday, February 7

Spaghetti and meat sauce
Seasoned green peas
Buttered corn
Garlic bread
Orange wedge
Milk

Thursday, February 8

Chicken & sausage gumbo
Fluffy white rice
Candied yam
Corn bread or crackers
Fruit cup
Milk

Friday, February 9

BBQ pork on bun
Sweet potato fries
Baked beans
Chilled grapes
Milk

By JIM BUTLER

Don’t put those rubber boots up yet.

A few days of drying out from January’s record rainfall most likely ends Saturday, regardless what the groundhog (more likely a nutria in these parts) encounters Friday morning.

Another weather system moving across Texas on Friday is expected to edge into Louisiana sometime Saturday, bringing a high probability of turbulent conditions.

Temperatures about 10 degrees cooler will still seem moderate in the wake of January’s deep freeze.

By LEIGH FLYNN DOTY

A quaint restaurant in downtown Alexandria might typically be overlooked by travelers to and through town, but that is not the case for one local eatery.

Word of Mouth Café is not only a popular lunch spot for central Louisiana residents who anticipate a great meal during their lunch hour. The restaurant also attracts visitors from out of town, who find (and leave) reviews on Google and Yelp.

Among the reviews are descriptions such as “culinary adventure,” and “a delightful exploration of flavors.” One Google reviewer described his experience as follows: “Word of Mouth Café, with its culinary prowess, certainly knows how to leave a lasting impression on its patrons. The seared Ahi Tuna salad and the blackberry bread pudding were not just dishes; they were culinary experiences that elevated my visit to a memorable and delicious adventure.”

The restaurant, nestled among the crepe myrtles on Foisy Street between the Rapides Parish Courthouse and Jackson Street, offers daily doses of fresh food in a down home atmosphere, with a generous helping of personal service.

Owner/Chef John Foster Gunter, who opened the restaurant 13 years ago, says the café was the realization of a lifelong dream. After renovating an event center and handling the catering for the facility, Gunter knew he wanted his work to have a “smaller, more hometown feeling.”

His family had several properties downtown, and when the perfect spot became available, Gunter jumped at the chance to bring a small café business to the area.

Gunter can be found early every day buying fresh foods, which he then uses to prepare the daily meals from scratch. The fresh food and friendly atmosphere are among the highlights of the Yelp reviews, and they are two aspects of the business that bring pride to Gunter and his wife, Tamera.

“We want the story of WOM to include a warm, friendly, family-like atmosphere where everyone feels welcome,” Gunter said. 

“People who come in for the first time are always surprised that we give individual attention to everyone,” Gunter said, “not to mention the talking and laughing while waiting in line because of the funny quips from the chef behind the counter.”

“We hope that, in years to come, people will remember the great food, memories, funny stories, and the nostalgic, downtown feeling we gave them,” Gunter said. 

The cafe’s website (www.nomwom.com) describes the cuisine as “comfort, gourmet”. Among customers’ favorite dishes are the shrimp, corn, and potato bisque, the blackened chicken pasta, and the muffulettas. Their homemade dressings are also popular, as well as the famous almond bread pudding. 

The restaurant serves a daily special, and “Pot Roast Thursday” is typically one of the most popular days. WOM also offers sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups on a daily basis.

Word of Mouth serves lunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. They are located at 918 Foisy Street in Alexandria.

By JIM BUTLER

Saloons, bars and lounges in unincorporated areas of the parish now have permanent permission for special operating hours on Super Bowl Sunday.

Until January’s change by the Police Jury that Sunday was like every other – the establishments close at 2 a.m. and must remain dark through midnight.

But the day of the annual NFL extravaganza, regardless of who is playing, is a bountiful one for the hospitality industry as fans flock to favorite haunts well before late-afternoon kickoff and often remain until past the last snap.

As amended, any establishment which realizes at least 40 percent of its gross revenue from alcohol sales can now open at noon that one Sunday annually (they must still close at 2 a.m. Sunday) and must be closed and empty by midnight.

So this year, whether you’re a San Francisco or a Kansas City fan, or just like Usher (halftime entertainment), you can get your table beginning at noon.

The jury vote was unanimous, as was the count for re-electing Joe Bishop president and Sean McGlothlin vice president.

The Louisiana Christian University football program, fresh off its first conference championship in school history last fall, will be put to the test early and often over the first two weeks of its 2024 season as the Wildcats will play road contests against an NAIA top 15 opponent as well as an NCAA Division I (FCS) squad.

LCU, the reigning Sooner Athletic Conference crownholder, announced its upcoming schedule on Wednesday. The Wildcats reached the NAIA playoffs last year and finished with a 9-2 record.

Head coach Drew Maddox and the Gridiron Cats open the year by traveling all the way to the bottom of the Sunshine State for a date with the St. Thomas (Florida) Bobcats in Miami Gardens on Sept. 7. This should be a compelling top-25 matchup and potential national game of the week candidate as STU entered the NAIA Football Championship Series ranked No. 15, then won a playoff game before being ousted by the eventual national champions (Keiser). Meanwhile, LCU went on the road and gave Baker (Kansas) a 60-minute fight before its first-round exit. 

The Orange and Blue will make a shorter drive over to H-Town on Sept. 14 to play Houston Christian University, who went 6-5 out of the Southland Conference in 2023. Nearby Northwestern State is a Southland member. HCU has a graduating senior, outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt, who is a first-round NFL Draft prospect in April and will play in this weekend’s Senior Bowl, so the talent level will be a challenge for Louisiana Christian.

LCU gets its home opener versus the Langston Lions on Sept. 21, facing an opponent the Cats have yet to lose to in three previous meetings. 

The Wildcats then return to the road for the third time in the four weeks of September and it will be its longest distance in miles for a Sooner Athletic Conference contest at Wayland Baptist in Plainview, located in the stovepipe of Texas. 

Then it’s back home to host Oklahoma Panhandle State for the first time since 2021 to kick off October.

Mid-October will send Louisiana Christian to battle its Lone Star State rivals in consecutive weekends, bussing to Stafford, Texas to take on North American Oct. 12 and hosting the Steers from Texas College a week later. 

Powerful Ottawa (Arizona) finally makes the long trip to Pineville for an Oct. 26 SAC showdown after two years dueling in the desert. Maddox’s men will try to knock off the Spirit for the first time and avenge their lone regular season defeat from 2023.

After that, the destinations will be Waxahachie, Texas at Southwestern Assemblies of God (Nov. 2) and Little Rock at Arkansas Baptist (Nov. 9) to close out the matchups away from campus.

The season finale is attractive and at home. The 2023 defacto SAC Championship Game could have similar stakes this fall with the location in Pineville when Texas Wesleyan arrives for the regular season finale on Nov. 16. The two teams figure to duke it out atop the league standings and are both eyeing another berth in the NAIA Football Championship Series.

After what we have gone through weather-wise over the past two weeks, I might have an inkling of why all this has come to be.

Could it be something called El Nino or La Nina? I don’t have a clue what these weather phenomena is all about but I’m searching for something – anything – to explain why we here in the south have taken such a beating from Mother Nature.

It all started last summer. As April showers brought May flowers, the clouds which up to then had been friendly, blessed us with sufficient rains to get things going. Tomatoes were up and growing crimson and plump, purple hull peas were sprouting and we could hardly wait to pick a mess, cook a pot of them and serve them up with a pone of homemade cornbread and slices of those beautiful tomatoes.

Then, just like that, Mother Nature shut off the spigot. Days turned into weeks that turned into months without rain. We watched our ponds slowly shrink in size until all that was left was dry cracks as the pond that was once home to crawfish and turtles and frogs and minnows. Cows in the pasture would walk by, give what was once their water hole a longing look, swish tails at horseflies and sadly walk away.

We had a neighborhood red tailed hawk that spent much of the day on the power line overlooking the pond, looking for a morsel. As the pond disappeared, so did the hawk. Why hang around to sit and look at cracked ground?

Finally, the skies became more friendly and gave us a few showers. The pond bottom became a puddle; dry cracks thirstily lapping up the scant few gallons of precious liquid.

Things started looking up somewhat in November and December giving us a false hope that whatever Mother Nature had against us was beginning to wane just a bit.

Then came January. We welcomed the New Year clinging to the hope that finally things would start to settle out and return to a semblance of normalcy. The weatherman began talking about an event due the middle of the month that caused us a bit of concern. An artic front was due around January 14 with the forecast of not only frigid temperatures but with the possibility of frozen precipitation.

No problem, we were duped into thinking. It’s January and a little snow might provide a bit of excitement and would probably be gone the next day. Boy was that a misnomer. We went to bed Sunday night with falling temperatures and by daybreak Monday, we were wrapped up with snow, sleet and ice with a temperature in the 20s and heading south.

We became prisoners to the elements; there was no way we could leave the house and that became a growing concern as I watched the level in my jug of milk sink lower and lower. We were down to eating the last end pieces of the remaining loaf of bread. The heating unit never seemed to shut off and take a breath before kicking on again. I might have to float a loan to pay my utility bill.

Finally, things thawed enough to drive the road to the grocery store to replenish the milk and bread. By week’s end, we could at least function a bit better. Things looking much better, right?

Forecast for last week said otherwise. All the rain we missed last summer was dumped on us all at one time with heavy rain all week long.

I found a statement online that says it better than I can.

“It’s like Mother Nature is mad and keeps storming out, then comes back yelling, ‘And one more thing’!”

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

January 30

Michel Fells, 54, Alexandria — aggravated assault 2 counts, assault, contempt 3 counts, $34,000 bail;

Kelvin Harrison, 40, Alexandria — armed robbery, resisting 2 counts, aggravated battery 2nd degree, probation violation, $251,000 bail;

Joseph Owen Jr., 43, Alexandria — simple strangle domestic abuse battery strangulation, parole violation, $20,500 bail. 

Arrests are accusations, not convictions for felonies.

January 30

Cedric Allen, 38, Alexandria — possession with intent 3 counts, $301,500 bail;

Chase Jeansonne, 40, Pollock — possession, criminal trespass, fugitive, $2,000 bail.

July 7, 1942 – January 28, 2024

A loving husband, father, grand-father, brother, and friend went on to join his Maker, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, January 28, 2024.

Bill was born in Minden, LA on July 7, 1942. He was a 1960 graduate of Homer High School and a member of the 1957 State Champion football team known as the “Iron Men” of the Homer High Fighting Pelicans. Bill entered Louisiana State University where he received a degree in history in 1964. While at LSU he completed the Army ROTC program and received his commission as a second lieutenant and joined the United States Army as a platoon tank commander. He served a total of 38 years in the military in a combination of active and National Guard Service. As an Army officer he rose through the ranks and achieved the rank of full colonel where he commanded the 204th Area Support Group of the Louisiana Army National Guard with over 3,000 soldiers under his command. Colonel Thomas commanded multiple overseas training missions and many of his soldiers served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He earned numerous military awards in his career. He was awarded the Legion of Merit two times. The Legion of Merit is one of the highest peace time awards given for exceptional leadership skills in a senior command position.

While in the military, Bill was selected to attend the Army War College which is an elite strategic leadership program reserved for top senior officers in the military. Upon completion, Colonel Thomas received a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies and later served as the Comptroller of the Louisiana National Guard where he was responsible for payroll operations of all soldiers. Later in his career, he served as the director of the guard’s maintenance operations and oversaw the repair of all equipment for the military. Because of his skill and expertise in this role, he was called back to service during his retirement in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to organize and oversee the repair of all military equipment that was damaged during the hurricane.

Bill was a proud resident of Homer, Louisiana, where he grew up and later became owner and operator of the family business, Thomas Tire and Home Center. He served the Homer community for over 20 years as a member of multiple organizations and boards. Bill also served the Alexandria, Louisiana, community as a vestry member of his church and worked tirelessly to support military veterans and the elderly. Bill and his wife, C.A., enjoy Mardi Gras and were members of various crews.

Bill is survived by his wife of 34 years, Carol Ann (C.A.) Cusimano Thomas, his children, Lance Thomas (Jaci) and J. Smith Thomas, step-son Scott Stewart (Jennifer), grandson Jackson L. Thomas, step-granddaughter Rylee Stewart, step grandson Brandon Smith, sister Mary Woodall, nephew Ted Wadsworth, niece Renee’ Wadsworth, great-nephews William Wadsworth and Lance Wadsworth, and great- nieces Lucy Wadsworth and Evie Wadsworth.

Bill was proceeded in death by his son, William Thomas IV, and his parents, Dorothy Smith Thomas and William Thomas Jr.

Memorial Services will be at 11:30 AM on Saturday, February 3 at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 2627 Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria, LA. 71301. Visitation at the church will be from 10:30 AM until the start of service at 11:30 AM.

All are invited to a reception following the service at St Timothy’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall.

By JIM BUTLER

Buhlow Lake is open again to boat traffic and the work done during months of low-water stage is but a start to polishing what officials consider a previously undervalued jewel.

In addition to improvements along airport road (beach area, bbq/picnic facilities, sand volleyball) the city plans a new development anchored by the lake.

Chief of Staff Doug Gann previewed those intentions at January’s City Council meeting.

The first of many steps in that project will be a proposed ordinance outlining the district and its reason for being.

Gann noted the proposed district will include the old Huey P. Long Hospital area.

The district will likely have the same authorities and responsibilities as the existing Pineville Downtown Development District.

That district extends north-south from the Buhlow airport to the Cottingham Expressway and east-west from the rail line extending from the lake to Cottingham to Red River.

How any overlap of one district and the other would be accommodated is among the many steps Gann told the Council have to be completed to create the Buhlow district.

He’s familiar first-hand with the subject as unpaid executive director of the downtown district which has a seven-member board.

Alexandria native Scott Stoker has moved back close to home, recently joining the football coaching staff at UL-Lafayette.

Stoker brings nearly 30 years of coaching experience to the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was named earlier this month as the program’s inside linebackers coach by head coach Michael Desormeaux.

Stoker has been an assistant coach elsewhere in Louisiana at McNeese, ULM, Tulane and his alma mater Northwestern State, where he ranks among the Demons’ greatest players and their last successful head coach, going 43-38 from 2002-08 with two FCS playoff appearances and a 2004 Southland Conference championship. The Demons have not won the conference or reached postseason since.

Stoker joins the Ragin’ Cajuns after a two-year stint at Tarleton State where he coached the outside linebackers in 2022 and safeties in 2023.

Prior to his time at Tarleton State, he was an offensive/defensive analyst at Tulane following a five-year run (2016-20) at ULM, serving as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and interim head coach.

Stoker was the defensive coordinator for three years at UTEP (2013-15) and four years at Sam Houston (2009-12), helping the Bearkats to back-to-back FCS national championship game appearances in his final two seasons. Before joining Sam Houston, Stoker was the head coach at his alma mater, Northwestern State, for seven years.

“We are excited to add Scott Stoker as our linebackers coach,” Desormeaux said. “He is a veteran coach with deep Louisiana ties, and decades of experience on both sides of the ball. Coach Stoker is an absolute professional and someone whose work I have admired for a long time. He is a relentless recruiter, top-notch developer, and great man who will bring lots of value to our staff.”

While at ULM, Stoker’s linebackers played a big part in the 2018 defense that ranked fourth in total defense in conference games in the Sun Belt. Stoker coached David Griffith to become the Warhawks’ all-time tackles for loss leader with 42.5. Griffith also earned All-Sun Belt second team honors and had a career-high 92 tackles under Stoker’s tutelage in 2018. In 2019, Stoker coached Cortez Sisco Jr. to a career-best 114 tackles. He became the first Warhawk to top 100 tackles in a season since 2015.

Stoker also spent three seasons at UTEP as defensive coordinator from 2013-15. His first year on the job was a tremendous success as the Miners cut their points per game allowed from 39.3 the previous season to 28.1 in Stoker’s first. The Miners also improved in many other defensive categories. Total defense allowed dropped by more than 100 yards per game from the previous season.

Prior to UTEP, Stoker spent four years at Sam Houston as defensive coordinator. His defenses at the FCS level were fearsome. The Bearkats experienced immense success, making back-to-back FCS Division I Championship game appearances and winning back-to-back Southland Conference championships in 2011 and 2012. 

Following the 2011 year, which saw the Bearkats finish 14-1, Stoker was named the NCAA FCS “Defensive Coordinator of the Year” by FootballScoop.com. The 2011 defense finished the season ranked top-five in the FCS in rushing defense (No. 1), scoring defense and turnover margin (No. 2), total defense (No.3) and pass efficiency defense (No. 4).

In Stoker’s time as the head coach at Northwestern State, he compiled a 43-38 record and led the Demons to a 2004 Southland Conference co-championship and two NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances (2002 and 2004). Three of his Demon teams ranked in the top-15 in total defense and rushing defense. They finished second in both categories in 2004. Stoker was named as one of the country’s Top-10 recruiters by American Football Coaches Monthly.

Stoker spent eight seasons on the McNeese staff (1994-01). The Cowboys made six appearances to the NCAA I-AA playoffs. In 1995, they played in the national semifinals and the 1997 team played in the national championship. Stoker was the offensive coordinator in 1999 before transitioning to defensive coordinator in 2000.

Stoker’s playing career included an all-state recognition at quarterback for Alexandria Senior High School, where his late father Butch was head coach, before heading to Northwestern State, where he led the Demons to the 1988 Southland Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA I-AA playoffs.

Stoker closed out his collegiate career in 1989 as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (4,801) and total offense (5,059 yards). He is a member of the N-Club Hall of Fame, enshrined in 2008.

Stoker and his wife, Kim, have three adult daughters: Jennifer, Carlie and Zoe. Zoe is on the operations staff for the University of Texas Longhorns football program.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

January 29

Alexander Finch Jr., 40, Alexandria — attempted murder 2nd degree, no bail set;

Katlin Funk, 24, Alexandria — home invasion aggravated assault, $100,000 bail.

By JIM BUTLER

Police are searching for Devacheay Martin, 23, wanted for the second time this decade on attempted 2nd degree murder charges.

Martin is accused of shooting another man Saturday during an encounter on Magnolia Street in Alexandria.

Circumstances of the incident, other than the man being shot, have not been revealed.

Martin, also wanted for being a felon allegedly possessing a firearm, was charged with attempted murder in 2021, records show.

His Rapides rap sheet dates to at least January 2020 when arrested in relation to a rash of vehicle and residential burglaries.

He was charged with aggravated burglary, theft of firearms, burglary, criminal conspiracy and contempt of court.

In November 2020 he was booked and accused of contraband, battery, aggravated battery, hate crimes, aggravated assault 2 counts and burglary.

On parole in June 2022, he was charged with violation as well as criminal damage, disturbing the peace, aggravated resisting with force or violence, domestic abuse battery and aggravated assault child endangerment.

By JIM BUTLER

This much is certain – the next school year will begin for students on August 8, 2024 and end on May 22, 2025.

And you can plan for Christmas break beginning with end of classes (and semester) on Friday, December 20, and Easter break next Spring beginning with Good Friday.

Other details will be resolved after public voting on the two alternatives before the board.

You can vote by going to the school system web site. Voting closes Sunday, with a board decision February 6.

The plans are fairly close to the outline of the current school year though noticeable changes are proposed.

Completing the fall semester with arrival of Christmas break is both an instructional and logistical streamline.

Moving the Spring break to the week after Easter was favored by teacher and student advisory panels.

When to set Fall break (give it up, greybeards, substantive breaks in each semester are now accepted practice).

Alternative A has it Thursday and Friday after the parish fair; Alternative B has it Friday and Monday of Fair weekend.

Both calendars have the required 171 student days and have 1,260 more instructional minutes than the state minimum, creating 3.5 days for weather or other extraordinary events that necessitate closings.