JOURNAL STAFF

The Pineville City Council on Tuesday established new zoning regulations for metal-frame residential structures and launched formal proceedings to condemn an abandoned hotel property that city leaders declared a persistent public safety hazard.

During its regular monthly meeting, the council unanimously adopted an ordinance amending the city’s zoning code to set eligibility, dimension, and neighborhood compatibility standards for post-frame, metal-frame, and “barndominium” single-family and multi-family residences within R-1 and R-2 zoning districts.

The council also approved a resolution directing the city to serve formal notice to the owners of 11 Lord of Lords Ave., setting a public hearing for the property’s condemnation. The address is the site of the former OYO Hotel located behind the McDonald’s off U.S. Highway 165.

Mayor Joe Bishop noted that the property has sat vacant for roughly three years and is currently undergoing foreclosure.

“It really needs to come to the ground,” Bishop said, adding that two separate fires were set in individual rooms at the site within the past month. “This is a danger to our community and also to our police and fire departments responding to calls like this.”

In financial updates, Finance Director David Humphrey reported a strong start to the 2026–2027 fiscal year. Sales tax collections for July 2026 reached $1,602,800, representing a 12% increase—or roughly $178,000—compared to July 2025.

Humphrey attributed the growth to expanding retail options, including new commercial developments along with increased residential and commercial construction across the city. July occupational license revenue also rose 82% over the same period last year to $12,780.

In other business, the council:

• Adopted an updated ordinance regarding the removal and enforcement procedure for abandoned vehicles, with code enforcement officers issuing 15-day compliance notices on non-operational vehicles parked on city rights-of-way.
• Approved initial condemnation notices and scheduled public hearings for residential properties located at 616 Baptist St., 134 Jenny St., and 107 Steven St.
• Awarded a contract under the FY 2023 Louisiana Community Development Block Grant program for Lot 3 of the city’s ongoing blighted structure clearance program.
• Adopted the 2026 Rapides Parish Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, maintaining local eligibility for federal emergency management funding.
• Approved an equipment lease-purchase agreement for a Peterson TL3 loader on a Freightliner chassis for the Public Works Department.
• Reappointed Frank Jackson to the Board of the Pineville Downtown Development District.

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The Louisiana Public Service Commission voted Wednesday to block an order that would have required Meta to turn over records detailing how the tech giant calculated the jobs and electricity demand behind its massive Richland Parish data center expansion, handing the company a significant procedural victory.

The commission reversed a ruling by Chief Administrative Law Judge Melanie Verzwyvelt, who had ordered Meta to produce documents substantiating its projections for investment, permanent job creation, and power consumption. Those projections are central to Entergy Louisiana’s argument that a multibillion-dollar grid buildout to serve Meta is in the public interest.

The move effectively halts — at least for now — an effort by the Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Union of Concerned Scientists to scrutinize the numbers behind one of the largest economic development projects in Louisiana history. The two organizations had sought the documents to evaluate whether Meta’s figures justify the ratepayer costs associated with expanding Entergy’s generation capacity.

The decision carries implications beyond Richland Parish. Louisiana is at the center of a national surge in data center development, with projects from multiple technology companies — including Applied Digital’s proposed campus in Rapides Parish — seeking both regulatory approval and publicly subsidized infrastructure investments.

Critics of the commission’s ruling argue that without access to Meta’s underlying calculations, regulators cannot make an informed determination about whether the proposed grid expansion serves Louisiana ratepayers. Supporters of the decision contend that requiring the disclosure of proprietary business records would create a chilling effect on future economic development in the state.

The Entergy generation case, which includes Meta’s power demands, remains pending before the commission.

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By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

MEMPHIS – It was a rather big surprise that Sam Burns played in the British Open, and even more surprising, he nearly won it.

Four weeks later, a lot of golf experts are picking him to win this week in his return to the PGA Tour at the FedEx St. Jude Championship beginning today at TPC Southwind, in a field of the 69 most successful players this season.

Burns hasn’t played since his third-place finish in The Open Championship. He teed it up at Royal Birkdale 11 days after wife Caroline gave birth to the couple’s second child, and she encouraged him to travel to England for the final major championship of 2026.

That came on the heels of what everybody, including Burns, thought was his last major of the year, the U.S. Open, where he was runner-up after burning the right edge of the cup on a missed 22-footer for a tying birdie on the last hole.

Burns has five career Tour victories, but none since 2023. His performance this spring and summer, combined with his history at TPC Woodlands, have analysts listing him as either the top pick to win, or among the top 5-6 contenders.

‘With a pair of top-five finishes at TPC Southwind and three Top 5s across his past five events to go along with a sterling statistical profile, Burns is set to take a run at winning again this week,” wrote Neil Painter of Covers.com, shared by YahooSports.com.

“We need a golfer who knows this golf course. We need a golfer who can putt. We need a golfer who can embrace hot conditions. Burns? Well, he fits all three asks,” offered Thomas Carelli of Draft Kings, picking the Shreveport native to win.

From Pat Mayo of Underdog, as carried by Golf Digest: “He enters having gained off the tee and on approach in five straight starts, with three top-five finishes and no result worse than T-20.”

Also in the same Golf Digest preview, Keith Stewart of Read the Line said, “If there was ever a venue built for Sam Burns’ 2026 season, TPC Southwind is the place. A fantastic Southern scorer, Burns has five career PGA Tour wins south of Fort Worth. Bermuda Burns is back, and the combination of his excellent iron play, driver acumen and tour-leading putting, Sam is poised to take home title No. 6.”

Add in a couple of GolfWeek writers picking the recently-turned 30-year-old, and lots of eyes (and wagers) will be on Burns as he tees off at 12:35 today, partnered with Xander Schauffele.

CBS, Golf Channel and ESPN will provide TV coverage. Golf Channel will keep track of Burns’ round today, while with Friday’s 9:25 tee time, coverage will start on ESPN, shift to ESPN+ then wrap up on Golf Channel starting at 1.

There’s a $20 million purse, with $3.6 million for the winner.  It begins a three week series culminating in the Tour Championship at Atlanta’s East Lake Country Club.

Burns has collected $7.6 million in 17 starts this season and has contended on the final day of The Masters, The Memorial, the U.S. Open and the British Open. He has five top 10s and 10 top 25s.

The Choudrant resident, a former two-time LSU All-American, stands fourth in U.S. President’s Cup rankings and is eighth on the FedEx Cup points list.

In the British Open’s second round, Burns tied the lowest score ever posted in a major championship, shooting a 62, and followed that with a 65.

He enters the week 11^th in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

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Phonetic: /lu·​gu·​bri·​ous/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

mournful

especially : exaggeratedly or affectedly (see affected entry 2 sense 1a) mournful

… dark, dramatic and lugubrious brooding …
—V. S. Pritchett

the tour de force of lugubrious cliche is ten times longer than this review
—Martin Amis

dismal

a lugubrious landscape

lugubrious cello music

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Alexandria Man Indicted in Federal Bankruptcy Fraud Case. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on August 5 charging Edward Joseph Sieja, 47, of Alexandria, with multiple counts of concealing assets in bankruptcy filings, making false statements under penalty of perjury, and perjury. Sieja faces up to 35 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts. According to court documents, Sieja filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in August 2021 seeking a discharge of more than $3.5 million in debt, then allegedly concealed the transfer and purchase of multiple Alexandria properties acquired using undisclosed commission income from Louisiana construction contracts. The properties were purchased in another individual’s name, but Sieja allegedly arranged the transactions and provided the funds without disclosing them to the bankruptcy court. He also allegedly failed to disclose more than $1 million in gross income, bank accounts at two financial institutions, various business interests, and the donation of a $28,000 vehicle, while declaring under penalty of perjury that his filings were true and correct. The FBI, U.S. Trustee Program, and IRS Criminal Investigation jointly investigated the case. Case number: 1:26-cr-00313-01. An indictment is an allegation only — Sieja is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Rapides Parish Police Jury Regular Meeting — September 14. The Rapides Parish Police Jury will hold its regular monthly meeting at 3 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026, in the Meeting Room on the second floor of the Parish Courthouse, 701 Murray St., Alexandria. The agenda will be posted at 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 10 on the Meeting Room door. The meeting will be streamed live at rppj.com and on YouTube at @rppj-la.

APD Investigating Non-Fatal Harris Street Shooting — No Arrest Yet. The Alexandria Police Department continues to seek information regarding the August 6 shooting in the 2400 block of Harris Street, in which a victim arrived at a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. No suspect has been identified. Anyone with information is asked to contact the APD Detective Division at (318) 441-6416, APD Dispatch at (318) 441-6559, or Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867.

Art doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as sitting down with a pencil and noticing what’s around you. Sometimes it’s getting your hands into a completely unfamiliar process and seeing what happens.

That’s the idea behind the art gatherings happening this August and September. They’re relaxed, hands-on, and open to anyone who wants to make something, whether you already consider yourself an artist or haven’t picked up a pencil or paintbrush in years.

Urban Sketching: Beat the Heat

Urban Sketching usually means heading outdoors, finding something interesting, and drawing what you see. For the August gathering, however, the sketchers are going to beat the heat by moving indoors. On Saturday, August 15 at 10:00 a.m., Urban Sketching will meet inside at 2727 Jackson St. in Alexandria. Instead of worrying about the August heat, participants can settle into the cool and spend the morning drawing, observing, and enjoying the company of other sketchers. Bring your own sketching supplies. If needed, supplies can be provided. No special equipment or artistic credentials are required—just come ready to look, draw, and give it a try.

Pop-Up Art Party: Gel Printing

If Urban Sketching is about slowing down and noticing the world, the Pop-Up Art Party is about experimenting with what you can make out of different materials. The next Pop-Up Art Party takes place Thursday, September 3 at 5:30 p.m. in the 50/50 Room, featuring Gel Printing.

Previous Pop-Up Art Parties have invited participants to paint denim, experiment with paper mâché, and use drawing as a way to slow down and find some calm. Each gathering introduces a different creative process, but the philosophy stays the same: you don’t have to be an artist to make art.

These aren’t formal art classes where everyone is expected to produce the same finished project. They’re opportunities to try something new, get your hands dirty, experiment, and discover what happens when you give yourself permission to create without worrying about getting it “right.”

Gel printing is particularly well suited to that spirit. It’s a process of building layers, textures, shapes, and colors to create prints—often with wonderfully unexpected results.

The Pop-Up Art Party is free, but registration is required. Visit www.fumca.org/art for registration information.

Whether you come to sketch what you see or experiment with something completely new, there’s room to make art your own. Bring your curiosity. The rest can happen from there.

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Phonetic: /li·​cen·​tious/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

lacking legal or moral restraints

especially : disregarding sexual restraints

licentious behavior

licentious revelers

marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness

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Alexandria Man Arrested in June Homicide. The Alexandria Police Department arrested Tito Wilson, 21, on August 6 in connection with the June 26 shooting death of Raydrian Fisher at the intersection of Levin Street and Tennessee Avenue. Wilson has been charged with one count of second-degree murder and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center with bond set at $150,000. The arrest was made with assistance from Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole through APD’s VCAT initiative. APD Chief Chad Gremillion noted the department’s homicide clearance rate stands at 100 percent for 2026.

APD Investigating Non-Fatal Shooting on Harris Street. The Alexandria Police Department is seeking information regarding a shooting that occurred in the 2400 block of Harris Street on the morning of August 6. Officers responded to a local hospital around 8:15 a.m. after a victim arrived with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and confirmed the location of the incident. No suspect information has been released. Anyone with information is asked to contact APD at (318) 441-6416 or Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867.

Pineville Civil Service Board Tables Boxing Grievance. The Pineville Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board heard a firefighter grievance on August 6 centered on whether city firefighters could engage in boxing and sparring while on duty. Under city policy, Pineville firefighters are compensated for on-duty exercise when the activity meets departmental physical fitness standards — a benefit not extended to Pineville Police Department personnel. The board tabled the agenda item, with Chairman Danny Wilburn referring the matter to the board attorney for review before any further action is taken.

Phonetic: /per·​ni·​cious/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

highly damaging or destructive often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed

the pernicious influence of corruption

The study highlights just how pernicious this metal can be, even at low levels.
—Bradley Allf

archaic : wicked

two pernicious daughters …
—William Shakespeare

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By JIM BUTLER

The Alexandria Board of Adjustments and Appeals is asked to approve a variance to permit parking for patients of a medical provider on Provine Place.

Argon HA Properties, through Wesley Miller of RAM Engineering, wants to add 35 offstreet spaces to serve the offices at 5408 Provine Place.

The offices are adjacent to the east of Westside Library branch and apparently most recently housed the practice of Dr. Michael Dole.

Argon wants to use just under an acre at 208 Ansley Boulevard, to the building’s east, to locate a parking lot for the offices.

Such accessory uses for medical facilities are permitted under the C-2 General Commercial classification. The variance would allow exceeding the maximum offstreet requirements.

The lot would increase to 75 the number of spaces available to the medical traffic.

The board meets at 4 this afternoon in the City Council room to consider the request and hear any who wish to speak on the matter.

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Alexandria Man Indicted in Killing of Deputy U.S. Marshal — Death Penalty Sought. A federal grand jury has indicted Clarence A. Frazier Jr., 48, of Alexandria, on five counts in connection with the July 14 killing of Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson. Frazier is charged with murder of a federal officer, attempted murder of a U.S. Marshals Service task force officer, and related firearm offenses. According to court documents, Hanson was killed while Frazier was being sought on a failure-to-appear warrant stemming from a state sexual battery charge. Officers from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service approached Frazier’s Rutland Road residence to execute lawful warrants, at which point Frazier allegedly barricaded himself inside a bedroom and opened fire, fatally wounding Hanson and endangering additional officers. Hanson was a husband and father of two. The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed at an August 5 press conference at the RPSO that it will seek the death penalty. Frazier faces up to life imprisonment or death if convicted. Case number: 6:26-cr-00293-01. An indictment is an allegation only — Frazier is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Phonetic: /far·​ri·​er/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

a person who shoes horses

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Bunkie Man Faces Decades in Federal Prison on Drug and Firearm Charges. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 17, 2026, charging Rininski Edwards, 33, of Bunkie, with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as an armed career criminal, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on March 31, 2026, Edwards allegedly possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and carried a loaded .45 caliber pistol in furtherance of those activities. Prosecutors further allege Edwards had three prior convictions for drug trafficking or violent felonies, qualifying him as an armed career criminal under federal law. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. An indictment is an allegation only — Edwards is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Rapides Parish Schools Breaks Ground on CTE Building at Buckeye High School. The Rapides Parish School Board broke ground on a new Career and Technical Education building at Buckeye High School, a project approved at the board’s February 2026 meeting and expected to be ready for students in early 2027. The facility will expand opportunities for students to earn industry-based credentials in fields actively sought by Central Louisiana employers, including HVAC operations and sheet metal fabrication. Students in the HVAC program can pursue dual-enrollment classes leading to foundational safety credentials and the federal EPA Section 608 refrigerant handling certification, positioning graduates to move directly into apprenticeships, further training, or employment. Local partners ACA and Foster Construction are supporting both construction and work-based learning experiences. State Representative Mike Johnson attended the groundbreaking.

Alexandria Woman, Four Juveniles Arrested in West Alexandria Vehicle Burglary Spree. The Alexandria Police Department arrested Mariana Byrd, 19, of Alexandria, and charged four juveniles — all Bunkie residents — in connection with a series of vehicle burglaries reported on the city’s west side between July 30 and August 4. Byrd faces 12 counts of vehicle burglary and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, with investigators determining she transported and assisted the juveniles during the crimes. The same four juveniles had been arrested by the Bunkie Police Department two days prior in connection with a separate string of vehicle burglaries in Bunkie. APD said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are possible. Anyone with information is asked to contact APD at (318) 441-6416.

November 3 Election Qualifying Closes Today. Candidate qualifying for the November 3, 2026 election closes today, August 7, at the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office or at the Courthouse in Rapides Parish. Races in Rapides Parish include Alexandria City Council seats, Rapides Parish Police Jury positions, and judicial races across the 9th Judicial District.

First Day of School — Today for Most RPSB Students. Rapides Parish schools open this morning for the first day of the 2026-2027 school year, with the exception of Alexandria Senior High School, where students continue virtual instruction following the asbestos remediation delay. The district will post ASH updates each Friday afternoon.

Phonetic: /kuh-LOH-kwee-ul/

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition

Colloquial is used with words like term and word and expression to describe language that is used in familiar and informal conversation.

The author can switch from formal academic language to a charmingly colloquial style, depending on the audience and subject of her writing.