By JASON PUGH

HOUSTON – One year ago, David Fry enjoyed what – at the time – was perhaps the moment of his relatively brief Major League Baseball career.

Playing in Arlington, in the home stadium of the Texas Rangers, roughly 30 miles from his prep alma mater, Grapevine High School, Fry had an RBI single in his first MLB All-Star Game at-bat, driving in the final run of a three-run frame for the eventually victorious American League.

“That was pretty nuts,” said Fry, whose Cleveland Guardians open the second half of the 2025 season at home tonight against the Athletics. “People (saying), ‘You went to an All-Star Game.’ I still don’t really believe it. It’s that time of the year now, and everybody’s like, ‘You did that last year.’ I still can’t believe I went to that game last year. It’s nuts.”

Fry’s one-year All-Star anniversary hit Tuesday as the 2025 edition was played in Atlanta. This time, he had time off with his family.

The 12 months since the history-making moment for Northwestern State baseball – Fry became the first former Demon baseball player to appear in an MLB All-Star Game – have alternated highs and lows.

Just like the momentous May run where Fry put up numbers that equaled Babe Ruth, the postseason allowed the 2018 All-American and Southland Conference Player of the Year to again etch his name in the history books.

Twice during Cleveland’s run to the American League Championship Series, Fry delivered a go-ahead, two-out, two-strike home run in the seventh inning or later – something no other MLB player has accomplished in his career.

Those home runs are engraved in both Guardian and Demon fans’ minds alike, especially those who share those specific allegiances. It took Fry some time to recall those moments, especially the walk-off, two-run home run against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series.

During his postgame interview, Fry said he “blacked out” when it happened. Since that moment, he has had help in piecing together those memories while creating others.

“In the offseason, (daughter) Evelyn would point at the TV and say, ‘Dada,’” Fry said. “She’ll want to see videos of home runs, so we’ll watch it every now and then. It’s still nuts. Getting to experience the playoffs in general, you’re like, ‘That’s all I want to do. I want to get back to that.’ I want to find a way to get back to that. This season, we’re struggling a little bit, but that’s still the goal. We just have to find a way in. Once you’re in, that’s the most fun baseball you can play.”

Fry played through the back half of his breakout 2024 season with an injured arm that required offseason surgery – a second Tommy John operation on his right elbow. It delayed the start of his 2025 season until late May when he began and completed a nine-game rehabilitation assignment before rejoining the Cleveland roster. 

For all Fry learned during his four years at Northwestern, perhaps the most valuable piece he accessed recently was how to overcome a physical setback. Ahead of his senior season of 2018, Fry underwent his first Tommy John surgery after playing with an injured elbow throughout the 2017 campaign.

“Coming back from surgery, I definitely like leaning on that experience,” Fry said. “It stinks having two Tommy Johns, but it’s nice to have a little experience of what’s going on. It’s been a crazy, crazy year. It’s nice knowing different check points. I might get sore at this time, but I remember that from last time, so it doesn’t scare you. I’m maybe a little ahead of where I was last time, so it’s definitely encouraging.”

Fry also has found a different form of encouragement and an escape away from the field in his family, which includes wife Rebekah (a former NSU recruiter and a fellow alumnus), Evelyn and another daughter on the way.

“I was talking about it with (former Northwestern head coach Bobby) Barbier when he was in town,” Fry said. “It’s the perspective of being on the road in Chicago, and we’re getting to go to the zoo and to the kids’ museum. We’re getting to do all this stuff. We’re going to the beach. I’m not going to remember my four at-bats in Chicago in there years. I’m going to remember going to the beach and the zoo with Evelyn and with Harper on the way. Having two girls, that’s the stuff you’re going to remember much more than what did I do in this one at-bat.”

Contact Jason at pughj@nsula.edu

By JIM BUTLER

In the end there was little support for returning paddling to Rapides schools.

The proposal died on a 1 yes, 2 no vote in the Education Committee this week.

Chair Linda Burgess said several parents had suggested to her that corporal punishment needs to be in the system discipline package. Committee members Wally Fall and Mark Dryden disagreed as did apparently most of those offering opinion on the matter, professional or otherwise.

Also Tuesday the Finance Committee sent to the full board the question of substitute teacher pay.

According to available information, the system in the 2024-25 school year averaged about 85 teacher absences a day (there are about 1,600 teaching positions), with a total cost for substitutes of $1.43 million.

Substitute pay is in three classifications – non-degreed, degreed and certified.

Non-degreed substitutes are paid $7.25 hourly, $50.75 a day (and more and more difficult to attract); degreed $65 a day (and on the 21st consecutive substitution for the same teacher increasing to $125 a day); certified $125 a day.

Certified substitutes were paid about $1.04 million of the cost in the 2024-25 term. Average total substitute teacher costs over the past three school years was $1.5 million A proposed increase to $10 hourly would cost about $94,000 based on the just- completed year.

According to board figures, the same 38 percent bump in degreed substitute pay would cost about $62,000 and taking the certified rate to that level would require about $399,000 in the upcoming school year. 

The administration has indicated support for the non-degreed and degreed changes if funding is available.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

July 16

Hayes Brandon Ardoin, 57, Lafayette – OWI second offense, improper driving on left, careless operation, open containers, obstruct court orders, $2,300 bail;

Benjamin Garett Clark, 41, Ville Platte – two counts failure to appear, five counts contempt of court, $26,000 bail;

George Dominique Davis, 36, Alexandria – possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, bicycle reflectors, six counts contempt of court, $49,100 bail;

Denerick Demon Dorsey, 43, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, probation violation, Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Dwane Jones, 22, Alexandria – five counts contempt of court, four counts simple battery on the infirmed, $7,000 bail;

Joseph Randall Marcotte, 61, Cheneyville – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Mackenzie McBride, 18, Deville – cruelty to juveniles, no bail data;

Derrick Lee Smith, 41, Lecompte – theft, no bail data.

July 15

Charles Lamar Basco, 54, Boyce – possession of CDS, $1,000 bail;

Shontell Marie Brice, 21, Ball – aggravated battery, aggravated assault, reckless operation of a vehicle, $11,000 bail;

Arcenio Ramon Bowie, 35, Lecompte –second degree murder, attempted second degree murder, possession of firearm by convicted felon, $2.5 million bail;

Lauren Curry, 22, Otis – two counts possess of CDS, $4,000 bail;

Crystal Daniels, 40, Boyce – possession of CDS, contempt of court, $7,500 bail;

Dylan Matthew Delafosse, 34, Pineville – possession of CDS, parole violations, $15,000 bail;

Billy Dwayne Gaston Jr, 24, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, possession of marijuana, operating an unsafe vehicle, paraphernalia, parole violations, $6,100 bail;

Jovany Gonzalez, 36, Tampa, Fla. – OWI first offense, $1,000 bail;

Jodie McKenzie Gorum, 41, Boyce – producing manufacturing dispending with intent CDS, possession of marijuana, two counts illegal carry firearm with drugs, $60,500 bail;

Jarrod Shane Gypin, 37, Boyce – possession of CDS, drug paraphernalia, two counts illegal carry firearm with drugs, $3,500 bail;

Jermone Devon Hobbs, 41, Alexandria – possession of CDS, obstruction of justice, simple battery, theft, criminal trespass, simple escape, five counts contempt of court, $94,000 bail;

David Wayne Iles Sr., 73, Deville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, improper turn, $3,100 bail;

Clinton Heath Kimble, 32, Alexandria – possession of CDS, drug paraphernalia, intentional littering, $3,500 bail;

Taylor King Jr, 48, Alexandria – two counts contempt of court, $101,500 bail;

Christopher Cornelius Kittling Jr, 22, Alexandria – obstruction of justice, $50,000 bail;

Brittney Nicole Lachney, 38, Pineville – taking contraband to and from penal institutions, simple arson, simple burglary, contempt of court, $30,500 bail;

Rebecca Ann Lee, 47, Pineville – possession of CDS, no insurance, driving under suspension, switched license plate, $1,700 bail;

Zachary Mayeaux, 24, Hessmier – two counts possession of drug paraphernalia, contempt of court, $26,000 bail;

Dylan Shane Morrow, 19, Dry Prong – criminal conspiracy, accessory after the fact, $50,000 bail;

Derrick Dewayne Thomas Jr, 33, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, two counts contempt of court, $6,500 bail;

Corrie Walker, 32, Pineville – possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Zackery T. Warren, 28, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery strangulation, contempt of court, $60,000 bail;

Alexis Brooke Wyllie, 32, Alexandria – two counts possession of CDS, resisting an officer, $3,500 bail.

July 14

Juan Alvarez, 30, Chicago – OWI first offense, speeding, improper lane usage, $1,200 bail;

James Clifton Brister, 66, Pineville – OWI first offense, possession of CDS, no registration in vehicle, improper display license plate, general speed law, $3,800 bail;

Kristie Denise Marquez, 48, Alexandria – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, open container, $1,700 bail;

Tavira Ransburg, 25, Alexandria – aggravated second degree battery, $50,000 bail;

Bernice Ann Reedd, 32, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, driving under suspension, $3,100 bail;

Cameron Williams, 23, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing with intent CDS, use of CDS in presence of minor, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, two counts contempt of court, $5,500 bail.

July 13

Carl Anthony Berry Jr, 27, Pineville – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, prohibited activities and sanctions, $10,000 bail;

Darius Jontell Thomas, 29, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, illegal carry firearm with drugs, trespassing, contempt failure to pay fine, $3,000 bail.

History, I suppose, could be termed a collection of overlapping circles.

Announcement of an upcoming job fair at Procter & Gamble’s plant is part of one, as is election of the parish’s next new judge.

Bear with me –

P&G has been a coveted job site since it opened in 1969. As it expands it needs 100 new employees, and hopes it will find them among those attending the recruiting event on July 26.

There will be food trucks, children’s attractions and special music at the Randolph Riverfront Center from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. as P&G representatives woo prospective employees.

The plant’s initial manager was Gordon Denker, who actually arrived more than a year before the opening.

His courting municipal and parish officials led to a friendship with Robert Cespiva. “Bob” as he was known to most folks was a Pineville councilman.

He was also a teacher/coach and would become assistant principal at Pineville High and eventually the first principal at J.I. Barron Elementary.

The two had seemingly disparate interests and a common distinction, one that perhaps weaved their bond.

Cespiva, U.S. Navy 1942-45, held the Bronze Star, awarded after saving an aviator shot down in the Battle of Saipan.

Denker, U.S. Army, also held the Bronze Star, awarded for rescues during Korean War’s Battle of Pusan.

That service was perhaps what made them friends of my father, U.S. Navy fighter pilot, WWII, Distinguished Flying Cross.

Or maybe it was Mr. Denker’s interest in fishing and sports cars. My Dad was an ardent angler and never saw a fast car he didn’t covet.

Or maybe Mr. Cespiva’s baseball background was part of it. Both he and my father had a passion for the sport.

Confession — the friendships served me well as a neophyte journalist at the local daily newspaper.

And now we have Judge-elect Brian Cespiva. He’ll take the Ninth Judicial District bench in October, unopposed for election to fill a seat being vacated earlier in the month.

Best I can recall (not that foolproof at my point on the timeline) we’ve never met.

But those who know him tell me he is no doubt his father’s son.

Good enough for me.

At least one dentist in Alexandria isn’t looking down in the mouth. He’s about as upbeat, as charitable and unselfish a man as you’ll ever meet, and three months ago he got a much-deserved award as the Louisiana Dental Association’s Humanitarian of the Year.

The LDA Humanitarian Award recognizes dentists who have distinguished themselves through outstanding dental service activities in the USA or abroad. Jeff Seiler, a New Orleans native who was raised in Covington and has been a longtime Alexandrian, has done so both in and out of the country.

He has made about 30 mission trips to several countries over the past three decades. In more recent years – in his semi-retirement — when he’s not working, he’s working. When he’s not working in the office he shares with his daughter, Dr. Kim Seiler Dukes, he might be found at Community Healthworks, a volunteer-based non-profit group that provides, among other things, free dental care for, in Seiler’s words, the “working poor and veterans who are down on their luck.”

Father William “Buck” Provosty got Seiler started on going to missions in 1993, four years before he died. This is when Provosty, from a prominent Alexandria family, was serving in Cottonport.

“He rode his bike to the office to get a tooth fixed,” said Seiler. “He said, ‘I need someone to go with me (for mission work) to Oaxaca, Mexico.’”

This was to bring medical services to the indigenous Zapotec civilization.

Seiler agreed and joined Fr. Provosty on a mission that started ominously – riding through a river to get to a remote village and nearly crashing off a cliff. 

They arrived at a place with thatched roofs, no running water and no electricity. He set up his sparse dental and other medical equipment on three wooden chairs and sometimes pulled as many as 100 teeth in a day.

“Candy and chocolate make it to remote areas,” he said, “but not so for toothbrushes and floss.”

Sometimes he had to become a general physician or surgeon – removing a cyst from the back of one’s head, healing an infected foot or a hand.

Seiler told how his soccer (referee’s) watch that he used to leave on a table went missing, and his assistant reported the apparent theft to the tribe’s chief. The chief held a council meeting and gathered the entire village together at a church, and it was learned a teenager had pilfered the watch.

“For the punishment,” Seiler said, “he and his family had to carry rocks from the bottom of the hill to the top of the hill to help build a building. The whole family was punished! He was under 18 so the family was considered responsible. Imagine if an entire family here would be punished for something like that.”

At another Mexican village where he worked for several years before it was taken over by drug lords, Seiler smiles at the memory of the people using his dental floss to tie tomatoes.

His travels have taken him to the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico and to Belize and the nearby Latin American countries of Peru, Honduras and Nicaragua. 

“Some people walked for miles, some rode horses,” he said. The explanations, he said, had the same theme: ‘I heard a guy was pulling teeth, for free.’”

Once, in Nicaragua, he and his group were scheduled to pull teeth at a prison. Fate made them a day late, and they read a front-page story in the local paper with a huge headline about a devastating prison riot that happened they day they were supposed to be there.

“We never did go there,” he said.

He hasn’t been on a foreign mission trip since Covid but found out he can do good work in his hometown. He has also found a surprise or two.

“I see as teeth that are as bad here in the U.S. as I’ve seen anywhere,” he said. Why?

“Drugs,” he said as a starter. “Meth destroys teeth.”

Popular soft drinks and, simply, a lot of sugar, share blame, too, he said. Plus, “Some people don’t brush their teeth. “

Seiler has countless stories of seeing God’s hand in so many events and encounters in his life. One involves the story of meeting his current wife, Janie. Both lost their first spouses in the same year and met, of all places, when she was in the chair at his dentist’s office.

His daughter, who as a youth used to work with him on some mission trips, chose to make a career in dentistry, but there’s more. After several miscarriages, Kim and her husband, Will, had a boy, Jacob, seven years ago. Kim also made the presentation speech for Jeff’s award, citing two of his bedrock principles – the Golden Rule and making the most of the talents you have been given by God to glorify him.

As a devout Catholic, Seiler feels blessed, too, to have a son who is a priest.

Brian, who was an altar boy as a youth and made a 34 on the ACT as a sophomore, is a Menard graduate who tried several jobs before choosing the priesthood. He is the current pastor of Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic churches in Moreauville.

“God had put good people in my life,” Jeff said, “and to help people is a blessing.”

Several hundred area industry, higher education, and government leaders from throughout Central Louisiana gathered at downtown Alexandria’s Randolph Riverfront Center Monday for the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Legislative Appreciation Luncheon.  

The event, hosted by the Chamber, a fixture of the area’s business scene since 1914, featured nine members of central Louisiana’s legislative delegation. Each representative or senator spoke about the bills worked on in the recently concluded legislative session that touched on the economic life of our citizens and the state’s business climate. The event was a wonderful opportunity for business, higher education and local governmental leaders to learn about the recent legislative session directly from some of the men and women who made the decisions, and to interact with them before and after the event.

Attending Senators and Representatives were: Senator Jay Luneau, Senator Heather Cloud, Senator Glenn Womack, Senator Mike Reese, Senator Jay Morris, Louisiana House Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson, Representative Jason Dewitt, Representative Daryl Deshotel, and Representative Gabe Firment.

The Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses are at the forefront of building a more prosperous region that will be a great place to build a life and raise a family. 

By JIM BUTLER

More than $80 million after it began the noise mitigation program initiated with an expanding Alexandria International Airport is nearing an end.

According to England Authority Executive Director Ralph Hennessy about $11.3 million is requested for the noise program in the fiscal year that began July 1.

Funding is 90 percent by the FAA and 10 percent by the DOTD aviation trust fund. Hennessy estimates in his budget message the program will run one or two more years.

The program centers around the Rapides Station area, purchasing property, relocating residents and demolishing structures.

Property owners are offered an appraised value of their holding and have the option of accepting or not. There is no expropriation or eminent domain. Participation is voluntary.

The Authority’s operating budget pales in comparison to improvements costs funded by state and federal grants.

Operating revenues, aviation division and airpark division, are estimated at $16.3 million, with use of $2.5 million prior years’ earnings for Authority-funded capital improvement.

Expenses are estimated at $15.7 million for maintaining operations plus a half-million dollars for capital equipment and transfer of $2.7 million to capital projects.

A general pay increase of 3 percent is budgeted though payroll expense is skewed somewhat due to full-year inclusion of salaries and wages incurred when a third-party housing management vendor elected not to renew its contract last November.

Hennessy expects extension of a runway, from 7,001 feet to 8,500, to be finished in December. It is a $30 million project.

Expansions are planned for the South and North Ramps, at $5.1 million and $21.7 million (FFA grants sought) and $7-$9 million is sought for the Aviation Career & Education Program hanger (state and federal).

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

July 13

Leslie Ann Barron, 35, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, no bail data;

Nichole Renee Bennett, 46, Ball – OWI second offense, running a stop sign, $1,600 bail;

Jose Guadelupe Garcia Morales, 37, Alexandria – OWI first offense, careless operation, no driver’s license, improper window tint, $1,300 bail;

Adaryll Jay Green, 51, Roanoke Rapids, N.C. – OWI first offense, possession marijuana, resisting an officer, $2,000 bail;

Teshawn Darnell Jackson, 34, Alexandria – two counts Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Eddriana Kendricks, 27, Alexandria – illegal possession of a stolen firearm, expired driver’s license, expired plate/registration, $100 bail;

John Anthony Molette, 39, Pineville – improper lane usage, resisting officer, two counts contempt of court, $51,600 bail;

Keithen Andre Robinson, 59, Pineville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, improper turn, $1,200 bail;

July 12

Murray Preston Chelette, 21, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, resisting an officer, $500 bail;

Daniel Melder, 46, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, two counts contempt of court, $5,000 bail;

Rocky Don Phillips, 43, Chandler – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Gabrielle Rose Hagan, 24, Deville – domestic abuse battery, $500 bail;

Ashley Deion Henderson, 30, Alexandria – simple battery, $1,000 bail;

Shondreca Shonta Hicks, 43, Alexandria – simple battery, simple assault, three counts violations of protection order, legend drug possession, resisting an officer, contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Adrion Lamar Logan, 43, Woodworth – remaining after forbidden, drug paraphernalia, five counts contempt of court, $84,000 bail;

Daniel Melder, 46, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, two counts contempt of court, $5,000 bail;

Rocky Don Phillips, 43, Chandler, Ariz. – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Jarred Desean Simpson, 24, Houston, Texas – domestic abuse battery, $1,500 bail;

David Wayne Thomas Sr, 56, Alexandria – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, no driver’s license, switched license plate, failure to secure registration, $1,900 bail;

July 11

Micah Earl Bell, 18, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, illegal carry firearm with drugs, $60,000 bail;

Zaveon Brown, 22, Alexandria — producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, illegal carry firearm with drugs, $60,000 bail;

Bruce Jermaine Casson, 43, Alexandria —  two counts contempt of court, $105,000 bail;

Chad York Elder, 54, Marksville – three counts theft, criminal conspiracy, improper display of license plate, $600 bail;

Xavier Lemer Harrell, 28, Alexandria — producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, parole violations, $50,000 bail;

Shannon Johnson, 35, Marksville – possession of CDS, driving under suspension/revocation, turn signal lamp, illegal carry firearm with drugs, three counts contempt of court, $18,200 bail;

Stephanie Jean Lachney, 51, Alexandria – possession of CDS, driving under suspension, no license plate light, parole violations, $2,700 bail;

Austin Auzlle Maxwell, 26, Dry Prong – criminal trespass, simple assault, $1,000 bail;

Daejavon Devin Morgan, 31, N/A – domestic abuse battery strangulation, $20,000 bail;;

Jon William Offutt, 47, Dry Prong – aggravated assault with a firearm, criminal trespass, possession of firearm where alcohol is served, $11,000 bail;

Jaylen Patterson, 22, Pineville – two counts carnal knowledge of a juvenile, two counts indecent behavior with juveniles, $20,000 bail;

Willie Ray Sanders Jr, 30, Alexandria – producing manufacturing dispensing of CDS, parole violations, $10,000 bail;

Kentrell Wayne Silas, 31, Alexandria – simple burglary, two counts contempt of court, $9,000 bail;

Scott Douglas Smith, 46, Ball – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, driving under suspension/revocation, $1,200 bail;

Alan Joseph Stevens, 43, Boyce – possession of fentanyl, paraphernalia, driving under suspension, no head light, five counts contempt of court, $7,500 bail;

Chasity Tullis, 42, Alexandria – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, $3,000 bail;

Antonio Terral Williams, 48, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, contempt of court, $30,000 bail;

July 10

Pagel Lynn Arnold II, 47, Elizabeth – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Chelsea Brooks, 21, Alexandria – aggravated battery, possession of marijuana, contempt of court, $1,500 bail;

Brandon Nikeel Brown, 23, Alexandria — producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, $2,500 bail;

Thomas Cole Brunson, 39, Pineville – domestic abuse battery with child present, $5,000 bail;

Michael Cantrell, 32, Boyce – six counts contempt of court, $16,500 bail;

Preston L. Fox, 22, Dry Prong – two counts assault by drive-by shooting, two counts aggravated assault, two counts illegal carrying of weapon, disturbing the peace, reckless operation of a vehicle, $241,000 bail;

David Dewayne Glenn Jr, 22, Boyce – possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, Louisiana fugitive, five counts contempt of court, $4,500 bail;

Joseph Ward Goodwin, 54, Alexandria – failure to renew sex offender registration, probation violation, $5,000 bail;

Ryan Matthew Griffith, 36, Pineville – two counts possession of CDS, probation violation, $3,500 bail;

Jason Dean Guy, 46, Pineville – possession of CDS, driving under suspension/revocation, no license plate light, failure to yield on private property, $2,800 bail;

Takyla Alise Jackson, 21, Alexandria – possession of CDS, failure to secure registration, alteration of a license plate, open container, no head light, no driver’s license, no insurance, two counts of contempt of court, $3,600 bail;

Elisha Chenyenne Mazerolle, 28, Pineville – first degree murder, cruelty to juveniles second degree, probation violation, $200,000 bail;

Jeffrey Eugene Morse, 46, Alexandria – second degree battery, trespassing/remaining after forbidden, $5,500 bail;

Michael Wesley Rosier, 39, Pollock – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana (fourth or subsequent charge), paraphernalia, four counts aggravated resisting of police officer with force or violence, simple battery of police officer, $7,000 bail;

Teea Breanne Swasey, 38, Alexandria – possession of CDS, obstruction of justice, simple escape, resisting an officer, disturbing the peace, trespassing, $5,000 bail;

Shawna C. Thompson, 40, Pineville – possession of CDS, $2,500 bail;

Trinehia Matrice Triplett, 27, Alexandria – criminal damage to property, failure to appear, probation violation, $2,750 bail;

Kayla Noelle Vaughn, 30, Pineville – eight counts contempt of court, $20,250 bail;

Devin Walker, 27, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, possession of marijuana, $2,000 bail;

July 9

Fayez Ayesh, 53, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Darruel Keith Downs, 61, Pineville – contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Jennifer Lynn Edmondson, 47, Alexandria – possession of CDS, $1,500 bail;

Iyana Chiquita Harrell, 23, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing with intent CDS, possession of marijuana, $20,500 bail;

Alton Jones, 43, Alexandria – three counts producing manufacturing distributing with intent CDS, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana, $65,500 bail;

Douglas Ray Mayo, 47, Deville – intimidating (simple assault), parole violations, $5,000 bail;

Rebecca Skye McMahan, 35, Pineville – running a stop sign, resisting an officer, contempt of court, $100,600 bail;

Frankie June Roshto, 47, Alexandria – two counts possession of CDS, paraphernalia, illegal carry firearm with drugs, $5,500 bail;

William Smothers, 47, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, resisting an officer, two counts contempt of court, parole violations, $8,000 bail;

Demetrice Tolliver, 18, Jonesville – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Stanley Ray Trahan, 56, Pineville – theft, criminal trespass, seven counts contempt of court, $9,000 bail;

Stacy Edmondson Travis, 50, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Antoine Tuco, 34, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, three counts contempt of court, $4,500 bail;

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

July 9

Daniel Brigalia, 25, Pineville – seven counts second degree rape, two counts sexual battery, eight counts misdemeanor sexual battery, two counts indecent behavior with juveniles, no bail data;

Micheal Gerard Carr, 59, Alexandria – theft, criminal trespass, contempt of court, $6,000 bail;

Darnell M Taylor, 49, Alexandria – contempt of court, $100,000 bail;

Terrence Dewanye Taylor Jr, 27, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, create distribute or possess with intent counterfeit CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, illegal possession of stolen firearm, possession of firearm by convicted felon, resisting an officer, probation violation, parole violation, contempt failure to pay, $130,000 bail;

Stanley Ray Trahan, 56, Pineville – theft, criminal trespass, seven counts contempt of court, $9,000 bail.

July 8

Jessica Marie Bledsoe, 30, Dry Prong – second degree murder, contempt of court, $200,000 bail;

Jeremy Joseph Bordelon, 39, Alexandria – three counts simple burglary, failure to appear, $37,000 bail

Errol Hakeem Cunningham, 35, Boyce – possession of CDS, trespassing, $2,000 bail;

Anthony Ford, 23, Elmer – aggravated assault on peace officer, resisting police officer with force or violence, two counts disarming a peace officer, $60,000 bail;

Kristopher Gage Hedrick, 35, Pollock – possession of a firearm by convicted felon, illegal possession of stolen firearm, domestic abuse battery strangulation, parole violations, $75,000 bail;

Sherterroca Ladrelle Henderson, 48, Alexandria – aggravated battery, probation violation, no bail data;

Waylon Allen Hewlett, 38, Deville – simple burglary, criminal trespass, two counts contempt of court, $8,000 bail;

Javontae Lamar Howard, 23, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, legend drug possession, three counts contempt of court, $19,500 bail;

Jamaria Dejuan Johnson, 24, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, resisting an officer, aggravated public intimidation and retaliation, $6,000 bail;

Kendrick Randle, 32, Boyce – criminal conspiracy, taking contraband to and from penal institutions, $10,000 bail;

Anthony Demarcus Reed, 43, Boyce – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Christopher Wayne Reed, 59, Alexandria – theft, contempt of court, $30,500 bail;

Melissa Renee Turney, 58, Boyce – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, driving under suspension, contempt of court, tail lamps, $7,700 bail;

William Todd White, 43, Pineville – aggravated criminal damage, parole violations, probation violation, $10,000 bail.

July 7

Nettie Geneva Adams, 38, Alexandria – two counts of theft (second subsequent conviction), criminal conspiracy, $12,000 bail;

Earl Bennett Jr, 57, N/A – unauthorized entry into inhabited dwelling, resisting an officer, parole violations, $5,500 bail;

Carnell Antonio Carter, 38, Alexandria – possession of CDS, two counts contempt of court, obstructing public passages, $7,000 bail;

Paul Clifford Dahlman, 46, Elizabeth – aggravated assault domestic abuse, $1,500 bail;

Daniel Paul Fontenot, 40, Pineville – possession of CDS, improper display of license plate, improper inspection, $2,700 bail;

John Brian Gonzales, 43, Leesville – OWI first offense, careless operation of a vehicle, obstructing court orders, $1,100 bail;

Eric Dane Gordon, 47, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

George Jeff Green, 57, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, three counts contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

Justin Roth Hinton, 41, Pineville – simple escape, $1,500 bail;

Jason A. Holt, 47, Otis – domestic abuse battery, disturbing the peace, simple battery on the infirmed, home invasion, domestic abuse aggravated assault with child endangerment, criminal damage to property, $92,000 bail;

Tyrianna Jones, 22, Marksville – OWI first offense, careless operation of a vehicle, no driver’s license, $1,200 bail;

Kystasher Tantenisha I’kea Martin, 30, Boyce – obstruction of justice, 18 counts contempt of court, $251,500 bail;

Carnell Nelson Sr, 34, Pineville – two counts possession of firearm by convicted felon, theft, two counts contempt of court, $120,500 bail;

Dontravion Pearrie, 27, Alexandria – OWI first offense, three counts contempt of court, failure to appear, intentional littering, safety belt violation, driving under suspension, speeding, open container, two counts possession of CDS, resisting an officer, obstruction of highway, obstruction of justice, illegal carry firearm with drugs, reckless operation, $38,400 bail;

Zikorian Jabari Turner, 21, Alexandria – illegal possession of stolen firearm, illegal carrying of a weapon, resisting an officer, bicycle lamps and reflectors, $13,100 bail;

Rayanne Elizabeth Vicknair, 27, Pineville – contempt of court, $75,000 bail.

July 6

Dekerry Booker, 29, Shreveport – possession of CDS, two counts contempt of court, improper display of vehicle license plate, improper lane usage, $3,200 bail;

Michael J. Johnson Jr, 39, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, resisting an officer, theft, criminal trespass, simple burglary, possession of marijuana, five counts contempt of court, $83,750 bail;

Johnathan Paul McKithern, 32, Ball – theft, contempt of court, $6,500 bail

The Kerrville tragedy brings to mind the most severe spanking of my childhood.

I was 12 when my father was transferred to San Antonio. He went first, by train, and after he found a house mother, I and my three younger sisters followed behind the moving van, taking what must have been 15 hours in the old Plymouth to get there.

No air conditioning, no radio (we couldn’t agree on what to listen to), no interstate. Prized position was back floor, transmission hump not withstanding.

Relocating was something we had down pat. The Butlers were headed to their seventh posting at that time (it stopped at nine when Dad told employer back to Alexandria or he was done).

Arriving we found what to me was just another house though a bit larger than the one left vacant back on Gay Road.

But at the end of the street was something new — the link fence was clearly visible from a couple of hundred yards away. Perhaps eight feet tall, it was a boy magnet.

First words from Dad after the obligatory welcoming hug: Stay away from the fence.

Three days later I was leaning on it, looking 40 yards across at a similar barrier. They bordered a deep ditch, not much different than one paralleling Prescott Road back in Alexandria except the water in it was barely enough for a tadpole pool.

Within two weeks I was over the fence and in the ditch (my new, mostly Mexican-American, friends called it acequia), searching for various treasures and basking in breaking rules.

But I got careless, forgetting JRB got home midday on Saturdays. He pulled me off the fence after ordering me out, scattering my mates like Texas roadrunners.

And pushed me, literally, all the way home, where he commenced to give me the whopping of my life (well, one much later at a place called the Pelican Club was a contender, but that’s another story).

I took it as punishment for disobedience, until one day it rained, and rained, and rained. As it let up I walked down to the fence to check the ditch.

But the languid drain was gone, swallowed by a surging, boiling river, carrying downstream all the detritus in its path.

Life lesson learned.

Did you give into temptation over the holiday weekend and watch some of the Yellowstone series rerun?

If you didn’t, and you never have bothered with the Kevin Costner-driven-and-scuttled five-season modern cowboy drama, here’s a recap.

The Yellowstone is a huge ranch in Montana, owned by John Dutton (Costner), who is fed up with society in general and is fiercely (and I mean fiercely) protective of his family and its ranch. Near the end of the series, he gets talked into running for governor, and wins, with the campaign credo being “I am the opposite of progress.

“I am the wall that it bashes against and I will not be the one who breaks.”

He is disgusted with the influx of outsiders threatening the state’s rural lifestyle, draining Montana’s natural resources, all in pursuit of profit. Dutton knows no boundaries in his personal war to defend the state’s status quo and his family’s path forward to future generations.

I’d like to tell you the story ends happily for John Dutton, but I’d be as big a liar as his adopted son Jamie Dutton, a squirrelly lawyer who can’t stop betraying family members to satiate his own ambitions.

But I can tell you John Dutton reminds me of me – at least, my view of college sports. It’s not at all what it used to be, and there’s no going back in time.

Well, maybe there is. Maybe when all the dust settles in 4-5 years, the college landscape will revert back to what it was when Joe Ferguson was a Heisman Trophy candidate in 1972 for the Arkansas Razorbacks and a couple years earlier, another Woodlawn quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, had just come from way off the beaten track to be the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.

Which played In the NCAA’s College Division, a second tier for schools that didn’t have the resources to roll with the big timers in the SEC, Big Ten, Big Eight, Pac Whatever and the ACC.

Guess what? Thanks to Name, Image and Likeness, the transfer portal and the House settlement, there’s an altitude adjustment coming regardless of the attitudes and ambitions of Bulldogs, Warhawks, Ragin’ Cajuns, Demons, G-Men, Green Wave and their widespread peers.

They can’t begin to compare their resources with the shot-callers at LSU, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan. Those schools will be paying some of their athletes a pool of $20 million, not including NIL deals funded by deep-pocketed boosters.

Texas Tech has its share and just signed a high school offensive tackle to a $5 million package over three years. Same bunch of Red Raiders spent a million last summer getting softball superstar pitcher NiJaree Canady, who left Stanford and led Texas Tech to the Women’s College World Series finals. She’s getting a new deal for next season.

NIL deals decimated the softball roster at UL Lafayette, long a Top 25 mainstay before coach Gerry Glasco bolted to Lubbock with deep pockets to instantly build a national title contender. The Cajuns were 29-25 this spring, 14-10 in the Sun Belt, a league they cruised through unbeaten or close to it for many, many years.

I say again: Texas Tech. What do you think the Aggies and Longhorns will do in response?

That’s the sort of recalibration that is unfolding all over. Yes, Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt stormed into Omaha and reached the CWS championship round. But in the sports that define sports fans’ lifestyles – football and basketball – the TV revenue is immense and is not going to be shared down the line.

It’s heading Back to the Future. Back to the days of the University Division for the haves, the quasi-corporate athletic programs, and the College Division for the dreamers and the realists.

As the Yellowstone series ended, the Duttons were forced out of retaining the ranch. But the youngest Dutton son, Kayce, found a way to preserve it.

Those characters who did survive – that’s a literal usage – rode off into the sunset on happy trails.

Perhaps when the reformation of the NCAA landscape occurs, we might find out that the new normal is not totally terrible, at all.  Turns out Beth Dutton never liked much about the Yellowstone, and she and Rip are settling a couple hours away where there are no menacing neighbors and just as many beautiful vistas – and a promising, scaled down lifestyle.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

RAPIDES PARISH (July 8, 2025) – State Fire Marshal (SFM) deputies have arrested and charged a Rapides Parish juvenile with two counts of Aggravated Arson and one count of Simple Arson for setting fires outside the doors of three Woodworth apartments.

A SFM investigation determined that the teen intentionally set fires near the doors of two apartments on Butler Drive around 4 a.m. on June 28, 2025, and then set fire near the door of another Butler Drive apartment at approximately 4 a.m. on July 1, 2025. Fortunately, the occupants of these homes were not injured.

During SFM investigator questioning, the teen admitted to the crimes.
The SFM would like to thank the Woodworth Police and Fire Departments for their extensive efforts to assist with closing these cases.

Any information about this case, or any fire-related crime, can be shared with the SFM by calling our Arson Hotline at 1-844-954-1221 or by submitting an online tip form on lasfm.org. All information can be shared anonymously.

 By JIM BUTLER

Pineville’s City Council is expected to introduce an ordinance pertaining to their pay and that of other officials at today’s monthly meeting.

The resolution is included on the posted agenda.

It doesn’t indicate whether the proposal to amend the existing City Code section is an initial step toward salary changes or housekeeping in the codification process.

If accepted for introduction the ordinance will be bound over for consideration at the August meeting.

Pineville pays its mayor an annual base salary of about $105,500 and council members $12,000.

Audit reports indicate those levels were set in the fiscal year July 2022-June 2023.

The proposed ordinance is to amend and modify salaries for the mayor, city council, and city officials and modify, establish and confirm compensation of the mayor, council, city clerk and police chief.

The mayor and council are authorized under existing code to establish their salary levels from time to time.

One of life’s aggravations is finding yourself singing a song and grooving to its beat even though you hate the meaning of the lyrics.

“What’s love got to do with it?” is one of the foremost offenders. I’ll be singing along, bobbing a knee to the catchy rhythm and intoning “oh, oh, oh,” and another voice in my brain scolds me with the question, “What are you saying?!”

I suddenly put on the brakes of the song and do my best impersonation of my old dog, “Beau,” upon being scolded — putting his head down, shrinking his forehead and tucking his tail as he plops down and looks up at me with apologetic eyes.

“What am I saying?” I ask myself. “Love has EVERYTHING to do with it!” The song’s message is that you should try to ignore that the thrill of boy meeting girl means anything more than a physical attraction. Wrong. Love is far from a “second-hand emotion,” as the song declares. “Love is patient,” in the iconic words of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “love is kind … love never fails.”

This suggests how we have grown up in a culture that has spread its share of bad messages.

“If it feels good, do it.” Not so fast. At the very least, the reaction to “if it feels good” ought to be akin to ‘trust but verify’ before doing it. This can be a most dangerous philosophy at a wide variety of levels – from naively thinking it will feel good to pet the buffalo near you at Yellowstone to thinking it felt so good to get to first base with your date that you should try for a home run. Let’s just say as a counter: “All that glitters is not gold.”

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” This quote from the book and later the movie “Love Story” is TOTALLY wrong. Saying you’re sorry implies you’re seeking forgiveness. It’s often the quickest way to reparation, a mending of fences, or calming troubled waters. Love and forgiveness go together like peaches and cream.

“Baby, baby, don’t get hooked on me.” Mac Davis sang this song in the Seventies, and, again, it has a catchy beat and words you can get hooked on, but it’s reflective of a throwaway society where temporary physical thrills are what matters, not lasting relationships. “I’ll just use you and I’ll set you free,” is one of the lines. To counter this philosophy, consider the words of Abraham Lincoln: “Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality.” 

“Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try.” Really? What are you saying?

Care to say those words to a friend or relative on their deathbed? Some consolation that would be! If there is no heaven or hell as the song invites us to “imagine,” then what purpose do we have in this life? We’re living for today, yes, but not just today. We crave the day when we can be reunited forever with our Creator, who loves us more than we can imagine.

How long will it take for us to reject bad messages in our culture?

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.

The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

By JIM BUTLER

The percentage of Rapides students achieving mastery or above on this year’s LEAP tests rose three points from last, reaching the state average of 35.

The parish results put it at number two among the 14 top-improving systems. 

Mastery is defined as proficient and ready for the next level without remediation.

Hold the champagne — nine of 20 parish elementary schools testing had fewer than 25% reach that bar; middle schools had three of nine, high schools one of 11.

That’s not to disparage progress. On the positive end, five elementary schools reached 50% or more, as did two middle schools and one high school.

Grades 3-8 are tested in English Language Arts, math and science. Upper grades are measured in English 1 & 2, Algebra, Geometry, U.S. History and Biology.

Often cited as key to educational success is a three-cornered base – facilities (and materials), faculty(and staff, management), family (socio-economic). The school system controls two of the three.

The LEAP exam changes next year, the result of state Department of Education revisions. Time will tell that impact.

This year’s results show there are long rows still to be hoed. By division, school, percentage of those tested reaching mastery:

Elementary

Acadian 21

Ball 47

Barron 44

Brasher 17

Cherokee 32

Goff 52

Horseshoe Dr. 10

Huddle 18

Martin Park 18

Moore 30

Nachman 46

Paradise 53

Redwine 21

Rosenthal 55

Pineville 23

Ruby-Wise 62

Rugg 13

Tioga 41

Lawrence Upper 49

Phoenix Magnet 76

Middle/Jr. High

Alexandria Middle Magnet 14

Brame 31

Smith Middle Magnet 19

Dorman 65

Forest Hill 40

Pineville 40

Poland 57

Raymond 21

Tioga 48

High School

Alexandria Senior 42

Bolton Academy 75 (79 for 3-8 component)

Buckeye 50 (53)

Glenmora 32

Northwood 34 (35)

Oak Hill 38 (39)

Menard 35

Northwood 34 (35)

Peabody Magnet 15

Pineville 43

Plainview 42 (41)

Rapides 29

Tioga 41

Rapides Positive Program for Students 17

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

July 6

Brian Matthew Guillory, 42, Alexandria – three counts possession of CDS, possession of fentanyl, $1,500 bail;

Tytianna Nicole Robinson, 24, Pineville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Tamyra T. Sanders, 20, Alexandria – OWI first offense, speeding, $1,100 bail.

July 5

Tyche Banks, 41, Alexandria – aggravated battery, possession of CDS, failure to appear, $3,764.50 bail;

Jeremy T. Beaudion, 25, Natchitoches – Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Omar Kenyetta Coleman, 37, Pineville – simple battery, two counts failure to appear, three counts contempt of court, $7,000 bail;

Kyrin Cooper-White, 27, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, discharging firearms, $2,000 bail;

Harold James Dwellingham, 66, Alexandria – OWI first offense, running a stop sign, improper lane usage, reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from an officer, resisting an officer, three counts open container, driving under suspension, $2,600 bail;

Javonte Dontrell Green, 28, Pineville – OWI first offense, driving under suspension, $1,100 bail;

Kedrick Gullette, 33, Alexandria – legend drugs obtained by misrepresentation or fraud, three counts contempt of court, probation violation, $15,500 bail;

Jermaine Johnson, 52, Alexandria – possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of firearm by convicted felon, $27,500 bail;

Michael Dewayne Johnson, 45, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Mikalia Reed, 22, Alexandria – OWI first offense, speeding, driving under suspension, $1,200 bail;

Joseph Schoolcraft II, 24, Pineville – OWI first offense, improper turn, $1,100 bail;

Mitchell A. St. Julien Jr, 48, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, $2,500 bail;

Timothy Emanuel Victor, 53, Alexandria – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, $1,600 bail.

July 4

Desiree Ashley Ambrose, 35, Boyce – Louisiana fugitive, two counts contempt of court, $8,000 bail;

Tammy Lynn Brevelle, 52, Pineville – legend drug possession, criminal trespass, disturbing the peace, $1,500 bail;

Jayvonta Clark, 18, Alexandria – illegal possession of stolen firearms, illegal use of weapons/dangerous instrumentalities, contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, $3,000 bail;

Teeanna Coleman, 33, Alexandria —  four counts contempt of court, $75,500 bail;

Errol Hakeem Cunningham, 35, Boyce – criminal trespass, two counts failure to appear, $2,250 bail;

Charles Demonte Hall, 44, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, misrepresentation, obstruction of justice, safety belt violation, resisting an officer, six counts contempt of court, $13,100 bail;

Brian Jackson, 27, Pineville – cruelty to the infirmed, $50,000 bail;

Tyler J Lutrick, 27, Pollock – OWI second offense, open container, improper turn, modified exhaust, $1,800 bail;

Robert Glenn Scott, 75, Ball – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, improper driving on left, $1,200 bail;

Michael Wayne Smith, 50, Alexandria – five counts contempt of court, $25,000 bail;

Daniel K. Vanoverschelde, 54, Lewisville, Texas – OWI first offense, running a stop sign, $1,100 bail;

Robert G. Walker, 46, Jonesville – OWI first offense, open container, improper left turn, possession of CDS, $1,700 bail;

Kimberly Yolanda Woods, 44, Pineville – OWI, $500 bail.

July 3

Kirstin Michelle Dion Ardion, 23, Alexandria – three counts attempted second degree murder, criminal conspiracy, $1.6 million bail;

Victoria Renee Bell, 24, Alexandria – three counts attempted second degree murder, criminal conspiracy, $1.6 million bail;

Javier Arkuis Brown, 34, N/A – possession of marijuana, criminal trespass, three counts contempt of court, $43,500 bail;

Douglas W. Cross, 71, Pineville – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Dashawn L. Davis, 22, Alexandria — three counts attempted second degree murder, criminal conspiracy, $1.6 million bail;

Kyrica Greenwell, 26, Elizabeth – contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Donald Dewayne Hampton, 46, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, wearing hood/mask in public places, $3,500 bail;

Sergio D. Hernandez, 23, Pineville – second degree rape, $250,000 bail;

Remya Leshay Irwin, 20, Alexandria – three counts attempted second degree murder, criminal conspiracy, two counts producing manufacturing distributing with intent CDS, paraphernalia, $1,650,500 bail;

Lavonne Lea King, 50, Alexandria – three counts theft, 15 counts contempt of court, $31,500 bail;

Matthew Paul Koepke II, 37, Deville – OWI first offense, open container, improper lane usage, following too close, improper driving on left, expired MVI sticker, $1,500 bail;

Kendrick Michael Perry, 33, Alexandria – OWI first offense, open container, driving under suspension, following too close, $1,300 bail;

David Lee Reed, 53, N/A – attempted second degree murder, aggravated cruelty to animals, probation violation, $600,000 bail;

Eli Dillon Stewart, 28, Alexandria – parish probation violation, parole violations, simple burglary, $10,000 bail.

July 2

Devetrick Bush, 19, Pineville – possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, manufacture, transfer, or possession of unlawful machine guns, $15,000 bail;

Louie Von Cole, 45, Alexandria – simple burglary, $5,000 bail;

Da’Michael Darrel Deal, 18, Pineville — possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, manufacture, transfer, or possession of unlawful machine guns, $15,000 bail;

Bradley Gene Durison, 22, Ball – Louisiana fugitive, two counts contempt of court, $100,000 bail;

Brian Paul Fletcher, 54, Boyce – OWI first offense, careless operation of a vehicle, $1,100 bail;

Thomas Charles Russ, 40, Deville – flight from an officer, no insurance, speeding, driving under suspension, reckless operation of a vehicle, $10,800 bail;

Francis Douglas Russell III, 67, Alexandria – failure to renew sex offender registration, sex offender failure to notify of change of address, $3,000 bail;

Ashton Allen Slocum, 31, Woodworth – possession of CDS, $2,500 bail;

Jeremyah Smith, 21, Houston – producing manufacturing distributing CDS with intent, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, legend drug possession, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, parish probation violation, $55,500 bail;

Terris Strong Jr, 19, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, paraphernalia, illegal use of weapons, second degree murder, $1.10 million;

Christopher Germaine Trowel, 23, Austin, Texas – second degree murder, $100,000 bail;

Adam James Weston, 29, Alexandria – simple burglary, $5,000 bail.

Allowing corporal punishment is only half the loaf.

The School Board decided Tuesday to ask principals for opinions on putting paddling back in the system. It hasn’t been allowed since 2022.

Board member Linda Burgess raised the issue, saying she has been asked by some parents to do so.

The other half of the loaf is the mandatory parental permission to apply it when determined necessary.

State law requires such to be signed, sealed and filed away before the fact and also requires detailed reporting to the Department of Education for any corporal punishment administered.

Based on initial social media comments parents seem as divided as the board on the question.

In 2022 the vote was 5-4 to bar such punishment; last year, though membership had changed, it was 5-4 to retain the ban.

Practicality is that such a discipline alternative is aimed at elementary and perhaps some middle school infractions. High schools are a different matter.

There will not be a Friday edition of the Rapides Parish Journal this week, in deference to the Independence Day holiday.

We will be spending the long holiday weekend with family and friends, enjoying the freedoms that the Declaration of Independence birthed in 1776. Whether your holiday fireworks are in the back yard, down the street or in a larger public celebration, we hope you have a safe and happy July 4.

You can count on the Journal to resume publishing Monday morning, free of charge to all, with locally-based content that is relevant to you and your neighbors.

The 2025 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration last Saturday night at the Natchitoches Events Center was a spectacular showcase of state sports greatness.

You can see this first-hand Sunday afternoon from 1:30-4 on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. LPB will replay its live coverage of the induction ceremony which has plenty of content showcasing the three-day celebration.

The telecast is also available on the LaSportsHall.com website, the LPB.org website or their YouTube channel.

The Class of 2025 was headlined by two men pivotal in LSU’s 2003 football national championship – coach Nick Saban and Andrew Whitworth, a champion at West Monroe High School, LSU and in the NFL during a 16-year pro career. More sparkle was provided by pro basketball All-Stars Danny Granger and Vickie Johnson, the state’s winningest all-time college baseball coach Joe Scheuermann and Danny Broussard, one of the nation’s most successful high school basketball coaches, in this year’s induction class.

It also includes LSU gymnastics great and NCAA individual champion April Burkholder, transformational Catholic-Baton Rouge high school football coach Dale Weiner and George “Bobby” Soileau, a four-time high school and 1956 NCAA boxing champion at LSU who also won a state crown as a football coach at his alma mater, Sacred Heart High School in Ville Platte.

LSU graduate Herb Vincent, now a longstanding associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, received the Hall’s Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award with his enshrinement.

Also honored: Ed Daniels, a generational television sports broadcaster in New Orleans, and Glenn Guilbeau, one of the nation’s more decorated sportswriters in a career that has seen him cover LSU, state college, high school and pro sports along with stories across the South and around the SEC. They were inducted as recipients of the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism.

Additionally, more than two dozen previously inducted Hall of Fame members returned to the 2025 ceremony to participate in the opening Walk of Legends.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions

July 2

Yolanda Renee Brooks, 41, Pineville – issuing worthless checks, $2,500 bail;

Jyrus Malik Butler, 28, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, obstructing public passages, contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Robert Edward Dauzart, 51, Alexandria – theft, illegal possession of stolen things, exploitation of the infirmed, forgery, aggravated second degree battery, simple escape, three counts contempt of court, $126,500 bail;

Demarkis Dundre Guidry, 33, Alexandria – four counts theft, $16,000 bail;

Paul Devoy Harper, 57, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, driving under suspension, purchase of commercial sexual activity, switched license plate, $3,450 bail;

Christopher Germaine Trowel, 23, Austin, Texas – attempted second-degree murder, no bail data.

July 1

Henry Charles Bartlett, 25, Alexandria – possession of CDS, $1,500 bail;

Logan Matthew Carter, 29, Pollock – seven counts contempt of court, failure to appear, $170,200 bail;

Patrick Steven Davis, 44, Ball – Louisiana fugitive, probation violation, no bail data;

Sam V. Deal, 22, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, paraphernalia, modified exhaust, no driver’s license, two counts illegal carry firearm with drugs, failure to appear, contempt of court, $37,200 bail;

Emily Ann Gagnard, 23, Pineville – criminal conspiracy, three counts aggravated assault, resisting an officer, criminal trespass, reckless operation of vehicle, possession of marijuana, $9,000 bail;

Jessica Eve Stelly, 39, Church Point – possession of CDS, $2,500 bail;

Tristan Jacob Travis, 26, Ball – OWI fourth offense, operating vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses, open container, improper window tint, no MVI sticker, speeding, $5,900 bail;

Tyler Jermone Weatherspoon, 28, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, armed robbery with use of firearm, probation violation, $165,000 bail;

Glendell Wesley, 48, Alexandria – second-degree murder, two counts aggravated assault with a firearm, resisting an officer, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, possession of firearm by convicted felon, illegal carry firearm with drugs, concealed negligent carry handgun, $198,500 bail.

June 30

Cedirc Bankston, 26, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, $1,500 bail;

Ishmael Elijah Bankston, 24, Alexandria —  aggravated assault with a firearm, $2,500 bail;

James Travis Bloomfield, 55, Grapevine, Texas – two counts aggravated resisting with force or violence, two counts aggravated battery of police officer, OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $101,100 bail;

Derwin Buard, 28, Alexandria – simple arson, $10,000 bail;

Tervell S. Coleman, 30, Alexandria – battery of dating partner, $1,500 bail;

Ruben Gonzalez-Cano, 24, Alexandria – OWI first offense, open container, $1,100 bail;

Marvin Louis Welch Jr, 26, Alexandria – home invasion, $1,500 bail;

Karell Evon Williams Jr, 46, Alexandria – two counts threatening a public official, parole violations, $50,000 bail;

Travonte Latrez Williams, 21, Alexandria – two counts carnal knowledge of a juvenile, indecent behavior with juveniles, contributing to delinquency of minors, $350,000 bail;

Carrie Cloud Willis, 48, Plainview – two counts contempt of court, $100,000 bail.         

June 29

Trae Joshua Barron, 33, Pineville – criminal damage to property, two counts criminal trespass, three counts resisting an officer, theft, reckless operation, driver’s license required, contempt on non-support, $4,500 bail;

Alberto Ducote, 22, Pineville – five counts contempt of court, $77,500 bail;

Tymichael Terrell Robinson, 34, Alexandria – theft, contempt of court, $2,500 bail.