Black Tuesday — The Day Wall Street Became a Haunted House

October 29, 1929—Black Tuesday—marked the collapse of the U.S. stock market and the beginning of the Great Depression. In a single day, billions of dollars evaporated, and a wave of panic swept the nation. But beyond the financial fallout, the event carried an eerie weight, as if Wall Street itself had been cursed.

In the days leading up to the crash, brokers and bankers worked in a frenzy, trying to keep the market afloat. When prices finally plummeted, chaos erupted. Eyewitnesses described men fainting, tearing up ledgers, and screaming in despair. Some investors, ruined in minutes, walked out of buildings and never returned home.

Newspapers at the time fueled the legend of desperate brokers leaping from skyscraper windows. While the number of suicides that day was exaggerated, there were enough tragedies in the weeks that followed to cement the image of Wall Street as a haunted district.

The “ghosts of Black Tuesday” lingered long after the crash. Families who lost everything often told stories of hearing phantom voices in their former offices or seeing apparitions of men in suits wandering near the Stock Exchange. Whether real hauntings or the product of grief, these tales captured the sense of loss that haunted a generation.

The Great Depression reshaped America. Breadlines, dust storms, and shuttered banks became the grim reality of the 1930s. Even today, economists and historians study October 29 as a turning point when prosperity gave way to hardship.

In New York, legends persist that certain offices on Wall Street are cursed. Night guards whisper of cold drafts, shadowy figures, and footsteps echoing through empty hallways long after business hours. For some, Black Tuesday isn’t just history—it’s a haunting.

Nearly a century later, October 29 remains a reminder of how quickly fortune can vanish, leaving behind only ghosts of ambition and despair.


How Northwestern State University Is Preparing the Next Generation of Nurses and Allied Health Professionals

Walk through any hospital in Louisiana and there’s a good chance you’ll meet a nurse, technologist, or healthcare leader who began their journey at Northwestern State University. From Natchitoches to Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville, NSU has become one of the state’s most respected names in healthcare education.

Healthcare is changing quickly, and so are the demands on those who deliver it. Hospitals need more trained professionals. Patients need more access to care. Families need people who can lead with skill and compassion. For many in Louisiana, that career path begins at NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health.

“Our students come from every corner of Louisiana and every stage of life,” said Dr. Aimee Badeaux, Dean of the College of Nursing and School of Allied Health. “Some are high school graduates looking for their first step. Others are licensed professionals seeking to grow in their careers. What unites them is a commitment to helping others, and that’s something we know how to develop.”

NSU offers one of the most comprehensive selections of healthcare programs in the region. Students can choose from associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across nursing, radiologic sciences, and allied health.

Among the most popular options:

  • Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and LPN to ASN
  • Military Medic/Paramedic to ASN — the only program of its kind in Louisiana, offered in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Alexandria, and Leesville
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)RN to BSNLPN to BSN, and Accelerated BSN (BS to BSN)
  • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with concentrations in Administration, Education, and multiple Nurse Practitioner tracks
  • Doctoral-level Nurse Anesthesia, Executive Leadership, and Educational Leadership programs
  • Bachelor and Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences — including the first Sonography program in North Louisiana
  • Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health, with concentrations in Health Science & Technology and Health Sciences Leadership & Management

For working registered nurses, the RN to BSN program remains a top choice. The online format offers flexibility and affordability while maintaining a strong academic foundation.

“Many of our RN-BSN students are balancing full-time jobs and family commitments,” explained Dr. Greg Handel, Executive Vice President and Provost. “We built the program to meet them where they are. It’s affordable, accredited, and recognized nationally for quality.”

Students in NSU’s healthcare programs train in high-fidelity simulation laboratories that recreate real-world clinical settings. From emergency response to pediatric care, these labs allow students to practice critical skills in a safe environment before moving into hospitals and clinics.

Those partnerships with regional healthcare providers are another reason NSU graduates are in such high demand. Students complete clinical rotations with major hospitals, community clinics, and long-term care facilities throughout Louisiana, gaining the experience and confidence that employers look for.

“The hands-on training our students receive makes a real difference,” said Dr. Badeaux. “They graduate with practical skills and a sense of responsibility to their patients and communities.”

That preparation shows in the outcomes. NSU boasts NCLEX pass rates of 98% for ASN graduates and 96% for BSN graduates, consistently exceeding state and national averages.

The university has also earned top national recognition, including:

  • #1 in Louisiana among Top Public Schools – U.S. News & World Report, 2026
  • #1 Best Online Nursing Program – The Princeton Review, 2024
  • #1 Best Nurse Practitioner and MSN Programs – NursePractitionerOnline.com and RegisteredNursing.org, 2025

In the past five years alone, Northwestern State has produced more registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and radiologic technologists than any other institution in the state.

Behind every successful graduate is a team of faculty who are both experienced clinicians and committed educators. With an average class size of 17, students receive the kind of personal attention that larger universities often can’t provide.

“Students succeed here because they’re known here,” said James T. Genovese, President of Northwestern State University. “We take pride in offering an environment where each student’s goals are understood, supported, and celebrated.”

As Louisiana’s population grows and healthcare needs become more complex, NSU continues to adapt. The university is expanding key programs to new sites, building stronger partnerships with hospitals, and investing in technology that enhances training and patient simulation.

Dr. Badeaux summarized it simply: “Every day, we’re educating the professionals who will care for our families tomorrow. That’s work we take seriously.”

For students and families exploring healthcare careers, Northwestern State University offers a trusted path — from the first day of class to the first day on the job. To learn more or connect with an advisor, visit www.nsula.edu/nursing.

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Pushback for a charming author

Acclaimed author Ann Bausum of Wisconsin visited this deep South city last week and spoke at a couple of events about her newest book, “White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War Then Rewrote the History.”

That’s like a guy from Massachusetts coming south to Baton Rouge to coach LSU football and telling white lies about how the team would win the national championship and then shaking down the university after being fired for a payout more than $50 million.

Well, maybe it’s not exactly like that, but it was courageous of her to come into “hostile” territory for such a talk, and it was bold of retired attorney Michael Tudor, her second cousin once removed, to invite her.

I listened to her talk at last week’s Alexandria Rotary Club luncheon, and she showed a bit of the Southern charm she experienced while growing up in Lexington, Va., as the daughter of a history professor at Virginia Military Institute.

To illustrate the premise of her book, she quoted from elementary and junior high school books in Virginia in 1957 that talked about how the planters “did not know how to free their slaves and keep their plantations open,” as if there were no other alternatives as to how they could do so.

She also quoted from a seventh-grade history textbook that claimed there were “strong ties” between slaves and masters that made their mutual lives “happy and prosperous.”

A preposterous notion.

But I do have a bone to pick with Bausum about such things as statues — and presumably honorariums – relating to the Confederacy having no place in the public square. She said statues honoring the Confederacy, in general, or its soldiers and leaders, are “coded messages” reinforcing the old Jim Crow segregationist laws and saying the Civil War is not over.

One of my favorite history professors at LSU, where I majored in history, was William Cooper, who taught there for nearly five decades and specialized in the history of the American South and the Civil War era. He is considered a leading expert on the life of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.

He was interviewed on “60 Minutes” several years ago, when Confederate statues were being taken down or removed across the South, including General Robert E. Lee in New Orleans.

“One of the things that bothers me most as a historian,” he said, “is what I call ‘presentism,’ judging the past by the present, figuring that we are the only moral people.” He contended that those monuments were put up by real people who had real beliefs and even if today most Americans don’t like those beliefs the monuments remain a part of history and should stay.

I’ll take it a step further, considering how some family members have been victimized by the erasure of honors for anyone associated in any way with the Confederacy.

In December of 2020, a Board of Visitors at Virginia Commonwealth University unanimously approved a resolution to remove 16 names, plaques and other symbols related to the Confederacy. The Tompkins-McCaw Library at the Medical School was renamed and a more generic title chosen: the Health Sciences Library.

In 1950 the library got its name, inspired by five physicians from the Tompkins and McCaw families. Most notable among that crew were Captain Sally Louisa Tompkins, the first commissioned officer of the Confederacy, and Dr. James Brown McCaw, who was the wartime administrator for Richmond’s Chimborazo Hospital.

At an early age, Sally, my paternal grandfather’s great aunt, began nursing the sick, both slave and free, in the local community. She became a nurse and started managing the private Robertson Hospital in August 1861, shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run. By her being officially commissioned as a captain in the Confederate Army on September 9, 1861, President Davis could keep her hospital running as a military facility. 

Numerous ladies from the Saint James Episcopal Church helped run what became one of the South’s biggest wartime hospitals. During the war, Robertson Hospital treated 1,334 wounded with only 73 deaths, the lowest mortality rate of any military hospital during the Civil War. Her care and treatment of the patients earned her the nickname “Angel of the Confederacy.”

Mary Chestnut, an author and Civil War diarist and frequent visitor to the hospital, called Captain Sally “our Florence Nightingale.”

Sally refused payment for her service, writing on her commission that she accepted the commission when it was offered, but “I would not allow my name to be placed upon the (payroll) of the army.”

Is this the kind of villain whose name should be eradicated from legacy or is best left for a tombstone? Thankfully, her image in a stained-glass window at Richmond’s St. James Episcopal Church has not been removed. Such an honor is not rewriting history.

For that matter, Dr. McCaw, my third great-grandfather, is far from some hateful, demonic type whose memory should be eradicated. He was featured in a Nov. 22, 2011 retrospective in the New York Times for running the Chimborazo Hospital during the Civil War in Richmond, not far from Robertson Hospital. Dr. Samuel P. Moore, the Surgeon General of the Confederacy, appointed McCaw, one of the South’s leading young physicians then, to run the facility. Lois Leveen, who penned the NYT story, said McCaw “embodied the emergence of the modern, professional doctor.”

McCaw used his organizational skills in the way he laid out the hospital complex into five divisions, each with its own surgeon-in-chief. When the number of the wounded exceeded the capacity of the 90 wards, McCaw had 100 Sibley tents pitched nearby, accommodating up to 10 patients each.

About 75,000 patients passed through Chimborazo – which was not a field hospital but a convalescent hospital – during its  3 ½ years of existence.

People have always liked to honor those who transcend themselves, especially in the darkest of times, by elevating others. Their legacies should not be buried or exiled.


Win at Ruston bumps ASH up in 5A poll, Tioga maintains 4A status

Alexandria Senior High scored one of the most impressive wins in the state this season last Friday, going to Ruston and toppling the Bearcats 45-28.

ASH was sixth-ranked in last week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A poll. Ruston was No. 2.

The Trojans trailed 21-3 but rallied for a 24-21 halftime lead. Behind a powerful running attack that put up 257 yards, and a defense that held the Bearcats to 179 on the ground, ASH beat Ruston at its own game. The visitors scored the game’s final 11 points to pull away in the fourth quarter.

The outcome lifted the Trojans one spot, and dropped the Bearcats right behind their District 2-5A nemesis.

In Class 4A voting, Tioga stayed put in the “also receiving votes” category with a pivotal district championship game against Franklin Parish looming in Week 10.

                            

Class 5A

School (1st place votes), poll points, last week’s rank

1. Karr (11), 8-0, 132, 1

2. John Curtis, 7-0,112, 3

3. West Monroe, 7-1, 105, 4

4. St. Augustine, 6-1, 93, 5

5. Alexandria Senior High, 7-1, 90, 6

6. Ruston, 6-2, 80, 2

7. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 6-2, 68, 7

8. Evangel Christian, 7-1, 45, 8

9. Zachary, 6-1, 37, 9

10. Destrehan, 6-2, 25, 10

Others receiving votes: Central 17, Parkway 16, Archbishop Rummel 8, Neville 7, Terrebonne 3, Carencro 3, Thibodaux 2, Ouachita 1, Hahnville 1, St. Paul’s 1.

 

Class 4A

1. North DeSoto (9), 8-0, 127, 1

2. Teurlings Catholic (2), 8-0, 122, 2

3. St. Thomas More, 6-2, 108, 3

4. Plaquemine, 7-1, 86, 4

5. Iowa, 8-0, 80, 5

6. Franklin Parish, 6-2, 71, 6

7. St. Charles, 7-1, 66, 7

8. Archbishop Shaw, 6-2, 62, 8

9. Lakeshore, 7-1, 50, 9

10. Vandebilt Catholic, 8-0, 40,10

Others receiving votes: Franklinton 12, Loyola 9, Tioga 9, Belle Chasse 6, Westgate 5, E.D. White 2, Brusly 2, Cecilia 1.

 

Class 3A

1. Jewel Sumner (9), 8-0, 127, 1

2. Madison Prep (1), 7-1, 120, 2

3. St. James, 6-2, 102, 4

(tie) University (1), 6-2, 102, 5

5. Sterlington, 6-2, 89, 6

6. Jena, 7-1, 75, 8

7. Erath, 8-0, 68, 7

8. Bunkie, 7-1, 60, 3

9. Lake Charles Prep, 6-2, 37, 9

10. Marksville, 7-1, 28, 10

Others receiving votes: Church Point 18, Amite 17, Jennings 15, John F. Kennedy 10, De La Salle 1.

 

Class 2A

1. Ouachita Christian (7), 8-0, 124, 1

2. Lafayette Christian Academy (3), 7-1, 121, 2

3. Dunham (1), 7-1, 111, 3

4. Calvary Baptist, 7-1, 103, 4

5. South Plaquemines, 6-1, 78, 6

6. Notre Dame, 6-2, 77, 7

7. Lafayette Renaissance Charter, 7-1, 55, 9

8. Kinder, 8-0, 47, 10

9. Catholic-New Iberia, 6-2, 41, 5

10. Oak Grove,  6-2, 28, NR

Others receiving votes: Mangham 26, Newman 20, Loreauville 14, Northlake Christian 6, Ferriday 3, Union Parish 3.

 

Class A

1. Haynesville (11), 8-0, 132, 1

2. Hamilton Christian, 7-0, 112, 3

3. Riverside Academy, 7-1, 110, 4

4. Covenant Christian, 6-2, 90, 6

5. Westminster-Opelousas, 8-0, 81, 5

(tie) Jeanerette,  7-1, 81, 2

7. Ascension Episcopal, 7-0, 69, 8

8. Southern Lab, 4-4, 50, NR

9. Ascension Catholic,  6-2,  39, NR

10. St. Edmund, 7-1, 22, NR

Others receiving votes: North Iberville 18, Kentwood 18, Logansport 15, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 10, Vermilion Catholic 6, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 4, Opelousas Catholic 1.


Brad Dison for the week: The absurdity of war

When Melvin James Kiminsky was entering his senior year in high school in 1944, he took the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program test, an assessment to determine intelligence and comprehension.  Melvin did so well on the aptitude test that Army recruiters sent him to Virginia Military Institute to study electrical engineering.  Melvin, who had spent his whole life in New York City, was surrounded by “mountain ranges, red clay, a lot of horses, and statues of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.”  At VMI, he was taught to ride a horse, wield a saber, do close-order drill, and electrical engineering.  Then, he was transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to work on a field artillery team whose main weapon was a 105mm cannon.  The Army failed to provide hearing protection, so Melvin began tearing the filters off of Camel cigarettes and sticking those in his ears.  He quipped, “my ears are still yellow to this day.”         

In January 1945, Melvin was among hundreds of soldiers who were sent to Europe.  He ended up on the front line between Sarreguemines, France, and Saarbrucken, Germany.  Because he was classified as an engineer—his superiors overlooked the fact that he was an electrical engineer and not a combat engineer—they gave him a bayonet and told him to probe for mines.  Melvin thought the order was absurd, but he was instructed to insert his bayonet into the ground at a shallow angle to avoid pressing the detonator which was normally triggered by pressure from directly above.  After a while, Melvin joined a team with the 1104thcombat engineers who had to erect a Bailey bridge, a portable truss bridge, over a river which led into enemy territory defended by Nazis.  The Bailey bridge was so light that they could swing it out over the river, but strong enough to support the weight of a crossing tank.  Melvin was one of the first men who had to cross the bridge because he had to secure it to the other side.  The ever-watchful Germans, angry that an American soldier would soon be coming onto their side of the river, shouted warnings in German over a loudspeaker.  Melvin grabbed a bullhorn and responded to the German soldiers but not by yelling threats.  He sang a full rendition of the popular upbeat Broadway showtune “Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo’ Bye!)”  

When he finished singing, he lowered the bullhorn.  The men in his company stared at him in complete and confused silence.  For a few moments, the German soldiers were also silent.  Then, a few of the enemy soldiers began clapping and cheering.  Neither the American soldiers nor the German soldiers understood the absurdity that had just occurred.  Melvin understood the absurdity of the war and satirized it directly to soldiers on both sides of the conflict.  For the past 80 years, Melvin Kiminsky has been entertaining the world in much the same way, with his own brand of absurd comedy.  He is one of only 27 entertainers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award for his work on films such as “The Producers,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Spaceballs,” and “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.”  At 99 years old, he is currently producing and acting in “Spaceballs 2.”  Kaminsky may not be a name you recognize.  You see, early in his career, to eliminate his being confused with noted trumpet player Max Kaminsky, Melvin James Kaminsky began performing under the stage name Mel Brooks.               

Source: “Mel Brooks on Fighting the Germans in World War II—Rare Interview!” TheTVTimeMachine, YouTube, March 3, 2024, https://youtu.be/xmJq2vvuPL4?si=e0Q3g1Zj8dwtBzyw.

 
 
 

Renaissance seeking construction manager proposals

By JIM BUTLER

The Renaissance board is seeking proposals for shifting construction of its expansion from a traditional approach to one it thinks more suited to the project’s complexities.

About $38 million in grant funding is involved in the addition of beds to accommodate juvenile offenders, with multiple parishes as well as state agencies involved.

Ordinarily public construction goes through design, then competitive bids on basis of the design and specifications, then construction.

The Construction Management at Risk method involves the chosen contractor involved in the project from the design get-go.

It also sets a fixed maximum price and timeline.

The board has created a committee to review applications for the construction job. Members are Police Jury President Craig Smith, Sheriff Mark Wood or designate, DA Phillip Terrell or designate, architect representative Bill Aldridge and contractor representative Wayne Vollman.

While that process unfolds the board is tending to related issues:

  • Asking the state Interim Emergency Board to shift $1 million previously appropriated for a new 16-bed addition to the overall expansion;
  • Negotiating buyout of a farm lease in order to sublease property for the detention facility;
  • Testing of subsoil to assure capability for hosting the facility.

LCU gets comeback victory over winless Texas College

LCU’s Darius Washington returns a kickoff Friday night for Louisiana Christian in a narrow win over Texas College. (Photo by KYLEIGH KRAMEL, courtesy LCU Athletics)

The Louisiana Christian University football team took advantage of a couple Texas College miscues, enough to dodge an upset as the Wildcats rallied by the winless Steers for a 12-7 triumph in a Sooner Athletic Conference contest Friday night at Wildcat Field.

The game was moved up from Saturday due to weather concerns.

Louisiana Christian (6-3, 5-1 SAC) played from behind most of the way after Texas College (0-7, 0-6 SAC) took its second drive of the day and marched 72 yards in nine plays, finishing off with an eight-yard touchdown pass to go up 7-0.

The Steers seemed poised to enhance their lead, getting down to the LCU 15-yard line before their drive stalled, and a 31-yard field goal was blocked by Nate Sullivan and returned 69 yards for a Wildcats touchdown by Brandon Johnson II. The extra point was missed but LCU closed within 7-6. 
The one-point edge held up going to the fourth quarter before Wildcats got the break they needed. A bad punt snap by the Steers resulted in a short field for LCU, starting at the TC 23.
 
On the second play, Bryce Perkins and Omarius Davis connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass, giving the Wildcats a 12-7 advantage with 13:41 left. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt was stopped short.
 
The Wildcat defense made a vital stop on a fourth and two play at the LCU 20 for a turnover on downs. LCU had its chances to put the game away on offense, but a 50-yard field goal attempt was just wide and a fourth and two play failed at the Texas College 26.

A sack by Jermarian Jackson near midfield halted TC’s last gasp as time expired.
 
Jaterrius Johnson led the LCU offense, rushing for 130 yards on 22 carries.
 
Perkins finished the game 10 of 18 passing for 89 yards and a touchdown.
 
E.J. Scott had four catches to lead the team, getting 26 yards.
 
Davis led LCU in receiving yards with 48 on three receptions, including the go-ahead touchdown.
 
Trace McHugh paced the defense with eight total tackles, 1.5 for loss and had a hand in on a sack.
 
Along with the blocked the field goal attempt, Sullivan had an interception which he returned 40 yards.
 
The Wildcats have a bye week before wrapping up their three-game homestand on Sat., Nov. 8 when Arkansas Baptist comes to Pineville for LCU’s final home game of the 2025 season, which will also be Senior Day.


Man arrested on second-degree murder faces $325K bail

Arrests are accusations, not convictions

 

Oct. 26

Samantha Edwards, 35, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, criminal trespass, $3,500 bail;

Jonathan Charles Harris, 40, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, criminal trespass, $3,500 bail.

 

Oct. 25

Kyle Wayne Benton, 33, Alexandria – simple assault, two counts contempt of court, $50,500 bail;

Carolyn Desselles, 73, Pineville – three counts contempt of court, $75,000 bail;

Tripp Eckstein, 18, Pineville – OWI, open container, improper lane usage, $1,200 bail;

Brandon Markee Landers, 37, Alexandria – aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts contempt of court, $10,000 bail;

Chad Jules Gagnard, 48, Pineville – two counts contempt of court, $100,000 bail;

Adam West Hughes, 53, Dry Prong – domestic abuse battery serious injury, no bail data;

Hung Luu, 35, Alexandria – OWI first offense, red light lamps, $1,100 bail;

Jiovanna Salinas, 21, Ediburg, Texas – domestic abuse battery, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, no bail data;

Dvetric Dewayne Williams St., 26, Alexandria – OWI second offense, $1,500 bail.

 

Oct. 24

Eric Bell, 48, Alexandria – seven counts contempt of court, $175,000 bail;

Ronnie Lynn Benett, 39, Boyce – criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, impersonating a peace officer, parole violations, $1,500 bail;

Damien Lamelle Bradley, 47, Pineville – OWI, reckless operation, open container, $1,100 bail;

Dwight Paul Drouin, 42, Alexandria – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Jason William Fowler, 38, Pollock – four counts simple burglary, three counts criminal damage to critical infrastructure, theft of a firearm, criminal damage to property, theft, theft of a motor vehicle, $45,500 bail;

Troyvonta Deonta Green, 28, N/A — second degree murder, possession of firearm by convicted felon, simple battery, criminal damage to property, simple escape, $325,000 bail;

Charles Demonte Hall, 44, Alexandria – three counts theft, simple burglary, resisting a police officer with force or violence, battery on officer, six counts contempt of court, $47,000 bail;

Cedrick Dewayne McGinnis Jr., 24, Alexandria – five counts contempt of court, $100,500 bail;

Elizabeth J. Phillips, 42, Pineville – flight from an officer, resisting an officer, possession of CDS, resisting an officer, running a stop sign, running a red light, no vehicle registration, no signals, improper lane usage, contempt of court, Louisiana fugitive, $14,000 bail;

Travis Glenn Rush, 34, Alexandria – possession of marijuana, five counts contempt of court, $7,500 bail;

Demetrice Tolliver, 19, Jonesville – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Rocky Walker, 20, Pineville – aggravated second degree battery, no bail data;

Mark Shawn Wilkerson, 48, Pineville – simple burglary, two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail.

 

Oct. 23

Desmond Dewayne Austin, 38, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery strangulation, three counts contempt of court, $11,000 bail;

Daitreon Delshaun Benjamin, 40, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, obstruction of justice, $101,000 bail;

Francis Merlin Bourgeois, 56, Alexandria – sex offender failure to renew registration, parole violations, $10,000 bail;

Erica Uniyaunique Chapman, 27, Pineville – cruelty to juveniles, aggravated second degree battery, aggravated battery, two counts contempt of court, $79,000 bail;

Van Michael Dunn Jr., 29, Alexandria – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Cameron Ashton Hebert, 25, Alexandria — possession of fentanyl, criminal trespass, $25,250 bail;

Gregory Demoin Mason, 51, Pineville – domestic abuse battery serious injury, $5,000 bail;

Kori Quartez Mock, 26, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, parole violations, $100,000 bail;

Nathaniel Kevin Smith, 34, Deville – simple burglary, contempt of court, $11,000 bail;

Darquarious Delquan Stafford, 25, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, criminal trespass, contempt of court, $27,500 bail;

Shailen Trena Zeno, 32, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper driving on the left, open container, $1,200 bail.

 

Oct. 22

Dakota Lee Beebe Sr., 29, Lena – possession of a stolen vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of firearm by convicted felon, Louisiana fugitive, parole violations, $75,000 bail;

Gatloyn O’Bryan Blue, 28, Lecompte – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, criminal conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia, intentional littering, $760,000 bail;

Quaderius Dewayne Bush, 24, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $52,000 bail;

Yolanda Fate Hall, 51, Alexandria – OWI first offense, possession of marijuana, smoking in vehicle, expired plate/registration, expired MVI sticker, $1,800 bail;

Larry Charles Hargrove, 29, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, possession of marijuana, violation of protective orders, illegal possession of stolen things, parole violations, firearms with obliterated serial number, $23,500 bail;

Johnny Ray King, 52, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, improper window tint, $5,100 bail;

Colby Aaron Whatley, 24, Pineville – child desertion, contributing to delinquency of juveniles, switch MVI, driving under suspension, reckless operation, no license plate light, speeding, resisting an officer, flight from an officer, three counts aggravated obstruction of highway, contempt of court, aggravated second degree battery, aggravated obstruction of highway, criminal conspiracy, criminal mischief, $158,500 bail;

Ladarrian Damon Young, 27, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, criminal conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless operation of a vehicle, intentional littering, $210,100 bail.


GAEDA, city seem headed to court

By JIM BUTLER

It appears certain GAEDA does not intend to honor its agreement to participate with the city in restoration and use of the former Weiss & Goldring building and court action is in the offing.

The Authority is past due on payment obligations to the city and its commissioners are seemingly taking legal advice not to pay.

A vote this week to purchase a downtown building as the agency’s future home seals the deal, some think.

The vote to buy the tract at 726 Murray for $780,000, bypassing the state Bond Commission in the process, raised issues of its own.

Praised by City Council members Jules Green, Cynthia Perry and Malcolm Larvadain as a step forward for the city and the economic development panel, it is criticized as hastily done by others.

That quarter claims the purchase a preemptive move in the face of vows by former commissioner John Callis to “reform”,  in his opinion, GAEDA, through the courts if necessary.

That camp also believes the decision to bypass the bonding process was spurred by the possibility of questions that panel might ask regarding Callis’ recent win in a state Supreme Court ruling.

Regarding the “hasty” claim — GAEDA has been entertaining thoughts of a permanent home for some time.

The most-recent specific mention, according to minutes, was in July and concerned a Jackson Street property under consideration.

In August a commissioner asked for an update regarding that. Minutes do not reflect details of any update.

Most public bodies hold minutes content to the required minimum.

When the Murray Street site came into play isn’t known. The panel’s September meeting consisted of its annual retreat.

The property improvements currently house four attorneys and a coffee shop, with additional rental space available. Current annual rental income is $65,000.

GAEDA, like any other public body, is required to obtain an appraisal of property before purchase and cannot pay more than the appraised value.

If either the buyer or seller is a public agency and is aware a public official may have a pecuniary interest in a transaction it must by law disclose that at least seven days prior.

Any public official with such an interest in such a transaction must by law disclose that at least five days prior.


LCU home again Saturday afternoon against winless Texas College

For the Louisiana Christian University football team, this is the fun time of year.

After manhandling visiting Nelson last week, LCU looks primed for another Sooner Athletic Conference victory at home Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats (5-3, 4-1 SAC) continue their three-game homestand when Texas College comes to Pineville. Kickoff against the Steers (0-6, 0-5 SAC) is set for 2 p.m. at Wildcat Field, where LCU is 3-0 this season.

Leading the offense for the Wildcats is junior quarterback Bryce Perkins. He has thrown for 1,776 yards and 15 touchdowns, hitting 121 of 227 throws with nine interceptions.

ASH product Datlan Cunningham is the LCU workhorse in the running game. Cunningham’s 158 carries are more than twice as many as any other Wildcat. He has rushed for 719 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Omarius Davis is LCU’s top receiver with 33 catches for 522 yards and 5 touchdowns. ASH product E.J. Scott has 23 catches for 367 yards and four scores in just four games.

Kylon Polk sets the tone for the Wildcats’ defense. He has 46 tackles, 6 pass breakups and 3 interceptions.


LSMSA to host information session in Alexandria

NATCHITOCHES, La. — Representatives from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) will host an informational session for prospective students and their families on Tuesday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Alexandria – Downtown, 701 4th Street, Alexandria.

Each fall, LSMSA staff travel across Louisiana to meet with families, answer questions, and provide insight into the unique opportunities available at LSMSA. When possible, parents of current students and alumni from the area will also be present to share their first-hand experiences.

“Information sessions are such a great opportunity for families across the state to get a closer look at LSMSA experience,” said Emily Shumate, LSMSA’s Director of Enrollment and Student Success. “It’s always inspiring to see students and their families discover the opportunities that await them here.”

The sessions are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online before the day of the session at lsmsa.edu/info-sessions.

LSMSA is a tuition-free, public high school for high-achieving sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Financial assistance is available to ensure that no eligible student is denied access to its 42-year legacy of a college-level living/learning experience.


Hear ye, hear ye

By JIM BUTLER

From public notices:

Annexation, zoning request

Pineville is asked to annex not quite 10 acres at LA 107 & Smith Road, which is east of Bayou Maria.

The petition by Mallard Creek Town Homes LLC seeks an R-2 Residential designation. Notice does not enumerate how many residences are envisioned. 

It will be considered at a Zoning Committee meeting November 10 at 4:30 p.m.

Cloverdale drainage

The Police Jury is seeking proposals for engineering services aimed at improving drainage in the Cloverdale area off Coliseum Blvd.

A joke in that area is heavy dew causes flooding from Mabel Brasher school to near WhatABurger.

A negotiated fee with fixed construction details and schedule is part of such a request.

Response deadline is November 7.

Pay raise

Forest Hill Council members have voted to increase their pay. The published minutes don’t stipulate the amount or the effective date.

Posted minutes of most public bodies do not normally contain details of ordinances or discussion.

The most-recent available village audit report lists the salary for the three council members as $4,800 annually.

 

Rate increases

The Lecompte Council has implemented wastewater rate increases. 

Auditors have previously noted the town was failing to meet requirements of a revenue bond issue that financed system improvements. 

A Rural Water Association rate study concluded the system was unsustainable at rates then in place. 

The immediate change puts base residential service (2,000 gallons of water or less) at $30 monthly and $5 per 1,000 gallons over. 

Corresponding commercial rates are $60 and $5. 

Phase 2 of the adjustment raises the rates in 2026 to $32 and $5.50 residential, $62 and $5.50 commercial. 

Beginning in 2027 rates will be adjusted annual on February 1 based on the Consumer Price Index-Urban annual change or 3 percent, whichever is greater. 


Alexandria 20-year-old facing million-plus bail on murder, drug charges

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

 

Oct. 22

Zachary Tyler Babin, 29, Walldoboro, Maine – three counts domestic abuse battery, $75,000 bail;

Breanna Nicole Baham, 28, Pineville – contempt of court, $100,000 bail;

Terry James Gilbert, 51, Boyce – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, Louisiana fugitive, switch MVI, $3,100 bail;

Michael Kane Pitts, 47, Leesville – Louisiana fugitive, contempt of court, $25,000 bail;

Justin Sean Rollins, 25, Pineville – contempt of court, $50,000 bail.

 

Oct. 21

Marcus D. Booker Jr., 38, Pineville – theft, criminal trespass, possession of CDS, parole violations, $3,250 bail;

Devetrick Bush, 20, Pineville – armed robbery, $250,000 bail;

Carnell Antonio Carter, 38, Alexandria – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, $500 bail;

Edward D. Evans, 56, Calvin – contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Allen Jerry Fields, 35, Pineville – sex offender failure to renew registration, $10,000 bail;

Brandon John Glorioso, 30, Elmer – four counts possession of fentanyl, two counts possession of CDS, two counts contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, $71,500 bail;

Lasane Harris, 21, Boyce – criminal conspiracy, hit and run, reckless operation, unsafe vehicle, no insurance, $10,556 bail;

Jorion Dwann Henderson, 28, Alexandria – resisting arrest, eight counts contempt of court, $68,500 bail;

Michael J. Johnson Jr., 39, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, resisting an officer, theft, criminal trespass, simple burglary, possession of marijuana, eight counts contempt of court, $307,250 bail;

Ryan Odell Kirk, 51, Pineville – driving under suspension, seven counts contempt of court, headlights, $156,200 bail;

Brady Lachney, 39, Pineville – criminal conspiracy, prohibited activities and sanctions, theft, $5,500 bail;

Misty Higgs Laprairie, 48, Pineville – two counts Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Melissa A. McEvers, 44, Pineville – resisting an officer, three counts contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Shelton Ray Morris Jr, 48, Lecompte – criminal damage to property, aggravated robbery, three counts simple burglary, $13,500 bail;

Joseph Clay Nugent, 54, Pineville – hit and run driving, criminal damage to property, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, possession of CDS, obstruction of justice, resisting an officer, driving under suspension, failure to report an accident, improper lane usage, Louisiana fugitive, $6,300 bail;

Jaquarius Deonte Sewell, 29, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, improper lane usage, careless operation of a vehicle, $5,200 bail;

Terris Strong Jr., 20, Alexandria – second degree murder, possession of paraphernalia, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, illegal use of weapons, $1.15 million bail;

Blaise H. Vidrine, 37, Elton – no insurance, driving under suspension, speeding, possession or sell of firearms with obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts contempt of court, $25,300 bail.

 

Oct. 20

Christopher Bell, 34, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, Louisiana fugitive, failure to appear, $2,000 bail;

Devarus Martelle Bennett, 21, Alexandria – home invasion, $50,000 bail;

Ashley Nicole Bowman, 31, Pineville – home invasion, $50,000 bail;

Jason Leon Crager, 39, Calcasieu – two counts Louisiana fugitive, no bail data;

Lawanda Ann Dubois, 55, Pineville – OWI first offense, careless operation of a vehicle, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, $1,200 bail;

Qwadadrian Fields, 20, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, flight from an officer, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, no driver’s license, canceled plate violation, failure to secure registration, resisting an officer, safety belt violation, $31,800 bail;

Elijah Frank, 19, Hineston – theft, two counts contempt of court, $6,000 bail;

Cazya Creone White, 19, Pineville – home invasion, $50,000 bail;

Z’mya Breon White, 20, Pineville – home invasion, $100,000 bail;

Travis Terrell Wilson, 39, Alexandria – theft of package delivered to inhabited dwelling, obstruction of justice, $26,000 bail.

 

Oct. 19

Sundrea Denae Campbell, 28, Pineville – possession of CDS, simple burglary, paraphernalia, probation violation, $25,500 bail;

Casmyn Jer’Wayne Claiborne, 26, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, domestic abuse battery, $4,000 bail;

Eric Fruge, 43, Alexandria – theft, contempt of court, $50,500 bail;

Ashley Nichole Grantham, 43, Pineville – illegal possession of stolen things, two counts contempt of court, $60,000 bail;

Willie Clyde Reed, 27, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, running a stop sign, parole violations, $3,100 bail;

Keith A. Reynolds, 38, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, violation/protective order, $1,750 bail;

Curtis Rominger, 33, Deville – theft, contempt of court, $5,500 bail.


Ghosts of the Grey Ghost — The HMS Curacoa disaster

On October 22, 1942, a tragedy unfolded at sea that still sends shivers through maritime history. The British light cruiser HMS Curacoa was escorting the RMS Queen Mary, which was transporting nearly 20,000 American troops to Britain during World War II. In a catastrophic miscalculation, the Queen Mary accidentally rammed the Curacoa, slicing it in half.

The Queen Mary, nicknamed the “Grey Ghost” for her speed and stealth, was under orders never to stop, not even in emergencies. After the collision, the massive liner plowed forward, leaving behind the shattered cruiser and hundreds of men struggling in the cold Atlantic. Of the Curacoa’s crew, 338 perished. Survivors recalled the horror of watching their shipmates vanish as the Queen Mary steamed on.

The event was hushed during the war. News reports were minimal, and families often received vague notices of “lost at sea.” But among sailors, the story became a whispered legend of bad luck and restless spirits.

Today, the Queen Mary is docked in Long Beach, California, serving as a hotel and museum. It is also considered one of the most haunted places in America. Visitors and paranormal investigators frequently report hearing footsteps echoing in empty corridors, ghostly figures in naval uniforms, and even cries for help. Some believe the spirits of the Curacoa’s sailors followed the ship, bound forever to the vessel that could not stop for them.

Tour guides often point to “Door 13” in the engine room, where a crewman was crushed decades later, as one of the ship’s most active paranormal hotspots. But many say the true haunting stems from October 22, 1942, when hundreds of men were lost in the Atlantic’s icy embrace.

For those who walk the Queen Mary today, the line between history and haunting is thin. The ship’s grandeur hides its dark past, but echoes of the Curacoa disaster continue to reverberate—an eternal reminder of duty, sacrifice, and ghosts that never let go.


BOM Bank would like to welcome Jessica Brunson

BOM Bank would like to welcome Jessica Brunson as the new Branch Manager of our Kingsville branch in Pineville, LA! Jessica has lived in Dry Prong all her life and attended Georgetown High School.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family doing things such as hunting, traveling, and watching her kids play sports. A fun fact about Jessica is that she loves everything Halloween! Perhaps her favorite part of the season is dressing her family up in themed costumes and doing fun Halloween makeup with her daughter.

GAEDA to discuss property purchase

By JIM BUTLER

A buzz started in City Hall on Monday when GAEDA posted notice of intentions to buy property in downtown Alexandria.

That agenda item for today’s 3:15 p.m. Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority meeting seems to have caught most interested parties by surprise.

The agenda includes discussion and adoption of a resolution authorizing financing purchase of property at 720 Murray St.  for $790,000.

Whether the Authority envisions establishing its permanent quarters on the site or securing it as an economic development attraction isn’t stated.

The potential financial commitment comes as GAEDA weighs its rescission options on an agreement to join the city on the Weiss & Goldring building restoration.

GAEDA’s part of that pact amounts to about $1.2 million.

The financing proposal for the Murray Street deal would go to the state Bond Commission where final approval is required.

Also on today’s agenda is discussion and approval of Executive Director Angela Varnado’s performance evaluation rubric, which in turn has bearing on any bonus qualifications in her contract.

The agenda includes no references to the La. Supreme Court recent ruling in the 2024 dispute over actions at what the court eventually ruled was an illegal meeting.

In the time between then and the ruling the Authority in essence did a redo on Varnado’s contract, among other things.

Plaintiff in that suit, John Callis, has urged the City Council to reshape the Authority or sunset it.

The Council, which meets at 5 p.m. today, has not responded. The Authority seems to be taking a water-under-the-bridge position.


Knives out, but there was a time when patience delivered

The leaves are falling and so are college football head coaches.

Ten, count ’em, ten head coaches have already been fired and we aren’t even in the ninth week of the season.

The knives are out, and tempers are boiling after LSU’s 31-24 loss Saturday at Vanderbilt in a matchup of ranked Southeastern Conference football teams.

The noise on the internet is that Brian Kelly, the Tigers’ fourth-year head coach, is a bum, never should’ve been hired and should be fired immediately. And those are the kind comments.

I understand LSU fans are upset. LSU was being touted by LSU coaches and players before the season as a serious contender for the national championship, and the Tigers have been underwhelming in putting together a 5-2 record. With No. 3 Texas A&M and fourth-ranked Alabama on the schedule as the next two opponents, the future doesn’t look bright.

In a time when we expect instant gratification in everything, many are calling for LSU to find the $50-plus million to buy out the remainder of Kelly’s $10 million per year contract.

Wait a minute, please. Take a few slow, deep breaths.

There’s something to be said for patience as opposed to impatience or contrariness. Patience can lead to stability, and stability can lead to confidence, and confidence can lead to success. Impatience can lead to hurried, irrational choices, which can lead to chaos, which can lead to failure.

Bear with me. I started in the sportswriting business five decades ago, and I remember it as a time of stability for successful head coaches at the time. Woody Hayes, until a sideline eruption with a player, coached 28 years at Ohio State. Bear Bryant coached 25 years at Alabama. Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Eddie Robinson coached at Grambling for 55 years over two stints, starting in 1941 and ending in ’97. Vince Dooley coached 25 years at Georgia.

Frank Broyles coached 19 years at Arkansas. Charlie McClendon coached 18 years at LSU.

Here’s one to ponder: Frank Beamer coached 29 seasons at Virginia Tech, but that never would’ve happened in today’s impatient college football environment. Why? Because he had a rough go of things through his first six seasons, with records of 2-9, 3-8, 6-4, 6-5, 5-6 and 2-8-1.

No way he would’ve survived with that record today. Why do I say that? One of the coaches who have already been fired this season is Brent Pry, in his fourth season at Virginia Tech. He was fired  after his team lost its first three games. His overall record at Virginia Tech was 13-25. Frank Beamer’s overall record at Virginia Tech through the first three games of his fourth season was 12-23.

Patience with Beamer paid off for Virginia Tech back then (his tenure was from 1987-2015) as he finished with a career record of 235-120-2, including multiple 10-win seasons, 23 straight bowl games and advancing to a national championship game with 13 victories in 2000.

It’s rare to find a head coach now who has spent as much as 25 years at one school, although Kirk Ferentz is in his 27th season at Iowa. At the NCAA Division III level, Geno DeMarco is in his 33rd and final season at Geneva College, located in Beaver Falls, Pa., home of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath.

Also in Division III,  former LCU foe Pete Fredenburg coached for 24 seasons at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, before retiring after the ’21 season.

The longest active tenure among SEC coaches belongs to Kentucky’s Mark Stoops, who is in his 13th season with the Wildcats. He is the winningest coach in Kentucky’s football history and has survived a two-year probation from the spring of ’21 to March of ’22. He has 79 victories in his time at UK, but that includes a 10-win season in 2021 that was vacated as part of the probation due to a violation where at least 11 players were paid for work they did not perform.

One of those 10 coaches already fired this season is Billy Napier at Florida, the same guy many LSU fans were wishing would’ve been hired out of Louisiana-Lafayette by LSU after the 2021 season instead of Kelly.

Which is a reminder that you’ve got to be careful what you wish for. The urge to purge might not result in a surge.


Trojans move up, will square off with Ruston in another 2-5A slugfest

The Alexandria Senior High Trojans football team smashed local rival Pineville last Friday, and moved up one spot in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A Top 10 poll.

Now sixth-ranked ASH (6-1) faces another District 2-5A powerhouse, No. 2 Ruston (6-1), on the road in a matchup of top 10 teams this Friday night.

The Trojans were No. 2 just a couple of weeks ago before West Monroe scored 10 points in the last 2 ½ minutes to rally past visiting ASH.

The visit to Ruston starts a demanding finish to the regular season for ASH, which will host Ouachita on Halloween and then visit Neville to wrap up the 10-game schedule.

Tioga (6-1) rolled over West Ouachita last week but none of the top 10 in Class 4A lost, so the Indians are stalemated in the poll. They cross the Red River this week to play at Peabody.

The Week 8 LSWA Top 10 polls, as voted by an 11-person panel of sports media personnel from around the state:

 

Class 5A

School (first place votes), W-L, poll points, last week’s ranking

1. Karr (11), 7-0, 132 , 1

2. Ruston, 6-1, 114, 2

3. John Curtis, 6-0, 107, 3

4. West Monroe, 6-1, 99, 4

5. St. Augustine, 6-1, 81, 5

6. Alexandria, 6-1, 77, 7

7. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 5-2, 60, 9

8. Evangel Christian, 6-1, 49, 10

9. Zachary, 5-1, 37, 6

10. Destrehan, 5-2, 26, NR

Others receiving votes: Central 19, Parkway 15, Archbishop Rummel 12, Neville 6, Southside 5, Carencro 4, Thibodaux 4, Ouachita 3, Hahnville 2, Brother Martin 1, Liberty 1, St. Paul’s 1.

 

Class 4A

1. North DeSoto (9), 7-0, 127, 1   

2. Teurlings Catholic (2), 7-0, 122, 2

3. St. Thomas More, 5-2, 110, 3

4. Plaquemine, 6-1, 88, 4

5. Iowa, 7-0, 76, 5

6. Franklin Parish, 5-2, 71, 6

7. St. Charles, 6-1,  66, 7

8. Archbishop Shaw, 5-2, 59, 8

9. Lakeshore, 6-1, 50, 9

10. Vandebilt Catholic, 7-0, 31, 10

Others receiving votes: Belle Chasse 17, Franklinton 12, Loyola 9, Tioga 6, Westgate 4, Northwood-Shreveport 3, E.D. White 3, Brusly 2.

 

Class 3A

1. Jewel Sumner (8), 7-0, 126, 1

2. Madison Prep (1), 6-1, 117, 2

3. Bunkie (1), 7-0, 102, 3

4. St. James, 5-2,  97, 4

5. University (1), 5-2, 94, 5

6. Sterlington,  5-2, 83, 6

7. Erath, 7-0,  70, 7

8. Jena, 6-1, 52, 9

9. Lake Charles Prep, 5-2, 37, 10

10. Marksville, 6-1, 23, NR

Others receiving votes: Church Point 15, Amite 15, Jennings 15, John F. Kennedy 10, Donaldsonville 2.

 

Class 2A

1. Ouachita Christian (6), 7-0, 124, 1

2. Lafayette Christian Academy (4), 6-1, 121, 2

3. Dunham (1), 5-1, 110, 3

4. Calvary Baptist,  6-1, 101, 4

5. Catholic-New Iberia, 6-1, 86, 5

6. South Plaquemines, 5-1, 63, 8

7. Notre Dame, 5-2, 60, 5

8. Mangham, 6-1, 55, 10

9. Lafayette Renaissance Charter, 6-1, 44, 9

10. Kinder, 7-0, 32, NR

Others receiving votes: Oak Grove 26, Newman 12, Ferriday 11, East Feliciana 3, Northlake Christian 3, Union Parish 2, D’Arbonne Woods 2, Country Day 1.

 

Class 1A

1. Haynesville (11), 7-0, 132, 1

2. Jeanerette, 7-0, 119, 2

3. Hamilton Christian,  6-0, 105, 3

4. Riverside Academy, 6-1, 102, 4

5. Westminster-Opelousas, 7-0, 77, 5

6. Covenant Christian, 5-2, 60, 6

7. Kentwood, 4-3, 58, 7

8. Ascension Episcopal, 6-1, 56, 8

9. Opelousas Catholic, 5-2, 36, 9

10. North Iberville, 7-0, 32, NR

Others receiving votes: Ascension Catholic 23, Southern Lab 15, St. Edmund 12, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 9, Logansport 8, St. Frederick 2, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 1.


The Colonel’s First Flight

On a warm October day at an air show in St. Louis, Missouri, pilot Archie Hoxsey learned that the colonel would be among the spectators.  Archie asked the colonel if he would like to take a flight.  The colonel quickly responded, “No, thank you.  There are enough high-fliers up there already.”  The colonel was apprehensive because he had never flown in an airplane before, but more importantly, he had heard about Archie’s most recent flight in an airshow in Lincoln, Nebraska.  During that flight, one of the wings on Archie’s airplane collapsed.  The airplane flipped upside down and Archie fell out of the airplane.  Luck was on Archie’s side during this flight.  He was flying slowly enough, low enough, and the airplane threw him out just as he was passing over a tall barn.  He fell only a few feet and received only minor cuts and bruises as the barn’s roof broke his fall.  The airplane was destroyed, but Archie explained that he had just received a brand-new airplane.      

At the St. Louis airfield, Archie and the colonel continued their conversation as the colonel carefully examined the airplane.  Finally, the colonel accepted Archie invitation.  Archie responded, “You don’t need to fear anything, colonel.  You’ll come down without a scratch.” The crowd of 10,000 spectators watched as the colonel clambered aboard the small two-seat airplane.  Once Archie made sure the colonel was safe and secure in the co-pilot’s seat, he took the seat beside him.  It took Archie and the ground crew ten minutes to get both engines running, which only worried the colonel for a moment or two.  “Anything wrong?” the colonel asked.  “I’ll get ‘em going,” he replied.  “Good,” the colonel said without the slightest sign of nervousness.  The anxious crowd cheered as the plane finally took off and climbed to a low altitude.  The airplane circled the airfield and headed back over the crowd.  People began to gasp as the airplane suddenly nose-dived toward the ground.  Just above the treetop level, Archie pulled back on the yoke and the airplane darted back to its previous level.  Just as the crowd was breathing a collective sigh of relief, the airplane took another nosedive.  Archie let the airplane get within a few feet of the tops of trees before bringing it back to altitude, then immediately dipped the plane again.  The third time, the airplane got within just a few feet of the ground before Archie pulled up.  The relieved crowd roared with excitement.  As the airplane flew over the crowd, they could see the colonel’s grand smile which his large mustache failed to conceal.  Moments later, Archie and the colonel returned to the ground in a textbook landing.  Their flight lasted just three minutes and twenty seconds.  The crowd ran to greet Archie and the colonel.  His large smile was only interrupted by his attempts to explain his experience to those nearest him.  “There was nothing uncomfortable about it,” the colonel explained.  “I don’t know when I have ever enjoyed myself so much.  I wish I could have stayed up longer.”  During that air show on October 11, 1910, Archie was piloting one of the Wright Brothers’ brand new Model B airplanes on the colonel’s first airplane flight.  It was the first airplane flight of a President or former President of the United States.  The colonel, as he preferred to be called, was former president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.               

 

Sources:

1.     St. Joseph News-Press, September 6, 1910, p.1.

2.     The Kansas City Post, October 12, 1910, p.6.

3.     “Colonel Roosevelt is invited to fly in Arch Hoxsey’s plane at St. Louis, Mo., 1910,” Library of Congress, January 4, 2010, accessed October 13, 2025, https://youtu.be/yIlpDwMKzJo?si=nhRiZqxyPHqajluI.  


Cabrini closing Surgery Center

By JIM BUTLER

CHRISTUS Cabrini on Sunday affirmed its Surgery Center on the hospital’s Masonic Drive home grounds is closing.

A posted public notice advises all and sundry the center will cease operations on November 1.

Persons wanting a copy of their records from treatment at the center can contact recordsrequests@tenethealth.com Contact by phone: 469-533-9989.

The notice does not discuss factors in the hospital’s decision as the health care industry undergoes a continuing overhaul.

In April 2021, Cabrini entered a joint venture, taking a majority stake, in the physicians-owned Central Louisiana Surgical Hospital that opened a decade earlier on North Bolton Avenue.

In June 2022 that building and property were purchased by a California private equity company for $42 million.

That company, IRA Capital, in the same time frame purchased a similar hospital property in Naples, FL. for $49.2 million.


Wildcats dominate Lions in storm-interrupted homecoming romp

ASH product Datlan Cunningham scored on a 21-yard run and ran for 121 yards overall Saturday for LCU. (Photo by LANDON TINSLEY, LCU Athletics)
 

By RICHARD THIBERVILLE JR., Louisiana Christian University Sports Information Director

The Louisiana Christian University football team scored 21 points in the second quarter sandwiched around a one-hour weather delay and pulled away, cruising to a 38-6 homecoming victory over the Nelson Lions in a Sooner Athletic Conference game Saturday at Wildcat Field.

 The points started coming late in the first quarter. Taking over at their own 40-yard line, the Wildcats (5-3, 4-1 SAC) methodically moved the ball down the field over 15 plays and hit paydirt as Bryce Perkins took it in from four yards out on a third and goal play. After Levi Hilborn’s point after split the uprights to end the 4:59-long drive, LCU led 7-0.

The Lions (1-5, 1-4 SAC) made it into LCU territory on their next possession, but the drive stalled, and a pooch punt by the Nelson quarterback downed the Wildcats at their own two-yard line.

But that was no issue for the Wildcats and Datlan Cunningham broke loose for a 21-yard scoring scamper to extend the Wildcat lead to 14-0, ending the seven-play, 98-yard scoring drive which needed just 2:28 to complete.

After a 68-minute lightning delay, LCU was quickly in the end zone again, this time on the legs of Jaterrius Johnson who bounded in from 10 yards out to make it 21-0 after the eight-play, 55-yard drive which took 2:38 in game time but nearly 90 minutes in real time.

Following a Nelson fumble, Perkins and Xavion Butler connected on an 8-yard TD pass with just 40 seconds left in the first half, giving the Wildcats a 28-0 lead at halftime.

Perkins and Omarius Davis combined for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-0 Wildcats just over five minutes into the third quarter.

Nelson got its scoring on field goals of 37 and 39 yards in the game’s final 17 minutes, bookending a 23-yard Hilburn field goal for a 38-3 lead early in the final period.

Cunningham was handed the rock 21 times for 112 yards and a touchdown, posting a 5.3 yards per carry average.

Johnson had 17 rushes for 84 yards and a score.

Jordan Oglesby led the defense with six total tackles.  Kylon Polk forced a fumble and came up with an interception to go with his three tackles.

LCU finished with 433 total yards, 278 of which came on the ground, while holding Nelson to just 217 total yards.

The Wildcats continue their three-game homestand next Saturday when Texas College comes to Pineville. Kickoff against the Steers (0-6, 0-5 SAC) is set for 2 p.m. at Wildcat Field.


Hessmer man arrested on fourth DWI; Plainview man faces six-figure bail on theft charges

Arrests are accusations, not convictions

 

Oct. 19

Sundrea Denae Campbell, 28, Pineville – simple burglary, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $500 bail;

Casymn Jer’Wayne Claiborne, 26, Alexandria – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, domestic abuse battery, $3,000 bail.

 

Oct. 18

Heather Nicole Ashley, 41, Pineville – OWI first offense, $1,000 bail;

Hollie Ann Brooks, 31, Pineville – possession of CDS, criminal trespass, $3,000 bail;

Shane Cawthon, 42, Atlanta – two counts possession of CDS, paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, $5,000 bail;

Frank Edward Floyd Jr., 46, Forest Hill – Louisiana fugitive, no motorcycle endorsement, failure to secure registration, switched licensed plate, improper driving on left, speeding, possession of CDS, flight from an officer, $26,500 bail;

Jacob Giordano, 21, Pollock – OWI first offense, speeding, $1,100 bail;

Jamie Robinson Jr., 21, Alexandria – OWI first offense, careless operation of a vehicle, running a yellow light, $1,200 bail;

Levin Stirling Sanchez, 28, Pineville – OWI second offense, operating an unsafe vehicle, ignition interlock required, $1,700 bail.

 

Oct. 17

Daryl J. Aymond, 60, Hessmer – OWI fourth offense, reckless operation of a vehicle, open container, no child restraint system, $100,700 bail;

Kenneth Bell, 42, Pineville – two counts cruelty to animals, contempt of court, $2,000 bail;

Ronnie Adell Clemons Jr, 32, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, two counts contempt of court, $4,500 bail;

Markeil Day, 23, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Derrick Lee Dorsey, 38, Pineville – domestic abuse battery with child present, domestic abuse battery, home invasion, parole violations, $5,000 bail;

Sean Christopher Duffy, 51, Boyce – two counts simple assault, stalking first, $50,500 bail;

Tyler Joseph McFarland, 32, Hineston – theft, contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

Glenn McGlory, 27, Bunkie – producing manufacturing distributing CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, misuse of a temp/dealer tag, failure to secure registration, no driver’s license, two counts contempt of court, $24,900 bail;

Derrick Deon Millner, 42, Alexandria – possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, contempt of court, $18,000 bail;

George Alton Perkins Jr, 51, Plainview – illegal possession of stolen things, obstruction of justice, possession of CDS, two counts criminal conspiracy, two counts theft of a motor vehicle, parole violations, three counts contempt of court, $207,500 bail;

Troidecia Sarah Wilson, 32, Boyce – possession of fentanyl, contempt of court, $105,000 bail.

 

Oct. 16

Fredrick Allen Benjamin Jr, 37, Pineville – possession of CDS, two counts contempt of court, $10,500 bail;

Westly Charles Brown, 31, Alexandria – aggravated assault with a firearm, parole violations, $25,000 bail;

Kashone Cosey, 26, Alexandria – burglary of inhabited dwelling, $10,000 bail;

Joshua Derrick Davis, 42, Pineville – theft of a motor vehicle, five counts of contempt of court, $106,500 bail;

David Wayne Dorsey, 57, Alexandria – contempt of court, failure to pay fine, $100,000 bail;

Arthur Eggins Jr., 41, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, contempt of court, $10,500 bail;

Robert Lee Green Sr, 72, Alexandria – residential contractor fraud, issue worthless checks, two counts contempt of court, $6,000 bail;

Bruce Lee Harris, 47, Alexandria – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer, parole violations, $3,500 bail;

McNeal Harris, 48, Alexandria – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, $3,000 bail;

Kimble Lee Hunter, 35, Alexandria – illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, resisting an officer, bicycle reflectors, $20,600 bail;

Jerry Louis Jones Jr., 54, Alexandria – simple battery, disturbing the peace, public intimidation and retaliation, trespassing/remaining after forbidden, resisting an officer, seven counts contempt of court, $21,000 bail;

Sun Rayven Kuhlmann, 26, Atlanta – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, $3,000 bail;

Michael J. Lacoste, 70, Boyce – bank fraud, $5,000 bail;

Trey Michael McLean, 50, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, simple burglary, resisting an officer, $50,500 bail;

Damariae Cortez Pleasant, 24, Alexandria – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Cartavious Sampson, 18, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, $2,500 bail;

Adam Wayne Thomas, 39, Alexandria – simple burglary, criminal trespass, $10,500 bail;

Amber H. Williams, 34, Alexandria – taking contraband to and from penal institutions, possession of CDS, possession of fentanyl, possession of CDS, theft, 12 counts contempt of court, $39,500 bail;

Keionda Alex Williams, 30, Pineville – unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, $2,500 bail;

Ashley Nicole Young, 43, Pineville – possession of CDS, $2,500 bail.

 

Oct. 15

Jasmine Shauntay Ashworth, 37, Alexandria – domestic abuse aggravated assault with child endangerment, two counts contempt of court, $6,500 bail;

Troy Lee Bush, 45, Alexandria – contempt of court, $25,000 bail;

Quintin Mitchell, 25, Alexandria – theft, criminal trespass, failure to appear, two counts contempt of court, $5,500 bail;

William Randle Mitchell, 42, N/A – terrorizing, first degree robbery, two counts Louisiana fugitive, $200,000 bail;

Brian Keith Taylor Sr, 59, Pineville – contempt of court, $58,000 bail.