By JIM BUTLER

The Police Jury General Fund balance increased about $1.4 million in the year ending December 31, 2024.

An audit report issued this month puts the balance at $9.8 million after all accounting was said and done.

General Fund income was $10.8 million and expenses totaled $7.7 million. Transfers and lease costs cut the difference to $1.1 million

The General Fund is the parish’s central operating fund, apart from funds secured by dedicated revenue streams.

Property ($3.3 million) and sales ($3 million) taxes provide the bulk of revenue.

Judicial ($2 million) and public safety ($2.1 million) lead the spending.

The audit showed dedicated Road & Bridge Fund (not part of the General Fund) income at $5.7 million and expenses at $6.7 million.

The year-end fund balance was $2.9 million.

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LSU’s football team is coming off yet another “it wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it” victory, this time against South Carolina, but it’s reflective of the team’s character.

It’s a team that gets hot flashes and a fever if it gets in the red zone. Three times against South Carolina the Tigers got within the shadow of the Gamecocks’ goal posts and failed to score a touchdown each time, at least salvaging a crucial field goal on the last red zone visit in the 20-10 win.

It’s as if they get within the opponent’s 20 and instead of thinking “golden opportunity,” they think “black hole,” and fret, “Oh, no, what do we do now?!”

Celebrations on offense, for a team that has scored more than 23 points only once through the first six games, are rare. Maybe that’s why the usually dependable defense overcompensates and stages group celebrations in the end zone after, say, an interception.

Instead of acting like, “no need to celebrate at this time; I merely did my job,” these guys decide to go stage their version of the follies in the end zone to celebrate an interception that decided only a change of possession.

It only gets harder from here for LSU. Odd as it is to say, this week’s stern challenge is Vanderbilt. At Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt Commodores, once the butt of all football jokes in the Southeastern Conference, are just a few notches below LSU in the national rankings, and they’re almost as hungry to beat LSU as they were last year when they upset Alabama.

They were inspired then by a quote from former Alabama (and former LSU) coach Nick Saban. A quote that will live in infamy. A couple of weeks before last year’s Alabama-Vanderbilt game, Saban was talking about football in the SEC on the Pat McAfee show and said, “The only place you can play in the SEC that’s not hard to play is Vanderbilt. Because when you go to Vanderbilt, you have more fans than they have. And that’s no disrespect to them. It’s just the truth.”

That was bulletin board material from then until game time for the Commodores, and they responded on their home field with a stunning 40-35 upset of the Crimson Tide, playing then for Saban’s successor, first-year Bama coach Kalen DeBoer. The Vandy fans stormed the field, tore down the goal posts, took them to Broadway and eventually dumped them in the Cumberland River.

Alabama did beat Vanderbilt at Alabama two weeks ago, but the Commodores are 5-1 overall like the Tigers and they haven’t defeated LSU since 1990. At Vanderbilt. In a series LSU leads 25-7-1, six of Vandy’s wins were in Nashville. The Commodores’ triumph over LSU in ’90, by a 24-21 score, was their lone victory that season, and Mike Archer was fired after that 5-6 season as LSU’s head coach.

It appeared initially that LSU wide receiver Todd Kinchen had scored the winning touchdown in that 1990 game with three seconds left, but a ref ruled otherwise. Kinchen was penalized for offensive pass interference after catching a 42-yard Hail Mary pass from Chad Loup. Earlier in the game, he had missed a sure TD strike of 44 yards from LSU starting quarterback Sol Graves.

Archer strongly disputed the interference penalty. He said it came in a “jump-ball situation” in a cluster of players for both teams. He said it was an “horrific call.”

He added, “Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be.”

Although LSU had all it could handle playing South Carolins, with its elusive quarterback LaNorris “Houdini” Sellers, Vanderbilt whipped the Gamecocks, 31-7, on Sept. 13 in Columbia, S.C. And the Commodores have a firecracker dual-threat quarterback in Diego Pavia, who has passed for more than 1,400 yards this season while rushing for 865 yards. He has accounted for 23 touchdowns by land and air.

Vanderbilt will be a tough test for the Tigers. Then again, Louisiana Tech was a tough test for the Tigers. If LSU is to win, it must figure out a way to score touchdowns in the red zone instead of turning the ball over or settling for field goals.

That is their mission. They need to prove it’s not a “mission impossible.”

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Alexandria Senior High was two minutes away from a triumph at West Monroe Friday night, but the Rebels pulled a rabbit out of the hat and scored 10 points for a 34-31 upset of the No. 2 visitors.

That outcome dropped ASH five spots from second to seventh in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A Top 10 poll. West Monroe – whose only loss is to Class 4A’s No. 1 team, North DeSoto – rose from seventh to fourth in the state rankings.

WMHS tied the game on a 78-yard flanker screen with 1:45 to go, then recovered a fumble on the kickoff and moved upfield to kick a game-winning 28-yard field goal and upset ASH.

The Trojans host Pineville this Friday night. Then they close the regular season with more of the District 2-5A elite: at Ruston, hosting Ouachita, and at Neville.

The only other Rapides Parish team getting attention in the LSWA polls is 5-1 Tioga, which is receiving votes in Class 4A . The Indians host West Ouachita this week and could be on course for a Week 10 district championship game with No. 6 Franklin Parish.

Voting by 11 LSWA members who cover high school sports in different parts of the state produces the weekly state rankings.

 

Week 7 LSWA top 10 polls:  

Class 5A

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

1. Karr (11), 6-0, 132, 1

2. Ruston, 5-1, 112, 3

3. John Curtis, 5-0, 108, 4

4. West Monroe, 5-1, 92, 7

5. St. Augustine, 5-1, 85, 5

6. Zachary, 5-0, 79, 6

7. Alexandria Senior High, 5-1, 68, 2

8. Central, 5-1, 51, 8

9. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 4-2, 48, 49

10. Evangel Christian, 5-1, 28, 10

Others receiving votes: Archbishop Rummel 13, Destrehan 11, Neville 10, Ouachita 7, Parkway 6, Brother Martin 2, Southside 2, Thibodaux 2, Airline 1, Carencro 1.

 

Class 4A

1. North DeSoto (9), 6-0, 127, 1

2. Teurlings Catholic (2), 6-0, 122, 2

3. St. Thomas More, 4-2, 108, 3

4. Plaquemine, 5-1, 87, 4

5. Iowa, 6-0, 81, 5

6. Franklin Parish, 4-2, 71, 6

7. St. Charles, 5-1, 69, 8

8. Archbishop Shaw, 4-2, 59, 10

9. Lakeshore, 5-1, 47, 9

10. Vandebilt Catholic, 6-0, 25, NR

Others receiving votes: Franklinton 22, Belle Chasse 12, Tioga 7, Loyola 6, Westgate 6, E.D. White 5, Northwood 1, Lutcher 1.

 

Class 3A

1. Jewel Sumner (8), 6-0, 126, 1

2. Madison Prep (1), 5-1, 116, 3

3. Bunkie (1), 6-0, 101, 4

4. St. James, 4-2, 97, 2

5. University (1), 4-2, 93, 5

6. Sterlington, 4-2, 84, 6

7. Erath, 6-0, 67, 7

8. Church Point, 5-1, 51, 8

9. Jena, 5-1, 47, 9

10. Lake Charles Prep, 4-2, 28, NR

Others receiving votes: Jennings 20, Amite 12, John F. Kennedy 8, Marksville 7, Pine 1.

 

Class 2A

1. Ouachita Christian (7), 6-0, 123, 1

2. Lafayette Christian Academy (3), 5-1, 118, 2

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

4. Calvary Baptist, 5-1, 98, 4

5. Notre Dame, 5-1, 89, 5

6. Catholic-New Iberia, 5-1, 82, 6

7. Oak Grove, 5-1, 64, 8

8. South Plaquemines, 5-1, 51, 10

9. Lafayette Renaissance Charter, 5-1, 30, 7

10. Mangham, 5-1, 26, NR

Others receiving votes: Kinder 21, Ferriday 17, Union Parish 10, Newman 9, East Feliciana 5, D’Arbonne Woods 4, Northlake Christian 2, Country Day 1.

 

Class 1A

1. Haynesville (10), 6-0, 131, 1

2. Jeanerette (1), 6-0, 120, 2

3. Hamilton Christian, 5-0, 105, 3

4. Riverside Academy, 5-1, 101, 5

5. Westminster-Opelousas, 6-0, 68, 10

6. Covenant Christian, 4-2, 57, 7

7. Kentwood, 3-3, 49, 9

8. Ascension Episcopal, 5-1, 45, 8

9. Opelousas Catholic, 4-2, 41, 4

10. Southern Lab, 3-3, 37, 6

Others receiving votes: North Iberville 34, Ascension Catholic 19, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 16, Logansport 10, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 4, St. Edmund 3, St. John-Plaquemine 3, Vermilion Catholic 3, St. Frederick 1.

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On September 30, 1955, 23-year-old Donald Gene “Don” Turnupseed was returning to his home in Tulare, California, from California Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, California.  Don was a freshman at the college; in April of 1955, he had completed a four-year stint in the Navy and had enrolled at the college soon thereafter.  Don was driving east on Highway 466 (now Highway 46) in his five-year-old Ford Tudor on a trip that normally took about two and a half hours.  It was Friday evening, and Don was looking forward to spending a stress-free weekend with Barbara, his wife of five years.  Don could not imagine how stressful his life would soon become.    

At about 5:30, just before sunset on that Friday evening, Don had been driving almost an hour when he approached the intersection at Highway 41.  Don had to turn left to continue his trip to Tulare.  He was familiar with this drive and knew he only had to decrease his speed slightly because turning onto Highway 41 was more like veering than an actual turn.  Don could see about three miles in the distance on the long straight stretch, and the road seemed to disappear into the low mountains in the background.  Don saw no approaching vehicles, turned his steering wheel slightly to the left, and began to veer onto Highway 41.  Don was unable to see the low, sleek, silver-gray convertible sports car driving towards him in the opposite lane until it was too late.  The two cars struck almost head-on.   

Don, in the bigger, heavier car received only minor bruises and a cut on his nose.  The two people in the sports car were not so lucky.  The driver of the sports car was unconscious and trapped in the crushed car.  His passenger received numerous injuries when he was thrown from the sports car.  People who stopped to help found him lying unconscious on the side of the road.  It took an ambulance about half an hour to reach the site of the crash.  Ambulance driver Paul Moreno noted that both the driver and passenger of the sports car were alive when taken from the site of the accident, but the driver died during the 24-mile drive back to War Memorial Hospital in Paso Robles.  His passenger eventually recovered.  Don told the California Highway Patrolman on the scene, “I looked but didn’t see him coming.”  A driver who was just behind Don at the time of the crash said he also failed to see the approaching car.  Don was eventually released by the highway patrolman and told that he could “probably catch a ride home.”  Don flagged down a passing car and arrived at the hospital in Tulare six and a half hours after the accident.  It was there that he learned that the driver of the other car had not survived.  

Don was distraught and avoided speaking about the tragic accident.  He gave just a single interview, which was on the day after the accident, but reminders of the tragedy were everywhere.  Photos of the driver who died in the accident appeared on coffee mugs, plates, t-shirts, book and magazine covers, statuettes, and a plethora of other items.  He became a pop culture icon.  On July 13, 1995, almost 40 years after the accident, Don died from lung cancer.  He was finally at peace.  The intersection where the accident occurred is now a memorial junction named after the driver of the sports car who died in the accident.  That intersection is called the James Dean Memorial Junction.

Sources:

1. Tulare Advance-Register, October 1, 1955, p.1.
2. “Donald Gene Turnupseed,” Findagrave.com, accessed October 12, 2025, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10990655/donald-gene-turnupseed.

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By JIM BUTLER

Alexandria and Pineville zoning panels meet this week to consider land use requests.

The Alexandria commission convenes at 4 p.m. today with two petitions on its agenda.

VBV Management seeks a change from B-3 Business to C-1 Limited Commercial for 3415 and 3419 Nelson Street, just off MacArthur Drive.

The change would allow operation of a fast-food franchise on the property. Vincent Verzwyvelt is listed as petitioner.

Ainsworth Investments, represented by Davin Ainsworth, wants to locate a residential project at 700 Belleau Wood Boulevard off Jackson Street.

The 6.37 acres near Walmart are currently designated C-2 General Commercial; SF-3 Single Family High Density is requested. The petition indicates 13 units.

At its 4:30 meeting Tuesday afternoon the Pineville panel will consider a request for residential designation of six acres on Military Highway.

The address is listed as 2445, indicating the tract is a portion of the former Berwick estate south of Baywood Drive.

Petitioners William Leatherman and Alvin Hernandez are seeking an R-1 Residential usage assignment.

Recommendations by the panels are forwarded to the respective city councils.

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

FORT WORTH, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University football team, which received votes in the most recent NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll, went shot-for-shot early with No. 20 Texas Wesleyan, but the Rams pulled away in the second quarter for a 61-28 Sooner Athletic Conference triumph Saturday evening at the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium.
 
Louisiana Christian (4-3, 3-1 SAC) struck first when Bryce Perkins found Brenen Hawkins for a 10-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first drive, after 13 plays, 73 yards, and 4:34 off the clock.
 
Texas Wesleyan (4-2, 4-0 SAC) needed just two plays to respond, hitting a 61-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7.
 
LCU needed just two plays to go back in front as Perkins hit EJ Scott for a 72-yard touchdown to put the Wildcats back up 14-7 just six minutes into the first quarter.
 
After a couple of defensive stops, the Rams tied things again with a two-yard run, making it 14-14.
 
LCU started the second quarter going back in front when Datlan Cunningham ended a 10-play, 75-yard Wildcat drive with a 3-yard touchdown rush, giving Louisiana Christian a 21-14 lead.
 
But that’s where Texas Wesleyan found in its groove both offensively and defensively. The Rams hit on a 75-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the ensuing possession which not only tied the score at 21-21 but also started a run of 24 straight points to end the half, producing a 38-21 lead.
 
The run continued into the third quarter as the Rams added a pair of field goals to extend the advantage to 44-21.
 
Cunningham broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown rush, ending a four-play, 60-yard drive that took only 1:09 off the clock, cutting the Ram lead down to 44-28.
 
Texas Wesleyan started the fourth quarter with an interception return for touchdown, the first of 17 points the Rams scored in the final 15 minutes.
 
Perkins hit 18 of his 36 pass attempts for 250 yards and two scoring tosses but was intercepted three times.
 
His top target was Scott who had five catches for 122 yards and a score.
 
 
Cunningham was given the rock 18 times and ran for 97 yards with two scores.
 
Nate Sullivan led the LCU defense with nine total tackles.  Voorhies III and Judson Mixon both had eight tackles with Mixon getting credited with 2.5 tackles for loss.
 
The Wildcats head back home for three straight, starting with homecoming next Saturday as LCU hosts Nelson (1-4, 1-3 SAC) at 6 p.m.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

 

Oct. 12

Marvin Louis Balthazar, 62, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery intentional serious injury, no bail data;

Amber Camille Baysden, 34, Alexandria – OWI first offense, open container, improper headlight equipment, tail lamps, $1,300 bail;

Kyler Blanton, 20, Natchez – reckless operation, flight from an officer, resisting an officer, no bail data;

Benjamin Cal Brown Jr., 52, Alexandria – possession of marijuana, OWI first offense, open container, careless operation of a vehicle, $1,700 bail;

Troy Serpas, 22, Hammond – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, $1,600 bail;

Nakeita Latornious Williams, 37, Alexandria – four counts contempt of court, $76,500 bail;

 

Oct. 11

Zachary Tyler Babin, 29, Dry Prong – three counts domestic abuse battery, no bail data;

Mycah Aiden Chapman, 28, Pineville – contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

James Allen Deleery, 34, Alexandria – two counts theft, $25,500 bail;

Jakub Ray Desoto, 24, Alexandria – second subsequent conviction theft, contempt of court, no bail data;

Danny Ray Evans, 50, Alexandria – possession of marijuana, improper lane usage, tail lamps, OWI first offense, contempt fail to pay fine,

Brandi Renee Ferrier, 47, Forest Hill – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, $1,600 bail;

Daniel Wade Fontenot, 57, Pineville – OWI first offense, $1,000 bail;

Terri Lynn Green, 49, Deville – three counts contempt of court, $30,000 bail;

Phillip Hayward, 46, Alexandria – OWI first offense, driving under suspension, open container, careless operation of a vehicle, $1,300 bail;

Jamari Richard, 17, Pineville – illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of handgun by a juvenile, bicycle reflectors, aggravated resisting with force or violence, obstructions of justice, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, $23,600 bail;

Sawyer Adam Thompson, 28, Alexandria – OWI fourth offense, obstruct court orders, running a stop sign, four counts improper turn, resisting an officer, $1,250 bail;

Parker Charles Vernon, 28, Alexandria – two counts violation of protective orders, $100,000 bail.

 

Oct. 10

Landon Gage Ackel, 34, Alexandria – aggravated second degree battery, hit and run, obstruction of driver’s view, unsafe vehicle, use of CDS in presence of minors, parole violations, resisting an officer, possession of marijuana, no driver’s license, careless operation of a vehicle, $10,000 bail;

Arcenio Ramon Bowie, 36, Lecompte – second degree murder, attempted second degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, $1.5 million bail;

Kynjy Morrice Brown, 46, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing with intent, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, parole violations, $51,000 bail;

Marcus De’Angelos Brown, 36, Alexandria – aggravated battery, domestic abuse battery, obstruction of justice, $16,000 bail;

Makari Keon Cotton, 20, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, paraphernalia, probation violation, $50,500 bail;

Roy Randall Jr., 38, Alexandria – possession of phencyclidine, contempt of court, $21,000 bail;

Isaac O’Neal Sanders, 19, Pineville – aggravated battery, aggravated with a firearm assault, home invasion, $30,000 bail;

Michael Wayne Smith Jr, 26, Pineville – illegal use of weapons/dangerous instrumentalities, $100,000 bail;

Askia Waheed Jr., 40, Alexandria – armed robbery, unauthorized entry of inhabited dwelling, resisting an officer, contempt of court, $257,000 bail;

Brittany Re’veanna Wicks, 35, Pineville – three counts contempt of court, $15,000 bail.

 

Oct. 9

John Earl Batiste, 45, Alexandria – possession of CDS, $1,500 bail;

Michelle Laurie Christian, 57, Pineville – two counts issuing worthless checks, contempt of court, $3,500 bail;

Brendyn Samuel Clark, 25, Odessa – flight from an officer, resisting an officer, reckless operation of a vehicle, no motorcycle endorsement, improper display vehicle license plate, no insurance, $3,800 bail;

James Darrell Dearbonne Jr., 33, Alexandria – five counts contempt of court, $200,500 bail;

Jerret Dunlap, 38, Alexandria – possession of CDS, five counts of contempt of court, $8,500 bail;

Jasmine Janae Harrison, 28, Alexandria – theft, possession of CDS, six counts contempt of court, $35,000 bail;

Lashanta M. Hughes, 49, Pineville – speeding, no insurance, intentional littering prohibited, two counts resisting an officer, two counts contempt of court, $6,200 bail;

Jamaria Dejuan Johnson, 24, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, probation violation, contempt of court, $2,500 bail;

Jermaine Johnson, 52, Alexandria – possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, contempt of court, $77,500 bail;

Darnell Mims, 40, Alexandria – theft of a firearm, $5,000 bail;

Anthony Strong, 59, Alexandria – theft, parole violations, $5,000 bail;

Ralph Ellis Weems Jr., 52, Deville – five counts contempt of court, $87,500 bail;

Dontarius L. Williams, 25, Alexandria – illegal carry firearm with drugs, producing manufacturing distributing CDS, resisting an officer, two counts illegal carrying firearm at a parade, $30,500 bail.

 

Oct. 8

Quentin Jermaine Ceasar Jr., 26, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, criminal conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal carry firearm with drugs, safety belt violation, $25,600 bail;

Jo Ann Celestine, 55, Alexandria – simple battery, two counts contempt of court, $8,000 bail;

Malcolm Rashod Fay, 26, Alexandria – possession of paraphernalia, remaining on premises, 11 counts of contempt of court, $23,750 bail;

Raydrian Jaquan Fisher, 19, Alexandria – attempted second degree murder, firearm free zone, second degree battery, contempt of court, $75,000 bail;

Kenneth Lamarth Hayes, 54, Pineville – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

John T. Jones Jr., 22, Pineville – domestic abuse battery, criminal abandonment, three counts contempt of court, $227,000 bail;

Blaine Paul Leonard, 22, Ball – aggravated assault with a firearm, $5,000 bail;

Adrian L. Logan, 43, Woodworth – simple burglary, $2,500 bail;

Timarian Dewayne Logan, 23, Pineville – eight counts illegal carry firearm with drugs, resisting an officer, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, paraphernalia, $151,000 bail;

Kori Quartez Mock, 26, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, criminal conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia, no driver’s license, safety belt violation, obstruction of justice, $30,700 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;

Juhntel Shawn Savage, 36, Alexandria – burglary of an inhabited dwelling, parole violations, $2,500 bail;

Jaamal Lee Smith, 36, Alexandria – aggravated battery, aggravated resisting a police officer with force or violence, two counts contempt of court, $55,000 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 a convicted felon, illegal carry firearm with drugs, concealed negligent carry handgun, $198,500 bail;

Johnny Lewis Wilson, 61, Alexandria – remaining on premises, eight counts contempt of court, $16,250 bail;

Kenneth Lee Woodruff Jr., 46, Duson – three counts possession of CDS, simple burglary, simple escape, $11,500 bail.

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 By JIM BUTLER

Taking a quick look at three noteworthy upcoming events, two today.

 

Book signing today

Paul Cornelius Ferrant was a farmer, aerial gunner and Louisiana minister during his long life (101 years).
Verona Ferrant Harp of Ball will sign copies of her biography of her father, “World War II Veteran in the Army of Peace,” at 2 p.m. today at Tioga’s Robertson Library

Ferrant was a tail gunner over Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. After the war he attended Louisiana Christian University before embarking on a ministerial life.

Alumni honored

Four Distinguished Alumni will be honored at tonight’s Holy Savior Menard homecoming game versus Oakdale.

Gayle Aertker Crotty, the late Allen Eskew and Terry Mathews, and Timothy Petrus are the second group of Holy Savior Menard, Menard Memorial and Providence Central graduates to be so honored for accomplishments and contributions to society.

The game begins at 7 p.m. at the Menard stadium on LA 28 West.

GAEDA Lunch and Learn

Monday is the deadline for reserving a place at the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority’s community-focused Lunch & Learn.

The October 17 (next Friday) event will feature keynote speaker Gregory B. O’Quin of Financial Services Group.

The gathering is to allow community leaders, business owners and economic development partners opportunity to view avenues for building a stronger community.

It will be at Hotel Bentley from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.  

Attendance RSVP can be made through Monday at avarnado@gaeda.org.

More information: 318-880-9407. 

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The Louisiana Christian University football team is coming off a cruise control win at home last week and going into a battle of Sooner Athletic Conference unbeatens.

The Wildcats head to Fort Worth, Texas for a Saturday afternoon matchup of two of the three teams still unbeaten in SAC play at midseason as the Wildcats (4-2, 3-0 SAC) take on Texas Wesleyan (3-2, 3-0 SAC).

Kickoff against the Rams is set for 2 p.m. at the Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium, the home of the 2025 NAIA Football National Championship Game.

One of LCU’s top players is Trace McHugh, named earlier this week as the conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts Saturday against Fort Lauderdale.

The sophomore inside linebacker from Loreauville ended the 42-6 Wildcat win Saturday with five total tackles, three of which were solo. Included in those numbers was a sack, part of the 2.5 tackles he had behind the line of scrimmage.

McHugh becomes the third Wildcat honored with a SAC Player of the Week award this season.  Datlan Cunningham (offensive) and  Levi Hilborn (special teams) both earned awards back on Sept. 15.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

 

Oct. 8

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

 

Oct. 7

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

Tiffany Marie Bosarge, 36, Alexandria – obstruction of justice, resisting an officer, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, four counts contempt of court, $34,000 bail;

Christopher Reid Carlton, 41, Colfax – possession of firearm by convicted felon, $5,000 bail;

Gage Michael Kittinger, 27, Pineville – two counts theft of a motor vehicle, two counts flight from an officer, parole violations, illegal carry firearm with drugs, resisting an officer, reckless operation of a vehicle, aggravated obstruction of highway, possession of CDS, possession of firearm by convicted felon, possession of stolen vehicle, no driver’s license, no safety helmet, intentional littering, running a stop sign, tail lamps, Louisiana fugitive, two counts theft, criminal trespass, no motorcycle endorsement, criminal conspiracy, criminal damage to property, two counts contempt of court, $56,500 bail;

Clayton Robert Lamkin, 29, Pineville –home invasion, resisting an officer, contempt of court, $4,500 bail;

Johnny D. Lewis Jr., 42, Hineston – driving under suspension, expired plate registration, four counts contempt of court, $20,200 bail;

Jaron Dennis Lindo, 34, Deville – third degree rape, two counts first degree rape, four counts cruelty to juveniles, second degree battery, domestic abuse battery strangulation, false imprisonment, juvenile molestation, $2.4 million bail;

Austin Cole Maricle, 30, Pitkin – two counts contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Keldrick Dewone Mitchell, 39, Alexandria – theft of a motor vehicle, criminal damage to property, hit and run driving, resisting an officer, driver’s license required, two counts contempt of court, $15,600 bail;

David James Normand, 62, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Kevin Dewayne Slaughter Jr., 24, Alexandria – aggravated assault with a firearm, obstruction of justice, resisting an officer, possession of firearm by convicted felon, parole violations, $55,500 bail;

Kevin Ray Veal, 41, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery strangulation, simple battery on the infirmed, contempt of court, $5,000 bail.

Oct. 6

Jonathon Michael Barron, 35, Pineville – simple burglary, $2,500 bail;

Timothy Takeith Jefferson, 45, Pineville – DWI first offense, resisting an officer, improper lane usage, no insurance, contempt of court, $1,370 bail;

Tiffany Nicole Juneau, 43, Marksville – forgery, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, parole violations, $8,500 bail;

Jordan Rodgers McLean, 26, Pineville – three counts contempt of court, Louisiana fugitive, $75,000 bail;

Jazma K McQuarn, 37, Boyce – contempt of court, failure to pay fine, $50,500 bail;

Wenjie You, 40, Alexandria – intentionally possession pornography involving juveniles, $50,000 bail.

 

Oct. 5

Austin Rayshun Byrd, 29, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $150,000 bail;

Brandon Chauffepied, 44, Pineville – OWI first offense, possession of CDS, reckless operation of a vehicle, safety belt violation, possession of drug paraphernalia, $2,700 bail;

Dirrel Therion O’steen, 19, Alexandria – illegal carry firearm with drugs, obstruction of justice, producing manufacturing distributing CDS, resisting an officer, $11,000 bail;

Rontavious Deon Sewell, 30, Pineville – simple burglary, obstruction of justice, failure to appear, $3,500 bail.

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By JIM BUTLER

John Callis won a battle last week and Tuesday fired the next salvo in his war with GAEDA.

His letter to the City Council, obtained by the Journal, cites an alleged pattern of unacceptable conduct by the Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority, calling on council members to “reform it as an accountable entity” or shut it down.

And for the first time he refers to alleged violence against him due to his GAEDA activism.

Last week, the Louisiana Supreme Court overruled the 3rd Circuit and unanimously agreed that a GAEDA meeting in February 2024 was in violation of public meeting law, rendering actions taken during it null and void.

However that comes after the horse is long since out of the barn, with a commission reconstituted in late 2024 by new appointments and resignations essentially rubber stamping what occurred at the disputed meeting.

Also in February 2024, on the day of a GAEDA retreat after his authority appointment but before he took the seat, Callis reveals an unknown person fired shots at his business with he and a family member nearby.

Responding officers noted in their incident report that seven .40 millimeter casings were found in the roadway but the driver and his red Hyundai could not be located.

The report draws no conclusions as to the incident’s raison d’etre.

Callis pulls no punches in his Tuesday letter, asserting GAEDA has “acted as a patronage system wasting millions” while it “serves political interests rather than economic growth.”

Annual reports have raised no auditors’ issues with the agency’s accounting systems and practices.

Callis asserts the panel continues to refuse to honor a $1.4 million pact with the city by claiming it is illegal and poorly drafted.

Through a hotel/motel occupancy tax the Authority has about $1 million in annual revenue. Subsidizing a host of meetings and events has been the core element of its activity since its inception.

According to Callis, that activity has failed to produce economic results after two decades.

He entreats the Council “to reform it now as an accountable entity” or end it, otherwise, he says, he will take further legal action to accomplish his goals.

The Council now has requests from GAEDA to appoint successors to three commissioners who no longer attend the seven-member panel’s meetings and from Callis to pretty much junk it and start over.

Council members have been mum on the former, as have GAEDA officials when previously asked for comment.

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The Tudor Hall dorm you may have seen or heard about on the campus of Louisiana Christian University is named after a man who made a profound impact at three different American colleges.

Simon Woodson Tudor, the founder of Tudor Construction Company in Alexandria, excelled in football, basketball and baseball at Georgetown (Ky.) College in the early 20^th century. Notably, at 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, he was a two-time All-Kentucky center there in 1908 and ’09.

He is also considered the father of athletics at LCU (formerly Louisiana College) and Shreveport’s Centenary College as a player, coach and administrator for sports teams at both institutions prior to World War I.

His youngest grandson is 80-year-old Michael Tudor of Pineville, the family historian.

“He was an incredible athlete,” said Michael of his grandfather, the patriarch of a family that produced generations of incredible athletes. His son, Robert, was a star player on LC’s football and basketball squads. His grandson, Robert Jr. (Buddy) was captain of the LSU tennis team in 1956 and ’57.  His great-grandsons, Bobby and John, were star basketball players at Rice and LSU in the 1980s.

How incredible was Simon Tudor as an athlete?

Consider this from a July 1, 1911 clipping in the Alexandria Daily Town Talk. In a report about Fishville news regarding Simon Tudor: “Monday night brought one of the South’s greatest athletes. … Since his arrival he has been quite busy teaching the ladies to swim – and a job, too – especially some of the ‘large’ ones we have in camp.”

Besides his athletic prowess, Simon was an excellent debater at LC. He once competed on a two-man debate team – in 1911, mind you – in which the subject was: “Resolved, That it is in the best interests of all governments concerned that Canada be annexed to the United States.” He was on the team that took the negative side.

One of 16 siblings, Simon, the son of a cattle rancher, was born in Madison, Kentucky, and at age 5 he worked there in the tobacco fields. As a young adult he rode a horse to Georgetown College, just north of Lexington, where he was swift of foot and played three sports.  His great, great grandfather, John Tudor, was a friend of Daniel Boone, according to Michael.

Like Boone, Simon was a trail blazer, albeit in college athletics in Louisiana. He was recruited out of Kentucky to start the LC athletics program – as a student, player and athletics director — for the 1910-11 academic year. His first LC basketball team won the unofficial state championship.

After two years at LC, Centenary College lured Simon to Shreveport to start Centenary’s sports program, which he did for a brief stint before returning in 1913 to LC. That’s where he graduated and married the captain of the women’s basketball team, Frances Ollie Beall, the daughter of W.C. Beall, the co-founder of Louisiana College.

Michael compares his grandfather a bit to Steve Spurrier, the former Heisman Trophy quarterback for Florida who later became an innovative and legendary football coach for his alma mater. Tudor brought to LC the concept of the “floating center,” which LSU and Tulane picked up and used in the early 1900s.

Michael was 11 years old when his grandfather died of a heart attack at age 69 and he remembers his “Papaw” fondly.

“We had a special bond,” Michael said. “Since I was the youngest grandchild, he doted on me.

“He had the loudest voice,” he said. “Everybody could hear him at football games. He’d get on the refs, but he didn’t cuss. He was a stout Baptist. He didn’t smoke or chew, probably because my Mamaw wouldn’t put up with it. He was a great gardener, always having a huge garden. He had a great sense of humor, too.”

One of Michael’s fondest memories of his grandfather was riding with him to college football games in Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a youth.

“He had this giant Packard,” Michael said of what was a luxury automobile in America in the first half of the 20^th century. “He’d pick me up and take me to LSU games and even to a Sugar Bowl game. He’d take me to LSU games when Kentucky played there, and when the Kentucky band struck up ‘My Old Kentucky Home,’ he’d always tear up. He was very emotional.”

A long-time member of the LC Board of Trustees and its president for 10 years before his death in 1956, Tudor reacted a different way to the playing of ‘Dixie’ at football games.

“In the 1950s, all the bands in the South played ‘Dixie’ but Papaw never stood up to sing like everyone else,” Michael said. “I once asked him why he didn’t stand and sing, and he said, ‘It’s not my national anthem.’”

Michael always wondered what he meant by that and didn’t learn why until this past year.

“Kentucky was a split state in the Civil War, and all the Tudors were Unionists,” Michael said. “Two of his great uncles died, fighting for the Union.”

He always wanted to get along with everyone, though, Michel said, so in Louisiana he kept a low profile regarding his Yankee connections. He lived a remarkable life, not only with his accomplishments in athletics at three universities but as he began Tudor Construction in 1946 with his son, Robert, who had returned from World War II.

He also made impacts as a Baptist deacon, a Rotarian and a Pineville city councilman. I’ve probably missed other ways he made an impact, but that’s the expansive measure of the man he was. 

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JOURNAL SPORTS

Alexandria Senior High’s Trojans are back where they finished last season, in the No. 2 spot, in this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Top 10 Poll for Class 5A.

ASH moved up from fifth to second after Nos. 2-4 lost last week and the Trojans cruised by Many 57-0. They opened the season at No. 9 in the poll and have steadily climbed while outscoring opponents by 254-34.

Now the trick is to do what they did last season and stay there through the last poll at the end of the regular season. District 2-5A competition is right ahead. Two other district teams, Ruston and West Monroe, are in the state Top 10 and always-tough Neville, a state semifinalist last year, is lurking in the “others receiving votes” category. The other local 2-5A team, Pineville, is 4-1.

The Trojans begin the district season at seventh-ranked West Monroe Friday night, then host Pineville, and visit No. 3 Ruston.

Tioga (4-1) posted an impressive 45-26 win at Jena last week, dropping the Giants three slots to ninth in the Class 3A Top 10. It didn’t do much to improve the Indians’ stock in the Class 4A voting. They received eight points this week. Tioga opens District 2-4A competition at home Thursday against Wossman.

This week’s LSWA Top 10 polls:

 

Class 5A

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

1. Karr (10), 5-0, 120,1
2. Alexandria Senior High, 5-0, 92, 5
3. Ruston, 4-1, 90, 2
4. John Curtis,  4-0, 85, 7
5. St. Augustine, 4-1, 78, 4
6. Zachary, 4-0, 69, 8
7. West Monroe, 4-1, 66, 10
8. Central, 4-1, 56, 3
9. Catholic-Baton Rouge, 3-2,  48, 6
10. Evangel Christian, 4-1, 23, NR

Others receiving votes: Ouachita 16, Brother Martin 14, Destrehan 13, Archbishop Rummel 11, Neville 7, Terrebonne 4, Jesuit 2, Parkway 2, Thibodaux 2, East Ascension 1, Carencro 1, Southside 1.

 

Class 4A

1. North DeSoto (8), 5-0, 116, 1
2. Teurlings Catholic (2), 5-0, 109, 2
3. St. Thomas More, 3-2,  99, 3
4. Plaquemine, 4-1, 78, 8
5. Iowa, 5-0, 65, 9
6. Franklin Parish, 3-2, 62, 4
7. Franklinton, 3-2,60, 5
8. St. Charles, 4-1, 48, 7
9. Lakeshore, 4-1, 42, 6
10. Archbishop Shaw, 3-2,  37, 10

Others receiving votes: Vandebilt Catholic 29, Belle Chasse 13, Tioga 8, E.D. White 3, Loyola 3, Northwood 2, Westgate 1.

 

Class 3A

1. Jewel Sumner (5), 5-0, 111, 1
2. St. James (2), 4-1, 107, 2
3. Madison Prep (1), 4-1,  98, 4
4. Bunkie (1), 5-0, 89, 5
5. University (1), 3-2, 80, 7
6. Sterlington, 3-2, 75, 3
7. Erath, 5-0,  55, 9
8. Church Point, 4-1, 41, 10
9. Jena, 4-1,  39, 6
10. Jennings, 4-1, 37, NR

Others receiving votes: Lake Charles Prep 24, Marksville 11, Amite 7, John F. Kennedy 6.

 

Class 2A

1. Ouachita Christian (7), 5-0, 112, 1
2. Lafayette Christian Academy (2), 4-1, 103, 3
3. Dunham (1), 4-1, 100, 2
4. Calvary Baptist, 4-1, 92, 4
5. Notre Dame, 4-1, 78, 5
6. Catholic-New Iberia, 4-1, 75, 6
7. Lafayette Renaissance Charter, 5-0, 54, 7
8. Oak Grove, 4-1, 47, 8
9. Ferriday, 5-0, 39, 9
10. South Plaquemines, 4-1, 33, 10

Others receiving votes: Kinder 14, Newman 9, Mangham 8, Union Parish 6, Northlake Christian 5, D’Arbonne Woods 2, East Feliciana 2.

 

Class 1A

1. Haynesville (10), 5-0, 120, 1
2. Jeanerette, 5-0,  108, 2
3. Hamilton Christian,  4-0,  93, 5
4. Opelousas Catholic, 4-1,  84, 6
5. Riverside Academy, 4-1, 71, 7
6. Southern Lab, 3-2,  62, 4
7. Covenant Christian, 3-2, 52, 3
8. Ascension Episcopal, 5-0, 35, 9
9. Kentwood, 2-3, 32, 8
10. Westminster-Opelousas, 5-0, 30, NR

Others receiving votes: North Iberville 20, Ascension Catholic 20, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte 16, Grand Lake 10, General Trass 7, St. John-Plaquemine 7, Logansport 4, Vermilion Catholic 4, Catholic-Pointe Coupee 2.

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The Alexandria Garden Club celebrated its 100^th anniversary with a reception Friday at the LSU-Alexandria James Bolton Library by looking back at its many achievements.

The Alexandria branch was formed before any other locale in the state. In honor of the anniversary, a special $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Colin Green of Pineville, who is a freshman at LSU, majoring in landscape architecture.

Some of the milestones through the years include:

• The formation of the original Litter Control Program for the city, which it continued through this year with the Cleanest City Contest;
• When Habitat for Humanity built multiple home in Alexandria, the Garden Club did the landscaping;
• Formation of a bird sanctuary in Alexandria;
• Erection and maintenance of a Roadside Memorial at England Air Park and a Blue Star Memorial in Pineville.

During World War II, the Garden Club made visits and donations to soldiers at the VA Hospital.

In recent years, the club has worked to redo the gardens of the historic Huie-Dellmon House, where the Rapides Parish Library Office is domiciled. They offer free workshops for children and adults through the Rapides Parish Library.

One of the club’s claims to fame involves the club flower, the marigold. In the 1930s, Mrs. A.A. Daspit was able to propagate further seed specimens of the Marigold Gigantea Sunset variety which was picked up by Burpee Seeds.

Current president is Jessica Perry and past president is Marilyn Wellan. The LSU-A Library holds the historical records in its archives for the club.

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By RICHARD THIBERVILLE JR., Louisiana Christian Sports Information Director

Quarterback Bryce Perkins passed for four touchdowns and the Louisiana Christian University football team scored 21 first quarter points in a dominant 42-6 win over the Fort Lauderdale Eagles Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Field in Pineville.
 
It took about half of the quarter for the offense to awaken, but once it did, the Wildcats (4-2) moved almost at will. Perkins ended a nine-play, 47-yard drive by finding Trace Williams from seven yards out to open the scoring with 8:42 left in the first.
 
LCU’s next drive took nine plays and 3:52 off the clock to traverse 60 yards, ending on an eight-yard James Owens scoring run.
 
The Wildcats executed a perfect onside kick, recovering it uncontested at the Fort Lauderdale 49-yard line. LCU turned that into another touchdown four plays later as Perkins found Omarius Davis from 13 yards out to go up 21-0 with 1:26 left in the opening period.
 
The defense and special teams added to the score in the second quarter. The Eagle punter couldn’t handle the snap cleanly and was tackled quickly in the end zone for a safety, giving LCU a 23-0 lead.
 
Fort Lauderdale (0-5) scored on its next chance, getting a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut the Wildcat lead down to 23-6 after the PAT was missed.
 
LCU answered with a touchdown of its own on the ensuing drive, going 61 yards in 10 plays over 3:34 with Perkins and Xavion Butler connecting on an 18-yard TD, putting the Wildcats up 30-0.
 
Levi Hilborn booted two field goals, from 43 and 45 yards, the latter as time expired to make the score 36-6 Wildcats at halftime.
 
The only scoring in the second half came midway through the third quarter as the Wildcats drove 91 yards in eight plays, thanks in part to several big rushes by Owens and Ashontis Brooks, Jr. A 25-yard rush by Owens set up the Wildcats at the 12 and Perkins and Butler hooked up again for a touchdown.
 
Perkins hit on 15 of his 30 pass attempts for 175 yards. His favorite targets were Butler, who made four catches for 67 yards, and Brenen Hawkins, whose four receptions covered 36 yards. Davis got 55 yards on three catches.
 
Brooks was the top Wildcat running back on the day, getting 14 carries for 117 yards.
 
Leonard and Jermarian Jackson both had interceptions.
 
The Wildcats posted 329 total yards of offense while the LCU defense held the Eagles to just 133 yards overall. LCU scored on six of seven trips inside the Fort Lauderdale red zone.
 
With non-conference play now behind them, the Wildcats visit Texas Wesleyan next Saturday to resume Sooner Athletic Conference competition for the remainder of the season.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

 

Oct. 5

Deltric Anthony Carpenter, 35, Alexandria – four counts contempt of court, $15,500 bail;

Nina Hazard, 43, Lafayette – OWI first offense, open container, turn signal lamp, $1,200 bail;

Germany G. Lard, 45, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, $1,100 bail;

Lacey Danae Meaux, 41, Pineville – illegal possession of stolen things, contempt of court, $3,000 bail;

Carlos O’Bryan Tatum, 37, Pineville – misrepresentation during booking, resisting an officer, safety belt violation, contempt of court, $2,600 bail;

Alexis Lynn Welch, 33, Alexandria – DWI second offense, improper lane usage, improper display license plate, $985 bail;

Lashawnda Racquel Welch, 42, Alexandria – criminal damage to property, domestic abuse battery, misrepresentation during booking contempt of court, $4,500 bail;

Dvetric Dewayne Williams Sr., 26, Alexandria – OWI first offense, speeding, six counts contempt of court, $166,100 bail.

 

Oct. 4

Brandon Lasalle Allen, 39, Alexandria – possession of CDS, intentional littering prohibited, trespassing, $2,500 bail;

Jeremiah Bryant, 17, Alexandria – speeding, no license, resisting a police officer with force or violence, three counts resisting an officer, simple burglary, simple battery of police officer, aggravated criminal damage, illegal possession of stolen things, simple assault, $23,700 bail;

Casmyn Jer’Wayne Claiborne, 26, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, criminal damage to property, $2,000 bail;

Sarah Ann Coolman, 23, Pineville – DWI first offense, improper lane usage, $800 bail;

Shane A. Dupuy, 55, Bunkie – OWI first offense, two counts vehicular negligent injury, reckless operation of a vehicle, driving under suspension, $2,600 bail;

Mitchell Albia Godwin, 41, Pineville – two counts contempt of court, probation violation, $50,000 bail;

Steven Michael Lee, 40, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, modified exhaust, open container, $1,300 bail;

Ethan Meginley, 21, Alexandria – OWI child endangerment, improper headlight, no head light, $1,700 bail;

Brice Richard Olson, 42, Alexandria – resisting an officer, criminal trespass, unauthorized entry of inhabited dwelling, two counts contempt of court, $5,000 bail;

Lakesha Lynn Young, 40, Pineville – two counts possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, open container, driving under suspension, paraphernalia, OWI first offense, $6,200 bail.

 

Oct. 3

Johnathan Casey Baker, 32, Alexandria – home invasion, two counts domestic abuse assault with child endangerment, aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment, possession of firearm by convicted felon, illegal carry firearm with drugs, possession of marijuana, $110,500 bail;

Cedric Markeese Brown, 41, Alexandria – possession of CDS, possession of a firearm by convicted felon, tail lamps, obstruction of justice, contempt of court, $9,100 bail;

Gregory Eugee Carlock, 46, Boyce – theft, trespassing, resisting an officer, four counts contempt of court, $19,000 bail;

Ronald Remond Cooks, 34, Alexandria – possession of firearm by convicted felon, illegal use of weapons, $75,000 bail;

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

Lee Andrew Glynn, 41, Boyce – aggravated assault with a firearm, $15,000 bail;

Tiffany Dominique Gordon, 39, Alexandria – simple robbery, simple battery, six counts contempt of court, $40,600 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, possess firearm with obliterated serial number, $23,500 bail;

McNeal Sanders, 26, Alexandria – aggravated battery, carnal knowledge of a juvenile, two counts home invasion, resisting an officer, aggravated battery of a dating partner, two counts contempt of court, probation violation, simple battery, $80,500 bail;

Diante Obrian Smith, 32, Alexandria – criminal damage to property, domestic abuse battery, $1,750 bail;

Derrick Dewayne Swafford, 31, Alexandria – criminal conspiracy, producing manufacturing distributing CDS with intent, taking contraband to and from penal institutions, second degree murder, attempt to introduce contraband to correctional institution, possession of CDS, possession of synthetic CDS, $159,500 bail.

 

Oct. 2

Luke Michael Austin, 25, Pollock – three counts contempt of court, $50,500 bail;

Austin Mathis Butler, 38, Elmer – malfeasance in office, simple battery, $1,500 bail;

Logan Matthew Carter, 30, Pollock – three counts contempt of court, $75,000 bail;

Johnathan Lee Christal, 31, Lettsworth – second degree murder, $1 million bail;

Jordan Daniels, 17, Natchitoches – six counts simple burglary, criminal conspiracy, resisting an officer, Louisiana fugitive, $200,500 bail;

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

Jaleel Lashawn Felix, 27, Alexandria – second degree attempted murder, home invasion, parole invasions, $525,000 bail;

Shelby William Glover, 31, Boyce – battery of a dating partner, burglary of an inhabited dwelling, criminal damage to property, $10,500 bail;

Ronald Deson Montgomery Jr., 38, Pineville – Louisiana fugitive, improper lane usage, driving under suspension, two counts contempt of court, $51,000 bail;

Diante Jerome Peace, 25, Alexandria – six counts producing manufacturing distributing CDS with intent, possession of firearm by convicted felon, manufacture transfer or possession of machine guns, illegal carry firearm with drugs, illegal possession of stolen firearms, $600,000 bail;

Jennifer Schewe, 57, Pineville – aggravated battery, no bail data;

Anthony Thurmon Jr., 39, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing with intent, illegal carry firearm with drugs, producing manufacturing distributing marijuana, two counts obstruction of justice, $130,000 bail;

Dylan Christopher Tritle, 32, Ball – malfeasance in office, $1,000 bail;

Arthur Jamall Wallace, 35, Alexandria – first degree murder, second degree murder, attempted first degree murder, attempted second degree murder, $3 million bail;

Travis Terrell Wilson, 39, Alexandria – forgery, no bail data.

 

Oct. 1

Christopher Reid Carlton, 41, Colfax – criminal damage to property, theft, $1,500 bail;

Ray Donald Corbett, 44, Deville – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, paraphernalia, temporary display of registration license plates, $3,600 bail;

Stephen B. Gremillion Jr., 47, Boyce – illegal carry firearm with drugs, two counts possession of CDS, trespassing, concealed negligent carry handgun, two counts aggravated assault with a firearm, $65,500 bail;

Deshaun V. Spivey, 39, Pineville – issuing worthless checks, forgery, monetary instrument abuse, two counts contempt of court, $204,200 bail.

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By JIM BUTLER

Four graduates with accomplishments in different fields are the second group to be recognized as Distinguished Alumni of Holy Savior Menard High, Providence Central High and Menard Memorial High.

Their selection was announced by the Alumni Association which will honor the quartet at the school’s October 10 Homecoming football game.

Selected from more than 8,000 graduates of the schools are Gayle Crotty Aertker, Class of 1973; the late Allen Eskew, Class of 1966; the late Terry Mathews, Class of 1983; and Timothy Petrus, Class of 1972.

The program recognizes outstanding service and accomplishment, on both professional and civic fronts, civilian and military.

“Gay” Aertker was a trailblazer of sorts during a 48-year career in corporate real estate development and retail growth strategy.

She joined Tudor Development after NSU graduation (finance major), eventually working in corporate retail real estate for several national companies.

Her civic involvement continues in retirement as a CASA board member in the Tennessee county in which she resides.

Eskew’s New Orleans architecture firm helped shaped that city’s and the state’s cultural landscape and was a key contributor in the Crescent City’s Riverfront redevelopment.

Eskew, who died in 2013, was a recipient of the LSU College of Art & Design Distinguished Alumnus award.

Mathews may be the selection most readily recognized by the general public. He was a Major League Baseball pitcher for 13 years.

Before that he was among the best to ever play the game at the school known statewide for baseball players it produced.

And was a record-setting player at then-Northeast Louisiana University, where he is a member of its Hall of Fame.

After retiring Mathews served as volunteer baseball coach at the school and was the Sheriff’s Office Resource Officer at the school at his 2012 death.

Petrus studied electrical engineering at Louisiana Tech (2016 Tech Alumnus of the Year) and found his professional niche in oil and gas in Texas.

In 1988 he joined a newly formed company that became publicly traded as XTO. He became executive vice president of the firm sold to ExxonMobil in 2010 for $41 billion.

He and three others subsequently formed Morning Star Partners, a privately held oil and gas venture from which he retired in 2021.

Petrus remains active in a host of civic and community organizations.

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The Louisiana Christian Wildcats, who have scored a combined 130 points in their three victories, will host Fort Lauderdale’s winless Eagles Saturday in a non-conference football game.

Kickoff is noon at Wildcat Field. LCU is 3-2, coming off a 56-27 victory at Oklahoma Panhandle State in a Sooner Athletic Conference game. UFL is 0-4, outscored 162-24 after a 36-12 loss to Ave Maria. The Eagles play in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association.

The Wildcats have won three of their last four games, building a 3-0 record in SAC games.

They average 253 passing yards per game behind quarterback Bryce Perkins, who has thrown for 1,198 yards and seven scores while completing 55 percent of his 139 passes with five interceptions.

Alexandria Senior High grad E.J. Scott (23 receptions, 367 yards) and Omarius Davis (22 catches, 365 yards and four TDs) are the top producers at receiver.

A productive running attack averaging 161 yards is led by ASH product Datlan Cunningham, who is averaging 98 yards per game and has scored four touchdowns.

Kylon Polk’s 36 tackles leads the defense, with Brandon Johnson II at 30 stops. Polk has two interceptions and four pass breakups while Johnson has one pickoff and five pass breakups.

Marques Hamilton’s 21 tackles include 4 ½ for lost yards (2 sacks).

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It started with a simple question — have you seen my car key?

A complex answer boiled down to a no.

So the search turned to her purse, discovering a ring containing more than 40 keys, each with a label stuck on. Who keeps such?

Keys of all shapes and sizes, keys for various functions, each unlocking a memory tucked away and perhaps never again to be recalled by her.

Keys to our first garage apartment, three rooms (kitchen, bathroom, living room/bedroom). $60 monthly.

And the second, larger with separate bedroom (daughter had arrived.) $70 monthly.

Keys to a series of houses purchased over the years, each with its own place in our lives.

Hotel keys (remember them, before electronic cards?), most as result of work-related travel – Peabody and its ducks, Fairmont and cable cars, Del Coronado and movie celebrities, Plaza and THE city.

Two rental space keys, where things eventually disposed of are put until they fade from consciousness.

Key to Hot Springs Village property sold when beach held more appeal.

Ditto Gulf Shores condo when travel became complicated.

Speaking of travel, one Samsonite key. Suitcase, about $90 at the time, last seen at Athens check-in, bound for Turkey. Perhaps someone thought she was smuggling antiquities.

Car keys from various models over the years, conjuring images of vacations near and far.

And the treasure – GM key to 1956 Chevy, fondly labeled the Honeymoon Mobile.

Ten years old but new to us as we set out on this journey called life.

And a good ride it’s been, flat tires, detours and all.

Note: Never found her current key. Hallelujah.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

 

Oct. 1

Taylor Rose Arnold, 24, Deville – possession of CDS, $2,500 bail;

Anais Yvonne Brown, 28, Simmesport – three counts aggravated kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal use of weapons/dangerous instrumentalities, home invasion, $900,000 bail;

Jimmie Michael Burch, 48, Pineville – three counts contempt of court, $100,500 bail;

Jasmine Teniqque Celestine, 32, Pineville – possession of CDS, theft, $1,500 bail;

Kelvon Kyle, 25, Cottonport – disarming a police officer, flight from an officer, resisting a police officer with force or violence, driving under suspension, tail lamps must emit red light, two counts contempt of court, $53,700 bail;

Warren C. Lovely, 25, Alexandria – domestic abuse aggravated assault with child endangerment, no bail data;

Kristopher Michael Marks, 26, Alexandria – sex offender failure to notify change of address, failure to comply with provisions of supervised release, no bail data;

Devacheay Tray Martin, 24, Pineville – possession of firearm by convicted felon, attempted second degree murder, possession of marijuana, possession of fentanyl, simple escape, $575,500 bail;

Susan Delaine Purvis, 51, Pineville – OWI fourth offense, careless operation of vehicle, hit and run, open container, $100,700 bail.

 

Sept. 30

Benjamin Cal Brown Jr., 51, Alexandria – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, possession of marijuana, open container state law, $2,200 bail;

Javon Maurice Chappelle, 49, Alexandria – producing manufacturing distributing CDS with intent, possession of marijuana, improper lane usage, $1,600 bail;

Justice Jimwalter Farris, 27, Pineville – aggravated kidnapping, simple battery, first degree robbery, simple escape, criminal damage to property, two counts contempt of court, $650,500 bail;

Caleb MacKenzie Hill, 39, Boyce – two counts possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Louisiana fugitive, illegal possession of stolen things, $25,000 bail;

Britney Nicole Johnson, 37, Pineville – possession of fentanyl, illegal possession of stolen things, two counts contempt of court, $107,500 bail;

Brian Keith Laroche, 63, Alexandria – attempted murder of a law officer, reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from an officer, contempt of court, $2,500 bail;

Lindan Lee Lemoine, 20, Lecompte – speeding, no passing in school zone, flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of highway, improper lane usage, prohibited flashing lights driving under suspension, improper window tint, $30,700 bail;

Rkeizmond Miles, 21, Alexandria – aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic abuse battery with child present, stalking, home invasion aggravated assault, contempt of court, $105,000 bail;

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

Elizabeth M. Newcomb, 58, Deville – OWI second offense, improper lane usage, expired driver’s license, $2,200 bail;

Nikki Valine Perkins, 40, Pineville – possession of CDS, paraphernalia, $3,000 bail;

Christopher Logan Poole, 31, Cheneyville – possession of CDS, theft, possession of marijuana, $3,500 bail;

Devetrick Dewayne Sanders, 27, Alexandria – possession of marijuana, possession of firearm by convicted felon, two counts contempt of court, $70,500 bail;

Christian Matthew Scott, 28, Simmesport – second degree murder, $1 million bail;

Catherine Skeeles, 40, Hineston – fraud in obtaining public assistance, theft, $1,500 bail;

Nachia Renee Stafford, 37, Alexandria – possession of CDS, bicycle reflectors, contempt of court, $4,600 bail;

Dereck Darnell Taylor Sr., 54, Alexandria – possession of CDS, contempt of court, $51,000 bail.

 

Sept. 29

Chloe Dauzart, 20, Alexandria – aggravated assault domestic abuse, $1,000 bail;

Elijah Mardel Eddie, 21, Colfax – possession of CDS, illegal carry firearm with drugs, headlamps required, $2,600 bail;

William Clayton Folse, 29, Pollock – reckless operation of a vehicle, hit and run driving, criminal damage to property, driving under suspension, $7,100 bail;

Caleb MacKenzie Hill, 39, Boyce – possession of firearm by convicted felon, illegal possession of stolen things, Louisiana fugitive, possession of firearm by convicted felon, $25,000 bail;

Jerald Wayne Huel, 30, Alexandria – possession of a firearm by convicted felon, illegal carry weapons, probation violation, $25,000 bail;

Jacobe Christiam Smading, 31, Ball – possession of marijuana, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, safety belt violation, driving under suspension, $3,700 bail;

Courtney L. Smith, 29, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery with children present, $1,000 bail;

Kendrick D. Sylvester, 35, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery with child present, $1,000 bail;

Christopher Morley Tiner, 29, Jena – possession of fentanyl, two counts taking contraband to and from penal institutions, producing manufacturing distributing CDS, criminal conspiracy, $110,000 bail;

Deonte Devon Walker, 31, Alexandria – possession of CDS, possession of marijuana, $2,000 bail.

 

Sept. 28

Rhonda Carla Davenport, 62, Alexandria – criminal damage to property, theft, remaiaing on premises, illegal possession of stolen things, four counts contempt of court, $9,500 bail;

Kenneth Fajardo, 27, Otis – sexual battery, $1,000 bail;

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By JIM BUTLER

Central Louisiana Regional Port officials expect to issue a $10 million note today to effectively launch development and construction of an electrical substation manufacturing complex.

Commissioners voted last week to incur the debt under state provision for a Grant Anticipation Note.

It allows the project to move forward, secured by a grant pledge from the state, and any other lawfully available funds, without having the grant yet in the bank.

The grant is pledged by DOTD’s Port Construction and Development Priority Program though when it might occur is a legislative guess.

Meanwhile, under what is sometimes referred to as a bridge loan, the port can get started on on necessary preliminaries to what is a protracted, expensive manufacturing undertaking.

The note will be held by Regions Commercial Equipment Finance, with first interest payment (5.94%) on unpaid principal due April 1, 2026.

Terms of the indenture provide for optional $1 million minimum prepayments by the Port Authority.

They also include mandatory prepayment within 20 days of receipt of any of the grant proceeds.

Since the DOTD program began about 30 years ago the port has received more than $18.3 million in grants and guarantees, records show. That does not include the anticipated grant.

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By JIM BUTLER

A century after taking their place among Alexandria recreation sites and about a half-century after becoming an afterthought the city’s initial public tennis courts are about to become relevant again.

The four-court site on Hickory Street just off the Masonic Drive-Lee Street intersection are getting a facelift to provide modern recreation opportunity.

The City Council last week authorized bid solicitation for bringing the location back into the city’s play-time inventory.

On what are now the ruins of a once-premier facility the city intends to spend about a million dollars to essentially return an asset to productive use.

Before there were private tennis facilities, before there were Frank O. Hunter Park courts, before there was the Tennis Facility on Masonic Drive, there were the Hickory Street hard courts where city, state and regional championships were held year to year, where players of all ages and both sexes stood in line for the next available court (use limited to one hour when someone waiting).

Tennis on the renovated Sports Court will be limited to two places of the table variety. Three chess tables will also be provided.

Included in the plans:

• Four cornhole sets;
• A basketball court;
• Four 4-corner squares;
• Six pickleball courts.

Estimated cost of the multi-purpose court is $691,000. Parking lot construction is figured at $165,000 and lighting at $133,000.

Bids will be received through mid-morning on November 4.

The bid documents provide 90 working days.

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