The Alexandria Police Department responded to a report of an attempted robbery in the 2200 block of Memorial Drive on Thursday, July 10, at approximately 11am.

According to the initial investigation, an ATM repairman was servicing a machine at a local bank when he was approached by two suspects. The suspects, described as black males wearing masks, attempted to rob the repairman. Neither suspect appeared to be armed at the time of the attempted robbery. No money was taken from either the ATM or the repairman during the incident.

This is currently an ongoing investigation.

If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number 318-441-6416 or APD Dispatch 318-441-6559. Information can be emailed to detectives at APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.

For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at 318-443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile.

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is launching a formal review of the state’s K–12 physical education student standards, aiming to strengthen the role of physical fitness in promoting lifelong health and student success. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved the review during its June meeting, as part of a policy requiring standards updates every seven years. The current standards were last reviewed in 2017.

Applications are now open for citizens interested in serving on the standards review committees. Louisiana physical education teachers, administrators, school system staff, higher education faculty, parents, and community members are encouraged to apply by July 31.

“Just like literacy and numeracy are building blocks for academic achievement, physical fitness is foundational for lifelong health,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “By using this scheduled review to modernize our standards, we can better equip students with the habits, skills, and mindset to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”

The review will focus on updating the standards to:

• Strengthen the progression of foundational physical fitness skills across grade bands.
• Ensure developmentally appropriate motor skills and movement patterns.
• Embed expectations that support high-quality instruction for all learners.
• Integrate health-focused outcomes that promote wellness.

The review process includes a steering committee and two grade-band workgroups (K–5 and 6–12), each composed of stakeholders from across the state. Committee members will meet in-person in Baton Rouge beginning in late October. All meetings will take place at the Claiborne Building and will be open to the public.

Committee selections will be submitted to BESE for approval in October. The revised standards are expected to be presented to BESE in 2026. Implementation training will take place during the 2026–2027 school year, with full implementation beginning in 2027–2028.

For more information, please view our physical education standards review overview or email classroomsupporttoolbox@la.gov.

Effective immediately, most passengers departing Alexandria International Airport (AEX) can now wear their shoes during the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening process.

According to AEX Airport Operations Manager David Keller, “Passengers no longer have to remove their footwear if they do not alarm on the screening. If they alert, further screening may be necessary, to include footwear removal.”

The TSA’s no-shoe policy has been in place since 2006, with a planned reversal announced this week as a means to “enhance passenger experience and our strong security posture,” according to TSA sources. Adoption of the new protocol will be gradual across U.S. airports. Passengers are encouraged to visit www.tsa.gov for more information.

This week’s “Wanted Wednesday” from the Pineville Police Department is Chad Elder. Elder is wanted for shoplifting from several local retailers in central Louisiana. He has multiple arrest warrants.

Pineville PD believes he may be in a neighboring parish. If anyone knows Chad Elder’s whereabouts, they are encouraged to contact the PPD via Facebook. 

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

July 9

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

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

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

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

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

July 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 6

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

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

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

The United Way of Central Louisiana is looking for new uniforms for their upcoming back-to-school initiatives this August. School supplies and backpacks tend to be in overflow, but uniforms can be a little harder (and more expensive) to come by. The United Way knows how hectic this time of the year can be for their ALICE families, so they want to help take the load off.

If any organizations would like to partner with the United Way and donate new clothes, reach out to the Community Engagement Coordinator Ananda Flanagan by email (ananda@uwcl.org) or by phone 318-443-7203 Ext. 1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Life lesson learned.