Jenny Moran, accused of kidnapping her son before Thanksgiving, remains in Rapides lockup with $150,500 bail set in her case.
At the time of her arrest she was out of jail on bond from a January arrest.
Moran, 42, of Folsom (St. Tammany Parish) is accused of taking her 12-year-old son from a Deville residence on Nov. 19.
She was subsequently arrested in Folsom. The boy was in her company, authorities said at the time.
The mother is charged with kidnapping and criminal trespass. She was extradited to Rapides on Nov. 30.
She had been arrested in Rapides on Jan. 25 this year on two felony charges — aggravated with child present domestic abuse battery and battery 2nd degree — as well as five contempt of court warrants. She posted $125,000 bond on Feb. 23.
Previously she had been booked in February 2021 for allegedly trespassing/remaining after forbidden, disturbing the peace and reckless operation of a vehicle, posting $1,500 bond the same day.
She had posted $20,000 bond in May 2020 stemming from arrest on two felony accusations — battery 2nd degree and aggravated domestic abuse battery with child present — and a criminal damage charge. Arrested on May 9, she made bail on May 21.
Throwing out my two-cents worth, or maybe, with inflation, my two-bits worth, with interest:
A recommended book for World War II history buffs is Stephen Ambrose’s The Victors – Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II. Not that the book is new. Ambrose, the late, great historian who was a longtime professor of history at the University of New Orleans, wrote this book some four years before he died in 2002. I recently happened upon it at the library as if finding a treasure digging through a drawer of memorabilia.
A talented writer as well as an historian, Ambrose wrote these five paragraphs that showed how – in that war, and many other wars — there are some graced moments in horrible circumstances. It’s timely as we approach Christmas, and it comes right after Ambrose made the point that Americans had a “moral superiority” over the Germans, who had superb equipment and more than enough weapons, but lacked the teamwork, leadership, and mutual trust of the Americans. He said democracy was better at producing young men who could be made into superb soldiers than Nazi Germany.
Then, he wrote this: “Still, there were Germans of high quality in the (1945 Bastogne) battle. Lt. Gottfried Kischkel, an infantry officer outside Bastogne, was in his foxhole on the afternoon of December 22. An American tank was hit and began burning. Kischkel heard cries for help from the tank. “So I crawled to it. An American was hanging out of the hatch, badly wounded. I pulled him out and dragged him to a ditch, where I applied first aid.
“Kischkel looked up from his bandaging and saw several Americans staring down with their M-1 (rifles) pointed at him. An American lieutenant asked, in German, ‘What are you doing?’
“’He cried for help and I helped,’ Kischkel replied. The Americans put their heads together. Then the lieutenant asked, ‘Do you want to be taken prisoner, or do you want to go back to your comrades?’
“’I must return to my comrades.’
“’I expected no other answer,’ the American said. He told Kischkel to take off.”
Somehow, it seems like a version of the gospel about the Good Samaritan. …
Let me offer a book recommendation for a sports journalist’s Christmas list: The Great American Sports Page, a collection of sports columns over the past century, edited by John Schulian. Full disclosure: some of the columns didn’t tickle my fancy, but most are outstanding, bring back memories and tears and laughs, and show how the craft has evolved over time.
Schulian was a sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and Philadelphia Daily News, and a recipient of the ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing. He edited the Library of America anthologies Football: Great Writing about the National Sport and, with George Kimball, At the Fights: American Writers on Boxing; and he most recently wrote the novel A Better Goodbye. Louisiana has a writer I’ve revered over the years who is represented among the selections: the late Peter Finney of New Orleans States-Item and Times-Picayune fame. …
What a story it could’ve been if an unbeaten Florida State team, having to play a third-string quarterback, found a way to win the College Football Playoff.
But it won’t happen because the folks that select the four playoff teams deemed the Seminoles unworthy because FSU was down to a third-string quarterback.
When a team wins all its games, including a gutsy defensive battle for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship, and gets denied a berth in the playoffs just because a reserve player has become the starting quarterback, it stinks. It’s a sucker punch to the idea of teamwork, leadership and mutual trust among troops, such as Ambrose wrote about – even in the face of casualties — being so essential to victory.
The hope is that next year when the College Football Playoff goes to 12 teams, it will be considered fair. But I predict it won’t be fair. At least not to that 13th team or maybe the 14th team.
Then again, life’s not fair. It’s not fair, but it remains, always, a gift.
A quilt donated by Quilts for Cops was recently presented to a Rapides parish Sheriff’s Office deputy who was injured in a crash on Nov. 10 while investigating a multiple vehicle theft. Quilts for Cops was founded with the intention of providing some kind of comfort to Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders who are injured in the line of duty.
Milton William Rachal March 11, 1933 – November 26, 2023 Service: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 11am at St. James Memorial Catholic, Alexandria.
James “Lane” Austin September 26, 1957 – November 30, 2023 Service: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 11am at Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.
E.M. Smith December 9, 1940 – December 1, 2023 Service: Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 10am at Hixson Brothers, Jena.
James Greenfield April 23, 1942 – December 1, 2023 Service: Thursday, December 7, 2023, 10am Fellowship Baptist Church, Trout.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)
Terineesha Nelson is in Rapides lockup for the sixth time this year.
Nelson, 30, of Alexandria was booked Saturday on 14, correct, 14, counts of contempt of court. Bail is set at $25,000.
Her six arrests this year top her previous high – five in 2021, according to parish records.
Nelson’s 2023 record began January 6, with arrest on theft and contempt charges. She posted $10,500 bond that day.
On April 21, she was charged with two misdemeanors and posted $500 bond.
Eight days later, April 29, she was back, charged with five contempt counts, an open burning violation, disturbing the peace and resisting an officer.
She posted $27,050 bond on August 3 and was arrested again on August 22 on several charges, including a felony possession count. She posted bond October 3.
On October 24 she was booked on four contempt charges, posting $4,000 bond the next day.
Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies responded to OV Kennedy Road in Hineston on Nov. 23 in reference to a complaint of someone brandishing a firearm at some individuals and committing a battery on another individual. The suspect, identified as David Carrol Carlock Jr., 45 of Hineston, had already left the area when deputies arrived. Deputies were unable to locate Carlock Jr. so they took the initial report and Sheriff’s Detectives began their investigation.
Through their investigation, which included witness interviews and search warrants, detectives were able to establish sufficient probable cause that supported the original allegations. Warrants were obtained for Carlock Jr.’s arrest, in reference to 4 counts aggravated assault with a firearm, 1 count simple battery, 1 count criminal trespassing, 1 count reckless operation of a vehicle, and 1 count attempted second degree murder.
On Nov. 29, Sheriff’s Detectives made contact with Carlock Jr. during a traffic stop and he was taken into custody without incident and placed under arrest. Carlock Jr. was transported to Rapides Parish Detention Center where he was booked on the active warrant.
Carlock Jr. remains in jail at the time of this release, being held on a $351,500 bond.
“ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.”
Louisiana State Police Troop E Troopers began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on Nov. 30 around 10 p.m. on Louisiana Highway 28 East at the Dollar General. This crash claimed the life of 77-year-old Mary Honshul.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2007 Ford Edge, driven by Honshul, failed to yield to an eastbound 2008 Ford F-150 as she pulled out of a private parking lot (Dollar General).
Honshul, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford, who was restrained, sustained minor injuries. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis.
Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers would like to remind the public of the following: inattentive and distracted driving is dangerous and is a leading cause of crashes in our state. It is important for motorists to pay attention to what is going on outside of the vehicle they are driving and to get plenty of rest in order to remain alert.
In 2023, Troop E Troopers have investigated 51 crashes resulting in 57 fatalities.
WON’T YOU BE MY NABERS?: LSU will have star receiver Malik Nabers for the Tigers’ Jan. 1 ReliaQuest Bowl matchup with Wisconsin. (Journal photo by PETER FOREST)
By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – The last team Jayden Daniels played as Arizona State’s quarterback before transferring to LSU was a 20-13 loss to Wisconsin in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl. He had 199 of ASU’s 219 total offense yards squaring off against then-Badgers starting QB Graham Mertz, who transferred this season to Florida.
If Daniels decides to play in LSU’s upcoming bowl game, Wisconsin will again be the last team before his next career move since the No. 13 Tigers (9-3) and the unranked Badgers (7-5) of the Big Ten are set for a Jan. 1 meeting in Tampa’s ReliaQuest Bowl.
Daniels, a senior who became the odds-on favorite over the weekend to win the Heisman Trophy at the end of this week, has not announced yet if he will play in the bowl or bypass it to preserve his health and begin preparations for the NFL Draft on April 25.
With or without Daniels, LSU head coach Brian Kelly has stated in the last few weeks he believes a bowl victory for a second straight 10-win season is important for program stability. He said Sunday the bowl pairing is “attractive.”
“A SEC-Big Ten matchup always creates a lot of excitement, but facing a Wisconsin team led by a great coach in Luke Fickell makes this bowl game even more attractive,” Kelly said in a released statement on Sunday. “Wisconsin has a great tradition with a tremendous fan base.”
This will be the fifth meeting between the teams. LSU holds a 3-1 advantage. The Tigers swept a home-and-home series in 1971 (a 38-28 win at Wisconsin) and 1972 (a 27 7 victory in Tiger Stadium) and split a pair of neutral site games in 2014 (a 28-24 LSU win in Houston) and in 2016 (a 16-14 Wisconsin win in Green Bay).
The only draft-eligible LSU player who declared he’ll play in the bowl is junior wide receiver Malik Nabers, a Biletnikoff Award finalist who’s 22 yards shy of becoming the Tigers’ all-time receiving yardage leader.
The lone Wisconsin player so far to opt out of playing in the bowl is running back Braelon Allen, who announced last week he’s entering the NFL draft. Allen, a 6-2, 245 pound junior, has 3,494 career rushing yards and 35 TDs and averaged 99.8 yards in his 35-game college career.
Even without Allen, first-year Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, tight end Hayden Rucci and safety Hunter Wohler all indicated during a Zoom media call Sunday their excitement to play a ranked team with a possible Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.
“I’ve already heard from a few of our players that they’re fired up about this,” Fickell said. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but I know there’s a lot of excited Badger guys and our fans ready to hit Tampa.”
Wisconsin started the season 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten before losing consecutive league games to Ohio State, Indiana and Northwestern. Season-closing wins over Nebraska (to become bowl-eligible) and Minnesota somewhat salvaged the year.
“It was a tough year, I won’t lie,” Wohler said. “Finishing the way we did was huge. With our struggles, I did not see us getting the opportunity to play a team (LSU) of that caliber.
“Now that we get the chance, I can’t wait. There’s a lot of really good athletes on that team. And we’ve got some good athletes of our own. It’s going to be a good battle., It’s going to be fun.”
Fickell said he’s caught glimpses of LSU this season in Saturday night games. But he’s certainly familiar with Tigers’ offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.
When Fickell was Cincinnati’s head coach from 2017 through 2022, his offensive coordinator for his first five years was Denbrock. Fickell had hired Denbrock away from Notre Dame and then-head coach Kelly after the 2016 season. Denbrock rejoined Kelly last season when Kelly became LSU’s head coach.
“Mike is really good at using his personnel,” Fickell said. “He’s going to find ways to use the guys he has. That’s sometimes the unique thing about preparing for a bowl. None of us will have some version of a full roster or what we’ve had all year.
“So, you get to see how coaches and players improvise and adapt and change based upon the people they’re going to have.”
If Daniels plays, LSU should be at least a two-TD favorite. Daniels averages more yards (412.2 ypg of LSU’s 547.8) and has been responsible for more TDs (50) than Wisconsin (370.8 ypg, 33 TDs) as a team.
LSU declined to make Kelly or any players available for comment on Sunday.
Even with LSU’s fall semester final exams week starting Monday, it will be a busy week for Kelly and Daniels.
The transfer portal officially opens Monday, so Kelly will begin shopping for experience to fill immediate needs on the defensive line and in the defensive backfield. The early signing period for high school recruits is Dec. 20. LSU currently has 26 commitments.
Daniels, who has already been named the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top QB, will be one of the four Heisman finalists announced on Monday night. The Heisman winner will be announced Saturday night in New York City.
Daniels is also a finalist for the Maxwell Trophy as college football’s Player of the Year and for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. The winners of those awards will be announced Thursday at 6 p.m. CT on the ESPN College Football Awards show.
On the same broadcast, the winner of the Biletnikoff Award for college football’s best receiver will be announced. Nabers is a finalist along with Washington’s Rome Odunze and the favorite, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Junior.
It was easy to predict the widespread negative reaction.
With all deference to Sam Burns, Phillip Barbaree Jr. and David Toms – our active Louisiana pros — I’m not talking about the golf ball rollback. Even though that impending global decision could profoundly affect all of us hackers who make our rounds at Links on the Bayou, Oakwing, Bringhurst Park, Tamahka Trails and the rest, today’s topic is a sport with a ball that never bounces predictably. It didn’t again Sunday.
Thanks to the long-awaited College Football Playoffs announcement of the game’s Final Four, there are millions of madmen (and women, and children) up in arms about the omissions – unbeaten Florida State especially, but also two-time defending champ Georgia and once-barely-beaten Ohio State.
With only four slots to fill, there were always going to be teams left off the invitation list. In any limited field, the jilted ones don’t take it well.
Over in Dallas, the SMU Mustangs are stinging from undefeated but less-than-tested Liberty, a newly-mintedConference USA colleague of Louisiana Tech, getting the narrow nod as the Group of Five representative in the primetime bowl party, going to the Fiesta Bowl to face Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks.
In fact, the first two questions on the CFP’s media zoom call Sunday with selection chairman Boo Cprrigan focused on THAT hairsplitter before the Frustrated Seminoles United queries began.
Next year, the expansion to a 12-team CFP will resolve all these problems. Right. The 2025 Dynamic Dozen will include conference champs of the six highest-ranked champions, and the six next-highest ranked teams.
Bet your boots No. 13 will be upset. Maybe not as upset as Florida State AD Michael Alford.
“It renders the season up to yesterday irrelevant,” he said in a statement Sunday. “Wins matter. Losses matter …. Those on the committee who competed in the sport … have forgotten it. Today, they changed the way success is accessed in college football, from a tangible metric – winning on the field – to an intangible, subjective one.
“Evidently, predicting the future matters more.”
No, Mr. Alford – money does.
He’s right. Florida State did all it could to earn a spot. The Seminoles compare favorably to Alabama except in a few key aspects – conference affiliation, reputation, and healthy quarterbacks.
The prevalent belief is the Southeastern Conference is the big brother to all others, certainly the Atlantic Coast Conference. (let’s forget for a few moments that Clemson played in the ACC when it was winning and near-missing national titles not long ago, and that FSU and Miami are prime players in modern college football history).
Not this year’s SEC. Georgia has looked less than exceptional nearly all season. So has Bama, from its opening struggle past South Florida to its Iron Bowl miracle escape of Auburn. LSU fans can (some will) note that Florida State handled Jayden Daniels and the Tigers more convincingly, a not-that-close 45-24 final, than the Crimson Tide held off visiting LSU even after Daniels was knocked out of the game (but not the Heisman Trophy chase) early in the fourth quarter of a 14-point Bama win.
Impossible to have a CFP without an SEC team? With the higher-ups doing the picking, yes. The ADs look at bottom dollar considerations. They live in their own stratosphere. The SEC is indeed the North Star for college sports, and it’s unwise to sting the status quo.
“In the eyes of the committee, Florida State is a different team without (injured quarterback) Jordan Travis,” said Corrigan. “One of the things we do consider is player availability.”
Yep, FSU isn’t as scary nowadays. That defense still is, but watching the ACC title game Saturday night was less than impressive. However, a week ago, Travis was out and the committee moved the Seminoles back into the top four.
It’s a little easier to stomach if you’re a Georgia or Ohio State supporter. Those teams had games they knew they had to win, and came up painfully short. Those Buckeye boosters can rightfully gripe that a Michigan touchdown pass was actually an Ohio State interception, but the scoreboard doesn’t account for tough breaks.
FSU never stared down a losing scoreboard. Still hasn’t. Bama was beaten solidly on its own field by Texas, which was edged on a last-minute comeback by Oklahoma, which almost was whining about being left out of the New Year’s Day Six set of bowl games. The Sooners were on the bubble at 12. LSU was No. 13 on a dance card with a dozen slots.
Fair to the Seminoles? As fair as a wind gust that jumped up just as a perfectly struck golf shot, a rare thing in my experience, was tracking toward the flagstick.
I knew I pured it. I also knew it might not work out. It landed in the water. I’ll bet Sam, PBJ and David have their share of those regrets.
Now, so do the Seminoles. And they could not have done any better.
It was an amazing night on Dec. 2 as over 2,600 people came out to see the CPKC Holiday Express as it rolled into Pineville.
Don’t forget that Santa’s House is now at Kees Park and open from 5-8 pm. Tour Kees Park and see the beautiful trail of lights. Join the City of Pineville on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7pm for the Pineville Christmas Parade along Main Street.
C.E. Bowen February 12, 1940 – November 29, 2023 Service: Monday, December 4, 2023, Noon at The Pentecostals of Alexandria
Milton William Rachal March 11, 1933 – November 26, 2023 Service: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 11am at St. James Memorial Catholic, Alexandria.
James “Lane” Austin September 26, 1957 – November 30, 2023 Service: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 11am at Chapel of Rush Funeral Home, Pineville.
The Rapides Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or RPJNewsla@gmail.com . Must be paid in advance of publication. (Notice of Death shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to RPJNewsla@gmail.com)
Cutting to the chase – Woodworth received $1.4 million in fines and forfeitures in its most recent fiscal year.
That may be all non-residents want to know.
The report issued in November doesn’t note how much of that total was from the town’s traffic enforcement and how much was from other cases.
According to the audit, the town’s government activity net position was essentially unchanged at $5.9 million.
General Fund revenues reached $2.6 million, including the court revenue and a Utility Fund transfer of $412,000.
Police and fire expense totaled $1.2 million. General government costs took $939,000, public works $656,000 and debt service $405,000.
Audits are required by state law to list annual compensation of agency leaders.
Mayor David Butler’s is listed at $68,883. The five aldermen were paid $5,400 each.
Editor’s Note: The mayor is a longtime acquaintance/friend of this reporter with the same last name, who, despite being asked countless times, cannot help with a ticket.
The Alexandria Fire Department responded to three building fires within 24 hours.
On Nov. 29 at 11:03 AM, the Alexandria Fire Department was dispatched to the La Quinta Inn and Suites on West Calhoun Drive in reference to a hotel room on fire. The fire was brought under control by the building’s fire protection system. The first arriving firefighters verified the fire was contained while other firefighters assisted the occupants in evacuation. Once the situation was determined to be safe, the scene was released, and the investigation revealed an electrical issue with the room’s air conditioning unit.
On Nov. 29 at 1:46 PM, the Alexandria Fire Department was dispatched to the Guest House Inn and Suites on North MacArthur Drive in reference to a structure fire. The first unit arrived within three minutes. After the initial size-up, the Assistant Chief called three additional alarms. Alexandria Fire Department had six engine companies, three aerial companies, two district chief units, and a fire investigating unit on scene. Rapides Parish Fire District No: 2 was also dispatched by Rapides Parish Communication Center to provide additional support.
The fire was brought under control after an hour and fifteen minutes. The Alexandria Police Department utilized a thermal imaging drone to assist in suppression efforts due to the low visibility from the dense smoke. One firefighter was transported to a local hospital for an injury that occurred while fighting the fire. The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted in the investigation. The cause of the fire was determined to have been human intervention.
On Nov. 30 at 6:18 AM, the Alexandria Fire Department was dispatched to Chester Street in reference to a residential fire. The first unit arrived within two minutes, and the fire was brought under control within five minutes of the dispatch. The fire investigation revealed an electrical event in the attic of the building caused the fire. The residence was occupied at the time of the fire, and everyone was able to exit the building without injury due to an operating smoke detector.
Louisiana Christian University Dean of Nursing Dr. Tomekia Luckett will serve as the keynote speaker at the University of Southern Mississippi Nurse Practitioner Awards and Recognition Ceremony on Dec. 7 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Luckett, a graduate of Southern Miss, was invited to speak by her former course instructors in the nurse practitioner program.
“I was honored to receive the invitation to speak as the University of Southern Mississippi is a prestigious university within Mississippi with a long history of nursing excellence,” Luckett said. “In the graduate program, of which I am a student, we are all nurses and have been diligent in our careers, which makes this an even greater honor. I have been in the classroom with everyone as a student and experienced my own unique set of challenges in balancing life, work and school.”
Luckett said she will speak on the significance of the calling into nursing and health care occupations.
“LCU is blessed to have Dr. Tomekia Luckett at the helm of our restructured nursing program,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Cheryl Clark. “She is a perfect match for LCU’s dedication to academic excellence and our Christ-centered mission. Her demonstrated leadership in program development and student clinical experiences along with her strong faith, energy, and passion has provided a strong foundation for the future of LCU’s nursing program.”
In addition to her role as dean of the School of Nursing, Luckett is an author and empowerment speaker. She is also active in state and national nursing organizations.
In October, Luckett was elected to serve as the director for organizational affairs by the Mississippi Board of Nursing. She also serves as a delegate for the American Nurses Association, representing Mississippi.
Luckett earned her Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Nursing degrees at William Carey University and her Ph.D. in Nursing Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi.
She will receive her post-Master’s Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Southern Mississippi on Dec. 7.
