For He's gone to Fiddler's Green

When the song ended, the room was called to attention. The first sergeant on stage called for roll call for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop.
He yelled, "Captain Lloyd!"
A booming voice yelled back, "Here, first sergeant!"
"Major Robinson!"
"Here, first sergeant."
"Major Culver!"
There was silence.
He yelled, "Maj. Ronald Culver!"
Silence.
He yelled again, "Maj. Ronald W. Culver Jr.!"
And a voice said, "He’s not here first sergeant - for he’s gone to Fiddler’s Green."
Profound silence.
"Sergeant Major, strike Major Culver’s name from the roll."
After a few moments the soldiers walked off the stage and taps was played.
Soldiers stood and waited their turn to approach the memorial table, touch the dog tags, leave an item or say a prayer. Each performed a slow salute, turned and marched to a line of waiting comrades to express their condolences and share their grief.
Maj. Ronald “Wayne” Culver was a member of the Louisiana Army National Guard Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment of Shreveport, La. The 44 year-old officer left behind a wife and two teenage children.
From U. S. Defense Department

Memorial Day 2010: God Bless America

An original performance in the 1930's by Kate Smith of a new Irving Berlin song.

Images

Mr. & Mrs. Andy were in Minden yesterday to show their respect and support for Sgt. Joshua Tomlinson and his family. He sent some pictures for us to share with you. The love and support from people all over the region was amazing.
On Monday we should have video from our friend Dan.

Services set for Major Wayne Culver

Funeral services for Wayne Culver will be held Tuesday at 9AM at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, 100 W 8th Street. Graveside services will be at Hillcrest in Haughton at 1:30 PM.
Visitation wil be Monday at 6PM at Young’s Funeral Home, 508 Champagnolle Rd in El Dorado.

A minute of respect for a fallen soldier

The funeral of Sgt. Joshua Tomlinson will be held today. Take a minute at 2PM, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, to say a prayer or in your own way to show your personal respect and support.

Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.

Greater Love Hath no Man

Flags are flying at half-mast in El Dorado and Shreveport for Major Wayne Culver. I think all of our readers know that Major Culver was killed in Iraq Monday.
Funeral services are still pending, but it is expected that the services will be in El Dorado followed by a procession to Shreveport for burial.
When we get more details, we will let you know.
According to The Times, squadron Chaplain James Collins said "The Army has the seven core values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage, to me, Wayne exemplified those Army values. We learn them and we are supposed to live them. Not everyone does...but he did. He was a friend to everyone, regardless of rank. It didn't matter if they were a cook or a general, he treated everyone the same. He was a good husband, a good father and a good Soldier, but most importantly, he was a good man."
There will be a ceremony in honor of Major Wayne Culver at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day outside the Union County Courthouse in El Dorado.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Red River Tea Party invites members to stand in support of Joshua Tomlinson

Westboro Baptist Church Plans to protest Spc. Joshua Tomlinson's funeral!
The hate group who call themselves the "Westboro Baptist Church" plan to protest the funeral of local soldier Spc. Joshua Tomlinson.
We must stand up!!! Let's show up in great numbers at this American hero's funeral. Bring American flags and stand in support of Joshua, his family, and our country! Please no signs. Dress should be appropriate for this solemn occasion.
When: This Saturday, May 29 2010 at 1:15 pm
Where: First Baptist Church in Minden
301 Pennsylvania Avenue
Minden, LA 71055-3400
(318) 377-9711
Red River Tea Party

The Meaning and Purpose of Memorial Day

Monday is Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day. It is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.
Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.
Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country. I think a lot of well meaning people simply misunderstand the purpose that was intended for this day, and if they are educated as to the geniune meaning of it, that they will observe it properly.
Memorial day is not to be confused for Veterans Day, which is the day on which we thank and honor all of those who served honorably in the military.
This is a day that we should observe solemnly, not just as the last day in a three-day weekend.
Brave men fought and died on our behalf, and their sacrifice demands that we give them the honor they are due.
On Memorial Day, all U.S. flags should be displayed at half-staff during the morning hours. At noon, they should be raised back to full-staff.

Traditionally, a red poppy is worn on Memorial Day, inspired by the poem In Flanders Field which was written by a Canadian Lt. Colonel, John McCrae after he presided over the burial of a fellow officer.
When I was in school, and even when I was a young man, we always had poppies to wear. The VFW sponsors the ‘buddy poppy’, artificial silk poppies which are made by disabled veterans. Unfortunately, this tradition is being lost, except among veterans groups. Watch for pictures and videos locally of veterans observances and you will see them.
The poem, from WWI, describes the red poppies that covered the battleground and afterward, the rows of graves.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

If you have never properly observed Memorial Day, do so this year. Remember Joshua Tomlinson and Wayne Culver, and all of the other brave men who have fallen on the battlefield.

What Memorial Day isn't about

This is what Memorial Day is not about.

It's not about Albertson's Memorial Day COOKOUT CELEBRATION!

Is there anything wrong about having a family cookout during the weekend or on Memorial Day? Of course not.

Is there anything wrong with Albertson's and other supermarkets using this day of remembrance to have a COOKOUT CELEBRATION!?

You betcha there is.

Over at CVS Pharmacy they have Memorial Day DEALS!

For pete's sake, there is even a http://www.memorialdaysales.net/ website.

And more, and more and more.

Memorial Day isn't even about remembering and honoring everyone you knew who has passed on.

Tomorrow we'll tell you what it's really about.

Major Wayne Culver

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family of Major Wayne Culver, who was killed in Numaniyah, Iraq early this week. Major Culver was the brother of Bossier City Police Sgt. Shane Culver.
He was executive officer for the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, based in Shreveport.
He grew up in Blanchard, was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Northwood High School.
Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott issued the following statement:
“Our state and nation lost a true patriot in the passing of Major Wayne Culver. He was a beloved son, husband, and father, a revered businessman and community leader and a proud solider. His passing comes much too soon and he will be deeply missed. All Americans owe Major Culver their eternal gratitude for his selfless sacrifice.
“There is no way we can ever thank Major Culver or his family enough for his service, but we can honor his legacy and life and pledge together to support all of our men and women in uniform who heroically serve this great country of ours.
“My deepest thoughts and prayers and those of all Arkansans and Louisianans are with his wife, Tracey, and the rest of his family during this extraordinarily difficult time.

Some days are diamonds (some days are stones)

The other day Andy did a blog post with a couple of John Denver songs. I always liked John Denver, and like anyone else I had my favorite. Today I just want to listen to it, and want to share it with you.

Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket Tomlinson Funeral

The Bible says that by their fruits you will know them. The 'fruits' of Westboro Baptist 'Church' are rotten and bitter, encouraging discord and disrespect.

GOD HATES AMERICA & IS KILLING OUR TROOPS IN HIS WRATH.
Military funerals have become pagan orgies of idolatrous blasphemy, where they pray to the dunghill gods of Sodom & play taps to a fallen fool.
This message to be preached in respectful, lawful proximity to the memorial of Spc. Joshua A. Tomlinson Sat., May 29, at 1:15 p.m. First Baptist Minden
301 Pennsylvania Ave., Minden, LA
Spc. Tomlinson gave his life for the Constitutional right of WBC to warn America. To deny us our First Amendment rights is to declare to the world that Spc. Tomlinson died in vain, and that America is a nation of sodomite hypocrites.
“Except the Lord build the house, They labor in vain that build it; Except the Lord keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.” Psa. 127:1.
The Lord no longer builds the American house; nor does the Lord watch over and protect America. These soldiers are dying for the homosexual and other sins of America. God is now America’s enemy, and God Himself is fighting against America.
THANK GOD FOR IEDs.

Westboro Baptist Church

Funeral Services for Joshua Tomlinson will be Saturday

Funeral Services for Spc. Joshua Tomlinson of Dubberly will be held Saturday in Minden. Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory in Minden.

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone in the area could take 1 minute to suspend whatever they are doing at 2PM Saturday in memory of Joshua and all of the others who have fallen for their country?

Monday is Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a day set aside to recognize all of those soldiers, like Joshua Tomlinson, who have given their life in military service to their country.

When Good Boys kill

Trial begins tomorrow in Bossier Parish District Court in Benton for Matthew Fite, who is accused of 2^nd degree murder in the death of Dorothy Gail Wilson. Fite allegedly had acquired an 8-ball (3.5 ounces) of methamphetamine and gave Wilson about ¼ of it and a needle so she could ‘shoot up’. Wilson died of an overdose. She had no other drugs in her system at the time of death.

But, you know, really he’s a good boy.

As is customary in these cases, the defense has had family and friends write letters to the judge to be officially recorded. The recurring theme is that he needs to be home to take care of his mother.

• "He is a good boy, he needs to be home to take care of his mother . . ."
• "He is one of the nicest guys I know . . . . and a good person . . "
• "He is a good boy and has always been one . ."

The ‘boy’, by the way, is a 39 year old man who apparently is still living with mom. Taking care of her? Not so much. Let’s look at the ‘good boy’s’ activities over the last few years.

• 1989 Leaving the Scene of an Accident
• 1990 Residential Burglary
• 1993 DWI
• 1994 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• 1994 Possession of Marijuana
• 1996 Possession of Marijuana
• 2002 Aggravated Assault
• 2002 Simple Battery
• 2002 Simple Battery
• 2003 Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile
• 2003 Disturbing the Peace
• 2003 Probation Violation
• 2003 Vehicular Homicide
• 2005 Simple Escape
• 2008 Aggravated Assault
• 2008 Simple Battery
• 2008 Simple Criminal Damage to Property
• 2008 2^nd Degree Murder

This doesn’t include multiple charges of driving under suspension, speeding, no drivers license, no insurance and various other traffic charges. Fite is also subject to a civil suit for damages filed on behalf of Wilson’s child. I didn’t go into detail on the outcome of each charge, suffice it to say that Fite had multiple convictions, and was on probation when he was arrested for the 2008 charges. I'll keep you posted.

Another graduation

I posted pictures when my grandson Tyler graduated from boot camp in April, and now a month later I have another grandson graduating!
Grandson Ethan graduated from First Baptist Bossier preschool this morning. Way to go Ethan!

Updates from Sheriff Deen, Haughton & Plain Dealing arrests

Two women from Plain Dealing were arrested after a fight last night, said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen.
Shandricka Shantane Williams, 20, of the 400 block of East Carolina Avenue, and Laniekka Nicole Taylor, 19, of the 900 block of Antrim Cutoff Road, began fighting around 7 p.m. Williams hit Taylor with a brick and bit her. She also hit Taylor’s car with a brick. Both women admitted to fighting with each other.
Taylor is charged with disturbing the peace, fighting. Her bond is set at $150. Williams is charged with aggravated battery and simple criminal property damage. Her bond is pending.

A Haughton man and woman were arrested early this morning on a variety of charges, said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen.
Kevin Allen Phillips, 28, and Crystal Lee Walker, 32, both of the 4400 block of Camp Joy Road, were taken into custody after a Bossier Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle being driven by Phillips. The deputy was responding to a call from a complainant who said Phillips kicked a woman out of his car and beat her up.
The deputy said Phillips swerved into a ditch just before he was pulled over. When he made contact with Phillips, the deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person, and he told the deputy he was not supposed to be driving. A check revealed a suspended and expired driver’s license. In addition, Phillips performed poorly on a field sobriety test and blew a 0.166% blood alcohol content on the Intoxilyzer.
When questioned by deputies, Walker said she and Phillips got into a verbal confrontation which escalated into a physical altercation. She admitted slapping Phillips in the face and jumping out of the car.
Phillips and Walker were transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility and booked. Phillips was charged with driving while intoxicated, improper lane use and driving under suspension. Walker was charged with domestic abuse and disturbing the peace/drunk.

A Haughton woman was arrested Saturday night on two counts of cruelty to a juvenile, said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen.
Carrie Sue Grice, 51, of the 600 block of Chandler Road, was taken into custody after she became involved in a physical altercation with two juvenile victims. Grice struck a 13-year-old female in the back of the left shoulder near the arm. While Grice was going after the 13-year-old, the victim was trying to push Grice off of her with her feet and hands.
Meanwhile, an 8-year-old victim was attempting to pull Grice off his sister when he was knocked to the ground by Grice. The 8-year-old was struck in the left side of the face near the jaw by Grice’s hand.
Grice, who has now been arrested twice for cruelty to a juvenile, was transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility and booked. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Nope, nothing from Benton - just double checked, nope.

More on Joshua Tomlinson

More on Spc. Joshua Tomlinson from KTBS, entire story here.

Excerpt:

The family of a Webster Parish soldier who was killed by a suicide bomb in Afghanistan headed to an Air Force base in Delaware on Thursday to accompany his body home for burial.
Army Spc. Joshua Tomlinson, 24, of Dubberly, was among five U.S. soldiers killed on Tuesday in Kabul. The Army said a bomber detonated a vehicle near a U.S. convoy.
Three of those who were killed were officers. Tomlinson was part of a security detail for high-ranking officers, a family member said. He had been in Afghanistan for eight months and his tour of duty was scheduled to end in July.
Tomlinson's father and his widow were headed to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the fallen soldiers are being returned. They will accompany his remains to Webster Parish, where services are pending. They are expected to return on Friday.
Tomlinson was assigned to a Special Troops Battalion in Germany. Family members said he and his wife had no children; their baby died about a year ago at the age of three days.
The bombing, which was part of the Taliban insurgence, killed the five U.S. soldiers, a Canadian military officer and at least 12 civilians. Another four dozen people were wounded.

Webster Parish soldier killed in Afghanistan

Spc. Joshua A. Tomlinson, 24, of Dubberly was killed in an attack in Afghanistan on Tuesday. We will publish more details when they become available. Our condolences go out to his family.
Also killed in the attack were:
Col. John M. McHugh, 46, of New Jersey, assigned to the U.S. Army Battle Command Training Program, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.;
Lt. Col. Paul R. Bartz, 43, of Waterloo, Wis., assigned to Headquarters, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.;
Lt. Col. Thomas P. Belkofer, 44, of Perrysburg, Ohio, assigned to Headquarters, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.;
Staff Sgt. Richard J. Tieman, 28, of Waynesboro, Pa., assigned to Special Troops Battalion, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany

Tim Thompson fined in District Court

Tim Thompson, former principal at Stockwell Elementary, was fined in Bossier City District Court.
In a bizarre incident, Thompson rode by the house of Benton Police chief Charles Pilkinton and threw a beer bottle out of his vehicle, hitting Chief Pilkinton’s personal pickup truck in the process. Pilkinton followed him in the truck and called for help. A Benton Police unit and a Bossier Parish Deputy stopped Thompson.
In addition to the DWI charge, Thompson was charged with speeding, littering and with violating the open container law.
In a plea arranged by his attorney, Whit Graves, Thompson entered a guilty plea to reduced charges of careless operation and littering. He was fined $150.
(I love the next statement – this is why Whit makes the big bucks!)
Graves said "This ought to show you what kind of trouble a simple case of littering can get you in.”

Henry, I'm glad YOU'RE my representative!

Just a couple of observations.
1. If a church wants armed security, and the congregation agrees and is notified of it, I don't understand what the problem is.
2. Barbara Norton represents Cedar Grove - if she wants to worry about guns, rather than troubling herself over some churches in the state having armed security, she should turn her attention to her own neighborhood. And I'm not talking about churches.
3. Thank God Henry Burns is my representative and not Barbara Norton.
4. Thanks to Pat at And So it Goes in Shreveport for bringing this video to my attention.
5. The people at MSNBC are raving idiots.

Benton cracking down on speeders

From KTBS

Robert Adley's bill targeting Tulane Law is getting national attention

Benton’s own Robert Adley is getting a good deal of national attention over his bill to shut down the Tulane Law Environmental Clinic. The clinic gives law students experience by doing pro-bono work, quite often in opposition to big energy.
The ABA Journal, a publication of the American Bar Association has an article dealing with the bad timing of the bill, proposed as millions of gallons of oil are coming ashore on the gulf coast from the BP rig collapse.
The San Francisco Examiner has a story, as does Mother Jones. The Advocate of Baton Rouge and nola.com, the internet arm of the Times-Picayune are also on the story.
The bill started out as one to deny funding to any university whose law school has a clinic that sues the state for anything. Adley is narrowing the bill to only include environmental clinics.
This indicates to me that his concern is much more about the oil companies’ money than the taxpayers’ money.
In its original form the bill made some sort of sense in that the state shouldn’t subsidize someone who is suing the state. In the new form he is saying that the state shouldn’t subsidize someone who is suing the state as regards the environment, particularly when the target of the suit is an energy company. Apparently any other suits are now okay.
I have to agree with the ABA, the timing is just a little bad.

The Silly Season is almost here!

Okay, I admit the picture may be a little unkind, but the silly season is almost upon us, and soon we’ll have some interesting political races to watch - and you never know who will pop out of the box!

We have given a little space already to the congressional election, but so far not a lot to see there. Most interesting will be the school board races and the mayoral & council elections in Shreveport.
Cedric Glover is being challenged by Republican Bryan Wooley and Libertarian Parker Ward. Democratic State Representative Roy Burrell has said that he intends to oppose Glover, but has not declared formally yet. Council races are beginning to shape up and we will get into them later in depth.
We will be looking at the mayoral candidates in the next week or so. Qualifying will be July 7th – July 9th.
The Congressional election will begin on August 28th with the first party primary and again on October 2nd for the runoff primary, if needed. The congressional election is the only one affected this year by the closed party primaries.
October 2nd is also the date for the open primary which is the primary for all of the other races.
General election is on November 2nd.
(Confused yet?)
I’m already hearing a couple of interesting names popping up in the Bossier Parish School Board race, which promises to be a lot more exciting than it has been in past years. I think a couple of new candidates will be coming out in the next couple of weeks.
People are also jockeying for position in next year’s statewide and legislative races, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves – yet.

Foster Campbell says 50% chance he will run for Lt. Governor

Foster Campbell appeared on the Moon Griffon show and told him it's about a 50% chance that he will run for Lt. Governor (I'm taking that as a yes). Here's the video with the exchange.

Enriching Every Day

Did you know that it is National Nursing Home Week? The purpose is to bring together residents, staff and family.

Nursecare on Irving Place in Shreveport had a cookout today for the residents, but also to show appreciation to their staff. I got lucky and got a free lunch!

You can hear a lot of pros and cons about nursing homes, but they are generally what you make of them. If families take an active role, they can have a major influence on the care that their loved ones receive. It's hard to imagine that anyone with a parent, grandparent or spouse in a nursing facility would not do that.

Prosecution takes plea in Pilkinton case

Charles Pilkinton today withdrew his not guilty plea to second-degree murder and pled guilty to Negligent Homicide.
After explaining all of the rights and determining that the plea was voluntary, Judge Bolin accepted the plea and sentenced Pilkinton to 5 years at hard labor.
Pilkinton was released on the same bond, and is to report to Bossier Max on Monday.
The prosecution was represented by Clifford Strider, Assistant Attorney General.

What do you think of My Bossier?

Every blogger goes through periods of introspection, wondering if blogging is worth it. Of course, the readers and commenters make the blog, but the person doing the blogging has to choose which subjects to deal with and how to present them.
After all that introspection, and being the low key and humble person that I am, I have decided that this sums it up best.

Arguments begin in Pilkinton trial

The jury has been seated and the trial is beginning this Friday morning in the Pilkinton murder trial.
We will keep you up to date as we get information.

Palmer Long missing

UPDATE: Mr. Long was found in Columbus, Mississippi. Family is en route to pick him up.

Palmer R. Long, Sr., 88, was last seen around 9 a.m. Wednesday leaving his Shreveport residence to go to Minden, LA, police said.
Long, the son of former Louisiana Governor and U.S. Senator Huey P. Long, was driving a blue 2006 Mercedes Benz E350 with Louisiana license plate #H212464.
Long is 6' tall and weighs about 135 pounds.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Palmer R. Long, Sr. should contact the Shreveport Police Department at 673-7373.
From KTBS

Jermaine Dennis acquitted of rape charge

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Jury selection begins in Charles Pilkinton murder trial

Jury selection in the murder trial of Charles Pilkinton is going painfully slow today, with only 2 prospective jurors having been chosen as of 2 PM.
Pilkinton was charged in the murder on November 15, 2008 of 66 year old Raymond Tobin. Tobin was found slumped over the steering wheel of his car on Inda Drive shot twice in the back of the head. According to reports, when police arrived at the scene Pilkinton admitted to killing Tobin.
Pilkinton was represented by Shreveport criminal defense attorney Daryl Gold when the case went to trial last fall When the jury was unable to reach a verdict as to Pilkinton’s guilt, a mistrial was declared. Bossier DA Schuyler Marvin said at the time that he would retry Pilkinton.
The prosecution is once again being represented by Assistant Attorney General Clifford Strider.
We will keep you posted as the trial continues.

What do you do with your old copiers?

What do you do with your old copiers? What do our local governments and police agencies do? I was tipped off to this by Rex Moncrief, who blogs at Conservative Drink.
Every copier made since 2002 has a hard drive that contains all of the documents that you have printed. This could be very compromising if the hard drives aren't cleaned before disposing of the copiers.
Hopefully our local police agencies, Sheriffs, DA's or anyone who deals with public information is aware and takes steps to erase this information before old copiers leave their possession.
I wasn't aware of it, I hope they are.

Oil Spill tracks toward Lafourche Parish

From WWL

State Legislature: Get a clue

The State House of Representatives seems to be in a quandry over the practice of representatives changing their vote after a measure has already been voted on. It has, in fact, become a point of embarassment.
The rule was changed early in the Jindal administration in a smoke and mirrors attempt to fool the people into thinking that the practice had been eliminated, when in fact it had become easier to practice. Now, in a further attempt to fool the people, the legislature is considering a new rule, or possibly even a law, that would change nothing.
Speaker Jim Tucker said that he was researching the way other state legislatures handle vote changing.
How about researching the way that the Louisiana Senate handles it. They have a rule that says ‘When the yeas and nays are taken on any question, no senator shall be permitted, under any circumstances whatever, to vote after the decision is announced from the chair.’
In the Louisiana Senate, no vote is ever changed after the fact. Ever.
Is it really so difficult to adopt that same rule in the House?

Mothers

On Mother's Day we pay homage to our mothers, and show our love for them - both the living and the dead.
My mother left us in 2005 at the age of 89, just three months shy of her 90th birthday. She lived a long full life and left a lot of wonderful memories.
This isn't dedicated only to her.
Unfortunately, some are taken before it seems to us that it should be their time. Life and death aren't up to us, however; we only propose, but God disposes as he sees fit.
I am blessed with two very special people in my life, my daughter-in-law and my son-in-law, both of whom have lost their mothers. Chris's mom Nancy passed away in 2006, and Monica's mom Joyce left us in 2008.
This is dedicated to my mother, their mothers, and all of the other wonderful mothers who have shaped our lives.

if there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself) have
one. It will not be a pansy heaven nor
a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but
it will be a heaven of blackred roses.

my father will be (deep like a rose
tall like a rose)

standing near my

(swaying over her silent)
with eyes which are really petals and see

nothing with the face of a poet really which
is a flower and not a face with
hands
which whisper
This is my beloved my

(suddenly in sunlight
he will bow,
& the whole garden will bow)

e.e. cummings

Top: Mary Louise Wells

Middle: Joyce Martinez (Monica's mother)

Bottom: Nancy Austin (Chris's mother)

To all the mothers who read this, a very well-deserved Happy Mother's Day!

National Police Week

Established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy and a joint resolution of Congress, National Police Week pays special tribute to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Ceremonies are held in Washington, DC, and in communities across the country.
The annual Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony will be held at the Barnwell Center at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010, and will pay tribute to 36 local officers and deputies killed in the line of duty since March of 1894.

It has been 56 years since the Bossier Sheriff's Office has lost a deputy in the line of duty. Maurice Miller was gunned down during a standoff about four miles south of Taylortown in 1954.
More recently, Bossier City remembers these fallen officers.

Officer Trey Michael Hutchison
Officer Trey Michael Hutchison died in the line of duty Wednesday, August 11, 2004 after he was shot by an armed suspect while answering a 911 hang up call at a residence. The suspect later committed suicide. Officer Hutchison was a member of the Bossier City Police Department for 11 months. Prior to that he served with the Lufkin, Texas Police Department for more than 5 years. He was 27 years old.

Officer Clyde “Hoppy” Pearson
Officer Clyde “Hoppy” Pearson died in the line of duty Sunday, December 17, 1972 after being fatally shot by a suspect during a traffic stop on Barksdale Boulevard near Interstate 20. The suspect escaped the scene but was captured several blocks away following a pursuit in which he exchanged gunfire with officers. Officer Pearson was a member of the Bossier City Police Department for 14 months. He was 22 years old.

Officer Kenneth Roy
Officer Kenneth Roy died in the line of duty Sunday, July 12, 1970 after he was fatally injured in a traffic crash in the 2600 block of East Texas Street. The crash happened when a car turned into the path of Officer Roy's patrol car causing him to swerve out of the way and lose control before being broadside by another vehicle. The first car left the scene but was stopped about a half hour later in Shreveport. The driver was arrested and charged with negligent homicide. Officer Roy was 23 years old.

Body found in Red Chute Bayou is identified as Nancy Miller

Bossier Parish Coroner Dr. John Chandler has determined that the body found in Red Chute Bayou is that of 39 year old Nancy Miller. Miller, who has been missing since March 3rd, was last seen at the East Highland Mobile Home Park in Highland.
A witness reported seeing Miller walk into Reflections on Hwy 80. She appeared to be confused and turned around and walked out across Hwy 80 toward the Westbound Lane. Canine trackers confirmed the story of the witness. At the time, investigators believed that she may have gotten into a car with someone.
The body was spotted by fishermen on Red Chute Bayou near Louisiana Downs at about 2:30 yesterday.

Body found in Red Chute Bayou

A body was found floating in Red Chute Bayou at Hwy 80 near Louisiana Downs today. Sheriff's spokesman Ed Baswell said that officials are trying to determine if it is Nancy Miller, who was last seen in March.

Baswell said that an autopsy will be performed tomorrow and that the identity of the person should be established.

We have had a link to nwla.com in the sidebar since March.

The Shreveport Mayor's race

The Shreveport mayor’s race is beginning to crank up, with both Republican Councilman Bryan Wooley and Democratic State Rep. Roy Burrell throwing their hats into the ring in an attempt to take down Cedric Glover.
Rumors have been flying that Chris Gorman is also interested, and he hasn’t ruled it out. At this point, and it’s early, I would predict a showdown between Wooley and Glover.
Wooley has hit the ground running and has a website up, as well as a YouTube channel. Glover and Burrell haven’t set up websites for the campaign yet. Wooley is also receiving a little 'blog love'.
Glover does have a presence on YouTube, having served as mayor for more than 3 years now, and the most watched videos are not positive. Glover caused a bit of a sensation last year when he said that people who are stopped by the police have their rights suspended. This was in reference to a stop of Robert Baillio, which received national attention.
Glover has a track record in the executive position. Wooley wants to help create jobs and wants the mayors office to be the ‘connector’ between the jobs and the people.
We don’t know yet what Rep. Burrell proposes.
The problem with the approach of both Glover and Wooley to seek government solutions when it comes to employment, etc., is that they both fail to recognize that government doesn’t create jobs, and very rarely does anything ‘pro-active’ that encourages job growth.
When it comes to spurring the economy and creating jobs, the best thing a ‘leader’ (read politician) can do is – nothing.
As in don’t spend other than for basic services, don’t tax other than for basic services, regulate as little as possible, sit down and shut up.
It will be an interesting race.
We will blog about the council races as they shape up.

Thanks to Adam Causey at The Times for calling the video to our attention.

John Fleming has Democratic challenger for 4th District seat

It appears that Dr. John Fleming will have a Democratic challenger for the 4th District congressional seat this fall.

At this point I'd have to put the odds against him. I don't see Dr. Fleming being defeated in this district, but elections sometimes take unusual turns and it's early in the year.

His website has the usual political stuff on it, he wants to work across the isle, he wants to make things better etc., but the site is short on solutions and details. Maybe it will fill in as we go.

Gavi has a brand new Facebook page here if you desire to check it out.

From Mr. Gavi's website:

Steven J Gavi was born in Frankfurt, Germany to Staff Sergeant Manuel C. Gavi and Juanita G. Gavi. He grew up in Chaves County in New Mexico. His childhood years were spent in the small farm town of Dexter, New Mexico where he learned to appreciate the hard work and struggles of local farmers and ranchers. His early childhood was spent with an absent father who was serving in Vietnam. Even though he was young, he understood the importance of his father’s absence. His teenage years were spent in Roswell NM where he was active in his high school and church.
Steven always looked forward to serving the less fortunate. He served in American homeless ministries and participated in service projects in foreign countries. He loved seeing people smile when he gave them a new hope for their lives. He set out to serve his nation just like his father but was injured early in his military career and his dream of following in his father's footsteps was ended. He received his Criminal Justice Degree from Eastern New Mexico University Roswell. After graduating, he spent two years working in the Juvenile Correctional system. He also worked in the lumber industry for Kruse Enterprises and understands the importance this industry plays in Louisiana and the rest of the nation. He has recognized the important role the movie industry is playing in our state’s economy. Steven recently spoke out to help prevent local firefighters and policemen from losing their jobs due to city budget cuts in Bossier City. He has been a retail manager for the past seven years. Steven is married to Robyn Miller Gavi and has two children, Gabrielle and Jacob.

Recent Bossier Parish Arrests

Rocket Scientist

A Bossier City teenager was arrested Tuesday afternoon for witness intimidation, according to Bossier Parish Sheriff Larry Deen. Jacob Marvin Husser, 18, of the 5200 block of John Wilson Drive, was taken into custody after he intentionally intimidated a witness who was sitting in the back seat of a Bossier Sheriff’s investigator’s vehicle. The investigator was interviewing a witness regarding a number of crimes Husser has committed. While the interview was in progress, Husser pulled up to the investigator’s vehicle and told the witness he better not talk.
The investigator told Husser to leave, but he circled the block and came back a second time. He gave the witness a very intimidating look and again told him he better not talk. This was done in a very aggressive manner, making the witness fear for his safety.
Husser was transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility and booked. His bond is pending.

Also from the Bossier Parish Sheriff

A Princeton man was arrested early Sunday morning for false imprisonment, domestic abuse battery/child endangerment, domestic abuse battery/strangulation, battery and aggravated assault, said Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen.
Daniel Kenneth Raleigh Randall, 21, of Acorn Hill Loop, was taken into custody after he choked his girlfriend in the presence of two minor children, threatened his girlfriend’s mom with a gun, refused to let his girlfriend leave and choked his neighbor. The neighbor told Bossier Sheriff’s deputies Randall attacked him because he let Randall’s girlfriend call the Bossier Sheriff’s Office from his residence.
Randall’s girlfriend told deputies she and Randall have been living together for about two years. She said Randall came to the residence drunk, started yelling at her and choking her. She was able to get away and go to the neighbor’s house, but eventually, she went back to her house where Randall grabbed a gun and threatened to kill her and her mother. The girlfriend told Randall she just wanted to leave, but Randall said no one was going anywhere. She said Randall was waving the gun around while he was saying this.
Randall was transported to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility and booked. His bond was set at $21,500.

Randall has a history in Bossier Parish of violent behavior and drug possession and has been charged several times. Here is that record. The Domestic Abuse Battery charges and the Simple Battery charge were all committed against the same female. In a number of domestic abuse cases, the injured party asks that the charges be dropped. I don’t know if that is what happened here, but I wouldn’t be surprised.

RANDALL, DANIEL
SIMPLE BATTERY M W C 137684 08/22/2005
Disposition: $250 fine and costs

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA M W B C 139355 11/07/2005
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA M W C 139356 11/07/2005
POSSESSION MARIJUANA M W B C 141379 02/22/2006
POSSESSION DRUG PARAPHERNALIA M W C 141380 02/22/2006
Disposition: 60 days, suspended. Defendant is placed on active probation for 6 months with the special conditions: (1) Pay a fine of $500.00 and cost or serve 60 days, through probation. (2) No criminal activity. (3) Report as directed. (4) Be evaluated for Substance Abuse within 60 days. (5) Perform 4 eight-hour days of community service within 60 days. (6) Pay $125.00 to the Witness Fund within 10 days. (7) No alcohol or drugs and submit to drug screens. (8) Pay $55.00 per month for supervision fees.

DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY M W C 148876 11/02/2006
Disposition: Nol-prossed

DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY M W C 157127 09/11/2007
Disposition: Nol-prossed

SIMPLE BATTERY M W C 159547 12/21/2007
Disposition: 60 days, suspended and placed on 1 year probation with the following conditions: no criminal activity; report; $250.00 and cost or 25 days; $150.00 to the Court Criminal Witness Fund; Anger Management; no alcohol or drugs; drug screens; $55.00 monthly supervision fee.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT M W C 159548 12/21/2007
Disposition: Nol-prossed

FALSE IMPRISONMENT/ARMED; DOMESTIC ABUSE/CHILD ENDANGERMENT; DOMESTIC ABUSE/STRANGULATION; AGG ASSAULT; SIMP BATTERY F U 35615 05/03/2010

Bossier City voters send a message

Something happened yesterday in Bossier City.
Despite encouragement from some quarters to send the mayor and council a message by voting no on the Police & Fire tax renewal, the voters of Bossier City gave the proposition a landslide vote of ‘yes’.
In 2000, when the city was not having financial problems, the tax was approved by 73% of the voters. This year, when the city is having budgetary problems, 80% of the people who voted said yes.
This sends a message to the mayor and council, but it’s not one of approval of anything that they have done. Rather, the people are saying ‘we support our Firemen and Police officers and you’d better not mess with them’.
New police chief Shane McWilliams has stated that boosting morale was his first and most important job. The people of Bossier City just stepped up and gave him a big assist.
Sometimes the mayor and council just don’t appear to get it. When you lay off firemen and policemen and cut the budgets of those departments, people are alarmed. When you then give the mayor a raise, people start to get angry.
When you institute a hiring freeze people understand.
When you immediately break the freeze to hire someone in the mayor’s office, people get a little bit angrier.
They don’t seem to get it. The people of Bossier City, however, do get it.
The firemen and policemen get it too; they understand fully the message that the citizens were sending.
From one of the policemen who barely escaped the ax last fall, ‘Thank you Bossier City’.
From another police officer: ‘To all 3700 of the people who voted "yes" for the millage tax renewal today in order to save our police, firemen, and EMTs.... Thank you. To all of the 911 people who voted no, we're still gonna be there to help you out when you need it.’

Benton woman facing 2nd degree murder charge

Benton police were called out about 1:30 Saturday morning to a domestic call on 2nd Street, where they found Tony Brown stabbed by his common-law wife, Deborah Hamilton.
Brown later died and Hamilton is at Bossier Max.
Assistant Police Chief Gene Hillen said that this was not their first call to the residence.
Clerk of Court records reveal that both had been arrested for commiting battery on one another, Brown multiple times. Brown also had a history of DWI's.

Bossier City says YES to fire and police

With absentee ballots in and 16 precincts reporting, the total is 1,480 yes to 504 no. I feel comfortable in calling it a win.
Every precinct reporting so far is overwhelming in favor.
I'll update soon.
UPDATE: 24 precincts reporting, 2,478 yes & 624 no

UPDATE: 33 reporting 2,898 - 699

FINAL: 3,700 yes, 911 no.