Election Day Predictions

My record at predicting is mixed at best, but here are my predictions for tomorrow. This is based strictly on my observations, not necessarily my preferences.

Governor - John Bel Edwards
Lt. Governor - Billy Nungesser
Attorney General - Buddy Caldwell
State Senate District 36 - Henry Burns

I'll post the results tomorrow night.

Hollenshead endorses Gatti

Todd Hollenshead, who finished third in the State Senate District 36 primary with 26% of the vote, officially endorsed Ryan Gatti in the State Senate District 36 runoff to be held November 21st.  Gatti finished second in the October 24th primary with 34% of the vote.  

Todd Hollenshead Endorsement Statement:

"Today, I want to publicly endorse Ryan Gatti in the State Senate District 36 runoff on November 21st and I ask that you join me in supporting him to represent us all in Baton Rouge.

 During this election season at public forums and events, I have gotten to know him, and like me, I feel he has Louisiana's best interests in mind.  In Ryan, I see a person with the tenacity to do what is right for Northwest Louisiana.  He is a Christian, a dedicated husband, and devoted father. 

 Ryan and I both grew up working with our hands.  I went to work in the oilfield to pay my way through college.  He worked for his dad's salvage yard.  We both learned early on the value of a strong work ethic.

 We need fresh ideas and someone that won't be a "yes man" to anyone but the people he represents.  Career politicians helped Bobby Jindal make a mess of our state.  As I have said throughout this campaign, the definition of insanity is electing the same legislators over and over again and expecting different results.

 Lobbyists in Baton Rouge know that certain legislators will be a good return on their investment, which is why they keep flooding campaign accounts with PAC donations.

 We need someone like Ryan who will make things right again and represent the people of this district, not lobbyists and out-of-state special interests.  I am trusting now that Ryan will fight for our businesses and our families, make our teachers and children's education a top priority, protect our precious unborn and build a firewall around the Second Amendment. 

 I am asking that you also support him with your vote.  Join me and let's all work together to make sure we elect Ryan Gatti on November 21st."

Edmiston, Sessions both win in landslides

Congratulations to Jill Sessions and Bobby Edmiston who won their races for Clerk of Court and Tax Assessor.

In other local races, Henry Burns and Ryan Gatti will face off in the general election for State Senate in District 36. Dodie Horton handily won her bid for Burns’ 9^th Representative District seat.

For Police Jury District 4, Sonny Cook is the winner. Jack “Bump” Skaggs carried District 5 easily and Freddy Shewmake won Distric t 9.

In Statewide races, we’ll have a runoff for governor between John Bel Edwards and David Vitter. At this point, it appears the Lt. Governor race will be between Kip Holden and Billy Nungesser. Buddy Caldwell and Jeff Landry will be in a runoff for Attorney General.

Tom Schedler walked back into the Secretary of State’s office, as John Kennedy did for Treasurer, Mike Strain for Commissioner of Agriculture and Jim Donelon for Insurance Commissioner.

Election Day

Finally.
Tonight after the LSU game the results should be coming in and I will post them.
We will know who is in the runoff for Governor.
We will know who will serve as Clerk of Court and Assessor.
Legislative races will be settled in most cases.
Comments are open again without moderation. Please keep it decent and respectful.

One more shot at the race for Clerk of Court

I pulled most of this from my first blog post about the Clerk’s race back in April. Even after all of the back and forth in the comments, so bad at times that I had to take down a blog post to stop it, these are still the basic facts of the race.

Your comments are welcome, but as badly as I hate to do it, they will be moderated and must have my approval before they go up on the blog. It’s a shame, but I won’t allow it to turn into pandemonium in the henhouse. Please keep your comments on point – you all know the rules. If you believe that anything I have stated is not factual, by all means call me out.

Today I want to talk about the race for Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. A lot of people are a little unclear as to the duties of the Clerk of Court and they are manifold. This is one office that will definitely affect you if you live in Bossier Parish.

Do you vote? The Clerk of Court is the chief election official for the Parish. The Clerk is responsible for making sure those precincts are staffed and equipped, that they operate as prescribed by law for the hours prescribed. The clerk also tallies the totals to report to the Secretary of State.

Own property? Your deed and mortgage are recorded with the Clerk. The office has all property records from the inception of the parish in 1843, so the Clerk is also an archivist.

Getting married? Guess who issues your marriage license.

Getting Divorced? Guess where you file that lawsuit.

Need a Protective Order to deal with an abusive household member? You go to the Clerk of Court to get it in motion.

Criminal cases, ditto. Staffing each Civil and Criminal Courtroom and issuing subpoenas? The Clerk’s office.

Been summoned to serve on a jury? That too.

This year the candidates are Jill Sessions, an eight year veteran of the office, and Monica Hudson, who served in the office for about that length of time under Wilna Mabry.

In the past, this was a hand-me-down office. Since the 1930’s, in fact, the person elected had experience in that office.

Wilna Mabry was Chief Deputy to Mrs. Broussard, who was elected after her husband, the Clerk, passed away. By the time Miss Mabry ran for Clerk, she had decades of experience and had served for years as Chief Deputy.

Joan Carraway succeeded Wilna Mabry. Mrs. Carraway had decades of experience and had served for years as Chief Deputy.

Cindy Johnston, our current Clerk, ditto. Decades of experience in the office and years as Chief Deputy.

This is where the chain ends.

The current Chief Deputy, Jill Sessions, was just appointed in February at the time that Mrs. Johnston announced her retirement. She only has 8 years with the office, and has served in limited capacities, so it is not the level of experience that people have expected in the past.

Monica Hudson, who currently works for DA Schuyler Marvin as a victim’s rights advocate, also has almost 8 years experience with the Clerk of Court’s office, albeit in the past.

The experience that counts comes from the 35 deputy clerks who work in the office. For the most part, they are capable and some have the decades of experience that really does matter. These are the people who will make a new Clerk, whomever is chosen, a success.

Race for State Senate 36th District

Robert Adley is being term-limited out of the State Senate, leaving the seat open. There are three contenders, and in my opinion all are top quality. Burns comes closest to being an incumbent in this race with all of the blessings and burdens that go along with that. My opinion is that it won't make a difference.

Gatti is running a very aggressive campaign and seems to be very well funded. Hollenshead is also campaigning actively. Frankly, I'm undecided in this one, they all have points that I like. Click on their names to go to their websites.

Henry Burns has been serving as Representative for the 9^th District and was the first to announce for the seat. Burns, a retired Army Officer, is a former owner/operator of The Wooden Spoon Bakery for 22 years. He is also an independent oil & gas operator and raises thoroughbreds.

“My sole purpose has been to serve you and encourage you...on the frontline everyday. We share the same concerns of taxes, highways, ethical government, economic development, and education.”

Burns could have run for another term in the State House, but chose to seek the Senate Seat instead.

Ryan Gatti is a Bossier City attorney who is seeking his first political office.

For the last 15 years, Ryan Gatti has served Northwest Louisiana as a Bossier based attorney and small business owner. He has helped countless families going through their toughest times, including families dealing with situations resulting in traumatic brain injuries. He served as President of the Bossier Bar Association and in 2013, he was selected to receive a Crystal Gavel Award for his commendable efforts in aiding the administration of justice by gathering and reviewing a significant number of cases on behalf of the 26th Judicial District Court. Ryan also sat as District 1W Judge in Shreveport from 2007-2009, presiding over Workers’ Compensation trials.

A lifelong conservative, Ryan is the Vice President of the Republican Party of Bossier Parish.  An active member of First Baptist Church of Bossier, he is both a deacon and teacher for kids and youth.

Todd Hollenshead is a businessman and farmer and like Gatti is seeking his first political office. Hollenshead is concerned about the state’s $700 million annual budget deficit, the rising cost of college tuition, industry leaving the state, and the struggles facing Louisiana-based small businesses. He is pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, and supports gun rights.

“I believe our state needs new direction. We need leaders who will work hard for Louisiana and not be tied to the lobbyists and out-of-state special interests. I will listen to the concerns of our small-business owners, working families and the middle class and get to work for them.”

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

To the Candidates

This isn’t addressed to any one candidate, but to all, especially those running for a legislative seat.

Dear Candidate:

Louisiana is faced with a lot of problems, and nearly all of them are budget related. I’m glad that you are pro family values – so am I. I value my family and want them to be good productive citizens. My family values are based on my upbringing and from raising two children. Now I have grandchildren and great-grandchildren and I value them very much. I didn’t get any part of my belief in family values from a politician. You worry about the budget and get Louisiana on a sustainable course. We’ll handle the family values.

I know politicians love the 2^nd amendment to the constitution. It’s great that you support it, but that is hardly a brave stand in Louisiana, where everyone and their grandmothers own guns. There is absolutely no chance that a Louisiana Legislature will pass, nor a Louisiana governor sign, any bill that limits gun rights. In fact, quite the opposite is true. So while we are glad that you support the 2^nd amendment, don’t worry. Spend your time worrying about the budget and how you would rectify the funding problems that we face.

So far as loving constitutional amendments goes, some of you don’t seem too fond of the 14^th amendment. The Supreme Court recently made a ruling using the equal protection clause of that amendment which has stirred up a lot of controversy. Alas, neither you nor a clerk of court from Kentucky can overrule the Supreme Court. I know that some of you have tried to turn this into a religious freedom argument, but it simply isn’t. If the lady in Kentucky can’t uphold her oath and do her job, she is free to get a job where she doesn’t have to do that. And she is free to believe and worship as she pleases; she doesn’t have the right as a public official to impose her beliefs on others. Neither do you. Don’t waste our time with this, concentrate on the budget.

While you are at it, how about sharing your ideas for solving the recurring budget crisis. There aren’t any more cans to kick down the road. The legislature has begged, borrowed and stolen from every available fund to fill the gaps in the budget for the last several years. There are no more left to plunder. Tell us what your ideas are to solve the problem on a long term basis.

Leave the family values and such to us.

Bobby Edmiston for Tax Assessor

I said that I might be making an endorsement, so consider this the first one.

Bobby Edmiston is a lifelong resident of Bossier Parish and a graduate of Airline High School. He has a BA from Louisiana Tech University. Bobby has been Bossier’s Tax Assessor since 1998.

I like Bobby, he does a good job running the Assessor’s office. He has also served his country in the National Guard for years, and was deployed in 2010. He’s a nice guy.

Let’s remove the elephant in the room before we proceed. Bobby got a DWI ticket earlier this year. If guilty, he used terrible judgment in driving while he was drinking. At worst, he could be described as an occasional social drinker. The case hasn’t gone to trial yet, and he has the capable counsel of H. Lyn Lawrence, Jr. If he is found guilty, he will be sentenced. For a 1^st DWI that would likely be a fairly hefty fine and some probation, and he would serve it. He was not serving in an official capacity at the time of the alleged offense.

In summary, he has served for the last 17 years and discharged his duties well. He also discharged his duties to our country in honorable fashion.

He wants to keep his job. I believe that he should. I have no reservations in urging your support of Bobby Edmiston for another term as Bossier Parish Tax Assessor.
If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Qualifying: Day One

UPDATE: Day 3 - Not sure if complete, will double check tomorrow. Today Charles Gray filed for Police Jury District 9, and Patsy Maggio filed for Tax Assessor.
UPDATE: Ryan Gatti and Todd Hollenshead were the only two notices filed on Wednesday. Both are running for the Senate District 36 seat.

The following candidates qualified at the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court's office for the October 24th primary election. I will update for the next two days. Then we'll get into discussions. Then the fun begins.

State Senate District 36:

• Henry Burns
• Ryan Gatti
• Todd Hollenshead

State Representative District 8:

• Mike Johnson

State Representative District 9:

• Dodie Horton
• Michael McHalffey

Coroner:

• John Chandler

Tax Assessor:

• Bobby Edmiston
• Patsy Maggio

Sheriff:

• Julian Whittington

Clerk of Court:

• Monica Hudson
• Jill Sessions

POLICE JURY:
District 1:

• Robert Brotherton

District 2:

• Glenn Benton

District 3:

• Wanda Bennett

District 4:

• Douglas Cook
• Johnnie Jorden

District 5:

• Barry Butler
• Jack Skaggs

District 6:

• Rickey Avery

District 7:

• James Cochran

District 8:

• Douglas Rimmer

District 9: 

• Fred M Shewmake Jr
• Charles Gray

District 10:

• Jerome Darby

District 11:

• William Hammack

District 12:

• Paul Plummer

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Benjamin Arnold Enters District 10 Caddo Parish Commissioners Race

Benjamin Arnold, Shreveport business owner, is entering the race for Caddo Parish Commission District 10.

 “My roots remain in Caddo Parish,” stated Arnold. “The blood of the parish that shaped me runs through my veins. It’s time we took it to heart.”

 Arnold is a hardworker that has a passion for clear mindedness, strong leadership and common sense decisions. “The leadership in our parish and district wasn’t strong and wasn’t meeting the real needs of its community members,” stated Arnold. “I want leadership that is reflective of its constituents.”

 Arnold has a plan – a plan to execute and follow through until the end to assure the job is complete. Several of his strategies include:

●     Promote the increase of police patrolling neighborhoods to ensure the safety of residents

●     Identify areas in which to increase intermodal transportation and improve neglected roads

●     Promote a more advanced education system to prepare students for career training and job placement

●     Support entrepreneurs and small business owners who are interested in building sustainable businesses that keep young people home and attract others within the region

●     Ensure that measures are taken to establish a transparent and open government that is accountable to its citizens

 He is a lifetime resident of southwest Shreveport, father of three children, independent business owner, served six years in the United States Military and truly loves his community.

 “It’s time someone stepped up to the plate to give to our community what is best, what is sensible and what is right. This is our pride, our passion and our community. It’s time our beliefs matched our reality.”

 Be sure to register and vote for the change District 10 needs this coming election. For more information about Benjamin Arnold, visit benjaminarnold.vote. 

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Ryan Gatti ends month of events in Minden Thursday

Ryan Gatti, candidate for State Senate District 36, will end a month of district wide meet and greets and town hall meetings with an event in Minden on August 27 at Orleans on Main.  The public is invited to the event that starts at 6:00.  Gatti has spent the past few weeks traveling and getting to know people from the smallest towns in the district, areas often forgotten by elected officials in Baton Rouge.   

“The needs and concerns of these small towns is so personal and often times, very unique, however, very few people take the time to really get to know these issues and spend time in the towns with the people who live there.  I’ve gotten to know place likes Castor, Sibley, Plain Dealing and Doyline.  I’ve come to know what they really care about and will be able to truly represent them as the State Senator for District 36.  I look forward to having the same conversation with the people in Minden Thursday night and I will keep visiting this entire district, long after election day, because energetic and present leadership is what we deserve,” said Gatti.

About Ryan

Ryan Gatti is running to replace Senator Robert Adley for the seat that represents constituents in Bossier, Webster, Claiborne and Bienville Parishes. 

For the last 15 years, Ryan Gatti has served Northwest Louisiana as a Bossier based attorney and small business owner. He has helped countless families going through their toughest times, including families dealing with situations resulting in traumatic brain injuries. He served as President of the Bossier Bar Association and in 2013, he was selected to receive a Crystal Gavel Award for his commendable efforts in aiding the administration of justice by gathering and reviewing a significant number of cases on behalf of the 26th Judicial District Court. Ryan also sat as District 1W Judge in Shreveport from 2007-2009, presiding over Workers’ Compensation trials.

A lifelong conservative, Ryan is the Vice President of the Republican Party of Bossier Parish.  An active member of First Baptist Church of Bossier, he is both a deacon and teacher for kids and youth, and has participated in mission trips to impoverished parts of the world such as Haiti, El Salvador and Mexico. Ryan has also served as a trustee on the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention since 2012. He also volunteered as a coach of Dixie League Softball and Upwards Soccer.

Ryan is a graduate of Airline High School, LSU and LSU Law School. He has been married to Susan Gatti, Ph.D. for over 18 years.  Together they have created their greatest accomplishments – their four daughters Katherine (15), Elizabeth (12), Rebecca (8) and Charlotte (5). 

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Todd Hollenshead announces for State Senate

Todd Hollenshead, a small businessman, farmer, and Louisiana native, has announced his candidacy for the Louisiana Senate District 36 seat representing all of Webster Parish and parts of Bienville, Bossier and Claiborne parishes. The seat is currently occupied by Robert Adley of Benton, who is term-limited.  The primary election is October 24.

Hollenshead is concerned about the state’s $700 million annual budget deficit, the rising cost of college tuition, industry leaving the state, and the struggles facing Louisiana-based small businesses. He is pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, and supports gun rights.

“I believe our state needs new direction. We need leaders who will work hard for Louisiana and not be tied to the lobbyists and out-of-state special interests. I will listen to the concerns of our small-business owners, working families and the middle class and get to work for them.”

“There is nothing like having a grandchild to make a person want to improve their community,” Hollenshead said.  “That is one of the main things driving me to seek this Senate seat. So that not only my children, but all of our children, have the same shot at the American Dream that I did.”

Hollenshead also said he would fight for what is best for local schools and retirees, “It’s time to get our state government back to the basics. To start, we need local control of our schools. Across the board, lobbyists and out-of-state special interests have too much influence in Baton Rouge. I will listen to voters and defend our common values.”

Hollenshead is a senior project manager for Waste Management’s Minden office.  In his position he manages heavy construction projects for clients across the country.

Hollenshead also raises Charolais cattle on his family’s Bossier Parish farm.  In 2010 he was named USDA Outstanding Farmer of the Year for Bossier Parish.

Raised in Bossier Parish, he has been married to the former Michelle Perry for 25 years, and they have four children and one grandchild.  He and Michelle have been members of the same Benton church for over a quarter of a century.

Hollenshead earned a degree in geology from Louisiana Tech University after working his way through school in the oilfield of Caddo and Webster parish.  He is a private pilot and also has been a Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Reserve officer for seven years.  He and his wife are active in their church youth group, school tutoring programs, Boy Scouts, Court-Appointed Special Advocates, the ACTS retreat, and a local non-profit organization, Pick-it-Forward for Orphans.  

For more information please contact James Sonneman at 318-510-1391 or visit the campaign’s website at www.todd4senate.com.
If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

A Tribute to Fallen Officers

Last year on this date I published In Memory of Trey Hutchison. Today we honor him again. This young man gave his all serving the people of Bossier City when he was ambushed eleven years ago while walking up to a house on Jana Place after a 911 hangup call. The person who shot him had stated that he intended to kill a police officer before he died. He killed himself before police got entry to the house.

Officer Trey Hutchison

This year this sad memorial comes on the heels of a heart wrenching week. Last Wednesday, Shreveport Police Officer Thomas LaValley was killed in much the same way. He was answering a call when he was shot and killed. The person who shot him was wanted on a warrant for attempted murder, but Officer LaValley had no way of knowing that he was at the residence. While Officer Hutchison’s killer had specifically stated that he wanted to kill a police officer, the individual who killed Officer LaValley didn’t care who he killed.

Officer LaValley with Chief Shaw in 2011

I watched the memorial service for Officer LaValley that was held at Summer Grove Baptist Church (thanks to KTBS for streaming it). It was a wonderful service; Mayor Tyler delivered the perfect remarks, as did Chief Shaw. It was good to hear Chief Shaw tell Officer LaValley’s family that if they ever needed anything, they didn’t have to come to Shreveport, but only to call. Shreveport will go to them. I won’t post more on the week or the events, we all watched on TV and online as the procession made its way down the state, and we all saw the outpouring of respect from police agencies and citizens all the way to Gonzales and then to St. Amant for his funeral & burial.

It is fitting and proper to honor these two young men, not just today but every day. I know that it is cold comfort to their families, but it is important that they know that we grieve for them and will never forget their loss.

God Bless them.

God Bless all who serve and protect.

Monica Hudson Fundraiser next Thursday

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Gatti Campaign Plans Fundraiser

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Gatti vs Burns

The race for State Senate in District 36 is heating up, as Attorney Ryan Gatti is taking on State Representative Henry Burns for the seat that Robert Adley is vacating because of term limits.
This one will be very interesting to watch. Both Burns and Gatti are campaigning as conservative Republicans.
Burns has a solid following from his days in the House, but Gatti seems to be generating a lot of support.
At this point, I'm not sure that Burns' tenure in the State House will be a blessing or a curse for him; the legislature is not in great favor right now. My hunch (and it's only that), is that Burns may do well in the more rural areas of the district, while Gatti will do better in the city.
We'll see.

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Memorial Day 2015

On Memorial Day, we honor those who have fallen in service to our country.  I have compiled a list of service men and women from Bossier Parish who have died in action, beginning with World War I. This list is as complete as I could make it; if you know of anyone who is not on the list, please let me know and I will add them. List of everyone from Louisiana who was killed in all wars.

WORLD WAR  I

Thomas E Doty

Robert N Gaynor

James H Roach

Clark Strayhan

Allie Bryant

Stephen Fullwood

Allen Gleason

Arthur Jackson

Gus Williams

Murphy Williams

WORLD WAR II

Willie B American

James O Avery

William Bedingfield

Guy A Buie

Gay Clark

Charles R Clemens

Thomas B Cole

Lamar Coleman

Harold J Courtney

Garland E Hickman

Campbell B Hodges

Woodrow W Holland

Louis A Johnson

Robert A Johnson

Grant King

Eugene E Lossett

Jake Maniscalco Jr

Horace J Miller

James V Palmer

Allen S Powell

Hines N Ritch

George F Rowe

Wilburn Sheppard

Roy T Strange

Stephen T Strayhan

John L Swilley

Harold M Valentine

Charles W Watson Jr

Kenneth Winham

KOREAN WAR

David Grisham

James Kelleher

C Steelman

VIETNAM WAR

Arthur Norman Welch

Dennis Bedelle Black

Alton Delaney Kellogg

Wallace Lee Ogea

Isaac David Faughn

Charles Reuben Miller Jr

Arnold John Rahm

Dolroy Francies

James Walter Myles

Herbert Walter

Milford Donovin Carter

IRAQ

Craig T Nelson

Bernard C Sembly

Julia V Atkins

Joshua C Burrows

AFGHANISTAN

Michael Garcia

Larry D Bunn

For one family, A Senior Nightmare

As a follow-up to my post Senior Project or Senior Nightmare I was contacted by Ronda Spataro. This is her account of what her family encountered at Benton High School.

My son did his senior project on helping homeless people and those living homeless with pets. He volunteered at a daytime homeless shelter and spent time getting to know these people and their stories. He did not take pictures out of respect for the sensitive nature of their situation.

If your senior goes to school in Bossier Parish, Senior Project is a requirement to graduate.

Your child spends nearly 5 months doing this project, and your entire household revolves around Senior Project. I don't understand why literature and English are not the main concern. It is so stressful that my son, along with most of the students I've mentored over the years, are consumed and worried for months and they are unable to enjoy their senior year.

My son did his practice presentation and his teacher did not believe him. He was so proud of the time he gave to the community and yet his teacher did not allow him to present his project to the judges panel. The panel is made of judges from people in our community. My son is not a perfect student but he did the project (and his mentor verified his work). Because of him not being allowed to present his project, he now must take summer school and not walk with his class.

This requirement is just too much work for our kids. At first I liked the idea, but went through this 3 years ago with my other son. Nothing but stress. All the kids I've mentored, nothing but stress. It's too subjective because the rules change from school to school, teacher to teacher. At one school, your child may speak for 7 minutes, at another, 8-10 minutes. I know some students fake the whole project and still pass. My son did his project and should have been allowed to present. If there were issues that needed to change at his practice presentation, why wasn't he advised on needed changes to be ready for the presentation? Isn't that why they practice nearly a week before the real presentation? Some advice or guidance would have been nice, but he was called a liar.

I just think it's too much for our seniors and now my son will not be graduating with his friends. He will be in summer school, not for ENGLISH IV, but for Senior Project.

Parents are scared to speak up because they are scared their child will suffer the consequence. If you have a teacher that doesn't like your child, nothing will ever be good enough anyway.

Senior Project is definitely a nightmare and it needs to change!

Public Hearing Jimmie Davis Bridge

Monica Hudson Fundraiser

I attended Monica Hudson's fundraiser at Silver Star tonight, she had a pretty good turnout. It was from 5 to 8, when I got there at 6:30 there were a number of people coming and going. She was answering questions, discussing her plans for the office and sharing anecdotes about working for Wilna Mabry.

Midway through coming and going

Monica with Paul Carmouche and volunteers ready to serve food

Chow time

The inevitable mingling

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.

Senior Project or Senior Nightmare?

I have been hearing stories about Senior Project, and some of them are really bad. Not having a child or grandchild in high school, it is all new to me and I’ve had to research it.  Senior Project has been a pet project of the Superintendent in Bossier Parish high schools for about four years now; it was a pilot program at Parkway the first year, then rolled out to every high school in the parish.  Caddo does not do Senior Project.

On the surface, to me at least, the goal seems worthy but the thing itself is over-complicated, very subjective, and in some cases, counter-productive. 

After twelve years of education, passing course work, years of standardized testing are all for naught if a senior does not pass Senior Project. 

If you are unfamiliar with Senior Project, here’s a quick primer:  it is taught alongside English IV, so while the student is trying to tease out the finer points of The Canterbury Tales and Hamlet, he is also writing an eight to ten page research paper on a topic related to his Senior Project.  That could be anything from carpentry to baking cakes.  The student is also working with a mentor on a product.  The guidelines say that the student must document twenty hours on the product and a minimum of five contacts with the mentor.  The student will compile all of this into a portfolio, along with at least ten required forms, and will make a PowerPoint presentation to go along with the speech he must give to an objective, outside panel.  The speech is supposed to be from eight to ten minutes.

This is where it gets subjective.  Apparently at some schools a student can speak four to six minutes while at others the student must speak eight minutes.  At another, ten minutes.  The product requirements vary, too, from school to school.  If baking is your topic, apparently one school requires three different samples for the judges to evaluate while at other schools a simple cake is fine.

Bottom line – it’s very subjective and very stressful for the student.

Now, let’s deal with a hypothetical. What if a student passes all of his classes, including the literature portion of English IV, and a teacher arbitrarily decides that they are lying about the work they have done on Project? Suppose that student has documentation and assurances from the mentor that this work was done according to the guidelines.  Suppose the teacher has accepted all the forms and documents all semester long, and then at the end of the process the speech isn’t quite long enough or the product board isn’t detailed enough. Is it fair that the student cannot graduate?

I’m aware of at least two instances this year where students were accused of lying about their project by a teacher without any real proof by the teacher in either case.  In one of those cases the parent threatened lawsuit and the student was allowed to pass. 

This is happening in our parish right now.  Right now there are kids who have ordered graduation invitations who will not be walking; these kids are considering new options – summer school, returning for another semester and graduating mid-term next year, or just going for the GED.

All because of Senior Project.

I have talked to lots of people over the last few days either personally or via Facebook (where I got a lot of interesting comments) as I’ve researched this.  I’m sure there are two sides to this, but I haven’t heard from one soul so far who supports it.

I won’t name schools – it’s a parish-wide problem so no need to single out individual schools – and from what I’ve heard, the teachers are not fans of Senior Project either for the most part.  But, what I’ve heard is this:

Each school supposedly has a Senior Project committee.  This committee secures the judges for the final panel.  The judges are supposed to be professionals in the community qualified to assess a portfolio and a speech.  At one school this year the committee charged parents of seniors to find judges.  I wonder what guaranteed that these judges were qualified or even literate.  I was told that some judges in those presentations realized that a student might be short on time so they drew them out with questions, thus helping the student make the time limit while other panels did not and students fell short. 

Is that fair?

In another case, I’ve heard that a kid was penalized for not taking enough pictures of his product; he had elected to do auto-body repair and found a mentor in an illegal chop shop.  He didn’t realize it was illegal, of course, but when a kid has to have a mentor, and there is maybe no attentive parent to guide him, this sort of thing is going to happen.  A student cannot use a family member as a mentor.

Is that fair?

In yet another case, a student did cooking for her Senior Project.  In order to make the required food for the judges to demonstrate her product, she used her family’s food stamp money. 

Is that fair?

Another student’s project got docked an entire letter grade because his speech didn’t open with an attention getting “hook” before he introduced himself to the judges.

That’s ridiculous.

One student had such a severe panic attack before her presentation that her nose started to bleed profusely and 911 had to be called.

Is this the kind of stress we want to subject kids to?  Is it necessary?

One student was called a liar by the teacher who just didn’t believe the student had done the project, despite guarantees by the mentor and plenty of documentation along the way.  That student will not be graduating this year. 

I’ve heard that some students actually do lie about their Project; they may lie about a step-parent being a mentor, or an aunt; they may lie about working with a certain mentor (what teacher has time to follow up on 35 mentors?).  Some students feel such stress and are so overwhelmed by the whole process, they feel this is their only option.

There is an appeals process for those kids, but it is practically never successful.  In the wide majority of cases it seems that the principal backs up the teacher and the superintendent backs up the principal.  The appeal process is intimidating and stressful for the student who might be hesitant to call out a teacher like that.

I’d like to know how many seniors won’t be graduating this year due strictly to Senior Project.  Someone left me a comment on Facebook that suggested this is just a vehicle to parade our kids out before the community and media. It doesn’t seem to serve the same educational purpose that a full course of English IV would.  I have real concerns that our students aren’t reaching college truly prepared because Senior Project consumed their entire English IV semester.

I hear rumors that the parish is considering modifications to Senior Project for next year but that does nothing for the seniors this year who will be sitting on the sidelines as their friends walk across the stage to receive their diploma.

Yo Quiero Taco Bell

This video has been making the rounds on social media. What makes it interesting is that it is based in Shreveport/Bossier. 

As one commenter on the video said, it is like robbing a bank to steal a roll of nickels.

Another couple of commenters on Facebook said that he had gone in and paid for the food, but no verification on that. I hope it's just a prank, the guy can obviously afford a meal from Taco Bell.

What do you think?

Language warning.

Clerk of Court Candidate Monica Hudson

Monica Hudson, Victim Advocate for the Bossier Parish District Attorney, has announced her candidacy for the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court. She is a lifelong resident of Bossier Parish and earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Bossier Parish Community College.  She continued her education and earned a B.A. from Minot State University. 

Hudson began her career in August 1982 with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Courts Office and continued with that office until May 1990.  Her duties there included: running Mortgage Certificates for sheriff’s sales, lenders, and the general public, issuing marriage licenses, assisting in the indexing of Mortgage and Conveyance records, microfilming mortgage and conveyance records, typing court minutes for civil and criminal cases, and training COE workers.

Hudson worked for The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for three years after leaving the Clerk of Courts Office.  At the FDIC she started in the file room and within three months moved to records management where she handled released mortgage notes and cancelled them at the various clerks offices.  She also maintained a data base with all closed files.  She then moved to Asset Management Department and performed various special projects as well as ordering appraisals, insurance, asset lien searches, and credit reports. She paid bills and re-inscribed mortgages at the clerk’s offices.  One year later she was promoted to the job of energy technician for the site.  There she wrote and implemented procedures for the oil and gas department and prepared monthly reports for upper management.  Her duties also included tracking all oil and gas revenue and expenses, keeping up with all accounts receivable and accounts payable records on each oil and gas asset, and researching and issuing division orders. 

Hudson’s experience also includes having been a legal secretary and paralegal for attorneys which involved the preparation of legal documents and filing them in the parish and federal clerks offices. 

Still employed at the Bossier Parish District Attorney’s Office, she began her career there in the incoming area and was quickly moved to the misdemeanor department where she worked cases and assisted attorneys with legal documentation,

subpoenas, motions, discoveries as well as other legal documentation. Her duties also included working with attorneys in trial preparation. 

Hudson has been the victim advocate for the past 12 years of her 15 years she has been employed in the District Attorney’s Office. She works with victims of crime ranging from domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, and murder cases just to name a few. She works with attorneys in trial preparation and obtains certified medical records when needed. She assists victims in obtaining counseling and restitution. She assisted Representative Billy Montgomery in writing legislation to assist victims in obtaining restraining orders. She accompanies victims to court, prepares legal documents, and helps with statistical data for grants.

She is civic minded and has served as president on several non-profit boards. Her unique combination of career experiences has provided her with insight into the functioning of the Clerk of Courts Office as well as providing insight into needed enhancements to the services it offers by implementing streamlined procedures that increase efficiency. Her first priority is to ensure the integrity of the records as they are reported and expand currently limited online documents. She will begin to work backwards from 1982 to the present microfilming documents so all documents will be online. Another enhancement to services will be the ability to pay for services using debit or credit cards. She believes that a satellite office in Bossier is long over-due. She intends to save taxpayers money by making cuts in the budget without cutting services. She plans to expand technology and add more forms on the website. She will seek legislation to help with making e-filing a reality. She will seek grants to expand services for victims. She intends to implement records management procedures that will ensure a suit does not get lost or sit on a desk too long. In addition, she will have a transparent office and an open door policy. She will implement procedures tol meet attorney’s needs in 24 hour filing.

She is a Notary Public and with more than 27 years of legal experience. She wants to serve you. She is for the people and would like you to Hire Her for your Clerk of Court.

If you are a candidate for office and would like to address the voters with your platform for office, please send a few paragraphs to mybossier@gmail.com and we will publish it.  Attach a picture if you like and we’ll include it.