Buttermilk Pie

No, it doesn't taste like buttermilk, any more than buttermilk biscuits do.  Of course, that wouldn't bother me, I love a glass of cold buttermilk with some warm cornbread. 
No, Mrs. Andy made this for me.  It is one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life.  If you have never had one, find a recipe and try it out!
Look at that, had my name on it!

The House that Jerry Jones built

Mike and Carrie Moore are in Dallas for their first visit to Cowboys Stadium.  Misguided Cowboys fans that they are, I hope they have a great time today.  Heck, I'll even pull for a Cowboy win for them.  This week.

New Orleans computer crash shuts down real estate closings

What happened and why it's a big deal
Real Estate closings in New Orleans have been delayed for the last three weeks because of a computer crash in the Civil Clerk of Court’s office. There are gaps in certain mortgage and conveyance records so that a clear chain of title to property in the Parish cannot be established. What this means is that anyone buying a house or refinancing a mortgage for the last three weeks has been unable to close on their transaction. With mortgage rates going up, locks on low interest rates are being lost. Real estate sales are being lost.
The daily transactions are backed up, but the backups in Orleans have failed.

Why this won’t happen in Bossier Parish

Bossier Clerk of Court
Cindy Johnston

A number of parishes in Louisiana have gone to ‘paperless’ record keeping, the advantage being that the clerk doesn’t have to pay someone to physically scan every document and put them into mortgage and conveyance books. The backup system, which failed in Orleans Parish, is their assurance that this is a safe method. Bienville Parish has gone paperless, and Caddo partially so. I’m not sure of the other local parishes except for Bossier, which has not done so.
What this means is that if the system and the backup lost data in Bossier Parish, it would only cause a minor inconvenience to real estate abstractors in determining the chain of title on any property in the parish. Everything is indexed and copies of the documents are available to them to do their work. This is probably the safest backup system available.
Technology is a great thing and I’m all for it, but the lesson that must be learned from the Orleans Parish crisis is that while the availability of the transactions and documents in computerized form is a great enhancement and time saver, it is not a replacement for the physical availability of these vital records.

Bossier High School Band at the Sugar Bowl 1960

Dakota Huse came home today

Dakota Huse came home today.
On the day that the Marine Corps celebrated its 235th birthday the Pentagon announced the death of the 19 year old Marine while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
This afternoon Patriot Guard Riders and members of local law enforcement agencies escorted his remains from Shreveport Regional Airport to Centuries Memorial on Mansfield Road.
Visitation is scheduled from 5 – 9 on Friday.
Funeral Services will be held at 10AM Saturday at Summer Grove Baptist Church.
May God bless and comfort the family of this brave young Marine.

The Cucumber Guy enters guilty plea

You know, the school bus driver who paid teenage boys to stick cucumbers where the sun don't shine.
Thomas Smith entered a guilty plea on two counts of indecency with minors today in Benton.  A pre-sentence investigation was ordered, so he will be sentenced at a later date.

Lance Thamm sentenced to life in prison for murder of daughter

This morning Lance Thamm entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his 17 month-old daughter Isabella.
Thamm slammed Isabella’s head into a doorjam when she wouldn’t stop crying.
Thamm has a history of drug use and domestic violence. He and his wife lost a son in Texas because of abuse. That child, a boy, is being raised by an aunt.

Killed by her protector

Thamm charged twice for domestic abuse

Guest Blog from Isabella's mother

Chubbygate: The Conspiracy

The arrest of Bossier City Council Member James "Chubby" Knight on charges of bank fraud has, needless to say, created a lot of conversation and speculation.
"I've never done anything illegal," Bossier City Councilman Chubby Knight told KSLA.
Not so, says the Bossier City Police Department and the 26th JDC District Attorney.
The Police Department began their investigation when the bank that cashed the bogus check for Knight filed a complaint.
Knight’s attorney said that they know who is behind this ‘political vendetta’ to get Knight, but he’s not telling. According to the Times, the attorney said "This is all driven by the Bossier power bosses . . . . that machine wants you to know if you cross it, ... it will erase you, even your memory."
I don’t know how the big boys plan to erase the memory of Knight, but I’m interested to see.
In order to believe the conspiracy theory, you have to believe that:

• Knight, after spending years in business and retiring back to Bossier City, could not recognize this scam when he saw it.
• That he had no suspicion that the check was fraudulent, even though he took it to three different banks before getting it cashed.
• That the ‘political machine’ influenced a Bossier City detective to work up the case against Knight.
• That the police chief, Shane McWilliams, was involved in the conspiracy against Knight. I can assure you that the detective did not present the case to the DA without the approval of the chief.
• That the DA joined in the conspiracy with the detective and the chief.
• You have to believe that Knight’s attorney knows who is behind the conspiracy, he’s just not willing to tell anyone.

Inquiring minds want to know.
Who pulled the strings and got the detective, the chief and the DA to play along?  Or is this just a publicity stunt to get Knight and his attorney in front of the cameras?

Bossier City Councilman Chubby Knight arrested

KSLA is reporting that James "Chubby" Knight is turning himself in to the Bossier Sheriff's Department in relation to charges stemming from the scam that My Bossier reported on orginally.  (Update says he turned himself in at BCPD.)
KTBS has a writeup on it.  According to their story,

• "It is absolutely political. They know I've been asking questions about the (Cyber Innovation Center) and the bond issues," Knight said of his arrest. "It is just to defame my character."A warrant for Knight's arrest was issued after a Bossier City police detective briefed the district attorney on her investigation.District Attorney Schuyler Marvin said Knight should have known the $3,950 sweepstakes check was of questionable validity when he took it to three different banks this past summer before cashing it at one. Knight gave conflicting statements to police that were contradicted by bank employees, Marvin said. He said he felt a crime was committed.

Here is what we ran back in September.  As soon as I get more details I will put them up.
According to multiple reliable sources, Bossier City Council member James “Chubby” Knight is under investigation for bank fraud.Details are sketchy, but what I have been able to put together this is what is going on.
Over this last weekend a search warrant was executed by the Bossier Parish Sheriff. Knight’s computer(s) was seized, as well as a city computer.
Knight was allegedly involved in a scheme in which he was cashing forged Nigerian bonds and sending part of the money to someone in California.
Multiple banks were involved.
I sent the following email to Councilman Knight at his city email address:

• Mr. Knight,
  I have heard from several people that you are the subject of an investigation, and that a computer (or computers) were seized this weekend. My sources said that it had to do with possible bank fraud.
  I think it is only fair to come to you to confirm or deny this.
  If this is the case, do you intend to stay on the council?

I received no reply.  I sent the following email to someone in the DA’s office:

• Is Chubby Knight the subject of an investigation?

I received no reply.

Knight was elected to represent District 5 on the council in a runoff in May of last year. He won with 557 votes against former Councilman Larry Hannisee, who received 507 votes.

I have no more details as of now.  I have heard conjecture that this was part of one of those Nigerian 419 schemes, but I have no knowledge if that is true.

Hopefully, someone involved in the investigation will see fit to inform the public.

New Orleans Representative throws State House to the Republicans

New Orleans State Representative Walker Hines announced yesterday that he is switching from the Democratic to the Republican party. The move will give the Republicans a majority in the State House.
Hines, who is known for his efforts to outlaw transfats in school lunches, raise the legal smoking age to 21, outlaw smoking in a vehicle with anyone under 16 and to outlaw riding in the back of a truck on an interstate highway, is said to be considering a run for Secretary of State next year. That would be difficult to do as a Democrat.
When he first ran for office in 2007 he sent a letter to a couple of Progressive New Orleans bloggers stating that “Unlike my opponent who tells you whatever you want to hear, I will never sacrifice my principles for popularity. I’m a progressive Democrat who believes in the Catholic values of social justice. Please work with me.”
He also said during the run that “My job is to not become part of the old school, status quo politics of our past. My job is to come up here and challenge the conventional boundaries that the Legislature and other bodies of government have pursued.”
It doesn’t really matter whether he has a “D” or an “R” behind his name, Hines’ nanny state tendencies will be welcome in either state party. However well intentioned, his efforts to control what people eat and smoke and how they ride is very simply government intrusion.  His move won't effect any change whatsoever in the way that the legislature operates.
If I truly believed that this change was inspired by a deep, soul-searching assessment of his beliefs and philosophy I would be the first to encourage him to follow his heart and intellect.  I just have a hard time believing that to be the case.  I have more respect for a principled progressive or conservative than I do for someone who will stick their finger to the wind and move to the prevailing popular ideology in order to advance their political ambitions.
From State Treasurer John Kennedy to Bossier’s own Robert Adley, Louisiana has seen a number of these miraculous transformations of Democrats into Republicans.
Change if you must in order to stand a chance at higher office, it’s easy to tweak your remarks.  "I will never sacrifice my principles for popularity. I’m a progressive Democrat conservative Republican."
H/T to CenLamar