City budget allows for more police officers

We had an interesting discussion going on in the comment section of the post entitled City elections around the corner.
Among the comments were the following:

Anonymous January 24, 2013 at 11:33 PM
No I'm saying they don't have enough officers on the street. They (elected officials) are constantly talking about how safe Bossier is but the fact is there is more crime today and it's getting worse. They use this figure they call "crime rate" to say what they want it to say. Ask any of them how to figure the "crime rate" and I bet they can't answer that. But yet every year they crime has decreased. All I'm saying is hire enough officers. According go my sources BCPD works with only 7 or 8 officers per shift. They have had to eliminate several divisions within the department just to be able to do that.

Anonymous January 25, 2013 at 8:22 AM
The budget presented by the mayor and approved by the city council for the last two years has money for an additional 20 cops. Why does the department not hire them? That is not a City Council question. The money is approved and it is shown in publicly, monthly, in the finance report.

Anonymous January 27, 2013 at 11:15 AM
The money is there for the officers. Unfortunately, the pay is substantially lower than competing agencies, so the department usually loses out.

Anonymous January 25, 2013 at 9:49 AM
That is not true. I haven't seen anything in any budget that gives the chief of police money to hire 20 officers.

I did receive a copy of the manning report for the city. The budget is fully funded and there is money there to hire additional officers. Of course, there is a constant flux of employees, some hired, some retiring or moving somewhere else. 
But the money is there for more hires (12 at this point) and I’m sure the chief does everything in his power to keep the department up to force.

Career Ops

Bossier Sheriff Manhunt

The Inquisitor put this out for public view from their website, so I am taking the liberty of copying it in full. 
The first order of business is to help find this guy. He has a long history of multiple DWI's and there are going to be a lot of questions to be asked and hopefully answered in this case.

Bossier Parish Sheriff's deputies are desperately trying to locate a Minden area man mistakenly released from jail despite the fact that he is facing felony charges in Bossier and Webster parishes.

Wesley Allen Haynes, 35, of Minden was facing charges in Caddo, Bossier, and Webster Parish on multiple charges and was in the Caddo Correctional Center facing charges in Caddo Parish, when a Bossier Sheriff's deputy sent a fax to the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office that stated all warrants in Bossier had been recalled and that they no longer had a hold on him in Bossier Parish.  

Bossier Sheriff's Spokesperson Lt. Bill Davis said the fax sent to Caddo Parish was incorrect, which resulted in Haynes being released from custody.

Bossier-Webster Parish District Judge Jeff Cox, who is presiding over multiple offense DWI cases in both Bossier and Webster Parishes involving Haynes, issued warrants in both Bossier and Webster for Haynes arrest.  Cox stated that there would be no bail because he believes that Haynes is a danger to the public.

Davis said the Bossier Sheriff's Office is aggressively pursuing Haynes' arrest and is asking the public for any information on his whereabouts.  

If you have any information on where Haynes may be located, the Sheriff's Office is asking that you call (318) 965-2203 or that you dial 911 in the area where Haynes is spotted.

You can go to The Inquistor to subscribe to their online edition.

Bossier to add armed security to elementary schools

The Bossier Parish School Board voted to add four additional resource officers to serve the elementary schools in the district on a rotation basis. Middle schools and high schools in Bossier Parish already have resource officers assigned to them. 
I have heard discussion both pro and con. I come down on the pro side. One of the arguments that I have heard against the measure is that we have had no shootings in our schools. While that is true, and hopefully will remain true, I’m sure the people who have suffered school shootings could have said the same thing. While there is no guarantee that an armed guard could stop a shooter, he has a much better chance than unarmed school staff.
I have a granddaughter who is in first grade in a Bossier school. I asked myself whether I would feel better if the school had an armed person on campus or not. I believe that I would feel better about it.
While it is a shame that it is necessary, I believe that erring on the side of protecting our children is better than the alternative. 
Arming trained teachers is another question for another day. Right now, we’ll deal with the situation as it is.

City elections around the corner

Elections for Bossier City Mayor and Council are fast approaching.
The primary election will be held on April 6th, and in case of any runoff, the general election will be held on May 4th.
It appears that Mayor Lo Walker is a shoo-in for a third term. Bubba Williams had considered a run for it, but decided against it.
Incumbent Councilman Scott Irwin has a challenger in retired policeman and restaurant owner Mike Beam in his South Bossier District. Here is a link to Beam's Facebook page.
David Jones is stepping down, and the only name I have heard tossed around in that district is Jeff Free. He has been attending council meetings and getting prepared.
Will Tommy Harvey go for it again, after losing by two votes to Larry Hanisee in the special election for District 5? I think so.
I'll have some more up soon on the individual races and candidates.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

ACCOUNT OF A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar plums danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap-
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters, and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a minature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name :
"Now! Dasher, now! Dancer, now! Prancer, and Vixen,
"On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blixem;
"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys -- and St. Nicholas too:
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound :
He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot ;
A bundle of toys was flung on his back,
And he look'd like a peddler just opening his pack :
His eyes--how they twinkled! his dimples how merry,
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry ;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow.
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow ;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly:
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laugh'd when I saw him in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And fill'd all the stockings; then turn'd with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprung to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle :
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight-
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Christmas Kids Part 5

Here are a couple from the past, I'm not going to give Caitlin's last name because she (thinks she) is all grown up now.

And this is my 10 month old great-granddaughter Gabby, meeting Santa for the first time. I think they hit it off.

A Sad Day

Very well said on behalf of all of us. 

Christmas Kids Part 4

I have to admit, this one kind of got to me. No matter how old they are, this is how they will always be to their family. Godspeed, Dean.

Sgt. William Dean Reeves (US byGod AF), currently stationed in Afghanistan...December 25, 1981.

Final Score: U. L. Coleman 25,000,000 - City of Bossier 0

This is the press release from the City of Bossier on the Walker Place settlement. It appears that the City totally folded. 
How could it get to this point over a simple curb cut? My theory is that it was nothing but pride and power. The City Council took a stand and instead of wisely coming to a mutual agreement, they hung on and spent millions fighting the lawsuit – out of pride and stubbornness. I could be wrong, but it sure as heck appears that way.
I especially love the spin in the last paragraph, “The City of Bossier City is excited about the opportunity to facilitate and support this exciting new development in South Bossier and looks forward to the added quality of life it will bring to residents and visitors.”
May be, but I bet it tastes more like crow than chicken.
Elliott Stonecipher estimates that the total cost to the city will come to $25,000,000.

As part of a comprehensive settlement resolving pending litigation, the City of Bossier City will be entering into a Consent Decree and Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with U.L. Coleman Company, Sequoia venture No. 2, Ltd., A. Teague Parkway, L.L.C., and Walker Place, L.L.C. to facilitate and fund infrastructure in a 90 plus acre commercial and residential development in South Bossier.

The settlement was approved this afternoon by the Bossier City Council during a special meeting called to address the issue.

The litigation filed in 2008 centered around the establishment of a curb cut on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway for access to the proposed development to be located north of Walker Place. As part of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement the city will grant a curb cut and a median cut on Teague Parkway among other items including:

· $10.4 million for infrastructure in the mixed use development.

· $1 million to develop a city park on city property north of the CenturyLink Center. U.L. Coleman Company will provide funds for the park's design.

· Construction of an elevated pedestrian/bicycle walkway over the Teague Parkway in the vicinity of the proposed park.

· $6.7 million in damages and costs.

· A transfer of 39.4 acres of city property for use in expanding the mixed use development to more than 90 acres. The property to be transferred is bordered by Walker Place, Barksdale Boulevard, Angelle Drive and CenturyLink Drive.

As a community partner, U.L. Coleman Company has also agreed to fund $100,000 to implement regulations to provide standards for future residential and commercial development in the Barksdale Boulevard corridor in South Bossier.

The City of Bossier City is excited about the opportunity to facilitate and support this exciting new development in South Bossier and looks forward to the added quality of life it will bring to residents and visitors.

Christmas Kids Part 3

More Christmas Kids. 
Here are more Christmas kids wishing you Merry Christmas. Email your picture and information to mybossier@gmail.com or just post them on the My Bossier Facebook Page. There will be more.

Ireland was a little nervous about visiting Santa

Riley, a little more experienced, was ready with a list.

Riley and Christmas Bear