The Gift

I did a blog post a couple of weeks ago entitled This was Country, brought on by a Facebook friend posting a Hank Williams song.
A friend of mine read the post and told me if I like Hank Williams, that he had a gift for me.
I met up with my friend and his wife a few days later and he gave me a beautiful box set of Hank Williams CD's, ten of them, with a nice booklet full of information and pictures.  When I told him I would have to blog on it, he asked me not to use his name, so I won't.  I really did enjoy our short visit, and got a couple of great hugs from Mrs. Friend.
They also gave me a baggie full of Lesbian cookies, properly titled The Best Cookies in the World.  They were awesomely great.
Seriously, this is a great gift and greatly appreciated.
Thank You!

Mother of five year old Celeste Lowe files suit

Jamie Mercer, the mother of five year old Anna Celeste Lowe, who was taken to WK Pierremont last January two hours after she had died, filed suit for damages Tuesday in Bossier District Court. The suit names as defendants:



Wesley Lowe (Father of the child)
Catherine “Cat” Lowe (Step-mother of the child)
State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services
Tameika Monday (Employee of Children & Family Services)
Larry C Deen (Sheriff of Bossier Parish)
Debra McKay (Detective)
Buddy Caldwell (State Attorney General)
Louisiana Office of Risk Management
Mercer's suit alleges that the Department of Children and Family Services placed Anna Celeste into the custody of her father and step-mother without investigating Lowe and his background, and if they had done so would not have placed the child with him based on their own criteria. It further alleges that the Department did not conduct a home inspection or evaluation of any sort.
The suit says that on December 9, 2010, a teacher reported suspected abuse of Anna Celeste to the Sheriff’s Office. Detective McKay spoke to Wesley Lowe, in whose custody Anna Celeste was at the time, and with someone with the Department of Children and Family Services. Both Lowe and the Department blamed Jamie Mercer. Detective McKay did not contact Mercer. Mercer says that if she had been contacted, she could have told the detective that she had not seen Anna Celeste since October 30, over five weeks prior to the teacher’s report.
Mercer is being represented by Attorney Charles L. Kincade of Monroe.
Catherine Lowe was charged with 2nd Degree Murder by DA Schuyler Marvin. She was due to go to trial on February 13, but on January 6 her attorney, Randal Fish, was granted a continuance until May 21. The case is being heard by Judge Bolin.
Wesley Lowe has been charged with Negligent Homicide and trial is set for February 13.

Bossier School Board: Plans under consideration

I told a couple of commenters that I would follow up and attempt to find out what priorities, if any, have been set for use of the proposed bond money.
I emailed Sonja Bailes and received a very prompt reply.  Rather than paraphrasing what she said, I will just print it verbatim. 
1. I am glad that the 5% salary increase for teachers in included.
2. Remember, the meetings are public.

Mr. Wells,
I am attaching the latest "options" plan from the architect with SGB/Yates that the board is considering as part of the bond proposition. Let me emphasize that the board has not adopted a plan as of yet, only the resolution to bring it forth to voters in April which I am also attaching. The proposed construction plan will be taken up again at tomorrow’s school board meeting at 6 p.m. at Central Office in Benton.
May I also point out that the bond proposition is a continuation of what we are now operating under. It will not cost taxpayers in Bossier Parish one penny more than what they are already paying.
There will also be two tax propositions on the ballot seeking a $3 million recurring technology fund, something that Bossier Schools does not have right now but greatly needs. We will also ask the citizens of Bossier Parish to support our educators and faculty by approving a 5% salary increase. If I can be of further assistance please let me know.
Sonja Bailes
Public Relations Liaison
Bossier Parish School Board

ATTACHMENT

BCPD promotes five

Five Bossier City Police officers were promoted to the rank of Sergeant this morning.  Congratulations to:

Darren Barclay, Violent Crimes Unit
Chris Estess, K-9 unit
Kevin Humphrey, Internal Affairs Division
Jeremy Kennedy, United States Marshal’s Violent Fugitive Task Force
Murray Wells, Training Division. As some of you know, Murray is my son.  I'm a very proud dad today.

Jim Wells, Murray Wells

Bossier School Board: $210,000,000 bond proposition

The Bossier Parish School Board will be asking for a special election to approve a new $210,000,000 bond proposition.

BOND PROPOSITION

Summary: To authorize not exceeding $210,000,000 of not exceeding 20 year

General Obligation Bonds of Parishwide School District of the Parish of Bossier, State of Louisiana, for the purpose of acquiring and/or improving lands for building sites and playgrounds, including construction of necessary sidewalks and streets adjacent thereto; purchasing, erecting and/or improving school buildings and other school related facilities within and for the District and acquiring the necessary equipment and furnishings therefor, and refunding and extending outstanding certificates of indebtedness.

Shall Parishwide School District of the Parish of Bossier, State of Louisiana (the "District"), incur debt and issue in series from time to time not exceeding Two Hundred Ten Million Dollars ($210,000,000) of general obligation bonds to run not exceeding twenty (20) years from date thereof, with interest at a rate or rates not exceeding nine per centum (9%) per annum, to be sold at par, premium or discount, approximately $202,500,000 of which bonds to be issued for the purpose of acquiring and/or improving lands for building sites and playgrounds, including construction of necessary sidewalks and streets adjacent thereto; purchasing, erecting and/or improving school buildings and other school related facilities within and for the District and acquiring the necessary equipment and furnishings therefor, title to which shall be in the public, and approximately $7,500,000 of which bonds to be issued for refunding and extending the outstanding Certificates of Indebtedness, Series 2008, of the Parish School Board of the Parish of Bossier, State of Louisiana; all of which bonds will be general obligations of the District and will be payable from ad valorem taxes to be levied and collected in the manner provided by Article VI, Section 33 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974 and statutory authority supplemental thereto, with no estimated increase in the millage rate to be levied in the first year of issue above the 13.55 mills currently being levied to pay General Obligation Bonds of the District?

Congratulations Alabama

Jordan Jefferson, don't let the door hit you on the way out. 
Hopefully with Mettenberger and Kiel next year LSU will have an offense.

Jane Smith appointed Deputy Director of Revenue for State

The Times is reporting that Jane Smith has been appointed to a job in the Jindal Administration.
Jane Smith, a Republican whose term as the District 8 member of the state House of Representatives ends Monday, is taking an appointment as deputy secretary of the Louisiana Revenue Department, it was announced today.
Smith will help Revenue Secretary Cynthia Bridges with administrative and legislative affairs, the department says.
I take this to mean that among other things, Mrs. Smith will be a de facto lobbyist for the Department.  She should be very effective, as she knows the legislature inside-out.
Smith was endorsed by the governor and the State Republican Party when she ran for State Senate last fall and lost to Barrow Peacock.

This was Country

My Facebook friend Michael Beam posted an old Hank Williams song, Honky Tonk Blues, earlier and it made me start thinking.
Northwest Louisiana was really a hub for country music - real country music - back in the day.
Hank Williams played at the Louisiana Hayride, heck, Hank Jr. was born here.
In 1966 my brother owned a service station right smack on the Bossier Strip and I used to work for him some on the night shift.  Of course, it was a 24 hour operation.
One of his other employees was Harmie Smith, who, with his Ozark Mountaineers, was on the very first Louisiana Hayride.  Harmie was older, and lived just off East Texas Street.  He had some great stories.  He would talk about Hank Williams, how he would show up so drunk at the Louisiana Hayride that they had to prop him up and walk him onto the stage.  "And he would sing like a bird", Harmie would tell me.
Old friends would come over to the service station to see him when they were in town, people like the Wilburn Brothers.  I was there when they showed up.
Harmie went on to DJ at KENT radio in Shreveport and died a couple of years later.

I can't remember the exact year, maybe 1967 or 1968, the Hayride ended it's long run at the Municipal Auditorium.  I went to some of the last shows and they were great.
I got to hear Ferlin Husky singing Snow White Dove, Sonny James singing Young Love and Running Bear.  Marty Robbins sang El Paso (posted below), and the Statler Brothers opened for Johnny Cash singing Flowers on the Wall. 
Johnny Cash and June Carter were amazing performers, they could electrify an audience.  They sang, among others, Jackson, which I have posted below.
I have a lot of younger friends who claim to love country music, but I don't think any of them would know a good country song if it walked up and kicked them in the ass (yes, I can say that, it's my blog).
This was country.

Pay Raise!

Great news, I got a 34% pay raise! 
Oh wait, that's not me, it's the Bossier Parish Police Jury.  From $1,200 per month to $1,600 per month.
Yep, right after election.
No, not one of them discussed this during the election cycle.  I suppose they thought if they campaigned on a pay raise for Jurors that they would not be elected/re-elected.
They were right, better to do it on the DL.
Wow.

Out with the old, In with the new

In the world of politics, Bossier saw some changes in 2011. Lynn Austin is the new City Marshal. Jeff Thompson will be the new representative for District 8 in the State House. Barrow Peacock defeated Jane Smith for State Senate, even though Smith had the strong endorsement of the governor and the state Republican Party. All the better for the district, they now have a state senator who is not beholden to anyone.
Julian Whittington was elected sheriff and will take office in 2012, after Larry Deen announced that he would not run and Doyle Dempsey wisely bowed out before he got started.
Now it’s time to look to 2012 and the presidential & congressional races, along with some local ones. I don’t do a lot on national politics, I stay updated at And So it Goes in Shreveport. Pat is on top of that stuff.
The Town of Benton has a special election for Mayor in March. Interim mayor Wayne Cathcart has announced as well as Ken Shiflett. This one might get interesting.
I haven’t blogged a lot in the last couple of weeks, everyone (including me) has been busy with family and holiday festivities – the truly important things in life.
To everyone who lost someone dear to them this year, our sympathies are with you.
I was blessed with another granddaughter in April, and she is a joy. Welcome to all of the new arrivals, I know that you will all leave this world a better place than you are finding it.

Mary Celeste

So without a lot of fanfare, I am telling 2011 farewell and saying welcome to 2012.
May all of you have a healthy and prosperous new year.