There was discussion at last Tuesday’s meeting of the Town of Jonesboro’s Board of Aldermen meeting about the agenda item “Community Church Non-Profit/Municipality Aid.”
Last June, town personnel and equipment and personnel were photographed installing portable barricades at a church-sponsored camp at Caney Lake State Park.
See our reporting on the controversy here.
The town’s controversial mayor Leslie Thompson opined that since the work was done for a “non-profit subsidiary” of the Rivers of Joy Ministries, that it was no different that what the Jackson Parish Police Jury (JPPJ) does for entities such as the Pine Belt Multi Purpose Community Actin Agency.
Thompson also claimed that the town had done similar tasks for other area churches in years past, but offered no proof of that claim when asked for it by District B’s Renee Stringer.
Town attorney Doug Stokes said that if the town aided any private organizations, they would violate the law.
Said Stokes, “The (state) constitution is crystal clear – you cannot use public property for a private purpose.”
Stokes addressed the jury donations to Pine Belt by noting that the jury is specifically empowered by law to make expenditures to groups that aid those below poverty level.
After further discussion, it was decided to request a legal opinion from Stokes on what is and is not allowed by law as far as services that the town can perform for churches and non-profits.
09/14/2012 at 5:35 am |
Ok then Doug let me make this crystal clear to you….the son of a bi*ch is admitting to doing it, there are pictures of it being done, when can we expect charges?
09/14/2012 at 5:45 am |
I cant leave it at that…this one is burning my ass. So they break the law again and yell, “Oops, we didnt know, we need a legal opinion on what we can and cant do.” And that makes ot ok? Doug what does the law say? What does it say Doug…it says “Ignorance of the law is not justification!”
Ex.” Oh crap, we werent supposed to rob that bank?, we need something in writing saying whether we can or not!”
09/14/2012 at 8:05 am |
Again, was Doug wearing the Assistant D.A. hat? If so, he is bound by law just like his employer……..when will the charges be levied? The taxpayers are waiting………the countdown officially begins right now………..just more to add to why the D.A., needs to be recalled.
09/16/2012 at 10:10 pm |
What about the Sheriff? the man admitted his crime where is the arrest.. I suspect we will be waiting a long time
09/17/2012 at 7:42 am |
What crime was admitted? Who admitted the crime?
What about the Sheriff?
What about the “church” meeting on Sunday’s at the Town Hall without paying rent? Does this fall under the same unlawful use of town owned property?
09/17/2012 at 9:57 pm |
you answered your question!!!
09/14/2012 at 6:37 am |
DA you say you need more money, read these blogs and see how many charges you can file on Leslie. His charges and conviction alone would definitely help your department. The trick to getting these funds is simple….first you have to file them!
09/14/2012 at 6:49 am |
In the Land of Leslie, Leslie makes the laws….Leslie is the law….you can not caught Leslie
So, Leslie, the town’s attorney (you wonderful long time friend Dougie Stokes) gave you his opinion…it ain’t good enough for you?
Let’s connect the dots here….Leslie and Dougie are BFFs…Dougie and Jonathan Stewart are bedfellows…..it REALLY does not matter what REAL laws Leslie ignores, there is not one thing going to be done about it.
Maybe an assistant DA who is on Leslie’s payroll is the DA whisperer? He whispers “all is good with the Town of Jonesboro”
09/14/2012 at 7:16 am |
The whole theory of “the DA does not answer to anyone” can not be true. There has to be something that can be done. If he admits it, there are pictures of it, and it is “crystal clear” that it is illegal, then it should also be “crystal clear” that the DA is commiting malfeasance by ignoring it!
09/14/2012 at 7:51 am |
folks this is jackson parish, things are done differently here…
09/15/2012 at 3:39 pm |
So, that makes it right?
09/14/2012 at 8:02 am |
You can take this to Fort Knox, Stewart is about to get a recall…….so all you people that love to lurk around and throw rocks, get your pen ready, you are about to get your opportunity to make a difference………….if you have the courage. The official announcement will be made here no later than Tuesday. Tune in Tuesday, you will see.
09/14/2012 at 2:20 pm |
When I see a petition for recall OF ANYONE in Jonesboro I will probably faint. Talk, Talk that is all we have done. In all of that talk there have been no BALLS shown at all. Do it and then TALK ABOUT IT.
09/14/2012 at 3:06 pm |
When it is presented are you willing to sign it? I know I am!
09/18/2012 at 12:43 pm |
ok ..its tuesday, where recall petition?
09/14/2012 at 8:11 am |
When you take office, you take an oath to uphold the laws of the US and the state of Louisiana. He knows what is legal and what isn’t…..remember he is a paralegal and knows everything. He advises his own community on legal action so his claim of “we didn’t know” is complete BS. I know people from down south read this, so when are you guys going to get off your butts and do something. When?
09/14/2012 at 9:55 am |
It appears to me and almost all that the numerous porblems the tax payers of Jonesboro are sufferring needs to be brought to the attention of a higher level. Maybe Fox News could help in reaching out to that person.
09/14/2012 at 2:55 pm |
I hope they lock Stokes up with Les and Stewart. Sick of this bunch. As time goes by it is clear that Doug is as much at fault as anyone. Someone somewhere can do something about this!
09/15/2012 at 3:47 pm |
I agree with you. Something really needs to be done with this bunch of idiots. But, the powers that be are the powers that won’t do anything. So, where does that leave Jonesboro and its troubles?
Town of Jonesboro is sick, and those that could help remedy this are even sicker. Sad and sorry state of affairs.
09/15/2012 at 5:53 pm |
As was posted on another blog, get ready for the recall of the DA! It is coming very soon.
09/14/2012 at 3:12 pm |
It is obviously clear that they are all to blame. The mayor and his puppets break the law then admit to it, doug, whom can not prosecute anyway due to conflict, sits and says “cant do what you already did, its illegal.” And Stewart refuses to charge anyone.
09/16/2012 at 10:14 pm |
Reckon what the job of the Sheriff is ???????????????
09/16/2012 at 11:54 pm |
The Sheriff is to afraid of the liability. If not he would have arrested the first go around when they had evidence instead of sending it to the DA for a grand jury. Which has still never happened.
09/17/2012 at 7:44 am |
Maybe this is enough for the FBI to become involved. I phoned them months ago and they said they needed evidence …not rumors…
09/17/2012 at 2:54 pm |
None of your local officials, sheriff included, are going to do ANYTHING. Too afraid of upsetting people and losing an election. Where else in Jackson Parish you gonna work and make 150,000 a year. You are on your own citizens of Jonesboro. Why cant yall get that through your damn heads! Who else has to ignore you before you figure it out!
09/17/2012 at 10:02 pm |
Well if he is afraid to do his job we need someone else, I think we need a whole lot of someone elses.
09/18/2012 at 10:23 am |
What good does it do to arrest the idiot if Stewart wont prosecute him? All it does is cost the TOWN More money.
09/18/2012 at 10:27 am |
That is true. It does nothing unless the DA prosecutes!
09/19/2012 at 9:34 pm |
Well we will never know because the Sheriff wont arrest him. WAKE UP Jonesboro, We are being shafted by our elected officials all of whom are way more worried about the next election instead of the good of the people they serve
09/18/2012 at 6:15 pm |
I guess like everything else, the recall petition rumor was exactly that, a rumor. Listen, people might as well accept it. Nothing will change nothing will get done. Time to move on. Just let them do their illegal business. It will catch up to them. Not by the law, but they will keep on until someone gets double crossed, then they will “handle” somebody! Everyone might as well move on with their lives and realize that our town is crooked and there is no one that can help. Not the state legislature. Not the sheriff, not the chief, especially not the DA. so, lets just let them have it. Im tired of wishing it would fix. We need to get on with our lives.
09/18/2012 at 6:24 pm |
If you ask me, which you didnt, I think because of our situation that the entire parish’s elected officials should go. The sheriff is not doing his job or he wouldn’t have tried once and gave up. The DA, I dont even have to go there. The Chief, same as Sheriff. Council, crooked as mayor. Everyone. If you are in a position that you could be doing something and are not, then you are worthless.
09/19/2012 at 6:23 am |
Jump ship now people
09/19/2012 at 12:12 pm |
Going through some of the residential areas of TJ yesterday I saw 4 or 5 houses on the market in town city limits.
Looks as though people want to get out of Jonesboro to a better location.
09/19/2012 at 4:12 pm |
I am sure that is what the mayor and his supporters hope will happen.