ULM Water Ski Team Members Dismissed

Controversy drowns water ski leaders; 2 dismissed from team

By Cole Avery and DeRon Talley

Two leading members of the national championship water ski team were dismissed Monday for breaking curfew the night after winning the title.

Skiers Zach Worden and Claudio Koestenberger, who finished first and second respectively in the jump competition at nationals, have been removed from the team and are forced to forfeit their scholarships for the spring semester, according to statements given by the two skiers.

Wordon said head coach Treina Landrum kicked the two skiers off the team for missing curfew because the two were celebrating winning the national title. But Wordon said the judgment was unfair because assistant coach Heather Reilly gave the team permission to be out later than the stated curfew.

See the story at The ULM Hawkeye

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New BESE Member Guillot to Visit LPSB

James “Jay” Guillot, newly elected Board of Secondary and Elementary Education (BESE) member from the Fifth District, will be recognized at Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the Lincoln Parish School Board (LPSB).

Guillot is Executive Vice-President at Hunt, Guillot and Associates, LLC (HGA), a Ruston-based engineering and construction management company.

HGA’s President, Trott Hunt, has been a member of the LPSB (District 7) for five years.

Guillot’s opponent in the BESE race, incumbent Keith Guice, had been endorsed by Louisiana’s education establishment: the Louisiana School Boards Association (LSBA-PAC), the political action committee of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE-FCPE), the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS), and the Coalition for Louisiana Public Education (CLPE).

Guillot won 55% to 45%.

Other agenda items for the meeting include:

Personnel Committee

Fund Balances – 9/30/11 compared to 8/31/11 and 9/30/10

November salary supplement checks

The meeting will start at 6:00 PM at the central office, 410 South Farmerville Street.

See here the agenda.

Higher Ed Roundup – 11/29/11

Southern University Board OKs exigency

Feds Challenge James’ Gilmore/Stevens Ruling

Assistant U. S. Attorney C. Mignonne Griffing has filed a Motion to Reconsider Grant of a New Trial this week, asking that U. S. District Judge Robbie James reconsider his September 14 ruling that set aside the racketeering/extortion convictions of City of Monroe councilmen Arthur Gilmore and Robert “Red” Stevens, and that granted them a new trial.

See here the document.

The two had been convicted in May of this year, but James granted them a new trial, saying that because the prosecution did not turn over potentially exculpatory information (Brady material) to the defense, their first trial was unfair.

Griffing argues in her motion that allegations by Blake Deshotels (a former employee of the government’s key witness Nouri “Eddie” Hakim) are not true, and therefore not material, and as such cannot impeach Hakim’s testimony.

“The Government submits that it is appropriate for the Court to address the truthfulness of Blake Deshotels’ allegations…,” and that “If the allegations are false then they cannot be used to cross examine Eddie Hakim…”

“All of the Court’s conclusions flow from the possibility that Deshotels’ allegations are true. If these allegations are shown to be false, the Court should reach a different conclusion.”

“False allegations cannot be material and without materiality there can be no Brady violation.”

Higher Ed Roundup – 10/28/11

Board of Regents approves university programs

Regents delay requirement for arts class

Southern University board set to consider financial emergency

Our Views: Not best way to build case

KTVE-TV10 on the Jackson Parish ADA

Assistant District Attorney Under State Police Probe

An assistant district attorney is under investigation by state police.

State police have received a criminal complaint against Gary Nunn, an assistant district attorney.

Nunn’s district covers Bienville, Jackson, and Claiborne parishes. State police would not elaborate on what the nature of the complaint is.

State police say the investigation has been forwarded to the district attorney’s office. District attorney Johnathan Stewart says his office would not play a part in the investigation since he says it would be a conflict.

State Police Confirms Assistant DA Probe

An investigation of Second Judicial (Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson parishes) Assistant District Attorney Gary Nunn was confirmed today by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Louisiana State Police (LSP).

A ranking officer of the CID told Lincoln Parish News Online (LPNO) that, “We conducted an investigation and turned the file over to the (2nd JD) District Attorney.” He added, “That’s all we can say at this time.”

LPNO will continue to investigate this news story and report what we find.

See here earlier reporting.

2nd JD Ass’t DA Subject of State Police Probe

Nunn to Retire from DA’s Office

House District 12 Financial Reporting

We’re taking a look at the financial disclosure reports for the two runoff candidates for the Louisiana House of Representatives District Twelve seat – Jason Bullock and Rob Shadoin. District 12 covers most of Lincoln parish and Union parish

The contributors are listed by the top three dollar amounts donated.

See here the campaign reports for Bullock:

LA-26760 (10/3/11-10/22/11)
LA-26761 (10/3/11-10/22/11)
LA-26763
LA-25991 (9/13/11-10/2/11)
LA-24923 (1/1/11-9/12/11)

See here the campaign reports for Shadoin:

11005345 (7/20/11-9/12/11)
LA-25835 (9/13/11-10/2/11)
LA-25880 (10/3/11-10/11/11)

Higher Ed Roundup – 10/26/11

Panel opposes consolidating college boards

Southern University trims class week

Ouachita Sheriff Precint Vote Breakdown

Vote breakdown – by precinct and location – for the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s race on 10/22/2011