The Ouachita Parish Police Jury (OPPJ) will meet Monday, October 20, 5:30 PM, Ouachita Parish Court House, second floor.
Here is the agenda.
Immediately following the jury meeting, the Finance Committee will meet in the jury’s conference room.
Here is the agenda.
Flights from the West African countries where an Ebola virus outbreak is occurring need to be stopped and people who are now arriving from that country should be quarantined for 21 days, Congressman Vance McAllister (R, LA05) said tonight.
Two other candidates who are vying for that seat in the upcoming November 5 election, Harris Brown and Ralph Abraham, echoed his sentiments.
Said McAllister, “Stop all incoming flights. Those quarantined would be free to travel or return home once medically cleared.”
Said Abraham, “Stop it now. There is no downside to not doing it.” He said that the argument that a ban would have an adverse economic impact on the foreign countries is bogus. He noted that we in the United States are already paying a price for the crisis.
Said Brown, “It’s time to end flights into the U. S. from West Africa. This is a serious health threat.”
The three were on the Louisiana Tech campus in Ruston this evening for a candidate “Meet and Greet” put on by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Louisiana Tech Student Government Association.
A crowd of two hundred or more met candidates for Judge, District Attorney, Ruston Mayor, Ruston Board of Alderman, Ruston City Marshal, U. S. Congress, and U. S. Senate.
Afterwards, the two candidates for Mayor, Ronny Walker and Bill Elmore, participated in a debate and question and answer session in Howard Auditorium.
Today we have the financial reports of the two candidates for Mayor of Ruston – Bill Elmore and Ronny Walker.
Contributions: $37,585
Loans: $7,500 (All from candidate to campaign)
Total Receipts: $45,410
Expenditures: $30,313
Major contributors:
Callie Parkman, Ruston $1,000
Cher Taffaro, Belle Chasse, LA – $1,000
Clements Enterprises, Homer – $1,000
Drew Radescich – $1,000
G & C Construction, Ruston – $1,000
George Parkman, Ruston – $1,000
Hampton Inn, Ruston – $1,000
Jack Humphries, Ruston – $1,000
Joseph Dickson, Ruston – $1,000
LGE Properties, Ruston – $1,000
Lincoln Capital, Ruston – $1,000
Lyndon Dawson, Ruston – $1,000
Nungesser Land Co, Belle Chasse, LA – $1,000
Richard Cox, Northport, AL – $1,000
Sam Holland, Ruston – $1,000
Stanley Williams, Ft Worth, TX – $1,000
Startel – $1,000
William Nungesser, Belle Chasse, LA – $1,000
Willow Glen, Ruston – $1,000
Significant Expenditures:
Angie McGaugh (Campaign event) – $2,100
Brian Fletcher (Advertisement supplies) – $1,172
Rapid Signs (Signs) – $13,237
Redprint Strategy (Strategy) – $2,984
Ruston Daily Leader (Advertising) – $2,808
The Political Firm (Strategy) – $1,128
See here the complete report.
Contributions – $52,575
Loans – $4,000 (All from the candidate)
Total Receipts – $56,575
Major contributors:
Bill Autry, Simsboro – $1,000
Terri Autry, Simsboro – $1,000
Kerry Banks, Choudrant – $1,000
Jason Bullock, Ruston – $1,000
Frank Cordaro, Ruston – $1,000
Bill Hogan, Ruston – $1,000
John Hood, Ruston – $1,000
Karl Malone, Ruston – $1,000
Kay Malone, Ruston – $1,000
Cherrie Mays, Ruston – $1,000
Dicky Nealy, Ruston – $1,000
Neal Patel, Ruston – $1,000
Larry Popp, Ruston – $1,000
Peter Richardson, Ruston – $1,000
Tom Sumrall, Ruston – $1,000
Jim Worthy, Ruston – $1,000
Gary Warren, Eugene, OR – $1,000
First National Bancshares, Ruston – $1,000
Lee Robbins, Ruston – $1,000
Walter Pullin, Ruston – $1,000
Significant Expenditures:
Donnie Bell Design, Ruston (Website design) – $5,301
Kacee Sugar & Spice, Ruston (Catering) – $10,127
Tommy’s Tees, Ruston (T shirts) – $9,628
Patricia Willis, Ruston (HQ rental) $4,000
Regional Consulting, Ruston (Gary Stokely, consulting) $7,500
See here the complete report.
The two candidates for Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Attorney – John Belton and Cary Brown – addressed the Lincoln Parish Police Jury (LPPJ) at last night’s meeting, each giving the jury and audience a 10 minute recitation of their qualifications and platform.
Belton began by thanking the jury for the opportunity to speak, and citing his faith. He gave credit to his wife Alana for being his “better half.” He spoke about his twenty-two years of experience as a prosecutor and said he had prosecuted thousands of crimes, up to an including murder. He said he wanted to have both prosecution and prevention as a part of the office.
Said Belton, “I believe that we need to keep our children in school to graduate. We don’t have presently in the DA’s office a mentoring program. If we can keep our kids in school, make sure they graduate, then we won’t see them in a criminal court system.”
Belton also suggested that non-violent low level offender be offered the opportunity to serve in the military, rather than serve time in jail.
The DA is primarily an administrator, Belton said. He cited his experience as manager of a small business that he and his wife operate.
“In our small business, we manage over sixty employees,” said Belton.
Brown began by also thanking the jury for the forum.
He said he was seeking the job to serve the community because it was where he lived and where his three children attended school.
Said Brown, “I am the only candidate in this race who has ten years as a full-time DA. This isn’t about the money. I don’t have side interests and businesses. I have one job. And that’s serving you full time at the DA’s office. You’re going to get your money’s worth with me. You can expect me to be the first one at work every day and the last one to leave.”
Brown said his trial experience as a trial attorney would serve law enforcement and the community at large.
“I believe in the right to a speedy trial, not for just a defendant because its guaranteed by our Constitution. I believe in the right to a speedy trial for our victims, as well as our taxpayers. I am the candidate that that has offered a plan as to how to actually expedite the process.”
The push for a new courthouse for Lincoln Parish didn’t get very far at last night’s meeting of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury (LPPJ), after the fiscal realities became clear of just how tight money is in Baton Rouge. The plan was to submit a request to the Legislature for capital outlay money for construction costs, estimated to be as much as $25 million.
However, Jury Administrator Courtney Hall told the jury’s Public Property and Buildings Committee that he had visited with the area’s legislative delegation, and prospects for such an appropriation were dim.
Said Hall, “At this point, I don’t see all of them (area Legislators) on board. They only have $25 million for the whole state – it would be difficult to have one project to try to make deals with.” He added, “If we send this application to our legislative delegation, and you don’t have a unanimous response – letters of support to go with that application – that sends a big signal.”
Hall noted that a significant amount of local matching funds – 50% or more – would realistically be needed to convince the legislature to fund the remaining amount. That amount of local funding would require additional taxes and/or the sale of bonds, Hall said.
District Seven’s Jody Backus, who had been one of the more vocal proponents of the plan, said he understood that the time might not be right for a new courthouse.
Said Backus, “I understand what’s happening and why. Now might not be the time to push it. If the time’s not right, it’s just not right.”
There was some discussion about long-term plans, and what that meant for the several other properties owned by the jury, and how that might tie into future construction plans. Also mentioned was the possibility of requesting money for a study or planning, but the committee seemed cool to the idea, as it might jeopardize the possibility of funding the entire project.
Reportedly, State Senator Rick Gallot (District 29) had earlier this year told some jurors that capital outlay money was available and convinced them to push for the money.
The committee also discussed assignment of the space formerly occupied by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office on the ground floor of the courthouse to other parish agencies. As no definite assignments have been made, discussions will continue among the interested parties.
Funding prospects for two other projects fared better in a meeting of the Public Works Committee. Angela Manning, Commissioner of the North Louisiana Exhibition Center made a pitch for a $400 thousand plus covered warmup area with horse stalls for the center. Such a structure would allow rodeo participants to exercise and warm up their horses prior to events in the main arena. Manning said she could have scheduled a half dozen more events this year, if they had such an area.
Several local citizens who regularly use the center came to the meeting and spoke in support.
Also, the committee discussed applying for about $2.3 million to reconstruct Beacon Light Road. It was noted that capital outlay money was easier to obtain for roads, and that both projects would require but a 25% match.
The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and LaTech SGA will host a Mayoral Debate on October 16, 2014. Questions to be presented to the two mayoral candidates, Bill Elmore for Ruston Mayor 2014 and Ronny Walker for Mayor of Ruston, 2014 have been submitted by Chamber members and LA Tech Student Government Association.
Here is your chance to meet the candidates for Mayor, District Attorney, District Judge, US Rep, School Board, City Council and many others. Then the City of Ruston Mayoral Candidates Ronny Walker and Bill Elmore will have a debate over issues that affect your business in Ruston.
6-7 p.m. – All 2014 local, state, and national candidates will have an opportunity to connect with our community members at a Meet & Greet type in University Hall on LA Tech campus. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Meet & Greet participants:
Mayor of Ruston
Bill Elmore
Ronny WalkerAlderman, Ruston, Dist. 1
Fred Blake Sr.
Carolyn Elmore Cage
Glenda HowardAlderman, Ruston, Dist. 2
Sharonda Cage Hatter for Ruston Board of Aldermen
Rosalind Jones
Angela MayfieldAlderman, Ruston, Dist.4
Judi Null for Ruston City Board of Aldermen
Re-elect Jim Pearce Ward 4 Ruston City CouncilAlderman, Ruston, Dist. 5
Marie Riggs
Bruce Siegmund
Maurice White for Ruston Board of AldermenRuston City Marshal
Sandy L. Freeman for Ruston City Marshal
Jim Liner for Ruston City MarshalDistrict Judge, 3rd Judicial Dist., Div. B
Lewis Jones for Judge
Tyler Storms for Judge
Tommy Rogers for JudgeDistrict Attorney, Lincoln & Union Parishes
John Belton for District Attorney
Cary Brown for DAPublic Service Commissioner, Dist. 5
Foster Campbell5th Congressional District for Congress
Ralph Abraham for Congress
Harris Brown
Vance McAllisterUS Senate
Bill Cassidy
Tom Clements for US Senate
William Waymire, Jr.7-8:30 p.m. – We’ll move into the Howard Auditorium for the mayoral debate. There will also be an opportunity for audience members to submit questions prior to the start of the event.
Also join us on Twitter – @RustonChamber #VoteLocal
This is a free event, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!
Dr. Sue Hashaway
It appears that Lincoln Parish citizens will have to wait until after November’s election before any more action will be taken in the case of State v Cameron Mays, who is accused of second degree murder in the home invasion and robbery of retired Grambling State University (GSU) professor Dr. Sue Hashway, 63.
A status conference set for 1:30 PM today, was this morning upset and refixed until December 9, 2014, Lincoln Parish News Online has learned.
We were scheduled to be in court this afternoon to report, but learned of the delay before noon. Apparently, the delay was granted in court this morning.
The status conference was originally set for 8/26/14, but John Belton, the Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) Assistant District Attorney who is lead prosecutor in the case, was in discussions with the crime lab over some issues not yet clear, it was said at the time.
Belton is running for Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Attorney.
Hashaway was killed nearly 2 1/2 years ago, in early June 2012, in the normally quiet Cypress Springs neighborhood of Ruston. Mays was also charged in another home invasion and rape that occurred in the same neighborhood.
Here are the contributions and expenditures for the three candidates in the race for Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Judge, Division B.
Contributions: $10,184
Loans: $92,395 (All loans are from canditate)
Total: $102,579
Expenditures: $60,810
Major Contributions:
Hampton & Frazier Attorneys, Farmerville – $1,000
Kay Malone, Ruston – $2,000
Major Expenditures:
Donnie Bell Designs, Ruston (Website) – $8,800
Rapid Signs, Ruston, (Signs) – $14,300
Left Right Strategies, Ruston (Geoffrey Middleton, Heath Hattaway), Consulting – $17,600
Market Research Insight, Gulf Breeze, FL (Research) – $4,000
Tommy’s Tees, Ruston, (Shirts) $5,000
Here is the complete 10/6/14 report.
Contributions: $40,050
Loans: $37,905 (All loans are from canditate)
Total: $77,955
Expenditures: $60,461
Major Contributions:
Cindy Clark, Ruston – $1,000
Bill Hogan, Ruston – $1,000
Alex Hunt, Jr, Ruston, – $1,000
Trott Hunt, Ruston, – $2,500
Anne Kilpatrick, Ruston – $1,000
Don McGehee, Ruston, – $1,000
Mrs. L. D. Napper, Ruston – $1,000
Bill Rodgers, Ruston – $1,000
James Sheppard, Ruston – $1,000
Robert Temple, Ruston – $1,000
Major Expenditures:
Earl Albritton, Ruston (Consulting) – $6,850
Creative Communications, Baton Rouge (Polling) – $6,250
Tommy’s Tees, Ruston (Shirts, etc) – $3,945
Bell Designs, Ruston (Website, advertising) – $15,480
Jordan Hamilton, Farmerville (Consulting) – $2,350
Rapid Signs, Ruston – $11,715
Regional Consulting Services, Ruston (Gary Stokely, survey) – $7,000
Here is the complete 10/2/14 report.
Contributions: $38,422
Total: $38,422
Expenditures: $29,008
Major Contributions:
Tyler Storms, Ruston – $19,072
Sam & Judy Bayliss, Marshall, TX – $1,000
Linda Storms, Ruston – $2,500
Ronny & Judy Graham, Ruston – $1,000
Danny & Kate Graham, Ruston – $1,000
Rene Giles, Choudrant – $1,000
Gertha Giles, Choudrant – $1,000
Richard Storms, Ruston, – $2,500
Major Expenditures:
The Farmerville Gazette (Advertising) – $1,880
The Ruston Daily Leader (Advertising) – $2,130
Godley Works, Ruston (Radio advertising) – $4,680
Tommy’s Tees, Ruston (Shirts, signs, etc) – $15,660
Here is the complete 10/3/14 report.
Nearly half – about 43% – of the contributions to John Belton’s candidacy for Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Attorney came from addresses that are not within those two parishes, the campaign finance documents show. By our count, 57 of 133 contributors have addresses that are outside Lincoln or Union Parish.
See here Belton’s 10/6/2014 report.
Cary Brown’s report shows 25 of 318 contributions outside the district – about 8%.
See here Brown’s 10/6/2014 report.
Despite tens of millions of dollars in construction over the past few years by Lincoln Parish’s public agencies (Lincoln Parish Sheriff – $5 million for “public safety complex”; Lincoln Parish School Board – $20 million, about half for athletics; City of Ruston – $1 million for Police Dept HQ), it appears that local government’s appetite for shiny new buildings is nowhere near sated. The latest is a push from the Lincoln Parish Police Jury (LPPJ) for a new courthouse, estimated to cost $20 million or more.
The push will come in the form of an application to the State of Louisiana for capital outlay funding for the project. It is not clear how much in local matching funds will be required, or if a new tax is being considered for the project. The jury’s Public Property & Buildings Committee will discuss the issue at their Tuesday (10/14) 5:30 PM meeting.
See here the agenda.
Also to be discussed is the allocation of the space on the ground floor formerly occupied by the Sheriff’s Office.
That meeting is but one of a series of committee meetings that begins at 4:00 PM on the third floor of the Lincoln Parish Court House.
Adjudicated Property Committee – 4:00 PM
This committee will review a proposed ordinance that deals with the disposal of adjudicated property.
See here the proposed ordinance.
Insurance Committee – 4:30 PM
Insurance coverage renewals for both liability and employee group health will be discussed.
Public Works Committee – 5:00 PM
A couple of capital outlay requests are to be discussed by this committee – a building for the North Louisiana Exhibition Center and road construction on Beacon Light Road.
Also to be discussed is the acquisition by Stanley Reed of a corner of property across Fairgrounds Road from the Exhibition Center.
Finally, the committee will request authorization to widen the intersection of Duraflake Road and Hwy 563 near Magnolia Corner.
Finance Committee – 6:00 PM
Discussion of employee salaries and wages is on this committee’s agenda, along with budget requests by several parish agencies.
See here the list.
Full Jury – 7:00 PM
The full jury will hear committee reports, consider several resolutions, authorize bids, and will hear from District Attorney candidates John Belton and Cary Brown.
There is a letter from Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 Interim Chief Donny Watson concerning an expiring appointment to the Board of Commissioners.
See here the letter.
Lincoln Parish News Online 