Lincoln Parish Sales Tax Collections Fall

Local governments that depend upon sales taxes to fund their operation and pay employees are in for a rough time over the foreseeable future, according to newly compiled figures that track those numbers.

Sales tax collections for March, 2020 are about 12 1/2% lower than for the same month of 2019, $3.88 million vs $4.44 million.

Particularly hard-hit are the hotel/motel tax (down 57.8%) and the Village of Choudrant (down 40.7%).

As the hotel/motel tax is the primary source of income for the Ruston/Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, that agency will likely have to effect changes in how money is spent.

Here is the complete spreadsheet.

Figures for March, 2020 reflect that month where the ‘economic shutdown’ began, at about the middle of the month. April, 2020 figures can be expected to show a greater loss, as the shutdown was in force for the entire month.

February, 2020 tax collections broken down by industry groups showed weakness in Oil & Gas (down 77.5%), Eating & Drinking Places (down 7.5%), and Hotel and Other Lodging Places (down 28%).

See here the complete list.

When do the Politicians Take a Pay Cut?

Over the last six weeks, millions of Americans have lost their jobs, and hundreds of thousands of those have been our fellow Louisiana citizens.

As we had predicted, local governments have begun to trim their payrolls, because their tax revenues have been vaporized by shutdowns. School districts, police juries, and cities have furloughed employees.

Have any local politicians volunteered to cut his/her pay? Very few, if any.

In any of the last month’s public meetings we’ve been to, or watched online, never has that subject come up.

City councils? Police jurors? School board members? Judges? District attorneys? Senators? Representatives? Sheriffs?

So when will our “public servants” show they are really willing to share the pain that the people who pay their salaries are now enduring?

Bonton Trial Reset for April

Brandon Bonton, an alleged accomplice in the murder of retired Grambling State University Professor Sue Hashway, had his 2/26 trial date reset to 4/23/18 this morning in Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Court in Ruston.

He is charged with accessory to 2nd degree murder, accessory to burglary, possession of stolen things, theft of a firearm, and possession of controlled dangerous substances.

Bonton allegedly aided Cameron Mays in the June, 2012, crime at Hashway’s home on Paynter Drive in Ruston.

Bonton’s attorney, Bob Noel of Monroe, said that he was “not anticipating” a trial, implying that some kind of plea deal was in the works, perhaps in exchange for Bonton’s testimony.

Mays’ trial is set for next week.

Markeva Daye and Robert Demps – who testified against Cameron Mays in his April, 2016 trial for aggravated kidnapping and rape – are scheduled for a court appearance this afternoon.

Presiding this morning was Division B Judge Tommy Rogers.

Schools Reopen Tomorrow

Information regarding the re-opening of schools, universities and local government offices for Thursday, January 18, 2018.

• All Lincoln Parish Public Schools
• Cedar Creek School
• Bethel Christian School
• New Living Word School
• Lincoln Preparatory School
• Montessori School of Ruston
• Louisiana Tech University
• Grambling State University
• Most parish local/municipal government offices are open today and will be open on Thursday as well.

Kip Franklin, Director
Lincoln Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness

GSU President Gallot Statement on Wednesday AM Shooting

Are Louisiana’s College Presidents Now Part-Time Employees?

We were in the Ruston courtroom of the Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Court this afternoon, when a familiar local attorney appeared, and then disappeared into one of the buildings conference rooms – Rick Gallot.

That is not unusual, as we have often seen him representing criminal defendants in area parish courtrooms over the years.

What is different, is that he is the current President of Grambling State University (GSU), and has been since August 1, 2016.

A review of today’s criminal court docket showed that Gallot represents six clients on the court’s calendar.

See here the document.

To be fair, it appears that all the cases represented by Gallot appear to have arrest dates prior to his employment with GSU.

GSU has for years been beset with financial and academic issues.

Gallot Named GSU Prez

26 days after last president resigns, board selects new Grambling State president Rick Gallot

BY REBEKAH ALLEN | rallen@theadvocate.com Jul 26, 2016

Attorney and former Louisiana lawmaker Rick Gallot was chosen Tuesday as the newest president of Grambling State University, a mere 26 days after the former president resigned.

The quick turn around was met with mixed reviews by a crowded room of Grambling State alumni, some who traveled from out of state and as far as Chicago to attend the University of Louisiana System Board meeting, where the decision was made.

While a few alumni said they were supportive of efforts by the board to quickly fill the leadership position, many others were frustrated that the board would seemingly put so little time and energy into selecting the president for Louisiana’s second largest public historically black university, particularly because the university has had a revolving door of presidents in the past two decades.

Area Schools Closed Due to Rain, Flooding

The following Lincoln Parish schools have announced their closings due to excessive flooding and road closures as of 0500 hours March 9, 2016.

Lincoln Parish Public Schools
Cedar Creek School
Bethel Christian School
Bethel Christian Daycare
AE Phillips Lab School
New Living Word Ministries School
Grambling State University
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston Montessori School

Kip Franklin, Director
Lincoln Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
161 Road Camp Road, P.O. Box 979
Ruston, La. 71273
Office phone – 318-251-6454
Cell phone – 318-607-8311
Fax number – 318-513-6209
Email: kfranklin@lincolnparish.org

Warrants Issued for Alleged Accomplices in Hashway Slaying

After a prospective prosecution witness (and alleged accomplice) went missing last week, Assistant Attorney General Mike Ruddick was taking no chances on it happening again with two others in the Sue Hashway murder case.

Markeva Day and Robert Demps, both charged with being accessory to aggravated burglary and accessory to second degree murder, did not show up this morning in Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Court in Ruston. Ruddick asked for and got bench warrants issued for their arrest, along with a doubling of their bail from $25 thousand to $50 thousand. Ruddick said his office had been in contact with the two.

The primary culprit in the June, 2012 crime spree is Cameron Mays, according to allegations.

Mays is charged with aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated burglary that allegedly occurred in the Cypress Springs neighborhood where retired Grambling State University Professor Dr. Sue Hashway was found slain. The alleged victim in the rape and kidnapping case was a Louisiana Tech student.

Another alleged accomplice, Brandon Bonton was in court today, and was scheduled for an April 25 status conference, the same day Mays is set for trial.

Presiding this morning was Divsion B Judge Tommy Rogers.

Mays Trial Delayed Until April 25

A February 22 trial for accused rapist and murderer Cameron Mays was delayed this morning until April 25, because, in the words of Assistant Attorney General Mike Ruddick, a critical witness for the prosecution “has dropped off the face of the earth.”

The witness, who now lives in California, had been in touch with his office until about ten days ago, Ruddick said. Then, as the trial date neared, and transportation arrangements were being made, he disappeared. Ruddick said he will need some time to have him subpoenaed, located, and brought back to Louisiana.

Mays is accused of second degree murder, aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated burglary that allegedly occurred in the Cypress Springs neighborhood where retired Grambling State University Professor Dr. Sue Hashway was found slain in June of 2012. The alleged victim in the rape and kidnapping case was a Louisiana Tech student.

The action came at a hearing this morning in a Ruston courtroom after Third Judicial (Lincoln, Union Parishes) District Court Division B Judge Tommy Rogers denied defense motions to dismiss the charges because of delays in the case.

Ruddick said that 80% of the motions for delays in the case had been asked for by the defense.

Defending Mays is James Buckley.