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Published June 17, 2009
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Bubba Roy named new Jonesville Police Chief (published June 17, 2009)
Eldred “Bubba” Roy was voted Jonesville Chief of Police last week at the regular town council
meeting.
Mayor Hiram Evans recommended Roy as chief then took a roll call vote. There
were four
“yeas” from council members Jackie Rouse, Stephen Mophett, Josie Bullitts, and Loria
Hollins, with Tommy Branch being the only
“nay” vote.
Roy, who was present, thanked the mayor and council for the opportunity to serve
as police chief.
“I’ve been dedicated to that department. I care about Jonesville, I care about the
people, and I want to see us progress. I want to see good homes for our elderly
people and our kids. We need some professionalism, and I intend on carrying it
that way,
” said Roy.
The council and mayor discussed increasing the salary of the police chief. Mayor
Evans said he had discovered in talking to other mayors that our salary is way
out of line with other communities our size. He said in talking with other
police departments, that they are paying in the neighborhood of $28,000-$30,000
annually, even for their assistant chief. He noted that the other chiefs almost
laughed at our current pay of $26,662 because the chief is expected to be 24-7.
He went on to say that previous chiefs have worked with this situation, but he
thought that they need to have a public meeting to discuss increasing the
salary and making it in line with what
’s considered reasonable, which is around $30,000.
The mayor said that none of the applicants, including Roy, had asked for a
higher salary, but Evans felt that it should be looked at.
The council agreed and set a public hearing next Wednesday, June 17, at 5:45 PM
to
discuss changing the ordinance setting the chief’s salary and amending that ordinance to set the salary by resolution. The motion
passed.
John Hawkins, the latest officer hired by the PD was present, and Evans
introduced him to the council. Officer Hawkins thanked the council for the
opportunity to work in Jonesville, and said he was looking forward to being
back in Jonesville, since this was his home. Hawkins said he would keep in mind
the motto to take things one step at a time and put your best foot forward as
he had done in Concordia Parish.
Chief Roy expressed his thanks to Tommy Mayo for his help in setting up the new
computers for the police department, which the Catahoula Parish School Board
donated to the department. Roy stated that these computers will be very helpful
to the officers in carrying out their duties.
Chief Roy also expressed his appreciation to Jonesville businessman Darrell
Floyd for assisting with a rescue in Little River. Floyd had told Roy earlier
that he had a boat available if they ever needed it. Roy explained that Sheriff
James Kelly contacted him about an overturned boat with three people floating
down the river wearing lifejackets. At that time the Sheriff
’s Office was activating their boat when Kelly called. According to Roy, he
contacted Floyd about the boat and within 20 minutes the JPD had Floyd
’s boat in the river and to the scene and rescued the people.
Sheriff Office tallies drug arrests (published June 17, 2009)
According to the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, recent drug arrests include the following:
Gregory Griggs, resident of 6th Street, Ferriday, 54BM, was arrested May 20 and
charged with third offense possession of marijuana and speeding.
Brenton James Scott, Pineville, 28WM, was arrested June 3 for possession of
marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Quentin Evans, 19BM, Jonesville, was arrested May 28 and charged with burglary
and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Chasity Dupuis, 30WF, Jonesville, was arrested June 8 and charged with
possession of marijuana, possession of CDS, and possession of drug
paraphernalia.
Terrion Miller, 18BM, Jonesville, was arrested June 9 and charged with
possession of marijuana and aggravated burglary, for Concordia Parish.
Garry Davis, 26BM, Jonesville, was arrested June 9 and charged with possession
of marijuana second offense.
Ellis Boothe, Jr. OEP Director at Jury meeting (published June 17, 2009)
The Catahoula Parish Police Jury recognized Debra Renda’s resignation as OEP Director for Catahoula Parish at the regular meeting last
Monday evening. Ms. Renda has served as director for the past nine years. Jury
President Libby Ford and other jurors thanked Ms. Renda for her years of
dedication and service.
Mrs. Ford explained that the OEP director is appointed and removed by the jury
president. She then appointed Ellis Boothe, Jr., to fill the position of
director, stating that Boothe was the only person who contacted her about the
position. Mrs. Ford clarified that Boothe was hired at the same hours and rate
of pay as the current director.
The jury also discussed Means Road. Juror Bill Fletcher said he spoke with Neil
Riser and asked about emergency funds, but was told there were no funds
available.
Darrell Black, the property owner adjacent to the section of Means Road which is
in danger of caving off, was present but said he was not willing to discuss
giving more access to the police jury.
Lionel Montpelier told jurors he had talked to the corporation, and they were
willing to give up some land, but that wanted someone else to give up some
also.
Black said in the past he gave up some land and the jury took more than he gave
them, so he is not interested in giving up any more land because now the road
is right up against his trees which are in the CRP Program. Black said the
oilfield company might help pay for some of the gravel, and Mrs. Ford added
that the oilfield company has sent checks in the past. The jurors promised to
keep working on the matter until it is resolved as soon as possible.
The jury went into executive session to discuss personnel matters. When they
returned to regular session, Mrs. Ford announced the appointment of Patti
Mizell to the secretary-treasurer position at $12 an hour for a two-year term,
which is the same rate of pay for Lori Adams, who recently resigned as
secretary-treasurer.
Mrs. Ford appointed a committee to review applications for the assistant
secretary-treasurer
position, which Mrs. Mizell has held.
Mrs. Ford recognized Mrs. Adams’ last day would be Tuesday, June 9, then invited everyone to stay after the
meeting adjourned for cake and cold drinks honoring both Ms. Renda and Mrs.
Adams.
Karen Holloway participates in Naval Academy Seminar (published June 17, 2009)
Karen Holloway, a student at Lafayette High School in Lafayette, La., is
participating in the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar program this week.
Karen is the daughter of Joe Pat Holloway of Harrisonburg and Judy and Donnie
Wesberry of Carencro, La. Her maternal grandparents are Billy and Rosie
McCarthy of Jonesville, and her paternal grandparents are Patsy and the late J.
C. Holloway of Harrisonburg.
Karen is among a select group of approximately 2,250 young men and women from
around the nation and world to attend the Naval Academy Summer Seminar this
summer. Summer Seminar is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high achievers
who have completed their junior year in high school and are considering
applying for admission to the Academy after graduation.
Summer Seminar teaches prospective applicants about life at the Naval Academy, where academics,
athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing
our nation's leaders. Each student will attend a six-day session and experience
a part of Academy life. They will live in Bancroft Hall (the dormitory in which
all Academy midshipmen live), eat in the dining hall, participate in academic
and leadership workshops and experience a variety of other activities on the
campus. They will have an opportunity to see first-hand what the Academy has to
offer through its exceptional academic, athletic, extracurricular activities
and leadership training programs.
The Summer Seminar has an academic focus. Each student will attend eight
90-minute workshops, covering subjects from Information Technology, Naval
Architecture and Mechanical Engineering, to Oceanography, Mathematics, History
and Meteorology. They will also participate in Seamanship and Navigation
classes and will take an actual cruise aboard a Yard Patrol (YP) Craft to apply
what they will learn in class. Naval Academy students (Midshipmen) run Summer
Seminar with oversight by active duty Navy and Marine Corps officers.
Founded in 1845, the Naval Academy is a highly competitive four-year
undergraduate institution that prepares young men and women morally, mentally
and physically to be Navy or
Marine Corps officers. Upon graduation, Naval Academy Midshipmen receive a
Bachelor of Science degree in one of 22 majors and a commission as ensigns in
the U.S. Navy or second lieutenants in the U.S. Marine Corps and serve at least
five years of exciting and rewarding service to the nation.
Catahoula to receive $2,277,264 (published June 17, 2009)
Governor Bobby Jindal announced Monday that 53 parishes will share more than
$565.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to aid
their recoveries from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, which caused widespread
housing and infrastructure damage last year.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notified
Louisiana of its second award of disaster recovery funds, meaning the state
¹s $800 million recovery plan is fully funded.
Governor Jindal said, ³Hurricanes Gustav and Ike affected almost every parish in Louisiana, and we knew
that creating a one-size-fits-all program out of Baton Rouge for administering
federal recovery aid just wouldn
¹t work. By directing this $565 million in federal funds directly to parishes we
have removed bureaucratic red tape that would prolong the recovery process.
Instead, we are pushing federal recovery funds directly to parishes in order to
speed up local efforts to rebuild homes, repair infrastructure and ensure that
communities are better prepared for future storms.
²
The biggest portion of funding goes directly to the parishes affected by the
storms, with the level of damage dictating how much money each parish receives.
The state will invest a portion of the total allocation to aid the fishing and
agricultural sectors, create affordable housing and improve coastal protection.
³Pushing dollars directly to parishes and cities allows recovery decisions to be
made in the most devastated communities, instead of creating large programs
envisioned and run out of Baton Rouge,
² said Paul Rainwater, executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. ³Already we have signed agreements with 30 parishes to allow them to move forward
with their work and we are committed to pr
oviding technical assistance and advice to local leaders throughout the recovery
process. Coupled with state-run programs for fisheries and agriculture aid,
these parish programs will put hundreds of millions of dollars on the street
for comprehensive recovery.
²
Catahoula Parish is set to receive $2,277,264 while neighboring Concordia Parish
will receive $470,415. LaSalle Parish will receive $154,738, and Tensas Parish
will receive $150,000.
To use federal CDBG funds, states must present action plans for federal
approval. HUD already approved Louisiana's first action plan for using these
funds, giving the state the ability to draw down administrative and other
funds.
Additionally, Louisiana has submitted its first amendment to this action plan,
which HUD must also approve. The state has held several outreach events for
parish leaders and has already signed Cooperative Endeavor Agreements (CEAs)
with 30
of the 43 round one designated parishes and the Department of Agriculture, which
will allow these entities to act as subgrantees of the state and administer
their own programs.
Many parishes, working in conjunction with municipalities, have started holding
required community participation meetings to obtain citizen input on their
recovery plans and critical needs. The state a
nticipates beginning to approve individual parish plans this summer.