On Sunday, February 11, 2024, millions of Americans will tune in to one of the most anticipated sports games of the year. With many planning to host Super Bowl parties and events, Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission would like to remind football fans and people everywhere that Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. If your night involves drinking alcohol, make sure to pass your keys off and have a game plan with a designated driver to get you home safely at the night’s end.

Additionally, Mardi Gras celebrations are taking place across Louisiana. Troopers will remain vigilant as they patrol and assist citizens and visitors to our state.

Last year, nearly half of fatal crashes investigated in our state involved impaired drivers. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and other drugs have many effects on the body. These substances can impair visual ability, alter the sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle, and decrease reaction times. If you feel different, you drive differently.

Motorists are encouraged to either designate a sober driver before driving to any place where alcohol will be consumed or utilize an alternate ride home such as a rideshare or taxi. Partygoers should also never get into a vehicle with an impaired driver. Avoid being blindsided by tragedy and wear a seat belt, as it is your best defense in the event of a crash. No matter what team you may be pulling for Sunday, be the real MVP this weekend and help make Louisiana roadways a safe place to travel as we head toward our destination of zero deaths.

To report suspected impaired drivers, motorists are encouraged to dial *LSP (*577) from their cellular phone to reach the nearest Louisiana State Police troop location or dial 911 to contact local law enforcement.

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Vernon Parish School Superintendent James Williams is not an easy man to surprise. In fact, he’s not a big fan of them. During the Board meeting on Tuesday, February 6, Williams was certainly caught off-guard. Following the presentation of the Employee of the Month Award, Curriculum Supervisor Lisa Lohman jumped to the podium with the news that Williams had been named Region 6 Superintendent of the Year by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. Lohman prefaced her remarks about Williams by hoping she still had a job with the School Board after springing the surprise!

Scott Walker with Taylor & Sons Insurance presented the award on behalf of LASS. His firm helps with those awards around the state. Walker remarked he has worked with over one hundred superintendents and that Williams was one to remember. It was always good to work with him said Walker. Williams is now moving on to the next round of judging in hopes of being named Superintendent of the Year for Louisiana.

Williams has over 42 years of educational leadership and service. He has been the Vernon Superintendent since 2014. He was previously Director of Transportation and Principal at Leesville High School. Williams began his teaching career in 1982. With Williams at the helm, Vernon Parish has been rated an Academic A District since 2014 and currently boasts two National Blue-Ribbon schools in Rosepine High and Anacoco High.

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Daniel Cade Snyder, age 23, of Merryville was arrested and charged with two counts of terrorizing, one count of domestic abuse battery, one count of aggravated assault with a firearm, and one count of improper telephone communications. Bond set at $116,000. Snyder remains in the VP Jail.

Cody Allen Wead, age 24, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count possession of a Schedule II narcotics (methamphetamine), one count possession of drug paraphernalia, one count no vehicle registration, one count operating a vehicle while license suspended, and one count of switched plates. Bond has not been set, and Wead remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

Jeffery Horton, age 56, of Leesville was arrested and charged with one count of possession drug paraphernalia, and one count of a Schedule II narcotic (methamphetamine). Bond has not been set, and Morton remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

Rolondo Carabios Banados, age 59, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count molestation of a juvenile. Bond set at $75,000. Banados posted bond and was released.

Dustin Lee Bice, age 31, of Anacoco, was arrested and charged with one count entry on or remaining on land or in a place where forbidden. Bond has not been set, and Bice remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

Cory John Simmons, age 30, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count possession of a firearm or carrying of a concealed weapon by a felon, one count of false imprisonment while defendant was armed with a dangerous weapon, one count simple battery, and two counts aggravated assault with a firearm. Bond has not been set. Simmons remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

Joshua Keith Slaughter, age 37, of Hornbeck, was arrested on an out of jurisdiction warrant.  Slaughter was transferred to the Sabine Parish Detention Center.

Jessica Christine Knight, age 37, of Dry Prong, was arrested and charged with one count of criminal trespass and one count of entry on or remaining on land or in a place where forbidden.  Bond was set at $2176.00.  Knight remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

Kevin Paul Boycher, age 47, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of possession of a Schedule II narcotic (methamphetamine) one count of general speed law, and one count of operating a vehicle while license is suspended.  Bond has not been set.  Boycher remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

Jacob Zachariah Yow, age 40, of Leesville, was arrested and charged with one count of domestic abuse battery.  Bond has not been set, and Yow remains in the Vernon Parish Jail.

ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW.

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The Vernon Parish Broadband Town Hall Meeting, which took place Wednesday, February 7, at East Leesville Elementary School was full of information on the expansion of internet services in Vernon Parish. Speakers from the major service providers, Optimun, Fastwire and Swyft Fiber, all spoke about their progress.

Veneeth Iyengar, with the Governor’s Office of Broadband, spoke about the $14.2 million of funding for this initial phase of the project. More funds are available, but they all have different timelines for their usage. The state has been very aggressive with federal money, and the project is moving faster than originally anticipated. Iyengar was lauded by State Representative Charles Owen for his interest and constant support of the project.

Leesville is the hub, and all internet goes through Leesville and out into the rural areas of Vernon Parish. Progress is ongoing with three service providers hustling to complete their projects. A progress report from the state level is due out at the end of March.

Swyft Fiber is investing $40 million, and their systems are completely underground. They will be connecting all 22 Vernon Parish schools. Their representative spoke on the levels of regulations they must go through, including the federal level due to their work on Ft. Johnson.

Optimum presently is the oldest service provider in the parish. They have spent several million dollars on upgrades in the past few years in anticipation of this initiative.

Fastwire, formerly Cameron Communications, serves Pitkin, Elizabeth and Sugartown with their expansion moving north into DeRidder, Rosepine, New Llano, and Leesville.

Several local mayors addressed concerns about safety and damage to infrastructure. Spokesmen for LA811 and DOTD urged safety and caution from the many contractor crews presently working in the Vernon Parish area. They both offer training in damage prevention for these crews.

Greater Vernon Chamber CEO Logan Morris summed it up by urging residents to show patience with the process. He quipped, “It will be a hard squeeze, but the squeeze will be worth the juice.”

Special thanks to Rep. Owen and Bill Lohman, Technical Director of the Vernon School Board, for the organization and facilitation of Wednesday’s meeting.

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By Billy Crawford

On a Wednesday night in August of 1962, a meeting was held in DeRidder to form a basketball officials’ association to serve the schools in Allen, Vernon, and Beauregard Parishes.

At this meeting, the following officers and Board were elected to serve for the coming year: Jerry West, President; L.B. “Frenchy” Governale, Vice-President; Blair Nicholas, Commissioner; Board of Directors – L.J. Hebert, L.P. McKeller, E.A. Phelps and Amos Cowart.

The DBOA then became affiliated with the Louisiana High School Athletic Association according to T. H. “Muddy” Waters, Commissioner of the LHSAA.

Prior to 1962 and the formation of the DeRidder Basketball Association, local schools were responsible for providing two referees for their home games. As I recall, most of our LHS home games in 1961 were called by “Frenchy” Governale and Robert “Bob” Moss (who later became a long-time Assignment Secretary.)

Fast forward to 1968, when I finished college. Mr. Curtis Bradshaw strongly encouraged me, as he did all Vernon Parish students, to return to teach in a Vernon Parish school. That Fall I also became a member of the DBOA.

All officials (we called ourselves ‘refs’ and we ‘called’ games) were required to attend a Rules Clinic and make a passing score on a State Rules Test. Beginners were required to call 10 or so Junior High or practice games before being assigned to call varsity games.

Once the basketball season began, all the state-sanctioned referees of the DBOA would meet every other Wednesday evening with the Assignment Secretary in DeRidder to receive our game assignments, written on index cards, for the next two weeks’ games. The refs assigned to the same game would then meet to coordinate travel plans.

There were three levels determined by years of experience and test score–Green, Red and Blue Patches. We were responsible for purchasing the black and white striped shirts, black pants, shoes, belt, and the all-important whistle.

As I recall, as a beginner with a Green Patch, the pay for calling a class C or B girls’ and boys’ game was $7.50. If each Ref drove to the game, we would split the travel money, based on mileage from DeRidder.
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Back then, and the tradition has continued, the area high schools have very successful basketball teams with talented student athletes, strong support of parents and community members, excellent coaching, and school administrators and School Board members who encourage these activities.

I enjoyed very much the time spent calling local basketball games. A special treat was getting to know fellow refs, working together as a team just as much as the players and coaches did.

A special time was on Friday nights following the games when a number of Refs would meet up at Suzie’s Steak House to unwind and enjoy sharing a large order of her famous “onion rings” and a cold drink. Richard Carter, Jeff Laughlin, Phil Jones, and I were regulars.

The DBOA served the schools faithfully for thirty-two years. In 1995, the West Central Basketball Officials Association was formed.

Without Refs, there would be no Storied Vernon Parish Basketball History.

 

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The regular season for the girls’ basketball teams in Vernon Parish ends tonight. It appears that all nine non-select teams in Vernon Parish will earn a playoff spot. Final rankings and playoff pairings will be announced Sunday and Monday by the LHSAA. Here are this week’s results:

Anacoco…Cancelled their game with 5A Barbe…end their regular season tonight against Oak Hill.
Evans…Beat Hornbeck this week, 52-44…finish at Pleasant Hill tonight.
Hicks…Beat Pitkin 60-48. They await the playoffs.
Hornbeck…They host Simpson in regular season finale tonight.
Leesville…Lost only district game at Lagrange Tuesday 53-48. Took second in district 3-4A.
Pickering…Lost at Glenmora Tuesday, 61-29. They host Avoyelles tonight.
Pitkin…Played at St Edmund last night; score unavailable. Play at Elizabeth tonight to end the regular season.
Rosepine…Beat Avoyelles this week, 50-31. They host Oakdale tonight in regular season finale.
Simpson…They end the regular season tonight at Hornbeck.
Playoffs begin next week. The girls’ state tournament this year is in Hammond at the University Center of Southeastern Louisiana University, February 26-March 2.

BOYS
The boys’ state playoffs are a week away. The boys’ state titles will be decided at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, March 4-9. Boys’ results are below.

Anacoco…Hosts Oak Hill tonight to end district season. Playoff tune-up games next week against Rapides (Tuesday) and Pickering (Friday).
Evans…Beat Hornbeck Tuesday, 62-57. End district season at Pleasant Hill tonight.
Hicks…Have lost 4 in row…fell at Pitkin, 64-54. Hosted 5-A Natchitoches Central last night; score unavailable. They end regular season tonight at Singer.
Hornbeck…Lost to Evans Tuesday, 62-57. They end district play tonight at Simpson.
Leesville…Lost to Lagrange Tuesday, 77-61. Leesville hosts DeRidder tonight.
Pickering…Won Tuesday at Glenmora, 70-53. Hosting Avoyelles tonight.
Pitkin…Beat Hicks Tuesday, 64-53. Played at St Edmund last night; score unavailable. Play at Elizabeth tonight.
Rosepine…Lost to Avoyelles Tuesday, 67-61. Host Oakdale tonight.
Simpson… Play at Hornbeck tonight to finish District 3-C play.

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By VPJ Staff

It doesn’t matter where you are from in the US or the world for that matter, there is nothing like a big bowl of soup on a cold day. The flip side of that is a cold bowl of gazpacho on a humid Miami afternoon. How about a big pot of Cajun gumbo, or a pot of clam chowder, or maybe a clean-out-the-fridge-veggie soup!

Soup is delicious and comforting. It’s what Mom gave you when you had the flu. It’s what you remember your granny stirring over the stove. My mom made her own noodles for her chicken soup. My wife makes a world-class split pea soup with a hambone. Now that’s something a lot of people won’t eat ever since they saw Linda Blair swivel her head in The Exorcist. More for me!!

When we phased into 2024, a lot of folks in the South cooked black-eyed peas, pork, cabbage, and cornbread for all the right reasons. ML found a recipe that we wanted to share with you. Now I have rules on leftovers. I will gladly eat them the second time but then they need freezing and will be fine in a while!! THIS SOUP MADE ME BREAK THOSE RULES!! It’s loaded with goodness, and the sweet/heat flavor combination keeps me coming back. We hope you enjoy.

                                            Black-Eyed Pea and Sausage Soup
A great recipe for New Year’s Day, this simple soup simmers the traditional good luck peas along with smoky sausage and spicy salsa. Cornbread is a must for dunking.
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 carrots, coarsely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
4 cups frozen black-eyed peas (about 1 & 1/2 [16-ounce] packages)
3 (14 & 1/2-ounce) cans beef broth
1 (14 & 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained
1 (16-ounce) jar chipotle-flavored salsa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cook sausage in oil in a large Dutch oven, stirring until it browns. Remove sausage, reserving drippings in pan. Add onion and next 4 ingredients; sauté over medium-high heat 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in sausage, peas, broth, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes. Stir in salsa, salt, and pepper; simmer 10 more minutes. Yield: 10 cups. This freezes well.

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Rodney Boswell, Lori Cumberland, Kim Boler, Bettina Troquille and Charlene Young would like to introduce their new company and exceptional team members to the Natchitoches community and surrounding areas.

IHS Group, an experienced tax and accounting firm, has four locations open in Natchitoches, Many, Pineville, and Leesville.

“At IHS Group, we are committed to extending our assistance to individuals and companies, wherever they may be located,” said Boswell. He explained that he’s been building toward this new business venture for years.

With over 80 years of accumulated experience in the tax and accounting services field and 30 years of experience as a leadership coach, the IHS Group team is a force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re looking to improve your tax strategies, streamline your accounting processes, or enhance your leadership skills, IHS Group is here to guide you. This includes tax planning and strategy consulting, accounting services, payroll services, business consulting and leadership coaching.

“As an Enrolled Agent, I have the opportunity to help people and businesses maximize their tax benefits, ensuring they keep more of their hard-earned money,” said Kimbra Boler, EA.

At IHS Group, the vision is clear: We exist to inspire individuals to reach their full potential. We’re here to team up with entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them scale their business, save on taxes, and accumulate wealth. Our mission is to guide you through the intricacies of the accounting and tax industry while providing invaluable leadership coaching and consulting services.

“Rodney’s leadership skills are exceptional. He is invested in his team’s well-being and growth. He encourages everyone he meets to strive to reach their full potential,” said Catherine Whittington.

“We understand that your needs are unique, and we’re here to provide the right solutions to help you achieve your business goals,” Boswell added.

To get started and schedule a consultation TODAY, go online to www.ishgroup.co or call 318-302-0879.

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Funeral services for Thelma Terrell, 84, of New Llano, Louisiana, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, February 10, 2024, in the First Baptist Church of Leesville, with Bro. Sandy Guynn officiating. Burial will follow in the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Leesville on February 12, 2024, at 1:00 P.M.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 10:00 A.M–11:00 A.M in the church.

Thelma was born on November 26, 1939, in Tyler Town, Mississippi, to her parents, Jessie Dillion and Julia Craft Dillion. She passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024, in Leesville.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband Mason S. Terrell of New Llano, Louisiana; daughter, Vanetta Kennedy of Alexandria, Louisiana; sister, Helen Gardner of Tyler Town, Mississippi; four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

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The high school softball and baseball seasons open for Vernon Parish high schools this weekend. Area teams will scrimmage and play some early tournaments before jumping into district play in March.

The following are local teams and their upcoming games:
Anacoco(SB) Playing at the Vernon Parish Jamboree at Pickering this Fri/Sat
Evans(SB) Open their season at Dequincy tournament Feb. 23-24
Hicks(SB) Begin play February 23 at Oakdale tournament.
Hornbeck(SB) Playing in Leesville tournament February 23-24
Leesville(SB) In Pickering for Vernon Jamboree this weekend.
Pickering(SB) Hosting Vernon Jamboree this weekend(Fri-Sat)
Pitkin(SB) In Vernon Jamboree this weekend
Rosepine(SB)playing in Sulphur tournament this weekend
Simpson(SB) open season at Negreet February 26
BASEBALL
Anacoco…Play at Hicks jamboree Feb. 15-17
Evans….Open at Merryville Saturday February 17
Hicks…Hosting DeRidder in a scrimmage Saturday February 10 at noon.
Hornbeck…Play at Hicks jamboree Saturday Feb.15-17
Leesville…Scrimmage at DeQuincy today at 430pm
Pickering…Scrimmage at Bolton Saturday February 10 @ 3pm
Pitkin….Scrimmage Oak Hill and Rapides Saturday at Pitkin
Rosepine…Play at Westlake in scrimmage today at 530pm
Simpson…Playing at Hicks jamboree February 15-17

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Leesville Dixie Youth 

Online registration is currently underway for Leesville Dixie Youth 2024 spring season. This is for boys and girls ages 4-15 and consists of Wee ball, T-ball, baseball, and softball. Registration is $75 per player and will continue online through February 15. Just go to www.leaguelineup.com/leesvilledixieyouth . Click on the forms online to find the player registration form.

Ft. Johnson CYS Sports

Child Youth Services at Ft. Johnson is currently registering youth for the Wee ball, T-ball, baseball, and softball seasons that will play April 6-June 1.  Registration continues through February 23.  CYS registration is required to participate, and children must have a current sports physical.  For information call 337-531-6004.  

The cost for Wee ball (ages 3-4) is $25.  All the other leagues (ages 5-15) are $50.

Coaches are also needed.

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Take a plunge in the West Park Pool and benefit an area non-profit!

Freezin’ For a Reason will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 17, at the West Park Pool in DeRidder.

Take a morning trail run followed by a plunge into the frigid pool! Again, proceeds benefit local non-profits! You can participate — or be a “supporter”! Spectators are welcome!

You can obtain ticket information for both “participant” and “supporter” here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-freezin-for-a-reason-tickets-795641574367?fbclid=IwAR2IvCh41GVZPq_a5rL86BypR7iFSWLXkHblp48or8T9gENfTOitnfPl2_E

Participating non-profits are:

CASA West CenLa
Beauregard Council on Aging
June N. Jenkins Women’s Shelter
Kingdom Center
PRF Foundation
Crossties DeRidder
DeRidder Junior Woman’s Club

For more information on this event, contact Ashley Craddock, City of DeRidder, at 337-462-8900.

Publisher’s Note: Several of these agencies also serve Vernon Parish residents, and they are worthy of your support.

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Carl Lynn Carter passed away on February 5, 2024, in his home in Leesville. Carl was born on December 26, 1966, in Vidor, TX to Lucy Lee Phillips and raised by Sid Phillips.

Carl had a passion for working on vehicles. He worked many years as a mechanic. In younger years Carl enjoyed racing and spending his weekends at the racetrack. Carl absolutely loved spending time with his grandson and attending family gatherings.

Carl is preceded in death by his mother Lucy Lee Phillips and brother Donald Wesley Carter.

He is survived by his father Sid Phillips; daughters, Natasha Simmons and husband Larry of Anacoco, and Destiny Gulbrandson of Leesville; brothers, Albert Phillips and wife Tammie, and Tommy Joe Phillips and wife Melissa both of Leesville; sister, Permilia Williams and husband Jim of Leesville; grandson, Baxter Simmons; 4 nieces and 4 nephews, and a host of extended family and friends.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

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NONE REPORTED

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The Vernon Parish School Board met in regular session at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 6. The first half of the meeting included routine business: paying the bills and claims, approving employee retirements, and amending some Head Start Program policies.

The VPSB Employee of the Month David Kennedy was introduced to the Board members. David Kennedy is a special education teacher at Rosepine High School. Rosepine Principal Joey Bartz described Kennedy as the employee who goes above and beyond in his work every day.

Jerome Hinson and Karen Robertson updated the Board on what is being done in Vernon Parish schools to highlight Black History Month in February. All schools in Vernon Parish at every level have events and projects planned for their students.

Maintenance Supervisor Dwain Ducote reported to the Board on Act 344 of the 2023 Louisiana Legislature which mandates every school district in the state have a Panic Emergency Notification System. The state has funding for a mobile app that will be used by teachers only. Training will be required, and no students will have access to it. The Board has studied its options for nearly a year and is mandated by state law to have the system in place by April of this year.

School Board President Shad Stewart reported on behalf of the Athletic Committee about recent changes in LHSAA playoffs and classifications that will affect Class B and C schools in Vernon Parish. The girls’ basketball playoffs begin in a week, and right now all nine Vernon Parish non-select girls’ teams will make the playoffs. Baseball, softball, and track seasons are next on the sports calendar with some games scheduled for this weekend.

Parents of students at Leesville High, Anacoco High, Rosepine High, Evans High, and Simpson High are reminded that those students are receiving an Academic Reward Day. They will not have to attend school on Wednesday, February 14. The reward for students and staff stems from their A ranking as the top performing schools in the district. The school district was petitioned by the principals of the five schools with the idea.

The next Board meeting is at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 7, at the School Board office on Belview Road.

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The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles late last week rejected the arguments of two of the three defendants who were found guilty in a 30th Judicial District Court in 2020. Stacy Tharpe received 10 years on one count of second degree cruelty to a juvenile. Dakota Singletary received 20 years on similar charges. Clayton Fulks was sentenced to 45 years in prison on three counts second degree cruelty to a juvenile. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft called the crimes the worst case of child abuse Vernon Parish had ever seen.

It all began with a traffic stop by Rosepine Police, which led to the abuse investigation. When the cases came before Judge Scott Westerchil, Fulks was the only defendant who went to trial. Tharpe and Singletary took pleas for their testimony against Fulks.

The 3rd Circuit upheld the sentence of Tharpe and noted she could have been sentenced to 40 years instead of 10. They rejected Singletary’s appeal and reminded him that he could have been sentenced to 120 years, not the 20 he received. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney D. Wayne Bush.

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The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in 2017 in locating Felisha Scroggins, age 24, and her 3-year-old daughter Natalie. Authorities believed she was in the company of Ramon Jose Alvarez. Alvarez drove a white van with religious banners and crosses and often held religious services in parking lots around the Leesville area. He was known to have several aliases.

Last week police officers in Parish, Texas, conducted a welfare check on a couple living in a van in a Home Depot parking lot. A local family had offered assistance to the couple. The male in the van had no identification but used an alias that Alvarez had used before. He was uncooperative with authorities. The woman and child with him were also initially not speaking to the police. A drivers license and registration from New Mexico were discovered and identified the male as Raymond J. Alvarez. The female suspect did eventually ID herself as Felisha Lynn Scroggins. Child Protective Services was called, and Alvarez and Scroggins were taken into custody for failure to identify as witness and endangering a child.

The case remains open and under investigation at the present time.

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A Pitkin man was arrested for theft of oilfield equipment in south Rapides Parish by the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office. Mark Wayne Thompson, age 56, was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and theft.

A complaint had been lodged January 29 that an electric motor and a large amount of pipe had been stolen from an oil well site on Doshie Road near Plainview. Deputies from Rapides Parish on January 30 observed Thompson removing items from a vehicle and conducted a stop. Thompson told deputies he had permission to use the equipment. The owner of the property said that was not the case.

Thompson was arrested January 31, posted a $1,000 bond and was released. The investigation continues.

Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has been working with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office on similar incidents around Vernon Parish.

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Take a plunge in the West Park Pool and benefit an area non-profit!

Freezin’ For a Reason will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 17, at the West Park Pool in DeRidder.

Take a morning trail run followed by a plunge into the frigid pool! Again, proceeds benefit local non-profits! You can participate — or be a “supporter”! Spectators are welcome!

You can obtain ticket information for both “participant” and “supporter” here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-freezin-for-a-reason-tickets-795641574367?fbclid=IwAR2IvCh41GVZPq_a5rL86BypR7iFSWLXkHblp48or8T9gENfTOitnfPl2_E

Participating non-profits are:

CASA West CenLa
Beauregard Council on Aging
June N. Jenkins Women’s Shelter
Kingdom Center
PRF Foundation
Crossties DeRidder
DeRidder Junior Woman’s Club

For more information on this event, contact Ashley Craddock, City of DeRidder, at 337-462-8900.

Publisher’s Note: Several of these agencies also serve Vernon Parish residents, and they are worthy of your support.

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Graveside services for Lettie M. West, 84, of Leesville, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024, in the Kisatchie Cemetery (New), Hwy 118 with Rev. Jerry Masters officiating, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home.

Lettie was born on October 8, 1939, in Kisatchie, Louisiana to her parents, Ivy and Lauretta Dowden Masters. She passed away on February 5, 2024, in Houston, Texas.

She worked for Bell South for 21 years and Phoenix Rexall Drug Store for 13 years. Interesting fact, she was the first woman called for Jury Duty in Vernon Parish.

Lettie is preceded in death by her parents; brother, James Neal Masters; and sister, Marlene Masters.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Edward Neal West of Leesville, and nephews: Daniel Long (Becky) of Houston, Texas, and Norman Karamales (Rebecca) of Pineville, Louisiana.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Norman Karamales, Danny Long, Steven Long, Kenneth Sterling and Dewayne Poe.

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The Faith Training Christian Academy boys’ basketball team capped off its regular season on January 26th with a 73-37 win over The Brighton School from Baton Rouge. The win brings their overall record to 16-2 and their Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana (ACEL) league record to 11-2.

This has earned the Patriots the number 2 seed in the state playoffs ranked behind defending ACEL champions CHEF of Baton Rouge, who FTCA pushed to a triple overtime thriller earlier in the season ultimately succumbing to the defending champions 77-75.

The #2 seed has earned the Patriots a Semi-Final berth on February 9 at Pineville High School followed by a potential rematch with CHEF on February 10 for the state championship.

The Patriots are led by third-year Head Coach Kantonio Brownlee. This will be the Patriots third straight trip to the state semi-finals under Brownlee and their highest seed in the playoffs since 2016.

The Patriots boast one of the league’s best defenses with senior power forward Nathaniel McLean and center William Wilson locking down opponents inside the paint and being near the top of the league in rebounds and blocks.

The team’s leading scorer is Junior small forward Emmanuel Brownlee. Brownlee is aided on the wings by sharpshooters Zane Lewis at shooting guard and Malik McLean at point guard.

This just might be the year FTCA brings the ACEL trophy back to Vernon Parish! All you need is a little faith!

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