The Caddo Parish Commission confirmed the appointment of Clay Walker as Assistant Parish Administrator of the Parish of Caddo at the Caddo Parish Commission’s work session on Thursday, June 22.

“I am pleased to welcome Clay Walker as the Parish’s next assistant parish administrator,” said incoming Parish Administrator Erica R. Bryant. “Mr. Walker brings a wealth of experience to the position and has a proven track record of working alongside Parish staff and with the Caddo Parish Commission to ensure that Parish resources are best being used to serve the citizens and employees of Caddo Parish. We look forward to Clay continuing that work and more in this position,” said Bryant.

“I am excited to continue my work in this new role,” said Walker. “I am looking forward to supporting Administrator Bryant as we continue to expand and improve our operations at the Parish of Caddo to meet citizen expectations in an ever-changing environment,” Walker added.

Walker has previously served as the Parish’s Director of Juvenile Services, overseeing juvenile detention and probation operations since 2011, facilitating improvements and streamlining functions and processes in the department.

Prior to joining the Parish, Walker was appointed as the Director of Juvenile Defender Services for the Louisiana State Public Defender Board. He has over 20 years of experience in Juvenile Court operations, and has worked with various juvenile justice initiatives, as well as providing instruction as an adjunct professor in juvenile delinquency at Centenary College. He has been recognized by numerous agencies and organizations for his continuing work in juvenile reform and juvenile justice, including the Louisiana Bar Association, the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the National Juvenile Justice Network.

Clay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Lewis and Clark College, and a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law.

Walker’s appointment is effective July 15, filling the role previously held by incoming Parish Administrator Erica R. Bryant, who also takes on the role of Parish Administrator July 15.

Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith promoted 13 officers on June 21. This promotion ceremony included officers from all different ranks within the Shreveport Police Department.

Please join us in congratulating these officers on their newest milestone achievements.

Promoting to Assistant Chief of Police
Captain Donald A. Vishnefski

Promoting to Captain
Lieutenant Matthew L. Prunty

Promoting to Lieutenant
Sergeant Shanna N. Rellin

Promoting to Lieutenant
Sergeant Jeffery P. Brown

Promoting to Lieutenant
Sergeant Michael R. Rambin

Promoting to Lieutenant
Sergeant Jeffrey S. Nelson

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Gilbert A. Monereau

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Jason D. Jones

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Shaunda N. Holmes

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Bryan D. Boughton

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Joshua W. Owen

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Sherrie L. Stump

Promoting to Sergeant
Corporal Donald R. Henry

K9 handler Sergeant Jeff Hammer and his partner K9 Harrie responded to assist patrol officers in locating suspects who fled from a stolen vehicle following a pursuit on June 24 around 4:15 pm. K9 Harrie relentlessly tracked the suspects and during his pursuit, sustained a heat-related injury.

K9 Harrie was rushed to the Animal Emergency Clinic & Intensive Care Facility and every effort was made to save him, but ultimately he succumbed to his injuries. Chief Wayne Smith and the Shreveport Police Department would like to thank everyone at the Animal Emergency Clinic for their life-saving efforts.

K9 Harrie was a seven-year-old Belgian Malinois and had served the citizens of Shreveport since January 1, 2018. At one point in his career, Harrie was thought to be a “lost cause”, but Harrie was assigned to Sergeant Jeff Hammer, a long-time K9 handler and animal lover. With the help of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office K9 trainers, Sergeant Hammer turned Harrie into an exceptional K9 partner that began assisting in training other police K9s. Harrie became one of the most sought-after K9s in the area.

Please keep Sergeant Hammer, the K9 team, and everyone who loved Harrie in your thoughts and prayers.

OMAHA, Nebraska — A celebratory mood, one with a dash of Louisiana flavor, wafted through the air outside Charles Schwab Field on Sunday afternoon.

In the hours leading up to first pitch of Game 2 of the College World Series championship series, LSU’s slightly – let’s face it, probably more than slightly — inebriated army of purple and gold fans felt immensely confident that their beloved Tigers would be victorious.  Heck, Cade Beloso’s proud papa Rodney even had spent more than half the day grilling up a 25-pound alligator to devour.

Who could have blamed them?

LSU had the one-game advantage after a dramatic 11th inning win on Saturday night, Dylan Crews was awarded the 2023 Golden Spikes Awards prior to the game, and with 30-mile per hour winds gusting out of the park, Tiger fans gleefully imagined how LSU’s vaunted lineup would slug Florida into submission.

The Tigers ended up being the ones tapping out.

Whether it was the wind gusts, or the baseball gods or some angry alligator deity furious at Beloso’s daddy for grilling up a family member, the Tigers would not celebrate a title on Sunday.

In fact, LSU would suffer one of the most humiliating losses in program history as Florida whipped the Tigers by blasting six home runs in a 24-4 beatdown to force a winner-take-all game this evening at 6.

Yes, these Tigers lost a baseball contest by a football margin. Wonder if Beloso had any leftover gator to sample or did he throw it away in disgust?

I have never had grilled gator but I have had fried gator a time or two, and it’s pretty tasty. Especially with a good remoulade sauce.

My apologies, the mind tends to wander when discussing a 24-4 baseball game.  

The Gators — the baseball team and not the Beloso grilled snack — set multiple records including most runs in any CWS game which broke the previous record held by Notre Dame in 1957 and Arizona State in 1984.

Florida additionally set records for most home runs in a CWS Finals game, largest win margin in a CWS Finals game and tied the record for most hits in any CWS game.

The home runs never seemed to stop falling from the sky.

It must be like how the fine folks of Cincinnati felt after Arthur Carlson decided to drop them live turkeys from a helicopter. The horror of it all.

It became pretty apparent that LSU skipper Jay Johnson realized that it wasn’t going to be his team’s day and started going through bullpen arms (Bryce Collins, Blake Money and Christian Little to name a few) that hadn’t pitched barely at all since May.

They all got promptly tattooed by the Gator lineup as well. 

Not apparent after the game is if Johnson loves Dr. Johnny Fever and Les Nessman as much as I do. It didn’t seem the right time to ask after Sunday’s loss. I do wonder where I can stream WKRP. Hulu? Netflix? YouTube TV? Man, I used to love that show.

My apologies, I wandered again didn’t I?

Anyway, Johnson’s approach midway through Sunday’s stunner will allow LSU to throw Thatcher Hurd, Riley Cooper, Griffin Herring and maybe even ace Paul Skenes in this evening’s decisive contest.

That could be a huge advantage for the Tigers but the team will also need to clean up other areas. LSU committed a season-high five errors in the loss, and left 17 runners stranded on the base paths, including leaving the bases loaded in the first three innings. That’s not winning baseball but Tiger fans can also look at history for reaffirmation.

Late in the 1997 regular season, Skip Bertman’s boys got embarrassed 28-2 at Alabama (coached by Bossier City native and former Loyola and NSU head man Jim Wells). But the sun came up the next day, and LSU bounced back to win 6-4 and claim the SEC regular season title. The two teams would go on to meet in the first All-SEC national title game, a contest the Tigers took 13-6.

Plus, the previous record for most home runs by a team in a single game was set by Texas in 2009 against … LSU. That Tiger team bounced back to win the title at Omaha’s old Rosenblatt Stadium.

Unfortunately, there is another side of history to discuss.

There have been a total of 10 CWS championship series that have gone to a winner-take-all third game. The squad that has won the second game has gone on to win the title seven times, including the last five.

No matter how lopsided Sunday’s defeat was, LSU still has an amazing chance to win a national title. You can bet that Johnson’s group will be focused and ready to go out there and play their tails off.

For good measure, maybe someone should make sure that Papa Beloso backs off on grilling any more gators until after the game. Maybe go with a turkey instead. Better yet, Omaha Steaks.

Contact Raymond at sportswithrp3@gmail.com or on Twitter @RPIII_Sports

By Royal Alexander

What a sweetheart deal. Two misdemeanors and pretrial diversion for countless crimes established by the Laptop from Hell.

It’s really no surprise to learn that Pres. Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has received highly preferential treatment regarding the numerous criminal allegations against him, charges that would send most Americans and any Republican to federal prison for years.

It’s still important, though, to know with clarity how Joe Biden has corrupted the DOJ and the FBI to protect Hunter and himself.

What am I referring to?

This past week news broke that the Biden Department of Justice hindered, in numerous ways, the investigation of Hunter Biden.

Of course, for months, a lazy and compliant national media has spun the narrative that the investigation really wasn’t receiving any special treatment. We now know that was false. Two whistleblowers, one named and one anonymous came forward this week and gave sworn testimony.

The named individual, Gary Shapley, a 14-year IRS veteran, and the anonymous individual have told a story of “blocked search warrants, tip-offs to Mr. Biden’s (defense) team, squelched avenues of investigation, downgraded charges, and interference by Joe Biden’s appointees.” (K. Strassel, WSJ, 6-23-23).

Shapley testified that the DOJ, its Tax Division and the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office provided Hunter Biden with “preferential treatment and unchecked conflicts of interest.” (WSJ, 6-23-23)

Shapley, head of an elite team of tax investigators, testified that his team was almost immediately prohibited from taking normal investigatory actions.

He was thwarted both in doing spontaneous questioning of witnesses and in searching for evidence because somehow the Hunter Biden defense team was tipped off and able to impede it. Shapley was also not allowed to ask questions about “dad” or “the big guy”. They were also prohibited from investigating campaign finance violations.

It goes on and on.

Shapley provided further evidence of influence peddling when he revealed a WhatsApp message in which Hunter Biden tells a Chinese businessman: “I’m sitting here with my father” and urges the businessman to fulfill the “commitment.”

Hunter Biden then warns the businessman to personally resolve the issue that night or “I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.” (K. Strassel, WSJ, 6-23-23).

There are also photos of Hunter Biden on his later-abandoned laptop showing him at President Joe Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware home on the day he included his father’s name in the WhatsApp message he sent to threaten his Chinese business associate, Henry Zhao, an official working with Chinese energy conglomerate CEFC Energy. (Newsmax, 6-23-23).

While Shapley did not provide evidence that Joe Biden was actually in close physical proximity to Hunter Biden as he threatened businessman Zhao, “if Joe Biden was sitting next to his son as he sent the message as it suggests, it would be a fatal blow to the president’s repeated claims that he never discussed overseas business deals with his son, and the photographs of Hunter Biden at what appears to be a family gathering at the Delaware home is the strongest indication that he was in close proximity to his father when he threatened the Chinese businessman.” (Free Beacon, 6-22-23).

In another email later that day Hunter Biden also mentioned “me and my family”, confirming an agreement for a $10 million contract for “introductions alone,” with bonuses for any successful deals that come about as a result of the Biden family’s efforts.

Still further, Shapley also points out that Hunter’s one-time business partner, Rob Walker, admitted to investigators that an “orchestrated” appearance of Joe Biden while out of office was made to “bolster” the odds of a “deal work (ing) out. “

For obvious reasons, Shapley recommended more serious felony charges than the minor counts to which Hunter Biden has now pled.

If this is not an example of influence peddling—and blatant corruption of our Constitutional principle of equal justice for all—then I don’t know what is. If this is not what favorable treatment by prosecutors and glaring political interference which benefits the powerful at the expense of hardworking, law-abiding Americans looks like, I don’t know what it would look like.

This is rank corruption and those guilty of it need to be held accountable. While that will not likely happen it is, nevertheless, important that the American people continue to be made aware of it.

OMAHA, Nebraska — To paraphrase a famous Yogi — the legendary baseball player and not the famed cartoon bear — it was “Deja Vu all over again ” for the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field.

Two nights after winning an elimination game with a walkoff home run in the 11th inning, LSU claimed yet another anxiety-inducing contest at the College World Series.

The latest heart-pounding victory took place Saturday night.

Like the instant classic that took place back on Thursday evening, this game between LSU and Florida also featured a decisive home run in the 11th inning, a historic pitching performance and Tommy White living up to his nickname “Tommy Tanks.”

The only difference was that LSU prevailed 4-3 as the visiting team, and of course the Tigers are now one win away from claiming a seven national title, their first since 2009.

Where does one begin?

Let us start with a storyline involving the game-winning home run blast — this time courtesy of Cade Beloso, who lifted a pitch over the right field wall for the go-ahead solo home run.  

The former LSWA Mr. Baseball didn’t have any guarantee that he would see significant playing time this season, but  Beloso opted to return for his fifth season for LSU as a graduate student.

The once-promising career has been slowed down first due to inconsistency at the plate (hitting .226 with only three homers) in 2021, and then a knee injury wiping out his 2022 season.

Yet, Beloso stuck with it and became a reliable designated hitter for Jay Johnson this season — a hitter who has played his best baseball this postseason.

Through this NCAA Tournament, Beloso is batting .333 (14-for-42) with five home runs, nine RBI and now a game-winner in Omaha.

There is the storyline of Ty Floyd, who despite going undefeated this season, has been in the very large shadow of fellow Tiger hurler Paul Skenes.

There was no shadow — not even those pesky ones inside the park early in 6 o’clock games that make left fielders fearful shagging a fly ball — bigger on Saturday night as Floyd’s.

LSU’s other ace struck out 17 Florida hitters, which tied the CWS record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.There was also White hitting another key home run — this time in the eighth inning. A walkoff game-winner on Thursday and then another late-inning blast, tying the contest and leading to extra innings, on Saturday. Not too shabby.  

There is of course the final storyline that could be written this afternoon — one of redemption and of hoisting another national championship.

With one more victory, LSU will win its seventh national championship and avenge the championship series loss to Florida back in 2017.

Will the Tigers write that chapter? We will have to wait to find out and I am sure the Gators will cite another Yogi phrase, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

No matter what the outcome might be today – LSU dogpiling on the infield, or Florida forcing Game 3 Monday evening — it will surely be done in dramatic fashion. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait.

Contact Raymond at sportswithrp3@gmail.com or on Twitter @RPIII_Sports

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Sports

Since Louisiana Downs’ thoroughbred meet began May 6, the Bossier City racetrack has paid out an average of $155,000 a day in purse money.

Problem is, according to the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (LAHBPA), that’s more money than the track can afford, based on projections of what it will take in the rest of the meet.

That means changes are coming to the Downs, which is on track for a purse deficit of as much as $2 million dollars.

At an emergency online meeting of the Louisiana State Racing Commission (LSRC) Friday morning, initially called to address unrelated issues elsewhere, commissioners unanimously approved three adjustments to the track’s schedule:

– The number of races per day will be reduced from eight to seven.

– Post time each day will move from 2:05 to 3:35.

– There will be fewer Allowance races, which typically pay larger purses.

A request for these changes, which will start July 1, was made by the LAHBPA, in cooperation with the Downs.

“Reducing to seven races a day will mitigate about $750,000 of the overpayment,” LAHBPA Executive Director Ed Fenasci told fellow commissioners. “We’re hopeful having a later post time will have a positive effect on the handle (the total amount of money wagered on races at the Downs), which is currently down four percent, even though the quality of racing at Louisiana Downs has significantly improved from last year…. Instead of offering as many allowance races as they’ve been offering, they’re going to adjust the mix to bring the potential purse overpayment down.”

Instead of providing a track official to answer questions Friday, the Journal received a statement Friday evening released through the track’s public relations agency saying in part that the Downs is “committed to continuing to work alongside our horsemen, the HBPA, and the LSRC for the betterment of our race product and Louisiana racing as a whole.”

Last year, there was a purse shortage of $600,000 at the Downs, and $800,000 at Evangeline Downs, caused not by either track, but by an overpayment by the LAHBPA. That deficit resulted in the number of race days at both tracks this year being reduced from 84 to 61 by the LSRC, bringing those tracks in line with the other two in Louisiana.

Friday morning, commission member Lane Cortez questioned the move advocated by Fenasci to stage one less race each day.

“I think we’re headed in the wrong direction, reducing the (number of) races per day,” Cortez said before the vote. “I understand we have to do it if we have to do it, but it’s the sign of death. We’re going in the wrong direction. We’ve tried that in the past. We need to move to eight, nine, 10 races a day. If we do that, maybe we need less days in the meet.”

Starting the daily race card later in the afternoon has nothing to do with summertime comfort for you or the horses. It is all about avoiding, as much as possible, racing concurrently with tracks which feature better horses — something that is attractive to gamblers across the country.

“Many of my members thought that particularly on Saturday when (Louisiana Downs) is running against the NYRA (New York Racing Association) tracks and the Kentucky tracks head-to-head, that people who like to wager are paying attention to those tracks, and ignoring Louisiana Downs,” Fenasci told the Journal following the commission meeting.

As evidence, Fenasci noted that last Monday, June 19, more than $1 million was bet on races at the Downs. That compared with the previous Saturday’s handle of just over $300,000.

“I think it highlights how much of a difference running when those other prime tracks are not running can make a big difference.”

Commissioners said they are open to discussing the Downs moving to a Sunday-Wednesday schedule, perhaps as early as before the end of the current meet Sept. 12. A track official concurred at Friday’s meeting.

“I think we need to get away from Saturdays, and possibly go to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” said Matt Crawford, the track’s Director of Racing.

The LAHBPA and Downs’ management were originally going to — in three weeks — report back to the commission on the effects of the changes approved Friday. However, the commission asked to hear the results after two racing weekends (eight race days).

Commissioners are expected to meet in July to discuss the Downs’ future racing schedule.

Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com

OMAHA, Nebraska — Jay Johnson seized the moment.

The LSU skipper had just witnessed his team take down top seed Wake Forest with a walkoff home run in the 11th inning at the College World Series. With a thrilling victory, the Tigers are two wins away from bringing home the program’s first national championship since 2009.

Johnson made sure to take advantage with a message not to the Tiger fan base or media members. Instead, he targeted his words towards players — those in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

“If you’re one of the best players in the transfer portal, there’s only one place,” Johnson said.

In two short years, Johnson has guided the Tigers to the CWS championship round and has done so by mastering the portal.

His portal prowess was on full display yet again Thursday night at Charles Schwab Field, minutes after LSU bested Wake Forest 2-0 in an instant classic that lived up to the hype and then some.

Also living up to the hype were the duo of Paul Skenes and Tommy White.

Skenes took the bump for the Tigers in an elimination game and was dominant yet again.

Pitching on four days’ rest, Skenes threw eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball while striking out nine Demon Deacons. His third punchout set the new LSU and Southeastern Conference record for most strikeouts in a single season.

For good measure, Skenes even received a congratulatory tweet from the previous record holder and LSU legend himself, Ben McDonald.

In his two appearances in this CWS, Skenes has thrown 243 pitches while giving up two runs on seven hits while striking out 20 batters.

White was not to be outdone, as he got out of his CWS slump in a legendary way.

Tommy Tanks entered the game having gone 4-for-17 with one run scored and five strikeouts in the CWS. After getting on base twice (double and intentional walk) but left stranded, Tanks wasn’t going to wait around on someone else in the lineup to drive him home in the 11th.

He smashed the first pitch he saw and gleefully watched it land into the left field bleachers for the walk-off home run.

Even though White’s’ home run blast may not quite have the significance of say Warren Morris’ World Series-winning walk off against Miami to win it all, the extra-inning blast will undoubtedly go down in lore nonetheless.

It isn’t a surprise that LSU’s heroics came courtesy of All-Americans like Skenes and White, but they wouldn’t be delivering those iconic performances if Johnson hadn’t recruited them out of the portal.

Would LSU even have made it to Omaha without Air Force transfer Skenes’ 13 wins and 200-plus strikeouts? Of course not.

Would the Tigers have made it without NC State transfer White’s 23 home runs and 100 RBI. You already know the answer.

It wasn’t just the marquee names like Skenes and White that have been instrumental for this run in Omaha.

Even though he may not have pitched on Thursday, LSU wouldn’t be advancing to its first championship series since 2017 if it wasn’t for the key contributions of another transfer — relief pitcher Riley Cooper.

A transfer from Johnson’s former program, Arizona – Cooper has had rough outings this season and even rougher comments made about his husky build — but he has been key in this CWS.

In three appearances, Cooper has pitched 5.1 scoreless innings, giving up only three hits and striking out five.

Johnson’s ability to adapt to not only recruiting high school stars, but also coveted and already developed college stars, has been instrumental to LSU knocking on the door of a national championship.

Will LSU seize the opportunity? We will find out the answer to that question this weekend but it is safe to say that one of Johnson’s portal recruits will likely have a hand or two in that outcome.

Contact Raymond at sportswithrp3@gmail.com or on Twitter @RPIII_Sports