The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic dispute on Aug. 30 around 1:50 a.m. in the 4000 block of Old Mooringsport Road. Deputies arrived on scene and encountered a male subject. During that encounter, shots were exchanged. The subject was struck and was later pronounced deceased on scene. No deputies were injured during this incident.

As deputies cleared the property, they discovered a deceased female inside the residence.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office requested Louisiana State Police to investigate this deputy-involved shooting. LSP Investigators are working diligently to process this crime scene and gather further information.

Anyone with information and/or pictures and video are urged to share that information with LSP Investigators by calling 318-741-2735.

In addition to the option above, citizens can anonymously report information through the Louisiana State Police online reporting system by visiting https://dpsweb.dps.louisiana.gov/suspicious.nsf/WebForm?OpenForm or calling the LSP Fusion Center Hotline at 1-800-434-8007.

Information will be updated as it becomes available.

Caddo Parish Sheriff’s detectives arrested a Keithville woman for stabbing her grandfather during a domestic dispute, said Sheriff Steve Prator.

Carrington Harris, 22 of the 3900 block of Fountainbleu Road in Keithville, was arrested after an investigation revealed she stabbed her grandfather in the face following an argument over her hygiene habits.

Detectives said Harris and her grandparents began arguing after they asked her to shower. She began damaging property inside the house and then turned the power off from outside.

Detectives say while the couple was trying to restrain Harris, she escaped and retrieved a knife from the kitchen, using it to stab her grandfather. Harris then ran from the house and hid in the woods. She was located a few hours later, hiding behind a nearby home.

Harris was arrested and charged with one count each of Domestic Abuse Battery and Domestic Abuse Battery with a Dangerous Weapon. She is currently booked into the Caddo Correctional Center. No bond has been set in this case.

Harris’s grandfather was transported to Willis-Knighton South by Caddo Parish Fire District 6. There is no report on his condition at the time of this release.

By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/YouTubeTV

I will say this and be blunt. The one part of the state where you have a bunch of schools built to go past the second round of this year’s LHSAA football playoffs – however the brackets get set — are located in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and a few right around the Natchitoches-Keithville area.

I appreciate the talent level in my hometown, seeing these kids play every year being that I live in Baton Rouge, but I have always traveled to Shreveport-Bossier for games and practices.

I want to keep up with my own eyes and not depend on what others pick based a lot on the year before.  Too many “analysts” or “experts” don’t even watch games in person. They are just seeing teams in championship games for reference, which is OK. Not everybody can travel statewide like I do. Hopefully coaches, players and fans appreciate that I’ve been going to games around “the Boot” since 1991 so I can provide the true feel and pulse of what’s going on in real time, statewide.

Today we are just going to talk about four local teams I think have a high percentage of opportunity to go all the way to the promised land of a state championship. We can’t get to every strong local in this one article, but another will follow.

With its most talented team in 10 years, maybe 15, at the Evangel Christian program will have a chance to play for a state title in Class 4A Select. Why? They have the best offensive line I’ve seen for 2023. Only a few programs at any level average over 260 pounds up front with every starter able to run under a 5.0 forty.

The Eagles have a four-year starting QB in Peyton Fulghum who is a very underrated athlete, and his brother Parker Fulghum, who could approach the national receiving record for career catches. With 180, he’s got a chance to finish behind only two players, current LSU receiver Trey Quinn from Barbe HS who had over 350, and Davis Howell’s 356 at Knoxville (Tenn.) ending in 2012.

ECA coach Denny Duron is a great leader and tactician. He has a group of kids who have started together for four years and they’re very talented. If they stay healthy, the Eagles’ defense has a chance to look like some of the old Evangel Christian crews did in the program’s peak. Texas A&M commit Gabriel Reliford is the total package and will wreck offenses from his OLB/DE spot.

In Class 5A there are two teams I really like.

This is the most talented Captain Shreve team I have seen size-wise, experience-wise and speed-wise in my 27 years of covering them. The Gators have a real chance to go all the way, ironically and sadly, just after the passing of their forever legendary coach Lee Hedges, who started the program and led Shreve to the 1973 state title. It’s cool they are wearing tribute helmets to coach Hedges this season.

The other state title contender locally is Airline High School. Junior QB Ben Taylor had a spectacular sophomore debut and might end up the most talented QB to ever play for the Vikings. They also have a ton of talent at skill postions –WR/RB/DB/TE — to compete with anyone in the state. Second-year coach Justin Scogin hit all the right buttons last year and is going to outfox a lot of defensive coordinators while getting his players to constantly improve.

If the offensive and defensive line can hold up, the Vikes might shock some people statewide. They do have talent in the trenches, no question. Airline might be a sleeper pick, but not to you who live up there.

The best team I saw over the summer — not just based on talent, but the best team, was Calvary Baptist Academy. I will be shocked if they do not win the Class 2A Select state title.

It’s the most skilled Calvary team I have seen since the days of QB Shea Patterson and WR/DB Greedy Williams. I think this team has more skill players at a high level than those teams – not necessarily Power 5 recruits, but more of the quality Division I prospects — and it has more depth.

That’s a scary thought, right?  I saw those CBA teams in person and I think the 2023 squad coach Rodney Guin has is the most talented and physically strongest team in the young history of the school.

Next week – more playoff potential from Caddo-Bossier.

Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com

United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA) is encouraging monetary donations to its United for NWLA Disaster Relief Fund to support families that have been evacuated from their homes and have experienced household damage due to unforeseen fires. Dollars raised from this fund will provide relief to the families affected within UWNWLA’s ten-parish region (Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, Webster, and Winn).

The purpose of the United for NWLA Disaster Relief fund is to provide immediate assistance to victims of recent natural disasters, such as tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, etc. Anytime a natural disaster is declared, UWNWLA reactivates the fund to support our community’s most urgent needs.

“From Sabine to Shreveport, we’ve seen multiple fires occur, forcing our community’s families to evacuate and leave behind necessities, memories, and more,” said LaToria W. Thomas, UWNWLA President & CEO. “For families already struggling to make ends meet, the loss of a home pushes these families deeper into financial insecurity. Our goal for this fund is to help those with nowhere left to turn and begin rebuilding our communities.”

UWNWLA, urges individuals who have been displaced and are seeking resources for damage assessment, shelter, food insecurity, and more, to call its health and human service hotline, 211.

To donate to the United for NWLA Fund, please visit https://unitedwaynwla.harnessgiving.org/campaigns/9393.

Mayor Tom Arceneaux released the following statement regarding this appointment of members of a proposed Citizens Capital Improvements Committee:

We should begin now to plan for a General Obligation bond issue election for a capital improvement to be held on April 27, 2024. This will be an intense process that will involve several meetings between now and the end of the year.

As stated earlier this month, the committee will include 19 citizens from throughout the City – two selected by each City Council member and five at -large representatives I will select. This is a great representation of Shreveport. We will have business and community leaders working together. Those members as of now are:

Ronald Robinson, Jacqueline Collins Sabbath, Christopher Coe, Mavice Thigpen, Louis Avallone, James West, Grant Nuckolls, Scott Ward, Steve Martin, Michael R. LaFitte, Casaundra Calloway and RJ Johnson.

I have selected the following to serve as members at large as of now: Larry Evensky, Terry Moore,

Conner Peterson and Hilary A. Wooley. Retired LSU-S Chancellor Dr. Larry Clark has agreed to chair the committee. There will be additional members to the committee later.

By TONY TAGLAVORE

Most of her 44 years, Jessica Brock has been around music.

She grew up in Baton Rouge performing with her sisters, went to Northwestern State University on a Theatre/Choral scholarship, and for years has performed in the Shreveport-Bossier area as a member of two popular cover bands.

But none of that compares to what she is about to do.

September 1^st, Brock will star as the late singer Patsy Cline, in the play ‘Always…Patsy Cline’. The show is scheduled for seven performances through September 10^th at Shreveport Little Theatre.

“This is my first leading role,” Brock told the Shreveport-Bossier Journal. “Over the last three years, I’ve dabbled in some musical theatre with my girlfriends, but this is my first time to star in a show since I was in high school when I played Sandy in “Grease.”

‘Always…Patsy Cline’ is the true story of Cline’s friendship with a pen pal, Louise Seger (played by

Kim Price.) The show is based around the letters Cline and Seger wrote each other.

“They got to know each other personally,” show director Robert Darrow said. “They shared stories of their kids, their personal lives, and Patsy’s unhappy marriage. She had several marriages.”

For the married mother of two, Brock’s performance will be personal.

“I grew up on Patsy’s music…My grandmother used to put me to bed listening to Patsy’s music. My father was a huge musical theatre fan and introduced us to the arts. I feel like I get to honor my own family by playing this role. As a vocalist, I’ve adored her for years. This is an honor for me, and I hope I do Patsy justice.”

Brock will perform close to 30 of Cline’s songs.

“I love Patsy’s music, so I was familiar with most of her hits,” Brock said. “However, this show is going to cover 27 of her hits, including some songs she covered for people. I started working on this music this past January or February, trying to emulate her phrasing and vocal stylings.”

From what Darrow has heard in rehearsals, Brock’s work has paid off.

“Exceptional,” the veteran director said of Brock’s performance. “I don’t know if I’ve ever said that (of one performer) in my 50 years of theatre.”

Darrow isn’t surprised. He chose Brock to play the part.

“Ninety-Nine percent of our shows, we hold auditions. There are open casting calls. However, when you have a show that hinges on one actor, and that actor has to have specific talents, we don’t gamble that somebody that fits that role is just going to show up. Jessica performed last season in a series of plays.

I heard the quality of her voice, and her sound, and I immediately thought of Patsy Cline, and how wonderful Jessica would be in that role—and I was right.”

Cline was destined for a long, successful career, but she died in a 1963 plane crash. Cline was just 30 years old.

“I just could not love Patsy Cline any more,” Brock said. “She lived a hard life. It was a very tragic story. I don’t know that she knew how famous she would be. I believe she became famous posthumously. She was incredible.”

If you attend ‘Always…Patsy Cline’, be prepared to do more than sit.

“Those that attended her concerts in the late 1950’s and early 60’s said she was a people-person. She made you feel right at home. My goal in this role is to make everyone feel like they’re part of the Grand Ole Opry, or a part of this concert. They get to hoop and holler and clap and be part of the show as well. We want you to feel like you’re at home while you’re attending.”

Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com

At this week’s City Council meeting Bossier City Police Chief Daniel Haugen asked the council to set aside the time to properly recognize several officers and a brave citizen who made a major impact on the safety of the community.

Chief Haugen first recognized and honored those who lost their lives during a May 2 incident. Chief Haugen then said that “on the tragic day of May 2, evil came to our city, but thanks to these brave men we were able to quickly handle and subdue it.”

On that day a fugitive from Alabama exited I-20 at Industrial Drive at the Valero and while robbing the store shot four and killed two innocent citizens.

For their acts of bravery and courage during this incident Chief Haugen awarded the highest award offered by the department to a surviving officer, “The Medal of Valor” to Sgt. Freeman and officer Kenny Gallon’. Freeman and Gallon’ arrived on the scene in less than two minutes and were fired upon. Gallon’ was struck and remains off work due to his injuries. Freeman pulled Gallon’ to safety and cared for him until help arrived.

A brave citizen, Wes Davis, was on the scene and attempted to prevent the shooter from harming anyone else and was shot in the incident. Davis suffered what was determined to be a life-threatening injury and was medically assisted by officer Danny “Bo” Turner. Officer Turner used a tourniquet as trained and by doing so by all accounts saved Davis’ life. Officer Turner was awarded the Bossier City Police Department’s “Lifesaving Award” and Davis was also given an award for his brave actions.

Not able to attend the ceremony but also receiving the Lifesaving Award is Officer Brandon Bailey. Mayor Tommy Chandler expressed his pride and gratitude to Chief Haughen and those who were honored.

Some things are plain stupid. No gray area.

3-D Dumb.

Some people I know were robbed recently, but in his haste the robber dropped a piece of paper that was, unfortunately for him, a personal reminder of his upcoming court appearance. It included his name and address.

Oops.

And then there was the story out of Opelousas this week of the gentleman who stuck a handgun in his waistband. The gun was loaded, a live round in the chamber. It went off. Now, the man from Opelousas —and I use the term “man” loosely here — is not as loaded as he once was – although the story did contain the phrase “underwent reattachment surgery” and “Police had not determined why (stupid man’s name) was walking around with a pistol in his pants.”

Easy. No brain in his head.

Stupid move.

There are lots of ways to say that a guy’s parents don’t have to worry about the Yale Admissions Department clogging up the family doorway to offer their kid a scholarship. For no other reason than they make me laugh, I’ll offer my Top 10.

He’s a few crumbs short of a biscuit.

Somewhere, a village is missing its idiot.

It’s almost like he has a small piece of brain lodged in his head.

Dumb as a bag of hammers/sharp as a bowling ball.

He has a room temperature (or shoe-sized) IQ.

He’s a regular “Elbert” Einstein.

He’s lost all contact with the mothership.

He doesn’t have both oars in the water.

He fell out of the Stupid Tree and hit every branch on the way down.

My favorite: The wheel is turning but the hamster’s dead.

We all swallow a Stupid Pill from time to time.

But then there are things more along the lines of bad ideas. We call them mental muscle spasms. Brain cramps.

A boss buddy of mine found out the hard way this week that the letters T and G are very close to each other on the keyboard. For this reason, he will never be ending a work email with the phrase “Regards” again.

Muscle spasm.

I was told of a funeral in which the preacher, who kept candy in his desk, said that each Sunday morning the deceased would come into his office and, with a “Good morning!” and a smile, “go through my drawers.”

Brain cramp.

Finally, the worst idea I’ve heard of in a long time happened last week in Detroit, where Hall of Fame voice of the Detroit Tigers Ernie Harwell passed away at 92. A public viewing was held at Comerica Park, where the Tigers play. I am not a big “lying in state” guy to start with, but a casket on the warning track is off base on several levels. I didn’t like the picture of Ernie lying there, flowers all around, his statue by him, velvet ropes marking “foul ground,” for lack of a better term.

“Hey dad, remember when you took me to the ballpark and we saw Mr. Ernie dead?”

“Those were great times son!”

At least there was no danger of him being hit by a foul ball. At least the ballclub didn’t lay their humble, summer-sweet play-by-play guy out during a game. Thankfully, the Tigers were on the road.

As was, I guess, Ernie.

(Originally published May, 2010)

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

“A true artist is not one who is inspired but one who inspires others.”
—Salvador Dalí

Irene Washington, a custodian at Parkway High, is one of the many talented artists whose artwork is on display during the Faculty & Staff Art Exhibition in the C.M. Burt Art Gallery. Washington considers her art as a way to decompress and relax after school hours. We’re thrilled to have this beautiful piece as a part of the gallery.

Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Administrators, Custodians, and many more have artwork displayed at the Bossier Educational Service Center on Douglas Drive. The gallery is open for your enjoyment now through October 6, from 8 am – 4 pm, Monday – Friday, Come view this piece and much more!