As excitement builds for the upcoming parade in Shreveport on Sunday, February 11th, 2024, organizers are making key announcements to ensure a smooth and safe event for all.

In a recent statement, the City of Shreveport revealed that streets along the parade route will be closed at 11 AM on the day of the event, with the exception of Gilbert Drive, which will experience closure at 6:00 AM. This strategic move aims to facilitate necessary preparations and ensure the security of both participants and spectators.

One crucial aspect emphasized by the city is the request for all parade attendees to remain on the sidewalks during the event. This measure is implemented to provide unobstructed access for emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and medical services, who will have continuous access to the parade interior for any urgent situations.

In addition to these logistical details, parade participants are reminded of a mandatory meeting scheduled for Monday, February 5th, at 6 PM. The meeting will take place at Noel Methodist, and it is imperative that both the float lieutenant and the driver attend, as their absence may result in their float being unable to participate in the parade.

Furthermore, organizers stress the importance of bringing printed photos of both the float driver’s license and the pull vehicle’s insurance to the meeting. This documentation is a prerequisite for participation and ensures that all safety and regulatory requirements are met.

With these preparations and guidelines in place, the City of Shreveport is gearing up for a festive and secure celebration, encouraging the community’s active participation while prioritizing safety and coordination.

As of the morning of January 30th, the boil advisory was lifted for the West Pressure Zone.

The City of Shreveport’s Department of Water and Sewerage has issued a boil advisory after the West Pressure Zone saw widespread pressure loss earlier this evening.

This boil advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution. Crews are working to rule out possible causes of the low water pressure and collecting samples to be analyzed and cleared to get this advisory lifted as quickly as possible.

We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and we appreciate your cooperation during this time. The Department of Water and Sewerage is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of the water supply to our residents.

It is recommended that water be disinfected before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:

• Boil Water: Boil water for one (1) full minute in a clean container. The one-minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil. (The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a clean bottle or pouring it from one clean container to another)
• Await Clearance: When satisfactory laboratory test results are obtained, the Department of Water & Sewerage, with approval from the Louisiana Department of Health, will then rescind the Boil Advisory and notify you that the water has been deemed safe.

In the event of low pressure or any other emergency water-related issues, customers are
encouraged to contact the Department of Water and Sewerage’s emergency line at
318-673-7600.

By Maj. Lauren Linscott, Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

Air Force Global Strike Command is the first major command selected for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Specific Topic under AFWERX with four approved solicitations and two pending applications.

AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF.

The Specific Topics designation allows military end-users to define narrow operations or equipment problem sets that require special attention. Commercial companies can then propose solutions, and— if selected for funding— begin technology development, testing, and integration efforts.

The AFWERX office allocated up to $18 million for AFGSC across the four solicitations and could add another $7 million if the two pending applications are selected. This allows Strikers the unique opportunity to work directly with potential vendors on the most effective means to modernize legacy systems and integrate new innovative capabilities that meet command priorities.

Since taking command of AFGSC, General Thomas A. Bussiere has stressed the need for improvement in present weapons systems while concurrently building the next generation of bombers and ICBMs. “I used to say our last B-52 pilot hasn’t been born yet…It might now be our last B-52 father or grandfather hasn’t been born yet,” stated Bussiere in his keynote speech at the AFA Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, in March 2023. “We’re going to fly that weapon system to the 2050s… but we’re going to put new motors, new radar, new avionics, and new weapons on that aircraft…We don’t have any option other than to modernize.”

To help meet modernization objectives, AFGSC created the A5N Division, which seeks new pathways to meet warfighter needs. They scout solutions from small commercial businesses since technology development proposals are on average faster and more cost-effective compared to those from the current majority Defense Prime Contractors. The A5N division, better known as the Commercial Capabilities Integration Transition Division, coordinates with BRF, an economic development organization based in Shreveport, and its Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program (EAP). These entities along with the Small Business Consulting Corporation (SBCC) honed in on the Specific Topics opportunities to increase their reach.

Now critical areas of innovation can be addressed in months compared to the multi-year procurement process that includes building requirement definitions and laying out contract parameters before any manufacturing or design can begin. The first four AFGSC solicitations focus on B-52 pylon modification, advanced battery development and integration for airborne platforms, electromagnetic pulse hardening, and readiness spares package deployment improvements.

“Global Strike has proven their mission needs in the innovation space, and we must look at all means, to include high caliber small businesses, to accelerate procuring the right capabilities for the warfighter,” explained CCIT division deputy chief Nate Dawn. “That’s the beauty of leveraging the Specific Topic process. We can actually talk to companies doing research and development, find funding through these AFWERX SBIR grants, and then shape product attributes to Striker needs.”

In addition to their efforts in the AFWERX proposal space, CCIT is recruiting cutting edge companies through their annual showcase events and continual tech scouting. The BRF, EAP, and SBCC teams have been instrumental in their support of these activities. Over the past 30 months, the CCIT brought 45 new technologies and over $100 million in contracts to AFGSC and is already moving 10 companies to transition.

“We’ve seen a significant improvement in outreach and visibility of Striker needs, improving the odds to solve those challenges. Leveraging this process funds projects that would otherwise not receive resources through standard channels,” remarked Dawn. “This is a great way to advertise Air Force Global Strike Command’s needs and capitalize on the amazing American commercial technology marketspace.”

The real work has begun. Participants from the LSUS faculty, staff, and student body met with members of the Gardner Institute and Complete College America on Monday on the LSUS campus.

The meeting officially kicks off a five-year process of transforming the first two years of the college experience aimed at closing inequitable performance gaps and improving student learning and success.

LSUS was one of 11 universities across the nation chosen for this inaugural cohort, which was selected this past summer.

More than 40 members representing various entities across campus began to lay the groundwork, highlighting the university’s success in these areas as well as opportunities to improve.

“Understanding context is the first step in the institutional transformation process,” said Dr. Brandon Smith, associate vice president of Gardner Institute, a leading national student success nonprofit organization. “(Monday’s) work centers on hearing from the campus community and asking questions about how systems support student success.

“You can look at outcome data, but those data are just indicators of the larger systems that students, faculty, and staff work to navigate each day. In both the survey responses and the participants’ voices in the meeting, it’s clear that a culture of care undergirds student success work at LSUS.”

The initiative’s aim is to move toward eliminating demographics, zip codes, and similar variables as the best predictors of college success.

In September, LSUS achieved Tier 1 status in assisting low-income graduates in achieving economic mobility in a study conducted by the national think tank Third Way.

LSUS’s success in this area, along with growing enrollment and budget, a rarity among public regional universities, attracted consideration to be a cohort member.

“Because of the growth of our online programs, we’re able to take some of that additional revenue to explore what our students need,” said Dr. Helen Wise, assistant academic provost at LSUS. “We’re not in a situation where we are trying to figure out what student services to cut; we’re investing in student services.

“We’re actually looking at what additional supports our students need, and we have a group that is very committed to this work.”

Cohort members, which hail from New York to Alaska down to the Gulf South, will share strategies and initiatives throughout the program with the goal of developing a blueprint for other universities to follow. Complete College America, a national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates and closing institutional performance gaps, works in tandem with the Gardner Institute to evaluate and improve upon college education systems.

“Today, the work becomes alive, from data on the page to actualization,” said Dr. Akilah Martin, strategy director for Complete College America. “We have an opportunity to be in the room together to come to agreements on how this work will lead to student success and completion at LSUS.

“Complete College America and the Gardner Institute work together to ensure LSUS has the support and resources for this transformational change.”

Wise added this collaborative environment, complete with the partnership of cutting-edge organizations and universities, is possible because of the long-term commitment to improving the structure of higher education.

“Some student success initiatives are tied to a timeframe – take a six-week class and implement a strategy or try something out for a year,” Wise said. “But this is developing a network of support from across the entire country that we have access to for five years.

“We’re not coming back next year and asking, ‘Did everything change?’ We actually have the time to plan and implement this program.”

On January 30, the Shreveport Police Department successfully apprehended 24-year-old Jatorius Scroggins and 30-year-old Jacobi Parker in connection with the shooting incident on December 19, 2023. The suspects are now facing one count each of second-degree aggravated battery. The victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the lower body, is expected to make a full recovery. The Shreveport Police Department extends its gratitude to the community for their cooperation in providing valuable information that contributed to the swift resolution of this case.

The Shreveport Police Department, led by Chief Wayne Smith, were actively seeking Daniel Bartlett, 39, in connection with an ongoing investigation into a report of child pornography. Detectives from the Shreveport Police Sex Crime Unit obtained a warrant for Bartlett’s arrest for obstruction of justice.

The Shreveport Police Department is actively seeking community assistance in the investigation of a tragic incident on January 29th, where a deceased male victim was found with a gunshot wound in the 2400 block of Darien Street.

The Violent Crimes Unit is urging witnesses to come forward and help detectives solve this homicide. The community’s support is crucial in bringing justice to those affected by this tragedy. If you have information, contact the Shreveport Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit at 318-673-7300 #3 or remain anonymous by reaching out to Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373. Remember, Crime Stoppers only wants your information, not your name.

By Brad Dison

Everyone has a story.

Each week, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Tony Taglavore takes to lunch a local person–someone who is well-known, influential, or successful, and asks, “What’s Your Story?”

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services

It’s not surprising Andy Shehee remembers the year (1991) and the day of the week (Tuesday).

You would, too, if one of your funeral homes came within an “How Great Thou Art” of burying the wrong dearly departed family member. Times two.

“A daughter in Minden told our funeral director, ‘That’s not our Daddy.’
He said, ‘Now honey, our excellent embalming techniques and methods can often make a person look younger.’ She said, ‘That’s not my Daddy’ . . . . In Bossier, the family had their visitation and funeral, and did not know that was not their daddy. We had to explain to them what happened. They were kind of confused and some of them got a little angry. But some of them may have been embarrassed because they didn’t know that wasn’t their daddy, or their grandfather as the case may be. We made the change. We brought the correct father from Minden. We didn’t charge either family for their funerals.”

Fortunately for Shehee, that hasn’t happened since. But the well-known, well-respected executive director of Rose-Neath Funeral Homes has seen a lot during his almost 40 year career. Shehee told me stories, and his story, over a meal at Strawn’s Eat Shop Too in Shreveport. Andy had eggs and bacon, while I took down a hamburger and fries.

Andy has built his livelihood by way of an interesting dynamic — death.

“No, but I wonder about it sometimes,” Andy said, when I asked if he ever feels guilty taking money from people during their time of grief. “If we get four nice caskets in on a shipment, you go, ‘Oh, this is pretty good.’ It’s a business. I am hoping our numbers will hold up this year, which means people are going to have to pass away for us to achieve that goal. But you also realize those numbers are inevitable.”

Born in Washington, D.C. Shehee grew up in what was then rural southwest Shreveport. Son of the late, prominent community leader Virginia Shehee, Andy didn’t grow up around death, but rather, chickens.

“That’s where I got my interest in agriculture. I began raising chickens when I was five years old . . . . (My sisters) had to feed the horses, and I had to feed the chickens before school. Oftentimes, it was still dark and very cold, but you learned how to do that.”

Shehee’s grandparents co-founded Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company in 1932. Around the same time, Shehee’s mother and stepfather began Rose-Neath Funeral Homes. By the time Andy reached school age, both businesses were doing well, allowing a country boy to attend an in-city private school.

“I was actually a little embarrassed because a lot of my friends grew up in big homes along Fairfield Avenue and Thora Boulevard. But I soon found out they loved coming out to the country because we had a big, huge, Olympic-size swimming pool. We had all the animals. We had an eight-acre pond, and people loved to fish on it.”

When it was time for high school, Shehee was hit with a bit of a culture shock. He went to C.E. Byrd, a public school, and excelled as an athlete.

“It was a big change. Byrd was integrated my sophomore year. I ran track. 70 percent of the team was black, and the coach was black. Several of the football coaches and other coaches were also African-American. But back then, there were no problems because discipline was important. If you did something wrong, you were punished.”

Like the time Andy inadvertently broke his coach’s rule about being addressed as ‘Sir.’

“One time we were practicing baton drill handoffs. I got flustered. He was giving me some technique instructions, and I said, ‘I can do it man.’ He said, ‘What did you say?’ I went ‘Uh-Oh I can do it, Sir. I meant to say Sir’ . . . . I had to do 100 sit-ups as punishment.”

Considering Andy’s mother and grandmother graduated from Centenary, “it was a logical place to attend college.” Not only did Shehee — who majored in sociology, as did his mom — go to school at the private, liberal arts college, he worked there almost six years, helping recruit students and, in his last role, raising scholarship money.

“I wasn’t really comfortable with the scholarship development, because as my mother said, ‘You’ve gone from selling the school, to begging . . . . “It had run its course, and I had the opportunity to go back to the funeral profession, so I did that.”

Andy estimates he has been involved, directly or indirectly, with some 15,000 funeral services since 1968. He doesn’t deny the fact the funeral home business is just that — a business. But Andy says that doesn’t mean you have to take advantage of someone at their most vulnerable moment. For example, there was the time Andy was in the casket room with the widow of a prominent Centenary professor. She was trying to decide between “a beautiful, solid copper casket”, and an 18-gauge steel, medium (price) range casket.

“She said, ‘Andy, what’s the difference between these two?’ I could have struck.
(I could have said) ‘Ma’am, this is a wonderful copper casket. With your husband’s prestige at Centenary, this would be very befitting of him. Then my conscience kicked in, and I said, ‘Ma’am, the difference is about $2,000.’ She took the 18-gauge steel — not the copper.”

So, it’s not always about the money. Sometimes, it’s about the challenge. Andy likes challenges, which he thinks stems from his athletic days.

“We had a lady who was, sadly, way overweight. The family wanted a solid pink casket. I had a window of four days. We got it done. She got that solid pink casket, with a white floral interior, just like she wanted. We try to take care of people like that. Now, we got paid for it, but we still performed a service.”

According to ourworldindata.org, 61 million people worldwide died last year. So, I began to feel guilty, as surely Andy was needed to help ease the pain of a family in mourning. So, I asked Andy my final question. As always, what is it about his story that could be influential to others?

“Have respect for others. Show objectivity in your decision-making, and your business relationships with others. I had a man tell me one time that it doesn’t cost you anything to be nice to people. I’ve always tried to practice that in my dealings with people.”

People alive, and dead.

Do you know someone who has a story to tell? Email SBJTonyT@gmail.com

By TONY TAGLAVORE, Journal Services

It looks like Bossier City will soon have a new grocery store.

Two sources familiar with the project told the Shreveport-Bossier Journal that ALDI, which describes its stores as being designed “with savings in mind”, will occupy the former Bed, Bath & Beyond off Airline Drive (2900 Meadow Creek Drive).

Work has been taking place for several weeks, and both sources are involved with renovating the now empty building. One source said he has heard of a possible opening date in April.

As of Monday evening, ALDI’s media relations department had not responded to the Journal’s request for comment.

This would make the second ALDI location in Shreveport-Bossier. Last November, the area’s first ALDI opened on Mansfield Road. ALDI encourages shoppers to bring their own bags and bag their own groceries. ALDI charges a quarter for you to use one of their shopping carts. However, when you return the cart, you will be refunded your quarter.

There are 14 ALDI’s in Louisiana, all in south Louisiana except for the Shreveport store.

Contact Tony at SBJTonyT@gmail.com.

By COURTNEY MONTGOMERY, SBJ Columnist

“Moderation. Small helpings. Sample a little bit of everything. These are the secrets of happiness and good health.” – Julia Child.

Julia Child was known for her spunky attitude and her delicious food. While all French food is not entirely healthy, she had the right mindset for eating. Food is to be enjoyed. Sitting down to a meal with family and friends is a sacred time that brings laughter, joy, and connection.

In this day and age, there are so many diet fads. Go ahead and google them. What do they all have in common? Restrictions. Deprivation. Hard to maintain. Where is the freedom in that? I feel what Julia Child had in mind in her quote above was to eat… intuitively.

What does intuitive eating mean? According to the dictionary, to be intuitive means to be able to understand something because of feelings rather than facts or proof. So to eat intuitively is to recognize your body’s needs, your body’s cues as to when you are full or hungry, and how you feel after you eat certain foods. It takes away shame from the “eat this, never eat that” diet culture.

I believe this is a more holistic approach to fueling your body. When you learn to recognize your body’s needs and how it feels, it is much easier to make a lifestyle change without feeling like you are depriving yourself. Eating this way helps avoid overeating because you aren’t letting yourself get too hungry. It curbs cravings because you aren’t forbidding yourself from eating certain foods and ultimately improves your relationship with food.

Does this mean if you feel your body is telling you to eat all junk food, then you should listen to it and do it? By no means! We all know we need to fuel our bodies with quality foods and ingredients to thrive and feel our best. As we eat intuitively, we get to know our bodies better, and as we pay attention to our bodies, we will see that we operate best when we eat healthy foods, but keeping in mind there is no shame in eating that chocolate chip cookie if we want it. Maybe don’t eat six…

I challenge you to eat intuitively this week. Do not count calories, macros, measure your food, or overthink it. Have a goal to eat real food most of the time. If you don’t eat many fruits and vegetables, I challenge you to add one of each to your diet each day this week. This can be as simple as eating an apple and adding some broccoli to your meal. Recognize how your body feels as you fuel it with healthy foods.

This way of eating is dramatically different from what the world preaches to us in the form of diets. It’s time to say goodbye to diets and hello to a healthy relationship with food. Making peace with food and with your body will make the change you want to last a lifetime.

Courtney Montgomery, a certified Holistic Nutrition Coach and Registered Nurse, is passionate about enhancing the health of individuals. In her coaching practice, she focuses on instilling a sustainable approach to self-care, rejecting crash diets and body shaming. Courtney teaches clients to embrace intuitive eating, empowering them to trust their bodies and gain confidence in their journey. Excited to share valuable tips, she is dedicated to supporting you on your wellness journey.

The Joint Transportation, Highways, & Public Works Committee is gearing up for its legislative public hearing on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. This event, widely known as the annual DOTD Road Show, will take place at the LA Tech Building at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, LA. Specifically, it will be held in Building H – Moran Room, located at 6220 E. Texas Street.

District 04, comprising Bossier, Bienville, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, & Webster Parishes, will be in the spotlight as the committee reviews highway construction priorities for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

The DOTD has organized district-specific Road Shows to facilitate discussions among legislators, elected officials, DOTD representatives, and the general public. These events provide a platform to delve into the details of construction projects outlined in the preliminary FY 2024-2025 Highway Priority Program. Attendees will gain insights into how these projects will impact each area of the state.

Whether you’re a concerned citizen or a stakeholder in Louisiana’s infrastructure, you’re invited to attend the Road Show. This is your chance to express your views on the proposed projects. If you can’t make it in person, there’s an option to listen via Zoom, and details will be posted at this link soon.

For those who wish to supplement oral testimony with written documentation, the committee will accept written statements and comments. These can be handed to the committee during the hearing or mailed to the following address, postmarked within 45 calendar days following the event:

Joint Transportation, Highways, & Public Works Committee C/O LA DOTD (Section 45) P.O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245

Stay informed and explore the link to discover more about the construction projects earmarked for District 04 in the preliminary FY 24-25 Highway Priority Program.