LEESVILLE -- The Vernon Parish School Board will meet at 10 a.m. today, Feb. 7. Here is the panel's agenda:
1. Motion to name a replacement for District 3 Board Member
2. Motion to approve minutes of the Feb. 2 regular meeting and dispense with the reading of the minutes
3. Motion to approve resignations
4. Motion to approve a request to rescind leave without pay
5. Motion to approve new employees
6. Motion to approve employee transfers
7. Motion to accept employee retirement
8. Motion to accept revision to Policy IDDF
9. Motion to adopt a resolution empowering the Superintendent to execute banking business with Merchants and Farmers Bank
10. Motion to approve Headstart Policies -- Mr. Clay
11. Motion to approve budget amendments related to personnel changes
12. Motion to authorize the president and secretary to pay the claims
13. Other business
14. Memorial resolutions
15. Adjournment BPPJ to meet today; Agenda outlined
DERIDDER -- The Beauregard Parish Police Jury will meet today.
Committee meetings will be in the afternoon hours and the panel's agenda meeting will begin at 5 p.m.
Here are the committee schedules:
FINANCE -- 1 p.m. 1. Beauregard Parish Dog Pound
2. IMCAL - Randy Miller
3. Computer quote
4. Police Jury Association dues
5. 2011 budget amendments
6. Any other business
LANDFILL/SOLID WASTE -- 1:30 p.m. 1. Trash Bash 2012
a) Contests
b) Prizes and sponsors
c) Date
2. Tire pickup
3. Any other business
LEGISLATIVE -- 2 p.m. 1. Appoint ex-officio member from Fort Polk
2. Final amendment of oil ordinance 5-81
3. Any other business
PERSONNEL -- 3:30 p.m. 1. Library Board
a) Accept Scott Jacobsen's resignation
b) Appoint Elizabeth Brasseaux to fill unexpired term
2. Appoint Ken Harlow to fill unexpired term of deceased E-911 board member Alan Yancey.
3. Fire Protection District #3:
a) Accept Gene Juranka's resignation
b) Appoint A.B. Benton to fill unexpired term
c) Reappoint Jim Ratcliff and L.D. Spears
4. Any other business
ROAD AND BRIDGE -- 4 p.m. 1. D.C. Cox - Seismic Exchange
2. Road name change -- Balderas Road to George F. Young
3. Final payment -- retainage -- Gaytine Road
4. Lynn Vincent -- Request to speak to the committee (Jay Miller Road)
5. Request to write letter/resolution to DOTD and Legislatures -- Re: Ragley Overpass
6. Request to name a private road -- North Vincent Road
7. Any other business Satire treated seriously on Fleming's FB page
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS -- It was a satirical story about an "$8 billion Abortionplex" opening in Kansas. But U.S. Rep. John Fleming, or someone on his staff, appeared to take it seriously in a Facebook post.
The article from theonion.com — well-known for its news lampoons — was posted Friday on the Shreveport Republican's Facebook page with the comment: "More from Planned Parenthood, abortion by the wholesale."
The post has been removed, but was captured and posted on the website Literally Unbelievable.
A Fleming spokesman said in an email Monday that the article was "posted inadvertently and taken down within minutes." The spokesman said Fleming's office would not comment further.
The article included references to a sprawling 900,000-square-foot facility with the amenities of a shopping mall and "2,000 rooms dedicated to the abortion procedure."
Tornado touches down south of DeRidder on Saturday
FROM STAFF REPORTS
DERIDDER -- An EF-1 tornado touched down about four miles south of DeRidder amid stormy weather on Saturday.
The Weather Service reports that the tornado did some damage in an area near Granberry Road.
No injuries were reported, however, there was some structure damage, including some downed trees.
Heavy rainfall also led to some severe, short-term flooding in the DeRidder area, including flooding in front of Wal-Mart on N. Pine Street.
P.W. West Park was also flooded on Friday and Saturday.
Photos of the tornado damage and of some of the flooding that occurred are available on KVVP-FM's Facebook page.
Leesville man named to "Stanford Who's Who" list
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS DESK
Merle Bledsoe, who serves as Operations and Training Branch Chief at Cubic Applications Inc. at Fort Polk, was recently named to the "Stanford Who's Who" list, according to a news release from the organization.
The list is put out annually and honors professionals around the country who display excellence and progression in his or her positions.
Bledsoe, according to the release, has "routinely demonstrated the vision, dedication and diligence necessary to be considered among the best."
Bledsoe, who supervises group computer simulation for battle training, is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.
During his collegiate career, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa University, graduating Cum Laude. Friday headlines:
Grand opening set for veterans' cemetery
Event is open to the public
LEESVILLE -- A grand opening ceremony for the CENLA Veterans Cemetery on La. 467 in Leesville will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15.
This event is open to the public. Those attending will be able to tour the cemetery and its facilities.
The cemetery was paid for with federal money, but it will be operated by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
Veterans, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in the cemetery. Interment options include casketed burial, in-ground burial of cremated remains, columbaria niche for cremated remains or memorial garden for scattering of ashes.
There is no charge for veterans and a nominal fee for spouses and dependents.
Parking will be limited on site for the ceremony, but those attending will be transported by bus from either NSU Fort Polk or the VA Clinic near the cemetery site.
For more information on the cemetery, call 318-925-0612. Fort Polk service member takes honors at Air Force-wide talent contest
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS DESK
An Air Force service member stationed at Fort Polk took second place in the Air Force Worldwide Talent Search last month in San Antonio, Texas.
Senior Airman Joanell Jackson of Fort Polk finished second among the 12 entertainers who were selected from 90 Airmen who participated in the competition.
According to an Air Force news release, Jackson could be selected for the 2012 Tops in Blue tour.
Those winners will be announced by Feb. 10.
During the competition, Airmen showcased their singing, instrumental, dance and specialty talents as well as their technical skills in stage production. This year's winners were a mix of officers and senior and junior enlisted Airmen City of Leesville audit released publicly
The City of Leesville's audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011 became public last week through the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office. To access the document, click here. North Toledo Bend boat launch reopens
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS DESK
ZWOLLE -- The boat launch at North Toledo Bend State Park, near Zwolle is open to boat traffic, according to state park officials.
Boat launches at both North Toledo Bend and South Toledo Bend State Parks closed in July due to extremely low lake levels at the Toledo Bend Reservoir.
The South Toledo Bend State Park boat launch remains closed pending dredging of boat lanes by the Sabine River Authority.
The water level at the Toledo Bend Reservoir remains below the recommended safe level so all water sport participants are advised to avoid excessive speed and exercise caution when navigating waters outside of normal boat lanes. For general lake information, visit www.Toledo-Bend.com. For information about Louisiana State Parks, visit www.LaStateParks.com.
VPPJ meeting date changed due to holiday
LEESVILLE -- The Vernon Parish Police Jury will hold its regular February meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Parish Government Complex Building, in the Police Jury Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, 300 S. 3rd St., Leesville.
The meeting has been moved from Monday to Tuesday in recognition of Presidents' Day. Kane to appear at Leesville events Humor and poetry topic for Vernon Parish Library
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS DESK
NATCHITOCHES -- Louisiana Poet Laureate Dr. Julie Kane will make two stops in Leesville on Monday, Feb. 13 to offer presentations on humor in poetry and sign copies of her poetry volumes.
Kane, a professor of English at Northwestern State University, makes public appearances and gives readings to promote poetry throughout the state.
Kane will first visit the Northwestern State University Leesville-Fort Polk campus library to talk with students and faculty and sign copies of her published books, which she is donating to the library.
Kane will then appear at Vernon Parish Library from 3:15 p.m.-5 p.m. where she will offer guidelines for humor in poetry, a base for a poet’s beginnings and show how those elements guide her work in her books Rhythm and Booze and Jazz Funeral. She will answer questions following the lecture as well as sign copies of her books. The program, open to the public, is made possible through a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Vernon Parish Library.
Kane is serving a two-year term as Louisiana’s Poet Laureate.
A native of Massachusetts, she holds degrees from Cornell University, Boston University and Louisiana State University. Kane won the Donald Justice Poetry Prize for Jazz Funeral. A former Fulbright Scholar, Kane was a winner of the National Poetry Series Open Competition for Rhythm & Booze. She was a finalist for one of the major prizes in American poetry, The Poets’ Prize for the Best Collection of American Poetry, and a judge for the 2005 National Book Award in Poetry. Her poems "Particle Physics" and "Used Book" were featured on National Public Radio’s The Writer’s Almanac.
For more information on Kane’s appearance in Leesville, contact the Vernon Parish Library at (337) 239-2027 or (800) 737-2231. Daffodil field to be open to public
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS DESK
DODSON -- According to the Alexandria Town Talk, the H. Nelton Adams Memorial Daffodil Field near Dodson in Winn Parish will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 2-4.
The newspaper reports that the site features a 115-year-old pecan tree, bluebird houses and more than 100 varieties of daffodils.
The field reportedly honors Thera Lou Adams' late husband.
Visitors can bring a picnic lunch and chairs to enjoy the field.
The field is located on U.S. Highway 167. Go east on La. Highway 126 at a caution light; then go about five miles and go left onto La. Highway 34 toward Monroe; then go about five miles to a field on the right with a tall pecan tree.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
LEESVILLE -- The Vernon Parish Library will continue its Musical Odyssey concert series on Feb. 20 with a performance by the Flat River Band.
The concert will start at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the library's meeting room.
Seating is limited and those attending are asked to arrive early.
The Flat River Band is composed of three brothers.
They combine the guitar, mandolin and harmonica for a unique sound.
The group has performed across the country at festivals, fairs and churches.
For more information on the Musical Odyssey series, call the Vernon Parish Library at 337-239-2027.
Vernon Parish Jail Bookings, Feb. 6-7:
-- Joseph Greenmough, 32, white male; arrested for possession of schedule II drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and on a bench warrant. He remains in the parish jail. -- Brandon M. Sexton, 22, black male; arrested for obtaining CDS by fraud. He remains in the parish jail.
-- Derick S. Zemke, 23, white male; arrested for obtaining CDS by fraud. He was released on bond.
-- Kathrine Weibel, 48, white female; arrested on two counts of improper telephone communications. She was released on bond.
-- Donald Flanagan, 29, white male; arrested on two counts of obtaining CDS by fraud and criminal conspiracy. He was released on bond.
-- Keith M. Donovan, 22, white male; arrested on two counts of obtaining CDS by fraud and criminal conspiracy. He was released on bond.
-- Christy Garner, 29, white female; arrested on a bench warrant. She was released on bond.
Listen with Sandy Guynn
