Superintendent Byron Lyons, superintendent of Bienville Parish Schools, has been placed on leave pending an investigation. 

During a special meeting Tuesday afternoon the board voted 5 to 2 to place Lyons on leave with pay for up to 90 days. The board initially met in executive session before taking the vote. Darren Iverson and Oswald Townsend voted against the investigation while Sharolyn Boston, Derrika Bailey, Martha Grigg, Colton Guin and Donald Calloway voted in favor of it. 

Child Welfare and Attendance Supervisor LeRoy Hamilton was appointed as acting superintendent by the board.  BPSB also hired Baton Rouge attorney Brandon DeCuir to conduct an investigation.

Lyons was in attendance at the meeting with his attorney, Brian Blackwell. Lyons did not speak in the course of the meeting. 

If the board decides to remove the superintendent, it will have to present Lyons with formal written charges and provide him with a 20-day notice. Lyons will then have 20 days to respond prior to a hearing. 

Lyons was selected as superintendent in December 2023 after the board chose not to renew the contract of its former superintendent, William Wysinger. There were four candidates for the position at the time. 

The School Board approved Lyons’ employment contract in January 2024. 

Election Day is Saturday, March 29, and there are four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.
They are as follows.

Proposed Amendment No. 1 Act 2 (2024 Third Extraordinary Session) – Proposing to amend Article V, Sections 5(B), 15(A), and 16(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to jurisdiction of courts; to provide for disciplinary proceedings over attorneys from other jurisdictions concerning legal services in the state and over related unethical practices; to authorize creation of courts of limited or specialized jurisdiction; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition. Do you support an amendment granting the Louisiana Supreme Court jurisdiction to discipline out-of-state lawyers for unethical legal practices in the state of Louisiana, and to grant the legislature the authority to establish trial courts of limited and specialized jurisdiction? (Amends Article V,
Sections 5(B), 15(A) and 16(A))

Proposed Amendment No. 2 Act 1 (2024 Third Extraordinary Session) – Proposing to revise Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to revenue and finance; to provide with respect to the power of taxation including limitations thereon; to require uniformity with respect to certain local and state tax measures; to provide with respect to assessment of property and other items of taxation; to provide with
respect to remittal of some or all of certain tax revenues to local entities; to provide with respect to rates of taxation; to provide with respect to dedication of certain revenue; to provide with respect to bonded indebtedness including limitations thereon; to provide with respect to the Interim Emergency Board; to provide with respect to the State Bond Commission; to provide with respect to deposit of monies received by the state or its instrumentalities; to provide with respect to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund; to provide with respect to expenditure of state revenues; to provide with respect to the Revenue Estimating Conference; to provide with respect to appropriations; to provide with respect to deficits; to provide with respect to budgets; to provide with respect to publication of certain data; to provide with respect to the Budget Stabilization Fund; to provide with respect to the Transportation Trust Fund including subfunds thereof; to provide with respect to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund; to provide for establishing certain classes of trusts and funds in the state treasury; to provide with respect to designation of certain trusts and funds in the state treasury as a member of such classes; to provide with respect to the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund including subfunds thereof; to provide with respect to the Mineral Revenue Audit and Settlement Fund; to provide with respect to the Oilfield Site Restoration Fund; to provide with respect to the Oil Spill Contingency Fund; to provide with respect to
the Millennium Trust and any funds within it; to provide with respect to the Louisiana Fund; to provide with respect to the Artificial Reef Development Fund; to provide with respect to the legislature's authority to take certain actions; to provide with respect to the Hospital Stabilization Formula and Fund; to provide with respect to the Louisiana Medical Assistance Trust Fund and any accounts therein; to provide with respect to the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund; to provide with respect to the Conservation Fund; to provide with respect to public access to certain revenue and expenditure information; to provide with respect to investment of certain monies; to provide with respect to things of value; to provide with respect to cooperative endeavors; to provide with respect to prior obligations regarding things of value; to provide with respect to release or extinguishment of certain obligations; to provide with respect to taxes; to require transfer of certain assets to the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana; to provide with respect to the authority of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana regarding calculation of system liabilities and required funding; to provide with respect to use by certain political subdivisions of certain revenues to provide a salary increase for certain personnel; to provide with respect to valuation of property for tax purposes; to provide with respect to treatment of certain property, income, or things of value for tax purposes; to provide with respect to tax liability; to provide with respect to reduction or
elimination of tax liability in certain circumstances; to provide with respect to certain payments to political subdivisions; to provide with respect to invalidation or impairment of certain taxes or obligations; to provide with respect to millage rates; to provide with respect to tax assessors; to provide with respect to tax sales; to provide with respect to liens and privileges; to provide with respect to the Revenue Sharing Fund; to provide with respect to the Louisiana Unclaimed Property Permanent Trust Fund; to create the Local Revenue Fund; to provide relative to the severance tax allocation on brine; to make technical and conforming changes; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters. Do you support an amendment to revise Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana including revisions to lower the maximum rate of income tax, increase income tax deductions for citizens over sixty-five, provide for a government growth limit, modify operation of certain constitutional funds, provide for property tax exemptions retaining the homestead exemption and exemption for religious organizations, provide a permanent teacher salary increase by requiring a
surplus payment to teacher retirement debt, and make other modifications? (Amends Article VII, Sections 1 through 28; Adds Article VII, Sections 29 through 42)

Proposed Amendment No. 3 Act 3 (2024 Third Extraordinary Session) – Proposing to amend Article V, Section 19 of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to special juvenile proceedings; to provide relative to crimes committed by juveniles; to allow adult prosecution for certain felony offenses specified by the legislature; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot
proposition Do you support an amendment to provide the legislature the authority to determine which felony crimes, when committed by a person under the age of seventeen, may be transferred for criminal prosecution as an adult? (Amends Article V, Section 19)

Proposed Amendment No. 4 Act 4 (2024 Third Extraordinary Session) – Proposing to amend Article V, Section 22(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to judicial elections; to provide for election dates for newly-created judgeships or vacancies in office of judge; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition. Do you support an amendment to provide
for the use of the earliest election date to fill judicial vacancies? (Amends Article V, Section 22(B))

Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Although it is not sure at this time which positions will be available, now is the time for interested individuals to begin working on resumes and applications if they want to become part of the Bobcat Nation.

Possible opportunities include elementary, high school, and vocational teachers, as well as custodial and para-professional positions. Additionally, Saline schools are always looking for qualified and experienced substitutes.

Feel free to get an early start by sending in resume and application to Bienville Parish School Board. These applications are available on the Bienville Parish School Board website using this link:
https://www.bpsb.us/…/personnel…/job-applications/604557

The Bienville Parish School Board website will post all positions as they become available at this link:
https://www.bpsb.us/page/job-posting

Feel free to contact the school for email information.

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.

03/16/25

Cameron Kyle of Bossier City was arrested for D.W.I – 1st Offense (BAC .08 to .15 – Misdemeanor) and Reckless Operation Without Accident (Misdemeanor).

C.B. Hood of Dallas, TX, was arrested for Fugitive.

03/17/25

Gregory Lemons of Cotton Valley was arrested for Simple Burglary – Immovable Structure (Felony).

Sabrina McKinney of Ringgold was arrested for Fugitive.

Brett Woodard of Gibsland was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Felony).

Bill Fowler, Jr. of Dubberly was arrested for Fugitive.

03/18/25

Anthony Mitchell of Coushatta was arrested for Assault by Drive-By Shooting (Felony).

Jeremy Bell of Arcadia was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm (Felony).

03/19/25

Jamarcia Haulcy of Arcadia was arrested for Simple Criminal Damage to Property (Misdemeanor) and Domestic Abuse Battery (Felony).

03/20/25

Donald Lathan of Minden was arrested for Vehicle Registration Expired (Misdemeanor), Maximum Speed Limit, and Operating Vehicle with Suspended License; Other Offenses.

Edward Richardson of Sunset was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Felony).

03/21/25

Bridget Moore of Bossier City was arrested for Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).

03/22/25

Demario Archie of Ruston was arrested for Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor); Aggravated Flight from an Officer (Felony); Possession of Schedule I with Intent to Distribute; Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property (Felony); Illegal Carrying of Weapon in Presence of CDS (Felony); and Simple Criminal Damage to Property (Misdemeanor).

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A woman from Lincoln Parish was arrested following an incident Saturday night where the police chief of Arcadia was injured.

Imoni Owens, 23, faces multiple charges after she allegedly hit and kicked Chief Ciera Murphy as Murphy was attempting to get Owens to leave a private event at the Arcadia Events Center.

Murphy reportedly told Owens to leave but Owens refused. The women struggled on a stage then fell onto the floor.

Murphy suffered an injury to her right leg from the fall.  She was taken by ambulance to Minden Medical Center for treatment. At present, her condition is unknown. 

Owens is charged with resisting an officer with force or violence; entering and remaining after being forbidden; and second-degree battery. Her bond has been set at $110,000. 

The state-mandated LEAP 2025 tests will begin next Wednesday, April 2. The scores on these tests are significant to students and Bienville Parish schools. These test results become a part of students’ permanent records and help determine the School Performance Scores. For high school students, passing scores on these tests are required for graduation.

Saline students have consistently performed exceptionally well on the previous years’ tests. To improve students’ chances to do well, they should eat well and get plenty of rest the night before each testing session. It is crucial that children attend school and arrive on time during the testing week. A student absent for both the test and the make-up test must have a letter from a doctor on the doctor’s office letterhead, with the doctor’s original signature, stating the dates and reason for absences. The dates on the excuse must be inclusive of all testing and make-up dates.

Do not cause undue concern by putting too much pressure on children to do well on these tests. Encourage children to do the best that they can. 

The schedule of testing is as follows. 

3rd Grade – April 2-9
4th – 8th Grades – April 29 – May 7

High School

English I & English II – April 23-25
Algebra I & Geometry – April 23-25
Biology, Civics, & US History – April 29 – May 1

The community will soon see plants in the garden at the Arcadia Community Garden.

Citizens for a Better Arcadia, in conjunction with the LSU AgCenter and Bienville 4-H, gave a seminar at the Bienville Parish Library, where participants actually seeded soil, some of which will be planted in the community garden around mid-April.

Children from Bienville 4-H, Crawford Elementary Gents and the National Honors Society were in attendance as well as other community members.

Megan Martin, Bienville Parish 4-H Chair, said they are excited about starting the community garden and the people it will help.

“We are here to be the resources as far as what needs to be planted when and where, and if it’s not working, we can figure out what to do,” she said, adding that participants would start the seed to get the plants growing.

Kyleigh Bass, Horticulture and Assistant Extension Agent for Bienville and Lincoln parishes, went over the benefits of an early harvest, family fun and growing your own food. She said seed starting could be done in cardboard egg cartons, empty cardboard paper towel holders, cell trays, newspapers, plastic trays and cleaned eggshells.

“Every time I grow my own food, I feel proud – it’s truly the product of your own labor,” she said.

Bass played a key role in assisting participants in planting their seeds while also discussing the benefits of growing fresh produce. She emphasized the importance of providing plants with full sunlight, watering them every other day or when the soil feels dry and placing a tray beneath the cardboard egg cartons to catch excess water, as the material is porous.

Once the seeds planted during the event have grown a bit, participants will contribute a portion of their vegetables to the community garden on First Street.

Seeds included cantaloupe, radishes, squash, zucchini, beets and red onion.

Additionally, two plum trees will be planted in the garden as part of the Town of Arcadia’s cleanup initiative, which aligns with Louisiana’s Love the Boot campaign. This event is scheduled for April 12, from 8am until 12pm.

The community garden was established to provide residents with access to fresh fruits and vegetables while also serving as an educational tool to promote healthier lifestyles. Thanks to the generous land donation from Peggy Wright, the space has been tilled and prepared for planting. Beyond its role in food production, the garden will serve as a welcoming space for community members to connect with nature
and enjoy the outdoors.

The diamonds have been busy recently at Castor High. The Lady Tigers picked up two wins last week over Doyline and Providence Classical Academy to move to 8-5 on the season. The Tigers picked up two wins last week as well over Summerfield and Calvin to move to 5-8 on the season. Games resume at the CHS spring sports complex on Thursday with both softball and baseball at home.

Tiger Junior High Track competed in its home meet last week. Congratulations to the following ribbon winners:

Girls Shot: 1st Joci Rogers
Girls Javelin: 5th Emily Bolyer
Girls 400: 2nd Aubrey Lamay, 3rd Kinlee Morgan
Boys 800: 3rd Dane Weaver
Boys Long Jump: 5th Ethan Smith
Boys Javelin: 5th Ethan Smith
Boys Shot: 2nd Blayze Ward

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces a $2.6 million project to remove and replace the LA 516 bridge over Poland Branch east of Fryeburg in Bienville Parish.

Work is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 31, to remove the existing bridge, which is located approximately 1.4 miles west of the intersection with LA 154.

Traffic will be detoured via LA 154 and US 371.

In addition to removal of the 64-year-old existing bridge, other construction activities include clearing and grubbing to remove vegetation in the work area, grading, drainage structures, asphalt milling, pavement patching, base course, lime treatment, asphalt overlay, and construction of a new modernized concrete structure.

The entire project is anticipated to be complete in late July 2025, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.

Investing in the replacement of rural bridges like this one is a strategic use of taxpayer funding that supports the long-term sustainability and prosperity of local communities.

DOTD appreciates the public’s patience and reminds the public to drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment. Remember to leave plenty of room between vehicles.

Area residents should exercise caution when driving, walking, or biking near an active construction zone.

Bienville Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access – $95. Contact your funeral provider or billvance.erg@gmail.com. (Notice of Deaths shown above are FREE of charge. You may email them to billvance.erg@gmail.com

GIBSLAND – The Bonnie and Clyde monument has been stolen – AGAIN.

According to the Bienville Parish Clerk of Court Eddie Holmes, the commemorative plaque was stolen again from the Bonnie and Clyde ambush site, although no one knows when it was taken.

“This spot is by far our most popular tourist stop for out-of-towners and one of our most popular festivals, Bonnie and Clyde, happens in May of each year,” Clerk of Court Eddie Holmes said. “If you are responsible, or know who is, please consider returning the plaque. You can contact me and I will take the plaque, or have you leave it somewhere for me to pick up and have it reinstalled with no further issue
made.”

The plaque was replaced with funds from the Bienville Parish Police Jury and the Arcadia Bienville Parish Chamber of Commerce. The monument, which was adorned by a plaque, paid tribute to the law enforcement officers who ended the infamous couple’s crime spree. The couple was ambushed by law enforcement and lost their lives following a robbery and murder spree.

Perry Carver, owner of the Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum in Gibsland, said at the ribbon cutting of the replacement plaque in October 2024, that it comes after the original was vandalized and the plaque was stolen.

“The people just need to leave it alone,” he said. “It’s not locals that mess it up. It’s not a memorial to Bonnie and Clyde. It’s a site marker; it’s an historical plaque, not a memorial for any one.”

During the night of April 3 or the morning of April 4, 2023, a thief or thieves stole the original plaque from its concrete stand at the ambush site. For 17 months, visitors to the site saw the original granite marker, which says, “At this site, May 23, 1934, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were killed by enforcement officers.” To the right of the granite marker, they saw a concrete stand where another plaque had been mounted. The location of the stolen original plaque remains a mystery.

The replacement marker said, “On this site, May 23, 1934, at 9:15 a.m., the famous outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow met their demise at the hands of these dedicated law enforcement officials. Lest we forget these brave and vigilant conservators of the peace.” Included on the plaque is the famous photo of the ambush posse.

“If it does not get returned, it is unlikely that another replacement occurs – leaving only a marred chunk of concrete on the roadside for future visitors to see,” Holmes said.

Brad Dison, columnist and avid historian, contributed to this report.

Driving on a sidewalk is sure to arouse suspicions, especially when it’s done in sight of a police officer, and a Ruston woman is now facing a number of charges due to her choice of routes.

According to police incident reports, a Minden police officer observed 40-year-old Morgan Allison Teekel operating her vehicle on a sidewalk and nearly striking a pole at the intersection of LA Hwy. 159 and McArthur Dr. just before 7pm Saturday.

After the vehicle was stopped, a Louisiana State Trooper was called to the scene to investigate and reportedly found the suspect displaying slurred speech and other signs of possible impairment. She reportedly performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests.

A child passenger in the vehicle reportedly told officers his mother had handed him a pill bottle as the vehicle was being stopped. When officers retrieved the bottle, they reportedly found it contained a variety of narcotics.

Following a routine information check, officers reportedly learned Teekel had a previous arrest and conviction for DWI first offense in Bienville Parish.

Teekel reportedly is charged with DWI second offense with child endangerment, possession of CDS Sch. I, possession of CDS Sch. III, possession of CDS Sch. IV, illegal possession of a CDS in the presence of a minor and careless operation of a vehicle.

Teekel is currently being held in the Webster Parish jail under $10,501 bond.

The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.

03/09/25

Vernon Deepe of Arcadia was arrested for Possession or Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia (Misdemeanor) and Possession of Methamphetamine Less Than 28 Grams (Felony).

Joseph Watkins of Shreveport was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License; No License Issued.

03/10/25

Limuel Weeks of Arcadia was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License; Other Offenses.

03/11/25

Delvon Morris of Minden was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License; No License Issued; and Maximum Speed Limit.

Tycorus Haucly of Arcadia was arrested for Violation of Protective Orders (Misdemeanor).

Erik Rogers of Arcadia was arrested for Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor).

03/12/25

Jamarcus Abbott of Arcadia was arrested for Vehicle Registration Expired (Misdemeanor); Driver Must Be Licensed; Aggravated Flight from an Officer (Felony); No Seat Belt (1st Offense); Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor); Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute; and Violation of Probation/Parole.

Donovan Haulcy of Arcadia was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery with Child Endangerment (Felony); Aggravated Battery with Dangerous Weapon (Felony); and Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling (Felony).

Redginal Moore of Heflin was arrested for Fugitive.

03/13/25

Shawna Lance of Heflin was arrested for Fugitive.

Brady Alsup of Coushatta was arrested for Fugitive; Simple Burglary – Movable Structure (Felony); Theft (Felony); and Simple Criminal Damage to Property (Felony).

03/14/25

Alicia Cuestas of Fort, TX, was arrested for Maximum Speed Limit (Interstate of Controlled Access Highway); Possession of Alcoholic Beverages in Motor Vehicles; and Possession of Cocaine Less Than 28 Grams (Felony).

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Daniel W. Newell, District Attorney for the Second Judicial District in and for the Parish of Bienville, made the following announcements relative to disposition of cases in Bienville Parish.

January 2025

Sherman Dewayne Brackens of Gibsland, LA—Pled guilty to Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. He was sentenced to 1 year at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 1 year supervised probation.

Christopher B. Brown of Ringgold, LA—Pled guilty to Possession of Schedule II CDS-Methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor.

Jeffery Fitzgerald Johnson of Arcadia, LA—Pled guilty to Theft Over $1,000.00 Less Than $5,000.00. He was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 2 years supervised probation. He is required to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $2,100.

Marcus Lard, Jr. of Castor, LA—Pled guilty to First Degree Robbery. He was sentenced to 3 years at hard labor.

Demecio Tywon Abney of Arcadia, LA—Pled guilty to Aggravated Flight From an Officer. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 2 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Malando Cartavrious Kemp, Jr., of Ringgold, LA—Pled guilty to 2 counts of Possession of a Firearm By a Person Convicted of Domestic Violence. He was sentenced to 1 year at hard labor without benefit on each. These sentences will run concurrently. He was placed on 2 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Justin Kyle Kent of Princeton, LA—Pled guilty to Aggravated Second Degree Battery. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which will run consecutive to any other sentences.

Jerry Gray of Arcadia, LA—Pled guilty to Simple Escape. He was sentenced to 3 years at hard labor. He also pled guilty to 2 counts of Distribution of Schedule II CDS-Methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 10 years on each count, which will run concurrently. These two sentences will run consecutively of each other.

Larry Wayne Hargrove of Ruston, LA—Pled guilty to DWI-Third Offense. He was sentenced to 3 years at hard labor, which all but 1 year without benefit was suspended. He will be placed on 2 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

February 2025

Rhett Sims of Arcadia, LA—Pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice. He was sentenced to 6 months in parish jail, which was suspended. He was placed on 2 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office

Jason William Lay of Arcadia, LA—Pled guilty to 2 counts of Distribution of Schedule II CDS-Methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor on each count, which will run concurrently.

John Wayne Robertson of Arcadia, LA— Pled guilty to Aggravated Flight From an Officer. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which all but 1 year was suspended. He will be placed on 1 year supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Shondace Love Kemp of Ringgold, LA—Pled guilty to Principal to Illegal Use of a Weapon or Dangerous Instrumentalities. She was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which was suspended. She was placed on 5 years supervised probation. She also pled guilty to Accessory After the Fact. She was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor, which was suspended that will run consecutively to her other sentence.

March 2025

Ronnie P. Austin, Jr. of Ringgold, LA—Pled guilty to 2 counts of Distribution of Schedule II CDS-Cocaine. He was sentenced to 11 years at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 5 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Kassidy Cowin of Tulsa, OK—Pled guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule I CDS-Marijuana More Than 2-1/2 pounds. She was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor, which was suspended. She was placed on 5 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Fredrick Jermaine Johnson of Heflin, LA— Pled guilty to 2 counts of Distribution of Schedule II CDS-Methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor on each count, which was suspended and will run concurrently. He was placed on 3 years supervised probation and required to pay fines and costs to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Mitchell Wayne Ray of Ringgold, LA—Pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor. He also pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Battery. He was sentenced to 6 months in the parish jail. These sentences will run concurrently.

Kristopher Lee Rupp of Bel Aire, KS—Pled guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule I CDS-Marijuana More Than 2-1/2 pounds. He was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor.

Tony Randall Smith, Jr. of Bienville, LA—Pled guilty to Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 5 years supervised probation.

Charlie Michael Thompson of Saline, LA—Pled guilty to Forgery. He was sentenced to 3 years at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 3 years supervised probation.

Kimberly T. Boyd of Castor, LA—Pled guilty to Violation of Protective Order-Second Offense. She was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which was suspended. She was placed on 3 years supervised probation.

Wade Patton Bryan of Heflin, LA—Pled guilty to Intimidating, Impeding or Injuring Witnesses. He was sentenced to 2 years at hard labor, which all but the time he served in jail was suspended. He was placed on 2 years supervised probation.

Lakedrick Marquez Simpson of Gibsland, LA—Pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I CDS-Marijuana. He was sentenced to 10 years at hard labor, which was suspended. He was placed on 5 years supervised probation. He also pled guilty to Failure to Pay Child Support (First Offense). He was
sentenced to serve 90 days in parish jail.

The Bienville Parish Police Jury held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 12.

Among the items on the agenda discussed in the meeting include the approval of equipment repairs, a request from the School Board for bus turnarounds, and water pump repairs. The jury also discussed and voted on a bid for the Bryceland property discussed in February. The jury also passed a resolution naming October as Dysautonomia Awareness Month in Louisiana. A resolution congratulating several local school basketball teams on their athletic achievements was also passed. 

The complete minutes can be viewed below.

The Bienville Parish Library Adult Outreach Program presents the 4th annual poetry contest Jazzabration – Poetic Rhythms: A Fusion of Jazz and Verse. All adult poets in Bienville Parish are invited to participate. BPL will be accepting entries between March 22 – April 16. 

The rules are simple: 

1. Pick up the half-sheet form at any location of BPL.
2. Compose and submit the poem, in whatever style the poet prefers (free verse, sonnet, etc.).
3. Drop off the poem at any BPL location or email it to jcato@state.lib.la.us. The submission deadline is April 17. 

The winning poem will be selected by a panel of judges. The winner will be contacted to schedule a time to record their poem. It will be uploaded to the Bienville Parish Library Youtube account and posted on the BPL Facebook page for all to enjoy. 

Have questions? Call 318-263-7410 ex. 5.

BPL will also host a Jazz Poetry Program on Thursday, April 24, 1-2pm, at the Arcadia branch in the Large Events Room. This event will blend the the world of poetry and jazz music. All entrants in the poetry contest are encouraged to recite their poems as they are blended with live jazz music.