UPDATE: Fire destroys Heyman Lane home Tuesday night

Firefighters with Rapides Parish Fire District 2 and the Alexandria Fire Department battled a blaze at the home of Theresa Earthly  Tuesday  night.

Fire District 2  sounded the alarm about 9:25 p.m. to respond to 215 Heyman Lane. When firefighters arrived at 9:32 they found the home engulfed in fire, said Assistant Fire Chief Gary Leggett.

It appeared that no one was injured as homeowners gathered outside of the home.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, Leggett said.

LaPine Chapter wins big at international conference

Submitted

The LaPine Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (“IAAP”) came away from the 2010 IAAP International Education Forum and Annual Meeting in Boston with seven awards in two categories:  Chapter of Excellence and Member of Excellence.

To receive the Chapter of Excellence, a chapter must meet 14 of 19 criteria set by IAAP that relate to education, participation, managing chapter business correctly, disseminating information and chapter growth.  This is the second year LaPine has received the award.

Also, the chapter had six members recognized for achieving the Member of Excellence.  They were Kimberly D. Boyd, CPS/CAP; Flora S. Keys; Shelley D. Malone, CPS/CAP; Frances T. Morrison, CAP; Cindy P. Rine, CPS/CAP and Deborah F. Watson, CPS.

To earn the ranking of Member of Excellence, individuals must meet eight out of 11 criteria.  The criteria for a member relates to those areas as listed above for the chapter, but on an individual level.  Examples include holding positions of leadership, participation and attendance at the chapter, division or international levels, and working toward certifications.

The LaPine Chapter was represented at the meeting by president Flora Keys, vice president Shelley Malone and member Mary Kee.

The mission of the LaPine Chapter is to enhance the success of career‐minded administrative professionals by providing opportunities for growth through education, community building and leadership development.

The LaPine Chapter conducts its regular meetings on the third Wednesday of the month, usually during the lunch hour, which feature guest speakers on a variety of educational and informative topics.  The group also hosts special events for the community such as a professional development seminar, recognition for Administrative Professionals in April and Bosses’ Day in October.

For meeting details, contact Frances Morrison at (318) 484-7695 or frances.morrison@cleco.com.

Copeland’s restaurant closes due to economy

Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Bar and Restaurant in Alexandria has closed, according to published reports.

The restaurant, at 2421 South MacArthur Drive, was opened in March 2005 by Alexandria businessman Mike Shelton.

Shelton sold the restaurant to Alexandria businessman David Pugh in 2007.

The restaurant opened in Alexandria in March 2005.

New shelter for men opening Tuesday, Aug. 31

Safe Landing, a shelter for men who are transitioning back into society following incarceration, will hold an open house at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 1430 Enterprise Road in Alexandria.

The public is invited to attend the event, which is sponsored by Re-Entry Solutions Center of Alexandria.

Tuesday’s activities will include a dedication ceremony and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Safe Landing will house up to 12 men who are working their way back into society, according to Re-Entry Solutions field liaison Victor Carstarphen. The shelter will offer job training as well as spiritual counseling, he said.

UPDATE: Missing Concordia Parish teen back home

Tinitra Washington

By Everything Cenla staff

A Vidalia-area teen reported missing since Saturday is safe and back home, according to published reports. She showed up unharmed at an aunt’s house in Ferriday around 6:45 p.m. Monday.

A Concordia Parish grandmother reported her 15-year-old granddaughter  was missing

Joyce Velasquez said her granddaughter, Tinitra “Tierra” Washington, ran away about 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, from their home located at 108 Ralph Road, Lot 24 in the Country Estates Trailer Park near Vidalia.

Velasquez said the teen walked away from their home after an argument.

Mother, daughter accused of stabbing mother’s boyfriend

By Everything Cenla staff

A mother and her daughter were arrested Saturday and are accused of stabbing the mother’s boyfriend after she saw him with other women, according to the Alexandria Police.

Alice Davis, 49, 120 Sunset, and her daughter Carnquitta Davis, 21, 3103 Monroe St., were arrested shortly after midnight Sunday, Aug. 29.  Davis’ boyfriend accuses the women of jumping and stabbing him after an argument about the boyfriend being with other women.

The boyfriend accuses Alice Davis of leaving their home irate and returning with her daughter.  They allegedly used a knife to stab him in the left arm and right side.

The victim was treated at Rapides Regional Medical Center. The women were booked into the Rapides Parish Jail each on a charge of aggravated battery.

Two Deville men accused in grocery store armed robbery

By Everything Cenla staff

Two Deville men are in the Rapides Parish Jail in connection with an armed robbery that occurred Aug. 14, at Humphries Grocery Store, 6728 Esler Field Road, Pineville, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Taylor Scott Crooks, 19, 246 Nation Road, and Chance Michael Ducote, 74 Deville Cutoff Road, were arrested following an investigation.

Witnesses told deputies someone entered the store and brandished a firearm while demanding money. After stealing an undisclosed amount of money, the offender left the store without any problems.

Witnesses reported the offender got into a green-colored truck that was driven by a second man.

Crooks is being held in the parish jail on a $25,000 bond and Ducote is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Authorities ask that anyone with information about this case should call Detective Stephen Phillips at the Tioga Sub Station at (318) 641-6000 or Crime Stoppers at (318) 7867.

District 26 Rep. Herbert Dixon named to national office

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Herbert B. Dixon. who represents District 26 in the Louisiana Legislature,  has been named Vice Chair of the National Council of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Labor and Economic Development Committee. Massachusetts Senator and NCSL President Richard T. Moore made the appointment.

“I am honored to represent the interests of the state legislatures in the continuing debate over the changing state-federal relationship,” Rep. Dixon said about his new appointment.

The Labor and Economic Development Committee is one of 12 standing committees on the National Conference of State Legislatures. The standing committees are responsible for developing policies that guide NCSL’s activities on Capitol Hill and within the administration.

“Rep. Dixon brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the table,” said Senator Richard Moore. “I am pleased that he has accepted the appointment and I look forward to his valuable contributions to state public policy over the next year.”

NCSL has just completed an active year in representing the interests of states in Washington, D.C. including work on the extension of an enhanced Federal Medicaid match, health care reform, financial services reform, transportation finance reauthorization, and electronic commerce, among other issues.

The National Conference of State Legislatures is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the states in the American federal system.

Red Cross to host hurricane prepardness event for military personnel and families

With late August marking the peak of Hurricane Season and September hailed as National Preparedness Month, the Red Cross will be hosting a special event for military families in Central Louisiana.  At the event, military personnel and families will be able to build an emergency preparedness kit and learn about emergency preparedness.  The American Red Cross’ Services to Armed Forces will host a Ready Fort Polk Emergency Preparedness Kit event Aug. 28 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Army Community Service bldg 920, BellRichard Avenue.

Fort Polk is one of six places worldwide to participate in the grant-funded program this year.  Other locations are Germany, Korea, Fort Drum, N.Y., Fort Lewis, Wash., and Fort Belvoir, Va.

The goal is to provide 1,500 Families at each location with basic elements of an emergency/disaster kit. The items that will be made available for military families at the event include:

• ARC multipurpose lantern
• Two LED flow sticks
• Two emergency preparedness drawstring bags
• Self-powered AM/FM National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio
• Personal safety pack
• Mini water storage system
• Multi-tool

Red Cross volunteer teams from across Louisiana will be will be available to demonstrate how to assemble a disaster kit and to provide community disaster preparedness information.  Other Fort Polk agencies and units will be supporting the event as well.

The event is open to anyone with a military ID: Active duty, Reserve, National Guard or retirees.

Marksville husband, wife accused of stealing money from home safe

Joseph Johnson

By EverythingCenla staff

April Johnson, 34, and Joseph Johnson, 32, both of Marksville were arrested in connection with a home burglary in which a safe that contained a large amount of money was stolen, according to the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office received information on Aug. 20 that money from a safe had been taken from a Marksville home. The homeowner provided information to authorities that led them to believe the suspects may  have been headed to Alabama.

Shortly afterwards, authorities stopped a vehicle in which the couple was in on Louisiana Highway 11192. The wife allegedly admitted that she and her husband had burglarized the Marksville residence on more than one occasion, each time taking large amounts of case from the safe without the homeowner’s knowledge.

At the time of the traffic stop, Joseph Johnson allegedly had  $2,000, which he admitted was taken from the safe burglary earlier that day.

Also, authorities claim the Johnsons said they had purchased vehicles, durgs and alcohol with money previously taken from the home.

Both were booked into the Avoylles Parish Jail. April Johnson was charged with simple burglary, possession of CDS II with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $100,000.

Joseph Johnson was charged with simple burglary and illegal possession of stolen things. His bond was also set at $100,000.