Four Alexandria men accused of robbing two Grant Parish men

By EverythingCenla staff

Four Alexandria men are accused of using a weapon to rob two Grant Parish men near Fatboy’s on North Texas Avenue Sunday afternoon, according to Alexandria police reports.

The four men are:

• Dominik Rose, 18, 11414 Marilyn Dr.
• Cederius Span, 18, 1205 Magnolia St.
• Delmartrius Span, 19, 1205 Magnolia St.
• Jerome Harrell, 26, 1525 Madison St.

Each has been charged with armed robbery

The four men allegedly brandished a handgun and robbed the men taking a credit card. The victims from Dry Prong and Colfax told police the men left the scene in a gray van. While responding to the call, officers reported seeing a gray van traveling east on Rapides Drive turning left on Veterans.

The men were arrested and booked into the Rapides Parish Jail.

Pill Box Pharmacy open and ready to serve the Lower Third community

Pharmacist Michelle Smith talks to customer Martha Lowe about the pharmacy's services. Lowe lives on Lower Third Street in Alexandria.

Pharmacist Michelle Scott

The Pill Box is located at 3203 Third St., Alexandria.

By Sherri L. Jackson
EverythingCenla

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s here.

It is a pharmacy, and here is on Third and Douglass streets in the Lower Third community of District 3.

And Martha Lowe, who lives in the community couldn’t be prouder that there is finally a pharmacy in her community.

“I’m proud that they put something down here for us. I am ecstatic,” Lowe said as she was questioning Pharmacist Michelle Smith about the business’ services.

Joe Williams and Smith, who has been a pharmacist for 23 years, are the owners of The Pill Box, a full-service pharmacy located at 3203 Third St. Smith previously worked at Rite-Aid on MacArthur Drive.

The Third Street location is the second Pill Box Pharmacy in Alexandria. The first location, which opened in January, is located at 4740 Jackson St. The Pill Box is the former The Medicine Shoppe.

The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  All forms of insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid, are accepted.

Though the Third Street location has not had its official grand opening, it is open for business and awaiting customers, especially the community’s elderly who’ve expressed concerns about the lack of a community pharmacy.

And service is what Williams and Smith hope to bring to the community.

Williams said his desire is to bring the pharmacy to Lower Third Street surfaced about a year ago when he noticed there was not a pharmacist near Rapides Primary Health Care Clinic located on Willow Glenn River Road and that people were outside of the clinic waiting on a bus.

“I looked at a building next door to the clinic, but that didn’t work out. Then the word got out and the city approached me about (participating in) SPARC,” he said.

SPARC stands for Special Planned Activity Redevelopment Corridors. It is the City of Alexandria’s infrastructure investment project that includes three Cultural Restoration Areas known as CRAs. Lower Third Street is one of those CRAs.

In March, Williams was one of the potential investors Mayor Jacques Roy said was interested in bringing retail development to Lower Third Street.

“The ultimate goal is to bring something bigger to the community, but I didn’t want to wait. I wanted to get going,” he said.

Smith said the pharmacy located in the small building that once served as a food establishment has the same amenities as a larger pharmacy.

“We are full service, and we have the top 200 medications in stock. What we don’t have in stock, we can get the same day or the next day. If we have the drug in stock, we will fill the prescription right away. The service goal is 10 minutes, Smith said.

“Also we can match any competitor’s price, and it’s easy to transfer transcriptions. If you need a refill, we can call the doctor and get it for you,” she said.

Additionally, as business picks up, both Williams and Smith said there will be job opportunities available to community residents. Until then, Williams and Smith are working at the pharmacy.

Meanwhile, Attorney Jonathan Goins, who represents the Lower Third community on the Alexandria City Council, said having the pharmacy in the community is a “positive beginning to a bright future of economic development in the Lower Third Area.”

“I applaud Mr. Williams for taking the step that many businesses are afraid to do. Even before I became a councilman, one of the main concerns of the elderly is that they didn’t have any way to get their medicine in the community,” he said. “When the opportunity arose, I was excited to hear Mr. Williams was coming to the community.”

“This is the catalyst needed to spark other businesses to come down and participate in the growth and development of our community.”

Goins said he encourages the community to visit the pharmacy and to spread the word throughout their communities that the pharmacy is available and open for business.

State police suspect alcohol a factor in Natchitoches Parish fatal crash

By Everything Cenla staff

Lauren D. Delrie,  21, of Chopin, was killed in a one-vehicle accident  early Sunday morning when the vehicle she was in went off of the right side of Louisiana Highway 490 and hit a tree, according to Louisiana State Police Troop E.

Delrie was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver, Joseph D. Delarcerda, 21, also of Chopin, was seriously injured.

State Police report the accident occurred about 9:15 a.m. east of Interstate 49. Delarcerda was driving a 1997 Honda Accord eastward on Highway 490 when he lost control of the vehicle resulting in it hitting a tree on the right side of the highway.

Delarcerda or Delrie were not wearing seatbelts. Delarcerda was taken to Rapides Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Routine toxicology tests and charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

Unused, unneeded and expired prescription drugs to be collected Saturday, Sept. 25

By Everything Cenla staff

The Alexandria Area Four Safe Streets/Community Program will collect unused, unneeded and expired prescription drug medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Martin Community Center, 2301 Mill St.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Program  is in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

For more information, call Pamela Marshall, Safe Streets liaison, at (318) 473-1132.

Rodney Alexander receives Guardian of Small Business Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business association, today named U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, a Guardian of Small Business for his outstanding voting record on behalf of America’s small business owners in the 111th Congress.

NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner, who presented Alexander with the decoration, said “In the 111th Congress, Representative Alexander proved that he is a champion of small business. The Guardian of Small Business Award is a token of the deep appreciation that small business owners have for elected officials who promote and protect their right to own, operate and grow their businesses.”

Alexander said he was pleased to receive this important recognition.

“I am proud to be named a Guardian and vow to do everything I can to keep the American Dream alive,” said Alexander.

“These days, small businesses are hesitant to hire and scared to expand due to the uncertainty created by Washington’s harmful policies. It frustrates me to imagine how many potential entrepreneurs and small business owners have been discouraged because our tax policies hamper the entrepreneurial spirit.

“Especially during these trying times, raising taxes will essentially eliminate even more jobs; it will bring job creation and economic recovery to screeching halts. When approximately 15 million individuals remain unemployed, for us to continue down this reckless path is unfathomable.”

Annual Homeless Stand Down offers services to homeless, veterans

By Everything Cenla staff

The 7^th annual Homeless Stand Down was held today with “much success,” said Rena Powell, Health Care for Homeless Veterans coordinator for the Veterans .

The annual event was held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Sept. 23, at the Bolton Avenue Community Center.

“It was excellent. We had higher attendance this year and about 60 booths,” Powell said.

The idea behind the event, Powell said, is to gather service agencies in one place in order to increase the community’s awareness of the services provided to the homeless, veterans and displaced persons.

The Alexandria VA Medical Center (VAMC), in conjunction with the city of Alexandria and Central Louisiana Homeless Coalition, will sponsor the 7th annual ‘Homeless Stand Down’ from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Bolton Avenue Community Center, 315 Bolton Avenue in Alexandria.

Effie bank robber captured near Libuse

Michael David Gordon, 46, of 46 Gunter Road near  Libuse, was arrested at his home shortly before noon today, Sept. 23, in connection with the Effie bank armed robbery, according to published reports.

The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force and the FBI, jointly served Gordon with a warrant for armed robbery and false imprisonment.

Published reports indicate Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators “received a break in the case today.”

Law enforcement authorities have been searching for the bank robber since Tuesday afternoon, when a lone gunman first came into Cottonport Bank  acting as if he wanted to make a loan. He left and returned a short time later pointing the gun at the teller while demanding money.

Gordon is accused of waiting to brandish the weapon until after the single bank customer left the bank. He allegedly took an undetermined amount of money and left employees bound at the wrist in a storage closet.

Michael David Gordon, 46, of 46 Gunter Road near  Libuse, was arrested at his home shortly before noon today, Sept. 23, in connection with the Effie bank armed robbery, according to published reports.

The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office, along with Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force and the FBI, jointly served Gordon with a warrant for armed robbery and false imprisonment.

Published reports indicate Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators “received a break in the case today.”

Law enforcement authorities have been searching for the bank robber since Tuesday afternoon, when a lone gunman first came into the bank acting as if he wanted to make a loan. He left and returned a short time later pointing the gun at the teller while demanding money.

Gordon is accused of waiting to brandish the weapon until after the single bank customer left the bank. He allegedly took an undetermined amount of money and left employees bound at the wrist in a storage closet.

Read more

Green erases black and white

By Sherri L. Jackson
Publisher of The Light and EverythingCenla.com

In the African-American church tradition there’s a simple phrase that is used when one is lost for words or emotionally caught up in the atmosphere. Here it is, “If I can’t say a word, I’ll just wave my hand.”

Since the exchange between Tony Brown of Eyes Open With Tony Brown Productions and Lisa Harris of the City of Alexandria, I’ve been waving my hand. Now that my hand is down and I’ve come to myself, I’ve got much to say about Harris’ apparent disregard of the media which serves the black community.

In full disclosure, I am an African-American woman who publishes The Light, which is predominately distributed in Cenla’s black commuities, but has a heavy online and print readership in the mainstream community.

Yes, it it true that the mainstream media, particularly The Town Talk and KALB, has a wider viewing audience primarily because of its resources. Still, I want Harris, an African-American woman, to know that the readers and listeners of The Light, The Alexandria News Weekly, Eyes Open With Tony Brown, KAYT, KTTP and others should not be taken lightly.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Brown spoke of the city’s lack of advertising in the media that serves the black community in August when the city held its makeup concert with Maze featuring Frankie Beverly. Harris admitted she didn’t send advertising dollars to the black media because she was looking to get “the best bang for the buck” in her advertising dollars.”

Harris went on to say that race is not a factor when she decides where to spend the taxpayers’ dollars. In fact, she said, “I’m here to do a job and do the best I can. I am not a racist, have never been and never will be.”

In response to Harris’ statement about not looking at color, Brown responded, “Well, you should.”

I agree with Brown’s response in that Harris should look at color when deciding how to spend her advertising dollars. Yet, I believe the color is not white or black. The color is green.

The color of money takes away white, black, brown, red and yellow. Green is the color of good business sense. As it relates to “Que’in Too” and the Maze concert, if green was the dominant color, advertising dollars should have been spent in the media that would have brought Maze’s fans to the concert. Those dollars should have been spent in The Light, Alexandria News Weekly, Eyes Open With Tony Brown, KAYT, KTTP and others that have a heavy concentration of readers and listeners who were more than likely going to attend the concert. I will bet my bottom dollar that most people in the white community were not going to see or listen to Maze.

If it’s true that Harris’ mandate was to spend money in Lake Charles, Lafayette, Shreveport or Monroe, there were still opportunities to spend use the color green. There are successful media companies with a heavy concentration of black listeners and readers in those communities. In Lake Charles, there is the Gumbo Media Network. In Shreveport, there is the Shreveport Sun. In Monroe, there is the Monroe Dispatch. Certainly, there is a multitude of radio stations that could have been used.

With all that I’ve said, I must say that it’s not smart business to disregard the power of the media that serves the black community. It is the black media that covers the black community when the mainstream community wouldn’t think about coming to the countless family reunions, church picnics,  and other events that showcase the black community in a positive light.

While I’m on that page, I must also say to those in the black communities, when using the color green it makes no sense to spend all of your advertising dollars in the mainstream media and come to us with free announcements. Let’s face it, those who are more than likely to attend your church functions, will see it and hear it from the black media rather than in the mainstream media.

Afterall, it was publications such as the Chicago Defender and Louisiana Weekly that carried the torch for equal, justice and equality for all. These media companies and others have the same mission today.

Just think, if we have the power to keep people away from an event as it was stated in the meeting, we certainly would have the power to bring people to the event.

UPDATE: Vehicle hits large ditch off of Bayou Rapids Road

By Everything Cenla

The Alexandria Police Department responded to MacArthur Drive and Bayou Rapides Road about 4:20 p.m. Tuesday in response to a two-vehicle accident, according to the accident report.

The accident involved a 2007 Toyota Camry, driven by Kim Diane, 10827 Highway 28 West in Boyce, and a 1994 Buick Skylark, driven by Doris Carter, 1811 Powell Lane of Alexandria.

The accident report indicates the Camry was headed westward crossing over MacArthur Drive to Bayou Rapides Road. As it crossed the West Service Road, the vehicle hit the Skylark, which was north of the service.  Diane told officers she didn’t see the Skylark.

Meanwhile, Carter said the Camry hit her Skylark as she was crossing the service road. The skylark rolled through the intersection and turned upside down.

Diane was cited for failure to yield.

Dropping out of the race would show real leadership

By Leonard Ford
Columnist, The Light

It is no secret that I’ve been hoping and praying that at least one or more of the four blacks vying for the mayor’s seat in the City of Alexandria would gracefully drop out of the race.

So far it’s only a wish, but I remain hopeful that Von Jennings, Roosevelt Johnson, the Rev. Joseph Franklin or Jay Johnson would see the light for the good of Alexandria’s mankind.

It appears my hopes may be dwindling as time is almost near and each candidate is putting out signs, circulating printed materials, participating in forums, launching Web sites and staging fundraisers. I fear no one will throw in the towel and call it quits.

However, just in case one or two heeds my call in order to give the best qualified candidate among them a chance to defeat Jacques Roy, I have developed the perfect statement to use in announcing to the public reasons for getting out of the race.

Here is that statement:

“After much thoughtful consideration and discussion with my family, friends, and supporters, I am here today to tell you that I have officially withdrawn my candidacy for mayor of Alexandria, but I have done so with great regret.  As much as I would like to lead the progress of Alexandria over the next four years, and as I strongly as I believe  I have the qualifications, experience, vision, and  ideas to govern this city, it is apparent  with three other black candidates in the race that I have little or no chance of  being elected mayor. I’ve come to realize that I will not be able to get, especially with the others (blacks) in this race, a majority of black votes to win outright or even reach a runoff if one is needed. This is a hard fact that I couldn’t just ignore. As much as I want Alexandria to have a black mayor, and as much as I want to be that black mayor, I can honestly say here and now that both will not happen in this current race due to four of us being on the ballot. I know that electing someone as mayor should be based upon their qualifications and experience rather than their skin color, but there is nothing wrong with wishing that a city with almost a 52 percent black population  have a black mayor.”

“Making this decision was not an easy one, but it was the right thing for me to do at this time.  Doing so does not make me weak, does not mean that I didn’t have faith in myself to win, and doesn’t mean that I didn’t have faith in you to vote for me. I may be dropping out of this race, but I plan to make it my business over these next four years to be in the know about all aspects of city business, and to do what I can for the betterment of Alexandria. Thank you.”

Of course, I’m being facetious, but having four black candidates in this mayoral race is nothing to joke about. It is a serious matter. It is serious enough that we all are going to have to look deep inside of us, do some soul searching, and decide on (not based on our friendship, church loyalty, family connections, or any other mutual relationship that we may have with each of the four black candidates) one specific black candidate who we know is the best qualified and experienced among the four, and who we know has the personality to get along with everyone both black and white.

It’s time for us to stop being the “people who can’t get their act together” when it comes to electing a mayor of Alexandria.  We weren’t together in 2006,  and we’re damn sure  not together now.  It’s the same old same old, and by now, you think we would have gotten a little smarter in figuring out that four black people running for the same office would split the black vote.

We can’t be this ignorant in the 21^st century, can we? From the looks of things, we are and will continue to be until black people get it through their thick heads that we are only robbing ourselves the opportunity of ever having a black mayor.

Yes, I would like for this mayoral campaign to produce a black mayor, but most importantly than that, I implore each and every one of you to get out on Election Day and vote. Please, please, get out and do your civic duty on Oct.  2, 2010.