Political Illusions of the Cajun Mafia

B2 AMERICAN PRESS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009
FROM PAGE B1 • STATE
Toy Run to benefit Angel Tree project to be Saturday in DeRidder
BY ELONA WESTON
AMERICAN PRESS
DERIDDER — For almost
20 years, a group of motorcycle
enthusiasts have teamed
with a local agency to help
provide Christmas to needy
children.
Gold Wing Riders
Association Chapter M hosts
an annual Toy Run, which
benefits the Beauregard
Community Action Association’s
Angel Tree project.
This year’s event is
Saturday.
Gold Wing members have
9 when the activity began
July 31, 2004. It ended July 1,
2007, according to the indictment.
Indicted on a charge of
indecent behavior with a juvenile
were Lilton Chesson, 65;
Richard Vital, 27; Wesley
Lummus, 19; and Jason A.
Doyle, 27.
Doyle was also indicted on
two counts of sexual battery.
Chesson allegedly had sexual
contact with a 6-year-old
child Aug. 3, 2008. Vital
allegedly had sexual contact
with a 15-year-old July 2.
Lummus allegedly had sexual
contact with a 14-year-old
Oct. 26-Nov. 13, 2008. Doyle
allegedly engaged in sexual
activity with a 14-year-old
July 1-Aug. 31.
Rafael Medrano, 57, was
indicted on four counts of
aggravated incest; he allegedly
had sexual contact with a
13-year-old Feb. 1-Nov. 5.
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collected toys for weeks. They
will also gather items during
Saturday’s annual Beauregard
Parish Christmas
Parade, which will roll at 10
a.m. through DeRidder.
After the parade, Gold
Wing members will meet at
the parking lot at Walmart on
U.S. 171 and will continue collecting
toys.
The event will last about
two hours.
There will be music by
Sudden Impact, a local band
that has volunteered to play.
There will be entertainment
by the Dixie Darlins, Bayou
Babes and Southern
CHARGES: 6 indicted for
crimes against juveniles
from PAGE B1
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The group will also
collect items during
Saturday’s Beauregard
Christmas Parade, which
will roll at 10 a.m.
through DeRidder.
Sweeties, all dancers from
Dance Stop in DeRidder.
Winkie Branch, BCAA
director, said the annual Toy
Run significantly affects the
Angel Tree project each year.
SULPHUR — The Sulphur
Kiwanis Club will hold its
annual Balloons on Parade at
3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.
The parade will start at
W.W. Lewis and travel west
on Cypress Street to end at
Heritage Square, where
Christmas Under the Oaks
festivities will be under way.
The theme of the event, the
only balloon parade in the
BATON ROUGE — Snow,
sleet and ice will likely cover
parts of Louisiana later today,
and state police say drivers
should avoid traveling as
much as possible.
If driving can’t be avoided,
officials said, use extreme caution
when traveling in winter
weather conditions. Rain,
sleet and snow can quickly
cause roads to ice over, particularly
on bridges and overpasses.
00575688
She said she is grateful for
those who have volunteered
to help with Saturday’s event.
“Without the community’s
generosity and people like
this we wouldn’t be able to do
it. We get no funding for
this,” she said.
Branch said BCAA will
provide Christmas for more
than 450 children this year.
Throughout the year, the
group distributes food to seniors
and helps pay electricity
costs for those in need. But
among the organization’s
many projects, the Angel
Tree effort is the staff’s
favorite.
state, is “Classic Children’s
Christmas Stories.” This
year’s parade marshal will be
Glen Bonin, who is well
known for his years of leadership
in organizing the
Sulphur Community
Thanksgiving.
He has designed and built
over 600 homes throughout
Calcasieu as owner and operator
of General Construction
Candles and Gifts Galore!
Sunday, December 6
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sales throughout store!
Register for
door prize drawings!
Aloette Cosmetics
110 S. Thomson Iowa, La.
Ph.582-3783 Located in Downtown Iowa
Each September, the group
begins accepting applications
for the Angel Tree.
Applicants must provide
proof of household income,
along with proof of children’s
ages.
Only children 12 and
younger are considered.
When a child is accepted,
an angel is made to represent
him or her and is placed on a
Christmas tree outside the
BCAA. The paper angels —
pink for girls and blue for
boys — include the children’s
first names, their clothing
sizes and a few items they
wish to open on Christmas
Co. for 18 years. He worked
for Cit-Con Oil Co. for 16
years as an instrument technician.
Bonin is a 42-year member
of the Maplewood-Hollywood
Lions Club.
He is also a charter board
member of Care/Help of
Sulphur and charter president
of the Brimstone
Historical Society.
As roads accumulate ice,
state police and transportation
department officials may
order closures, so drivers
should expect delays in commuting
and should plan alternate
routes.
If you must travel on icy
roads, be aware that steering
and braking abilities will be
diminished.
Drive slower than normal,
and leave plenty of room
between your vehicle and others
on the road.
Increase your stopping distance
at red lights and stop
signs. If you encounter ice,
don’t brake suddenly — you
may lose control. Ease off the
accelerator and gently apply
your brakes. If your vehicle
begins to skid, release the
brake and steer into the direction
of the skid until you
regain control.
Check the condition of
your vehicle’s tires, battery,
ALEXANDRIA (AP) —
Louisiana’s top higher education
board is cutting 30 academic
programs with low
completion rates at five public
college campuses.
The Louisiana Board of
Regents made the decision
Wednesday.
morning.
The gifts are passed out in
mid-December. Parents stop
by and pick up the gifts,
which are usually distributed
on a day when children are in
school.
Children whose angels
aren’t chosen are provided
for through anonymous
donors and through efforts
like the Toy Run.
For more information on
the Angel Tree project, call
the BCAA at 463-7895 or 463-
7263.
■
On the Net:
www.chapterlam.com.
Kiwanis Balloons on Parade scheduled for Dec. 5
Bonin has been married to
Georgia Schap for 59 years.
They have four children, nine
grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.
Playing the part of
Rudolph in this year’s parade
is Brittany Ross.
Ross was selected as the
Kiwanis Club Youth
Volunteer of the Year at the
club’s annual banquet.
Drivers cautioned about possible icy road conditions
windshield wipers and
antifreeze, and keep an emergency
kit in your vehicle in
case you break down.
Kits should include blankets,
a cell phone, flashlights,
bottled water and emergency
flares.
If you experience difficulties
or witness hazardous situations
on the highway, call
*577 from your cell phone. For
road closure information, call
511.
Regents cut college programs
The board has eliminated
217 academic programs since
January, part of its cost-cutting
moves amid state budget
shortfalls. Students enrolled
in the programs will be able to
finish their degrees.
The programs approved for
elimination are at the LSU
Health Sciences Center in
New Orleans, University of
New Orleans, Delgado
Community College, Nunez
Community College and
Sowela Technical Community
College.
We’ve Made
Some
Changes
The construction is over and we’re celebrating!
Please join us for an OPEN HOUSE
Friday, December 4
10am – 2pm
CSB’s Moss Bluff Hwy. 378 location
Check out the changes, visit with the staff, and enjoy the
refreshments.
Personal Banking At Its Best!
www.csbbanking.com
F O R M O R E I N F O
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