The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • Page 5

A-5 Vernon Jury Blasts State Fire Marshal Vote Probe Being Expanded By Bruce Schultz Town Talk Staff Writer LEESVILLE The Vernon Parish Police Jury Monday blasted the state fire marshal's office for "taking a shot at the sheriff" with a "politically motivated" suit, dismissed Wednesday, which sought to close the parish jail until safety im with Edwin L. Cabra, first assistant district attorney in Vernon Parish. Both will be tried on one felony conspiracy count and 10 felony vote-buying counts included in one of two indictments handed down in July. When that trial is over, Leach, Cabra, Vernon Parish District Attorney William Tilley and Parthenia Douglas-Beale, a Leesville polling commissioner, will be tried on charges in the second indictment. That indictment included one felony count of conspiracy and 14 felony counts of vote-buying.

Their trial will be followed by that of three more defendants, who received severed trial from the others named in the second indictment. They are state District Judge Ted R. Broyles, Assistant District Attorney Asa Skinner, and unsuccessful Vernon Parish School Board candidate Regionald Seastrunk. U.S. Magistrate Jack Simms, charged with one conspiracy count and 14 vote-buying counts, is to stand trial separately from Leach and Cabra on Oct.

15. The vote-buying probe has resulted in a house-cleaning of Vernon Parish officials. Former Leesville Mayor Ralph McRae Jr. resigned his position after pleading guilty to vote buying charges, along with former City Marshal Hubert Monk and former school board members Robert Pynes and Gene Koury. SHREVEPORT (AP) A new grand jury will look into allegations that Rep.

Claude Leach's home parish was not the only one where votes were bought in the elections that sent him to Congress, authorities say. "I think it's good that the investigation moved away from Vernon Parish and moved on to to other areas," Jimmy Wilson, who lost to Leach by 266 votes in the Nov. 7 election, said Monday. A grand jury meeting in Alexandria has indicted Leach and 30 other Leesville residents, eight of whom were named in the same indictment as Leach. Twenty-two, including one of those indicted with Leach, have either pleaded guilty or been convicted of buying votes in the 4th District's September primary or the November election.

Two others pleaded guilty to bills of information. The grand jury to be empaneled Thursday will hear and investigate vote-buying charges originating in northwest Louisiana, said U.S. Attorney J. Ransdell Keene. The area goes as far east as Claiborne Parish and as far south as Sabine Parish, he said.

Keene said the jurors would serve an 18-month term the maximum possible. Leach has said repeatedly neither he nor his staff was involved in any vote-buying. He is scheduled to go on trial Monday who injected this into it." Adams said when an official from the state fire marshal' office came to the jail Oct. 2, "I jumped him we all jumped him. "I said I didn't like the way they handled this thing before an election.

"It was a shot at the sheriff and uncalled for," Adams continued. "The sheriff couldn't do a thing about it." "No juror should be embarrassed because of that (the suit)," said Knapp. Ward 1 Juror Raymond Palmer noted the parish jail "never has had any escapes like Rapides has." "I think we should have a little bit more investigation into this matter," said Wesley Harralson, Ward 4 juror, who noted the matter was never brought to the jury's attention before the suit was filed. The suit alleges, however, that an order of correction, notifying the jury and sheriff of the needed safety improvement, was issued last July 12. Juror M.O.

"Shorty" Poston moved successfully that the jury "call the man (a state fire marshal) on the mat and have a hearing on this matter." "Let's call this man, set a date and have a hearing on this thing," Poston demanded. No juror voiced opposition to the motion to meet with the fire marshal, W.R. Sievcr, who filed the report that the jail lacked emergency lights. In other matters, Juror Brent Thompson of Ward 7 turned down a request by the Beauregard Police Jury to pave a road which joins Vernon Parish northeast of DeRidder. The Beauregard Police Jury received a state appropriation to pave the road to the Vernon Parish line.

"I can solve the anwer to that problem now," said Thompson. "The answer is no." He explained the mad only serves Short-Term Foster Home Study to Be Done provements are made. The suit, which named the jury and Vernon Parish Sheriff Frank Howard as defendants, sought to have the jail closed because it lacked emergency lighting. The suit was dismissed by 30th Judicial District Judge Ted Broyles Wednesday. Broyles' action came after the state fire marshal's office requested a delay in the originally-requested hearing date of Oct.

15. Jurors did not explain why they felt the suit was politically motivated. But some political observors have pointed out that Jack Hilton, brother of sheriff's candidate P.W. Hilton who is running against Howard, is a state fire marshal who formerly worked in Vernnn Parish. Bert Adams, jury secretary-treasurer, said an inspector from the fire marshal's office came to the jail Tuesday and pointed out where lights, which will operate on batteries in case of emergencies, should be installed.

Adams said the six lights, which cost $128 each, will be installed soon, noting they should have arrived later Monday. Installation will cost an additional $232, said Adams, so the total cost will be about $1,200. Adams and most other jurors noted that when the jail was built, all federal specifications had to be met and the emergency lighting requirement was not implemented until recently. "These things are changing so rapidly," said Ward 1 Juror Tom Knapp. "It's not that serious a thing.

It's a minor thing." But Adams said the responsibility of complying with the requirement was "not the jury's fault nor the sheriff's fault." "I think it was politically motivated," said Adams. "I don't know can't be placed anywhere are "few and far between." Mrs. Hill noted she couldn't think of any such situations. City Court Judge George Foote quoted figures showing 200 cases last year in which children were picked up by police "walking down the street in the middle of the night." He also suggested the need for 24-hour emergency placement homes that could be ready to accept children on short notice. But Ms.

Jordan noted that kind of treatment could do more harm than good for the child putting him somewhere "because it's the easiest thing to do." Mrs. Hill suggested trying to place the child with relatives or in a regular foster care home through her agency. Ritchie disagreed about the damage short-term foster care might cause. It couldn't be any worse than "sitting around the police station all night while you hear them talking about what to do with you. And that is happening every day," he said.

Children found "wandering around at 3 a.m.," Mrs. Hill explained, can be placed in a foster home on the verbal order of a judge hich must be backed up by a written order within 72 hours. She thought that kind of operation met the needs of children in this area with the "rare exception" of young people on drugs or who are emotionally unstable and violent. In most cases they are sent either to Huey P. Long Memorial Hospital or Central Louisiana State Hospital, she added.

What happens to the children who don't fit anywhere, Ritchie asked, getting back to his original point. "I don't Mrs. Hill said. "That's the $64 question." By Alphie Hyorth Town Talk Staff Writer The Renaissance Home board of directors Monday agreed to have a study done by a University of Illinois research team into the need for emergency short-term foster homes in this area. The Community Research Forum, operating out of the university's Champaign-Urbana campus, does consulting work on criminal and juvenile justice.

The team recently completed a study for Lafourche Parish on detention of juveniles. Executive Director Bob Tillie said. The study will be completed at no charge to the home. Earlier, board members held an hour-long discussion with representatives of the state Department of Health and Human Resources on the lack of emergency foster care1 facilities for juveniles. They found it difficult to agree on anything except there are certain young people who can't go into normal foster homes, as Lamar Ritchie of the Office of Human Development put it.

For some time now Ritchie has backed the idea of designating certain foster homes that could be used in an emergency for children who need something to eat and a place to spend the night until something more permanent can be worked out. "There's no question we need the facility. And if we say today we don't need emergency shelter care, we are fooling ourselves," Ritchie said. But that applies mostly to adolescents who "act out" their feelings, said Alice Hill of the DHHR Foster Care Program. Placing younger children in regular foster settings is usually no problem.

And Fran Jordan, also of DHHR, pointed out cases of children who a handful of Vernon Parish residents and other areas in his district, which have higher populations, need roads paved more than the one in question. Club to Determine if Dig Will Damage Cemetery Vernon Jury Summary LEESVILLE The Vernon Parish Police Jury Monday: Labeled a suit seeking the closing of the Vernon Parish Jail "politically motivated." The suit was dismissed last week. Learned a request by the Beauregard Police Jury to pave a road which joins Vernon Parish northeast of DeRidder was turned down. Unanimously approved a recommendation to give $1,800 to the Pitkin Ambulance Service. Authorized payments totaling $12,400 for renovations inside the courthouse.

Agreed to request state funding for gravel for Ward fencing of Louisiana Highway 163 from Cravens to Fullerton; cattle gaps and fencing in Ward 1 on Louisiana Highway 28 to Louisiana Highway 117. Appointed Wendell Wellman to the parish planning commission. Scheduled an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the parishwide maintenance building. Housing and Urban Development grant.

Voted to give town employees holidays for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day and Good Friday. Announced bids would be opened at 4 p.m. Oct. 17 for the water line extension project. Asked Mayor Kent Wardlow to check into the price of a new radar unit.

matter and to receive guarantees that no damage would result to the cemetery before the dig is approved. Previous digs have uncovered shark teeth and various bones. This is the first dig to require town approval because geologists want to remove 500 pounds of dirt. In other action, the council: Passed a fair housing ordinance which prohibits discrimination in the sale or rent of housing in compliance with an application for a expected at Monday's meeting. A geology team from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge has asked the town for permission to dig in the Marl Bed along the Red River banks near Montgomery.

Mrs. Giddens expressed concern that such a dig could result in erosion along the bank, leading to cav-ing-in of parts of the Montgomery Cemetery. The council agreed to give the club three weeks to investigate the By Elaine Beck Town Talk Correspondent MONTGOMERY The Montgomery Town Council Monday agreed to allow the Montgomery Civic Club three weeks to determine whether a proposed geological dig will result in any damage to the town cemetery. Ernestine Giddens of the Montgomery Civic Club requested the council postpone action on the matter. Council approval of the dig was More Tests Taken at Hooker BATON ROUGE (AP) State health and environmental experts have taken a second series of tests at Hooker Chemical Company's Taft plant.

Jim Hutchison, deputy secretary of the Department of Natural He-sources, said Monday it probably would take two to three weeks to analyze the samples taken in the tests. "Low rates are a big reason we're the largest home insurer. But there are Low rates wouldn't mean much without our fust class service Drop by, or give me a call. Simmesport Council OKs '80 Budget With Deficit SIMMESPORT The Simmesport Town Council approved a budget Monday for the 1980 fiscal year which includes a deficit of $1,266. Projected revenues for the town from existing sources total $571,030 while proposed expenditures total $572,296.

The town clerk said this morning the source of revenues will be the same as during the current fiscal year. She said she knew only that the budget apparently included a deficit and did not know whether the town was permitted to approve a budget including a deficit. Jeanette Knoll, an assistant town attorney, said she would have to research the question to determine if the council could legally approve a budget which is not balanced. "I don't like to shoot from the hip on something like this, said Mrs. Knoll.

She said there was no representative for her husband, Avoyelles District Attorney Eddie Knoll who is the town's official attorney, present at the meeting Monday night. During the same meeting, the town auditor presented his report of the Simmesport financial situation through the period ending June 30. The auditor said, "All figures express clean opinions and appear to oe true and materially correct." The council will hold special sessions at 7:30 p.m. Monday and and Nov. 12 to get citizen input on a proposed reapportionment plan for the town and two grant programs.

The reapportionment plan would create four single-member districts and one at-large seat on the council. The proposal was prepared for the town by the Public Affairs Research Council. Bill Monroe of W.C. Monroe Associates in Baton Rouge presented a pre-application form for a 100 percent HUD grant. Simmesport applied under this program last year, but failed get approval for funding.

Monroe suggested Simmesport apply for the single-year comprehensive program which has a maximum grant level of $750,000. This program would encompass streets, drainage, low-income home improvement and recreation facilities. The alternative would be the single-purpose grant which has a maximum of $500,000 and can serve only one purpose. Sears Briefs Safety Stickers Being Distributed Stickers to notify firemen and policemen an infant or invalid may be in a house are being distributed this week by the Alpine Volunteer Fire Department. The stickers will be distributed to schools in the fire district.

They are also available at the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Department substation at Tioga. The stickers are part of the district's observance of Fire Prevention Week, according to Chief Bruce Taylor. Meeting Friday The Louisiana Conference of Social Welfare meeting on problems of adolescence and childhood will be Friday at Veterans Administration Medical Center. Registration is at 8: 30 a.m. The conference will be from 9 a.m.

to 3: 15 p.m. Meeting in Boyce BOYCE A public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Wettermark High School for residents to express their views on how federal grant money should be used. Mayor Julius Patrick said the town is preparing to apply for a Community Development Block Grant that can be for $750,000 to $2.5 million and can be used for such things as housing rehabilitation, street improvements and water system renovations. The money must be used for improvements in low to moderate income neighborhoods.

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