The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • Page 7

Town Talk, Alexandria-Pineville, Saturday, September 24, 1977 A-7 Karst Under Fire By Steve Swartz Town Talk Staff Writer Cash payments to former Mayor Ed Karst for his share an alleged business partnership with th architect Joe Fryar came under fire by Fryar's attorney Friday in a 9th Judicial District Court co Testimony in the case began Tuesday and recessed at noon Friday until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Karst is suing Fryar for breach of contract and slander and Fryar is suing Karst for extortion, blackmail, physical assault and forgery. Fryar's attorney, J. Minos Simon of Lafayette, accused Karst of extorting about $46,000 from Fryar between January 1972 and March 1974.

Karst testified the money was merely payment for a "secret" business relationship which Fryar initiated in the late '60s. Earlier in the week, Karst told the court he and Fryar joined forces to develop Karst Park, a 500-unit low rent housing project here. They had also hoped to develop government housing projects in other cities, Karst said. Karst's contribution to the partnership was his ability to make contacts with officials in other cities and Fryar had the know-how to develop the housing, said Karst. Karst, who is the only witness to testify so far, also said earlier in the week Fryar wanted to keep the partnership secret because it would appear improper for a mayor to be involved in such a project.

So, Karst said, a document stating the business arrangement was prepared in 1970 and was dated 1968 since that was the earliest possible business dealings with the two men. Two years later, Karst prepared other such deed, defining the half-ownership arrangement of Karst Park and other properties, he said. The documents were only to be recorded if either man died or if it ever came time to "cut up the pie," Karst said. (In his suit, Fryar claims his signature was forged on one of the deeds and he was coerced into accepting a partnership with Karst.) During Friday's testimony, Karst admitted to striking Fryar in Fryar's office parking lot in early 1973 while he was still mayor. Simon alleged the incident was precipated by his client's wish to get out of the arrangement with Karst, but Karst said it was over "disparaging remarks" Fryar made about his executive assistant.

After Karst, who is six feet three inches and 235 pounds, struck Fryar, who is about five feet six inches, he told the architect he wanted half of his property as settlement or the parking lot incident was just a Area Deaths Rhonda Renee Sanders; one brother, John Sanders; two sisters, Mrs. Gwen Smith and Mrs. Bobbie Miller; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Turner Sanders, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs.

Gencie Hailey. All are of Jena. Services will be at 4 p.m. today in the chapel of Hixson Bros. with Rev.

Willard Norris and James Garner officiating. Burial will be in Belah Cemetery. Mrs. Lela Howard Mrs. Lela Davis Howard, 85, of Colfax died at 2 a.m.

Tuesday in Huey P. Long Memorial Hospital. Survivors include one son, Oscar G. Davis of Alexandria; four daughters, Virginia Joe Green of Alexandria, Sally M. Smith of Oakland, Almarie Manking of Colfax and Ovia M.

Charles of Colfax; one sister, Priscilla Brew of Oakland, 18 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services will be at 11 a.m. Sunday in Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Colfax, with Rev. Albert Sykes officiating. Burial will be in Farenzie Cemetery under direction of Gonzaque.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at the church. Felix Ricks Services for. Felix Ricks, 77, of Alexandria will be at 11 a.m. today in St.

Simon Baptist Church, Chopin, with Rev. Clifton Wells officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery under direction of Gonzaque. He died at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday in Heritage Manor (North) Nursing Home.

He was a retired fireman for Kansas City Southern Railroad. Survivors include one son, Evans Ricks of Houston; three daughters, Mandy Metoyer of Houston and Inez Williams and Elouise Ricks, both of Alexandria; 21 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren, John P. Duff Special to The Town Talk WINNFIELD John P. Duff, 60, of Winnfield died at 1 p.m. Thursday Advised overcrowding by spring, a regional committee will recommend to the association that both be dropped from the accredited list.

However, final action by the association would not take place until December 1978. Therefore, the school board has time to wait. "I don't think the picture on accreditation is as dark as it seemed a few days ago," said John Arrington, chairman of the Education Committee. At an earlier meeting it was noted at least six schools were in immediate danger of losing accredition, but the board refused to hire additional teachers. It was reported Friday that Tioga Junior High and Paradise Elementary have met the student-teacher ratio requirement since the school year began.

Asst. Supt. Travis Funderburk said the overcrowded kindergarten classes at Pineville Elementary "can be adjusted." Tioga Senior High School, in danger of losing accreditation because of a lack of sufficient library books, will meet the requirement, principal Philip White said. Horseshoe Drive Elementary is also on warned status because its Central Heating and Cooling! Bo Mo Co PH 442-3720 Central Units Replaced Installed. Residential Commercial Cash Payments nts sample of what he'd get, alleged Simon.

Following more of Simon's questions, Karst said a contributing factor to the incident was the possibility of Fryar selling his interest in the projects. After Karst left office in June 1973, he moved to Mexico for more than two years, Karst said. Simon accused him of living off Fryar's payments, which Simon alleged were made keep Karst from recording one of the deeds signed in the early '70s. While living in Mexico, Karst returned to Alexandria in an attempt to settle with Fryar, said Karst. Simon asked if Karst told Fryar disclosure of their partnership deed would have a devastating effect on Fryar's career.

"Possibly," replied Karst. Simon asked if Karst also told Fryar if the government knew a city official had interest in the federal housing project it could cancel the project. Karst denied making the statement. But couldn't the government cancel the contract, asked Simon: That was first suggested by Fryar's then lawyer, Doug Nesom, replied Karst. By Feb.

19, 1974, Karst knew what effect full disclosure of the partnership would have on Fryar, said Simon. "That's the way he (Fryar) expressed it to me," said Karst. "That's the way you explained it to him," replied Simon. him," replied Simon. in the Hotel Dieu Hospital in New Orleans.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Eula A. Duff of Winnfield; one son, E.K. Duff of Winnfield; four daughters, Mrs. Dyanne Carroll of New Orleans, Mary Duff of New Orleans, Mrs.

Shelia Vines of Winnfield and Mrs. Betty Duff of Ft. Polk; his mother, Mrs. Mary E. Duff Miami; one brother, Joseph Duff of Germany; three sisters, Mrs.

Helena Miskill of Downers Grove, Mrs. Mary Spindel of Miami and Mrs. Betty Jackson of Long Beach, N.Y. and three grandchildren. Services will be at 4 p.m.

Sunday in the chapel of Southern. Burial will be i in the Garden of Memories. Funerals Charles Edward Smith Services for Charles Edward Smith were held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Central Missionary Baptist Church with Revs. Alvin T.

Quick and Dewey LaCroix officiating. Burial was in Forest Lawn Memorial Park under direction of Hixson Pineville. Pallbearers were Randy Glaze, Gary Glaze, Mike Glaze, Buddy Glaze, Keth Roshto, Jerry Roshto. Mrs. Laulette Key Services for Mrs.

Laulette R. Key were held at 2 p.m. Friday in the New Hope Baptist Church with Revs. J.T. Walworth and Al Gaspard officiating.

Burial was in the church cemetery under direction of Hixson Bros. Pallbearers were Murrell Barton, Wayne Barton, W.C. Barton, Kenneth Stokes, B.E. Stokes, Carrol Dyess. Mrs.

Susie Franks Hunter Services for Mrs. Susie Franks Hunter were held at 10 a.m. Friday in the chapel of Hixson Pineville, with Revs. David Roberts and James Sanford Sr. officiating.

Burial was in the French Cemetery at Centerpoint. Pallbearers were Tim Hunter, Freddy Hunter, Bill Arcedian, Jack James Sanford Randy Sandford. On Accreditation principal, M.D. Ford, earns $31 less per month than the assistant principal. It is an association requirement that the principal be paid more per month than the highest paid teacher on staff.

Association rules give schools four years to correct problems. The first year they are advised of the problem, the second year warned, the third placed on probation and then finally dropped. Rapides Parish currently has 25 accredited elementary, schools, 14 accredited and eight elementary schools which are affiliated with the Southern Association. Affiliated schools are involved in programs of self-improvement but do not meet accreditation standards, according to Funderburk. Two high schools, A.

Wettermark in Boyce and Plainview in Glenmora, are not accredited. Lakeside School for Trainable Children and Twin Cities High School are not subject to the accreditation program, Funderburk Simon then submitted as evidence a letter from Karst to Simon stating Karst's knowledge of the effect disclosure would have on Fryar's career. Later, Simon submitted another letter, dated April 1974, as evidence in which Karst told Fryar to accept his settlement proposal or he'd send Fryar to jail by disclosing the business relationship. Another letter from Karst to Fryar, this one dated August 1974, was submitted by Simon. According to Simon, the letter includes a request from Karst for $250,000 cash plus a letter from Fryar saying the money was a loan, so as to make it tax exempt.

Karst admitted to writing the letter but said according to Fryar's figures, the amount was due him as half settlement of their business dealings. Also as part of the settlement discussed at the time, said Simon, Karst wanted Fryar to deed him half of all the Karst Park land and improvements. Karst agreed that was true. But according to earlier testimony, Karst already had a deed, said Simon. Karst then testified Fryar had told him there were problems with the original deed so Karst told him to renegotiate.

Simon noted a Karst-Fryar deed on July 12, 1970, for the first tract of land in Karst Park. He also noted a second deed on July 15, 1972, for the addition to Karst Park. Karst acknowledge this again and said the second deed was to help Fryar. So, asked Simon, did Karst, in August of 1974, consider forging Fryar's signature on the earliest deed? Simon then went on to other questions. At one point during Friday's testimony, Simon asked Karst if David Sheffield was his attorney at the time of the first "settlement" document between Karst and Fryar.

Karst, looking confused, told Simon several times he didn't know what document he was referring to. Simon then appealed to Judge Guy Humphries when he was unsuccessful in getting an answer from Karst. "Everyone in the courtroom knows what document we're talking about," said Humphries. "When did Sheffield represent you?" Simon then asked. Karst replied he wanted to respond to the previous question about the settlement document.

Humphries, appearing disgruntled, began flipping through court records to find the document to clear up Karst's apparant confusion. Before the judge found what he was looking for, Simon rephrased his question and got an affirmative answer from Karst. Alfred Brumley, 80 Dies in Winnfield Special to The Town Talk WINNFIELD Alfred L. Brumley, 80, of Winnfield died at 4:30 a.m. Friday in Winnfield General Hospital.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Flora Brumley of Winnfield; five sons, Gerald Brumley of Marion, Ralph Brumley of Arcadia, George Brumley of Sycamore, Carl Brumley of Van Buren, and Wayne Brumley of Jonesboro four daughters, Mrs. Gene Eason of Winnfield, Mrs. Fred of Joyce, Mrs. Earl Brock of Hobbs, N.M., and Mrs.

Virginia Foster of Alexandria; 27 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the chapel of Southern with Revs. James D. Hodgson and W.F.

Harrell officiating. Burial will be in the Garden of Memories. Robert Moses Tanton Services for Robert Moses Tanton, 51, of Pineville will be at 1 p.m. Monday in the chapel of Hixson Pineville, with Rev. Roger Richards officiating.

Burial will be in National Cemetery. He died Wednesday in Cape Coral, Fla. He was a retired U.S.A.F. MSgt. and a native of Alabama.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Myrtle Bonas Tanton of Pineville; two daughters, Mrs. Carol Stone of Albany, and Li Hwa Liu of Pineville; his mother, Mrs. Katie Hill of Cordova, and one grandson. Friends may call after 4 p.m.

Sunday at the funeral home. Ronald Sanders Special to The Town Talk JENA Ronald Turner Sanders, 23, of Jena died Thursday in an accident on a offshore oil rig south of Intercoastal City. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Doris Renee Sanders; one daughter, School Board By Betty Luman Town Talk Staff Writer The Rapides Parish School Board staff has received recommendations to "take under advisement" the situation of four schools in danger of losing accreditation. However, they were not told to hire the additional personnel which would keep the schools from losing accreditation.

The recommendation came from the Education Committee at a meeting Friday. Present to express their concern were members of the Junior League. Jones Street and Brame Junior High Schools are presently, on "warned" status from Association of Colleges and Schools, the accrediting agency. Both schools need an additional guidance counselor to meet association requirements. Following a report in March, the schools can be placed on probation for one year.

After a year on probation, they can be dropped from the association if they do not meet standards. Ruby-Wise Junior High School and Lessie Moore Elementary School are currently on probation for exceeding the maximum number of students per class in some grade levels. If the schools do not solve the Rents Sells Wheel Chairs Crutches Walkers Commode Chairs Hospital Beds Pat. Lifters Miller's Rental Service 1104 MacArthur 443-3661 Natchitoches Murphys Lake 190 OLD WINN PARISH RIVER GRANT PARISH Natchez 8 Montgomery 1 Soil RIVER Lose Montrose Cloutiervitte 165 40 ka' Marco VER Lake CANE RIVER DAM CANE RIVER RED BAYOU DIVERSION CHANNEL: (1938) NATCHITOCHES PARISH TRAPIDES PARISH Residents of south Natchitoches Parish voicing only the Cane River Island area in seeking solutions. opinions on flood control during a public meeting Cane River Island appears in the shaded area of the Thursday with Corps of Engineers officials urged the Corps map.

engineers to study a wider area of the parish than Flooding Study Urged Expanded Special to The Town Talk NATCHITOCHES The U.S. Corps of Engineers has been urged by a large number of Natchitoches Parish citizens to consider "not just a part, but the whole area of South Natchitoches parish" when trying to determine solutions to prevent flood- Loss said. In other action, board president D.C. (Bill) Bates announced the appointment of a special committee to review the budget and establish priorities. Members of the committee are to be John Arrington, Douglas A.

Jenkins, D.A. Anderson and Paul White. Ex-officio members are to be Bates, head accountant Douglas Sherwood and Supt. Allen Nichols. We invite you to escape from the ordinary COM Across from Alexandria Country Club Another development by ROBERT WOLF REALTOR "See me for all your family insurance JACK HARLAN STATE FARM Across From Woolco Wards 1725 MacArthur Drive PH.

445-6566 Home 445-1615 INSURANCE Like a good neighbor, State Farm Insurance Companies State Farm is there. Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois ing. Over 100 citizens were present to make their views known Thursday during a public hearing called specifically to consider the flooding in the Cane River Island area, a large area between Cane River and Red River in South Natchitoches Parish. Sen. Don Kelly, reflecting the attitudes of many at the meeting, urged that the entire problem of periodic flooding in Natchitoches Parish be studied and solutions found and not limit the study to only the Cane River Island area.

Several at the meeting, including L.L. Culpepper, co-chairman of the Southwest Natchitoches Parish Drainage pointed out that much of the flooding is caused by water problems to the west of Cane River. He said solutions might include the strengthening and cleaning of Little River from Natchitoches to lower Cane River and making the lower Cane River Lake dam a controlled spillway. It was also pointed out that a solution to the flooding to the east of Cane River might be some pumps that would pump the water from drainage areas into Red River. Farmer Peter Cloutier said finding the solution to the flooding problems 1 in South Natchitoches Parish is important not only to agriculture but also to the future industrial growth of the parish.

Dr. Arthur Allen of the Northwestern State University faculty asked that the university area be included in any such flood control study. HIXSON BROTHERS 4 Serving FUNERAL Central and North DIRECTORS Louisiana ASSOCIATED FUNERAL Phone Alexandria 442-3363 DIRECTORS SERVICE WHAT HAPPENS IF DEATH OCCURS AWAY FROM HOME? Americans like to travel. Therefore it is important to know what to do if death occurs away from home. Most people prefer to call their hometown funeral director someone they know and trust to make the necessary arrangements.

We think you should know that we are a member of the Associated Funeral Directors Service, with member firms throughout. the world. Every A.F.D.S. member is a professional who knows how to handle the details and problems that arise if death occurs away from home. When you call us, we can handle all details.

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