The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 21
- Publication:
- The Timesi
- Location:
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Issue Date:
- Page:
- 21
Extracted Article Text (OCR)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1989 EDITOR: SUSAN TRAYLOR, 459-3264 1 Obituaries: 18A On the record: 21 A Across North Louisiana: 22A ofo)p 1 ft ftip tar oTjrohiw key witness, continued her testimony in Kent County Circuit Court in the trial of her former lesbian lover, Gwendolyn Graham. Graham, 25, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to murder in the 1987 deaths of female patients at Alpine Manor Nursing Home in Walker, a suburb of Grand Rapids. Wood, who has admitted helping Graham kill the patients, said she decided to go to police after Graham moved to her native home Tyler, Texas, in July 1987 and began working at Mother Frances Hospital as a nurse's aide. The two sometimes talked by Witness says aide threatened nursery babies By LISA PERUVIAN The Associated Press GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. A former nursing home aide charged with suffocating five patients threatened to kill babies at a hospital nursery after she left Michigan, her alleged co-conspirator testified Thursday.
Catherine Wood, the prosecution's telephone. "She told me she liked walking past the nursery and she wanted to take one of (the babies) and smash it against the window," Wood testified. "I had to stop her somehow." Her statements were made out of the presence of the jury at the defense attorney's request. Bobbie Burks, a spokeswoman at Mother Frances, said in a telephone interview Thursday that there were no unusual occurrences or unexplained injuries at the hospital while Graham was employed there between July 1987 and October 1988. Graham, who was not assigned to the nursery, was fired when the hospital found out she was being investigated in the Alpine Manor deaths.
Wood, 27, has pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to murder and agreed to testify against Graham. Wood testified she felt badly about the murders while they were occurring, but went along with Graham, sometimes acting as a lookout while Graham allegedly smothered the patients with rolled-up washcloths. Graham allegedly told her the killings "relieved tension." Gwendolyn Graham raww -'I fiF ff I'll i VJ 22 I Times photoTOM STANFORD Julie Graham dons a iacket while Tiffany Andrews grips her Southwood and Booker T. Washingon game at Northwood arms as the twirlers reacted to the chilly weather during the Stadium Thursday night. Chill readings to disappear today Weather looks promising for Super Derby, Poke Salad Festival Troops going to Panama Fort Polk sending replacement for unit By STACY V.
SULLIVAN The Times FORT POLK Willie Oliver pushed through the crowd of camouflage, kissed her husband and watched him board a military bus. As soon as he settled into a window seat, he offered her his hand. "Keep God with you, 'cause that's who's going to bring you back," Mrs. Oliver, 37, said, squeezing her husband's outstretched fingers. Sgt.
Frank Oliver, 38, is one of more than 200 soldiers from Fort Polk's 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment who left for Panama Thursday morning. The Army's plan is to replace about 700 Fort Polk soldiers in Panama with fresh troops from the 4th and 6th, known as the Regulars. Soldiers will be returning and leaving during the next 30 days. The Louisiana troops in Panama were sent there in May after strongman Manuel Noriega nullified a presidential election. The soldiers augment about 10,000 American troops stationed at 10 U.S.
military installations that line the Panama Canal. Since their deployment, Fort Polk troops have been involved in some tense situations against the Panamanian Defense League, Noriega's army, but no serious injuries have been reported. Mrs. Oliver said she has faith that her husband will return safely. She said the departure was particularly difficult because Thursday was their daughter's 14th birthday.
The couple also has a 10-year-old son. "They don't want their daddy to go," Mrs. Oliver said. Lt. Col.
Bill Steiger, commanding officer of the Regulars, said every effort will be made to ensure the safety of the soldiers. Security, he said, will be tight. The soldiers will be banned from Panama City and will carry weapons at all times, Steiger said. The soldiers deployed in May "Roadrunners" from the 1st Battalion, 61st Infantry had only 48 hours to prepare for their trip after President Bush gave the order. The Regulars have known for several weeks and have tailored their training to suit the expected mission, Steiger said.
For the soldiers in Panama, the last five months have consisted of routine patrols in volatile populated areas near Panama City and along the Panama Canal. HEWS BRIEFS City budget for Marshall receives OK MARSHALL, Texas City commissioners gave final approval Thursday night to an $11.4 million budget for 1990. There were no changes from the budget approved on first reading last week. The city's tax rate will remain unchanged. "I appreciate your efforts, every one of you," Mayor Carl Swendson told commissioners.
"I think we've got a budget we can live with." City Manager Tony Williams said the final approval of the budget came after weeks and months of discussion and number crunching. "I think all that discussion and give-and-take is very healthy," said Williams. "Good ideas come out of these work sessions, and it's an improvement when you take advantage of that." Williams said he is pleased with the budget, but described the 1990 spending plan as frugal. "We don't have much money to do new activities," he said. "But I think it is, from the taxpayers' viewpoint, a very concerted effort to keep down the tax rate in Marshall, Texas, and the commission is working hard to do that." During an earlier work session, Williams suggested raising the tax rate by one cent.
But commissioners asked him to trim expenses instead of raising taxes. "I respect their position, and we did what they said," said Williams. Commissioner J. Paul Smith said he would support a tax increase of as much as 10 cents to hire additional police officers and firefighters. But Smith's idea failed to gain any support from fellow commissioners.
.1 Sheriff's office buys electronic 'stun guns' MONROE (AP) The Ouachita Parish sheriff's office has been outfitted with a dozen Taser 76s electronic "stun guns" that can paralyze a victim for up to 15 minutes with a charge. Laymon Godwin said the $350 Tasers are better than billy clubs or mace. "This is the most humane, non-lethal weapon that they've come up with," he said. Transportation not available for official Louisiana's top transportation official was stalled Thursday in Baton Rouge without a ride north to Shreveport. Neil Wagoner, secretary of the state Department of Transportation and Development, couldn't get to Shreveport because the state has finally sold most of its airplanes in a cost-cutting measure.
Wagoner was grounded at the Baton Rouge airport by a low weather ceiling because the only airplane the highway department has now for aerial photography doesn't have the equipment to take off in bad weather, said Lee Underwood, president-elect of the Shreveport civil engineering society to which Wagoner was scheduled to speak at a noon luncheon. Wagoner wasn't able to pick up a commercial flight, so Gerald Ray, his local administrator, was called in to discuss the proposed highway and transportation trust fund on the Oct. 7 ballot. Barksdale schedules events for POW day Barksdale Air Force Base is hosting events today recognizing National POWMIA Day, which is Sunday. Retired Col.
Robert M. Slane, a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II, will speak at a noon luncheon in the NCO Club Ballroom. Slane spent 19 months as a POW. He is former commander of the 2nd Combat Support Group here, and flew 40 combat missions in Korea and 78 during Vietnam. Medals will be presented to former POWs during the luncheon.
A special retreat ceremony will be at 4:30 p.m. in front of 2nd combat Support Group headquarters. But for those who want to enjoy the weekend, grab a sweater and head out to the events around the area. Pearl Bailey and Louie Bellson will be in concert at 8 tonight at the Strand Theatre. Tickets are $18 to $36 for reserved seats.
Bon Jovi and Skid Row will be at Hirsch Coliseum at 8 tonight. The concert is sold out. For those who like that old-fashioned rock 'n' roll, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Outsiders, The Classic IV and Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas will be playing on the riverfront at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Superstars of '60s Rock is a free Super Derby Super Fest event. expected high for the day. The record low of 50 degrees was reached in 1902. "It looks like summer is over and fall is finally coming in," said Jim Ellis, a specialist for the National Weather Service. "We expect to have cooler temperatures for the next two days and then we expect a warming trend." For this weekend, highs are expected to reach the low to mid-80s and lows in the mid- to upper 50s.
"It looks like a good weekend for all of the activities planned for Super Derby," Ellis said. "We are expecting mild temperatures and no rain." Temperatures should reach normal by Tuesday, Ellis said. If you are interested in something other than music, Blanchard is hosting its Polk Salad Festival semiannual Arts and Crafts Sale. Crafts can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday at the Blanchard City Hall. Senior citizens will have a health walk Saturday at Mall St. Vincent from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include free blood pressure checks, vision checks, hearing tests and podiatrist services.
On Sunday, the ducks will take to the water at 2 p.m. Running of the Ducks are a part of the Super Derby Festival. A duck can be adopted for $5 and the first duck to bob across the winner's line will bring its owner a new car. By MARCIA ROBERTSON The Times Despite the recent cool trend, the ducks will still swim on Sunday and the Polk Salad Festival in Blanchard will go on Saturday. A cold front from Canada brought cooler air and cloudy skies into the Ark-La-Tex on Wednesday.
But for today, temperatures will rise to the low 80s. Although temperatures during this time of year usually range with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s, Thursday's high of 68 degrees was reached at midnight. By Thursday afternoon, temperatures had dropped to 66 degrees, 10 degrees lower than the Senate OKs $250M for Louisiana projects Panel approves defense projects $250 million for Louisiana projects the most for any state in the bill, Senate Appropriations Committee member Bennett Johnston, said. President Bush is expected to sign the bill that Johnson said will help Louisiana face its unique challenge "to protect and properly manage (its) natural resources." Among the big-ticket items in the bill for North Louisiana is a $10 See SENATE, Page 22A By JOE ATKINS Gannett News Service WASHINGTON Ten million dollars for a biomedical research center at Shreveport and $101.8 million for the Red River Waterway extension are Louisiana projects targeted in a fiscal 1990 federal energy and water spending bill approved by Congress. Given final congressional approval Thursday by the Senate, the $18.6 billion bill includes more than By FRANK MAY The Times More than $100 million for projects at military-related installations in Northwest Louisiana gained approval in a U.S.
Senate committee Thursday. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted for the defense spending measure that earmarks $60 million for production of a special artillery round at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant near Minden in Webster Parish. The $60 million insures continued production of the 155mm M8-25 artillery round, a major production item at the plant, said Steve Shows, plant manager. "It is extending the amount of See SENATE, Page 22A Panel probes alleged scam Investors asked for details of La. stock dealings Marshall police watching possible gang organizers "Shreveport definitely has a problem with these California-based gangs.
They have franchised out from Los Angeles because the price of drugs in areas such as Shreveport is greater than Los Angeles," said Berry. "There's less police pressure, so they come in and use brute force to take over the areas that they are involved in. It's a situation where the police control the area in the daytime, but they try to control it at night and sell drugs and make a lot of money at it." Berry said he planned to put a stop to any possible gang activity before it gets a foothold in Marshall. "Anyone who suggests or starts talking about gangs has been graciously invited to my office to have a discussion about their future," said Berry. By JOHN GORDON The Times MARSHALL, Texas -Authorities are trying to stop gang violence before it begins in the Marshall area.
District Attorney Rick Berry, his investigator Hall Reavis and a narcotics agent from the Harrison County Sheriff's Department have just completed a two-day federal school on gang violence. The course was in Houston. Berry said his office has received reports of attempts to organize gangs in Marshall. But he said he has called several potential gang organizers into his office to warn them not to pursue the idea. But Berry said Marshall is not far from gang activity.
He said the Crips and the Bloods are battling for turf in Shreveport. they met Olson through Free, and in Louisiana investors say they met him through John Holt. Both Olson and Holt are the targets of lawsuits filed in the Benton Parish Courthouse regarding the investments. The questionnaire mailed to investors in both states asks such questions as how the investors first heard about Olson, Free or WinRight Farm, how they were solicited, and when was their last communication with Olson or with anyone regarding the investments. Doris Blair of Rio Medina, Texas, who had invested $150,000, said she received the questionnaire a couple of days ago and had also talked with Ross about 10 days ago.
She said she was told by Ross that the investigation was only in its initial stages and that the agency first had to determine if any laws had been broken. Blair said Ross indicated that if the money was never actually invested in the stock market by Olson, then the issue may boil down to a personal matter between him and the individual investors. Some of the investors had given Olson power of attorney and that was one of the questions asked on the questionnaire. Jim Hoffman, a retired Bossier City man who is leading an effort to find Olson, also received the questionnaire. Hoffman, who had invested $80,000, has said he will not give up until he finds Olson and that he is considering hiring a private investigator to help him.
The investors say Olson used a horse training farm near Benton to attract investors. Olson, who was featured last yeai in a magazine article in Front Gallery, described himself at the time as a serious commodities trader. By MARILYN MITCHELL The Times The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is asking Louisiana and Texas residents to provide the agency information regarding an alleged commodities scam that the investors have also complained to the FBI about. In a letter dated Sept. 8, Paula Ross, a futures trading investigator, asked individual investors to answer a questionnaire and provide documents regarding any business dealings they may have had with Ray William Olson, Steve Free or WinRight Farm.
Residents in both states say they invested hundreds of thousands of dollars with Olson and now they can't find him. Olson has not been arrested or charged with a crime in connection with the investments. Some of the Texas residents say.
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