The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 11

Dew's drop largest in nearly two months! Page 8B (She imes ro) CONTACT CRAIG DURRETT 459-3248 or newsthetlmes.com TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1,1998 3 E3 asEs (Sirnmnie sDucowv tor DneDp sheriffs spokesman Deputy Ed Baswell. Barker was robbed and his 1994 silver Lincoln Continental was taken. He was apparently shot while sitting at his kitchen bar. Officers soon found his car with the keys still inside behind the Waffle House on Monkhouse Drive in Shreveport. But Head, whom Barker is believed to have met at a local Tom Myrick said Monday.

Head is accused of shooting Charles Barker in the back of the head at his trailer, where she was staying with the 69-year-old retired truck er. Head She had a habit of seeking out and befriending men. mammm nulling $0 By Larry Burton The Times Bossier Parish sheriffs detectives are asking Am erica's Most Wanted for help in finding a woman charged with murdering a Benton man some three months ago. The last confirmed sighting of Hazel Leota Head, 48, was at a truck, stop in Wheat Ridge, a Denver suburb, in early November, Bossier Detective Supervisor ing her with unlawful flight to prosecution. That would give the case an even higher profile.

Compiling detailed information about the victim, suspect and crime scene to send to the FBI. The information will be entered into an FBI database and compared with any similar crimes nation-. wide. v. A trucker saw Head at the See WANTED 2B She is charged in a Bossier Parish warrant with first-degree murder.

Bossier Parish detectives," are going to a number of ef- forts to try to find her, including: Arranging to have a pho-: to of her and other information posted at truck stops scattered across the country. Head is known to frequent truck stops. Asking federal" authori-' ties to issue a warrant charg-; Laodiflieujinmay eirvDces post since Rep. Jim McCrery, R- Shreveport, in 1992. Placing Landrieu on the committee; also allows the Democrats to tout having placed a Senator from a conservative Southern state on the post Landrieu, who vowed in her campaign to protect Barksdale Air Force Base, backed up her promise earlier this year when she teamed with McCrery and Barksdale supporters to fight a base realignment study that could have moved the 8th Air Force headquarters and its jobs and $29 million payroll to Arizona.

"I really think there were three people who listened," said Ron Fayard, a Bossier City businessman who is a member of Barksdale For-: ward, a group that lobbies for the base's interests. "Mary and her staff count as one. McCrery and John Cook-sey (R-Monroe) were the other two. They really sat down and listened to what we were saying. The contribution from all three was enormous." By Dan Turner The Times Freshman U.S.

Sen. Mary Landrieu is expected to be ap-? pointed to the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee today, making her the first male Democrat ever to serve on the committee. Senate Mi Landrieu nority Leader Tom Dashell may make the announcement as early as today. "We're hopeful it's a done deal," said landrieu a spokesman Rich Masters. Landrieu, who replaced fellow Democrat J.

Bennett John- ston in the Senate in 1997, would be a strategic appoint ment for the Democrats and for the state. She would be only the third woman to serve on the committee. No other Louisianan has served on either the Senate or House defense committees Danny Williams and his crew spend much time during the chan The leaves they Myrick said a packet of in- -formation about the Bossier case has been mailed to producers of Americas Most Wanted, a crime show that helps nab fugitives. "The producers are reviewing it now to see if they'll, come down and do a story," Myrick said. "We hope someone who watches the show might recognize her." The producers have expressed interest but haven't made a decision, said Bossier autumn keeping fallen leaves are a- Matthew MinardThe Times Hie the leaves in a well-drained area that receives sunlight Joe -White, extension horticulturist with the LSU Agriculture Centers Cooperative Extension Service, agreed composting is the best thing for leaves.

"It's a a very useful resource by using it for mulch It was Jane who tried to or-j'g'aruJte a semi-surprise party, hrough the newspaper and, "when Barbara something a little iest Ibig," it was Jane who talked hr into a family dinner-party 'at a restaurant after Barbara ft? hal day on the job; Fund The Times Joy Fund will help more than 4,000 families this yuletide season. Donations go to the Salvation Army and other charities. This year's goal is $88,000. Contributions to The Times Joy Fund to date: Anna M. Duncan, Fort Myers, $300.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley B. Wilier, $50. Dr.

Tobin H. Grigsby, $500. Clarence D. Stennett, $100. Dr.

Loyd G. Whitley. $100. Lt. Col (Ret.) and Mrs.

Stephen J. Davitt, $50. Today's Total: $1,100. Timoc niitiliciiar to be on KDAQ Michael Craft, publisher of The will be the featured guest today in a live forum on Red River Public Titled The Press and the People," the forum will focus on the news media's role in politics and why so many Americans distrust the media. The program, scheduled at 6 p.m., will be aired on KDAQ 89.9 FM.

Host for the program will be Chris Lehman, KDAQ news director and ArtsWatch producer. Shreveport attorney Neil Er-win also will be a guest. Listeners may call in and share their questions and comments during the show by calling (800) 552-8502. Portions of 1-20 to be closed From Wednesday at 7 a.m. through Saturday at 7 a.m., the Interstate 20 eastbound exit ramp.

(Exit 5, GreenwoodU.S. Highway 2980) to Louisiana Highway 80 will be closed, according -to the state Depart ment of -Transportation and -Development The alternate route is 1-20 Exit 3 (La. Highway 169, U.S. 79 South) or Exit 8 (Flournoy-Lucas Road, La. 526).

For details, call 741-7334. Car strikes elderly woman, kills her MINDEN A 77-year-old woman walking from her church to her home Friday night was hit by a car and killed. Vera Johnson had just stepped into Lewisville Road about 5 p.m. Friday when she was hit by a car driven by Gerakline Burks of Hay-nesville. Johnson was taken to Louisiana State University Medical Center, where she died early Saturday.

Burks told, "police she didn't see Johnson, who was wearing dark clothing. Minden Police Chief T.C. Bloxom Jr. said there was no evidence Burks was speeding or; impaired by" alcohol or the dlsv trict attorney's office will: review the case, a standard procedure in all traffic fatalities. Bridge to be dark in remembrance The neon lights on the Texas Street Bridge will be turned off today in observance of, the World's AIDS Day.

The international observance of "A Day Without Art" calls for artworks to becovered in memory of those "who died of aids and aidsrelated illness. The Shreveport Regional Arts Council will turn the lights off and, in addition, public art works on Texas Street will be covered. Artworks in the Tower Gallery also will be closed today. The lights and art displays will be back on display Wednesday. From Staff Reports Lottery numbers NOV.

30, 1998 LOUISIANA PlCKlHRtE TEXAS NUMBERS UNAVAILABLE AT PRESS TIME Fire station will help lower insurance bills riverboat casino, has mained elusive. re- Matthew MinardThe Times off the ground. gin For more information To inquire about yard waste pick-up and neighborhood collection schedules, call 673-6300 or 673-6268 Today's weather Today's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-703 and no chance of rain. Wednesday will see fair weather with highs in mid-70s. Thursday will be cloudy with highs in the mid-605, with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing Friday, Weekend skies will be slightly cloudy with highs near 70 and a slight chance of rain Sunday.

to insulate roots of plants. It's also a nice dressing for plants." And for those, who dread raking the yard bad -White said a heavy Jayef leaves can cause dairiag.to i' lawns by excluding stinEght and creating a atmcv sphere. But a light layer leaves can De muicnea wjvn a lawn mower. er see because she never has any When she did, she took care -ipf i "She took care of her kids, loved them lik they her own." said -Kvtmy Cochran, princip'ativtpoilriie Bickhahi Middle "She's quite a our car before we were sup posed to, said Barbara mother, Bertie Allbritton, recalling an old Ford, the model now forgotten. "I wasn't one bit worried, then or ever.

I think she was born responsible." In that bus. parked in her driveway for 25 years, she's come a long way. Almost quit when she was a substitute driver. In fact, did quit. Leaves provide beauty during this time of year, but can also frustrate people by littering their yards.

By Amy Mercer The Times If your yard is littered with brightly colored leaves, you're not alone. Yards across the Ark-La-Tex are covered in red, gold and brown and lawn-care experts say it's best to rake them up. According to Recycling Coordinator Bill Robertson, this is the best time of year to let residents know leaves and other yard waste can be put to good use around your home. Shreveport-Bossier Solid Waste and Browning-Ferris Industries, the city's yard waste contractor, are now working to improve the educational aspect of the city's yard waste recycling program. "Yard waste is not trash, and it can be recycled," said Robertson.

Yard waste is picked up once a week. Grass clippings, leaves, and limbs are then recycled into high-qual- ity compost- Robertson said leaves and other waste should be placed at curbside in trash cans at least '5 feet away from other trash. of year you might frequently overrun one can, so use a clear plastic trash bag," advised Robertson. That way trash collectors can see that the bag contains yard waste and not garbage. But Robertson said it is necessary to put your leaves Warm weather continues The area is experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures about 20 degrees above normal and, according to forecasters, the mild winter weather probably will continue through the new year.

Normal temperatures for December range from highs in the mid-50s to lows in the mid-40s. Lee Harrison with the National Weather Service said temperatures for the month should stay at slightly above-normal and precipitation will be below-normal. But Harrison there will be times cold air will move into the area. "It'd be a brave person that would forecast no cold weather this winter," said Harrison. Mansfield officials will equip station with volunteers.

By Melody rumble The Times MANSFIELD A new fire station could slash residents and business owners insurance bills by 40 percent in the next two years. The city plans to lease and equip a new station staffed with volunteers on La. Hwy. 509 east of busy railroad tracks that bisect community. Crews from an existing fire station west of the tracks often wait foT, trains to clear six -crossings in towm The wait 'can add up to five minutes to the department's normal one-or two-minute, response time.

Fire Chief Jimmy Jackson said. ThewaitcaAStretchtipto30 minutes when trains are using switching track that also runs through town, said Larry An-derson, owner of a feed store east of the tracks. He's never a- problem with "trains blockings emergency service 'Vbut recalls a situation several years ago when emergency stymied by a train "I knew I couldn't handle those children," she sakLM But she. was back the next aiitumrf, and each autumn since. "It's a great job," she -v said.

vKids are. good when "i ybu expect thent'to be good, You have to deal with them that blocked all the crossings. "We've had more damage to buildings than we would've had if we'd gotten there quicker, but we haven't had many total losses," Jackson said. The new station is part of improvements aimed at lowering the city's insurance rating from a 6 to a 4. The lower the rating, the less residents pay for fire insurance.

Beginning next year, the fire department will spend about buy new fire and utility trucks, test equipment and fire hydrants and add employees. The improvements were included in the city's 1999 budget after a survey by the Prop- erty Insurance Association of Louisiana, the rating that provides fire ratings, showed how the city could lower its rate. money will come from projected sales tax revenue increases generated by new businesses, including two restaurants, a truck stop and video poker parlor and a gro- eery store. grocery store, the $12 million Mansfield Elementary Middle School complex and about half of the city's other development are east of the railroad tracks. The only time she did n't cry was when she was driving.

Until that last day, Friday afternoon, Nov. 13, when the last student off the bus turned on the bus steps and handed her a card. A little boy from North Highlands "It had little ducks on it," Tappe said, "and it said, 'Waddle we do without you? We're going to miss you so bad!" "Don't let anyone tell you Friday the 13th is a bad day," she said. "It was a wonderful day." Teddy Allen Is a Times wnter. His column appears Tuesdays.

Thursdays. Saturdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 459-3260 or by fax at 459-3301. E-mail to: livingtnetjmes.com Foe she; irivih When Barbara Tappe iodt' eijty'atryway't; her co-workers and friends' 1 Twd weeksago during her ft-she was, after 25 years, retir nal day on he jobw she got VF on the curb to recycle them. Residents can create their, own compost heaps for future use around shrubs, flower beds and trees.

"People have been composting for years and years," said Robertson. "You simply pile up the leaves and let them break down." uiKfii lur a nuu. It totally floored you that people could be so nice," she said. "I told everybody I might have to go back work just so I could get to re-, tire again. The things that" happened, it's just more than I can tell you." Her family and friends say it's a just reward for years of on-the-job consistency and off-the-job caring.

"She's been an asset to the school board, not to mention those kids she's been driving," said her daughter-in-law, Jane Tappe. "She prayed for every kid who ever rode her bus." -T "She always sawtlie "You know, we. let her drive; ing as a Caddo Parish school bus Teddy Allen driver, the wheels starred turning. She derailed at least one. She saw a classified advertisement Columnist in the newspaper about a party in her honor and quickly put the brakes on that.

It's not that she wasn't grateful and honored, she said. "I just know how I am. With a lot of people there? I'd have cried for two hours." i and love That's a pure kids." The week she retired, she cried when the special ed students at North Highlands Elementary gathered around a cake in the teachers' lounge and sang to her. The night she retired, she cried at the Red Lobster with her family. And soon, when Don-nie Bickham Middle School holds its annual bus drivers' breakfast and honors her there, shell cry again.

in those childiifc'n sdid Angela Tappe, another of Barbara's daughters-in-law. "She didn't see skin colon she saw the person." If Jimmy Orton, transportation director for the parish school board, had 500 more drivers just like her, he could operate on cruise control. "Barbara's one who was really a pleasure to work with," Orton said. "She's one I nev-.