The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 23

4 r-- -(She (Eimes- IS) i Education 2B Region briefs 2B Deaths 4B SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1997 CONTACT CRAIG DURRETT 459-3248 or newsthetimes.com 3 Mm. nsolved Mysteries' fugitive returns I Hi yY' 1994 beating death of an elderly man after serving time in California for a similar crime. Small, 44, was once featured on a television segment of Unsolved Mysteries, which connected him to murders in Shreveport and Hollywood, Calif. Hollywood Police Department Sgt. Hal Snoddy said Small was originally arrested in Atlanta, on an unknown charge and extradited to California on an outstand lived in and frequented the 3 1 00 block of Frederick Street where on July 12, 1994, a man was robbed and beaten.

Money and food stamps were taken during the robbery, Chadwick said. Shreveport police allege that someone forced their way into Melvin House's residence on Frederick Street and robbed him at knife-point. He died two days later from his injuries. A trial date for Small in Caddo Parish has not been set. Suspect wanted in murders in Shreveport and Hollywood, Calif.

By SAMMY G. ALLEN The Times Earnest Lee Small has come home. The former fugitive was re turned to Shreveport last week to stand trial for the ing warrant about a year ago. "From what I understand, he was already wanted for a murder here in California before the man in Shreveport was killed," Snoddy said. Los Angeles County Department of Corrections records show he was imprisoned there in June.

Shreveport police Detective Gary Robinson learned last week that Small was to be returned to Shreveport. Authorities were unable to provide details about the disposition of Small's case in California. Small is being held in Caddo Correctional Center without bond on a charge of. first-degree murder. "Small was once the subject of a segment on Unsolved Mysteries which profiled him as a fugitive and gave details of both the Hollywood and Shreveport homicides," said Shreveport Police Department spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick.

In the Shreveport case, Small, also known as "Pete," 1 Special to The Times Earnest Lee Small is being held in Caddo jail on a first-degree murder charge. Boutiques de Noel jump-starts holiday shopping season If you go 11 i I AT Today is the last day for this year's Les Boutiques de Noel. Admission price is $5 per person and parking is free. Exhibit hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 868-3734 i x. 4 VJ Thompson Buckley Death investigated as possible homicide Shreveport police are investigating the death of a 43-year-old man as a possible cide. A neighbor found the body of James B. Smart, of the 2100 block of Isaac Street in the Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood, about 8:30 a.m.

Saturday. The cause of death was unknown and was still being investigated late Saturday. An autopsy is being performed by the Caddo Parish Coroner's Office. Burn accident victim identified A man who was burned beyond recognition Oct. 28 in a fiery crash on Blanchard-Furrh Road has been identified by Caddo Parish Coroner's office as Eric Tyrone Lewis, 25, of the 2700 block of Thayer Street in Shreveport.

Another man, 25-year-old Leroy Myers who Caddo deputies determined was a passenger in Lewis' vehicle, was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated burglary, said sheriffs office spokesman Gregg Trusty. The charge stems from the residential burglary on La. Highway 169 near Longwood that was reported just minutes before the fatal accident. Myers remains jailed at Caddo Correctional Center in lieu of a $2000 bond. Authorities believe the two men were in a 1992 Ford Explorer that left the highway, became airborne and burst into flames after hitting a tree stump.

No big winners in Louisiana games No one walked away from the lottery drawings in Louisiana Friday with the jackpots, state lottery officials report. The greatest number of winners were the 709 people who matched 7-4-3 in the Pick 3 Daily Game, to split a pot worth $76,050. There were 46 people' matched four of the picks in the Easy 5 Drawing, 3-9-11-23-26, to win $17 apiece. In the multi-state Daily Millions Drawing, there were only seven tickets sold in Louisiana matching four of the six picks, 2-16 red, 9-10 white, 7-10 blue. Each of those tickets won $100.

DOT restricts truck travel for holiday BATON ROUGE Oversized and overweight vehicles must stay off of Louisiana highways on Thanksgiving and the day after, Transportation Secretary Frank Denton said Friday. Those trucks are being kept off highways to provide maximum safety for other holiday drivers, he said. Truckers can get permits to drive on state highways on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29 and 30. But requests must be called in by 5 p.m.

Wednesday, because the truck permit office will be closed Nov. 27-28 for Thanksgiving. From Staff, Wire Reports I 1 i By TERI BAILEY The Times Saturday wasn't the biggest shopping day of the year, but you couldn't tell that from the crowds at this year's Les Boutiques de Noel. Hundreds of holiday gift-hunting patrons meandered among Christmas spice aromas, glowing candles and antique collectibles at the 23rd fund-raiser for the Shreveport Opera. "Our name means 'Little Shops of so each vendor has their own little shop that they put together it's more upscale than a craft show," said Mikey Carlisle, Les Boutique exhibitor chairperson.

Bossier Civic Center transformed into a holiday haven for shoppers of virtually any price range. As carols sounded from kids' violins, gingerbread cookies sold for 30 cents a piece. Nearby, you could buy a $3,000 antique chair or a $22,000 piece of jewelry. Fragrant kid clay, jewelry cleaner, exotic rugs and quilts found their spots, too. Shreveport resident Kathe Buckley found frosting-coated doggie biscuits for her 4-year-old Yorkshire terrier, named Widget "Oh, I always shop for him.

I wrap them up, and he can open them at Christmastime," Buckley said. "I can't keep them out underneath the tree. He'll tear right through them." Bossier City resident Evelyn Hunley also was searching for pet toys this time for her cat. Ivy. A few minutes into her stop at the show, she had found a stained-glass cat night light that she figured would work just fine.

Some of Les Boutiques' 88 vendors showcasing 106 different "shops" said they enjoyed the hospitality in shop decorations as well as refreshments during the day. Houston resident JoAnne McMahan said her daughter's wood-carved Russian Santas The TimesELISA OLDERMAN Shelia Cawthorne (right) a volunteer ombudsman asks Care Center. Ombudsman Mira Walton stands watch-Bertha Bain if her dinner is all right at South Park Guest ing inside Bain's room. Elderly aid needs help, volunteers Whom to call The Caddo Council on Aging is seeking volunteers for its nursing home ombudsman program. If you are interested, please contact Mira Walton, ombudsman coordinator, at 632- 2090.

from the village of Sergei Posad have found a stopover in the four-day event The miniature carvings have sat in shows froni New Orleans to Austin, but Bossier City's event had something special, she said. "It's gone well," McMahan said. "Your work days are a little slower than your weekends, but they've had crowds coming in since 10 this morning." Les Boutiques chairperson Harvey Anne Leimbrook said she expects this year's event to match the earned last year. From the fish mobiles, man go tea and gourmet coffee to Christmas clothes, jewelry and pewter, the show hopefully will live up to the help it's given in the past, she said. "This funds the educational programs put on by the operas-Carlisle said.

"And without it, we wouldn't be able to do all that" That's important to shopper Carolyn Thompson. Equally as pressing is her Christmas list, which she tries to whittle down each year by attending iihe-Opera Guild's fund-raiser, "I just like all the unique Christmas ideas, "Thompson said. By DON WALKER The Times When the food is too cold, the music gets too loud or the hospitality becomes a little less than hospitable, 78-year-old Bertha Bain knows where to take her complaints at South Park Guest Care Center in Shreveport. "If I have a problem, I'll get on the phone and call the head dog," she said. "But everything is going fine This place has become my second home." Bain's satisfaction with her home is a goal the Caddo Council on Aging wants for all 33 of Shreveport-Bossier City's nursing homes.

"We want everyone to feel the way Ms. Bain homes grows, so does the need for ombudsman volunteers. "Some day one of the most important people in your life might be an ombudsman," said Linda Sadden of the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs in Baton Rouge. "You have a l-in-4 does," says Mira Walton, ombudsman coordinator for Caddo Council on Aging. Through its ombudsman program, the Council on Aging uses volunteers to protect the rights of the area's nursing home residents.

But as occupancy of nursing chance of being in a nursing home at some point in your life, especially since we are living longer." The Caddo Council on Aging's ombudsman program is operated through federal, See VOLUNTEERS 3B Adult class graduates into computer age Plug in i The Computer Learning, Repair and Preparation Center, 1501 Peabody St. in -Shreveport, charges $25 for weekday and night classes in the session. Weekend classes cost S50. Deadline for the second session Dec. 1 through Jan.

24 has passed, but anyone with questions may call the center at 424-0843 or 222-6284. third course in Office Management will be added in the second session starting Dec. 1. Certificate recipient Margaret Lee told a roomful of pastors, family, teachers and friends how proud she was to have improved her skills. There was a time when I got laid off and I moved back home," she said.

"So when I heard about this, it seemed to be a great opportunity to learn. I didn't want to be stuck in a situation where I needed a job and couldn't get one because I See GRANT 3B ed," said Patricia Willis, one of five instructors during the Oct. 6 through Nov. 15 session. "But when they left, some had new jobs or were making calendars and bulletins like they never had before," she said.

"This will be so important as we move into a new century that requires computer litera- cy" Both a Computer Fundamentals class and an Introduction to Word Processing class were offered in the program's first session. lYogram coordinator IYincess Pegues said a Students learn technological skills, boost confidence. By TERI BAILEY The Times Sharon Mosley knew she had to do something when her 8-year-old nephew had to teach her how to find the game "Solitaire" on her computer. "I said This is ridiculous. I need to be able to work a So, I found out about these classes, and here I am," said Mosley, one of 21 graduates of the first class of Computer Learning, Repair and Preparation Center.

"I did it!" One by one, students rose to recognition Saturday after completing a six-week computer course that began with basics but ended with skills that beefed up their resumes. The school, run out of the Williams Memorial CM Ii Temple, 1501 Peabody works, in part, to assist people moving from welfare to work. Few in the first graduating class were welfare recipients, but orga- Mosley Lee nizers said helping those having trouble finding work is still their highest hope. "I was so pleased with this group because some of the students weren't even able to turn a computer on when they start Nice hotel, and that's a solid gold fact, Jack The Times Tip Line Friday, Nov. 21,10:35 p.m.: Just a few minutes ago 1 drove past a beehive-busy bunch of yel- low-jacketed TprJHu The Times welcomes story tips from readers.

To aive us a valets, Allen walked through an lobby big enough to play baseball in, placed my credit card on a marble view of the Red River and greater Las Shreveport many of us seldom see. I like it 1 1 :20 p.m.: No Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon, but there are both ESPN's and many current movies for rent If I get bored, there's always the Texas Stn-et Neon Bridge, which is growing on me. Can they see it from the space shuttle? 12:35 a.m.: It's like a little city downstairs. There's a line at the buffet restaurant. Steady stream into and out of the casino.

But no one I don't find this surprising has been in the second-floor nicely outfitted exercise room all night. I'll bet this prows to be the loneliest room in the hotel, maybe in Bossier Ci'y. tel? They could call it Motel 7. Motto: "Well leave the chandelier on for you." It's Opening Day tonight at Jack Binion's Horseshoe. Many locals revel in the lobby, not checking in but just checking things out.

Badge-wearing staffers in new suits hustle, piped-in music plays clearand smiles are easy. In our exchange of knowing glances it's obvious we feel we're part of something special, because no matter what happens in the future, tonight will be the only night in the ho tel's history that every last one of the towels can be accounted for. I had only a computer bag, but bellman Reggie Tavlor, a YM Byrd High grad, walked have just one bathroom at my home; I'm used to disappointment in that area.) 8 a.m.: Check-out is un- eventful. The lobby scene is much like it was seven hours earlier, except the day crew has arrived to continue con- struction. The valets are not as busy as their buddies were last night; they wave goodbye and wish me a good trip on my thref-mile drive home, and the fog begins to break and day comes from the first night the "Shoeshined.

Teddy Allen is a Times writer. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 459-3260 or by fax at 459-3301. E- mail to: livingthetimes.com me to my room anyway. Oust like when you leave Albertson's!) Not five minutes ago he left, with smiles and a wish for "good gaming." I like my place, Room 1821.

1 really like the "21" part. It seems to balance my parking space: 213. Reggie gave me the tour I'll give it to you Dts of floor space (1 hit range balls with a 7-iron), toiletries galore, a tub King Kong could shower in, depth at TV (thav), and a bed. king-sized and firm. We're thin on couch right now (none), but those are being inixrtcd from Italy where, 1 presume, they must make a mean one.

Finally, those windows that look gold from outside look Rgul.ir from inside but offer a I Need quiet Horseshoe Health Spa. 12:52 a.m.: Six elevators, all very fast I like fast 'vators. 12:54 a.m.: Still no couch. 12:55 a.m.: I k-ave a wake-up call for 5 a.m. The nice operator named Michelle tells me that's awfully early.

I tell her I have work to do. 5 a.m.: Michelle's right 6 a.m.: I'm up. Now for the ultimate test of a hotel's worth: shower pressure. Turns out it's only slightly above average and the hot water runs out. As I've said before, it all coms back to plumbing.

(I'll find out later maintenance was working on this problem. But 1 understand lukewarm water 18 stories up on opening night. I 1 tip, call 222-6397, and when asked punch 972. Then, tell us your tip. We will accept anonymous tips, but if you would like a reporter to contact you, also leave your name and phone number.

If you would like to talk directly to a news staffer, call 459-3233. We will check your tip out within 24 hours. E-mail to: news thetimes com Columnist 5 counter and checked into the I lorseshoe Casino Hotel. At 2(5 stories and CM suites, a lot of hotel it is. No wonder they're not finished building it.

Louisiana's first casino ho-.