The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • Page 27

CALL ON US Metro Editor Richard Sharkey: 487-6375 Asst. Metro Editor Joe Joshi: 487-6340 Cenla Editor Phil Ward: 487-6381 FAX: 487-6488 E-mail towntalktimetrend.coia INI FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7, 1997 3 Briefs Greene impressed with schools Phoenix Magnet and Aiken Optional schools singled out by state senator responsible to them, we need to first make them accountable to the parents." Greene also touched on the subject of "re-introducing" religion back into the education system in Louisiana. He said "no matter how much funding we provide to the education system, it will not be successful without the guidance of the Lord." Alexandria teacher, Norma Stigall, brought several of her students to the forum and they presented the senator with a Valentines card that said they were glad he had come to Alexandria to appraise their school. "I was very glad to hear Sen. Greene say that more money should get down to the classroom," Ms.

Stigall said, "and I was also encouraged when he said he believed Louisiana could be first in education. "On a whole though, I don't think our legislators are aware of the expertise that already exists in our classrooms," she said. improve the educational system," Greene said. "We have some wonderful public and private schools here in the state in Rapides Parish and in my home parish of Iberville but we can do better. "Right here in Rapides, you have two tremendous schools in Aiken and Phoenix.

They are doing a terrific job and they should be allowed to flourish." Greene said "Aiken, for example, is taking children who are not 'bad' kids they are simply young people who had some difficulty fitting into the system. "In my opinion, Aiken could easily be made into a charter school and then it could gather funding from several different sources and help get more kids back on track in education." Speaking to a group of about 30 people, Greene repeatedly returned to a fiscal theme of accountability when he talked about increased funding for teachers, administrators and school systems. Parental choice and partnerships between teachers, parents and principals also was addressed by the senator who holds degrees in veterinary science and both nuclear and electrical engineering. "If you don't want to raise teachers' salaries after interacting with the faculties around the state, then there is something wrong with you," Greene said. "But for far too long in this state, people believed that every ill could be solved by just throwing money at the problem.

"I believe we should de-regulate the state's educational system and start making school boards, school systems, principals and teachers accountable for the products they produce." Greene said "For too long we have turned so much of the responsibility over to the state and federal departments of education and the school boards. "I say, rather than make the schools By Robert B. Roan Staff reporter Parents should be given more power in the state's education system and charter schools should be supported throughout the state, Tom Greene, state senator from Maringouin, said Thursday in Alexandria. Greene said he was impressed by the majority of schools he has visited statewide as part of the legislature's recent "Look, Listen and Learn" tour, and he specifically mentioned Alexandria's Phoenix Magnet Elementary School and E.S. Aiken Optional School.

The two-term Republican, who is not seeking re-election and is currently the chairman of the Committee on Education, was the guest speaker at a Citizens for Better Schools meeting. "There are currently about 950,000 school-age children here in Louisiana and when you hear their voices, you know how important it is for us to try and Hie sametM m- mm -WvJi; 4 Throw 1 LIW i l. l7 1 Molestation charges A 37-year-old Alexandria man was arrested Thursday on multiple felony charges which involved the alleged molestation of and cruelty to three female relatives, ages, 6, 14 and 16. Freeman Keith Wainwright of 344 Stovall Road was arrested in his home and booked into Rapides Parish Jail. Bond was set at $200,000.

An investigation into the alleged offenses began a week ago when a relative alerted a detective at the sheriffs office. The alleged abuse of the girls began several years ago and ended around mid-January of this year, when one of the victims told a family member, a sheriffs office spokesperson said. Vickie Coco trial MARKSVILLE Jury selection continues in the first-degree murder trial of Vickie Coco, with only six jurors having been chosen by noon Thursday. Twelve jurors, plus alternates, are needed. Jury selection began Tuesday before 12th Judicial District Judge Billy Bennett.

Ms. Coco, 24, of Marksville was one of four defendants arrested on murder charges in connection with the slaying of 82-year-old Clarence Robin of Hessmer in January 1996. Ms. Coco had been offered a deal where she would be allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter and be sentenced to the 40-year maximum if she testified against the other three defendants. She did testify against the first one to stand trial, Clinton Ray Brackens, but after that she changed her mind about cooperating with the prosecution.

Brackens, 41, of Marksville was convicted of first-degree murder in May 1996. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole after Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Eddie Knoll, with the backing of Robin's family, chose not to seek the death penalty once Brackens was convicted. Robin was beaten in the head with a four-way lung wrench during an attempted robbery at his home. Brackens' role was to help plan the robbery and drive the bandits to and from the murder scene. The other defendants, who have not yet gone to trial, are Norman Francis Dozier, 24, of 425 Avoyelles Drive, Alexandria, and Winfred Davenport 20, of 531 Pine Pineville.

Counterfeit charge Amer Fawzi Alghazzawi, 35, of Pineville has been charged with passing counterfeit money at Grand Casino Avoyelles in Marksville. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mignonne Griffing said Alghazzawi, a Jordanian citizen listed as a permanent resident alien, was arrested Monday and continues to be held in custody. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Simon has granted the prosecution's request that Alghazzawi be denied bail because he is a flight risk, Ms.

Griffing said. A second bail hearing, as well as Alghazzawi's arraignment, is scheduled for next Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. Ms. Griffing said Alghazzawi is accused of passing counterfeit money at casino on Dec.

19, 1996. If convicted, Alghazzawi could face deportation as well as sentencing, Ms. Griffing said. Suspect held A 38-year-old Alexandria man was arrested Wednesday night after he allegedly broke into a Third Street grocery store. Around 11:15 p.m., an Alexandria police officer responded to an alarm at Market Plaza grocery store at 2901 Third St.

The officer noticed the store's front door had been smashed in, and a man walking quickly away from the store with some beer under his arm, a police spokesperson said. The suspect, Lee Dell Griffin, dropped the beer and began running when the officer asked him to stop. When the officer caught up with Griffin, the officer was attacked by a dog that had crawled out from under a nearby home, the spokesperson said. As the officer fought with Griffin and the dog, Griffin broke away and began running again. The officer shook off the dog and eventually caught up with Griffin and placed him under arrest.

th snnkesnersnn said. Griffin, of 2822 LaSalle Drive, was charged with simple bur-I glary and resisting an officer. He I was booked into Rapides Parish Jail and bond was set at $3,750. 1 The Wednesday arrest marked the 24th time Griffin has been 1 detained in Rapides Parish since 1987, according to parish courthouse records. Amy Logan Staff photographer Rachel Karan.

Wagonloads of beads, (top right) were pulled through the parents and students yelled for the goodies their way. i itW 1 mil Vt 3 Melissa Gregory Staff adjustment from cups and candy playground as to be tossed grown into quite a production complete with floats and costumes. A participant from the Krewe of Pre-K, Tyler Pommerenke (top left) gets a little help with his bow tie from fellow krewe member Robert Karan and a sash "Throw me something, mister," was the cry heard Thursday at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic School's fourth annual Mardi Gras parade. The yearly celebration, put on by the pre-kindergarteners, has Wife booked in husband's death attempt NATCHEZ, Miss. The wife of a Natchez businessman, with links in Louisiana, has been arrested with three other Natchez residents in connection with the attempted murder of her Husband on Jan.

27. Arline Rose, 39, of Natchez allegedly put a contract worth somewhere between $1,000 and $20,000 on the life of her husband Joe Rose, said Jody Waldrop of Natchez Police Department. 1 reporter Workmen complete demolishing the third floor of the Winnfield Hotel on Thursday. Walls come tumbling down Demolition of 100-year-old Winnfield Hotel watched by crowd Joe Rose, who owns Arline's Texaco Food Marts in Jonesville, and Natchez, and Arline's One-Stop in Natchez, was shot once to the head. Derrick Henderson, 21, Brenda Knapp, 33, and David Myles, 30, all of Natchez were also arrested in connection with the shooting.

All four suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder and aggravated assault and were being held in Natchez City Jail on a $500,000 bond each. Waldrop said the shooting occurred at the Roses' residence at 122 Woodhaven Dr. at 5 p.m. on Jan. 27.

After witnesses described a black man running into the woods nearby following the shooting, Natchez Police called in K-9 units and found Henderson several hours later. The investigation led to the arrests of Myles and Ms. Knapp several hours after Henderson was found. Mrs. Rose was arrested the next morning.

Waldrop said Ms. Knapp was a friend of Mrs. Rose and shuttled between the couple's three convenience stores as a manager. Rose was taken to a hospital in Natchez before being transferred to Baton Rouge General Hospital. After undergoing surgery to remove bone fragments from his skull, Rose was released Jan.

29 and is recovering well, Waldrop said. the hotel. Mrs. Turner said her daughter told her of how the movie crew fixed up the facade for the 1989 film, but they couldn't get rid of the fleas that had invaded the building. "Blaze" told the story of former Gov.

Earl K. Long's affair with a burlesque artist. Mrs. Turner said her husband suggested she videotape the demolition. In its heyday, the hotel hosted the famous among the nation's politicians and criminals.

Of course, it was the headquarters for campaigns by Long. In fact, one of the windows to crash Thursday proclaimed in faded paint that the hotel was Long's campaign headquarters. Please see WALLS, 2 than across the street from the doomed hotel. Some people stood on the sidewalk in the cold, while others stayed in their warm cars. One of those standing on the sidewalk was Betty Turner, a Winnfield resident.

"History's going down," said Mrs. Turner, as she videotaped the destruction on her camcorder. "It's a sad thing when something old and historic isn't taken care of." Although she didn't grow up in Winnfield, Mrs. Turner said she remembers coming to the hotel's beauty salon to have her hair done. But even then, she said the decay had started.

She said her daughter was a stand-In when segments of the moyle "Blaze" were filmed in By Melissa Gregory Staff reporter WINNFIELD A crowd of people watched in silence Thursday as a wrecking ball started knocking down the walls of the 100-year-old Winnfield Hotel. With each smash of the ball, more bricks, wood and glass fell to the Main Street sidewalk below. The falling debris left the inside of the hotel's third floor exposed for all to see. The scene was eerily quiet, except for the sound of the crane maneuvering the wrecking ball. People stood hushed as the crew from Mike's In Alexandria did its work.

Winnfield police had the block cordoned off, not allowing spectators to get any closer VI.