The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 19

THE TIMES LocalStateFrom Page 1b WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1 998 3B arade driver Soldier foun 4ii Moyi lifH I''' I- W1, guilty of ,4 murder A 5 The Associated Press FORT POLK An Army private was convicted Tuesday of the premeditated murder of his wife, a fellow soldier, in their Fort Polk home last year. Pvt Peter T. Roukis 22, of Queens, N.Y., was found guilty in a court martial of stabbing and strangling Pvt Jennifer R. Roukis, 19, of Fairport, N.Y., on April 19, 1997. As the brief verdict was read, Roukis, who was standing at showed no emotion.

The eight-member jury deliberat-'ed for nearly four hours before returning the guilty verdict Roukis faces a possible life prison sentence, to be determined later after a sentencing phase of the court martial. Because the murder verdict was not unanimous, Roukis escaped the death penalty. Defense lawyers had to win a manslaughter conviction carrying lesser penalties. They had argued that Roukis was mentally ill and driven to a crime of passion by jealousy and despair over his wife's desire for a divorce. The sentencing phase of the martial begins Wednesday.

Once the panel returns a recommended sentence for the three charges, Brig. Gen. Samuel S. Thompson III, commander of Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness 0 "1, (if four times higher than the legal lirro it for commercial drivers. Festavan's attorney, Craig Smith, declined to talk about the case but said his client is reacting to what happened "as anyone can imagine." The casts on Eman Bader's legs, were removed last week, but she still cannot walk because of her knee.

Arrangements are being, made to get her into physical therapy, but the Baders have no insure ance to cover their medical bills. "He has a (convenience) store and six children. He works as much as he can," said Munir Bader's ati torney, Patrick Hennessy, who said, he is working on arrangements to. get Eman physical therapy. Hennessy also is working to gef.

monetary damages to cover the Baders' medical expenses. If no settlement is reached, the case could; go to court Meanwhile, Assistant District. Attorney Suzanne Owen stands byj the charges filed against Festavan and believes that if he ever enters a guilty plea, there will be debate be-' tween her and the defense over what his sentence should be. If convicted, Festavan could get up to five years in prison and -i" $2,000 fine for the first-degree gent injuring charge and up to months in jail and a $1,000 fine fof -each of the other two counts. Child's father calls plea By KACEE HARGRAVE The Times Munir Bader, whose daughter still cannot walk since being hit by a beer truck in February's Krewe of Centaur parade, became upset when hearing driver Christopher Festavan plead not guilty to DWI and negligence charges Tuesday.

"That's ridiculous. Even some people saw him (drinking) before Hi Festavan the accident" Munir Bader said outside the Caddo Parish courtroom. "I want him to admit he made a mistake, and he's going to live with that mistake." Festavan is charged with second offense DWI, vehicular negligent injuring and first-degree negligent injuring stemming from an accident in which his truck hit 4-year-old Eman Bader and 4-year-old Basil Eltounsy as it moved along the Shreveport side of the parade route. Police said he had a .175 percent blood-alcohol level more than pi sn 4 i Army Pvt. Peter T.

Roukis, 22, of Queens, N.Y., leaves the Fort Polk courtroom Tuesday with Capt. Maribeth Spellman, one of his three attorneys, and Sat. Lance Gillman following the start of jury deliberations in his capital murder case. Roukis was found guilty. South Bossier residents REGION BRIEFS Wreck kills one-hurts one in From Staff Reports Norman was driving a 1 From Staff Reports Norman was driving a CHOUDRANT A onear accident killed a man and injured another at 9:10 p.m.

Monday in Lincoln Parish. David Norman, 26, of Choudrant was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident near his home on Nunn Road. Roger Smith, 20, no address available, suffered moderate injuries and was treated at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston. cite duality Continued from IB on the neighborhood and infrastructure." South Bossier residents who followed Burns opposed having a major entertainment oudet in their back yard, saying quality of life and safe-ness of their community could be compromised. "I do not believe the Bossier arena has been studied," said resident Tim Wheelahan.

"As much as I may respect the members of this council and the mayor you are not qualified to offer an educated, calculated study of the potential impact of a project of thissize." Businesses, however, are in favor of placing the arena in south Bossier, said Chamber of Commerce President Bill McFadden. The arena's presence will mean anchored hope for commercial development and solid property values, he said. "The selected site is an excellent location," McFadden said. "Infrastructure is there and in place. Obviously, yes, there will be traffic concerns.

It's a matter of working with the city and police department to move traffic as effectively as mz AP of life issues possible." A survey of businesses by the Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation showed only 5 percent against the arena's location a sure sign that local businesses will rally south once the venue opens in July 2000, said foundation spokesman Tom Glass. LMI, whose representatives served as advisers early on with city leaders, has done its part to meet the businesses in Bossier City. That relationship will continue despite signatures still needed on a contract he said. City attorney Jimmy Hall said the agreement with LMI likely will be based on a flat fee, with possible incentives thrown in for hitting revenue goals. No specifics have been given.

A proposal for a five-year management agreement with SMG, another interested arena management firm, was submitted Monday. The offer, based on incentives ana not on a flat fee, said compensation would depend solely on the company's ability to generate revenues. A cap was set at $225,000. City officials said the proposal did little to sway them from a deal with LMI. Coley Cates, 23, is accused of shooting John Lars Elfervig, 22, of Memphis, in the head with a rifle two years and three days ago.

Elfervig died five days later. If convicted of negligent homicide, Cates could be sent to prison for up to five years and ordered to pay a fine of no more than $5,000. The case revolves around a Louisiana Tech University fraternity prank that soured. Elfervig and two other men entered the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity house in Ruston as a prank to take its large Greek display letters. Don't Sweat It! Gill the professionals at Payne Plumbing-I leatinCooling for 10 years parts and labor on all York air conditioning equipment.

Depend on the professionals at Payne to deliver the best service possible with the exclusive Priority 1 Plan. Free Estimates on Saturdays, we work when you don't have to! Training Center, will either agree with the recommendation, modify it or dismiss it, said Capt Martha Oclander. Once Thompson hands down the sentence, the appeals process begins with the Department of the Army, Oclander said. If the sentence remains at life, Roukis could be eligible for parole in 10 years. Army prosecutor Capt.

Peter J. Molinelli said Roukis systematically planned and carried out the slaying. Molinelli and co-prosecutor Capt Jan E. Aldykiewicz said Roukis lured his wife home under false pretenses, grabbed and punched her several times as she tried to leave, choked her with his hands and a boot lace, "sawed open" her throat with a serrated bread knife and lunged a large carving knife into er throat at least three times and left it there. Roukis acted coolly, Molinelli said, strongly disputing the defense's claim the killing was the result of "rage and anger." If the killing had been the result of "heat of passion," as the defense claims, then why did Mrs.

Roukis only have one slight stab wound to her left nipple and not "150 stab wounds in her chest'" asked Molinelli. er at the annual men's day program at 11 a.m. Sunday at Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, West Line Avenue at Adams Street in Ruston. The theme is "Christian Men on the March: Building the Kingdom for the New Millennium." A tribute to men also will be delivered by Birdex Copeland dean of the School of Social Work at Grambling State University. Program gets kids to read this summer NATCHITOCHES Registration for Natchitoches Parish Library's Summer Reading Program will be held June 3-4, with activities slated from June 10 to July 15, library officials announced this week.

Children who will be in prekinder-garten programs this fall can enroll in the Read-To-Me program, and children who will complete any grade between first or sixth this spring can enroll in the regular reading program. For details, call the library at (318) 357-3280. FlrTdil: Mir" 9 Humane Society seeks more animal lovers COUSHATTA The Red River Parish Humane Society is conducting a membership drive. People who are interested in joining the society can do so at the next meeting, slated Thursday at 7 p.m. in First United Methodist Church of Coushatta's McLemore Hall.

For details, call Kay McElwee at (318) 932-5440 or Michael Boyett at (318) 9324069. Demolition derby, food on tap at June Jubilee MANY This city's second-annual June Jubilee Festival will be held June 4-6 at the, Sabine Parish Fairgrounds. Events slated include a gumbo cookoff, a demolition derby, arts and crafts booths, a carnival and live music. For details or for vendor information, call Many City Hall at (318) 2564004 or 256-3651. Blood pressure checks offered free today SAREPTA Free blood pressure screenings will be provided at 10 a.m.

today at the Senior Center in Sarepta. The measurements are a public service of Cotton Valley Home Health Agency, a branch of Minden Medical Center Home Health Agency. For more information, visit the agency at 240 Main St in Cotton Valley or call Anna Ruth at (318) 832-5363. To contribute a news Kern: In Bienville, Claiborne, Lincoln and Webster parishes, call Curtis Heyen, 2553902, or fax 255-3907. For DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River and Sabine parishes, call Jeff Richard, 352-9605, fax 3524987.

E-mail to: ngwsthetlmes.com PJKII SaYORK PLUMBING HEATING COOLING 686-4183 747-0123 Change of venue hearing postponed in fraternity killing Dally Equipment Company aaaasui-si-a-si- 1995 Chevrok't pickup east on Nunn Road, when the vehicle ran off the right, side of the road and traveled 300 feet said state police Trooper Robert. Dowdy of Troop in Monroe. The, pickup then crossed both lanes of( traffic, ran off the opposite side of the road and hit a tree, he said. Neither of the two men was ing a seat belt Dowdy said. Results( of tests for alcohol or other drug use are pending, he said.

If (MtotMf tMtivhn it taM 9200 cnouiiv The Wizard of Of needs children for cast ARCADIA Auditions for a production of The Wizard of Oz by the Missoula Children's Theatre will be held July 13 at the Bienville Depot Museum in Arcadia. No advance preparation is necessary. About 5O60 local youths in kindergarten through 12th grade will be cast to appear in the show along with the theater's tour actors and actresses. Assistant directors also will be needed to help with rehearsals and backstage. The auditions are free.

But those who are cast will be charged a $25 participation fee. Missoula Children's Theatre is a nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Mont Its residency in Arcadia is being sponsored by the Drama Warehouse, the North Central Louisiana Arts Council's theater program for teen-agers. To sign up for auditions or for more information, call Julianne Cole at (318) 263-2736 or the North Central Louisiana Arts Council at (318) 255-1714. iwi.i.iiifm:i.iM.t Superior students to receive awards HOMER The Claiborne Parish School Board will hold its spring awards reception at 7 p.m. May 11 in the Claiborne Parish Fair Building in Haynesville.

More than 100 students are expected to receive medallions and certificates from the School Board this year. Participation has risen from 51 students in 1995, the program's first year. Receiving honors will be students who scored at least 25 on the American College Test juniors and seniors with a 3.5 grade-point average or better, literary rally participants who qualified to compete at the state level, Science Fair and Science Olympiad winners who qualified for state, and FBLA, Social Studies Fair and music students who scored at least a superior and qualified for state competition. Alumni groups boost Iftutti-Cuitural Center MANSFIELD Two organizations recently made significant donations toward operational costs of the DeSoto Multi-Cultural Center in Mdnsfield, the DeSoto High Alumni Association announced this week. Mansfield's local chapter of the alumni association made a contribution of $500, and the association's Houston chapter donated $445 from a recent yard sale at the center.

The Mansfield alumni chapter runs' the education and recreation center at the former DeSoto High School building. Donations for operation expenses are still sought For details, call Lloyd Jackson at (318) 872-iaorWorlitaJackson at (318) 872-3536. 3 Christian men meet for annual program RUSTON Farmerville Mayor Willie Davis Jr. will be guest speak- From Staff Reports RUSTON A hearing about whether to hold a negligent homicide trial outside Lincoln Parish has been postponed indefinitely. Attorneys on Tuesday were scheduled to argue whether to move the trial of a Ruston man accused in a fraternity prank that left another man dead.

The hearing was delayed until Tuesday afternoon then postponed indefinitely after it was determined the attorneys could not make it to court at the same time, a court spokeswoman said. We Have Moved to a New Location! 0, ,) Ross Dies, D.D.S. Southern Hills Dental Care Southern Hills Elementary School and The Times A Smart Partnership Through the Partners In Education program, the students at Southern Hills Dementary School receive a classroom set of The Times each week during half the school year from Ross Dies, D.D.S., Southern Hills Dental Care. To become a Partner In Education, call 459-3393 or toll-free: 1-800-551-8892, ext. 393.

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