The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 12

LocalStateDeaths THE TIMES shreveporttimes.com 4B WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2006 PAID ANNOUNCEMENTS Deaths Central Louisiana legislative seat up for grabs this spring the system board fired Wright, who had taken a leave following his arrest. In November, Frank Fulco, one of his attorneys, won a court ruling that the system board had not given Wright due process. The system is appealing that ruling. Since the appeal could take a year or more, Fulco asked the court to order the board to pay the salary. "We still have to consider the case on its merits." Wright and Charles Locker II of Deville were arrested in 2004 at Lake Buhlow Recreation Area.

A park ranger said he walked into a public restroom and found the men engaged in sexual activity. Both denied the charges and initially pleaded not guilty. But Thursday, Wright pleaded guilty to flight from an officer. Locke pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief, according to the Rapides district attorney's office. As part of Wright's plea, he agreed to resign from his legislative seat.

His resignation went into effect Tuesday. Wright's former attorney, Mike Small, disagreed with the plea bargain in a public filing in which he Caddo Parish Otstott, Rose Alice, 96, of Shreveport, died Saturday; services pending; arrangements by Aulds Funeral Home, Shreveport. Procell, Mary Ann, 66, of Shreveport, died Sunday; services at 1 p.m. today at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Bossier City; burial in Rose-Neath Cemetery, Bossier City. Sapp, Amanda Noel, 30, of Shreveport, died Tuesday; services at 10 a.m.

Friday at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Southside Drive, Shreveport; burial in Forest Park Cemetery, St. Vincent Avenue, Shreveport. Turner, Stuart Henry, 63, of Shreveport, died Tuesday; services pending; arrangements by Osborn Funeral Home, Shreveport. Claiborne Parish McClellan, Donna Lynn, 51, of Homer, died Tuesday; services at 10 a.m. Thursday at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Homer; burial in Thomas-Wren Cemetery, Martin.

Natchitoches Parish Barbo, Jimmle H. "Shorty," 87, of Natchitoches, died Monday; services at 3 p.m. today at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home, Natchitoches; burial in Bethany Cumberland Cemetery, Coushatta. Sabine Parish Barber, Vendora, 92, of Many, died Tuesday; services at 10 a.m.

Friday at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Many; burial in Warren Cemetery, Fisher; arrangements by Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many. Gandy, Ruth Sandel, 83, of Florien, died Tuesday; services pending; arrangements by Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many. McConnell, Edward Russell, 83, of Pleasant Hill, died Sunday; graveside services at 10 a.m. Thursday in Spring Ridge Cemetery, Pleasant Hill; arrangements by Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many. Myers, Edna 65, of Converse, died Monday; services at 11 a.m.

today at San Patricio Baptist Church, Converse; burial in Cassell Cemetery, Converse; arrangements by Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Many. Procell, Thomas Roy, 49, of Noble, died OBITUARIES JoAnn Robinson Watts JONESBORO, LA- Funeral services for JoAnn Robinson Watts, 70, will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at First Baptist Church. Dr. Matthew Wohlfarth and Dr.

Herb Dickerson will officiate. Interment will follow at Jonesboro Cemetery in Jonesboro, LA. Mrs. Watts passed away Monday, January 2, 2006 in Shreveport, LA. She was bom November 16, 1935 in Jonesboro, LA and she was a Home-maker.

Mrs. Warts was preceded in death by one son, Steve Watts and her parents: R.B. and Pearline Robinson. She is survived by her husband, Arnold E. Watts of Jonesboro, LA; two daughters: Susie Watts of Jonesboro, LA; Letha Hartsfield and husband Trae of Quitman, LA; three sons: Mike Watts of Campti, LA; Russ Watts and wife Erica of Quitman, LA; Scott Watts of Haughton, LA; two sisters: Glenda Standley and husband, Kenneth of Jonesboro, LA; Jeanette Wood and husband, Charles of Jonesboro, LA; five grandchildren: Logan, Seth and Adam Hartsfield; Andrew Watts and Tess Myers.

Pallbearers will be Mike Watts, Scott Watts, Trae Hartsfield, Drew Watts, Logan Hartsfield and Russ Watts. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Thomas J. Worgul, Glen Atkins, Jimmy Rogers and Dennis Wayne Smith. Edmonds Funeral Home 318-259-2345 Thelma Weeks Gremillion BOSSIER CfTYSPRINGHILL, LA -Funeral services for Mrs.

Thelma Weeks Gremillion, age 85, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at the Bailey Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Ronald Morgan officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Centuries Memorial Park Cemetery, Shreveport, LA under the direction of Bailey Mortuary, Springhill, LA.

Mrs. Gremillion, a native of Fisher, LA and former resident of Springhill, died Monday, January 2, 2006 in Bossier City where she had made her home the past five years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Joseph Gremillion, on June 3, 1978; her parents, John Henry and Mary Lenora Quinn; four brothers and three sisters. She is survived by a sister, Randi Weeks Thompson and her husband, Howard of Springhill and a host of nieces and nephews.

Bailey Mortuary, Inc. Springhill, 318-539-3555 Weekend Obituaries, Card of Thanks 8 In Memorials Weekend Houis 3 P.M. until 5 P.M. (By Telephone Only) 318-459-3487 Sunday; services at 2 p.m. today at St.

Joseph Catholic Church, Zwolle; burial in St. Joseph Cemetery, Zwolle; arrangements by Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many. Vasquez, Louis, 89, of Florien, died Tuesday; services pending; arrangements by Warren Meadows Funeral Home, Many. Vernon Parish Hale, Walter, of Anacoco, died Saturday; memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Good Hope Baptist Church, Anacoco; burial in Labby Memorial Funeral Home, Leesville.

Jones, Clarence "Deac," 49, of Leesville, died Friday; services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Johnson Temple Church of God in Christ, Leesville; burial in Leesville Memorial Cemetery, Leesville; arrangements by Labby Memorial Funeral Home, Leesville. Harrison County, Texas Goforth, Vic, 45, of Marshall, Texas, died Monday; graveside services at 3 p.m. Thursday in Gill Cemetery, Gill Community, near Marshall; arrangements by Sullivan-Heaster Funeral Home, Marshall. Rives, Woodrow, 87, of Marshall, Texas, died Tuesday; services pending; arrangements by Sullivan-Heaster Funeral Home, Marshall.

Panola County, Texas Brinkman, Brealon Shayne and Joseph Alan III, Infants, of Carthage, Texas, died Monday; graveside services at 4 p.m. Thursday in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Carthage; arrangements by Hawthorn Funeral Home, Carthage. Forman, Opal Faye, 83, of New Caney, Texas, and formerly of Carthage, Texas, died Monday; graveside services at 2 p.m. Thursday in Restland Memorial Park Cemetery, Carthage; arrangements by Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home, Carthage. Jones, Glenda Nell, 67, of Carthage, Texas, died Monday; services at 2 p.m.

Thursday at Hawthorn Funeral Home, Carthage; burial in Deadwood Cemetery, Panola County, Texas. Thom, Lucille, of Carthage, Texas, died Monday; graveside services at 2 p.m. Friday in Deadwood Cemetery, Panola County, Texas; arrangements by Hawthorn Funeral Home, Carthage. threatening to penalize them if they don't trim those same trees. "We had two limbs that I have to admit were kind of over the street," Donna Kessler said.

"I know the trees are dangerous. But each time I call the city, they say we are on a waiting list to have the trees trimmed or cut. I'm not sure what we are supposed to do." Holt said he is unaware of any previous discussion the Kesslers may have had regarding the trees. But he advises residents who have doubts about where property lines begin to call the city. "If it's (trees) on our property and dead, we will haul the tree away.

If they are alive and not causing problems, then we will trim them back," Holt said. As for the Kesslers, the problem has been resolved. They returned from a hospital visit Sunday to find a good Samaritan had trimmed their trees. Trees: 'We have to see a time limit or this thing will drag on forever' By John Hill jhillbrgannett.com BATON ROUGE A special election to choose a successor to a state representative accused of having sex with a man in a public restroom will be held April 1. A runoff for the Louisiana House District 22 post vacated by state Rep.

Tommy Wright, D-Jena, will be held April 29, if necessary, according to House Speaker Joe Salter. Qualifying of candidates for the election is scheduled for Feb. 8-10, which will give everyone time to organize a campaign, Salter said. House District 22 includes all or parts of Grant, LaSalle, Rapides and Winn parishes. Wright, in a public statement Tuesday, maintained he is innocent of obscenity and said he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of flight from an officer to end the case.

The same day, a state district court judge in Baton Rouge refused to order the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to pay Wright's salary as a Jena technical college teacher while legal issues surrounding his dismissal go through the courts. After a tenure hearing in August, Region Briefs Claiborne Bossier City business owner dies in accident HOMER Claiborne sheriff's investigators have ruled as accidental the death on New. Year's Eve of a Bossier City business owner and former Claiborne resident, according to information from Sheriff Ken Bailey. George Ronald Stratton, 58, of Bossier City died sometime Saturday evening while unloading cattle panels inside a trailer at his farm off King Point Road about three to four miles east of Homer. Stratton was alone and had last talked to his wife about 4 p.m., telling her he would be home soon.

Mary Stratton called a longtime employee to check on her husband after not hearing from him. George Walker went to the farm and found Stratton pinned by the cattle panels inside the trailer. Walker called the Claiborne sheriff's office. Stratton owned and operated Livestock Producers cattle auction on Sligo Road in Bossier City. Lisbon man being held for Christmas shooting HOMER A Lisbon man remains in the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on a $556,000 bond after allegedly firing at deputies from inside his house on Christmas Day.

George Walter Mason, 34, of the 200 block of Lookout Point is charged with one count of attempted A New You 73 73 73 318-795-0666 WK Pierremont 8001 Youree Drive, Suite 370 2 bnreveport We Also Negotiate: Defaulted Student Loans Credit Card and Personal Debt 800-499-0951 withdrew as his counsel. Small "felt the case was weak and that I would win it," Wright said. "A tiirr tiior nart nf me wanted to 20 ahead, but I wanted to put the whole thing behind me." Another fact was the death of his mother in October. "I realized to a deeper degree that this life is but a 'preparation period' for what is to follow and how we deal with our good fortunes and problems is but a part of the process of molding us," Wright said. Another attorney, Don Wilson, stepped in and completed the plea deal.

Wright said he enjoyed his public service and all he cared about was "doing the right thing for the average person." "As a politician, I wanted to go to trial in order to explain to people my circumstances. However, I am practical in believing there is a cost-benefit factor to consider. Weighing all factors, but with some reservation, I chose a path of determined resolution," he said. "I have come to realize that your friends do not require an explanation nor will your enemies be satisfied with one." parade will follow at 10 a.m. in downtown Minden and will include competition for best decorated float, best band performance and most spirited grouporganization.

Grand marshal will be Andrew Rhodes, a lifelong civil rights activist and voter registration and NAACP worker. A youth rally in the Civic Center will follow the parade. Winners of the parade, essay and poster contests will be announced. The Youth MLK Mass Choir will be featured. Minden Councilwoman Fayrine Kennon-Gilbert is chairwoman of the celebration committee.

Call her at (318) 377-0934 or (318) 377-2902 for entry forms or more information. DeSoto Child welfare complaint results in drug arrest GLOSTER A complaint about the welfare of a small child recently led to the arrest of a woman on various drug charges, according to DeSoto sheriff's Lt. Horace Womack, Tri-Parish Drug Task Force supervisor. Heather Beebe, 26, was booked into the DeSoto Detention Center on one count eacn ot possession oi methamphetamine, possession of more than 0.42 of an ounce of pseu-doephedrine, possession of Xanax, possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation. State Probation and Parole officers, Task Force agents and DeSoto sheriff's deputies reportedly recovered a small amount of methamphe-' tamine, about 4.6 ounces of pseu-doephedrine, commonly used in the clandestine production of methamphetamine, along with Xanax and paraphernalia from Beebe's home.

Her 1-year-old child was placed in the custody of state child protection workers. Beebe is on felony probation for a prior drug conviction in 2002. In an unrelated case, Sandra Frye, 36, of Frierson recently was booked on one count each of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Agents searched Frye's residence on Bethel Road several months ago but only arrested Frye after receiving the results of crime laboratory analysis of the items seized. By Vickie Welborn 800 and 900 I 4 I A niifjiuvcu laomuco softball fields are in fine shape, Finck said, and don't require repairs or improvements.

On a cloudless Tuesday afternoon with temperatures in the 60s, weeds colored the base paths on each of the tee ball and machine pitch fields. Workers had previously torn up the ground along the sides of each field in anticipation of the drainage work. About 1,400 boys and girls between 4 and 18 comprise the Bossier Little League, Nycum said. The improvements will go on the Swan Lake ball fields that between 800 and 900 youths, mostly boys, use, Finck said. Shreveport.

DOMINIQUE BAKER of Shreveport. Lost and Found Pets LOST: black and white Shih Tzu with tags to Bossier Animal Control, answers to "Murphy," near Minden Road in Bossier City, call (318) 549-9417. MEW YEAR'S DAY Continued from IB "We have to see a time limit or this thing will drag on forever. "Otherwise, I can have my guys cut them and send a bill and have the (residents) sent to court." Donna Kessler contends that she and her husband, Dennis, tried to cut down two pine trees on their lawn a few years ago but were warned that they were on city property. Now the Kesslers have received a letter a jr LASER HAIR REMOVAL INTENSE PULSED LIGHT THERAPY a HOLIDAY CHANGES WASTE COLLECTIONS Monday, January 2nd, garbage routes will be collected Tuesday, January 3rd.

Tuesday, January 3rd routes will be collected Wednesday, January 4th. Collection schedules on Thursday and Friday, January 5th and 6th will not change. The Woolworth Road Regional Solid Waste first-degree murder of a peace officer and multiple other charges, according to information from Claiborne Sheriff Ken Bailey. When Deputy Paul Brazzel rang Mason's doorbell, James M. Williams ran from the house saying Mason had armed himself and was threatening suicide.

More deputies and detectives arrived for backup. Mason discharged a gun several times in the house and fired a round in the deputies' direction, authorities said. After about two hours. Detective Duffy Gandy, Brazzel and Deputy David Morgan talked Mason out of the residence. He was taken to Homer Memorial Hospital for evaluation before later being booked into the detention center.

Webster Police jurors tap same officers to lead them MINDEN President Charlie Walker and Vice President Herb Byars once again will lead the Webster Police Jury following a vote Tuesday morning. Both have served in the same capacities since 2000. Ronda C. Carnahan was appointed as secretary-treasurer for a two-year term. And police jurors tapped Sue Gruber to fill a vacancy and James Smith to fill a three-year term on the South Webster Industrial District.

Minden plans activities for MLK birthday MINDEN A host of activities will be held in Minden this month to commemorate the life of the late Martin Luther King Jr. The theme is The Dream: His Vision, Our Mission!" A three-on-three basketball tournament at noon Jan. 14 at the Minden Recreational Complex will kick off events. Junior and senior high school boys' and girls' and young adult teams can participate. MLK birthday observances will take place in local churches Jan.

15. At 7 p.m., a citywide service will be held in the Minden Civic Center with Johnny Anderson, assistant chief of staff to Gov. Kathleen Blanco, as keynote speaker. The MLK Mass Choir will perform under the direction of Linda Baker and James Quarles. A Ministers' Ecumenical March is set for 8 a.m.

Jan. 16 on MLK Drive. Ministers will march, sing and pray to honor King's ministerial efforts. A Fields: Between 4V Lb a fill a yuuuio win uoc a Continued from IB Such canopies, commonly used at- car dealerships, cost between $60,000 and $80,000, he said. Already, new lights and light poles have been installed on regulation-size fields used by 13-to-18-year-old boys, according to league Safety Officer Matt Nycum.

The old wooden light poles were rotting and in danger of falling, Finck said. Bossier City Council President and District 4 Councilman David Jones said the field's improvements were about due, as part of the city's five-year capital plan. Meadowview Stroller Birthdays Celebrating a birthday today: SHARLUNDA THRASH of Shreveport. PAESHA FINISTER WRIGHT of Shreveport. KIARA PRUITT of Houston.

DEAUNDRA DANIELS WASHINGTON of Shreveport. C.A. ELLIOTT of Greenwood. ALMYRTIS LEWIS of I SADyANCED LU 8. of at Shreveport Facility will be open MondayJanuary 2nd.

The INTENSE PULSED LIGHT THERAPY MICRODERMABRASION Shreveport Regional Recycling Center will be closed on Monday, January EX-IRS AGENTS AND TAX PROFESSIONALS NEGOTIATE FOR YOU! (Nation's) most successful (In terms of size) tax-resolution company." -The Wall Street Journal HEW TEAK DAT ml a JANUARY 1 Free Tax Settlement Analysis: Confidential Interview by Appointment Only 800-435-4385 JK Harris Company WWW.taxexpertS.COm endorsement Shreveport bythewsj Come LOOK at LOYOLA (Loyola College Prep) Grades 9-12 Open House Open House for all Prospective Students and Families Sunday, January 8, 2006 2:00 p.m. in the gymnasium Attention 8th Graders: Register now: Entrance Exam for Fall 2006 Saturday, January 21, 2006 a.m. $25.00 Registration forms available at Open House, INC 1 vfK7tfreinJ or call 221-2675. I 4.