The Richland Beacon-News from Rayville, Louisiana • 1

The Beacon Of Richland Parish A Ay Ss a Year 126 -No. 20 La. Thursday, Fcbrusry 1, 1 Section, 18 Pcgcs I. WVf a vi fiv AREA BRIEFS Correction The Beacon News was gien the wrong information of a benefit Rook Tournament scheduled by the Richland Parish Pilot Club. So here is the correct information for those planning to participate in the day-long event, which promises both fun for all and a chance to combine this fun with benefiting others.

The Rook Tournament will be held in the Delhi Civic Center on Saturday, February 10, with registration being held from 8 to 9 a.m., and actual playing set to begin at 9:30 a.m. The tournament is a fund raiser for the Alzheimer organization in Northeast Louisiana. Entry is $10 per person, and a day of fun and festivities are being planned by the Pilot Club. Sheriff report shows parish crimes lower A summary of activities of the Richland Parish Sheriff Department shows the number of cases handled in 1995 were about the same, perhaps slightly down from the previous year, 1994, with an improvement in no homicides reported. Sheriff Lorell Graham, in releasing the report, said the number of complaints handled by the department was only slightly more than the previous year, totaling 866, compared to 852 for 1994.

These complaints he pointed out, do not necessarily mean crimes have been committed, but rather reasons for deputies to contact the party or parties making these complaints. Most of the time some action is taken in each case. However the number of warrants issued last year was up, but slightly, with 1,201 for 1955, against 974 for the previous 12-month period. During the same period deputies handled 188 drug violations counts with the most prevalent offense being possession of marijuana with 43, and possession of cocaine with 30. Distribution of cocaine was up with 34 counts, while distribution of marijuana nosedived having only five for the full year.

Sheriff Graham said the probable cause for this was the extremely high costs of cocaine, and consequently high profits by those pushing this drug. Possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute resulted in charges against 14 persons, and the distribution of marijuana with intent to district totaled 23. Six cases were reported in both the conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy for the cocaine category. Twelve persons were booked for possession of drug paraphernalia; seven for possession of Schedule II narcotics; and one each for distribution of counterfeit drugs, possession of LSD and obtaining controlled dangerous substance by fraud. Actual possession of a controlled dangerous substance resulted in two being arrested and three others for possession of methamphetamine.

See Sheriff, Page 2 Charles C. Barham is high court candidate i I I 1 Inclement weather, particularly the rains, cause more trouble than just making the roads slippery Workman of BellSouthSouth Central Bell were working earlier this week repairing lines. James Miller, resident of Epps, working In Rayville, was busy on the lines above ground, while another was under the street, handling that end of the trouble. (Beacon News photo) Bossier City beauty captures Stock Show Beauty Pageant and runners-up for the younger age groups associated with the pageant, their parents and hometowns. Miss Teen Stockshow-Veronica Scurria, Tom and Teresa Scurria, Delhi; First Runner-up -Amy Perritt, Fred and Kaye Perritt, Rayville; Second Runner-up -Nicole Evans, Thomas and Pam Neathery.

By GENE CLONINGER Staff Writer Samantha McAllister of Bos-, sier City, 20, was crowned the 1996 Miss Louisiana Stockshow in the annual pageant held here Saturday night and will represent the Northeast Louisiana Livestock Show in the Miss Louisiana scholarship pageant, a Miss America preliminary, in Monroe later this year. A late entry in the Delhi com petition, she is a sophomore at LSU-Shreveport. Her talent presentation was an operatic aria. Jennifer McLain of Bogaslusa Was first runner-up and Rachel Mayer of Monroe placed as second runner-up, announced J. Lynn Lewis, pageant director.

Angie Mabry, 1995 Miss Stockshow, crowned her successor and added to the entertainment with the marimba play that helped her win last year and also sang two numbers. Following are the winners and Ryan. He is a member of the Ruston Trinity United Methodist Church. The text of Barham's announcement reads: "I am called from more than Two convicted in District Court verdict against Abraham Wesley, 49, of Rayville, who is now facing a charge of selling cocaine. The Rayville resident was apprehended on September 20, 1994, and charged with selling cocaine to another at his home.

Two jury trials this past week in Richland parish have resulted on one man being convicted on a weapons and a second on an unrelated simple escape. Both of the trials were held in Fifth Judicial District Court. Following the convictions, both of the defendants were ordered to return to court on February 28 or on March 13 for sentencing. Related story, Page 5 In the illegal possession of a firearm case, Judge Chet Tray-lor presided over the 12-nersnn jury, which returned the guilty Democrats now qualifying On honor roll Two Mangham students are among those making the honor roll for the fall semester at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. According to Dr.

Edward Graham, vice president of academic affairs at NSU, students are placed on the honor roll for maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average on all academic work pursued during the fall semester. Mangham students named were Angela L. Robinson and Shirley D. Berry Welch. President's List Sarah Madeline Calvert, daughter of Mr.

and Mrs. Robert W. Calvert of Rayville, has been named to the President's List at Louisiana tech University in Ruston. The President's List honors students with an average of 3.8 or higher in a 4.0 grade point schedule. Sarah maintained a 4.0 av erage last quarter.

She also has been nom inated to the Mortar board for her academic achievements. Don't forget! The annual Lambda Kappa Club Scholarship benefit dinner will be held this Sunday in the Richland Civic Center, South Louisa in Rayville. from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The chicken spaghetti dinner will be available in either eat-in or take-out orders and will be sold for $5.00 per plate.

This is the club's main fund raiser for its benefit fund which helps younger people attending school. Plans ready A complete set of man agement plans for all schools is maintained at the Richland Parish School Board office, along with a plan in each school in the principal's office. These plans are avail able to parents, employees and other interested patrons during the normal working hours of the day. Charles C. Barham of Ruston, attorney at law for 35 years, has announced his candidacy for the District 4 seat of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

District 4 consists of 15 parishes in Northeast Louisiana. The primary election for the post on the Louisiana Supreme Court has been set for March 12. The 61 -year-old Barham is a native of Ruston, and served as a member of the Louisiana State Senate from 1964 until 1972 and from 1976 until 1988. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Lincoln Parish Bar Association. A graduate of Ruston High School, Barham received his B.

S. degree from Louisiana Tech University, and earned the Juris Doctorate from the Louisiana State University School of Law. He is married to Jo Ann Fra-sier Barham, and has three children, Karla, Chuck and Lori, and has four grandchildren, Abbie, Taylor, Matthew hard decision, but one that we must make as quickly as possible," the representative quipped. In his role on Audit Advisory Council, Thompson and other members are charged with auditing the state and local governmental agencies. This committee often is regarded as the second most powerful legislative committee in Baton Rouge, second only to the Appropriations Committee.

Another appointment which Rep. Thompson termed "most important to the many in my district," is on the Health and Welfare Committee. This group oversees all hospitals and health institutions, as well as public welfare and old age assistance. Thompson said his office received many calls regarding these matters and this appointment will "give me a closer link with the state agencies regulating these areas." Consid See Bossier, Page 2 A search of the house revealed that he had a pistol in his possession. Records in the office- of District Attorney William R.

(Billy) Coenen, Wesley had served jail See Two, Page 3 Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) and the Parish Executive Committees (PEC). Elections for these positions will be held Tuesday, March 12 in conjunction with the state's See Democrats, Page 2 all of the people of the state." Thompson said he has been in contact with other members of the committee and leaders in the Legislature "seeking possible solutions to these financial problems. It is going to be a Rep. Francis C. Thompson i Rep.

Thompson appointed to important committee posts See Barham, Page 3 a. tut. Jr Charles C. Barham ering the MedicareMedicaid situation which faces the nation today, the representative said "we in the entire House are confronted and we will again face the challenge of delivering needed services with less federal monies. We will have to find innovative answers to these difficult problems.

I am ready and feel I can assist in searching for and finding workable solutions." Thompson hailed his reappointment to the Agriculture Committee because of the importance of agriculture to his entire district, as well as other areas of Northeast Louisiana. "Of all our natural resources, none is more important than agriculture and forestry. They are an integral part of the economy, not only of our district, See Thompson, Page 3 VX if if A Qualifying for several Louisiana Democratic party offices began Wednesday and will continue through Friday, February 2. The candidates will qualify in the office of the parish clerk of court. Offices for which candidates must qualify this week include Baton Rouge.

In addition to the confidence expressed in him by the house leadership, Rep. Thompson said the appointments are "important to me because they will enable me to give the people of District 19 a bigger and stronger voice in the decision making process of state government." Thompson's appointments to the agriculture and appropriations committees actually were reappointments, since he is a veteran member of both groups. The representative said with the cutback in federal funding, states are being faced with the challenge of delivering needed services with less federal participation. "I am ready to accept this challenge and work toward a smooth transition and feasible solution," he said, adding that the support of all members of both houses of the Legislature will be needed, as "well as By BILL HARDIN Editor Rep. Francis C.

Thompson of Delhi has been named to several important key house committees, including chairman of one of the most important and powerful groups in the House of Representative. Rep. Thompson has been named chairman of the Audit Advisory Council and membership on both the Health and Welfare, House Appropriations and the Agriculture committees. The Appropriation Committee, one of the most powerful in the state government, handles all state budget measures, including the investment of public monies, public bid laws and public contracts. Announcement of the assignments was made last week by House Speaker Hunt Downer in.