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Archive for November 16th, 2007

Nov 16

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KSYL: Major Ryder Claims Slocum Misled Public About House Arrest Program

Yesterday, during an interview with KALB News Director Michele Godard, KSYL fielded a phone call from Major Carla Ryder, who described herself as the “overseerer (sp)” of the House Arrest Division for the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Department. According to Mrs. Ryder (a former employee of Charlie Wagner), Mike Slocum “on several occasions” claimed to have invented her program, even though the program was actually created by another deputy.

Responding to the question of how she felt after Slocum spoke about this program during KALB’s debate, Major Ryder said she was “stunned because I have never even discussed my program with Mr. Slocum. I wish he would have contacted me before he went on air.“

Later in the broadcast, Bobby Bordelon “with the Sheriff’s Office,” called in and told listeners, “Intimidation is going on in the Sheriff’s Office….As an employee, I can tell you I have been transferred because I did not support Mike Slocum.“

Mr. Bordelon also claimed that Mike Slocum approached him on the primary election day. According to Bordelon, Slocum said he had an audio recording of Bordelon “insulting” him and that he had hired an attorney to pursue charges.

Listen to the KSYL interview here.

Nov 16

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Local Red Cross to Purchase Historic Cotton Brothers Building

The Central Louisiana Red Cross is planning to purchase and renovate the historic Cotton Brothers Bakery building as a new location for their regional headquarters and offices. The brick Art Deco structure, built in 1932 at the corner of Elliott Street and Bolton Avenue, was recently named to be among the year’s top ten most endangered state historic properties by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation.

Renovation of the structure is expected to begin around February and be finished by the end of 2008. Altogether, the property could see upwards of a million dollars of direct investment. As a crucial piece of the Bolton Avenue corridor, our hope is that it can help spur a renewed interest in Alexandria’s historic commercial districts.

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We want to wish an early Happy Thanksgiving to our regional chapter of the American Red Cross and to the Executive Director of the Alexandria Historic Preservation Commission, Melinda Anderson, who has worked for many months to protect the legacy of this unique local landmark.

The announcement of this purchase agreement was (apparently) made yesterday night at a Red Cross charity drive held at the new Weiss and Goldring.