No Struggle, No Progress
No Struggle, No Progress
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An economic development project spearheaded by former Monroe city councilman, Mike Echols, came under fierce opposition from community leaders during the Monroe City Council Tuesday, July 26, 2022. In the most recent meeting, council members wrestled with explaining the intended project and how the city would benefit. The agenda item was slated for further discussion and possible final passage at the July 12 meeting but was canceled because there were not enough council members able to attend. Before council members discussed and voted on...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In a situation where one could ask what could go wrong, all of the elements of something could go wrong. An unidentified local man is lucky to be alive and can perhaps count his blessings that a bullet didn't have his name on it. Or anyone else, for that matter. As recently reported, Monroe Police were called to the Coca-Cola Plant near I-20 about a shooting. Upon arrival at the business, police were told by a male employee that...
One can see why Republicans in Congress don’t like investigative hearings about Republican misconduct when they are not in charge of Congress, as evident of them largely being silent as the opening rounds of the Jan. 6 insurrection is over. They don’t talk about it only to say that the American people want Congress “to tackle the issues” that Americans care about. They somehow forget that when President Joe Biden tried to do just that, Republican cooperation was almost non-existent. They were too busy licking their chops because of the 6-3 con...
Disclaimer: A person is innocent until proven guilty. Two individuals are wanted by police following a shooting that occurred in the 2200 block of Adams St. around 10:30 PM, Saturday, July 16, 2022. According to Monroe Police (MPD), a group of people had gathered together to hold a memorial when for reasons unexplained, an argument developed between several parties among the group. MPD didn’t share what started the argument, but two individuals produced firearms and started firing their weapons as it intensified. Witnesses all allege hearing 5...
A local woman is out of her job for reasons she said she couldn’t understand over circumstances beyond her control. The individual stated that her job was out of town, she enjoyed her job, and she got along well with her co-workers. She worked in a managerial position where she had to oversee others who worked there. Several months ago, an individual applied for a position under her leadership work filled out an application that required a background check. The individual allegedly was in the process of transitioning and wanted to be k...
The Monroe City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 12, 2022, was canceled by the Ellis administration. In an announcement released by city hall, a statement read that the meeting was canceled due to not having a quorum of council members attending. The announcement further mentioned that the meeting would be rescheduled for Monday, July 25, 2022, at 4:30 PM in the Council Chamber of the City Hall Building in Monroe. All items on the agenda would be acted upon as previously published. The late announcement may have city council watchers...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In an incident that is still very common in Louisiana, a local Ouachita Parish man has been arrested in connection with the murder of his former girlfriend. Local law enforcement officials say that 25-year-old Jarvis D. Taylor was charged with Second Degree Murder in the death of Ebony L. Lewis in the Town and country area of Ouachita Parish. Taylor, according to Monroe/West Monroe and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office said...
As this nation inches closer to the 2022 midterm elections, it will be a battle over which party will take control of Congress; one that will make sure that President Joe Biden will be a lame duck with two broken legs or a party that will do what it can to save Mr. Biden’s presidency. Some will say that the Republican Party “owns” the Supreme Court with their long-awaited victory over Roe V. Wade, as the conservative wing of the court delivered on just what Republicans wanted in the abortion war. When one thinks of the Supreme Court, the phras...
There was much discussion at the last Monroe city council meeting held Tuesday, June 28, 2022, when an ordinance authorizing a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the city of Monroe and developers of the Walnut St. Special District that would authorize the “sharing of tax increments” within the boundaries of that district. That is the project by the riverfront, where a two-block area will be converted to restaurants, a hotel, and other amenities that will spur economic developments and bring in more revenue for the city. The city, which spe...
A former Monroe Police Department (MPD) officer with a controversial past regarding banned substances pleaded guilty in a case where a local man was kicked in the face, resulting in a lawsuit against the city of Monroe. Jared Desadier, 44, was one of several MPD officers involved in an April 2020 incident where officers allegedly chased then assaulted Williams, causing severe injuries. Williams, who is Black, needed treatment for the injuries he suffered, as pictures of him proved and caused a...
There is a new sheriff in town, quite literally at Green Oaks Detention Center in Monroe, LA, as Jason Pleasant begins his second year as director at the facility for troubled young people. Pleasant brings a wealth of law enforcement experience with him, having worked for the West Monroe Police and Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office Departments. Pleasant also has extensive experience working on the administrative side of law enforcement, which he said helped him to understand the system a little...
On a day when America celebrates its independence with parades, backyard barbecue events, and fireworks, this fourth of July celebration will be remembered for the carnage at such a celebration in a Chicago area suburb. An individual that law enforcement identified as a person-of-interest, 22-year-old Robert E. Crimo was apprehended without incident not long after the shooting occurred., as the nation once again has to come to grips over the continuing horrors of mass killings that have left many dead and people wondering, is it safe anywhere...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A shooting in North Monroe on Friday, June 24, 2022 had an unfortunate and tragic end. According to police reports, an argument developed between several individuals on Loop Road not far from US Hwy 165. Belle Bayou Apartment Complex is normally a quiet area nearby schools, homes, and businesses. Around 3:30 PM Police revealed that an argument in the apartment complex's parking lot around 3:00 PM that day led to two people being...
The Supreme Court has spoken. Only it didn’t happen last (June 24, 2022), Friday. It spoke over a month ago when the infamous leaked drafted of its upcoming decision on abortion. On Friday, the Court did not disappoint. Certainly not those who were pleased with the decision to outlaw abortion and not those who saw the decision as something that was expected. After all, the Court is 6-3 conservative which means just about any cases before the Court involving “individual liberties” such as religion or other “moral” issues, will likely be ruled...
A resolution for the city of Monroe to provide matching funds in the amount of $7,426,609 for the Texas Standifer Sewer Trunkline was a major discussion during the Tuesday, June 14, 2022, Monroe City Council meeting. According to Mayor Friday Ellis and Ouachita Parish Engineer Kevin Crosby, this project is huge in scope and must be done if the city wants to improve its sewer/water infrastructure. Ellis said that this is an issue that he inherited from previous years where the project can no...
Another battle over the town of Richwood's new fiscal year budget appears headed for another showdown between Mayor Gerald Brown and some on the town's alderperson board. The town had gone through a contentious battle between Brown and three town alderpersons that saw a lot of finger-pointing. The state became involved at one point and offered some clarity for the group working to move forward. At the heart of the possible looming conflict is settling financial issues from the current budget,...
No community or neighborhood is immune from shootings and shots being fired. Ouachita Parish law enforcement officials said that what was thought to have been gun fire, has been confirmed to be a shooting that happened on Monday June 13 on Rosewood Dr. located in the Town and Country area in Ouachita Parish. No one was injured, but a bullet hole on a side window of an automobile in the area, showed that a shot was fired. According to Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office(OPSO, the shooting was...
Last year in June of 2021, a shooting happened in south Monroe in the area of Sandifer Avenue and Vine Street where two individuals were shot. When Monroe police arrived at the scene, they found that 19-year-old Xavier Wright and a juvenile had been wounded from the shooting, where they were taken to a local hospital for treatment. After further investigation, police determined that twin brothers, Bobby and Dennis Harris were responsible for the shootings. Police could not locate the pair, but...
The Department of Justice is about to undertake its so-called “pattern of practice” into the Louisiana State Police, the state’s premiere law enforcement agency. The investigation will center around people who have alleged that LSP has engaged in “discrimination and brutality” patterns on its citizens, particularly Black people. Though there have been allegations of LSP misconduct over the last decade, it has been the disturbing videos of LSP Troopers savagely beating Monroe native Ronald Greene three years ago that has kept LSP in the spotl...
When Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis announced that city employees that belonged to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union could soon see increases in their wages, it got people talking. The city then engaged the services of the Gallagher Group to come up with a formula that would grant city employees wage increases that were comparable with employees in cities similar to the size of Monroe. Mayor Ellis followed up that announcement that upon approval by the city council, employees of the union would soon get those...
A Ouachita man who allegedly has a criminal past found out the hard way that some things just don't mix. Deputies say that Ladalle G. Norwood, 29, was inside a residence in east Ouachita Parish when he suddenly produced a gun and fired at the front door of a residence. According to reports, the shot was preceded by a violent outburst when he was told that someone was knocking on the door. There was also an adult and two children inside of the residence with Norwood at the time of the incident....
Another school year has ended in Monroe, LA, and young people, known as high schoolers, are now ready to embark on another exciting chapter of their lives. Some are ready to start that chapter at the collegiate level, go into the military or begin working on a specialized skilled job from a technical school. They have many possibilities as to how that next chapter will unfold, but one thing they will not forget is where they graduated from as they take the next big step in life. The three public...
Louisiana State Senator Katrina Jackson may have cemented her an opportunity to become Louisiana’s first Black female governor, if she decides to run, thanks to her Republican colleagues in the House and Senate passing her highly controversial abortion bill. Senate Bill 342 will become law even if Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards refuses to sign the bill, saying that “vetoing the bill wouldn’t accomplish what he would have liked to, which is the exceptions for rape and incest”. The bill would outlaw abortions in just about all cases, except...
If things go the way of the Louisiana House and Senate, The Swanson youth Center in Monroe will be the only facility in the state to house the highest risk juvenile offenders. A bill sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice(OJJ) and Louisiana State Senator Heather Cloud was presented to the House Criminal Justice Committee that would create a risk-based tier system for the state’s juvenile population currently in juvenile centers, according to media reports. Under the current system, juveniles are sent to the closest facility where they live...
Louisiana is ranked at the top of the list of states' rankings in domestic abuse. It has been a problem for decades despite numerous steps taken to reduced the number of incidences. The victims are overwhelmingly female, with many sustaining serious injury and in some cases, there are deaths reported. Women are encouraged to recognize the signs of an individual who may exhibit signs of an aggressive behavior toward violence as the first step to gain control over his/her companion/friend, that of...
As we steadily transition from one generation to another, it seems that a little more is lost on the present generation when it comes to the past. We, as Black Americans, should hold on to as much of our past as we can, because God wants us to know our history. There are those who wish to not know about our history or severely limit our history to just a few pages concerning our historical legacy. When God’s people made it to the Promised Land, He not only had them put in place a memorial of where they crossed into the land, but throughout t...
In an effort to beautify portions of Carroll High School, a proposal on the Monroe City School Board agenda was requested to move air conditioner chillers located in between two buildings of the school. The request was made at the Tuesday, May 17, 2022, meeting to make an area available for secure outdoor activities. Those activities may include classroom study, a place to unwind, eat lunch, work on projects or have quiet time during lunch hour. In 2022, all school students deserve areas on scho...
As expected, emotions were flying high at Tuesday night's May 24, 2022 Monroe City Council meeting. On the council's agenda was a resolution by the Southside Economic Development District(SEDD) to financially help local businesses create or expand business. Before council members officially heard the proposal, there was chatter that there was opposition from the Ellis administration. The proposed resolution was brought up at the May 17 meeting during audience participation at the end, and the...
Justice for Antonio Harris moved one step closer recently when three Louisiana State Troopers were charged in a beating incident involving Harris. The charges stem from a 2020 arrest of Brown following a high-speed chase in Franklin Parish, where Harris was apprehended in a cornfield. When Harris realized that he had nowhere else to run, he surrendered to troopers( remind you of another Black man), lying prone with his arms and legs spread. What happened next is something that the Black people...
Things are not going so well in the Russian republic, as it is embroiled in a conflict in Ukraine that, if not resolved soon, will seem like the war in Afghanistan was a picnic. That is because the people of Ukraine are giving the Russians at this moment in time, more than they can handle. Russia, with its superior military, was seen as the antagonist who would in a “matter of weeks” pull off a resounding victory over the Ukraine military and Ukraine would once again be a part of Russia. There is only a short list of nations that are supporting...
A man sought after by Monroe police officers in an April 8 shooting on Dunn Drive has been captured. Damion D. Henderson, the alleged shooter, was the subject of a manhunt following the fatal shooting of Torance Davis on Dunn Drive. Henderson, who was charged with a warrant of Second Degree Murder in the Davis shooting, was in Concordia Parish, allegedly living in the town of Ferriday, LA. Acting on information supplied to Monroe detectives passed it on to Concordia Parish law enforcement...
Residents on the south side of Monroe who live and travel near Winnsboro Road and South Second St. are looking up towards the sky, but not at the clouds. They are looking at recently installed security cameras on several utility poles, and those cameras are a concern for some residents. This reporter, who frequents the southside on numerous occasions, and perhaps numerous other residents were not aware of the cameras until after they had already been installed. The cameras are installed on...
Carlos Harris has had a tough life. He admits to having done drugs, which alienated him from some of his family. Drugs did indeed take a toll on him. It got so bad that one night he had an experience that convinced him that he needed to do something or he would end up where there’s no coming back. He would end up dead. On a night that he remembers well, January 12, 2020, was when by the grace of God, Harris’s fate could have been death. In an interview with this reporter, Harris was very candid about his near-death experience, saying he had PCP...
By Eddie D. Gillis As of press time, the state of Louisiana has lost a staggering 17,297 of its citizens to Covid-19. There are still many people who appear to have taken the pandemic for granted, as the focus from media groups has placed their focus on other matters. In the last year along, many venues that were limiting how many people could be inside of closed spaces has been greatly diminished, despite the fact that a million people has died since the pandemic began. Vaccines developed within the last year has given promise and hope to...
A five-week-old baby and adult are dead after they were killed in an automobile chase following an alleged theft from a local Walmart. The incident happened Monday, May 9, 2022 around 6:30 PM, according to police reports. The scenario began when a couple was observed stealing baby items from the store. Candace Gill, 38, was allegedly with Edward Williams when they were spotted and fled the scene in a vehicle away from the store. A short time later, the vehicle was seen near Northeast Dr....
The honeymoon for Monroe mayor Friday Ellis is over, as the realities of life as a city mayor have long settled. The mayor promised “big things” for Monroe, as he said that it was time for Monroe to stop being a “Tale of Two Cities”. Now well into his second year as mayor, not much in the Charles Dickens’ novel hasn’t changed for many city residents, particularly those who live on the south end of town. There are those who are dissatisfied with the mayor’s performance in office, and he has heard it from some of those who take the opportunity t...
Monroe Police Officers arrested suspected members of the DeuceFive gang, allegedly operating in Monroe, after a high-speed chase from police officers. Acting on information officers said that they received, a vehicle with the alleged gang members inside was visiting a convenience store on Jackson St. Alleged suspects were identified as Oterrious K. Thomas, 22, Marco Travell Walker, 20, Andrew Miles Jr., 18, and Jimmy Mitchell, 18. Officers said once they approached the vehicle, a "strong" odor...
In just under a week, the family of Ronald Greene will have to face a grim reminder that justice for their loved one has not been met despite the mounting evidence points to an alleged coverup by law enforcement officials. If there was ever a reason to deny law enforcement officials implied immunity from prosecution, Greene’s death at the hands of LSP Troopers on May 10, 2019, is one such incident. It is three years and not one officer has been arrested, tried, convicted and sent to prison for their crimes, simply because the powers that be w...
If you don’t succeed the first time, try again, is an old saying that we have heard many times before and, more than likely, have received as unsolicited advice. It makes sense in the fact that sometimes one has to do something more than once just to get it right. On that sentiment, it appears that Louisiana Republicans in the House are doing just that in another effort to get gun legislation passed. Recently, Republicans in the House passed legislation with a 64-27 vote concerning HB37 that would allow adults to carry a gun without a permit o...
It takes two to tango. That is what is usually involved in a relationship. A relationship often starts very amicably, with both partners “dancing” in perfect harmony. Even if there is a bad step in their tango, it can be fixed in the next move or two. There are times when the magic in relationships goes south, and the magic goes away. Monroe Police responded to a call on Tuesday morning, April 27, 2022, involving two individuals in an altercation that became violent. According to reports, MPD...
City employees of Union no. 2388 affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees won a victory Tuesday night(April 12), when the members of the Monroe city council approved a contract passed by union membership. On a vote of 4-1( Dist. 3 Juanita Woods-no), there were applause from union members and representative present in council chambers, because the new contract had been a long time in coming. Those representative of AFSCME told council members that the votes showed that union members believed that the contr...
I can’t wait for the movie to come out. Political movies like “All of the President’s Men”, where the nation learns just how Watergate played out and what led to Richard Nixon’s resignation, showed us the corrupt nature of American politics. When art imitates life, we often see what lengths some people will go to remain in office. Even when they know that their days are numbered. Former president Donald Trump gave the nation/world a vivid glimpse of what he would not only do, but also who he would throw under the bus to save himself, those bein...
If you don’t succeed the first time, try again, is an old saying that we have heard many times before and, more than likely, have received as unsolicited advice. It makes sense in the fact that sometimes one has to do something more than once just to get it right. On that sentiment, it appears that Louisiana Republicans in the House are doing just that in another effort to get gun legislation passed. Recently, Republicans in the House passed legislation with a 64-27 vote concerning HB37 that would allow adults to carry a gun without a permit o...
Another shooting in the area has claimed the life of another one of our young men. This shooting occurred on April 14, 2022. The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a 17-year-old boy was killed in a shooting in the Tanglewood community, just south of Monroe. Officers say that the shooting happened around 3:30 PM when they arrived at the scene. They discovered a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Witnesses described the incident as a drive-by shooting. The victim was transferred to a local hospital, where he was p...
Residents who live on Monroe's southside are looking to city and law enforcement officials to help them cope with many residents who say a bigger police presence is needed in their neighborhoods. Residents say they are concerned with individuals speeding down their streets despite the 25 mph speed limit and neighborhood watch signs in plain sight. Some of the residents are going to great lengths to protect their lives and property from those trying to steal personal belongings from their yards....
By now, as more details emerge from the case surrounding the death of local resident Ronald Greene, it is becoming painfully clear that the Louisiana State Police Law Enforcement Agency, now has a serious image problem. And it didn’t have to this way. Ever since details began to surface of how Greene died at the hands of LSP Troopers almost three years ago, it has been one thing after another that has led many to believe that Ronald Greene was murdered. One may believed that after videos of Greene being beaten repeatedly and dragged h...
Apartment Shooting, Two Injured - We all look forward to a peaceful, restful night of sleep, especially when we've had a rough day. The last thing we want to hear is gunshots. For one local couple, that happened. The shooting occurred on Evangeline Street and left two people injured when someone fired several shots into an apartment complex. The shooting occurred at about 1:00 AM, April 11, 2022 at the Shadow Hawk Apartments, as police responded to the scene to investigate. According to police...
Melvin White has a distinction that few, if any in the Monroe area can match. Mr. White believes that he is the oldest barber living and still cutting hair in the area. While listening to White during this reporter's interview with him, one could hear him relive history all over again from the time he first obtained his license to cut hair. It was during the summer of 61, June 3rd to be exact, when White proudly graduated from the Little Rock Barber College in Little Rock, AK. White took an...
A local group of community leaders issued a stern response to a recent news conference held by Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis, along with Police Chief Victor "Vic" Zordan, where the highlight of the conference was the recent activity of violence in the city. Of particular concern expressed in the news conference was the alleged shooting at a police patrol unit by members of an alleged gang. Chief Zordan said that the police department is "working" to get gangs off of the streets with local and federa...
Club Shooting, Two Dead - Sporadic shootings within the Monroe community continue, as weekend shootings occurred that left one individual dead. According to police reports, an overnight shooting happened at a Monroe bar on Saturday, April 2, 2022; four other people were injured in addition to a fatality. The shooting allegedly happened in the parking lot area of the club. As of press time, Monroe Police have not identified any suspect(s) or discovered what could have been the motive behind the...
