No Struggle, No Progress
No Struggle, No Progress
Sorted by date Results 551 - 600 of 691
As someone who "has not been called" to preach the gospel of Jesus, but one who is also a member of the body of Christ, we are reminded to "preach" the gospel at every opportunity that we are given. In a nation where many people look at America as a "Christian" nation because famous men/women of the cloth have said so, there are moments when people that we look to in times of crisis, confuses us. An example of how Christians do/say things that those in the world must have wondering, is the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Over the last year, we...
Carroll High School is a historic Afro-American educational institution that has stood the test of time during some turbulent years and yet it still stands at its Renwick Street address. It being the only high school in the city of Monroe LA for Black children, has carve its niche in Ouachita Parish and is letting other neighboring high schools that it is not done. The school has served the community well, as it has sent out into the community, the nation and the world some of the best and brightest minds from the Black Monroe community. it is...
Monroe City Engineer Kim Golden explained to members of the city council at the last city council meeting held Tuesday, September 14, 2021 of a city plan in the works pertaining to flood protection around Youngs Bayou. Golden told council members that the three items on the agenda are in conjunction with the Youngs Bayou Retention Project, a large flood control project that the city had been working on for several years. Golden said that when completed, the project will add 80 acres of retention right in the heart of the city, and it will...
Though he didn't outright say it, Louisiana State Police Superintendent, Col. Lamar Davis seemed to indicate that if the Department of Justice (DOJ) decides to investigate the agency, he would have no qualms about it. Davis hinted at his acceptance of what may come after addressing allegations of excessive force caused by troopers under his watch once again. There have been calls for the DOJ to intervene after the public has learned about more alleged misconduct cases related to arrests and subsequent beatings suffered by motorists when...
Republicans are in an uproar not seen since Donald Trump lost the election, as President Joe Biden seemingly has said "enough is enough". President Biden is going all out in an attempt to vaccinate as many Americans as humanly possible. Biden recently announced his latest vaccine plan by using federal law that he knows Republicans will have a tough time fighting in opposition. Biden will use what is being called the "OSHA Mandate", that arm of federal law that protects people in the workplace that has been in effect since 1970. The...
There are times in life when things can happen to us while we are just minding our own business. You don't have to go looking for trouble anymore, because if you are at the "wrong place" at a certain time, it could find you. If one should find themselves in a situation where things are getting out of control, the old school gang would say to get away or leave. In today's climate, we seem to be drawn to where trouble is happening, even if we are not involved. A local woman suffered a gunshot...
Residents of District 3 in the South College area extending past the railroad tracks on White Street said that Monroe City officials are not doing enough to meet their concerns in their neighborhood. The Monroe Dispatch has published a series of articles highlighting issues of concern made by residents who have said things have gone on for too long. The biggest problem some homeowners face is property erosion in the vicinity of a large ditch that could be called a canal. An area of the ditch...
Republicans on Capitol Hill are calling for the impossible. In a run-up to 2022 to drum up support for a possible takeover, they are calling for President Joe Biden to be impeached. Never mind the fact that Republicans do not control Congress and they know that as long as Democrats control the House, impeachment is not even a remote possibility. But what else can they do? Republicans has been calling for Biden to vacate(resign) the White House ever since the last American soldier left Afghanistan, bringing an end to a twenty-year war where the...
No matter how officials with the Louisiana State Police (LSP) try to convey that the agency is not what it is portrayed to be, evidence points to the contrary. The agency is still trying to spin its way out of the horrifying Ronald Greene incident, and now it must answer even more questions concerning police conduct in the wake of Aaron Bowman's alleged beating captured on its own troopers' body cams. Bowman's encounter with a LA State Trooper from the Troop F Division covering northeast...
Sometimes it is hard to let go of some things that happened in the past. For some, if not many, it is not so easy to forgive and forget. The past is the past, and what happened should stay in the past. Depending on whatever happened in the past, forgiving and forgetting can be a bitter pill to swallow. Something that is bitter to taste yet good for us can interfere with a healing process that we will need to at least forgive, even if it is hard for some to forget. A domestic dispute turned ugly...
A petition to recall Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown is being questioned by Richwood residents, asserting that they did not know that they were signing a document to remove Brown as mayor. They said that recall organizers told them that the petition was for "making Richwood a better town". Richwood resident Wendy Byrd said the petition was "falsely presented" and never expressed as a recall petition for Mayor Brown. An individual in favor of the petition asserted that the document was legitimate and plainly said the petition was intended to recall...
A proposal on Tuesday night's August 24, 2021 city council agenda that would allow the city of Monroe to award city projects $250,000 and under without opening the manner to a formal bidding process was met with fierce opposition in city council chambers. The opposition came from minority business owners who feel they have been left out of being awarded city contracts. Many believe that if the proposal is brought up again and passed, it would create a more significant disadvantage. As it stands now, bids must be advertised for projects over...
A while back, this reporter wrote an article about some people seemingly mocking God for refusing to take a vaccine shot that, in all respects, is saving lives. Over the last year, we have seen millions of people in the U.S. take COVID-19 vaccine shots as the only solution to preventing infections from the disease. Yes, we know that the vaccines were created in "record time", but based on the evidence of what we have seen, they came at the "right" time. There were skeptics who questioned how the drugs would be because they can take at least 18...
Gerald Brown's job as mayor of the town of Richwood may soon come to a sudden stop. A recall petition to remove Brown was successfully completed, as a recall date has been set for November 13, 2021. The office of the Louisiana Secretary of State has confirmed that the necessary signatures needed to start a recall have been validated. It will now be up to Richwood voters to decide if they want Brown gone. The petition had to garner at least 381 signatures to start the recall, but perhaps in a...
A local man who has a record of domestic abuse has been charged with the same crime once again. According to police reports, Suspect Cameron Criner, 19, was charged with Second Degree Feticide after he allegedly physically abused the woman who was carrying his child. The incident happened Tuesday, August 10, 2021 in the 800 block of Orange St. in Monroe. Monroe Police made contact with the victim shortly after the alleged incident, where she told officers that she and Criner got into an...
The latest statistics from the Louisiana Department of Health show things that the public doesn't want to see. During the month between mid-July to mid-August, thousands of Louisiana residents have become stricken with COVID-19, and the outlook for any kind of let-up is grim. Statistics covering the weekend of August 13 - 15 revealed most who were admitted into hospitals were unvaccinated. As an example, to illustrate just how bad things are, the latest numbers show that out of 154 people admitted, an astounding 91% of them were unvaccinated....
Attorneys for former interim police chief Reggie Brown continue to press their case for reinstatement when they recently appeared before the Monroe Fire and Police Civil Service Board, July 27, 2021. Brown's attorneys asked board members to allow what they said was evidence and witnesses who could support their assertions that Brown was unjustly fired by new Monroe mayor, Friday Ellis. Brown was fired by Ellis following a complaint filed by local resident Timothy Williams over alleged police...
When District Attorney Steve Tew announced that no charges would be filed against Monroe police officers concerning the death of David Harris, who died in MPD police custody, it did not catch anyone by surprise. The decision certainly brought no comfort to members of the Harris family. Family attorney Carol Powell Lexing said that the family was disappointed by the decision. Months have passed since Harris's death on April 21, and the family was hoping for a different outcome. There was much ang...
The Monroe Police Department (MPD) released bodycam footage of local resident (the late) David Harris and his encounter with MPD officers in an April 2021 incident that has been shrouded in much controversy. It was controversial because as a result of Harris' encounter with MPD, he would die not long after the initial contact with the officer who saw him walking on Standifer Street. Bodycam footage shows an officer engaging in a conversation with Harris, and he is told by someone that knew...
Groundbreaking was held at the site of the city's water treatment plant on North 10th Street, Tuesday, July 10, 2021, as the city of Monroe is set to begin work at the plant that as city engineer Kim Golden indicated, will retrofit and bring the plant up to future standards. It is a project that was looked at during the Mayo administration, as Golden said that the city now has the "contract and funding to proceed with the project". Current Mayor Friday Ellis speaking to those gathered said that the project "was first on his list" when he took...
Republicans around the nation seem to be going all out in an effort to "warn" the public, particularly their supporters over the importance of taking the covid vaccines. It wasn't so long ago when Trump was president, most Republicans followed Trump's lead, as they along with him, downplayed the seriousness of CPVID-19. Even in the face of mounting evidence of a rapidly spreading virus, Republicans along with Trump defied sound medical advice from leading doctors whose specialty was infectious disease control. As more and more people ignored...
Life can sometimes throw you a curveball just as you think a fastball straight down the middle is coming. We may think that we are one step ahead, but life is not a straight line from point A to point B. We can be thankful for having the support of family, but there comes a time when an individual has to stand on their own two feet, especially when they can. A local man says that he is doing just that, as he has taken the necessary steps to, as he said, get his life back in order. He shared that he is recovering from some things that can take c...
It seems as if Republicans are having a come to Jesus moment, now that their latest ploy to derail the Biden administration's effort to vaccinate America is backfiring on them. For months, Republicans in Congress, in states, and in the media have downplayed the importance of getting vaccinated mainly by telling people to ignore the science and safety of the vaccines. Earlier in the year when people started getting vaccinated in record numbers, the rate of COVID-19 infections decreased greatly, and most people took the pandemic seriously....
A local woman says she is out of a job, not because she was hostile or antagonistic or hard to get along with, but simply after asking management for assistance to do what she was told to do. The woman, who works at one of the local fast-food restaurants, said that it was almost closing time and the dishes needed to be washed. She was working with several other employees, and one of them allegedly said, "go ask the old Black lady". A minute later, the night manager came over to her and asked if she was going to wash the dishes. She said that...
Monroe City Schools Superintendent Brent Vidrine got an early Christmas present, in of all months, July. That Christmas present was an 18-month contract extension in his position that was slated to expire December 31, 2021. Santa, aka the board members, decided to "reward" Vidrine with a new contract, even though the signed contract was only a draft. An incomplete contract wasn't a problem for five members of the board, who voted to extend Vidrine's contract without making sure that all of the...
There are citizens in the town of Richwood who believe that the police chief has overstayed his time in office. Johnny Cleveland has been a controversial pick since he became police chief, and his recent alleged actions at a Richwood business have only intensified desires of his removal. Richwood Board Alderwoman Leola Keyes is one of those citizens. In an interview conducted with Keyes, she spoke of public safety, saying that it is "critically important" to every citizen in the town of...
More troubling news continues to emanate from the Swanson Youth Center, as three more inmates broke out from the facility. The latest escape is believed to have happened sometime after 9:00 PM, Tuesday, July 13, 2021, as Monroe police officers arrived at the facility shortly thereafter. The three inmates have been identified as Tre'veon Jackson, Curtis Tassin, and Brandt Bennett. Swanson officials have released no other information regarding their detention as of press time. It is still unclear...
There seems to be a lot chatter going around that the nation is getting ready to really open up sometime in August. That's when school starts for many areas around the nation and there is the steady push to reopen many businesses that have been partially shut down since the pandemic had gotten out of control. We are already seeing a big increase in air travel since back to Memorial Day and with summer vacation time coming to an end for most Americans, August seemed like the "ideal" time. But there is "good news/bad news" on the coronavirus...
A Texas woman in town visiting relatives was arrested by police on Saturday, July 3, 2021, after she allegedly fired her weapon at another motorist. Yeshikya Williams said she was heading to West Monroe on I-20 when she saw an individual driving in an unsafe manner. Williams, who had her three children with her, quickly passed the vehicle and exited at Thomas Road in West Monroe, LA. According to Williams, an unidentified White man began to use profane words, accusing Williams of pulling in...
Monroe Police were called to the Swanson Youth Center on Monday, June 28, 2021 to assist in putting down what could be called a rebellion by Swanson inmates. Law enforcement would have to make several trips to the center after receiving calls of inmates causing disturbances, one of which was where an employee was allegedly injured. Monroe Police said they responded to several calls to assist Swanson personnel to "round up" some of the inmates who had gotten out of their dorms and were having...
Another rally for justice was held last Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the Benoit Community Center in Monroe, LA , as a sign to city officials in the Friday Ellis administration that the fight for justice is not over. In the past several years, there have been numerous controversial incidents involving law enforcement against unarmed African-American men. Several of those men, Ronald Greene and David Harris, died after encounters with law enforcement. The rally held at the community center further...
Passions were high at the Monroe City Council meeting Tuesday night, June 22, 2021 as speaker after speaker spoke on the need to place a school's name on the pedestrian bridge located across HWY 165 in Monroe, LA. The Renwick St. crosswalk has served the Booker T. community for decades, as it has been a bridge (a real one) connecting two neighborhoods. Many regular pedestrians use it to walk above the busy HWY 165 and many school age kids use it as a predominant access point to attend classes...
Reports of an alleged carjacking by a Swanson escapee have once put the community on high alert, as a rash of escapes continue to plague the beleaguered youth center. The alleged carjacking occurred in downtown Monroe on Grammont St., according to law enforcement. Reports say that a male who had escaped from the Swanson Center for Youth approached a person who was sitting in their vehicle parked in front of the P&S Surgery Center and assaulted the victim. After the attack, the escapee allegedly...
There has been so much talk about what is “critical race theory” in this nation, where it is to the point, the definition of just what exactly it is, is not known. However, there is one thing about it that is undeniable and that, like the subject of race, is that it is keeping us apart as a nation. Why is that? It is interesting that the concept is called Critical Race Theory and the word “race” is right in the middle. It’s critical that the races resolve their differences, or God will do it for us. Racial issues are not going anywhere....
The Monroe City Academy League (MCAL) is a youth sports league provided by The Academy Fitness & Sports LLC and Free Me Association. The purpose of the league is to provide constructive physical sports activities for youth in the city of Monroe, specifically offering safe after-school activities. The league provides football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and cheer to youth ages 5-12. The organization hopes the teams will be able to practice at six community centers operated by the...
The community is still in shock over the death of 37-year-old Quinton Carter, whose body was discovered in the swimming pool at the Marbles Recreation Center on Renwick St. in Monroe. Police were called to the center Sunday, May 6, 2021 after receiving a tip of a body in the pool. The center was closed at the time, and it only re-opened Wednesday, May 9, 2021. The news of his death has left many community residents reeling because Carter was well known and loved. He was also known to be a good...
A local child was severely injured when an automobile tore into his family's home in a situation that could have turned deadly. The unidentified 11-year-old who was reported as having "head injuries" was taken to Ochsner LSU Hospital in Shreveport. The extent of the damage to the house located on Parkview Drive showed that the impact from the automobile revealed just how serious the crash was. There was extensive damage to the front of the house, with debris strewn across the front lawn. In addi...
A child that had high hopes of going to the next grade with her classmates now has to wait another year and repeat a step despite having passing grades on her report card. The decision has left her parents angry with the Monroe City School Board District, as they felt they were led to believe that their child would advance to the next grade. The child was in the first grade and was set to go to the next grade level, according to her parents, but was allegedly told by school officials that the child “was not ready” for the second grade. Thi...
Two recent events that have been witnessed by the world, shows a nation still coming to grips with knowing and living with the truth of its history. The Tulsa Massacre or the Greenwood Genocide of hundreds of Black residents in their economically thriving neighborhood, will forever be a stain on this nation’s history, no matter how many years this nation survives. In the Black Wall Street Section of Greenwood, an all Black enclave of Black owned businesses, where Black residents were living the American dream. No, they were not living in w...
It was horrifying to watch. A man should still be alive. A family should not still be seeking justice two years later when so much of the truth has already come out. Will there be accountability for the actions of those who beat a man to death? Will there be accountability for those who stood by and did nothing? The videos of Ronald Greene's last minutes on earth are one of the most painful things anyone with a heart could witness. The treatment of Greene by police officers who had him...
Members of the Monroe City Council listened in silence Tuesday, May 25, 2021 as several citizens voiced their deep concerns over recent Monroe police officers' conduct. Though there are sometimes limited comments from council members when citizens from the audience voice their concerns over civic matters, none of the council members said anything. There wasn't even a head nod to acknowledge what concerned citizens were saying. Members of the city council are keenly aware of recent and...
A union representative of Amalgamated Transit Union 1160 told members of the Monroe City Council Tuesday(May 11) night, that it should not pay First Transit any more money to operate the city's transit system. Stanley Smalls speaking during the audience participation period following Tuesday night regular council meeting, said the city is paying First Transit in excess of $300,000, that could be best suited staying in the city. Smalls also addressed the issues that has plagued concerning the...
The saga of local Monroe resident Timothy Williams' unfortunate encounter with several officers of the Monroe Police Dept., took a turn to where MPD officials may soon say more than what we have heard from them. The plight of Williams' encounter with MPD officers has been well documented and now that MPD appears to be slow in speaking to the public, perhaps the federal government can do what local civilian government wont do. Now that a federal lawsuit against MPD is a matter of public record,...
Another escape by juveniles at the Swanson Youth Center once again raises many questions from residents who live around the facility in south Monroe. What are the facility's leadership and corrections officials really doing to keep them safe? This and many other concerns are being raised once again, as residents who live in the facility's immediate vicinity learned of another escape by inmates. This time more than ten juveniles allegedly escaped. According to law enforcement authorities, the...
A former Monroe resident who was recently in-town visiting the area with his wife experienced an encounter at a local business that didn't turn out pleasant. John Robert Badger was in town staying at Studio 6 and was booked to stay two nights. On the morning of the day that they were scheduled to leave, an incident happened on the motel premises, which left the couple angry with an employee at the motel. According to Badger, they returned back to the motel after running an errand to find that th...
The president/CEO of a Rayville business is once under attack from rival family members, who are allegedly looking to take over the thriving business. The Monroe Dispatch previously reported that several individuals had unsuccessfully tried to oust Henry Davison as head of Davison Family Accounts. The business, which was located at 213 Newton St. in Rayville, has relocated to 106 Courthouse Square, adjacent to the courthouse, after having to vacate the Newton St. address. Davison said the move...
The April 14, 2021 death of a Monroe man along Highway165 near the Ouachita Correctional Center has left some wondering if there is more to what is already known. Ernest Harper, Jr. was well known on the south side of Monroe. He was often seen on Wilson Street and around Winnsboro Road; Harper was always seen on South Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Streets too. Those that knew him say it was unusual for him to venture outside of those surroundings. When news of his death was announced...
Not everyone is in favor of a new Swanson Youth Center being built in Monroe. There are those who say that a new center is welcome and that it would do a lot of good for troubled young people. Then, there are those who say keep things the way they are because discipline is needed in programs like Swanson. And to others, Swanson has in some sense, been a failure. However, there are those who believe that in the present climate, something good can still come out of Swanson. They will say that a new building is not the answer. Those who say that...
A Louisiana State Trooper who rear-ended a vehicle in Ouachita Parish in October 2020 that resulted in the deaths of two children received a suspension for his actions. Trooper Caleb Reeves was traveling on Hwy 165, when for reasons still unexplained, ran his state trooper vehicle into a vehicle driven by 42-year-old Kenneth Lindsey of Monroe. The impact from the rear-end collision of the trooper's vehicle caused Lindsey's car to rotate (spin around), hitting a metal post on the rear passengers'...
An unidentified(as of press time) man held a large group of police officers at bay on South Grand St., Tuesday, April 13, 2020, before surrendering to authorities. Monroe Police Department (MPD) officers would later find out that the individual was armed and posed a potential threat to the neighborhood. Residents that live in the area reportedly expressed concerns after hearing rumors that someone had been shot. That rumor was later confirmed to be untrue. The individual was said to be...
