Randy Maxwell, Sheriff

News

21st CPSO / Miss-Lou Merchants D.A.R.E. Youth Fishing Tourney draws hundreds of young anglers

The 21st and final Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office / Miss-Lou Merchants D.A.R.E. Youth Fishing Tournament under Sheriff Randy Maxwell’s administration was met with beautiful weather, more than 500 young anglers and more than 1,000 parents and grandparents Saturday, Sept. 24.

Maxwell, who initiated the Youth Fishing Tournament as a special day for parents and children to spend time together, announced plans earlier this year to retire at the end of this current term in June 2012.

The Sheriff thanked the innumerable volunteers who have worked tirelessly before, during and after the annual tournaments. “It takes so many people to organize this event every year. I’m grateful to all the ‘old-timers’ who have helped us for many years, as well as to those who joined us for the first time.” He recognized many who helped get the tournament started in the early 90’s.

Many staffers from each CPSO facility volunteered at Saturday’s event, including the Vidalia Sheriff’s Office, the CPSO Work Release Program, the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility and River Correctional.

Members of the CPSO Mounted Patrol, an all-volunteer group, once again donated their time and their horses to give hundreds of children a chance to ride a horse.

Buz Craft and Johnny Havard handled weigh-in duties.

Members of the Adams County Christian School Key Club volunteered during the tournament weigh-in festivities, as did Concordia Parish Library Director Amanda Taylor and student worker Tiffany Perkins from Ferriday High.

The Sheriff also expressed great appreciation to the fishing tournament’s sponsors. “We absolutely could not do this without our fantastic sponsors,” Maxwell said. “The money they contribute helps purchase all the trophies and prizes, and any remaining funds go straight to our D.A.R.E. Program.”

Tournament tradition calls for each child to be a winner, and each little fisherman left the event with a trophy, a tournament t-shirt, a new fishing rod and, for the younger ones, a new book.

Annual corporate sponsors of the CPSO’s D.A.R.E. Program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and the fishing tournament are Concordia Bank & Trust and Louisiana Hydroelectric.

Major sponsors of the 2011 fishing tournament were Delta Bank, Rosco and WQNZ – 95 Country, Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, Cherokee Sign Company, BASF, Peregrine Solutions, Bryan’s Marine, Britt’s Distributing Co., Sysco, Merchant’s Foods, Bill and Ralph’s, U.S. Food Service, Flowers Baking, the Concordia Communications District, the City of Vidalia, and All Star Trophies and Awards, Inc. Hundreds of business people from around the Miss-Lou community also contributed to the event.

Bryan’s Marine of Vidalia donated a two-man Bass Hunter fishing boat won by Emma Foster. Wal-Mart of Vidalia donated a bicycle, which was won by Leah Wilson.

Before the tournament awards ceremony came to a close, Lt. Greg Jackson presented Maxwell with a gift certificate from all CPSO and Correctional employees for a trip to Florida for him and his wife, Roselinda, in appreciation for sponsoring the youth fishing tournament for so many years.

 

The following are Saturday’s fishing winners by age group and category:

2 – 5 years old

            Bream Category (five largest) – 1st, Haydan Mitchell , (2 lbs., .10 oz.)  2nd, Kohen Wilson; 3rd, Marlee Donald.

            Other Fish Category – 1st, Emma Graves, (8 lbs., .88 oz.); 2nd,  Carson Graves; 3rd, Chloe Curlee.

6 - 10 years old

            Bream (five largest) – 1st, Kaylie Mitchell (2 lbs., .56 oz.); 2nd, Kaiser Wilson; 3rd, Ethan Evans.

Bass (five largest) – 1st, John Auston Bruce  (8 lbs., .82 oz); 2nd, Sara Cockerham; 3rd, Jonathan Burr.

             Other Fish – 1st, Marcus Taylor  (9 lbs., .68 oz.); 2nd, Abbey Graves; 3rd, Makayla Morace.

11 – 14 years old

            Bream (five largest) – 1st, Katelynn Bertelson  (2 lbs, .67 oz.); 2nd, Maxx Harstad; 3rd, Joshua Hargon.

            Bass (five largest) – 1st, Taylor Ganey (9 lbs, .38 oz.); 2nd, Hunter Guillot; 3rd, Landon Kenney.

            Other Fish – 1st, Katie Coco (28 lbs, .10 oz); 2nd Ryan Samson;  3rd, Cassey Byrnes.

15 – 18 years old

            Bream (five largest) –1st,  Rayna Hathcox (2 lb, .62 oz); 2nd, Victoria Dampier; 3rd, Lucille Perry.

            Other – 1st, Kayleigh Jowers  (.71 oz).

 

 

Click here for other DARE Fishing Tournament Pictures

 

 

D.A.R.E. Youth Fishing Tournament slated

 

          The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office 21st annual Miss-Lou Merchants D.A.R.E. Youth Fishing Tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, with the weigh-in and awards once again set for the Vidalia Riverfront.

           Registration will be held from Sept. 19 through noon on Sept. 23.

DFT Logo

Tournament registration will be held at the following locations:

Concordia Bank & Trust, Monterey

Concordia Bank & Trust, Vidalia

Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Vidalia

CPSO Monterey Substation

Concordia Sentinel, Ferriday

Sports Center/Rex Sporting Goods, Natchez

Tensas State Bank, Ferriday

Catahoula / LaSalle Bank, Jonesville

CPSO Doty Road Substation, Ferriday

Bryan’s Marine, Vidalia

   Registration is still $6 per child and eligible ages range from 2 to 18 years old.  Applications will be available at www.concordiasheriff.org, but need to be taken to a registration site in order to pick the child’s T-shirt prior to the event. Each registered child will receive a T-shirt, a trophy and a prize. Younger children will also receive books.

   Weigh-in will be held at the Vidalia Riverfront site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Awards will be presented starting at 1 p.m.

After all tournament expenses are met, all proceeds will go to the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program sponsored by the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office. Deputies Lt. Uzella Frazier, Chief Investigator Bobby Sheppard, Deputy Katina Washington and Sgt. D.J. Freeman will teach D.A.R.E. in the parish schools this year. The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office began teaching D.A.R.E. in Concordia in 1991.

Concordia Bank and Trust and Louisiana Hydroelectric are annual corporate sponsors of D.A.R.E.

For further information concerning making a financial contribution to the tournament or registering children for the event, contact the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, 318-336-5280, 757-3162 or 386-2200.

“I really want to thank the dozens of volunteers who make this tournament happen, as well as the hundreds of merchants who contribute financially each year,” said Sheriff Randy Maxwell. “It takes all of us working together to make this grow and be the continuing success it’s been year after year.”

           

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Click Here for a Printable DARE Fishing Tournament Registration Form

Maxwell urges caution, courtesy if using  July 4th fireworks

June 29, 2011

          Supervision is absolutely the key to safety when it comes to fireworks, notes Sheriff Randy Maxwell when looking ahead to the July 4th holiday.

          While not advocating the use of fireworks, Maxwell notes that it is not illegal to use them in the unincorporated areas of the parish.  “It’s not illegal, but it can definitely be unsafe and it can surely disturb one’s neighbors,” the Sheriff added. “This is not the ‘midnight celebration’ of New Year’s Eve. I hope everyone will consider shutting down the fireworks at least by 10 p.m. If we have calls from neighbors, we will have to make arrests for disturbing the peace.”

          “I’d like to see everyone – for safety’s sake -- enjoy the public fireworks displays that are annually planned for the holiday,” the Sheriff emphasized.

           Many formal groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have called for consumer fireworks to be outlawed.

          “However, if a family decides this is what they’re going to do, then they’ve absolutely got to have a parent handle and supervise the use of the fireworks – otherwise, they’re just asking for tragedy.”

          “I can’t stress this enough,” Maxwell said. “Within seconds, a child can lose an eye or even an adult can be severely burned. These can be life-long injuries. That’s a terrible price to pay for a few minutes of fun.”

          If a family opts to use fireworks, the Sheriff urges they take advice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, with the first tip being the most important – never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.

 

          **Read and follow all warnings and instructions.

          **Be sure all other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.

          **Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from a house, dry leaves and other flammable materials.

          **Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.

          **Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.

          “Even something as innocent-appearing as sparklers can be very dangerous,” added Maxwell, noting that sparklers can burn as hot as 1,800 degrees.

          “Sparklers, bottle rockets, firecrackers – these aren’t toys,” the Sheriff stressed. “I hope most families will choose the safer alternative and go to the fireworks shows. Preventing a tragedy in the first place is absolutely the best advice I can give anyone.”

         

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Maxwell announces decision to retire

June 28, 2011 

            Career law enforcement officer Concordia Parish Sheriff Randy Maxwell announced late today (6-28-11) that he is planning to retire at the end of this current term of office in 2012.

            With family members at his side, including his wife, Roselinda, Maxwell made the announcement at a meeting of Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office civil and criminal deputies, and prison staff from the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility, River Correctional Center and the CPSO Work Release.

            The Sheriff cited a desire to have more family time, coupled with health issues, as the reasons for his decision, one that he said was extremely difficult to make.

            He assured all employees that he plans to complete the final year of his term. By June of 2012, Maxwell will have served as Sheriff for 22 years.

            Even though he has struggled with the decision, Maxwell said he is pleased that he will be leaving the Sheriff’s Office in good financial shape with all equipment, facilities and projects paid for, a surplus of over $2 million in the bank, a history of clean audits, and that the office affords jobs to 250 parish residents.

            Under his leadership, the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office has grown from a small office and staff in Vidalia to the current 250 people, plus the two prisons and the work release facility.

            The Sheriff’s Office annual budget, which was in the red when Maxwell assumed office in 1990, is now approximately $15 million annually.

            Under Maxwell’s leadership, the CPSO has seen unparalleled progress, including construction of the two prisons at no cost to the parish taxpayers. The Concordia Parish Correctional Facility and Community Center opened their doors in 1997. River Correctional opened in 2001.

            Working as a trooper for the Louisiana State Police for 19 years prior to being appointed as Sheriff by the Concordia Parish Police Jury, he had witnessed first-hand the dire need for a prison in the area to replace the 48-bed jail, for the first time giving local law enforcement the opportunity to lock up repeat offenders.

            Many of the specialized inmate rehabilitation programs piloted at the Concordia prisons are now featured throughout the state prison system.

            Maxwell brought D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) to the parish’s school children shortly after taking the oath of office. He served as chairman of the Louisiana D.A.R.E. Advisory Board for more than 15 years and saw the program go statewide.

           

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Moore, Byrnes appointed CPCF warden, security chief

             Lance W. Moore Sr. and George (Spud) Byrnes Jr. have been appointed to the top two posts at the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility (CPCF) in Ferriday, according to Sheriff Randy Maxwell.

            Moore will serve as the correctional facility’s new warden, replacing Russell Butler, who recently retired. Byrnes will serve as the new chief of security, replacing Moore in that position.

            “ I could not have found two more perfect people for these positions,” remarked Maxwell. “They have a wealth of experience and training, and have proven through the years that they are committed to their jobs. They’ve risen through the ranks and handled every challenge with complete professionalism. Each is known to go far above and beyond the call of duty.”

            Moore, who has worked at the 510-bed facility since September 1998, has tallied hundreds of hours of specialized training in the field of corrections and law enforcement, attending the American Correctional Association’s Correctional Academy, the P.O.S.T. Peace Officer Academy and others.

            He is a certified instructor in several areas, including Taser M26 and X26, Aerosol Projectors, Pepperball Less Than Lethal Launcher, Taser X-Rep Shotgun Round, and Taser Shockwave.

           Moore has additionally amassed hundreds of hours of La. Department of Corrections training, as well as in public relations, supervision and leadership. He’s trained in hostage negotiations and S.W.A.T.

            He and his wife, Debra Sue, have six children and eight grandchildren.

            Byrnes, who previously worked at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for five years, joined the CPCF staff in April 1998, starting as a correctional officer.

            Byrnes has successfully completed numerous training courses at the American Correctional Association’s Correctional Academy and the P.O.S.T. Peace Officer Academy. His specialized training in the correctional field includes the intensive 218-hour correctional course, the 90-hour basic corrections class, the 40-hour firearms course, PPCT Defensive Tactics, Taser and Pepperball Launcher certification classes, hostage negotiations, mock prison riot training, and leadership skills and supervisory training.   

He is also a certified instructor in chemical agent, pepperball, and Taser Shockwave.

            Byrnes and his wife, Janet, have three children.

 Moore/Byrnes

LANCE MOORE SR., seated, is the newly appointed warden of the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility (CPCF) located on Highway 15 near Ferriday. With him is George Byrnes Jr., who has been named as the new chief of security. The two correctional officials were appointed by Sheriff Randy Maxwell following the retirement of former Warden Russell Butler. (Photo by Kathleen Stevens)

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5/24/2011

CPSO Shotgun / Skeet Shooting Range to open soon

  

 A RIBBON-CUTTING ceremony was held recently at the new Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Shotgun / Skeet Shooting Range. The range, located at the end of Training Center Road behind the Concordia Parish Community Center on Highway 15, was constructed with the assistance of the National Rifle Association and the Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries. The range is expected to be open to the public within a few weeks. From left are Vernon Stevens, Sheriff Randy Maxwell and CPSO firearm instructor Capt. Charles “Junior” Tarver. (Photo by Kathleen Stevens)

 

 

 2010 Miss-Lou Merchants D.A.R.E. Youth Fishing Tournament Winners:

2 – 5 years old

            Bream Category (five largest) – 1st, Landon Ferguson (1 lbs., .86 oz.);  2nd, Emilie Evans; 3rd, Collin Verbeck.

            Other Fish Category – 1st, Cayden Wall (5 lbs., .80 oz.); 2nd, Hayden Mount; 3rd, Isabella White.

6-10 years old

            Bream (five largest) – 1st, Chase Gillespie (2 lbs., .66 oz.);  2nd, Ava Gillespie; 3rd, Kaylie Mitchell.

            Bass (five largest) – 1st, TJ Jackson (9 lbs., .28 oz); 2nd, Austin Bruce, 3rd, Trent Lemoine.

            Other Fish – 1st, Brent Clark (15 lbs., .58 oz.); 2nd, Seth Stanley; 3rd, Nasif Gardner.

11 – 14 years old

            Bream (five largest) – 1st, Joshua Hargon (2 lbs, .21 oz.); 2nd, Katelin Temple; 3rd place tie: Katy Coco and Glyn Harris.

            Bass (five largest) – 1st, Noah Smith (9 lbs, .22 oz.); 2nd, Joshua Hargon; 3rd, Brian Seals Jr.

            Other Fish – 1st, Kyle Kimball (9 lbs, .44 oz); 2nd, Jesse Stroud; 3rd, Cassey Byrnes.

15 – 18 years old

            Bream –1st, Robert Hargon (1 lbs, .98 oz); 2nd, Rayna Hathcox; 3rd, Chantry Simpson.

            Bass – 1st, Chris Temple (7 lbs., .78 oz.); 2nd, Robert Hargon; 3rd, Paige Aswell.

            Other – 1st, Stephanie McGuffee (12 lbs., .05 oz); 2nd, Little Glen Martin; 3rd, Kayleigh Jowers.