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.
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.
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.”
Click Here for a Printable DARE Fishing Tournament Registration Form
Maxwell
urges caution, courtesy
if
using July 4th
fireworks
June 29, 2011
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.
“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.”
#####
Maxwell
announces decision to retire
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.
#####
Moore,
Byrnes appointed CPCF warden, security chief
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.
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)
###
5/24/2011
CPSO Shotgun / Skeet
Shooting Range to open soon
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.