Judges warn Bossier City Council members could be charged with a felony
Plus: South Bossier Neighborhood Market to get a major facelift.
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Judges warn Bossier City Council members they could be charged with felony malfeasance in office
In a ruling issued Wednesday, three Second Circuit Court of Appeal judges gave a stark warning to five Bossier City council members. They may be charged with a felony crime.
The court's decision (see below) was about the council's refusal to put a citizens' petition regarding term limits up for a vote. The council voted twice to reject the ballot initiative.
"The clear and unambiguous language of Section 21.04 of the Bossier City Charter states when an amendment is proposed by petition of electors, the City Council shall submit the same to the electors of the City at a special election," the judges' decision said.
"Notwithstanding the Charter’s mandate to call an election 'if any amendment is proposed by petition of electors' the City Council twice refused [to] present the proposal to the voters," the ruling added.
The three appellate judges, James Stephens, Marcus Hunter and Danny Ellender, then added a chilling footnote to the defendants and councilmembers David Montgomery, Don “Bubba” Williams, Jeffrey “Jeff” Darby, Jeff Free, and Vince Maggio.
"Defendants’ refusal to call an election may be construed as malfeasance in office."
The judges cited Louisiana law R.S. 14:134:
"Malfeasance in office is committed when any public officer or public employee shall: (1) Intentionally refuse or fail to perform any duty lawfully required of him, as such officer or employee; or (3) Knowingly permit any other public officer or public employee, under his authority, to intentionally refuse or fail to perform any duty lawfully required of him, or to perform any such duty in an unlawful manner."
The law stipulates that a felony conviction for malfeasance carries a prison sentence of not more than five years — with or without hard labor — or a fine of not more than $5,000.
Appeals court sides with Bossier City citizens' term limits petition; orders election
The Bossier City term limits issue has taken another complicated turn.
Wednesday, the Second Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court decision on term limits, ordering a vote on the matter based on the parameters stated in a petition signed by some 3,000 Bossier City citizens.
Meanwhile, a vote on a less-restrictive term limits ordinance put forth by the Bossier Charter Commission will be on the ballot in March. It does not include retroactivity, which would remove several currently sitting members of the city council.
Councilmembers David Montgomery, Don “Bubba” Williams, Jeffrey “Jeff” Darby, Jeff Free, and Vince Maggio filed the appeal to stop the retroactive vote on term limits.
The complication: Voters will face the less-restrictive term limits issue in March — and perhaps another vote in a later election on the retroactive version. Voter confusion and perhaps a feeling of, "Didn't we already vote on this?" could derail the intentions of the citizens' petition.
South Bossier Neighborhood Market to get a major facelift
Walmart customers in SoBo can expect to see construction work in progress both inside and outside the Neighborhood Market located at 4000 Barksdale Blvd. for the next several weeks as the store undergoes a major remodel.
The remodel is one of many scheduled for Louisiana in 2025, part of Walmart’s continuing commitment to investing in the communities it serves.
Upon completion, Bossier City Neighborhood Market store associates will host a community celebration to mark the delivery of all the new customer-focused features and amenities that will be available, including:
A newly painted building inside and out
Additional grocery aisles making it easier for customers to navigate
Enhanced parking lot with re-striped parking spaces and refreshed landscaping
Expanded online grocery pickup area with added lanes and improved lighting
Front-end improvements including added self-checkouts and manned registers
Fully remodeled bathrooms, including modern fixtures, with the addition of a new mother’s room
Increased number of products in multiple departments, including grocery, hardware, health and beauty, home, pets, pharmacy and more
New flooring throughout the store to replace the existing tile
New lighting and signage throughout the store making it easier for customers to navigate
New shelving and lower fixtures for improved store flow
New shopping carts with a cell phone holder, drink holder and larger seat for a child to sit in comfortably
Remodeled break room for store associates
Upgraded deli/bakery areas, with the addition of a new bakery oven and refrigerated cases, and an increased assortment of deli/bakery items
“Having been a part of the Bossier City community for nine years, we are always looking for ways to better serve our customers,” said Walmart Store Manager Amanda Payton. “Remodeling our current store will allow us to offer our customers greater convenience and an enhanced shopping environment, and we ask for customers’ patience while work is underway to deliver those improvements.”
Bossier City Neighborhood Market customers will save time and money by shopping when, where, and how they want. The Bossier City store will continue to offer the following innovations:
Pickup: Walmart’s Pickup option has become a favorite among busy shoppers. It provides the convenience of online shopping and allows them to quickly collect their groceries without stepping out of their vehicles. The best part is that Walmart Grocery Pickup is entirely free of charge. Furthermore, customers using SNAP in most states have the option to use the pickup service as well.
Delivery: Walmart’s convenient delivery service is also a hit with customers. Even more, Walmart has now made both pickup and delivery contact free. Express delivery – customers now have the option to have their deliveries made in under two hours.
Walmart Pay: A touch-free way to pay.
Phase 1 of Haughton road project completed
The LA 3227 at LA 157 realignment project Phase 1 in Haughton has been completed.
Phase 1, a $4.2 million project, included reconstructing the LA 3227 approach to LA 157 in preparation for a new traffic configuration that will be implemented in Phase 2. This phase also included widening LA 157 from two to five lanes near the Pilot Truck Stop on the east side of the roadway to accommodate growing traffic volumes.
Phase 2 will include the realignment portion of the work, which will move LA 3227 just south to connect with LA 157 at a newly built intersection. The existing traffic signal will also be relocated to this new intersection.
Also, as part of future Phase 2, LA 3227 at its current intersection with LA 157 will become a right-in, right-out-only intersection. Cross traffic will not be able to access LA 3227 from the north Pilot driveway. Motorists wishing to access LA 3227 will drive 400 feet south to the new traffic signal and turn at that location.
Phase 2 is scheduled to go to bid in March 2025. It will be the culmination of the improvements to this busy intersection, helping to facilitate traffic flow and economic development for the growing Haughton community.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
January 17: Trace Adkins in the Paradise Theater at the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino
January 17: 18: Kicker Monster Truck Show at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
January 25: Jeff Dunham at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
January 31: Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks returns to his hometown of Shreveport with many of his talented friends for a concert night unlike any other at the Louisiana Grandstand. The concert benefits the non-profit "Hope On The Inside". The early 6:30 pm show is sold out but a late 9:30 pm show has been added.
February 6: Harlem Globetrotters at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
February 8: Bulls, Bands & Barrels at the Brookshire Grocery Arena
February 15: Priscilla Block in the Paradise Theater at the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino
March 1: Winter Jam 2025 featuring Skillet, Anne Wilson, KB, Colton Dixon, NewSong, Micah Tyler, speaker Zane Black and more at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
March 1: Muscadine Bloodline in the Paradise Theater at the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino
March 8: Justin Moore and special guest Austin Michael in the Riverdome at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City.
March 28: Frank Foster in the Paradise Theater at the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino
March 29-30: Barksdale Air Force Base will host the 2025 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The two-day event is free and open to the public. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline the air show with additional military aerial demonstrations including the C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker, and the first-ever KC-46 Pegasus demonstration, as well as an exciting lineup of civilian acts, featuring Randy Ball, Red Bull Air Force, Smoke N' Thunder Jet Truck, and more. The event will also feature static aircraft displays, interactive STEM exhibits, food concessions, and activities for attendees of all ages.
April 4: Martin Lawrence at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
April 4: Larry Fleet in the Paradise Theater at the Margaritaville Hotel and Casino
April 25: The 17th Annual Shreveport Blues Festival with performances by: Tucka, King George, Pokey Bear, Marcellus The Singer, J-Wonn, West Love, and TK Soul at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.
May 6: Bonnie Raitt at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium.
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