Montgomery blocks Chandler again
Plus — Sheriff's Department books major arrests. Long list of Bossier traffic hassles.
Beyond Bossier
Montgomery blocks Chandler again
At-large City Councilmember David Montgomery, Jr. has blocked Mayor Tommy Chandler's hiring efforts from Day One of his administration. It began with Montgomery's successful effort to prevent the hiring of Chandler's choice for Chief Administrative Officer, Shane Cheatham.
That resistance occurred again last week at the Tuesday, May 21, meeting of the City Council, in what seemed on the surface to be a simple administrative hiring.
A resolution put forth by Mayor Chandler authorizing the hiring of an assistant director for the Parks and Recreation Department in advance of a retirement "to allow for sufficient training of a replacement" met with resistance from Montgomery.
Montgomery made a motion to continue the resolution to next month's meeting. The motion was seconded by District 5's Vince Maggio. No reason was given for delaying the matter, and no council member asked why the hiring was being put off for a month.
Even newly-installed Council president Chris Smith, who ran on a campaign promise of more transparency in City government, was silent. The motion passed unanimously.
The Mayor sat silently as he saw yet another hiring in his administration delayed — and potentially blocked altogether.
Bossier crime: Two men charged in separate sex crimes
Bossier Parish Sheriff’s detectives with the Special Victims Unit recently arrested a Bossier City man for First Degree Rape Victim under 13 years of age and other sexual offenses involving a juvenile.
Jessie Mayfield Jr., 71, of Bossier City was arrested on May 7th after an investigation that began after the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office received a citizen’s complaint concerning physical and sexual abuse of a juvenile.
During an interview with investigators, it was revealed that Mayfield attempted to have sexual intercourse with the juvenile and inappropriately touched her on several occasions.
Mayfield was arrested and booked into the Bossier Maximum Facility for one count of First-Degree Rape Victim under 13 years of age, one count of Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, and 2 counts of Sexual Battery with a bond of $490,000.00.
Additional charges added to previous arrest
On May 7th, 2024, Luis Caleb Gomez, 24, of the 200 block of Barrington Drive in Bossier City, was arrested by Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives for 31 counts of Possession of Child Pornography involving prepubescent children, 7 counts of Sexual Abuse of an Animal, and 2 counts of Indecent Behavior of a Juvenile.
Additional charges added to Luis Gomez as of May 24th:
1,083 counts of Pornography Involving Juveniles
124 counts of Sexual Abuse of an Animal
7 counts of Unlawful Deepfakes
The investigation began after detectives received a cyber-tip regarding Gomez’s activities. The case progressed when Gomez shared pornography with a deputy posing as an underage child. A search warrant was obtained and executed at his residence during the investigation.
Detectives with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office continue to aggressively investigate child sexual abuse cases with the ICAC team, the Attorney General’s Office, and with the aid of the latest technology. They encourage anyone with information regarding this crime or any other crimes against children to contact the Bossier Sheriff’s Office at (318) 965-2203.
Gomez was booked into the Bossier Max with a bond of $850,000.
Dogwood South Subdivision road closure
Beginning today, some residents living in the Dogwood South Subdivision will need to find an alternate route through the neighborhood due to a scheduled road closure.
A portion of Dogwood South Lane will close today, Tuesday, May 28, while contractors working on the White Oak Ditch project close a portion of the road. The road will be closed for approximately 45 days while work crews replace the deteriorating metal culverts under the road with more resilient concrete ones.
Bossier City traffic hassle
Beginning on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., the northbound and southbound lanes inside (left) lanes of LA 3 (Benton Road) in Bossier City will be closed from Montgomery Lane to Ashland Avenue.
These lane closures are scheduled to last approximately three weeks and are necessary to allow the contractor to construct turn lanes related to the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway project, which is currently under construction.
I-20 update: On and off-ramps at Old Minden Road to close
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says that the I-20 major rehabilitation project in Bossier City continues to make progress, and will soon be reconstructing one of the interchanges along the route.
Beginning Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the I-20 on and off-ramps at LA 72 (Old Minden Road) will be closed to allow the contractor to remove the existing pavement and roadway base and replace them with new base and concrete. This applies to the ramps in both directions.
This interchange closure is anticipated to be in place until mid-August 2024, weather permitting. The time frame for this interchange work was planned to take place while school was not in session.
Motorists can access I-20 from the Benton Road or Airline Drive interchange or avoid construction by using the primary detour of I-220.
Other on and off-ramps from Benton Road to Industrial Drive will also be removed and rebuilt in the coming months, though none will be closed simultaneously.
Other construction work on the project is continuing, including drainage improvements, pouring concrete for roadway approaches to bridges, and dirt work in preparation for laying a new roadway base.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration.
May 31: Jacob Stelly is a Texas sensation with a world-class band. He comes home to family and friends in Bossier City and performs at the Louisiana Grandstand.
June 1: Rick Springfield and Richard Marx in an acoustic performance at the Paradise Theater in Margaritaville Casino.
June 1: Classic country musician Drake Milligan debuts at the Louisiana Grandstand. Approaching one million listeners on Spotify, Drake has risen the charts and lit up stages across the country. Spending most of his time touring with Cody Johnson, headline engagements are an experience you should not miss.
June 14: On a night when he's not tearing up stages and sold-out arenas with the Turnpike Troubadours, Kyle Nix and the 38s will be at the Louisiana Grandstand.
June 29: The Steel Woods return after previously selling out the Louisiana Grandstand.
July 26: Fan favorite Dan Smalley returns to put on another incredible performance in the legendary listening room at Louisiana Grandstand. If you've never seen this Shreveport native perform, plan to see what you've been missing.
September 14: Cody Johnson, The Leather Tour at the BGA.
October 20: Jelly Roll, The Beautifully Broken Tour, with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay at the BGA.
November 16: Creed, Are You Ready? Tour at the BGA with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH.
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