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Residents of Rapides Parish, La., are trying to solve the mystery of alleged black panther sightings in the area. Photo by maminounou/Pixabay.com Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Residents in a Louisiana community are attempting to solve the mystery of reported black panther sightings in the area. Rapides Parish residents have reported seeing a large black feline near the levee banks of Lower 3rd Street in the Alexandria area. "We were in a tent, and heard something that sounded like a baby crying at first," witness Ken Lee told WTNZ-TV. "And then, the sound turned to something else. I saw a big...

http://www.thetowntalk.com/html/CF1C7CFE-CB7C-4475-99A1-55DBA91020C7.shtml

<p>MANY - A convicted child molester who District Attorney Don Burkett considers one of the worst sex offenders in this region faces yet another prison term following his conviction Monday in 11th Judicial District Court.</p> <p>Judge Stephen Beasley convicted Samuel G. Teague, 56, after a half-day bench trial. Teague was found guilty on one of two counts of molestation of a juvenile.</p>

<p>Emily Peters / The Town Talk Posted on October 12, 2003 Sometimes, Rapides Parish students have to face a few swift swats to the backside to pay the price for misbehaving at school.</p> <p>But the Rapides Parish School Board is paying the real price in defense costs when some parents sue the school system because their children face corporal punishment at school.</p>

<p>A father and son arrested Tuesday are suspected of having sex with two children - ages 3 and 4, Rapides Parish sheriff's detectives said.</p> <p>The men were arrested in connection with unrelated cases.</p> <p>Palmer Eugene Goff, 49, 118 Prairie View Road, Deville, faces charges of 48 counts of aggravated rape. His son, Shawn Goff, 20, of Deville was arrested on charges of six counts of aggravated rape.</p>

<p>TIOGA - Bullets sprayed into the trailer as Patricia George screamed and covered her 9-month-old daughter and 3-year-old niece.</p> <p>Verna Elliott and Connie Bell huddled in another bedroom as Bell yelled into the telephone at a 911 operator.</p> <p>"I kept screaming, 'He is going to kill us,'" Bell said. "He has already shot my brother-in-law."</p>

<p>Robert Smith pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter and aggravated robbery in the slaying of his sister, Tioga Elementary School teacher Christy Smith.</p> <p>He pleaded guilty in return for an agreement with the Rapides Parish District Attorney's Office that limits his total prison sentence to 60 years.</p>

<p>At tonight's special School Board meeting, Principal Mike Shamblin will ask for a third time if the board will hear his complaints over his transfer from Tioga High School.</p> <p>In June, the Superintendent Patsy Jenkins autonomously transferred him to the principal post at Aiken Optional School after he has spent 23 years at Tioga High School. The transfer also came after Shamblin was fined for hesitating to report to police that a 17-year-old student was caught having sex behind the school with a minor student.</p>

I'm co-opting this idea from another thread I saw yesterday, so special thanks to 1stFreedom. I'm at a crossroads and could use some feedback and suggestions. Now here's some background: I am a single working mom living in coastal Massachusetts with a 5-year-old child about to enter Kindergarten. I have been employed in the hotel industry for the past 10 years but now I'm really having trouble holding on. I've lost my job and I'm up to my ears in utility bills from the harsh winter we just had here. I have been approached by various relatives who live in...

<p>More than 250 school employees in Rapides Parish could be out of a job next school year if the latest budget-slashing suggestions are adopted.</p> <p>Suggested personnel cuts include 171 certified teachers, librarians and counselors, 13 Central Office workers and 31 custodians.</p>

<p>Former teacher Patti Powell believes the Rapides Parish school system is rotten to the core.</p> <p>"Rotten Apples: We've Made Worm's Meat of Education" is her 500-page, self-published attempt to tell her side of the story after the School Board fired her for alleged neglect of duty in September 2001.</p>

<p>Lee Fletcher, Suzanne Haik Terrell and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu all visited Alexandria on Friday in last-minute campaign swings.</p> <p>Fletcher and Terrell arrived together at Alexandria International Airport and spoke to a small gathering several hours after Landrieu had done the same.</p>