June 14, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Bog Garden Tour, 9:30 a.m.

The Western Hillside Seepage Bog, located in the lower level of the garden, is a natural community in the ecological system of Louisiana.

Ground water constantly seeps to the surface creating wet, bog environment in which indigenous plants grow.

For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 29, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Outdoor Movie, 8 p.m.

Bring lawn chairs or a blanket to enjoy an outdoor movie from the hillside at the lakefront stage.

For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 22, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Prehistoric Mounds Tour, 10 & 11:30 a.m. During this program, Southwest Louisiana Regional Archeologist, Dr. David Palmer, will present the Marksville Annual Mounds dissertation. His in-depth presentation will provide the history of the mounds from a professional standpoint and answer questions about this site and other Mounds Culture issues as well. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

June 22, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Amateur Radio Field Day, noon-5 p.m. “Hams” from the Amateur Radio Club of Sabine Parish will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities. Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events worldwide. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. See what modern Amateur Radio can do. They can even help you get licensed and on the air! For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

June 22, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Moonlight Barge Tour, 8 p.m. Join the park ranger for a tour around the lake by the light of the moon on the Sundancer barge. This tour gives visitors a unique opportunity to see the three islands and to view the lower level of the gardens from a different perspective. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 22, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Moonlight Garden Tour, 9 p.m. From Lookout Tower to the Bog Garden, the light of the full moon will highlight the night bloomers and fragrances. Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 21, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Main Garden Tour, 9:30 a.m.

Learn about the history of Hodges Gardens during a stroll through the main gardens.

The landscapes are breathtaking along with their unique and colorful history.

For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 8, Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, Pineville – Whittling the Hours Away, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Many hours were spent in camp with little to do so soldiers sought refuge from boredom by devising various diversions. Group songs, games, musical instruments, theatrical productions, practical jokes and more all helped to keep morale up and pass the time. For more information call 888.677.7437 toll free or 484.2390 locally.

June 8, Marksville State Historic Site, Marksville – Atlatl Throwing Contest, 1-3:30 p.m. Participants will compete in two categories: distance and accuracy. Distance markers at 25 yard intervals will aid in measuring while accuracy will be accomplished by aiming at a rolling hoop at a distance of 20 yards. An inclined ramp will aid in the integrity of the rolling hoop during the accuracy trial. For more information call 888.253.8954 toll free or 253.8954 locally.

June 8, Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville – Rebel State Historic Site’s Harmonica Contest, 7 p.m.    The staff of Rebel State Historic Site would like to find the most talented Harmonica players in the area and invite them to participate in our Harmonica Contest. Harmonica prizes for the winners will be donated by Hohner Harmonicas U.S.A. and trophies will be provided by Friends of Rebel SHS, Inc. For more information call 888.677.3600 toll free or 472.6255 locally.

June 7 & 8, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – New Moon Stargazing, 9 p.m. Join the park ranger for a tour of the night sky through the Orion telescope. The darkness of the new moon provides the best viewing. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 7, Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Pines of Hodges Gardens, 9:30 a.m. Walk the trails with the park ranger to learn the difference between a long leaf pine, a loblolly pine and many more. For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

June 1, 8 & 15 Hodges Gardens State Park, Florien – Sunset Barge Tour, 8 p.m.

Join the park ranger for a tour around the lake by the light of the moon on the Sundancer barge.

This tour gives visitors a unique opportunity to see the three islands and to view the lower level of the gardens from a different perspective.

For more information call 800.354.3523 toll free or 586.3523 locally.

Sandra Kay Moreau

May 21, 2013 – On May 8th, 2013 at approximately 7 pm, deputies were dispatched to a local hospital in reference to a battery of a juvenile. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the complainant who advised they picked up their child that evening from the sitter, later identified as Sandra Moreau, 60 of 116 Sandy Lane, Alexandria, LA and when they returned home, they discovered injuries on the child’s leg.

The complainant immediately transported the victim to a local hospital for further evaluation. RPSO Detectives responded to the hospital to resume the investigation. After a thorough investigation, warrants were granted for Moreau.

On May 14, 2013, Moreau was taken into custody and arrested for two counts of Cruelty to Juveniles and booked into Rapides Parish Detention Center. She was later released on a $3,000 bond.  Detectives say the investigation is still ongoing.

“King Branch usage has increased by over 56% in the last year, and its usage continues to increase,” said Library Director Steve Rogge. “The new location on Broadway will enable us to better serve our customers in the African-American community within Alexandria.”

“The goal of the King Branch staff has always been to be positive force in the Lower Third community,” said King Branch Manager Starla Jones. “We are excited to have the opportunity to have more space, books and computers with which to do that.”

The city’s upcoming purchase of the current King building will necessitate the Library moving out before the new building is ready. In the interim between the closure of the old building and the opening of the new one, the Library will invite King customers to use the Main Library. The Bookmobile will also stop near the old branch location on a weekly basis during this transitional phase.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch is currently located at 3311 Third Street in Alexandria. The Main Library is located at 411 Washington Street, also in Alexandria. For more information about Rapides Parish Library, visit www.rpl.org or call 318-445-2411, ext. 1030.

Dr. Charles Allen will give a hands-on demonstration with fresh and dried samples of edible and useful plants at Westside Regional Library on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 6:00-8:00 PM.  After giving a brief overview of each plant, Dr. Allen will encourage participants to taste and smell each sample.  Dr. Allen will be signing and selling copies of his books Louisiana Wildflower Guide and Edible Plants of the Gulf South.  Please call Tammy DiBartolo at 318-442-2483, extension 1906, for more information.  Mrs. DiBartolo can also be reached by emailing youthservices@rpl.org.

“Dr. Allen will have various plants native to Louisiana that attendees can taste and smell,” said Outreach Services Coordinator Tammy DiBartolo.  “This program is part of the Summer Reading Program for adults. The theme for Adult Summer Reading 2013 is ‘Groundbreaking Reads,’ so this program is a perfect fit.”

Dr. Allen is the coauthor of the recently published Louisiana Wildflowers Guide, Edible Plants of the Gulf South, Trees Shrubs and Woody Vines of Louisiana, and Grasses of Louisiana, 3^rd Ed.  He has presented edible plant, butterfly gardening, and prairie and wildflower talks to many groups not only in Louisiana but also in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Texas.

Westside Regional Library is part of the Rapides Parish Library System and is located at 5416 Provine Place in Alexandria, Louisiana.  For more information about Rapides Parish Library, visit www.rpl.org or call 318-445-2411, ext. 1030.

The Rapides Parish Library is a medium-size public library, serving Rapides Parish located in central Louisiana. The library consists of a Main Library, 5 urban branches, 4 rural branches, a bookmobile which includes service to the homebound, and a van service to child development centers.