KINDER
In January of 2022, the Kinder Chamber named Skip Pickle as its Citizen of the Year. The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Roger and Claire Fontenot, and Business of the Year was given to D&R Metal. Owners are Daniel “Booger” and Rachelle McClellan.
Kinder’s longtime city worker Chester Braxton died January 29. He worked for the town for 42 years.
On February 13, the office of Sheriff Doug Hebert III received 9-1-1 calls that led to the arrest of two men for separate shooting incidents in Kinder (Jordon Harmon) and Oberlin (James Robinson III) between the two men. Harmon was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, criminal damage to property and illegal use of weapons. Robinson was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, criminal damage to property and illegal use of weapons.
March brought news the state would add 602 inmates to the population at the Allen Correctional Center (ACC) over the next four months. Oberlin announced it could not pay its bills and made budget cuts to its workforce. Mayor Joseph “Moochie” Manuel informed The Kinder Courier he would resign at the end of March due to health reasons.
In April, the APPJ (Allen Parish Police Jury) and APSB (Allen Parish School Board) both approved an eight-member district reapportionment plan. Wayne Smith was named interim mayor in Oberlin. Allen Parish District Attorney Joe Green announced his appointment of new Assistant District Attorney Stacey C. Naquin in his office
In sports, the Kinder Lady Jackets were Sulphur bound for the 2022 Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) Class 2A State Softball Tournament. The Kinder boys’ baseball team began an inspiration campaign for teammate Will Fontenot, a freshman catcher, who was fighting his second battle against cancer in the last two years.
Brittney Dupre was the named Administrative Professional of the Year at the annual Chamber sponsored banquet in April. Claude “C.J.” Fontenot, 77, a longtime councilman for Kinder, died Friday, April 29.
In May, Oberlin’s Chloe Peloquin placed first in the state finals of track and field events in Baton Rouge last week with a mark of 10-06 in Girls Pole Vault 1A.
The Allen Parish School Board teamed up with Sheriff Doug Hebert III to bring School Resource Officers to its campuses in June. The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Coushatta Casino Resort delivered their largest quarterly contribution to date as part of the tribe’s continued commitment to community support grants under its Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact.
In July, the political season got underway with candidates registering for the November 8, election from Kinder, Oberlin, Reeves and Elizabeth. The Oberlin Council, despite the threat of a lawsuit for payment, tabled the ongoing USDA project updating its water system due to many questions. Also, it was announced former track and field stand out at Oberlin High School, Chloe Peloquin, would compete in the AAU national track meet in August in Greensboro, N.C. U.S. Representative Mike Johnson visited the parish.
A Kinder High student was shot in August at a party leading to the arrest of a Welsh juvenile on attempted second-degree murder charges. And one of the famous dancehalls of the south, Slim’s, came tumbling down as the dilapidated building was cleared away.
September saw the crowning of Miss Allen Parish Maurie Grace Dickey and Jr. Miss Avery Williams. The last ‘principal’s house’, located in Kinder, was demolished due to repair costs deemed to expensive. Former Oberlin Fire Chief Lawrence Ray Kelly Sr. died Tuesday, September 27.
In October, the Bonejangles Green Oak skeletons were causing a fun uprising on Facebook™ as residents waited to see what the Bonejangles would be doing each morning. The National Weather Service reported they are confirming an EF-2 tornado touched down in Allen Parish, northwest of Oberlin at approximately 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 25.
The Eighth Annual Community Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast, held Saturday, November 5, at the Grand Church in Kinder, honored CJ Fontenot, Disca Savant Jr., Chuck Tippen, Wylace Vincent Jr., Paul Doumite and Rayford Hargrove. Allen Parish received a letter grade of a “B” (84.5 percent) when the Louisiana Department of Education released its 2021-22 SPS (School Performance Scores) data. Tiger Woods came to the Coushatta Resort for his son’s golf tournament.
In December, Larry Alexander was preparing to become Oberlin’s next mayor. All three city employees resigned at one time, and Alexander had to replace the staff. Freezing temperatures hit the area over the Christmas holidays dropping temps to below for freezing for about 36 hours.
OAKDALE
In January of 2022, the City of Oakdale’s audit became public information as residents learned how much former City Clerk Melissa Schaefer, who passed away March 11, 2021, had taken from the city. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report indicated Schaefer manipulated money to pay herself $769,136 more than her authorized salary from January 1, 2014, to March 17, 2021; signed and received 93 city checks totaling $59,945 from January 1, 2014, to March 17, 2021 (City records show she was not entitled to receive $13,378 of the payments); and used city funds to make 63 payments totaling $115,304 to two credit card accounts of Schaefer from August 26, 2014, to December 30, 2019.
In February of 2022, the paper learned a recall process was underway to recall Mayor Gene Paul. The process failed. The council agreed to file a civil suit against the estate of Melissa Schaefer.
March brought news that the state would add 602 inmates to the population at the Allen Correctional Center (ACC) over the next four months. The Oakdale City Council also approved a resolution to purchase the Capital One building to house the new courthouse for the city.
In April, the Allen Parish Police Jury moved to adopt a new redistricting plan that expanded the jury and school board to eight members. Oakdale secured the Capital One Building on April 7, for its new courthouse, and Elizabeth announced receiving $125,000 through the Love Louisiana Outdoor program to make improvements to Finke Park.
Allen Parish District Attorney Joe Green announced his appointment of new Assistant District Attorney Stacey C. Naquin in his office in April. Finally, an audit of the Oakdale Recreation District No. 1, indicated Melissa “Lisa” Schaefer took money ($86,889) from the recreation district to pay her personal credit cards 93 times, which may have resulted in her violating the law. She served as a part-time secretary.
In May, the Allen Oaks facility held a ground breaking ceremony announcing it was adding 26,000 square feet to its existing building doubling its size to over 52,000 square feet. The $7 million expansion project will provide approximately 20 new jobs in the community. Also, Miss Oakdale 2022 Kaydin “Kay Kay” Strother was crowned.
The City of Oakdale announced a new website in June that also allowed the city to begin utilizing an alert system for residents. The Allen Parish School Board teamed up with Sheriff Doug Hebert III to bring School Resource Officers to its campuses. At the end of June, the Oakdale Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) once again asked leaders to address staffing shortages and the roles of its staff in Oakdale publicly. Both state and national leaders added their concerns asking the BOP to address these staffing shortages.
The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Coushatta Casino Resort delivered their largest quarterly contribution to date as part of the tribe’s continued commitment to community support grants under its Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact.
In July, it was announced former track and field stand out at Oberlin High School, Chloe Peloquin, would compete in the AAU national track meet in August in Greensboro, N.C. U.S. Representative Mike Johnson visited the parish.
In August, Oakdale Police investigated the shooting and death of Anthony Rakestraw Jr., 25, on August 5. They announced they were looking for Malcolm Pugh, 21.
September saw the crowning of Miss Allen Parish Maurie Grace Dickey and Jr. Miss Avery Williams. United States Senator John Kennedy was the guest speaker at the Chamber of Commerce’s banquet. First United Pentecostal Church won the non-profit business of the year award. Richard’s Tire won the award for small business of the year, and the Oakdale Community Hospital won large business of the year. The coveted Civic Service Award was presented to Pastor Greg Willis of Christ Church Oakdale.
Malcolm Pugh, wanted for the shooting death of one in August, was located September 7. Also, Malcolm Mitchell, a NFL Super Bowl champion, visited Oakdale Elementary and shared his book.
In October, the Oakdale City Council adopted an ordinance allowing for electronic speed limit, traffic signal and traffic signage enforcement at the intersection of state Highway 10 and U.S. Highway 165. Oakdale officers also received new body cams thanks to a $25,000 grant from the state.
Allen Parish received a letter grade of a “B” (84.5 percent) in November when the Louisiana Department of Education released its 2021-22 SPS (School Performance Scores) data.
Over 36 hours of freezing temperatures were noted during the Christmas holidays in December. The Oakdale Fire Department named Justin Willis as its 2022 Oakdale Firefighter of the Year.