The Fount Online News -- CITY OF GRAMBLING

Elizabeth Jones: “Guilty Of What?”

April 19, 2011 By The Fount Online News 4 Comments

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Guilty Of What?

On Tuesday April 12, 2011 Elizabeth Jones attended a pre-trial hearing at Lincoln Parish 3rd District Court where her new attorney Sam Jenkins met with the Assistant District Attorney Brown in a pre-trial conference. The attorneys agreed to continue the matter to another pre-trial conference set for May 10th.

This second pre-trial hearing had to be scheduled because Mr. Jenkins had just been provided the Discovery submitted by Miss Jones’ prior Attorney Ronald Cook.

According to Miss Jones, the District Attorney’s office originally gave Cook this Discovery information back in September 2010. Cook was supposed to review this Discovery information with Miss Jones by her November 7th court date, but Cook never discussed it with her –not even by the February 15th or the February 28th continuance dates.

For some reason unbeknown to Miss Jones, according to the court transcripts Attorney Cook admitted to the judge on February 28th, 2011 that he had contacted the District Attorney the night prior to the February 15th court date, and told the DA that Miss Jones would be making a guilty plea in acceptance of the DA’s offer to reduce sentencing in exchange for certain information, even though Jones made no such agreement.

On her court date of February 28th, in response to a complaint letter filed to the District Attorney’s office and the judge, the judge asked Cook when did he give Miss Jones the stipulations of the DA’s offer. Cook then admitted he told Miss Jones on February 15th what those stipulations were after he had already made an agreement on her behalf with the DA the night before.

It was already posted and discussed in the media that Miss Jones wanted the entire matter to be heard in a jury trial. Therefore, Attorney Cook’s statements were completely inconsistent with Miss Jones’ wishes as well as what was already public knowledge in the media and court records.

Due to the apparent confusion that Attorney Cook caused in this regard, Miss Jones was asked to make her rejection of the DA’s offer official at her February 28th court date, and to restate her desire for this entire matter be heard in a jury trial which is now set for September 26th, 2011.

Former Junior Accountant & Assistant To Grambling Mayor, Elizabeth Jones

As a junior accountant and assistant to then Grambling Mayor Martha Andrus, Miss Jones was charged with two counts of felony theft in relation to Grambling City funds. According to State Trooper Scott Brown’s investigation report submitted to the District Attorney’s Office, those charges were originally brought by the Louisiana State Troopers Office out of Monroe, LA in June 2009 based on allegations and reports filed by Andrus and the Grambling City Accountant at that time, Willie Mabry.

Miss Jones says she is completely capable of proving her innocence in this matter.

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, Ruston Tagged With: attorney ronald cook, attorney samuel jenkins, elizabeth jones, former city accountant willie mabry, former grambling mayor martha andrus, Grambling

Child’s Grandmother Believes Mabry Is Innocent Of Molestation

February 9, 2011 By The Fount Online News 4 Comments

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The paternal grandmother of the minor child involved in the Willie Mabry molestation accusation issue speaks out in the following 3 part Letter-To-The-Editor. According to her emailed letters, Ms. Evelyn Falco says she’s been denied access to her grandchildren (the child involved and her brother), makes allegations against Felicia Mabry and believes Willie Mabry to be innocent of the charges against him. Ms. Falco also makes a plea for help and prayer.

To date, the allegations of child molestation against Rev. Willie Mabry, pastor of the Zion Traveler’s Baptist Church in Monroe, LA are still under investigation by the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office in Monroe, LA. Mabry is the former City Accountant of Grambling and was convicted of rape in Baltimore, MD back in 1980.

Part 1

Greetings Chief Editor,
I am writing this because I am the paternal grandmother of the child in the rape allegation against Rev. Willie Mabry. I believe that instead of focusing on the rift between Rev. Mabry and Felicia, let us be concerned with the welfare of the child in question. This child is caught in the middle of this issue involving molestation which at this point remains to be determined as true or false.

Regardless of the validation of this claim, this child still needs love and understanding, she does not need to be badgered about the details about the allegations by anyone. I feel that Felicia is to be blamed for what has happened to this child. She has fought me since the death of her sister (the child’s birth mother and my daughter in-law) in September of 2006.

The child’s father (my son) is currently incarcerated and has been since before his wife died. Before the mother’s death Felicia knew my grandchildren (the child in question and her younger brother) exactly 14 days before taking the kids away from an environment they were accustomed to.

My granddaughter had lived with me her entire life, I nurtured her from a 2lb 3 oz premature newborn. We had a stipulated court order
here in Florida for visitation and phone communications between paternal relatives and the children. In five years we have seen the children once. The Mabrys have always been in non-compliance with the court orders, fighting us from Louisiana with long-armed laws each time a visitation was scheduled.

The Mabrys have been dishonest with the rearing of my grandchildren, keeping them away from loved ones, including an older sibling who is 19 and lives in the state of Louisiana. The same kind of cohesion (coercion?) supposedly used in the rape allegation was also used in a tape recorded by my granddaughter stating that she never lived with me even though we all the evidence in the world to refute the claim, the child was forced to say these things under due stress.

The Mabrys are not the childrens’ legal parents, there has never been an adoption of the children. Their father even (though) incarcerated still has parental rights. No court has ever taken these rights away. Both the children are getting their mother’s social security which has now since included the older siblings since last year when she reached 18. They are also receiving medicaid. The childrens’ Mothers name was Leslie Darensbourg who died at age 33 from breast cancer. The older sibling is Kimberly Darensbourg aged 19. Father is named Karl Stephens.

I am grandmother Evelyn Stephens Falco. This is not a letter to determine guilt or innocence against the pastor regarding the allegations, or to discredit Felicia.

This letter I am asking you to print in your own words so someone or maybe even you as a pastor would consider the child in question. She needs help, she has been living a lie for 5 years. I truly believe this is Gods way of bringing the truth to light. I have been fighting and fighting and allowing God to have his way.

So I am asking for the help of you or anyone else to restore the relationship between me and my granddaughter, for i truly believe in my heart if i speak with her i would be able to get to the bottom of the issue at hand. I do hope you feel free to reply to my email and help some way with the truth.

Thanking you with God’s Blessings
Evelyn Falco
February 4, 2011

Part 2

I am writing to give you permission to print the email that I sent to you, you have my consent to print it as I have written it to you word for word because all of it is the truth, that can be proven. Editor you have my word that any persons that read your article can ask me to provide evidence to confirm only the truth .

Rev. Dill I am asking that any member from Rev. Mabry’s church whom has met my grandchildren please step forward with some help to give to the court, to help us maintain our relationship with (my grandchildren). My son would need indigent services for as he and I have stated he is incarcerated and has been for seven years.

I am not in any way now able to pay for legal council, been there before, spent money in two states with only fighting with the Mabry’s just to see if being there could help families to keep the children in a healthy relationship with both sides maternal and paternal families.

On Sept. 27, 2006 I had sent my two grandchildren to school as usual only to find out that afternoon the bus attendant said that the children had been taken away by an exparte court order with police escorts. Both children’s teachers were crying when I got there because the court the Mabry’s lawyer or any one else tried to contact me at work.

After taking them to Baton Rouge we then agreed on telephone calls to the father and other family members the Mabry’s have yet to date set up telephone calls for children to speak to him. They have been in non compliance of any court order from the state of Florida or La. State of Fl. in Feb. 2007 no compliance Baton Rouge in Nov. 2007 and last one in Monroe in may 2008 Hon. Alvin R. Sharp. Judge James E. Ross, Attorney for plaintiffs-In Rule Article 134 of the civil code #2008-001001667.

Maybe someone will find out the truth of what the lawyer won his case with and print it on your news so I can know where our family is with our children as a Christian still trying to make it in God’s kingdom I do know it is a lesson and a message in all of this to all of us because the God I serve is awesome and does take care of his children. God will bring the truth to light and all of the demons who allowed or just watch the Mabry’s attack each other at the price of my granddaughter. I will pray for us all.

Editor I need for everyone to know the spirit of my God through him tells me that Pastor Mabry is not guilty of this allegation but he is guilty of going along with dishonest behavior and being a part of keeping children from their loving family who has been hurting for 5 years of not seeing or hearing from. Willie Mabry I am sure gets to be a part of his children and their families. Why (does) my granddaughter (have) to be placed in this lie, she is going to be scared from this mess.

Please pray for my grands, their father, and the rest of our family and I hope that Pastor Mabry has repent I don’t think that Felicia thinks about anything being wrong. I know their family history and I am prepared to break their family curse. Their older sister’s daughter will not be a part of this curse.

About 15 years ago I was accused of a misdemeanor that I thought was over with. I was released without bail or a stay in jail. Felicia found out on people’s search and told everyone I had a criminal record longer than my son’s record. I had no problem with my home study that maybe the children would have been back in my care, and this would not have happened. This is not to determine guilt or innocence but just to show you that God is still in charge and he will make things right .

This last 5years have been not so easy. Editor please write anything that you feel you would like to give the readers and God’s people.

Peace and all of God’s love Evelyn Falco
February 6, 2011

Part 3

Rev. David Dill Editor of The Fount Online News, I Evelyn Falco give you the editor permission to print both emails that I sent to you. Please combine both together in a letter form. Print all that you feel needs to be written in my exact words, quoting me as it is written.

Everything I have written can be proven with court papers, stipulated court orders, affidavits from coworkers, my church family, old friends, my Pastor, sister of both of the children Most of all a letter of my home study, fingerprint scan done through children and family and verified through the F.B.I of Washington D.C.

REV Dill you can check my credibility as a Christian. Make it known in your letter that anyone that needs to find out the truth feel free to ask and I will try to get the truth out without judgment or accusations, no ugly scandalizing. I hope that whomever needs to see another side might be able to come to some truth and end this nightmare for my granddaughter and maybe she could start to heal. April 1 she will be 11 years old.

I remember like yesterday my 2lb 3oz. baby girl was so little but she was a fighter, 3 weeks later it was Easter and I got her the most beautiful outfit for her from target department store. She was so pretty with her hat on tubes everywhere, but God kept her fighting.

Oh by the way she was wearing Barbie doll clothes. I still have a number of photos for memories. She looked like a little cute mouse. From that day her name to me was mommy. As she grew (I) called her my “American Express”, don’t leave home without me. All I am asking and requesting that you keep [mommy] paternal and maternal family in prayer.

And if Tina her aunt gets to read this, please help your niece to have a better life, she deserve a chance, you know the truth and the whole truth. Please help with the truth being dealt with, we could help this child.

This is also for Rev Mabry, Felicia Mabry or any else that feels they need to protect. Mr.and Mrs. Mabry they can protect each other, my granddaughter needs protection.

Let us all give God the Glory He is still (due) in the midst of this ordeal. He has Confirmed it with me.

Peace To ALL YOURS EVELYN FALCO GRANNIE
February 6, 2011

With the exceptions of punctuation / spelling edits, and the removal of the names of minor children involved, Ms. Falco’s Letters-To-The-Editor are published as-is. –Rev. David J. Dill, Chief Editor

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, LETTERS To The Editor, North Louisiana, z-Featured Top Right Tagged With: alvin r sharp, evelyn falco, Felicia Mabry, grambling city accountant willie mabry, judge james e ross, karl stephens, kimberly darensbourg, leslie darensbourg, rev david j dill, the fount online news, willie mabry accused child molestation, willie mabry convicted of rape, willie mabry pastor zion travelers baptist church, zion traveler baptist church monroe la

New Leadership In Grambling

January 25, 2011 By The Fount Online News 1 Comment

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On Thursday December 30, 2010 the Grambling State University provided a very upbeat and positive atmosphere for the Inauguration Ceremony of Grambling’s newly elected officials. The ceremony got underway at 10:38 am, and took place in the Black and Gold Room of the Favrot Student Union.

It’s estimated that 350 people attended the ceremony in which the City Magistrate Ivan Daigs, Council Members Birdex Copeland Jr., Yanise Days, Cathy Holmes, Cullen Jackson, Roy Jackson and Grambling’s new mayor Edward R. Jones were all sworn in.

After Louisiana State Senator Lydia Jackson who is a cousin of Grambling Mayor Jones issued a charge to the new Grambling Council, Grambling Clerk Pamela Stringfellow, Police Chief Tommy Clark and City Attorney Pamela Breedlove were also recognized for their assigned positions.

Judge Brenza Irving Jones conducted the swearing in of Mayor Jones who then spoke for approximately 26 minutes in a reception speech. The newly elected mayor graciously offered many thanks, paid respect to his lovely wife and family, publicly honored all previous mayors of Grambling, and ended his speech by stating his objectives.

Grambling Mayor Edward R. Jones

In the brief video segment below, Grambling Mayor Edward R. Jones made the following promises to the citizens of Grambling:

1. Develop and implement a master plan for the city
2. Account for all city finances
3. Upgrade customer service
4. Reduce property taxes
5. Work with property owners to renovate existing businesses
6.Establish new businesses and industry
7. Enhance the town relationships with the University
8. Expand Grambling’s corporate limits
9. Improve and expand Grambling’s infrastructure
10. Provide recreational activities for Grambling’s youth and adults

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, Grambling, North Louisiana, z-Featured Top Right Tagged With: grambling city attorney pamela breedlove, grambling city magistrate ivan daigs, grambling clerk pam stringfellow, grambling council member birdex copeland jr, grambling council member cathy holmes, grambling council member cullen jackson, grambling council member roy jackson, grambling council member yanise days, grambling inauguration, grambling mayor edward r jones, grambling police chief tommy clark, grambling state university, judge brenza irving jones, senator lydia jackson

Former Grambling Mayor Discusses Vindication of Ethics Charges

January 25, 2011 By The Fount Online News

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In an exclusive interview, former Mayor of Grambling Martha Andrus provides insight on the State of Louisiana Board of Ethics’ decision to vindicate her of all charges.

Former Grambling Mayor Vindicated of Ethics Charges

The former mayor of Grambling Martha Andrus was vindicated of ethics charges this past week by the Louisiana State Ethics Board. The allegations of ethics violations date back to 2008 when she fired City Accountant Willie Mabry.

At that time, a schism broke out between the Mayor and Grambling Council resulting in ethics violation allegations being levied against Andrus claiming that she was punishing whistle blowers in connection to some $50,000 that is STILL yet to be proven missing.

Martha Andrus has repeatedly stated in previous interviews with The Fount that there are no records to confirm any monies were ever missing at all. “Just because somebody said money was missing did not make it so” said Grambling’s former mayor.

She also informed The Fount that Grambling Police Chief Tommy Clark and Clerk Pamela Stringfellow were never actually fired as claimed in allegations. Nor had Mabry, Clark, or Stringfellow proven themselves to be whistleblowers.

The former Grambling Mayor explained that Clerk Stringfellow was reassigned according to her own reasonable discretion as Mayor, and that none of Stringfellow’s statutory duties were denied her. Andrus also said that Chief Clark was suspended by her pending the Grambling Council’s concurrence. Neither Clark nor Stringfellow were ever fired.

However, after Mabry was fired, the Mayor Pro Temp at that time Grambling Council Member Edward R. Jones and the Council initiated procedures through the Lincoln Parish Court system to force the rehire of Mabry.

In January 2009, Judge Wayne Smith ruled not only was Andrus to rehire Mabry, but she was also barred from being able to discipline Mabry even though he was known to take 2-3 hour lunch breaks and did not have Grambling’s financial records available in a timely manner for the 2008 and 2009 audits. As the clerk was a co-party in the same lawsuit, Stringfellow also became protected by the judge’s ruling.

Ironically as soon as Edward R. Jones took office as Grambling’s newly elected Mayor, on January 3, 2011 he immediately replaced City Accountant Willie Mabry.

Now some 3 weeks later, the Louisiana State Board of Ethics announced its conclusion that The Board did not have sufficient evidence to prove Andrus purposely punished whistleblowers, or that her actions were retaliatory in any way, and thus dismissed all charges against her.

The embattled ex-mayor commended the Ethics Board for being able to separate fact from fiction in this matter. She added that these were just a few of the false allegations she faced publicly during her last two years in office.

Ms. Andrus is seeking to be vindicated of all false allegations, and said when it comes to clearing her reputation and family mayoral legacy, that this is a step in the right direction. “This is the beginning of good things to come” says Andrus.

Former Grambling Mayor Martha Andrus

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, North Louisiana, z-Featured Middle Left Tagged With: former grambling mayor martha andrus, grambling city accountant willie mabry, grambling clerk pam stringfellow, grambling mayor edward r jones, grambling mayor pro temp council member edward r jones, grambling police chief tommy clark, lincoln parish louisiana judge wayne smith, louisiana state board of ethics

Mabry Fired & Under Fire

January 6, 2011 By The Fount Online News 7 Comments

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Newly Elected Grambling Mayor ‘Cleans House’

On the first business day of 2011, Monday January 3, convicted rapist Willie Mabry recently became one of many city employees fired by the newly elected Mayor of Grambling, the Honorable Edward R. Jones who replaced the previous administration’s staff with his own.

Under the watchful eye of Grambling citizens discussions have erupted throughout the town regarding speculation of Mabry’s sudden firing. Just a few months ago, the current Grambling Mayor seemed to be an advocate for Mabry as he fought for Mabry to remain in his position as City Accountant.

Before the election Grambling’s Mayor at the time, Martha Andrus tried to fire Willie Mabry and continually rejected his long string of excuses for not having prepared books for the 2009 audit. Now being 2011, has the new Grambling mayor conceded to the former mayor’s opinion of Willie Mabry’s ineptness by firing Mabry himself on his first day in office?

Mabry was hired, fired, reinstated and re-fired all within a two year period of time at Grambling Town Hall and was the highest paid of all; getting paid more than the Mayor and every other Grambling employee.

There is speculation Mabry was fired due to gross incompetence since the 2009 audit was so late. After Grambling’s Council and Mayor finally agreed on an auditor in August 2010, Grambling’s financial books which were supposed to have been prepared well before June still were not in order and, in this the first week of 2011 the 2009 audit for Grambling is still not complete.

From Frying Pan To Fire

Mabry could have been let go for more than one reason. His being fired in Grambling appears to have sparked further controversy at the Zion Traveler’s Baptist Church where Mabry is pastor as questions resurfaced about his involvement in a child molestation allegation dating back to late June 2010.

That allegation against Willie Mabry led to the exposure of what some consider to be an intentionally concealed prior rape conviction in Baltimore, MD back in 1980. When asked, there was no mention of an arrest on Mabry’s original employment application with the Town of Grambling.

It is reported that some ZTBC church members have sought to remove Mabry as pastor over the allegation of child molestation issue and the fact that he did not disclose his prior rape conviction. Many members have simply left the church.

The Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office currently has the Mabry child molestation matter listed as “possible” meaning the matter could go to trial and is yet to be determined.

Let The Record Show

Shortly after Mabry lost his job as Grambling’s City Accountant, The Fount has come under fire and speculation has arisen concerning the validity of the Mabry rape conviction in Baltimore.

According to sources, Mabry is alleged to say that the The Fount’s story was fabricated: “Dill (The Fount’s editor) wants my church, that’s why he’s making this story up.” The Fount offers interested readers the opportunity to look up the public record of Mabry’s rape conviction for themselves.

To clarify statements made in the previous article, Baltimore City Police verified only the arrest of Willie Mabry on the charge of 2nd degree rape, and the Baltimore Sheriff’s Department confirmed both his arrest and conviction.

It is yet unclear as to what sentence was issued, whether or not Mabry served any jail time for this offense, and no national sex crime registration laws were in effect during this era.

The 2nd Degree Rape arrest of Willie Mabry dated June 15, 1979 (Arrest Case Number 106787) may be confirmed by calling the Baltimore City Police Department, Detective Dottie Moses – Public Affairs (410) 396-2014.

Both the arrest and conviction date of January 10, 1980 can be confirmed by speaking with Corporal Hill at the Baltimore Sheriff’s Department: (410) 887-2210.

Pastor Willie Mabry - Zion Travelers Baptist Church, Monroe LA

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, Grambling, North Louisiana, z-Featured Top Left Tagged With: former grambling mayor martha andrus, grambling city accountant willie mabry, grambling mayor edward r jones, mabry child molestation allegation, mabry rape conviction, rev willie mabry, willie mabry, zion traveler baptist church monroe la

Jones Defeats Wiley, Nelson Overcomes Roberson

November 2, 2010 By The Fount Online News Leave a Comment

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In Grambling’s run off election, as of 0600 hrs. November 3, 2010 the unofficial election results as posted by the Louisiana Secretary Of State show Edward Jones to be Grambling’s next Mayor.

Mr. Jones received more than 2/3 of the vote from those who turned out despite inclement weather throughout the day, while Robert Wiley received 32% of the vote even though he ran as an Independent in a Democratic city.

Also according to the Secretary Of State’s website, Grambling has just one incumbent council member who maintained his seat, Mr. Roy Jackson. The new Grambling Council Members listed here in the order of most votes received include Yanise Days, Cullen Jackson, Birdex Copeland Jr. and Cathy Holmes.

The Grambling Council candidates who won in this run off election had at least 400 votes each, with only 127 votes separating the 5 winners.

Just 15 votes separated the winner Doreatha Nelson from Jerry Roberson in the run off election for Arcadia’s District 1 Council seat. The Fount offers congratulations to each election winner of hard fought races!

.As provided by the Louisiana Secretary Of State’s Office, the following link will lead to parish by parish election results throughout Louisiana: http://electionresults.sos.louisiana.gov/graphical/

Filed Under: Arcadia, CITY OF GRAMBLING, Grambling, North Louisiana, z-Featured Top Left Tagged With: 2010 election results, Birdex Copeland Jr., Cathy Holmes, Council Member Roy L. Jackson, Cullen Jackson, doreatha nelson, edward jones, election, election results arcadia, election results grambling, election results louisiana, jerry roberson, robert wiley, yanise days

Robert Wiley Still Seeks Mayoral Debate With Ed Jones

October 27, 2010 By The Fount Online News 3 Comments

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Last Week Before Run Off Election

Robert Wiley For Mayor

During The Fount’s video interview with Grambling mayoral candidate Robert Wiley, Mr. Wiley discusses the improvement of financial responsibility and economic development as being Grambling’s greatest needs, as well as his plans to meet those needs by making a full assessment of Grambling’s status and employing qualified staff to implement his plans.

In light of Grambling’s most recent and serious audit issues, Mr. Wiley talks about his unique qualifications to make Grambling ‘audit-ready’ throughout the year before audit time approaches. He seeks to unify Grambling’s leaders by taking on a professional attitude and accentuating Grambling’s positives.

Wiley says a new beginning is on the horizon with new people in Grambling’s leadership, and says GSU and Grambling relations are good and getting better with Dr. Pogue on board as GSU’s new president. The mayoral candidate discusses Grambling’s strengths, weaknesses and how he will work to improve such weaknesses when elected Mayor.

“There’s still time for a debate.”

Despite Ed Jones’ obvious attempts to avoid Robert Wiley in a public open forum, in this second segment, Mr. Wiley talks about his continued desire to face him head on before the run off election for people to make a reasonable side-by-side comparison of Grambling’s only two mayoral candidates.

He also explained how he got tagged as a “Tea Partier” by his opponent and explains how comments he made on a blog were taken out of context by certain ones who promised to wage political warfare against him.

In his closing comments, Mr. Wiley invites people to ask him anything they want to know, and states why he is the best choice to become Grambling’s next Mayor.

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, Grambling, z-Featured Middle Left Tagged With: election 2010 grambling, Grambling, grambling mayor pro temp council member edward r jones, grambling mayoral candidate, grambling mayoral candidate edward jones, grambling mayoral candidate robert wiley, grambling mayoral race, grambling politics 2010, robert wiley

Concerned Grambling Citizens

October 27, 2010 By The Fount Online News 1 Comment

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In response and protest to a story headlined in the Ruston Daily Leader on Sunday October 17, 2010 –the following flier written by and to “Concerned Grambling Citizens” began circulating around Grambling this past week just 1 week before the scheduled runoff election set for November 2, 2010.

The content outlines many disastrous decisions, violations of the law and outrageous spending by the Grambling Council and seeks answers as to why only one out of two mayoral candidates is willing to participate a public debate.

Click on the documents below, then click again to enlarge.

Concerned Grambling Citizens pg 1 of 2

Concerned Grambling Citizens pg 2 of 2

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, Grambling, z-Featured Front-Bottom Tagged With: grambing city attorney james colvin jr, Grambling, grambling attorney fees, grambling clerk pam stringfellow, grambling council, grambling council member alvin bradley, grambling council member roosevelt bryant jr, grambling council member roy jackson, grambling council member toby bryan, grambling mayor martha andrus, grambling mayor pro temp council member edward r jones, grambling politics, ruston daily leader

Grambling’s Delayed Audit Obstructs Water Well Repair

October 26, 2010 By The Fount Online News Leave a Comment

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The State of Louisiana’s Facility, Planning and Control (FP&C) Division denied the City of Grambling’s request for funding to repair and rehabilitate Water Well #4 due to being listed on the Legislative Auditor’s Non-Coimpliance List.

By all indications, the denial of State funding is directly related to Grambling’s 2009 audit being grossly overdue, and Water Well #4 is reported to be “barely running and in great need of immediate repair.”

In a letter written to the City of Grambling through Mayor Martha Andrus, the FP&C specifically advised the City of Grambling not to advertise for any contracting bids to repair the well at this time unless The City is able to fund the entire contract on its own without State funds.

The Fount has covered numerous stories regarding what appears to be a deliberate delay in Grambling’s 2009 audit this year. A chronological list of articles related to this issue can be found here:

Grambling’s Attorney Strong Arms Mayor?

Grambling: What’s There To Hide?

Grambling Mayor Requests Full Forensic Audit

Grambling’s 2009 Books Still Not Ready For Audit

Grambling’s Illegal Drafts

With such a drastic delay of the audit so late in this election year, some citizens of Grambling have cried allegations of straight up collusion, corruption, and out right fraud by members of the Grambling Council and Grambling’s Attorney James Colvin Jr. over the delayed audit issue.

It was revealed in “Grambling’s Illegal Drafts” that Grambling mayoral candidate and Mayor Pro Temp Edward Jones withdrew funds from Grambling’s bank accounts illegally in 2009 to pay Council Member Bryant for monies the City of Grambling would have paid an insurance company had Bryant been insured by them during a two year period – also an illegal transaction.

Since the beginning of 2010 Mayor Andrus has warned about the State’s inevitable denial of critical funding as a result of unreasonable and unwarranted delays, and that day has now arrived. Unfortunately, it is STILL unclear as to when Grambling’s 2009 audit will be complete.

The auditing firm of Hulsey, Harwood & Sheridan is currently on site at Grambling City Hall attempting to conduct an audit for the 3rd time since the beginning of September, and is STILL requesting certain missing documents from City Accountant Willie Mabry.

However there is a small glimmer of hope in all of this. Once Grambling’s audit is complete and the Legislative Auditor’s Office removes Grambling from the non-compliance list, the FP&C states they will have no objection to providing funding for the project being bid; namely the repair and rehabilitation of Water Well #4.

The only question remaining is “WHEN will Grambling’s 2009 audit be complete?” because so much more than Grambling’s water system is riding on it. What else will this audit reveal? Time will tell.

Filed Under: CITY OF GRAMBLING, z-Featured Top Right Tagged With: Council Member Roosevelt Bryant Jr., Council Member Roy L. Jackson, grambing city attorney james colvin jr, grambling audit, grambling city accountant willie mabry, grambling council member alvin bradley, grambling council member toby bryan, grambling mayor martha andrus, grambling mayor pro temp council member edward r jones, Hulsey Harwood & Sheridan LLC, louisiana facility planning control, the fount online news

Cullen Jackson Thanks Grambling Voters For 2nd Chance

October 21, 2010 By The Fount Online News

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City Council Candidate Cullen Jackson Thanks Voters, Discusses

Plans To Improve Grambling

TO GRAMBLING CITIZENS AND GSU STUDENTS,

I would like to thank each of you who voted for me in the primary October 2nd election. All of the hard work devoted to this campaign if elected, is to help improve the quality of life for Grambling citizens. Your vote of confidence has enabled me to participate in a run-off election on November 2nd.

As I said before, running for City Council was not an easy decision, but it’s been well worth it. It’s not what Grambling can do for me, but what I can do for the citizens of Grambling.

For those of you who are still considering who to vote for, I’d like to reiterate that my leadership experience as a school principal, supervisor, American government teacher, public relations, director/management of federal fund will suit you well on the Grambling Council.

As Director of federal funds for Claiborne Parish School Board I have managed millions of dollars with a perfect audit. I bring 32 years of educational experiences, management of millions of dollars in federal grants, budgeting, audit evaluation, entrepreneurship, common sense and vision to this service.

I am prepared to explore the feasibility of districting Grambling which means that each Council Member will become a steward over equally divided community districts.

Not only will there be less political in-fighting, we will be able to serve you better and become more accountable to the citizens. The citizens of each district can measures our effectiveness as Council Members individually.

I also want to put a stop to outrageous municipal spending. Tens of thousands of our tax dollars have been spent for lawsuits, attorneys fees, increased salaries, and Special Called Meetings in the past two years.

The City Council increased their salaries to $700.00 and received an additional $350.00 each for over twenty Special Called Meetings, but could not afford a recreation program for our children or scheduled trash pickups.

Grambling is a distinct city with incredible opportunities and potential for growth and development, and it’s time to restore our dignity. We need to strengthen our relationship with Grambling State University and utilize their expertise whenever possible.

As your Council Member I will work hard to help keep our taxable revenues here in Grambling by accommodating the University’s 5,000 students as part of our economic development strategy.

I will seek avenues to provide student internship experience within our city and provide jobs. We need to explore the feasibility of building retirement/ health facilities in Grambling for our senior citizens and recreation programs for our children.

Developing of our infrastructure such as providing City sewage on College Avenue and throughout Grambling will be a priority.

Our city needs to employ a grant writing expert who will develop an economic task force for strategic long and short range planning that consists of business persons, Grambling State University business department, chamber of commerce, students, council members, and private citizens.

Transparency and accountability are tantamount to growth and development. Our citizens have a constitutional right to be informed, to receive, to request and to examine all public documents. If something is wrong with water, we need to know immediately by radio, television, or internet and not one month later by mail.

Another problem I plan to address is how Grambling provides police officers with academy training who end up being hired by other cities because our salaries are too low. In order to keep police officers and city workers here in Grambling, their salaries should be comparable to their skills and experience.

I am excited about the possibility of being able to serve the constituents of Grambling. I’ve enjoyed meeting and talking with you during my campaign, hearing your concerns about the current state of affairs in Grambling’s leadership and the direction you’d like to see Grambling go.

When I am elected to the Grambling Council I will work diligently with the Mayor and members of the City Council to advance the positives of our community.

My educational background includes the following: Carroll High School graduate, Bachelor of Science in social studies from Grambling State University, Master of Arts from Louisiana Tech University, Master Plus 30 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, GSU and Tech.

I retired from Claiborne Parish School Board as a teacher, Librarian, assistant principal, principal and supervisor of federal programs.

I am a member of the Louisiana Education Association, Grambling Retired Teachers, Omega Psi Phi/Phi Tau Fraternity. I have been married to Annie E. Hewitt Jackson for 46 years and the father of 3 children.

I ask that you let me serve you by giving me your vote and support in this run-off election on Tuesday November 2, 2010. Vote #126 for change in Grambling.

Yours Truly,

Cullen Jackson-City Council Candidate, Grambling, Louisiana

2010 Grambling City Council Candidate Mr. Cullen Jackson

the Fount 2010 Candidate Profile

Mr. Cullen Jackson – Grambling City Council

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