St. Bernard Council on Aging held its Thanksgiving luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 8

St. Bernard Parish’s Council on Aging held its Thanksgiving luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 8 at the COA Center next to parish government in Chalmette, serving a meal and offering entertainment for some 200 seniors. Sheriff James Pohlmann was a visitor, saying hello to people and answering questions from some. The sheriff is also shown walking and talkng with Evelyn Despaux of Chalmette as she gets her meal. Arlene Hughes of the COA staff wore her Thanksgiving Indian outfit for the occasion and Susan McNeil, director of the Council on Aging services, helped distribute meals in the food line. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

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St. Bernard residents can register for the sheriff’s free “Refuse to be a Victim’’ class being held at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 by calling (504) 278-7628

Want to learn what sort of locks, light-timers and alarm systems offer the best protection for a home or business and also hear specific crime prevention tips from an expert?

Sheriff James Pohlmann said St. Bernard Parish residents can do so by calling (504) 278-7628 to register for the free class called “Refuse to be a Victim,’’ being held at 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12 in the 2nd-floor training room at a sheriff’s building at 2118 Jackson Blvd. in Chalmette. The building is immediately behind the old Courthouse now closed for renovation.

Dozens of residents have taken the class since Sheriff Pohlmann began offering it to the public in early 2011.

It will be conducted again by Capt. Charles Borchers, community relations director for the Sheriff’s Office.

“You will hear safety tips for avoiding becoming crime victims at home or away,’’ Pohlmann said. “Capt. Borchers is an expert on subjects such as what type locks and timers residents and business owners should use and he will demonstrate them, as well as going over numerous ideas for your safety.’’

Pohlmann said the tips “are mostly common sense ideas’’ that some people may already carry out but are important to be emphasized.

Borchers emphasizes in the course that “You have to have a mental plan of action’’ at home or when traveling to be on alert for potential criminals.

Use strong locks and peep holes on home doors, Borchers said. Light-timers, alarm systems, video surveillance systems and motion lights are all good anti-crime strategies at home.

He recommends double cylinder deadbolt locks with large screws put an inch into a large, solid frame so a door can’t be easily kicked open.

Here’s a simple and cheap idea, Borchers said, that could persuade a burglar not to mess with your home: Put a big, dog’s water bowl at your back door or near the driveway at the front. Keep it half-full and occasionally wash it out so algae doesn’t grow.

And you don’t even have to own a dog. But it will give the impression a big canine is inside.

That’s one of the numerous tips Borchers says can be easily done by any resident as a precaution against crime.

Borchers can be reached at (504) 278-7828 to receive crime prevention tips, form a Neighborhood Watch group in an area or register for the next Sheriff’s Office free Citizens Police Academy classes.

He goes over various situations with participants, such as asking what they would do if they are home and someone came to the door saying they had a package for them to sign for. Should they open the door if a delivery truck wasn’t visible outside?

Or what to say if a stranger came to the door and said they needed to use a phone because there had been an accident?

Participants can learn the answer to these questions and numerous others in the course.

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Fradella’s Collision Center and two other businesses donate work and supplies for repainting and detailing sheriff’s motorcycle division

Saying they wanted to support the Sheriff’s Office, Fradella’s Collision Center and two other Chalmette businesses, Atomic Power Sports and a NAPA store, donated work and supplies for repainting and detailing the three motorcycles in the departmentment’s motorcycle division. The new-look cycles are now being used on the streets. Sheriff James Pohlmann thanked officials of the businesses for their donation and complimented their work. Shown on the bikes are, from left, Sgt. Jarrod Gourgues, Lt. Mike Ingargiola and Lt. Brent Bourgeois. Also,shown are David Fradella, who stands between Ingargiola and Bourgeois; Mike Fradella, Sheriff Pohlmann, Al Waller of Fradella’s and Kenny Arceneaux of Atomic Power Sports. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.

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Santa on the Bayou to hold 13th Christmas Celebration for St. Bernard children on Sat., Dec. 15 from 11 am – 2 pm at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 2805 Bayou Road

Santa on the Bayou announces its 13th Christmas Celebration for the children of St. Bernard Parish will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15, at St. Bernard Catholic Church located at 2805 Bayou Road, St. Bernard, LA. The celebration will begin at 11am and end at 2 pm.

Last year, Santa hosted approximately 1,200 people at the celebration. This year the event will include Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves, toys and goodies for the children and their families. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided by Valero Oil Company and their employees.

Santa will be adding a face-painting station for the young children as well as a variety of treats in Santa’s Sweet Shop.

Santa is still in need of groups to entertain during the celebration. Anyone willing to perform, particularly young dancers and singers should contact Laurie at (504) 279-4260.

Santa thanks all those who help make this event possible including: Valero Oil Co., the employees of Valero Oil Co, Delacroix Corp., Melinda Benge Brown., James Quatrory, Dot Benge, St. Bernard Well Service LLC, Crewboat LLC, Eslava & Associates, Clayton Williams Inc., Tonry & Ginart LLC, Poydras Junction Hardware, Hamilton Enterprises, Callais Ice, the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and Emile Pellittier.

Additional donations are needed for the event and should be sent to Santa on the Bayou, 3201 Bayou Road, St. Bernard, LA 70085. Donations to the nonprofit group are tax deductible.

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Violet man found murdered in his burning car in St. Bernard Oct. 30 was shot once to the head; Detectives working on leads; Anyone with information should call S.O. at 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111

Christopher Campbell, 28, of Violet, was shot once to the head before his car was set on fire in eastern St. Bernard Parish the night of Oct. 30, Sheriff James Pohlmann said Friday.

The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t received a full autopsy profile but the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head as Campbell sat in the driver’s seat of his special edition 2004 Ford Mustang, the sheriff said.

Also, he said sheriff’s detectives are working leads in the case involving the victim’s passion for racing cars with others.

“We are wondering if (car racing) had anything to do with this homicide,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said after Campbell was found dead in his burned-out Ford on the shoulder of Louisiana 46 Ext. in eastern St.

Bernard Parish. He said the area where Campbell was found is known for street racing.

“Progress is being made,’’ on the investigation, Sheriff Pohlmann said. A number of people have been questioned in the case but no arrests have been made.

Special fliers from Crimestoppers with Campbell’s photo, the facts of the case and offering of a $2,500 reward for a tip leading to an arrest and indictment have been put out throughout eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Anyone with information about what happened or knows who was involved should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.

A passer-by called authorities about 11 p.m. on Oct. 30 to report a vehicle on fire on the shoulder of Louisiana 46 Extension, nearly at the junction of the Florissant/Delacroix highways in easternmost St. Bernard.

A sheriff’s deputy in the area went to the site immediately and the parish Fire Department arrived and extinguished the blaze, which heavily burned the car from the rear forward, officials said.

Campbell’s body was found after the fire was put out and he was identified the next day.

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Sheriff’s Office I.D.s woman who defrauded a business with a $905 counterfeit money order as Ashely O. Vegas; Anyone knowing her whereabouts should call Crimestoppers at 822-1111 or S.O. at 271-2501

St, Bernard sheriff’s detectives have named a suspect, Ashley O. Vegas, 29, formerly of Lafourche Parish, as the woman who defrauded a Chalmette business of $905 with a counterfeit postal money order and are seeking information on her whereabouts, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Anyone who knows where Vegas, formerly known as Ashley Chaisson, is should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the sheriff said. They could be eligible for a reward for a tip that leads to her arrest and prosecution. The woman sought is known to frequent New Orleans.

Sheriff’s detectives, who identified her after receiving tips giving her name following reports in the media, will seek an arrest warrant from a judge alleging felony theft, the sheriff said.

The woman involved, using an alias of Terry Harris, was last seen at a business in Chalmette on October 8 and was wearing a black, short wig. She had passed a counterfeit money order there on a previous occasion.

Vegas has been arrested previously for issuing worthless checks, drug charges and simple battery.

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Sheriff’s Office seeks name of woman who defrauded a business of $905 with a counterfeit money order

St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives are asking the public’s help to identify a woman who recently defrauded a Chalmette business of $905 with a counterfeit postal money order, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Anyone with information about the name or whereabounts of the woman, who used the alias of Terry Harris when she passed the fake money order, should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the sheriff said.

She is wanted for felony theft.

A tip leading to an arrest and prosecution could be eligible for a reward.

The woman involved was last seen at a business in Chalmette on October 8 and was wearing a black, short wig.

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Centurion Law Enforcement holds ribbon-cutting ceremony

Al Tinney, Jr. and Laurie Bergeron, Owners of Centurion Law Enforcement, held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, November 5th at 2700 Paris Road in Chalmette. Parish President David E. Peralta presented a plaque to the owners thanking them for contributing to the economic growth of the parish. The business, which began many years ago, sells guns, ammo, law enforcement, fire department, security guard and hunting supplies, antiques and other collectibles. as well as specializes in leather products. For more information contact Centurion at 504-266-2500.: Pictured on the front row are state Representative Ray Garofalo, Chamber President Jodie Lohfink, Lois Tinney, Sheriff James Pohlmann, owner Laurie Bergeron, Parish President David Peralta, owner Alton Tinney, Jr., Constable Hillary Miller. On the back row are Danny Dean, Troy Serigne, Leslie Fountain, Chief Deputy Richard Baumy, Alton Tinney, III, Chamber officers Fred Sigur and Jerry Calcagno and Chamber Director Stephen Reuther. Photo by Lenor Duplessis.

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Violet man found murdered in the remains of his burning Ford Mustang on side of Louisiana 46 Ext. in eastern St. Bernard; Anyone with information should call 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111

Christopher Campbell’s passion for cars, including racing them with others, may have cost him his life.

The 28-year-old, who lived in Violet, was found dead late Tuesday night, Oct. 30, in the drivers’ seat of his special edition 2004 Ford Mustang that had been burned-out on the shoulder of Louisiana 46 Ext. in eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“We’re absolutely investigating this as a homicide,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, but a cause of death hasn’t been disclosed.

“This homicide is odd, very odd,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Campbell worked at several car body shops as a body and fender specialist and spent much of his off time working on cars and racing them, often with groups of fellow car enthusiasts, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

He said Campbell had no criminal record and didn’t seem to run with a bad group.

But the area in eastern St. Bernard where Campbell’s 2004 special edition Ford Mustang was found on fire about 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Oct. 30, with him dead in the driver’s seat, “is known for street racing’’ by groups, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“We are wondering if (car racing) had anything to do with this homicide,’’ the sheriff said.

There are no known motives at this time, he said.

Anyone with information about what may have happened or knows if anyone else was involved should call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 and they may be eligible for a reward up to $2,500 if an arrest is made.

Special fliers from Crimestoppers with Campbell’s photo, the facts of the case and offering of a $2,500 reward for a tip leading to an arrest, will be put out throughout eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

A passer-by called authorities to report a vehicle on fire on the shoulder of Louisiana 46 Extension, nearly at the junction of the Florissant/Delacroix highways in easternmost St. Bernard.

A sheriff’s deputy in the area went to the site immediately and the parish Fire Department arrived and extinguished the blaze, which heavily burned the car from the rear forward, officials said.

Campbell’s body was found after the fire was put out and he was identified the next day, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

An autopsy was performed by the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office, which St. Bernard Parish contracts with.

It was the second homicide of the year in St. Bernard Parish.

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