Baton Rouge Today

 Join BREC for a kayak fishing clinic and a viewing of Rapid Media’s Reel Paddling Film Festival Feb. 25 at BREC’s Greenwood Community Park, 13350 Hwy. 19. 
The Backpacker, our partner, will host a kayak-fishing clinic on the park’s 18-acre lake from 9-10:30 a.m. Hobie Fishing team members will lead a class explaining everything anglers need to know about kayak fishing. Participants will learn what to look for when selecting a kayak, what gear to bring on trips and other valuable tips. After the clinic, you will also have a chance to demo some of the newest fishing kayaks from the Backpacker. 

After the clinic, take a break to check out BREC’s newest community park. Grab a bite to eat at Greenwood’s Waterfront Café, play a round of golf at the Dumas Golf Course or enjoy a quick tennis match.

After enjoying the park’s amenities, stay around for a viewing of the Reel Paddling Film Festival, an international film tour presenting the world’s best whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing and kayak fishing action and lifestyle films of the year at Greenwood’s Waterfront Theatre. Films will start at noon. 

Both the kayak-fishing clinic and the film festival are free and open to all ages, and registration is not required.

Participants should dress casual and bring a change of clothes. 

If you are an adventure enthusiast and appreciate the heritage of wild places, do not miss this event. To learn more about this great day in the park, contact Jeff at jbeck@brec.org or call 225-620-0500.

The Friends of Magnolia Mound Plantation in association with BREC will present their seventh annual black history month event on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. on the grounds of Magnolia Mound Plantation, 2161 Nicholson Dr. The production is free and open to the public.

This year, Magnolia Mound Plantation will present a dramatic a one-man show about the first African-American chief butler at the White House. The program, entitled “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder”, is based on the book “My 21 Years in the White House”.  This is the story of Alonzo Fields’ life; not only about breaking racial barriers but also about the compromises an artist must make in order to earn a living. The story provides amusing and poignant insights, based on keen observations during his time with Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower.

Oneal Isaac will portray Fields. Isaac is an award-winning actor, storyteller and playwright. He received an Artist Fellowship in Theatre from the Louisiana Division of the Arts. He served as the Arts Ambassador for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. The Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities endowed him with a Special Humanities Award. He worked in motion pictures, professional and community theater, improvisational comedy and public radio. He worked extensively as the Assistant Director with PRIME TIME Reading Time, the LEH Family Literacy Program, now used throughout the United States. Isaac was involved in each of the six previous black history month productions at Magnolia Mound Plantation.

For more information, call 225-343-4955, visit brec.org/magnoliamound or visit friendsofmagnoliamound.org
It is the BREC mission to provide parks and recreational opportunities for all the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Louisiana State Troopers assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division in Baton Rouge arrested three Chicago residents on charges of identity theft and access device fraud.  The investigation began after a Trooper on patrol stopped the vehicle the three were traveling in for a traffic violation on Interstate 10 westbound near LA 415 in West Baton Rouge Parish.

During the traffic stop on January 16, Troopers became suspicious after speaking with the driver of the vehicle, Julius H. Moore (B/M, age 22) of Chicago, IL.  Troopers obtained consent to search the vehicle and discovered numerous bags of merchandise valued at several thousand dollars that was purchased in the Baton Rouge area.  Further investigation revealed that the merchandise was purchased using other individuals’ identification and personal information.  Moore and his two passengers, Monique Bowens (B/F, age 21) and Keith Bond (B/M, age 45), both also residents of Chicago, IL, were placed under arrest and transported to the Louisiana State Police Headquarters.  Detectives assigned to the Baton Rouge Field Office of the Criminal Investigations Division began a full investigation into the case.

Following a thorough investigation, Detectives were able to identify one of the victims of the identity theft in Sugar Grove, IL.  In cooperation with the Kane County Sheriff’s Department in Illinois, State Police Detectives brought the case to closure and arrested the three individuals.  They were booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Prison for illegal possession of stolen things.  The merchandise was returned to several stores throughout the Baton Rouge area.  Upon being released from the West Baton Rouge Parish Prison, the three suspects will be booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of identity theft and access device fraud.