By VICKIE JAMBON

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – A panel of local government officials and business leaders will meet in the gymnasium of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Reserve on Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., to speak with residents about potential solutions to increasing crime and violence in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Meeting organizer Edward Morris said public officials and members from the business community will be on hand to answer questions from the public.

According to Morris, Sheriff Wayne L. Jones, District Attorney John Crum and Judge Thomas F. Daley plan to attend the Thursday night meeting.

Daley will moderate the open discussion on parish violence between officials and parish citizenry.

Sponsoring the event are: Neal J. Bernard, pastor of New Wine Christian Fellowship in LaPlace, Felton Collins, a retired educator, Parish Accessor Whitney Joseph and Forrell Bering, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Reserve.

The meeting is the second of its kind called to address parish crime.

The first meeting was held on Jan. 27 at the New Wine Christian Fellowship on Airline Highway.

Only a small crowd attended the first meeting due to little advance notice.

Public officials are hoping a greater number of individuals will turnout for the upcoming meeting.

All parish residents are invited to attend.

Sheriff Jones is making public appeals to social organizations, clergy, parish government officials and residents to help him eliminate crime.