Home Care In Heflin, LA

You can’t blame the former commander of Fort Bliss’ combat sustainment support battalion if he feels as though he has been sprinting for the past two years.

Lt. Col. Raphael S. Heflin relinquished command of the 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion with the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade on Tuesday. He had led the 1,000-soldier Atlas Battalion for the past 23 months.

“Busy might even be an understatement,” said Heflin, a 40-year-old from Atlanta. “There was no lack of things to do around here. The credit goes to the soldiers in the battalion, to deal with the level of op tempo, the number of missions we had.”

Heflin will go to the Pentagon, where he will serve on the Army staff.

He was succeeded by Lt. Col. Asuero “J.” Mayo Jr., who most recently worked at the Department of Defense Coordinating Element, Region 9 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in California. Mayo is from Guam.

The battalion provides a wide range of support for the 1st Armored Division and the rest of Fort Bliss. These soldiers provide supplies and maintain and transport equipment and vehicles.

During Heflin's command tenure, the Atlas Battalion participated in and supported three Iron Focus exercises, two Network Integration Evaluations and one Army Warfighting Assessment at Fort Bliss.

The unit also sent soldiers to support five rotations at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. Most recently, the battalion sent 190 soldiers to NTC in October and into November along with Fort Bliss’ 1st Brigade.

During the latest trip to NTC, the battalion oversaw a sustainment task force that included another 300 soldiers from all over the Army.

The battalion also sent soldiers to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., in January of this year, also to support 1st Brigade.

In addition to these training exercises, the battalion was busy overseas.

The Atlas Battalion sent about 90 soldiers to Afghanistan last year as part of a logistical team that also included the Sustainment Brigade headquarters and sister battalion, the Special Troops Battalion.

Twenty soldiers from the battalion's 606th Movement Control Team deployed to Kuwait and recently returned home. Two soldiers deployed to and have returned from Jordan during Heflin’s command, and a series of small teams went to Africa to train partner nations, like Djibouti and Kenya, in support operations.

The battalion also ran the 21-day controlled monitoring area for troops returning from Liberia after they had participated in efforts to stop the deadly Ebola virus. Atlas soldiers ran the monitoring area at Fort Bliss from February to May 2015.

Heflin said his soldiers “made money for the Army every day,” meaning they went above and beyond expectations to accomplish their missions.

He will miss the pace of the battalion and “serving with soldiers in the trenches,” but looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead, Heflin said.

“But it will be a great opportunity to dial back and spend more time with my family,” he said. “At the end of the day, that is where I sacrificed the most.”

David Burge may be reached at 546-6126; [email protected]; @dburge1962 on Twitter.

Lt. Col. Raphael S. Heflin

Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mercer University; master’s in public policy management from Georgetown University

Awards: Bronze Star (one oak leaf cluster); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster); Joint Service Achievement Medal; and Army Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster)

Family: Married to LaShawna, originally from Atlanta. Son: Jayden, 7.

Kansas BASS Nation President Richard Heflin made a lifelong dream come true last weekend at the 2021 TNT Fireworks BASS Nation Central Regional on Milford Reservoir.

Heflin finished tied for eighth overall amongst nonboaters during the event April 21-23 in Junction City and was the top co-angler on the Kansas team, joining top boater Nick Luna, of Grain Valley, Mo., (14 pounds, 9 ounces) as the state’s representatives for the 2021 BASS Nation Championship. That event is slated for Nov. 3-5 on Ouachita River in Monroe, La.

The Topeka angler had the third-largest bass among nonboaters at 2 pounds, 10 ounces, and posted a three-day total of 6 pounds, 1 ounce, to qualify for nationals, edging out Buhler High School senior angler Nathan Fideldy, of Hutchinson (21st overall, 3-4).

Ray Cates, of Overland Park, also qualified while fishing for the Missouri team as a nonboater. He posted a three-day total of 9 pounds, 8 ounces, to finish first among the Missouri team’s co-anglers and second overall among all co-anglers.

Jesse Jordan, of Stilwell, finished 24th overall amongst boaters, posting 6 pounds, 14 ounces, with Leavenworth’s Larry Stoafer right behind him in 25th (6-9).

Other notable Kansas boaters include Alan Daniels, of Kansas City, Kan. (43rd, 3-0); Hays’ Klint VonFeldt (44th, 2-14); Whitewater’s Rick Wheeler (46th, 2-8) and El Dorado’s Kenny Turpin (49th, 2-5). Notable Kansas co-anglers included Yates Center’s Joel Porter (t-24th, 2-8); McPherson’s Justin Harris (31st, 1-15) and Berryton’s Mike Turner (t-35th, 1-12).

HAYS BASS ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

A total of 46 teams competed during the first Hays Bass Anglers Association Open tournament of the season April 24 on Wilson Reservoir, with Team Brown coming away with the top prize after posting a 21.45-pound bag.

Just behind them were the team of Unruh and Hopkins with 20.21 pounds for second, with Keeley and Leiker rounding out the top three with 19.47 pounds.

The big bass pot was shockingly split by a pair of monster fish, as the Browns tied with Killion and Colpetzer, each with a 7.69-pound lunker.

The next HBAA Open is scheduled for May 15, also at Wilson.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS KANSAS

Brandon Manis and Marc Shepard teamed up to pull out the win April 24 at the Special Olympics Kansas benefit crappie tournament at Clinton Reservoir.

“Always a fun time and for a great cause,” Manis said of the event.

The pair were using Top Secret Jigs ToadTamers in black and chartreuse and a custom color, Cajun Craw.

Topekan Dustin Hobbs took second place, while Jeremy Conway, of Lawrence, took third in the 29-boat field.

Mike and Eric Schrock, also of Lawrence, finished fourth and posted the big fish at 1.96 pounds, just barely topping Manis’ 1.95-pounder.

BASS NATION CENTRAL REGIONAL

Leaders April 21-23 on Milford Reservoir

BOATERS

Angler ... State team ... 3-day total

Kris Bosley ... NM* ... 23-5

Christian Gladfelter ... NM ... 22-12

Chris Johnson ... ARK ... 19-8

Brandon Moss ... OK ... 18-2

Chad Petrie ... TX ... 17-2

Jared Miller ... CO* ... 15-10

Nick Luna ... KS* ... 14-9

Mike Wheaton ... MO* ... 14-5

Travis Sneith ... CO ... 13-9

Shane Morgan ... CO ... 12-8

Other Kansas team results — 24. Jesse Jordan 6-14, 25. Larry Stoafer 6-9, 32. Branden Garrison 4-10*, 44. Klint VonFeldt 2-14, 46. Rick Wheeler 2-8, 49. Kenny Turpin 2-5, t-54. Jason Baird 0-0, t-54. Matthew Mesplay 0-0, t-54. Josh Pladies 0-0*.

Other Kansans — 43. Alan Daniels 3-0^.

*Resident of different state

^Fishing for Missouri team

NONBOATERS

Leaders April 21-23 at Milford Reservoir

Angler ... State team ... 3-day total

Hunter Neuville ... LA ... 9-10

Ray Cates ... MO* ... 9-8

Russell Vines ... ARK ... 7-6

Brad Hauf ... NM ... 7-5

Glenn Hahn ... TX ... 6-12

Morgan Fitzgerald ... CO ... 6-6

Bobby Maynard Jr. ... TX ... 6-6

Scooter Wright ... OK ... 6-1

Richard Heflin ... KS ... 6-1

Ryan Fontenot ... LA ... 5-14

Other Kansas team results — 21. Nathan Fideldy 3-4, t-24. Joel Porter 2-8, 27. Kyle Torkelson 2-3*, t-31. Justin Harris 1-15, t-35. Mike Turner 1-12, t-39. Jeremy Jackson 0-0, t-39. Clayton Rudman 0-0, t-39. Reggie Smithson 0-0, Cody Paxton 0-0*.

Other Kansans — t-39. Brent Goss 0-0^.

*Resident of different state

^Fishing for Missouri team

HAYS BASS ANGLERS ASSOCIATION

Open No. 1 leaders April 24 on Wilson Reservoir

Team ... Pounds of fish

Brown/Brown ... 21.45

Unruh/Hopkins ... 20.21

Keeley/Leiker ... 19.47

Hamel/Peterson ... 18.33

Cocker/Wright ... 18.25

Devine/Devine ... 17.61

Rudman/Harmoney ... 16.51

Calvin/Cornell ... 15.58

Page/Kirkley ... 15.40

1st High Stakes — Brown/Brown

2nd High Stakes — Unruh/Hopkins

*Big Bass — Tie between Brown/Brown and Killion/Colpetzer, 7.69

Here are the current leaders after four performances of the Reno Rodeo.

Bareback Riding: First Round: 1, Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 80 points on Western Rodeo's Another Gray. 2, (tie) Brian Bain, Powell Butte, Ore.; Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas; and Casey Breuer, Mandan, N.D., 78 each. Second Round: 1, (tie) Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., on Rosser Rodeo's Willhock and Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., on Big Bend Rodeo's Faded Winds, 83 points each. 3, Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 82. 4, Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 81. Total on two: 1, Bobby Mote, Stephenville, Texas, 159. 2, (tie) Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., and Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 157. 4, Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 156.

Steer Wrestling: First Round: 1, Joshua Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 4.2 seconds. 2, Olin HAnnum, Malad, Idaho, 4.5. 3, (tie) Ryan Bothum, Caddo, Okla., and Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 4.7 each. Second Round: 1, Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alberta and Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 4.0. 3, John Herl, Goodland, Kan., 4.4. 4, Gary Gilbert, New Underwood, S.D., 4.5. Total on two: 1, Jule Hazen, Ashland, Kan., 8.9. 2, Josh Clark, Texarkana, Texas, 9.2. 3, Jon Herl, Goodland, Kan., 9.3. 4, Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., 9.5.

Team Roping: First Round: 1, Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz., and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 4.8 seconds. 2, Nick Sartain, Dover, Okla., and Rich Skelton, Llano, Texas, 5.1. 3, Jake Barnes and Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.2. 4, (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz.; and Joel Bach, Mount Vernon, Texas, and Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M, 5,4. Second Round: 1, Bubba Buckaloo, Caddo, Okla., and Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 4.9. 2, Cale Markham, Vinita, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins, III, Columbus, Kan., 5,1. 3, (tie) Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas, and Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, Okla.; and Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz., and Clay O'Brien Cooper, Gardnerville, Nev.; 5.3. Total on two: 1, Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz., and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas, 10.3. 2, Jake Barnes and Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Ariz., 11.3. 3, Joel Bach, Mount Vernon, Texas, and Jim Ross Cooper, Monument, N.M., 11.4. 4, Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jett Hillman, Purcell, Okla., 11.5.

Saddle Bronc Riding: First Round: 1, Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 84 points on Diamond G Rodeo's 18 Karat Kowboy. 2, Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 82. 3, Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 77. 4, (tie) Tyrel Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba and Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 76 each. Second Round: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 82 points on Rosser Rodeo's Hat Stomper. 2, Dean Wadsworth, Ozona, Texas, 77. 3, (tie) Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La.; Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; and Sam Spreadbrough, Snyder, Texas; 75. Total on two: 1, Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La., 157. 2, (tie) Bradley Harter, Loranger, La., and Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 150. 4, Jacobs Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 149.

Tie-Down Roping: First Round: 1, Ryan Watkins, Dublin, Texas, 8.7 seconds. 2, J.C. Malone, Hooper, Utah, 8.9.. 3, (tie) Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., and Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 9.3 each. Second Round: 1, Timber Moore, Argyle, Texas, 7.9. 2, Clay Long, San Angelo, Texas, 8.7. 3, Cody Quaney, Cheney, Kan., 9.0. 4, Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 9.1. Total on two: 1, Michael Otero, Lowndesboro, Ala., 18.3. 2, Trent Creager, Stillwater, Okla., 18.4. 3, Cade Swor, Winnie, Texas, 18.8. 4, Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 18.9.

Barrel Racing: First Round: 1, Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 17.31 seconds. 2, Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 17.33. 3, Callie DuPerier, Bandera, Texas, 17.36. 4, Ruth Haislip, Acampo, Calif., 17.39. Second Round: 1, Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 16.94. 2, Katelyn McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 17.16. 2, Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 17.19. 3, Kassidy Dennison, Tohatche, N.M., 17.23. 4, Michele Mcleod, Whitesboro, Texas, 17.39. Total on two: 1, Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 34.27. 2, Kassidy, Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 34.54. 3, Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 34.61. 4, Callie DuPerier, Bandera, Texas, 34.67.

Bull Riding: First Round: 1, Caleb Sanderson, Hallettsville, Texas, 82 points on Diamond G Rodeo's Warbird. 2, Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas, 81. 3, Reid Baker, Comfort, Texas, 79. 4, (tie) Cody Teel, Kountze, Texas; Tyler Smith, Fruita, Colo.; and Derek Kolbaba, Walla Walla, Wash.; 77 each.

SANTA ANA – A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was charged with torture and other felonies today for allegedly sexually assaulting his wife and brutally beating the 23-year-old Irvine man she was having an affair with, then ordering his spouse to castrate her lover — which she pretended to do.

Robert Avery McClain, 34, a soon-to-be-fired probationary deputy at the Twin Towers jail in downtown Los Angeles, had been scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon, but he was taken to a hospital on Tuesday, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

McClain was transferred “on the advice of medical personnel,” but Amormino did not know the reason. He said McClain had been under 24-hour monitoring. Amormino described the hospitalization as a non-life-threatening situation.

McClain was charged with one felony count each of aggravated mayhem, torture, sodomy by force with great bodily injury, along with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon, great bodily injury to a sexual assault victim and the use of a deadly weapon during a sexual offense, said Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

McClain, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Emami said prosecutors will ask that he be held without bail when McClain eventually appears in court.

McClain’s wife, whose name has been withheld, told her husband Sunday that she was going to leave him for a 23-year-old man who lives in an Irvine apartment complex, where she works in the leasing office.

McClain, who has four children with his wife, asked the woman to take him to meet the young man, who was identified in media reports as Michael Heflin, Emami said.

The two of them went to the young man’s apartment about 10 p.m., but McClain then led the pair to the leasing office, which has a kitchenette area, Emami said.

McClain began arguing with them, then repeatedly punched and kicked both victims before taking out a knife and forcing both to undress at knifepoint, while he also undressed, Emami said.

Prosecutors claim McClain unsuccessfully ordered his wife to orally copulate both him and Heflin, then gave the woman the knife and instructed her to castrate Heflin.

She fearfully pretended to follow his instructions, Emami said. Heflin suffered several wounds to the groin area, police said.

McClain then used the knife to repeatedly slice Heflin’s face, Emami said.

The former deputy left Heflin at the scene and took his wife with him against her will, she said. Once they left the leasing office, he allegedly forcibly sodomized the woman, chopped off her hair with the knife and ultimately drove her back to their Irvine home, Emami said.

Around 5 a.m. Monday, she was able to leave the house with her four children and drove to a nearby hospital. A cleaning crew found Heflin in the leasing office and called 911. Both victims are expected to survive, Emami said.

The young man’s father, Chris Heflin, told the Los Angeles Times that his son’s face was so badly disfigured that he was hardly recognizable and would require reconstructive surgery.

Chris Heflin said his son had told him earlier that he had fallen for a married woman.

“He said she was beautiful. I couldn’t talk him out of it, and I tried three or four times,” the father said.

According to jail records, McClain is 6-foot-1 and weighs 216 pounds. Michael Heflin is 5-foot-11 and weighs 140 pounds, his father said.

Heflin - Richard Vander Noles passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 29, 2021. He was born in Ringgold, Louisiana on April 19, 1942 to Vander Pearce Noles and Avis White Noles. He adored his wife of 43 years, Judy Harper Noles. His daughters Karyn Noles Kearney (Bill), Barbara Noles Tims (Heath), Courtney Noles Cassias (Ian), and Melody Noles Hawkins (James) idolized their father and hero. He was predeceased in death by wife Anita McAbee Noles and daughter Bethany Laura Noles. He radiated joy when surrounded by his grandchildren Jackson Luis Bewley, Pierce Eduardo Bewley, Carter Richard Tims, Graham David Tims, and Adelaide Laura Cassias. He loved his nieces and nephews like his own children.

No man ever loved more or was more loved. Richard was a wise, Southern gentleman who cherished his family and the Lord with his whole heart. He reared his family on his beloved family farm in Heflin. The deed to the property purchased by his great, great grandparents in 1878 hangs in his home. His happiest days were spent on the farm, surrounded by his herd of red angus cattle, working until sunset. Over the years his children, grandchildren, and nephews worked beside him on the farm and will carry on the time-honored work ethic instilled in them by their Papa.

During his lifetime Richard suffered much loss, but he never waivered in his faith. Many times he shared his testimony with others when they experienced tragedy. His faith was emboldened by Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." He was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Heflin Baptist Church for decades.

As a teacher, Richard fueled a love of history and country within the hearts and minds of his students. As a principal he instilled hard work and self-discipline in students and was inspired by their curiosity and resilience. Richard served as Webster Parish Superintendent of Schools, a Board Member and Treasurer of Claiborne Electric Co-Op, President of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, and President of the Bistineau Cemetery Association.

Services for Richard will be held at First Baptist Church of Minden at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 2nd. Pall bearers will be Elijah Butler, Jeff Harper, John David Noles, Johnny Rowland, Jason Rowland, Cory Russell, Cade Woodard, Cody Woodard, and Jody Woodard. Honorary pall bearers will be the deacons of Heflin Baptist Church, Fred Evans, Jon Guice and Jerry Lott.

Guests at the service are respectfully requested to wear masks. For those that are unable to attend the service, it will be streamed by First Baptist Church of Minden.

The family suggests St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or the Heflin Baptist Church Building Fund for those who wish to make a gift in Richard's memory.