Sheriff Prator Closes Public Boat Launches On Red River
 

Citing safety, Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator on Monday closed public boat launches on both sides of the river after consulting with the Shreveport Police Department and Red River Waterway Commission officials.

I fish that river every weekend and you could not launch anyway the ramps are silted in so bad you would just axle down. It is not safe out there and the water level down at Clarke's is much safer. Prator did nothing but tell us something we could see anyway.

At least 90% of the general population (especially around here) is too stupid to be trusted with their own safety.

I agree with that post. I see them on the river all the time. The boat ramp is where most of them seem to make bad decisions.

I saw a rather large tree floating down the river yesterday. It was water logged and riding low in the water. Not something I would want to hit in a Ranger doing 60, thats for sure...

There is more than one kind of log floating down that river. I bet they are pumping the tanks clean at Lucas and Bossier too :eek: Best to stay off the mighty Red at this time. I will be going to a area lake tomorrow instead of the river.

Updated News Story
 

A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

Shreveport Times -- Jul 5 2007 10:57 AM
Rising waters keep boaters off Red River

As a precaution, Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator on Monday ordered the closure of public boat launches on both sides of the river after consulting with the Shreveport Police Department and the Red River Waterway Commission.

I sure did not know that Steve Prator had jurisdiction on Bossier Parish ? He can close his public ramp in Shreveport but he can not close down the river. I called the new marina yesterday and they said no problems launching there but maybe King Prator has not heard of this yet. I have always hear that the sheriff is the most powerful man in each parish I guess Huey P. Prator is flexing his muscle. I will be on the river this weekend and what they fail to tell you is the water does not rise near as much as you go south on the river as it does in down town Shreveport oh and Bossier ;) which is just a suburb of Shreveport :rolleyes:

Doesn't the RRWC run those (public) launches? If they gave the go-ahead then I guess it doesn't matter who actually puts up the barricades.

>I called the new marina yesterday and they said no problems launching there but maybe King Prator has not heard of this yet.

The Sheriff can't shut down a private launch.

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A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

KTBS -- Jul 9 2007 2:52 PM
Cross Lake re-opens to boat traffic

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A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

KTBS -- Sep 15 2007 9:39 AM
Red River boat launches to reopen

This is great news!!!! Mr. Pokie NEEDS his weekly fishing fix!! Things are alot happier around this household when he's getting a good dose of the outdoors!:rolleyes: