Crimestoppers is offering $15,000 for information related to the fatal shooting of a Metairie man in Harvey last week.

Harry Smith, 36, was found shot to death in his vehicle at a fast food restaurant in the 3600 block of Lapalco Boulevard on Dec. 19. Authorities have said they believe the motive was robbery.

The increased reward comes as a result of donations from several Jefferson Parish residents, organized by John Georges, owner of Lucky Coin machines, which employed Smith.

Georges said he hopes the increased reward will spur someone to come forward with information so that Smith’s family can receive some closure during the holiday season.

Typically, the Crimestoppers reward is $2,500.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 822.1111, or JPSO Detective Gary Barteet at 504.364.5300.

NOLA.com

A homemade sign in the neutral ground on Orleans Avenue near N. Hennessey shows support for keeping the annual New Years Eve tradition of a Christmas tree bonfire at the location. The City of New Orleans is trying to prevent the event.

Tempers flared and sparks flew Monday as Mid-City residents tried to preserve a decades-old New Year’s eve tradition at an informational meeting hosted by the New Orleans Fire Department to address illegal bonfires.

A homemade sign is held by Emily Claassen as she listens to New Orleans City Councilwoman Shelley Midura tell residents why they won’t be able to have their traditional New Year Eve bonfire on Orleans Avenue near North Hennessey. Claassen lives on Orleans near the site.

Residents from Mid-City and beyond were outraged last week, when the fire department circulated a flier warning against “illegal and dangerous” bonfires, announcing that it would hold a meeting to discuss “how you can keep your community safe.”

TIMES PIC

View Current Signatures –   Sign the Petition

ATTENTION: Please put your address in the comment section if you live in Mid City.

To:  New Orleans City Council, NOFD, NOPD

The people of New Orleans and of Mid City have spoken and we are overwhelmingly in favor of protecting one of this city’s greatest traditions, The Orleans Ave Bonfire. We are against the selective enforcement of the fire code without being informed of this plan within a reasonable time frame so that the citizens can work with the NOFD, NOPD, the City Council, and the Mayor in order to obtain any necessary permit.

Furthermore, we express our resolve to see that our cherished event, that means so much to so many, is allowed to take place this New Years Eve, December 31st 2008, as it has every New Years Eve for decades without any major incident having ever occurred.

Let us Celebrate The Bonfire on Orleans Ave, our friends, our family, our good health, our cheer and our life in New Orleans lest we have none that remains other than the negative, sterile, boring existence that you wish to impose.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

View Current Signatures

http://www.petitiononline.com/bonfire/petition.html

http://www.busting-loose.net/santacrawl/

December 13, 2008

You’d better not pout, you’d better not shout, but you might want to run and hide. You certainly want to lock up your daughters and hope your wives aren’t with us, because the very bad Santas are coming all over town. (Well, at least all over the Quarter.)

Some of you were with us last year or the year before for our Very Bad Santa Bar Crawl and you know what a blast it was. Some of you were there but don’t remember a damned thing, or at least that’s your story. You don’t want to miss the fun this year because we are back and we’re planning to paint the French Quarter red! What better way to kick start the holiday season.

You can come in a Santa suit. You can come as an elf. You can come as a Ho Ho Ho. You can come in your red lingerie. But you do need to come!

Want to know where we are going? We’re not going to tell you…YET. All we can tell you this early is that we will gather for some reindeer games and start from the same place we always have, and that is:

5:00 Washington Square – corner of Royal and Frenchmen (Bar crawl schedule will be posted when we have it figured out. We suggest that you check it again closer to December.)

A note from Santa to the “ladies”: Santa doesn’t think that Naughty and Nice have to be alternatives. Santa thinks naughty women are delightful, so don’t hold back for Santa’s sake. Santa wants to see wild women in the Quarter this

year. You don’t have to get a drink at each stop. We encourage you to pace yourself and have a good time. We also encourage you to bring X rated gifts, to only wear underwear if it’s red, and to practice your Naughty Carols. Bystanders are not innocent, no matter what they try to get you to believe.

Ho! Ho? Who you callin’ a Ho?

Santas saving New Orleans, one drink at a time! Please remember: Don’t screw with the cops. Don’t screw with the kids. And if asked who is in charge, tell ‘em Santa is.