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APPROXIMATELY 150 VOLUNTEERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY CONVERGED ON LAFAYETTE TO HELP REBUILD HOMES THAT WERE FLOODED IN AUGUST, AND TO HELP THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ACADIANA ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY. THE VOLUNTEERS COME FROM A NONPROFIT HOUSING ORGANIZATION, REBUILDING TOGETHER, AS WELL AS U-S AMERICORPS AND LOUISIANA AMERICORPS. THE VOLUNTEERS WILL REMAIN THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TO FINISH RENOVATING HOMES AND BUILDING WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY RAMPS IN THE DERBY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD. LT. GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER, WHO VISITED THE HOMEOWNERS AND VOLUNTEERS, SAYS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS LIFTING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY UP.
CALCASIEU PARISH RESIDENTS WHO NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY ELECTRICITY AND GAS UTILITY BILLS CAN APPLY FOR HELP TODAY. THE LOW INCOM HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS TAKING APPLICATIONS UNTIL SEVEN TONIGHT. MORE THAN 78-HUNDRED RESIDENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PARISHWIDE IN 2015 AND 2016. INTERESTED RESIDENTS MUST SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM’S CALL CENTER AT 721-40-33.
A CHILD WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A FLOAT IN THE ABBEVILLE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE. ABBEVILLE POLICE SAY THE CHILD ENTERED THE ROADWAY TO PICK UP CANDY OR AN ITEM THROWN FROM A FLOAT. THE AGE AND NAME OF THE CHILD HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. AFTER THE CHILD WAS HIT, THE PARADE WAS STOPPED AND DETOURED.
HOME SALES DROPPED ACROSS ACADIANA LAST YEAR BY ALMOST TWO PERCENT, ACCORDING TO THE REALTOR ASSOCIATION OF ACADIANA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE’S ANNUAL REPORT. THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS THE TOTAL DOLLAR VOLUME ON HOME SALES WAS DOWN MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT, WHILE NEW HOME SALES IN LAFAYETTE PARISH FELL 17 PERCENT BELOW THE 2015 FIGURE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TOTAL DOLLAR VOLUME OF COMPLETED SALES IN LAFAYETTE PARISH WERE THE THIRD HIGHEST EVER AND OUTLYING PARISHES SHOWED INCREASES. STEPHEN HUNDLEY OF KELLER WILLIAMS TOLD THE DAILY ADVERTISER 2016 WAS A REALLY GOOD YEAR WITH THE HOUSING MARKET PERFORMING BETTER THAN EXPECTED.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR ORAL ARGUMENTS NEXT MONDAY IN THE CASE OF WOODROW KAREY JUNIOR, THE MAN CHARGED IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF PASTOR RONALD HARRIS OF THE TABERNACLE OF PRAISE CHURCH IN LAKE CHARLES. KAREY WAS INITIALLY INDICTED ON ONE COUNT OF MANSLAUGHTER BY A GRAND JURY IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, BUT PROSECUTORS TOOK THE CASE BACK TO THE GRAND JURY IN JUNE OF 2014 AND GOT A SECOND DEGREE MURDER INDICTMENT. JUDGE CLAYTON DAVIS TOSSED THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER INDICTMENT, SAYING BOTH PARTIES AGREED TO LIVE WITH THE RESULTS OF THE INITIAL GRAND JURY, BUT THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS OVERTURNED HIS DECISION. KAREY IS ACCUSED OF WALKING INTO THE CHURCH DURING A REVIVAL SERVICE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 AND SHOOTING PASTOR HARRIS, AND THEN CLAIMING TO POLICE THAT HARRIS HAD RAPED HIS WIFE.
RESIDENTS IN THE TOWN OF ARNAUDVILLE ARE UNDER A WATER BOIL ADVISORY. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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FORMER IBERIA PARISH PRESIDENT EARL ROMO ROMERO HAS SUED THE IBERIA PARISH GOVERNMENT FOR BACK PAY. IN HIS LAWSUIT, ROMERO CLAIMS THE PARISH COUNCIL NEVER ADJUSTED HIS SALARY ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE PARISH CHARTER AND HE’S OWED ALMOST 104 THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE ALSO WANTS THEM TO PAY MORE THAN 45 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN LEGAL FEES AND FOR THE MONEY HE SPENT FOR A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION TO PROVE HIS MENTAL CAPACITY TO STAY IN OFFICE. THE LAWSUIT CONTENDS THAT THE 16TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CANNOT REPRESENT THE PARISH GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY ADVISED THE COUNCIL IN THE DISPUTE OVER ROMERO’S MENTAL CAPACITY.
THE OPELOUSAS CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE UP THE BUDGET FOR THE 2016-17 FISCAL YEAR AT TONIGHT’S MEETING. THEY’VE BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A BUDGET FOR FOUR MONTHS NOW, AND LAST WEEK, THE COUNCIL VOTED DOWN A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. KATC TV IS REPORTING THAT THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE A BUDGET TONIGHT. AMONG THE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET THAT ARE EXPECTED TO BE DISCUSSED ARE 400 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CUTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
