11-20-14
FORMER LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FILED A COURT PETITION APPEALING HIS RECENT TERMINATION. JULIE DARCY HAS MORE.
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THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL DOES NOT YET KNOW THE CAUSE OF A HOUSE FIRE IN SULPHUR THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF AN ELDERLY, BED-RIDDEN MAN. 81-YEAR-OLD SHELTON VINCENT WAS KILLED IN THE HOUSE FIRE AT 118 JIM PICKENS ROAD TUESDAY NIGHT. HOUSTON RIVER FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF DEAN LAPPE SAYS THE HOUSE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN THEY ARRIVED, AND IT TOOK 45 MINUTES TO PUT IT OUT, THOUGH THEY WERE STILL DEALING WITH HOT SPOTS THREE HOURS LATER. HE SAYS THAT, BASED ON THE CONDITIONS, THE FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.
THE ST. MARY PARISH SUPERINTENDENT SAYS A PRAYER AT A VETERAN’S DAY ASSEMBLY AT MORGAN CITY HIGH SCHOOL VIOLATED THE DISTRICT’S POLICY. DONALD AGUILLARD SOUGHT THE OPINION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION THREATENING A LAWSUIT. THE DISTRICT’S POLICY DOES ALLOW VOLUNTARY STUDENT-LED PRAYER, BUT AGUILLARD SAYS THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT THE VETERAN’S DAY ASSEMBLY. AGUILLARD SAYS IN AN EMAIL THAT THE DISTRICT WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO PRESERVE COMPLIANCE TO THE LAW AND ENSURE THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED.
A new study of the bear subspecies that inspired teddy bears finds that Louisiana black bears are unlikely to disappear in the next century, as long as conditions remain stable. The head of Louisiana’s large predator program, Maria Davidson, says that could lead to the bears’ removal from the list of threatened animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering doing that. If it does, Louisiana could set a hunting season, as it did with alligators.
BY A VOTE OF 6-TO-2, THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTED SCHOOL STAFF TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET THEY ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER. SUPERINTENDENT PAT COOPER, WHO WAS RECENTLY FIRED, HAD REFUSED TO IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET BECAUSE, HE SAID, THEY DID NOT FOLLOW STATE LAW IN ADOPTING THE BUDGET AND OVER CONCERNS IT WOULD HARM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE ADOPTED BUDGET INCLUDED STAFFING CUTS, BUT THE BOARD AGREED TO DEFER THE CUTS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST. BOARD PRESIDENT HUNTER BEASLEY SAYS HE WILL LOOK FOR FUNDING SOURCES THAT WOULD PREVENT ANY EMPLOYEES FROM LOSING THEIR JOBS MID-YEAR.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A MOTORCYCLE LAST NIGHT. IT HAPPENED AT AROUND SEVEN P-M ON HIGHWAY 14 NEAR I-210. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE’S NO WORD YET ON THE EXTENT OF THE INJURIES OR THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
ABBEVILLE POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO MEN WHO THEY BELIEVE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A STRING OF BUSINESS AND RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES. 39-YEAR-OLD SHANE TURNER AND 18-YEAR-OLD KEITH MENARD WERE BOOKED INTO THE VERMILLION PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON A CHARGE OF BURGLARY AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY. IN EACH BURGLARY, THE PERPETRATORS USED THE SAME METHOD OF ENTRY, AND DISCONNECTED ANY SECURITY CAMERAS ON THE PREMISES. A PARTIAL IMAGE FROM A SECURITY CAMERA OF ONE OF THE SUSPECTS HELPED INVESTIGATORS TO ARREST HIM AND DETERMINE HIS ACCOMPLICE.
A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED 14 PEOPLE WHO ALLEGEDLY TOOK PART IN A CRYSTAL METH DRUG OPERATION IN ACADIANA. THE 14 ALLEGEDLY WERE INVOLVED IN POSSESSING AND DISTRIBUTING THE CRYSTAL METH IN LAFAYETTE, IBERIA, AND VERMILLION PARISHES. ACCORDING TO THE INDICTMENT, THE DEFENDANTS ALLEGEDLY BEGAN THE DRUG RING IN JANUARY AND WERE OPERATING AS RECENTLY AS SEPTEMBER 17TH. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WORKED TOGETHER ON THE OPERATION THAT RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF CRYSTAL METH AND MULTIPLE FIREARMS.
