1-12-16
The Army Corps of Engineers says it won’t need to open the Morganza Floodway to draw down the Mississippi River’s crest. This will be a relief for homeowners and farmers in the spillway. On Monday the corps said forecasts on the Mississippi’s crest and flow rate show the river can pass safely down to the Gulf of Mexico without diverting water. The floodway is opened if the river is at least 57 feet high at Morganza and rising, and 1.5 million cubic feet of water is flowing every second.
AN EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM IN CALCASIEU PARISH, KNOWN AS CALCASHOUT, HAS NEW FEATURES, INCLUDING AN APP THAT GIVES WEATHER ALERTS TO SPECIFIC ADDRESSES. CALCASIEU PARISH EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATOR, ROBERT DAUGHDRIL, SAYS THE SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS ALSO INCLUDED WITH CALCASHOUT. IT HELPS FIRST RESPONDERS LOCATE AND EVACUATE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR WHO ARE BEDRIDDEN DURING A HURRICANE OR OTHER EMERGENCY. ANOTHER HELPFUL FEATURE ARE TEXT ALERTS ON TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT ARE CAUSING CONGESTION, FOR THOSE WHO SIGN UP.
A FAMILY IN SCOTT LOST THEIR HOME TO A FIRE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THE FIRE AT THE HOME ON HARVEST POINT CIRCLE HAS BEEN RULED AN ACCIDENT, THOUGH THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND THE EXACT ORIGIN. THE FAMILY BUILT THE HOME IN SCOTT NEARLY TEN YEARS AGO AFTER LOSING ANOTHER HOME IN 2005 BECAUSE OF HURRICANE KATRINA. THE SCOTT FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION LOCATED ON LIONS CLUB ROAD IS TAKING CLOTHING DONATIONS FOR THE FAMILY.
JOHN BEL EDWARDS WAS SWORN IN AS THE 56TH GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA MONDAY AFTERNOON. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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STATE REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR BARRAS OF NEW IBERIS IS THE NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. GOVERNER JOHN BEL EDWARDS HAD BACKED WALT LEGER THE THIRD OF NEW ORLEANS, A DEMOCRAT, FOR THE POST. BARRAS IS A FORMER DEMOCRAT WHO SWITCHED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN 2011. IN THE STATE SENATE, JOHN ALARIO WAS UNANIMOUSLY REELECTED AS SENATE PRESIDENT.
ST. LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT BILL FONTENOT WAS SWORN IN FOR A SECOND TERM OF OFFICE. DURING HIS STATE OF THE PARISH ADDRESS, HE SPOKE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH THE OTHER PARISHES IN ACADIANA IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD ECONOMICALLY AND CULTURALLY. THE 13 MEMBERS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL WERE ALSO SWORN IN. SIX OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE STARTING THEIR FIRST TERMS.
THE MCNEESE FARM FENCE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENED AT AROUND TWO A-M ON HIGHWAY 14 NEAR MCNEESE STREET. PART OF THE MCNEESES FARM FENCE WAS DESTROYED, AND KPLC TV IS REPORTING THAT WORKERS WERE SEEN SECURING CATTLE AT THE FARM. THERE WERE NO SERIOUS INJURIES IN THE CRASH THAT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THE ACADIANA SQUARE RETAIL CENTER IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN SOLD. KIMCO REALTY RECEIVED 24 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE DEAL WITH TWO NATIONAL RETAILERS WHO PARTNERED TOGETHER, D-R-A ADVISORS AND R-C-G VENTURES. THE DIRECTOR FOR ACQUISITIONS FOR D-R-A ADVISORS, BRETT GOTTLIEB, SAYS THEY CONSIDER ACADIANA SQUARE A QUALITY ASSET WITH AN IMMEDIATE UPSIDE. THE ACADIANA SQUARE RETAIL CENTER IS LOCATED ON JOHNSTON STREET, ACROSS FROM THE ACADIANA MALL, WITH NATIONAL RETAILERS THAT INCLUDE T-J MAXX AND OFFICE DEPOT.
