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THE CITY OF SCOTT WILL BE INSTALLING NEW, MORE SOPHISTICATED WATER METERS. THEY INCLUDE AN AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM WHICH, MAYOR PURVIS MORRISON SAYS, WILL ALLOW MORE ACCURATE READINGS OF CURRENT WATER USAGE BY RESIDENTS. HE SAYS IT WILL ALSO HAVE A COMPONENT THAT WILL ALLOW EARLY DETECTION OF WATER LEAKS, INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THE METER’S ARE READ. THE CITY GOT A 980 THOUSAND DOLLAR LOW INTEREST LOAN FROM LOUISIANA’S DRINKING WATER REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS LAST NIGHT THANKED REPRESENTATIVES FROM LAKE CHARLES L-N-G FOR A DONATION THEY MADE TO HELP ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON NELSON ROAD. THEIR 200 THOUSAND DOLLAR DONATION WILL BE USED TO BUILD A NEW DROP OFF AND PICK UP AREA BEHIND THE CAFETERIA AT PRIEN LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MAYOR RANDY ROACH SAYS THE COMPANY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY COULD DO FOR IT EVER SINCE THEIR FIRST MEETING TOGETHER. SCHOOL BOARD OFFICIALS SAYS THEY PLAN TO HAVE THE NEW PICK UP AND DROP OFF AREA READY BY AT LEAST THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
A THIRD ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN THE DEATH OF 75-YEAR-OLD HOWARD POCHE OF JEANERETTE. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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The National Weather Service counts at least eight tornadoes that hit Louisiana Monday. Survey teams conclude twisters damaged parts of Avoyelles, Beauregard, Evangeline, Rapides and Tangipahoa parishes. The most powerful storm, rated EF-1 on the enhanced Fujita scale, hit south of Ragley in Beauregard Parish, with top winds of 110 mph. It damaged 10 to 25 homes, as well as outbuildings and power lines along a 2.8-mile, 100-yard-wide path.
MACY’S ANNOUNCED THEY ARE CLOSING 68 OF THEIR STORES NATIONWIDE, CUTTING ABOUT 62-HUNDRED JOBS. THE COMPANY, IN A NEWS RELEASE, CITED DECLINING STORE TRAFFIC AS THE REASON FOR THE CLOSURES. THE LAFAYETTE STORE IS NOT ON THE CLOSURE LIST. THE ONLY STORE ON THE LIST IN LOUISIANA IS THE MACY’S IN KENNER.
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS OF LAKE CHARLES, THE LAKE CHARLES FIRE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE TEAMING UP TO INSTALL FIRE ALARMS FREE OF CHARGE. RED CROSS DISASTER PROGRAM SPECIALIST RYAN CRAIG SAYS THEY HAVE 500 SMOKE ALARMS CURRENTLY BUT THEIR GOAL IS ONE THOUSAND. HE SAYS THEY ARE TARGETING THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AND OTHERS AT RISK, BUT EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO THREE ALARMS PER HOUSEHOLD. IF YOU NEED ONE, YOU CAN CALL THE RED CROSS IN LAKE CHARLES OR YOUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A RAYNE WOMAN, WHO IS A WANTED FUGITIVE. AUTHORITIES ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR 35-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER JANAS OF RAYNE ON A COMPLAINT OF USING STOLEN CREDIT CARDS AT BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT ACADIANA. SHE WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE SEEN ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE USING THE CARDS. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS NOT YET IDENTIFIED THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE.
EDUCATION WEEK RANKED LOUISIANA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 49TH IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. THE STATE’S OVERALL SCORE WAS A 68-POINT-3, COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 74-POINT-2. THAT PUT THEM AT 46TH IN THE NATION ON THE OVERALL SCALE. THE OVERALL SCORE IS BASED ON ACADEMIC PERFORMACE, CHANCE FOR SUCCESS AND FINANCING.
