1-6-26
THIS YEAR WILL MARK THE OPENING OF THE BRAND-NEW EVANGELINE PARISH JAIL, WHICH HAS BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT SINCE TWENTY-TWENTY-TWO. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WING AT ACADIANA HIGH SCHOOL IS RESULTING IN SOME MAJOR CHANGES. PRINCIPAL JASON SAINT PIERRE SAYS STUDENTS WILL PARK AT THE FOOTBALL FACILITY OR THE FOOTBALL FIELD WHILE TEACHERS WILL PARK IN THE GYM AREA. ALL ENTRY TO THE CAMPUS WILL BE THROUGH THE SOUTH DRIVE WITH BUSES IN THE LEFT LANE AND CARS IN THE RIGHT LANE. IT’S RECOMMENDED THAT DRIVERS SHOULD GIVE THEMSELVES AN EXTRA TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES TO NAVIGATE THE NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY HAS SIGNED A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING JANUARY AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH IN LOUISIANA. IT CORRESPONDS TO A NATIONAL OBSERVANCE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND STRENGTHEN EFFORTS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING. AS PART OF THE INITIATIVE, SUNDAY IS NATIONAL WEAR BLUE DAY IN LOUISIANA. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR BLUE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE ON L-A FOURTEEN IN LAKE CHARLES HAS DIED. THE PEDESTRIAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SIXTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD JOHN HENRY TAYLOR JUNIOR OF LAKE CHARLES. HE WAS HIT BY THE VEHICLE ONE WEEK AGO ON L-A FOURTEEN NEAR BROAD STREET. NO SUSPICION OF IMPAIRMENT WAS OBSERVED FROM THE DRIVER THOUGH THE RESULTS OF A STANDARD TOXICOLOGY TEST ARE PENDING.
AN INMATE AT THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH JAIL ATTEMPTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE FRIDAY USING PART OF METAL CEILING TILES THAT HAD BECOME RUSTED AND DAMAGED. SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ CREDITED A SUICIDE WATCH PLAN THAT OPERATED AS PLANNED FOR PREVENTING LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. HE SAYS THE DAMAGED TILES WERE LISTED ON LAST MONTH’S BUILDING MAINTENANCE INSPECTION REPORT CONDUCTED BY CORRECTIONAL STAFF. GUIDROZ AND PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD HAVE HAD AN ONGOING DISPUTE OVER THE MAINTENANCE OF THE JAIL.
FIRST BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL CELEBRATED THEIR EXPANSION WITH A RIBBON-CUTTING AND DEDICATION CEREMONY. THE EXPANSION IS LOCATED ON CONVENT STREET NEXT TO THE CHURCH. PASTOR JAMES PRITCHARD SAYS THE ONE-HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD BUILDING THEY WERE USING WORKED GREAT BUT, AS THEY GREW AND DEVELOPED, THEY NEEDED MORE AND BETTER UPDATED SPACE. PRITCHARD THANKED THE LORD’S FOR HIS PROVISION AND SAID THEY ARE EXCITED.
LOUISIANA SECRETARY OF STATE NANCY LANDRY ANNOUNCED CHANGES TO THE STATE’S ELECTION PROCESS FOR THIS YEAR AS KEY RACES SWITCH FROM AN OPEN TO A CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM. THE SWITCH WILL AFFECT U-S HOUSE AND SENATE RACES AS WELL AS RACES FOR SEATS ON THE LOUISIANA STATE SUPREME COURT, THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, THOSE REGISTERED AS REPUBLICANS WILL VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARY WHILE DEMOCRATS WILL VOTE IN THE DEMOCRAT PRIMARY. THOSE WHO REGISTER AS NO PARTY, WILL CHOOSE WHICH PRIMARY TO VOTE IN.
A MAN WANTED FOR REPORTEDLY SETTING A HOUSE ON FIRE WITH PEOPLE INSIDE HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER SURRENDERING HIMSELF TO THE SAINT MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ON SATURDAY. THE HOUSE, LOCATED IN THE SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF ROBERT STREET IN FRANKLIN, WAS SET ON FIRE DECEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH. THE OCCUPANTS WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE HOME WITH NO INJURIES. THE SUSPECT, TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JREVON ANDERSON, FACES THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND ONE COUNT OF AGGRAVATED ARSON.
