10-1-19
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS STILL ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN LOCATING A MISSING TEENAGER. HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO.
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A LAKE CHARLES MOTHER HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER SHE ADMITTED USING METH WHILE BREASTFEEDING HER BABY GIRL. THE STAFF AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL NOTIFIED CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DETECTIVES AFTER A 16-MONTH-OLD GIRL TESTED POSITIVE FOR METHAMPHETAMINE. THE DETECTIVES TALKED TO THE MOTHER, 32-YEAR-OLD LATOYA N. RIDEAU, AND FOUND SHE HAD A BAG OF METH AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA WITH HER. SHE WAS BOOKED INTO THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING SECOND DEGREE CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE, AND HER BOND WAS SET AT TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
A NEW APP-BASED DELIVERY SERVICE WENT LIVE MONDAY IN ACADIANA. THE CREATOR OF ROADRUNNER APP-DOT-COM, BRETT MCELWEE OF VILLE PLATTE, SAYS THEY WILL GO BEYOND JUST DELIVERING TAKEOUT FOR RESTAURANTS. HE HOPES TO DELIVER MEDECINE, LEGAL DOCUMENTS, GROCERIES AND MORE. UNLIKE OTHER DELIVERY SERVICES, BUSINESSES WILL NOT BE CHARGED BUT INSTEAD A FEE WILL BE CHARGED TO THE CUSTOMER, AND IT WILL BE BASED ON THE DISTANCE THE DELIVERY DRIVER HAS TO TRAVEL. MCELWEE SAYS HE HOPES TO EXPAND OUTSIDE THE ACADIANA AREA TO LAKE CHARLES AND BATON ROUGE.
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says most Louisiana horticulture license exams are now given by computer, streamlining the process.
He says it used to take a week or more to get scores for tests taken at department satellite offices, because forms were sent to Baton Rouge for grading. Strain says applicants must still be tested at department offices, but the results are available immediately. A news release Friday said six of the seven professional horticulture exams are now on computer, and the landscape architecture exam is in final development and testing.
ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY WAS IN BROUSSARD YESTERDAY HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE PRESCRIPTION DROP BOXES LIKE THE ONE AT THE BROUSSARD POLICE STATION. HE HIGHLIGHTED STATISTICS THAT ABOUT SIXTY PERCENT OF PEOPLE ADDICTED TO OPIODS START USING SOMEONE ELSE’S PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION. THE DROP BOX AT THE BROUSSARD POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UP FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND IS ONE OF ABOUT SEVENTY IN THE STATE. PRESCRIPTIONS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE STATION ON EAST MAIN STREET EVERY DAY BETWEEN 7:30 AM AND 4:30 P-M.
A LAKE CHARLES WOMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR STEALING FROM A CARE FACILITY WHERE SHE WORKED. AN AUDITOR CONTACTED THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE AFTER FINDING MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF UNAUTHORIZED TRANSACTIONS FROM THE CARE FACILITY’S BANK ACCOUNT. THEY ARRESTED 42-YEAR-OLD LAMIKAA D. WILKINS, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF MAKING PURCHASES FOR THE FACILITY. SHE WAS BOOKED INTO THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON A CHARGE OF THEFT OVER FIVE THOUSAND BUT LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND WAS LATER RELEASED ON HER OWN RECOGNIZANCE.
THREE HOMES IN GRAND MARAIS IN IBERIA PARISH WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE, LEAVING NINE PEOPLE HOMELESS, INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN. IBERIA PARISH DISTRICT ONE FIRE CHIEF GUY BONIN SAYS POWER LINES FELL ON ONE OF THE STRUCTURES WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTIES IN FIGHTING THE FIRE. TWO DOGS WERE KILLED IN THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL BEING DETERMINED BUT IT APPEARED TO START IN THE MIDDLE HOME, WHICH WAS VACANT.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS CRACKING DOWN ON THE SALE OF VAPE PRODUCTS TO THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN. THEY CONDUCTED AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION TO SEE IF STORES WOULD VERIFY THE PURCHASER’S AGE, AND FOUR OF 18 STORES FAILED THE TEST; QUEEN CITY IN RAYNE AND THREE CROWLEY STORES, FOOD MART, MORE FOR LESS, AND FAT BOYS. SHERIFF K-P GIBSON SAYS THEY WILL LIKELY CONDUCT ANOTHER STING OPERATION. HE SAYS HE DECIDED TO DO THE OPERATIONS AFTER COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS THAT PEOPLE WERE SELLING VAPE PRODUCTS TO THEIR KIDS.
