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LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT MONIQUE BOULET ANNOUNCED FOUR ENGINEERING FIRMS HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO LEAD A PROJECT TO REVITALIZE JOHNSTON STREET AND LOUISIANA AVENUE. KEY FEATURES OF THE REVITALIZATION INCLUDE COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, UPGRADED UTILITIES, SAFER INTERSECTIONS AND ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY WITH SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES. EARLIER THIS YEAR OWNERSHIP OF JOHNSTON STREET WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE STATE TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. NEARLY TWENTY-EIGHT AND A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL SOURCES IS AVAILABLE FOR DESIGN AND EARLY IMPROVEMENTS.
AN ABBEVILLE MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING IN THE ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF STONEBURG DRIVE, WHICH IS IN THE UNINCORPORATED PART OF DUSON. IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF FRIDAY, FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD JOEL CESSAC (suh SAK) GOT INTO A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION, THEN ALLEGEDLY PULLED OUT A FIREARM AND SHOT THE OTHER PERSON BEFORE FLEEING THE SCENE. THE VICTIM SUFFERED NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. CESSAC IS BEING CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A PERSON CONVICTED OF CERTAIN FELONIES.
FEDERAL MONEY FOR FOOD STAMPS COULD RUN OUT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH IF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CONTINUES INTO NOVEMBER. THERE ARE ABOUT EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA WHO GET SNAP BENEFITS, WHICH IS ABOUT SEVENTEEN PERCENT OF THE STATE’S POPULATION. THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS TOLD STATES TO PUT NOVEMBER BENEFITS ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PAT VAN BURKLEO OF FEEDING LOUISIANA SAYS LOUISIANA FOOD BANKS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVICE EVERYONE ON FOOD STAMPS.
A MAN IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH WITH A LONG HISTORY OF DRUG CRIMES IS HEADED TO PRISON FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
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THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE AT AN APARTMENT ATTACHED TO A VACANT HOME LOCATED NEAR EVANGELINE AND WEST SIMCOE STREETS. AT AROUND NOON YESTERDAY, FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF SMOKE AND FOUND THE FIRE IN THE ATTIC ABOVE THE ENTRANCE DOOR, WHICH THEY PUT OUT QUICKLY. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE OWNERS SAY HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE ACCESSED THE HOUSE, WHICH HAS BEEN VACANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
A CROWLEY WOMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY TASING A TEENAGER SHE BELIEVED STOLE HER GUN. STANESHA JONES IS ALSO ACCUSED OF HOLDING THE BOY AGAINST HIS WILL. SHE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON CHARGES OF FALSE IMPRISONMENT, CRUELTY TO JUVENILES AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY. SHERIFF K-P GIBSON SAYS VICTIMS OF CRIMES SHOULD ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INVESTIGATE AND NOT TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HAND OR THEY COULD END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF CHARGES.
THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM HAS LAUNCHED A HOT SAUCE TRAIL, WHICH THEY HOPE WILL HELP BOOST TOURISM BY SHOWCASING THE STATE’S UNIQUE FLAVORS AND COMMUNITIES. IT INCLUDES SEVERAL STOPS ACROSS THE STATE SUCH AS AVERY ISLAND, HOME OF THE TABASCO FACTORY. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO MOVE PEOPLE FROM CITY TO CITY, HIGHLIGHTING THINGS THAT WILL ATTRACT THEM. HE SAYS THE TRAIL IS A WAY TO BOOST RURAL ECONOMIES BY ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO TAKE SCENIC ROUTES AND SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES.
RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ALONG CARRINGTON PLACE ROAD IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH WILL SOON SEE MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE ROAD. IT IS IN SUCH BAD SHAPE THAT IT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND HINDERED EMERGENCY SERVICES. PARISH PRESIDENT JESSE BELLARD SAYS THE ROAD IS NOW UNDER PARISH JURISDICTION SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS. A MEETING IS PLANNED FOR TODAY WITH RESIDENTS ON CARRINGTON PLACE TO DISCUSS THE CHANGES AND GATHER COMMUNITY INPUT.
