10-27-16
DEMOGRAPHER MIKE HEFNER PRESENTED NEW PROPOSED ATTENDANCE ZONES FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD YESTERDAY AT A WORKSHOP. THE WORKSHOP IS EXPECTED TO BE THE LAST ONE HELD BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD VOTES ON THE ATTENDANCE ZONES EARLY IN NOVEMBER. STILL UP IN THE AIR IS WHAT TO DO WITH FIFTH GRADES. IDEALLY, SCHOOL OFFICIALS WOULD LIKE TO PUT FIFTH GRADE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BUT MANY OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DON’T HAVE THE SPACE AND THERE IS AVAILABLE ROOM IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
AFTER 71 YEARS, SERVING IN THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS, THE U-S-S ORLECK MAY NOT SURVIVE MUCH LONGER. ABOUT 100 THOUSAND VISITORS HAVE TOURED THE U-S-S ORLECK SINCE IT DOCKED IN LAKE CHARLES FIVE YEARS AGO, BUT IT’S NOT PRODUCED ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND INSURANCE. THE BOARD HAS THREE WEEKS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TRY TO RAISE THE MONEY TO KEEP THE SHIP AFLOAT OR SELL IT TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, MARK BOUDREAUX, SAYS, IF THEY SELL IT, THE IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS ON THE SHIP WOULD BE REMOVED, AND THE ORLECK WOULD BE SUNK OFF THE TEXAS COAST TO MAKE A DIVE REEF.
AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING A TUESDAY NIGHT HOMOCIDE IN NEW IBERIA. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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Louisiana’s U.S. Senate seat features an open seat, two dozen candidates, prostitution allegations and a white supremacist contender. About the only sure thing seems to be that the race won’t be decided Nov. 8 when most of the nation’s political contests are settled. Instead, it’s certain to head to a December runoff.
Meanwhile, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke isn’t only on the ballot, he met the polling benchmark for a televised debate next week.
AN INMATE, WHO WAS IMPROPERLY RELEASED FROM THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER, IS BACK BEHIND BARS. 29-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA SIMON WAS IN PRISON FOR THE OUACHITA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ON A WARRANT FOR NON-PAYMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT. HE WAS MISTAKENLY RELEASED AROUND 12:20 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, AND WHEN AUTHORITIES REALIZED THE ERROR, THEY BEGAN A SEARCH FOR HIM. SIMON WAS FOUND SHORTLY BEFORE THREE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT INCIDENT.
THE SULPHUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT HELD A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY YESTERDAY FOR ITS FIRST DOG PARK. FIDEAUX FIELD IS LOCATED AT 900 WEST PARISH ROAD IN SULPHUR. A GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY. PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR STEVEN GAYFIELD TELLS KPLC TV THAT THE PARK WILL BE A GOOD PLACE FOR DOGS TO EXERCISE AND SOCIALIZE.
A MAN, WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN A LAFAYETTE HOMOCIDE, IS ALSO A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING MONDAY NIGHT IN PATTERSON. LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE SEEKING TO QUESTION 18-YEAR-OLD KIRT FAVORS OF PATTERSON IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 37-YEAR-OLD JOHN PAUL BATISTE OF ARNAUDVILLE, WHICH HAPPENED SUNDAY. PATTERSON POLICE ARE ALSO SEARCHING FOR FAVORS FOR A SHOOTING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF TAFT AND HICKORY STREETS. ONE PERSON SUFFERED NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES IN A SHOOTOUT, AND THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.
Louisiana’s senior coastal official has called the 2017 rewrite of the state’s master plan for coastal restoration and storm surge protection “the issue of a lifetime,” arguing that major restoration projects are urgently needed. NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports that Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Johnny Bradberry told dozens of participants in a discussion about the plan Monday at Louisiana State University that the current coastal situation will affect every part of the state’s economy. The plan calls for at least two major diversions of sediment and freshwater from the Mississippi River that would be located below New Orleans in Plaquemines Parish to both build new land and wetlands and to nourish existing wetlands. Shrimpers and oyster growers are concerned about how the diversion would affect their catches.
