10-4-21
THE BODY OF AN ABBEVILLE MAN REPORTED MISSING SATURDAY BY HIS FAMILY WAS FOUND IN AN IBERIA PARISH COULEE. STATE POLICE SAY JOSHUA MEAUX HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A MOTORCYCLE ON JEFFERSON ISLAND ROAD WHEN HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A CURVE AND WAS EJECTED. HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS FULLY SUBMERGED IN THE COULEE. THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND ON A BURN PILE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH LAST WEEK HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS CONFIRMED THE MAN’S NAME WAS FORTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD CECIL WAYNE GRAY. TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE,THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD RANDALL FIGARD AND THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD SARAH JOHNSON. BOTH FACE CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL DESTRUCTION OF REMAINS AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
Southwest Louisiana leaders say the disaster assistance approved by Congress will be too little to solve the lingering housing crisis and other needs caused by Hurricane Laura more than a year ago. Billions in federal disaster aid were included in legislation passed by Congress on Thursday. Southwest Louisiana is anticipated to get $600 million for Laura and the follow-up blow of Hurricane Delta. Louisiana has estimated the unmet needs for Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta is around $3 billion.
KAPLAN POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR AN ESCAPED PRISONER. POLICE CHIEF JOSHUA HARDY SAYS BLAKE BLANCHARD WAS WAITING TO TAKE A SHOWER SUNDAY MORNING WHEN HE RAN BAREFOOT OUT OF THE CITY JAIL. BLANCHARD WAS IN JAIL ON CHARGES OF BURGLARY AND CRIMINAL TRESPASS. HARDY SAYS BLANCHARD IS NOT CONSIDERED DANGEROUS BUT THEY ASK ANYONE WHO SEES HIM NOT TO APPROACH HIM BUT CALL NINE-ONE-ONE INSTEAD.
A MAN WAS FOUND SHOT IN LAFAYETTE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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At least one person has been arrested after more than 175 bronze vases were stolen off graves in two southwest Louisiana cemeteries. More than 100 vases were stolen from Consolata Cemetery in Lake Charles and, next door, nearly 70 vases were taken from Prien Memorial Park. In custody is 36-year-old Kenneth Stillson of Ragley. He faces several charges including desecration of graves, obstruction of justice and aggravated flight from an officer.
A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING FRIDAY IN AMELIA WAS ARRESTED BY SAINT MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE SHOOTING AT A LOCAL BUSINESS ON DUHON BOULEVARD. THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD CODY MICHAEL SMITH OF MORGAN CITY WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER AND WAS ARRESTED IN LAFOURCHE PARISH. HE FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
Louisiana’s largest health system is ratcheting up pressure to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Ochsner Health told employees it will charge them a monthly premium of $200 if a spouse or domestic partner covered under an Ochsner health plan is not vaccinated. Ochsner has previously set an October 29 deadline for all employees to be vaccinated. President and CEO Warner Thomas said the surcharge for unvaccinated spouses and partners is part of an effort to keep health premiums low for employees.
