11-13-15
THE YOUNGSVILLE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH A TEN YEAR MASTER PLAN TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY. MAYOR KEN RITTER SAYS ONE OF HIS CAMPAIGN PLATFORMS WAS TO IMPLEMENT A MASTER PLAN AND HE’S ASKED THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT IT AT THEIR DECEMBER TENTH MEETING. THE MASTER PLAN HAS ABOUT FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. THEY INCLUDE THE COMPLETION OF MORE THAN TWENTY ROAD AND BRIDGE PROJECTS AND THE WIDENING AND RECONSTRUCTION OF CHEMIN METARIE ROAD.
THERE IS A SINKHOLE IN DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES. THE SINKHOLE WAS DISCOVERED ON DIVISION STREET AND HAS BEEN BLOCKED OFF TO TRAFFIC. CITY ADMINISTRATOR JOHN CARDONE TELL KPLC TV IT’S HAPPENING WHERE A STORM DRAINAGE LINES GOES UNDER THE STREET. HE SAYS THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE WATER TO DRAW DOWN AND THEY WILL THEN SEND IN A CREW TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.
THE ST. LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS AGREED TO SEEK A 7-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR FEDERAL GRANT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO TAKE OVER THE HEAD START PROGRAM IN THE PARISH. CURRENTLY HEAD START IS BEING RUN BY PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES, ACCORDING TO SCOTT CHAMPAGNE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S FEDERAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR. HE SAYS THERE’S NO GUARANTEE THEY WILL GET THE GRANT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE OTHERS VYING FOR IT. CURRENTLY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OFFERS PRE-KINDERGARTEN CLASSES FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AT 38 SCHOOL SITES.
Republican David Vitter has turned to reality TV star Willie Robertson to try to help him move past a years-old prostitution scandal that has been revived in the Louisiana governor’s race. Robertson, one of the bearded men of “Duck Dynasty,” is featured in Vitter’s latest TV ad, which begins airing Thursday in some Louisiana markets. The two men, dressed in camouflage, are standing in front of a hunting vehicle as Robertson says of Vitter: “I know he’s made some mistakes, but who hasn’t? The whole story of the Bible is about redemption.”
TODAY THE NCAA COMMITTEE ON INFRACTIONS WILL HOLD A HEARING INTO VIOLATIONS BY FORMER RAGIN CAJUNS ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH DAVID SAUNDERS. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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The Beauregard Parish Police Jury has approved renovation plans for its historic jail and will solicit bids from general contractors next month. The building committee reviewed the plans Tuesday, which will ultimately allow guided tours through the Gothic jail. The project is expected to begin next year. Architect Paul Lemaire tells the American Press the work, which will cost about $152,000, will allow visitors access to the main and second floors of the jail.
SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA TECHNICAL COLLEGE BROKE GROUND WEDNESDAY ON A NEW MARITIME TRAINING CENTER IN MORGAN CITY. ONCE IT’S BUILT, IT WILL PARTNER WITH A SIMILAR FACILITY IN HOUMA. STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE ON HAND FOR THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE HUGH AND BYRNES YOUNG MARITIME AND PETROLEUM SAFETY TRAINING CENTER. THE COST OF THE BUILDING IS 3-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLARS AND IT’S BEING PAID FOR BY STATE AND PRIVATE FUNDS.
At least 486 of about 560 employees of the former HCA-owned Regional Medical Center of Acadiana retained their jobs as Lafayette General took over the facility last week. In August, Lafayette General Health announced the acquisition of the hospital owned by HCA MidAmerica with assurances that all employees would be given the option to apply for jobs at the new Lafayette General Southwest. That change became official on Nov. 6, and only a small number of employees opted not to take advantage of the offer. Daryl Cetnar, communications director for Lafayette General Health, tells The Advocate HCA took care of at least 64 employees internally through transfers to other HCA properties or other personnel action.
