11-18-15
THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO REDEVELOP BLIGHTED PROPERTIES. PARISH ASSESSOR CONRAD COMEAUX SAYS THERE ARE CURRENTLY MORE THAN A THOUSAND PROPERTIES IN THE PARISH WITH BACK TAXES, MANY SO HIGH THAT IT MAKES THE PROPERTY UNATTRACTIVE FOR RESALE. THE MEASURE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL ALLOWS THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT MORE FREEDOM TO FORGIVE BACK TAXES SO THE PROPERTY CAN BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC BID OR DONATED TO A NONPROFIT FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THE ORDINANCE DOES LAY OUT A PROCESS OF NOTIFYING ORIGINAL OWNERS BEFORE SELLING OR DONATING THE PROPERTY, AND ANYONE WHO GETS THE PROPERTY MUST PROVIDE DETAILED PLANS FOR REDEVELOPMENT.
A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER IN LAKE CHARLES WAS ARRESTED AFTER MAKING A DELIVERY TO A LOCAL SCHOOL. POLICE CORPORAL LARRY MOSS SAYS A RESIDENT INFORMED THEIR OFFICE THAT 58-YEAR-OLD ADAM RODNEY STOVER WAS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, AND WHEN AN OFFICER ARRIVED, HE WAS STILL THERE. MOSS SAYS STOVER TOLD THE OFFICER HE KNEW THAT HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY BECAUSE OF HIS SEX OFFENDER STATUS. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON A CHARGE OF UNLAWFUL PRESENCE OF A SEX OFFENDER, AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
A VERMILLION PARISH MAN FACES A SECOND MURDER CHARGE. ON MONDAY, A GRAND JURY INDICTED DERRICK “DEEBO” MITCHELL ON A CHARGE OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF KYLE TRAHAN IN ABBEVILLE ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO. MITCHELL HAD BEEN INDICTED EARLIER THIS YEAR FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF DARRELL BROUSSARD JUNIOR IN ABBEVILLE JUST 13 DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING OF TRAHAN. DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEITH STUTES SAYS IN A NEWS RELEASE THAT MITCHELL COULD GET THE DEATH PENALTY IF CONVICTED.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says he is dropping out of 2016 race for president, ending a campaign that failed to gain much support among Republicans. Jindal tells Fox News, “This is not my time.” He says he’s not ready to endorse another candidate, but intends to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee. The governor, who is term-limited and will be out of office in January, says he will work with a think tank he started a few years ago, called America Next.
STARTING THURSDAY, A PORTION OF KALISTE SALOOM ROAD WILL BE CLOSED SO WORKERS CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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LAST NIGHT THE WELSH TOWN COUNCIL HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS THAT THE OWNERS OF A MINIATURE GOLF COURSE ON COLES STREET ARE NOT COMPLYING WITH A ZONING ORDINANCE. MARY FAUL, WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BUSINESS, SAYS THEY FAILED TO HAVE A FIVE FOOT BUFFER FROM THE FENCE ON THE PROPERTY. ELIZABETH TOUCHET, WHO OWNS PROPERTY NEXT TO THE PUTT-PUTT GOLF COURSE, SAYS THE BUFFER IS NECESSARY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM HITTING BALLS AGAINST THE FENCE. COUNCILMAN CHARLES DUKE INTRODUCED AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ZONING ORDINANCE WHICH WILL BE DECIDED ON AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IN TWO WEEKS.
IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF LOUIS ACKAL HAS HIRED AN OPPONENT HE DEFEATED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO TAKE OVER AS THE DEPARTMENT’S CAPTAIN OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS. DAVID SPIKE BOUDOIN, WHO TOOK 18 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE PRIMARY, WILL BE REPLACING CAPTAIN ANTHONY GREEN, WHO IS RETIRING. THE ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER SAYS ACKAL HIRED BOUDOIN ON THE SAME DAY THAT BOUDOIN ENDORSED ACKAL IN THE RUNOFF. ACKAL, WHO RECEIVED 47 PERCENT OF THE PRIMARY VOTE, WILL FACE IBERIA PARISH WARDEN ROBERTA BOUDREAUX IN THE RUNOFF THIS SATURDAY.
The head of Louisiana’s Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control is leaving at the end of December. In a news release Tuesday, Commissioner Troy Hebert announced his resignation after serving as the head of the regulatory agency for the past five years. He says he looks forward to spending time with his family and didn’t rule out a possible political run in the future. During his tenure, Hebert says he’s reduced the agency’s budget by 30 percent, cut the number of employees in half, increased enforcement of illegal activities and reduced the time it takes to get permits from 35 days to three days.
