11-22-16
AFTER SIX MONTHS OF WORK, A 21-POINT-2 MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION IS ABOUT DONE AND THE CAJUNDOME IS READY TO BE REOPENED. THE OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING WILL BE DECEMBER FIRST WITH A RAGIN CAJUN BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER, BUT THERE WAS A SOFT OPENING LAST TUESDAY FOR A LOUISIANA BAPTIST YOUTH CONFERENC EVENT. CAJUNDOME DIRECTOR GREG DAVIS SAYS EVENTS WILL NOW HAVE A MORE INTIMATE FEEL, LIKE IN A THEATRE, WITH BETTER LIGHTING. CAPACITY FOR BASKETBALL GAMES WILL INCREASE FROM 11,200 TO 12,300 AND CONCERTS WILL BE ABLE TO SEAT UP TO 10,300 PEOPLE.
A historic jail, built in DeRidder in 1914 in the “Collegiate Gothic” design, is open for tours after a renovation. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser’s office says in a Monday news release that Nungesser joined officials from Beauregard, Allen and Vernon Parish tourism commissions for a ribbon-cutting. Nungesser’s office says the jail was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 but closed the next year. Tours are open to the public Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
AUTHORITIES IN VERMILLION PARISH ARE LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT WHO CARJACKED AND ABDUCTED AN ELDERLY MAN IN A DOLLAR GENERAL PARKING LOT. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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A statewide outdoor burn ban that was ordered in Louisiana on Nov. 5 has been lifted. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said in a news release that the ban was lifted at 4 p.m. Monday. Outdoor burning remains subject to state and local laws and regulations. Browning and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain ordered the ban earlier this month in all but four of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.
SEVERAL VEHICLES IN THE NORTH DEMANADE BOULEVARD AREA OF LAFAYETTE WERE BURGLARIZED LATE SUNDAY AND EARLY MONDAY. LAFAYETTE POLICE FOUND VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM A HOME SURVEILLANCE CAMERA THAT CAPTURED THE IMAGE OF A MAN THEY BELIEVE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST ONE OF THE BURGLARIES. HE IS WEARING A HOODED SWEATSHIRT AND IS LIKELY CONNECTED TO SEVERAL OTHER OF THE VEHICLE BURGLARIES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL LAFAYETTE CRIMESTOPPERS AT 232-TIPS.
THIS SUNDAY’S HOLIDAY HOME TOUR IN LAKE CHARLES FEATURES SEVEN HOUSES ALONG RIVER ROAD THAT ARE DECORATED FOR THE SEASON. THE TOUR, WHICH TAKES PLACE FROM TWO TO FIVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON INCLUDES COMPLIMENTARY HORS D’OEURVES AND BEVERAGES. THE TICKETS, WHICH ARE FIFTY DOLLARS, CAN BE PURCHASED BY CALL THE LAKE CHARLES SYMPHONY’S OFFICE AT 433-16-11, OR GOING TO THEIR WEBSITE, L-C-SYMPHONY-DOT-COM. PROCEEDS FROM THE TOUR GO TO THE SYMPHONY’S EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES FREE TICKETS TO CONCERTS FOR STUDENTS FROM AT-RISK SCHOOLS.
A DRIVER DIED IN A FIERY CRASH ON HIGHWAY 90 IN RAYNE SUNDAY AT AROUND 2:30 A-M. STATE POLICE SAY THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND AND THEN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, TRAVELED ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER STRIKING A UTILITY POLE. THE REMAINS OF THE DRIVER HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.
STATE AUDITORS FOUND THERE WAS NO PROPER RECORD KEEPING FOR 26 OF 28 TRANSACTIONS OF MONEY COMING OUT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S ESCROW ACCOUNT. THEY ALSO FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES THAT DID NOT EXPLAIN WHY MONEY WAS BEING DEPOSITED INTO THE ACCOUNT. STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY BLAMED HIS PREDECESSOR AND PROMISED TO COME UP WITH POLICIES THAT WILL KEEP BETTER TRACK OF MONEY. HE WROTE TO LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR DARRYL PURPURA, SAYING HE’S INSTRUCTED HIS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.
