12-10-15
AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S TOP TWO CHOICES OF NAMES FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN YOUNGSVILLE IS CREATING A FIRESTORM OF CONTROVERSY. THE COMMITTEE CHOSE CANEVIEW AND CYPRESS AS THE TOP TWO NAMES TO RECOMMEND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. THE MAYOR OF YOUNGSVILLE AND A NUMBER OF YOUNGSVILLE RESIDENTS WANT THE SCHOOL NAMED YOUNGSVILLE HIGH, BUT THE MAYOR OF BROUSSARD AND RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES THERE PREFER THE COMMITTEE’S CHOICES. LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SAYS THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER THE FOUR SUGGESTED NAMES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN AT THEIR JANUARY MEETING, WHICH INCLUDES YOUNGSVILLE HIGH, BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL HAVE THE FINAL SAY.
AN ANGOLA INMATE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN CONNECTION WITH A 2010 COLD CASE HOMOCIDE. 26-YEAR-OLD ROMAN JOSEPH LASTRAPES WILL BE TRIED FOR THE RAPE AND MURDER OF 50-YEAR-OLD LINDA MOORE, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND BEHIND A DETAILING SHOP AT SHATTUCK AND BELDEN STREETS ON JANUARY 15TH, 2010. A GRAND JURY ON NOVEMBER FIFTH INDICTED LASTRAPES ON A CHARGE OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER. LASTRAPES WAS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED FROM ANGOLA IN APRIL OF 2017. HE HAD BEEN CONVICTED IN 2010 ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES.
ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS IN A FRAUD CASE THAT INVOLVED THE THEFT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM A PROMINENT MORGAN CITY FAMILY HAS ENTERED A PLEA DEAL. DONNA SUE PEVETO PLED GUILTY TO 123 COUNTS OF RACKETEERING AND THEFT, AND WILL TESTIFY IN THE TRIAL OF HER CO-DEFENDANTS, ARMOND AND KAREN DUHON. AS PART OF THE PLEA, PEVETO WILL NOT BE SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 25 YEARS IN PRISON. THE GUARISCO (guh RIHS coe) FAMILY DISCOVERED THE THEFT OF MILLIONS IN CASH, ART AND PROPERTY AFTER JAMES SCOTT TUCKER, WHO RAN THE FAMILY’S HOLDING COMPANY, DIED IN 2014.
Republican Rob Maness, a retired Air Force colonel who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate last year, is making another bid for a Louisiana-based Senate seat. Maness has filed federal paperwork declaring his candidacy for the 2016 election that will determine who takes the Senate position being vacated by Republican David Vitter. Vitter announced he wouldn’t seek a third term after losing the Louisiana governor’s race. A political newcomer when he ran in 2014, Maness came in third for the Senate seat won by Republican Bill Cassidy, who defeated Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu.
THERE ARE SOME ROAD CLOSURES IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE YOU MAY WANT TO BE AWARE OF. JULIE DARCE HAS THE DETAILS.
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CALCASIEU PARISH HAS A VETERAN’S COURT FOR MILITARY VETERAN’S THAT HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME. DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN DEROSIER SAYS VETERAN’S COURT IS NOT FOR VETERAN’S WHO COMMIT RAPE OR MURDER. HE SAYS VETERANS WHO GO TO VETERANS COURT, WHO USUALLY HAVE PROBLEMS SUCH AS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, WILL RECEIVE THE NECESSARY COUNSELING AND MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THE PROGRAM IS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT.
A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED AND PLANS ARE IN THE WORKS TO BUILD A MEMORIAL PARK IN HONOR OF BLUE DOG ARTIST GEORGE RODRIGUE. THE PARK WILL FEATURE A BLUE DOG SCULPTURE MADE BY RODRIGUE AND A MURAL OF HIS ICONIC LIVE OAK TREE. IT WILL BE AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER MASONIC LODGE ON MAIN STREET, WHICH BURNED DOWN IN 2011. RODRIGUE’S SON, JACQUE, SAYS THE FAMILY IS GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT.
A new report finds Louisiana is doing a poor job of funding tobacco cessation and prevention programs. A national report issued Tuesday by a coalition of public health organizations, found that tobacco companies spend $32 promoting use of their product for every $1 Louisiana spends to prevent kids from smoking and to help smokers quit. In addition, Louisiana is spending $7 million this year on anti-smoking prevention programs — 11.7 percent of the $59.6 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Advocate reports Louisiana ranks 28th in the country on its efforts to combat tobacco use.
