12-13-17
THE ORGANIZER OF THE FAILED RECALL EFFORT OF LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHALL BRIAN POPE WAS ARRESTED BY THE CITY MARSHALL’S OFFICE MONDAY. STEVEN WILKERSON WAS ARRESTED FOR BOUNCING FOUR CHECKS TWENTY YEARS AGO WHILE A STUDENT AT U-L LAFAYETTE, AND THE ARREST HAPPENED ON THE DAY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED THEY DID NOT GATHER ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO FORCE A RECALL ELECTION. WILKERSON’S ATTORNEY SAYS THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS RAN OUT ON THE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES AGAINST WILKERSON AND THE CITY MARSHALL’S OFFICE WILL HAVE TO PROVE THAT WILKERSON EVADED ARREST, THUS INTERRUPTING THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. WILKERSON TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE MARSHAL’S OFFICE PERHAPS FELT BOLDER AND ARRESTED HIM AS A BIRTHDAY GIFT TO THE MARSHAL.
THE FENTON CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT REVIEWED LAST YEAR’S AUDIT WHICH INDICATED MAYOR EDDIE ALFRED WAS OVERPAID BY MORE THAN TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. AUDITOR COY VINCENT ALSO DISCUSSED OTHER FINDINGS SUCH AS EXCESS PAY TO CLERKS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, INACCURATE PAYROLL DATA BEING ENTERED, AND REPORTS OF MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS BEING WITHDRAWN AND PUT ON A PREPAID DEBIT CARD. VINCENT TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT MAYOR ALFRED IS SUPPOSED TO REPAY THE CITY 15 THOUSAND DOLLARS, IN ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR MONTHLY INCREMENTS. VINCENT SAYS THE PREPAID DEBIT CARD IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION AND STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO RECOVER THE MONEY.
IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, AUTHORITIES DISCOVERED A SECOND BODY IN A VEHICLE IN LAKE DUBUISSON TUESDAY ONE DAY AFTER A WOMAN’S BODY WAS FOUND. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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Police officers and prosecutors from agencies around Louisiana are training to investigate and bring to court cases involving deaths from opioid abuse, as such deaths are on the rise. Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office hosted the all-day education session Tuesday in Baton Rouge, coordinating with the National Attorneys General Training and Research Institute. Law enforcement officials from around the country were on hand to discuss investigative tactics, legal tools for prosecuting abuse cases and distinctions between opioid cases and other drug cases. Joanne Thomka of the national training institute says Louisiana is the fifth state to hold such a training course. Landry told participants Louisiana is one of eight states that have more opioid prescriptions than residents.
THE LAFAYETTE EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCED THE FINALISTS FOR THE 2018 TEACHER AWARDS, WITH THE WINNERS TO BE REVEALED AT A JANUARY 18TH CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE HEYMANN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. THE ELEMENTARY FINALISTS ARE BECKY CADE OF J. WALLACE JAMES, CATHERINE HARTWECK OF J-W FAULK, JULIE MILLER OF THE EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF ACADIANA, AND COURTNEY VINCENT OF BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY AND LAFAYETTE HIGH. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL FINALISTS ARE JENNIFER CAILLIER OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA, KARL COMEAUX OF EDGAR MARTIN, LISETTE HENDERSON OF PAUL BREAUX MIDDLE AND THE EARLY COLLEGE ACADEMY, AND ARLECIA PATRICE MALVEAUX AT THE ACADIANA RENAISSANCE ACADEMY. THE HIGH SCHOOL FINALISTS ARE JOHN BROUSSARD AND PHILIP RYLAND OF ACADIANA HIGH, NICHOLAS CREDEUR OF LAFAYETTE HIGH, AND JACOB SIMON OF COMEAUX HIGH SCHOOL.
THE LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER AND HARBOR HOSPICE ARE TEAMING UP FOR A COAT DRIVE TO HELP KEEP SENIOR CITIZENS IN CALCASIEU PARISH WARM. KEELY DAVIDSON, MARKETING DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER, SAYS SOME SENIORS ARRIVE AT THE HOME WITH JUST THE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACK BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO FAMILY NEARBY TO DEPEND ON. SHE SAYS THEY ARE HOPING TO COLLECT AS MANY COATS AS POSSIBLE AND ASKS THE COMMUNITY TO CHECK THEIR CLOSETS FOR NEW OR GENTLY USED COATS THAT THEY CAN DONATE. THE COATS CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE LAKE CHARLES CARE CENTER, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 2701 ERNEST STREET.
AN OFFICIAL CEREMONY WAS HELD YESTERDAY TO KICK OFF THE EXPANSION AND RENOVATION OF THE ACADIA GENERAL HOSPITAL’S EMERGENCY ROOM. THE ESTIMATED FOUR MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE TWELVE TO 14 MONTHS. THE E-R AT THE HOSPITAL, LOCATED IN CROWLEY, WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE 600 PATIENTS A MONTH, BUT NOW THEY SEE ABOUT 18-HUNDRED PATIENTS MONTHLY. THE NEW E-R WILL BE TWICE AS BIG WITH TEN PRIVATE ROOMS, TWO HOLDING ROOMS AND TWO TRIAGE AREAS.
New rules will govern how high school students can earn college credit through dual enrollment courses. The Advocate reports the Louisiana Board of Regents approved the new standards Monday. Dual enrollment courses are supposed to mirror the classes taken by college students, but higher education officials questioned whether the courses were rigorous enough. Under one change, dual enrollment instructors who are not college faculty will have to receive training from the college on how to teach and grade the course.
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