12-2-16
THE ATTORNEY FOR LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE WAS INDICTED WEDNESDAY FOR PERJURY. 54-YEAR-OLD CHARLES K. MIDDLETON IS ACCUSED OF LYING UNDER OATH TO A GRAND JURY BACK IN AUGUST. HIS INDICTMENT CAME ON THE SAME DAY POPE WAS INDICTED ON TWO COUNTS OF PERJURY AND FIVE COUNTS OF MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE. THE TWO WERE INVOLVED IN TRYING TO UNSEAL THE DIVORCE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF MARK GARBER DURING HIS RUN FOR THE OFFICE LAST YEAR.
A MORGAN CITY COUPLE MARKED THEIR 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ON THANKSGIVING AND, TO CELEBRATE, THEY HAD WEDDING PHOTOS DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER FROM PEARLAND, TEXAS. IT WAS THE IDEA OF A GRANDAUGHTER TO HAVE THE PHOTOS TAKEN OF FERRIS AND MARGARET ROMAIRE, WHO NEVER HAD WEDDING PHOTOS WHEN THEY GOT MARRIED ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 1946. MARGARET SAYS THERE WERE CAMERAS THEN, BUT NOBODY THOUGHT TO BRING ONE TO THE WEDDING. MARGARET SAYS THE PHOTOGRAPHER, LARA CARTER, PUT THEM AT EASE, BUT SHE FELT A LITTLE SILLY PLAYING DRESS-UP IN WEDDING OUTFITS AT THE AGES OF 89 AND 90.
HIGHWAY WORKERS DISCOVERED A BODY WRAPPED IN CARPET ALONG L-A 27 NEAR HACKBERRY, JUST SOUTH OF HOG ISLAND GULLY. CAMERON PARISH SHERIFF RON JOHNSON SAYS THEY BELIEVE IT IS THE BODY OF A FEMALE, BUT IT IS SO HEAVILY DECOMPOSED, THEY ARE NOT SURE. BECAUSE THE BODY WAS WRAPPED IN CARPET, AUTHORITIES SUSPECT FOUL PLAY. JOHNSON SAYS IF IT IS A HOMOCIDE, AND IT DID OCCUR IN THE AREA, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST HOMOCIDE IN CAMERON PARISH SINCE 1996.
A TASK FORCE FORMED BY GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS IS RECOMMENDING THE STATE INCREASE AID FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES BY 700 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY. THE PANEL DIDN’T SPELL OUT HOW THE MONEY WOULD BE RAISED, BUT DID SAY THAT A GASOLINE TAX IS THE MOST RELIABLE METHOD TO RAISE THE FUNDS, THOUGH OTHER SOURCES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IT IS ESTIMATED THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE THE GAS TAX BY 23 CENTS A GALLON TO RAISE 700 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. THE PANEL WILL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR BY JANUARY FIRST.
THREE CAJUN MEAT MARKETS IN LAFAYETTE PARISH HAVE AGREED TO PAY BACK WAGES TO THEIR EMPLOYEES AND PENALTIES AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY THE U-S LABOR DEPARTMENT. DON’S SPECIALTY MEATS, THE BEST STOP SUPERMARKET, AND ROMERO’S GROCERY ARE ACCUSED OF DISPENSING REGULAR PAY WHEN OVERTIME PAY WAS DUE OR OF NOT PAYING WORKERS FOR ALL THE HOURS THEY WORKED. DON’S SPECIALTY MEATS AGREED TO 480 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BACK WAGES TO THE 133 WORKERS AT THEIR BUSINESSES IN SCOTT AND CARENCRO. BEST STOP WILL PAY MORE THAN 56 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN BACK WAGES AND ALMOST ELEVEN THOUSAND IN PENALTIES, WHILE ROMERO’S GROCERY WILL PAY 35 THOUSAND IN BACK WAGES AND JUST SHORT OF FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PENALTIES.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CASUALTIES FROM THIS WEEKEND’S RAINFALLS.JULIE DARCE EXPLAINS.
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THE WEATHER IS ALSO AFFECTING PLANNED CHRISTMAS EVENTS IN LAKE CHARLES. THE CITY HAS CANCELED THE STREET PARADE, THE LIGHTED BOAT PARADE AND THE FIREWORKS PLANNED FOR TOMORROW. ALL THE REST OF THE LIGHT UP THE LAKE FESTIVITIES ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AS PLANNED. THIS INCLUDES SANTA’S WORKSHOP, THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT AND THE LIGHTING CEREMONY IN THE CONTRABAND ROOM.
THE LOUISIANA POLICY INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN IS ENCOURAGING MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE’S EARLY CHILDHOOD TAX CREDITS. CURRENTLY ABOUT 14,500 FAMILIES HAVE CLAIMED THE CREDITS TO HELP FUND CHILD CARE FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS. THE INSTITUTE SAYS ALMOST 150 THOUSAND LOUSIANA FAMILIES, WHO QUALIFY, ARE NOT GETTING THE CREDITS. THE INSTITUTE IS TALKING WITH STATE LEGISLATORS ABOUT INCREASING THE INVESTMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, AS THE STATE HAS CUT FUNDING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS BY ALMOST 70 PERCENT IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
