12-23-14
(AP) Westlake’s police and fire departments got an early Christmas present — a $115,000 grant from Phillips 66. Steve Geiger, plant manager of Phillips 66’s Westlake refinery, said the money comes from the company’s Community Signature Initiative, which aids communities with emergency preparedness and safety efforts. The grant was awarded last Friday. Mayor Bob Hardey tells The American Press the money will be split between the two public safety departments. The Fire Department will get $60,000; the Police Department will get $55,000. Hardey says the money will enable police to buy and outfit a new patrol car while Fire Chief Jacques Picou says his department will use the grant to buy a rescue bag system — air bags that can lift the weight of an 18-wheeler truck.
THE ST. LANDRY PARISH NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT TEAM HAS ARRESTED 37 YEAR OLD JERMAINE D. DOUCET AND 32 YEAR OLD BRYANT C. FIELDS, BOTH OF OPELOUSAS, FOR SELLING HIGH GRADE “HDYDRO” MARIJUANA FROM THEIR SNO-BALL STAND LOCATED ON S. BULLARD ST. IN OPELOUSAS. THE N.E.T. HAD BEEN WATCHING, GATHERING EVIDENCE AND PREPARING TO CLOSE “T & E SOUL FOOD AND SNO-BALLS. THE TWO MEN WERE OFFERING A SIDE DISH OF HYDRO MARIJUANA TO ANY CUSTOMER WILLING TO PAY. THE BUSINESS WAS LOCATED IN TWO SEPARATE DRUG FREE SCHOOL ZONES. THE N.E.T. RAIDED THE BUSINESS ON December 17TH AND SEIZED AN UNDISCLOSED QUANTITY OF HYDRO MARIJUANA. BOTH DOUCET AND FIELDS HAVE BEEN CHARGED ON SEVERAL COUNTS, BUT BOTH HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON AN UNDISCLOSED BOND WHILE AWAITING TRIAL.
GLENN MILLER, 47 OF LAKE CHARLES, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THIRD OFFENSE DWI AFTER HE TRIED TO DRIVE THROUGH A SEAT BELT AND DWI CHECKPOINT ON THE 2900 BLOCK OF E. NAPOLEON ST IN SULPHUR LAST THURSDAY. WHEN CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SPOKE WITH MILLER, THEY SMELLED A STRONG ALCOHOLIC ORDOR FROM HIS VEHICLE. MILLER ADMITTED TO DEPUTIES THAT HE HAD BEEN DRINKING BEFORE DRIVING AND THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE. MILLER ALSO PERFOMED BAD ON THE STANDARD FIELD SOBRIETY TEST AND WAS OVER THE LEGAL LIMIT ON THE BREATH INTOXILYZER TEST. MILLER HAS TWO PREVIOUS DWI ARRESTS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON CHARGES OF THIRD OFFENSE DWI AND DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION FOR PRIOR DWI OFFENSES. MILLER WAS RELEASED ON A $12,500 BOND WITH THE CONDITION THAT HE CANNOT OPERATE A VEHICLE WITHOUT A VALID LINCENSE OR AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE.
VINTON POLICE ARRESTED CODEY ALAN BEGNAUD, 42 OF BREAUX BRIDGE AND CEILYN MARIE DANOS, 34 OF LAFAYETTE ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP SATURDAY NIGHT. OFFICERS NOTICED SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WHEN THEY WERE TALKING TO THEM. THEY BROUGHT IN A POLICE DOG AND NARCOTICS AGENTS FOUND CRYSTAL METH, DRUG PARAPHEMALIA AND TWO HANDGUNS, ONE OF WHICH WAS REPORTED STOLEN. BEGNAUD WAS CHARGED AND BOOKED WITH POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A STOLEN FIREARM, ILLEGAL CARRYING OF A WEAPON IN CDS, POSSESSION OF CDS AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHEMALIA. DANOS WAS CHARGED AND BOOKED WITH POSSESSION OF A STOLEN FIREARM, ILLEGAL CARRYING OF WEAPONS IN THE PRESENECE OF CDS, POSSESSION OF CDS AND POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHEMALIA. THEY BOTH ARE BEING HELD AT THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
(AP) Despite landing a $32 million federal grant this month, child care advocates say they are stumped on how Louisiana will pay for sweeping changes in its early childhood education system. Jonathan Pearce, president of the Child Care Association of Louisiana, tells The Advocate money is the biggest issue, and right now, there is no money. The worries focus on a 2012 law pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. It is supposed to replace a preschool setup that critics contend is plagued by inequities in funding and quality and is confusing to parents. But the measure became law without any appropriation attached. Backers have spent months asking how the state can provide better-qualified teachers, serve more children and offer better oversight without additional dollars.
(AP) Sometime early next year, a task force will explore ways to ensure the various cultures in Lafayette Parish are reflected in the materials students use in the classroom. Last month, the Lafayette Parish School Board proposed a diversity and ethnic studies task force to discuss diversity issues within the school system. Board member Shelton Cobb tells The Advocate he pitched the task force in November in response to some residents faulting the school system for not including more culturally diverse instructional materials or programs. Cobb said he thinks the task force’s work should extend beyond the classroom to ensure the school system fosters an inclusive environment in the community.
(AP) Some people have griped that New Iberia’s Christmas lights are too subdued this year. But the blue lights lining trees, store windows and other decorations on Main Street are a memorial to a home-town artist — George Rodrigue, whose blue dog paintings became internationally famous. Rodrigue died a year ago. Phyllis Mata of the Magic on Main committee tells The Daily Iberian that the change from white lights is temporary. She says she feels it’s important to honor Rodrigue — important both for his family and for New Iberia. Jennifer Toups of the Downtown Business Association says the memorial is subtle and quiet, like Rodrigue himself. Son Jacques Rodrigue says the landscape and culture of New Iberia inspired his father to start painting.
