12-26-17
THE UNITED WAY OF ACADIANA IS LAUNCHING THEIR BUCKET BRIGADE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR. 120 COMMUNITY LEADERS, SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE BUCKET BRIGADE AMBASSADORS WHO HAVE EACH BEEN GIVEN A BUCKET WITH THE GOAL OF RAISING ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH. NINETY PERCENT OF ALL FUNDS RAISED GOES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THEY ARE HOPING TO RAISE 120 THOUSAND DOLLARS DURING THE BUCKET BRIGADE CAMPAIGN, WHICH ENDS ON JANUARY 31ST.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED CHRISTMAS MORNING. THE SHOOTING OCCURRED AT AROUND 9:47 IN THE 19-HUNDRED BLOCK OF PREJEAN DRIVE. WITNESSES SAID SEVERAL SHOTS WERE FIRED. POLICE FOUND ONE PERSON WHO SUFFERED A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND AND IS IN STABLE CONDITION AT THE HOSPITAL.
AN ABBEVILLE FAMILY IS HOLDING A VIGIL TOMORROW EVENING FOR 14-YEAR-OLD DYLAN PLOWDEN, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON DECEMBER 19TH. PLOWDEN, WHO WAS SHOT IN THE AREA OF KIBBE AND VERNON STREETS, TOLD POLICE THAT 25-YEAR-OLD JALEN LAVINE WAS THE PERSON WHO SHOT HIM, AND HE LATER DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. LAVINE HAS SINCE BEEN ARRESTED AND IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER. THE VIGIL IS BEING HELD AT 5:30 TOMORROW AT 1601 GREENE STREET IN ABBEVILLE AND THE PUBLIC IS INVITED.
Louisiana’s homeowner rebuilding program has awarded $122 million in grants to victims of the 2016 floods that hit much of the state. New figures about the Restore Louisiana program were released recently, announcing that 4,200 homeowners have been awarded aid for rebuilding so far. More than 46,000 people have taken the survey that is the first step to determining eligibility. The Edwards administration has been trying to encourage more people to fill it out, knowing that about 100,000 homes were estimated to have been damaged by the floods.
THE POLICE CHIEFS OF SCOTT AND DUSON JOINED FORCES WITH STATE FARM AGENT BRIAN SCHLESINGER TO GIVE PRESENTS TO 20 FAMILIES THIS CHRISTMAS. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THE THREE JOINED FORCES TO COLLECT TOYS AND DUSON POLICE CHIEF KIP JUDICE TELLS KLFY TV THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING. HE SAYS POLICE ARE OFTEN CALLED IN TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE AT THEIR WORST, AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE BACK TO THE YOUTH IN A POSITIVE WAY. HE SAYS THIS YEAR THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE GIFTS TO CHILDREN IN NEW IBERIA, WHOSE FATHER WAS KILLED IN A HOMOCIDE, AND WHO HAD TO SPEND THEIR CHRISTMAS MONEY FOR THE FUNERAL.
A GROUP OF LYFT DRIVERS FROM SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PREPARED HOME COOKED MEALS AND GIFT BAGS TO HAND OUT SUNDAY TO THOSE IN NEED. MOST OF THE MONEY TO BUY THE FOOD AND GIFTS CAME FROM GENEROUS DONATIONS OR OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS. DOROTHY JANUARY, WHO HELPED LEAD THE EFFORT, SAYS THEY DELIVERED ABOUT THIRTY MEALS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. SHE TELLS KPLC TV THAT SHE LOVES TO HELP PEOPLE AND SEE THEM BLESSED.
THE T-M LANDRY PREP SCHOOL IN BREAUX BRIDGE IS GARNERING NATIONAL ATTENTION FOR ITS ACADEMIC SUCCESS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MIKE LANDRY TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT THE SCHOOL BEGAN IN A KITCHEN WITH FIVE STUDENTS LABELED AS “BLACK TROUBLEMAKERS” AND NOW HAS A LITTLE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED STUDENTS WITH A WAITING LIST. ALL OF THE GRADUATES FROM THE SCHOOL ATTEND FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS, MANY WITH FULL SCHOLARSHIPS, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS, SUCH AS HARVARD AND COLUMBIA. LANDRY SAYS THEY HAVE BIG GOALS SUCH AS MAKING THE GREATER ACADIANA AREA LIKE SILICON VALLEY, BUT INSTEAD CALLED THE BAYOU VALLEY, WITH GREAT INNOVATERS, CREATING THE BEST TECHNOLOGIES.
Louisiana’s agriculture department has unveiled its second mobile pet shelter for emergencies. It’s similar to one rolled out during the 2015 hurricane season. The new unit is a 48-foot transport truck equipped with up to 55 metal cages, feed, water bowls and a wash down system. The mobile pet shelter is primarily used when sudden events — such as the August 2016 flood — occur in areas where pet shelters aren’t available.
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