2-10-17
A FIFTY MILLION DOLLAR BACKLOG OF ROAD AND BRIDGE WORK IN THE RURAL PARTS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH IS LIKELY TO GROW, ACCORDING TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TOM CARROLL. HE TOLD LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT THERE ARE 353 STREETS IN THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE PARISH THAT NEED TO BE PATCHED AND OVERLAYED, AND 22 RURAL BRIDGES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE SAYS THERE IS LESS THAN THREE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR THAT IS BUDGETED FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. A COMMITTEE OF FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE RURAL PARTS OF THE PARISH THAT WILL BE PUT BEFORE VOTERS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
Authorities have identified the three workers who died in an explosion at the Packaging Corporation of America plant in DeRidder. The Beauregard Daily news reports that the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office identified those killed as 33-year-old William Rolls, Jr.; 42-year-old Sedrick Stallworth; and 41-year-old Jody Gooch. Seven others were hurt in Wednesday’s blast. Louisiana State Police Sgt. James Anderson said welding had been going on near a tank that exploded.
AN OVERFLOW CROWD GATHERED AT WASHINGTON TOWN HALL OVER CONCERNS ABOUT SHARPLY INCREASING GAS BILLS. ONE RESIDENT, MEREDITH BURLEIGH, SAID HE BILL WENT FROM 126 DOLLARS IN NOVEMBER TO 1,155 DOLLARS IN DECEMBER, DESPITE NOT LIVING IN THE HOME FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE HEATER BROKE. MAYOR JO PITRE SAYS HE WAS LOOKING INTO HIRING AN EXPERT TO CONFIRM THAT THE TOWN’S GAS METERS WERE WORKING CORRECTLY. HE ANGERED SOME OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE WHEN HE SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED TO CONSERVE GAS AND ENERGY, PROMPTING SOME TO YELL OUT THAT HE WASN’T LISTENING TO THEM.
The latest flashpoint between Gov. John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry involves budget cuts sought by Edwards to help close a $304 million deficit. The Democratic governor wants to cut $6 million from the Republican attorney general’s office. Landry’s office says it agreed to “belt tightening,” but objects to part of Edwards’ plan that takes $4 million in escrow, dollars from a drug company settlement. Lawmakers will decide whether to support Edwards’ proposal in a special session that begins Monday.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS LOOKING TO HIRE MORE SUBSTITUTE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY APPROVED TWO APPLICATIONS FOR ENTERPRISE ZONE ENDORSEMENTS. BY GETTING THE ENDORSEMENT, THE TWO COMPANIES COMING TO WESTLAKE QUALIFY FOR A SMALL SALES TAX REBATE, THOUGH ALL THE TAXES HAVE TO BE PAID BEFORE THEY GET THE REBATE, ACCORDING TO CALCASIEU PARISH ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING JENNIFER WALLACE. THE ENTERPRISE ZONE ENDORSEMENTS WERE APPROVED FOR TWO INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS IN WESTLAKE BY LOTTE CHEMICAL AND BY L-A-C-C, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN AXIALL CORPORATION AND LOTTE CHEMICAL. WALLACE SAYS THE TWO PROJECTS WILL PRODUCE MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND CONSTRUCTION JOBS AND 215 PERMANENT JOBS.
A MAN WANTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER WAS ARRESTED IN NEW IBERIA WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT AND CRIME REDUCTION TEAM ARRESTED 17-YEAR-OLD KEVIN PHILLIPS AT A HOME ON ROBERTSON STREET WITHOUT INCIDENT. PHILLIPS IS ACCUSED OF A SHOOTING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SOUTH HOPKINS STREET BUSINESS IN DECEMBER. WHILE ARRESTING PHILLIPS, DEPUTIES ALSO FOUND A MAN IN THE HOME, 39-YEAR-OLD JUNIOR FRANSISCO, WHO WAS WANTED FOR CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A JUVENILE, AND HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AS WELL.
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAS ONCE AGAIN EXTENDED THE TIME PERIOD ON A PROGRAM THAT COVERS HOTEL AND MOTEL RENTALS FOR THOSE WHO STILL CAN’T RETURN HOME BECAUSE OF LAST AUGUST’S FLOODS. THE NEW EXTENSION GOES THROUGH SATURDAY, MARCH 11TH. THE STATE REQUESTED THE EXTENSION BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RENTAL RESOURCES AND BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FLOODWATERS. FEMA PLANS ON REVIEWING THE ELIGIBILITY OF THOSE IN THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.
