2-8-22
FORMER LAFAYETTE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF WAYNE GRIFFIN HAS FORMALLY FILED AN APPEAL OF HIS TERMINATION. GRIFFIN WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE IN OCTOBER WHEN THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT, AND HE WAS FIRED LAST MONTH. IN A LETTER TO THE LAFAYETTE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, GRIFFIN SAYS HIS TERMINATION WAS WITHOUT JUST CAUSE AND IN BAD FAITH. HE SAYS THE INVESTIGATION VIOLATED HIS RIGHTS UNDER STATE LAW.
THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A TEENAGE GIRL WHO HASN’T BEEN SEEN OR HEARD SINCE LATE SATURDAY NIGHT. SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD EBONY LABAUVE WAS LAST SEEN LEAVING A RESIDENCE AND ENTERING A GOLD SEDAN AND SHE WAS WEARING A DARK-COLORED HOODIE WITH GRAY SWEATPANTS. EBONY IS WHITE, FIVE FEET, THREE INCHES AND APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE POUNDS WITH DIRTY BLONDE HAIR AND BROWN EYES. ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION OR KNOWS HER WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT THREE-NINE-FOUR-THIRTY-SEVENTY-ONE.
A HOUSE FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT IN JENNINGS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY IMPROPER HEATING. BY THE TIME THE JENNINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT SIX-EIGHTEEN P-M, THE HOUSE ON GARRETT LANE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE, AND THEY HAD HELP FROM THREE OTHER FIRE DISTRICTS TO BRING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. THE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED THE FIRE WITH FEW INJURIES. THE JENNINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISES RESIDENTS TO PRACTICE SPACE HEATER SAFETY AND SAYS PLUGGING THEM INTO A SURGE PROTECTOR OR EXTENSION CORD COULD CAUSE A SHORT IN THE WIRING OR IT COULD OVERHEAT.
CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS THE LATEST COVID-NINETEEN NUMBERS.
VOICER B :22
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A JOB IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, A CAREER FAIR IS BEING HELD THIS WEEK IN LAFAYETTE. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS THE DETAILS.
VOICER C :30
A SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH ON MARCH TWENTY-SIXTH FOR THREE TAX PROPOSITIONS UNDER THE SCHOOL BOARD’S MASTER PLAN THAT WAS APPROVED THURSDAY. THE FIRST PROPOSITION WOULD GIVE TEACHERS A THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR BOOST TO THEIR ANNUAL SALARY WHILE SUPPORT STAFF WOULD SEE A TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR INCREASE. THE SECOND PROPOSITION WOULD PROVIDE SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT DECADE TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARISH’S ATHLETIC FACILITIES. THE THIRD AND FINAL PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR NEW KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE SCHOOLS IN THE PARISH.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL ON THE THIRTY BILLION DOLLAR DRIFTWOOD L-N-G LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION PLANT. IT WILL BE BUILT ON A ONE THOUSAND ACRE SITE ON THE WEST BANK OF THE CALCASIEU RIVER, SOUTH OF LAKE CHARLES. OFFICIALS WITH TELLURIAN INCORPORATED, THE COMPANY BEHIND THE FACILITY, SAY THEY EXPECT THE PROJECT TO CREATE FOUR HUNDRED DIRECT JOBS AND SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED CONSTRUCTION JOBS. THE COMPANY DOESN’T HAVE ALL THE FINANCING LINED UP BUT EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN CHARIF SOUKI SAYS THE BOARD FEELS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH THAT THEY WILL GET THE FINANCING IN SHORT ORDER, POSSIBLY BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.
THE SAINT MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEARCHING FOR A SUSPECT IN THE DECEMBER THIRTEENTH HOMOCIDE OF EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD TROMELL ROBERTSON, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON RAILROAD AVENUE IN BALDWIN. SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD GERALD JOSEPH DRUILHET JUNIOR OF BALDWIN IS WANTED FOR SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN BY A JUVENILE. DEPUTIES SAY HE IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS AND ANYONE KNOWING HIS WHEREABOUTS SHOULD CONTACT THE SAINT MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE. TWO WOMEN FROM BALDWIN HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT TO MURDER.
