3-1-19
MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE ATTENDED A PUBLIC HEARING THURSDAY NIGHT ABOUT THE PROPOSED LAFAYETTE REGIONAL EXPRESSWAY. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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LAST WEEK, THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL VOTED 4-TO-3 PERMITTING A MARINE AND CONSTRUCTION ON AND OFF LOADING FACILITY TO BE LOCATED IN NORTH LAKE CHARLES ALONG THE CALCASIEU RIVER JUST OFF ENTERPRISE BOULEVARD AND GIEFFERS STREET. THE VOTE CAME DESPITE THE ZONING BOARD AND THE LAKE CHARLES NORTH REDEVELOPING AUTHORITY VOTING AGAINST IT. THE PRESIDENT OF THE LAKE CHARLES NORTH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CRAIG MARKS, SAYS THEY WERE SHOCKED BY THE DECISION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. HE SAYS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN BUSINESSES APPROVED THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS THERE BUT HE SAYS NORTH LAKE CHARLES IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY.
THE T-M LANDRY COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL IN BREAUX BRIDGE MADE A SUDDEN MOVE TO A FORMER SKATE RINK ON MOSS STREET IN LAFAYETTE WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE. THE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT THAT THE SCHOOL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OCCUPY THE NEW LOCATION UNTIL FIRE PLANS ARE APPROVED. T-M LANDRY HAD BEEN AT 1800 REES STREET IN BREAUX BRIDGE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR WITHOUT APPROVED FIRE PLANS. THERE WERE PLANS TO MOVE TO THE NORTHGATE MALL IN LAFAYETTE BUT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD GREG DAVIS TELLS THE ADVOCATE THOSE PLANS WERE ABANDONED BECAUSE OF THE COST OF MOLD REMEDIATION.
Louisiana will stop routing 17-year-olds through the adult criminal justice system when they are arrested for non-violent crimes and instead will steer them to the juvenile prosecution system, under a law change taking effect Friday. The majority-Republican Legislature overwhelmingly approved the “Raise the Age” law nearly three years ago with the support of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. The measure was promoted as a way to rehabilitate young offenders and lessen the chances they would commit new crimes and become habitual offenders. The juvenile justice system will start handling 17-year-olds charged with non-violent crimes Friday and thereafter.
A POPULAR BAKERY IN LAFAYETTE WILL BE CLOSING. JENNIFER AND DUSTIN MELANCON ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSING SOPHIE B. CAKES AT THE END OF APRIL. JENNIFER TELLS THE ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER THAT THE 43 DIFFERENT FLAVORS THEY HAVE SOLD SINCE THE SHOP OPENED IN MAY OF 2010 WILL BE AVAILABLE AT SOME POINT OVER THE NEXT SEVEN WEEKS. SHE HAS SET UP A CALENDAR TO LET CUSTOMERS KNOW WHEN THEIR FAVORITE FLAVOR WILL BE ON SALE SO THEY CAN ENJOY IT ONE LAST TIME.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR RAPING A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL. A GRAND JURY YESTERDAY INDICTED 42-YEAR-OLD RANDY ROSCOE GALLOW OF FIRST DEGREE RAPE AND INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A JUVENILE UNDER 13. THE GIRL HAD BEEN VISITING GALLOW’S HOME IN MAY. GALLOW WAS CONVICTED OF ORAL SEXUAL BATTERY IN 2005.
AN OPEN FORUM WAS HELD IN OPELOUSAS TO DISCUSS CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL ZONES THERE. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CLOSE TWO SCHOOLS IN THE CITY. BOARD MEMBER ANTHONY STANDBERRY SAYS THEY ARE DOING AN ASSESSMENT NOW TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS TO CLOSE. MICHELE THIBODEAUX, THE PRINCIPAL AT NORTH ELEMENTARY, SAYS SHE HOPES THE CHANGES WILL ALLOW THEM TO BETTER RETAIN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN OPELOUSAS.
THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HAS DECLARED SEVENTEEN LOUISIANA PARISHES AS PRIMARY NATURAL DISASTER AREAS. PRODUCERS WHO SUFFERED LOSSES BECAUSE OF RAINS OR FLOODING BETWEEN AUGUST 25TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 16TH MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR EMERGENCY LOANS. THOSE PARISHES INCLUDE ACADIA , ALLEN, BEAUREGARD, CALCASIEU, CAMERON, JEFF DAVIS, ST. LANDRY AND VERMILLION PARISHES. PRODUCERS IN NEIGHBORING PARISHES ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE EMERGENCY LOANS.
