3-13-18
YESTERDAY WORK BEGAN TO TRANSFORM THE FORMER U-L HORSE FARM ON JOHNSTON STREET IN LAFAYETTE INTO MONCUS PARK. E-B BROOKS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAFAYETTE CENTRAL PARK INC., TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER ITS EXCITING AND SURREAL TO SEE THE DREAM OF A WORLD CLASS PARK COMING TO FRUITION. THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH INVOLVES THE FRONT SIXTY ACRES OF THE PROPERTY, WILL INCLUDE A NEW TWO WAY BRIDGE OVER A COULEE, A PARKING LOT, WALKING TRAILS AND A POND. BROOKS SAYS THE SATURDAY FARMER’S MARKET WILL CONTINUE BUT PLANS INCLUDE A NEW FARMER’S MARKET AS WELL AS A MINI GOLF COURSE.
A HIGH SPEED CHASE THAT BEGAN IN IOWA ENDED NEAR DUSON WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE SPEEDING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A STATE TROOPER’S VEHICLE. IOWA POLICE CHIEF KEITH VINCENT SAYS ONE OF HIS OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER THE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 32-YEAR-OLD ASHLEY DEJEAN OF BREAUX BRIDGE, BUT SHE SPED AWAY. STATE POLICE PUT DOWN A ROAD SPIKE TO STOP HER BEFORE SHE REACHED LAFAYETTE, BUT INSTEAD SHE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, STRUCK A STATE POLICE UNIT AND OVERTURNED HER VEHICLE ON ITS SIDE. DEJEAN, WHO HAS A LONG CRIMINAL HISTORY, WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MODERATE TO MINOR INJURIES.
A BREAUX BRIDGE MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR CHILD ABUSE. DETECTIVES WITH THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION AFTER REPORTS ON FEBRUARY 28TH OF ALLEGED CHILD ABUSE. THE INVESTIGATION LED TO EVIDENCE OF INJURIES THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH CHILD ABUSE. 37-YEAR-OLD BEAU CLUSE SENIOR WAS BOOKED INTO THE ST. MARTIN PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON A CHARGE OF CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Gov. John Bel Edwards outlined a broad legislative agenda to lawmakers that includes scaling back some business regulations, tweaking teacher evaluations and making new attempts at raising Louisiana’s minimum wage. The governor spoke Monday to the House and Senate as they opened their annual regular legislative session. More than 1,100 bills have been pre-filed for consideration. Edwards steered clear on one major topic: Guns.
THERE WAS ONE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO WAS NOTICEABLY ABSENT YESTERDAY DURING GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH. SECRETARY OF STATE TOM SCHEDLER HAS STAYED OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE EVER SINCE A FORMER EMPLOYEE FILED A LAWSUIT ACCUSING HIM OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER PROMINENT OFFICIALS HAVE CALLED FOR SCHEDLER TO RESIGN. INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELAN SAID IN AN INTERVIEW FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY THAT SCHEDLER SKIPPED THE EVENT TO AVOID BEING ASKED IF HE WILL RESIGN.
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT HELD A COMMUNITY WALK THAT BEGAN AT THEIR PRECINCT ON MOSS STREET. THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT’S FOURTH WALK AND THE FIRST FOR THIS YEAR. POLICE CHIEF TOBY AGUILLARD SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THE WALK IS TO BUILD TRUST AND BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE. HE SAYS THEY WILL DO SOME MORE WALKS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND PICK IT UP AGAIN IN THE FALL.
VOTERS WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF THE WEST CALCASIEU CAMERON HOSPITAL IN SULPHUR. A PROPERTY TAX THAT HELPS PAY FOR OPERATIONS AT THE HOSPITAL IS UP FOR RENEWAL ON APRIL 28TH. LAST NIGHT THE SULPHUR CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RENEWING THE 6-POINT-9-5 MILL PROPERTY TAX FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS. THE PROPERTY TAX WILL BE ON THE APRIL 28TH BALLOT IN SULPHUR, WESTLAKE, CARLYSS, HACKBERRY AND VINTON.
CRIME IS DOWN IN ACADIA PARISH COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THAT’S ACCORDING SHERIF K-P GIBSON, WHO RELEASED HIS ANNUAL REPORT. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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