3-14-18
A MEMBER OF THE EVANGELINE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WAS ARRESTED SATURDAY NIGHT ON DRUG CHARGES. 57-YEAR-OLD ELLIS GUILLORY SENIOR OF VILLE PLATTE WAS ARRESTED IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SULPHUR NIGHTCLUB. HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PLASTIC BAG OF POT IN HIS POCKET AND ANOTHER PLASTIC BAG OF CRACK COCAINE IN HIS SOCK, AFTER BEING SEARCHED BY A DEPUTY. HE FACES SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE CRACK COCAINE.
LAST NIGHT THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AGREED TO SPEND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THINGS LIKE BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, AND VEHICLES. THE DECISIONS ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MADE. FIRST THEY WILL ASSESS THE NEEDS IN EACH DISTRICT. THE MONEY IS ALREADY IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S GENERAL FUND.
FUNERAL SERVICES WILL TAKE PLACE TODAY FOR EVA FONTENOT, WHO DIED MONDAY AT THE AGE OF 90. FONTENOT AND HER HUSBAND OWNED AND OPERATED HALLMARK JEWELERS IN THE NORTHGATE MALL FROM 1968 TO 2012. SHE AND HER HUSBAND MET AT THE NUREMBERG TRIALS AFTER WORLD WAR TWO, WHERE SHE, A NATIVE GERMAN, WAS WORKING AS A TRANSLATOR. THE FUNERAL SERVICE IS AT NOON TODAY AT THE MARTIN AND CASTILLE FUNERAL HOME IN LAFAYETTE AND HER BODY WILL BE INTERRED AT LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL PARK.
THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS REVERSED A LOWER COURT RULING THAT HAD THREATENED STATE AID TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. THE FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED LAST YEAR THAT FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS WAS ILLEGAL BECAUSE THOSE SCHOOLS DID NOT MEET THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL. HOWEVER, IN AN 18 PAGE RULING, THE STATE SUPREME COURT SAID THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS DETERMINED THAT CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS. STATE AID TO CHARTER SCHOOLS ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE FUNDS THEY RECEIVE.
A MOTHER IN EUNICE IS SPEAKING OUT IN ANGER AND HEARTACHE AFTER DISCOVERING ANOTHER GRAVE WAS PLACED ON TOP OF HER INFANT SON’S BURIAL SITE. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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A PRISON MINISTRY IS HAVING A FUNDRAISING EVENT THIS SATURDAY IN WESTLAKE. OPEN DOOR PRISON MINISTRY WILL HOST ITS NINTH ANNUAL CHILI-HOGS COMMUNITY EVENT AT PINEDEROSA PARK FROM NINE A-M TO ONE. THERE WILL BE MOTORCYCLE RIDES, A CHILI COOKOFF, GAMES FOR KIDS, MUSIC, AND TESTIMONIES. OPEN DOOR IS A RE-ENTRY INITIATIVE THAT HELPS FORMER PRISONERS REINTEGRATE BACK INTO SOCIETY WHEN RELEASED.
RAYNE POLICE ARRESTED FOUR MEN WHO INVADED A HOME ON EAST HENRY STREET TUESDAY MORNING. THE POLICE RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT A SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE HOME INVASION AND, WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY NABBED ONE OF THE MEN, WHILE THE OTHER THREE FLED THROUGH A WINDOW. THE OTHER THREE WERE EVENTUALLY CAPTURED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VEHICLE TURNED OUT TO BE STOLEN MARCH SIXTH IN ST. LANDRY PARISH AND A STOLEN FIREARM, THAT HAD BEEN USED IN A 2014 BURGLARY IN LAFAYETTE, WAS ALSO RECOVERED.
GOVERNER JOHN BEL EDWARDS HAS FORMALLY ASKED THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ENDING THE REGULAR SESSION EARLY IN MID-MAY SO A SPECIAL SESSION CAN BE HELD ON RAISING TAXES. THE STATE IS LOOKING AT HAVING TO MAKE NEARLY 700 MILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. THE LEGISLATURE CANNOT DEAL WITH TAXES DURING THIS REGULAR SESSION, WHICH IS WHY HE WANTS THE SPECIAL SESSION. THE REQUEST FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION IS GETTING SOME PUSH BACK FROM REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS.
