3-16-15
THE MURDER TRIAL OF SETH FONTENOT OF LAFAYETTE BEGINS TOMORROW, BARRING ANY DELAYS OR LAST MINUTE PLEA DEALS. FONTENOT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF ST. THOMAS MORE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN AUSTIN RIVAULT IN 2013, AND TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER. FONTENOT CLAIMS HE ATTEMPTED TO SHOOT THE TAILLIGHTS OF A FLEEING VEHICLE, IN ORDER TO SCARE THE BOYS IN THE VEHICLE. THE JURY WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF CONVICTING FONTENOT ON A LESSER CHARGE.
A WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING HER AUNT IN SULPHUR HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON. 55-YEAR-OLD SARAH FLORENCE PARKER HAD BEEN HELD IN PRISON SINCE NOVEMBER ON A MILLION DOLLAR BOND. SHE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR THE DEATH OF HER AUNT, 66-YEAR-OLD PAMELA PARKER LAST NOVEMBER. SARAH’S ATTORNEY, ANDREW CASANAVE, SAYS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONNECT HER TO THE CRIME, AND SHE SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.
A DEADLY AND HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS CASE OF BIRD FLU HAS BEEN DETECTED IN SEVERAL STATES ALONG THE MISSISSIPI RIVER AND IT COULD BE COMING TO LOUISIANA. THE H5NW AVIAN INFLUENZA IS SPREAD BY WATERFOWL THAT USE A FLYWAY THAT INCLUDES THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN, BORDERING ST. LANDRY PARISH. AGENT VINCE DESHOTEL WITH THE LSU AG CENTER SAYS THERE ARE NO LARGE SCALE POULTRY OPERATIONS IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, BUT THEY ARE WARNING PEOPLE IN THE PARISH WHO RAISE CHICKENS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE DISEASE. THE DISEASE IS NOT A THREAT TO HUMANS.
Eight people have been indicted on racketeering charges in Calcasieu Parish in connection with a string of burglaries in which people lost large amounts of cash after making stops at banks. Authorities allege that the eight participated in 17 such thefts from November 2012 to January, netting amounts ranging from $100 to $35,000. The American Press reports that the suspects allegedly watched banks, followed customers who left with money bags, and then burglarized their unattended vehicles. The indictment lists two robberies in November 2012, then picks up again in February 2014.
A NEW NONPROFIT GROUP PLANS ON RESTORING THE AZALEA TRAIL, WHICH ONCE WAS A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN LAFAYETTE. SCENIC LAFAYETTE CHAIRWOMAN CHERYL BROUSSARD PERRET SAYS THEY WILL BE FOCUSING ON THE REVITALIZATION OF THE AZALEA TRAIL THIS YEAR. SHE SAYS IT IS A YEARLONG PLANNING PROCESS. SHE TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT HOPEFULLY BY NEXT SPRING THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN PLANTING MORE AZALEAS, SO THE ENTIRE CITY IS MORE COLORFUL EVERY SPRING.
MORE THAN SEVENTY VOLUNTEERS SPENT THE WEEKEND FIXING UP THE U-S-S ORLECK IN LAKE CHARLES. ERIC THIBODEAUX WITH THE ORLECK TELLS KPLC TV THAT THE 70-YEAR-OLD NAVAL DESTROYER LOOKS LIKE A WHOLE NEW SHIP. HE SAYS THE VOLUNTEERS GAVE IT A NEW COAT OF PAINT, AND DID A LOT OF WORK ON THE SECOND DECK AND THE MAIN CORRIDOR. THE PUBLIC CAN VISIT THE SHIP ON THE WEEKDAYS BETWEEN TEN AND THREE AND ON SATURDAYS FROM TEN TO FOUR.
STATE POLICE SAY A PORTION OF L-A 87 IN ST. MARY PARISH WAS SHUT DOWN LAST NIGHT FOLLOWING A FATAL CRASH THAT HAPPENED NEAR BRIARWOOD DRIVE. JULIE DARCY HAS MORE.
VOICER F :15
First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending March 7 increased from the previous week’s total. The state labor department figures released Friday show the initial claims increased to 2,782 from the previous week’s total of 2,559. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 1,857.
Manufacturing had the highest over-the-week increase in initial claims, followed by health care and social assistance.
