KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


3-18-15

JURY SELECTION GOT UNDERWAY YESTERDAY IN THE SETH FONTENOT MURDER TRIAL.  JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.

VOICER H :22

 

THE CALCASIEU PARISH PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT APPROVED THREE NEW WORKER VILLAGES.  ONE, TO BE LOCATED IN THE 32-HUNDRED BLOCK OF OPELOUSAS STREET IN LAKE CHARLES, WOULD HOUSE WOMEN ONLY.  THE OTHER TWO FOR MEN WOULD BE BUILT OFF OF J. CLOPHUS ROAD IN MOSSVILLE AND OFF OF HIGHWAY 27 AND MARCANTEL ROAD, SOUTH OF DEQUINCY.  THE FULL CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY WILL STILL HAVE TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL.

 

AN INVESTIGATION OF A HIT-AND-RUN IN SCOTT HAS LED TO THE ARREST OF A POTENTIAL DRUG DEALER FROM RAYNE.  POLICE RECEIVED A TIP OF A DRIVER CIRCLING THE ROUNDABOUT NEAR THE I-TEN SCOTT EXIT, HITTING A HIGHWAY SIGN.  A POLICE OFFICER FOUND THE CAR WITH A FLAT ON OLD SPANISH ROAD AND NOTICED THE SMELL OF MARIJUANA, WHICH LED TO A SEARCH.  THE OFFICER FOUND 55 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA, A DIGITAL SCALE, CLEAR PLASTIC BAGS AND SOME CASH.  19-YEAR-OLD ANDREW KONDERT OF RAYNE FACES MULTIPLE DRUG OFFENSES AS WELL AS HIT-AND-RUN DRIVING.

 

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration is moving ahead with a plan to sell the state’s remaining share of a massive tobacco settlement, despite criticism the move would waste a valuable asset for a quick fix to budget problems.  A board that oversees the settlement agreed to the idea Tuesday, though several more approvals would be needed before any sale.  Treasurer John Kennedy objected, saying Jindal’s plan is driven by desperation to find money for a budget awash in red ink.  Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says the administration proposal doesn’t involve a one-year cash infusion, but $750 million that could be spent over eight years to pay for Louisiana’s free college tuition program.

 

THE DUSON BOARD OF ALDERMEN UNANIMOUSLY APPOINTED KIP JUDICE AS THE NEW POLICE CHIEF.  JUDICE WORKED IN THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE FOR 29 YEARS, AND RECENTLY WAS THE RUNNERUP IN THE RACE FOR LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL.  THE TOWN’S MOST RECENT POLICE CHIEF, FRANK ANDREW, WAS FIRED LAST JULY OVER ALLEGATIONS OF GAMBLING WHILE ON DUTY.  JUDICE SAYS HE IS COMMITTED TO RIGHTING THE WRONGS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE DUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT OVER THE YEARS.

THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS DROPPED A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL BOOK BAGS BE CLEAR OR MESH.  BOARD MEMBER WESLEY TAYLOR SAYS HE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM PARENTS THAT THOSE TYPES OF BOOK BAGS ARE HARD TO FIND, EXPENSIVE, AND USUALLY OF POOR QUALITY.  THE BOARD ALSO VOTED TO PROHIBIT FEMALE STUDENTS FROM WEARING JEGGINGS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO IMITATE TIGHT JEANS.  THEY ADJUSTED ANOTHER DRESS CODE POLICY, IN WHICH, NEXT YEAR, STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WEAR HOODIES OR SWEATSHIRTS OF ANY COLOR, NOT JUST THE SCHOOL’S COLORS.

 

SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS OF LAYOFFS AT PARKER DRILLING IN NEW IBERIA.  THE COMPANY SUBMITTED A NOTICE TO THE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 24TH THAT THEY PLANNED ON LAYING OFF BETWEEN FIFTY AND 297 EMPLOYEES SOMETIME BETWEEN MARCH 4TH AND MARCH 18TH.  PARKER DRILLING EXPERIENCED A PROFITABLE 2014, BUT CHAIRMAN GARY G. RICH SAYS THEY ANTICIPATE A SEVER DOWNTURN IN U-S MARKETS THIS YEAR.  MIKE TARANTINO OF THE IBERIA PARISH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION SAYS HE HAS HEARD NOTHING ABOUT LAYOFFS AT PARKER, BUT HAS A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH THEM NEXT WEEK.

 

The Lafayette Parish School System plans to name its media center after a longtime employee who was killed in a crash last month.  The Advertiser reports that the Lafayette Parish School Board on Wednesday will consider a request to name it the Carol Ann Richard Media Center.   Richard worked as a secretary at the media center for 20 years, and colleagues say she was known for her courtesy and professionalism.  Richard, who was 66, was killed in a February car crash in Lafayette when a suspected drunk driver hit her vehicle.