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THE SCOTT FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED A GRANT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PURCHASE A THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA. FIRE CHIEF CHAD SONNIER SAYS IN A NEWS RELEASE THAT THE FIREHOUSE SUBS PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED ALMOST ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE CAMERA. IT WILL ALLOW FIREFIGHTERS TO LOCATE VICTIMS WHO ARE LOST OR TRAPPED IN BUILDINGS WITH LOW OR NO VISIBILITY. THE CAMERA WILL ALSO ALLOW FIREFIGHTERS TO SEE TRAPPED HEAT BEHIND WALLS AND CLOSED DOORS.
THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE HAS RELEASED THE NAMES OF TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN AN EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING FIRE IN SULPHUR. 69-YEAR-OLD ARLAN BARRILLEAUX AND HIS 58-YEAR-OLD WIFE, DIANNE, ALONG WITH THREE OF THEIR FOUR DOGS, PERISHED IN THE BLAZE. CHIEF DEPUTY BRANT THOMPSON OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE SAYS THEY BELIEVE AN UNATTENDED POT ON THE STOVE CAUSED THE FIRE AND THE THOMPSON’S DIED OF SMOKE INHALATION. HE SAYS THERE WERE NO WORKING SMOKE ALARMS IN THE HOUSE.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office says investigators are trying to determine whether an electrical outlet caused a house fire that killed a 79-year-old man in the St. Mary Parish town of Baldwin. In a news release the fire marshal’s office says Lionel Bonin Jr. died in the wood-framed home, which was destroyed Tuesday afternoon.
Wednesday’s release says Bonin’s wife told investigators that she and her husband left the house after the fire broke out behind two large appliances. For some reason, Bonin then went back inside the house and firefighters located his body in a bedroom after they extinguished the blaze.
U-S REPRESENTATIVE CLAY HIGGINS PRAISED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S SPEECH TO THE CONGRESS TUESDAY NIGHT. HIGGINS, WHO REPRESENTS MOST OF ACADIANA AND SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, SAID TRUMP’S SUPPORT FOR A STRONG MILITARY, SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND HIS BACKING OF ISRAEL AND THE NATION’S TRUE ALLIES RESONATED WITH HIM. LOUISIANA SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY SAID TRUMP DELIVERED A POWERFUL MESSAGE AND HE WAS PLEASED WITH HIS EMPHASIS ON GROWING JOBS AND THE ECONOMY. THE OTHER LOUISIANA SENATOR, BILL CASSIDY, SAYS HE WILL WORK WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TO ACHIEVE HIS GOALS OF GETTING THE ECONOMY AND COUNTRY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR HIS INAUGURAL PARISH-WIDE ADDRESS. THE ROBIDEAUX REPORT, AS IT IS KNOWN, WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 30TH AT THE HEYMANN CENTER AND IS A TICKETED EVENT, THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE SHOWCASE OF CULTURE AT THE FREM BOUSTANY CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH WILL INCLUDE FOOD, MUSIC, ART, AND RECREATION. ROBIDEAUX SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT HE WILL GIVE AN HONEST REVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. HE ALSO WILL UNVEIL IMPORTANT INITIATIVES TO FURTHER DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY.
THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL TOOK THE FIRST STEP IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COVE LANE INTERCHANGE, WHICH HAS SEEN A TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN TRAFFIC. THE COUNCIL APPROVED A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT WITH THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY ON A PROJECTED SEVENTEEN MILLION DOLLAR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THE PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE WIDENING WEST PRIEN LAKE ROAD FROM COVE LANE SOUTH TO SALE ROAD, INCREASING THE SPACE AT INTERSECTIONS, AND ADDING SIDEWALKS WHILE MAKING UTILITY AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA. THE POLICE JURY WILL STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT BEFORE IT TAKES EFFECT.
AN OPELOUSAS POLICE OFFICER AND HIS FAMILY ARE FACING CHARGES AFTER A FIGHT AT A LOCAL BAR. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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BECAUSE OF CUTS TO THE LOUISIANA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES VOUCHERS COVERING FULL TUITION FOR CHILDREN WHO QUALIFY, PRIVATE SCHOOLS ARE TURNING INCREASINGLY TO A LESS GENEROUS BUT MORE FLEXIBLE TAX REBATE PROGRAM. THE TUITION DONATION REBATE PROGRAM RELIES ON PRIVATE DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS TO FINANCE PART OF A CHILD’S PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION, ACCORDING TO THE ADVOCATE. THE PROGRAM, WHICH BENFITTED ONLY SIXTEEN CHILDREN IN ITS FIRST YEAR, HAS GROWN TO 1,672 STUDENTS THIS YEAR. ABOUT FOUR OUT OF EVERY TEN FAMILIES IN THE STATE CAN POTENTIALLY QUALIFY FOR THE REBATE-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS.
