3-25-16
PEARLY MITCHELL WAS AWAKENED BY A TORNADO RIPPING HER ROOF OFF YESTERDAY MORNING NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF TAYLOR AND ROOSEVELT STREETS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES CONFIRMED THE EF-1 TORNADO TOUCHDOWNED AROUND 7:45AM FOR ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF A MILE. THE TORNADO CARRIED MITCHELL’S ROOF TO THREE OTHER HOMES AND DAMAGED THEM.
AN UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN WAS FOUND DEAD JUST BEFORE NOON YESTERDAY AT DEES MOTEL, SOUTH OF DERIDDER. BEAUREGARD SHERIFF DETECTIVES ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH AS A HOMICIDE AND ASK IF ANYONE HAS INFORATION TO CALL BEAUREGARD CRIME STOPPERS AT 462-8918
WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC, TROY ANTHONY JOSEPH, 52 OF LAFAYETTE, HAS BEEN IDETIFIED AS THE SUSPECT WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE ALMOST $300 IN FROZEN CRAWFISH TUESDAY FROM THE BEST STOP IN SCOTT. THERE IS AN ARREST WARRANT FOR JOSEPH AND SCOTT POLICE ARE ASKING IF ANYONE KNOWS WHERE JOSEPH IS TO CALL SCOTT POLICE AT 889-5105.
A DISTRICT JUDGE HAS DECIDED THAT LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHALL BRIAN POPE WILL HAVE TO SPEND TIME IN JAIL. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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SETH FONTENOT’S 13 MONTH PRISON SENTENCE WAS UPHELD BY A STATE APPEALS COURT THIS WEEK. FONTENOT COULD HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO A MINIMUM OF 20 YEARS IN PRISON IF THE PROCECUTION HAD FILED THE PROPER DOCUMENT AT THE PROPER TIME. THE LAFAYETTE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAD FILED THE APPEAL OF THE 13 MONTH SENTENCE, ARGUING THAT FONTENOT USED A GUM WHILE COMMITTING A FELONY. FONTENOT WILL BE RELEASED FROM JAIL IN MAY.
(AP) To rebalance this year’s budget, Gov. John Bel Edwards is levying all of a $70 million spending reduction on the state health department and sparing Louisiana’s public colleges. The Democratic governor announced Thursday the final pieces of budget rebalancing needed to get the state out of the red before June 30. Edwards says the Department of Health and Hospitals has $40 million in savings from lower-than-expected Medicaid spending and changes made in department management since he took office. The remaining $30 million in cuts will be divided among a program for “medically fragile” children, the managers of the privatized LSU hospitals and managed care companies that provide Medicaid services. Contracts in the department also will be cut, and Louisiana will tap into additional federal financing available for the Medicaid program.
CALCASIEU AND ALLEN PARISHES ARE STILL WAITING ON APPROVAL FOR THE DISASTER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, AND PROBABLY WON’T GET DETAILS UNTIL MONDAY. ONCE APPROVED, A SCHEDULE ALONG WITH LOCATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOR RESIDENTS NEEDING ASSISTANCE. BEAUREGARD AND VERNON PARISHES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET UP AND OPERATING AT AMERICAN LEGION POST 27 ON HWY 112 IN DERIDDER AND AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ON 1400 NOLAN TRACE DRIVE IN LEESVILLE. DSNAP, FORMERLY DISASTER FOOD STAMPS, PROVIDES FOOD ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE HOMES WHO NEED HELP BUYING GROCERIES DUE TO LOST INCOME OR DAMAGES FOLLOWING A DISASTER.
