3-30-26
EUNICE POLICE ARE ON THE HUNT FOR A HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
VOICER S :30
AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN THE FOUR HUNDRED BLOCK OF HUVAL STREET IN LAFAYETTE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE NEARBY LITTLE REFUGE CHURCH, CAUSING HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE CHURCH’S INTERIOR AND ATTIC. THE PEOPLE AT THE APARTMENT WERE NOT AT HOME WHEN THE FIRE HAPPENED BUT A DOG IN THE APARTMENT WAS KILLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THE VENTURE GLOBAL C-P-TWO CONSTRUCTION SITE IN CAMERON WAS CLEARED BECAUSE OF A BOMB THREAT YESTERDAY. THE THREAT CAME IN AROUND NOON. STATE POLICE HAZMAT AND BOMB SQUADS WERE CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE DID NOT DEEM IT NECESSARY TO CLOSE ROADS OR ISSUE A SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER.
A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE WOULD ALLOW THE STATE LICENSING BOARD OF CONTRACTORS TO DISTRIBUTE PLUMBER LICENSES. CURRENTLY THE STATE PLUMBING BOARD ISSUES LICENSES AND AN APPRENTICE IS REQUIRED TO DO FOUR THOUSAND HOURS OF MANUEL LABOR UNDER SUPERVISION. THE BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN FONTENOT OF THIBODEAUX MENTIONS MINIMUM HOURS BUT DOES NOT GIVE A NUMBER AND IT REQUIRES PASSING A HANDS-ON EXAM. SOME LONG-TIME PLUMBERS ARE CONCERNED IT COULD RESULT IN LESS TRAINED PEOPLE ON THE JOB.
A FORTY-THREE MILLION DOLLAR RESURFACING PROJECT FOR A NINE MILE SECTION OF I-FORTY-NINE WILL BEGIN IN EARLY APRIL, RESULTING IN LANE CLOSURES AND CONGESTION. IT WILL INCLUDE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT PATCHING, MILL AND OVERLAY WORK AS WELL AS STRIPING. THE NINE MILE STRETCH GOES FROM THE I-TEN-I-FORTYNINE INTERCHANGE TO JUST PAST THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH LINE. THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.
THE SEARCH IN NEW IBERIA FOR A MISSING THREE-YEAR-OLD GIRL ENDED WHEN SHE WAS FOUND SAFE. MI’AHNI BATISTE WAS ABDUCTED FROM HER GRANDMOTHER’S HOME LOCATED ON SAINT JUDE AVENUE. POLICE SAY HER AUNT, KENYA CHARGOIS, TOOK THE GIRL. NEW IBERIA POLICE DID NOT RELEASE ANY OTHER DETAILS.
THE RAYNE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A CHANGE TO AN ORDINANCE REGULATING MANUFACTURED HOMES. RODNEY RICHARD, A CERTIFIED BUILDING OFFICIAL, SAYS THE PROBLEM THEY ADDRESSED WAS PEOPLE BUYING A STORAGE BUILDING AND TRYING TO MAKE THEM INTO A SMALL HOUSE AND THEN THEY HAD TO GO IN AND SHUT THEM DOWN BECAUSE IT DOESN’T MEET RESIDENTIAL CODEBOOK STANDARDS. RICHARD RECOMMENDED PUTTING A SQUARE FOOT LIMIT ON THESE HOMES WHICH IS NOW AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. THE ORDINANCE REQUIRES OWNERS TO LIVE IN THE HOME SO THEY COULDN’T RENT THEM OUT.
THREE PEOPLE, INCLUDING A CHILD, WERE INJURED IN A SHOOTING FRIDAY ON WILTON ROAD, THOUGH THEIR INJURIES WERE NOT CONSIDERED LIFE-THREATENING. VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARRESTED TWO PEOPLE. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD JOHNATHAN MATTHEWS AND TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD KENDALL VITAL, BOTH OF ABBEVILLE, ARE EACH CHARGED WITH SEVEN COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. THEIR BONDS HAVE NOT BEEN SET. SHERIFF EDDIE LANGLINAIS SAYS MORE CHARGES ARE POSSIBLE.
