3-9-23
IT’S BEEN SIX WEEKS SINCE TWELVE SQUIRREL MONKEYS WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HABITAT AT ZOOSIANA AND THEY ARE STILL MISSING. A MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO THE THEFT LAST MONTH, SIXTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH RANDELL, REMAINS BEHIND BARS ON CHARGES OF BURGLARY AND CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. THE ZOO’S GENERAL MANAGER, MATT OLDENBURG, SAYS THE MISSING ANIMALS HAD AN EFFECT ON THE REMAINING SQUIRREL MONKEYS BUT THEY ARE MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION. ZOOSIANA ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE HELPING TO REBUILD TRUST WITHIN THE TROOP.
A STUDENT AT THE S-L-C-C IBERIA CAMPUS BROUGHT A TOY HANDGUN TO SCHOOL THAT LOOKED SO REAL, IT TRIGGERED A LOCKDOWN. THE STUDENT WAS SPOTTED CARRYING THE TOY GUN IN THE NEW IBERIA CAMPUS PARKING LOT. AS A PRECAUTION, S-L-C-C OFFICIALS ISSUED A LOCKDOWN, WITH AN EMERGENCY MESSAGE SENT TO STUDENTS ON CAMPUS TO GO TO THE NEAREST ROOM AND LOCK THE DOOR UNTIL THEY RECEIVE THE ALL-CLEAR. OFFICERS TRACKED DOWN THE STUDENT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE ALLEGED WEAPON WAS A TOY GUN.
THE STATE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION YESTERDAY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A NEW MINIMUM FOUNDATION PROGRAM FORMULA. IT WOULD PROVIDE TWO HUNDRED-FIFTY-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IN PAY RAISES FOR TEACHERS. ALL TEACHERS WOULD RECEIVE A TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR RAISE AND SIXTY-ONE MILLION DOLLARS WOULD GO TOWARDS MEETING THE STATE’S GREATEST STAFFING CHALLENGES IN THE CLASSROOM. THE FORMULA WILL NOW GO TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHO CAN APPROVE OR REJECT BUT CAN’T MAKE CHANGES TO IT.
A BEDFORD, TEXAS MAN WAS ARRESTED BY JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ON NINE COUNTS OF CONTRACTOR FRAUD. DEPUTIES RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ABOUT FIFTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD JAMES MANGUM THAT OCCURRED IN ELTON IN JANUARY OF TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE. THE DEPUTIES THEN FOUND MANGUM HAD ALLEGEDLY COMMITTED CONTRACTOR FRAUD IN BOTH JEFF DAVIS AND CALCASIEU PARISH. MANGUM WAS ACCUSED OF TAKING DEPOSITS FOR ROOF REPAIRS AND DEPOSITING IT INTO HIS PERSONAL ACCOUNT.
A LAFAYETTE MAN AND A NURSE RESPONDED TO CRIES FOR HELP AND FOUND THAT A MAN IN HIS THIRTIES HAD HUNG HIMSELF. THE NEIGHBOR, DUSTIN GREEN, WHO HAD BEEN DOING LAWN WORK WHEN HE HEARD THE FRANTIC CRIES, MANAGED TO GET THE MAN DOWN FROM A BANNISTER AND, WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE NURSE, WAS ABLE TO REVIVE THE MAN. THE MAN’S MOTHER, KIRSTEN GUIDRY, SAYS SHE’S GRATEFUL TO GREEN THAT HE WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO A BEHAVIORAL CENTER WHERE HE IS REPORTEDLY DOING WELL.
IN VILLE PLATTE, NINETY-YEAR-OLD IVORY FONTENOT IS SEEKING JUSTICE AFTER BEING ATTACKED IN HIS FRONT YARD. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
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BECAUSE OF NEW HIRES, THE NUMBER OF CHILD CASEWORKER VACANCIES AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES HAS DROPPED TO FIFTY-FIVE, DOWN FROM ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY OPENINGS LAST SUMMER. MEMBERS OF THE SENATE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE LEARNED ABOUT THESE NEW FIGURES DURING AN OVERSIGHT HEARING YESTERDAY. ACCORDING TO THE ADVOCATE, STATE LAWMAKERS SAID THE HIRES SHOWED PROMISING STRIDES AT THE AGENCY THAT HAS GRAPPLED WITH MASSIVE SCRUTINY AFTER A SERIES OF CHILD DEATHS. OFFICIALS SAY THE NUMBER OF CASES STILL OUTPACES THE STAFF AVAILABLE TO WORK THEM WITH SOME WORKERS JUGGLING TWENTY CASES A MONTH, WHEN THEY ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE TEN.
AN ELDERLY COUPLE IN CROWLEY TELL KLFY TV THEY ARE FED UP WITH JUNK CARS, BROKEN TRAILERS AND TIRES BEING DUMPED AND UNATTENDED NEAR THEIR HOME. BETTY AND TROY EVANS SAY THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT LOOSE DEBRIS GETTING INTO THEIR YARD AND CAUSING A HAZARD. THE EVANS SAY THEY HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY AND SPOKE TO CITY OFFICIALS AND ARE CONSIDERING SELLING AND MOVING. MAYOR CHAD MONCEAUX SAYS HE CAN’T COMMENT BECAUSE OF PENDING LITIGATION THAT BEGAN DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
