4-13-23
DISTRICT ATTORNEY DON LANDRY SAYS HIS OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE WITH A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRE-TRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM. DUSTY GUIDRY PLED GUILTY LAST MONTH TO CONSPIRACY AND BRIBERY CHARGES, ADMITTING THAT HE AND AT LEAST TWO OTHER UNNAMED OFFICIALS EXTRACTED BRIBES FROM VENDORS WHO CHARGED DEFENDANTS FOR CLASSES AND OTHER REQUIRED PROCESSES. LANDRY ISSUED A STATEMENT YESTERDAY SAYING HE LEARNED OF THE CHARGES AGAINST GUIDRY AND THE PLEA AGREEMENT TUESDAY. HE SAYS THEIR ACTIONS WERE A SERIOUS BETRAYAL OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.
AT A SPECIAL MEETING LAST NIGHT, THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO APPOINT DWANETTA SCOTT AS INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AS IT SEARCHES FOR A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT. SUPERINTENDENT PATRICK JENKINS ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY THAT HE WOULD NOT SEEK AN EXTENSION OF HIS CONTRACT WHEN IT ENDS IN JUNE AND, LAST WEEK, THE BOARD VOTED TO BUY OUT THE REMAINDER OF HIS CONTRACT. THE NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WAS THE SUPERVISOR OF CHILD ATTENDANCE AND WELFARE. ALSO DURING THE SPECIAL MEETING, THE BOARD VOTED TO MOVE ON WITH FIVE OF THE SEVEN APPLICANTS SEEKING TO BECOME THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.
YESTERDAY THE LOUISIANA SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS A SLIGHT PAY RAISE. UNDER THE PLAN, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIRE FIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD RECEIVE A ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR A MONTH PAY INCREASE. THE DECISION CAME AFTER HEARING FROM THREE LOUISIANA SHERIFFS WHO TALKED ABOUT THE STRUGGLES THEY HAVE HIRING DEPUTIES. THEY SAY THE BILL, IF APPROVED, IS A GOOD FIRST STEP TOWARD HELPING THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO FILL JOB OPENINGS.
THE JEFF DAVIS POLICE JURY LAST NIGHT REJECTED A REZONING REQUEST FOR ONE HUNDRED ACRES ALONG PINHILL CEMETARY ROAD IN IOWA. THE POTENTIAL BUYER, DAMON OATES, WAS WANTING TO PUT UP A CRAFTING SUPPLY BUSINESS THAT WOULD INCLUDE A FIFTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY. HE ASKED FOR THE PROPERTY TO BE REZONED FROM AGRICULTURAL TO COMMERCIAL. DOZENS OF RESIDENTS ATTENDED THE MEETING EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, AS A RESULT OF THE BUSINESS, TRAVELING ON THE NARROW ROAD.
A FORMER LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO APPEAL HIS TERMINATION BEFORE THE FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. DANIELLE JOHNSON HAS THE DETAILS.
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A PERSON FLEEING FROM SAINT MARTIN PARISH DEPUTIES MANAGED TO ESCAPE BY JUMPING INTO THE WATERS AT THE PORT OF IBERIA. A DEPUTY ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE DRIVER OVER MONDAY EVENING FOR A MOVING VIOLATION, WHICH LED TO THE PURSUIT FROM SAINT MARTIN PARISH TO THE PORT OF IBERIA. THE DRIVER OF THE SILVER TWENTY-TEN TOYOTA CAMRY IS BELIEVED TO BE A BLACK MALE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
LOUISIANA HOUSE SPEAKER CLAY SCHEXNAYDER ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY HIS DECISION TO RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE. THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN ANNOUNCED HE WOULDN’T SEEK REELECTION. SCHEXNAYDER SAYS HE WOULD SEEK TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE SECURE AND RESPECTED ELECTION DIVISION BUILT BY ARDOIN. HE JOINS TWO FELLOW REPUBLICANS IN THE RACE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER MIKE FRANCIS AND BRANDON TROSCLAIR.
MORGAN CITY POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A BELLE ROSE WOMAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE OVERDOSE DEATH OF THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD HAROLD SHEETS LAST AUGUST. THE POLICE ALONG WITH THE SAINT MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVED INFORMATION OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS THAT ALLEGED FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD CHRISTEN BROWN ADMINISTERED THE DRUG THAT LED TO SHEETS’ DEATH. SHE WAS BOOKED INTO THE MORGAN CITY JAIL ON A CHARGE OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. HER BOND WAS SET AT TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND.
