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THE LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL WAS BOOKED INTO THE PARISH JAIL YESTERDAY MORNING BEFORE POSTING A 500 DOLLAR BOND. BRIAN POPE WAS CONVICTED BY JUDGE JULES EDWARDS OF FAILING TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO AN OCTOBER EIGHTH REQUEST FROM THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY FOR CERTAIN EMAILS IN CONNECTION WITH A STORY THEY WERE DOING. POPE’S ATTORNEY KEVIN STOCKSTILL SAYS HIS CLIENT WILL BE FILING AN APPEAL WITH THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS SEEKING TO OVERTURN THE CONVICTION. POPE HAD BEEN SENTENCED BY JUDGE EDWARDS TO SERVE A SEVEN DAY HOUSE ARREST AND TO TEACH 173 HOURS OF PUBLIC RECORDS COURSES.
PUBLIC WORK CREWS FROM CALCASIEU PARISH WILL BEGIN PICKING UP DEBRIS FROM THE RECENT FLOODING OF THE SABINE RIVER. RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DEBRIS ARE ASKED TO BRING IT TO THE CURBSIDE FOR PICKUP AND CALL THE PARISH TO LET THEM KNOW. PARISH SPOKESMAN TOM HOEFER SAYS THE DEBRIS SHOULD ALL BE PICKED UP BY THE END OF THE MONTH. HE SAYS AFFECTED RESIDENTS SHOULDN’T WAIT FOR AN INSPECTION FROM FEMA OR INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVES TO BRING THE DEBRIS TO THE ROAD, BUT DO TAKE PICTURES AND DOCUMENT THE DAMAGE.
A CROWLEY FUNERAL HOME DIRECTOR WAS ARRESTED FOR FAILING TO RETURN UNUSED BURIAL FUNDS TO THE FAMILY OF A DECEASED PERSON. 45-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH WILTURNER JUNIOR OF THE WILTURNER FUNERAL HOME WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT. HE BONDED OUT OF THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL YESTERDAY. CROWLEY POLICE BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE CASE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AFTER THE FAMILY MADE NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR THE MONEY TO BE RETURNED BUT RECEIVED NOTHING.
A proposal aimed at better informing people about the medical tasks they’ll need to perform for family members when they’re discharged from hospitals is advancing in the Louisiana Legislature. AARP Louisiana is pushing the measure, which coasted through the Senate health committee with the support of the Louisiana Hospital Association. It could come up for full Senate consideration this week.
The bill would require hospitals to give each patient the opportunity to designate a caregiver.
YESTERDAY U-L LAFAYETTE RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A SIX MONTH STUDY INTO THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT. THE STUDY BY PAID CONSULTANT MIKE ALDEN MAKES TWENTY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO GROW THE DEPARTMENT. AMONG THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS THE DEPARTMENT FACES, ACCORDING TO ALDEN, IS UNDERSTAFFING, WHICH, HE SAYS, IS HURTING THE BRAND. U-L PRESIDENT JOSEPH SAVOIE SAYS THIS REPORT WILL GIVE THEM A PROFESSIONAL AND INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS AS THEY BEGIN WORK ON A NEW FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
A NEW DOG PARK FOR DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES COULD OPEN BY THIS JUNE. LORI MARINOVICH OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SAYS THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ALLIANCE’S QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE HAS RAISED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO TURN A LOT BEHIND THE CITY COURTHOUSE ON PINE STREET INTO A DOG PARK. SHE SAYS THEY HAVE ALL THE AMENITIES FOR THE PARK INCLUDING BENCHES, FOUNTAINS, AND PICNIC TABLES. THE CITY WILL INSTALL THE AMENITIES AND PUT IN WATER AND SEWER LINES.
THE PORT OF IBERIA IS HOSTING A GROUNDBREAKING TOMORROW FOR LOGAN INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. THE COMPANY, OUT OF HEMPSTEAD, TEXAS, WILL OPERATE A THIRTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY ON TEN ACRES. LOGAN INDUSTRIES NEEDS THE FACILITY FOR DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO PROJECTS AND WILL STORE AND SERVICE EQUIPEMENT FOR CUSTOMERS IN IBERIA PARISH. THEY PLAN ON HIRING 150 EMPLOYEES FOR THE NEW FACILITY.
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says he could shutter many of Louisiana’s state parks, museums and historic sites if his agency takes the worst-case scenario cut for next year. Nungesser told a House budget committee Monday that Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration asked him to prepare for up to a 30 percent reduction in state financing in the budget year that begins July 1. Nungesser says he would prioritize the most heavily-visited sites to stay open. Nungesser says he’s also trying to create more public/private partnerships to generate money for parks and museums.
