5-30-24
A BOATING TRAGEDY TUESDAY IN TOLEDO BEND LAKE CLAIMED THE LIFE OF TWO PEOPLE FROM OPELOUSAS. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
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A MAN FROM ROBLEY DRIVE IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR MULTIPLE COUNTS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ANIMAL ABUSE IN BOTH SAINT LANDRY AND LAFAYETTE PARISHES. FIFTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD SHANNON PAUL BELLARD WAS ARRESTED IN OPELOUSAS AND IS AWAITING EXTRADITION TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER TO FACE THE CHARGES IN THAT PARISH. ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL SAYS BELLARD WAS ARRESTED BY HER CYBER CRIME UNIT. THE UNIT CONDUCTED A JOINT INVESTIGATION WITH THE LAFAYETTE AND SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICES AS WELL AS HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS.
A BILL BY STATE SENATOR BLAKE MIGUEZ OF NEW IBERIA, THAT GIVES THE GOVERNOR MORE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE STATE ETHICS BOARD, HAS BEEN APPROVED BY LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS. CURRENTLY THE GOVERNOR CHOOSES SEVEN OF THE ELEVEN MEMBERS BUT THEY MUST COME FROM A POOL OF NOMINEES RECOMMENDED BY UNIVERSITY LEADERS. UNDER THE BILL, THE GOVERNOR WILL DIRECTLY PICK APPOINTEES WITHOUT HAVING TO CHOOSED FROM THE RECOMMENDED LIST. THE STATE HOUSE APPROVED AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD GROW THE ETHICS BOARD TO FIFTEEN MEMBERS AND THE GOVERNOR WOULD CHOOSE NINE OF THE APPOINTEES.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has signed legislation making it a crime to knowingly approach within 25 feet of a police officer while they are “engaged in law enforcement duties” after the officer has ordered the person to stay back. Proponents of the new law argue it creates a buffer-zone to help ensure the safety of officers. But opponents fear the measure could hinder the public’s ability to film officers. The law goes into effect Aug. 1.
A BODY FOUND IN A WATERWAY IN VINTON WEDNESDAY MORNING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD GARRETT HARRELL OF NEW ORLEANS. CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RECOVERED THE BODY WHICH WAS IN WATER NEAR OLD HIGHWAY NINETY AND BURNOUT BRIDGE. THEY RECEIVED A CALL AT AROUND EIGHT-FORTY-FIVE A-M FROM SOMEONE WHO SPOTTED THE BODY. THE CORONER WILL CONDUCT AN AUTOPSY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
JOSIE GUIDRY FROM BRANCH SAYS SHE DOESN’T KNOW HOW SHE AND HER MOTHER WILL RECOVER FROM LOSING HER HOME TO STORM DAMAGE. THE ROOF OF HER TRAILER WAS RIPPED OFF BY SIXTY MILE AN HOUR WINDS AS A STORM MOVED THROUGH THE AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON. SHE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRAIN, THE HOUSE STARTED SHAKING AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FLIP. GUIDRY TELLS KADN TV THAT SHE’S SENDING SOMEONE TO ASSESSS THE DAMAGES TO SEE IF ANYTHING CAN BE SAVED AND THEY WILL LIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS FOR NOW.
GAS UTILITIES AT THE HIMBOLA MANOR APARTMENTS IN LAFAYETTE HAVE BEEN SHUT OFF SINCE SATURDAY. ATMOS SHUT OFF THE GAS AFTER THE MANAGEMENT REPORTED A GAS LEAK AND THEY SAY THEY WILL TURN IT BACK ON AFTER THE MANAGEMENT FIXES IT. ONE RESIDENT TELLS KLFY TV THEY HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A BATH BECAUSE THERE’S NO HOT WATER AND THEY’VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COOK SINCE THE STOVE BURNERS DO NOT WORK. COUNCILMAN ELROY BROUSSARD SPOKE TO HIMBOLA MANAGEMENT WHO TOLD HIM THEY WOULD HAVE A PLUMBER ON SITE FIRST THING THIS MORNING.
A FUNDRAISER IS BEING HELD THIS SATURDAY AT THE EUNICE SUPERETTE TO HELP THE OWNERS OF NICK’S ON SECOND, WHICH WAS BURNED DOWN ON SATURDAY. HAMBURGERS, CHIPS AND A DRINK ARE BEING SOLD AT THE FUNDRAISER FOR EIGHT DOLLARS. EUNICE FIRE CHIEF CHASE BROWN SAYS IT TOOK TEN HOURS TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH THE HELP OF FIFTEEN OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE IN RAYNE, CHURCH POINT AND BASILE. HE ALSO CREDITED GOD FOR SENDING MUCH NEEDED RAIN.
