6-15-18
LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF MARK GARBER HAS SIGNED OFF ON A REVAMP OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOLS. THE NEW PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE A POLICE PRESENCE IN EACH SCHOOL. GARBER WILL OVERSEE THE PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO INVOLVES MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT ERIC KNEZEK SAYS THAT, UNDER THE PROGRAM, THEY WILL BE UTILIZING THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE’S ELITE INTELLIGENCE UNIT TO MONITOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAILS TO PREVENT INCIDENTS BEFORE THEY START.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN IS HELPING START THE FIRST HYGIENE CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS IN THE CITY. BOB RICHARD SAYS HE GOT THE IDEA AFTER LEARNING THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THE HOMELESS TO GET A SHOWER OR DO LAUNDRY. THAT WAS THE MOTIVATION FOR HIM TO START THE BEACON CENTER, WHICH WILL OPEN JULY SECOND BEHIND FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, AT THE CORNER OF SECOND AVENUE AND SEVENTEENTH STREET. HE SAYS THEY ARE STILL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP CLEAN AND PAINT THE CENTER, AND THOSE WHO CAN PAINT ARE ASKED TO BRING THEIR OWN SUPPLIES.
A ST. LANDRY PARISH PRIEST, ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING A TEENAGER, TURNED HIMSELF IN TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE YESTERDAY AND POSTED BOND. ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 75-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL GUIDRY CONFESSED TO ASSAULTING THE 16-YEAR-OLD BOY AFTER GIVING HIM ALCOHOL. THE BISHOP OF THE LAFAYETTE DIOCESE, J. DOUGLAS DESHOTEL, SAYS IT HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST NINE YEARS AFTER GUIDRY BECAME PASTOR OF ST. PETER CHURCH IN MORROW. DESHOTEL SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT ONCE THE ALLEGATION BECAME KNOWN, THEY LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION, PUT GUIDRY ON LEAVE AND CONTACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Two of former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s top aides are urging Louisiana lawmakers to support a sales tax renewal to patch budget holes. Paul Rainwater was Jindal’s chief of staff and top budget adviser. Tim Barfield worked as Jindal’s revenue secretary, chief lawyer and labor secretary. The two men wrote a letter appearing Thursday in The Advocate, backing the state Senate’s proposal to renew one-half of a 1 percent sales tax that expires on July 1. The proposal would raise $500 million to stop steep cuts to public safety programs, social services and education.
Rainwater and Barfield call it “the best solution for our state in this moment.” The idea will be considered in a special session starting Monday. House Republican leaders have favored a lower sales tax renewal.
LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING TWO SHOOTINGS THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT WITHIN BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST HAPPENED AT A CIRCLE K STORE PARKING LOT ON ERASTE LANDRY, BUT NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT. THE SECOND HAPPENED IN THE ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF MACON ROAD, IN WHICH TWO SUSPECTS FIRED SHOTS AT EACH OTHER. AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER WAS SHOT BUT SUSTAINED NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. LAFAYETTE POLICE DO NOT BELIEVE THE SHOOTINGS WERE CONNECTED.
A CALCASIEU PARISH GRAND JURY HAS INDICTED A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN FOR FIRST DEGREE RAPE. EDDIE LEE O’BRIEN ALSO FACES CHARGES OF INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A CHILD. THE CHARGES COME AFTER AN INCIDENT WITH A 12-YEAR-OLD AND 13-YEAR-OLD ON MAY SIXTH. HE WAS ARRESTED THE SAME DAY.
A DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS HELD LAST NIGHT IN BREAUX BRIDGE FOR THE A NEW MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL DRIVE. THE CITY RENAMED A SECTION OF BERARD STREET BETWEEN MILLS AND BRIDGE STREET FOR THE FAMED CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER. VICTOR ALEXANDER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BREAUX BRIDGE ST. MARTIN N-DOUBLE-A-C-P, SAYS THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR THIS SINCE 2016, BUT IT’S BEEN WORTH IT. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT DR. SHAWN WILSON SAYS, UNLIKE MOST CITIES WITH A STREET NAMED AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING, THIS ONE IS ON A MAIN ROAD.
