7-10-26
A FIFTY-FIVE-HUNDRED-DOLLAR METER FEE IMPOSED BY LAFAYETTE PARISH WATER DISTRICT SOUTH IS DRAWING FRUSTRATION FROM DEVELOPERS, RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL. THE WATER DISTRICT TIED THE FEE TO FIVE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES NEEDED TO SERVE AROUND ONE THOUSAND NEW HOMES TO BE BUILT ALONG RIDGE ROAD. THE FEE APPLIES TO LARGE SCALE DEVELOPERS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS SEEKING NEW WATER METER CONNECTIONS. COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN GUILBEAU TOLD THE BOARD THEY NEED TO ASSERT THEIR OVERSIGHT ROLE EVEN TO THE POINT OF REPLACING THE BOARD.
A JURY HAS FOUND A NEW IBERIA MAN GUILTY OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON. ON TUESDAY, THE JURY UNANIMOUSLY CONVICTED TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD JATAVIST REEDOM. WHILE NEW IBERIA POLICE EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT OF HIS HOTEL ROOM, REEDOM TOSSED A GUN ON THE HOTEL BED AND UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO FLEE. HE LATER ADMITTED THE GUN BELONGED TO HIM.
LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL HAS JOINED OTHER STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN CRACKING DOWN ON ILLEGAL ROBOCALLS. THEY ARE URGING THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO STRENGTHEN REGULATIONS. THEY PROPOSE TIGHTENING OVERSIGHT OF COMPANIES THAT BUY AND SELL PHONE NUMBERS. IT WOULD THEN MAKE IT EASIER FOR INVESTIGATORS TO TRACE SCAM CALLS BACK TO THEIR SOURCE, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE SCAMMERS TO DISGUISE THEMSELVES BEHIND LEGITIMATE PHONE NUMBERS.
JENNINGS POLICE HAVE RECEIVED REPORTS OF AN OFFICER ATTEMPTING TO SERVE WARRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ALLEGEDLY FAILED TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY. IT TURNS OUT THE REPORTS ARE THE RESULT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING. A JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IS SERVING GRAND JURY SUMMONS WHICH MUST BE DONE IN PERSON. THE DEPUTY IS NOT SERVING ARREST WARRANTS.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY MET LAST NIGHT TO SHARE THEIR OPINIONS ON THE FUTURE GROWTH OF UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF LAFAYETE PARISH. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
VOICER D :18
THE GRAND COTEAU TOWN COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO RAISE THE PAY OF ALL POLICE OFFICERS BY A DOLLAR-FIFTY AN HOUR. POLICE CHIEF BRAD RENDELL POINTED OUT THE NEED OF A PAY RAISE TO RECRUIT NEW OFFICERS AND KEEP THE EXPERIENCED ONES. HE SAYS OFFICERS IN NEARBY PORT BARRE GIVE STARTING OFFICERS THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS MORE PER HOUR THAN THE GRAND COTEAU STARTING OFFICERS. MAYOR PATRICK RICHARD SAYS THE TOWN WANTS TO SUPPORT THEIR OFFICERS BUT IT MUST STAY WITHIN BUDGET.
IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO FISH IN THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN, BE AWARE OF NEW REGULATIONS TAKING PLACE AUGUST FIRST. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
VOICER C :27
THE CITY OF OPELOUSAS HAS SECURED A SEVENTEEN-MILLION-DOLLAR REVOLVING DRINKING WATER LOAN FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THE MONEY WILL BE USED TO REPLACE AGING GALVANIZED WATER LINES IN THE CITY’S DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. THE WATER LINES THAT HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR TWENTY-FIVE TO SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS WILL BE TARGETED FOR REPLACEMENT. THOSE WATER LINES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ONGOING WATER CONCERNS FOR RESIDENTS.
