7-18-25
THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SECURED A CONVICTION IN THE DEATH OF U-L LAFAYETTE STUDENT JONTEREZ BROUSSARD. SHE UNKNOWINGLY CONSUMED FENTANYL, WHICH LED TO HER DEATH. TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAMIEN BERNARD OF ARNAUDVILLE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR HER DEATH.
RAYNE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AN ANONYMOUS BOMB THREAT MADE TO THE ELLINGTON NURSING HOME WEDNESDAY NIGHT. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
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THE WIFE OF OAKDALE POLICE CHIEF CHAD DOYLE WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY AFTER AN INVESTIGATION BY STATE POLICE. FIFTY-YEAR-OLD ALISON DOYLE HAS BEEN CHARGED TWO COUNTS OF MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE. SHE ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRED WITH CHANDRAKANT PATEL TO MANIPULATE THE BIDDING PROCESS FOR TWO CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES. THE POLICE CHIEF WAS ONE OF FIVE PEOPLE PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED AND INDICTED FOR CORRUPTION IN A FAKE VISA SCHEME.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS CONTINUING TO ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH FOR ACADIANA. THEY HAVE EXTENDED IT TO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. THEY SAY SOME AREAS COULD RECEIVE UP TO TWELVE INCHES OF RAIN. THAT COULD CAUSE FLOODING OF RIVERS, CREEKS AND LOW LYING AREAS.
VERMILLION PARISH OFFICIALS ARE KEEPING UP TO DATE ON WEATHER CONDITIONS AS THEY HOLD FREQUENT WEATHER CONFERENCE CALLS WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHE SERVICE IN LAKE CHARLES. CARLY VAUGHAN WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SAYS SO FAR IT’S ACTUALLY LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR VERMILLION PARISH. HOWEVER, FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT FLOOD WATERS GETTING IN THEIR HOME, SANDBAGS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL PARISH BARNS AND AT THE L-S-U AGCENTER IN ABBEVILLE. RESIDENTS CAN RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS ON THEIR PHONES BY SIGNING UP AT SMART NINE-ONE-ONE-DOT-COM.
THE LAFAYETTE CONVENTION AND VISITORS COMMISSION VOTED WEDNESDAY TO PROCEED WITH TALKS WITH U-L LAFAYETTE OFFICIALS TO PURCHASE LAND FOR AN INDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX. THE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WOULD BE BUILT AT THE CORNER OF CAJUNDOME BOULEVARD AND WEST CONGRESS STREET. IT WOULD FEATURE TEN BASKETBALL COURTS, TWENTY VOLLYBALL COURTS, MEETING ROOMS, A PERFORMANCE TRAINING CENTER, A FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER AND A CAFÉ. THE COMPLEX IS EXPECTED TO COST UP TO FORTY MILLION DOLLARS BUT IT WOULD BRING AN ESTIMATED ONE HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND VISITORS TO THE PARISH EACH YEAR AND THIRTY THOUSAND HOTEL STAYS.
AUTHORITIES ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE A CRASH IN OPELOUSAS THAT INJURED A STATE TROOPER. THE TROOPER HAD HIS LIGHTS FLASHING IN THE WESTBOUND LANE OF HIGHWAY ONE-NINETY WHILE INVESTIGATING A TWO VEHICLE CRASH. THE DRIVER OF A G-M-C CRASHED INTO THE TROOPER’S VEHICLE, PUSHING IT FORWARD INTO THE TROOPER AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN STRUCK. THE TROOPER AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY STRUCK SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES WHILE THE DRIVER OF THE G-M-C HAD MINOR INJURIES.
REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON THE ESTHERWOOD PONTOON BRIDGE. OFFICIALS SAY THE BRIDGE IS NOW OPEN TO TRAFFIC. IT HAD BEEN CLOSED SINCE JUNE NINTH FOR REPAIRS. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT SAID THE BRIDGE WAS CLOSED TO ADDRESS THE STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL NEEDS OF THE PONTOON BRIDGE.
