7-27-26
A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT AND SHERIFF HAS BROKEN OUT INTO A PUBLIC FEUD. PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD SAYS HE RECENTLY SHUT DOWN ANIMAL CONTROL OPERATIONS TEMPORARILY BECAUSE OF RISING JAIL COSTS WHICH THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO PAY BECAUSE OF A STATE LAW. SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ ALLEGES THE PARISH GOVERNMENT HAS RETAINED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR FROM A PROPERTY TAX THAT IS INTENDED TO FUND JAIL OPERATIONS. BOTH AGREE THAT THE AGING JAIL IS A SERIOUS LIABILITY HIGHLIGHTED BY MULTIPLE INMATE ESCAPES.
DUSON POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE STOLEN AN E-BIKE. THE THEFT HAPPENED AT AROUND THREE-THIRTY FRIDAY MORNING IN THE SEVEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF SOUTH RICHFIELD. DUSON POLICE HAVE RELEASED PHOTOS OF THE SUSPECT ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE. ANYONE WHO CAN IDENTIFY THE MAN IS ASKED TO CALL DUSON POLICE.
DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN CLEO FIELDS SAYS HE FEELS CALLED TO FINISH THE WORK OF HIS LONGTIME FRIEND, LARRY SELDERS. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
VOICER V :17
THE WESTLAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED A BOAT FIRE YESTERDAY EVENING. ONE PERSON SUFFERED BURN INJURIES AND WAS BROUGHT BY BYSTANDERS TO A BOAT LAUNCH FOR TREATMENT BY ACADIAN AMBULANCE. OFFICIALS SAY THAT PERSON CHOSE NOT TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. CREWS ALLOWED THE FLAMES ON THE BOAT TO DIMINISH BEFORE PUTTING OUT THE REMAINING HOT SPOTS.
CROWLEY MAYOR CHAD MONCEAUX MET WITH OFFICIALS AT LAWCO TO FIND OUT WHY MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE SEEN A LARGE SPIKE IN WATER BILLS. HE FOUND OUT LAWCO HAD BEEN ESTIMATING CUSTOMER BILLS FOR TWO TO THREE MONTHS BEFORE SENDING OUT METER READERS TO TAKE ACTUAL READINGS, RESULTING IN A LARGE CATCH-UP CHARGE. SOME RESIDENTS SAW THEIR WATER BILLS SPIKE BY US MUCH AS TEN TIMES THE NORMAL AMOUNT. MONCEAUS SAYS HE ASKED THE LAWCO OFFICIALS TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CHANGES SO THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN.
THERE ARE JUST A FEW WEEKS OF SUMMER VACATION LEFT AND THAT MEANS BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS. GEORGE FAUST HAS DETAILS ON A SPECIAL EVENT.
VOICER W :31
THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHED A FIFTEEN MEMBER SCHOOL-FUNDING TASK FORCE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE REGULAR SESSION. THEY WILL BEGIN MEETING ON AUGUST THIRTEENTH WITH THE MISSION OF CONDUCTING A TOP-TO-BOTTOM REVIEW OF THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA KNOWN AS THE MINIMUM FOUNDATION PROGRAM. THE M-F-P DOLES OUT ABOUT FOUR BILLION DOLLARS TO SCHOOLS ANNUALLY. GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY SAID IN JUNE THAT HE HOPES FOR A BRAND NEW M-F-P, A NEW DAWN IN LOUISIANA, BY NEXT YEAR.
THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND LOUISIANA ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO CONTROL RECENTLY CONDUCTED TWO COMPLIANCE CHECKS WITHIN AN EIGHT DAY PERIOD IN THE PARISH. THEY WERE SEEKING TO IDENTIFY STORES ILLEGALLY SELLING ALCOHOL TO MINORS. THE CHECKS WERE CONDUCTED IN CLOSE SUCCESSION TO PREVENT STORES FROM BEING PREPARED AND TO DETERMINE IF ANY STORES HAD LEARNED FROM PRIOR VIOLATIONS. ONLE ONE ESTABLISHMENT FAILED IN THE SECOND ROUND OF CHECKS.
