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THE MAIN LIBRARY BRANCH IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC YESTERDAY. IT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR FOUR YEARS SO THAT IT COULD BE RENOVATED AND HAVE ASBESTOS REMOVED FROM THE BUILDING. THE TEN-POINT-5 MILLION DOLLAR COST WAS COVERED BY A 40 MILLION DOLLAR BOND MEASURE APPROVED BY VOTERS, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR NEW LIBRARY BRANCHES. THREE OF THOSE BRANCHES HAVE BEEN BUILT, WITH THE FINAL PROJECT PLANNED FOR SCOTT.
THE SEARCH FOR THE BODY OF SHANNON GODFREY, WHO WENT MISSING IN THE SABINE RIVER ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, CONTINUES. THE FAMILY OF GODFREY IS ALLEGING THAT A CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY, WHO WAS ON A BOAT IN THE RIVER, MOVED TOO SLOWLY WHEN THE FAMILY ALERTED HIM TO THE SITUATION. GODFREY’S UNCLE, JESSIE HUSBAND, TELLS KPLC TV THAT HIS NEPHEW SURFACED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THEY FINALLY GOT THE DEPUTY’S ATTENTION. SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO SAYS HIS DEPUTY TOLD HIM IT WAS BETWEEN TWENTY AND THIRTY SECONDS FROM THE TIME HE NOTICED THE FAMILY GETTING HIS ATTENTION UNTIL GODFREY WENT UNDER WATER FOR THE LAST TIME.
A BREAUX BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN DIED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A CAR. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending June 27 decreased from the previous week’s total. The state labor department figures released Monday show the initial claims decreased to 2,707 from the previous week’s total of 2,731. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 2,577. Educational services had the largest decrease in initial claims, followed by accommodation and food services.
21-YEAR-OLD SETH FONTENTOT OF LAFAYETTE WILL BE SENTENCED TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 15-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN RIVAULT IN FEBRUARY OF 2013 AND THE WOUNDING TWO OTHER TEENAGERS. FONTENOT WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY IN MARCH ON MANSLAUGHTER AND TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY. JUDGE EDWARD RUBIN CAN IMPOSE UP TO A 40 YEAR SENTENCE FOR THE MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES. EACH OF THE AGGRAVATED BATTERY CHARGES CARRY A MAXIMUM TEN YEAR SENTENCE AND UP TO A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE.
INVESTIGATORS WITH THE SULPHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF A MAN, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN A CANAL SATURDAY MORNING. THE BODY OF 33-YEAR-OLD JOSE LUIS ZERR WAS FOUND FLOATING IN THE BAYOU OFF OF BEGLIS PARKWAY, NEAR THE INTERSTATE. SULPHUR POLICE SPOKESMAN MEL ESTESS SAYS THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. HE SAYS THEY ARE AWAITING THE RESULTS OF A TOXICOLOGY TEST.
BAYOU VERMILLION DISTRICT WORK CREWS WILL BEGIN CLEANUP WORK ON THE BAYOU CARENCRO, WHICH RUNS ALONG THE BORDER OF ST. LANDRY AND LAFAYETTE PARISHES. STATE SENATOR ELBERT GUILLORY OF OPELOUSAS AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHEN ORTEGO OF CARENCRO SPONSORED LEGISLATION EXPANDING THE BAYOU VERMILLION DISTRICT TO INCLUDE BAYOU CARENCRO. DISTRICT C-E-O DAVID CHERAMIE TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT REMOVING DEBRIS AND TREES FROM THE BAYOU WILL REDUCE SOME OF THE FLOODING ISSUES IN CARENCRO. HE SAYS IT WILL ALSO MAKE THE AREA MORE HOSPITABLE FOR CANOEING AND KAYAKING.
A new radio ad launching from an anti-tax organization is targeting state lawmakers who supported tax hikes and lessened tax breaks to balance this year’s budget. The Louisiana chapter of Americans for Prosperity is spending $60,000 for the advertising that begins statewide Tuesday. The organization is coupling it with door-knocking and phone calls to voters, directing them to a website that shows how lawmakers voted on eight bills, including a cigarette tax increase and across-the-board cuts to tax breaks. Lawmakers, many of whom will be on the Oct. 24 ballot, said the tax votes were needed to avoid steep cuts to public health care services and colleges.
