8-12-16
ON SEPTEMBER EIGHTH, THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A PROPOSED NINE PERCENT UTILITY RATE INCREASE OVER THREE YEARS. L-U-S DIRECTOR TERRY HUVAL SAYS THE RATE INCREASE IS NEEDED TO PAY FOR A FIVE YEAR, 232 MILLION DOLLAR CAPITAL PROGRAM WHICH WILL ENSURE THE SYSTEM CAN KEEP UP WITH A GROWING POPULATION. HE SAYS WITHOUT IT, THEY WILL HAVE TO SCALE BACK THE CAPITAL PROGRAM TO SEVENTY MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH COULD HURT THE UTILITY’S LONG TERM ABILITY TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE AND RELIABLE SERVICES. ONE COUNCILMAN, JARED BELLARD, SAYS HE WILL VOTE AGAINST THE RATE INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE POOR ECONOMY, THOUGH HE WOULD CONSIDER A MORE MODEST RATE INCREASE.
A GROUP OF LAKE CHARLES RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO A PROPOSED MANUFACTURED HOME PARK ON GOODMAN ROAD MET AT OAK PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL LAST NIGHT TO DISCUSS THEIR CONCERNS. THE DEVELOPERS OF THE MANUFACTURED HOME PARK REDUCED THE NUMBER OF SPACES FOR HOMES FROM 987 TO 680. CHARLOTTE WAYMIRE, WHO ORGANIZED LAST NIGHT’S MEETING, SAYS THAT’S STILL TOO MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN AN AREA WITH ONLY ONE WAY IN AND OUT. ON TUESDAY, THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY’S PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE WILL TAKE UP THE MATTER OF REZONING THE PROPERTY FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MANUFACTURED HOME PARK.
WITH THE ANTICIPATION OF HEAVY RAINS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, THE VERMILLION PARISH POLICE JURY IS PROVIDING SAND, BAGS AND SHOVELS FOR RESIDENTS. SANDS AND BAGS CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING IN ABBEVILLE, THE GUEYDAN AREA THREE BARN, THE ERATH AREA ONE BARN, AND THE AREA FOUR BARN IN KAPLAN. IBERIA PARISH OFFICIALS SAY THE ARE ALSO MAKING SAND AND BAGS AVAILABLE . PARISH RESIDENTS CAN GET SAND 24 HOURS A DAY AT LOREAUVILLE PARK, THE B-O-M FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE GRAND MARAIS, COTEAU, AND RYNELLA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
A once-popular outdoor magazine for Louisiana’s wildlife and fisheries enthusiasts is returning to print this fall. For decades since its start in 1917, the Louisiana Conservationist was mailed to the home of hunting and fishing license holders across the state. But publication stopped five years ago under then-Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Thursday it was resuming printing of the magazine, though on a smaller scale.
STONE ENERGY HAS ANNOUNCED COMPANY-WIDE LAYOFFS. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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YESTERDAY IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF FELIX VAIL, THE DEFENSE CALLED A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST TO THE STAND, DR. JAMES TRAYLOR, TO REFUTE THE TESTIMONY OF THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORONER. DR. TERRY WELKE TESTIFIED HE WAS 100 PERCENT POSITIVE THAT MARY HORTON VAIL’S DEATH IN 1962 WAS A HOMOCIDE. DR. TRAYLOR TESTIFIED THAT, WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE, IT IS REASONABLE TO CONCLUDE THAT SHE DROWNED. TODAY THE PROSECUTION WILL PUT DR. MICHAEL BADEN ON THE STAND WHO IS A RENOWNED PATHOLOGIST KNOWN FOR HIS INVESTIGATIONS OF THE ASSISSINATIONS OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR.
THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A MAN WHO ATTEMPTED TO BURGLARIZE A HOME ON SALT MINE HIGHWAY IN BREAUX BRIDGE. THE SUSPECT WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. HE IS DESCRIBED AS SLIM, BALDING ON TOP, WITH A SMALL PATCH OF HAIR BELOW HIS LIP, SEVERAL TATTOOS ON HIS ARMS AND CHEST, AND PRONOUNCED EARS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE’S INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION AT 394-30-71.
Bell Helicopter has committed to operating in Lafayette for the next two years.
Lafayette Regional Airport Executive Director Steven Picou tells The Advertiser the company is about to begin modifications to the 82,300-square-foot manufacturing facility. The state paid $26.3 million to build the airport-owned assembly center. Bell has been leasing the facility and committed to making an additional $11.5 million capital investment in equipment and tooling.
