8-12-26
A LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON AN EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGE. OFFICIALS SAY JACQUELINE THERESA WELCH IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED WEITH THE OFFICE. INTERNAL AUDITS FOUND DISREPANCIES IN THE OFFICE’S FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS, LEADING TO THE ARREST. IT INVOLVED THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL’S CARD ISSUED IN THE NAME OF A DEPUTY MARSHAL.
SAINT LANDRY PARISH SUPERINTENDENT MILTON BATISTE EXPRESSED OPTIMISM ABOUT THE REASSIGNMENTS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO NEW SCHOOL LOCATIONS. THE SCHOOL BOARD CLOSED AND CONSOLIDATED MULTIPLE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE PARISH IN ORDER TO ADDRESS AN EIGHTEEN-MILLION-DOLLAR DEFICIT FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. BATISTE SAYS THE SCHOOL MERGERS HAS LET THEM PLACE MORE CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN FRONT OF STUDENTS, WHICH ARE MORE HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND BETTER TEACHERS. SCHOOL BEGINS IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH TOMORROW.
THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THE RETIREMENT OF A K-NINE OFFICER. K-NINE HARRY ENTERED SERVICE AT THE START OF TWENTY-TWENTY-TWO AND OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER, PARTICIPATED IN ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY DEPLOYMENTS AND ASSISTED IN SEVENTEEN ARRESTS. HIS DETECTION ABILITIES LED TO THE SEIZURE OF A LARGE AMOUNT OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS K-NINE HARRY LEAVES BEHIND A LEGACY OF SERVICE MARKED BY COURAGE, LOYALTY AND AN UNDENIABLE IMPACT ON THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF JEFF DAVIS PARISH.
A THREE-VEHICLE CRASH IN LAFAYETTE PARISH CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A TEXAS WOMAN MONDAY. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
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CONGRESSMAN CLAY HIGGINS WILL BE IN CROWLEY TOMORROW NIGHT FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING. IT WILL TAKE PLACE BEGINNING AT SIX P-M AT AMERICAN LEGION POST FIFTEEN. HIGGINS WILL DISCUSS ISSUES FACING SOUTH LOUISIANA AND HIS WORK IN CONGRESS, PLUS HE’LL ANSWER QUESTIONS. THE TOWN HALL MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
A TIP RECEIVED BY THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE LED TO A DRUG BUST AT THE DELTA FOOD GAS STATION ON PARK ROAD IN LAKE CHARLES. THEY ARE ACCUSED OF SELLING ILLEGAL T-H-C PRODUCTS, KRATOM, AND OTHER PROHIBITED PRODUCTS TO UNDERAGE INDIVIDUALS. THE OWNER, FIFTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD AMER MIAN OF LAKE CHARLES, WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FIVE COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE, FIVE COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DRUGS AND UNLAWFUL SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS. HE WAS LATER RELEASED ON A TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAYS THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT VIOLATE POLICY WHEN IT VOTED TO CLOSE COMEAUX HIGH SCHOOL. IN JUNE, FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER RICKEY HARDY FILED A COMPLAINT. HE CLAIMED THE SCHOOL BOARD VIOLATED ITS OWN POLICY THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM VOTING TWICE ON THE SAME ISSUE UNLESS A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY APPROVES THE SECOND VOTE. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAYS THERE WASN’T ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO REVERSE THE VOTE.
THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS USING OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS TO START THE STAR PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TEAM FOR ADDICTION AND RECOVERY. JORDAN LIPPINCOTT WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THEY DECIDED TO USE THE FUNDS TO DIRECTLY HELP PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SHE SAYS THE STAR PROGRAM CONNECTS PEOPLE TO RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED TO HELP THEM WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ADDICTION AND POSSIBLY MENTAL HEALTH. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT THE STAR PROGRAM AND ITS RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AT NO COST.
