8-13-26
A SIXTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD OPELOUSAS MAN WAS KILLED BY TWO PIT BULLS YESTERDAY MORNING SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. HORACE BROOKS WAS ATTACKED WHILE WALKING ALONG SOUTH COURT STREET. POLICE CHIEF GREG LEBLANC SAYS KIMBERLY FAULK ARRIVED AT HER HOME WITH THE DOGS IN HER VEHICLE AND, AS SHE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO THE HOME, THE DOGS EXITED THE VEHICLE AND INITIATED THE ATTACK. FAULK WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH JAIL ON A CHARGE OF NEGLIGENT HOMOCIDE AND TWO COUNTS OF UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF A DOG.
A HOUSE FIRE ON CRAWFORD STREET IN LAFAYETTE LAST NIGHT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN STARTED BY A CHILD PLAYING WITH A CIGARETTE LIGHTER. FIRE OFFICIALS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED ON THE TOP MATTRESS OF A BUNK BED, WHERE THE CHILD WAS PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTER. ONE OF THE CHILDREN ALERTED THE HOMEOWNER OF THE MATTRESS FIRE AND SHE AND HER FOUR GRANDCHILDREN MADE IT OUT OF THE HOME SAFELY. THE HOUSE HAD MODERATE FIRE DAMAGE.
THE BEAUREGARD PARISH POLICE JURY VOTED TO ALLOW THIB’S GROCERY IN LONGVILLE TO SELL ALCOHOL EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WITHIN SEVEN HUNDRED FEET OF A CHURCH. TWO JURORS VOTED AGAINST GRANTING A VARIANCE TELLING KPLC TV THE JURY WAS OVERSTEPPING ITS POWER. THE CHURCH DECLINED TO WEIGH IN TELLING KPLC TV IT CHOSE TO STAY NEUTRAL. THE OWNERS OF THIB’S GROCERY SAYS IT SHOULDN’T BE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT SINCE PEOPLE BUYING ALCOHOL CANNOT OPEN AND CONSUME IT ON THE PREMISES.
A NEW LOUISIANA LAW, AUTHORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHANCE HENRY OF CROWLEY, IS PART OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S EFFORTS TO PROTECT TAXPAYERS FROM FRAUD SCHEMES. THE LAW, WHICH TOOK EFFECT ON AUGUST FIRST, REQUIRES CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION FOR PEOPLE REQUESTING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FROM A STATE AGENCY OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. IT ALSO EXTENDS VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS BEFORE ASSISTANCE IS DOLED OUT. ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL SAYS PUBLIC BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA AND THOSE WHO ACTUALLY QUALIFY.
THE FORMER ABBEVILLE SKATING RINK CAUGHT FIRE YESTERDAY MORNING. THE ABBEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE ERATH, MEAUX-NUNEZ AND THE SEVENTH WARD FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THE BUILDING, WHICH IS VACANT AND WITHOUT ELECTRICITY, HAD LIGHT SMOKE THROUGHOUT IT WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, ACCORDING TO ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF ADAM ESPEUT. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL WAS CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES IN LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOLS AND SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS TOUCHET BEGAN VISITING THE SCHOOLS. HE PLANS ON VISITING EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT THROUGH FRIDAY. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PRIORITIZING STUDENT SAFETY, SCHOOL CULTURE, RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND SOFT SKILLS INSTRUCTION FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. TOUCHET SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS FAR AS GIVING THE KIDS A COMPETITIVE EDGE.
A RECENT AUDIT FOUND THE TOWN OF MELVILLE FLAGGED FOR BOTH FINANCIAL AND UTILITY ISSUES, BUT OFFICIALS CLAIM OTHERWISE. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH. HOWEVER, STUDENTS AT LEONVILLE ELEMENTARY GOT TODAY OFF. THAT’S BECAUSE OF A CLOGGED MAIN SEWER LINE IN THE TOWN OF LEONVILLE. IN ORDER TO FIX IT, THE WATER HAD TO BE SHUT OFF, WHICH MADE IT NECESSARY TO POSTPONE THE START OF SCHOOL.
