8-2-17
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX PRESENTED HIS PROPOSED BUDGET YESTERDAY FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. IT INCLUDES TWO-POINT-4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR REDEVELOPMENT. ONE MILLION DOLLARS WOULD BE PUT IN A SPECIAL ACCOUNT TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN BLIGHTED PROPERTIES AND ONE-POINT-4 MILLION WOULD BE USED TO PURCHASE LAND AND PROPERTIES. ROBIDEAUX WROTE IN HIS BUDGET MESSAGE THAT ADJUDICATED PROPERTIES NEED TO BE PUT BACK INTO COMMERCE AND HE WANTS TO FOSTER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS THAT NEED REVITALIZATION.
THE WELSH TOWN COUNCIL LAST NIGHT APPROVED A SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASE FOR POLICE CHIEF MARCUS CROCHET. THE COUNCIL VOTED 3-TO-2 TO MOVE CROCHET’S SALARY FROM 40 THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO 55 THOUSAND. CROCHET SAYS HE’S GRATEFUL FOR THE PAY RAISE WHICH TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PLEASE ALL CITIZENS EVERY TIME, BUT THEY CAN VOICE THEIR OPINION AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL TRY TO HELP THEM.
A ST. MARTINVILLE CHEF HAS THE CHANCE TO BECOME THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE GREAT AMERICAN SEAFOOD COOK-OFF, TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY IN NEW ORLEANS. IN JUNE, BONNIE BREAUX BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE LOUISIANA SEAFOOD COOKOFF IN LAFAYETTE. BREAUX IS EXECUTIVE CHEF AT THE ST. JOHN’S RESTAURANT IN ST. MARTINVILLE. MANY OF HER FANS FROM ST. MARTINVILLE ARE FILLING TWO BUSES TO GO CHEER HER ON.
LOUISIANA HAS THE WORST PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY BY WALLETHUB. THAT ORGANIZATION, WHICH RESEARCHES ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY ISSUES NATIONWIDE, TOOK INTO ACCOUNT SEVERAL ACADEMIC FACTORS WHEN PUTTING TOGETHER THE RANKINGS. LOUISIANA DID MOVE UP FROM 49TH LAST YEAR TO 44TH THIS YEAR IN THE STATE RANKINGS FOR SCHOOL QUALITY. THE STATE WAS RANKED 48TH IN MATH AND READING TEST SCORES AND 43RD FOR THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE INJURED OR THREATENED.
AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE PORCH AREA IS BEING BLAMED FOR A MOBILE HOME FIRE IN SCOTT MONDAY AFTERNOON, ACCORDING TO FIRE CHIEF CHAD SONNIER. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE MOBILE HOME, LOCATED IN THE 25-HUNDRED BLOCK OF L-A 93. BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AT 4:52 MONDAY AFTERNOON, FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE HOME. THE FAMILY’S THREE MONTH OLD PUPPY DIED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE.
A LAKE CHARLES RESIDENT HAS PRESENTED A PETITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE HOURS CITY BUSES OPERATE. RIGHT NOW BUSES OPERATE ONLY ON THE WEEKDAYS BETWEEN 5:45 A-M AND 5:45 P-M. DIONNE AUSTIN STARTED THE PETITION DRIVE AFTER HER CAR BROKE DOWN AND SHE SAW THE NEED FOR MORE BUS SERVICE. MAYOR NIC HUNTER SAYS IT WOULD COST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO EXTEND THE HOURS OF BUS OPERATIONS UNTIL TEN P-M AND ON SATURDAYS, WHICH MEANS THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND A FUNDING SOURCE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THE ESTHERWOOD POLICE OFFICER WHO HAD A CONTROVERSIAL POST ON FACEBOOK HAS RESIGNED. THE OFFICER’S NAME WAS NOT RELEASED BY KATC TV. THE POST SHOWED A WHITE WOMAN HOLDING A CHILD’S HEAD UNDER WATER WITH THE CAPTION INDICATING THAT’S WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO A WHITE CHILD, WHO’S FIRST CRUSH IS A BLACK CHILD. POLICE CHIEF ERNEST VILLEJOIN HAS ISSUED AN APOLOGY FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE OFFICER.
Shoppers get a discount on Louisiana’s state retail sales tax on many purchases this weekend. People will pay 3 percent state sales tax instead of 5 percent Friday and Saturday on most items, including back-to-school supplies, electronics and appliances. The exemption covers $2,500 of the price on each eligible item. The exemption doesn’t apply to vehicles that must be titled and licensed, or to restaurants or taxable services such as laundry or hotel rooms.
