8-21-23
A CANDIDATE FOR LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DISQUALIFIED. LAFAYETTE RESIDENT AIMEE BOYD ROBINSON FILED A PETITION CHALLENGING THE CANDIDACY OF PRISCILLA GONZALEZ BECAUSE SHE CLAIMED GONZALEZ HAD NOT LIVED IN LAFAYETTE FOR A YEAR PRIOR TO QUALIFYING, WHICH IS REQUIRED. THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL COURT UPHELD THE CHALLENGE FRIDAY. GONZALEZ SAYS SHE PLANS TO APPEAL AND IS CONTINUING TO CAMPAIGN.
A SHOOTING ON WEST GROLEE STREET IN OPELOUSAS FRIDAY NIGHT LEFT A MALE VICTIM WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE FACE. IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE TEN-THIRTY FRIDAY NIGHT. THE VICTIM IDENTIFIED FORTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD TYRONE LEVIER OF OPELOUSAS AS THE SHOOTER. LEVIER SURRENDERED TO POLICE SATURDAY AND FACES CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.
THE CAMERON PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT SPENT NEARLY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS CONTAINING A MARSH FIRE THAT BEGAN SATURDAY EVENING. FIRE CHIEF TIM DUPONT SAYS IT WAS ACTUALLY TWO FIRES, ONE SOUTH OF TROSCLAIR ROAD AND ONE ON THE NORTHSIDE THAT WAS STARTED BY A CIGARETTE. HE SAYS ABOUT TWO THOUSAND ACRES BURNED AND A DOZEN FIREFIGHTERS WERE ON THE SCENE THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. DUPONT SAYS NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO HOMES WERE DAMAGED.
THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF A GRASS FIRE. IT HAPPENED AT AROUND SEVEN-THIRTY THURSDAY EVENING OFF OF TRAVAILLEUR ROAD. FIREFIGHTERS MANAGED TO GET THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL. TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM REIGNITING, FIREFIGHTERS RE-WET THE FIELD.
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS REMINDED PEOPLE RECENTLY TO ADHERE TO THE CURRENT STATEWIDE BURN BAN BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING DROUGHT AND EXTREME HEAT. EDWARDS SAYS ITS NECESSARY FOR EVERYONE TO DO THIER PART TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS FROM OCCURRING. PRIVATE BURNING IS ALLOWED IF LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS OR GOVERNMENTS GIVE PERMISSION. BARBECUES, FIRE PITS AND SMALL CAMPFIRES FOR RECREATIONAL COOKING IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE BAN, BUT OFFICIALS DISCOURAGE THEIR USE AT THIS TIME.
RAYNE POLICE HAVE RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF A MAN KILLED IN A SHOOTING IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE FAMILY DOLLAR STORE ON THE BOULEVARD. IT HAPPENED FRIDAY JUST AFTER SEVEN P-M. FIFTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD THOMAS BLAKE TOUCHET WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN CROWLEY BUT DIED ON THE WAY. RAYNE POLICE HAVE CHARGED SIXTY-YEAR-OLD VANESSA SARVER OF RAYNE WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
THE SALVATION ARMY IN LAKE CHARLES IS RESPONDING TO THE LIFE-THREATENING TEMPERATURES AND ADDING NEW HEAT RELIEF SERVICES THIS WEEK. DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.
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AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR A POSSIBLE ARSONIST IN MAMOU. THREE HOMES WERE BURNED DOWN ON MULBERRY AND EAST STREETS THURSDAY NIGHT. FIRE CHIEF GARRY REED SAYS THEY HAVE GOOD EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES ARSON AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECT WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME. HE SAYS THEY FOUND EVIDENCE OF SOME KIND OF ACCELERANT USED IN THE FIRE.
