8-24-17
MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE GATHERED WEDNESDAY EVENING AT THE DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE MONUMENT OF GENERAL ALFRED MOUTON TO CALL FOR ITS REMOVAL. THE ACTIVIST GROUP “MOVE THE MINDSET” WANTS THE STATUE OF THE CONFEDERATE GENERAL, WHO OWNED SLAVES, MOVED TO A MUSEUM. THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL HAS ADDRESSED MOVING THE STATUE IN THE PAST, BUT LEARNED LAST YEAR OF A PERMANENT INJUNCTION AGREED TO BY THE CITY IN 1980 THAT PREVENTS THEM MOVING THE STATUE EXCEPT FOR ROADWORK OR THE SALE OF THE LAND, WHERE THE STATUE IS LOCATED. A LAFAYETTE ATTORNEY, WHO REPRESENTS THE UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY, WHICH DONATED THE STATUE, SAYS COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD FACE CONTEMPT CHARGES IF THEY TAMPER WITH IT.
Two people are in custody after they were allegedly seen stripping and stealing copper behind a building in Kinder. The Jefferson Davis Parish sheriff’s chief deputy, Chris Ivey, says 48-year-old Milford Eastwood and his wife, 53-year-old Shani Eastwood, both of Kinder, face charges of simple burglary, simple criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing. Both are being held Wednesday without bond. KPLC-TV reports Ivey says Milford Eastwood has an extensive criminal record, with 27 arrests, including convictions of burglary, theft and creating or operating a clandestine lab.
OPELOUSAS HAS FIVE NEW PICKUP TRUCKS FOR THE CITY’S STREET DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE FUELED BY NATURAL GAS CREATED BY THE ST. LANDRY PARISH LANDFILL. THE TRUCKS WILL REPLACE VEHICLES THAT HAVE MORE THAN 200 THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. THEY’LL BE REFUELED AT THE BEGGS LANDFILL NATURAL GAS PUMPING STATION FOR ABOUT A DOLLAR-40 A GALLON. MAYOR REGGIE TATUM SAYS THE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TRUCKS CAME FROM A DEDICATED SALES TAX THAT GOES TOWARD EQUIPMENT FOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.
ALL EYES ARE ON THE GULF OF MEXICO. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE ON TROPICAL STORM HARVEY.
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THERE IS AN UPDATED LIST OF SANDBAG LOCATIONS AT KAJN.COM.
A SECTION OF SIMCOE STREET IN LAFAYETTE, BETWEEN TWELFTH STREET AND PONTIAC POINT, IS BEING TARGETED FOR REVITALIZATION. CITY PARISH COUNCILMAN KENNETH BOUDREAUX SAYS A PROCESS IS UNDERWAY FOR A FOLLOWUP MEEING WITH A CONSULTANT MANAGING PINK CODES. BOUDREAUX SAYS PINK CODES ARE SOFTER VERSIONS OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CODES, WHICH HELPS ENERGIZE AREAS THAT HAVE BECOME DORMANT AND LEFT BEHIND. HE SAYS THEY COME UP WITH IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUSINESS AND LAND OWNERS TO IMPROVE THEIR PROPERTY, THEN GOVERNMENT COMES IN AND INVESTS IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.
A FORMER CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY PLED GUILTY TO MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AND WAS SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS PROBATION. LAST YEAR, 27-YEAR-OLD CODY ONXLEY WENT TO A WOMAN’S HOUSE ALLEGEDLY TO INVESTIGATE A CRIME AND THE WOMAN REPORTED THAT ONXLEY INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHED HER. THE WOMAN SAYS HE LATER THREATENED TO HARM HER IF SHE TOLD ANYONE. AS PART OF THE CONDITIONS OF HIS SENTENCE, ONXLEY CANNOT HAVE A FIREARM AND MUST NOT HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THE WOMAN.
THREE PEDESTRIANS, WHO WERE STRUCK BY A PICKUP TRUCK ON NORTH CHATAIGNIER STREET IN VILLE PLATTE TUESDAY NIGHT, ARE FACING MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. POLICE SAY THE THREE VIOLATED A CITY ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRES PEDESTRIANS TO WEAR REFLECTIVE GARMENTS AFTER DARK WHILE WALKING. ONE OF THE THREE, 21-YEAR-OLD DEONTE WILLIAMS, SAYS THEY WERE WALKING IN THE GRASS BESIDE THE ROAD AND THE TRUCK MUST NOT HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND BEEN DRIVING FAST SINCE IT STRUCK ALL THREE OF THEM. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER, WHO CLAIMED HE WAS BLINDED BY ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS, REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR SIGNS OF ALCOHOL ON THE DRIVER.
Louisiana is searching for its next higher education commissioner. Joseph Rallo, in the position since January 2015, plans to retire in about nine months. The Board of Regents announced Wednesday that Rallo, whose contract ends in December, has agreed to stay until June while the board searches for a new commissioner. The board intends to hire a national firm to seek candidates for the job, which pays Rallo $364,000 a year.
