8-24-23
Hundreds of wildfires are burning in Louisiana, as triple-digit temperatures continue to scorch parts of the state and there is little chance of relief because of the lack of rain. While many of the fires are small, one grew tremendously overnight in west Louisiana, leading to evacuation orders and burning more than 10,000 acres of land, about 16 square miles. Known as the Tiger Island Fire, the single blaze has accounted for more acres of burned land than the statewide annual average for the last decade in Louisiana. The wildfire is now threatening the approximately 1,000-person town of Merryville, in Beauregard Parish and a mandatory evacuation has been issued for the Singer area.
THE WILDFIRES IN BEAURGARD PARISH ARE FORCING THE EVACUATION OF A RETIRMENT HOME IN DERIDDER. ACADIAN AMBULANCE SAYS IN A FACEBOOK POST THAT THEY WILL USE THEIR AMBUS TO EVACUATE EIGHTEEN RESIDENTS FROM THE DERIDDER RETIREMENT HOME. THEY WILL BE MOVING THEM TO AREAS IN NORTH LOUISIANA. IN THE POST, ACADIAN AMBULANCE SAYS THEY HAVE THREE OTHER UNITS ON STANDBY INCLUDING THE SHELTER AT DERIDDER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THE NUMBER OF WILDFIRES IN LOUISIANA HAS JUMPED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS THE DETAILS.
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MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.
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A STUDENT AT KAPLAN HIGH SCHOOL SAYS A TEACHER CONDUCTED THEMSELVES IN A RACIALLY INSENSITIVE MANNER. A STATEMENT FROM THE VERMILLION PARISH SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THEY INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THE TEACHER USED A SONG THAT REFERENCED SLAVERY WHILE TEACHING CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS. A CONFERENCE WAS HELD BETWEEN DISTRICT AUTHORITIES AND THE STUDENT’S PARENTS, WHO REQUESTED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION. THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS AFTER THE INVESTIGATION, THEY FOLLOWED SCHOOL SYSTEM POLICY, BUT BECAUSE IT’S A PERSONNEL ISSUE, THEY ARE NOT REVEALING WHAT DISCIPLINARY ACTION WAS TAKEN.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH LIBRARY BOARD OF CONTROL WILL HOLD ANOTHER VOTE TODAY ON THE FIRING OF ITS DIRECTOR. A VOTE MONDAY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO FIRE DANNY GILLANE APPARENTLY VIOLATED THE LOUISIANA OPEN MEETINGS LAW. THE SPECIAL MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT FIVE-FIFTEEN THIS AFTERNOON. GILLANE SAYS HE WAS TOLD HE WAS FIRED ON MONDAY FOR UNDERMINING THE BOARD.
SECTIONS OF L-A ONE EIGHTY-TWO IN IBERIA PARISH REMAIN CLOSED BECAUSE OF A TRAIN DERAILMENT MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE DERAILMENT HAPPENED WHEN THE TRAIN STRUCK AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER THAT GOT STUCK ON THE TRACK. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WAS ISSUED A TICKET BECAUSE HE HAD AN OVERSIZE LOAD PERMIT THAT REQUIRED HIM TO STAY ON A CERTAIN ROUTE AND HE GOT STUCK ON THE TRACKS THAT WAS NOT ON THAT ROUTE. THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS L-A ONE EIGHTY-TWO AT L-A EIGHTY-EIGHT AND L-A SIX SEVENTY-FOUR WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL SATURDAY.
THE CITY OF OPELOUSAS HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR A TWENTY-SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR LOAN TO BUILD A NEW WATER PLANT. MAYOR JULIUS ALSANDOR SAYS IT WILL HELP IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE AND SERVICE AND HELPS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE. HE SAYS HE HOPES CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR. KLFY TV IS REPORTING THAT THE PRINCIPAL ON THE LOAN, WHICH COMES FROM THE STATE’S DRINKING WATER REVOLVING LOAN FUND PROGRAM, CAN POTENTIALLY BE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT FORGIVEN.
