8-30-16
THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT HAS HIRED A COMPANY TO DO A ONE TIME AERIAL SPRAYING FOR MOSQUITOES. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND SECURITY COORDINATOR BOBBY CORMIER TELLS THE ADVERTISER THAT VECTOR DISEASE CONTROL OF OAKDALE SUBMITTED THE LOW BID AND IT WILL COST BETWEEN 250 AND 275 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE AERIAL SPRAYING. HE SAYS FEMA IS EXPECTED TO REIMBURSE THE PARISH FOR THE COST. CORMIER SAYS THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE IDEAL CONDITIONS TO DO THE AERIAL SPRAYING, WHICH COULD BE AS EARLY AS THIS THURSDAY EVENING.
State epidemiologist Raoult Ratard (rah-OOHL ruh-TAHR) says Louisiana’s West Nile season is off to a late start, so the total number of cases may be low. He says the state’s first 14 cases have been confirmed, all in people who became ill before floods inundated south Louisiana. Eight are dangerous infections of the brain or other parts of the nervous system, four are flu-like West Nile fever, and two were without symptoms, and turned up by blood tests. Department official Frank Welch says the risk of West Nile virus will go up in areas that flooded.
IN CALCASIEU PARISH, THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR CASES OF WEST NILE IN PEOPLE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS. CALCASIEU PARISH OFFICIALS SAY WEST NILE VIRUS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN ABOVE AVERAGE THIS SUMMER AND AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2009. MOSQUITO CONTROL DIRECTOR SCOTT WILLIS SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN 55 POSITIVE MOSQUITO POOL TESTS FOR THE WEST NILE. HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT THE MAIN CULPRIT IS THE CULEX OR SOUTHERN HOUSE MOSQUITO WHICH IS MAINLY ACTIVE IN THE AFTERNOON, AT DUSK AND IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
The first out-of-state congressman to survey Louisiana’s damage from catastrophic flooding says the Federal Emergency Management Agency response has been “pitiful.” U.S. Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican, toured the destruction Monday with U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, a Republican who represents much of the most heavily damaged region. Mica chairs a subcommittee with jurisdiction over FEMA and blasted the federal agency’s response. He says housing aid has been sluggish and FEMA has been too slow to set up mobile homes that give people somewhere to stay while they repair their houses.
STATE TROOPERS ARRESTED A WANTED CALIFORNIA SEX OFFENDER IN ACADIA PARISH. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IS ASKING A JUDGE TO FORCE LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE TO PRODUCE AN INVOICE. FROM AN ATTORNEY WHO REPRESENTED HIM IN NOVEMBER, WITHOUT SENSITIVE AREAS BLACKED OUT. THE INDEPENDENT ALLEGES THAT POPE AND THE ATTORNEY, CHARLES MIDDLETON, WERE INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT TO FORCE THE DIVORCE RECORDS OF MARK GARBER TO BE UNSEALED DURING GARBER’S RUN FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF LAST YEAR. THE INDEPENDENT ALSO BELIEVES THAT POPE USED PUBLIC MONIES TO HELP FUND THE LAWSUIT. 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGE JULES EDWARD SAYS HE WILL RULE ON THEIR REQUEST THIS FRIDAY.
RICE FARMERS IN CAMERON PARISH WERE HEAVILY AFFECTED BY THE RECENT FLOODS. ONE FARMER, CHARLES SCHULTZ, TELLS KPLC TV THAT HIS FAMILY LOST CLOSE TO SIXTY PERCENT OF HIS CROP. HE SAYS HE’S HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN EQUIPMENT COSTS AS WELL TO ATTEMPT TO GET THE RICE OUT IN TIME. THE L-S-U AG CENTER’S RICE COUNTY AGENT FOR CAMERON PARISH, BRADLEY POUSSON, SAYS ITS HARD FOR HIM TO SEE WHAT THE RICE FARMERS ARE GOING THROUGH, CONSIDERING ALL THE WORK THEY PUT IN BEFORE LOSING THIER CROPS.
STUDENTS AT PLAISANCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN OPELOUSAS ARE MOVING TO WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY AFTER THEIR SCHOOL WAS FLOODED WITH A FOOT OF WATER TWO WEEKS AGO. WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL MELANIE DURIO TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT AN ORIENTATION IS BEING OFFERED TO STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS TODAY AND THEIR FIRST DAY OF CLASSES AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY WILL BE TOMORROW. SUPERINTENDENT EDWARD BROWN SAYS HE DOESN’T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE BACK BECAUSE OF AIR QUALITY ISSUES AT PLAISANCE. HE SAYS THEY MAY REMAIN AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER, WHICH ENDS IN MID-DECEMBER.
