8-4-23
THE SECOND PERSON WHO DIED IN A SHOOTING MONDAY IN VILLE PLATTE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS FIFTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD SISTRANE EDWARDS. THE OTHER PERSON WHO WAS KILLED WAS DEPUTY MARSHAL BARRY GIGLIO. A THIRD PERSON WHO WAS SHOT REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE HOSPITAL. ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED, TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD VONTEEKO LAMAR ANDERSON, WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AS WELL AS OTHER DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES.
PLANTATION PARK ON KALISTE SALOOM IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN RENAMED FOR CORPORAL MICHAEL PAUL MIDDLEBROOK. HE IS THE LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS KILLED WHEN RESPONDING TO A SHOOTING AT A CONVENIENCE STORE IN TWENTY-SEVENTEEN. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY SAYS MIDDLEBROOK WAS A ROLE MODEL WHO WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE LEGACY HE LEFT BEHIND. ADRIENNE MIDDLEBROOK PRAISED THE COMMUNITY, THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR CONTINUTING TO HONOR HER HUSBAND.
A PLAN HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES COMMISSION TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE CATCH LIMITS FOR SPECKLED TROUT. THE PLAN CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF A STEEP DECLINE IN THE POPULATION OF THE MOST POPULAR RECREATIONAL FISH. THE PLAN MUST NOW GO THROUGH A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND BE APPROVED BY STATE LEGISLATORS. IF APPROVED, IT COULD GO INTO EFFECT AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER.
LAKE CHARLES IS ONE OF EIGHT CITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO RECEIVE A CHOICE NIGHBORHOOD GRANT. THE FORTY MILLION DOLLAR GRANT WILL BE USED TO TRANSFORM THE AREA THAT IS BORDERED BY THE PRIEN LAKE MALL ON THE SOUTH, EIGHTEENTH STREET ON THE NORTH, CREOLE ON THE EAST AND LAKE STREET ON THE WEST. BLIGHTED PUBLIC HOUSING THERE WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED BY NEW, HIGH-QUALITY HOUSING. LAKE CHARLES HOUSING AUTHORITY DIRECTOR BEN TAYLOR SAYS THE PROJECT IS AN EIGHT-YEAR COMMITMENT THAT WILL BE DONE IN PHASES.
THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS STARTED A REGISTRY FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PEOPLE. SHERIFF TOMMY ROMERO TELLS KLFY TV HE DECIDED TO INITIATE THE REGISTRY BECAUSE HE HAS TWO DEPUTIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. HE SAYS HE WANTS THE PARISH TO KNOW EVERY CITIZEN IS CARED FOR. FILLING OUT THE REGISTRY IS OPTIONAL AND CAN BE DONE ON THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S WEBSITE.
LAFAYETTE POLICE CHIEF JUDITH ESTORGE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED AS POLICE CHIEF THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO COMPLETING HER PROBATIONARY PERIOD. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY SAYS HE’S WORKED CLOSELY WITH ESTORGE OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS AND SHE HAS EARNED HIS RESPECT AND ADMIRATION. ESTORGE SAYS IT’S A BLESSING TO BE CONFIRMED AND SHE’S HONORED TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE MAYOR-PRESIDENT. SINCE BEING APPOINTED TO THE POSITION IN NOVEMBER, ESTORGE HAS IMPLEMENTED A CITIZEN’S ACADEMY, REINSTATED THE DEPARTMENT’S CHAPLAIN PROGRAM, HELD NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS AND SUPPORTED SEVERAL OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS.
MORE THAN A MILLION STATE FARM INSURANCE POLICYHOLDERS WILL SEE A SIZEABLE INCREASE IN THEIR AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS NEXT TIME THEY RENEW. INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELON APPROVED A SEVENTEEN-POINT-THREE PERCENT INCREASE, AFTER STATE FARM ASKED FOR MORE THAN AN EIGHTEEN PERCENT INCREASE. DONELON SAYS THE INCREASE IS DRIVEN BY THE HIGHER COSTS OF AUTO REPAIRS AND WILL FALL HEAVIEST ON DRIVERS WITH FULL COVERAGE. DONELON ADMITS CONCERN THAT IT MAY CAUSE PEOPLE TO GET LIABILITY ONLY INSURANCE OR TO DRIVE UNINSURED.
A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WAS HELD WEDNESDAY FOR THE NEW SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ENFORCMENT COMPLEX. THE NEARLY FOUR MILLION DOLLAR COMPLEX IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE EXISTING MAINTENANCE AND NINE-ONE-ONE COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY ON THE NORTH MAIN HIGHWAY BETWEEN BREAUX BRIDGE AND PARKS. DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, WHO WERE SCATTERED AT FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE PARISH, ARE NOW AT THE NEW EIGHTEEN THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT COMPLEX. SHERIFF BECKETT BREAUX SAYS THIS WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE AGENCY AND MAKE COLLABORATION MORE EFFICIENT.
