9-29-17
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED NEW MEASURES TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF BUS DRIVERS. A 25-HUNDRED DOLLAR ANNUAL SALARY INCREASE WAS AGREED TO BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH BRINGS BUS DRIVER’S ANNUAL PAY TO OVER 18 THOUSAND DOLLARS, PUTTING LAFAYETTE PARISH MORE IN LINE WITH SURROUNDING PARISHES. BUS DRIVERS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO “CASH OUT” DAYS MISSED IF IT’S TWO OR FEWER PER SEMESTER, WHICH IS AN INCENTIVE TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED A BUS DRIVER INTERN PROGRAM, IN WHICH A PERSON CAN WORK AS A BUS ATTENDANT FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF MONTHS WHILE GETTING THEIR CERTIFICATION.
SOME MOSS BLUFF PARENTS EXPRESSED ANGER THAT THEIR CHILDREN WERE DELAYED IN GETTING HOME FROM SCHOOL, SOME NOT GETTING THERE UNTIL 7:15 AT NIGHT. CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER SHANNON LAFARGUE SAYS THERE WERE SEVERAL CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDING A BUS DRIVER CALLING IN SICK AT THE LAST MOMENT, LEADING TO THE BUS ROUTE BEING SPLIT AMONG OTHER DRIVERS. HE SAYS THE OTHER PROBLEM WAS MISBEHAVIOUR AMONG THE CHILDREN, LEADING THE BUS DRIVER TO PULL OVER FOR SAFETY REASONS. EVENTUALLY THE BUS WAS DRIVEN TO A MOSS BLUFF SCHOOL AND PARENTS WERE CALLED TO COME GET THOSE CHILDREN THAT WERE STILL ABOARD.
THE CITY OF OPELOUSAS’ PROPOSED BUDGET PLAN INCLUDES REPAIRING ROADS, BRIDGES AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE CITY. JEFF HORCHAK HAS THE DETAILS.
VOICER B :21
EARLY VOTING BEGINS TOMORROW AND CONTINUES THROUGH TO THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY FOR THE OCTOBER 14TH ELECTION. VOTERS STATEWIDE WILL CONSIDER A NEW STATE TREASURER AND THREE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE ON THE BALLOT. A FEW ACADIANA PARISHES WILL BE VOTING FOR A NEW PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSIONER TO REPLACE SCOTT ANGELLE AND THERE ARE SOME TAX ISSUES TO BE DECIDED IN SOME CITIES AND TOWNS, INCLUDING A HALF CENT SALES TAX PROPOSAL IN NEW IBERIA TO FUND A NEW POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A NINE MILL PROPERTY TAX RENEWAL IN IOTA. THE POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 8:30 TO SIX EACH DAY DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD EXCEPT FOR SUNDAY, WHEN IT’S CLOSED.
IT’S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE ROAD CREWS BEGAN WORKING ON HIGHWAY 90 IN BROUSSARD BETWEEN AMBASSADOR CAFFERY AND ALBERTSON PARKWAY. THE REASON THE WORK HAS BEEN TAKING SO LONG IS BECAUSE OF A NEW OVERPASS BEING BUILT AT ALBERTSON PARKWAY. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY NEXT SUMMER. ONCE COMPLETE, HIGHWAY 90 WILL BE SIX LANES.
CONTRABAND DAYS HAS BEEN CELEBRATED IN LAKE CHARLES FOR SIXTY YEARS, BUT NOW THE ORGANIZERS HAVE OFFICIALLY CHANGED THE NAME. IT WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS THE LOUISIANA PIRATE FESTIVAL. IN A STATEMENT, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SAY THEY HAVE INCLUDED THE WORDS, “LOUISIANA PIRATE FESTIVAL,” IN THE BRANDING AND THE LOGO OF THE CONTRABAND DAYS FESTIVAL FOR FIVE YEARS. THEY DECIDED TO MAKE THE NEW NAME OFFICIAL SO THEY COULD CLEARLY MARKET AND BRAND IT AS LOUISIANA’S PREMIER PIRATE FESTIVAL.
Investigators say two suspects in the stabbing death of an 82-year-old Louisiana woman at her home in Shreveport have been arrested in West Texas. Police say 25-year-olds Roy Jemane Narcisse of Alexandria and Kiana Deraneka Williams of Ville Platte were captured early Thursday in San Angelo. A police statement says the man and the woman were being held without bond on murder warrants in Tuesday’s death of Kathleen Cates. San Angelo police say the suspects were caught while in the victim’s stolen car, which was located in a San Angelo hotel parking lot.
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS WILL BE VISITING CHURCH POINT THIS MORNING. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
VOICER C :15
THE LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS AWARDED ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IN HOUSING CREDITS TO BUILD AND REHABILITATE 21 AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE STATE. THE BOARD SAYS THE STATEWIDE CREDITS WILL RESULT IN THE CREATION OF 13-HUNDRED JOBS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR. IT WILL ALSO GENERATE 158 MILLION DOLLARS IN PRIVATE INVESTMENTS. AMONG THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT IS THE ROWAN PLACE APARTMENTS, A 65 UNIT DEVELOPMENT FOR SENIORS IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.
