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Driver Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash in Iberia Parish

Tue, 07/07/2020 - 8:05am

IBERIA PARISH – Shortly before 5:30 p.m. on July 6, 2020, Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA Hwy 14 near Leleux Road in Iberia Parish. The crash claimed the life of 53-year-old Wayne J. Touchet of New Iberia.
The preliminary investigation revealed a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, driven by Touchet, was traveling south on Leleux Road. At the same time, a 2018 GMC Denali HD pickup was traveling west on LA 14. For reasons still under investigation, Touchet failed to yield at the stop sign and entered on to LA 14. The GMC stuck the Silverado on the driver’s side in the westbound lane of travel.
Troopers determined Touchet, despite being restrained at the time of the crash, suffered fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. The driver of the GMC was properly restrained. He suffered only minor injuries and refused medical treatment. The passenger in the GMC, who was also properly restrained, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the GMC submitted a breath sample which indicated no alcohol present. Toxicology samples were taken from Touchet and results are pending. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists to always make good decisions while operating motor vehicles. Never drive while impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Taking only a few extra seconds to scan at intersections can often mean the difference between life and death.
Troop I has investigated 28 fatal crashes resulting in 31 deaths since the beginning of 2020.

Nikita Bourque

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ERATH TRAILER FIRE

Mon, 07/06/2020 - 5:26pm

The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) has arrested an Erath woman for setting fire to her aunt’s vacant mobile home out of anger over plans to rent it out.
Nikita Bourque, 21, was booked into the Vermilion Parish Jail on one count of Simple Arson.
In the evening hours of Friday, July 3, the Erath Fire Department responded to a call for a residential fire in the 200 block of North Broussard Street. The mobile home was vacant and had no utilities connected.
After an assessment of the scene, deputies determined the fire originated in a bedroom and was intentionally set.
Witness statements indicated Bourque had recently expressed disapproval of plans for a new tenant to move into the trailer.
With the assistance of Erath Police, Bourque was located and agreed to speak to deputies about the fire. During an interview with investigators, Bourque admitted to setting the fire.
She was then placed under arrest in connection with the case.

Vermilion Parish School District’s plan to return in August

Mon, 07/06/2020 - 9:18am

Starting each school year on a strong note is something for which everyone involved strives for.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning the school year at all will take a strong plan.
The Vermilion Parish School District has one in place.
On Thursday, Interim Superintendent Brad Prudhomme announced the details of the district’s “Strong Start 2020. Better Together” plan, which may have students going to school on different days.
At this time, students 1st - 12th are expected to begin school on Aug. 10.
Pre-K and Kindergarten students are expected to report on Aug. 13.
“Vermilion Parish leaders have a firm belief that we are “Better Together!,” Prudhomme exclaimed. “The plan presented outlines for both instructional and operational considerations to ensure that our staff can teach and our students can learn in the safest environments possible.”
Louisiana is currently in Phase II. Edwards is expected to make a decision on whether to move to Phase III later this month. The state has seen a spike in new COVID-19 cases.
If the state remains in Phase II when the school year begins, Vermilion’s plan will include all elementary students going to school, with middle and high school students doing so on a rotating basis between Group A and Group B. Buses will be allowed to have 50% capacity, and run on multiple routes.

Phase II and Phase III details for Elementary, Pre-K through fifth grade are:
• All elementary students report to school 5 days per week with static grouping and safety protocols in place. Static groups are cohorts of students who remain together in a learning environment throughout the day. Interaction between static groups on campus is minimized.
• Instructional times will be adjusted to accommodate the arrival of buses.
• Guidelines on face coverings/masks will be released by the Vermilion Parish School Board in accordance with the Office of Public Health and CDC recommendations.
Phase II details for Middle School (6th to 8th) are:
• Middle school students report on an A/B schedule with social distancing to the maximum extent possible and safety protocols.
• When a group is not present at school, they are engaged in distance learning utilizing both Google Classroom and/or hard copies. (Hybrid)
• Attendance is recorded and assignments are graded.

A/B Schedule
Monday - Group A ; Tuesday - Group B; Wednesday - Group A; Thursday - Group B; Friday - Rotate Weekly
• Students with significant disabilities have the opportunity to report 5 days per-week as per IEP decision
• Guidelines on face coverings/masks will be released by the Vermilion Parish School Board in accordance with the Office of Public Health and CDC recommendations.

Phase II details for high school are:
• High school students report on an A/B schedule with social distancing to the maximum extent possible and safety protocols.
• When a group is not present at school, they are engaged in distance learning utilizing both Google Classroom and/or hard copies). (Hybrid)
• Attendance is recorded and assignments are graded.
A/B Schedule
Monday - Group A Tuesday - Group B Wednesday - Group A Thursday - Group B Friday - Rotate Weekly
• Students with significant disabilities have the opportunity to report 5 days per-week as per IEP decision
• Guidelines on face coverings/masks will be released by the Vermilion Parish School Board in accordance with the Office of Public Health and CDC recommendations.
Virtual Vermilion will offer an option for students not going to a campus. Details of that option are:
• Any student may elect to register in our Virtual Vermilion program during any phase of school opening
• Edgenuity software is utilized at Virtual Vermilion for grades K-12
• Details regarding Virtual Vermilion Program will be released July 8 and posted on the Vermilion Parish School Board Website
• Online Registration will take place July 13th - July 31st
• Students enrolled in Virtual Vermilion may participate in school-based extracurricular activities
Should Edwards move the state into Phase III prior to the scheduled start of the school year, there are plans for middle and high school students.

Phase III details for for Middle School (6th to 8th) are:
• All middle school students report to school 5 days per week with social distancing protocols to the maximum extent possible and safety protocols.
• Assemblies or gym use must be below 49 students plus teacher.
• Guidelines on face coverings/masks will be released by the Vermilion Parish School Board in accordance with the Office of Public Health and CDC recommendations.
Phase III details for high school are:
• All high school students report to school 5 days per week with social distancing protocols to the maximum extent possible and safety protocols.
• Assemblies or gym use must be below 49 students plus teacher.
• Guidelines on face coverings/masks will be released by the Vermilion Parish School Board in accordance with the Office of Public Health and CDC recommendations.
“I would like to thank our Vermilion Parish Strong Start Task Force, school administrators, central office supervisors, department heads, and the Vermilion Parish School Board for their collaboration in developing a Strong Start Plan,” Prudhomme said.

The 2020 field day for the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station was held online starting July 1. It can be accessed at www.lsuagcenter.com/ricefieldday. Photo by Jacob Fluitt/LSU AgCenter

Rice research showcased at virtual field day

Mon, 07/06/2020 - 8:46am

Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter

CROWLEY — Scientists at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station detailed their work in an online field day presentation on July 1.
Mike Salassi, LSU AgCenter vice president for plant and animal science, said the virtual field day was necessary as a safeguard against the coronavirus pandemic. Salassi said rice adds $1 billion of economic activity in the state.
Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture, said the field day provides farmers and landowners the chance to see how their check-off dollars are spent on research. The Louisiana Rice Research Board determines how farmers’ check-off funding is spent.
“The pandemic is not stopping us from doing research,” Richardson said. “Our research stations have stayed open.”
The College of Agriculture and the LSU AgCenter are committed to diversity. “We’re here to serve all citizens of the state,” he said.
Richard Fontenot, Louisiana Rice Research Board chairman, commended the AgCenter for continuing its work through the challenging time.
The entire online presentation can be viewed at www.lsuagcenter.com/ricefieldday.
In his video talk, AgCenter rice breeder Adam Famoso said breeding work has continued despite the pandemic. He said 7,500 plots were planted for variety development with 65,000 panicle rows this year on the station and at off-station sites across the state.
A proven line, LA2140, is a candidate for release as a variety. It is a cross between varieties Cheniere and Mermentau with grain quality slightly less than Cheniere. Four years of testing shows LA2140 out yields Cheniere by 5% to 10%. “If it performs well again this year, we will likely release this line at the end of the year,” Famoso said.
Another conventional long-grain line, LA2207, has shown similar yield as LA2140 and similar grain quality as Cheniere. It offers improved disease resistance and has the blast-resistant gene. “This is another very promising conventional line to follow up to 2140,” he said.
The medium-grain line LA2227 is a cross between Neptune and Jupiter varieties and is slightly shorter and earlier than Jupiter. It showed an 8% yield advantage over Jupiter in 2018 and was on par in 2019. It also has the blast-resistant gene.
A Clearfield long grain variety, CLL17, will be released by Horizon Ag next year. It has the blast resistant gene, and its yield is 5% to 8% higher than CL153, Famoso said.
Another Clearfield line, CL2026, has potential as the top-yielding line last year with grain quality similar to CL153. “We will see how this line does this year. It’s another one we potentially might begin purifying this winter in Puerto Rico if it continues to perform as it has in recent years,” he said.
The Provisia variety PVL02 has 15% better yield and improved tolerance to the Provisia herbicide. Its grain is shorter than PVL01, Famoso said.
Four sister lines have been selected in development of the next Provisia variety, PVL03, a cross between PVL01 and Catahoula. A decision will be made at the end of the year if effort on any of the lines will continue, he said.
AgCenter entomologist Blake Wilson used videos to demonstrate how rice water weevil populations on rice plant roots are determined. The counts are made with 5,000 to 6,000 core samples on more than 1,000 plots.
Entomology research includes testing of new products, particularly seed treatments.
Yield losses of 5% to 10% are common from fields unprotected against the weevils. “Severe case losses can exceed 25 to 30 percent, so farmers must have a weevil management plan in place,” Wilson said.
Wilson also said he will be monitoring the spread of apple snails that are prevalent in the Mermentau River basin. The snails have affected crawfish operations more, clogging traps and, in some cases, forcing farmers to drain their fields.
AgCenter plant pathologist Don Groth said farmers should learn the best rates and timing for fungicides. “We’re probably not going to have any new ones in the near future,” he said.
Farmers should consider disease resistance when they select varieties, but no variety has resistance to all diseases, including Cercospora, sheath blight, blast, bacterial panicle blight and smuts.
Groth said disease is encouraged in his research plots to get an idea of new varieties’ disease resistance. “We do everything we can to cause disease in those plots,” he said.
Fungicide application timing is critical. Treating a field for sheath blight or Cercospora requires application between panicle differentiation and heading, while an application for blast should be done at 50% to 70% heading. Fungicides for kernel smut or fall smut should be applied with a 2-to-4-inch panicle in the boot. But if blast is also important, an application should be done at heading also. After a plant is 50% to 75% headed, a fungicide doesn’t have much benefit, Groth said.
AgCenter weed scientist Eric Webster said he is studying Provisia herbicide rates for PVL01 and PVL02. Injury to young rice plants should be expected when a grass herbicide like Provisia is used.
The variety PVL01 appears to be injured even before the herbicide application, but PVL02 is less sensitive to the herbicide. “It’s just a much better-looking rice,” he said.
Loyant herbicide can be applied with urea fertilizer in a flood, but spraying the chemical is more effective, Webster said. However, applying it with a fertilizer may be necessary on rice fields adjacent to homes or other crops affected by Loyant. “You get less chance of drift and less chance of off-target movement to sensitive plants and ornamentals,” he said.
Less injury from Loyant occurs in south Louisiana because it is applied earlier than in north Louisiana. Loyant has good activity on weeds shorter than 4 inches tall and weeds in a flooded field below the waterline.
Loyant may not kill all weeds, but it will stunt weed growth and make the plants non-competitive for nutrients. “It’s just going to be a learning process for us as researchers as well as growers and consultants getting used to seeing that plant not moving after the time of application,” Webster said.
AgCenter hybrid rice breeder Jim Oard explained how hybrids are developed in ways that are distinct from those of conventional varieties. Pollination for hybrids can be accomplished in small research plots with ropes dragged over the tops of plants or with sticks to hit the plants to dislodge pollen. But large-scale production of hybrids is done with a helicopter, Oard said.
Four Clearfield and five Provisia hybrid lines are being developed and tested in multiple trials. The candidate hybrids show high-yield potential, good quality and lodging resistance. “We’ve made very good progress in moving this material along to commercialization,” Oard said.
AgCenter crawfish specialist and Louisiana Sea Grant agent Mark Shirley gave details about his work comparing the crawfish catch from a field with a second crop of rice against a field with no second crop.
The second-crop field had a crawfish yield of 640 pounds per acre compared to 662 pounds for the field with no second crop.
But the field without a second crop had crawfish earlier when prices were higher, resulting in a $70-per-acre increase in income. But with rice prices at the current level, a second crop that yields in excess of 10 barrels an acre could be more profitable.
“If you can cut more than 10 barrels, it would have paid you to invest in that second crop and just accept that your crawfish crop will be just a little bit late,” Shirley said.
The rice straw in the field with a second crop resulted in lower water quality, and that may be why crawfish production is delayed, he said.
The test, funded by the Louisiana Rice Research Board, will be conducted again this year.
AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell talked about fertilizer applications. The first dose of fertilizer, about two-thirds of a season’s total, should be applied before permanent flood, with the final amount at green ring growth stage.
Preflood application has the most potential for nitrogen loss from ammonia volatilization, but a urease inhibitor can lessen that loss, although it will have no benefit if the fertilizer is applied in a flood, he said.
Nitrogen rates are tailored for different varieties by testing fertilizer rates at locations statewide with various soil types. “We want to see how these different environments play to these nitrogen rate recommendations,” Harrell said.
Rice that lodges in a test is a good indication that a fertilizer rate is too high, he said.
Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, said rice farmers should be optimistic. “I think you’re going to see a lot of positive motion for the price of rice across the world,” he said.
Some countries in the Far East are stockpiling rice, he said.
Federal money will be coming to agricultural producers because of the pandemic. “We are anticipating some funds for the crawfish industry,” Strain said, adding it’s possible that rice farmers also could receive federal aid.

Carrie Ann LeBlanc Menard

Mon, 07/06/2020 - 8:28am

ERATH — Funeral Services for Carrie Ann LeBlanc Menard will be held at 1:00PM Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at New Life Church in Abbeville with Pastor Lane Payne officiating. Interment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum in Erath.
Visitation will be at New Life Church Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from 9:00AM until service time with recitation of the rosary at 11:00AM.
Carrie, a native and lifelong resident of Erath, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2020. Carrie’s life was dedicated to her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a passion for traveling, playing cards, and most of all family get togethers.
She is survived by her daughter; Connie Menard Mason and husband John Wayne, her son; Terran Menard, grandchildren; Stacey Mason Ramke, Jarad Mason and wife Kimberly, Sadie Menard Suire and husband Shane, Amy Menard Courvelle, Erica Menard Racca and husband Kevin, and Trent Menard, her great grandchildren; Tyler Hernandez, Blake Hernandez, Allie Hernandez Trahan and husband Gavin, Olivia Mason , Andrew Mason, Sage Suire, Adalyn Racca and Ella Racca.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alton J. Menard and her parents C.B. and Willie LeBlanc.
Serving as her Pallbearers will be Trent Menard, Sage Suire, Kevin Racca, Jarad Mason, Blake Hernandez and Gavin Trahan.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath is in charge of arrangements 209 E. Putnam St., Erath, LA 70533, (337) 937-0405.

Theodore J. "Teddy" LeMaire

Mon, 07/06/2020 - 8:22am

October 07, 1943 - March 27, 2020

ABBEVILLE — Memorial services will be conducted on Saturday, July 11, 2020, at an 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. Honoring the life of Teddy LeMaire, 76, who passed away on Friday, March 27, 2020 at Lafayette General Medical Center, after months of declining health.
Entombment will be at a later date at St. Paul Cemetery.
Father Paul Broussard and Father Louis Richard will conduct the funeral services,
Vocalist will be his grandson, Barrett Bertrand, and he will be accompanied on the organ by Mr. Tommy Guidry.
His godchildren, Charlene LeMaire and Jackson “Jack” Moss will proclaim the Scripture readings. His grandson, Brooks Bertrand and his wife, Darian, and his great grandsons, Damon and Remey Bertrand will serve as gift bearers.
Teddy is survived by his wife, Barbara Gayle LeMaire; and his stepdaughter, Lisa Ann Libersat; two grandsons, Brooks Bertrand and his wife, Darian of Lake Charles, and Barrett Bertrand of Austin, Texas; his two precious great grandsons, Damon and Remey Bertand of Lake Charles. He is also survived by one brother, Evans LeMaire and his wife, Jackie of Delcambre; one sister-in-law, Ethel “Tot” LeMaire of Sulphur; and many loving and devoted nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Lee LeMaire, Sr. and Ozia LeBlanc LeMaire; his stepson, Gerald Libersat, Jr.; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Yoland and Jack Moss, Loucinda and Joseph Dubois, Mary Lynn and Norman Richard; his brother, John LeMaire, Jr.; and brother and sister-in-law, Olan and Marie LeMaire.
On behalf of Teddy’s family, heartfelt and grateful appreciation is given to the many physicians and healthcare professionals who have given him exceptional and compassionate care for many years. We are extremely thankful for the family of Lafayette General Medical Center, the physicians and nurses of the 7th floor, 5th floor Intensive Care Units, the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, and the 6th floor team of physicians, nurses, staff members and aides for their kindness and compassion shown to Teddy and me. Grateful appreciation also for his kidney specialists, Dr. A. Gupta, Dr. J. Zeik and Dr. M. Lamarche.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Blue Cross Urges Louisianians to Wear Masks, Avoid Crowds, Take Precautions

Fri, 07/03/2020 - 8:28am

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana has seen an increase in reported COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in recent weeks. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana urges everyone to take steps to protect their health and the health of others because we are all still at risk.
“As the state moved into reopening, more people have started doing their usual activities, but we are unfortunately not in the clear from COVID-19 yet,” said Blue Cross Senior Medical Director Dr. Dee Barfield. “Right now, there is no vaccine or cure for COVID-19. But, what does work to lower our risk of getting it – and what we can all do – is to make sure we are limiting its spread.”
It’s especially important to be mindful of this heading into the Fourth of July holiday weekend, when many may plan to leave home, take trips or gather to celebrate. See health tips for safely leaving home in this video (1:01).
Steps the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and other health officials recommend people do when leaving their homes to lower their risk of spreading COVID-19 include:
· Wearing a face mask that covers your mouth and nose and fits snugly against the sides of your face
· Staying at least six feet apart from others
· Washing your hands frequently or using hand sanitizer that’s at least 60% alcohol
· Avoiding touching your face – including when you put on or take off your mask
· Checking your temperature frequently and staying home if it’s 100.4 or above, you have symptoms like coughing or sore throat, and/or you have been exposed to COVID-19
Some Louisiana parishes and multiple businesses, including stores and healthcare providers’ offices, require face masks and other precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please be aware of and follow all rules to protect public health when you leave home.
For Louisiana employers, Blue Cross has created an online, multimedia toolkit to address common questions and share information from medical directors as more business reopen and employees return to the workplace.
“We know that the past few months have been very difficult, and people are anxious to get back to their everyday lives and spend time with their extended family, friends and loved ones,” Barfield said. “But, it’s still not safe for us to gather in groups or go to public places without taking these small steps to keep from potentially exposing others to illness.”
For information on what Blue Cross is doing for members during COVID-19, visit www.bcbsla.com/covid19.

Abbeville General will return to Total Visitor Restrictions

Thu, 07/02/2020 - 9:40pm

Exceptions listed for pediatrics, laboring moms, as well as surgery and end-of-life patients and patients with cognitive, physical or mobility impairments

In response to the significant increase in COVID-19 community cases and hospitalizations, Abbeville General will return to Total Visitor Restrictions. In order to maintain an environment of infection control, visitors will not be allowed into our facilities. Families are encouraged to use alternate means of communication such as FaceTime, Skype or phones located in patient rooms.

Beginning July 2, 2020 at 6 p.m., NO VISITORS will be allowed - except as defined below:

Laboring Moms – ONE Spouse or Partner (No birthing coaches unless selected as your one partner.)
Pediatrics - ONE Parents or Guardians
End-of-Life Patients - Spouse/Partner/Adult Child
Same day surgery patients – One visitor
Patients with cognitive, physical or mobility impairments - ONE visitor

All visitors must be asymptomatic and wear a mask. To be clear, there should be no visitors for urgent care, emergency room, clinic visits, lab or x-ray visits or inpatients unless they patient needs assistance for the visit or is a minor. (See above).

No one under 18 will be allowed unless they are here for diagnostic/procedure or surgery.

Patients will provide the name of their one essential visitor. Visitors must be screened for symptoms at facility entry/access points. If they are symptomatic, they will be turned away. All essential visitors will be required to wear masks throughout the building. To conserve supplies, we are encouraging visitors to bring a mask from home. If they do not have one, a mask will be issued.

Surgery visitors are encouraged to wait in social distance areas and not congregate in the waiting rooms. Visitor will be asked to return home if symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath) occur.

Abbeville General officials will continue to monitor the risk of COVID-19 closely and will adjust visitor restrictions as necessary. We appreciate your help in keeping our patients and employees safe.

Crowley POLICE CHIEF RESPONDS TO ALDERMAN’S ACCUSATIONS

Thu, 07/02/2020 - 2:22pm

Steve Bandy, LSN editor

CROWLEY — Following the explosive ending to Wednesday night’s city council committee meetings, The Crowley Post-Signal reached out to Police Chief Jimmy Broussard for comment.
During the Revenue and Finance Committee meeting, Chairman Jeff Cavell accused Broussard of, among other things, attempting to “circumvent the system” in the purchase of body cameras for the department. (See related story, this page.)
“The three issues Mr. Cavell brought up were prior to this administration and council and were all rectified prior to the incident at the committee meeting — with the exception of the body cameras,” Broussard said. “I feel Mr. Cavell used the opportunity to make a personal attack on me for possibly some type of personal vendetta he or friends of his may have against me.”
Among Cavell’s accusations was that the city was cited for violating the state bid law because of “extras the chief of police had the dealer add” when a truck was purchased for his use.
“With regards to the truck that is used as my unit, Mayor Greg Jones, in his term, gave me the availability to purchase the vehicle,” Broussard said. “It was discovered later that it exceeded the limits by $2,000, purchased from a local dealership.”
Cavell also alluded to “miscellaneous gas receipts from the CPD transport and taxi service of a parent to a correctional facility for a personal visitation” in his statement.
“With regards to the transportation of a family to see their juvenile loved one at a facility in Minden, the family was poor and did not have transportation, nor were they able to garner transportation,” said Broussard. “Two off-duty reserve officers accepted to take the family there as a public service to the family.
“Though an off-duty, older model Crown Victoria was used, Mr. Cavell failed to mention that the money for the gas was reimbursed by me from my personal account so as not to burden the city, and was considered at that time, hence, rectified.
“Maybe I erred on the side of compassion, but my thoughts were to be of service to the public that we are honored to serve. For as long as I can remember, officers have assisted citizens even at times with transportation here or there. My thought process was the ancient motto of ‘To Protect and to Serve’.”
Finally, Cavell pointed out that Broussard, himself, signed a contract for the purchase of body cameras for the police department, a duty, by state law, reserved for the mayor of a municipality.
“With regards to the body cameras, again two years ago, when Mayor Jones was unavailable, I consulted another member of the administration who, to their knowledge, thought that I had the ability to sign the contract since the money would have come out of my existing budget,” Broussard explained. “I admit my fault in taking at face value and not checking. I was two years into my term and, like many of the present council, I was still learning the ‘ins and outs’ of the position.
“In addition, I had sent a letter to city hall in 2019 requesting a payment be made out of my budget for the cameras, of which emails acknowledging that request and subsequent bills requested were submitted, but they were never paid, because ‘it was still with legal.’
“Mr. Cavell, in his insinuations, compared me to a bank robber. Yes, we do operate on a $3.4 million budget, 65 percent of which goes to salaries and benefits of a 42-person department. Anytime I have approached the council for funding, it has not been for myself but for the officers of this department. I have fought for the officers of this department to get them the equipment that is necessary to perform their jobs in a professional manner.
“The fleet that was purchased for officers was exactly for that, officers. The body cameras, which with all the situations going on today are of an imperative nature, are for the officers. Every issue I have brought before the council has been for the department, not for me personally.
“If that is indicative of a bank robber, then maybe I once again am confused as to the definition of a bank robber, because usually the suspect would have personal benefit in it. The only personal benefit I have in this is the same benefit the citizens of this city have — that is having a professional working police department that has their necessary equipment.
“The law, in addition, says that a crime has to have ‘specific intent or malice’ which, again, was emphatically not the case in any of these.
“Mr. Cavell has made it very public that he believes that police officers are paid too much (Crowley police officers start at $22,000 a year approximately) and we should be cut about 25 percent of our budget,” Broussard concluded. “Mr. Cavell has never sought me out personally to discuss these matters, but rather chose to ‘blast’ me in a public forum.”
During the fracas following Cavell’s statements Wednesday night, it was noted that Broussard was not present for the committee meeting when he had been in the audience earlier in the evening.
“I had an emergency that I had to deal with that evening and had to leave, but was trying to return to the meeting prior to this issue coming up,” the chief explained.

FIRE MARSHAL OFFERS SAFETY TIPS AHEAD JULY 4TH

Thu, 07/02/2020 - 1:25pm

BATON ROUGE — As another fireworks sales season begins, the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) is encouraging Louisiana residents to not only be safe when using fireworks, but knowledgeable when buying them and prepared if considering attending a public fireworks display during this pandemic.
Ordinarily, the SFM would encourage families to choose to enjoy public fireworks displays over creating their own. However, many public fireworks displays are either being canceled or altered due to the concerns over COVID-19. In the event a public display is still being offered in your area, and your family is considering attending, we strongly encourage every member of your household to wear face coverings, to provide your own seating and to ensure that seating is spaced six feet from the nearest individual or group of individuals.
If your family has, instead, chosen to purchase fireworks in order to stay safer at home, know that there is no prohibition on the sale of retail fireworks at the state level as a result of COVID-19. However, state law does still require wholesale and retail fireworks business operators to be appropriately licensed by the SFM in the parishes and municipalities where they are legally allowed. The sales season extends through July 4th.
A retail fireworks business falls under the Phase 2 guidance for “Shopping Malls/Retail Stores,” which details requirements such as a maximum limit of 50% of the total capacity of the structure or tent while maintaining a social distance of six feet between employees and customers, as well as explicit sanitation requirements. The full guidance can be accessed on OpenSafely.la.gov.
For businesses that operate with counter sales only, where fireworks are displayed and sold from behind a counter, requirements include maintaining a distance of six feet between customers and the wearing of face masks by employees when interacting with customers. Owners should also maintain access to hand sanitizer for employees engaged in sales which require the handling of money, credit cards, etc.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), fireworks started an estimated 19,500 fires in 2018, including 1,900 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 17,100 outside and other fires. These fires caused five deaths, 46 civilian injuries, and $105 million in direct property damage.
To avoid becoming part of these statistics, the SFM advises:
Detonating devices at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles and rubbish;
Never allowing children to light fireworks;
Never operating fireworks while impaired;
Lighting devices one at a time and monitoring embers released with a bucket of water or hose nearby; and
Discarding detonated items by wetting them down to prevent reignition and not disposing of them in a trash container immediately.

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Driver Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash in Iberia Parish

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ERATH TRAILER FIRE

Vermilion Parish School District’s plan to return in August

Rice research showcased at virtual field day

Carrie Ann LeBlanc Menard

Theodore J. "Teddy" LeMaire

Blue Cross Urges Louisianians to Wear Masks, Avoid Crowds, Take Precautions

Abbeville General will return to Total Visitor Restrictions

Crowley POLICE CHIEF RESPONDS TO ALDERMAN’S ACCUSATIONS

FIRE MARSHAL OFFERS SAFETY TIPS AHEAD JULY 4TH

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