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One Arrested, Another Wanted in Drive-By Shooting

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One Arrested, Another Wanted in Drive-By Shooting

One man is in jail and another remains on the run following a Thursday shooting in St. Mary Parish. Bryan Kemp is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder. Sheriff's deputies say Kemp drove his car along side of another near the Greenwood Overpass in the area of Siracusaville. They say that's when Kemp's passenger, Terrance Hollins, shot at the other car, wounding two of the three people inside.

Hollins is a black male standing 5'8" and weighing 165 pounds. He has a tattoo reading "BELINDA" on his left arm and a tattoo of his initials on his right arm. Hollins is wanted on attempted first-degree murder charges. If you know his whereabouts, call police.

 




Ex-police officer sentenced on perjury count

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Ex-police officer sentenced on perjury count

ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) - A state judge has sentenced a former Breaux Bridge police officer who was convicted of perjury and malfeasance earlier this year to five years of supervised probation.

District Judge Paul deMahy said he weighed the fact that Raymond Calais had no prior history of criminal conduct in deciding against imposing a prison sentence. He told Calais Thursday that he wanted to give him "one chance" to regain the community's trust.

The Advocate reports Calais resigned last year after questions arose about his investigation of Stephan Barker, who was arrested in the September 2010 armed robbery of Russell's Food Mart.

Calais testified during a court hearing last year that the store's manager had inadvertently seen a photo monitor in the police station that showed Barker being interviewed by police. The store manager later picked Barker out of a photo lineup.

The store manager, who was summoned to the hearing, testified that Calais brought him to the station and told him to watch the monitor before showing him the photo lineup.

Barker's defense attorney argued at the hearing that prosecutors should be blocked from using the lineup because the store manager likely chose Barker as the suspect because he saw a detective interviewing the man.

A judge later blocked prosecutors from using the photo lineup as evidence against Barker.

Calais' defense attorney, Harold Register, argued in court that Calais made a mistake.

"At this point, he just wants to get on with his life," Register said, adding that Calais is now gainfully employed and wants to continue to support his family.

DeMahy said during the sentencing hearing that Calais was "overzealous in his investigation, and when he was caught in the act of being overzealous he attempted to protect himself by lying. He did use his position and status to facilitate the commission of this crime."

The judge said there is no evidence that Calais had consistently engaged in similar offenses.

If Calais fails to complete conditions of his probation, he could face a possible maximum sentence of 20 years on the perjury charge and up to five years on the malfeasance charge.



Supreme Court turns away media companies' appeal

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Supreme Court turns away media companies' appeal

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court has turned down media companies' plea to lift a prohibition on owning both a newspaper and a television station in the same market.

The justices on Friday denied the companies' appeal without comment. The media outlets say the restrictions no longer make sense in the Internet era.

The appeal also sought to get rid of other ownership limits including how many local television stations one company can control.

The companies say the rules make it harder for broadcasters and newspapers to do business and respond to competitors on the Internet, satellite and cable - entities which don't face the same restrictions.

Critics of media consolidation have warned of the dangers of too many media outlets falling under the ownership of a handful of large corporations.



Shipping company sentenced in pollution case

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Shipping company sentenced in pollution case

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Japanese shipping company has been placed on probation for three years and ordered to pay a $500,000 fine for obstruction and violating a federal pollution control act.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk handed down the penalty Thursday against CSL Maritime, S.A., headquartered in Tokyo. The company pleaded guilty March 29 to charges in a two-count bill of information for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.

CSL owned and operated the M/V FD Jacques Graubart which arrived at the Port of New Orleans in January. CSL admitted that on two occasions in December 2011, crews pumped oily bilge water into the sea without using required pollution prevention equipment. The crew later hid the illegal discharges by falsifying the vessel's oil record book.

 

 



BP, EEOC reach $5.4M deal over gender bias claims

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BP, EEOC reach $5.4M deal over gender bias claims

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP and its contractors have agreed to pay up to $5.4 million to resolve complaints that some women weren't considered for temporary jobs responding to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill because of their gender.

The agreement announced late Thursday ends an investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission without the federal agency filing a lawsuit over the allegations.

The EEOC says it hasn't determined that London-based BP PLC violated any anti-discrimination laws. BP denies it engaged in any wrongdoing.

An undetermined number of women from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida who applied for BP spill response jobs will be eligible for shares of the money.

The EEOC said its probe was based on complaints by several women in Louisiana and Alabama.

 

 



Obama to view fire damage in swing state Colorado

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Obama to view fire damage in swing state Colorado

WASHINGTON (AP) - As President Barack Obama surveys damage from raging wildfires and thanks first responders in Colorado, he also will be seeking to show voters in one of the nation's most tightly contested political swing states that he is a compassionate leader who can command in a crisis.

Though Obama will spend just three hours Friday on the ground in Colorado, his cross-country dash underscores the enormous power of incumbency in an election year. The president has resources at his disposal that Republican challenger Mitt Romney simply can't compete with, from the ability to fly Air Force One anywhere in the country on short notice to the authority to dole out federal funds to help disaster-stricken states recover.

He declared "a major disaster" exists in the state early Friday and promised federal aid.

Obama will arrive midday in Colorado Springs, where officials say more than 30,000 people have been evacuated in what is now the most destructive wildfire in state history. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by the blaze that has encroached on the state's second-largest city and threatened the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The White House says Obama is making the trip because he wants to get a firsthand look at the wildfire damage in order to see whether additional federal resources are necessary.

But election year political concerns also create an imperative for Obama to be on the ground.

Just over four months from Election Day, the contest in Colorado is very close, and Obama and Romney are each looking to swing the state in their favor anyway they can.

About 46 percent of registered voters backed Obama, 42 percent backed Romney and 8 percent were undecided in an NBC News/Marist poll conducted in late May.

Both sides are devoting significant money and manpower to the state, which tends to swing from one political party to the other in presidential elections. Obama easily carried Colorado in 2008. So did his Republican predecessor, George W. Bush, in 2004.

Obama also has walked tornado-stricken streets in Missouri and Alabama, and met with flood victims in Tennessee, all states that voted against him in the 2008 presidential election.

Every decision the Obama White House makes to send the president to a disaster zone is done under the shadow of Bush's botched response to Hurricane Katrina, which irrevocably damaged his presidency.

Bush was widely criticized as detached and uncaring when he viewed the hurricane damage from the air rather than meeting with people on the ground. White House officials said at the time that they didn't want Bush's presence to distract from the recovery efforts.

Obama has faced some criticism that his trip to Colorado could divert time and resources away from the efforts to fight the fires.

"While President Obama certainly has the right to come to Colorado whenever he chooses, I believe his visit tomorrow will be a distraction from what has to be our only priority, which is containing and then defeating these fires," Bill Owens, the former Republican governor of Colorado, said.

But Colorado's current Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper said Colorado officials from both parties support the president's visit.

"They said, 'You're right, this is not a political thing. This is what the president of the United States should be doing in a situation like this,'" Hickenlooper said.

Yet Colorado, with huge swaths of independent-minded voters, does hold significant political weight in November. In a tight election, the state's nine electoral votes could make the difference between a win or a loss.

The Obama campaign and a political action committee supporting him have spent more than $8 million in television advertisements in the state, according to Republican officials who track ad buys. Romney and outside groups backing his candidacy have spent over $4 million.

The NBC/Marist poll found that Obama has advantages with Colorado voters on social issues and national security, while Romney has the advantage on reducing the national debt. The majority of voters in Colorado say the economy is their top issue in the November, but are evenly split over which candidate would be better at handling the economy.

Colorado's unemployment rate, at 8.1 percent last month, is just below the national average.

The Obama campaign is seeking to rally support among Colorado's growing numbers of Hispanics and young people, two groups where the president has an edge over Romney. The presumptive GOP nominee sees an opportunity to make up ground in the state's traditionally Republican rural areas. His campaign is also hoping to appeal to middle-class voters in the vast Denver suburbs, who may be unhappy with the economy.

However, Obama has an advantage among this group's key segment: suburban women.



Hammond man sentenced in drug case

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Hammond man sentenced in drug case

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A 34-year-old Hammond man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for distributing more than 100 grams of crack cocaine in Ponchatoula.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Kenyatte D. Pea pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the federal Controlled Substances Act on Aug. 31, 2011.

U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle sentenced Pea on Wednesday to 15 years in prison followed by four years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says Pea is on federal supervised release and faces additional penalties for the distribution counts. He is scheduled for a revocation hearing on July 25 before U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman.

 

 



Suspect arrested in slaying

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Suspect arrested in slaying

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a 21-year-old man.

Cpl. L'Jean McKneely tells The Advocate that 21-year-old Jonathan West is accused of fatally shooting Telly Heard after the two had an argument on June 5 under Interstate 10 on South 10th Street.

McKneely says West faces a charge of second-degree murder.

It could not be determined whether West had an attorney.




Pilot Hospitalized after Plane Crash

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Pilot Hospitalized after Plane Crash

A pilot is in the hospital following a crash in Iberia Parish this morning. The crash took place just after 8:00 near Dubois Road. Captain Ryan Turner with the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office says the aircraft was a fixed-wing single-engine plane. Witnesses told sheriff's deputies on the scene the pilot was practicing landings and take-offs all morning in the field where the crash happened. Deputies suspect the plane struck a power line, causing the crash. However, the official cause of the accident is still under investigation. The pilot, whose identity has not been released, has been hospitalized. Deputies say the extent of his injuries are unknown, but they say he was conscious at the scene.



Houma plantation and museum marks 30 years

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HOUMA, La. (AP) - A plantation house and museum in Houma is celebrating 30 years of Terrebonne Parish history.

Southdown Plantation House and museum holds a celebration Saturday afternoon to mark 30 years since the 19th century plantation home was restored by volunteers. Saturday's event includes music, dancing, food and children's activities.

Southdown's executive director, Rachel Cherry, said Southdown is the only plantation open for public viewing in Terrebonne Parish.

The Courier reports that the plantation home was built in 1859. It had deteriorated badly by the time it was obtained by the Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society, which led the restoration 30 years ago.



La. parish aims to save itself by building land

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La. parish aims to save itself by building land

BELLE CHASSE, La. (AP) - The Plaquemines Parish Council has voted in favor of a bond issue valued at between $50 million and $65 million to finance an effort to save the coastal parish from disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico.

The money would be used to hire contractors to pump Mississippi River sediment into open water surrounding the sparsely populated citrus and ranch country south of New Orleans, an effort parish leaders hope will build new marsh land and forested ridges that can buffer the effect of hurricanes on the parish.

"We can't wait," Parish President Billy Nungesser said of Thursday's 9-0 vote. "We decided to go it alone. It's an emergency."

Plaquemines Parish, with a population of about 23,000, is a 70-mile-long strip of land that hugs the Mississippi River.

The plan is to lease an electric-powered dredge designed specifically for Plaquemines so it can take coarse sediment lying 90 feet deep in the Mississippi's channel and pump it through pipelines into open water just outside levees. Once ridges are built, the parish wants to plant trees on them to slow down hurricane surge.

The parish is working with federal and state agencies on getting permits for the first ridge, which they want built between Boothville and Venice, two towns at the end of La. Highway 23 not far from the mouth of the Mississippi.

Once berms are in place, Nungesser said Army Corps of Engineers modeling has shown storm surge would be reduced by 5 feet.

The bonds would be backed by a steady stream of offshore oil and gas revenues the parish expects to get starting in 2017 and from other sources, such as money BP PLC is expected to pay for damage caused by its 2010 oil spill which hit Plaquemines hard. Plaquemines expects to receive millions of dollars in compensation from BP.

There are still many hurdles - including concerns that the work will harm wetlands by creating what in effect would be levee-like structures where there are currently bays, marshes and other natural features.

"It's totally well-intentioned, but we have to make sure that we don't get in the way of natural processes that desperately need to be re-established," said Aaron Viles of the Gulf Restoration Network, a New Orleans environmental group that monitors coastal restoration plans.

The parish still does not have the federal permits from the Army Corps and other agencies. Also, the Plaquemines plan may be at odds with a new 50-year, $50 billion state master plan designed to coordinate efforts to restore coastal Louisiana, where about 1,900 square miles of land have been lost since the 1930s.

Regardless, Plaquemines officials say their land is too at risk.

Over the past five decades, Plaquemines has become increasingly exposed to the Gulf's hurricanes because it has lost more than 250 square miles of marsh and wetlands. It's under assault from sea-level rise, subsidence, oil and gas development, hurricanes and salt water intrusion.

Katrina devastated the parish, too. The catastrophic storm made landfall in the parish at Buras and most of Plaquemines south of Belle Chasse saw flooding that washed away entire towns. Belle Chasse, the seat of the parish government, lies behind federal levee protection but the rest of the parish's levee protection falls below federal standards.

Nungesser said building the existing levees higher is not much of an option because that would mean taking away what little land people and businesses have in Plaquemines.

Mining the river of sediment is seen as a must.

"It's more necessary than it is innovative," said Mark Davis, the director of Tulane University's Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy. "It's the latest chapter in the same book."

Louisiana has experimented with river sediment before as a land-building tool. One well-known example is a 1995 marsh creation project at the LaBranche wetlands near New Orleans where some 300 acres were constructed in three months with sediment taken from the Bonnet Carre floodway.

Although the project was successful, state and federal delta managers since then have moved in other directions and stayed away from using river sediment as a land-building tool, said Joseph Suhayda, a longtime coastal oceanographer and consultant who helped develop Plaquemines' plan. He said in the past 25 years, delta engineers have focused more on rebuilding the coast with big river diversions designed to restore ecological balance and flush much-needed sediment into starved marshes.

"There is no doubt that dredging makes land," Suhayda said. "The drawback over the years has been the cost."

Plaquemines officials think they can cut those costs in half or more by developing a specialized dredge. Typical dredges in use are run by fuel rather than electricity, are equipped to house work crews and are not designed to grab material deep down in a river, all of which makes them more costly than what Plaquemines is proposing, Suhayda said.

Nungesser said plans to build up land with river diversions wouldn't do enough to help Plaquemines quickly.

"To think you're going to open up a diversion to combat the Gulf of Mexico is ludicrous," he said. "I want a dredge in that river by the end of next year."



St. Landry Parish Arrest Report

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St. Landry Parish Arrest Report

This is the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrest report for June 29, 2012

Chad David Turner, age 38, 14125 DC Leo Road, Abbeville, LA, theft by fraud, illegal possession of stolen things, felony theft, bench warrant.

Kim Carriere, age 42, 791 Mulberry Road, Opelousas, LA, careless operation, hit and run, driving under suspension. Arrested by Louisiana State Police.

Dimonitrice Brown, age 26, 307 Bertrand Drive, Opelousas, LA, cruelty to a juvenile.

Carlos Wayne Ortis, Jr, age 24, 177 Jeanette Drive, Opelousas, LA, bench warrant.

Tony Meyers, age 45, 632 Howard Venable Road, Church Point, LA, violation of protective order.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office responded to over 150 complaints over the past 24 hours. On behalf of Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, this is Lieutenant Megan Vizena and this concludes our report.

 



Junior League Accepting Grant Applications

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Junior League Accepting Grant Applications

The Junior League of Lafayette is accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations to fund projects that fill a community need. A total of twenty-four grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $1,000 - $10,000 depending upon the need and overall cost of the project. In addition, trained volunteers are available and will be assigned to assist with these projects.

Community projects should be completed between September 15, 2012 and April 30, 2013. Priority will be extended to applications that are in the Junior League's focus area: the general well-being of women and the healthy development of children, and are also congruent with its Mission: a commitment to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Due date is July 12, 2012.

For additional information or to download a grant application, please visit www.juniorleagueoflafayette.com.

 



Healing House Martini Tour Set to Begin

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Healing House Martini Tour Set to Begin

Martinis 2012: The ABSOLUT® Best Martini Tour kicks off Tuesday, July 3, 2012. Eight of the finest local restaurants will vie for the title of "Lafayette's ABSOLUT® Best Martini" as a benefit for Healing House; Hope for Grieving Children.   Walk- On's, Charley G's, Cochon, Blue Dog Café, LaFonda, Bone Fish Grill, Marcello's Wine Market Café, and Pamplona Tapas Bar will each be a stop on this year's tour. Every Tuesday beginning July 3 and running through August 21, join us to taste test that week's featured restaurant's signature martini and cast your vote for "Lafayette's ABSOLUT® Best Martini."  Visit the Healing House website at www.healing-house.org for the ABSOLUT® Best Martini Tour Schedule.
 
The search for "Lafayette's ABSOLUT® Best Martini" will culminate with Martinis 2012 on Saturday, August 25, 2012 beginning at 7:00 PM at Hilton Lafayette.  Enjoy the great sounds of Louisiana Red while tasting fine hors d'oeuveres, bidding on fabulous auction items, and voting for your ABSOLUT favorite martini! Tickets are $100 per person and may be purchased by visiting our website at www.healing-house.org  or by calling the Healing House office at 234-0443.
 
All proceeds from Martinis 2012 will benefit local families in Acadiana that have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Healing House; Hope for Grieving Children provides grief support groups for children in an atmosphere where they are allowed to express their grief though interactive play, expressive art work and discussion groups with peers experiencing the same trauma. All services provided by Healing House are free of charge and run by trained volunteers.
 
 
For More information visit our website www.healing-house.org or call the Healing House at 234-0443



The Rant: Jindal says Louisiana Will Not Implement "Obamacare"

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The Rant:  Jindal says Louisiana Will Not Implement

One day after the United States Supreme Court ruled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be constitutional, Governor Bobby Jindal said residents of his state need not worry about the law's effects. That's because, he says, Louisiana will not implement the law. In fact, he states he is banking on the next Congress to do away with the act. Jindal released the following statement regarding the state of the health care law in Louisiana:

"Come this November, we are going to elect a new President and a new Congress who will repeal and replace Obamacare. That's why we have refused to implement the Obamacare health exchange or the Medicaid expansion."

What's your take on Jindal's position?  E-mail hoyt.harris@katctv.com, and your comment may be read on the air.




Bossier sheriff-elect plans salary cuts

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BENTON, La. (AP) - Bossier Parish Sheriff-elect Julian Whittington has decided to reduce the salaries of several high-ranking members of the Sheriff's Office, including chief deputy, majors, captains and lieutenants.

The Times of Shreveport reports  that 47 sheriff's office employees will be affected. Whittington said the adjustment is one of several measures he plans to adopt in an effort to maintain office operations without raising taxes.

Whittington, who takes office this weekend, said he examined salaries paid by other law enforcement agencies in the region before coming to his decision.

"As public servants, some of our salaries were just out of line with what is acceptable pay for those positions," said Whittington, who replaces longtime Sheriff Larry Deen, who retired.

Whittington said he is constructing a maximum salary range for each position based on what he learned about other area law enforcement agencies. "We're certainly not bound by what other agencies pay, but there has to be some relation to what others are paying."

He would not say how much he plans to cut, adding that he is still making adjustments. But Whittington hopes to save approximately $300,000 through the salary reductions.

Whittington's own annual salary of $143,000 is set by the Legislature.



Two Men Arrested in Connection with Generator Theft

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Two Men Arrested in Connection with Generator Theft

Two Eunice men are in jail for allegedly stealing a generator. Dustin Thompson and Matthew Ware are both charged with felony theft. Detectives say they both confessed to their respective roles in the crime. Officials are still searching for the $800 generator. Officials add both men have prior convictions and are being investigated in connection with other crimes.



Blood Drives Giving Movie Tickets & a t-shirt July 1st 3rd

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Blood Drives Giving Movie Tickets & a t-shirt July 1st  3rd

LAFAYETTE/BROUSSARD/YOUNGSVILLE- For select mobile blood drives taking place July 1st through 3rd, United Blood Services will give all donors a free movie ticket along with a "Red, White and You Make The Difference" t-shirt - while supplies last.

"Our local hospitals are experiencing an increase in blood usage. However, we are experiencing an extreme decrease in blood donations," explained Donor Recruitment Representative Anne Laughlin. "With the July 4th holiday approaching, we are expecting this situation to worsen. This makes it extra important for eligible donors to come out and give, and thus we want to give our donors extra special thanks."

United Blood Services movie ticket blood drives are as follows:

Sunday, July 1st
Nunu's Fresh Market in Youngsville from 12noon to 3:30pm
Walmart on Pinhook from 11:30am-3:30pm
Walmart on Ambassador Caffery Pkwy. From 10am to 2pm
Monday, July 2nd
The Grand 16 Theatre on Johnston St. from 4pm to 7:30pm
Lafayette Public Library-South from 11am to 2pm
Tuesday, July 3rd
Celebrity Theater in Broussard from 4pm to 8:15pm
The Grand 14 Theatre on Kaliste Saloom from 5pm to 9pm
Community Blood Drive on corner of Pinhook Rd. and Kaliste Saloom @ 1897 West Pinhook Rd.-AT THIS DRIVE ONLY DONORS WILL ALSO RECEIVE A FREE LEMONADE TO RAISING CANES!!

United Blood Services provides life-saving blood to more than 50 hospitals in South Louisiana. Each blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.

Online appointments can be made at www.bloodhero.com under the "donate now" tab. By used the online system, donors earn points for items like movie tickets and t-shirts, and will be taken at their scheduled appointment time.

Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 16 years of age must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. Donors receive a free cholesterol test. A photo ID is required to donate. For more information, call 337-739-4978.

 



MDA event nominate someone to go to jail at Deano's South

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On Wednesday, July 18 participating business and community leaders will be arrested and taken to jail at Deano's South where they will network and raise money to fight muscle disease. To nominate someone for an arrest, all 234-0088.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a not for profit health agency that provides services to the families and children in our community who are battling neuromuscular disease.

A few of the services include leg brace and wheel chair repair, a week long summer camp for children, flu shots, clinic visits, and physical therapy. MDA is also able to sponsor world renowned research that will one day provide a cure for those with neuromuscular disease. "The only funding we receive is generated through the events we have. We really appreciate the support of this community and are looking forward to a great turn-out," said Jill Langlinais.

 

 



Sheriff Bobby Guidroz sworn in

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Sheriff Bobby Guidroz sworn in

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz was sworn in today. He was elected sheriff in 2006 to fill a vacancy after former Sheriff Howard Zerangue died. Today's swearing-in begins the sheriff's second full term. Clerk of Court Charles Jagneaux officiated the ceremony.



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