APRIL 4, 2007

CITY OF EUNICE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT. HAS CHANGED DAY FOR PRACTICE

The first official scheduled day of practices for T-Ball Baseball & Girls Softball Leagues scheduled for April 4, 2007, have been rescheduled for Monday, the 9th, and a very important parent's meeting has been set for Thursday, April 5th at the Northwest pavilion at 6pm. The recreation department needs more coached and umpires, whether you have children in the program or not, more new hires are needed, call457-6567 for information.

SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS APPLIED FOR STATE GRANTS

Jim Smith, Public Information Officer with Bobby Guidroz' Saint Landry Parish Sheriff's Department, informs us that the department has applied for federal and state grants totaling $753,178. Grants already received total over $53,000. The newest grants applied for are from The U.S. Office Of Violence Against Women, which would enhance training and services to end violence and help stop abuse of older women, a grant from the Office Of Louisiana's Youth Development Department and a grant from the U.S. Department Of Justice's Bureau Of Justice Assistance to provide 50% reimbursement for bullet proof vests.

APRIL 3, 2007

VEHICLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH

On I-49 southbound at mile post number nineteen near Opeleousas, lightning struck a truck. The Driver, 36 year-old Jamie Miller of Ville Platte, said he saw a lightning flash and heard a loud boom as he was driving. An approximately three-inch hole was burned into the vehicle where the radio aerial used to be, the antenna was blown away. An eight inch burn mark was visible on the right front fender and a cracked windshield as well as a flat right front tire.

BRIDGE CLOSED

A bridge on Louisiana Highway 752 in Saint Landry parish is closed between Swords and Lawtell for bridge repair embankment work. The work is scheduled to last through to Friday, April 8, 2007, weather permitting. The detour is Louisiana Highway 35, U.S. Highway 190 and Louisiana Highway 751.

APRIL 2, 2007

EUNICE CITY MAYOR AND CHIEF OF POLICE IN HEATED DISCUSSIONS

As heard on our "Coffee Talk" segments on our morning show, Eunice City mayor Bob Morris continues to insist that he is not "Anti-Police Department" and feels he and Police Chief Gary Fontenot could work out their differences if given that opportunity. Chief Fontenot has been asking for a raise for his department patrol officers for eight years, and the Chief of Police before him tried for several years. Fontenot stated that, according to a state survey, the Eunice Police officer's annual salary is below the state poverty level.

Latest arrests by The Eunice Police Department:

22 year-old Kenneth Myers of 517 West Maple (the report did NOT indicate whether maple is an Avenue, Street, Boulevard or Drive) for disturbing the peace and two counts of resisting an officer.

19 year-old Derrick Colligan of Church Point, arrested for theft by shoplifting in Eunice.

MARCH 30, 2007

SAINT LANDRY PARISH BICENTENNIAL UNDER CLOSE SCRUTINY

Saint Landry Parish was served a suit for banning the racial Confederate Flag in this weekend's Bicentennial Celebration. A group of Confederate War Re-enactors are fighting for their right to wave the flag this weekend, listen for more details on 1490 AM during our newscasts every hour.

EUNICE RECREATION CENTRE T-BALL & GIRLS SOFTBALL SCHEDULED DRAFT TIMES

Deacon Caesar, Director of The Eunice Recreation Department, has announced that baseball draft times will start Monday evening, April 2, at 6pm at the Southeast Community Centre and Park. The Softball scheduled draft times will be Tuesday, April 3 starting at 6pm at The Southeast Community Centre and Park.

SPECIAL BULLETIN

State Police Detectives are searching for Tyrone Dwayne Mack, 37 year-old black male, 5 feet and 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 175 pounds, dark complexion, and hair is a short afro. Mack escaped law enforcement personel while a shooting was under investigation. Mack was last known to be in the Baton Rouge area, but could now be anywhere in the state. Persons with information should call Crimestoppers at 225-344-7867. Tyrone Mack is considered to be armed and dangerous, do not attempt to contact this suspect.

MARCH 29, 2007

STAND-OFF AND SUICIDE

54 year-old Charles Armand, III, of Chataignier has committed suicide following a stand-off with law-enforcement officials Tuesday. Armand refused to leave his ex-wife's home late this past Monday afternoon, a deputy was shot at when trying to talk Armand into leaving the house. Investigation into this event continues.

EUNICE WILL BE FEATURED ON NBC-TV

On Sunday, May 20th, during the 7am to 9am showing of the NBC-TV program "Today", The City Of Eunice will be featured in a small segment focusing on "Vanishing America". Those interviewed include The Liberty Theatre's Jerry Devilier, and Marc and And Savoy, as well as former Eunice Mayor Curtis Joubert.

MARCH 27, 2007

OPELOUSAS ALDERMAN, BAR OWNER CITED FOR SELLING ALCOHOL TO MINORS

A member of the Opelousas Board of Alderman and owner of the Added Attractions Lounge, Louis Butler, Jr., has been cited for contributing to the delinquency of minors. The citation was issued this weekend when Opelousas police discovered five minors, ages 14 to 17, patronizing Butler's bar. Upon questioning the juveniles, officers learned that they had gained entrance to the club when the elderly gentlemen at the door failed to check their identifications. Opelousas police chief Perry Gallow has vowed to attend an upcoming hearing before the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, at which time he will formally request that Butler's liquor license be revoked.

OPD OFFICER ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED BATTERY

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's deputies have arrested Opelousas Police Department Officer Paul Cortez on charges of aggravated battery. Details about the charges are sketchy at this point, but because aggravated battery is a felony charge, the motorcycle patrolman has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation. Some witnesses have come forward to suggest that Cortez may have been assaulted in his home prior to the altercation that led to his arrest.

MARCH 26, 2007

CHIEF FONTENOT FIGHTS BACK

For the first time since Mayor Bob Morris took office on January 1, Eunice Police Chief Gary "Goose" Fontenot has responded to what he characterizes as personal attacks against his department and himself. Chief Fontenot has remained silent in the months since, as Mayor Morris publicly criticized the chief and his officers on KEUN's Coffee Talk and in newspaper articles. Chief Fontenot has not only broken his silence, but he has come out swinging. In an interview with a local newspaper reporter, Chief Fontenot said that "the mayor seems hellbent on finding fault with the department" and that Morris' "contempt for...officers of the Eunice Police Department is very apparent".

EUNICE MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION, DEALING FOLLOWING RAID

A drug raid conducted just before dawn Friday resulted in the arrest of 21-year-old Aaron L. Jones of 230 Benoit Street on drug charges. The raid, conducted by the Eunice Police Department's Narcotics Division with help from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, was the result of several complaints by neighbors that drug dealing was occurring at the residence. Jones was charged with intent to distribute crack cocaine, intent to distribute Lortabs and possession of marijuana.

MARCH 23, 2007

SHERIFF GUIDROZ BLAMES BALTHAZAR FOR OVERSPENT BUDGET

Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz called a press conference Thursday to expound upon problems with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office budget, problems he asserts that he inherited from the previous administration. Under former interim sheriff Laura Balthazar's administration, Sheriff Guidroz says the office was operated at a deficit of over $1.2 million. In fact, when he took office in November, the office was already in the hole by that amount, and only five months of the budget cycle had been completed. Balthazar denied the new sheriff's allegations and took umbrage to the suggestion that she didn't know how to handle a budget. She pointed out that while individual budget items may have been overspent, the budget includes a $4 million fund balance, which is more than enough money to make up for any shortfalls.

SLP DEPUTIES MAKE ARREST IN JULY 2006 ATTEMPTED RAPE CASE

A cold St. Landry Parish rape case was solved Thursday when sheriff's deputies arrested 44-year-old Martin P. Broussard of Gueydan.  Broussard, of 1623 N. Fourth Street, Gueydan, has been charged with aggravated burglary attempted forcible rape, sexual battery and theft. The alleged crimes were committed in July 2006 against a single Port Barre woman. He was arrested and booked into the St. Landry Parish jail. When authorities in St. Landry Parish are finished with him, Broussard will return to the Calcasieu Parish jail  from whence he came; at the time of his arrest by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, Broussard was awaiting a trial on charges of sexual battery against the infirm, aggravated battery, theft over $500, two counts of theft by use of a bank access card and simple criminal damage to property.  He had been incarcerated there since January 18.

MARCH 22, 2007

BALTHAZAR, DEPUTIES FACE $3 MILLION LAWSUIT

A woman who was arrested by deputies of the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office during the administration of Laura Balthazar has filed a suit against three deputies and former interim sheriff Balthazar. Linda D. Senegal, 46, has hired attorney William Goode, who filed a civil rights complaint with a U.S. District Court in Lafayette on behalf of his client, whose address is listed as 141 Quinault Lane, Opelousas. The 15-page document alleges that Senegal was unlawfully arrested, assaulted and subjected to malicious prosecution and defamation. The arrest arose from a dispute with Senegal's neighbor, Marcus Anderson, over the placement of a fence separating their properties. According to Sengal, a complaint called in to the sheriff's office by Anderson led to the dispatch of deputies Arthur Lee Harris and Spencer Gallow; along with Cindy Hawkins, these are the deputies named in the suit. Senegal maintains that Harris and Gallow tackled her to ground, resulting in physical injury, before transporting her to the jail, where she was "treated badly" and charged with aggravated assault, resisting an officer and two counts of battery on an officer. Senegal also charges that Balthazar interfered with the setting of bond by Judge Alonzo Harris, delaying the bond hearing so that Senegal was forced to spend the night in jail. Balthazar declined to comment on the case, since she had just learned of it herself and wanted time to examine before speaking publicly. 

MARCH 21, 2007

TWO MEN SHOT IN AFTERNOON ALTERCATION IN THE "HILL"

Two men were shot in the section of Opelousas known as the "Hill" Tuesday, following an argument with a third man who is now being sought by police. Leon Cary allegedly shot Randy Joseph, 26, in the arm, and his brother, Cedric Joseph, 24, in the chest with a .38 caliber handgun. The brothers were both taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where they were pronounced to be in stable condition. Neighbors witnessed the shooting and were able to connect it back to an ongoing dispute between Randy Joseph and Cary, who just bonded out of jail Monday after being arrested on an assault charge for hitting the elder Joseph in the head with a lug wrench.

SUSPECT ARRESTED IN LOREAUVILLE SHOOTING

Arthur Balsadua has been captured by authorities and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder following an incident in a Loreauville trailer park Monday night. Bondsman Valerie King, 48, and the bounty hunter who had accompanied her to Basaldua's trailer, 56-year-old Eddie MacKenzie. The two victims had called on Basaldua to try to convince him to turn himself in after they learned that he had caused an accident Sunday afternoon that left several people injured on Hwy. 90, then fled the scene. The suspect was out on $100,000 bail because of meth charges. King and MacKenzie talked to Balsadua for about an hour before he agreed to accompany them to turn himself in. At that time, he pulled a .40 caliber handgun out and began shooting at them. The two were able to get out of his trailer, but the suspect continued firing on them in the yard. King was shot the thigh and the shoulder, while another bullet grazed her forehead. Her condition is unknown. MacKenzie initially refused treatment, though he said that a bullet had traveled straight through his side; he went on his own to see a doctor in Baton Rouge Tuesday morning. Also arrested in the shooting were Dusty Nash, 21, and Israel Perez, 24. Both are charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. Nash is accused of allowing Balsadua to stay in his home to elude authorities, and Perez was pulled over by police, at which time they found items from Basaldua's trailer. Police believe Perez was attempting to destroy evidence from the shooting on the suspect's behalf. Loreauville, a small Iberia Parish town, was effectively shut down Monday night, with all roads into and out of the community closed while police searched for the shooter. They caught him Tuesday, at which time he was arrested without incident.

MARCH 20, 2007

OPELOUSAS OFFICIALS MOVE CLOSER TO RESTRICTING ALCOHOL SALES

Opelousas's Board of Aldermen has agreed to a proposal that will ban the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m. in businesses whose alcohol sales exceeds 15 percent of their gross revenue. The proposal, drafted by City Attorney Pride Doran, was specifically designed to ensure that Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino would be excluded from the ban on liquor sales between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Another of Doran's proposed amendment to the city's liquor sales ordinance failed to past muster; this particular amendment would have allowed facilities featuring live entertainment to continue serving alcoholic beverages after 2 a.m. had it not been rejected unanimously by board members. Doran defended his idea, saying that those bars and dance halls seeking to continue serving drinks after 2 a.m. could do so by purchasing a permit that would hold owners responsible for nuisance issues such as parking and litter. Aldermen rejected the idea outright because of a consensus that such an amendment would allow for too many loop holes. A public hearing will be held 30 days after Monday's decision, but before the city's April 23 special meeting, during which a final vote will be taken. If approved, the ordinance will go into effect 30 days after the April 23 vote.  In the meantime, citizens will have the opportunity to mull over the proposed amendments, which the city is required to advertise. The purpose of the public hearing is for citizens to voice their opinions about the possible ordinance change.

CHURCH POINT WOMAN ARRESTED IN DRUG STING

Church Point resident Rachel Hebert Averette, 26, was one of several persons in the area arrested by the Acadia Parish Narcotics Strike Force Team on drug warrants this week. Averette was charged with distribution of oxycodone; District Judge Glen Everett set her bond at $25,000. Another Church Point resident arrested on an unrelated drug charge is Robert James Guidry, 19, who was charged with simple possession of marijuana. The Acadia Parish Narcotic Strike Force reports that these are just two of several recent area arrests made on charges ranging from simple possession of marijuana to distribution of cocaine, oxycodone and Ecstasy. 

MARCH 19, 2007

EPD LOSES TWO MORE OFFICERS TO SHERIFF'S OFFICE; FOUR MORE EXPECTED TO RESIGN SOON

The Eunice Police Department announced last week the resignation of two more officers, who left to take jobs with the sheriff's office; four more officers are expected to resign soon. Chief Gary Fontenot appealed to the City Council last Tuesday, in an effort to gain support for a pay raise for his officers, whose current base pay is just $7.83 hourly. Eunice officers have not received a pay raise in 9 years. Mayor Bob Morris's words were not encouraging, as he pointed out that the pay rate can't be changed without amending the city's entire Civil Service plan rates.

MAPLE SPEED LIMIT TO DROP, SPEED BUMPS COMING TO WARD 4

The speed limit on Maple Avenue between 12th Street and LSUE Drive will son drop from 45 to 35 MPH. The drop in speed was suggested following an engineering study by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development at the request of Ward 3 alderman Chawana V. Fontenot, who had originally proposed that the speed limit should drop from 12th street all the way to Bobcat Drive. The study showed, however, that traffic on the stretch between LSUE Drive and Bobcat Drive does not warrant a speed change. In Ward 4, Alderman Dale Soileau has received the city insuror's go-ahead to add speed bumps to streets in his district.

LAFLEUR FOUND GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

Jurors debated late into the night Wednesday before delivering a verdict of "guilty" against Eunice resident Gary Wayne Lafleur, 28. Lafleur was tried in the second-degree of fellow Eunice resident Dwain Andrepont on Christmas Eve, 2004. Andrepont was found by a friend early Christmas morning; he had been stabbed 26 times and severely beaten with a tire tool. Seven of those stab wounds proved fatal, and the victim suffered 25 other injuries in the beating, including a fractured skull. After waiving his rights to a delay of sentencing, Lafleur was sentenced to life in prison without the benefit of parole. 

OPELOUSAS CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO BAN 24-HOUR LIQUOR SALES

The Opelousas City Council agreed this week to stop around-the-clock liquor sales everywhere in the city - except for Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino. Under the new ordinance, alcoholic beverages will not be legally sold after 2 a.m., unless the business peddling the drinks don't make more than a certain percentage of their profits from liquor. That percentage is yet to be determined, but City Attorney Pride Doran has been asked to draft an ordinance to be presented to the city's General Services Committee by Monday. 

MARCH 15, 2007 

DONATION HELPS EFD ENHANCE FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM

The Eunice Fire Department announced Tuesday the addition of an interactive robot to its fire prevention program. The purchase of "Sparky the Fire Dog and Pumper" was made possible by a $10,601 grant from State Farm Insurance. Sparky will accompany Firefighters Anna Daigle and Samuel Andrus to the classrooms of Head Start, Pre-K and elementary school students up to the fourth grade, where he will "communicate" with the children through an interactive voice system in language that even the youngest children will understand. The new program is expected to reach 1,219 students. According to Andrus and Daigle, State Farm has donated money, videos and other training aids over the years, helping to make it possible the EFD to respond to 454 calls between June 2005 and June 2006, forty-eight of which were structure fires. 

EUNICE'S FIRST PEDIATRICIAN, "DR. BENNY", DEAD AT 78

The family of beloved pioneering pediatrician Dr. Benny Fruge will lay him to rest at a 1 p.m. funeral service today at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church. "Dr. Benny", as he was affectionately referred to by former patients, was Eunice's first pediatrician, first opening his practice here in the 1950s. Many will remember that, even in his later years, he often rode his bicycle to work. He will also be remembered for making house calls and seeing patients after hours and on weekends, often in his own home. In 1963, in a move that was arguably the most important of his entire career, Dr. Fruge organized the polio program for St. Landry Parish. As a 1945 graduate of St. Edmund's Catholic High School, Dr. Fruge continued to show his love and support for his church parish at St. Anthony's and his adjacent alma mater as a longtime benefactor and member of the school's board and booster club. The doctor is survived by his wife, Ann Rozas Fruge, four sons, a daughter and 12 grandchildren. He was 78. 

MARCH 14, 2007

LAFLEUR MURDER TRIAL CONTINUES

Prosecutors will continue today to present their case against Gary Wayne Lafleur, the Eunice resident who is accused of the December 24, 2004, stabbing death of Dwain Andrepont. Andrepont was found dead in his Eunice home on the following day by a friend who had stopped by to wish him a Merry Christmas. The state contends that Lafleur stabbed Andrepont 26 times because he refused to buy back a rifle that the  accused had purchased from him earlier the same day.  Lafleur is charged with second-degree murder and faces a mandatory life sentence in prison if convicted.

SATURDAY CRASH KILLS ONE, INJURES FIVE

10-year-old Cain Leblanc of Carencro was pronounced dead at the scene of a Saturday evening crash in Grand Coteau. Grand Coteau Police Chief Margaret Coco announced Tuesday afternoon that the crash occurred when a fast-moving car driven by Tamara Williams, 28, of Dallas, Texas struck the back of a car that was stopped at the stop sign that marks I-49's Exit 11.  Leblanc was one of four passengers in a car driven by Robert Lee, 35, ; the other passengers, who were all seriously injured, have been identified as Lee's wife, Karen, and their three children. Robert Lee remains in critical condition. Coco says that Williams has a history of mental illness and had not been taking her medication. She has been admitted to a mental health clinic for treatment. Upon her release, the police chief says, Williams will be charged with one count of negligent homicide and five counts of negligent injury.

MARCH 8, 2007

AMC CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN NEW FACILITY

Acadian Medical Center has reached the one-year mark in its new facility on Hwy. 190. Chief executive officer Charlotte Dupre reports that the medical center has exceeded all goals and expectations for their first year, and was even ranked number one in Lifepoint Hospital, Inc.'s region that comprises hospitals in Louisiana, Mississippi and Virginia. Factors used to rank the hospitals include patient satisfaction, community service, physician satisfaction and financial success. AMC opened its doors on Hwy. 190 at 7 a.m. on March 9, 2006. Since that date, the hospital's income has increased by $900,000 and 20 employees have been added to the payroll. Future plans for the hospital include a cardiology unit, to be added in July. The facility will use the $100,000 grant received for ranking number one to purchase a C-Arm, which is used in radiographic and vascular surgery.

CIVIL SERVICE BOARD TO CONSIDER PROPOSAL FOR ADDING HOLIDAY TIME

Eunice's Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board will hold a public hearing tonight to discuss a proposed expansion of the Civil Service holiday list, despite being one member short. Tonight's hearing is being held to discuss the possible addition of four paid holidays per year to  the schedule of all local Civil Service employees, bringing the number of holidays they are paid for per year to 10, which is the same as all other city employees. The days in question include Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, Mardi Gras, Good Friday, and the Friday after Thanksgiving. Currently, Civil Service employees are only entitled to New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day. While the change is permitted by the state's Civil Service board, regulations state that a hearing be held and that the local board votes on the matter. Eunice's Civil Service Board is made up of three special-interest seats, one elected by the Fire Department and one elected by the Police Department, one elected by the City Council and two "independent" seats, which are filled by the Council with people nominated by Louisiana State University at Eunice. The vacant seat is one of those independent seats; the other is currently held by former police chief Charles Manuel. LSUE Chancellor William "Bill" Nunez nominated two men for that position last November: LSUE professor Sanford Wood and community activist and casino security manager Byron "Tank" Minor. Former mayor Lynn Lejeune's administration decided to leave that decision up to the incoming administration led by Mayor Bob Morris.

NEW SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR TO BE PAID MORE THAN $70K PER YEAR

Katry Martin, the newly-appointed executive director of the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste board, must wait until Monday to learn exactly what his yearly salary, benefits and other perks will include. Martin is slated to begin work March 17; his salary is projected to fall between $72,000 and $75,000 per year. Martin replaces 23-year parish waste disposal district veteran Gary Bonvillain in the top position. At the time of his resignation, Bonvillain's salary was $72,600 per year. When he leaves the job on March 16, he will receive an additional $45,832.43 in accrued sick and vacation time, a move which was approved by the full board yesterday. Martin has expressed that rather than receiving a $22,000 truck as part of his contract, he would prefer an auto allowance; the commission ordered a new truck for Bonvillain in December.

MARCH 6, 2007

SCHOOL DISTRICT'S SCORE DROPS; LACK OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS "UNACCEPTABLE"

St. Landry Parish Schools' District Performance Score has dropped to 84.9, a loss of 5.8 points over last year's 90.7. Despite the decline of the St. Landry's DPS, the district rose four positions in the rankings to become the 24th-best in the state. The Louisiana Department of Education released District Performance Scores Monday for 59 of the state's 68 school districts. Nine districts did not receive scores this year because of the impact that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have had on their schools. 20,000 less students took the standardized iLEAP, LEAP, and GEE tests upon which the DPS is mainly based. All districts in the state are required to reach a score of 120 points by the year 2014 or face closure. Another issue addressed by Monday's reports, that of teacher certification, left some district officials shocked; St. Landry Parish was one of 15 districts whose number of certified teachers was deemed "unacceptable". 

THREE EUNICE RESIDENTS PLEAD GUILTY IN FEBRUARY DISTRICT COURT CASES

Three Eunice residents entered guilty pleas to unrelated charges in district court during the month of February, according to District Attorney Earl Taylor. Those residents and the charges to which they pled guilty are as follows: Maria Schaffer, 47, 1400 W. Vine St., possession of alprazolam (Xanax); John Ortego, 24, 296 Wayne Road, possession of methadone, possession of alprazolam and possession of codeine; Damien Chevis, 26, 812 Myrtle Street, two counts of armed robbery. Sentencing dates for both Schaffer and Chevis have been set for May 11, while Ortego will hear the judge's decree on April 13.

MARCH 5, 2007

CITY'S NEW RECREATION DIRECTOR AMBITIOUS

Chris Ceasar, a 1982 graduate of Eunice High School and former running back for the Bobcats, has been chosen as Eunice's new Recreation Director. Ceaser expressed pleasure at returning to his hometown after serving as recreation director in a Houston neighborhood. Ceaser credits former EHS head coach Johnny Bourque, now Superintendent of Acadia Parish's school district, and KEUN's own "King" Karl DeRouen as his inspirations. As for the recreation department, Ceaser plans to expand it tremendously. For example, he will introduce a flag football league this fall, and also hopes that he can get together a pre-tackle flag football and tackle football league for children ages seven through 10; in this league, young athletes would study high school football playbooks of both EHS and St. Edmund's High School, so that they can be better prepared to play for the schools. Ceaser also plans to reach out to the city's adults, with a ladies', mens' and coed softball league already in the works for the future, and a volleyball league tentatively planned . For now, the new director hopes to make opening day of the city's baseball and softball seasons a great success, with an opening day tournament as his ultimate goal. 

EUNICE MAN ARRESTED AFTER GRANDSON FALLS INTO FIRE

41-year-old Thomas Joseph Murphy of Fournerat Road in Eunice is in jail on charges of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile after an incident that left his five-year-old grandson with second-degree burns to his lower back. Murphy turned himself into the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office Friday, where he is being held on $50,000 bond; he is accused of dropping his grandson into an open fire to teach the child a lesson about riding his bike too close to the fire. The child was treated for his burns at a local hospital and released into the care of his mother, Murphy's daughter. Mia Murphy has said that the occurrence was an accident, and that her father would never intentionally harm a child. A neighbor also expressed disbelief that Murphy, a father of eight himself and by all appearances a normal man, would harm a child. 

MARCH 2, 2007

DEPUTY ARRESTED FOR MAKING FAKE ID FOR MINOR, HUSBAND PLACED ON LEAVE

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Deputy Tammy Lorah was arrested Tuesday and charged with malfeasance in office and first-degree injury of public records. Lorah, who resigned her position as a clerk with the sheriff's office as a result of the charges, is accused of making a fake ID for a 17-year-old in 2003. Her alleged crime was discovered during an internal affairs investigation of the agency's employees. Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz expounded on Lorah's record with the sheriff's office, noting that she was an employee of the former administration who was let go for insubordination. Since no personnel records remained on file after former Interim Sheriff Laura Balthazar left office, Sheriff Guidroz could not look further into the matter, so he rehired Lorah, whose husband is a supervisor of detectives under Sheriff Guidroz. Randy Lorah, a five-year veteran of the sheriff's office, was placed on paid administrative leave on February 23, after it was discovered that he was in possession of evidence that should have been properly documented and stored. Lorah's impropriety was discovered during the course of evidence destruction and inventory updates. Sheriff Guidroz described Lorah's paid leave as a "disciplinary action". Tammy Lorah bonded out on the same Tuesday that she was arrested and charged.

MARCH 1, 2007

SHERIFF'S OFFICE IMPLEMENTS CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz is adding the Crime stoppers program to his arsenal of weapons used to fight crime. Crime stoppers, an international program that has been in operation since 1976, offers cash rewards to anyone with information about a crime that leads to an arrest. The caller and their information remains anonymous. Ron Dartez, the new program's coordinator, announced Crime stoppers' implementation at a noon luncheon in Opelousas on Wednesday. Dartez held the same position with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Department prior to his retirement. He said, "Coming back out of retirement was easy for such a great program and it is certain to help make a difference in St. Landry Parish." Sheriff Guidroz echoed that sentiment, calling the program "very effective" wherever it exists. More details about the program will be released in the near future, according to the sheriff's Public Relations Officer, Jim Smith. Smith also said that business owners and civic or neighborhood watch groups can schedule a presentation about the program by calling the sheriff's office at (337) 948-6516.

FEBRUARY 28, 2007

ST. EDMUND NAMES NEW HEAD COACH

Tom Andrus was named the new athletic director at St. Edmund High School Tuesday morning. Andrus' history with St. Edmund sports spans more than 25 years, beginning as an assistant under the legendary Joe Nagata; in 1980 then-baseball-coach Andrus led the St. Ed's team to their first-ever state championship. Coaching at St. Edmund's has become a family affair for the Andrus family; Andrus' wife, Rachel, taught physical education and coached the girls' basketball team at the school for over 10 years. Their daughter, Erica Zaunbracher, is currently teaching physical education at St. Edmund's Elementary School. All of his children, including sons Josh and Heath, attended St. Ed's; youngest daughter, Leah, is currently a sophomore at the high school. Though Tom Andrus' career led him to pursue interests in the oilfield and construction, he continued to coach T-Jay football at the school, and has always volunteered for building projects. 

MARTIN CHOSEN TO LEAD ST. LANDRY SOLID WASTE COMMISSION

Katry Martin, who previously served as the secretary/treasurer of the Acadia Parish Police Jury, has been chosen by the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission to serve as their new executive director. Martin replaces Gary Bonvillain, who was with the commission for 23 years. Bonvillain has accepted a job with a local insurance company and will leave the SLSWC on March 16. The vote for Martin was unanimous, an about face from last week's 4-4 split. The deciding vote was cast by newly appointed commission member A.F. "Pete" Olivier. Olivier takes the late Allen Brasseaux's seat. Brasseaux died Sunday after a three-month absence due to illness.

FEBRUARY 26, 2007

EUNICE CITY LAKE OPENED TO RESIDENTS

Citizens of Eunice woke up Saturday to beautiful weather and the long-awaited option of visiting the town's City Lake to bask in the sun. Both the warm weather and the sudden opening were a bit unexpected, but it didn't stop anglers, boaters and picnickers from turning out in droves Saturday and Sunday. Representatives of the Department of Environmental Quality had told the City Council and Mayor Bob Morris last week that there were no environmental concerns at the lake that should keep it closed any longer. The mayor and the council came together late Friday afternoon to make the last-minute decision to open the lake after the mayor realized what a beautiful weekend the city would experience. Visitors to the lake reported catching large fish and enjoying the warm sunshine immensely, and tens of boaters showed up to take part in the fun.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE PLANS NEW SUBSTATION

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz has announced his office's intentions to open another substation in the community of Leonville. Leonville's facility will make it one of three St. Landry Parish towns, including Eunice and Lebeau, to include substations of the Opelousas sheriff's office. The northeast corner of the Leonville Town Hall is being renovated to house the substation, which officials expect to be open and fully functional within two weeks. A sheriff's office employee will man the substation, which will be adjacent to the Leonville Police and Fire Chiefs' offices, as well as the town's two jail cells, 24 hours a day. 

FEBRUARY 23, 2007

SOLID WASTE COMMISSION FAILS TO CHOOSE NEW DIRECTOR 

Following the resignation of executive director Gary Bonvillain, the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission has failed to choose his successor, despite two votes regarding the matter. The votes were cast after two days of closed-door interviews of 28 applicants. Following the interviews, commission members met over three days, again behind closed doors, to try to decide between two candidates to which they have narrowed the initial list of candidates. Those candidates are Bradley McDonald of Houston, Texas and Katry Martin of Crowley. McDonald is currently the general manager of a Houston waste corporation; Martin has served as the secretary/treasurer of the Acadia Parish Police Jury since 1996, a job in which her duties included managing public works contracts related to the disposal of waste. Bonvillain will leave this position on March 16 to take a job with a local insurance company.

FEBRUARY 22, 2007

KEUN TO AIR 1,000th LIBERTY THEATER SHOW SATURDAY NIGHT

The 1000th "Rendez Vous Des Cajuns" Saturday night radio show will air on KEUN 1490 AM this Saturday, February 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. Local Cajun music champions Marc and Ann Savoy and Dr. Barry Ancelet, who still serves as the show's emcee, began the Saturday night Cajun music showcase in 1986 on a trial basis. Needless to say, the concept was a great success; the Liberty Theater, first purchased by the City of Eunice in 1985, has put Eunice on the map as a tourist destination. The theater's status as a historical landmark and local treasure can, in part, be attributed to the Saturday night show. After a successful first year, the show was first broadcast on the radio on July 11, 1987; performers that night included Church Point Playboys, Chuck Guillory, Papa Cairo and the Rhythm Boys, and humorist Craig Soileau. The 1,000th show will feature Jason Frey and Lagniappe, Jeffery Broussard and Creole Cowboys, Jambalaya Cajun Band with special guests D.L. Menard, Paul Daigle and Rodney LeJeune. This Saturday's show will be reminiscent of the first broadcast, as many of the musicians have ties to the July 11, 1987 performance. For instance, a nearly-20-years-younger Jason Frey performed during that show with Chuck Guillory, while Paul Daigle led the Church Point Playboys. Admission to the show has remained at $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 7-12 for the entire run of the program. The box office at South 2nd Street and Park Boulevard will open at 4 p.m. None of the 528 available seats can be reserved.

EUNICE PARK TO HOST SMITHSONIAN EXHIBIT

Eunice's Jean Lafitte National Park & Preserve's Cultural Center will host the Smithsonian Museum's traveling exhibit, "Key Ingredients...America by Food" from February 27 through April 6, 2007. The appearance of the exhibit is its last in Louisiana as part of a nationwide tour that featured 150 stops and earned it much countrywide acclaim. The display places emphasis on two key ingredients in American food: regional traditions and international influences. Since the subject of the presentation is food, a dinner event has been organized to herald its arrival; tickets to Monday night's (Feb. 27) culinary event at Nick's on 2nd are currently available for purchase by calling 457-4921. The $50 tickets will afford attendees a four-course meal prepared by guest chefs from Chef John Folse's Culinary Institute and presentations by noted Louisiana cookbook authors Marcelle Bienvenu and Dr. Carl Brasseaux. Following the meal that will feature corn and crawfish bisque and slow-roasted boneless duck with apple-raisin rice dressing and spiced fig gravy, those in attendance will take the short stroll to the Cultural Center's Park Boulevard location for a preview of the exhibit. 

CITY OF EUNICE TO PROPOSE TOUGHER CRIMINAL COURT ORDINANCE FOR "BLIGHT"

At last week's meeting of the Eunice City Council, aldermen decided to schedule a public hearing concerning the next step in ridding the city of dangerous structures. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:15 p.m. in the City Council chambers, just before their regular monthly meeting. Ward II alderwoman Marguerite Fruge-Simpson has expressed concern about at least 17 properties in her district. The mayor and aldermen are considering adding a criminal ordinance to the penalties posed on those who fail to  maintain their properties, many of which become not only a public nuisance, but pose a danger to citizens as well. The proposed law would impose fines of said property owners, with values of $100 for a first offense, $300 for a second and $500 for three or more convictions of failing to maintain a safe structure; the law would also carry jail time.

The ordinance will clearly define what makes a property "safe", and what is considered a "danger to public welfare". For instance, the structure under debate needn't be vacant or abandoned to be considered dangerous. Any outstanding fines would be categorized as liens against the property, making the fees eligible to be added to the property owner's city tax bill. The owners of three properties addressed at last week's council meeting will be required to show grounds of why their properties should not be condemned.

TWO HOUSE FIRES IN ONE WEEK IN EUNICE

The Eunice Fire Department reported two major house fires this week. According to Fire Chief Wayne Lavergne, the first of the two blazes was reported at 12:40 a.m. on Sunday morning; firefighters were on the scene at the S. Mallet St. home of Theresa Malbrough within one minute of receiving the call. It took three trucks and 16 firefighters to contain that blaze, which Chief Lavergne believes began in the kitchen area and was related to cooking. At 10:44 p.m. Monday night, the EFD received a report of another residential fire, this one in the N. 3rd St. rental home occupied by Wilbert Robbins, Jr. and Jennifer Manuel. 22 firefighters and three trucks were at the scene of that blaze within two minutes. Both houses were destroyed in the fires, with little of the occupants' belongings appearing salvageable. The cause of this fire was not  obvious, though Chief Lavergne says that he believes that it started on the back porch. "Sometimes, when it's that bad, it's hard to determine exactly how it started; you can tell about where it started according to how bad the charring is on the wood and stuff like that," he said, adding that these were the fourth and fifth major house fires in Eunice this year.

MORRIS REPAYS CITY FOR QUESTIONABLE ADS

Mayor Bob Morris has repaid Eunice for newspaper advertisements that he originally paid for with city money. There was one point at Tuesday evening's raucous Eunice City Council meeting when the room went silent, if only for a moment. The silence followed a verbal thrashing of Mayor Bob Morris by Alderwoman Chawana Fontenot regarding ads that he placed in a local newspaper and remarks he made on KEUN's Coffee Talk; Fontenot concluded her remarks by expressing her hope that the city was not paying for the newspaper ads. A shocked silence settled over the previously rowdy audience when Mayor Morris lowered his eyeglasses from atop his head and peered through them at Fontenot before replying that two of the ads were, in fact, paid for with city money. Morris' wife, Jeanita, paid for the January 21 and February 1 ads, totaling $355.40, on Wednesday morning. Later that day, the mayor defended his actions to reporters by phone from a Louisiana Municipal Association workshop in Baton Rouge that he was attending. Mayor Morris contends that he looked as the ads as being related to city business, since he announced things that pertained to city government, namely Recreation Committee issues. Fontenot's aim with her remarks was to upbraid the mayor for what she calls ongoing misinformation relayed to the public by Mayor Morris, which has been going on for three years.