Posted
2011-09-02 05:32:00
by
Dave Graichen
NEWS FOR FRIDAY 090211
BY DAVE GRAICHEN
PINEVILLE MAYOR CLARENCE FIELDS HAS BEEN CLEARED OF ANY WRONGDOING IN THE JULY 31ST TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH HE HIT AND KILLED A WOMAN WHO STEPPED IN FRONT OF HIS CAR. INVESTIGATORS SAY 29-YEAR-OLD ERICA TERRELL HAD A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF .26; THREE TIMES THE LEGAL LIMIT. TESTS SHOWED THAT MAYOR FIELDS HAD A SMALL AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN HIS SYSTEM -- A BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.018, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF LESS THAN A FULL BEER FOR A 200-POUND MAN. THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR INTOXICATION IS 0.08. THE STATE POLICE SAYING THE MAYOR WAS IN NO WAS IMPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
A SLOW-MOVING TROPICAL DEPRESSION WAS SLOGGING TOWARD THE GULF COAST FRIDAY, PACKING WALLOPING RAINS THAT COULD DRENCH THE REGION WITH UP TO 20 INCHES.
LOUISIANA'S GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY THURSDAY BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF FLASH FLOODING. TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS WERE ISSUED FROM MISSISSIPPI TO TEXAS INCLUDING NEW ORLEANS. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER SAID THE SYSTEM WILL DUMP 10 TO 15 INCHES OF RAIN OVER SOUTHERN AREAS OF LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA THROUGH SUNDAY AND AS MUCH AS 20 INCHES IN SOME SPOTS. THE DEPRESSION ALSO COULD BECOME TROPICAL STORM LEE, THE 12TH NAMED STORM OF THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.
THE CITY OF NATCHITOCHES HAS ISSUED A CITYWIDE BOIL ORDER DUE TO LOW WATER PRESSURE FOR ALL CUSTOMERS OF THE CITY, WATER WORKS DISTRICT #1 AND CLARENCE WATER SYSTEM. ALL WATER USED FOR CONSUMPTION OR WASHING DISHES SHOULD BE BOILED FOR ONE MINUTE. PEOPLE CAN USE BOTTLED WATER INSTEAD OF TAP WATER, AS WELL. IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO BOIL TAP WATER USED FOR OTHER HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES.
ALSO, THE CITY IS IMPLEMENTING MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF HIGH WATER DEMAND. NORTHWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY WILL BE OPEN TODAY, BUT NATCHITOCHES PARISH SCHOOLS AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY.
THE 2011 LOUISIANA SECOND AMENDMENT SALES TAX HOLIDAY KICKS OFF TODAY AND RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SPOKESPERSON BYRON HENDERSON SAYS ITEMS ELIGIBLE FOR TAX EXEMPTION THIS WEEKEND ARE SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARD HUNTING OR CAMPING. HENDERSON SAYS THIS WEEKEND IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR SPORTSMEN TO GET PREPARED FOR THE UPCOMING HUNTING SEASON.
U-S SENATOR DAVID VITTER HAS ENDORSED PLAQUEMINES PARISH PRESIDENT BILLY NUNGESSER IN HIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST INCUMBENT AND FELLOW REPUBLICAN JAY DARDENNE FOR THE OFFICE OF LT. GOVERNOR. NUNGESSER ROSE TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE IN THE WAKE OF THE B-P OIL SPILL. NUNGESSER SAYS HE HAS GONE BEYOND THE LIMITS OF HIS OFFICE AS PARISH PRESIDENT TO FIGHT FOR CAUSES THAT AFFECT LOUISIANA. THE STATEWIDE PRIMARY IS OCTOBER 22ND.
THE AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION IS PREDICTING FEWER MOTORISTS WILL HIT THE ROAD THIS LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. AAA SPOKESPERSON DON REDMAN SAYS THERE'S A 2 PERCENT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVELING 50 MILES OR MORE FROM HOME FOR LABOR DAY. REDMAN SAYS HOTEL RATES ARE ALSO 6% HIGHER THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME. HE SAYS PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO STAY HOME BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE TO TRAVEL.
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES HAS POSTED IT'S ANNUAL MOST WANTED POSTER OF THE STATE'S TOP OFFENDERS FOR FAILING TO PAY COURT ORDERED CHILD SUPPORT. DCFS SPOKESPERSON TREY WILLIAMS IT'S HOPED THE POSTER WILL HELP TRACK DOWN SOME OF THE NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS AND GET THEM TO PAY UP. HE SAYS MORE THAN 53-THOUSAND PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA ARE BEHIND IN THEIR CHILD-SUPPORT; MAKING IT A 1.2-BILLION DOLLAR PROBLEM FOR STATE AGENCIES.
A 74-YEAR-OLD BATON ROUGE WOMAN ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HERSELF IN HER SLEEP. BATON ROUGE POLICE SPOKESPERSON DON STONE SAYS THE WOMAN APPARENTLY SLEEPS WITH THE GUN IN HER BED AT NIGHT AND DISCHARGED THE GUN WHEN SHE ROLLED OVER ON TOP OF IT. THE WOMAN IS BEING TREATED FOR NON-LIFETHREATENING INJURIES.
A COMMERCIAL AIRPLANE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING THURSDAY AT BATON ROUGE METRO AIRPORT BECAUSE OF A LANDING GEAR FAILURE, AN AIRPORT SPOKESMAN SAID.
NO ONE WAS INJURED FROM THE INCIDENT INVOLVING DELTA CONNECTION FLIGHT 5058 FROM ATLANTA.
VALERO ENERGY CORP. AGREED THURSDAY TO ACQUIRE MURPHY OIL CORP.'S REFINERY AT MERAUX FOR ABOUT $625 MILLION. THE DEAL INCLUDES $325 MILLION FOR THE REFINERY AND RELATED ASSETS AND $300 MILLION FOR THE REFINERY'S CURRENT INVENTORY. SAN ANTONIO-BASED VALERO SAID IT PLANS TO FUND THE PURCHASE FROM AVAILABLE CASH AND HOPES TO CLOSE THE DEAL IN THE FOURTH QUARTER IF REGULATORS APPROVE.
EL DORADO, ARK.-BASED MURPHY OIL SAID THE SALE IS PART OF A PLAN TO EXIT THE REFINING BUSINESS.
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