Posted
2012-01-23 05:28:00
by
Dave Graichen
NEWS FOR MONDAY 012312
BY DAVE GRAICHEN
GREENER PASTURES ARE GREETING SOME OF THE MALNOURISHED AND NEGLECTED HORSES SEIZED TWO WEEKS AGO FROM A SABINE PARISH PROPERTY OWNER.
THE SABINE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING ADDITIONAL FOSTER HOMES WHERE THE ANIMALS CAN RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION. THE SOCIETY SEIZED ABOUT 60 THOROUGHBREDS FROM CHARLES FORD'S HILLCREST FARMS NEAR MANY.
GOATS AND PIGS ALSO WERE SEIZED FROM FORD.
A 20-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM KENTUCKY WAS KILLED SUNDAY IN A WRECK IN VERNON PARISH. STATE POLICE SAY TROOPERS RESPONDED TO A CRASH ABOUT 4 A.M. ON U.S. HIGHWAY 171, NORTH OF ROSEPINE. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT TWO TREES. THE DEAD WOMAN WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. TROOPERS SAY SHE WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MODERATE INJURIES AND IS BEING TREATED AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
AN EVANGELINE PARISH MAN HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SETTING FIRE OVER THE WEEKEND TO THE TRAILER HE WAS LIVING IN. STATE FIRE MARSHAL H. "BUTCH" BROWNING SAYS 38-YEAR-OLD OLEN FUESLIER, OF PINE PRAIRIE, WAS ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF SIMPLE ARSON. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE EVANGELINE PARISH JAIL AND IS BEING HELD IN LIEU OF $50,000 BOND. AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION, AUTHORITIES SAYS FUSELIER WAS ACCUSED OF SETTING FIRE TO THE HOME. IT APPEARS HE HAD BEEN RECENTLY EVICTED BY HIS ROOMMATE.
TURN OUT WAS GOOD FRIDAY FOR A JOB FAIR AT THE RAPIDES PARISH COLISEUM EXHIBITION HALL, THAT WAS HELD TO TEST THE JOB POOL IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA. AN UNDISCLOSED COMPANY IS LOOKING AT CENLA AS A POSSIBLE NEW LOCATION FOR A CALL CENTER. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE MARCH BEFORE WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE COMPANY WILL MAKE THE MOVE.
THE JINDAL ADMINISTRATION IS PROJECTING AN $895 MILLION SHORTFALL IN LOUISIANA’S BUDGET FOR THE SPENDING YEAR THAT STARTS JULY 1. DEPUTY BUDGET DIRECTOR TERNISA HUTCHINSON TOLD MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET THAT THE SHORTFALL IS BASED ON A NUMBER OF FUNDING PROBLEMS.
THE BIGGEST IS A $538 MILLION PROJECTED SHORTFALL IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM. OTHER AREAS IN NEED OF A REVENUE BOOST INCLUDE A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND BASIC STATE AID FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE SHORTFALL PROJECTION GAVE LEGISLATORS AN INDICATION OF THE NUMBERS GOV. BOBBY JINDAL IS USING TO BUILD A PROPOSED STATE OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE RELEASED FEB. 9.
PASSENGERS TRAVELING TO AND FROM MONROE REGIONAL AIRPORT THROUGH DALLAS-FORT WORTH SOON WILL HAVE SMOOTHER AND FASTER FLIGHTS AS AMERICAN AIRLINES REPLACES ITS TURBO PROPELLER-POWERED AIRCRAFT WITH JETS. THE NEW JETS, THOUGH FASTER, HOLD FEWER PASSENGERS. THE NEW SERVICE BEGINS THE END OF THIS MONTH.
A LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE APPROVES A 275-THOUSAND DOLLAR ANNUAL SALARY FOR NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION JOHN WHITE. HIS CONTRACT ALSO CALLS FOR SIX-PERCENT ANNUAL PAY RAISES, IF HE RECEIVED A POSITIVE EVALUATION. GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL HAND PICKED WHITE AS THE STATE'S NEW PUBLIC EDUCATION LEADER. WHITE'S ANNUAL SALARY IS 80-THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT FORMER STATE SUPERINTENDENT PAUL PASTOREK RECEIVED.
THE HEAD OF THE STATE'S BIGGEST TEACHERS' UNION SAYS GOVERNOR JINDAL'S PROPOSED STATEWIDE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS PROGRAM, FOR PARENTS OF KIDS IN POOR PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IS A BAD DEAL. LOUISIANA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT STEVE MONAGHAN SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS PEDDLING A MYTH OF SCHOOL CHOICE FOR POVERTY-RIDDEN PARENTS. MONAGHAN SAYS PARENTS WHO GET VOUCHERS MAY WELL FIND FEW PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICES, AND MAY EVEN HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS REJECTED. HE SAYS LFT WOULD HOPE LAWMAKERS KEEP IN MIND THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE NO ANNUAL REVIEWS, NOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE STATE.
THE LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM IS ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR THE STATE'S TOP TEN LONGEST KNOWN LIVING MARRIED COUPLES. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GENE MILLS SAYS THE LONGEST-MARRIED COUPLE WILL BE HONORED AT A DESSERT RECEPTION IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION ON VALENTINE'S DAY. MILLS SAYS THE TOP TEN WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM'S MARRIAGE HALL OF FAME AND RECEIVE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR. ENTRANTS MAY APPLY BEFORE FEBRUARY NINTH BY SENDING THEIR THEIR CONTACT INFO AND WEDDING DATE TO INFO@LAFAMILYFORUM.ORG
LOUISIANA HAS BEEN NAMED THE MOST PRO-LIFE STATE IN THE COUNTRY. LOUISIANA RIGHT TO LIFE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BENJAMIN CLAPPER SAYS AMERICANS UNITED FOR LIFE BASES THEIR RANKINGS ON HOW STATE LEGISLATORS PASS LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN. HE SAYS LOUISIANA'S PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION IS CUTTING EDGE. CLAPPER CREDITS PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATIONS, LOUISIANA'S LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL FOR STANDING FIRM ON LEGISLATION DEALING WITH ABORTION.
LOUISIANA INVESTORS WHO LOST A BUNDLE TO AN ALLEGED PONZI SCHEME CARRIED OUT BY STANFORD INVESTMENTS, WILL BE WATCHING WHEN R. ALLEN STANFORD'S FRAUD TRIAL BEGINS TODAY. STANFORD IS ACCUSED OF MISLEADING INVESTORS WHO BOUGHT CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT FROM HIS BANK IN ANTIGUA; THEN SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON HIS OWN LAVISH LIFESTYLE.
THE STEAMY TEMPERATURES OF LAST SUMMER AND THE DRY CONDITIONS MAY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THIS YEAR'S CRAWFISH SEASON. LOUISIANA CRAWFISH FARMERS ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR STEPHEN MINVIELLE SAYS LAST YEAR IT WAS DRY BUT THE COOLER WEATHER HELPED OUT THE HARVEST. MINVIELLE SAYS THE SEASON IS STARTING OFF SLOW BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND FARMERS ARE ONLY PULLING IN ABOUT 30% OF WHAT THEY NORMALLY CATCH ON AVERAGE. MINVIELLE EXPECTS THIS YEAR'S CRAWFISH CROP WILL BE SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, STARTING SLOW THEN EXPLODING LATER IN THE SEASON. HE'S HOPING FOR LOTS OF RAIN.
REPLICAS OF TWO OF THE THREE SHIPS THAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SAILED TO THE NEW WORLD WILL BE DISPLAYED NEXT MONTH IN HOUMA. THE NINA AND PINTA WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FEB. 17-26 AT THE DOWNTOWN MARINA, AND WILL DEPART ON FEB. 27.
A STATEMENT FROM THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION SAYS THE NINA WAS BUILT BY HAND AND WITHOUT POWER TOOLS. THE PINTA IS LARGER THAN THE SHIP USED BY COLUMBUS. IT WAS BUILT RECENTLY IN BRAZIL TO ACCOMPANY THE NINA. THEY TOUR TOGETHER AS A SAILING MUSEUM. AFTER TEXAS VISITS, THEY'LL BE IN LAKE CHARLES ON APRIL 27-MAY 8.
A FORMER SHREVEPORT CITY STAFFER IS IN JAIL AWAITING SENTENCING AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF RAPING AN 18-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ON A COUCH IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. FORTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD RICHARD SEATON WAS CONVICTED ON FRIDAY IN THE RAPE, WHICH OCCURRED AFTER THE DECEMBER 2010 INDEPENDENCE BOWL.
PROSECUTORS SAID SEATON USED HIS INFLUENCE AND POSITION TO COERCE THE INTOXICATED TEEN INTO ACCOMPANYING HIM TO SHREVEPORT'S GOVERNMENT PLAZA.
HE IS TO BE SENTENCED ON FEB. 1 AFTER A JUDGE FOUND HIM GUILTY OF FORCIBLE RAPE AND ABUSE OF OFFICE.
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