Posted
2012-10-23 07:55:00
by
Dave Graichen
NEWS FOR TUESDAY 102312
BY DAVE GRAICHEN
THE RAPIDES PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS LOOKING FOR THE PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING UP TO $15,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO GRAVES AT A CEMETERY. THEY SAY SOME OF THE TOMBSTONES WERE POSSIBLY ABOUT 100 YEARS OLD AND WERE OVERTURNED AND CRACKED.
EARLY VOTING FOR THE NOVEMBER 6TH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OPENS TOADY AND RUNS THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH. SECRETARY OF STATE TOM SCHEDLER SAYS THEY ARE EXPECTING A VERY HIGH VOTER TURNOUT AND EARLY VOTING IS A GOOD WAY TO AVOID THE RUSH. SCHEDLER SAYS VOTING EARLY IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE POPULAR IN LOUISIANA. HE SAYS THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR ELECTIONS LIKE THIS ONE THAT FALL ON A WEEKDAY RATHER THAT A SATURDAY. SCHEDLER SAYS VOTING EARLY IS EASY AND SIMPLE.
STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION JOHN WHITE IS APPLAUDING THE EFFORTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER ANNOUNCING THAT 36-PERCENT OF SCHOOLS EARNED AN AN A OR B LETTER GRADE, WHICH IS A 28-PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR. WHITE SAYS A HIGHER GRADUATION RATE AMONG HIGH SCHOOLS HELPED MANY SCHOOLS RECEIVE HIGHER GRADES. BUT THE RELEASE OF YESTERDAY’S SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES ALSO SHOWS MORE SCHOOLS RECEIVED "F" LETTER GRADE. 157 SCHOOLS RECEIVED AN "F" THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 115 LAST YEAR. WHITE SAYS MORE "F" GRADES WERE GIVEN OUT, BECAUSE SCHOOLS HAD TO SCORE HIGHER TO RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE. UNDER THE OLD GRADING SYSTEM ONLY 70 SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE HAD A FAILING GRADE.
FIVE SCHOOLS IN RAPIDES PARISH ACED THEIR 2012 SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES, ACCORDING TO DATA RELEASED MONDAY BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
TWO HIGH SCHOOLS -- ALEXANDRIA SENIOR HIGH AND PINEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL -- RECEIVED AS FROM THE STATE, ALONG WITH THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS -- PHOENIX MAGNET, PEABODY MONTESSORI AND J.I. BARRON. PHOENIX MAGNET ELEMENTARY MAINTAINED THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE DISTRICT AGAIN THIS YEAR,
AMONG THE NINE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TO BE DECIDED ON THE NOVEMBER 6TH BALLOT, ONE SEEKS TO MAKE IT HARDER TO TAMPER WITH GUN RIGHTS ASSURED UNDER THE SECOND AMENDMENT. THE ORIGINAL BILL WAS SPONSORED BY COLUMBIA SENATOR NEIL RISER, WHO SAYS THE AMENDMENT WILL HELP PROTECT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS TO POSSESS AND BEAR FIREARMS. THE COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA FEELS IT'S A BAD IDEA TO VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT. CABL PRESIDENT BARRY ERWIN SAYS THEY WORRY IT COULD LEAD TO PLACES CURRENTLY DESIGNATED "GUN-FREE ZONES" PERMITTING WEAPONS ON THE PREMISES.
LOUISIANA HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS HAVE AGAIN ASKED LEGISLATORS TO HAND OVER AUTHORITY TO SET TUITIONS AND OTHER FEES TO THEM. STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JIM PURCELL SAYS THEY'VE ASKED LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER GIVING OVER SOME CONTROL TO THE FOUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM BOARDS. PURCELL SAYS COLLEGES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SET THEIR OWN TUITIONS AND FEES, TO BECOME MORE IN LINE WITH THE SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION BOARD AVERAGE. HE SAYS THE $426-MILLION HIGHER EDUCATION BUDGET CUTS SINCE 2008 MAKE IT HARD TO MAINTAIN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND RETAIN FACULTY.
JOE VITT IS BACK WITH THE SAINTS AFTER SERVING HIS SIX-GAME SUSPENSION FOR HIS ROLE IN THE TEAM'S BOUNTY SCANDAL. VITT WILL SERVE AS THE TEAM'S INTERIM HEAD COACH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THE SAINTS HAVE A 2-AND-4 RECORD, BUT VITT IS NOT PLANNING ON MAKING ANY MAJOR CHANGES.
A WINNSBORO WOMAN IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER SHE WAS SET ON FIRE BY THREE ASSAILANTS SUNDAY NIGHT. STATE POLICE TROOPER ALBERT PAXTON SAYS THE VICTIM, 20-YEAR-OLD SHARMIKA MOFFITT, WAS ON A WALKING TRAIL IN A LOCAL PARK, WHEN THE MEN ATTACKED. PAXTON SAYS THE MEN THREW SOME KIND OF ACCELERANT ON THE WOMAN AND SET THE WOMAN ON FIRE. MOFFITT SUSTAINED SERIOUS BURNS OVER A LARGE PART OF HER BODY, AND WAS TAKEN TO LSU HOSPITAL IN SHREVEPORT. K-K-K WAS REPORTEDLY WRITTEN ON HER CAR AS WELL.
NUCOR STEEL ANNOUNCES THEY ARE LOOKING FOR APPLICANTS FOR 150 NEW FULL TIME JOBS AT THEIR ST. JAMES PARISH FACILITY. NUCOR IS COLLABORATING WITH LED FAST START, THE STATE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, TO FILL THE POSITIONS. FAST START EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEFF LYNN SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE JOBS ARE ENTRY LEVEL PRODUCTION AND MAINTENANCE POSITIONS PAYING UP TO 75-THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR PLUS BONUSES. LYNN SAYS THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS STRAIGHT FORWARD...
THE WEBSITE IS WWW.NUCORJOBSLOUISIANA.COM.
AREA DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE'S 2012 TOP STATES FOR DOING BUSINESS SURVEY PUTS LOUISIANA AT NO 6 IN THE NATION AS A PRIME PLACE FOR BUSINESS INVESTMENT, JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE MAGAZINE'S EDITORS SAY THE STATE'S PROGRESS IS REMARKABLE AS LOUISIANA HAD NOT RANKED IN THE TOP 10 BEFORE 2011.
ONE TEENAGER IS DEAD AND ANOTHER IS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE AFTER THE CAR THEY WERE TRAVELING IN CRASHED AND SANK INTO BAYOU TERREBONNE. STATE POLICE TROOPER EVAN HARRELL SAYS THE 16-YEAR-OLD FRONT SEAT FEMALE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE TO SAFETY THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW, BUT ANOTHER 15-YEAR-OLD FEMALE IN THE BACK SEAT WAS TRAPPED UNTIL FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVED. SHE IS REPORTED TO BE IN CRITICAL CONDITION. THE DRIVER, 18-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN NAQUIN, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
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