OPELOUSAS — Westminster Christian Academy held its 2012 graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Crusader Complex. State Sen. Jonathan Perry was the guest speaker. Valedictorian: Lynzi Glassock. Salutatorian: … Continue reading →

IOTA — Iota High School held graduation exercises on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 7 p.m. in the school stadium. A total of 87 students received diplomas. e_SFlb Valedictorians: Destin Brett Clement and Jessie Marie Deshotel.
Salutatorian: Taylor Paige … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Supporters of John Paul the Great Academy have launched a major fundraising initiative to ensure the five-year-old private Catholic school does not have to abandon its Carmel Avenue campus. Last year, the school moved onto the 40-acre property owned by the De La Salle Christian Brothers as part … Continue reading →

NEW IBERIA — The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a New Iberia man on Thursday accused of animal cruelty after investigators found 24 dogs and 22 pigs living without food or water on property on Jefferson Terrance Boulevard. Continue reading →

ST. MARTINVILLE — A more than 30-year-old court-ordered consent decree on the hiring and promotion of black and female employees within the St. Martinville Police Department may soon be lifted, a city official said Thursday. City Attorney Allan Durand said an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., informed … Continue reading →

Lafayette — Acadiana is expected to make it through the summer without the threat of rolling blackouts. Cleco, Entergy and Lafayette Utilities System have announced that a $193 million joint project to improve the region’s electrical transmission grid will be substantially complete by June. The transmission grid is the network of high-voltage power lines … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Police arrested a 20-year-old Lafayette man Thursday in the Wednesday morning shooting death of 22-year-old Isiah Morgan. Officers found Morgan’s body at the intersection of Goldman and Division streets at 12:30 a.m., police have said. Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Detectives are asking business owners and residents with video surveillance equipment to review footage from May 19 between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. in the disappearance of Michaela “Mickey” Shunick, of Lafayette. Shunick, an avid cyclist and animal lover, was last seen at 2 a.m. Saturday leaving a … Continue reading →

LOREAUVILLE — Loreauville High School held its 2012 graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. May 15 in the school’s new gym. Valedictorian: Zachary Galatas. Salutatorian: Dylan Hanks. Distinguished … Continue reading →

ST. MARTINVILLE — St. Martinville Senior High School held its 2012 graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012, in the high school gym. Valedictorian: Kimber Chataignier. Salutatorians: Dylon Boudreaux and … Continue reading →

VILLE PLATTE — The Evangeline Parish School Board on Wednesday showed its appreciation to Superintendent Toni Hamlin by unanimously approving a two-year extension of her contract, which was due to expire in December. “We want to thank the superintendent and her staff for doing a great job,” board member Arthur Savoy said. Mayor Jennifer … Continue reading →

NEW IBERIA — The Iberia Parish Council passed a resolution 10-2 Wednesday to postpone an investigative meeting into a conflict between the Parish President Errol “Romo” Romero and the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The council instead will hire Lafayette attorney Donald Washington to advise the council on how to put a package … Continue reading →

DUSON — State Police say a Duson teenager died when he was ejected from his truck on La. Highway 719. The accident happened around 7 a.m. Tuesday. Troopers say Kye Doucet’s truck was traveling north when it ran off the road and struck several trees. Doucet was not wearing a seat … Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in St. Landry Parish that occurred at noon Wednesday during a traffic stop. No one was injured in the shooting, but authorities arrested Charles Martin, 61, of Oberlin, on one count of attempted first-degree … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Tips related to missing college student Michaela “Mickey” Shunick have streamed in each hour of the day since word spread of her Saturday disappearance, but so far none have resulted in a solid lead, a police spokesman said Wednesday. “We’re receiving several per hour … and it really hasn’t slowed down,” Lafayette … Continue reading →

The owners of The Pig Stand in Ville Platte have filed a lawsuit against two state agencies and a set of foster parents, accusing them of slander, negligence and damaging their reputations over a 2011 arrest. Barry and Marla Giglio, who own the The Pig Stand, filed the lawsuit in St. Landry Parish against … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Detectives are investigating the early Wednesday morning death of a 22-year-old Lafayette man who was shot at least once, Lafayette police said. Police spokesman Cpl. Paul Mouton identified the victim as Isiah Morgan, of the 2500 block of Louisiana Avenue. Officers found Morgan’s body at the intersection of Goldman and … Continue reading →

LAFAYETE — Police are investigating a disturbance Tuesday on West Congress Street that left two men with gunshot wounds, Lafayette police spokesman Cpl. Paul Mouton said. Witnesses told police that an argument at 11:45 p.m. in the 4800 block of West Congress Street between the suspect and a friend carried over into a parking … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The school district needs to tap about $1.4 million more from its rainy-day fund to balance spending for the upcoming school year, according to the most recent proposed budget presented to the School Board at a special meeting Tuesday. Initially, $583,856 was transferred from the rainy-day fund. However, further review of … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Garrett LeBoeuf was honored Tuesday as the Acadian Ambulance 2012 Paramedic of the Year during a luncheon at the Cajundome Convention Center that attracted more than 1,400 guests. “It takes a special person to understand the reason we do what we do, and that reason is to serve,”said LeBoeuf, who began working … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — City-parish government has little financial cushion left after heavily tapping its savings account to balance the budget in recent years, auditors told Lafayette City-Parish Council members on Tuesday. The city’s general fund — the bulk of the budget — should have enough savings banked away to support government operations for about … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The findings of an internal probe at the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office arising from its handling of some DWI pleas have been turned over to the Attorney General’s Office, District Attorney Mike Harson said Tuesday. The internal investigation focused on potentially fraudulent community service documents submitted in connection with DWI pleas. Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Just one day after her 22nd birthday, hundreds of people — friends and family — gathered at Parc Sans Souci Tuesday night in honor of a missing Lafayette woman who was described as an easygoing animal lover and an avid cyclist. Michaela “Mickey” Shunick was last seen shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Louisiana State Police continue to investigate a nonfatal, officer-involved shooting in Lafayette. The shooting occurred at 8:30 p.m. Sunday when Lafayette police officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at a convenience store in the 1100 block of northwest Evangeline Thruway, according to a State Police news … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Fifty-eight Paul Breaux Middle School students received special diplomas from the French Ministry of Education on Monday, recognizing their proficiency in writing, speaking, listening and reading in the French language. “It shows that they have the competencies we have as French speakers,” said Philippe Aldon, attaché of the Cooperation and Cultural … Continue reading →

Atchafalaya paddle route presentation Wednesday Paddle routes within the Atchafalaya Basin will be featured during a 6 p.m. Wednesday presentation at Pack & Paddle by Dean Wilson, the Atchafalaya basinkeeper. Maps of each route will be available. At the event, photographer Greg Guirard will discuss his work capturing images of the basin. Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Investigators continued searching for leads Monday in a Friday evening fatal shooting in the 200 block of Marigny Circle, according to a news release from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Ray Ryan, 43, of Lafayette, was pronounced dead at the scene after deputies responded to a report of gunfire … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A company that filed a federal lawsuit over the City-Parish Council’s decision to block a proposed garbage transfer facility will not try to force city-parish government to allow the project to move forward, according to court filings from the company. Attorneys for Waste Facilities of Lafayette, which was developing the garbage transfer … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Law enforcement officials and more than 100 volunteers have been searching for a 22-year-old University of Louisiana at Lafayette student who police said was last seen early Saturday morning. Michaela “Mickey” Shunick was reported missing after leaving a friend’s home on Ryan Street near downtown at 2 a.m. Saturday, according to … Continue reading →

KROTZ SPRINGS — A staff sergeant with the U.S. Air Force plans to claim justifiable homicide when he stands trial next month for manslaughter in the May 2010 shooting death of his wife’s ex-husband, who, according to police statements, entered the couple’s Krotz Springs home without permission on … Continue reading →

CROWLEY — Notre Dame High School of Crowley celebrated its 2012 graduation during a 9 a.m. Mass held May 18 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Church Point. The main celebrant was the Most Rev. Michael Jarrell, D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette. Katherine … Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — Northwest High School held its 2012 graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. May 18 in the school’s gym. Valedictorian: Gerald Eaglin. Salutatorian: Megan Thomas. Other graduates: Dewight Anderson, Jeremy Andrus, Myra Andrus, Kori Ardoin, … Continue reading →

ABBEVILLE — Abbeville High School held its 2012 graduation ceremony May 18 at Wildcat Stadium. Mervin John Alexis Jr., Elania Roshon’ Baytop, Valerie Nicole Benson, Deion Jarkell Bessard, Lauron Anastasia Boudreaux, Whitney Andre Boudreaux, Shdaydra Shalaka Briggs, Carlton Peter Broussard Jr., Celeste Claire Broussard, David Craig Broussard, Dustin … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — By August, N.P. Moss Annex will get a facelift and will offer students a fresh start as the N.P. Moss Opportunity School. On Wednesday, the School Board approved moving forward with a plan to renovate the site at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. The concept of using the site for … Continue reading →

ERATH — At the age of 87, Edith Granger will take to the mound to pitch for the major leagues. The great-grandmother and lifelong baseball fan from Erath will throw the ceremonial first pitch Sunday when the Houston Astros face the Texas Rangers in a nationally televised Major League Baseball game at Houston’s … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The rollout of expanded health services for Acadiana-area veterans and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ do-over of its site selection process for new clinics in Lafayette and Lake Charles are on schedule, according to an update from the VA released by U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany’s office this … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Youngsville Mayor Wilson Viator said Thursday he’s mulling over plans to create a separate school district for the city’s schools if the parish School Board doesn’t begin addressing the problem of overcrowded school buildings. “I really don’t want to do that, but the thing is we need to build some schools … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — City-Parish Council members say they were surprised by City-Parish President Joey Durel’s announcement this week that he plans for Lafayette to stop providing services to the neighboring city of Broussard. Durel’s move comes after years of clashes with Broussard Mayor Charles Langlinais, and the smaller city now has pending lawsuits against Lafayette … Continue reading →

NEW IBERIA — The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the Monday morning death of a 2-month-old child as a homicide, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Thursday. Detectives responded to a local hospital about 10:30 a.m. Monday in reference to the infant girl’s death, said Capt. Ryan Turner, spokesman for the Sheriff’s … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Jazzy Cruz hopes to earn her bachelor’s degree in three semesters. If all goes as she plans, Cruz will be 19 when she graduates from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, she said. Cruz, 18, is on a fast-track to her future and she’s not alone. On Wednesday, … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — With voter turnout at about 12.8 percent for the 45 parishes that went to the polls last month and as voters in two parishes are being asked to return to the polls Saturday, arguments over “voter fatigue” and whether the state has too many elections are sure to surface once again. Acadia and Natchitoches parishes are the only two … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Based on the latest and projected student performance data, the Lafayette Parish school system had no choice but to recommend a restaffing at Northside High School, a district official told the School Board on Wednesday. Northside’s graduation rate is 59 percent and the school is projected to receive an academically … Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — The St. Landry Parish Council voted 6-5 Wednesday night to move toward reinstating an appointed, seven-member airport authority to oversee operations of the parish airport. Council Chairman Wayne Ardoin cast the deciding vote on the issue, which was opposed by Parish President Bill Fontenot. Ardoin said the ordinance will be presented at … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A federal judge on Wednesday ended the federal desegregation lawsuit against the Evangeline Parish School Board, drawing to a close years of federal oversight of the parish’s public school system. The desegregation case has spurred major changes over the past decade, including a $6 million makeover of Ville Platte High School and … Continue reading →