ZACHARY — Zachary High School held commencement exercises for its class of 2013 on Tuesday, May 21, at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker. Valedictorians: Allison Rachel Burton, Brandon Reed Deshotels, Morgan Elizabeth Hurst, Destiny Janaé Johnson, Trey Michael Leiva, Thomas Joseph Manuel, Nicholas Ryan Maxey, Moriah … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — West Feliciana Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested a Louisiana State Penitentiary security officer accused of trying to get narcotics through an Angola inmate, a spokesman for Sheriff J. Austin Daniel said Wednesday. Justin Darrel Nettles, 26, 160 Cedars Lane, Crosby, Miss., met a man he thought was a relative of the inmate, but … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board agreed Tuesday to join a cooperative of Louisiana school districts that hope to save money through bulk purchases of computers and software and by devising curriculum and online courses. The Vermilion Parish School Board administers the District Cooperative of Louisiana, and West Feliciana is assessed $1,500 … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — West Feliciana High School held its 2013 graduation ceremonies May 17 at the school’s football stadium. Valedictorians: Christopher Connor Dixon and Hannah Rebecca Pohlmann. Salutatorian: Kristen Nicole Livingston. Continue reading →

CLINTON — Silliman Institute held its 2013 commencement exercises on Friday, May 17, at Knighton Stadium. Valedictorian: Payton Hayes Bruckmeier. Salutatorian: Morgan Marie Ohlinger. Honor graduates: Thomas Carl Anderson, Arnold Daniel Arnold, Karlyn Danielle … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A tractor-trailer rig flipped on its side and lost its load of timber near the intersection of U.S. 61 and La. 10 Tuesday morning, Police Chief Scott Ford said. Ford said the driver reported that his brakes failed and caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The mishap spilled logs … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish Police Jury voted 5-2 Monday to table an attempt to call an Oct. 19 election to possibly repeal the home-rule charter voters approved by a 337-vote margin on Nov. 6. Jurors Otis Wilson and Melvin Young moved to call the election, but jurors instead … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A proposal to call an Oct. 19 election for a possible repeal of West Feliciana Parish’s home-rule charter created a firestorm of criticism when it appeared on the early agenda for Monday’s Police Jury meeting. Juror Lea Williams said the agenda item generated “a lot of hostile calls” after the initial … Continue reading →

BAKER — Baker High School held its 98th annual commencement exercises Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Bethany World Prayer Center. Valedictorian: Michael Anthony Mitchell Jr. Salutatorian: Johnay Idella Hall. Honor graduates: Chrysen Sarai Grace Banks, Jamaun Lynard … Continue reading →

The state Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has arrested three Zachary women accused of filing false Medicaid claims. The three women were arrested Wednesday with assistance from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, a news release from the state Attorney General's Office says. The three worked as personal care attendants and each submitted time sheets stating they provided services for … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — The Zachary Community School Board decided Thursday to contract with a private academy to provide an alternative program for middle- and high-school students who are expelled from their regular schools. The district’s alternative school has been at the Port Hudson Career Academy,
the old Port Hudson Elementary School on Flanacher Road, but the … Continue reading →

The LSU Hilltop Arboretum is sponsoring “An Afternoon in St. Francisville” from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday with tours of the Mary Ann Brown Preserve, 13515 La. 965; the garden of Marla and David Floyd, 12383 Tunica Trace; and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 12790 Tunica Trace. The tour prices are $20 and $5 for students, … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — Developer Robert Daigle told the City Council on Tuesday that construction of the Americana project is “happening right now,” although work has been delayed two or three months because of the weather. The first phase of the 413-acre mixed-use development on La. 64 and Barnett Road includes the $11 million YMCA and … Continue reading →

BAKER — Mayor Harold Rideau said Wednesday he will continue to press the City Council for written evaluation forms council members said they filled out in deciding on an accounting firm to audit the city’s books for the fiscal year that ends June 30. The council voted 4-1 April 23 to give the contract to … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A state district judge has temporarily blocked the West Feliciana Parish Police Jury from proceeding with a nuisance complaint against the family claiming ownership of land bordering the old Mississippi River ferry landing. In seeking a temporary restraining order, attorneys for the estate of the late Paul A. Lambert Sr. and … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — West Feliciana Parish sheriff’s deputies investigating a string of burglaries arrested five people, including the operator of a local vehicle towing company, Sheriff J. Austin Daniel said Monday. Daniel said Jarred Wunstel, 37, 8567 Muscadine Lane, St. Francisville, is accused of buying items stolen in residential and hunting camp burglaries, including … Continue reading →

BAKER — Investigators suspect a lightning strike early Saturday ignited a blaze that caused heavy damage to a building, which housed two businesses, the Baker Fire Department said. Firefighters responded at 5:30 a.m. Saturday to the fire at 4504 Groom Road, the location of Rose’s Florist & Gift Shop and IH Tax Service, spokesman Howard … Continue reading →

CLINTON — Emergency call-taking and dispatching duties will be switched from the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office to a new 911 call center Wednesday, resulting in a change of priorities for existing sheriff’s telephone numbers, officials said. The switch will be made at 10 a.m. Wednesday, said Bill Ford, chairman of the parish’s Emergency … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — Over the objections of a prosecutor, the last defendant awaiting trial in the 1999 beating death of a Louisiana State Penitentiary security officer won his fourth trial delay Thursday. Steven Lemoine and Nick Trenticosta, attorneys for Angola inmate Barry S. Edge, earlier this week requested postponement of the May 20 trial because … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A former West Feliciana Parish police juror was fined and placed on probation for five years Thursday on theft counts related to the diversion of church money to his own use. A six-member jury convicted John Cobb, 55, on three counts of felony theft to conclude an October trial. Twentieth Judicial … Continue reading →

Lane Outpatient Therapy Center, 4801 McHugh Road, Suite A, in Zachary is offering free speech screenings Friday for children ages 3-12 and for adults who may have difficulties in communicating. May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. The screenings will be available during open houses at the center from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and … Continue reading →

CLINTON — The East Feliciana Parish public school district’s students will again attend classes five days a week beginning in the 2013-14 school year. The School Board Tuesday voted 10-2 in favor of dropping the district’s four-day week and returning to a five-day week for all students, staff and teachers. Board members Olivia … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board on Tuesday approved restructuring several school programs, including the physical education programs at Bains Elementary and Bains Lower Elementary schools. The restructuring is designed to offset a projected $1.5 million deficit expected in the next fiscal year. Board members also approved during their special meeting … Continue reading →

BAKER — The Baker School Board recognized employees of the year for the 2012-13 school term at a meeting Tuesday. The principal of the year is Tammy Armand-Golden, of Park Ridge Academic Magnet School, while teachers of the year are Marcus Bennett, also of Park Ridge, and Brittany Hinyard, of Baker Middle School. Support … Continue reading →

CLINTON — An East Feliciana Parish grand jury returned a second-degree murder indictment Tuesday against a Clinton man in a 2011 fatal beating. Also, the grand jurors cleared a Baton Rouge man in a fatal shooting last summer and indicted two people involved in a fatal traffic crash last year. The grand jury returned … Continue reading →

CLINTON — An East Feliciana Parish grand jury declined Tuesday to indict two women arrested last year on more than 200 counts involving a program designed to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of Clinton’s old commercial district. The grand jurors returned “no true bills” on possible felony theft and public contract fraud charges involving … Continue reading →

CLINTON — The East Feliciana Parish Police Jury voted 4-3 Monday to reject a resolution supporting a nonprofit organization’s request for federal rent subsidies. The vote came after several months of discussions on the request for support from George Turner, of Ethel, president of The People’s Workshop and jury-appointed director of a parish Housing … Continue reading →

JACKSON — The first three graduates of a companion animal training program at Dixon Correctional Institute are ready for finishing school in Orlando, Fla., to become loyal helpers for people with disabilities. Living next to their inmate trainers in a dormitory housing trusties at the Jackson prison, the three dogs arrived as puppies 17 … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The judge in the Angola 5 first-degree murder trials ruled Friday that prosecutors may use the testimony of a state prisoner against defendant Barry Edge in his trial later this month. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Edge, 53, in the Dec. 28, 1999, stabbing and beating death of security guard … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A West Feliciana Parish Police Jury committee voted 2-1 Thursday to offer a temporary solution to a dispute with the jury president’s family over land bordering the old Mississippi River ferry landing. A dispute over the land’s ownership arose last year between some jurors and the heirs of the late Paul A. … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — Police arrested a man accused of operating two crystal meth labs that led police last week to briefly evacuate seven houses near the suspect’s home, Police Chief David McDavid said Thursday. Officers found Steven Behrens, 37, at his jobsite Wednesday afternoon after obtaining a warrant for his arrest, McDavid said. Behrens, of … Continue reading →

The city of Baker will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Baker post office with a 5 p.m. Friday gathering at the park adjacent to the Baker Municipal Building. Residents are invited to bring snacks and lawn chairs and enjoy the festivities, which will include music and dancing, a car show, old-fashioned games and participation by Baker students … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The judge presiding over the Angola 5 first-degree murder cases is expected to rule by Friday whether to throw out an inmate’s statement against the final defendant facing trial in the slaying of a prison security officer more than 13 years ago. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Angola inmate Barry … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — A Mandeville firm will hold a second interview session Friday with West Feliciana Parish residents interested in receiving training for work in the oil and gas industry. Dennis Manshack, director of the parish Economic Development Board, said the interviews, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fire Protection District 1 headquarters, 9892 … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — The city of Zachary and Chamber of Commerce have designed a brochure answering common questions about starting a business in the city. The brochure is available at city offices, the Chamber of Commerce office and the Zachary branch library, according to a city news release. The brochure includes information and advice … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish Hospital’s board of commissioners will soon investigate the suitability of parish-owned property as a location for a new health care facility focusing on outpatient care, the hospital administrator said. After months of negotiations and a narrow, April 15 purchase agreement rejection, the parish Police Jury voted unanimously Monday … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — The Zachary Community School Board agreed Thursday to advertise for proposals from companies that offer energy conservation services. The board recently received an offer from Cenergistic Inc. to train a Zachary school system employee as an energy management specialist to instill a culture of energy conservation in the schools that the company said … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — Police temporarily evacuated seven houses Thursday afternoon after finding two working methamphetamine labs in a residence at July and Church streets, Police Chief David McDavid said. When Zachary police and deputy U.S. marshals went to 2651 Church St. to arrest a man wanted on a burglary count, they found the labs, McDavid said. Continue reading →

Baker Fire Department officials are investigating the cause of a fire Wednesday they estimate caused about $60,000 in damage to a single-family house at 3646 Buchanan St. and took the life of the family dog. Firefighters believe the fire began in the carport before spreading to other rooms inside the house, causing moderate to heavy smoke and … Continue reading →

The public is invited to watch firefighters participate Saturday in the Louisiana State Firemen’s Association’s annual competitive drills, which involve a variety of firefighting techniques and teamwork. The competition will begin at 9 a.m. at the West Feliciana Parish Fire Protection District 1 training center, 9892 West Feliciana Parkway. Continue reading →

WILSON — An argument early Wednesday resulted in a shooting that wounded a man in the leg, a spokesman for East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Talmadge Bunch said. Sgt. Kevin Garig said deputies called to Grant Street in Wilson about 2:15 a.m. to investigate the shooting found Alvin Williams, 20, of Wilson, wounded in the upper … Continue reading →

ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish School Board on Tuesday lowered to 12 the number of retiring teachers who will get a $5,000 bonus for leaving the system and helping ease a budget crisis. Facing a possible $1.5 million deficit next fiscal year, the board last month authorized the payments to 15 to 18 … Continue reading →

Baker — The Baker City Council decided Tuesday night to end its decades-old business relationship with the Mary Sue Stages auditing firm, of Baker, and awarded the city’s 2013 fiscal year auditing contract to Postlethwaite & Netterville of Baton Rouge. Councilwoman Joyce Burges, who proposed the motion to select the new auditing firm, said the … Continue reading →

BAKER — The Baker School Board on Tuesday discussed beginning a search for new office space to house district employees. During a work session in which votes could not be taken, the board examined various options for office space, including using buildings that the district already owns, constructing a new facility and finding existing … Continue reading →

CLINTON — East Feliciana Parish officials have reached an agreement to turn over all emergency call-taking and dispatching duties to the parish’s Emergency Communications Commission next month. Sheriff’s Office employees answer all 911 calls, then dispatch sheriff’s deputies, municipal police, fire departments, ambulances and other emergency responders as needed. The commission receives revenue from … Continue reading →