The grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new North Iberville Community Center are set for 11 a.m. Friday. The event is free and open to the public. The new $2 million, 8,200-square-foot facility features a main auditorium with a stage area, full kitchen, office space and restrooms. The grand opening of … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — The City Council approved a resolution asking the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury to overturn a resolution jurors recently adopted seeking to raise the amount of taxes New Roads residents pay
for street and road improvements. The council’s action came during its Tuesday night meeting at the request of Mayor Robert … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — The audience broke into applause after the Iberville Parish Council unanimously awarded the construction bid for the new $19.6 million Ochsner Health System clinic to Lincoln Builders on Tuesday night. If all goes according to plans, construction will get underway in the next month and the 43,000-square-foot facility, to be built along La. … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Port Allen High School held its graduation ceremony on Friday, May 17, 2013, at the high school. Valedictorian: Kimi Terrell Clopton Other graduates: Jeffrey Allen, Nelson Allen, Diamond Cepadria Anderson, Kathryn Lorise Andre, Trevez Antoine, Biran Keith Bell, Robert Wayne Bonaventure, Brandon Michael … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — St. John High held its 2013 graduation ceremony at 6:50 p.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013, at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Valedictorian: Diana Ngan Uong. Other graduates: Andrew Paul Baldwin, Malori Elizabeth Bezet, Alex James Bickham, Morgan James Booksh, Wesley … Continue reading →

LIVONIA — Livonia High School held its commencement exercises at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2013, at the school’s football stadium. Valedictorians: Porsha Blackmore, Chassidy Francois and Paige Vaughn. Other graduates: Austin Matthew Abshire, Tanner Joseph Amond, Kaitlyn Michelle Andre, Brandon … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — The Addis man accused of firing 12 shots into a crowd, hitting two people, outside a gas station late Sunday is refusing to talk to police and more arrests are possible in a fight that preceded the shootings. Shannon Dale Holmes Jr., 19, 3754 Chris Drive, Addis, surrendered to police at 5 a.m. … Continue reading →

ST. GABRIEL — The Math, Science and Arts Academy-East held its 2013 commencement ceremony Thursday, May 16, at the school. Valedictorian: Xuan Thi Tran. Salutatorian: Anthony Jamarc Sanchez. Other graduates: Victoria Christine Ausbon, Britney Ashanté Bell, Austin Paul … Continue reading →

ST. GABRIEL — East Iberville High School held its 2013 commencement ceremony Friday, May 17, at the school’s gymnasium. Valedictorian: Marlana Y’Vette Stewart. Other graduates: Kasheena Bryant, Byron Clark, Adrian Mark Cummings, Kiwandria Ta’Hersula Frazier, Duran John Haywood, Lamont Marquis Kerr, Chardi Rene Lanaute, Indianna … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board unanimously decided Wednesday to spend up to $3.5 million to build a 13,000-square-foot addition to Brusly Elementary, a school that has been dealing with overcrowding issues for the past several years. The board’s decision to finance the project with bond sale revenues was influenced … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — After months of mulling how it would handle residential trash collection services, the Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury on Tuesday decided to enter into a new five-year contract with Progressive Waste Solutions, the company that already handles garbage collection for the parish. The waste management company will continue twice-a-week service to … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish School Board has voted unanimously to hire three attorneys to investigate and possibly sue BP and several other oil companies possibly responsible for polluting more than 600 acres of the district’s Section 16 land. The school district stands to gain 60 percent of any possible settlement Plaquemine attorneys Joe … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Mayor Demetric “Deedy” Slaughter on Monday vetoed a recently adopted measure from the Port Allen City Council seeking to clarify department heads within the city’s administration. Slaughter said the council overstepped its boundaries in trying to grant department head status to five administrative positions. “These type of changes must happen at … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Authorities found an explosive device Saturday night near La. 415 and U.S. 190 in West Baton Rouge Parish, prompting an evacuation of houses within a block area of where the bomb was found. West Baton Rouge sheriff’s deputies were called about 8:30 p.m. to a house near a truck stop at … Continue reading →

CHENAL — A father and son were killed late Thursday night in Pointe Coupee Parish when their pickup ran off the road and overturned several times. The wreck occurred at 11:30 p.m. on La. 415 near the southbound intersection of La. 414, according to a State Police news release. Troopers identified the victims as … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Black and white residents urged city leaders Wednesday night to put an end to the racial tension spilling over into the community blamed on repeated clashes among Mayor Demetric “Deedy” Slaughter, the City Council’s white majority and certain members of the city administration. Since Slaughter took office in January, escalating disagreements … Continue reading →

The West Baton Rouge Museum is preparing to host its 18th annual Blast From the Past Summer History Camp series. The first session of the camp will take place June 17-21, followed by a second session June 24-28. Children 6 through 12 will explore the science, technology, history and thrill of treasure hunting in connection with … Continue reading →

A New Roads man suspected in the fatal shooting of another man at a bar Saturday turned himself in to the Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office on Monday morning, a sheriff’s spokesman said. Joshua Wayne Louis, 25, 606 Carver Drive, was booked into the parish jail on one count of second-degree murder in … Continue reading →

Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Deputies issued an arrest warrant Sunday for a New Roads man they say fatally shot another man at a bar Saturday night, a sheriff’s spokesman said. The warrant was issued for Joshua Wayne Louis, 25, Carver Drive, New Roads, on one count of second-degree murder in the death of Demona Anthony Brown, 36, … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — A new report says the state needs to use innovative river engineering techniques to better manage False River’s drainage canals and calls on the Pointe Coupee Police Jury to address watershed issues that contributed to the oxbow lake’s 20-year decline. The 65-page report was prepared by the False River … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Fire Chief Rick Boudreaux told the City Council on Wednesday that proposed legislation merging West Baton Rouge Parish’s six fire subdistricts into one parishwide fire district is getting traction in the state Legislature and could mean major fire protection changes if enacted. Boudreaux said Senate Bill 239, filed by Sen. Rick … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — A state district judge set bail at $500,000 during arraignment proceedings Wednesday for a Livingston Parish woman accused of the murder-for-hire killing of her husband in West Baton Rouge Parish. Monique O. Kitts, 43, 17701 Suma Drive, Livingston, entered a plea of not guilty before District Judge Robin Free of 18th Judicial … Continue reading →

Capital Area Technical College’s Westside Campus is open at 25250 Tenant Road in Plaquemine. The following summer courses are being offered from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Electrical — June 11 to Oct. 1. … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — A state district judge on Tuesday pushed back a status hearing for a permanent injunction against Port Allen Mayor Demetric “Deedy” Slaughter sought by city Chief Financial Officer Audrey McCain. District Judge Alvin Batiste asked attorneys representing McCain to file a written judgment with the court that would clearly define the future … Continue reading →

The Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury has reached a fork in the road on how to handle residential trash pickup. The jury has two options on the table: Renewing the parish’s five-year contract with Progressive Waste Solutions or running its own residential garbage collection program. In February, Progressive presented the jury with a … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — Judge James Best of 18th Judicial District Court set bail of $1 million Friday for a 24-year-old man booked with first-degree murder in the fatal beating of his 91-year-old grandmother. Deputies arrested Brandon Battley, of New Roads, on Thursday night at a hospital in Lafayette in connection with the death of … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — The Pointe Coupee Parish School Board moved to upgrade campus security by agreeing to hire three new certified school resource officers and by purchasing $15,000 worth of two-way radios for key faculty and staff at five of the district’s schools. The board’s unanimous decisions came Thursday night after members spent more … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Parish Council voted unanimously Thursday night to absorb Water District 2 into the parish water system. Parish President Riley “Peewee” Berthelot said the directors of Water District 2, which serves part of Brusly and Addis, had been thoroughly briefed on the proposed merger and were in full agreement … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — The Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff’s Office Thursday night named the 24-year-old grandson of fatally beaten Beulah Morris, 91, as her suspected killer. Sheriff Bud Torres said his office issued an arrest warrant on a count of first-degree murder for Brandon Battley, of New Roads. Torres said he expected deputies to arrest … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — Beulah Morris would have celebrated her 92nd birthday on June 4. But on Wednesday, instead of looking forward to a family celebration in a little more than a month, Connie Morris was confronted with having to start making funeral arrangements after finding her 91-year-old mother dead Tuesday afternoon in the kitchen … Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — The Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury has rescinded its previous decision to settle out of court a public records lawsuit filed against the parish administrator, public utilities director and the jury’s president. The jury decided instead to give the three officials the green light to fight the allegations lodged against them … Continue reading →

ST. GABRIEL — U.S. marshals captured a fugitive in Shreveport sought in connection with the Feb. 22 attempted armed robbery of a St. Gabriel grocery store, the St. Gabriel Police Department reported Tuesday. Wardell Anderson, 35, of Baton Rouge, was arrested and booked Monday into the Caddo Parish Detention Center on one count of … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish school system will begin this fall its gradual shift toward implementing schools of choice for its students with the launch of its first theme-based program at Crescent Elementary. The new program, called the Atchafalaya Basin Academy, will infuse the parish’s Cajun-rich heritage with the state’s Common Core educational standards, … Continue reading →

Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful is having a “We Love Where We Live” photo contest and is searching for a photo that represents the beauty of the parish. Keep West Baton Rouge Beautiful will place the winning photo on car litter bags to be distributed to parish residents. The contest winner will receive a $100 gift card … Continue reading →

Two Pointe Coupee Parish residents were killed Monday night in West Baton Rouge Parish when their vehicle ran off La. 413 north of U.S. 190 and hit a tree, Louisiana State Police said. The victims were Nikki A. Nolen, 18, of Erwinville, and Abby M. Thompson, 18, of New Roads, according to a State Police news … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Parish Engineer Kevin Gravois told the West Baton Rouge Parish Council on Thursday night that the resurfacing work on Erwinville streets was substantially complete. Gravois, of Professional Engineering Consultants Corp., also said that a Lyndale subdivision sewage and drainage project would be completed in 30 days. The Lyndale … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Former Mayor Roger Bergeron said Wednesday night he would assist Mayor Demetric “Deedy” Slaughter any way he could to resolve her new administration’s ongoing transition issues. Bergeron’s offer delivered before City Council members and Slaughter came a week after Slaughter, who defeated Bergeron in the 2012 elections, had complained that Bergeron failed … Continue reading →

The Pointe Coupee Historical Society invites the public to tour three of the parish’s historic homes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The featured homes on the society’s “Historic House Tour” are Pointe Coupee Bed-and-Breakfast, or Samson House, in New Roads; Dreyfus House Bed-and-Breakfast in Livonia and the Pourciau House in New Roads. Continue reading →

NEW ROADS — The Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury has authorized small claims courts in the parish’s 12 justice of the peace districts to handle past-due utility bills. The jury acted Tuesday night after Juror Justin Cox revealed the parish had more than $1.3 million in unpaid bills for garbage and mosquito abatement services … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Chief Financial Officer Audrey McCain has asked a state district judge to hold Mayor Demetric “Deedy” Slaughter in contempt of court, according to documents filed April 4 in 18th Judicial District Court. McCain charges that Slaughter has disobeyed a court order issued to prevent the mayor from interfering in McCain’s daily job … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — The Iberville Parish School Board on Monday unanimously approved entering into a cooperative agreement with the Sheriff’s Department to better secure the district’s 10 school campuses through the addition of four new school resource officers, a truancy officer and nine school crossing guards. The board’s decision was driven by the December … Continue reading →

In West Baton Rouge Parish, the parishwide school proposition passed. The proposition to renew a 10-year, 15-mill property tax, will generate an estimated $5.8 million a year. The vote was Yes: 1,152; No: 349. This has been updated to correct Yes vote to 1,152.

SUNSHINE — Deputies arrested a 30-year-old man Friday and booked him into the Iberville Parish Jail on multiple drug-related counts, Sheriff Brett Stassi said in a news release. Brandon “Juan” Wright, 1905 Besson Lane, Sunshine, was placed under arrest after deputies who searched his home discovered 18 pounds of marijuana, along with a Smith … Continue reading →

Keana Barnes, the prison escapee who was captured in Los Angeles last week after escaping from the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women on Jan. 1, was returned to the St. Gabriel facility Thursday afternoon. Barnes, 33, waived extradition in a Los Angeles federal court and was escorted back to Louisiana by correctional officers, Pam Laborde, … Continue reading →

ST. GABRIEL — The St. Gabriel Police Department asked for the public’s help Thursday in locating a Baton Rouge man facing prosecution on counts of attempted armed robbery and attempted murder. Detective James Williams said Wardell Anderson, 35, would be booked after his arrest on one count of attempted armed robbery and two counts … Continue reading →