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NATCHITOCHES AREA NEWS |
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NATCHITOCHES AREA NEWS |
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Winter Weather Advisory for Area Parishes The National Weather Service in Shreveport has downgraded the following parishes to a Winter Weather Advisory. The parishes of Sabine, Natchitoches, Grant, LaSalle and Winn are no longer under a winter storm alert. With the higher snowfall totals found south of these areas, the areas in advisory can still expect snowfall totals to remain between 2 inches and ice to remain to a minimum, but you're advised to use extreme caution. The change in the National Weather Service totals fall in line with the updated snowfall forecast. Cold temperatures are expected to remain. Warming Station Open According to Jennifer Brumley of the City of Natchitoches, the warming station on 2nd Street will stay open overnight until 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. The warming station is located at 560 2nd Street. For residents in the Campti area, a warming center has been opened at Freedom Life Church at 3089 US Highway 71 in Campti. The center will be accessible for the duration of the winter weather event. State Offices Closed Tuesday All state offices will be closed on Tuesday as artic cold weather is expected to grip the state and there’s a chance of snow on Tuesday. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says that there is a possibility of a widespread snow across the state. The cold air mass began moving into Louisiana on Sunday. Long periods of subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills are expected through Thursday. Monday and Tuesday are expected be very cold days. Natchitoches Parish Council Meets Tuesday The Natchitoches Parish Council has moved its regular meeting to Tuesday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m. The change is due to Martin Luther King Day on January 20. The meeting is being held in the parish council meeting room on the second floor of the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse. Items on the agenda include an ordinance to adopt the budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1st of 2025 and ending December 31st of 2025 for a capital budget and making appropriations for each department, project and amount. Three Arrested in Natchitoches The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that three people were arrested on January 14 following a narcotics investigation in Natchitoches. Natchitoches Parish Drug Enforcement Units and the Natchitoches Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at the 100 block of Amanda Drive where Michael Edwards, 33, of Natchitoches reportedly lived. Authorities had reportedly been investigating Edwards for several months prior to Tuesday. At the scene, authorities found about eight ounces of suspected ‘blue’ fentanyl, some in bulk and some in prepackaged baggies. They also found drug paraphernalia and a handgun. NPSO said three people were arrested at the scene on numerous charges. Arrested were Michael Edwards, 33, of Natchitoches,:Anthony Currington, 41, of Natchitoches, and Janeen Howard, 31, of Natchitoches. According to NPSO, the amount of suspected fentanyl they seized is equivalent to over 113,000 potentially lethal doses. An investigation is ongoing. Chronic Absenteeism Addressed by BESE Chronic absenteeism is a problem in every parish school across the state of Louisiana. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, also known as BESE, approved a motion to work with the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Governor's Office to address the issue. The Louisiana Department of Education looked at attendance rates through the state's called Success Through Attendance Recovery, or STAR. Recommendations are to create a program with juvenile court judges to limit the number of days that can be excused by a parent note to five per year, and create a standardized paper in digital form for those parents' notes. BESE will issue updates on the development of the Student Attendance Summit as plans are finalized. Two Texas Men Arrested in Grant Parish Grant Parish authorities have arrested two Texas men for attempting to smuggle over $20,000.00 worth of alcohol and drugs into a federal prison. The Grant Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 35 year old London Hogan of Houston, Texas. Hogan is charged with attempted distribution of amphetamines, marijuana and promethazine, along with attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison. 65 year old Billy Hupp of Beaumont, Texas, is facing charges of attempted distribution of amphetamines, marijuana and promethazine, and attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison. |
Governor Landry Appointees for LA Board of Ethics Governor Jeff Landry picked three former elected officials and two retired state judges Monday to serve on the reconfigured Louisiana Board of Ethics that expands from 11 to 15 seats this month. Two of the governor’s members are former state lawmakers. Former state Senator Kenneth "Mike" Smith Sr., served in the Legislature from 1996 to 2008, and former state Representative Rickey Nowlin served from 2008 through 2012. Nowlin also served as Natchitoches Parish president. Jason Amato, a Republican who served on the St. James Parish Council for more than 20 years, is also a Landry appointee to the ethics board. Landry has also chosen two retired state court judges for the board: District Judge John Crigler of Tensas Parish and State Appellate Court Judge Vanessa Whipple of Terrebonne Parish. Jonesboro Man Killed Sunday A Jonesboro man was killed in a single-vehicle accident Sunday. On January 19, shortly before 6:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F investigated a fatal crash on Siloam Church Road east of Louisiana Highway 505. The crash claimed the life of 59-year-old Randy Culpepper of Jonesboro. A 2005 Dodge Ram, driven by Culpepper, was traveling east on Siloam Church Road when it ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree. Culpepper, who was unrestrained, was pronounced dead at the scene. Although impairment is not a suspected factor in this crash, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation. NPSO Arrest Report The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office has released its latest arrest report. All persons accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 41-year-old Anthony Currington, black male, charged with possession of Schedule II with intent to distribute, illegal use of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17 years of age, possession of drug paraphernalia, and second or subsequent offense. 33-year-old Michael Edwards, black male, charged with weapons for violence, possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, possession of Schedule II with intent to distribute, illegal use of controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17 years of age, possession of drug paraphernalia, and second or subsequent offense. 30-year-old Janine Howard, black female, arrested for three counts of improper supervision of a minor by parent or legal custodian.
Private Investigator Course at NSU Northwestern State University will offer a 40-Hour Basic Private Investigator Training Course on January 31 through February 2 and February 7 through February 9 in the second-floor classroom of South Hall on NSU’s Natchitoches campus. The class will be on Friday from 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The fee is $375.00 plus an additional $100.00 board fee due on February 9 made payable to the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners. The Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners 40-Hour Basic Private Investigator Training Course is meticulously designed to equip private investigators with a comprehensive understanding of the following areas: Louisiana private investigator law, constitutional principles, gun laws, criminal law and procedure, state and federal legal systems, relevant laws to private investigators, evidence, discovery, domestic investigations, surveillance, reports and other relevant areas to the private investigative industry in Louisiana. This thorough coverage ensures that participants are well-prepared for the challenges of their profession. For more information or to register for classes, visit checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355. Second Street Closing Re-scheduled A temporary closing of the southbound lane on 2nd Street just north of the Union Pacific Railroad crossing has been postponed until January 21. The closure was originally scheduled for earlier this week. The closure is necessary to allow Atmos Energy to repair gas lines in that area. Two-way, one-lane traffic will be maintained through the work area. Ceramics Class at NSU A beginning ceramics class, "Playing in the Mud," will be at NSU starting January 23. The class will be held on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. through February 27 in Room 113 of the Fine Arts Annex. The fee is $150.00 plus a $20 material fee paid directly to the instructor on the first night of class. Enrollment to the class is limited. The course is an introduction to working with clay. The student will learn hand-building and sculptural techniques, as well as work on the potter’s wheel. There will also be room for intermediate and advanced students to take the class who want to use the facilities during the class time. Those taking the class should wear clothes that can get dirty. For more information or to register for classes, go to checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355. |