December 2019

Trump, not his supporters, should scare us

To hear some people tell it, the sky is definitely falling.

Leading the Chicken Little Brigade, of course, is national carnival barker Donald J. Trump. You know, the porcine 73-year-old who tweeted a fake photo of himself as Rocky Balboa, cinematic heavyweight champ.

Apparently, it was supposed to make everybody forget about the president’s unscheduled visit to Walter Reed Medical Center.

Even Trump’s face was photoshopped. No more bloodhound jowls and wattles, but a sleek young fellow with an aquiline gaze.

Don’t take the bait

This holiday season the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning taxpayers to watch out for phishing scams in the deluge of holiday email messages coming from retailers and others.

More than 90 percent of all data thefts begin with an email phishing scam, according to the IRS.

The IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry – working together as the Security Summit – warn people to watch out for phishing scams during the busy holiday shopping period and in advance of the 2020 tax season.

Divided we fall

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The Jennings Police Department has been diligently working a homicide that took place Nov. 29, but with very little help from eyewitnesses at the scene.

The department reported that out of an estimated 150 people present, police received no cooperation from witnesses inside the venue.

According to Chief Danny Semmes the lack of cooperation makes cases of this nature difficult to solve or prosecute.

State has sharply split government next term

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LOUISIANA SPOTLIGHT

When the new term for Louisiana’s governor and lawmakers begins in January, state government will be more sharply split than at any other time in recent history, raising questions about whether compromise or division will mark the four-year period.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards will face a majority-Republican Legislature packed with more conservatives and with many of his moderate GOP allies in the Senate gone, forced out by term limits.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Calendar Guidelines

Eighth suspect in custody

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Chaisson murder case

An eighth suspect wanted in connection with the murder of a Jennings man is currently in custody after turning himself in to authorities Monday.

Jennings Police Department Chief Danny Semmes said Keghan Latrell Moore, 20, of Lake Charles, turned himself in on charges of second-degree murder.

“We are still processing evidence and sending shell casings and projectiles to the state lab for analysis,” Semmes said Tuesday. “My officers are working diligently and I have full faith in their ability to bring this case to a close.”

Elton set to adopt budget

ELTON - The Elton Town Council will adopt their budget for the 2020 fiscal year later this month.

The council is holding a special meeting at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, at the council meeting chambers at Elton City Hall.

The purpose of the meeting will be to adopt the budget for the upcoming 2020 fiscal year.

Certified public accountant Casey Ardoin said the town is in good financial shape.

“There is nothing out of the ordinary and the budget is pretty much in line with last year,” he said.

Lake Arthur to demolish abandoned structures

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LAKE ARTHUR- Town officials here have approved a motion to begin demolishing abandoned structures within the city limits. At the most recent meeting, the council voted unanimously to clear property beginning with two locations.

“We have sent out several letters to the owners and we invited them to attend this meeting to present their cases but they are not here,” said Mayor Sherry Crochet. “We’ve sent previous letters to them about cleaning up the properties and have received no response as of this time. Now we’ve sent letters to each place in regards to demolition.”

Christmas Blessings

Communities often come together to help the less fortunate during the holidays. One local woman has made sure children in her community have gifts under the tree on Christmas morning and the elderly have food on their table for over three decades.

Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church volunteer Betty Labauve has organized a toy and food drive that benefits both families with children and elderly citizens in and around her hometown. Each year the operation grows. More people need help and more people make donations.

STATE BRIEFS

Unlucky for some: Man charged with rigging 10K bingo game

MONROE (AP) — The luck has ran out for a Louisiana man allegedly caught rigging bingo games to win more than $10,000.

John Cook, 43, was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Facility on Friday on a felony theft charge and two counts for failing to appear multiple times following his June 29 arrest, according to a Monroe Police warrant obtained by news outlets.