December 2019

Be fire smart during holiday season

As you deck the halls this holiday season, it is important to be fire smart.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a small fire spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly.

More than one of every four home Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical fires.

These fires caused an average of three deaths, 15 injuries and $10 million in direct property damage in the U.S. annually.

In many of those cases, the heat source was placed too close to the tree causing it to ignite.

Support the arts and create something meaningful

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The arts unify us regardless of age, race or ethnicity.

According to the Americans for the Arts, 72 percent of Americans agree with this statement. If that is true, the why are arts programs continually being pulled from our schools, leaving the private sector to handing the funding and facilitation of such programs?

The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They inspire us to create beauty and elicit joy. Art bridges language gaps, age barriers, socio-economic statuses and racial lines and is a fundamental component of a healthy community.

La. cyberattack disrupts, but not worst-case

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The cyberattack on Louisiana’s state government computer servers disrupted agency operations and made going to the Office of Motor Vehicles even more headache-inducing than usual. But it was nowhere near the worst-case scenario, of widespread data theft and crippled government services for weeks or months.

Still, the ransomware hit serves as an indication of the new normal, where Louisiana technology officials are always trying to combat the latest attempted attack.

Christopher ‘Conrad’ Courville

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A Memorial service for Christopher “Conrad” Courville, 38, of Mermentau will be held at 3 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist in Mermentau, with Father Randal Moreau officiating.

The family requests visiting hours be observed at Matthews and Son Funeral Home in Jennings today, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., with a rosary recited at 11 a.m. Musical selections will be provided by Lacey and Heather Landry.

A Christian burial will be held in Mermentau Memorial Cemetery. Conrad will be buried next to his grandfather, Carol Landry.

Emma Lee Breaux

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Funeral services for Emma Lee Breaux, 68, will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, at 11 a.m. in Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Crowley, with Br. Gerard Morgan of Northside Assemble of God Church in Crowley officiating.

The family has requested that visitation be held Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. in Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Crowley. Visitation will resume Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, from 8 a.m. until time of services.

Burial will held in North Crowley Hanks Cemetery in Crowley.

STATE BRIEFS

Minimum stay requirement ending at Louisiana state parks

Welsh Holiday Shopping Market returns Sunday, Dec. 8

WELSH - Celebrating nine years of holiday spirit, the Welsh Holiday Shopping Market returns on Sunday, Dec. 8. From 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., the public is invited to the Our Lady of Seven Dollars (OLSD) Catholic Church’s Fr. Daigle Center for a shopping extravaganza.

“We will have local vendors with unique gifts just in time for Christmas gift shopping,” said organizer Celeste Richard. “Handcrafted items will include jewelry and home decor. We will also have homemade jams, jellies, beef jerky, cinnamon glazed nuts and much more.”

Ten wounded in shooting near French Quarter

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ten people were shot and wounded early Sunday near the French Quarter in New Orleans, a popular spot for tourists. Hours later in another part of town, another shooting killed two men and wounded two others.

Police said both shootings remain under investigation, and authorities did not immediately draw any connection between them.

Trump to tariff steel, aluminum from Argentina, Brazil

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday accused Argentina and Brazil of hurting American farmers through currency manipulation and said he’ll slap tariffs on their steel and aluminum imports to retaliate.

Trump also called on America’s central bank to take action to prevent other countries from devaluing their currencies.

House impeachment report coming ahead of landmark hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House impeachment report on President Donald Trump will be unveiled Monday behind closed doors for key lawmakers as Democrats push ahead with the inquiry despite the White House’s declaration it will not participate in the first Judiciary Committee hearing.