June 2020

Mermentau speed zone change implemented

MERMENTAU - A speed zone change is taking place on a highway here, according to state officials.

SHOOTING HOOPS

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Basketball players of all ages are enjoying the new equipment recently installed at the Marcus Cain Memorial Park. See more photos on page 2. Daily News photos by Stacey Fontenot

Smoke alarms donated for Operation Save-A-Life

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Operation Save-A-Life partners the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) with local fire departments and districts to provide free smoke alarms at any time of the year for families in need of assistance accessing the critical emergency-alert equipment.

John D. Fontenot

IOTA — It is with the heavy hearts that the family of John D. Fontenot announces his passing on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at the age of 59 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family.

Marcella Clement Brasher

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It’s with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Marcella Clement Brasher announces her passing from her earthly life onto her heavenly life on June 8, 2020, at the age of 84.

Will Louisiana see spike as virus rules loosen?

Louisiana reached a coronavirus testing benchmark in the latest full month of test administration and has made a sizable dent in its virus tracking goals, as Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration relaxed restrictions on businesses and churches.

Infectious disease specialists and state leaders will be waiting to see if Louisiana’s efforts are enough to control the highly-contagious coronavirus as people spend more time out of their homes and interacting with others in a state that was once one of the nation’s virus hot spots.

LET’S PLAY BALL!

LAKE ARTHUR - Since Team LA was able to renovate the basketball courts at the local park, Police Chief Kobi Turner said he had a chance to get out there and play ball with some of the children who were enjoying the courts.

“I noticed some kids had old basketballs with no grip left on them,” said Turner. “I decided to do something about it. I originally purchased six basketballs to donate to those who were in need of a new ball.”

He said he invited any child who needed a new basketball to stop by the station to get one.

Jennings man arrested for domestic abuse

A Jennings man was charged Monday for a domestic violence incident that took place over the weekend.

Jeff Davis deputies executed an arrest warrant for domestic abuse battery and false impris onment for Matthew James Alexander, 38, of Jennings.

The warrant was issued for an incident occurring in a vehicle while traveling on I-10 in Jeff Davis Parish on Sunday.

Lawmakers change rules for GOP committee districts

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana Republicans hope they ended the upheaval surrounding elections for their governing body, by having lawmakers rewrite the rules determining the makeup of the GOP’s central committee districts.

Bills passed by near-unanimous House and Senate votes in the regular legislative session would keep the Republican Party from having to follow a 1980s-era law that would have it dramatically rework its State Central Committee districts and force some current members to run against one another.

N.O. krewe captain urged to resign over online post

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Dozens of float lieutenants with the New Orleansbased Mystic Krewe of Nyx said they will resign over a social media post by its captain, which some current and former members say was racist.

Krewe of Nyx Captain Julie Lea posted an image of a black child holding the face of a white child with the words “Our souls are the same color” and the hashtag “All Lives Matter,” news outlets reported. The post has since been deleted, and Lea apologized, the reports said.