News

Death toll reaches 85 in Mexico fuel pipeline fire horror

TLAHUELILPAN, Mexico (AP) — People in the town where a gasoline explosion killed at least 85 people say the section of pipeline that gushed fuel has been a habitual gathering

Shutdown goes on as Trump offer doesn’t budge Dems

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thirtyone days into the partial government shutdown, Democrats and Republicans appeared no closer to ending the impasse than when it began, with President Donald Trump lashing out

King holiday draws out presidential hopefuls

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As Americans commemorate Martin Luther King Jr., Democratic presidential hopefuls are fanning out across the country to honor the civil rights leader and make themselves heard

Select the right tree for your landscape

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Happy Arbor Day.

In Louisiana, we celebrate Arbor Day each year on the third Friday in January. Arbor Day is when we take time to plant trees and appreciate the benefits that trees provide for us. Why do we celebrate Arbor Day in January? Because this is a great time of the year to plant trees in Louisiana.

Annual crops, cattle forum set for Feb. 26 in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA • Farmers can get the latest research updates and recertify private pesticide applicator licenses at a crops and cattle forum set for Feb. 26 at the State Evacuation Shelter in Alexandria.

“Format changes in the program this year are aimed to broaden our outreach by including information to benefit both crop and cattle producers in the region,” said LSU AgCenter agent Justin Dufour.

Lawsuits ramp up pressure on family that owns opioid company

(AP) - The legal pressure on the prominent family behind the company that makes OxyContin, the prescription painkiller that helped fuel the nation’s opioid epidemic, is likely to get more intense.

The Sackler family came under heavy scrutiny this week when a legal filing in a Massachusetts case gave detailed allegations that they and company executives sought to push prescriptions of the drug and downplay its risks. Those revelations are likely to be a preview of the claims in a series of expanding legal challenges.

JDN TO FEATURE BOY SCOUTS

Jennings Daily News will highlight local Boy Scout groups and their activities in a special page to be published with its Wednesday, Feb. 6 edition. All local groups are encouraged to submit information and pictures about Scout activities that took place in the last year or activities that are upcoming. There is no cost to submit items. All information and photos should be received by the newspaper by 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30.

ARCENEAUX, TROUTMAN TO LEAD BOARD

At its Jan. 17 meeting, the Jeff Davis Parish School board elected officers for 2019. District 3 member Phillip Arceneaux was chosen to serve as president with District 11 member David Troutman being named vice president. Members appointed to serve on the board’s various committees will be announced in February.

REWARD INCREASED FOR INFO ON COWS SHOT IN WELSH

WELSH - The reward has been increased to $2,200 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for shooting several Brangus cows with a small caliber weapon in a pasture in Welsh. Lake Charles farmer Callen Odom agreed to add $1,000 to the reward. The Jeff Davis Parish Cattlemen’s Association added an additional $200. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 558-9741 or the sheriff’s office at (337) 821-2100.

Board questions need for GIS

Finance committee to take up issue in February

School board members are considering whether there is a benefit to buying into a geographic information system (GIS) backed by most governing bodies in the parish.

In Jeff Davis, the police jury, economic development commission, Jeff Davis Electric Co-Op, sheriff’s department, City of Jennings and the towns of Lake Arthur and Welsh have agreed to buy into a GIS compiled and managed by Lafayette-based C.H. Fenstermaker and Associates. Fenton, Elton and Entergy will not buy in.