News

Austin likely facing ‘serial bomber,’ police chief says

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fear escalated across Austin on Monday after the fourth bombing this month — this time, a blast that was triggered by a tripwire and demonstrated what police said was a “higher level of sophistication” than the package bombs used in the previous attacks.

Two men in their 20s were wounded Sunday night as they walked along a street and were hospitalized in stable condition. The three earlier bombings since March 2 left two people dead and two wounded.

ROCKY the rooster

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James Ward Elementary’s official school mascot is the bulldog, but a different animal has been making a name for itself at the school.

Rocky the rooster, who has taken up residence on the school grounds, has been adopted by the school with open arms.

Brynn Perrin, a speech therapist for at the school, said the rooster showed up after Mardi Gras and never left.

“We would see him outside walking up and down the street and then eventually he made his way onto the school grounds,” she said. “Over the weekends he’d stay and on Monday morning, he’d still be there.”

A GREAT DAY FOR FISHING

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LA’s welfare check program underway

LAKE ARTHUR – The police department’s welfare program here has been underway for a month now and is showing signs of effectiveness.

Police chief Kobi Turner said the program the program has been going well so far. The program protocol includes a phone call to residents’ houses, followed by a house visit then another phone call to the residents’ emergency contacts if needed. At this point, officers will enter the residents’ homes to ensure their safety if no contact can be made.

Pence protesters win free speech fight over St. Pat’s parade

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Protesters seeking to carry signs in an area being secured for Vice President Mike Pence to participate in the South’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade won a brisk free speech fight Friday as city officials in Savannah backed off prohibiting signs and posters at the event.

City officials reversed course and announced signs would be allowed immediately after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Friday morning against City Hall, saying a blanket sign ban during Pence’s visit Saturday would violate the free speech rights of a parade goers.

A whole lot of HOOPLA

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The Jeff Davis Parish Library system works to keep up with the latest technologies and services to offer to its patrons and has recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of offering one such service.

Hoopla is an app that can be downloaded on phones, tablets, e-readers and computers and gives access to several different types of media, Jeff Davis Parish Library Cataloguer and Technologist Denice Sonnier said.

“This service is really impressive,” Sonnier said. “You just download it and sign in and you can download books, audiobooks, movies, music and television series.”

Welsh’s Bon Temps crawfish dinner to benefit museum

WELSH - Friends of the Welsh Museum will hold their annual Bon Temps Crawfish Dinner to benefit the town’s history museum on April 12.

The event, which will feature a full meal of crawfish delicacies, will take place at the Welsh Community Center located at 210 South Elms St. and benefit the maintenance and upkeep of the museum, Museum Founder and President Mary Sue Lyon said.

Each year crawfish are donated the museum and turned into two different dishes to be served at the event, Lyon said.

Sheriff’s CADA fundraiser set for April 6

The 6th Annual Sheriff Ivy Woods Three-Man Scramble Golf Tournament fundraiser is fast approaching, bringing supporters from across Louisiana to benefit the Jeff Davis Parish Communities Against Domestic Abuse (CADA).

LIFTOFF!

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Nearly 500 4-H members from across the parish joined at the parish fairgrounds Friday for the organization’s annual Achievement Day. There, students engaged in a rocket launching contest, a catapult construction contest and classes on safety and Yoga.

Parish standouts honored for achievements, efforts

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The cream of the crop in Jeff Davis Parish’s school system were honored in a ceremony at Jennings High Thursday afternoon.

Curriculum supervisor Dr. Kieran Coleman described the educators and support staff who were receiving awards as critical to the success of the local school system and society as a whole.