News

The road across the prairie

There wasn’t much to see on the road stretching across the prairie from Opelousas to Lake Charles in the middle 1870s, if accounts from two travelers can be believed. Lake Charles was the seat of Calcasieu Parish; Opelousas was the St. Landry seat. Calcasieu had been part of St.

St. Landry Parish Council OKs $5M line of credit

The St. Landry Parish Council approved a $5 million line of credit payable over 10 years as it copes with losses created by coronavirus.

NFL player deserves the bench

Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson isn’t the kind of person a father points to and says, “Son, I want you to grow up to be just like him!” While D-Jax has made some Philadelphia hearts melt and flutter with his pyrotechnics on the playing field, I can no longer “deal” with Jackson.

Amid pandemic, take pen in hand

I can’t recall the last time I wrote or received a handwritten letter — but it’s time to send such letters again. The reasons why the handwritten letter died are obvious: e-mail, text messaging and cellphones.

Cleco announces long-term payment plan for customers

To help customers facing financial challenges related to COVID-19, Cleco temporarily suspended service disconnects and late fees beginning March 13 through Aug. 31.

Frontline workers can apply for $250 COVID-19 rebates

Beginning Wednesday, eligible Louisiana residents could apply for $250 rebates related to essential work performed during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Main Street Recovery offers up to $15,000 in grant funding

State Treasurer John M. Schroder encouraged Louisiana business owners to visit the Main Street Recovery Program’s new website, www.louisianamainstreet.com, to find out if they may be eligible for up to $15,000 in grant money. The application process will begin July 28.

Attempted robbery

Acadia Parish Sheriff’s detectives are investigating an attempted armed robbery that occurred at about 10 p.m. July 11 in the area of St. Margaret Road near Church Point. The incident occurred after the victim stopped to help stranded motorists.

Police say man robbed his cousin

Eunice Police have arrested a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred May 20 after a traffic stop. Kevin Lee “Baby Kev” Thomas, of the 800 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Eunice, was arrested for armed robbery on July 12. At 11:26 a.m.

Parish sales tax collections up in June

Sales tax collections in St. Landry Parish were up in June in several comparisons despite the impact of the coronavirus. Total sales tax collections in the parish were up 5.3% over the same period in 2019.