News

Eunice Police Arrests

The following are arrests by Eunice Police. September 2 Jeramie Cole Pitre, 42, 100 block of Acadia, Eunice. Criminal mischief. James Edward Boutte, 52, 400 block of Acadia, Eunice. Probation violation, hold. Juvenile, 17.

Eunice Police Radio Logs

The following are excerpts from the Eunice Police Department radio dispatch logs. September 2 00:59 Suspicious person reported in a shed in 200 block of Jake. 01:59 Caller in 600 block of Faris requested a removal of a subject from her property. 03:03 Harassment reported in 200 block of Acadia.

News notes

Grief Share group to start at FBC The First Baptist Church in Eunice will sponsor a Grief Share group program beginning in September. The free program will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 13 and will last for 14 weeks.

Police find streets busier than usual, no major problems

Hurricane Laura has driven traffic to Eunice because in many cases this is the first place with fuel, food and housing. Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said there has been an increase in wrecks on private property, primarily at gas stations and on parking lots.

Debris removal continues

Turn down almost any street in Eunice and evidence of Hurricane Laura remains with piles of drying tree debris. City crews are focused on removing the storm debris, Mayor Scott Fontenot said. “Our debris removal is coming along slowly, but surely. There is just a ton of stuff out there,” he said.

Tri-Parish job numbers remain depressed in July

The Tri-Parish unemployment numbers for July remained below those of a year ago as the coronavirus impact lingers. The total workforce in July was 64,100, down 13% from the July 2019 workforce of 68,722. St. Landry Parish’s July workforce was 29,333, down 10% from the July 2019 workforce of 32,672.

Pipeline leaks off Atteberry Road

A pipeline blowout occurred about noon Wednesday in a field off of Atteberry Road, off of La. 370, east of La. 13 South. Details were limited, but Fire Chief Harral Johnson of Acadia Parish Fire District 4 was in the field himself checking on the conditions.

Wind, rain deal blow to harvested rice

Rice farmers without electricity across southwest Louisiana are struggling to save their rice crop in storage. Farmer Paul Johnson, of Bell City, had a good rice crop harvested long before Hurricane Laura hit the Louisiana coast on Aug. 27.

EHS assistant principal charged

An Eunice High School assistant principal was arrested after a domestic incident on Monday involving his juvenile son and a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputy.