Youth to be charged and tried as adult in Attempted Murder Case May 10, 2023 Evangeline Parish District Trent Brignac reported to KVPI News that on April 20, a hearing was conducted. Before the court were the issues of whether a 15 year old should be continued in custody and whether there was probable cause that the juvenile has committed a crime that could subject him to the jurisdiction of the adult criminal court. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Marcus Fontenot found both that the juvenile should remain in custody and that probable cause existed that the juvenile committed the crime of Attempted Second Degree Murder. Thereafter, the juvenile court was divested of jurisdiction over the case and the case is now under the exclusive jurisdiction of the adult district court for all subsequent proceedings. District Attorney Trent Brignac commended the efforts of Assistant District Attorneys Deidra Godfrey and Julhelene "Betsy" Jackson for their preparation and presentation at the hearing. In another matter, District Attorney Trent Brignac reported that numerous cases were considered in the month of April as part of the regular scheduled docket. In separate criminal dockets before Judge Chuck West and Judge Marcus Fontenot, there were a total of 46 felony convictions and 22 misdemeanor convictions. Brignac commended the efforts of Assistant District Attorneys Jacob Fuselier, Stan Vidrine, Justin Bo West and Deidra Godfrey for their efforts in the prosecution of these cases.

Sacred Heart Baseball Standout Briggs Ardoin Signs with Baton rouge Community College. Sacred Heart High Star Pitcher Briggs Ardoin made it official and signed with Baton Rouge Community College. The signing event took place Wednesday at the Sacred Heart School Library with family, friends and team players in attendance. He completed his senior year of play with the Sacred Heart Trojans with a 19 and 5 record. Briggs told KVPI Sports his passion and first love is the sport of baseball. He has been playing baseball since age 4 at the Mamou recreational league. Ardoin said he is "ready to begin a new chapter in my life". He gives big props to his baseball coach, Coach Gary Ashworth, who was a big supporter. His fast ball speed has been clocked at 88 miles per hour. He is looking forward to achieving a business degree to become a certified public accountant. At Baton Rouge Community College, he will join former Trojan Isaac Leger. Coach Ashworth, in his term as head baseball coach, has had five signees in the past five years. Sacred Heart ended the season going to the state playoffs through the second round.

The speaker at the Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, presented by Rotarian Peter Strawitz, was Richard Fontenot, with the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Agriculture is a key industry in the state of Louisiana. The industry is very dynamic. In 2022, the state experienced a drought until August, and then there was about 60 days in a row when it rained. That year resulted in the most expensive harvest that Louisiana has ever experienced. The production was still strong, but some of the quality of the crop was lost. Rice and Crawfish generate about $73 million in value per year in Evangeline Parish. Crawfish used to be shipped from Gulfport to Texas. Now shipments go from Birmingham to Los Angeles and San Francisco. This year, however, was a disappointing crawfish year. The producers was getting the production, but not getting the return. This was the first year that buyers shut down purchasing. There were many contributing factors, including supply chain issues, workers and inflation. The rice production should be a little above breakeven. The LSU Ag Center is an Integral part of Louisiana Agriculture. One of the questions asked was about the continuation of the industry and bringing in new generations of agricultural workers. The Farm Bureau is working with the Ag Center, Educators and agencies to improve the programs available to young people. They are needed in every facet of the industry. Mr. Fontenot was also asked about solar farms being introduced to the area. The Farm Bureau is a strong proponent of personal property rights, and people should be able to make the decisions on what is best for their families. However, they do change the landscape and the possibility for future production. The Farm Bureau will continue to work to keep the agriculture industry in Louisiana strong and vibrant. Other Rotary announcements • If anyone is interested in becoming a Paul Harris Fellow, please let Annette or another Board Member know so that they can help with that. • The Evening Installation will be held on June 20th. There will be no lunch meeting that day. • A potential new member was introduced for the first time – Linda Sue Fontenot. She is being sponsored by Nicole Wenger. • Next week's program will be presented by Dr. Kirk Soileau, and the speaker will be Dr. Shawn Wilson, Secretary of the Louisiana DOTD.

Sheriff's Office Drug Arrests May 5, 2023 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reports to KVPI News the following drug arrests: On Tuesday May 2, the sheriff's department narcotics unit conducted a check on a vehicle parked at a business located in Point Blue. Upon coming into contact with the occupants, agents could smell marijuana coming from the vehicle. Agents conducted a probable cause search and located illegal narcotics. Arrested was Steve Marcantel age 65 charged with possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Pragabalin. Bond was set at $8,000; On Wednesday May 3, the sheriff's department narcotics units stopped a vehicle on Carbon Loop road. Agents made contact the driver who was acting extremely nervous. K-9 Diego arrived on the scene and conducted a search of the outside of the vehicle and returned a positive alert. Arrested was Dusty Brod Matte age 44 of Ville Platte charged with possession of Heroin, possession of Methamphetamine, possession of Fentanyl and he had an outstanding warrant. His bond was set at $50,000. Also on May 3, the narcotics unit stopped a vehicle on Pine Point road. Following a search of the vehicle, illegal narcotics were located. Deputies arrested Richard Campbell age 48 of Mamou charged with possession of Heroin, possession of Methamphetamine and possession of Fentanyl. The bond was set at $25,000. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Sheriff's Office Arrests May 3, 2023 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News the following arrests: A Ville Platte area man, Jonathan Sittig age 40 , turned himself to authorities Wednesday, May 3 on an outstanding warrant for Simple Battery. One other subject is still wanted: Jason Peschier age 45 of Ville Platte on a charge of Aggravated Second Degree Battery in the same case. He is described as a white male, six feet one inches tall, 235 pounds in weight with brown eyes and short blonde hair. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of the subject , please contact the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Department at 337-363-2161. The charges are in connection with a disturbance at a bar at the intersection of LA 13 and LA 10 in September of last year. The victim was attacked by multiple subjects at the bar and one of the subjects struck the victim with a pair of brass knuckles. With the use of surveillance video, deputies were able to identify the two suspects. In another cases, Ville Platte City Police on April 26, arrested a suspect wanted in connection with an incident at the Dollar General Store in Bayou Chicot. The sheriff's spokesman identified the suspect as Erica Joanne Roberts, age 33, of Ville Platte. She was arrested and charged with aggravated battery by Evangeline Parish authorities. The arrest was in connection with the Dollar Store incident in November of 2022. Deputies responded to the Bayou Chicot Dollar Store in reference to a theft. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the victim attempted to stop the suspect from leaving the store parking lot with stolen merchandise. The suspect struck the victim with the vehicle almost running over the victim. In another case, sheriff's deputies arrested Christopher Duplechain, age 51, of Basile was arrested on April 28 on a charge of Domestic Abuse Battery. He remains incarcerated in the parish jail awaiting a Gwen's Law hearing. The arrest was in connection with information gotten from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services investigators involving a possible case of abuse in the family home. Upon completion of the investigation, it was determined that the father, Duplechain, struck his 14 year old daughter causing multiple injuries that required medical attention. They also determined that this incident was the culmination of a pattern of abuse over time and it ended with this incident. Also assisting in the investigation were representatives of the Hearts of Hope Child Advocacy Center. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Evangeline Parish Police Jury May 1, 2023 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday discussed a recent visit from a private management group "Vista" that toured Crooked Creek Park. The group is interested in taking over the management and operation of the parish owned park. It was learned the group will propose either a profit sharing arrangement or a straight lease with the police jury. The group will be responsible for maintaining and make needed improvements including upgrading the reservations system. Police Jury President Bryan Vidrine announced to the rest of the jury that Secretary Treasurer Chester Granger will begin bidding out ten adjudicated properties each month. These are primarily blighted properties that have been turned over to the parish .in an effort to receive payment of back taxes on the property. The jury discussed tightening down on road use permits for loggers. It was discussed that some companies are abusing the permit by not turning in the permit after their project. Jurors discussed one area of roadway that received some $200,000 in damage due to heavy loads on the roads. Some jurors are in favor of limiting the permits to 60 days rather than 6 months. In other action the police jury: --from new parish County Agent Vince Deshotel who is replacing Todd Fontenot in Evangeline Parish. Deshotel , a Vidrine resident, was serving as County Agent in St. Landry Parish until he accepted this new assignment; --approved the purchase of the old probation and parole building across the street from the courthouse. The 6500 square foot building has a price tag of $130,000.; --approved calling for the tax renewal elections for Evangeline Council on Aging, Ward One Cemetery Tax. Fire District One and 9-1-1 on the November runoff election day ballot; --is considering engaging the services of a recruiting service to help find a new building inspector after its inspector Rick Harper retired.