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Sewer problem Blue Jays golf to be aired finish second at city meeting in state Page 2 Page 7 The Eunice News VOL. 117 NO. 37 SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021 $1.00 Bystander among those killed in gang shooting By Harlan Kirgan involved. Avenue and they took him to evidence. I think with these tips Lewis was charged with resist- Editor Jones’ body was found near Acadian Medical Center where and the evidence and some oth- ing arrest. An innocent bystander was Kurn’s Paint and Body Shop he pronounced dead, Fontenot er information we are gathering A 15-year-old boy was also one of two victims in gang at 601 E. Laurel said. we are getting somewhere,” he picked up for questioning with shooting spree on Wednesday at Ave. Police do not believe the peo- said. Lewis, he said. The juvenile had East Laurel Avenue and Nimi- The second ple in the pickup truck were in- “We have some people we are to be released to child protec- tz Street, Eunice Police Chief victim is identi- volved in the shooting. looking at possibly connected tion service because there was Randy Fontenot said. fied as Marshall The shootings that occurred with the shootings and also wit- no family for him to be returned Chris Jones, 58, of Eunice, Weston III, 17, about 7 p.m. Wednesday oc- nesses,” he said. to, he said. died at the scene as he fell vic- who recently curred over a wide area. “It is just a matter of getting Fontenot said video surveil- tim to what police say was a moved from Ville “We still don’t have any solid all of the pieces of the puzzle lance has provided clues and he shooting between Eunice and Platte to Eunice, suspects, but we have some and putting it together at this urged people even blocks from Ville Platte gangs. Fontenot said. good leads,” he said. point,” Fontenot said. the Nimitz and Laurel scene to Fontenot said Jones was ei- Weston was “We got several Crime Stop- Fontenot said Floyd Lewis, review their video. ther caught in the crossfire orspotted by some Randy Fontenot pers tips yesterday which pro- 19, of Mamou, was questioned “We don’t need video just in one of the shooters spotted him people in a pick- vided us some good informa- after being picked up with a and reacted thinking Jones was up truck passing by on Laurel tion and that led to us to some juvenile following the shooting. (See Shooting, Page 10) Voting Day of Prayer in Eunice precincts, School election cost in Board plans play on Parish Council tax election By Harlan Kirgan Editor By Harlan Kirgan St. Landry Parish Editor Council Chairman Dex- OPELOUSAS — The St. Landry ter Brown has called a Parish School Board moved toward special meeting at 6 p.m. putting tax proposals before voters in Monday that may possibly November to raise employee pay and reverse a Council move to fund improvements to high school ath- save money on elections. letic facilities and playgrounds. Brown’s call for a meet- The Board unanimously approved ing came at the end of the advancing two proposals to future Council’s Administrative- meetings. Finance Committee meet- Bond attorney Eric Lafleur said the ing Wednesday. Board faces a July deadline to put the Wayne Ardoin, commit- propositions on the ballet. tee chairman, said the One is for a 9.9 mill tax to raise Council in 2019 voted to teacher pay by $3,000 and support reduce the number of vot- workers by $2,000 a year. The tax is ing precincts from 92 to projected to raise about $6,557,551 an- 53 to save money. nually. Council member Harold Secondly, a proposal is for a 1 mill Taylor said he received a tax to raise about $662,379 a year to call from Clerk of Court pay for operations, maintenance and Charles Jagneaux about improvements to athletic facilities and merging of playgrounds. pr e c i nc t s The proposals are from Superin- in the tendent Patrick Jenkins and during 2019 ordi- an April 26 Finance Committee high nance ap- school coaches and principals weighed proved by in on substandard athletic facility con- all Council ditions. members The issues to be presented to vot- except for ers are not locked down. At the April T i m m y meeting a Nov. 13 election date was Lejeune, given, but also March 26, 2022. who was Harold At Thursday’s Board meeting, Mary ill at the Taylor Ellen Donatto questioned whether time. there is enough time to convince vot- ‘“We’ve got room to ers for a November election. shrink precincts and save She also noted the Board suffered money for the citizens of “quite a loss” with earlier tax propo- this parish and still have sitions. There two tax proposals pre- a very effective, transpar- sented to voters in March 2018 and ent and safe voting elec- both failed with about 75% of the vote tion,” Taylor said. against them. One proposal was a10- Taylor said the special year, 11.3-mill tax for employee raises meeting is intended to and the other was for a 20-year, 12.1 create alpha splitting, a -mill tax to fund a $99 million capital procedure that would cre- improvement plan. ate another 15 precincts. Also at Thursday’s meeting, the “We are premature in The National Day of Prayer observance was held tenot, Judge Terry Hoychick, Rev. Jamie Tyler of getting involved in this, Thursday at noon at the City Hall’s pavilion and Our Savior’s Church and at front is the Rev. Ca- (See Board, Page 10) We don’t have the data,” parking lot. From left are Superintendent of St. leb Semien of Word Ministries. The people in the Taylor said about the cen- Landry Parish Patrick Jenkins, Rev. Neal Citizen bottom photo are not identified. (Photos by Myra sus information. of Unity Family Worship Center, Mayor Scott Fon- Miller) At a meeting last month, demographer Mike Hefner said the cen- sus count won’t be avail- able until August or Sep- Day of Prayer observed tember. Taylor said it is likely The 65th annual National of God in the theme verse, 2 asked “to turn to God in Council districts will Day of Prayer was observed Corinthians 3:17, “Now the prayer and meditation”. change once the census Thursday at noon at the City Lord is the Spirit, and where Many Eunice pastors led the information is available. Hall’s pavilion and parking the Spirit of the Lord is, group gathered in prayer and Council member Nancy lot. there is liberty.” stood on the scripture found Carriere said she didn’t This year’s National Day of The National Day of Prayer in Mark 11:24 “Therefore I fully understand what she Prayer’s Nation’s theme was is an annual day of obser- say to You, whatever things was voting on in 2019 and ”Lord pour out Your Love, vance held on the first Thurs- you ask when you pray, be- St. Landry Parish School Board member Life, and Liberty.” Praying day of May, designated by Albert Hayes Jr. at Thursday’s meeting (See Council, Page 10) and proclaiming a promise Congress, when people are (See Prayer, Page 10) in Opelousas. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan) Farmers Feed the World & We Are Here to Support All of You! Ben Marcantel www.wsbankla.com Agriculture Lender 1020 West Laurel Ave • Eunice • 337-457-8952 2 Sunday, May 9, 2021 News The Eunice News www.eunicetoday.com Tanny DeVillier, third from left, led a and landlords. For more information, call meeting of landlords about rental assis- 877-495-6555 or visit lastaterent.com. tance Tuesday at the Eunice Chamber of Another program for rental and mortgage Commerce office. Representatives from assistance is through the St. Landry Par- the Louisiana Housing Corporation are ish Community Action Agency. Applicants scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the must be past due on rent or mortgage Northwest Community Center in Eunice payments and have lost wages due to CO- From left at Thursday’s meeting to set Mayor Scott Fontenot and Ernest “Ernie” on May 12 and 19. The representatives VID-19. For more information or to make agenda for the Board of Aldermen’s meet- Blanchard. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan) will be available to take applications for an appointment, call 337-948-3651. (Photo ing Tuesday are Dale Ward, Margaret Frey, a rental assistance program for renters by Harlan Kirgan) COVID-19 Emergency Rental Sewer problem to be Assistance Program to include utilities BATON ROUGE — people still need help. other financial hardship Gov. John Bel Edwards Just like we encourage all due directly or indirectly aired at city meeting announced the expansion Louisianans to get vac- to COVID-19. of the State of Louisiana’s cinated, I strongly urge Renter has received a U.S. Treasury Emergency all renters and landlords past-due rent notice, a By Harlan Kirgan fall, but now the problem for general alimony and 5 Rental Assistance Pro- struggling due to the -fi past-due utility notice, an Editor can last for several days. for street maintenance. gram to include utility as- nancial impacts of CO- eviction notice or is expe- Sewer problems on West Fontenot said he is Moody explained the sistance. VID-19 to seek assistance riencing housing instabil- Ash are to be discussed at aware of the concerns. rates are being adjusted The program focuses through this program.” ity.