News
Healthcare dominates Vitter town hall in Convent
CONVENT — If the fire chief had been present, there might have been a problem with the size of the crowd packed in to the Council Chambers at St. James Parish Courthouse for a Monday morning Town Hall meeting with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.).
Breaking News
State police kill one, wound another in drug operation
A drug investigation turned deadly late Friday morning when undercover state troopers got into what was described as an “altercation” at LaPlace Oaks, a public housing complex operated by St. John the Baptist Housing Authority.
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New Orleans man sentenced in deadly crash
EDGARD – A New Orleans man received an 18-year prison sentence Monday for causing a three-car accident on Interstate 10 in Laplace that killed an 8-year-old girl and injured 10 others while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Area leaders hear Entergy's emergency plan
RESERVE—A group of local leaders including St. James Parish President Dale Hymel Jr., St. James Sheriff Willie Martin, Mike Tregre and Greg Maurin of the St. John District Attorney’s Office and Executive Director of the St. John United Way Dean Torres as well as representatives from the Port of South Louisiana and local healthcare facilities recently gathered at Entergy’s Reserve office for a program explaining the company’s storm response procedures. And with three named systems developing over the past week, the timing was perfect.
Andouille Festival to feature more of everything
LAPLACE – When discussing plans for the parish’s annual celebration of all things andouille, the general line from St. John officials is more, more, more.
Troopers start 18-day DWI crackdown
LAPLACE – State Troopers and police officers from 74 agencies across Louisiana are planning for an excess of overtime work as part of an 18-day crackdown on drunken driving in preparation for the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Cop impersonator arrested in Luling
HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Luling man last Saturday night for posing as a police officer after he allegedly used flashing blue lights to pull over a woman in a fake traffic stop.
Voter registration weeks begins Monday
BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne has declared the week of Aug. 24-28 as Voter Registration Week and registrar of voters’ offices across the River Parishes have scheduled a wealth of events to encourage all residents to register.
Arrested detective selling department property on eBay
LAPLACE – A nine-year veteran of the St. John Sheriff’s Office was arrested Thursday following an internal investigation into alleged malfeasance in office after he was caught selling Sheriff’s Office property on eBay, said Sheriff Wayne L. Jones.
Two small planes crash in St. Charles
TAFT—The pilot of a vintage biplane was injured Monday after his plane flipped as it taxied down a private runway in Taft, said authorities with the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.
Edgard man arrested in Killona bar shooting
HAHNVILLE – Authorities in St. Charles arrested an Edgard man for attempted murder early Saturday morning in connection with a shooting at a Killona bar that injured four people, said a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
SJBPSO releases more info on July 4 murder
LAPLACE – St. John Parish Sheriff’s detectives have released more information regarding their investigation into the shooting death of a LaPlace man on July 4, said a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
LaPlace men arrested in home invasion
RESERVE – A pair of LaPlace men were arrested Friday morning in connection with a home invasion in Reserve, said authorities with the St. John Sheriff’s Office.
SRO crowd talks health care with Landrieu
RESERVE – A standing-room-only crowd of more than 500 packed into the Reserve National Guard Readiness Center Thursday afternoon in an effort to continue the dialogue on health-care reform with U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, whose vote could be pivotal when the Senate takes up the legislation in the fall.
Ralph Bean fired as parish utilities director
LAPLACE – At the request of Parish President Bill Hubbard, the St. John Council voted Tuesday to dismiss Ralph Bean as public utilities director for the parish effective immediately.
Business
Dredgin Supply opens new design center
SPECIAL TO L'OBSERVATEUR
Ann Daisy Bridal celebrates grand opening in Gramercy
Ann Daisy Bridal & Formal Wear is St. James' newest place to shop for gifts, gowns, accessories, invitations, tuxedos and ballet attire. The shop is located at 1729 Deroche Circle in Gramercy and is open Tuesday through Saturday. Present at the ribbon cutting were co-owner Bernard Jones, family member Cadora Jones, Chief Heria “Butch” Williams of the St. James Sheriff’s Department, family member Lois Moore, planning committee member Barbara Woods, Gramercy Mayor Herman Bourgeois, Alderman-at-large Rubenstein Mitchell Clark, District 1 Alderman Betty Cooper Colema and co-owner Joyce Jacques.
