Michael smith

Port Allen’s budget faces uncertain future PORT ALLEN — It’s doubtful Mayor Demetric Slaughter’s $9.7 million proposed spending plan for the 2013-14 fiscal year will gain the approval it needs from the Port Allen City Council by July 1. A majority of the city’s five council members said last week they wouldn’t support the plan because the mayor did not follow proper protocol when she presented it to them on Wednesday. They also stressed that they are outraged at her budget proposal slashing the salaries of two of the city’s top officials, one of them by as much as $40,000 a year. Councilman Garry Hubble, chairman of the council’s Personnel and Finance Committee, said the mayor failed to offer the council any explanation justifying the proposed salary cuts. Teen killed in ATV-pickup crash EUNICE — State police are investigating a fatal crash involving a Honda four-wheeler and a pickup in Evangeline Parish. The accident happened early Sunday morning on La. 757 near Eunice. Troopers say 15-year-old Matthew Neal of Basile was driving an ATV southbound when he was struck from behind by a pickup driven by 21-year-old Jonathan Tucker of Eunice. Trooper Stephen Hammons said ATV was not equipped with lights. Hammons says neither Neal nor his 16-year-old passenger was wearing helmets and both were ejected. The 16-year-old was transported to a hospital with moderate injuries. Hearing starts today in 1995 police killing NEW ORLEANS — A death row inmate is asking for a new trial on charges that he helped a New Orleans policewoman rob and kill three people at a restaurant where she worked off-duty. The reports that the hearing for Rogers LaCaze opens today and could last more than a week. He was convicted of helping Antoinette Frank rob Kim Anh Restaurant and kill her patrol partner and two of the owners’ children in 1995. They were tried separately. Federal charges filed alleged bank fraud scheme BATON ROUGE — Two Baton Rouge businessmen are charged with bank fraud in what federal prosecutors say involved more than $368,000 in loans they obtained for construction of a fitness center that did not open. Court records show Matthew Scott Bernard is charged two counts of bank fraud and two counts of false statements to banks. Ronald Joseph Olah Jr. is accused in the same indictment of two counts of bank fraud and two counts of wire fraud. The indictment was made public June 7. Olah was released on bail but while Bernard was ordered detained until trial. School Board president arrested in hit and run GREENSBURG — State police have arrested the president of the Livingston Parish School Board after a 21-year-old Mississippi man was killed in a hit-and-run in St. Helena Parish. Trooper First Class Melissa Matey says the accident occurred shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday when William Iasigi, of Liberty, Miss., was driving south on La. 43 South. Matey says Iasigi stopped his pickup in the middle of the road and got out and he was struck by another pickup driven by 65-year-old Malcolm Sibley of Walker. Troopers booked Sibley into St. Helena Parish Jail on a count of felony hit-and-run at 9:40 a.m. Sunday. Jail officials say Sibley posted bail and was released. It was unclear if Sibley has an attorney. Ascension Parish solicits input on sewer plan GONZALES — Ascension Parish officials hope to give information out and get some in return during a pair of public meetings this week regarding a proposed parish-wide sewer project. The first meeting will be from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center gymnasium in Gonzales. A second meeting will be held at the same time Tuesday at Dutchtown High School in Geismar. Benny Johnson, chairman of the Ascension Parish Council’s Utilities Committee, said parish officials have been gathering information on a potential parish-wide sewer project for the past 18 months. This week’s public meetings will allow officials to share that information with parish residents, as well as to get input about what the residents would like to see happen. Sessions focus on Civil War in Lafourche LOCKPORT — The Lockport Public Library is planning a series of discussions focusing on the Civil War in Lafourche Parish. Nicholls State University professor Steve Michot will speak about guerilla warfare in Lafourche at 2 p.m. Wednesday. A discussion of Civil War stories from around the Acadian parishes by Morris Raphael will be held at 2 p.m. Friday. A film on the Civil War will be screened at 2 p.m Saturday. La. Guard’s top enlisted adviser fired BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana National Guard’s highest officer has fired his top enlisted adviser for alleged sexual harassment. Another guard member made a complaint against Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, 53, more than a week ago. Maj. Gen. Glenn Curtis, adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, asked the National Guard Bureau in Washington to investigate, Lt. Col. Michael Kazmierzak, a guard spokesman, said Sunday. “As of now, that investigative team’s conclusion is that sexual harassment and abuse of power has occurred,” Kazmierzak said. He said investigators are looking into an allegation of sexual assault. No telephone listing was available for Caillier. Kazmierzak said Caillier has asked for representation by the regional trial defense counsel, who did not immediately respond to a message left Sunday on his office answering machine. Caillier was Curtis’s top adviser on all matters affecting enlisted soldiers and airmen in the Louisiana National Guard. Curtis removed Caillier from active duty and named Command Sgt. Maj. James Mays to replace him, Kazmierzak said. Kazmierzak said he did not know whether Caillier was accused of a single alleged act or multiple alleged acts, or whether his accuser is a man or a woman. Such details may be released if charges are brought, he said. “The Louisiana National Guard understands very well that sexual assault is a crime and his been a persistent problem in the military that violates everything we stand for,” he said. Coast Guard searches 2nd day for missing diver GRAND ISLE — The Coast Guard is searching for a diver missing 55 miles off Grand Isle. Petty Officer Carlos Vega says the search began Saturday afternoon for 56-year-old Tim Raines, whose home town Vega does not know. He says the boat “Early Life Crisis” was moored to an offshore rig and Raines reportedly was spearfishing nearby when an undertow washed him about 40 feet behind the boat. Raines reportedly went under while swimming toward the boat. Vega says the crews of a helicopter and an airplane continued the search on Sunday. He says the dive boat’s manager is from Port Allen. From The Associated Press.