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• St. Martin, Vermilion Superintendents Fire Back Against Accusations from State Play Video

  October 18, 2012 10:49 PM

  St. Martin Parish Schools Superintendent Richard Lavergne is fighting back after the Louisiana Department of Education publicly called out his school system for not following the law. The law is part of the education reforms pushed through by Governor Bobby Jindal earlier this year and it takes away seniority... more »

• St. Martin Parish Daily Arrest Report

  June 13, 2012 10:59 AM

  Name: Mcnett, Harold Age: 27 City, State: Jeanerette, LA Charges: HOLD FOR Arresting Agency: 50-ST MARTIN SHERIFF Name: Leblanc, Jeremy Age: 24 City, State: New Iberia, LA Charges: FAILURE TO APPEAR Arresting Agency: 50-ST MARTIN SHERIFF Name: Hamilton, Jerome Age: 44 City, State: Lafayette, LA Charges: FAILURE TO APPEAR; ISSUING WORTHLESS CHECKS $0 - $300 Arresting Agency: 50-ST MARTIN SHERIFF more »

• St. Martin Parish Daily Arrest Report

  May 31, 2012 11:15 AM

  St. Martin Parish Daily Arrest Report May 30, 2012 Name: Singleton, Earl Age: 51 Address: Breaux Bridge, LA Charges: THEFT - ITEMS VALUED AT $0 - $300; ENTRY OR REMAIN IN PLACES AFTER FORBIDDEN Arresting Agency: 17P-BREAUX BRIDGE PD Name: Evans, Amanda Age: 26 Address: St Martinville, LA Charges: DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY; SIMPLE BATTERY... more »

• School Board Moves Forward with Controversial Contract to Harvest Cypress Trees Play Video

  May 9, 2012 7:11 PM

  A St. Martin Parish School Board contract to harvest cypress trees in the Atchafalaya Basin is under fire. The board agreed to sell its timber rights for $98,500 to Good Hope Inc. earlier this year. The school board owns 640 acres in the basin and it plans to allow timber... more »

• School board contract may endanger cypress trees Play Video

  April 4, 2012 10:35 PM

  The St. Martin Parish School Board agreed to lease some property to a Natchez timber company but they're now revisiting the agreement because it may endanger Atchafalaya cypress trees. It's not the only school board in the state leasing land to lumber companies; it's a common practice by many... more »

• Louisiana down the road: DOTD reviews projects Play Video

  February 8, 2012 11:07 PM

  "There is not more being done with less," St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot said about state highways. "We need to have full disclosure with the public that we need more resources for transportation." Bill Fontenot is a former DOTD District Engineer and now, the St. Landry Parish President.... more »

• Woman dies in St. Martin Parish crash

  January 24, 2012 10:38 AM

  HENDERSON, La. (AP) - A 55-year-old St. Martinville woman died in a single-vehicle crash south of Henderson. State police say Elizabeth Howe was a passenger in the rear seat of a sport utility vehicle driven by 34-year-old Bryan Howe. Troopers say the crash occurred Monday when Bryan Howe lost control... more »

• St. Martin council to publish bond details

  September 7, 2011 9:58 AM

  ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) - The St. Martin Parish Council has approved publishing the details of the parish's plan to issue up to $8.5 million in bonds. The Advocate reports Parish President Guy Cormier will borrow the money from the Louisiana Local Government and Environmental Facilities Authority through the issuance... more »

• School Meal Prices More Than Double in St. Martin Parish

  August 8, 2011 11:43 PM

  As school bells ring later this month for the first day of classes, students in St. Martin Parish will be shelling out more money for school meals. The school system said the rise in prices is due to budget shortfalls, but some parents think the increase is too much. ... more »

• Sandbag Operation in Stephensville Suspended for Sunday

  May 21, 2011 9:52 PM

  (St. Martinville, La.)Due to the decrease of requests for sandbags at the locations in the Stephensville-Belle River area, sandbagging operations in the Stephensville-Belle River area will be suspended for Sunday, May 22, 2011. Sandbagging operations will resume again on Monday, May 23, 2011 through Friday May 27, 2011. The hours... more »

• Is your town a flood risk?

  May 11, 2011 9:08 PM

  Many viewers and readers on KATC.com have wrote to us asking, "Is my home town at risk?" For those concerned residents, the bottom-line is found in the answers of two questions: do you reside within the Atchafalaya Basin? And... are you protected by a levee? In St. Mary... more »

• Self-Evacuation Issued in St. Martin Parish

  May 6, 2011 11:14 PM

  The community of Butte La Rose along the Atchafalaya River is one of the areas most at risk for flooding. As of Friday, the St. Martin Sheriff's Office is warning residents they may need to leave soon. St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Deputies went door to door Friday in Butte... more »

• Parishes declare State of Emergency

  May 6, 2011 9:12 PM

  Parishes all over Acadiana, declaring a state of emergency. St. Landry, St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary Parishes want residents to be prepared for flooding. "The high water is definitely coming whether they open (the Morganza) or not." St. Martin Parish President Guy Cormier says, "if I was a... more »

• St. Martin Parish School Board Cuts

  April 7, 2011 7:18 PM

  The St. Martin Parish School Board is avoiding a financial crisis by making cuts to their staff. It's a move that is actually getting praise from teachers. "We were pleased with the results," said Latonia Cretian, a teacher at Teche Elementary and president of the St. Martin Federation of... more »

• Special Election Underway in St. Martin Parish

  April 2, 2011 6:33 PM

  A special election is being held today in St. Martin Parish to fill the house seat vacated by state Sen. Fred Mills R-District 22. St. Martin Parish councilman Mike "Pete" Huval and St. Martinville city councilman Craig Prosper, both republicans, are the only two candidates on the ballot. ... more »

• Special Election Saturday in St. Martin Parish

  March 31, 2011 12:35 AM

  A special election will be held Saturday in St. Martin Parish to fill the seat vacated by state Sen. Fred Mills R-District 22. St. Martin Parish councilman Mike "Pete" Huval and St. Martinville city councilman Craig Prosper, both republicans, will square off at the polls. Huval and Prosper are... more »

• War on Trash Along the Atchafalaya Basin Levee

  March 4, 2011 2:32 PM

  In St. Martin Parish, a group of trustees recently cleaned up up a 25-mile stretch of the western Atchafalaya Basin levee. Deputy Grover Angelle says, in all, 64 tons of trash filled six giant 20 foot long roll-off dumpsters. more »

• Power Restored in St. Martin Parish

  March 3, 2011 11:18 AM

  Power has been restored in the St. Martinville and Cade area after Entergy had a cross arm that burnt and fell causing a power outage around 3:00 this morning. The cross arm falling on a distribution line caused the power outage for about 800 customers through Celco, which is St.... more »

• St. Martin Parish Deputies Round-Up Dead Beat Parents

  February 16, 2011 2:11 PM

  St. Martin Parish rounded up parents not paying child support. "I ain't working right now. I've got a hurt back i've been disabled since 1990,"said Cody Begnaud. Sherriff's deputies say Begnaud owes at least ten-thousand dollars in child support. "From time to time we do these sweeps as an effort... more »

• Man Dressed As Fed Ex Employee Accused of Cashing Fake Checks

  January 13, 2011 6:55 PM

  In St. Martin Parish, investigators are asking for help to find a man they say dressed as a Fed Ex employee and cashed two counterfeit checks allegedly from Fed Ex in the amount of $676.34. Major Ginny Higgins says on Christmas Day, he walked into Piggly Wiggly in Cecilia,... more »

• St. Martin Parish to pay firefighters

  January 4, 2011 7:32 PM

  St. Martin Parish officials say they will start paying firefighters for the first time ever but these paid firefighters could be coming from other departments... in other parishes. So, what started it? It was a busy year for St. Martin Parish firefighters. "Our call load has doubled," Fire District Coordinator... more »

• Searching for a missing body in Cecilia car accident

  December 17, 2010 9:11 AM

  Police are still on scene of an early morning car accident in Cecilia. Police say it happened just after 4 am. The vehicle veered off highway 355 into a river. New information at this time the St. Martin Parish dive team is on the scene with Louisiana State Police... more »

• St. Martin OWI Checkpoint Friday

  December 2, 2010 5:15 PM

  Press Release-(St. Martinville, La.)The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office will conduct an OWI Sobriety Checkpoint, Friday, December 3, 2010 in St. Martin Parish. The Checkpoint will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be manned by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, St. Martinville Police Department, Breaux Bridge Police Department, Henderson... more »

• St. Martin Parish Inmate Escape Details

  October 25, 2010 5:45 PM

  From St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office: On Tuesday, October 19, 2010, at approximately 10:30 a.m., two St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office Correctional Officers were overseeing the transfer of six inmates from the main cell area of the jail to the roof top fenced recreation area. The Correctional Officers were positioned... more »

• Fugitive found under a house

  October 21, 2010 7:11 PM

  It took police a day and a half to find him, but they captured their fugitive, Paul Collins Jr. Collins was on the run since tuesday when he escaped from the roof of the St. Martin Parish jail. Police say they found him hiding just yards away from that jail.... more »

• St. Martin Schools In Session Tomorrow

  October 19, 2010 9:36 PM

  Following the incident that occurred today at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center, and after conferring with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, St. Martin Parish School Officials determined that all public schools in St. Martin Parish, including Trinity Catholic, will be in session tomorrow. more »

• Food for Seniors Pickup Change in St. Martin Parish

  October 15, 2010 6:18 PM

  St. Martin Parish "Food for Seniors" pickup has been changed from October 27 to October 20th. The time and the place of the pickup will remain the same. Food for Seniors is a branch of Catholic Charities. This affects Breaux Bridge, Arnaudville, Cecilia and Henderson, St. Martinville and Coteau Homes. more »

• Man Wanted in Connection to Burglaries in St. Martinville

  October 12, 2010 2:46 PM

  (St. Martinville, La.)-During the month of September, 2010, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office intitated several investigations into day time residential burlaries that occurred throughout the Parish. These investigations continued into the month of October and a suspect has now been identified. During surveillance that was conducted by Detectives over... more »

• Body of a missing man found in Vermilion River

  September 8, 2010 6:23 PM

  Hours after reporting him missing, Deputies discover the body of Breaux Bridge man along the banks of the Vermilion River. Deputies have identified him as 32-year-old Bobby Lindsey. He was found right on the parish line between St. Martin Parish and Lafayette Parish. Deputies in St. Martin were investigating the... more »

• 3rd District Runoff

  August 30, 2010 7:51 PM

  Congressional primaries were held Saturday, but voters in three Acadiana parishes will have to recast their ballot in October. This, after none of the three candidates got 50% of the votes in the US Representative-3rd Congressional District race. Voters in Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary were among 13... more »

• St. Martin Sets Up Rescued Horse Pasture

  August 28, 2010 3:15 PM

  ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) - So many horses are being set loose in St. Martin Parish that the parish is setting up a shelter for horses and other rescued livestock. Rescued horses are currently boarded on private land around the parish, and the shelter under way will save money, Parish... more »

• Primary Preview

  August 27, 2010 7:33 PM

  Polls across Louisiana will open at 6am Saturday morning. Acadiana voters will decide on three races, including the 3rd Congressional District Seat. Three candidates are vying for the Republican nomination: Hunt Downer of Houma, Jeff Landry , and Kristian Magar , both of New Iberia. All three candidates say... more »

• ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAUNCHES FACEBOOK PAGE

  August 13, 2010 4:54 PM

  (St. Martinville, La.)-The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office has launched a Facebook page and Twitter feed in a continuing effort to keep the residents of St. Martin Parish informed. Citizens can receive breaking news updates on a variety of information such as press releases, crime alerts, safety alerts, and updates... more »

• Parents Worried About Their Children's Safety on the Bus

  August 11, 2010 7:13 PM

  The start of the school year, has some parents in St. Martinville concerned for their children's safety. A few parents filed complaints about the same St. Martin Parish school bus driver last year. This year the driver is back on the route and they say they're not happy about it.... more »

• 2010 Sex Crime Conference

  June 9, 2010 7:25 PM

  Sex crimes have always been difficult cases for investigators to solve, but officials in Acadiana are making sure they deal with those cases in the best way possible. Renee Louviere, Assistant District Attorney for the 16the Judicial District Court, said there's an increase in the number of cases... more »

• Deputy Investigated in Sexual Assault

  May 26, 2010 6:32 PM

  A St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Deputy is under investigation after a Breaux Bridge woman filed a complaint of sexual assault against him. 49 year old Cheri Begnaud says the alleged incident happened Friday at her house in the 1600 block of Prairie Highway. Cheri says two deputies were called... more »

• St. Martin Parish Man Arrested for Murder of 17 Year Old Man

  May 21, 2010 9:32 AM

  Quentin O'Bryan Lewis 27 yoa of 1104 A. Pellerin Road, Jeanerette, La. was arrested on 5-20-2010 at 3:30 pm on a warrant for Second Degree Murder. Arrest warrant stems from an investigation into the May 16th investigation of the shooting of victim Dangelo Williams 17 yoa of Morgan City at... more »

• UPDATE: Acadia Parish Authorities Apprehend Escaped Inmate

  March 3, 2010 5:41 PM

  UPDATE: Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon stated that at approximately 4:30 p.m. today Steven Dietz was captured at a motel in Beaumont, Texas. According to Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon several law enforcement agencies met at the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office early this morning in an effort to re-capture Steven... more »

• Reward Increased For The Capture Of Jamaal Diggs

  January 22, 2010 5:23 PM

  The reward has been increased for help finding a murder suspect out of Vermilion Parish. Jamaal Diggs is wanted in connection with the death of D'Jacqney Mitchell back in December. Diggs has been on the run since then. Police say they heard last week he was in Virginia and... more »

• St. Martin Authorities Investigate First Murder In 2010

  January 18, 2010 1:21 PM

  St. Martin parish officials are investigating their first murder of the the year. The shooting happened over the weekend in the Breaux Bridge High School parking lot. Authorities believe the shooting was a result of an altercation over drugs. 21-year-old Hilton Noel was shot several times and was pronounced... more »

• Two Wanted Men In St. Martin Parish Turn Themselves In

  January 6, 2010 5:13 PM

  Two of several criminals wanted in St. Martin Parish are now in custody. Tracy Champagne and Stephen Zenon turned themselves in. Both were wanted on drug charges. The search continues for Daniel Patin of Henderson. He's wanted for failing to register as a sex offender, for possession of drug paraphernalia,... more »

• House fire: 1800th block of Old Spanish Trail

  December 27, 2009 4:57 PM

  A fire completely destroys a 2 story home in a in St. Martin Parish. Around 3 this afternoon St. Martin fire officials were called to a structure fire in the 1800th block of Old Spanish Trail. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control but not before the home... more »

• Robbery Awareness

  November 29, 2009 4:53 PM

  CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU BULLETIN In an effort to maintain a safe and secure environment during the upcoming holiday season, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office wants to make the public aware that criminal statistics have shown that during the holiday season criminal activity increases. The economic conditions of... more »

• Hearts of Hope: Stuffed Animal Donation

  October 22, 2009 12:51 PM

  Hearts of Hope, formerly known as Stuller Place, is a non-profit agency whose aim is to reduce the trauma experienced by child and adult victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault. All services are confidential and are completed without expense for the clients. Located in Lafayette, LA, Hearts of Hope... more »

• More School Districts to Distribute H1N1 Vaccine

  October 20, 2009 6:44 PM

  Louisiana's death toll from the swine flu has risen to 24. According to the health department, four more residents have died. Meanwhile, plans are being finalized to protect children from the virus. Several parishes in Acadiana are going forward with plans to vaccinate students. School districts in Jeff Davis, St.... more »

• Swine Flu Death Now at 14

  October 6, 2009 10:12 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The death toll from swine flu in Louisiana now stands at 14. The state health department said Monday that three victims died in the past week. The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge reports that one victim was a woman from the New Orleans area. Another... more »

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

  October 1, 2009 2:04 PM

  Part of the United Way of Acadiana's Day of Literacy Thursday, Oct. 1 is the kickoff of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. If you are interested in teaching your kids to read, United Way will send a new book each month to you at no cost. This is open... more »