News

Second suspect arrested in Plaquemine homicide

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 1:58pm

PLAQUEMINE, LA (WAFB)- A second suspect is now in police custody 45 days after a man was shot and killed at a motel in Plaquemine, La. Police believe two men went to the Relax Inn Motel on Highway 1 intending to rob people when one person was shot in the chest and died.

Jason Banks was arrested Tuesday morning for conspiracy and related drug counts in reference to the homicide. Banks is being held in the Iberville Parish Jail.

Police believe Banks conspired with Jerome Harden to rob people at the motel. Harden was arrested by Port Allen Police on April 5, 2012. He is accused of shooting Brian Daly at the Relax Inn Motel. Harden has been charged with second degree murder.

According to witnesses in the motel room at the time of the shooting, someone knocked at the door around 4 a.m. and Brian Daly answered it and that is when they heard a gunshot.

Another witness said she heard someone knock on the door and say 'give me your money,' then a shot was fired and whoever was at the door ran off.

Sheriff's deputies say this homicide was the first in two years. The last one was in 2008.

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Tiger Truck Stop mascot still has a home in Gross Tete

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, 4:35pm

GROSSE TETE, LA (WAFB)- The legal saga of Gross Tete's Tiger Truck Stop continued in District Court Thursday afternoon.

It is a struggle that has been going on for years. Animal rights groups have been petitioning the courts to have the big animal removed.

They say it is illegal for the big cat to be caged so close to the Interstate. In fact, they won a legal battle last year to have the cat removed.

Now, they asked the court to force the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to remove the cat. The judge balked and did not order the removal of the tiger Tony.

"I think the people of Grosse Tete, Iberville Parish… they love Tony. They want Tony to stay and I really don't understand what's behind the ALDF and their lawsuit. Other than that, it must be some kind of agenda," said Mike Sandlin, Tiger Truck Stop owner.

Attorneys for the animal legal defense fund would not comment after the hearing. We did offer them the opportunity to talk.

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$120 million Shintech expansion to be built in Plaquemine

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012, 4:43am

PLAQUEMINE, LA (WAFB)- There was some good economic news for Iberville Parish released Monday. The chemical company Shintech announced plans to build a $120 million expansion in Plaquemine. The plant will be built on the existing Shintech site and will produce a key ingredient for latex paint.

The Iberville Parish project will create 30 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of $58,000, plus benefits, while helping to retain 270 Shintech jobs. LED estimates the project also will result in 292 new indirect jobs for the Capital Region and surrounding areas of Louisiana.

Governor Jindal said, "SE Tylose saw the value of investing in our state, because Louisiana has an outstanding business climate, the best workforce in the world and a manufacturing and transportation infrastructure second to none. Today's announcement is great news for Iberville Parish and further proof that we are generating strong momentum for our state's economy, and creating more opportunities for our children and grandchildren to pursue their dreams right here at home."

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This one's for the birds

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff

Thursday, April 26th, 2012, 5:32pm

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- The soundtrack to Johnnie Wayne Rosso's life has no lyrics. Only chirps.

"You know, sometimes you don't have to say a word," he says. Then presses his lips against his teeth and whistles. "He gets on the house and makes that tone, and that'll make her come down." Rosso is referring to two birds in the trees behind his Plaquemine, La home. He's turned his backyard into a bird resort, complete with high-rise condos, single units, and a birdseed buffet served in old frying pans.

Rosso's homes attract English sparrows and starlings, but his passion is purple martins. "Sometimes I watch them four or five times a day when I take a break. They become something like your cat or your dog. Your favorite pet.

The martins move in every year in the early spring to mate and raise their young. Most have hatched by now, and the parent birds are now busy catching bugs for their babies. "You see them feeding their little ones from start to finish."

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Vote fails to transfer Plaquemine High's athletic director

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff

Monday, April 16th, 2012, 10:42pm

PLAQUEMINE, LA (WAFB)- Iberville School Board members wanted athletic director and head basketball Coach Dennis Wright transferred from Plaquemine High to an elementary school. But after an entire community came out in support of Coach Wright, the vote came out in the coach's favor.

With cheers and hugs, a room full of players, parents and community members counted their blessings. Their coach will stay at Plaquemine High.

"For a bunch of student athletes to come out on this kind of thing, excuse me for my emotions, come out during testing, former players of years ago, present players, players that are 8th graders, their parents, people in the community, it means a lot to me and my family," said Coach Wright.

Iberville Parish School Board members were planning to transfer Coach Wright from Plaquemine High to Iberville Elementary, citing "personnel issues" as the reason.

He's been the head basketball coach at the school for the past 11 years and the athletic director for the past five. The transfer would have made him a physical education teacher at Iberville Elementary.

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Man charged with 55 counts of selling, buying game fish and deer meat

Submitted by WAFB_Web_Staff

Monday, April 9th, 2012, 4:24am

St. James Parish (WAFB)- A St. James Parish man is facing a laundry list of charges related to buying and selling game fish and deer meat.

Roy Folse, 66, was arrested Tuesday after a five-year investigation by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

According to the offense report, undercover agents sold Folse over 1,800 Crappie and 84 Bowfin. They also witnessed him buying 130 lbs. of deer sausage and three deer hindquarters, as well as sold over 1,000 Crappie, 74 Bowfin and two deer hindquarters.

Agents charged Folse with 55 citations for crimes across St. James, Iberville, Ascension and St. John Parishes.

More charges are pending against Folse and his associates from which he bought or sold game fish and wildlife.

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