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ST. LANDRY PARISH – On July 12, 2017, shortly before 9:30 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I responded to a single vehicle injury crash on LA 105 south of LA 10 in St. Landry Parish.
The preliminary investigation revealed 19-year-old Phillip Peoples Jr. of Buras, was operating a 2000 Acura TL northbound on LA 105. For reasons still under investigation, the vehicle traveled across the centerline and southbound lane of travel. The vehicle ran off of the roadway and struck a ditch causing it to overturn
Peoples was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Troopers were notified by hospital personnel on a later date, Peoples died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Impairment was not suspected to be a factor in the crash. This crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists that all occupants of a motor vehicle must be restrained, regardless of seating position. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as never driving while impaired, always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained, and avoiding all distractions can often mean the difference between life and death.

Sunrise Realty in Abbeville announced today that it’s fulltime sales agent, Brittney Lopez, has completed the required hours of training and orientation to become a certified graduate of “Boots Across America.”
“Boots Across America” is a national certification course which educates loan officers, realtors, and housing professionals on how to work with military clients.
Lopez says she took the course in order to give back to veterans and active military personnel. The additional help Lopez hopes to give veterans and active personnel is to find a lender, and then help them get pre-approved for a home loan.
If a veteran would happen to be deployed during the process of buying a home, she could help and protect the veteran to a successful closing.
“Military members face many unique challenges when buying a home and we believe it is our duty to help,” said Lopez. “The “Boots across America certified military home specialist course gave me the skills I need to work with military home buyers. I am so excited to put these newly developed skills into practice.”
Some of the items that Lopez has learned during this certification process is to:
• Understand military lifestyle
• Recognize ranks and be familiar with military language
• Understand how to read the Leave and Earning Statement (LES) and be familiar with factors that affect military pay
• Know the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS) and its responsibility
• Identify housing assistance resources for Service members
• Understand the regulations that protect Service members (SCRA, USERRA)
• Foreclosure Presentation & Housing Assistance Resources
• Understand Special Situations: What happens to an injured Service member’s entitlements
• Help veterans avoid scams and unscrupulous lenders
James Noel, Owner/Broker of Sunrise Realty, stated that the benefits offered by Lopez’s association with “Boots Across America” should be a tremendous asset to veterans of our community in search of home ownership.

Dear Editor:

This is a letter that was sent to Keith Stutes this week.

Office of the District Attorney
15th Judicial District
Keith A. Stutes District Attorney

Dear Keith :

I am writing to you as the President of the Vermilion Parish School Board. Kibbie Pillette, one of our elected Board Members, has made statements at the Board’s last (2) two public meetings that the School Board is violating State law.
On the June 15th meeting of the Board he stated, “things are being done in the system that are illegal.” (tape of meeting) At the June 26th meeting, Mr. Pillette said, “As far as the legality of some of the things that’s being done, they are highly questionable because at a lot of the moves that are made by board members.” (tape of meeting)
These allegations challenge the integrity of this elected board. They raise questions with the public as to what is truly going on. They undermine our school system. They require an independent investigation as (4) four of our board members including Mr. Pillette don’t trust the legal opinions of our Board attorney, Calvin Woodruff.
I am asking you as the 15th JDC District Attorney that you conduct an immediate investigation to determine the truth of Mr. Pillette’s accusations of wrongdoing by our Board. If there are violations of State law you need to take appropriate action. However, if Mr. Pillette’s accusations are without factual basis, you need to say so as accusing a person of a crime without a factual basis is defamation per se.
Please under take this investigation at your earliest possible time.

With kindest regards, I am
Yours truly,

Anthony J. Fontana, Jr.
President of Vermilion Parish School Board and District E Representative

Mikie Bazar and Barron Sawyer are playing for the 13 year old Major All-Star team made up of players from Acadiana. This weekend the two men are playing in Gulf Shores, Ala. and competing in the Mizuno Prospects World Series. On Friday, they upset the No. 1 seed Pennsylvania Team.
Sawyer is the son of Jeff and Dana Sawyer.
Mikie is the son of Nikki Bazar Brasseux and the late Jim Bazar.