Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced three men were arrested in connection with an incident in Chackbay on Sunday all face charges stemming from the incident deputies responded to a discount store on LA Highway 20 in Chackbay Three masked men were reportedly seen near the rear entrance of the building A concerned citizen confronted the men and attempted to detain them The altercation turned physical and one of the three masked men pointed a firearm at the concerned citizen they threatened to kill a woman and her dog they quickly located the three men and took them into custody All three were booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux Each was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and conspiracy to commit armed robbery with a firearm Bail for Williams and Bannister was set at $600,000 each Stewart was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon Sheriff Webre cautions citizens from intervening in crimes but also issues a warning to criminals about the public’s intolerance for lawlessness “We certainly encourage citizens to contact law enforcement and never try to approach a criminal who may be armed as they were in this case,” said Sheriff Webre I hope criminals take this as a warning that our citizens will simply not tolerate crime in our parish.” Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email He has served as sheriff of Lafourche Parish for over 30 years and has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience CHACKBAY — After spending less than two hours in custody, former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy posted a $151,000 bail for negligent homicide and other charges connected to a fatal hit-and-run crash that happened Dec Lacy was booked into the Lafourche Parish jail for negligent homicide crossing the centerline in a designated no-passing zone Two oncoming cars took evasive action and swerved: one left and one right The car that swerved left crashed head-on into another vehicle News Release > Entergy Louisiana Constructing New Substation – Entergy Louisiana is constructing a new substation and distribution circuits in upper Lafourche Parish as part of its commitment to providing customers with reliable power The work will benefit customers in and around the Chackbay area as well as some customers in Thibodaux Utility crews will be performing work throughout the spring and summer and expect to complete the project and energize the Chackbay substation and new power lines by August Crews will be setting new poles in the ground and installing new wire and other electric equipment in the air as part of the construction of four distribution circuits that will provide electricity from the substation to area homes and businesses The new equipment in Chackbay will support economic growth and help provide reliable power year-round to customers in upper Lafourche Parish by increasing electric capacity and reducing stress on the Thibodeaux substation Although the Chackbay substation will include one transformer it is being designed to house two in case a second is needed to support future growth in the area Most of the work will take place along LA-20 and Entergy Louisiana is asking that motorists exercise caution if they encounter a utility crew working beside a roadway Traffic will be directed safely around any work sites where necessary “We’re excited this much-needed project is underway and are looking forward to bringing it online as a way to support our customers and the region’s economic growth,” said Stacey Fontenot Entergy Louisiana customer service manager “Although the planning process for this project predates Hurricane Ida we’re confident it will aid in the area’s recovery and keep it strong and attractive for those who call upper Lafourche Parish home or are considering moving into the area.” Maintaining and improving the electric system is an ongoing process. Entergy Louisiana’s reliability experts routinely inspect and evaluate components such as poles, power lines and transformers and use data to make strategic decisions around the replacement or enhancement of equipment. To learn more about our reliability efforts, visit the Entergy Newsroom LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas service to more than 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area entergy-louisiana.com/facebook.com/EntergyLATwitter: @EntergyLA Already have an account? Log in here Showers this evening becoming less numerous overnight Louisiana State Police Troop C began investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash on Louisiana Highway 20 near Elmo Lane The crash claimed the life of 59-year-old Joel Matherne of St The preliminary investigation revealed a 2009 Infiniti G37 was traveling north on LA Hwy 20 while a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling south The Infiniti crossed the center line and struck the Chevrolet head-on for reasons still under investigation suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene suffered severe injuries and was transported to a New Orleans area hospital for treatment A standard toxicology sample was collected from both drivers to be submitted for analysis Troop C stated  "As we continue into the Labor Day weekend let's all work together to prioritize safety on the roads Impaired and distracted driving poses serious risks to ourselves and others alcohol and drugs impair your judgment and reaction time – always designate a sober driver or use public transportation put away your phone and stay focused on the road to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend for everyone." Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: A north Lafourche fairground known to host festivals has become a part of an unauthorized camp for crews of linemen under contract with Entergy Both the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department and Entergy issued releases about the situation The company says they never intended the fair grounds be used as a camp and pulled the contractors even though the CFD says it would have been OK for them to stay saying that "the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department has come under scrutiny for the use for the Chackbay Fairgrounds; we believe that the community will better understand after knowing the facts." they say that groups had been calling to ask about previously scheduled and paid events planned for the fairgrounds would need to be rescheduled That's when the CFD says they learned that electrical crews were using the kitchen bathrooms and private storage areas of the fair grounds They didn't know how long Entergy planned to use the property Entergy then told CFD that the Chackbay Fairgrounds was an unauthorized camp that the company didn't know about Entergy told the CFD that they immediately called the electrical crew CFD says they told Entergy that the linemen were welcome to stay; they just needed to know if events needed to be rescheduled But the company told the CFD that they'd already contracted locally for hot meals showers and sleeping quarters for the linemen; the release states that Entergy's Constance Padgett said "Entergy assigned them lodging They took it upon themselves to begin using this location This is not an authorized Entergy site and Entergy cannot be responsible for any crews who have been using the facility." CFD's message is: "While the Chackbay Fire Department wanted to support the electrical crews in our area it was not our decision nor request that they leave the fairgrounds." We reached out to Entergy about the CFD release Entergy Louisiana entered into a contract with the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department to utilize the Chackbay Fairgrounds as a lay-down yard and staging site This contract did not permit use of the facilities for lodging Those contracts were given to other facilities for their use The Fairgrounds site was only suitable for the contracted purpose of housing materials and equipment We thank the CVFD for their partnership and support and look forward to this continued relationship as we work to restore our communities." ------------------------------------------------------------Stay in touch with us anytime To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our Youtube channel A Chackbay man convicted in the shooting death of his neighbor has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.  A 12-member jury found Keith Trosclair The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 40 years.  Before state District Judge Steven Miller of Thibodaux handed down the sentence Friday Trosclair asked if his hearing could be delayed ask for a stay and kick the can for this sentencing down the road,” Miller said Related: Chackbay man convicted of manslaughter in neighbor's shooting death Trosclair was originally convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying in 2018 but an appeals court overturned the conviction because it resulted from a split jury verdict Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that all juries must be unanimous to convict defendants in criminal trials.     Trosclair shot 46-year-old Christopher Saunders the afternoon of Dec When deputies were called to the scene they found Saunders dead on the ground and Trosclair kneeling with his hands in the air. The rifle used to kill Saunders lay on the ground.     Trosclair said he and Saunders had an ongoing dispute over the property line between their homes in the 1200 block of La 20 in Chackbay.         Saunders was believed to have been walking in his driveway to check the mail The two men encountered each other and an argument erupted, authorities said Trosclair retrieved a Winchester hunting rifle from his truck and shot Saunders three times.     The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his chest arm and back. A forensic examiner who performed Saunders’ autopsy said all three shots had the potential to be fatal.  Trosclair argued he shot his neighbor in self-defense Saunders made threats against him and reached for a holstered pistol on his hip.  read a written statement from Trosclair shortly before the judge sentenced him.  harmed or killed,” Trosclair said in his letter More: 'This is not a case of whodunit': New trial begins for Chackbay man accused of murder said in a victim-impact statement that Trosclair is a danger to the community and should spend the rest of his life behind bars.  “After a few years it seems obvious that you have no remorse for killing Christopher,” she said “I truly feel if you were let out no one would be safe I don’t feel safe with the thought of you killing again.”  Miller said Trosclair acted with “deliberate cruelty” when he shot Saunders three times and created a “Wild Wild West" scenario.  The shooting brought pain and suffering to both families “This didn’t have to be done,” Miller said Trosclair’s selfish acts have placed hardships upon these families This is a tragedy of his own making.”  Prosecutors said Trosclair's time behind bars will protect innocent people from him.  "Christopher Saunders should be hunting and fishing with the love of his life and watching his grandchildren grow but one act of senseless violence took all of that away," said Lafourche Assistant District Attorney Jason Chatagnier who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney Allie Fournet "This sentence doesn't change what happened but it helps ensure that the defendant cannot harm innocent people ever again." — Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Chackbay man for sex crime involving a child Raffray was the subject of a recent investigation for reportedly having sexual contact with a juvenile under the age of 13 about 10 years ago detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest Raffray was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux He was charged with aggravated crimes against nature and indecent behavior with a juvenile no additional information will be released The investigation into Raffray is continuing Any other victims are encouraged to contact Lieutenant Rodney Morrison of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4359 a Chackbay man was found guilty Thursday of the killing of three women in a DUI car crash guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of criminal negligence for the Nov Clement already pled guilty to driving while intoxicated This is the fourth time he has been found guilty of drunken driving where he faces five to 30 years for his fourth DUI charge 10 to 30 years for each count of vehicular homicide and up to five years for the criminal negligence charge The trial began Monday in the Thibodaux courtroom of Judge F It was prosecuted by Jason Chatagnier and Shawn George Clement was represented by Public Defenders George Ledet and Tracy Schwab "Yes," a father from the crowd said as low as he could muster and clenching his fists prosecutors argued that Clement was speeding while intoxicated The defense argued that the girls entered Clement's lane and caused the accident Chatagnier dismissed the defense's argument as irrelevant "Where in the law does it say I must prove Joey Clement caused this crash?," he asked He argued the speed and intoxication contributed to the girl's deaths he's in a Ford F 150.… The girls never stood a chance." More: In Terrebonne Parish Council District 1 race, three remain after one early departure More: 'It was just terrible,' Coroner describes injuries shown to jurors and public in trial Jurors were taken to the scene to inspect it The gouges in the asphalt and a memorial for the girls are still there "If that Mazda didn't cross that center line this accident never happens," Ledet said in his closing argument "I don't care if Joey Clement was on every drug known to man." Blood tested by crime labs set his level at two times the legal limit that they said showed Clement's level to be three times the legal limit He had also taken Adderall and Zoloft prior to operating the vehicle Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Chackbay man has been charged with Second Degree Murder after shooting his neighbor on Tuesday Keith Trosclair (age 60) was arrested following a shooting that resulted in the death of 46-year-old Christopher Saunders The Sheriff’s Office received the initial call of the shooting at 11:54 a.m they discovered Trosclair kneeling on the ground with his hands raised in the air and the victim Deputies observed a rifle lying on the ground between Trosclair and the victim Deputies also noticed Saunders had a pistol in a holster on his belt and the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office pronounced Saunders dead at the scene detectives learned Trosclair and Saunders had an ongoing dispute over property boundary between their residences Following investigation and interviews of witnesses detectives developed probable cause for a warrant for Trosclair for Second Degree Murder Trosclair was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on one count of Second Degree Murder Chackbay residents expressed concerns over a proposed tax increase for fire-protection services during a town hall meeting Thursday.  The public meeting was hosted by Lafourche Parish Fire District 8-C which contracts with the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department for services The district is asking voters to approve a $30 parcel fee increase to raise an additional $60,000 a year.  the new tax would go into effect December 2021.  the existing $45 parcel fee will remain in effect because it was renewed in 2015.  It marks the first time the fire department has asked for an increase since the existing $45 parcel fee went to effect in 2005 With the $30 increase, Chackbay residents would pay $75 a year per occupied addressed home or business on their property for 10 years.    Chackbay Fire Chief Josh Falgoust said the additional money will be used to pay for much-needed gear station renovations and communications equipment.  we collect the least amount than anybody in this parish,” Falgoust said “We’re not asking for the world We’re just trying to get to where we will be able to pay some bills.”  The current parcel fee has paid for a new fire truck hoses and other equipment to help maintain the department's ranking with the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana The association rates departments' level of fire protection on a scale of 1 to 10 and a high ranking helps keep homeowners' insurance costs low.  Chackbay was a Class 7 before the fee was implemented but is now a Class 5 The 25-member all-volunteer fire department will be rated again in 2023 department hopes to increase its insurance rating. Chackbay collected about $100,000 in revenue this year “A lot of people have been asking me on Facebook that if we pass this increase will it guarantee that our fire rating is going to improve “There are so many factors that go into the fire rating like equipment We’re a 100% volunteer fire department If we get a house fire on a Saturday afternoon I may have 20-25 people there If there’s a fire on a Tuesday morning What we can do with the additional revenue is purchase the equipment and protective gear that we need.”  Though about 10 residents attended the town hall the meeting was also live-streamed on Facebook Resident Doemeca Domangue said that while she has great respect for the fire department she is concerned about the financial hardship the tax might cause.  “I do appreciate what every one of you guys do,” she said “You passed it the first time and we went with it You promised us then that we did what we needed Is this going to happen every five or 10 years We’re all having rough times right now.”  Chackbay resident John Luquette questioned the timing of the fire district’s tax proposal.  “Everything’s going up so I have to watch how I spend my money,” he said “I’m not going to tell you how I’m going to vote but everything’s going up because of the coronavirus I don’t know why at this time you want another tax.”  Falgoust said he agreed that it's not the best timing for a tax proposal but noted it was not planned that way Putting the tax proposal on the November ballot took over a year of preparation “The people who are members of this department don’t get paid a dime,” Falgoust said “Everybody here gives hundreds of hours of their time All they’re asking for is to have the money they need to have the right equipment so they don’t get themselves injured when they go into a fire.”  The fire district protects 5,700 residents and 2,222 households So far the department has logged 917 hours of training and responded to four house fires and 69 calls.   -- Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two Thibodaux men face charges after they were found walking in a Chackbay subdivision carrying firearms the Sheriff’s Office received a report of two men walking with firearms in the area of the 400 block of Dogwood Drive in the Sugar Ridge West subdivision in Chackbay A local resident disarmed the men and held them at gunpoint until deputies arrived Deputies learned the two subjects had been riding in Foust’s truck in a field behind the subdivision when they got stuck in the mud The two men then began walking from the vehicle carrying four firearms two of which Foust had concealed on his person without a permit Deputies also discovered Benoit had suspected methamphetamine in his possession Benoit was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux He was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Criminal Trespassing Foust was charged with Criminal Trespassing and Illegal Carrying of Weapons Final preparations are being made for students to start classes next Thursday in the new $13 million Chackbay Elementary School off La and the staff has been wonderful,” said Chackbay Principal Robby Lee and we will be ready when those buses roll in on Thursday.” School counselor Allison Passman said she thinks the students will be excited about the 59,000-square-foot school with 24 classrooms “I think the initial change is sometimes hard but making the best of it and being excited about a new place will eventually create new memories,” said Passman “There are a lot of people who are very sad to leave that old building It’s where many people went to school and grandparents So many people were sad to leave that first who has taught first grade at Chackbay for 14 years Martinez says her whole family went to school at Chackbay all the way back to her grandmother in the early 1920s “When I got the transfer to that school and I found out that my first-grade classroom was going to be in that building I felt like I was coming home because that was my first-grade classroom,” said Martinez “I’ll definitely miss all the windows in my old classroom because my new one doesn’t have one There’s just something about old buildings It’s almost like you can feel the children who have been there in years past.” Martinez said she thinks the students will like their new school but it will be an adjustment because it's larger than the old one “We’re sentimental and will miss the old building,” said Lee and the main thing is to have a nice facility for the kids We’ll be ready for them because teachers have been working extremely hard to get ready and I’ve said that we are open for extra magic hours like Disney World.” Construction of the school’s entrance is expected to be finished by the school's grand opening on Labor Day weekend -- Staff Writer Scott McLendon can be reached at 857-2204 or smclendon@houmatoday.com Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Slidell man has been charged in an armed robbery that occurred in Chackbay was arrested after admitting to his involvement in the crime deputies responded to an armed robbery on Woodland Drive in Chackbay had forced his way into a home while holding a knife Lee reportedly demanded money from a couple at the home The couple gave Lee several hundred dollars and he took additional cash he saw on the counter detectives developed Lee as a suspect in the robbery he admitted to his involvement in the crime Lee was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex 3 whether property owners will pay $30 more a year for fire-protection services which contracts with the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department for services, is asking voters to approve the additional $30 parcel fee increase beginning in 2021 It would raise an additional $60,000 a year.  addressed home or business on their property for 10 years.   The district will host a town hall meeting 6 p.m. Thursday to provide information about the proposed tax. The meeting will be held at Chackbay Fire Department Station 3, 103 Moonflower Drive. The meeting will also be live-streamed on the Chackbay Fire Department’s Facebook page.  Lafourche Parish Tax Assessor Wendy Thibodeaux said.   “It’s kind of like a sales tax,” Thibodeaux said Everybody votes on the parcel fee.”  the $45 parcel fee will remain in effect because it was renewed in 2015 Falgoust said the parcel fee was put into practice in the Chackbay area because it was fairer to taxpayers.   “When this was first approved in 2005 there were a lot of property that were homestead-exempt so you would just have a few people paying a lot of taxes,” he said “So the fire district at that time decided the parcel fee was the fairest option Chackbay doesn’t have a lot of commercial property which is where some of these millages pick up their money It’s worked well for us.”  Falgoust said the parcel fee has paid for a new fire truck “We’re not asking for a lot,” he said “We’re just asking for enough to get by Insurance rates are affected by it. Typically, if you have a fire department that goes up and down in ratings I think it would be cheaper to spend an additional $30 in taxes than my insurance going up $200 or $300.”  department hopes to increase its insurance rating. Chackbay collected about $100,000 this year “There’s a good possibility we could go to a 4 but I can’t make any promises,” he said “All fire departments are rated the same Some have a whole lot more money that we have.  It’s time to start replacing equipment and gear for the firefighters It’s a 100% volunteer fire department This doesn’t go to salaries or anything like that.”  One of the department’s biggest fundraisers was canceled this year because of coronavirus restrictions The festival generates about 35% of the department’s revenue The new tax hasn’t been without controversy Some residents have questioned the timing of the proposed parcel fee.  “Wow this is out of control,” said one Facebook user “Manage your money better plus you have a fair People are already on hard times and if it's not paid we lose our property Falgoust said he understands the local economy has taken a beating from the coronavirus outbreak.  "Something like this takes a long time to make it to the ballot It’s something we started working on well over a year ago There are a lot of factors we didn’t plan.”  Falgoust said the extra $30 would provide residents stronger fire protection and help protect firefighters.  “Our firefighters risk their lives for free and all they ask for is that we have the money to purchase the equipment they need,” he said “I don’t want to send anybody into a burning building with 25-year-old gear on.”  Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Chackbay man after narcotics agents found drugs narcotics agents obtained a search warrant for Zeringue’s residence on Meadow View Court in Chackbay agents arrived at the residence and made contact with Zeringue agents seized 135 grams of suspected high-grade marijuana and more than 50 packages of substances containing THC concentrate Agents also discovered two large bottles containing suspected promethazine and 11 empty bottles which once contained the legend drug Zeringue was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux He was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Hydrocodone He was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Illegal Carrying of a Weapon in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance Zeringue was released early Thursday morning after posting $65,200 bond It was a record-breaking year for the Louisiana Gumbo Festival which raised more than $100,000 for the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department department President Joshua Falgoust announced Friday Last year's event yielded a profit of about $84,665 Falgoust said the money will help build a new fire station along La near the Sugar Ridge neighborhood between Thibodaux and Chackbay The festival is the fire department's largest fundraiser so we're working on some purchases," he said "We're already working on the new fire station We are looking at some prices right now on a new truck and also possibly purchasing a refurbished truck to replace the older trucks we have right now The festival has seen lots of rain in past years Falgoust said he's excited about the festival's success and he thanked the volunteers for their hard work putting it on and the corporate sponsors for their support every year "We really had a huge crowd the entire weekend," he said "Normally early in the day Saturday – noon to 3 – it's a slower time there was a large crowd from start to close." Falgoust said another big draw was the music lineup known for country hits such as "In a Different Light" and "I Never Knew Love." Some changes this year included a cooking demonstration and additional food choices Falgoust said the department has begun thinking of ways to make next year's festival even better "We've already started throwing out some ideas," he said "Our goal is to improve things every year and try to bring in the best entertainment we can This year we had a bus group from Alabama that brought 46 people We're excited about getting our name out there." director of the Bayou Lafourche Area Convention and Visitors Bureau said the agency helped promote the festival including advertising it on the Visitors Bureau website and doing digital marketing in the New Orleans area "Our main thing is to focus on promoting events and drawing people in," Bush said It ties together things people love – food and family – and I think that's a large part of what Lafourche is about." -- Staff Writer Bridget Mire can be reached at 448-7639 or bridget.mire@dailycomet.com CHACKBAY — A roaring fire apparently sparked by a lightning strike destroyed a house in Chackbay Saturday night defying the efforts of dozens of firefighters from several local departments after neighbors said an adjoining pool house was hit by lightning The house was completely engulfed by flames by the time firefighters arrived who lives next door and is the sister of Dan Hebert who lived in the destroyed house with his wife The family was out at a softball game when the fire started and returned to find their home of 11 ½ years smoking No one is believed to have been injured in the blaze chief of the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department did not return calls Saturday night and today But the homeowners and others said firefighters got on scene more than 30 minutes after the blaze broke out and were hampered by a lack of water once they got there “By that time they were having to hose my house down,” Rose said the heat from next door melted siding on the rear of her house “It just burst into flames,” she said of her brother’s house “Embers were flying and stuff was going off and exploding.” a lack of pressure again impeded their attempts to battle the fire Though he lauded the efforts of the firefighters including one who stuffed a $100 bill in his pocket to help the family with expenses he said a lack of high-pressure water for fighting fires has been a problem in the area for years What’s frustrating is that I know a little history about it,” he said “It just kept getting bigger and bigger,” she said The family was upbeat as they picked through the rubble of the house today personal effects and Dan Hebert’s watch collection said he's had a homeowner's policy with All State for more than 20 years and will be making his first claim said it was difficult to stand helplessly by as the house burned But the fact that the fire seems to have been caused by lightning made the trauma of losing the house he’s called home for most of his life easier to accept “Lightning just don’t hit somebody’s house and catch the whole thing on fire,” Hebert said adding that he’s sure God had a purpose in the calamity A 64-year-old Chackbay man convicted of manslaughter last week in the shooting death of his neighbor is asking for a new trial.   A 12-member jury found Keith Trosclair guilty of manslaughter Jan He was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Christopher Saunders in 2017 18 asking for a new trial or a post-judgment acquittal very sad and unfortunate situation,” Piccione said after the trial But my client has never been in trouble before in his life and has never been convicted of anything before To say this was a crime committed in the heat of passion is probably exactly that Any significant sentence is almost going to be a life sentence It’s in the hands of the judge.”  State District Judge Steven Miller of Thibodaux is scheduled to make a ruling on the matter Feb Trosclair was originally convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying in 201,8 but an appeals court overturned the conviction because it resulted from a split jury verdict Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that all juries must be unanimous to convict defendants in criminal trials.    State law defines manslaughter as an offense committed in “sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of his self-control and cool reflection.”  Unlike the mandatory life sentence carried by a murder conviction a conviction for manslaughter carries up to 40 years in prison.    The shooting that killed Saunders occurred the afternoon of Dec they found Saunders lying lifeless on the ground and Trosclair kneeling with his hands in the air. Investigators said they found the rifle believed to have been used by Trosclair lying between him and Saunders Trosclair testified during his four-day trial that he and Saunders had an ongoing dispute over the property line between their homes in the 1200 block of La 20 in Chackbay.        The two men encountered each other and “exchanged words,” authorities said Trosclair retrieved a Winchester hunting rifle from his truck and shot Saunders three times.    Saunders suffered gunshot wounds to his chest arm and back. A forensic examiner who performed Saunders’ autopsy said all three shots had the potential to be fatal A Chackbay native who had long claimed severe physical and mental disabilities is accused of helping her boyfriend stab her mother to death in Missouri are charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the slaying of Clauddinnea “Dee Dee” Blanchard the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said Dee Dee Blanchard told the Courier and Daily Comet in 2001 that Gypsy was vision and hearing impaired used a feeding tube and had brain damage from seizures Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said in a Tuesday news conference video on KY3's website “She can walk without assistance or a wheelchair The investigation started when friends and neighbors reported the Blanchards missing on Sunday Arnott announced Monday that deputies had found Dee Dee's body inside her home Dee Dee had multiple stab wounds in her back and a laceration on the back of her neck Detective Stanley Hancock said in a probable cause statement for the suspects' arrest Gypsy Blanchard and Godejohn were apprehended Tuesday in Wisconsin after a brief standoff Hancock said Gypsy confessed to being in the home when Godejohn killed her mother and said she knew what was going to happen but didn't try to stop it or report the incident She also admitted to writing one of two posts about the woman's death sent Sunday from a Facebook account the women shared The detective said Godejohn told him he killed Dee Dee because Gypsy asked him The couple mailed the knife to Godejohn's home address and left in a taxi after taking “several thousand dollars” from a safe in Dee Dee's bedroom Sheriff's spokeswoman Cathy Ussery said the Sheriff's Office has the women's last name on file as Blancharde but that they may have added the “e” after moving from Chackbay Gypsy had also given three different birthdates Dee Dee told the Courier and Daily Comet in 2001 that her daughter often stayed at Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans Gypsy spent the weekend with the cast of “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” during a fan convention and served as honorary queen for the Krewe of Mid-City parade in New Orleans Local donation drives were also in progress the Blanchards received a home from Habitat for Humanity after moving to Missouri and claiming to be victims of Hurricane Katrina The Prosecuting Attorney's Office said both suspects are in custody in Wisconsin they'll face life in prison or the death penalty Staff Writer Bridget Mire can be reached at 448-7639 or bridget.mire@dailycomet.com A 55-year-old Chackbay man was arrested this week after being accused of possessing child pornography is charged with 10 counts of pornography involving juveniles Authorities began investigating Rodrigue after detectives received a tip from the National Center for Exploited Children a spokesperson for Attorney General Jeff Landry's office Following a joint investigation between the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Unit and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Rodrigue was taken into custody Wednesday without incident Landry said Rodrigue’s arrest reflects his efforts to combat child predators “My office is committed to making our communities safe and arresting child predators,” Landry said “These crimes impact victims for life and my office and I will continue to do all we legally can to find and arrest those who abuse our children.” those convicted of child porn possession face up to a $50,000 fine and 20 years in prison without parole Rodrigue was transported to the Lafourche Parish jail --Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 857-2202 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter@DanVCopp Festivals that celebrate gumbo and local folklore a concert featuring 90s hit makers and a local theater performance are on tap this weekend Check out these 4 things to do in Terrebonne and Lafourche: One of the area's longest-running annual festivals is also one of the tastiest. The 49th annual Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay will celebrate the dish and serve copious amounts of it at the Chackbay Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday the major annual fundraiser for the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department will make and serve over 500 gallons of gumbo The festival is back for the first time in two years when it was canceled because of the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ida Info: lagumbofest.com Alternative rock bands Sister Hazel and the Spin Doctors will perform Thursday dubbed "Saved by the '90s," will also include DJ Spin Tickets: Starting at $30 at ticketmaster.com or at the door Get into the spooky spirit by celebrating southeast Louisiana’s folklore with music The festival opens Friday at 5 p.m with a blessing of the grounds and the National Anthem Saturday will kick off with the Goul on the Run 1.5K fun run The day will also include a nutria pardoning by Louisiana Lt Sunday will wrap up the festivities with Grayhawk Native American Storytelling What: Rougarou Festival returns to Houma after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ida Where: South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center and surrounding grounds at 132 Library Drive in Houma Parking: Spots are available next door at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library and Civic Center. There will also be RV camper spots for those coming out of town the parade will roll near the Discovery Center instead of downtown Saturday at the Civic Center parking lot adjacent to the skate park and left into the Civic Center parking lot Details: rougaroufest.org Related:Rougarou Festival returns to Houma this weekend, mixing fun, folklore and fundraising Fall fun:'Tis the season for pumpkin patches. Here are 5 in Terrebonne and Lafourche. Beginning Friday, the Thibodaux Playhouse will stage the popular Arthur Miller play "The Crucible," a suspense-filled forbidden romance story about a farmer and his wife who are accused of witchcraft Mason Clark and Leah LeBeouf direct the performances Tickets: $30 for adults and $20 for students at thibodauxplayhouse.com or call the box office at 446-1896 Where: Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center Theater A Vacherie woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday in Chackbay The crash claimed the life of 70-year-old Tina Becnel.  a 2013 Ram pickup was traveling south around 3:30 p.m the pickup truck driver lost control and crossed the center of the roadway before colliding into a northbound 2020 Ford Explorer driven by Becnel Becnel suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene The other driver was transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans with moderate injuries.   Toxicology samples were obtained from both drivers The crash remains under investigation.  Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of James Landry (age 34) of Thibodaux on January 1 Deputies responded to a disturbance at a bar in Chackbay just before 11 p.m deputies learned three male subjects were attempting to start fights with other patrons throughout the night They were eventually asked to leave the premises struck a man with a glass bottle in what appeared to be an unprovoked attack This led to several other patrons coming to the victim’s defense which resulted in a large fight Landry was seen entering a vehicle and fleeing the scene The victim was treated at a local hospital having suffered a broken bone on his face deputies obtained a warrant for Landry’s arrest for the charge of Aggravated Battery with a Dangerous Weapon deputies made contact with Landry at a family member’s residence in Thibodaux He was transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux where he was booked on the warrant for Aggravated Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Chackbay man who allegedly had sexual contact with a teenage girl faces multiple charges following the investigation During the early morning hours of December 19 juvenile detectives began searching for a runaway teenage girl in the Thibodaux area Detectives found the girl later that afternoon detectives learned Jace Wempren had reportedly been with the juvenile while she was missing detectives met with Wempren and questioned him about his involvement Wempren told detectives he knew the girl was an underage teen He admitted to assisting the girl in running away from her home on December 19 and to having inappropriate sexual contact with her on that date He further admitted to picking the juvenile up from school on several occasions without permission of her parents and he admitted they had sexual contact on more than one encounter Wempren was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux He was booked with Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile two counts of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile and six counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile The teenage girl was charged as a runaway and placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility A suspect has been arrested in the burglary of a bar last year in Chackbay 19 and arrested him on an outstanding burglary warrant in St Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release Tregre will transferred to Lafourche and booked with one count of simple burglary 20 in which several thousand dollars were stolen from video poker machines Construction crews are expected to break ground in March or April on the new Bayou Blue Upper Elementary School The school should be ready for students by August 2019 said Daniel Bruce with Cheramie and Bruce Architects It will be about 60,000 square feet and have 26 classrooms land and facilities manager for the Lafourche Parish School District said the district has a $13 million budget for Bayou Blue Upper Elementary Bayou Blue's population has surpassed what the current elementary school can handle The current school has more than 750 students in pre-K through fourth grade; fifth-graders go to Bayou Blue Middle the new Chackbay Elementary School off of La 20 is expected to be completed by August 2018 Gossen-Holloway-Cortez is the architectural firm for the $13 million project the Lafourche Parish School Board's Land and Facilities Management Committee voted to recommend adding two days to the contract for Chackbay Elementary because of bad weather in September The new school is about 47 percent complete It will be about 59,000 square feet and have 24 classrooms Plaisance said the current school doesn't have adequate parking or space for buses to turn around "The population is growing in the Sixth Ward area -- Staff Writer Bridget Mire can be reached at 448-7639 or bridget.mire@dailycomet.com Chackbay landowners will pay $45 a year per occupied addressed home or business on their property if voters in the Oct 24 election approve a 10-year parcel fee renewal to benefit the local fire department which contracts with the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department for services Department President Joshua Falgoust said the parcel fee has paid for a new fire truck hoses and other equipment to help maintain the fire department’s ranking with the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana The association rates departments’ level of fire protection on a scale of 1 to 10 and a high ranking helps keep homeowners’ insurance costs low Falgoust said Chackbay was a class 7 before the fee was implemented but is now a class 5 Homeowners may see a $250 to $500 drop in insurance premiums because of it the level of service we provide would be drastically affected as far as required equipment,” he said “The Property Insurance Association requires us to maintain certain equipment in certain locations We won’t be able to purchase and maintain the equipment we’re required to which would cause our fire rating to increase.” 1 allows the fire district to charge for each housing unit in mobile home parks other commercial residential properties and family land if voters approve the parcel fee renewal we were only collecting one time off the person who owned that property,” Falgoust said “Everybody else living there wasn’t paying anything You could have a trailer park with 100 trailers The people who live there use our services the same way anybody else does We’re just trying to keep it fair so everybody’s paying equally.” a new fire truck will replace one that is about 30 years old The youngest of the department’s trucks is 10 years old Fire Chief Chris Boudreaux said a fire truck typically costs about $255,000 A set of bunker gear is usually about $3,000 Another project is a new fire station along La 20 near the Sugar Ridge neighborhood between Chackbay and Thibodaux Falgoust said the addition will help the department meet Property Insurance Association guidelines for response times $77,974.35 was collected from the parcel fee this year through July Boudreaux said he expects the renewal to bring in an additional $10,000 or more each year the fire department held an annual donation drive asking residents for $36 but there were also a lot of people who wouldn’t,” he said “To raise the revenue we require and keep everybody on a level playing field we felt it was time to pass this so we could have some guaranteed money.” According to the Registrar of Voters’ Office 3,615 people are eligible to vote on the renewal 10-17 at the Registrar of Voters’ Office at 307 W The Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department started looking at trucks last year With a station going up just past the Sugar Ridge neighborhood it wasn't feasible to spend money on new vehicles the department saved $387,000 by purchasing a refurbished 1996 Ferrara pumper and a used 2003 E-One salvage truck Department President Joshua Falgoust said the pumper cost $68,000 It previously served departments in New Jersey and Nevada and replaced a 1985 model Chackbay had "It's going to do the exact same thing a newer truck would do He said the refurbished truck can pump more water than the older model Fire department members went to Nevada to see the refurbishment process "They basically strip it down to nothing and just start rebuilding," Falgoust said It came from a Georgia fire department that was upgrading and is identical to Chackbay's current salvage truck meaning firefighters are already accustomed to using it Falgoust said Property Insurance Association of Louisiana guidelines required the department to add a second salvage truck to maintain its rating The association ranks fire departments from 1 to 10 The department is still looking to replace one truck secretary-treasurer of Lafourche Parish Fire District 8-C said the district collects a $45 a year parcel fee which the fire department uses for equipment "Instead of having to budget for a truck .. whatever the fire department may need," she said "We're just trying to spend the money as wisely as possible." This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access. 123 boaters certified during “Boating Education Lagniappe Day” Walker High School Fishing Team member Hunter Holland wants to complete his four-year run as a high school bass angler on a high note.[…] The Beau Lake Newport iSUP is everything an angler could want in a paddleboard It’s the perfect blend of lightweight and strong.[…] The Muckster Lite Clog is the perfect shoe for warm-weather fishing ©2025 Louisiana Sportsman, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Employee Information Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said that 34-year-old Douglas Baney Jr from Chackbay has been apprehended on charges of child molestation detectives initiated an investigation into accusations of a juvenile being molested several years ago It was reported that Baney had improper sexual encounters with the minor on two different occasions Mary Parish and subsequently booked at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on Wednesday He faces two counts of juvenile molestation with bail set at $100,000 no additional information will be disclosed at this time Contact us today for advertising opportunities on the radio and also on our website It’s the KQKI news site on your mobile device © 2023 Teche Broadcasting Corp. Weather Alerts provided by WillyWeather THIBODAUX — About 125 students now at Chackbay Elementary could be headed to Bayou Boeuf next year The proposal is part of a plan by Lafourche school officials to balance enrollment between the two schools Bayou Boeuf Elementary has about 215 students the lowest public-school enrollment in the parish while administrators say about 485 students at Chackbay overcrowd the campus Parents at both schools say the change could cause problems ranging from inconvenience to lower grades “We feel like it’s more a financial issue that’s starting this and totally not in the best interest of children,” said Gretchen Landry mother of three Chackbay Elementary students who would be moved to Bayou Boeuf Lafourche schools Child and Welfare Attendance Supervisor Ray Bernard said money is part of the issue State education dollars are based on enrollment and decreasing enrollment at Bayou Boeuf means less money to keep the school running The proposed changes would shift Bayou Boeuf’s territory into areas that now send children to Chackbay Bayou Boeuf’s boundary would extend south on both sides of La 307 and Choctaw road on the east side of Sixth Ward Middle School Chackbay Elementary would then have about 360 students and Bayou Boeuf would have 340,” Bernard said “It would be a more efficient and economical use of school facilities.” a former teacher at Bayou Boeuf Elementary Her children’s bus ride would go from four miles to 12 one lacking cell-phone coverage and farther from the closest hospital “Is anyone else’s children having to travel that far to go to school?” she asked “We are very well aware of the type of school that our children (would) be moving to We have no problem with (Bayou Boeuf Elementary).” These changes will be up for consideration at the Wednesday meeting of the Lafourche School Board the changes would go into effect next school year 21 meeting of the School Board’s Academics Committee Landry said they were only allowed to speak before the proposal was revealed meaning they could not comment on specific details Lafourche schools Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews said her staff is looking into building a new school in the Chackbay area Landry saw that as another reason against moving Chackbay students She added that she and her Ridgeland subdivision neighbors are involved with the school Part of the reason she settled in Chackbay was so her children would be able to go to that elementary school there were five houses that had student-of-the-month signs from Chackbay Elementary,” Landry said “I was born and raised in Thibodaux but chose to live here and build a house here for that main reason.” Staff Writer Daniel McBride can be reached at 448-7635 or daniel.mcbride@houmatoday.com THIBODAUX — Hundreds gathered in the Thibodaux Civic Center Thursday for the Cajun Carnival Chackbay Elementary School’s annual Mardi Gras fundraiser The main focus of the event was seven student performances Each grade performed a skit directed by that grade’s teachers and rehearsed by the students The fundraiser also featured elements common to Mardi Gras balls including court ceremonies and the crowning of a new king and queen The 10-member court was made up of the top-selling boy and girl from each grade with students selling “chances” to win one of three baskets packed with Carnival-themed goodies The event also raised money through audience-admission charges A subtle change in the annual event’s culture drew little notice The suggestion that the court is chosen by selling “votes,” the term once used to describe the number of chances sold Use of the word votes was offensive to some parents A story published in the Daily Comet and The Courier in 2007 detailing the practice includes criticism from child-development experts who said calling the process one of “buying votes” conflicts with the goal of teaching ethics to children many parents did not take kindly to those criticisms Principal Robby Lee said use of the word has been stricken queens and other royals are chosen on the basis of raffle sales School officials could not say Thursday how many people attended or exactly how much money was raised — they are still tabulating – but they estimate the event will generate between $10,000 and $12,000 for the school The evening’s focus was on fun and pageantry and began with the introduction of the court and the crowning of the 2009 king and queen who sold about 2,000 chances according to his parents Kindergartner Andi Daigle was crowned queen said though being crowned king was exciting his favorite part of the night was all the music Jayden will ride in the Krewe of Choupic parade Fat Tuesday He said he is also looking forward to seeing the Krewe of Cleophas this weekend Beginning with the youngest students and ending with the oldest Though all the skits involved some kind of music they ranged from lip-syncing and dancing to a mock football game and a bear hunt The students wore costumes while adults helped to direct from the sidelines a fifth-grader sidelined from the skit after an ankle injury fifth-grade teachers snuck up behind Lee and dumped an ice chest full of green confetti on him all the students marched across the floor second-line style Lee said he thought the students’ performances were “awesome.” “It’s so much fun to see what the little kids are able to do.” the Lafourche School Board member who represents Chackbay served as the night’s master of ceremonies He said the evening’s real reward was seeing families and friends gather for a good cause “Everybody came together in the community to make this happen,” Rodrigue said “That’s what it’s all about: bringing people together Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating a fugitive Todd Guidry (age 47) of Chackbay has previously made threats to harm himself and others close to him He should be considered armed and dangerous Guidry is wanted for Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault with Child Endangerment and Violation of Protective Orders in reference to an incident that occurred March 8 He also missed two court dates during the past week Investigators learned he left the state immediately following the incident but believe he may be returning to Lafourche Parish Guidry’s mode of transportation is unknown at this time Guidry is described as a 6’0” white male weighing approximately 220 pounds His last known address is 1006 Highway 304 in Chackbay He is known to frequent the areas of Bayou Blue and Choctaw Sheriff Webre is advising citizens not to attempt to make contact with him directly. Instead, anyone with information on his whereabouts should immediately call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 9-1-1. Alternately, information can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device A 60-year-old Chackbay man accused of fatally shooting his neighbor last year was indicted today on a second-degree murder charge 5 death of 46-year-old Christopher Saunders He remained in the Lafourche Parish jail Friday on a $500,000 bond Brennan Matherne said Trosclair and Saunders had an ongoing dispute over the property line between their homes in the 1200 block of La Deputies were called out to the scene shortly before noon Dec they found Sanders lying on the ground and Trosclair kneeling with his hands in the air Matherne said investigators found a rifle believed to have been used by Trosclair lying between the suspect and victim Saunders also had a pistol in a holster on his belt but Matherne said investigators found no evidence that he'd shot at Trosclair Assistant District Attorney Cam Morvant II presented the case to a grand jury a second-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole Interim District Attorney Kristine Russell said Trosclair's arraignment is set for March 14 Sandbag distribution in Lafourche will begin at noon today.  For residents who request assistance there will be pre-filled bags available with a limit of 25 bags per vehicle.  Sandbags can be found in the following locations: under the bridge on Bridge Road at the intersection with Bayou Road “I guess spending time with dad and friends,” he said Anglers should adapt to fishing new areas at Toledo Bend May is an easy fishing month at Toledo Bend as bass and crappie enter the post-spawn period and bream start bedding up in the shallows.[…] Lake D’Arbonne can deliver great bass action as one of the largest and best largemouth lakes in northern Louisiana.[…] Lake Eufaula ranked among the top bass lakes in the nation since it opened in 1962.[…]