Governor John Bel Edwards was in southwest Louisiana Friday afternoon to get a firsthand look at the response to numerous wildfires in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes. According to the U-S Drought Monitor, about 50-percent of the state is considered to be in extreme and exceptional drought. Edwards says the next chance for significant rain is Tuesday night…

Cut  16 (11)   “…to have”

The statewide burn ban was updated on Friday afternoon taking out the exceptions for prescribed burns, so agricultural burns are not allowed either.

An Independence man was arrested Friday and faces charges for the fire-raising on another’s land by criminal negligence and violation of the fire marshal’s order.

The Department of Agriculture says Ryan Miller faces charges in connection with a wildfire in Tangipahoa Parish near the city of Amite.

In Vernon Parish, Paul Nash has been arrested and charged with two counts of arson, and violation of the state’s burn ban. Sheriff Sam Craft says the suspect lit a brush pile in his backyard and it quickly got out of control.

Cut 7 (07) “…that critical.” 

Craft says there’s no excuse for setting a blaze in these conditions.

The United Way of Southwest Louisiana has launched a fund to help out everyone affected by the fires. CEO Denise Durel on where the money would immediately go.

Cut 12 (08) “…at initially.”
If you want to donate  to the fire relief, go to UnitedwaySWLA.org or text FIRE SWLA to 40403.
 

The governor has activated about 100 Louisiana National Guard soldiers to help in the fight against the state’s wildfires. Several Black Hawk helicopters are dumping thousands of gallons of water on the fires. National Guard engineering crews on the ground are using dozers to create fire lines to help prevent the spread of more wildfires.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the situation around the state is constantly changing, and just when you think the fire is contained, it can spread rapidly when the wind kicks up.

Cut 15 (12) “…uncontained.”

It was previously reported that the only structures burned were a few deer stands and camps but Beauregard Parish Sheriff spokesperson Shannon Burgess says that has now changed.

More wildfires erupted in Vernon Parish Thursday, but have since been contained and an arrest has been made in connection with one of the fires Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Tech was expected to unveil six statues for Sarah and A.L. Williams Champions Plaza but one of them will not arrive on time for today’s celebration. It is unknown whose statue did not arrive and when it will get to Ruston.

We are under a week away from LSU’s game against Florida State. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 ahead of their Labor Day matchup, and the game is also a rematch from last year when the Seminoles won 24-23. Tiger Rag editor Todd Horne says Florida State will be relying heavily on quarterback Jordan Travis even though Horne does not think he is the best.

Cut 19 (17) “…not great.”

Horne has continuously been at LSU’s fall practices and he says after seeing them, they will be able to protect returning quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Cut 20 (12) “…right now.”

Saints Coach Dennis Allen said to the media that he does not expect to see quarterback Derek Carr or many other starters take the field in their final preseason game against the Texans. The Saints have seen production in the preseason so far from their rookies and free-agent acquisitions, and Allen says that he feels very confident in this year’s Saints team.

Cut 28 (14) “…our team.”

Allen is entering his second year as the team’s head coach, and captain linebacker Demario Davis says that this is the most comfortable Allen has been since joining the team almost a decade ago.

Cut 19 (17) “…that are undisclosed.

Governor John Bel Edwards was in southwest Louisiana Friday afternoon to get a firsthand look at the response to numerous wildfires in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes. Edwards says the state is dealing with an unprecedented event…

Cut  14 (16)  “.. .dangerous situation”

An arrest has been made in connection to one of the wildfires that erupted near Rosepine in Vernon Parish Thursday. Sheriff Sam Craft says Paul Nash faces two felony arson charges for violating the burn ban. Craft says Nash lit a brush pile in his backyard and it quickly spread…

Cut 6 (08) “…massively.”
Craft says there’s no excuse for setting anything on fire in these dire conditions.

The United Way of Southwest Louisiana has launched a fund to help those affected by the fires in Southwest Louisiana. CEO Denise Durel says as we approach the anniversary of Laura never would she have expected these wildfires.

Cut 13 (10) “…in this space.”

If you want to make a donation to help out with the fire relief, go to UnitedwaySWLA.org.

A jury needed only six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 39-year-old Joey Clement (Clay-mon) of Thibodaux for killing three teenagers in a fatal DWI crash in 2021. Lafourche Parish Assistant District Attorney Shaun George the girls were out celebrating one of the victim’s birthdays…

Cut 5 (14) “ ..sadly.” 

The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man from Rosepine for starting a wildfire that engulfed his neighbor’s home. Sheriff Sam Craft says 59-year-old Paul Nash was burning trash piles on his property and that small fire erupted into a wildfire that destroyed two mobile homes and an undetermined amount of timber. There have been reports of individuals claiming they didn’t know the statewide burn ban was in effect. Craft says that’s no excuse.
Cut 8 (08) “…outside.”
And the reason why there’s a burn ban is because half of the state is under extreme and exceptional drought conditions. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 14 (08) “…drought class”
The state’s burn ban also includes any kind of agricultural burn.

The state’s largest wildfire is the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish and it’s only 50-percent contained. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the town of Merryville and the Junction communities. The United Way of Southwest Louisiana has launched a fund to help out everyone affected by the fires. CEO Denise Durel on where the money would immediately go.
Cut 12 (08) “…at initially.”
Go to United-Way-S-W-L-A-dot-org.

39-year-old Joey Clement of Thibodaux has been convicted on vehicular and negligent homicide charges for a drunk driving crash that killed three teenage girls in November 2021. Lafourche Parish Assistant District Attorney Shaun George…
cut 4 (12) “…the wheel”
George says Clement was also traveling at 90-miles per hour when struck another vehicle head-on, killing Hali Coss, Michaela Bowling and Lily Dufrene.

The town of Merryville and the Junction areas have a mandatory evacuation order in place for the ongoing wildfires. Beauregard Parish Sherrif spokesperson Shannon Burgess says previously the fire was well contained but winds only fanned the flames. The fire came extremely close to having Merryville go up in flames, but the wind change saved it by less than a mile.

Cut 10 (10) “…in jeopardy.”

In Vernon Parish, Paul Nash has been arrested and charged with two counts of arson, and violation of the state’s burn ban. Sheriff Sam Craft says the suspect lit a brush pile in his backyard and it quickly got out of control.

Cut 7 (07) “…that critical.” 

Craft says there’s no excuse for setting a blaze in these conditions.

Thirty-nine-year-old Joey Clement (Clay-mon) of Thibodaux has been found guilty of killing three teenagers in a 2021 drunk driving head-on crash in Lafourche Parish. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

The Louisiana National Guard has been activated to provide support with the wildfires in Beauregard Parish. 97 soldiers are assisting, and LANG helicopter crews are dropping gallons of water in the affected areas.  Additional aircraft from Oklahoma are also assisting with the wildfires.

Wildfires that erupted in Vernon Parish Thursday have since been contained and an arrest has been made in connection with one of the fires.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Firefighters are having trouble containing wildfires in Beauregard Parish. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Shannon Burgess…
cut 9 (08) “…50-percent”
But a wind shift kept the Tiger Island Fire from causing extensive damage to the town of Merryville.

New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest today in Slidell, more than 80 years after his life ended in the attack on Pearl Harbor. His cousin Denise Bennett says the Navy is paying for Thompsons burial and the family chose to have him buried at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Bennett says it’s just another example of how the military leaves no man behind…
cut 12 (07) “…to family”
Thompson was a cook on the USS Oklahoma.

The Saints are mourning the death of former defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell. He was 78 and helped develop the great line backing group of the 1980’s and 90’s known as the Dome Patrol, with Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling, Sam Mills, and Vaughn Johnson. The coordinator was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Saints defense has been led by Coach Dennis Allen since linebacker Demario Davis arrived in New Orleans in 2018. Allen was the defensive coordinator for the team until last year when he became the head coach, and Davis says the defense’s success starts with Allen.

Cut 20 (13) “…game situation.”

Last year the Saints defense was 5th in yards allowed and in sacks, and will once again be led by Davis. The Saints third and final preseason game is this Sunday at 7 p.m. against the Texans and their first regular season game is on Sept. 10 against the Titans.

The wait is almost over for Louisiana Tech football to take the field for their first game of 2023 season. La Tech takes on Conference USA rival Florida International tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Ruston. Last year’s La Tech offense finished middle of the road in the Conference USA in total yards, and second year coach Sonny Cumbie says how graduate transfer quarterback Hank Bachmeier and him have been able to stay on the same page to put them over the top.

Cut 17 (18) “…comfort with it.”

Off the football field, La Tech was set to unveil the A-L Williams Champions Plaza tonight, but the schools says of the six statues has not made it to Ruston.

The Ragin Cajun athletic programs have agreed to contract extensions with their men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin and softball coach Gerry Glasco. Both coaches led their teams to Sun Belt tournament championships in 2022.