LRN PM Newscall August 3rd

Could you survive in the forests of Belize “Naked and Afraid?” Halen Doughty has more from the West Monroe man who did just that…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Shreveport officials made a heartbreaking announcement about the 7-year-old who was swept away in a storm drain. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A West Monroe man survived in the wilderness of Belize completely naked. Dustin Campbell will appear on tonight’s episode of “Naked and Afraid” on Discovery Channel. He says it was a challenge completing the stretch without clothes. He says bugs never bit so hard and nights have never been so long.

Cut 3 (11) “how you feel”

The show thrusts two strangers into the wild with no clothes, no food, and no water for 21 days. The team has to survive with only one survivalist tool each and their wits. Some participants are expert survivalists with years of training, but Campbell says he’s just a good ole boy who lives in the woods.

Cut 4  (10) “I went”

Campbell is the second Ouachita Parish man to complete the challenge, after Jeremy McCaa appeared twice on the show last year. But he says he’d never swam with a crocodile before or tried some of the bizarre foods the Belize forest had to offer.

Cut 5  (10)  “they’re nasty”

Campbell says you’ll have to watch the episode tonight at 8 p.m. to see if he made it through the whole 21 day challenge.

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The state Department of Transportation will host a public meeting tonight at the Lake Charles Civic Center to discuss replacing the Calcasieu River Bridge. Deidra Druilhet with DOTD says the purpose of the open-forum is to give the community a chance to see the future plans and receive feedback. She says the construction would extend from the I-10/I-210 interchange on the west side river to the interchange on the east side.

Cut 6 (09) “enhance safety”

Druilhet says the 66 year old bridge is eligible to be on the National Registration of Historic Places and they hope to get feedback from the public on this, as well. She says at this time there is no money available for a new bridge, but it’s time to build a new one with today’s standards.

Cut 7 (10)  “shoulders”

The meeting is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Contraband Room. Druilhet says the proposed project would improve connectivity, congestion and bridge deficiencies.

Cut 8 (09) “the roads”

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Parents stocking up on back-to-school supplies can save a few dollars this weekend during the annual sales tax holiday. Byron Henderson with the state Department of Revenue says most purchases are only subject to three percent of the state sales tax this Friday and Saturday. He says that’s a significant savings over the usual five percent rate.

Cut 9 (10)  “school supplies”

Henderson says the tax break does not apply to vehicle purchases, food in restaurants, or taxable services. He says for items that are eligible, the two percent savings applies to the first $2,500 of the purchase price of each item.

Cut 10 (12) “state sales tax”

Henderson says not only can customers realize savings on the front end, there are dollars to be saved on the back end as well. He says parents should keep their receipts for any back-to-school purchases including supplies, uniforms, and equipment that’s required by the school.

Cut 11 (12) “and home schools”

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Shreveport Fire Chief Scott Wolverton held a news conference today to discuss how they located the body of 7-year-old Daysean Combest who was swept away in a storm drain Tuesday afternoon. He says railroad contractors called firefighters around 7:30 this morning…:

Cut 12 (07) “railroad trestle”

Wolverton says the body was recovered by the Caddo Parish Coroner and will be sent in for an autopsy. Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler was also present for the announcement, and expressed sorrow for the child’s mother, Mary Edmond…:

Cut 13 (09) “love and support”

Daysean was last seen playing near a ditch not far from the Louisiana State Fair Grounds, just before heavy rains lashed the city. Hundreds of workers and volunteers took part in the search that included helicopters, boats and K9s. Tyler says this is every parents worst nightmare…:

Cut 14 (10) “and support”

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