Thousands of people are expected to turnout for St. James Parish’s biggest Christmas Eve tradition- the Festival of Bonfires. Don Molino has more…
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The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is gearing up to track Santa’s journey around the world. Halen Doughty has more…
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Christmas Eve is a time for family traditions, and that means something a little different in St. James Parish- the Festival of Bonfires. Festival spokesperson Jason Amato says they have over 135 bonfires that are permitted, with the bulk of them in the Lutcher-Gramercy area. He says when the festival begins, there are bonfires as far as they eye can see.
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The festival located halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is a Cajun Christmas staple. Amato says there’s a few stories about how the tradition got started, and locals tell people to pick the one they like best.
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Amato says they light the bonfires at 7 p.m. sharp, but he encourages spectators to be there at 5 p.m. He says while many bonfires will be the typical four post tee-pee, some will be more creative.
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State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has some advice for families to prevent your holiday get together from going up in smoke. Browning says it’s important to keep three feet of open space around fireplaces and space heaters. He says home chefs also need to stay safe in the kitchen.
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Browning reminds families with live Christmas trees that they are starting to dry out, even after being properly watered. He says they see more fires from Christmas trees at this time, after the trees have been sitting in the home for about a month.
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Browning says the best way to keep your family safe from a fire is to make sure you have a working smoke alarm.
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There are many Louisiana soldiers currently serving our country who are not able to be with their families for Christmas. They’d like to send a message home. U.S. Army Capt. Javiya Williams is sending her love home to Rapides Parish…:
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You can view all Louisiana Military Holiday Greetings online at dvidshub.net. These soldiers send greetings to Northeast Louisiana…:
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This family sends a message back home to loved ones in Shreveport from overseas…:
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Children around the country are getting ready to keep track of Santa’s journey, with a little help from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. Lt. Commander Paul Noel says making sure the skies are safe over North America is part of NORAD’s mission, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Noel says last year alone they had over 15-hundred volunteers who came to work the 23 hours period. He says they took over 141-thousand calls and emails. He says they expect the same enthusiasm this year.
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Noel says NORAD began tracking Santa in 1955 by accident. He says there was a misprint in the paper urging children to call and talk to Santa instead connected them to the Continental Air Defense Command.
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Noel says families can monitor Santa’s journey through the NORAD Track Santa app or online at NORADSanta.org. He says people can also call 1-877-HI-NORAD.
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A 32-year-old man is in the Franklin Parish detention center after he allegedly kidnapped, sexually assaulted and forced a 74-year-old woman into the trunk of her car. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says 32-year-old Jimmy Edward Franklin was eventually taken into custody in a wooded area early this morning after a pursuit by law enforcement. Cobb says Franklin has a lengthy criminal history…
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Cobb says the horrific crime started in the Catahoula Parish town of Enterprise when the elderly victim was kidnapped from her residence and stuffed into the trunk…
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Cobb says the victim was able to escape her attacker in Wisner and quickly told authorities about what happened to her….
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Cobb says they believe Franklin sexually assaulted the woman and charged him with aggravated rape. He faces several other charges including attempted murder of a a police officer, as Cobb says he fired a weapon at deputy while he was being pursued.