New Roads News

It’s the final countdown—again—for Casey Kasem. The radio legend will wind up his “American Top 40” spin-off programs, “American Top 20” and “American Top 10,” on July 4— a date of significance: He created the franchise on July 4, 1970.

Chic and cool seem to be the watchwords of the subject of this week's "Style File," where we catch people out and about.

Denise Chustz held on to her partner, Wendy Suchowski, tightly as they stared at one another Saturday afternoon.

As the sun beamed down on the Pointe Coupee couple, they began to smile broadly after the Rev. Keith Mozingo, announced, “You may now kiss your partner.”

Next to them, their friends, Adam White and Bolton Morris, of Plaquemine, did the same. The two couples were among the approximately 30 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples who took part in a blessing of relationships ceremony during the third annual Baton Rouge Pride Fest.

Mozingo, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church, officiated over the blessing of relationships at Magnolia Mound Plantation. The church is part of a national denomination that recognizes and supports gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender lifestyles and relationships.

Mozingo said the blessings performed Saturday do not constitute legally recognized unions.

Operators of both 18-foot ski boats involved in a crash on False River the night of May 16, killing three Baton Rouge men and injuring another, were legally intoxicated at the time, investigators revealed Friday.

Investigators also disclosed that Christopher W. Austin, 20, among those killed in the wreck, was piloting one of the boats.

The driver of the other boat, Jerry Jordan, 53, 142 Steiner Road, Lafayette, was arrested June 5 and booked with reckless operation of a watercraft and first-offense driving while intoxicated in connection with the accident.

Col. Wilton Vidrine, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries’ chief law enforcement officer, reported earlier this month Jordan’s blood-alcohol level was 0.10 percent at the time of the crash.

Austin, 20, had a blood-alcohol level over the state’s 0.08 legal limit, said Lt. Donald Salpietra, an investigator with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. But Salpietra declined on Friday to state Austin’s exact blood-alcohol level.

Salpietra added that an autopsy showed Austin had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.

Austin and friends Brian Doherty, 21, and Sterling Forbes, 22, the owner of the boat, did not survive the accident, but Brian Lummen, 21, also of Baton Rouge, was in the boat with the other three and recovered from his injuries.

Jordan, following his arrest, posted a $10,000 bond and was released the same day.

It's hot outside, but the AC leaves us cold. What's a fashionista to do? Dress the part, of course.

The LSU AgCenter has announced the schedule for Louisiana Master Farmer field days and workshops for 2009.

The move by Chrysler Corporation to dump nearly 800 of its dealers nationwide only affects one in metro Baton Rouge.

A man under investigation in a False River boating collision that killed three Baton Rouge men last month was arrested Friday on two criminal counts related to the crash, investigators said.

Jerry Jordan, 53, 142 Steiner Road, Lafayette, surrendered at the Pointe Coupee Parish Jail at 10 a.m. Friday, said Lt. Donald Salpietra, an investigator with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Jordan was booked with reckless operation of a watercraft and first-offense driving while intoxicated in connection with the May 16 boating accident that injured Brian Lummen, 21, and killed Sterling Forbes, 22; Christopher W. Austin, 20; and Brian Doherty, 21, Salpietra said.

Test results revealed this week determined Jordan had a blood alcohol level of 0.10 at the time of the crash, a reading that was over the state’s 0.08 legal limit, said Col. Winton Vidrine, Wildlife and Fisheries’ chief law enforcement officer.

Pointe Coupee Central High School Principal Harry D. Wright announced his resignation from the charter school Thursday after one year on the job, an Advance Baton Rouge board member confirmed Friday.

Theron Smith, a board member with Advance Baton Rouge, the nonprofit which runs the school, said Wright would not be on the faculty for the 2009-10 school year.

Smith described Wright, who presided over the sixth through eighth grades and 10th through 12th grades at the Morganza school, as a “good principal and a strong disciplinarian.” Pointe Coupee High’s ninth grade operates under a separate principal.

Wright, who did not return calls for comment Friday, frequently spoke about changing the culture of the academically foundering school as the key to turning it around and improving students’ performance as they transition into the workforce.

Smith said he expects Wright’s focus on discipline, student accountability and achievement to continue under the school’s assistant principal, Darryl Davis.

Members of Advance Baton Rouge’s administration declined to comment on Friday.

Fire crews have been working through the night to get a fire at a church in New Roads under control.

A House committee has approved tougher criminal charges for owners of dogs that attack people.

The University community mourned the death of Brian McCrory Doherty this week. Doherty, a 21-year-old junior and Baton Rouge native, died May 16 in New Roads in a boating accident on the False River.

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Draughon of Lafayette are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Danielle Draughon, to Justin Paul Junot, son of Sidney J. Junot, III of Lafayette and Deborah Junot of Biloxi.

From left, Theresa Doran, Julie Cefalu and Kay Gibson stand Saturday on Cefalua TMs dock in New Roads.

The Baton Rouge pilot involved in Wednesday night's plane crash in Port Allen is telling his tale only to 9News.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

A native and resident of Baton Rouge, he died Saturday, May 16, 2009, in New Roads.

A native and resident of Baton Rouge, Brian died Saturday, May 16, 2009, in New Roads.

A homemaker, a former longtime resident of Maringouin and a resident of Baton Rouge for eight years, she died at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

NEW ROADS - Search teams have recovered the bodies of three Baton Rouge men who drowned in False River late Saturday night after a collision between two 18-foot ski boats.