Paul Wayne Fornea
January 19, 1947 - January 16, 2025
January 17, 2025
Two Warming Shelters to Open in Washington Parish
The Washington Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has announced that two Warming Shelters will be open in Washington Parish
1. WP Volunteer Fire District #1
39618 Hwy 10
Franklinton LA 70438
Chief Wyman 985-415-7693
Monday, Jan 20 - Thurs, Jan 23
Open at 7pm nightly. If no one arrives by 7pm, the warming center will close and not re-open till 8am the next morning
2. Poplas Quarters Recreation Center
1 J J Piper Street
Bogalusa LA 70427
Larry Brown
985-750-5368
Saturday, Jan 18 - Thurs, Jan 23 24/7
Citizens are encouraged to work with their family, friends and neighbors before using theses warming centers. Citizens should bring anything they need including food, clothing, bedding and medicine. No contraband or weapons will be allowed and will be confiscated before entering.
Road closures can be found at 511la.org
Additional community information and resources can be obtained by calling 211.
Specific area forecast can be found at weather.gov/forecastpoints/
Washington Parish Government Anticipates Issuing State of Emergency
Press Release From Washington Parish Government
"Given the severity of the upcoming winter weather, I anticipate issuing a state of emergency for Washington Parish, effective Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Our Emergency Operations Center will be activated to monitor the weather until such time warrants. That office can be reached at 985-726-8745. Washington Parish Government offices will remain closed on January 21, 2025.
WPG Road Crews stand ready and prepared to serve the parish with any problems that may arise due to the winter weather.
To ensure the safety and well-being of our community, I cannot stress the importance of being prepared for some very cold temperatures. Travel conditions will not be favorable, and it is possible that power outages could be widespread due to the possibility of snow and ice. Please check on your neighbors, especially the elders. Make certain that you have groceries and prescription medication to sustain you and your family. Make certain that your pipes are wrapped, and your pets are safe and warm."
Town of Franklinton Press Release - Re: “Rotten Egg” Smell
Press Release from the Public Works Office
“An excessive amount of the chemical compound mercaptan has been added to The Town of Franklinton’s natural gas by a contractor, resulting in a significantly stronger, unpleasant "rotten egg" smell than normal, often indicating a potential gas leak even when there isn't one, due to the over-odorization of the gas; while mercaptan is added for safety to allow people to detect gas leaks, high concentrations can be overpowering and unnecessary.
Mercaptan is the smelly yet harmless chemical that’s added to natural gas for safety reasons. This over odorization will quickly dissipate as the gas in the system is used up. The odorant can only be smelled if there is a release of unburned gas, like from a leak or an improper burner adjustment. Out of an abundance of caution, please check for leaks if you smell gas. The superintendent said. "If you think you smell gas, as always, we ask that you please call Public Works at 985-839-9416 or after hours at 985-839-4474, so that we can have a highly trained technician respond and investigate." The Superintendent said it will still respond to every odor call just to be on the safe side.
The mayor said, "Thank you to the local fire departments and emergency services teams for their continued support and care of our customers." I apologize that we have not been able to update our Facebook page with communication because we cannot access it at this time. We have reached out to our IT department for assistance in resolving this matter.”
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for January 16, 2025
Anthony Dimattia (age 58 with Springfield, La. address) was booked on the charge of Residential Contractor Fraud Over 500 by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Thomas Durham (age 47 with McComb, Ms. address) was booked on the charges of Criminal Trespass, Resisting an Officer/Flight on Foot, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm, Possession of CDS With Weapon Present, and Fugitive Other Jurisdiction (2 counts) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Increasing clouds, with a high near 63. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4am. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to near 54 by midnight, then rising to around 60 during the remainder of the night. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday A slight chance of showers between 11am and noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 45. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 21. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
January 16, 2025
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for January 15, 2025
Peyton Coleman (age 21 with Covington, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Simple Burglary, and Possession of Marijuana by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $15000.00.
Leigh Ann Bunn (age 48 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Criminal Damage to Property Under 1000, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Simple Burglary, and Fugitive Other Jurisdiction by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $7500.00.
Wesley Walker (age 63 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Domestic Abuse Battery by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $3500.00.
Angelle LaCroix was booked In From Court
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Sunny, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind.
Friday Increasing clouds, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night A chance of showers before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and midnight, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
January 15, 2025
Pearl River Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Sexual Abuse Case
District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on January 15, 2025, 37-year-old Steven Harden of Pearl River was sentenced by Judge William H. Burris after a jury found him guilty in October of molestation of a juvenile and computer aided solicitation of a minor. Harden was sentenced to ten years in prison (the statutory maximum) on each count and Judge Burris ordered those sentences to run consecutive to each other, meaning Harden actually received a 20-year prison term. Assistant District Attorneys Angelina Valuri and Iain Dover handled the prosecution of the case. Lt. Jayson Germann with the Pearl River Police Department was in charge of the police investigation.
Click here for a previous related story
According to testimony from the trial, a young teen in Pearl River alerted her aunt in October, 2021, that her mother’s boyfriend, Steven Harden, was coercing her into disrobing in front of him. With the encouragement of her aunt, the young teen then contacted a family friend employed in law enforcement, who reacted with appropriate concern. The teen said she had informed her mother the first time it occurred but her mother did not believe her so she was reluctant to seek help from her mother again. The family friend/police officer immediately notified the proper authorities, resulting in the Pearl River Police Department opening an investigation.
During the trial, the young girl took the witness stand and testified how the defendant coerced her into partially disrobing and how he then touched her exposed breasts. Later, Harden attempted to coerce the teen into repeating this behavior. Additionally, he resorted to using Snapchat to tell her he needed her to perform sexual acts on him to help “release some stress.” The young girl also related to the jury how her bathroom door had no functioning lock and the defendant sometimes barged in and pulled the shower curtain back to look at her as she showered.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on both charges after deliberating less than one hour.
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for January 14, 2025
Shawnell McCray (age 43 with New Orleans, La. address) was booked on the charge of Introduction of
Contraband to Correctional Facility by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Tamaka Denise McCray (age 49 with New Orleans, La. address) was booked on the charges of Attempted Introduction of Contraband to Penal Institute and Possession of Schedule III Drugs by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Albert Shoemaker (age 41 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Battery, Cruelty to Infirm, Aggravated Assault, Criminal Damage, Cruelty to a Juvenile(s), Simple Battery With Injury, Simple Battery (2 counts), and Criminal Damage to Property Under 1000 by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Joseph Giallondardo (age 27 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Marijuana, and Failure to Appear. No bond set at this time.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight A slight chance of showers between 8pm and midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 36. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Patchy frost before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 61. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night Areas of frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 36. Calm wind.
Friday Areas of frost before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Light south wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3am. Low around 52. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
January 14, 2025
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