Kristin Askelson

3 weeks ago | theadvocate.com | Kristin Askelson

An unmoored houseboat was discovered Monday in Bayou Teche near the East Calumet flood gate in St. Mary Parish. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office reported the floating structure was seen bumping a fence but did not hit the locks. The sheriff's office took to Facebook Monday morning, alerting the public to the runaway houseboat. "Somebody’s houseboat or camp done broke loose from somewhere and decided to take itself on a little Cajun cruise," they wrote.

4 weeks ago | theadvocate.com | Kristin Askelson

A former employee at the Acadiana Center for Youth in Bunkie has been arrested for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a youth offender. Khy Winbush, a 24-year-old from Lake Charles, was booked by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office for malfeasance in office, sexual misconduct and possession of a Schedule II narcotic. She allegedly had one hydrocodone pill in her possession. An internal investigation revealed the questionable relationship on May 6.

1 month ago | theadvocate.com | Kristin Askelson

Big Towns, a two-day summit celebrating mid-sized cities and what they do to thrive, on Thursday wrapped up two days of discussions with a keynote session with Chattanooga, Tennessee Mayor Tim Kelly, interviewed by former New York Times editor Dean Baquet. Kelly grew up in Chattanooga and attended undergraduate school at Columbia University.

2 months ago | theadvocate.com | Kristin Askelson

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents on Wednesday cited a southwestern Louisiana man for allegedly illegally taking a Louisiana black bear in Vermilion Parish. Agents cited Shannon R. Parker, 50, of Abbeville, for taking a bear during a closed season and failing to comply with wild quadruped times and methods of taking. Agents received information that a black bear was killed near the Palmetto State Park on private land in early March.

2 months ago | theadvocate.com | Kristin Askelson

A St. Landry Parish jury after two hours of deliberation on Thursday convicted Sanplice Simien, 48, of the first-degree murder of Michael Thomas and Ladarious Keller. Late Thursday afternoon, the jury also found Simien, who is from Palmetto,  guilty of three counts of attempted first-degree murder, according to the St. Landry Parish District Attorney's Office.