News

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Voters to face lengthy ballot

St. Martin Parish residents who have not yet cast their vote face a rather lengthy ballot at the polls on Saturday.
The 2019 Gubernatorial Primary on Oct. 12 includes a full slate of statewide candidates as well as races for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), state senators and representatives, parish council seats and four proposed constitutional amendments.
And that’s not including the spirited race for the sheriff’s office here.

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SMPD provides ‘exchange zone’

A new monitored exchange zone has been established at the St. Martinville Police station.
The “safe zone” is intended to facilitate the exchange of children in shared-custody and visitation arrangements, or the transfer of property between strangers, providing a secure environment and a video recording.
Public Information Officer Adam Touchet told the Teche News that the plan involves making the station’s first two parking spaces, near Bridge Street, available to the public. A video records activity there at all times, day and night.

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Almost real – St. Martin Sheriff’s Office firearms training instructor Lieutenant Kyra Cole demonstrates the new VirTra Use of Force simulator. Here, Cole experiences one of the simulator’s school shooter scenarios, presented on screens that surround trainees with a chaotic 300 degree panorama of activity. (Karl Jeter)

Simulator mimics real threats

High technology is now helping prepare St. Martin Sheriff’s officers and, eventually those from other agencies, for life and death situations they hope they will never have to face.
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, Sheriff Ronny Theriot and his training staff hosted local media representatives to introduce a new virtual-reality simulator recently installed at the range. The VirTra Use of Force simulator is providing a big step forward in training Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement personnel to cope with deadly situations.

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Early voting to begin Saturday

Early voting for the big Oct. 12 gubernatorial primary begins here in St. Martin Parish this Saturday, Sept. 28.
Registrar of Voters Patricia T. Guidry says parish voters may cast early ballots in three locations, including her office on St. Martin Street behind the courthouse in St. Martinville, the Sydney Mae Durand Center on Cannery Road in Breaux Bridge and the Water District No. 1 building on Tower Tank Road in Lower St. Martin.
All three locations will be open daily (except on Sunday, Sept. 29) from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 5 for voting.

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PARTNERING AGREEMENT — St. Martin Superintendent of Schools Allen Blanchard Jr. and SLCC Chancellor Natalie Harder (seated, center) last week signed an innovative partnership agreement instituting a college credit program for parish high school students. The “Collegiate Technical Academy” agreement will allow dual-enrollment students to earn college-level technical diplomas or associate degrees from SLCC while attending the parish’s College and Career Readiness Center in a variety of fields.  (Karl Jeter)

SLCC, parish offering more trade courses

As the school year ramps up, parish schools are concentrating on innovative programs that will offer easier entry into the present job market.
With a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the South Louisiana Community College Evangeline campus on Sept. 16, SLCC announced its entry into building trades instruction and certification.
Designed in cooperation with the Master’s Guild of Acadiana, the Acadiana Homebuilder’s Association and other construction industry groups, SLCC is now offering a ten-week course in residential and commercial carpentry.

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Teche Today

P.O. Box 69
St. Martinville, LA 70582
Phone: 337-394-6232
Fax: 337-394-7511