Louisiana news briefs

Former Grand Isle Mayor Andy Valence dies
GRAND ISLE (AP)— Andy Valence, the colorful former mayor of Grand Isle famous for fiercely protecting his native barrier island from threat of hurricanes and coastal erosion, has died. He was 78.
Valence’s son, Randy, said his father died late Friday and was active until a recent surgery slowed him.
“We always said that one day he’s dying and the next day he’s dancing,” Randy Valence said Saturday, remembering his father’s love for life, even with health problems that included heart disease and viral cardiomyopathy.
Valence was best known for his career as the island’s chief executive, often appearing on TV in his trademark white coat and tie. He was first elected in 1988. He lost a bid for a third term in 1996 by 17 votes. He also served as a Westwego alderman, Jefferson Parish School Board member and executive director of the Grand Isle Port Commission.
After leaving the mayor’s office, he parlayed his long career and public name recognition into a job as a host at Boomtown Casino in Harvey.

Man accused of holding elderly parents captive
GONZALES (AP)— Deputies say an elderly Gonzales couple’s son is accused of holding them captive in their own home for five days until their granddaughter came to their rescue.
Maj. Ward Webb of the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said 44-year-old Richard Miley was arrested last week and booked on counts of false imprisonment, domestic abuse battery, simple criminal damage to property and parole violation.
Webb says they were freed after the couple’s granddaughter talked Miley into letting her take her grandparents to lunch, promising to bring them back afterward.
She alerted authorities after talking to her grandparents about what was happening inside the home.
Miley told deputies he had stopped taking his medicine during that time and that caused his actions.

Gibson to get new library
GIBSON (AP)— Gibson is getting a new library with more computers and parking space.
Terrebonne Public Library officials say the library, which will face La. 182 and be located behind Gibson Elementary School, could be built by next year.
The Terrebonne School Board is partnering with the Library Board to use up to one acre of school property for the project.
Library Director Mary LeBoeuf said the library will have about 2,500 square feet and cost about $700,000 to $800,000, which will be paid from local sales tax money designated for the public library system. The cost will cover construction and equipment such as tables, chairs, shelving and computers.

Baton Rouge pastor
arrested, accused of rape
BATON ROUGE (AP)— The pastor of a Baton Rouge church has been arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year-old mentally disabled woman who, authorities said, had sex with the man at her father’s request.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said David “Scott” Lemley, 43, pastor of New Harmony Baptist Church, was booked Saturday into the parish prison on one count of aggravated rape and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.
The woman’s father was arrested in November and remains in parish prison on a variety of sex counts, including aggravated rape. His name is being withheld to protect his daughter’s identity.
Lemley was held in lieu of $75,000 bail. His attorney, Carson Marcantel, couldn’t be reached for comment.
According to an arrest warrant, Lemley is accused of having sex with a 20-year-old woman “with the medical documentation mental capacity of a 7-year-old” after the woman’s father told her to because the pastor’s wife had been ill and bedridden.

Natural gas to power garbage trucks
BATON ROUGE (AP)— Natural gas-powered garbage trucks that are expected to emit less pollution will be rolled out in Baton Rouge, an area that has struggled to meet federal ozone pollution standards.
Garbage disposal company Waste Management said it will replace 40 diesel-powered trucks in its Baton Rouge fleet with to those using compressed natural gas.
The company has 53 trucks that collect waste from East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, Pointe Coupee, Tangipahoa, East Feliciana and West Feliciana parishes, spokesman Warren Guedry Jr. said.
The conversion, expected to start later this year and be complete by May 2015, will mean the trucks will not be using 320,000 gallons of diesel each year, are expected to be cheaper to operate and will make less noise.

Shreveport pastor convicted in child sex case
SHREVEPORT (AP)— A Shreveport pastor has been convicted on three federal counts accusing him of transporting minors across state lines to have sex.
A jury convicted 54-four-year-old Andrea Lewis on Friday.
U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley said in a news release that Lewis was indicted last November.
Finley said the crimes happened from 1994 to 2000.
Prosecutors said Lewis transported at least three minors to and from Texas to have sex.
Prosecutors said Lewis recruited members of a choir, which consisted of girls mostly under the age of 18.

Jindal budget $15M short
on student growth money
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal is $15 million short of what the Department of Education expects will be needed to cover growth in student enrollment at public schools next year, the state superintendent said Friday.
State Superintendent of Education John White made his remarks as he outlined the department’s recommended $3.5 billion public school financing formula for the 2014-15 school year.
His department and the Jindal administration are recommending the same formula adjustments, with increased funding for technical courses and special education students, among other items.
But Jindal’s budget is based on a projection of fewer students than the department’s current estimates, so White says it’s about $15 million less than what the department expects will be needed to cover the increased student count next year.
It’s a common problem. Student enrollment projections change frequently. White called it “a very small discrepancy” in a formula that covers 700,000 students and billions of dollars.
The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will debate the school formula at its meeting next week and is expected to adopt what White has proposed. A formula recommendation must be submitted to lawmakers by March 15.