St. Tammany checkpoints result in 4 DWI arrests

BUSH — There was one arrest for DWI and another for possession of a schedule II narcotic during a sobriety checkpoint operation between 12:15 and 2:34 a.m. Sunday morning at the intersection of Louisiana 21 and Louisiana 40 at the Fifth Ward School.

Officers of the Louisiana State Police (LSP) Troop L and St. Tammanay Parish Sheriff's Office operated the checkpoint, as well as another on Highway 41, just north of the intersection with Highway 36 near Pearl River.

In the Bush operation, officers screened 101 vehicles and performed three field sobriety checks.

Near Pearl River, officers screened 147 vehicles, performed five field sobriety tests and arrested three for DWI. Additionally, one driver was charged with possession of marijuana.

The Pearl River operation lasted from 8:15 until 11:55 p.m..

On Friday, troopers working with the Bogalusa Police Department screened 270 vehicles, charged three drivers with DWI and issued a summons to a fourth for what was described as a small amount of marijuana. 

Isabel Swamp Road (partial) paving ahead

Bids for paving the Washington Parish portion of Isabel Swamp Road will be opened on July 15, which means drivers cutting cross-parish to St. Tammany won't eat as much dust.

Or, in the event it ever rains again, have to navigate as much mud.

"It's taken up three-and-a-half years," Parish President Richard Thomas said. Thomas pointed out that federal government officials promised "enough" money to pave the entire road, but have not yet delivered.

In other road news, members of the parish council learned that as many as 50 miles of roads could be paved in the parish this year.

"The key," pointed out Councilman Ken Wheat, "is that this is being done pay as we go."

"That's correct," agreed Public Works Director Leo Lucchesi. "There's no bond money in this."

Wheat said that in reading the state municipal league newspaper, he learned that there were counties and parishes across the country where roads that had previously been paved were being torn up and returned to gravel.

"I think it's important that we have folks working to do as much as they can without spending a lot of money.”

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)