The long-awaited Terrebonne drug court will take its first step to becoming a reality next week. Judge Johnny Walker will hold a ceremony in his chambers Monday to sign an intergovernmental agreement between parish government and LSU/Chabert Medical Center, which will give office space to court administrators, counseling facilities and offer medical services to participants in the drug program. The local program will be called the Terrebonne Parish Drug Treatment Court. On Friday, court administrators and elected officials will hold a formal dedication ceremony for the facility at the medical center. [continues 491 words]
A $175,000 grant will help launch a program aimed at reducing crime and revitalizing the Mechanicville community of east Houma. The grant from the U.S. Justice Department will go toward the Weed and Seed program, which will assist local government in helping to rebuild the mostly low-income African-American neighborhood. The program's four major components include stepped-up law enforcement, community policing, intervention and drug-treatment programs and neighborhood revitalization. Jim Letten, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, said his office will "participate actively in the implementation of the Weed and Seed strategy." [continues 410 words]
