🌱 Why a hydrant leak shut Opelousas Junior High and your taps

Hello Opelousas! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a hydrant leak shut Opelousas Junior High and your taps
• Police name suspect in Opelousas shooting—do you recognize him?
• How an Opelousas resident ended up facing a murder charge

Also on today's calendar: Scrap and Sip - Themed & Open Retreat.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: A shower and thunderstorm, with a high of 75 and low of 44 degrees.
• Friday: Sunny, cooler and less humid, temps: high: 64, low: 43.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 76 and low of 62 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Leaking fire hydrant and water line in Opelousas disrupts life for residents (kadn.com) — Opelousas residents are dealing with low water pressure and a Boil Water Advisory after repairs to a leaking fire hydrant and broken main line forced valves to be shut off near Opelousas Junior High, closing the school early. The mayor says aging pipes are to blame but notes $4.9 million is secured to upgrade city water lines over the next few years.
   

• Suspect identified in Opelousas shooting that left victim hospitalized in critical condition (kadn.com) — Opelousas police have identified a suspect in a Tuesday shooting at Market and Church streets that left a victim in critical condition. Officers say Dominique Trotter is wanted for attempted second‑degree murder, is considered armed and dangerous, and urge anyone with information to contact Opelousas Police, warning that helping him hide could bring criminal charges.
   

• Man wanted in daughter's 'shaken baby syndrome' death returns to St. Landry Parish after Kentucky arrest (kadn.com) — A man who was living in Opelousas when his infant daughter was injured has been returned to St. Landry Parish to face a second-degree murder charge in her death. Authorities say the child’s 2017 injuries were ruled “shaken baby syndrome,” and a grand jury upgraded earlier cruelty charges after she died in 2025.
   

📸 Around Opelousas

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Opelousas

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 25

• Gregg Martinez and the Delta Kings
  Toby's Downtown (Formerly Toby's Lounge & Reception Center, 125 N Court St, Opelousas
  8:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday January 8

• Scrap and Sip - Themed & Open Retreat
  Pearl's Country Kitchen , 8214 LA-182 , Opelousas
  10:00 am

📣 Opelousas Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Friday December 19

• Holiday-Bop: Main Library In-Person
  Main Library , Story Castle (1st) , Carencro
  10:00 am
• Drop-in Gaming: Main Library In-Person
  Main Library , Teen Area Main Library , Carencro
  3:30 pm
• Dustin Ray Music: The Postmaster General Store *BAND*
  The Postmaster’s General Store , 6707 Church Point Hwy , Branch
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• LEGO Club: Main Library In-Person
  Main Library , Story Castle (1st) , Carencro
  10:00 am
• Leif Meche Acoustic
  Cajun Claws Seafood Boilers , 175 Frontage Road , Rayne
  6:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Holiday Art Class – South Branch
  West Baton Rouge Parish Library South Branch , 6311 LA-1 , Brusly
  11:00 am
• From Page to Screen: Main Library In-Person
  Main Library , Story Castle (1st) , Carencro
  2:00 pm
• Manic Monday: Main Library In-Person
  Main Library Teen Area ,
  6:00 pm
• WCA Boys Varsity Basketball @ Sacred Heart
  Sacred Heart High School , 114 Trojan Ln , Ville Platte
  6:00 pm
• JS Clark Leadership Academy vs Peabody
  JS Clark Leadership Academy , 1517 Statesman Rd , Opelousas
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We don’t live under the same roof anymore.
  Life quietly carried me somewhere else, one step at a time. The house must feel different now, especially in the evenings. But when the soft light… (Nextdoor Historic District)

• Lowe's Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales - Part Time in Opelousas. Apply here.
• Tractor Supply posted a job opening for Team Member, Petsense in Opelousas. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Opelousas here.

🗞 Nearby News

Carencro

• St. Martinville goes 2-1 in Big Dave Classic (techetoday.com)

Eunice

• Local agent DeRousselle shoots shot, makes difference in community (eunicetoday.com)
• ABC celebrates 50 years of drawing campers to Christ (baptistmessage.com)
• Port Barre high students soar in hands-on drone program (katc.com)

Lafayette

Ok Opelousas! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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