News

Thirty-three LaSalle Parish 4-H members participated in the 4-H Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. More than 1,200 4-H members from all over the state participated in the program. State Representative Terry Brown of District 22 met with the LaSalle Parish group and guided them on a special tour of the Capitol.

The LaSalle Parish School Board has accepted the resignation of Ronda Richardson, principal at LaSalle High School, and has begun advertising for applications for her replacement. The action came during the board’s regular June meeting held Monday night of last week. Board members moved through an 18 item agenda in record time – just over ten minutes – with very little discussion on any of the items.

LaSalle Parish Assessor Tom Kendrick was on hand at the Town of Urania’s June meeting to discuss the 2013 millage and the possible creation of a Urania and Tullos combined Fire Protection District. Kendrick, who is also a board member for the LaSalle Parish Communications District, said he recently spoke to Council member and Urania Fire Department Representative Stacie Strain regarding the proposed district’s need for a millage and he presented the estimated figures to the Council.

Grand opening ceremonies for the new Physical Fun Zone and other improvements for Recreation District #10 were held on Saturday, June 1st, with board members, invited guests and members of the community in attendance. Highlighting the event was officially turning the water on to the new Splash Pad at 2 p.m. that afternoon – and the kids went wild playing in the new addition to the park.

LaSalle Parish was tied for the third lowest unemployment rate in the state for the month of April, according to figures just released by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. LaSalle and Terrebonne parishes had a 4.6 percent jobless rate, with Lafourche Parish coming in with a 4.1 percent rate, and Lafayette Parish with a 4.4 percent rate. The rate for LaSalle Parish was the lowest north of the I-10 corridor in southern Louisiana. For the past two years, LaSalle has had one of the lowest jobless rates in the state.

Governor Bobby Jindal has signed a pair of bills that protects and preserves the dignity of military funeral (SB 72) and that helps identify existing mental health and substance abuse support services for veteran offenders who are in the legal system (SB 32). Both pieces of legislation are part of the Governor’s 2013 Legislative Package.

The Veterans Honor Guard presented a 21-gun salute during the Memorial Day program at the LaSalle Parish Courthouse on May 27th. Prior to the 21-gun salute, a tribute to fallen comrades was presented, and playing of taps concluded the ceremony.

A standing room crowd was on hand for the annual Memorial Day program held at the Centennial Cultural Center in Olla on May 26th. Veterans and guests stand at attention while members of the Veterans Honor Guard present the colors.

A $3.5 billion public school funding proposal submitted to lawmakers by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) was killed by Senators last week because of concerns about proposed changes to payments for special education and gifted students. The formula was rejected without objection by the Senate Education Committee, a move that likely ends debate about making changes to the way public schools are paid for the next year. It also changes the formula’s price tag for lawmakers.

The Caldwell Parish area welcomed a new friend in a familiar setting, as the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) opened a secure care facility for delinquent juvenile males on the site of the former DHH/Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities’ Columbia Community Residential and Employment Services (CCRES). The new facility is Swanson Center for Youth at Columbia (SCYC), a satellite facility of Swanson Center for Youth in Monroe. Another familiar friend is Columbia native SCYC Deputy Director Kim Rushing, who will be responsible for daily operations, while Swanson-Monroe Director. Vickie Shoecraft will have oversight.