News

LaSalle Parish residents are being encouraged to respond to their 2020 Census request, either by filling out the questionnaire and mailing it back, or going online and completing the form.

“We cannot over express how important the numbers revealed by the Census are to funding for agencies in the parish,” stated June Fowler, president of the LaSalle Parish Police Jury.

The U.S. Census Bureau mailed questionnaires in March to area residents. Those who did not receive the questionnaire should call 1-866-872-6868.

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The Tullos Town Council approved the adoption of Ordinance 2020-003 for the 2020-2021 budget and 2019-2020 amended budget during its June meeting held Monday night of last week. A public hearing was held prior to the meeting with no public comments.

Town CPA David Vercher and Town Accountant Stephanie Lemoine with KnightMasden were on hand at the meeting to answer questions. Vercher said the town was set as of right now for its budget to operate within the targeted 5% variance.

The state count for COVID-19 cases in La-Salle Parish as of Monday morning was 86 – up 9 cases from last week – but local officials continue to maintain those numbers are not accurate.

“When you look at all the details that we are afforded each week through the reports, the actual total number of positive cases we have had in our parish since they started keeping count is 55,” LaSalle Parish Homeland Security Assistant Director Dana Chapman said. “Many factors are not given by the state when they release the total number to the public.”

For instance, in LaSalle, 28 have prison addresses, 8 were counted twice, 2 were counted three times, 1 was counted four times, and 1 has a Lafayette address, according to Chapman.

The Olla Town Council approved Ordinance 2020-006 to adopt the annual budget of revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 and the amended budget for fiscal year July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 for the town of Olla during their regular monthly meeting last week. There were no comments at the public hearing.

The Council also approved the introduction of Ordinance 2020-007 to authorize the issuance of not exceeding $845,000 of taxable sales tax bonds (DEQ). Mayor Rhonda Elliott explained that the bonds are for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan for the lift station rehabilitation project including work on eight stations.

Louie and T.J. Thompson of Thompson Farms (center) and Market Volunteer Doug Comeaux (far right) assist customers last week at the Olla Town Square Market located next to the Dixie Center in downtown Olla. The market runs every Tuesday starting at noon until vendors run out, which Market Manager Ruby Moody said happens almost every week with over 200 market attendees on average. LaSalle Parish has two other town farmers’ markets as well: the Third Street Farmer’s Market in Jena on Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. at the Town of Jena Pavilion next to The Jena Times office and the Tullos Farmers’ Market on Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. at Tullos Memorial Park. (See story and more photos inside this edition.)

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Laurel Comeaux, Dean of CLTCC - Rod Brady Campus, gave the welcome and served as mistress of ceremonies for the ninth annual LaSalle Scholars’ Reception held last week at the First Baptist Church in Jena. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the reception was broken into two sessions.

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Early voting for the July 11th presidential primary elections will be held for two full weeks, beginning this Saturday, June 20th, according to Registrar of Voters Angie Sandifer.

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LaSalle Parish experienced another jump in positive COVID-19 numbers this past week, but the increase is still not worrying top officials.

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Despite the shutdown due to coronavirus pandemic, which closed a lot of businesses for about two months, sales tax collections held steady for the month of May, according to figures compiled by the Concordia Sales Tax Collection Agency.

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Members of the LaSalle Parish Police Jury voted at their June meeting held Monday night of last week to proceed with closing of the Olla Airport.

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