News

Facing a situation that most of its members have never witnessed - a shortfall of money that may see valuable services to the public eliminated – the LaSalle Parish Police Jury has called a half-cent sales tax election for April 29, 2017, which would run for a ten year period beginning July 1, 2017.

At their regular February meeting held Monday night of last week, jurors adopted a resolution calling the half-cent sales tax election with funds to be used to assist in funding the criminal court fund and to construct, maintain, surfacing and/or resurfacing public roads and bridges in the parish, including incidental drainage and acquiring, maintaining and operating equipment and materials for said purposes.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

The Tullos Town Council unanimously approved the introduction of an ordinance to designate Tullos Recreational Park and the Tullos Ballpark as tobacco free, during its regular February meeting held Monday night of last week.

Cynthia Cockerham, LEDD Executive Director of Community Development, was present at the meeting to address the Mayor and Council regarding the suggested ordinance. She also presented them with the design of smoke free signage that could be placed at the facilities. She said the sign and post cost is covered through grant funding, and the town would only be responsible for the installation.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

Teachers and students of the year for LaSalle Parish were recognized and presented plaques and gifts during the regular February meeting of the LaSalle Parish School Board held Monday night of last week.

Scott Windham, Supervisor of Transportation and Maintenance, introduced the three teachers and three students, related their accomplishments, and presented plaques and gifts to the six honorees.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

Urania Council member Stacie Strain discussed the Urania Volunteer Fire Department’s need for new members with Mayor Terri Corley and fellow Council members during their regular February meeting held Monday night of last week. Strain’s husband, William, is the fire chief, and she is a department member.

“Our membership is really low now. We’re down to only a few of us. We are especially low on those who are available during the day,” Strain said. “Being a part of the department isn’t just helping the town, but it helps everyone from fire rating to safety. We’re going to be re-rated soon and we’ll be lucky to maintain the rating we have now with our small number of department members.”

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

Shelbi Prince of Jena is shown with Greg Dunn, operator of Incredible Outdoor Outfitters, and the mounted head of the blackbuck antelope that she killed during a hunt last fall, sponsored by Whitetails Unlimited of LaSalle Parish. The once-in-a-lifetime hunt along with the taxidermy work to have the antelope’s head mounted was made possible by the annual Whitetail’s banquet held each year in Jena.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

Universal Plant Services (UPS), a Jones Industrial Holding company, announced last week that it had acquired the assets of the Engine Services business unit of NRG, which supplies parts and services for large-bore engines and natural gas reciprocating compressors.

The transaction will bolster UPS Midstream Services Division and NRG Energy Services is pleased that UPS will continue to meet the needs of the customers of the Engine Services business.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

The President of the LaSalle Economic Development District, Walter E. Dorroh, Jr., responded very favorably to an article appearing in The Jena Times last week concerning the recent announcement that LaSalle Parish leads the state in percentage of business growth.

Dorroh, who has served almost 30 years as president of the District, enthusiastically stated in an interview with The Times:

“This is great news. Of course, many factors go into such an accomplishment. We certainly have had unusually good leadership in local government in the past few years. We have an exceptionally hard working labor force in La- Salle parish and are becoming known for that.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

LaSalle Parish School System

Students of the Year for the LaSalle Parish School System were recognized during the school board’s regular February meeting held Monday night. The honorees include, from left: Middle/Junior High level, Robert Joseph Kendrick, an eighth grader at Jena Junior High School and son of Kathleen and Steven Kendrick of Jena; Elementary level, Isabelle Thompson, a fifth grader at Olla Elementary School and daughter of Casey Dale and James Thompson of Olla; and High School level, Sarah Abigail Guinn, a senior at Jena High School and daughter of Tammy and Kevin Guinn of Jena.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

LaSalle Parish School System

LaSalle Parish “Teachers of the Year” were recognized during the regular February meeting of the LaSalle Parish School Board held Monday night of this week. Honorees include, from left: Jamie Munson, LaSalle High School, high school level; Kristin Webb, Nebo Elementary, elementary level; and Chantel Towell, Jena Junior High School, middle/junior high level.

To view more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition http://www.etypeservices.com/Jena%20TimesID339/

Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler issued the following statement last week in response to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a national voter fraud investigation.

“I take any and all allegations of fraud very seriously, but I can only speak on behalf of the election system here in Louisiana since it is the one I control. Louisiana did not have any widespread irregularities or allegations of fraud during the 2016 Presidential Election Cycle.