News

Walter Dorroh, president of the LaSalle Economic Development District (LEDD), addresses a roomful of attendees for the monthly LEDD board meeting on September 10 held in conjunction with a celebration luncheon for the ACT Work Ready Communities Program Launch at Jena Town Hall. The program, which matches employers to qualified job applicants, is a new opportunity for local employers and citizens alike, and the parish is set to soon join an exclusive number of communities across the nation to become a Certified Work Ready Community. “LaSalle Parish was accepted into the ACT Academy in March 2015 along with several other parishes in the region,” LEDD Executive Director Cynthia Cockerham said. “The certification is recognized nationally as a powerful workforce development tool as well as an economic development tool.”

Paige Mulvihill was crowned Queen of the 2015 homecoming festivities at Jena High School by Principal Glen “Slick” Joiner during the morning homecoming program last Friday. Queen Paige, the daughter of Jeanine and Ronnie Mulvihill, presided over her Court during the homecoming celebration throughout the day at JHS. Incidently, this year was Principal Joiner’s 30th year reunion as a graduate of the Class of 1985.

Three former Jena High School graduates were honored at the sixth annual JHS Alumni Association Banquet held at the Family Life Center of Jena FBC last Thursday night. Dr. Robert Kendrick, left, accepted the award for his late aunt, Mary Kendrick Nicholson, who was named Distinguished Educator; Bridgette Webster-Wade, center, was named Distinguished Graduate; and Ralph McCrory, right, was named to the JHS Hall of Fame. Mrs. Nicholson was a 1927 graduate of JHS; Webster-Wade graduated from JHS in 1979; and McCrory graduated in the Class of 1962 at JHS.

Attention LaSalle Parish employers - are you tired of constant turnover and low productivity? Or would you simply like another tool to help you make the right employment decisions and at no cost to you? The answer to these questions and more is offered through a new opportunity for local employers and citizens alike through the ACT Work Ready Communities Program, which matches employers to qualified job applicants.

For the third year in a row the LaSalle Parish Police Jury received no protests regarding the 2015 assessments of property in the parish. The Jury served as a board of review for assessments in the parish at a special meeting held at 10 a.m., on Monday morning of last week..

Town of Tullos Assistant Town Clerk Paul Doughty presented the Council with several discrepancies involving the water department billing procedures and water meter deposits during their regular September meeting held Monday night of last week. Doughty said first off that the town was hit by both John Vercher and the legislative auditors for not having the required amount of money to cover water meter deposits. He said the required amount was $21,495, and the town is almost there with a current balance of $17,011.50.

 

Jena High School will observe homecoming this Friday, September 25, 2015, with a full day of activities, according to Principal Slick Joiner. Actually, the homecoming celebration will kick off with the annual bonfire at the west end of the football field on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. The annual powderpuff football game will be held October 15th.

The Town of Urania’s audit report review was a main topic of discussion at the September meeting of the Council last week. The findings and summary of the budget was presented to the Council by CPA David Vercher of the Vercher Group. Vercher said he had three findings to report, but overall the budget was good with the town operating within its budgetary constraints.

In anticipation of re-opening the Jena Fair Barn following a gigantic renovation project, members of the LaSalle Parish Police Jury voted last Monday night to rename the facility the “Community Center”. Bids were opened earlier Monday for a complete renovation of the building, inside and out, using a 75/25-percent matching Louisiana Capital Outlay grant.