| January 12, 2006 |
Council halts new development on east bank
The St. Charles Parish Council passed a resolution Monday evening that places a moratorium on any new development on the east bank of St. Charles Parish until December 31, 2006. |
| January 12, 2006 |
Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink
It is an age-old problem: even though Louisiana is in rich with water, it lacks significant drinkable ground water due to high salt counts, forcing many areas to turn to the Mississippi River as the major source for potable water. |
| January 12, 2006 |
Home Sweet Home
As some parish residents resist the placement of FEMA trailers in St. Charles Parish, one local resident has received a trailer and placed it on his mother’s property in Destrehan. Lance Schlosser , a native of Destrehan, recently moved into his brand new trailer after his home in Metairie was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. |
| December 22, 2005 |
Buddy Graver... A Giver For All Seasons
When Buddy Graver retired in 1993 he started volunteering. You could always see his image in the background of pictures, serving food to others. In fact, Sheriff Greg Champagne said of Graver’s volunteering, “you just have to feed him.” And that’s what TRIAD did for their volunteers including Graver at a Christmas luncheon on Tuesday, December 20 at Occasions Restaurant.
|
| December 22, 2005 |
Mobile medical unit rolls into action
This past Wednesday, the St. Charles Community Health Center wheeled its new Mobile Medical Unit into action at the Jewish Community Center in New Orleans. Funded with $200,000 grant from the local chapter of the United Way, initially based in St. Charles Parish, the mobile facility services regions - from New Orleans to Houma - that suffered significant damage to their medical infrastructure from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
|
| December 22, 2005 |
Illegals busted for drugs
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office recently received information that several subjects currently renting a house at 612 Turtle Creek Lane, St. Rose, were suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. Evidence was gathered and a search warrant was obtained and then executed at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday December 13th. Upon entering the residence, officers found an excessive amount of illegal drugs and firearms.
|
| December 15, 2005 |
Wetlands stand in the way of protecting the neighborhood
For years the Army Corps of Engineers has denied permits for the maintenance of levees that protect Willowridge subdivision from storm surge. Residents of Willowridge Subdivision in Luling might be surprised to learn that the only levee protecting them from tidal surge has not been maintained for years.
|
| December 8, 2005 |
What's Happening Around the Parish |
| December 8, 2005 |
Road to normalcy blocked by debris
On Monday night at the St. Charles Parish Council meeting, debris removal from Hurricane Katrina's wake continued to be a contentious issue and sparked intense debate. |
| December 8, 2005 |
School board heads retire
The St. Charles Parish School System will lose two long time employees at the beginning of the year. The retirement of Charles "Chipper" Simon and John "Rusty" Walker, both leaving the school system after many years of service, will lead to major administration changes within the system. |
| December 8, 2005 |
In wake of hurricanes, Davis Pond diversion doesn’t even trickle
While Louisiana’s civic and political leaders have been lobbying Washington for the funds needed to restore the coast, the Department of Natural Resources has been working to make two of the state’s coastal diversion projects operational. |
| December 1, 2005 |
Norco's biggest festival
The annual River Parishes Fall Festival is gearing up to be the biggest and best yet for the annual event. Postponing the event to this weekend looks like it will pay off for planners as weather reports predict dry springlike days and cool nites.
|
| December 1, 2005 |
First hunt scores big buck!
Allison Brockmann, a 14 year old from Hahnville, shot an 8 point buck weighing 215 pounds on her first hunting trip to the Loop Road Hunting Club in Winn Parish near Alexandria on November 26. Allison was with her 13 year old cousin and grandmother in a box stand.
|
| November 24, 2005 |
Flood of Criticism
In the face of overwhelming praise of St. Charles Parish government officials, the citizens of a small cul-de-sac in Coronado Park have relatively few good things to say about the parish's preparations for Hurricane Katrina -- at least the preparations that included Desoto Drive.
|
| November 24, 2005 |
European Angler catches record fish in Spillway
Beautiful weather beckoned Vernen and Kim Carroll to the Bonnet Carre' Spillway this past weekend to camp out and to fish. It's not the first time the couple has enjoyed the Norco Park -- they've been here before many times on weekend getaways. But this particular getaway was special and far-more appreciated than the others. They really needed to get away from dealing with their north shore home, which flooded in Katrina.
|
| November 10, 2005 |
I-49: coming through a city near you
DMJM Harris will be holding a public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding its preferred route for Interstate 49 from Raceland to the Davis Pond Diversion Project on Tuesday from 4:30 to 8:30 p. m. in the St. Charles Parish Courthouse. There will also be a hearing today at the Lafourche Parish Emergency, Recreation and Community Center. |
| November 10, 2005 |
Parish schools continue to improve academic scores
The State of Louisiana released its accountability scores for its 1,348 public schools last Thursday and St. Charles Parish performed well once again.
The school system posted three schools with exemplary academic growth, six schools with recognized academic growth and no schools in decline or academically unacceptable. |
| November 10, 2005 |
Employees won't see merit raises; parish tightens budget in 2006
Parish Councilmen Monday agreed with Parish President Albert Laque's decision to eliminate merit raises for all parish employees in 2006.
Despite a motion by Councilman Dickie Duhe to reinstate the merit increases and include extra money for the increase in the 2006 budget, council members voted 5 to 4 to deny the motion. |
| November 3, 2005 |
Old dump re-opening threatens parish wetlands
In a move shocking parish officials, the Department of Environmental Quality, authorized a permit to reopen sub-standard BFI West landfill on Hwy 90. DEQ assistant secretary Chuck Brown pushed the permit through without any studies of what the dump contained or even if it was needed. "They are not following any of the rules. They notified the parish of the opening despite the fact that Laque has sent several letters objecting to the opening," said Public Information Officer Steve Sirmon. |
| November 3, 2005 |
Inferno destroys Magnolia home
Last Wednesday afternoon, Luling and Paradis volunteer firefighters were called to 373 Lily St., Magnolia subdivision in Boutte behind Majoria's Supermarket to find a house fully engulfed in flames. The firefighters got the fire under control as quickly as possible but not before the house had been completely destroyed by severe heat and smoke damage. |
| October 27, 2005 |
Flying mattress causes death of motorcyclist
A mattress that flew out of a black pickup truck traveling east-bound on Hwy 90 west of Des Allemands caused a fatal crash of a motorcyclist. |
| October 27, 2005 |
Insurance Giant chooses Luling as Katrina headquarters
Before powerful Hurricane Katrina hit, State Farm officials were canvassing the New Orleans area looking for sites to set up a disaster relief station that they knew would be needed. They chose Luling because for weeks after the storm our parish was the closest area to New Orleans that was livable. |
| October 20, 2005 |
The Fear Factor
While West Jefferson Police were firing over the heads of desperate evacuees walking over the Crescent City Connection, rescuers in the city risked their lives trying to save victims from flooded homes. Some acted out of bravery while others acted out of fear. The two extremes were viewed by the nation as they watched the drama unfold. |
| October 20, 2005 |
White trash hot topic at council meeting
Waste Management will resume its regularly scheduled garbage pick up beginning Monday, Waste Management Spokesperson Rene Faucheux told councilmen Monday. |
| October 20, 2005 |
Communities push for Higher Levees
While the residents of Boutte and Luling are waiting for the Westbank Hurricane Protection Levee to be completed, a process that may take years, the residents of Des Allemands, Bayou Gauche and Paradis have united to take flood protection into their own hands. |
| Oct 6,
2005 |
Businesses to receive help from LED
The Louisiana Economic Development Department (LED) announced recently that they were launching a website and toll-free phone number to provide direct support to businesses impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The St. Charles Parish Department of Economic Development will also be assisting local business owners at today’s St. Charles Business Association (SCBA) meeting at Dougie V’s restaurant in Luling at 7:45 a.m. |
| Oct 6,
2005 |
Waste Management gets a grip on
the garbage
As the St. Charles Parish population swells, so does the garbage.
A quick ride through the parish reveals unprecedented amounts of curbside garbage waiting to be collected.
"The number of people in the parish has grown exponentially," Waste Management Spokesperson Marc Ehrhardt explained. "The volume of garbage has also grown exponentially." |
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
Garbage
pick-up to increase
Many residents are still
compounding sacks of garbage and storm-ruined belongings over three
weeks after Hurricane Katrina, and while garbage pick-up has not been
restored to normal levels, parish and Waste Management officials say
it is increasing and will hopefully return to a twice-a-week schedule
in the near future. |
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
United
Way helps coordinate donated goods, services after Katrina
Since Katrina wrecked havoc
on the New Orleans area and St. Charles Parish, the United Way of
St. Charles has quarterbacked the effort of accepting and distributing
donated goods. |
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
Animal
rescue
On Thursday after Katrina,
federal and state emergency personnel were still trying to get a handle
on a massive rescue operation. As the human drama unfolded so did
the abandoned pet drama. Reports of dogs roaming the streets looking
for food began pouring in. Hundreds of hungry, weak and sometimes
aggressive dogs were roaming the streets of the city. Hundreds more
were locked up in their owners' homes, slowly starving to death.
|
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
Truck
stop rezoning denied
The St. Charles Parish Council
Monday night voted down a petition to rezone a parcel of land in Paradis
to allow a truck stop with a video poker casino. |
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
FEMA
moves in to St. Charles
The Federal Emergency Management
Agency has moved in to St. Charles Parish, setting up a temporary
office in the St. Charles Room Bingo Hall on Highway 90 in Boutte.
|
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
Ready
to evacuate again
With Hurricane Rita spinning
in the Gulf of Mexico, even as most of St. Charles Parish continues
patching itself back together after Katrina, people are beginning
to make contingency plans in case they have to evacuate -- again.
|
| Sept.
22, 2005 |
Blume sentenced to 30 years
Robert Blume, 30, was
sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison on Friday for indecent
behavior with a juvenile girl.
|
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
Volunteers
hand out hope to evacuees
Two weeks following the
tragedy, cars lined Post Drive Tuesday afternoon as people waited
anxiously for food, water, baby and hygiene products.
|
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
EOC
preparation pays off after Katrina
"This was not the worst-case
scenario by far," said Director of Emergency Preparedness Tab Troxler.
" A little to the east or west makes a whole lot of difference. Under
different circumstances the whole West Bank could have been wiped
out or the East Bank inundated with water." |
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
Cox
says communications almost restored
Cox Communications, the
major cable television provider for St. Charles Parish, says that
they hope all services to the parish will be fully restored by Monday.
|
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
As
the food turns
On Thursday, lines were
still forming outside grocery stores in Luling and Destrehan but they
were moving smoothly. In fact, it took minutes to get into the store
at the Winn Dixie on Hwy. 90 and only a couple of minutes to
go through check out on Wednesday afternoon. Winn Dixie is controlling
the number of shoppers going into the store only when the check-out
lines get too long. “We don’t want to inconvenience them at the time
of check-out,” explained Store Director Jamie Amedee.
|
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
Alligator
Fest cancelled
The 2005 Alligator Festival,
scheduled for Sept. 22 through 25 at the West Bank Bridge Park in
Luling, has been canceled due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
|
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
Will
Katrina become New Orleans' finest hour?
It was called “the worst
disaster in American history.” |
| Sept.
17, 2005 |
Schools
set plan to accept displaced students
The St. Charles Parish Public
School System, Thursday night, decided on its plan to welcome displaced
students beginning on Monday, September 26. |
| Sept.
14, 2005 |
To hell and back
The scene at the Ernest
J. Morial Convention Center, viewed through the eyes of the television
camera, horrified the nation. But while most St. Charles residents
sat and watched the nightmare unfolding, one local nurse was living
it.
|
| Sept.
14, 2005 |
School
begins Thursday, system preparing for student influx
After announcing that school
will resume on Thursday for students enrolled in St. Charles Parish
schools before Katrina, the school system is making preparations for
the influx of new students. |
| Sept.
14, 2005 |
Parish
continues climbing back to normal
Two weeks after Hurricane
Katrina’s devastating rampage through the Gulf South, St. Charles
Parish has gotten back on its feet. |
| Sept.
14, 2005 |
Could
St. Charles boom?
While the Mississippi Gulf
Coast felt the brunt of Hurricane Katrina’s winds, her flood waters
have taken their toll on Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and much
of Jefferson Parish. Baton Rouge has already seen an explosion of
new residents, but others who may want to stay a little closer to
the parishes that were once home may be looking to St. Charles.
|
| Sept.
14, 2005 |
Firefighters cleared roads after
Katrina
After any major weather
event, the first order of business has to be clearing debris from
the roads. Nothing -- not rescue operations, not repair work, not
restoring utilities -- can happen until vehicles can get through.
After Hurricane Katrina came through on Aug. 29, the first group
of people on the streets trying to clear things away were the parish’s
firefighters.
|
| Sept.
14, 2005 |
Pedestrian
killed in Des Allemands
A pedestrian was killed
in a car crash early Sunday morning in Des Allemands.
|
| Sept.
10, 2005 |
Public
schools hope to start next week, plan for displaced students
The St. Charles Parish School
System is preparing to restart its school year. School Board Informations
Officer Rochelle Cancienne stated that all teachers and school employees
should return to work Monday. But she emphasized that Monday is not
the start date for students to return to school. |
| Sept.
10, 2005 |
Trash
and debris pile up
One need only drive down
any residential street in the parish to see trash and debris, not
to mention mountains of dead trees and branches, piling up -- remnants
of the march of Hurricane Katrina. At Tuesday’s Parish Council meeting,
Department of Emergency Operations Head Tab Troxler reported that
the parish has entered into an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers
to collect the storm debris, the cost of which will be entirely paid
for by the federal government. However, the Corps has not yet announced
a starting date to pick the debris up. |
| Sept.
10, 2005 |
State
of the parish after Katrina
The St. Charles Parish Council
convened on Sept. 6 for its regularly scheduled meeting, but the meeting
was anything but regular. The meeting was moved from the council chambers
to a courtroom due to damage to the building, some council members
came clad in polo shirts, jeans or work uniforms instead of their
customary coats and ties, and no parish business was voted on or decided
upon. The sole purpose of the meeting was to update the parish government
on how well St. Charles has fared since the killer storm, Katrina,
tore through the gulf coast. |
| Sept.
10, 2005 |
Twister
hits St. Charles Parish Courthouse
St. Charles Parish courthouse
suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina after a tornado
was believed to have damaged the roof and allowed rain to leak into
the building. |
| Sept.
10, 2005 |
Hospital recovering alongside parish
in Katrina's wake
Evacuating a hospital
is not an easy task, nor is it an easy decision to make. However,
that was the decision facing the staff of St. Charles Parish Hospital
on the eve of Hurricane Katrina.
|
| Sept.
1 &3, 2005 |
Hurricane
Updates
The St. Charles Herald-Guide
put out two hurricane updates while the parish was locked down and
evacuated for Hurricane Katrina.
Go to Sept. 1, 2005 Update
Go to
Sept. 3, 2005 Update |
| Aug.
24, 2005 |
Hurricanes
deliver double whammy
It was devastating enough
for former Luling resident Leigh Fisher when Hurricane Ivan’s 135
mph winds hit and almost destroyed her Pensacola Beach home last September
16. But when Hurricane Dennis with similar winds bore down on it this
July 10 and tore up much of what remained, she started to think that
maybe she shouldn’t live on the Gulf Coast. |
| Aug.
24, 2005 |
Officials
move to support 'world-class' airport
The New Orleans area may
be headed towards a new ‘world class’ airport, according to a coalition
of local and state officials who met on Friday. |
| Aug.
24, 2005 |
Hahnville
man pleads to indecent behavior
Harold R. Falgout Jr. of
Hahnville pled no contest on Monday to three counts of indecent behavior
with a juvenile. |
| Aug.
20, 2005 |
Community
leader Marsha Barr dies
Marsha Morton Barr, a native
of Hazard, Ky and resident of Luling, died on August 16 of an apparent
heart attack. She was 52. |
| Aug.
20, 2005 |
One
hospitalized in school bus crash
A Luling woman was hospitalized
after her vehicle rear-ended a school bus on Highway 90 Tuesday morning.
|
| Aug.
20, 2005 |
Bellow
found guilty of vehicular homicide
A St. Charles Parish Jury
found Jerry Bellow guilty of vehicular homicide on Tuesday.
|
| Aug.
17, 2005 |
Council
defends Hawaii trip
An ordinance that would
have limited the number of council members and parish officials allowed
to attend the National Association of Counties convention was voted
down Monday night at the St. Charles Parish Council meeting.
|
| Aug.
13, 2005 |
Board
adds nine new busses
The St. Charles Parish School
Board voted Wednesday night to approve bids for nine new busses.
|
| Aug.
13, 2005 |
Woman
dies in Airline canal
Another car crash at the
Airline Highway Canal in Destrehan has resulted in a fatality. At
about 7 p.m. Thursday a 2002 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Ranae Toney
Scott of LaPlace struck the median, went out of control and into the
swampy area along the highway. |
| Aug.
10, 2005 |
Parish
sees $4.7 million in new construction in July
Figures released by the
St. Charles Dept. of Planning and Zoning recently show over $4.7 million
in construction estimates for the month of July. The majority of the
figure, $3.7 million, was due to new residential construction.
|
| Aug.
6, 2005 |
Residents
oppose I-49
The statement that the southerly
“U” route for I-49 was no longer being considered was met with harsh
opposition by most of the over 200 residents crowded into First Baptist
Church in Paradis Tuesday evening. |
| Aug.
6, 2005 |
Lafon
looks ahead to new school year
With just a few weeks left
until students go back to the classrooms, St. Charles Parish Public
Schools Superintendent Rodney Lafon called a press conference Thursday
to outline some of the new initiatives the district will undertake
in the coming school year. |
| Aug.
6, 2005 |
Horse
diagnosed with encephalitis
A horse in Hahnville has
been diagnosed with the first case of Eastern equine encephalitis
in the New Orleans area. |
| Aug.
3, 2005 |
Citizens
speak on Hawaii trip, ball park
Although the issue wasn’t
on the St. Charles Parish Council’s agenda for August 1, many citizens
took advantage of their right to address the council to speak out
against their recent trip to Hawaii. |
