By Renee Simpson
Courthouse employees watched anxiously this week as the building’s new generator was lifted into place.
The 49,000-pound, 1250-kilowatt teal diesel generator, which resembles a freight train car, left the ground for approximately five minutes to be mounted in place behind the courthouse. Crews are planning to shut down power to the building on Veterans Day further complete its installation.
When completed, the $992,000 project will ensure all parish offices located in the courthouse, including the parish council and court system, will be up and running as soon as possible after a hurricane. The generator will also keep the courthouse online during storms to speed response activities and house employees. The project is partially funded by a FEMA grant in the amount of $358,228.
Check out the parish’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/stcharlesgov to see video of the precarious lifting process.
Water tower gets facelift
The Taft water tower has been repainted by Utility Services Inc. and is currently in service. The parish’s new logo has been added facing both north and south along Louisiana Hwy. 3142.
Utility Services Inc. is also completing the repainting of the St. Rose water tower. It will be put back in service in the next few weeks after it has been re-chlorinated. Because of that tower’s proximity to Louis Armstrong International Airport, the tower is painted in a red and white checkerboard pattern meant to make it more visible to pilots.
Both of these towers and a ground storage tank in New Sarpy are being refurbished by Utility Services Inc. under a maintenance contract which spreads the cost of the repairs out over several years. This method softens the impact to the Waterworks Department’s budget.
Also, after numerous delays the second Mississippi River waterline crossing has been installed. It has passed pressure and leakage tests, and the line was chlorinated. It is expected to be fully operational within the next few weeks.
See shelter’s pets online
Dogs and cats of all shapes, sizes and ages are seeking their forever homes at the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter.
A few of the animals available include:
•Bagura – Black domestic short-haired cat.
•Dixie – American bull dog
•Dorie – tortoiseshell mix cat.
•Frankie – Poodle / terrier mix dog. (Frankie is also in need of donations to defray the cost of his heartworm medication.)
•Jasmine – Catahoula dog.
•Mikey – Tabby mix cat.
•Nola – Lab / boxer mix dog.
•Penelope – Pit bull dog.
•Reggie – Orange and white domestic short haired cat.
•Spencer – Cocker spaniel dog.
•Alex – Black and grey tabby cat.
•Crazy – Black and grey tabby cat.
•Diva – Schnauzer mix dog.
•Luchia – Grey and white tabby cat.
•Sassy – One-and-a-half-year-old black lab with golden eyes.
•Sybil – Six-month-old black and grey tabby.
•Princess – Lab / collie mix dog.
•Sake – Terrier dog.
•Twisted Whiskers – Domestic short haired Tabby kitten.
•Smiley – Beagle / lab mix dog.
•Big Boi – Black and white Maine Coon mix cat.
For adoption information, call (985) 783-5010 or visit stcharlesparish-la.gov/animalcontrol. The shelter’s hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located under the Hale Boggs Bridge on the West Bank.
George Prince ferry memorial dedication online
A 20-minute segment on the recent George Prince Ferry Memorial dedication ceremony is currently airing at noon daily on Cox Cable Channel 6 in St. Charles Parish.
The emotional ceremony features the reading of all 95 names of both victims and survivors of the Oct. 20, 1976 ferry accident, which are featured prominently on the new monument at the East Bank Bridge Park.
Former New Orleans Archbishop Phillip M. Hannan also addressed the crowd of over 300 to pay tribute and remember the time he spent in St. Charles Parish consoling loved ones of those lost.
The video is also available online at vimeo.com/stcharlesgov. To see a schedule of all the programming available on Channel 6, visit stcharlesparish-la.gov/channel6.
Boy Scouts seeking alumni
The Boy Scouts of America and the Southeast Louisiana Council is inviting all Scouting alumni to be part of its Centennial celebration in 2010.
This includes former Boy Scouts, their family members, volunteers and anyone whose life has been impacted by the BSA.
Find friends, share stories and re-engage in Scouting by visiting www.bsa-selacouncil.org and clicking on the BSA alumni button. You may also contact the local BSA office at (504) 889-0388.
Renee Allemand Simpson serves as public information officer for St. Charles Parish. She can be reached at (985) 783-5000 or rsimpson@stcharlesgov.net.
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