Bayou Blue Middle School opens its doors to students
January 5, 2007Bayou Blue Middle School opens its doors to students
January 9, 2007While people head to the gym, the produce aisle or reach for home or self improvement guides to conquer those 2007 resolutions, some Tri-parish residents will put personal resolutions aside and head back to work n for the people.
Parish officials from government and police to schools and levee districts have the weighty responsibility of meeting residents’ needs and are setting new goals n or resolutions n for 2007.
With 2005 begetting life-altering storms, officials were focused on repairing damaged homes and lives in 2006. Now, repairs under way and Tri-parishes thriving, the New Year calls for a new game plan: prevention, protection and recreating some sense of normalcy.
For Terrebonne Parish President Don Schwab, 2006 was prosperous for the community largely because of the uneventful hurricane season.
“That would be my number one wish for the parish; that we have another hurricane free season. It just made things easier to accomplish this year,” Schwab said.
With the destructive wind and water, the parish can see needed projects start or continue, one being Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee system, what Schwab said is “dearly needed.”
“I think it would put a lot of people at ease, and it’s one of the biggest issues we’re faced with,” he said, speaking about future hurricane protection.
Morganza will not be the only major project tackled in 2007; Schwab said the administration is ready for bidding on strategic turning lane projects around the parish. With the increased amount of traffic in Houma and throughout Terrebonne, turning lanes are needed to ease the amount of traffic at some problematic intersections.
While the Lafourche Parish government is focusing on continued economic growth, the South Lafourche Levee District will protect parish assets that have come from a post-storm boom.
Windell Curole, director of lock and levee creation in the parish, hopes that with a little luck the parish will be storm-free again this year, allowing the initiation of vital protection projects.
“The parish is experiencing a good economy and we are in a great situation,” said Curole. “For us, a number of projects must be completed to continue to be prosperous.”
Curole has an undying passion for locks, levees, roads and the preservation and restoration of Louisiana’s wetlands stemming from a childhood spent around south Louisiana bayous. His passion resonates all the way to Baton Rouge where he has been successful in generating funds to complete projects that may have spared parish land and business owners from Rita’s surge.
In 2007, the levee district looks to complete alterations to the Golden Meadow Floodgate, transforming it into a working lock. The lock would allow emergency access to Bayou Lafourche as well as parish protection from rising waters. The option to open and close the lock at any give point would allow fresh water through and keep salt-water intrusion to a minimum, Curole said.
The second item on his 2007 to-do list: Upgrade the parish levee system by elevating the guard walls another four to five feet.
“This is our plan for the parish, but hurricane protection is a regional need. We are all in this together, whether you’re from Lake Pontchartrain or Calcasieu, we need to work together to make it happen,” said Curole.
The levee district continues to work as a separate entity but alongside the Lafourche Parish Government to create one of the most effective systems in the Bayou Region, and the parish government will poke at the embers of the blazing economy, which has been supporting the SLLD through a parish sales tax.
“We want to continue the progress we saw in the last year and continue projects currently under way,” said Parish President Charlotte Randolph. Park improvements, like finishing new basketball courts around the parish, are top priorities along with continuing levee work.
“For 2007, we want to focus on sustaining the businesses we have here and invite others to come to Lafourche,” she said.
In celebration of the parish’s 200th birthday, Randolph said, although there are no firm plans as of yet, the council is considering throwing a one-day shindig in March to commemorate the history, people and life of Lafourche communities.
“In 2007, we want to let the world know about Lafourche and all the great opportunities there are here and all that we provide for the nation,” she said.
For Jo Ann Matthews, Lafourche Parish school superintendent, the New Year will ring in better opportunities for staff and students, to provide a suitable working and learning environment.
“We have recently implemented a new, wellness plan, providing wellness services for our staff members. It is important that we support our staff and ensuring overall health,” she said.
The better health and wellness plan also extends to students, as Lafourche schools continue with a federally regulated nutritional program which provides students with healthier meals, snacks and teaches the importance of healthy eating.
“It is important that our student and teachers are healthy because it provides for better learning,” said Matthews.
Matthews remains steadfast on curing the shortage of secondary math and science teachers. She hopes that increased salary schedules and additional benefits will lure needed teachers to Lafourche high schools.
