May 2015

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GATEWAY NEWS A Publication of the Iberville Chamber of Commerce

MAY 2015

Students get jobs info, dose of reality at...

CAREER CONNECTIONS DAY Approximately 650 junior and senior high students got information about numerous careers and the costs of everyday life at the parish’s first Career Connections Day on February 24. Students visited booths, where they received information about the educational requirements, duties and pay of various jobs from representatives of more than 50 careers. The students also went through the “reality store,” which was designed to show them actual living expenses of an average 29-year-old person, and the link between the income of their career choice and real life living expenses. The event was coordinated by the Iberville Chamber of Commerce and Iberville Parish School Board. Gold sponsors were the Dow Chemical Co. and East Iberville-INC. Silver sponsors were A. Wilbert’s Sons, Axiall Corp., “The Expo really the Iberville Parish School Board and Shintech. made me realize Bronze sponsor was Turner Industries Group. that you have to The Chamber Planning Committee for the work for what event was chaired by Grace Cryer of Syngenta. you want because Shown are scenes from the event. nothing is free.” Tamya Danielfield, Sophomore student

“Our students met so many fantastic people and learned so much about possible career options.  The reality store also was a wonderful experience for them, and they learned a great deal about the choices they will need to make in order to meet their lifestyle ideas.” Tonya Orcino - St. John High School Teacher

NEW MEMBERS CS Media & Communications Grosse Tete, LA 225-648-2766 Carnegie Companies Plaquemine, LA  440-914-9000 General Informatics, LLC Baton Rouge, LA

Mary Hamilton Plaquemine, LA 225-975-9000 The Village Life Center Plaquemine, LA 225-385-4543 Vanguard Agency Plaquemine, LA 225-975-9000

MAY 2

From the Executive Director Dear members, The 2015 Louisiana Legislative Session is underway, and one of our local state representatives, Karen St. Germain, is leading the charge to address the critical backlog of transportation infrastructure projects needed in our state. She is sponsoring House Bill 767, which created the La. Transportation Infrastructure Bank. Funds collected from transportation taxes would go into this bank, and would be dedicated only to transportation projects. It would be under the control of the La. Treasurer, and could not be raided for other uses. In addition, it would provide a way for municipalities and parishes to obtain low interest loans for transportation infrastructure projects. We fully support this bill. Another bill we are watching closely is Senate Bill 85, Inventory Tax Credit repeal. The bill would move inventory tax revenues collected away from local to state government to help fill the state budget hole. The Chamber opposes this bill. On another note, congratulations to Plaquemine Manor for the beautiful renovation of the old River West Medical Center into a first class nursing home. Not only did this give new life to the building, but it also is another fine addition to the healthcare options now available to the people of Iberville. Finally, as school comes to a close, we wish our school administrators, teachers and students an enjoyable and restful summer. We all recognize the importance of our education system to our future workforce, and appreciate all our educators efforts throughout the year. Have a great summer,

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DANCING

WITH THE STARS

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26 Carl Grant Civic Center

8 DANCING TEAMS TO COMPETE! Percentage of proceeds go to charity!

Leadership class graduates The Iberville Leadership Class of 2015 “graduated” on May 13. They are,from left back row:  Dwayne Boudreaux, Advanced Retail Solutions, LLC; Chandler Smith, Plaquemine High School; William deGravelles, A. Wilbert’s Sons, LLC; Rhett Vaughn, Plaquemine Bank; Roger Massey, Shintech; and Michael Burnett, Syngenta Crop Protection. Front row:  Kimberly Wyatt, Ochsner Clinic Foundation; La’Tonja Taylor-Butler, Iberville Parish School Board; Anthony Bonilla, Axiall Corp.; Karen Pugh, Citizens Bank & Trust Co.; Stephanie DeBarbieris, Ochsner Medical Center of Baton Rouge; Jennifer Christian, Syngenta Crop Protection; Kellie Miller, St. John School; and Jason Cavalier, CVS Pharmacy.  

Plaq. Bank takes first in Chamber golf tourney Beautiful weather and a crowded field of players enjoyed the 17th annual Chamber Golf Tournament at the Island Country Club on March 30. Corporate sponsors for the tournament were: A. Wilbert’s Sons, L.L.C., Axiall Corporation, Boardwalk Louisiana Midstream LLC, Citizens Bank and Trust Co., The Dow Chemical Company, Essential Federal Credit Union, EXCEL Group, Fred’s Travel Center, Iberville Bank, Kelly’s Industrial Services, Inc., Lake After Hours, Ochsner Health System, Plaquemine Bank, Plaquemine Truck Stop & Travel Center, Prime Occupational Medicine, and SGS Petroleum Service Corporation. Hole sponsors for the event include: Advantous Consulting, LLC, Allstate Insurance Agent Daniel Durand, Danny’s Cajun Catering, Ferachi Oil - A division of Lard Oil Company of Iberville, Guaranty Bank & Trust Co., Lofton Staffing & Security Services, La. State Rep. Karen St. Germain, Neighbors Federal Credit Union, Performance Contractors, Stein’s Top Notch Catering, The AME Group, and the Bank of Commerce. Team Sponsors for the event include: Air Products & Chemicals, Comfort Care Hospice, Eastman Chemical Company, Goudeau’s Healthmart Pharmacy, Jacobs Field Services of North America Inc., Performance Contractors, Assessor Randy Sexton, Syngenta, and a team with individuals Don Braud, Steve Smith, Guy Ruggiero and Trey Ruggiero. Awards dinner sponsor was Stein’s Top Notch Catering. Volunteers included Steve Smith of The AME Group, Heidi Wendt, Kimberly Wyatt, Virginia Thibodaux and Chantelle Serio of Ochsner Health System; Chantel Distefano of Comfort Care Hospice, Hayley Brown of Axiall Corporation, Gary LaBauve of Neighbors Federal Credit Union, Maria Grace and Larry Rouse.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING... Chamber members learned about cancer statistics and how they can help prevent cancer at the a luncheon on May 5. Shown are, from left, Essential Federal Credit Union representatives Lis Patrick and CEO Richard Williams; speaker Renea Duffin of Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and Chamber Director Hank Grace. Essential was sponsor of the event.

FIRST PLACE... The team sponsored by Plaquemine Bank and Trust Co. and the first place winners are, from left: Steve Panepinto; Lynn Amedee, Stan Barbier and David Harris.

SECOND PLACE... The team sponsored by Fred’s Travel Center won second place. They are: David Roshto, Scott Delatte; Andy Diez and Dwayne Landry THIRD PLACE... Pictured at left is the team sponsored by Essential Federal Credit Union and the third place winners: Ralph Bergeron ; Bobby Risenbourg; and Lonnie Rogers.

Pictured from left winners of longest drive #7 - Monty Migliacio, Comfort Care Hospice; closest to pin #16 - Taylor Best, Dow Chemical; closest to the pin #3 - Scott Mabry, Ochsner Health Systems; and Longest Drive #14 - David Harris, Plaquemine Bank.

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Hanger Clinic

Butcher Boy

Westbank residents needing orthotic and prosthetic care need not worry about the tough drive into Baton Rouge. Hanger Clinic in Plaquemine can provide these healthcare needs, along with compression stockings, braces, walking boots, wrist splints, diabetic shoes and more. The clinic is conviently located at 25420 La. Hwy. 1 in Plaquemine across from the Iberville Ochsner Medical Complex. Walk-ins are welcome, but all patients need a prescription from their physician. “We stress customer service and dedication to our patients,” said clinic Manager Steven Maul. “We go way above and beyond for our patients.” They provide medical devices for a variety of conditions and their products include mastectomy forms and bras, a variety of prostheses, including activity-specific prostheses, orthotic positional supports and braces, shoe inserts, ankle supports, walker boots, knee and hip orthotics, compression stockings, burn masks, and more. Hours are 8-5 Monday-Friday. Call 225-687-4520 for more information.

Known for its excellent meat, produce and deli, Butcher Boy grocery store is considered by many to offer Plaquemine’s finest groceries. And there is a reason for that: focus on the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices. “We don’t sell cheap junk at cheap prices or high quality at high prices,” explained owner Ronnie Trosclair. Also involved in the management of the familyoperated store are his wife, Vickie, and sons, Brandon, Duston and Tyler. “We take pride in having a clean store with friendly employees,” said Brandon. “And we offer a good variety of quality products at low prices.” When the family purchased the store in 2014, they promised to be active in supporting the community and have kept that promise. “We want to be an asset to the people of Iberville, and to the businesses of the parish,” Brandon said. “We enjoy partnering with other businesses to help make Iberville stronger and better.” Butcher Boy is located in a large facility with abundant parking on Belleview Road. Hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone: 225-687-4547.

Ribbon cuttings... Ribbon cuttings were held recently for three local businesses. In the top and middle photos managers and employees celebrate the opening of Guaranty Bank in north Iberville. Guaranty bought out the Bank of Maringouin. The top photo is from the Maringouin location, and the middle photo is from the Grosse Tete location. the bottom photo shows the ribbon cutting of the new Plaquemine Manor location. The old River West Medical Center was completely renovated to provide the first class nursing home.

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