A publication for all Iberville residents by your government leaders DECEMBER 2015
Improvements coming to your garbage collection in January Iberville Parish's new contract for garbage service with Progressive Waste Solutions is a win-win for Iberville Parish, residents and the environment. Progressive has agreed to invest $600,000 in order to supply all households with a large 95-gallon rolling garbage cart free of charge in order for Iberville to go to automated garbage collection. The carts are the property of Progressive. Those carts will be delivered to homes the week of January 11, and should begin being used immediately. The 95-gallon Numerous surrounding parishes have already garbage cart gone to automated collection, and it has been that every proven to reduce litter because eliminating garbage Iberville bags being left on the roadside also eliminates household will their litter. receive. In addition, the Parish is increasing boom truck collection of yard waste and white goods from once every other week to weekly. This will also help Iberville look clean and orderly. Progressive will have an office located at 57918 Broadway Street in Plaquemine, open Mondays through Fridays. The phone number is 225.320.1300. You can also purchase an additional cart directly from Progressive. The parish will not have any garbage carts.
Garbage issues? Call Progressive Each household will receive one 95-gallon garbage cart. All garbage should be placed in that cart. If you have questions, issues with collection or want to purchase an additional 95-gallon cart, call or go by the Progressive office. The cost is $50.00 if the cart is picked up at the office, and $60 for delivery of the cart. Iberville Parish will not have any carts and cannot get carts for residents. The Progressive office is located at 57918 Broadway St., Plaquemine. Phone: 225.320.1300. Website: www.pwsiberville.com.
Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso, Jr. - 225.687.5190 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Warren “T-Notchie” Taylor, Mitchel Ourso Sr., Thomas Dominique, Leonard “Buck” Jackson, Edwin Reeves Jr., Courtney Lewis, Ty Arnold, Hunter Markins, Terry Bradford, Louis “Pete” Kelley, Tim Vallet, Matt Jewell, Bart Morgan
UPCOMING EVENTS Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King Day
Feb. 6 – Krewe de Roi Ball
Jan. 23 – Krewe of Cypress Ball
Feb. 9 – Mardi Gras
Jan. 30 – Krewe of Okeanos Ball
March 5 – Election Day
Jan. 31 – Krewe of Comogo night parade
What you should know ◗ Households will be provided with one 95-gallon rolling garbage cart free of charge. The carts will be delivered to homes the week of January 11. Begin using this cart immediately. ◗ These carts are costing Progressive $600,000, and are the property of Progressive. You cannot take it if you move. Additional carts can be purchased by residents for $50.00 if picked up at the Progressive office and $60 if delivered to your home. If you purchase a cart, it is yours to keep. ◗ All garbage MUST be in the garbage cart to be picked up. Bags of garbage put next to the cart WILL NOT be collected. ◗ Garbage collection will be by brand new automated trucks, with only a garbage truck driver. There will be NO garbage men to collect garbage left by the roadside. ◗ Your garbage collection day will NOT change. The collection schedule stays the same. The boom truck will also collect on the same day of the week that it has in the past, but will come more often - once weekly. ◗ Boom truck collection of large brush and tree limbs, bulky waste, furniture and white goods will increase from once every other week to once weekly. ◗ The boom truck will also collect on the same day of the week, but will now collect weekly. ◗ To dispose of your old garbage can, mark an X on it and put it next to the cart. Presorted Standard U.S. Postage
PAID
Hattiesburg, ,MS 39402 Permit No. 142
I B E R V I L L E PA R I S H G O V E R N M E N T
Salute to Vets event the biggest ever! The Iberville Salute to Veterans event on November 11 was the biggest ever – with more than 1,200 people attending, and participation by more local groups than ever before. Sponsored by Iberville Parish President J. Mitchell Ourso, Jr. and the Iberville Parish Council, the event included a visit by incoming Gov. John Bell Edwards, along with performances by the Iberville Math, Science & Arts (MSA) Academy Orchestra, the Plaquemine High School Marching Band, three choirs – the MSA Showstoppers, St. John Choir and Unique Visions Gospel Choir, the Baton Rouge Pipes & Drums bagpipe group, and the Simms Sons, the PHS ROTC drill team, the Peggy Grant School of Dance, MSA Excalibur Dance Team, St. John Eaglettes, PHS Dazzlers and military Honor Guards. The Iberville Wall of Veterans now features the photos of more than 1,300 area veterans. Shown are scenes from this year’s event.
2
December 2015
| Imagine Iberville |
Iberville ramps up pet adoptions in 2015 The Iberville Parish Animal Shelter adopted out 56 pets in December during its Adopt-A-Thon. During December, all pet adoptions were free, and included shots, neutering and micro-chipping the pets. The Animal Shelter has ramped up its efforts to get dogs and cats adopted during 2015. As of December 22, a total of 386 pets were adopted for the year! The agency is now working with other animal adoption agencies and being pro-active in promoting adoption with events and even a facebook page: Iberville Parish Shelter and Animal Control. Located at 54815 Bayou Road in Plaquemine, the Shelter can also be reached by calling 225.687.5881.
Iberville
Pet
Transports
pet adoptions
adoptions during
of pets to other
for 2015
December
shelters
386
56
80
Are you interested in adopting? Download the Pet Adoption Application form from the parish website: www.ibervilleparish.com. Fill it out and send it to
[email protected] or fax it to (225) 685-1096 with the subject "Pet Application." If you know the name of the animal you are interested in, please write it on the designated area, if you do not know it, just write a breed, species, and size (e.g. kitten, cat, Lab, small dog, Chihuahua) that you would be interested in when available. The applications will be evaluated, a home visit may be required, and we will get in touch with the applicants who fit the best criteria for each type of dog/cat.
2nd Annual Pet Adoption Day and Easter Egg Hunt - March 12, 2016 D I S T R I C T AT T O R N E Y
DA's Office successful in fighting murder conviction appeals A man convicted of 2 murders in Iberville Parish in September, 2012, is being kept in prison because the 18th
who know the law and can win at the
doubt, and to the exclusion of every
appellate level.
reasonable hypothesis of innocence,
Detective Ronnie Hebert characterizing
all of the elements of second degree
the case as “cold blooded murder” in
The expertise of the DA’s staff has
Prater’s mistrial claim was based on
Judicial District Attorney’s Office was
now been credited with keeping Prater
murder, and defendant’s identity as the
his testimony, which Prater argued
successful in fighting the appeals of his
in prison, after he appealed on the basis
perpetrator of the victims’ murders.”
prejudiced the jury. The Appeals Court
conviction.
that insufficient evidence was presented
Harry Prater, of Baton Rouge, was
Additionally, the Court of Appeal
ruled that “where the remark is not
in the trial, and that the trial court should
found that “the jury was correct in
deliberately obtained by the prosecutor
convicted of two counts of second
not have denied his motion for a mistrial.
finding beyond a reasonable doubt that
to prejudice the rights of the defendant,
degree murder by a jury, and was
He also claimed
defendant did
it is not the basis for a mistrial... and
sentenced to two consecutive life
his trial counsel
not act in self-
the admonition given by the trial court
terms in prison without the benefit of
was ineffective
defense.”
was sufficient to assure defendant a fair
probation, parole or suspension of
in representing
sentence after a three-day jury trial in
him.
May of 2014. Prater had shot and killed
The First
The court noted, “ The
trial.” Prater also claimed that his counsel
unanimous
was ineffective for several reasons, but
the two victims. Their bodies were found
Circuit Court
verdicts rendered
the Appeals Court ruled that this appeal,
in a cane field off La. Hwy. 1 between
of Appeal
in this case
like the others, was without merit.
Plaquemine and White Castle.
denied all of
further indicate
“Getting convictions is only part
“Certainly, in the case of a murderer,
the appeals
the jury rejected
we want to keep him in prison to protect
of our job,” noted District Attorney
and upheld the
defendant’s sole
the public,” noted Ward. “But convictions
Ricky Ward. “Another part is keeping
convictions and
hypothesis of
are challenged all the time. It takes the
those convicted in prison. We are very
sentences in a
innocence... in
expertise and experience of Assistant
successful in winning the defendants’
November 6 ruling.
appeals because we have professional
The Court ruled, “ A thorough
reviewing the evidence, we cannot
District Attorneys Tony Clayton and
say that the jury’s determination
Elizabeth Engolio to both prosecute
law enforcement investigation, excellent
review of the record indicates... that the
was irrational under the facts and
the guilty and fight the appeals to keep
prosecution teams, and Assistant DA’s
evidence proved beyond a reasonable
circumstances presented to them.”
criminals in jail.”
|Imagine Iber ville| December 2015
3
PL
City of Plaquemine and ATH-11002-15-2A1 Q U E M I N E 19029 Climber’s Nook
New playground equipment coming to City Park Plaquemine City Park is getting all new playground equipment in 2016. The Plaquemine Board of Selectmen voted to approve a $127,802 expenditure for new playground equipment, which is being purchased through a matching grant program with GameTime playground company, so the city will be getting $255,600 worth of new playground equipment for ages 2-12. The new playground equipment is part of Phase 1 of a $1 million City Park master plan that calls for extensive improvements at the park. The city has received a $250,000 Land and Water Conservation Grant from the National Park Service for park improvements, and will have to match that grant. Shown are renderings of some of the equipment.
City improves fire rating with purchases, training program City of Plaquemine City of Plaquemine TH-11002-15-2A1 every five years by theand Property Association of Louisiana 19029Insurance Climber’s Nook
The City of Plaquemine improved its fire rating from a 3 to a 2, announced Mayor Mary Sue Gulotta last week. The improved rating means some residents may get a small decrease in their property insurance cost. “The Fire Department is rated
and this rating helps determine property insurance costs,” explained Fire Chief Mackie Guillot. “We were very pleased with the 2 rating.” The rating scale is 1 to 10, with a one being the highest rating possible.
TH-11002-15-2A2
“The improved rating is a result of a number of factors,” he said. “The city purchased two new fire trucks and equipment, and has upgraded the water system,” he said. “We also established a training program with instructor positions that enabled us to increase training.
All of those factors are part of the extensive rating process.” The rating audit is exhaustive, including hose and hydrant testing, reviewing extensive record-keeping of maintenance, training and other reports, equipment reviews, tests, and more.
S T. G A B R I E L
Sunshine Park, Levee Promenade ribbon cutting symbolizes growth The City of St. Gabriel held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly constructed Sunshine Park on October 29. Inclusive of a covered pavilion and a 2-mile long levee trail with promenade, the Sunshine Park was a highly anticipated
4
December 2015
addition to the Sunshine community. Mayor Lionel Johnson, Police Chief Kevin Ambeau, along with City Council members Melvin Hasten, Ronald Grace and Deborah Alexander, were all in attendance to celebrate this momentous occasion with residents. “This is a very big achievement not only for the community of Sunshine, but for the City of St. Gabriel as a whole. This is something that this area has needed for a long time and I am happy that our children now have a safe place of recreation to gather,” said Mayor Johnson. Complimentary hamburgers, hot dogs and refreshments were available to all who attended.
| Imagine Iberville |
I B E RV I L L E S C H O O L S YS T E M
Teachers, Principal of Year announced The Iberville Parish School System announced its Teachers of the Year and Principal of the Year in December. They are: Nazzarrie Johnson – Elementary Division Teacher of the Year; Terrie Hasten-Fleming, Middle School Division Teacher of the Year; Chelsea Duhon, High School Division Teacher of the Year; and Jillian Dotson, Principal of the Year. Chelsea Duhon is a biology and environmental science teacher at MSA-West. She graduated from LSU in 2012 with a degree in biological sciences, with a concentration in secondary education, and became a teacher. When she travels, Duhon likes to take pictures that she can use in her lessons to show students different aspects of life outside of rural Iberville Parish. In her spare time, she enjoys adventure sports such as rock climbing, sea kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking. Terrie Hasten-Fleming is a K-12 Master Teacher at MSA-East and East Iberville. She earned a degree from LSU in secondary education, with a concentration in biology. She became a teacher in 2005 and is certified in biology and middle school math. The most satisfying aspect of teaching for her is helping children in her community unlock the world of mathematics. Her hobbies include learning, volunteering at church and decorating for special events. Nazzarrie Darnell Royal Johnson is a 4th grade English language arts teacher at Dorseyville Elementary. She attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and earned a Master of Science in Audiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology, with a minor in English. She became a teacher in 2003. She enjoys knowing that she has the opportunity each day to sculpt the minds of our future leaders, doctors and politicians. Mrs. Johnson enjoys cooking, studying the Word, and watching sports. Jillian Dotson is the principal of East Iberville Elementary School. " I believe as educators it is our job to educate the 'whole child' and help each child reach his or her full potential in becoming productive citizens in our society. It has been and continues to be my mission to support teachers and grow students to increase achievement."
Rendering of the new Iberville MSA EastTeacher gym/auditorium Shown are, from left, Nazzarrie Johnson, Elementary of the Year; Jillian Dotson, Principal of the Year; Terrie Hasten-Fleming, Middle School Teacher of the Year; and Chelsea Duhon, High School Teacher of the Year.
Iberville students increasing scores noted The Iberville Public School System scored significant gains in student performance in the 2014-15 state assessments. Here are some of the positive results based on assessment reports*:
OVERALL BASIC+ PERFORMANCE*
OVERALL MASTERY+ PERFORMANCE*
21% increase in percentile rank!
8% increase in percentile rank!
#3 in the state for increases in Basic+ percentile change
#13 in state for increases in Mastery+ percentile change
BASIC+ PERFORMANCE**
STATE IBERVILLE
2014 69% 64%
2015 65% 64%
Overall English/Language Arts & Math Mastery+ Proficiency Comparison**
2014 2015 STATE 24% 27% IBERVILLE 19% 25%
* Based on assessment reports ** Based on report card data
Construction of new WCHS fieldhouse is underway
Construction of a new $1.15 million fieldhouse for the White Castle High School campus is underway and is expected to be completed in August or September of 2016. The new 6,536 square feet facility will include a weight room, girls' athletic locker room, training room, concession and ticket stand for the stadium, meeting room, and coaches' offices. The existing fieldhouse will
house boys' team locker rooms and other facilities. The new fieldhouse was designed by Fusion Architecture. In the photo above, School Board and City of White Castle officials, school administrators and architects celebrate the ground-breaking for the building.
|Imagine Iber ville| December 2015
5
MARINGOUIN
Walking trail, new town hall coming in 2016 The Town of Maringouin will be accepting bids for a new walking trail in December, with the project expected to begin in early 2016. The town was awarded an $89,367 grant through the Louisiana Recreational Trails Program for the project, and the town is expected to put up the rest of the funds for the project, which is estimated to cost $140,000.
The 2,500 feet long trail will be located along Church Street, west of the railroad tracks on property owned by the town, and will provide a walking, jogging and biking area. The project also includes landscaping. In the future, the town plans to add a par exercise course, horseshoe playing area, a tot lot, picnic area and additional landscaping, said Mayor Demi Vorise.
GROSSE TETE
CHRISTMAS ON THE BAYOU
Hundreds of local residents enjoyed a day of holiday fun on December 6, when the Village of Grosse Tete once again sponsored its annual Christmas on the Bayou parade and festivities at the Iberville Visitors Center. Florence Chauffe, shown in the photo above at left, served as Grand Marshal of the parade. Activities included a variety of games for kids, a visit by Santa Claus, a performance by the Plaquemine High School Marching Band, vendor and food booths. The evening was topped off with a fireworks display on the bayou!
6
December 2015
| Imagine Iberville |
Currently, the town has no pedestrian pathways in this area, with the exception of the sidewalks along La. Hwy. 77. The town applied for the grant in 2014. Mayor Vorise also said the ground-breaking for the new town hall is set for January 16, 2016, so both projects are expected to be underway in 2016.
WHITE CASTLE
Events, projects keep town moving The Town of White Castle has been making progress in building the community, both with community events, and also with action to demolish dilapidated buildings and plan for economic development. “From the tearing down of buildings and events to road fixtures, this town is on its way,” said Mayor Jermarr Williams. In October, the community and White Castle Kings and Queens held their annual Breast Cancer Walk. Rev. Dianne Johnson from St. Joseph Baptist Church in Plaquemine was the guest speaker. Johnson, a two-time cancer survivor, said, “God kept me here to tell the story about survival. His hand is on my life!” Many survivors attended the walk and Marcheva Martin-Bellock was remembered for her bold and courageous spirit. Boo On Bowie took place at the end of October. Some 700 kids packed the White Castle Community POD Center for treats and goodies from elected officials and various organizations and businesses, such as the Plaquemine High School Class of 1986, South Iberville
Community Ushers, White Castle Hawks basketball team, Greater St. Mary Pastor’s Support Ministry, and Omega Psi Phi Alumni Chapter, just to name a few. The town held its annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for the elderly in November. Several volunteers assisted in preparing food for the elderly guests, including the WCHS girls’ basketball team. Door prizes and gifts were given to elderly residents as they jammed to the music from their era. ‘Coach Sha,’ Shaeeta Brown Williams, spoke in November during a community event on fitness and nutrition. She also led workouts for those attending. The community also hosted a “Christmas Brunch” on December 23. Mayor Williams says town officials are preparing for great 2016. “Within the last 10 months, buildings have been demolished, three grants have been awarded, the town received an award for the renovations to the POD Center, a road lighting project was initiated, and small business and housing development seminars were held,” he said.
Scenes from community events this fall, including the Breast Cancer Walk, fitness class, and Thanksgiving Luncheon for the elderly, in which WCHS girls basketball team helped prepare and serve meals.
ROSEDALE
Village Hall area to get new look thanks to grant The Village of Rosedale’s main intersection at Village Hall will be greatly enhanced in 2016, thanks to an almost $200,000 grant from the La. Department of Transportation and Development for beautification
improvements. The ditches along the cemetery will be closed in, and sidewalks will be added. And two new Village of Rosedale signs will be erected (one on La. Hwy. 76 and one on La.
Hwy. 77), landscaping will be added around the sign, and a Rosedale Cemetery sign will be erected, said Mayor Lawrence “Football” Badeaux. “We received the grant almost 3
years ago, but have had numerous delays,” said Mayor Badeaux. “We are anxious to get the project out for bid in 2016, and we anticipate having the project completed by the end of the year.”
Rendering of the new Village of Rosedale sign and sidewalk along La. 76.
Rendering of the new sign for the Rosedale Cemetery.
|Imagine Iber ville| December 2015
7
IBERVILLE SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Drug dealer round-up nets 32; others sought The Iberville Sheriff’s Office and Plaquemine Police Department rounded up 32 suspected drug dealers on December 9, after an intensive undercover operation through the joint L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) Task Force. Other suspected drug dealers are being actively sought. The undercover investigation has been ongoing since the first round-up in 2013. Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi led this highly secret and tightly guarded joint investigation in its
continuing effort to eliminate the sale of drugs and prescription medications in Iberville. They were assisted by the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office in the investigation. Sheriff Stassi said the law enforcement agencies, with the cooperation of 18th Judicial District Attorney Ricky Ward, convened a secret session of the Iberville Parish Grand Jury on December 7 to obtain authorization to arrest and charge the suspects. Some 30 deputies and officers participated in the round-up. The undercover operatives have been targeting all illegal drug distributors, with a special emphasis on prescription drug dealers. They made dozens of undercover drug purchases of a variety of prescription drugs, along with heroine, crack cocaine, synthetic marijuana and more, from unsuspecting dealers. Historically prescription drug distributors have been difficult to develop cases against because many of them have legal prescriptions to obtain and possess the drugs, but instead of using them for their intended
purposes the drug dealers are selling their prescription medications to drug abusers. “These arrests are from White Castle to Maringouin and Plaquemine to St. Gabriel,” Sheriff Stassi said. “No area of the parish was ignored. We will continue to go after drug dealers here, using a variety of investigative tools. This is an on-going area of emphasis to get the drugs out of Iberville.”
Sheriff's Office Toy Drive, visits extend holiday spirit Iberville Sheriff Brett Stassi and the Iberville Sheriff’s Office made Christmas brighter for 193 children and 225 nursing home residents with gift giving and visits before the holiday. Thanks to donations by many individuals and businesses, the Sheriff’s Toy Drive was a huge success, with the office staff coordinating the program and buying gifts for 79 families, including 193 children. The gifts, along with 25 tricycles, were given to the parents or guardians on December 20 at the Iberville Parish Courthouse. The holiday cheer extended to December 21, when Sheriff Stassi and a group of employees visited the local nursing homes for Christmas caroling and giving gifts to the residents. “I believe that community involvement is vital to a good Sheriff’s Office, and this is one of my favorite annual programs,” said Stassi. “It’s another way we are making the effort to reach out and help our community.”
Sheriff Stassi with three of the 25 children who received tricycles.
8
December 2015
| Imagine Iberville |
Loretta Blanchard and Sheriff Stassi with some of the donated toys distributed to local children.
Special thanks to donors Sheriff Stassi thanked Sheriff’s Office employee Loretta Blanchard for organizing the gift distribution. He also thanked the following businesses and individuals for their donations: Amber Hill/Chad Blanchard Acacia Lodge #116 F&M AllState Insurance – Daniel Durand Bayou Road Lumber & Hardware Blazing Star Lodge #212 F&AM Butcher Boy Grocery CP & Perry Verret Barge Choctaw Mobile Home Park Krewe of Comogo LeBlanc’s Pay Less Food Store Peacock Communications Plant Security SNF Flopam Shintech Louisiana Star Telephone Stein’s Top Notch Catering Texas Brine Tiger Truck Stop Hanks Buick-GMC, Inc. Iberville Chamber of Commerce Clear Choice Communications Plaquemine Beauty Salon Popingo’s Convenience Stores Grosse Tete-Rosedale Lions Club Comeaux Brothers Construction A Professional Bail Bonds Michael & Mary Johnson Goudeau’s Health Mart Pharmacy Air Liquide Dow Chemical Co. TRE Drew Properties, LLC, DBA CLM Industries – Randall D. Mayeux Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office employees.
