Times of Southwest Louisiana

WWW.TIMESSW.COM • OCTOBER 2, 2008 / VOL. 13, NO. 20

Images fromthe Storm

Pain, Optimismin Galveston

Coping withHurricane Fatigue

FEMA: Past Mistakes,Future Hope

OCTOBER 2, 2008

OCTOBER 2, 2008 PAGE 3

GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . .617 Drew St., Lake Charles, LA 70601Phone: 337-439-0995Fax: 337-439-0418

P U B L I S H E R S . . . . . . .Patrick MarcantelScot Hebert

N E W S . . . . . . . . . . .MANAGING EDITORLauren de [email protected]

EDITORLisa [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORSKay AndrewsJohnny Belenchia, M.D.Harry Castle, D.D.S.Matt JonesMaureen Lannan, M.DCindy Nassar, L.P.C., L.M.F.TMatt RobinsonTerri SchlichenmeyerKenneth Verheeck, M.D

POLITICSJohn MaginnisDan Juneau

A D V E R T I S I N G . . . . . .SALES MANAGERAndy Jacobson

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVEPatricia Prudhomme

G R A P H I C S . . . . . . . .ART/PRODUCTION DIRECTORDarrell Buck

The Times of Southwest Louisiana is published every two weeksby Patsco Publishing, 617 Drew Street, Lake Charles Louisiana70601. Phone (337) 439-0995. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25 per year.Bulk mailing permit #9 paid at Lake Charles, La. Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to The Times of Southwest Louisiana, 617 DrewStreet, Lake Charles, LA 70601. FAX to (337) 439-0418. The Timesof Southwest Louisiana cannot be held responsible for the returnof unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations, even ifthey are sent to us accompanied by a self-addressed envelope.

Copyright 2008 The Times of Southwest Louisiana all rightsreserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior writtenpermission is prohibited.

DISTRIBUTION: The Times of Southwest Louisiana is available freeof charge, limited to one copy per reader. The Times of SouthwestLouisiana may be distributed only by The Times of SouthwestLouisiana authorized distributors. No person may, without priorwritten permission of The Times of Southwest Louisiana, takemore than one copy of each monthly issue from its racks.

oc tober 2 , 2008

Volume 13 • Number 20

515

ENTERPRISE BOULEVARDIke: The Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

C O L U M N SWho’s News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Business Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Inside Baton Rouge: Hurricanes Cause Political Power Outage . . . . .14Biz Bytes: The Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Frankenstein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

FEATURESThe Bolivar Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Pain, Optimism in Galveston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Images of Ike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Coping With Hurricane Fatigue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28FEMA: Mistakes of the Past, Hope for the Future . . . . . . . . . . .30Minimizing Risks From Mold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Protect Yourself From Post-Hurricane Pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

ENTERTAINMENTBook Beat: Life With My Sister Madonna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Coffee Break Crossword Puzzle: On an Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Times Picks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40The Shadow: Lights, Camera, Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Visit us online at:www.timessw.com

contents

23

42 Cover:Yvett Young looks over the damage caused by the storm

surge of Hurricane Ike. Photo by Andy Jacobson

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Many wondered why officials didnot call for a mandatory evacuation forall residents of Calcasieu Parish priorto Hurricane Ike making landfall,Saturday, Sept. 13.

After all, a mandatory evacuationwas called for all residents of theparish prior to Hurricane Gustav. So,why not Ike?

“We make that determination basedon information from the NationalWeather Service,” said Randy Roach,mayor of Lake Charles. “We’re fortu-nate to have a regional center here inLake Charles. We rely heavily on fore-cast information in making those deter-minations.”

The mayor said the forecast indicat-ed that Hurricane Gustav was predictedto make landfall as a Category 3 stormvs. Hurricane Ike, which was predictedto arrive as a Category 2 storm.

A mandatory evacuation wasordered for special-needs individualsand those living in low-lying areas andmobile homes.

Roach said that determination wasmade on areas the forecast predictedwould be impacted by the storm.

“It’s a very, very difficult decisionto make,” he said. “You make it, andthen you pray that you’ve made theright decision. That’s all you can do.”

Lingering questions about themandatory evacuation call alerted offi-cials to the need for better communica-tion with the public regarding theentire process.

Mayor Roach explained the threelevels of warnings are voluntary, rec-ommended, and mandatory. He saidanytime there’s a tropical storm in theforecast, officials call for a voluntaryevacuation. A recommended evacua-tion is much stronger, stressing thatdangerous conditions exist.

Dick Gremillion, Director of theCalcasieu Parish Office of HomelandSecurity and Emergency Preparedness,said the primary factor in calling for amandatory evacuation is “to protecthuman life.”

He said the decision is made by acommittee of public officials known asthe Executive Policy Group, which iscomprised of area sheriffs, six mayors,the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury presi-dent along with the CPPJ administratorand CPOHSEP director.

Gremillion said based on informa-tion received from the NationalHurricane Center, officials were con-vinced that a mandatory evacuation forall in Calcasieu Parish would not benecessary.

“The threat was moderate to severe,

but not life threatening,” he said, not-ing the exception of those residing inlow-lying areas, special-needs individ-uals and people living in mobilehomes. Those populations were evacu-ated safely according to plan.

Then Ike’s course changed sudden-ly, overnight, and the 72-hour deadlinefor the mandatory evacuation for allhad passed.

At the last minute, officials inGalveston ordered a mandatory evacu-ation for all residents. City officialsthere were reluctant to order the evacu-ation and wanted to be sure it was nec-essary.

When the storm surge in Galvestonreached 12-18 feet, officials issued theorder. (By comparison, officialsCalcasieu Parish reported the stormsurge in this area reached between 11-11.5 feet.)

Ike’s erratic behavior changedemergency plans in Galveston in lessthan a day.

Officials in Galveston took a bigrisk. Traffic gridlock could havetrapped evacuees in the path of thehurricane. It was a difficult call – offi-cials ignored a city plan that providedfor evacuation 72 hours before a hurri-cane was expected to hit the region.Fortunately, the last-minute evacuationin Galveston went smoothly, but it wasa gamble.

Police Jury President Tony Stellysaid ultimately, people have to makeup their own minds when it comes toevacuating.

“When a recommended evacuationis called, people need to think aboutevacuating,” he said. “Also, they haveto remember the decisions we makeaffect our families, too.”

Stelly said his family evacuatedduring Hurricane Ike, as recommend-ed.

Gremillion said there is no glory in“riding out the storm” when a recom-mended evacuation order is given. Hesaid his family evacuated, also.

Mayor Roach said officials have toget away from “an all or nothingapproach” when it comes to issuingevacuation orders.

“When we issue evacuation orders,there are retail and medical implica-tions – We have to be careful,” he said.“Also, timing is critical, things have tobe done 12-18 hours before the hurri-cane is predicted to make landfall.”

Gremillion asked everyone toremember one thing.

“We’re just human beings givingadvice based on our best judgment,” hesaid.

Why Not Call A MandatoryEvacuation For All? By Lisa Yates


he incredible destructiveforce of Hurricane Ike thatdemolished the Texas coastnear Galveston Bay is aprime example of what canoccur during a major storm.Hurricane Ike proved that

for a direct hit, virtually nothing willsurvive the unbridled fury of 110m.p.h. or higher winds.

Although Southwest Louisianasurvived a direct hit, the peripheraldamage was extensive.

Nearly every square inch of coast-line in Southwest Louisiana floodedas the storm surge ahead of Ike blewashore. The Category 2 hurricaneproduced a storm surge the magni-tude of a Category 4.

Hundreds of people had to be res-cued, including 363 people who wererescued by Louisiana Department ofWildlife and Fisheries Search andRescue teams in conjunction with theLouisiana National Guard and theU.S. Coast Guard.

In Lake Charles, by 5 a.m. onSept. 13, the rising storm surge beganoverlapping the seawall by the civiccenter. As a result of the surge, thecommunity suffered power outagesand major flooding, which damagedhomes and businesses.

Even though there were advanceevacuation plans, Randy Roach,mayor of the city of Lake Charles,estimated that more than 25 percent

of the city’s residents paid no atten-tion to calls for them to evacuate.

“Part of the reason was hurricanefatigue,” he said.

News that another hurricane wascoming – and more official warnings— had many saying “enoughalready!” That, coupled with eco-nomic challenges and the popularperception that Gustav was a falsealarm, kept many people from evacu-ating their homes for the second timein 10 days.

To counter the complacency, pub-lic officials walked a fine line duringHurricane Ike. They worked to keepthe public safe; at the same time, theytried not cause undue angst.

What was the thought processbehind some of their decisions?

City and parish officials recentlysat down with The Times to discussemergency planning, preparednessand recovery efforts in the aftermathof Hurricane Ike. This is what theyhad to say.

Emergency PlanningWith a “boots on the ground

approach,” Mayor Roach said thecity’s role was and is to ensure thatthe City of Lake Charles can respondeffectively to any major incident andrecover from it as quickly as possi-ble.

“Our role is to provide police andfire protection and to help manage

the evacuation process,” he said.“We worked very closely with theparish through Hurricanes Gustavand Ike managing the evacuation atthe civic center. Our employees werevery involved. ... It was a very laborintensive, high energy process.”

Roach said city employees, inconjunction with members ofLouisiana’s National Guard and stateauthorities, worked from 6 a.m. to 10p.m. assisting citizens, both the gen-eral population without transporta-tion, and those with special needs. Atotal of 1,500 evacuated to sheltersin Northwest Louisiana.

Mayor Roach explained the dif-ference between the two populationsevacuated. Those with special needsrequire a certain level of specializedmedical care, while those of the gen-eral population are generally healthyand do not require specialized med-ical care, but lack transportation toevacuate.

“Some of the general populationuse wheelchairs, but they are gener-ally healthy – lack of mobility istheir only handicap. Otherwise, theycan travel on a coach bus and theydon’t require specialized care,”Roach said.

Nurses and public health officialsassisted critical care patients withtransportation to ChennaultInternational Airport, where they

Jason LeCronier recently joinedE2E Technology, a local company andAVAYA business partner, as a sales con-sultant. LeCronier holds accolades as atop sales representative nationally withAT&T/Suncom Wireless in addition hav-ing been a professional baseball player

in the late1990s withthe BaltimoreOrioles andTampa Bay.“We areincredibly for-tunate to havesuch a giftedand knowl-edgeable con-sultant on ourteam. He will

be a ‘homerun’ with our customers onmany levels,” said Andrea Bacarisse,CEO of E2E Technology. LeCronier wasawarded the President’s Circle by AT&T,which is selected from the top five per-cent nationally. LeCronier joins E2Efrom his most recent position at theCalcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. E2Esells, installs, maintains and upgradescommunications equipment from phoneservice to computer systems.

The Council for A Better Louisiana(CABL) has announced the names ofseveral individuals who were appointedto serve on CABL’s Regional AdvisoryBoards. The Regional Advisory Boardswere created in eight regions throughoutthe state with the purpose of creatingan opportunity for citizens to provideCABL with a local perspective onstatewide issues as well as bring aware-ness to the issues affecting their region.

The members of the RegionalAdvisory Board in the Lake Charlesregion who were nominated andapproved by CABL’s Board of Directorsinclude: Tim Aguillard, IntegratedFinancial Management; ChristineBailey, State Farm Insurance; MikeClary, State Farm Insurance; MackDellafosse, State Farm Insurance;D’Ann Derbonne, State Farm

Who’s News

Cont inued on Page 9

ENTERPRISEBOULEVARDN E W S A B O U T S O U T H W E S T L O U I S I A N A

T

IKEThe AftermathBy Lisa Yates; Photos by Patrick Marcantel


Jason LeCronier

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were loaded aboard C-130 cargo air-craft and flown to hospitals around theregion.

Within 72 hours, the entire processwas repeated in reverse, bringing peoplehome.

By contrast, during HurricaneGustav, even more citizens were evacu-ated and returned, including, 230 withspecial care needs and 2,000 of the gen-eral population.

“The evacuation during Gustav wasthe largest ever in the history of thestate,” Roach said.

Evacuation was just one of the plan-ning challenges during Hurricane Ike.Planning for safety, security and cityservices were other challenges.

“In addition to fire and police, publicworks employees are part of the firstresponse team,” the mayor said.

Armed with chainsaws, public worksemployees efficiently removed debrisfollowing the storms.

Dick Gremillion, Director of theCalcasieu Parish Office of HomelandSecurity and Emergency Preparedness,said planning for debris removal after astorm is critical.

“Down power lines and debris in theroads is dangerous after the event,” hesaid. “It slows down search and rescue –also, it slows utility workers trying torepair lines and restore power.”

Gremillion said many agencies worktogether coordinating communicationsand services in preparation for a disaster.

The Governor’s Office of HomelandSecurity and Emergency Preparedness;American Red Cross; Louisiana StatePolice; Louisiana’s Department ofHealth and Hospitals; Louisiana’sDepartment of Transportation andDevelopment; and, Louisiana’sDepartment of Social Services areamongst the state agencies involved inthe planning process.

“Planning is a 12 month-of-the-yearprocess,” Gremillion said.

He added, there’s a plan for provid-ing transportation, disaster information,shelters, evacuation routes and more.

“After Gustav, we adjusted the trans-portation and sheltering parts of our

plan,” Gremillion said. “There were alot more people than we anticipated.”

As a result, the plan for HurricaneIke went much smoother, he said.Citizens evacuated from the LakeCharles area were sent to shelter facili-ties in Shreveport. Accommodationswere better, security was provided andresidents were brought home in a timeli-er manner, according to reports.

Officials also reported that technicalglitches with the CalcaShout EmergencyAlert System were fixed and the systemworked well during Hurricanes Gustavand Ike.

A reported 22,000 people are cur-rently enrolled in the system. TheCalcaShout Emergency Alert System isa free service and it allows residents inCalcasieu Parish to designate an alter-nate e-mail address or telephone numberwhere an e-mail, voice or text messagecan be quickly sent in an emergency.

To enroll in CalcaShout, residentsmay call the Office of EmergencyPreparedness at (337) 721-3800, or reg-ister online at www.cppj.net, orwww.calcasieustorm.com.

Preparedness/ResponseEmergency planning,

preparedness/response and recovery arethe three phases you go through withdisasters such as Ike, according to themayor.

“The response is the implementationpart of the plan,” he said.

Planning and preparation can pre-vent the worst, but flexibility is a keyfactor in responding to disasters.

For example, the city opened tempo-rary emergency shelters called “sheltersof last resort” to give residents a placeto go, where they would not be alone.Officials asked evacuees using the shel-ters to furnish their own medicine, bed-ding and personal items as AmericanRed Cross volunteers would not beavailable and no food would be served.

“We were not faced with a Category3 storm, so we had some flexibility,”Roach said.

Anything a Category 3, or higher,would have put the evacuees at the shel-ters in danger, he said.

Ent. Blvd., Continued from Page 5


All throughout the storm, residentsand others were kept informed by newsconferences held by local elected offi-cials and emergency responders.

Gremillion said that officials metregularly to update the public.

A mandatory evacuation wasordered in Calcasieu Parish for thoseliving in low-lying areas or trailers.Special-needs residents were also askedto evacuate. For everyone else, evacua-tion was strongly recommended.

“We have a short window – 72hours to implement our plan,”Gremillion said.

During that time, he said that thespecial needs population was evacuated,including those in nursing homes andhospitals. Provisions were also made forprisoners and pets.

Those heeding early evacuationorders experienced problems evacuatingon I-10 towards Texas. Many wereunaware of mandatory evacuations inTexas that brought traffic to a standstill.

When asked if Louisiana and Texasco-operated implementing evacuationplans, Gremillion said “no.”

“In Calcasieu Parish, we advise peo-ple to go north,” he said. “It is not rec-ommended to go east or west. InSoutheast Texas, you have almost a mil-lion people vs. 300,000 in SouthwestLouisiana.”

He said the recommended routes areU.S. 171 North to Shreveport, or U.S.165 North to Alexandria. Other recom-mended routes included U.S. 27 Northand U.S. 109 North following statesigns, he said.

Gremillion said not to believe theold adage that big hurricanes hit thisarea only once every 50 years.

“That reminds me of what (NationalWeather Service forecaster) SteveRinard once said, ‘your chances of get-ting hit by a hurricane this year are justthe same as last year,’” Gremillion said.“Only God decides.”

In an effort to keep the publicinformed and to help the communityprepare for hurricane season, Gremillionsaid he participates in educational out-reach programs speaking to local civicgroups and other organizations.

“If you’re going to live in SouthwestLouisiana, you’ve got to learn about this– and, there are many sources of thatinformation.” he said.

In addition to the parish’s Web sites,Gremillion said the public can visitwww.getagameplan.org to find out whatto do, where to go and who to call whenthere’s a hurricane.

Another source of information is aprinted guide entitled: LouisianaCitizen Awareness & DisasterEvacuation Guide: Southwest 2008.The guide is available by calling theLouisiana State Police at (800) 469-4828, or American Red Cross at (800)229-8191, or GOHSEP at (225) 925-7500.

“One day you’re watching thenews, then one day you’re on thenews,” Gremillion said.

RecoveryOfficials said the most destructive

element of Hurricane Ike was thestorm surge. The hardest hit areaswere in and around Cameron Parish,which also sustained catastrophic dam-age in 2005 from Hurricane Rita, andin 1957, from Hurricane Audrey.

In Calcasieu Parish, as predicted,the storm surge backed up water in theCalcasieu River and caused floodingin low-lying areas. In addition, windgusts of 75 m.p.h. and higher causedwidespread and extended power out-ages.

In the aftermath of a hurricane thesize of Ike, getting back to everydayliving has been difficult. Recoveryefforts started early and have beenongoing.

City, parish and state officials tookimmediate action.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

“Recovery efforts started the nextday,” Mayor Roach said. “It startedwith search and rescue … That wasthe primary focus of Day 1.”

After a flood, drinking watersources can potentially be contaminat-ed with waste.

A lack of clean water can pose aserious health threat. The potential forcholera, typhoid and dehydrating dis-eases can come as a result of stagnantwater and flood conditions. Floodingcan destroy sewage systems and washtoxic chemicals and agricultural prod-ucts into the mix.

The biggest problem is the sewage

contamination of the water.Mayor Roach said water treatment

plants were checked to see if theywere operating, and whether to issue aboil water notice.

He said a boil order was not issued.However, residents were asked to stopall unnecessary water use, and the useof wastewater facilities, for a coupleof days beginning on Sept. 13. Themayor said rising flood waters threat-ened discharge pipes located above thelake and bayous.

Power and utilities are beingrestored rapidly and, by the time ofpublication, most businesses and

homes will have utilities fullyrestored.

Clean up has already begun and inno time, Lake Charles and the sur-rounding communities are expected tobe back as good as ever.

“Cameron is altogether different,”Roach said. “We need to be thinkingabout our friends and our families inCameron Parish. Right now, theurgency is to clean up the debris andrebuild the business community.”

As a former representative ofCameron Parish, the mayor said hebecame close to the people there andhe values their friendship, spirit and

unique way of life. He fears that therecent storms will have many residentsleaving the community permanently,thus changing the cultural identity ofthe region.

“As tragic as the devastation to theinfrastructure, more tragic would be toallow the storms to rob us of ourunique cultural heritage,” Roach said.


Insurance; Stephen Dwight, Dwight Law Firm, LLC; Sharon Galicia, CoastalInsurance Group; Kevin Guidry, Isle of Capri Casino; Tommy McClelland II,McNeese State University; Marshall Simien, Simien Law Firm; ShannonSpell, Spell Structural Consulting; Toni Stelly Hebert, Richard Law Firm; andMike Viator. Members of the 2008 CABL Board of Directors, who representthe Lake Charles region on a statewide level and in a greater capacity, includeMark Abraham, Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood and Philip C. Earhart,Business First Bank. CABL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organizationworking on issues in the public interest. For more information, contact BarryErwin at (225) 344-2225.

Maureen Lannan, M.D., has joined the Wound Healing Center at WestCalcasieu Cameron Hospital as its Medical Director. Lannan will be responsiblefor reviewing patient care and results, evaluating new clinical products and pro-viding oversight and guidance on policies and procedures. A Carlyss resident,Lannan is a Family Medicine Physician at the Cypress Medical Clinic in Sulphur.She earned her medical degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

Kay Morgan is the new CHRISTUS St. Patrick Foundation Annual GivingManager. Morgan is responsible for all philanthropic efforts related to theChildren’s Miracle Network of Southwest Louisiana, a non-profit organizationdedicated to improving pediatric medical care and health-related educationopportunities in the Southwestern Louisiana region. Morgan, a 12-year associ-ate of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital, most recently served as the CommunityRelations Coordinator. Under her direction, many of the hospital’s advertisingcampaigns earned awards of excellence at the regional and national levels.Morgan is a native of DeRidder and a graduate of McNeese State University.She replaces Poddy Champeaux, former Children’s Miracle Network Directorwho served the community for over 21 years. The Children’s Miracle Network ofSouthwest Louisiana (CMN) covers the entire region, from the Atchafalaya Basinto the Sabine River. For more information about funding, or to learn about CMN-related giving opportunities, call (337) 491-7750.

Governor Bobby Jindal recently announced the appointment of LeonardPauley, Jr., of Lake Charles, to the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board.Pauley is a general appraiser and president of the Pauley Corporation. He is amember of the Realtors National Marketing Institute, the National Association ofRealtors, and the Southwest Louisiana Association of Realtors, Inc.

Courtney Fenet, Jr., of Lake Charles, was appointed to the StateLicensing Board for Contractors, which serves to regulate licensed contractorswho wish to practice in Louisiana. Fenet is the president of R.E. HeidtConstruction Company and was nominated by the Louisiana Asphalt PavementAssociation.

Governor Jindal also appointed Robert G. Jones of Lake Charles to theLouisiana Gaming Control Board. The Board serves to regulate public policy ofthe state’s gaming industry. Jones is a financial advisor for Wachovia securitiesand is on the board of directors for the First Federal Bank of Louisiana. He is aformer Louisiana State Senator and the son of former Louisiana Governor SamJones.

Steve Floyd, owner of Safari Realty in Lake Charles, recently earned e-PROcertification from the National Association of Realtors. The e-PRO certificationcourse is the only technology certification program offered by the NationalAssociation of Realtors. The rigorous certification program is designed to helpreal estate professionals maximize their ability to leverage the enormous powerof the Internet when helping clients buy and sell property. By completing thiscertification, Floyd is one of less than 1 percent of real estate professionals inthe nation, and one of only three locally, with this advanced training. SafariRealty has been in business for five years and has grown to include a staff of11. Safari recently moved to a new, expanded office located at 1200 E.McNeese Street in Lake Charles. Call 478-1601 or visitwww.SafariRealtors.com for more information.

Who’s News, Continued from Page 5

The Employment Committee of theLake Charles Mayor’s Commission onDisability invites citizens to submitnominations for the 2008 Lake CharlesEmployer Recognition Awards. TheAwards are presented to people andorganizations whose contributions haveadvanced the opportunities for individu-als with disabilities for full participationin life by providing employment oppor-tunities.

Considerations for nominating anemployer are to include the following:

• Hires individuals with disabilitiesas regular practice;• Accommodates employees withdisabilities in the workplace; and• Encourages policies and/or prac-tices that demonstrate equitabletreatment of employees, i.e., wages,promotions, benefits, etc.To nominate an employer for this

recognition, nominations should includefive copies of the Nomination Form,which are available at CommunityServices, fifth floor, City Hall; a letter ofnomination describing how the nomineehas met the above criteria; and any sup-porting documents.

Questions regarding the nominationmay be directed to Esther Vincent,

Mayor’s Liaison to the Commission, byphone at (337) 491-1440 or e-mail([email protected]).

Employer Recognition Awards arepresented annually. Awards are given tofive employers in the following cate-gories: three awards in the For-ProfitBusinesses category and two awards inthe Non-Profit Businesses category. Allother nominees receive honorary recog-nition.

The Judging Committee consists offive representatives: twoemployers/recipient of award, oneMayor’s designee, one person with adisability, and one Commission member.The Employment Committee of theCommission will be responsible for thejudging process. Nominees will be rec-ognized at the December 2008Commission Meeting. Nominationsand supporting evidence are to be sub-mitted to:

Lake Charles Mayor’s Commission on DisabilityEmployment CommitteeP.O. Box 900, Lake Charles, LA70602-0900,Attn: Esther VincentDeadline for submission is October 16, 2008.

Lake Charles Mayor’s Commissionon Disability Seeking Nominations for 2008 Employer Recognition Awards

A series of three visioning work-shops hosted by the Imperial CalcasieuRegional Planning and DevelopmentCommission (IMCAL) to gather com-munity input on the upcoming metropol-itan transportation plan (MTP) updatefor the Lake Charles urbanized area,which includes the cities of LakeCharles, Sulphur, Westlake, Moss Bluffand Carlyss.

The meetings will take place at thefollowing times and locations:

Tuesday, October 7, 20086:30 – 8:30 p.m.SWLA Chamber of Commerce120 Pujo Street, Lake Charles

Wednesday, October 8, 20086:30 – 8:30 p.m.Central Calcasieu Parish Library301 West Claude Street, Lake Charles

Thursday, October 9, 20086:30 – 8:30 p.m.Westlake Managan Recreational Center – Old Gym1221 Sampson Street, Westlake

IMCAL invites all interested mem-bers of the public to one of the work-shops. The views of the public regard-ing the Lake Charles urbanized area’stransportation system, including high-ways, public transportation, pedestrianfacilities, bicycle facilities and freightoperations will be used in the develop-ment of the metropolitan transportationplan (MTP).

IMCAL, which is the federallymandated metropolitan planning organ-ization (MPO) for the Lake Charlesurbanized area, is responsible for con-ducting the urban transportation plan-ning process for the area, whichincludes Lake Charles, Sulphur,Westlake, Moss Bluff and Carlyss.IMCAL must perform updates to themetropolitan transportation plan everyfive years in order to receive federaland state transportation funding.

Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission (IMCAL) to Hold Visioning Workshops

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Victims of the heavy floodingassociated with Hurricane Ike hadmany things to worry about, includingcleaning and getting their homes backto normal. Many also had to deal withlooters.

In Calcasieu Parish, sheriff’sdeputies arrested several people andcharged them with looting. SheriffTony Mancuso tells The Times therehave been reports of stolen property,including guns, cash, video gaming

equipment, and even baseball cards.Thieves also broke into a liquor storewhose owners had evacuated for Ike.

Smaller items like shovels,brooms, and other gardening supplies,said Mancuso, have likely gone unre-ported.

“We made eight arrests duringHurricane Ike and several duringGustav, including one juvenile,”Mancuso said. “We tripled the amountof police on patrol. We had to do that

with residents gone as they are theeyes and ears of the community.Unfortunately, bad people do badthings, even though we workvery,very hard to stop them. We puthundreds of police on the street,which helps keep control over lootingproblems during a state of emer-gency.”

People in one neighborhood justoutside the Lake Charles city limitswere hard-hit by looters when a

Looters Target Hurricane Victims By Lisa Yates

mandatory evacuation was called forGustav. Three apartments in one four-plex apartment building were looted.

One of the residents who wished toremain anonymous said thieves stole acomputer and some other electronicsfrom her apartment.

She had just moved to the areafrom Texas and many of her belong-ings were still packed away in boxeswhen she evacuated.

“You can see where they (thethieves) ripped open the boxes andlooked to see what was in them,” shesaid.

The woman said she felt violatedafter the incident. Although her broth-er lives in Lake Charles, after thebreak-in, she wasn’t sure she wantedto stay in the area.

“You don’t feel safe after someonehas broken into your home,” she said.

If you have to evacuate your homefor a hurricane, officials say there afew things you can do to keep yourhome safe.

Here are some tips:• Lock your doors with a deadboltlock.• Use safety locks on your win-dows.• If you can, install a security sys-tem.• Report suspicious activity in yourneighborhood.• Record serial numbers on itemssuch as guns, electronics, lawnequipment, etc. and store thatinformation in a secure place.

“Unfortunately, if thieves want in,it’s difficult to stop them,” the sheriffsaid. “Looting is no more than a sim-ple burglary that happens when a stateof emergency is called. But, in a stateof emergency, the charge carries withit more time.”

Above: Cameron Communications Public Relations Coordinator TrinaJohnson and Switching Supervisor Tommy Prejean present a check for $800 anda framed print to Art Little. The donation was used for the annual Carlyss Bon TonFestival that was held on Sept. 19 - 21 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Carlyss.

Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Telemedicine Department and SWLACenter for Health Services have partnered in an effort to enhance the qualityof care being given to patients. Similar to video conferencing, Telemedicine isusing technology, going beyond hospital walls, to bring the knowledge of physi-cians and other healthcare providers to rural and underserved areas that don’tnormally have access to healthcare specialists. Through Telemedicine, clinicalconsultations can be conducted between physicians and patients; continuingeducation seminars can be hosted for health care professionals; and healtheducation programs can be facilitated for members of the community, simulta-neously, all across the gulf region.

The Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Telemedicine Department made a$53,000.00 donation to install video conferencing equipment at the SWLACenter for Health Services main site in Lake Charles. Some of the services pro-vided through Telemedicine are: Family Practice, TelePsychiatry, ChronicDisease Management as well as Digital technologies.

The Moss Regional Oncology Department was recently presented 2410x10 box-style canvases for the oncology patients of Moss Regional MedicalCenter by Artist Tony Forrest and his wife Martha. Tony and Martha Forrest ownThe Tin Rooster and The Blue Diamond Gallery in Greensboro, North Carolina.Dawn Hinton, RN Supervisor at Moss, has visited other facilities where ArtTherapy was a very successful alternative for symptom management. She con-tacted the Forrests back in January 2008 and inquired if they were interestedin helping with this project. The hand sketched, color-by-number canvases willgive twenty-four oncology patients the opportunity to experience this stimulat-ing project. Once all the canvases are completed, they will be hung together tocreate one painting. This project was conceived to give oncology patients theopportunity to experience the therapeutic aspects of art through movementand creative expression. For more information, call (337) 475-8252.

Beauregard Electric Cooperative (BECi) was recognized at the 54th annualmeeting of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC) in BatonRouge when it was presented the Electric Cooperative Statewide Safety Trophy forhaving the best overall safety record among electric Co-ops in Louisiana. BECiposted over 692,036 man-hours without a lost time accident since December2005. The safety trophy is presented annually for best year-to-year Co-op perform-ance. The statewide award continues a strong safety tradition at BECi. In 2004,the electric cooperative achieved an unprecedented record for safety by loggingtwo million consecutive employee-hours without a lost-time accident, something noother cooperative in the nation had achieved. BECi’s 121 employees operatingout of offices in DeRidder, New Llano and Moss Bluff also reported driving1,478,131 miles from June 2007 to May 2008 without a vehicle accident.Deridder-based BECi serves more than 38,000 members along 5,593 miles ofpower line in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Evangeline, Jeff Davis, Rapides andVernon parishes. It operates branch offices in New Llano and Moss Bluff.

BUSINESS notesCARF International announced that CHRISTUS St Patrick Hospital /

Regional Physical Rehabilitation Center has been accredited for a period ofthree years for its Inpatient Rehabilitation Program- Hospital (Adults). The latestaccreditation is the fourth consecutive Three-Year Accreditation that the interna-tional accrediting body has awarded to CHRISTUS St Patrick Hospital / RegionalPhysical Rehabilitation Center. This accreditation decision represents the high-est level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization and shows theorganization’s substantial conformance to the CARF standards. An organizationreceiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peerreview process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-sitevisit that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, andaccountable. CHRISTUS St Patrick Hospital / Regional Physical RehabilitationCenter is a nonprofit organization located at 524 South Ryan Street in LakeCharles. They have been providing Inpatient Rehabilitation Program- Hospital(Adults) in Lake Charles since 1988. For additional information, contact KathrynM. Simmons RN, CRRN – Director of Rehabilitation Services at (337) 491-7705.

The United Way’s next report meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October7, at Treasures of Marilyn’s at noon. Volunteers and contributors, family agen-cies and staff will gather to hear campaign division reports, recognize out-standing achievement employee awards and vote for the employee group whohad the best United Way Campaign shirt. The luncheon, sponsored byConocoPhillips and emceed by Carol Collins, is open to anyone who wants toattend by calling United Way at (337) 433-1088 and making a reservation. The2009 campaign goal is $4,531,000. The theme of this year’s campaign is“LIVE UNITED - it’s what we do.” The United Way of Southwest Louisiana sup-ports 78 health and human service programs in 55 agencies, which touch thelives of 100,000 people in the community.


Business ServicesTelephone SystemsComputer RepairWireless NetworkingWired Networking

Wireless Network SetupPhone Label TemplatesHome Service

Telephone System Maintenance • Computer Maintenance

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Take aim and help feed the hun-gry! The area Sportsmen for theHungry organization will be hosting afood collection drive on Sunday,October 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. inthe Gordon’s Drug Store parking lot,located at 2716 Lake Street. A con-venient drive-thru service will be pro-vided. All food collected will bedirectly donated to Abraham’s Tent, alocal non-profit organization whosemission is to provide food for the poorand hungry in Lake Charles every dayof the year. Food items neededinclude wrapped and labeled frozenmeats (wild game included), canned orboxed foods, rice, cooking oil, season-ings, vegetables and paper goods. Formore information, please contact SallyForet at (337) 433-7090 or GeorgeParet at (337) 477-6773.

Oct. 12 is Clean OutFreezer and PantryDay to BenefitAbraham’s Tent

Animal Angels, a Lake Area non-profit animal rescue group, will beholding a mega-garage sale at 416-BPost Oak Road, Sulphur on Fri., Oct. 3and Sat., Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. – until.We have a warehouse full of house-hold items, antiques, gifts, new andused clothing—you name it, we haveit! Don’t miss out! All proceeds willbenefit the cats and dogs of AnimalAngels. For more information, call(337) 263-4736.

Animal Angels Mega-Garage SaleOct. 3-4 to BenefitCats and Dogs

Misha’s Pets and Animal Angelswill be holding a cat and kitten adop-tion day on Sat., Oct. 4 at Misha’sLake Charles location from 10 a.m. –4 p.m. Adopt a feline friend at specialdiscounted prices! Misha’s is locatedat 3459 Nelson Rd. For more informa-tion, call Misha’s at (337) 480-3738.

Misha’s Pets of Lake Charles and Animal Angels Feline FriendsAdoption Day Oct. 4

Space Deadline: October 9thCall 439-0995 to reserve your spaceOr email: [email protected]

On October 16, The Times will present the annual special section saluting

Women in BusinessHighlights prominent women, dedicated and hard-working female

employees, and owners & partners in your businessAlso: Special articles about Breast Cancer Awareness Month


MIKE ALLENFinancial Advisor

4840 Lake Street Suite BLake Charles, LA 70605337-477-0040

To schedule your complimentary financial review, call or visit today.

United States Senator MaryLandrieu, D-La., recently announcedthat the Louisiana Department ofNatural Resources will receive $8.5million for the Rockefeller RefugeShoreline Demonstration project. Therefuge, located in eastern Cameronand western Vermilion Parishes,included 86,000 acres when it wasdeeded to the state, but the effects ofbeach erosion have reduced that areato an estimated 76,000 acres. Thesefunds will go toward the installationand analysis of four different test sec-tions of shoreline protection on therefuge’s Gulf of Mexico shoreline.

These funds are being issued by theMinerals Management Services(MMS) as part of the Coastal ImpactAssistance Program (CIAP). Sen.Landrieu was instrumental in the cre-ation of CIAP, for which she securedthe funding in the Energy Policy Actof 2005 as a member of the SenateEnergy Committee.

“Coastal restoration in SouthwestLouisiana is particularly important, aserosion has greatly diminished thecoasts’ natural protection againstmajor storms,” Sen. Landrieu said.“The effects of our weakened coast are

especially noticeable during hurricaneseason, and already this year we havewitnessed the devastating potential ofmajor storm surge and flooding.

“The Rockefeller Refuge is one ofthe most quickly eroding sections ofthe Louisiana coast, and estimatesstate that the shoreline retreats about30 to 40 feet each year. It is veryimportant that we initiate projects likethese, that help us determine the bestway to reduce erosion along this por-tion of the shoreline.”

The four alternatives being testedwith these funds include a 700-footsection of beach filled withgravel/crushed stone; a 500-foot sec-tion of reef breakwater withgravel/crushed stone beach fill; a 500-foot section of reef breakwater withlightweight aggregate core; and a 500-foot section of concrete panel break-water.

CIAP distributes $250 millionannually (from 2007 to 2010) to sixeligible offshore oil- and gas-produc-ing states. Louisiana, Alabama,Mississippi and Texas, as well asCalifornia and Alaska, receive thesefunds to restore and protect theircoastal areas.

LA Department of NaturalResources Receives Over $8 Million for Rockefeller Refuge Project

The Christian Reform WorldwideRecovery Committee, a key providerof non-profit, faith-based volunteerhurricane relief support to SouthwestLouisiana for the past three years, isreturning to Lake Charles and the five-parish region next week – and plans tostay through December.

“Volunteer labor support from out-side our community has played a keyrole in our impressive recovery effortfollowing Hurricane Rita,” said JimMcGough, chairman of the UnitedWay of Southwest Louisiana board ofdirectors. “And, we’re excited toannounce that the CRWRC feels thereis work left to be done from Rita andnew challenges provided by the recentHurricane Ike, and that they will bebringing teams of workers from manystates to help us through the next sev-eral months.”

Next week, the lead element of theCRWRC contingent will arrive at theSouthwest Louisiana VolunteerHousing Center in Moss Bluff to beginpreparations for teams of skilled work-ers who will report in for two-three-week tours – one right after the otherthrough the end of the year.

The SWLA Volunteer HousingCenter, an initiative of the United Wayof Southwest Louisiana, was createdout of a decommissioned 15,000-square-foot middle school in MossBluff and has become a comprehen-sive housing facility that has served4,796 volunteers since it opened itsdoors in July 2006.

The center also serves as a supportcenter for first responders in case ofother natural disasters. During and fol-lowing Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, thecenter was “home” for more than 500ambulance drivers, law enforcementofficers and national guardsmen.

The center would not have beenpossible without the support of anarray of partners, including theCalcasieu Parish School System, theCalcasieu Parish Police Jury, theCalcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office,Entergy, Lake Area Ministers Group,Habitat for Humanity, RebuildingTogether, Enterprise Foundation,Fannie Mae Foundation, ChristianReform World Relief Committee, andthe volunteers, themselves.

“Work for the CRWRC teams willbe focused on previously identifiedreconstruction or rebuild projectsunder the coordination of theSouthwest Louisiana DisasterRecovery Station, Habitat for

Humanity, Rebuilding Together andother local recovery groups,” saidCatherine Thomas, disaster recoveryspecialist for the United Way. “At thesame time, we are confident that wewill have new project for them toaddress related to Hurricane Ike.”

CRWRC is a service-oriented armof the Christian Reformed Church ofAmerica, headquartered in GrandRapids, Mich.

“Our mission is to show God’slove and bring hope to disaster-impacted communities in NorthAmerica by restoring the homes andlives of those who are most vulnera-ble,” said Doug Guikema, CRWRCproject coordinator.

“We help communities that needassistance in preparing for and recov-ering from disasters, and we provideopportunities for Christians to honorthe Lord by using their time, talentsand financial resources in service toothers.

“We became aware of the needsfor our services in SouthwestLouisiana following Hurricane Rita,and we have been truly impressed withthe reception we have receivedthroughout the community,” he added.“The hospitality and genuine friend-ships we have come to value at thehousing center and among the non-profit and faith-based community herehas been most heartwarming.”

Guikema noted that because ofCRWRC’s relationship with SouthwestLouisiana and the continued need forCRWRC services, there was no hesita-tion in making the decision to bringteams of CRWRC volunteer workersback to Southwest Louisiana.

Thomas explained that close coor-dination between the SWLA VolunteerHousing Center, the CRWRC andlocal non-profit rebuild organizationshas identified critical unmet housingneeds and will address those needs thisfall.

“I want to add that we are in needof local volunteers from within ourfive-parish area to augment these fineteams of CRWRC workers,” sheexplained. “Working side by side withthese folks is a truly blessed opportu-nity.”

McGough noted that rebuildingSouthwest Louisiana is a long-termprocess that is very demanding formany resources in addition to volun-teer labor.

“We are in need of additional cor-porate and individual philanthropic

United Way’s SWLA VolunteerHousing Center to HouseNational Volunteer Group

support as we continue to field newhousing-related unmet needs in ourfive-parish region,” he said. “If ourSouthwest Louisiana neighbors areunable to lend a hand, we are certainlygrateful for a contribution, regardlessof the size.”

Contributions from corporationsand private citizens can be made to theUnited Way Hurricane Fund, which isdedicated to assisting with hurricane

recovery in Southwest Louisiana. Individuals and companies wishing

to learn more on how they can becomeinvolved in volunteer support or con-tribute to the Hurricane Fund can con-tact the United Way office at (337)433-1088. Donations can be mailed tothe United Way Hurricane Fund, c/oUnited Way of Southwest Louisiana,715 Ryan Street (Suite 102), LakeCharles, LA 70611.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

utumn’s twin seasons inLouisiana, elections andfootball, rarely take a backseat to anything, but hurri-cane season knocked thewind out of both this year.

Compared to the suffer-ing and loss by thousands

of citizens—especially in coastalparishes torn up by Gustav and flood-ed by Ike—any disruption to politicsand sports barely registers as a matterof public concern. But it matters tosome, because football, even amidstruins, can be a useful communitydiversion, and elections, even whenlargely ignored, still have major con-sequences.

The postponement of the Sept. 6congressional primaries, for instance,could trigger a power outage of sortsfor new lawmakers.

This was supposed to be the yearthat Louisiana solved a problem withits election calendar that was causingits new congressmen and senators tobe elected in December, rather thanNovember, like representatives fromother states. Getting to Washington amonth late meant that Louisiana’snew lawmakers had very last dibs oncommittee assignments, staff andoffice space. Though sworn in at thesame time as the rest of the freshmenclass, Louisiana’s new congressmenstarted their careers at the back of theline in every way that matters inWashington.

The state Legislature tried to fixthat situation and remain in compli-ance with federal court decisions byreplacing the open primary system,which required no more than twoelections, with a return to closed partyprimaries, which can necessitate threevotes.

To provide for three elections (pri-mary, runoff and general), the firstvote was moved up one month to thefirst week of September. The samething happened to football seasonyears ago, as schedules grew from tengames to 12. That seemed to work,except that it put the start of both sea-sons at the peak of hurricane season,in harm’s way.

So, when Gustav blew away theSept. 6 primary, it was pushed back toOct. 4, and the party runoff, if needed,to Nov. 4, and the final, general elec-tion to Dec. 6. Right back where westarted.

Not all the state’s congressmenwill get a late start. December elec-tions will only apply in two of thestate’s congressional districts: the 2nd,based in New Orleans, and the 4th,based in Shreveport-Bossier. Thoseare the only two with contested partyprimaries that are almost certain torequire runoffs before general elec-tions.

The U.S. Senate election and fourcongressional elections will wrap upon the first Tuesday in November.Already decided is the 3rd District,where Congressman CharlieMelancon was unopposed.

In the two districts to be decidedin the December elections, the stormdelay exacerbates the loss of cloutalready felt: In the 4th by the retire-ment of Cong. Jim McCrery, R-Shreveport, and in the 2nd by Cong.Bill Jefferson’s indictment and pend-ing trial (set to start four days beforethe December election).

Either way, the New Orleans areawill start the next Congress in thehole: With the last elected rookie or adisgraced member stripped of hiscommittee assignment and facing pos-sible removal if convicted.

Not much can be done to changethe election calendar again to accom-modate hurricanes. The Legislaturewrestled with that issue enough to notwant to revisit it.

Louisiana may just have to livewith future storms’ effects on its con-gressional clout, as well as on otherpower rankings, those of its collegefootball teams, from LSU to McNeeseState. Gustav-affected LSU fans, hav-ing endured a 10 a.m. season openerand a postponed second game, wouldhave been inconsolable had schoolofficials been forced to move the thirdgame to avoid Ike.

Instead, both the LSU andSouthern contests went on as sched-uled, though to the chagrin of somefrazzled Baton Rouge officials andresidents. They were rightly con-cerned about the effects of footballtraffic on streets with stoplights stillnot working and with mountains ofdebris protruding from curbs.

The games went on and all sur-vived. The state's new congressmenwill get by too. By November, foot-ball and politics may be king again,but future Septembers will find themever subject to a higher power.

A

Hurricanes Cause Political Power Outage

INSIDE BATON ROUGE — by John Maginnis

he Bush administration hasput the mammoth quasi-private lending agencies—Fannie Mae and FreddieMac—into conservatorshipand punted the problem tothe next administration. Itwould be wise for the

media and debate moderators to pressJohn McCain and Barack Obamaregarding what exactly they will do toclean up this mess that is being left attheir doorstep.

The Fannie-Freddie debacle is atextbook example of what is wrong inOld Washington. The two agencies aresupposed to be regulated by the exec-utive branch with Congressional over-sight. Somehow, those “protectors” ofthe taxpayers either didn’t have a clueregarding high-risk practices ofFannie and Freddie or were tooindebted to campaign contributionsand largesse from their lobbyists tocall them on the carpet until it was toolate.

As a result, taxpayers could be onthe hook for hundreds of billions ofdollars in losses from bad loans andquestionable lending practices. Not allof the blame, however, can be laid atthe feet of the suspect management ofthe two agencies. Over the years,Congress has passed laws and pushedpractices designed to pressure Fannieand Freddie to make home loans tobuyers who could not afford them.Some of those same members ofCongress are now screaming the loud-est and pointing fingers at everyonebut themselves.

Particularly troubling for SenatorsMcCain and Obama should be therecent Congressional Budget Office(CBO) pronouncement that costsinvolved with the Fannie/Freddie con-servatorship should be included infuture federal budgets.

It is often the practice of presi-dents and members of Congress to notinclude federal fiscal liabilities in thebudget. Disaster relief and wars, forexample, aren’t considered federaldebt for the purpose of the budget. Atthe same time the CBO was droppingits bombshell about theFannie/Freddie problem, it was alsogiving its official estimation of a $407billion federal budget deficit for thisfiscal year and a $438 billion deficitfor the next. The deficit figures don’tfactor in any other bailouts likely to

occur because once some entities aredetermined to be “too big to fail,” thedemarcation line for making that deci-sion becomes very hazy.

Senators McCain and Obamawould do well to heed the words ofPeter Orzag, director of the CBO,who recently said: “This nation is onan unsustainable fiscal course.” Toillustrate his point, Orzag noted thatMedicare and Medicaid spendingalone is expected to jump 30 percentin the next decade from the currentlevel of 4 percent of the GDP to 6percent in 2018 and 12 percent by2050.

The question is: What will eitherof them do to reverse this recipe forfiscal disaster if elected to the highestoffice in the land? Both say they willcut taxes in some form or fashion, butwill not offset spending sufficiently topay for the reductions. Some of thenew spending being proposed wouldgreatly add to the problem.

It would be interesting if thearbiters of the election debate wouldforget about minutiae, add up all thedebt (on and off the budget) that willbe coming due during the nextdecade, demand an answer from thetwo candidates about how they willdeal with it— and not accept spin orevasion for an answer. Perhaps someof us don’t want those questionsasked, because, to paraphrase JackNicholson in A Few Good Men,maybe we can’t handle the truth.

T

The Fannie Mae/Freddie MacFrankenstein

BIZ BYTES — by Dan Juneau

TAXPAYERS COULD BE ONTHE HOOK FOR HUNDREDSOF BILL IONS OF DOLLARS

IN LOSSES FROM BADLOANS AND QUESTIONABLE

LENDING PRACTICES.


The Southwest Louisiana NationalWildlife Refuge Complex has four dif-ferent Lottery Drawn Waterfowl Huntopportunities on Cameron Prairie andLacassine refuges. The applicationperiod for all lottery hunts isSeptember 20 through October 15,2008. All applications will be mailedor delivered to the ComplexHeadquarters at Cameron PrairieNational Wildlife Refuge. Below is adescription of each hunt, whichhunters are eligible to apply, and howto apply.

The Cameron Prairie NationalWildlife Refuge Youth LotteryWaterfowl Hunt is open to hunters10–17 years of age. The youth huntsare scheduled on Saturdays and select-ed school holidays within the westernzone Louisiana waterfowl-hunting sea-son. The 14 available hunt dates forthe 2008-2009 Cameron PrairieNational Wildlife Refuge youth huntare November 1* (*Youth only hunt

on youth waterfowl day. Adults mustsupervise youth, but adults cannothunt on this day). November 8,15, 22,26 and 29 (2008), December 13, 20,24, 27, and 31 (2008), and January 3,10, and 17 (2009) youth and adultsupervisor can hunt on these dates incompliance with state law. Youthhunters must harvest their own limit.

The Lacassine National WildlifeRefuge Youth Lottery Waterfowl Huntis open to hunters 10 - 17 years of age.The youth hunts, with four blinds, arescheduled on Saturdays within the sec-ond split of the western zoneLouisiana waterfowl-hunting season.The six available dates for the 2008-2009 Lacassine National WildlifeRefuge youth hunt are December 13,20, and 27 (2008), and January 3, 10,and 17 (2009). The adult hunter willbe allowed to harvest a limit of water-fowl in compliance with state law.Youth hunters must harvest their ownlimit.

For both the Cameron Prairie andLacassine Youth Hunts, youth hunterapplicants and their youth guest mustbe 10-17 years of age by October 15.One adult will supervise no more thantwo youth hunters. Youth hunters andsupervisors born after September 1,1969, are required to possess aLouisiana Hunter Safety Certificationcard or equivalent from another stateprior to application. If the course hasbeen taken, but the card has not beenreceived please send a copy of certifi-cation completion with the application.Three hunters (an adult 21 years ofage or older, youth applicant andyouth guest) are allowed in each of thepit blinds. Decoys are provided.

The Lacassine National WildlifeRefuge Senior Lottery Duck Hunt isopen to seniors age 55 and older byOctober 15. Senior hunts, with fourblinds, are scheduled on Wednesdaysduring the second split of the westernzone Louisiana Duck Season. The five

available dates for the LacassineSenior Hunt are December 17, 24 and31 (2008) and January 7and 14 (2009).Chosen senior hunters are permitted tobring two guests, one of which mustbe a senior 55 years or older, or a 10 -17 year old youth and a second guestof any age. Blinds and decoys are pro-vided.

Lacassine National WildlifeRefuges Managed “Duck Pond” Huntis open to hunter applicants 21 yearsof age or older as of Oct. 15, 2008.Applicants are drawn for one of twohunt sites for each date. Blinds anddecoys are not provided and a boat isrequired to access and hunt these huntsites. Each selected applicant will beallowed to bring two guests. Availabledates for the Lacassine Managed“Duck Pond” Hunt are: November 8,12, 15, 19, 22, 26 and 29, December13, 17, 20, 24, 27, and 31, and January3, 7, 10, 14 and 17 (2009).

Application Period Opens for Cameron Prairie and Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge

Lottery Waterfowl Hunts As of this printing, there’s a good chance that the following hunts will happen in November, thanks to the hard work of the Refuge staff.

To apply for refuge Lottery Hunts:

Submit ONE 3 x 5 index card for each hunt that you are applying for to:SW LA National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, Cameron Prairie NationalWildlife Refuge, 1428 Highway 27, Bell City, LA 70630, by 4 p.m. Monday,October, 15 with the following information:

1) Name of Hunt Applying for:Cameron Prairie Youth Hunt or Lacassine Youth Hunt or Lacassine SeniorHunt or Lacassine Managed Duck Pond Hunt (only one card per hunt) 2) Applicant name 3) Applicant age by Oct. 15, 2008 4) Applicant address 5) Applicant telephone number

6) All applicants born after Sept. 1, 1969, must include their hunter safetycertification number or a copy of the certification completion if a card hasnot been received yet. 7) Preferred hunt date and TWO alternate dates.

No phone applications will be accepted. If the required information is notprovided, the applicant will be ineligible for the drawing. Individuals sub-mitting more than one card per hunt will be disqualified from the drawing.

Successful applicants will be issued a special permit for each hunt theyare chosen to participate in. All applicants will be notified of the results byNovember 1.

For additional information about any of the SWLA National WildlifeRefuges, call (337) 598-2216 or view the Web site atwww.fws.gov/swlarefugecomplex.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Since McNeese State Universitylost almost five days of the fall 2008semester because of Hurricanes Gustavand Ike, the academic calendar hasbeen revised to make up some of thedays missed. Classes will now meetWednesday-Friday, Dec. 3-5, and finalexams will begin on Monday, Dec. 8.Originally, Dec. 3 was a study day andDec. 4-5 were final exam days. “Withthis change, we will regain class meet-ing time for Wednesday, Thursday andFriday classes, as well as Tuesday nightclasses,” said Stephanie Tarver, dean ofenrollment management and registrar.In the original calendar, classes meetingat or after 4 p.m. were not scheduled tomeet on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Several academic deadlines havebeen rescheduled as follows:

• Wednesday, Dec. 3. Last date forfaculty to remove “I” grade fromprevious semester for currently enrolledstudents.

• Friday, Dec. 5. Classes end.• Monday, Dec. 8. Final exams begin.• Thursday, Dec. 11. Final exams

end; grades for graduating studentsdue by 1 p.m.

• Monday, Dec. 15. All remaininggrades due by 10 a.m.

The complete revised academic cal-endar, the revised final exam scheduleand a revised refund schedule can befound on the McNeese Web site atwww.mcneese.edu. Students wishing towithdraw from classes or resign fromthe university will follow normal proce-dures published in the fall class scheduleor on the Web at www.mcneese.edu/reg-istrar. For more information, call theregistrar’s office at (337) 475-5356 or(800) 622-3352, ext. 5356.

McNeese State University andadministrators with the PôleUniversitaire Léonard De Vinci havesigned an agreement that will createopportunities for McNeese students tostudy in France. Administrators of theParis-based university have signedagreements with the eight universitiesof the University of Louisiana System,which includes McNeese. Once com-pleted, the partnership will eventuallyprovide study abroad opportunities forstudents studying business, engineeringand engineering technology, computerscience and liberal arts at McNeese.The agreement between McNeese andthe Pôle Universitaire Léonard DeVinci demonstrates a local step in anationwide trend. Last summer,Congress unanimously approved theSenator Paul Simon Study AbroadFoundation Act of 2007, which “createsa national program that will establishstudy abroad as the norm, not theexception, for undergraduate students,”according to the National Associationof Foreign Student Advisors. TheFrench delegation includes PhilippeDubost, Associate General Director,Mark Louis Uhrich, School ofManagement, Michel Bernadou, Schoolof Engineering and Marie JosèpheGridel, International Relations. Dr.Brad O’Hara, UL System provost andvice president for academic affairs, isleading the delegation on a tour of theeight UL System campuses.

The deadline for entries for the2008 McNeese State UniversityHomecoming Parade scheduled forOct. 23 has been extended to 4 p.m.Friday, Oct. 3. Entry fee is $50 forcommunity organizations or businessfloats. This year’s theme is “The

Cowboy Way.” The parade is set to rolldown Ryan Street at 7 p.m. thatThursday, with line-up beginning at 4p.m. in the freshman parking lot nearCowboy Stadium. Last year, almost100 businesses, organizations andbands participated in the parade.McNeese student organizations andcommunity participants compete forprizes for best floats in the parade. Theparade will start at the intersection ofRyan and East LaGrange streets, turnsouth on Ryan and travel to McNeeseStreet, and turn east on McNeese andtravel to the Doland Athletic Complex,where it will disband for the homecom-ing pep rally and fireworks display,which is sponsored by the McNeeseAlumni Association. Parade entryforms can be obtained by calling theMcNeese Office of Student Services at475-5266.

The Doré School of GraduateStudies at McNeese State Universityhas announced that the Master ofBusiness Administration degree pro-gram now offers an accounting concen-tration component. The McNeese MBAprogram has long been recognized andcited in such listings as the PrincetonReview’s “Best Business Schools” andU.S News and World Report’s“America’s Best Graduate Schools”The program is 33 semester hours inlength. The traditional baccalaureateprogram is 120 hours; however, variousregulatory boards in accounting nation-wide have all agreed to a minimumrequirement of 150 credit hours inhigher education before an individual iseligible to sit for the Certified PublicAccounting exam. The MBA graduatefaculty initiated the accounting concen-tration after discussions with local busi-

ness leaders, alumni, university admin-istrators and current students. Thesestakeholder groups created the founda-tion for the new offering, which wasdeveloped with the oversight of Dr.Bruce Swindle, former director of theMBA program and currently head ofthe McNeese accounting department.A consulting practicum has also beendeveloped as an elective course towardthe MBA. The consulting practicumwas also designed in response to theneeds of businesses and organizations.The practicum allows students to solvereal-life business challenges for areabusinesses and non-profit groups. Formore information on the McNeeseMBA, contact the program office at(337) 475-5576 or [email protected].

McNeese State University and theLouisiana Consortium of Insurance andFinancial Services at Louisiana StateUniversity in Shreveport will present aproperty and casualty insurance pre-licensing course from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 10-18, onthe McNeese campus. This course pro-vides 32 hours of class time designed toprepare an individual for the Propertyand Casualty Licensing exam and for acareer in insurance. Topics includebasic terminology, concepts, sales, thefundamentals of insurance law andagent responsibility. Cost is $200 perperson, including the textbooks. Formore information or to register, contactSarah Leonards at (337) 475-5075.

Nursing students from McNeeseState University recently visited resi-dents of Kingsley Place, an assisted-liv-ing facility in Lake Charles, to educatethem on preventative health methods.

N E W S R O U N D U P F R O M M S U

David Chozen and his nieces, Stephanie and Pamela Chozen, have donated$15,000 to the McNeese State baseball program with plans to continue supporting the baseball program. David has also established the Harry

Chozen Baseball Scholarship through the McNeese Foundation in memory of his father. From left: Terry Burrows, McNeese head baseball coach,accepts the donation from David as Melissa Ellis Northcutt, McNeese

director of development operations and special events, looks on.

Marie Josèphe Gridel, left, international relations representative for the Pôle Universitaire Léonard De Vinci in Paris, France, shakes hands with

McNeese State University Provost and Vice President of Academic AffairsJeanne Daboval. Gridel recently arrived in Lake Charles with colleaguesPhilippe Dubost, left, and Michel Bernadou to discuss a study-abroad

agreement between the universities.


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The program is part of the graduatingseniors’ community health requirement,which allows them to integrate class-room knowledge with clinical practices.Through the capstone project, studentsassess data to determine best health prac-tices and present their findings to a spe-cific community health population.According to Kingsley Place ExecutiveDirector Christin Bennett, the partner-ship is mutually beneficial. “The com-munity health program in general bene-fits our community by providing recenthealth data and educating the public

about how they can use the information,”Bennett said. “Specifically at KingsleyPlace, both the residents and the studentshave definitely benefited. The residentshave learned more about how to remainhealthy and the students have learnedmore about the geriatric setting.”Kingsley Place residents were educatedon how to prevent falls; the importanceof water and dangers of dehydration;medicinal side effects; and how to com-bat loneliness. These topics were select-ed based on assessments made by thestudents earlier in the semester.

A woman’s journey to motherhoodcan be less stressful and more reward-ing for herself—and her family—withknowledge and support. Prenatal classeshelp prepare mothers-to-be and theirfamilies for the incredible change thatare taking place in their lives.

The following is a list of educationclasses being offered by MemorialHospital for Women in October,November and December. For moreinformation or to pre-register, call (337)480-7243.

Prepared Childbirth SeriesRecommended during the first three

months of pregnancy. Learn comfort,relaxation, positioning, breathing, andmassage techniques for increasing thecomfort level and enhancing the birthexperience.

Tuesdays, Oct. 14, 21, 28 Nov. 4, 11, 18; $35/couple

One-Day Prepared Childbirth Class Recommended for the last two

months of pregnancy. Learn comfort,relaxation, positioning, breathing, andmassage techniques for increasing thecomfort level and enhancing the birthexperience during this condensed ver-sion of the Prepared Childbirth Series.

Saturdays, Oct. 11 or Nov. 89 a.m. – 5 p.m.; $35/couple

Breastfeeding ClassRecommended during the last three

months of pregnancy. Learn positioning,latch-on, early feedings and the impor-tance of assessing baby’s intake.

Thursdays, Oct. 16, Nov. 13 or Dec. 116:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.; $10/couple

Sibling ClassRecommended during the last three

months of pregnancy. Help siblings pre-pare for the new arrival.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 or Monday, Nov. 36:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; $10/family

Baby Care ClassRecommended during the last 3

months of pregnancy. Review newborncharacteristics, general baby care, earlyparenting issues and communityresources.

Mondays, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, or Dec. 86:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; $10/couple

Infant CPR for Family and FriendsLearn and practice rescue for chok-

ing and CPR for infants. This is not acertifying or credentialing course, but isrecommended for expectant parents,new parents and support persons.

Monday, Oct. 6 or Tuesday, Dec. 9 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.; $5/person

Memorial Hospital for WomenAnnounces Upcoming Prenatal and Family Education Classes

OCTOBER 2, 2008

he Gulf waters softly lap theshoreline on this balmySunday afternoon. Pelicanssoar overhead as sandpipersscurry about in the breakingwaves, looking for dinner.

The sound of the surf and the seagulls’cries enhance this scene of peace andtranquility–until I turn around and see thedestruction wrought by Hurricane Ike.

This is Crystal Beach on the BolivarPeninsula in Southeast Texas. Long avacation playground for families andspring-breakers, the area had grown byleaps and bounds through the years.New developments sprang up from HighIsland to the Galveston Ferry.Restaurants like DeCoux’s andStingaree’s always brought in thecrowds, and the Big Store with itsbrand-new castle façade had absolutelyanything a vacationer could possiblywant—from imported wines to incenseto garden hoses. Until now.

The ReturnThis is the third day of the Bolivar

Return. Beginning Friday, Sept. 26,area residents can “visit” their homeson the island between 6 a.m. and 2p.m., with everyone off the peninsulaby 4 p.m. Because there are no utilitiesor water, no one is allowed to remainin the area overnight.

On Friday, the lines getting intoBolivar were reportedly backed up forfive miles. But this Sunday morning,there’s only a 10-minute wait to handthe officers your registration form andproof of residency at the checkpointbefore Rollover Pass. FEMA is givingout water, ice, hand sanitizers andtetanus shots at a staging area on HighIsland, but we’ve decided to skip it,since we’re anxious to see what, ifanything, is left of our house.

My husband Phil and I had a vaca-tion home on Crystal Beach. Four bed-rooms, right on the water. We’ve been

told it’s completely gone.The bridge at Rollover Pass

between Gilchrist and Caplen sufferedextensive damage and has beenreduced to one usable lane. Once overthe bridge, the ride approachingCrystal Beach is harrowing: Rows oftelephone poles snapped in two, vehi-cles smashed and submerged in muckby the side of the road, bed linens andclothing twisted around trees and flat-tened fences. And initially, no housesanywhere—just pilings and cementslabs. ‘We’ll Be Back” is scrawled ona piece of plywood propped up againsta block of cement.

We eventually start seeing somehomes in various stages of destruction.Ironically, some look barely touchedby Ike. Others are half smashed, slant-ed on their pilings, looking like housesof cards about to fold.

DeCoux’s Pub is gone without atrace. All that’s left is the sign. The

same for True Value Hardware. MamaTheresa’s Flying Pizza is a pile of rub-ble.

We come to the Big Store. It actu-ally looks pretty good in the front,with its fish plaques and statuaryintact, but as we drive by, we can seethat the inside is heavily damaged.Our street is shortly after the store.The driving is treacherous, as the roadis covered with thick sand. Halfwaydown, we realize that we’re going toget stuck, so we decide to pull overand walk the rest of the way.

Gone with the WavesThe rest of the way leads to noth-

ing but a cement slab and some jaggedpilings. That’s it. No furniture, noth-ing. It’s all gone.

It’s a lot to take in. The beach infront of our house has gotten a com-plete facelift. The dunes, wild grassand flowers have disappeared. Many

THE BOLIVAR PENINSULAWHAT’S LEFT BEHIND

By Lauren de Albuquerque; Photos by Phil de Albuquerque

Before After

Beaumont Dr. on Crystal Beach.

T


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of the houses around us have beenobliterated.

Our house was named AmarisWest. We had another beach housecalled Amaris on Dauphin Island,Alabama, that was claimed byKatrina. Amaris means Child of theSea, and it’s ironic that both houseswere taken by it.

We rented out Amaris West on aweek-to-week basis during the sum-mer months, but in the off-season, wewould come down on weekends,bring friends, and enjoy the Gulfbreezes and spectacular view fromour deck. We had just installed newfloors and French doors.

We notice people slowly movingthrough the nearby ruins in rubberboots and gloves, searching forsomething that Ike left behind.

Ron and Bonnie York live inArkansas. They bought their two-bedroom vacation home on the beachthis past June—two days after theygot married. They had only spent atotal of 16 days in their house, which,like ours, is now just a slab.

“We’re going to rebuild,” RonYork said. “We’re not leaving. Welove it here.” He is not concernedabout the rumors that the State ofTexas may not let homeownersrebuild due to beach erosion and theOpen Beaches Act. He points to

what’s left of the beachfront homes.“Look there, “he said. “There are toomany big money people who havehomes here. They’re big taxpayers.The state’s not going to stop themfrom rebuilding.”

Meanwhile, Bonnie York is dig-ging through the piles of debris thatrandomly dot the sand—smashedDVD players and Mardi Gras beadsand battered frying pans. If she findssomething intact that doesn’t belongto her, she painstakingly removes allthe mud and sets it on the sand, inhopes that the owner will eventuallycome along to claim it.

“What I’m really looking for ismy T-shirt with my daughter’s pic-ture on it,” she said. “She died a yearand half ago. She was only 16.”

As I walk with Bonnie, I discovera bright yellow dish from my house,just sitting on top of the sand—com-pletely intact. With her help, I findtwo more pieces. I can’t imagine theysurvived Ike’s fury without a crack.

Cathie and Dan Mouton’s homewas right behind ours. The Beaumontcouple is sitting under an umbrella ontheir cement slab, facing the Gulf—which they can see unobstructed nowthat our house is gone. Like theYorks, they want to rebuild. “We’veonly had it two years,” CathieMouton said. “We completely remod-

eled it. And we came every weekend.We’re not giving this up.”

She is apprehensive about theOpen Beaches Act, however. “Theysay they’re going to wait a year—have the beach go through the fourseasons—to see exactly how mucherosion there is,” she said. “I’m wor-ried.”

Various mud-encrusted tools,rakes and shovels are lined up next totheir slab. “These are ours,” DanMouton said. “We found them in thatditch way over there.” Cathie wishesthey had taken their professionalmargarita-maker home when theyboarded up the house, but theythought about it too late. “Oh, well,it’s all gone,” she said.

Meanwhile, our insuranceadjuster, a pleasant young man fromKentucky, shows up. “This is theeighth house I’ve looked at today,”he said. He shakes his head. “They’reall bad, really bad,” he said. “Iworked on Katrina claims and let metell you, it’s much worse here.”

As the witching hour of 4 p.m.approaches, we gather up our threedishes and a rusted sunburst plaquethat hung over our fireplace and headfor home. Will we rebuild, if we can?Probably not. There comes a timewhen you just have to leave it allbehind.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

hree years after HurricanesKatrina and Rita and in thewake of the recentHurricanes Gustav and Ike,the United Way ofSouthwest Louisiana con-

tinues to seek corporate and individualcontributions for its Hurricane Fund.

“Since September 2005, ourUnited Way Hurricane Fund hasreceived more than $3.8 million inpublic and private contributions,” saidJim McGough, chairman of the UnitedWay of Southwest Louisiana board ofdirectors. “From the fund’s inception,its steering committee has been com-mitted to focusing on long-rangerecovery efforts, and has dispersed ordedicated95 percent of the funds col-lected to date.”

While recovery efforts initiallyfocused on recovery from the 2005storms, they now transcend a growingfamily of storms to include Gustav andIke this year, he added. “We are find-ing that the human needs associatedwith hurricanes impacting our five-parish region are not going away aswe move from one hurricane season toanother.”

McGough cited a myriad of unmetneeds programs that have been fundedby the UW Hurricane Fund, includingfood, clothing, mental illness treat-ment, child welfare, furniture, house-hold goods, temporary shelter andlong-term housing.

But, he highlighted the SouthwestLouisiana Volunteer Housing Centeras the most dynamic initiative fundedthrough the UW Hurricane Fund. Thevolunteer housing center has risenfrom a decommissioned 15,000-square-foot middle school in MossBluff to a comprehensive housingfacility that has served 4,796 volun-teers since it opened its doors in Julyof 2006.

“While this is impressive, there’smore to the story,” McGoughexplained.

“Since the center’s inception, planswere in place to make the facilityavailable to support first responders incase of other natural disasters,” headded. “That concept was put intoaction for both Gustav and Ike as thecenter was ‘home’ for 386 ambulancedrivers, law enforcement officers andnational guardsmen.”

McGough offered his gratitude to awide range of partners who have madethe volunteer housing center possible,including the Calcasieu Parish SchoolSystem, the Calcasieu Parish PoliceJury, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’sOffice, Entergy, Lake Area MinistersGroup, Habitat for Humanity,Rebuilding Together, EnterpriseFoundation, Fannie Mae Foundation,Christian Reform World ReliefCommittee, and the volunteers, them-selves.

“But, we are in need of additionalcorporate and individual philanthropicsupport as we prepare for a new influxof volunteers from across the countryready to lend a helping hand in thewake of Gustav and Ike,” he added.“Contributions from corporations andprivate citizens to the United WayHurricane Fund will help make thevolunteer housing center viable formany more years.”

Individuals and companies wishingto learn more on how they can supportthe United Way Hurricane Fund cancontact the United Way office at (337)433-1088. Donations can be mailed tothe United Way Hurricane Fund, c/oUnited Way of Southwest Louisiana,715 Ryan Street (Suite 102), LakeCharles, LA 70601.

T

UNITED WAY OF SWLAHURRICANE FUND CONTINUES

TO SERVE REGIONAL RECOVERY he Community Foundationof Southwest Louisiana isassessing the needs of non-profits in the region, a prel-ude to distributing reliefgrants to nonprofits that

cared for Louisiana residents afterHurricane Ike.

The Foundation, which worksacross Southwest Louisiana, has com-mitted $200,000 to nonprofits, many ofwhich were stretched thin after Ikecaused widespread destruction, includ-ing flooding thousands of homes.

“We have heard from nonprofitsabout the money they spent to shelter,feed and care for Louisiana residentsafter the storm,” said Lisa Verrette,CEO of the Community Foundation ofSouthwest Louisiana. “Thankfully,donors have provided us the funding tohelp nonprofits cover some of theunexpected expenses of relief andrecovery.”

The Community Foundation ofSouthwest Louisiana is a sister organi-zation of the Baton Rouge AreaFoundation, which raised $45 millionafter Katrina to fill gaps in services,such as providing grants to sheltersthat cared for thousands of evacueesbut were not considered under govern-ment rules for federal assistance. Thefoundation in the Capital City also paidfor planning projects in SouthwestLouisiana that recommended strategiesfor building more vibrant cities andtowns that could withstand future hur-ricanes and other disasters.

The Community Foundation ofSouthwest Louisiana expects to beginmaking hurricane relief grants within afew weeks to nonprofits, just as theBaton Rouge Area Foundation did thisweek, issuing $257,000 from a Gustavrelief fund to nonprofits that includethe Greater Baton Rouge Food Bankand Big Buddy.

The foundations, along with theNorthshore Community Foundation,also have launchedFoundationsForRecovery.org, a stand-ing Web site for accepting donationsfor disaster relief.

“Community foundations across thecountry have assisted people in needfor generations and now are workingwith governments and businesses tocreate great places for all of us,” saidJohn Davies, CEO of the Baton RougeArea Foundation. “With our I-10/12initiative, we are working with leadersin Lafayette, Lake Charles and otherparishes that border the interstates tocreate an economy that lures entrepre-neurs and creates jobs.”

About the Community Foundationof Southwest Louisiana:

The foundation connects philanthro-pists with worthy nonprofits inCalcasieu, Beauregard, Allen, Cameronand Jefferson Davis parishes. It alsotakes on projects that improve the quali-ty of life across the region. For moreinformation, visit FoundationSWLA.org.For more on community foundations,visit COF.org.

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FOUNDATION PROVIDINGHURRICANE RELIEFHURRICANE RELIEF IN SWLA

OCTOBER 2, 2008

he city of Galveston allowedits residents to return to theirhurricane-ravaged island onSept. 24, just 11 days afterIke made landfall.Approximately 45,000 people

evacuated prior to the storm, and as theyreturn, many are discovering that theirhomes are uninhabitable. Their plighthas the city scrambling to find shelter forthem.

City officials hoped that the majorityof the evacuees would stay away untilthe City was better prepared for them.Water and electrical services are limitedat best (at this writing, 30 percent ofGalveston has electricity, but an inspec-tion is needed before residents can turnon their meters) and there are real dan-gers from snakes, vermin and mold.Medical services are limited and thereare few working sewers. The city councilhas extended the declaration of a localstate of disaster for 90 days.

But residents poured back in as soonas they could.

Shelter ShortageIn conjunction with the Red Cross,

the City recently set up a tent city on thegrounds of a school that is no longer inuse. It can hold up to 500 people, butmore shelter is needed—especially sinceall the public housing developmentshave been condemned until the neces-sary repairs are made. At this point,there’s a chance that the building may betorn down and rebuilt—a task that willtake time and money.

In the meantime, the 1,800-plus pub-lic housing residents who were evacuat-ed to Austin have returned. They wereordered to clear their belongings out oftheir condemned apartments by Sept. 26, but they have no idea where they aresupposed to go.

To help alleviate the situation, FEMAwill be setting up 15 mobile shelters atthe Port of Galveston with a capacity for600 people. The shelters, equipped withkitchens and operated by local churchgroups, can each house 42 people.

The city also is working with FEMAto find long-term housing for those whoneed it. The federal government is look-ing to Harris County and Houston hous-ing authorities to help people relocate.

Historic District in Recovery Mode

In contrast, Galveston’s DowntownHistoric District, though flooded, wasspared significant damage, for the mostpart. “Residential areas were hit theworst,” said RoShelle Gaskins, publicrelations manager for Galveston’sConvention and Visitor’s Bureau.

She said that the big hotels and thearea’s main tourist attractions did betterthan expected. “The hotels did amazing,”she said. “They just needed cleanup.” Atthe moment, they are at 100 percentcapacity, housing evacuees andCenterpoint Energy workers.

The Grand Theater suffered streetand basement level flooding, but nostructural damage, and cleanup is under-way. Moody Gardens also escaped majordamage. It is located on the bayside,which did not have as much of a stormsurge that the Gulfside properties did.

“The hotel is already open,” Gaskinssaid. “And the aquarium and the golfcourse will open soon.” Luckily, the ani-mals at Moody Gardens survived, andhave been temporarily relocated to otherzoos and aquariums during the clean-upstages.

Restaurants and bars are gradually re-opening, day by day. “Most businessesare in the recovery process,” Gaskinssaid. “Some restaurants are just servingdrinks. It’s going to take time.”

So, who’s going to be visiting MoodyGardens and these bars and restaurants inthe near future?

Gaskins said that the Lone Star BikerRally, scheduled for the last weekend inOctober, has not been canceled. TheRally is one of the largest in the state.“It’s still going on,” she said. Shebelieves there will be room to lodge thethousands of bikers who make the yearlyrun to the island, as most of the utilityworkers will be gone by then, andFEMA is trying to make other arrange-ments for evacuees.

Dickens on the Strand, the annualVictorian extravaganza, is supposed totake place the first weekend inDecember. Gaskins believes it will hap-pen. She is optimistic, pointing out thatIke affected only 1,500 of the 7,000buildings and museums in the downtownhistorical district, and for the most part,damage is minimal. “We’re trying to getit going,” she said. “We’re working veryhard.”

PAIN, OPTIMISM INIKE-TORNGALVESTON

By Lauren de Albuquerque

T


Images of

IKEDéjà vu.

A scant three years after Hurricane Rita made her mark on Southwest Louisiana, we again find ourselves in the unenviable position of recoveringfrom the effects of a hurricane. With water damageeven worse than with Rita, our region is strugglingonce more, and our patience is being sorely tried.Ike’s images portray our latest round with MotherNature, and the spirit of a people who refuse to lether get the best of them.

We thank our contributors, Edward Leger, Sylvia Ney, the Calcasieu ParishSheriff's Office, Andy Jacobson, Patrick Marcantel, and Darrell Buck.

A mobile home in Hackberry succumbs to the storm surge of Ike.

Rising waters threaten thestate’s coast once again.

The lake washes over the grounds of the SWLAConvention and Visitors Bureau.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Cattle struggling to stay alive near Choupique.

Deer on the runafter Ike.

West Prien Lake Rd. becomes awaterway in the post-Ike hours.

Devastation underthe Cameron water tower.

Flooded homes in Grand Lake.


Help from a far offplace. K&M Electricalcame from NewBrunswick, Canada to lend a helpinghand.

Cameron residents Durk, Gilbert, Jr., andChris Landry in front of the family homethat has survived three hurricanes.

Public meeting atCameron Prairie

headquarters.

Ike kills 2 in Cameron

Hurricane Ike’s gargantuan size – not its strength – pushed an extralarge storm surge in this region. In Cameron Parish, Ike is blamed fortwo deaths. The details have not been released, but were confirmed.Damages from the storm are still being tallied. Thousands of homesand businesses were flooded – areas still recovering from Gustav.Officials said the flooding was worse than 2005’s Hurricane Rita,which hit the area.

Aptly-named ride (Chaos) describes the scene at Kemah, Texas.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

?????

A common sight inCameron Parish.

Bobbie and Robert Landry from Creolecleaning up the storm damage.

Orange, TX

Redfish that became trappedas the water receded.

Water engulfsHackberry home.

L’Auberge du Lac rises above the flood.


Intersection of 6th and Bank.

Poole Roofing trying to save some of their inventory.

A big loss in Orange.

The day after in Sulphur.

Rikenjaks is ready for looters.

The site of the former Lake Front Hotel.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

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f all the things I’ve everlost…I miss my mind themost.” Mark Twain’sfamous quote seems todescribe how many GulfCoast residents may have

felt recently as they faced the uncer-tainties of the current hurricane sea-son. With the memories of Rita andKatrina still intact, it is no wonder thatmany residents behaved a little out ofcharacter with panic buying and erraticdriving as they scrambled to makeplans for evacuation.

Making mental notes of prepara-tions to keep your family safe can bementally draining. Imagine the confu-sion of visitation schedules for co-par-ents who are separated or divorced andmay not agree on when and where toevacuate.

If you’ve been feeling somewhat

robotic and weary, and have beenshort-tempered with loved ones andothers, you’re not alone. You may beexperiencing Hurricane-RelatedDistress, commonly called HurricaneFatigue.

Hurricane Fatigue takes an emo-tional toll and can lead to forgetful-ness, confusion, numbness, difficultyin making decisions, changes inappetite, crying for no apparent rea-son, lack of energy, and evenincreased effects from allergies andcolds. You may feel heightened sensi-tivity to others and lash out inappro-priately.

Despite these symptoms, manyreject outside help and may isolatefrom family, friends, and social activi-ties, and in some cases, turn to sub-stance abuse. You must understandthat these behaviors may be symptoms

“O

COPING WITHHURRICANEFATIGUE By Cindy Nassar,

L.P.C., L.M.F.T

of the stress that hurricane season canproduce—and realize that it won’t lastlong.

Phases of Hurricane FatigueThe definition of Hurricane-

Related Distress, or Hurricane Fatigue,is divided into four phases, asdescribed by Dr. Charles Figley of theFlorida State University TraumatologyInstitute:Phase I: Anticipation and Preparation -

Lasts from warning to impact (ifany) of the storm.Phase II: Disaster Impact -

Lasts as long as there is perceivedimmediate danger.Phase III: Immediate Post-Disaster Impact –

Starts with return to a sense ofsafety and ends with a sense of nor-mality (or new normality).Phase IV: Long-term Post-Disaster Impact –

Longest phase, associated with cre-ating a new normal, grieving the loss-es, thankful it was not worse, potentialgrowth, and efforts to recover bydrawing upon personal and socialresources.

If there is an overlap in recoveryphases, which is what we recentlyexperienced, (for example, Phase IVof Gustav with Phase I of Ike), it

could result in more severe symptomsfor those most affected.

Cumulative EffectsWhile we may become more effi-

cient as we prepare for each storm,individual stress and fatigue levels canoften increase with each successivestorm, due to having less energy todeal with it all: The emotions ofexcitement, fear, uncertainty, and stressall over again; the familiar drills ofmaking strategic hotel reservations,boarding up windows, and making surethere’s a full tank of gas in your escapevehicle.

The most dangerous symptom ofHurricane Fatigue may be a fatalisticattitude and a refusal to take action.When we have a desire for things to benormal and routine, we can fall intodenial by ignoring evacuation warningsand failing to stock up on supplies.

Preparation is KeySo, what do we do to feel better

during these times? It is important toincrease our sense of safety and controland decrease our level of fear. Byfocusing on preparation and communi-cation, we can reduce HurricaneFatigue.

Preparation should occur beforeeach hurricane season, by talking with


he Southwest LouisianaEconomic DevelopmentAlliance has opened aBusiness CounselingCenter on the first floor ofthe Willis Noland Resource

Center (120 West Pujo Street, LakeCharles). It is open from 8:30 a.m. to5 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Due to construction on PujoStreet between Ryan Street andLakeshore Drive, the Willis NolandResource Center parking lot isaccessible through the neighboringMidSouth Bank parking lot or visi-tors can park at the Lake CharlesCivic Center and walk acrossLakeshore Drive.

SBA Customer ServiceRepresentatives are ready to assistbusinesses with low interest disasterrecovery loans of up to $2 million.Loans are available to businesses ofany size; and non-profit organizationsthat have experienced any physicaldamage, loss of inventory, or equip-ment damage, as well as those who

require working capital to keep theirbusinesses in operation until theirrecovery is complete. No appoint-ment necessary.

Also on hand to offer counselingand recovery options are representa-tives from the McNeese StateUniversity Small BusinessDevelopment Center as well as repre-sentatives from The SWLAEconomic Development Alliance, theLouisiana Department of EconomicDevelopment and the Service Corpsof Retired Executives (SCORE).

For more information about theBusiness Counseling Center, call TheSWLA Economic DevelopmentAlliance at (337) 433-3632.

The SBA does recommend thatbusiness owners register with FEMAby calling (800) 621-FEMA or bylogging on to www.fema.gov prior tocoming to the center. For more infor-mation about the SBA, call (800)659-2955 or check out their Web siteat www.sba.gov.

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family and mapping out a plan. Copingwith unpredictability is much easierwhen we take small steps to prepare inadvance. There are many hurricanechecklists available in the communitywith a wealth of information. Buy nec-essary items in small increments, andkeep them in a cabinet or drawer thatyou can easily find in case of poweroutages.

Ways to CopeWhen people communicate and

help each other, there is an increasedsense of hope. Talking about your feel-ings can decrease stress symptoms. Itis important to reach out to othersthrough phone call and emails andcheck on loved ones and friends, espe-cially those who may live alone anddon’t have much outside contacts.Keeping in touch during evacuationsand letting others know where you arehelps you realize you are not alone.

Proper exercise, nutrition and rest isimportant. Try to continue some formof ritualized activities in which younormally participate and keep yourmind occupied. Remember to bepatient and accept that restoring yourlife to what was normal for you willtake time. Recognize and accept yourfeelings and realize that others are alsostruggling.

If you do evacuate, it is importantto take small steps to recover whenyou return home so you don’t feeloverwhelmed. There may be damage toyour property and windows to uncover.As with Hurricane Rita, familiar streetsmay look completely different, as thelandscape can change dramatically.Therefore, allow yourself to take onone task at a time. Realize that it isokay to feel the way you are feeling.Many people do not allow themselvesthe “right” to be worn-out, angry orsad. It is a normal reaction to themajor disruption in your life and in thelives of your family, so take it slowlyand accept help from others.

If you believe you are having diffi-culties adjusting, remember that coun-seling and wellness programs are avail-able and can help to lessen the burdensof trauma and stress. Talking with amental health professional can helpyou begin to recover from emotionaldistress and begin to feel like yourselfagain. You deserve that.

Cindy Nassar, L.P.C., L.M.F.T. is apsychotherapist, divorce and familymediator, and parenting coordinator inprivate practice in Lake Charles, whospecializes in co-parenting issues infamilies of divorce. For more informa-tion, Cindy can be reached [email protected].

Continued from Page 28

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Image of Hurricane Ike on Sept. 10, 2008, taken by the crew of the International Space Station. Photo Credit: NASA

t is too early to judge thesuccess of FEMA’s responseto recent hurricanes Ike andGustav, as streets throughoutTexas and coastal Louisianaare littered with debris, hun-

dreds remain in emergency shelters,and hundreds of thousands of residentsare still without power. But now is thetime for the nation’s premiere disasterrelief agency to show what it haslearned from the mistakes of the past.

In Louisiana, there is reason foroptimism. Food, ice, water, and sup-plies have been distributed throughoutaffected parishes. Glitches have beenendured, but, as Denise Everhart,spokesperson for FEMA’s Joint FieldOffice in Baton Rouge, the bureauoverseeing the initial stages of recov-ery from the two storms, said in arecent interview, such challenges areto be expected. “There always areglitches in major relief work,” shesaid. “There always have been.”

On the other hand, since 2005,FEMA in Louisiana has improveddeficiencies revealed by the post-Katrina and Rita experience, whencommunication was problematic,delivery of supplies was hamstrung,and the shelter of victims, as well asthe ultimate evacuation of NewOrleans, was described by some as“hell on earth.” Everhart says thatFEMA has strengthened communica-tions between various authorities, hasadjusted aid programs to assist sur-vivors, and has also improved mediaaccess to information.

Encouraging ImprovementsThe result of these improvements,

she said, has been encouraging. When

Southeast Louisiana evacuated inadvance of Gustav, FEMA coordinatedwith the governor’s office and localmunicipalities to prepare for thedislocation of over a million people.“The evacuation was an amazingthing to watch,” Everhart said.

Stephanie Allen, press secretary forLa. Senator Mary Landrieu’soffice in Washington D.C., agrees withEverhart about the success ofthe Gustav evacuation. “The evacua-tion went much better this time, andthere was much more coordination”between federal, state, and localgovernments,” said Allen in a recentinterview. “It was largely successful.”

Since the storms pounded the state,FEMA has overseen the distributionof over six million pounds of ice, 24million bottles of water, and over 11million meals. FEMA has done a bet-ter job this time in preparing for distri-bution on commodities to strickenpeople, but Allen remarked that therewere some “hang-ups” in the distribu-

tion of goods, and shelters for evac-uees weren’t always comfortable oraccommodating.

Senator Landrieu toured a shelterin Shreveport, and found cots crowdedtogether and no air conditioning.Landrieu “found the shelter to be inad-equate,” Allen reported.

With the scope of the storms’ dam-age still being assessed in Louisiana,Allen is guarded about FEMA’s abilityto fulfill its mission. “As far as givingFEMA a grade on how they did withthe two storms, it’s still too early tosay,” she said.

Unknown Future for ManyOne benchmark in any

catastrophe recovery is howlong it takes evacuees in emer-gency shelters to transition intolong-term housing. Louisianashelters are slowly emptying,and only about 800 peopleremain in acute crisis housing,down from almost 34,000 at

the height of the evacuations.Not everyone can return home,

though. FEMA’s Everhart says thatCameron and Vermillion Parishesremain closed as of this writing. Inparishes where restrictions have beenlifted, residents are returning to anunknown future. Many communitieshave been heavily damaged by windand storm surge, and in some areas,restoration of services such as waterand electricity may be weeks away.

As evacuees from these areasreturn, they may find their homesdestroyed or damaged beyond repair.

By Matt Robinson

Electrical crews gather at Burton Coliseum before heading out. Photo by Andy Jacobson

Photo by Patrick Marcantel

I


They will have to start over, and theywill need a place to stay. The numberof storm survivors in need of housingassistance has yet to be tallied, but sofar, FEMA has given out over $25 mil-lion to victims through the IndividualHousing Program, which assists withrental payments and uninsured homerepairs. Separately, FEMA has paid forhotel rooms to assist victims in needof emergency shelter.

Everhart says that FEMA’s goal isto utilize the resources available instorm-affected communities to housethe displaced. “We want to get peopleinto [housing] that’s already there,”she said.

Trailers – the Last ResortUsing rental assistance and direct

payment of hotel stays for evacuees,FEMA hopes to address the need fortemporary housing. If, however, theneed for long-term shelter outstrips theavailable supply, FEMA has acknowl-edged that the flawed flagship housingprogram from the relief efforts of 2005– the now infamous FEMA trailers –will be used again.

FEMA’s Everhart says she hasheard no discussions on the use oftrailers for housing Louisianans lefthomeless after Gustav and Ike. But,she notes, FEMA’s DeputyAdministrator and Chief OperationsOfficer, Admiral Harvey Johnson, hasadmitted recently that trailers “remainan option.”

Senator Landrieu’s office is wellaware of the potential for SoutheastLouisiana to once more see the boxytravel trailers installed on home lots instricken communities. The Senator’soffice was recently critical of thisaspect of FEMA’s Disaster HousingPlan, revealed in July a year after thereport was due to Congress. In thisplan, said Allen, “[FEMA] was sup-posed to highlight ways they wouldhouse people other than trailers.”

But the plan lacked vital details.Annexes at the rear of the report wereto provide the nuts and bolts of thedisaster housing strategy, but theannexes were left blank. “Instead ofputting in the annexes, they left sevenblank pages where the annexes wouldbe,” Allen said. “All the things thatthey were asked for, literally all ofthem, are incomplete.”

What the plan did reveal, sheadded, was FEMA’s continuedreliance on manufactured living struc-tures, like travel trailers. In the plan,she said, “Trailers happen to be thefinal solution again.”

Whether trailers will be needed toprovide housing for Louisianans inthe wake of Gustav and Ike has yet tobe seen. If they do become thelong-term shelter of choice, FEMA’s

history of emergency housing asshown after Katrina and Rita calls forclose oversight.

Problems From the StartAlthough trailers used in the 2005

temporary housing mission proveddangerous for occupants, with threatsranging from poor maintenance,formaldehyde fumes, and mold, to thefact that the structures were notintended to provide long-term accom-modations, the trailer programitself had problems long before thefirst evacuee took possession oftheir unit.

The initial contracts for FEMAtrailers were awarded to four political-ly connected, massive engineeringfirms. A recent Department ofHomeland Security Inspector Generalreport on these contracts was highlycritical of the no-bid deals, andrevealed the housing program’s deepvulnerabilities to waste and abuse.

The DHS-IG investigation foundup to $45 million in questionable orimproper charges from prime contrac-tors Bechtel, CH2MHill, Fluor Inc.,and Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group.In response to widespread criticism ofthe first no-bid deals, FEMA bid thetasks of maintenance and deactivationof the trailers to three dozen smallerfirms, but the problems of improperservicing of the units remained.

While the contractors providedshelter for tens of thousands of stormsurvivors, many of the trailers werepoorly maintained. Contractors lackedproper permits to do some trailer-relat-ed work in Louisiana, and a CDCreport on the trailers released in Julyfound moldy, leaky units, some with-out functional smoke detectors – allproblems which contractors wereresponsible for addressing.

Final ThoughtsAs the nation’s premiere disaster

relief agency gears up for the long-term recovery of coastal Louisianafrom the effects of Gustav and Ike, themany lessons of post-disaster housingfrom 2005 should be fresh in theminds of FEMA personnel. The safetyof temporary housing, and the qualifi-cations of contractors to do the jobright, should be at the center of theirthinking.

Matt Robinson is a freelancewriter from New Orleans.

he damage caused by a nat-ural disaster often brings outthe best in people, asstrangers reach out to helpothers in need.Unfortunately, according to

Better Business Bureau presidentCarmen Million, the aftermath of a cri-sis also brings out those who takeadvantage of people who have alreadybeen victimized. “Be patient, don’tmake quick decisions without doingyour homework,” warned Million.

Some of the most common “after-disaster” scams involve home repairs,clean-up efforts, heating and coolingequipment, and flood-damaged cars.

The BBB offers the followingadvice for consumers:

• Check with your insurance com-pany about your coverage and theirspecific filing requirements.

• Although anxious to get thingsback to normal, avoid acting in haste.Don’t be pressured into signing a long-term contract. Make temporary repairs

if necessary.• For major repairs, shop around for

contractors, get competitive bids, andcheck references.

• Be wary of door-to-door workers.Check with your city or parish to findout about door-to-door rules and com-pany licensing.

• If possible, get more than one bid.Bids should be in writing and shoulddetail the work to be done, the materi-als to be used, and the price breakdownfor labor and materials.

• Review any written agreementcarefully before signing, and keep acopy.

• Never pay in full until all suppliesand subcontractors are paid eliminatinga possible lien on your property.

For additional information, or tocheck a company’s record, call theBetter Business Bureau at (337) 478-6253 or (800) 542-7085.

For permit or licensing informationin a particular area, contact:

T

BBBOFFERS TIPS AFTER

A DISASTER

Local City Halls Local Parish GovernmentLake Charles City – (337) 491-1442 Calcasieu Parish – (337) 721-3640Sulphur City – (337) 527-4500 Allen Parish – (337) 639-4396DeQuincy City – (337) 786-8241 Beauregard Parish – (337) 786-3311DeRidder City – (337) 462-8900 Cameron Parish – (337) 775-5718Iowa City – (337) 582-3535 Jeff Davis – (337) 824-4792Jennings City – (337) 821-5500 Vernon Parish – (337)-238-0324Kinder City – (337) 738-2637Leesville City – (337) 239-2444Rosepine City – (337) 463-8908Vinton City – (337) 589-7453Welsh City – (337) 734-2231Westlake City – (337) 433-0691Cameron City – (337) 775-7511

Louisiana Contractors Licensing Board: (800) 256-1392Dept. of Agriculture (tree-trimming): (337) 788-7529

(Note that the above numbers may be subject to change without notice.)

Ruth St. in Sulphur. Photo submitted.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

KarlaHunt

3028 Ryan St.433-9720

Because a storm’s aftermathcan be truly devastating,Shelter has specially trainedStorm Follow-up Teams.They are ready to help youpick up the pieces afterNature’s raging fury flies.Consider us the calm afterthe storm.

looding from Hurricane Ikeis causing many unfortunateresidents of SouthwestLouisiana to once again copewith clean up, relocation andrestoration. Those affected

also need to be aware that underneaththe visible destruction caused by highwater lurks another insidious risk:mold.

“As a result of the Hurricane Ritaexperience, most people in our areashould be familiar with the risks associ-ated with mold after storm damage,”said pulmonologist Johnny Belenchia,M.D., with Lake Charles Medical andSurgical Clinic. “Mold growth posesspecial problems for the thousands ofpeople with existing lung disease andmay increase the likelihood of the devel-opment of lung problems for others.”

Mold is EverywhereDr. Belenchia explained that mold is

everywhere, especially here in the warm,

humid climate of the South. He saidmost people have no problem livingwith this ever-present fungus. It repro-duces by making spores, which travelunseen through the air and grow on anymoist surface.

“People who have asthma or aller-gies may be especially sensitive tomolds. They may develop a stuffy nose,wheezing, eye irritation, or a skin rashwhen exposed, “ he said. “Other peoplemay have more severe allergic reactionsand experience breathing difficulty.People whose immune systems areweakened by chronic diseases, or thosewho are taking any drugs that suppressimmune function are at risk for develop-ment of infections in the lungs.”

Invasive ProblemAccording to restoration professional

Ray Wright, owner of SERVCORestoration, you can have mold even ifyour home did not suffer significantwater damage.

“You can’t always see evidence ofmold,” Wright stressed. “The outside ofyour walls may look fine, but moldcould be growing on the inside.Clothes can be washed or dry-cleaned,and furniture can be restored if dried andremediated properly.” The same goes forcarpeting, insulation, wallpaper and dry-wall. “This is a very invasive problem.For example, mattresses that didn’t getwet are likely to grow mold if they werein a room that did,” he added.

Wright explained that one big “moldmyth” he and his staff encounter is thatairing out your house after water dam-age prevents mold growth. “This iscompletely opposite of what you shoulddo. Opening windows and doors letsthe humidity in,” he said. “Humiditykeeps things wet, and provides the per-fect environment for mold growth. Ifyou are trying to dry out your home andfurniture, close up your house and turnthe air as low as you can.”

F

MINIMIZING RISKS FROM

MOLDDr. Belenchia said it’s important to

understand that you can’t just kill themold to reduce health risk—you have toremove it. “This isn’t something thatwill disappear if you ignore it. Evendead mold can provoke asthma in sus-ceptible people, and people withoutprior allergies or sensitivity to mold canalso develop them after significantexposure.”

Wright offers the following advicefor minimizing the risk of mold growthand exposure in your home:

• Professionally dry the home orbuilding as quickly as possible withdehumidifiers and air movers, if possible.

• Remove carpet, insulation, uphol-stery, drywall, and other porous itemsthat cannot be cleaned if these were wetfor longer than 72 hours. If not removed,these items may remain a constantsource of mold growth in the home.

• Removal of mold from hard sur-faces can be accomplished with com-mercial remediation products.

• If mold growth is related to faultyplumbing or another problem with thewater supply, be sure to fix that problemfirst or the mold issue will never goaway.

• Wear protective masks in closedareas where mold growth is known orsuspected, or when doing work thatcould kick up dust.

When is professional help needed?Wright said a mold assessment by ateam of professionals can identify ifmold is an issue. “We have an in-houseenvironmental hygienist who can helpdetect the level of mold in your home orbusiness. And if there is any doubt,because of the health risks associatedwith mold, it’s advisable to be extra cau-tious and have a professional evalua-tion.”

Dr. Belenchia added that if you arein one of the categories for mold expo-sure risks, such as asthma, try to avoidbeing in and around areas of potentialmold growth. “If this can’t be avoid-ed, be sure to take your asthma med-ication as prescribed, keep you emer-gency response inhaler nearby, anddiscuss any acceleration of symptomswith your physician immediately.”

For information regarding moldtesting and restoration services, callSERVCO Restoration at 477-8400.Immediate response and free assess-ments are available.


2100 LAKE STREET, LAKE CHARLES • (337) 436-6941 • 1-800-782-0336

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s if the property damagecaused by Hurricane Ikeweren’t enough forSouthwest Louisiana tocope with, the storm alsobrought with it some unwel-

come pests: mosquitoes and fire ants. “We’re getting numerous of calls

from people who are battling fire antsand mosquitoes as they work to cleanup their yards and repair their homes,”said Robert Soileau, manager of J&JExterminating in Lake Charles “Thebiggest problem we see in the after-math of hurricanes and floods is stand-ing water which is a fertile breedingground for both of these pests, andwith all the flooding we experienced,we’re seeing a population explosion.”

Soileau said the mosquito problemsthat are being experienced would like-ly last for several weeks. “Mosquitoesare attracted to, and breed in standingwater, such as that found in roadsideditches, storm sewers, birdbaths, orany container or depression that holdswater for more than seven days.”

He offered the following tips forcontrolling mosquitoes:

• Use a mosquito repellent eachtime you go outside.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and longpants, when possible, and avoid darkcolors.

• Avoid outdoor activities fromdusk to dawn – when mosquitoes aremore active.

• Fight mosquitoes. Don’t allowwater to stand – or have standingwater treated to kill mosquito larvae.

• Repair window and door screensto keep mosquitoes out of your home.

• Use an insecticide to spray areasof thick vegetation in your landscape.

• Remove debris from your yard. • Use pesticides safely and effec-

tively. Read and carefully follow labeldirections on any insecticides or mos-quito repellents you use.

• Consult a pest control expert forwidespread or persistent problems.

Fire ants are also causing seriousproblems in areas hard hit by floodingfrom Hurricane Ike. “When the watersrise, the fire ants are forced out oftheir underground nests and float in a

mass on top of floodwaters,” explainedSoileau. “Flood waters will not drownfire ants. Instead, their colonies willactually emerge from the soil, form aloose ball, and float with the flow ofwater until they reach a dry area orobject they can crawl up on.”

After the water has receded, theproblem actually becomes worse inmost areas. That’s when fire ants canbe found almost anywhere – includinginside your home or in debris piles.

Fire ants can cause extremelypainful stings and even allergic reac-tions in some cases, and both peopleand animals area risk. Soileau saysextra precaution should be taken aftera flooding event.

“General preventive treatments forcontrolling fire ants aren’t what areneeded at this point. Ant colonies orants encountered now need to be dealtwith quickly.” He offers these sugges-tions for dealing with fire ants whilecleaning up after the storm:

• When debris is picked up, payattention to what is on, under or in it,especially if the debris has been sittingin one area for several days.

• Keep in mind that fire ants loveto get under furniture, carpet strips andold wood to re-establish their colony.

• If fire ants are seen in a pile ofdebris that must be handled, use ashovel or other tool to avoid ant con-tact, or consider treating the pile witha fast-acting household or lawn andgarden insecticide.

• Consult a pest control expert forlarge colonies or persistent problems.

Soileau added that in someareas, rodents andsnakes might alsobe a problemin the after-math of thestorm. “Basically, pestsaren’t much different thanhumans during and after a storm– they want to find shelter and a

safe place to recover,” he said.“Homes that have been damaged

provide easy access for a variety ofpests, and there may be an increase insnakes and rodents outside homes nearpiles of debris, around stalled automo-biles, near or inside outbuildings orany area that provides a welcomingenvironment,” he said. “We adviseeveryone to be extra cautious in theweeks ahead as recovery gets under-way.”

J&J Exterminating can provideimmediate response and assistance forpost-hurricane pest control problems.They also offer sanitizing and treat-ment for flood-damaged walls andfloors. Free consultations are avail-able. Call (337) 474-7377 for moreinformation.

A

PROTECT YOURSELF FROMPOST-HURRICANEPESTS

OCTOBER 2, 2008

A non-surgical technique to fight against arthritis and sports injuries.Do you need a joint replacement or suffer from arthritis or sports injuries?We offer a non surgical solution. Regenerative Therapy is designed toregenerate joint cartilage and decrease arthritic changes and pain. Thistherapy uses a combination of injection therapy, laser therapy, exercises,bracing and other modalities. Parts of the program can be covered byinsurance while parts are not. A commitment to the whole program is nec-essary for success.

This is how it works: The physician introduces natural medicine into dam-aged, arthritic cells by means of a precise injection. This process is followedby infrared laser as well as several other modalities in order to acceleratethe process. Depending on tissue damage, severity of the condition andthe size of the joint that needs to be injected, people usually need a seriesof 1 to 6 treatments to improve. There is usually no downtime, and peoplecan go back to their usual activities or work immediately. The treatmentscan help most musculoskeletal problems such as knee pain, shoulder pain,whiplash, tendonitis, sprain, strains, torn ligaments and cartilage damage.

For more information and to schedule your treatment call 337-474-6960.

4150 Nelson Rd., Bldg. D, Ste. 1Lake Charles, La. 70605PH: 337-474-6960FAX: 337-474-6970

R. Dale Bernauer, M.D.

he Louisiana FamilyRecovery Corps is stronglyencouraging local, state andfederal leaders to focus onthe realities of long-termhuman recovery as they

plan and implement human serviceefforts around Hurricanes Ike and

Gustav and continue efforts on theKatrina and Rita recovery.

“There are a myriad of programsand services available to citizensrecently impacted by Ike and Gustavand citizens still recovering fromKatrina and Rita,” said RaymondJetson, CEO of the Recovery Corps.“It is absolutely critical that nonprofit,government and foundation leaders in

Louisiana and across the U.S. GulfSouth keep in mind a few fundamentallessons learned from previous disastersas they relate to human recovery.”

Through its efforts assisting morethan 30,000 individual and familyhouseholds affected by HurricanesKatrina and Rita, and unfolding effortsassisting those impacted by Gustavand Ike, the Recovery Corps hasreleased a series of “Realities of

T

Recovery,” or strong recommendationsand lessons learned, to inform humanservice officials and planners in thegovernment and nonprofit sectors.

REALITY ONE: Case manage-ment is most effective whenaccompanied by the tools citi-zens need to be successful intheir recovery.

Case management, or recoveryplanning services offered to impactedcitizens should be accompanied bydirect assistance, or financial supportfor critical necessities lost during dis-aster, such as appliances, basic furni-ture, medicine and housing assistance.

RECOVERY CORPSFACING THE “REALITIES OF RECOVERY”

Downtown Ryan Street. Photo by Patrick Marcantel


Case management pairs an individ-ual or family with a social service pro-fessional to assist them in planningtheir recovery. Most case managementprograms only offer this professionalassistance and not direct financial aid.The Berkeley Policy Associates studyindicates that case management,accompanied by needed financialassistance, allows households to setnot only recovery goals, but givesthem the resources they need to meetgoals and become self-sufficient post-disaster.

REALITY TWO: The need for serv-ices spans beyond those tradi-tionally served by governmentprograms.

Service systems and fundingstreams must be aligned with thedemographics and needs of the disas-ter-impacted population. Impacted res-idents typically need services, such asone-time financial support, that falloutside of conventional service offer-ings and traditional eligibility criteria,such as a federal poverty level require-ment.

Services must be available inplaces that residents are most likely toaccess them and must be offered byorganizations beyond governmentproviders.

REALITY THREE: Housing repairand household re-establishmentassistance are critical needs ofimpacted households.

While, damage to homes and per-sonal property caused by Gustav andIke is still being assessed, we knowthe number of damaged homes andproperty could reach into the hundredsof thousands in Louisiana. DuringKatrina and Rita, more than 200,000homes were damaged or destroyed.According to the Recovery Corps May2008 study “Progress for Some, Hopeand Hardships for Many,” paying billsand maintaining a household are stillcritical barriers to recovery forKatrina- and Rita-impacted citizens.

REALITY FOUR: If programs arefocused on outputs instead ofoutcomes, they will be inade-quate and yield consequencesfor the future.

As nonprofit service providers,organizations should insist on out-come-driven programs, which ensurethat citizens progress on a continuumof recovery and are meeting realbenchmarks in their recovery.

Programs merely outputting thenumber of citizens served with nodescription of results will be inade-quate. Outcome-based technologyplatforms must accompany recoveryprograms to ensure positive results for

Louisiana citizens. Any technologyused to track citizen outcomes shouldinclude a holistic view of the issuesthat affect long-term recovery (i.e.,household re-establishment, child care,employment, education, health, trans-portation).

REALITY FIVE: Help with manag-ing the stress of recovery or feel-ings of depression are significantbarriers to recovery.

Positive mental health and emo-tional well being is at stake for manyindividuals and families as they seekto cope with the daily stress of manag-

ing the personal recovery of theirhomes and property.

Previous research by the RecoveryCorps indicates that recovery-relatedstress and depression are commonacross all households, regardless ofincome, geography or race. Childrenare especially vulnerable to the effectsof disaster, so effective interventionswill be required to alleviate that issue.

The Recovery Corps will launchseveral new programs for disaster-impacted individuals and families inthe coming weeks. To get up-to-dateinformation and announcements,please visit www.recoverycorps.org.

About the Recovery CorpsThe Recovery Corps, a non-profit501(c)(3) corporation based in BatonRouge, coordinates humanitarian serv-ices for the State of Louisiana in theaftermath of disaster, natural and man-made. Formed in the wake ofHurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005,the Recovery Corps assists familiesand individuals with their comprehen-sive recovery needs through its humanservice and non-profit partners acrossLouisiana. To learn more or donate,visit www.recoverycorps.org.

OCTOBER 2, 2008

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n response to the devasta-tion brought by HurricaneIke and for the pastoral careof the faithful in CameronParish, Bishop Glen JohnProvost has announced the

following arrangements, effective untilfurther notice:

St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Hackberry and Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Johnson Bayou

The Rev. Rommel Tolentino willreside and maintain an office at St.Teresa Church in Carlyss. Masses willbe celebrated at the local Fire Stationin Hackberry. Contact info: (337)274-2686

Sacred Heart Parish in Creole and Our Lady Star of the Sea in Cameron

The Rev. Joseph McGrath willreside at his family residence andmaintain an office at St. PatrickChurch in Sweetlake. Contact info(337) 304-3071. See Mass schedulebelow.

St. Eugene Parish in Grand Chenier

The Rev. Vincent Vadakkedath willreside at St. John Vianney Rectory inBell City and maintain an office at St.Patrick Church in Sweetlake. SeeMass schedule below. Contact info:(337) 570-4173

For St. Mary of the Lake Parish in Big Lake

The Rev. Msgr. Harry Greig willreside in Lake Charles and maintainhis office at the Chancery. See Massschedule below. Contact info: (337)598-3101 (Parish office) (337)-439-7400 (Chancery office)

Masses at St. Patrick Church in Sweetlake

For Cameron, Creole, GrandChenier and Big Lake:• Saturday: 4:30 p.m. Father Joseph McGrath• Sunday: 8 a.m. Msgr. Harry Greig;10 a.m Father Vincent Vadakkedath• Weekdays: Monday thru Friday,5:30p.m.

Please continue to join us in prayerfor our brothers and sisters who aresuffering in the aftermath ofHurricane Ike.

PASTORALARRANGEMENTS

ANNOUNCED

Iue to storm damage fromHurricane Ike, the servicesof the Johnson BayouRural Health Clinic, man-aged by West CalcasieuCameron Hospital, have

been temporarily relocated to theFamily Care Center of SouthwestLouisiana, 2345 Sampson Street inWestlake — the offices of JodyGeorge, M.D. and Brent Hutson, M.D.Anyone needing services should call439-1484.

Patients of the Hackberry RuralHealth Clinic are now being seen inthe March of Dimes and SWLAAHEC mobile unit located in the park-ing lot of the Hackberry clinic. JulieGalley, RN, APRN, with theHackberry Clinic announces the hoursof operation are Monday from 1:30p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tuesday throughFriday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more infor-mation, call 762-3762.

JOHNSON BAYOU AND HACKBERRYRURAL HEALTH CLINIC SERVICES UPDATE

D


Lake Charles’ Premiere Halloween Superstore Adult Costumes, Child/Toddler costumes,pet costumes, accessories, masks, makeup, party supplies, props and decorations.

Everything to make your Halloween extra spooky!! We’ve got it all!!!

Also, tons of items for your Mardi Gras Kreweand Contraband needs!

Located at 2700 Ryan Street, Suite A(Formerly Steinmart)337-721-9906Email: [email protected]

Open 7 Days a week!Thru November 2nd!

Did you ever wonder what it would’ve beenlike to grow up with a different family?

If you were an Only, you might have dreamedabout the fun you’d have with a houseful of kidsto play with. Maybe you even gravitated towardfriends with siblings, a little covetous of their rau-cous households.

If you had siblings, you might have wistfullythought about never having to share toys, thebathroom, or Mom. Though you loved them, therewere times, perhaps, when you would have happi-ly shipped your brother or sister to another planet,no questions asked.

Undoubtedly, Christopher Ciccone felt likethat, especially with his sister being hot-and-coldwith him over the years. In the new book LifeWith My Sister Madonna (written with WendyLeigh), you’ll read about the star’s peccadilloes,her rise to fame, her demands, and the brotherwho loves her, always.

Born two years after his big sister, Cicconesays that he and Madonna weren’t close as chil-dren. Motherless at three, he says he has fewmemories of his early childhood. He does recall,though, that Madonna was their father’s favorite;even after their Dad re-married and there weremore additions to the family, Madonna was sin-gled out and treated special.

Mythology says that Madonna went to NewYork for the first time with $35 in her pocket.True or not, it didn’t take her long to hone in onwhat she wanted, or to get it. Ciccone says sheinvited him along for the fame-ride, repeatedlyyanking away the invitation and then extending itagain. Still, he always went running whenMadonna called, partly because he was awed byher, but mostly because he loved her.

Just before her first tour, she asked him to beher dresser. Later, he decorated her homes, hersets, and her clothes; and he protected her, both

Book BeatBy Terri Shlichenmeyer

Madonna’s Brother Dishes on Material Girl

OCTOBER 2, 2008

The Times of SWLA is distributed throughout ourregion and via the world wide web. Call Andy, or

Patricia at 337-439-0995 and let them show you how togrow your business today.

physically and mentally.In this book, which takes read-

ers from the very beginningthrough to Madonna’s latest tour,Ciccone has everything to sayabout his famous sister: her loves(thumbs down to Penn, thumbs upto Beatty, thumbs down to Ritchie)and her friends, both male andfemale; her passions, ego,tantrums, and embarrassments; thethings she really did; that whichshe only pretended to do; the truthbehind the rumors; and their spat.

I was a bit taken aback by thisbook. I was expecting anotherblah-blah-blah praise-filled starbio. Instead, what’s inside Life withMy Sister Madonna is a thoughtful,warts-and-everything, not-quite-tell-all from a brother who alter-nates between adoration, gleefultattling, outraged pain, snarkyness,and pouting.

While this is definitely a bookabout Madonna, artist/designer andauthor Christopher Ciccone alsoseamlessly includes his own storyof life as a gay man living in theshadow of the famous, beloved sis-ter who often infuriates him.

If you have a sibling, you mayoccasionally find yourself in thisbook (minus the million$, ofcourse), but even if you don’t,you’ll enjoy this gossipy, star-stud-ded, behind-and-in-the-scenesbook. It’s not for the whole family,but Life with My Sister Madonna isstill high-living fun to read.

Life with My Sister Madonnaby Christopher Ciccone (with Wendy Leigh)Copyright 2008 Simon & Schuster$26.00 / $28.99 Canada 343 pages


Across 1 Messy entree5 ___ Lingus (Irish carrier)8 Apres-ski drinks14 Name of a lake and canal15 Wheat-based Japanese noodles17 Newspaper publisher

William Randolph ___18 Cincinnati home of the Musketeers21 McDonald's magnate Ray22 Gangster's gun23 Potting need24 Technique used by photocopiers28 Tubular pasta29 Smog watchers: abbr.30 It'll be taken in January 200931 Mimic33 Cones' mates, in the retina35 Alley ___37 Bikini, for one40 Actor who played George

Mason on "24"44 California town with an

accidentally palindromic bakery45 Squeeze (out)46 Disneyland memento48 Prefix meaning "within"50 Took way too much53 Spinach or onion, e.g.54 Attractive

57 Marvel Comics series, as of February 2008

60 Clapton or Cartman61 Gnarls Barkley lead singer ___-Lo62 Charlie Chaplin wife O'Neill63 Official press group of the

Chinese government69 "Try not to cause ___"70 Like some pregnancies71 Luke Skywalker's sister72 Liam in the upcoming "Lincoln"73 Super Bowl scores, for short74 Spend some time in the tub

Down1 Oscar winner Harrison2 NPR "Science Friday" host Flatow3 1990s R&B group Bell ___ DeVoe4 Official timekeeper of the

Nagano Winter Olympics5 Luminescent phenomenon6 One with a teaching degree7 Harry and Hermione's friend8 Wyatt's piggish brother,

in "Weird Science"9 "Love, Reign ___ Me"

(the Who song)10 Dish in its own dish11 Constellation with a belt12 Sean of "Lord of the Rings"13 Arrange hair

16 Near19 Therefore20 "___ Con Dios"24 Generation ___25 Adhesive resin26 Fly under the ___27 Suffix after "xeno" or "germo"28 Wentz of Fall Out Boy32 Golfer Se Ri ___34 Star-bellied Seuss characters36 Black tea variety38 "You can ___ horse to water..."39 Song snippet41 Fashion design label

headquartered in Manhattan42 Grab a bite43 Like Rudolph47 Operative49 Teamed beasts51 Modern-day cash advances52 Former Communist

leader ___ Xiaoping54 Steve Martin, by birth55 Get up56 Subsequently58 Bump into59 Scottish Highlanders61 Columnist Herb who coined

the word "beatnik"64 Card game with four colors65 Like fresh paint66 Role for Keanu67 Govt. group with a Director68 Have a gabfest

"On an Axis" — from one end to the other.by Matt Jones • ©2008 Jonesin' Crosswords

Last Issue’s Answers

Brought to you by Melanie Perry, AgentState Farm Insurance

OCTOBER 2, 2008

NOT YOUR ORDINARY CINEMA SOUNDTRACKS OCT. 2 —Academy TV presents Not Your Ordinary Cinema Soundtracks — a

teenage twist to your favorite movie tunes, Thursday, Oct. 2, at 1911 HistoricCity Hall Arts and Cultural Center, 1001 Ryan Street. A meet and greet receptionwill take place at 6 p.m., after which the clips will be shown at 6:30 p.m. andagain at 7 p.m. The event is free and the public is invited. The music video mon-tage was produced by Television Production students at Lake Charles-BostonAcademy of Learning. The group selected music tracks from iconic moviesthrough the decades. The music was then set to parodies, which were shot andedited to correspond. The Academy TV class is under the direction of Pam Dixon.The program debuted at LCB Academy in August 2008. High school studentsfrom across Calcasieu Parish can learn how to shoot and edit video, report newsstories, produce and anchor newscasts, and produce commercials and PSAs.

ANNUAL FOX29 ETHEL PRECHT BREAST CANCER BREAKFAST OCT. 3 —FOX29 announces the First Annual FOX29 Ethel Precht Breast Cancer

Breakfast to salute Lake Area women whose lives have been touched by breastcancer. Everyone is invited to a memorable morning of education and inspirationon Friday, Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. Tickets are $25($200 per table) and can be purchased by visiting www.myfoxlakecharles.com orby calling 474-1316. All proceeds benefit the Ethel Precht Foundation, whichhelps women in Southwest Louisiana purchase wigs and prosthetics. FOX29 willbe the media sponsor for the fifth year of the Ethel Precht Hope Breast Cancer3K on Saturday, Oct. 18. To register, visit www.ethelbreastcancerwalk.org .

ZIGLER ART MUSEUM’S “LOUISIANA SATURDAY NIGHT” OCT. 4 —Enjoy a night of fine arts, performing arts, and culinary arts at the Zigler

Museum in Jennings. In this rural community, Louisiana Saturday Night showcasesduck hunting in a light other than “putting meat on the table” and is a rare occa-sion when avid sportsmen visit a fine arts museum. This is truly a cultural eventfor the whole family. There will be performances by the Backdoor Band and theGrammy-nominated Pine Leaf Boys, an exhibit of paintings by Murrell Butler, duckand goose calling competitions, and a delicious wild-game dinner prepared bylocal chefs. Activities begin at 1 p.m. For more information contact the Zigler ArtMuseum, at (337) 824-0114.

MCNEESE BAYOU PLAYERS PRESENT “BLITHE SPIRIT” OCT 8-12 —McNeese Theatre Bayou Players will open the fall season with “Blithe Spirit,” a

high-spirited classic comedy by Noel Coward. Show dates are 7:30 p.m., fromOct. 8-11, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Oct. 12. Performances are in RalphSquires Hall, Shearman Fine Arts Center. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults;$10 for McNeese faculty/staff, senior citizens, and youth (K-12). McNeese stu-dents are admitted free with a current ID. Season subscriptions (four shows forthe price of three) are available through “Blithe Spirit” production dates. The boxoffice opens 10 days prior to ”Blithe Spirit” opening date. Box office hours are 6p.m. – 8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays. For reservations, call475-5043.

HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND FESTIVAL OCT. 7 —The McNeese State University Cowboy Marching Band will host the

“Showdown at Sundown” High School Marching Band Festival at 6 p.m. Tuesday,Oct. 7, in Cowboy Stadium. Gates will open at 5:15 p.m. Ten high school march-ing bands from Louisiana and Texas will participate in the early-season festival.Bands will be adjudicated by a panel of music educators and receive written andrecorded comments, along with a festival rating. Participating Louisiana bands areSulphur High, Barbe High of Lake Charles, Westlake High, Jennings High, IowaHigh, Abbeville High and Delcambre High schools. Participating Texas bands are

pickspickst i m e s

the best in lake area entertainment

Orangefield High, Kountze High and Hudson High of Lufkin. The Pride of McNeeseCowboy Marching Band will conclude the evening with exhibition performances oftheir pre-game and half-time shows. Admission is $5.

MASTERWORKS CHORALE PRESENTS AMERICA LISTEN! OCT. 10 & 12 —Join the Masterworks Chorale as they present their 2008-2009 season

America Listen! Sing! and Dance! The concert series begins with America Listen!on Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Churchin Lake Charles. The Chorale will be joined by the Ladies Choirs of St. Louis adSulphur High Schools to present Paul Winter’s planet-conscious Missa Gaia(Earth Mass). Pianists Lisa Tauzin and Abbie Fletcher will accompany theChorale for Mack Wilberg’s three-piece movement Dances to Life. For generalinformation or information about joining the Masterworks Chorale, call (337)491-9348.

ROUGE ET BLANC WINE DINNERS OCT. 11 THROUGH 17 —An entire week of wine dinners will lead up to Rouge et Blanc, an

event scheduled for Oct. 18 that will feature foods from 21 restaurants andmore than 100 fine wines from Republic National Distributing Co. Six restau-rants have prepared menus in which each course has been paired with a specialchampagne, wine or dessert wine. “Each chef has been working with JaredCocke, the fine wine specialist at Republic National Distributing Co., to find themost perfect, the most delectable wine to complement each and every course,from beginning to end,” said Carrie Kudla, one of the organizers of Rouge etBlanc. “Each dinner will have the kind of magic that happens when food andwine are paired with care and imagination.” The dinners will take place at LaTruffe Sauvage on Oct. 11, Pujo Street Café on Oct. 13, Blue Duck Café onOct. 14, Snake River Grill on Oct. 15, The Harlequin on Oct. 16 and Vista Grilland Delta Downs Casino and Racetrack on Oct. 17. More information is avail-able at www.rougeetblanc.us. For ticket information for Rouge et Blanc, call theMcNeese Banners Series office at (337) 475-5123.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY BAZAAR OCT. 12 —Bring the whole family to the St. John Vianney Church Bazaar on Sunday,

Oct. 12. Dig into fried chicken lunches with all the trimmings and homemadehamburgers. There’ll be games for the kids, bingo, a raffle, a country store, reli-gious items, Elton Louviere’s “Sunrise at Lorrain” prints (only a very few left!),homemade sweetshop items, and an auction at noon. The 2008 Lorrain BridgePageant winner will be introduced. See you there! It will be held at the KC Hall;East HWY 14; Bell City. For more information, contact Pauline Poole at (337)391-9522

Among the participants for the Rouge et Blanc wine dinners are from left,

Chef Justin Sells of Snake River Grill at L’Auberge du Lac CasinoResort, Nic Hunter, owner of The Harlequin, and Arthur Durham,

co-proprietor of La Truffe Sauvage.


Providence is located at the south end of Pecan Acres Drive off of Country Club Road.

Office: (337) 474-9891 • Fax: (337) 474-9876300 E. McNeese St. Suite 1-A, Lake Charles, LA 70605

www.ProvidenceofLakeCharles.com

CHOOSE ONE OF OUR OLDE WORLD DESIGNSOR YOURS AND START CONSTRUCTION TODAY!

Largest Selection of DVD’s, Lingerieand Adult Novelties In Southwest Louisiana!

700 E. Prien Lake Road • 337-478-3566Between Common and Kirkman

All Asian DVD's - Buy 2 Get 1 FREE!PIANIST AMBER SHAY NICHOLSON AT MCNEESE OCT 17 —

The Department of Performing Arts at McNeese State University will presentpianist Amber Shay Nicholson in a guest recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, inRalph Squires Recital Hall at the Shearman Fine Arts center. Nicholson per-forms regularly as asoloist and collaborativeartist throughout theUnited States. Nicholson,a faculty member with theUniversity of SouthernMississippi, won the 2001Rachmaninoff ConcertoNo. 3 competition at theEastman School of Musicand performed the workwith the EastmanPhilharmonia under MendiRodan. Nicholson, aLiberace Scholar with theEastman School, is theonly U.S. citizen to beaccepted into the 2001Texas ChristianUniversity/Van CilburnInternational PianoInstitute in Fort Worth,Texas. Admission is $5.Students with a valid IDare admitted free.

WINE CLASSES AND TASTINGS KICK OFF ROUGE ET BLANC OCT. 18 —Three wine classes and tastings will be held the morning of Rouge et Blanc,

the wine and food tasting event scheduled Saturday, Oct. 18, by the LakeCharles Downtown Development Authority and the McNeese State UniversityFoundation. Each class will cost $10 and will be held in the historic City HallArts and Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan St from 10 a.m. to noon. Topics are“Differences and Similarities of Pinot Noir,” “Discover Washington” and “FrenchFizz.” All wines will be supplied by Republic National Beverage Co. Participantsdo not need to hold a ticket to the Rouge et Blanc event in order to take part inthe wine classes. To enroll in the classes, call the McNeese Banners Series at(337) 475-5123 or go online at www.rougeetblanc.us. Classes will be limited to40 participants.

FORE FOR FAMILIES GOLF TOURNAMENT OCT. 20 —The 3rd Annual Families Helping Families of SWLA Golf Tournament - “Fore

for Families” will be held at Gray Plantation Golf Course on Monday Oct. 20.Families Helping Families SWLA still has sponsor opportunities for this annualevent. There are several sponsor levels to fit all donors: Title Sponsor -$5,000, Masters Sponsor - $1,000, Eagle Sponsor - $500, Birdie Sponsor -$250 and Friends of FHF Hole Sponsor - $100. Each sponsorship has its ownunique incentives, including two-man teams, program, sign and banner recogni-tion as well as others. Proceeds from the Golf Tournament will support the pro-grams of FHF SWLA which include the annual School Supply Drive for studentswith disabilities, the annual Christmas Party which gathers over 800 individualswith disabilities and their families each December, Sibshops for siblings of indi-viduals with disabilities and the Next Chapter Book Club. For more information,contact the Families Helping Families at (337) 436-2570 or (800) 894-6558.

Amber Shay Nicholson

pickspickst i m e s

the best in lake area entertainment

OCTOBER 2, 2008

Star Steppers from Elton High School are ready to take on the competition at the Roastin’ With Rosie Festival.

The first “Roastin’ With RosieBarbecue Festival” was heldSeptember 19 and 20 in the GrandMarais Courtyard in Jennings.Members of The Jeff Davis ParishTourist and Economic DevelopmentCommission put their heads togetherand planned this fun festival to pro-vide important funding for theSouthern Petroleum Art & RecreationCenter (the SPARC) and to promotethe building of a global energy centerin Jennings.

Key to the success of this endeav-or was a team of worker bees includ-ing Marion “Butch” Fox, PollyHenry, Kirk Bertrand, Bert Tietje,Deone Sablehaus and Tracy Dosier—not to mention 300 volunteers.

“We had no idea what to expect,”said Fox, executive director of thecommission. She was a bit concernedbecause there were a few sprinkles.“But we had great attendance. Fivethousand people came!”

With 28 barbeque teams compet-ing, there was a lot of finger lickin’

good food on hand. The purchase ofa People’s Choice Award ticketallowed attendees to taste from all ofthe pits. The Citgo Team of BoydSmith, Darrell Crochet, RiddyCrochet, Wayne Bergeaux andGarrett Dugas cooked up some deli-cious chicken and brisket. Thejalapeno-stuffed bacon-wrappedchicken from the LSU tent wassmokin.’ According to Kirk Bertrand,this is serious business for theseteams, some of which will also becompeting in the InternationalBarbecue Cookers Association.

Along with great food, there wasmusical entertainment, cheerleadingand dance competitions, children’sactivities, and performances byWayne Toups, Jamie Bergeron,Travis Matte, Barry Badon, theGrammy-nominated Pine Leaf Boysand Muzic Unlimited.

“Everything was wonderful,” saidFox. “We will definitely do it again!”

Cook-Off Teams Turn Up the Heat at Jennings’ Roastin’ With

Rosie Barbecue FestivalStory by The Shadow; Photos by the Shadow and Edward Leger

Emma-Kate Mack at Roastin’ With Rosie Barbecue Festival

Boyd Smith showing off his entry for the cook off at the Roastin’ With Rosie Festival.


nce again, theannual Cajun BonTon Festival pro-vided the commu-nity with threedays of fun, foodand entertainment.Set on the groundsof St. TheresaCatholic Churchin Carlyss, the fes-tival has some-

thing for the young as well as theyoung at heart. Carnival rides andgames kept the young folks happywhile bingo, cake walks, raffles andlive and silent auctions providedactivities for adults. Oh yeah, thefood was mouth-watering and thisNorth Carolina girl and Cajunwannabe had to have some of thatdelicious gumbo. Fried catfish din-ners, crawfish etouffee, pork jamba-laya, funnel cakes, snow cones andother treats gave festival-goers plen-ty of choices for grub. Live music byBritt Godwin and Bubba Moore,Foret Tradition and the LouisianaScramble Band provided some greattwo-stepping and toe-tapping enter-tainment.

With such a wide variety of funactivities, crafts and entertainmentwith shade trees for lounging, plentyof seating and good food to heat youup and cool you down, the Shadowthinks this is one of the best all-around festivals in town. This wouldbe an event to mark on your 2009calendar so you don’t miss the funnext year.

OLights,Camera,Action

PHOTOS SHOWN:1–From Sulphur High School Kayleigh Guidry, DJ T-bo and Lauren Little having fun at the

Cajun Bon Ton Festival. 2–These friends Sam Moore, Mitzi Conn, Brennon & Simone Moore got out of Dodge

(Orange, TX) for some R & R at the Bon Ton Festival. 3–Ty and Demi Picard and Zac Sonnier check out the Garage Sale items at the Bon Ton Festival. 4–Girlfriends Edith Bergeron, Jenell LeBlanc and Amie Grimes smile for the camera

at the Bon Ton Festival.

5–Robert and Dondra Hayes, and Kim, Sawyer & Danny Campbell came out to enjoy the fun and games.

6–Shamralie Manuel, Aubrey Hatley and Deidre Cholley relax on the lawn.7–Mary and Joe Richardson at intermission during the Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala

HD transmission at the Cinemark Theatre. 8–Julie Speights with daughter Kaylee came to see the screening of The Misfits at

1911 Historic City Hall.

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OCTOBER 2, 2008

UUnique Gifts and Accessories

3204 Ryan St. • 337-433-6200

A new and novel presentation ofopera is fast becoming a box officeregular. In its third season of live,high-definition performance trans-missions to movie theaters aroundthe world, the Metropolitan Operais causing quite a sensation. TheShadow was thrilled to be a part ofthe live Opening Night Gala fromthe New York Opera House at theCinemark Theater. With HDstreaming, viewers went from theGrand Tier of the Opera House toTimes Square for an elegantly fan-tastic gala without leaving town.Broadcast in almost 800 venues andin countries outside of the UnitedStates, theater goers saw the makingsand mechanics of a productionthrough the eye of a camera, goingbackstage with the sets, designers,producers, stagehands and more.Interviews with opera diva ReneeFleming, tenor Ramon Vargas, theMaestro and other key members ofthe operatic production provided awonderful insight into the lives andloves of this world of musical pro-duction.

The 1911 Historic City HallArts & Cultural Center is full tothe brim with new and exciting waysto view cinema. Celebrating cinemawith the “Magnum Cinema” Photo

PHOTOS SHOWN:9–With popcorn in hand Nancy Burleigh and friend Judy Fuller get ready to watch The Misfits.10–Seated and ready to see The Misfits is Tom and Carol LeBeau and Ron & Sandra Futrell.11–Donna Little, Laurie & Linda Cormier await the start of the movie.12–Namcy Draughn, Bill & Judy Robertson and Paulette Mercer smile nicely for the camera.

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Exhibit, a pictorial history of some ofthe most well known and importantmovie sets of our time, and the“Between Takes” Photo Exhibit, acollection of photographs by HilaryBronwyn Gayle taken on the set ofindependent feature films, fill thegalleries on the first and third floors.The added addition of film screen-ings brought another dimension tothe exhibits. With an introduction byrenowned film historian, Dr. PeterDart, the screening of The Misfits,Marilyn Monroe’s last movie, waspresented in a theatre-like atmos-phere on the second floor of theCenter. Staff members Denise

Fasske, Carol Anne Gayle, CarolCox and Hilary Gayle provided cin-ema atmosphere with freshly poppedcorn, peanuts, candies and sodas asthe guests were ushered in.

The next screening will beChimes at Midnight, an Orson Wellsclassic inspired by several ofShakespeare’s plays. This is a greatvenue for friends and family to enjoyart and culture in a lovely, comfort-able and historic setting.

The Arts and HumanitiesCouncil of SWLA in conjunctionwith the Lake Area Film Grouprecently presented the first install-ment of the Southern Circuit Tour

PHOTOS SHOWN:13–Lynn Reynolds and Hilary Gayle view the Between Takes exhibit prior to the

screening of The Misfits.14–Kevin & Pam Mattingly, Duane and Angie Brassette Canales attended the Southern Circuit

film screening. 15–Film goers Louise DeLuca, Keith Franklin, Carol Anne Gayle and Lynn Barchak socializing

after the Southern Circuit film screening.

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of Independent Filmmakers’screenings. Southern Circuit providesa tour across the south of highly tal-ented independent filmmakers, giv-ing communities an interactive wayof experiencing independent film.The screenings of the independentfilmmakers allow viewers to learnhow the films are made from concep-tion to the finished product.

Ripe For Change, with producer,Jed Riffe explores the debate overagriculture and sustainability and theimplications for all of America. Riffeis an award-winning independentfilmmaker who served as series pro-ducer for “California and the

American Dream,” a four-hour,nationally broadcast, prime-time PBSSeries that uses a lens of diversity tolook at California from 1970 to thepresent. The Southern Circuit Tour ofIndependent Filmmakers offers thesescreening free of charge and open tothe public.

PHOTOS SHOWN:16–Arts and Humanities Council V.O.I.C.E. (volunteers) Diane McCarthy, James Raley and Barbara

Cahee ready to serve refreshments at the Southern Circuit screening of Ripe For Change.17–Members of the Lake Area Film Group D’Ellen & Carl Bergeron, Scot Waldrop and

Carol Ann Gayle pose with Ripe For Change film producer, Jed Riffe, second from right. 18–Arthur, Cameron and Pat Durham along with Marty Berry came for the Independent

Filmmakers screening of Ripe For Change.

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OCTOBER 2, 2008

Call 439-0995 Ext. 11, E-mail Resume: [email protected] or Send Resume To:

The Times of SWLA, 617 Drew St., Lake Charles, LA 70601

We Are Seeking A MediaSales Representative

Full Time Position, Minimum 3 yrs. Experience Required.

The Imperial Calcasieu Regional Planning and Development Commission is updating the transportation plan of

the Lake Charles urbanized area, which includes Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake, Moss Bluff and Carlyss and

wants to hear your input on the future of transportation in the region.

October 7, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 pmSouthwest LA Chamber of Commerce

120 Pujo Street, Lake Charles

October 8, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 pmCentral Calcasieu Parish Library

301 West Claude Street, Lake Charles

October 9, 2008 6:30 - 8:30 pmWestlake Managan Recreation Center

1221 Sampson Street, Westlake

Please Join Usat one of the followingVisioning Workshops

1) E-mail your snap shots to [email protected]. Must include acontact name and phone number.2) Photos should be attached as a file and not imbedded in copy orphotoshopped into a format. Original size, please, do not compressthe file. No mailed or fax photographs can be used.

3) Subjects in photo must be identified by name. Children shouldalso be identified by parent or guardian. Unidentified or anonymousphotos will not be considered for publication.4) The Times reserves the right to decline publishing photos of ques-tionable taste or subject matter, or for space limitations.

PartingPartingSh o ts

Below:Chase Wilson of Lake Charlesenjoyed his visit to the LincolnMemorial in Washington, D.C.

Below:16-month-old triplets Hannah, Luke and Ella love their Choo-Choo

Wagon. Their proud parents are Dean and Wynn Manning.

Above: Ashley Wilson of Lake Charles at the Last ManStanding party of the local Parrot Heads chapter.

Above: Mei-Ling, owned by Chuck Styron and Jeff Texada, is a rare breed known as the Devon Rex. She loves to sleep in the dryer

in a nest of warm clothes!

Times of Southwest Louisiana

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