News

By Pam Folse
Contributing Writer

The St. James Parish School Board, meeting in regular session this past Tuesday, once again approved revisions to the 2018-2019 policy manual regarding the wearing of hoods. Last month the Board approved changes to the policy manual, at the request of the school principals, to ban all students from wearing any kinds of hoods including those attached to sweaters, coats, jackets and hoodies. Supervisor Gaynell Albert said the principals agreed to allow children in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade to wear hoods “to cover their ears and let them be warm” in the winter months. Hoods are still banned for students in 7th through 12th grades.

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By David Reynaud
Editor

Sometimes something is better than nothing.

As east bank residents of St. James Parish know all too well that backwater flooding has and continues to pose a serious threat to their way of life. They also know that the topic of flood and hurricane protection has been on the front burner for several years now.

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By Pam Folse
Staff Writer

Former St. James Parish employee Doris Brignac filed a civil suit in federal court on July 4th against St. James Parish, Parish President Timmy Roussel, Parish Director of Finance Chantal Waguespack, Assistant Director of Finance Ashley Poché and former parish Personnel Manager Jennifer Rizzuto, alleging her parish job was terminated after she testified before the Grand Jury.

Brignac, who was employed by the parish for almost 11 years, from November 2006 to September 2017, alleges that her First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution were violated by the defendants after she testified before the Grand Jury regarding public corruption in St. James Parish.

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On November 6, 2018, registered voters in Louisiana and in St. James Parish will be asked to go to the polls and elect several candidates to fill various positions.

However, before an election can be held, potential candidates must first qualify to run for office and the dates to put your name in the hat are fast approaching.

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By David Reynaud
Editor

After battling cancer for roughly one year, former St. James High School head football coach and Athletic Director Rick Gaille lost the fight and passed away on July 1st at the age of 67.

Coach Gaille led the Wildcat football program for 19 years and when he retired in 2010, his career included a 169-72 overall record, his teams played in nine semi-final playoff games, and the Wildcats made three trips to the Superdome to play for the Class 3-A State Championship. 

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By David Reynaud

Last Friday, Twentythird Judicial District Judge Jessie LeBlanc voluntarily recused herself from further presiding over the Blaise Gravois Malfeasance in Office case.

Judge LeBlanc, who has been the Judge of record since the five indictments for alleged Malfeasance in Office were handed down by a secret St. James Parish Grand Jury in September of 2016, steps down amidst a long and drawnout legal battle between Gravois, who is the St. James Parish Director of Operations, and Twentythird Judicial District Attorney Ricky Babin’s office, who is prosecuting Gravois. 

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By Pam Folse

The St. James Parish Council last week honored M. Rodrigue and Sons for 90 years of successful business. Mr. Maxime Rodrigue and his son Alfred, Sr. began a small blacksmith service in 1928.

Alfred’s sons, Erkle, Alfred Jr., Harold, and Francis helped to make the business an industry leader in the manufacture and remanufacture of various types of process equipment utilized within the chlor-alkali industry in North America, as well as Europe, Asia and South America. 

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By Pam Folse

Artists use different media to express themselves and their passions.

Painters use a canvas and sculptors use clay. Writers use pen and ink and fashion designers use fabric. Arieal Celestine of Vacherie was in the 4th grade when she discovered her talent for sewing. She began sewing headbands and bags by hand. Her love for sewing led her to the parish library one summer to learn the hand-sewing technique. She was the only child there. When she was only 11, she asked her mom for a sewing machine as a birthday present. At that time, Kool Aid bags were popular, and she would make them as fast as others could empty the packets. To make those bags, she cut open the large Kool Aid packets, cleaned, dried and sewed them to a cloth liner before adding straps. She also made diaper bags and back packs for the children of her mother’s co-workers.

By Pam Folse  Staff Writer

FG LA LLC last week unveiled plans to expand Hwy. 3127 to four lanes for the length of their Sunshine Project site in St. James along with two turning lanes into the facility. The announcement was made during an Open House held Thursday, June 21st, in Vacherie. FG is an affiliate of the Taiwanesebased Formosa Plastics Group founded in 1954, which recently announced plans to build a $9.4 billion ethylene complex on the west bank near the Sunshine Bridge. Company officials said this multi-million-dollar road project will enhance road infrastructure in the community and help minimize traffic impacts during construction and operations

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By Pam Folse  Staff Writer

At about the age when most young children learn the game of baseball, play video games or watch cartoons, Darius Scott of Vacherie was preparing for an important time in his life. At age five, he was baptized at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Convent. That was also the first time he sang in public. The song he chose was “Because of Who You Are”, by gospel recording artist Vicki Yohe. Just before becoming a teenager, he was singing to the congregation at St. Luke Baptist Church in Moonshine

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