News

By Pam Folse

The death of her neighbors’ young son touched Theresa Roussel of Grand Point very deeply. He was the same age as her own daughter and she wanted desperately to do something to help them. Not knowing exactly what to do, she decided to do what she could. She cooked and took them gumbo, potato salad, cake and bread.

Months went by and there was another death. So, she cooked again. With some gentle but firm nudging from Aimee Brady, as Miss Brady was known to do well and often, Theresa’s desire to help became a regular ministry. What began as an act of goodwill over 30 years ago has now developed into a service that she provides regularly for people who live in Grand Point and Paulina.

At about the same time, Anna Lea Oubre and a few of her neighbors and friends wanted to provide food for a couple in Gramercy who were ill and needed some extra support. What she and her friends did 27 years ago, she continues today in the Gramercy area.

By Pam Folse

Plans to elect a new St. James Parish Council chairman failed Wednesday, May 3rd.

The matter was listed on the Council agenda as “election of council chairman”. However, Assistant District Attorney Cody Martin, who was named to replace Bruce Mohon in that position indefinitely, said the Council must first remove the current Council Chairman. Since the removal of the current chairman was not on the agenda, the Council agreed to consider the matter at the next meeting.

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The St. James Parish School Board met last week and the theme of the meeting was striving for and achieving excellence.

During the meeting, the Board took time to honor and recognize several students and three members of the staff for their hard work and dedication to strive to be excellent.

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Two top vote finishers assured that Ascension Parish will get a lock on the seat that covers a sprawling Senate district that covers more than six parishes.

Democrats Warren Harang, III, a sugar cane farmer from Donaldsonville, whose late father was a former mayor of Thibodaux, and State Rep. Edward “Ed” Price were the top vote getters in a 13-candidate field to become the next District 2 Senator.

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By David Reynaud

Lutcher resident Roxie Batiste, who is also the wife of Lutcher Alderman Donald Batiste, told the Lutcher Mayor and Board of Aldermen that the Town’s laws governing water and sewerage rates are being unfairly implemented.

During Tuesday’s monthly Town meeting, Batiste said her son recently opened up two businesses (Martin Barber Shop and Martin Sweet Shop), which are on the same lot but in separate buildings, have the same owner, operate under the same Tax ID Number, use the same electric meter, same water meter and same sewerage, and that she wanted to know why the Town is now asking him to pay two commercial water - sewerage - garbage rates.

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By David Reynaud

Emotions, voices, and nearly fists were flying high during last Thursday’s special Lutcher Town budget meeting, which at one point nearly escalated into a physical altercation between Alderman Danny Manuel and Mayor Patrick St. Pierre.

The special meeting was called because the Aldermen failed to adopt the Town’s 2017-18 Operating Budget during a special meeting held on April 24th, and Louisiana law states that if no operating budget is adopted by the beginning of the fiscal year (May 1st), then the Town must operate on 50 percent of the previous year’s budget.

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By Pam Folse Contributing Writer

Rev. Harry Joseph of Mount Triumph Baptist Church in District 5 presented the St. James Parish Council with a petition signed by about 600 residents seeking an evacuation route for their area.

The group is also opposed to Yuhuang Chemical Inc. (YCI) plans to build a methanol plant at the site of the current St. James High School and the Bayou Bridge Pipeline.

Between Vacherie and the Sunshine Bridge there is only one road extending from Hwy. 3125 to River Road, in the Moonshine community. Although the northern end of the Parish on the west bank is home to American Styrenics and Motiva and is the proposed site of other facilities, there is no other evacuation route leading from the populated areas from River Road to Hwy. 3127.

By David Reynaud

St. James Parish Director of Operations Blaise Gravois and his team of defense attorneys received very favorable news Tuesday afternoon as 23rd Judicial District Judge Jessie LeBlanc issued her ruling where she Dismissed/Quashed all indictments for Malfeasance in Office on the basis of Prosecutorial Misconduct and Lack of Notice.

Gravois, along with St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel, were indicted on Malfeasance charges, five for Gravois and six for Roussel, on September 28, 2016, and both are accused of using Parish employees, equipment, materials and money to benefit private companies and private landowners.

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By Pam Folse

Some members of the St. James Parish Council feel that their image has been shattered by recent newspaper articles and social media posts and are calling upon fellow councilmen to be more transparent with one another and the public.

The comments apparently stem from articles which appeared in local and regional media regarding the testimony given by Council Chairman Alvin “Shark” St. Pierre, Jr. at a court hearing for Director of Operations Blaise Gravois.

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By Pam Folse Contributing Writer

“I want to restore the sense of community between the doctor and the community,” said Dr. Landon Roussel from his new office in Gramercy. “I want to build that again with our patients.”

Even the name of his practice, Communitas Primary Care, LLC, the Latin word for community, reflects that sentiment.

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