News

By David Reynaud

 

Malcolm Duplantis, the man recently hired by the St. James Parish School Board (SJPSB) as interim Superintendent, suddenly and unexpectedly resigned just minutes before the Board convened last Thursday to interview and name Dr. P. Edward Cancienne as the system’s next Superintendent. Duplantis, who emailed his official resignation to the Board the following day, stormed out of the Board room and got in his vehicle and left the property after he and Cancienne exchanged words while waiting for the meeting to begin.

By Pam Folse

 

Dr. P. Edward Cancienne last week was named the 10th superintendent of the St. James Parish Public Schools by a unanimous vote of the St. James Parish School Board. Cancienne was the only person interviewed for the position at the special session held Thursday, May 26th. Earlier last week the Board met to review the resumé packets of the ten applicants received for the position vacated by Dr. Alonzo Luce, whose contract was not renewed.

By David Reynaud

 

A group of St. James NAACP members, local pastors and residents gathered outside the St. James Parish Courthouse Tuesday to protest Clerk of Court Edmond Kinler’s decision to terminate longtime employee Rita Cooper’s position in the Clerk’s office. The protest is the latest in an ongoing saga surrounding Cooper’s termination, which became effective on May 31st. Many Cooper supporters packed the May 18th council meeting to plead for something to be done to save her job.

By Pam Folse

 

Each year around the time of Memorial Day, many recall family members who served in the armed forces. Some know little of their time of service, especially those who served in the first or second world wars. The family of the late Nelson Miller of Vacherie has an account of his time in a prisoner of war camp. His comrade, Eddie Douglas Adkins of Thala, Texas, risked his life to keep a journal while in captivity. The 120-page typed edition helps to tell the story of what thousands of American POWs experienced at the hands of the German enemy.

By Pam Folse 

Contributing Writer 

 

The room was filled to capacity and the crowd overflowed into the hallway when the St. James Parish Council met last week in Vacherie. The standing-room-only crowd was there to support Rita Cooper of District 5, whose job is being terminated May 31st. Cooper is a long-time employee in the Clerk of Court’s office at the Convent Courthouse.

By Pam Folse 

Contributing Writer 

 

Meeting in special session on Monday, the St. James Parish School Board voted to invite Dr P. Edward Cancienne and Dr. Kelli Joseph to be interviewed on Thursday for the position of Superintendent of St. James Parish Schools. The position of superintendent was advertised shortly after the Board decided not to renew the contract of current Superintendent Dr. Alonzo Luce, who leaves the position on May 31st.

By David Reynaud 

Editor 

 

It all started in 2011 when Chris Tregre, who was 10 years old at the time, built a lemonade stand with the goal of raising money to donate to the St. James ARC. Tregre continued the stand for a few years and even expanded to sell jambalaya, hot dogs and other food. Well, no one could have imagined what that little stand would evolve into.

By David Reynaud 

Editor 

 

Although still in the infant stage, if all goes according to one man’s dream, St. James Parish will soon have an Athletic Hall of Fame. Terrence Jones, who played quarterback for the Lutcher Bulldogs, the Tulane Green Wave and then several years in the Canadian Football league, is hoping to make his dream a reality.