| YEAR IN REVIEW |
PAGE 6
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2011
June 20 10 Oil washes up on Louisiana’s coast Robottom seeks guidance from community June’s headlines were dominated by a series of stories related to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and how the River Region was coping and joining the fight to keep it from destroying the coastal ecosystem. Representatives from area refineries said a gover nment-imposed moratorium on drilling in the gulf would have little or no affect on refinery operations. Major oil companies were forced to suspend drilling on new wells, but none of the area refineries were expecting any disruptions since more than half of the crude oil refined by local plants comes from overseas sources. Midway through the month, a team of reporters from the Louisiana Press Association was granted a guided tour of some of the affected wetland areas in Venice. The tour included a stop at a wildlife cleaning facility as well as an update on cleanup and recovery efforts from state and local leaders. Meanwhile, a disaster recovery firm out of St. Charles Parish announced plans to join forces with a Florida company to utilize an
Above, a group of brown pelicans undergoes rehabilitation. At right, hundreds of miles of boom were deployed along Louisiana’s coast in an effort to keep the crude from destroying coastal wetlands. (Staff photos by Robin Shannon and Sandy Cunningham)
environmentally friendly way to fight the oil spill. Representatives with Mid Gulf Recovery of St. Rose announced plans to use a unique water treatment mechanism with the ability to separate the oil from the water as a viable solution to the task of cleaning the oil-soaked marshes of the Louisiana coast. Glen Smith, a chief executive for Mid Gulf Recovery, said the machine, developed by Ecosphere Technologies, breaks water molecules down and uses millions of tiny bubbles to lift oil to the surface and separate it from the water. Smith compared the process to what happens when a tablet of Alka Seltzer is dropped into a glass of water. “There are no dispersants and no further pollution,” Smith said. “In fact, the mechanism produces water that is so oxygenated that it has the potential to repair infected marsh grasses.” Smith said the machine is similar to one introduced by actor Kevin Costner, only this machine works at a much faster pace and can process much more water.
“Ecosphere’s machine uses a 2,000-g (6,000 rpm) centrifuge and operates on top of a barge,” Smith said. “The complete machine also has a mechanism that can remove particulates and dispersants from the oil and return it for future use.” On the political front, St. John Parish President Natalie Robottom announced plans to enlist the help of more than 70 parish residents to determine the future course and direction of the parish. The diverse group of civic leaders, elected officials, employees and other parish residents would serve as members of her Presidential Advisory Committee, a group that will assist her administration and provide recommendations on a wide range of parish concerns through a variety of sub-committees. The full advisory committee, one of Robottom’s inauguration day commitments to the parish analyzed the current organizational structure of the entire parish government to define future direction and ensure taxpayer revenue is spent wisely and efficiently. The group was divid-
ed into eight sub-committees that focused on governmental ethics reform; public safety; employment and economic development; community development and neighborhoods; recreation, arts, culture and health and human services; finance; human resources; and infrastructure and capital improvements. Each committee included a specific chairperson, corresponding parish employees, as well as at least one council member assigned by personal preference, according to Robottom. Also in June, the parish was officially introduced to the St. John Sheriff ’s Office Young Marines program, a youth organization that promotes the mental, moral and physical development of its members. “Essentially, it is the same principles learned in actual Marine training without the weapons and the combat,” said former Marine and current St. John Sheriff ’s Deputy Brian Bertrand, who serves as the unit commander. “We are not preparing these kids to enroll in the Marines. We are simply instilling the values of good citizenship and appropriate discipline.” Every other weekend since the beginning of April, the group has occupied a portable trailer space near Regala Park in Reserve, where Bertrand and other adult leaders from the Sheriff ’s Office hold classes on leadership, public speaking, drug resistance, life saving and survival skills. They are also taught how to march, present themselves in uniform and address people. On a sad note, the region dealt with the passing of two local icons. On June 5, the region learned of the passing of Ron Zappe, the namesake and creator of Gramercy’s own Zapp’s Potato Chips. The affable chip maker was known for his entrepreneurial skill and passion for new ideas. Then, on June 23, it was announced that longtime Reserve grocer Don Cancienne passed away. Cancienne, who died on Father’s Day, was remembered as a patient man who had a deep devotion to his various retail ventures.
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58 days later, oil continues to grip Louisiana’s coast These pelicans are recovering at Fort Jackson after being recovered from the oil. (Staff photo by Robin Shannon)
Reporters get first-hand look at damaged coast BY ROBIN SHANNON L’OBSERVATEUR
VENICE – Almost five years after Hurricane Katrina battered and devastated most of the southeast Louisiana coastline, wetland areas of our state that serve as the first line of storm defense now face a new threat as oil from the wrecked Deepwater Horizon rig owned by British Petroleum continues to flow into the fragile marshes of lower Plaquemines Parish. A group of about 30 reporters from newspapers across Louisiana traveled to Venice Friday for a first hand look at the oil-infected marshes. The tour included a stop at a wildlife cleaning facility as well as an Shrimp and fishing boats that update on clean- aren’t docked near Venice haul up and recovery boom instead of shrimp nets. (Staff photo by Robin Shannon) efforts from state and local leaders. Dale Benoit, co-publisher of the Plaquemines Gazette and the St. Bernard Voice, coordinated the trip and served as tour guide throughout the day. Benoit has been covering the spill since the rig exploded on April 20 – now 58 days ago. “The oil follows the tidal system in that it comes in and goes out regularly,” Benoit said. “There has never been an accurate amount recorded along the shores. The marsh grasses of Pass-a- Loutre in south Plaquemines are the first places oil began to show up on the coastline.” The tour of the marshes began in Venice, where a pair of rescue boats from Plaquemines Port
Above and at right: While boom has so far kept much oil out of the marshes, some is seeping through and causing severe damage to the wetlands. Oil reached the marshes of Pass-ALoutre (pictured here) first after the Deepwater Horizon explosion. Below left: Crews lay boom and keep a watchful eye out for approaching oil. Below right: Boom waits deployment into Louisiana’s marshlands. (Staff photos by Sandy Cunningham and Robin Shannon)
SEE OIL, PAGE 5A
Teacher evaluation standards changing
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L’Observateur’s online poll results Locals weigh in on ways to beat the heat of summer. NEWS | Page 2A
BY DAVID VITRANO L’OBSERVATEUR
RESERVE – Despite being distracted by the tragedy unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico, the Louisiana Legislature has been busy discussing, debating and voting on scores of bills. And while many of these will have little direct effect on residents of the River Parishes, some, such as those dealing with education, may be lasting. One of the education bills recently signed SEE EVALUATION, PAGE 5A
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Edgard festival brings locals together BY DAVID VITRANO L’OBSERVATEUR
EDGARD – Across much of Southeast Louisiana high temperatures kept many indoors; however, in Edgard the blazing sun could not keep local residents from celebrating their community. Held at West St. John High School, the St. John Community Arts Festival was organized by members of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and other local civic groups. The festival featured rides, games, live entertainment and, of course, plenty of food. Look for more photos in the Saturday, June 19, edition of L’Observateur.
Rashad Jackson, 11, tries to knock over the stack of milk bottles at one of the carnival-style game booths that filled a portion of the fairgrounds in Edgard over the weekend for the annual St. John Community Arts Festival. (Staff photo by David Vitrano)
The month in sports LARAYO swimmers rule; top local sluggers chosen LARAYO just continued to dominate the River Parishes swim scene. The Barracudas finished another undefeated campaign in the River Parish Swim League, going a perfect 6-0 en route to another league title. LARAYO finished off its season with a win over Hill Heights, 384.5-169.5, to seal things. Riverlands finished tied for league runnerup with Hill Heights and LaVacherie. Each team finished 4-2. LARAYO’s title was its 10th straight regular season crown. Maggie Trepagnier, Brandon Klibert, Kelsie Williams, Emily Schexnayder and Josh Tamplain racked up three first place titles for the Barracudas in the clinching performance. Austin Matherne, Chelsie Cupit, Paige Williams, Will East, Cody Schaffer and Evan Brady came away with a pair of first place
crowns. Catherine Monica, Ben Brady, Meredith Keating, Maddy Levet, Kelly Campbell, Josh Vicknair and Kaile Levatino wrapped up first place winners for LARAYO. St. Charles Catholic swept Most Valuable Player honors in the baseball and softball categories for L’Observateur, as the newspaper named Brandon Becker its baseball Most Valuable Player and Courtney Western its most valuable in softball for St. John Parish. For Western, it was her third straight year receiving the honor. Mary Ann Marino replaced Chuck Dorvin as Riverside girls’ basketball coach. A longtime coach of Mount Carmel and most recently Bonnabel, Marino played with Riverside girls’ athletic director Kristy Hebert while at Ridgewood, where the duo was coached by Dorvin.