YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LAROSE, LA thelafourchegazette.com
SERVING: MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINE • LAROSE CUT OFF • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE
Sunday, March 19, 2017
LWF calls for more funding, management for Elmer’s Island
Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) is calling for available restoration funding from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to be used for enhanced management of Elmer’s Island Wildlife Refuge. A proposed $22 million W project has been officially removed from the Deepwater Horizon National Resources Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustee Council’s early restoration plan for Louisiana. Removal of this project makes funding available for alternative projects designed to provide and enhance recreational opportunities. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority heard a presentation this week on three projects under consideration for reallocation of these funds. See Elmer’s Island Page 3-A
MEETINGS MONDAY, MAR. 20
LAF. FIRE DISTRICT #2 7:00 p.m. 806 Crescent Ave., Lockport TOWN OF GOLDEN MEADOW 7:00 p.m. Golden Meadow Town Hall TUESDAY, MAR. 21
LA TABLE FRANCAISE 3:00 p.m. South Lafourche Library 16241 East Main - Galliano
NO. LAF. LEVEE DISTRICT 5:00 p.m. 3862 Hwy. 1 - Raceland CZM ADVISORY COMM. 5:30 p.m. Mathews Govt. Complex 4876 Hwy. 1 - Lockport
VOLUME 28 NUMBER 29
Louisiana eyes overhaul of its criminal justice system
Getting it done …
Y
State seeks to lessen its highest-inthe-nation prison population By MELINDA DESLATTE Associated Press
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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A criminal justice task force wrapped up months and put its final stamp V S MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINEof •debate LAROSE Thursday on a package of recommenC • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE dations estimated to lessen Louisiana’s highest-in-the nation prison population by 13 percent over the next decade. The next move will be decided by lawmakers. Gov. John Bel Edwards embraced the work from the Justice Reinvestment Task Force, which has presented proposals for a sweeping rewrite of Louisiana’s criminal sentencing laws and its approach to prisoner rehabilitation. The Democratic governor said state corrections policy has been “driWork appears to be getting done around the Town of Lockport. Crews were seen doing repair ven by fear” for decades, rather than work recently to some of the sidewalks in town that have been buckling or breaking, causing a “hope balanced by reason.” hazard to those walking or riding bikes across them. “It is not true that being tough on The Town of Lockport Town Hall office will also be staying open longer on Fridays until 4 p.m. crime is always being smart on to better serve the residents of the town. crime,” Edwards said. If the full package proposed by the task force is enacted by lawmakers, it is estimated to drop the prison population by 4,800 people and lessen state corrections spending by a net of $150 million by 2027. By MELINDA DESLATTE Gov. John Bel Edwards said the downgrade
Louisiana gets third credit downgrade in a year Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana’s credit took a new dip Wednesday, as a national rating agency downgraded the state because of its continued financial uncertainty, making it more expensive to borrow money for roadwork and construction projects. S&P Global Ratings dropped Louisiana’s rating one notch, the third national rating agency to downgrade the state’s credit since February 2016, as Louisiana continues to struggle with financial gaps that have stretched over nine years. In its analysis, S&P also declared Louisiana’s financial outlook “negative.” The rating agency cited weak tax collections, declines in the oil and gas industry and use of patchwork fixes to fill recent deficits. The agency notes that $1.5 billion in temporary taxes and other revenue passed by state lawmakers expires in mid-2018, creating further instability.
shows the need for “structural tax and budget reform” in the upcoming legislative session that begins in April. “There is a responsible way that we can reform our tax structure to make it fair and predictable for businesses and also bring in sufficient revenue to support the state services a vast majority of state legislators believes (are) important,” the governor said in a statement. The downgrade comes a week before Louisiana plans a general obligation bond sale to borrow $180 million for construction work. Credit agency ratings help determine interest rates on bonds, so the upcoming sale could become pricier. “This is not totally unexpected, because the state’s budget and supporting revenues continue to be problematic,” Treasurer Ron Henson said in a statement. See Credit Page 3-A
See Criminal Page 3-A
A criminal justice task force finalized a package of ways to lessen Louisiana’s highest-in-the-nation prison population. But the next move will be decided by lawmakers.
Area bridge repairs and updates …
TOWN OF LOCKPORT 7:00 p.m. Town Hall Meeting Room 710 Church St. - Lockport
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 22 LAF. PORT COMMISSION Committee Meeting 10:30 a.m. Fourchon Office 108 A.O. Rappelet Road
INSIDE
Arrests.............................5-A
Calendar of Events.........2-A Classifieds.......................4-A
Horoscopes...................4-A Lottery.............................2-A
News In Brief..................3-A Obituaries........................5-A
Worship Directory............6-A
Bridge updates Work should be concluded on the Galliano Bridge (near the St. Joseph Catholic Church) within a month, according to a spokesman with the Lafourche Parish Government Public Works Department, weather permitting. News on the Valentine Bridge, however, is not as encouraging. The antiquated structure is in major need of repair and Parish Government is in the process of getting estimates on the work needed to be done and finding the financing to do it. This bridge will be out indefinitely.
Family Pack
7114 Hwy. 1 - Lockport 13086 Hwy. 3235 - Larose 2113 S. Alex Plaisance Blvd. - G.M.
Prices Good Through Tuesday, March 21
Ribeye Steaks
7
$ 99
Lb.
St. Louis Style Ribs
1
$ 99
Lb.
Market Fresh
Ground Chuck
2
$ 99
Lb.
Chicken Breast
Sanderson Farms
Lb.
.99¢
More closures coming The West Larose Vertical Lift Bridge on LA 1, crossing the Intracoastal Canal Waterway in Larose, will be closed continuously to vehicular traffic from 7:00 a.m. Monday, March 27 to 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 26. This is a 24-hour/day closure that is necessary for crews and equipment to remove and replace bridge machinery, structural steel members, electric motors, control center and switchboard. The $24.1 million project is designed to extend the life of the existing structure and is estimated for completion in the fall.
12 Oz.
Green Cabbage ¢ Fresh
Lb.
6 Packs 1/2 liters
22 - 28 Oz.
Fresh
Community Frozen Coca Cola Coffee Vegetables
.29 4For$10 2For$9
1
$ 99