YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LAROSE, LA thelafourchegazette.com
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Nicholls to award over 700 degrees at commencement May 16
Nicholls State University will award more than 700 degrees during its spring commencement Saturday, May 16 in Stopher Gymnasium on the Thibodaux campus. Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. for College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and College of Nursing and Allied Health graduates and at 2 p.m. for College of Business Administration and University College graduates. The keynote address will be delivered by Nicholls President Bruce T. Murphy, who has led the university since January 2014. Before joining the Nicholls family, Murphy served eight years as vice president for academic affairs at Air University in Montgomery, Alabama. See Nicholls Page 5-A
Blood drives to benefit LPSO deputy
Sheriff Craig Webre and the men and women of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office are asking the public to donate blood for a fellow deputy recently diagnosed with cancer. In April, Lieutenant Courtney Curole was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a rapidly-progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. See Benefit Page 5-A
MEETINGS THURSDAY. MAY 7
HUMANE SOCIETY OF LAFOURCHE 5:30 p.m. Lockport Library - Hwy. 1
BAYOU FELLOWSHIP 484 7:00 p.m. E. 93rd St. - Galliano
SERVING: MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINE • LAROSE CUT OFF • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE
VOLUME 49 NUMBER 34
Lafourche voters approve taxes
Later gator …
From staff reports
Photo by Lane Fournier
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water … According to officials, spotting an alligator on a Grand Isle beach is not as uncommon as one might think. Authorities apparently pick up over a dozen or so a year. It’s more common when heavy rains occur pushing the fresh water into the Gulf. This is likely what happened to this alligator, spotted on Sunday, after the heavy rains from last week’s storms. Still worried about sharks?
Jindal tax plan temporarily stalls, but revived within hours
In Saturday’s election, Lafourche Parish voters approved proposals to raise the sales tax for drainage and levee projects and redirect money for safety at parish schools. With voter turnout light, (only 6.9 percent of the nearly 46,000 voters casting ballots on this proposal), those who did make it to the polls increased the sales tax by a quarter-cent for the North Lafourche Levee District. The vote was 1,734 (57 percent) in favor and 1,307 (43 percent) opposed. Only voters within the District, which includes the northern end of the parish to the Intracoastal Waterway in Larose, voted on this measure. Money from the sales tax will be used to expedite drainage and flood protection projects for parish residents within the District’s boundaries. The tax is expected to raise an additional $2.2 million a year for the levee district, which now takes in about $3.5 million a year from property taxes. The tax takes effect July 1 and will not expire. See Voters Page 5-A
MELINDA DESLATTE Associated Press
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A key piece of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposal to balance next year’s budget sputtered briefly in the House tax committee, which initially rejected the tax plan Monday only to revive it within hours and pass it. The proposal to scale back a tax credit for companies that pay local property taxes on their inventory could save the state hundreds of millions of dollars each year. But it faces strong opposition from business groups that call it a multimilliondollar tax hike on companies ranging from local car dealerships to large chemical manufacturers. The pro-business arguments initially appeared to sway the House Ways and Means Committee, which voted 9-7 against the measure by Rep. Bryan Adams, R-Gretna. But after a recess and behind-the-scenes negotiation by Committee Chairman Joel Robideaux, the committee returned and changed course. Lawmakers then voted 9-8 to advance the bill to the full House. The committee also approved a similar bill by Rep. Julie Stokes, R-Kenner, with a 13-3 vote. Robideaux, R-Lafayette, has been urging the committee to move bills to the House floor as leg-
islative leaders continue closed-door talks about how to balance next year’s budget and close a $1.6 billion gap without devastating colleges and health services. “We are giving the entire body the ability to debate the bills. We are not committing to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the floor,” Robideaux said to explain the votes. “We want as many of these bills on the floor so that we can consider everything.” The legislative session must end by June 11, and lawmakers have yet to come up with a plan to close next year’s shortfall. If lawmakers don’t agree with Jindal’s approach, they have to find another way to raise money — or they have to deeply cut state spending. If deep cuts must be made, public colleges and health care services for the poor, elderly and disabled are the most vulnerable. That’s because those are the least protected areas of the budget. Higher education leaders encouraged passage of Adams’ bill. “We want as many options on the table as possible,” said LSU System President F. King Alexander. See Jindal Page 5-A
The Larose Civic Center will be the site for the new Bayou Cajun Fest this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 8, 9 and 10. The festival will feature live and local music, a craft market, carnival rides and delicious Cajun foods all weekend featuring a fresh-caught Louisiana Seafood Boil-off on Saturday from 11 am – 2 pm, and a one-of-a-kind Sunday Brunch featuring Chef Randy Cheramie of the Chef John Folse Culinary School at Nicholls State University. You won’t want to miss it!
Official grand opening …
SATURDAY, MAY 9
LES ARTISTE DU BAYOU ART GUILD 9:00 a.m. Larose Civic Center
INSIDE
Arrests..........................10-A Calendar of Events.........2-A
Classifieds................8-A/9-A
Engagements.................3-A
Legal Advertisement.....10-A Lottery.............................2-A
Memorials........................9-A
News In Brief...................7-A
Obituaries........................9-A
Public Notice.................10-A
Classic and current cars and trucks line up for display at a car show in Mathews earlier this year. For all you classic car enthusiast, the Swampland Rods & Customs Car Club will host their annual open car show this Saturday, May 9, at the Lafourche Government Complex parking lot, 4876 Hwy. 1, in Mathews. The event will feature classic cars, street rods, rat rods, door prizes, a silent auction, refreshments, and more. Registration begins at 9 a.m.
Staff photo by Babs
Teche Electric Supply officially opened its newest location Friday at 393 AJ Estay Road in Port Fourchon, with an oldfashioned cochon de lait, jambalaya, and more. The newest location also features new products and supplies. Call 985-396-4775 for more information.