YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER LAROSE, LA www.TLGnewspaper.com
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
SERVING: MATHEWS • GHEENS • LOCKPORT • VALENTINE • LAROSE CUT OFF • GALLIANO • GOLDEN MEADOW • LEEVILLE • GRAND ISLE
It’s Carnival Time!
Louis Voiron
Ex-Lafourche Parish schools chief takes new job
See Voiron Page 4-A
INSIDE
Arrests........................2-A
Calendar of Events.....2-A
Classifieds...................8-A
Engagement...............3-A Horoscopes................9-A
News In Brief..............7-A Obituaries...................8-A
Public Notice...............9-A Worship Directory......10-A
200 Louisiana 3161 Suite #1, Cut Offff 985-325-7107
Council of Governments formed to help unite Lafourche Parish By Alise Falgout | Gazette Staff
By Halle Parker Daily Comet Staff Writer
Lafourche Parish’s former superintendent, who left the position last fall citing health concerns, started a new job earlier last month as the Iberville Parish School District’s chief academic officer. Louis Voiron led Lafourche schools for nearly seven months before taking medical leave for unspecified health reasons in July. In mid-November, the Lafourche Parish School Board announced after a series of special meetings that Voiron had decided not to return to the position in October. The board bought Voiron out of his contract for a lump sum of $220,000, paid in full Jan. 3, and restored all of his sick days. Board President Brooke Huddleston said in a letter that the deal saved the school district, and taxpayers, $48,000 compared to if Voiron stayed on the payroll. As the chief academic officer, Voiron stands to make at least $109,764 per year, according to the Iberville Parish School District’s salary schedule.
VOLUME 54 NUMBER 19
Staff Photo
Larose-based Krewe of Versailles member Lauren Melancon decorates one of the floats that will roll in the Versailles parade on February 16. The Krewe will present their annual tableu this Saturday at the Cut Off Youth Center. The Krewe Des Les Petite Lions children’s parade will kick off the area’s Carnival Season this Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. in Golden Meadow.
Louisiana seeking $150M grant to elevate major oil and gas highway
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana is making a pitch for millions of dollars in federal financing it hopes will help elevate a state highway leading to a critical national oil and gas hub. Gov. John Bel Edwards and state lawmakers pledged $150 million in oil spill recovery money for improvements to LA Highway 1 in Lafourche Parish heading to Port Fourchon. Louisiana’s leaders want the federal government to match that with another $150 million. Jefferson Parish U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, who is the No. 2 House Republican, said he met with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao last Wednesday to talk of the state’s request. Chao’s department is overseeing a $900 million infrastructure grant program that Louisiana has targeted to provide the $150 million in federal financing, to help elevate an 8.3-mile stretch of Highway 1 from Golden Meadow to Leeville.
Scalise said he stressed not only the highway’s use as a key hurricane evacuation route, but also its importance to the national energy infrastructure at Port Fourchon. “It will be an aggressive competition, but I think we have an incredibly strong story,” he said. Applications for the federal grant dollars are due by Feb. 25, Scalise said, with awards announced by the end of summer.
Shortly after 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening, Troop C Troopers responded to a single-vehicle fatality crash involving a pedestrian on LA 1 near West 65th Street. The crash took the life of 71-year-old Bill Chabert Sr. of Cut Off. The preliminary investigation revealed 65-year-old Debra Cheramie was traveling north on LA 1 in a Volkswagen Atlas when Chabert failed to yield to her vehicle as it approached and began crossing LA 1 from west to east.
Chabert was struck in the northbound lane and suffered fatal injuries. Cheramie was properly restrained and was not injured. Impairment on the part of Chabert is not suspected and a toxicology report is pending. Cheramie provided a breath sample which showed no alcohol present. The crash remains under investigation. Troop C has investigated 2 fatal crashes resulting in 2 deaths this year.
Pedestrian killed Thursday evening in Cut Off
NEW LISTING- 154 Alida Lane, Larose
On Monday, January 25th while most people were eating dinner and spending time with their family, the elected officials that represent Lafourche Parish and its people gathered for a “meeting and meal” and formed what will be known as “The Lafourche Parish Council of Governments.” The council is made up of elected officials ranging from city council members and mayors to Parish President Archie Chaisson III, and DA Kristen Russell all the way up to state representatives, Supreme Court Justice Weimer, and Senator Gary Smith. A total of approximately 54 government officials gathered at the Larose Civic Center to have dinner and do their part in creating an avenue of communication between sectors, cities, and offices. The purpose of the first quarterly meeting for the newly incorporated non-profit was to adopt their articles of incorporation and officially elect their first board of directors. Lafourche Parish Assessor and meeting sponsor, Wendy Thibodeaux, stood greeting her colleagues and guests as they entered. Once the mingling subsided and the tables were full, the meeting began. Supreme Court Justice Weimer opened up the meeting with a story about how St. Mary Parish has been doing a similar thing for years and how he had mentioned this idea to others to be told what a great idea and “we should do that!” See Officials Page 4-A
Comeaux announces candidacy for Port Commission, Seat B
I, Perry J. Comeaux, am announcing my candidacy for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, Seat B, vacated by the death of Mr. Perry Gisclair. I am 65 years Perry J. Comeaux old and a lifelong resident of the 10th Ward of Lafourche Parish. I am married to the former Faith Curole. We have two children and three grandchildren. I have 48 years experience in the marine industry. I am a Licensed Master 1600/3000 ton on Ocean for the past 40 years. Please consider me on April 4, 2020.
MLS:155 562 This 2600 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 2 bath home offers tons of potentiial with a 3200 sq.ft. warehouse with kitchen and bath and sits on 17 acres with a crawfish pond d and fish pond. $350,000
Addy Melancon (985) 691-3873