The Louisiana National Guard currently has over 1,260 soldiers and airmen providing assistance across the state to operations including COVID-19, Hurricanes Laura, Delta and most recently Zeta.
Up until Wednesday, October 28, Plaquemines Parish had remained practically untouched by the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Storm after storm had entered the Gulf of Mexico— bringing with them the expected series of hurricane watches, school closures, evacuation orders, etc.—but storm after storm (even when their tracks seemed deadset on Plaquemines) had curled east or fallen off west.
Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine presented the Parish Council with the Parish’s 2021 Original Proposed Budget during last week’s, October 22nd council meeting. The budget was presented as balanced with revenues and expenditures totaling approximately $33,000,000 in the General Fund.
Throughout the month of October, we are celebrating our amazing shelter dogs for National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month! There are many benefits to adopting a dog instead of purchasing one from a breeder.
The candidates for Plaquemines District Attorney (DA)—Charles Ballay, Gibby Andry, Leo Palazzo, and Terry Sercovich—met for one final “Forum” on Thursday, October 15 before early voting began the following day. This “Forum,” hosted by the Plaquemines Association of Business & Industry (PABI) and held at the Stonebridge Golf Club in Gretna, was the most heated meeting between the candidates to date. Unlike the October 3 “virtual debate”—where the challengers mentioned certain disagreements they had with Ballay but mostly focused on their own experience and qualifications— the PABI “Forum” was con frontational from the very start.
Due to the impending threat of Hurricane Delta, the October 8 Plaquemines Port and Council meetings were cancelled so the parish government could prepare for any of the storm’s impacts. Fortunately, Delta veered west and Plaquemines was spared of any severe effects. When the storm passed, the parish government rescheduled the council meeting for October 13, but the Plaquemines Port meeting—apparently lacking any urgent issues—was not rescheduled.
The Plaquemines Port, Harbor & Terminal District (PPHTD) is 13th largest port in the United States by “cargo volume” moved according to an article in Global Trade Magazine. Based on information collected by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Plaquemines Port moved 56,850,137 tons in 2018. Considering the big name port cities/ regions Plaquemines was ranked against (Philadelphia, Portland, Los Angeles, Boston, and Memphis just to name a few), this top 15 rank is something to be proud of for a community of fewer than 25,000 people.
It’s that time of year when Plaquemines Parish residents are again making an impact worldwide through simple Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
Deadline for accepting applications for participation in the October 2020 Food Distribution Program is October 12, 2020. Plaquemines Parish residents who have not yet applied for or completed an Application/Declaration Form of Eligibility can do so now or before the above mentioned date. All applications received after the deadline will not be processed for the upcoming October 2020 distribution. Commodity applications are available at ALL Parish Council offices, Council on Aging and the Community Action Agency office.
The fall season is here! The weather is changing, and the holidays are coming. There are plenty of great ways to do something with your pet while keeping yourself and them safe. COVID-19 is still around us, so coming up with safe and socially distant activities can be key to a great fall season. For example, going on a hike is a great activity for both you and your pet to do while staying safe. Just be sure to prepare your pet with flea and tick preventatives and check your pet for ticks or fleas while on the hike and before going back home. Some other ways to spend quality time with your pet include having Halloween movie marathons at home and going to pet-friendly pumpkin patches!
Late into the September 24 Plaquemines Parish Council meeting, an ordinance to change the start time from 5 p.m. to 3 p.m. passed unanimously. Starting October 8, the Plaquemines Port Harbor & Terminal District Meeting will begin at 3 p.m.—which, according to district 7 council member Carlton LaFrance, typically lasts anywhere from “half an hour to 2 hours.” The regular Plaquemines Parish Government Council meeting will immediately follow the PPHTD.
On Friday, October 9, the Mississippi River Bank (MRB) will be holding its 40 anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. through 1 p.m at its Belle Chasse branch.
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Plaquemines Medical Center held a “Flu/Covid Prevention and Christmas Cheer Drive-Thru Giveaway” in partnership with Plaquemines Primary Care on Dec.
7962 Hwy 23
P.O. Box 700
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Phone: 504-392-1619
Fax: 504-392-7526