The News Examiner - Enterprise

04/24/2025

Here is an Editorial published in this week's News Examiner-Enterprise where I attempt to explain what is on the May 3rd ballot. I cover the Tax Renewals and take a dive into explaining the General Obligation Bond proposition. Hope this helps bring some clarity. Thank You, David Reynaud, Editor

Vote Yes For Drainage, Roads, Hospital, Government Services, Recreation & Disaster Recovery

Editor’s Note: The following editorial is a plea with registered voters in St. James Parish to support the plethora of millage renewals and the General Obligation Bond measure on the May 3rd ballot.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a similar piece concerning the 12.5 mills, 10-year millage renewal for the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office that was on the March 29th ballot.

Voters ultimately approved the 10-year millage renewal that provides roughly 50% of the Sheriff’s operating revenues, and in the editorial I argued just how detrimental it would be to force the Sheriff to cut the Police Department’s budget in half.

Well, here we are again!

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, voters in St. James Parish will again go to the polls to cast their vote on several important millage renewals and a proposed General Obligation Bond. And, like the Sheriff’s millage, these millages fund vital and essential public services, capital improvements, infrastructure projects, recreation, and our local hospital.

We think voters should vote

Parish President Pete Dufresne and his administration have used several modes of communication to help educate the public on what the millages are dedicated for and why they are so important to continue to provide services to the citizens.

The Administration also stresses these propositions represent no new millages - only renewals, and in the end it is a reduction of 0.62 mills, which is a savings to taxpayers.

Voters originally approved a three-mill ad valorem tax to fund the Parish libraries, but several years ago the Parish rolled back the library millage and now only collects 2.48 mills, hence the .62 reduction.

On the May 3rd ballot, voters will see the following millage renewals and these are fairly straight forward:

*Fire Department / Emergency Medical Services (3.91 Mills): Supports emergency response, firefighting equipment, and ambulance services.

*E911 System (1.25 Mills): Ensures a fully operational 911 call system.

*Libraries (Reduced from 3 Mills to 2.48 Mills): Continues full library services across the Parish.

*Public Buildings (4.93 Mills): Maintains operations for Parish buildings, including Parish Administration Buildings, the Judicial Building, the Parish Jail, recreation centers, senior centers, and others.

*Road Maintenance (4.93 Mills): This millage supports the rehabilitation and preservation of the 226-miles of Parish

roads.

*Road Lighting (1.00 Mill): Keeps roadways in unincorporated areas safely lit for drivers and pedestrians.

*St. James Parish Hospital (4.75 mills): This measure is for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, improving and operating the public hospital buildings in St. James Parish.

General Obligation Bond (also parishwide):

Voters are also being asked to give the Parish the authority to issue General Obligation (GO) Bonds and this would be a 20-year proposition and the Parish would not be allowed to exceed $25 million in GO Bonds. Also, (0.50 Mills) would be levied to generate funds to pay the Bonds back.

Understanding GO Bonds is no easy task and the following is an attempt to summarize how they would work.

*If and when Bonds are issued, they can only be used for capital projects (mainly road and drainage projects) and for infrastructure repairs after natural disasters.

*The Parish would only be allowed to issue GO Bonds that the revenue generated by the .50 mills can pay back. The amount of Bonds issued would be dependent on revenues generated by .5 mills and what interest rates are at the time of issuance.

*This is not a blank check with a $25 million dollar limit and the Parish would not issue $25 million all at once.

For example: The Parish could issue $1.5 million in 2026 to fund a drainage or road project on the west bank (must introduce an ordinance, conduct Public Hearings, publish in Official Journal, etc.). A year later in 2027, the Parish could opt to issue another series of GO Bonds for $3 million for another drainage/road project and once again would introduce an ordinance and go through the process.

All-in-all, the Parish has more than 25 projects, mostly drainage projects, it would like to complete in the future and these Bonds, along with grants and State Capital Outlay funds, would allow for some or many to actually get done.

*The Parish can only issue what .5 mills can pay back. Also, the amount the Parish can ultimately borrow could increase in the future should interest rates decrease and if more property becomes taxable (an industry comes off of the tax exemption program and starts paying property taxes).

You may ask, Why a $25 million cap?

GO Bonds can also be used to quickly pay for disaster repairs to infrastructure in the aftermath of a natural disaster (hurricane).

This gives the Parish access to funding to make needed repairs, and when the Federal Government (FEMA) reimburses the Parish at a later date, said reimbursement is used to pay back the GO Bonds.

Hopefully, the Parish will not have to issue any disaster related Bonds, but if there is such a need it ensures the Parish gets back on its feet and operational much faster than if there was no access to GO Bonds.

District-Specific Recreation Millages

Last but not least, some voters will see District specific millages and only those voters who reside in the special District will vote on these two specific millage renewals. Both of these propositions concern recreation.

*5th District Millage (1.00 Mill): Supports the 5th District Park, summer camp, new facility development, and ongoing maintenance.

*Gramercy Recreation Millage (4.98 Mills): Funds park operations, new facilities, and maintenance of facilities within Gramercy Park.

If we, the citizens of St. James Parish want the services we enjoy to continue, want the Parish Government to continue to make drainage and road improvements, and if we want our local hospital to continue to flourish and provide local healthcare, then we need to renew these millages.

03/28/2025

CORRECTION

In this week’s edition of the News Examiner-Enterprise, and in the feature story about the Steib twins and the upcoming 3 ELL’s variety show, I mistakenly published the wrong dates of the show under the front page photo of the Steib family.

The show will run April 11-13, not April 18-20 as stated in the cutline.

Please share the correct dates.

I sincerely regret this mistake. The dates are correct in the article, but not in the picture’s cutline.

David Reynaud, Editor

03/07/2025

03/03/2025

01/20/2025

Winter Storm Enzo is expected to impact St. James Parish between 3:00am and 6:00am on Tuesday, January 21st, and the heaviest impact to our area will be between 11:00am and 6:00pm. There is a likelihood we will be below freezing for 36 hours and 4-6 inches of snow is likely.

Just like with a hurricane, you need to have supplies for you and your family for at least 72 hours. There is a strong likelihood that roads will be closed and help cannot get to you easily.

If you are in need of shelter, call 225-562-2500 before 3:00pm today to pre-register. If you need transportation to the shelters, Transit Services will be operating as long as roadways are safe to drive on.

Shelf stable meals will be given out to homebound citizens in advance of the winter freeze. Transit Services will be shut down Tuesday and Wednesday due to anticipated road conditions.

Waste Management will not be passing on Tuesday, January 21st, and pickup on Wednesday, January 22nd will be determined on Tuesday. If you have last minute trash to drop off, the parish landfills are open today, January 20th.

The Entergy Storm Center is available at entergynewsroom.com/storm-center/ for updates on outages and restoration activities and helpful storm preparation tips. Customers can report an outage quickly and easily through their digital options – using either the free mobile app, Entergy.com, or by texting OUT to 36778

Details:

WHAT:
* Heavy snow and light icing leading to major travel impacts
* Extreme Cold
WHEN:
* Winter Precipitation: - Early Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening
* Bitterly Cold Temperatures: - Tonight January 20th through much of the work week
WHERE:
* All of southeast LA and southern Mississippi.
CONFIDENCE:
* Cold Temperatures: We are very confident that cold temps and dangerously cold wind chills will occur tonight through Thursday. Prolonged temperatures at or below freezing will occur for much of the area as well.
* Winter Precipitation: Medium - High Confidence that most of the region will see snow and major impacts to travel will occur.
Impacts:
Cold Temperatures and Wind Chills:
* Extended duration of freezing (and hard freeze) conditions are expected for 4 consecutive nights beginning tonight. Some places may not rise above freezing at all Tuesday.
* It is emphasized to protect the 4 P's during the several days of cold weather:
* People: Check on the elderly & other vulnerable people to make sure they are adequately prepared.
* Pets: Keep your pets warm, indoors if possible. Ensure they have access to warm shelter, food and unfrozen water
* Pipes: Insulate exposed pipes using layers of towels/sheets/plastic bags/etc, open up sink cabinets and disconnect hoses.
* Plants: Cover sensitive vegetation, or bring inside if possible.
* Wind chills in the single digits (along and north of I-10/12) and teens (south of I-10/12) are forecast and can lead to hypothermia rapidly for those without warm shelter.
Winter Precipitation:
* Moderate to major impacts to daily life are likely
* Generally 2-6" of snow is forecast for areas north of I-10/12 with 1-5" south of the I-10/12 corridor
* A light glaze (less than one tenth of an inch) of ice is also forecast with only minor impacts.
* Expect rapid accumulations of ice/snow on all roads as wintry precipitation arrives, especially elevated roads, as they will already be cold.
* Snow will be slow to melt on Wednesday as temperatures will only rise above freezing for a short period. Additionally, any snow melt that doesn't evaporate during the afternoon will refreeze Wednesday night as temperatures quickly drop below freezing again in the evening. Some shady areas (especially eastbound lanes of Interstates 12 and 10, etc.) will hold on to the ice/snow longer, and these areas will likely still be impassable/hazardous for driving Wednesday into possibly into Thursday morning

01/15/2025

Time to protect the 4 P’s, y’all.

Although it is cold now, the forecast predicts even colder temperatures next week. This is the ideal time to prepare for a winter freeze by purchasing necessary supplies to protect people, pets, pipes, and plants.

If you expect to need pipe wrapping, it is advisable to purchase supplies now while stores are well-stocked. Use the following tips to assist in your preparations:

1. Disconnect and Drain Outdoor Hoses: Detaching the hose allows water to drain from the pipe, preventing an overnight freeze from bursting the faucet or pipe.

2. Insulate Pipes and Faucets: Wrap pipes in unheated areas or areas exposed to the cold. Consider using "heat tape" or "heat cable." Any hardware store will have insulation materials for this purpose.

3. Seal Off Access Doors, Air Vents, and Cracks: Close off openings where cold air can pass through to avoid freezing pipes (do not plug air vents used by furnaces or water heaters).

4. Find the Master Shutoff Valve: The master shutoff valve is usually located where the water line enters your home (near the water heater or washing machine).

5. Secure Water Meter Lids: The Town of Gramercy water pipes are placed deep enough to prevent freezing in most cases. Covering your water meter with tarps or towels is not necessary. The best practice is to secure the lid.

6. Open Cabinets: Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, especially if your sinks are on an exterior wall (ensure harmful cleaners and household chemicals are out of reach of small children).

7. Be a Good Neighbor: Check on elderly neighbors and offer assistance in preparing their homes.

Please save this information for easy reference.

01/08/2025

Due to the Post Offices being closed tomorrow for National Day of Mourning, our subscribers will not receive their weekly paper until Friday. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

12/09/2024

KBZE 105.9FM will broadcast the St James Wildcats live from the Superdome on Thursday at 7.
Fans can listen in a variety of ways: (1) on facebook at KBZE 105.9FM Sports - just press
the link (audio only); (2) through the KBZE Radio App - a free download from play the playstore section of your i-phone or
android; (3) on the Tune In Radio App, a free download to your smartphone;
(4) on Alexa by saying Alexa, play the Breeze from Tune in Radio and (5) from our websites
at www.kbze.com and www.kbze1059fm.com.
Also, for those interested, KBZE will broadcast the ED White Cardinals on Friday, from the
Superdome at Noon.

Do you have questions or comments about our programming? Do you have an idea for a story or style that we should include? Send us a message, and we will get back to you soon.

12/05/2024

🎄𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 🎄

The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gramercy Police Department, and Lutcher Police Department have some exciting news to share with residents and visitors for the 2024 Christmas Eve Traffic Plan. The 2024 Traffic Plan will be in place from 630 pm until 9 pm, with bonfires beginning at 7 pm.

This year, traffic on Highway 44 (River Road) will be two-way traffic. All highways between LA 642 and LA 3213 (leading to River Road) will be traffic-controlled to allow a “right turn only” onto Highway 44. You will not be able to turn left on any highway between LA 642 and LA 3213.

Streets in Gramercy and Lutcher will be blocked at Highway 44, and you will not be allowed to turn onto Highway 44.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲 –
🔥No bonfires are to be lit before 7 pm on Christmas Eve
🔥Christmas Eve Bonfire Festivities on the Mississippi River Levee shall conclude by 11 pm on Christmas Eve. Bonfire participants and visitors will be asked to leave the levee.
🔥Do not park where you are blocking side streets.
🔥If you are walking, be mindful when crossing the street.
🔥If you are driving, please watch out for those crossing the street.
🔥Plan to arrive early and enjoy the St. James Parish Christmas Eve Bonfire Festivities!

Sheriff Claude J. Louis Jr. said, “We anticipate this year’s traffic plan will provide safety access for our community and visitors and allow for increased traffic flow. Officers will be visible along the route. Accessible staging areas for emergency response vehicles will also be along the route. We hope everyone has a safe Christmas Eve.”

12/03/2024

Sheriff Claude J Louis Jr is sharing tips to help our citizens protect themselves from falling victim to common scams.

Remember - never give personal information to anyone or any company that you are not affiliated with and have verified that your information is needed and will be safeguarded.

If you reside in St. James Parish and feel you are a victim of a scam, please contact the St. James Parish Sheriff's Office at 225 562-2200.

11/25/2024

🔥 Bonfire Season is back! 🔥

Christmas Eve bonfire permits can be purchased and completed at the Welcome Center beginning November 25th.

Details:
- 2024 Bonfire Permits will be issued starting Monday, November 25th through Sunday, December 12th at the St. James Parish Welcome Center in Gramercy
- Bonfire Permits and rules can be completed at the Welcome Center
- Bonfire Permit fees are $50.00
- Residents can purchase a bonfire permit by check or money order ONLY. NO CASH will be accepted. Checks and money orders must be St. James Parish Government
Located at:
St. James Parish Welcome Center
1094 US Highway 61, Gramercy, LA, 70052
Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri 7:30am - 4:30pm, Sat-9:30-4:30, Sun 9:00am - 3:00pm