Donaldsonville High School hosted a meet and greet for area businesses to introduce themselves to the community Monday evening.

"I think it is an excellent opportunity for the businesses in town to welcome in teachers and let them know what we have to offer," said business owner and Chamber of Commerce member Debbie Peltier.

Peltier, who provides notary work which is required for drop forms, joked, "so I know they are all looking forward to their retirement."
 

Parish rural area residents can expect the possibility of a knock on their doors between Aug. 9 and 17, as representatives from a research firm will pool 400 households to get input on residents' wants for parish recreation services.

The Ascension Parish Council has engaged the research firm Percy & Company of Baton Rouge to conduct a survey of 400 households in the rural areas of the parish. The survey is the lead a planning process for the parish Parks and Recreation Department.
 

Ascension Parish Farm Bureau president Maurice Gautreau accepts a four star award from Ronnie Anderson, president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation during the awards program at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention. Ascension Parish was recognized for outstanding program achievements.

The City Council approved spending an additional $130,000 for pavement work for the John Folse Boulevard infrastructure project.

The blueprint requires paving an area between the Industrial Park Drive roadway and a cargo dock at the Chef John Folse & Co. manufacturing facility.

Parish government is looking for public input on various programs or possible improvements to infrastructure, including a possible tax to fund such improvements.

Parish President Tommy Martinez plans to issue a public opinion poll in the near future to gauge the feelings of parish residents on issues such as purchasing the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, a parishwide wastewater treatment program and recreation improvements, among others.

During a check presentation Tanger recently awarded local schools participating in the TangerBucks fundraising program with generous donations. These schools are going to use the money to purchase an intercom system, computer software, library books, bleachers, fencing, die-cut and poster machine accessories, awards for the Positive Behavior Program, and to put towards an electric reader board! 

Ascension Consolidated Utilities District No. 1 awarded a project contract in the amount of $2.769 million upon the recommendation of its engineer Monday to construct water distribution facilities on the west bank of Ascension Parish.

Engineer Glenn Shaheen said the low bid came in $300,000 over budget.

For world-renowned Chef John Folse, Wednesday was more than just his own birthday.

Folse and his invited guests celebrated three birthdays in one day - the St. James native's 62nd birthday, the 30th anniversary of his Chef John Folse and Company food manufacturing and distribution operation and the ribbon cutting for his processing plant's recent expansion to triple the size of the facility.

The city council tabled a resolution after a public hearing calling for a special election for a half-cent sales tax during its regular meeting Tuesday.

The action came at the suggestion of John Rodgers, executive director of the city's Downtown Development District.

Rodgers said he felt additional time would be needed to inform city residents on details of the tax proposal by holding a series of public meetings.

Donaldsonville High School will host a meet and greet Aug. 4 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Businesses are asked to introduce themselves and show some of thier products that are available to be purchased by the staff.

Donaldsonville High School is a very intricate part of the Donaldsonville community.

Belle Co. LLC, based in Donaldsonville, applied for a permit to construct and operate an industrial and sanitary solid waste landfill in Oct. 1994, but it took a state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruling to force the state to grant the permit last week.

The project faces staunch opposition.

Gov. Piyush "Bobby" Jindal signed Senate Bill 212 July 2.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Grosse Tete, originally sought to dissolve the Louisiana Airport Authority. 

Ascension Parish Justice of the Peace Andrew Falcon, pictured with State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, recently completed the 2008 Justice of the Peace and Constable Training Course, sponsored by the State Attorney General’s Office, in Lake Charles. These annual training programs are required by law because of constant changes and variations in the Civil, Criminal, Special and Inherent Powers and Procedures of the Justice of Peace Jurisdiction and Court System in Louisiana. Justice Falcon has attended these Training Programs regularly for nearly 30 years.

The City Council awarded a contract to repair leaky natural gas lines downtown to Tullier Services LLC in the amount of $804,625 upon the recommendation of the low bid by Lynn Chance of the engineering firm Glen G. Shaheen & Associates Inc. for the $1.3 million project at its regular meeting Tuesday. 

Chance said repairs to Chetimatches, Lessard and St. Patrick Streets are contingent upon the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and could begin within 30-60 days.

Eugene "Gene" Auguillard was recently named the manager of the Donaldsonville Wal-Mart.

Auguillard has been with the company for 12 years and began as a management trainee in Mathews.

Dontrell Davis has gotten use to picking up litter. The Donaldsonville High School ROTC cadet participated in his third Stash the Trash Bash sponsored by the Downtown Development District June 14.

Davis said he does it to help the community and is sometimes surprised by the amount of litter.

“It depends on what day it is,” Davis said.

Davis was not alone as over 30 volunteers participated in the event, according to coordinator Tammy Dale.

The Louisiana Airport Authority Board held its final meeting Thursday.

Senate Bill 212, which initially sought to the dissolve the commission, and was passed 36-0 by the Senate, passed the House after amendments allowed the board to continue with new appointees on a lesser scale and transferred findings to the Department of Economic Development to complete studies to decide if a 25,000 acre cargo airport near Donaldsonville is feasible.

If renderings are not favored the board will be dissolved.

Weekly auto rail, with simple tips to keep your vehicle running its best, Car Q&A with Junior Damato and more.

There is an old expression that says, “People should work to live, not live to work.” That said, upon occasion, and within certain bounds, you should allow an employee’s personal life to take precedent over their job. The concept here is that if you have a good employee who is working through a difficult family, personal or health issue, you should help him or her out.

I own a 1986 Lincoln with only 118,000 miles. I only drive about 500 miles a year now. The car is always kept in a garage. I have been advised to use premium gasoline. What are your thoughts?