Lagniappe 9.75” w x 14” h 4C FP 4C
4 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
• BUSINESS • POLITICS • QUOTES Brad Goins
• OUTLOOK George Swift
• LEADERSHIP Ann Barilleaux
• THE PORT Matt Young
• EDUCATION • TRANSPORTATION Karla Wall
• REAL ESTATE R. Patrick Diamond
• THE ARTS Erica McCreedy
• TOURISM
YOU'RE READING the most substantial periodical published in the Lake Area in the course of the year — Lagniappe Magazine’s Annual Report.
A
rticles about the present that are built on extensive research and are bolstered with abundant facts and figures are the surest and clearest indicators of the life we’ll live in 2013 and the years that follow. A year’s worth of experience in economics, politics, education, transportation, tourism, the arts — the key facets of the community life we live — are meticulously analyzed and described in these pages. The rich picture of the economic world we inhabit at present is fleshed out by an in-depth report on the economic contribution of the Port of Lake Charles. You’ll also get the particulars about what’s involved in the “economic boom” that everyone’s talking about. Specifics about the projects and commentary about their impact renders the vague concept precise and easy to grasp. Everything you need to know about everything important is here. Full information about the present is the best guide we can have for the future. That information is provided in this report. Enjoy!
Angie Manning
• LCFD Laura Landry
• STATEWIDE • STATE TAXES John Maginnis
• THE SESSION Jeremy Alford
• ENVIRONMENT Frank X. Phillips
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 5
Lagniappe Magazine Serving SWLA Since 1983 Publishers Bob Hartnett Greg Pavlovich Editor Brad Goins Associate Editor Karla Wall Assistant Laura Landry Layout & Design Mike Manis Advertising Sales Tanya Alsobrook Patty Hebert Chester Rogers Office Phone (337) 433-8502 Office Fax (337) 433-8964 Mailing Address PO Box 3292 Lake Charles, LA 70602
ANNUAL REPORT EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISER INDEX 171 Nissan ....................................................................................9
Lake Area Industry Alliance....................................................67
AAA Drive-In Cleaners............................................................20
Lake Area Office Products.......................................................33
A Daisy A Day ...........................................................................53
Lake Charles Fire Department..................................................4
Airboat Rides...............................................................................4
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital..............................................3
Air Liquide...................................................................................7
Lake Charles Office Supply .....................................................29
Alamo Pest Control..................................................................68
Lakeside National Bank...........................................................42
Anu Works.................................................................................16
Mallard Cove.............................................................................72
Arabie Environmental .............................................................78
Market Basket...........................................................................47
ASI Office Systems ...................................................................62
Mark's Tree Service..................................................................59
BUSINESS
Athlete's Corner ........................................................................75
MB Rich Jewelry.......................................................................12
PAGE 10 By Brad Goins
Autoplex ...................................................................................58
M&C Oilfield .............................................................................49
Bayou Technologies`................................................................18
Mid City Auto Service...............................................................19
OUTLOOK
Bayou Wrecker & Towing........................................................75
M-Tec Rise...................................................................................7
PAGE 19 By George Swift
Beaumont Dental .....................................................................67
New Look Furniture / Cargo...................................................55
Beauregard Electric ..................................................................51
Nissan of Lake Charles...............................................................9
LEADERSHIP
Belts Plus....................................................................................61
Nissan of Silsbee.........................................................................9
PAGE 20 By Ann Barilleaux
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana.......................................27
Nobless Oblige ..........................................................................47
Bolton Ford ...............................................................................39
Oak Park Dental School of Dental Assisting............................7
THE PORT
Briley's Wrecker........................................................................70
O'Carroll Group.........................................................................71
PAGE 22 By Matt Young
Buddy's Casino..........................................................................41
Opelousas Music & Market .....................................................14
Business Health Partners.........................................................71
Our Lady's School.....................................................................26
POLITICS & QUOTES
Buy & Save.................................................................................37
Pampered Paws.........................................................................19
PAGE 30 By Brad Goins
Cal-Cam Termite & Pest Control....................21. 31, 33, 35, 37
Parker Brand Creative Services...............................................41
Capital One Tower Leasing.....................................................69
Popeyes......................................................................................32
EDUCATION
Castle Real Estate.....................................................................46
Port Aggregates.........................................................................25
Chateau du Lac .........................................................................63
Port of Lake Charles..................................................................15
Christus Home Health & Hospice..........................................45
Pumpelly Tire............................................................................77
City Savings Bank.....................................................................23
R. Alan Kite RV.........................................................................72
Clarke Insurance.......................................................................61
Rapid Response Restroration .................................................31
Contraband Days Louisiana Pirate Festival..........................59
River Oaks .................................................................................35
CSE Federal Credit Union .......................................................61
Roach Law Firm .......................................................................54
Dave McCarty State Farm .......................................................33
Safety Council of SWLA ..........................................................60
Deep South Crane ....................................................................38
Sanders Pediatric Dentistry ....................................................68
Delta Downs................................................................................2
Sasol ...........................................................................................57
Delta World Tire........................................................................71
Satellite Country..........................................................................7
Derenda Grubb.........................................................................47
Shaklee.......................................................................................62
Dewana Young..........................................................................39
Shangri La Gardens..................................................................72
Dr. Monlezun............................................................................54
Sleep Disorder Center of SWLA .............................................53
Evangeline Home Health........................................................26
Southwest Call Center..............................................................36
Falgoust Eye Medical & Surgical.............................................51
Southwest Louisiana Imaging ................................................44
Fireside Stone ...........................................................................43
Stan's Airboat ............................................................................16
First Federal Bank ....................................................................10
Steam & Process Repairs.........................................................73
First National Bank DeRidder................................................34
Steven Rice Ameriprise ...........................................................28
THE SESSION
First United Methodist Church ..............................................39
Surfaces Design Gallery...........................................................68
PAGE 64 By Jeremy Alford
Foret Flooring...........................................................................20
SWLA Economic Development Alliance...............................23
Fulair Wireless ..........................................................................61
SWLA Independence Center...................................................77
TRANSPORTATION
Gulf Coast Carpet Granite Outlet ...........................................48
SWLA Lawn & Landscape.......................................................35
PAGE 66 By Karla Wall
HHM Design.............................................................................75
Tarver Ford ...............................................................................79
Highway Ford On 171.................................................................9
Techtronics ...............................................................................20
OUT & ABOUT
Hot To Trot Crawfish & Restaurant .......................................31
Texas State Optical ...................................................................37
PAGE 72 Allen & Cameron Parish
Insurance Unlimited................................................................24
The Bank ....................................................................................17
Isle Of Capri..............................................................................80
The Humidor.............................................................................77
STATE TAXES
Joey Black / Origami Owl .......................................................26
Thermal Air Conditioning & Heating ....................................45
PAGE 74 By John Maginnis
Jo's Party House.......................................................................62
Townsley Law Firm..................................................................78
Jonathan Nutt Photography ...................................................73
Tub Docteur ..............................................................................43
ENVIRONMENT
Junior League of Lake Charles....................................12, 14, 52
Tracy's Sweets & Catering .......................................................53
PAGE 76 By Frank X. Phillips
JT's Seafood ..............................................................................45
Ultimate Tans ...........................................................................59
Khalid Taha Campaign ..............................................................4
Vamvoras, Schwartzberg & Hinch.........................................69
Kenny Fuselier & Co ................................................................60
Welsh Equipment.....................................................................59
Knight Media ............................................................................70
West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital..........................................11
PAGE 40 By Karla Wall
REAL ESTATE PAGE 46 By R. Patrick Diamond
THE ARTS PAGE 50 By Erica McCreedy
TOURISM PAGE 56 By Angie Manning
LCFD PAGE 62 By Laura Landry
STATEWIDE PAGE 63 By John Maginnis
L'Auberge...................................................................................13 6 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
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March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 7
8 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 9
Business Recovery Worth Waiting For In 2013, The Lake Area Finally Escaped From The Clutches Of The Great Recession BY BRAD GOINS
M
ere weeks after the bottom fell out of the real estate, auto sales and tourism markets, the boosters and joiners of the Lake Area began trumpeting economic recovery. We were, we were told, somehow skirting around the Great Recession —
avoiding the worst of it. And everybody and his pet dog was winning an award from Site Selection Magazine. In the meantime, your faithful economic correspondent was wondering, “What’s the rush?” After all, it was the only time in my life I’d heard the phrase “Great Recession.” It was obvious something big and unusual was going on. Recovery was going to take
a while. I might as well be patient, observe and learn. And at long last, recovery has come to the Lake Area — perhaps even a little sooner than I might have expected it to. It’s not a bursting at the seams recovery. But it’s a solid, steady recovery that’s going to be here for at least some time. Let’s look at the evidence for these cau-
tious claims that were reached in the full maturity of time. We’ll start by looking at a few charts. Some people are turned off by economic charts. They feel as if these charts are almost a form of mathematics or something. But I assure you, the charts have some valuable and interesting information in them. So just bear with me for a few continued
10 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
Business paragraphs of analysis. I expect we’ll have something a bit more interesting later in the story.
Taxable Sales In 2012, taxable sales fluctuated quite a bit up through November. But they always fell between $341 million to $390 million per month — in short, in a range of $50 million. The year ended with a bit of a bump that took sales over $400 million. Sales had briefly gone above the $400 million level in 2011. The difference was that in 2011, the range within which sales went up and down was much greater. For instance, at one point in 2011, sales dipped below $300 million. It was a simple matter. In 2012, a decreased range of sales meant an increased stability of sales. There was more positive sales news. Sales averages in 2012 began at a higher level than in 2011. What’s more, the 2012 average rose as the year went along. By the time the New Year of 2013 arrived, sales averages were sitting just continued
12 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
Business below those of the post-Hurricane Ike high times. The recovery in consuming, which is still the life blood of the American economy, had taken place in the Lake Area. Some categories of sales saw big gains. Most remarkable and dramatic was the steep climb in manufacturing sales. In the post-hurricane years, manufacturing sales in the Lake Area had flirted with the $70 million per month level. The 2012 average passed that figure early on, then shot up over $80 million a month, with the average drooping just a tad at the end of the year. The biggest single month was October, with a very noteworthy $92 million in manufacturing sales. Less dramatic, but still of interest, was the rise in food sales, which, unusually enough, had been on a steady rise since Rita. In the post-Rita period, food sales have risen almost 50 percent. That must be reflected in the astonishing number of restaurants in the Lake Area; it surely isn’t reflected in the recent struggling and closing of some of the relatively few supermarkets in the area. Motor vehicles sales continue to lag continued
The Episcopal Day School Gym is located at 803 N. Division Street in Lake Charles 14 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
behind sales in other categories. Still, auto sales have made a healthy recovery from the bottoming out of the industry in 2010 and early 2011. But auto sales have a ways to go if they are to get back to the post-Rita highs of $40 million (on average). But it may not be necessary for every segment of the economy to get back to post-Rita highs. In some fields, stability and a modest recovery may do well enough — at least until a somewhat more energetic recovery builds up steam.
jumping well over the 160 mark). Sales in 2012 would never dip back down in that 120 units terrain. The improvement was obvious. While Spring, 2012, was very close to Spring, 2011, in the last two quarters, 2012 pulled away, logging a total of 806 sales to 2011’s much less healthy 730. Housing sales experience fluctuation due continued
Employment Depending on the economist you ask, the unemployment rate in 2012 may offer even better news than the sales figures. In Sept. of 2012, the local unemployment rate fell a full point to 5.3 percent. That’s a good-enough rate even for non-recessionary times. But in November, the rate slid to 4.3, a rate that’s good any way you cut it. In terms of the rolling average, the unemployment rate that peaked in 2011 (at highs not seen since 1993) took a bumpy but significant decline. We’re now approaching our employment level of the post-Ike period. In terms of numbers of employees, the bottoming out came a little later than it did in the rolling average — at the end of 2011. But the employment recovery looked strong, most likely due to an October and November when more than 86,000 workers were employed in the area each month. These figures will probably continue to look good, though perhaps not as good as that 4.3 unemployment rate. (Changes in population growth or decline and other factors can create variables in the rates of employment and the numbers of workers employed.) As always, readers should be aware that the official unemployment rate measures only unemployed workers who are getting unemployment checks. Those who aren’t measured include the unemployed who never got unemployment; those whose unemployment has run out; those who are underemployed; and those who’ve given up looking for work out of discouragement. If you want to know all those numbers, you’ll have to do some studying.
Real Estate After half a dozen phone calls and emails, I got some local home sales figures I could sink my teeth into. My statistical savior was Marilyn Boudreaux at Century 21 Mike D. Bono and Co., who sent me all sorts of data about existing single family home sales in the Lake Charles Metro Area. The numbers were worth waiting for. Home sales in 2012 showed an easily recognized improvement over those of the previous year. The year 2011, while a relatively strong one, ended in territory well under 120 listings sold per month. While 2012 would flirt with that mark (at the very beginning and end), from Spring through Fall, the numbers were bouncing around between 140 and 160 houses sold per month (with May March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 15
Business to tax returns, weather and such. But in general, 2012 was a year of solid recovery — the first since the post-Rita period. As you may have read, the L.C. Metro housing market bottomed out in January, 2010, with a mere 66 sales in a month. That was more or less in keeping with what was going on in the rest of the country. Since that date, there’s been an up and down rise to a housing recovery. It’s not a robust recovery quite yet. But it’s a recovery. And the rate of building going on in parts of South Lake Charles is a sign the recovery is more robust than the sales numbers have indicated. As for existing homes sold in South Lake Charles, sales were as strong as one would have expected, with May, August and September of 2012 each producing more than 40 homes sold. While one would expect these housing prices to be high, they were in fact all over the board. In the strongest month, August, one home went for just $42,000. Most homes were in the mid to high $100,000s. As for the remainder, 12 were in the $200,000s; a total of 9 were in the $300,000; and two homes topped the $400,000 tag.
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Who’s Got The Casino? It’s not exactly true that the business news never stopped in 2012. But it went along at a pretty steady clip. One of the stories that had a lot of zip to it was the casino soap opera. Now, as you may know, while everyone was waiting around for the all-important groundbreaking at Mojito Pointe, the entire project was sold to Ameristar. It was reported that Dan Lee, who’d invested $16 million in the project, realized $32 million from the sale (obviously doubling his investment). It was a great deal for Lee. But all the locals who’d been dreaming for so long about those Mojito Pointe jobs kept on dreaming about the groundbreaking. In a while, we saw that construction began on Ameristar. But then … but then … Pinnacle bought Ameristar’s stock! Is that possible? I think so. I believe it happened. I didn’t dream it. So, do you follow me? Let’s take it step by step, just as if we were scoring a baseball game. First the Louisiana gaming license of Creative Casino of Louisiana, LLC (“Creative”) from Creative Casinos passes to Ameristar Casinos, LCC, Inc. (NASDAQ-GS: ASCA). Then Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:PNK) acquires all outstanding common shares of Ameristar Casinos, LCC, Inc. (hereinafter known as the party of the second part). And if Ameristar or whatever it’s called now doesn’t come through with the 2,000 new jobs it’s promised, you’ll learn all about it from Brad Goins, Uninc., ULC, FITB, YAA (FLUXUS:FNORD).
happens that projects that are promised don’t come about. When many are promised, several may not ever see the light of day. And if several aren’t realized, people who were counting on jobs may end up with nothing. I only mention that unpleasant state of affairs because I know that no other journalist or writer in the Lake Area will. So … consider it a teensy weensy cautionary note.
Let the boosters and joiners have their say. That’s the way of the world. But don’t break out the champagne for promises. Save the good champagne for the day when the boom really is here and you can see it and hear it. As I said, the big economic story is always just one story — the story of jobs. And as far as this boom goes, we already have some good news to report. The new
jobs for the new Sasol project — the biggest of the bunch — are already being announced and being filled. These jobs are real and here right now. More details on that to follow.
Setting The Stage We’ll look at the big projects that are set to come in. But first, let’s consider some of continued
The Biggest Story The biggest economic story of the year came late in 2012. The story was that the Lake Area was soon to be hit by a tremendous wave of business investment. The adjective used most often to describe this event was “massive.” It was to be a wave of investment that was unprecedented for a mid-size city, a Louisiana city, an American city and any city and place in recorded or unrecorded history. Lagniappe didn’t get quite as deeply into the story as the American Press, which ran front-page headlines on it every day. (And I do mean EH-VUH-UR-EE day.) Still, Lagniappe provided ample reportage of the big story. The cover headline of the Nov. 16 issue read, “We Cannot Tell A Lie: The Lake Area Is On The Verge Of An Epic Economic Boom.” One of the subheads read “Massive Upcoming Projects.” The biggest part of the story was that the influx of construction workers was supposed to put severe strains on the schools, infrastructure, housing, retail offerings and so forth. But the real economic story was what it always is and always must be — jobs, jobs, jobs. And that brings us to the only downbeat message in this bright-as-the-sun story. We adults all know that it sometimes March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 17
Business the conditions that make this influx possible. In its coverage of the great story, Lagniappe provided two business roundtables. These provided both insightful history about the new developments and solid, practical advice about how to respond to them. How did a place that’s just barely on the map become the destination of an investment boom? In one roundtable, Mayor Randy Roach explained that “we, as a community, decided not to fight the construction of LNG plants. We’re the only area in the nation, that I’m aware of, that did not fight LNG. We welcomed it and embraced it. … “People had no idea of exporting LNG; that wasn’t even on the map. They built those facilities to import natural gas. Now we’ll be exporting it from this area. We’ve become the LNG capital of the world … We’ve sent a very strong message that we’re not afraid of the energy industry and it’s something we accept.” George Swift of the SWLA ChamberEconomic Development Alliance also got in a history lesson, emphasizing that if we really do have an opportunity, we shouldn’t let The Good Old Boy Network and the Southwest Louisiana 40 deprive us of it. “We’ve had many opportunities through the years, like the Oil Center,” said Swift. “But too often we’ve let them slip through our fingers. We’ve missed opportunities. Now we’ve been given another shot, so let’s get it right this time.” As always, when there’s change in the petrochem and aeronautical industries, it’s necessary to synch up the local educational
18 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
offerings with the needs of new businesses. That’s an essential prerequisite for getting the maximum number of new jobs. Swift explained how it could be done: “You’re going to have to train people here who are unemployed or underemployed or just getting out of school. We need more capacity at Sowela and McNeese to train workers, and it’s counterproductive to be cutting funding for these educational institutions … “People can’t go straight from working retail to building airplanes or working in process technology at the plants. We’ve got to come up with ways that they can be trained for these new jobs while continuing to work in their current jobs — maybe online training, weekend courses or more night courses.” Larry DeRoussel of the Lake Area Industry Alliance emphasized what’s one of the most important job components of all: the two-year training program. “You have to get the word out to parents and get them excited about the idea of their highschool graduate going through a two-year program and getting a job,” said DeRoussel. Part of this project is the public realization that the four-year degree isn’t by any means the only game in town.
The Details And now, the details. You’ve read them 10 or 12 times; I guess you can read them one more time for me. Of course, the economic story that’s getting the most attention these days is the huge Sasol gas-to-liquids plant. (I’m sorry, but it’s just going to be necessary to use words such as “massive” or “huge” once in
a while in these stories.) We can cut to the chase on this one. The new jobs that are being listed at sasolcareers.us are being filled and are very, very real — right now. Some of these are Lake Charles jobs and some are Houston jobs that will eventually move to Lake Charles. Sasol expects it will take 7,000 construction workers to put it all together over a 5year period. The end result will be over 1,000 permanent jobs. When all is said and done, the Westlake project should produce 96,000 barrels of liquid product a day. Here are the specs on a few more projects on the roster: — In Spring, the area received word of a new $21 million hangar at Chennault that would bring with it 500 jobs. The hanger would handle such big planes as the Boeing 747 and 777 and the Airbus A340. — Sempra Energy has sought permission to begin a natural gas liquefaction and export operation at the Cameron LNG terminal in Hackberry. The project would create 3,000 construction jobs and 130 fulltime jobs after completion. — Cheniere Energy got approval for an operation at its terminal in Cameron Parish that would make the company the first large-scale gas exporter in the U.S. This operation would bring about 3,000 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs. First exports would go out in 2015. They could hit 1.7 billion cubic feet a day. Both of these facilities would chill natural gas into a liquid that would be shipped on tankers. — Chennault plans to revamp its taxiway. The $7-9 million project will be fund-
ed by both the FAA and the state. — Lake Charles Clean Energy, a subsidiary of Leucadia Corp., will work with the Port of Lake Charles in a project to produce industrial liquid and gas products from petroleum coke. The $2.5 billion project will mean 1,500 construction jobs and 165 permanent jobs. — Chevron and Lafayette’s Stone Energy should set records for the deepest oil wells ever drilled in Louisiana. And they’ll do it in Cameron Parish. The Lineham Creek project in the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge is set to go to a depth of 29,000 feet. — G2X Energy recently leased 200 acres from The Port of Lake Charles. This will eventually become a natural gas-to-gasoline project. Look for 243 new, high-paying, direct jobs down the line. — Magnolia LNG plans a $2.2 billion export facility for Port property. This one would mean 1,000 construction jobs and 45 permanent jobs. — Efforts to raise $60 to $70 million for the Hurricane Museum continue. And there’s plenty more where that came from. In particular, I recommend Matt Young’s article on Port of Lake Charles news elsewhere in this issue as well as the Port’s web site. It’s an exciting time to be in the Lake Area because it’s the site of a very rare opportunity for business and industry research. We’re all going to learn a lot about Louisiana business in the next few sessions. So charge up your laptops. School’s in session.
Outlook A Strong, Bright Future BY GEORGE SWIFT • PRESIDENT/CEO, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE
W
ith the national spotlight on Southwest Louisiana due to the recent series of high-profile, momentous development projects, the SWLA Economic Development Alliance has brought in Mac Holladay, CEO of Market Street Services, and Project Manager Christa Spaght, to help us align our fiveparish strategic plan with these recent and amazing developments. Holladay, who is a long-term chamber and economic development leader, says he has never heard of so many large projects in one area. He pointed out that we are unlike most areas, which are still fighting high unemployment and a questionable future. Both Holladay and Spaght held focus groups with elected and private officials to inform us and help shape our updated plan. At the Chamber Business Expo, Secretary Stephen Moret of Louisiana Economic Development stated that our region will lead Louisiana in an economic renaissance. Moret pointed out that an average automobile plant would be about a $2 billion project, and the Sasol project alone is the equivalent of our region having 10 auto plants coming. Moret challenged us to find additional industrial sites and train and prepare our local folks for the high-paying
jobs that are coming. In Site Selection magazine, our region has three of five of the top projects listed as U.S. Giants. These are: 1. Sempra Cameron LNG at Hackberry: $6 billion 2. Sasol Ethane Cracker Project: $4.3 billion 3. Magnolia LNG: $2.2 billion. And that didn’t include the Sasol gasto-liquids plant, which could range from $16-21 billion by itself. (Business Facilities Magazine has also been tracking our tremendous growth and awarded our region the Silver Award for the largest private sector investment for a single industrial project in U.S. history for Sasol.) To take advantage of the major industrial projects, we will have to invest in some pretty basic stuff, such as new roads, bridges and schools. We will need apartments and single-family homes. And to handle the residential growth, we will need water and sewerage in place. Recently, I was reviewing a 1992 study which basically stated that before our region could grow, there would need to be water and sewerage in the unincorporated areas. The parish is tackling the problem, but it is costly and takes time. In addition to working on the infrastructure, we will need to train workers for
the thousands of jobs to be filled. The opportunities for careers will be here in great numbers. Just as the petrochemical plants have done for this area for several generations, we will be able to provide careers and good incomes for families.
We are surrounded by opportunity. I firmly believe we succeed as one region, working together. In order to do so, we must find a way to increase the capacity at Sowela Technical Community College and McNeese State University. The announcement by Gov. Jindal of a $20 million Worker Training center at Sowela is a huge step in getting this training underway. To fill these jobs, we will need to train the unemployed and the under-employed and attract new workers to our area. We also need to keep our young people here. That’s why the Alliance has a number of efforts to make our region more
attractive to recent graduates. We call it our Next Generation Initiative. It is funded by L’Auberge Casino Resort. When we first discussed this effort with Keith Henson of L’Auberge, he quickly saw the need not only for his staff, but for our entire area. Every day, I hear someone bemoaning the fact that their children or grandchildren live elsewhere. One of the things that will help keep them here or get them back and attract new residents is to have rewarding careers for them. But it is just as important to have amenities, entertainment, and a high quality of life. We are also working to raise awareness of the importance of agriculture and timber in our region and of our cultural economy; and are preparing future generations by placing The Leader In Me process into our area’s elementary schools, which will bring out the best in each child and give them the confidence to be the best that they can be. We are surrounded by opportunity. I firmly believe we succeed as one region, working together. The more divided we are, the less we all achieve. At the Alliance, we embrace any approach that results in shared success for our region. We are at a turning point: more of the same or a stronger region and a better life for all. How you and I respond to the challenge will determine the future.
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 19
Leadership Southwest
Training Our Future Leaders BY ANN BARILLEAUX
O
ur region is only as strong as its leadership. And for 29 years, the SWLA Alliance’s Leadership Southwest Program has been enhancing the quality of leadership in Southwest Louisiana. Started as a program to provide a better understanding of the five parishes that make up Southwest Louisiana, Leadership Southwest has become the premiere program in which current and future leaders develop and hone their skills, and determine his or her vital role in the advancement and success of the region. By offering this program, the Alliance recognizes that the future growth and development of Southwest Louisiana
is tied directly to the quality and voluntary contributions of its leadership. Through active participation in the sessions, participants not only develop leadership skills, but also establish a connection among emerging and existing leaders, gain a deeper understanding of our five-parish region, and expand their knowledge of the intergenerational business community. There is currently a network of 550 alumni representing business, government, education, clergy, non-profit organizations, the arts and other vital areas of the community. Bart Yakupzack, 2012 Leadership Southwest Chair and 2006 participant, says, “The opportunity to experience this program with 27 other people interested in the community and its success is incredible. Classes represent a
cross-section of the total community and, year after year, classmates forge lasting connections with one another.” The program begins each January and meets for 10 experience-based sessions, aligned with the focus of the Alliance. Participants have exclusive access to leading industry experts in the fields of economic development, politics, infrastructure, education and civic engagement. Through panel discussions, guest speakers, interactive presentations, and peer discussions, participants are guided through the discovery of the key regional dynamics and the vital role leadership plays in sustaining and enhancing our community. “A society simulation activity is the opening act of the Leadership SWLA
experience, which, for me, was an absolute eye-opener,” recalls Yakupzack. “The activity sparked my interest and became a key ingredient in understanding how the five parishes that make up Southwest Louisiana interact with one another and how important leadership is to the future of our communities.” Class members graduate with practical information concerning community problems and issues and are motivated to increase their involvement. If you are interested in furthering your potential, consider applying for the 2014 Leadership Southwest Louisiana class. The Alliance will begin accepting applications in June. Apply online at allianceswla.org.
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20 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 21
The Port Benefits For The Region Port of Lake Charles Continues To Create Jobs And Spur Economic Development BY MATT YOUNG
A
cross the world, the turbulent waters of the economy have rocked the boat throughout the shipping industry. However, the Port of Lake Charles continues to grow, navigating through difficult waters with new projects, equipment upgrades, and a recent convoy of industrial announcements occurring on its property.
Success In A Year Of Uncertainty Ask William J. Rase, executive director of the Port of Lake Charles, about last year’s budget predictions, and he’ll tell you the Port had anticipated a $1.5 million operating loss. Despite this, the Port finished 2012 with a $2.7 million surplus. Rase credits a successful financial turnaround to outstanding leadership from the board of commissioners and employees willing to tighten their belts. He says the port’s loyal, team-minded customers, and the Calcasieu River Ship Channel, have helped keep cargo flowing and bring in new business. “Maintaining a diverse shipping industry is an important part of weathering the economic storm,” said Rase. “We must ensure the Port is engaged in recruiting a variety of tenants who transport a large mix of cargo.”
Keeping The Channel Clear The Calcasieu River Ship Channel was formed by channelization of the Calcasieu River from Lake Charles to the Gulf of Mexico — 36 miles — and an additional 32 miles out into the Gulf. The channel was created to provide deepwater access for maritime commerce. An ongoing challenge is securing necessary funding for channel maintenance. The Port of Lake Charles is not just important, but is absolutely crucial to supplying the nation’s energy needs; keeping the channel open for trade is a top priority. 22 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
“The channel is maintained by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, with the port serving as local sponsor for the state,” said Rase. “The channel is greatly responsible for our region’s thriving energy corridor, and the Port has played a crucial role in this community’s economic development since opening its first wharf and transit shed in 1926. In 2012 alone, major announcements from Ameristar, Lake Charles Clean Energy, Sasol, G2X, and now Magnolia LNG have been due in part to the Calcasieu River Ship Channel.” Harry Hank, president of the Port of
Lake Charles board of commissioners, said “The ship channel is important not just for Southwest Louisiana, but for the entire country. This waterway is the carrier of 7.5 percent of the nation’s daily oil consumption and handles 58 million tons of cargo annually.” Dozens of Port of Lake Charles tenants and customers benefit from the Calcasieu River Ship Channel. Those include Alcoa, Ameristar, Arrow Terminals, BG Americas and Global LNG, Cal Western Packaging, Citgo, Crowley Marine, Dynamic Industries, Farmers Rice Mill, Federal Marine
Terminals, Firestone, Foss International, Francis Drilling Fluids, Gearbulk, Geo Specialty Chemicals, Halliburton, IFG Port Holdings, James J. Flanagan, Lake Charles Clean Energy, Lake Charles Stevedores, Leevac Industries, LouisDreyfus Corp., Louisiana Pigment, Louisiana Rice Mill, Phillips 66, Pinnacle Entertainment, Port Aggregates, Reid and Co., Sam’s, Sasol, Sempra Energy, Shaw Modular Solutions, Talen’s Marine, Trunkline LNG, Union Pacific Railroad and USDA. continued
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 23
The Port A Year Of Giant Project Announcements The Port’s properties, which are scattered along the Calcasieu Ship Channel and nearby, are more than just cargo terminals. They provide facilities for dozens of tenant companies that generate jobs and dollars for the area economy. According to Rase, the Port must be run
like a business, and it operates for the benefit of the public, bringing economic development and jobs to the area. In the past 12 months, four major industrial announcements have been made, and ground has been broken on a fifth project. The impact of Ameristar, Lake Charles Clean Energy, Sasol, G2X and Magnolia will benefit the region for a very long time. Initial reports estimate a total of 15,000 to 18,000 construction jobs for the combined projects, in addition to an estimated 14,500 permanent direct and indirect jobs. The 2012 announced projects along the channel represent a capital investment estimated at between $22.5 and $27.5 billion. Many of the announcements received national media recognition due to the size and significance of the projects. Certainly, many of these would have never come to fruition without the efforts of the Port’s staff and commissioners, along with several other key players, including the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and Louisiana Economic Development.
Ameristar Casino Breaks Ground On Port Property In July 2012, Ameristar broke ground on its ninth casino, Ameristar Casino Resort and Spa in Lake Charles. The resort complex, representing a $500 million capital investment on Port property, will include a 700-room luxury hotel with 70 suites, an 18-hole golf course, a tennis club, swimming pools and a spa. At the groundbreaking, Ameristar CEO Gordon Kanofsky told spectators, “We like to under-promise and overdeliver. We are going to get it done.” The project represents the state’s last riverboat casino license. Pinnacle Entertainment announced in December its plans to purchase Ameristar Casinos’ portfolio of properties. The deal between the two companies was reported to be for $869 million, merging the two companies into a much more powerful entity. It would double the size of Pinnacle Entertainment, giving the company more than 5,000 hotel rooms, 23,500 slot machines, 640 table games and nearly 16,000 new employees on a total of 17 gaming properties nationwide. The deal, which will have to be approved in the nine states where Ameristar was operating, should be completed by mid-2013. Pinnacle’s CEO Anthony Sanfilippo said his company would complete the construction of Ameristar’s $500 million resort in Lake Charles, which broke ground last summer. The resort is set to open in the third quarter 2014.
Port Secures Contract With Clean Energy Plant In October 2012, the Port of Lake Charles secured a $2.5-billion first-incontinued 24 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
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The Port the-nation gasification plant project to be located on port property and adjacent to the port’s bulk cargo handling facility known as Bulk Terminal-1 (BT-1). The Port of Lake Charles partnered with Lake Charles Clean Energy (LCCE), a subsidiary of Leucadia Corp., through a 25-year operating agreement. To be able to efficiently handle the large volume of new cargo, the Port’s facilities will be reconfigured and improved at an estimated cost of $100 million. LCCE has concluded several major long-term commercial offtake contracts — up to 25 years each — with three major companies, including British Petroleum Products North America (BP), one of the top five refiners in the U.S. These purchase contracts represent a major step on the path to groundbreaking for this first-of-its-kind processing facility. Construction on the new plant is expected to commence by mid- 2013. Through an operating agreement with LCCE, the Port of Lake Charles will provide cargo-handling services to unload and deliver petroleum coke and other materials needed for the plant operation. The port will also load trucks, railcars, barges and ships with LCCE’s liquid
26 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
products for transportation to the plant’s customers. The impact of this project on port operations will be significant: it will double the cargo tonnage handled at BT-1 to 6 million tons annually, and will require cargo handling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Fortunately, the Port is in a position to move quickly to take care of the infrastructure and operational needs that will
make this project happen,” said Rase. The new project will bring a $2.5-billion capital investment and nearly 1,500 construction jobs for an estimated three years. When completed, the plant will create 165 permanent jobs, paying highly competitive wages and benefits for those trained in petroleum technology and other training programs offered at local educational institutions. In addition, the operation of the LCCE plant will require
50 new full-time employees at the Port of Lake Charles for loading and unloading related cargos. “This new state of the art plant is a total win-win-win,” said Hank, president of the Port of Lake Charles board of commissioners. “Southwest Louisiana’s economy and the Port will benefit for a very long time from this project that creates badly needed jobs for our area by using innovative green technology to
economically produce useful products for numerous manufacturing and production facilities throughout the United States.”
Sasol To Invest Up To $21 Billion In Complex Sasol CEO David Constable announced in December 2012 that his company planned to invest between $16 and $21 billion in an integrated gas-toliquids and ethane cracker complex in Westlake. The project is expected to create 1,253 direct jobs paying an average salary, at full employment, of nearly $88,000, plus benefits. It will result in an additional 5,886 new, indirect jobs, for a total of more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs. Sasol will also retain 435 existing direct jobs in Westlake as a result of the project. The Port of Lake Charles played a role in the Sasol project by helping locate and secure the 650-acre site near the Port. Port officials also provided key assistance in helping Sasol secure options to buy the property that will make the project possible. “Sasol’s expansion in Lake Charles is a significant and welcomed addition to Southwest Louisiana’s energy corridor,” said Rase. “Not only will it produce clean energy products, but it will also energize Louisiana’s economy, and specifically the economic development of Southwest Louisiana. The Port of Lake Charles commissioners and Port staff appreciate the opportunity to have been involved in securing this project.” The project represents one of the largest foreign direct investment manufacturing projects in the history of the entire United States. Once the project is complete, the facility will also become the largest economic driver in Southwest Louisiana, and Sasol will become one of the top 10 economicdriver companies in the entire state. According to Dr. Loren Scott, professor emeritus of economics at LSU, Sasol’s facility will be the single largest manufacturing investment in Louisiana history.
infrastructure and cooperative assistance, as well as the state’s business climate,” said Rase. “The product can be distributed by pipeline to U.S. markets and by ship to foreign markets.” Helping to secure the project, Louisiana Economic Development offered a $5-million performance-based grant for infrastructure improvements at the Port, including an access road, utilities and a dock facility. continued
G2X Energy Chooses Port For New Facility In January, Port of Lake Charles Commissioners approved an option for a long-term lease agreement on 200 acres with G2X Energy, a Houston-based energy company that plans to build a $1.3 billion natural gas-to-gasoline facility on Port property located across from Calcasieu Point Landing on the Industrial Canal. The G2X Energy project is expected to create 243 new direct jobs, resulting in an estimated 748 new indirect jobs. According to the company, the direct jobs will pay an average salary of $66,500 plus benefits. “The Port of Lake Charles property was chosen for the new energy project due to its refined logistics, transportation March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 27
The Port Should groundbreaking begin in mid2014, G2X expects construction to span three years, leading to an estimated completion date in mid-2017.
Magnolia LNG To Locate On Port Property In March 2013, Magnolia LNG
received the go-ahead from the port to lease 90 acres to build a $2.2 billion export facility that will produce 4 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas per year. The property is located adjacent to Calcasieu Point Landing on the Industrial Canal. Construction is expected to begin in 2015, pending construction and federal permits. Maurice Brand, Magnolia LNG managing director and joint chief executive director, said the project will create 70 to
80 new permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs. “Southwest Louisiana’s attractive infrastructure and strong workforce made Lake Charles an ideal location for our planned facility,” Brand said. “We especially want to thank the Port of Lake Charles Commission for their partnership in identifying such an ideal location for this project.” Magnolia’s project would be positioned for direct access to several exist-
ing gas pipelines. Using its patented Optimized Single Mixed Refrigerant process, or OSMR, Magnolia LNG would produce liquefied natural gas more efficiently and with fewer emissions than other LNG processes. OSMR adds conventional combined heat and power technology with industrial ammonia refrigeration to enhance the performance of the liquefaction process. Magnolia LNG would distribute to domestic markets as well as countries that have free trade agreements with the United States. The company will also explore a potential expansion to 8 million metric tons a year in the future.
Port Aims To Be One Of Ten Busiest The Port of Lake Charles is currently ranked the 14th-busiest seaport district in the U.S. by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. With all the industrial growth coming down the pipe, it’s hard to doubt the viability of the Port as a serious contender for the Top Ten. Besides bringing more business to the area, the Port of Lake Charles commissioners and staff have focused on increasing efficiency and adding cargo-
The Port is focused on increasing efficiency and adding cargohandling capacity in order to better prepare for the future. handling capacity in order to better prepare for the future. New improvements include a loop track system that allows lengthy unit trains (up to 120 cars) to be unloaded and processed for shipping. Also, a master plan has been formulated for BT-1, where bulk-cargo opportunities come fast — and require a rapid response to take care of customers’ needs. Rase adds, “We are always striving to crack the Top Ten, and considering the growth expected in the next five years, along with the efficiency we’ve prepared for, I believe we have a very strong shot at being included in that list.” The Port of Lake Charles encompasses 203 square miles in Louisiana. It owns and operates two marine terminals and two industrial parks. A seven-member board of commissioners oversees it. Current commissioners are Harry Hank, John LeBlanc, Elcie Guillory, Barbara McManus, Daryl Burckel, Dudley Dixon and Walter Sanchez. For more information on the Port of Lake Charles, call 439-3661 or visit www.portlc.com. 28 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
The Port Reflecting On Nine Years Of Service To The Lake Charles Harbor And Terminal District BY HARRY C. HANK
W
ow! Has it really been nine years? Seems like yesterday when retired Vista plant manager John Friend, a newly-appointed port commissioner, failed to get Senate confirmation because of the governor’s administration switch from Mike Foster to Kathleen Blanco. John would have been the first-ever Port of Lake Charles commissioner with a background in local industry. I was approached by thenRepresentative Ronnie Johns to fill the vacancy. After talking it over with my wife, Nancy, I reluctantly agreed to fill the unexpired term. My thinking was that would be all — but I have now served two additional four-year terms, and wish that I was eligible for another. I thank now-Senator Johns and my late wife for their encouragement. Serving on the port board has been a highly rewarding experience for me. I knew very little about the port in 2004. Like most people in the general public, I thought the port activities were solely at City Docks at the end of Shell Beach Drive, where ships are loaded. Of course, nothing could be fur-
ther from the truth. The port is the primary economic engine for Southwest Louisiana. All of the press about the port, leading up to the dissolution of the board by the governor in 2003, was bad and getting worse when I took office. I wasn’t at all sure what I was getting into. Happily, I found out that the legislators had done a great job of putting together a new board with individuals who were ethical, bright, and sincerely interested in making the best decisions for the port and the community. They were working together well with the interim port director, Dennis Stine. As I have already mentioned, the legislators made all the nominations when the new board was formed in 2003. The terms were staggered, and as board members were replaced, the prior format of having different political bodies responsible for four of the nominations was reinstituted. The four entities are the Lake Charles and Westlake City Councils, and the Calcasieu and Cameron Police Juries. I can honestly say that not one new member has come onto the port board with a subversive agenda. Being involved with economic development efforts has been the single most
exciting activity for me. The new casino resort took several different forms over time, and would never have become a reality without the efforts of the port. Other significant projects such as Shaw, Cameron LNG, Lake Charles Clean Energy (Leucadia), IFG and, more recently, Sasol, G2X Energy and Magnolia LNG all involved the use of port property. The investment in these projects and the jobs provided will fuel unprecedented growth for our area. From a personal standpoint, the IFG project has been special. The goal of the project is to move millions of tons of grain from the USA to African countries through the Port of Mombasa, Kenya. Several years ago then-port director Adam McBride and I traveled to Mombasa to see the terminal and meet the owner-operators. They have a very nice operation, and the project has been funded and is currently under construction in Lake Charles. I feel that I played a particularly important role in the success of this project. The Port of Lake Charles is a member of the Ports Association of Louisiana (PAL) and the American Association of Ports Authorities (AAPA). Through these
organizations there are various conferences and seminars annually. I enjoyed attending these and learning from them, especially learning about other port operations and hearing how other boards of commissioners function. The Port of Lake Charles has a strong board of commissioners, a solid executive director in Bill Rase III, a willing and able staff, and an excellent chief counsel in Mike Dees. The future is bright for the port and therefore for Southwest Louisiana. As for me, my final term will end on May 29, 2013. I will channel some of my time and energy to the United Way Board, as well as the McNeese Athletic Foundation Board and, of course, to my real passion, which is supporting the McNeese tennis program. Who knows? I may even find a way to stay in touch with what is going on at the Port of Lake Charles on a regular basis. Harry C. Hank is president of the Board of Commissioners of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, which operates the Port of Lake Charles.
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 29
Politics Watching The Tide Roll Away In 2012, Gov. Bobby Jindal Could Have Seen The Tide Turn Against Him … If He Hadn’t Been Out Of State Campaigning BY BRAD GOINS
I
n 2012, federal elections were a bigger story than in most election years. It seemed to everyone who followed politics that the national election was a referendum on Tea Party politics or evangelical Republican politics or whatever phrase one wanted to use to describe the ultra-conservative politics that had co-opted the Republican Party after 2008. On the other hand, there was the choice of whatever was meant by the word “Forward.” What “Forward” had going against it was that it was the vaguest and blandest political slogan in modern memory. What it had going for it was that it could mean anything. A key point about “Forward” is that whatever it was, what it wasn’t was a political platform. Thus it was that the 2012 federal elections weren’t so much a choice between two distinct political positions as they were a national judgment about a particular Republican position — one that many felt was located at the far end of the spectrum. You’d think that such a situation would leave Louisiana out of the picture. After all, the state had swung about as far to the right as a state could swing. It certainly wasn’t going to vote for “Forward.” One congressman, Cedric Richmond, was the sole Democrat who won federal office in the state in 2012. But against all odds, Louisiana popped up again and again in stories about the race for the presidency and other federal races in 2012.
Jindal
Landry Tea A Little Weak
Lack Of Traction Of course, the most obvious reason for this was Gov. Bobby Jindal’s ambitions for national office. When Jindal backed presidential candidate, and Texas governor, Rick Perry very early in 2012, some said it was just the latest chapter in Jindal’s history of backing losers. More circumspect observers may have 30 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
seen the move as a way for Jindal to cement ties with Texas and distance himself from Mitt Romney — a candidate that Republicans of Jindal’s ilk may have felt “wasn’t conservative enough.” (Of course, those who followed the news closely learned a little ways down the line that Jindal had perhaps been a little too emphatic in letting Romney know that he’d be all too happy to run for VP in 2012.) Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, who garnered far more media attention than public support, also kept the sate in presidential election news. With all the hubbub about Jindal’s national political ambitions, some people forgot Roemer was running for president. Many more never knew it. Roemer tried to broaden his appeal by doing such things as expressing sympathy with the objectives of the Occupy Movement. Prominent political satirist Stephen Colbert publicized the Roemer candidacy. After Romney started stacking up delegate committals, Roemer switched from Republican to Independent. All of it was to no avail. Colbert even wound up passing Roemer in number of votes as a candidate for the America Elect party. In spite of a very innovative campaign, Roemer simply failed to gain traction. He never got past a 5 percent rate of support.
Roemer
Louisiana also became more deeply involved in the federal election than one would have anticipated because Tea Party-style politics began to show some slippage in one of the most politically conservative states of the union. This phenomenon was central to Southwest Louisiana’s political story, as Tea Party poster boy Jeff Landry went down in flames to the district’s congressman Charles Boustany. Although Boustany is quite conserva-
Boustany
tive, in the present climate he’s considered a moderate (or even a RINO — a Republican “in name only” who’s “too liberal”). In the year 2012, the term “RINO” was often in the mouth of Landry’s most powerful backer, Sen. David Vitter. In the end, Southwest Louisiana voters saw how little that support mattered. Some political junkies may follow Vitter’s 2013 comments to see whether the term “RINO” drops out of them. Any time a Tea Party candidate is running, you expect to get at least a little soupcon of freaky in the election. Landry didn’t disappoint. Landry somehow managed to get George Birnbaum, a former chief of staff of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to work as a spokesman. Birnbaum accused Boustany of trying to “impose” peace in the Middle East. Imagine that. Trying to impose peace. Boustany called Birnbaum “a political hack.”
Boustany beat Landry by a comfortable 22 points in the run-off. And in 2013, everybody is talking about Landry running for senator. Don’t ask me to explain it.
The Tea Party of Lafayette tried to help Landry by running an ad that said Boustany supports “80 percent” of Obamacare, which, the Tea Party said, continued
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 31
Politics contains “death panels.” Somebody somewhere should have known that wasn’t the kind of talk that was going to win elections in 2008 — even in Louisiana. And nobody ran an ad that said this: When a right-wing ideologue runs against a moderate Republican and no Democrat, the fringe dweller loses. In the
run-off, Boustany won by an exquisitely comfortable 22 points. (And in 2013, everybody is talking about Landry running for senator. Don’t ask me to explain it.)
Laugh Riot The Birnbaum-Landry story was a little funny in a gallows humor kind of way. But the laugh riot of the BoustanyLowry race came right out of Calcasieu
Parish. The Calcasieu Republican Party made it clear that this parish will not be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The Party went rogue and Tea Party and all the rest of it and endorsed Jeff Landry over hometown favorite Dr. Boustany. In my “Up Front” column I suggested that maybe somebody has slipped some hallucinogens into the prune juice. The Calcasieu Party’s oafish move
Landry
infuriated old school Republicans in the parish and did nothing to stave off defeat for Landry. I guess if the Calcasieu Republican Party needs anything from Boustany in the next two years, it can always ask Jeff Landry for it.
Never So Wisely Observed Or Poorly Expressed It took Jindal exactly one day — election day — to figure out that there’d been a sea change. Jindal began laying out his bold new vision of the Grand Old Party in an interview with Politico. This was the same interview in which Jindal had the bright idea of advising Republicans to “stop being the stupid party.” In coming years, we’ll see how those words haunt him and continue to try to remember to look up who his speech writer is. “We cannot be, we must not be, the party that simply protects the rich so they get to keep their toys …” said Jindal in a post-election interview with Politico. “[Republicans must] stop reducing everything to mindless slogans, tag lines, 30second ads that all begin to sound the same.” Well, that last part made Republicans sound like pretty much every other political party in existence. But the part about rich people’s toys showed that Jindal had caught the mood of the electorate. How he’s going to quit going toy-shopping for the rich without raising their taxes at all is what we’ll see as Jindal moves into his new job as head of the Republican Governors Assoc. in 2013.
What’s To Like? Election news ran all through the year in 2012. As such, it overshadowed another huge state political story. At some point during the year, the tide turned against Jindal. The change was fast, statewide and large-scale. Why did the public go sour on Jindal in 2012? There was lots not to like. Even people who don’t follow current events came to see why the governor’s detractors call him Jindlong. Let’s start working our way through the laundry list. If it hadn’t been universally known before, it became known in 2012. The governor takes revenge seriously. In 2012, when an elected official in Louisiana expressed opposition to a Jindal position he lost his job (if Jindal 32 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
could swing that) or a post on a committee or board. Political analyst Jeremy Alford summed up the stories of a few of the casualties: “When they questioned Jindal’s education plan, Rep. Jim Morris lost his vice chairmanship of the House National Resources Committee and Rep. Harold Ritchie lost his vice chairmanship of the House Insurance Committee. Of the others punished were Martha Manuel, who was axed as head of the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, and Rep. Joe Harrison, pulled from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.” After saying Louisiana legislators now describe Jindal as “vengeful and petty and domineering,” Alford wrote “Jindal has excelled at the revenge game, bringing it to levels unseen since the days of the Kingfish.” Moss Bluff resident and longtime area politician Vic Stelly beat Jindal to the punch and resigned from the state’s Board of Regents. When he resigned, Stelly mentioned the half a billion in cuts to higher education that had been made under Jindal (although he didn’t use the words “under Jindal”). After this move, Stelly was free to say what he thought about Jindal’s behavior in Baton Rouge. In an interview with the Associated Press, Stelly said, “He’s very self-serving. All the so-called reforms, it’ll be years down the road before we know if they amount to anything, I don’t
think they will.” But it wasn’t just an obsession with political revenge on Jindal’s part that was the problem. While Jindal expected the Legislators to rubber stamp his big programs, he refused to give lawmakers the time of day. Lawmakers kept waiting to get invited into the governor’s confidence and office. Eventually, they got tired of waiting. “The controversy goes deeper to the deteriorating relationship between Jindal and Co. and state legislators, who complain that the administration doesn’t involve them in policy matters and Stelly doesn’t always shoot straight with them when it does,” wrote state political analyst John Maginnis in a Nov. 15 column in which he called Jindal’s treatment of the Legislature “dumb politics.” “The governor would have an easier time getting legislators to do what he wants if he treated them better than serfs,” wrote Maginnis. “He could, for instance, give them a couple of days notice instead of a couple of hours, before announcing closures and layoffs in their districts.”
Money For Some Things, Not For Others As more and more middle class Louisianans who had once supported Jindal struggled to pay for tuition continued
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 33
Politics increases or pay doctor bills, the public as a whole began to sense that education and health care had fallen victim to a slash and burn policy during the Jindal years. Once the awareness was there, the move to stop it came on strong. While Jindal once again had a hard time finding the money for higher ed and health care, it was, apparently, easier for
him to find money for stuff he wanted. For instance, Jindal and the Legislation found the ability to give Tom Benson and the Hornets a $3.5 million incentive. Jindal still wouldn’t raise taxes — or wouldn’t raise anything that would be called a tax. But he would take out loans. For instance, in the 2012 session, the administration took out loans to enable the Legislature to spend $325 million on “rural roads.” It did this at a time when the state budget was $211 million in the
red. And — in a very controversial development — Jindal found the money to give his favorite employees astronomical pay raises. When Jindal made Paul Rainwater the Commissioner of Administration, he bumped the old Commissioner of Administration’s salary — $167,000 — up to $204,000. It’s good to be the prince. Far and away the most shocking and widely reported story of this type was
Jindal’s choice to give his buddy Tim Barfield the post of revenue secretary with a salary of $250,000. That was more than double the salary of Barfield’s predecessor. All of this high hatting was going on at a time when one poll (from Southern Media and Opinion Research — SMOR) showed that 86 percent of Louisiana voters opposed a salary of more than $175,000 for any state worker.
And The Cuts … And then, of course, there were the cuts. John Maginnis suggested that the latest cut to the LSU-run system of public hospitals — $322 million as of August, 2012 — “marks the beginning of its end.” Accompanying the cuts was Jindal’s decision to pass up loads of federal health care money that was ready at hand. It was Jindal’s unilateral decision to give up $300 million in federal dollars in Medicaid money — a decision he’s now trying to backtrack on. Jindal actually had the nerve to write Obama and ask the president to sit down and talk this matter over with Jindal. For some reason, the president hasn’t gotten around to it. In Jindal’s first year as governor, Louisiana was $1 billion over budget. In the four years that followed, the state has faced a budget deficit each go-around. In 2012, the populace finally looked around and saw the smoking financial ruins everywhere. Even the conservative Baton Rouge Business Report was sickened by the cumulative waste and destruction. It weighed in with this assessment from executive editor J.R. Ball: “Jindal and the Legislature are systematically destroying the very institutions that give birth to knowledge, research and creativity. So while tax breaks and corporate incentives are great, there’s no tax break or corporate incentive big enough to overcome stupid.” Jindal’s approval ratings went into freefall. They were down to 50 percent by fall, 2012, and are continuing to drop. And most are convinced that Jindal couldn’t care less for the simple reason that he’s fixated on holding national office.
The Coalition Of The Political Status Quo, Baton Rouge Chapter Jindal’s proposals to change the state’s educational system didn’t get much national attention since they were virtually identical to the other education overhauls that have been undertaken in almost every red state. Under Jindal’s 2012 changes — rubber-stamped by an utterly submissive Legislature — teacher tenure was severely curtailed. The best students in low-performing public schools were allowed to transfer to private schools via vouchers. And the privatization of everything that includes matter, no matter and anti-matter was advanced. The press routinely called the changes 34 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
“reforms” without being prodded to (in what was an excellent example of what journalism professors call “self-censorship”). In spite of this, the Jindal administration used its strong-arm tactics to try to coerce the Louisiana press into lockstep support of Jindal’s changes. For a time, Jindal mouthpiece Aaron Baer sent out a series of daily emails critiquing Louisiana newspaper editorials that disagreed with or challenged parts of Jindal’s proposal. The emails even targeted editorials that merely raised questions about the policies. In a moment of supreme political silliness, Baer devoted an entire email to attacking an American Press editorial. Old timers in Louisiana media must have found their jaws dropping at the prospect of such ham-headed moves against a diehard ultra-conservative paper. Baer worked the doublethink vocabulary, calling Jindal’s vouchers “opportunity scholarships” and those who support “liberal” teacher benefits “the Coalition of the Status Quo.” Even many supporters of Jindal’s education bills were uneasy about the speed with which the measures moved through the Legislature. “Regardless of how one judged Jindal’s education agenda,” wrote John Maginnis, “passing so many major changes in so short a time with so few compromises was a feat of executive willpower over the legislative branch, which resembled a twig.” Well, it was one of those cases in which politicians who acted in haste got to repent at leisure. As the months passed, and citizens grew weary of the repeated battering of Louisianan education and health care, the word “reforms” was no longer used in all cases.
Early on, two teachers in Calcasieu Parish began a movement to recall Jindal, and included local Rep. Chuck Kleckley — who became Louisiana’s Speaker of the House in 2012 — in the recall movement. The recall effort attracted some interest but not nearly enough to bring about any recall votes. After the recall effort ended, the teachers faced fines for having violated state ethics rules. It was widely felt that as the teachers weren’t professional politicians, they weren’t fully aware of the rules. Kleckley made a generous gesture by recommending that the teachers not be fined. It was a tough year for Kleckley. In addition to facing repeated claims that he was one of Jindal’s many point men, he was singled out for his connection to an appropriation to cover a Barbe High School field with artificial turf. This writer didn’t understand why artificial turf was any more nonsensical than any number of pork projects. But as the people turned against the local project, Kleckley wisely followed the people’s lead and backed away from it. Kleckley made savvy political moves in 2012. The degree to which the Speaker of the House must be a point man for the governor depends on whether the governor is dictatorial (as Jindal has been to date) or whether he’s flexible enough to allow others to take their own paths now and again. Kleckley may have to keep walking the tightrope that separates the wrath of Jindal from the wrath of the voter. But if history shows anything, it shows that a person will put up with this kind of heat and more to remain speaker of the house. continued
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Politics The Phelps Atrocity No doubt many felt that the local political story of the year was Jindal’s dictatorial and very abrupt decision to close the Phelps Correctional Facility in
DeQuincy. The area’s best reporters were all over this controversial story. But as usual, no one could find the governor at the scene of the crime. Even Jindal’s mouthpieces didn’t bother to show up at this atrocity. And Paul Rainwater is a native of DeQuincy. BTW, Jindal appointed Rainwater his chief of staff in October. No word yet on when they will be surgically joined at the
hip. Shortly after the event, on Sept. 17, KPLC-TV reported DeQuincy’s Mayor Lawrence Henagan as saying, “I have yet to receive a call letting me know what’s going on. There was no warning [about the closing of the facility], no heads up, nothing.” You’d think even an autocratic governor could punch some numbers into a cell phone. No such.
Lagniappe’s Pierre was more direct than Henagan. After the closure, Pierre led with the headline “Bobby Ain’t No Friend Of Ours” (Oct. 4). State political columnist John Maginnis pointed out how shoddy it was for Jindal not to alert Speaker Kleckley about the closure. Maginnis wrote that Kleckley, and other legislatures left out in the cold, “might call the governor’s office to protest, but so what? He doesn’t take their calls anyway.”
What Does The Hawk Mean? In 2012, there was nothing in local elections to rival the great battle for tax assessor of 2011. There was a fierce knock-down for the position of coroner in Wagon Rut. There was some year-end controversy about high property tax bills from the assessor’s office. Some of this may have been a shaking-down from changes that were necessary as the switch from one assessor to another was made. The story may become “a thing” in 2013, but so far it hasn’t had legs. Finally, in 2012 state Rep. Brett Geymann of Moss Bluff became one of a group of Louisiana legislators called the “Fiscal Hawks.” Geymann and likeminded leges organized a group to travel the state and ask Louisianans how they feel the state’s use of its money could be improved. For whatever reason, this story did have legs. If Geymann has an agent, he should treat him to dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House (in accordance with state ethics guidelines, of course). Geymann’s challenge is not to find the man in the street, but the informed man in the street. Best of luck. One story that probably won’t get much play is that of whether Geymann has become known as a “hawk” at a time when it’s maybe starting to be a bit of a deficit to be known as a hawk. Anyone who’s spent much time in the outdoors knows that all creatures eyes are on the hawk. In other times, for instance, in the times of ancient Rome or Elizabethan Britain, a hawk swooping down out of the sky might have been seen as an omen or premonition. Could it mean that the reign of the fiscal hawk will flourish in years to come? Or is it a sign that an age is starting to pass? Those may or may not be interesting questions after a year when the majority of the Louisiana public started to swing against cuts to education and health care. Was it evidence that the enduring power of moderate political positions was reasserting itself in Louisiana? Or did it simply mean that the Louisiana hawk will continue to fly at will over a significantly altered terrain?
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Quotes A Little Lagniappe In Case You Missed Them, Here Are 2012's Funniest (And Dumbest) Political Quotes BY BRAD GOINS
T
hose who love politics love it for one reason. Is it that politics teaches us about power? No! Is it that politics teaches us how people relate to each other? No! We love politics because politicians say such funny things. For your amusement, here’s a hand-picked selection of the very funniest howlers from a very, very funny year.
“You cannot now, from the moment you sign this pledge, look at pornography.” — Two of the 28 items of the Laurens County Republican Party (S.C.) pledge for candidates.
“Over $6 billion have been spent on election ads this year. It’s a good thing our schools and roads are in great shape or I’d be mad.” — Chris Rock
“You must favor, and live up to, abstinence before marriage. continued
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Quotes “Politics, I think [the American people] understand. I don’t think they understand policy. I hear it on the media all the time. ‘The American people say they want to hear about the issues.’ No they don’t. They want The Hunger Games.” — Bill Maher in an October, 2012, interview with Men’s Journal.
Williams
“The moral fiber in our community is dwindling. If not now, when? Because it’s pajamas today, next it will be underwear tomorrow. I observed a couple of young men in loose-fitting PJs on, probably with their private parts about to come out and no underwear.” — Commissioner Michael Williams on his move to make it illegal to wear pajamas outside the home in Caddo Parish.
Filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, who’d just completed a film about President Obama: The negative for me [in making my film about Obama] was there were too many accomplishments. Piers Morgan: Where do you find fault with him? Guggenheim: I don’t, frankly. Morgan: Oh, come off it … You can’t say that with a straight face! Come on … He’s a perfect human being? — From a March, 2012, CNN interview.
“[Birth control is] not OK because it’s a license to do things in the sexual realm that is [sic] counter to how things are supposed to be. They’re supposed to be within marriage; they are supposed to be for purposes that are, yes, conjugal, but also procreative.” — Moral instruction from presidential candidate Rick Santorum, delivered to Caffeinated Thoughts in Oct., 2011.
“Thoughts? Did Obama Campaign Threaten Chelsea Clinton’s Life 2 Keep Parents Silent?” — Tweet by Fox News anchor Heather Childers floating the conspiracy theory that the Obamas were putting a hit on Chelsea Clinton in order to keep the location of Obama’s “real” birthplace a secret.
“The tweets have been addressed with Heather, and she understands this was a mistake.” — Fox News senior vice president Michael Clemente commenting on Childer’s Tweet.
“Will Obama and the Democrats Shoot Christians and Catholics?” — Text of an ad from a group called Save Our Republic that ran in the June 6 edition of the Lafayette Daily Advertiser. 38 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
“Please don’t ask me any questions. I don’t know what this bill means,” — State Sen. Danny Martiny, RMetairie; John Maginnis commented, “Didn’t matter; it passed.”
“This new movie, the Batman movie … Do you know the name of the villain in this movie? Bane. The villain in The Dark Knight Rises is named Bane. B-AN-E. What is the name of the venture capital firm that Romney ran, and around which there’s now this makebelieve controversy? Bain … Do you think that it is accidental that the name of the really vicious, fire-breathing, four-eyed, whatever-it-is villain in this movie is named Bane?” — In a July 18 broadcast, Rush Limbaugh explains his conspiracy theory about the character Bane, who has been fighting Batman in movies since 1993.
“[If Obama wins the election, there will be] civil unrest, civil disobedience, civil war maybe. And we’re not talking just a few riots here … We’re talking Lexington, Concord, take up arms and get rid of the guy.” — Texas Judge Tom Head in an August interview on Fox News. TPM correspondant Nick R. Martin explained that Head “feared Obama would hand over sovereignty of the U.S. to the United Nations and the unrest would naturally follow.” Head “vowed to stand in front of the [Texas] county’s armored vehicle and stare down the U.N. troops.”
“[It was] the worst performance any presidential candidate has ever given in
a general election debate … [I am not] joking ... In fact, it was the worst debate by any candidate in either the presidential or the vice-presidential debates. And I include Dan Qualye’s performance in 1988, and that poor, befuddled admiral who was running with Ross Perot.” — Kevin Baker describing President Obama’s first debate performance for Harper’s Magazine.
“I’d like to dumb down what we’re here to talk about today and make it very simple for members.” — Newly appointed State Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols addressing legislative committees on employee health insurance, as reported by John Maginnis, who wrote, “It went south from there.” To further improve matters, the Jindal administration went on to say it intended to “ratify” the insurance bill without the support of the Legislature. An attorney general said that wasn’t going to happen.
“We have the right message on the finances. We have to get out of people’s lives, get out of people’s bedrooms, and we have to be a national party, or we’re going to lose.” — Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette of Ohio.
“Jindal and Co. would be demanding that the president not spend [Medicaid] money in states that did not vote for him unless he does it their way. What a hard call for Obama.” — John Maginnis in his year-end roundup column “Unfinished Business.”
"Holy Week" Believers call this week “Holy Week.” During this week we remember the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. We remember the betrayal by Judas Iscariot for thirty pieces of silver. We remember the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We remember Peter denying Jesus three times. We remember the trials of Jesus in the middle of the night. We remember the crucifixion on a hill called Golgotha. We remember these things this week because it is not spiritually healthy to move directly from the joys of Palm Sunday to the joys of Easter Sunday, without remembering all that happened in-between that is hugely significant to our faith. It is so important to pause this week, and to remember all that was done for us by Jesus of Nazareth. And then, having walked with Jesus through the last supper, the garden, the arrest, the trials, the scourging, the crucifixion - - we anxiously await the third day, the coming of Easter Sunday morning, and the greatest day in the history of the world. The tomb of Jesus Christ is empty. He rose from the grave. He is alive! Because of that fact, all of history has been changed. Because of that fact, our lives can be changed. Because of that empty tomb, we can have hope and confidence in tomorrow. If you don’t have a church home, I invite you to join us at First United Methodist Church in downtown Lake Charles as we celebrate the risen Christ. Happy Easter!
You are invited to worship at First Methodist: Sundays, 8:30 & 10:45 AM Corner of Broad and Kirkman Radio broadcast: Sundays, 8:00AM on 100.5FM March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 39
Education Making The Grade An Overview Of Area Educational Systems BY KARLA WALL will happen during the 2014-2015 school year. Most schools have already begun using iPads and Prometheus teaching boards. According to the State Dept. of Education, 54 of the 58 schools in the parish meet the 7:1 student-to-computer ratio dictated by the Louisiana Believes: Louisiana’s Technology Footprint standard. Among the advances, as well, is an increase in computer labs, and an increase in megabytes per second in bandwidth to prevent time-outs during online tests. According to Sheryl Abshire, chief technology officer for Calcasieu Parish schools, the school system will double its bandwidth sometime in July.
CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOLS The Calcasieu Parish School System experienced several unpleasant happenings last year — Gov. Bobby Jindal’s major overhaul of the state education system, an increasing exodus of teachers — partly as a result of that overhaul, and three well-publicized incidents involving student transportation. But there were high points as well, starting with the State Dept. of Education’s release of “school report cards” for the 2011-2012 school year. Overall, the state Dept. of Education ranked SWLA school districts near the top of the state. Twelve Calcasieu schools earned A grades. Grades are based on Baseline Performance Scores, which in turn are based on two years of data in areas such as test scores, attendance and high school graduation rates. Calcasieu had 13 schools receiving grades of B, 17 earning Cs, 12 earning Ds, and three earning Fs. The three schools receiving Fs were Ray D. Molo Middle Magnet School, John J. Johnson Elementary School, and Reynaud Middle. The F rating signifies a Baseline Performance Score below 75. Johnson and Molo both earned scores above 70, and improved over the last year. Reynaud’s score was 64.7, down less than one point from last year. T.S. Cooley Magnet School had the highest Baseline Performance Score in the parish — 152.6. Sam Houston High School was second with a score of 132.5; Barbe High School was third with 131.5; and Vincent Settlement Elementary was fourth with a score of 131.3. Eight schools showed an improvement of over 10 points over the last year. Vincent Settlement Elementary and John F. Kennedy Elementary both improved more than 20 points. E.K. Key Elementary improved by 17.8 points, and Washington-Marion Magnet High
Jindal Education Overhaul School went up by 16.9 points. Dropping in scores were S.P. Arnett, Barbe Elementary, T.H. Watkins Elementary and J.I. Watson Elementary, which dropped four points. Henry Heights Elementary went down five points.
20 Calcasieu Schools Earn Top Gains Status In February, 20 Calcasieu Schools were given monetary awards for achieving Top Gains Schools status from the State Dept. of Education. The principal of each school will be awarded $8,453 to be used to further the education of their students. To achieve Top Gains status, schools must improve their School Performance Score by exceeding its growth target by 10 points. Schools receiving the award include Barbe High School, Bell City High School, DeQuincy High School, Dolby Elementary, E.K. Key Elementary, Frasch Elementary, Sam Houston High School, Iowa High School, John F. Kennedy Elementary, Maplewood Middle School, Moss Bluff Elementary, A.A. Nelson Elementary, Cypress Cove
Elementary, Prien Lake Elementary, Starks High, Vincent Settlement Elementary, Vinton High School, Westwood Elementary, W.T. Henning Elementary and Westlake High School.
Enrollment Down Enrollment decreased slightly in Calcasieu Parish schools for the 20122013 school year. Enrollment for this school year is 32,645, down from 32,926 during the 2011-2012 school year. Calcasieu school superintendent Wayne Savoy attributed the decrease mainly to the loss of three pre-kindergarten classes in the district.
Parish Schools Leading State In Tech Advances Calcasieu schools are among the leaders in the state when it comes to technology, according to a recent statement by District 7 School Board member Mack Delafosse. Most of the technical advances over the last year have come as a result of preparing for the day when state standardized tests will be taken online, which
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s sweeping education overhaul legislation is perhaps the major happening on the education front over the past year. Introduced last spring and passed by the Legislature in the summer session, the package included changes in school funding that would pay for a statewide voucher system, in which low-income students in failing schools (and according to a recent report, 63 percent of Louisiana’s 1,303 schools receive a “grade” of C, D or F) would receive tuition for private schools. It also made provisions for payment for online schools, for college tuition scholarships and expansion of charter schools in the state. As of press time, the state, according to an Associated Press report, is paying $25 million in tuition for 4,944 students at 117 private schools. The legislation also included provisions for limiting the authority of local school boards, as well as making it harder for teachers to gain tenure and eliminating statewide teacher payscales. It also calls for teachers who are rated as “ineffective” to face dismissal hearings, and links half of a teacher’s annual continued
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Education review to student performance on state standardized tests, and half on observation by principals and other school officials. Teachers from across the state protested at the state capital, and two teacher organizations filed suit against the state, claiming the legislative package was unconstitutional.
State Judge Tim Kelley of the 19th Judicial District found the voucher program unconstitutional because it diverted public money to private schools, and because it diverted local tax money from local school districts. The legislation is now being considered by the State Supreme Court. In Late Nov., Judge Michael Caldwell, also of the 19th Judicial District, ruled unconstitutional the parts of the legislative package that limited the
authority of local school boards, decreased the hiring and firing power of local school boards, and forced state superintendent review of local superintendent contracts. However, Caldwell upheld the tenure provisions. In early March, he ruled that the tenure package unconstitutional as well, because it included too many provisions in one bill. This ruling, too, will be considered by the State Supreme Court.
CHARTER ACADEMY This past August, Lake Charles Charter Academy opened for its second school year, with an enrollment of 766 students in its new building on Power Centre Pkwy. And the new Southwest La. Charter Academy, for grades K-8, opened its doors this year to 534 students from across the five-parish area. The Lake Charles Charter Academy added 12 new teachers this school year, an addition necessitated by the addition of a seventh-grade class. The Southwest Charter Academy employees 54 teachers. Pam Quebedeaux, principal of Lake Charles Charter Academy, also oversees Southwest La. Charter Academy along with newly-named co-principal Jacqueline Smith. Lorette Marie Bass oversees the day to day running of the SWLA Charter Academy as lead assistant principal. The Lake Charles Charter Academy is located in its new permanent building on Power Centre Pkwy, and the permanent building for SWLA Charter Academy will be on the corner of Ham Reid and Weaver Roads. Completion is scheduled for this fall.
Student Transport Issue Students this year began, for the first time, arriving to the academies by Calcasieu Parish School System buses, despite the CPSB’s initial opposition to sharing buses with the academies. Early last summer, the CPSB denied the academies the use of the parish school buses. In June, the Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation filed suit, claiming the school system was required by law to provide transportation to and from the academies. In September, the parish school board agreed to provide transportation, and the academies agreed to pay the cost.
Cambridge Program Lake Charles Charter Academy, this year, became the first school in Louisiana to be approved by the Cambridge International Program. The program, operated through the University of Cambridge, is an advanced program of courses that are comparable to advanced placement courses in parish schools. The program begins in Kindergarten, and the L.C. Charter Academy has identified one class in each grade that will be a part of the program, based on student GPA and test scores. SWLA Charter Academy has begun the process of becoming approved for the program.
Haiti Mission Trip Six teachers from the charter academies — three from each school — were 42 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
chosen to go to Haiti to volunteer for a week at the Gencoit School of Excellence. The six were chosen from among more than 40 applicants in the Charter Schools USA, the operating organization for the academies. The teachers gave presentations, read stories to and taught lessons to students, and delivered supplies donated by academy students and the community. The two charter schools also raised $2,000 for school uniforms for the Haitian students. Lessons were followed by the students of the two academies via Skype. Subjects taught included math and world geography. One teacher gave a presentation on dental hygiene, another on Mardi Gras traditions.
Charter High School Last December, a new charter high school was approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The school will accommodate 1,200 students. It is set to open in 2014 for ninthgrade students, with students in grades 10-12 being added later.
MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY Enrollment for McNeese for the Fall 2012 semester was 8,588, a decrease of two percent from fall semester of 2011. Seventy-five percent of students are full-time. Sixty-nine percent of students are from the five-parish area. Over 30 percent of students are first-generation college students, 21 percent of students are minority, 91 percent of students are commuters, and 74 percent of students are under age 25.
New Construction, Renovation Over $500 million in construction and renovation projects are underway on the McNeese campus, funded by several sources, including the state capital outlay fund, local and federal grants, FEMA and insurance settlements, student selfgenerated assessments and private donors. New projects include: • Kaufman Hall. Kaufman has been under construction since 2011, and should be ready for fall classes this year. The Registrar’s Office and faculty and administrative offices for the College of Liberal Arts are expected to move back into the building this summer. • The Southwest Entrepreneurial and Economic Development (SEED) Center. The SEED center, located on seven acres of McNeese property on Ryan St. across from the main campus, is nearly complete and will be ready for occupancy this summer. The SEED Center is a joint partnership between McNeese, the Chamber Southwest Louisiana Alliance, Calcasieu Parish continued March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 43
Education Police Jury and the City of Lake Charles. It will be a one-stop shop for economic development, business creation and support for local business in the five-parish area. It will house the offices for the Chamber SWLA Alliance, the La. Small Business Development Center at McNeese, and other area economic development and business assistance organizations. The facility will provide workspace for business incubators and areas for training, meetings and classrooms. • Parking Garage. Crews are finishing the installation of lighting and security systems and lane striping on the $13.8 million three-level parking garage located on the campus just off Common Street. The garage, expected to open in April, will offer nearly 900 parking spaces with two-way traffic. It will include security and counting systems, elevators, and elevated crosswalks from the garage to the opposite side of the road near the recreational complex. McNeese students voted to build the garage and approved a fee increase to fund the project. • Frazar Memorial Library. The library has been moved into temporary quarters in the Parra Ballroom for the duration of a 22- to 24-month renovation of the library building. Renovations will include new lighting, flooring, painting, electrical work and elevator repairs. The library remains open to the public, and staff is available to assist patrons with library services and locating resources. • Burton Residence Hall. The new three-story, 150-bed Burton Residence Hall near the corner of Ryan and McNeese Streets will be ready for occupancy in August. The new residence hall
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The Burton Residence Hall will be ready in August.
will be a living-learning environment with multiple study spaces, small computer labs, television/gaming/activity rooms, a multi-purpose classroom and meeting room space. The interior commons area will consist of a casual seating lounge and vending area with an interior laundry facility. It is being built on the original footprint for the residence hall that was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005. • Band Hall. Renovations to the Band Hall are substantially complete,
and the building is expected to open later this spring. • Chosen Hall. Phase I of a $2 million project to renovate and reopen this building, at the corner of McNeese and Ryan Streets, has been completed, and Phase II could begin sometime this summer. Chosen Hall will be a one-stopshop for incoming freshmen, and will house offices for several departments currently located in other buildings throughout the campus. The completion of this project will free more classroom
space and create a convenient facility for prospective students and their parents to access offices related to recruiting and admissions. • Frasch Hall Annex. The project to repair the HVAC system, replace ceilings and lighting, complete ADA modifications, repair elevators and paint the Frasch Hall Annex should begin within the next six months. Once the project begins, the building will be taken offline for approximately 12 months. • Demolition of the vacant mar-
ried student residence complex adjacent to the Jack V. Doland Field House is planned, but a date to begin the work has not been finalized.
SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE Sowela’s enrollment for the Fall 2012 semester was approximately 2,500, with the highest enrollment in the process technology and criminal justice programs. During the school’s annual commencement, it graduated its largestever class — 331 students.
New Chancellor Sowela welcomed a new chancellor in mid 2012. Neil Aspinwall, who replaced Andrea Miller last April, is a Georgia native who has a strong background in economic development and education. He previously served as vice president of enrollment and student services at Waycross College in Waycross, Ga.
75th Anniversary, And A New Mascot Sowela is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and began the diamond jubilee with the unveiling of a new mascot in early March. The new mascot is the flying tiger, in honor of the WWII flying squadron led by Lt. Gen. Claire Chennault. The mascot was chosen in a community-wide penny war in which over 90,000 votes were cast.
Accreditation Candidate Sowela reached yet another milestone in 2012 when it became a candidate for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The Candidacy Visitation Committee
visited the campus in April of last year, and determined that it met the SACS requirements for candidacy. The SACS announced that it had accepted Sowela for candidacy in late June. The accreditation process is ongoing, and is expected to take until late 2013.
Building Boom Sowela’s growth in enrollment is more than matched by a growth in physical facilities. The looming construction and industrial boom that’s expected to hit the Lake Area later this year has given rise to a building boom on the Sowela Campus. Late in 2012, after Sasol announced a $21 billion expansion plan for its Westlake facility, it was also announced that a $20 million training center would be built on the Sowela campus, funded with a $20 million grant from the state. The training center, which will be up to 75,000 square feet, will include classroom and lab areas needed to train students for jobs at Sasol in the areas of lab analysis, machinist, process technology and instrumentation programming. Once Sasol personnel have been trained, the facility will be used for training workers for other manufacturers and industry in the region. Sowela recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Phillips66 Process Technology Center. The 12,000square-foot building includes classrooms, office space and simulation space. It holds six classrooms, two computer labs, nine offices, a main lab with six plant simulators, and one operator control room. Sowela also recently opened another new building — the 45,000square-foot Arts and Humanities Center, which houses the science, English and general education courses, as well as the chancellor’s office. It includes a multipurpose center for conferences and special events, a library and classrooms. And the growth isn’t complete. Construction will begin soon on Sowela’s Allied Health and Nursing Building, funded in part by the H.C. Drew Trust.
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Real Estate Movin’ On Up Local Real Estate Market Is On The Rebound BY R. PATRICK DIAMOND, ABR, CDPE, CRS, E-PRO, GRI
F
rom 1975 until 1985, Americans were watching The Jeffersons on TV. The show’s theme song was Movin’ on Up. And that seems to be what the local real estate market has been doing for the last year. I said in September of 2012 that it looked like we would have a better year than 2011, and I was right.
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The last year of record sales and volume was 2007. In 2008, both of those areas dropped slightly. In 2009, sales were still going down, and it finally bottomed out in 2010. In 2011, we finally saw the number of sales go up, as well as the dollar volume. So let’s see how we fared in 2012. Let’s compare 2012 to 2011. In 2011, there were 1,434 homes with a value of
$206,663,778 sold through the Southwest Louisiana Assoc. of Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service. The average sales price was $144,117. In 2012, a total of 1,599 homes were sold. They were valued at $240,954,909, at an average sales price of $150,691. This represented an 11.5-percent increase in the number of sales, a 16.6-percent increase in the dollar volume of sales, and a 4.6-percent increase in
average sales price. Now, let’s see how each of the market segments fared during 2012 compared to 2011. This year, I have expanded the segments to include $0-$99,999, $100,000$199,999, $200,000-$299,999, $300,000$399,999, $400,000-$499,999, and $500,000 and up. In the $0-$99,999 market segment, the number of sales remained stable at 551
Thank you! The ladies of Nobless Oblige Teahouse would like to say thank you for four wonderful years of business. Nobless Oblige will be taking a hiatus as of April 1st. This will be a temporary close as we find A new location and better our products. We are still available for catering and offsite tea parties. Find us on Facebook and check out our website for events, Grandma's Spiced tea and our other products. See you soon! 316 Iris St • Lake Charles • 337.433.8094 • Fax: 337.533.8642 www.noblessobligeteas.com
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 47
Real Estate homes sold in both 2011 and 2012. The dollar volume rose from $30,598,132 to $30,821,287, an increase of .7 percent. The average sales price actually increased slightly, from $55,532 to $55,937, or .7 percent. This market segment has remained basically stagnant because of tighter lender requirements on low to moderate income purchasers. However, there has been some increased investor activity in this market segment. In the $100,000-$199,999 market segment, the number of sales was up from 560 to 679, an increase of 21.3 percent. The dollar volume was also up, from $82,391,120 to $99,300,355, an increase of 20.5 percent. The average sales price dropped slightly, from $147,127 to $146,245, a decrease of 0.6 percent. In the $200,000-$299,999 market segment, the number of sales increased from 230 to 254, or 10.4 percent. The dollar volume of sales also increased, from $55,228,980 to $60,702,952, or 9.9 percent. The average sales price in this segment fell slightly, from $240,126 to $238,988, a decrease of 0.5 percent. In the $300,000-$399,999 market segment, the number of sales rose from 61 to 115, an increase of 88.5 percent. The
48 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
dollar volume of sales jumped from $21,268,992 to $50,130,570, an increase of 135 percent. Average sales price jumped from $348,672 to $435,918, or 25 percent. In the $400,000-$499,999 market segment, the number of sales fell from 19 in 2011 to 13 in 2012, a decrease of 31.6 percent. The dollar volume also fell, from $9,137,689 to $5,675,488, or 62.1 percent. The average sales price also fell, from $441,598 to $436,369, or 1.2 percent. In the $500,000 and up market segment, the number of sales increased from 13 to 19, or 46.2 percent. The dollar volume rose from $8,785,998 to $16,841,657, or 91.7 percent. The average sales price rose from $675,846 to $886,403, or 31.2 percent. The $99,999 and under segment comprised 35.8 percent of the total number of sales, and the $100,000-$199,999 segment accounted for 41.6 percent of the number of sales. The $200,000-$299,999 segment was 14.8 percent of the market, and the $300,000 and up segment was only 7.8 percent of the number of sales made during the first eight months 2012. Looking at the dollar volume of sales, the $99,999 and under group accounted for only 13 percent of the sales, the $100,000 to $199,999 group for 40.1 percent of the total, the $200,000 to $299,999
The real estate market is up, but the low end of the market is stagnant, which will put additional pressure on the rental market as lowerpriced buyers are having a hard time getting financing.
segment for 23.1 percent, and the $300,000 and up for 23.8 percent for the first eight months of 2012. In looking at these numbers, one can come to several conclusions: first, the real estate market in Southwest Louisiana is up; second, the low end of the market is stagnant, which will put additional pressure on the rental market as lower-priced buyers are having a hard time getting
financing; third, as the pace of industrial and commercial construction in the area increases, the pressure will be on for the number and dollar volume of sales to go up; and, finally, buyers need to be realistic about what they must pay to get the house they want. Sellers must also be realistic about the property they want to sell. Properties in good condition and priced right are selling, but properties in disrepair and that don’t show well are not selling or taking much longer to sell at lower prices. So let’s answer the question of what’s happening in the SWLA real estate market. I think we can easily see that what’s happening is that the market is movin’ on up! R. Patrick “Pat” Diamond is broker/owner of RE/MAX Realty Pros, a full service real estate firm located at 1180 E McNeese St. E-mail any questions about real estate to r-patrickdiamond@remax.net. His company’s website is www.swLouisianaHomes.com or www.remax.com. Diamond is a three-time past president of the Southwest Louisiana Assoc. of Realtors, and was the 2001 president of the Louisiana Realtors.
The Arts Creative Juices Are Flowing In Southwest Louisiana, The Arts Mean Business BY ERICA MCCREEDY
Central School Arts & Humanities Center
1911 City Hall
T
he arts mean business. Across the nation, leaders are recognizing the role the arts play in a community’s development and expansion, and Southwest Louisiana is no different. Our entire state is marketed as a place unlike any other. While nationally the arts yield an average return of investment of 7:1, in Louisiana it can be at least twice this figure. Our history, cuisine, music and art are typically used as tools to promote and sell Louisiana to the rest of the world. During tough economic times when elected officials sometimes feel that funding the arts is not a priority when other pressing issues abound, the year 50 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
2012 sent a strong and positive message that communities in all 50 states that are thriving in the arts are also thriving in economic activity. In short, investing in the arts means investing in the betterment of an entire community.
Creative Placemaking The term “creative placemaking” has been trending across the nation and is quickly picking up speed in Southwest Louisiana. The National Endowment of the Arts defines creative placemaking as a partnership “between public, private, non-profit, and community sectors [to] strategically shape the physical and social character of a neighborhood, town, city or region around arts and cultural
activities.” Creative placemaking is a catalyst for economic growth, and it acts as the medium for bringing together all sectors of the economy, from housing to education, by developing a sense of community, cultivating vibrancy and diversity and expanding the regional infrastructure to become more conducive for arts activities. With the arts industry generating over $135 billion in consumer spending in 2012, there is a large slice of the pie with Southwest Louisiana written all over it. Modeled off an innovative program to put creative placemaking efforts directly into communities in New Jersey, the Louisiana Division of the Arts in Baton Rouge invited communities across Louisiana to apply for a new grant program that would award 10 areas in Louisiana with a seed grant, as well as six months of coaching in creative placemaking. In concert with the SWLA Economic Development Alliance and several other invested parties across the region, the Arts Council applied for this grant in late 2012. A few weeks ago, our application was selected, and Southwest Louisiana was awarded this grant as one of only 10 communities chosen in this pilot program. Creative placemaking is less concerned about adding outdoor concerts or a public art piece on a sidewalk and more interested in building a foundation within a community that allows greater economic and cultural benefit from arts activities. Southwest Louisiana is currently standing at a threshold; there is perhaps no other area in Louisiana more ready; no area more ripe for exponential development; than our region is. And with efforts that have already been in place, Southwest Louisiana is close to capturing this opportunity to transform into a vibrant arts community. This development occurred only after an entire year’s worth of collaborative efforts to give the arts a seat at the table for our area’s upcoming economic boom. Last November, the Arts Council came together with the Alliance, the City of Lake Charles, and the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau to jointly host the SWLA Arts & Cultural Symposium, which saw an attendance of nearly 150 for the half-day summit. The audience was made up of not only artists, but also business leaders, elected officials, Sowela and McNeese faculty, and tourism professionals. This diverse gathering allowed all invested parties to discuss and propose strategies for further expanding the economic impact of the arts in the fiveparish region. Since 2009, arts funding for the entire state of Louisiana has decreased by 60 percent, and with fewer and fewer dollars from the State budget to go around, it’s become a necessary but powerful strategy to bring the arts and businesses together to share in the mutual and exceedingly positive benefits within this partnership. Southwest Louisiana is ahead of the curve in Louisiana for its ability to partner economic development, business, tourism and the arts; not all arts councils continued March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 51
The Arts across the state can boast such relationships. It is exactly this collaborative investment that will prove to be one of our region’s strongest selling points.
The City Of Lake Charles’ Role Mayor Randy Roach and the City of
Lake Charles keep the arts in perspective and have accomplished much in ensuring that the arts will have a place in the region’s development in the next few years, as more and more announcements of investments in petrochemicals, higher education, and aviation occur. The City of Lake Charles owns and operates two historic buildings for the purpose of arts and culture: Central School Arts & Humanities Center and 1911 Historic City Hall.
Spring Art Walk Photo by visitlakecharles.org
Central School Central School, which is managed by the Arts Council, has operated at full capacity since it was reopened after extensive renovations in 1993. Each day, the center experiences a strong flow of foot traffic from tourists as well as residents. Between annual art walks, open houses, school tours and foot traffic to the Mardi Gras Museum — the largest collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia in the states — the Black Heritage Gallery, and several other art studios, Central School received 12,000 visitors in 2012. Central School’s Benjamin W. Mount Auditorium was dedicated in 2012 to the late Ben Mount who was integral to the preservation of the historic elementary school. His wife Willie Mount continues to be active in this preservation effort. The auditorium is the site of the sixth season of Louisiana Crossroads, which unites music legends of Louisiana on stage. The series is hosted by the Acadiana Center for the Arts and KRVS in Lafayette. The City of Lake Charles presents an offshoot of the series to bring the season’s musicians to Lake Charles for several unique performances a year. In 2012, Central School saw BeauSoleil, Jo-El Sonnier, and Joel Savoy on stage, just to name a few.
1911 City Hall 1911 City Hall hosted 15 exhibitions in 2012. These featured a vibrant variety of genres and artists, both local and national. One of their most recent exhibitions, Ida and Em Set the Stage, saw one of the facility’s largest crowds. “The exhibit honored two ballet legends of Lake Charles, Ida Winter Clarke and Emily Coleman, whose dedication and creativity helped bring the world of ballet to Lake Charles,” stated Denise Fasske, director of 1911 City Hall. The City partners with McNeese State University and the Calcasieu Parish School Board to enrich and encourage students to become more involved in the local arts community. “In 2012, we welcomed 32 field trips and over 600 students,” Fasske said. By also bringing McNeese Visual Art Dept. faculty and students into 1911 City Hall as featured artists, the City is able to feed local talent into 1911’s high quality art spaces.
52 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
Spencers: Theatre of Illusion
Prudhomme, has her sights aimed high to make the critically acclaimed series bigger and better than ever. “By providing access to arts and humanities programming that is unique to our area,” Prudhomme said, “we enhance the quality of life for our community and make the region attractive to people and companies relocating to Southwest Louisiana.” In addition, Banners’ educational outreach program – Banners Engages – reached over 17,000 area students. Children involved in the arts are more likely to have positive behavior, a more comprehensive understanding of math and science, and are more likely to become engaged community leaders than other students.
Artist Career Advancement
Banners The McNeese Banners Cultural Series brought the wide world of awe-inspiring performances to over 35,000 community members in 2012. The new executive director of Banners, Patricia
It has been three years since the Louisiana Division of the Arts awarded the Artist Career Advancement grant to individual artists for projects that fuel professional development opportunities. In 2012, the state awarded this grant to 26 artists, two of which were Lake Area artists. McNeese art professor Heather Ryan Kelley was awarded funds to create a fine art collage series that explored continued
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 53
Live @ The Lakefront Photo by Parker Brand Creative Services
The Arts Accidents • Wrongful Death • Serious Personal Injury Criminal, Domestic Law Cases
the motifs and symbols of James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. Cajun musician Ganey Arsement was also awarded grant funds to produce his sophomore album, which will increase awareness of Cajun music outside of Louisiana.
The Business Of The Arts
Larry A. Roach (1932-2003) Barry A. Roach • Larry A. Roach, Jr. Fred C. "Bubba" LeBleu • David M. Hudson
54 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
2917 Ryan St. • Lake Charles (337) 433-8504 • Fax (337) 433-3196
According to the Arts & Economic Prosperity IV document, a 150-page report published by Americans for the Arts, last year the arts generated over $135 billion in consumer spending nationwide in only the non-profit industry, meaning that this figure doesn’t take
for-profit arts businesses, such as Broadway and the film industry, into consideration. Approximately 4 million full time jobs are supported by this. In Louisiana, the arts industry is one of the Top 10 employers in the state. The nation’s local, state and federal government received over $22.5 billion in revenue from the arts. Measured against a total $4 billion investment, this return on investment is something we cannot afford to ignore. Arts organizations proved to be one of our nation’s best consumers, with $61 billion being spent consistently each year in arts event expenses. Arts organizations are valuable contributors to the business community. The Arts Council and City of Lake Charles started the Live @ the Lakefront concert series in 2012 at the Lakefront Promenade. When this series takes place, we must spend upwards of tens of thousands of dollars on services and products that are found in our own backyard — on sound equipment for live music, on marketing, on catering, on renting the venue, and so forth. These art events allow our area to capture a higher share of expenditures from local income. In 2012, the average audience member spent $24.60 when attending an arts event. The last time you went to the Lake Charles Little Theatre, it’s likely you did not only go to the theatre performance. You may have gone to dinner before the performance, paid for childcare, bought new clothes for the evening, filled up your car with gas, and had a cocktail after the show was over. If it weren’t for that single theater performance, these businesses might not have had your business that night. Across the nation, audience members invested over $71 billion in valuable revenue to arts businesses last year. While locals spent $24.60 when attending an arts event, the average tourist in 2012 spent twice that amount in communities. Studies show that tourists visiting an area for an arts event typically spend
more time there than a tourist visiting for other reasons. The entire community’s commitment to the arts is necessary for their sustainability. Supporting the arts can be one of the easiest ways to invest in the community; whether support is offered through memberships, season passes, sponsorships or attendance at an event.
Grant Programs
grants in the region. Beyond the arts industry’s ability to generate tourism dollars and spur economic activity, the arts are able to create a sense of place within our community. Such a sense of place gives residents more reasons to put down roots and encourages first-time tourists to become repeat visitors. Creative placemaking creates a longterm journey that helps communities achieve its goals. It generates livability
within a community by sustaining public spaces, encouraging beautification with bike paths and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, and developing workplace opportunities for creative workers. Economic activity is tied with livability in that residents are more likely to invest in local businesses and venues that exist in this infrastructure when they feel there is a strong degree of livability in the area. As we’ve seen in the new downtown
Lake Charles streetscape, something as simple as brick medallions in intersections or wider sidewalks can suddenly be enough of a reason for more people to walk downtown and to experience local businesses they may not have otherwise. The arts do not end with a painting or photograph; they feed the entire community and work to shape the economic and cultural future of an entire culture while providing tangible benefits to businesses and the general public.
The Arts Council administers four large annual grant programs for the arts in the region. This is the most any arts council in the state can say. With nearly $200,000 being reinvested in our region, these grants are renewable resources for Southwest Louisiana’s economic engine. In addition to the Lake Charles Partnership grant, funded by the City of Lake Charles, and the Decentralized Arts Funding grant, funded by the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the Arts Council also manages the Tourism Marketing Initiative grant, which is funded by the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau, and was the first arts/tourism grant partnership of its kind in the state. This grant dedicates funds for marketing expenses incurred by arts organizations in Calcasieu Parish. These funds ensure that festivals and arts events can still market themselves to tourists even when public funding decreases.
Beyond the arts industry’s ability to generate tourism dollars and spur economic activity, the arts are able to create a sense of place within our community. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury grant, funded by the Police Jury, is the Arts Council’s largest grant and, as with the three other grants, it generates a great amount of revenue within our area. According to statistics provided by the Americans for the Arts, the total amount awarded to arts organizations in 2012 — $42,500 — generated an additional $1.6 million in consumer spending in Calcasieu Parish businesses. The same $42,500 investment also supported approximately 45 full-time jobs in the parish and provided over $64,000 to local government in revenue from taxes and fees. This investment, small compared to other statewide or national grants, was able to generate an amazing amount of new and renewable revenue to the parish. It is only one of four arts March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 55
Tourism Tourism Is Big Business So, Let’s Talk … (Share, Like, Pin and Tweet) About It! BY ANGIE MANNING, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, LAKE CHARLES/SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CVB
56 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
Photo By Victor Monsour
Y
ou may have heard it said that in marketing you need to “cut through the clutter” to reach people. In today’s world of destination marketing, in many ways, that may not the best approach for engaging potential visitors. People enjoy conversations, yes? The good news is that with social media and advancements in technology, people actually can – and do – get to know the voice of a destination before visiting. The Bureau has had social media programs for a number of years, but in 2012, the need for a more robust program became clear as not only were people planning travel online, they were also getting to know destinations by interacting with social media as well. “Technology is constantly on the move, and it’s rewarding to see instant marketing efforts and relationships that can be built through social platforms,” said Shelley Johnson, executive director of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The networking opportunities are tremendous, and the benefits of connecting with leisure and business travelers, media professionals, travel professionals and multiple industries across the board are undeniable. It’s an exciting time.” In 2012, the Visit Lake Charles Facebook page gained nearly 24,000 new fans, bringing the total to over 30,000 fans. The Cajun Christmas in a Box boudin promotion was a huge success, generating over 5,000 new fans. And this year’s King Cake Giveaway enticed over 7,000 new fans to join our social community. The goals of our social media promotions are to create awareness of the destination, engage in conversations, be an additional channel for quick responses and two-way communication, drive traffic to our website and inspire an action to visit. In Southwest Louisiana, we’re blessed
with an abundance of things to do, hear and eat! The Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail is all the rage. The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is a natural wonder and treasure, with four wildlife refuges, Gulf beaches and walking trails. The charm of the people and the recipes that have been simmering in the pots for centuries entice visitors from near and far. This is not to mention, the local music, art, culture, performing arts
and festivals, which capture the imaginations of anyone who experiences them. To top it off, we have attractive casino gaming resorts, each with their own special twist, from Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, to the Isle of Capri Casino Resort and L’Auberge Casino Resort. These make Southwest Louisiana a premier gaming destination in the South. Having such a variety of offerings and strong partners in tourism, it was great
news that the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau was privileged to earn the award for Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau of the Year at the Lt. Governor’s Tourism Summit, as well as an award for having the best Tourism Campaign/Promotion of the Year for National Tourism Week. Two staff members at the bureau were recognized for efforts in their areas of expertise. Earlier this year, Eric Zartler,
Photo By Victor Monsour
CVB senior sales manager/athletics, was presented the Super Sport Award by the Louisiana High School Athletic Assoc. (LHSAA) for going above and beyond for the betterment of LHSAA. And, communications director, Angie Manning, was recently recognized as a top travel professional younger than 40 by the Southeast Tourism Society, which covers 14 states. Tico Soto, sales director, successfully served a year as president of the Louisiana State Assoc. of Executives. “Our area is fortunate to have such dedicated staff at the convention and visitors bureau,” said Johnson. “Everyone strives for excellence in everything they do, and the passion they have for promoting and bringing business to the area is evident. These awards represent hard work and exemplify the partnerships we have in the community working alongside us.”
homecoming parade for Ledet with Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. The parade even featured New Orleans Mardi Gras floats sponsored by the Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition. American Idol producers said it was the “best parade ever.” Entertainment Weekly stated the best “hometown heroes” segment was Joshua Ledet’s. The media coverage resulted in 1,569 articles worth millions of dollars of free continued
In 2012, the Visit Lake Charles Facebook page gained nearly 24,000 new fans, bringing the total to over 30,000 fans.
2012 was a special year as Louisiana commemorated its bicentennial anniversary. The CVB brought in U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, who served as the Bicentennial Chairman, to address partners in tourism to kick off the celebration. The bureau gave grants to museums, festivals and the Arts & Humanities Council. These grants went toward bicentennial celebrations, such as the downtown mural painted by local artist Fred Stark. In March 2012, the CVB hosted travel writers who participated in the Palm Sunday Tour of Homes in the Margaret Place Historic District, which celebrated its centennial anniversary, along with three other buildings in the area. Also, last year, who could forget the surprise and good fortune of Joshua Ledet making it to the top finalists of American Idol? The CVB worked directly with American Idol producers, along with a community-wide “super committee,” the City of Westlake and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, to produce one of the biggest events in Southwest Louisiana’s history. In addition to coordinating 300 volunteers, the CVB ran Facebook and online Louisiana newspaper ads to get the vote out for Ledet, and credentialed more than 65 media outlets who attended the homecoming celebration from places throughout Louisiana and Texas. The bureau also coordinated the March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 57
Tourism publicity. The homecoming celebration represented a remarkable outpouring of community volunteerism and support. The publicity for the area on a national scale went well into the millions. Highlighted events of 2012 included the Louisiana Municipal Assoc. conference and the Louisiana High School Rodeo. The area has held two consecutive years of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s (LHSAA) Cheer and Dance Championships, and seven years of LHSAA Swim Championships, with both events coming back in 2013.
Last year, the bureau reached more than 642,788 people through its website, the Creole Nature Trail and Mardi Gras websites, print ads and the visitor information center. The bureau booked 87,327 room nights and added $358.22 million to the economy of Calcasieu Parish through travel expenditures.
One new event for 2012 was the Top 28 Basketball Tournament, which is the LHSAA Regional Semifinals. The tournament was held in addition to Fastpitch 56, the 4A-3A Class B and Class C State Baseball Championships. Last year, the area was awarded the High School Rodeo Championship for another five years, until 2018. This is a testimony to the partnerships in Southwest Louisiana and the success of the event.
Contacts And Accomplishments Last year, the bureau reached more than 642,788 people through its website, the Creole Nature Trail and Mardi Gras websites, print ads and the visitor information center. The bureau booked 87,327 room nights and added $358.22 million to the economy of Calcasieu Parish through travel expenditures. The sales department contacted 2,465 prospective clients directly on behalf of continued 58 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 59
Southwest Louisiana. The communications department generated more than 193,700 requests for information from our advertising and public relations efforts, and responded to 22,679 visitors at the Visitor Information Center. The Bureau also produced and alerted our accommodations to 167 sales leads. Bureau staff sold Calcasieu Parish at 45 national and state travel shows, meetings and conventions. The Bureau conducted 47 site inspections and familiarization tours, hosting 140 tour operators, meeting planners and travel writers. It also made 178 in-person sales calls. The bureau distributed 227,000 pieces of informational literature to consumers. Through the bureau’s public relations efforts, staff tracked more than $24.7 million worth of free media exposure for Southwest Louisiana. Of that total, we obtained $16.9 million worth of free media exposure through an intensive American Idol campaign.
Events In 2013 This year, the area has hosted the Louisiana Police Jury Assoc. for the second time in the last three years and the Lt. Governor’s Tourism Summit. Other
60 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
Photo By Victor Monsour
Tourism
Photo By Victor Monsour
groups and events coming to the area include the La. Airport Managers and the Jehovah’s Witness Convention. The Southeastern Outdoor Press Assoc. will bring media to the area in October. And new sports events will include the Contraband Days Spike & Splash event featuring the EVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour as well as the UWP Pirates of Watercross, also a professional event, which is set to be held this May. Initiatives in 2013 will include an increased focus on adventure tourism. With the additional emphasis on adventure tourism and increased interest in “authentic excursions,” the bureau will create more experience-based itineraries and packages in order to market outdoor adventures and behind-the-scenes and technical tours for groups. This idea will permeate traditional and social media marketing strategies and be included in the overall goals for all departments at the bureau to highlight the outdoor recreation and unique cultural experiences of Southwest Louisiana.
"YOUR ONE-STOP BELT CENTER"! New construction for the area includes the Hampton Inn on Prien Lake Road with 85 rooms and 1,500 square feet of meeting space, and Ameristar, with 700 rooms and resort amenities. The A+ RV Park in Sulphur is adding 62 new RV spaces, a “lazy river” and an adult heated saltwater pool. In addition, Lloyd’s Country Store has six RV spaces on the horizon. We are poised for great things to happen in the community, economy and tourism industry as a whole. Others are noticing it too, such as the bureau’s hosting of the travel writer in October 2012 which resulted in Acadiana Profile magazine naming Lake Charles as the City of the Year in its February/March issue, and giving the city a five-page spread. Success doesn’t happen without careful planning and goals. To learn more about the 2013 goals for the sales and communications departments, visit www.visitlakecharles.org/goals.
AUTO HOME MARINE INDUSTRIAL FARM GARDEN OILFIELD APPLIANCE
600 S. MLK HWY LAKE CHARLES • LA 1-800-256-1471
436-7698
4840 Lake Street Staff L.T. Armstrong, Joyce Clarke, Tom Clarke, Monica Guillory, Stephanie Jarvis, Josh Robberson
530 E. College Street Staff L-R: Nikki Dowden, Jennifer Lartigue, Billy Breaux
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 61
Fire Dept. Not Just Answering Alarms A Look At The Lake Charles Fire Department In 2012 BY LAURA LANDRY
T
he Lake Charles Fire Department was established in 1876. It serves the City of Lake Charles and Ward 3 District 2. The result is that the department covers an area of approximately 144 Square Miles. The Department’s Chief is Keith Murray.The Department has at its disposal 10 Fire Stations and 15 Fire Trucks. In 2012, these trucks had 2,769 runs. (See the detailed breakdown at right.)
Job Duties The Department’s six divisions focus on Fire Suppression, Fire Prevention, Communications, Maintenance, Fire Training and Administration. There are presently a total of 182 Positions in the Lake Charles Fire Department. Of these, 162 are in Fire Suppression and 20 are support person employed in the other five Divisions. As the break-down of runs below will indicate, firefighters made almost 3,000 runs during the course of 2012. But city fire fighters always do much more than responding to alarms. Some of the other
2012 INCIDENTS BY PROPERTY USE job tasks of Lake Charles Firefighters include:— Public education.— Involvement with such community organizations as the CCOA and MDA.— Work and education on child passenger safety. City firefighters also check a total of 8,000 hydrants a year and do a total of 8,000 preplans as well.
Key Events Of 2012 During the previous year, Lake Charles Established the Regional Firefighter Training Academy. This Training Academy is under the mentorship of Lake Charles. The training it provides lasts 20 weeks. Lake Charles, Westlake, Moss Bluff, Carlyss and Sulphur all train firefighters together in the program. The Department received Hazmat and rehab trucks through a Port Security Grant.
Fires And Incidents The box at right shows crucial data about structure fires and other fire incidents handled by the Lake Charles Fire Dept. in 2012.
Property Use...........................................................................Incidents 1. Private dwelling.............................................................................67 2. Apartments ....................................................................................22 3. Hotels and motels ............................................................................5 4. All other residential .......................................................................13 5. Total residential...........................................................................107 6. Public assembly...............................................................................1 7. Schools and colleges .......................................................................0 8. Health care and penal ......................................................................1 9. Stores and offices ............................................................................6 10. Industry, utility ................................................................................0 11. Storage in structures ........................................................................5 12. Other structures ...............................................................................2 13. Totals for structures.....................................................................122 14a. Fires in highway vehicles ............................................................58 14b. Fires in other vehicles .................................................................18 15. Fires outside of structures .............................................................14 16. Fires in brush, grass, wildland.......................................................41 17. Fires in rubbish, dumpsters ...........................................................55 18. All other fires ................................................................................16 19. Total fires ....................................................................................324 20. Rescue, EMS responses...............................................................160 21. False alarm responses..................................................................791 22. Mutual aid ...................................................................................444 23a. Hazardous material responses .....................................................79 23b. Other hazardous conditions .......................................................521 24. All other responses ......................................................................450 25. Total for all incidents ...............................................................2,769
1930 ETHEL 433-5882 62 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
Statewide Political Sinkhole After Keeping His Distance For Eight Months, Jindal Finds Himself Peering Into A Political Sinkhole BY JOHN MAGINNIS
I
t seemed odd to many that eight months after a giant sinkhole began swallowing trees and swampland in Assumption Parish, Gov. Bobby Jindal hadn’t been down to survey the situation. After all, he has a reputation for responding rapidly to disasters, natural and manmade. Yet he practically had to be shamed into going after WAFB in Baton Rouge aired footage of its reporter’s repeated questions to the governor about when he planned to go and Jindal’s repeated nonanswers about how state agencies were on top of the situation and keeping him apprised. When he finally went to Bayou Corne, environmental lawyer Erin Brockovich, whom Julia Roberts played in the movie of the same name, had already met with displaced residents to sign them up for the expected lawsuit against the company responsible for the cave-in. Jindal might have preferred to keep his distance until the state Office of Conservation is cleared on any question of lax oversight or slow response. The expanding sinkhole could be seen as a symbol of the course of the governor’s politics these days. Just the week before his visit, Jindal was the toast of the nation’s capital after his killer stand-up comedy routine at the Washington Gridrion Show. His one-liners rocked the audience, which included the President of the United States However, the next week, at the meeting of the Conservative Political Action Committee, the ground opened up under him when he finished ninth in a presidential straw poll. Conservatives must have noticed his recent abrupt swing toward the political center and his stinging criticism of the GOP’s performance in the national elections last year. His recycled Gridiron jokes bombed as well. “I see Eric Holder is with us tonight,” the governor read off the
teleprompter. The U.S. attorney general, of course, was not. Brushing that off, Jindal returned to the State Capitol to present to legislators his dramatic proposal to eliminate personal and corporate income taxes and to replace them with broadened and increased sales taxes. His team was confident that the bold plan, which promised to benefit every income group and create a surge of economic growth, would restore his slipping job approval ratings among state voters and secure his hero status among fiscally conservative Republicans nationwide. Any qualms about how the plan would mostly benefit the rich and shift the tax burden to business were dismissed by the governor’s soaring rhetoric of greater prosperity for all. But then serious questions were raised — not about the governor’s words, but his numbers. The independent, non-partisan Public Affairs Research Council reported that the administration was low-balling the cost
of eliminating the income taxes while very optimistically projecting the increase in sales tax revenue, resulting, by PAR’s analysis, in a $500 to $650 million shortfall in the plan’s first year. More faulty math was uncovered the next day when a group of clergy revealed that the administration hadn’t factored in proposed new taxes on services in its computing of the tax swap’s impact on lower-income residents. To take the governor’s favorite example of the teacher making $45,000, adding in service taxes would make a modest tax benefit of $800 more modest still whenever he or she pays the monthly cable bill, gets a hair cut or takes the cat to the vet. Adding to Jindal’s sinking feeling was an editorial in The Times-Picayune that urged the governor to scrap his tax swap plan and start all over. With no major group yet backing his tax proposal, could matters get any worse for the governor? They did, and with two words not linked to state government in a while: federal subpoenas. It
was revealed that the U.S. attorney in Baton Rouge is investigating the administration’s award of a $185 million Medicaid claims processing contract to CNSI, a Maryland company that previously employed Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein. He claimed to have taken no part in the contract decision. But documents revealed he influenced a change in the request for proposals that made his old firm eligible to compete. Greenstein, a highly capable administrator, is the governor’s point man on the massive ongoing privatization of the management of public hospitals and the Medicaid program. The administration is standing by him. But it swiftly canceled the contract with CNSI. Given that Jindal’s first initiative as governor was ethics reform, what he doesn’t need right now, along with other problems, is a scandal in health care, his area of expertise. Especially if, like the sinkhole, it spreads wider. March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 63
The Session Taking Hostages
Tax And Budget Fights Will Dominate This Legislative Session, And Education Is Just As Hard-Boiled BY JEREMY ALFORD
O
ne of the easiest ways to rile up lawmakers is to threaten them with a special session, which is what Gov. Bobby Jindal did to very little fanfare recently. The governor was just setting the stage. It is possible that the state Supreme Court could render its decision on the administration’s voucher overhaul law while lawmakers are in their regular session, which convenes April 8 and adjourns June 6. A district judge ruled in November that the voucher program unconstitutionally sends public funds to private schools. The Supreme Court took up the case last week. It will take up another section of the 2012 education reform package later this year when it considers the constitutionality of a bill rewriting the rules for tenure and teacher evaluations. Depending on the timing, Jindal could wind up pushing a reworked version of his voucher law through the regular session with only a few weeks remaining. In what would be the political equivalent of the Stockholm Syndrome, lawmakers may oblige under the gun, especially if faced with the option of returning to Baton Rouge for a special session in the fall, by which time teachers’ unions would have ample time to fire up their troops. On the other hand, lawmakers may need a special session if the Supreme Court delivers its decision after the deadline to introduce new legislation. Then again, sources say some special interests are already planning to have the necessary bills filed in the regular session, regardless of when and if the court acts. Equally uncertain is the fate of proposals to alter the popular TOPS scholarship program and give university management boards the authority to increase tuition, something only lawmakers currently enjoy — or rather detest. The latter issue is now billed as “tuition freedom.” To keep TOPS afloat, Team Jindal wants to redirect $120 million from a tobacco settlement fund. That “sweep” is among nearly 60 other dedicated funds targeted for transfers in the next budget. The administration probably hopes that tying the sweeps to a popular program
64 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
like TOPS will convince lawmakers to go along with the controversial plan to use one-time funds for recurring expenses. Dr. James Caillier, executive director of the Patrick Taylor Foundation, where the TOPS program originated, says only $29 million is being used from the state general fund for scholarships next fiscal year. That’s an all-time low, thanks to the fund sweeps. He adds that should be enough to halt bills aiming to curb the growth of TOPS — for now. “It’s hard to make the argument that TOPS is a drain on the budget,” Caillier says. “Maybe next session.” As for tuition freedom, there appears to be another hostage situation brewing. Senate Education Chairman Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, and House Education Chairman Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, are proposing a new outcomes-based system for university funding — and they want their proposals to take priority. “Until our bill passes, we will not be hearing any of [the tuition freedom bills],” Carter says.
Carter. “They’re more focused on the tax swap plan right now,” says Appel. But if the opportunity strikes to use education issues as leverage to pass the tax swap plan or next year’s budget, Jindal will certainly leap into frame twisting a twirly mustache with one hand and tying rope around the train tracks with his other. This is a high stakes game, and the Jindal administration has learned when to take prisoners — and when to let them get run over.
To keep TOPS afloat, Team Jindal wants to redirect $120 million from a tobacco settlement fund. Appel says the outcomes-based proposal would appoint a task force to place colleges into five tiers, where their graduation rates and performances could be compared to similar schools elsewhere. The proposed system would take the place of the GRAD Act, which also allows universities to raise tuition based on performance, but lawmakers complain is too easily manipulated. University funding from the state would be divided into two categories under the Appel-Carter plan: 60 percent for baseline funding, with no accountability required; and 40 percent pegged to outcomes. “Tennessee is already doing this,” says Appel. House Speaker Pro Tem Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, will be the lead author on a tuition freedom bill backed by the Board of Regents, which is also considering litigation on the issue. Similar efforts have failed miserably in the past, but this time Leger has a partner in House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, RLake Charles, and an argument that may find appeal among his colleagues. “We’re one of only two states in the nation that require a vote of the Legislature to increase tuition,” Leger says. In drafting the new education package, Appel says the administration and governor have granted a greater degree of “independence” for himself and March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 65
Transportation On The Move Lake Area Transportation Systems Had A Busy 2012 BY KARLA WALL
CITY ROADWAY PROJECTS There are numerous roadway construction, extension and rehabilitation projects underway in the Lake Area. Local bond projects include: • Enterprise Blvd. Extension, Phase 1 (Fournet to Kathryn Sts.). This $14 million project was begun in February of 2011, and will be complete in April of this year. • Sallier St. (Marine St. to Lake St.). Now under design. This project will cost an estimated $5 million. • Lake St. Reconstruction (Sale Rd. to McNeese St.). Last year brought the long-awaited completion of the $7.4 million Lake St. reconstruction project, started way back in January of 2011. • McNeese St. Extension (Hwy. 14 to Parish Line). This $6.8 million extension project brought McNeese St. into the McNeese Farm area, opening up a new area for future businesses. The project started in June of 2009, and was recently completed. • Ryan Streetscape. This $6.7 mil66 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
lion project, begun in March of 2011, should be complete this summer. It includes the widening of sidewalks, as well as new decorative street lighting in the downtown area. • Gill St. Extension. This $2.6 million construction project started in April 2012, and should be finished this spring. Capital projects included: • Pear St. Reconstruction (Knapp to Woodring). This $325,000 project was started in June 2012 and has been completed. • Bilbo St. Reconstruction. This $172,000 project, begun in March of 2012, is now complete. • Summit, Hunter and 6th St. Reconstruction. This $1.6 million project, started in Oct. of 2012, should be completed in May of this year. There are several projects scheduled to start soon, including: • a $700,000 project to repair Mignonette St., which will begin in May of this year and be completed by October. • a $3.8 million project to recon-
struct Sale Rd. from Holly Hill to Contraband Bridge. This project should begin this summer, and be completed by summer of 2014. • a $550,000 project to overlay and perform drainage repairs on Vito. This project should begin this August. The city spent approximately $480,000 on asphalt overlays on Armstrong, Holmes, Beldon and Church Streets, as well as Railroad Ave. And several overlay projects are under design, including Shellbeach Dr. (Lake St. to the bridge west of Wilson St.), Poplar St. (N. Booker to Sallie Mae St.), Katherine St. (N. Booker St.. to N. Lincoln St.), Beam St. (Mill St. to dead end), Third St. (Hwy. 14 to McNabb St.), Seventh Ave. (Second St. to dead end), W. Walton St. (Illinois St. to S. Walton St.), Briarfield St. (Illinois St. to dead end), S. Walton St. (W. Walton St. to E. Walton St.), E. Walton St. (Illinois St. to S. Walton St.), Brentwood St. (Illinois St. to dead end), Greenfield Circle, W. Autumnwood Ln., Springwood Ln. (Autumnwood Ln. to dead end), and
Stillwood Ln. (Springwood Ln. to McNeese St.). Sidewalk installation and improvement projects are planned for Watkins St., Fifth Ave., Fruge St. (Albert to existing sidewalk — Abraham’s Tent), McNabb St., west side (Fruge St. to Broad St.), Broad St., north side (Hwy. 14 to McNabb St.), and Commercial St., south side (N. Shattuck St. to N. Prater St.). Intersection improvement projects will begin in June at Kirkman and 12th Sts., Lake and 18th Sts., Kirkman and Alamo Sts., and Fifth Ave. and Prien Lake Rd.
TRANSIT CENTER The new City of Lake Charles Transit Customer Service Center, at 1155 Ryan St., was completed in October and officially opened in December. Work began on the $5 million project in Sept. of 2011. continued
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 67
Transportation The new building provides customers with bus transit and administration offices in one location. It has over 13,000 square feet of office space, thirdparty lease space on the second floor, 565 square feet of bus transfer canopy area, 65 public parking spaces, a pavilion, a fountain and landscaping. The center offers service to five fixed routes and two para-transit routes. Hours of operation for buses are 5:45 am-5:45 pm. The transit center serves an increasing bus clientele. In Fiscal Year 2012, the bus system served 228,687 passengers, up from 215,951 passengers in FY 2011. In FY 2010, there were 179,478 passengers.
CHENNAULT INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT Chennault continues to grow, and is gearing up for a busy future. Air cargo flow at the airport has increased, says
Chennault director Randy Robb, as has business at Aeroframe.
Tenants Remain Strong The airport’s tenants include Northrop Grumman, which employs 650 people; Aeroframe Services, which employs 400; Million Air, which employs 253; and Louisiana Millworks, which employs just over 100.
New Hangar Means Jobs Perhaps the biggest news from Chennault over the past year has been the announcement of plans for a new $20 million hangar. Hangar H, which, according to director Randy Robb should be complete in May of next year, will bring in 500 permanent jobs. “This new hangar will give us the capability of bringing in four more airplanes,” Robb says. Bids will open April 23, says Robb. The project should be awarded in June, and site prep should begin in June, as well. Chennault recently acquired 29 acres of land from McNeese at $670,000. The property, located at Broad St. and Sen. J. Bennett Johnston St., will be used
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as a runway protection zone, meaning that the airport now has a buffer zone between the runway and adjacent property. “We now own the property, which means we don’t have to worry about it being developed, about future noise issues, and things of that nature,” explains Robb. The new property will also allow for the widening of the airport’s taxiway to provide an alternate runway. The project, with an estimated cost of $7-9 million, will create a runway 150 ft. wide and 8,000 ft. long. It would be used as a backup runway when, for instance, the main runway has to be closed for repairs.
Future Plans Robb says the airport is preparing to grow along with the area during the economic “boom” that’s predicted. The airport is planning an air cargo facility that will serve plants that are building or expanding in the area. “It will be a just-in-time cargo service for these plants, so they can quickly get cargo to construction sites,” explains continued
It was recently announced that Chennault will host the first air show to be held in this area in 15 years. The Board of Commissioners approved payment for design on the project in November of last year. Robb says a final decision on whether the go-ahead with the project will be made in May or June of this year. If approved, construction could begin this September, and be completed by spring of 2016. Another welcome piece of news regarding the airport this past year: It was recently announced that the airport will host the first air show to be held in this area in 15 years. Scheduled for Sept. 28-29, the air show will include two aerobatic acts, a Canadian Forces F-18, a kids’ zone with simulators and games, a “Red Tails” movie and exhibit, a wingwalking demonstration by Jane Wicker Wingwalking, a Flash Fire Jet Truck, a MiG-17 and more. There will be fly-by exhibits, as well as ground exhibits. Bringing the air show back to Lake Charles, says Robb, was the work of many people and agencies. “Speaker (of the State House) Chuck Kleckley approached me about bringing the air show back,” says Robb. “I told him we didn’t have the people, and he said ‘I’ll get them for you.’ There was just a groundswell of public support for bringing back the air show, and so we wanted to do it. We hired Megan McLellan, director of sales, marketing and development for the state DOTD, to be the director of the air show, and it’s taken off. All of this came about in four months, and with the work of a lot of people. While it’s not our air show, we’re proud to host it. It gives people a chance to see what we do out here — what Chennault’s about.”
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Transportation Robb. Overall, the airport is on track to grow with the area, says Robb. “We’re planning to grow here,” he says. “We’re surrounded by Sowela, and that’s been a great partnership. We’re excited about the future.”
LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT Despite challenges from market trends, rising costs of operation and the threat of sequestration, Lake Charles Regional Airport is in full growth mode. Passenger numbers, down slightly last year, have picked back up during the first three months of this year, says director Heath Allen. The airport recently hired Boyd Group International of Evergreen, Col., to do a market analysis, and the results were encouraging. “We had the analysis done because of the contracting airline industry — all of the major airlines are merging lately — and the study found that we’re on very solid footing.” That’s despite the many challenges facing the airport and the airline industry in general, says Allen. “The cost of operation is always going up, with increasing fuel prices,” Allen explains. “Also, there’s more pressure recently on smaller markets like this.”
New Growth A $2.3 million runway rehabilitation project should be complete by the end of May, Allen says. “We’re removing the rubber deposited from aircraft landings, and adding new markings,” says Allen. “This concrete was laid down in 1959, so it takes periodic maintenance to preserve the life of the runway.”
The fire station, which also houses training facilities, was recently expanded, says Allen. The project added 3,000 square ft., at a cost of $1 million. “It’s really given us a nice facility,” says Allen. The airport also added a new fire truck, as well as new emergency response equipment. There are also, says Allen, several short-track projects in the works or scheduled, including adding parking space and secondary runway rehabilitation. Also in the works is a project to add a 1,000-ft. access road to Gulf Hwy. Bids should be received in May, says Allen.
Sequestration Of course, like thousands of such facilities nationwide, Robb says Chennault may be impacted by the current “sequestration,” or closure of federal services due to government spending cuts, which has led to the closure of about 149 federal contract air traffic towers. It was recently announced that the tower at Chennault will remain open. The only tower in the state of Louisiana, in fact, that was on the recently-released list of closures was the tower at Shreveport Downtown Airport. Factors that the government considered in keeping contract towers open was importance to national security; economic impact beyond the local community; impact on multi-state transportation, communication or financial networks; and the importance of the airport as a diversionary airport for a larger hub. “We were confident that we could handle the expense of keeping the tower open if the government had decided to close it,” said Robb. The tower at Lake Charles Regional is not a contract tower, but a FAA tower, so was not in consideration for the most recent round of closures. The list of FAA tower closures will come at a later date. Allen says airport administration is sweating the round of layoffs, but is optimistic about the chances of the tower remaining open.
March 28, 2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION 71
Out & About ALLEN PARISH Things are abuzz in Allen Parish. Winter is moving on, and spring is settling in. God paints us beautiful pictures daily with the sunrise, sunset and the beautiful flowers that dot our landscapes. People are out in their yards planting trees and flowers and grooming their ground for this year’s garden. Hunting in Allen Parish is generational. Our youth got to test their skills in the West Bay Wildlife Management Area for the West Bay Youth Turkey Shoot on March 16. The West Bay General Lottery Hunt is held on March 30-31 and April 6-7. And if you are not into hunting, a day pass will let you drive through and see nature at its best. It’s getting warm in Allen Parish, and that means that canoeing on the Ouiska Chitto. This spring-fed, natural waterway, located in Mittie, is just what the hot summer days call for. The sounds of the water, the birds singing, the smell of the pine trees — the Ouiska Chitto is nature at its best. Come alone or bring
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the family; everyone will enjoy a canoe trip down the creek. For more information on outfitters, call 888-639-4868. The Canoe Festival will kick off on Thursday, April 18, and will continue through April 20. The festival will be
located at the Allen Parish Fairgrounds on Tiger Lane in Oberlin. This year, the festival will feature a full carnival, laser tag, craft booths, food booths and a rodeo. The main headliner for the Canoe Festival is Geno Delafosse, who will be
playing Saturday, April 20, from 7-9 pm. Family night at the Canoe Festival carnival will be Thursday night. Bring the whole family. The rodeo will be a ranch-style rodeo. It begins at noon on Saturday, April 20. For more information, call 888-639-4868. Starting on April 27 and continuing every other weekend through Sept. 28, Soileau Downs Trottingbred Racing takes place at 3 pm. Come watch the antics of the racers, enjoy some downhome cooking, and have a tailgate party Soileau Style! The Sacred Heart Catholic Church Spring Festival will take place in Oakdale May 3-5, and the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church Bazaar will be held in Oberlin Sept. 1. Enjoy the festivities, auctions, food and fun. Sacred Heart has a carnival with many favorite fair rides. September also brings the Allen Parish Fair, to be held this year Sept. 1821. For over 50 years, this fair has brought smiles and laughter to everyone who attends. The rides are some of the best, and you can sample some of the
best Cajun food you will ever taste. And don’t forget to try a wonderful funnel cake. The Coushatta Tribe of Allen Parish is the host for the annual Coushatta PowWow, held at the Coushatta Casino and Resort in October. Many tribes from all over the United States travel to compete at the Pow-Wow. The Haunted Hospital in Oakdale will take place Oct. 25, 26 and 31. Come face these ghost and goblins, if you dare. November and December bring the holiday season. Come enjoy Reeves’ Christmas in the Park on Nov. 28. Christmas in the Country will take place in Elizabeth on Dec. 7, and the Kinder Hometown Holidays will take place Dec. 12-14. Oakdale’s Christmas on Main Street, to be held Dec. 14, begins with a parade at 5 pm, and ends with a Sounds of the Season concert and a fireworks display. Oberlin’s Cajun Christmas will be held on Dec. 21. The Grant Christmas Tree Farm will host its annual holiday festival Nov. 30, and on Dec. 7 and 14. There will be food and craft booths. People come from all over to taste the homemade cat-eye biscuits, sausage and rich cane syrup, made right on the property. The children can enjoy a petting zoo and feed the goats. You can see the old donkey turning the
ole’ time grinder, which juices the sugar cane. The cane syrup is sold in the gift shop. While you are there, you can pick out your very own live Christmas tree and carry it home. All are invited to come to Allen Parish, home of some of the most interesting and friendly people you will ever meet. Our culture is very diverse, and we are proud of our heritage. From camping and canoeing, to food, festivals and fairs, we have something for everyone. Come, enjoy and take a little Allen Parish home with you.
ticular the Hackberry Community Center.
Cameron Fishing Festival This signature event for serious fishermen takes place the first full weekend in August. The festival includes a saltwater fishing rodeo, live music venues, tasty local food, children’s activities and a Queen’s contest. The festivities are staged at the end of the Davis Road at the Cameron Jetty Pier Pavilion. The festival is sponsored by Cameron Lions Club.
Alligator Festival
CAMERON PARISH
The festival takes place the second full weekend in January in downtown Cameron.
This exciting festival is held, as always, in the first Sunday in October. The festival includes a Little Mr. and Miss Pageant, a large variety of food, alligator skinning demonstration, live music and silent and live auctions. The Grand Chenier Park is the center of the festivities. The festival is sponsored by St. Eugene Catholic Church.
Duck Off
Fall Festival
This popular event is held in the last weekend in January. All proceeds benefited the youth of Hackberry, and in par-
This heavily attended annual festival is held in October at Grand Lake High School.
Here’s a list of annual key events that take place in Cameron Parish.
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State Taxes Facing A Tough Audience Jindal Has Promised To Work With Legislators On Paying For His Plan, But It's Sounding Like He's Standing Firm On The Full Income Tax Repeal BY JOHN MAGINNIS
F
acing a tougher audience than he had for his standup comedy routine before the Washington Gridiron Show, Gov. Bobby Jindal could have used a few jokes to soften up legislative committee members when he outlined his plan recently for massive tax code changes.
74 2013 ANNUAL REPORT SPECIAL EDITION March 28, 2013
While his legislation to replace personal and corporate income taxes with higher, broader sales taxes likely will get out of the administration-friendly House Ways and Means Committee in some form, legislators in general are highly skeptical about what it would do to their constituents and the already shaky finances of state government.
There is no doubt about who does best without progressive income taxes: wealthy people and big corporations, progressively. The administration offers the example of a teacher making $45,000, filing individually, and getting a net tax break of $800, or 1.8 percent. An individual making $150,000 would save about $5,100, or 3.4 percent — and the rate
goes up from there. Letting the rich get richer comes with the territory of becoming America’s next tax haven. The governor imagines a future Louisiana without income taxes as a beacon luring new businesses and highincome residents to the state, bringing with them investments and high-paying jobs. For as strong as Jindal claims that
the Louisiana economy is performing, he is getting back up in front of audiences saying that too many citizens still need jobs or better ones. To Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, he will argue that the current tax code, complex and riddled with exemptions, poses the greatest economic development impediment, which his simpler, fairer plan will remove. Jindal’s big tax repeal idea, however, rests on many small ideas of new taxation to pay for it, which is where the message gets tricky. Though the governor’s plan may sound grand to people and corporations outside of Louisiana, the test for legislators is”: What would it do to their constituents and firms already here? The proposed state sales tax increase to 5.88 percent would push the combined rate in nearly every parish into double digits, tops in the nation. The state would be among the most aggressive at taxing services under the plan. The most common targets would be cable television and hair cuts, but there are dozens more, from computer programming to the performing arts. The impact of the service taxes would hit small businesses hardest. Architects, engineers, accountants, insurance agents, veterinarians, computer technicians, travel agents, photographers and many more would have to tack sales taxes onto their invoices. Theoretically,
The governor imagines a future Louisiana without income taxes as a beacon luring new businesses and high-income residents to the state. the levies are passed onto clients, but, realistically, they often are eaten by the businesses because customers buy that much less. It is little wonder that the Louisiana Assoc. of Business and Industry is sitting on the sidelines of the tax discussion for now.
The governor might call these firms and those with tax exemptions “the special interests,” who will hire lobbyists to protect their “loopholes.” True, fear of the tax plan has been a boon for lobbyists — (“My phone has blown up,” said one) — but once the bill is filed, they might get taxed too. Parts of the tax plan may seem common-sensible and non-controversial, though past attempts to get them through the Legislature have gone nowhere. Jindal is right in saying that Louisiana needs to stop being one of four states without a centralized sales tax reporting and collection system. More so than the tax code itself, the major complaint in commerce is the required separate reporting and payment of sales taxes in each parish a firm does business. That is also a hindrance to compliance with any federal legislation to tax Internet sales that might one day pass Congress. Local governments have fiercely resisted the single collector concept, but technology could help get them over their objections, so long as they get their money without it passing through the state treasury. Also long overdue is the tightening of Enterprise Zone and movie production tax credits, for which the state gives too much away for the benefits received.
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Transportation We're Losing Ground BY FRANK X. PHILLIPS, NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES CONCENTRATION, HAROLD & PEARL DRIPPS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
N
o man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. — John Donne, Meditation XVII, Devotions upon Emergent Occasions
In 1991, while I was still with industry, I and my family were transferred here. My older daughter now works in South Carolina; the junior daughter pursues her doctoral work in Southern California. My Real Boss and I are still here — we like our home grounds. We, along with the other Gulf States are losing ground — literally! The ground is our coastline and associated marsh lands. Viewed against our human life span, the loss may not appear to be alarming or dramatic, but we need to recognize and acknowledge that our coastline areas are shrinking. As with most “natural events,” we have no single “cause” on which to develop and concentrate our hopeful corrective measures. Simplistically, the collective interactions of sea level rise, then erosion and salt water intrusion contribute to coastal loss. A variety of studies conducted to assess the condition of Louisiana’s coastline have produced lots and lots of numbers, data and information. The specifics and the conclusions and projections vary. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) of Louisiana released Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, which became effective in May 2012. I’ve found that lots of numbers and data become mind-numb-
ing, so here is my “The Idiot’s Guide…” to keep things simple — 1,880 square miles of coastal land in LA have been lost in the last 80 years … 1,750 square miles of additional land are at risk of being lost in the next 50 years! OK, the latter number is an estimated projection, but when the rates of land loss are compared, the numbers become 23.5 square miles/year versus 35 square miles/year! If this is close to being correct, we’ll lose considerably more coastline per year, and this will continue until we reduce or stop the Gulf of Mexico’s moving northward! Our coastline is not all that is being altered. As more salt water penetrates further inland, the biological communi-
ties, and the physical and chemical aspects of the affected areas (the interactions among these components comprise an “ecosystem”) change. As an ecosystem changes, such as by nitrogen uptake (excess nutrients reduction) and slowing water movement (suspended materials may settle and accrue), so too will the “services” the system provides us as well as our fellow creatures. Such changes may range from being subtle to major. Time — or, more accurately, the rate of the change(s) — is a significant determining factor in the often poorly understood predictability of “what’s happening out there?” In February of this year, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration) stated that “The Gulf Coast Region is essential to our nation and our economy, providing valuable energy resources, abundant seafood, extraordinary beaches and recreational activities, and a rich cultural heritage.” In recent history, natural (hurricanes, severe weather events, etc.) and manmade catastrophes (the Deep Water Horizon) have forced us to recognize that we must look at and try to understand the Gulf of Mexico as an ecosystem! Following the Deep Water event, Congress produced the RESTORE Act (Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012). That’s quite a tongue-twister to be sure, but the Act’s intent is to enable both ecological and economic recovery for the Gulf Region. An amalgam of both federal and state agencies, in conjunction with existing efforts, will work cooperatively to produce an ecosystem-driven approach. This is a huge undertaking that will require Herculean scientific and technical skills coupled with the best management and executive oversight. We’re talking tens of billions of dollars to be invested into the various programs during decades to come. According to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report (2010), four ports in Louisiana accounted for 213 million tons of materials being shipped during 2009. The Calcasieu River contributed 52 million tons of the total tonnage. Over the years, the shipping channel of our river has been deepened and widened to accommodate larger, deeper-draft vessels to take advantage of the economyof-scale: that is, to move more material per unit of time to reduce the cost per unit of cargo. The channel is presently maintained at 40 feet deep and 400 feet wide. This additional volume of higher salt content (increased salinity) supports safer ship and barge navigation. continued
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Environment The Port complex of Lake Charles, the Industrial Canal, our two major petroleum refineries and the 20+ specialized facilities that are supplied by materials produced by the refineries (by-products of the refining processes) are collectively a moving force of this region’s economy. At the same time, the water that is
required for our industries exerts environmental challenges to the fresh(er) water marsh ecosystems along the length of the river. These have historically dominated the middle reaches of the river. Over time, the fresh water plants that hold the marsh together yield to the increased/prolonged salt stress. As the above-ground portions of the grass die, the root structures wither and die. Without the roots knitting the below-
ground marsh together, water and wind movements erode the remaining ground. One result of this process is that more open water now exists among our coastlands, where marsh formally existed. Less land means less buffering against both storm water surges and greater wind speeds. This unfortunate positive feedback mechanism increases the rate of erosion. The weakened mats or balls of remaining soil erode or dissolve slowly,
leaving open water. A possible take-home message may be that, in our case, the upper reaches of the Calcasieu drainage area below the salt water barrier may be subjected to increased threats of bank areas’ disruption. In the CPRA publication cited earlier, the first two figures present the Predicted Land Change over the next 50 years, and the Communities and Livelihood at Risk due to a 100-year flood event. Such an event is a statistically generated probability based on historical weather and climate records for that region. Both figures show that the majority of land loss and risk will affect the lower coastal reaches. However, the statistical projections for the 100-year flood event indicate that a 0.5-5 foot flood might extend up the Calcasieu beyond Lake Charles to Highway 90. While it’s no consolation, the Eastern portion of the state could face significantly higher (10 – 20 feet) flooding! I include this information to reinforce that the plans and actions MUST address our entire state’s coastal zone protection in an integrated manner. The Southwest Coast Plan (which covers approximately the Western edge of Vermillion Bay to the State line in Sabine Lake) focuses heavily on protective measures and restoration. While the two efforts are intertwined, the protective measures focus on more densely populated areas, such as Lake Charles and Abbeville. Presently, the restoration efforts among our three coastal parishes will focus primarily on hydrologic controls intended to restore and protect wetlands and our unique Chenier ridges. The CPRA Master Plan incorporates programs designed and intended to limit saltwater intrusion and, where possible, increase freshwater input to favor the reformation of freshwater marsh land. Collectively, these activities will also go a long way to providing greater storm surge protection. Here’s a positive local success story to end on an upbeat note. An 8.7-mile stretch of CPRA’s Cameron Parish Shoreline Restoration Project (CS-33) is slated to be completed during the fourth quarter of this year. The work incorporates the reestablishing of dunes, replenishing of a severely eroded beach with clean sand from a borrow area in the Gulf of Mexico and the repairing and fortifying of the only highway (evacuation route) serving the area west of the Calcasieu River Jetty to the eastern-most breakwater at Holly Beach – Constance Beach breakwater field. Well done, all! Please continue to learn more, appreciate and support our state’s “big picture” and protect “our clods” — they add up. Frank X. Phillips teaches and researches the Louisiana environment at McNeese State University.
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TARVER FORD: Committed To Customers And Community BY CARLA FASADE Phillip Tarver, owner of Lake Charles Toyota, purchased Shetler Ford on Beglis Pkwy. in Sulphur three years ago. Since then, the dealership's new and pre-owned inventory has tripled, and it's also experienced a triple-digit sales increase since it opened.
keep track of their customers long after the sale, making sure things are going well with their vehicles, making sure they remain happy to be part of the Tarver customer family. That kind of commitment from the sales staff makes sense, says Arrington, because Phillip Tarver is committed to his employees. "He's very family-oriented," says service manager Rusty Stroderd, who's worked with Tarver for nearly 25 years. "He allows you to take time for your family whenever you need to. And he never expects you to do anything he's not willing to do himself."
enough to build a dealership's reputation on. You have to deliver the goods, and Tarver has a huge selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles to choose from. "You'll find it all here," says Arrington. "Four-wheel-drives, SUVs, trucks, small fuel-efficient cars — everything, across the board."
seven-year, 100,000-mile Powertain Limited Warranty. Customers receive a free vehicle report, and 24-hour roadside assistance.
On The Grow
According to general manager Todd Whittaker, Tarver Ford is closing sale soon on the property it's currently leasing, meaning the dealership is "completeTreated Like Family ly committed to this location The reason for that kind of success? and to Sulphur." Tarver Ford treats its customers like family, Purchasing the property and word has spread about the dealership's also means the dealership can way of conducting business. expand and renovate, says "We take care of our customers like Whittaker, and plans for a huge they've never been taken care of before in expansion will be undertaken in their lives," says Tarver Ford sales manager the very near future. Mike Arrington. "Phillip Tarver has been in "We're going to add five Tarver Ford's managers, pictured from left to right: the car sales business for over 25 years, and Part Of The new sales offices, which will Parts Manager Robbie Louviere, 14 years experience; Sales Manager his reputation for customer service has built Community allow us to significantly increase Jared Bertrand, 14 years experience; Service Manager Rusty Stroderd, up over time." Tarver's generosity isn't our sales staff," says Whittaker. 24 years experience; Sales Manager Mike Arrington, 20 years experience; The lot will be expanded, as Maintaining that legendary customer limited to his customers and his General Manager Todd Whittaker, 27 years experience; and Finance Director John Howell, 20 years experience. well, making room for an service is the number one goal of Tarver employees. The dealership is increased inventory and hedges Ford's experienced management team, also, says manager Jared which includes parts manager Robbie Bertrand, undertaking a "grass roots moveThe fact that the dealership was select- will be built to easily direct traffic into and Louviere, service manager Rusty Stroderd, ment" to give back to the community. ed as a Ford Certified Pre-Owned dealer- out of the dealership. sales managers Mike Arrington and Jared "(The hedges) will make it a little less "As an example, about a year ago the ship says a lot, according to Arrington. Bertrand, general manager Todd Whittaker dealership bought a huge outdoor grill and "There are only a few dealerships confusing for people driving into and out of and finance director John Howell. Tarver a trailer to haul it with," says Bertrand. "We selected as Certified Pre-Owned dealers," the dealership," Arrington says. Ford's sales staff of 14 goes out of its way go to a football game for each high school he says. The parts and service department, to treat customers well during the sale, and — Barbe, Sam Houston, Sulphur, you What does Certified Pre-Owned mean which already goes the extra mile, even Tarver's family-oriented name it — at least once for customers? For one thing, says offering four diesel mechanics, will also approach means that throughout the football Arrington, each Ford Certified Pre-Owned undergo a huge expansion. The current they're not forgotten season. We cook and vehicle undergoes a rigorous 172-point canopied entrance, explains Louviere, will after they drive their give away barbecue, inspection, "everything from brakes to be enclosed to create more office space for new vehicle off the lot. crawfish, what have windshield wiper blades." Stroderd says the service dept. Several new service bays Customers receive free you. It's our way of "Every pre-owned vehicle also undergoes will be constructed. oil changes for life, says being involved in the rigorous mechanical inspections as well, Tarver Ford is also extending their Arrington, as well as community — of giving and they also come with our famous four parts and service hours to include Saturday. back." free state inspections. month, 4,000 mile limited powertrain war- "It's just another way for us to extend supeAnd Tarver sales reps ranty." rior customer service," says Louviere. Fleet Manager Morris Helmer, Certified And with Ford's Certified Pre-Owned Tarver Ford offers a huge selection of 24 years experience, is pictured with Pre-owned warranty program, you can drive off in a vehicles, an experienced and caring staff, a Grass Roots Development Manager Being nice guys to pre-owned vehicle with complete confi- friendly environment and a commitment to Shawn Fontenot. deal with, however, isn't dence. Ford offers a 12-month, 12,000-mile its customers and community. Stop by to Comprehensive Limited Warranty on all see what Tarver Ford can offer you. Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, as well as a For more information or any questions about this Tarver Fordvertorial, call (337) 625-3030. You can visit them online at www/tarverford.com or follow them on Facebook. CONVENIENT LOCATION: Tarver Ford is located at 930 Beglis Parkway in Sulphur.
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