2011 Profile

P rofile Edition 2011 The people, businesses, industry and governments of western St. Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish turns 200 Birthday celebrations planned in July and October This year ’s version of our annual Profile Edition touches on the history of our area as St. Mary Parish makes plans to celebrate its 200th birthday with two events.

In the spirit of the occasion, the Banner presents a few artilces pulled from our long-ago 1959 “Historical and Progress Edition.”

St. Mary Parish became a parish in 1811 and two celebrations are scheduled to commemorate the anniversary.

One will be in Patterson on July 9 and one in Franklin on Oct. 14-16.

The second celebration in Franklin will include a Tour of Homes, Cemetery Tour and storytelling performance

by Techeland Arts Council. This weekend will highlight the history and the people of the parish.

The first event being organized is a Birthday Bash at

Kemper Williams Park on July 9 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Music, food, kids activities, a birthday cake and fireworks will complete the day.

Flashback, an eight member band playing old school rock and roll and blues, will play from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Johnny Chauvin and the Mojo Band will play from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Johnny Chauvin and the Mojo Band describe themselves as Louisiana’s coolest Zydeco band.

Their sound is a lot like gumbo: a mixture of R&B, rock & roll and soul cooked up with that zydeco spice that’s guaranteed to make you move your feet.

A brief ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. to highlight some of St. Mary Parish’s earliest residents and history and present the birthday cake.

Fireworks will start immediately following Johnny Chauvin’s performance.

There will be fun jumps and other kids activities during the event. Soft drinks, beer and food will be sold throughout the event. The event is free to the public.

In conjunction with the birthday celebration, St. Mary Parish will be sponsoring its second annual Spring into Wellness event from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This will be held in the same area as the other activities.

Activities for the Wellness Day include face painting, a coloring contest, free fruit bags, silent auction, a kids’ bingo, money raffles, a kids’ golf putting contest, a school supply basket raffle, healthy eating and physical activity promotion and other activities.

If you have questions or would like to participate in the Wellness Day or Birthday Bash, contact Tammy Doucet at 828-4100, Ext. 504 or Carrie Stansbury at (985) 395-4905.

Franklin: Live here, raise a family, retire, it’s the best It’s the best place to live, best place to raise children and best place to retire.

That’s how Mayor Raymond Harris sums up the City of Franklin.

“Franklin’s still a community without a lot of violent crime,” he said. “The pace of life is great. I don’t think you can go anywhere and find a better situation.”

The people are good, the city is progressive and moving forward and has much to offer, he said.

“We’re not far away from big cities, but you don’t have the problems you find in big cities,” Harris said. “You don’t get stuck in traffic in Franklin. I can’t say you won’t get robbed at gunpoint, but it very seldom happens.

We just don’t have a lot of the headaches of the bigger cities. You can go make more money, but the cost of living (elsewhere) is higher, too.”

The best thing about a small community like Franklin is “everybody knows each other. Guests from out of town are amazed how everyone speaks, knows each other on a first-name basis.”

Harris said the downhome, friendly Southern hospitality makes Franklin outstanding, along with the charm of Main Street, and the historic district, make people fall in love with “things we pass every day and take for granted. I’m proud to be from Franklin.”

The city continues to embark on ways to make the community even better.

Harris said final comple-

tion of water plant rehabilitation is ready. That $2.7 million renovation has been ongoing since 2004 but “it’s a project who’s culmination we celebrate. We feel good about the shape the plant is in, now we’re going to turn our attention to other things as related to the water system.”

The city was successful in installing a road, Boro Lane, and water service for Gulf Craft’s expansion on the Charenton Navigation and Drainage Canal, both of which have also aided Sunrise Fleet Service nearby.

“Sunrise looks like it’s doing a lot of business these days and we anticipate Gulf Craft coming online in the next 12

to 18 months,” Harris said.

“We feel good, that’s some economic development out there. We also addressed the intersection of Northwest Boulevard and Chatsworth Road, we were able to make some repairs there.”

Harris said he thinks the Charenton canal is “very underrated. You can get out of there to the Gulf, there’s land available around it, and I think the adjacency to Baldwin and Franklin is where the labor force is. It’s closer to the highway and the railroad, as well. When you talk to people about the port, they say it’s in the boonies, you have to get off the highway to get to it. At the Charenton

Canal, you’re on the highway in minutes. That’s the thing that makes that area so attractive, and I think Gulf Craft saw that and took advantage of that.”

Additional development along the canal could spur job creation in the area, which Harris said he is hopeful for.

“We are committed to seeing this develop,” he said.

“Eventually there’ll be residents for the industrial park as well.”

The mayor said there are at least three drainage projects to begin construction within the next year.

Rights of way letters will be going out soon to property

owners along the Yokely Canal for a deepening and widening project long in the works. The canal drains some 6,000 acres of land in the vicinity.

“I think that project is probably the next thing on our agenda,” Harris said.

The south Willow Street drainage project has been funded by the parish, Harris said, and the city is awaiting distribution of that $600,000 in funding.

Also on tap is a drainage project on Hanson and Perret streets, and that $400,000 project is also anticipated.

“About $2.5 million in projects is going to be done,” Harris said.

A $2.7 million overhaul of the city water plant is wrapping up

He also hopes that construction will begin late this summer or early fall on the sidewalks around local schools.

“That’s a smaller project that we’ve been a long time working on,” Harris said.

The city is also working with state Rep. Sam Jones (D-Franklin) for state funding of $3.3 million to rebuild the pumping system for drainage in Pecan Acres. “We have a good application, so we’re waiting to hear from that,” Harris said. “That’s the only project that the money’s not in the bank yet. I would love to get those four drainage projects done this term.”

Harris said the local area was not impacted by the national economic downturn so much as others. “I’ve been very conservative in managing the city’s revenues and the council has supported me in that,” he said. “This summer’s going to be my toughest management trip. We’ve got reserves built up, but we have $400,000 in bills from preparing for the flood. It’s going to be a tough summer for us. Something went wrong with one of our pumping stations that we didn’t anticipate. This summer is threatening to deplete our reserves and you never want to be in that position. We’re going to make it, I’m not scared, but we’re going to have to watch our pennies.”

The city expects to be reimbursed 75 percent of flood prevention costs, Harris said.

‘With bubbling laughter in its heart’: Old Franklin recalled

By FAY G. BROWN (The Banner-Tribune, April 28, 1959) If you’ve never heard the music of the calliope floating in the air at five o’clock in the morning, nor rushed down to the banks of the bayou to welcome the showboat, nor joined in the parade of the brass band down the streets of Franklin, then you have been robbed of some of the most cherished experiences of childhood.

For this was Franklin with bubbling laughter in its heart.

Those were the days — a decade or so before 1900 and many years thereafter — when you had only to cross the bayou to witness a horse race, join friends at Evans Hall to attend a theatrical, or trip down the elevated walkway from the Schwan building to Evans Hall to waltz with your partner to the strains of familiar songs. Children were not allowed on this walkway; so when you were considered old enough to attend the dance with your escort, you held your breath in anticipation as you traveled across the walkway above the street, for the occasion marked the reaching of maturity.

Such priceless gems as these give you pause. They make you wonder why you could not have a leprechaun so that you could flit from one decade to another and be a party of everything that was Franklin in the past. Certainly, excitement was at a high pitch when the showboats came puffing down the Teche and landed at delaHoussaye’s wharf. A parade, led by the boat’s brass band and followed by crowds of children, heralded the vaudeville or the melodramatic play that was to be shown on the boat. And when the hour came for the presentation, you may be sure that the showboat was packed and jammed with enthusiastic patrons. Circuses came to town frequently in those days, too, and one of them was the big top of such a renowned company as Ringling Brothers.

The plays at Evans Hall were usually presented on Sunday night. Mr. Evans, according to information by those who remember, looked like a cowboy, wore his hair long, and carried dirks and pistols in his belt. On the corner near the building was an old well, no doubt a source of worry to parents. Probably one used to furnish water for fires, or for horses and cows; the well was later covered and boxed up, but parents were still fearful that the planks covering the well might cave in and warned their children to stay away from this potential danger spot.

Race Track The race track, which has been the subject of many conversations, had its inception in 1889, when T.J. Shaffer formed the St. Mary Parish Association. The purpose of the group was to buy and maintain a park, to make a race track, and to pro-

cure horses for racing. Over 350 shares were bought at ten dollars per share by the citizens of Franklin and Cypremort to make the race track a reality. In 1904 the association made expensive improvements to their park across the bayou. The one-half mile track was leveled off, several necessary buildings were erected, and everything was put in first-class condition. A grand opening, held May 1 that year, included running and trotting races and a baseball game. The park activities were not confined, however, to horse racing, for in 1950 automobile and motorcycle races were also held in the park.

St. Mary Club Just three years after the organization of the park association came the St. Mary Club, another group which played a prominent role in the entertainment world of Franklin. The club rooms, which occupied the second floor of the Schwan building (present site of Blevins Motor Co.) comprised a large hallway, reception room and parlor, library and reading room, and a billiard hall and bar, all elaborately furnished. The club’s anniversary ball was the outstanding function of this section of the sugar country. Upon these occasions the club was honored by the attendance of prominent people, including governors, senators, and others in public life. The invitations, floor cards, music caterers, and refreshments, all came

Independence Day, 1925, Franklin (Courtesty Tony Scelfo)

from New Orleans. L.B. Tarlton was at one time president of the club, and Dr. Beverly W. Smith was chairman of the arrangement committee. In 1898 the officers of the club were W.B. Connolly, president; J.C. Mahone, vice president; J.C. Lewis, secretary; M. Bell, treasurer, and A.J. delaHoussaye, manager.

The St. Mary Club lapsed into inertia for a number of years but was reorganized in 1905 with 61 charter members. The officers at this time were Adam Short, president; E.A. Hanson, vice president; T.M. Milling, secretary; H.S. Palfrey, treasurer; E.A. delaHoussaye and T.S. Bodin, directors.

Both of these groups were organized during the days of watering troughs and hitching posts. Cattle roamed the streets night and day and ended up in the front yard of the residents if gates were not kept closed.

Opera House Co. In about 1897 another organization was launched for the amusement of Franklinites. The Franklin Opera House Co., Ltd., was composed of eleven businessmen, including Edward T. Hanson, president; A. Short, vice president; George S. Palfrey, treasurer; Charles A. O’Niell, secretary; L.B. Tarlton, T.C. Lawless, J.N. Burguieres, Gus Burdon, A.M. Underwood and John Baldwin.

The auditorium, which occupied an upstairs floor, was a building where the Lawless Building now stands. It was said to be splendidly equipped with a large stage, a curtain representing a scene in Venice, regular opera chairs, and incandescent lights. The seating capacity was 900.

Around 1900 there was also a St. Mary Excursion Club, which arranged trips by boat to New Orleans, Belle Isle and other points of interest. Excursions could be made, too, by Southern Pacific Railroad, and special rates were advertised from time to time. Other clubs for leisure activity included the Social Club, the Euchre Club, the Card Club, the H.S.L. Society and the Self-Culture Club.

First Movies In 1913 the Opera House was built up by the Lauve-Bodin Amusement Co., but prior to this time a silent movie had been shown in 1912 in another local building. During this era the Franklin public was treated to such well-known stars as Lillian Gish, Marguerite Clark, Charlie Chaplin, Billie Burke and Mary Pickford. The same corner upon which the Opera House was erected had in earlier days been occupied by a general merchandise store, operated by Marcus Walker, and later by a grocery store, operated by John A. O’Niell.

The roof garden on Continued on Page 11 top of the Opera house

Page 2, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Profile Edition

Parish plans tourism comeback, touts infrastructure work siltation at City Wharf, reduce Among areas of progress Berwick Atchafalaya Bay. Naquin

by St. Mary Parish govern- $395,000. ment is anticipation of the —Flood protection proj- said preliminary designs on receipt of a $500,000 grant ects that include floodgate both projects are complete to enhance tourism. and levee improvements on and are in the permitting The parish was awarded Yellow Bayou and Hanson process with U.S. Corps of the grant as its share of a Canal, $6.2 million; Yokely Engineers.

The other projects include $30 million grant to the levee improvements, $5 milstate from BP as a result of lion; Plantation pump sta- the Burns Point shoreline the Deepwater Horizon rig tion improvements in Bayou project, $1.01 million for explosion and oil spill in Vista, $750,000; and sewer protection of the 8½-acre lift station electrical retro- recreational vehicle park April 2010. and campground at Bayou Information from the fits, $500,000.

Elsewhere Naquin said Sale Bay; the Thorgusonstate tourism department estimates that the disaster repairs at the Law Enforce- Berwick South Road projis responsible for up to $700 ment Center in Centerville ect, $1.6 million, to widen and overlay the road used million in tourism losses are under way. over the past year.

In June last year, the as a main thoroughfare by “This is funds to bring council adopted an ordi- the oil and gas industry.

A contract on the Burns tourism back,” said parish nance on the issuance of President Paul Naquin. “We $3.7 million in jail construc- Point project was awarded worked closely with (St. tion refinancing bonds. Pro- to M. Matt Durand of St. Mary Tourism executive di- ceeds are to pay off the con- Martinville. The project is rector) Carrie Stansbury to struction debt bonds five now complete and includes come up with a spending years early as well as pro- expanded parking paid for a Breaux-Wallop plan to put a positive light vide about $1 million for with on attractions and facilities needed improvements at the grant.

Construction on the we have here in St. Mary jail. Repayment of the new debt is $425,000 per year as Thorguson Road project beParish.”

The plan is still under re- compared to the former re- gan earlier this month.

CIAP monies are also parview and is awaiting ap- payment rate of $525,000.

So far, upgrade of the tially funding the construcproval by the state and BP. Its focus is on the market- fresh air intake system at tion of a $1.68 million new ing of assets in nature the jail is complete and the industrial road in Morgan tourism, festivals and spe- parish will soon be going City between Second Street cial events via television out for bids on a new emer- and Federal Avenue inside commercials, print advertis- gency generator and up- the seawall in an effort to ing, radio, Internet ads and grades of the internal secu- divert industrial and commercial traffic away for resrity system. utilizing web technology. neighborhoods.

The council also has ap- idential Receipt of the funds will be spread out over three proved the issuance of $6.8 Funding for the project inmillion in bonds from the 1- cludes $335,00 in state and years.

Activities and services in cent sales tax dedicated to $525,000 in parish CIAP capital improvements on funds, and $820,000 in state the spending plan include: capital outlay funds.

—Parish video and com- public buildings.

Naquin said the project will Buildings and projects on mercials: Produce and dego out for bids as soon as the list include: velop a variety of videos in—Blevins building in right-of-way acquisitions cluding multiple 30-second commercials, a 60-second Franklin: exterior water- now in progress are complete. commercial, a 15-second commercial and three 5minute promotional videos.

—Television advertising placements in regional market to promote the parish.

—Radio advertising placements in regional market to promote the parish.

—Upgrade of both St. Mary Parish and Cajun Coast Web sites.

—Audio tour of Bayou Teche Scenic Byway through St. Mary Parish —Internet advertising for St. Mary Parish on the Cajun Coast Web site.

—Advertising for various festivals and events.

—Hosting an annual sporting event for three THOUGHT TO BE the second courthouse for St. Mary Parish, years.

—Paddling Trail this photo was taken around 1900 by C.G. Lyman. This is not brochure update and the building that was torn down to construct the existing courtreprint. house, but existed before that. (Courtesy Tony Scelfo) —Promotion of the Atchafalaya Golf Course, a member of the Louisiana proofing and window reIn other areas, the parish Audubon Golf Trail via Web painting ($127,218) and has been allocated hazard site upgrade, update and modification and improve- mitigation grants from the reprint of brochure, adver- ments to provide parish of- Federal Emergency Mantisements on radio stations, fices ($873,750). agement Agency as a result print media, billboards, tel—Courthouse: Extensive of Hurricanes Gustav and evision/cable promotions, exterior work ($891,225); Ike in 2008. The grants reproduction of a 30-second redesign of entry canopy quire a 25 percent match by commercial and ($215,525; window replace- the local recipient. customer/sales training.

Applications have been ment ($563,394); elevator “We’re appreciative that and elevator lobby upgrades submitted to FEMA on the BP stepped up to provide ($681,525): parish office following projects: those dollars to the state general improvements on —$1 million for wind and parish,” Naquin said, the fifth floor ($116,500); retrofit projects of public “and appreciable to the general improvements on buildings to protect from fustate for acknowledging the third, fourth and sixth ture damage. The grant will that certain funds should be floors ($844,625); replace- fund projects at the school earmarked down to the local ment and upgrades of HVAC board Central Office Comlevel for that purpose as air boxes above ceilings on plex in Centerville, well.” the third, fourth and sixth Franklin and Morgan City The parish also has been floors ($699,000); and boiler fire departments, the allocated a $19.5 million replacement ($145,625).

Blevins building in community development —Whitney building in Franklin and the Office of block grant related to Hur- Morgan City: re-roofing and Emergency Preparedness’ ricanes Gustav and Ike for waterproofing, $191,980. hangar and warehouse at flood protection and damage —MC Senior Center: re- Harry P. Williams Memorial mitigation by the Louisiana placement of metal roof and Airport.

Recovery Authority. Pro- ceilings, $188,148.

—$250,000 for construcposed projects have been ap—Kemper Williams Park: tion of “safe rooms” for staff proved and applications for gatehouse improvements, at drainage pump stations each are being prepared and $110,675. in Amelia and Morgan City. submitted. The proposed —Animal Control: facility projects include: replacement, $495,125.

—$2 million for low and —Old Tiger Den building moderate income housing in Franklin renovations, rehab with an average of $116,500. $20,000 to $25,000 per Other projects include household. The application those being funded by the has been approved and is Coastal Impact Assistance under environmental re- Program. CIAP provides view. To date, 45 households federal funds to Outer Conhave been determined as el- tinental Shelf oil and gas igible with funding avail- producing states to mitigate able for 95-100. the impacts of the industry.

—Reconstruction of MarThe projects totaling altin Luther King Street in most $7 include the Point Morgan City, $750,000; Pat- Chevreuil shoreline protecterson water plant harden- tion project, $1.9 million ing project, $350,000; repair covering 4,250 feet of coast of Jolivette, Lebeau and line around the point at the 10th streets in Baldwin, southern most tip of East $400,000; drainage im- Cote Blanche Bay; and the provements that include Deer Island Pass realignculvert upgrades and addi- ment, $2.7 million, which tion of pumps in the areas of includes dredging a new south Willow Street and navigation channel at the Pecan Acres in Franklin, mouth of Deer Island Bayou $1.2 million; replacement to protect marsh land and Tricia Mora, Owner and flood proofing of the

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE Burns Point campground on Bayou Sale Bay were completed in late 2010 by the St. Mary Parish Council. The $1.01 million shoreline stabilization project was funded by the parish through the Coastal Impact Assistant Program. The project, constructed by M. Matt —$2.5 million for upgrade of pump stations in the Berwick, Amelia and Morgan City areas.

—$1.5 million for elevation of the North Bend, Gordy, Ellerslie and Todd pump stations all located off La. 317 south of Centerville.

Approved is $640,000 for elevation of critical equipment at the Courthouse in Franklin. The project, currently under design, includes relocating communication equipment to the first floor and floodproofing the main mechanical room, both located in the basement. Floodproofing will include building a 3to 4-foot high floodwall on the rear of the Courthouse extending from the tunnel entries.

The parish has also received a $400,000 energy efficient competitive grant from the Department of Natural Resources for replacement of one of the courthouse’s two chillers with one more energy efficient. The project is now under way.

Boat landing improvement projects include: —A $750,000 CDBG for fisheries infrastructure at Jesse Fontenot Memorial Boat Launch at the end of River Road in Berwick is starting and consists of installation of a large-vessel mooring facility with electrical hookups and sewerage disposal.

—Applications for Community Development Block Grants to construct a floating dock at Joe C. Russo Memorial Boat Launch on the basin levee off of La. 70 north of Morgan City and for wharf improvements at the R.J. Marcel Memorial Boat Landing in Amelia have been approved. The projects are part of the Coastal Communities Fishery Recovery Program, which provided $400,000 for the projects.

In closing, Naquin commended the parish council for working well together to draft the reapportionment ordinance adopted by the council unanimously during the council’s first meeting in May. The task of redrawing voting district lines was required due to population shifts identified by in the 2010 census.

Also of note, Naquin was

Durand LLC of St. Martinville, also includes expanded boat launch parking paid for with a Breaux-Wallop grant. The campground offers swimming, fishing, picnic tables with shelters, a public boat launch and electricity, water and sewer hookups for 34 RV campers.

sworn in as the president of the Louisiana Police Jury Association in February.

The political veteran who has served the parish on either on the council or as president for 20 years is the first from St. Mary Parish

to the lead the state association.

At the same time, Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” LaGrange was elected president of the Organization of Parish Administrative Officials.

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Profile Edition, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Page

3

Baldwin’s approach always to give residents best value Things are looking good for 2011 in Baldwin.

“Baldwin is a good community to live in,” Mayor Wayne Breaux said. “We’ve always

taken an approach to try and give the citizens the best value for their tax dollars.”

Breaux is seeing the culmination of several projects

Baldwin’s roots as a town go to 1913 (The Banner-Tribune, April 28, 1959) Baldwin, once a thriving lumber and sugar mill community, but today a modern little city of about 1500 people dependent on agriculture, petroleum and chemical industries was first incorporated as a town on July 14, 1913. A proclamation was issued by Gov. Luther E. Hall declaring that Baldwin would become a town within its own right.

An official survey was made by Val Smith, a civil engineer now living in Lafayette.

First mayor was L. Forsythe. On the first board of aldermen were J.C. Kramer, Rudolph Navarro, Oscar Boudreaux and Dr. A.H. LaFargue, while L.A. Giroir served as first marshal.

In 1891 Baldwin was described as “the junction of a branch railroad over to Cypremort,” and in 1898 it was noted as a great receiving point for supplies for the rich sugar country which surrounded it.

According to the publication, “St. Mary Parish – 1898,” there were fourteen places of business in operation before the turn of the century. One of the oldest merchants at that time was J. Laurant, who established his store there in 1878. Coming to the United States from Vera Cruz in 1849, he located in New Orleans before settling in Baldwin. His stock consisted of groceries, crockery ware, and liquor.

Dr. H. Borah opened a drug store in Baldwin in 1882 and managed it until his death. His partner, C.F. Borah, continued the business until 1897, when he sold his interest to M.C. Borah and his son, L.C. Borah, a graduate pharmacist. Adjoining the drug store was a private boarding house conducted by Mrs. M.C. Borah.

Cypress lumber was manufactured in Baldwin by C.W. Coleman and Sons. The sawmill of the firm had a capacity of 10,000 feet, and the shingle mill had a capacity of 30,000 feet. The firm also owned 120,000 acres of timberland in Terrebonne, Assumption, and St. Martin parishes. Coleman, who came to this section of the country from New York, manufactured the first cypress singles ever made in the South.

One of the leading stores of Baldwin in 1898 was established by Max Gugenheim in 1896. He carried a general line of groceries, dry goods, notions, hats, clothing, shoes, plantation supplies, harnesses and saddlery. In connection with the store was a warehouse and a building containing a furniture department. Mr. Gugenheim was said to have done a large business among the residents of the town, the plantations, and the sugar farms.

The merchandise store of S.C. Melancon was established in Baldwin in 1888. Prior to that year he had operated a sawmill in the same place. Mr. Melancon, as did many merchants of that era, sold everything from groceries, dry good, clothing, shoes, hats and hardware crockery, to harness, buggies, carts, wagons, and agricultural implements. The dimensions of his store were 40x60 feet, with a warehouse 20x 40 feet.

The McCrossie and Overton Drug Store was opened in Baldwin in 1890, with Dr. McCrossie in charge of the prescription department. A graduate pharmacist and physician, he had been practicing medicine since 1868. This drug store was located near the depot.

Visitors to Baldwin had no problem finding adequate lodgings in the 1890s. The Muller House, located over Gugenheim’s Store, provided meals and lodgings. The Price House, described as a popular hostelry, was a picturesque two-story building located on “the public road, just as you enter Baldwin,” opposite Mr. Melancon’s store. This hotel was opened by Mrs. C.A. Price in 1892. The West House was a boarding house operated by Mrs. C.J. West.

E.D. Martin and Co. established its merchandise business in 1886. The firm was composed of Mr. Martin, one of the oldest residents of the community, and C.G. Rogers.

Their stock consisted of groceries and dry goods as well as hardware, crockery, furniture, and harness, cart, and wagon supplies. Two extra warehouses adjoined the store.

The good wines, liquor, cigars, tobacco, and beer were rovided the citizens by three saloons, the Palace Saloon, the Peerless Exchange and the Bon Ton Saloon.

Valsin Aucoin was the saddler and harness maker of Baldwin. Mr. Aucoin, who located next to the Price Hotel, also did general repairing.

In 1898 Charles A. Bibbin was justice of the peace, and E. Olivier served as constable. Among other activities in the nineties, Baldwin boasted of an excellent dramatic club, which held entertainments in the town hall.

From 1910 to 1920, Baldwin was designated as a sawmill town. When the Barnett Brothers’ sawmill closed, however, Baldwin suffered a decrease in the type of business activity which had kept it humming for years. It has made steady progress since the early days, and in 1949 its population was estimated at 1200, with an assessment of $350,000.

(Sources: St. Mary Parish – 1898, Resources and Facilities of St. Mary Parish).

ready to start off from grants acquired in the last year.

“During the past year, we were fortunate to receive a number of grants from different sources,” he said. “We received a $1 million capital outlay grant from the state to build a new fire station.

The fire department has outgrown their present facility.

We had applied for a number of years, and were fortunate to receive one last year. The engineering and design is in the process of being done and hopefully will be bid in the next 90 days or so.”

The location will be at the old Baldwin Elementary School, Breaux said, which was acquired from the St. Mary Parish School Board.

Breaux said the funds will build the equipment housing, and then use some of the existing school such as the cafeteria and classrooms for other fire department purposes.

“What we will be using is

strictly the back portion, that leaves the entire front portion for some future development or even rental,” he said.

Baldwin also received a $700,000 housing rehabilitation grant. The project is currently in the processing stage of environmental reviews and taking applications in the target area of Branch Street.

“That paperwork should be completed within the next 30 days, and the project should begin within 60 days,” Breaux said.

There will be nine homes renovated or rebuilt.

The mayor said a $35,000 grant from the Louisiana Governmental Assistance Program is dedicated to build a fire substation under the U.S. 90 overpass at Martin Luther King Street. Negotiations are ongoing with the state for use of that property.

“It will house a fire truck

in that area and takes away the problem with the railroad (train traffic) blocking access in an emergency,” Breaux said.

Those sales tax collections mentioned have seen an increase. “Not to the extent that they were in previous years, but they have shown some improvement and hopefully that will continue,” Breaux said. “We had to make some adjustments, as in utility rates, just to be able to continue the services we provide. The increase in sales taxes has certainly helped the situation, but of course, as time goes on, your expenses increase as well so that tends to even out. We’re continuing to do the things we need to do to keep the town financially stable.”

The town’s community center is a popular asset these days, seeing a lot of use by those needing such a facility for meetings, receptions and the like.

Baldwin, like the rest of St. Mary, fared well with diminished floodwaters. “Fortunately, it didn’t come, but it was a good fire drill for the future if needed,” Breaux said. “We were able to put up 2,000 feet of tiger boom, three high, that would have protected us from about 30 to 36 inches of water. We certainly felt that would have taken care of the threat, and it is our hope we will be able to leave those in place until after this hurricane season.”

In the long run, though, Baldwin has $1 million from the Louisiana Municipal Infrastructure Program for permanent flood control measures on Bayou Choupique, which affects Jolivette, 10th and Labau streets.

The project, a combination of levee and possible floodgate, will cost $1.2 million, and he hopes the St. Mary Parish Levee District will take up the balance.

BALDWIN

Quiet Progressive Beautiful A Great Place To Live Voted The Cleanest City in the State 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001 & 2003 Keep Our City Clean

The town of Baldwin is located along the Teche Ridge (along Bayou Teche) at a point that is 16 feet above sea level. The major part of the corporate limits, along with the surrounding area, are all above the flood zone level.

The community has a very attractive location for major industries with the Charenton Canal, located within Baldwin, linking Bayou Teche to the Intracoastal Canal. Burlington Northern rail transportation also adds to the attractiveness of the area to industry.

This fine community has a municipally owned gas and water plant. A state-of-the-art Aquatic biological Sewerage Treatment system is on line and operating in an efficient, cost contained manner.

Railroad depot, Baldwin

Catholic Church (at right) Baldwin

Adding to the quality of life in Baldwin is a new multipurpose Community Center. Opened in May, 2010, the allpurpose facility provides space for community gatherings, meetings, events and a host of other community oriented activities. The new center complements our other offerings that include baseball fields, tennis courts, tot lot, nature trail walking track and picnic tables on the bayou side.

Baldwin’s Volunteer Fire Department is one of the top volunteer fire There are hundreds of acres of land in the town and some of the most departments in the area. beautiful residential areas found anywhere in St. Mary Parish. A new library has been constructed and a new middle/high school opened in 1999.

Baldwin has a population of more than 2,500 and looks forward optimistically to considerable growth in the future. There is a well balanced retail Hundreds of additional acres have been taken into the city limits for future shopping center in Baldwin and various professional services.

Wayne Breaux-Mayor Thor Frederick-Alderman Gene St. Germain-Alderman Tony Gibson-Alderman

Mike Lancelin-Alderman Clarence Vappie-Alderman Gerald Minor-Chief of Police

Page 4, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Profile Edition

At the Port of West St. Mary, no opportunity passed by Tenants at the Port of West St. Mary are steadfast and sound despite a national economy that has been coursing hills and valleys for a few years.

David Allain, special assistant to the Executive Director Tad Blevins, said a prime example is Marine Turbine Technologies, a long time tenant at the port site in Louisa.

MTT is building frack pumps for the oil and natural gas industry. Fracking is a process where rock is fractured under high-pressure liquid forced far below the surface, to release the fuel stored there.

“They are also doing compact fire pumps to put on vessels that are on standby on the offshore drilling rigs,” Allain said. “There are requirements for them to be able to pump a certain amount of gallons. Most of the older boats don’t have the pumping capacity, so they put his

package on the back of the boat and they shoot water.

Some of these pumps are going overseas, some to Mexico, some Brazil for fire protection.”

Another port tenant, National Oilwell Varco, an oil field chemical company, is mixing and shipping chemical by rail and truck. “Some of it stays in the state, some of it going to other states,” Allain said.

D&L Salvage is an offshore construction operation, with heavy-lift barges to perform those operations on rigs that are hurricane damaged or taken out of service.

“They are aggressively pursuing contracts,” Allain said.

The port is eyeing natural gas service to tenants. “It would be an asset to the port and would potentially bring more tenants along the line,” he said. “Twin Brothers Marine has a furnace they use to

do heat treating for rolling pipe, and they have a tremendous need for natural gas. They are now on temporary propane tanks, which raises the cost, you have to truck the propane in. They are rolling a lot of pipe, and this heat-treating process will allow them to roll even more pipe.”

Twin Brothers, though not a port tenant, has had a close relationship with the port since its inception. These up to 300-foot long pipes in the yard are being produced in great quantity.

Every tenant in the port could have a use for natural gas service as well, Allain said.

A tower to provide broadband Internet to the port is being installed, Allain said, which will host wireless service by Gulf Coast Broadband.

“The Port will participate, we’re going to put the cement infrastructure in the ground,

Gulf Coast will build the tower,” he said. “It’ll be available to customers commercial and residential for about a 50mile radius.”

The port already offers water service with it’s own water plant, to both tenants and residential customers. A second well is under proposal for backup purposes, Allain said.

Port-owned land under sugar cane production is generation good revenue, Allain said.

There are 14 acres of waterfront property available for potential tenants, and hundreds more across La. 83.

“There are plans on the books to dig another slip,” Allain said.

The port is stable and has the reserves and bonding capacity to accommodate a potential tenant.

“The only problem we have is hurricane protection, we’re in a flood plain, we’re low,” Allain said. “The port itself is

high, the buildings have never had water in them. But those sugar cane fields have been covered with water.

There’s enough dirt in that area to dig to build up and get to the elevation we need.”

Allain said the west end of St. Mary Parish has “missed a lot of opportunities. I’m trying not to miss any now.

Every opportunity that comes to the door I’m looking at. Texaco was here, they’re not anymore. They moved to Lafayette…they wanted to

Scelfo Insurance Agency We sell Hospitalization Insurance Shop the cost, then see us.

Our rates are among the lowest around!

We sell the largest Insurer in the state!

For your Group, Life and Health Insurance Needs, See

St. Mary Tire: Best tires for 40 years For 40 years since 1971, Allen and Judy Segura, owners of St. Mary Tire Inc. at 726 Main St., in Franklin have been offering local motorists the best tires available on the market.

The Firestone tradition started at the turn of the century with the establishment of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in 1900. It was then that a 31-year-old inventor and entrepreneur, Harvey S. Firestone, seized on a new way of making carriage tires and started production with 12 employees in Akron, Ohio.

From the start, Firestone worked relentlessly to improve quality and meet the needs of his customers. His efforts and integrity paid off when Firestone tires were chosen by Henry Ford for the first mass-produced automobiles in America.

St. Mary Tire continues the tradition by offering the Firestone line as well as Bridgestone and Dayton brands in various price ranges.

St. Mary Tire also offers quality tires for everything from your riding mower to tractor.

With radio equipped serv-

ice trucks available, they can handle any difficult job or road emergency.

While tires are important for handling, brakes and shock absorbers are also of utmost importance to your safe driving.

And to ensure that your new tires live out their full life, St. Mary Tire now has a computerized alignment machine for 4-wheel drive vehicles.

St. Mary Tire’s experienced staff includes Randy Segura, Shane Segura, Bambie Segura, Jason Mack, Eric Rogers, Timothy Curtis, Gary Christensen

and John Keenze.

St. Mary Tire had a great year last year and the owners, Allen and Judy Segura, believe in giving back to the community. They’ve accomplished that year after year through the sponsorship of Little League Baseball.

St. Mary Tire provides great customer service from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., MondayFriday and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Stop by and see why “tires are our business.”

The Seguras, Firestone and St. Mary Tire, three good names to know and depend upon.

Meyer’s has two stores to serve you Meyer ’s Shoe Store Inc. has been serving the Franklin/West St. Mary Parish area for 72 years.

The business offers an outstanding selection of dress, casual, athletic and work footwear for the entire family.

The store at 617 Main St. in downtown Franklin has built a reputation for offering only brand name footwear at competitive prices. Lines offered include Crocs, Easy Street, New Balance, Rockport, SAS, Eastland, Life Stride, Red Wing, Nike, Reebok, K-Swiss and many more.

Meyer ’s Shoe Store was founded in 1939 when Mey-

er Friedman, a local merchant, purchased the McCarthy Shoe Store which had been operating in Franklin for many years.

Henry Friedman joined his father in the business in 1973 and he continues to operate the store today.

In 1993, Meyer ’s Shoe Store expanded to east St. Mary Parish with the opening of a new store called Footspeed, an athletic/comfort footwear store in the St. Mary Plaza Shopping Center on U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista. Due to rapid growth of business at Footspeed, the store was expanded in the summer of 1998 to include more than 3,300

square feet of space.

“The major advantage to west St. Mary shoppers of our expansion is the increased availability of inventory. If we are out of a particular size at the Franklin store it is likely that we will have it in Bayou Vista. Often, the needed shoes can be transferred to Franklin in the next day or two,” Friedman said.

Store hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Customers may also visit the store online at www.meyersshoestore.com where they can view com-

Four Seasons a family tradition Four Seasons Furniture and Appliance Center is nearing its 31th anniversary of providing the Franklin community with quality furnishings for the home.

In 1981, Daniel Darden and his family opened D & R Rentals in a small oneroom building.

Before they knew it, the inventory had grown so much they had to find a new location and they moved the business to the old Acme Building on Main Street in Franklin.

In 1986, they moved again to another larger space at 701 Main St., where the furniture store is located today as Four Seasons and is operated as the oldest and largest furniture and appliance store in Franklin.

The store has a wide range of name-brand appliances such as Maytag, Magic Chef, Ashley, Vaughn, Bassett, Standard, Huntington, Master Designs, Action Lane and Frigidaire.

There are two showrooms where you can find furnishings for any room in the house from bedroom suites to living room sets.

You’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for in one of Four Seasons’ three showrooms.

The display house is filled with items just like they would be at home.

You’ll find a complete dining room set up, living room and more!

Four Seasons also offers electronics.

“We have financing available such as 90 days

same as cash, six and 12 months as well as rent to own. We are family owned and operated, so have your family come in and meet our family.”

The store is managed by Belinda Darden, Rita Darden and Susan Deslatte.

Other employees include Jennifer Darden, Joseph Webster, Luther Depass, Rochelle Darby, Trevone Cross and Clarence Reed.

Hours of business are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Four Seasons also has another location at 2318 E. Main St. in New Iberia.

Stop by Four Seasons today for all of your home needs and don’t forget to check out the store specials during the month of October.

plete information about the store and images of new products and download coupons for discounts and promotions. Meyer ’s also has a page on Facebook.

Visit and become our Facebook friend.

build their corporate offices here, but there was no land for sale. And we’ve been beating the same horse over and over again.

“It’s difficult to fathom why we don’t grow. Lafayette’s growing, Broussard’s growing, New Iberia’s growing.

We’re taking all calls for the industrial park on the Charenton Canal, but no one’s begging us to do anything on it. I’m thinking something will come up, one day.”

Tony J. Scelfo, agent

712 Main Street • Franklin • 828-4918

Come in and register for a 4th of July Picnic Basket to be given away!!

Fried Pickle Spears 4/$1.99

Plus tax

24 pc. Mixed, 4 Lg. Sides, 12 Rolls - $40.99 3 Pc. Dinner Fries or Dressing Med. Drink $

6.48

Plus tax

10 Piece ALL DARK $

7.99

16 Pc. MIXED 3 Lg. Sides 6 Rolls

Plus tax

828-4360

$

28.99

Plus tax

828-4361

819 Main Street

Fountain of Youth

NUTRITION CENTER For Sale!

1502 Main Street -FRANKLIN(next to Subway)

Celebrating 30 Years in Business!

Susan Deslatte, Belinda Darden & Jennifer Darden

For ALL your furniture & appliance needs, Come by and see our wide selections!

Four Seasons Furniture & Appliances For the Best Price$ and Quality Service, visit our Two Locations!

Main Street, Franklin, about 1930 (Courtesy Tony Scelfo)

Main Street Franklin 337-828-4925 or 800-459-3522

Main Street New Iberia 337-365-8853 or 800-459-3522

Profile Edition, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Page

FRANKLIN Everywhere You Look....Improvements Are Underway

City of Franklin “A Great Place To Do Business” Raymond Harris, Jr. - Mayor Councilman Eugene Foulcard Councilman Dale Rogers Councilman Chuck Autin Councilman Joe Garrison Councilman Lester Levine

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Page 6, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Profile Edition

Great strides made in St. Mary Parish education system Eleven of those 23 schools posted school performance scores above 90. Clearly, St. Mary Parish’s endeavor for academic achievement has seen its share of success; however, the district also has a firm grasp on its potential for even greater progress in the future.

According to Superintendent Dr. Donald Aguillard, “The St. Mary Parish School System represents a thriving professional learning community truly committed to the task of harnessing greater capacity in the organization.”

The district’s concerted effort toward continual growth and progress has led to several new academic ventures designed to garner improvements in specific areas. Targeted students in second and third grade needing intense remediation in reading or math will be invited to attend a Summer Academic School.

Based on funding and re-

sources available, a select number of students will attend four weeks of classes held at the LEAP Remediation Summer School sites.

In addition, some elementary schools will offer twoweek remediation camps at their school sites. St. Mary Parish is also focusing heavily on eighth grade literacy and numeracy with the 212° Project. This concentrated project expands on the fact that only one extra degree makes the difference between hot and boiling water. Yearlong professional development for eighth grade English Language Arts, reading, and math teachers will be aimed at securing one extra degree of effort from both teachers and students in order to boost eighth grade LEAP scores.

As the Graduate Exit Exam is phased out and replaced with EOC (End of Course) exams, high school

teachers are faced with modifying test preparation and remediation lessons. Freshmen and sophomore English Language Arts and math teachers were provided with class sets of GLE and EOC review workbooks to aid in the test preparation process. Diagnostic tests were placed on achievement series to expedite scoring and provide teachers with detailed remediation plans for each student. Further, EOC remediation in Algebra 1 will be provided during LEAP Remediation Summer School.

For students with reading deficiencies, St. Mary has successfully implemented Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant. This success has been clearly documented in a longitudinal research study released by Scientific Learning comparing achievement gains of St. Mary fourth graders with fourth graders throughout Louisiana. For

students failing to demonstrate appropriate progress through Fast ForWord products, an alternative intervention entitled Failure Free Reading was incorporated in six schools to provide strategic assistance to “non-readers.”

In conjunction with targeted grade levels, the district is also placing its attention for improvement at two low-performing middle schools with its implementation of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP). The program consists of four components of educational reform: multiple career paths, ongoing applied professional growth, instructionally focused accountability, and performance-based compensation.

Three master teachers will be hired to facilitate continuous, job-embedded professional

development during the regular school day. Mentor teachers in each school will collaborate with master teachers to lead twice weekly cluster group meetings and field test best practices in the classroom.

The academic success realized in St. Mary Parish has fostered both confidence and pride in the local community.

The school board’s commitment to maintain instructional focus, progressive decision making and financial conservatism afforded the return of all 11 St. Mary Parish board members following recent elections. In fact, nine board members ran unopposed for another term. As members were reinstated for the new term, board member Roland Verret was elected to Continued on Page 7

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Ben Franklin noted, “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” It is well documented that St. Mary Parish has made great strides in its educational system over the past six years.

In 2010, an unparalleled 92 percent of district fourth grade students met the state’s promotional standard.

Most recent accountability figures rank St. Mary Parish 14th in the degree of proficiency growth among fourth graders. Eighth grade results indicated 80 percent meeting promotional standards in 2010. In fact, St. Mary Parish students have outpaced their counterparts in nearly every core area and grade level on the LEAP, iLEAP, and GEE standardized assessments.

An astounding 21 of 23 district schools demonstrated gains in their 2010 baseline school performance scores.

5

S

in ce 1 9 3

A Downtown Institution!

828-0242

710 Main St. Franklin, La.

FUN JUMP RENTALS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

St. Mary Central High School, about 1905. Later became Crowell Elementary School and today is Franklin City Hall. (Courtesy Tony Scelfo)

337-578-7775

Breaux’s Foodland part of Baldwin for over 100 years Breaux’s Foodland has been a mainstay in Baldwin for more than 100 years.

Located at 126 Charenton Road, the store owned

by Wayne Breaux offers a full complement of groceries including quality meats, fresh produce, party trays and wine and liquors.

Breaux’s is a family business managed by Rosemary Breaux and Marla Concienne.

Breaux’s longtime success can be attributed to its commitment to price competitiveness, quality and service.

The professional service is a trademark of their dedicated staff.

For your meat needs, whether it be a rib eye for that special dinner, Cajun pork sausage for tailgating or a pound of ham for the camping trip, Mike and Melissa are available to help you.

In the produce depart-

ment where its goal is to offer a fresh quality product, Lisa is there to help with your selection. Also check out her homemade stuffed mushrooms and jalapenos for great appetizers.

For many of your other grocery needs just locate Faye down the aisle, she’s always ready to assist.

Since Breaux’s incorporated a deli in the store, it has provided for many parties. Specializing in party trays (fruit and vegetable) and finger sandwiches it offers a wide variety of products. Stop by and see Sheila whether it be for a party or tonight’s snack, she’ll be able to put together what you need. And while you’re in the partying mood, don’t forget to check out the wine and liquor selection.

The front is headed by Marla who along with the courteous cashier staff is there to help make your

shopping experience productive and enjoyable.

Complimenting to the Meat & Deli Dept. is the “Smokehouse” offering quality rotisserie smoked products including chicken, ribs, brisket, hams, turkey, beef jerky, etc. These products are available in single servings or for large gatherings and will be ideal for holiday gifts.

Breaux’s has also incorporated a marine division into its services providing the oil and boat industry the same price competitiveness and quality product and service its regular customers have become accustomed to.

Breaux’s is open MondaySaturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. We would like to thank our loyal customers for continuing to make Breaux’s Foodland your locally owned, quality service, low price choice. We sincerely appreciate your patronage.

Check Cashers here since 2002 Check Cashers, Inc. opened its doors in June of 1995, with its first store in Morgan City, which is now the main office for their eight locations.

The second store was opened in 1997 in Amelia, with the Bayou Vista location following the next year.

In 2002, the company doubled in size with the addition of the Baldwin, Franklin and Patterson branches opening.

The year 2003 marked the expansion into the Houma market with an additional branch opened there in 2005.

Check Cashers proudly serves St Mary and Terrebonne parishes and is locally owned by Lanny Ross, and managed by Arthur Espenan, with 20 employees.

Lanny was employed by the former First National Bank of St. Mary Parish as a vice president with over 30 years of banking experience, and is a graduate of Nicholls State

University.

The company started out by cashing checks for individuals, who included many local and out of town workers with no other option to cash a check. Being able to cash a check, get money orders, and send money through Western Union, Check Cashers quickly became a financial onestop for many people without access to a bank. Through the years, Check Cashers has grown to offer other services, such as payday loans, copy and fax service, and has become a local leader in accepting payments for many utility companies.

Check Cashers was recognized nationally by Western Union for their service to the community during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

For a period of time, following Katrina, the Morgan City office was the closest operational agent to New Orleans and processed thousands of

payouts to victims. Check Cashers was also named “Top Agent” among South Louisiana independent agents. Western Union also recognized Arthur Espenan with the Eagle Eye Award for his work leading to the capture and arrest of a criminal in a nationwide fraud ring.

The Franklin location, on the corner of Weber and La. 182, is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. till 7 p.m., and on Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Baldwin location, at 900 Main St. at the red light, is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

The Bayou Vista office, on the corner of Hwy. 182 and Southeast Blvd. inside Pic-APac Citgo, is open everyday from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. and is the authorized utility pay station for many companies such as Cleco, AT&T, Cox, Atmos, MCI, Dish Network, and Direct TV.

BREAUX’S FOODLAND QUALITY MEATS FRESH PRODUCE WINES & LIQUORS In Our Deli Department, we have Party Trays & More!

Boat Orders Welcomed!

“Smokehouse Offerings”: Brisket • Ribs • Turkey • Ham We would like to thank our loyal customers for continuing to make Breaux’s Foodland your locally owned, quality service, low price choice. We sincerely appreciate your patronage.

126 Charenton Rd., Baldwin, LA 923-4402 / Deli: 923-4470

Profile Edition, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Page

WARNING

According to the National Safety Council, each year in this country, more than 4000 people lose their lives to drowning, with children ages 0-4 having the highest death rate. In 1998, 500 children under the age of five drowned. Most drowning and near-drowning happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub.

•Never leave a child alone near water--at the pool, the beach or in the tub. A tragedy can occur in seconds. If you must leave, take your child with you.

•Always use approved personal floatation devices (life jackets.) The U.S. Coast Guard estimates nearly 9 to 10 drowning victims were not wearing one.

•Beware of neighborhood pools-be it your own or your neighbors. Remove toys from in and around the pool when not in use. Toys can attract children to the pool.

•For pools, barriers can offer added protection against drowning. Power or manual covers will completely cover a pool and block access to the water, however, be sure to drain any standing water from the surface of the pool cover as a child can drown in very small amounts of water.

•Enroll children over age three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors.

But keep in mind that lessons don’t make your child “drown-proof.”

•Older children risk drowning when they overestimate their swimming ability or underestimate the water depth.

•Teach your children these four key swimming rules: Always swim with a buddy.

Don't dive into unknown bodies of water. Jump feet first to avoid hitting your head on a shallow bottom.

Don’t push or jump on others.

Be prepared for an emergency.

•Never consume alcohol when operating a boat.

•Always have a first-aid kit and emergency phone contacts handy. Parents should be trained in CPR.

What to do if you see someone drowning:

•Call 9-1-1 immediately.

•If the victim is within throwing distance, throw a floatable object to them. This includes a life jacket, kick board or even an empty jug.

•If the victim is within reaching distance, assist them by extending something long, such as a rope, pole, ring buoy or a tree branch.

Sheriff Naquin concluded, “Sending your children the right message about water safety is one of the important messages you have to get across. The more our children know about the dangers that threaten their safety, the more prepared they can be to handle them.”

This message sponsored by

Sheriff David Naquin

7

Page 8, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Profile Edition

Great strides made in parish school system...

Continued from Page 6 serve another term as St. Mary Parish School Board president with Edward Payton serving as vice president.

The continued progress posted by the district resulted in the board not only rating Aguillard’s performance as excellent, but also offered him another three-year contract as superintendent.

Students in grades 3-11 have completed both phases of state standardized testing, and high school students will soon be taking End of Course tests throughout the first few weeks of May. Testing monitors and coordinators anticipate continued favorable results based on the commitment, work ethic, and preparation of both teachers and students. Official test results identifying levels of student performance are expected to be released in late May. Performance data will be critically analyzed and utilized to guide future initiatives.

Fiscal decision making will also play a key role in St. Mary’s future. The anticipated third consecutive year of no annual growth in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula occurs at a time when school districts are faced with rising employer contributions to retirement systems, increases in employee health insurance programs, and the normal inflationary increases in operating expenses. The challenge set forth is that of protecting classroom level funding to the greatest extent possible while facing an ongoing decline in revenue. Fortunately, monthly sales tax collections in St. Mary Parish continue to report slight increases over the previous year and exceed budgeted projections. Budget meetings will begin in June to ensure academic needs align with financial means.

In maintenance issues, the board authorized substantial completion of the classroom wing expansion at Hattie Watts Elementary, the cafeteria project at Berwick Elementary, and air conditioning upgrades at Franklin Junior High. Recently, the board dedicated monies to address drainage problems inherent at Bayou Vista Elementary.

Upcoming maintenance meetings will pinpoint additional maintenance needs as principals request repairs and upgrades for their schools. The wing expansion at Hattie Watts Elementary makes it possible for fourth graders to remain on campus rather than transitioning to

Patterson Junior High. The student body of PJHS will be comprised of grades 5-8 beginning in the fall with Hattie Watts utilized as a PK-4 school.

In addition to the excitement of a new cafeteria, which began serving students in April, Berwick Elementary staff and students were especially proud of fifth grader Kristina Theriot, who holds the distinction of being the 2011 Louisiana Elementary Student of the Year. Theriot, the daughter of Troy and Elizabeth Theriot, was selected from a distinguished group of 18 regional finalists, representing six state regions for the prestigious award.

Cultivating a climate of leadership among district educators has been a longstanding goal of St. Mary.

The addition of on-site graduate courses offered through the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) is assisting the school system in building leadership capacity.

A cohort of approximately 30 teachers, assistant principals, and facilitators participated in educational leadership coursework this school year. The district plans to extend the current offerings to include a master’s cohort that will enable educators to pursue a master’s degree in educational leadership by attending classes in St. Mary.

The district-based courses were made possible through a collaborative effort with Dr. Nathan Roberts, department head of the university’s Educational Foundations and Leadership, and school system instructors Drs. Bagwell, Fegenbush, and White.

The educational community has focused growing attention on substantially increasing high school graduation rates and correspondingly lowering dropout percentages. As a result, proactive measures have been taken at the state and local level to enhance efforts designed to prevent students from leaving school prior to attaining a high school diploma.

The Louisiana Department of Education recently published data that indicates preventative actions have led to significant decreases in the state’s dropout rate among students in grades 7-12. St. Mary Parish has experienced similar declines in dropout percentages following implementation of research-based initiatives designed to identify and intervene with at-risk students. According to recent figures, 171 students in grades 7-12 dropped out of

St. Mary Parish schools during 2008-09, whereas, only 98 students elected to leave school prior to graduation in 2009-10. In sum, this represents a decrease of 73 students or a 42.7 percent decline in dropouts for St. Mary Parish.

Published reductions in students leaving school prior to attaining a high school diploma can be attributed to a combination of policy changes and preventative measures enacted by St. Mary Schools. Measures to identify and monitor at-risk students within the district have led to the initiation of targeted interventions designed to mitigate academic disparities that may cause a student to drop out.

Such measures include the implementation of an Extended Day program at the middle school level to remediate content area skills of students in danger of failing specific courses. The program requires students to remain in school for an extended time period each day where they receive differentiated and targeted instruction in a small group setting. Data indicates the program’s effectiveness in reducing the number of middle school students failing math and English Language Arts.

St. Mary high school students have additionally benefited from the district’s Credit Recovery and Fifth Block programs in their effort to meet requirements for graduation. The Credit Recovery program has operated in high schools the last few years, including the 2010 summer school session. Students utilize a computer-based program of learning modules that includes diagnostic assessment, prescription of an instructional protocol, and remediation of content area skills before completing a credit test that determines whether course credit can be recovered.

Funding of the Everybody Graduates grant has enabled the district to require ninth grade at-risk students to attend an after school, Fifth Block course for remediation purposes. The addition of Fifth Block offers high schools an additional alternative for preventing student retention in the pivotal ninth grade year. Students attending are able to use the additional class period to acquire focused instruction in areas of demonstrated academic weakness.

Participation in Louisiana Virtual School has also been

Cashway Pharmacy provides a variety of services for you Cashway Pharmacy of Franklin Inc. is owned by Laura and Joey Bergeron.

Cashway has served St. Mary Parish since its beginnings in 1976. Before its incorporation in 1976, it was known as Professional Pharmacy. Donat Boucher was the sole owner until he sold the pharmacy to Laura and Joey Bergeron.

Cashway Pharmacy offers a large range of services. Besides having your prescription filled, Cashway Pharmacy has many items available for purchase and offers a variety of services. Health and beauty aids; durable medical equipment; inhalation therapy; oxygen therapy and supplies; and enteral therapy are just part of the many items and services of Cashway.

Cashway Pharmacy will also help you with your Medicare and Medicaid billing. Most insurance cards are accepted by Cashway.

The pharmacy business has long been a part of Joey Bergeron’s life. His grandfather, Paul V. Haydel Sr., was a pharmacist and owned Haydel’s Drug Store in Houma. His father, the late Oscar J. Bergeron Jr., worked at Haydel’s as a pharmacy technician where Joey grew up in the drug store environment.

Joey began working in a drug store in 1967 and has been in pharmacy ever since.

In 1974, he graduated from Northeast Louisiana University and continued to work at Haydel’s Drug Store. He married Laura Lobdell, the daughter of Sheila Lobdell

and the late Charles L. Lobdell and moved to Franklin in 1977.

He began working at Cashway Pharmacy in June 1980.

Bergeron also has a sister, Paula B. Michel, who is a pharmacist in New Orleans and an uncle, two cousins and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law who are pharmacists in Houma. Joey’s son, Jay, obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration in 2002 and has been the General Manager of Cashway since then.

Cashway Pharmacy is proud to employ Mike Viguerie, pharmacist, who joined the company in 1997.

He graduated from pharmacy school at Northeast Louisiana University in 1996. He is also a pre-pharmacy graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana and completed his pharmacy internship at Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport and the VA Hospital in Shreveport.

Suzanne Judice Stirling brings more than 20 years of expertise to Cashway after having served as the pharmacist of Franklin Foundation Hospital for 10 years.

Suzanne is a 1986 graduate of Hanson Memorial High School and 1990 pharmacy graduate of Northeast Louisiana University. She is married to Stephen Stirling and they have three children, Sarah, Taylor and Phillip.

Other employees on the staff include Jay Bergeron, Angela Boudreaux, Robin Boudreaux Sr., Peggy Dugas, Sharon Firmin, Hailey

Hebert, Mickey Rogers, Ashley LaCoste, Julana Senette and Kevin Theriot.

In response to news about the presence of pharmaceuticals contaminating the water supply in some towns around the nation, and with abuse of prescription drugs on the rise, Cashway Pharmacy is now offering a new drug take-back program to help people safely dispose of medicine that may be dangerous to others and to the environment.

a successful initiative, providing a wide range of courses for St. Mary students. Students have been able to partake in courses that would ordinarily not be offered in the regular school setting due to lack of numbers, teachers, and/or resources. LVS courses offer a complete online learning experience combining the use of Blackboard and Goggle e-mail with instructional support of a certified teacher. This year alone, 144 students were scheduled in 184 LVS courses, providing our students with the opportunity to earn credits in courses such as Latin, Web Mastering, Astronomy, Game Design, and even AP and dual enrollment courses.

The ranks of National Board Certified Teachers in St. Mary increased in 2011 as Christine Henry, Berwick High School librarian, and Catherine Vaughn, Berwick Elementary physical education teacher, successfully achieved the distinction. To attain national certification, teachers are required to complete four portfolio entries videotaping lessons and analyzing instructional strategies aligned to the principles promoted by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Additionally, certification requires teachers to pass six assessments designed to measure knowledge and comprehension of both the content area and application of appropriate teaching methods. St. Mary Parish now boasts 23 nationally certified teachers in its instructional division encompassing every grade level and most content areas. Consolidation of four elementary schools into Raintree Elementary in 2009 resulted in the sale of property on the west end of the parish. The school board recently acted to authorize Aguillard and Assistant District Attorney Eric Duplantis negotiation rights to finalize the sale of the remaining surplus property. The district is aggressively pursuing an intergovernmental agreement with Fire District 11 and other possible governmental en-

tities interested in utilizing the former Thomas Gibbs Elementary School as a multipurpose complex for the community.

St. Mary Schools remains committed to continued growth and progress within its schools. Although significant gains have been posted over the last six years in accountability testing, the district has taken additional steps to further mitigate educational disparities among subgroups and meet the highly specialized needs of its students. The progressive convictions of district instructional personnel and school building staffs have aided St. Mary Schools in evolving into a data-driven educational setting that strives to promote individual student success. Through the leadership of principals, teachers, and district staff, St. Mary has worked diligently to provide students with the curricular instruction, remedial options, and supportive network required to maintain a progressive school system.

All Types of CHECKS CASHED! Amelia Morgan City Bayou Vista Patterson Franklin Baldwin Houma

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“We welcome all in the community to come and talk to our pharmacists about their prescriptions and how to store, use and dispose of them properly,” Bergeron said.

Patients of any pharmacy are invited to safely dispose of unused and expired medications at Cashway Pharmacy, free of charge, by bringing in the drugs in their original stock containers. The pharmacy will work to dispose of the drugs using the Sharps TakeAwayTM Environmental Return System, a safe, easy method to dispose of unused patient medications in an environmentally friendly way.

Quality products and service are important to Cashway Pharmacy. The pharmacy at 1419 Hospital Ave., is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Cashway will provide exceptional service to all customers and it is their policy to help them in any way possible.

FRANKLIN HOURS: 9AM - 7PM Monday thru Friday 9AM - 4PM Saturday

Pay Your Utilities With Us! AT&T Atmos Gas Dish Network MCI Verizon Baldwin • 337-923-6000 Franklin • 337-828-5626 Patterson • 985-399-5000 Bayou Vista • location open 7 days a week 985-395-3269 Morgan City • 985-385-2274

Authorized AT&T and Cleco Pay Stations in Bayou Vista (inside Pic-A-Pac Citgo) OPEN EVERYDAY! www.checkcashersinc.com

Profile Edition, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Page

9

Grevemberg House Museum provides beautiful setting Grevemberg House Museum has long added to the beauty of St. Mary Parish.

This historic home provides the perfect backdrop for re-

ceptions, meetings and other events.

Brides enjoy beginning their new lives on the historic grounds of the museum.

Polito’s Bar & Café an institution since 1935 Polito’s Bar & Café is the oldest continuously run café in Acadiana.

Polito’s offers breakfast biscuits with fresh coffee.

For lunch and dinner, they offer the new Polito’s Burger served on a Kaiser roll with all the trimmings.

Charm and ambiance abound in the recently renovated interior, reminiscent of days past. Portraits by local photographers, Francis Todd, Debbie Caffery and the late Ory Miguez plus antique photos from turn of the century photography line the walls of the café as you would see in a museum. The original back bar with white carrera marble redone to their original grandeur reflect the history of this quaint place.

There is even a lighted display of the “Jax Man” dating back to the early 1960s still in his original position on the bar that was advertising Jax beer that is no longer made.

Polito’s has a wine cellar in its newly formed wine tasting room open for special small events, catering up to 20 people.

The newly expanded cellar in its current capacity holds 3,000 bottles of some of the world’s finest wines. Wines are priced from the inexpensive to the much more glamorous. Interested persons may call the café’ at 828-0242 or the office of the wine cellar at 828-0244.

Polito’s also offers video poker for your entertainment pleasure.

Grevemberg was a private townhouse from 1851 until 1948 when it was sold to the city of Franklin for use as a recreation center. In the 1960s, the building was to be demolished after a more modern recreational facility was built. Instead, it was “saved” as a Franklin treasure by a very young organization, the St. Mary Chapter of the Louisiana Landmarks Society.

St. Mary Landmarks was incorporated in December 1963 to engage in cultural, historical and educational activities for the benefit of the citizens of Franklin and St. Mary Parish. Its major responsibility is the operation of a community museum which depicts the vitality of 19th century life in south Louisiana. Landmarks has been the guardian of Grevemberg House Museum since 1969.

Seed money for the restoration of Grevemberg

was provided by the St. Mary Parish Police Jury, the Evangeline Economic Development District and the City of Franklin.

Over the past 41 years, restoration activities have continued. The most recent projects include landscape enhancement, installation of the Grevemberg Family Memorial and replacement of the handicap ramp.

Restoration of Landmarks’ antique furniture collection has also been a major focus.

The museum contains many local artifacts including the Statue of Justice which adorned the top of the old Courthouse.

Funding for the maintenance and restoration of the museum and its collections comes from dues, donations, fundraisers, private and public grants.

Grevemberg House is a National Register property and the only non-profit house museum in St. Mary

Parish.

Grevemberg offers guided tours and a variety of items for sale including Antebellum homes color portfolios ($35); custom tote bags ($20); Grandeur on the Bayou guidebooks ($5); a selection of notecards and a beautiful collection of sterling silver and gold St. Mary Landmarks jewelry.

Grevemberg House has become a dynamic tourist attraction as well as the site of numerous cultural and educational programs including the “blockbuster” exhibition, From Our Illustrious Past: Antebellum Portraits of St. Mary Parish, held in honor of the Louisiana Purchase 2003 Celebration.

Musicians and Halloween storytellers have performed on the grounds and the Children’s Victorian Christmas celebration is a much anticipated annual occasion.

To celebrate the 200th birthday of St. Mary Parish

and the City of Franklin, St. Mary Landmarks will present a cemetery tour on Oct. 15 and a tour of antebellum homes on Oct. 16. The Techeland Arts Council will premier its “No Hitchin’,” producition that weekend as part of the celebration.

Grevemberg House Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except during designated holidays.

Grevemberg House Museum is available at no charge to civic and charitable organizations for receptions, meetings, award ceremonies and other events. Arrangements can also be made to rent the house and grounds for weddings, receptions, parties and small meetings. For additional information contact Grevemberg House Museum at (337) 828-2092.

Come to Grevemberg House and take a trip back in time. Enjoy the rich and beautiful history this antebellum home has to offer!

Corner Cottage offers school uniforms, more For three years, Tricia Mora Mestayer has been operating Corner Cottage at 407 Main St. in Baldwin.

When Ed and Sandra Payton closed Kem’s Uniforms & Gifts, “I saw the need to keep the business going to continue to provide wonderful service to the community and parish,” Mestayer said. “I changed the name and kept the concept.”

The store is managed by Bertha Robinson with assistance by employee Lexi Marcell.

First and foremost, Corner Cottage offers affordable, quality and durable school uniforms and accessories for both public and private schools in St. Mary Parish.

And there is so much more in the gift department with Lampe Berger lamps and oils, gift and home decorating merchandise, trendy and traditional jewelry, handbags and other fashion accessories — all quality products at reasonable prices.

Corner Cottage is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Wet or dry slides and jumps at B&E Jumps B&E Jumps is one the newest businesses in St. Mary Parish.

Three couples — Earl and Stacy LaFont, Bodie and Regan Barrilleaux and Steven and Jenny Darce — joined forces to provide affordable inflatable rentals for all occasions.

B&E offers wet and dry inflatable slides and jumps. If you’re planning a birthday party, reunion, school event, church function or any other special event the fun and entertainment is just a phone call away. Just call (337) 578-7775 to book a unit or send email to BandEJumps@yahoo.com. You can also like them on Facebook to see photos of their jumps and leave comments.

B&E provides free delivery and setup anywhere in St. Mary Parish.

Since 1956, Southern Glass serves the area Southern Glass was founded in 1956 by Douglas Daigle Sr. and has been serving St. Mary and surrounding parishes for 55 years.

In 1979, Daigle Sr. opened Southern Glass in Lafourche. It is owned and operated by Douglas Daigle Jr. They have been serving the Lafourche Parish area since 1981. In 1996, Douglas Daigle Sr. assisted Mike Daigle in opening Southern Glass of Terrebonne.

On July 2, 1990, the senior Daigle assisted Dale Daigle in opening Southern Glass in Franklin.

Southern Glass of Franklin is located at 1010 West Third St. Southern Glass handles a complete line of auto, residential, marine and commercial glass products.

Southern Glass gives customers 100 percent guarantees on all work and seeks to satisfy the customer.

So if you want quality glasswork, come and visit the store locally owned and operated by Dale and Gayle Daigle.

The business is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

It is closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

The Daigles are a close, caring and loving family. When help is needed, they get involved and help each other. They are big supporters of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and donate the $5 minimum fee charged for installation of rearview mirrors to the association. Also, odd pieces of glass go toward it.

Southern Glass is a member of the West St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, National Glass Association and National Federation of Independent Business. They also are a service provider of Lynx Services, the glass administer for most insurance companies.

Next time you need glass work, give Southern Glass a try.

Scelfo takes care of all your insurance needs Protect your future and the future of your family by carrying the proper life and health insurance.

Scelfo Insurance Agency, located at 712 Main St., has been serving the community for 27 years by providing individual and group life and health insurance.

Scelfo Insurance sells Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the largest health insurer in the state, and a host of policies from major companies to fit all your needs.

They also do consulting work on group health plans, conventions and self-funding methods.

Tony J. Scelfo, owner and manager, started as a New York Life agent in 1984.

He was awarded as New York Life’s Group Leader of Sales in a Group Health Plan early in his career in 1986 for the New Orleans territory.

He worked with them until 1994 before becoming an independent agent.

Becoming an independent agent allowed Scelfo to offer a more diverse line of life and health insurance products.

With employee Cynthia O. Rozas, Scelfo welcomes clients to his office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

2011 AND STILL GROWING! Working at the Port....

• National Oilwell Varco.

Oilfield drilling fluids company utilizing the port facility as main distribution and warehousing facility.

• Bagala Oysters, Inc. Seafood dealer

• SBA Structures, Inc. Cellular communications

• D & L Salvage, LLC Offshore Platform Salvage

• Kim Son Seafood, Inc. Seafood dealer

• Queen Seafood Seafood Dealer

• Marine Turbine Technologies, Inc. Adaptation and installation of gas turbines in non-aircraft applications

• St. Mary Seafood, Inc. Seafood dealer

• Twin Brothers Marine, Inc. Construction of offshore platforms

Commissioners Tad Blevins - Executive Director/President Calvin Deshotel - Vice President Ralph Longman - Secretary John Lockett Phil Bell Greg Paul Willie Peters Wayne Stevens Will Terry Rebecca O. Pellerin - Office Manager Donna Louviere - Secretary/Receptionist P.O. Drawer 601 • Franklin, LA 70538 • 337-828-3410 e-mail: portofwsm@cox-internet.com

Page 10, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Profile Edition

Steamboat era saw a thriving, vivid local community

By FAY G. BROWN (The Banner-Tribune, April 28, 1959) An epoch long since past, colorful and exciting in its aspect, provided Franklin with a lifeline to distant parts of the country many years ago.

It was the early era of the steamboat, when as many as nine vessels at a time anchored at this former port of entry — an era which was inevitably supplanted by time and progress. A cloud hovered over the future of the steamboat trade as early as 1850, and before the turn of the century railroads had begun to stifle the effectiveness of freight and passenger-carrying craft.

Bayou Teche, vitally important to the region, would begin to assume its periodical air of life and interest in the latter part of November each year. By December the port of Franklin presented a picturesque scene, composed of gallant vessels with flags and streamers floating in the Teche breeze. On one December Sabbath in 1848 nine boats lay at anchor in port, and among them were two brigs of 175 tons each. The following description of the scene is taken from the December 7, 1848 issue of the Planters’ Banner: “When we see such a company of weighty, dignified visitors, leaving northern cities, traversing the ocean, stretching across the Gulf of Mexico, and winding their way up these bays, lakes and bayous to this secluded village, it makes us feel that we are not entirely unknown in the world.”

The arrival of boats from New Orleans or other cities created a stir among the townsfolk, for they depended upon the steamboats for lumber, the city papers, cargoes of materials and candy, ice, freight, and other commodities. One of the finer vessels which arrived from New Orleans was the “E.A.

Ogden,” described as a large well-built vessel, which offered to the planters of Attakapas safe and speedy shipment of sugar and other items.

First Steamboat Apparently the steamboat “Louisville” was the first to make her appearance on the Teche in April of 1825. According to an issue of the Attakapas Gazette, the arrival of the steamboat opened a new era in the history of this section of the country, for the prevailing opinion had been that navigation between Plaquemine and the mouth of the Teche was impracticable for vessels of this type.

The “Louisville” entered by way of Bayou Plaquemine, but the newspaper report does not state how far down the Teche the boat came nor where she anchored.

For all practical purposes, however, Franklin’s steamboat history began in 1835, when parish records show that Wilson McKerall and A.L. Fields bought from Charles H. Bostwick, attorney-in-fact for William H. McKnight of Bingham County, New Jersey, the steamboat, “Experiment,” and put it in Bayou Teche trade.

On October 1, 1842, the “Belle of Attakapas,” under the command of Captain Cheney Johnson of St. Mary traveled the water route between New Town and New Orleans. Editor Robert Wilson called the attention of the planters to the advantage of having a boat on the sea route. He stated that the delay, trouble and expense which attended the shipment of produce by the low water route would be avoided and that the planters would be enabled to send their new sugar and cotton early to market. Wilson added, “The Belle is a good boat, and Mr. Johnson will be one of the most popular captains in our trade. Success to him.”

In September of 1847, the

schooner, “Col. Hanson,” was purchased in New York by Simeon Smith of Franklin. A vessel of 31 tons, the “Col. Hanson was constructed in North Carolina of “live oak and locust” and was considered the first vessel of large size hailing from Franklin.

Port of Entry Franklin may have been a “secluded village,” but this town was not unknown in the East, as attested to by the following report copied by the Planters’ Banner from the New York American Agriculturist: “Franklin is the seat of justice for the Parish of St. Mary, and is a port of entry. Large numbers of vessels of light draught annually come to this bayou and load with sugar and molasses for the north, bringing manufactured articles, provisions, coal, and other supplies in exchange.”

Names of some of the

steamboats which plied the Teche in the 1840s and ‘50s were the “St. Helena,” Captain McGowan; the “Kentucky,” Captain Strother; the “St. Mary,” Captain Muggah; the “Judge McLean,” Captain Henkle and the “Billow,” Captain Pritchard.

Daniel Dennett, in the November 23, 1848, issue of the Planters’ Banner, gives this description of the steamboat trade in Bayou Teche: “The little Correo makes her regular trips between St. Martinville and the Park, enabling passengers or freight to be transported from or to the city way of Plaquemine. Vessels from the North occasionally arrive, and flat boats, oyster boats and diverse other small crafts, arriving without the warning of a bell or scape-pipe, all act their part in giving to these waters a business aspect. There is one

flat-boat on whose long side you may read the name Atchafalaya that is somewhat remarkable for a flatboat. At a distance she looks like other boats of her species, but upon more careful examination you find that she has a sternwheel, and inside a steam engine, and when she is in motion she paddles and puffs with as much independence as a full grown steamer. But the season has not yet arrived for our bayou to be in full blast. Give us a plenty of water in the Plaquemine, and steamboats plying between St. Martinville and New Orleans will be so numerous that one may, any day in the week, step aboard a fine boat that will land him safe in the city in about thirty hours.

This brings New Orleans almost within hailing distance.”

The steamboat captains

had their troubles, too, however, especially when they lost their craft beneath the waters of the Teche. One such mishap was reported in the January 17, 1850, issue of the Banner, which stated that the steamer, “Bertrand,” running between the Teche and New Orleans, had sunk in Bayou Sorrel with about 250 hogsheads of sugar on board. The loss of the sugar and the loss sustained by the steamboat was computed to have been not less than 15 or 20 thousand dollars.

Names later associated with the steamboat trade and well-remembered by many of this generation were Captain Hubert Mahon, Captain William Clifton, Captain Victor Von Schoeler and Captain C.A. Barbour.

(Sources: Planters’ Banner and “West of the Atchafalaya.”)

Postcard titled “Summer Scene on Bayou Teche, Franklin, La.”, the William Kyle steamboat, about 1903.

Need sound? Professionals from Easy Street Productions Need a professional sound and lighting company? How about a sound system for your home or business?

Easy Street Productions, located as 708 Iberia St. in Franklin, has what you’re looking for and more than 31 years experience behind everything they do. At Easy Street Productions, you’ll find a JBL 20,000-watt stereo sound and lighting touring system for your band. You can also rent a stage or have a sound system installed in your church, club, home or business.

The business is owned by Robin and Kathy Boudreaux and is managed by Robin J. Boudreaux Sr. who is an audio engineer, audio/lighting designer and installation specialist. Also, when you visit, you might meet Warren Boudreaux lighting technician and monitor engineer; Kelvin Gaspard, monitor engineer and lighting technician; and stage managers, lighting techs and roadies Daniel Boudreaux and Jay Broussard.

In 1976, Robin Sr. started helping his brother Clay

Boudreaux haul and set up equipment which led him to become a stage manager in 1977. He later became an audio engineer for “Autoband.” In 1980 when the band split, Robin Sr. purchased their equipment and the rest, as they say, is history.

“There has been a need in Acadiana for my services, both today and in the past,” Robin Said. “What started out with helping my brother has developed into a great opportunity.”

Family is important to Robin. He credits his wife

Fountain of Youth Nutrition Center store is up for sale FOR SALE: Established health food store in Franklin. Fountain of Youth Nutrition Center LLC has been in business for over four years! GREAT location on Main Street right next door to Subway. There is plenty of room to expand within the store and this location has a kitchen for a smoothie bar in the future. I have earned the trust of my customers so therefore I am not looking just to sell. I want to sell this business to someone who will continue to guide people toward the highest quality supplements and guide them away from toxic or synthetic ingredients. I currently carry the highest quality products on the market and I have been blessed to see amazing health turn-arounds. For those who have never been in this field but are interested, I am willing to train.

For serious inquiries, please contact the store.

Fountain of Youth Nutrition Center LLC, 1502 Main Street, Suite 6, Franklin, LA 70538. (337) 828-1445.

To all of Fountain of Youth Nutrition Center customers: Some of you came into my store just to sit and talk for hours. You made me feel like family, thank you!

Some of you came to this store and shared your pain and shed some of your tears, you let me know you trusted me, and for that, I thank you! For those who

came to me in my time of need, you let me know how much you loved me, and for that, I can’t thank you enough! Thank you so much for all of your love, support, and all of the wonderful memories that I will never forget. Thank you for taking in this California stranger and making her feel as if she were one of your own.

From my Subway watchdog,

Sage, to my spinning mailman, I love all of you! I would like to take this time to thank Mrs. Keelie Bodin who has been there for me to help out in any and every way that she could. She is truly an amazing hard worker and an incredible friend. Like so many, Keelie walked into this store as a customer but left as family.

I love you!

Kathy with helping the business grow by pulling everything together. The business has also allowed Robin to spend more time with his family and has allowed him the opportunity to meet a number of professional acts as well as great local and regional entertainment professionals.

Some of Easy Street Production’s achievements include the design and installation of the sound systems at Franklin City Hall and Third Ward City Court as well as at the following

churches: Mt. Zion Baptist, St. Joseph Catholic, Church of the Assumption, St. Joseph Baptist, New Mt. Horeb Baptist, Lighthouse Baptist, First United Methodist, St. Jules Catholic, Macedonia Baptist in Ashton, Teche Theatre and Hanson Memorial High Scool gym and auditorium..

With these kinds of references backing them, this business can surely handle all of your entertainment needs.

Easy Street Productions has also worked with tour-

ing groups Neal McCoy, ZLot-Z, Double Cross, Ricochet, South Bend, La-Red, Groove Dawgs, No Strings Attached, Joel Sonnier, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Egyptian Lover, Free Flight, Wayne Toups and Belton Richard.

Professional. Easy to deal with. Easy Street Productions is the only place you need to call for your entertainment needs.

For more information call Robin at 828-7155 or visit his Web site at easystreetprod.com.

Come see your friends at

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1419 Hospital Ave. 828-0950 or 828-1566

We Deliver!

8 am - 9 pm m-f 8 am - 12 noon Sat.

Profile Edition, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Page

11

Foundation Hospital continues to deliver excellent healthcare Almost four years into its new facility on Northwest Boulevard, Franklin Foundation Hospital continues to provide the same quality healthcare service it has been serving the surrounding community for the past 58 years.

The hospital has been at its new 22-bed facility since August 2007 when it moved from the original hospital built in 1953. There are 179 employees.

Administrative staff includes Chief Executive Officer Parker Templeton, Chief Financial Officer Ron Bailey, Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Wise, Director of Human Resources Elmo Vinas, Quality Resource Director Karen St. Blanc, Executive Assistant Rebecca Courville and Director of Marketing and Business Development Marlo Tibbs.

Franklin Foundations’ governing Board of Commissioners of Hospital Service District 1 are Allan Von Werder, chairman; Eugene Foulcard Sr., vice chairman; and Dr. Nick Accardo, Didi Battle, Clegg Caffery Jr., Dr. Roland Degeyter and Ann Luke.

Medical specialties at Franklin Foundation include family and general practices, pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, general surgery, cardiology, podiatry, urology, digital mammography and ENT. The hospital provides general medical and surgical care for inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room patients; an intensive care unit and skilled nursing services; a laboratory unit; physical, occupational, speech, respiratory and nu-

Danny’s Fried Chicken founded 38 years ago serving delicious chicken Danny’s Fried Chicken specializes in delicious fried chicken and the best “rice dressing” around.

Danny’s of Franklin has been in business for 38 years and is proud to serve you and be part of this community.

A FEW FACTS: Danny’s Fried Chicken was founded by Mr. Howard Colgin, the first store open in Morgan City located on Brashear Avenue.

Mrs. Lola Mae Broussard and the late Mr. Norris Broussard purchased their first Danny’s franchise in 1972 in Ville Platte, Louisiana, by the end of 1973 they opened the Danny’s of Franklin (where Himel’s is located today).

In 1974 Norris and Lola Mae Broussard opened Danny’s of Bayou Vista; then in 1977 the Danny’s of Patterson was open where we served the Patterson Community for 30 years.

Around 1978 Danny’s of Franklin moved to the

present location on the corner of Adams and Main Street.

Dale Marie Hartford, the daughter of Norris and Lola Mae Broussard, has been the manager and supervisor for Danny’s of Franklin, Bayou Vista and Patterson for the last 38 years.

Through the years we have introduced many new items to our menu, creating a wide variety of delicious foods including fresh catfish, shrimp, crawfish, homemade onion rings, and the best “rice dressing” around.

Danny’s of Franklin has a drive-thru for your convenience, a large dining room and clean restrooms.

Come by and Shop Downtown in Franklin’s beautiful Historical District and stop at Danny’s and enjoy some delicious Danny’s Fried Chicken, also check our daily specials. Our phone number is 337-8284360 or 337-828-4361.

Thank you for your patronage.

tritional therapy services and cardiovascular rehab and stress tests; and an ex-

tensive radiology department that includes mammography, ultrasound, nuclear medi-

cine, CT scans, MRIs and Xrays.

Medical information is

available by calling 828-0760 or visiting the website at www.franklinfoundation.org.

‘With bubbling laughter in its heart’...

Coninued from Page 1 was used for dancing until 1917, when that section of the building was condemned. With the installation of a modern sound apparatus, “talkies” came to Franklin in 1929. Manager Charles Lauve announced at this time that the work would be completed in July, when the “all-talking” production, “Show Boat,” would be shown to movie-goers.

One must stop to remember that the twenties were the “Flapper” days, for after World War I women gained emancipation from the strict code of conduct in the early part of the century. It was no longer considered improper for a women to improve her appearance through the use of cosmetics, although smoking by women was still somewhat frowned upon. Charenton Beach became a popular spot for picnickers, swimmers, and boat

owners, and even the present generation recalls the many dances held out at the beach in days which have passed all too quickly.

Many of these elements are no longer a part of the life of Franklin. Celebrations of carnival, however, have endured through the years. In 1926 the royal party came up the Teche on the “Wolverine,” then ascended the float for the parade. The monarchs that year were Wilson T. Peterman and Miss Winnie Rogers (Mrs. Earl Lyman). In 1927 William J. Talbot was King Rex. The carnival balls were given by the PTA and the Elks Club, while the parade was sponsored by the “Mysterious Babies Carnival Club,” an organization formed in 1926.

As late as 1930 the world-famous showboat, “Cotton Blossom,” exhibited a

four-act drama and five vaudeville acts at Franklin for two days. This showboat, of course, was the identical boat featured in Ziegfeld’s movie, “Showboat.”

The drama presented on this occasion was “That Thing Called Love.”

And what shall we tell our grandchildren? That we lived to see the atom bomb, the rockets, the innovation of television, and the first men in space?

When story-telling time draws near at the end of the day and we hear the lonesome whistle of the train in the distance, will these modern stories captivate our descendants? Perhaps so, but our description of events will never have quite the magic of the showboat era.

(Sources: the St. Mary Banner, “St. Mary Parish—1958,” Mayor L.S. Tarlton’s address to the Elks Club).

Page 12, The Banner-Tribune, Franklin, La., Wednesday, June 29, 2011, Profile Edition