After a comprehensive investigation into the hiring potential of 130 nationwide firms involved in the oyster reef restoration industry, the Duke University Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness today released a report, “RESTORING GULF OYSTER REEFS: Opportunities for Innovation,” finding that oyster reef restoration projects could provide quadruple economic returns for the Gulf Coast states. The study comes as Congress is in the [...]

Coach Ulysses Griffin was selected as Coach of the Year for the 2nd consecutive year in District 9C.  This is the 4th honor for Coach Griffin who is serving in his 11th year as head boys basketball coach at Phoenix High School.  He won coach of the year in 2004 for District 12 1A and [...]

Louisiana lawmakers concluded their 2012 session Monday, June 4. The whirlwind session concluded with legislators passing major education reform, a referendum regarding the tolls for the Crescent City Connection, and many other measures that effect Plaquemines Parish. Several projects in Plaquemines Parish are closer to construction as a result of Gov. Bobby Jindal signing into [...]

A little over a month after it opened to road traffic, an official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Empire Draw Bridge was held June 12. District 7 Councilman Jeff Edgecombe led the ceremony and spoke about how happy he was for his district to have an alternative route in and out of Empire. “It’s [...]

Boothville-Venice Elementary School celebrated it’s annual D.A.R.E. Program (Drug Awareness Resistance Education), May 16, 2012.  Officer Sammy Hymes of the Plaquemines Parish Sherrif’s Office congratulated the sixth graders for the completion of the program. Several of the students won the essay contest and read them to the parents and guests assembled.  Ms. Le’Trinda Williams and [...]

It started as each of the Belle Chasse football banquets over the past several years had started, with a delicious meal eaten on the school [...]

Offsetting the environmental impacts of upcoming levee and hurricane protection projects was the subject of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ May 31 public meeting at Woodland Plantation. The Corps held an informational open house prior to a presentation on the N.O.V. projects and plans for mitigating the inevitable damage that surrounding wetlands will incur [...]

A six month moratorium has been established on the issuance of borrow pit permits in all nine council districts so the PPC can modify or adopt new borrow pit legislation that clearly defines whether backfilling is required by excavators. Councilchair Byron Marinovich stated that the intention of the ordinance is not to stifle levee work [...]

A public speaking class at South Plaquemines High, led by teacher Micheal Steudeman, gave their final persuasive speeches arguing to change, add or remove a school policy to a panel of school board members and teachers as their final project. Speech topics ranged from instituting Graphic Design classes to starting an anti-bullying program to getting [...]

Dr. John Day and Dr. Paul Kemp of the Mississippi River Delta Science and Engineering Special Team gave a presentation on the future of the Delta region during the May 31 PABI luncheon. Pictured is PABI Chairman Reid McClellan, Dr. John Day, Dr. Paul Kemp, and PABI Executive Director Bob Thomas. The Mississippi River Delta [...]