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 [...]

The debate about borrow pits and backfilling is nothing new— the issue has been a contentious one for several decades, but one simple question still remains unanswered for many residents: why won’t borrow pit operators backfill? There is still speculation as to why the council cannot enforce borrow pit regulations currently on the books, but [...]

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 [...]

The intense heat sticks out in Shannon Callais’ mind. Her oldest son came in from the garage to tell his mom that younger brother Avery was playing in there. When she turned towards the garage door, she remembers an orange glow and the intense heat. The Belle Chasse house on Schleif Drive was old and [...]