About 200 people filled the West St. Mary Civic Center Tuesday for a public hearing called by the state Department of Environmental Quality on application for a draft water discharge permit by Henry Gas Storage LLC. HGS's proposal to construct four natural gas storage units on Cote Blanche Island is meeting with heavy opposition from the North American Salt Co. that mines on the island. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the lead agency in the permitting of the project.
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Gas
storage plan opposed
Almost 200 people attended a public hearing Tuesday on the proposed use of the salt dome at Cote Blanche Island for storage of natural gas.
School
Board meets Thursday
Insurance matters highlight the St. Mary Parish School Board's monthly meeting Thursday.
During the meeting, the board will consider approving a recommendation to retain services of a third-party administrator and safety consultant to assist the board with its workers compensation program. The board also will approve a recommendation regarding workers compensation insurance for the year beginning May 1.
VA
Clinic opening set Thursday
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System will formally dedicate the VA Outpatient Clinic in Franklin, during a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony March 11 at 1 p.m.
City election early voting begins
Saturday
Early voting for the March 27 city election will begin Saturday and continue through the following Saturday, March 20.
Hours at the St. Mary Registrar of Voters Office for early or voting are 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Ballots may be cast at the Registrar's Office on the third floor of the Parish Courthouse in Franklin.
The only items on the ballot are mayor and city council races.
OBITUARIES
William Logan Sr.
Tuesday, March 9
Harris,
Scelfo face off in forum
Candidates for Franklin Mayor and City Council gathered at the Teche Theater Monday to outline their platforms and answer a set of predetermined questions.
The forum was sponsored by the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Greg Young. Frank Fink, parish economic development director, served as timekeeper.
City
council candidates get their turn
Candidates for Franklin City Council gathered at the Teche Theater Monday to outline their platforms and answer a set of predetermined questions.
The forum was sponsored by the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Greg Young. Frank Fink, parish economic development director, served as timekeeper. All candidates were allowed an opening statement and a brief closing.
Parish sales taxes drop to 2005-2006
levels
Parish sales taxes for February, representing January sales, sank to levels not seen since 2005-2006 with total receipts at $2.25 million.
Tax collected by examinations was also light, registering only $7,360.
Year to date numbers are still strong, showing $5.4 million on the year.
Distribution to local governments included School Board, $1 million; Parish Council, $340,652; Morgan City, $268,954; Franklin, $174,657; Sheriff's Office, $146,494; Berwick, $85,592; Patterson, $84,219 and Baldwin, $42,193.
Parish council meets Wednesday with
short agenda
A short agenda awaits members of the St. Mary Parish Council when they meet in regular monthly session Wednesday.
The council will consider passage of a resolution congratulating the Franklin Senior High School Boys Indoor Track Team for capturing the 2010 State Division II Indoor Track Championship and the Girls Indoor Track Team for placing third. There also is another resolution proclaiming March 7-13 as Problem Gambling Awareness Week.
Other items on the agenda include appointments to various boards and commissions and an update by the administration on potential application for an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant.
The council also will hear from representatives of the Cypress Sawmill Festival.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. on the fifth floor of the Courthouse in Franklin.
OBITUARIES
Charles R. (Pete) Gardner
Monday, March 8
Budget,
retirement issues await Louisiana legislative decisions
When the Louisiana Legislature convenes for its upcoming session later this month, local legislators said they would be faced with both balancing the state's budget and finding a way to fund the state's retirement system.
City election forum tonight
A political forum will be held tonight for candidates of the Franklin mayor and city council election.
The St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce will host the forum at 6 p.m. at the Teche Theater in downtown Franklin.
Hearing on gas storage Tues.
A public hearing on a proposal to construct a natural gas storage facility at the Cote Blanche salt dome will be held Tuesday at the West St. Mary Civic Center at 6 p.m.
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will host the hearing as part of the permitting process for Henry Gas Storage which plans to build caverns and store natural gas in the dome.
The North American Salt Co., which mines the dome, is opposing the project due to safety concerns.
OBITUARIES
Bob Owens
Friday, March 5
SMP
levee dist. to ask for 5 mills
Voters will be asked to go to the polls on May 1 to approve a 5-mill operation and maintenance tax for the St. Mary Parish Levee District.
Officials
prep for potential flooding
In anticipation of potential high water this spring local officials are taking steps to prepare.
Loss
of La. jobs projected to continue
While the Louisiana economy has fared much better than the rest of the country, its unemployment rate has risen during the last year and is expected to continue climbing this year.
OBITUARIES
Percy J. Bonvillain
Nicodemus ' Lil Demus'
Colbert Jr.
Flavia E. Elmore
Lawrence Hamilton
Joseph Verdun Sr.
Thursday, March 4
Juvenile
murder suspect ID'd, court will try him as an adult
A 16-year-old accused of being an accomplice in the double-homicide in Franklin last month will be tried as an adult.
School
testing will be in two phases
Annual LEAP and GEE testing will take place in two separate phases this school year.
The state's decision to divide the testing process into two phases allows students to fulfill the various testing requirements over the course of two sessions.
RRW
drawing contest entries sought
Entries now are being accepted for the 2010 St. Mary Parish Red Ribbon Week drawing contest.
Teche presents Black History show
Teche Theatre for the Per-forming Arts is presenting its annual Black History Production on Saturday at 7:30p.m.
This year the Teche will provide an African American Showcase promoting the works of famous and local African American playwrights, singers, songwriters, poets, artists, musicians and speakers.
The showcase will be performed by local talent as well as members of the Teche Players. Tickets are $10 on sale at Fad's Newsstand.
On Sunday the Teche will host a free Silver Screen Classics review of the movie ``Raisin in the Sun'' at 3 p.m. For more information visit www.ttpaonline.com or the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts page on
Facebook.
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Welcome
to
St. Mary Parish!
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