Louisiana Legislators Prepare to Face Budget Deficit

By Lisa Yates
Editor, The Times







The Louisiana Legislature returns for its 2009 Regular Legislative Session on Monday, April 27. With an anticipated budget deficit and a struggling economy, state lawmakers voice their views on the upcoming legislative session and the work ahead of them.

Each of the state legislators representing Southwest Louisiana was asked to respond to several questions. For example, they were asked what their priorities were as they work to draft a final version of the budget; and, they were asked what they saw as their most difficult challenge this legislative session.

In addition, the lawmakers were asked to discuss specific bills they will be authoring/co-authoring and what they hoped to accomplish with the legislation. Also, they discussed whether or not they anticipated taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus legislation.

Finally, the legislators were given the opportunity to discuss anything else they felt was important to note about the 2009 Regular Legislative Session in April.

What follows are the responses received from state Senators Dan “Blade” Morrish and Willie L. Mount; and, state Representatives Dorothy Sue (Tramel) Hill; Mike Danahay, and John E. “Johnny” Guinn.

Senators

Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish

    District: 25

Residence: Jennings/Lake Charles

Terms served: Three in La. House of Representatives; One in La. Senate

    Contact: dmorrish@legis.state.la.us
    (337) 274-4759, Cell
    (337) 824-3979, Office

Budget priorities: To make sure that within this new budget, the legislature does as little harm to those individuals, who through no fault of their own, cannot help themselves. I speak specifically of the sight and hearing impaired, the mentally challenged and the elderly.

Most difficult challenge this legislative session: The dramatic number of major issues that will be addressed in an odd-numbered year session (Fiscal Session of only 60 days). The legislature will have last year's $800 million surplus, this year's $350+ deficit, next year's $1 to $2 BILLION deficit, and the Stimulus Package just for starters!

Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: The creation of the Cheniere Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority which will include all of Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermillion Parishes. The purpose being, to provide Southwest Louisiana with one voice when bringing coastal projects to Baton Rouge and Washington D.C.

Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus bill: Yes, but only when those funds are not tied to future expenditures that the State of Louisiana will not be able to afford. I would support one-time spending for highway and bridge projects, coastal protection and restoration projects and support for the agriculture industry.

     Other: This session will involve a long list of controversial issues. It is important     that I stay informed of all citizens' concerns and opinions on these issues. Please     contact my office with your concerns and suggestions as my duty is to represent     you to the best of my ability.


Sen. Willie L. Mount

    District: 27

Residence: Lake Charles

Terms served: Third term

    Contact: lasen27@legis.state.la.us, or (337) 491-2016

Budget priorities: Since the state MUST operate a balanced budget, the governor and the legislature approved state spending reductions to address this year's shortfall. State budget officials now estimate, even with the budget cuts adopted this year, that we face a $1.6 billion budget shortfall for next fiscal year to keep current state services and programs adequately funded and to meet increased costs associated with certain operations. We must balance the budget!

    Most difficult challenge this legislative session: Legislators will face two different     kinds of money questions at the regular session - how to deal with the looming     budget deficit for the next fiscal year and how to best invest a sizeable budget     surplus from the last fiscal year. Both money questions are mostly the result of     changes in state mineral revenue collections, at first much higher than expected     and now much lower.

Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: Bills under consideration for authoring or co-authoring include health care reform, crack down on child sex offenders, improving the state's education and workforce training programs, addressing the state's dropout rate, DWI law changes and creation of a lung cancer fund for research.

Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus bill: The stimulus package will afford the state to utilize the federal transportation funds in the bill to initiate shovel-ready projects. The terms of the federal legislation require that half of the funds must be committed within 120 days and the remaining funds within a year.

     Other: Beyond the fiscal issues, debate at the 2009 Regular Session is expected to     center around on-going key issues such as workforce training, health care reform,     education, highway safety and public safety.

Representatives

Rep. Dorothy Sue (Tramel) Hill

    District: 32

Residence: Dry Creek

Terms served: First term

    Contact:  hilld@legis.state.la.us/ 1-800-259-2118

    Budget priorities: My priorities in the budget session this year are my moral     obligations to my constituents and to the people of Louisiana. I believe the     vocational technical colleges will help in training and retraining our workforce. I     am concerned about our infrastructure – highway systems, health care, education,     elderly care. This is my moral obligation to you.

    Most difficult challenge this legislative session: The legislators face a most     difficult and challenging session beginning April 27, 2009, because of our present     day economy along with all the tax cuts we so graciously granted last year.     Balancing the budget without hurting our elderly (those on fixed income and     retirement), our working poor and our children will be a real challenge. I pray we     can do this with the citizens of Louisiana on our minds.

    Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: At the present time, I am     working on several bills that I am interested in filing.

    Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent     economic stimulus bill: I will vote to take advantage of the federal stimulus funds.     They are jobs - jobs that will boost our economy to help our citizens and     constituents get back on their feet. Our citizens and I pay federal income taxes -     this is our money that is coming back to Louisiana for us to use in an accountable     way to improve our economy. If we use these stimulus funds in the correct way,     our companies, plants, small businesses, and timber industry will be revived and     our citizens will be back to work.
   
    Other: If the legislative and the executive branches work together in a Christian     way, we will have a very productive session.

Rep. Mike Danahay

    District: 33

Residence: Sulphur

Terms served: First term

    Contact: (337) 527-5581, or danahaym@legis.state.la.us

Budget priorities: Being that this a fiscal session and we are facing a $1.2 to $2 billion short fall in the 2009-10 budget, the goal will be to balance the budget without increasing taxes and with the least amount of interruption of essential services provided to the citizens of Louisiana.

    Most difficult challenge this legislative session: Of course balancing the 2009-10     budget will take center stage this session. With the downturn in the economy and     declining natural resource revenues, the challenge for Louisiana will be to be     financially prudent with current dollars. We must also address the budget with the     future in mind. There are future financial considerations, such as health care and     education, that if not addressed today may become the crisis of tomorrow.

    Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: There are few bills I will be     filing concerning local matters. These bills will help to clean up some     discrepancies for some local entities. Other bills that will have statewide impact     are currently under consideration. 

    Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent     economic stimulus bill: Yes. I do anticipate that the state will take 
    advantage of most of the stimulus funds. It is important to note that these are     one-time monies and should not be applied to reoccurring expenses. The state     should not become dependent upon these funds.

     Other: Constitutional mandates, protections, and dedications have hampered     efforts to make meaningful changes to reform Louisiana government. There is the     possibility to begin this discussion through legislation that could be brought forth     this session.

    Rep. John E. “Johnny” Guinn

    District: 37

Residence: Jennings

Terms served: First term

    Contact: guinnj@legis.state.la.us, or (337) 824-0376

Budget priorities: The legislature does not draft a budget. The governor submits the budget to the legislature. I understand the governor's staff is still working on the document and plans to submitted it to the legislature sometimes in March.

Most difficult challenge this legislative session: The most difficult challenge this session will be to balance the budget with the projected deficit the state is facing.

Specific bills you will be authoring/co-authoring: I am still in the process of receiving request from my constituents for legislation. My legislation is still a work in progress.

Do you anticipate taking advantage of federal funds offered by the recent economic stimulus bill: At this time the governor is still studying the rules the state would have to follow in order to accept these federal funds. I feel his decision to accept or reject federal funds will be based on what is best for the state. I will support his decision.

     Other: This session is a Fiscal Session. It is shorter session and legislators are limited to filing only five bills not pertaining to taxing matters. I feel this will serve to concentrate the legislature's efforts on finalizing a budget that attempts to serve the needs of our citizens in the best fashion possible. 

Mayor Roach Meets with President Obama; Announces Bid for Re-election

By Bill Krull






While Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana face major challenges in the coming years, Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach said no doubt exists about the region’s ability to respond. Time and again, Roach said at a news conference announcing his bid for re-election, the people have risen to the occasion and turned crisis into opportunity.

“Hurricanes Ike and Gustav came through almost three years to the day after Hurricane Rita. In the wake of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, we proved to the country that, yes, the people here did a great job after Rita but, guess what? It wasn’t a stroke of luck,” Roach told a crowd of about 200 people.

“It was because of who we were. Who we are. What we accomplished, what we’re doing to rebuild, reshape—that doesn’t just happen. Whatever the future holds, we, the people of Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, we’re going to be fine, we’re going to be okay. Our strength comes from our ability to work together. We have proven our ability to accomplish great things in the midst of extreme hardship.”

The next four years will be challenging, due in part to the global economic crisis, Roach said. A prolonged recession may very well affect various phases of the community development strategy currently being implemented—public and private.

“We’ve focused on a vision of not just recovery, but of making things better. We’ve focused on the improvements needed to sustain growth that includes things like roads and water and wastewater and services, better recreation facilities for our children—the infrastructure we must have for a sustainable high quality of life,” Roach said.

Lake Charles people took a major step forward when they approved a $90 million bond issue—a community wide, comprehensive capital improvement program. Planners took extra care to build in responsibility, accountability and sustainability to ensure no barriers are created today that might hinder future growth.

The importance of such care was graphically illustrated when President Barack Obama laid down strict guidelines for the use of stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that he recently signed.

In a White House meeting with Roach and 84 other especially invited mayors from throughout the nation, the President cautioned mayors to use ARRA funds “with unprecedented responsibility and accountability.” The president’s warning was a pre-emptive strike meant to deal with a major concern about so much federal money being pumped into state and local governments in a relatively short time.

Such sustainable projects currently underway in Lake Charles include numerous construction projects for economic and community development and for roads, parks and recreation facilities for quality of life and for children. Many will be complete in 2009 and several others are in the design phase.

What it boils down, Roach concluded, is a simple matter of responsibility.
“It all translates into a very simple thing: When I was in Washington D.C. visiting with President Obama, he acknowledged that our nation is not a nation of government, it’s a nation of people. It’s a nation of people who live in communities, large and small, like Lake Charles. That’s where the real work gets done,” Roach said. “That’s where dreams are fulfilled. That is what this race is about. It’s about our dreams for our community for our children for their future.”

Fontenot announces candidacy for city council

By Lisa Yates

Editor, The Times of SWLA

Getting city sewage service to south Lake Charles and widening streets to improve traffic flow are top priorities of John Fontenot, who announced his candidacy for the District G Lake Charles City Council Seat.

“Many people in south Lake Charles live within the city, but don't have city sewage – me, included,” Fontenot said. “In talking to the people of south Lake Charles, I understand that many want to see a widening of the streets to improve the traffic flow. I want to help make that happen.”

Fontenot made the announcement, Jan. 30, following Sheriff Tony Mancuso's presentation at the League of WoMen Voters noon meeting at Reeves Uptown Catering in Lake Charles.

He said the presentation provided some great tips, such as hiring a consultant. Fontenot hired FocalPoint Media & Marketing, saying the firm was instrumental in managing successful campaigns in the last election.

Fontenot said he entered the race because he believes the district needs strong leadership to represent the community.

“I want to serve my community and to help Lake Charles grow and improve,” he said.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Sowella Foundation, and the Calcasieu Women's Shelter. He serves the Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club as its sergeant-at-arms. He and his wife Jodi are members of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.

The District G council seat is now held by Mike Huber.

You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy in Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Takes a New, Aggressive Approach Toward Litter

 


 Ask almost anyone to identify a common problem facing all of Southwest Louisiana, and most people will tell you it’s litter. For quite some time, local leaders have tried to make a significant impact on the area’s troubling litter situation, but have achieved only limited success.
This past week, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury unveiled a different, more aggressive approach toward litter that is designed to tackle the issue with awareness, enforcement and education.
 
“You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy” is the new initiative’s slogan, which sends out the strong message to the community that the police jury and local law enforcement are tired of being “nice” about this issue and are now taking litter offenses very seriously.
“Research shows that litterers know they’re not supposed to litter,” says Jason Barnes, Special Programs Coordinator for the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. “Litterers are more concerned about what will happen to them if they are caught. We’re telling them straightforwardly, ‘You litter, you pay!’”
 
For the past nine months, the police jury has met with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s office to reexamine and modify the current litter enforcement law. “Tickets were not being written for one reason or another, and our main goal was to streamline the enforcement of both tickets and fines to ensure that the system would be more progressive,” says Barnes.
 
Under the new litter law, which was adopted as a parish ordinance at the beginning of February, a first-time offender will be fined $40. No court appearance is required, unless the violator would like to contest the charge. The fine will be paid to the District Attorney’s office and placed into the parish’s beautification fund, which was created several years ago. If the ticket has not been paid within the specified time—about six weeks—the District Attorney’s office will notify the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the offender’s driver’s license until the fine has been paid.
 
The second offense carries a $100 fine and requires a court appearance, with an additional $150 in court costs. The costs continue to rise with additional offenses.
 
 “We at the sheriff’s office want to play an active role in fighting litter through enforcement of the litter laws. I think everyone would agree that litter is ugly, so it’s time to tell people who litter that we won’t tolerate their destruction of the natural beauty of Calcasieu Parish,” says Sheriff Tony Mancuso. “If you get caught littering, you’re going to have to pay for your mistake.”
District Attorney John DeRosier says, “We are often judged by our personal appearance, and that applies to the grounds, roads, streets and properties of Calcasieu Parish. We need to make our community look better. It makes us look better, it helps our economy and it’s just the right thing to do.”
 
Litter Hotline
 
Police officers will not be the only people on the lookout for litterers. The police jury and the sheriff’s office have set up a new local hotline for citizens to report littering. The number is 493-LITR (5487).  Residents who witness someone littering can call the hotline and report the crime to the sheriff’s office. All that will be needed is some basic information, primarily the license plate of the violator.
 
The owner of the vehicle will then be sent a letter stating that they have been reported for littering and that they should consider the correspondence a warning. For positive reinforcement, a litterbag will be enclosed in the envelope for encouragement not to repeat the crime.
“The single biggest weapon in the program is not necessarily the fine or the cops catching these litterers in the act; it’s our community jumping in and becoming involved,” says Barnes. “With community involvement in the program, litterers now have to worry and be mindful of the everyday citizen watching them too.”
 
Next Steps
 
Education is crucial to the new litter program. Studies show that children form much of their general behavior by the fourth grade. For this reason, the police jury feels that it is just as important to take aggressive strides toward educating the parish children about litter. New programs, including litter awareness and prevention in the curriculum and special assemblies, are just a few ideas currently being discussed.
 
The new enforcement measures focus on litterers who throw out smaller litter, such as cigarette butts or soft drink cans, but the police jury is also targeting offenders who dump large amounts of trash along roadways and on private property. This is known as “gross littering,” and a special group of law enforcement officers is assigned to this crime, which is punished by heavier fines and court appearances.
 
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office encourage residents to join the fight against litter by reporting offenders, and to gain awareness about the effects of litter by visiting www.dontbetrashy.org. Throughout the year, the police jury will promote “You Can’t Afford To Be Trashy!” throughout the parish, and the sheriff’s department will be watching closely for litterers.

The Downtown Development Authority Annual Review

By Bill Krull






Her black eyes blazing like a true believer’s, GiGi Kaufman declared that the Lake Charles lakefront/downtown development vision is a happening thing that’s fast becoming reality. While things aren’t happening fast enough to suit her or the other members of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the owner of GiGi’s Fitness Centers is pleased with the plan’s progress.

The DDA celebrated its first anniversary in December with a review of the year’s accomplishments. The heavy lifting to date, Kaufman said, has mostly been transparent, involving planning, doing due diligence and figuring how to use OPM (other people’s money) to leverage the $18 million voters gave lakefront/downtown development as part of a broader $90 million bond issue okayed by local voters in 2007.

“While $18 million is a lot of money, especially considering it’s the public’s money, we (the DDA) knew that with some extra effort and a little patience, we could bring in additional funds from outside sources.” Kaufman said.  “So far, we’ve brought in an additional $9-10 million from the federal and state government and other sources.

Kaufman said they basically traded the time it took writing grants and doing all the groundwork needed to get that extra money to build the lakefront/downtown that the people deserve.

“We understand that lakefront/downtown development is just one part of a much greater area-wide effort to spur economic development and enhance our quality of life. But, we also know an attractive, vibrant urban core is absolutely vital to a region’s growth,” she added.

Although much of the DDA’s accomplishments to date include intense research and planning on the much-needed infrastructure action items, which is invisible to the general public, they have made substantial progress. These projects include:

Bord Du Lac Handicap Curb Cuts, Drainage Box and Pavement Repair Project

•    Installation of handicap curb cuts and drainage boxes as well as repair of pavement as needed. The project was completed in mid-November. The date for Notice to Proceed on this project was Oct. 6, 2008, with the project being completed within 20 working days. Norwood Brothers Construction II, LLC, was awarded this project with the bid of $45,465.00.

Lakefront Promenade Palm Project

•    Planting and maintenance of specified palm trees along the Lakefront Promenade, managed by the Moore Planning Group. Landscaped Management Services Inc. was awarded this project with the bid of $99,153.24.

Veterans Park Memorial Landscape Renovation/Revitalization Project

•    Includes the renovation and revitalization of the landscaping at the Veterans Park Memorial. A New Leaf was awarded this project with the bid of $21,000. It was certified complete Nov. 21, with ongoing maintenance to continue through Feb. 20, 2009.

Renovations

•    Improvement of the visual image and upkeep of downtown by renovating and maintaining overgrown lots, substandard and vacant buildings, broken sidewalks and planters, and landscaping. Considerable progress for this $150,000 project has been made and is ongoing.

“We made a lot of progress last year towards the people’s vision,” said DDA director Lori Marinovich. “We spent lot of time and effort planning and coordinating. We are determined to be responsible stewards of the public’s money. To date, we’ve secured almost $30 million from federal and state resources on top of our $18 million budget.”

Marinovich pointed out that this isn’t a short-term renovation project. “We’re truly building for the future to make the quality of life here the standard for the nation for generations to come,” she said.

DDA Chair Rick Richard agrees. “Our state has many areas in desperate need of improvement if we are to realize our potential,” he said. “We have to stop the out-migration of our best and brightest people and bring people back. We have to have a well-trained and motivated workforce ready to start work on Day One as business and industry is attracted to Southwest Louisiana because of the unique competitive advantages we offer.”

“Doing this requires an all-out effort from everybody—not just the government and economic development organizations,” he said. “We have to lift the many, many of our fellow citizens and children from the despair of poverty.”

Behind the dense Power Point exhibits and hard-to-read charts and graphs lies a vibrant, stimulating urban core, reminiscent of the downtown’s glory days. A good example: Where others see Pithon Coulee as a drainage ditch overgrown with weeds, Kaufman envisions a scenic waterway fronted by broad paths filled with active people.

“I envision it as a place where people can run, bike, roller blade or simply stroll along with their families,” Kaufman said. “Best of all, Pithon Coulee runs through a lot of the city and this trail will help connect us as a community.”

That’s what drives Kaufman.

“I was born and raised here and this area has been great to my family and me,” said Kaufman, who started GiGi’s Fitness Center about two decades ago. “The people here helped make my business a success, and I believe we all share a duty to help make this a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

The downtown urban core serves as a crossroads--a common meeting ground for diverse groups of people, Richard said. “Reaching our potential is going to require innovation, creativity from all of us. It’s a time and the place for those who dream big, see what can be, and are unafraid to take risks.”

Richard noted that historian Joseph Tregle wrote that in Louisiana, the past and the present have always lived side by side. “That’s changing,” he explained. “No longer can we let our past dictate our future. We have our destiny in our hands. A thriving urban core is vital to achieving that destiny. It’s a place where business, finance, entertainment, the arts and people from all over meet. It’s where ideas are born and where growth begets more growth.”

Comparison Shopping for Bandwidth in SWLA

By R.F. Horvath
Co-owner of Infinity Prime Media, LLC
www.infinityprimemedia.com


Whether you are initiating your service for the first time, moving to a new location, or thinking of moving your Internet service to a different provider, you're probably interested in getting the best deal that you can for your dollar.  In most cases, this will probably mean determining how much bandwidth you can afford. 

For the past few years, communications companies have been seeking to meet all of your needs by offering all, or most, of these services, rolled together in convenient packages. Sorting all of this out can be time consuming, and unless you are well versed in "bandwidth-ese,” it can also be confusing. 

We'll be examining the offers of the five main service providers in SWLA.  Of these five, AT&T has the largest area of coverage. The other four, Cameron Communications, Century Tel, Communicomm and SuddenLink, provide service to various parts of our area. Most residents will have at least two choices of providers. 

We're going to primarily focus on the basic - read least expensive - Internet packages, with and without other bundled services.  Keep in mind that every provider allows for cheaper costs for each individual package with the addition of the other services they offer.

Before we begin, let's cover some basic Internet terminology necessary in understanding what you are actually purchasing. 

"kbps" is short for kilobit per second, or 1,000 bits of information per second.  Bits of what?  To get an idea of what is meant by the term kb, understand that a basic text document, as is created by Microsoft's Notepad program, is about 4k.  So, with an old 56k dialup modem, you could transfer a theoretical maximum of 14 "txt" documents per second. 

The term "Mbps," or Megabit per second is 1,000 kb or 1,000,000 bps.  This means you can receive 14,000 of our example txt documents per second on a 1Mbps line.  So, when you see that a provider is offering a 1Mbps connection that is the capped limit of the download speed only.  The upload speed is typically one-half to one-eighth of that speed. You'll never get the same speed going out as you do coming into your computer.

AT&T
"Ma Bell" offers a basic DSL Internet package of 768kbps for only $14.95 per month.  When you couple that with basic no-frills telephone service your bill is just $27.95 per month.  AT&T's website touts television and wireless Internet access but does not seem to be available to this area just yet.  Of course, they also provide cell phone communications that can be coupled to your existing service as well.  You can reach AT&T at (800) 626-9149 or at www.att.com for on their services.


Cameron Communications
The Carlyss-based telecom provides fiber optic Internet, television and telephone to the home and business in some parts of Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes. The base Internet package features a 6Mbps for only $39.95 a month.  Adding a telephone line is only $10 dollars extra; long distance calls are 8¢ a minute. Their-top-of-the-line package offers 89 channels of television, the previously mentioned telephone package as well as a 10Mbps connection, and other perks for $119.95 a month.  All of Cameron's services have a two-year agreement.  You can contact Cameron Communications at (800) 737-3900 or visit their website at www.camtel.com for more information.


Century Tel
Century Tel provides telecom services to Allen, Jeff Davis, Beauregard parishes as well as Iowa and DeQuincy in Calcasieu.  Their most basic Internet package includes a 512kbps connection for $29.95 per month with a basic phone line and $49.95 per month for a 1.5Mbps connection with no phone service at all.  However, for just $10 a month more, Century Tel provides a connection that can reach 10Mbps, if that is all you are asking for.  Century Tel also provides television access through DISH-TV as well as telephone services.  Their most expensive package, that provides the most features, offers a 3 to 10 Mbps DSL connection, television access and many unlimited phone features for only $109.89 per month. Their contact information is 1-800-831-1733 or www.centurytel.com.

Communicomm
Communicomm provides Westlake, Moss Bluff and DeQuincy with television and Internet service via cable access.  If you just want Internet without television, they charge $31.95 for a 256k connection and offer up to 5Mbps for only $49.95 a month.  Basic 256k connectivity with cable rounds up to only $52.99 per month.  This allows you 63 channels of television, but if you'd prefer 200 channels of digital television for only an extra $9.95 per month, that is available as well.  Communicomm does not provide telephone services.  Their contact information is (800) 392-2662 and www.netcommander.com

SuddenLink
SuddenLink provides cable access to the Lake Charles and Sulphur areas.  They charge only $33 for an Internet connection of 1Mbps.  Unlimited phone services costs only an extra $10 per month.  Bump that up to an 8Mbps connection and add basic no frills cable, and unlimited phone service and that becomes $117 a month.  SuddenLink's top of the line digital service bundle also a includes a 10Mbps connection, a rented cable modem, a digital video recorder and one premium channel for a flat $150 a month with no contract to sign.  You can contact SuddenLink at (877) 694-9474 or at www.suddenlink.com


Final Considerations
It isn't overly possible to recommend one service over another. It all boils down to how much you want and how much you want to spend and who you are able to get service with. No one area in SWLA is covered by all five of the providers listed in this article. It isn't always just as easy as picking and choosing from the rates and packages listed here. Many now choose to "blackline" traditional phone connections in favor of cell phones.  Doing so can lower your communications costs somewhat, but usually not by more than $10-20 per month.  The most important thing to keep in mind is that for each feature you tack on, the other features go down in cost.  In other words, the more you spend, the more you get.

Richard F. Horvath has 22 years experience in the Information Technology field and is co-owner of Infinity Prime Media, LLC (www.infinityprimemedia.com). You can contact him at richard@infinityprimemedia.com . In no way does the preceding article represent an actual consultation session. Richard F. Horvath, Infinity Prime Media, LLC or the Times SWLA are in no way responsible and do not accept any responsibility for any damages, legal fees, data failure or malfunction that may occur as the result of a person using advice given in the preceding article.

SWLA Arts & Humanities Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Grants $50k

By Bill Krull
Spinnaker Communications, Inc.
www.spinncomm.com


One of the judges choosing the top students in Calcasieu Parish, Hal McMillin, found that students by a huge consensus believe funding the arts takes priority over even athletics. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President agrees with them.

 McMillan, along with CPPJ Special Programs and Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jason Barnes and Irene Vandever, Executive Director of the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, announced a $50,000 grant program to enhance and build this vital aspect of Southwest Louisiana life.

“This grant is about Calcasieu Parish and what we can do to support this critically important part of our community,” McMillin said. “The Police Jury so believes in the arts’ value that we passed this (grant) with no discussion. It needed no discussion. The money comes from riverboat gaming revenues. That’s money going right back to help Calcasieu Parish.”

The grant funds are available to all sectors of the arts community, Barnes said. “One of the greatest strengths of our corner of Louisiana is our culture. It defines who we are,” he said. “The arts and humanities sector is our super-secret economic weapon. It’s the life of our area. You know, cooking here is an art in and of itself and grant money is available for it.”

The Arts and Humanities Council will administer the funds, Vandever said. The grant monies will fund arts organizations and provide the impetus for art professionals and non-profit groups to expand and enhance their cultural activities in the parish.

While the arts may be one of those warm and fuzzies, they have a very real impact on Louisiana’s economy. The state’s cultural economy generates nearly $700 million annually, with nearly $14 in return for every dollar invested. Then, too, its contribution to the region’s quality helps retain its best and brightest people and lures new investment. Visitors to the state spend close to $6 billion each year, 3.8 percent of the State Gross Product.

“The cultural economy of Louisiana has an enormous impact on the overall economy of the state, accounting for 144,000 jobs or 7.6 percent of the employment base. Cultural economy jobs were growing over twice as fast as job growth statewide before the Katrina and Rita,” said Dabne Whitemore, representing Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu and executive director of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Initiative.

The Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana is the umbrella organization for the Arts and Humanities in the five-parish Imperial Calcasieu region. It strives to be at the “heart” of what matters with respect to the area’s cultural foundation. It is dedicated to supporting, developing and enriching all forms of cultural expression for the region. It strives to be a clearinghouse of information for artists, art organizations and the community in the region.

The Council publishes a Cultural Resource Directory with information about the artists and organizations that contribute to Southwest Louisiana’s cultural life. For more information about the grant program or the Council, call (337) 439-2787 or visit their Web site at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org. The deadline to apply for the grant is March 2 at 5 p.m.