Podcast appearances and mentions of lafayette parish

Robert Daigle on Why He Invested in Upper LafayetteOriginally recorded in October 2013 /Aired on Upper Lafayette On the Move This episode of Discover Lafayette takes us back to an insightful conversation with the late Robert Daigle, the visionary managing partner of River Ranch Development Company and the developer of the Village of River Ranch, a 320-acre traditional neighborhood development that reshaped residential life in Lafayette. In October 2013, Robert addressed an Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation meeting to share why he and his team chose to invest in the northern part of Lafayette Parish—an area traditionally overlooked but ripe with potential. His message, filled with clarity and foresight, remains strikingly relevant today as growth continues to expand beyond I-10. David Welch, Robert Daigle, Jan Swift, and Lewis Stirling at an Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation meeting in 2013. Robert's personal connection to Upper Lafayette, having grown up on Louisiana Avenue across from the municipal golf course, sparked his early interest. But sentiment alone didn't drive his decision. He outlined six strategic reasons that led to the launch of Couret Farms, a smart growth community designed to meet the needs of a modern workforce and lifestyle needs in the northern part of Lafayette Parish: Job Growth – Post-hurricane recovery and shifting insurance priorities led to a surge in businesses relocating north of I-10. Proximity to job centers, including major employers like Halliburton, made Upper Lafayette a natural location for residential development. Real Estate Value – With South Lafayette experiencing saturation and skyrocketing prices, the undeveloped, high, and beautiful land in Upper Lafayette offered both affordability and opportunity. Lack of Competition – As with River Ranch, Daigle sought to create a unique offering. At the time, Upper Lafayette had no smart growth communities, positioning Couret Farms as the only game in town. Community Support – Daigle emphasized the importance of being "wanted." In Carencro, support from Mayor Glenn Brasseaux and a cooperative endeavor to extend utilities exemplified the kind of local partnership he considered essential to success. Access to Retail and Services – Developments flourish when services and shopping are nearby. Daigle cited the Target center and Super 1 Foods as game-changing additions that signaled a tipping point for further investment. Public Education – The long-standing challenge of underperforming schools in Upper Lafayette had been a deterrent. But the winds of change were blowing. Daigle's commitment to establishing a charter school within Couret Farms showed his belief that quality education is not just a necessity—but a catalyst for community transformation. Robert Daigle breaking ground at Couret Farms, along with Kevin Hawkins and Bobby Hines. Robert closed his talk by urging the community to prioritize education reform, emphasizing that the future of Upper Lafayette hinged on the success of its schools. His legacy continues to inspire development rooted in thoughtful planning, civic cooperation, and long-term community investment. This timeless interview reminds us that true visionaries see not just what is, but what could be—and are willing to take the arrows that come with being pioneers.

From the coast to the Capitol, this week's show explores the many ways Louisiana's farmers are preserving tradition, shaping policy, and feeding the future. Neil Melancon travels to Leeville, where a member of the United Houma Nation is honoring tradition while using modern farming methods to cultivate oysters. Avery Davidson heads to Lafayette Parish to introduce the 2025 Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. We also catch up with Louisiana Farm Bureau leaders—both at the Capitol and in the field. Plus, Kristen Oaks White gets her father-in-law and husband on camera to reveal the secrets behind perfect, farm-raised steaks in a new Feasting on Agriculture. Show NotesLearn more about Bayou Rosa Oysters.See more Road To Leadership profiles here.Learn more about Kristen's day with her husband at the farm here.Subscribe to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast.Join Louisiana Farm Bureau FederationLearn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention

Discover Lafayette welcomes Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission's Executive Director Ben Berthelot and Jesse Guidry, Vice President of Communications, two of the most passionate advocates for Lafayette's cultural and culinary identity. “You don't have to go to a museum to experience our culture – you can be immersed in it. You can eat it, dance with it, and live it," says Jesse Guidry. Together, they explore the evolution of the Eat Lafayette campaign, which began over 20 years ago under the tutelage of Charlie Goodson of Cafe Vermilionville. Origniating with just 18 restaurants participating, Eat Lafayette has grown into a powerful initiative celebrating the unique flavors of Acadiana. The conversation dives deep into the importance of supporting locally owned restaurants, especially in a changing economic and tourism landscape. Restaurants wanting to participate in Eat Lafayette can visit https://www.lafayettetravel.com/eatlafayette/registration/ to sign up. Ben and Jesse share how Lafayette has become a destination for food lovers, and how LCVC continues to adapt, from creating searchable dining districts throughout Lafayette Parish on Eat Lafayette's website, to launching an upcoming Eat Lafayette mobile app expected to launch this summer that will spotlight local eateries and experiences for locals and tourists alike to rely upon. They discuss new collaborations such as the Acadiana Eats Festival, year-round culinary promotions, and the importance of sustaining mom-and-pop businesses as cultural ambassadors as they are keepers of our local tradition. Key Topics Covered: The origin and growth of Eat Lafayette Why now is a critical time to support local restaurants How Lafayette's culinary identity contributes to tourism and economic development The creation of a new app to help users discover local dining by location, cuisine, and occasion Strategies for year-round restaurant promotion Challenges facing restaurateurs today: staffing, rising food costs, and competition The power of community collaboration through events like Festival International Lafayette's potential as a top U.S. destination Fun personal insights from Ben and Jesse, including hobbies like home cooking, dance, and coaching Visit https://www.lafayettetravel.com/food-drink/local-restaurants/ for a listing of all locally-owned, Louisiana-owned, and national favority restaurants in our community. Notable Quotes: Ben Berthelot: "One of my favorite quotes is by a colleague in Irving, Texas, which has really grown. She says if you build a place that people want to visit, you'll build a place that people want to live. And if you build a place where people want to live, you'll build a place where business wants to be. And if you build a place where business wants to be, then you're back to a place where people wamt to visit. It is a cycle. That's how I think and how I want to lead our organization. Tourism is economic development. Get someone here once, and they fall in love with Lafayette." Jesse Guidry: "There is no more important time than now to support our locally owned restaurants. And that's how Eat Lafayette started over 20 years ago. It was driven by the restaurants saying they needed help during the summertime. So it started with 18 restaurants in a two week campaign, and grew to a three month campaign, with over 200 restaurants at one point, with the whole emphasis of being where am I going to go eat tonight? And we want you to go eat at a locally owned restaurant. Support our mom and pops, who are the reason that we were named Tastiest Town of the South, the best food city in the United States, and all of those awards that we've gotten over the years." Links & Resources:

Lafayette City Marshal Reggie Thomas joined Discover Lafayette to discuss his mission to protect the citizens of Lafayette and to become the best marshal's office nationally. A 30-year veteran of the Lafayette City Police Department who worked his way up the ranks, as a detective and eventually serving as deputy and interim chief of police, Marshal Reggie was elected Lafayette City Marshal in December 2020. On January 8th, 2025, he celebrated his fourth anniversary in office. Of note, Marshal Reggie was the first African American to be elected citywide in the history of Lafayette. The Marshal's office is chiefly responsible for keeping the city court safe and secure, serving subpoenas to people called to court, and executing arrest warrants for people who have not complied with the law or court order. In the City of Lafayette, there are two city court judges, Judge Douglas J. Saloom and interim Judge Vanessa Harris, who was called to served upon the untimely death of Judge Jules Edwards. Salary and benefits for the marshal's office staff are paid for by the City of Lafayette. Everything else is funded by a percentage of criminal and civil fines and fees paid for citations and tickets. The employees are at-will employees. "We have 32 sworn officers, as well as ten reserve officers. We have another 30 to 35 clerks that work in the building, handling the court, the tickets, the civil part,the criminal part, and the supervisors. We might have 400 people come through the door on any given day, and each person has to be searched to make sure everyone is safe." The City Court territorial jurisdiction extends over all territory in the corporate limits of the City of Lafayette, plus the Third and Tenth Wards of Lafayette Parish. The court handles claims for personal injury, general damages, contract, open account, and commercial paper where the amount of the claim doesn't exceed $35,000, and small claims suits that do not exceed $5,000. It also handles landlord-tenant matters (Evictions) and violations of state misdemeanor criminal laws and/or Lafayette Consolidated Government City Ordinance violations that occur within the City of Lafayette. First time domestic violence cases also go through City Court. Marshal Reggie mentioned the important work of the late Judge Jules Edwards, who endeavored to assist first time offenders, to keep them from getting in deeper trouble and ending up in Angola. When Marshal Reggie was elected, they started the "Renewal Program", where participants learn to manage anger, control their behavior, and become better citizens. Upon completing the program, their efforts are recognized, and they have the opportunity to move forward with a clean slate by having their offense expunged from their record. "The renewal program was something that I started when I first took office, along with Judge Edwards. When a first time offender gets sentenced by the judge, normally they have to do community service. With this program, they attend eight weeks of classes and we have people that have made major mistakes come in and talk to them. Maybe a guy that did 25 years in jail or was on drugs, stuff like that. So we show them things that, hey, this is where you don't want to be at, but this is what you can accomplish if you're doing the right thing." Seventy juveniles have participated so far with great success. "Most schools have zero tolerance. Now, if you get in a fight at school, you go to jail. Some of us older people remember when we were in school, you would have to go sit in a corner after a fight, but you didn't go to jail. So now, you are arrested, you have to come to court and pay fines. I started seeing where the parents weren't able to pay the fines, and the kids would wind up in juvenile detention. So the Renewal Program gives a second chance and the charge won't remain on their permanent record. The kids have to be serious about the program, can't miss any days,

Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, announced its selection of 12 educators from across the country to join the Company’s third annual Teacher Fellows Cohort. During the school year, these skilled K-8 educators will work alongside Scholastic Education Solutions’ product development, research and marketing teams and assist with the development of various education-focused programs. Scott Brewer, a sixth-grade teacher at Eagle View Middle School has been selected to join the 2024-25 teacher Fellows Cohort. Scott has 19 years’ experience as a Pennsylvania educator, and has worked with students and teachers across various K-8 settings. The 2024-2025 Teacher Fellows will serve through August 2025 and are listed below: Sherri Amos, Grade 4 Teacher, Copeland Elementary School, Augusta, GA Anna Catherine Boyd, Grade 6 and 8 Teacher, Brewer Middle School, Greenwood, SC Scott Brewer, Grade 6 Teacher, Eagle View Middle School, Mechanicsburg, PA Andrea Childes, Grade 5 Teacher, Highcroft Ridge Elementary School, Chesterfield, MO Milagros Sanchez-Cohen, Kindergarten Teacher, Horeb Christian School, Hialeah, FL Alexandra Felix, Grade 2 Teacher, P.S. 122 Mamie Fay School, Astoria, NY Bridget Jordan, Grade 1 and 4 Teacher, Baltimore Highlands Elementary School, Baltimore, MD Katie Kim, Grade 5 Teacher, Warner Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA Paul King, Grade 6 Teacher, Global Village Academy North, Thornton, CO Morgan Meaux Mercado, Grade 3 Teacher, Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary School, Lafayette Parish, LA Keke Powell, Grade 2 Teacher, Sunfield Elementary School, Buda, TX Hope Clinton, Grade 8 Teacher, AZ Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Shannon Bernard and Michelle Luquette, representatives of On Track by 5 Alliance for the Lafayette Parish Public School System, join Discover Lafayette to discuss their department's mission to improve the quality and access of early care and education for children from birth to age 5 years of age. The research is clear: 90% of brain development occurs before age 5. Great work is being done to improve early childhood educational options for young people which is being funded through School Readiness Tax Credits and the generosity of Lafayette businesses. You can actually designate up to $5,000.00 of your state tax dollars that are owed each year to go to On Track by 5 Alliance, and then get a refundable tax credit of that same amount. How does this work? In January of 2008, Louisiana established a package of refundable state tax credits for businesses designed to support quality child care pursuant to LA R. S. 47:6107. A business is defined as any for-profit or not for-profit entity, which includes sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability corporations, and corporations. Your CPA can help you file for this refund if you give them a heads up before filing your tax documents. See below for Michelle Luquette's contact information to ask questions on this detail. How to Claim the School Readiness Tax Credit for Businesses? To file the SRTC for businesses: a) Filing Individually: complete tax form IT-540; b) Filing as a corporation or franchise: complete tax form CIFT-620; c) Filing for non-profit organization: complete tax form CIFT - 620. These tax credits provide businesses with a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to $5000 for donations made to Child Care Resource and Referral agencies that are contracted by the Department of Education. On Track by 5 Alliance is such an agency and your contributions go directly to benefit children that live in Lafayette Parish. You can make this designation each and every year, get a tax refund, and know that your money is being dedicated to early childhood educational efforts for our must vulnerable and in-need young people. Pictures above were taken when Ochsner's Lafayette General adopted Campbell Academy Childcare Center. Ochsner's Lafayette General participates in the School Readiness Tax Credit as a non-profit, giving OTb5 $5000 contribution per entity in its health system and in return Ochsner's entities get their contribution back with the dollar-for-dollar refundable tax credit program. These dollars are invested directly into our publicly funded childcare centers and Campbell Academy was able to get a Frog Street Pre-K curriculum. OTb5's mission is to have all children in Lafayette Parish kindergarten ready! Paul Molbert said this is part of their "Healthy State" initiative as education is one of the key components of improving the healthcare status of our citizens. The School Readiness Tax Credit and ON TRACK programs here in Lafayette are so special because they serve learning centers and programs only in Lafayette Parish. Lafayette applied to be a Childcare Resource and Referral Agency just for Lafayette parish, so businesses know their dollars are staying in the parish and serving local centers when they designate . This tax credit not only boosts the economy by investing money back into the parish, but also ensures that children will become contributing members of society. In Lafayette Parish there are 58 publicly funded centers (meaning they accept childcare tax dollar assistance) and over 100 centers total which service over 6,000 children. Some publicly funded centers include Gifted Early Learning Center, Little Blessings, Little Miracles, and LA 4 (a public pre-school). In a typical school day, children are learning through play, such as dramatic play, sensory play, and manipulatives. Manipulatives are tools like string beads for counting and puzzles which develop the child's fine motor skills.

The Lafayette Parish school system could soon see nine schools closed or consolidated. But community members are pushing back, despite declines in enrollment. Christiaan Mader, founder and editor of The Current, tells us about the potential overhaul of the city's school system. Early voting is already underway, and in East Baton Rouge Parish, voters will be choosing their next mayor-president. And so far, it's looking like a tight race between the top three candidates: incumbent Sharon Weston-Broome, Democratic challenger Ted James, and Republican Sid Edwards. Here on Louisiana Considered, we'll be bringing you conversations with all three of these candidates throughout the week. Today, we hear from Mayor-President Sharon Weston-Broome, who shares her campaign strategy, previous record and addresses a recent ad scandal.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Hollie Girouard, proprietor of Ton's Drive-In and Ton's Downtown joins Discover Lafayette in partnership with Eat Lafayette to discuss her family's multigenerational success in the restaurant business. While Hollie is known for her dedication to Ton's, she is also well-known for her athletic prowess, having been a volleyball player for teams at ESA and UL - Lafayette, the latter of which she graduated from with a degree in Graphic Design. She is a third-generation proprietor of Ton's, following in the footsteps of her hardworking grandparents and parents. Hollie knows the restaurant business inside and out, having grown up in it and working from a young age, as soon as her grandmother gave her permission to clean tables and help out doing whatever was needed. Ton's in Broussard is beloved for its classic American and Cajun comfort food, including fried chicken, hamburgers, and regional favorites. Hollie's grandparents, Rosemary and Alton Girouard, originally opened Ton's in May of 1963. At that time, Rosemary left her job at a downtown Lafayette dress shop to run the restaurant full time. Alton stayed on working for the Lafayette Hardware Store (located then at the corner of Vermilion and Buchanan in downtown Lafayette) during the day, joining Rosemary in the evenings at the restaurant. Their children, Karl and Yvette Girouard, also worked at Ton's, and when Karl married Hollie's mom, Juanita, in 1973, she became an integral part of the family business. Rosemary and Alton Girouard. Hollie Girouard describes her grandmother as "a business woman. She was the heart and soul driving the restaurant. It was her dream." As Ton's attracted more business in the decade after its founding, the restaurant expanded in 1973 to a new location across the street in Broussard in what had originally been Bonin's Bar. Hollie shared that when her grandparents were remodeling the space to accommodate their new restaruant, they paid for the demolition work by giving the beautiful oak bar in Bonin's to the contractor as a payment for services. "The original oak bar is somewhere in New Orleans," says Hollie. The new Ton's restaurant was equipped with a drive-thru window, the first in Lafayette Parish, and also offered indoor dining and outdoor seating. Ton's has maintained many of its original menu items offered from its first day of operation. The chili, seasoning blend, and hamburgers which attracted avid fans still taste the same to someone visiting after forty years away. Hollie says the original pizza pans are now used as pot lids. And many of the employees' families have worked at Ton's over the years; Danielle, the general manager and head cook at the Broussard location, is a third generation employee as her grandmother, Edna, worked with Hollie's grandmother in the early days. Regina, Danielle's mother, worked with Hollie's mother, Juanita, in Ton's second generation of operations. Yvette, Alton, Rosemary, Juanita (holding Hollie) and Karl Girouard. Eat Lafayette honored Ton's Drive-In as it celebrated its 60th anniversary of successful business operations. Pictured are Hollie Girouard along with her parents, Karl and Juanita Girouard. Hollie calls herself "a glorified errand girl, running back and forth between the restaurants. I take my cues from the general managers!" Both restaurants source their food as local as possible, and Hollie says, "The crawfish are always being within 10 miles of the restaurant. We grow things in the garden." The top seller is the burger and plate lunches at the Broussard location have the same rotation each week as people expect the continuity. So on Tuesday, you can expect to see calf liver and onions as a plate lunch option, with the usual classic comfort foods offered each day. Catering is offered and Ton's provides food for sports tournaments, as well individuals looking for great comfort food. "Miss Laura," who has worked at Ton's since before Hollie was born,

Frank Randol of Randol's Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, joins Discover Lafayette in partnership with Eat Lafayette, a yearlong celebration of our locally owned restaurants, to share news of the revival of his unique Cajun restaurant and dancehall concept, a longtime staple in Lafayette. Breaux Bridge is only 15 minutes from Lafayette and is part of a corridor surrounding Lafayette Parish that is ripe for growth. And Frank is a young 78 years old, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War who still exudes energy and a passion for being a changemaker. Frank is a force of nature who works nonstop to promote the beauty of our local culture. Frank has been in the seafood business for 53 years, and is renowned for his contribution to sustaining and promoting our Cajun culture. As part of that dedication, Frank currently serves as Secretary of the Gulf Seafood Foundation and has always been an avid supporter of Eat Lafayette. He focuses on wild-caught seafood with no additives, only South Louisiana seafood, with a bent toward crawfish, softshell crab, and other seasonal specialties. Hamburger steak is also a popular dish craved by Randol's longtime patrons. His experience in the seafood business defines Frank Randol. In 1971, he opened a seafood processing facility in Henderson and operated it for nine years before opening the original Randol's Restaurant in 1980 when he moved operations to his family property on Kaliste Saloom Road. Over the years, he welcomed thousands of visitors from around the world to his restaurant and dancehall who were looking to experience authentic Cajun culture. To learn more about Frank's historic career, please listen to our original interview on Discover Lafayette here. In 2021, the owners of Superior Grill offered Frank a price for his Kaliste Saloom property that he couldn't refuse. The money afforded him the opportunity to take off two years to consider his future, and he kept his general manager, Jimmy LaGrange, employed alongside him as they contemplated their next move. "It takes two people to do nothing well for two years," Frank jokes. But in reality, Frank had not only wealth in money, but also wealth in ideas, creativity, love of Cajun food and culture, and a desire to continue in the restaurant business. "When you throw yourself into something for so many decades, you can't just go cold turkey. People need to embrace the Cajun Culture. It's already branded and known worldwide." Randol's menu is patterned after the former Randol's choices, repurposed and retested to ensure perfection for today's market. A mini-market for fresh seafood purchases is in the works and will be open soon. Today, the restaurant's success is Frank's main priority. Not one to stay retired, Frank envisioned a revival of his original Randol's concept, and purchased the land where the former Mulate's Restaurant was located at 325 W. Mills Avenue, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, resurrecting his successful Cajun food/Dance Hall concept enjoyed by people for so many decades. Frank says, "Mulate's was the perfect spot. It needed work, but it polished up well! The building is 80 years old on high ground and survived the storms in May of this year. We patterned the bathrooms after the high end facilities at Superior Grill, with glass walls that you can't see through, with 400 square feet of space." Many of acclaimed mural artist Robert Dafford's works are on the walls at Randol's, and Frank says "It's a historical setting where you can feel the spirit of our culture. It's alive." Frank Randol is just as passionate about sharing his love of Cajun food and culture as he when he took his “Cajun Fest” on the road across the U. S. so many years ago. The World's Fair held in New Orleans in 1984 ignited an interest in all things Cajun and Frank Randol ensured that accurate information on its heritage was shared. Frank was glowingly written up by the Chicago Tribune on October 25, 1989,

Carencro Mayor Charlotte Stemmans Clavier joins Discover Lafayette to share her journey in business and politics. A life long resident of Carencro, Charlotte grew up in a political family. Both of her grandfathers served as police jurors for Lafayette Parish. Back in the day when political business was handled a bit more informally, and before open meeting laws, one of her granddads, Eddie Stemmans, would include her in political outings. Charlotte remembers "being the little girl sitting on an ice chest, that would go get them a beer. After watching it a little bit, I realized I wanted to do this! I've seen all sides of politics, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I always enjoyed it and knew I would run for public office." Pictured from left: Carencro Police Chief David Anderson, Mayor Charlotte Stemmans Clavier, along with City Council members Alfred Sinegal, Jordan Arceneaux, Danielle Caprito, Antoine Babineaux, Jr., and Taylor James. Charlotte graduated from Carencro High and three years later from Tulane University.  While in college, she worked as an intern for Jim Gelpi, the founder of The Alliance for Good Government. She loved the experience and it shaped her attitude in serving others at the highest level of integrity and fiscal responsibility. Studying at Tulane also shaped her and Charlotte recalled the challenging studies offered by the university with a demanding expectation that students master educational materials. With her experience of working in the family business, Stemmans, Inc. - The Horse Supply Specialists, Charlotte was used to hard work and says, "I went to work at 11, ran my first store at 12, so my idea of college was different." Today, Charlotte is President of Stemmans, located on Gloria Switch Road, and responsible for the day to day operations of this iconic, family-owned store, originally opened in 1968 as a tack shop by her parents, Don and Janet Stemmans. She has worked in the business for 35 years. Growing up in the horse industry has shaped Charlotte's life; she gives back to the industry by currently serving as Vice President of Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, which represents all racehorse owners and riders in the state. While Charlotte hasn't ridden a horse in years, she is the proud owner of racehorses and at our interview was looking forward to Evangeline Downs opening night on April 5, 2024. Charlotte served as mayor pro tempore of Carencro from 1999 until 2003, during the tenure of former Mayor Tommy Angelle. She was elected mayor in November 2022. "I love, love, love what I do. It's the perfect job for me. I have a great group of people that work with me. Carencro is a community on the grow. We're a blessed town. Many people are moving in, moving north, due to high insurance rates. There are 1400 homes in active development in the City of Carencro." With its rapid growth, there are many infrastructure needs to be addressed such as sewer plants, replacing old gas and water lines. Charlotte is also advocating for a new light to be installed by DOTD at the busy intersection of Ira and University Avenue. "I am proud to announce that we are beginning the next phase of replacing our old water lines and moving one step closer to Carencro's occasional brown water issues becoming a thing of the past. Thank you to our fantastic Water and Sewer Department and Fenstermaker and Associates for moving our city forward with top-tier water infrastructure." - Mayor Charlotte ClavierPosted by City of Carencro Government on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 News of the $8.9 million Louisiana Avenue extension from Butcher Switch Road to Gloria Switch Road, is exciting news for Carencro. Not only will this open up opportunities for development, but it will greatly assist commuter traffic. The project is expected to take a year or so to complete. The City of Carencro offers lots of fun activities for residents and visitors alike.

Adam Daigle, Business Editor of the Acadiana Advocate, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the biggest business news of 2023. The #1 story of the year is the incredible strides made in 2023 insofar as job creation is concerned. Iberia Parish is on fire with the recent announcement of First Solar's $1.1 Billion investment to take place on thirty acres at the Acadiana Regional Airport. First Solar will produce high-performance photovoltaic (PV) solar modules. The project is expected to be complete in the first half of 2026 and up to 700 high-paying jobs are anticipated to be created. This enterprise is unique in Louisiana in that it is tied to a new solar training program at UL-Lafayette where students will be educated on designing solar panels. First Solar was founded in 1999 and is among the top 10 solar panel manufacturers in the world. Along with this major announcement, other large regional employers include Amazon at 1300 employees and Stuller at 1500 employees, who have both exceeded projections for local employees. The #2 business story of the year is the large number of local restaurants which closed in early 2023, including the iconic Cafe Vermilionville, Lotus Garden, Grub Burger, The Point Seafood and Steakhouse, BJ's Pizza, and Luna Bar & Grill. By July 2023, the number of closings had settled down. The #3 story of the year is the shake-up at the news desk at KATC, seeing the departure of longtime and popular news anchors Marcelle Fontenot and Jim Hummel who will be joining KADN in January 2024. The move is one being conducted nationally by KATC's owner, E. W. Scripps Co., as a cost-cutting measure. While there will no longer be live news read by anchors at the 5 pm, 6 pm or 10 pm news slots, the company will invest in more reporters to cover breaking news stories throughout the day. Marcelle Fontenot and Jim Hummel recently announced they had resigned from KATC News and will be joining the news desk at KADN in Lafayette. The #4 story is the recently announced departure of Anita Begnaud, CEO of the Lafayette Downtown Development Authority, whose last day will be on December 20, 2023. Anita will be moving on to work with her former boss at One Acadiana, Jason El Koubi, as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Under Anita's leadership, the DDA was instrumental in seeing the completion of a myriad of commercial projects in Downtown Lafayette which had languished for years. She brought energy and excitement to her role as CEO and will be sorely missed. Anita Begnaud, CEO of the Lafayette Downtown Development Authority since 2018, recently announce that she will be leaving to work with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership as VP of Marketing and Communications. The #5 business story is the explosive growth occuring in the corridor at Kaliste Saloom Road and Ambassador Caffery Parkway, including the opening this year of Topgolf on December 15 and Dave & Busters which opened November 27. Adam says attracting these type of entertainment venues "brings Lafayette up a class, akin to going from a Double-A to a Triple-A baseball club" as it causes investors to take a closer look at our market and reexamine what is possible in the commercial realm. Other important commercial additions include the recently opened Chimes Restaurant and the development of the Camellia Blvd corridor near Verot School Road which is filling in with medical offices and a new Rouse's, expected to open in early winter. This whole corridor is now serving as the commercial core of Lafayette Parish, is easily accessible by other towns in the parish, and is the economic powerhouse of the Lafayette community generating tax dollars that would have seemed impossible just a few short years ago. As Adam says, "Costco is a sales tax machine!" Discover Lafayette is proud to name attorney Chris Granger as the recipient of our third annual Business Catalyst of the...

This episode was recorded on September 27th. We are talking with Phanat “PX” about running for State Senate in District 22, which covers Saint Martin Parish, Iberia Parish, and a small portion of Lafayette Parish. We will discuss what he is running on and his plans. http://www.electpx.com — Find this and past episodes at: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast — The Tea Podcast is proudly sponsored by Chase Group Construction, The Music Academy of Acadiana, and Electronic Protection Systems.

This episode was recorded on August 11th. Justin has been elected to serve as Lafayette Parish's new Tax Assessor. Justin grew up in Thibodeaux and came to Lafayette to study at USL(UL Lafayette) and earn a bachelor's in Computer Information Systems. Making Lafayette his home, Justin is now Enterprise Data Integration Manager for First Horizon Bank and has served two terms as Vice President of the Lafayette Parish School Board(district 6 rep). He is now running for Lafayette Tax Assessor. We will talk about his coming up story, Lafayette Parish schools, and what he plans to do if elected as Lafayette Tax Assessor. — The Tea Podcast is proudly sponsored by Chase Group Construction, The Music Academy of Acadiana, and and Electronic Protection Systems.

"My Number 1 priority was not leasing my building. I didn't want my power in business to be held in someone else's hands. This was also the recommendation of the Louisiana Small Business Administration to me as I looked at securing my future: 'You need to own the building!' So I tell others: Own the building. When you do that, you stay to work a little bit longer. You pick up the slack where needed. For me....this investment is my whole retirement on the line." Our guest is Denise Champagne-McClure, owner of The Coffeeweed Cottage in Lafayette, which opened on May 18, 2023. While Denise never earned a college degree, her business acumen can be put up against any individual who has earned an MBA. She works hard, she's humble, she's an incredible business entrepreneur, and has an eye for creating a successful business model. Coffeeweed Cottage's name is derived from the term for chicory, the name of a coffee substitute from the roasted root of the chicory plant. Denise loves the taste of chicory coffee and wanted something unique and different associated with her shop. And trust us....the coffee is delicious! Denise's store is at 410 Poydras Street, at the corner of W. Simcoe and Poydras Street in North Lafayette, not far from University Avenue near the Four Corners. She purchased the 3000 square foot property in 2022, the site of the oldest mechanic shop in Lafayette owned by a multi-general family business whose roots trace back to Cecilia where Denise grew up. Before finalizing her site selection, she drove around all areas of Lafayette Parish and knew that this oldest neighborhood in Lafayette, in the original  Vordenbauman Addition, in the area close to the Fightingville and LaPlace neighborhoods, was the exact right spot. With the help of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center and Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Denise was given guidance on how to open the business of her dreams. She brought a rich and varied business background that made her a good candidate for opening up this unique endeavor: she was trained in horticulture and had worked for Coburn's for 15 years in bath/kitchen fixture sales, having moved up the ranks from the bottom up. Note: Denise shared her gratitude to Coburn's for the experience they afforded her, as well as to the people at LEDA, especially Mark Mouton and Lauren Titus who helped her navigate the process of developing a three-year business plan and qualifying for a loan. Denise was inspired to reach her full potential when attending an Unleashed event by Dirk Beveridge. She realized that she could do anything she put her mind to when she heard his message about creating transformation through creating a culture of innovation and growth.  For more information on Dirk please visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkbeveridge/ As with any entrepreneur, Denise has had to put all of her savings on the line, as well as mortgage her house to make this endeavor a reality. When you think about shopping options in Lafayette, as well as any other town, this is why it is important to think about shopping locally. Local vendors not only offer unique products, they give back to their community through donations to charities and in-kind contributions, and also sacrifice personally to ensure that employees who live in Lafayette are paid. Coffeeweed Cottage offers a unique array of services. One of the most unique services is their Grow Bar, where you can schedule a 'plant bar' for events as diverse as a bachelorette party, a team building event for work, a family get together, or birthday celebration. A $50 deposit for your event will go toward the cost of the event, where you and your friends can pick a favorite plant, a cute pot, and learn how to care for it. If your plant doesn't make it, you have a 30-day guarantee to swap it out for another plant or have Denise and her team nurse it back it health!

Ever wondered what goes into determining the value of your property and how it affects your tax bill? Join us on our latest episode as we pick the brains of Walter Campbell, a hopeful for the position of tax assessor. Walter reveals the nuts and bolts of property valuation and taxation, spilling the secrets behind the figures that land on your tax bill. We delve into the importance of this role, and how it influences not just the real estate market but the wallets of every homeowner in the Parish.We navigate the world of property assessment, learning about the four-year reassessment cycle mandated by law, and how unexpected events like floods can swing these values. Walter candidly shares his passion for public service, his 15-year journey preparing for the role of assessor, and his fervent desire to serve the citizens of Lafayette Parish. This episode is a must-listen as we demystify the role of tax assessor and highlight the significance of having informed and dedicated individuals in public service roles. So grab your headphones, and let's get started on this enlightening journey. And don't forget – every vote counts!

Lafayette Parish Clerk of Court, Louis J. Perret, has served our community for 23 years, having been elected to serve on November 20, 1999. The clerk of court oversees the central repository of official records ranging from real estate sales and mortgage deeds, civil lawsuits, successions, adoptions, felony criminal charges, and much more.  They help you get certified copies of birth and death certificates. The clerk's office has over 16 million records going back to 1823. The clerk's office has over 8,000 vintage photos of Lafayette Parish's history, with approximately 3000 on display. We are all encouraged to share our photos with him so that he can continue to build a library of the story of Lafayette. The Elections Department oversees every facet of all elections that take place in Lafayette Parish. With the elections coming up on October 14, 2023, it seems very timely to hear from Louis Perret on all that's involved in the process. One quick fact: just in Lafayette Parish on October 14, 2023, taxpayers will spend $182,000 to cover the costs of election day. Expenses cover 906 commissioners who will be working, the clerk of court and registrar employees, along with janitors, the people who deliver the voting machines, close the building, etc. Louis admonishes all of us: There is no valid excuse for not voting!! Prior to his election as Clerk of Court, Perret served as District Director of the 7th Congressional District for Congressmen Jimmy Hayes and Chris John. (1986-1999) Perret served as co-chair of the Lafayette Bush/Cheney campaign in 2000. He served as an alternate delegate for George W. Bush at the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Louis Perret was selected in 1997 by the American Council of Young Political Leaders as a delegate to the People's Republic of China. He is a Lifetime Member of the ACYPL Alumni Council. Perret serves on the Board of Directors of Louisiana Capital (Small Business Lender) and has served since 2011 as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Regional Health System of Acadiana, which includes Women's & Children's Hospital and the Regional Medical Center Hospital. He formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Women's & Children's Hospital from 2003 to 2008. He has been a board member since 1994. He is a partner in Golfballs.com and he is a founding member of NOBL (Network of Business Leaders). In 2002, Perret was elected to serve a three-year term on the Our Lady of Fatima Church Pastoral Council. He served on the Finance Council, as Vice President and President during his tenure on the Pastoral Council. Perret has served since 2003 as a Cub Leader, Adult Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 446. In 2012, Perret was appointed to the Executive Board of the Evangeline Area Boy Scouts of America. Louis Perret is a NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun Shooting Instructor, as well as a Range Safety Officer. A partial list of organizations he has raised money on behalf of include The United Way, Games of Acadiana, Children's Shelter, American Cancer Society, Duck's Unlimited and The Acadiana Outreach Center. Perret graduated from Our Lady of Fatima High School and The University of Southwestern Louisiana, (B.S.). He became a Certified Clerk of Court in 2000 by the Louisiana Clerks of Court Institute. In 2002, Louis Perret was the first Clerk of Court in the State of Louisiana to receive the Chancellor's Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Missouri offered through IACREOT. He was awarded the Advanced Chancellor's Certificate in 2008. He is married to the former Cheryl Broussard and is the father of two children, Ann E. and Max. For more information on the clerk's office, visit https://www.lpclerk.com/

Kade Turner, Executive Director of CASA, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss his passion for serving children. He first became involved with CASA in 2017 through the encouragement of former Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux who was serving as Executive Director of CASA at that time. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA advocates are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to serve as a child's voice in court. They represent the best interests of abused or neglected children during juvenile court and child protection proceedings. CASA is a nonprofit organization with both private and public funding sources. CASA works on behalf of foster children within the 15th Judicial District Court which encompasses Lafayette, Acadia, and Vermilion Parishes. The Louisiana Children's Code lays out the responsibilities of CASA and its trained volunteers who provide independent, third-party, objective assessments of what they see. Funding is provided by the Louisiana Supreme Court CASA Assistance Program, Victims of Crime Act Funding, the Louisiana Children's Trust Fund, private donations and grants. Approximately 340 children are being assisted by CASA and overseen by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Most of the children in need of care are located right here in Lafayette Parish. Volunteers go through thirty hours of training, serve without compensation, and are appointed by the court exercising juvenile jurisdiction.  The judge will verify the volunteer's qualifications, training, and ability to serve as a CASA volunteer, including the ability to represent and advocate for the best interest of the children assigned to him.  You must be at least 21 years of age to serve and be able to commit two years of service. No volunteer is assigned until a comprehensive criminal background check has been conducted.  A CASA Volunteer spends time with their assigned child or sibling group getting to know the child while also gathering information from the child's family, teachers, doctors, caregivers, and others involved in the child's life. Approximately every six months, a report is prepared for the judge (with help from an assigned Supervisor) sharing recommendations for the child's care. Learn more about volunteering with CASA of SoLA at casaofsola.org. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (“DFCS”) which oversees foster care services has lots of turnover and is short-staffed. CASA provides much-needed resources to help families meet the requirements to get their lives back on track. A study showed that only about 23% of families had the necessary resources to meet the requirements placed upon them by the court to be able to emerge from the system. CASA helps parents sign up for classes, arrange childcare so they can attend court-ordered classes, or provide food for the family for those times that the parent must be away. Kade Turner has worked with CASA of South Louisiana since 2017. He assumed the role of Executive Director in May of 2022. A young man (with his 29th birthday coming up soon!) who has found his calling, Kade serves as an inspiration in our community. Kade has also dedicated his life to helping children with health disorders. For 21 years he has been involved with the Louisiana Lions Camp in Vernon Parish for youth in Louisiana with respiratory disorders, special needs, juvenile diabetes, and childhood cancer. Lions Camp is free for qualifying boys and girls of Louisiana. All campers are sponsored by their local Lions Clubs.

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory, Carencro Mayor Charlotte Clavier, and Broussard Mayor Ray Bourque each visit the show to talk about local projects and economic news happening in their areas.

During "Lafayette Live," Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory highlights these construction projects that not only seek to improve our roads and drainage in localized areas but also to help bring more connectivity to the parish.

Robert Jarred and David Begneaud, board members of Scenic Lafayette, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss their mission to keep Lafayette beautiful and free of clutter and trash. They are both active and engaged volunteers. Scenic Lafayette is a citizen-based advocacy group committed to preserving and enhancing the natural and built environment of our community. through: Policy, Partnerships, Public education, and Projects. Founded in 2014, Scenic Lafayette promotes beauty as a valuable asset for those who live, visit, and conduct business in Lafayette. Its vision is to embrace calm, cleanliness, and the natural landscape of public and private spaces. Scenic Lafayette is one of 49 state and local affiliates of Scenic America, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the visual character of our country's roadways, countryside, and communities, and inspired by the Lady Bird Johnson and the Highway Beautification Act. One big recurring problem we discussed was the proliferation of illegal signs that are posted in public spaces. Our guests jokingly recounted that "I buy golf carts" is the newest offender in our community as you see the signs posted throughout the area. The signs are typically posted in the middle of the night so David and Robert spoke of regularly getting up at 3 a.m. to start taking down the illegal signs. You can help by calling 311 to report litter and illegal signage. Let's clean up our neighborhoods! If you see a broken utility/phone post be sure to report it by calling 311 or 337.291.8800. AT&T will soon be digging up, fixing or replacing broken telephone cable boxes throughout Lafayette Parish. Lafayette City Councilwoman Liz Webb Hebert took it upon herself to address this issue....it has blown up across the state as other communities say they have the same problem. David Begneaud says, "The issue is being fixed and is coming around! This is important, as our visitors enter Lafayette they see this blight. Visitors who are considering moving here pay attention to these things." The issue of blighted green utility provider boxes found in public spaces throughout the community was also discussed and our guests reported the communication provider was responsive to requests for help in addressing the problem. David Begneaud with his wife, Alice, volunteering at the Southern Garden Festival bringing awareness and educating the public on blight, litter and illegal signage in our city. You can now report litter and illegal signs by calling 311 or go to www.311.Lafayette.services A few of the initiatives of Scenic Lafayette: The Azalea Trail Revitalization Project; Signage Policy Improvement and Enforcement; Landscape and Tree Policy Improvement and Enforcement; Art and Architecture Guide; Streetscape Improvement; Utility Infrastructure Visual Enhancement; Billboard Control; and Litter Abatement. Lafayette experiences a high level of trash being strewn on its streets and our interstate interchanges. Trash flies out of the back of citizens' pickup trucks as well as municipally-contracted trash pickup trucks. David Begneaud said he has heard Matt Stuller quote statistics several times, saying,"South Louisiana has the highest per capita of open-bed pickup trucks in the nation." David said further, "When you go down the interstate, whenever you are the contracted person to cut the grass, you have to pick up the litter first, and you see litter bags full of trash every 25 to 50 yards filled with trash for miles as they prepare to cut the grass on interstate medians." Municipalities can actively control the amount of blight that is tolerated. As David Begneaud said in a shout-out to Youngsville LA after discussing his awareness of how U. S communities control blight: "Go to Youngsville, LA. Youngsville has zero tolerance for non-compliant signs. Zero. Drive through the City of Youngsville and you're not going to see vinyl banners strapped betw...

Lafayette Parish is celebrating its Bicentennial this year with ongoing celebrations commemorating the time the Louisiana State Legislature carved off the western half of St. Martin Parish in 1823 to form a new parish named after the Marquis de Lafayette.      Two years earlier, in 1821, Jean Mouton donated a parcel of land to the community then known as Vermilionville for a Courthouse and a Cathedral. Mouton became known as the founder of Vermilionville that in 1884 became the City of Lafayette in honor of the French marquis who fought in the American revolution. Our guest is Sami Parbhoo who is heading up the series of events throughout 2023 that will honor the history of our parish and look to what the future holds. Lafayette Parish enjoys a proud history of various cultures coming together, starting with the indigenous Atakapa-Ishak, Choctaw, Chitimacha, and Opelousas, who were the first to inhabit the area. Acadian refugees settled in the area after Le Grand Dérangement from Canada in 1755 when Great Britain captured the land from France. The Acadians married other native, French, Spanish, and African settlers, forming the rich culture and history of Lafayette Parish. It has been nearly two-hundred years since we were chartered by the Louisiana Legislature in 1823. Two years earlier, in 1821, Jean Mouton, a wealthy planter donated a parcel of land to the community known as Vermilionville, for a Courthouse, and a Cathedral. Jean Mouton became known as the founder of Vermilionville, which became the city of Lafayette in 1884. For more information and a list of events taking place, please visit www.lafayette1823.org. 

Richard Zuschlag, Chairman of the Board & CEO of Acadian Companies, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss his incredible life journey. Still working full-time, Richard shares his love and admiration for Acadian's loyal employees who have made the company's success possible. Richard came to Lafayette from Pennsylvania in 1970 as a communications engineer for Westinghouse. In 1971, when new federal regulations caused funeral homes to discontinue using their car-based chassis for emergency transport, Richard joined with two friends, Roland Dugas and Richard Sturlese, to form Acadian Ambulance Service in Lafayette Parish. They opened for business on September 1, 1971, at 12:01 a.m., with two ambulances and eight employees. Richard is the only employee left from the early days, yet many of Acadian's team have been with the company their entire career; the employees and management team are loyal to Acadian's mission of delivering the highest quality emergency medical support and care. Over 50 years later, Acadian has grown to approximately 5,000 employees in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Its six subsidiary companies include Acadian Air Med, Executive Aircraft Charter Service, Acadian Total Security, National EMS Academy, and Safety Management Systems. Last year, Acadian transported approximately 700,000 people across their four-state region. Acadian Companies is privately owned and under Richard's leadership, it became an Employee Stock Ownership Plan known as ESOP in 1993 to allow the employees to share in the company's financial success. Over the years, Richard has learned that the heart of Lafayette is one of giving, of faith, and of people helping one another. Listening to his words will inspire any young entrepreneur who is looking to help others by meeting their needs. We thank Richard for sharing his experiences of success, and also for sharing that he has made mistakes and is grateful to have learned what is important in life. It's also interesting to hear his thoughts on being a young man moving to Lafayette from Pennsylvania in July during our typical 99-degree weather and 100% humidity, and how he quickly grew to love Lafayette, its people, and its culture, including the spicy food! Richard's civic work has included fundraising for worthy causes ranging from the Boy Scouts to UL-Lafayette, The World War II Museum, and local schools. Among many, many awards, he has been the recipient of the Lafayette Civic Cup, received the Distinguished Citizen Award, and has been named a “Louisiana Legend” by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. He was instrumental in setting up the first enhanced 911 system in the state which gave the operator both the address and the phone number for persons calling for emergency assistance. For more information on Acadian Companies, please visit https://acadian.com/.

We are talking about Leadership Lafayette, what it is and how benefits current and potential future leaders of Lafayette Parish. Katrena has worked in city planning, regional planning, and now in people planning. “Everyone has what it takes within them to be a leader, whether they know it or not; my personal goal is to help others activate that.” https://leadacadiana.org/ourteam/ https://leadacadiana.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrenaann — The Tea Podcast is proudly sponsored by The Music Academy of Acadiana & The Orchard, Authorized Service Providers of Apple. The Music Academy of Acadiana is Acadiana's top choice for music lessons in piano, guitar, voice, drums, violin, saxophone, flute, audio production & more. They teach students of all ages and styles, they have sent students to college, to compete in major music competitions, and have also premiered on major TV Music contests like American Idol & The Voice. Founded by University of Louisiana at Lafayette music school graduate Tim Benson, the Academy has been voted as a top finalist in the best music school by readers of the Times since 2016 and they have won the national music school of the year award in 2014. Their goal is to make music lessons fun, educational and to help foster the next generation of musicians and creative thinkers! You can find them at the following links: Website: https://www.musicacademyacadiana.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicAcademy... — The Orchard is our tech sponsor and are providing the tech we need to assure a successful live podcast. Check them out at https://theorchardstores.com. The Tea Podcast is part of the https://acadianacasts.com podcasts network. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast/support

Toby Aguillard, Roya Boustany, and Jules Edwards III met on October 13, 2022, at a forum sponsored by the Lafayette Parish Bar Association. Each had the opportunity to discuss their unique qualifications to serve as our newest Lafayette City Court Judge. The Bar Association did not endorse any candidate and Discover Lafayette does not either; we are proud to make this forum available to the general public so that Lafayette residents can make an informed decision upon exercising their right to vote. The election will take place on November 8. Early voting takes place at the Registrar of Voters Office from October 25 through November 1, 2022, from 8:30 am to 6 pm, excluding Sunday. Each candidate offers extensive legal experience and a passion for public service. In this audience populated by local attorneys, the questions were a bit more technical than in a usual forum yet this podcast will give our listeners a chance to hear what drives each candidate. Toby Aguillard has always felt called to public service. As a young man, he graduated from St. Joseph's Seminary College, a Benedictine college and monastery in Covington, then followed his heart when he realized that marriage was important to him. He served as Lafayette City Police Chief under former Mayor-President Joel Robideaux. Toby worked as Deputy Sheriff for the Cameron and East Baton Rouge Sheriffs' offices and following graduation from Southern University Law Center as a prosecutor in the DA's office in Cameron Parish and the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. He served as director of the Internet Crimes Division of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office immediately prior to his appointment as Chief in Lafayette. In order to build trust in the Lafayette community, he continued the community outreach program initially begun under former Deputy Chief Reginald Thomas, where officers walked door to door to meet with residents; he believes that these community outreach sessions gave him unique insights into how to deal with City Court litigants. "My biggest challenge serving as Lafayette City Police Chief was the day that we lost Officer Michael Middlebrook. Everything came after that. There was an immediate firestorm over insurance benefits for his family. There were 300 police officers who were angry that Michael Middlebrook gave his life and his family lost their benefits immediately. It was about negotiating with the City Council and the Mayor-President to negotiate the issue. The Police Union was down my back and it was an extremely difficult time. But in a few days, we were able to smooth it out. I had to take a strong leadership role, telling my guys, 'You have to trust me.' And they did. My experience working with the budget as Chief will also be of great value to the City Court." Toby Aguillard Roya Boustany, the youngest candidate at 36 years of age and a graduate of Southern University Law Center, serves as a Chief Felony Prosecutor for District Attorney Don Landry. She recounted how she always wanted to be a prosecutor and wants to give both victims and defendants a voice. One young victim of rape at the age of 11 left a lasting impression upon Roya as the young girl stated that Roya was the first person to ever listen to her. Roya stays busy in court and has prosecuted many felony criminal cases, including those involving the gamut from theft to rape and murder. She previously served as Public Defender. Roya is extremely involved in leadership positions in the community, serving as President-elect of Junior League of Lafayette, President of the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association, a graduate of Leadership Lafayette XXXII, and Acadiana Center for the Arts Board member, among many other activities. "I've handled thousands of cases as a prosecutor in my career. The judge needs to be an open-minded, fair, equitable, caring, and compassionate person. That is what we all want and expect. You expect someone to listen to you,

Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber joins Discover Lafayette to discuss his career and the scope of responsibilities of his office. He is the 27th Sheriff to serve Lafayette and has served in that capacity since January 2016. A native of Iota, Sheriff Garber graduated from LSU-BR and SMU Law School in Dallas. While in undergrad school, he worked with the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office as a dispatcher before moving up to corrections. He then worked as a game warden with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Sheriff Garber joined the City of Arlington, TX Police Department where he spent ten years, being chosen for the prestigious motorcycle unit. He also gained enforcement experience in patrol, traffic enforcement, field training, police sniper, and SWAT (Special Operations). It was while Sheriff Garber worked in Arlington that he realized he wanted a Ph.D. level education and pursued law studies. He jokingly recalled if he knew how hard it would be to juggle so many responsibilities he may not have chosen law school; but he did well and looked at each law course as a financial investment as he had to put himself through school, not qualifying for assistance due to his income as a police officer. Sheriff Garber next served in the U. S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations as a Civilian Special Agent, Criminal Investigator in Iraq, earning a Bronze Star Medal for his actions. His time in Iraq included deployment as a Battlefield Interrogator which put him in the war zone alongside frontline shooters. He recounted that he spent several tough weeks at Fort Huachuca in Arizona learning prescribed interrogation techniques and was able to meld them with his own experiences and talents from serving in law enforcement. On his service in Iraq, Sheriff Mark Garber said, "Your perspective changes when you work with people who are getting killed. You want to survive and you want to protect each other. That's what the goal is. But I never saw circumstances where torture would produce reliable information to give to a ground commander that could be trusted. I preferred other methods. My role was to give advice and to get senior leadership of al-Qaeda taken out." Upon returning to the U. S. Sheriff Garber continued service with the U. S. Secret Service, then returned to Lafayette where he served as an Assistant DA prosecuting felonies for the 15th JDC before being elected in 2015 to serve as Sheriff. This year, in 2022, Sheriff Garber became an FBI National Academy Graduate. Lafayette's Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the Parish under the Louisiana Constitution. The Sheriff shares jurisdictions with the other cities' police departments (Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Lafayette, Scott, Youngsville.) Its Narcotics Division works extensively with the Lafayette City Police Department. When needed, the other police departments call upon the Sheriff for assistance and resources. "What are our core functions to serve the community? We incarcerate people. We investigate crimes. We answer calls for service. These are the three pillars of our service that directly influence and affect safety. Safety is our basic need and you can't engage in commerce or education until you are secure. That's our #1 concern." When Sheriff Garber took office in 2016, there were 900 prisoners being housed in the downtown Jail, a facility designed to hold about 300. "People were sleeping in unsecured common areas. The overcrowding led to health issues and staff morale was low. Garber implemented strict protocols to turn around the situation and improve safety for all. Today the jail holds approximately 600 prisoners and the Sheriff's Annex can hold about 150 individuals. We spoke of the backlog of untried criminal cases as a result of the COVID shutdown. Garber pointed out that Pre-Covid, these cases were already way behind, and then the district court was shut down for 18 months.

Our guest is Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, the 54th person to serve the State of Louisiana in this capacity. Billy Nungesser's drive to rebuild the tourism industry of Louisiana as we exit the pandemic is admirable, and we are well on the way to breaking the historic number of visitors we experienced in 2019 right before the pandemic. "In 2019, over 53 million people visited Louisiana leaving behind $1.9 billion in tax dollars, over $1,100 for each Louisiana family. By 2023, we'll be back to record-breaking numbers, In Louisiana, we treat strangers like family. You leave Louisiana with a friend for life and you keep coming back. Especially in the Acadiana region." Billy brings a unique joie de vivre to his position. Enthusiastic and hard-working, he became nationally known 12 years ago when serving as President of Plaquemines Parish in the aftermath of one of the biggest environmental disasters in history, the BP Oil Spill. He became the voice of Louisiana's frustration and the New York Times named him the "hardest working man in Louisiana." Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser pictured hunting with South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pam Evette in Louisiana swamps, 2022 Never seeing himself as a politician, Billy and his wife were living in Plaquemines Parish where they had built a riding center for special needs kids. With the 26 horses (and a few donkeys) they offered, he said, "We watched miracles happen in these young lives who had been wheelchair-bound." He also was a rancher with 400 head of cattle and 200 head of elk and had a successful business converting shipping containers into offshore living quarters. When Katrina hit in 2005, Billy found himself not only with animals to rescue, but neighbors who were stranded with no help. He took in 30 people who lived with him for months. Commissioner Agriculture Mike Strain's dad and uncle, who were in the cattle business with him, lived with him for a year after Katrina, rescuing animals. "I never saw a politician come by. I got so aggravated that people were left on their own." He got angry enough to run for Plaquemines Parish President and won. He became a voice of Louisiana and its people. Billy Nungesser in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill which was one of the biggest environmental disasters in U. S. history, leaving so many birds dead and destroying our seafood industry along the coast. Billy was elected to serve as our Lt. Governor in 2016. The Office of Lieutenant Governor oversees many departments, with its main responsibility being Culture, Recreation, and Tourism, overseeing state parks and nine museums. Keep Louisiana Beautiful is also an important focus, as Lt. Gov. Nungesser strives to build awareness in our citizens of the importance of cleaning up our state. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser spoke highly of Matt Stuller and his initiative, Parish Proud, for its heroic efforts to clean up Lafayette Parish and end the habit of littering. We can all do our part to pitch in and change our culture. For more information on Parish Proud, visit https://parishproud.org/ He also believes that the Historical Preservation and Revitalization of Downtowns throughout Louisiana is of critical importance. For an overview of grants and tax incentives, visit https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/historic-preservation/main-street/. As a former Parish President of Plaquemines, Billy shared the importance of all businesses, strip malls, and restaurants putting out trash bins so that it is easy to dispose of trash. "When I was Parish President, we put out 20 trash cans along Hwy. 23 at an angle where people could throw their trash from their cars. 90% of garbage went into the trash cans or near enough so that it was easy to dispose of." He shared that less than 17% of our people actually litter. "It's time to clean up our state just as you clean up your home when you invite people over. Hopefully one day we won't have to spend millions to pick up trash.

Guest host Joe Cunningham discusses the recent roundabout construction projects in Lafayette Parish and his irrational fear of them.

Lafayette Parish was rocked by the news that Mayor-President Josh Guillory had admitted himself to rehab at the end of July 2022. News 10's Darla Montgomery, in an exclusive interview, talks with Josh and his wife Jamie about his time in rehab and many of the rumors and allegations that have swirled around him in the weeks since. In this extended, uncut interview, the Guillorys speak candidly about the decisions they've made and the future they face.

Dr. Joe Abraham and Joan Wingate are both enthusiastic and tireless supporters of our Lafayette Parish library system. They joined us to discuss their mission to instill a love of reading in our children and families and to emphasize the importance of citizens' support of our library system so that we can continue to offer free and equal access of materials to all residents, 24/7. Joe is President of the Lafayette Parish Library Foundation. He's a physician, research biologist, and the award-winning author of Kings, Conquerors, Psychopaths: From Alexander to Hitler to the Corporation. Joan has served on the Foundation in various positions, leading ‘Lafayette Loves Libraries,' as president, and currently serves on the Library Board of Control, the governing body of Lafayette Parish Libraries. The foundation supplements taxpayer funding of our libraries by encouraging private donations that provide books and services and fund special programs. Its sister organization, Friends of the Library, has raised $1 million over the past 40 years. With the library being in the news so much, it seemed like a good time to be reminded about the importance of having a viable library system that is accessible to everyone, no matter their age or socioeconomic background. "It's important to raise awareness of our public library's needs and what we can do to support it. In 2002 when the library tax was passed (to support a 20-year plan to build regional branches and refurbish the Main branch), we got busy and focused on building the new sites. We know we also need to educate the public as to the many resources the library offers and the importance of reading. We want to be able to offer free and equal access, 24/7, to all of our resources." Joan Wingate, photo by Leslie Westbrook of The Advocate. Lafayette Parish is blessed with an award-winning library system, having received the coveted James O. Modisette Award for Public Libraries in 2020. It is the highest honor that a public library can receive in Louisiana. And its private donors are generous: almost every year, Lafayette is #1 in private donations made through Friends of the Library and the Foundation. Yet, if you compare Lafayette Parish's library public funding to the other eight metropolitan areas of Louisiana, it is dead last. The library staff members are efficient and effective in what they do in running its nine branches (four regional, the Main Library, smaller branches, plus the Bookmobile). Per capita, Lafayette sees more of its resources (books, movies, digital materials, etc.) checked out than any other metropolitan area in the state, even compared to New Orleans and Baton Rouge. People flock to the libraries for all sorts of purposes; they study for exams, get access to the internet, participate in the various programs put on, or reserve meeting rooms that are free for use by the public. On 2022's opening day of the annual Summer Reading Challenge, approximately 1000 children participated, with pizza being served compliments of the Library Foundation. As Joan says, "The library is truly a safe haven, welcoming people to educate and discover themselves." Summer reading programs are designed to encourage students to keep reading during the summer months as a fun and easy way to prevent a decline in reading achievement. With the 2022 Oceans of Possibilities Summer Reading Challenge, all participants have been encouraged to reach a personal goal of 600 minutes and a combined community goal of 2,000,000 minutes read or activities participated in from June 1 to July 31. Prizes are awarded for every 600 minutes of reading and a grand prize will be awarded. Controversies over the past few years relating to programming displays have resulted in the library being in the middle of a political arena. It has returned to its original mission: a focus on reading and the joy of reading. Book displays now highlight mysteries, summer reading selections,

In this week's talk with Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory, Bernie and Brandon sit down with him and Duson's Mayor Johnny Thibodeaux to discuss how his municipality - and others in Lafayette Parish - work together with the City to get things done. Also, Mayor Thibodeaux shared an amazing story going back to his days fighting for our country in Vietnam.

Bradley Beck is a local entrepreneur who first opened his State Farm Agency in 2012 and is in the top percentile nationally. He is also owner of Parlor Salon Studios, a local luxury brand that provides fully furnished, private studios to cosmetology professionals. Parlor Salon Studios currently has 2 locations in Lafayette Parish with a 3rd coming soon to Downtown Lafayette. Lastly, Beck has entered the NFT/Metaverse space with his newest venture, Metavisory, a collaborative agency in the space. We will talk all of that and more today at 11 AM. www.BradleyBeck.com www.ParlorSalonStudios.com www.MetavisoryCompany.com — The Tea Podcast is proudly sponsored by The Music Academy of Acadiana & The Orchard, Authorized Service Providers of Apple. The Music Academy of Acadiana is Acadiana's top choice for music lessons in piano, guitar, voice, drums, violin, saxophone, flute, audio production & more. They teach students of all ages and styles, they have sent students to college, to compete in major music competitions, and have also premiered on major TV Music contests like American Idol & The Voice. Founded by University of Louisiana at Lafayette music school graduate Tim Benson, the Academy has been voted as a top finalist in the best music school by readers of the Times since 2016 and they have won the national music school of the year award in 2014. Their goal is to make music lessons fun, educational and to help foster the next generation of musicians and creative thinkers! You can find them at the following links: Website: https://www.musicacademyacadiana.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicAcademyOfAcadiana/ — The Orchard is our tech sponsor and are providing the tech we need to assure a successful live podcast. Check them out at https://theorchardstores.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast/support

Jonathan Thibeaux (JT) is from Lafayette Parish and a Morehouse man. Currently, he's in the Peter Stark Producing Program at University of Southern California. On this episode of the podcast, JT talks about learning from life experiences and knowing your worth. According to JT, our individual experiences put us in a position to change the landscape through our existence. Besides promoting self-discovery and self-worth, JT also loves to indulge in moments that make him smile. Check out JT's story and journey from Lafayette to LA. You'll learn how you can dream bigger too. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/see-brilliance/support

The W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center, an extension of the high schools in the Lafayette Parish School System, offers students career and technical education in automotive, cosmetology, culinary, medical, industrial technology, and welding programs. Principal Holly Boffy joined Discover Lafayette to share the school's mission and new programming being offered in the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Students must be enrolled in the Lafayette Parish School System to participate and they attend the Career Center for three hours per day taking technical and career classes. No one graduates from the Career Center, they only attend part of their school day and graduate from their home base school. There is no tuition for the programs, but some minor fees may be involved depending upon the curriculum. Public school buses transport the students to and from their home base school. Program fields include Auto tech, Auto paint and body, Remote Vehicle Tech, Cosmetology, Culinary, Digital Media, Manufacturing Tech (Computer-aided design and Metal Cutting) Medical (nursing and medical assistant, EMT), Robotics and Welding. The Career Center is implementing an HVAC program in the Fall of 2022 along with electrical programs. There is still space for students in the new programs, as well as in machinery and the paint and body program; families are encouraged to visit https://www.lpssonline.com/schools/careercenter for more information. In a typical year, the application process opens up in January. The training received while in high school enables students to enter the workforce full-time upon graduation or continue on to community college, a four-year university, or apprenticeship programs. The Career Center partners with South Louisiana Community College and students can earn dual enrollment credits with the tuition being covered by LPSS. These early career experiences are invaluable as students learn whether or not their career choice is the correct fit for their interests while they are still young. "It empowers the students," says Principal Boffy. She cited one example of a teacher who had originally earned credentials as a Certified Nursing Assistant. While that career path turned out not to be for her, she was able to work as a CNA while putting herself through a traditional four-year college, using her trade and not incurring debt. "It's important to mentor your children, to have conversations about what makes them happy. What gifts do they have that they can use to contribute to others in their career? I believe the Career Center is one of the best-kept secrets in Lafayette Parish," says Principal Holly Boffy. Students have to have decent grades to enroll in the Career Center as they must also earn their other core credits such as History, English, etc. to graduate. The Career Center is committed to the region's 55 by 25 Initiative, with a goal of increasing the proportion of working-age adults in Acadiana with postsecondary degrees, certificates, or other high-value credentials to 55 percent by 2025. One program that reaches out to serve the community is the Culinary program which utilizes the Culinary Cafe on-site at the Career Center. With adequate space to hold luncheons or banquets, the space is open for rentals to the public. You provide your budget to the students who will then prepare a meal from scratch and serve your guests at the tables provided. Shown are students at the Culinary Cafe at W. D. and Mary Baker Smith Career Center. To be certified, students must complete 400 hours working the industry and pass 3 different tests to earn the Pro-Start National Certificate of Achievement, an industry-recognized certificate that signifies a strong foundation in the basic management and culinary skills considered critical to success by restaurant industry leaders. We thank Principal Holly Boffy for her commitment to seeing all students receive the highest and best form of education su...

The search for 22 years old Michaela "Mickey" Shunick took investigators in multiple directions over the course of her disappearance in 2012. Michaela's strength and perseverance would ultimately lead to the arrest of her killer. Michaela “Mickey” Shunick Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/findmickeynow/Official Website:https://mickeyshunick.com/site/facts-about-mickey-shunicks-disappearance/RAMissingPeople.com - A site founded by the Mickey Shunick Campaignwww.ramissingpeople.orgRAMissingPeople Official Instagram@RAMissingpeopleWays YOU can support the show! Want to make a one-time donation? You can do that on #PayPal using the email address murdergirls@thosemurdergirlspodcast.com Become a #Patreon! With five levels to choose from, you can support Those Murder Girls Podcast with a monthly donation that will go towards production and keeping #ads out  of our episodes.  And, any #donation over $3 will get you a shoutout on the show! Sign up now at Patreon.com/thosemurdergirlspodcast

The Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association's ("BVPA) efforts to educate our community about the many ways we can all help protect the Vermilion plays a crucial role in maintaining our ecosystem. Discover Lafayette welcomed Amber Robinson, Chris Adams, and Kiera Frey to the show to discuss the body of work the BVPA undertakes to educate and work with community members who want to make a difference. In 2013, BVPA was founded by Charles and Jan Wyatt, along with dedicated members of the Lafayette Garden Club. Since those early days, the association has grown to include an active board, advisory board, and hundreds of members. BVPA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to create awareness of our natural environment by providing education and outreach to the general community about ways to conserve, protect and enjoy the Bayou Vermilion Watershed. It works alongside and in partnership with the Bayou Vermilion District ("BVD") which was established in 1984 and funded by property taxes to “enhance the general conditions and beautification of the bayou by improving water quality, in an effort to promote [it] as a recreational and cultural asset.”  And for those who don't know what a 'watershed' is, it is the area of land that drains to a ditch, coulee, bayou, or river. Our region is in the Teche-Vermilion Watershed. BVPA Secretary and Board Member Kiera Frey: "The polluted image of the dirty, brown body of water, that on any given day could yield tons of floating trash and debris, that Vermilion River is not the one we want tourists who come to town to soak up local culture to take home with them. Nor is it the one we want our children and grandchildren to grow up with. BVPA focuses on educating the community on the natural beauty of the 70-mile waterway, including its recreational & utilitarian value." Photo by Bryan Tuck of The Advocate. The River Symposium is BVPA's biggest fundraiser of the year. It is an annual gathering of presenters who speak on a variety of topics related to the Vermilion River. Each year the theme changes. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, this year's symposium, Innovation on the Bayou: Harnessing New Ideas for Watershed Improvement, will be held on March 25th at the LITE Center on Cajundome Boulevard from 7:30 AM to 2:30 pm. Speakers include Warren Abadie from LCG, Tara Ross from Calcasieu Parish, Ben Malbrough with Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District, Brian Piazza, The Nature Conservancy and  Stephen Ortego with SO Studio Architecture. Cost is $27 which includes BVPA membership & lunch (student cost $5) - Sign up https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bvpas-7th-annual-river-symposium-tickets-165966681813. BVPA promotes and educates the community on techniques for improving water quality, including green infrastructure such as rain gardens, riparian buffers, and plants to help filter stormwater and control erosion. They teach pollution prevention and ways the public can help protect the watershed, such as litter control, picking up pet waste, maintaining septic systems, preventing yard waste and soil runoff, and awareness of stormwater flows. Most people are not aware that everything eventually flows into the Bayou, even the stormwater runoff of your pet's waste in the backyard which contains bacteria and parasites. An anti-littering poster contest is held to educate Lafayette Parish students on the importance of litter reduction and to create more interest in projects that enhance the landscape. This poster contest, a joint effort between LCG, Lafayette Garden Club, BVPA, and Parish Proud, is held in conjunction with Louisiana's Cleanest City contest. Most of us don't realize our direct or indirect contribution to damaging the Vermilion River's safety. Many of the bayous that flow through the Vermilion-Teche River Basin are not fully meeting their recreational uses of swimming (known as Primary Contact) because of nonpoint source pollution from such sou...

There's no doubt that Lafayette is in an economic transition. Changes in energy are driving changes in the world. And Lafayette has, since the 20th century, been an American energy hub.  You don't have to look far locally to see the changes. The infamous oil bust of the 1980s nearly bankrupted the entire city. Banks closed. Bumper stickers read, “Last one out turn off the lights.”  Fast forward: the 2014 bust hurt a lot. The metro area lost some 20,000 jobs — a nation-leading number. But here we are. The lights are still on. Why? Well, the top employment sector in Lafayette isn't energy any more. 17% of Lafayette's workforce work is in healthcare. It's by far the largest employer in the market. Direct mining jobs? 10%. And that's ⅓ of all mining oil and gas jobs in the state.  So how did that happen? Well, Adam Smith would credit his invisible hand. Others might credit the work of economic development organizations like the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, helmed by Mandi Mitchell. LEDA LEDA is a tax-funded agency that's a bit like the economic gardener for the parish. It's responsible for workforce development, business recruitment and is frequently tasked with analyzing economic impacts of big community projects or initiatives.  Mandi served for years as an assistant secretary in the state's counterpart to LEDA - Louisiana Economic Development - and was instrumental in landing the deal that brought an Amazon fulfillment center and hundreds of jobs to Lafayette Parish. Mandi is a Lafayette native, a certified economic developer and the first woman and person of color to run LEDA.  One Acadiana So if you're doing economic development well, that means you've got a lot of ribbons to cut. Traditionally, that's the role of your chamber of commerce, but Lafayette's chamber of commerce is a different kind of animal. First, it's not local — it's regional, serving nine parishes — and second, it's proactive. It shapes local and state public policy and advocates for business and free enterprise throughout the region. Troy Wayman is President and CEO of One Acadiana and has shaped the organizations' second act since its founding in 2015. Troy has spearheaded initiatives emphasizing the need for a better quality of life to attract business and talent — a program called Vibrant Acadiana — and an initiative called 55 by 25, which aims to improve educational attainment across.  Troy is also a certified economic developer, and his organization serves as the voice of some 600 employers in the Acadiana region.  Out to Lunch Acadiana is recorded live over lunch at Tula Tacos and Amigos in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at our website itsacadiana.com. And you can also check out more lunchtime conversation about Acadiana economic development.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Auzenne, Morning Show co-host on KPEL 96.5 with Bernadette Lee, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss his journey in broadcasting. Ian is also well-known for his sports play-by-play broadcasting career. He is a delightful trivia buff who shows up prepared for any job he is called upon to handle in a cheerful and genial manner. A Lafayette Parish native, Ian grew up in a rural area outside of Carencro around Gloria Switch Road. His father was a St. Landry Parish educator, and from a young age, Ian commuted with his dad to attend schools in that parish and graduated from Beau Chenes High School near Arnaudville, LA in 2006. He's remained friends with many of his buddies from his grade school years, and still affectionately calls out Nick and Butterbean on his morning radio show. A once-in-a-lifetime experience Ian's Junior year in high school changed the trajectory of his life. Princeton University was inviting students from rural and poorer areas of the U. S. to apply for their "Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America" summer program. Ian was encouraged by school administrators to apply and he was selected, one of only 54 in the U. S. to be selected (and only one of four or five from Louisiana). The experience led Ian to "absolutely fall in love with Princeton" and he applied to attend college there and was accepted. He graduated from Princeton in 2010. Ian Auzenne pictured calling plays during a Princeton-Brown game in 2009. "Those four years at Princeton molded me into the person I am now. If I wouldn't have gone there, I don't know if I'd be in broadcasting, if I'd be in sportscasting. Princeton led me directly into my career. I studied Political Science, but people who know me say I majored in WPRB, Princeton's student-run radio station, and minored in politics because I spent more time at the station than I did in the classroom or my dorm." While at Princeton, Ian became heavily involved with the student-run radio station WPRB, where he fell in love with broadcasting and was a natural at doing sports play-by-play. He covered Princeton football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, and softball. Ian loved Princeton so much he thought he would be staying in that region upon graduation. On April 20, 2010, however, as he was about to graduate, his beloved grandfather, Darrell Sonnier, passed away. Ian's heart told him he needed to return home to Acadiana to be close to family. The first call he made as he was looking for a job was to Darla Montgomery, longtime anchor at KLFY. Darla was a friend and mentor of Ian's, having met him when she allowed him to job shadow her in high school. Ian was hired and served as Producer of "Meet Your Neighbor" and Editor of "Passe Partout. He even had an opportunity or two to serve as a field reporter when called upon, something he loved to do. Ian Auzenne in the early days of his broadcasting career at KLFY where he served as Producer of Meet Your Neighbor and Editor of Passe Partout. His experience has taught him the difference between editorials (viewpoints) and delivering the facts to the listening audience. "It's easy to run your mouth off. It's more difficult to be tactful and respectful. You don't want to take the low road. At the end of the day, we're a news organization and I deliver the news. I am bound by an ethical standard, by what our profession dictates. When a polarizing issue presents itself, you have to ask, "Is it worth offering an opinion or do you just give the listeners the facts and let them sort it out." Ian moved on to KATC-TV, serving as executive news and special events producer for nine years. He joined Townsquare Media to serve as co-host of KPEL 96.5's daily morning show in February 2021. Daily early radio work takes discipline. With the show beginning each day at 6 a.m., Ian's day begins at the studio around 4:30 each morning so that he has time to write up the latest news and be ready to start the show promptly.

We are talking with Brandi about how she became a Lafayette Parish resident and a local business owner. KipandKingMarketing.com — The Tea Podcast is proudly sponsored by The Music Academy of Acadiana & The Orchard, Authorized Service Providers of Apple. The Music Academy of Acadiana is Acadiana's top choice for music lessons in piano, guitar, voice, drums, violin, saxophone, flute, audio production & more. They teach students of all ages and styles, they have sent students to college, to compete in major music competitions, and have also premiered on major TV Music contests like American Idol & The Voice. Founded by University of Louisiana at Lafayette music school graduate Tim Benson, the Academy has been voted as a top finalist in the best music school by readers of the Times since 2016 and they have won the national music school of the year award in 2014. Their goal is to make music lessons fun, educational and to help foster the next generation of musicians and creative thinkers! You can find them at the following links: Website: www.musicacademyacadiana.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicAcademyOfAcadiana/ — The Orchard is our tech sponsor and are providing the tech we need to assure a successful live podcast. Check them out at theorchardstores.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-tea-podcast/support

Lafayette Parish Tax Assessor Conrad Comeaux joins Discover Lafayette to explain how taxes are levied and collected. Who pays for what? How is your home's value assessed? This all really hits home when you get that bill in the mail. Serving as Tax Assessor since 2001, Conrad previously served on the Lafayette Parish Council from 1984 to 1996. A native of Scott, he graduated from USL, now UL-Lafayette, with degrees in biology and chemistry, and received a master's degree in health administration from Tulane University. He has been active in incorporating technology to help his office more efficiently serve the public, and was the first assessor in the state to put property values online and the first in Lafayette Parish to produce a digital map of ownership parcels. He views the office as non-political and says "we are there to do a job." While many people may think that the Tax Assessor sets tax millages and collects taxes, in fact, his office is only involved in determining the value of three things: land, buildings, and "extra features" that affect value (such as fencing, pools, and tennis courts). So when you receive your tax bills, they are coming from the Sheriff and local municipalities, not the Assessor. Louisiana's tax system differs from other states in the manner in which taxes are calculated. In most states the land and improvements are combined to reach a value; here, we separate out features of the property (i.e., the land is valued separately from the improvements) and taxed at different rates. Land and residential buildings are assessed at 10% of their market value; commercial buildings are assessed at 15% of market value. In a similar vein of Louisiana being different, in other states, property taxes are typically the biggest generator of local revenue; here, it is sales taxes. Millages collected throughout Lafayette Parish are very low compared to other parishes in Louisiana. In some years. Lafayette Parish millages are half of those collected in St. Tammany Parish. In fact, St. Tammany Parish school taxes are as high as what we are assessed for all Parish functions. It can be challenging to assess residences in neighborhoods with a wide range of values, and he gave an example of how homes on the front end of Kim Drive vary greatly in value from those closer to the Vermilion River. Conrad's office does "mass appraising," meaning that they look at values within a subdivision, or streets within a subdivision, not each individual home. However, his office is provided with a copy of each Act of Cash Sale filed at the courthouse and they utilize the value listed on the sale as a frame of reference. If you disagree with the assessed value of your home, Conrad encourages you to call his office at (337)291-7080 to bring it to his attention. It will be adjusted if they find a mistake (such as an overestimation of total square footage). Lafayette Parish Tax Assessor Conrad Comeaux will inform the councils of local governments on tax revenues and the implications of their decisions on their votes to maintain or raise millages. Their decisions can have a long-term impact on ensuring adequate levels of funding for mandated government services. Reassessments are typically done every four years. The Assessor's office will examine sales around a particular time frame to update values. As an example, for the 2020 reassessment, they looked at sales occurring six months before and six months after January 2019 to determine current values. With dramatic swings in market values, this process can cause people to scratch their heads wondering how a value was arrived at, but it's important to remember that the assessment is based upon a value from a couple of years back. If your home is damaged by a fire or hurricane and its value is greatly affected, please contact the Assessor's office to report the occurrence and the assessed value will be adjusted accordingly.

Adam Daigle, Business Editor of The Acadiana Advocate, joined Discover Lafayette to look back at the biggest news of 2021. While we have all continued to deal with the effects of COVID in our workplaces and schools this year, the economy has done remarkedly well. Sales tax collections in the City and Parish of Lafayette have been the highest on record as people spend monies left over from the PPE funding as we emerge from the lockdown. While employers may be still be having trouble finding enough employees, the demand for services and goods has skyrocketed. One of the biggest stories this year is the announcement of SafeSource Direct, a partnership between Ochsner Health with Trax Development to manufacture and distribute personal protection equipment. The joint venture is investing $150 million to retrofit an 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Lafayette Parish and a new 400,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in St. Martin Parish. The projects are expected to create over 1200 total new jobs between the facilities, a huge win for our region and a big step to decreasing U. S. dependence on foreign countries supplying our healthcare needs. SafeSource Direct, a partnership between Ochsner Health and Trax Development, is investing to create two manufacturing facilities to create PPE, expected to create 1200 new jobs. A big win for travelers is the upcoming completion of the Lafayette Airport nears substantial completion. Setting the standard on how to fund construction with a combination of federal and state dollars, coupled with a short-term (eight month) sales tax imposed locally, the project is moving along on pace to open in January 2022. The new Lafayette Airport is expected to open in January 2022, setting the standard for how to accomplish funding and construction in the way officials promised taxpayers. Adam shared that when he moved here in 2018, much of the business reporting centered on developments in the corridor surrounding River Ranch in South Lafayette, but not so much now. While there is buzz about Chick Fil-A moving over to the old Red Robin building near CostCo as well as the German-owned Aldi Supermarket chain coming to Lafayette (one just about completed on Ambassador Caffery, with another two stores planned on Ambassador and near Louisiana Avenue), there hasn't been big news in that South Lafayette region. Sneaker Politics' Derek Curry recently announced that he and two partners will be developing a $50 million mixed-use, retail, residential, and entertainment project on Johnston Street near the corner of Mount Vernon Road. This is important news for one of the older areas of Lafayette which has lay dormant for years. Curry has been extremely successful with Sneaker Politics and announced his excitement about redeveloping this abandoned shopping center as a way to bring commerce back to the heart of Lafayette. Pictured are Jim Keaty, Derek Curry, Alex Luna, and Terry Crochet at the announcement of The Forum, a mixed-use development planned on Johnston Street at Mount Vernon. Photo by Leslie Westbrook of the Advocate. The Amazon Fulfillment Center in Carencro seems to be a reality! While Adam said there has not been an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, the 1.1 million square facility seems to be bustling with activity. An online search for jobs at Amazon at the facility cites high paying wages and a potential $3,000 bonus for new employees. Laurel Hess has been making the news the last couple of years for his business acumen, first for launching Hampr, an on-demand laundry service, and then Presto Health, a delivery service for prescription medications. Her companies have grown rapidly even during COVID and she recently announced expansion into its latest market in the Northern Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Hampr, an on-demand laundry service developed by Laurel Hess, has been successful beyond our market, recently expanding into the Northern Dallas/For...

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory was joined by his Director of Traffic, Warren Abadie, to answer listener questions about roads across Lafayette Parish.

The statue of Confederate Gen. Alfred Mouton has been removed from downtown Lafayette, but what's the history that led to its installation in the first place? News 10's Dalfred Jones speaks with political science professor Dr. Rick Swanson about some of the darker history of Lafayette Parish.

Louisiana State Representative Jean Paul Coussan joined Discover Lafayette during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which ripped up most of Southeast Louisiana. He represents District 45 which covers much of Lafayette Parish. Jean-Paul serves as chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee and is a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Capital Outlay and House Select Leadership Committee. He is a member of the Acadiana Delegation, the Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation, and the Rural Caucus. A takeaway of our interview: Jean Paul loves having the opportunity to serve in the Legislature and with his people skills, this is a natural fit that benefits all of us. A graduate of LSU Law School, Jean Paul is a partner at the Lafayette real estate law firm of Andrus Boudreaux Complete Title. He is also a co-founder of Cougar Construction, LLC, which focuses on residential construction and rental units in Lafayette LA. District 45 is centrally located in the city of Lafayette and is a largely residential area. Its boundaries may be roughly described as UL-Lafayette at its eastern tip,, Fieldspan Road to the western point, bounded south by the Vermilion River and rounded out by Cameron Street to the north. With 42,000 constituents he represents, Jean Paul spoke proudly of the people he represents who understand the issues and the scope of what he does as a State Representative. Lafayette is traversed by many State-owned roads, such as Pinhook Road and Johnston Street, which many people may not realize and wonder why they are never improved. He shared that in the upcoming months there will be big news about Lafayette Consolidated Government taking over miles of state-owned highways so that improvements may happen more quickly and Lafayette can take control of its own destiny. When catastrophic events such as hurricanes occur, Jean-Paul says it is a team effort to pull together resources. Everyone from the local elected officials, the state legislators, top Louisiana elected and appointed leaders, and of course, our federal delegation come together to determine how they can best help their constituents get back on their feet. While Hurricane Ida devasted the Southeastern portion of Louisiana, our neighbors to the west, particularly Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, are still reeling from the havoc wreaked by Hurricanes Laura and Delta, as well as floods and freezes. He emphasized that all legislative delegations join in a nonpartisan effort to get life-saving resources such as water and generators to those most in need. Jean Paul had just traveled to Houma early in the week and he said, "Houma is as bad as you can imagine." He along with many of his legislative colleagues have traveled to bring ice and other needed supplies to help. When you listen to Jean Paul speak, you will hear compassion and concern as well as a "can-do" attitude to render assistance as needed. State Rep. Jean Paul Coussan, his wife Jennifer Joy Coussan, and their young family, circa 2019. Jean Paul enjoys coaching his daughter's basketball team, watching his son play football, and all the joys of being a dad and husband while he juggles work and legislative service. There has been a high turnover in the Legislature in years of late. Once people get involved and they serve a term or two, they start to look at their options. Jean Paul Coussan likes what he is doing and in particular, loves serving as Chair of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee which oversees everything from Wildlife & Fisheries, the Department of Conservation (oil and gas issues) "Relationships are key. It's sad to see people leave and many are leaving before term limits are up. There is a major turnover. A lot of people roll back into local government and state government. I enjoy what I am doing. This is a process and relationships matter...all the way up to the Governor."

From drainage to potholes, Mayor-President Guillory tries to address concerns of people in Lafayette Parish.

Executive Director and CEO of St. Landry Economic Development Group, Bill Rodier, joins Discover Lafayette to share news of the growth of St. Landry Parish as well as the current boom in growth along the I-49 corridor. In his previous position, Bill served as Deputy Director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission and had recruitment roles with Louisiana Economic Development. He also had experience in sales: “In a different lifetime I used to run a large car dealership,” Rodier said. Rodier began his work with the group in 2013 when the need to focus on the development of the region became a top priority in St. Landry Parish. “As an economic developer, one of the first things that I looked at when the position became available is how many opportunities St. Landry Parish had,” Rodier said. The parish has both LSU-Eunice and South La. Community College, transportation access via the I-49 corridor (north/south) and Hwy. 190 (east/west), and a booming culture and historical background. St. Landry Parish is one of the larger parishes within Louisiana, encompassing 940 square miles, and has 12 incorporated communities, the most of any in Louisiana. It is bordered by the Parishes of Avoyelles, Point Coupee, St. Martin, Lafayette, Acadia, and Evangeline.  June 2021 groundbreaking ceremony of a new wastewater treatment facility in St. Landry Parish near the entrance of the Clos De Bois subdivision on the I-49 S. Service Road. Officials expect continued growth in both the residential and commercial sectors of the region. As Rodier speaks about the work of his group throughout Acadiana, interestingly he hears over and over about the direct ties people have with the parish, such as family, school, and business connections. Statistics bear this out, as many jobs in St. Landry Parish are filled with Lafayette Parish residents, many Lafayette families send their children to St. Landry Parish private schools, and St. Landry Parish residents look to Lafayette for amenities. The Parish is uniquely known for its trail rides, making it one of the top equine regions in America. The Academy of the Sacred Heart is well-known for its equestrian program offered to its students. It is also home to Evangeline Downs, the area's premier horse racetrack. In 2021, the Louisiana State Senate passed SR215 commending the equine industry for its cultural and economic impact to the state of Louisiana. “If I were to describe our job, we're almost like puzzlers…we put pieces together to make things work,” Rodier said. He strives to stimulate investment within St. Landry Parish and to attract investment from outside of the Parish borders. Bill Rodier stressed the potential of downtown Opelousas and plans to revitalize its commercial potential. “You will continue to see a progression in downtown Opelousas…Opelousas used to be a mecca of commerce because of its geographical location and accessibility by the highways.”  A master plan has been created by the Downtown Development District that identified long-term plans for growth and development. Commercial developments along the I-49 corridor are of utmost importance to St. Landry Parish's growth. Locals have taken the initiative to keep up the appearance of interchanges such as in grass cutting, a task formerly done by the state only four times a year, so as to present the best face to people traveling through the region. Rodier commended other mayors for their guidance in these issues, such as former Mayor of Scott, Purvis Morrison, and Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux. The I-49 Midway corridor, situated between Shreveport and New Orleans, has seen incredible growth over the past 10 years. St. Landry Economic Development, Acadiana Planning Commission, and the cities of Washington, Opelousas, Sunset, Grand Coteau, Carencro, and Lafayette have joined together to create a vision for the Corridor, and to promote investment and economic development within the region.

We welcome Joan Savoy and Andrew Duhon of the Lafayette Public Library Foundation. Joan is the current President of the Foundation and Andrew is a longtime volunteer on behalf of the public library, having also served twice as President on the Library Board of Control. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created in 1992 that supplements taxpayer funding of our libraries by encouraging private donations and endowments that provide books and services and fund special programs and projects. More than $200,000 has been raised over the years and monies have been dedicated to library improvements such as enhancing the entrance to the children's wing in the Main Library, "wrapping" the bookmobile and purchasing books for the libraries. Donors can create an endowment fund in the name of a family member, individual, or business organization with a minimum contribution of $100; once the endowment is fully funded at $1,000, one book will be donated annually in perpetuity in honor of the named endowment. The foundation's largest fundraiser is the annual luncheon which highlights local authors and awards proponents of the library system. The theme of this year's event was “The Future Is Local!” where Second Harvest Food Bank was honored with the Foundation Award and Andrew Duhon received the President's Award. Since 1992, the Lafayette Public Library Foundation has purchased over 10,000 books for our libraries through private donations.  Through the endowment program, the foundation has established a continuous, long-term revenue stream for the purchase of new books and media for the library. 'The Foundation is currently focused on educating the community on the many services offered by the public library system. With a 1.8 mill property tax renewal on the October 9, 2021 ballot, which raises approximately $4 million a year, Discover Lafayette is proud to share the many ways our public libraries sustain our quality of life. We also want to inform the public on the importance of adequate funding and acknowledge the many volunteers who work to maintain this community asset. We thank Joan and Andrew, along with their peers, for the selfless time they give to our library system. The Lafayette Public Library System has nine locations to serve the citizens of Lafayette Parish. People of all ages and demographics utilize the library daily and enjoy its free Wi-Fi, meeting spaces, and of course, the ability to check out books and digital resources.  Makerspaces and Tech Labs offer the use of 3D printers and classes in digital media, paper and textile arts, electronics, and fabrication. Adults can receive free assistance from library staff in crafting or updating their resumes. During 2018-2019, over 1 million people visited the Lafayette Public libraries, 13,338 library cards were issued, and over 2 million materials were checked out (including digital resources). During the COVID shutdown, people flocked to the libraries to use to take advantage of the free computers and Wi-Fi; the volume of materials checked out went up and the library responded to the crisis by offering a 23% increase in programming. Of course, while the library offers 'free' services and resources to the public, its annual budget of $12 million must be met to sustain operations. Annual tax revenue is now approximately $11 million, resulting in a $1 million shortfall each year. Just a few short years ago, the library's reserve fund was flush with a balance of $40 million. Plans were underway to build a much-needed Northeast Lafayette Parish Regional Library with the intent to tie services into underperforming schools such as Northside High, JW Faulk, and NP Moss. Additions to public meeting space at regional libraries were in the works. The Board of Control had endeavored to be good stewards with the public funds, building four new regional libraries with a combination of cash and bond revenues while maintaining a healthy cash res...

What's not to love about a doughnut? They're fried, fatty, crispy, doughy and sweet. You can dip them in chocolate, stuff them with Bavarian cream and roll them in sprinkles. They come vegan, gluten free or covered with bacon crumbles. You can slice them half and use them as a hamburger bun. Anything that good has to be sold by the dozen. And it should be easy to do, right?  Not so much.The doughnut business is cutthroat. It's a crowded market out there and one dominated by customer loyalty. Plus, the hours are terrible.  Why get into the business? Drake Pothier says because it makes people really happy. The chance to make someone's day better is a great reason to get up at 3 o'clock in the morning.   Drake owns Village Deaux in Maurice. He and his wife bought the shop in 2019, looking to diversify their income and find something new to sink their teeth into. They navigated the pandemic shut down and came out the other side with a doughnut shop that folks are driving to from all over Lafayette Parish. Which is saying a lot with all the good doughnut spots here. Before running Village Deaux, Drake worked in communications and ran a successful insurance agency, which he sold in 2021.  So everyone loves a doughnut, but not everyone likes politics. And that's what Marie Centanni sells: ideas. Marie is a political consultant, running her shop Centanni Communications since 2009.  Marie is a vet of the political scene. And her specialty is communicating public policy. That means taking a wonkish piece of legislation, dipping it in chocolate, stuffing it with bavarian cream and selling it to voters. Cynics may not like it so much, but it's how the policy gets made. And I'm sure Marie has to get up plenty early in the morning to do it.  During the 2021 Legislative session, Marie played a big role in communicating the push for tax reform, a process which took steering several pieces of legislation through a toxic political climate. Marie is a former broadcast journalist, worked as a staffer on Capitol Hill and served as press secretary to former Gov. Kathleen Blanco. She's advised over 250 candidates through the Candidate Training Bootcamp at the Louisiana Free Enterprise Institute, the nonprofit arm of her top client the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Whether it's donut or doughnut, Democrat or Republican, Christiaan Mader has you covered on this edition of Out to Lunch Acadiana recorded live over lunch at Tula Tacos and Amigos in downtown Lafayette. You can see photos from this show by Nathan Davis at our website. This is our first Out to Lunch show about doughnuts but you can hear more lunch table conversation about Acadiana pies here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brett Bayard, of the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss the Rewards for Reading Program in Lafayette LA. The mission of all Kiwanis clubs is to make the lives of children better. Kiwanis partnered with the Lafayette Parish Public School System and 24 of its Elementary Schools to launch the Reading for Rewards Program. The goal is to inspire and excite our youngest students to read so that they can learn to love reading, thus do better in school and build a lifelong habit of reading. Kickstarted by a $2500 grant from Home Bank, $1,000 from Postlethwaite & Netterville CPA's, and a great deal of financial assistance from Kiwanis members, the program has gotten off to a successful start. Students earn points by participating in the school system's Accelerated Reader (AR) program to become eligible for prizes. They earn one raffle ticket every nine weeks as they meet their AR goal, which goal is individualized and based upon each student's reading level. Students can earn further raffle tickets by exceeding their goals. Prizes will be awarded in person at the elementary schools throughout May 2021, beginning May 12th at Ernest Gallet Elementary. Prizes being awarded by Kiwanis members at each school include two bikes, four Razer scooters, and various goodie bags being provided by UL-Lafayette, Cox, Lafayette Parish library, and more. This is the first year of Reading for Rewards and the Kiwanis Club of Lafayette plans to build upon the program and continue encouraging our youngest to read. Brett Bayard, Kiwanis Club of Lafayette member, and Paula Graffeo, J. Wallace James Elementary librarian, pose with two bikes that will be raffled off in May 2021 in the Rewards for Reading Program. Rewards for Reading was inspired by a similar program created in 2006 by the Dawn Busters Kiwanis in Metairie, LA. Their program has grown tremendously since its early days and the club has seen how the rewards offered to young students have directly and positively improved educational outcomes. Studies show that children who cannot read on grade level by 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of school. Third grade is a crucial time in a child’s education as students transition from learning to read, to reading to learn. It is in our community's best interest to support programs such as Rewards for Reading and we thank Kiwanis Club of Lafayette for launching this program. Our interview included heartwarming stories, including how hard it has been to find enough bikes in retail stores to meet the needs for Rewards for Reading prizes. Brett recalled how he and other Kiwanis members went from store to store, buying one bike at a time at first as the stores experienced a shortage of bikes; the COVID shutdown turned bikes into a precious commodity and for a time, almost impossible to find. Anecdotal evidence of the popularity and early success of the Reading for Rewards program in our Lafayette public elementary schools continues to mount. Members have heard stories of kids reading books as fast as they can get their hands on them; one student even gave up his video game time to read more books! Another anecdote was of a five-year-old who is reading more than his high school-age siblings. Kiwanis members speak of "Kiwanis Moments" when they realize the joy they experience by helping children through their clubs' activities. Kiwanis programs involving interacttion with local students include Shaping Academic Resources for Kids ("SPARK"), Positive Lifestyle Activity for Youth ("PLAY"), the Healthy Living Club. Brett shared that his own meaningful Kiwanis Moment occurred when he took a young student shopping for Christmas gifts as a part of the Kiwanis annual Christmas giving program. The young girl said that was the first time in her life that she had been given an opportunity to get new clothes as she always had just gotten hand-me-downs or whatever was laying around.

Take a listen to Jess & Chad as they discuss the most current, up to date, market stats in Lafayette Parish.

How do you keep over 30,000 students safe during a pandemic? News 10's Dalfred Jones talks to a panel of Lafayette Public School System administrators who will tell us exactly how they did that -- and how they continue to do it. From putting nurses in schools to rearranging classrooms for social distancing, this is how LPSS fights COVID-19.

Ashley Mudd, Executive Director of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss her mission to build leaders in our community. Her quest is to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or industry, has the opportunity and support needed to find their voice and passion as a community leader. The Leadership Institute of Acadiana ("LIA") is the organization that hosts the Leadership Lafayette and Lafayette Junior Leadership programs, as well as other programs to engage people who are unable to commit to a year of engagement. Since 1987, Leadership Lafayette operated under the auspices of the former Lafayette Chamber of Commerce which is now known as One Acadiana. Ashley credited former Chamber President Rob Guidry for having the foresight to start the program after hearing of it in his travels networking with other chamber execs around the U. S. The first class, officially named "Class One," calls themselves the "premier class." Many prominent leaders, such as Joey Durel, former Parish President of Lafayette Parish, credit Leadership Lafayette for spurring them onto greater civic and government engagement. (Read more about his story here.) Joey Durel, former Lafayette City-Parish President credits Leadership Lafayette for his desire to run for mayor. Once his children were transitioning out of their home, Joey had more time for civic engagement and made the leap into elected office. According to the organization's website, "At LIA, our goal is to provide experiential, collaborative leadership training programs and initiatives that offer local leaders access to the skills, knowledge and ongoing support they need to impact our community and influence the future of our region.' In practice they do this and so much more; they immerse program participants in eleven sessions during their year of engagement as they learn about our community's opportunities and challenges in education, the economy, the non-profit sector, government, incarcerated individuals, and healthcare. People forge lifelong friendships and bring about real change. Program tuition is $2000 to participate in Leadership Lafayette, yet LIA will provide scholarships up to one-half of tuition for deserving recipients. They encourage participation from all industries, including police officers, teachers, and other fields outside of the stereotypical banker, lawyer, or business owner. Participants of all ages are welcome and encouraged; Ashley stressed that the wider the range of ages and industries, the more successful the class will be in experiencing the full benefit of Leadership Lafayette. Past Leadership Lafayette graduates, such as Veronica Williams, Clerk of the Lafayette City and Parish Councils, assist in identifying boards and commissions that willing volunteers can join. LIA actively works to help people engage in civic endeavors and make a difference in the community. SIMSOC ("Simulated Society") is a standard-bearer of the Leadership Lafayette experience. SIMSOC is a simulation of real society where participants learn the issues and challenges of creating sustainable societies and communities. At times it can be humorous as people of higher socioeconomic status are placed in a simulated place of low ranking in a room with no air conditioning as they navigate methods of survival. Brent Henley of The Pyramid Group has facilitated SIMSOC since the beginning of the program and still pulls out great results as participants learn empathy and leadership skills from the exercise. Brent Henley of the Pyramid Group leading SIMSOC during Leadership Lafayette's program on April 9, 2021, at Wonderland Performing Arts in Lafayette. LIA also offers programming for people who are not yet ready or able to commit to a year of engagement. Intro Lafayette is a two-day civic leadership class that offers presentations from "local business, civic and community leaders on the past,

Traffic Director Warren Abadie joined Lafayette Mayor/President Josh Guillory this morning to take calls about traffic issues in the city and unicorporated areas of Lafayette Parish.

Mike Michot, Senior Director of State Affairs for the Picard Group, a leading governmental affairs and lobbying group in Louisiana and Washington DC, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss his career of public service and community engagement. Mike previously served the Acadiana area for 16 years, serving 12 years in the Louisiana State Senate after his initial one-term stint as Lafayette's District 43 member of the House of Representatives. In his final term in the State Senate, he was chair of the Senate Finance Committee which directs funding for all aspects of state government; he also served on various committees including the Louisiana State Bond Commission, Senate Natural Resources, Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs, Vice-Chair of Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs, and House Labor and Industrial Relations. Left: Senator Mike Michot pictured center, with Representative Page Cortez (now Senator) and Senator Fred Mills. Right: Senator Mike Michot, with his wife Monique, after having been presented LegisGator of the Year Award by the Southwest Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Mike has also been active in private business, having previously owned and operated Premier Medical Equipment in Lafayette for 20 years. Generous with his time, he has served as a volunteer for many community service organizations, including the Community Foundation of Acadiana, American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, United Way of Acadiana, the Academy of the Sacred Heart School, and the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette’s Opus Christi Magnum fundraiser.  Mike is also a graduate of Leadership Lafayette and Leadership Louisiana. ​The seventh of eight children of the late Louis and Patricia Ann Smith Michot, Mike grew up watching his father accomplish great business and political success with a mindset focused on hard work and giving back to others. As a young boy, Mike remembers his father flying off in his own plane to take care of business, whether it was tending to his 45 Burger Chef restaurants or heading off across the state when he was elected to the Louisiana State Board of Education in 1968 and later elected in 1971 as Louisiana Superintendent of Education. The elder Michot also was involved in various endeavors as diverse as opening the first drive-in theatre in Lafayette on Pinhook Road to running the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce to serving Lafayette Parish as a State Representative to lobbying for the National Air Transport Association in Washington DC. For a wonderful look at the many accomplishments of Louis Joseph Michot Jr.'s storied life, please visit this Legacy site. Left: Louis Michot, Jr., Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, reading "A Cajun Night Before Christmas." Right: Rep. Louis Michot, Jr. serving a Burger Chef shake and burger to Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas Jewell. Mike Michot jumped into politics in 1995 when State Representative Don Higginbotham announced he would not run for re-election. After having grown up around his father's influence in the political realm and having helped older brother, Rick Michot, run a three-parish race for 15th Judicial District Judge, Mike had valuable experience in campaigning. He won that race and then after one term, ran against sitting Senator Max Jordan and was also successful in that effort with the encouragement of the business sector. His early time of service was during Governor Mike Foster's regime with a pro-business bent. Mike looked back with pride on the many accomplishments during the first term of Gov. Foster when he was honored to serve, including passage of the TOPS program, teacher pay raises to the Southern average, and other business-friendly measures. This era also brought in term-limits which limit legislators to three terms in a particular office. During our interview, Mike spoke of the good and bad that comes along with a loss of political experience when seasoned legislators ar...

Louisiana sheriff deputy and 43 yr old US Veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Clyde Kerr III killed himself because he could no longer serve an evil system.

Louisiana sheriff deputy and 43 yr old US Veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Clyde Kerr III killed himself because he could no longer serve an evil system.

Louisiana sheriff deputy and 43 yr old US Veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Clyde Kerr III killed himself because he could no longer serve an evil system.

Clyde Kerr III seem to be a man of integrity to the point that this demonic criminal justice system drove him to commit suicide. The video he left behind should be considered a jewel of wisdom and we should utilize the message as a rally cry. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/new-jersey-jay-on-the-rad/message

Liz Webb Hebert, Chair of the Lafayette City Council and representative for City Council District 3, joined Discover Lafayette to discuss her passion for service at the local level and working to improve the region's quality of life Liz Webb Hebert and Nanette Cook were selected as council chairperson and vice chair in 2021. Photo by Brad Bowie of The Advocate. Growing up in Carencro, Louisiana, and the baby girl of her family with four older brothers, Liz learned early about the importance of speaking up effectively for herself. A lifelong resident of Lafayette Parish, she graduated from Teurlings Catholic High School and Northwestern State University. After college, she was blessed to work for wonderful bosses who gave her free rein in using her skills in an imaginative way: first for Leonard Louvierre of Zea Rotisserie & Bar in Lafayette, and then with Greg Davis and Pam Deville at the Cajundome Arena & Convention Center. The freedom she was afforded to execute her ideas to grow business opportunities are experiences she will always cherish. Yet, Liz was called to explore service at a higher level as a young adult. "I've always wanted to make our community better," Hebert explained, and her experience in Leadership Lafayette led her to better understand the issues facing our city and parish and how she could get involved in the process as an elected official. In 2015, her mentors approached her to consider running for the Lafayette City-Parish Council which had an open seat upon the retirement of then-Councilman Keith Patin. With encouragement from her family and husband, Aaron Hebert, she leapt into the race, which included two formidable opponents who she describes as "incredible, friendly, courteous and kind." She made the runoff and was elected to serve her first term on the Lafayette City-Parish Council which began in January 2016. "Fix the Charter" was passed by Lafayette Parish residents and now we have two councils: the Lafayette City Council and the Lafayette Parish Council. Liz ran and was elected to serve in Lafayette Council District 3 and assumed office January 2020. The Lafayette City Council. Pictured from left to right: Nanette Cook, Andy Naquin, Glenn Lazard, Pat Lewis, and Liz Webb Hebert. District 3 has 26,000 residents, and Liz says they are a joy to represent; they stay informed of the issues, are engaged, well-educated, and enjoy the highest wealth per capita among other districts in our city. Typical issues brought to her attention by citizens include trash, rezoning issues, or concerns about not getting services. Proactive in her outreach to constituents, she attends Homeowners' Associations of subdivisions in her district so she can stay on top of issues of importance. Liz always encourages people to first call 311 or go online to the 311 website to report concerns such as panhandling, animal control issues, noise complaints, etc. She also wants you to reach out to her via her Facebook page to message her about problems you need help with or to use the Next Door app. Liz Hebert also sends out a monthly newsletter to keep people abreast of issues and you can subscribe here. She fields calls and emails for those of us outside of her district to request her support for the issues facing their neighborhood and welcomes us all to inform her of current concerns. "I want my constituents to call me so we can address issues. I can't fix a problem if I don't know about it. People may be upset about an issue for a year before they call me and I could have helped them early on." Liz Webb Hebert encouraging people to reach out for help. Several initiatives to improve the quality of life in our community have seen fruition under Liz's stewardship. The first one that has been visible to to the community is the Adopt-A Bus Stop Lafayette. Liz was approached by friends to see how they could help when they realized how many people, both employees and strangers,

A hiker who was found dead in a tent in Florida was identified two years later as a New York man who was originally from Lafayette. Vance Rodriguez was found by two hikers on July 23, 2018, inside a tent deep within Big Cypress National Preserve. He went by the trail names "Denim" and "Mostly Harmless." "Although an autopsy did not indicate foul play in his death, our detectives worked tirelessly to identify him," the Collier County Sheriff's Office wrote in a Facebook post. He interacted with others along the Appalachian and Florida trails and detectives even had clear photos of him along the way, but Rodriguez did not have a cellphone, credit cards or any form of identification. Detectives found hiking gear, two notebooks and about $3,640 in his tent, about 5 miles north of Interstate 75 in Collier County The IT worker who lived in New York had set out to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2017, according to the sheriff's office. Rodriguez spent several months hiking south toward Florida and only used paper maps. The sheriff's office tried to identify Rodriguez through traditional methods, combing missing person databases for matching fingerprints or dental records. When the department posted a composite photo to Facebook, fellow hikers sent in dozens of photos and reported meeting him. The story of the unidentified hiker was aired on the sheriff's office's podcast. Wired magazine wrote about "Mostly Harmless" and more than one and a half million people read the story, the publication reported. Facebook groups popped up with the purpose of combing through clues to identify him. The sheriff's office started working with Othram, a DNA lab in Texas that works with law enforcement to solve cases - both identifying unknown persons and people who may have been involved in crimes - through forensic genealogy. But a former co-worker of Rodriguez saw his photo online and reached out to the Collier County Sheriff's Office and provided information about him. The Collier County Sheriff's Office, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office and Othram worked together to test a familial DNA sample to positively identify Rodriguez Rodriguez was born in February 1976. He emancipated at 17 with the consent of his parents, according to Lafayette Parish court records. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He eventually moved to Baton Rouge, where he worked at Shoppers Choice, and then moved to New York in 2013, Wired magazine reported. You can read the rest here: https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2021/01/14/mostly-harmless-hiker-found-dead-florida-identified-lafayette/4144419001/ Youtube Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgBHt4QtLq0&t=680s --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thetruthliesbetween/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thetruthliesbetween/support

Just nine months ago, Laurel Hess launched hampr, an on-demand laundry service designed to take the stress out of busy families' lives. Who could have predicted the pandemic would hit the U. S. that same month and upend our normal way of life? Laurel Hess joined Jan Swift of Discover Lafayette to discuss her newest endeavor, Presto Health, a prescription delivery service made possible via an investment by Ochsner Lafayette General's Healthcare Innovation Fund II. The service launched on the 1st of December, 2020, and delivers medications to the patient’s home or preferred destination upon their discharge from Ochsner Lafayette General urgent care centers, emergency rooms, clinics, and telemedicine visits held in Lafayette Parish. The service is offered at no cost to the patient. In early March 2020, hampr's ideal client was a busy young mom with kids, who needed a break from the incessant laundry chores. By late March 2020, everything in the U. S. was shut down and the ideal demographic quickly shifted to the "young bachelor who needed help." At that same time, Ochsner Lafayette General's Cian Robinson (who has since moved on to McLeod Health in South Carolina) approached Hess to see if hampr could deliver prescriptions. Laurel recalls her first thought was "No, we're a laundry service." But she reexamined her platform and saw that they offered a "last mile delivery platform....we can deliver anything from A to B." We said, "Absolutely Yes!!" Hampr's team duplicated its platform and was able to get it up and running in six months. Called "Presto Health," the new prescription delivery service is a division of hampr. Having to stay HIPAA certified, its drivers are W2 salaried employees, unlike the contract laundry service workers hampr utilizes. Presto Health employees don't handle any personal health information on the patients they assist and are only given information as to the name of the patient and their address. "We are literally just a delivery platform," says Hess. Presto Health is notified by the pharmacy once a prescription is filled and paid for, and compensated per delivery on a volume-based scale. The service is currently operating in Lafayette Parish at this time and looks to expand into the broader Ochsner network statewide as well as other areas of the U. S. With a focus on patient and delivery driver safety, health the patient is texted when the prescription has arrived at their home and there is no interpersonal interaction. There is no need to sign for acceptance of the delivery, but Presto Health workers take a photo to prove the delivery has been completed successfully. Hospitals across the country are looking into similar prescription delivery programs, referred to as "Meds to Beds." With a big push on improving healthcare and patient outcomes, healthcare professionals are working to ensure that healthcare is delivered to people efficiently no matter where they are. It's always in the best interest of the hospitals to keep people on their prescribed medications to keep healthcare issues in check. Hess says, "A lot of people upon discharge from the hospital may not have access to a vehicle or may not be well enough to go pick up their medication. So making sure they stay on their prescribed medication is very important. It reduces recidivism rates for the hospital....so people aren't coming back with the same issue they just left with." Presto Health is the newest wave of healthcare reform. Ochsner Lafayette General providers are aware of the program and our hope is to get the word out to patients who will benefit from this service. To learn more about Oschner Lafayette General's Innovation Fund, visit https://www.lafayettegeneral.com/healthcare-innovation-fund. As an aside, Hess refers to Cian Robinson as her "fairy godfather. He sees opportunity everywhere. This program is something that hospitals across the nation are looking at.

Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Josh Guillory joined Jan Swift of Discover Lafayette to discuss his first year of service to the community. Guillory took office on January 6, 2020, and has faced unprecedented challenges this year as the coronavirus rolled in with its ensuing physical and economic chaos, the oil and gas market collapsed, several hurricanes hit our region, and civil unrest erupted after the fatal police shooting of Trayford Pellerin. A young man who will turn 38 on January 8, 2021­­­­­­, Guillory is a graduate of the U. S. Airborne School and earned his wings in 2004. He comes from a family who proudly served, harking back to his paternal grandfather who was a WWI Vet, his maternal grandfather who was a WWII Vet, and his brother who served in the Air Force. Guillory served in Baghdad, Iraq as a Cavalry platoon leader. He credits his time in the military for teaching him how to make decisions, saying he was told in Officer Candidate School, "If you'll learn anything, you will learn how to make decisions!" While working as a pharmaceutical representative and juggling the responsibilities of raising three young children with his wife, Guillory earned his law degree from Southern University Law Center while working full time and attending school at night. He credits his work in pharmaceuticals for equipping him to better understand medical issues associated with the pandemic. Hospitals are once again at surge capacity, and immediately prior to our interview, Guillory hosted a press conference with hospital officials who reiterated that the community must follow COVID guidelines such as mask-wearing, washing hands, social distancing, and quarantining if exposed to someone with the virus. Guillory has realized that a small percentage of the people think everything should be shut down in order to get a grip on the pandemic, another small percentage think it is a hoax, and an overwhelming majority just want to strike a balance so that we can keep going. "Personal responsibility is the absolute # 1 tool in fighting COVID-19. We all know what to do and we should comply. Wash your hands like you are cleaning up after eating crawfish and putting in your contact lens," Guillory says. "Personal responsibility is the absolute # 1 tool in fighting COVID-19. We all know what to do and we should comply. Wear your mask. Wash your hands like you are cleaning up after eating crawfish and putting in your contact lens," Guillory says. Guillory has remained steadfast in his commitment to do more with less while not raising taxes and to focus on his core priorities of improving drainage, roads, and public safety. Handling the pandemic has been an all-consuming priority and has also resulted in delaying the hiring of a few key hires such as permanent directors for LUS, LUS Fiber, and the Parks Department. While Guillory prefers to hire local, he also wants to ensure that the best possible candidates are vetted and the pandemic has made interviewing tough. The new Lafayette City Chief of Police is about to be named, and Guillory is proud that two local people were hired to oversee the newly created Drainage and Transportation, Roads and Bridges Departments, which were carved out of the former Public Works Department. This year's budget adds 11 positions to the Drainage Department, which fulfills Guillory's promise to prioritize improving drainage. When asked to address the cuts made to arts and culture, Guillory stressed the importance of tapping into all stakeholder groups with an interest in maintaining the quality of offerings while also taking into consideration the constraints of the budget. With the recent defeat of the two tax propositions which would have allowed greater budget flexibility in spending operating fund (discretionary) dollars, Guillory stated that public/private partnerships are more important than ever if projects are to be adequately funded. He emphasized his appreciation for the arts,

Shamekka Garnette found in Rapides Parish and William Lyles found in the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish Louisiana. Shamekka Garnette was last seen August 13, 2004, when she left with a friend for a night out. She was found four days later in a drainage ditch off I-49. William Lyles was last seen at approximately 3a on September 10, 1995 and was found approximately 6 hours later in the Vermillion River close to I-10. While the cause of death was drowning, he had injuries consistent with a beating.  www.mysteriesofthebayou.com Full Transcript Below  Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (00:03): Hello, and welcome to another episode of mysteries of the Bayou. I'm Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou got a couple of a couple other short cases to cover today. Uh, the first one is going to be, uh, Shameeka, Garnette. Uh, Shameeka was, uh, 20 years old. She was last seen October 13th, 2004. This was just a few days prior to her 21st birthday. Uh, she is from the Alexandria Louisiana rapedmy parish area. So, uh, she was last seen, seen leaving home at approximately 11:30 PM with a friend in their vehicle. Uh, the vehicle was later abandoned on Lee street on the Lee street on ramp two 49 near, uh, base road. Um, the weird thing about this case is that there wasn't any other information that I could find that talked about her friend. It sounded said the car was abandoned, but they never talked about either finding this other individual, questioning them if it was man, woman or anything about it. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (01:19): So I did feel like that was a little bit strange. The, um, so, uh, on August the 17th of 2004, about four days later, her body was found in a drainage ditch off of old Boyce road. Now, um, it's uncanny. It's the other thing that's strange about this is it's very unclear who is investigating this case. When you look at most of the coverage that this received in the media, on the internet, it was credited with repeat Sheriff's department, but, um, in contacting them for more information on the case, they expressed explicitly said that the Alexandria police department was handling it. So, um, what I did was reached out to the Alexandria police department for an open records request. And they, after talking with three or four people in that, that, uh, jurisdiction told me that, that they were not handling this case. So it's a little bit strange that neither one of these, uh, agencies and, you know, before I kind of get off on a rant, I want to make sure that I'm very clear that I'm very pro law enforcement. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (02:42): I know these guys do a great job. A lot of the times there's not much to go on. And so some of these cold cases go cold, not because there really wasn't much effort. There just wasn't much to go on. But having said that, I do believe in, I do believe in, uh, law enforcement agencies honoring the open request, open records, open, you know, information requests from the public as per the statute of the state. In this case, it's our S 40 four.one. And it lays it out in very clear what is considered, um, public information now in ongoing investigations, of course, you know, they always want to hold things back. They don't want to, uh, uh, do something to jeopardize the, uh, investigation in case they worked to arrest somebody in the future. But the reality is that, that there is still information that can be released. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (03:48): And, uh, not only did they not release it, but I really felt like, and going back to the case that we had last week with, uh, Teresa Gil crease, I really feel like that the repeat Sheriff's department was just playing games. And I actually reached out to the Louisiana attorney General's office. And of course they acted like first off, they acted like they didn't know what was going on. They said they don't represent individuals. I explained to the young lady that this was a state statute, that they are the lawyers for the state and that they should be enforcing the statutes that the legislature deems necessary to put out. So in turn, they should be making sure, and then they should be investigating when agencies aren't being transparent and aren't releasing public information as they should. But needless to say, I never heard back from the investigator, supposedly that was assigned to this through the attorney General's office. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (04:55): So it's easy to understand why families get very discouraged because of the lack of information and understand have a much better understanding. Now, a while a lot of people that I know, uh, out of the Louisiana area are very distrustful of local law enforcement and of the Louisiana government structure altogether. I have, I can officially say that I have bumped into that, excuse me. And I know exactly what they're talking about, and it's just a little bit fishy that nobody knows who's got the investigation. And, um, the other thing, I guess, I kind of feel like, you know, we are trying to help the families by putting the information out there, again, giving a different format, different listeners, whatever you might call it, but, you know, we just want to help them find the answers to these questions. So if you've got as a law enforcement agency, if you have somebody that is wanting to help you publicize a 15 year old murder unsolved murder case, I would think that they would do everything that would be possible to not only help get the coverage, but to be involved and provide some details. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (06:14): And of course they were extended an offer to be on the show and turn that down as well. So anyway, sorry for the rant. Just, uh, like I said, you know, we've kind of bumped into a little bit of problems up until this point. Nothing, nothing like this. So it's just very strange, you know, the other one is that, uh, you know, we've got the Gill crease that we covered last episode, but the other thing I saw doing a little bit more research on this is that again, this is not coming from law enforcement. I think it's coming from a family member, but they said, uh, my understanding that, uh, Shameeka Garnette and Courtney Coco were friends and we haven't covered Courtney's case yet kind of in, it's been on the, uh, it's been on the agenda to take a look at, but the, um, it has been covered a lot. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (07:16): So, you know, it's kind of a deciding factor for, you know, actually taking that case on. And hopefully it will be covered in the near future on mysteries of the Bayou. But, uh, Courtney lived in from what detail little details I have, she was from Alexandria, she was going to school. Um, and it's kind of unclear where she went missing from school or home, but they found her over in Beaumont between Beaumont and Houston and then found her car in Houston. I think so, uh, it's strange, but I think that, uh, Courtney's mother and, and Courtney's death happened, uh, four months after Shameeka. And so Courtney's mother feels very strong that they were connected in some way, just because they were friends and then just the way things happen. But again, the, from what I read the repeat Sheriff's, uh, parish Sheriff's office declined to confirm that these may or may not be related. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (08:32): Anyway, if you have any information on Shameeka Garnette, uh, last seen in August of 2004, please, uh, call both the Alexandria police department and the repeat Sheriff's office, somebody, uh, hopefully we can find somebody take that information if not get ahold of the state police and let them know that you have information, uh, regarding Shameeka Garnette, or Courtney Coco or Theresa Gill crease, uh, any of those let them know for sure. So let's move on to our next case. Um, this one is William Thomas Lyles, and he was, uh, born in 1974 in Cottonport Louisiana. The, he graduated from bunkie high school and he was found deceased on September 10th, 1995, which would have made him 21 years old. He was a sophomore in college attending the university of Southwest Louisiana, Lafayette. Um, he died in, uh, he died from drowning, but it has been considered a homicide with no suspects. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (09:57): He was found early on, early on a Sunday morning in the Vermilion river, close to interstate 10, a passer-by noticed his car was partially submerged in the water and his body was found near the car, an autopsy. You know, as I said, an autopsy showed that he was a victim of drowning, but his cause of death may have been due to head injuries that were consistent with the beading. Now, uh, detectives, uh, said that they believed that his car and his body did not go into the river at the same time. The, um, witnesses had reported, uh, talking to William sometime between around 3:00 AM on Sunday morning. So there's a gap between those people that said they talked to him at 3:00 AM and him being found around 9:00 AM on September 10th. Uh, sad thing is that his mother Sharon K rentals passed away in 2012, never knowing the truth about what happened to her son. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (11:12): So again, uh, reached out to the Lafayette police department, the, uh, parish Sheriff's office said that the, uh, city police was handling it, of course never heard back from them. I think there again, there were some other red tape that they didn't want to supply the information over the internet. They wanted somebody to either come in or some kind of a deal like that. But anyway, both of these, again, uh, you know, William Thomas Lyles, this has been since 1995. So, uh, going on, uh, 25 years or just past 25 years, it would be great if we could get some information again, reached, tried to reach out to some family members and did not have any, uh, any luck in getting a hold of them, or they didn't want to speak with us either way. But if you know a family member, if you are a family member, if you're a friend, somebody that may have gone to school with either one of them, uh, you know, we, again, would be interested in speaking I'm with you to try to gain a little bit more clarity on the information surrounding the time leading up to the deaths. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (12:32): I'm sure there, uh, you know, there may have not have been anybody else that witnessed it, but again, if we could build the puzzle of it, of the, uh huh. You know, the timeframe and the events that led up to both of these deaths. Yeah. We may be able to, uh, you know, at least provide law enforcement with some other clues where they can continue in the investigation. So anyway, uh, first one Shameeka Garnette last seen, uh, August, 2004 out of Alexandria, Louisiana, or repeat, uh, parish. And again, she was found in a drainage ditch off of old Boyce road. She left home at approximately 11:30 PM with a friend in the friend's vehicle and not much other information on that. So if you can help shed some light on that, please give them a call. The second one again, William Thomas Lyles. This is from 1995, uh, found in the Vermilion river. Roy with Mysteries of The Bayou (13:39): He was a student at the university of Southwest Louisiana off yet. Um, it did look like that. He probably, I had been in a fight or just beaten, uh, prior to being thrown into the river where his car was submerged as well. Like I said, D there were witnesses that said that they had talked to him at 3:00 AM in the morning, but there's a six hour gap between 3:00 AM and 9:00 PM 9:00 AM when he was found. Uh, again, this is out of, uh, Lafayette, fairly certain the Lafayette police department is handling it. But if you have information, either reach out to Lafayette police, or you can reach out to the Lafayette parish Sheriff's office that is going to do it for this episode, I've got a couple more cases putting together for our next, the one. Um, again, you can find us@wwwdotmysteriesofthebayou.com. Of course we are on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and also on, uh, have a YouTube channel where you can go actually see the, the episodes as they've been videoed. So if you have any case submissions, please, uh, email those to me@Roy with Mysteries of The Bayouatmysteriesofthebayou.com calm, or you can reach out through any one of the social media channels. Be glad to take a look again, if you or a family member know a family member or friend of Shameeka Garnette, William Laos would be interested in speaking with you about that and run a special episode with whatever information that you could provide until next time, take care of yourself, please.  

Kay Karre’ Gautreaux, a native of Lafayette and practicing attorney of 33 years, is our guest today. She is a candidate for judge in the 15th Judicial District, Division K, in Lafayette Parish, in the upcoming November 3rd election.  A graduate of LSU Law School, Kay has experience in civil and criminal law, all areas of litigation, and managing jury and non-jury cases. She served as a law clerk for two district judges in state court (Judge Bennett J. Gautreaux) and federal court (Judge John Shaw for twelve years). Additionally, Kay has been appointed by the Louisiana Supreme Court on several occasions as a judge pro tempore in Lafayette City Court. She has handled cases ranging from misdemeanor and felony crimes to civil litigation to family matters such as divorce or succession matters. She currently manages her own law firm handling private client matters at Kay Karre Gautreaux, LLC in Lafayette. In addition to her law practice, Kay has served on the board of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association, Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers, UL Lafayette Alumni, St. Thomas More Advisory Council, Our Lady of Fatima Foundation, Our Lady of Fatima Alumni Council, Acadiana Republican Women’s Organization, Lafayette Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Lafayette Junior League of Lafayette. Her achievements include being selected as the Outstanding Young Lawyer for State of Louisiana, University of Louisiana Volunteer of the Year, Louisiana State Bar Foundation Fellow Honoree, 2012 Distinguished Warrior Award, and Named “Best of Acadiana. ” Kay is married to Mitch Gautreaux and they have two children, Michelle and Matthew. She is one of six siblings, four of which are attorneys, and all have been fortunate to achieve advanced education being the children of Albert and Inez Karre. Kay jokingly shared that she has 41 first cousins on her mom's side! They still gather twice a year to keep up their loving connection. Kay's dad, Albert Karre, was a highly-esteemed attorney in Lafayette as well as a WWII hero, who taught her a great deal about serving clients and how to deal with people who trusted him to take care of their interests. In his day, the clients would deliver pecans or other goods to cover their bills if they didn't have the ready cash. Her dad was her role model and she realized she wanted to follow in his footsteps of service by providing legal services to those in need. The Gautreaux family: Matthew, Michelle, Kay and Mitch. A sweet note to share about how Kay got her name: her dad, Albert Karre, opened a jewelry shop in Crowley when he returned from WWII, named "Kay's Jewelers." Kay's parents bestowed that lovely name upon her and we know that tribute carries forward poignant family memories. During our interview, Kay shared her love of Lafayette, her deep roots in the community, and her fond memories of the Oil Center as she grew up. As a student at Our Lady of Fatima High School, she would have field trips to watch LAGCOE as it was held at the Blackham Coliseum. The experiences left a lasting impression her as she learned the impact that the oil industry had on Lafayette's economy. People came from all over the country to visit Lafayette and she expressed deep regret over the demise of the oil industry and hopes people appreciate how important the oil sector has been to the development of Lafayette. "I believe strongly in our court system and our system of justice.  I believe I can be a positive representative of this court system by helping it work fairly, efficiently, and instill confidence that I am not only knowledgeable of the law, but will follow the law.  I am the only candidate who has been a legal assistant to two judges in state and federal court, giving me experience in how a judge’s office is run. I am the only candidate actively engaged in civil and criminal litigation." Gautreaux shared that the COVID pandemic has resulted in a tremendous backlog of cases. If elected,

Traci Aucoin, the Lafayette Parish Public School System GEAR UP Project Director, joined Jan Swift, host of Discover Lafayette.  GEAR UP stands for “Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs." A competitive grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education, GEAR UP works to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education by providing states and local community-education partnerships six-to-seven year grants to offer support services to high-need, middle and high schools. The program begins work when the youngsters are in 6th and 7th grade and follows them through high school and into post-secondary education. Lafayette Parish is the only school system in Louisiana that has been awarded the highly competitive GEAR UP grant. Originally awarded a six-year grant in 2008, Lafayette Parish is now in the last year of its second 7-year $13.8 million grant cycle and is working with high school seniors and college freshmen who were part of the original cohort group which began in 2014. Approximately 3000 students participate in GEAR UP and attend Acadiana, Carencro, Lafayette, and Northside High Schools. The students began their GEAR UP journey while in the following middle schools: Acadian, Carencro, Judice, Lafayette, Paul Breaux, and Scott Middle schools. Aucoin explained that even if a student did not originally begin GEAR UP as a student in middle school, the program provides services for an entire grade at the participating high schools. This is a powerful tool for the school as it helps keep peer groups on target planning for college and focused on the success tools they will need to continue their educational journey. GEAR UP students are encouraged from their middle school years to consider possible career choices and what education they will need to follow that path. College tours, in and out of state, as early as 6th-grade offer enrichment opportunities and food for thought for the students as they realize what is possible in their lives if they apply themselves to their school work. Transitions from middle school to high school, and then high school to college, are difficult for any student, but especially those whose parents and family members have not finished high school or obtained any post-secondary education. In today's technology-based economy, 70% of jobs require some form of post-secondary education; Aucoin stressed that once you provide the tools to help educate a student through post-secondary, you can get each succeeding generation in his or her family to understand and appreciate the importance of receiving a similar education. You can break the cycle, drastically improve the quality of life for that family, improve health outcomes, and build success. It's too late to start thinking about college when you're in 11th or 12th grade, and the many enriching activities offered by GEAR UP ensure that students start early, stay motivated, and on track. After school tutoring, educational travel opportunities, enrichment camps, parental assistance with FAFSA applications, and family emotional/social support profoundly affect these young lives. GEAR UP also ensures that students have access to technology and hot spots for wi-fi to have the tools to get their work done. As the students transition to college, GEAR UP makes laptops and other necessary equipment available. Traci Aucoin has worked in education for 30 years and been a part of the GEAR UP initiative for ten years. She began her career as a high school biology and physics teacher before she moved into higher education where she worked at the UL Lafayette as Director of the Alumni Association, Director of Special Projects for the President, Director of University College, and Director of High School Relations. Aucoin's work experiences and collaborative partnerships built through the years readied her for this role as Director of GEAR U...

Louisiana State Senator Gerald Boudreaux of Lafayette is our guest. Representing Senate District 24, he serves as Vice-Chair of Local and Municipal Affairs, and on the Finance and Health & Welfare Committees of the Senate. His District encompasses most of St. Landry Parish, northern parts of Lafayette Parish (where Boudreaux lives), and the region near Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish. Sen. Boudreaux is serving in his second term as Senator. He is well-known for his long tenure with Lafayette's Park and Recreation Department, serving as Director for 35 years. He got his start with the department as a freshman at USL and retired in June 2020 after having served under six Lafayette mayors. Boudreaux is proud of the growth of the department over the years, providing much-needed services through a system of connected and strategically placed infrastructure which grew according to ongoing needs assessments to determine how the community could be best served. Steep budget cuts including the closure of four recreation centers, all of which are located in North Lafayette, have stirred deep controversy in the local community. It's not only young people who have been affected by the current budget cuts affecting North Lafayette facilities, but also services to the elderly community as the Greenhouse Senior Center and the Rosehouse Senior Center have been shuttered. Boudreaux explained that the current millage, paid only by the City of Lafayette, is still at the level as when it was established in 1961 when Lafayette only had five parks, two recreation centers, and one municipal golf course. Today, that millage is expected to cover operations of 1800 acres of park grounds which encompass 35 park (28 in the city of Lafayette), three golf courses, ten recreation centers, two tennis centers, five swimming pools, and a campground. Today with the advent of two separate city and parish councils, there is a large split in belief as to who can or should pay for services. Many families rely upon the parks system for its amenities, especially the areas of North Lafayette where transportation can be an issue for people looking for healthy outlets for recreation. Boudreaux challenges the parish council to be creative and establish a funding source to enable services to continue. When Lafayette Parish took gambling off the table 22 years ago as a source of revenue, a potential source of funding for parish services also dried up. Yet, "for those who want to gamble, they will. People travel to St. Landry and St. Martin parishes" for gambling outlets. "How is Lafayette going to generate revenue to pay for parish needs? The City of Lafayette cannot continue to sustain this effort," Boudreaux says. Perhaps it is time to revisit this issue and other ways to fund services that offer the quality of life amenities that enhance our community. Sen. Boudreaux shared his thoughts on how law enforcement officials were never consolidated under the Lafayette Parish 1996 consolidation plan. "You have to wonder, did someone have a crystal ball then to see that it would never work? Maybe that's where we are....still trying to put a square peg into a round hole. With annexation by the cities, it's been a 'grab and take. There are only little pockets of parish property remaining." Sen.Gerald Boudreaux shared his thoughts on how law enforcement officials were never consolidated under the Lafayette Parish 1996 consolidation plan. "You have to wonder, did someone have a crystal ball then to see that it would never work? Maybe that's where we are....still trying to put a square peg into a round hole." A Northside High graduate, Sen. Boudreaux was a point guard on the school's basketball team and captain of the football team. When he saw that playing college sports wasn't in the cards, he began officiating high school games with the encouragement of one of his professors, the late Al Simon (who was also a Lafayette City Council Member).

Michele Billeaud, candidate for 15th Judicial District Court Judge in Lafayette Parish joined Jan Swift of the Discover Lafayette podcast. The election will be held on November 3, 2020, and is slated to have a high turnout as it coincides with many other local races such as District Attorney, City Marshall, and of course, the presidential election. Billeaud is running for Judge in Division "K" which has 115,000 registered voters and encompasses Youngsville, Broussard, most of Scott and Duson, and a majority of the City of Lafayette located south of Cameron Street. https://www.facebook.com/101349674790880/videos/580285362690022 Michele Billeaud explains what areas encompass Division K in Lafayette Parish. Billeaud started her legal career 26 years ago. A New Orleans native, she took time off after college to follow her best friend and move out to California. While the adventure was fun, she realized that she needed to figure out "what to do with her life." She studied law in California and on the day she graduated, returned home to study and take the Louisiana bar exam. Billeaud's first job was in the Orleans Parish DA’s Office where she had a heavy caseload and gained invaluable experience trying all levels of criminal cases. While working there, she met Lawrence "Moose" Billeaud, a Lafayette native. The couple dated long-distance before she moved to Lafayette when they got married. While Moose is one of 17 children in the close-knit and loving family of the late Bozo and Millie Billeaud, he told Michele they could live anywhere she wanted; Michele had fallen in love with Lafayette when she visited and elected to start their married life here. The couple have two children, Ethan and Quinn. Michele and Lawrence "Moose" Billeaud with their children, Ethan and Quinn. Billeaud joined the law firm of Lisa Brener in Lafayette and handled civil matters such as divorce, child custody, age discrimination, and sexual harassment claims. Upon Brener's retirement, Billaud started her own law firm; she also worked for the Lafayette Parish Public Defender's Office where she was appointed Section Chief in charge of all full-time public defenders as a result of the extensive criminal law experience she had garnered in the Orleans DA's office. Since January 2002, Billeaud has worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Lafayette Parish. She serves as felony track leader, trying everything from felony theft to the most violent crimes.  A founding team member of the Lafayette Parish Drug Court Program, Billeaud is "a big proponent of specialty courts." The drug court helps nonviolent offenders get back on track by getting appropriate treatment, obtain job training, find employment, adequate shelter, and other things necessary to turn their lives around. She believes that anytime you can help someone help themselves, it's good for our community. Billeaud recounted that she's seen people she previously tried cases against show up in court to help others get into drug court so that they may also become a healthy, contributing member of society. Under the direction of Judge Jules Edwards, Lafayette has also set up a Veteran's specialty Court; Billeaud would also like to see the addition of a Mental Health Court to help those most vulnerable and who end up in jail due to a lack of resources to obtain help. Billeaud loves being in court and says the most fun part of being an attorney is" having to think on your feet." She enjoys being a prosecutor and feels a calling for public service and working in the public sector. She never thought about running for judge. But when the current Division "K" Judge Rick Michot was rendered incapable of running for re-election due to the Louisiana age requirement, she was approached by others who encouraged her to run. Billeaud believes she brings the necessary experience to the table to serve the community as a judge, as well as the appropriate temperament to be a good jud...

Gregg Gothreaux, President and CEO of Lafayette Economic Development Authority, joined host, Jan Swift, to discuss the economic impacts of the COVID-19 shutdown. LEDA is a full-service, tax-funded government entity dedicated to helping the business community of Lafayette Parish. This pandemic crisis has affected not only our nation's physical health but its economic health. Gothreaux stressed that it has also brought to the forefront issues that we need to address as our country moves forward to ensure future prosperity and provide the wherewithal to withstand the inevitable, yet unforeseeable challenges which may once again shake our economy. LEDA's program of work involves long term economic development strategy, and the focus is on attracting new business to our community while sustaining business conditions for existing enterprises, both large and small, who are the backbone of our economy. The talented staff works to help businesses grow, find the right employees, find tax incentives, and tax breaks that exist and should be utilized. Lafayette's forefathers did much to diversity our local economy and Gothreaux gives them much credit in forging the path for our area's creative business entrepreneurs. In LEDA's early days in the 1970s (when it was known as the "Lafayette Harbor, Terminal and Industrial Development District"), one of its first actions was to create a business park in Broussard known as "Southpark Industrial Park." This organized investment of business space provided Lafayette Parish with the ability to compete effectively with other regions of the country and be able to offer a desirable and business-ready locale for businesses from around the country to locate in Acadiana. Gothreaux recounted that one of the first businesses locating in SouthPark was International Paper which made corrugated boxes; the company is still there today in 2020 but operating under a different name. Countless other thriving businesses are operating in LEDA's Industrial Parks throughout the parish and include BlueBell, AT&T, Cintas, Home Furniture Distribution, and many, many others. For an overview of all of Lafayette Parish's business parks, visit LEDA's website here. Today's office buildings are our "industrial parks," according to Gothreaux. LEDA and its protege, the Opportunity Machine, work to fill office buildings and warehouses across our community by helping businesses thrive. There is no more need to build industrial parks as the current push is to fill existing office space. An example shared was the repurposing of the former Mid-South Bank Building on Versailles Blvd. near downtown by CGI. As the economy diversifies and continues to attract IT and medical-related companies, existing office space can readily accommodate needs and supply sufficient space for new companies. SchoolMint is Lafayette's most recent success story, illustrating our region's ability to attract software firms from the West Coast who are looking for a more appropriate place to locate headquarters. Offering 178 new positions at an average salary of $75,000, SchoolMint is relocating to Lafayette from San Francisco. One of the key players in this story was Casey Bienvenu, a Carencro and UL-Lafayette grad, who is the company's chief software architect and the force who developed the original software utilized by SchoolMint. The company is taking the country by storm with its unique way of pairing students and educational institutions with strategic enrollment platforms. This move by SchoolMint is unusual on its face, as most companies moving out of California tend to relocate to other Western U. S. states; in this case, existing relationships with Lafayette Parish natives paved the way for a highly successful and growing firm to select our community as its new headquarters. Gothreaux projects that we will have the opportunity to welcome many other new businesses as we offer not only a superb quality of life but the ...

Kyle Bacon, head of Jones Walkers' Lafayette office, joined Jan Swift of Discover Lafayette to discuss developments in downtown Lafayette, as well as today’s commercial business climate. A Lafayette native and graduate of Lafayette High, UL-Lafayette, and LSU Law School where he was on the Louisiana Law Review, Bacon is a co-leader of Jones Walker’s commercial transactions team. His clients’ interests include oil and gas, banking, real estate, healthcare, and manufacturing. The Lafayette office of Jones Walker is one of 13 offices the firm has across the country and is the largest law firm situated in downtown Lafayette with 17 lawyers on site. Jones Walker began in New Orleans and has had a presence in Lafayette for over 30 years; the Lafayette group was its first office outside of the New Orleans market. Situated at the top of Chase Tower on Jefferson Street, Bacon's office offers a bird's-eye view of downtown activities. The firm's typical clients are midsize to large and most are in need of business defense matters. Bacon's work focuses on the transactional side of law and he explained that one of the benefits of hiring a large law firm is that they can offer specialized counsel in complex issues that may involve out-of-state matters. Bacon is a proponent of seeing the continued growth of downtown and says, "It is the front porch of our community. Downtown is the epicenter of our cultural identity here in Lafayette and Acadiana. It's an important connector to the university and it's critical that we keep downtown vibrant. Festival International is such a symbol of what Downtown is all about. It's the center of our community where everyone feels welcome. We can all come together and feel as one." "Downtown is the epicenter of our cultural identity here in Lafayette and Acadiana. It's an important connector to the university and it's critical that we keep downtown vibrant. Festival International is such a symbol of what Downtown is all about. It's the center of our community where everyone feels welcome." Most law firms used to be located downtown which made sense as that is the locale of the Lafayette Parish courthouse and other court-related entities. Over time as South Lafayette has expanded, many lawyers have set up shop across the parish. Bacon believes that the trend could be reversed if local government officials made a concerted decision to focus efforts on downtown development. He compared this to how downtown Baton Rouge has blossomed in the past twenty years with state government's push to concentrate its offices downtown in lieu of being scattered across the city. This focus in our State Capitol spurred more development as downtown flourished and enjoyed renewed activity after years of decline. With the dedicated professionals of Downtown Development Authority working on attracting residential housing and more retail, and the commitment of LEDA's Opportunity Machine and Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission to locate downtown, he's hopeful that more may follow suit. Bacon stated that "these developments can spur additional activity. Other folks will follow. Downtown settings also allow people to interact easily; we're social beings." Growing up off Johnston Street in Lafayette, Bacon remembers the times when downtown was dormant. He discussed how dead downtown similarly looked during March and April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 shutdown. When businesses were allowed to reopen in May, downtown started coming back to life but with the resurgence of the pandemic, it's a little slow again. Jones Walker survived the chaos in getting their offices back to work after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and remembered lessons learned from being a New Orleans-based law firm dealing with the aftermath. They never missed a beat in welcoming visitors and clients when the shutdown occurred in March 2020; they check temperatures of everyone entering their offices,

As Out to Lunch prepares to go back to hosting live lunches, for inspiration we're taking a look at some of our pre-Covid shows. Here's an Out to Lunch Best of: Saving Birds and Saving Schools. Normally on Out to Lunch we're talking about for-profit businesses. But here in Acadiana - maybe more than anywhere else in the country - there are organisations and people dedicated to making a difference rather than a profit. On this edition of Out to Lunch Christiaan Mader is talking with folks who run nonprofit organizations that fill an important gap in community services, saving birds and saving schools.  Even if your heart's in the right place, you still need to be able to find your wallet. Lafayette is not necessarily an easy place to raise money. People are generous here, no doubt about that, southern hospitality is certainly a local specialty. But people around here value independence and self-determination. Plus, they like a business idea to make business sense, which means they ought to make money and survive on their own.  That presents a challenge to nonprofits large and small. How do you make big impact on a lean budget? How do you build for the long term when all the money you get goes to the important and expensive work that you're doing now.  Abi Broussard Falgout is the Executive Director the Lafayette Education Foundation. For close to 30 years, L-E-F has filled funding gaps for Lafayette's schools and educators. The foundation is primarily a granting organization, with a tiny staff, and is best known for the annual Teacher Awards, a glitzy gala that celebrates the best teachers in Lafayette Parish. Abi took over as Executive Director in 2019. She's also an entrepreneur who's worked in marketing, real estate and hospitality.  Letitia Labbie runs a wildlife rehabilitation center out of her house in Youngsville. Letitia founded her tiny but effective nonprofit, Acadiana Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation, in 1998. AWER has taken in more than 6,000 birds and small animals over the years, which she treats at often enormous cost, and often entirely on her own. Letitia is currently raising money to establish a permanent treatment center that's not her house. Out to Lunch Acadiana is recorded over lunch at The French Press in Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Travis Gauthier and more, at our website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irma Trosclair | Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent

Judge Jules Edwards has served in the 15th Judicial District Court for 27 years. He joined Jan Swift of Discover Lafayette to discuss what he's learned from working in the state court system and his concomitant desire to help at-risk youth address behavioral problems before they end up in jail. Judge Edwards is a candidate for Lafayette City Court Judge in the upcoming election on November 3, 2020. A native of New Orleans and a graduate of Loyola and Loyola Law School, Jules Edwards has served as a Judge for the 15th Judicial District Court since January 1, 1993. He has been a pioneer in effectively rehabilitating offenders and turning around lives through drug courts and re-entry courts. Judge Edwards thanked his parents for stressing servant leadership and the importance of obtaining an education. Jules Edwards, Jr., father of Judge Jules Edwards III, operated Edwards Shoe Service in New Orleans. He would famously say, "I will heel you, I will save your soul, I will even dye for you!" Judge Edwards has distinguished himself with lifelong service to our country, state, and community. He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve in the summer of his freshman year in college in 1977; he served in the Louisiana National Guard until 2007, retiring as a Colonel and recognized as the best Staff Judge Advocate in the United States. At the request of Major General Gary Whipple of Louisiana, Edwards served as Inspector General, working to ensure that the units were following proper procedures. He credits his time in the military for building his character, teaching him discipline, and instilling honor and integrity into his daily actions. "Serving in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve taught me perseverance and how to work well with others in a selfless manner. At times, the relentless challenges we faced in training were overwhelming, but I learned that I could get through each moment, one moment at a time. " A former Chair of the Louisiana Judiciary Commission, Edwards was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in 2013. He is Past-President of the Louisiana District Judges Association. Edwards is currently a member of the Advisory Council on Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education, and a Member of the Louisiana Drug Policy Board. He has worked with the Louisiana Sentencing Commission to assist the judiciary and the legislature in formulating and implementing a uniform sentencing policy to ensure that judges throughout Louisiana provide consistency in their rulings. Edwards has created and taught classes through the Judicial College to train judges on how to utilize evidence-based practices, and how to respond to people in highly charged environments by being attentive and respectful. Judge Jules D. Edwards, III is married to Orida Broussard Edwards, and they have three adult children. His wife, Orida, has been practicing law since 1986, daughter Juliesa has been practicing law since 2016, daughter-in-law, Brittany started her practice in 2019, youngest son Julien is a financial advisor, and oldest son Jules, IV is a veteran, student, and co-owner of a small business. Anytime a person is arrested in Lafayette Parish on a drug charge, they are assigned to Judge Edwards' Court. His goal is to nudge the drug offender from "'The Road to Perdition' to the road to success." He shared that "one of the principal difficulties in society is that we don't do an adequate job of socializing, there is no focused effort to develop young people's character. While this is not done on purpose, they make decisions based upon what brings pleasure at that moment. They don't think about eventual pain or how their behavior impacts others. But there are evidence-based procedures to get someone back on track." He further states, "It is important not to judge a person just because of the stupidest decision they make on the worst day of their life. People grow, they do change."

Segment 4: Wrap Up, Storm Prep in Lafayette Parish

Michelle Mahne with the Lafayette Parish School System chats with us about how she serves our community and how she helps businesses redirect their business tax dollars to benefit early childhood education here in Lafayette Parish. If you are an essential worker in need of childcare assistance during this pandemic, Michelle is the one to contact! Her office can help you find a childcare center that is still open. Resources: www.ontrackby5.com or call 337-521-7282 For School Readiness Tax Credit information: 337-521-7209

Are you familiar with the story of the Marquis de Lafayette, the man Lafayette, Louisiana is named after? The Marquis de Lafayette was a hero of the American Revolutionary War, having served under General George Washington in several crucial battles. He was only 19 years old when he came to the states and he had no previous combat experience. After the war, he returned to France and entered the political realm championing the ideals of liberty that America embodied. President James Monroe invited Lafayette to tour the United States, to instill the "spirit of 1776" in the next generation of Americans and to celebrate the nation's 50th anniversary. Lafayette visited all of the American states and was received with a hero’s welcome, traveling more than 6,000 miles, and accompanied by his son Georges Washington de La Fayette, named after George Washington. When the Louisiana legislature divided St. Martin parish in 1824, it created Lafayette Parish. The parish name Lafayette was chosen due to the enthusiasm of the Marquis de  Lafayette's visit to the United States. However, the city's name remained Vermilionville due to the fact that the name "Lafayette" had been already given to a suburb of New Orleans. Eventually, in 1884, Vermilionville became Lafayette, and joined dozens of other cities, counties, schools, and public squares named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. Thanks to our Premier sponsor, Rally Marketing, for supporting our efforts to share Lafayette's past so as to inspire pride in our community and knowledge of those who came before us!

Steven Picou, Executive Director of the Lafayette Regional Airport, visits with Jan Swift, Host of Discover Lafayette, to discuss the ongoing progress of construction of Lafayette’s new terminal, as well as the impact the COVID-19 virus on air travel numbers at the airport. A native of Cut Off in Lafourche Parish, Picou graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a bachelor's degree in professional aviation and obtained his commercial, multi-engine, instrument pilot's license at Tech the same year. He has worked at other airports around the country in New Orleans, Albuquerque, and Amarillo. His experience includes remodeling and building new terminals. Picou was hired in 2015 by the Lafayette Airport Commission as the body was poised to move forward with the construction of a larger terminal, an expanded parking lot, and other facility upgrades. In order to raise matching funds needed to obtain federal and state funding for the project, in December 2014 Lafayette Parish residents overwhelmingly approved a temporary one-cent tax to be imposed from April 1 through November 30, 2015. Approximately $33.5 million was raised during that time, with all funds being dedicated to the airport terminal project. https://www.facebook.com/LafayetteRegionalAirport/videos/1045675319137061/ Watch the video to take a tour of the new Terminal Drive and see construction progress as of March 2020. The $90 million terminal project is funded by thirteen sources which include the local tax proceeds collected in 2015 along with federal and state grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Louisiana State Department of Transportation (DOTD) Aviation Division, La. DOTD, and airport savings. The total cost of the project may reach $130 million when a new FAA facility, rental car area, and other upgrades are completed. Lemoine Manhattan, a joint venture of The Lemoine Company and Manhattan Construction Company, is the prime contractor for the new terminal. Construction of the new airport terminal and upgraded facilities began in 2018 and is projected to be completed in September 2021. Picou says "the project is on time and on within its budget." Lafayette is the 'poster child' for the FAA as to how communities should go about funding projects and Picou says "it goes a long way when you can bring something to the table when you're asking for financial help in building a facility." Picou likens his job to that as mayor of a city. He says, "I'm not elected but I do serve as the "Mayor" of the Airport working with the Lafayette Airport Commission's seven members, who are vested with authority similar to that of a City Council. The airport has its own law enforcement (contracted with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office) and its own aircraft fire-fighting rescue services (contracted with the Rural Metro Corporation). The Airport encompasses approximately 1,116 acres over four separate tracts of land which include the airfield, hangars, terminal building, aviation and non-aviation facilities, and safety areas, all of which are overseen by Picou and the Lafayette Airport Commission. While the airport partners with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the airlines, it does not have control of their operations. The flight partnership is three-prong: Lafayette Regional Airport is your gateway to travel and is responsible for roadways, the maintenance of all facilities and infrastructure such as the terminal and runways, keeping the grounds safe, and providing space for parking and rental car lots. The TSA is responsible for the safe and secure screening of all passengers. (*Note that a second TSA screening line was scheduled to be opened but the pandemic has delayed this addition.) And thirdly, the airlines are responsible for selling you a seat and running the entire baggage process; the airport does not have the authority to sell seats on the airlines or secure your luggage and track it down in...

Normally on Out to Lunch we're talking about for-profit businesses. But here in Acadiana - maybe more than anywhere else in the country - there are organisations and people dedicated to making a difference rather than a profit. On this edition of Out to Lunch Christiaan Mader is talking with folks who run nonprofit organizations that fill an important gap in community services, saving birds and saving schools.  Even if your heart's in the right place, you still need to be able to find your wallet. Lafayette is not necessarily an easy place to raise money. People are generous here, no doubt about that, southern hospitality is certainly a local specialty. But people around here value independence and self-determination. Plus, they like a business idea to make business sense, which means they ought to make money and survive on their own.  That presents a challenge to nonprofits large and small. How do you make big impact on a lean budget? How do you build for the long term when all the money you get goes to the important and expensive work that you're doing now.  Abi Broussard Falgout is the Executive Director the Lafayette Education Foundation. For close to 30 years, L-E-F has filled funding gaps for Lafayette's schools and educators. The foundation is primarily a granting organization, with a tiny staff, and is best known for the annual Teacher Awards, a glitzy gala that celebrates the best teachers in Lafayette Parish. Abi took over as Executive Director in 2019. She's also an entrepreneur who's worked in marketing, real estate and hospitality.  Letitia Labbie runs a wildlife rehabilitation center out of her house in Youngsville. Letitia founded her tiny but effective nonprofit, Acadiana Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation, in 1998. AWER has taken in more than 6,000 birds and small animals over the years, which she treats at often enormous cost, and often entirely on her own. Letitia is currently raising money to establish a permanent treatment center that's not her house. Out to Lunch Acadiana is recorded over lunch at The French Press in Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Travis Gauthier and more, at our website. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Gary Wagner, Professor of Economics at UL – Lafayette, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss his role as the Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair in Economics where he works to strengthen UL's presence in the community and the state while monitoring the regional economic environment, conduct research, and keep the business community up to date on trends. A first-generation college graduate, Wagner was initially interested in studying political science. After a professor encouraged him to take a couple of economics classes, however, the subject matter clicked with him and he switched majors earning a Ph.D. and master’s degree in economics from West Virginia University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Youngstown State University. Prior to joining UL, Wagner worked with the Federal Reserve Banks of Cleveland and Philadelphia.  His experience in analyzing regional economics, state tax structures, and municipal pension systems informs his work in economic forecasting for our region. Dr. Wagner has authored or co-authored over 60 professional articles and given more than 200 presentations on economic trends and forecasts. While teaching at Old Dominion University in Norfolk VA, a metropolitan area comprised of about 2 million people, Wagner served on the school's Economic Forecasting team. He enjoyed speaking to groups about economic trends and his expertise led him to work with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia where he honed his skills in forecasting and research. After a stint at the Fed in Cleveland in a higher-level administrative position, he jumped at the opportunity to return to what he loves, research and forecasting, and applied for his current position at UL - Lafayette. Dr. Gary Wagner loves research which he compares to solving a puzzle. "I don't have questions that are different than others. Going to graduate school in economics gives you a tool kit that helps you answer questions. You learn where to find that data and the appropriate research methods to use to answer questions." Wagner recommends that all college students take classes in quantitative analysis and coding as businesses need people who can solve problems. In discussing Louisiana's taxing model, Wagner noted that its complicated, dual system of tax collection imposes monetary and time costs on businesses struggling to comply with the regulatory compliance burden. He would prefer to see a simplified, pro-growth tax policy with lower tax rates imposed upon a broad base of goods and services. He noted that Louisiana is the slowest growing state in the U. S. ranked 50th in Gross Domestic Product (monetary value of all goods and services per capita), imposes high taxes with a myriad of exemptions, and ranks 3rd highest in incentives in the U. S. Wagner compares Louisiana's failure to adapt to changing market forces as similar to what the Midwest and Rust Belt went through 25 to 30 years ago as they lost residents and economic opportunities dried up. Whereas Louisiana could get away with high tax rates in the past based upon the demand for its oil and gas resources, those days are gone. Wagner would also like to see Louisiana rely more on property taxes for local municipalities, which is a more stable source of revenue than sales taxes. Our homestead tax exemption is among the highest in the country and the reason municipalities must rely on higher sales taxes to support the cost of services. He joked that when he received his first Lafayette Parish property tax bill after paying taxes around the country, he was shocked at how low the bill was and thought it was just for a half year of taxes. Lafayette's economy is holding its own according to Wagner, and the job losses in the oil and gas sector stopped about a year ago. Education is the #1 employer in Lafayette. The decline in the oil and gas sector's employment has been tough on the region; Wagner said in 2013, approximately 25,

 Jeanne Arceneaux Hornsby is a Professional Engineer and Director at Fenstermaker with 15 years of numerical modeling, water resource engineering, planning, and project management experience. Mrs. Hornsby earned her Master's of Science degree in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette under the direction of Dr. Ehab Meselhe and Dr. Emad Habib. Currently Mrs. Hornsby leads Fenstermaker's Water Resources Team throughout the company's offices in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and New Orleans, LA. Her main responsibilities include leading multi-million-dollar projects that range from coastal and watershed modeling and management to roadway design and construction for both the public and private sectors. She has obtained her experience and expertise by working on projects in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, with the majority of her hydrologic and hydraulic modeling experience focused on Southwest Louisiana, specifically the Vermilion, Teche, Mermentau, and Calcasieu watersheds. As a Certified Floodplain Manager, Jeanne assists many area communities in flood mitigation project funding through the use of available grant programs. She also assists communities in drafting flood protection and drainage ordinances as well as leading participation and renewal activities in the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS). Jeanne was raised and currently resides with her family in Lafayette Parish. 

  Jeanne Arceneaux Hornsby is a Professional Engineer and Director at Fenstermaker with 15 years of numerical modeling, water resource engineering, planning, and project management experience. Mrs. Hornsby earned her Master’s of Science degree in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette under the direction of Dr. Ehab Meselhe and Dr. Emad Habib. Currently Mrs. Hornsby leads Fenstermaker’s Water Resources Team throughout the company’s offices in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, and New Orleans, LA. Her main responsibilities include leading multi-million-dollar projects that range from coastal and watershed modeling and management to roadway design and construction for both the public and private sectors. She has obtained her experience and expertise by working on projects in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, with the majority of her hydrologic and hydraulic modeling experience focused on Southwest Louisiana, specifically the Vermilion, Teche, Mermentau, and Calcasieu watersheds. As a Certified Floodplain Manager, Jeanne assists many area communities in flood mitigation project funding through the use of available grant programs. She also assists communities in drafting flood protection and drainage ordinances as well as leading participation and renewal activities in the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS). Jeanne was raised and currently resides with her family in Lafayette Parish.  

Advocate To Host Acadiana Economic Outlook Summit on January 15, 2020 Adam Daigle, Business Editor of the Acadiana Advocate, joined the newspaper in August 2018 as the organization ramped up its daily business coverage online and in print. Its daily email business newsletter has consistently continued to add online subscribers as it feeds the need for local, up-to-date business news. On this Discover Lafayette podcast, Adam Daigle joined Jan Swift to discuss 2019 business news, the Advocate's upcoming January 15, 2020, Economic Outlook Summit to be held at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, and his love for Louisiana and why he moved back when the opportunity to work with The Advocate allowed him to be closer to family. The Advocate is Louisiana's largest newspaper and has experienced tremendous growth as it recently acquired the Times-Picayune in New Orleans and brought on extensive talent from other local newspapers. Adam shared that he feels The Advocate has "assembled an all-star team" that delivers the "best of the best" in news coverage. A 1995 graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University in Journalism and a native of Gonzales, Adam previously worked for the Tulsa World in Oklahoma for 12 years before returning to his home state of Louisiana. Adam served as a sports editor and later executive editor of The Lion's Roar, Southeastern's student newspaper. He and his wife, Shelly, have four children and are members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette. 2019 was a time of economic resurgence in Lafayette Parish, as retail sales continued to climb at a pace that may equal the all-time high previously reached in 2014 experienced prior to the oil and gas downturn which severely dampened the local economy. The Lafayette Regional Airport has counted a record number of travelers, also rivaling 2014 prior to the downturn. Real estate sales overall in Acadiana are breaking records, with St. Landry and Iberia Parishes doing exceptionally well. Job growth is steady, with a 4.3% unemployment rate, a sign that Lafayette's economy has recovered and stabilized. The biggest news of 2019 has no doubt been that of Chris Meaux's startup restaurant delivery service, Waitr, which has experienced extreme highs and lows since it went public early in its development, then acquired Bite Squad out of Minneapolis which brought on extreme debt and a consequent dramatic fall in its stock price. 2019's biggest business news story involved Waitr's dramatic fall in value as it acquired Bite Squad, had massive layoffs, and changed fee structures imposed upon its restaurant partners. Other compelling 2019 business news came late in the year and involved mergers of two solid companies based in Lafayette: (1) Lafayette General Health's merger with Oschner Health System; and (2) IBERIABANK's planned merger with First Horizon out of Memphis, TN which will enable more investment in advanced technologies and innovate practices. Both deals involve mergers of equals, which are anticipated to allow strong business growth locally in the Lafayette market and beyond. Lafayette General Health System set to merge with Oschner Health System. Photo by Leslie Westbrook.IBERIABANK's planned merger with First Horizon of Memphis. Photo by Scott Clause. Health and Information Technology job markets are hot in Acadiana, especially in Lafayette Parish, and attract young, educated workers needed to combat the out-migration of Louisiana's talent. While Adam Daigle recently wrote a series of articles on the out-migration of our under 34-year old educated populace, the majority of Louisiana towns that are losing talent are situated in North Louisiana and rural areas of the state. Adam lamented that some small towns' only source of revenue was their water department and cited examples such as Bogalusa and Clarence who may be going bankrupt due to the loss of the young people and businesses who are leaving for bigger cities and opportuni...

Josh Carlson and Jeremy Hidalgo, Lafayette Parish Council District 3 Forum

Justin Centanni, Lafayette Parish School Board

"I like to always tell people you can't complain if you don't vote. One Acadiana doesn't endorse candidates. We take the opportunity to educate people on what the candidates stand for. We take the opportunity to educate the candidates on what our robust business-led public policy agenda is. We want people to know what the business community stands for and what they see as the things that are required for them to be successful."  Troy Wayman Troy Wayman, One Acadiana’s President and CEO, is our guest on the episode of Discover Lafayette. One Acadiana ("1A") is a business-led, privately-funded economic development organization serving a nine-parish area in South Louisiana with over 900 member companies and individuals. Approximately 700 of the group's members are based in Lafayette Parish, the home base of the economic development organization formerly known as the "Lafayette Chamber of Commerce." It’s been a busy time for 1A, between hosting candidate forums for the October 2019 elections and having Dr. Loren Scott deliver his annual Louisiana Economic Outlook. They’ve also just launched a five-year $15 million dollar strategic campaign, “IMPACT – The Campaign for One Acadiana", designed to sharpen its ability to capture new and expanding business opportunities and propel Acadiana forward. While 1A doesn't endorse candidates as it has in the past, that doesn't mean the organization is not "political." They work to disseminate information on 1A's positions on policy issues affecting infrastructure, workforce and education, and healthcare to all candidates to ensure a unified voice for the region's business community. This fall, 1A hosted three forums that showcased the candidates for Lafayette's Mayor-President, Lafayette Parish School Board, and Lafayette City and Parish Council races. Each event gave its members and the general public the opportunity to hear the candidates in person and witness each candidate's demeanor. Fortunately for our community, the candidate forums have been conducted in a civil and professional manner, which reflects well on the persons choosing to run as our elected servants. Troy encouraged all people to remember to vote on October 12, 2019. It is best to prepare ahead of time as the ballot is lengthy and covers everything from local and state elections to 4 Constitutional initiatives. Compete LA was announced recently at a 1A luncheon where University of Louisiana System President and CEO Jim Henderson announced the program's aim to re-engage the 653,000 Louisianians with some college credit but no degree. Troy explained that many adults have a significant amount of college credits but never completed their degree. With online classes, it has never been easier to earn college credits. The program is an opportunity to improve the state’s second to last ranking of those with bachelor’s degrees or higher. The program was introduced in early May and Compete LA has already engaged with more than 1100 students, 600 of whom have more than 120 course credits, the typical number of hours to earn a bachelor’s degree. 1A is supporting bills for the upcoming legislative session that will address impediments to students staying and/or returning to school: school debt racked up from parking tickets and other non-fee related charges prevent students from re-enrolling for classes or transferring to another university. Passage of a law that allows the university to work with students to develop a payment plan will allow students to move forward and universities to re-enroll students and receive tuition. “For Louisiana to be competitive in the economy of the future, we have to develop a more educated workforce,” Henderson said. “Compete LA is designed to cut through the red tape of returning to school and provide supports at every step of the student’s educational journey.” Another important initiative of 1A is "55 by 25" with a goal of increasing the proportion of working-age adults in Acadi...

Jeremy Hidalgo, Lafayette Parish Council District 3

Jerry Vascocu, Acadiana Market President of IberiaBank, sat down with Discover Lafayette host, Jan Swift to discuss his banking career. A Ruston native, Jerry graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics. Married to Julie Hiatt Vascocu, they have two children. Jerry joined IBERIABANK’s Baton Rouge commercial banking division in 2005 at a time of explosive growth for the bank. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, the organization decided to diversify its geographic footprint to minimize future risk. Under the leadership of CEO Daryl Byrd, the bank's first expansion occurred in January 2007 with the purchase of Arkansas based Pulaski Bank and Trust. From there, the bank moved into other community banking environments which fit its business model. Jerry served as the bank’s Market President in Little Rock in 2007 before moving to Lafayette in 2010 and has served as Acadiana Market President since then. Today, IBERIABANK has 325 combined locations, including 190 bank branches and three loan production offices in 12 states primarily throughout the South. The company has 16 wealth management locations in five states, and one Iberia Capital Partners office in New Orleans. Founded in 1887 originally as a Savings & Loan, the bank has come quite a long way in its growth and ability to serve its large client base. Since this original podcast was taped, IBERIABANK announced its planned merger with First Horizon National Bank to be finalized in 2020. IBERIABANK has stepped up to meet the challenges presented by the Covid-19 crisis. For more information, please visit https://www.iberiabank.com/landing-pages/covid-19.  Active in the community, Jerry served as Chair of One Acadiana’s Board of Directors in 2016. He also served as a Board Member of Upper Lafayette Economic Development, on the leadership teams of United Way of Acadiana and the Community Foundation of Acadiana, Ascension Episcopal’s Board of Trustees, and University of Louisiana - Lafayette’s Business Advisory Council. Community involvement is important to Jerry, as well as all IBERIABANK employees throughout the organization. Charged with giving back to the community, the bank gets involved in a selective way with organizations who make a difference. In lieu of television ads, they become engaged in the community and partner strategically. Jerry shared that its mission is to be a top-notch corporate citizen. They strive to blend a community bank feel with large bank capabilities. IBERIABANK believes that the healthier the community in which the bank is located, the healthier the bank will be. IBERIABANK Civic Impact Partners evaluate the bank's footprint throughout the Southeast U. S  to determine where the bank can best invest their lending dollars as well as its own equity dollars to improve housing opportunities in moderate to low-income areas. Just recently, IBERIABANK invested in the new, 192-unit, affordable apartment community, called Brook Pointe Family Apartments, which is situated behind North Lafayette’s Walmart at 504 N. Pierce Street. This is one of the bank's largest investments to date. Jerry is a big proponent of Project Front Yard and he has consistently encouraged locals to work together to improve our community's gateway, especially on the drive into town on I-10. He discussed how the initial impression upon entering Lafayette Parish doesn't quite capture the many great things about living here, and the work of Project Front Yard and other organizations is worth the investment in time and labor. A man of faith, Jerry reiterated several times that one’s prayer life, family, and friends are crucial to maintaining balance in one’s life. He counsels his team, whether its his family or bank employees, to be a positive, shining light, rather than allowing darkness to pervade. His manner of being has always exemplified this philosophy. Thank you, Jerry Vascocu, and IBERIABANK for all you contribute to Lafayette! ...

Passionate about the right to free speech guaranteed by the 1st Amendment, Ed Bowie has served as Executive Director of AOC Community Media since 1998, having previously served as a volunteer since 1984. In this Discover Lafayette interview, Bowie discusses the importance of affording all individuals the ability to share their opinions and creatively express their views via an affordable platform accessible to all. He's worked diligently to improve services and enhance the public's awareness of the many ways AOC's resources may be utilized to create non-commercial video and audio content for distribution to the community and beyond. In the early years of the television cable industry, legislation was passed requiring cable companies to provide access channels for Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) use. In 1982, Acadiana Open Channel (AOC) became the local access point for Public, Educational and Government (PEG) use in Lafayette Parish. Its operations are funded by franchise fees paid by local cable television providers, Cox Media and LUS Fiber. Over the years under Ed's leadership, AOC has undertaken the production of content such as taping of Festival International and televising of public meetings. They deliver content which enhances the ability of local citizens to stay informed and enjoy experiences which may otherwise be missed. No matter your income, you can have access to AOC's studios, production assistance, equipment and air time. The most expensive individual membership is $60 per year, which provides access to all equipment and facilities. Scholarships are available for individuals unable to pay the membership fee. Discover Lafayette's podcast would not have been initiated without the encouragement and expertise volunteered by staff at AOC, particularly William McFarlain. This episode was produced in early 2017 at AOC when the show was still going by the name "Did You Know?"Ed Bowie's love of his job and community shine through in this relaxed interview between two friends. We hope you enjoy it! If you are interested in joining AOC as a producer, please visit www.aocinc.org.

Odon Bacqué ("Don"), the author of "A Walk in the Park: A Vietnam Comedy," is the featured guest on this audio podcast episode of Discover Lafayette with Jan Swift. A member of the Army's Special Forces ("Green Berets"), this memoir is comedic and also poignant in its recount of how life doesn't always go as we plan. Many of you know Don Bacqué as a loyal public servant, well-known in Lafayette for his community activism and warm and friendly disposition. Don served as a State Representative representing Lafayette's District 43 from 1988 to 1992. In 1986, Bacqué was the founding chair of Leadership Lafayette, a program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to train community leaders. Hundreds of people have used the insights from Leadership Lafayette to become aware of what it takes to run a community, and have gone on to become elected leaders and supporters of initiatives to improve the quality of life in Lafayette, Louisiana. In 1982, as the chair of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Bacqué supported the consolidation of the Lafayette city and parish governments as a way to become more efficient and save taxpayer dollars. (As an aside, he supports the December 8, 2018 initiative to "Fix the Charter" that Lafayette Parish voters will have the opportunity to decide.) Bacqué organized a Vietnam Veterans group in Lafayette and served as the state co-chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee that built a monument in New Orleans to honor the 881 veterans from Louisiana who did not return from the war.  He is currently serving as a financial service provider with Mass Mutual Life Insurance. In 2015, Don released A Walk in the Park: A Vietnam Comedy, a comedic book about his experiences in the Vietnam War, in which he served in the Army's 5th Special Forces, popularly known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear. He stated that at least two God-inspired occurrences facilitated completion of this book: First, he found that his memories of the war were fading but when he was packing to move to his new house he came across wartime letters he had written to his wife, Cookie, that served as the basis of his manuscript; and, second: Don was encouraged by his close friend, Carl Bauer, to join Carl's writing class where he had to submit a chapter of his life story for each class, which eventually kept him on track to finish the project. Carl Bauer didn't live to read the outcome of Don's story about his feelings on the war, but Carl's life lives on through his magnetic energy which ignited Don and so many others of us to follow our path and make a difference in life. The resulting work is one you will enjoy as you also learn about the foibles of military service and the true grit required of our men and women who serve and protect the United States of America and our allies! The adventure that began for Don Bacque on February 11, 1968 changed his life and led him to be the well-grounded man he is today. Inspirationally, Don is well aware that God's grace is real and that heroes, while not necessarily recognized, walk among us every day. Don details the adventure that led him to Vietnam and it is one to which we can all relate as it was "never supposed to happen." He had mistakenly believed that his poor eyesight would spare him from combat: Why would the Army send a man who was legally blind into combat if he might lose his glasses and mistakenly shoot the wrong side?? How could a man who was afraid of heights be made to jump from planes and into war zone conflicts?? As Don recounts the many close friends he made, the lessons learned, and the gradual disillusionment he experienced as the futility of the Vietnam War became apparent, "A Walk in the Park" is an important read for all generations. To purchase the book, please visit Amazon here. It is an honor to host this podcast and have the opportunities to shine the light on our rich culture that produces men such as Do...

On December 8th, Lafayette Parish voters will decide whether or not to amend the Lafayette Parish Home Rule Charter for the first time since it was adopted in 1992, creating dedicated councils for the City of Lafayette and the Parish of Lafayette. Discover Lafayette's host, Jan Swift, visited with Fix The Charter volunteer, Will Kellner, about the scope of the initiative and what it means for the autonomy of Lafayette in the face of changing demographics in the cities comprising the Parish of Lafayette. This is a highly informational interview you must listen to if you are unable to attend the town hall meetings explaining the changes being proposed. Fix the Charter is a diverse and non-partisan group of volunteers composed of Democrats and Republicans, young and "seasoned," who care about the future of the City of Lafayette's autonomy to govern itself, as well as the ability of the Parish to address its pressing issues which become greater every year that unincorporated land is annexed by surrounding towns. Background: The current governing authority of LCG is the Lafayette City-Parish Council, consisting of nine members elected from nine single-member districts in the parish. The LCG chief executive is the Mayor-President. LCG's governance structure is by the Home Rule Charter which, in its current form, was voted on by the citizenry in 1992. In 1996, when the Lafayette City-Parish government consolidation took effect, each of the other towns in the parish maintained their own Mayor, City Councils, and government structure, but Lafayette was folded into the "City-Parish Council" without a separate governing body. Lafayette residents comprised about 60% of the Parish's residents and it was thought that Lafayette's elected Council members would maintain a majority vote on the issues affecting the city of Lafayette, such as the Lafayette Utilities System and the Lafayette City Police Department. Today, nearly half of the Lafayette City-Parish Council members represent people who live outside the City of Lafayette. As Broussard, Youngsville, Carencro, Scott, and Duson grow, it is very likely that a majority vote on the Council of non-Lafayette resident elected officials will be able to determine issues such as LUS utility rates and how to spend taxpayer dollars on City of Lafayette initiatives. What would the Home Rule Charter Amendment do: Replace the nine-person city-parish council with a five-person City of Lafayette Council and a five-person Parish of Lafayette Council. Replace the Lafayette Public Utilities Authority which oversees the Lafayette Utility System with the five-person Council representing the City of Lafayette. Require a vote of City of Lafayette residents before LUS could be sold, leased, or managed by a third party. Retain the Mayor-President position currently in place. Retain the existing system of budgets, finances, and taxes. Prohibit the four current city-parish council members who are term-limited (Jared Bellard, Kenneth Boudreaux, Jay Castille and William Theriot) from running for a new seat on the city or parish councils.  The remaining five City-Parish Council members would be allowed to run for either City or Parish Council seats but they would be limited to the time they would have left to serve on the current City-Parish Council (total of 12 years in elected office). (Thanks to Claire Taylor of the Advertiser for this synopsis.) The Ordinance passed by the City-Parish Council setting forth the scope of the proposed amendments may be read here.  To read an index of how the proposed Charter amendments work, please visit Lafayette Consolidated Government's website here. For more information, please visit https://fixthecharter.com.

In this week's podcast edition of Community Quotes, we interview volunteer and community leader Merlinda Valerie Prejean, who is devoted to expanding services for veterans in Lafayette Parish.

Theresa Rohloff is very passionate about the community and getting others involved to make a difference in Lafayette Parish. Learn more about this AOC Member by listening to her podcast episode of Community Quotes.

Brian Pope was elected Lafayette City Marshal in December 2014, after defeating  Kip Judice in the runoff to succeed longtime incumbent Nickey Picard, whom they'd both defeated in the primary election. The late J.B. Cormier was the fourth candidate in the primary election.Picard's time had passed. Pope's had barely begun when he leapt into the 2015 race for Lafayette Parish Sheriff in support of Scott Chief of Police Chad Leger. It was a fateful decision that might end up ending Pope's political career with the possibility of jail time ahead of him.Pope used the power and authority of his office in an attempt to help Leger's campaign and to hurt Mark Garber's campaign. Garber won the election. Pope has been dealing with the legal repercussions of his acts since 2015.Pope then refused to turn over emails believed to be related to his campaign activities on behalf of Leger which were being sought by The Independent. Emails were erased from the marshal's server but not from Lafayette Consolidated Government's backup servers. The emails were discovered and Pope was found to have violated the state's public records law by refusing to comply with the original request.Later, a Lafayette Parish grand jury indicted Pope on seven felony counts — five counts of malfeasance and two counts of perjury. He's awaiting trial on those charges and has asked that his trial be delayed until next year.The Lafayette City Marshal's office works primarily with Lafayette City Court to enforce bonds, subpoenas and collect fines and fees. Pope, then, is an officer of the court who has found him self being charged (and in some cases convicted) of law violations, has turned his once sedate office into something of a spectacle.When it was revealed in a deposition related to the original email case that Pope has been personally pocketing fees and garnishments in apparent violation of a 2011 opinion from the Louisiana Attorney General, Aimee Boyd Robinson decided she had had enough of the shenanigans. She recruited Steve Wilkerson and together they decided to launch the campaign to recall Brian Pope.On June 12, they filed their petition with the Louisiana Secretary of State's office to formalize the process. They have 180 days from that date (December 12) to reach their goal of  getting 1/3 of the voters in the city-wide district to sign a petition to force a recall election on Pope's tumultuous tenure. That's about 28,00o signatures. They are half-way into the effort.If the recall campaign succeeds (signatures will be counted and verified by the Lafayette Registrar of Voters), a recall election asking voters whether they want Pope recalled or not will appear on the ballot in the spring 0f 2018. If voters oust Pope, there will be a special election in the fall of 2018 when anyone (including Pope) can run for what will by that time be the remaining two-plus years of his term.During that time, Pope's legal battles will continue roll through the courts, ensuring that the Marshal's problems remain high visibility news in Lafayette. And there's still the matter of whether taxpayers can foot the bill for Pope's legal costs.Aimee Boyd Robinson discusses the effort to recall Brian Pope in this podcast.

Please Join Us Live, or listen in to the archived recording, at your leisure here at Blog Talk Radio.  Hosted this week by Stacy R. Webb, discussing new DNA FB group, news new discoveries for the Nancy Johnson Gowans League and Labor 1934 Law Suit naming 97 previously undocumented heirs. We will be discussing the heirs mentioned and relatives at Sam Houston's Grand Cane Plantation (Talihana Rogers Cherokee Settlement) later known as Ironwood, and now Clark Texas in Liberty Co. Family included : Stephen Breakinridge, Thomas, Sarah, Anne, Araminta, and a William not named on Thomas Goins 1826 will filed Lafayette Parish, La.  Newly discovered brother for Thomas and children who belonged to Nancy, but were not obviously also the children of Thomas Goins d. 1826 Lafayette Parish, La. Goins Book, new  discoveries concerning Wm Billy Powell, Jr. better known as the resistence leader of the Seminole Indians, Osceola, his family and newly discovered nephew Oceola, Nikkanochee "Prince of Econchatti son of Econchatti-Mico, King of the Red Hills, In Florida" sometimes confused with his Uncle. After his uncles death, now an orphan the son of great leader  who, after his death at Fort Moultrie was adopted by a philanthropist and taken to England for his safety. The family also sponsored the great painter Caitlin, who painted 100s of portraits of famous Indians. Little Nikkanochee who spent everday at the New Egyptian Museum in London studying the portraits of his family and kinsmen. Guest: Kevin Slaten who will discuss his Redbone heritage and his master's in American History.   

One of the traditional instruments in Cajun music is the triangle. Although it couldn t be much more basic, its simple presence forms the foundation of many songs. There s another kind of fundamental triangle that distinguishes and connects three sides of Acadiana rural life, city life, and Cajun culture. This edition of Out to Lunch today s show looks at businesses dedicated to maintaining each of these 3 key elements, and keeping them in balance. The Bayou Vermilion District is committed to the preservation and enhancement of natural and cultural resources for residents of Lafayette Parish. The BVD provides boat, canoe, and kayak launches along the river, and maintains public parks. They also have a Living History Museum. A folklife park. And a restaurant. They have over 50,000 visitors a year. David Cheramie is CEO of the Bayou Vermilion District. Cities across the country in part inspired by New York City s Central Park have realized the importance of preserving greenspace for recreation and as a home for cultural events. Here in Lafayette, in 2012 a company called Lafayette Central Park Inc leased The Horse Farm 100 acres of green space on Johnston Street from the city and is in the process of converting what was once a playground for horses, into a playground for people. The company s Director of Administration and Capital Projects is E.B. Brooks. Brandon Broussard epitomizes all three sides of the Acadian triangle Brandon is a teacher at Acadiana High School, teaching traditional and modern skills of meat processing and agriculture, as well as an entrepreneur with a small business teaching Cajun dancing. This conversation is the heart of 21st Century Acadiana a conscious mix of culture, forward looking urbanism, environmentalism, and dancing Photos on this page are taken at Social by Gwendolyn Aucoin. For more information about Acadiana entrepreneurs Innov8 Acadiana and The Opportunity Machine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rhea-Claire Richard and Bailey Debardelen, fourth-grade teachers at SJ Montgomery Elementary School in Lafayette Parish, LA, share how the Common Core has encouraged deeper learning in their classrooms.  

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Selling your Lafayette home? Click here for a free Home Value ReportBuying a home? Search all Homes for SaleToday, I share a full Lafayette market update for the first half of 2015. We've already had a little over 1,600 sales since January, which is up from the mid 1,500's in the same time frame last year. In total number of units sold, sales are up about 4% - while in dollar volume, sales are up 11%! This is likely due to a jump in average sales price, which went from $217,000 last year to $231,000 this year.Despite all of these fantastic market trends, interest rates remain near record lows! The best way to get an idea of where our market is going to head moving forward is to look at pending sales. Currently, we had 340 homes that went under contract in Lafayette Parish in comparison to only 301 at this time last year. This is a difference of about 11%, and year-to-date we're a little over 4%. What does all of this mean for you? Well, it doesn't look like our market is going to slow down anytime soon. Inventory levels are healthy, and the market is active, making now a wonderful time to consider making your move.If you have any questions about our market, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're always here to help with your real estate needs.