The Journal : the Community News of Jefferson Parish back issues from December 2006:
Christmas trees merchants busy thanks to N.O. closures
Dec 01, 2006; ... Matthew Dimaggio, a 3-foot-tall bundle of energy, darted through amaze of Christmas trees Monday leading his parents on a wild goosechase before nearly skidding to a stop and pointing. "I want that one. I want a snow tree. It just smells good," hesaid, big wide eyes staring up at ...
Enjoying holiday fare possible without weight gain
Dec 01, 2006; ... The continuing schedule of Christmas parties and substantialholiday meals presents a minefield of potential mishaps for those whostruggle to maintain healthy eating habits. But nutrition experts say a little forethought and planning canmake the difference between enjoying holiday ...
Commentary: Pet owners must curb unwanted waste
Dec 01, 2006; ... A series of e-mails from affected readers brought a ratherunsavory subject to The Journal's attention. It was a subject wewanted to treat seriously, but also put into perspective. Inconsiderate pet owners leaving doggie droppings behind havebecome a nuisance for those who use and ...
Lack of levees leaves Lafitte vulnerable
Dec 01, 2006; ... Dale Ross' lower Lafitte home was swamped in 1985 when HurricaneJuan swelled water over the banks of Bayou Barataria like anoverfilled bathtub. Ten years later, it was like deja vu when Hurricane Rita floodedRoss' bed and breakfast, Victoria Inn, with 10 feet of water andcaused ...
$9M paves way in LA for walking, biking to school
Dec 01, 2006; ... Remember an era when children rode bikes or walked with friends toschool? The U.S. Department of Transportation wants students toreturn to those old school times and is funding grants around thecountry to encourage walking and biking to school. Through the Safe Routes to School ...
Pooper scooper bloopers in N.O. create serious health hazard
Dec 01, 2006; ... Just about everyone has, at one time or another, found themselvesscraping from their shoe an unwanted souvenir from a walk across agrassy field, evidence that at least one dog frequents the area. Metairie residents who live along the Lake Pontchartrain leveearound Bonnabel ...
St. Bernard deputies accused of pet slaughter
Dec 01, 2006; ... "It was a massacre," said Mark Steinway, co-founder of Pasado'sSafe Haven, an animal welfare refuge in Sultan, Wash. "Dogs were shotin the hindquarters, shot in the gut, shot in the feet, in the mouth.It was very, very gruesome." In all his years investigating cases of animal ...
Crescent City Connection lacks fund for road work
Dec 08, 2006; ... Construction worker Bart Creppel of Marrero travels the CrescentCity Connection five days a week and says a toll increase wouldn't befair to people who have to work on the East Bank. "Why should they charge residents for traveling back and forth towork?" asked Creppel, 39. ...
Kenner's mayor tries to stir life into stagnant Rivertown district
Dec 08, 2006; ... Rivertown, Kenner's quaint historic district, was born during then-Mayor Aaron Broussard's tenure in the 1980s and every mayor sincethen has put their stamp on the historic district of shops, museumsand attractions. Five months into his new administration, Edward Muniz will be ...
Cheaper Wal-Mart drugs don't faze druggists
Dec 08, 2006; ... Retail behemoth Wal-Mart unveiled a test program in September inTampa, Fla., to sell generic prescription drugs for $4 for a 30-daysupply. The trial run proved so successful the national chainexpanded the generics program to include every state but NorthDakota. Standing in the ...
Jefferson Parish police take notice of bail scam
Dec 08, 2006; ... It's every mother's worst nightmare. Erma Scudari, 78, was sittingin her living room Nov. 28 when a woman claiming to be arepresentative of a bail bonds agency called with bad news about oneof her five children. "She said my daughter was in jail and she was hurt," Scudari ...
Doctors encourage mothers-to-be to exercise
Dec 08, 2006; ... Doctors say exercise for expectant mothers is beneficial in manyregards. It improves posture and appearance, reduces backaches,bloating and swelling, and improves circulation. Exercise also increases endurance and energy level, two reservoirsneeded during pregnancy. Tim ...
Commentary: Jefferson Parish must become regional 'gorilla'
Dec 08, 2006; ... President Aaron Broussard spoke with great ebullience a week agowhen detailing the landmarks achieved in Jefferson Parish sinceHurricane Katrina in his State of the Parish address. He presides over a parish with a net growth of 3,614 businesses in2006. Despite that business boost, ...
Chairman of LA Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board hoping for federal funds
Dec 15, 2006; ... Fisherman Harlan Pierce's numerous trips to Washington mightfinally reel in the big catch. For months after Hurricane Katrina wrecked the industry, thechairman of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Boardpleaded with Louisiana's congressional delegation for funds to ...
Homeless population in N.O. continues to swell
Dec 15, 2006; ... Jason and Stephanie Reynolds woke up in the woods covered ininsect bites in early November. It had been more than a week since Jason Reynolds lost his job. The contractor he worked for shut downthe business and left town. "(The contractor) got hooked on drugs and started smoking ...
Trailer trials for Jefferson Parish
Dec 15, 2006; ... The Jefferson Parish Council made a plea at Wednesday's meeting tomake sure the March 31 deadline for removing FEMA trailers is handled"sensitively, flexibly and on a case-by-case" basis. Council members lobbied parish administrators to ensure theparish's trailer removal deadline ...
Katrina stops Metairie health club's heartbeat
Dec 15, 2006; ... For more than two decades, the Cureton family provided qualityfitness programs at its two Metairie health clubs.Scores of families flocked to the Vegas Drive location each summertrying to beat the heat in one of the club's swimming pools or at thesnack bar, where sno-balls were ...
In-flight hero
Dec 15, 2006; ... Eric McGrew first noticed the cold black steel pistol pointed athis back in his peripheral vision. As a commercial co-pilot flying a 747 DC-9 for Delta into DaytonaBeach, Fla., McGrew was tying his tie in the cockpit mirror afterdropping off passengers. Then he glanced up ....
Shoppers say convenience drives their holiday spending habits
Dec 22, 2006; ... Santa Claus, snowfalls and sales haven't been the major draw forshoppers choosing their mall of choice this holiday season. Their decision has come down to one main factor: convenience. Shoppers are braving the Christmas consumer craziness, the surgeof last-minute gift buying ...
Tree recycling project taking root on coast
Dec 22, 2006; ... In the environmental world, the term "green" refers to any actionthat advocates the protection of the environment. Green cars burnless fossil fuel and emit lower levels of toxins into the air. Greenbuildings use energy-efficient light fixtures and appliances. But nothing fits the ...
Second Harvest Food Bank sees greater post-K demand
Dec 22, 2006; ... "The face of hunger has changed," said Terry Utterback,communications officer for Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans andAcadiana. "There are other people just like us who never thought theywould need a handout or hand-up or go on food stamps. And yethundreds of thousands of people ...
Record travel numbers forecast for holidays
Dec 22, 2006; ... Jay Gostisha has one simple Christmas wish - to see white powderedsnow for the first time in years. After moving to Jefferson Parish three years ago with threecollege buddies, the Wisconsin native hasn't grown used toLouisiana's comparatively warm winters. He misses the ...
Jefferson Parish levee boards to be replaced by two regional boards
Dec 22, 2006; ... On Jan. 1, Jefferson Parish voters will have their wishes grantedwhen east and west Jefferson levee boards are replaced by tworegional boards headed by engineers and other professionals. On Sept. 30, a majority of Louisiana citizens voted to do awaywith a handful of southeast ...
Commentary: Shop, speed and how do you plead?
Dec 22, 2006; ... The refrain has been repeated for more than a month and isn'tlikely to die down at least for another week. If you have anyshopping left between now and Christmas, you can expect to hear it. "I went to Lakeside and spent 30 minutes looking for a parkingspot." A colleague who ...
Gretna woman becomes member of National Assn. of the Daughters of the Confederacy
Dec 15, 2006; ... For a year, Virgie Ott has attended United Daughters of theConfederacy meetings in Gretna, saying a pledge to the confederateflag and singing "Dixie." Ott enjoyed the meetings as a guest even though she wasn't anofficial member. So it came as a big surprise when Gretna ...
Broussard makes priority list for 2007
Dec 29, 2006; ... As the new year nears, Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussardhas his to-do list ready. Broussard, who will run for re-election in October and earned$105,000 in 2006, said he has two "big fights" for 2007. "Jefferson Parish, under my administration and working with ...
Traffic cameras provide real-time road info on Internet
Dec 29, 2006; ... Highway officials are helping drivers avoid traffic hotspots withthe assistance of state-of-the-art technology. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development'sIntelligent Transportation System program allows motorists to checkthe Internet for traffic problems such as ...
Chateau Estates Elementary sows lessons through gardening
Dec 29, 2006; ... Leah Moore, a third-grader at Chateau Estates Elementary inKenner, admires the lettuce she planted in the school's vegetablegarden. Even though it's not ready to be picked, she smiles whenpointing to the spot where it is growing. Moore, 9, and the rest of her Chateau Estates ...
Marinello murder marks homicide surge in 2006
Dec 29, 2006; ... The Aug. 31 shooting death of Mary Elizabeth Marinello, 45, rockedOld Metairie. The upscale residential and business area had beenthought impervious to such violent crime. When her estranged husband, longtime sportscaster Vince Marinello,emerged as a prime suspect within a week, ...
Year in Review: Muddled projects target storm protection
Dec 29, 2006; ... Nerves were still frazzled in 2006 as Jefferson Parish addressedits flood vulnerabilities that had been placed under the microscopeby hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Although the worst of Katrina's flooding was saved for NewOrleans, pumping stations, drainage basins and levee ...
Kenner leadership changes in 2006 elections
Dec 29, 2006; ... Voters were ready for a change when they replaced Phil Capitano asmayor with former City Council member Ed Muniz. The April 29 runoffbetween Republicans ended with Muniz earning 8,638 votes, or 58percent support, to Capitano's 6,325. Muniz, a former radio station owner and captain ...
Commentary: 2007 holds promise for community newspaper
Dec 29, 2006; ... We can look back at 2006 in Jefferson Parish and say things turnedout a heck of a lot better than they did a year earlier. The questions now: Are we satisfied with status quo or seek toimprove for the future? Is good enough good enough? If not, how doyou suggest we improve? ...
Rummel athlete begins recovery from mysterious stroke
Dec 29, 2006; ... Priscilla Vaughn got what she wanted for Christmas - her son,Rolonzo Gooden, back at home. On Nov. 12, Gooden, 15, had just finished a sprint drill with theArchbishop Rummel football team when he collapsed. Doctors laterdetermined Gooden suffered a stroke and a scan showed a clot ...