The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

NOVEMBER 2016 Vol 4 No 2 

Affordable 

HOUSING 

A Plan In Place 

Veteran's Day 

By Ronald J. Blanchard

editor’s 

By Brenda Hill 

Law & Order... 

Eyes that see… 

Ears that hear… 

"Prepare yourself to go 

shopping this coming 

Saturday", my mom would 

say at the beginning of 

shopping week. I remember 

going towards my room and 

opening my 'hope chest' 

where my mom kept all of 

my starched and ironed 

clothes for special occasions. 

My white cotton dress, with 

pleats and ties on the sides 

to tie a bow on the back, 

was neatly folded and lying 

there. My black leather shoes 

and white cotton socks laid 

next to it. I took my dress out 

and hung it on a hanger and 

placed it on the doorknob so 

that the pleats would relax, 

then put my shoes and socks 

beneath it. This helped me 

prepare and keep in mind 

how I would present my five 

year old self to the public. 

When shopping day arrived, 

I bathed myself with my 

special bubble bath and 

lotioned my skin so it would 

not ash. I put on my shopping 

outfit and my mom combed 

my hair in my favorite style 

with a curled bang. 

On the long drive from 

Cameron to Lake Charles, 

I thought about all of the 

sights, sounds and smells I 

would experience on that 

day. When we arrived at 

Woolworth, my favorite 

shopping stores, my mom 

reminded us of her ‘rules 

for conduct’ before we 

exited the car. "Walk and 

no talk. Look and no touch. 

Brenda, it is important for 

you to obey these rules 

completely, because your 

three year old brother is 

watching you,” she said. 

Woolworth always had the 

smell of burgers and onions 

cooking when we entered the 

door. I loved going there to 

observe adults and children 

sitting on the stools at the 

counter, talking and eating 

burgers while they drank out 

of tall glasses with straws. 

I listened as other children 

spoke to people that worked 

behind the counters and their 

moms and dads about food 

and toys they wanted. They 

even held the toys in their 

hands, and they didn’t get 

in trouble. I observed as my 

mom placed items and toys, 

that we spoke about at home, 

in her basket. She then rolled 

her basket of items to the 

register to pay for them and 

said, “Thank you and have a 

good day". I listened as no 

response followed. When we 

returned to the car, I asked 

her all the why questions. 

Why couldn't we go to the 

counter and ask the lady for 

a burger? Why couldn't we 

touch the toys? Why doesn’t 

anyone see or hear us? She 

simply answered, "There is 

a Law & Order to follow for 

your safety and mine". 

Today, I have children, 

grandchildren and great 

grandchildren. Yes! I have 

'rules for conduct' that I 

teach and live by for their 

freedom and mine. 

Law and Order is a principle, 

ordered by GOD. His eyes 

and ears are over what is 

done right. 

2 November 2016 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 2

November 2016 

LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, STORIES & PEOPLE 

2 LAW & ORDER 

4 AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

6 SWLA HEALTH & FITNESS 

8 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE 

9 GOODBYE TO SUMMER 

10 A FAIR MARKET?? 

12 IN SEARCH OF A FILLING 

14 GET YOUR THANKSGIVING BINGE WATCHING ON 

16 DCFS LAUNCHES EFFORT OT IMPROVE FOSTER CARE 

18 THE MAKING OF A FAMILY 

19 A BANQUET IN HONOR OF YOU 

22 SWLA CHURCHES 

24 A DAY TO REMEMBER 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Brenda Hill 

brenda@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

GENERAL MANAGER | Tracy Clark 

tpllcthevoice_tracy@yahoo.com 

ART DIRECTOR | Vinh Alexander 

Vinh Alexander 

www.thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS 

SHAWDASHIAN GROUP 

CONSULTANTS 

Gene R. Hill, Sr., Reginald Clark 

Published and distributed by 

TEAM PUBLICATIONS LLC. 

4310 Ryan St. Ste. 134 

Lake Charles, LA. 70605 

In the McNeese SEED Center 

(337) 474-2210 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Crystal Leday, Joyce R. Kebodeaux, 

Kris Welcome, Basha Celestaine, 

Dr. Trip Goolsby, MD, Ronald J. Blanchard, 

Cecely Clark, Levert Blount III, 

Thom & Tonya Barry, Jude Roach 

EVENTS COORDINATOR | Carl Hubert 

All materials contained in the publication are copy-righted and may not be reproduced or 

reprinted in part or its entirety without the expressed written permission of The Voice of 

SWLA. The views expressed in articles of The Voice of SWLA are not necessarily the views 

of the ownership or sponsors in this publication. The Voice of SWLA assumes no liability 

for errors or omissions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content. 

Volume 4 • Number 2 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM November 2016 3

Affordable 

HOUSING 

By Kris Welcome 

Across America 

citizens are, 

unfortunately, 

feeling the pain from 

rising costs of living, 

but no increase in their 

incomes. It’s a joyous 

occasion when a city’s 

economy improves and a 

boost in the job market 

comes along. But the 

downside to a bustling 

community of teachers, 

firemen, police officers 

and just simply people 

that you worship with can 

be adversely impacted 

with their rents, utilities, 

groceries, and other 

day-to-day necessities. 

Growth is something we in 

Southwest Louisiana have 

hoped and prayed for, and 

now that it has arrived, 

so are the downsides of 

economic growth, such 

as 'Affordable Housing'. 

Faithful and loyal working 

residents have expressed 

their need for 'Affordable 

Housing' due the sharp 

increase in rent, and how 

landlords seem unwilling 

to work with them, and 

how the new industries 

we seek to enjoy seem 

unkind to those who aren’t 

making the salaries that 

the new jobs allow for. 

These residents are being 

asked to satisfy rents at 

rates of 30-40% higher 

than their previous leases 

called for causing them 

to be displaced without 

housing. Southwest 

Louisiana, as well as most 

of Louisiana, is viewed as 

ideal for its cost of living 

when matched against 

other states in our union. 

The city and parish of 

Calcasieu has responded 

to this concern for 

‘Affordable Housing’ from 

SWLA Job Estimates 

• 34,838 Construction Jobs 

• 6,061 Permanent Direct 

• 7,037 Permanent Indirect 

• 6,838 Permanent Induced 

Total Permanent Jobs 

20,374 

a housing study conducted 

by the Economic 

Development Alliance. This 

housing study looked at 

income, new permanent 

jobs, etc., and identified 

the rapid growth in the 

SWLA area and the types 

of housing to supply for 

permanent residency that 

would be here after the… 

BOOM. 

The City and the Police 

Jury have hired GCR 

Inc., out of New Orleans, 

to outline the type of 

program needed in order 

to address ‘Affordable 

Housing’ in this region. 

Director Ben Taylor of 

the Lake Charles Housing 

Authority and Tarek 

Polite of the Calcasieu 

Parish Police Jury are also 

involved in this effort to 

reach out to educate the 

community and to build 

housing for these workers 

that are being displaced. 

Polite confirmed, “We 

have agreed to work 

with GCR Inc., to find 

developers who will bring 

developments to the area 

and grant peace of mind 

to the displaced in the 

area. “With a 6-month 

timeline in place, there 

will be a solid plan to 

know which areas will 

have housing units and 

what qualifications will 


e set for those who 

are approved to live 

there. This partnership is 

developing appropriate 

parameters such as the 

right capacity of space, 

training, funding and 

resources with available 

tax credits. “The gap is in 

the ‘Affordable Housing’ 

price range and the type of 

housing is mostly what is 

currently being addressed 

in the Real Estate 

community,” according to 

Lori Marinovich, Assistant 

Director of Planning for 

the City of Lake Charles. 

She adds, “This program 

will allow 30% of a 

school teacher’s salary to 

translate into an affordable 

home.” 

“It’s all economically 

driven,” said Taylor 

concerning the problem 

facing the many tenants of 

buildings in Lake Charles. 

“Landlords who were once 

Section 8 are now leaving 

to get the maximum 

earnings possible. Would 

you rather get $750 or 

$1,200 for the exact same 

thing?" Taylor posed that 

question and it instantly 

triggered thoughts of the 

Reagan administration 

that helped aid in the 

corporate showrunners we 

see today. Those over 50 

may remember those laws 

President Reagan enacted. 

Since then, there has 

been a disproportionate 

correlation between 

income and cost of 

living driving up the 

impoverished population 

in America. “I don’t think 

that there are racial 

disparities involved in this 

instance. The impacts of 

the current market are 

across the board,” said 

Tarek Polite. 

Those who work in 

industries that serve the 

community by way of food 

service, grocery stores, 

and other areas where 

minimal skills are needed 

can’t afford to sustain in 

an environment where 

housing is comparable to 

prices in America’s largest 

cities either. “We need 

more developments to 

house those who cannot 

keep up with the booming 

costs,” Polite added. Both 

Taylor and Polite believe 

this ‘Affordable Housing’ 

initiative will help ease the 

uneasiness surrounding 

the status quo. 

The economy we live in is 

a very trying and political 

entity—a beast like no 

other. We must do our best 

to maintain our livelihoods 

and find comfort in the 

lifestyles we lead daily. 

Just as it is important 

for industries to expand, 

it is still pertinent that 

those in all socioeconomic 

situations survive as well. 

It’s never comfortable 

being uncertain in your 

living arrangement, but 

the City of Lake Charles 

Housing Authority and the 

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury 

would like for residents 

to know that they are not 

forgotten and better days 

are ahead. At The Voice, we 

will make available to you 

the periodic updates as 

new developments arise. 

All images in this article provided by 

Lori Marinovich, Assistant Director of 

Planning for the City of Lake Charles. 

Housing Affordability Reality 

Analysis Based on 2015-2016 Salary Schedules 

Annual Starting 

Salary 

Total Monthly 

Rent/Mortgage 

worker can afford with 

no/minimal debt 

Home Sales Price 

worker can afford with 30 

year mortgage at 4.5% 

interest (including 

principal interest, taxes 

and insurance) 

Min. Wage 

Employee 

- $7.25/hr 

Service 

Employee 

for City 

(FT ) - 

$9.50/hr 

Clerical 

Worker 

CPSB – 

FT 

City of 

LC 

Fireman 

City of 

LC 

Police 

Officer 

Who is AssetLimitedIncomeConstrainedEmployed? 

Mission: 

Build Quality Affordable Housing 

CPSB 

Teacher 

15,080 19,760 20,106 29,411 34,091 43,461 

452 593 603 880 1,000 1,300 

56,000 85,600 86,000 141,000 170,000 224,000 

• ALICE families work hard and earn above the poverty level, but 

not enough to afford a basic household budget of housing child 

care, food, transportation, and health care. 

• ALICE households live in every parish in Louisiana – urban, 

suburban, and rural. They include women and men, young and 

old, of all races and ethnicities. 

• In Louisiana, 695,719 households – fully 40 percent – struggled to 

afford basic household necessities in 2013 

• While the Federal Poverty Level reports that 19 percent of 

Louisiana households face financial hardship, an additional 21 

percent (368,682 households) qualify as ALICE. 

• About 11,105 housing units will be needed in next 10 years 

• Must smartly balance supply and demand over the next 5-10 years 

to ensure prices increase at manageable levels to avoid untenable, 

inflationary environment 

• Much of demand will be in single family home market ($0-$100k) 

price point 

• Will be difficult to meet without some sort of subsidy or incentive. 

• Multi-family demand concentrated at lower price points 

($0-$600/month) 

• As new apartment complexes are considered and developed, keep 

affordability in mind 

• Short term spikes in demand may allow for higher prices, but 

longer term demand likely to be driven by affordability 

Source: July 19, 2016 Update SWLA Housing Study, Strategic Plan and Implementation Strategy 


SWLA health & fitness 

The Myth of Diabetes 

“Management” 

-A primer on integrative medical 

optimization and why diabetes 

can be cured without chemical 

pharmaceutical intervention 

Dr. Trip Goolsby, MD is the Founder/CEO of 

Dr. Trip Goolsby, MD 

By: Trip MD & Tia Tucker, MD, Infinite MPHHealth Integrative Medicine Center. The 

best part of his days usually include working with 

his wife (a/k/a The Boss) and 6:00 p.m. hugs from 

his sons, IV & Huck. 

CASE STUDY: 

Jane (name changed) was referred to me 

with diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, 

hypertension, and significant stress, 

due to many social challenges. Her labs 

initially showed a fasting glucose of 123 

and a hemoglobin A1C of 7.3, despite 

receiving 40-50 units per day of insulin. 

Another patient, Dick (name changed), 

suffered from a 25-year bout of 

diabetes complicated by blood clots, 

neuropathy, obesity, kidney failure, 

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

(COPD), and congestive heart failure. At 

the beginning of his care with me, Dick 

was receiving five different oral diabetes 

medications, in addition to approximately 

100 units of insulin daily. 

After optimization, both Dick and Jane 

improved tremendously. 

Jane’s most recent labs show fasting 

blood glucose of 89, and a hemoglobin 

A1C of 6.5. She is no longer taking 

diabetes medications and she continues 

to improve. 

Six months post-treatment, Dick’s 

hemoglobin A1C plateaued at 5.4 

and remains there after three years. 

Initially wheelchair bound, Dick now 

independently walks into Infinite Health 

Integrative Medicine Center. He no 

longer takes insulin, or any other diabetes 

medications, which were completely 

removed after four months. 

1Hemoglobin A1C represents 

the average blood sugar over 

the preceding four months. 

“Oi chusoi Dios 

aei enpiptousi!” 

God’s dice are 

always loaded! 

Allow me to say, at the outset, that 

I have always been a clinical skeptic 

when it comes to the conservative 

“management” of any disease process. 

Having delivered industrial doses of 

chemotherapy to thousands of patients 

over a period of twenty-five plus years, 

in my former community medical 

oncology practice, I still get tremors 

when I remove the technologic wonders 

of the pharmaceutical industry in favor 

of optimized metabolic and hormonal 

lifestyle. And, had it not been for the 

Tia Tucker, MD, MPH is a native of Sulphur, 

Louisiana, and is passionate about improving 

health outcomes in the Gulf South. She enjoys 

singing, Cuban salsa, and riding bikes with her 

husband, Eduardo. 

conception of my ten-year old son on 

the eve of my fiftieth birthday, I would 

probably still be ministering the suffering 

of the ill with the poisons of camouflage. 

That said, I now witness, on a daily 

basis, the resilient miracle of our human 

physiology, and its ability to recover from 

the disastrous effects of chronic disease 

simply by optimizing its parameters. 

Dick and Jane’s cases are among 

dozens of my personal patients that 

exemplify what optimized integrative 

medicine is capable of accomplishing 

in the setting of the chronic diseases. 

These diseases (hypertension, diabetes, 

atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, 

dementia, degenerative arthritis and 

osteoporosis…) account for two thirds 

to three quarters of the gross domestic 

product (GDP) that constitutes our yearly 

healthcare expenditure (3 trillion dollars). 

It is almost insulting to think that the 

most technologically advanced nation in 

the world spends almost three times that 

of the nearest competitor nation in terms 

of percentage of GDP (17%), only to 

achieve significantly worse overall quality 

of healthcare delivery by World Health 

Organization standards. 

Duke University’s Integrative Medicine 


Center, which is helping to define 

integrative medicine, perceives it as an 

approach to healthcare that places the 

motivated patient in a partnership with 

their provider in order to address the 

full range of physical, emotional, mental, 

social and environmental influences that 

affect a person’s health. (As an aside, 

LeNae Goolsby, Infinite Health’s Practice 

Administrator is presently a cohort of 

the Duke University Integrative Medicine 

Center Leadership Development 

Program). 

An optimized integrative approach 

to health utilizes comprehensive 

modalities addressing the fundamental 

origins of the disease in the individual 

(precision medicine). This is followed 

by development of a tailored, 

patient-specific approach (precision 

therapeutics), that addresses the 

foundations and aggravators of those 

diseases. 

At Infinite Health, we take our Four Pillar 

Approach to our patients with multiple 

chronic diseases, including diabetes. Our 

approach is extremely successful because 

it addresses the origins of the acquired 

diabetic state. Even patients initially 

incapable of any exercise (exercise 

increases our ability to respond to insulin) 

become motivated and progressively 

increase the exercise pillar. 

Nutrition, which is the second pillar, 

when optimized to the individual, may 

decrease stressors of the gastrointestinal 

tract (stomach, liver, gall bladder, 

pancreas and intestines), improving highgrade 

nutrient assimilation. Optimized 

hormone and metabolic parameters, 

the third pillar, also enhances insulin 

sensitivity and nutrient processing. 

Finally, our fourth pillar, which includes 

the same contemplative and mindfulness 

mind-body techniques currently used 

by NASA, Stanford University, the US 

Military, as well as several large west 

coast managed care organizations, with 

similarly affected employees, relieve 

the adverse hormone environment that 

makes insulin activity much less effective. 

The end result is the elimination of 

the need for multiple medications and 

insulin. 

When we optimize the formidable 

machinery that we have been gifted with, 

we are compensated by near miraculous 

results that almost defy explanation. So I 

say, let the dice roll! 

If you or someone you know 

would like more information 

about our approach to 

diabetes, call our office 

337.312.8234 

--------- or ---------- 

visit our website at www. 

YourInfiniteHealth.com 


SWLA cultural perspective 

by Crystal Leday 

On August 26, 2016, 49ers' 

quarterback, Colin Kaepernick 

ignited a fiery protest when 

he refused to stand for the 

national anthem during a 

preseason game. Kaepernick 

stated, “I am not going to 

stand up to show pride in 

a flag for a country that 

oppresses black people and 

people of color. To me, this 

is bigger than football and it 

would be selfish on my part 

to look the other way. There 

are bodies in the street and 

people getting paid leave and 

getting away with murder." 

This statement not only 

sparked controversy, but 

Colin found himself at the 

center of an ongoing racial 

battle in the United States 

that now welcomed athletes 

and public figures. Many 

begin to wonder if he would 

lose endorsements, be on 

the outskirts with fellow 

athletes or be supported 

by the NFL. Surprisingly the 

49ers issued a statement 

on Kaepernick's decision to 

protest the national anthem. 

“The national anthem is and 

always will be a special part 

of the pre-game ceremony. 

It is an opportunity to honor 

our country and reflect on the 

great liberties we are afforded 

as its citizens. In respecting 

such American principles 

as freedom of religion and 

freedom of expression, we 

recognize the right of an 

individual to choose and 

participate, or not, in our 

celebration of the national 

anthem." 

While he did seem to have 

the support of his coaches 

and teammates, many felt 

disrespected by his lack of 

concern for the outcome of 

his actions. Outrage and fury 

began via social media after 

Kaepernick made national 

headlines. A majority of 

the arguments against his 

decision was surrounded by 

veterans and their sacrifices 

being tarnished. Disgusting 

comments and remarks fled 

the internet about his protest, 

leaving many dumbfounded 

and questioning: What did he 

do that was so wrong? 

Since 2008, the beginning 

of the black lives matter 

movement, our country has 

been struggling with division. 

Every incident has to have a 

color check. Was the officer 

white? Did they kill another 

black kid? We don't seem to 

comprehend the word unity 

very well; that regardless of 

skin color, someone lost a 

brother, son, mother, sister, 

father or loved one and 

they deserve justice. Upon 

injustices going unnoticed, 

protests have become very 

popular and admirable 

when done peacefully. 

So the outrage following 

Kaepernick's protest of the 

national anthem was very 

surprising. I would argue that 

there's nothing more polite 

than the route he took. 

Here is a break down of what 

I've learned over the past 

eight years. No matter what 

you stand for, there will always 

be someone against it. You 

have to be firm and confident 

in your beliefs because once 

you display them, there is no 

turning back. Being respectful 

and polite does not guarantee 

the same response, but 

staying true to yourself is the 

best option. Your word means 

something to someone. 

Don't ever feel like your 

voice is not heard. I've seen 

simple Facebook posts go a 

long way. Regardless of the 

circumstances, never fear the 

outcome. 

Every piece of me is with Colin 

Kaepernick. My ignorance was 

tested when I had to research 

what the national anthem's 

lyrics were. Not only has he 

ignited a fire in America for the 

better, but he has shown many 

sides of the truth for the worse. 


By Jude Roach 

Jude Roach is a fifth grader 

at Prairie Vista Elementary 

School in Granger, 

Indiana. Jude loves to 

play soccer, fiddle, and 

cheer on his favorite 

teams: LSU and Notre 

Dame. He wrote this 

poem about some of 

the summer fun he had 

with his grandfather, Mayor 

Randy Roach. 

Goodbye to Summer 

Au revoir to cliff diving in Arkansas 

where the wind blows in my face as I 

wait to hit the water. 

Later gator to playing games at the 

arcade with speakers booming and 

screens flashing. 

SULPHUR 

West Cal-Cam Hospital 

Tarver Ford 

Joe's Pizza & Pasta 

Stines 

Pitt Grill 

Quaker Steak & Lube 

SPAR 

Goodwill 

Hollier's 

Dairy Barn 

LAKE CHARLES 

Reeves Uptown 

Special Touch Massage 

Pujo St. Cafe 

Kmart 

Pick up your 

copy of 

The Voice of 

SWLA while 

you’re out and about. 

CC's Coffee House 

Chase (Downtown) 

Steamboat Bill's 

Civic Center 

Carnegie Library 

Luna Bar & Grill 

MOSS BLUFF 

Peto's 

All Action Automotive 

Market Basket 

Southern Spice 

VINTON 

Post Office 

Market Basket 

Love's Truck Stop 

Bon voyage to playing sand soccer at the 

beach with cousins yelling and laughing. 

Hang loose to diving under 12 foot waves 

and wiping out and getting sand rashes 

from the Atlantic. 

Farewell to tubing in the lake with the 

wind rushing through my hair and water 

splashing on my back. 

Adios to exploring caverns with bats 

flying above and water dripping from 

stalactites. 

Peace out to going horseback riding 

though national forests where birds 

chirp and squirrels scurry. 

Hello school year! 

LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, STORIES & PEOPLE 


#PositiveIsMe 

A Fair 

Market?? 

By Levert Blount III 

photo by valerie vaughn 

withunmind photography naturally u 

I 

was served by a city marshal 

with a ‘repossession of property’ 

notification on the 20th day of 

June. My landlord gave me 10 days 

to evacuate a renovated garage that 

rented for $700 a month because he 

desired to increase rent to $1200 per 

month. 

That right there is price gouging 101, 

folks. Price gouging occurs, during 

a state of emergency when a seller 

prices merchandise much higher 

than is reasonable or fair. What was 

the emergency? Homelessness! I was 

forced to seek pet-friendly affordable 

housing in a market where rent had 

rapidly increased. And, I will be the first 

to tell you that $1200 a month is much 

higher than is reasonably fair for a one 

bedroom that used to be a garage. 

You see here in Southwest Louisiana 

we have experienced an economic 

boom the likes of which have not been 

seen since the gold rush! Lake Charles, 

Louisiana is leading the entire nation in 

economic growth. Which is saying a lot 

because Louisiana, as a state, is broke!! 

Thanx Bobby Jindal. But that didn't 

stop South African chemical company 

Sasol Ltd., from coming to town. It is 

the largest single investor in this area 

with investments estimated near $100 

billion, or more. Not to mention other 

recent announcements from Sempra/ 

Cameron LNG, Cheniere Energy, 

Magnolia LNG, Trunkline LNG, Leucadia 

and G2X Energy. This entire area 

preparing for unprecedented growth. 

I’m talking thousands of workers, and 

their families are continuously moving 

into this area. 

Which brings me back to my landlord. 

He, and others like him, are positively 

dripping with anticipation over the 

thousands upon thousands of people 

moving into this area. They are making 

a killing by kicking folks off their rental 

property, renovating them, and jacking 

up the price of rent. I'd do the same 

thing – it’s a fair market, except for the 

whole kicking families, including pets, 

out on the street thing. That's not my 

jam!! 

Yes, skilled and professional workers 

move here to work at these plants, and 

they will make crazy money!! That's 

cool!! However, most of us living here 

are already well established! We have 

jobs that we love. We have strong 

bonds with our communities. We're 

simple blue collar folks making blue 

collar money. Give or take. Most of us 

can't afford the "new price of rent". 

While those who can will be financially 

stretched to their limits. Kicking families 

out of their homes in the name of the 

almighty dollar is a sin and a shame. 

Ten days to find fair and reasonable 

housing in this market is close to 

impossible. It's even worse if you're a 

pet owner, like me. People don't like to 

rent to folks with pets. I get it. Animals 

make a mess. (I'll have you know that 

my dogs are cleaner and more well 

behaved than some children I’ve 

seen.) And it's even harder if you're a 

gardener, like me, and you are given 

ten days to find a new place and move 

all your crops. Thank God I had friends 

that were in the process of moving into 

a larger house and offered me their old 

house. Otherwise I’d still be looking for 

housing. Now I'm not bad mouthing 

my landlord or anything. He did offer 

to call some of his friends on my behalf 

and see if they have anything available 

in my price range. I never heard back 

from him. 

I get it. He can make two, three, four 

times as much as he's making now. 

He could vacation more, retire early, 

sleep late...I don't know… Golf!! Enjoy 

himself. I get it! I'd probably do the 

same thing if I were in his position. 

Except I wouldn't kick folk out in 

ten days. I'd give them at least thirty 

days to find another place to stay! 

Especially if I know I'm about to make 

money hand over fist for the rest of 

my life!! 

10 

November 2016 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 2

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1540 N. MLK Hwy, Suite B. Lake Charles, LA. 70601 (337) 437-4237 

James E. Burks 

ATTORNEY AT LAW 

Criminal Law 

Personal Injury 

Wills & Successions 

Tel: 337 474-6106 

Fax: 337 478-2765 

3112 Enterprise Boulevard 

Lake Charles, LA 70601 


TEAMPUBLICATIONSbook release 

In Search of a Filling 

By Cecely Clark 

My book, "In Search of a Filling", was a 

message I crafted to reach my own Chinese 

students. I taught in universities in China for 

11 years, and I often encountered young adults who 

were searching for what would fill them up and give 

them true joy. I met all kinds of people who were still 

searching: artists and musicians, young businessmen 

and women who would go on to become millionaires, 

young politicians on the road to a career in government 

or civil service, fashionistas with trending blogs that 

influenced national shopping patterns, runway models, 

shy geniuses who hesitated to speak aloud but could've 

easily written the textbook, sons and daughters of 

prominent people, and of course plenty of tender 

mama's girls and boys who didn't seem old enough 

to be out of junior high, yet were somehow already in 

college. You name it, we met that type of individual 

over there. Invariably they were searching, questioning, 

wanting to get at something that they couldn't quite 

name or touch. But I could. I know firsthand the 

difference that a real reciprocal relationship with my 

Creator has made for me. I spent my life witnessing to it. 

I've got a counselor friend in Lubbock Texas who always 

says that the teachings of Jesus are believable because 

"hey they just really work", and I have found that I agree 

with him. It comes down to this: someone is listening 

to me. Always. Somebody cares, and will never leave or 

forsake me. Someone who made me, dreamed me up, 

in fact, will accompany me throughout my life and will 

still see me as His precious child even if I live to be 99! 

That truth goes to work in my life, producing confidence 

in His love for me and my value and worth to Him. This 

is what rang true to the Chinese. There is someone 

who will never give up on you, even if you somehow 

disappoint your boss, your government, or worst of all, 

your own dear parents. I saw the gospel, time and time 

again, put solid ground back underneath a soul adrift in 

the uncertainties of Chinese society. 

I decided to write about a Chinese dumpling because 

they are a sort of touchstone in the Chinese soul. 

Everyone loves to eat them. They are a national comfort 

food. Dumpling restaurants are known to be exactly 

like the one in Vinegar Hill in my book-they are cozy. 

Ducking in for a bowl of dumplings not only satisfies 

your hunger, but tends to your soul. Dumplings 

represent family unity as well. Often people get 

together and make dumplings with family members 

to prepare to celebrate Chinese New Year. They also 

cross socio-economic barriers. For centuries, literally, 

there has been literature referring to dumplings being 

eaten by emperors and their delicate concubines, and 

yet, also, they are something that poor peasants could 

always afford to make and eat at home. 

12 


This is where the gospel enters the picture. God's mission 

is to camp out here among us, to deeply tend to our souls. 

To help us with the big things, like our significance, like 

the meaning of our existence. To be family for us when 

our family doesn't stick together as they should have. 

He comes down to us, humble as a dumpling, yet asking 

the same profound thing from the rich and the poor: our 

everything. Giving the same thing to all, in return: eternal 

joy, deep fulfilling. 

So, I wrote it for my students, but the message is for all of 

us. Only by our Creator are we filled with love and true joy. 

Visit cecelyclark.com and 

find links to purchase 

"In Search of a Filling.” 

When your book arrives, 

find a recipe for Chinese 

dumplings in the front of 

it. Make yourself a bowl 

of them, and send up a 

prayer of thanksgiving to 

our Creator for us all. 

Illustration by Laurie Barrows 


SWLA movie review 

Get Your Thanksgiving 

Binge Watching on 

by Basha Celestaine 

Allison Schexnayder 

Rae Lilly 

Yusuf Celestaine 

Cyanna Darbeau 

The semester is flying 

by, and as it gets 

closer and closer 

to finals week, there's one 

thing stressed out students 

are looking forward to: 

Thanksgiving break! Besides 

being the time many will 

need to study, catch up 

on their schoolwork, and 

procrastinate some more, 

it is also a much needed 

short period of relaxation. 

A blessed time for family, 

friends, giving thanks, and 

most importantly, time to 

catch up on all our favorite 

returned fall TV shows! Hello 

bed! Just warning you, I got 

episodes lined up back to 

back, and I'm not leaving 

until I find out who's under 

the sheet on How to Get 

Away with Murder, what 

horrific damage Negan 

has done on The Walking 

Dead, and everyone Cookie 

has slammed lately on 

Empire. It's gonna be a long 

interesting couple of days, 

so get comfortable. P.S. I 

apologies in advance for all 

the snack stains. 

The CW, a very popular 

television network with 

young adults, has had a lot 

of success recently with their 

line up of super hero shows. 

One such dedicated fan, 

Allison S, a McNeese State 

University senior, majoring 

in Mass Communications, 

has just finished Legends of 

Tomorrow, Arrow, and Super 

Girl. So over the break she is 

looking forward to finishing 

The Flash. She said, “I like 

the drama of it, and the 

suspense of, you know is he 

gonna save this person? Is 

it gonna be a sad episode if 

he doesn't save the person? 

How is he gonna deal with 

that? How are his friends 

gonna deal with the fact 

that he's upset, because 

they're all kind of a team, so 

they all work together and 

kind of lean on each other. 

I just like watching people's 

relationships.” 

Her fellow senior 

14 


classmate, another a mass 

communications major Rae 

L. also can't wait to catch up 

on The Flash. Though she's 

most looking forward to 

binge watching The Walking 

Dead and some of her 

favorite anime shows. What 

she likes most about TWD, 

are the ideas the group 

comes up with to survive. 

She said, “I like the creativity 

that the creators have to 

keep the group alive, and 

keep them going against 

the dangers they have to 

run into.” 

Yusuf C. a freshman, 

majoring in Computer 

Science, is looking forward 

to starting the new CW 

show Frequency and 

catching up on one of his 

recent favorites, NBC'S 

Super Store. He said, “I really 

like the premise of the show 

[Frequency]. The idea isn't 

really new, but they do it 

in a way I haven't really 

seen before. Super Store is 

kinda similar to Parks and 

Recreation or The Office. It's 

funny but it doesn't have 

that mockumetary feel to 

it, so it's kinda new and 

different, but in the same 

format.” He also plans on 

getting up to date on The 

Flash (because apparently 

everyone's watching it) and 

Arrow. He doesn't think 

they're as good as they use 

to be, but liked Arrow in the 

past because, “It was a origin 

story for one of the main DC 

hero's, the Green Arrow.” 

Senior, Cyanna D, majoring 

in psychology, is obsessed 

with Arrow. When she 

first started watching it, 

she stayed up until 4 A.M 

bingeing. She said, “Arrow 

is probably my favorite 

show! I love it! I love the 

suspense, the drama, it 

keeps me on the edge of 

my seat! It's definitely a 

binge-worthy show.” She 

enjoys that it includes a mix 

of everything, from action 

and drama, to comedy and 

romance. Another thing she 

really appreciates about the 

show is that it that it has 

“hardcore action without 

being too bloody. The fight 

sequences are really good 

and the story always keeps 

you on your toes!” Two other 

shows she's looking forward 

too are Law and Order, and 

NBC's The Voice. She said, 

“with Law & Order it's the 

suspense and the drama of 

not knowing what's gonna 

happen next, and if they're 

gonna catch the criminal 

and convict them.” The Voice 

catches her interest because 

she “really enjoys singing 

shows.” Not knowing who's 

going to get kicked off or 

what song a contestant is 

going to sing, is enough to 

keep her watching until the 

final winner is revealed. 

So kick back, relax, and 

enjoy a few several hours 

of brainless fall TV, over 

your well deserved (for 

some) Thanksgiving break 

students. If you don't 

happen to have any shows 

planned, then maybe start 

watching The Flash or any 

other CW show. They're 

clearly popular for a reason. 

Remember, you're gonna 

need to look back at this 

time fondly when finals 

weeks rolls around, because 

the stress levels are no joke! 

Call Today! (225) 284-3778 

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National Adoption Awareness Month 

DCFS Launches Effort to Improve Foster Care by 

Redefining the Role of Caregivers 

Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) to 

Benefit more than 4,700 Louisiana 

Foster Children Monthly 

The Louisiana Department of 

Children and Family Services 

(DCFS), Louisiana Institute for 

Children in Families and the 

Pelican Center for Children 

and Families, introduced the 

Quality Parenting Initiative 

(QPI), a movement aimed 

at improving foster care in 

Louisiana by redefining the 

role of caregivers. 

QPI gives caregivers a more 

active role in the everyday 

lives of the children in their 

care. It also emphasizes the 

importance of the team 

approach -- foster parents, 

agency staff and birth parents, 

working together to achieve 

the best outcomes for the 

child. 

"We want to empower foster 

parents by giving them a voice 

in the day-to-day decision 

making for the children in 

their care," said DCFS Secretary 

Marketa Garner Walters. "By 

doing so, we are ensuring 

foster children receive the 

love and support they need 

to thrive, and in turn, progress 

toward a permanent solution 

for a happy, fulfilling life." 

While in some cases, adoption 

becomes the goal, through 

QPI, DCFS will actively recruit 

foster parents committed 

to working with biological 

families to create a safe, 

nurturing home environment 

for children to be reunified. 

This community-based 

approach helps attract and 

retain quality foster parents 

by defining expectations and 

giving caregivers the support 

and training they need to 

succeed with foster children, 

as well as their biological 

families. 

"Children deserve to be raised 

in loving, caring families. That 

is true for my children, and 

it's true for those children 

who come into the care of 

the state through no fault of 

their own. We are honored to 

work with Governor John Bel 

Edwards, Secretary Walters 

and our legislative caucus to 

bring QPI to Louisiana," said 

Judge Madeleine Landrieu 

of the Fourth Circuit Court of 

Appeals and a member of the 

board of Louisiana Institute for 

Children in Families. 

QPI is currently underway in 

Florida and Connecticut, and 

in select counties in California, 

Nevada and Texas. The major 

success of QPI around the 

nation has involved systems 

change and improved 

relationships among child 

welfare staff, stakeholders and 

caregivers. Other states who 

have adopted QPI reported 

improvements in outcomes 

such as: 

• Fewer unplanned 

placement changes; 

• Less use of group care; 

• Less sibling separation; 

and 

• More successful family 

reunifications. 

"Children and families are our 

state's most valuable asset. 

QPI offers a new lens through 

which we as a state view the 

very valuable role of foster 

parents and relative caregivers 

in the foster care system," 

said Mark Harris, executive 

director, Pelican Center for 

Children and Families. "The 

Pelican Center is committed 

to provided education and 

QPI training to the legal 

community and other key 

child welfare and community 

partners." 

Each month, Louisiana 

serves more than 4,700 

foster children. More than 50 

percent of these children are 

under the age of five. Learn 

more about becoming a foster 

or adoptive parent by visiting 

www.dcfs.la.gov/foster. 

For more information 

about the Quality 

Parenting Initiative, 

visit www.qpi4kids.org. 

16 


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National Adoption Awareness Month 

The Making 

of a Family 

By Thom and Tonya Barry 

Thomas was born in 

upstate New York to 

a single mom with 

addictions that left him born 

addicted to drugs. He was 

left alone in an apartment, at 

just a couple of months old, 

for a couple of days. No food, 

no diaper changing, and no 

physical touch. The State of 

New York came in and took 

Thomas into foster care to 

give him the appropriate care 

that he needed. At the age 

of 2, he was adopted by a 

wonderful family that loved 

and reared him. 

Yes! God had a plan for 

Thomas’s life. He was reared 

in a wonderful home that 

taught Christian principles 

and to this day, Thomas 

is serving God with all his 

heart. He is an executive 

pastor and his heart’s desire 

is to spread the goodness 

of God, and give people 

hope to a situation that 

seems hopeless. The State of 

New York may have viewed 

Thomas as just another case, 

but God looked inside him 

as a man with purpose and 

destiny. 

Tonya was reared a Christian 

with dreams and she really 

wanted to do great things 

for God. She learned that 

she was pregnant in her 

senior year of high school 

from choices that ultimately 

left her feeling shameful, 

unworthy and hopeless. She 

decided to keep her baby, 

but learned, at 21 weeks of 

pregnancy, she was having 

twins! Two girls! Wow… 

excited and scared to death. 

She had no job and no means 

of caring for them. Her family 

wanted to help however they 

all had kids of their own and 

Tonya didn’t want her choice 

to affect her family in that 

way. She sought counsel and 

decided the best thing for 

the babies would be to place 

them up for adoption. She 

found an adoption agency 

that walked alongside her 

during the process. Tonya 

made a list of things she 

wanted in a couple and they 

found a couple that fit the list 

to the T! 

Today, Tonya is no longer 

filled with shame. She serves 

in ministry, her twin girls 

serve in ministry with their 

adoptive family, and what’s 

really interesting about this 

story is that Thomas and 

Tonya met and got married. 

Together, they share both 

sides of the adoption story 

and God is using them to 

help others in their situations. 

They know and understand 

that God gives us hope for 

ourselves, and to answer to 

others about that hope that 

lies within them. 

There is hope in hopeless 

situations. There is a plan, 

a purpose, and a destiny 

for each and every one of 

us…Trust God! 

18 


In October 2016 a 

banquet honoring 

parents who foster 

and adopt children was held 

at Treasures of Marilyn. The 

annual event gives parents 

a time to enjoy an evening 

away from their busy lives. 

At the banquet couples 

meet and socialize with 

other parents who are also 

fostering and/or adopting 

children who needed loving 

homes. At this year’s evening 

out the banquet hall was 

beautifully decorated and 

the parents and guests were 

served a delicious meal that 

was prepared especially for 

them. This event, getting 

out as a couple, is a treat 

from the everyday tasks of 

planning, preparing, serving 

and the clean up that follows 

family meals. 

Mayor Randy Roach, one of 

this year’s speakers, spoke 

about forming a Foster 

Care Coalition to pool 

the resources available to 

better help the children... 

He commended the parents 

on the good work they are 

accomplishing. Also he 

reassured them that even 

though the difference they 

are making is not always 

visible they are planting 

seeds that will influence 

their youngsters the rest of 

their live. 

A Banquet 

In Honor 

Of You 

By Joyce R. Kebodeaux 

Lawyer, Carla Christo 

processes many adoptions 

for the foster children. She 

said there are four adoption 

specialists in this area to 

handle adoptions. Adoptions 

don’t cost foster parents 

anything when handled by 

the qualified professionals. 

The process is only short 

wait for those who wish to 

adopt their foster child, she 

said. 

Lively conversations ensued 

at all the dinner tables. At 

one Easter Belizare who is 

82years old has fostered 

over 100 children during 

her 32 years with foster care. 

Sharing with other foster 

parents she is as enthusiastic 

as those just starting out. 

She tells of her newest boy 

who is seven years old. “He 

came to me not knowing 

much about church. Now 

he sings louder than the 

others,” she laughs. I was a 

foster child myself and two 

of the things I insist on is 1] 

Church and 2] listening. On 

listening, we need to calm 

down and get beyond words 

like hate and such,” she adds. 

One woman tells of fostering 

one little girl. “She is now 

legally my baby girl” she 

beamed. Sitting next to her 

was her older daughter, a 

foster parent of three. “My 

husband and I had two 

children of our own when 

we decided to foster. I was 

inspired by mom and my 

husband, who was a foster 

child. It keeps us running 

but we wouldn’t have it any 

other way,” she smiles. 

At this year’s celebration 

it was stated that some 

parents were not in 

attendance because of the 

inability to find caregivers 

for their children. For next 

year organizers are asking 

the help of churches, clubs 

and individuals in the 

community. By providing 

care for their children all 

our parents can attend. 

This wonderful celebration 

recognizes those parents 

who have generously 

stepped up to provide 

secure and loving homes for 

children who needed them. 

It is also a great opportunity 

to relax and meet others 

with whom they share 

common interests. 

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IT’S 

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20 



SWLAchurches 

CONGRATULATIONS ! 

150 Year 

Anniversary 

Reeves Temple 

Christian Methodist 

Episcopal Church 

Contributed By Carol Collins 

Reeves Colored Methodist Episcopal 

Church was founded in 1866 and is one 

of the oldest chartered organizations 

(1908) in the state. It was named for 

Reverend George Reeves, a white Civil 

War veteran who was sent to minister 

to the congregation just after the Civil 

War. In 1970, the official name became 

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The site for the church was purchased 

in 1878 for $30.00; a second tract was 

bought in 1884 for $10.00. The church 

and cemetery stand today on the same 

land purchased so many years ago. 

A new church was constructed in 1908, 

and stood until the hurricane of August 

6, 1918 tore it down. Material was 

salvaged from the storm and in 1919 

a temporary tabernacle was erected. 

In 1940, the present day structure 

was built with help from the men of 

REEVES 1887 CHURCH 

the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC 

Camp) under the leadership of the late 

Rudolph V. Kirk, Sr. Then in 1973 the 

church was renovated and a fellowship 

hall constructed. 

The first church was built by George 

Ryan, a former slave who worked as a 

carpenter after the Civil War. He trained 

members of the congregation along 

with his sons to construct the original 

building. Uncle George, as he was 

known also built many of the oldest 

houses in Lake Charles, which continue 

to be occupied today by white families. 

He was the slave of John Jacob Ryan 

and later John Jacob Ryan the second, 

known as “the Father of Lake Charles.” 

Ryan died October 30, 1928 at the age 

of 101 in the house he built and lived 

in for 66 years. His daughter, Clarinda 

Ryan Washington also lived to the 

ripe old age of 102 years. Currently, 

decedents of the Ryan’s remain active 

members of Reeves C.M.E. Church. 


According to the Lake Charles American 

Press, October 4, 1877 there were at 

least two (2) schools in Lake Charles. The 

two schools were the John McNeese 

for whites and the Colored School at 

Reeves Chapel. 

Some first for Reeves Temple in serving 

the community were: 

• First to have city water in the area 

• First to get natural gas 

• First gas burning steam radiators 

(heaters) 

• First black deputy sheriff in the state 

of Louisiana – Rudolph V. Kirk Sr. 

• First black city councilman – Rufus 

Mayfield, Jr. 

• First black interim mayor – Rodney 

Geyen 

• First woman lay leader in the C.M.E. 

Church – Ms. Addie Geyen 


22 


SWLA non-profit 

Rising Above 

(a non-profit organization for single mothers) 

“Faith Which Empowers You” 

James 1:2-4 

You’re Invited To A Workshop 

WHEN: November 12, 2016 

TIME: 10:00AM - 1:00PM 

WHERE: Mill St. Church of Christ 

2318 Mill St. 

Lake Charles, LA. 70601 

presented by: 

Vicky Parker 

Founder/CEO & Single Mother 

Featuring: Sherry Donahue-Brown, M.Ed. of Arlington, TX 

Author of The Voiceless Child 

7 Keys to Discovering your Purpose and Unlocking your Destiny 

Come build friendships and be encouraged by a panel of speakers from 

young, foster, divorced and widowed backgrounds. 

Door Prizes, Refreshments & Live Performance 


HOLIDAY Veteran's Day 

A Day to Remember 

By Ronald J. Blanchard 

On November 11, 

1919, the words 

of United States 

President Woodrow Wilson 

were carefully measured to 

fervently reflect the feelings 

of the people of this great 

country --"To us in America, 

the reflections of Armistice 

Day will be filled with solemn 

pride in the heroism of those 

who died in the country’s 

service and with gratitude 

for the victory, both because 

of the thing from which it 

has freed us and because 

of the opportunity it has 

given America to show her 

sympathy with peace and 

justice in the councils of 

the nations." President 

Wilson’s proclamation was 

the beginning of a process 

that would eventually create 

a very special day that 

celebrates all veterans of the 

United States of America’s 

armed forces. That day in the 

11th month and the 11th day 

of the year was established 

on June 1, 1954 and would 

become known as Veterans 

Day. 

Often confused with 

Memorial Day which honors 

those who died while in 

military service, Veterans Day 

celebrates the countless 

110 year old veteran, 

Louisiana native, Frank 

Levingston. Photo: Jack 

Gruber, USAT 

numbers of men and 

women who chose to honor 

and protect the privileges 

and freedoms that the 

people of the United States 

experience each and every 

day. Understanding that 

we live within an imperfect 

world filled with prejudice 

and division, our veterans are 

part of a unified body of men 

and women that know the 

commonality of suffering and 

sacrifice as they purposefully 

place themselves in harm’s 

way to preserve the potentials 

of American democracy. 

These individuals embody the 

characteristics of valor and 

unselfish humankind as they 

often endure the uncertain 

perils of war in an effort 

to establish global peace. 

Whether a member of the 

United States Army, Air Force, 

Navy, Marine, Coast Guard, or 

any other part of our nation’s 

defenses, our veterans 

transcend the barriers created 

by natural origin or ethnicity. 

Through their experiences 

they have learned valued 

lessons of life when often 

facing death as they answer 

the ultimate call to “serve and 

protect”. 

Veterans Day establishes a 

focal point of reference for 

one to remember brothers, 

sisters, fathers, mothers, sons 

and daughters who made a 

conscientious decision to fight 

endless threats at home and 

abroad to protect our friends 

and families. Ironically, so 

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER RANK 4 JOHN T. GOODWIN, UNITED STATES 

NAVY (RET). SERVED 24 YRS FROM 1956-1980, IN VIETNAM 1966-67 

AND THREE PURPLE HEARTS. 

many veterans are ignored 

and forgotten. Continued 

efforts are made to address 

the needs of the disabled 

veteran, but not enough 

has been accomplished. The 

physical and psychological 

impact on the lives of these 

men and women are endless 

and often without resolution. 

Yearly celebrations of 

Veterans Day have become 

a part of community and 

school routine, but there is 

concern that this routine 

becomes routine within its 

one day a year observance. 

It is important to understand 

that our veterans should 

be a daily part of respect 

and recognition. When 

considering the magnitude of 

their motivation, the men and 

women of the armed forces 

demonstrate the possibilities 

of a truly united nation. 

America’s growth and 

victory is predicated on the 

creation of a safe and secure 

homeland. This would not be 

possible without the selfless 

efforts of our veterans. G.K. 

Chesterton said, “The true 

soldier fights not because he 

hates what is in front of him, 

but because he loves what is 

behind him.” 

Veterans Day gives a 

momentary opportunity to 

remember and not forget the 

invaluable contribution of the 

American Vet! 

24 


MARSHALL’S CITY COUNCIL ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

MARSHALL’S PERSONAL INFORMATION 

• Married for 25 years to Dr. Paula Mouton Simien 

• 3 children, Marshall III (21), August (17) & Grace Elizabeth (10) 

• LSU Law School, MSU (BA-Government), Washington High School 

• President – Simien Law Firm 

MARSHALL’S SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY 

• Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, District 2 - December 2014 thru January 2016 

• Lake Charles City Council, District A – 2005 thru 2013 

President – 2007 to 2008, Vice President – 2006 to 2007 

• Lake Charles Port Board – 2003 thru 2005 

• Community Foundation of SWLA Board Member, 2014 thru Present 

• St. Charles Retreat Center – Advisory Board 

• IberiaBank – Advisory Board 

• Lake Charles Kiwanis Club North 

• Knights of St. Peter Claver, Council 141 - Jr. Knights Commander 

• Immaculate Heart of Mary Holy Name Society 

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

• Over $70 million in projects for District A 

• Enterprise Boulevard Parkway Extension, Phase I 

• I-10 Turnarounds at Enterprise Blvd and Kirkman St. 

• Downtown Lakefront Promenade 

• Downtown Lake Charles Public Transit Center and new City buses 

• Lake Charles Civic Center upgrades 

• New Lake Charles City Court 

• Riverside Park, Phases I & II 

• New Millennium Park and Children’s Playground 

• Council on Aging’s Whispering Hope Senior Apartment Complex 

• LC Housing Authority’s Bayou Bluff Subdivision 

• Goosport Recreation Center Water Park 

• Martin Luther King Recreation Center playground & concession stand 

• Lake Charles North Redevelopment Authority adjudicated property initiative 

• Helped facilitate construction of New VA Clinic for Lake Charles area veterans 

• Helped facilitate construction of Carboline Co. new distribution warehouse 

• Helped SWLA Center for Health Services expand services to underinsured 

• Helped Abraham’s Tent construct new facility 

MARSHALL’S PORT BOARD ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

• Addressed & corrected operational deficiencies after dissolution of prior Board 

• Oversaw construction of L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort on Port property 

• Negotiated LNG facilities locating to SWLA as cornerstone for economic boom 

Lake Charles STRONG! 

“Managing Our Town - Building Our City!” 


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26 


Adrian Wallace & Donna Little 

Executive Director, SEED Center 

& Director, LSBDC 

Leonard Knapp 

Director, Habitat for Humanity 

Sara Judson 

President & CEO, Community 

Foundation Southwest Louisiana 

We’re building ... 

Community 

“ Sasol has supported the development of 

entrepreneurship in Southwest Louisiana through 

its creation of the Small Business Resource Guide, 

a one-stop resource for the local business 

community. I look forward to seeing our small 

business community grow and their relationships 

with our corporate citizens flourish. ” 

Adrian Wallace 

Executive Director, SEED Center 

Learn more at www.SasolNorthAmerica.com 


James E. Sudduth, III & M. Scott ogden, jr.

The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

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