The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

JANUARY 2017 Vol 4 No 4
2017
The NEXT
PHASE
Southwest Louisiana
Upcoming Elections
The Effects of a
Thriving Economy
Twelfth Night
PHOTO BY VINH PHOTOGRAPHY

editor’s
By Brenda Hill
2017
The NEXT
PHASE
Welcome to 2017 and The
Next Phase of The Voice
of SWLA. Our sales team,
editors and writers spent valuable
time throughout the community and
surrounding areas, this past fall season,
to learn more about what our readers
want to read, how they want to access it
and what our advertisers have to offer
So this issue starts by presenting some
of the preliminary candidates that
desire to qualify for mayor, city council
and chief of police in Lake Charles and
other areas. Visit the pages of this issue
to learn more about places and districts
holding elections and special elections
in your area. Stay tuned for updates
about candidates and winners in
upcoming issues of The Voice of SWLA
leading into elections and the runoff.
An overwhelming interest in the I-10
Bridge from the December 2016 Issue,
has prompted a monthly series that will
explore and provide information about
changing developments to the I-10 &
I-210 bridges.
As more people move into the area,
and new businesses evolve, access to
real solutions and real concerns are
needed. We will seek answers to your
questions in ‘Real Life Real People'.
This flow of information will feature an
individual's real life experiences which
happens to all of us from all walks of life.
Our hope is to bring about successful
tips and strategies to your everyday
struggles with everyday challenges.
Send your questions to brenda@
thevoiceofsouthwestla.com.
With a continued commitment to print
positive journalism, talented authors,
artists and illustrators, etc., have reached
out to The Voice of SWLA for a venue to
share their works. Therefore, we invite
all ages to submit poetry, short stories,
artwork, photos, etc., to brenda@
thevoiceofsouthwestla.com. We want
to introduce you to our community of
readers and viewers.
2017-The Next Phase of The Voice of SWLA
is an exciting time to for us to provide you
with more facts, resources and links to
help you make more informed decisions
about the world you live in. We hope you
take that leap with us.
Happy New Year!
2 January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

January 2017
LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, STORIES & PEOPLE
2 2017 - THE NEXT PHASE
4 SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA UPCOMING ELECTONS
6 I-10 CALCASIEU RIVER BRIDGE A LONGTIME WORK IN
PROGRESS
8 ON CAMPUS OR OFF CAMPUS?
10 THE EFFECTS OF A THRIVING ECONOMY ON THE REAL
ESTATE MARKET
12 2017 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
14 FATHER'S SON
16 SWLA CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES ASSISTS WITH
HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT
17 NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
18 SWLA SPORTS
20 FINANCIAL FITNESS
21 CREATIVE FINANCING FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT
24 REAL LIFE REAL PEOPLE
26 TWELFTH NIGHT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Brenda Hill
brenda@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com
GENERAL MANAGER | Tracy Clark
tracy@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com
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
Brenda Hill, Tori Hebert,
Ronald J. Blanchard, Basha Celestaine
ART DIRECTOR | Vinh Alexander
tvswlart@gmail.com
EVENTS COORDINATOR | Carl Hubert
kopyman@suddenlink.net
DISCLOSURE:
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 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 3

SWLA politics
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
By Brenda Hill
T
he 2017 election season will
officially begin on January 13th,
which is the final day for candidates
to qualify.
Lake Charles voters will have the chance
to elect a new mayor. Current Mayor
Randy Roach is not seeking re-election.
Qualifying will take place January 11, 12
and 13 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Along with the Lake Charles mayor’s
race, other elections that will take place
around Calcasieu Parish are: Calcasieu
Parish School Board (District 12 Special
Election), Lake Charles city council while
in the Town of Vinton, seats for the mayor,
city council and chief of police will be up
for grabs. Primary elections for Constable,
Justice of the Peace Ward 2, Parish of
Cameron and Justice of the Peace, Justice
of the Peace Ward 2, Parish of Cameron
are also being held according to Susan
Racca, Clerk of Court Cameron Parish.
The primary election is Saturday, March
25, 2017. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and
close at 8 p.m.
In order to qualify for the election,
candidates must obtain proof they are
a registered voter from the Calcasieu
Registrar of Voters. That information must
then be shared with the Calcasieu Clerk
of Court where a qualifying fee will be
paid.
The Lake Charles mayor’s race is
garnering attention as eight residents
have declared for the election to replace
Mayor Randy Roach. Declared candidates
are: Tony Guillory, Nick Hunter, Joe Banks,
Chris Landry, Marshall Simien, Dana
Carl Jackson, Wilford Carter and Eligah
Guillory.
Here is a list of the current City Council
members who may or may not be
seeking reelection.
District A: Mary Morris
District B: Luvertha August
District C: Rodney Geyen
District D: John Ieyoub
District E: Stuart Weatherford
District F: Dana Carl Jackson
District G: Mark Eckard
For more information about qualifying,
contact the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of
Court at 337-437-3350 or Registrar of
Voter 337-721-4000 or www.geauxvote.
com.
Remember to pick up the latest issues of
The Voice of SWLA for more election updates
and visit www.thevoiceofsouthwestla.
com to learn about other areas.
4 January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

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!”
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 5

SWLA news
I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge a
Longtime Work In Progress
By Brenda Hill
Since 1994, state
environmental and
transportation officials
have been studying ways
to replace the Interstate 10
Calcasieu River Bridge.
Many residents, business
owners and government
officials have met over
22 years attempting to
determine the most efficient
and cost effective way to
replace the bridge – which
was opened in 1952 --that
services approximately
70,000 motorists per day
which totals 23 million per
year.
What many in the public fail
to understand is that one of
the primary hindrances of a
new bridge is the cleanup
of an undisclosed amount
of ethylene dichloride (EDC)
which leaked into the waters
under the bridge in 1994.
According to the Centers
for Disease Control, EDC “is
one of the highest volume
chemicals used in the United
States.”
The chemical is an important
ingredient in the creation of
plastic and vinyl products.
EDC leaked from an above
ground pipeline that was
owned then by Conoco
refinery. Since that time
Phillips 66 (which merged
with Conoco in 2002) has
been working with the
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and
Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality (LDEQ)
to “address the impact of
the release,” according to a
company fact sheet entitled
“Clooney Loop Remediation
and the Interstate 10 Bridge
over the Calcasieu River.”
“Phillips 66 operates a
comprehensive groundwater
recovery and treatment
system and regularly collects
samples from monitoring
wells in accordance with
plans approved by LDEQ. This
system has been in operation
since shortly after the
incident and has been highly
successful at recovering
product and cleaning up the
area,” according to the fact
sheet.
The company states that
concentration levels north
of the I-10 Bridge are “well
below the LDEQ approved
cleanup standards and no
remediation is necessary in
this area. In fact, most of the
samples taken from the area
since November 2011 show
that the groundwater even
meets EPA standards for
drinking water.”
The company finished
monitoring and assessment
of EDC impact in the Clooney
Loop Marine Docks along
with the area north of that
location. As a result, Phillips
66 started remediation in
those areas.
“Phillips 66 will continue its
monitoring and recovery
efforts in any affected area
under the guidance of
LDEQ. In addition, Phillips
66 will continue to evaluate
the feasibility of various
remediation methods
to enhance the ongoing
groundwater recovery and
treatment efforts under the
direction of LDEQ,” the fact
sheet states.
The Louisiana Department
of Transportation is the
government agency that will
oversee the construction
of a new bridge. Two
construction projects
are under consideration:
replacement of I-10 Bridge
6 January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

PHOTO BY VINH PHOTOGRAPHY
and construction of Sampson
Street Interchange into
Westlake. Here are the steps
that need to occur in order
for the project to move
forward. No time table has
been selected as to when the
steps will be completed:
1. Completion of
Environmental Impact
Study for bridge
construction.
2. Public hearings on the
new Environmental
Impact Study.
3. Federal Highway
Administration will decide
on the appropriate design
alternative for the bridge
and interchange projects
at the conclusion of the
Environmental Impact
Study.
4. Bridge design approval
from Federal Highway
Administration.
5. What follows is a timeline
of events, provided by
Phillips 66, about the
EDC contamination and
remediation process.
• 1994: EDC leaked from an
above-ground pipeline,
recovery of EDC and
remediation of area
followed soon after.
• 1995: Design and
construction of a
temporary groundwater
recovery and treatment
system.
• 1996: Groundwater
monitoring at Clooney
Loop conducted under
LDEQ Compliance Order
No. WE-C-96-0011; this
effort continues today on
a semi-annual basis, which
includes reporting semiannually
to LDEQ.
• 1999: Startup of current
groundwater treatment
plant that annually treats
millions of gallons of
recovered groundwater
and recycles recovered
EDC.
• 2007: Completed
groundwater and soil
sampling related to
potential future DOTD
construction for the
Sampson Street and I-10
expansion north of the
Clooney Loop marine
docks.
• 2009: Completed
investigation beneath
marsh north of I-10.
• 2010: Installed additional
recovery wells south and
north of Isles of Capri
Boulevard.
• 2011: Began quarterly
monitoring of wells in
north Clooney Loop near
bridge construction area.
• 2012: Submitted Risk
Evaluation Corrective
Action Program (RECAP)
reports to LDEQ seeking
approval of cleanup
standards.
• 2013: LDEQ approved
RECAP cleanup standards.
• 2016: Evaluating the
feasibility of biological,
chemical, physical and
thermal remediation
methods to enhance
ongoing site remediation.
Phillips 66 has been testing
various remediation
methods to enhance site
cleanup since 2008.
Editor’s Note: This is the first
in a series of stories that will
focus on the Interstate 10
Bridge replacement project.
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 7

SWLA education
On campus
or Off campus?
By Tori Hebert
The Class of 2017 graduates
probably feel like a new year hasn’t
quite begun. It’s easy to base a
“new year” on when a school calendar
year begins. As seniors continue their
studies in the last few months before
graduation, they will begin looking at
various details revolving around their
first year of college. One pressing issue
will be where they will call home. Living
on or off campus is a hard decision to
make and the ultimate factor for many
students ultimately relies on affordability.
Affordable housing is an absolute must
have now more than ever because of
legislative action to cut TOPS allowances.
TOPS, Taylor Opportunity Program
for Students, is a program of state
scholarships for Louisiana residents
who attend college within that state.
Students receive TOPS based on their
GPA throughout high school and must
maintain a certain GPA each semester of
college to continue receiving financial
aid. The TOPS program pays for a students
tuition, and with either the Performance
Award or Honors Award stipend, students
receive extra funds to help them cover
various university fees.
The state legislature has been chipping
away at the budget for higher education
for many years. In turn, tuition prices
continue to rise across campuses. In
the early part of 2016, students faced a
devastating blow when the legislature,
in order to meet a budget decision, once
again cut high education and left the
TOPS program without the $249 million it
needs to be fully funded.
The chart below shows what tuition at
McNeese and SOWELA will be for the
Spring 2017 semester, and also what
TOPS is able to give. The table also
includes stipend payment reductions for
the spring based on what was paid in the
fall. In the Spring semester, TOPS will be
less than 50% funded.
McNeese
Spring Tuition
$3,677.23
TOPS Award
$1,075.79
TOPS
Performance
Stipend
Fall
$186.12
Spring
$83.60
SOWELA
Spring Tuition
$1,667.50
TOPS Award
$671.76
TOPS Honors
Stipend
Fall
$372.24
Spring
$167.20
Without the full tuition payment and
stipend allowance of TOPS, students will
and parents alike will want to save many
anywhere they can. Living on campus
usually includes rent, all utilities, provides
a laundry facility, fully furnished rooms,
and sometimes a kitchen. These are great
features when students are looking in
to housing options for their new college
adventure. However, the prices for on
campus housing can often make students
and parents gasp. Here are a few pros and
cons to consider about living on campus.
Why live on campus…
1. Convenience
On campus living means never having
to drive to school. You don’t have to
keep track of the traffic report or learn
alternate routes for those hectic days
on the road. You may even get to sleep
in later than you would if you were a
computer student. Being on campus
all the time also makes it easier to be a
part of campus events. You won’t have
the debate with yourself if you really
want to go all the way back to school
once you have been home for a few
hours. Everything you need is right on
campus with you, and you have countless
opportunities to take a break form
studying to enjoy fun nights with friends.
2. 24/7 Assistance
Whether you got locked out of your room
or the elevator is broken, Maintenance is
always on call. Plus, Residence Assistants
are always available to help you in an
emergency, or to simply give you advice.
Unlike off campus apartments, someone
is always available to help you when
8 January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

things go wrong. When you live on
campus you grow a support system of
people who want you to succeed. Being
around others like you who are striving to
do their best will challenge you to better
yourself everyday.
Pictures are "outside view of "The Suites" and floor plans.
Why live off campus…
1. The requirement of a meal plan.
Having a meal plan can be great for those
students who do not want to cook all
the time and would rather not store food
in their room. However, this can also be
a set back because meals plans are an
extra several hundred dollars that will be
paid in addition to deposits for housing.
Many colleges require residents to have
a meal plan, even if it does not get used.
Different meal plan options are available
to students, but if a student would rather
cook is the extra payment a beneficial
purchase? Remember, a kitchen is NOT
always included in your dorm. Take some
time to examine what kind of grocery
budget you could set for yourself. Would
you be able to purchase groceries to last
a week or two, or does a meal plan option
with already cooked meals a better fit for
you?
L-R, King Hall, Watkins Hall and Ziglar Hall (The Suites) are the most popular of the housing options
on McNeese State University.
2. Cost
The prices listed on various on campus
floor plans are monthly rent. This price
is sometimes not divided between
roommates. For example, if a floor plan
price says that it is $560 per month, it is
possible that every occupant of the floor
plan pays $560 per month. Even if the
floor plan includes 2-4 individual rooms,
the price can still be $560 per person.
Off campus living prices can be a shock,
but the difference is that the monthly
cost would be divided between the
occupants. For example, if rent is $1,000
per month, each occupant would be
responsible for a portion of $333.33.
McNeese houses both McNeese and
SOWELA students. Time will tell how the on
campus resident population will change
with the new TOPS allowances. To find out
more about the TOPS program and to see
what TOPS tuition payments will be for
your school, visit http://www.osfa.state.
la.us.
Collette Floor Plan
Garden Style Floor Plan
Visit http://www.mcneesereslife.com
to view other floor plans, photos, and information.
Visit https://www.mcneese.edu/future-students/tuition_fees_and_expenses
for more information about McNeese tuition and
Visit https://www.sowela.edu/np-calc
for Sowela tuition. (this is net price calculator that students plug in their
information to see an estimated cost of their education)
Visit http://www.osfa.state.la.us
For information on Federal Funding
Visit http://www.osfa.state.la.us/MainSitePDFs/TOPS_Payment_Amounts.pdf.
Students can check their specific education site to see what the TOPS allowance is
for the Spring 2017 semester.
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 9

SWLA real estate
The Effects of a
THRIVING ECONOMY
on the Real Estate Market
As I reflect on 2016 in terms of my
expectations of the effects of
the economic boom in
Calcasieu and Cameron parishes
resulting from Sasol's expansion, the
LNG plants, and other construction
projects and my actual production as a
realtor, I am keenly aware of how a high
demand for housing and low supply
affect the real estate market. The fact
that the Southwest Louisiana Board of
Realtors has double the number of
realtors as were licensed when I began
my real estate career over 13 years go
indicates that a number of people
changed their careers in hopes of
financially benefiting from our thriving
economy; however, when the market
averaged somewhere around 850
active residential listings in December
and there are at least 700 licensed
realtors, that means I have fewer than
1.3 houses to sell. Staggering, isn't it?
Obviously, we have low inventory of
houses to sell particularly for first-time
buyers from $180k and below. Most
of the offers I wrote for clients in 2016
resulted in a bidding war over multiple
offers; consequently, those houses sold
for over list price. I had several clients
who went through 3-5 offers before
they were able to go under contract.
Sounds like bad news, but it affords
an opportunity to educate buyers on
the type of market we have. If they
understand that we have very few
houses to sell and that they often go for
list price or above, then buyers know
what to expect. They know, also, to
inform their realtors immediately when
a new listing becomes available for
viewing. It is not unusual for a house to
go under contract within 48 hours after
going on the market.
Buyers who are qualified to buy over
$180k have a good selection of new
construction to consider; however,
many are patio homes on small lots.
When purchasing new houses, buyers
can often make their choices of colors,
floors etc. as though they were building
a custom home.
Naturally sellers like this kind of market
because their houses are selling for
top dollar and go quickly; but when
they change hats and become buyers,
Analee Gregory Dupuie,
Realtor®, MRP
CENTURY 21
Bessette Realty, Inc.
3025 Lake Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
analee.gregory@century21.com
www.AnaleeSellsHomes.com
337-274-9996 cell
best way to reach me
337-474-2185 office
Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.
Each office independently owned and operated.
any "extra money" they received from
the sale of their homes may have to
go towards the purchase of their new
homes.
The good news is that we have a
thriving economy and the opportunity
to have the American dream of home
ownership. For anyone considering
buying or selling, my advice is "Don't sit
on the idea!" Prayerfully consider if this
is the timing and trust God to direct you
in your decisions. Recent news is that
mortgage rates are going up!
10
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

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1540 N. MLK Hwy, Suite B. Lake Charles, LA. 70601 (337)437-4237
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LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, STORIES & PEOPLE
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 11

2017 Martin Luther King Jr.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
KZWA 104.9, The Vibe Foundation and the M.L.K. Coalition announces plans for the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Festival held January 13-16, 2017. The theme this year is, The Dream: “Our Lives Begin
to End the Day We Become Silent About Things That Matter.”
The M.L.K., Jr. Festival honors the courageous effort and sacrifices of
Martin Luther King, Jr., and celebrates its 33rd Anniversary Year.
It was chosen as a top 20 event by the Southeast Tourism Society for the first quarter of 2016.
This award is a coveted honor among 12 member states.
MLK 2016 Breakfast Attendees Judge Ron Ware - MLK Parade Grand Marshall 2016
All Four high school choirs Barbe, LAGrange, Washington Marion and Sulphur.
Everyone is invited to take part in this fun filled event. Don’t miss the Family Fun Day celebration
where you can enjoy live, local and national entertainers with the best in Zydeco, R&B, Jazz, Blues and
Southern Soul music. The big Celebrity Gumbo/Sauce Piquant Cook-Off contest as well as the exhibition
by hundreds of local vendors featuring arts, crafts, Creole and Cajun food from all over Louisiana which
promises to be a treat for all ages.
12
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

Friday January 13th
Morning-Kick-Off Annual Memorial Breakfast 7:30 a.m.
GLAD TIDINGS CHURCH 3400 TEXAS STREET LAKE
CHARLES, LA.
Guest Speaker- The honorable Judge Ron Ware of the 14th
Judicial District Court.
Local high school choirs performing include: Barbe, Lagrange,
Washington Marion and Sulphur led by each school's choir
director, and accompanied by Mr. Don McZeal and Ms. Belinda
Williams.
MLK Unsung Hero Award 9:00 a.m.
First place winners from each division of the essay contest will
read their winning essay. Open to the public and televised live
on KPLC TV.
Saturday January 14th
MLK Community Clean-Up Day 8:00 a.m.
MLK 2017
PARADE ROUTE
Leave MLK Center on Simmons Street - to Moeling (Right
on Moeling) - to Prater (Right on Prater) - to Fitzenriter
Road -(Right on Fitzenriter Road) - back to Simmons
(Right on Simmons) to MLK Center.
Fitzenriter Road
Pear St
Martin Luther
King Jr. Center
Will be held at the MLK Center. Featuring the Boy Scouts of
America and Washington Marion ROTC
Sunday January 15th
Gospel Extravaganza 6:00 p.m.
Featuring performers from throughout Louisiana.
Throne of Grace Fellowship, 2401 6th Street Lake Charles, LA
Free Admission
Monday January 16th
Annual Parade 8:30 a.m.
Prater Street
Rena St
Harless St
Theriot St
Hagan St
Knapp St
Junior St
Booker St
Adam St
Harless St
N Simmons Street
Line up at the Martin Luther King Center
Parade Roll Out 11:00 a.m.
Family Day Celebration (Zydeco, R&B, Blues, and Southern Soul
Music)
Medora St
Wooding St
Celebrity Gumbo/Sauce Piquant Cook-Off Contest
Local Vendor Exhibition (Arts, Crafts, Creole, and Cajun Foods)
Pear St
T - Shirts can be purchased at KZWA and Unlimited
Fashions. Pick up entry forms and pay fees at the
business office located at 305 Enterprise Blvd., Lake
Charles, La. 70601. Those wearing the commemorative
M.L.K. T - shirts will get free admission and are invited to
march in the M.L.K. parade.
For more information and details send an email to
mail@kzwafm.com or contact:
Jacques Brown
337-491-9955 or
fax 337-433-8097
mail@kzwafm.com
KZWA LIVE 104.9
305 Enterprise Blvd
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Kathenne St
N Cherry St
Moeling Street
Channel St
Poplar St
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 13

Reflective Light
Father’s Son
By Ronald J. Blanchard
Ryan Zachery and his son Parker Zachery embrance each other in love.
Beyond hope and
imagination, there
is a reality that is
imprinted within each and
every boy that strives to
become a man. Something
special and specific to his
conceptual design initiates
the beginnings of a human
male specie that has purpose
that erases the theory of
happenstance. Through
spiritual orchestration and
predestination, his physical
anatomy and physiology
follow the amazingly
scripted, yet unwritten
language that prefigures his
eternal make-up through
a divine blue print—an
internal communication that
scientists refer to as “DNA”.
However, there is a necessity
to nurture beyond nature
that invisible, intangible
entity that animates and
creates a male, adult human
being.
What may appear to be a
challenging complexity offers
solutions within simplicity.
What one plants is what one
grows. Surely, it would be
ridiculous to look for corn
within an okra field. A man
has an essential obligation
and responsibility to his
infant baby boy to be the
initial positive male role
model. A man who considers
himself to be a “father”
demonstrates through
unconditional love and
compassion an immeasurable
level of involvement that
offers developmentally
specific provisions to all his
children. He understands
that significant amounts of
father–child involvement
will help increase a child's
social stability, educational
achievement, and their
potential to become adults
that will contribute to
society. Effective bonding
with his male child creates
an individual that is more
cognitively and physically
competent than his fatherless
peers. Through his young
eyes and ears, he gains
insight that shapes his
thoughts and impressions
that define “father”. Within
his infant mind, he begins to
store memories of a man that
will be important when he is
able to emulate his first super
hero—his father!
A male child learns to crawl,
walk, and eventually stand,
following the paternal
guidance of the most
significant man in his life. His
eventful evolution is part of a
positive process that creates
caring and respect within
his character. Over time, he
begins to understand those
things that are pleasing to his
father, as well as those factors
that tend to disappoint.
Unafraid to try, knowing
that there is one that will be
there to catch him if he falls,
he develops a confidence
that prepares him for the
world. His coach, teacher,
and mentor is always within
his grasp. Communication
often does not require words
as subtle gestures convey
messages that they clearly
understand. Endless efforts
to shape and mold within
imperfection creates a
joyous work for a father who
welcomes the challenges of
parenthood.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a
child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will
not depart from it.” As a father
raises his newborn son to the
heavens, he makes an eternal
commitment to the universe.
His effectual contribution
to humankind transforms a
boy into a man. A man with
unlimited possibilities and
endless dreams enters the
world filled with inspirations
and pride. This man has a
name. He’s his Father’s son!
14
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

SUCCESSFUL
SELF Inc.
It has been reported that 2.2 million individuals are
behind bars and 900,000 of the 2.2 million are African
Americans, and a significant growing proportion of the
Hispanic population is added to this disproportionate racial
composition. (Ryan S. King, Marc Mauer, and Malcolm C.
Young, Incarceration and Crime: A Complex Relationship,
The Sentencing Project, 2005)
Our nation has encountered a rapid rise in the number of
people in prisons and jails over the last decade. The Bureau
of Justice Statistics documents 1-in-6 people had been
behind bars as of 2001, and if this current trend continues,
1-in-3 black males born today can expect to be incarcerated
during their lifetime. (Thomas P. Bonczar Prevalence of
Experiment in the U.S. Population 1974-2001, Bureau of
Justice Statistics, 2003, p.8.)
Although women imprisonment is lower than men,
black women are more likely than white women to find
themselves behind bars.
(The Sentencing Project, Women in the Criminal Justice
System, May, 2007.)
Successful Self Inc., is a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization
with programs that serves this at-risk, incarcerated and
former prisoner population.
“Project Bear the Burden” is one program designed for
service with a 36-Week 8-Step Eco Map Curriculum known
as STRNGTH (Successful Tools for Residents in Non-
Governmental Transitional Housing) Phase I & Phase II.
STRNGTH Phase I & II has clinically based “Persons” in the
Environment to provide licensed professional counseling
with expertise in addictions, anger and depression
management, life skills coaching and the skilled practice of
meditation known as ‘Mindfulness.’ This voluntary program
welcomes all individuals from all backgrounds and offers
each an individualized plan to meet their specific needs.
Please direct all inquiries or make tax deductible donations
to Successful Self Inc 501(C)(3) by contacting:
Gene R. Hill, Sr.
Successful Self Inc.
Founder/Prison Minister/Mentor Program Coordinator
gene.hilsr@gmail.com
337.377.5731
Joseph H. Hadnot, Ph.D
Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Education
Author: Motivational Speaker:Mindfulness
Most recent book: Living the Amazing Life
afrikaneden@yahoo.com
337.375.2155
Patrick Steward, M.Ed.
Specialization Family & Community Service
Board Certified Master Addictions Counselor III
Anger & Depression Management Specialist
Certified Behavior Management Specialist
New Beginnings Outreach Community Center (Successful Self Inc Affiliate)
ps0289048@gmail.com
337.794.5351
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 15

SWLA health & wellness
SWLA Center for Health
Services assists with Health
Insurance Enrollment
The rising costs of healthcare have
some businesses struggling to
decide whether or not they can
afford to provide health insurance for
their employees while some employees
may find that they are not able to
afford the premiums of their employer
sponsored plan.
SWLA Center for Health Services
is available to assist businesses by
bringing our Certified Application
Counselors to you. Our Counselors
can help with completing health
insurance applications for Medicaid or
the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. “Obama
Care”, free of charge. Depending on your
number of employees, our Counselors
can be available on Friday afternoons or
Saturdays to provide information and
application assistance at your business
location. For more information about our
“Mobile” Insurance Application Assistance
at your business, please contact Mrs.
Inca Allen, Outreach and Enrollment
Supervisor, at 337-769-6535 or reach her
by email at iallen@swlahealth.org.
Our Counselors are also available at each
of our sites daily Monday – Friday by
appointment or walk-in to help people
complete Medicaid and Affordable Care
Act applications. Visit http://swlahealth.
org to find our location nearest you.
Why is this assistance important now?
In July 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards
enacted Medicaid expansion in Louisiana.
The income limits for Medicaid have now
been adjusted for working families. This
is great news for individuals who may not
have previously qualified for Medicaid
because of their income.
Also, the open enrollment period for the
Affordable Care Act is ongoing through
the end of January 2017. Although
it is true that there are discussions in
Washington to repeal the Affordable
Care Act, there has not been a time
table set for when the repeal will go
into effect once it occurs. Currently,
over 20 million Americans receive their
health insurance through the Affordable
Care Act; subsequently, the incoming
Administration has indicated that any
future changes will be preceded by
a transition period to ensure that all
Americans still have access to coverage.
Therefore, SWLA Center for Health
Services encourages individuals who still
want or are in need of health insurance
to apply before the January 31, 2017
deadline.
Below are tables to help you determine if you or your employees may qualify for Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act.
Individuals making less than the income amounts shown below are encouraged to apply.
Medicaid Eligibility
138% of the Federal Poverty Level for 2016
Household Size Weekly Bi-Weekly Monthly Yearly
1 $ 316 $ 631 $ 1,367 $ 16,395
2 $ 426 $ 851 $ 1,843 $ 21,108
3 $ 536 $ 1,071 $ 2,319 $ 27,821
4 $ 645 $ 1,290 $ 2,795 $ 33,534
5 $ 755 $ 1,510 $ 3,271 $ 39,248
6 $ 865 $ 1,730 $ 3,747 $ 44,961
Affordable Care Act Eligibility
Household Size Yearly
1 $ 47,520
2 $ 64,080
3 $ 80,640
4 $ 97,200
5 $ 113,760
6 $ 130,320
16
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

New Years Resolutions
Basha's List of 7 Guilt-free
New Years Goals
By Basha Celestaine
Soooo let's talk about New Year's
resolutions. You know, those
promises or goals you make for
yourself for the upcoming year, but
never actually keep? The most common
resolutions that I've heard usually mostly
do with weight because we equate
that with beauty and happiness. Some
people go small, like promising to lose
five pounds by April. Others go big, like
promising to lose five pounds a month
until the following year. Some people
shoot for day to day goals like trying to
work out every single day or cut out junk
food entirely. Some just strive to be better
people, but can't find the time or good
ways to do it. I say this year let's shoot for
more attainable goals, because It's going
to be a hard one, and we don't need to
make it harder on ourselves. So, here's my
list of guilt free goals:
1. Hold a baby sometime this year.
They are cute and cuddly warm balls
of fat, that just makes you happy
because everything is so new and
interesting to them. This is good
because it helps you appreciate the
small things you're already use to, so
much more. If you are wary of babies
for some reason do it anyway, it's
a small way to push yourself. And
don't worry most don't bite. P.S, make
sure you ask first...the parent...not
the baby, they likely won't be able
to answer. (If for some reason, you
can't find a baby, puppies, kittens
and most other baby animals are also
acceptable.)
2. Go for a walk.
Walks are a great form of exercise and
exploring what's around you. They are
also a good time for self-reflection.
Who knows maybe you'll like it so
much that you'll go on another and
another, until you go on a walk once
a week. Walks once a week can turn
into walks three times a week, and
one of those walks could easily turn
into a run. If not, that's okay.
3. Treat someone.
This is just a simple way to put a
smile on the face of someone you
care about. It doesn't have to be a big
thing, buy someone's froyo, take a
friend to the movies, take your mom
to lunch. Putting a smile on someone
else's face can put a smile on yours.
4. Donate.
Anything works, money, an article of
clothing, a little bit of your time. We
may all be complaining about 2016,
but many have had it way worse.
If you don't have a favorite charity
find one. 2017 will be the year for
needy causes. If you can spare some
change, do so. We're getting deeper
into winter here and many are going
cold and hungry, so you can donate
food and warmer clothing. Go run (or
walk, not judging) a 5K in the fight
against cancer. Give a college student
$5 bucks. Just do something, find
some way to give back a little. Bonus:
studies have shown that giving back
can increase your own happiness.
5. Give someone a hug.
Sometimes people just need a hug.
Again, ask first. But with the way this
new year is starting off, I'm guessing
a lot of people could use a good
squeeze or two.
6. Eat something healthy that you enjoy.
Much like with the walking this could
lead into more health-conscious
decisions. But no pressure.
7. “Treat Yo Self”
Tom and Donna from Parks and
Recreation made this a yearly
tradition for a reason. It's good to
take time for yourself and make
you feel good. It's okay to splurge
sometimes and buy the shoes, go
on that spa day, eat that cupcake, or
drink that ridiculous foo-foo coffee,
that you know is basically a milkshake
and won't help you in any way whatso-ever.
“Treat Yo Self 2017!”
Over the course of the year we must deal
with a lot of deadlines and time limits on
things. When we give them to ourselves
they can sometimes be very helpful
and motivating, but they can also add
unnecessary stress. I don't know about
you, but I have had enough of stress.
So, let's make the upcoming year a feel
good one. It will not be easy, but the best
part of these guilt free goals is they can
be done just once anytime during 2017.
And hey, if you feel like doing more, then
more power to ya!
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 17

SWLA sports
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Let’s Get Ready
for Playoffs! By Tori Hebert
Put your tailgating items away
and dig out your basketball gear
because the playoffs will be
here before you know it. The Louisiana
State Boys Basketball Championship is
hosted right here in Lake Charles at our
very own Burton Coliseum. This year’s
tournament will be quite different
than it has been in the past. The LHSAA
voted to separate the public and private
schools’ championships. In previous
years, all teams played together, but
this year public and private schools will
play against each other respectively.
This split comes just a few years after
the LHSSA separated the football
playoffs, and the split has now been
extended to basketball, baseball, and
softball. At the June 2016 LHSSA
meeting, Northshore High School
principle Frank Jabbia was quoted as
saying, “I understand (private schools)
have to recruit; it’s their business…
If they need people, they ought to
be recruiting the highly talented and
educated kids. They’re not coming for
those kids; they’re coming for the
kids who are going to sell tickets
on Friday nights and Saturdays, and
that’s our problem. They’re handpicking
who they want. On our side of the
district, we have just a handful of
very gifted athletes, and when you
lose a few of those, it puts a damper
on everything else we do. That’s the
difficult part. We just want to play on
a level playing field.” Northshore High
School is a part of St. Tammany Parish.
Many private schools have the ability
to recruit the top athletes to play for
their teams. Public schools can only
accept students within their enrollment
zone, but private schools have open
enrollment. Both private and public
schools have voiced concerns over
logistics and how this split will affect
the game, but as of now, the basketball
playoffs will be separated.
It is uncertain what will happen next,
but private schools and some public
schools have discussed forming
their own “athletic
cooperative”. New Orleans
affiliate WGNO reported
a proposed Louisiana High School
Sports Cooperative email had been
sent out to schools across the state, but
there has been no progress or formal
introduction at this time. To read more
about the split and any alternatives,
visit wgno.com or nola.com. Be sure to
add these sites to your resource list for
all things related to high school basket
ball across the state!
Girls State Championship will be
February 27-March 24 at University
Center in Hammond and Boys State
Championship will be March 6-11 at
Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
Check the chart below to see what
district and class your home town
team belongs to. These divisions are
based on the total number of students
enrolled in grades 9-12 at each school.
This chart accounts for both boys and
girls basketball teams.
wgno.com
http://wgno.com/2016/03/16/alternativeto-lhsaa-la-high-school-sports-cooperativeseeks-60-schools/
this article discusses the possible
alternative to the LHSAA. It's a sensitive
subject right now, and nothing has yet
been set into action.
nola.com
http://highschoolsports.nola.com/news/
article/2805862792038434058/lhsaaprincipals-vote-to-keep-extended-splitprivate-schools-to-mull-future/
this article is a recap of the June
meeting of the LHSAA and state
high school principles.
3-4A
Washington-Marion
DeRidder
Crowley
Rayne
3-5A
Barbe
Sam Houston
Sulphur
4-1A
Grand Lake
South Cameron
Elton
East Beauregard
Hamilton Christian
4-2A
Lake Arthur
Welsh
DeQuincy
Vinton
Merryville
4-3A
Iowa
Westlake
South Beauregard
Iota
Jennings
St. Louis
4-4A
LaGrange
5-3A
Church Point
6-3A
Notre Dame
6-C
Hackberry
Johnson Bayou
Singer
Northside Christian
7-B
Hathaway
Lacassine
Midland
18
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 19

SWLA business
FinancialFitness
Your Credit Score and You
For many Americans, a credit score
is a 3-digit number that conjures
worry and uncertainty. It seems
like a mysterious number that can
make or break your financial future, and
many aren’t sure what affects the score,
much less where to go for help.
Southwest Louisiana Credit Union
offers one-on-one financial advice that
can help keep you and your family
financially fit. Your credit score can be
your biggest asset or your worst enemy,
so it’s important to ask for help from
the professionals who can put you on
the right track toward a healthy, happy
financial state of being.
Your score is generated from a
computer-based model that compiles
the information from your credit report,
and your score depends on how well
you manage your credit and debts.
Many factors contribute to your credit
score’s vitality, and it’s important to be
aware of ways to keep your credit score
up.
Prioritize your bills.
“You may be surprised how many
people don’t pay their bills on time,”
said Ronaldo Hardy, CEO of Southwest
Louisiana Credit Union. “This is one of
the best ways to improve your credit
score, and neglecting your due dates is
also the easiest way to dent your score.”
Even if you’re trying to make ends meet
and feel like you’re living paycheck to
paycheck, always prioritize your bills.
It’s better to make a few sacrifices now
and pay your bills on time than to miss
a few payments and have a lower score
that affects future purchases, such as a
home or car.
Monitor your credit card balances.
Your credit card utilization rate is
perhaps one of the most important
factors in determining your credit score.
This rate is your total credit card debt
divided by your total credit limit.
“The smaller the percentage, the better
it looks for your credit, and a large
percentage can give lenders a red flag
since it may appear that you depend
too much on credit,” said Hardy. “The
ideal credit card utilization rate is about
30%.”
Keep good credit part of your life.
It may sound counterintuitive, but
keeping old good debt on your credit
report can be a good thing. If you have
debt that you paid off on time and
managed very well—such as an auto
loan or a mortgage—it can show that
you have a history of being fiscally
responsible.
Play it safe.
“While being a risk taker can pay off in
other aspects of your life, it’s better to
be a bit conservative with your credit,”
said Hardy.
Significant and sudden changes in your
routine—such as a sharp increase in
activity or an unexpected decline in
payment amounts—can damage your
credit score.
Even if some credit card habits don’t
directly affect your credit score, your
card issuer may become concerned
by certain activities that may point to
financial stress, such as frequent cash
advances.
Erase small, multiple balances.
Another factor that determines your
credit score is how many of your credit
cards have balances.
“Instead of charging $20 here and $30
there, use one card that has a good
interest rate and focus on paying off
small balances on your other cards that
have higher interest rates,” said Hardy.
“Every little thing helps direct you
toward a healthier financial future.”
Southwest Louisiana Credit Union is a
$95-million, not-for-profit, memberbased
credit union with four locations
in Lake Charles, Sulphur and Westlake.
To find out more, visit www.swlacu.com
or call 337-477-9190.
20
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

SWLA business
Creative Financing
for HOME IMPROVEMENT
By Tori Hebert
W
hen Henry Mancuso started
Project Build a Future (PBAF)
in 2001 he never thought it
would still be a prosperous non-profit
organization 15 years later. Henry says,
“When I first started this, I thought we
would build a few houses and then
we could pat ourselves on the back
for a job well done”. When The Voice
of SWLA first published about PBAF
in August 2014, VOL.2, NUM.1, the
organization had built almost two
dozen homes and had no foreclosures.
The non-profit has now built well over
100 homes and still has seen zero
foreclosures. PBAF has brought a new
and creative way of financing not only
to their homes, but also to the three
community charter schools.
To begin the process of the Lease-to-
Purchase Program with PBAF, every
family is required to go through a
process of education to help them build
financially stable practices. One of the
first steps in moving toward having
their first home, is for each family to
meet with Home Buyer Counselor.
This counselor works with the family
to set a working monthly budget, and
the counselor also helps the family
understand their credit score and assist
them in creating a Credit Repair Action
Plan. This action plan helps families on
their journey to repairing their credit
score in order to financially help them
in the long run.
Once families have been able to make
improvements to their credit score
and they are close to being mortgage
ready, families are then eligible to be a
part of the Lease-to-Purchase Program.
During this time, families continue to
save money for their home with the
help of Asset Builders. Asset Builders
is a program that assist families in the
down payment they can deposit at the
bank towards purchasing their home.
For every $1 the family saves, Asset
Builders gives $4 to the family towards
Henry Mancuso at his Court of Appeals office.
their savings. This money helps each
family get closer to their goal of owning
a home, and also helps their monthly
payments stay low.
During the Lease-to-Purchase Program,
families are given more education
opportunities. This time they are
taught about home maintenance
and repair. “This is a great way to help
families understand what it takes to be
a homeowner. Whenever something
breaks or goes wrong, you don’t have
the option to call the land lord. You are
the land lord!” says Mr. Mancuso.
Through the entire home buying
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 21

process, these families are never left
on their own. Every step of the way
they have regular meetings with their
Home Buyer Counselors, are continually
attending home buyer education
classes, and when the time comes to
make a trip to the bank to make a down
payment, PBAF goes with them. Henry
said, “You would think that after the
families have purchased their homes
that we would go our separate ways.
However, we have quite a few families
that stay in touch with us and we hear
from them often. Some families have
even discussed possibly creating our
own Homeowners Association. It is
amazing to see the difference owning
a home can make in a person and in a
neighborhood.”
The homes that PBAF develops are
done with local contractors, and many
of them have been in partnership
with Habitat for Humanity. They are
single family homes that have open
floor plans, three bedrooms, and two
bathrooms. The non profit organization
has a goal of building 6 homes a year,
and at the time of print they had 4
homes under construction on the 700
block of VE Washington Street in Lake
Charles.
Henry believes that there are two key
components of a successful life. One
of them being the opportunity to
own a home, something he and the
entire PBAF team have been making
a possibility for 15 years. The second
component is the opportunity to
have a quality education. Henry is
the President of the Board for PBAF,
and he is also the part-time Executive
Secretary for the Board of Trustees of
the community’s three charter schools.
There are two kindergarden-8 th grade
charter schools and one high school
charter school. When room was needed
for high schoolers, the charter school
turned to Lakeside Bank for financing.
The bank provided 80% of the required
funding, but the charter school still
needed $220,000. At the time, PBAF
was able to step in with the additional
funding. Henry explains, “PBAF
had sold many homes in the Fields
Subdivision on 6 th Avenue and had
excess cash reserves. PBAF had a need
to invest these funds and to receive
the highest yield possible because any
funds earned through investment of
temporary reserves would help keep
the cost of future housing lower and
earned income is able to be put back
into housing.”
The $220,000 was loaned by PBAF with
the same 4.75% interest rate that the
bank charged. The PBAF loan was 5
years and today PBAF receives monthly
cash income as the charter school pays
interest and principle on the loan. Mr.
Mancuso’s final remarks on the creative
financing discussion were, “The Key:
two not for profits worked together to
benefit each one. The charter school
received the necessary funds to buy a
facility for its high school students, and
PBAF is receiving a great return on its
investment.”
For 15 years PBAF has been a huge
part of ensuring affordable housing
to Lake Charles residences. Because of
their dedication to the families in their
programs, they have been able to take
a step in a new direction of being a
partner in education. Home ownership
and quality education being done in a
creative and beneficial way. The keys
to success being restored to those who
thought they were long gone.
For more information on Project Build a
Future, visit projectbuildafuture.org, or
call 337-439-7191.
For information about the community
charter schools, visit charterschoolsusa.
com.
Project Build a Future homes being built on V.E. Washington & LA Ave.
22
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

DEBT CONSOLIDATION LOANS
AS LOW AS
5.99%
ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE
UP TO
$20,000
RESTRICTIONS APPLY. AMOUNT APPROVED
DEPENDENT ON DIFFERENT VARIABLES.
SWLACU.COM • 337-477-9190
LAKE CHARLES • SULPHUR • WESTLAKE
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 23

Real People Real Lives
Gary
Gobert
Q&A
by Basha Celestaine
Located at 5700 B J Cement Road in Lake Charles, LA, is Lake City Trucking. A self made business owned by Gary Gobert, a
humble, hardworking, and busy man. It's been servicing companies since 1988, working with the oil, petro-chemical, steel,
timber and construction industries. Their mission “is to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transportation services to meet the
specific needs of [their] customers.” Here is what Mr. Gobert had to say about starting his own business.
QHow did you start Lake City
Trucking?
AGobert: “I had a dream and a
vision. To fulfil that vision, for 3
years, I started in the industry with a
Kansas based company. This allowed
me to purchase my first truck. After
the 3 years, I leased on with Melton
Truck Lines in Shreveport, driving
cross country for them for another 6
years which allowed me to purchase
my second truck. After literally living
in a truck for approximately 9 years I
returned to Lake Charles in 1988 and
started Lake City Trucking with 2 trucks
and 2 drivers. One of those drivers
was me. I worked many long days and
nights to make Lake City Trucking the
company it is today. But that journey is
one that I wouldn't trade for anything.
The journey taught me and refined me
into the person I am today.”
QHow did you get your first truck?
AGobert: “I was able to purchase my
first truck from a company that I was
working for. I purchased that truck with
a dollar down, and a lot of hard work.
Times have changed a lot since then,
but some things have not changed. It
still takes hard work, perseverance and
faith in God to endure.”
QWhat were the obstacles you faced
starting Lake City Trucking?
AGobert: “Just like any other business,
I struggled with getting business
in the beginning. Finding customers
and getting them to take a chance on
a new business was probably the most
challenging. You must get your foot in
the door, and once you are in, you must
perform. I knew I would have to overdeliver
and that is what I did, and I still do.”
QWhy do you think it's important to give
back and support your community?
AGobert: “Supporting your community
is the right thing to do. I'm a firm
believer in not forgetting where you came
from. I believe in the principle of "sowing
and reaping". I learned early on, that to
receive you must give. If you live by that
principle and exercise your faith, things
will work out for you.”
QWhy is it important to support small
and minority owned businesses?
AGobert: “First and foremost, I do
not like to label businesses. I
consider Lake City Trucking a business
just like any other business. I prefer
to compete for business based on my
ability to perform and the track record
of my company.”
QWhat made you want to start your
own trucking company?
AGobert: “My father owned a trucking
company and I had relatives in the
trucking industry as well. Just growing up
I knew one day I would be in business for
myself, and the trucking industry was a
natural fit for me. I enjoyed driving and
being on the road. It allowed me to set my
own hours and schedule. If I wanted to
work twenty hours a day, I could.”
QWhat was your best and worst
business decision?
AGobert: “The best decision I ever made
was "not giving up when things got
tough.” As for my worst decision, it was
not being a better risk taker. I remember
years ago, thinking to purchase 10 brand
new trucks at once. It was one of my best
decisions ever. As it turned out, that was
also part of my worst decisions because I
should have purchased 20.”
QWho was your best business counselor
and what advice was given?
AGobert: “My best business advice came
from my father. I started my business
buying used trucks and the advice he gave
me was, "If you can buy new, buy new.” That's
when I decided to purchase 10 brand new
trucks and I've been buying new ever since.”
24
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

CALCASIEU PARISH GETTING
BACK 2 BIZ
#CPBack2Biz #CPStrong #CPChamber
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
Calcasieu Parish And Surrounding Areas
Do you have a child with special needs?
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Fragile Children
Our Staff Includes:
RNs/LPNs/CNAs with pediatric experience
Physical Therapist • Occupational Therapist
Speech Therapist
We Provide Transportation
337-562-7819
4250 5th Ave
Lake Charles, LA 70607
www.pediatrustla.com
Call us Today To See if Your Child
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 25

SWLA entertainment
Twelfth Night
It’s Not Just Another Tuesday
By Tori Hebert
C
hristmas time has ended and
for Louisiana residents that
can only mean one thing, it’s
Carnival season! Carnival officially
begins on January 6 or what is called
Twelfth Night. This time of celebration
dates back to the Middle Ages where
lavish gifts were exchanged until the
festivities evolved into the festive
time of King Cake eating and dancing
that we know today.
Twelfth Night, or as calendars say,
“Epiphany”, marks the visit of the Magi
to the manger on the night Christ was
born. In early years, this celebration
was considered an extension of
Christmas; however, it became a
time of lavish balls and parties.
Southwest Louisiana is no stranger
to royal celebrations full of exquisite
dresses and costumes. The Twelfth
Night celebration, held every year at
the Civic Center, is one of the largest
Mardi Gras events each season. Like
our neighbors in New Orleans, Twelfth
Night is a time to eat King Cake and
get excited about the 7 weeks of
parades. However, our celebration
allows the community to be a part of
a royal celebration that traditionally is
kept private for krewe members only.
The Twelfth Night celebration at the
Civic Center allows the community to
see the royalty of over 60 krewes. The
night is full of dancing, music, oohs
and aahs as the Kings and Queens
of the previous years Carnival make
their final march. This event
marks the end of their reign
and welcomes the new Carnival
season. In New Orleans, Twelfth
Night is commemorated with two
krewe parades while the Twelfth
Night Revelers enjoy dinner at a local
restaurant. The community usually
only get a glimpse of the krewe
royalty in their full costumes when
their floats roll pass during parades.
“Super Krewes” like Endymion and
Bacchus hold balls that are open to
the public after their parades are
over. Krewe balls in Lake Charles are
invitation only, just as they are in New
Orleans, but we have made Mardi
Gras so much more than just weeks of
catching beads.
From the King Cake Taste Off to the
Mardi Gras Madness 5k Southwest
Louisiana has made Mardi Gras a time
for families and friends to gather with
the community for a day of fun. There
is always something going on during
Carnival season, and every event has
the community in mind. Instead of
all day cooks outs, we have cooking
competitions, dog contests, a special
day for our children, and a party that
never ever stops. Our celebration of
Mardi Gras is just another way that
sets our community apart from every
other part of our beloved state.
No matter where you spend Carnival
this year, Laissez Les Bon Temps
Rouler!
For a complete
list of Southwest
Louisiana Mardi Gras events,
check out visitlakecharles.org. If
you would like to learn more about
Twelfth Night and all things Mardi
Gras, take a look at Christmas in New
Orleans and Mardi Gras in Calcasieu
Parish: A Pictorial History, available at
Calcasieu Parish Public Library.
"Mask are typically worn at Twelfth
Night celebrations, and they are
a staple decoration of Mardi Gras.
Masks have been used for hundreds
of years and were originally a way
for Carnival celebrators to escape
society and class restraints."
26
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4

IT’S
GEAUX
TIME.
IT’S HERE, Y’ALL.
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. @2016 YUENGLING & SON, PA 17901
Volume 4 • Number 4 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Jaunuary 2017 27

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