The Voice of Southwest Louisiana April 2017 Issue

April 2017 Vol 4 No 7 

Southwest 

Louisiana 

Fashion 

WEEK 

More Than Just 

Fashion-Impacting 

Lives In SWLA 

SOUTHWEST 

LOUISIANA 

Election 

Results 

APRIL 29TH 

RUNOFF 

Alex M. Anderson MD 

Millennial Man 

Internet...WebMD...Urgent 

Care Centers... Primary Care 

Physician?? 

I-10 Bridge 

What's Taking So Long? 

DOTD & DEQ Answers Part I 

IN CASE YOU 

MISSED IT 

Top Sports Headlines 

From March 

HURRICANE 

PREPAREDNESS 

with Ben Terry, 

Meteorologist

2 April 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 7

editor’s PEN By Brenda Hill 

North Lake Charles?? 

We moved from Cameron LA., to Lake Charles, LA., when I 

was in the first grade. I grew up in the Goosport-Moeling 

subdivision, a racially mixed community of blacks, whites 

and Italians that lived together in a rich community of family values, 

diverse foods & cultures and supportive relationships. We shopped, 

worshipped, built and purchased homes, had our doctor & dental 

visits and went to school in the same subdivision. We used city transit 

services or cabs if we didn’t walk or ride our bikes. 

Medical & Chiropractic Center 

Medical & Chiropractic Center 

2017 

Black Business Award 

For 

Medical Health, Home Care 

We moved to Central Lake Charles, LA, a predominantly white 

neighborhood, when I was in the tenth grade. We were the first black 

family to move in that area and tensions were heightened. My father 

went and spoke to city officials, principals, teachers and neighbors. 

In time, homes became vacant, we bonded and lived peacefully with 

the white families that remained and more black families moved into 

the neighborhood. 

While residing on both sides of Broad Street during my early 

childhood and adolescent years, I never heard the term “North Lake 

Charles.” 

Where did the term come from? What does it mean? Who does it 

identify? When will the divide cease? 

Dr. Joshua Thomas 

Lake Charles 

2121 Lake Street 

Lake Charles, LA 70601 

(337) 433-1919 

Dr. Katrina Rankin 

Dr. Larry LeVigne 

Opelousas 

724 N. Market Street 

Opelousas, LA 70750 

(337) 678-0963 

ARMED AND UNARMED 

SECURITY GUARD FIRM 

Licensed 

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RECORD: 

Over 40 years of military and 

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LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED 

LET US SECURE WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU! 

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ANY SIZE EVENT 

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Engagement 

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CELEBRATIONS 

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Anniversaries 

ENTERTAINMENT 

VENUES 

FESTIVALS 

Criminal Law 

Personal Injury 

Wills & Successions 

Tel: 337 474-6106 

Fax: 337 478-2765 

James E. Burks 

ATTORNEY AT LAW 

3112 Enterprise Boulevard 


Volume 4 • Number 7 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM April 2017 3

April 2017 

The Voice's Choice will spotlight groups, 

individuals or topics that spread love, joy 

and peace throughout SWLA. 

LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, STORIES & PEOPLE 

3 EDITOR’S PEN 

NORTH LAKE CHARLES?? 

5 I-10 BRIDGE DOTD & DEQ 

WHAT’S TAKING SO LONG? PART I 

6 2017 ELECTION RESULTS! 

APRIL 29TH RUNOFF 

7 HURRICANE FASHION 

PLANNING AHEAD SHOULD INCLUDE YOUR CLOTHES TOO! 

8 FASHION WEEK 

MORE THAN JUST FASHION - IMPACTING LIVES IN SWLA 

12 MILLENNIAL MAN 

INTERNET...WebMD...URGENT CARE CENTERS... PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?? 

13 TOP 10 LIST 

CELEBRATE HEALTHY DADS WITH OUR “TOP 10” LIST 

14 LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES 

LIGHTHOUSE MINISTRIES CELEBRATED ITS 16TH ANNUAL CRY OF MAKYRA BANQUET. 

15 THE RESURRECTION OF A MAN 

...WITHIN A MAN’S QUEST TO BE A BETTER MAN IS HIS MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL STABILITY. 

16 PAT AND BONNIE LANDRENEAU 

NOT LIKE THE TYPICAL RETIREES OF YESTERDAY. 

18 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 

TOP SPORTS HEADLINES FROM MARCH 

20 “PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE” 

HOW CREDIT UNIONS ARE THE “MOM AND POP” SHOPS OF THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY 

24 HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS 

WITH BEN TERRY, METEOROLOGIST 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Brenda Hill 

brenda@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

GENERAL MANAGER | Tracy Clark 

tracy@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

ART DIRECTOR | Vinh Alexander 

tvswlart@gmail.com 

EVENTS COORDINATOR | Carl Hubert 

kopyman@suddenlink.net 

www.thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS 

Shawdashian Group 

CONSULTANTS 

Gene R. Hill, Sr., Reginald Clark 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Brenda Hill, Tori Hebert, 

Ronald J. Blanchard, Joyce R. Kebodeaux, 

Levert Blount III, Patsy Cavenah, 

Jessica Hunt, Alex M. Anderson MD 

Roslyn Simien, Mgr., City of Lake 

Charles, fulfills her passion to spread 

cheer in the community by organizing 

programs and events for senior citizens. 

An Easter Egg Hunt, for seniors, was 

recently held at J.D. Clifton Recreation 

Center. See page 26 

COVER PAGE AND STORY IMAGE 

CREDITS: 

Julie Branden - Fashion Stylist 

Patrick Williams-Photographer 

Alyssa Burris -Model Coach 

Cloee Semien-Model 

LeeZa Thibodeaux-Model 

Amber Burks-Model 

Ciaara Woods-Hair Stylist 

Lex Fondel-Hair Stylist 

Valleen Vallere-Hair Stylist 

Shauteal Prejean-Make-Up Artist 

Nesha Durgan Buice-Make-Up Artist 

Julie Branden of Vivid Image Consulting 

Fashion Designer NEGRIS LEBRUM 

Published and distributed by 

TEAM PUBLICATIONS LLC. 

4310 Ryan St. Ste. 134 

Lake Charles, LA. 70605 

In the McNeese SEED Center 

337.474.2210 

DISCLOSURE: All materials contained in the publication are copyrighted 

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. 


SWLA news 

I-10 Bridge 

DOTD & DEQ 

On March 16, 2017, Dr. Shawn Wilson, 

Secretary of the Department of 

Transportation and Development 

(DOTD), and Dr. Chuck Carr Brown, Secretary 

for the Department of Environmental Quality 

(DEQ) spoke to shareholders and concerned 

citizens at the Lake Charles Civic Center 

about the environmental responsibility and 

cost for the I-10 Bridge replacement project. 

Why is it taking so long to build a new I-10 

bridge? Two reasons. One, the toxic waste 

from the 1994 ethylene dichloride (EDC) 

spill where 1.7 million pounds EDC spilled 

into the Calcasieu River. Two, we won’t know 

how much it will cost to build the bridge 

until clean-up of the toxic chemical waste is 

complete. 

{“We take very seriously our 

environmental responsibility of 

a bridge being left unsafe, and 

infrastructure is not cheap,” 

says Wilson. 

“We will be working with DEQ to come 

up with a design that does not hamper or 

accelerate the movement of the contaminant 

which could be everything from spanning it 

to going outside the footprint of where the 

contaminant is known to be or not actually 

drilling into that area,” said Wilson. 

Brown discussed ways to remove or contain 

the EDC from the Calcasieu River. He spoke 

of implementing a slurry wall to keep the 

plume from moving or using a recovery well 

that would pull out the chemical waste on a 

consistent basis. “We know where the plume 

What’s Taking 

So Long? Part I 

By Levert Blount III 

is. We know how to keep it from moving 

and we know that there are measures we 

can put in place to mitigate it,” Brown said. 

“Whatever project we decide upon; we’re 

going to have mitigation measures to make 

sure that that project or that design does not 

cause any further environmental damage,” 

he continued. “We’re going to continue to 

recover the product as long as It is needed,” 

he concluded. 

{“The environmental stage is 

ongoing and is expected to be 

completed in late 2018 to mid- 

2019,” confirmed Wilson 

Afterward a Record of Decision (ROD) will 

be issued. An ROD is a public document 

that explains the remediation plan for the 

cleanup of a Superfund Site. A Superfund 

Site is any land in the United States that has 

been contaminated by hazardous waste 

and identified by the EPA as a candidate for 

cleanup because it poses a risk to human 

health and/or the environment. The final 

design process will take place about a year 

or two after the ROD has been issued. Then 

the Design-Bid-Build phase can begin, which, 

according to Wilson, “historically in the state 

of Louisiana has taken 12 to 14 months to 

deliver.” The Construction Manager At Risk 

(CMAR) phase can take anywhere from three 

to five years to complete. “We expect, from 

a back of the envelope, that this bridge 

will run anywhere from eight-hundred to 

a billion dollars depending on 

what it is we build. That’s not an 

intimidating factor, because you 

have opportunities to bond, and 

tolling, and P3s and other things that can help 

leverage dollars to bring forward some capital 

to build the bridge, then pay the debt much 

like you would your home or your car and like 

we do other infrastructures," said Wilson. 

{“I will tell you first and 

foremost that the bridge is safe, 

“said Wilson. 

“I’ve closed 14 bridges in the state of 

Louisiana in 2017. I closed two this week 

on one day. If a bridge is unsafe we take 

that very seriously. I will also tell you that 

we spent a significant amount of money 

to ensure that the I-10 bridge maintains its 

redundancy, its strength and its effectiveness 

as a structure while we work towards getting 

you a brand-new bridge," he added. “ The 

idea is to give the I-10 Bridge enough life 

to survive the construction of a new bridge 

while traffic and interstate growth is being 

disrupted," Wilson concluded. 

Wilson confirmed six-laning the corridor, 

replacing the I-10 Calcasieu Bridge, replacing 

the approach roadways, re-vamping nearby 

interchanges and frontage roads and 

redesigning the Sampson Street interchange 

as listed in the second series of stories 

focusing on the I-10 replacement project. 

DOTD wants us to not just see the bridge 

structure change but improve opportunities 

in how we intersect ourselves more 

effectively. 

For more information visit https:// 

incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7016 and 

http://www.americanpress.com/DOTD- 

ConocoPhillips-continue-lawsuit-struggle 

See Part II in May 2017 Issue. 

Editor’s Note: This is the fourth in a series of 

stories that will focus on the Interstate 10 Bridge 

replacement project. 

Dr. Wilson confirmed earlier statements reported 

in The Voice of SWLA. Hill, B. (2017, 

February), How Important Is the Spill. The Voice 

of Southwest Louisiana, 4 (5) 


SWLA news 

Voting Locations 

2017 Election Results! 

April 29th Runoff 

Calcasieu Parish 

Parish Courthouse 

1000 Ryan Street Room 7 


West Calcasieu Business Center 

500 A North Huntington Street Bldg B 

Sulphur, LA 

Moss Bluff Library 

261 Parish Road 

Moss Bluff, LA 70611 

Jefferson Davis Parish 

Joseph Yenni Parish Building 

1221 Elmwood Park Blvd. Room 502 

Harahan, LA 70123 

408 Minor Street 

Kenner, LA 70062 

Charles Odom Building 

5001 West Bank Expressway, Suite C-2 

Marrero, LA 70072 

Grand Isle Community Center 

3811 Highway 1 

Grand Isle, LA 70358 

Allen Parish 

Registrar of Voters Office 

105 N Fifth Street 

Oberlin, LA 70655 

Calcasieu Parish 

City of Lake Charles 

Mayor 

Nicholas ‘Nic” Hunter Republican 34% 

Wilford Carter, Sr. Democrat 16% 

Councilman District A 

Mary Morris Democrat 46% 

“Ron” Richard* Democrat 23% 

Councilman District B 

Luvertha August Democrat 39% 

Nicole J. Moncrief Democrat 30% 

Councilman District C 

Rodney Geyen Democrat 44% 

Eric Doshier Democrat 27% 

Councilman District F 

Johnnie Thibodeaux No Party 26% 

Rick McClain Republican 20% 

Jefferson Davis Parish 

City of Jennings 

Mayor 

Henry Guinn Republican 35% 

“Jimmy” Segura No Party 35% 

Katherine “Kathy” 

Corbello 

Village of Fenton 

Alderman 

Republican 44% 

Ollie Clophus Democrat 24% 

Allen Parish 

3rd District, Division B 

Judge, Court of Appeal 3rd Circuit 

Candyce Perret Republican 41% 

Susan Theall Republican 37% 

*Ron Richard respectfully defer to the voters and 

withdraws from contention in the District A City 

Council Seat Runoff Race. 

Runoff elections will be held April 29, 2017. 

Early voting will take place from April 15-April 22. 

Votings closed on Sundays. Early voting is open 

each day from 8:30 a.m to 6 p.m. 

SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA 

6 

April 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 7

SWLAfashion week 

Courtesy of Designer 

NEGRIS LEBRUM 

Hurricane Fashion 

Planning Ahead Should 

Include Your Clothes Too! 

When you are trying to get 

everyone in the family ready to 

evacuate for a storm, packing 

your clothes is probably the last item 

on your to-do list. You may not even 

care what you pack as long as you have 

something in your bag. Many people 

remember the aftermath of Hurricanes 

Katrina and Rita, and know how the acts 

of Mother Nature can turn a life upside 

down. That is one reason that Certified 

Image Consultant, Julie Branden, 

suggests taking some time to think about 

what goes in your suitcase. Julie says, 

“You always want to have something 

comfortable to wear for long car rides; 

By Tori Hebert 

and you can never go wrong with a pair 

of jeans and a t-shirt. But, you never know 

where you will end up, or how long you 

will be there. With that in mind, I always 

recommend bringing something to wear 

to an interview.” 

For the ladies, you can pack a pencil or 

A-line skirt, white blouse, blazer, and 

basic pumps. For women who prefer 

dresses Julie recommends designers 

Maggy London and Calvin Klein for wrap 

styles that fit every body type. For men, 

dress pants, a button up shirt, and a tie 

can do the trick. 

Julie also recommends bringing 

workout clothes to help you stay on 

track with your fitness goals. Taking 

care of yourself includes having time 

devoted to you. Whether it is through 

exercise or meditation, remember that a 

hurricane does not have to stop your life 

completely! 

Take some time to look in your closet 

and identify what clothing you would 

take during a storm. Make a list of your 

choices and keep it with your other 

emergency planning documents. When 

it’s time to evacuate, you’ll already know 

what is going with you. Plan now and 

you’ll be one step ahead later! 



Fashion 

Week By Tori Hebert 

More Than Just Fashion - 

Impacting Lives In SWLA 

Anytime you have a new 

idea and try to build 

it from the bottom 

up, you run the risk of not 

making a profit. New ideas 

can be scary and unwelcome 

by consumers; and it can 

often take many years to gain 

customers with open wallets. 

Fashion Week Lake Charles is 

in its second year, and with 

a leader like Certified Image 

Consultant Julie Branden, it 

becomes clear why this event 

has been a success from the 

start. 

With over 35 years of 

experience in the fashion 

industry, Julie definitely knows 

how to pull together all of the 

latest trends. She has a great 

eye for what is up and coming 

and is never afraid to try 

something new. But beyond 

Julie’s fashion knowledge 

and party planning specialty, 

her bubbly personality is 

contagious and it's hard not 

to have a great time when 

you’re with her. She also has a 

kind spirit that enjoys helping 

others and is happy to see 

not only herself succeed, but 

others as well. 

Fashion Week features many 

visiting designers and models, 

but a number of participants 

are hometown notables. 

Meet Noah 

Last year, when Fashion Week 

was still in the planning 

stages, Noah Bryce and his 

mom were enjoying quality 

time and delicious pretzels at 

Prien Lake Mall. It was a day 

like any other except they 

noticed a few workers were 

moving tables and chairs. Out 

of the kindness of his heart, 

Noah went over and offered 

to help. This one small act 

created a spark that would 

change his entire life. As Noah 

helped the workers, Julie 

approached Noah’s mom 

and asked if her son would 

consider doing modeling. A 

single moment in time, one 

that started with confusion 

and disbelief, would soon 

become a catapult for an up 

and coming talent. 

Noah jumped at the chance to 

be a part of Fashion Week and 

threw himself into his new 

adventure. To get ready for his 

new gig, Noah attended every 

runway practice until the 

moment he hit the catwalk 

PHOTO BY PATRICK WILLIAMS 

for his first show. Noah’s mom 

never would have thought 

her Taekwondo black belt, 

video game loving son would 

be interested in modeling; 

but after last years’ fashion 

week his determination and 

dedication proved that he 

was committed to a future in 

modeling. 

The night after the show in 

Lake Charles, Noah went to 

sleep as a regular kid, but 

the next morning he woke 

up a highly requested talent. 

Since his first show, Noah has 

been on a magazine cover, 

appeared in a short-film 

trilogy, walked for shows in 

Houston, and was invited 

Noah Bryce on Fashion Week 2016 Runway. 

Follow the link and see more of him. 

http://www.model101magazine.com/home 

to walk in New York Fashion 

Week. He has completed 

model curriculum training 

covering all aspects of the 

fashion industry, and is 

actively growing his local 

career. Noah is learning to 

balance his life as a straight-A 

Hamilton Christian student 

and as a young model who 

now has an agent. Noah 

hopes to pursue modeling for 

an extended time; but he also 

wants to save his money from 

this experience in order to 

help pay for college. 

Fashion Week has been a 

ground floor for not only 

individuals looking to grow 

as a model or designer, but 


also a place of tremendous 

networking and advertising 

for small business. 

GAGG Shoes: from 

idea to business 

Candice Grace launched her 

website for GAGG Shoes just 

one week before Fashion 

Week 2016. She took the 

first step of her dream even 

though she couldn’t see the 

full path. If you have ever 

heard the phrase, “it’s not 

what you know, but who you 

know” then you understand 

that with Julie’s friendship 

Candice had a great resource 

for her business. As Fashion 

Week approached vendors 

were needed and, like Noah, 

Candice jumped at the 

chance to be a part of such 

an exciting event. Julie’s 

encouragement and guidance 

helped Candice form the 

confidence she needed to 

jumpstart her business. 

Fashion Week changed the 

Candice Grace as a Fashion Week 2016 Vendor. 

Visit www.shopgagg.com for your favorite shoes. 

game for Candice and her 

business by giving her the 

customers she needed. In only 

one year, Candice has seen 

her clientele grow beyond 

what she ever imagined, 

and her referrals have led 

to countless marketing 

opportunities. The show also 

allowed Candice to form 

friendships with those around 

her. From customers and 

business supporters to her 

own hairstylist, Fashion Week 

proved to be the turning 

point for everything Candice 

needed to get GAGG Shoes 

up and running. 

Keeping it local 

Julie has brought an event 

to Lake Charles that is not 

only inspiring local up-andcoming 

talents, but is also an 

excellent source of marketing 

and advertisement for local 

businesses. Having local 

boutiques and designers all 

under one roof opens up an 

entire world of fashion. Each 

Amber Burks is ready for Fashion 

Week Lake Charles 2017 


Julie Branden - Fashion Stylist/ Vivid Image Consulting 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 » 


»CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 


vendor is able to show off 

their work or merchandise, 

and consumers can become 

familiar with each business. 

Fashion Week strives to 

bring all of Lake Charles’s 

fashion together in order 

to highlight the talent and 

creativity in SWLA. Candice 

has experienced this first 

hand. Originally from Dallas, 

Candice had a hard time 

finding the hot shopping 

spots in Lake Charles. She 

often hit a wall when asking 

others for recommendations 

and was unsure where to buy 

the latest trends. She and 

her friends often traveled to 

Houston for their shopping 

experience. Being a part 

of Fashion Week opened 

Candice’s eyes to what Lake 

Charles has to offer. Since the 

show, Candice and her friends 

are now excited to visit their 

favorite retailers in SWLA, and 

can tell others where to go for 

on-trend styles. 

A self investment 

Noah and Candice are only 

two of many success stories 

from Fashion Week. Stepping 

out of your comfort zone is 

always scary, but anything 

worth while takes work. If you 

have an idea, like Candice 

did, when you present it to 

someone the worst they can 

do is say no. Just because your 

idea didn’t get accepted at 

the first chance, doesn’t mean 

it’s a bad idea. Your life can 

change in a single moment, 

just like Noah’s did. Even if you 

chase after something that 

all of your friends and family 

never thought you were 

interested in, if you put forth 

dedication every one of your 

10 

dreams can come true. 

When asked how she would 

encourage other retailers to 

participate in Fashion Week, 

Candice says, “In the words 

of Nike, Just Do It”. Time and 

time again we have all seen 

how our community comes 

together for those in need 

or facing hardships. Fashion 

Week works in the same way, 

but every person involved 

is interested in the success 

of not only themselves, but 

everyone around them. 

From friendships to new 

partnerships, Fashion Week 

unites everyone from retailers 

to consumers to invest in 

one another and ultimately 

themselves. 

Noah may have said it best, 

“Fashion Week happens 

because of so many people 

working together as a team…” 

It takes a village to put 

something like Fashion Week 

together; and Julie has not 

only helped all of her vendors 

and models to this place, 

but they too are a part of her 

success. Fashion Week has 

many moving parts just like 

our economy. By Julie pouring 

in to the models, designers, 

and boutiques at the show, 

they pour in to the consumers 

of SWLA, shopping local 

returns the money to our 

own economy to further our 

community. 

Fashion Week is more than 

just a big weekend party; it 

is shaping up to be one of 

the greatest benefactors of 

SWLA. To be a part of the 

excitement of Fashion Week 

and contribute to small 

business, be sure to mark your 

calendars for April 20-23! 


Darel Roy modeled at Fashion Week 2016. 


L-R: Models Cloee Simien, Amber Burks and Leeza 

Thibodeaux are ready for Fashion Week 2017. 


By Brenda Hill 

“Fair To All” - That type of Mayor 

{“The Army was my foundation 

training for working with others,” 

says Wilford Carter, Jr., mayoral 

candidate for Lake Charles, La. 

”Wilford Carter, Jr., served in the Army 

where he learned to work with other 

people that were different from him, 

and from all over the world. He studied 

accounting and economics at McNeese 

State University, went into politics, was 

elected to the city council and voted 

president, served as state representative; 

retired as 14 th Judicial District Court Judge 

and a land developer. 

Promote and Sell our City 

{“It is important that people feel 

they can talk to their mayor. An 

Administration not listening to 

the people is one of my biggest 

frustrations because ultimately, the 

city provides services to the people,” 

Carter says. 

Carter plans to eliminate that particular 

frustration during his first week as mayor 

by meeting with every department, 

department head and hierarchy of the 

department to see what they perceive 

their mission to be and how they plan to 

go about accomplishing their mission. 

What is Taking So Long? 

If 80,000 people pass a day and see 

people swimming in the water, they will 

want to stop and swim in the water too. 

If we can get maybe 10,000 -15,000 to 

stop, that is a lot of money. It would be 

lovely for them to look across to the left 

when they get to the Lakefront and see a 

5-Star Hotel with capacity to hold a large 

convention, or a water walk along the 

train tracks going around the river where 

they can walk and look at sites. We have to 

come up with ideas to get people to stop 

in Lake Charles,” he said. 

"We need to get with EPA, state and 

federal, and some of the labs and ask 

them to do a study to see what we can 

do to make our water safer and cleaner. It 

may be something they are not telling us 

or we are not getting the full information. 

That’s where honesty to the public comes 

in. We need to be honest with the people. 

If that is the case, let’s tell the people. 

Make it well known in public and what 

plan we have to correct it. We are a people 

that are very good at solving problems 

in this nation. This is a very important 

problem to solve in this area because it 

has cost us a lot. It cost us our attraction 

and our ability to get people to stop,” 

Carter said. 

Grow our City—North of Broad 

Carter doesn’t understand why people 

in the northern part of the city have 

no decent grocery stores to shop in. 

“If we don’t go to Walmart, we have 

nowhere else to go. I am an assertive 

person and have no problem flying to 

the headquarters of Kroger’s, Albertson’s 

or Market Basket to tell them we want 

them to build in this location, and we will 

give them what they need to make that 

happen,” he said. 

Carter says there are three 'Major 

Problems’ with North Lake Charles 

1) Lack of attention 

“North Lake Charles is just as important as 

Country Club or Nelson Road. Everything 

they like over there, we like over here, “he 

said. 

2) Position for Economic Development 

“Create an economic boom by 4-laning 

Moss Bluff to Fitzenrider Road without 

building a major bridge. Four lane Hwy 

171 and Goos Boulevard and knock down 

St. Mary Drive to build homes similar to 

2 nd Street and Mill Street, beautify the area 

and increase the property value,” he said. 

3) Investment in Rental Zone 

“Homeownership is the answer. 

Individuals earning $12 per hour with 

good credit can own 2-bedroom, 2-bath 

homes, and with a den. “Stop low income 

renting and help them clean up their 

credit. People feel differently when they 

own property. It is a boost to their selfesteem,” 

he said. 

Police Department 

Carter plans to be really involved with our 

police department. “A police department 

should look like the city neighborhood,” 

he said. He believes there should be 

mutual respect between police officers 

and citizens. “There are some policemen 

that disrespect people, and some people 

that disrespect policemen. Policemen 

know who is involved in illegal activity, so 

there should be no reason to search a car 

for a traffic ticket stop,” he said. 

Be a Cheerleader for our Small 

Business People 

{I want to have an Economic 

Development Department with a 

mission to help, locate and encourage 

people to go into business,” says 

Carter. 

“Lake Charles, historically, has a few 

wealthy families with a lot of money. 

People with this type of wealth don’t 

really encourage economic development, 

but they maintain their wealth for family 

and heirs or invest in stocks, bonds or own 

a bank or two with a prominent business. 

They don’t grow businesses. Lake Charles 

has 20-less-per-capita millionaires than 

Lafayette. Small businesses, worth 5 to 6 

million, cause a city to grow and prosper. 

So, I want to encourage more businesses 

like that,” Carter said. He feels the city 

should have had a department for grants 

with skilled and trained people whose job 

is to apply for available grants. “We have 

a lot of endowments, non-profits, federal 

money and corporations that put monies 

toward different job projects like elderly 

housing, low income military and retired 

vets that are disabled and homeless. We 

have not been aggressive enough in 

going after money,” Carter concluded. 


SWLA health / hospitals 

Millennial Man 

Internet...WebMD...Urgent Care 

Centers... Primary Care Physician?? 

By Alex M. Anderson MD 

Millennials have taken over the 

Baby-Boomers as the largest 

generation in the nation. The 

Boomers and Gen-X like to boast that 

we are the lazy, selfish, and entitled 

generation. However, our influence can 

be seen through multiple industries, 

including technology, politics, and 

entertainment. One area that we are not 

well represented is healthcare, specifically 

those who have a primary care physician. 

{As a generation raised with 

the internet and used to instant 

gratification, WebMD and urgent 

care centers have become the new 

primary care physician. 

This is truer for men than women. 

Women usually at least establish care 

with an OB-GYN, who end up taking care 

of some of their other health issues. 

Millennial men, this one’s for you. Allow 

me to briefly but genuinely, advocate for 

obtaining a primary care doctor. 

{ 

Most insurance plans, at 

no expense to you, pay for a 

“wellness visit.” 

This is a perfect way to establish care 

with a physician. The wellness visit 

typically is a longer visit and is the time 

for the patient to ask general health 

questions and discuss how to be the 

healthiest you can be. This visit allows 

your doctor to screen for many health 

issues just by obtaining your vital signs. 

Common health concerns like obesity 

and hypertension (high blood pressure) 

can be identified and treated accordingly. 

Important pieces of information, like 

family medical history and social history 

(tobacco and alcohol use) are obtained 

at these visits to help doctors determine 

who to screen for other health issues. 

Finally, most insurance plans cover 

screening labs such as a complete blood 

count, electrolytes and cholesterol levels 

for the wellness visit. 

“But what if I’m sick? No worries, we see 

sick, new patients all the time as well. 

{After you have established 

care, either through a wellness 

or sick visit, we become your 

“medical home” or like I 

tell my patients “a point 

guard running the medical 

basketball court.” 

This allows us to coordinate your care in 

the future. If you need to see a specialist, 

referrals can be made and all of your 

health records can be sent accordingly. 

After the specialist has seen you, and 

made recommendations, follow up care 

can be resumed by the primary care 

doctor. However, being your medical 

home is not just about being the gateway 

to specialists. It is also being there for you 

when you have sensitive issues you need 

to discuss. 

{We are the next generation 

to face common men’s health 

issues like heart disease, 

prostate cancer, depression 

and the dreaded erectile 

dysfunction. 

Having a physician who is familiar with 

you and has your trust makes it easier 

to talk about things we Millennials will 

certainly face in our lifetime. When that 

time comes, it will be easier for you to get 

an appointment, and for you to discuss 

your troubles with a familiar face, instead 

of a stranger or a bright computer screen. 

Millennial men, when it comes to being 

the healthiest we can be, we can confirm 

the stereotype that the generations 

before us like to talk about…we are 

selfish and entitled. 

12 


Top 10 

List 

CELEBRATE HEALTHY 

DADS WITH OUR 

“TOP 10” LIST 

Height, Weight and BMI. Experts now 

❶ believe that cardiac health is impacted by 

even small increases above your ideal weight. 

If your weight has increased more than 5 or 

10 pounds since last year, it may be time to 

consider some lifestyle changes. 

Blood Pressure. Blood pressure can 

❷ fluctuate from day-to-day, so it’s 

important to use a reliable machine to check 

it regularly. If your blood pressure is over 140 

(top number) or 90 (bottom number), you 

should schedule an appointment with your 

primary physician. 

Cholesterol. There are several schools of 

❸ thought on cholesterol, so any man with 

risk factors for heart disease (family history, 

diabetes, kidney disease) should talk at 

length with his doctor about individual goals. 

Prostate Screening. Again, 

❹ recommendations vary by patient 

and physician. In general, men age 50 or 

older should discuss the appropriate level 

of screening for prostate cancer with their 

doctor. African American men and those with 

a family history or prostate cancer should 

discuss screening at age 45. 

❺Lung Cancer Screening. Men aged 55 

to 80 with a family history of lung cancer, 

or who have smoked for a number of years, 

should talk to their doctor about an annual 

CT scan of the lungs. Early detection is critical 

to survival rates for lung cancer, as there are 

typically no symptoms until the later stages. 

Blood Sugar and Diabetes. Men should 

❻ have a fasting blood glucose test at least 

every three years starting at age 45 – more 

never too early to celebrate Dads. As Father’s Day is just around the 

It’s corner, springtime has always been a season for dads and men in 

general – think barbeques, Bermuda shorts and dad in the yard trying to get 

that lawn just right. This month, let’s help the men in our lives take an annual 

inventory of their health. 

Whether you’re a dad, a granddad or just a busy guy, here are the top 10 

health checks every man should complete each year: 

often if they are overweight or have high 

blood pressure. Another key measurement of 

healthy blood glucose is an A1C test – talk to 

your doctor about whether it’s appropriate 

for you. 

Bone Density. Men age 50 to 70 with 

❼ risk factors such as long-term steroid, 

tobacco or alcohol use should be screened 

routinely for possible osteoporosis and 

overall bone health. 

Colonoscopy. Screening for colon cancer 

❽ for most men starts at age 50. If testing 

reveals no abnormalities, it will typically only 

need to be redone every 5 or 10 years. Men 

who suffer with various “gut issues” can be 

at higher risk, and may need to screen more 

aggressively to catch this deadly cancer early. 

Skin Checks. Approximately 10,000 

❾ people each year die from melanoma, 

and two-thirds of those deaths are men. Add 

an annual skin check with a dermatologist 

or qualified practitioner to your health 

inventory. 

Dental and Eye Health. Eye health and 

❿ vision problems are often key indicators 

of other health problems, and dental 

problems can significantly impact the health 

of several vital organs. See your dentist for 

a deep cleaning at least once per year, and 

have your eye health and vision checked 

annually. Because these tests are considered 

preventive, most of them will be covered 

by insurance plans at least once per year. 

However, there may be certain diagnostic 

or timing criteria you must meet, so always 

check with your insurance company before 

making the necessary appointments. 

If 

you need assistance in finding a 

primary care provider, please visit 

LakeAreaPhysicians.com or the Find A 

Physician link at LakeAreaMC.com. 

About Lake Area Medical Center (LAMC) 

is a full-service acute care hospital located at 

4200 Nelson Road in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 

Lake Area Medical Center is the area’s 

preferred leader for Women’s Services and 

offers inpatient, outpatient, medical and 

surgical care for men, women and children. 

LAMC is an accredited Bariatric Surgery 

Center and is equipped with a 24-hour 

physician-staffed Emergency Department 

and a Level 3 Neonatal ICU. Lake Area 

Medical Center is recognized by Modern 

Healthcare Magazine as a 2015 Best Places 

to Work in Healthcare and a Top Performer 

in Key Quality Measures® from The Joint 

Commission. 

F 

rom all of us at 

Lake Area Medical 

Center to all the dads and 

granddads in Southwest 

Louisiana, Happy Father’s 

Day…. just a bit early! 

Strong and healthy men 

are at the very center of a 

strong community, and we 

honor and celebrate you. 


SWLA non-profit 

Lighthouse 

Ministries 

By Patsy Cavenah 

Lighthouse Ministries 

Celebrated its 16th 

Annual Cry of 

MaKyra Banquet. 

The night was filled with laughter, 

fellowship, and anticipation for 

purchases to be made during 

the auction. A wonderful meal was 

prepared and served by Roderick Stutes, 

Occasions. Heartfelt testimonies were 

shared, from those who had overcome 

great obstacles of abuse, neglect, drugs 

and wrong choices, with approximately 

400 attendees. Everyone enjoyed the 

live auction with Kenny Brauchus as 

auctioneer and the many contributed 

items from individuals, merchants 

and donors. Credits to all donors and 

supporters appeared on an overhead 

screen, as well as being listed on the 

programs. The generosity of donating 

a table of life makes a tremendous 

difference for the Lighthouse. 

Senator Ronnie Johns, keynote speaker, 

had introduced a law that passed and 

placed August 1st, last year. That law 

allows children to live in the facility with 

their mothers until age 18. “This law 

makes a great difference for the state of 

Louisiana,” stated Senator Ronnie John. He 

also discussed the seriousness of human 

trafficking/slavery that is nationwide and 

exists in our area too. 

Patsy Cavenah, Founder/Director, 

Lighthouse Ministries, has shared this 

ministry with over 250 girls, ages 12-30 

years old and their babies for the last 

15 years. (Previously The Lighthouse 

Maternity Home now transitioned to The 

Child Residential Facility in Dec. 2016) 

The girls are home schooled by certified 

teachers, and a teacher is in place for the 

GED program. They have one-on-one 

daily counseling, instruction in childbirth, 

newborn care, anger management, life 

skills, home economics, other classes and 

transportation is available for all medical 

and dental appointments. When a girl 

arrives on Lighthouse property and walks 

through the doors, she is welcomed with 

the opportunity for a new beginning. 

Pray and consider becoming a monthly 

partner with Lighthouse Ministries. 

Note from Patsy Cavenah: 

The banquet’s name derived 

from a baby girl who refused 

to stop crying because she 

insisted on eating as we traveled 

and neared our destination. 

As I listened to her determined cries, 

I was reminded of her 14-year-old 

mother’s story. The grandmother 

brought her mother, against her will, 

to an abortion clinic to force her to 

have an abortion. Tears flowed down 

her face as they placed her upon a 

cold abortion table. She wanted her 

baby and God had a compassionate 

nurse in that room who told her, 

”You don’t have to do this.” She was 

released to an angry grandmother 

who drove her back to Lake Charles 

and dropped her off at the Juvenile 

Justice Office. Justice prevailed that 

day because her next home was the 

Lighthouse Unwed Mother’s Home. 

God heard the cry of Makyra from 

the womb for a ‘Right to Life.’ She 

now represents the cry of many 

unborn babies whose voices would 

never be heard. 

14 


Reflective Light 

The 

Resurrection 

of a Man 

...within a 

man’s quest to 

be a better man 

is his mental 

and spiritual 

stability. 

By Ronald J. Blanchard 

April is considered by many to be 

the fourth month of the year, but 

minor research reveals that April 

is the first month of the year. The origin 

of the word April is from the Latin “aprilis” 

which means ‘to open’ as in the opening 

of flowers and trees with the beginning 

of spring. In addition, Biblical scriptures 

support that April is the beginning of 

months as written when referring to the 

migration of Moses and the children of 

Israel from Egypt. Exodus 12:2 says, “This 

month shall be unto you the beginning 

of months: it shall be the first month of 

the year to you”. Reference to the name 

of the month is in Exodus 13:4, “This 

day came ye out in the month Abib”. 

The month Abib, the first month of the 

ancient Hebrew calendar corresponds 

to the modern calendar month, April. 

Understanding this reality of time, men 

are given the opportunity to reflect upon 

their lives and consider creating plans 

that can impact their health. 

More than another New Year’s resolution, 

men should be inspired through this 

season of resurrection to recreate 

themselves through physical and mental 

fitness. Often there is the unrealistic 

desire to fulfill resolutions that can’t be 

accomplished. Commitments should not 

be overwhelming, rather the goals of 

health and fitness should foster optimism 

as they are attainable. Moving forward, 

men can find resolve within plans that 

can be visualized and facilitated to 

produce the best that one can be. 

In the beginning, one should schedule an 

annual appointment with a primary care 

physician. Through several procedures 

(blood work, colonoscopy, prostate 

screening, etc.), men can prepare to 

challenge their bodies to ensure the best 

physical results. Setting a baseline of 

goals allows one to push oneself mentally 

and physically in gaining desired results. 

It is very important that family genetics is 

understood when considering diabetes, 

cancer, high blood pressure and other 

diseases. Knowledge of health history 

perpetuates a level of proactivity that 

ensures a health conscious future. 

Once one is cleared to participate in 

physical activity, there is a need to find 

a place to work out. Gyms are available 

everywhere. One thought is to choose 

a place that is walking distance to 

one’s home that will allow a cooling 

down effect after a vigorous workout. 

However, there are other options that 

include local YMCA memberships or 

fitness centers that give club benefits 

to employees. Through the magic of 

modern technology, one can also choose 

to use their computers and monitors 

to work out with a global community. 

A major advantage of social media is 

the ability to share with friends and 

family one’s efforts to maintain one’s 

commitment to become a healthier 

individual. Computer and cell phone 

applications can be utilized to track 

daily progress and provide often needed 

motivation. Effective workouts and 

dieting can generate amazing physical 

transformations. 

Finally, and foremost within a man’s quest 

to be a better man is his mental and 

spiritual stability. Beneath his superficial 

surface, there lies the soulful essence 

of a man’s inner being. The invisible 

makings of his substance and personality 

will define him for eternity. Beyond the 

limitations of one’s mind, there is a need 

to establish an undying commitment and 

Faith in one’s Creator. For it is written, 

“Faith is the substance of things hoped 

for, the evidence of things not seen” and 

that ‘Faith’ is a man. 


My Senior Moment 2.0 

Pat and Bonnie 

By Joyce R. Kebodeaux 

Landreneau 

Not like the typical 

retirees of yesterday. 

Upon meeting Pat and 

Bonnie Landreneau you’d 

wonder why I am writing 

about them in a senior article. For 

sure they are not like the typical 

retirees of yesterday. Bonnie still 

enjoys going to work every day 

and Pat says he doesn’t work. Pat 

claims that he does a lot of things 

that interest him. It is kind of like 

a hobby “ These are like projects 

which interest me and give me a 

sense of accomplishment and selfsatisfaction, 

so therefore it can’t be 

called work,” he told me. 

I asked Pat about his family. “Bonnie 

is in Ashville, North Carolina for the 

week, visiting one of our two sons 

and his family: playing with the 

grandchildren,” he laughed. “Our 

other son lives in Lake Charles, not 

far from us. He is the computer 

nerd and does all of my online work 

for my 3 businesses. We moved to 

Lake Charles several years ago. This,” 

He points to the house, “was our 

home when we all lived in here in 

Jennings. Now everyone calls this 

place, which was my old outdoor 

kitchen, my laboratory.” 

I had arrived early and Pat was 

busy with other people so he 

invited me into the other part 

of his domain. Inside this side of 

Pat’s laboratory/ man-cave, I saw 

evidence that he probably stays 

busier than most folks who say 

they work. Much of the things 

I saw in there remain a mystery 

to me. Most of the hand crafted 

items had something to do with 

hunting, fishing and the outdoors, 

like calls, scents and attractants for 

all sorts of wild game. 

There were green t-shirts sporting 

the name “Slick” in white letters. 

A sign read,”Cajun Slick Wildlife 

Products, certified Louisiana 

Products, sold here.”This turned 

out to be the name of one of Pat’s 

businesses. He must have at least 

six different projects going here, I 

thought, and all at the same time. 

The products in this room I believe 

are for hunting. Six feet of wall 

space, ceiling to floor, is dedicated 

to calls.” Mallard Master, finest hand 

made duck calls available” one 

package read. Chien-Caille, Duck 

Call was on another and on one Pin 

Tail Whistle. There is even a CD to 

learn to call wild game. 

Then there was the card that read 

“Pig Squealer” describing feral 

pigs squealing when hit by an 

arrow or caught in a fence. Other 

pigs come to investigate when 

they hear the caller, Pig Squealer. 

“The Boss Hog Call, lower in pitch, 

“one read. It was fascinating to 

see his display which included 

lanyards, Deer Jambalaya and 

cases of local raw honey canning 

jars in stacks against the wall. 

There were different scents to 

mask the human scent when 

hunting. Musky Woods Cover 

Scent, Boar Urine and Poison Ivy 

Soap, unscented insect repellent; 

too many other products to name. 

Among so many Unknowns in this 

room were the two canning jars of 

brown sealed liquid that was still 

warm when I touched them. What 

is he doing here/and what is this? 

I wondered. It turns out Pat ships 

honey to wholesalers for a friend 

who has bee hives. Boy I sure felt 

silly when I realized that dangerous 

warm stuff was only good old local 

raw Louisiana Honey. 

Pat Landreneau has always wanted 

to help others and he was able to 

realize his dream by becoming a 

pharmacist. He graduated from 

Northeast Louisiana University in 

1968. While attending college in 

Monroe he met the love of his life, 

Bonnie Barron, also a student. They 

married the year he graduated. 

They moved to Jennings in 1969. 

He was the pharmacist in the 

Gibson Store until 1975. They 

purchased a building and opened 

the 13 th of 33 Louisiana’s Thrifty Way 

Pharmacies. Bonnie became the 

office manager. Their friends from 

Pat’s graduating opened many of 

the other Thrifty Ways. 

It was in1985 that Pat began feeling 

like he needed to implement 

preventive health care which 

would assist in maintaining health 

and boost his energy level. He 

investigated the Shaklee Nutrition 

Research Company which made 

an impression on him. He began 

using the multivitamin and mineral 

formula and in seven days he felt 

more energetic with increased 

mental alertness. With renewed 

mental clarity and his allergies less 

severe he was feeling so much 

better, Bonnie decided to try the 

product. It took a bit longer for her 

to realize the benefits but she too 

became convinced. Their boys, both 

pre-teen, began and grew up on 

Shaklee’s Healthy Kids Program. 

Pat has a wealth of information 

about the human body and 

nutrition and enjoys introducing 

everyone to Shaklee and its 

benefits. He and Bonnie are active 

in the community. They walk 

together five days a week and are 

living life to the fullest. In 2016 

they hiked the Grand Canyon. They 

also participate in several annual 

nationwide hiking excursions. 

For more information about 

Shaklee Products and preventive 

health care call Pat Landreneau 

at 337-230-3598 or log on to 

www.patsnc.myshaklee.com 

16 


17-382-0121 First Federal Mortgage Campaign_Voice_of_SWLA_9x5.4 PRs.pdf 1 2/1/17 11:31 AM 

Essentials 

In 1915 Dr. Shaklee began his work on Vitalized Minerals, one of the first 

multi-vitamins in the world. He developed a process which enabled him to extract 

vitamins and minerals from plants. It is from this foundation that we now have Vita-lea®. 

This unique organic supplement supports optimal health. 

Vita-Lea® Promotes: 

• Heart health 

• Immune health 

• Bone and joint health 

• Physical energy 

• Healthy skin, hair and nails 

Call or Visit our Website 

for More Details! 

Pat Landreneau 

Nutrition Consultant 

Lake Charles and Jennings 

337-230-3598 

www.patsnc.myshaklee.com 

Call 337.802.3942 for your tickets. 

Email lacadeltaanddiamonds@gmail.com for 

more information. 


SWLA sports 

In case you missed it 

Top Sports 

Headlines 

from March 


Photo: Lady K's Source: Mike Gaither/KPLC 

"The Class 3A State Champions, the South Beauregard 

Lady K's." 

SOUTH BEAUREGARD LADY K’S WIN 

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 

The stars were aligned and a dream 46 years 

in the making came true. The Lady K’s won 

their first state championship since 1971. 

Beauregard shut down Albany for a 60-47 

win. Through the first half of the game, 

both teams played with earnest and the 

competition was fierce. The third quarter saw 

21 points by the Lady K’s against only 9 by 

the Albany Lady Hornets. The final quarter 

slowed down but remained dominated by 

Beauregard. This was coach Chris Greene’s 

first state championship win. 

Lady K’s Ashlynn Derouen was named to 

the LHSAA All-Tournament Team after the 

championship game. Derouen scored 20 

points during the semifinal game, and 28 

points during the championship game. She 

was also chosen as the Class 3A title game 

Most Outstanding Player. 

Photo: Washington-Marion Source: Brady Renard/KPLC 

"Washington-Marion hold their state champion trophy 

with full hearts. The Indians became state champions 

again after a 30 year wait. 

WASHINGTON-MARION BRINGS HOME 

FIRST STATE TITLE SINCE 1987 

A long 30-year wait paid off for the 

Washington-Marion Charging Indians 

this year as they became state champions 

again. What started out has a 17-7 first 

quarter against Ellender, soon became 

a fully dominated game by the Indians. 

Michael Thomas went in strong with 13 

points, five rebounds, three blocks and 

three steals. Christian Edwards had a good 

night of his own with 13 points and 11 

rebounds. Senior Cody Stansberry earned 

the most outstanding player award. Many 

remembered the great Clyde Wilkins the last 

time the Indians were state champions, and 

ever since have wondered if the team would 

ever make its way back to the finals. As the 

game ending buzzer sounded, the players, 

coaches and fans felt all of their pain wash 

away and all of their dreams come true. 

Photo: McNeese baseball Source: Mike Gaither/KPLC 

"Mitchell Rogers (right) had two home runs that sealed 

the Cowboys victory over the LSU Tigers." 

MCNEESE DEFEATS LSU FOR SECOND YEAR 

After staying at a 3-3 tie in the seventh 

inning, Matt Gallier’s bunt brought in 

Robbie Podrosky to get over the plateau. A 

home run in the following inning brought 

the Cowboys to a 5-3 lead. McNeese beat 

its highest ranked competitor in front of a 

record crowd; 2,821 were in attendance. 

Photo: Hathaway Source: Brady Renard/KPLC 

"The Hathaway Hornets were the Class B state runner up." 

HATHAWAY CAN’T HOLD ZWOLLE FOR 

CLASS B TITLE 

After a strong first half that left the Hathaway 

Hornets with a 25-9 lead, the Zwolle Hawks 

came out strong and only allowed the 

Hornets 9 points for the remainder of the 

game. Zwolle led the fourth quarter 33-32. 

The Hawks would score four more points to 

make the final score 37-34. Trey Blanchard led 

Hathaway with 10 points during the game. 

This was the first time the Hornets had made 

the semifinal round of playoffs since 1961. 

Photo: McNeese basketball Source: Brady Renard/KPLC 

"The McNeese Cowgirls huddle with head coach Kacie 

Cryer at the SLC women's basketball tournament. The 

Cowgirls fell to SFA 77-6." 

MCNEESE COWGIRLS CLOSE SEASON IN KATY 

The Cowgirls fell to Stephen F. Austin to 

close out the basketball season. A 77-63 

final gave McNeese a total season record 

of 14-17. The women struggled against 

SFA, putting up only 7 points after the 

first quarter and at the half the Cowgirls 

were behind 42-20. The third quarter saw 

the women warm up making six out of 

nine shot attempts. In the final quarter 

of the game, McNeese cut the lead to an 

eight-point separation, but ultimately the 

Ladyjacks were unstoppable. 

This final game wrapped up careers for 

Amber Donnes, Victoria Rachal, and Hannah 

Cupit. Donnes is only the 16th women’s 

player to score 1,000 career points. Her final 

career points totaled 1,024. 

18 


Rising Above 

(a non-profit organization for single mothers) 

Financial Literacy & Stewardship 

You’re Invited To A Workshop 

'Free & Open to the Public' 

WHEN: Saturday May 13, 2017 

TIME: 12:00PM - 3:00PM 

WHERE: Mill St. Church of Christ 

2318 Mill St. 

Lake Charles, LA. 70601 

Host: 

Vicky Parker 

Founder/CEO & Single Mother 

Guest Speakers: Nypheteria Clophus, CPSB Headstart Fiscal 

Manager -Lee Brown, Regional Vice President Primerica 

Topics: Budget - Save - Invest - Financial Freedom 

Live Performance & Refreshments 


SWLA business 

“People 

helping 

People” 

How credit unions are the 

“mom and pop” shops of 

the financial industry 


When I was in my 

second semester 

of college I opened 

my own Mary Kay business. 

I was very excited and knew 

that I would need to keep my 

business account separate 

from my personal account, but 

I wasn’t sure where or even 

how to open a new account. 

So, like many young people I 

called my mom for help. My 

mom has been a part of a 

local credit union for many 

years, and she immediately 

suggested that I look in to 

what kind of rates and offers 

they had. Remembering this 

experience, I wasn’t surprised 

when Access of Louisiana 

Federal Credit Union CEO 

Michelle Jinks told me, “A 

credit union’s local connection 

is usually built upon from 

generation to generation.” 

People helping people is the 

philosophy that credit unions 

stand by, and often times their 

help goes much further than 

financial service. 

“Credit unions are 

a member owned 

cooperative, so 

when you become a 

member, you become 

an owner.” 

Helping people control 

their money 

Before understanding how 

credit unions help members 

beyond financial means, it’s 

important to understand what 

a credit union is and how 

it operates. Jinks explains, 

“Credit unions are a member 

owned cooperative, so when 

you become a member, 

you become an owner.” 

Like stakeholders of a large 

financial institution, you 

become the voice of action 

for the company. “Instead of 

unknown leaders, a volunteer 

board of directors are the ones 

who govern the credit union. 

Each board member is voted 

on by the members of a credit 

union” says Jinks. 

Credit unions are also not for 

profit institutes. Everything 

a credit union does is to help 

members reach their greatest 

well-being and financial 

freedom. Jinks explains how 

this works, “You often hear 

that credit unions have higher 

interest rates and lower 

loan rates than banks. This is 

exactly how we are able to 

achieve that! Since we are 

not for profit, that means the 

money has to go somewhere. 

Instead of returning it to 

investors or stakeholders, all 

the money goes back to our 

members by way of these 

exclusive rates.” 

20 


“Mobile banking is an essential part of 

today’s banking experience. Many credit 

unions offer the same mobile experience that 

other financial institutions do” 

Helping people have 

a better financial 

experience 

As our everyday activity 

becomes more technology 

based, credit unions have 

answered the call just as 

banks have. “Mobile banking 

is an essential part of today’s 

banking experience. Many 

credit unions offer the same 

mobile experience that other 

financial institutions do,” Jinks 

comments. Features such as: 

account balances, transfer 

funds between accounts, bill 

pay, and e-statements are 

only a few of the services that 

Access list as part of its free 

online banking system. 

Beyond the dollars and cents, 

members enjoy the personal 

atmosphere that a credit 

union brings. In a study by the 

CFI Group with the American 

Customer Satisfaction Index, 

first year members of a credit 

union based their satisfaction 

on how they interacted with 

the staff. Jinks backs up 

this finding with, “Members 

recognizing the staff inside 

their credit union as much as 

they enjoy the credit union 

staff recognizing the member.” 

Annual fundraisers 

are another part of 

how credit unions 

bring their members 

together to help one 

another. 

Helping people beyond 

the building walls 

Going even further to give 

members the best experience 

possible, credit union 

members often have access 

to institute only scholarships, 

partner discounts for things 

like cell phone carriers, and 

some institutions offer a 

“skip a payment” program 

on certain loans. All of these 

reasons are what drive Jinks 

to describe credit unions as 

“being like banks but with 

benefits!” 

Annual fundraisers are 

another part of how credit 

unions bring their members 

together to help one another. 

Jinks discussed an annual 

bake sale at Access, “Each 

year we have a bake sale 

during the holidays. We have 

selected dates throughout 

November and December that 

we sell baked goods made 

by members and employees. 

All of the proceeds are used 

to help a member in need 

during the holidays.” Access 

recently had a bake sale to 

help a young member raise 

money for a summer trip to 

be a part of SciTech College in 

Boston, MA. Last year during a 

time of great flooding, credit 

unions pulled together to 

send supplies and food to 

other credit unions to help 

their members affected by the 

heavy storms. 

Because credit unions are 

built by community members 

it's easy to see why these 

institutions are so dedicated 

to its members. From 

generation to generation, 

people continue to help 

people. 

Resources 

The full CFI report, “Making 

the Most of Membership 

Growth: How Credit Unions 

Can Leverage Member 

Satisfaction Today for Long- 

Term Growth Tomorrow”, 

can be found at http://www. 

cfigroup.com/downloads/ 

credit_union_wp.pdf 

To find out if your credit union 

is part of a Co-Op initiative 

and has shared branches in 

your area, visit https://coopcreditunions.org/locator/ 

From the CEO 

On credit union services: “Credit unions offer the same financial products as banks and other 

financial institutions. Credit union members, like bank customers, have access to checking and 

savings accounts, CDs, loan products, and credit cards.” 

On credit union membership: “Many people believe they aren’t eligible for membership. 

There are so many credit unions that finding one you are eligible for is not hard. In fact, in many 

cases you are eligible for membership because of a family member’s status. Any of our member 

service representatives would be happy to answer any questions you have on membership!” 

On credit union convenience: “Although you may not see a credit union on every corner, our 

limited locations don’t mean as much as you think. As a cooperative network, credit unions 

partner together to offer a shared branch network. Most credit unions work together to allow their 

members to do their banking at other locations without incurring fees. ATM’s work the same way. 

Many credit unions are part of an alliance that allow their members to use other ATM locations 

without a fee.” 


IT’S 

GEAUX 

TIME. 

IT’S HERE, Y’ALL. 

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. @2016 YUENGLING & SON, PA 17901 

22 


PERFECT CREDIT SOLUTIONS, INC. 

• Raise Your Credit Scores for Home and Business Loans 

• Establish Business Credit 

• Business Incorporations (Profit and Nonprofit) 

• Creation of 501 (c)(3) for Nonprofit Organizations 

• Life Insurance 

390 E. Prien Lake Road 

Lake Charles, La. 70601 

Office: (337) 602-6201 

Call For Free Consultation 

Ahmed Muhammad 

CEO/Founder 

Joseph Thomas 

Vice President 

“FIRST TIME HOME 

BUYERS PROGRAM FOR 

WORKING MOTHERS.” 


Q&A Hurricane Preparedness 

{What do you have in your Hurricane Preparedness Kit? 

Ben: I get enough water for each person in my house for [at least] a week. 

I think there is an equation for how many gallons per person per day they 

recommend. https://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/water/ 

QWhen and who determines 

the need to evacuate when 

there is a hurricane? 

ABen: Local parish 

government determines the 

need to evacuate. That's why 

we always say it's important to 

listen to government officials 

because they are going to make 

the determination to whether 

there's an evacuation. You have 

Calcasieu Parish of Homeland 

Security, there's Dick Gremillion 

and they are going to work with 

officials like the National Weather 

Service. They have certain 

protocol and certain triggers that 

are used to determine when and 

if there should be an evacuation. 

QWhat are some “triggers” 

officials use to determine the 

need for an evacuation? 

ABen: The strength of a storm, 

the distance it is from making 

landfall, the amount of time 

before it will make landfall, if it is 

forecast to make a landfall, the 

track it is on and the intensity 

are triggers. 

QWhat is a storm surge? 

A 

Ben: A storm surge is a 

combination of tide and a 

buildup of water that comes 

inland with the initial onset of 

the landfall of a hurricane. Think 

of it as a wall of water that comes 

in and inundates everything in 

its path. That's where most of 

your deaths occur in a hurricane 

because of the flooding. It can 

wipe homes off their foundations 

near the coast and it is your 

greatest impact because of the 

power of water. Of course we can 

have storm surge flooding all the 

way into Lake Charles because 

of our connection with the ship 

channel being connected to the 

Gulf of Mexico. And the size of 

the storm surge is based on the 

strength of the storm, varying 

from storm to storm. 

QThe National Hurricane 

Center has something new 

this year called ‘products’. What 

are they? 

ABen: Beginning this hurricane 

season, there is a storm 

surge watch and a storm surge 

warning. It is put together based 

upon the modeling the center 

already has. They take a scenario 

of the hurricane size and they 

Hurricane 

Preparedness 

with Ben Terry, Meteorologist 

By Jessica Hunt 

She is a Montana native who has never experienced a hurricane. She spoke with Ben Terry, 

Meteorologist, who gave her advice on how to prepare for hurricane season. He also provided her 

some resources to understand storms. 

run the computer models 

through what is called a ‘Slosh 

Model.’ That gives them an idea 

of how high the water could rise 

along with that particular part 

of the coast that will be affected 

by the storm. That way they can 

take the information and issue 

the storm surge watches and the 

storm surge warnings. If a storm 

surge watch is issued, there is the 

possibility of a life threatening 

inundation from rising water 

moving inland from the shore 

within a specified area, generally 

within 48 hours. If a storm surge 

warning is issued, there is life 

threatening inundation of rising 

water moving inland from the 

shore within a specified area, 

generally about 36 hours before 

the impacts would occur. 

QWhat impact will these 

products have? 

ABen: Hopefully, these 

products, storm surge watch 

and storm surge warning, will 

make it more perceivable to the 

public. Right now the products 

are limited to just hurricane 

watch and hurricane warning. 

That means hurricane warnings 

tell you there are hurricane 

conditions expected, and the 

different kinds of hurricane 

conditions expected. This will 

hopefully give people more of a 

sense of impacts and it will make 

those impacts hit home. No two 

storms are alike and people get 

caught up on the categories. The 

categories are a wind scale and 

often times it has little to do with 

that. You can get little impacts 

based on a storm. 

QHow do we access these 

products? 

ABen: For more information visit 

The National Hurricane Centers’ 

website..www.nhc.noaa.gov 

QI have never experienced a 

hurricane and I've also done 

no planning. Where should I 

start? 

ABen: It is important to know 

where you live in relation to 

the coastline. 

If you are a renter, make sure 

you have some sort of renters’ 

insurance plan and find out what 

it may or may not cover in the 

event of a storm. Check with your 

homeowner’s policy to see if it 

covers damage, such as flooding, 

24 


as a result of a tropical system, 

and a hurricane supply kit. 

QWhat are some mistakes that 

people make with hurricane 

preparedness? 

ABen: For one, not being 

prepared. Waiting till the 

last minute when a storm hits 

to pack a supply kit. Stand in 

line for water or stock up on 

basic necessities is the last thing 

you want to be thinking of if 

a hurricane is in the Gulf. You 

want to already have those basic 

needs met and then you can 

focus on fortifying your home, 

like boarding up your home. 

You need to buy the right kind 

of plywood because a lot of 

people buy the thin, quarter-inch 

plywood. That's really not strong 

enough for boarding up your 

windows. You really need to get 

three-quarter inch or one inch 

plywood to put on your windows 

and doors. Be on the safe side 

and don’t make that mistake. 

QIs there anything else people 

should plan for? 

ABen: Think about your pets 

if you evacuate. Where are 

you going to stay? Will the hotel 

allow animals? 

Prepare to be away from your 

home for a long time if you do 

evacuate and if there is a lot 

of destruction. If you do come 

back home, is your home even 

able to be lived in? What if you 

have a big hole in your roof or 

you might not have electricity or 

water. People here were saying 

that they went without power 

for almost a month after Rita. It's 

usually in the summer time so it's 

going to be hot, and you won't 

have air conditioning! 

QOne thing that surprised me 

when I heard about it was 

the problems with refrigerators. 

Can you tell me about that? 

ABen: If you lose power after 

a couple of days everything 

spoils. It may be wise not to buy 

milk and maybe eat things that 

you've got in your refrigerator 

if you know you are going to be 

evacuating. During Rita There 

was a sense of urgency to get 

out. Ideally, you could take that 

food with you in a cooler. That's 

just some of the things you will 

deal with after power damage. 

QWhich would you say is more 

devastating, a hurricane or a 

tornado? 

ABen: They both are just as 

devastating in the fact that 

they can destroy your home 

and kill you. A tornado can go 

through a neighborhood and 

destroy half the neighborhood 

and leave half of it intact. A 

hurricane is damage on a wider 

scale and that's where I think it 

is worse. 

The difference is that you have a 

lot more time, three or four days 

to get prepared for a hurricane. 

A tornado can come up almost 

out of the blue and you might 

have less than five minutes to get 

to a safe place. 

QWhat is the best thing to do 

if you’ve never been through 

a hurricane? 

A 

Ben: If you've never been 

through a hurricane, make 

a friend with someone who 

has. They're going to be the 

best person to inform you on 

what they've been through. 

Talk to people who have been 

through Rita and Ike. Find out 

first hand from people who 

live in the area. 

We’re building … 

Careers 

“ For 34 years, I’ve had the opportunity 

to build a great career, learn 

something new every day and give 

back to my hometown.” 

Wayne Goke 

Safety & Emergency Response 

SasolNorthAmerica.com 


SWLA entertainment 

The City of Lake Charles 

Recreation & Parks 

Department held their first 

Senior Easter Egg Hunt at the 

J.D Clifton Recreation Center. 

Approximately 58 Seniors 

came out to enjoy lunch, 

festivities and each other. 

26 


Pick up your copy of The 

Voice of SWLA while 

you’re out and about. 

SULPHUR 

West Cal-Cam Hospital 

Stines 

Pitt Grill 

SPAR 

Goodwill 

Hollier's 

Dairy Barn 

LAKE CHARLES 

Pujo St. Cafe 

Chase (Downtown) 

Steamboat Bill's 

Civic Center 

Carnegie Library 

Luna Bar & Grill 

MOSS BLUFF 

Peto's 

Market Basket 

Southern Spice 

VINTON 

Post Office 

Market Basket 

Love's Truck Stop 

DERIDDER 

Brookshires Bros. 

City Hall 

DeRidder Hospital 

Post Office 

Steamboat Bill's 

If you ACT like a champion, 

you will BECOME a champion. 

– Georges St-Pierre 

Lunch Special Menu 

Mon-Sat 10:30am-4pm 

Phở SAIGON 

1850 N. Martin Luther King Hwy. 

Walk In 

Take Out 

Catering 

Vietnamese Restaurant 

Hours 

Mon. - Sat. 10:30am - 9pm 

Sunday 11:30am - 8pm 


“Fair To All” - That type of Mayor 

“The Army was my foundation training for working with others.” 

Promote and Sell our City 

“It is important that people feel they can talk to their mayor. An administration 

not listening to the people is one of my biggest frustrations because the city provides 

services to the people.” 

Be a Cheerleader for Our Small Business People 

“I want to have an Economic Development Department with a mission to help, 

locate and encourage people to go into business.” 

See article on page 11

The Voice of Southwest Louisiana April 2017 Issue

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