WE DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD TAKE LONG TO GET STARTED

We Didn’t Tink It Would Take Long To Get Started

If you wuz bornt an raised in our great state, den you know dat it’s for shore dat you are gonna see elections, elections an mo elections every year.

Now, some tought dat 2014 would end elections in de great state uf Louisianer for a while. Not so, my frans. Already, we are seein governor’s candidate forums for de October election, and already we are seein signs for one familiar face for state representative.

First, de governor ting. All uf de announced candidates for governor took part in a forum before a group in Baton Rouge recently. And all agreed dat de number one priority (I love how dat priority changes dependin on de crowd politicians speak to) sed dat rebuildin de coastal area, and de highways and bridges, would be dar top priority. Guess dat’s what day had to say, since de group they wuz talking to wuz a buncha state contractors who pulled a number outta thin air az to what de buildin and repair needs for our state are.

Bet you if dat same buncha candidates spoke to de La. Teachers Association, de top priority would be higher teacher pay. Or, if they spoke to commercial fishermen, de topic would be longer seasons and less regulation. Dat changin uf de message might have worked in de days uf Earl Long, but now folks have tv sets, and they can see dem cooyons changin dar message to suit de crowd they iz adressin. Uf course, de national candidates an de state an national elected officials do de same ting. Wonder why folks don’t trust politicians.

Movin on to udder election news, while ridin around wit my fran Max recently, we spotted some “Wilford Carter for state representative” signs at several spots. De sign sez: vote Judge Wilford Carter (retired) for State Representative District 34.

Now, if you recall, Carter wuz de state representative from dat district, an den ran for district judge, where he served for quite a long time. Some wonder if current state representative  A.B. Franklin iz term limited out, an de answer iz no. Franklin can serve one mo term … if he gets reelected … which ain’t no small task against Carter.

Watch dis one, folks. If A.B. decides to run again, me, I can assure you fur will fly. Dat election will be in October, along wit everyting from governor on down to dog catcher. My fran T-Claude got beat for dog catcher four years ago, but sez he’s gonna run an win dis time.

Now, before we vote on all dem folks, we get to vote on a proposal by de school boad to up de parish sales tax by a half penny to give teachers a much needed raise. De new school boad voted to put de tax to vote uf de people at dar firs meetin. Funny, we didn’t hear much discussion about an increase vote while dem members wuz runnin jus a few months ago. Dat election will be in de spring, an we promise to have mo on dis in future issues.

Speakin Uf Education In Calcasieu Parish

We heard Henry Mancuso, who iz wit de charter schools, spoke at a breakfast recently. Now, many uf you know Henry az Father Henry Mancuso, but he iz retired from de church, an iz devotin most uf hiz time to de charter schools in our area.

Henry, who haz always been very good wit numbers, trew out some numbers dat floored some folks.

Dar are three charter campuses in our parish ….1,600 students, grades K-8. Students are about evenly split between locations on Power Centre Parkway, next to de Ward 3 Recreation Complex, an East McNeese and South Park. In addition, dar’s a high school — Lake Charles College Prep — dat’s got 100 ninth-grade students, an will grow by a grade each year. De target iz 900-1,100 students by de time de school iz a four-year school.

Now, you may ax: Why do so many want to move dar kids to dem charter schools?  Henry pointed out dat de reasons are many, an de list iz growin. Firs uf all, because uf industry growth, we will see 6,000 mo school-age kids in our parish by 2018-19. Dar’s also de increased cost uf non-public schools, an den dar’s de issue uf public schools dat are not doing very well, so lots uf dem dat manage to graduate from dem schools ain’t ready for de real world.

Here’s some numbers dat will get you scratchin your head: Washington Marion graduates only 54 percent of its students, and 10 percent are TOPS eligible. At LaGrange, 63 percent graduate, an only 18 percent are TOPS eligible.

The key word dat Henry used several times durin hiz presentation is underserved. Now, he emphasized dat charter schools aren’t de solution to all uf de problems in our parish schools. Nor iz a new elementary school in Moss Bluff, since folks in dat area recently voted down a proposal for a new school. But, like Henry sed, we need to all sit down an figger dis ting out. An we agree. Don’t leave de education uf our kids up to de politicians. Cause, az you know, mos politicians jus wanna move on (Henry didn’t say dat …we did). An jus trowin money at de problem (de politicians’ solution) jus ain’t workin. But we have to sit down an figure dis out.

Westlake Facin Money Problems

When de city uf Westlake an udder public bodies committed money to de Cove Lane project in de name uf economic development, me, I axed how would dat project help Westlake an Sulphur. Now we read whare de new Westlake City Council iz votin to increase water, sewer an gaz fees to generate revenue. Efforts will also be made to collect dem fees from folks who iz behind. Now, dis increase in water, sewer an gaz fees iz sed to amount to about $40-$60 a month, which iz a whole lot uf money to Mrs. Johnson or Mr. Jones, who iz livin on a $700 or $800 a month Social Security check. Don’t guess de council (some uf who wuz on de old council, an are now on de new council)  thought much about dat when they voted to send money to Lake Charles in de name uf “economic development.” An, by de way, we still maintain dat dis Cove Lane project iz nuttin mo dan an entrance and exit for gamblers. Again, we didn’t hear no Westlake Council candidates talk about de sewer, gaz and water increases when they wuz runnin for office.

Not Such A Good Idea — Maybe ‘Cause It Wuzn’t Dar Idea

A few weeks ago, President Obama came out wit a plan to offer a free two years uf community college to most Americans. Now, one would tink dat would be welcomed by our state officials. Now, get this: Bobby Jindal, an several Southern University Boad members, disagreed wit Obama on dis one — for different reasons.

De Southern folks sed it would destroy historically black colleges and universities, like Southern and Gramblin. Jindal, who haz never met an idea by anyone udder dan himself dat he liked, wuz quick to say dat states are better suited for creating such proposals. Yep, an we can see Louisiana haz done a bangup job wit it’s higher education systems  — not.  Dar again, we have examples uf ideas regarding education for political gain.

Way To Go, Jack, Billy And Philip

You have no doubt heard dat Jindal iz talkin about cuttin mo money from higher education, an az a result, further hittin our colleges. Some have suggested closing some uf dem schools. Me, I would vote for LSU Alexandria to be shut down. It should have never been switched to a four-year school. But, dar again, politics in education.

Meantime, three Lake Area car dealers have come to realize what many in our state have realized: dat you can only cut so much. So, they are going to do dar part to increase revenue by each giving away a brand new 2015 vehicle to be raffled off May 9 at Cowboy Diamond. Raffle tickets are jus $20, and if you win, here iz your choices: a Toyota Camry LE from Lake Charles Toyota, a Buick Verona from All Star Buick GMC, or a Chevrolet Colorado from Billy Navarre Chevrolet.

Thank you, Billy Navarre, Jack Hebert and Philip Tarver for helping McNeese and our economy. And thanks to everyone for buying tickets and wearing blue and gold.

Deep Taughts While Smokin A Good Legal Cuban Ceegar

10) How come all my frans iz bein so nice to me, now dat I have Avoyelles Parish

sweet potatoes?

9) Which high school basketball teams from dis area are gonna make de playoffs?

8) Why does my neighbor’s dog start barking de minute I start to take a nap?

7) Why does my udder neighbor have to cut hiz grass when I take a nap an de dog ain’t barkin?

6) How many mo banks can dis area handle?

5) Ain’t de new Golden Nugget casino sometin to see?

4) How does my 96-year-ol uncle attrack all dem ladies?

3) Iz T-Claude gonna take me to de Jazz Fest in New Awlins dis year?

2) How can John Bridges deny takin my chicken salad, when dar’s de smell uf

garlic all around him?

1) Why does my fran T-Jack borrow my pistol an ammo, an return only de pistol?

‘Til next time, lache pas la patate.