Katrina: two years later

Southern University at Shreveport sponsored "A Community Conversation: Hurricane Katrina -- Two Years Later" on Wednesday.
The program allowed representatives from several agencies the opportunity to take a look back at how things were handled after the hurricane and how they would handle things differently if given the opportunity.
Panelists during the first half of the program included representatives from American Red Cross, United Way, Caddo-Bossier Office of Homeland Security, Hope for the Homeless and Caddo School Board.
State Sen. Lydia Jackson was a among the panelists during the second half of the program.
Members of the audience, which included hurricane evacuees, were allowed the opportunity to ask questions and give updates on their lives following the hurricane.
Program facilitators were David Aubrey, project manager for community economic development and housing initiatives at Southern University; and Liz Swaine.

Boasso's thoughts

During his meeting with The Times Editorial Board, gubernatorial candidate Walter Boasso said, "If you don’t have a plan, if you don’t have a vision, this is the politics you wind up with in Louisiana. There is no vision of where we go."
Boasso said people complain about the spending and that there are not enough tax credits.
"Does that mean we shouldn’t have funded I-49 and given people the tax credits instead?"

"We are at a tremendous crossroads in Louisiana history," he said. "The question is, can Louisiana recover from the recovery? We lost 176,000 permanent jobs. We have an insurance crisis like never before. Health care is talked about but nobody ever fixes it. I know what the problems are, let’s fix them. I don’t want to study studies, I don’t want to talk about them. It’s going to take a very very strong leader to bring everyone together for one common mission and one common cause. "

Jindal in Hollywood Shreveport

Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal touted his top priorities during a meeting with The Times Editorial Board. He also talked about the local movie productions and how they benefit the area.
While addressing the group, Jindal spoke about his “Hollywood” experience here.
Here’s what he had to say:
I was here at the Petroleum Club for a meeting, running up to the elevator for lunch. I knew they were filming a movie but I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it. I was in the elevator and it didn’t move. So I’m standing there in the elevator thinking, “I’m in a hurry.” There was a guy in a three-piece suit and he wouldn’t push the buttons. I asked him to push the button and he wouldn't. I was getting a little anxious and he wouldn’t say anything to me. Finally after about two or three minutes of awkward silence, this young man peers his head around the corner and says, “Mr. Jindal, you’re in the middle of our shoot.”
I guess he (man in the elevator) was an extra waiting for his lines and he wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize it. I ran upstairs to tell the audience at lunch and they said, “Did you see Jessica Simpson?”

School zone tickets

If you think motorists aren't being ticketed for speeding in school zones, think again.
Here are some eye-opening statistics:
Shreveport police issued 964 school zone citations in 2005 and 1,835 in 2006.
Bossier City police issued 473 citations in 2005 and 521 in 2006.
And those are just the ones who were caught.
Slow down motorists. Help our children have a safe school year.

Funds for crime victims

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator awarded $51,767 during May, June and July to crime victims who applied for money from the state Crime Victims Reparations Fund.
The money went to 25 separate victims or their families for medical or funeral expenses, lost wages, counseling or emergency awards. The cases reviewed involved homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, battery, property damage and hit and run.
The Crime Victims Reparations Fund, which is managed locally by the sheriff, compensates victims of crimes where force or the threat of force was used. Money distributed to the victims is obtained from court costs paid by defendants, supplemented by court-ordered restitution from criminals, a federal grant, donations and interest.

Watch out for scooters

I don’t care how often I see it, I still can’t get used to seeing people on those motorized scooters riding in the street.
I was on my way to lunch today and saw a man driving down the street on one -- in front of a city bus. He never got out of the way and the bus eventually had to go around him.
I’m not sure if it’s even legal to ride them on the streets like that because of the different rules and regulations.
But legal or not, it’s dangerous and people probably shouldn't ride them down the street as if they are in a car.
Sure, they have to get from place to place but safety should come first.

Cleaning up after the dog

I recently interviewed Timothy Young, a Caddo deputy sheriff who has started a pet waste removal business, Port Pooper Scoopers. Timothy said he started the business after visiting his brother in Houston, who has several dogs.

"I asked him why didn't he clean up the dog doo in his backyard," Timothy said. "He told me, 'you can't pay me to clean up that mess but I'll give you $20 if you do it for me.'"

Tim said he cleaned up the yard in about 10 minutes and collected his $20.

After talking with Timothy, I started thinking about my own backyard and the hazards that might be lurking in what my puppy Tank leaves behind. So, I went online to read more about the dangers of dog doo and what I found was unsettling. Most of the Web sites talked about the different parasites living in the dog doo and how it can affect the water.

And contrary to what some people might think, dog poop is not a fertilizer. Timothy said it can even kill your grass.

I guess now I'll have to go out and get some pooper scooping equipment and tackle my backyard. Or rather, get my sons to do it.