Flatwoods
Flatwoods, LA · Municipal
kalb.com
Alexandria REIGNITE: Mayor speaks on Cheatham Park renovations
ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) - On September 22, Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy held a briefing about the next steps for the city’s REIGNITE campaign. One of the main focuses of the meeting was the renovations to Cheatham Park, located across the street from Peabody High School. The city plans to...
The Town Talk
Activists protest migrant family facility in Louisiana
At the "Community Education Event to Stop Child Detention in Alexandria," CENLA Activism organizer Erin Tracy told attendees that the England Economic and Industrial Development District Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, in the EEIDD boardroom at 1611 Arnold Dr. in Alexandria and encouraged them to attend. In recent months, opponents of ICE-related activities at England Airpark, including a migrant family facility under construction, have regularly attended EEIDD board meetings to voice concerns. Public comments have generally been limited to agenda items, with speakers restricted to three minutes. Tracy said activists will continue drawing attention to what she described as a "detention center for women and children," regardless of whether the facility becomes operational. She said media reports from around the world have focused on the project. Asked whether CENLA Activism and other organizations plan to support women and children that will be housed at the facility through visits or supplies, Tracy said it remains unclear whether advocates will be granted access. "We're going to continue on and forever try to help these people," she said. Tracy said scrutiny of the facility is unlikely to diminish once it opens and expects public attention
cenlanow.com
Ports in Alexandria and Campti receive FastSites funding
ALEXANDRIA, La. (WNTZ) – Louisiana Economic Development has finalized more than $4.5 million in FastSites investments across two regional ports in central and north Louisiana. The state funding directs $2.55 million to the Natchitoches Parish Port and nearly $2 million to the Central Louisiana Regional Port to expand manufacturing,...
The Town Talk
Meeting focuses on children at planned Alexandria migrant facility
Frances Boudreaux of Ball worries whether the children to be housed at the self-deporting migrant family facility under construction at England Airpark will be treated humanely. She wants to be their voice, just like the other activists from around Louisiana who attended the “Community Education Event to Stop Child Detention in Alexandria” meeting. At the Monday meeting in Pineville at Kees Park Community Center and organized by CENLA Activism and other state and national organizations, attendees in person and on Zoom heard speakers from Louisiana and across the country discuss immigration detention, legal and liability concerns, the economic impact and the environmental concerns related to the facility. In February, the England Economic and Industrial Development District Board of Commissioners voted to authorize England Airpark and Alexandria International Airport Executive Director Ralph Hennessy to execute a cooperative endeavor agreement between the England Economic and Industrial Development District and the Ruston-based nonprofit LaSalle Family Foundation to lease two buildings and 10 acres for the center. “My greatest fear is that they are going to be traumatized so much that it’s going to stay with them for a lifetime,” Boudreaux said after the meeting. Boudreaux worries about the lasting effects detention could have
natchitochesparishjournal.com
JUST IN: Over $4.5M for Natchitoches and Central Louisiana Ports
Louisiana Economic Development finalized more than $4.5 million in FastSites funding today for two regional ports, delivering an immediate infrastructure boost designed to expand manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics capacity across Central Louisiana. The major funding package directs $2.55 million to the Natchitoches Parish Port in Campti to expand warehouse facilities...
kalb.com
Remodeled Frank O. Hunter Park unveiled
ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) - Saturday morning, Alexandria’s political and business leaders gathered for the grand reopening of Frank O. Hunter Park following a $370,702 improvement project. The project was funded through the City of Alexandria’s Project Reignite —an $82 million program focused on quality-of-life improvements in Alexandria and making...
avoyellestoday.com
New Plaucheville fire station taking shape!
Modern $526,000 facility will add third truck bay and larger training space. Construction is underway on a new home for the Plaucheville Volunteer Fire Department, a project town officials say will provide much-needed space for equipment, training and department operations. The new station is being built at 159 Hwy. 1181,...
kalb.com
Avoyelles Parish bridge reopens to the public
AVOYELLES PARISH, La. (KALB) - Drivers near Bordelonville can once again cross the Monroe Fabre Bridge after a nearly $1.85 million replacement project was completed. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced Sept. 3 that the bridge over Bayou Des Glaises on Big Bend Road had reopened to traffic.
kalb.com
The Town Talk
CENLA Activism to host open discussion on migrant family facility
PINEVILLE — Central Louisiana residents will have an opportunity Monday to learn more about and discuss the proposed migrant family facility planned for England Airpark near Alexandria. The community meeting, hosted by CENLA Activism, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at Kees Park, 2450 La. Highway 28 East in Pineville. Organizers say the event is open to anyone concerned about the project. The meeting comes as debate continues over the facility approved by the England Economic and Industrial Development District Board. Supporters have described the project as the Alexandria Family Staging Center, while critics argue it is an ICE detention center for women and children. "The England Authority board punched us right in the gut by promising a special meeting to address the child detention center and then cancelling it days prior," said Erin Tracy, organizer of CENLA Activism. At the Aug. 27 meeting of the EEIDD, Commissioners Patrick O'Quin and Joe McPherson announced that a special meeting would be held Sept. 8 to allow the public to voice concerns about the Alexandria Staging Area. According to a news release posted on the district's Facebook page Sept. 3, the meeting was later canceled. In recent months, opponents of
kalb.com
With SunGas out, economic leaders eye high-tech industries at Beaver Lake site
PINEVILLE, LA. (KALB) - Cenla’s top economic officials say there’s new life for the Beaver Lake site months after SunGas Renewable’s Beaver Lake Biofuels Project fell through. Evidenced by this are documents KALB obtained showing that the site’s land owners recently signed an option granting a Baton Rouge lawyer the exclusive right to purchase the land until December 31, 2027.