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LAKE CHARLES – Statewide and local elected officials and municipal employees, representing over 300 municipalities from every corner of the state, descended on the city of Lake Charles between July 31 and August 2 for the 81st Annual Louisiana Municipal Association Convention at the Lake Charles Convention Center.
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter and his team welcomed over 800 delegates to the 2018 event with every city in Calcasieu Parish coming together and working to welcome all.
On Wednesday afternoon of the three-day event, Lt. Governor Nungesser presented the third annual Lieutenant Governor’s Beautification Awards to fifteen communities and Don Pierson, LED Secretary, announced the three LED Development Ready Community Awards recipients.
Joining the city of Rayne were the following 2018 Lt. Governor’s Beautification Award recipients: City of Abbeville, Town of Homer, City of Lake Charles, Village of Loreauville, City of Bogalusa, Town of Grand Isle, City of Gretna, City of Hammond, Town of Jean Lafitte, Town of Lecompte, City of Monroe, Town of Pearl River, Village of Florien and City of Winnfield.
This prestigious award is presented on behalf of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the Lt. Governor’s Office, Louisiana Municipal Assoc., and Louisiana Garden Club Federation. The awards were presented during the LMA conference luncheon held Wednesday.
Each year, municipalities are offered an opportunity to be honored with the Lt. Governor’s Beautification Award for their efforts supporting a clean and green community.
The goal of this joint effort is to facilitate permanent change in the operations and appearance of a community by providing municipalities with necessary resources, best practices, support and education to reduce litter and waste, increase recycling.
In addition, LED Development Ready Community Award winners were the cities of Amite, Gonzales and Ruston.
Thursday’s main events included a keynote address by Governor Edwards, installation of new officers and multiple salutes to the achievements of Louisiana’s cities, towns, villages and public servants with recognition and awards presentations.
The President’s Award was presented to three individuals for their contributions to municipal government:
• Vern Breland - Mayor, Town of Sterlington; former Sterlington Police Chief and served on the town’s Board of Aldermen, LMA Past President and Executive Board Member;
• Carroll Breaux - Mayor of Springhill; LMA Past President and Executive Board Member; and
• Eugene Smith (posthumous award) - Four-term mayor of the Town of Arcadia; one of the longest serving District Vice Presidents in LMA History; served the Town of Arcadia as mayor for 15 years.
Harry Lewis, mayor of Rayville and former LMA first vice president, was installed as president of the association on Thursday. Mayor Lewis succeeds Lawrence Henagan, mayor of DeQuincy, as the LMA’s highest ranking officer.
Also installed Thursday night were Jimmy Williams, mayor of Rayville, as LMA first vice president, and Micheal Chauffe, mayor of Grosse Tete, as second vice president, along with 10 District Vice Presidents, including:
• District A: Peggy Adkins, Mayor, Sarepta;
• District B: Roy Lewis, Mayor, Homer;
• District C: Lucy Holtzclaw, Mayor Pro Tempore, Sterlington;
• District D: Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville;
• District E: Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville;
• District F: Purvis Morrison, Mayor, Scott;
• District G: Kenneth Stinson, Mayor, Vinton;
• District H: David Toups, Mayor, Addis;
• District I: Donald Villere, Mayor, Mandeville; and
• District J: Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson.
Governor John Bel Edwards, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, State Treasurer John Schroder, and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon were among those attending the state’s largest gathering of municipalities. The opening session on Tuesday included an address from Eric Soileau, President of the Police Jury Association of Louisiana and Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin.
Ben Waites served as the featured entertainment and gave a truly moving performance. Two-time Olympic medalist and motivational speaker, Hollis Conway, was the keynote speaker who delivered an entertaining and inspirational message at Wednesday morning’s prayer breakfast, hosted by the City of Pineville.
A range of topics were presented at the convention workshops. Public and private sector experts presented 18 educational sessions on blight, audit compliance, public records and open meetings, census preparation, small cell technology, the opioid crisis, mayor and chief of police relations, and much more.
The convention closed with the unveiling of Monroe as the 2019 host city and the presentation of the much-anticipated Community Achievement Awards. Ten municipalities won LMA’s highest honor in three categories and the Town of Jean Lafitte took the coveted “Best of Show” award.
LMA is a unified voice for Louisiana’s municipal governments. Its mission is to advocate, educate, and empower local governments to efficiently and effectively serve the citizens of Louisiana. There are 305 LMA members consisting of 127 villages, 111 towns, 65 cities, and 2 parishes (www.lma.org).

The first week of a six-month pilot bus service, “Ride Acadiana,” is up and running as of Monday, Aug. 20, providing a regional commuter bus transit system, connecting Acadia Parish to Lafayette.
In addition, commuters between Acadia Parish and Lafayette were able get to try Ride Acadiana free of charge this first week of operation (Aug. 20-24).
“We’re encouraged by the interest in the service already and want to provide riders every opportunity to give it a try,” said Monique Boulet, Chief Executive Officer of the Acadiana Planning Commission.
The service has stops in Crowley, Rayne, Duson, Scott and Lafayette.
Following the free first week, regular fares will begin. Discounts are available for people 65 years and over, and those disabled or on Medicare. Children 5 and younger ride free.
Acadia Parish residents will be able to access the Ride Acadiana bus from several locations Crowley, Rayne and Duson.
Pick-up and drop-off stops in Rayne are at the following three locations:
• Southside Community Center, corner of 4th Street and Anding, a designated park and ride location, parking lot available;
• American Legion Drive (near the American Home), 2nd Street and American Legion Drive, street parking is a designated park and ride location; and
• Corner of Hwy 90 and Arenas Street near Post Office (drop-off point with no designated parking).
“It is obvious the benefits to our connecting communities, including opportunities to seek better, affordable education options, as well as better-paying jobs that will fuel our local economy,” Rayne Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux said. “Sometimes the little things some take for granted, like transportation, can make or break our dreams from becoming reality.”
There also will be a numerous stops in Crowley, one in Scott, as well as three stops in the city of Lafayette. The Lafayette stops will be at the campuses of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College, and in the Oil Center near Lafayette General Medical Center.
The bus service is intended to provide greater access to employment and education opportunities, healthcare resources and more.
“Ride Acadiana will provide commuters between Acadia Parish and Lafayette with easy, affordable access to transportation, with the additional benefit of reducing the number of vehicles on the road,” states Boulet. “With the success of this pilot route, our hope is to be able to offer similar service in other surrounding parishes.”
The following fare structure has been established:
• Two-ride card - $5 / $2 for riders 65+, disabled and Medicare recipients;
• 12-ride card - $20 / $10 for riders 65+, disabled and Medicare recipients; and
• Children under five years old ride free. Children 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times
Additionally, exact change will be accepted on the bus.
Ride passes are available for purchase at Rayne City Hall. Cash or money order will be accepted. For additional information, call 334-3121.
The pilot route is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with support from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
The Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is administering the program and has entered into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Lafayette Consolidated Government to operate the route through Lafayette Transit System.
For complete details, visit RideAcadiana.com.

RAYNE - The Rayne High football team hit the field Thursday, Aug. 16, for a pre-season scrimmage as they hosted Opelousas High.
The Wolves contolled the 6 p.m. scrimmage with a number of new faces joining veterans for a solid performance.
The Wolves and Kaplan Pirates will hit the field during the first game of the first night of the Acadia-Vermilion Jamboree at 6 p.m. at Church Point HIgh School. The second game of the night will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. with Church Point hosting Erath.
Friday will see teams participating in the second night of the Acadia-Vermilion Jamboree slated at North Vermilion High School. The 6:30 p.m. game will see Lake Arthur and Abbeville meet, while North Vermilion will host Crowley High during the second game of the evening at approximately 8 p.m.
During their first regular game of the season, Rayne High will hit the road for the first three contests, Welsh on Aug. 31, Lake Charles College Prep on Sept. 7 and Eunice on Sept. 14.
Rayne’s first home game will take place on Sept. 21 when they host Erath during their Homecoming Game, followed by Leesville on Sept. 28, at Teurlings on Oct. 5, Northside on Oct. 12, at Carencro on Oct. 19, Westgate on Oct. 26 and STM on Nov. 2.