October 2008
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VOL. 17, NO. 10 KENNER’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1991 OCTOBER 2008 Leased generators keep Kenner gets serious scares from Gustav, Ike Kenner to raise funds Kenner’s lift stations but damage is minimal and cooperation for Gustav, Ike relief working, help city within government is unprecedented in lower Jefferson avoid flooding By ALLAN KATZ ernment are pleased by their response and Concert to benefit Grand Isle By ALLAN KATZ cooperation that linked city government, With fervent prayers that the worst of the Kenner Police Department, the New For years, Councilwoman-at-Large the hurricane season is over, Kenner resi- Kenner Fire Department and the emer- Orleans Soul Jeannie Black has been telling anyone dents are cleaning up after Hurricanes gency medical services technicians Queen and who would listen that Kenner’s chron- Gustav and Ike, glad that East Jefferson together as a single unified team. Grammy win- ic flooding problems could be signifi- has not received any direct hits. “We thought that we really made some ner Irma cantly reduced if the city had genera- At the same time, officials within gov- important advances in governmental Thomas will tors that could keep the 79 lift stations cooperation this hurricane season,” said headline a “Hurricane functioning during period of high Emile Lafourcade, Kenner’s public infor- Survivors winds and heavy rain. mation officer. “For the first time, we had Party” in Irma Thomas During the last two years, everyone together in the police complex. Kenner’s Laketown on Saturday, Councilwoman Black has been joined Police Chief Steve Caraway and his team did a great job of making everyone com- October 18, for the benefit of first by District 3 Councilman Ben Zahn. responders in lower Jefferson Parish fortable. We all worked together well. Black formerly was a district council- who suffered damages from Hurricanes Mayor Muniz and Chief Caraway kept woman for District 3, where much of Gustav and Ike. the city’s flooding occurs. continued on page 27 Sponsored by the non-profit Kenner Prior to the 2008 hurricane season, Convention and Visitors Bureau and in Black and Zahn finally got the agree- partnership with the city of Kenner and ment of Mayor Ed Muniz’s adminis- Hurricanes Gustav and Ike threatened, Jefferson Parish, Kenner Mayor Ed tration and their colleagues on the but East Jefferson levees held firm Muniz said the event has the support of Kenner City Council. residents, businesses and Kenner By ALLAN KATZ and were not a flood threat to homes or “It turned out that the cost of pur- police and firemen. businesses,” she said. chasing generators was more than our The concert will get underway at The executive director of the East Campbell said she was worried when budget could manage, but with the continued on page 27 help and agreement of Public Works Jefferson Levee District says that while the Saturday night Hurricane Gustav Director Prat Reddy we found the Hurricanes Gustav and Ike saturated the forecast predicted high levels of water in Jefferson Parish provides three-year funds to underwrite the lease of gener- levees that protect East Jefferson, the lev- Lake Pontchartrain. “We were very con- ees were not in jeopardy of breaching or cerned that the East Jefferson levees comprehensive storm protection ators so that most of our lift stations update online could have the power to stay on-line overtopping. would be severely impacted. Over night during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike,” Fran Campbell said her agency the hurricane veered to the west and our Jefferson Parish recently published a Jefferson Parish Post said Zahn. “Everyone seems to agree received numerous calls from the city of area was not devastated. However, brochure entitled Katrina Flood Protection Plan Update 3 that the flooding this hurricane season Kenner relaying residents’ concerns Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes and Years Later has been minimized, thank goodness.” regarding water seeping through the West other areas like the West Bank of , which details the progress Emile Lafourcade, Kenner’s public Return Floodwall. “The minor leaks that that various governmental agencies information officer, said that because were reported were normal joint seepage continued on page 26 have accomplished to better protect the of the leased generators, 60 percent of Committee to consider sale of airport to state taking shape parish from storms since Hurricane the city’s 79 lift stations operated by Katrina. Veolia Water continued to operate dur- By ALLAN KATZ “My understanding is that officials in “This brochure provides a progress ing high winds and heavy rains, reduc- Jefferson, St. Charles Parish and the report on projects that are now complet- ing the outflow of waters in Kenner The names of all those who will serve city of Kenner have now submitted their ed, under construction, being designed canals that usually overflow, causing on the nine-member Southeast Regional recommendations to Governor Jindal,” or planned for the future to ensure what in the past has been regarded as Airport Authority that will consider the said Jim Hudson, president of Omni Jefferson Parish is a safe place to live,” inevitable flooding in some neighbor- sale of the Louis Armstrong New Bank and the nominee of Broussard. writes Parish President Aaron Broussard hoods. Veolia Water is a private con- Orleans International Airport to the Among those naming members of the in a letter preceding the report. Topics in tractor for the city that provides day to state will soon be released, says a authority is Kenner Mayor Ed Muniz the brochure include lists of authorized day maintenance of the sewer system, Jefferson Parish bank executive who who has selected engineer Debbie projects that need immediate funding has been named to the panel by Parish Settoon to represent the city. Mayor and the status of projects currently continued on page 26 President Aaron Broussard. Muniz additionally gets to recommend underway. Some projects described three other individuals, of whom directly impact Kenner, such as a new Governor Jindal will pick one. Muniz’ “pump-to-river” station to help drain the list of three includes Jules Corona, CEO Kenner basin and the installation of a of Crown Title Inc., Glenn Hayes, pres- floodgate on Airline Highway at the St. ident of the Jefferson Chamber of Charles Parish line. Commerce and Dominick Impastato III, The report is available for viewing on an attorney. the Jefferson Parish website at www.jeff- Sewerage lift station located on 42nd St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. parish.net/downloads/3753/6386- Street between Janice Avenue and Pierre has named Ama resident Carl KatrinaFloodProtectionUpdate3YearsL Erlanger Road. ater.pdf.★ continued on page 26 2 OCTOBER 2008 KENNER ST★R KENNER ST★R OCTOBER 2008 3 “ My first thought Bobby Lusco when I was CANCER SURVIVOR diagnosed – my grandkids.” For Bobby Lusco, winning his battle with cancer was all about having more time to spend at his camp in Mississippi with his grandchildren. Accessing quality care without having to travel to Houston meant his friends and family could provide much needed support while he fought the battle of his life. Through affiliation with M. D. Anderson Physician’s Network, East Jefferson General Hospital patients can receive the latest evidence-based treatment protocols from the nation’s leading cancer fighting center. Cancer free, Bobby is looking forward to many years with those who inspired him when he needed it most. Call 504-456-5000 or visit us online for credentialed physicians and more information. www.ejgh.org/cancercare Affiliated with East Jefferson General Hospital Because no one fights cancer alone. 4 OCTOBER 2008 KENNER ST★R ADMISSION Adults: $6 per show • Children/Seniors: $5 per show • Multi-show packages available Children: 2-14 years • Seniors: 60 and over For group reservations, please contact Pat: 468-7231 SHOW SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Fright Light There are no tricks, but plenty of treats in this “frightfully” enter- A radio announcement... taining laser light show! Back by popular de- an excited phone call... Narrated by Star Trek’s Kate Mulgrew (Captain mand, Fright Light is a “monster” of a show and our sly gumshoe, Janeway). The Planets provides a spectacular tour and promises to thrill audiences of all ages Skye Watcher is on the case! of our Solar System and beyond! Witness the for- with a medley of fun Halloween-themed tunes Join the investigation as Skye discovers mation of our Solar System, explore the planets and laser animations. Musical selections in- what happened to Pluto. Track down clues and their moons, and search the night sky for dis- clude Thriller, Monster Mash, Men in Black, that stretch back hundreds of years as you tant stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Audiences will Purple People Eater and Iron Man look into the changing status of planets in be amazed by the stunning imagery and up close among many others. See com- our Solar System! views of The Planets! plete playlist below. Running time: 30 minutes Running time: 40 minutes Running time: 50 minutes Just 2 minutes from the airport at 2020 Fourth Street – Rivertown – 468-7231 www.rivertownkenner.com Tuesday - Saturday 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM KENNER ST★R OCTOBER 2008 5 ★ From the Editor Hurricane season cooperation in Kenner is just outstanding By ALLAN KATZ When hurri- in Kenner. The answer is that it wasn’t for every lift station, the budget did stop 120-mile-an-hour winds and a 20- canes are in the that long ago that we had a previous allow them to lease generators to keep foot storm surge. At the same time, Gulf of Mexico, mayor and a previous police chief who the lift stations operating during high Kenner residents who have seen it both no one watches didn’t speak to each other.