BIG SKY-HIGH KEVIN VICTORY MELTON McNeese builds lead, New Chennault holds on for win over Airport director Northern Colorado. plans big growth B1 A8 01039710

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Sunday, September 2, 2018

HHH No. 45,162 Lake Charles, Louisiana $1.25 Trump's trade Final warning to Canada By The farewell WASHINGTON — Presi- dent Donald Trump warned Canada on Saturday that Politics play a part as it "will be out" of a revised North American trade agree- ment unless it's "fair" to the McCain tributes echo United States, and he threat- ened to scrap the current deal should Congress "interfere" with criticism of Trump with the negotiations. "There is no political neces- By The Associated Press McCain had asked sity to keep Canada in the new WASHINGTON — John NAFTA deal," Trump said in McCain’s daughter and two George W. Bush, a Re- one of a series of tweets as he former presidents led a public visited his Virginia golf club rebuke of President Donald publican, and Barack while three former presidents Trump’s divisive politics at Obama, a Democrat, and a range of political digni- the late senator’s memorial taries attended a Washington service Saturday in a call for to speak at his me- memorial for John McCain. a return to civility among the Trump wasn't invited. nation’s leaders. morial service. But it's not clear whether The nearly three-hour ser- the Trump administration has vice at the Washington Nation- uninvited president without the authority to strike a deal Rick Hickman / American Press al Cathedral was a remarkable mentioning his name. with just Mexico, as it an- Lake Charles Port Board director Bill Rase said the overall tonnage at City Docks show of defiance against a “We gather here to mourn nounced Monday, and exclude has not decreased, but because more of it is shipped in bulk it requires less labor. president McCain openly de- the passing of American Canada. Also, Congress must fied in life as the antithesis of greatness — the real thing, not approve any rewrite of the the American spirit of service cheap rhetoric from men who North American Free Trade LC Port Board votes to protect to something greater than any will never come near the sac- Agreement , signed under individual. rifice he gave so willingly, nor President Bill Clinton, and Standing near McCain’s the opportunistic appropria- might refuse to endorse a commercial cargo from bid process flag-draped casket and with tion of those who lived lives of deal that leaves longtime ally Trump’s daughter in the audi- comfort and privilege while he Canada on the sidelines. ence, Meghan McCain deliv- suffered and served,” she said, Talks to keep Canada in the By John Guidroz ‘We looked at our customers ered a broadside against the See MCCAIN, A3 trade bloc are to resume this [email protected] coming week as Washington who ship commercial and and Ottawa try to break a Earlier this week, Port of Lake deadlock over issues such as Charles board members took action to considered what they want- Canada's dairy market and increase competition for companies seek- U.S. efforts to shield drug com- ing to handle bagged U.S. Department of ed. The port is here mainly panies from generic competi- Agriculture cargo, while protecting com- tion. mercial cargo from the bid process. for its customers and the In a 4-3 vote Aug. 27, the board agreed "As we've said all week, to renew its existing contract with Fed- we're working toward a mod- transfer of cargo.’ eral Marine Terminals, starting in Febru- ernized NAFTA that is good ary, for exclusive rights to handle com- for the middle class and people mercial cargo, plus an option to renew Bill Rase working hard to join it," said for another year. Of the five stevedore Port director Adam Austen, a spokesman licenses at City Docks, FMT is the only for Canadian Foreign Minister one that handles all bagged agricultural stevedoring company will be considered Chrystia Freeland. "With good cargo, an agreement that has been in to handle USDA bagged goods. will and flexibility on all sides, place since 2013. The decision, Rase said, protects local a win-win-win outcome is The panel’s decision also opens the commercial agricultural business “from achievable. Canada, of course, handling of USDA bagged cargo to FMT any kind of upheaval.” The port cur- Associated Press will only sign a deal which is and another licensed company that will rently ships virtually 100 percent of local From left, Meghan McCain, Cindy McCain, Jimmy McCain and good for Canada." be approved by the board. Bill Rase, port commercial bagged agricultural cargo. his wife Holly pause as they watch the casket of Sen. John Mc- The board rejected an option that Trump notified Congress director, said a request for proposals will Cain, R-Ariz., arrive at the Washington National Cathedral in be issued to determine which additional See CANADA, A4 See PORT, A3 Washington, Saturday. Second vendor wants Louisiana voting machine contract redo

By The Associated Press Procurement supporting Voting Systems, are stalled evaluation and financial docu- documents, even though it was “I believe all stakeholders the protest filed by a second while the protest is under ments released by the Office demonstrated to the selection in the process, especially the BATON ROUGE — Another vendor spurned for the voting review. of State Procurement also committee. Election Systems voters of Louisiana, deserve losing bidder for Louisiana’s machine contract. Hart said The secretary of state’s showed Dominion with the and Software, the losing to know about all viable op- voting machine replacement the evaluation was “flawed office described Dominion as least-expensive proposals for vendor that filed the official tions available to them,” wrote work is calling for a new selec- and lacked the fundamental the low bidder for the voting either leasing or buying voting protest, also said it offered al- Phillip Braithwaite, Hart tion process and the cancella- transparency that Louisiana machine replacement, with machines. ternative proposals that were president and CEO, in his let- tion of the current contract voters deserve.” the company estimating the But Hart said it offered a millions of dollars cheaper, ter to Paula Tregre, the head award. Contract negotiations with work would cost between $89 less-expensive proposal that but weren’t scored in the bid of Louisiana’s procurement Hart InterCivic sent a the winning bidder, Dominion million and $95 million. Bid doesn’t appear in the scoring review. office. letter to the Office of State

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Special to the American Press Chennault International Airport encompasses 1,554 acres, with nearly 700 acres of undeveloped land available for growth.

Kevin Melton aims to expand and grow Chennault International Airport

By Crystal Stevenson Chennault will depend on col- [email protected] laboration. “We want to make sure the evin Melton is on a mission with local taxpayer understands one goal in mind: what his and her dollars are growth. going for and how it can sup- Melton, a retired port the community and grow Air Force colonel the community and where’s who served in the military for the return on investment for 24 years and later worked as a the community,” he said. “It project manager for American doesn’t happen overnight but Airlines, took over the helm as through a collaborative effort executive director of Chen- and through a bit of foresight nault International Airport and good strategic thinking Authority in April. there are certainly opportuni- “My objective is to take ties here for Chennault that us to the next level,” he said. we want to capitalize on.” “The team at Chennault has Melton said Chennault has been doing great work but the longest runway of all air- we’ve got to think bigger, ports located between Houston we’ve got to think globally, we and Cape Canaveral, Fla., and have to think ahead to the fu- was named the FAA Louisiana ture. Where do we want to see Airport of the Year in 2017. ourselves not just a year from “But we’re not going to now, but five years, 10 years, 30 rest on our laurels,” he said. years from now?” “We have even more reason to To do that, he said, the facil- work even harder to prove that ity’s focus must be on econom- we’re one of the best out there ic development. but make sure we grow to that “Economic development is next level and don’t get caught what we’re all about,” Melton flat-footed.” said. “How do we do that? By bringing business, making Air show sure our existing tenants are Melton said family is taken care of and we focus on important to Chennault “and the basics, which is safe and that’s why economic develop- compliant airfield and airport ment is so incredibly impor- operations.” tant because we want Lake Melton said over the course Charles and the region to be of the past five years, the the place to come for families facility has spent $32 million to grow and thrive.” on recapitalization projects to One of the family-focused the airfield to sustain it for the Donna Price / American Press events Chennault is looking next 30 years. Some of those Kevin Melton took over the helm as executive director of Chennault International Airport Authority in April. Melton said forward to hosting is its 2019 improvements included con- air show. verting a taxiway to a backup Chennault has the longest runway of all airports located between Houston and Cape Canaveral, Fla. “It’s still in the early stages, runway; the rehabilitation of but we have gotten confirma- the main runway with new tion from the Canadian Snow concrete, lighting and blast Birds that they are definitely pad; and construction of a new and receiving basic mainte- passes 1,554 acres, has nearly tioned strategically because of got access to a major taxiway coming,” he said. building for Louisiana Mill- nance at Chennault,” he said. 700 acres of undeveloped land its multi-move capability. He through there and we have Melton said his plan is to work (Masonite). The airport’s newest ten- available for growth. Melton said the facility’s master plan, direct access to jets so we have make the 2019 air show even “We want the people in the ant, Citadel Completions, will said the facility has entered which is coordinated through those two pieces of the puzzle bigger and better than the last community to understand that be taking over Hangar H and a contract with Cushman & the Department of Transpor- — rail and air. We also have one. this is a real airport here, and plans to invest $17.6 million on Wakefield and NAI Latter tation and Development and the port that’s close to us and “Historically, they’ve all that there are real significant a new aircraft center dedi- & Blum to market the land, the Federal Aviation Admin- obviously we have access to been wonderful but I would national security-level issues cated to interior modifications which includes Mallard Cove, istration, calls for bringing in Interstate 210 and I-10.” like to create that ‘wow’ factor that are going on,” he said. and maintenance for luxury to global investors. distribution capabilities and The master plan also calls for our local community,” he “With Northrop Grumman, and commercial aircraft. “Right now the airport building cold storage facilities. for bringing in more mainte- said. they completely tear down “They’ll come in and retro- keeps roughly 1,500 employees “We have easy access to nance repair organizations to Melton said the air show one of our nation’s best assets fit the Donald Trump-type of across all the tenants, but we multi-move,” he said. “We the facility. serves as a recruiting tool for from an intelligence capability airplanes and above,” he said. want to grow that,” he said. have a rail that goes all around “I want to look at building young people interested in in our Air Force jets.” “There’s a lot of opportunities “We want to grow Chennault the airport so we’re looking our general aviation foot- aviation, STEM-related fields Another tenant, Landlocked here.” to be a bigger economic driver at where Mallard Cove is now print,” he said. “We’re taking or military service. Aviation Services, paints com- Melton said the airport has not just for Lake Charles, but and developing some kind off the blinders to make sure “We want to create an mercial air carriers. an annual economic impact of for the region. Ultimately, my of distribution or storage that we’re really exploring all excitement about aviation and “On any given day you’ll $300 million and more than $7 vision, is for Chennault to be facilities or something along opportunities to bring growth STEM,” he said. “We want to see Delta, Continental and billion since 1986. the hub for aviation activity.” those lines that will allow us into the area.” make as a whole a United jets being repainted The airport, which encom- He said Chennault is posi- to get rail into that area. We’ve Melton said the success of big, big focus of the air show.”