The Cameron Parish 50¢ PilotAugust 7, 2008 Vol. 51--No. 44 Cameron, La. 70631 THREE MOBILE homes on Hayes Picou Road in Cameron were damaged by Tropical Storm Edouard Tuesday morning. This one had its roof torn off. Another one lost a canopy and the third one had roof damage. A barn was blown down in Creole and a shrimp boat sank in Cameron. (Photo by Cyndi Sellers.) Residents evacuate but storm damage minor By CYNDI SELLERS became eerily quiet on did not materialize. Water Monday evening as everyone came over the road on Tropical Storm Edouard watched and waited for Cameron and on Highway 82 put a bit of a scare into lower Edouard. west of AB Dock and west of Cameron Parish residents And, just like Hurricane Holly Beach. Roads closest to Johnny Poole this week as, for the first Rita, Edouard did make a the Gulf, and low-lying park- time since Hurricane Rita, northerly turn at the last ing lots along the Cameron SIGNS ARE up naming LA Highway 82 from Holly they were called to evacuate minute, making landfall just docks also flooded, but the Beach to the Louisiana-Texas state line as Rodney John Poole for a tropical system. west of Sabine Pass, Tex. It tides were only about two Guilbeaux Memorial Highway. Guilbeaux worked tire- Edouard was just a clus- did not, however, intensify feet above normal. lessly to protect the highway from coastal erosion, see- ter of showers in the north- beyond 65 mph, which thank- The westerly path of the ing the placement of breakwaters and sand nourish- constable ern Gulf waters, south of fully kept the effects minimal storm, skirting the coast, ment of the beaches during his lifetime. The Louisiana Biloxi, Miss., until it became along the Louisiana coast. may have contributed to the legislature made the designation during the spring ses- a depression and then a trop- minimal flooding. sion. (Photo by Cyndi Sellers.) candidate ical storm on Sunday DAMAGE REPORTS Parish road crews had evening, Aug. 3. During the early morning cleared all of the downed John (Johnny) Poole, Jr., The Cameron Parish hours, Edouard took a sud- trees by 10 a.m., and the of Hackberry has announced Office of Emergency den jog to the north, bringing evacuation was lifted at Fishing Festival to be his candidacy for Constable Preparedness, noting the strong winds and rain to noon. Parish officials said in Ward Six, Cameron Parish proximity of the storm to Cameron Parish. In one they were glad the storm did- in the Oct. 4 election. He pro- land and the projected path Cameron neighborhood, the n't intensify, and felt lucky vided the following informa- taking it close to Southwest roof was peeled off a mobile that Cameron Parish's first held Friday & Sat. tion about himself: Louisiana, decided to order a home, and two others were tropical system since Rita I have been a resident of mandatory evacuation on damaged. A barn was report- was a mild one. Hackberry all my 52 years Monday morning. ed blown down in Creole, and By Wednesday morning, The 5th annual Cameron 10 a.m. - Food booths and graduated from Saltwater Fishing Festival open; Festival Queen OEP Director Clifton a shrimp boat sank in the parish administrative offices Hackberry High School in Hebert said the number of Calcasieu River. Trees were were back in operation, hav- will be held Friday and Pageant begins. 1974. I have been married to Saturday, Aug. 8 and 9, at 11 a.m. - Weigh station residents still living in travel blown down in Grand ing returned the files and Gwen Gremillion Poole for trailers and the possibility Chenier, Little Chenier, on equipment. Parish treasurer the Grand Chenier Park. opens. 31 years. Together we raised The following is the schedule 12 noon - Teardrops band that the storm could intensi- Trosclair Road, and in the Bonnie Conner said that the four children who attended fy to Category 1 and turn Cameron area. parish learned from of events: performs. school in Hackberry. 3 p.m. - Redfish challenge northerly during the night Most other damage was Hurricane Rita not to trust I have been a member of made evacuation the sensible confined to metal awnings early weather reports. FRIDAY, AUG. 8 ends. St. Peters Catholic Apostolic 12:01 a.m. - Fishing rodeo 3:30 p.m. - Static per- thing to do. Landfall was pro- and carports, shingles, siding All the file cabinets, some Church for 52 years. In 2007, jected around Galveston, and skirting. computers and other office begins. forms. I was appointed to the 6 a.m. - Redfish challenge 5 p.m. - Weigh station Tex., but the cone of probabil- Power went out between 4 equipment had been evacuat- Pastoral Council as Trustee ity included extreme western a.m.. and 5 a.m., and was ed, and all computer files begins. closes. of St. Peters Parish by 12 noon - Weigh station 6 p.m. - Recognize corpo- Cameron Parish. repaired within about five or backed up to a secure loca- Bishop Glen Provost. I also Hebert was pleased with six hours, except for Johnson tion, so that parish opera- opens rate sponsors; Festival have served in the Parish 3 p.m. - Festival gates queen presented; Presenta- the evacuation, noting that Bayou. Debris on the road- tions could continue no mat- Ministry as a Lector for 12 65-70% of the lower Cameron way made it difficult for ter what happened. The reg- open; Food and craft booths tion of fishing awards. years. open; 1st day Redfish chal- 7:30 p.m. - Jamie Parish residents did leave. In crews to reach the area until ular Police Jury meeting has I have served on the addition, parish offices, afternoon. been re-scheduled for lenge closes. Bergeron and Kickin Cajuns. Marshland Festival board of 6 p.m. - Weigh station 9 p.m. - Fireworks on the libraries, and other agencies Projected tides of 4-5 feet Monday, Aug. 11, at 5:30 p.m. directors for 19 years and I operating in temporary quar- closes. river sponsored by Penelope have actively supported 7:30 p.m. - Steel Shot per- Richard, attorney at law. ters loaded trailers, previous- youth and civic organiza- ly purchased for such an forms. 9:30 - Jamie Bergeron tions in our community. 12 a.m. - Grounds close and Kickin Cajuns band. eventuality, with computers, Officials pleased with 12 a.m. - Festival closes. equipment, files, etc., and SATURDAY, AUG. 9 For more information moved them out. 6 a.m. - Final day of please contact Carl School to Fire trucks, road equip- local storm response Redfish challenge begins. Broussard at 775-5316 or ment, and the Johnson Bayou and Creole bookmo- By CYNDI SELLERS Dick Gremillion (Calcasieu). 9 a.m. - Festival gates Penelope Richard at 775- Gen. Landreneau said open. 8135. open next biles were taken to higher ground. South Cameron As the winds and rain Cameron Parish was "very Memorial Hospital placed from Tropical Storm fortunate to have tremen- Tuesday sandbags in front of doors to Edouard began to subside dous planning and coordina- Cleanup is continuing stop windblown rain. The around noon on Tuesday, a tion, including a really good Cameron Parish schools Police Jury meeting sched- Blackhawk helicopter set communications network." FEMA (contracted these guys They will be glad will open for the 2008-09 uled for Monday night was down in Cameron, bringing He said that "maintaining through Witt) and the Coast to come to you and let you school year on Tuesday, Aug. canceled. state officials to view the communications is absolute- Guard are still conducting a show areas of concern on 12. They are Grand Lake, Elderly residents were effects of the storm. It was ly imperative." clean up of local waterways. their maps so they can be Hackberry, Johnson Bayou assisted with packing and like old times, when Maj. Edmonson was Additional funds have been reported to the Coast Guard. and South Cameron High and travel arrangements by the Blackhawks were common in impressed with the new 700 identified to further the work Contact billy.crabb@asso- Elementary Schools. Cameron Council on Aging. Cameron Parish skies after communications system, not- begun last year. ciates.dhs.gov to report or Cameron Elementary and Julie Burleigh said many Hurricane Rita. ing that every first respon- Please spread the word to meet regarding any obstruc- South Cameron Elementary were apprehensive about the Major General Bennett der - Sheriff's office, fire your fellow “boaters” to tions in waterways that need have been consolidated to the storm with Hurricane Rita so Landreneau, of the departments, ambulance - report any areas of concern to be addressed. South Cameron High site. fresh in their minds. Louisiana National Guard, was able to communicate (mostly south of I-10) to The school offices and A number of travel trail- was on board, along with before, during and after the school board officer were ers were moved out of low Col. Mike Edmonson of the storm. closed Tuesday due to the lying areas by nervous own- Louisiana State Police and He said the real success threat of the storm but ers. In Grand Lake, farmers Mark Cooper, Director of the story, however, is the people. Announcement rules reopened on Wednesday. The hastened to harvest rice and Governor's Office of "They listen and work with School Board office is tem- bale hay before wind and Homeland Security and us to get the job done," he The Cameron Pilot is Photos can be attached to porarily located at Grand rain destroyed their crops. Emergency Preparedness said, and he urged everyone accepting candidate the article upon submission Lake High School.