Town hall guests share info

Published 6:00 am Friday, August 3, 2018

GRAND MARAIS — The Grand Marais Community Development organization’s town hall meeting Thursday night gave guest speakers a chance to talk about what’s going in locally and statewide. 

Iberia Parish Councilman Eugene Olivier started the event by noting this was the 10th annual town hall meeting for the unincorporated community of Grand Marais. 

“I hope the information provided is going to be useful to everyone in Grand Marais,” Olivier said. 

After the obligatory chili and crackers at Mon Ami in Grand Marais, Olivier presided over the event, followed by a prayer by the Rev. Jeffery Archangel and pledge of allegiance by Olenna Arrington. 

Guest speaker for the night was Deputy Secretary for the state Department of Health, who told Grand Marais residents about the latest updates on Medicaid and other health issues after the past few legislative sessions held in Baton Rouge. 

Other guests included Iberia Parish Superintendent of Schools Carey Laviolette, who gave an update about the recent statewide scores that Iberia Parish received, as well as some of the security measures the Iberia Parish School Board has implemented in an effort to make the new year a safe one. 

“There are a number of things that happen in the Iberia Parish School System, and not many are aware of them, so we want to advertise those successes,” Laviolette said. 

District 10 School Board member Rachel Segura also briefly spoke to prepare parents for the upcoming school year, warning to be mindful of buses and updating them on school uniform policy. 

Parish President Larry Richard and representatives from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office and Iberia Parish Parks and Recreation Department also spoke at the town hall. 

The 70 or so in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions to the public officials, and the end of the event featured an open floor for any public official in attendance. 

Information tables were set up for Grand Marais residents to take their blood pressure, as well as get informed about diabetes and tobacco awareness.