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SMALL TOWN PAPERS
217 W COTA ST ##
SHELTON WA 985~4-2263
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THE NEWSPAPER OF AMERICA'S ANTIQUE CITY
AUGUST8, 2019 39th
NUMBER 45
City Hall hard at work
Mayor Bob Zabbia, hosted a project planning session last week to discuss
numerous transportation and publicworks projects that are presently on-
going. Attending the meeting are (left to right, David Laizer, Tommy Buckle
and Chad Danos members of the Duplantis Design Group, Rhonda Smith
Sheridan and Judy Cordoba, Executive Assistants to the mayor, Mayor Bob
Zabbia, Director of the Downtown Ponchatoula Revitalization Program
Faith Allen, Lori and John Dardis, Governmental Grant Consultants and
Jeff Roesel, Executive Director, New Orleans Regional Planning Commis-
sion. (Courtesy Photo)
Special to The Times
Superintendent Melissa Stilley's message regarding cyber attack:
Slowly but surely, com-
puters across the Tangipa-
hoa Parish School System's
network are coming back
online, and on Thursday,
School Superintendent Me-
lissa Stilley said she is con-
fident classes will be able to
begin Aug. 12, as planned.
"There is no doubt we
will be back and ready to
welcome our students on
campus Aug. 12, as sched-
uled," StiUey said.
The district is one of sev-
eral public school systems
across Louisiana that were
targeted in a cybersecurity
attack in late July. Leaders
described the computer is-
sue as one designed to "par-
alyze" the network.
"As we understand it,
the masterminds behind
this attack are not going
after actual personal in-
formation or identity-theft
markers. They simply want
to bring day-to-day opera-
tions to a screeching halt
by disabling our computer
system," Stflley said.
On Thursday, district
technology leaders contin-
ued working with the Loui-
siana National Guard and
a team from Unity Fiber
to check the network and
bring it back online piece-
by-piece.
"Our team has worked
around the clock, diligently
piecing the network back
together in the aftermath
of this weekend's cyberse-
curity threat," Stilley said.
While the cyberattack
did impact phone lines
and computer service at
the Central Office and at
schools across the parish,
StiUey said the district
has made great progress
in tacl Iing this challenge
head-on over the course of
the week.
'We are resilient, and
we are going to get past
this issue. The good news
is we have off-site backups
of all student data. Sched-
ules have been completed;
class rosters are ready, and
once our printers are back
online, they can be distrib-
uted. All bus routes are
completed, and those ros-
ters will be printer-ready
once the network is online.
All in all, we are more than
ready for classes to start on
the 12th," Stilley said.
Additionally, the Ham-
mond-based registration
center is open and accepting
new students. The Amite
center will soon be brought
back online.
Aside from the com-
puter-related challenges,
Stilley said the district
is quickly gearing up for
classes to start. Meet and
greet activities are sched-
uled |tcross the parish, and
several schools are having
beautification events to get
their campuses spruced
up for the start of classes.
Things will get even busier
when nine-month employ-
ees return to campus next
Tuesday.
"At the end of the day,
we all have our eye on the
prize--and that means do-
ing whatever it takes to be
ready to welcon e our stu:
dents on the 12th," Stflley
said.
ng issues
By BRIANNA ELUIOTT
Times Reporter
With hurricane season upon us, it is important to be
aware of low-lying areas where flooding rapidly becomes
a problem.
The Tangipahoa Par-
ish Government wants to
hear locals' comments and
concerns regarding local
flooding.
They are hosting a
public meeting in Amite
on Thursday, August 15
at 6 p.m. to discuss these
issues and to have an op-
portunity to share "with
citizens information on
current flood prevention
projects.
The parish asks for
the public to complete a
14-question survey which
asks questions such as,
"What is your biggest con-
cern is in terms of flood-
ing?, and Has your home
previously been flooded?
The survey also asks what
regulations you believe
should be in place to re-
duce flood impacts on the
local area.
The parish wants to
hear your voice! To take
the survey on the Internet
go to Tangipahoa.org and
click on the large green
banner at the top, titled
"Please take our Storm
water and Flood survey."
Comments can also
be submitted by email to
bbailey@tangipahoa.org or
mailed to the parish office
at PO Box 215 in Amite
Louisiana 70422.
ire
improves on
PFD Report
Residents in the city limits of Ponchatoula and Tangipahoa Fire District 2 - Pon-
chatoula FPT could see lower fire insurance rates because the fire department has
received a lower rating from the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana.
The Property Insur-
ance Association of Loui-
siana notified the fire de-
partment that following
a survey, the department
has improved to a Class 3
for residential and com-
mercial properties inside
the city limits. Fire pro-
tection in the area was
formerly rated a Class
4. Also, the fire depart-
ment improved to a Class
4 in the Tangipahoa Fire
District 2 - Ponchatoula
FPTarea. Fire protection
in the area was formerly
a Class 5. The lower the
classification number, the
better the rating. The de-
partment is evaluated ev-
ery five years; therefore,
our department has been
working hard over the
last five years to make the
I live in .the heart of which is also the
heart of our district. I will be dedicated to: improving
our District A, raising our community voice, and mak-
ing city government more accountable to its residents.
If you live in our District A, I want to represent you
with any issues, or questions you may have. I will be on
hand to help find solutions.
I offer caring, committed representation.
I promise to be available, accountable and approach-
able.
I will offer RELIABLE contact info. I will have a City
Council office at my home with set, dedicated hours.
I will be in touch with you via a monthly email blast.
I will return all phone calls.
One of my goals as a member of the Ponchatoula City
Council is for everyone in our beautiful District A to
know who I am, where I am, and how to be in touch.
I offer better representation, true public service.
Melissa Gueldner
985-634-4328
melissagueldner@gmail.com
rating classification bet-
ter. This achievement has
been accomplished due to
improvements completed
prior to the survey. It is
now important to main-
tain this position,because
not continuing current
activities will have an
adverse effect. The Pon-
chatoula Vol. Fire Dept
will continue to strive and
improve to make this de-
partment even better as
we serve and protect the
citizens of our communi-
ty. These new ratings will
go in effect September 9,
2019.
I
PONCHATOULA
By OLE HARDHIDE
The Alligator
When next you see Ponchatoula native Mrs. Lan-
dis Niernberger McMahon, she will have the new
title of Nurse Practitioner (N.P.), this in addition
to Queen of Erin and superseding even Registered
Nurse (R.N.). Curt and Cynthia Niernberger are
her proud parents. Rascal offspring you of yours
might know are big sister Felicity, brother Patrick,
and baby sister Clare.
Our own Ole Pinchpenny the Publisher pro-
foundly wishes his Terry Ann was here to share in
the congratulations to the new graduate, but fully
feels the radiance of her best wishes beaming down
from heaven (now let us complete the labyrinth at
Rosaryville in honor of this local Montessori educa-
tor).
And profound thanks to all who have contribut-
ed to help build this contemplative, prayerful an-
cient Celtic pathway that will be open to all upon
its completion.
Walking the labyrinth was considered the spiri-
tual equivalent to visiting the Holy Land on pil-
grimage.
The mystical and magical Super Morn of our
town, Amy Brennan is returned from the "Land of
Fruits and Nuts," aka California, there for some
much-needed R&R under the eaves of her super
jurist father, Michael Brennan before his name-
sake Michael "Evinrude"iin Brennan returns to
.the churning competitive waters of the Oak Knoll
Country Club pool where he represents the marl-
:time hopes and dreams of the Ponchatoula High
School Swim Team. His wee sister Morgan will be
taking her desk at St. Joseph School, where she
will doubtless dazzle and fascinate teachers and
fellow scholars alike, again this school year.
It is the Irish A-Team returned home from a
lazy end of Summer idyll, trading Pacific Ocean
salt water for Oak Knoll chlorine, But sure, it is
grand to have them back.
And you still have time to redeem your Summer
by snatching up a copy of Ponchatoula premier mu-
sician James Bass' super exciting latest CD, "Way
Down South" featuring my newest favorite hit,
PLEASE SEE COLUMN PAGE 8
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