Special Main Street Section Inside
Thursday, NovemBer 28, 1985--5th Year, Number 9
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THE P ON CHA TO UL A TIMES so o
Free: Beer, Hot dogs, Music, Sweets
Asphalt Celebration Saturday to open main street
By BRYAN T. McMAHON
The long-awaited Asphalt Celebration
is scheduled for Saturday, November
30.
The Asphalt Celebration is a com-
bination kick-off of the Christmas
season and day of thanksgiving for the
end of the lon q main street road proiect.
It features shopping specials during
the day and a citywide party in the
afternoon-from 3-5 p.m.
Attractions downtown Saturday
include a list of free taste treats and
events:
• Free beer will be available thanks
to Jim Carey Beer Distributors on Pine
Street near N. Sixth and W. Pine.
City to build new jail
By EDDIE PONDS
Times Reporter
In a special meeting Wednesday
night, the Ponchatoula City Council
took the first step to solve the city's jail
dilemma.
Determined to get the convicted
criminals off the streets, the council
approved plans drawn up in 1983 by
Hammond architect Andrew Gasaway
under the administration of former
mayor Collins Bonicard. to construct a
new $40,000 jail.
The new facility will consist of three
70 foot square holding cells, one segre-
gation cell, also with shower, and 136
square foot day room.
District One Councilman Danny
Pepitone said, "The plans call for a 46
foot extension to the police station, on
15 feet of land purchased from First
Guaranty Bank in 1982 or 83."
He said, "The bank later gave the
check back to the city," adding, "the
new facility will not affect the present
parking at the police station."
Pepitone said, "Approximately
$30,000 from a Louisiana Power and
Light Company rebate in 1983 was
earmarked for a new jail.
"I was informed last Monday, the
money was put in the operation funds
for the city to cover some expenses
during a financial crunch," he said.
However, Pepito.ne said, "'Financing
a new jail will not be a problem." The
city will borrow $40,000 for two years
and pay back the loan at $1,800 a
month.
"When the jail was open, the city was
collecting $4,000 a month for fines, and
$1,700 a month since the jail has been
closed," said the councilman.
He said, "The city will collect about
$2.500 a month when the jail opens."
"The city is losing money, since the
jail has been closed, transporting
prisoners to Hammond, Livingston,
Bogalusa, Baton Rouge and St.
Tammany when they have space," said
Pepitone, adding, "We can only hold
misdemeanor cases. All felony cases are
held until another agency picks them up
or a federal agent is passing through
and wants the city to hold a prisoner
overnight."
The plans must be approved by the
Department of Corrections before
construction starts.
Pepitone said, "C. Paul Phelps with
the Department of Corrections met with
the city in '83 planning the jail, so l see
no problems being approved by the
Department of Corrections. The plans
should be approved by the middle of
December, and construction should
take about three months."
Attorney Joe Singerman, who has
been serving as city magistrate since
September, appeared before the
council last week to explain the
problems facing the city because there is
no city jailhouse.
Singerman said, "After I hold city
court hearings twice a month, the police
department must call around the
parishes to find jail room for the
conv ict,d persons."
He added, "We have no place to put
them. We must let shoplifters go we
can't make them work and they won't
pay their fine, because the offenders
know we don't have a jail."
'HANKSGIVlNG BLESSINGS T) ALL...
SEE PAGE TWO
• The popular band Flashback
which includes musicians AI Carlo,
Butch Meyn, Kevin Frere, and Wilk
McKean will entertain near Vinyard's
Pharmacy.
• Free hot dogs and lemonade will
be served in front of dackson-Vaughan
Insurance Company.
• Free cookies will be distributed by
the Willing Workers Homemaker Club
on main street.
• Free refreshments and hourly
door prizes will be offered by craftsmen
celebratinq their 13th Annual Open
House at t,,', Country Market.
The celebration marks the end of the
basic road construction project, which is
expected to continue even after the final
asphalt is laid on the four new lanes
during the next few days.
Projects such as drawing lanes on the
new blacktop and finishing the areas
where side streets lead onto the main
shopping thoroughfare are expected to
continue as the Christmas season gets
into high gear. without affecting
downtown traffic in any significant way.
Chamber of Commerce President
Jeanne Zaleski expressed relief at the
completion of construction.
commenting on the severe affects it has
had on downtown businesses, forcing
some retailers out of business as the
project dragged on.
She repeated what many Chamber
merchants have individually reported,
that shoppers have developed different
shopping patterns as a result of being
confronted with orange and white
construction barricades on main street•
Many opted to go elsewhere to shop
rather than put up with the hassle
downtown.
"The Asphalt Celebration is intended
to remind all people who have historically
shopped in downtown Ponchatoula that
We Give Thanks
For our Country, our Community
our Readers and our Families
Best Wishes
From all of us at The Times
Dufreche reveals plan to contact utility pirates
services will be cut off."
Street Superintendent Doug
O'Bannon and City Building Inspector
Kenneth Perrin will review the list before
they go door-to-door to inform the
residents, the city doesn't have records
of them paying for city services.
Dufreche said, "The list was compiled
by matching a computer printout of all
the structures listed in the city to the
actual structures seen on a ride through
the city by himself and Mrs. Ruby
Landry."
The councilman said, "It took Miss
Candle Cook and Mrs. Landry three
months to complete all the information."
By EDDIE PONDS
Times Reporter
Several weeks ago Councilman-at-
large Julian Dufreche reported the city
is losing about $30,000 a year because
some people are not paying for city
services.
Dufreche exposed his long-awaited
list of 163 people he says are taking a
free ride on the city, Wednesday night a
a special council meeting.
He said, "The problem will be cor-
rected," adding,-"Each resident will be
given a 10 day notice to come to City
Hall and .qet their business straight, or
Hurricane Juan victims
can get their sales taxes back
indicating deduction taken, or a state for
for that purpose
Forms are available from Revenue
and Taxation district offices in Alex-
andria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette. Lake
Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreve-
port, and Thibodaux, or call Taxpayer
Assistance at (504) 925-7356.
Disaster
assistance available
Louisiana residents who suffered
damage from Hurricane Juan and did
not go to one of the federal/state
Disaster Application Centers to apply
for disaster assistance will have another
opportunity to do so next week when
mobile teams visit five areas in affected
parishes, Bob Broussard, Federal Coor-
dinating Officer for disaster recovery,
said today.
The teams will spend one day each in
Springfield and Slidell. Times and loca-
tions are as follows:
Spring- Springfield Tuesday, De-
field Volunteer Fire cember 3, 1985
partment De- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
lores Street
Springfield. La.
Slidell Slidell Recre- Wednesday,
ation Center December 4,
333 Erlanger 19859 a.m. to
Street Slidell, 5p.m.
La.
BATON ROUGE -- Secretary of
Revenue and Taxation Shirley
McNamara announced today that
victims of hurricane Juan in nineteen
parishes may claim refunds of sales
taxes paid on destroyed movable
properly. Those parishes are: Ascension,
Assumption, East Baton Rouge, lber-
ville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston,
9th ward of Orleans, Plaquemines, St.
Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St.
James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary,
St. Tammany, Tangipahoa. Terrebonne,
and Washington.
"According to state law, the Depart-
ment can refund sales tax paid on
movable property destroyed by a
natural disaster once the area has been
declared eligible for federal disaster
assistance," Secretary McNamara
explained. The refunds can only be
made on property p'urchased in
Louisiana and used in or about a home.
apartment, or homestead. Commercial
property is not eliqible.
Keimbursement of the tax is possible:
• if the property is not covered by
insurance of federal aid
• if claims show the date and nature
of the natural disaster (in this case,
Hurricane Juan)
• ff application is for loss of movable
possessions - those not permanently
attached to a house or building, such as
clothing, automobiles, boats, appliances,
recreational equipment
• if a description of the property is
given together with the date of purchase
and tax paid
• if claimant presents evidence of
loss, such as a federal tax form
"The list is 95 percent correct," he
said.
Dufreche said, "The city is losing the
most money through large old homes
that have been converted into apart-
ments. The city is not aware of all the
apartments in the building, and all the
residents are not paying for city
services."
For example: "One large home was
converted to six-apartments, the city
has been collecting $12.25 for city
services for years. The city was not
aware of the six aDartment The house
had six electric meters on the side, and
one water line serving the house," he
stated•
He added, "When Jefferson Disposars
representative saw all those meters, he
billed the city for six-garbage pick-ups
for $31.50, and the city collected only
$12.25 from that house."
With the electric permits from the City
Hall saying sewerage and water is paid
before residents can receive electric
service from LP&L, will stop the free
ride on the city," Dufreche said.
Postmast Palisi says 'Mail early'
The Postal Service is cooperating
with the business community of
Ponchatoula in urging customers to
shop early and mail early for the
holidays.
Postmaster Palisi asks holiday
shoppers to mail early this year and to
make certain that mail is addressed
correctly (including ZIP Codes) and that
packages are wrapped correctly so that
cards and parcels reach their destinations
in plenty of time for the holidays.
"Normally, the New Orleans General
Mail Facility handles about 2,500,000
pieces of mail a day -- including cards.
letters and packages, but during the
holiday season, volume goes up to
about 3,500,000 pieces," the
Postmaster says. "We in the Postal
Service take pride in carrying your
messages of love and joy. Mailing early
keeps us delivering the messages on
time."
The key to successful holiday mailing
is to mail early 'and correctly. Post-
master Palisi says that includes planning'
now for gifts that must travel long
distances by Christmas.
"Many overseas mailing dates ,-
including those for the armed forces
stationed overseas -- occur this month.
Mailers can get specific information
on the international dates by calling us
here at 386-6395," Palisi said.
"Customers should also take care to
write legible ZIP Coded addresses for
both the address and the return
address. The use of ZIP Codes
following the name of the particular city
and state aids us in processing the mail.
"Last year, our customers helped us
tremendously. They mailed early in the
season and early in the day. We hope
they will choose to cooperate with us
again this year, so we both will have an
enjoyable holiday mailing season."
City industrial park at mill site?
Staff Report
The Ponchatoula Chamber of
Commerce elected Reggie Pevey, Mrs.
Kelly Quave and Miss Ginger Zach-
mann to its board of directors at a
general membership meeting held
Friday.
Officers will be elected by the board at
an upcoming meeting to serve in 1986.
In other Chamber news:
• Chamber President Jeanne Zaleski
all but went public on a rumored break-
through for Ponchatoula just-appoint
Industrial Board, the procurement of
the abandoned Crown Zellerbach mill
site for an industrial park.
Zaleski and Mayor Charles Gideon
have not yet gone public with the
project, vet both have barely concealed
their excitement over the past few days
regarding what appears to be that
project.
• The Chamber president
announced the Asphalt Celebration
which is detailed in a page one story this
issue and provides the occasion for a
special section of The Ponchatoula
Times, also in this edition, reintroducing
shoppers with the downtown business
district and the many fine people which
give it its identity and personality.
• Mrs. Zaleski reminded members
and the volunteers from various area
organizations who were the Chamber's
special
Ch guests, that the Ponchatoula
ristmas Parade will roll December ?
(see application to-march or ride in the
parade on page two of this edition).
some of the best buys are available
here, the most unique items, the best
gifts, and of course we hope to attract
new shoppers to the area," said
Chamber of Commerce President Mrs.
Jeanne Zaleski.
"By throwing a huge party downtown
Saturday, beginning with a morning
and early afternoon of shopping, the
Chamber of Commerce wants to reintro-
duce the citizens of Ponchatoula to the
stores and merchants who make
Ponchatoula the city it is," she added.
A special section of this edition of The
Ponchatoula Times has been prepared
in conjunction with the Chamber of
Commerce, the Country Market, The
Ponchatoula Mall merchants and
businessmen and professionals up and
down main street to help celebrate what
is hoped to be a brand new day in
downtown Ponchatoula.
!
MY PONCHATOULA
By OLE HARDHIDE
The Alligator
Pssst! Doug O'Bannon, could you bring that super "key" of yours down
to the pond and spring my lock in time for me to enjoy the Asphalt
Celebration?
It's not that I need my protective chain links crushed so 1 can enjoy the
free beer being given away as part of the festivities because, as you all know,
por, d ','ater is my drink of choice.
lL=t those free hot dogs, free lemonade, and free cookies and baked
goodies and punch and all the rest will doubtless be just what I need two
days after I once again fail to lure a wild flapping turkey into my cage.
What makes matters worse this year is that Rod Sparnecht over at
Whitey's Meat Center has been smoking delicious turkeys all week with
pecan smoke, which has drifted lanquidly through the smokehouse pipe,
climbed slowly over Sherman's Glass and Radiator, past the front of the old
Gateway Hotel, before being swept momentarily off course and east up
Pine street by the hard-pedaling Barbara Meyn, before resuming its west-
ward path past nervous feed store chicks who sense what is in the wind of
kin, ambling as smoke will by the pool and spa emporium of lovely Johanna
and handsome Doug Daigle, Appearances, where beauty is everywhere,
past the Rainbow Shop, and the first business in the Pevey Mini-Mall, until
finally a wind current rushing past and caused by a southbound Amtrack
passenger train, until it wafts ever so delicately through the loose strainer of
my cage wall and settles like a blanket of temptation on my patiently
sunning body, before zooming into my nose as the natural result of my
greedy inhalation.
How can any reptile live in a closed cage with pecan-smoked turkey
smells wafting through his nose and to his very heart? (So ok, you try it this
Thanksgiving instead of easing the load of the family groaning board I)
Anyway, since I have more less given up hope of Mayor Gideon or any of
the elusive town fathers (not you Cramps) stopping downtown to feed the
reptile an overly-deserved turkey, at least let me loose for the freebies on
Saturday.
If I get out in time to practice maybe Wilk and AI, and the other fellows in
the hot band Flashback will let me sit in. Everyone always wants me to
dance the gator, but I think a great gator mating moan, performed in the
proper key of course, would be just the Ponchatoula touch this great group
needs to hit it big in the swamps of Hollywood or the Big Apple.
Once free of my duties at the cage I may just have to find Jabo and see if
he can't top one of the towering Edwards' pines so I can have a little
greenery (besides my own luxurious color) in the cage for Christmas.
(Which Christmas will see the blinking lights strung on a tree in a new
cage?).
Anyway, 111 be happy as happy if I can just move about with my well-fed
school vacationers on'Saturday. Justin Berthelot, if this past soccer seas.on
hasn't made you and teammate Melissa Thibodeaux tough and the Mr.
B's Pizza hasn't made you too much of a dough boy, you and your pizza
partner might be just the right snack, I mean escort, for a very hungry gator.
How about it?
How about Cary Craig and Ryan Roberts scoring their first soccer goals in
the last game of the season Saturday!
Mrs. Billy Picou of the Community Garden Club, late of the hospital bed
where broken hips are mended, I'm sure glad you're back home in your
garden (but please promise not to play any soccer...at least for awhile).
"Redneck Tony" as he is ever so affectionately called, was spotted
scouting out business locations for what could well be a fancy eatery in this
My Ponchatoula. He's eating gobbler back home in Tennessee now, but I
hear he's coming back soon to set up shop. (I like Tony because he flat
refuses to eat alligator!).
"Uncs" has located the perfect gift to torment his brother Pinchpenny. He
came up with a future looking car that does nothing more than flash lights
on and off a bunch of simulated nuclear warheads attached to a fighting car
piloted by a robot which emits a siren scream that would frighten all the
men at the Ponchatoula P.D. and the Volunteer firemen too, as it does
nothing else other than turn in a slow, loud circle, charged by three huge
batteries, all thoughfully inserted in the gift given to Pinchpenny's seven-
year-old for his birthday (heh, heh. Call it creative gift giving, or the ultimate
in revenge!).
Ponchatoula meanwhile is bracing for the largest party since the Jax's
Brewery opened its renovated doors, freshly-painted in those now-familiar
to Ponchatoula colors. Hardy, is it true that Christmas itself will be upstaged
this December?
Dr. Randolph Howes M.D., PhD., the local success story who insists "I
cannot live at 55 MPH" has apparently achieved the speed of light and
disappeared. Any siQhtings of the Fire Eater will be rewarded.
Why are politicians like KSLU Radio? (They're at least 90.9 Airsounds).
1'11 see you at the Asphalt Celebration this Saturday. I'll be the gentleman
in the elegant leather ensemble.
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