WWL Northshore Events Blog

State DOTD schedules construction on I-55 in Tangipahoa Parish

2009-03-30T19:15:49Z

(AMITE/INDEPENDENCE)---The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has scheduled some road work to be done along I-55 from the Amite to Independence areas in Tangipahoa Parish.

Construction is set, weather permitting, for Tuesday, March 31, through Monday, April 6.

Crews will be working from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. and motorists can expect the southbound left lane to be closed until the job is complete.

The work - basic concrete repairs -- will mean the I-55 southbound left lane will be closed just south of Amite for nearly two miles.

The DOTD has recommended U. S. 51 as an alternate route.

Lecture on bluesman Robert Johnson at Causeway Branch, St. Tammany Library

2009-03-30T19:12:16Z

(MANDEVILLE)---Reservations are needed in a big way for "Hellbound On My Trail, The Life, Legend, and Legacy of Bluesman Robert Johnson", a lecture and discussion from Dr. Bill Robison, professor of history at Southeastern Louisiana University.

The lecture and program will be at the St. Tammany Parish Library, Causeway Branch, 3451 U. S. 190, in Mandeville. It begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.

Dr. Robison will present a lecture, mixed with audio and video recordings, surrounding one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century, bluesman Robert Johnson.

The program is free and open to the public.

For reservations or more info, call 985.626.9779.

Mandeville High's FIRST Robotics Team seeks sponsors for national competition

2009-03-27T18:54:21Z

(MANDEVILLE)---Here's your chance to help some aspiring young engineers as they represent Louisiana in the National FIRST Robotics Competition coming up in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mandeville High School's FIRST Robotics Team 2992 is the only team from the state to move on to the national event to be held Thursday, April 16, through Saturday, April 18.

The team, that just was put together this year, won the 2009 Bayou Regional Rookie All-Star Team and 2009 Rookie Seed Awards at the recent Bayou Regional Competition that was held at the University of New Orleans. The team coach is Ms. Elena Marina of Mandeville High.

The team needs sponsors for the trip as they try to make a difference for Louisiana on the national competitive stage.

If you'd like to help, call 985.705.4530.

Three Northshore-area high schools take honors at robotics competition, with Mandeville High moving to nationals

2009-03-27T18:31:41Z

(NORTHSHORE)---It's designed to encourage students to pursue engineering and technology careers and it worked really well, as three Northshore-area high schools took home some honors at the recent 2009 FIRST Robotics Bayou Regional competition held at the University of New Orleans.

FIRST stands for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" and it was exactly that for students at Northshore, Hammond, and Mandeville High Schools.

Northshore High in Slidell came home with The Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism Award for outstanding sportsmanship on and off the playing field.

Hammond High took The Judges' Awards for unique efforts, performance or dynamics, during the competition.

Mandeville High took The Rookie All-Star Award, showing a young but strong partnership effort and inspiring students to learn more about science and technology, and The Highest Rookie Seeding Award for the team's standing after the qualifying round.

Mandeville High now moves on to the national competition to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 16-18.

The teams had some six weeks to build robots that could perform assigned tasks. There were 31 high school teams nationally, with 13 from Louisiana and 9 from Mississippi.

State DOTD schedules construction on I-59 in Slidell area

2009-03-27T18:19:21Z

(SLIDELL)---The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has scheduled some road work to be done along the I-59 from the Brownswitch Road Overpass to the Gause Blvd. Overpass in the Slidell area.

Construction is set, weather permitting, from Monday, March 30, through Tuesday, March 31. It will be from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

The work - the ever-popular bump grinding and blow-up repair -- will mean intermittent lane closures in both lanes westbound with 15 to 30 minute delays on the I-59.

The DOTD suggests that taking U. S. 190 would be the best alternative route.

Grant workshop set for March 28 in Hammond

2009-03-27T18:18:17Z

(HAMMOND)---The Tangipahoa African-American Heritage Museum and the Sweet Home Baptist Church of Albany are hosting a Grants Workshop.

It will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m. until noon. It will be held at the TAAHM Dinner Theater, 1600 Phoenix Square, in Hammond.

The cost of the workshop is $25 to be paid at the workshop. The instructor will be Hope E. Elliot of Orlando, Florida.

For more info, call 985.542.4259.

State DOTD schedules construction on I-12 between US 190 & Bayou Lacombe Bridge in St. Tammany Parish

2009-03-26T18:45:44Z

(COVINGTON)---The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has scheduled some road work to be done along I-12 from U. S. 190 to the Bayou Lacombe Bridge, just west of LA 434, in St. Tammany Parish.

Construction is set, weather permitting, for Sunday night, March 29, through Sunday morning, April 12.

Crews will be working Sunday night through Thursday night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Saturday night from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m.

The work - placing asphaltic concrete -- will mean traffic face intermittent left lane closures in both the eastbound and westbound lanes. Motorists should expect 15 to 30 minute delays.

The DOTD has recommended U. S. 190 as an alternate route.

State DOTD schedules construction on I-10 in Slidell

2009-03-26T18:33:53Z

(SLIDELL)---The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has scheduled some road work to be done along the I-10 in the Slidell highway rest area.

Construction is set, weather permitting, from Sunday night, March 29, through Thursday morning, April 2. It will be from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

The work - grinding rumble strips near the rest area-- will mean a lane closure westbound and in the outside lane with 15 to 30 minute delays on the I-10.

The DOTD suggests that taking I-59 would be the best alternative route.

St. Tammany Humane Society presents Woofstock on March 29

2009-03-26T18:12:06Z

(COVINGTON)---The St. Tammany Humane Society's 2009 version of Woofstock is ready to go this Sunday, March 29.

It will be held at the Bogue Falaya Park in Covington, starting at 11 a.m.

There will be a low-cost clinic at 9 a.m., offering $60 annual K-9 vaccinations, $10 microchip ID, and discounted flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives. The clinic is open until 2 p.m.

There will also be live music, doggie contests, fun, and games.

Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the gate. Children under 12 get in for $4 advance, $5 at the gate.

For more info or tickets, call 985.892.PETS (&387).

SLU nursing students "mock fatality" scene at Hammond High postponed due to weather

2009-03-26T15:25:26Z

(HAMMOND)---Inclement weather has forced a postponement for those nursing students at Southeastern Louisiana University who were set to work with law enforcement and first responders to stage a "mock fatality" for juniors and seniors from area high schools to show them the importance of sobriety when behind the wheel, especially as prom time approaches.

The event, originally scheduled for Hammond High School at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, has now been rescheduled for Thursday, April 23.

The purpose, organizers say, remains the same: to show students a graphic automobile accident scene, complete with realistic injuries and efforts on the part of first responders to rescue victims and save lives, if possible. Students may also see an "impaired" driver being arrested.

Participating in the event will be the Hammond Police and Fire Departments, Louisiana State Police, SLU drama students, Acadian Ambulance and AirMed, Geisler Funeral Home, and state and local officials.

2009 Smokin' Blues & BBQ Challenge in Hammond set for March 27-28

2009-03-25T16:36:26Z

(HAMMOND)---How good does this sound? Great barbecue, great music, sweet tea, and a lot of fun are promised for the 2009 Smokin' Blues & Barbecue Challenge in Hammond.

The two-day event runs on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, at the Fairgrounds in Hammond.

Some 50 teams from around the country will compete for more than $12,000 in cash and prizes when it comes to barbecue cooking. More than 60 local teams will take part in the Backyard Boogie and Chicken Little Contest, making the barbecue event the biggest in Louisiana for the fifth year in a row.

There will also be the 3rd Annual Sweet Tea Challenge. It's free and open to anyone in Tangipahoa Parish and the surrounding areas. Bring a quart of your best sweet tea to register from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, March 28. Judging will be from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. with the awards ceremony set for 3:55 p.m. There are two categories, individual and commercial, for restaurants, caterers, etc. There are big prizes involved here, so brew and bring your best!

Music will be provided, too. Bands are scheduled on Friday, March 27, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

The event will benefit Special Olympics Louisiana, T.A.R.C., and the Tangi Food Pantry.

For more info, call 800.617.4507 or 985.542.7520.

Annual Anti-Drug March & Rally for Jesus set in Franklinton

2009-03-25T16:16:24Z

(FRANKLINTON)---The 17th Annual Anti-Drug March and Rally for Jesus is set for Franklinton on Saturday, March 28.

The march begins at 9 a m. at 2136 Greenlaw Street and will end in the Hilltop Park, on T. W. Barker Drive, with a rally.

There will be refreshments and food.

For more info, call 985.795.0318 or 225.275.3305.

St. Tammany sets Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

2009-03-25T15:20:42Z

(SLIDELL)---Once again, St. Tammany Parish, the Honey Island Group of the Sierra Club, the city of Slidell, Keep Slidell Beautiful, and Waste Management are teaming up for another Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day.

This year's date is Saturday, March 28, and it runs from 9 a.m. until noon. The drop-off point will be the St. Tammany Parish commuter parking lot, next to the Northshore Harbor Center, right off Lakeshore Blvd. East, in Slidell. That's Exit 261 off of I-10.

Organizers warn that material cannot be accepted before or after the hours of operation.

60 volunteers are needed, too, to help unload and stow the material to be disposed of. Donations are also needed, as the event is partially funded by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

To donate, call Brett Henry with the St. Tammany Department of Environmental Quality at 985.898.2535.

Here's what can be accepted as material to be dropped off:

Latex and oil-based paints and polyurethane stains in original containers with readable labels...spray paint will be accepted.

Mineral spirits, kerosene, lamp oil, turpentine, tung, linseed, neat's foot, and cotton oils in original containers with readable labels.

E-waste, including computers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, TVs, microwaves, stereos/radios, VCR/DVD players, typewriters, miscellaneous computer equipment.

Cell phones.

Printer and inkjet cartridges.

Batteries of all sizes.

Lights, incandescent and fluorescent.

Mercury-containing devices as in thermometers, thermostats, etc.

Tires from autos and light trucks, five per household.

No commercial waste will be accepted.

ZooMobile visits Fairview-Riverside State Park March 28

2009-03-24T19:09:17Z

(MADISONVILLE)---Northshore residents will have the chance learn more about reptiles and their various differences on Saturday, March 28, when the Audubon Nature Institute's ZooMobile educational program, The Wonderful World of Reptiles, rolls into Fairview-Riverside State Park. Fairview-Riverside is located one-mile east of Madisonville along La. 22.

Hands-on fun is planned as visitors get the chance to learn more about reptile differences, various lengths of snakes, or how long turtles can live.

It will be held under the oaks near the Otis House Museum in the park's day-use area. The exhibit is free with park admission of $1 per person, ages 4 - 61. As always, children under 3 and seniors 62 and over get in free. For more info, call 985.792.4652 or 1.888.677.3247 toll free.

Two Northshore students place in top three for Arbor Day posters

2009-03-24T19:07:31Z

(BATON ROUGE)---Louisiana Agriculture & Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain announces that two of the three top state winners in this year's Arbor Day Poster Contest reside in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes.

Taking second place is Darrence Roberts of Bogalusa. The third place honoree is Paige Loyd of Bush. Both are fifth-graders. The top poster was submitted by Ashley Cox of Ruston.

Judges from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry had the tough job of viewing many entries from throughout the state. It's part of the National Arbor Day Foundation poster contest. The winner's work will now move on to the national contest.

Dr. Strain says that the contest showed to him that youngsters throughout Louisiana know and care about the state's forests, and how they impact our lives, economy, and culture.

Both Roberts and Loyd won gift certificates and other prizes from the Arbor Day Foundation and the LDAF.