Isabel Swamp Road (partial) paving ahead

Bids for paving the Washington Parish portion of Isabel Swamp Road will be opened on July 15, which means drivers cutting cross-parish to St. Tammany won't eat as much dust.

Or, in the event it ever rains again, have to navigate as much mud.

"It's taken up three-and-a-half years," Parish President Richard Thomas said. Thomas pointed out that federal government officials promised "enough" money to pave the entire road, but have not yet delivered.

In other road news, members of the parish council learned that as many as 50 miles of roads could be paved in the parish this year.

"The key," pointed out Councilman Ken Wheat, "is that this is being done pay as we go."

"That's correct," agreed Public Works Director Leo Lucchesi. "There's no bond money in this."

Wheat said that in reading the state municipal league newspaper, he learned that there were counties and parishes across the country where roads that had previously been paved were being torn up and returned to gravel.

"I think it's important that we have folks working to do as much as they can without spending a lot of money.”

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Fowler: 'Total surprise' at Citizen selection

Dennie Fowler at the
June 24 meeting of the
Parish Council.

"Total surprise. I was totally surprised."


Dennie Fowler, who, until his work as co-chairman of Washington Parish Recreation District 1 was better known as the parish's former superintendent of schools, was chosen Tuesday night as the 19th Citizen of the Year for West Washington Parish. The award is presented annually by the Bogalusa newspaper.


Fowler, who will be honored at a reception from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, June 12 at Hillcrest Baptist Church, said he had no clue what was happening as he was informed of the selection.

The award is voted on by past recipients and is limited to nominations submitted by the public.


Fowler is serving with Johnnie Daniels as co-chair of the district, which has, as its purpose the development of a multi-purpose recreation facility to serve residents of the district, which includes Franklinton, Mt. Hermon, Hackley, Enon, Isabel, Pine and Thomas.


The complex will consist of fields for boys baseball, girls softball, adult softball and football and soccer fields. Concession stands and restrooms will be near each field. It will also include walking paths, pavilion and picnic areas, a water pad, and plenty of parking for convenient access to all areas. A gymnasium and other features will be constructed in later phases.


Traditionally, the award is limited to recognizing the recipients' work over the past year ... and between his work as a 30-plus year volunteer with the Washington Parish Free Fair and the recreation district, Fowler has been busy.


"I've always worked for the children," he said. "I've tried to stay busy and do things to help others. This was a total and complete surprise."

Storms bring heavy rain, hail to Bogalusa

Washington Parish's dry spell was brought to a halt Thursday afternoon as a 70-mile long band of thunderstorms started moving through the parish.

Hail from Austin Street
(Photo by John H. Walker) 

In addition to rain, coming down in veritable sheets at time, hail up to one-half inch in size, peppered the Bogalusa and Varnado area about 4 p.m.

And while the rain was at its heaviest, a tornado was spotted west of Bush along Highway 40 — in the area of the Isabel Swamp cutoff. A second tornado was reported east of Bush and a third was reported in the Lacombe area, according to the National Weather Service.

The heavy rainfall overloaded Bogalusa's drainage system, although streets like North Border Drive, which traditionally took on more of a lake appearance than a street following rainfall of almost any amount, drained in a more normal fashion after city workers had cleared paths to and around drains.

One street that didn't drain well, though, was Virginia between Louisiana Avenue and North Columbia. That street was more like a lake as vehicles persisted in tackling the water, rather than driving another block to avoid the risk of flooding out.

Looking more like a lake than a city street, water covers Virginia Avenue between Louisiana Avenue and North Columbia following Thursday's deluge. (Photo by John H. Walker)

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.com)