Archives: January2015

200th Anniversary of Battle of New Orleans celebrated at Chalmette Battlefield

The Chalmette Monument is seen in the background as participants gather before the ceremony marking the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans in Chalmette.	Attendees rise at the start of the ceremony.
An artillery battery at the ceremony.	Costumed participants stand with their firearms during the ceremony.

Sir Peter Westmacott, Ambassador to the United States from the United Kingdom,, took part in a wreath-laying during the ceremony.

A commemorative stamp of the Battle of New Orleans was unveiled by the Postal Service.

They were bundled up but low temperatures didn’t prevent a large crowd from turning out to witness history on Thursday, Jan. 8, as the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans was celebrated at Chalmette Battlefield.

British Ambassador to the United States Sir Peter Westmacott took part in wreath-laying ceremonies. Numerous others also participated, from Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Parish President David Peralta to Postal Service representatives unveiling a commemorative stamp to mark the anniversary were on hand.

They remembered the landmark battle in the swamp of Chalmette at which a grouo of Americans made up of militia, free men of color, slaves, buccaneers, Indians and whoever else could be pressed into service – commanded by Andrew Jackson – defeated a hardened band of British invaders.

The theme was two great powers emerged from that War of 1812 who have been friends and allies ever since.

More than 11,000 Louisiana residents now work for companies based in the United Kingdom, Westmacott said.

The celebration at the battlefield was only a small portion of the events being held to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans,

Events including lectures about the battle and its strategies, re-enactments of engagements leading up to the main battle and other activities were also held.

Free Child Safety Seat Check Events for the Southshore and Northshore Areas

New Orleans East/Mandeville – On Saturday, January 10, 2015, Louisiana State Police Troops L and B, LSU Interim Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center, the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force, and the Banner family of dealerships will be hosting free child safety seat inspection stations. The Southshore inspection station will be at Banner Chevrolet located at 5950 Chef Menteur Highway, New Orleans, La. 70126 and the Northshore inspection station will be at Banner Ford located at 1943 North Causeway Boulevard, Mandeville, La. 70471. Both inspection stations will be from 10 am – 1 pm and no appointments are necessary. This service is FREE to anyone who wishes to have their child seats inspected and installed properly by certified child safety technicians.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children. Many deaths and injuries can be prevented simply by properly using child safety seats. Over the past three decades, approximately 9,000 lives have been saved by the use of child restraints according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Research has shown that approximately 96% of child safety seats are installed improperly; therefore, it is important that caregivers ensure children are properly restrained in an appropriate child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt anytime they are traveling in a vehicle. State Police, LSU Interim Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center and the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force urge the public to visit us this Saturday, January 10, 2015 and speak with a technician that will show the parent/caregiver how to properly install the child restraint and ensure that the child is in the appropriate age/weight child seat.

Also, all LSP troops are child seat inspection/fitting stations. To locate additional inspection stations in your area, please go to http://www.lsp.org/public.html for state troop locations and information or www.facebook.com/BuckleUpLouisiana for additional state funded inspection stations and events throughout Louisiana.

Buckle Up!! Seatbelts Save Lives!!

TRAFFIC DELAYS ON JUDGE PEREZ DRIVE (LA 39)

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
January 6, 2015

TRAFFIC DELAYS ON JUDGE PEREZ DRIVE

The state has announce there will be single lane closures Eastbound and Westbound, LA 39 (Judge Perez) from Norton Avenue to Dr. Meraux, starting January 6, 2015 through January 16, 2015, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, while crews install a new turn lane.

There will be no detours in place. Emergency vehicles have access to this area. LA 46 (St. Bernard Hwy) can be utilized as an alternate route.

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment. www.dotd.la.gov

Vehicles burglarized at more than a dozen addresses in Arabi; Virtually all were unlocked and Sheriff Pohlmann urges residents to lock their vehicles; Three men seen on video surveillance and anyone with information should call the S.O. at 271-2501

One item usually not found at the scene of auto burglaries or thefts in St. Bernard Parish is broken glass on the ground. That is because in most cases the vehicles were unlocked, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

That happened again over the weekend when vehicles were burglarized Friday night or early Saturday at more than a dozen addresses in Arabi, the sheriff said.

Money, electronics, ammunition and other items were reported stolen and an investigation is underway. Three men were seen on a video surveillance system at a home where one of the burglaries happened. Anyone with information about the identity of the burglars should call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.

Like in most such instances in St. Bernard, nearly all the vehicles were unlocked, the sheriff said.

“Residents could help prevent becoming a victim of such crimes if they would remember to lock their vehicles when they get out,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“I know it’s easy to forget to do that, especially if you are unloading groceries or other items or busy getting children out,’’ the sheriff said.

But keep on mind there are often people walking around at night who pull on door handles of parked vehicles just to see if they can steal something, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“We see all the time when there are vehicle burglaries a video surveillance system on a street shows people pulling on door handles,’’ the sheriff said. “Our patrol deputies look for people doing that and we have made arrests of ones we spot doing it who are carrying items they have taken from vehicles. But it’s difficult.

“Residents would be protecting themselves if they remembered to lock vehicles or at least remove valuables, especially firearms.’’

Numbers increase for Sheriff’s Office free ride home program

Twenty-four people have used Sheriff’s Office free ride home program from Thanksgiving through Jan. 1; program ends Jan. 2

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office has had.24 people use its free ride home service to prevent drinking and driving during the holiday period from Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 1. The program runs through Jan. 2.

The 24 is an increase over last year when 20 people got a free ride home, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The sheriff said he is pleased that more people seem to be understanding the message that it isn’t worth taking the chance of drinking and driving when the Sheriff’s Office will give you a free ride home.