Archive for August, 2008

Gustav Is On Its Way

Gustav is on its way. Be prepared.

Here’s the latest:

According to KALB, it appears as if Gustav will make landfall as either a strong Cat 2 or a borderline Cat 3. This is a serious storm, and no doubt, it will do some serious damage. For those of us in Alexandria, here’s what you need to know:

It looks like Gustav will make landfall in between Houma and Lafayette. It should start raining here around noon, but we won’t be experiencing the hurricane (which, by then, should be a Cat 2) until after the sun has set.

And it will probably be with us throughout the night and into the early morning hours.

So be prepared for a night (and a morning) without electricity.

Stay safe.

Gustav: Sandbag Information; Storm Projections

I just got off the phone with Ken Juneau, who is serving as the PIO for the City of Alexandria and the Sheriff’s Department during Gustav.

Right now, we’re anticipating between 5 and 10 inches of rain in most places and 20 inches in some places.

Remember, though, this information is based off of models that are already old, so things can and probably will change. Gustav is moving really fast right now, and it could hit as early as Monday morning.

Be prepared for the rain, and be prepared for 8 hours of 75 mph winds and 2-3 hours of 110 mph winds.

Alexandria is no longer focused on accommodating evacuees. We’re focused on preparing our own residents.

If you need sandbags, you may pick them up at the following locations. (Note: You’re going to have to bag your own):

Bringhurst Park (in the rear)

Johnny Downs

Cheatham Park/ Jones Street

Civitan on Prescott

Frank O. Hunter

Alexandria City Compound: For the elderly and disabled only; they will bag your sandbags for you.

All locations are currently open and will remain open until they run out of sand.

At some point, they will set up a single line for you to call in case of emergency.

Gustav Alerts

For information on traffic. including road closures and live webcam footage, click here.

For local updates, stay tuned to Channel 4 (Government Access).

Shelters in Alexandria

The Rapides Parish Coliseum

LSUA

8100 Highway 71 South

Alexandria, LA

Getting Ready for Gustav

Alexandria has been named as one of the official evacuation cities, which means that things are a little hectic around here. I flew in this afternoon with a few Red Cross volunteers and a crew from Mercy Air. It’s good to know that Americans are responding preemptively this time, and it’s heartwarming to see people from all across the country fly into Louisiana to volunteer for disaster recovery.

We can only hope that Gustav calms down before he makes landfall.

The models they’re projecting right now don’t look good for us; even those of us in the so-called “Safe Zone” in Alexandria are likely to get our fair share of the storm.

But we’re prepared.

Some of my good friends are on their way up from New Orleans and Lafayette. We’ll be braving the storm here at my house. I feel like we JUST went through this.

It’s somewhat deflating to have returned from the DNC, which was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, only to be confronted with the nightmarish spectacle of another hurricane looming beneath our coastline. Yesterday in Denver, most of the folks from Louisiana spent their entire day making plans and getting mentally prepared for another excruciating evacuation.

I gotta say this too: A few people– obviously people not from Louisiana or the Gulf Coast– have been (almost gleefully) speculating on the impact this could have on the Republican National Convention.
I know what Ashley Morris would have said to them (Link to the acronym dictionary, which totally bungles the acronym), and frankly, we all feel the same way. (I anticipate Ryan at the Daily Kingfish may have some more to say about this).

What We Saw Last Night

A new chapter in the history of America.

The entire convention was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Soon, once I have collected my thoughts, I will post about what it was like, but for now, suffice it to say, I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to share this experience with tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life.

PS: To calculate the tax break you will receive under Senator Obama’s tax plan, check this out. H/t to 2millionthweblog.

For Continuing Coverage Tonight, Visit the DailyKingfish.com

Click here.

We just arrived at Invesco. The lines are already absurdly long. The set-up is awesome. We’ll be posting pictures all day at the Daily Kingfish. In fact, the first round will be posted in ten minutes.

Warner Proposes New Course for Economy in DNC Keynote

—crossposted from the DailyKingfish—

Virginia Governor Mark Warner has it right on the money: the largest failure of the Bush Administration was his unwillingness to engage the ingenuity and fortitude of the American people. In every corner of our nation, we hear Americans demanding a change that they can not only believe in, but one that they can participate and lead in as well.

From creating a new economy based on green sector jobs to delivering high-speed internet to every corner of the nation, from relocating manufacturing and other middle-class jobs back to America to making health care available to every American child–if not citizen, Mark Warner has not only challenged the Democratic Party to lead us into a new era of prosperity, but he has shown all of America that ours is truly the Party of the Big Tent. A new American economy that can compete on the world stage well into this brave new century will require more than opportunities for the very rich, the very urban, and the very well-connected.

It will take Americans of all walks of life. It will be built upon the innovation and undying commitment to our nation that lies in all Americans, regardless of class, race, creed, or situation. Barack Obama can set the tone and lead America to change, but that change will be made up of tens of millions of American families each doing their small part, working diligently towards a renewed American Promise, a new American Dream.

A View from the Floor

Our perch in the Louisiana delegation

Hilarious

H/t to Kennedy for Whatever.

Gearing Up for the Convention

On Saturday, Daniel and I leave for Denver, where we’ll join our friend and fellow blogger Ryan McLeod, for the Democratic National Convention. We will be blogging non-stop throughout the week, covering as much as we can. And we plan to hit the ground running.

By the way, we’ve tentatively agreed to divvy up convention coverage, because only one of us will be allowed on the convention floor at any given time. So, more than likely, Ryan will be dispatched on Monday, Daniel on Tuesday, and me on Wednesday; all three of us (hopefully) will be reporting on Thursday. When we’re not inside the convention, we’ll be down the block with other blogger-types at the Big Tent.

Although all three of us are blogging for the Daily Kingfish, we’ll probably cross-post a handful of things on CenLamar. Still, for the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, remember to refresh DailyKingfish.com a couple of times a day. We plan on posting pictures, commentary, and even an occasional video clip.

So stay tuned.

KALB: Lee Ann Whitt Talks About Les and His Amazing Life

Here. Lee Ann’s incredible, and this morning, she delivered a moving and heartwarming eulogy to her husband. Kudos to KALB for posting most of it online.

It’s been a tough few days for the City of Alexandria. We lost one of our champions.

CenLamar will be displaying a picture of Les Whitt on the sidebar, and this picture will remain until Phase Two of the African Experience exhibit is completed. We need state and federal support to make this happen. And we need the support of everyone in the Central Louisiana community.

Les’s dear friend and fellow musician Bud Albright wrote a fitting tribute to him in today’s newspaper.
Quoting:

I got to know Les better when I worked with the mentally handicapped at John Eskew Training Center right next door to the zoo at that time. He and I shared a love for music and soon became good friends. Gary Perkins, who owned Spirits back then, told Les and I that we should come check out this blues singer that had been frequenting his club named B.B. Major. Both Les and I were looking for someone to work with and Gary had informed us that B.B. was not happy with the musicians he was working with. We both agreed to talk with B.B to see if he wanted to do something; he did. With the support and financial help of Gary, Dr. Greg Gormanous, and a few others, Les and I took Maj into the studio and recorded him with some success.

We were soon sending the CD all over the world to blues fans who wrote letters and visited our Web site on a regular basis telling us how much they liked the music.

We even scored a No. 2 spot on the charts of a Dallas blues station and appeared in several major national blues publications.

Another CD followed and we were invited to perform regularly at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Maj was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame and from one of our Jazz Fest performances asked to star in a Folgers Coffee commercial that aired nation wide.

Les Whitt Passes Away

Mayor Roy’s remarks:

Thousands of families will never overcome this loss of a true son of Alexandria. From the Administration, the City Council, and every department, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, to the zoo community and its friends, and to all citizens of central Louisiana.

Les was given a second chance at life, an opportunity he made the most of, crafting a sustainable legacy that will live as long as Alexandria does. In addition to losing the indispensable leader of the city’s most recognized quality-of-life institution, artists and musicians lost a true friend and fellow professional–as did organ donor advocates. From production supervision to being a fine musician in his own right, Les served our community’s recreational and educational missions. As a zookeeper, he was routinely extolled by Jack Hanna as one of the industry’s best. As a musician, B.B. King counted Les a member of the family.

As a citizen, we know Les the paragon of selfless action for his fellow man–the highest contributor to others and his community, the one who does so from real altruism and deep character.

KALB is breaking the story online.

Les Whitt, beloved Director of the Alexandria Zoo, passed away this morning at 6:38am at Ochsner’s Medical Center in New Orleans after a brief illness.

Les had been Director of the Zoo since February of 1974, and worked tirelessly to build the Zoo into what it is today. He was passionate about the popular local attraction and was frequently praised by American zookeeper Jack Hanna. The zoo features more the 600 animals from around the globe.

Les was also responsible for the Louisiana Habitat exhibit, which received an award from Louisiana Contractors magazine for best public facility in 1998 and won an AZA award (Significant Achievement Award in 2002), as well as the zoo becoming accredited by the American Association of Zoological Parks in 1986.

Les was utterly unique. Compassionate, generous, kind. He gave and gave and gave. Each of us who knew him, knew how blessed we were to share a few moments of our life with him.

Although what we’ve lost is tremendous, what he gave us is immeasurable.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to Leann, Sarah, and Hannah, as well as the many others who knew and loved him

I’ve just learned the shocking and sad news that Alexandria’s beloved Zoo Director, Les Whitt, passed away this morning.

More later… I’m still in disbelief. It’s a devastating loss– not just for the Zoo but for the entire community.

See also: AlexCenla’s “We Lost a Good Man Today.“