Lake Charles, LA

Déjà vu (pronunciation;French)"already seen"; is the experience of feeling sure that one has witnessed or experienced a new situation previously (an individual feels as though an event has already happened or has happened in the near past). This is the definition provided by Dictionary.com. This is exactly my emotions as I take a moment to write this post today. I am calling my clients in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana with vacant properties to remind them to prepare for what could be a rough few days and trying to prepare to vacate the area if needed. We are told that most residents will be more cautious and not wait as long to leave this time. This is wonderful news.

Two years ago, when we returned after Rita, I created a page on my website that has become a little dusty, thank goodness. This page, however, has a lot of information and especially links that will assist you in a time when you need to prepare for an emergency of any nature. Please visit the site and take from it any helpful information that will make life more comfortable and safe for you and your family.

I would also like to point out that there is a link to Southwest Louisiana Contra Flow Maps. The maps will hopefully, should they be needed, prevent confusion as to traffic flow at a time when the stress level will be at maximum.

Please forgive the brevity of this post. I am trying to complete my many task so I can concentrate on preparing for the safety of my family and personal home as well. I did want to bring my http://Awareness.derenda.com out of the shadows in hopes that is would be of service to someone.

Rita and Katrina taught Louisiana residents many lessons. Our State will not be caught unprepared. We will work through this, if it comes our way, and move forward with the enthusiasm of before. I am so very proud of the people of Southwest Louisiana, the progress we are making, and the future I see for our communities. Storms are detours not barricades. Stay safe and see you when the rainbow is visible.

Governor Bobby Jindal had to love his trip to Lake Charles on Tuesday! He was here to help officially announce that a $100 million manufacturing plant will soon be built in Lake Charles.

The facility, to be located on Port property off Big Lake Road not far from Trunkline LNG, will be the first nuclear-module manufacturing facility in the United States! A few bullet points:

• The project is a joint venture between Westinghouse and The Shaw Group, a fortune 500 construction firm based in Baton Rouge, LA
• The plant will create 1400 jobs in Lake Charles
• The combined Shaw and Westinghouse venture will generate 2,900 new jobs throughout the state
• The purpose of the plant is to to assemble building modules
• No radioactive material will be involved locally
• After assembly, the buildings will be shipped to their intended destination
• One-third of the new nuclear power plants will be built at the Shaw-Westinghouse facility in Lake Charles

Deep-water access, transportation, and availability of a skilled work force were a few of the reasons Lake Charles was selected. Of course, the state's competitive incentive package played a major role in what is expected to generate $43 million in tax revenue alone in the coming decade.

From the Chamber Southwest to the State Department of Economic development, congratulations and thanks to all involved.

Links of interest:

New Release on Shaw Group website

Bayou Buzz coverage

Times-Picayune Article

Employment opportunities

Want to satisfy your hunger for more photos and information about those marvelous kids that made us so proud in Williamsport?

Simply go to the page on KPLCTV.com dedicated to the South Lake Charles Little League. They offer videos, slide shows, and stories. As we've come to expect, KPLC did a great job compiling this incredible experience.

The latest and very important story is that the Lake Area has a chance to express our support and appreciation to the team at a special reception for them at their home field at Brentwood Prejean lPark on Tuesday at 6:00.

Getting to Prejean Park is easy. From Prien Lake, head south on Louisiana Avenue to Illinois. Turn left (east) on Illinois. The baseball park is just beyound Brentwood Street on the left.

Some would say that is was not a banner weekend for the team from South Lake Charles. Obviously, it would have been great to be watching our guys right now in the final game of the 2008 World Series.

At the end of the day, the South Lake Charles Little League team spent all or part of their summer vacation doing something over 6200 teams could only consider in their dreams. And, along the way, they captured our hearts.

They started by becoming the Louisiana Little League Champions. This was a significant as Louisiana has a host of talent, including our ultimate challenger from neighboring Lafayette.

Then, they brought pride and recognition to Lake Charles and Louisiana by winning the Southwest Regional Championship. It was a privilege to be there in person to watch South Lake Charles play in Waco and a thrill to watch the game where Kennon Fontenot's home run tied the game and forced an extra inning. An inning that SLC ultimately won courtesy of a valiant team effort.

With barely a few days rest, the team traveled on to Williamsport to represent the Southwest Region in the Little League Baseball World Series. They accomplished something 4 previous Lake Charles teams had attempted. Not only did they win pool play, but finished in first position. They advanced to the US Finals against Hawaii.

In a game that will be talked about and second-guessed for some time, Lake Charles played Hawaii in front of a record-breaking crowd. Hawaii prevailed (7-5) and represents the West Region against Mexico in the World Series finals as I write this.

Sure, it would have been great to be in the finals, but what a thrill to compete so well against Japan in the consolation game. Given Japan's record for winning it all, the SLC team was in darn good company and held their own!

So guys, hold your heads and banners high! You brought pride to your hometown and have bragging rights as one of the top 4 teams in the World!

Not satisfied with being the first team from Lake Charles Louisiana to advance out of Little League World Series (LLWS) pool play, the South Lake Charles (SLC) Little League team took a shot at the semi-finals last night and won 6-1 against the team representing the Southeast region, Tampa, Florida.

I was unable to watch the game live due to a previous commitment to help out at a local auction. To make matters worse, auctioneer Ben Mount had given me strict instructions to keep any knowledge of the score to myself. As the manager/coach of the 2001 Louisiana Champions that went to the LLWS, Ben has been following the games closely. At his request, earlier in the day, I had made contact with shortstop/pitcher Kennon Fontentot's mom, Shelley, to arrange for a signed baseball and poster for the auction.

Putting the game out of my head for a few hours, even for the sake of the auction, was not an option. As luck would have it, my job was to simply monitor a video being displayed via my PC and projector. This was perfect as it gave me an opportunity to easily listen to Robert Ryder's play-by-play account directly from Lamade stadium via cell phone. That covered, I settled in- get this - behind the bar! Honestly, the bar offered the best postion to project the video on to the screen. Honest.

From this vantage point, I did my fair share of promoting the New Orleans train tour for 20, the topic of the video and a subject for a future blog. It also gave me a chance to visit with fellow baseball enthusiasts, including a die-hard fan and cat lover who had determined he and his wife would enjoy the cocktail hour, identify the live auction item they wanted, find someone to bid on their behalf and leave in time to watch Kennon Fontenot pitch. Guess who was the lucky recipient of their auction paddle? Say goodby to the easy job assignment. A dinner for 8 prepared by fellow REALTOR and CCIM Andrew Vanchiere was at stake. Oh, the pressure.

I learned two things last night.

1. Robert Ryder would probably be as effective as a sports commentator as he was a pilot for United.

2. I'm a rotten auction bidder.

In my defense, one caused the other. The screaming SLC fans in the background of Robert's cell phone, the score SLC 3- Tampa 1, Kennon on the mound, and it's time for Ben to start the bidding for the Vanchiere dinner. I tried to play it cool and casual, not entering the bidding action right away, still following the game. I think I held up the #68 paddle at $550. In increments of $50, the bids climbed to $900. I bid $950. Robert's enthusiasm, the screaming fans, a budget of 1,200, the cause. I bid $1,000. Obviously, my head wasn't 100% in the bidding game, but either my bid/war competitor figured I was gonna get this dinner come heck or high water, or simply figured they better let it be before I went further out in left field. Either way, my job was accomplished with $200.00 to spare!

Next item. A baseball signed by the SLC team. True to my pledge to Ben, I kept the score to myself. Without knowing that SLC was winning, the baseball went for $175.00. I stopped at $150.00 despite Judith Smith encouraging me to "go for it" as she knew the budget, knew the people.

The last item was the signed poster of Lamade Stadium. Got it for $100.00 and still $100.00 under budget. Surely, this would make up for the $50.00 error!

Score $275.00 for the no-kill cat shelter, courtesy of South Lake Little League!

Auction's over. Robert is still providing commentary but knows I continue in my dual capacity. I congratulate Ben for his awesome job. He says, "You know the score, don't you." Prepared for this question, poker-faced, I reply. "Yes." He asked, "Is it over?" I reply, 'No." He asked, "What's the score?" I reply, "You said you didn't want to know." He says, "Tell me the score!" As I give him the updated 5-1 score, I turn my cell to speaker phone so Ben and others can enjoy. Willie Mount Vanna White happily announces the score to those relishing the success of the auction. Before we leave the auction, SLC puts the thing to bed 6-1.

Now, let's go watch that game!

{Edit 5:15PM on 8/22/08: Having contacted the winner of the Vancherie dinner, I have permission to reveal names! I was representing Frank and Ginger Pruit in pursuit of the Vancherie dinner. And, they laughed off my error in deference to their support of the Hobo Hotel.}