Looking North for Aug. 9, 2012

Baker gets conservation recognition

Baker picked up a community achievement “best in show” award for exceptional merit in community improvements for 2011 during the recent Louisiana Municipal Association convention. The award resulted from a potentially unpopular political decision in an election year to install the first residential water meters in the city.

Obtaining grants totaling $3.3 million, Mayor Harold Rideau and a City Council majority took steps to install 5,800 new radio-reporting meters at homes and businesses and began charging customers for the amount of water they actually used, rather than a flat monthly rate.

The new metering system has resulted in a groundwater pumping decrease of 21.4 million gallons per month, at a savings of more than $32,000 or more per month. Residents also are seeing lower city-parish sewer usage charges now that water consumption can be measured.

Council members Jimmy Pourciau, Carlon Simpson and Fred Russell supported the project in key several votes. A.J. Walls and Charles Vincent opposed it.

The award came after the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission presented Baker with an award for cutting its groundwater pumping and encouraging water conservation.

Blood drive

First United Methodist Church in St. Francisville will have a blood drive in the Fellowship Hall from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday. Donors will eligible for a vacation package and $100 gas card drawings.

Computer course

A course in Microsoft Office Word 2010 (Level 1) will be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Jackson branch of the Audubon Regional Library. Registration is required; call the State Library at [phone] to register to have a computer and space available. In September, the library will be offering computer basics, Word, Excel and Power Point instruction. You may register for those courses now.

Getting back to class

The public is invited to a “Back to the Books Bash” at 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvin Jackson Memorial Park in Wilson, sponsored by the Wilson Community Youth Organization and Jackson Elementary School. Refreshments and school supplies donated by businesses and individuals will be provided.

Lane addition

Dr. Pamela J. Parsons has joined Lane Regional Medical Center’s medical staff as medical director of Lane Behavioral Health Services in Zachary.

The health services facility offers outpatient treatment for adults experiencing life-altering emotional crises, such as depression, anxiety, panic, stress, fear and other personality disorders.

Heart, diabetes programs

Lane Regional Medical Center will hold a free education and support program for congestive heart failure patients and their caregivers from 10 a.m. to noon Monday in the hospital’s staff development classroom.

The discussion will cover the basic facts about the condition and patient meal-planning advice.

Registration is required; call [phone] to register. Free lunch will be provided.

To submit news about Baker, Zachary and the Felicianas, call James Minton at [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. Deadline: noon Wednesday.

Lane’s diabetes support group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The program is open to diabetics, their family and friends and caregivers. Registration is not required.