[StBernard] Wal-Mart Store Says it Will Return, and Other Stories

[Westley Annis]

Wal-Mart Store Says it Will Return, and Other Stories 

November 16, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Wal-Mart store says it will return; Archdiocese considers opening elementary
school in January; Katrina death toll now at 125 in parish

The Wal-Mart store in Chalmette has pledged to return to St. Bernard, Parish

President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez said Tuesday.

Officials of Wal-Mart visited the parish last week, observing damage both by

air and vehicle, and said the store will return as soon as possible, 
Rodriguez said in his President's Report to he Parish Council in a meeting 
on Tuesday.

"The plan is to begin to return in stages,'' using tents while rehabbing the

store, Rodriguez said. At first, he said, "likely sales will be food, 
beverages, household products, repair tools and miscellaneous clothing.''

The Wal-Mart Super Store site on West Judge Perez Drive was open just 10 
weeks when flooded by Hurricane Katrina.

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Father William Maestri of the Archdiocese of New Orleans said Our Lady of 
Prompt Succor elementary school On Paris Road may reopen in January.

He also said in a Council meeting that Archbishop Hannan High of Meraux, 
heavily damaged by Katrina, may open in a temporary location on the North 
Shore because many parish residents are now staying there.

Council member Craig Taffaro Jr. replied he was concerned that the temporary

site could become permanent, costing the parish its only Catholic high 
school.

The Archdiocese previously operated four Catholic elementary schools in St. 
Bernard before the hurricane but said Our Lady of Prompt Succor has the 
least questions and could reopen in January, Maestri said Also, he said the 
second-floor of St. Louise DeMarillac in Arabi may also be available.

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The death toll from Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard has been raised to 125,

officials said this week.

Two bodies, an Arabi man and a Chalmette woman, were found in their 
respective homes in recent days. The death toll had stood at 123 for several

weeks.