[StBernard] Group to Hold Meeting Discussing the Future of St. Bernard, and Much More...

[Westley Annis]

Group to Hold Meeting Discussing the Future of St. Bernard, and Much More...


December 10 , 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Death toll from Katrina now at 127; Citizens Recovery Committee holds "Plan
the Future of St. Bernard'' public meeting on Sunday; Nunez College begins
registering on Saturday; Chalmette post office scheduled for January
opening; St. Bernard native Kim Kramer commended by Southwest Airlines;
Bumblebee food distributors donates three truckloads of food, toys and
clothing.

The body of a 72-year-old man was found in his attic on Dauterive Drive in
Chalmette on Thursday, raising to 127 the death toll from Hurricane Katrina
in St. Bernard Parish.

The name of the victim wasn't released pending notification of his
relatives.

Don Banks, who is involved in the recovery of the remains of hurricane
victims in St. Bernard, said the man was found while checking a list of
about 200 people who are still listed as missing since the Aug. 29 storm.

Individuals who have been unable to get in touch with a St. Bernard Parish
resident since Katrina struck and consider them as missing can call Banks at
1- (727) 687-7289 to have the person's home checked again.

The death toll in St. Bernard had stood at 123 for several weeks through
mid-November, leading officials to hope there weren't going to be other
victims.

But four bodies have been found in residences in the last two weeks and the
checking will continue, Banks said.

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The Citizens Recovery Committee of St. Bernard Parish is holding its "Plan 
the Future of St. Bernard" public meeting on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 1-3 p.m. 
at the Parish Courthouse , 1101 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette.

The CRC, made up of parish citizens, was created by the Parish Council, with

ts mission to gather ideas from parish residents and propose plans to the 
Council in the areas of land use, housing economic development, 
infrastructure., health and safety, education, transportation and coastal 
management.

The CRC will also prepare recommendations which must be submitted by the 
parish to the state's Louisiana Recovery Authority by Jan. 25.

David Gorbaty, who co-chairs the committee with Walter Leger, stressed the 
purpose of Sunday's meeting isn't to receive or answer questions about FEMA 
trailers or other individual problems associated with the recovery from the 
hurricane. "The meeting is specifically for the CRC members to hear ideas 
from citizens for the future development of the parish,'' Gorbaty said.

For more information, visit the CRC website at stbpcrc.com.

###

Nunez Community College will be registering students for Sprilg 2006 
beginning Saturday, Dec. 10.

To registration online go to WWW.NUNEZ.EDU/

Classes will be held in Slidell, Belle Chasse and New Orleans as well as St.

Bernard and online.

For more information about Nunez Community College visit the website listed 
above.

###

Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez said full operations for the 
Chalmette Post Office are projected for early January but no specific date 
has been set.

Two large trailers are to be delivered to the parking lot of the Paris Road 
Post office in Chalmette to serve as temporary facilities, Rodriguez said.

###

Southwest Airlines President Colleen Barrett recently honored St. Bernard 
Parish's Kim Kramer by issuing a commendation for her assistance in helping 
dispatch resources to various locations in St. Bernard. Kramer also opened 
her Houston home to evacuees and assisted in the relocation of citizens.

###

Bumblebee food distributors, which has a plant at Violet, has donated three 
truckloads of food, clothing and toys for distribution to St. Bernard Parish

residents.

The food, toys, and clothing for men and women of all ages was donated by 
employees of Bumblebee plants in several cities, including its headquarters 
in San Diego, according to company official Patrick Staves. Food from the 
Violet plant has been distributed to the public since Katrina struck, he 
said.
The toys are being distributed at the parish's Christmas party on Saturday, 
which starts at 2 p.m. behind the parish government building at 8201 West 
Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette.

Parish Council member Ricky Melerine, an employee of Bumblebee, said he was 
grateful for the company's donations.