The following has been released to Q93 from LSUA: 

ALEXANDRIA, La – Cleco Corporate Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer, Bill Fontenot, presented a $100,000 check to Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil this morning on the LSUA campus.

Cleco’s donation is in support of Fierce for LSUA, LSUA’s first ever major capital campaign. The primary focus is on a new LSUA Student Success Center.

“Cleco is excited to be a part of the ‘Fierce for LSUA’ capital campaign to build their first-ever Student Success Center,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings.  “This donation is an investment in the communities where we live, work and serve, and Cleco is committed to helping leading institutions like LSUA prepare students to meet current and future workforce needs.”

“We cannot thank Cleco and Bill Fontenot enough for their contribution to our Fierce for LSUA capital campaign. All LSUA students will greatly benefit by their generosity,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor. “This new facility will help us increase enrollment and ultimately benefit critical workforce needs of our business community, and the needs of our most important LSUA commodity – Central Louisiana students!”

The new Student Success Center will be a state-of-the-art, 30,000 square foot facility that will house services critical for all students – whether on-campus or online. This includes recruitment, admissions, financial aid/scholarships, academic advising, first year experience, and career development.

The following has been released to Q93 from LSUA: 

ALEXANDRIA, La – Cleco Corporate Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer, Bill Fontenot, presented a $100,000 check to Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil this morning on the LSUA campus.

Cleco’s donation is in support of Fierce for LSUA, LSUA’s first ever major capital campaign. The primary focus is on a new LSUA Student Success Center.

“Cleco is excited to be a part of the ‘Fierce for LSUA’ capital campaign to build their first-ever Student Success Center,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings.  “This donation is an investment in the communities where we live, work and serve, and Cleco is committed to helping leading institutions like LSUA prepare students to meet current and future workforce needs.”

“We cannot thank Cleco and Bill Fontenot enough for their contribution to our Fierce for LSUA capital campaign. All LSUA students will greatly benefit by their generosity,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor. “This new facility will help us increase enrollment and ultimately benefit critical workforce needs of our business community, and the needs of our most important LSUA commodity – Central Louisiana students!”

The new Student Success Center will be a state-of-the-art, 30,000 square foot facility that will house services critical for all students – whether on-campus or online. This includes recruitment, admissions, financial aid/scholarships, academic advising, first year experience, and career development.

The following has been released to Q93 from LSUA:

ALEXANDRIA, La – Louisiana State University of Alexandria has been named the 2021 Best Online RN to BSN Program in Louisiana by RegisteredNursing.org.

Having received this same ranking in 2020, LSUA’s Department of Nursing remains the dominant program in the state.

“LSUA has a longstanding tradition of being one of the best programs in the state, so it is great to have others recognize the level of excellence at our university,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor. “As the pandemic has also increased the use of virtual education, it is important to know that our students can receive the same quality education online or in the classroom.”

Per RegisteredNursing.Org, data points used to compile the list include statistics regarding accreditation, types or nursing programs, ratio of program completion, annual tuition and fees, ratio of tenured faculty, graduation rates, etc.

For more information on the online RN to BSN program, visit the LSUA webpage by clicking here.

The following has been released to Q93 from the City of Alexandria: 

Alexandria, La. (March 5, 2021)—The boil advisory issued Wednesday for the 900 block of 16th Street is now lifted.Repairs to a 2-inch service lateral by COA personnel resulted in the need for a boil water advisory. The State of Louisiana has tested the water, and the results of the tests are clear, according to Utility Director Michael Marcotte.

The Alexandria Water Department has lifted the boil advisoryfor businesses and residents located in the area described below:

All the properties along the 900 block of 16th Street. (Please see attached detail map).

With the lifting of the boil advisory, the City of Alexandrianow recommends that businesses and residences in the affected areas: 

• Run cold-water faucets for one minute;         

• Run drinking water fountains for one minute;          

• Flush automatic icemakers (make three batches of ice and discard);

• Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle; and

• Run water coolers with direct water connections for five minutes.?

The following has been released to Q93 from the City of Alexandria: 

Alexandria, La. (March 4, 2021) — Citing the reduction of COVID-19 cases locally as well as Gov. John Bel Edward’s decision to move to Phase 3 guidelines for public health, the City of Alexandria plans to reopen its community centers and meeting facilities starting Monday, April 5. The centers were originally closed on March 13, 2020, as part of public health efforts designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are eager to reopen these facilities as another step in the process of getting back to normal operations,” said Alexandria Mayor Jeff Hall. “The Alexandria Zoo will reopen on weekends starting March 12, and our community centers and meeting venues will reopen on April 5. The safety of our employees and guests remains a top priority, so some health guidelines will still be in place, but we believe conditions have improved to the point where we can safely begin to use these facilities.”

The centers scheduled to reopen April 5 include:

• Alexandria Convention Hall

• Alexandria Youth & Teen Center

• Bolton Avenue Community Center

• Martin Community Center

• M.L. King Community Center

• Wilborn Dempsey Multi-Purpose Center

In addition to reopening community centers, City Hall and the Utility Customer Service Office will decrease restrictions regarding visitors. The number of people permitted in the lobby at each site will continue to be limited and residents are asked to schedule appointments in advance to meet with city workers.

The Randolph Riverfront Center is open for meetings with attendance limits and safety protocols in place in compliance with the Governor’s mandates and the advice of public health officials. The Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center remains closed until further notice. 

Face masks will continue to be required at public facilities as well as social distancing and temperature checks. The city will follow State Fire Marshal guidelines regarding the number of people allowed inside each facility.

The following has been released to Q93 from the City of Alexandria: 

Alexandria, La., (March 3, 2021) — Repairs to a 2-inch service lateral in the 900 block of 16th Street have resulted inthe need for a boil water advisory, according to UtilityDirector Michael Marcotte.

Because water pressure was lost during the repair process, the water in the affected area may have been compromised.  

As a precaution, the Alexandria Water Department is issuinga boil advisory effective immediately. This boil advisory isto remain in effect until otherwise noted.  The boil wateradvisory is issued for customers located in the areadescribed below:

All the properties along the 900 block of 16th Street. (Please see attached detail map).

It is recommended that all consumers in the advisory area disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:

Boil water for one full minute in a clean container. The oneminute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil.Once the water has been boiled, you may improve the taste of the water by shaking it in a closed container, by pouring it from one clean container to another or by adding a small pinch ofsalt to each quart of water that is boiled.  

Consumers in the advisory area should disinfect their waterprior to consumption until otherwise notified.

The City of Alexandria will lift the boil advisory after water tests show there is no contamination. At that time businessesand residences in the affected areas should:

• Run cold water faucets forone minute;

• Run drinking water fountains for one minute;

• Flush automatic icemakers (make three batches of ice anddiscard);

• Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle; and

• Run water coolers with direct water connections for fiveminutes.

The following has been released to Q93 from the Rapides Parish School Board: 

In response to Gov. Edwards' announcement moving our state to Phase 3, all middle and high school students will resume every day attendance schedules no later than Friday, March 19th. As we finalize the logistics for transportation and food service, please follow information from your child's school for when he/she is to return to everyday classes.

All students enrolled in our 100% virtual program and making adequate academic progress are allowed to continue in the virtual program.
 
Also, please know that we will continue to follow all prescribed safety precautions to the maximum extent possible. If your child is experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, please keep them home and have them tested.   
 

As we make this shift, let's continue to show the world that Rapides Parish truly is #bettertogether.

The following has been released to Q93 from Cleco:

PINEVILLE, La. – March 2, 2021 –Today, Cleco Power presented a check for $5,000 to Manna House in Alexandria whose mission is to feed those in need. 

For more than 30 years, Manna House has provided nutritious meals to people of all ages, including homeless individuals and families, children, seniors and veterans no questions asked.  

"There’s nothing more rewarding than helping a place like Manna House feed the hungry in our community, and Cleco is proud to support this cause,” said Robbie LaBorde, chief operations officer of Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC.  “Manna House is committed to their mission.  The staff and volunteers prepare and serve meals 365 days a year, and you don’t have to complete any paperwork to receive a meal.”    

“We feed approximately 200 individuals daily, and this gift will help us continue our mission,” said Jessica Viator, executive director of Manna House.  “Manna House operates purely off of donations, so we’re extremely grateful for Cleco’s support.”

Viator said while most of their patrons are homeless, Manna House also serves individuals who have fallen on hard times due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well asindividuals with low incomes.  Meals are served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.  Due to the pandemic, meals are currently served outside the facility in to-go boxes. To make a donation and support their efforts, visit https://givetomannahouse.com/.