Why does the marquee at the Burton Coliseum not work? There seems to be lots of things going on there, but no one ever knows what it is.

The marquee at the Burton Complex, which is owned by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, was knocked out of service several months ago by a software malfunction, said Parish Administrator Bryan Beam.

“Unfortunately, the software company associated with the sign went out of business since the initial installation, so there is no opportunity for the repairs to be made,” Beam wrote in an email.

“The Police Jury is evaluating options for remedying this situation.”

He said residents can find a list of upcoming events at www.burtoncomplexevents.com.

 

For more info: www.cppj.net.

If it’s legal back there, then it’s legal here

Does Louisiana recognize common-law marriage?

Louisiana recognizes common-law marriages contracted elsewhere if the arrangements are valid in the couples’ home states.

But it doesn’t permit its residents to enter common-law marriages, also known as informal or non-ceremonial marriages.

Attributes of common-law marriages, as listed in the Social Security Administration’s policy manual:

“The marriage is entered into by mutual consent of the parties to become husband and wife from that time on and is not solemnized by a ceremony.”

“The parties must have the intent to marry.”

“The parties must consider themselves husband and wife.”

“Both parties must be legally capable of entering into a valid marriage.”

“The marriage must be contracted in a State where common law marriages are recognized.”

“In some States, the parties must cohabit and hold themselves out to the public as husband and wife.”

Workers responsible for limbs left in street

When the city picks up trash, especially the limbs and stuff like that that’s on the ground, and a lot of it goes into the street, whose responsibility is it to clean it up, the resident or the city?

Lately, when limbs are being picked up the mess just stays in the street and isn’t picked up.

“If city workers inadvertently drop debris in the street while picking it up, it is the city’s responsibility to remove the debris,” Jeff Jones, assistant public works director, said in a statement forwarded to The Informer.

“However, the resident is responsible for sweeping and raking up leaves and other small debris that cannot be picked up by the cherry picker or by hand.”

To report issues, call public works officials at 491-1220.

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For more info: www.cityoflakecharles.com.

 

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.