Crystal Stevenson

People who bought McNeese basketball season tickets have a right to know when the coliseum will be officially opened. When will that be?

The new Health and Human Performance Complex at McNeese State University will not be open for the first women’s home game scheduled for Nov. 11, said Candace Townsend, director of public relations and university events.

That game will be played in Burton Coliseum, she said.

“Specific items in the final construction phase must be completed before the building can be opened to the public,” she said. “McNeese officials are closely monitoring the daily progress of the contractor on these projects and a decision about the Nov. 16 men’s basketball game will be made late next week.”

Townsend said once the university accepts the building from the contractor, McNeese staff will also need several days to test the technology and supply the restrooms and concession stand before the building opens to the public.

The $40.5 million project has been funded in part by the H.C. Drew Foundation.

Prior to this year, McNeese has called the 8,000-seat Burton Coliseum home since the 1986-87 season.

Mistletoe & Moss

Has the Junior League announced when Mistletoe & Moss will be this holiday season?

This year’s event will be Nov. 15-17 at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

The Southeast Tourism Society recently honored the Junior League of Lake Charles’ Mistletoe & Moss Holiday Market as a 2018 Top 20 event for the month of November.

“The event includes live entertainment, a preview party, shopping and breakfast with Santa, all basked in glittering ambiance,” said Colten Miller with the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Covention & Visitors Bureau.

All proceeds from the event go back into the Lake Charles community.

Shopping hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. General admission is $10.

Online: www.jllc.net.

Migrant caravan

How many troops has President Donald Trump sent to protect our border from this migrant caravan?

President Donald Trump has ordered 7,000 active duty troops to the border in response to a caravan of migrants slowly making its way through Mexico toward the United States, according to the Associated Press.

Those trips are stationed in Texas, Arizona and California, and are made up a mix of forces — including military police, an assault helicopter battalion, various communications, medical and headquarters units, combat engineers, planners and public affairs units.

These troops are not allowed to arrest people at the border, which is forbidden under the Posse Comitatus Act in the Constitution. This means their main job will be to support the Border Patrol by transporting border patrol agents to and along the border, helping them erect additional vehicle barriers and fencing along the border, assisting them with communications and providing some security for border agent camps.

The military also will provide the border patrol agents with medical care, pre-packaged meals and temporary housing.

The Informer is written by Crystal Stevenson, American Press executive editor. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave a voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.

McNeese State University announced Friday that the Health and Human Performance complex will not be ready for the McNeese women’s basketball opener Sunday, Nov. 11, as planned.

Rick Hickman