I’d like to know where the City Council and our new mayor of Lake Charles get off thinking that they don’t represent the people anymore?

We vote on things like changing the name of Contraband Days. They are going against what has been since the beginning of time just to satisfy a few people in this city.

Something like that should be voted on.

The event — now called the Louisiana Pirate Festival — is put on by a private nonprofit group, not the city. Neither the council nor the mayor has a say over the name.

Event president Russ Grantham said in a news release issued Sept. 19 that the festival board sees the name change as “a true reflection of the shift that is taking place with the festival,” which has billed itself as a “pirate festival” for the last several years.

“We have incredible food, music and artists in Louisiana, and everyone sees this as an opportunity to celebrate the best of who we are as a people and culture,” Grantham said in the news release, issued by the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Right on the shores of Lake Charles, the Louisiana Pirate Festival will bring a more statewide appeal, moving past the 60th anniversary. It’s time for something new and different.”

In the beginning

The event, the idea of the Lake Charles Association of Commerce’s public relations committee, began in 1958 as a three-day “water carnival,” featuring boating events and a pageant. It was held in late June.

“Boat races, a boat parade and a water ski show staged by the Sowela Ski club are among the events listed on the 1958 entertainment agenda. …,” reads a story that appeared in the May 5, 1958, edition of the American Press. 

“Among the names suggested for the festival are Gulf Coast Festival, Lake Charles Contraband Days, Southwest Louisiana Festival, Sowela Festival, Lafitte Contraband Days, and Southwest Louisiana Water Festival.”

According to a story published eight days later, the festival was meant to showcase the city “and its surrounding area and its present and historical accomplishments and natural resources.”

The first Contraband Days was scheduled for June 20-22. But the main events of the final day — the boating and water skiing — were postponed because of rain. The water show eventually took place on June 29. 

 

Utility crews do best to leave area neat

My subdivision utilities are underground. Entergy repaired a line across the street from me but had to excavate 30 to 35 feet in my yard.

When they where done they just pushed the dirt back in the trench they dug. They didn’t do any compaction or add more dirt. It looks terrible.

Am I responsible to put back my yard as it was before?

“It is always Entergy’s intent to create as little damage as possible and no more than reasonably necessary to restore power for customers,” Entergy spokesman Chip Arnould wrote in an email.

“While we don’t have an obligation to maintain right of ways for items unrelated to our use, as a good community partner, we always want to leave the area neat and clean. But with underground facilities, this may take a follow-up trip once the soil has settled.”

l

For more info: www.entergy-louisiana.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.