Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 13 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Copeland returns from D.C.
Published Sunday, February 15, 2009
VIDALIA — Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland believes his recent trip to Washington, D.C., was the best ever.
Along with local officials from Natchez and Ferriday, Copeland was one of the delegation from Vidalia in the nation’s capital for the twice-yearly meeting of the El Camino Corridor Commission.
The commission meets once a year in a community along the corridor — which runs along U.S. 84 from Brunswick, Ga., to El Paso, Texas — and once a year in Washington, D.C., to lobby for funds to finish the four-laning of the corridor.
“We felt very encouraged in our conversations with out Congressional delegation,” Copeland said.
There will be money in the stimulus package for highway infrastructure programs, he said.
“We feel we have a good chance on that because the other states are 80-90 percent complete,” he said.
But while they were there, the local leaders weren’t going to pass up an opportunity to lobby for local projects, and the project that Copeland focused on was the proposed Port of Concordia, located near the second Vidalia industrial park.
That meant meeting with leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss a new location 1,500 feet away from the current proposed area for the port to alleviate some concerns the Corps of Engineers have, Copeland said.
“We will work hand-in-hand with the Corps of Engineers to develop the location,” Copeland said. “Hopefully we will be able to get the project from the drawing board to the ground.”
Though it was not a major topic of discussion during the trip, the Vidalia marina, currently under construction, could be affected by the events that were unfolding in Washington, D.C., at the time of the mayor’s trip.
“They are not going to earmark anything in particular right now (for funds from the stimulus package), but we are hoping that they will umbrella a lot of that funding into certain areas like ports and marinas and boat launching areas,” Copeland said.
And being in the city while the stimulus package was being debated and voted on was a highlight of the trip for Copeland.
“We were talking with Sen. Mary Landrieu, and as she was getting ready to vote, she asked if we would like to ride the train from (the building where we were) to the Senate building,” Copeland said. “We were in the gallery while they voted on the package. I really enjoyed that experience.”
Comments
Posted by escapee (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 1 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For some reason I am encouraged by this. I don't trust politics in the miss-lou for a second, but you do see progress in Vidalia. Copeland - good for you for taking the initiative.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on February 16, 2009 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The port and completion of the highway are reasonable.
Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it necessary for them to go to D.C.? That is a lot of taxpayer money, hotels, food, and airfare. Why not a phone or internet meeting? I think local's love to have a good time at taxpayer expense and look good in the paper. Really, how much does the federal gov. care about a mayor and officials from a tiny little town in La or Ms? Its stupid. I bet there are thousands of mayors and alderman in Washington on a given day doing just what our politicians just did. I am sick of the way our system works.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that building any large structure on the Vidalia Riverfront is a bad idea. Considering that the Mississippi River is meandering, the Vidalia side is the depositional side. How compacted is the ground there? Is it really compacted enough to hold several large structures? I would think not although I am sure the Corp of Engineers had a say in the whole thing.
Also, let us not forget how lucky we were that the river only got to 56.9 feet last year. How much money if lost for Vidalia if something happens to the Vidalia Riverfront Infrastructure due to... THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER!
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I WANT THIS MOOSE LODGE ROAD FINISHED,& THE DRAINAGED CLEANED UP.
Posted by montereyjack (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Elgoodo, thank you..well spokenThis delegation thinks we are stupid .Living in this area, I am ashamed of their representing me in DC. They are the stupid ones. I can see them kissing Mary's butt and watching while we, the taxpayer, gets the shaft. Cope showed who he was far saying .....this is the best.....wake up Concordia parish....our representives just dream to be in dc. it is a fairy tale dream.
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's always the way they think, Some how this delegation, needs to be replaced with people that really give a rats butt about the citizens of Concordia parish,& La. Bet the yards in their houses don't flood, & the streets are all nice with out mud on them. Montereyjack You said get the shaft . feels more like a boat paddle to me.
Posted by 000117 (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, let me see if I have this right.... Moose Lodge Road is in the Parish and not in the City, So this Drainage problem is a Police jury issue and not a city issue. Looks like police jury has drop the ball Months ago. What has the Jury did with the money set aside to complete the job.
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's what I asked, no doubt I got no real answer. Just we will get to the road, but nothing about the drainage.I am going back to the next jury meeting . with amouth full of whatevers.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Got a neat email today.
Explanation of the economic stimulus bill
Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?"
The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.
At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool.
They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, "First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed.
The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told.
The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.
The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?"
The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.
The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.
However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!"
The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."
Posted by kpage1 (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great email you got there frogprinceness!!! I'm passing this on.
Posted by jusmy2cents (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone see a Vidalia casino in the near future?
Posted by montereyjack (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does the casino make cause for a trip to DC? yep, could be one coming..
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)