New residents of Concordia Parish, La., no doubt have a number of questions about day-to-day life, from where to register their vehicles to how to hook up their telephones. Most of the parish services are housed in the Old Courthouse, on Carter Street in Vidalia, or the New Courthouse, 4001 Carter St., in Vidalia.

Garbage pickup

Garbage is picked up for Vidalia residents twice a week. For information on services call the Town of Vidalia at 318-336-5206.

Garbage is picked up for Ferriday residents twice a week. For information, call Preferred Transport Company, L.L.C. at 601-446-9988.

Rural Concordia Parish residents who have questions about garbage pickup should call the parish police jury at 318-336-7151.

Utility connections

4Town of Vidalia

101 North Spruce St., 318-336-5206

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The city owns all utilities with the exception of the phone service and cable. Electricity, gas, sewer, sanitation and water connections at residences in Vidalia are all handled through town hall located at 101 North Spruce St.

http://www.cityofvidalia.com

4Town of Ferriday

1116 South Second St.

318-757-8635

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (M-F)

http://www.townofferriday.com

Water connections are handled through Ferriday Town Hall.

4ATMOS Energy

212 Mississippi Ave., 318-757-4591

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ATMOS Energy provides gas to Ferriday and neighboring Ridgecrest. For information, call 1-800-547-4321.

http://www.atmosenergy.com

4Entergy &045; Louisiana

1-800-368-3749

Entergy services Ferriday and some rural parish residents.

http://www.entergy.com

4Concordia Electric Cooperative Inc.

1865 U.S. 84 West (Jonesville)

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(800) 617-6282

Concordia Electric Cooperative Inc. provides power to Concordia and other parishes.

4Concordia Parish Police Jury

4001 Carter St. (New Courthouse), Room 1 (Vidalia)

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

318-336-7151

For water connections in the parish, call the police jury office or Concordia Water Works office at (318) 757-4353 for water works district information.

4BellSouth

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

557-6000 Business

557-6500 Home

http://www.bellsouth.com

Cable television

4Cable One

107 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street (Natchez)

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (M – F)

442-5418

http://www.cableone.net

Cable One provides cable service to Vidalia residents. For information about satellite dish purchases or rentals, please see the listing under Adams County utilities.

4Charter Communications

110 Louisiana Ave., Ferriday

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M &045; F, 888-821-4559

Employment Agencies

State of Louisiana

105 N. E.E. Wallace Blvd. (Ferriday)

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

(318) 757-8648

Car tags

New Louisiana residents have 30 days from the date they move into the state to purchase automobile license plates, which will be renewable every two years for cars, every year for trailers and every four years for trucks.

The payment is made to the Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles located at 4951 U.S. 84 W.

The office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is 336-7137.

Boat registration

All boats must be registered through the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office. Fees are assessed depending on the size of the boat.

Boats are popular on the Mississippi River or the two primary lakes in the area, Lake St. John and Lake Concordia.

All boats must be registered and must have identification numbers.

http://dmv.org/la-louisiana/locations-&-hours.php

Driver’s license

Driver’s licenses may be purchased by qualified drivers for a four-year period for $21.50. Residents who reach the age of 70 may purchase a four-year license for $12.50.

Driver’s licenses are issued by the Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles after the applicant has passed written and driving tests.

http://www.expresslane.org

A minor 15 or 16 years old may be issued only a Class E Learner’s License/Permit. This license must be maintained for a minimum of 180 days, but in no event may it be upgraded to a higher-class license prior to the minor reaching 16 years of age.

The person must also complete a driver education course and pass a written and visual examination at the Office of Motor Vehicles.

After completing the learner’s permit stage, reaching age 16 and passing the on-the-road driving test, the minor may be issued a Class E Intermediate License. This license must be maintained for at least one year or until the driver has reached age 17.

After one year or once the driver has reached age 17, the minor may qualify for a permanent license.

Highway Patrol drivers’ handbooks also are available from the Department of Public Safety, Office of Motor Vehicles.

The office is located at 4951 U.S. 84 W. and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.