Police Jury regular meeting tomorrow

The Lincoln Parish Police Jury will meet Tuesday, December 13, Lincoln Events Center, 910 North Trenton, 7:00 PM.

No committee meetings are scheduled.

Agenda.

School scores reported

Lincoln Parish School District scores have improved overall from last year, it was reported at last night’s meeting of the school board.

Chief Academic Officer Dana Talley said that Choudrant High School and Simsboro High School scores declined just slightly from last year, but she was optimistic about 2023 scores, based on progress so far this year.

“So we essentially had the majority of our schools improve, and we had a couple of schools that declined a little bit” she said. “Hillcrest and Glenview are now both B schools when prior to that they were C schools. I’m feeling better about this year even than I did last year, in terms of results in student work,” she added

See here the complete report.

The personnel report showed less than a dozen staff changes.

See here the report.

District Superintendent Ricky Durrett remarked about this Friday’s state championship game where Ruston High’s Bearcats will play Destrehan in the Superdome.

“We are celebrating all week Ruston High School playing in the state championship game Friday night. Kids getting to play in the Superdome is quite an honor and a real memory that they’ll have for a long time,” he said.

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Council amends Liquor Ordinace to allow smaller store sales

An ordinance limiting liquor sales to stores of 30 thousand square feet or larger was amended at last night’s Ruston City Council Meeting to 15 thousand square feet. That ordinance would regulate package liquor sales within the city limits of Ruston, should voters approve such sales.

The ordinance was originally introduced at last month’s meeting, and then an amended ordinance with several changes was given to the council just prior to them voting.

See here that document.

In addition to the change in size of stores allowed to sell liquor, several definitions were added, including tavern, brewpub and drive-through.

City Attorney Bill Carter explained the amendments.

Said Carter, “The original ordinance has been reduced from 30 thousand, and an additional condition is the sales of alcohol cannot exceed fifty percent of the total sales of the establishment.”

Prior to the discussion and vote on the ordinance, a resolution was approved calling for a March 25, 2023 election for the city’s voters to decide what alcohol sales will be allowed. Recently, a petition drive to call an election was successful.

See there the resolution.

The change in store size requirement will likely change again if the voters approve package sales. Already area convenience stores are pushing to be allowed to sell liquor.

Local attorney Kyle Green, representing the owners of Now Save Stores, Chevron U PAK IT, and others addressed the issue.

Said Green, “The concern for the businesses is competition. As proposed, they would not be able to sell anything of high alcoholic content.”

He added that these small businesses were local, their families were here, and had been in the area for years.

A simple ordinance amendment by the council will be all that is necessary for that to change. Voter approval won’t be required.

In other business, the council approved a $1.75 million project that will connect East Kentucky to Cedar Creek Road just east of the present intersection. The new connection will bypass a substandard bridge on Cedar Creek that will be closed to vehicular traffic.

School Board meets tonight

The Lincoln Parish School Board will meet tonight, (Tuesday, 12/6/22) 5:30 P. M., Central Office, 410 South Famerville Street.

Here is the agenda.

Ruston City Council Tomorrow

Ruston’s Board of Aldermen will meet Monday, December 5, 5:30 PM, Ruston City Hall, 401 North Trenton.

Here is the agenda.