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As my friend said today, “It is going to be a very hot Summer in St. Tammany.”

***Former St, Tammany Parish Councilman Joe Impastato of Lacombe today sentenced to 18 months in prison

***Joe Mistich, the former public works director for the city of Mandeville, earlier today was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $20,0000

The more I experience life – the more I believe in “karma.” After reading the headline below today, I truly believe that the man who stole from this boy who was bitten by an alligator – will get his! Now, what I wish for this man in return from stealing from a young boy may not happen – but I am sure something will bite him in the ass. Now if it had lots of sharp teeth and swam in a retention pond – that would be just fine by me!

St. Tammany deputies arrested a man for stealing from alligator-attack victim

If you live in St. Tammany, you certainly have heard all the latest on the Parish President, Kevin Davis. Not only does he want to have the opportunity to serve another term (Eddie ain’t getting his job fer sure), but to build a casino. I did not live here when gambling was previously voted down in St. Tammany. But, from the tone of comments on the teh internets, I’d say people had strong opinions one way or another. I live in Mandeville, quite a distance the proposed spot in Slidell. Though we share the same Parish, we seem worlds apart. I would not want a casino in Madisonville, Mandeville, Lacombe, Abita Springs or Covington. Yep, the “not in my backyard” litmus test works well for me. This casino should be scrutinized as though it were going in your backyard. Because, after all, who is to say another one won’t come to a neighborhood near you real soon once if it is passed?

Being a practical and skeptical person about the intentions of this casino, I have a few questions that would need to be answered to convince me that this is a good idea:

Who is the target audience for this casino? Tourists? Locals?
How is Harrah’s doing financially?
Is Harrah’s able to pull in tourists or just locals?
Is Harrah’s able to fill their entertainment audience with sold out shows?
Will this casino be in proximity of a residential area – school?
What local politicians have their hand in this cookie jar so far?
What is the success rate of casinos over a long period of time?
Will this casino offer anything unique to the area?
Besides offering jobs, what else will this casino offer and be able to give back to the community?

Here is where you convince me one way or another or just give me your 2 cents!

I woke up to the news of another local politician with a DWI. Geesh! I love the quote below and may frame it.

“I guess I’m going to lose my job now, ” Congemi said Gould told the officer afterward. The officer asked Gould what his job is, and Gould replied, “I’m a parish councilman.”

I snorted coffee out my nose after reading that one. Dude – you can steal from children in this Parish, drive your City owned vehicle through shiny blinking lights after a night on the town, make 4 5 policemen lose their job because of your actions, take gifts from contractors and still keep your job in St. Tammany (referring to the Mayor of Mandeville, Eddie Price). No worries for you this Christmas except an increased insurance policy rate, Mr. Gould.

Now I also want to address the snow thing. Dangit – I moved away from the North. I will allow this one day blanket and then I don’t want to see this stuff ever again unless I have skis on my feet! Nah – just messin’ with ya – it is beautiful! However, I think St. Tammany made a bad call by not canceling school today. I drove one kid to his bus stop, the other to school as he had a project he didn’t want to get wet. Then my daughter’s bus driver called to tell me that she would not be picking up kids today. I told her she is a smart lady. My boys are going to be furious with me when they find out she got the day off! But seriously, it is not how you drive, people are morons in this weather and very inexperienced. Best to stay off the road. I wish my boys were home with me too. I may go get them if it gets much worse out there.

And my Direct TV isn’t working. Whatupwiththat?