Informer: National Guard program helps at-risk youths
Last Modified: Tuesday, July 31, 2012 6:59 PM
By Andrew Perzo / American Press
I would like to know just exactly what this Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program is all about?
“The Louisiana Youth ChalleNGe Program is a multifaceted program that aims to help at-risk adolescents achieve their education and become productive and responsible members of society,” reads the program’s website.
The program comprises a five-month residential phase — where cadets live in a military-school-like environment — and a yearlong post-residential phase. Participants work toward their GED throughout the program.
To be eligible, youths must be drug free and ages 16-18; they must be U.S. citizens and Louisiana residents; and they must have no felony convictions.
For more information on the program, which carries no military service obligation, call 800-226-7543.
Online: www.ngycp.org/site/state/la.
Board members picked by city, parish
Who is on the Library Board, and do they have people representing individual areas?
The members are Brent Cating, president; E. Brent Washington, vice president; Paul Arnold; Joyce Buttross; Alice Danclar; Willie Mount; Laura Richardson; Dr. Dale B. Schanz; and Anthony Zaunbrecher.
Calcasieu Parish Police Jurors Nicholas Hunter and Shannon Spell serve as Police Jury liaisons.
According to the parish code of ordinances, the board must have at least nine members — five nominated by the city of Lake Charles and four nominated by the Police Jury president. The law says nothing about specific areas.
The Lake Charles mayor is an ex officio member of the board.
Online: http://calcasieulibrary.org.
License law designed to ease ID burden
In today’s paper there’s an article about putting on your driver’s license whether you’re a veteran or not. What is the reason for that, and what good is it to put whether you’re a veteran or not on your driver’s license? Of what use is that?
The veteran designation, which The Informer addressed Monday, was announced by Gov. Bobby Jindal in February, ahead of the legislative session.
“This new designation is a simple way to ensure that all of our veterans are recognized for their sacrifices and that they have convenient proof of their service when applying for jobs, making use of veteran discounts, and requesting assistance for benefits,” Jindal was quoted as saying in a state Department of Veterans Affairs news release.
“Veterans should not be burdened with red tape to benefit from the services and discounts that they deserve.”
The news release said the license program would also help the state maintain its records and would “improve outreach to veterans in order to update them regarding services and benefits that may be available.”
The law authorizing the veteran designation takes effect today.
Online: www.vetaffairs.la.gov.
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, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com
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