LAPLACE — Shortly after LaPlace native George L. Bourgeois III died as an Army hero in Egypt, St. John the Baptist Parish officials honored his memory by renaming Fourth Street in his honor.

Nearly 20 years later, his family is fighting for their neighborhood and the street that bears his name.

Kristin Bourgeois, who is married to George’s brother Aaron, said Capt. George Bourgeois Street, a short road that runs parallel to Louisiana 44 and West 5th Street alongside the Canadian National railroad tracks, has become a dumping ground for other people’s junk.

Near the house where the Bourgeois family keeps the few mementos from their fallen brother, a nearby empty lot recently was full of old mattresses, a slew of empty automobile gasoline tanks and a pile of wood from a torn down structure.

A security camera was put in place a few years ago, but the nearby street lights are routinely vandalized and broken.

A lack of patrols, Kristin said, gives everyone free reign to dump whatever they want.

“It’s not just disrespectful for a war hero, it’s disrespectful period,” she said. “It broke my heart to have this. It’s a shame for us to live the way we live. My brother-in-law fought for us to feel safe and I don’t even feel safe on the street given to his name.”

Kristin said she, Aaron and his brother Michael have been asking for help for several years and have a stack of printed emails to prove it.

“I was new to the area,” said Kristin, who is a native of Vacherie. “I was a state employee, but when I was home it just didn’t feel like home. I’ve been just asking them to get some help about the dumping. It feels like we’re forgotten back here. Nobody comes over here unless it’s for a vote.”

Following proper channels, Kristin contacted Councilman Kurt Becnel, who reported the issue to Public Works. Neither felt they were getting results, however, so last month Becnel invited Kristin to appear before the Parish Council.

“It was time,” said Becnel, who records all citizen complaints with his own spreadsheet system.

Kristin and Aaron went to the June 27 meeting armed with photographs mounted on a project board.

“She had her act together and caught their eye,” Becnel said. “By appearing like that, it’s a visual aid. You can see it, feel it and touch it.”

Aaron was there for moral support.

“I was right there with her,” he said. “I let her do the talking.”

This time Kristin got results. She said the next day crews were out removing some of the trash that had been dumped at the end of the street.

“I was so proud,” Becnel said. “I’m pleased to see that action was taken. It’s a good start.”

Over the years Kristin has fought other battles.

A cancer survivor, Kristin said the street regularly floods in a heavy rain because one of the culverts was covered over — either accidentally or on purpose.

She also is concerned about the nearby railroad tracks, which have no crossing arms.

In March a woman and two children were injured when their car was struck by a train. The driver was allegedly texting while driving and did not see the approaching train as she approached.

Kristin was inside her home when the crash happened.

“I didn’t want to go outside to see it,” she said. “I knew it would be bad.”

She also would like to see a stop sign placed on Captain George Bourgeois Street before the intersection at Spruce. Right now, traffic coming across the railroad tracks and traffic coming from Spruce must yield to each other.

“Something bad is going to happen there,” Aaron said.