LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 24, 2000

DESTREHAN – Word is slowly trickling out about the imminent departure of John Adams from Entergy’s customer relations position in the River Parishes.

He made the announcement Thursday at the end of the monthly luncheon meeting of the New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, River Parishes Council, held in Destrehan Plantation’s Ole Mule Barn.

Adams, who has been with Entergy for 21 years and in this region for the past six, is relocating to Monroe within a month (“as soon as my house sells”) to become lead customer service manager for the North Louisiana area.

“It’s good experience, and they gave me more money, so why not?” Adams said.

Adams, who is deeply involved in business community activities in the area, is a Ruston native.

His announcement came on the heels of a presentation by state Rep. BobbyFaucheux on recent legislative activity and his plans for a regional tourism commission.

Faucheux said the most frequent question he’s heard from constituents in regards to state finances is “Where’s the money?” He briefly outlined many places the money went, including TOPS, workforce development, the state’s “rainy-day” fund, highway improvements, funding for the new community college system and, for the third year, a teacher pay raise.

Tobacco settlement funds last year totally went into balancing the precarious state budget. This year, 45 percent of those receipts will go tothe Louisiana Excellence in Education Fund, and that percentage will be increased to 60 percent next year and 75 percent the following year.

Faucheux expects to see a state budget surplus in the very near future.

On his agenda are planned bills to support establishment of a River Parishes Convention, Visitors and Tourism Commission, to be funded through a 2 percent hotel tax.

He noted that 180 people in the River Parishes are employed full time in the tourism industry and that needs to increase.

Also, plans are under way to establish a speedway in either St. Charles or St.John the Baptist Parish, where an additional sales tax will go for financing the development of the facility.

In upcoming events, the Chamber is planning its fourth annual Super Networking Night on July 27 from 4-8 p.m. at the Pontchartrain Center inKenner. Cost is $7 per person.Also, the Chamber plans a Leads Explosion speed-networking event on Aug.

16 from 6-7:30 p.m., at Occasions Inc., 4024 Hamlet Place, in Chalmette.Finally, the Chamber is planning the Big Swing Golf Tournament on Sept. 12 atLakewood Country Club, 4801 General deGaulle Drive, in Algiers.

For more information on these events, call the Chamber at 527-6950.

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