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Notes and Noteworthy 
Chamber Kudos
St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce has earned 4-Star Accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce. It was one of only ten chambers across the country to receive this rating during the November 2006 process, making it among the top five percent of all chambers in the country. High marks were given to the organization’s overall program development and communications practices, specifically citing a 375 percent increase in media coverage over the past three years.
Slidell Boom
"The energy, spirit and dedication of Slidellians has long-since revived the stricken city from the beating it took 18 months ago," said Slidell Mayor Ben Morris in a statement highlighting the positive economic impact of post-Katrina construction and repairs on the city. Over the past two fiscal years the city has seen a 145 percent increase in building permits issued; over 2,800 of those for repair or rebuilding of homes. The total estimated value of the permitted work has soared from $37.8 million to almost $673 million for fiscal year 2006. The building boom reflects the spirit of survival in a vibrant, reviving Slidell.
Mensa
Nine-year-old Slidell resident Ashton Cline was recently accepted for membership in Mensa International. Known as “The High IQ Society,” Mensa is an international organization founded in Great Britain in 1946 whose only membership requirement is a score in the top two percent of the general population on a standardized, accepted intelligence test. Cline’s test scores place him in the top one percent. American Mensa currently has a membership of 52,000, of which only 1,300 are under the age of 18.
Preble in the Movies
St. Tammany artist and UCM museum proprietor John Preble will have three of his woodcuts seen in the new movie “Gone, Baby, Gone” with Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman. Preble said the actors wanted something from the South and contacted him after seeing his work on the internet. The movie, set for release in October 2007, is Ben Affleck’s directorial debut; he also adapted the screenplay himself from the work of the author of “Mystic River.”
Operation Homefront Support
Green Beret Lt. Col. William Geary Mason spoke to the student body at St. Paul’s gym on January 23 about Operation Homefront Support. Operation Homefront Support is a local non-profit organization set up to help the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to reach out to the children there and help relations between the countries. To participate, go to www.operationhomefrontsupport.org for supply lists and drop-off points.
Robin Roberts Scholarship
For Christmas, “Good Morning America’s” Diane Sawyer gave anchor Robin Roberts a full-tuition scholarship to Southeastern to be presented in Roberts’ name to a student from her high school, Pass Christian High School in Pass Christian, Miss. SLU graduate Roberts was a standout forward on the Lady Lions basketball team and got her start in broadcasting as sports director at Hammond’s WFPR/WHMD radio. Following graduation, she began her career in television journalism in Mississippi, moved on to ESPN in Atlanta, and then to New York, where she had contracts with both ESPN and ABC Wide World of Sports. She has been the third anchor for “Good Morning America” since 2005.
Louisiana Heart Hospital
Louisiana Heart Hospital was awarded Total Benchmark Solution, LLC’s Best Acute Care Hospitals Award, based upon quality-measure data provided by U.S. healthcare organizations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for 2005. The award comes on the heels of MedCath Corporation’s recent award to the hospital, the 2006 Excellence In Quality Award, which followed LHH’s top rating in Louisiana for cardiac results and “5 Star” rating by Gannett News Services this past fall.
Stirling Properties
Stirling Properties announced the addition of Monty Warren, CCIM, as the Vice President/Director of the Commercial Division. “I am excited to be a part of the Stirling team,” said Monty Warren. “I look forward to contributing to Stirling Properties’ continued success and further development of its market presence on the Gulf Coast.”
Perfect ACT
Saint Paul senior Edward Michael Dussom was one of two students in Louisiana and only 75 in the nation to achieve a 36, the highest possible composite score in the October 2006 administration of the ACT. About 21,500 Louisiana students and 475,000 nationally completed the ACT college-entrance exam on that date. He was also recognized as a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist, and the National Council of Teachers of English selected him a winner of the writing award for 2006.
Statewide Bank
On January 11, Statewide Bank celebrated the Grand Opening of its newest branch in Mandeville. The building, at 1305 N. Causeway, was designed by Fauntleroy & Latham Architects and built by McMath Construction. It features the signature tower that is the hallmark of Statewide Bank’s free-standing branches.
St. Tammany Photographers
Sixty-four photographers submitted work to the 15th Annual Jack Swanson Memorial Open Photography Exhibition held by the St. Tammany Art Association. The Best of Show Prize was given to Melissa Levine of Madisonville. Three Juror’s Merit Awards were presented to Marshall Miller of Madisonville and Tom Kearney and Freeman McGlothlin, both of Covington.
Slidell Art League’s Volunteer of the Year
Suzanne Vicknair was named the Slidell Art League’s Volunteer of the Year at the Christmas Extravaganza in the Art League’s Gallery. She is a member of the Slidell Art League’s Business Committee, participates in fundraising efforts, attends community events on behalf of the League and devotes 8-10 hours weekly in the office.
