**********note for 2013: this blogger posts that he saw hummingbirds at his rapides parish home on 18 march 2013
hummingbirds return to rapides parish, louisiana,
8:37 am cdt, saturday, 30 march 2013
the petition for damages of staci saucier and her husband joseph, states that on 02 april 2012 they were at rapides regional medical center with their daughter who was scheduled for surgery.
their daughter was brought into the surgery prep area and while waiting there with her, a nurse entered the room and moved a cart that was near the side of the room.
when the cart was moved it revealed a snake (what kind of snake the petition doesnt say but does it really matter?) coiled up and in the striking position.
not unexpectedly, the sight of a snake in there freaked ms. saucier out. according to the petition she has a phobia of snakes.
ms. saucier fled from the room and struck a wall or the door which caused an injury to her person. also, according to the petition, the sight of a snake in the hospital aggravated a pre-existing condition and caused her great mental distress.
the petition for damages is filed by alexandria, la., attorney w. jay luneau of the luneau law office and is allotted to ninth judicial district court judge harry f. randow.
a few minutes ago, wst... received the following press release from lieutenant governor, jay dardenne:
March 18, 2013
Cami Geisman
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
225.342.1013
LT.GOV. DARDENNE TOUTS MANAGEMENT OF DCRT DURING BUDGET CRISIS
Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne has not given merit raises to the classified or unclassified employees of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism or Office of the Lt. Governor during the past two fiscal years.
"We have a very hardworking staff, both classified and unclassified, many of whom are deserving of pay increases," Lt. Governor Dardenne said. "But we try very hard to use the money we are budgeted to return even more revenue back to the state. We create jobs and earn money for Louisiana."
Since Dardenne’s election in 2010 only two pay raises have been given; one was less than five percent to Obiekezie Agbasi, a State Parks employee who was given additional duties and the other was to Kristin Sanders, an Office of Cultural Development employee who earned an advanced degree and was assigned additional responsibilities.
In addition to serving as lt. governor, Jay Dardenne acts as secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism saving the state $130,000 annually.
