News

The Louisiana Sugar Cane Cooperative (LaSuCa) mill here is set to crank up for the 2023 harvest on Thursday, Sept. 28.

Mike Comb, general manager, is projecting an 87-day grinding season that would wind down around Dec. 23 after harvesting a projected 1.6 million tons of cane.

The near record drought conditions experienced through most of this year's growing season will make the 2023 harvest fall short of the 202223 crop by about 20 percent.

"There are some areas where the cane is so short it might hardly be worth harvesting," Comb says.

The 257th anniversary of the once-every-five-years gathering in celebration of the cultural impact of the Acadians brought a Fais Do-Do to Le Petit Paris Monday, Oct. 3, on the grounds of St. Martin De Tours Catholic Church. Revelers took to a temporary dance floor and kicked up their heels to Cajun music from the Huval Family Band. Other events were held across nine Acadiana parishes. (Karl Jeter)

Residential construction activity remained fairly steady in rural St. Martin Parish during July and August, while several major projects boosted commercial activity.

In Breaux Bridge there was a sharp drop in residential permits following the May-June boom while the Crawfish Capital reported only one significant commercial permit.

New home starts in the unincorporated areas nearly doubled in July-August compared to May-June, jumping from 20 valued at $5.9 million to 36 new homes valued at $9.6 million.