The Independent Staff

Most Read

• David Calhoun, ‘EB’ Brooks join Lafayette Central Park
  
  David Calhoun and Elizabeth “EB” Brooks are the first two employees of Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit charged with turning Lafayette Consolidated Government’s 100-acre Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a passive public park. Calhoun was named executive director, and Brooks is director of planning and design.
• Update: PXP creating 600 jobs averaging 100k
  
  At Thursday's State of the Economy luncheon, LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux said PXP has already quietly hired 180 people for its Broussard expansion.
• Remembering Ricky Rees
  
  The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
• Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine
  
  Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
• Shakin' at the Shack
  
  There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.

in case you missed it

• COOL TOWN 2013
  
  This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
• A curious compact
  
  A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
• Pooyie 2012
  
  It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
• Saving Saturday Night
  
  An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
• Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY
  
  Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.