Building a safer cityCyclists are rarely struck by drivers traveling in the same direction. Usually when a bicycle rider is hit, it’s by a vehicle turning onto a side street or driveway.
If bike riders and pedestrians follow certain guidelines and roads are built to accommodate them, the streets become a lot safer for everyone.
These were among the messages brought to engineers, urban planners and others this week at a workshop presented by two nationally-recognized safety consulting experts at Ruston’s historic fire station. »
Spirit of the holidays strikes downtown
It’s time for cool-weather strolling under Christmas lights in downtown Ruston when the city’s Main Street Association hosts the Spirit of the Holidays Celebration. Today through Saturday 50 downtown merchants will welcome the community to enjoy sales and refreshments in their shops, which will be open until 7 p.m. today only. Friday and Saturday, shops will resume business hours from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and all will continue to offer special sales. Thursday evening and on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m., recordings of Christmas music will be played in Railroad Park while shoppers stroll from one shop to the next.
“It’s a real neat time,” said Judy Burt, manager of the Main Street Commission. “It’s nice to see people walking in the streets. It’s a social occasion.”
This event is part of Louisiana’s Main to Main: A Cultural Roadshow, a month-long extravaganza of festivals and events that highlight the state’s culture. »
GSU struts its stuff
Terence Jones aspires to be a runway model when he graduates from Grambling State University with a master’s degree in 2011.
The criminal justice major, who stands at six feet tall, already nabbed experience on the catwalk in August when he modeled men’s bikini and linen attire in New York.
“I learned the runway is about being graceful while still having speed,” he said. “The speed just comes (naturally) because the music is fast.” »
GSU’s Pogue begins healing process
GRAMBLING — Frank Pogue may be the new Grambling State University interim president, but he went into “medical mode” on his first day on the job as he began the process of trying to heal and pull together the troubled university.
That meant a day of meeting with students, faculty and staff members and GSU supporters and immersing himself in the university’s culture.
Meeting with members of the area media in the process, the 71-year-old Pogue said his first priority is to pull everyone involved with the recently troubled school back together. »
Pogue takes interim reins at GSU
The board of supervisors for the University of Louisiana System made it official Monday by appointing Frank G. Pogue to serve as interim president of Grambling State University.
UL System President Randy Moffett recommended Pogue, president emeritus of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a higher education consultant.
“While searching for the right interim leader for Grambling, Dr. Pogue’s name consistently came up as the top choice from several national higher education sources,” said Moffett. “A product of Historically Black Colleges and Universities coupled with his successful experience as a long-serving president, a system administrator and an interim president make him uniquely qualified.” »
