Hammons floats hard liquor sales on Sunday in Bossier City
Plus — Bossier governments to provide funding match for $18M military training complex. ALDI opens and some shoppers are surprised by this.
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Hammons floats hard liquor sales on Sunday in Bossier City
District 1 Bossier City Council member Brian Hammons is looking to expand liquor sales in the city.
Hammons is sponsoring an ordinance that will be introduced at Tuesday's city council meeting to allow the sale of packaged beverages of high and low alcoholic content and packaged wine for consumption off the premises on Sundays.
"The City of Bossier currently allows the sale of packaged beverages of low alcoholic content and wine for off-premises consumption on Sunday," the ordinance reads. "Retail dealers selling packaged beverages for off-premises consumption in Shreveport are allowed to sell on Sunday packaged beverages of high and low alcoholic content and packaged wine; and … the inconsistency in the regulations provides an economic disadvantage to retail dealers of packaged beverages for off-premises consumption that are located in Bossier City, as well as an inconvenience to customers shopping in Bossier City."
The ordinance would expand Sunday alcohol sales to include hard liquor on Sundays from 7 a.m. until midnight.
The Bossier Parish Police Jury recently discussed a similar expansion of alcohol sales, but the matter has not yet been brought up for a Jury vote.
Bossier City and Parish to provide funding match for $18M military training complex
Bossier City and Bossier Parish governments are rallying financial resources for a major military training complex proposed by the Bossier Parish School Board.
At the upcoming City Council meeting on Tuesday, city leaders will vote on a resolution authorizing Mayor Tommy Chandler to sign a letter of support for $1.4 million in a funding match for the Bossier Parish School Board's Defense Community Infrastructure Program Leadership Readiness Training Complex Project.
"The Bossier Parish Police Jury in conjunction with the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) is seeking funding for a Leadership Readiness Training Complex to be located in Bossier City," the resolution says.
The estimated cost of the project is $18 million, and it will require a 30% match from the parish and the city. The resolution states that $1.4 million has been committed in writing from the Bossier Parish Police Jury, and $1.4 million is needed in 2025 from the City of Bossier City.
Bossier City's funding is contingent upon the passage of an ordinance appropriating the funds by the Bossier Parish Police Jury.
The combined $2.8 million match by the City and the Parish accounts for a little more than half of the 30% local funding match required for the project.
"This project will directly support Barksdale Air Force Base and our National Security and will provide a mission-ready workforce for the United States Air Force and will also have a positive economic impact on State and local economies," the resolution adds.
The training complex will be located on 55 acres of land purchased by the Bossier Parish School Board and will feature:
A 1,000-seat retractable auditorium.
Three classrooms with retractable walls.
A cyber command classroom.
Indoor and outdoor drill pads.
Archery range.
Obstacle course.
Marksmanship range.
The Bossier Parish School Board proposal says the project will provide "instruction and opportunities for students to become our future military leaders."
"This complex is mutually beneficial to not only military-connected students and their families, but also to the ROTC college cadets who will act as mentors and establish a mutually symbiotic relationship with the students, moving toward military readiness and leadership capabilities."
Discount grocery ALDI opens in Bossier City: Don't be surprised by the lack of brand-named products
ALDI opened in Bossier City with a line of nearly 100 expectant shoppers waiting for the doors to open Thursday morning.
According to a BravoDeal analysis, the German, family-owned multinational discount store "offers the cheapest essentials in America," with an average weekly cost of $43.48.
The study said the store beat its competitors when it came to items such as bread, with its L’Oven Fresh loaves costing $1.29 and a 12-pack of eggs priced at $1.71.
BravoDeal analyzed the cost of the 12 most frequently bought groceries from 11 of the major grocery stores in America. The average cost was based on the current average US household size of 2.51 — this was rounded up to a household size of 3 for the study's purposes. The stores were then ranked to determine which offered the lowest-priced weekly essentials.
The reason ALDI may have the savings edge could be the lack of brand-name products.
ALDI says its product mix is more than 90% private label. The chain has recently added "a limited selection of national brands" in addition to their ALDI house brands.
"We made this decision in response to feedback from our customers, who have strong brand preferences, yet would like to complete more of their grocery shopping at ALDI," the retailer said in a release. "We also may carry a national brand if we are not able to procure an exclusive brand product that meets or exceeds the quality and taste of the national brand."
Aldi came to the United States in 1976. The company opened its first store in Iowa, marking its entry into the American market. Since then, Aldi has expanded significantly across the United States and now has 2,362 stores in 36 states — now including Bossier City.
The Bossier City ALDI is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is located at 2900 Meadow Creek Dr. in the former Bed Bath & Beyond location.
Traffic hassle: Benton Road
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says that the northbound outside (right) lane of LA 3 (Benton Road) in Bossier City remains closed from Montgomery Lane to Ashland Avenue.
This lane closure is scheduled to last approximately three weeks and is necessary to allow the contractor to work on the northbound driveways on Benton Road related to the Walter O. Bigby Carriageway project, which is currently under construction.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration.
Tonight, Friday, June 14: On a night when he's not tearing up stages, and sold-out arenas with the Turnpike Troubadours, Kyle Nix and the 38s will be at the Louisiana Grandstand.
Tomorrow night, Saturday, June 15: East Bank Comedy Night featuring Tyler Arceneaux, John Merrifield and Alonzo Ortega. Hosted by Chris Luker.
June 29: The Steel Woods return after previously selling out the Louisiana Grandstand.
July 13: Pro Football Hall of Famer and Shreveport native Terry Bradshaw at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
July 26: Fan favorite Dan Smalley returns to put on another incredible performance in the legendary listening room at Louisiana Grandstand. If you've never seen this Shreveport native perform, plan to see what you've been missing.
August 31: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Elle King at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
September 7: The Cleverlys, a one-of-a-kind, unique comedy and music experience at the Louisiana Grandstand. "If Dolly Parton, Earl Scruggs, and Spinal Tap spawned a litter of puppies, it would be The Cleverlys" says the New York Times.
September 13: Comedian Rodney Carrington at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
September 14: Cody Johnson, The Leather Tour at the BGA.
October 18: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Darrell Scott at the Louisiana Grandstand.
October 20: Jelly Roll, The Beautifully Broken Tour, with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay at the BGA.
October 26: Daughtry at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
November 1-3: Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto at the BGA.
November 16: Creed, Are You Ready? Tour at the BGA with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH.
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