Bossier City's new online water billing system is down
Plus — Cops on a bus. BPCC wins gold. Barksdale upgrades.
Bossier City weather — Today: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 90s. Chance of rain 50%. Heat index values up to 105. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Humid with lows in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 20%. Friday: Patchy fog in the morning. Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then mostly cloudy with showers with thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 80%.
Beyond Bossier
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LSU vs. USC: What's at stake during Sunday night primetime matchup
Bossier City's new online water billing system is down
Less than a month ago, the City of Bossier City announced a new utilities billing system that aimed to "enhance the customer relations experience and make things as easy as possible for our customers."
How's that going? Apparently not very well. A red banner on the City utilities website says, "We are not accepting online payments at this time."
Beginning on August 6, Bossier City Utilities partnered with Tyler Payments for online, autopay and over-the-phone payments.
The service also hiked the fees that customers pay.
A BossierNow inquiry sent to Public Information Officer Louis Johnson Wednesday afternoon was unanswered at the time of publication.
This change in payment service meant that every customer had to re-register their online account, re-enter stored payment information, re-enroll for paperless billing (e-billing), and also re-enroll for autopay.
The notice says that payments can be made by phone at (318) 741-8757, option 2 and adds, "Customers will not incur penalties and late fees during the online payment outage."
Cops on a bus: Bossier deputies ride school buses to enforce traffic laws
To ensure the safety of schoolchildren in Bossier Parish, Sheriff Julian Whittington has a few deputies riding along on school buses.
The aim is to deter drivers from ignoring stop signals on the buses when picking up and dropping off students.
During the school year, deputies from the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office will occasionally ride on school buses during peak times to monitor and enforce traffic laws related to school bus safety. On Wednesday, August 28th, deputies wrote two citations to violators for disregarding the stop signs on a stopped bus in Bossier City.
“Our top priority is the safety of our children,” said Sheriff Whittington. “By having deputies on the buses, we are taking a direct approach to ensure that drivers understand the seriousness of stopping for school buses and the penalties for non-compliance. This initiative is about creating a safer environment for our students as they get on and off the bus from school.”
Deputies will be positioned on various school buses throughout the year to observe traffic violations and radio waiting deputies with a description of the violator’s vehicle. Drivers who ignore the stop signs will be cited for their offenses, with fines and other penalties to follow. This strategy serves as a deterrent and aims to increase public awareness about the importance of adhering to school bus safety laws.
“We want to send a clear message that the safety of our children is non-negotiable,” added Sheriff Whittington. “We hope this initiative will remind drivers of their responsibilities and encourage them to exercise greater caution around school buses.”
Inside Barksdale AFB: Opening of new Consolidated Communications Facility
The 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Consolidated Communications Facility on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. This marked a significant upgrade for the 2nd Communications Squadron’s efficiency and morale.
The new facility upgrades all aspects of 2nd CS mission-essential tasks and responsibilities by consolidating previously separated offices into one centralized location.
“Having everybody under one roof instead of spread across multiple buildings has made it so much easier to communicate and get things done,” said Staff Sgt. Joel Hawks, 2nd CS non-commissioned officer in charge of the hub. “It’s better for camaraderie, too – being able to just talk to someone face-to-face rather than sending emails makes a big difference.”
The previous buildings had several issues hindering the squadron’s efficiency, including facilities that are not suitable for next-generation communications systems and limited flexibility for future growth and expansion. The opening of the new facility remedies this with improved working conditions that enhance teamwork and coordination between Airmen.
The new facility enhances the squadron’s work environment with improved ventilation and modern amenities, promoting a more comfortable and productive atmosphere and supporting the health and well-being of Airmen.
“Moving into a new building with a cleaner and properly ventilated space has been significantly better for everyone’s health overall,” said Tech Sgt. Joshua Nickles, 2nd CS non-commissioned officer in charge of executive communications. “We’ve had a few airmen who struggled with breathing issues in the older buildings, and that was a serious concern. Now in the new facility, we don’t have to worry about those problems anymore.”
The new facility also features a new dedicated training room, which previous buildings lacked. This room allows for an entire office to be trained at once, and different sections within the squadron can hold multiple training sessions per day.
“This building will allow us to press into the next century by getting our warfighters the correct information on time,” said Col. Michael Maginness, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. “Deter our enemies, assure our adversaries, and if deterrence should ever fail, prevail in conflict.”
The 2nd CS maintains and operates critical communications systems for Barksdale Air Force Base, ensuring reliable and secure information technology, networking, and communication services to support the daily operations of all personnel. The new facility enhances Barksdale's ability to perform with greater efficiency and reliability, supporting its readiness and effectiveness.
Bossier Parish Community College designated a Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus
The Louisiana Board of Regents has designated Bossier Parish Community College a 2024-2025 Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus. BPCC is the first and only higher education institution in the state to receive the prestigious gold distinction, reflecting its exceptional commitment to supporting military members, veterans, and their families.
This recognition highlights BPCC’s ongoing dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for those who have served our country. Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman, Jr. expressed his immense pride in the college’s achievement.
“At BPCC, we recognize the sacrifices made by our military members and veterans, and we are deeply committed to ensuring they have the resources and support needed to succeed in their educational pursuits,” Bateman said. “I want to thank the Board of Regents for recognizing this important work and casting a light on programs like ours that have a long-standing commitment to serving our nation’s heroes.”
The Governor’s Military and Veteran Friendly Campus program began in 2015 to address the need for comprehensive statewide support to aid military veterans and their spouses and dependents transitioning from military service to public and non-public postsecondary education. All public Louisiana postsecondary institutions earned the military-friendly designation for the fifth consecutive year.
In 2023, the Board of Regents established additional tiers of distinction to recognize higher levels of excellence demonstrated by program participants. These tiers — gold, silver and bronze — reflect an institution’s commitment to its Veteran and Military students and their spouses/dependents and are in addition to the requirements for designation as a Friendly Campus.
Out of the 21 institutions that met the criteria for the 2024-2025 designation, BPCC was the sole recipient of the gold distinction.
For gold status, an institution must meet all the tier criteria:
A Veteran’s Center with programming
Ongoing veteran-veteran support, such as a buddy system, veteran peer mentor program, or veteran organization
Dedicated financial aid and advising services trained to serve veterans and service members specifically
Counseling support specifically designed for veteran students
Specifically designed degree pathways that recognize military experience and training
Providing flexible course-taking formats and degree structures that conform with veteran and active service member life obligations
An additional graduation event for veteran students
As the only institution to receive the gold distinction, BPCC continues to foster a military-friendly environment, ensuring that veterans and their families have access to the highest-quality education and support. The college offers a range of programs and services tailored to military and veteran students, including academic advising, career counseling, and dedicated support staff who understand the unique challenges faced by this community. BPCC also provides flexible learning options, including online and hybrid courses, to accommodate the schedules of active-duty military personnel and veterans.
"We are deeply honored to receive this recognition from our state,” said Susan Stakes, Director of Veteran and Military Educational Services. “At BPCC, our mission is to offer exceptional service to our veterans as they work toward their academic goals. We maintain an open-door policy, providing a welcoming environment of professionalism and camaraderie. Here, veterans can openly discuss transition challenges, mental health concerns, and any other obstacles they feel might hinder their educational journey. It's our privilege to guide them in the right direction and support them in achieving their academic aspirations."
For more information about BPCC’s military and veteran services, visit https://bit.ly/4dSaQS6 or contact Susan Stakes at sstakes@bpcc.edu.
Know before you go: Football season to see new weapons security at Bossier Schools
Don't get caught by surprise with the lines at the gate. Bossier Parish Schools says security is being stepped up at all middle and high school home games.
After months of planning and training, Bossier Schools will begin fully implementing the OpenGate Weapons Detection System at the Bossier City Lions Club Jamboree on August 30 at Airline High Stadium. OpenGate is a noninvasive metal detector that utilizes two walk-through towers, advanced sensors, and software to screen high volumes of people without slowing normal foot traffic. It is the same system used at many professional sporting events to detect weapons, including firearms, knives and explosives, and its portability makes it ideal for use at school functions.
Here are a few tips before entering the gates at events at Bossier Schools:
No weapons are allowed, including pocket knives.
Schools are firearm-free zones and concealed handgun permits do not apply to any part of Bossier Schools' campuses.
No backpacks are allowed.
Purses and diaper bags are subject to being searched.
Umbrellas, chair backs and other items must be carried and passed to staff as visitors walk through the weapons detection system.
Bossier City traffic hassle: Upcoming Benton Rd. lane closures
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises motorists that beginning on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, there will be intermittent lane closures on LA 3 (Benton Road) northbound and southbound between Shed Road and Douglas Drive in Bossier City.
These lane closures are anticipated to last approximately four weeks and are necessary to allow the contractor for the ongoing Walter O. Bigby Carriageway project to install the traffic signal and striping in preparation for the opening of the newly constructed roadway.
The lane closures will open to traffic at each workday's end.
Bossier City free time calendar
Live music in Bossier City and other notable events in the area for your free time consideration. If you would like to add an event to the Bossier City free time calendar, send the details to email@bossiernow.com.
August 31: Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Elle King at the Paradise Theatre in the Margaritaville Casino.
August 31: William Lee Martin brings his "King of Cowtown" comedy tour to the Louisiana Grandstand.
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 12: Pony Bradshaw makes a rare Louisiana stop at the legendary listening room of Louisiana Grandstand. Catch Pony Bradshaw as he fuses Americana, rock, folk and many other styles.
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.
November 23: William Clark Green brings his "Whole Lotta Lubbock" tour to his debut appearance at the Louisiana Grandstand. Green is tearing up Texas dance halls and filling venues nationwide with his hits like "She Likes The Beatles" and "West Texas in My Eye."
December 13: Creed Fisher at the Louisiana Grandstand.
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