Calcasieu Parish employs over 5,000 people, all working toward one goal – to educate our children. And that figure doesn’t include charter and parochial schools! As we begin a new school year this month, we want to celebrate the profession of educators at large. They perform an incredibly vital role in our community and we appreciate them; all of them! This feature is but a small microcosm of the educational excellence our parish has to offer. There are hundreds of teachers and support personnel who are equally worthy of recognition. We wish we could tell all their stories! For now, we highlight these seven. And we hope all the educators, students, and parents have a wonderful school year!

If you’re like many other high school seniors across the country, you might be busy sending out college applications and writing the requisite essays. While you’re filling out the forms, it’s important to be aware that there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding college applications and admittance. Consider these five myths and put them in your mental trash folder.

The first step is the hardest. That’s certainly true when it comes to investing money. Where, how, when, for how long, what if I lose the little I have? These are some of the questions floating around, making many of us want to shelve the idea and go back to sipping our café au laits. 

As the sun comes up in Baton Rouge, Senator Ronnie Johns has already had his first cup of coffee, logged into the legislative website and reviewed the calendar for the day to see what bills will be heard on the Senate floor and in the various committees on which he serves. By 7:30 a.m., he leaves the small townhouse he calls home while working in Baton Rouge and arrives at the State Capitol to start a 12 – 15 hour day of work. 

Is there a young adult in your life; a recent graduate or a 20-something starting out on their own? Likely, you want to help them get off to a good start. What can you give a young person that would be useful and meaningful? Cash may seem too impersonal. Furniture or small kitchen appliances may not be their personal style.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Kids hear this question all the time, and most of them quickly respond with at least a career or two. As we grow older, though, many of us become less certain about what we want to do with our lives. This is, in part, why college students switch majors and why people experience mid-career slumps.

What would happen if you were hit with an unexpected medical bill, a layoff, or your adult son or daughter needed a quick loan to get out of a financial jam? According to the Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2017, 40 percent of respondents said they wouldn't be able to cover a $400 emergency expense. Nearly 80 percent of American workers say they live paycheck to paycheck.

Both traditional and Roth IRAs can be effective retirement savings tools, but eligibility limitations mean one or both may not be right for you. Here’s a guide to help you choose.

No matter what your college major and desired career, jobs can be hard to come by. How do you break into an in-demand industry? According to entrepreneur Emily White, your dream career is within your reach. But if you want it, be ready to work for it. Internships can be a key step.

Drive by any of Southwest Louisiana’s industrial plants and you’ll see enormous structures of steel and concrete. But what may not be so readily evident are the fingerprints of the company that designed and erected many parts of these plants.

When it comes to economic expansion, there’s one corner in the state of Louisiana that is defying the financial turmoil facing the rest of the country. This region is in the early stages of what is predicted to be the most prosperous era in Southwest Louisiana’s industrial history — and Cameron Parish is leading the way.

Mayor Randy Roach, after 16 successful years at the helm of the City of Lake Charles, is about to pass the leadership baton. This election, specifically the mayoral election, is pivotal in order for our region to continue the positive growth and direction exemplified by Mayor Roach. Key to electing the most qualified candidate is voter turnout. And we want you, as the voters, to be well-informed so you can make a knowledgeable decision. Our Election Preview summarizes each candidate’s’ platform and qualifications. Every candidate in the running was asked to submit their information to us for inclusion.

One of the biggest winners in this industrial boom will be the region’s small business owners. George Swift, president and CEO, Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, said the region’s estimated $115 billion in new projects will be a boon to small businesses throughout Southwest Louisiana, as the Lake Area’s population is expected to grow considerably in the years ahead.

Meet the Smith family. Both parents work, and they make good money. From the outside, life looks good—a new Tahoe, a big house, and private schools for the kids. But, in reality, the Smiths are barely scraping by. With the help of credit cards and car loans, they spend more money than they make, and they’re just one financial emergency away from being in serious trouble.

Then there’s the Williams family. One parent works, and makes decent money, while the other stays at home and takes care of the kids. The Williams family lives on a tight budget—and even though they still have a lot of student loan debt, they’ve cut the balance in half during the last two years. They have a small emergency fund saved and expect to be out of debt completely in two more years.

So what is the difference between the Smiths and the Williamses? Why is one family able to pay off thousands of dollars in debt on a tight budget, while another family barely gets by week after week? Why does one person succeed with money, while another person struggles?

You know the aphorism about death and taxes. Like making and breaking New Year’s Resolutions, tax prep tedium is inevitable and frustrating. The good folks at the IRS wait, watch, and want it all done by the dreaded April 15 deadline. Lessen anxiety by getting all the necessary documents organized as soon as possible.

Ideally, people investing for retirement should feel confident their financial advisors give them unbiased advice and recommend what is best for them.