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The approval of the Keystone pipeline is back in the news as petroleum interests and members of the Louisiana congressional delegation are calling on the President to get this project moving forward. So is building the pipeline the huge job creator and the economic bonanza for Louisiana that key supporters say it is?
For those readers who have been out of the loop as to what Keystone is all about, here’s a short summery. Canada is proposing the building of a pipeline some 875 miles from Western Canada down to Nebraska, where it would then tie into other U.S. pipelines. More than 830,000 barrels of oil a day would then flow down to the Gulf Coast for refining and exportation. But the U.S. must give approval, since the pipeline crosses international borders.
Sounds pretty good so far. Those opposing the project fear major environmental damage, as the pipeline is being built and maintained. Not so, I say. Remember, Louisiana is crisscrossed by over 10,000 miles of pipeline with only minor environmental problems. I’m not talking about damages that have destroyed large portions of marshlands by drilling for oil and gas. These are the buried pipelines that take refined petroleum up to the east coast.
Right now, numerous petroleum products are being transported to the Midwest and West Coast by rail and truck. There is probably more ecological risk with land transportation than with pipelines. Environmentally, I just don’t see that great a risk. So if there’s little downside, and supporters of the project argue that Keystone is critical to Louisiana’s economic future, what’s the upside?
Louisiana oil executives and some members of congress including Senator Bill Cassidy are touting that thousands of jobs will flow into Louisiana if Keystone is built. They go farther by asserting that gasoline prices will drop at the pump with more oil flowing that can be refined on the Gulf Coast. So is there any validity to these claims from the these oil magnates as well as our members of congress? Absolutely not. None! Zero! It’s all political hype.
Bloomberg BusinessWeek has reported that an eleven-volume report prepared by the State Department concludes the Keystone Pipeline would create (are you ready) 35 permanent jobs. Thirty-Five jobs and not a single one in Louisiana. So the claims of thousands of jobs flooding into the Bayou State are nothing more than a pipe dream.
How about their claims that all this new Canadian oil will actually lower the price of a gallon of gas? Again, not true. What few realize is that Canadian oil, called tar sands crude, is already being imported into the United States, primarily by rail in tank cars, at a rate of more than 3 million barrels a day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. This Canadian oil is being processed in Midwestern refineries, the largest being the Flint Hills refinery in Pine Bend, Minnesota, owned by the Koch Brothers. Numerous other refineries are spread from Minnesota across the west to Montana.
Most of this Midwestern oil is presently sold to U.S. consumers. So the more oil we keep here in the U.S., the lower the price at the pump. Where will the Keystone oil go? To Texas, to be refined and shipped overseas. That means less oil in the U.S., and a higher price to U.S. consumers.
The bottom line is this. The Keystone pipeline, if approved, will have no bearing on jobs or economic development in Louisiana. It might even cause the price Louisiana consumers pay at the pump to go up. Telling those of us living down here in the Bayou State any differently is just more political smoke and mirrors. If congress wants to approve the project to land a few more jobs in Texas, so be it. But in Louisiana, how about more straight talk and less election distortions and gibberish?

Peace and Justice
Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownusa.com. You can also look over a list of books he has published at www.thelisburnpress.com.

There is a strong bond between the schools and the community in Erath.
It’s two things that made Dr. Belisa Smith want to call Erath home. She is now more closely tied to both.
Smith, a native of Mississippi, is the new principal of Erath High School. She replaces Marc Turner, who is now an assistant superintendent for the Vermilion Parish School System. Smith previously served as an assistant principal under Turner at EHS.
“I am so honored and blessed to have been selected as principal of Erath High School,” Smith said. “Erath has a long history of success and community involvement.
“I am thrilled to be part of this great school and community.”
Erath High has been a highly ranked school for the past several years, including during Turner’s tenure as well as that of his predecessor, Francis Touchet Jr.
“I certainly have big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to leading our school to continued success,” Smith said. “Erath High has a long history of success because of past leadership, community, faculty and staff. I look forward to keeping many of the same traditions that make Erath High a great place. I also look forward to making changes where needed so that we can continue to be successful.”
Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said he feels Smith is the right person for the job.
“Dr. Smith has worked with Marc for a long time,” Byler said. “She has been part of Erath’s success. She does have big shoes to fill. That is the case anytime you replace someone who has been there for a long time. She will figure out what works for her and her vision for Erath High. You don’t go in and break what works, but you also go in and figure out how to make it your own.
“I think Dr. Smith will do that.”
She is already taking those steps.
“As the principal, I look forward to building relationships with my faculty, staff and community,” Smith said. “I want to be visible in the school and community and really listen to the stakeholders. I am working to build my team. I will have a new assistant principal and secretary.
“Relationship building is an important key to our success.”
Having been at the school will certainly make for an easier transition for the faculty and staff.
“I do believe the transition of me moving from assistant principal to principal will be a smooth transition for all,” Smith said. “I have been here, so I know and understand the culture of the school. I know my faculty and staff and they know me. Our relationships will look a bit different now, but as a team we laid the foundation for success.”
The foundation of success for Smith began in her hometown of Stringer, Miss. She attended Stringer Attendance Center from kindergarten through 12th grade. After high school, she attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
“I then pursued my Master’s of Education at the University of William Carey in Hattiesburg, Mississippi,” Dr. Smith said, “and eventually completed my Ph.D. in Community College Leadership at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss.”
Smith is married to Timothy Smith, with whom she has two sons, Konner, 11, and Thaxtyn, 9.
Family, school and community are important to Smith. She has found a place for all three.
“Erath is certainly a special place,” Dr. Smith said. “My family and I choose to make Earth our home because of the great school system and community support. The success of Erath High starts with the community.”

February 10, 1938 ~ July 8, 2022

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Gayle Mouledous Goodyear, 84, who died Friday, July 8, 2022 at her residence. Rev. Charles “Billy” Massie will officiate the service with the assistance of Phillip Mouledous Jr..
Gayle was a native of Abbeville, graduate and cheerleader of Mount Carmel High School class of ’55 and attended Webster College in St. Louis MO. She was a devoted Catholic, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She will be remembered for her loving heart and adventurous spirit. She loved spending time with her family and friends, travelling and hosting gatherings at her home. Affectionately known as Gammy, she loved watching her family grow and enjoyed the time watching her great grandchildren play.
She is survived by by her five sons, Ralph Goodyear and his wife, Nanette, Brent Goodyear, Mark Goodyear and his wife, Ellen, Shelly Goodyear and his husband, Matthew, John Goodyear and his wife, Anita; twelve grandchildren, Taylor Burgess, Graham Goodyear, Brent Goodyear Jr., Andrew Goodyear, Hunter Hernandez, Mark Allen Goodyear, Mitchell Goodyear, Jason Goodyear, Emily Vaiana, Elizabeth Meendering, Anna Wagner, and Alexa Goodyear; and sixteen great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ralph Voorhies Billeaud; second husband, Warren Goodyear; parents, Dr. Shelley Mouledous and Josie Mouldeous; and granddaughter, Yvonne Bienvenu.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. when the procession will depart for the church. A rosary will be prayed at 11 a.m.-
A heartfelt appreciation is extended by the family to Susan Kane, Karen Schuler, Roberta Smith and Brandi Talley for their compassionate care and support.
In the lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gayle Goodyears’s memory to Vermilion Catholic High School, a legacy of Mount Carmel, 425 Park Ave. Abbeville, LA 70510.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

Only a few days removed from being sworn in, city of Abbeville officials jumped right into business during the first regular city council meeting under the new administration.
Mayor Roslyn White conducted her first meeting Tuesday night. As is custom for the new mayor, White appointed chairs for various committees.
“Mayor (Mark) Piazza put in place some committees during his final term,” White said. “I reviewed them, going into my first term as mayor. I thought it was a good practice to have, to try to delegate some duties. I want to give you (council members) an area that I hope you will concentrate on and bring ideas that we can present to the community.”
White appointed new Councilman-at-Large Carlton Campbell to head the recreation committee and the public safety committee.
Councilman Tony Hardy, who is entering his first term in District A, will be the chairman of the ordinance committee and the litter abatement committee.
Councilman Francis Touchet Jr., who took an oath for his sixth term representing District B, will once again chair the finance committee and the committee that pertains to the Chris Crusta Memorial Airport.
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., District C, will return to his position as chairman of the insurance committee. Broussard will now focus on tourism and economic development, as White also named him the chairman of that committee.
Councilwoman Terry Broussard, who is beginning her second term in District D, will chair the streets and sidewalks committee, as she did during her first four years. Broussard will now oversee the parks committee as well.
The council voted unamiously to ratify White’s appointments.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the council also voted 4-0 to appoint Touchet as Mayor Pro Tem, a role he held for the past four years.
Councilwoman Broussard made the motion, with Campbell providing a second. Touchet abstained from voting. Touchet would conduct official duties in the absence of the mayor.
The council also secured appointments for professional services. Darnall Sikes & Frederick will continue to conduct audits and work with the city’s financial processes. Two firms, Primeaux, Touchet & Associates and Sellers & Associates, will handle the city’s various engineering needs.
White, who served District A on the council for the past four years, is ready to work with the council in her new capacity.
“I look forward to working with each of you,” White said. “I think we have a good council.
“I think we can all see eye to eye and do some great things for the city of Abbeville.”