St. Landry Parish remained a treasure trove of intriguing issues in 2021.
The overall COVID-19 numbers shrank to manageable single digits compared to 2020 and 47% of parish residents became fully vaccinated according to Louisiana Department of Health statistics, which relieved some strain.
St. Landry still experienced its share of contentious moments.
Elected officials at all levels squabbled over monetary and taxing issues, large amounts of federal money and ordinances. Residents are continuing to move southward into the rural areas of the parish. Sentiments from residents were briefly inflamed over redrawing voter and precinct lines as parish prosecutors fought to move the needle forward on thousands of backlogged felony cases, and Opelousas entertained expectations of commercial expansion.
Those stories and others reflect some of the major stories that attracted Daily World readership during the past 12 months.
In May, school board members voted to hold a March 2022 election to increase a new 10-year property millage now paid to the district by property owners in order to build a series of new elementary schools, provide employee pay increases and improve athletic facilities.
The price tag for the schools now rests at $155 million, while the raises will cost $6.2 million annually.
READ MORE:St. Landry Board considering new schools, price tag and number of facilities increasing
A St. Landry Parish Council decision in mid-year to act on a 2019 state legislative decision allowing the reduction of parishwide precincts to save money caused voter outrage. Courthouse and parish officials recounted instances of continuing phone complaints about the decision. Some voters said they were being required to drive 25 miles further in order to vote.
The council later unanimously rescinded the precinct movement.
'We are to blame':Council apologizes for polling place changes, confusion
Opelousas law enforcement and parish school officials continued to combat juvenile violence in St. Landry.
Police Chief Martin McLendon said juveniles now value guns more than they do luxury sneakers. He promised a continued effort to take guns away from adolescents and young adults.
School board members voted to pay for a full-time security officer at Opelousas High and considered how to provide more surveillance at all schools.
'Our kids are destroying each other':Parish leaders address juvenile crime issues
Out of control:School board wants campus safety plan after spike in behavioral issues
Prosecutors employed by District Attorney Chad Pitre attempted to remove several thousand felony cases from their files. Pitre estimated that when he arrived in office, nearly 6,000 cases were still open, some of them dating back to 1990.
Several trials were held in 2021 and a number of pleas were accepted to provide resolution. Among those cases once pending, Pitre said, about included 40 murder charges.
FOR SUBSCRIBERS:St. Landry's DA set out to decrease the criminal docket. COVID-19 is making it hard.
Parish residents marveled at the amount of American Rescue and Cares Act federal money, mostly due to COVID-19 was earmarked for spending by St. Landry elected officials.
The biggest pot of revenue — $101 million — was scheduled to be received over a period years by the school district. Parish government is scheduled to obtain $15 million. About a third of money dedicated for the school district was spent early in 2021 for COVID mitigation, while another $28 million in Phase II will be used for rehabilitating school buildings.
Parish government has spent some of the money on drainage problems as well as providing help to municipalities.
READ MORE:Parish president reveals proposed ARPA budget. Here's where the money could go.
Although it may not have been startling news, parish officials learned in September that the 2020 census shows that residents who remain in St. Landry are moving southward and closer to the Lafayette Parish line.
Demographic studies also illustrate that the parish lost slightly more than 1,200 residents since 2010 and that several election districts within Opelousas continue to lose population.
2020 census:St. Landry election districts will require adjustments after shift in population
St. Landry elementary school students were provided with another classroom learning option. Two charter schools — Ecole-St. Landry and St. Landry Public Charter in Opelousas — began accepting lower elementary students.
The start for Ecole-St. Landry, which promotes French immersion, was delayed a year after COVID-19 prevented some faculty members from entering the U.S. The charter school in Opelousas, which fought for several years to gain the approval of board members, received a state charter that allows it to operate under the guidance of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
RELATED:After years of negotiations, St. Landry Charter School location set
STATEWIDE:After 30 years, charter schools growing across Louisiana
Opelousas city officials and State Rep. Dustin Miller proposed a $1.8 million project to redesign Donald Gardner Stadium from a football facility into one that includes an artificial turf surface and an eight-lane outdoor track.
The problem, however, was finding an adequate funding source. Parish school officials rejected a request to allocate $1 million from ARA district revenues. The Opelousas Downtown Development District, however, agreed to contribute $1 million from a city-wide sales tax.
Miller said he is still seeking state money to complete the projected funding.
FOR SUBSCRIBERS:Should Donald Gardner Stadium become a multi-sport complex? There's a cost and a debate.
The city’s Downtown Development officials completed a two-year study that sought public input for a master plan to revitalize the business district area, which has struggled economically in recent years.
The master plan effort, which started in 2019, sought ideas that would create better use for the buildings now vacant and suggestions on how to make the area around the parish courthouse into one which is more vibrant. The plan was approved by the Opelousas Board of Aldermen and received a state award for its comprehensive contents.
RENEWAL EFFORTS:Former downtown hotel and women's shelter looking for new owners
'A number of possibilities':Historic downtown Opelousas building may get restoration
In October and November, city elected officials voted to accept into the corporate boundaries, a 66-acre home development site and the construction of a Love’s Truck Stop. In addition, the city also approved the development of a 42-unit apartment complex that will be located off Laurent Street near U.S. 190 and Interstate 49.
The truck stop and the 240 proposed houses on the residential site were approved after parish and city officials agreed to construct an additional water sewerage plant located off I-49 that will serve the influx of residents building in the southern part of the city.
RELATED:St. Landry emulating Carencro model as I-49 corridor development continues
In December, the Parish Council voted to tighten the regulations for establishing group homes inside residential areas. The issue had been placed before the council previously and an ordinance several years ago also was passed, but the creation of a Sunset-area group home without first obtaining an operating permit led the council to create new restrictions.
More:Residents of controversial group home disappear as ordinance passage becomes difficult