Cash prizes: The PotashCorp fertilizer plant in Geismar has given $50,000 to expand cash awards for showmanship at the annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show, The Associated Press reports. The new endowment will provide $125 awards for intermediate and junior showmanship champions in eight categories—dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, exhibition poultry, broiler poultry, sheep, breeding goats and market goats. PotashCorp gave $40,000 last year to set up an endowment for senior champion awards of $250 in each category. Other livestock contests are judged mostly on animals’ performance. Showmanship contests focus on exhibitors’ presentation and sportsmanship.PotashCorp and Gerry Lane Enterprises are co-presenting sponsors of the 2017 Livestock Show, which will take place Feb. 11-18 at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Under review: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Charlie Melancon says he’s ordered a “complete internal review” of his agency’s operations. As The Associated Press reports, the move comes after auditors found questionable spending, missing state-owned property and shoddy management of finances in the past leadership of the department. Melancon, who took over the department in January, described the changes in his response to an audit released today. The Associated Press had previously reported draft findings of the audit. The review by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office details widespread financial issues across the department under the former secretary. Auditors say Gulf oil spill recovery money intended for fish testing instead paid for unnecessary iPads, cameras, boats and now-missing fishing equipment.
Departure: ExpressJet’s consolidation of its heavy aircraft maintenance work will result in the company closing its Shreveport maintenance facility by next June, The Shreveport Times reports. “ExpressJet Airlines has elected to consolidate its heavy aircraft maintenance work in Knoxville, Tennessee, as part of an ongoing necessary effort to increase efficiency across our company network,” says ExpressJet spokesman Bobbie Battista in a statement. “The company is making every effort to work with its employees in Shreveport to ease this difficult transition.” ExpressJet announced plans in February to expand the Shreveport maintenance center and create an estimated 71 direct and indirect jobs. As of February the company employed roughly 250 people in Shreveport. The Atlanta-based company has operated its Shreveport facility since 2003. Read the full story.
