Mamou Wal-Mart opening pushed back to January

Despite word of a delay in the grand opening of the new Walmart, the Mamou Town Council received an upbeat jobs report at its regular meeting Wednesday, October 8.
Nicole Montichek, representing Walmart, told the council that the walls of the new 11,800 square-foot building were going up and “once that happens, things move pretty fast.”
Montichek did say that several delays meant that the grand opening has been pushed back until January 14. She also cleared up some questions about the name of the store.
“The store is called Neighborhood Market, not Walmart Express”, Montichek said.
The new business will primarily sell groceries and fresh meat and produce. There will be some general merchandise and health and beauty products, with gasoline and diesel pumps.
The Neighborhood Market will also have a pharmacy, led by Angelle Joubert of Eunice. Plus, Montichek said, online shoppers can use the Ship-to-Site feature on Walmart’s website. They can place their orders from home and have the items shipped for free to the Mamou store.
Montichek said that she intends to hire five full-time employees and about 30-35 part-time employees. Prospective applicants can apply at any Walmart or at LA Works in on Main Street in Ville Platte.
In other job-related news, the council heard about a job fair that will be held in Mamou. Sadie Marshall, of Protemp Staffing Solutions, will be heading the fair, which will be held at the Teen Center on November 7, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Marshall said that her company is looking for applicants for an unnamed manufacturing facility in Oakdale. Applicants need either a high school diploma or its equivalency.
But, she said, people who do not possess that certification should still come to the fair because she can help to place them with other employers.
In other business, Elvin Reed asked the council to examine its ordinances about horse-riding on the city streets.
Reed complained that a group of riders recently left the street littered with so much manure that he had to hire someone to clean the road in front of his house.
Mayor Ricky Fontenot told Reed that although there are no ordinances prohibiting it currently, the council will re-examine the issue. The only stipulation was the traditional Mardi Gras celebrations would have to be taken into account.
Danzel Marcantel invited the council and the general public to assist at the upcoming Veterans’ Day Parade on November 11. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. from the Veterans’ Hall and go down Sixth Street.
Fontenot also invited the public to attend the October 25, Cancer Center Walk and 5K. Registration is at 8 am, and the 5K begins at 9 am. The proceeds will support the Savoy Cancer Center.
The public is invited to a ceremony to dedicate the shooting range in the memory of Joe Deshotel, a long-time city employee who recently passed away. The dedication will be on November 29.
The council authorized Fontenot to renew the contract for accounting services with Mike Johnson, certified public accountant. Assistant Police Chief Katina Richard reminded the public that four-wheelers and side-by-sides are not allowed to operate on city streets.