Lake Charles Community Area Information
General Information
Licensing & Registration
VOTING - To register, go to the Registrar of Voters’ office in the parish courthouse on Ryan Street, or call 437-3572 for more information. In order to register, you must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident. Answers to such questions as name, date of birth, Social Security number, sex, mother’s maiden name and whether you meet the residency requirements are requested. Proof of residency requires a driver’s license or rent receipt. Once registered, you must vote to remain active. However, new voters must register at least 24 days before a general election and at least 30 days before a primary to vote in that election.
DRIVERS LICENSE - To obtain a Louisisana Driver’s License, you must be 16 years of age. At 16 years of age, you must have passed 36 hours of Driver’s Education. If you are 16-18 years of age, a legal guardian will need to accompany you and sign for the license. You must also be enrolled in school. Anyone over the age of 16 who has not had a driver’s license must pass a six-hour pre-licensing exam. Newcomers to the state will need a Louisiana driver’s license as soon as residency has been established as a valid Louisiana operator’s license is required to legally drive on public streets and highways. There are only four exceptions to this rule:
1. Members of the armed forces driving government vehicles while on duty.
2. Operators of farm implements, farm tractors or road machinery, temporarily operated or moved on a highway.
3. Non-residents who have a valid license issued by another state or country. Non-residents may use an out-of-state license in Louisiana for no more than 90 days.
4. Out-of-state students may use a valid home state license while attending school in Louisiana.
The Office of Motor Vehicles at 951 Main Street (337-491-2533) is open daily from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Monday-Friday). A Louisiana Driver’s License should be obtained within 60 days of establishing residence in the state. New residents are required to pass an eye examination with a valid out of state license. You must turn in any other driver’s license you may have. It is unlawful in Louisiana to have more than one driver’s license.
3. Accept title as proof of registration from the previous state and proof of taxes paid on the vehicle. This amount varies with cost of vehicle and area of residence.
Note: New residents may register their automobiles and obtain Louisiana license plates after 30 days of residency and after a Louisiana’s driver’s license has been secured.
Safety inspection stickers will be issued after a driver’s license has been issued. This inspection can be done at a number of places and costs only $10.00 per year. Annual Motor Vehicle Safety Inspections (“Brake tag” inspections) are required by law. You need to present a valid Louisiana driver’s license, registration certificate and license plate along with proof of liability insurance. For the name of an inspection station near you, call the Moter Vehicle Police at 491-2011. For other inspection information, call 491-2533.
PET LICENSE - The domestic animals that need licensing are dogs and cats. A city ordinance requires all dogs be vaccinated and licensed each year. Within the city limits, dogs cannot run loose. A Calcasieu Parish tag is required at a cost of $4.00, which helps locate owners of lost pets.
Utilities
GAS - CenterPoint Energy Entex (800-477-0177) provides natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers within the city of Lake Charles and in Sulphur and Carlyss. A $100.00 deposit for residential and $200.00 deposit for small commercial is required and is kept for the duration of the service. Upon written request, deposits can be returned after 13 months for residential and 13 months for commercial. Five percent interest will be paid each year on this deposit. Entex does honor a letter of credit from other utility companies, in lieu of deposit.
The City of Westlake Gas Company provides natural gas for that area.
ELECTRICITY - Entergy (1-800-840-4478) serves 28,000 square miles in southern Louisiana and Texas. A $150 deposit is required on residential customers, which is refunded after a year along with five percent interest, provided credit has been good.
Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc., (337-855-6684) serves the area north of Lake Charles, including Moss Bluff. For homeowners, only a $10.00 service fee and $5.00 membership fee is required. For renters, an additional $150.00 deposit is required. This deposit is refundable within a year upon request showing pay history and receiving managerial approval.
WATER - Greater Lake Charles Water Company (337-491-1307) provides water to Lake Charles residents while the communities of Sulphur, Westlake, and Moss Bluff provide water to their cities. Outlying areas often depend on independent or community owned water systems. There is a required $40.00 deposit plus $5.00 service charge for residential and a $50.00 deposit plus $5.00 service charge for commercial. Service hook-up is provided on the next working day.
TELEPHONE - Local telephone service is provided by South Central Bell. For new service call 337-557-6500.
If calling from outside the state of Louisiana: Call 1-800-832-0679. Long distance services are available through several regional and national companies.
Garbage & Trash Collection
In the city of Lake Charles, there is no separate charge for residential garbage and trash collection. Garbage and trash are collected once weekly on an established schedule depending on location. There is no collection on municipal holidays. Replacements or extra rolling containers can be purchased for $75.00 (new) each from the city or used for $15.00 each. Call 337-491-1229 for additional information.
In the city of Sulphur, garbage fees are combined into a once-a-month billing for city water, trash and sewage use. Garbage pickup service is contracted with BFI and scheduled once a week. One container is provided to each house. Call 337-527-4500 for more information.
In Westlake (337-433-0691), garbage fees are combined into a once-a-month billing for city water, gas, sewage and trash. Garbage service is contracted with Waste Management and scheduled once a week. Residents may provide their own containers or purchase a rolling container from Waste Management for $61.00.
In Iowa city limits, garbage fees are combined into a once-a-month billing for city water, trash, and sewer use. Call City Hall at 337-582-3535 for more information.
Outside the city limits, Waste Management (337-436-7229) serves the area. In Westlake, the service is included with the taxes. Moss Bluff’s service fee is $34.64 per four-month period for once-a-week service. Outside Iowa city limits, Waste Management picks up once a week and the service is included in taxes.
Communications & Media
The American Press is the area’s daily newspaper. It is a morning edition with a daily circulation of over 38,000 and a Sunday circulation of over 42,000 throughout Calcasieu Parish. A subscription is $34.50 per quarter. Call the circulation department at 337-494-4040.
Lagniappe Magazine is published twice monthly with a focus on lifestyles, local interest, sports and calendar of events (free to public). The Times of Lake Charles is published twice monthly and is free of charge. It reflects the times, politically, socially, economically, etc., in the lake area.
Newspapers
American Press
Morning Daily
(337) 494-4040
The Times of Southwest Louisiana
Twice monthly
(337) 439-0995
Lagniappe
Twice monthly
(337) 433-8502
Southwest Daily News
Weekly
(337) 527-7075
The Vinton News
Weekly
(337) 589-7650
The Beaumont Enterprise
Daily morning paper w/Louisiana edition
(337) 527-7075
KAOK/KEAZ FM 14 News, talk, info, sports, music
KBIU FM 103.7 Adult Contemporary
KKGB FM 101
KXZZ AM 15.80 Gospel, Urban, Contemporary
KYKZ FM 96 Country Music
KOJO FM 91.7 Christian
KHLA FM 92.9 Oldies
KZWA FM 105.3
KBIG FM 99.5 Country Music
Television Affiliates
TCI Cable
NBC
Lake Charles, Channel 7
FOX
Lake Charles, Channel 29
Casino Entertainment
The Isle of Capri, located in Westlake, offers continuous live gaming with two riverboats and easy access to I-10.
Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino is located in Vinton, which is about 45 minutes from Lake Charles. Delta Downs offers almost 1,500 slot machines and live thoroughbred and quarter horse racing.
Pinnacle Entertainment has recently opened its $325 million destination resort, L’Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino. This resort features a luxury hotel, four restaurants, an 18-hole championship golf course, and a riverboat. www.ldlcasino.com
Pinnacle Entertainment announced that the company plans to build a $350 million casino resort in the area with a laid-back southern Caribbean theme. The resort will have 400 guest rooms and suites, all of which will have a great view of the neighboring Contraband Bayou. There will be a great deal of activities to try at Sugarcane Bay such as 1,500 slot machines, a poker room and plenty of table games, all with a great view of the local scenery. There will be world-class restaurants, retail shopping and a tropical pool. The casino will be connected to the existing L'Auberge du Lac Hotel & Casino. Construction has begun with an opening date set for 2009.
Local Dining
You may want to brush up on your French before dining out at any of the fine restaurants in the Lake Area as you are likely to run into such words and phrases as croissant (crescent roll) and cafe-au-lait (coffee with milk).
If you prefer Italian, Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, Lebanese, Greek or good old Southern cooking, it’s all here. There are a number of fine restaurants to serve you everything from grits to crepes.
Seafood is the most obvious delicacy of our area, and Lake Charles has access to both fresh and saltwater fish. Be sure to indulge in the area’s epicurean smorgasbord, which includes boiled crawfish and boudin (a cajun rice dressing in sausage casing).
Religion: Churches & Synagogues
There are places of worship for all faiths. There are 38 denominations and 169 churches in the metropolitan area of Lake Charles. The yellow pages furnish a comprehensive listing, along with addresses and phone numbers.
Hotels & Motels
There are over 20 hotels and motels currently in the lake city area with several new projects planned and/or under construction.
Financial Institutions
The area is served by several financial institutions, which provide almost any combination of banking services needed by a company or an individual. With ten banks and numerous branches in the Lake Charles area, there is a choice as to where one wishes to bank. Assets total over $1.5 billion.
