On Tuesday, Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board.

The Louisiana Rice Promotion Board serves to promote the growth and development of the rice industry in Louisiana by promotion of the production, handling, marketing and utilization of rice.

According to statute, the board is comprised of nine gubernatorial appointments which include: six members who are appointed from nominations by the Louisiana Rice Council, one member who is appointed from nominations by the Louisiana Rice Growers Association, one member who is appointed from nominations by the American Rice Growers Cooperative Association, and one member who is appointed from nominations by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.  Additionally, the members are subject to senate confirmation and the commissioner of Agriculture will serve as an ex-officio member.

Appointments to the Louisiana Rice Promotion Board:

Kevin Berken, of Lake Arthur, is a farmer in southwest Louisiana and was nominated by the American Rice Growers Association, as required by statute.

Damian Bollich, of Jones, is a soybean and rice farmer and was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Jeff Durand, of St. Martinville, is a crawfish and rice farmer and is involved with the LSU Agricultural Center’s education workshops for Louisiana farmers.  Durand was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Ronald Habetz, of Ragley, is a cattle producer with experience in forage and conservation practices and was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Mindy Hetzel, of Jennings, is a representative to the USA Rice Council’s Board of Directors and is the current chair of the Jefferson Davis Business Alliance.  Hetzel was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Jimmy Hoppe, of Iowa, is the former president of the Louisiana Rice Council and a member of the USA Rice Council.  Hoppe was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Christian Richard, of Kaplan, is a farmer and was trained in farming, ranching, forestry, the nursing industry, wildlife and agricultural business at the LSU Agricultural center. Richard was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Dr. Mike Strain, of Covington, is the Commissioner of Agriculture and will serve ex-officio, as required by statute.

Robert Thevis, of Simmesport, is a corn, soybean, rice, and wheat farmer and was nominated by the Louisiana Rice Council, as required by statute.

Wayne Zaunbrecher, of Gueydan, is a self-employed farmer with over forty-five years of experience. Zaunbrecher was nominated by the Farm Bureau Association, as required by statute. 

Also on Tuesday, Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Crime Victims Reparations Board.

The Crime Victims Reparations Board serves to regulate the award payments from the Crime Victims Reparation Fund.  The board assists victims of violent crimes with unrecovered costs associated with personal injury, death, or catastrophic property loss.

According to statute, the board is comprised of the eleven members including the executive director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice (COLE) or his designee, a member who is chosen and appointed by the governor from a list of three nominations  by Victims and Citizens Against Crime, Inc., and nine gubernatorial appointments of which one member must be a full voting member who is at least sixty years old and will serve as a representative of the elderly population of Louisiana. 

Appointments to the Crime Victims Reparation Board:

Nancy Adcock, of Shreveport, is the president of North American Railway Services and was formerly a member of the Trinity Heights Christian Academy School Board. Adcock will represent the 4^th Congressional District, as required by statute.

Lamar Davis, of Hodge, is a retired Jackson Parish school superintendent and is currently serving as chair on the Crime Victims Reparations Board. Davis will serve as an at-large member, as required by statute.

Carroll DiBenedetto, of Baton Rouge, is a retired licensed social worker and is a former member of the Law Enforcement and Criminal Just Commission. DiBenedetto will represent Victims and Citizens against Crime, Inc., as required by statute.

Mary L. Fanara, of Bunkie, is the Bunkie Chief of Police and has over twenty years of experience in law enforcement. Fanara will represent the 5^th Congressional District, as required by statute.

Ben Garris, of St. Francisville will serve as the designee for the Executive Director of the Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Garris will serve as an ex-officio member to the board, as required by statute.

Raymond Harris, of Franklin, is the mayor of Franklin, and will represent the 3^rd Congressional District, as required.

Kenneth Jones, of Harvey, formerly worked for the former Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee and will represent the 2^nd Congressional District, as required by statute.

Ann Polak, of Lake Charles, is the chair of the Community Advisory Committee at Dr. Walter O. Moss Regional Medical Center and will represent the 7^th Congressional District, as required by statute.

Sharon Rodi, of Metairie, is an attorney at Adams and Reese. Rodi has been an active participant with Catholic Charities in New Orleans since 1976, and will represent the 1^st Congressional District, as required by statute. 

Carolyn Stapleton, of Baton Rouge, is the Crime Victims Service coordinator for the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and will represent the 6^th Congressional District, as required by statute.

Lucille Williams, Shreveport, is a retired manager at South Central Bell and will represent the elderly population of Louisiana, as required by statute.