Congressman Cedric Richmond paid a visit to the River Parishes area recently, taking time to speak with at the Rotary Club of LaPlace.  
Richmond spoke briefly of his childhood and how he was lucky to have a park across the street from his house.  There he was able to play ball, and at the age of 16 his coaches told him that he couldn’t play anymore, but he had to help someone else by coaching.  He went on to quote Martin Luther King, “Everybody can be great, because anyone can serve.”  
Another key observation made by Richmond was regarding support for the levee system in the area because “we are the economic engine for the country. When the river parishes area shuts down, gas automatically  goes up .11 cents per gallon.”  Many products and services used by many in the country come up the Mississippi River.