After weeks of wicked weather the folks in Louisiana now face another foe in Tropical Storm Barry.  Famous for its rivers and their influence on culture, the gulf coast of Louisiana is infamous for it's flooding and the great loss of life that often comes with.  From the Great Flood of 1927 to Hurricane Katrina, residents of Louisiana are more than aware of the threat they face when the waters around them begin to rise.

Crawling along to the west-northwest at just 5mph, Tropical Storm Barry is expected to bring heavy rainfall over the next few days as it makes its turn northward.  Maximum sustained winds have increased to 65mph and due to the slow forward movement further strengthening is forecast with landfall expected on Saturday as Hurricane Barry.

The National Hurricane Center is urging those in Barry's path to take heed to 3 key messages:

"Key Messages:

1. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge inundation along the coast of southern and southeastern Louisiana, portions of Lake Pontchartrain, and portions of coastal Mississippi where aStorm Surge Warning is in effect. Water levels are already beginning to rise in these areas, with the peak inundation expected on Saturday. The highest storm surge inundation is expected between Intracoastal City and Shell Beach.

2. The slow movement of Barry will result in a long duration heavy rainfall and flood threat along the central Gulf Coast, across portions of the Lower Mississippi Valley and north into the Tennessee Valley through the weekend into early next week. Flash flooding and river flooding will become increasingly likely, some of which may be life-threatening, especially across portions of southeast Louisiana into Mississippi.

3. Hurricane conditions are expected along a portion of the coast of Louisiana, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Tropical storm conditions are expected elsewhere along much of the Louisiana coast and inland across portions of south-central Louisiana where tropical storm warnings are in effect."

Continue to check in with BahamasLocal.com all hurricane season as we track the tropics.

Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Michael Pintard told Grand Bahamian artisans that the options for products using the conch shell are endless and that his Ministry, through BAIC, is prepared to work with them in discovering many of those options.

“We live in a global village and the reality is the Bahamas needs to be fully integrated,” said Minister Pintard. “The Government, through its e-government, e-commerce business is now seeking to set up all areas of government, so that we are integrated with the global community online.

“I believe that there are tremendous opportunities in the cooperative movement if you work together.

“For those of you who have ever visited Baha Mar, you will see what Antonius Roberts and other artists have done, utilizing conch shells to provide tremendous ambiance in the environment. Parliamentary Secretary Iram Lewis made recommendations of a wide range of products that can be created. In Junkanoo, the conch shell has been fashioned into amazing instruments. “So, the options are limited only by your imagination and creativity.”

Minister Pintard was the keynote speaker during closing ceremonies of the Conch Shell Carving Workshop, which was held at the Grand Bahama Arts & Craft centre on May 9, 2019. The 10-day workshop attracted a number of creative artisans from West End to East End of Grand Bahama, who put on full display their creative genius, creating a number of products using the conch shell.

The Minister got an opportunity to preview all of the works that were created, following the closing ceremonies.

During his address, Minister Pintard told the workshop participants that since he initially opened the program in Grand Bahama, interesting developments have taken place: the team from BAIC is poised to work more closely with the artisans more quickly than they had originally anticipated. “Since we left, and after having conversation with the trainer [of the workshop], we are committed to purchasing the industrial machine that you will need for creating your products,” said Minister Pintard. “We have allocated the funds already in this year’s budget to purchase the machine. “It is my hope that when we launch the second half of this course in the summer, we will be able to go to the next level, using additional technology, to allow you to continue to do the work that you’re doing.” Further, Minister Pintard pointed out that the Department of Cooperatives is anxious to meet with the Grand Bahamian artists. As a result, he added that they are arranging to have members from the Department of Cooperatives fly to Freeport and make a presentation, so that the artists can decide who would be interested in forming joint companies or cooperatives in order to leverage their strengths.

 

GOOD NEWS FOR GB ARTISANS – Minister of Agriculture and marine Resources, the Hon. Michael Pintard, during the closing out ceremonies for the Conch Shell Carving Workshop in Freeport, Grand Bahama, delivered some good news for the creative individuals who took part in the 10-day workshop. The closing out ceremonies took place on Thursday night (May 9, 2019), during which participants were presented with their certificates.  (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

 

CHECK IT OUT – Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Michael Pintard got an opportunity to view products made out of conch shell by Grand Bahamian artisans, following closing ceremonies of the Conch Shell Carving Workshop, which was held at the Grand Bahama Arts & Craft Center in Freeport.  (BIS Photo/Lisa Davis)

 

Games 5 of 2018 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball tournament sees the two teams going head to head in a heated hustling match of who wants it more. Midway into the first half both teams were pretty much neck and neck with 13 - 12 Dayton leading. It was an aggressive first half with lots of contact 3 fouls spreading over both teams and non stop grappling for the ball. #12 De'Andred Hunter led the score boards for Virginia with 10 points while #0 Josh Cunningham and #3 Trey Landers continued to score in the paint to keep the Flyers in the air and in the game.  Virginia managed to shift the lead in their favor closing out the first half 27 - 22. 

Games 5 of 2018 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis Basketball tournament sees the two teams, Dayton Flyers and Virginia Cavaliers going head to head in a heated hustling match of who wants it more. After a fairly slow start, midway into the first half both teams were pretty much neck and neck with 13 - 12, Dayton leading.

It was an aggressive first half with lots of contact 19 fouls in total spreading over both teams, double digit turn overs and non stop grappling for the ball.#12 De'Andred Hunter led the score boards for Virginia with 10 points while #0 Josh Cunningham and #3 Trey Landers continued to score in the paint to keep the Flyers in the air and in the game. Virginia managed to shift the lead in their favor closing out the first half 27 - 22. 

Both teams continued out aggressive in the first half however Virginia appeared a lot more hungry capitalizing second chance shots, getting more rebounds and simply outscoring Dayton who seemed to be running out of steam. At the 11:20 mark of the game after a quick time out Dayton must have gotten what they needed to re-energize as #1 Obi Toppin scored a dunk followed by an "And 1" lay up by Cunningham reducing Virginia's lead 39 - 44.

Going into the last few minutes of the game #10 Jalen Crutcher and Toppin showed up with a clutch 3 pointer and few jump shots respectively to cut into the Virginia's lead getting it to 52 - 56 with 4:24 left in the second half but they couldn't keep out of foul trouble as Hunter was sent to the free throw line once again putting the Cavaliers right back at a 6 point lead. 

With 55 seconds left on the clock De'Andre Hunter scored a 3 pointer that received a screaming standing ovation that left the arena vibrating. At that point with the score at 64 - 56 Virginia it was safe to say that the Cavaliers had won the game and would be moving on to meet The Wisconsin Badgers for the championship game Friday Nov. 23rd at 2:00 PM.

Final Score of the game 66 - 59. Virginia Cavaliers takes game 5!

 

In less than a day, Beryl went from an area of interest to the first hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.

This tiny hurricane may strengthen a tad more into Saturday.

It will eventually encounter increasing wind shear and weaken, but that may not occur until early next week.

Thus, it's increasingly possible Beryl may impact the Lesser Antilles as a hurricane.

Beryl may survive as a tropical cyclone into the central Caribbean early next week.

Read More HERE