By Debbie Glover St. Tammany News
The economic trends report tracking the third quarter of 2012 has been released by the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation.
The housing market improved, with existing housing unit sales rising 4.3 percent in quarter-over-quarter comparisons for the third quarter of 2012 and 2011, and 14.5 percent year-to-date, with 779 homes sold in the third quarter of 2012, up from 747 in third quarter 2011.
Housing sales volume rose 2 percent in quarter-over-quarter comparisons and 11.9 percent year-to-date. Average sales price moved down 2.2 percent in the …

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., the premier smoothie bar and nutritional lifestyle center, announced today its partnership with the Nation’s #1 tight end, Jimmy Graham, to help bring healthy and functional products and promotions to more fans in the greater New Orleans region. Kicking off this week, Graham’s likeness will appear across multiple local channels including Smoothie King advertising, giveaways, retail items, merchandise and limited time offers.
A longtime fan of Smoothie King’s popular high protein, low carb, Gladiator ®, Graham has inspired …

Artist Jax Frey, known to some as “Mistress of the Minis,” has launched an online store to sell her featured works to art collectors and customers throughout the world.
“With the popularity of online shopping continuing to rise, I wanted to provide a convenient way for my friends and customers to purchase their favorite pieces of art,” said Frey. “With all of the small art pieces priced under $100, great collectibles and gifts are now available at your fingertips.”
While Frey’s works come in various sizes, she is perhaps best known for …

Gilbert Lopez was taking out some bulk waste for pick up in Grovetown.
“It’s real good they pick up once a week on Tuesday’s they also pick up yard waste you put anything on the curb they will pick it up,” he said.
Like Augusta, Grovetown contracts with a private hauler for pick up,with similar services once a week household trash, bulk waste, yard waste, and some limited recycling, but unlike Augusta Grovetown customers do not pay the entire fee on their tax bills.
“It’s 15 dollars a month it’s on their utility …

(Thomson, GA) – The “Kick Cancer to the Curb” initiative is officially over and representatives from Precision Waste Services of Thomson, GA, will present a donation check to the McDuffie County Relay for Life prior to this Friday’s event to be held at Thomson High School.
“The response to our ‘Kick Cancer to the Curb’ initiative was tremendous,” said Robert Alan Wilson, President of Precision Waste Services.  “We are honored to be just a small part of the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer and our company looks forward to …