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LAGNIAPPE MAGAZINE • JANUARY 9, 2014 • VOLUME 32 NUMBER 1
28 20
SAME OLD SAME OLD
In this edition of Political
Notebook, John Maginnis and Jeremy Alford explain why the key issues in this spring’s legislative session will look mighty familiar. 28
CRAPPY DRIVERS
After a recent survey showed
Louisiana as having the worst driving in the country, town talk turned to the topic of local driving. We asked several experts what local drivers could be doing better. 34 SPECTACULAR SALADS Feast on photos and descriptions of the most creative, colorful and satisfying salads served in the Lake Area. 37
34
FUR AND WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Get all the details on all
the festival events. Plus, enjoy a history of this long-standing, popular event. 42
MARDI GRAS
Here’s the lowdown on upcoming Mardi
Gras happenings. Also, Calvin Tyler wraps up his overview of the history of Twelfth Night. Lagniappe Magazine Serving SWLA Since 1983
48
you eyeball all the local vendors and new innovations.
42
Office Phone (337) 433-8502 Office Fax (337) 433-8964 Mailing Address PO Box 3292 Lake Charles, LA 70602 Shipping Address 2906 Deaton Street Lake Charles, LA 70601 Editorial e-mail edit@thelanyap.com Advertising e-mail ads@thelanyap.com Classified e-mail class@thelanyap.com
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Welcome to the show that answers
every imaginable question about home improvement and lets
Publishers Bob Hartnett Greg Pavlovich Editor Brad Goins Associate Editor Karla Wall Assistant Laura Landry Layout & Design Mike Manis Advertising Sales Tanya Alsobrook Patty Hebert Chester Rogers Classified Manager Rose Sauls Distribution Manager Edward Frazer Contributing Writers Jeremy Alford Dr. Dale Archer Duane Bergeron Angie Kay Dilmore Todd Elliott Pierre Fontenot Rocke Fournet Michael Kurth John Maginnis Rick Sarro Chuck Shepherd Calvin Tyler Vic Wukovits
Lagniappe Magazine is published the first and third Thursday of each month. Manuscripts, photographs, comments and queries are invited. Return postage must accompany all materials submitted if return is requested. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Opinions presented by the columnists in this publication do not necessarily express the views of Lagniappe Magazine.
2014 HOME SHOW
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departments 5 9 10 12 14 16
Up Front News Roundup LA Politics Pierre Sez Taking Charge Economics, Etc.
18 20 23 24 26 63
Weird News Political Notebook Extraordinary People File 13 Fur Side What's Happening
64 65 66 67 68 75
Mounted Memories Sarro On Sports Reel Talk Bands Classifieds Uncle P's
up
front My Lame Column Ain’t life full of little ironies? I’d just finished my last Up Front for 2013. I figured I wouldn’t be getting any new material for a while. After all, the office email action was going to really slow down as the holidays kicked in. Wouldn’t you know it? Just as those sort of ideas started rolling around in my head, the freaky deak emails started rolling it. For instance, we got an email inviting “all elementary, middle, and high school students of Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parish schools” to write on this subject: “What makes the holiday season so important to you? In your essay, explain why your holiday traditions, experiences, and/or favorite memories make your holiday season special.” The students who wrote the six best essays would get a Kindle Fire. Well, that’s nice, isn’t it? We always want to give students an opportunity to write. And why not reward them for their hard work? Could there be anything undesirable in such a civic-minded contest? Maybe just a leetle beet. The email came from “Sen. J.P. Morrell” and the subject line read “Sen. Morrell Announces Holiday Essay Contest.” Above the announcement of the contest was a big headline that read “Happy Holidays from Sen. J.P. Morrell.” Right underneath that was a second headline that read “Sen. Morrell Is Awarding Six Kindle Fires to Holiday Contest Winners.” Students were told to send their essays to MorrellHolidayContest@gmail.com. I still haven’t heard about the essay I submitted. I’m a bit worried that somebody
in Morrell’s office figured out I was just pretending to be a high school student in St. Bernard Parish. There’s nothing illegal about doing that is there? A second email that arrived a little too late for the Up Fronter’s needs was even more goofily impressive. This one came from someone named Mike Mann, who’s started his own political party: the Better Government Party. Well, if Mann feels motivated enough to start his own party, he must have a pretty strong platform. Let’s see what he has to say: “The US government has more resources than the world’s largest corporations including Amazon.com, Google, Microsoft, and Apple. They should easily be able to build a workable website and backend platform were they not grossly incompetent, inefficient, wasteful and rife with graft and fraud throughout their lame system. I am sure my employees with a very small fraction of that financing could build a better system.” An interesting feature of Mann’s platform is his description of federal government as “lame.” I’ve felt that a lot of the criticism of Obamacare has been simplistic and emotional. But when Mann brings the concept of “lame” to the table, I think he introduces a new level of intellectual rigor to the debate. I mean, anybody could say something like “Obamacare is a bunch of crap,” right? But to say the federal government’s lame … well … some thought went into that. And you can see that he did well by calling his new party the Better Government Party. Perhaps if we all work hard together we can move the federal government from “lame” to something like “sweet” or “tight.” continued
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January 9, 2014
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"YOUR ONE-STOP BELT CENTER"! AUTO HOME MARINE INDUSTRIAL FARM GARDEN OILFIELD APPLIANCE
About Town The Military Order of the Purple Heart had to curtail its usual presentations during the last three months of 2013 due to the small number of members and the frequent occurrence of wakes and funerals for veterans who were advanced in years. The presentations may resume early in 2014. The Order continues to have an extreme need for some fresh blood — specifically, younger veterans — to carry on its work. You can call the Order at 436-6945, or write or visit at the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 213 Helen Street No. 4, Westlake, LA 70669-3403.
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The news flew around the world when Gov. Bobby Jindal stepped in front of cameras to make a strident, emotional and ideologically loaded defense of a character on the Duck Dynasty “reality TV” show. Within two hours after the time the story broke nationwide, Google posted stories about it from sources as wide-ranging as NBC News, E! Entertainment, Reuters, The Washington Post, The Houston Chronicle and CNN. I was no more concerned about Robertson’s comments than I would be about the comments of any untrained celebrity in the middle of his 15 minutes of fame. What I did find interesting was the way in which Jindal’s curious actions and words added to the confusion of many who don’t understand why a person who wants to run for president makes the kind of statements he was once again making. By choosing to make the passionate Duck Dynasty statement he wasn’t in any way called on to make, Jindal alienated Republicans or potential Republicans who are sympathetic to homosexuals, or who, for that matter, just like to have sex from time to time. (Among the sins that Robertson deplored in his comments were “sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.” I don’t know who “those men” are; why they’re called “those”; or what inspired Robertson’s sudden shift from the singular to the plural. But believe me, I don’t need to know.) Why would the potential candidate Jindal risk alienating those men and women — whoever they are — when he doesn’t have to? Does he think the Robertsons are such a valuable Louisiana product the governor himself must go to bat for them? Does he think the immense profits from the program flow into Louisiana rather than the deep pockets of A&E executives? Does he think his defense will change Roberson’s position in any way? Jindal consigned anyone who disagreed with his TV review in any way to “the politically correct crowd.” Once again, it seemed as if he were not only alienating potential voters, but insulting them to boot. Maybe he just has an unorthodox campaign plan. I mean, as a rule, candidates tend to try to say nice things about people who might vote for them — including allies and contributors.
It’s Important All Right Jindal isn’t the only person who thinks Duck Dynasty is really important for Louisiana. Turns out Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne thinks the same thing. In fact, Dardenne told the press, “if the Robertson family cannot come to an agreement with A&E and wants to continue the show, Louisiana already has the infrastructure in place to maintain their record-breaking program.” You’d think Dardenne meant that Louisiana was going to throw some money into a new TV program. But no! Instead, Dardenne “offered to connect the Robertsons with people who might be able to continue Duck Dynasty,” according to the Times-Picayune. So, in Louisiana, the lieutenant governor is a television producer too. Wow. I just got a whole lot more impressed with state government than I used to be. Dardenne said, “‘Duck Dynasty’ has been an important representation of the state of Louisiana, inspiring prospective visitors and investors since its debut. Their show draws tens of millions of viewers each year, reaching an audience eager to visit Sportsman’s Paradise.” Well, that may be true. One thing that’s certainly true is that tens of millions of viewers come away from the show with the impression that Louisiana is populated by the uncultured, uneducated and opinionated. But I guess that’s the standard state of affairs for national television shows about Louisiana.
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Dardenne is right on the money when he says Duck Dynasty “has been an important representation of the state of Louisiana.” Now, the fact that he wants to say that in public, and in front of microphones, is, from my weird perspective, the problem. Dardenne plans to run for governor.
Jay’s Calling Once I realized that Jay Dardenne is both a Louisiana politician and a big-time producer, it was easy for me to imagine the sorts of phone conversations he must have. Here’s one I imagined, as it would sound from Dardenne’s end: “Hello, this is Jay Dardenne calling for Danny DeVito. Just tell him Jay’s on the phone ... I know he’s busy, sweetheart. I’m busy. We’re all busy. Just put him on the phone ... Sometime today ... Danny, baby. How’s show business? ... Lookit, I’m shopping a new project; a reality TV show. Danny, this thing is just going to make a gaggle of bank ... Well, of course I’m going to let you in on it. In fact, I was thinking of making you executive producer ... Two points? Goes without saying, Danny boy, goes without saying. You know I got your back. So how’s about I just get on the next plane to L.A. and bring the papers? We’ll hammer it out over an egg-white omelet ... Oh, you’d rather fly out here? That would be fantastic for me, Danny. I’m working on a dozen more shows and I sure could use that time ... Do I have that lime liquor you like? Danny, I have a case. Do I know what you like or do I know what you like? ... OK, bro, I’ll have Melissa waiting for you at the airport. I’m sorry, bro, but I gotta book. I love you, Danny. I love you, man ... LOVE ... YOU! ... Ciao, baby.”
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Year-End Round-Up I’m so far out of the loop I started my year-end round-up by researching events of 2012. After a while, I found myself thinking, “You know, 2012 wasn’t a bad year.” I was a little bummed when I finally figured out I was going to have to ratchet it up a year. The year 2013 wasn’t a great one for horror films, with much of the money going to remakes of horror classics (Evil Dead, Texas Chainsaw) that should never be remade. I’ll give my nod for best of the year to Mama — a creepy little number about two young girls found abandoned in the woods who keep talking to their “Mama” just as if she were hanging around with them. This is one more instance of the scariest movie coming from a Spanish-speaking director: in this case, Andres Muschietti, who first directed Mama (in Spanish) in Argentina in 2008. Universal was so impressed by Muschietti’s English language version of the film that it decided to give him a pile of money to helm the first installment in its new Mummy franchise. In the last five years, the Spanish-speaking directors have just plain swiped the horror movie mantle from the Japanese. I wouldn’t have thought any group could make movies as consistently scary as The Grudge-type stuff. But the likes of Muschietti, Gustavo Hernandez (The Silent House) and reigning horror film king Guillermo del Toro are doing the impossible. It was a great year for comedy movies, with Melissa McCarthy (the sleeper star of Bridesmaids) generating an extremely high frequency of laughs in the movie The Heat. McCarthy proved she can carry an entire movie if she has a good straight man (in this case, Sandra Bullock). The hilarious script was penned by Parks and Recreation writer Katie Dippold. The Heat is rated R for a reason. If you’re 17 or older, find out what McCarthy’s talking about when she keeps yelling, “Nope, they’re not in there.” McCarthy’s certain to be the great comedy discovery of the teens. The over-long This Is The End has plenty of laughs. This one has all the Judd Apatow people, The Office people, and pretty much every comedian in the United States in it. It’s worth watching just to see Michael Cera outrageously cast against type as a raging, foul-mouthed, coke-snorting tool. In 2013, Miley Cyrus became the latest star to figure out that if you don’t have much to offer in the way of talent, you can still make a lot of money if you wear really tight clothing. We do have to subtract a few style demerits for Cyrus’ decision to rip off the Mohawk that Darby Crash wore in the Germs 35 years ago. As for her dancing, that doesn’t bother me so much. She’s just trying to make sure she can get a job in a gentleman’s club on the inevitable day when people quit downloading her weak stuff. As for current events — well, what can I say? The big political events — the budget battles on Capitol hill, the disastrous start-up of Obamacare, the continued tea party influence in the House, the lack of any elections that mattered — were about as interesting as a So You Think You Can Dance marathon. Any year when the world of Miley Cyrus is more interesting than the world of K Street politics is a year we need to get behind us. “Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” Yes! Happy 2014! www.BestOfSWLA.com
January 9, 2014
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Axiall Explosion Results In Injuries
LOCAL NEWS STORIES OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS
LC Port Has New Entry Plaza The Port of Lake Charles recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new entrance plaza. The $4 million project will allow the port to better process truck traffic, allow for better security, and will help with the expected increase in cargo over the next 30 years.
CPSB Recommends Closure of Reynaud, Wilson The Calcasieu Parish School Board budget committee recently voted to propose closing two schools — Reynaud Middle and Ralph Wilson Elementary. The full board will vote on the plan at its next meeting on Jan. 14. The recommendation is part of the committee’s effort to tackle a $10 million deficit expected for the 2014-15 school year. Board members Clara Duhon, Fred Hardy and Roman Thompson voted against the recommendation.If the School Board approves the motion, the 155 students at Reynaud would be transferred to Molo Middle; the 199 students at Wilson
would go to J.D. Clifton and J.J. Johnson elementary schools.Karl Bruchhaus, school system CFO, said years of declining enrollment and low school performance were major factors in the recommendation.
Sowela Completes Purchase Of Trailer Park Property Sowela Technical Community College recently completed the purchase of 13 acres currently used as a trailer park. The property, once residents are relocated, will be used for a $20 million regional training facility. Ground should be broken on the project by the middle of next year.
CPPJ Approves 2014 Budget The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury recently approved a $149 million budget for 2014. The ‘14 budget is an increase of 1.9 percent over the current $148.6 million budget. The parish’s spending plan includes
nearly $50 million in capital projects, including $24 million for road maintenance, bridge replacement and sewer line installation; $10 million for parish courthouse complex renovation; and $5 million for parish park improvement. The budget also includes a 1.8-percent employee wage increase and a raise of the employer’s share of health insurance premiums by $75 per employee per month. The budget report is available online at cppj.net.
CPPJ Approves Participation In Tax Incentive Program The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury recently approved a resolution that allows the parish to participate in the Louisiana Competitive Projects Tax Exemption Program. The program allows parishes to permit a local 10-year property tax exemption for non-manufacturing companies locating within the parish. To be eligible, projects must have a price tag of $25 million, create at least 50
An explosion and fire at Axiall’s Westlake plant on Dec. 20 sent toxic chemicals into the atmosphere and has resulted in a total of 27 injuries as of Jan. 2. No fatalities were reported. The fire occurred in the plants Number 2 furnace of its PHH unit, on the southwest corner of the plant. The plant’s internal fire department extinguished the fire within an hour. The Calcasieu Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness issued a shelter in place shortly after 2 pm for Westlake residents, which was lifted less than an hour later. The state Department of Environmental Quality found that “unknown amounts” of EDC dichloroethane, hydrochloric acid and vinyl chloride were released into the atmosphere.
Moss Memorial Pediatric Clinic Reopens The Pediatric Clinic at the W.O. Moss Memorial Health Clinic reopened on Monday, Jan. 6. The clinic was closed due to state budget cuts in March of 2012, when the clinic was a part of the state-run W.O. Moss Regional Hospital. It ran at the Memorial/Louisiana State University Health Science Center Family Medicine Clinic until reopening at Moss Memorial. Headed by pediatrician Dr. Patrick Unkel, the clinic will be staffed with doctors of the Memorial/Louisiana State University Health Science Center Family Medicine Residency Program. The clinic is located at 1000 Walters St. in Lake Charles. All pediatric patients are accepted regardless of financial situation. Hours are Monday, 7:30 am-4 pm, and Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 am-noon.
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LA POLITICS
john maginnis
Hopes Are Up In politics as in life, at this time of year, hope springs annually, if not eternally, until, from the Legislature in the spring to the voting booth in the fall, dim reality sets in. But as the year turns, politicians start by looking to the bright side for what they, if not we, hope will happen in 2014. For the new year, if there’s one hope President Barack Obama and Gov. Bobby Jindal share, it’s that, after 2013, things get better for them. For Jindal, the dismal flop of his income tax repeal plan and his continued cuts to public services and college budgets resulted in the long, low ebb of his approval ratings and the disappearance of his presidential prospects. But the tide might be turning for him a bit, as December passed without the mid-year budget cuts that had become a holiday tradition for the Jindal administration. If state revenues finally are catching up with the governor’s pronouncements of how well the economy is doing, 2014 could be the first year in the last five when he wouldn’t have to grapple with a budget crisis. He might even be able to put some money back into higher education instead of cutting more. That would do more for his popularity than passing something major through the Legislature or spending more time in-state, neither of which is likely to happen this year. He should also hope this year shows that Jindalcare, his rapidly imposed public-private partnerships of hospitals and clinics, works as well for the uninsured as the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare would have. Of course, the governor spurned that expansion. Future years are another matter. If his model, based on federal funding that eventually will decline, isn’t sustainable long-term, that will be the next governor’s problem. Also hoping to leave a very bad year behind her is U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, whose year-end was marred by attack ads from out-of-state groups over her support of the Affordable Care Act and other Obama policies. Her re-election hopes ride on the new federal health
insurance law improving on its disastrous rollout to at least work well enough for ordinary citizens that it doesn’t become the burning issue in her re-election campaign this fall. With control of the Senate possibly hanging in the balance, the national spotlight will be on her as never before in her career, which also hangs in the balance. With the great Senate opportunity within their reach, state Republicans’ hopes lie with peace breaking out in their own party. But that seems no more likely than it does in the Mideast. Congressman Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge is the anointed one, but many on the right wing remain unimpressed and some like conservative Rob Manness’ tea party message. The GOP field could get more crowded soon, now that state Rep. Paul Hollis of Mandeville has filed the federal election papers necessary to form a Senate campaign. The best the party can hope for is for their candidates to keep their aim on Landrieu and not to turn on each other. For Democrats, the past year was no worse than the last five or so, which have all been horrible. Now the party’s remaining hopes for statewide office reside in the Landrieu family. Getting the action started this year is New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s re-election bid, which his sister Mary hopes will be made without racial rancor that could spill over to her fall election. Democrats further hope that a victorious Mitch doesn’t go long into his second term before setting his sights on the governor’s race, for which Democrats haven’t had a runoff contender in 10 years. Starting it all off will be U.S. Sen. David Vitter, when he soon reveals his decision about whether he will run for governor in 2015. He had a better year than all of the personalities mentioned above, but now he ponders turning his back on Washington and a long, safe Senate career to lay all his hopes, and likely some fears too, on the line in a quest for all the power he could hope for.
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Accidents • Wrongful Death • Serious Personal Injury Criminal, Domestic Law Cases
Larry A. Roach (1932-2003) Barry A. Roach • Larry A. Roach, Jr. Fred C. "Bubba" LeBleu • David M. Hudson
2917 Ryan St. • Lake Charles (337) 433-8504 • Fax (337) 433-3196
Where Do We Go From Here? American Press sports columnist Jim Gazzolo had an interesting article a few weeks ago about the poor crowd at de playoff game. De crowd uf only 5,000 was an embarrassment to Southwest Louisiana. Now we all know it wuz rainin’ an’ de game wuz basically ova at halftime. But de truth is, we ain’t doin’ a very good job uf supportin’ McNeese athletics or academics. Now ova de holidays, I discussed this wit’ several folks while attendin’ parties. No one appears to have de answer az to how we can get mo folks in seats at games an’ mo students to stay here to go to school an’ how we can have mo loyalty to de school. I’m reminded uf a feller who wuz bidness manager for de New Awlins Saints dat I heard speak many years ago. He sed sometin’ dat stuck in my mind. He sed a sportin’ event iz entertainment … jus’ like de circus or a music concert. Put on a good show an’ folks will reward you wit’ dar entertainment dollar. Don’t put on a good show an’ folks will go elsewhere. You look at de choices folks have in our area now to spend dar entertainment dollar an’ it’s far greater dan when de late de late Jack Doland coached de Cowboys. Now we have more concerts, festivals an’ da casinos. An’ de competition for dat entertainment dollar will only increase in years to come. An’ now we have big screen television sets wit’ high def dat make you feel like you’re on de field. Me, I tink de lack uf support comes from de fact dat so many folks in dis town ain’t from here an’ have a loyalty to anudder school. Folks dat have come to dis area from Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas to work have a connection to a school back home. An’ den dars de constant LSU issue dat’s brought up in any discussion about how McNeese iz always playin’ second fiddle to LSU. Yet some uf de same folks who complain about poor crowds at sportin’ events send dar kids to LSU. Thomas, a graduate of LSU, sez dar are a bunch uf reasons kids should go to McNeese, an’ we agree. But de question iz, why do we see de graduate list from La. Tech, Northwestern and LSU dat haz so many folks from our area? But do we see de same number uf MSU grads from Ruston, Natchitoches and Baton Rouge? Now folks, dis iz de same discussion dat’s held over an’ over, not only in Lake Charles, but in udder communities, like Hammond, Lafayette, Monroe and Thibideaux. It’s about time we start supportin’ our own an’ fightin’ for every state dollar available to make McNeese mo attractive for kids to stay here an’ get an education.
Lots Of Events Next Few Weeks Mardi Gras, high school basketball, de livestock show and rodeo and a whole lot mo — yes, it’s goin’ to be a busy first quarter in our area. Twelfth Night officially kicked off Mardi Gras, which keeps gettin’ bigger an’ better every year. Mardi Gras is March 4, an’ you can bet dars gonna be lots uf events between now an’ den. Check wit’ de local media for lists of events. State basketball championships will take place at de newly renovated Burton Coliseum. Now dis iz gonna be much mo bigger dan las’ year. De Sowela Convention an’ Visitors Bureau iz axin’ for volunteers. No job is too big or too small, so contact de bureau an’ give dem a helpin’ hand. Remember folks, dem mamas an’ daddys dat come to watch dar kids play in dese championships spend money on lodgin’, food an’ gas, all uf which collect a tax. Same ting for de Livestock Show and Rodeo. Cowboys and cowgirls from all over come to our area for dis big-time event. In addition, we have de Banners Series, Sulphur’s 100-year celebration an’ a whole lot mo. Goes witout sayin’ it’s gonna be a busy coupla three months.
Election Means Big-Time Money Dar isn’t a day goes by I don’t get an email and regular mail axin’ for money for a candidate for office. Mos’ uf dem come from de Democratic Party, but de 12
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Republicans ain’t afraid to po mouth too. One dat wuz really funny dat de Democrats sent out wuz de ole political war horse himself James Carville sayin’ dat Karl Rove an de Koch brudders would jump in a race like a duck on a June bug if day felt day had a chance uf winnin’. Carville den went on to remind everyone dat Mary Landrieu wuz facin’ a tough fight an’ needed money now. Now de election ain’t ‘til November, an’ already we’ve seen tons of ads for an’ against her. Just wish I had de money dat’s gonna be spent on dis one.
N.O. Mayor’s Race Gets Interestin’ Mary’s brudda, Mitch, de mayor uf New Awlins, wuz figgered to have an easy race in March. But not so any mo. Political heavyweight Michael Bagneras has entered de race, an’ iz already rollin’ in de cash. He reported raisin’ $170,000 dollars within hours after his recent announcement dat he wuz in de race. Now Landrieu haz $1.2 million, an’ dat’s afta spendin’ $600,000 in December. Rumors have it dat if Mary an’ Mitch win, he’ll run for gubner. One ting about dem politicians, dar always plannin’ ahead … an’ of coure axin’ for money.
EWE For Congress?? A few days ago dar wuz a news story about Edwin Edwards runnin’ for Congress in de 6th District. Dat seat iz bein’ helt by Bill Cassidy, who’s runnin’ for U.S. Senate against Mary. Bob Mann, a political expert from way back, sez it ain’t gonna happen. He says de 86-year-old Edwards is tryin’ to stay in de public eye. He claims de rumor is a publicity stunt. Federal law keeps him from runnin’ for state office. However dars no law to keep a convicted felon from runnin’ for Congress. Guess Congress ain’t gonna pass any such law soon, since mos’ uf dem are criminals who jus’ haven’t been convicted.
Tell Us Where To Haul It De Public Works Dept. uf de Police Jury recently announced dat de use uf de two solid waste collection sites had increased by 67 percent over 2012. De sites are located on Swift Plant Road in Lake Charles an’ Post Oak Road in Sulphur. Guess folks in Moss Bluff, DeQuincy an’ Vinton don’t have any trash to throw away. Seriously folks, don’t it jus’ make sense to put up mo uf dem collection sites trewout de parish in order to make Calcasieu Parish a cleaner place in which to live? An’ it’s not like de Police Jury ain’t got no money to do this. Jus’ look at dar recently accepted budget.
Jindal To Present Budget You recall las year before presentin’ de budget to de Legislature, Gov. Bobby Jindal wuz all over de TV explainin’ how de budget wuz gonna be fantastic. Guess you can say it wuzn’t az advertized. Now dis year, he has to present a budget to de Legislature on Jan. 27. Haven’t seen any sneak previews uf what’s in store for dis year, but you can bet it will have cuts to education an’ health care … de two whippin’ boys uf our state gubment.
DEQ Draggin’ Its Feet When de Axiall fire took place on Dec. 20, de Dept. uf Environmental Quality wuz out dar checkin’ to see what wuz in de air an’ how much uf it dar wuz. Ever since day’ve been givin’ de people uf Southwest Louisiana de runaround. Dars been delay afta delay az to what wuz in de air an’ how much uf it wuz released. It’s time to give it to us straight. Meantime, de lawyers wasted no time jumpin’ on TV, radio, newspapers an’ billbaods tellin’ folks in Sulphur, Westlake an’ Mossville to contact dem to find out what dar options are. If de DEQ worked az fast az dem lawyers, we would know somethin’ by now.
Deep Taughts While Enjoyin’ A Churchill At De Ceegar Club 10) Haven’t we all heard enough about de Duck Dynasty thing? 9) Iz T Claude gonna invite me to hiz boucharee dis year? 8) When are day gonna quit makin’ dem reality shows dat make Louisiana folks look so dumb? 7) Can Johnny Football make it in de pros? 6) Does my mailman give my mail to his dog before puttin’ it in my mail box? 5) Why can’t we continue to have dem old light bulbs dat actually gave out some light? 4) Should I continue to expect dis year’s Christmas gift from Sedonia or did she jus’ forget me? 3) Where do day get some uf dem play by play announcers for college football and pro games? 2) Why not continue to wear blue and gold on Fridays to show support for McNeese? 1) How come my dog, Boudin, sleeps in my bed an’ I sleep on de sofa?
Final Shot I axed my buddy, Lefty, how he had done on bettin’ college bowl games. He sed he’d lost de farm an’ all de cows an’ chickens. ‘Til next time, lache pas la patate.
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TAKING CHARGE
dale archer, MD
Grow Up Time Dear Dr. Archer, My 12-year-old daughter has terrible anxiety about sleeping and staying in her bed at night. She often ends up on my floor or in bed with one of her sisters. This is the way it’s always been. I thought she’d outgrow it, but she hasn’t. Her response, when asked why, is simply, “I hate being alone.” I am at a loss. What would you recommend we do? Kristy Dear Kristy, This is concerning at age 12, and this needs to be fixed now. First, you must question your daughter closely and make sure at some point there was not a traumatic event that occurred when she was alone. If so, this must be addressed. A healthy family, whether with a single parent or married parents, should always have healthy boundaries. There should be a separation between the generations in order to maintain a balance of power and appropriate intimacy. This is not to restrict love between members, but rather to allow parents to share and benefit from mature adult intimacy, while fostering parental affection to the children. These boundaries should not be blurred or crossed, or the marital relationship will suffer. When your child comes to you in the middle of the night, she is seeking warmth and reassurance, and she needs it at that moment. Get up, and bring your daughter back to her bed. Tuck her in, talk softly, and offer words of comfort. Perhaps read or tell a story and give her a favorite stuffed animal to hold. You
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can lie down next to her and offer your physical closeness and touch. Encourage her to think positively about how much she is growing and all she can do — anything to make her feel empowered. Stay as long as you wish, but then return to your bed. Repeat this routine as long as necessary. She will learn that her room is her own special, safe place. She will soon develop a sense that she can take care of herself and she is growing up strong.
To have a healthy, well-adjusted 12year-old daughter, you need to see to it that she’s able to go to bed and sleep through the night on her own. If needed, set up a positive reinforcement system. If she sleeps in her bed all night, perhaps she can read a book in bed before it’s lights out. Maybe she could stay up 30 minutes longer each night, get to go to a movie, or have a girl friend sleep over on the weekend. Anything she really enjoys could be considered a reward. To have a healthy, well-adjusted 12year-old daughter, you need to see to it that she’s able to go to bed and sleep through the night on her own. Be loving, gentle and nurturing, but also firm. Children will get away with anything they can, but it is up to the parents to enforce what is best for the child. Good
luck. Dr. Archer Dear Dr. Archer, Several years ago, I hired my mother-in-law at my place of employment, and I am her supervisor. Things started off all right, but I always felt responsible for her. When she was neglectful in her duties, I would try to shield and make excuses for her. The few times I actually performed my responsibilities and corrected her, she would retaliate and say things that would be very hurtful to me. I became so cautious of her feelings that I stressed myself as to how to make her happy. Meanwhile, other coworkers became very agitated with me. They realized I was bending over backwards for my mother-in-law and saw that she seemed to always get her way. Well, I finally had enough. I decided not to put up with her abuse and lack of regard for my feelings. I also decided that I was not going to allow her to control or manipulate me anymore. But now she not only doesn’t talk to me, she makes me out to my husband’s family to be the bad guy who’s picking on her. I hate that I am in this situation, but I don’t know how to resolve it. If it weren’t for me she would be unemployed. I don’t really know what to do, and honestly, she has zapped my energy. Please tell me how I can handle this situation properly. Sharon
First, you must tell your husband exactly what’s happening at work. Inform him of the fact that if his mother’s performance doesn’t improve, she will lose her job. He needs to understand the problem and that you are counting on his support as well as his family’s support. Next, you need to review your mother-in-law’s job description thoroughly. Make a list of her duties and the expected performance in meeting your company’s standards, and be sure to provide her with her own copy. Next, set a meeting and review her past performance with respect to these standards. Be sure to include the good along with the bad. Give concrete examples from your list on what needs improvement. Tell her you will be monitoring her and that you expect her to improve immediately. Have this meeting with her at work, and explain exactly what the deal is in a calm, professional tone. Try to finish the meeting on a good note by giving examples of what she does well. Tell her the two of you will meet again in two weeks to review how things are progressing. Have all of this documented in writing, and have her sign the paperwork acknowledging what you have discussed. After that, it’s up to her to show improvement. If she doesn’t, make sure to document the shortfalls in writing in order to review with her in two weeks. Explain that if there is no improvement by then that you will be reporting this to your boss and that her job will be in jeopardy. Good luck.
Hi Sharon, I am assuming your company doesn’t have an EAP (Employee Assistance plan) in place, or a Human Resources guide on how to handle this type of situation. If so, I’m sure you would have already followed company policy. So, here’s what you need to do.
Dr. Dale Archer is a board certified psychiatrist who founded the Institute for Neuropsychiatry in Southwest Louisiana. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, CNN Headline News and other national TV programs and the author of the New York Times best-selling book Better than Normal. Visit him at DrDaleArcher.com.
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ECONOMICS, ETC.
michael kurth
Middle Class A Look At Income, Wealth and Social Mobility President Obama and the Democrats are fond of talking about the need for government to “build the middle class.” Building the middle class is an easy sell in America, because we are a middleclass society built on middle-class values. We are known around the world for our blue jeans, not pleated pants and cravats; football and rock concerts, not ballet and the opera; hot dogs and beer, not caviar and champagne; and pickup trucks and minivans, not Bentleys and Rolls Royces. But the key to the development of our huge middle class is free enterprise and wealth creation, not government programs based on market intervention and wealth redistribution. Since colonial times, Americans have abhorred the social rigidity of Europe, with its kings, queens and noble aristocracy; courtly manner; and “high” and “low” language. Perhaps there is no better expression of this than Emma Lazarus’ sonnet “The New Colossus,” inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” That is why the colonists, after winning their independence from England, chose to establish a government with limited authority to interfere in peoples’ lives. The founding fathers understood that government power is most likely to be used to protect the position and privilege of the wealthy, while denying opportunity to the common man. They had read Adam Smith’s book, The Wealth of Nations, which was first published in 1776, and believed in the invisible hand that Smith said would lead people, driven by their own self-interest, to do that which would benefit others the most ... if government would just allow
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them their liberty. It was free enterprise that created the “American dream” of going from rags to riches and led Ralph Waldo Emerson to write: “If a man has good corn or wood, or boards, or pigs to sell, or can make better chairs or knives, crucibles or church organs, than anybody else, you will find a broad hard-beaten road to his house, though it be in the woods.”
The key to the development of our huge middle class is free enterprise and wealth creation, not government programs based on market intervention and wealth redistribution. Egalitarians who cite statistics on the unequal distribution of income and wealth in America usually ignore one very important factor: social mobility. The rich and the poor are generally not the same generation after generation. In fact, most of us move back and forth though the income strata within our lifetimes: We start out in our twenties near or below the poverty level, then move upward in our thirties through fifties, before moving back down after we retire in our sixties. Social mobility is what we should be concerned with, not income disparity. Is the American dream still alive? Joshua Rauh, professor of finance at Stanford School of Business, and Steven Kaplan, professor of entrepreneurship and finance at the University of Chicago, examined the Forbes list of the 400 wealthiest people in the U.S. in 1982, comparing it to the list in 2011. They found that 60 percent of the people on
the 1982 list came from wealthy families, compared to just 32 percent in 2011. Where did today’s moguls come from? In 1962, Sam Walton opened his first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas; to become successful, he had to out-compete retail giants like Sears, Pennys and K-mart. In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started selling mail order kits for making a computer the size of a typewriter from Jobs’ garage; they had to take on computer giant IBM in order to make Apple the largest company in the world. Bill Gates (Microsoft), Larry Ellison (Oracle), Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Larry Page and Sergey Brin (Google), and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) are also among the top 20. In fact, most of the wealthiest Americans come from middle class backgrounds, and they built their companies themselves. So why is the middle class shrinking? The two most important characteristics for success in America are education and middle-class values learned at home, such as honesty and hard work. Elementary and secondary education were once the sole domain of local government, but in 1960 the federal government used the “space race” to justify pumping enormous sums of money into these schools, and shortly thereafter, teacher organizations morphed into militant unions, the Department of Education was set up to channel federal funds and the mandates that always accompanied them, education became bureaucratized, students were taught the art of answering multiple-choice questions, and parents lost control of their neighborhood schools. More students now graduate from high school, but the market does not value their expertise at choosing among A, B, C or D. So, while the earnings of the college educated continue to rise, the earnings of those with only a high school degree are falling.
So why is the middle class shrinking? The two most important characteristics for success in America are education and middle-class values learned at home, such as honesty and hard work. The wealthy are doing fine. But redistributing wealth from the successful to the unsuccessful destroys incentives and encourages dependency. Any effort to build the middle class must start with real school reform and the elimination of needless licensing and regulations that protect the politically well-connected while stifling entrepreneurship and closing economic opportunity to the average person. But, somehow, I don’t think that is what the Democrats have in mind.
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WEIRD NEWS
chuck shepherd
Nuclear Tractor Pull Edward Teller, the famous theoretical physicist known as the “father of the hydrogen bomb” for his work on the World War II-era Manhattan Project, died in 2003. His daughter Rene told The Free Press of Kinston, N.C., in November that she had recently discovered two of her father’s mementos at a thrift shop near Kinston: awards Teller had won at tractor pull competitions. “He’d show up at major tractor pulls” riding just a Cub Cadet mower, Rene said, and “leave the competition in the dust.” Teller’s secret, she said, was using “nuclear fusion-based engines,” which sponsors ultimately had to ban.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit — “It will be sort of my unique factor,” said Lucy Luckayanko, describing her $3,000 eyeball jewelry implant from New York City’s Park Avenue Laser Vision. The implant involved the insertion of a piece of platinum between the sclera (the white part of the eye) and the clear conjunctiva. Actually, said the shop’s medical director, Dr. Emil Chynn, to WNEW-TV in November, it’s “pretty safe.” — Japan’s “cat cafes” allow diners to caress house kittens that roam the facilities. Similar eateries feature owls
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(the Fukurou Sabou in Tokyo, Owl Family in Osaka). The owls can’t be caressed and are easily spooked by excessive noise. — Liu Pengfei’s Five Loaves and Two Fish restaurant in Fuzhou, China, is losing money rapidly in spite of its overflowing crowds. According to a December China Daily report, Pengfui allows customers to pay whatever amount they want to for the food. They must also wash out their bowls. “I want to continue,” he said, “as I believe the feeling of trust is contagious.”
The Kingdom — According to a Wired story, biologist Theodore Pietsch described the sex life of the anglerfish as: “Boy meets girl, boy bites girl, boy’s mouth fuses to girl’s body, boy lives the rest of his life attached to girl, sharing her blood and supplying her with sperm.” Because the ocean floor is so dark it’s hard to detect mates, only 1 percent of males ever hook up with females. The rest starve to death as virgins. — Marlene Zuk of the University of Minnesota described the mating mechanics of damselflies, crickets and cockroaches for The New York Times in November, 2013. The damselfly male’s
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penis is a Swiss Army knife-like contraption, which it must be to access the female’s well-hidden eggs. The cricket easily produces sperm, but then awaits its draining through a “long stem for several minutes” to achieve fertilization. Cockroaches, Professor Zuk wrote, mate by “blind trust” as they hook up back-toback. — Nirmala Toppo, 14, is the one to call if wild elephants overrun your village in India’s Orissa and Jharkhand states, which are still home to hundreds of marauding pachyderms. In June, she emptied a herd of 11 elephants out of the industrial city of Rourkela. Said Toppo: “First I pray and then talk to the herd. I tell them this is not your home. You should return where you belong.” Somehow, the elephants follow her for miles, according to an October BBC News dispatch.
Cutting-Edge Science University of British Columbia researchers tried to judge whether the blocking of dopamine D4 receptors can reduce the urge to gamble in subjects other than human beings. They claimed to have devised a procedure that works on the dopamine receptors of rats, and especially those with a gambling prob-
lem. Researchers used a slot machinelike device that dispenses sugar pellets to the rats. The researchers claimed they offered rats “measured risks” and determined that rats are more likely to take risks immediately after a close loss (just as people are).
Medical Marvels Seven years ago, Michael Spann, now 29, suddenly doubled over in pain; felt as if he “got hit in the head with a sledgehammer”; and began crying blood. Despite consultations with doctors, including two visits with extensive lab work at the venerable Cleveland Clinic, the Antioch, Tenn., man told Nashville’s The Tennessean in October that he is resigned to an “idiopathic condition,” which is a term that indicates a disease without an apparent cause. Spann’s main wish now is just to hold a job. He fears that fellow workers and customers will not react well to the sight of a man bleeding from the eyes. The incidents occur once every few days.
Perspective The daunting problems that faced the launch of the HealthCare.gov website in October were merely indicative of the federal government’s snail-like pace at
integrating digital innovations common to everyday America. A December New York Times report revealed that The Federal Register (the daily journal of the U.S. government) still receives original content from some agencies on virtually obsolete 3.5-inch floppy disks. Its workorder authorizations from some agencies come on disks hand-delivered inside the Washington Beltway by courier. Contractors can be frustrated; they must sometimes downgrade to interface with their government clients.
VOTED BEST SUSHI! BAR NOW OPEN!
Least Competent Criminals A 23-year-old woman was arrested in Crestview, Fla., for shoplifting a toy from an adult store before she inquired about a job there. She professed her innocence until she was shown the surveillance video. When she saw it, police reported, she said, “Oh, my God. Look at what I’m doing ... I’m gonna cry.”
Readers’ Choice In October, an Ohio judge turned down a petition by Donald Miller Jr., in which he asked to be ruled “alive.” “You’re still deceased as far as the law is concerned,” probate judge Allan Davis told him. State law required challenges to the declaration of death obtained by Miller’s wife in 1994 to be filed within three years. Said Davis, “I don’t know where that leaves you.”
A News of the Weird Classic (July 2009) Hundreds of Los Angeles’ downand-out live not underneath freeways but inside their concrete structures, according to a June (2009) Los Angeles Times report. The largest such “home” is a gymnasium-sized cavern under the Interstate 10 freeway in the suburb of Baldwin Park. That space is nearly inaccessible; to get to it, one must squeeze through a rusty grating, traverse a narrow ledge and descend a ladder to reach “a vast, vault-like netherworld, strewn with garbage and syringes.” Toys and rattles and a cat carcass are visible on an upper platform. Authorities fear the area; every few years, state officials try to seal the entrance. The homeless quickly unseal it as soon as the officials leave.
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john maginnis Issues Will Sound Familiar In 2014 The new year will feature old issues for the Louisiana Legislature, starting with a state budget that’s beginning to pull itself out of the muck, but may not be in the black for the 2014-15 cycle. Rep. John Schroder, R-Covington, is predicting a “significant budget shortfall” that could exceed $500 million.
Lawmakers will need to figure out how best to address that anticipated budget gap after the 2014 session convenes March 10 and before it adjourns June 2. As for what’s new, Schroder and others are confident that a few old budget tricks will no longer be available for use due to a 2013 law that changes the way the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes money and a recent court ruling
jeremy alford that cracked down on the use of statutorily-dedicated funds. The usual intra-budget struggles can still be expected. For example, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said he’s ready to go to the mat for his office’s full $23 million marketing budget, which usually sees $8-14 million siphoned off by the administration for other budget needs. Dardenne is likewise again getting
behind legislation to create protection for tourism money or, more specifically, a fund to recruit major sporting events. In the meantime, lawmakers need to devise a plan for spending the excess money collected by the state’s tax amnesty program and the surplus from the last fiscal year. Since the state Constitution prohibits surpluses from being used for operating expenses such as
THEY SAID IT
“If it were left up to me, you couldn’t use your own money and you couldn’t take donations and we’d be campaigning out of the back of a pickup truck on a stump.” —Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, on campaign finance reforms
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“Understanding how to paint by the numbers that the data provides is the key to winning elections … that and having enough paint to finish the picture.” —Republican consultant Scott Hobbs on recent polls on the 2014 U.S. Senate race
“It wasn’t a punt.” —State Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Bossier City, on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s decision to reverse a lower court ruling forbidding felons from possessing arms, which critics contend overlooked the larger issue of the constitutionality of a long list of state laws regulating firearms
“My vehicle is messy. My closet is messy. My desk is messy. If there was ADD medication when I was a kid, my mother would have definitely had me on it.” —Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, on campaign finance reforms
higher education, some are beginning to advocate on behalf of infrastructure projects like the one involving I-49 South. “If I-49 South really is as important as we say, then all of or a substantial portion of this one-time budget surplus should be spent on it,” said Treasurer John Kennedy. With a $12 billion infrastructure backlog, however, that could prove to be a controversial debate. Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, has raised the possibility of another TIMED program, but that will take an additional dedicated revenue source—that is, another tax, which is a non-starter at the Capitol these days. Even before the American Tort Reform Assoc. declared Louisiana a “judicial hellhole” shortly before Christmas, lobbyists and lawmakers alike knew the 2014 session would serve as a battleground for yet another tort reform battle, with so-called oil and gas legacy cases leading the way. “Gross abuses and questions of corruption have created an unpredictable lawsuit environment that threatens Louisiana’s long-term economic competitiveness and undermines the legitimacy of our entire legal system,” said Melissa Landry, executive director of Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch. There will also be a drive to curb the ability of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East to file litigation, which it has already done against 97 oil and gas companies. It’ll be interesting to see whether the potential legislation will include any other levee districts or political subdivisions. One fresh angle that could emerge in
the 2014 regular session involves environmental justice and the package of bills being developed by Russel Honoré, the retired Army lieutenant general who gained fame during Hurricane Katrina. Among other things, he wants to revive the policy exchange over water management. Good government lawmakers will want to usher in changes to campaign finance law and broker new limits on the ways in which Tulane scholarships can be awarded by legislators (if an internal fix isn’t implemented first). Funding for higher education will be a retread; topics will include tuition freedom and spending on TOPS, two debates that could be overshadowed by the push to reverse or alter Common Core. As for the customary bang from the right, Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Bossier City, is once more considering legislation to allow concealed weapons to be brought into establishments like restaurants. A new twist to the gun debate could emerge with an economic incentive package for gun manufacturers in Louisiana. To be certain, other sleeper issues will sneak up on us, and there will be more than one surprise from the 2014 regular session. But most of the issues will be old favorites — with the real question being whether they’re capable of producing different results.
Another Poll Puts Vitter Ahead In polling both a large and small field of candidates for governor, a new statewide survey leaked to LaPolitics.com shows that U.S. Sen. David Vitter holds a small lead over New Orleans Mayor
Mitch Landrieu and Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne. The poll was conducted by Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research for Dardenne’s campaign with 800 likely voters. The margin of error is 3.5 percent. In a three-way race with party ID provided, Vitter leads with 35 percent, followed by Landrieu at 29 percent and Dardenne at 22 percent. In the event of an all-GOP runoff, the poll shows Vitter leading Dardenne, 4036 percent. The WPA poll was put in the field Nov. 12-14, just one week after the most recent Southern Media and Opinion Research poll was conducted. The SMOR poll had Vitter placing first with 30 percent in what was an independent poll, followed by Treasurer John Kennedy at 19 percent; Dardenne, 18 percent; state Rep. John Bel Edwards, 8 percent; and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, 2 percent.
Parenting Classes Considered Should new parents be required by law to attend special classes before they’re permitted to raise their child? It’s an idea state Rep. Regina Barrow, DBaton Rouge, is seriously considering. “Right now we’re looking at what other states have done and thinking about who should be included and what the classes should cover,” she told LaPolitics.com in an interview. “I recognize that not everyone knows what to do when they bring that child home. It could make a big difference, especially with a single parent.” Barrow said she realizes she could
face opposition from critics arguing the proposal infringes on basic rights. “In order to enter any profession you have to take a test. To get a driver’s license, you have to pass a test,” she added. “And when you think about it, this is about shaping another life. You need the right tools to do that.” The issue, however, is far from settled and she said the idea is still in the conceptual stages. Barrow is chairwoman of the Family Preservation Study Group, which is meeting at the State Capitol.
‘Racially-Polarized’ Electorate? According to a new analysis from JMC Enterprises, Louisiana’s racial demography and electorate are undergoing a substantive change. Since 2009, there are 10,000 fewer white voters in Louisiana, while there are 17,000 more black voters and 9,000 more Asian and Hispanic voters. “If these trends were to continue, the potential for a racially polarized electorate would increase, which in the near term benefits black Democrats and white Republicans,” said JMC president John Couvillon. Couvillon said the current voter registration is 48 percent independent, 29.5 percent Democratic and 23 percent Republican.
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Maginnis and Alford on Twitter @LaPoliticsNow.
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Dr. Henry Carter DeRidder Physician’s Career Includes Family Medicine Practice, Mission Trips To Honduras, Free Clinic Having just retired last July, Dr. Henry Carter, 85, can look back on a long career of helping others with some justifiable pride, but when he does, he looks back with pride not on his own accomplishments, but on being part of a community effort to help others. But Carter’s accomplishments are many, and include a long-time family practice in DeRidder, numerous mission trips to aid villagers in remote areas of Honduras, and opening a free clinic for the working underinsured and uninsured. Carter had served one year of his residency in obstetrics when, in 1954, he joined the Navy. He returned to medicine in 1956, but decided against returning to obstetrics, opting instead for family medicine. In 1957, on the advice of some medical school friends who lived in the area, he relocated to DeRidder and opened a family practice. He operated his clinic for 20 years before doing a residency in internal medicine at Ocshner Hospital in 1977. He and his wife came back to DeRidder, and in 1981 Carter opened an internal medicine clinic in DeRidder. He took on an associate in 1984, a relationship that would last until 2004.
ission trip ork during a m Dr. Carter at w 1989. to Honduras in
It was in 1975 that a cousin who had been involved in a mission trip with the organization Baptist Medical And Dental Mission International, based in Mississippi, encouraged Carter to become involved. That year, Carter took his first mission trip to attend to the spiritual and medical needs of people in Honduras in 1984. It was the beginning of a long list of such mission trips for Carter, who says he’s been on 25 missions, the last one
being four years ago. “I haven’t gone (on mission trips) lately because of health reasons,” he says. In 1985, Carter became part of a newly formed mission team based in DeRidder, Baptist Medical-Dental Mission of DeRidder. And though he says medical help was a very large part of the missions’ efforts, the primary goal was to attend the spiritual needs of people in the villages visited. “Our purpose was Christian evangelism,” Carter says. “Attending to health needs was important, but the main impact we wanted to have was on the spiritual lives (of the residents).” Carter, who was accompanied by his wife on most of his mission trips, says it was quite a culture shock at first. “There was no hot water; we had to sleep on the floor,” he recalls. “In some instances, the mission site would be a four- to six-hour drive from the airport, and transportation was difficult. It was quite a shock seeing the conditions the villagers were living in. Now, it’s not quite as bad as it was back in, say, 1984. Now most areas have running water and electricity.” Among the many memories that stand out for Carter was the patience of the people he treated. “Residents would walk for hours for the services provided by our teams,” says Carter. “They stood in long lines for most of the day. They would register and enter their biographical information, attend a church service, then stand in another long line for medical and dental services, then stand in yet another long line for the pharmacy. From the very old to the very young, people were never impatient or irritable. Young children helped care for young siblings; mothers nursed babies as needed. Our efforts, while sincere and, I believe, truly helpful, seemed scant for the price the nationals paid in fatigue, hunger, thirst and, no doubt, discomfort. But the people were very gracious and grateful. They were a joy to work with.” Carter says that most of the cases he treated involved nutrition-related problems, as well as asthma and respiratory problems. “Most villagers cook with an open fire in their homes,” he explains. “That leads to a lot of airborne irritants, and respiratory problems.” One case that stands out in Carter’s memory, however, involved a young boy who had suffered a snake bite. “It was late afternoon on the day of our arrival in one of the most remote communities we’d ever visited,” Carter
says. “We were setting up the clinic, when a group of people arrived; they had been walking for several hours carrying a stretcher made of a blanket stretched on two poles, and on the stretcher was a preadolescent boy who had been bitten on the foot by a venomous snake. The foot, despite traditional local treatment, was showing significant swelling and discoloration from the venom. No one had mentioned the possibility of needing antivenin, so we had none, nor did we have any other significant treatment to offer. “We cleaned the wound, gave (the boy) antibiotics and steroids, and put him on a vehicle to a hospital about an hour or so away. Later, we learned that that small hospital didn’t have antivenin, either, and couldn’t give him treatment. They took the boy in a Jeep to Tegucigalpa, another three-hour ride. We were glad to hear later that treatment had been successful, and the boy didn’t lose his foot. We did begin carrying antivenin after that trip. We learned lessons on being prepared on each year’s mission.” Carter is very quick to emphasize that he was only a small part of a huge, community effort involved in each mission trip. “There were a lot of people involved in those mission trips,” he says. “There were 35-65 people on each mission team, and a lot of other people getting involved in preparation and team support. There was a support team of about 100 or so people, who provided financial support, medicines — we usually purchased several hundred thousand pills — hundreds of doses of medications. It is a true community effort.” Carter didn’t confine his efforts on behalf of the less fortunate to remote villages in underdeveloped countries. In 2009, he opened Agape, a free clinic for working or temporarily unemployed and uninsured patients, in DeRidder. Carter still works at the clinic, which is open on Thursdays. The clinic, he says, is available to those whose resources are not greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Again, Carter emphasizes that the clinic isn’t his achievement alone. “It’s a true community effort,” he says. “Every worker in the clinic is a volunteer. Volunteers renovated the building before we opened. The building is cleaned by another volunteer group. Another volunteer group provides dinner for the staff. And many in the community provide financial support for expenses such as medications, utilities, insurance. We receive no government funding. We exist on donations, volunteerism and memorial gifts.” Though those people who have been helped through his efforts, and those who know him beg to differ, Carter says he’s not a hero, just lucky enough to have been part of a huge group effort. “No one individual can take credit,” he says.
NOTE: In each issue, Lagniappe brings you interesting features on local celebrities and movers-and-shakers. In this new column, Lagniappe looks at local “ordinary people” — people you’ve probably never heard of and who haven’t had their 15 minutes of fame, but who nevertheless have extraordinary life stories to tell. It’s a look at some of the “average joes” whose work and lives make SWLA such a wonderful and interesting place to live. If you know of an ordinary person who has done extraordinary things, call Lagniappe at 433-8502, or email edit@thelanyap.com. www.BestOfSWLA.com
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FILE 13
brad goins
Everything Must Be Social It doesn’t take very keen powers of observation to notice that many people in Lake Charles spend large amounts of time sitting in chairs on their front porches. When I noticed this, the first thing that occurred to me is the thing that still occurs to me, namely, that people sitting on the porch feel that whatever they’re doing there is at the very least more interesting to them than watching television. For the ordinary person, something that’s more interesting than television must be powerfully attractive. My guess is that what people find so attractive about the Lake Charles front porch experience is conversation with people they know particularly well, and especially relatives. I don’t think the conversations can be attractive because they’re interesting. After all, the people involved in the conversations are the same people we run into and talk with every day. You can judge for yourself how many conversations you have every day and, of those, how many are memorable. I don’t think it’s the quality of the front porch conversations that’s considered valuable. What’s valuable is the fact that the conversation is taking place. I’m guessing there’s a way of life that works in such a way that social experience is always considered preferable to any experience that’s not social. In this way of
life, almost anything one can do in the company of another person is to be preferred to almost anything one can do alone. This way of life can develop, I’m guessing, to the point that the social life comes to be considered the only life worth living. I don’t mean that this is a conscious preference. I do mean that a person brought
up with this view of life will abandon a perfectly enjoyable solitary occupation if he notices that someone else is on the front porch — or on the deck or in the family room or back yard or driveway — or anywhere within sight. One downside of thinking that the only experience worth having is the social one is that one may go too far in his or her
efforts to introduce the social into situations that aren’t social. One example is the habit of talking out loud. Let’s suppose I think — on an unconscious level — that all that matters is social experience. I do what I can to socialize every experience I have. As I’m walking about in an office building or some other public setting, I come into the presence of a person who’s a stranger or who I know doesn’t like small talk. But, to repeat, I believe that all experience should be made social if at all possible. So I talk out loud. I put into audible words whatever happens to be going through my mind at the time. I say, for example, that I’m going to the place that I’m obviously going to. If I’m obviously leaving the building, I say I’m leaving. If I’m going into Mike’s office, I say something such as, “Gonna see Mike …” If I’m coming into the office, and it’s extremely hot outside, I say, “Man, it’s hot,” or one of a dozen equivalent expressions about hot weather. If the weather’s been changeable, I say, “I don’t know how to dress for this weather,” or half a dozen interchangeable sayings. I’d think the habit of talking out loud is almost universally disliked. Talking out loud almost always produces banal statements of the obvious or trivial. The person on the receiving end may struggle against
COME SEE US AT THE BOAT SHOW! JAN. 17-18-19 • LAKE CHARLES CIVIC CENTER
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his profound indifference about the comments in order to formulate some sort of polite response, even if it’s just “umhmm.” Or the person may ignore the remarks altogether — a response that’s likely to make the speaker feel awkward. This is just one example of the kinds of uncomfortable interactions that can result when individuals accord undue importance to social experience. If I feel that the social life is the only life that matters, I may try to force a conversation on someone who’d usually be glad to talk but who, at the present, happens to be tired or in a bad mood. I may try to keep a person in a conversation when the person is obviously in a hurry to leave or attend to some matter he considers pressing. I may extend what might otherwise have been a brief, friendly conversation to the point that it drags and becomes a nuisance to all parties involved. I may begin to talk about personal matters to someone who doesn’t know me well and doesn’t care to know about my personal life. I may, likewise, talk in a highly emotional way to someone who doesn’t know me well and who is, therefore, frightened by the intensity of my speech. If I invest too heavily in the social aspects of life, I may never become aware that there are some situations in which socializing is beneficial and some in which it isn’t. I don’t realize that there are some problems that can be solved through conversation and some that can’t. I may never come to understand that it’s not necessary to converse about every single thing that arises in conscious experience. Some creative and intellectual experiences are improved by conversation and collaboration; on the other hand, some are only possible in solitude. With creative ventures, those involved may have to work seriously to determine just what role conversation can best play or whether it should play any role. People who value only social experience may find it hard to understand and accept the fact that many people are introverts. Introverts who are comfortable in their own skin are people who’ve long since realized that solitude provides them with ample pleasures and satisfactions. Still, introversion, like other ways of living, is probably an approach to life no one would consciously choose simply because the disadvantages of introversion so heavily outweigh the advantages. Introversion is almost certainly a state of existence that’s predetermined through genetics. Introverts who thrive do so because they make a conscious choice to do so in spite of the condition. An ideal person would move smoothly, calmly and skillfully from solitude to society and back. Whether he sought a social situation or not, he’d handle each one with easy assurance. He would not say too much or too little; he would always choose the tone that’s appropriate for the words. He would also be gracious when someone has introduced social behavior into a situation where there’s no room for it. In other words, he would be a gentleman or she would be a gentlewoman. But, to state the obvious, such people are rare — even in places where a high priority is placed on what’s called “higher education.” Each culture has its weak and strong points. To the degree that the weak points
become too pervasive and powerful, the culture suffers, and the people suffer along with it. It’s rare that groups of any significant size consciously decide to eliminate or lessen the impact of a culture’s weak points. Even when the people of a culture suffer severely, they often retain the hindrances they were taught to treasure in their youth. We know that something once happened in Salem to persuade a big chunk of the populace that witchhunting had to end. Perhaps the powerful leaders behind the practice found them-
selves threatened in some fundamental way. Perhaps leaders realized that continuation of the practice would eventually affect the population in such a way that the infrastructure would break down. Perhaps inconsistencies in the practice threatened to undermine the credibility of authority figures. Some historians may know the answer. At any rate, leaders in Salem made a very conscious and very rapid decision to stop witch hunting. It wasn’t a practice that changed simply because styles were changing. It wasn’t something that
happened because “the times they [were] a-changin’.” It’s extremely rare for an individual to question a deeply ingrained cultural practice because it’s caused awkward social situations repeatedly. The people who get by most easily are those who never notice awkward situations in the first place or who are for the most part unaffected by them. It is contingent on the sensitive soul to grin and bear the awkward social situations that could be avoided by the use of objective analysis or common sense. Social situations that are awkward and unnecessary are like splinters or paper cuts or sore muscles or stubbed toes. The less attention we pay to them, the better off we’ll be.
*Price based on 4 treatment squares, may vary based on size of patient.
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FROM THE FUR SIDE
karla wall
Resolutions I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions. They just don’t work for me. Despite my best intentions, my home doesn’t become more organized, or stay cleaner; my parents don’t hear from me any more often; I don’t exercise my way to a “bikini body;” I don’t add a dozen new Spanish or Greek dishes to my culinary repertoire; and my dogs aren’t groomed and trained any more often, much to their delight. However, in the spirit of the holiday, I thought I’d suggest some New Year’s resolutions for all you dog owners out there, and also some that your beloved pet might make.
FOR OWNERS: I will: • Remember that you are a dog, and accept without comment the fact that as a dog you will always do things that I find disgusting but you find delightful. I resolve to live and let live as long as your health is not in jeopardy and as long as you refrain from giving me a big kiss after engaging in said disgusting behavior. • Remember that as a dog you need plenty of exercise — we’ll increase our daily walks this year, and we’ll add a bike ride or run once or twice a week. It’ll be good for us both. • Remember that you also need mental exercise. We’ll do simple obedience exercises at least once a day, and learn a new trick every now and then. We’ll vary our walking routes to give you new sights, smells and sounds to explore. • Play more fetch — though I still just don’t understand what the attraction is. • Talk more often to you — I know you love the sound of my voice. • Make plans as to what I would do if you were lost or stolen. I’ll make sure your microchip is still working (and get one put in if you don’t already have one) and is still registered correctly with my current contact information, and that your collar tag is in good shape and has my current information. I will make sure to have the contact numbers for animal control, police departments and local veterinarians handy so I can establish a network to find you and get you home. • Learn to speak your “language” better — to learn what you’re trying to tell me through your body language — when you need to go out, when you’re happy, when you’re stressed, when you’re afraid. • Make sure I keep your yard, bed and environment clean and parasite-free, even if I don’t feel like scooping up doggy deposits in the back yard or washing your bedding after a long day at work. • Be consistent in communicating with you. I’ll use short command words — the same one each time — so that you know immediately and exactly what I’m asking of you. • Keep a good supply of yummy treats on hand for you, but ration them out carefully so that you don’t gain weight. • Donate time and money to rescue organizations to help dogs less fortunate than you. 26
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I will not: • Scold you for doing or not doing something I haven’t clearly taught you to do or not to do. • Expect your housetraining habits to exceed your physical capabilities — I won’t ask you to “hold it” longer than you can comfortably manage. • Forget that you miss me while I’m gone and that you spend the time I’m away waiting to hear my car pull up in the drive. I won’t simply come through the door, shove past you and go about my business when I get home. I’ll stop first to greet you and play with you for a bit. • Feed you human food. Though I know you like it, I also know it’s not always good for you.
FOR PETS: I will: • Make you laugh when things seem bleakest. • Drink out of designated water bowls only. • Forget that I know how to open drawers and, while I’m at it, remember that the contents of your lingerie drawer do not necessarily need to be filched and paraded around in front of guests. • Allow you to rub my belly at least once a day — I know it makes you feel better. • Choose a more convenient place to be sick than on your light-colored rugs. • Eat whatever food is placed in front of me; I trust you to feed me the best food for me. • Forgive you immediately when you get angry with me, and in the process teach you to live in the here and now, too. • Wait patiently for you when you’re gone and greet you warmly when you return, even if it’s only after 15 minutes’ absence. • Remember that sofa privileges are by invitation only, and be more than happy to share that sofa with you when asked. • FINALLY admit that, yes, I know the mailman, the meter readers and the neighborhood kids, and that their presence doesn’t need to be announced.
I will not: • Beg for that sweet roll I know good and well you won’t give me anyway. • “Hold it” during my bedtime outing so that we can both have the pleasure of getting up and going outside at 2 am. • Abandon my chew toys in favor of the sofa cushions. • “Mistake” your new remote for my chew toy. • Let you forego the pleasure of paying attention to me and petting me just because you’ve had a rotten day. I know that’s when you need it most. • Chase the stick or ball before it leaves your hand. • Continuously try to act as a door stop. • Forget my role as chief footwarmer.
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ouisiana driving
behaviors have been a big topic in area news lately. It all started on Dec. 16, when a study released by CarInsurance Comparison.com reported that among the 50 states, Louisiana had the worst drivers. Car Insurance Comparison is a Seattle-based company owned by a financial planner who lives in the city. All I know about the company is what can be learned from its web site. One can’t tell whether it is any more or less qualified than a hundred other companies to release a survey of which states have the worst driving habits. What is certain is that various companies and organizations do release lists on the topic from time to time. And if they’re sufficiently well promoted, the lists are widely reported and discussed by the media. The American Press mentioned the Car Insurance Comparison list in a Dec. 22 editorial that referred to what’s probably more valuable information: a forthcoming study by LSU engineers on the dangers posed by the use of cell phones by drivers. A day earlier, the Press had reported, in a front-page story, “LC repeats as state leader in seatbelt usage.” This finding, which was announced by state police Troop D, was based on observations of 58,000 Louisiana drivers. So … findings and lists don’t always line up. What probably makes a greater impact than lists on most area drivers is the degree to which they concur with a statement of exasperation I’ve heard before: “People around here don’t know how to drive.” Is that the case? Are drivers in Southwest Louisiana especially bad ones? Are they really worse than drivers in Houston or Atlanta? State Farm insurance agent Dave McCarty provides some strong evidence that something is wrong with the state’s driving performance overall. He says Louisiana has the highest auto insurance rates in the country.
Dougherty says the problems don’t stop just because the personal devices are hands-free. He notes that the people talking to drivers “keep talking … regardless of what happens” on the road. The person who’s talking to the driver usually won’t know when the driver’s about to enter a stressful, complex or tricky traffic situation. In such a situation, the voice on the other end of the
line is just one more dangerous distraction. Let’s return to that big notion of driver inattention, of which misuse of personal objects is just a part. A bigger problem than the use of communication devices while driving is that of drivers who are simply “not concentrating” on the task of driving in general, says McCarty.
Dougherty breaks down inattentive driving and closely related careless forms of driving into three kinds of driving behavior: “Carelessness or lack of concern about your driving habits,” “Lack of knowledge about what you’re doing,” and “The age-old tradition of just not paying attention.” continued
LACK OF ATTENTION If there’s some sort of problem here, what is it? “The main reason we see [for bad driving in the area] is inattention,” says McCarty. “Part of that is cell phones and texting … It’s sad to see somebody going down the interstate at 80 texting. You see people texting at lights.” Such behavior, says Corp. Scott Dougherty of the Lake Charles Police Dept., is “more prevalent now because everybody’s got something extra.” He’s talking about “personal electronic devices,” which he says cause an “unknown percentage” of driving problems. Like McCarty, he selects texting for special attention. “It’s adults too,” he says. “It’s a horrible epidemic. That text message — it can wait till the next parking lot.” www.BestOfSWLA.com
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WINDING UP IN THE DITCH Drivers who fall into the careless category include those who reach down or around to get objects in the floor or back seat, change radio stations while driving or look around when they should be attending to traffic. “When you reach,” says McCarty, “it turns your shoulders; it automatically turns the steering wheel. “If you drop something, pull over or wait” to pick it up later, he advises. Another instance of carelessness, he says, is “following too closely,” AMONG THE TOP PET PEEVES OF which, of course, is the LOCAL PATROL OFFICERS ARE THOSE frequent cause of rear ending. WHO DRIVE IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE Drivers often are “not INTERSTATE WHEN THEY’RE NOT attentive enough” when they change lanes. They PASSING AND PEOPLE WHO DRIVE don’t watch lights closely ON THE SHOULDER. and sometimes aren’t aware that a light has changed color. It’s common, says McCarty, for says McCarty. “[They] weren’t looking. “both parties [at a collision at a light to] [They] were daydreaming.” swear they had a green light.” The situaDoughtery’s language about probtion is often complicated by the fact that lem behaviors at stop signs and lights is “there are no witnesses.” very similar; he says the problems arise “They weren’t watching that light,” because drivers are “not paying atten-
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tion.” McCarty points out that when a driver looks to one side [for instance, to look at or talk to a passenger] for two to three seconds, the car typically travels 50-60 feet during the period. “You look up, there [another car] is.” In some parts of the country, drivers get a little break from inattentive driving because they can, if necessary, leave the
road and keep travelling on a flat surface, such as a field. Not so in Louisiana. “We have a lot of ditches on the sides of our roads” in Louisiana, says McCarty. “Inattentive driving will put you in the ditch.” Although they come from entirely different fields, McCarty and Dougherty offer the same solutions for these problems of driving without attention to
detail. As Dougherty puts it, “Concentrate on your surroundings. Be aware.”
SEATBELTS AND ROLLOVERS If no seat belt has been fastened around a passenger’s body, at the time of an impact or sudden stop, the body will continue to travel at the same speed as the car in which the passenger was riding. One obvious example of a potential problem here is a situation in which a passenger could be thrown into a windshield or metallic structure in the car. Another obvious potential for disaster for the unrestrained driver or passenger is roll overs, which are all the more likely in Louisiana because of the prevalence of ditches. State Police Sergeant James Anderson, who handles public information for 34 parishes in West Louisiana, notes the prevalence of pick-up trucks in Southwest Louisiana, and adds that “pick-up trucks is the biggest area in terms of seat belt compliance” in the area. “There is a misperception among many pick-up truck drivers that they’re safe without seat beats,” says Anderson. The misperception arises from a sense that the truck is, obviously, a very large vehicle. But Anderson sees accidents in which pick-up drivers who aren’t strapped in are thrown from the truck only to have the vehicle roll over them. A “vehicle is a shell of protection,” says McCarty. “Outside you don’t have any protection.” As a veteran insurance man, McCarty can tell stories about incidents in which two people were thrown from a vehicle: one died, the other was hardly injured. A seat belt will not keep all drivers safe in all situations. What it will do, says Anderson, is “greatly enhance your odds of surviving” a crash. Seat belt use is “something we’re working on [in the State Police],” says Anderson. Part of the work was issuing more than 8,000 tickets to Louisiana drivers in 2013 for failure to buckle up. “If we can get the word out that seat belts save lives, we don’t have to write a bunch of tickets,” says Anderson. Using seat belts, he says, “is the single most effective thing someone can do to keep themselves safe in a crash.” Both speeding and drunken driving are problems that can be compounded by failure to use seat belts. I talked with Anderson the first Monday morning after Christmas. He’d spent the preceding weekend clocking excessive speeding, including one driver who’d entered Sulphur at a speed of more than 98 mph. He also reported on a Christmas Eve incident regarding a driver going at more than 100 mph on Highway 27. The driver, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, was, at some point, ejected from his vehicle. His body was found 200 feet from the car. Since toxicology reports hadn’t yet been filed, it wasn’t known whether impairment was one of the factors contributing to this driving catastrophe. While drinking then driving is still a problem, McCarty thinks the problem is lessening, probably due to increased continued
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awareness of law enforcement crackdowns on DWI. That would be a good development, of course. But Louisiana may have further to go in this area than other states. Anderson feels that the state “generally has a higher problem with impairment” than other states. By impairment, he means driving either while drunk or
AT TARVER FORD, WE'RE COMMITTED TO OUR CUSTOMERS Phillip Tarver, owner of Lake Charles Toyota, purchased Shetler Ford on Beglis Pkwy. in Sulphur five years ago. Since then, the dealership's new and pre-owned inventory has tripled, and it's also experienced a triple-digit sales increase since it opened. The reason for that kind of success? Tarver Ford treats its customers like family, and word has spread about the dealership's way of conducting business. "We take care of our customers like they've never been taken care of before in their lives," says Tarver Ford sales manager Mike Arrington. "Phillip Tarver has been in the car sales business for over 25 years, and his reputation for customer service has built up over time." Maintaining that legendary customer service is the number one goal of Tarver Ford's experienced management team, which includes parts manager Robbie Louviere, service manager Rusty Stroderd, sales managers Mike Arrington and Jared Bertrand and finance director John Howell. Tarver Ford's sales staff of 14 goes out of its way to treat customers well during the sale, and Tarver's family-oriented approach means that they're not forgotten after they drive their new vehicle off the lot. Customers receive free oil changes for life, says Arrington, as well as free state inspections. And Tarver sales reps keep track of their customers long after the sale, making sure things are going well with their vehicles, making sure they remain happy to be part of the Tarver customer family. Being nice guys to deal with, however, isn't enough to build a dealership's reputation on. You have to deliver the goods, and Tarver has a huge selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles to choose from. "You'll find it all here," says Arrington. "Four-wheel-drives, SUVs, trucks, small fuel-efficient cars — everything, across the board." Tarver Ford offers a huge selection of vehicles, an experienced and caring staff, a friendly environment and a commitment to its customers and community. Stop by to see what Tarver Ford can offer you.
930 Beglis Parkway • Sulphur • 625-3030 32
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while under the effects of drugs, and in particular, prescription drugs that have been misused. “We’re not against people drinking,” says Anderson. “We just want to dissuade people from getting behind the wheel.” The state police’s relentless focus on two basic driver behaviors — driving while impaired and failing to wear seatbelts — may create a picture of problem driving that is less diverse than some would like to see. But, says Anderson, “We [will] beat that same drum,” until the Louisiana gets these two fundamental behaviors down.
PET PEEVES Doughtery polled his fellow traffic patrol officers to discover their Top 5 “pet peeves” about problem drivers. The list surprised me. I wouldn’t have guessed a single item on it. Finishing at No. 1 on the list of pet peeves was those who drive in the left lane of the interstate when they’re not passing. Dougherty notes that on occasion, people who do this call police to complain that they’re being tailgated on the interstate. The responding officer’s first question is likely to be “What lane are you in?” If the answer is “the left,” the driver will be told that the simple solution is to move to the right. The inclination of some drivers to opt for the left-hand lane regardless of the situation is a very deep-seated thing. For years, the Highway Regulatory Act required that drivers move to the right lane when those behind them wanted to pass. That law wasn’t doing the trick, so in August, 2009, Louisiana regulations were stiffened to require that interstate drivers keep to the right unless they’re going to try to pass. For this area, part of pet peeve No. 1 is the tendency of drivers of large trucks to use the left-hand lane on the I-10 bridge. Dougherty notes that two signs on the bridge prohibit such usage. No. 2 on the list is drivers who don’t yield — especially when they’re preparing to go on the interstate. “People go on the interstate and think traffic has to move over for them,” says Dougherty. No. 3 is drivers who use a left-turnonly lane as a “lane of travel.” The law prohibits drivers from travelling more than 200 feet in a left-hand turn lane. No. 4 is drivers who don’t move to the right when they hear the siren of an ambulance, fire truck or police vehicle. The attempt to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle by making a left turn is especially dangerous. Often, says Dougherty, drivers of emergency vehicles are simply trying to get around the vehicles on the road. “A left turn may cause a collision” when an emergency vehicle driver veers around a cluster of immobile cars only to see a turning car shoot into his line of vision. Completing the list at No. 5 is the group of people who drive on the shoulder — for instance, to try to go around backed-up traffic or people who are turning. As one would expect, collisions between drivers who are foolishly driving on a shoulder and those who are making perfectly legal turns can be nasty ones.
TAKING DRIVING SERIOUSLY As for findings that Louisiana dri-
vers are especially poor, Dougherty feels there are places in Louisiana where the driving is worse than in the Lake Area. “We’re pretty average,” he says. “In Baton Rouge, motorcycle officers get clipped quite a bit.” Of course, greater Lake Charles is becoming a bit more like a big city — at least in terms of its growing infrastructure and new housing and retail developments. “Lake Charles is under a very large expansion of the infrastructure,” says Dougherty. He says drivers can prepare for the changes by being patient, planning alternative routes and leaving for their destinations earlier than usual. Area drivers who manage to avoid the frequent, widespread roadwork will have to continue to work to fight lack of
attention. People who become comfortable driving the same vehicle on the same streets with the same passengers can be lulled into an illusion of safety. “We get so comfortable we become complacent,” says Dougherty. “A car weighs a lot. It can do a lot of damage.” “I take driving very seriously,” he says. “I make my kids be quiet … People need to take driving more seriously. They’re slacking.”
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The 56th annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival will take place Jan. 10-11 in downtown Cameron. This year’s festival will honor SWLA’s hunting and wildlife industry. Billed as “the state’s oldest and coldest festival,” the event will offer competition in outdoor skills such as trap shooting, trap setting, nutria skinning, oyster shucking, dog trials, and duck and goose calling contests. There will also be a gumbo cook-off, a parade, a pageant and a carnival. Live music will be featured, as well, with a lineup that includes Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition, and Bag of Donuts. continued
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Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition
Board) in Downtown Cameron unless otherwise stated. Ice chests, and outside food and beverages, will not be allowed on the fairgrounds.
FRIDAY, JAN. 10 • 10 am: Dog Trials • Noon: Gates open ($5 per person, children 12 and under free) • Noon: Trap Shooting begins • Noon: Carnival opens
Gates open at noon on Saturday, and at 9 am on Sunday. Admission is $5 per person, with children 12 and under admitted free. For more information, visit lafurandwildlifefestival.com. All events will take place on the fairgrounds located at Pat’s of Cameron (same location as 2013, across the street from the Cameron Parish School
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Bag of Donuts
• 6:30 pm: Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition performs
SATURDAY, JAN. 11 • 7 am: Gumbo Cook-off begins (Only those cooking will be allowed in the gates before 9 am.) • 9 am: Gates open ($5 per person, children 12 and under free) • 9 am: Fairgrounds open, carnival opens • 9 am: Trap Shooting begins • 10 am: Muskrat and Nutria Skinning (Stage), Trap Setting (Stage), Oyster Shucking (Stage), Dog Trials (Stage) • 11:30 am: Gumbo Cook-off (Judging on the Fairgrounds) • 1 pm: Parade begins (Line-up at Cameron Construction Yard east of Cameron) • 3 pm: Duck and Goose Calling Competition • 3 pm: Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie performs • 7 pm: Bag of Donuts performs.
History Of The Fur And Wildlife Festival THE IDEA FOR THE Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival in Cameron was originated in 1955 by U.S. Rep. T. A. Thompson, who represented the area. On a challenge from the congressman from Cambridge, Md., Rep. Thompson sent 52-year-old Leon Hebert, a 25-year trapper, from Cameron to the National Outdoor Show to compete in the National Fur Skinning Contest and prove that SWLA’s outdoorsmen could hold their own against Maryland’s. Hebert placed fifth in the nation that year. (Hebert won the Louisiana title at the first annual Fur and Wildlife Festival on December 2-3, 1955, by skinning five muskrats in 53 3/5 seconds, nosing out John Broussard by five seconds.) A small group of people met during the summer of 1955 in the old Police Jury meeting room in the Cameron Courthouse Building to make plans for the first festival. Whitney Stine was the chairman of the meeting, and he enthusiastically endorsed having the festival. Many community organizations were represented at the meeting. Those attending included: Whitney Stine, Cameron Lion’s Club; Edward Swindell, Sr., Cameron Lion’s Club; Hadley Fontenot, county agent; Alvin Dyson, state representative; Ray Burleigh, Cameron Lion’s Club; Joe O’Donnell, Cameron Lion’s Club; Mrs. Iva Free, home demonstration agent; Roberta Rogers, Home Demonstration Club; Geneva Griffith, Home Demonstration Club (retired from festival duties in January 2004, after 48 years of volunteer service); and Sam
Tarlton, Lake Charles Television and Radio Station. From this grassroots group of organizers came one of the state’s oldest, most successful festivals — the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival. In spite of the bitter cold weather in December of 1955, and a shoestring budget, the festival was a huge success. Funding was provided by the Cameron Parish Police Jury and private donations. J.B. Jones, Jr., served as master of ceremonies for the program, which was the festival’s climax. The program was presided over by 1955 festival president Hadley Fontenot. Vida Bess Brown, a 17-year-old from Abbeville, was crowned Miss Outdoor of Louisiana by Ted O’Neal, chief of the Fur and Bottoms Division of the Louisiana Wildlife Commission. She was presented with a nutria stole, a bouquet of roses by the Cameron Service Garage, and an expenses-paid trip to the National Outdoors Show in Cambridge, Md. The Cambridge, Md., National Outdoor Show became a “sister festival” with the Cameron Festival, and the two exchanged fur skinners and festival queens each year. The tradition of exchanging festival representatives continues to the present day. Miss Meredith Giles (Montie) was named Cameron Parish Queen, winning the title from a field of 34 contestants. She was crowned by Hadley Fontenot. Ted O’Neal told the audience (a full house at Cameron Elementary) that
Saluting the spirit of
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night, that “Nutria skins are saving what would have been a vanishing fur industry for this area.” He also pointed out that in the previous year, Cameron Parish trappers netted $400,000. Eleven-year-old J.A. Miller captured the Louisiana Junior Duck Calling contest that year. He grew to become the World Champion Fur Skinner, following in the footsteps of his father Fletcher, and taught his daughter, Selika, the art. Selika would later become the Women’s Champion. Miller’s wife, Mary Jane, held the local and national women’s title many times. The second annual festival was held on Jan. 11-12, 1957, and $5,000 in cash and trips was awarded, along with fur coats, which went to the Fur Queen contestants. Nancy Precht (Nunez) was crowned Fur Queen by Louisiana Rep. Alvin Dyson. She represented the festival at the Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, D.C., where she was presented to Vice-President and Mrs. Nixon. This tradition continues to the present time. Her crown bearer was Lurchell Fontenot (Whittler), and her flower girl was Cheri Kay Griffith (Giblin). A report by visiting news media that year stated, “Little in size, about 2,500, Cameron likes to do things in a
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big way — fur fashion, shows, parades, water carnival, pirogue races, trap shooting, duck calling, skinning, a parade and Miss Fur Queen contest, and the town was filled up, [with an] estimated 7,000 people.” The annual Fur Festival Parade was
always a high point of the festival, always held at 2 pm on the Saturday of the festival weekend. It started from the west end and traveled through town to the east, on La. Hwy. 27-82. Each civic organization spent days planning and making the beautiful
Cameron Shoreline Project Ongoing State and local Government officials recently celebrated a $45.8 million state-funded project that will restore and protect nearly eight miles of the Cameron Parish shoreline. The project includes pumping nearly 2 million cubic yards of sand to the shoreline west from the jetty at the mouth of the Calcasieu Ship Channel. The beach will be built to an average elevation of five feet. The project began in August, and was paid for with funding the Legislature dedicated in 2007 and 2008. It should be complete in February. The sand is pumped from the Sabine Shoal, located 20 miles off the Cameron coast, is then taken to a staging area at the mouth of the ship channel, then pumped through a pipeline onto the shore. So far, 1.2 million cubic yards of sand has been pumped to build the first three miles of beach. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana is overseeing the project, and Weeks Marine is the project’s contractor.
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floats, and competed for the top prize in various categories. Floats were usually constructed in the warehouses of the local menhaden plants, mud houses, garages, or anywhere workers could get out of the cold. Roland “Bolo” Trosclair was in charge of the parade at that time. Following Trosclair in heading up the parade were Deil LaLande, Roland Trosclair, Jr., Hayes “Pete” Picou, Jr., Oscar Reyes, II and Freddie Richard. Fontenot continued to serve the festival as festival president until he was transferred from Cameron Parish in 1966. A concerted effort was made to find someone to assume the leadership position. J.B. Jones, Jr. agreed to take it, with the condition that each phase and contest of the festival be taken over by various community members. Jones revamped the board of directors, bringing in people from all over the parish to help out, and the festival grew even larger. Jones held the post until he chose to give it up in 1980. Braxton Blake was elected president, and he held the office until 1988. Hayes “Pete” Picou, Jr., was elected to replace Blake. Clifton Hebert was elected to replace Picou. Penelope Richard serves as the current president.
Delta Downs Donates to Local Non-Profits LHSAA Basketball Championships Needs Volunteers The Louisiana High School Athletic Association state basketball championships will be held at the Burton Coliseum March 4-15. The girls’ session will be March 4-8, and the boys’ session will be March 11-15. Volunteers will be needed for both the girls and boys championships to ensure a successful tournament. There will be a variety of duties needed including team hosts, ushers, ticket-takers and more. To sign up, register online at visitlakecharles.org/volunteer by Jan. 31. For more info, call 436-9588.
The contest was open to all students and entries were reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the Office of the President. McNeese President Dr. Philip Williams is shown presenting Ogawa with the first T-shirt.
Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel recently donated $10,000 to local nonprofit organizations through its sixth annual Trees of Hope holiday display. Delta Downs awarded the prize money to the winners from this year’s field of participants, which included the American Cancer Society, Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA, and BeauCARE. First place and $5,000 was awarded to the American Cancer Society; second place and $2,500 went to Arts and Humanities Council of SWLA; and BeauCARE. took third place and $1,000. The other 12 participating organizations each collected $125.
Commission On Disability Employer Award Winners Several area businesses and individuals were recently honored with the Mayor’s Commission on Disability’s Employer Recognition Awards. The awards are presented annually to people and organizations who provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Receiving the awards at the annual awards luncheon were Victor Wukovits for Bayou Technologies, Frank Levine for Casa Manana Mexican Restaurant, Dr. Alan Lacoste for The Eye Clinic, Mark Becton for Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Janine Moore for Panera Bread, Victoria Huber for Rhinestone Runway, and Chad Theunissen for Sonic Drive In.
Ogawa Wins MSU T-Shirt Design Contest Ayumi Ogawa, a visual arts junior with concentrations in graphic design and drawing from Sapporo, Japan, has won the 75th Anniversary T-shirt Design Contest for the McNeese State University celebration that kicks off in 2014. Ogawa received a $100 McNeese bookstore gift card for her winning design, and was also given the first T-shirt hot off the presses. www.BestOfSWLA.com
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MARDI GRAS 2014
The Fairytale Of Twelfth Night Part Two BY CALVIN TYLER
I
n part one of this story, I wrote about how many of the traditions we celebrate today came to be part of the social norm. In part two, we’ll focus on the ceremonial practices, beliefs and functions of Mardi Gras. Like, what’s with all of the costumes? Beads? Weird-looking people on stilts who throw said beads? All these questions have baffled me until just now, when I’ve finished reading up on why we do all these silly
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things. Now, before Mardi Gras, there was another celebration that shared many of the same traditions. Shrovetide begins the day after the Epiphany, ends the day before Ash Wednesday — known as Shrove Tuesday — and is considered the last day to pig out before Lent. Religion plays an important role in the creation of our beloved bead-tossing holiday. Let’s jump right into how this came to be.
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Lent is a time of recognition of the period when Jesus walked through the desert 40 days and 40 nights, starving himself while the devil tempted him by offering him a world that was already his and asking him to turn rocks into bread. I doubt anybody ever needed to tell the same guy who had the ability to bring people back from the dead that he could transform rocks into Outback bread, but I guess we wouldn’t have Lent if the devil was portrayed as smart.
Lent became more regularized after the legalization of Christianity in 313 A.D. The Council of Nicea noted that two provincial councils should be held each year, including “one before the 40 days of Lent.” This wasn’t something that people who were starving looked forward to. Lent was more for the civilized communities that had more than they needed. Lent was there to remind them that they would all die someday, a la, Memento Mori. So,
naturally, what do you think was created to prepare the people for this 40 days of self-denial? Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday; it refers to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday. It’s a free-for-all, if you will, when people can indulge in all the things they’re swearing off for Lent. I once saw a priest walk into a restaurant I was working in and order a double scotch. He followed it with three more in less than an hour. It was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen, and as such I decided that it would be wise to ask him about it. He responded with, “It’s Fat Tuesday, my son,” then he raised his glass to me, and I nodded. Dressing up in costumes, overturning social conventions, dancing and parades are all staples in the Mardi Gras tradition. On Mardi Gras in 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they’d observed while they were visiting Paris. Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place. It’s a tradition that continues to this day. In 1857, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen called the Mistick Krewe of Comus organized a torch-lit Mardi Gras procession with marching bands and rolling floats, setting the tone for future public celebrations in the city. Since then, krewes have remained a fixture of the Carnival scene throughout Louisiana. What about all the beads? Starting in the 1920s, “krewes” of parade organizers began the tradition of throws by tossing to the crowd cheap necklaces made of glass beads. The beads became so popular they were adopted by all parade krewes in New Orleans, which number about 60 today. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the act of bearing one’s breasts at New Orleans Mardi Gras for beads became a somewhat common practice. The behavior drastically increased from 1987 to 1991 with the rise in the production of commercial videotapes catering to voyeurs. Mardi Gras is one of the wildest, craziest and most Louisiana celebrations in the world. Unlike the traditions of the cakes of medieval Twelfth Night celebrations, our cakes have a plastic baby instead of a bean. If you find the baby you buy the cake next year, instead of becoming the king of the feast if you find the bean. A little deeper investigation reveals the history and traditions of the king cake as they pertain to the Gulf coast. From Wikipedia: The king cake of the Louisiana tradition comes in a number of styles. The most simple, said to be the most traditional, is a ring of continued www.BestOfSWLA.com
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THE FAIRYTALE OF TWELFTH NIGHT
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twisted cinnamon roll-style bread topped with icing or sugar, usually colored purple, green, and gold (the traditional Mardi Gras colors) with food coloring. In 1972, a small bakery in Picayune, Miss., Paul’s Pastry, started adding fillings to king cakes, the most common being cream cheese, praline, cinnamon and strawberry. A “Zulu King Cake” has chocolate icing with a coconut filling because the Krewe of Zulu parade’s most celebrated throw is a coconut. Also, some bakers have now taken the liberty of offering king cakes for other holidays that immediately surround Mardi Gras season, such as green and redicing king cakes for Christmas, red and pink-icing cakes for Valentine’s Day, and green and white-icing cakes for St. Patrick’s Day. Others have gone a step further and produced specialty king cakes from the beginning of football season for Louisiana State University and New Orleans Saints tailgate parties, then for Halloween, then Thanksgiving — and don’t cease until after Mardi Gras season, when they prepare an Easter king cake. What’s up with the purple, gold, and green? The answer to that question is as odd as it is simple. Some dude thought the colors were pretty together. He was affiliated with the Rex Krewe (founded 1872), which stages one of the biggest parades in New Orleans. “Rex” is Latin for “King” and makes Rex the king of Mardi Gras. There’s some debate about the actual meaning of the purple, green and gold that’s commonly used in Mardi Gras decorations and Mardi Gras Beads across Louisiana. What we do know is that the King of Rex chose the colors in 1872. We’ve talked about a lot here today, and I had a blast diving into the history of our beautifully strange state. Please remember to stay safe this Mardi Gras. There’s no reason for any of us, or anybody we know, to get bad news. Do everything in moderation; don’t drink and drive; and always wear a seatbelt. I love you all and wish you the best of times. Happy Mardi Gras!
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MARDI GRAS PARADE ENTRIES OPEN Entries are now being accepted for SWLA Mardi Gras parades, including the Merchants’ Parade, Children’s Parade, Lighted Boat Parade, Krewe of Omega Parade and the Motor Gras Parade. The Merchants’ Parade is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 pm. The 48th annual Krewe of Omega Parade will take place Saturday, March 1, at 2 pm. The Children’s Parade will roll at 3:30 pm, and the Lighted Boat Parade will begin at 7 pm on Sunday, March 2. The Motor Gras Parade will take place at 11 am on Tuesday, March 4. Entry fee for the Merchants’ and Children’s Parades is $40 per float/vehicle, per parade. Entry fees for the Omega Parade are $10 for floats and trailers, $5 for cars, and free for marching groups. Entry fee for the Motor Gras Parade is $5 per motorcycle, and $10 per hot rod or classic. Forms and entry fees must be received by the day of the parade. For more information or to download entry forms, visit swlamardigras.com, or call the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau at 436-9588.
DUHON WINS MARDI GRAS POSTER CONTEST Parris Duhon was selected as the winner of the official 2014 Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana poster contest. His digital creation features a cheerful Mardi Gras jester decked out in the traditional colors of purple, green and gold. Duhon is a faculty member at F.K. White Middle School in Lake Charles. He is a lifelong resident of Lake Charles and graduated from Sowela with an associate degree of Art. Posters are available for sale throughout the season at Gordon’s Drug Store and the Party Time Store for $35 signed and $25 unsigned. The 2014 poster is a standard size 16 ft. x 20 ft. and is available in limited quantities. For more information, call the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at 436-9588.
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COMMUNITY DANCE
A Sincere THANK YOU For Voting Us As A 20-Time Best Of SWLA Winner
The Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Community Dance will take place at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Friday, Jan. 10, 6-8:30 pm. This free Mardi Gras dance is presented by the City of Lake Charles and Community Inclusion. For more information, visit swlamardigras.com or call 800-456-7952.
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MISS MARDI GRAS PAGEANT
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Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana invites all young ladies between the ages of 5 and 23 for Miss divisions to enter the 2014 Miss Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana pageant. The pageant will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Lake Charles Civic Center Contraband Room at 10 am for pageants featuring participants ages 5-14, and 6:30 pm for ages 15-23. Contestants must be residents of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron or Jeff Davis Parishes. There are eight different age categories. The queens will reign over the 2014 Mardi Gras festivities in Lake Charles and will be presented at parades and events. Entry forms are available at Rhinestone Runway, Broadway Royalty Boutique and the Imperial Pageant Gallery. Entry forms can also be obtained online at www.swlamardigras.com. The deadline to enter is Saturday, Jan. 4. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and younger. For more information on all Mardi Gras events in Southwest Louisiana, contact the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at 436-9588 or visit www.swlamardigras.com.
QUEENS’ PAGEANT Southwest Louisiana’s Mardi Gras Queens’ Pageant will take place at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Saturday, Jan. 11. Times of the pageants will vary. Tickets will be $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger.
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MARDI GRAS OF SWLA INTRODUCES FREE APP Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana has launched a free smart phone application in time for the 2014 season. Available for download via iTunes and the Google Play Store, the app features complete event listings, parade routes and links to the organization’s social media feeds. One of the most useful features available through the app is the ability to receive notifications if an event time or location is changed due to unforeseen circumstances like inclement weather. “In the past when we have had to adjust parade times or move events indoors when weather has become an issue, communicating these changes has been a challenge,” said Katie Harrington, executive director of Mardi Gras of Southwest Louisiana. “We are excited to now be able to send out notifications to our app users in addition to alerting everyone via local media, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and social media.” For more information, call the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at 436-9588.
MARDI GRAS SHOEBOX FLOAT CONTEST The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau invites the community to bedazzle their shoeboxes and help usher in the Mardi Gras season. Shoebox floats represent a seasonal piece of Louisiana, and every family member can join in the creative fun and submit an entry into the Shoebox Float Contest. Simply decorate a traditional cardboard shoebox with items such as glitter, glue, feathers, beads, sequins and more. There are school group divisions as well as divisions for amateurs ranging from child to adult, with an additional category for adult civic groups and organizations. The deadline for registration is Jan. 20. Floats will be received at the bureau’s Welcome Center, 1205 N. Lakeshore Dr. in Lake Charles on Friday, Feb. 7, from 3-4:30 pm. Judging will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8, with the awards ceremony at noon. Shoebox floats will remain on display at the bureau through Feb. 27. The People’s Choice Award will be presented on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 10 am. For a list of prizes, a registration form and more details on the contest, visit www.visitlakecharles.org/shoebox or contact Cindy Johnson with the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau at 4369588 or cjohnson@visitlakecharles.org.
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THE 2014 HOME SHOW OF SWLA
Fulfill Your New Year’s Resolution for Your Home • By Matt Young HAVE YOU MADE A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR HOME? A visit to the 2014 Home Show can help you generate some new ideas — whether small or large — to revive and enhance your home. Have you been yearning to do some redecorating? Or are you dreaming of a remodeling project? Or maybe a brand-new home is on your wish list for 2014. You can get all your building, remodeling, furnishing and design questions
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answered in one place at the 2014 Southwest Louisiana Home Show. The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Southwest Louisiana will hold its 23rd Annual Home Show Jan. 25-26 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The show will be open from 9 am-5 pm on Saturday, Jan. 25, and from 10 am- 4 pm on Sunday, Jan. 26. Admission is $5 per person. Children 10 and younger get in free when accompanied by an adult. continued
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2014 HOME SHOW “The Home Show is a must-attend event if you are planning on redecorating or remodeling your home, building a new house or even if you are just curious about the latest in interior and exterior improvements” says Buddy Kohnke of Sears Commercial Sales, the 2014 Home Show chairman. Whether you’re interested in interior or exterior improvements, the event should have what you need to get your ideas brewing. The Home Show will feature more than 140 exhibitor booths displaying products, information about services and exclusive offers. The event will also showcase the latest samples in flooring, appliances, countertops, plumbing fixtures and more. Each booth will be staffed by experts. The Home Show is a good place to meet local designers, craftsmen, builders and developers. This special sneak peek will feature tips from some of the many vendors that will be featured at this year’s Home Show.
Choose Wisely; Don’t Get Nailed! Your home is probably your biggest investment. Why risk damaging your investment because you think you can pull off building a home, renovating your current home or adding an addition on your own? Whether you’re building a new home or making improvements, choose to
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“The Home Show is a must-attend event if you are planning on redecorating or remodeling your home, building a new house or even if you are just curious about the latest in interior and exterior improvements” ----- Buddy Kohnke, 2014 Home Show chairman.
hire not only a contractor, but a licensed contractor. “Home building and renovation require research and decision making,” says Liz Trahan, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of SWLA. “Will you want brick or siding on the exterior of your home? Will your door knobs be brushed nickel or perhaps oil-rubbed bronze? In the course of your build or renovation you will make hundreds of deci-
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sions. Start with choosing a licensed contractor. Do your homework and research local licensed contractors. Find the one that will work for you.” Louisiana licensed contractors take their trades seriously and are accountable to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. The contractor’s license assures you the contractor is an expert in his field and has the proven experience he needs to do the job. You can also be sure a
licensed contractor won’t use substandard materials or skip out on the job. Many unlicensed contractors aren’t familiar with the building codes, laws and permit requirements in the communities of Southwest Louisiana. They could put your project at risk of failing an inspection because it’s not up to code. Their lack of knowledge could result in poor craftsmanship, costly repairs and removal of property. In addition, you could face serious liability issues. Licensed contractors have worker’s compensation insurance, so if they get hurt on your property you aren’t responsible for their injuries. With an unlicensed contractor, you may be dealing with someone who has no injury protection, and you could end up paying for damages if the contractor or his workers are injured. Sometimes an unlicensed contractor may offer a low quote to entice a homeowner. But be wary. They may be taking shortcuts or reusing old materials while charging for new materials. “Hiring a bonded contractor will provide the homeowner with a certain amount of liability protection if the contractor fails to complete a job as required or contracted. There are different types of bonds, and you should consult an attorney to see if the bond at issue protects you,” says Trahan.
2014 HOME SHOW Choosing The Right Contractor 1. Don’t hire a contractor who asks to be paid in cash. If you’re paying with a check, make the payment to the company name. All professional contractors will accept payment through their company to pay their business taxes. 2. Obtain all estimates in writing and ensure that both parties are in agreement about the work to be completed and that they stipulate this with a written contract. Unfortunately, gone are the days when work could be done with a handshake. The more that’s in writing, the better. A contract will allow for a more fluid working relationship between both parties. 3. Get multiple bids or quotes for all projects. This will allow you to compare the bids. Make sure all the contractors are bidding on the same items of the project. Some contractors’ estimates will have everything included, while others may be less expensive, but have items left out. Remember that the cheapest isn’t always best. 4. Is the contractor reputable? Ask the contractor to provide you with a list of references of clients he’s worked with in the last year or two. Check the references. Ask to see photos of work completed. 5. Ask a professional contractor about the employees and subcontractors who will be working in your home. Chances are you’ll be unable to be at home at all times while work is being done to your house. You want to be assured that the people working in your home can be trusted with your valuables. Are you building a new home or remodeling? Stop by the 2014 Home Show and speak with local, expert licensed contractors about attaining the home of your dreams. Visit the Home Builders Association of SWLA’s website — www.hbaswla.org — to learn more about the Home Show and how to find a local licensed contractor to work on your home.
than design; many blinds and curtains also enhance energy efficiency. “Curtains, drapes, shutters, blinds and other window treatments not only have the potential to dramatically impact the design of any room, but they also can add extra layers of insulation to your windows,” says Phyllis White of Budget Blinds. “Adding the right window treatments can create a more comfortable environment, both aesthetically and temperature-wise, while helping to decrease your energy
bills.”
What To Consider When Financing A New Home So you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy your first home? Or maybe you’re not a first time homebuyer, but could use a refresher course. “The learning curve for the financial side of buying a new home can seem pretty steep, but many of the issues that can arise during this process can be resolved
by doing some preparation,” says Trevor Cooley of City Savings Bank. Cooley offers four tips that will help you financially pave the way to your new home. 1. Inspect your credit score. Make sure to check your credit score before you start shopping for a new home. Your credit score may end up being the most important factor in qualifying for a home loan. continued
What’s Your Window Solution? Choose Great Design and Energy Savings When it comes to windows, choosing the right designs for your windows and the best window treatments will not only enhance the look of your home, but also can have a significant impact on your utility bills. Over 40 percent of the heat and air conditioning that escapes in a home does so through the windows “Upgrading to ‘new’ or ‘replacement’ modern windows will not only add to your home’s curb appeal, but the newer windows will reduce your energy bills by doing a better job of keeping the cool or warm air in,” says Jerry Guillory of Superior Window. The term “replacement window” refers to a new window that replaces an older window that’s removed and replaced without the trim being disturbed. A new window is one that alters the size or shape of the window opening. Window treatments involve more www.BestOfSWLA.com
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2014 HOME SHOW “Even if you have been careful to pay your bills on time every month, it doesn’t mean you have a great credit score,” says Cooley. “Your credit score reflects the amount of credit use relative to the available limit.” Using too much credit or being close or at maximum limits can lower your credit score. The lower the credit utilization rate, the higher your credit score will be. Taking steps to repair damaged credit takes time. Begin the cleanup process at least six months before you start looking for a new home. 2. Evaluate your assets and liabilities. You may not owe a great deal of money and your payments to your lenders may be up-to-date, but how do you spend your money? Do you have money left over at the end of every month or are you anxious for your next paycheck? It’s important for first-time home buyers to have a good understanding of their monthly cash flow. If they do, they’ll have a better idea of how lenders will view their income. 3. Collect your financial documents. Buying a home can be a long process. Things will be much less complicated if you have access to all your financial documentation. Homebuyers must submit a number of documents to a lender to authenticate the amounts of their income and taxes.
These documents include two recent pay stubs, their W-2 forms from the last two years, tax returns and bank statements from the last two months. 4. Decide on your down payment. Getting the money together for a
down payment requires a lot of effort, especially for first-time home buyers. Deciding how much you want to put down before you talk to your lender will help you clarify your loan options and see if you qualify for any special options.
Visit the Home Builders Association of SWLA’s website at www.hbaswla.org to learn more about the Home Show on Jan. 25 and 26 at the Lake Charles Civic Center.
Modern Kitchen Design And Remodel Want to design and remodel your kitchen in a clean, modern style? Here’s a list of suggested materials and techniques that might make your next kitchen remodel look thoroughly modern. It’s a grab-bag of suggested, not required, touches often found in modern kitchens. Sleek, Unembellished Kitchen Cabinets. Kitchen cabinets can visually occupy up to 75 percent of the room. Get the cabinets right, and you can consider your modern kitchen design a slam-dunk. Modern kitchen cabinet manufacturers include Snaidero, IKEA and Aran. Forget embellishments. Modern kitchen cabinets tend to be flat, smooth and uncomplicated. Tones can be on the lighter side, such as light oak, or stark blacks and grays. Free-Standing (Island-Mount) Range Hood. It’s unthinkable to remodel a kitchen and call it “modern” without including one of these free-standing range hoods. They’re called “island-mount” range hoods, and they can be mounted over an island’s cooktop — or against the wall. Favored material for range hoods is stainless steel, of course. If you really want to get fancy (and pay a price in the mid-four-figure range), you can even get a motorized island-mount hood, like the Miele DA5000D, which raises and lowers at the mere touch of a button. Clean Cabinet Fixtures — Or None At All. For any modern kitchen, cabinet fixtures are minimized. Sleek and straight are the orders of the day. Fixture-free cabinets are possible, too, and in many cases are highly desired. But consider usabilty. Does your desire for aesthetics outweigh your need to easily grasp and open cabinet doors? Glass Cabinet Fronts. It’s simple to order clear or translucent glass for your cabinet doors instead of solid. Doing so allows you to add in-cabinet lighting for even more dramatic effect. Glass Tile Backsplashes. One benefit of installing glass tile backsplashes: eco-friendliness. Glass tile backsplashes are a tad bit more difficult and expensive to install for the do-it-yourselfer, but with the range of colors and luminosity, they look fantastic. Pendant Lighting. Pendant lighting is guaranteed to give your kitchen a cool, contemporary look. Swap out existing 1980s-style can lights for lower-hanging pendant lights that better-illuminate your work surface.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Patio Upgrades
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urning your patio into luxury outdoor living space is easier than you think. With some serious planning, new and affordable allseason materials, equipment, furnishings and accessories, you can convert that tired concrete slab into an attractive getaway, just steps out the back door. It’s not a job for amateurs, experts say, if you want to do more than spruce up what you have with some flowerpots or a new chaise lounge. A real makeover such as adding an outdoor kitchen, new stone flooring, an outdoor fireplace and/or other upscale amenities requires forethought and detailed plans, industry sources say. In addition to underground utilities, rethinking seating needs and/or redoing landscaping, homeowners wanting to upgrade outdoor living space need to consider future expansion or existing structures such as a pool. Plan for future site amenities, even if you don’t plan to build them for some time. Typically, the construction of these projects is not for the weekend warrior. Items such as gas piping for grills or fire pits require the expertise of a plumber.
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Lighting and electrical outlets would require the expertise of an electrician. Depending on the code requirements of the town where you live, inspections for such items may be required by a licensed contractor as well. Some local municipalities also may require site plans and/or drawings. A cosmetic upgrade can be easy as a few hundred dollars, but contracting work such as gas lines, electrical, hauling or excavation will cost the same as a major
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home remodeling project. Manufactured patio pavers for example, can cost as little as a few dollars a square foot at big box supply stores to $15 to $20 a square foot for higher-end brick/stone pavers. The most expensive items will be the specialty items that require infrastructure, such as gas piping and electricity. Usually associated with these installations are the higher priced items such as custom stainless steel grills and other cooking equipment, fire pits and
torches. Basic outdoor kitchen patios with manufactured pavers or stamped concrete, such as a stainless grill set in a masonry counter system, can start at $7,500$10,000, depending on styles and finishes. Some higher-end patio kitchens include wine coolers, crisper draws for fruits and veggies, trash compactors, builtin icemakers, bars, cocktail carts and blenders. These upscale patios may have special heating and cooling equipment canopies, misters, gas-powered tiki torches, fireplaces and even outdoor television sets. No matter where you live, natural materials, such as stone, weather the best. Man-made materials like brick and concrete work well, too. Stainless steel is an obvious choice for grills and refrigerators. Woods that weather well — such as mahogany, ipe and teak — are good choices for pergolas and decking. In climates prone to harsh weather like northern winters or tropical rainy seasons, homeowners should remove and store away furniture, cushions and any other decorative items.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Privacy Fencing
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privacy fence is often one of the key components in creating an outdoor living space. Privacy fences are ideal for patios and decks that enable homeowners to decompress from the hustle and bustle of a hard day’s work and to escape from the everyday noises inside the home, e.g., dishwashers, televisions, etc. There are a number of off-the-shelf privacy fence design options to choose from, including wooden and vinyl fences. In addition, evergreen shrubs can serve as privacy fencing; however, they may need a few years of growth to be effective if you buy them too small. A privacy fence also can be useful in smaller backyards or building lots where there is a lack of shrubbery and natural viewing obstructions along the property lines. The height of an off-the-shelf vinyl or wooden privacy fence is typically about 6 feet. However, you can sometimes customize them a bit to extend them higher. In addition, you can come up with your own custom design to achieve your own particular style and height. Often, homeowners who come up with their own design use a combination of solid material along the lower twothirds of the fence and lattice on the upper third. In other cases, the entire fence may be constructed out of lattice sandwiched in between fence posts. When building a wooden privacy fence, it is important to use material that will not rot or decay over time, such as
treated lumber or wood types that are naturally rot-resistant. In addition, regardless of the wood type, the wood should be sealed in some way to prevent moisture penetration. If you elect to paint the fence, make sure to paint all sides of the lumber, including freshly cut ends. Moreover, make sure to use non-corrosive fasteners to build it, such as hot-tipped galvanized and stainless steel nails or screws. Using other types of fasteners could very likely result in ugly stain marks showing up on the fence as the fasteners slowly corrode. Even worse, the fence eventually could collapse. Another major concern when building a privacy fence is wind. A large, vertical solid surface is easily susceptible to wind damage. Consequently, make sure to install the posts at least a couple of feet down into the ground, and preferably set them in concrete. By using lattice or using a fence design that includes adjacent/staggered vertical lumber pieces that are at angles to each other, you can allow wind to flow more easily through the fence, reducing the risk of it being blown over or damaged. The use of evergreen shrubs is also a great way to create a privacy fence, particularly if you are building a fence around a patio or deck. Though evergreen shrubs can be expensive, using them in a small area limits the damage to the wallet. Whatever your plans and design ideas are, you should first check with your local building code enforcement officer to see
whether there are any restrictions on installing a fence, even a small privacy fence. Towns and cities frequently have strict rules on their construction, such as their height and set-back requirements. You may also want to check for any local
covenants or restrictions that may exist if you live in a housing development. Another advantage of using evergreen shrubs as a privacy fence is that they are typically exempt from local ordinances and covenants for fence construction.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Shower Spruce-Ups
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our shower is your oasis. It may be where you begin your day, waking up with the scents of your shampoo and body cleanser, but it’s also where you go after a tough workout or a day of grueling yardwork to soothe your muscles, sing, scrub and get squeaky-clean again. So make your shower a place of pure relaxation and rejuvenation with a few easy refurbishing projects that don’t require a pricey remodeling project. The goal is to create a de-stressing place, not create stress with the hassle, noise and a mess of contractors, nor the scary codes and budget-killing plumbing upgrades to be sure your pipes and water heater can handle multiple shower stream jets and the addition of a steam bath. Here are eight easy additions to spruce up your shower into a place you love to be.
Sensational Showerhead A new showerhead is easy to install, using manufacturer instructions and the installation videos found on some manu-
facturer websites. You can change your old-fashioned spray showerhead into an indulgent waterfall showerhead, and with a twist of the wide circular disk, choose from gentle rainfall-type spray to a more massaging shiatsu-style stream. Angle the showerhead to give you the direction of spray that’s right for your height, and taller homeowners can even choose a new showerhead with an extender arm to raise the showerhead up above their heads, something they might not have gotten to enjoy with a standard shower placement in an older home or apartment.
Shower Curtain Rod You may have experienced the airy, roomier shower in a luxury hotel, with an arched curtain rod moving that curtain liner further away from your body so that you can move freely without bumping into that liner. It’s an easy installation project requiring just a screwdriver, in most cases, and your new, arched rod can then be dressed up with new, easyslide metal ball or disk curtain rings holding your new, luxe shower curtain.
While you’re at it, get a fluffy, curtain-matching bath rug to step onto after your relaxing shower. Choose the color that says “spa” to you. It could be white or sage green — a soft, neutral shade that creates a natural scene.
Fixtures A little bit more plumbing talent is often required for this task, or you could have a plumber come in to install your new, non-rusted shower handles or single shower pull. Plumbing experts say that older turnstile shower knobs can sometimes rust inside the connection, which can cause expensive leaks inside your wall down to the level below. So changing out your shower knob fixtures could wind up saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars down the road. A new, more modern style of fixture adds to the luxury of your shower.
Chromatherapy It sounds space-age, but some top shower supply companies now offer showerheads that project relaxing colors
of light, such as purple, blue or green, in a relaxing pattern meant to stimulate the de-stressing sensors of the brain. HGTV recently showcased this holistic feature via the Ondine Electric Light Shower, or ELS, which “pours light and water” from each of its large number of nozzles, “in a combination of fiber optics and halogen lights.” Also in the holistic — and pricey — realm is the “healing power of crystals via Ondine’s Krystal ELS, boasting Swarovski crystals around the perimeter.” If you don’t have the budget for crystals in your showerhead, think about colored light options in your overhead shower light fixture.
Fix That Grout It can be a do-it-yourself project, using the grout-eliminating attachment in your dremel tool and a practiced hand with fresh caulking application, or you can hire a pro to knock this job out for you in a fraction of the time. Your local Home Depot or Lowe’s store might have a free grout-fixing seminar to help you perfect your caulking skills and help you
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
avoid damaging your shower stall tiles. Whichever method you choose, fresh, white grout and caulk create the impression of a new shower and add value to your home.
of light you get in your shower room. Having healthy, shiny green plants in your shower space adds to the spa-like atmosphere.
Sound De-Clutter Just removing that collection of 3/4used shampoo bottles and conditioners from your shower shelf and shower organizing caddy, leaving just one shampoo and conditioner set and body wash in a soothing scent, plus your loofah, removes the stressful energy of clutter and creates a more calming atmosphere.
Plants Freshen up the air in your bathroom with live plants chosen for their love of a steamy environment and also the amount
As great as your shower singing voice might be, it can be immensely relaxing to set your iPod in a dock on your bathroom countertop — safely distanced from water — and play calming instrumental spa music or the sounds of a rainforest to create a soothing experience before, during and after your shower. Some of these shower spruce-ups are free, some cost less than $30, and some might cost $200 or so, but the improved experience of your shower oasis will be worth it.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Designing A Guest Room
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hen guests come to visit, make them feel right at home with a well-appointed, newly-designed guest room. It’s become a growing trend for family and friends to stay in the homes of those they visit, rather than stay in a pricey nearby hotel, and homeowners are taking that clutter-crammed extra room and turning it into a space that welcomes all. Empty nesters say their adult children’s former bedrooms, as well as craft rooms and rooms intended as home gyms (but became a dumping ground for holiday decor, clothing and other items) have long been on their “transform this space” list. You don’t need a $10,000 budget to make a comfy, cozy guest room. With just a few new purchases and a coat of paint, your spare room can rival the nicest bed and breakfast suite. Here are the top tips for your guest room creation project: Clear the room. First, clear everything out of the room. Set up large plastic bins labeled with “donate,” “recycle,”
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“sort” and other instructions that work for you, such as “move to the attic” or “give to my children for storage in their homes.” As you’re sorting through everything in the space, you might find
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decor treasures to display elsewhere in your home. Focus on the flooring. A professional carpet cleaner can steam the room’s carpets, making them look like
new. Or you might wish to tear up old, outdated, worn carpets to reveal the hardwood floor beneath. With a simple Murphy’s Oil Soap coating, these floors can look new. An oversize area rug can be purchased new, perhaps on sale, or you can use an area rug that you have in storage. The Freecycle Network is an online source of free trades, possibly leading you to find the perfect area rug for this room. Paint the walls and ceiling. A pristine white ceiling gives a polished look to the room, as does matching white crown molding that you or a handy friend, can install. Choose a soothing wall color, such as a cappuccino, a darker pink or even a Tiffany blue, to work with your existing decor items. Decorate your walls. Pick a few pieces of coordinating artwork, new or existing, in your home, and invest in new, matching-color frames such as all white, all brushed nickel or all black. When frames match, the room looks more unified. Perhaps apply just a few cling Victorian roses in the upper corners of the room or a green garland swirl
above the doorway. Less is always more. Treat your windows. Insulation is your first task, to remove drafts and keep the room warmer or cooler, depending on the season. Clean all parts of the windows, and add a modern curtain rod with decorative finials, as well as fresh, new shades and curtains. Add the pretty touches of coordinated curtain tie-backs that hook onto hardware easily installed next to the window frame, behind the curtains. Make a comfy bed. Guests want to sleep on a newer, more supportive bed, so test yours out. Then choose stylish bed linens that coordinate with the room’s and curtain’s colors. Be sure to use bedding that is machine washable for easier preparation and cleanup before and after your guests’ visit. Add plenty of supportive sleeping pillows and decorative throw pillows in matching or coordinating pillowcases to create a cozier effect that home stagers say invites a sense of relaxation. Clear off counter space. This is not a room in which to display your collections. Keep your countertops and bedside table surfaces minimally decorated, and set out a small silver platter or plate in which your guests can place their personal effects. If there is a television in the room, place the remote next to the bed. Set out a linen and toiletry basket. In a large basket, provide freshly laundered, fluffy rolled towels and washcloths, along with a selection of aromatherapy body lotions and other pampering products for guests’ enjoyment as they make themselves at home. Clear the air. Guests appreciate having clean, allergen-free air to breathe, so place a small, portable air purifier in the room a few days before their arrival. Be sure the filter is cleaned and the machine works silently. An air purifier is far preferable to scented candles, potpourri or room sprays, which can bother some guests’ allergies or sensitivities. Provide a nightlight. They cost less than $5 at home decor stores, and the slight glow of light in their room, or in the connected bathroom, allows your guests to get up and move around safely in the middle of the night if they must.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Exterior Design
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ne of the saddest things I’ve seen done to a home is the construction of a
large and unsightly addition. Many homeowners focus on the inside of the home addition during the design phase,
and pay little attention to the exterior design. As a result, they often end up with an addition that looks like a large
tumor hanging off the side of the main home. In some cases, the tumor is larger than the house itself. Though the finished home with its attached addition gives more living space, it often provides a negative return on investment, and can make the home more difficult to sell. Buyers care a great deal about a home’s exterior, and consequently, they want to purchase a home that offers style and symmetry. Curb appeal is half the battle for attracting home buyers. An addition that fails to meld into the existing home can detract from a home’s overall curb appeal. If the home has any significant historical value in the community, or if there are covenants associated with the property, the municipality or home association could also have issues with an addition’s exterior design. Therefore, it is important to make sure the town and any home association that the property is associated with are in agreement with your building plans prior to starting construction. Otherwise, you could find yourself with a cease and desist letter and/or in a courtroom.
Key Considerations Make sure the addition’s size is in proportion to the rest of the home. For example, don’t build an addition that is actually larger than the main home. A good rule of thumb is that the addition’s exterior length should not be more than 30 to 40 percent of the main home’s length. Also consider recessing the addition from the front of the main home. This way, the main home still represents the main visual from the curb, and the addition looks like an accent piece to it. Alternatively, you may want to consider installing the addition toward the back of the home so that the front of the home is not changed in appearance. Ensure that the addition’s exterior siding and colors dovetail nicely with the existing home, so the addition looks as if it was always part of the original home. In some cases, you may want to use an exact match with house siding and color, and in other cases, you may want to select a siding or color that contrasts nicely with the rest of the home. Finally, use similar rooflines with the same roof pitches, soffit depths and roof eave overhangs. Also, use shingles that match the existing roof. In some cases, it may make sense to re-shingle the main part of the home when shingling the addition. Moreover, carefully consider roof dormers. Not all dormers complement a roof. Think symmetry when planning your addition’s exterior and rooflines. The addition’s roof should go with the home’s main roof.
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Shelving Chic
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n easy and inexpensive way to transform a room is to install new and stylish shelving features. You don’t need to build a bookcase that extends the entire length of a wall. That kind of big, heavy feature lessens the floor space of your room and can make the space look smaller. What’s trendy for interior design right now is the addition of individual shelf pieces and ledges measuring two, three or four feet in length. A single attractive shelving piece gives framed artwork a chic place to rest and a small grouping of collectibles a tasteful home. Here are rundowns on the top trends in shelf and ledge features this year, any of which would serve you well in an easy, get-it-done-in-no-time home decor project: — Ultra-narrow shelving. A ledge that extends just two inches to four inches from the wall maintains the open and airy space of a room, especially if it’s a small room. The new class of ultra-narrow shelving features a groove or a front lip that keeps frames, artwork and smaller items securely in place. Consider installing a narrow single shelf the entire length of the wall, set high to run above the windows, for the purpose of displaying artwork and collectibles the full length of the room. When painted the same color as the wall, the shelf becomes an “invisible”
architectural detail that eliminates the “stuck to the wall” effect of a contrasting color. — Rustic wood ledges. Rustic is in this season, adding a natural look and feel to a room. Unique woods, such as bayur, are found in Pottery Barn collections and others, and they offer that telltale aged look of rustic charm. One top trend for rustic shelves and ledges is displaying not just one piece, but two or three in different sizes, such as a 4-footer on the bottom, a 3-footer above that and a 2-footer above that. The stacked effect maintains rustic comfort while providing a unique visual flair that’s far more en vogue now than a trio of matching shelf lengths. — Rattan. For an island-style effect, choose a wood shelf that gives the effect of woven rattan. An extra-thick mango wood shelf with a chunky appearance has the look and feel of a fireplace mantle because it’s six inches high, as opposed to those 4-inch-high display shelves. — Marble top. A white marble embedded with natural crystalline sparkles and colored veining provides a European elegance for a bathroom, kitchen or white-decor living room. With a decorative black metal brace beneath, the effect is opulent, yet still soft enough for modern decor. continued
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HOME IMPROVEMENT — Beveled-edge shelves. The slight angles of a beveled edge add a formal look to a shelving piece and may coordinate with other furniture pieces in the room. A style to check out is the corbel decorative shelf with beveled edges, cutout corners and curved supports that, with its classic profile, adds to the architecture of a space. Use them in rows or with staggered shelves to showcase frames, books and keepsakes. — Molded-base shelves. Shelving pieces with decorative molding on the bottom can coordinate with the design of molding that encircles the tops of your walls, for a polished look. — A-frame bookcases with matching shelves above. A four-shelf A-frame bookcase in a trendy espresso color made from solid hardwood and veneer offers a contemporary, geometric pattern. Matching small ledges above or on either side extend the wood shelving effect in an eye-pleasing upward direction to continue the display of items such as books, collectibles and artwork. — Gallery-style display. The gallery wall is one of the top design trends for this year. It’s ideal for the artistic collection of different colors and sizes of framed art arranged randomly on a wall. Narrow-edged shelving pieces or ledges can be used to create the same effect. It’s
your choice whether you want to display matching frame colors and styles — in different sizes for visual effect — to show off your kids’ artwork and other prints or creations. — Shelving units mixed with shelves and ledges. Individual shelf and ledge pieces can be hung between two built-in bookcases, such as those above a bed and situated in the middle; or small ledges could be hung next to a bookshelf to make use of staircase space and other awkward empty wall areas. — Eco-friendly woods. Since green living is a top trend in interior design, homeowners can choose eco-friendly bamboo, or borrow from prized designers who use reclaimed wood, such as railroad ties and pine lengths, to customize inventive shelves. — Natural colors. The top hues of shelving pieces include mahogany, cherry wood, espresso and lighter shades, such as natural, white and silver. Brights may be used in children’s rooms, nurseries, and now even in kitchens, for a pop of color in an all-white or tan space. The key to perfect shelving pieces is precise, level installation. Mount your shelf pieces right the first time. A laser level can help you install your shelving in the proper way.
Simple Fixes A little bit of time and elbow grease can translate into big savings and help you avoid costly repairs down the line. One of the simplest small steps homeowners overlook is programming their home’s thermostat to reflect seasonal changes. While more than 25 million homeowners have programmable thermostats in their homes, less than 50 percent are actually programming them. If you already have a programmable thermostat installed, the only investment needed is 15 minutes for the initial programming and setup. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, they’re relatively inexpensive and can be installed quickly. At a minimum, you can change your thermostat a few degrees and enjoy the reduced energy consumption.
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Air filters should be changed monthly. The exact frequency with which they’re changed depends on many factors, including what type of unit you have and whether people in your home have seasonal allergies, etc. Small things like re-caulking windows and adding insulation, curtains and awnings can also help. Replacing worn dishwasher racks and non-working stove elements are easy tasks to check off your list. The two most common replacement parts purchased for dishwashers are upper or lower racks. Lower racks are easier to replace, as they normally just roll out. Replacing the top rack is simple, too, but requires just a few more minutes of your time to remove the rack stops.
‘DIAMOND DINNER’ FUNDRAISER McNeese Cowboy Baseball and Cowgirl Softball will present a “Diamond Dinner” fundraiser Jan. 31, 6-9 pm, at Treasures of Marilyn’s, 3510 5th Ave. in Lake Charles. Featured will be a social hour with cash bar from 6-7 pm, dinner and a live and silent auction from 7-9 pm, as well as a live band and door prizes. Dress in business casual attire. Tickets are $20 per person or $300 per table of 8. To donate items for auction or to purchase tickets, call 475-5482, fax 475-5478, or email justin.hill@mcneese.edu.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FREE PRESENTATION NAMI Southwest Louisiana will host a free educational presentation Jan. 15, 6 pm, to those who have questions or need more information on the Affordable Care Act. The event will be presented by SWLA Area Health Education Center at the NAMI SWLA office, located at 715 Ryan St., Suite 203. For more information, call 433-0219.
BOAT, SPORT AND RV SHOW The 29th annual Central Gulf Coast Boat, Sport and RV Show will take place Jan. 17-19 at the Lake Charles Civic Center. The event will feature boats, RVs, jet skis, golf carts and more. There will also be the indoor FishO-Rama, where visitors can test their fishing skills and catch rainbow trout for dinner; and the world’s largest mobile aquarium. Duck Dynasty’s Martin will be on hand Saturday, 11 am-1 pm and 24 pm. Hours are noon-9 pm Friday, 10 am-8 pm Saturday, and 11 am-5 pm Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults; children 15 and younger are admitted free with paid adult.
LIN EMERY EXHIBIT The Imperial Calcasieu Museum will host “Poetry in Motion,” an exhibit featuring the works of Lin Emery, Jan. 17March 1. The museum is located at 204 W. Sallier St. Hours are Tues.Sat., 10 am-5 pm. For more information, call 439-3797.
MMA CAGE FIGHTING The Vengeance Fighting Alliance VFA Round 3 mixed martial arts cage fighting event will take place Jan. 18 at the Lake Charles Civic Center’s Rosa Hart Theatre. Doors will open at 6 pm, and the fights will begin at 7 pm. Admission starts at $15. For more information, call 337-425-3335.
NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE SHOW ACTS will present “A Neil Diamond Tribute” featuring Diamond tribute artist and eighttime Branson show award-winner Keith Allyman Jan. 24 at its 1 Reid St. Theatre. Doors will open at 6:30 pm, and the show will begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20, and are available at Moss Bluff Flower and Gift Shop, Lakeshore Medic Pharmacy and at the Lake Charles Civic Center Box Office. Tickets are also available at actstheatre.com. For more information, call 433-ACTS. www.BestOfSWLA.com
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MOUNTED MEMORIES
rocke "soybean" fournet
A Different Approach There are different strokes for different folks. Sometimes there are tons of ways to approach the subject, but it is, of course, the end result that counts. All your choices are good ones when you can achieve your objective. It feels so good when a plan comes together. There are certain accepted practices in the pursuit of the super-smart whitetail deer. The basics most hunters take for granted such as elevation, scent control and concealment are pretty much “givens.” But not for everybody. Local outdoorsman Zane Carter, has developed a different approach to the great sport of deer hunting. Zano starred for state champion Kinder football team under the legendary Johnny Buck. He went on to college and a great career on some winning McNeese teams. His approach was non-conventional, but effective. He was especially proud to have won consecutive filthiest room awards in an athletic dorm that was in itself an incredibly filthy place. Zigler Zoo was, without a doubt, a house of horrors and a mother’s worst nightmare. Zane cut his teeth hunting for squirrels, and has been known to limit out more than his fair share. His run-and-gun style was to cover ground and then settle down and hunt. There isn’t much “still” in
Zane’s style of hunting. But, if it works for you, get moving. As you might expect, Zane’s style of outsmarting whitetail deer is also his own unique style: Zane was fashionably late, as he stumbled into the quiet woods well after sunrise. The night before, he and some Kinder buddies were up late, swapping stories (lies) about their glory days at Slim’s Club. He toted a lawn chair to a spot he thought looked good and halted. There were no fields of fire, and visibility was 50 yards at best. But it felt right, so he settled into the chair and kicked back. He was in his element, and he struck a match to a vintage cheap cigar he had been saving for this very occasion. The acrid stench of the dimestore stogie wafted through the woods as Zane got comfortable. This was his version of scent control. Suddenly a loud rustling of leaves jolted Zane out of his stupor. He readied his shotgun, loaded with buckshot designed for close quarters
“Don’t Put It Off” A famous philosopher told a story about a flock of geese that was starting to head south for the winter. The first night out they landed in a farmer’s yard, and filled themselves with corn. The next morning they all flew on, except for one. “The corn is good,” this big goose said, “and so I will stay and keep eating for another day.” The next morning he woke up and stretched his wings and said, “No, I’m gonna keep on eating today and fly south tomorrow. Tomorrow is the big day.” He soon developed a habit, “Tomorrow I will fly south.” Finally one day, it got very cold. Freezing cold. He had to get going. He could freeze to death if he didn’t. And so he stretched out his wings and waddled across the barnyard, picking up speed as he went, faster and faster. But guess what happened? He couldn’t do it. He was too fat to fly. He had waited too long. The point is clear. Do it now. Don’t put it off. Erma Bombeck was a wonderful writer. She once wrote, “Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. And finally one morning, we awaken and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of ‘I am going to,’ ‘I plan on,’ and ‘Someday when things are settled down a bit.” So true. In the year 23 B.C., the Latin poet Horace proclaimed, “Carpe diem.” Seize the day. Scripture says it like this, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118: 24) Trusting in God, may each of us do this very thing, and do it today. Don’t put it off! You are invited to worship at First Methodist: Sundays, 8:30 & 10:45 AM Corner of Broad and Kirkman Radio broadcast • Sunday, 8:00 AM on 100.5FM 64
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hunting, and it was showtime. A mature eight-point buck came diddyboppin’ down
the trail right into Zane’s kill zone. Z put the hammer down, and the rest is history. After a blood-curdling kill call, he folded up the chair, retrieved his buck, and headed to the house a happy Yellow Jacket. The recent state champion Kinder team invited Zane to address the team as a former state champ. Contents of his speech were mercifully not made public. But he must have said something right, judging from the way Kinder rocked the dome. One thing is for certain. He did it Zane’s way. The hunting seasons are winding down as some real winter weather blows in. Temperatures are forecast in the 20s, so break out the long johns. There is hunting to be done, so don’t leave anything on the table. Get out there and experience the cold, but bundle up! Check out the photo at left. That is Lake Charles’ own Marvin Lawson with a mountain mule deer that would put a smile on anybody’s face.
SARRO ON SPORTS
rick sarro
Low Temps … High Hoops When the cold temperatures settle in, they usher in basketball full-time and conference races kick into high gear. The McNeese Cowboys and Cowgirls got the second half of their seasons underway and the new year as well. The Cowgirls had gotten off to an impressive 7-4 start in non-conference play, winning two games in a New York tournament, along with three straight victories over UL-Monroe, Louisiana Tech and Southern-New Orleans. That’s a fast start for a squad in transition after losing its leading scorers, assists makers, field goal and free throw shooters and go-to leaders in just about every phase of the game. That would be Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett. No two players meant more to their teams than the Baggett twins to the Cowgirls. But eligibility and graduation was always on the clock, and head coach Brooks Donald Williams was prepared to restock the line-up and keep the motor running. “We’ve played games and done a great job with this team. We are not going to speculate over who we need from seasons past. We need to get this team better, and I have no question we will,” says a confident Donald Williams. The 7th-year head coach has her system, and it’s in place with or without those retired no. 10 and 11 jerseys on the floor. She relies on guards who dictate the flow and style of play, ball movement, rebounding and most of all, a maximum effort on defense. McNeese is not completely “Baggettless.” Sophomore guard Allison Baggett got some valuable minutes playing with her big sisters last year, and has come into her own this season, leading the team in scoring with 18 points a game to go with 4 rebounds. Oft-injured Alaina Verdin is finally healthy and moving well at another guard spot, and sophomore guard Jayln Johnson is working the point and has displayed a deft three-point range and an ability to penetrate and break down defenses. The front court of seniors Cecilia Okoye and NeTanya Jones will be critical factors in how far the Cowgirls go in the SLC. Their combined 15 rebounds and 20 points per game may have to ratchet up a few notches, but they’ve provided needed defense and lane-clogging skills against some pretty good opponents. “We recruit the kind of kids to fit into our team’s personality. These young ladies certainly fit into what we do. These guys are doing a great job in our system,” Donald Williams said. He noted the overall effort wasn’t good enough against Southeastern Louisiana, causing the Cowgirls to drop their Southland Conference opener 82-65. McNeese had stretches of sleep walking against the Lady Lions. This prompted their coach to ask them in a long post-game locker room session where was that energy and intensity that carried them in the first 11 games? The Cowgirls found it in their second conference game, beating New Orleans 8259 behind Baggett’s 22 points and a career
high 19 from Verdin. McNeese, now 8-5 and 1-1 on the year going into the road game at Sam Houston State, are supposed to beat a still winless UNO. They should have and needed to handle up on Southeastern, especially at home, because the prospect of stealing a road win in Hammond now awaits.
Donald Williams is tough to please, and a coach with high standards; rightfully so, as she built this program into a conference contender with NCAA Tournament expectations. She likes this team and the scoring punch her bench can supply, but their success will depend on that aforementioned max effort and defense. “We can’t play basket for basket with people in conference play. We want to get stops on the defensive end. We’ve had a lot of consistency with our effort (minus Southeastern) and this team has been a lot of fun to coach.” More effort and better defense, then the “sky’s the limit” says Donald Williams. The Cowboys, on the other hand, spent much of the season’s first half flying through the skies to battle the likes of previously top-ranked Michigan State to open the season; they also played East Carolina, Rhode Island and San Diego State. In all, that was 10 road games out of the first 12 games. It’s not hard to figure out why McNeese started off 2-10, with their only two wins coming at home against NAIA and Division II opposition. They endured a nine-game road stretch between Nov. 18 and when the Cowboys faced LSU in Baton Rouge on Dec. 28. They competed well against the Tigers in the first half, but went cold and lost 79-52. A common thread during the team’s non-conference slate has been dismal shooting, to the tune of 36 percent from the field, 28 percent from three-point range and 72 percent from the free throw line. You won’t win many road games with numbers like that, and the Cowboys didn’t. “It was frustrating,” says head coach Dave Simmons, pointing out the obvious. “But they come to work. They hadn’t quit. That’s the thing I’ve seen. No matter what the score was, they didn’t quit, and showed a lot of class. The refs in the San Diego
State game came up to me and said they had not seen kids with that kind of class in defeat.” That should not be mistaken for acceptance or tolerance for losing. Far from it. The Cowboys were forced to play the hand they were dealt, which included a string of road games against bigger, stronger and better teams. Senior guard Kevin Hardy, a smart and road-hardened player, would admit this season’s road stretch was a bit over the top, but it had a positive influence on the squad away from the wins and loss column. “It’s always difficult to go into a team’s building because you have that 11th man element and you are already down by 10 points from being the road team,” says Hardy. “But we came together and stayed together. We played against some pretty tough teams, and it’s easy to lose your confidence and will to win. It’s easy to put your head down and kind of give up. But we stayed as a family and learned from each loss that we had.” The Lake Charles native and former St. Louis High star has seen incremental improvements in each phase of the game despite the run of losses. He knew the lessons and benefits from the road would lead to wins once the team was back home and on a more level playing field.
Hardy, second on the team in scoring with a 12-point average and near the top in rebounds with 7 per game, is McNeese’s most consistent player on both ends of the court. He’s their unquestioned leader on and off the court. Hardy, with his quiet intellect, considered furthering his education after graduation in the prestigious Ivy League before he decided to stay home and played basketball. The Cowboys are grateful he did, because they’ll go as far as Hardy can lead them in the conference race. Don’t underestimate Hardy’s counsel on the floor as he whispers directions or encouragement in the ear of guard Ledrick Eackles or junior forward Desharick Guidry. When Hardy decides to speak, his teammates listen. “I try and lead by example. Make sure I handle my business and give tips to anybody I can. We are a family and we need to get better. I want my teammates to say things to me so my game improves, and I want to do the same for them.” You don’t expect rim-rattling, jawdropping slams from a 6-foot, 2-inch guard like Hardy, but he uncorks some thunderous dunks that would win any intra-squad slam contest. Hardy possesses more leaping power per square inch than any Cowboy, and he’s acutely aware how one of his drive
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REEL TALK
duane bergeron
2013 In Review The movie industry’s 2013 had nothing new to offer in terms of box office performance or quality. The only noticeable difference was the large gap between the blockbusters and the flops compared to recent years. The stakes are higher now, with bigger budgets due to rising production costs. Ticket prices underwent a small increase due to those rising production costs, as well as the more expensive 3D features. A few big-budget features went down in flames during the summer — The Lone Ranger, Pacific Rim and White House Down. With a couple of exceptions, no major franchise pictures are scheduled for release in 2014, so the box office may go down a bit. On the other hand, 2015 looks to be a potential record-setting year, with many expected blockbusters scheduled for release, including the Superman sequel, Batman, Episode Seven of Star Wars, and The Avengers 2. Here’s a list of what are in my estimation the best five films of 2013, and, as usual, they are in no particular order:
Harrelson, this story of a group of stage magicians taking money from a large corporation and giving it back like modern day versions of Robin Hood had one of the best original concept screenplays of any feature I screened during the year.
Iron Man 3 Should this be a surprise? I think not. This great story continues courtesy of the production team that has made Iron Man a sure bet among movies within this genre. Robert Downey, Jr., as I have stated in my reviews of the Iron Man franchise, has made the Tony Stark character his own. And he does it with such relish. Downey will be back to portray the character in the next two installments of The Avengers. Whether or not he will be back for Iron Man 4 is up in the air right now. But if Disney and Marvel don’t want to compromise their cash cow, they had better find a way to keep Downey involved. Iron Man would not be the same without him.
Olympus Has Fallen Now You See Me This was a heist caper that avoided being another imitation of The Italian Job. With a superb cast featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Caine and Woody
As was the case in 1998, when there were two competing films about an Earth/asteroid collision (Deep Impact and Armageddon), 2013 saw the release of two features with a similar themes —
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terrorist attacks on the White House. The Roland Emmerich-directed White House Down was one of the year’s largest budget casualties, but Olympus Has Fallen was a better movie and had cheaper production costs. With Morgan Freeman and Gerard Butler, this alternate tale of the White House being attacked by a well-armed terrorist group was better executed than White House Down, and the storyline had more to offer the audience.
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug When it comes to adapting the works of J.R.R. Tolkien to the big screen, Peter Jackson has done what few directors in film history has been able to accomplish — to make each installment a masterpiece unto itself. I screened this feature in the 3D Higher Frame Format (HFR), and it was astounding, to say the least. The HFR format provides better and clearer images in 3D. Technology aside, Jackson has another classic on his hands, as he continues the tale of Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves attempting to reclaim their homeland from that very evil dragon. Tolkien’s novels are arguably the greatest fantasy literature ever written.
Jackson’s extraordinary filmmaking skills are making the films very worthy counterparts to the books. The third and last installment of The Hobbit is scheduled for a December 2014 release.
Man Of Steel The life story of Superman in the modern cinematic era has been an amazing tale unto itself. Superman launched the contemporary superhero genre in 1978 with great success. The late Christopher Reeve brought a new dimension and humanity to the character, and the special effects added to the film’s realism. Superman 2 (1981), kept the momentum going, with more action and even greater visuals. However, Superman 3 and 4 went belly-up. Superman Returns, with Brandon Routh in the title role, was released in 2006, and could not boost the legendary superhero back to box office triumph, though the movie had its good points. Warner Brothers tried again this year, with Henry Cavill as Clark Kent/Superman and Zack Snyder as director. This time it worked. This movie is a complete reboot, giving a new angle to the Man of Steel story and returning Superman back to box office glory.
SARRO ON SPORTS continued and dunk plays can swing momentum and the crowd. “It’s always in the back of my head that a big dunk can give us some momentum and we can get going. Whenever I go in the lane and get my steps right and go up strong, you know I always want to finish strong like my dad taught me.” “When he goes to the basket, it’s hardly ever against a guard,” says Simmons. “Once there he is up against the front court, I have seen him dunk on 6-foot, 8 and 6foot, 9 — big men.” Those improvements Hardy mentioned, and the comforts of home court, came full circle as the Cowboys opened SLC play with a 2-0 start with wins over Southeastern Louisiana and New Orleans at Burton Coliseum. There were stretches of lousy shooting and head-scratching turnovers. But that intensity, effort and never-quit attitude surfaced in time for the team to regain composure and the lead. Having a full stable of talent and legs helped, along with a better shooting percentage. “Having Desharick Guidry back — (he missed the first half of the season due to academic suspension) — McFerrin back from injury, that was the key,” says Simmons. “Also shooting much better. We would be down by two points at times (during those road losses), and then lose by 25 points because we couldn’t score or shoot well,” noted Simmons. Playing on a familiar court, minus the long plane or bus trips, and against teams with similar size and skills, makes a big difference you can see. The road can wear you out physically and mentally. It can wear on your confidence and camaraderie. But the road can toughen up a basketball team that’s not good enough to sweep every home game. So the Cowboys will need to steal some games away from home. It could be the difference in a tight, competitive SLC race. “We know we put those men in a tough situation with all those road games, and against the level of competition we played. But on the back end of our conference, we have seven of our last nine league games on the road. So hopefully, we can feed off our road experience and [have] what it takes to win on the road and have a successful conference race,” says Simmons. Simmons’ Cowboys are off to good start in 2014: 2-0 and at the top of the SLC. Road memories return quickly, as McNeese heads to Sam Houston and Lamar before a long five-game home stand begins on January 16 against Corpus Christi. The weather outside has been frightful this winter, but the hoops inside have been delightful so far.
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SATURDAY, JAN. 11 Cigar Club TBA Coushatta Danica Delta Downs Event Center Chubby Checker; Gator Lounge Curly Taylor Isle Of Capri Phillip Glyn L'Auberge Jack After Dark DJ San-D Luna Live Big Al & The Heavyweights Yesterdays Damon Troy & Final Five
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No Name Lounge 8-Mid Friday, 7-11pm Sunday Old Town Tavern Fri/Sat Nights R-Bar 8pm Friday Sam's Cove 9pm Thursday Sidelinez 9pm Friday 11/29, 12/13 & 27 Slim's Yesteryears 9pm Thursday Spot Bar & Grill Fridays Sports Pitt 8pm Th-Fri-Sat Sulphur VFW 9pm-Mid Saturday Tiki Bar 8pm Friday Texas Longhorn Club 9pm Thursdays, 1am Fridays
FUSION FIVE’S 5K ZOMBIE RUN Fusion Five, Southwest Louisiana’s Young Professionals Organization, will host their second annual 5K Run, End of the Human Race: Camp Zombie, to be held at Camp Edgewood on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. Participants can choose to be a runner or a zombie. Runners will be outfitted with a belt of flags and run through zombie-filled woods trying to escape with at least one flag on their belts. After participants run for their lives, all are welcome to enjoy food, beverages and music from Lucy in Disguise. There will be prizes in multiple categories including Best Zombie. Early registration is now open. For more information or to register, visit endofthehumanrace.com or “Like” their Facebook page at facebook/EndoftheHumanRace.
SWLA LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO The Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo will be held at Burton Coliseum during the latter part of January. Following is a schedule of events: Friday, Jan. 24: 6 pm: opening reception and poster unveiling, Historic City Hall, second floor. Saturday, Jan. 25: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 1, riders depart Gueydan. Sunday, Jan. 26: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 2, riders travel from Lake Arthur to Jennings. Monday, Jan. 27: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 3, riders travel from Jennings to Welsh. Tuesday, Jan. 28: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 4, riders travel from Welsh to Iowa. Wednesday, Jan. 29: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 5, riders travel from Iowa en route to Lake Charles; 5 pm: rodeo celebrity meet and greet press party — invitation only. Thursday, Jan. 30: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 6, riders en route to parade; 4 pm: rodeo parade (trail riders line up with the parade at LaGrange and Patrick Streets, parade travels south on Ryan St. to McNeese Stadium); 7:30 pm: rodeo performance, Burton Coliseum. Friday, Jan. 31: 9 am: Western Heritage Trail Ride day 7, riders depart McNeese Stadium and travel to Burton Coliseum; 5 pm: Southwest District Rodeo Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Chalkley Room, Burton Coliseum; 7:30 pm: rodeo performance, Burton Coliseum. Saturday, Feb. 1: 9 am: chuck wagon cooking exhibit, Burton Coliseum; 11 am: stick horse rodeo, Burton Coliseum practice arena; 2 pm: rodeo performance, coronation of Miss Rodeo Louisiana, Burton Coliseum; 8 pm: rodeo performance, Burton Coliseum. www.BestOfSWLA.com
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1121 Main Street • Lake Charles PLACE YOUR AD CALL ROSE AT 4338502 TODAY! class@thelanyap.com
Ronnie Mesh (337) 436-7237
classified Southwest SW Manufactured HOMES & RV'S Housing, Inc. NEW • USED • REPOS • SALES & SERVICE
2013 SINGLEWIDE 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH, DELIVERY, SET-UP, A/C INCLUDED FOR ONLY $1700 DOWN AND $275 A MONTH WAC! PRE-QUALIFY TODAY! Corner of Hwy 90 and Hwy 171
www.swhomeslc.com 436-5593 68
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announcements
FOR SALE 40 ACRES OUISKA CHITTO GOOD HUNTING, FISHING AND SANDBARS LOTS OF OAK AND CYPRESS TREES PRICE REDUCED! Ph 337-540-2667
I BUY JUNK CARS UP TO $400. 2004 AND NEWER UP TO $600! 337-912-1816
stuff 4 sale
337-656-2928 GoMinis® of SWLA Lake Charles
MOVING? REMODELING? NEED ADDITIONAL STORAGE?
8' X 20' 8' X 16' 8' X 12'
COWBOY'S TOWING & RECOVERY 24-HOUR TOWING 4125 E. HWY 90 • LAKE CHARLES
337-656-2928
services ACCOUNTING
BARRETT CONSULTING APC
PLACE YOUR AD CALL ROSE AT 4338502 TODAY! class@thelanyap.com _________________
2008 SALEM 28' CAMPER FOR SALE! Great shape, flat screen TV and microwave included. Queen bed in front. Bunk beds in back w/Twin on top, full on bottom. 16' slide with Sofa making into bed and dinette folding into bed also. Asking $12,000 negotiable with stabilization bar and receiver hitch (included). 337-515-6244 for information.
NATURALLY RAISED BEEF, butchered, vacuum packed, and frozen. Custom size portions to fit your needs. Wholes, halves, quarters, and packaged meat. Come see us every Tues. 4pm-6pm at Cash and Carry Farmers Market or call 842-4653 or 764-1074. r1121
Clean Used Cars Great Condition
GREAT DEALS ON WHEELS 2003 Dodge Neon SXT 4 door loaded $2995 2003 Dodge Stratus 2 door, sporty ......$2995 1998 Grand Marquis loaded, super......$2995 1995 Buick LeSabre 4 door sharp........$2995 1995 Chevy Caprice beautiful ..............$2595
ph1121
2001 Ford F150 pickup, super nice .........$2595 2000 Ford Explorer 4 door loaded........$2595 1999 Chevy Tahoe loaded, clean ..........$2595 1997 Chevy Suburban excellent! ........$2595 1995 Ford F150 nice ...............................$1995 1992 GMC Sierra Ext Cab loaded......$1995
Tax • Accounting Litigation Support Business Valuation & Consulting 1180 E. McNeese Ph: 337-855-0032 r1219
PLACE YOUR AD CALL ROSE AT 4338502 TODAY! class@thelanyap.com _________________
services
ANTIQUE COOLERS, CUSTOM PAINTED OR RAW, BRAND NEW OLD STOCK STILL IN BOXES. RARE! 337-515-6945
services
services
SWIMMING POOLS INGROUND VINYL LINER REPLACEMENT TOP QUALITY LINERS, INDIVIDUALLY MEASURED. WINTER SPECIAL ANY LINER $2750 INSTALLED! BAKERBOY LLC STEVE BAKER 884-4478
LAKE CHARLES AUTO PARTS Old Town Rd. & Hwy 171 Lake Charles, LA
439-8899
PARTIN JEWELRY REPAIR 34 Years Experience
r1219
Jewelry Repair & Custom Jewelry Work
QUICK SERVICE • Oil changes, tire rotations, 15k service, belts, hoses, coolant service, power steering flush,brake flush, light engine repair, tune ups, check engine light on, air conditioning service, disc and drum brakes. • Engine Performance • Engine Repair • Brakes • Steering And Suspension • Manual Drive Train • Heating And AC • Electrical Repair And Diagnosis • DEQ Emissions Safety Inspections • State Inspections
Info or Estimates: 526.2533
All work is done in store by me Located inside Bodin Jewelers 3133 Ernest Street (East of JCPenney) OPEN: Tues-Fri 10-5:30
436-6535
NEW TO LAKE CHARLES! "Your Honest Hometown Family Owned Repair Shop" We offer fair labor rates, honest diagnosis and service. We don't just want your business, we want to earn it along with your trust. Complete Automotive Repair and Maintenance on cars and light trucks, with specialization on Domestic. Small or Large Repairs and Service.
Call anytime 842-9184 Bring in this ad and receive
Rickey Partin
15% OFF
www.BestOfSWLA.com
January 9, 2014
any repair work!
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UTEC
PLACE YOUR AD CALL ROSE AT 4338502 TODAY! class@thelanyap.com _________________
Utility Truck & Equipment Co. Boat Trailer Axles & Springs • Flat Beds Service Bodies • Truck Cranes • Tool Boxes Fabrication • Big Truck P&B We're At Your Service! 24-Hour Road Service
At Cracker Barrel, You Can Get What You Want Now Hiring:
1432 BROAD ST • 433-5361
SERVERS
announcements HAIR SALON COUNTRY CLUB HAIR - Where a haircut still comes with a lollipop and a smile. Over 25 years in business. Walk-ins welcome. Located on 1214 Country Club Rd. Open Tuesday-Friday 8:30-5:30, Saturdays 8am-2pm. Call 4744722 k0816 _________________
ALL SHIFTS
• Flexible Schedules • Medical and Dental • Chance to Grow • Paid Training • No tip sharing STOP BY TODAY! Exit 23, Sulphur
(337) 626-9500 An Equal Opportunity Employer
stuff 4 sale SALVAGE
OVERKILL SALVAGE "If it's sunk, we can get it up!"
Call Today! 337-309-7301 k0920
BOAT & RV STORAGE
PAPER HEROES Buying U.S. Coins & Currency
BOAT & RV STORAGE - 6102 COMMON STREET. SECURED STORAGE! Call 337564-5377 cr _________________
Gold, Silver, Coins & Sets
MAGIC THE GATHERING TOURNAMENTS HELD WEEKLY 478-2143 3941 Ryan Street, Lake Charles
services
GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD $37,500 PER ACRE OR MAKE OFFER
A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION
FENCEMAKERS We build chainlink, barbed, privacy, electric, net, wooden, and security fences, free estimates. Call David today at 337-375-4747. k0920 _________________
Accidents • Wrongful Death Serious Personal Injury Criminal, Domestic Law Cases
g0502-2012
RETAIL / OFFICE
real estate
RETAIL OR OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE. "Single or double available. Includes conference room usage, kitchen, 2 handicap accessible bathrooms, parking in front and behind building. 154 W. McNeese. Call Denise today for details! 337-474-3406 _________________
real estate MOBILE HOMES MOBILE HOME TO BE MOVED. 3/2, BO over $8,000. Camper for rent. All bills paid. 2 acre lot south of Lake Charles. 477-6243 or 564-5859 gpnmr _________________
FOR SALE FIXER-UPPER 3 BEDROOM, 1 BATH IN VINTON FOR ONLY $19,000. CALL NOW AT 832-304-1226 _________________
services HOME REPAIR ALL TYPES OF ROOFING, siding, mobile home skirting, licensed and bonded. Call Jimmy today at 337-499-7807. ph _________________
services FENCING FENCEMAKERS We build chainlink, barbed, privacy, electric, net, wooden, and security fences, free estimates. Call David today at 337-375-4747. k0920 _________________
services
services
PAINTING
AUTO REPAIR
BOUCHER & SON'S CONSTRUCTION ~ YOU’VE FOUND THE RIGHT COMPANY! Give us call for all your construction, carpentry, painting, and damage repairs. Licensed, Bonded, and Insured. Member of the Better Business Bureau. Give Tom a call at 337-474-2844 (office) or 337-842-1455 (cell) AND SEE HOW AFFORDABLE UPGRADING YOUR HOME CAN BE! 474.2844. k0313 _________________
services BOAT & RV STORAGE
services
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PETS
Tree Removal, Stump Grinding, Land Clearing, Bonded. Insured. License AR 1604 337-884-6881
k0816
337-439-6600
KEMBLE GUILLORY CALL 802-5402
478-2386 884-2386
announcements
UPHOLSTERY
127 W. Broad Suite 800 Lake Charles
Gold & Silver Coins Currency Mint & Proof Sets All Coins Graded w/Photograde I BUY COLLECTIONS
SOUTH LAKE CHARLES
Lake Charles Finance & Mortgage
Larry A. Roach, Inc.
RARE COINS
services
BOAT UPHOLSTERY and top repairs, motorcycles, convertible and more. AAA Glass & Upholstery, 1810 E. Prien Lake Road or CALL 337-564-4125
BROUSSARD & COMPANY CPA's
DOWN ON THE BAYOU
FENCING
ph
services
3 ACRES ELEVATED LAND
BOAT & RV STORAGE - 6102 COMMON STREET. SECURED STORAGE! Call 337564-5377 cr _________________
• LOAN$ • BANKRUPTCY • NOTARY • PERSONAL SERVICE • ONE HOUR DECISION Lesa Higginbotham – Manager
310-CASH(2274) 2620 Common Street Lake Charles, LA k1220
Laundry W rld Larry A. Roach (1932-2003) Barry A. Roach • Larry A. Roach, Jr. Fred C. "Bubba" LeBleu • David M. Hudson
2917 Ryan St. • Lake Charles (337) 433-8504 • Fax (337) 433-3196 70
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Do Your Laundry in 4 Minutes! 2 minutes to drop off 2 minutes to pick up 4319 Common St. • 474-8748 2501 Hwy 14 • 433-7503
Professional Wash, Dry, Fold/Hang Service Dry Cleaning Available PUT US TO WORK FOR YOU TODAY!
YOUR SOURCE FOR ATV & TRUCK TIRES 477-9850 478-6565 527-6355 "People you trust, products you depend on"
services LAWN & GARDEN S&S LAWN CARE for your mowing and trimming needs call David at 337-884-0342 or 337-588-4000 k0517 _________________ SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT KNOWING YOU ARE SMART! PLACE YOUR AD HERE! CALL ROSE AT 433-8502 TODAY! _________________
McNeese Plaza Salon 3817 Ryan Street 337-475-8990
Cathy Durio Owner • Stylists Hank • Ginger • Amity
FULL SERVICE SALON • WALK-INS WELCOME MEN'S HAIRCUTS HOURS - WE MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR YOU!
TRACTOR AND FORKLIFT WORK. Bush hogging, box blade, disk. Call today 337-749-2069 or 337802-8182 n0804 _________________
SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT KNOWING YOU ARE SMART! PLACE YOUR AD HERE! CALL ROSE AT 433-8502 TODAY! _________________
services DOORS WHY PAY MORE FOR DOORS 800 instock Doors Windows & More. 489-4313 csta15 _________________
Tree Removal, Stump Grinding, Land Clearing, Demolition. Bonded. Insured. License AR 1604 337-884-6881 g0502-2012
KNOX FENCE
Start an Exciting Career in Emergency Communications Entry Level $15 an hour w/benefits Applications available at www.calcasieu911.com Equal Opportunity Employer
Cash for Junk Cars Need Extra Cash?
Don’t blend in, make your home stand out with a customized fence. Choose your own design or one of ours. We also do chainlink, ornamental, aluminum and iron fencing. Can install electric or solar gate operators. Call for a free estimate. Licensed and insured, 20+ years of experience. Ask for Steve at 337.540.6973 r1219
WE ARE NOW BUYING CARS • TRUCKS VANS • ATV’S • MOTORCYCLES Also Motor Homes, Trailers and Farm Equipment. Not running? You can still make $400 and up! Get your yard cleaned up while deciding how you’ll spend your extra money!
CALL 526-9533
classified
2002 DODGE 1/2 TON CREW CAB, BLUE, LONG WHEEL BASE, LEATHER, LOADED..........$6500 CASH 2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX, 4 DOOR, CLEAN .................................$4995 CASH 2003 SATURN L200, 4 DOOR, AUTOMATIC, WHITE ..................$3800 CASH 2003 CHEVY TRAILBLAZER LT, LEATHER, LOADED..........$5700 CASH 2007 PT CRUISER, 84K MILES, LIKE NEW, COME DRIVE IT .....$5300 CASH
1999 BUICK CENTURY, 4 DOOR, SUPER CLEAN....................$3500 CASH 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT, 2 DOOR, AUTOMATIC .........$3500 CASH 2004 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT, COME DRIVE IT TODAY! .............$4500 CASH 2002 CHEVY AVALANCHE Z71, 4X4, LOADED, WHITE ...............$6995 CASH 2009 BUICK LACROSSEE CX, 4 DOOR, TAN, GREAT COND...........$6495 CASH
COME SEE US TODAY! 2528 KIRKMAN • 436-4824
announcements HAIR SALON COUNTRY CLUB HAIR - Where a haircut still comes with a lollipop and a smile. Over 25 years in business. Walk-ins welcome. Located on 1214 Country Club Rd. Open Tuesday-Friday 8:30-5:30, Saturdays 8am-2pm. Call 4744722 k0816 _________________
k0621
HWY 90 CONSIGNMENT STORAGE Cars • Trucks • Boats • RV's Mobile Homes • Vans Safe and Secure Storage forThose Big Items in Your Way!
At Cracker Barrel, You Can Get What You Want Now Hiring:
SERVERS ALL SHIFTS
• Flexible Schedules • Medical and Dental • Chance to Grow • Paid Training • No tip sharing STOP BY TODAY! Exit 23, Sulphur
(337) 626-9500 CONSIGNMENT: Your items can be put up for consignment to make that extra money when you decide you no longer need storage for you item. Good prices, and large customer base to purchase any items you store with us.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Call now and make some room OR some cash for your items: 337.526.2533 www.BestOfSWLA.com
January 9, 2014
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Laundry W rld Do Your Laundry in 4 Minutes! 2 minutes to drop off 2 minutes to pick up 4319 Common St. • 474-8748 2501 Hwy 14 • 433-7503 Professional Wash, Dry, Fold/Hang Service Dry Cleaning Available
help wanted
HOUSE LEVELING
FULL TIME SATELLITE TECHNICIANS NEEDED for wellestablished co. Paid training, $500 sign on bonus, paid weekly. Call Josh now @ 888959-9675 or submit resume to careers@ satcountry.com ph _________________
LIFTING AND MOVING
announcements
GUARANTEED 2-YEAR WARRANTY FOR ALL LABOR AND MATERIALS! Foundation Repair • Concrete Slab Stabilization Licensed, Bonded and Insured • References
SHOP A-LOT DELI
CALL ONE STOP www.onestophouseleveling.com
337-309-7301
DINING OUT
Drive-Thru Daiquiri Window Longer Dining Hours M-F 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-4PM
2707 HAZEL 433-2135
classified
FOR SALE IN MOSS BLUFF
Your friends will be talking about it for years to come ...
10 ACRES ON DUNN FERRY ROAD (NEAR SUTHERLAND)
MAGICIAN HARRY JOSEPH
$200,000
Interactive magician Harry Joseph will perform a variety of magical entertainment for your Birthday Party, Special Event and Church Actvities. Professional and lots of fun!
850-420-6744
337-540-3938 harryjoseph00@gmail.com
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services NEW PRODUCTS NEW PRODUCT OR INVENTION? Have 20 connections in China and Vietnam for manufacture of new products. Let us know what you have or need. Call Bryan or Ron today 1-800-634-5816. ph _________________ PLACE YOUR AD HERE AND START GETTING RESULTS! A lot of people are paying way too much for classified advertising. Don't be one of them! CALL ROSE AT 433-8502 TODAY class@thelanyap.com _________________
real estate MOBILE HOMES MOBILE HOME TO BE MOVED. 3/2, BO over $8,000. Camper for rent. All bills paid. 2 acre lot south of Lake Charles. 477-6243 or 564-5859 gpnmr _________________
real estate PLACE YOUR AD CALL ROSE AT 4338502 TODAY! class@thelanyap.com _________________
classified
1217 Mill St. • 656-2876
Transform Your Patio, Walkway, Driveway, Living Areas, Pool Deck and More!
View our virtual portfolio online at www.creativeconcretebyron.com
We can stamp or stain any pattern and any color for permanent beauty!
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
855-8333 540-0943 Ron Guidroz, owner LICENSED, BONDED AND INSURED www.BestOfSWLA.com
January 9, 2014
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This Being A Fresh January… Let me stand, but bend to truth. Let me write my conclusions in pencil, and have no shame in a well worn eraser. Let me see myself true and fit my britches. Having paid so much for the little I know, why repay, to relearn it again? May I grade myself with grace, like He does. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ There is always noise. Far noise, near noise, inside-me noise. May I never forget that the noise is the sound of mob, of herd, of shepherds needing sheep and sheep needing shepherds, and too often, both getting what they don’t need, wolves. Attending my birth was God, attending my death will be God, why not go ahead and catch the hint that all the days between are meant to be spent with Him as First among companions. Let me always Know who I am, no matter the situation, no matter the company, no matter their-pretend, no matter how fish-outta-water I feel. Let me always Know where I am, whether I am at Peace or in peril, whether in Fits-me or in fooling-myself, whether in Sprout or decay-gone-to-mulch. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ I would like to be brave, brave enough to tell my elderly father that I love him, that he matters above mattering, that I remain in awe that the light in his lighthouse never went out; tell him each and every time I see him, tell him with words, and on less brave days, say these things with hugs, with smiles, with honest eyes. I would like to catch strangers in the act of being impressive and attaboy them, on behalf of mankind, angels, and God-Himself.
Let me be a good counter. Let me count to ten, before I speak. If speaking to the wounded, let me count to ten thousand and sleep on it... …and let me remember that we are all wounded. The world is sharp and hard and rude: good reason for me to not be. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ It’s okay to touch a hundred dollar bill: not okay to clutch it. When I Up myself to be with people, maybe I’m with the wrong people. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ Let gratefulness gauge my distance from God. In His nearness is fullness and spilleth-over; when far, I pinch emotional pennies and cling to grudge. Let happiness have its moments but only trust in peace. Let me emit Here-I-Am, not as see-me, but in simple, honest, revelation: one life, many scars, end not written. _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ This edition of Uncle P’s Bedtime Stories is brought to you by Eighty-one, where we hope your New Year begins and ends with eyes on High, climbing the mystery of our lives. Want more Bedtime Stories? Uncle P’s Bedtime Stories are posted on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, around 10PM, on the Eighty-one Facebook page. Uncle P can be reached at 81creativity@gmail.com.
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