Louisiana Road Trips April 2011 Edition

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Springtime at Megabucks is a Good Time!

By Johnny Wink Wow! Spring, a beautiful time of the year.

Not too cold and not too hot. And it seems every bush and shrub has something nice coming out of it. The fruit trees are looking good and my Bradford pear trees - what a sight. After that long cold winter everything has color now.

Except. And there's always an exception.

With all that beauty comes keeping the yard mowed and clean. That takes a lot of work.

Yes, I can't wait to try and start my mower.

They say I should crank it every week just to keep the battery strong but somehow I forget to do that. As a matter of fact, I haven't even seen the mower since October.

Living by myself, if the battery doesn't start the engine, I'm in a world of trouble because it's way too big and heavy to push on a trailer by myself. I'll just have to wait till I have company. You see, this time of year Megabucks is like a ghost town as we're between seasons. But let it warm up and dry a little and the farmers will have those big tractors and trucks running up and down the roads breaking ground for the planting season.

Corn first, then beans. A lot of winter wheat was planted so there'll be a lot less corn this year. Beans are at a good price so I hope the farmers have a good year.

The catfish are biting big time on trot lines with shiners right now. A lot of people are using yoyo's for white perch and are doing well.

Also, the spring turkey season is on us. Walking in the woods right now with the dogwoods beginning to bloom, you can hear the sound of those thunder chickens (you know -turkeys).

They gobble and make the woods shake.

The hooting of the owl

right at daylight or the cawing of the crow right after daylight will for sure make him gobble. If you've never hunted wild turkey, you need to do it.

Yeah, living in the country right now might seem like a lonely place but it's not. Not when the sun is out bright and you feel lazy. It's the perfect time to go relax in the hammock and see the last remaining flocks of geese heading north.

Man, I love listening and watching those birds fly and see them take turns being in front. You wonder who's going to be next to lead the way. It's also a good time to see your pets taking it so easy. Makes you wonder why you have to work and they get to have it made.

Another thing, I don't know if you notice that the women start dieting, going to health clubs and tanning booths. I guess it's the season to start looking good, too. Maybe I should start working out, eating better and leave the good tasting food for all the skinny people. One thing - there are no beaches in Jones. Of course, when I go to town I catch myself trying to hold my tummy in when I see those pretty women. Unfortunately, I don't think it helps, especially when I'm hunting for a trophy wife.

I got so much planned for this Spring that there's not enough time to do it all, and I'm also going to relax. Next time you're walking in your yard and everything looks nice, sit down and enjoy it. Maybe take a nap but hurry because things are likely to change as we move towards summer, living here in the mosquito capital of the world. Soon we'll be running fast to get away from them.

Just don't step on a big ole snake because they're coming out of their holes and laying out in the yard too.

Yes, living in the country is a blessing. It's so slow here you can go at your own pace but you still have to drive 30 minutes one way to get some Popeye's chicken. And you'd better eat it there because it will be cold by the time you get home.

Continue praying for those people in Japan and may the Lord help them all.

Until next time, be safe and enjoy springtime. It's a good time here at Megabucks in Jones, Louisiana. Drop by and I'll share my hammock. Also my lawn mower, once I find it and we get it cranked up.

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PUBLISHER LRT Publications

______________________

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mona L. Hayden

monalh@bellsouth.net (318) 547-1221

OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL Debbie Hamilton Pope June 14, 1952-August 24, 2008

SALES Mona L. Hayden (318) 547-1221 Sunny Meriwether (318) 547-8126 Mark Cobb, Media Specialist / Sales markecobb@gmx.com • (318) 734-4894

Website www.la-road-trips.com

www.twitter.com/louisianaroadtrips www.facebook.com/louisianaroadtrips

Louisiana Road Trips magazine is published monthly to promote, inform, and entertain the residents of Louisiana. It is distributed FREE; however, home delivery is available. This magazine will reach approximately 56,000 individuals.

Submission of articles and photos are always welcome but may be limited to availability of space and edited for content.

Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material appearing within this publication is prohibited without written permission of the Publishers.

The opinions expressed in Louisiana Road Trips magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. “Louisiana Road Trips” magazine retains the right to refuse any advertisement.

ROAD TRIPS

www.la-road-trips.com

P. O. Box 2452 West Monroe, LA 71294 (318) 547-1221

Talkin’ It Up! As with most people, Daylight Savings Time lures me outdoors this time of year until I'm either worn out or chased back inside by mosquitoes. We're going to need that extra daylight for all the events scheduled in the coming months.

Festivals galore - jazz, crawfish, etouffee, mayhaws, black bears, forestry and arts - there's something for everybody! You'll find all the details in this issue.

LRT is pleased to welcome Solomon Singer as a new contributing writer this month.

He'll be reporting on Louisiana Bed and Breakfast's in his column, “Bed & Beignets”. We also want to extend our congratulations to Minden contributing writer Schelley Brown on her upcoming April wedding.

When I first published LRT back in 2004, someone asked what will we do after we've reported on all the road trip destinations in Louisiana. Here we are, years later, still discovering new places and meeting new people and we've barely scratched the surface! The LA Tourism Department says it best: Louisiana. Pick your passion.

Go have some fun right here at home and let's keep in touch.

Mona Mona L. Hayden, Editor/Publisher monalh@bellsouth.net (318) 547-1221

ROAD TRIPS "Celebrating country living and city happenings!"

april

contents

BUSINESS REVIEW 10 11 19 31

HUMOR 7

Fiesta Nutrition Center Morehouse Activity Center An Evening With Process Technology Exercising Your Cat

DELTA OUTDOORS 4 13

Springtime at Megabucks is a Good Time! by Johnny Wink My Favorite Fishing Hole by Joe Joslin Fishing Techniques That Work

FESTIVALS & ENTERTAINMENT 9 12 14 15 19 20 24 26 29

8 28

DeltaFest Spring Arts Festival All About Chicken Southern Fried Festival Etouffee Festival On the Scene – by Deborah Burst New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Mayhaw Festival Trails & Trellises Garden Tour & Plant Sale LA Folk Roots’ – Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creaole Heritage Week

A Life of Trial…and Error

by Dennis Stewart The Baskin Bank Robbery of 1932 Aviation in Northeast Louisiana

by Lee Estes Judge William Wood Farmer, Jr.

by Lora Peppers

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5 6 13 16 16

Talkin’ It Up! Louisiana Lagniappe – Remember When Backtalk Louisiana Lagniappe Answers Going Native by Larry Brock Spring into Natives The Music of April by Mae Flager April Calendar of Events

RECIPES

Crawfish! Crawfish! Crawfish!

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MONTHLY TIDBITS

17 25

HISTORICAL 6

17

Runnin’ the Roads by Barbara Sharik Fulfilling Your Dreams All Things Southern by Shellie Tomlinson Nekkid People and Society

27

Recipes by Stacy Thornton

ROAD TRIPS 12

Beds & Beignets – by Solomon Singer Storybook Vacation 14 A Site to Behold 18 Grand Isle Cultural Weekend Events 21 Travel Adventure by Dianne Newcomer This is Alaska 22-23 Hit the Road – by Deborah Burst Springtime in Fredericksburg, Texas 27 Diamond Don’s Vintage National Motocross

28 29 30

Get Out! by Su Stella Peculiar Jaunts – by Carey Weeks New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival The History of NortheastTel

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A LIFE OF TRIAL…AND ERROR

By Dennis Stewart

The Baskin Bank Robbery of 1932 Waverly, and then turned right toward Indian Lake. It was at that point that part of the posse overtook the robbers. A gunfight ensued. Richland Parish Deputy Elmo “Slim” Ferguson was killed instantly by a rifle shot to the right side of his chest and a buckshot wound to the left side of his chest. Two other members of the posse were wounded during this gunfight, John Parks and Doc Thorn.

Parks was shot in the leg and he became lost while crawling back to his car. It took the other members of the posse an hour to find him.

Meanwhile, the robbers drove downstream to a flat boat on which they loaded their car in an attempt to re-cross Bayou Macon.

However, more members of the posse appeared on the other bank, and the robbers stuck their car in the mud trying to get it off the flat boat. Another gunfight ensued, and the woman was wounded by buckshot and abandoned by the three male robbers.

When questioned, the woman, Mabel Beck, denied any willing participation in the robbery. She indicated that she had been picked up by the three men and forced to accompany them to Louisiana.

The three remaining fugitives were on foot now in the Tensas swamp. They came upon a young boy, S.D. Caldwell, who was hunting in the swamp. They took his 22 rifle, kidnapped him, and forced him to lead 1. For whom was the flower “magnolia” them out of the swamp. Two members of named? the posse, Bailey Martin and J.W. McLemore, 2. How many courthouses have been built came upon the robbers and their hostage, but on the present site of the Ouachita they were unable to get a clear shot at the Courthouse?

3. When Holly Ridge was robbers without placing the hostage in danger. established in 1908, what was Nevertheless, Caldwell managed to escape manufactured at the sawmill? after being held captive for 5 hours. Caldwell 4. What is the name of the peach said the robbers told him “they would that got its start in Ruston? probably get theirs, but they intended on 5. In whose honor was getting several others before Jackson Parish named?

6. What is the only breed they were taken.” of dog native to There was a Louisiana? later exchange of 7. What U.S. President wrote “In the Louisiana gunfire between Canebrakes”, a record of his adventures in the robbers and north Louisiana?

8. What lake is Gov. McKeithen's home, members of the Hogan Plantation, on? posse, during 9. What flamboyant politician boasted, “There may which Deputy J.A. be smarter men than me, but they ain't in Lewis and a Mr. Loozyana?”

10. What was West Monroe boy, May from Delhi Floyd Cramer's big hit? were Answers on next page 16 wounded.

Bloodhounds

When people consider the words “Baskin” and “robbery” in the same sentence, they are usually thinking of the town's well-deserved national reputation as a speed trap.

But on Tuesday, June 21, 1932, those words were used in a completely different context when the Baskin branch of the Franklin State Bank was robbed for the second time in 6 months.

According to the Franklin Sun, the robbers were three men and a woman and they took a grand total of $659.19 from the bank's cashier, Phil Duncan, before locking him in the bank vault.

Duncan was able to quickly release himself from the vault and he immediately notified the office of Franklin Parish Sheriff Allen L. Price. A posse set out in pursuit of the robbers.

The robbers fled up the Baskin/Delhi road and then turned at Union Church to head east.

They crossed Bayou Macon and entered Madison Parish at Warsaw and turned north toward

Bloodhounds were brought in, and 500 men searched the Tensas swamp Tuesday night, Wednesday, and Wednesday night.

ouisiana Remember When . . .

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were brought in, and 500 men searched the Tensas swamp Tuesday night, Wednesday, and Wednesday night.

The robbers made it to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Taylor and forced the couple to drive them across the state line to Arkansas. One of the robbers then separated from the rest. The Taylors drove the two remaining robbers to Murphreesboro, Arkansas, where the police stopped their car and arrested the robbers, identified as John V. Thomas and Walter Beardon. The identity of the third robber was unknown for a time, but he was ultimately identified as Floyd Fulbright.

Justice was swift back then. Thomas and Beardon were tried in Madison Parish on July 21, 1932, for the murder of Deputy Ferguson. The defense argued that bullet holes in the trees at the scene suggested that Ferguson may have been accidentally shot by other members of the posse. The jury found Thomas and Beardon guilty, but without capital punishment. Thomas and Beardon were sentenced to life in prison. The woman, Mabel Beck, was to be tried separately due to her claims she was an unwilling participant.

Fulbright was captured in Kentucky on November 2, 1932 and was sent back to Louisiana to stand trial. Fulbright, Thomas and Beardon were all tried in Franklin Parish for the bank robbery and the kidnapping of the Taylors (which was a capital crime). On November 22, 1932, the jury found all three guilty, but without capital punishment. Each received a life sentence. Mabel Beck was tried separately in Franklin Parish, and after much discussion, the jury found her not guilty.

On July 12, 1932, the Franklin State Bank passed a resolution closing its Baskin branch because it had proven to be “rather accessible to bank bandits.” Today, just outside the door to the office of Richland Parish Sheriff Charles McDonald, there is a framed placard dedicated to the memory of Deputy Elmo “Slim” Ferguson, the only Richland Parish deputy to be killed in the line of duty. It says that he had been a deputy for only five days when he was slain.

Thanks to Paul Price, Jr. of Winnsboro, a grandson of Sheriff Allen L. Price, for his help in researching the Baskin bank robbery.

Dennis Stewart grew up in northeast Louisiana, graduated from La Tech and LSU Law School. After having taught law at ULM and working as an Assistant District Attorney, Dennis is now a Hearing Officer in Rayville. He loves to hunt, fish, read, write, and shop on eBay.

RUNNIN’ THE ROADS

By Barbara Sharik

Fulfilling Your Dreams Sitting in a doctor's waiting room, reading, I noted a quote: “I took the job and then promptly gave it back.” It tickled my funny bone. We've all been there.

Bitten off more than we can chew.

Physician's waiting rooms are often just that: waiting rooms.

Notorious for being the place where we hurryup-and-wait. I always bring a book everywhere I go. I even grabbed a book as the guys loaded me on a stretcher once en route to the emergency room. Another time I realized I'd likely finish the book I had with me if the wait was long -and it's always long -- so I stopped at a drugstore and bought a spare just in case. I don't read magazines and didn't want to be dependent upon the twelve-year old literature usually found in waiting rooms.

If there's writing anywhere and my eyes fall upon it, they're going to read it. It's a lifetime habit. I often see people just sitting, doing nothing. I wonder how they can abide the idle time. There are more books written than I can ever read in a lifetime, and life's way too short to miss a moment of learning more.

A couple months ago, I wrote about the fancy Smart Phone I acquired against all old-fashioned better judgment. I've not regretted it.

Besides having a good book to read, sitting in a waiting room is an ideal location to reaffirm the positive of having access to my email account. herefore, when the tiny phone alerted an email arrived, I found friend Dennis had shared a quote that impressed him. “It's never too late to be what you might have been.” (George Eliot).

Admittedly, it was better than the quote I'd read moments earlier. It didn't make me laugh but instead moved me, making me think.

Thinking ranks up there with reading. Author of the quote, George Eliot, was a Victorian era female English writer chose the pseudo name George; female novelists weren't taken seriously back then.

Mary Anne Evans, born in 1819 in Warwickshire, England, penned many highly acclaimed works, some made into films over the years. A prolific writer, among her most noted works were Scenes of Clerical Life, Adam Bede, The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Middlemarch, and Daniel Deronda. Wise beyond words, words are what made her work timeless. Her quotes are often repeated even as the speaker has no idea they were first written in the 1800s by a female.

I even used one in my book, BooCat Unleashed, heading Chapter 19: “Animals are such agreeable friends; they ask no questions, pass no criticisms.”

Eliot's quotations are wide and varied, like the one above advising it's never too late to be what you might have been

“It's never too late to be what you might have been.”

Louisiana Road Trips

with which I agree wholeheartedly. I'm not rich and famous -- isn't that what everyone wants at some time in their lives? Still, I've reached goals that give me contentment.

Being content is a major factor in finding oneself. In fact, Eliot also addresses this with, “It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them.”

In searching for what I thought I should be, I'd toyed with the notion of relocating to a more populated area. Had I done so, my guilty pleasure of offering shelter to rescued dogs at my country home wouldn't have been possible.

Once I considered living in New Orleans, selling my paintings on Jackson Square.

Instead, I've successfully painted and received recognition no matter where I've resided over the years; so it's all good.

I've written for this magazine many years now, providing me deep satisfaction.

Likewise, writing a weekly humor column for the Bastrop Daily Enterprise newspaper. I'd almost rather write than eat.

Currently, I'm at work on See You Later, Baby, collaborating with Johnny Bolin (aka: Johnny B. Good), and Unquenched Thirst: The Crush that Lasted Fifty Years with former school mate Dennis Claiborne. However, I'm still overwhelmed with the success of my book, BooCat Unleashed. It's available on all major online booksellers such as Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Booksamillion, etc. (www.boocatunleashed.com).

Writing this book was a major accomplishment. I started Christmas 2009, had major surgery January 2010, a stroke in May, laser eye surgery in July, cataract surgery in August, and yet, the book was published in September.

In between, I continued working

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as town clerk in Bonita. I was so determined to write this book. And I did. What I finally determined I am meant to be is a popular published author, and I am.

Thus, while Barbara Sharik isn't yet a household name worldwide (although BooCat has fans in several foreign countries thanks to Facebook, and is available overseas), it's known far enough and wide enough to provide me with a modicum of success, verifying that after all, as Eliot reminds us, it is never too late to be what you might have been. I am what I might have been. You can be too. Set your goal. Don't stop until you are there. Remember, Eliot also said, “The only failure one should fear, is not hugging to the purpose they see as best.”

Editor's Note: Barbara Sharik is not only a popular published author but also a beautiful and funny soul that has contributed to the success of LRT and many of those around her.

Aviation in Northeast Louisiana Great Heritage & Great Stories

By Lee Estes nickname "Puffers" and I have never Popular aviation determined where that moniker originated. history generally Those two machines are now on display in focuses on the Wright Delta Airlines Museum and in the Smithsonian.

Brothers and other Huff-Daland operated their "Puffers" names such as Glenn Curtiss, Donald across the cotton growing states for a few Douglas, Charles Lindbergh, and Amelia years before encountering financial trouble.

Earhart. All of them did their part in Then C. E. Woolman bought the operation promoting aviation through its early years and renamed it Delta Flight Services in the and the Earhart legend continues to this day.

Not so well known is the aviation heritage late 1920's. Within a year he expanded his of Northeast Louisiana. If the truth be told, operation to include airline service across the Tallulah can hold its own with most places as a mid-south. For the early years of the airline, site of aviation pioneering. A few years before an operation bankrolled by investors from Lindbergh's historic flight across the Atlantic, Monroe and faced with the difficulties of the another kind of aviation Great Depression, the crop history was being made dusting business carried the in Tallulah. In the early venture financially as it 1920's when boll weevils expanded into Texas, threatened to destroy Mississippi, Florida, and cotton farming in the South America. south, C. E. Woolman After World War II, with and Dr. B. R. Coad, lots of military trainers entomologists with the available as surplus, mainly U. S. Department of Stearman PT13 or PT17 and Agriculture, learned Naval Aircraft Factory N3N's, Scott Field Terminal, Tallulah, LA. This that experiments the puffers were gradually terminal dating from the late 1920's was functioning during activities mentioned in replaced. These units could be applying pesticides by the article and is one of the most historic bought for around $200 each air had been tried in structures in Northeast Louisiana. Efforts Ohio. Further are ongoing to restore and preserve it but and it was easy to replace investigation convinced lack of funds have delayed progress. front seats with hopper tanks the duo to try it against Delta Airlines built a terminal in Monroe in for holding chemicals. At mid the same architectural style, but it the boll weevil. Coad 20th century, thousands of disappeared years ago. worked at developing Stearmans and a few other more effective pesticides and Woolman looked aircraft were applying chemicals to cotton and for aircraft. They came up with a couple of other crops across the country. At the same Curtiss Jenny biplanes that had served as time Delta Airlines was becoming one of the primary trainers during World War I. Coworld's leading airlines and aircraft operation with the U.S. Army Air Force was manufacturers designing machines expressly also enlisted. That is when aerial application of for agricultural application. The newer pesticides really began. While these machines operated more efficiently and were experiments were going on, the owner of an friendlier to pilots but Delta continued to airplane builder, Huff-Daland Aircraft, in New operate the Stearmans and gradually lost York came by Tallulah looking for business. market share. Losses showed up in the annual This led to their building machines just for the reports and stockholders took notice. C. E. purpose of dusting cotton. The Huff-Daland Woolman kept the Dusting Division going proved to be a good airplane for the job, good until his death in 1966 then Delta closed shop enough that when I moved to Louisiana in at its last remaining base near Bernstein Park 1956, two of them were still operable. In that in Monroe. Although Delta Airlines moved to three decade span they had earned the Atlanta beginning in the 1940's, the annual stockholders meeting continued to be held in Monroe's Central Bank until the 1970's.

Perhaps the most colorful pilot's since the barnstormers who traveled the U.S. during the 1920's and 30's have been the crop dusters. Having made a living in aviation most of my life, I encountered many of them. Today, the aircraft are turbine powered, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and Louisiana Road Trips

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the people who fly them may be considered agribusiness men instead of duster pilots. Fact is, they seldom put out any dust since most insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers and defoliants are liquid.

Some of the guys I encountered during the 1950's and 60's became legends in their own time with affectionate nicknames like "Booger Red", "Buttercup", "Von Klobber", "Porky", and "Lucky". A most colorful character was a short rotund fellow named Bob Dadsen who lived in Belle Glade, Florida where Delta Dusters once operated. Bob owned two ancient Waco airplanes from the 1920's that he flew to LA each summer and operated near Columbia. Both aircraft were primitive with the only instruments being a tachometer and oil pressure one of Bob Dadsen’s gauge. One day Cranking Waco Airplanes on a cold Winter a pilot from a day in Monroe, LA 1960’s. later time looked in Bob's Waco and exclaimed! "How in the hell do you navigate this thing all the way from Florida without a compass?" Bob replied, "No problem, I just head it into the wind." This implied something pilots always assume.

With crop dusting and spraying basically a summer activity, pilots have winter months to work on their planes or whatever. A group of Tallulah airmen enjoyed having a chitlin' feast occasionally and after the festivities, the leftovers were left in the big pot for someone to clean. Once, one guy was working on his airplane a couple weeks after the party when he remembered the kettle left on the fish cooker and decided to lift the lid and take a look. Inside was about two inches of congealed conglomerate definitely well beyond edibility so he lit the burner to melt this concoction in order to clean the pot. Soon, the well aged chitlin's were boiling away when another guy showed up and smelled the chitlins. Complaining that another feast had been enjoyed without him, he found a bowl and helped himself. Imagine the other guys surprise when told these chitlin's were better than those at the party two weeks before.

Lee Estes, a Kentucky native, migrated to Louisiana in 1956 with his wife, Lottie. He worked in aviation then with A&LM Railway. He began making photographs in Europe after WWII and ranked among the leading monochrome exhibition photographers in the U.S. during the 80’s. His extensive travels included leading tours across the globe. Lee has authored three photo/documentary books and is currently involved with the documentation of The Dixie Overland Highway (US80) in Louisiana, funded by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

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DeltaFest, Monroe DeltaFest, Northeast Louisiana's premier music festival, returns to downtown Monroe April 15 and 16 with the biggest entertainment lineup in event history. Friday, April 15, crossover smash Uncle Kracker will take the Monroe Civic Center stage with special guests Colt Ford and the Eli Young Band. On Saturday, April 16, comedy superstar Bruce Bruce will kick off an exciting R&B double whammy from ladies man Avant and Grammy nominated R&B superstar Keyshia Cole.

Formerly known as the Louisiana Folk Life Festival, DeltaFest has grown in the five years since the name and focus of the festival changed. The 2010 event boasted over 11,000 attendees, an increase of over 2,000 from the previous year.

In addition to the huge music and comedy acts, DeltaFest will also feature food, fun and

multiple activities for the entire family on Saturday, April 16, including the DeltaFest Car & Truck Show, the annual Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana “Hungry Duck Pluck”, two outdoor live performance stages, face painting, arts and crafts, shopping, golf tournament, Battle of the Bands, community stage, and much more.

DeltaFest kicks off Friday, April 15 at 7pm with LIVE performances from Uncle Kracker, the Eli Young Band and Colt Ford. On Saturday, April 16, gates open at 10am with activities on festival grounds until 5pm, and performances by Keyshia Cole, Bruce Bruce, and Avant start at 7pm.

Gate tickets are $3 and provide admission to the festival grounds only. Tickets for the evening performances on Friday and Saturday are on sale NOW and are available at

Louisiana Road Trips

ticketmaster.com or by calling 1800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Monroe Civic Center Box Office. Visit ladeltafest.com for more information.

Tickets are $50 each for VIP seating (includes 1 free drink), $40 each for floor and riser seating, $30 each for 100 level seating and $25 each for 200 level seating. VIP tickets are only available at the Monroe Civic Center Box Office.

Tickets for the Friday and Saturday performances are sold separately.

Event organizers encourage the public to visit the official 2011 DeltaFest website at www.ladeltafest.com to keep up with exciting updates and event announcements. Festival organizers have also increased the festival's social media presence with profiles on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and MySpace.

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DeltaFest is sponsored by the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau, The Radio People, K-104, 100.1 the Beat, Majic 97, LA 105.3, the Louisiana Department of Tourism, Johnny's Pizza, Star 101.9, Entergy, Louisiana Delta Community College, Land 3 Designs, Clarion Inns & Suites, Kiss Country 93.7, KTVE, K94.5FM, Fun Radio 92.7, Rock 106, 92.3 K-Buck, Opus Broadcasting, KARD, Lamar Outdoor, Sunny 98.3, AmeriPride Services, Inc., Ouachita Valley Federal Credit Union, State Farm Insurance Agent Kathryn Huff, Morris & Associates, Angus, New York Furniture, Gametime Playground, Louisiana Road Trips, Ivan Smith Furniture, Attorney Anitra Tennant Mack, Vantage and DynaPlay.

Fiesta Nutrition Center First Annual Fiesta Fest Angie O'Pry Blades never dreamed her first real job in 1977 would turn into the lifelong commitment of helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle. What started out as a way to earn college tuition in her early years has turned into a career that has grown into Angie becoming an expert in her field. She is an active board member of the regional Natural Products Association and has attended seminars and trainings from the top manufacturers and researchers in the natural food industry in the US and abroad.

In 2010, Fiesta Nutrition expanded into a super store on North 18th Street in Monroe, the former Women's Shop location that is a local landmark. The store has been retooled into a center for healthy wellness products with a range of supplements from basic to the most advanced. Owner Angie O'Pry Blades explains, “This store took tender loving care and a vision, lots of hours and strong backs to pull it together. From the first day we began remodeling, people were stopping in with questions. The building has been the best form of advertising for Fiesta. The timing for expansion could not have been better as the healthy lifestyle approach has finally become

mainstream in this area. The store has evolved from a place to buy vitamins into the total body health approach. Foods in their purest states without additives, artificial sweeteners, colorings and preservatives can be found to fit any lifestyle choice. Gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and low glycemic diets are now considered mainstream, and delicious choices abound.�

During the week of April 13 -16, Angie will celebrate the First Annual Fiesta Fest. The four day festival in the store that was voted “Best of the Delta� will honor Fiesta's 35th year in business. Experts will converge offering seminars, “one on one's “ with customers, and providing advice, tastings and cooking demonstrations, new makeup techniques, and even some yoga. Local experts and organic food vendors will also be featured during the event.

Keynote speaker is Dr. Cass Ingram, Doctor of Osteopathy and renowned author and lecturer on the virtues of medicinal wild Mediterranean oregano oil. His latest book, The Cure is in The Forest, relays his research and actual hands-on cultivation of the medicinal chaga mushroom.

Customer Shannon Street says, “I have been a customer of Angie's for a long time. I go to her because she knows her business. She and Robin have taught me so much and now they're teaching me how to go gluten-free.�

The Cilantro Organic Bistro, located inside Fiesta, serves healthy lunches on weekdays and has seating and take out. Each morning fresh soups, sandwiches, breads and cookies are made from personal favorite recipes with ingredients selected from their grocery aisle. Local and organic produce, freerange meats, and natural sugars are used in the vegan, vegetarian and heart-healthy offerings.

Angie stated, “The staff feels that our many years of customer service and experience, on- going product knowledge and training, quality brand choices, and convenient location make for a good experience at Fiesta Nutrition Center. The Fiesta Fest is the perfect time to come in and see the store and to take advantage of the knowledge of quality speakers, sample tasty new foods and see other local wellness enthusiasts. This is a small way we can say “thank you� to our loyal customers who have supported us for 35 years�.

7EDNESDAY !PRIL P M s $EMOS TASTING FREE SAMPLES

DOOR PRIZES P M s ,ECTURE AND "OOK 3IGNING

4HURSDAY !PRIL P M s -ANUFACTURERS 2EPS ON (AND FOR INFO $EMOS 4ASTINGS 3AMPLES P M s ,ECTURE

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Morehouse Activity Center Every community needs a meeting place and every meeting place should be as accommodating and comfortable as the new Morehouse Activity Center (MAC) in Bastrop.

The new $4 million facility is located adjacent to the Morehouse Parish Fair Grounds on Marlatt Street in Bastrop, directly behind Tractor Supply. The center will be instrumental in attracting visitors from the surrounding areas to Morehouse Parish by

adjoining building for 200 covered horse stalls, a warm up area, wash racks, and personnel showers.

There are also cattle pens and six bucking chutes along with roping chutes and boxes. Enjoy bleacherstyle seating that easily accommodates up to 1,500 spectators, the full kitchen concession stands, and 25 camper/trailer hook-ups with electricity and water on site along with plenty of parking. The MAC is also well suited for arts and crafts exhibits, circuses, musical productions, tractor pulls, and other community events. The office area with a large air-conditioned meeting room can be reserved for private gatherings. The MAC is located near motels and restaurants and is inside a secure perimeter fence.

Call now to schedule events, exhibits, meetings, or other outings at The Mac. Your support is valued and appreciated as this community center will greatly benefit the area. Call (318) 348-4761 or visit www.morehouseactivitycenter.com for more information. See you at The MAC!

providing educational and entertainment opportunities.

The MAC is ideally suited for events such as rodeos, barrel runs, team roping, team penning, horse shows, cattle exhibits, etc. The regulation-size covered arena is equipped with an

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BEDS & BEIGNETS

by Solomon Singer

Storybook Vacation Through the years, a lot of books, plays, and movies have been set in Louisiana. These days the bayou seems more supernatural than natural. But long before vampires came to stay in New Orleans, before Mardi Gras princesses kissed frogs, and before werewolves wore cut-offs, Benjamin Button was having a supernatural experience all his own. F. Scott Fitzgerald published "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in Colliers Magazine, May 27, 1922. The story about a man who ages backward takes place in Baltimore, MD; but in

2008, Benjamin Button made a Louisiana road trip himself when his story was made into a film and relocated to New Orleans.

In honor of that journey, The Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast on St. Charles Avenue (www.BnBFinder.com/GrandVict orian) has crafted the perfect Benjamin Button vacation. Road trippers who take advantage of the "Experience Benjamin Button's New Orleans" package will receive a $100 gift certificate to Commander's Palace Restaurant, a New Orleans institution in its own right, with your stay in the house next door to where the movie was filmed.

The package also includes a guided walking tour of the

opulent New Orleans Garden District that includes Benjamin's home, and a 3-day unlimited RTA pass (New Orleans Public Transport) which gets you anywhere you need to go.

The Grand Victorian was originally built in 1893 by the famous New Orleans architect, Thomas Sully. Nestled under the shady oaks of St. Charles Avenue, the 7,600 sq. ft. mansion has been completely restored and furnished appropriately to the period. While preserving the beauty of the 19th century, this bed and breakfast has all the conveniences of the 21st such as private bathrooms, central air and Wi-Fi. In 2007, The Grand Victorian was selected as "Best B&B in New Orleans" by Citysearch.

Perhaps your stay there will inspire your own piece of Louisiana fiction! Visit www.BnBFinder.com/ GrandVictorian for rates and to make reservations.

Solomon Singer, Public Relations Coordinator at BnBFinder.com, has done his fair share of road trips, many of which have been in Louisiana. BnBFinder.com is a toprated bed and breakfast directory with thousands of B&Bs, inns, and small hotel listings from all over the world.

Crawfish! Crawfish! Crawfish!

Where else in the world but in Louisiana would you find a 3 day celebration totally devoted to Crawfish? Every year on the first full weekend in May, thousands congregate in Breaux Bridge to pay tribute to the little crustacean we all know and love.

One of the best features of the festival is our entertainment. We have 29 of the best Cajun and Zydeco bands playing all weekend long on 3 stages. And of course, Cajuns love food, so you'll find the best entrees like Crawfish Etouffee, Fried Crawfish, Crawfish Boudin, Crawfish Po-Boys, Crawfish Burritos, Crawfish Spinach Boat, Crawfish Jambalaya,

Crawfish Pies, Crawfish Stuffed Pork Chops, and of course, Boiled Crawfish. Plus, we have numerous other delightful dishes to tease your taste buds.

Don't miss our contests! Race your crawfish at our World Famous Crawfish Races, enter the Crawfish Eating Contest (you'll have to eat over 55 pounds to break the record!) or show off your culinary skills at the Crawfish Etouffee Cook-off. Two step over to our Cajun Dance Contest or glide into our Zydeco Dance Contest.

Grab your lawn chair for Sunday's Parade where we highlight our Royalty and locals who compete for the best float prizes.

For the perfect Crawfish Festival Souvenir, you can shop till you drop at our Official & TShirt Booths and over 75 booths in our Arts & Crafts and Commercial Vendors Area.

So, crawl on down to Breaux Bridge on the first full weekend in

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May, where we'll show you a claw tapping, tail snapping good time! The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival Association is a non-profit corporation which has donated well over one quarter of a million dollars in the past twenty five years and enables various youth organizations in Breaux Bridge the opportunity to raise much needed funds on festival weekend for their groups. The BBCFA has 25 directors who work diligently throughout the year to make each and every festival better than the previous year. This board oversees over 50 committees that are needed to organize the festival with hundreds of volunteers.

Parc Hardy in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana on May 6 - 8, 2011. Call 337332-6655 or visit www.bbcrawfest.com for details!

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MY FAVORITE FISHING HOLE

By Pro Angler, Joe Joslin

Fishing Techniques That Work WACKY WORMING....a beginning anglers dream pattern and a tournament angler's friend. In my opinion, there is not a more productive technique for anglers. My records show that we catch hundreds of bass on wacky rigs each year and one year registered over 2,000, many caught by new anglers. I used this method to introduce my wife, who has become an avid angler.

This is a light tackle technique but not ultra light. My largest bass ever (a Toledo 11 lb 8 oz) came with a wacky worm on light tackle and this method will produce a lot of action from all sizes of bass. It's not uncommon in the spring and fall to catch 3040 bass a day with wacky rigs.

I just got off the lake (March 15) after landing the 7th bass in my fishing career over 10 pounds which weighed in at 10.3 pounds or roughly 10 lbs 5 ozs, caught on a 5 inch Senko fished "wacky" style. Four of the seven were caught on a wacky rig so this is also a super pattern for trophy bass. There's no doubt I'm sold on it, especially in the spring and fall.

As far as line with wacky worming, my favorite line for years was 10 lb. Berkley Big Game and I still use it on occasion. However, that was before Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon came on the market. For the past 18 months I have used 8-10 lb test Berkley Fluorocarbon when wacky rigging with great success. This spring (2011) has been extremely successful.

Berkley's Fluorocarbon is basically transparent in the water which is a huge plus since I fish the southern portions of Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn most of the time. Other awesome characteristics of fluorocarbon are its sensitivity to detect light strikes, low stretch to help with hook-sets plus the line is very durable. The only negative is the cost which is about 3 times that of regular mono, but it lasts 2 or 3x as long. After using fluorocarbon, it's difficult to go back to monofilament line.

The recent 10.3 pound largemouth mentioned above was caught on 10 lb test Berkley 100% Fluorocarbon spooled on an Abu Garcia Revo STX reel with 6.4 :1 ratio and a 6' 10" medium heavy action Abu Garcia Veritas rod. For all anglers, a proper knot is vital! For 95% of my fishing, I use a Palomar knot with wacky worming. The palomar is easy to tie and has the best knot strength. If you will send me (my address is on my website) a self addressed, STAMPED envelope, I will send you a Berkley knot card with an easy-to-follow diagram of how to tie a Palomar.

and set your hook with a "pull" instead of a An improper knot will lose some nice fish hard jerk. Since your hook is exposed, the for you, causing you to expand your vocabulary. hook set is much easier than a TX and C.R. The way I rig a wacky is to take a 2/0 or 3/0 Get as much slack out as possible before Daiichi Round Bend worm hook and tie a you set it. palomar knot. My favorite wacky plastics include Berkley Gulp! Sinking Minnow, 5 inch REMOVING HOOKS FORM BASS: Senko, Berkley Wacky Crawler (5 and 7 inch) At times when wacky worming, a bass will get the hook down deep in the throat. Take and a trick worm. I hook the worm near or in the egg sack (middle of the worm) leaving the great care on not hurting the fish. I have hook completely exposed. I use no weight in the developed a technique where I turn the Sinking Minnow or Senko bass over on its back in my left hand/arm but insert a 1 inch paneling and take the trigger finger on my right nail into the nose of the other hand, find the bend of the hook and push plastics. Also, since in the hook firmly while at the same time fluorocarbon sinks, the worm use thumb to push in the bottom (tie area). sinks and makes a huge Most of the time, it will pop out. I have difference. had the personal satisfaction of saving lots of bass with hooks deep in the throat.

As mentioned earlier, I Use needle nose pliers ONLY as a last use spinning tackle a lot of the time wacky rigging for a resort. Also, when you unhook a bass, ease it back in the water instead of tossing it. number of reasons. It gives Author Joe Joslin with my arms a break from using Like most fishing techniques, showing a recent 10.3 lb (hands on) is a lot easier than trying to put baitcast equipment and also Toledo Bend bass it in print. For a 'hands on' trip (with throws the bait easier. caught on a wacky rig water) give me a shout. Until then, God However, since the smooth throwing Abu Garcia Revos have come on the Bless and spend lots of time with friends and family.....some of it on the water! scene, I now find myself using one for wacky fishing a lot more often.

Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, Now that we have our rigs fish ready, lets tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and get it in the water. I like to fish a wacky around Sam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848 or submerged grass which is how I use it 90% of joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com or the time. I cast my wacky rig usually in depths www.joejoslinoutdoors.com. from 6-16' and let it settle to the bottom.

My heart breaks for the tragedy in Note...it is very Japan but they can take comfort common for the bass from reviewing Louisiana's to hit the bait 'on the misfortunes. We've endured fall' so be careful immeasurable natural and manwhen you start to made disasters only to come back take up slack. To fish stronger! While reading your March a wacky, you need to issue, I was overcome with pride to be a line watcher. If see all the festivals and events you feel a slight tap, taking place throughout the state, reminding us that life is good and lift the rod carefully there is always hope. Good job!

Dr. R., New Orleans and watch your line.

A lot of the time you I look forward every month for an issue....I love to take backroads will see the line trips now that I am retired....

Sandra E., via Facebook moving, while other Where I can buy the book (Flora and Fauna of the Civil War Era by times it will just feel Kelby Ouchley) you mentioned in last month's Road Trips? I want tight with a slight several for friends and I want them signed by Mr. Ouchley. I met him movement. when he was at Black Bayou Refuge and was most impressed. He When working knows his stuff.

Carl E., Ruston, LA the worm, I lift my rod slightly to keep The concerts at Landry Vineyard's (Ouachita Parish) are the best deal the worm close to going! We drive down to enjoy the music and wine and have met the grass or other some wonderful people there. I didn't realize this area of Louisiana structure. Remember, was so pretty. Please keep promoting the Landry's in your magazine the worm is light so because I want everyone to know about their amazing place! slowly lower you Donna P., Eldorado, AR rod, take up slack

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Spring Arts Festival All About Chicken It's all about the chicken, the funky chicken, that is. Organizers for the 17th annual Spring Arts Festival will be pulling out all stops this year with the largest creation of public art in Minden's history with Cultural Crossroads' Spring Arts Festival “ChickenStock” on April 28-30 where national artists will be joined by area professionals including the Springhill Art League. Festival goers will be invited to participate in the creation of several public art pieces. “If you've ever dreamed of working side by side with a professional artist, here's your chance,” comments Chris Broussard, co-chair of the festival. “The Spring Arts Festival has always been known for the opportunities for creative expression we have offered to children,” Broussard continues, “but this year we've expanded the programs to include opportunities for families to tap into their creative side.”

Nationally known 'trashformer' Alice Guffey Miller will be among numerous professional artists contracted by Cultural Crossroads to gather at the Farm during festival week.

She is the recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Award for her work with children. Ms. Miller will be working with area third graders to create the state's largest funky chicken. “This monumental Alice Guffey Miller and Mar sculpture created out of recycled material and found objects will be completed during the festival and installed on the four acre grounds of the Farm for all to

enjoy now and for years to come,” remarks Mrs. Broussard.

Ms. Miller's participation along with other artists was made possible by grants from the La. Division of the Arts, the La. Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the Webster Parish Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Additional funding Brandon Ratcliff for this year's festival will be made possible through corporate sponsorship dollars.

The annual Spring Arts Festival will also include new events coupled with all time favorites such as the annual Great Talent Search, the children's hands-on museum, the Families Create Workshops as well as the largest exhibition of children's art in the area. New events include a 'dress your chicken' pageant, a funky chicken costume contest, a rooster calling contest and a children's photography category dedicated to the chicken and the egg. For more information and weekly updates, visit www.artsinminden.com.

Cultural Crossroads is the designated arts agency for Webster Parish. They are an all-volunteer organization and 100% of donations go towards arts programming. They are supported annually by the Webster Parish Police Jury and own and manage a four acre estate located at 417 East Union, fondly known simply as 'The Farm.'

For more information about this organization or the festival , contact co-chairs Chris Broussard at 393 5991 or Julie Vogel at 286-9472 or email cbroussard@earthlink.net or jvogel99@yahoo.com.

A Site to Behold The tulips are blooming at Reily Memorial Methodist Church in Collinston, Louisiana. You're welcome to come out and enjoy the spectacular colors and blossoms of Springtime.

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Southern Fried Festival, West Monroe The 2nd annual Louisiana Southern Fried Festival is organized by the City of West Monroe and held at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center just off I-20 in West Monroe. “From the crack of the first latch until the dust settles, we will keep you on the edge of your seats,” says Scotty Lovelace, owner of the Classic Pro Rodeo, a new addition to this year's long list of events. The PRCA rodeo will feature 2 days of exciting events such as bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc, steer wrestling and much more.

But that's just the beginning. The weekend will feature headline entertainment by The JaneDear Girls, Exile, and Cody McCarver as well as many regional country, blues, and rock bands. Enjoy the rodeo each day in the air conditioned arena then step outside on the lawn for live music, vendor shopping, kids entertainment, and more. Festival goers are even encouraged to bring their most comfortable camping chairs because you'll want to have a seat after indulging in some of the tastiest southern fried treats North Louisiana has to offer.

Another big addition this year is a 3 day Dock Dogs competition. Here amateur and professional dog trainers from all over the nation compete with their dogs in “Big Air”, “Extreme Vertical”, “Speed Retrieve”, and “Iron Dog” challenges. You'll be amazed at what these dogs can do and who knows, you might just think your own dog has what it takes to take the trophy.

West Monroe native and CMT star of Gator 911, Gary Saurage will be on hand with live alligators and reptiles to educate and entertain about wildlife of Louisiana. There will also be a Beauty pageant, classic car show, motorcycle show, regional films screening, volleyball tournament, steak cook-off and more.

See it all for just $10 each day for adults and kids 12 and under get in free. RV parking available. Applications for competitions and vendors are available online at www.LASouthernFriedFestival.com or call 318-396-5000 for more info.

Ouachita River Art Gallery

308 Trenton Street • West Monroe, LA 71291

(318) 322-2380 www.ouachitariverartgallery.com Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am-5:00 pm

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GOING NATIVE

By Larry Brock

Spring into Natives Winter memories are fading - like a scene of chilly days, barren branches and colorful hollies through a far cottage window. The ice and snow of early February gave way to the warmth of Valentine's Day. 80d temps enticed daffodils into early spring bloom.

Nature's tapers, these seasonal favorites ignited dreary southern landscapes and animated winterweary hearts.

The premature warmth kindled the spirit of nature, waking the soul of springtime.

Hedges of red flowering quince and golden-belled forsythia, baby's breath spirea and colorful camellias.

Sprawling beds of blooming bulbs like golden-trumped daffodils and grandmother's nodding green-dotted snowflakes. Walking through bare deciduous forests highlighted with blooming magenta redbuds, tubular red buckeyes, white-panicled cherries and green-tipped sassafras. Anchored along the edge, billowing mayhaws attracted swarms of honeybees.

Elsewhere in the

neighborhood, dazzling white pears and plums complemented pink peaches and exquisite purple magnolias in a rich symphony of spring color.

Coral honeysuckle vines bloomed along one section of the rail fence, yellow jessamine along another. The faint aroma of bush honeysuckle and sweet olive hung softly in the air. Blue periwinkle and grape hyacinth blossomed underfoot; purple iris, yellowtops and buttercups beyond. At this writing, Lady Bank's rose are opening; pink and white flowering dogwoods buds are swelling. Memories of prior years and the hope of years to come embroidered our imagination as we strolled along garden paths.

Now like Alice in the chessboard world of the Looking Glass, the spring meadow flowered into a patchwork of color - splashes of pale blue violets and swaths of purple henbit and sheets of pink spring beauty punctuated by dashes of lavender bluets and exclamations of yellow

It's the combination that makes springtime in the South a floral wonderland.

ouisiana Answers …

1. A French botanist Pierre Magnol 2. Four 3. Staves for whiskey barrels 4. Dixie Gem 5. General Andrew Jackson 6. Catahoula Leopard dog 7. Theodore Roosevelt 8. Long Lake 9. Huey P. Long 10. “Last Date”

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dandelions, all laid upon a field of green winter grasses. “Off with their heads” came a faint echo.

Ouch! And a grasshopper smiled as the lawn care service departed.

By then, the time had come to think of other things - spring storms, pollen, allergies and parks. March 1st was the 139th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park, the world's first national park. And birds. Back in February, I participated in the 4day Great Backyard Bird Count, counting 21 different species for a total of 757 birds. There are more species in this area but I'm no expert. To quote one anonymous wag, “I'm not really a bird watcher per se, just an interested bystander.”

The birds in my yard are just common species for the area but always exciting to me colorful cardinals and blue jays, industrious robins and thrashers, high-strung wrens and warblers, busy sparrows and finches, noisy grackles and blackbirds. Mockingbirds fill day and night with their treetop medleys. Doves are nesting in evergreens and on a road trip in early March, purple martin scouts were seen flying around nesting boxes. With coral honeysuckle and buckeyes in bloom, hummingbirds will find nectar when they arrive in late March.

Spring is tasking-time raking and mulching, pruning and weeding, transplanting and the delight of sharing surplus plants with friends. Here in midMarch, farmers are planting corn. Winter wheat fields are dark green and growing toward a May harvest.

Commodity prices are at historic highs.

Where're the native plants? Most of the large trees, small springflowering trees, early

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flowering vines and winter annuals in our area are natives.

On the other hand, most of the spring-flowering shrubs, spring bulbs and winter bedding plants are introduced species. It's the combination that makes springtime in the South a floral wonderland. So why emphasize natives? First, increasingly volatile winters and harsher summer heat-n-drought demand tougher plants. Second, native plants sustain butterflies and the insects that birds and other wildlife need to survive. Don't give up heirloom imports; just add natives to improve the longterm sustainability of the landscape. Make Going Native a priority in 2011.

A life-long resident of Lake Providence, Larry Brock was inspired by his grandfather’s passion for gardening and his own desire to recover the horticultural uniqueness of this region. Larry is drawn to the relationships between plants, birds, insects and soil and can be found puttering outdoors in his yard most any time, weather permitting.

ALL THINGS SOUTHERN

By Shellie Tomlinson

"Nekkid People and Society” Hello folks, how in tarnation are y'all doing?

As my Papa would say, I'm finer than frog hair.

I've been looking forward to our time together, so if you'll make yourselves at home, I'll kick this thing off. Let's chat...~smile~ Remember my surprise when I discovered some people were so overwhelmed by the toilet training challenge that they were paying other people to teach their kids to do the do? Well, I only thought I'd heard it all. Paulette's cousin works as a legal secretary in Washington, DC and she told Paulette one of the firm's fancy female lawyers recently hired such a consultant. FYI, the woman prefers being called a coach.

All Things Southern “Bringing you the charm and heritage of the South…” ph 318-559-0319 • cell 319-282-2508 tomtom@allthingssouthern.com

Here's where it gets good. The potty coach doesn't train the kid; she gets the big bucks to coach the mother. Mrs. Fancy Pants still has to do the dirty work. I was picturing the potty coach following mother and child around with a whistle and calling “fouls” on the poor kid but Ms. Fancy Pants says the coach is mainly there to keep her spirits up, so I reckon it's more like, “You can train her, yes you can; if you can't train her nobody can!”

Unfortunately, Mrs. Fancy Pants said her daughter isn't making much progress so the potty coach is now suggesting she try another new trend: diaper free kids.

With this technique you let your child run around nekkid so you can watch for his or her "signal" and rush them to the bathroom.

Someone's getting trained here, and it's not the kids.

I've been through that with a puppy before, and trust me, it's hard work and that's if you can catch 'em in the act.

Remember what I told you last week. By

the time they're ready to potty train your little darlings are gonna hide out to do their business. Can you say, “Watch your step?”

While I realize everyone must do what they feel best for their kids, allow me to leave you with a final consideration. I'm afraid you and your bare bottom young 'uns aren't gonna feel the love at Wal-Mart, either.

As a famous southerner named Mark Twain once said, “Nekkid people have little or no influence on society.”

That's it for now. Holler at me if something is on your mind, if you have a story to share, or if you just want to say, "HI!" Until next week... ~Hugs, Shellie P.S. (Just for the record, my grands are in the potty-training stage at this very moment and I've ALREADY had to eat some of these words on potty training from my next book, Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy! and it hasn't even hit the stores!

Yum, yum. Pass the salt. Stay tuned, folks.

More on this to come!

The Music of April

By Mae Flager

There is a debate surrounding the origins of the name April, this luscious spring month. Some believe it is derived from the Latin aperire, “to open”, a nod to the numerous flowers and tree buds that bloom in this month. Another interpretation gives credit to Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love. I think both these origins are apropos for April's splendor. I'm certainly suffused with love each time I walk through the budding flowers in my garden. And would the rose of April smell as sweet under another name? April sounds like the soft sigh of breeze through a crabapple tree flush with seashell pink flowers and humming with sipping bees.

With the music of April playing in my ears I find it hard not to feel down right prickly when I'm compelled to be indoors. If you feel as antsy as I do to get your hands dirty, planting lush displays of pansies is a great way to start. When buying at a nursery, be sure to choose plants that aren't blooming, leggy or root bound (it's good to scoot them out of the container a little and check). These

divide and separate them. The rooted shoots conditions indicate the plant is past its prime will grow into lovely blooming plants by and make it difficult for the plant to thrive summer. You can also pinch back the tops of outside the container. Plan your bed site for chrysanthemums when they reach 4 inches to afternoon shade to get the most from your create a thicker plant. Whatever your garden pansies. Be sure to enrich the soil with some manure or compost and plant the little guys size or passion I hope April blooms with possibilities for you in all your gardening about 8 inches apart and to the level they endeavors. were planted in their containers. The Maxima variety is fabulous for our climate zone as it Mae Flager is a native Floridian who's enjoying her new can take more summer heat. They are north Louisiana habitat. A writer and gardener, she enjoys digging in the dirt and seeing what grows. Please variegated and come in a variety of colors.

In this month of the goddess of love, let's let her know if you have thoughts, suggestions, or gardening tips that just must see the light of day, not forgot to show our plants some love with maeflager@gmail.com. a nice dose of fertilizer. The whole garden gang will appreciate this gesture, but Simmons Sporting Goods in Bastrop is remember not to proud to present "A Porch Party with Shellie" fertilize camellias on May 3rd from 6-8pm and you're invited! and azaleas until they have finished Shellie will be reading and signing copies of her new blooming. book "Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs April is also a Heavy” and snacks will be served! Present this good time to show coupon at the signing and get a FREE two-disc copy some extra attention to chrysanthemums. of Shellie's audio book, "Lessons Learned on Bull Run As each new shoot Road". Bring your mama and 'em and join the fun! appears you can

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Grand Isle Cultural Weekend Events Grand Isle will host three events the third weekend of April that provide a little something for day trippers to the island.

The Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration features guided bird tours through the Nature Conservancy Woods. The tours include experienced guides and are geared from beginners to experienced birders. An edible plant tour and children's activities are included.

Tickets and exhibits located at the Grand Isle High School on Saturday, 8 AM til 4PM. The Celebration is co-sponsored by Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, The Nature Conservancy, Grand Isle Community Development Team, Inc. and the Town of Grand Isle.

Tours $5 per person.

The Ninth Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition “Land, Currents and Undercurrents”, will be held at the Grand Isle Community Center, Hwy One. The exhibition features juried regional art with environmental themes promoting the protection of Grand Isle and its surrounding wetlands from coastal erosion. The exhibition is open Friday and Saturday, 9AM - 4PM with an artist award reception Sunday, 2 PM. Admission is free.

The Historical Home Tour leaves from the Grand Isle High School and feature 4 open houses, re-enactors and local lore. The guided tours will be held at 10 AM and 2 PM, $5 per person and transportation is provided.

Plan a trip to Louisiana's only inhabited barrier island and enjoy clean beautiful beaches, fishing, birding, art and historical homes.

The island has facilities for recreational camping, marinas, shopping, and seafood restaurants. The Grand Isle State Park is open for visitors again also.

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Etouffee Festival Arnaudville, Lousiana will celebrate its 26th annual Etouffee Festival with award winning artists such as Wayne Toups, Chubby Carrier, River Road, Geno Delafose and others. With lots of hot Etouffee, carnival rides, auto show, mayor's etouffee cook-off, bingo and great bands, we offer something for everyone. Family oriented and visited by tourists from all over! "Come pass a good time!"

“An Evening With Process Technology” Louisiana Delta Community College is hosting a Process Technology (PTEC) Awareness Event and anyone interested in the field of Process Technology is welcomed to attend.

Louisiana Delta Community College offers an associate of science degree in this field. Classes are offered during the day, evening and even online! You can earn this degree even while working at your current job.

People who work in the process technology field can earn a minimum annual salary of $50,000 and work only 15 days a month.

If you're ready to change professions or looking for a career, join us on Tuesday, April 19th from 5:30 - 8:00pm. The Process Technology Department will have a host of corporate sponsors, such as ANGUS Chemical, EASTMAN Chemical, ENTERGY, and many others on site to address and assist you with any questions you may have in reference to Process Technology. They will also be recruiting potential and recently graduated PTEC graduates for full-time employment and summer internships. For those considering working in this area, this is an excellent networking opportunity.

For more information, please contact Jackie Johnson at 345-9290 or jjohnson@ladelta.edu or Charles Stevenson at 345-9289 or cstevenson@ladelta.edu. Please make plans to attend. Refreshments will be served.

For effective, low-cost advertising, call

Mona L. Hayden

(318) 547-1221 Louisiana Road Trips

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On the Scene

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival From halter tops to maternity tops, confessions of a fest fiend

By Deborah Burst

Fest Fans come far and wide feeding on a mind-altering love affair seduced by an orgy of food and music. It's a spiritual passage, waves of sunglass faces sipping suds raising their beer cans to the musical gods swaying to the beat of Bob Dylan, the Neville Brothers, or the cries of the Gospel Tent. For locals Jazz Fest fever begins to boil the day after Mardi Gras. We bury our faces in the steamy mist of crawfish, recalling memories of cross-legged feasts sucking the heads with a cold brew.

My Fest journey began in 1975, from halter tops to maternity tops, three decades of raucous partying with boyfriends, husband, children, and now solo jaunts. A blur of parking rituals, road-side parties, and Port-aPotty adventures keep company with daylong debauchery and second-lining in shindeep flood waters. Walking through the front gates still brings a full-body rush - sweating garlic swirls above the food tents and music plays tag across the stages with a faint whiff of burning herbs.

In the 70s brevity was the norm: halters, bathing suit tops and JC sandals. Sun worshippers basted their skin with the sweet smell of coconut oil in the days before SPF terror alerts. For less than $20 you blew the day away listening to Professor Longhair singing “Blueberry Hill” with Fats Domino and carting an ice chest packed with food and libations.

The 80s brought marriage and maternity tops but never slowed me down. Six months pregnant I waddled across Author Deb Burst, 1980 the straw trails with frequent trips to the porta-potties rockin' and rollin' a basketball tummy on tip toes. Today things are a bit more civil with restroom trailers along the Fairgrounds track.

Things slowed down in the 90s with kids in tow. Sitting on the grass munching on poboys and cotton candy, the wide-eyed mushkins were mesmerized by a circus of characters. In 2002 my college-age daughter joined a gathering of friends and family as we parked our blankets and chairs in front of the Lenny Kravitz stage. Soon, waves of people flooded our shrinking piece of real estate so

we gathered caps, sneakers, and book bags and sculptured a sleeping gnome. Fearful of trampling the booze-snoozer, the crowds parted around us. We ended the day standing on camp chairs with arms in the air singing “Love Rules” with Lenny.

In 2006 my son and daughter joined me as we set up residence early in front of the Dave Matthews stage. Little had changed with the sweet smell of garlic, burning herbs, and coconut lotion. Teary eyes joined deafening cheers as Dave opened his act with a breaking voice dedicating his gig to bringing back a post-K (Katrina) town he loved.

As the decade marched on duty called with interviews and photos. My first solo year forecasted rain, serious rain! I pack my poncho, water shoes and camera gear, and within hours the heavens explode. Scores of soggy people hover over their crab cakes and bowls of jambalaya seeking shelter inside the Jazz, Blues and Gospel tents. Inside, the tents are rocking with bright lights shimmering on a rising pool of water. Some soak their feet jiving to the beat while others splash dance and second line to the horn blowing troubadours. An occasional flip-flop floats by-collateral damage in a rain-drenched day.

And the beat goes on bringing together the music greats from yesteryear while still engaging today's icons, young and old, people near and far, embracing immortal sounds moved by distant memories. Standing in the photo pit I zoom in and watch the sweat pour down Joe Cocker's brow. Dressed in black from head to toe, minus the wiry hair, his trademark body thrusts and passionate yells consume the audience. Sultry backup singers turn up the heat while jumbo screens scream the music across the field. As the sun hangs low and the crowd Joe Cocker & Band sings “A Little Help From My Friends,” flashbacks of those “blacklight” days listening to Cocker albums come to mind. And texting the scene to my kids as they sit in an office…PRICELESS! Besides world class music the Jazz Festival showcases the cultural melting pot of New Orleans cuisine: Italian muffuletta, Cuban pressed sandwich, Creole hot sausage po-boy,

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Cajun jambalaya, Asian spring rolls, and more in seventy food booths. Every year my first stop is a helping of cheese-filled crawfish bread with a large rosemint tea, and walking out I grab a juicy Cochon de lait po-boy.

My focus has changed over the years as I look through the lens of the camera at the generations of festing families. Besides the hippie-loving-flower-power-crowd, a much younger clan join their parents for their first Jazz Fest experience. A mother dances to Zydeco music as her baby sleeps bundled in a scarf wrapped close to her breasts and her son sits in a stroller jiving to the beat. On another drizzly day, a little tyke with protective headphones covered in a plastic garbage bag takes the ride of his life on dad's raindrenched shoulders. Every turn brings another story, another piece of history, and another entry in my Jazz Fest diary.

Stay Tuned…2011 program and ticket info…This year the Jazz Fest is a tad bit later running two weekends from Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1, then back on track Thursday, May 5 through Sunday, May 8. The fest packs a punch with classic rock legends, 80s idols, country rock icons, jazz greats, and everything in between. Headliners include Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, Kid Rock, John Mellencamp, Wilco, Galactic, Willie Nelson, The Strokes, Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Sonny Rollins, Cyndi Lauper, Jason Mraz, Lucinda Williams and the Greg Allman Blues Band, along with local favorites, Irma Thomas, the Neville Brothers, Cowboy Mouth, and Trombone Shorty.

Visit www.nojazzfest.com for a complete schedule, to buy tickets, and a map of local music venues outside the festival. Advance discount tickets or special packages are available in addition to regular price at the gate.

Deborah Burst, freelance writer and photographer, lives and writes in the piney woods of Mandeville. After a 30year stint in banking, she graduated from Tulane in 2003. Her work has appeared in regional, national, and international publications. A personal translator blessed with an emotional art form, Deb discovers the food, culture, and people along the backroads each month in Louisiana Road Trips.

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TRAVEL ADVENTURE

By Dianne Newcomer

This is Alaska They call the Iditarod the “Last Great Race on Earth.”

Last year, it took eight days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes for the winner to complete the 1150 mile dog sled journey from Anchorage to the coastal gold rush town of Nome. It is a fact that more people have reached the summit of Mount Everest than have been able to complete this race extraordinaire--a grueling journey through the heart of Alaska by dog sled.

Navigating jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, thick forests, deserted tundra, and miles and miles of the Bering Sea's cold windy coastline in sub-artic temperatures is just one facet of the race. In addition to surviving the unforgiving terrain, cold, and darkness, these mushers must deal with lack of sleep, round the clock care for their precious dog teams, black ice, arctic blizzards, whiteouts, moose attacks, and the mental pressure of winning.

“Would you believe 62 mushers paraded through the streets of Anchorage last weekend to start the race? The town was wild with excitement,“ said my friend at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage, an LSU graduate who went to Alaska for a summer years ago and never left. “This race is a really tough way to win $50,000 and a new truck!”

“Up here, we're all still a little worried about your Colorado boys,” he snickered.

While planning a group arrival at his hotel, we talked a lot about the Iditarod, an event that takes place every year in early March. In fact, he and I have a friendly bet regarding the two “good ole boys” from the Lower 48, young dog sledders and dog trainers from

Steamboat Springs who bragged they were going to shake things up in this year's race.

“I don't think this is going to be the vacation they expected but I admit we were surprised they made it to the check point at Iditarod, the ghost town marking the halfway point in the race. After Iditarod, they'll be going places no one goes except during the Iditarod or by air. The several hundred mile stretch down the middle of the Yukon River is where weather varies from warm and wet to temps 50 degrees below zero.”

“It's getting really tough out there now--only the mentally strong will make it. The darkness becomes disorienting and lack of sleep and weariness overwhelms the best of teams. They have to bring their A-game because after the Yukon River stretch, they face the Bering Sea Coast and there is nothing to hide behind out there! The snow blows so hard you sometimes can't see five feet in front of your face. Only the toughest survive so Dianne, I suggest you bet on another team,” he teased. “Everyone up here is expecting those Steamboat kids to run out of steam real soon! I think you forget, this is Alaska!”

My friend was right: I had forgotten this is Alaska. There is no place like it. Only in Alaska would someone actually sign up for a race-approximately the distance from Monroe to Washington, D.C.-hanging on to the back of a dogsled with three inch runners and slide over the roughest terrain possible in the worst weather conditions imaginable, but once again, this is Alaska. A destination so uniquely different that after cheering those 62 teams off on the insane Iditarod race, the locals celebrated on the streets of Anchorage with a fun game of “reindeer racing, similar to running of the bulls in Spain.

This is Alaska. It's amazing, wild, and beautiful, which makes it a perfect escape from our little corner of the world. Why not make this the summer you see this Great Land? At MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE, this is a destination we know well so let us help you make your adventure everything you expect. Whether you want the luxury of seeing Alaska by cruise ship, domed train, or motorcoach, call now because a front row seat to all of Alaska's magnificence is booking up fast.

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This is Alaska. She is such a magical destination. If you're thinking it's time to be dazzled, let me tell you about a few of great travel buys at MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE that will get you to this Great Land: 7 Night Cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage: Balcony Cabin from $1325.

August 9 and Sept. 2 Grizzly Tour--2 Nights in Anchorage/ 3 nights in Denali--From $1829. This tour includes bear viewing Redoubt Bay and luxury dome rail to Denali National Park Experience Alaska Tour-8 guest, luxury touring coach, complete with driver/guide/concierge for 8 days.

Includes 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners. See top attractions in 8 days: Anchorage, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Fairbanks and Denali National Park.

June 12, 26, July 10, Aug. 7 from $3799 per person Orca Tour--7 days from Juneau to Fairbanks. Includes whale watching in Glacier Bay, luxury dome rail to Denali, then on to Fairbanks. Weekly departures May-Sept. from $1749 Kenai Explorer Self-Drive Tour--7 days from Anchorage with full size car, accommodations in Anchorage, Homer, Seward, and Alyeska, plus sightseeing excursions. Weekly departures May-Sept from $1799 Oceania's small, deluxe ship is offering 2 for 1 Cruise Promo with Free Airfare plus $1,000 per stateroom Bonus Savings and $1,000 per stateroom in shipboard Credit on all Alaska Voyages. They are even offering a special single supplement rate and a kids cruise free offer on select sailings. You need to call me for complete details.

7 Night Cruise from Vancouver to Whittier and 3 night land tour with domed train featuring 1 night at the Denali Princess Lodge and 2 nights at Mt. Mckinley Lodge with sightseeing. Balcony from $2848 and July 13 and July 27 tour still available.

Alaska is nature at its very best. Don't wait! Let's get together and make plans for you to escape another hot Louisiana summer. Be cool - head way up north to Alaska! Call MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE--323 3465-today.

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Hit the Road

Springtime in Fredericksburg, Texas History, stunning landscapes and farm fresh cuisine

By Deborah Burst Inside the Texas Hill Country, the town of Fredericksburg showcases German heritage, Texas hospitality, and American pride.

Founded in 1847 by German settlers, the town harbors rich traditions evident in its historic district and architecture. Shop along Main Street's vintage storefronts or join the morning walkers for coffee and pastries.

There are award-winning wineries, gourmet dining and the Hill Country's greatest ambassador--Mother Nature with stunning landscapes and a welcome mat of springtime wildflowers.

Pacific War Museum - On the corner of Main Street and Highway 87 the Nimitz Hotel offers the first glimpse of the town's storied history. Known today as the Nimitz Museum follow hometown hero Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Nimitz Museum from his early days spending time in his grandfather's hotel to his reign as commander of the U.S. forces in the Pacific

War. Part of the Pacific War Museum, the complex chronicles Japan's rise to power in Europe, the invasion of Pearl Harbor, major Allied advances, and the eventual Japanese surrender.

Pacific War visitor center

The museum brings to life the trials and tribulations of war in personal videos from veterans, along with letters, mementos, and newspaper headlines. Visitors are consumed with high-tech videos, authentic weaponry, and hanger style exhibits with a B-25 bomber plane and a Stuart M-E tank.

Afterward decompress strolling inside a beautiful Japanese garden surrounded by bronzed plaques paying tribute to veterans.

Fredericksburg tourism www.visitfredericksburgtx.org, 1-888-997-3600 Pacific War Museum www.pacificwarmuseum.org, 830-997-8600 Pioneer Museum www.pioneermuseum.com, 830-997-2835 Enchanted Rock www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/enchantd/, 830-685-3030 Fredericksburg Nature Center www.fredericksburgnaturecenter.org Gillespie County Rural Schools Trail www.historicschools.org, 830-997-8655 Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area www.tpwd.state.tx.us, 830-997-2659 Fredericksburg Bed & Brew www.yourbrewery.com, 830-997-9990 Louisiana Road Trips

living history of America's Historical District and backbone of rural education. Step German Architecture - Grab a inside limestone and log cabin historic walking tour map and schoolhouses built in the mid to begin your journey at the Pioneer late 19th century, many with Museum on Main Street. Set in a shaded canopy of pecan trees and original desks, floors and native landscaping, each structure textbooks. Alumnae share their stories of racing to the outhouse, offers a timeline of community gathering water from nearby life from 1840 to the 1920s. Tour several homesteads, the Volunteer wells or doing farm chores before mounting the horse or donkey to Fire Department Museum, the school. In addition to the Arhelger Bathhouse and Barber endearing stories, the trail itself is shop, along with the Kammlah Home that grew from a one-room butcher shop to a home filled with heirloom furnishings.

Throughout the neighborhood historic plaques scribe generations of craftsman and prominent Stream to Grapetown characteristics of German equally inviting in rolling architecture including the pastures and rippling streams limestone construction. A perfect example is the stout Tatsch House with dozens of deer openly grazing in the fields. built in 1856 by Peter Tatsch with Nature's Calling - Just stone walls nearly two feet thick minutes from town the Enchanted and a huge fireplace measuring Rock State Natural Area features 13-ft wide. The Sunday House, a 425-foot pink granite exfoliation another design unique to Germans and Gillespie County, are second homes built by farmers and ranchers for weekend visits. Most are framed rather than stone in a one to two-room design and now used as cottages for visitors.

Ground trail oak trees

Grapetown teacherette school

One-Room Schoolhouses The days of riding a horse to a one-room schoolhouse may be long gone, but many Gillespie County residents carry vivid memories of their childhood trots to school. A driving trail of seventeen country schools offers a

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dome in a moderate climb with panoramic views across Gillespie and Llano counties.

For those who prefer to stay grounded, trails around the rock offer a variety of vegetation and wildlife.

Three miles south of the city, explore several native ecosystems at the Fredericksburg Nature Center. The 6,000 feet nature trail is posted with ten stopping points along forest, prairie, riparian, continued on next page > > >

Springtime in Fredericksburg continued

wetlands and post oak savannah habitats.

Butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies skim across waves of wildflowers including more than 250 flowering plants. There are 160 bird species with a handicapped viewing station with vistas of bird feeding, butterfly habitat, and a rock geology exhibit.

In the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area enjoy a front row seat to the spring and summer miracle of nature when millions of Mexican FreeTail bats exit an old railroad tunnel. Just as dusk settles, a tornado shaped cloud of bats emerge to feed on insects. The bats migrate from Mexico and take refuge in the park from April till September. It's nature at her finest, the bats consume harmful insects helping maintain a healthier environment and saving farmers in pesticide cost.

Food - Fredericksburg is a gastronomy trail of dining, imbibing and farm hopping. Sip a brew and spend the night at the Fredericksburg Bed & Brew and chow down on genuine Texas barbecue at Cranky Frank's. Savor huge plates of homegrown specialties at Kelly's Café or dine on fresh herbs and cheese at Fromage du Monde. Pamper those tastebuds at Chocolat and Rather Sweet Bakery and Café. And ladies indulge your fantasy with food and shopping at the Peach Tree Gift Gallery and Tea Room. Before you leave don't miss the authentic German fare at Der Lindenbaum, along with the many farms and orchards that are ripe for picking.

The town still maintains its ethnic heritage embodied in spirit, design and natural surroundings.

Scour the stunning countryside or shop Main Street's historic façade filled with countless galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Plan a Louisiana Road Trips

week, month or maybe a lifetime stay at Fredericksburg.

When you go… April is the prefect time to visit the Fredericksburg area with the Wings Over the Hills Nature Festival at the Fredericksburg

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Nature Center. And the Gillespie County Rural Schools Trail annual open house where you can meet alumnae stationed at specific schoolhouses.

Mayhaw Festival The Town of Marion will be celebrating the 30th Annual Mayhaw Festival on May 6-7, 2011. The festival gets underway on Friday at 7pm with a street dance near Marion State Bank, where the Monty Russell Band will be playing. On Saturday, enjoy arts and crafts, a festive parade, lots of games and contests for adults and kids, and plenty of good food.

Maybe you'll want to enter your recipe for the best Mayhaw jelly in the tasting contest! Everyone is invited to come on out for some great family fun. This is your chance to load up on some Mayhaw jelly to get you through the year til the next festival! For additional information, call Town Hall at 318-292-4715.

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April

April 1-3______________ Boggy Bayou Festival Pine Prairie – 337-599-2031 Cypress Sawmill Festival Patterson – 800-256-2931 Kite Festival Port Allen – 800-654-9701 New Orleans Spring Fiesta 504-581-1367 Junior League of Monroe's 13th Annual Spring Market Monroe Civic Center – (318) 322-3236

April 2 _______________ Cracklin Cookoff, Cutoff 985-632-7616 Dogwood Festival Pollock – 318-765-3796 Slabtown Festival Ringgold – 318-894-4690

April 2-3______________ Old Algiers RiverFest New Orleans – 504-528-4341 Midnight Fantasies 19th Annual Car, Truck & Bike Show Lake Charles Civic Center 337-905-1109 www.midnightfantasiesshow.com

Southdown Marketplace Houma – 985-851-0154

Creole Festival Jeanerette – 337-276-3615

Downtown Crawfish Fest Lake Charles Civic Center 337-310-0083

Family Fun Festival Larose – 985-693-7355 French Quarter Festival New Orleans – 504-522-5730

Art in April with Champagne Downtown Hammond www.dddhammond.com

Saint Joan of Arc Spring Festival LaPlace – 985-652-9100

April 16-17 ____________

Strawberry Festival Pontchatoula – 800-542-7520

Antique Street Fair Slidell – 985-641-6316

April 8-17 _____________

Battle of Jackson Crossroads Jackson – 225-634-7155

Holiday in Dixie Shreveport – 318-865-5555

April 9 _______________ Catfish Festival Winnsboro – 318-435-7607 The Taste of Louisiana Festival Lake Charles Civic Center Amphitheater 713-231-6772 www.thetasteoflouisiana.com

April 9-10 _____________ Spring Food Festival Lockport – 985-532-3117

April 10 ______________ Chauvin Folk Art Festival Chauvin – 985-594-5859

Downtown Gallery Crawl Downtown Monroe/West Monroe (318) 329-1921 or www.downtowngallerycrawl

April 14-16 ____________

Spring Art Walk Various Galleries & Businesses in Calcasieu Parish, Lake Charles Phone: 337-436-9588

April 8-9 & 14-17 _______ Thibodaux Playhouse Presents: "Never Get Smart With Angel" Thibodaux – 985-446-1896 www.thibodauxplayhouse.org

April 8, 9 & 10 _________ Family Fun Festival Larose Regional Park & Civic Center Larose – 985-693-7355 www.bayoucivicclub.org

April 8-10

_____________

Battle of Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill – 318-796-2777

2011

April 16 ______________

Cajun Hot Sauce Festival New Iberia – 337-365-7539

April 7 _______________

April 8 _______________

Calendar of Events

Great Southern RV Park Bluegrass Festival Angie – 985-516-4680

Corney Creek Festival Bernice – 318-285-9071 Italian Heritage Festival Kenner – 504-388-8758 Spring Fest and Civil War Reenactment Niblett's Bluff Park, Vinton (337) 436-9588 13th Annual Ballet Under the Stars Kiroli Park - Ballet Amphitheatre West Monroe (318) 388-3011 or www.twincityballet.com

April 17 ______________ Laurel Valley Spring Festival Thibodaux – 985-446-7456

April 21-23 ____________ LA Railroad Days Festival DeQuincy – 337-786-8241

April 15-16 ____________

April 22-23 ____________

Jazz and R&B Festival Natchitoches – 800-259-1714

LA Forest Festival Winnfield – 318-628-5928

DeltaFest 2011 Monroe Civic Center (318) 329-4947 or www.ladeltafest.com

April 15-17 ____________ Bayou Teche Bear Fest Franklin – 225-763-5425

Italian Festival Tickfaw – 800-542-7520 Laotian New Year Celebration New Iberia – 888-942-3742

April 27-May 1 _________

Great Louisiana Bird Fest Mandeville – 985-626-1238

Festival International Lafayette – 337-232-8086

April 29-May 1 _________

LIHA Pow Wow Gonzales – 504-837-6085

Artbreak Festival Shreveport – 318-673-6500

Migratory Bird Celebration Grand Isle – 985-787-2229 Louisiana Road Trips

April 22-24 ____________

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Cajun Fest Marrero – 504-250-5347 25 – www.la-road-trips.com

Festival de la Prairie Prairieville – 225-673-8307

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival – 504-410-4100 Tomato Festival Chalmette – 504-271-2953 27th Annual ArtBreak!

Shreveport Convention Center

April 30 ______________ Antique Festival Denham Springs – 225-665-2030 Crawfish Etouffee Cookoff Ville Platte – 337-363-8687 Springfest Denham Springs – 225-665-4666

April 30-May 1 _________ Cajun Woodstock for St. Jude's Church Point – 337-280-8710

April 30-May 8 _________ Blues Week & Festival Baton Rouge – 800-527-6843

Trails & Trellises Garden Tour & Plant Sale The Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners will hold their 6th annual Trails & Trellises Garden Tour on April 16, 2011 in the Minden and Homer, LA area from 9am until 4pm. Four lovely gardens will be available to enjoy as well as vendors, a plant sale, mini seminars/demonstrations and artists in the garden. Please note, the tour this year is being held a month earlier to take advantage of the breathtaking color and glory of early spring

with its bountiful spring flowering bulbs, shrubs, and perennials.

Past President of the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners, Marjorie Thomas and husband, Jerry live in a woodland garden deep in an old-growth forest. In a naturalistic setting among dogwood, hickory, oak and pine this lovely garden is serenity personified.

Camellias and azaleas grace the property along with daylilies, daffodils and iris.

At the center of a cul-de-sac sits the beautiful two story home of Master Gardener Gina Almond and husband, Van located at the top of a gentle rise. Cypress trees and crepe myrtles sway in the breeze and entice one to enjoy the beauty of angelonia, lily of the Nile, and salvia. Through an arch covered with Carolina jasmine you find a bricked path leading you closer to the waterfalls and pond that are home to Japanese koi.

Located in Homer, the home of Master Gardener Saundra Pixley and husband, Kenneth is next on the tour. After viewing this beautiful home, you will be awestruck by the history of the house and the 25 year pursuit by the owner to obtain this piece of property.

Notice the large butterfly sculpture handcrafted by local artist, James Thomas, sitting in a bed under the remains of a dead oak tree that dates back to 1842. The multiple island and border flowerbeds abound with rain lilies, roses, lily of the Nile, and much more.

The eclectic rustic garden of Connie and Rodney Mason is a must for those who love native plants. The country wooded property with the circle drive welcomes you with native azaleas, honeysuckle, irises, and white wisteria. Look for the star magnolia, a white American beauty (French mulberry), and the banana shrub. A small water feature on the patio suggests sitting and enjoying the sound as you view the large vegetable garden at the back of the property, listen to the rooster crow, and wonder at the beauty of the countryside.

Mini-seminars/ demonstrations will be presented at 9:30am, 11:30am and 1:30pm with Master Gardeners and guests sharing their knowledge. To purchase your $10 ticket in advance, call 745-2630 or 949-4800, or email gcollums@agcenter.lsu.edu. Tickets may also be purchased at T G Garden & Gifts, 456 Hwy 531 or the Webster Parish Extension Office at 1201 Homer Road in Minden. Free lunches will be offered at T G Garden & Gifts to each ticket holder the day of the tour. Tickets may also be purchased at any gardens on the day of the tour for $12.

On April 16, 2011, please join the Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners in the gardens as they love sharing gorgeous landscaping and their knowledge of plants and gardening. We hope to see you there!

Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners present

Trails & Trellises Garden Tour - Plant Sale - Seminars - Vendors Four lovely gardens Minden - Homer April 16, 2011 ——— 9am until 4pm Rain or Shine $10 in advance - $12 at any garden

Tickets may be purchased in advance by contacting Master Gardeners Kay Boykin at (318) 745-2630 or Judy Burge at (318) 949-4800 or email <GCollums@agctr.lsu.edu> —456 Hwy 531, Minden, LA — the day of the tour.

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RECIPES

by Stacy Thornton

Hello April, a month we yearn for once the winter weather has worn out its welcome.

The last winter snap has hopefully passed and the April weather invites us outdoors once again. Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, fish are biting, and Easter is celebrated on April 24th. Celebrations of Spring bring families gatherings, Easter egg hunts, and good southern cooking at its finest. Recipes handed down for generations and passed around the family table will be savored so enjoy making memories. I personally can't wait!

Easy Easter Potato Salad 6 lbs red potatoes 1 jar Real Bacon Pieces sour cream

1 bunch green onions, chopped Mayonnaise salt

Boil potatoes then allow to cool. Dice with skin on, then toss with bacon pieces and onions. Add equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream to moisten mixture and season with salt. Refrigerate overnight.

Creole Mustard to coat meat 1/4 cup red wine 1 tbsp chopped onion 1 clove of minced garlic 2 tbsp creole mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush Creole mustard on tenderloin and cook for 45 to 60 minutes or until meat thermometer registers 160-165 degrees. Remove tenderloin from pan and heat pan drippings over medium high heat. Add water and red wine, scraping bits and bring to a boil. Reduce to glaze. Saute onions, green onions, and garlic in butter. Add to glaze. Let cool. Blend mayonnaise and mustard. Add glaze ingredients to mayonnaise mustard mixture. Serve with sliced tenderloin.

Hot Marinade Green Beans 4 cans whole green beans, drained and washed 2 cans artichoke hearts, drained and sliced 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 cups Wesson oil 1 cup apple cider vinegar 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 tbsp salt Combine sugar, oil, vinegar, garlic, and salt and beat with mixer. Pour over green beans and artichokes and refrigerate 24 hours. Heat in a casserole dish at 350 degrees for 20 minutes before serving.

Honey Glazed Carrots 4 cups water 1 tbsp butter 1/2 tsp shredded lemon peel 1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 lbs peeled baby carrots 1 to 2 tbsp honey 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

In a large skillet bring water to a boil. Add carrots. Return to boil then reduce heat. Cover and simmer 8-10 minutes or until carrots are tender. Drain. In a skillet melt butter and add honey, lemon peel, crushed red pepper and salt. Stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles. Gently toss in carrots and heat through.

Louisiana Road Trips

1/4 c. vegetable shortening 5 eggs, room temperature 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Cream together butter, shortening, and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Combine flour, salt, soda, and baking powder to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, ending with dry ingredients. Beat well after each addition.

Add extracts. Spoon batter into well-greased and floured 10-inch tube or Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 45-60 minutes or until cake tests done when a wooden pick inserted in center comes out dry and clean.

Combine all ingredients below for glaze, blend well; set aside. Cool cake in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes; remove from pan. Place cake on wire rack over plate that is slightly larger. Punch holes in stillwarm cake with wooden pick and drizzle glaze over cake repeatedly until absorbed. Yield: 12-16 servings.

2 tsp. grated orange rind 2 tbsp. orange juice 1 c. confectioners sugar

Pork Tenderloin 2 1/2 lb pork tenderloin 1/4 cup water 2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp chopped green onion 1/3 cup mayonnaise

Orange Lemon Pound Cake 1 c. butter, softened 2 c. sugar 3 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 c. buttermilk 1 tsp. lemon extract

2 tsp. grated lemon rind 2 tbsp. lemon juice

Diamond Don's Vintage Nat’l Motocross Diamond Don's 9th Annual AHRMA Vintage National Motocross will be held April 15-17, 2011 at Cypress Bayou RV Park located one mile from Jefferson, Texas. Over 800 entries are expected for the three day race event which includes Cross Country and Trials on Friday, Vintage Motocross on Saturday with Post-Vintage on Sunday. The event will include AHRMA's national award presentations on Friday evening, Diamond Don's world famous BBQ and crawfish cookout on Saturday evening and finishes with the Wine-Down Party and a fantastic fireworks show on Sunday. The Chris LeBlanc Band from Baton Rouge will be on hand to shake it up Saturday evening at the party.

Come out and see motocross legends like Gary Bailey, who will headline this year's event as Diamond Don's Legend for the weekend, Marty Tripes, Brad Lackey, Danny LaPorte, Chuck Sun, Tommy Croft, Marty Smith, Steve Wise, Trampas Parker, Billy Liles, Trey Jorski, Bill Silverthorn and John Desoto.

Jefferson is located just 50 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana.

Transportation into downtown Jefferson will be available on the Historic Jefferson Railway, a narrow gauge, live steam locomotive.

Ladies, grab the kids and leave the guys at the track - catch the train into town for shopping and sight-seeing and enter our “Shop 'til you Drop” contest for cash prizes.

Jefferson is nestled deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas and seems frozen in time, a charming town and an elegant reminder of a bygone era. With over a hundred buildings in the city with historical markers, many historic homes offer bed and breakfast accommodations. Dozens of other historic buildings house museums, craft and antique shops and restaurants. For more information, contact 866-398-2038 or visit www.DiamondDon.com.

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Judge William Wood Farmer, Jr.: Lawyer, Legislator, Civil War Captain & Respected Judge of Ouachita Parish

By Lora Peppers William Mills Farmer was born March 29, 1840 in Union Parish, the only son of William Wood and Pamela Ann Mixon Mason Farmer. He was named for his father and paternal grandfather Mills Farmer, whom Farmerville, LA was named for. His father, William Wood Farmer, was elected Louisiana's Lieut.

Governor but died in New Orleans in 1854 during a yellow fever epidemic. He was buried in the Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans but in 1855 his remains were taken to the Farmerville City Cemetery and reburied. A large marker, placed by the State, still stands to mark his grave.

William Mills Farmer decided to go in the legal profession. Graduating with honors in 1858 from Centenary College, he got his legal license from the Law College of New Orleans in 1861. It was around this time that Farmer changed his middle name from Mills to Wood in honor of his late father. Farmer returned to Monroe to begin his career but war clouds were looming. As the Civil War erupted, Farmer joined as a private in Company D of the 1st Battalion, known as the Shreveport Greys. In 1862, Charles H. Morrison began to organize the 31st Louisiana Regiment in Monroe.

William was made Captain of Company H, known as the Confederate Warriors. The men saw action in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Port Gibson and Vicksburg where Farmer and his men were captured and made prisoners of war.

After the Civil War, Farmer joined his former commander Col. Charles H. Morrison and formed a law partnership in Monroe.

Charles would later marry Farmer's surviving sister Frances M. “Fannie” Farmer. When Morrison died in 1876, Farmer practiced law solo and in 1880 was elected to the lower House of the State Legislature and served as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He was later made a Judge of the Second Circuit Court, but the lure of being a lawyer was too strong and he resigned to resume the practice. In a newspaper article after his death, it was said, “Judge Farmer's mind was large, his perception quick and his reasoning bordered upon intuition. There was no plodding - a case stated was covered by an opinion. His reading was

Lora Peppers, a Monroe native, grew up in Bastrop and extensive, his memory tenacious and the collation of graduated from ULM. Her love of history dates back to the authorities was all that was necessary to childhood when one of her favorite activities was visiting confirm his conclusion. He was honest and had a local cemeteries to examine headstones. She also loves to supreme contempt for Quirk, Gammon & Snap travel, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park being practice. Whenever a client had a case to make he her favorite place on Earth. Her job as a genealogist and found in Farmer a lawyer unremitting in his historian has given her the opportunity to lead many exertions to secure his rights. He never made an lectures and author several books. She can be reached by effort to mislead a court by suppressing evidence, e-mail at loradpeppers@hotmail.com. garbling authorities or toadying his views to judges in private. He rested upon the law and the evidence as they were written and he urged them with a force that every

By Su Stella adversary dreaded.” in with the old, the Greenwood Luckily On April 14, 1883, Flea Market might be your taste. we don't William Wood Farmer, Jr. No matter what city you live suffer much breathed his last in in, Louisiana has some of the best from the Monroe. The cause of maintained and diverse range of winter blahs death is lost to history. He state parks. Paddle, drift, float, with our mild Louisiana climate. was only 43 years old. swim, water ski or fish away a Farmer's funeral was held But of course, we all know the true lazy weekend. Many parks have heat of summer is only moments at Grace Episcopal campsites and cabins for campers away so it is time to get out! I Church. His pall bearers like me. doubt I'm the only pasty person were some of the leading Hurry to see the Hubble men of the day: Capt. L.D. that has packed on a few pounds Show at Sciport. Caddo residents this winter so it's time to get McLain, Dr. T.O. Brewer, as well as Bossier can enjoy moving. Turn off your texter, put W.G. Kennedy, Dr. T.Y. Aby, F.Y. Dabney and W.T. away your Kindle, log off Facebook Terrific Tuesday, the first Tuesday of the month with $3 entry for and start moving, especially since Atkins. Farmer left no exhibits (not Imax). Speaking of we live in both the stroke and descendants, having IMAX, do not miss the never been married. All of diabetes belt of America. presentation HUBBLE that If you are lucky enough to his family was deceased, literally takes you to outer space live in Shreveport, the Norton except for his eight year and is well worth your time!

Gallery makes for a great morning old orphan When in Shreveport, check or afternoon strolling their nephew Farmer sprawling gardens especially as the out the new mural being painted Morrison. The on the improved tourist office on man who had lead thousands of azaleas start Spring Street. This is a great stop blooming. If raindrops are falling, men into battle; to pick up the latest issue of LRT, enjoy their free regular exhibits or the man who had visit their new show "Great Masters maps, and brochures. Artist Ali been well Bahler won the competition to of Cuban Art: 1800-1958”. The respected in his have her art grace this huge word gallery is too modest for this profession and building. The amazing design incredible museum located at 4747 community, was will really delight and surprise Creswell Avenue, 318-865-4201. laid to rest in an Enjoy history at the Pioneer the thousands that drive that way apparently Heritage Center located behind daily. I've been fortunate enough unmarked grave in LSUS at One University Place, to be selected as part of the mural Monroe's Old City 318-797-5339. The collection of painting team so I'll let you know Cemetery. Just a few how that goes. months ago, I noticed that antique buildings that were relocated here include a Time to take my own advice. an old plot map of the blacksmith shop, doctors office, I'm heading to Stoner Park where Monroe Cemetery, done general store, a real dog trot they just unveiled the new in 1886, showed that home, and more.

Call for of improvements to the skate board William Wood Farmer's area. I don't have insurance so I plot is where the flag pole Authors in April.

If you are out with the old avoid extreme sports but you is now standing in the and in with the new, why not may see me on my Trikke cemetery. Efforts are jump across to Bossier and stroll working off my winter weight. currently underway by There's no excuse to stay a local Civil War re-enactors the shops at the Boardwalk to pick up a few new pieces for your recluse so get out of the house to provide Farmer a summer wardrobe. Or if you are and see Louisiana! military headstone.

Get Out!

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PECULIAR JAUNTS

By Carey Weeks

Three Oaks Bed & Breakfast

Up on a hill, high above the sidewalk in downtown Marshall, Texas sits a unique B&B. Three Oaks Bed & Breakfast looks like the typical Victorian home painted in pastel shades and white.

You're immediately invited to the large veranda that is perfect for watching time tick away. However, once inside, you're in for a wonderful surprise!

The mistress of the house, Donna Musselman, a former belly dancer, may greet you at the door wearing stylish Steampunk garb (FYI, Steampunk combines the Victorian era

with steam power engineering). Once inside the grand foyer, the tone goes from light and airy to warm and mesmerizing, with dark antique wood Gothic furniture and cabinetry, beautiful glass lamps, a plethora of interesting knick knacks, and perhaps my favorite piece - a diamond dusted full length mirror that according to Donna, can sometimes reveal a bit of the spectral happenings around the home. After all, what old house is without its spirits?

One suite, The Magnolia, is furnished with a beautiful marble fireplace, a dark wooden armoire, and a large comfortable bed, its frame made of rich golden oak. The bathroom boasts a claw-footed tub and a dainty, sheerdraped fainting couch surrounded by full length windows hung with lacey curtains.

Breakfast alone is worth the stay, as the dining room is furnished with a long heavy dining table and tall carved Gothic chairs that seat more like thrones, all beneath a gorgeous crystal chandelier. Lining the walls are cases of

silver dining and serving pieces and the collection of game heads near the ceiling gives the feeling of dining in a castle.

For your morning meal, you just may be served a huge platter of stuffed French toast, peppery crunchy bacon, some ripe fruit, a goblet of orange juice, and a cup of steaming roasted coffee. Or perhaps you'll feast on raspberry cheesecake stuffed Belgian waffles and all of the trimmings. Best of all is the hospitality and conversation that permeate this delightful B&B. Three Oaks Bed & Breakfast is located at 609 N. Washington Ave. in downtown Marshall, Texas, just a couple blocks from the courthouse. Historic tours of the house are available daily from 2 - 7pm and cost $3 per person. All guest rooms and facilities are conveniently located on the ground floor of the house, making it wheelchair accessible.

Reasonable rates. Contact Mike and Donna Musselman at 1-800-710-9789 or at info@threeoaks-marshall.com.

LA Folk Roots' Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week Acclaimed Cajun and Creole musicians Steve Riley, David Greely, Anya Burgess, Gina Forsyth, Jonno Frishberg, Al Berard, Christine Balfa, Chas Justus and Ed Poullard, as well as Culinary Director Chef Pat Mould and Dance Instruction Coordinator Millie Ortego, are some of the leading artists who will be full-time instructors at the

2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week at Chicot State Park near Ville Platte, LA. Full-time participants of the DBCCHW stay in the park's deluxe waterfront cabins, group dorms, or in the park's campsites and enjoy a week of intensive classes in accordion, fiddle or guitar, as well as Louisiana cuisine served up by Chef Mould. The

Louisiana Road Trips

week also includes workshops, cooking demonstrations, master artist presentations, Cajun and zydeco dance lessons, jam sessions, a family-friendly Saturday festival, and dances every night with top Cajun and zydeco bands like Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, The Red Stick Ramblers, and

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many others. The festival and nightly dances are open to the public, and part-time participation in the week's other activities is encouraged. For more information, visit www.lafolkroots.org, call 337-2348360 or e-mail info@lafolkroots.org.

The History of NortheastTel, Collinston, LA construction that would upgrade the current The story goes that Guy's Blue Front, the telephone service and to expand into the Jonesgeneral store in Collinston, was known for its innovation. They had the only generator in town, McGinty area.

The Bonita switchboard and telephone plant providing lights for locals to play pool by in the were run by Fay and Lorrain Sims from 1952 to evenings, and also the first telephone system, 1976 when Mr. Sims retired. David and Lillian which served about fifteen people. Not sure of Justice began working on the switchboard and the exact year, it's known that telephone service telephone plant in Collinston in 1950 and he later was available in Collinston in 1913. became the general manager of the company until This telephone exchange was sold and his retirement in 1984. Dee Norsworthy and Mary renamed several times over the years. Typically Elizabeth Hopgood worked in the business office the exchange owner would hire a switchboard operator and it would be located in the operator's where customer records were kept in a handwritten ledger until the early 1980's. home where all Alton Norsworthy's death in 1957, followed members of the

by Ben Hopgood in 1960 and Mary Elizabeth family would Hopgood in 1963, left Dee Norsworthy as the last take part in of the original owners and she continued to work running it. In the until her retirement in 1982. Her children, William 1920-30's, the Norsworthy and Vaden family ran Dorothy Anne the switchboard, Norsworthy George, and in the 1940's and Rector Hopgood, the switchboard son of Ben and Mary was run by the family of Tom Linzay, who was Elizabeth, all became the owner of the Collinston Telephone Company officers of the company until 1946. The Linzay family continued to run the switchboard after selling the exchange and its and have played an ongoing role in the 41 telephone customers to Ben W. “Hop” growth and Hopgood and his wife Mary Elizabeth. This was advancement of the beginning of what is now known as NortheastTel. Dorothy Anne's son, NortheastTel. In the You're invited to view this Mike George, is the current president 1950's, the switchboard and general manager of the company was moved to the unique collection of telephone Hopgood home where history at the Snyder Memorial and his daughter Erin George is the secretary. Rector Hopgood is the Mary Elizabeth Hopgood Museum & Creative Arts current CEO and William Norsworthy and Lillian Justice served is the vice president. as switchboard operators, Center at 1620 E. Madison What was once just the telephone sometimes assisted by Avenue in Bastrop, LA. The company has expanded its services Joyce Takewell and exhibit will run through April many times over the years. In the late Dorothy Anne 15, 2011. The museum is open 1960's, mobile telephone service was Norsworthy.

Tuesday through Friday from offered, which was highly useful to Down the road, the Bonita telephone 9am - 4pm with free admission. local farmers. In 1982, the company introduced pager service covering all exchange was originally of Morehouse Parish and some surrounding areas. part of the Southeast Arkansas Telephone and Power Company and was bought by Lawrence M. Cable television services were added in 1987.

Internet services became available in 1999, Lavender in 1936. At that time, there were less followed by Northeast Long Distance services in than 20 telephones connected to the Bonita 2000. In the past year, the company added computer exchange. This exchange was sold several times repair and computer classes to its range of services. before purchased by Alton and Dee Norsworthy This year the company will begin offering cellular and Ben and Mary Elizabeth Hopgood in 1952, and the Collinston Telephone Company became the Northeast Louisiana Telephone Company. The Bonita exchange added 52 telephone lines to the service area, bringing the total number of customers to 148.

Until the late 1950's, the Jones area did not have telephone service at all. In 1956, Northeast Louisiana Telephone Company applied for and was granted a loan through the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) that allowed them to begin

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phone service and home security systems.

The humble beginnings of telephone calls being connected locally through a switchboard at the general store have seen many upgrades and technological advances. Telephones have changed and equipment advanced from the cord board run by an operator to a completely automated digital switching system. The copper telephone wire and coax cabling that currently carries telephone and cable signals will soon be replaced by a complete fiber optic network that uses pulses of light to send telephone, television and internet signals from the central office.

From those first fifteen homes fortunate enough to have a telephone, often community leaders, to nearly every home with telephones in several rooms, as well as televisions, computers and cellular phones, the expanse of technology is sometimes hard to grasp. Communication will continue to advance and with each new medium, NortheastTel will strive to bring technology to residents of rural Morehouse Parish.

Exercising Your Cat Have you ever watched your cat exercise? Perhaps your kitty's exercise regimen consists of a mad dash around the house or jumping up on surfaces, tearing up carpets and furniture. Exercise is important to your cat, young or old, to maintain their health and well-being.

Cats are wonderful athletes but they generally like to exercise for brief periods only. Besides, a vigorous playtime at night may help you both get some sleep.

Organized play stimulates your cat mentally.

When kittens play together they pick up social skills and self-sufficiency. They refine their stalking and pouncing, as well as coordination and timing required to make a kill. Adult cats, too, enjoy toys that allow them to simulate natural stalking and hunting activity like rolling a tennis ball across the floor. Soon your cat will launch an attack. Get a tall scratching post, preferably one with "branches," so your cat can run up and down. Scratching posts let your cat flex his muscles and shed old claw sheaths. You can also buy elaborate gymnasiums for cats, which your cat may climb, or just provide a large paper bag or cardboard box for your cat to explore. However, the most important thing you can do to prolong the life of your cat is to keep him indoors or within a controlled outdoors area, safe from injury, animal attacks, and deadly infectious diseases from stray cats.

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