louisiana road trips may 2012 edition

Louisiana Road Trips – 2 – www.laroadtrips.com

Ferriday’s Soul Survivors Festival 2012Just three short years ago at the Jerry Lee

Lewis’ Rockabilly Plaza, the first SoulSurvivors Festival was held in Ferriday. Afterthe festivals initial successMayor McGlothin addedpublic restrooms and finallyRockabilly Park wereconstructed in 2012. Thefestival was created tocelebrate the contributions ofAfrican Americans to thecreation of Boogie Woogie,Rockabilly and Rock andRoll. This year’s event will beheld on Saturday, May 26,encompassing the entireblock downtown with music,food, and festivities.

For entertainment, the Angola StatePrison Band is scheduled to appear alongwith talented musician and teacherSylvia Johns Richie and her ConcordiaParish music students. Hezekiah Early, adrummer in the house band at the worldfamous Haney’s Big House in Ferriday(which was a juke joint on the Chitlin’Circuit), Lil’ Poochie, and Elmo Williamsare sure to dazzle the crowd along withNathan Shell, a Mississippi Delta Styleblues player, and The YZ Ealy Band, alsoa Haney’s Big House Band member untilfire destroyed the club in 1966. .

Later that evening Killer, worldrenowned entertainer and hometown boyJerry Lee Lewis, will be on hand for the

ribbon cutting at the Will Haney Big HouseMusic Hall, Jerry Lee Lewis Rockabilly Plaza,Concordia Hotel and the unveiling of Will

Haney Circle and JerryLee Lewis Boulevardwithin Ferriday’sentertainment district.There will also be manyopportunities forautographs and photoswith the many legendsin attendance. Afterthese ceremonies, enjoyEasy Eddie and theParty Rockers StreetDance at the newlycompleted Music Hall.Ferriday’s Mayor Glen

McGlothin has been the front man/singerwith the group Easy Eddie and the Party

Rockers for 26 years.The new Music Hall was designed to

provide a venue for town events rangingfrom music to craft shows to a farmer’smarket. The well-planned structure evenhas panels of clear rooftop glass thatilluminate the dark sky with aneffervescent light show from inside thebuilding. Just across the street from theblock of the Rockabilly complex is an oldhotel operatedduring Ferriday’sheyday that wasdonated to Ferridayby the Sevier andComer families.Plans for therenovated sectionof the hotel includemusic classes and aperformance venue.

“Ferriday’smusic heritagebegan in the cottonfields with fieldhollers and work

chants. It developed into Blues or Gospeland then on to Soul and Rhythm & Blues.From the 1940's until February 1966, Mr. WillHaney, an African American businessman,operated Haney's Big House. All the bigname acts from around the country wouldcome through Ferriday on Sunday nights toentertain here, including B.B. King, RayCharles, Solomon Burke, Fats Domino, IrmaThomas, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnnie Taylorand the lists goes on,” says Tommy Polk,

Festival Coordinator for the Town of Ferriday.“African American trombonist PeeweeWhittaker would sneak a young Jerry LeeLewis into the back door at Haney's and it’sbeen said that this helped develop hisperforming style, boogie woogie pianoplaying, and sent him on to be on the cuttingedge of the development of rock and roll.”

For more information, visitferridaymusic.com, find them on FACEBOOK,or contact Tommy Polk at 601-431-6149.

ROAD TRIPS"Celebrating country living and city happenings!"

m a y c o n t e n t sDELTA OUTDOORS

4 Going Native by Larry BrockEnjoying Your Homescape

17 In the Crosshairs by Sonny HarringtonWhat Women Really Want

20 For the Love of the Game by Johnny Wink

21 My Favorite Fishing Hole by Joe JoslinToledo – Home of Heavy Bass

FESTIVALS &ENTERTAINMENT

2 Ferriday’s Soul Survivors Festival 20127 Contraband Days Louisiana Pirate Festival7 Aw Shucks – It’s the LA Corn Festival!9 2nd Annual Morehouse Parish LRCA

Rodeo9 2012 Mayfestl

HISTORICAL10 LA in civil war – May 1862: Rule of the

Beast by Terry L. Jones12-13 Another Stalwart in LA Aviation –

C. B. McMahan by Lee Estes14 Two Little Orphan Girls of Monroe

by Lora Peppers

HUMOR13-14 Runnin’ the Roads by Barbara Sharik

Frog parking only – all others willbe toad

Talkin’It Up!

From corn and jambalaya topirates and riverboats, there’ssomething for everyone to celebrateat a festival on the streets ofLouisiana this month!

Rodeo fans will appreciate theLRCA at the MAC (MorehouseActivity Center) in Bastrop, birdlovers willcongregate forMigratory BirdDay at BlackBayou LakeNationalWildlife Refugein OuachitaParish, andmusic enthusiasts will fill thestreets in downtown Ferriday at the2nd Annual Soul Survivor Festivalwhere entertainer Jerry Lee Lewiswill make an appearance in hishometown for the ceremonies.

As temps rise and gas pricesdrop a bit (two cents a gallon at thisvery moment), why not plan toenjoy the various cultures righthere at home? Attend a festival,grab a fishing rod, cook up somelocal fare – that’ll get you in thespirit! Then gather some friendsand travel to other sections of thestate to see how the locals there eatand live. You just might besurprised to find that even thoughwe’re all basically the same, it’sthose subtle differences that makeus all unique. Viva la Louisiane!!

Don’t just smile this month,laugh out loud – and let’s keep intouch.

MonaMona L. Hayden, [email protected](318) 547-1221

15 A Life of Trial…and Error by Dennis StewartLost in Louisiana

15 All Things Southern by Shellie TomlinsonFearless Fishing

INSPIRATIONAL19 Setting Priorities by Robert Lemoine

MONTHLY TIDBITS3 Talkin’ It Up!

16 Spikey: The Spikemeister by Deborah Burst19 Louisiana Lagniappe – Remember When21 Backtalk21 Louisiana Lagniappe Answers22 Bible Reading Marathonn22 May CalendarBack Cover Thank You Lee Estes

RECIPES6 Recipes by Stacy Thornton

ROAD TRIPS5 Travel Adventure by Dianne Newcomer

Adventure on the Amazon6 Gas Station Blues by Su Stella

11 Beds & Beignets by Mary WhiteCulture Blazes the Comeback Trail in NewOrleans

Visit our website: www.laroadtrips.com


Under fadingstars, Easter dawnedclear and cool.Morning birdsong

and praise song flowed through our churchprayer garden. Beyond the beauty of skylineand dew shine, there’s a story of new wineand life divine! Because of Easter, the heart ofour reality is always hope and joy!

In mid-February, spring stood poised onthe crest of splendor. By mid-March, bloomsequences hadformed waves ofcolor that werebreaking upon oursouthern landscapes~ maple, quince andcamellia ~ redbudand buckeye ~dogwood, azalea,mayhaw, fringe ~ wisteria and spirea. Nowhere in mid-April, the tide has receded asgreen calms settle on meadow’s blade, inwoodland glade.

Due to size constraints, manyhomeowners design their landscapes withonly one flowering season in mind. In spring,for example, mature flowering dogwoods andevergreen azaleas are a showstopper. But forthe rest of the year, landscapes often blendinto a monoscape of green leafy plants andlawn.

Some homeowners employ successionplanting in which plants with differentblooming maturities are scattered throughoutthe landscape to provide a season-longsequence of flowers. Some like springdaffodils or fall spider-lilies might be short-term. Most blooming trees fall into that once-a-year category. Try prolonging the show withseason-long bedding plants or shrubs. Whenpossible, select plants that say, “This is theSouth” and those that benefit local wildlife.

Remember those spring fragrances?Recall how they filled the air – from thewinter honeysuckle shrubs of February to thewisterias and banana shrubs of March to thehoneysuckles and jasmine of April. Extendthe scented season with summer’s ginger lilyand fall’s sweet autumn clematis. Put themupwind.

April showers brought more flowers.Traditional plants like St. Joseph’s lily (hardyamaryllis), Jacob’s Ladder (hardy gladiolus),daylilies, privet and spirea. Roadsidefamiliars such as blackberries, pink

buttercups and even more fleabanes andyellowtops. Showy bloomers like cannas,catalpa and those magnificent magnolias.Then there were the pollenific grasses,pecans and pines. Now the first ofsummer’s flowers have started blooming– red salvia and blue sage, cannas,chicory, lantana, larkspur, penstemon,spiderwort and of course thoseubiquitous roses

Besides the historic heat wave,many other things in naturewere early this year – bees,butterflies, dragonflies,flowering trees and shrubs,green leaves, mosquitoes, Junebugs in March, nesting birds,pecans – some by a week andsome by a month. In contrast,deer kept their antlers late! My

first hummer on March 21st wasn’tuntimely for north Louisiana butreported sightings from Canada just twodays later were weeks ahead of schedule!Swallowtails were premature though Ididn’t spot my first Monarch until Easterweekend. My sister in Michigan reportsthey are way ahead of previous years upthere too.

But early or late, I’m fascinated justobserving nature – cardinals, doves andswallows; chickadees, wrens andsparrows. And that doesn’t count thedueling mockers and furtive thrashersplus robins, orioles and jays – bathing,drinking and resting; chasing, courtingand nesting. Ever watch the spray of asplashing bird when backlit by alowering sun?

One cool misty morning, silveryspider webs lay scattered like silkendoilies atop the lawn, dark funnelsdescending into hidden lairs below.Above, highlighted by the rising sun,dew-spangled webs glistened likediamond-studded necklaces hanging inthe bushes.

Find time to enjoy your homescape.Open the curtains at dawn and watch assunrise creeps through trees and acrossthe lawn to light the day. Follow long-familiar garden paths – meander theshaded canopy of vaulted woods,welcome the close embrace of floweringshrubs, dream of “ice-cream castles”over meadowed grasses. Listen to a bird,

a cicada, a barking squirrel. Smell the earth, aflower, the wind. Touch a tree, a leaf, the sky.Look at the flight of a butterfly, a shimmeringdragonfly, a blinking firefly. Then at dusk, watchshadows swell to fill the night. Think of thenatural world and your place in it. Think aboutGoing Native.

A life-long resident of Lake Providence, Larry Brock wasinspired by his grandfather’s passion for gardening and his owndesire 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 hisyard most any time, weather permitting.

Enjoying YourHomescape

GOING NATIVE By Larry Brock

Open the curtainsat dawn and watch

as sunrise creepsthrough trees andacross the lawn to

light the day.

PUBLISHERLRT Publications

______________________

EDITORIAL DIRECTORMona L. Hayden

[email protected](318) 547-1221

OUR GUARDIAN ANGELDebbie Hamilton Pope

June 14, 1952-August 24, 2008

Louisiana Road Trips magazine is publishedmonthly to promote, inform, and entertain theresidents of Louisiana. It is distributed FREE;however, home delivery is available. This magazinewill reach approximately 61,000 individuals.

Submission of articles and photos are alwayswelcome but may be limited to availability of spaceand edited for content.

Copyright 2012 with all rights reserved. Reproductionof any material appearing within this publication isprohibited without written permission of the Publishers.The opinions expressed in Louisiana Road Tripsmagazine are those of the authors or columnists anddo not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,nor do they constitute an endorsement of products orservices herein. “Louisiana Road Trips” magazineretains the right to refuse any advertisement.

P. O. Box 2452West Monroe, LA 71294

(318) 547-1221

www.laroadtrips.com

ROAD TRIPS

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

Louisiana Road Trips – 4 – www.laroadtrips.comLouisiana Road Trips – 4 – www.laroadtrips.com

Adventure on the Amazonwho invited him along on a fishing tripdeep into the jungles of Brazil.

“Now, this wasn’t just a fishing trip,”smiled Frank, “it was my DREAM TRIP!Fishing for peacock bass…why, that issomething every fisherman dreams aboutdoing. To see the river, the rainforest, andall it holds was going to be exciting butwhat waited for me beneath thewater….now, that got my heart pumping!

Frank continues, “Over 15 years ago, Ipromised my wife that before I died wewould one day fish for the peacock bass.When Sidney asked me to join him for aweek of fishing the Amazon, I honestlydon’t know who was more excited, my wifeor me. Tammy knew what this trip meantto me; she had me packing and planningimmediately.

“For this trip to work, a lot had tohappen real fast. In a little over a week’stime, Monroe Travel Service pulled off atravel miracle and got me not only apassport but a Brazilian visa. My newpassport arrived on Wednesday, and we leftfor Manaus, Brazil, on Thursday!

“The Peacock Bass did not disappoint!I have never caught a fish that foughtharder, pound for pound, than this fish.Sometimes, it was still fighting long afteryou landed it in the boat,” said Mr. Pitarro,who caught his first 8 pounder within just afew minutes. He quickly admits hegot lucky because there’s definitelya learning curve involved. You fishfor this bass in the morning as theywake up early and hungry.

“Sid and I started out mainlyfly fishing, then casting, but whenwe discovered we could troll andstill catch peacock, we were inbusiness! Peacock bass are tough ontackle. We had to try all sorts oflures to sneak up on them. Itdoesn’t take long to learn that softbaits don’t work in the Amazon; thesharp scissor-like teeth of the

Piranhas nip them off tooeasily!

“Finding peacockbass is the hardest thing.You get so distracted byall the things going on inthe jungle that you forgetto listen for theirdistinctive splashingsound. When you hearthem, you figure out whatexcites them, then brace

yourself and get ready for battle. Thepeacock jumps, charges the boat, or headsfor cover as you struggle to keep the linetight. Your heart races as you sometimesjust hang on and let him swim until he getstired. That moment, when it’s just you andthe Peacock Bass, is unbelievable. Sidneytried to prepare me. He had told me whena peacock bass hits your bait and soundslike a shotgun going off in the middle ofthe jungle, and you better be ready becausethe next instant feels like a freight train hasgot a hold of your line.”

Listening to Frank tell stories andshow photos as he sat in my office mademe laugh. Check out the big smiles andtrophy catches – sure looks like a couplegood ole Louisiana boys living the dreamto me!

For exciting fishing…comfortablelodging…good guides…good food…choicedates…and an awesome adventure in theAmazon, call me at MONROE TRAVELSERVICE and let’s talk about your nextfishing adventure. At Monroe TravelService – 1908 Glenmar – we represent thetop outfitters, whether in the Amazon orAlaska, so you can trust us to show youthe best way.

TRAVEL ADVENTURE By Dianne Newcomer

Second only to theNile, the Amazon River isthe longest river in theworld. It starts as a tricklehigh in the snow cappedAndes Mountains andflows more than 4000 miles

through the South American continent. When itreaches Belem, Brazil, the point where it spills intothe Atlantic Ocean, the river is sometimes anunbelievable 200 to 300 miles across, depending onthe season, but even 1000 miles inland, this mightyriver can still be at least 7 miles wide!

For a little more shock and awe, consider this:in terms of sheer volume, the Amazon is also ratedas the largest river in the world, containing eleventimes the volume of the Mississippi! If I tell youthe Amazon holds one fifth of the earth’s freshwater, that sounds impressive, but when youunderstand the river’s daily discharge into theAtlantic is enough to supply all of New York City‘sfreshwater needs for 9 years, then, you have toadmit, that is mighty awesome!

This river is so powerful the force of thecurrent from sheer water volume alone pushes itswaters 125 miles out to sea before it ever mixeswith the Atlantic’s salt water, and so deep that, asa travel agent, I can sell you a cruise on a 70,000ton ocean liner that can sail into the interior ofBrazil for over 2300 miles. Yep, the Amazon Riveris the big enchilada! Not only is she massive, butwhen you consider her rainforest basin spansacross 1.7 billion acres of land and is home of morethan half the world’s estimated 10 million speciesof plants, animals and insects, it’s simply mindboggling! Not only does one in 10 animal speciesin the entire world live in the Amazonia, this riverhas over 2000 species of fish living in her waters.

For Frank Pitarro of West Monroe, how coulda journey deep into the heart of the Amazon not bean amazing adventure? To see, explore, andappreciate the wildlife treasures found in one of

the oldest continuousecosystems in theworld was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunityafforded him by hisfriend, Sidney Wilhite,


Sidney Wilhite of West Monroeshows off his Amazon River peacockbass catch of the day

Frank Pitarro is living thedream with this 16 poundpeacock bass caught in thejungles of the Amazon

My Most Favorite Strawberry Pie1 refrigerated pie shell or graham cracker crust8 oz cream cheese1/2 to 3/4 cup powdered sugar8 oz whipped topping2 to 3 cups sliced fresh Louisiana strawberries

Prepare pie shell in deep dish pie plate asdirected on package. Beat cream cheese and

sugar until creamy and smooth. Add whipped topping and fold instrawberries. Pour into pie shells and refrigerate at least one hour.Garnish with sliced strawberries.

by Stacy ThorntonRECIPESBasic Baby Back Ribs

RUB:1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 tbsp chili powder1 tbsp ground black pepper 2 tbsp kosher salt2 racks baby back ribs (1 1/2 to 2 lbs each)

Remove membrane from ribs. Wash and dry. Combine ingredients andrub into both sides. If you refrigerated ribs, allow them to sit out about20 minutes to become room temperature before grilling. Place ribs inpan and cover with foil. Grill about 2 to 4 hours over a low heat. Turnribs after about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. (I add a small amount of cola to thebottom of pan for moisture while grilling.)

Cheesy Asparagus Pie1½ lbs asparagus 8 oz. Colby Monterey Jack cheese1 pie crust 1 large sweet onion 1½ cups half-and-half 2 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 large eggs ¼ tsp salt and pepper, each

Trim asparagus removing ends. Place in large sauce pan and coverwith water. Cover and bring to a boil, then cook covered for 30seconds and drain. Plunge asparagus in ice cold water to stop cooking.Set aside 9 spears for topping and coarsely chop the remaining spears.Place pie crust in an 11-inch tart pan and bake for 12 minutes at 425degrees. Melt butter in skillet, add onions, and sauté for 5 minutes.Brush bottom and sides of pie crust with mustard. Sprinkle with halfof cheese, chopped asparagus, onion, and remaining cheese. Arrangereserved asparagus on top of cheese. Whish half-and-half, eggs, andsalt/pepper and pour over asparagus. Bake at 375 degrees for 25minutes or until golden. Let stand for 15 minutes.


Strawberry Spinach SaladSALAD: 8 oz fresh baby spinach leaves 1 pint strawberries, sliced1/4 cup toasted almonds 1/4 cup sliced green onions

DRESSING:1/2 cup sugar2 tbsp. sesame seeds 1 tbsp. poppy seeds1 1/2 tsp. minced onion 1/4 tsp. paprika1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup cider vinegar1/2 cup oil

Toss all salad ingredients together. Place the first 7 dressingingredients in blender and blend while slowly pouring in oil. Drizzlesalad dressing over salad. Sprinkle with toasted almonds. Can alsoadd grilled chicken for a complete meal.

Gas Station BluesBy Su Stella

Let’s face it. We allgot it… the blues, the “gasguzzler what about myvacation blues”. Maybethat exotic voyage gets

postponed but that doesn’t mean you have totrudge over to the local bar and drown yoursorrows. Instead, drive over the border andexperience the ‘Mississippi Blues Trail’. Doyou know that the blues is the only originalform of music that is American made, born ofAfrican spiritual songs and gospel music?And from that sprang rock and roll fromMississippi-born Elvis Presley.

Whether you begin your journeycrossing the Mississippi River in Louisiana orstart in Memphis, there are so many venuesto experience music. Plan your trip byvisiting www.msbluestrail.org. The BluesTrail is a series of information signs alongroadsides, in the cotton fields, outside ofchurches, clubs and at the home sites of themen and women who made musical

contributions throughout the state. InLouisiana, FERRIDAY is a designatedlocation along the trail!

From Clarksdale, most of us have heardthe legend that famous blues man RobertJohnson sold his soul at the crossroads of 61and 49 to play the guitar and make music,and now you too can stand in this spot.While you’re there the Delta Blues Museumis a must see! Just down the street is theGround Zero Blues Club to hear live music.It’s really impressive knowing that MuddyWaters, John Lee Hooker, Son House, IkeTurner, Jackie Brenston, Sam Cooke, JuniorParker, and W. C. Handy were all born andraised in and around Clarksdale.

If you’re lucky enough to vacation in June,don’t miss the free Highway 61 Blues Festival(www.highway61blues.com). Every June, B.B.King has a free concert in his hometown. IfAugust is your vacation month, visitClarksdale’s Sunflower River Blues andGospel Festival.

A quirky little spot to stop for a bite toeat is the “Hollywood” Café (not casino),tucked away on the old Highway 61 inRobinsonville. The Hollywood is the originalhome of the fried pickle. For those who knowthe song Walkin’ in Memphis by Marc Cohn –remember the lyrics “Now Muriel plays pianoevery Friday at the Hollywood”. This is thatplace.

Elvis Presley’s birthplace, Highway 61Blues Museum, Howlin’ Wolf Museum, Rockand Roll Blues Heritage Museum, Ole MissBlues Archive, Stax Records, Sun Studio, BealStreet, the list goes on of places to go and seein and around Mississippi and MemphisTennessee.

You probably won’t get to visit theentire trail unless you are on permanentvacation. But if you’re wanting a really funand educational vacation, map out yourroute, pack your cooler, and hit the road.Even with gas prices up, you can get downand dance away your troubles.


Aw Shucks – It’s the LA Corn Festival!Bunkie will celebrate the

26th Annual Corn Festival on June8 – 10, 2012. This festival wasstarted by the Bunkie Chamber ofCommerce in 1987 to promote thecity and honor the impact thatagriculture has had on their

economy. A Corn Farmer is alsohonored each year. This three dayfestival has something foreveryone that you’ll surely enjoy.

Opening ceremonies are onFriday at 5pm when the largecarnival, food booths and arts &

craft booths open for business.There will be live bands eachnight with a street dance, games,contests, city wide parade, corncooking contest, and lizard races!On Sunday, enjoy the TalentContest where the Corn Silk

Singer is selected. The CornFestival has no gate fee and thereare ‘pay one price’ bracelets forthe carnival each day. Just followthe rows of corn down to Bunkiewhere you are sure to have ashucking good time!

Contraband Days, Louisiana Pirate FestivalMay 1-13

Back for its 55th year and better than ever,pirate festival lovers will be saying “Shiver metimbers!” at the new look of the festival. Withhard work from supporters, the festival featuresa new logo, website and brand emphasizing thetradition, folklore and culture of the festival andSouthwest Louisiana.

Unique to Lake Charles, the annualfestival celebrates the legend of pirate JeanLafitte. The story goes that pirate JeanLafitte docked his boat right on the sandyshore of Lake Charles and buried histreasure somewhere along its banks. On thefirst night, witness the cannon fire as thecitizens of Lake Charles try to defend theseawall only to have the pirates capture themayor, put him on trial and force him towalk the plank!

Pirates of all ages are encouraged tocome out during the two-week long festivalwith carnival rides, games, entertainmentand live music on multiple stages!Contraband Days presents Josh Turner'sCracker Barrel Old Country Store Toursponsored by Isle of Capri, other performersinclude Disney’s Shake It Up star AdamTrent, America’s Got Talent finalist RyanAndreas, The Voice finalist BeverlyMcClellan and many more! The festival haspulled out all the stops this year with non-stop music, events and activities for the

whole family. You won't want to miss out on allthe events!

The festival closes with a spectacularfireworks display over beautiful Lake Charles.With activities throughout the day and specialfamily nights the whole family will be saying,

“Yo Ho Ho” by the end of this festival! For the latest updated schedule of events

for Contraband Days, visitwww.contrabanddays.com, or call the festivaloffice at (337) 436-5508.


2nd Annual Morehouse Parish LRCA RodeoThe Rockin J Rodeo Company,

headquartered in Ivan, LA, will provide stockfor the rodeo, sanctioned by the LouisianaRodeo Cowboys Association. The awardwinning Rockin J has been named theProducer of the Year for the LRCA seventimes, most recently in 2011. They were alsoawarded the Bareback Horse of the Year, theSaddle Bronc Horse of the Year, and theBucking Bull of the Year for the LRCA 2011season, and have won these awards numeroustimes in the past. The company is owned andoperated by J.E. Jorden and his son Johnny,who both also serve as the rodeo pick-up men.Johnny’s mother, Susan, is the rodeo secretary.

Fans can enjoy the eight sanctionedevents: Bareback Bronc Riding, Saddle BroncRiding, Wild Bull Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Calf Roping, Cowgirl’s Breakaway

Roping, Team Roping, and Cowgirl’s BarrelRacing. There will also be a calf scramble forkids and a hometown barrel race. Contestantscan enter the LRCA rodeo by calling 1-800-54-RODEO on Monday, May 7th from 4-10pmand on Tuesday, May 8th from 10am-12pm.

See Rodeo comedian/clown Al Bryan ofWinnsboro; announcer Eric Simmons fromSpringhill; and bullfighters Dillon Bruce ofFort Worth and Justin Whitlock of Shongaloo.

Jorden says, “We’ll be bringing most ofthe personnel and livestock from the LRCAFinals last year to this event. We’re excitedabout bringing an entertaining and verycompetitive rodeo to Bastrop and having thehonor to work with all of the good menassociated with the MAC.”

The LRCA, in its 48th year, was formedfor working cowboys and cowgirls and its

members have weekday jobs and rodeo on theweekends. The contestants will be competingfor prize money as well as points that willcarry them to the LRCA Finals. The 48thAnnual Silver Spur Tack, Feed, And WesternWear LRCA Finals will return to the MAC onNov 9-10, 2012.

Billy Nickerson, LRCA President, said,“The association is proud to return to Bastropfor our 2012 finals. The people of Bastropwelcomed us, the MAC is an outstandingfacility, and the staff at the Mac were reallyeasy to work with and extremelyaccommodating. All this, along with our manysponsors and spectators, helped us end ouryear very successfully, and I am confident thatthis spring rodeo will be a great success aswell.”

2012 MayfestThe Vernon Parish Tourism Commission will hold the 36th annual

MayFest Arts & Crafts Festival in the Downtown Leesville HistoricDistrict on May 4th & 5th. Vendors come from all over the state to selltheir unique wares in the arts & crafts booths; food vendors will havehome-made treats to tempt your taste buds; and there'll be live musicthroughout the two-day event. Best of all, there's no charge foradmission, so bring your lawn chair and join us on the courthouselawn. Stay as long as you like -- you don't want to miss a thing.

Friday night will feature Henry Reggans and the Sidemen, aregional Louisiana favorite. Saturday will be full of fun with a varietyof music throughout the day. The weekend will wrap up on Saturdaynight as the crowd enjoys music, beer, and crawfish on the street.

Saturday kicks off with the AUSA's annual ArmadilloStampede, a 5-K fun run and walk. One of the features this year isthe Butterfly Kingdom, an interactive live butterfly experience, sure to be a hit with children of all ages. There will be interactive arts experiencesfor children, demonstrating artists, and a gospel music stage.

MayFest is sponsored by the Vernon Parish Tourism Commission, and is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation,and Tourism. For more information, please call the Vernon Tourism Commission at (337) 238-0783 or check our website at www.venturevernon.com

Louisiana In The Civil WarMay 1862: Rule of the BeastBy Terry Jones

After Flag OfficerDavid Farragutcaptured New Orleans

in late April 1862, Major General Benjamin F.Butler occupied the city with approximately10,000 Union soldiers.

Ben Butler (1818-1893) was born in NewHampshire but grew up in Massachusetts.Becoming active in Democratic Party politics,he was elected to the state legislature andsenate, and served as a delegate to the 1860Democratic National Convention. There,Butler voted fifty-seven times to nominateJefferson Davis for president because hebelieved only a Southern moderate could keepthe party from splitting.

Butler was appointed a general in theMassachusetts militia, but he did not look thepart of a dashing officer. One man whonoticed the general smiled a lot when hetalked declared, “[H]e seemed less like amajor general than like a politician who wascoaxing for votes.” Butler, however, becamepopular with his men and influentialpoliticians because he worked tirelessly anddid not coddle the Rebels. After Butler helpedsecure Maryland for the Union, PresidentLincoln appointed him the Union’s first majorgeneral of volunteers because he neededDemocratic support for the war effort. Sincemilitary rank was based on seniority, thismade Butler the Union army’s highest rankingvolunteer general.

Immediately after Butler took commandof New Orleans, the city’s civilians began toharass and insult his soldiers. Only a few days

after Butler arrived, William Mumford led agroup of men in tearing down the U.S. flagfrom the Mint building and ripping it toshreds. Women, in particular, began cursingthe soldiers, spitting on their uniforms, andeven emptying chamber pots on their headsfrom bedroom windows.

Butler felt compelled to take drasticaction to stop the abuse. He hanged Mumfordfor tearing up the flag, censored newspapers,and arrested people and confiscated theirproperty if they showed support for theConfederacy. When one newspaper editorquestioned his right to impose censorship,Butler roared, “I am the military Governor ofthis State—the Supreme Power—you cannotdisregard my order, Sir. By God, he that sinsagainst me, sins against the Holy Ghost.”

Butler’s apparent involvement incorruption did nothing to endear him to theNew Orleans people. Rumors of bribery, vice,and other misdeeds were wide spread. Manypeople even falsely accused the general ofstealing silverware from abandoned housesand gave him the nickname “Spoons.” Evenforeign diplomats viewed Butler withsuspicion. One Englishman described him as a“cunning trickster . . . a sort of compromisebetween the proud, semi-sanctified autocratand the depraved sot.”

All of Butler’s actions paled incomparison with his infamous General OrdersNo. 28. Better known as the “Woman’s Order,”it permitted soldiers to treat an insultingwoman as a “woman of the town plying hervocation.” The order to treat offending women

as prostitutes didnot have any sexualimplications; itsimply meant asoldier was notobliged to treatthem as ladies. Ifthe woman cursedhim, he could curseher back; if she spitat him, he could spitback. However, totreat a lady in sucha manner duringthe Civil War was unthinkable.

The Woman’s Order successfullystopped the insults because few self-respecting women would put themselves in asituation to be treated unladylike. Afterward,one Union soldier claimed, “[T]he citizenshave dropped their surly air, and show awillingness to talk civilly if not cordially.” Butthe order also created a storm of controversy.The Louisiana Tigers unsuccessfully soughtpermission to return home from Virginia toprotect their women. Many Northerners andEuropean diplomats felt it overstepped thebounds of civilized warfare and complainedto President Lincoln. The ConfederateCongress even branded Butler a war criminaland ordered Southern soldiers to hang him ifhe ever was captured. Butler became knownas the “Beast,” and the New Orleans blackmarket sold chamber pots with his picturepasted to the bottom.

Butler’s actions in New Orleans becameso controversial that President Lincolnwas compelled to relieve him fromcommand in December 1862, but thegeneral had too much political clout tobe dismissed from the service. For thenext two years, he bungled his wayfrom one assignment to another untilGeneral U.S. Grant finally sent himhome near war’s end.

Butler returned to Congress andserved as a prosecutor in theimpeachment trial of PresidentAndrew Johnson. After severalunsuccessful attempts, he waselected Massachusetts’ governor in1882, and he was the unsuccessfulGreenback Party’s presidentialcandidate in 1884.

Dr. Terry L. Jones is a professor of history at theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe and haspublished six books on the American Civil War.

Ben Butler



Hurricane Katrina left its mark on Mid-City. The area located halfway between theMississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain wassubmerged under10 feet of water bythe devastatingstorm. Asresidents beganthe enormouseffort to rebuildtheir lives, theMotherShipFoundation, anon-profitorganizationdedicated topreserving theartistic andmusical culture ofthe Big Easy,launched the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo festivalto bring the healing touch of music andentertainment into their lives. Now in itsseventh year, the free-admission event, whichruns May 18th – 20th, is expected to attractthousands looking to experience the localflavors.

Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo takes placealong the banks of the beautiful Bayou of St.John which used to be known as “the backdoor to New Orleans.” Boaters could travelwithin a mile of New Orleans’ business sectionfrom Lake Pontchartrain via the bayou andtake public transportation the rest of the way.

Three stages of live music includingblues, funk, jazz, Cajun, Zydeco, Latin, brassand country will get toes tapping throughoutthe entire weekend. Local artisans willshowcase their paintings, handmade jewelry,photography, glass work and more at TheBoogaloo Art Market. On Saturday, the 3rdAnnual Zulu Anniversary Run to Ride 5k willbe held, while on Sunday the Rubber DuckyDerby will see thousands of duckies droppedinto the Bayou St. John with one lucky winnergetting a grand prize. Foodies will find aseemingly endless display of delicious localcuisine from the region including meat pies,po-boys, crawfish and jambalaya.

While Mid-City was hard hit by Katrina,the area sitting closest to the Mississippi River

on what is known as the “Sliver by the River,”which includes the Bywater, was spared.Because of its higher elevation, the

neighborhood escaped major floodingbut saw the arrival of people lookingfor safety and shelter. This was nothingnew; Bywater’s population alreadyhad begun to boom with an influx ofartists, musicians and writers pricedout of the popular French Quarter anddrawn to its affordability, eclecticcommunity and architecture splendor.

From cozy shotgun houses to grandItalianate mansions, the BohemianBywater is a design goldmine. Maisonde Macarty(www.BnBFinder.com/MaisonMacarty),a majestic Victorian home built in the1860s, is located in the heart of the

Bywater National Historic District. Formerlypart of the Louis Barthelemy, Chevalier deMacarty plantation, it was converted into a bedand breakfast 30 years ago by John Marr,according to current proprietor Kurt Goodman.After spending years under differentownership, Goodman purchased it in January.Now he hopes Maison de Macarty will be partof Bywater’s next bloom. “I’ve always stayed atB&Bs and wanted to own one,” said theGoodman. “Now, as a business owner, it’sexciting to be part of helping a neighborhoodcome back.”

Maison de Macarty features 5 guestrooms in the main house, 2 private cottages, amineral water swimming pool and a privatecourtyard lined with Crepe Myrtle trees. Eco-friendly technologies and practices such aswater conservation, the installation of energy-efficient appliances, composting and the useof solar energy have been incorporated. Theinn is listed on the National Register ofHistoric Places.Mary White is the author of “Running a Bed &Breakfast For Dummies” and an avid B&B goer. She hasstayed at bed and breakfasts all over the world andparticularly loves the inns of Louisiana. In 1998, Maryfounded BnBFinder.com, a top on-line bed and breakfastdirectory that lists thousands of B&Bs, inns, andboutique hotels worldwide.

Culture Blazes theComeback Trail inNew Orleans

BEDS & BEIGNETS By Mary White


Another Stalwart in LA Aviation– C. B. McMahanRodeo Performer, Cross Country Air Racer,Pioneer of Aerial Pipeline PatrollingBy Lee Estes

Clair B. "Mac" McMahan grew up on aranch in Montana, a place which still holds tosome of the romantic customs of the old westand the legendary cowboys it personified.During the earliest years of the 20th century,Mac took part in roundups, branding parties,and when old enough, competed in the localrodeos.

During World War I,Mac, along with many othersfound himself a part of themilitary. He was selected tojoin the fledgling U. S. ArmyAir Forces and learned to flyan airplane, an activity whichwould define his career, andwhat a career it was!

Within the next few yearsMac did what many veteranfliers did, barnstormed around the countryoffering plane rides to the local populace thatincluded aerobatics. He then participated incross country air races with some success beforejoining American Airways, forerunner toAmerican Airlines. Along the way he landed inSt. Louis, home to some of the most famousaviators in history, Charles Lindbergh andJimmy Doolittle among them. There is aclipping from the St. Louis Post Dispatch in theChennault Aviation and Military Museum inMonroe which pictures members of the St.Louis Airport Board including both JimmyDoolittle and C. B. McMahan.

In 1931, Mississippi River FuelCorporation, operators of a natural gaspipeline between St. Louis and Monroe, LA,approached Mac about the possibility ofinspecting their pipeline from the air. A dealwas struck and that was the beginning of anindustry with C. B. McMahan being theperson most responsible. I heard of a pilot inCincinnati named Harry Weimer flying somesmall aerial Patrol earlier, but Mac was thefirst to do it as a major flying business. Theairplane Mac flew on the Mississippi RiverFuel system in the beginning was a CurtissRobin, a high wing monoplane powered witha Curtiss-Wright Challenger engine. At thatpoint in time communications were primitiveand information would be passed to theground using written notes dropped from theplane. Also, weather reporting was notreliable with the best information beingdetermined by a look out the window.Around 1934 or 1935 the Robin was replacedwith a smaller and faster aircraft, a Lambertpowered Monocoupe. It may be of interest to

know that Charles Lindbergh also owned aMonocoupe and that aircraft is on display inthe terminal at Lambert Field in St. Louis. Ittook up to 20 flying hours per week to patrolthe Mississippi River Fuel system and theMonocoupe performed well, so well in fact,that when it was replaced some years later its

total flying time exceeded any Monocoupe inthe world.

The replacement aircraftwas a Fairchild 24R, like itspredecessors, a high wingmonoplane, but bigger andwith almost twice thehorsepower of theMonocoupe. This machinewould be operated until theend of World War II in 1945. Itwas during the war years thatthe first "Big Inch" pipelineswould be built to carrypetroleum from Texas to theeast coast to eliminate usingtankers, an easy prey forGerman U Boats prowlingalong our east coast and in theGulf of Mexico. Thosepipelines were owned by thegovernment and sold as surplusafter the war to a newly formed company,Texas Eastern Transmission Co. Texas Easternconverted the pipelines to carry natural gas tothe east coast. They also needed someone topatrol the lines and C. B. McMahan got thecontract. Now, instead of one major pipelinebetween Monroe and St. Louis using one pilotand airplane, there were thousands of miles tobe flown from Texas to the east coast. Inaddition, a contract to fly a short Louisianapipeline added to the work load. From hereMac turned to another St. Louis airman,Harry Homeyer, for help and looked forsuitable aircraft for the task. He solved theaircraft problem with Stinson 108's, a fourplace, high wing monoplane offered to the

flying public shortly after World War II.During this period Mac and Harry flew theentire MRF and TETCO systems, a supremeeffort requiring them to fly as much as 55 to60 hours per week.

At the same time there was a flurry ofpipeline building between the Gulf Coast and

New England with TexasEastern among the leaders.New pipelines require watertesting with aircraftsurveillance prior to goinginto service. All of thisbusiness resulted in hiringmore pilots and buying moreairplanes. At mid century C.B. McMahan Aerial Pipeline

Patrols was flying fromMcAllen, Texas to New

Bedford, MA using about ten pilots andairplanes. All of the airplanes were Stinson

108's powered by Franklin engines. One pilotwas stationed in Waynesburg, PA and theothers in Monroe, LA. With the newerpipelines taking a direct route to the east coastthrough Tennessee and Kentucky, a pilotwould fly north to Waynesburg on the newerlines and back along the original big inch. InWaynesburg he would swap airplanes and theother pilot who would fly the lines to NewBedford and back. At the same time anotherpilot would fly the system to McAllen. Thisallowed all the airplanes to be back in Monroefor whatever maintenance was required.

I was working at a small airport inKentucky during the early 1950's when I first

C. B. McMahan and Harry Homeyer, Both legendary aviators wholived in and flew from Monroe at mid 20th century.

C. B. McMahan's fleet of Stinson Aircraft he used to patrol natural gas pipelines.McMahan was the leading pipeline patrol operator in the United States in the 1960's.

continued on next page > > >


encountered a C. B. McMahan pilot who stopped for gas. This was aconvenient stop since the Texas Eastern Pipeline was hardly a mileaway. They stopped at our place regularly and in late 1955 one of thepilots told me Mac was looking for a mechanic to take care of his fleetof aircraft. The person who had been maintaining them had takenanother job. I called Mac and from theconversation felt comfortable enoughto make the trip to Louisiana andinvestigate. I started work for Mac inlate January 1956 and have lived inMonroe ever since. During my twelveyears of employment with C. B.McMahan we established a reputationas the most knowledgeable operatorsof Stinson 108's and Franklin engines in theUnited States. The Stinson’s were also piling upthousands of hours and were far and away thehighest time aircraft of their kind anywhere.This fact, and the scarcity of parts forced agradual replacement of the Stinson’s withCessna airplanes. When I left McMahan towork for Olinkraft the Cessna's wereperforming well and like their predecessors,piling up thousands of hours. Mac no longerflew actively, but Harry Homeyer was still

making the run between Monroe and St. Louis. Space does not allow me to tell you many other facets of Mac's

career, and I can't finish without advising you of Henry Hinkle, anotherMonroyan who flew the Tennessee Gas Trans-mission Lines for years.

C. B. McMahan passed away around the age of 87 and his heirscontinued a presence on the Monroe airport until 1998.

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 makingphotographs in Europe after WWII and ranked among the leading monochromeexhibition photographers in the U.S. during the 80’s. His extensive travelsincluded leading tours across the globe. Lee has authored threephoto/documentary books and is currently involved with the documentation ofThe Dixie Overland Highway (US80) in Louisiana, funded by a grant from theLouisiana Endowment for the Humanities

Another Stalwart in LA Aviation – C. B. McMahan continued

Frog parking only – all others will be toadHave you ever

wondered what aparaprosdokian is? Ofcourse you haven't.You've probably nevereven heard the word.First time I read the

word, I not only didn't know what it was, Icouldn't pronounce it. However, that's notunusual. I have trouble pronouncingEntrepreneur and it's probably the current most

overused word in the English language.Everybody is one, wants to be one or knowssomebody who is one.

If you look up paraprosdokian, you'll findsuch examples as…Going to church doesn't makeyou a Christian any more than standing in a garagemakes you a car; If I agreed with you, we'd both bewrong, and Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

There's a possibility these examples stilldon't clarify one of the most playful things inour English language. By the way, we really do

have many fun things once we stop moaningand groaning about the boring hours spent inclassrooms diagramming sentences and figuringout the difference between lie and lay. In thatinstance, always remember sleeping dogs don'tlay, but hens do. Personally––getting off trackmomentarily––I've always wondered what's thedifference between everyone and everybody.What about affect and effect? To affect

Evening news iswhere they begin

with "Good evening"and then proceed to

tell you why it isn't.

RUNNIN’ THE ROADS By Barbara Sharik

continued on next page > > >


Two Little Orphan Girls of MonroeBy Lora Peppers

A few yearsago, while goingthrough some oldRichland Parishnewspapers, I

stumbled across this article about twolittle orphans in Monroe – a fascinatingread on how society treated its mostvulnerable citizens at the turn of thecentury. I found no further informationon the girls, not even their names. A W.L.Pearson married Annie Screws inOuachita Parish December 24, 1883 but itis not known if they are the children’sparents. We can only hope and wonder ifthe little girls made it.

Richland Beacon News, Saturday,January 19, 1895, Page 1, Column 7

TWO LITTLE GIRLSRescued in Monroe From a

Possible Life of Infamy.There are not a great many people in

Monroe who are aware of the fact thatthere is a society here for the preventionof cruelty to children. It is a fact, however,and an incident yesterday shows that it iscapable of doing good work.

Mr. D.M. Sholars is the president.Some time ago his attention was calied[sic] to the fact that a woman by thename of Anna Pierson, better known as“Anna Joe,” and who was not leading aproper life, had living with her two little

girls. Mr. Sholars told her at the time that heproposed to take the children and put them inan asylum where they would receive propercare and be brought up with goodsurrounding. She plead so hard that upon herrepresentation that she had got a position witha boarding house in Five Points, he agreed toallow her to keep the young ones.

Several days ago he learned that Mrs.Pierson had moved to a house back of Young’sbayou and that she had broken her promisesof reformation and that the children wererunning wild about the city. Yesterday heasked Mr. Chas. Schulze, the vice-president ofthe society, to go out and investigate the case.

Mr. Schulze had considerable difficulty inlocating the place. Finally he asked Mr. H.P.Hughes to direct him and was surprised tolearn that “Anna Joe” had died on Mondayand been buried yesterday. Furtherinvestigation showed that before her deathMrs. Pierson had asked a woman namedMollie Simpson to care for the children. Thereputation of this woman is none of the best.

Just before reaching Mollie’s house Mr.Schulze saw a buggy standing in front of thedoor. There he met Miss Lena Barclay, who isthe president of the Lilliputian society, incompany with Miss Eva Parker and AlexMitchell, Jr., who are pupils in the city schooland also members of the society. She was askedto go there by Mayor Aby, who had heard ofthe case and who got her a horse and buggy.

Mollie Simpson at first refused to give up thechildren, saying that they had been given her byAnna Joe, and she intended to keep them. She wastold she was not able to care for them and that theywould be given a good home and educated. Butshe persisted and the children clung about he[r].The younger child finally consented to go, whilethe older one escaped and hid under the house.

Both were finally got into the buggy, thoughthe woman still threatened that she would invokethe aid of the law in regaining their possession.The party drove to the residence of Rev. H.L.Fitch, where the children now are. Mr. Fitch willkeep them, if they have no relations, until he canhear from New Orleans, when he will send themto that city and have them placed in St. Mary’sEpiscopal Orphan Asylum.

A peculiar thing about the two girls, one ofwhom is only seven years old and the other ten, isthat they both use snuff. They were fast becomingprofessional beggars, being sent out in all sorts ofweather to get money for their mother, withwhich she bought laudanum and snuff. MollieSimpson has a girl of her own and it is likely thesociety will take her in charge. – Monroe News.

Lora Peppers, a Monroe native, grew up in Bastrop andgraduated from ULM. Her love of history dates back tochildhood when one of her favorite activities was visitinglocal cemeteries to examine headstones. She also loves totravel, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park being herfavorite place on Earth. Her job as a genealogist and historianhas given her the opportunity to lead many lectures andauthor several books. She can be reached by e-mail [email protected].

Running the Roads continued

something means to influence it while to effect is a result and means tomake it happen.

There’s a world of difference between affluent and effluent. If you'reaffluent, you're wealthy while effluent is waste discharge. Waste dischargereminds me of sewage and sewerage. Sewage is waste; sewerage is the systemof pipes that carry that effluent, aka waste, to its end destination.

Now, back to Paraprosdokian. To quote one source, it's "a figure of speechin which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in away that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or re-interpret the first part."That explanation is almost as long as the word itself. Long or short, it's a goodthing somebody knows what it is because it's not in my Oxford Dictionarywith 187,000 definitions, nor my Webster's Unabridged Deluxe Edition with320,000 definitions. However, it's on the Internet. Everything's on the Internet.And accordingly, the definition is quite simply a sentence with two parts––thefirst part is a figure of speech while the second part is an "intriguing variationof the first."

Unbeknownst, you've likely heard paraprosdokians used by satirists andhumorists. If you're like me, you simply thought they were witty jokes. Someexamples: I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to bedevoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot.Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in yourfruit salad. Evening news is where they begin with "Good evening" and thenproceed to tell you why it isn't. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; tosteal from many is research. How is it one careless match can start a forest fire,

but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?Hospitality is making your guests feel at home,even if you wish they were.

Sound familiar? Let these tickle your funnybone: Why do Americans choose from just twopeople to run for president and 50 for Miss America?I had the cab driver drive me here backwards, andthe dude owed me $37.50. Always borrow moneyfrom a pessimist; he won't expect it back. The carstopped on a dime which unfortunately was in thepedestrian's pocket. Why does someone believe youwhen you say there are four-billion stars, but has tocheck when you say the paint is wet?

Finally, although there are hundreds more, I end with four of myfavorites: Two guys walked into a bar; the third one ducked. When tempted tofight fire with fire, remember the Fire Department usually uses water. Youdon't need a parachute to sky dive; you only need a parachute to skydivetwice, and I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather; notscreaming and yelling like the passenger in his car.

I hope I made you laugh until you cried.Barbara Sharik makes her home at Wit's End in Jones, Louisiana with a couple old dogs,young dogs and several stupid dogs, a cat, a talking cockatiel and a white dove. She's activein civic affairs, serves as a Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public, is the Clerk for the Villageof Bonita and a columnist for the Bastrop Daily Enterprise. She has authored several books.You can e-mail Barbara at [email protected]


Hello folks, let’schat…I want to talkcatfish grabbing, thesport also known as“noodling”. Catfishgrabbers have been a

kinda secretive group in the past as this type ofhand fishing is controversial and generallyillegal. But several years ago the brave folks ofNoodlers Anonymous in Missouri came out andlobbied their state legislature. Missourians cannow jump into lakes or rivers, stick their handsinto cold, dark places and hope monster-sized

But I digress…I’m not interested innoodling myself. It sounds like a badgame of Hokey Pokey, “Put your righthand in, pull your right nub out, countyour missing fingers and shake it allabout…” But I am interested inprotecting the rights of my fellowAmericans. I say: if someone wants tohold their breath underwater, whileattempting to pull a big Catdaddy from ahollow log fully aware they could comeup with an irritated water moccasin orsnapping turtle instead, well, they shouldbe able to. This is still the land of the free!I just have one suggestion. Noodlingsounds like a bunch of pasta fans. Y'allhave yourselves an extreme sport there.You need an extreme name…like,ummmm, Fearless Fishing! Now, that’scatchy…

~Hugs, Shellie

Fearless FishingALL THINGS SOUTHERN By Shellie Tomlinson

catfish will swallow their arms so they canwrestle the cats to the surface— and they cando it all without fear of prosecution. Which isinteresting, the fear of prosecution part….If Iwas noodling, I’m not sure prosecution wouldregister on my fear list.

You can’t learn catfish grabbing thrumagazines or fishing shows. It’s a way of lifepassed from father to son (and mothers todaughters)! Those opposed to noodling areafraid legalizing it will encourage more peopleto try the sport. Probably not…

I actually participated in a form of catfishgrabbing as a kid. My sisters and I loved tohelp a family friend named Tez check hiscatfish lines on Lake Saint John. We’d stick ourarms up to our armpits into these big blackpipes sunk below the murky water. Tez paid usa quarter for every catfish we came up with.You don’t have enough money to get me to dothat today.

All Things Southern“Bringing you the charm and heritage of the South…”ph 318-559-0319 • cell [email protected]

Lost in Louisiana"There is no joy in

hanging a man whodoes not resist it."George Bernard Shawwrote that nearly ahundred years ago.

I thought about that early one morningnear twenty years ago as my fishing guide and Imotored slowly in the dark, feeling our waydown a sleepy bayou, headed to a marsh insouthern Louisiana. It was nearly an hour beforedaylight. Lights were coming on inthe kitchens of fishing camps alongthe bayou; you could smell the coffeebrewing. The water stretched out flatbefore us without a ripple in themoonlight.

Sandy, my Cajun guide, reached into an icechest and said to me, "Are you ready for one?"I had no idea what he meant, but I was up foranything. "Yep," I replied. He tossed me a can ofBudweiser. Breakfast of champions, here on thebayou. That one tasted so good, I had anotherone for dessert.

We made it to the marsh. Sandy baited myhooks. We were fishing for snapper and somekind of speckled trout as best I can remember.We were using tandem hooks, meaning the end

of the fishing line actually split and there were twoseparate hooks attached. Seemed a little optimisticto a natural born pessimist. Catch two fish at thesame time? Hmmm…

Daylight came. Sandy had his own rod outand directed me where to throw my line. The fishstarted biting immediately. I reeled my first onein. It was a keeper. We continued to fish. I caughtmy first double, two fish at the same time! Then Icaught another double. This was fishing!

It was hard for me to keep up with Sandy. Hewas in his early 20's and I was inmy late 30's. I had gotten a muchlater start than him. I recalledmy first beer, thrown to me as Irode around Lake Bruin in theback seat of a friend's car in the

tenth grade. It was a Schlitz. Tasted awful. But Imanaged to develop a taste for Schlitz withinabout a month. I turned pro in college, where youare supposed to acquire a variety of tastes for theclassics. I learned to like those little Miller ponies,as well as Budweiser. It all came from the samehorse.

By 9am, I couldn't be sure if I was reallycatching doubles, or merely imagining two fish atthe end of the line. We headed back to the fishingcamp. Took about an hour. It was not a tidy place.

A LIFE OF TRIAL…AND ERROR By Dennis Stewart

Breakfast ofchampions, here

on the bayou.

The bed sheets probably hadn't beenchanged for a couple of months. I didn'tcare. I went to sleep.

Sandy woke me up in the middle ofthe afternoon. Time to go fishing again. Myvision had cleared. I no longer had to keepone foot hanging off the bed and touchingthe floor to keep the ceiling from spinning.We headed down the bayou. Sandy lookedat me and said, "Are you ready?" Sure.How often do you get the chance to getdrunk twice in the same day?

I thought about the Perfect Woman.I had met her several years earlier.Among the many faults she found in mewas my tendency to glorify alcohol. Hertendency to find faults in me did notkeep her from being the Perfect Woman.You only go around once in life. Got tograb all the gusto you can. I thinkGeorge Bernard Shaw might havewritten that, too.Dennis Stewart grew up in northeast Louisiana,graduated from La Tech and LSU Law School.After having taught law at ULM and working asan Assistant District Attorney, Dennis is now aHearing Officer in Rayville. He loves to hunt,fish, read, write, and shop on eBay.


The Spikemeister A canine tale of Romeo and Juliet By Deborah Burst

Maybe it was hisstrawberry blonde hairor his avant-garde

attitude, but that Spikey certainly knew how tocharm the ladies. Even an early- age neuterdidn’t slow him down. He loved a good huntand a good romp with his lady friend Kelly, aneighbor’s black lab.

He would trot to Kelly’s place, do a littleteaser move racing around her, then a quick run tothe gravel road. Looking back he tossed his shinyblonde hair and gave her that LOOK. With perkyears, brown eyes and short snout, he had the faceof an adorable bear but the mane of a lion. He wasdefinitely king of this jungle, and Kelly couldn’tresist. She busted through the charging barbs ofher electric fence to join her man.

I’m not sure if the batteries were weak or ifit was Spikey’s engaging personality but sherisked it all to hang with the Spikemeister. Andhe was a true romantic. On their first date it wasskinny dipping in a nearby pond filled with thefinest mud and stench in town.

I can see it now, Spikey convincing Kelly itwill be the time of her life. “Come on babe, I’llbring you to places you’ve never seen before.We’ll roll in the mud, dance in the water, andchase frogs through the woods.”

After the hot date, Spikey pranced downthe road with Kelly and both were soaked headto tail in mud and green slime. Proud as apeacock with his feathers bloomed out, Spikeystill had enough energy for another round whileKelly looked a bit puckered.

He won Kelly’s heart and she enduredmultiple shock treatments to be with herstudly Spikester. During the summer it wasafternoon naps under the house laying inthe cool dirt or just a leisurely sniffing-walkaround the yard.

Sometimes I would hear a ruckus goingon and find Spikey pouncing on wood pilestrying to rustle snakes. And then acting likea brave knight, he would save his frightenedprincess from the deadly venom. WhileKelly backpedaled, Spikey would grab thesnack and shake it violently until his headwas nothing but a blur. Standing there witha lifeless snake hanging from his mouth, heparaded the trophy in a victory lap withKelly on his heels.

When we took our walks, Kelly wouldjoin us although Spikey often got annoyedwith her casual stroll. He would nip herbackside and strut ahead hoping to enticeher to move those hips, instead she wouldshake her floppy ears and dawdle down theroad following us.

But alas the love story came to anabrupt end. It seems Spikey’s wild wayscaught up with him in a tragic story thatcaused an end to the Kelly-Spikey romance.

Kelly’s family added a gaggle of geeseto their property and when the geese beganroaming free in the yard, Spikey took notice.Perhaps it was another act of bravadoprotecting his precious princess, or the geesewere just defending their territory, but it was

not a happy ending. On Spikey’s next visit thegeese pecked him on the nose, and well, let’sjust say Spikey won the battle.

It was more than a lost love, Spikey losthis freedom that day and regulated to a 20 footline when home alone. But he was still king ofhis kingdom. We ruled it together exploringthe woods, trailing the road, and discoveringnature in creatures both big and small. Andthen a rescue kitten named Izzy hit the scene.

Named after Hurricane Isidore, Spikeydiscovered the frail kitty hiding in roadsidebushes soaked from the flooding rains. Afriend and foe, Izzy would soon test Spikey’smacho image. Next month we’ll follow thismost unlikely pair in their escapades inside awooded kingdom.

An award winning writer and photographer, Deb beganher freelance writing career after earning a media degreeat Tulane University. A New Orleans native, she nowlives in the piney woods of Mandeville, Louisiana andshares her stories on a local, regional and national level.Writing is her therapy and she has dedicated her columnto the adventures of Spikey, her canine confident. Visitwww.debswriting.com for photos and features andwww.facebook.com/burstmediacommunications for socialmedia services.

I hadsometroubleputting atitle to thisarticle. Istarted to

call it “When Size Matters”. Youknow it does. You know you justcan’t carry a small one like you’dlike to and when you need it –POOF! – it swells upinto this enormoususeful tool. Of course,I’m talking handguns.Don’t stop, don’t stop,I may save your life.First we have to pickup one that fits, notonly your hand butyour purse as well. It’snot going to do you any good ifyou don’t have it with you.Everybody wants that 6” nice badboy but as most men tell you, thosethings are hard to carry around allthe time. A woman that puts somemonster piece in her purse is

probably going to walk in circlesafter a while. Fortunately, mostmanufacturers are making the“new and improved” versions,such as titanium or air weightmodels and polymer, all to saveweight. And of course, there’s the‘pink’ factor. I hate it! You’rebasically married to that one asresell is non-existent. It’s just not anatural color for a firearm.

You alsowant asmooth anti-snag surface.If you’redigging it outof yourpurse, youdon’t wantthe hammer

to hinder your draw. So there arehammerless and shrouded modelsin revolvers, or you can go to thesemi-automatic. Stainless is nicebecause perfume, make-up andother concoctions that women maykeep in their purse can ruin the

finish and cause rust. And let’sdon’t forget the ammo. Protect it,too. Nothing like seeing greenbrass stuck in the chamber. Forgetit going off when you need it, ifsomething has spilled on it. Theprimer – the little part thatexplodes and burns the powderthat creates the pressure thatpushes the bullet out that stopsthe threat – is kinda important.Notice I said, “stop the threat”, aswe don’t want to ‘kill’ anyone.That may require shooting yourassailant until he stops wiggling,but never say ‘kill’. You will carrya small revolver or semi-automaticthat weighs a pound, longer than alarger 17 round, double stackedammo, night sighted semi thatweighs twice that. Rememberthese words: “You have to be infear of your life or great bodilyharm to use this”. These rulesapply to police officers andcivilians. Instead, pick out andpractice with something that fitsyour needs.

In Louisiana, you can carry afirearm in your vehicle; it’s anextension of your home. You don’tneed a conceal carry permit forthat. However, a police officer maybe a little nervous if he sees it.Declare it immediately upon being

stopped. And don’t leave one inplain view to be stolen either. Thenagain, if it’s not accessible to you,what good is it locked up? Thenthere’s the child protection factor toconsider. You are responsible foreverything about this.

Back to basics... Can you cockthe handgun? This is called ‘singleaction’. Just pulling the trigger andit working would be ‘doubleaction’. Big difference in triggerpull, too. And a lot lighter when it’scocked – five pounds versusfifteen pounds. Even moreimportant, can you uncock it?Might want to find out withan empty gun first. I’m noteven going to attemptdiscussing dominant eyes andsight alignment here, as this isan article and not a book. Iwill say that if a threat occurs,you need to deploy yourhandgun, stungun, andpepper spray withouthesitation and use it. If you’renot shooting it, you’d better bereloading it; if you’re not reloadingit, you’d better be moving becauseif you’re not doing one of these,you may be dead.

Let me get back to ‘sizematters’. That’s really important,especially in bullets. Bigger and fasteris better. But you need something youcan handle, too. Those .44 mags arefor Dirty Harry. In combat, youprobably won’t feel the recoiland most likely won’t noticethe deafening blast but you willfeel it and hear it whenpracticing.

Let’s not forgetprotection, girls – hearing andeye protection. Borrow a .22 ifyou don’t have one. Getfamiliar with sight alignmentand trigger control, make itfun. When you get serious,bring out the big stuff. Don’tbe cheap on quality offirearms and ammunition, it’s yourlife. Practice with the full metaljacket inexpensive ammo, as you’llnotice the price doubles when youget to the good stuff. Hollow pointsand expanding tips, they even haveammo specially made to stopzombies. Make dang sure yoursemi-automatic feeds the ammoyou selected. I’d recommend youfire your handgun at least 200

rounds before you have anyconfidence of reliability. You canget sights that glow in the dark(really??). They last for 10 yearswithout batteries. You can get alaser, too, but do you need it? No!!You have to be close to be “in fearof your life”; statistically speaking,less than 21 feet. Thus, inside asmall room or car. No time forsights and lights. Point and pull thetrigger over and over until eitherthe threat has stopped or the slide

locks back. When the smoke clears,calmly dial 911 and request anambulance for the injured partiesbut don’t make any statementsuntil you’ve regained yourcomposure and have had time tothink about everything. Howpolitically correct is that?Hopefully, I’ll write more on this

subject later as there aren’t enoughpages here to cover the subject anddo you justice. Folks ask me all thetime what I like in self protection.Well, personally I’m a machete(Collins Legitimus) man.

Sonny Harrington is a Hunter SafetyInstructor. He is also an NRA (NationalRifle Association) Rifle & Pistol Instructorand has hunted from Alaska to Mexico.

What Women Really Want

A woman thatputs some monsterpiece in her purseis probably goingto walk in circles

after a while.

IN THE CR SSHAIRS By Sonny Harrington


Machete and .380 auto 7 shot polymer/stainless

44 mag, 8 shot .22 and unusual 9mmrevolver


Setting PrioritiesBy Robert Lemoine

Well, it’s hereagain…ball season.With three kidsplaying at twodifferent ballcomplexes, logistics

becomes a nightmare. Not to mentionthrowing in homework, house work, regularwork, and church. Parents are nodding theirheads right now in agreement.

What falls away and what stays first?Well, we have to work, the kids have to dohomework, and it’s only fair they attendevery practice and game for doing well inschool. You see the pattern developing here.Bible study gets pushed aside to make timefor the kids but we think we can still make itto church.

The days grow into weeks and housework has to be caught up. We can make it tochurch next week. Then it was a rough weekat work; Sunday can be a “day of rest”.We’ll make it to church next week. Onceagain, next week God is put at the bottom ofthe list because we still have to work, thekids have homework and ball, and we’rejust too tired to do anything else.

It’s funny how we can push aside ourmost important responsibility of praisingGod for “the world”. Maybe you’re single oreven a married couple without kids. Thisscenario can still be adapted to fit your life.

Instead of the kids playing ball, you have to gohunting because there is only a few days out of thewhole year that you can. God can wait for you tokill that big buck, rabbit, squirrel, duck, etc.

It’s ok, God understandsthat you’re just too wore outfrom helping your friendbuild that new deck. Ladies,He also understands that youwalked way too much at themall to put on thoseuncomfortable church shoes.Next Sunday, you can make itto spend an hour with Him.

These thoughts occurredto me as I was sitting at oneof those ball games for twohours, thinking how it’s perfectlyacceptable to spend several hours atthe ball park while God is not worthan hour a week. If you feel convictionas you read this, don’t worry, you’renot alone. It is out of conviction thatthis is being written.

If you saw yourself in any ofthese situations, the good news is thatyou can change your priorities. If yougot an unexpected phone call tellingyou of a loved ones illness or evenpassing, you would drop everythingto get to the hospital or clear yourcalendar for the funeral. Well,

someone very special in your lifedied over two thousand years agoand you’re personally requestedto be sitting up front with thefamily. One final thought… If these are

your final moments here on earth,have your priorities been in order

to prepare you for eternity? MayGod bless you and keep yousafe in all that you do.Remember, the fastest way upis to kneel down.

ouisianaRemember When . . .

1. Frances Parkinson Keyes, one ofAmerica's best-selling authors, livedin what LA city for more than tenyears.

2. Who was the first governor toserve two consecutive terms?

3. What was Rayville’s originalname?

4. Where was Lake Beulah?5. What was the Monroe-

Bastrop road called inthe early years?

6. What is the origin of the word "bayou"?7. What year was Lake D'arbonne built?8. What is distinctive about the State

Capitol steps?9. What was the original name of Highway 80?

10. What town had the first public library inLouisiana?

Answers on next page 21


For the Love of the GameBy Johnny Wink

This time of the year reminds me of when Iwas growing up––baseball. I can still rememberthe smell of fresh cut grass on the playing fields,white chalk lines on the base paths, sounds of thebats hitting the ball. Now it's "tink" with

aluminum bats, just doesn't sound right to me. And the food – hotdogs and Frito pies and snowballs. I caught many a foul ball for a freesnowball. We didn't have any drinks, just water from the hose thattasted like rubber. Kids today won’t do that. Today, every kid has hisown bat and bag. We just showed up with a glove.

I can remember being 4 years old in a league called the Peanutsdown in New Orleans where my daddy was the recreation director forthe summer. I played one year, then right before Hurricane Betsy hitwe moved to West Monroe. Here I couldn’t play till I was 8 years oldbut that didn't stop me. I got to practice with my older brother Jimmyand his team until game time. Playing with peoplethat was much older helped prepare me for when Icould play.

When I turned 8 years old I played on mybrother’s team, People’s Loan, in Dixie Youth. Everyyear before the season started we had a paradedowntown and a lot of the businesses that sponsored teams werethere. As we passed, we would yell as loud as we could showing ourgratitude. All the teams would march in the parade and then end up atFirst Baptist Church and make team pictures.

In my first year, my brother made All Stars and they went all theway to the World Series in Pensacola. We got to go on a familyvacation to Florida to see him play in our station wagon with no airconditioner. We even went to the beach. A rookie pitcher from theDodgers, Don Sutton, was there on opening day signing autographs(1968).

I made All Stars when I was 12 but we got beat in the stateplayoff. Back then every game we played, even regular games, madethe newspaper. If you got two hits, your name would be in there. Weplayed ever Saturday and the write-ups would come out in the Sundaymorning paper. We couldn’t wait to get the Sunday paper to see if wemade it.

I also have fine memories back then of my my dad’s SundaySchool classmates congratulating me if I was in the paper that day. Iremember Dr. James Henderson and Tex Kilpatrick tapping me on myback, telling me how good a job I had done. They were big-time duckhunters and I dreamed of some day going duck hunting. Now I do it

for a living. My dad and mymom were so proud of me andmy brother and spent of lot oftime at practice and games in thehot summer heat.

When I was 14, I made AllStars again and we won the State

Championship and went to the World Series – in West Monroe! I madeAll Stars every year after that until I was 18. We were 5 times StateChampions and went to three World Series. The coaches back thenwere amazing and most didn't even have a child playing on the team.They molded so many young boys and showed us how to play as ateam. In Dixie Boys, our coach was Buddy Reed. In Dixie Youth it wasSeft Blasier and Grady Rice. In Dixie Seniors and Dizzy Dean it wasBoggie Hearne and Robert Tyler. They were big men and when onecoached on first and the other on third in the All Stars, that was animpressive sight. The fields were always decorated for the state playoffand World Series with games on the radio and newspaper peopleeverywhere.

I want to thank every coach I had from ages 4 to 18 for the timespent with us when you could have enjoyed your summers elsewhere.I’m still good friends with some of the players, too. I’m so grateful my

parents let us play. I've still got all my trophies in my mom'sattic. Back then, you had to earn them. So, all you moms anddads that have kids wanting to play sports, please say yes. Ittakes a lot of your time but being with your children as theylearn and grow and have fun, and meeting other families andcoaches, is priceless.

This Sunday as I write this, I will be attending the annual PhilRobertson Camo Day at the Whites Ferry Road Church of God in WestMonroe. Phil is the DuckCommander and now has a TVshow on A & E, Duck Dynasty.Most everyone will be in camoas Phil and his sons talk abouttheir lives and theirrelationship with God. Thiswill be my third one to attend.Phil and Willy were on Conanlast night, too. They’re bringinga lot of interest to northLouisiana. Life here seems justright: God, family, sports andthe outdoors. With all that wedon't have a lot of time to getin too much trouble.

I want to thank the Lordfor letting me make a livingduck guiding and living in thecountry. Now all I need is atrophy wife to enjoy this withme and I will be happy, happy,happy. On second thought,maybe just one to visitoccasionally. My dogs mightget jealous.

Today, everykid has his own

bat and bag.

Visit our website:www.laroadtrips.com

Withpostspawnpatterns inplace,fishing

choices are so many that it’s hardto decide how to startyour day on the lake.Exactly how manypatterns/lures can youcatch bass on currently?Let me count the ways:Top water on points,frogs on shallow grass,spinnerbaits on bank, buzzbaitson bank, mid-diving crankbaits,deep-running crankbaits, TX rig,Carolina rig and wacky rig toname just a portion of techniquesthat are working on my favoritefishing hole. While this has somepositive elements and gives anglerlots of options, it shows that fishare scattered and in transition andchanging water levels only add tothe puzzle.

Recently we’ve had successtrying to catch fish on our high-confidence patterns and stay withthe basics. Every day at the dockor tackle shops I hear how theyreally caught 'em on this or thatand they fished this way or thatway. We often try to fish someoneelse’s methods and favorite 'high-dollar' lure but need to filter that


Toledo – Home of Heavy Bass!info and not abandon years of experience because of oneoverly-excited fisherman who found a school of bass thatwanted to ride in his boat. For me personally, our highconfidence methods are spinnerbaits, crankbaits and lotsof soft plastics. I also feel that the clearer the water in afishery, the more soft plastics come into play. Annually,we catch about 75% of our fish on soft plastics which

include Texas rigs, Carolina rigs andweightless/finesse techniques such aswacky, drop-shot and Texas-weightless. Having said that, mostdays I will always have a Stanleyspinnerbait tied on as well as at least

one Bill Norman crankbait,either a Baby N, DLN orDD22. Of course, certaintimes of the year we fishjigging spoons a lot. Themethods just mentionedcovers 95% of what we doon the lake as these are ourhigh-confidence methodsand when all else fails, wego back to one or more ofthese.

BIG BITES COMINGMORE FREQUENTLYWe’ve had some fun

times recently as our guideservice has been fortunateto get big bites and havemost of them find thebottom of the net, the

scales, a brief photo sessionand then back in the lake. In

the past four month period we have been able to getthree double-digit bass to pose for a photo-shoot. I was

fortunate enough to catch thefirst one in late December ona Klassic Lures jiggingspoon at 10lbs 13oz. Then10 year old Alivia Lange inlate March caught a 10.1pounder on a HavocBottom Hopper riggedwacky while fishing with us

in Mill Creek. Her proudgrandfather, Greg Lange, was

on boardto see thewholething.And thenThursday

beforeEaster,regularclientJim

Melanson added a 10.2 pounder while fishinga wacky-rigged Senko in the Louisiana Islandarea of south Toledo.

Even with a little help, one of the mainfactors is that Toledo has more big bass in itcurrently thanever in history,allowing you tosimply catchmore huge fish.Here I am againsinging theirpraises but thestocking ofFlorida bass byboth TX and LAand local lakeassociationgroups hasrevolutionizedbass fishing onToledo. Oneparting thought: Preparing your equipment asif expecting to catch a huge fish is crucial. Imay not get everything right in my guideservice but I am a fanatic when it comes tolines, knots, hooks and drag-settings. Myclients will tell you I sent them lots of e-mailswith specific instructions on how to rig theirrods/reels prior to making their first cast of theday. I now truly expect someone to catch a bigfish in my boat every day that I fish Toledo.

Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist,tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo andSam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848,[email protected], orwww.joejoslinoutdoors.com.

MY FAVORITE FISHING HOLE By Pro Angler, Joe Joslin

Toledo has morebig bass in it

currently thanever in history.

Jim Melanson with a 10.2pound largemouth

10 yr old Alivia Lange with a10.1 pound bass

Thanks for the book review lastmonth (Louisiana Aviation – AnExtraordinary History inPhotographs). I had heard a booklike this was being written butdidn’t know that it was alreadypublished. This is perfect forFather’s Day.

~Bill F., Jena

With all the festivals in Louisiana, my absolute favorite is theCatfish Festival in Winnsboro. I was pleased to see it in yourmagazine and emailed it to from your website to my friends out ofstate who drive in for this. Nothing better than Louisiana catfish!

~Melissa W., St. Francisville

I really enjoy Mary White’s articles (Bed n Beignets) each month.She provides a bit of history and entertainment in the area wherethe featured bed and breakfast is. I’ve actually stayed at two of theBnB’s she recommended in her column. Please thank her for thesolid information.

~Paula, Ruston, via email

BACK

TALK

ouisianaAnswers …

1. Crowley2. John J. McKeithen

3.Little Creek4. In Forsythe Park. It was

an artificial lake createdby the ForsytheNatatorium overflow

5. Pelican Highway6. It comes from the

Choctaw word "bayuk” which means creek7. 19638. Each step bears the name of a state

and the date it was admitted to theunion

9. Dixie Overland Highway10. Rayville

MayCalendar of Events

May 22-26______________

New Orleans Wine and Food

Experience

504-529-WINE

May 24-27______________

Cajun Heartland State Fair

Lafayette – 337-265-2100

Jambalaya Festival

Gonzales – 225-647-2937

Mudbug Madness

Shreveport – 318-222-7403

May 25-26______________

Bonnie & Clyde Festival

Gibsland – 318-843-6141

May 25-27______________

Green Festival

New Orleans – 504-282-0259

May 26________________

Swamp Pop Music Festival

Robert – 985-345-9244

May 26-27______________

Bayou Country Superfest

Baton Rouge – 800-527-6843

May 27________________

Bunk Johnson Jazz Festival

New Iberia – 888-9-IBERIA

Zoo To Do

New Orleans – 504-581-4629

Zydeco Extravaganza

Opelousas – 800-346-1958

May 1-6_______________

Contraband Days

Lake Charles – 337-436-5508

May 3-6_______________

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

504-410-4100

May 4-5_______________

May Festival

Abbeville – 337-898-0988

May 4-6_______________

Crawfish Festival

Breaux Bridge – 337-332-6655

Little Red Church Food and Fun

Festival

Destrahan – 985-764-6383

MayFest

Leesville – 337-238-0783

Sacred Heart Spring Festival

Oakdale – 318-335-3780

Thibodaux’s Volunteer Fireman’s

Thibodaux – 985-446-FAIR

Tomato Festival

Chalmette – 504-271-2953

May 5_________________

Treasure Fest

DeRidder – 337-463-5534

May 5-6_______________

Fest For All

Baton Rouge – 225-344-8558

May 8-13______________

Contraband Days

Lake Charles – 337-436-5508

May 10-12______________

Pecan Ridge Bluegrass Festival

Jackson – 225-629-5852

May 10-13______________

Poke Salad Festival

Blanchard – 318-309-2647

Cochon de Lait Festival

Mansura – 318-964-2887

May 11-12______________

Mayhaw Festival

Marion – 318-292-4715

May 12-13______________

Loggers & Forestry Festival

Zwolle – 318-645-6141

May 13________________

Sissy Strut Festival

Tickfaw – 504-723-4263

May 17-19______________

Mayhaw Festival

Starks – 337-743-6297

May 17-20______________

Plaquemine Parish Heritage and

Seafood Festival

Belle Chase – 504-394-6328

May 18________________

Riverboat Festival

Columbia – 318-649-0726

May 18-19______________

D’Arbonne Stampede Days Rodeo

Farmerville – 318-368-3873

May 18-20______________

River City Fest

Logansport – 318-872-1177

Sawmill Days

Fisher – 800-358-7802

Tunica – Biloxi Pow Wow

Marksville – 800-833-4195

May 19________________

SW LA All Vets Reunion

DeRidder – 337-462-8900


2012

Bible Reading MarathonLRT is proud to report that Lake Providence resident Ann Brock, wife of LRT contributor Larry Brock,

coordinated a 90-hour “Word Watch” (Bible Reading Marathon) at Providence Church during Easter week. Itbegan at 6pm on Wednesday and ended on Easter Sunday morning. This is the second year for this eventand consisted of members of their church reading the New Testament all the way through two times for 60hours. Because of people’s interest, the entire community was invited to participate this year and the BRMwas expanded to include the entire Bible. A total of 79 people from East Carroll, West Carroll & ChicotCounty, AR participated, members of 13 different churches representing 8 different denominations, readingin 30-minute to 1-hour intervals. Some pastors even participated! The reading was non-stop, 24-hours a dayfor 85½ hours. Those that participated were really touched and eager to repeat this next year.


Thank You, Lee Estes!Lee Estes was born in Kentucky in 1925,

served in World War II, and found his way tonortheast Louisiana in 1956. In his LRTcolumn this month, Another Stalwart in LAAviation – C. B. McMahan, Lee details how anopportunity to work with McMahan luredhim to Monroe where he resides today withhis wife, Lottie.

While in Germany after WWII, Leebecame interested in photography and begandocumenting his adventures inEurope. His passion andexperience led him to becomea nationally acclaimedexhibition photographerduring the 1980’s. Eventually,Lee began leading worldwidegroup coach tours, providingnumerous venues forextraordinary photoopportunities. He has sincepenned threephoto/documentary books,Fading Textures, The CoachStops Here!, and FadingWarriors, a collection ofmaterial from veterans ofWWII. Lee also workstirelessly documenting history, such as theDixie Overland Highway (Hwy US 80), andrenewing interest in abandoned and decrepitstructures.

For years, LRT has been fortunate toinclude Lee Estes as a contributingwriter/photographer as he immediatelybecame a reader favorite. His knack for seeingbeyond the obvious, researching everyelement, and presenting it in an authoritativemanner has piqued the interest of localresidents and history buffs alike.

“I always look forward to openingLouisiana Road Trips to see what Lee Estes

has written about eachmonth. His articles arefull of fascinating detailsabout areas that I’vedriven by my whole lifeand never knew theirhistory,” says DaraHamm, co-owner of TheHall Closet in WestMonroe. “I love hiswriting style, soknowledgeable and directwith a dash of humor.When I read his column, Ijust want to go find him,pull up a chair, and listento him tell me as manystories as possible.” Dara

continues, “Lee, thanks for all the fantasticarticles. We LOVE them at my house! Just onemore reason why Louisiana Road Trips is thebest of the best!”

RalphCalhoun,Executive Directorat BiedenharnMuseum andGardens inMonroe, says, “Wehave had severalexhibits with Lee'sphotographs at themuseum. For me,it was always a pleasure and learningexperience sitting in my office with himpreviewing images while he recollected on thestories behind them. Lee's memory isincredible and his stories are alwayseducational and entertaining.”

Chennault Aviation and MilitaryMuseum in Monroe has also benefited from itsassociation with Lee, says Director NellCalloway. “Lee has been with the Museumsince it opened in 2000. He volunteered veryearly on to be the Museum’s mainphotographer. Without his expertise, wewould not have the pictorial history of theMuseum. For the last couple years, he hasbeen securing monthly speakers for theMuseum to provide an opportunity to hearfrom many local heroes about theircontributions. His books have great historicalvalue for the community as well. Thank youagain, Lee, for all you do.”

Monroe resident SteveMintz tells LRT, “Lee’saward winningphotography has greatlycontributed to Louisianaculture. He hasdocumented in hisphotography much of thelocal trade area historythroughout decades andour region is a better placebecause of him.”

On behalf of LRT andits readers, again we sayTHANK YOU, LEE!

For effective,low-cost

advertising,call

Mona L. Hayden(318) 547-1221

louisiana road trips may 2012 edition

Documents

operated haneys big

worldfamous haneys big

newlycompleted music

new music hall

rockabilly complex

town of ferriday

concordiaparish music

haney big housemusic