Arcadia Parks & Recreation will host a Community Fun Day on Saturday, June 13, 4-6:30pm. Bring the family out and enjoy food, games, music and more, including bounce houses and face painting. This free event will be friendly for all ages.
The Chamber is seeking sponsors for the event. For more information or to be a sponsor, call Mario Jefferson Sr. at 318-436-6662.
Several years ago, a radio station in San Francisco conducted a nonscientific listener survey. Sixty-eight percent of the people surveyed were for it. Twenty percent were against it. The remaining twelve percent had no opinion on the matter. So the radio station concluded from this nonscientific survey that the vast majority were in favor of it. The funny part is that the radio station never asked a question. It was an illustration of the bandwagon effect. If you get enough people walking down South Trenton Street in the same direction at nearly the same time, a parade is likely to break out.
I could go on one of my rants about people not thinking critically about political, educational, existential, or spiritual matters — but I won’t. I will say this: you need to read more than just the headlines on the website. You need to read the article. And you need to read more than one verse of the Bible if you want the whole picture. We often form opinions based on emotion rather than actually thinking something through. (I know — shocking.)
I talk about this because when people find out I’m a minister, they usually ask a question that goes something like this: “Do Methodists believe in drinking wine and playing cards at the dance held on Sunday afternoon at the movie theater?” This is not a serious question, but the ones people ask me are just as funny. When someone asks me about a specific “sin,” I usually ask them what they think. You might be surprised to know that people are looking for direction and validation in their lives. I’m amused that they mostly want to know if I’m AGAINST the same things they’re against. Often, in seeking direction and validation for our spiritual position, we join a church where people “think like we do.”
Nonchurch folks define the congregation of Trinity Methodist in two ways: by who attends our church, and by what we are AGAINST. I have a list of jokes to prove my point, but space doesn’t allow me to share them. (You’re welcome.) In church life, the bandwagon is joined as much for what a church is against as for what the church believes. But do you really want anyone defining you by what you’re against?
Now here’s what I want you to hear — and I want you to hear it louder than any bandwagon rolling down the street. I am FOR YOU. I believe God loves you just the way you are — not the “improved,” “cleanedup,” “Sundaybest” version of you, but the real you, the one who sometimes burns the biscuits, loses their patience, and wonders if they’re getting any of this right. You don’t have to do one single thing to earn God’s love. Not one. I believe God wants the best for you — and your “best” doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. God loves you so much that He sent Jesus into the world to show us that love with skin on.
And if you’ve never heard anyone say this plainly, let me be the first: you matter, you are loved, and heaven is not rolling its eyes at you. God is not waiting for you to get your act together — God is already cheering for you, believing in you, and walking with you.
What do you believe?
Graduation season is officially here, which means students across Louisiana are preparing for one of life’s biggest milestones… and one of its longest ceremonies. Between the packed auditoriums, nervous sweating, endless speeches, and the fear of tripping on stage, every graduate knows survival requires a few essentials: graduation cords, a portable fan, sunglasses for hiding tired eyes from cramming for finals, and a fully charged phone ready for photos the second it’s over.
After 22 years of shared finances, a new disagreement puts one couple at odds: should they help an adult son with car payments, or protect their retirement?
See what Ida says
Burger joints are as much a part of our American culture as the fish and chip shops are in England. On April 25, 1960, Michael James “Jim” Delligatti opened a drive-in restaurant franchise in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Jim’s drive-in operated on a streamlined technique in which they could deliver a hamburger, French fires, and a milkshake in 50 seconds or less. The menu consisted of just ten items: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, French fries, triple thick milkshakes, Coca Cola, root beer, Orangeade, milk, coffee, and hot chocolate. By using their assembly line process, they could prepare 36 hamburgers in just 110 seconds. Jim’s drive-in had the space to prepare 6,000 hamburgers a day. At $.15 each, the profit margin per hamburger was small, but they made up for it in volume. Customers flocked to Jim’s drive-in. The food was inexpensive, quick, and tasted good. A bright neon sign identified the drive-in. The brightly lit food preparation area was enclosed by 900 square feet of quarter-inch plate glass so customers could see that their food was served quickly in spotless surroundings. Business was so good that by 1971, Jim owned a dozen drive-in restaurant franchises in western Pennsylvania. Jim eventually owned 48 restaurants in the drive-in restaurant chain.
Jim always paid attention to what his customers wanted. After hearing that they desired a bigger sandwich, Jim went to work. After a short time—speed was of the utmost importance—Jim created a bigger sandwich by using items already on his menu and adding a unique sauce made from salted egg yolks, mustard, onion, garlic, and relish. In March of 1967, Jim used his Uniontown drive-in to test out his new sandwich. Demand exploded and Jim added his new creation to the menus of his other drive-ins. The results were the same. Jim’s larger sandwich was a hit, but the parent company did not want to alter their original menu. Jim explained, “they figured, why go to something else if (the original menu) was working so well?” Eventually, Jim’s creation was added to the national chain’s menus with resounding success. Since 1968, the chain has sold billions of Jim’s larger sandwiches. In 2006, the parent company estimated that they were selling 550 million of them each year at a rate of 17 each second.
Jim did not become wealthy off of his creation that is now sold in over 100 countries. Jim received no payment and no royalties for the creation, but that was okay with Jim. After more than six and a half decades, Jim’s Drive-In is still open. From the menu at the drive-in restaurant at 575 Morgantown Street in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, you can still order the sandwich Jim created there by combining two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions, on a sesame seed bun. It is said to be the most popular sandwich on the planet. Jim, the owner of a McDonald’s franchise, was the creator of the Big Mac. …and it’s time for lunch.
Sources:
1. The Evening Standard (Uniontown, Pennsylvania), April 12, 1960, p.7.
2. The Evening Standard, March 2, 1971, p.69.
3. Valley News (West Lebanon, New Hampshire), December 4, 2016, p.12.
4. “Michael James Delligatti,” Devlin Funeral Home, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.devlinfuneralhome.
5. “Inventor of the Big Mac dies, aged 98,” BBC News, November 30, 2016, accessed May 3, 2026, https://www.bbc.com/news/
For at least one day this week, aviator sunglasses become socially acceptable indoors, people suddenly feel the need for speed on their morning commute, and someone, somewhere, will absolutely attempt a volleyball reference they are too young to fully understand.
May 13 marks National Top Gun Day, an unofficial holiday celebrating the 1986 blockbuster film that turned fighter pilots into pop culture icons and permanently convinced generations of movie fans that motorcycles, leather jackets, and dramatic runway walks were essential personality traits.
The holiday arrives this year with even more momentum as both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick are returning to theaters for a limited anniversary run beginning May 13 to celebrate the original movie’s 40th anniversary.
That means Americans this week may once again find themselves explaining to younger family members why everyone over age 35 instinctively says “Talk to me, Goose” during minor inconveniences.
The original Top Gun, released in 1986 and starring Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, became one of the defining films of the 1980s. The movie reportedly boosted Navy recruitment, made aviator sunglasses wildly popular, and helped launch one of the most recognizable soundtracks in movie history.
Even people who have never seen the film somehow still understand the references. “Danger Zone” starts playing, and suddenly everyone feels qualified to land fighter jets.
The holiday itself has developed a surprisingly loyal online following over the years, with fans celebrating by rewatching the movies, quoting dialogue, and debating whether Top Gun: Maverick somehow managed to outperform the original nearly four decades later.
Social media users have already begun posting their plans for the annual celebration.
The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.
4/26/26
Amanda Bolyer of Castor was arrested for Improper Supervision of Minor by Parent/Legal Custodian (Misdemeanor).
Ariel Drayton of Ruston was arrested for Driver Must Be Licensed.
4/27/26
Kendrick Winzer of Athens was arrested for Operating a Vehicle with Suspended License – No License Issued and Failure to Appear Warrant (Misdemeanor).
Henry Shine of Homer was arrested for Unauthorized Use of a Movable (Misdemeanor) and Operating Vehicle with Suspend License – No License Issued.
4/29/26
Amanda McCain of Ringgold was arrested for Aggravated Battery with Dangerous Weapon (Felony).
Ashley Gipson of Gibsland was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspend License – No License Issued.
4/30/26
Dion Brooks of Arcadia was arrested for Turning Movements and Required Signals; Maximum Speed Limit; Operating Vehicle with Suspended License – No License Issued; and Failure to Appear – Execution of Sentence.
Sheryl White of Simsboro was arrested for Operating Vehicle with Suspended License – No License Issued; Evidence of Compulsory Motor Vehicle Liability Security Contained in Vehicle; Flight from an Officer (Misdemeanor); and Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor).
5/01/26
James Phillips of Louin, MS, was arrested for D.W.I. – 1st Offense (BAC .20 or Greater; Misdemeanor).
5/02/26
Gregory Voner of Arcadia was arrested for Theft (Misdemeanor) and Resisting an Officer (Misdemeanor).
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Meriwether Wealth & Planning is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Meriwether Scholarships. Forty-six scholarship applications were received from high school seniors across North Louisiana. A selection committee consisting of Meriwether clients reviewed the applications, essays, and accompanying recommendation letters to determine the top applicants. These students will each receive $1,000 scholarships made payable to their college or university of choice:
*Indya Carper, Captain Shreve High School, who plans to major in political science/pre-law at Loyola University
*Ella Dison, Saline High School, who plans to major in biomedical engineering at Louisiana Tech University
*Amberlynn Kennedy, West Ouachita High School, who plans to major in biology at the University of Louisiana Monroe
*Addison Lee, Glenbrook School, who plans to major in biology at Louisiana Tech University
*Camryn Nail, North Webster High School, who plans to major in kinesiology/pre-athletic training at McNeese State University
*Hudson Smith, North Webster High School, who plans to major in business at Louisiana Tech University
*Elaini Ware, Claiborne Academy, who plans to major in speech language pathology at Louisiana Tech University
*Topher Wilson, Minden High School, who plans to major in biology/pre-dentistry at Louisiana Tech University
“We were able to offer eight scholarships this year thanks to the generosity of several clients who desired to make a positive impact in the lives of students,” said Tracy L. Campbell, Meriwether partner and financial advisor. “It’s evident by the applications we received that the future is bright for so many young people in our area.”
Meriwether is proud to give back to our local communities. Over the past five years, the independently owned financial advisory firm has infused more than $250,000 into local communities in the form of sponsorships, donations, and scholarships to schools and non-profit organizations.
When most people hear the word mortgage, they think about buying a home or making monthly payments to a bank. While that’s certainly a big part of it, mortgages also play an important role behind the scenes in the parish’s record-keeping system.
In Bienville Parish, documents related to mortgages, such as new filings, cancellations, and corrections, are officially recorded by the Clerk of Court. Once recorded, this information is shared with the Assessor’s Office, where it becomes part of the broader picture of a property’s history.
It’s important to note that mortgages do not determine ownership and do not directly impact a property’s assessed value. However, they provide valuable context. For example, mortgage records can help track financial activity tied to a property, clarify timelines, and support research when questions arise about a parcel.
These records are especially useful when it comes to property taxes. In some cases, a mortgage lender may be responsible for paying property taxes through an escrow account. Having mortgage information on file helps the Assessor’s Office identify when an alternate party, such as a bank or servicing company, may be responsible for receiving or paying the tax bill.
Understanding how these pieces fit together helps ensure that records stay accurate and that tax notices reach the right party. While mortgages may seem like purely financial documents, they are also a key part of maintaining clear, reliable parish records.
If anyone has questions about their property records or who is responsible for the tax bill, the Assessor’s Office is always here to help.
Bienville Parish is facing another week of partly cloudy skies, showers, and thunderstorms. Temperatures will start in the 80s before dipping into the 70s then returning to the 80s. Nighttime temps will range in the 50s-70s. The forecast period will start with thunderstorms but give way to varying degrees of storminess and cloudiness before settling into cloudiness. The highest chance of rain is also at the start of the forecast period, with the highest chance of being being 100%.
Wednesday, May 6
Thunderstorms likely for Wednesday. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. The high will be 75°F and overnight lows around 57°F. The evening will see thunderstorms, with a 90% of rain, winds light and variable.
Thursday, May 7
Thursday will see rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day – chance of rain 40% – with a high of 70°F. Overnight lows will be 57°F with cloudy skies and winds light and variable.
Friday, May 8
Friday will be mainly cloudy with a high of 73°F and winds light and variable. Overcast with rain showers at times in the evening/night, chance of rain 50%. The night’s low will be 59°F.
Saturday, May 9
Saturday will feature rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon with a 60% chance of rain. High will be 79°F. Evening and night will be cloudy with occasional rain showers; chance of rain is 50%. Overnight low will be 61°F.
Sunday, May 10
Rain showers Sunday morning will give way to scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. Chance of rain will be 50% with a high of 85°F and a low of 64°F. Overnight skies will be mostly clear, with winds light and variable.
Monday, May 11
Monday will be generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds with a high of 81°F. Overnight skies will be variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms with a 60% chance of rain. The low will be 64°F and winds light and variable.
Tuesday, May 12
Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible is Tuesday’s forecast, with a high of 82°F and a 30% chance of rain. The overnight low will be 59°F, with partly cloudy skies.
This forecast period will feature a lot of clouds and rain. None are currently predicted to be severe. Temperatures will start in the 80s then dip to the 70s before climbing back up into the 80s. Rain and clouds will be the prevailing weather for the period.
Overall, the period is defined by rain, clouds, and storms.
BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) released the 2025 letter grades for community water systems across the state on May 4, offering a transparent look at the quality and performance of more than 900 systems serving Louisiana residents.
This annual report card, mandated by the Community Drinking Water Accountability Rule (Act 98 of the 2021 Regular Legislative Session), provides residents with clear, accessible information about the systems that deliver their drinking water.
The latest report shows continued progress statewide, with fewer water systems receiving failing grades and more systems demonstrating measurable improvements in performance.
“The overall improvement we are seeing in water system grades is encouraging and reflects the hard work of our water providers and the impact of strategic investments at both the state and federal levels,” said Tonya Joiner, assistant secretary for the Louisiana Office of Public Health. “We remain committed to building on this progress and ensuring that all Louisianans have access to safe, reliable water.”
The water grading system, authorized in 2021, is part of the Safe Drinking Water Program’s broader effort to strengthen accountability among water providers while empowering consumers with clear information about their drinking water. The grades are calculated using a standardized 100-point scale based on seven critical categories:
Baton Rouge, La. — Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Rebecca Harris led a discussion between national experts, national and state leaders, and members of the Louisiana Legislature on the current state of Child Welfare and to collaborate on needed reforms.
“It is clear with the many discussions around Child Welfare and needed reforms that we all want what is best for Louisiana’s children. This roundtable was held to bring everyone together, along with experts from across the country, so that we can coordinate efforts, align goals, and agree on the path forward,” said DCFS Secretary Harris.
National experts present included Dr. David Sanders, executive vice president of systems improvement for Casey Family Programs and chair for Congress’ Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, Dr. Alex Mayer, former head of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, and Cody Cathey, technology lead for the Administration for Children and Families.
Louisiana Senators Regina Barrow and Beth Mizell, along with Julie Emerson, Governor Landry’s chief of staff, also attended.
After a brief overview of current program challenges and data, the group discussed opportunities to strengthen Child Welfare, taking into consideration outcomes from other states and using guidance from the national experts.
Key discussion points included improved and sustained communication between all systems involved in a child’s well-being, transparency, and understanding the most at-risk populations.
DCFS leadership remains committed to child safety, stabilizing families, and collaborating with partners.
Today, LWCC announced it is distributing a 2025 dividend of $7.76 million to more than 2,100 business across the Northwest Region, reinforcing its commitment to supporting local employers and helping strengthen Louisiana’s economy.
This regional return is part of LWCC’s $90 million dividend being distributed to roughly 18,500 policyholder businesses statewide.
As a private, mutual workers’ compensation company, LWCC policyholders are members. This structure allows members to share in the company’s financial success through dividends, which they can reinvest into their businesses. Many policyholders – 95% of which are small businesses – reinvest these funds into safety improvements, facility needs, or other priorities that support their business and Louisiana’s economy.
Local Shreveport business A Watertight Roofing owner Robert May shared, “The dividend helps us offset operational expenses, allowing us to reinvest more dollars back into our business and continue operating from a position of strength.”
“Our purpose is to help Louisiana thrive. Distributing these funds to our policyholder members is one of the most meaningful ways LWCC brings that purpose to life,” said Kristin W. Wall, LWCC’s president and CEO. “While dividends are not guaranteed, we have been able to distribute one for 23 consecutive years. These funds help member businesses invest in their employees, strengthen their operations, and continue building safer workplaces across our state.”
With this dividend, LWCC will have provided an economic return of $1.6 billion to Louisiana policyholder businesses through the dividend program since inception.
LWCC remains focused on its mission to better Louisiana one business and one worker at a time. The company continues to proudly support injured workers and help them return to work and a meaningful life, while also relentlessly focusing on helping employers achieve safer workplaces.
To learn more about LWCC’s dividend program, visit: www.lwcc.com/workers-comp/
I return to this topic given the historic nature of the ruling and its novelty involving a Louisiana case, Callais v. Louisiana.
This past week the Supreme Court invalidated on constitutional grounds the Louisiana 6th Congressional District, currently held by Congressman Cleo Fields. The Court specifically held that the Fields’ district constituted an illegal racial gerrymander in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
This case involved a “collision” of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), which prohibits the dilution or weakening of minority voting rights, and the Equal Protection Clause, which prohibits drawing a congressional district strictly based upon race, which the Supreme Court determined the 6th District had been.
It’s not difficult to understand the Court’s analysis given the map itself which starts outside of Baton Rouge, meanders over to Lafayette, up to Alexandria and then into Shreveport, encompassing a predominantly black population.
I am also not surprised our Louisiana legislature felt pressured to create this district in light of the mandate of the VRA, which has for several decades been in conflict with the Equal Protection Clause.
Louisiana, and many other states, were in this predicament. “So, U.S. Supreme Court, you tell us we must adhere to the VRA and not dilute minority voting strength but, at the same time, tell us we are not allowed to draw districts based upon race to avoid diluting minority voting strength!”
I think it was in response to that exasperation by several states that prompted the Court to hold:
The VRA “imposes liability only when circumstances give rise to a strong inference that the State intentionally drew its districts to afford minority voters less opportunity because of their race.” (In fact, the opposite occurred here). However, “the VRA does not intrude on States’ prerogative to draw districts based on nonracial factors, including to achieve partisan advantage.” Well, the Court did not conclude that Louisiana tried to intentionally discriminate against anyone with the map, thus the VRA had no role to play.
In fact, as Chief Justice John Roberts has stated “the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” So, if a strict racial classification was not the sole basis for the district there is no constitutional violation even if a Legislature drew a map purely for partisan political advantage.
Partisan politics are a constant, permanent part of our democracy. However, the Court considers those issues to be “political questions” regarding which courts have no competence.
If voters don’t like how their elected officials draw election districts and maps, they can vote them out of office. So, in “blue” states, partisan districting will favor Democrats. In “red” states, it will favor Republicans. None of that is the province of the courts.
It is only when the drawing of those maps directly infringes upon a constitutional right—such as equal protection regarding a racial classification of the kind at issue here—is it appropriate for the courts to become involved in an otherwise political issue like this redistricting dispute.
But that’s really the rub.
Critics of this decision want the Court to not only address constitutional violations they also want the courts to guarantee political outcomes as well. However, that is simply not the role of the judicial branch. It is exclusively the role of the political branches.
What the Court’s ruling really means is that while protecting minority voting rights is a legally compelling interest, it cannot be met at the expense of racial classifications.
In so ruling, the Court has again clarified that America is a nation of laws that derive from our U.S. Constitution which contains the fundamental guarantee of equal protection for ALL of us. That principle of unanimous and intrinsic equality cannot be preserved if we continue to classify Americans strictly by race.
I believe this decision is the correct one. Our 250 years of history and tradition bears this out.
There is no more fundamentally American principle than genuine equality: from Thomas Jefferson’s immortal words in the Declaration that “we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal” to the thundering echo of that truth decades later by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. who dreamed that “one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that here.
Is there a phrase more terrifying to the modern grocery shopper than “UNEXPECTED ITEM IN BAGGING AREA”? (Except, perhaps, “ITEM REMOVED FROM BAGGING AREA.”)
We’ve all been there: The panicked fumble, the furious (yet ultimately futile) pressing of the “clear error” button, the desperate eye-contact with the one store employee who is now also side-eyeing your entire existence. The worst part? The machine never understands your motivation. It doesn’t know about the snack craving, the mid-afternoon energy slump, or the urgent need for specifically this kind of chip. It only knows that something isn’t “registered” and now you’re the unexpected item.
Just… just give me the snacks, you heartless electronic demon.
Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution met in April at the Webster Parish Library. The hostesses for this meeting were Margaret Evans, Libbey Watkins, and Linda Wood. They provided three tables filled with refreshments, and gave a large platter of cookies to the library staff.
The special guest for this meeting was State Regent Katie Collins. Katie gave a presentation about her State Project. The project will begin with the preservation of the Don Juan Fihoil sword. Fihoil was the founder of Monroe, and was a soldier for General Galvez during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he was presented with a ceremonial sword. A grandson donated it to the Ouachita Parish Courthouse where it hung for over 140 years. The sword will be cleaned, and then it will be placed in the Chenault Aviation Museum. The museum is being restored, and it will include a new American Revolution Room where the sword will be displayed.
Katie is also helping restore the 1816 Clerk of Court’s Office, which is the oldest building in Ouachita Parish. It is located on the southeast corner of the present courthouse square in Monroe, on land that was donated by Don Juan Fihoil. The site was originally part of Fort Miro, the first parish seat, which was renamed Monroe in 1819 after the arrival of the steamboat “James Monroe.” Katie is working with the Historical Preservation Board and the City of Monroe to write a grant for this $100,000 restoration project. After its completion, the DAR President General will be invited to attend the ribbon cutting.
After Katie’s presentation, the Chapter Regent Donna Sutton presented her with a beautiful hydrangea plant in a spring basket from Minden Floral, and a donation to help fund her project. Because Donna was the first chapter regent in the state to donate to the project, Katie presented her with a pin that is a replica of the Don Juan Fihoil sword. She will also provide our chapter with a native tree to plant for America 250.
The Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Regent attended a district regents’ meeting at the Bossier Parish Library. For Library Appreciation Month, the district regents presented the library staff with refreshments and a Certificate of Appreciation. She also represented the chapter at a Galvez Chapter Sons of the American Revolution wreath ceremony honoring Jethro Butler, a Revolutionary War patriot buried in Hebron Church Cemetery near Summerfield in Claiborne Parish. Jethro served as a Private, fifer, and spy in the South Carolina troops. He fought in numerous battles from 1775 –1781 and was taken prisoner during an expedition to Florida. He was then commissioned to Captain in the South Carolina Militia. After the war, he migrated to Louisiana via Georgia and Mississippi. Many of his descendants still live in the area.
DAR is a volunteer organization dedicated to education, patriotism, and historic preservation. Any woman age 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) is eligible to join DAR. For more information, contact dorcheatbistineau@yahoo.com.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) reminds the public that increased water temperatures, storms, and extended cloudy weather can lead to fish kills in inland and nearshore waters across the state. These events are typically caused by low dissolved oxygen (hypoxia), which often occurs in warm water, since it has a lower carrying capacity for oxygen than cooler water. Conditions such as stagnant water, heavy rainfall, decaying vegetation, or increased nutrient runoff contribute to hypoxic conditions—especially in shallow bayous, marshes, and ponds.
Fish kills may affect certain species or sizes more than others. For example, shad are sensitive to hypoxia, and are often the first or only fish that experience a fish kill, while some species, like gar, can breathe air and are resistant to hypoxic conditions. Other species have varying levels of tolerance to hypoxic conditions.
While fish kills can temporarily impact recreational and commercial fishing, aquatic ecosystems in Louisiana are resilient and typically recover naturally. Even in large fish kills, some fish will find refuge from hypoxic conditions in the affected waterbody or connected waterbodies and survive. Scavengers and decomposers help break down fish remains, and most systems recover over time. If conditions remain favorable, fish populations often rebound after major kills within one to two years without the need for stocking, and young fish benefit from reduced competition and increased resources. However, fish kills caused by pollution or chemical spills can occur at any time and may require additional response.
Documenting fish kills in Louisiana, whether caused by natural or human-caused events, is important to responsibly manage fisheries resources. Please report any observed fish kill to LDWF so biologists can investigate and document the kill as soon as possible. For information on how to report a fish kill or more information about the causes of fish kills, go online to wlf.louisiana.gov/page/fish-kills.
The Louisiana spring squirrel hunting season began this past Saturday (May 2) and runs through May 24, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. Squirrel hunting is the perfect gateway for hunting and a great introduction for youth into the sport.
A basic hunting license is all that is needed to hunt squirrels and those 17 and under are not required to have a youth license to hunt squirrels. Squirrel hunting is relatively inexpensive and there are many LDWF public lands on which hunting opportunity is available. Louisiana has two species of squirrels; gray and fox squirrels.
The bag limit is three per day during the spring with a possession limit of nine.
Spring squirrel season is closed on the Kisatchie National Forest, some national wildlife refuges, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property and some state WMAs.
For a complete list of WMAs and public lands open to squirrel hunting and more information on WMA squirrel hunting, see the 2025-26 LDWF Hunting regulations.
To purchase a hunting license, see the LDWF license webpage.
All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. See the LDWF WMA Access Permit webpage for more information.
For more information on squirrel hunting in Louisiana, see the LDWF Small Game webpage or contact LDWF Small Game/Wild Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal at ccedotal@wlf.la.gov.
Safer boating means safer waters. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) certified 238 boaters statewide after its 15th annual “Boating Education Lagniappe Day” on April 25.
Boating Education Lagniappe Day was held at nine locations across the state and consisted of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) boating education course, food and drinks, giveaways and door prizes all free of charge to the public.
The NASBLA safe boating certification is mandatory for anybody born after Jan. 1, 1984, who wants to operate a motorboat in excess of 10 horsepower.
The NASBLA-approved course includes information on choosing a boat, classification, hulls, motors, legal requirements and equipment requirements. The course also covers many navigation rules and charts, trailering, sailboats, canoeing, personal watercraft and more. Each student that completed the course was issued a vessel operators certification card.
To register for a future boating education class, please visit please https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/
I was always told as a kid growing up that you are judged by the company you keep. In other words, it’s important that you choose your friends wisely. This is also important when it comes to tournament bass fishing.
In each tournament, especially multi-day events, it’s important to have the right guys in the house you’re staying in. Guys that you trust and have the same moral and ethical values as yourself. Anglers that will come to your rescue on and off the lake if you have a problem.
Over the years I have fished all over the South and I have chosen who I travel with very carefully. There are several traits that make good roommates on the road. First and foremost, you have to trust the people you’re sharing a house with. I’m not talking about stealing or tearing the place up, but a person who when he says something, you can trust he’s telling the truth.
Some guys like to share information, but you must be careful and proceed with caution with the info you receive — even from the guys you’re staying with. There are anglers that will lead you astray and send you down a rabbit hole just to eliminate you from being in contention.
Understand this, bass fishermen are a different breed of people and love nothing more than winning. Oh, we all hope everyone in the house does well, but rest assured, each one of us wants to win!
The next trait I’m looking for in a good roommate on the road is attitude. Nothing is worse than having a guy in the house that has a poor attitude or rubs people the wrong way. It can make for a very long week of fishing when there’s one guy who the rest of the house can’t stand.
There are some guys that are always negative and like to drag others down with them. Fortunately for me, I’ve never had that experience before. But that’s because I choose the guys I’m traveling with very carefully.
The final thing that is very important in a good housemate is if he is financially stable. This can be a problem if one guy can’t pull his weight and pony up the money necessary to take care his share of house expenses.
I’ve always said, “If you can’t afford the expenses involved in tournament fishing like house rent, food, boat gas, entry fees, insurance etc., then you don’t need to be fishing tournaments!”
No one, and I mean no one, has been as fortunate as I have when it comes to great housemates on the road. I have never encountered one angler who I would later think, “He’ll never stay with me again!”
For the last 10 years the guys who have been a part of our road crew are Brett Hortman, Walt Stevens, Adrian James, Brennan Flick and Cole Garrett. These guys are as good as gold and guys that I have nothing but great respect for. Not one time have we had an issue with anyone in the house. I’ve also had the privilege of staying with Albert Collins and Clayton Boulware, who are both great anglers but even better people.
We’ve all had some great tournaments and some that weren’t so good. But the one thing I always knew, I could trust each and every one of them no matter what. Whether it was fixing a flat tire or making repairs on our boats, I could always count on these guys.
I always felt that if one of us was in contention to win, the rest of the house would help in any way we could. Finding guys like these is hard today with so many anglers fishing selfishly.
To wrap this up, if you’re a young angler and getting into tournament bass fishing, choose who you travel with wisely. It will give great peace of mind knowing that if you have a problem, one of your guys will go out of their way to help you.
The Summerfield Academic Foundation, the sponsor of the Summerfield High School, will host its annual school auction this Saturday, May 9, at 5:30pm in the school gym. It is the school’s largest fundraiser and community gathering, and they are inviting the public to join.
Meal tickets are $15, and dinner is served at 6pm. The auction begins soon after.
For more information on the Foundation and how the funding is used, see the letter below.
If you grew up in the 1960s, you probably remember a time when home appliances were built like tanks, weighed like tractors, and behaved like mischievous cousins who couldn’t be trusted. Ours certainly did. We had a refrigerator with only one big outer door, and inside that door—like a frosty little secret—was the freezer compartment. It was the kind of setup that made sense only to engineers who had never met actual children.
The top hinge of that refrigerator had screws that were, shall we say, “spiritually backslidden.” They were stripped, worn, and holding on by the power of prayer alone. If you opened the door too quickly or too wide, the hinge would give up entirely, leaving the entire refrigerator door hanging by the bottom hinge like a drunk uncle leaning on a lamppost.
And when that happened, it made a noise. A loud noise. A noise that said, “Someone is trying to sneak a popsicle.”
My mother, who possessed the hearing of a bat and the reflexes of a ninja, would shout from the other room, “Fix the door!” And we kids would scramble like we were disarming a bomb. Because in the 60s, you didn’t sneak snacks. You attempted them. And you were usually caught.
The tea pitcher lived in that refrigerator too, which meant that even the simple act of getting a drink of tea required the stealth of a Navy SEAL. The door could be opened quietly, but children in the 60s were not careful. We were loud, clumsy, sugarmotivated creatures who believed we were invisible as long as we whispered.
Looking back, that refrigerator door was more than a household hazard. It was a spiritual formation tool. It taught us patience, discipline, and the consequences of lukewarm commitment. Because if you approached that door casually—halfheartedly, carelessly—it betrayed you. Every time.
And isn’t that a picture of the Christian life?
Revelation talks about being hot or cold, but not lukewarm. Lukewarm is what happens when we try to follow Jesus casually, quietly, or only when we think no one is watching. Lukewarm faith is refrigeratordoor faith: it looks sturdy from the outside, but the hinges are loose, the screws are stripped, and the whole thing falls apart the moment life swings too wide.
But when we approach our faith with intention—with reverence, steadiness, and a little holy fear—we discover that the door holds. The hinges strengthen. The whole thing works the way it was meant to.
That old refrigerator is long gone, but the lesson remains: a life of faith can’t be sneaked into or stumbled through. It must be opened with purpose.
And if you ever doubt that, just remember: God hears everything. Even the sound of a kid trying to steal a popsicle.
She’s not just a nervous flyer anymore—she’s dreading every trip. With family and work pulling her cross-country, is it time to face her fears or stay grounded for good?
See what Ida says
Wilmer McLean was a retired officer of the Virginia militia who became wealthy as a wholesale grocer based in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1850, he married Virginia Beverley Hooe. Three years later when Virginia was expecting their first child, Wilmer searched for a quiet, peaceful place for his growing family to live. On January 1, 1854, Wilmer’s son, John Wilmer, was born. Wilmer had his sights set on the 1200-acre rural Yorkshire Plantation north of Manassas along Bull Run, a 31-mile-long tributary of the Occoquan River. Shortly after baby John was born, Wilmer purchased the plantation. Three years later, they welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucretia “Lula” Virginia. Theirs was a perfectly peaceful existence. They lived in a huge two-story house, some referred to it as a mansion, on one of the many rolling hills next to the lazy stream. It seemed as if they were living in a dream world which would last forever.
Their peaceful, dreamlike existence ended abruptly on July 21, 1861. Confederate Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard had commandeered Wilmer’s home and barn as his headquarters along the strategic Bull Run. Whether Wilmer and his family continued to live in their home with the soldiers or moved to a nearby home is unknown, but they remained in close proximity. On that hot July day, Union and Confederate soldiers fought an artillery duel on Wilmer’s plantation. General Beauregard later wrote, “A comical effect of this artillery fight was the destruction of the dinner of myself and staff by a Federal shell that fell into the fire-place of my headquarters at the McLean House.” What became known as The Battle of Bull Run was the first major campaign of the Civil War.
Following the battle, the soldiers moved to other battlefields. Wilmer and his family returned to the peaceful existence on Yorkshire Plantation that they had enjoyed before the war. Soon thereafter, Virginia became pregnant with their third child. Once again, their peace was broken when soldiers converged again near the same strategic location. For three days in 1862, August 28-30, Confederate and Union soldiers fought the Second Battle of Bull Run. Shortly after the battle, Wilmer and his pregnant wife and their two children abandoned Yorkshire Plantation for safer environs.
On January 28, 1863, Virginia gave birth to a daughter named Nannie. Shortly thereafter, Wilmer and his family purchased a large home about 140 miles to the southwest in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. For two years, Wilmer’s family lived far from the fields of battle. On April 9, 1865, Virginia was pregnant with their fourth child when Charles Marshall, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s aide, asked Wilmer to show him a suitable place for Lee to meet another general. Wanting to distance his family from any connection to the war, Wilmer showed the aide a dilapidated home which he quickly rejected. With no other contenders, Wilmer reluctantly offered the use of his family’s home. At about 1 o’clock that afternoon at the McLean home, General Lee met with Union General Ulysses S. Grant. The Civil War ended during that meeting when General Lee surrendered the Confederate Army to General Grant. The Civil War began in Wilmer McLean’s front yard and ended in his front parlor.
Through it all, Wilmer wanted a safe and peaceful existence for himself and his family. In June 1870, Wilmer dedicated himself to ensuring that the citizens of Manassas township in Virginia had the same safe and peaceful existence that he had wanted to provide for his family. In June 1870, Wilmer McLean, whose homes bookended the Civil War, became a Justice of the Peace.
Sources:
1. Jim Rogers, “Crumbling bar is all that’s left of Yorkshire Plantation,” Potomac News, July 23, 1990, accessed April 26, 2026, https://eservice.pwcgov.org/
2. Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Virginia), July 7, 1870, p.2.
3. Kristi Finefield, “A Tale of Two Houses and the U.S. Civil War,” Library of Congress, April 9, 2015, accessed April 26, 2026, https://blogs.loc.gov/
4. Hparkins, “The Peculiar Story of Wilmer McLean,” National Archives, November 10, 2010, accessed April 26, 2026, https://prologue.blogs.
5. “The McLean House – Site of the Surrender Meeting,” National Park Service, Accessed April 26, 2026, https://www.nps.gov/apco/
6. “Wilmer McLean,” Findagrave.com, accessed April 26, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/