Louisiana Road Trips August 2011

Louisiana Road Trips – 2 – www.la-road-trips.com

Counters & CatsThere are many good reasons why your cat

should stay off the counter. Cats spend a fairamount of time each day in their litter box,scratching around and covering up their waste.Although they frequently "wash" their paws withtheir tongues, traces of urine and feces may remainon their paws to be deposited on your countertopsin molecular concentrations. Not a great thought ifyou are about to prepare food.

To keep kitty where he belongs, make sure theyhave other places such as a climbing frame positionby a window to divert some attention fromcounters. Keep the counters clean and no food itemslying around. Cats don't like certain smells so use acountertop cleaner with a citrus odor. Other ideasinclude training your cat to jump down to the cueword "off". Various booby traps help deter cats fromcounter surfing. Some include putting cling filmover the countertop, making a shallow tray out ofaluminum foil and filling it with water, or variousspringing devices (upside-down mousetraps orproprietary plastic jumping frogs). Sounding an airhorn at exactly the moment the cat's feet touch thecountertop. You should hide when doing this,making the cat think the counter made the noise, notyou. It's worth the trouble to keep your cat off thecounter.

ROAD TRIPS"Celebrating country living and city happenings!"

a u g u s t c o n t e n t sARTS & CRAFTSMEN18 Darrell Chitty, Artist by Carolyn Files

BOOK REVIEW8 Very New Orleans

by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

10 Dancing on Glass by Deborah Burst

BUSINESS REVIEW2 Counters & Cats

24 Scott’s Seafood

DELTA OUTDOORS7-8 Alligator Hunting Season by Mona L.

Hayden

13 My Favorite Fishing Hole by Joe JoslinToledo Near Record Low Water Levels

18 A Little of This & That by Johnny Wink

19 Hunter Education Safety Courseby Sonny Harrington

FESTIVALS &ENTERTAINMENT

9 On the Scene – by Deborah BurstHottest NOLA Events in August

27 Show & Shine Car & Bike Show

27 Living Garden Fountain

HISTORICAL11 The Accidental Deaths of Deputy Sheriffs

Willis and Edwards by Lora Peppers

15 Louisiana in the Civil Warby Terry L. Jones

Talkin’It Up!

August is a transitional time ofyear as we take a well-earned breakbefore the busy seasons ahead. Let'ssee...there's thefall festivalseason, thefestive holidayseason, and ofcourse, huntingseason. Withthis in mind,we're featuringa sport rich in Louisiana culture -alligator hunting. Noel Kinler,Alligator Program Manager withLA Wildlife & Fisheries, was kindenough to share some greatinformation for this article. Afterreading it, you'll know enoughalligator trivia to impress just aboutanybody!

As you sit in the shade thismonth perusing this issue,preferably indoors with cold airand a tall glass of iced tea, we'regoing to take you on a few out-of-state road trips to places likeChattanooga, Tennessee and thenfor a drive along the East Coastbefore we cross the ocean to readabout the best of theMediterranean. As expected, wealways look forward to returninghome to Louisiana for the bestentertainment, food, and stories.From the Gulf Coast to theLouisiana state lines and every stopbetween, there's just no better placeto pass a good time.

Enjoy these last sultry daysand let's stay in touch.

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

The cover photographs ofalligators were provided bySonny Harrington and taken inTensas Parish.

HUMOR4 A Life of Trial…and Error

by Dennis StewartCoyotes and Conway

12 All Things Southern by Shellie TomlinsonAlways Be Prepared For An Accident

23 Runnin’ the Roads by Barbara SharikThe Majority Doesn’t Always Rule

MONTHLY TIDBITS3 Talkin’ It Up!

6 Going Native by Larry BrockOpportunity Through Adversity

10 Backtalk11 Louisiana Lagniappe – Remember When13 August Calendar of Events16 Museum Fundraiser

17 Earning A Dollar by Robert Lemoine19 Louisiana Lagniappe Answers

26 Starr Homeplace by Beau Johnston

RECIPES16 Recipes by Stacy Thornton

ROAD TRIPS5 Insta-Gator Ranch and Hatchery

by John Price12 Nothing Like NOLA by Su Stella14 Travel Adventure by Dianne Newcomer

La Dolce Vita!

17 Beds & Beignets by Mary WhiteA Donaldsonville Revival

20-21 The Charm of Chattanoogaby Mona L. Hayden

25 Explore the New England Coast!by Lee Estes


Coyotes and ConwayBy Dennis Stewart

One of the majorthings I have alwayshated about my life isspending July andAugust in Louisiana

where it is hot, hot, hot and sweaty. When Igot out of law school34 years ago, I figuredby now I would berich, rich, rich, andwould instead bevacationing in Alaskaor Wyoming. Sadly,things didn't turn outlike I planned. Fourex-wives may havehad something to do with that. It was justrecently, 17 years after my last divorce, thatmy net worth finally rose above zero for thefirst time.

Being a glass-half-full kind of guy, I tryto look on the bright side and find somethinggood about spending dog days in Louisiana.The best thing I've found so far is all thehunting shows on satellite TV start showingnew episodes the first week of July so I canwatch Michael Waddell and Jim Shockey andAngie and Scott Denny of Life at TableMountain hunt antelope and mule deer andblack bears out West, while the airconditioner shoots cold air up my underwearas I lay back in my recliner and sip CanadaDry Ginger Ale on ice. One of my favoriteshows is Predator Quest with Les Johnson ashe sits on the hillsides out West and blows apredator call that sounds like a dying rabbitand the coyotes come running and Les takesthem down.

On my little 20 acre place near HollyRidge I have a bunch of coyotes that starthowling around 4:30 every afternoon whenthe train rumbles by, blowing its whistle. Thewhistle drives the coyotes crazy so back inMarch with deer and duck season over, Itook my dying rabbit predator call, sat in oneof my deer stands, and imitated a dyingrabbit (not physically but with the call). Sureenough, about ten minutes later this bigcoyote came running toward me, and thenstopped broadside about 30 yards away, itseyes searching the thicket for the dyingrabbit. I popped him behind the shoulderwith my little Savage rifle and he droppedwithout even a yelp. He wasn't the firstcoyote I have ever killed, but he was the firstpredator I have ever called up, so I took himto my taxidermist for mounting.

I killed my first coyote several yearsago while I was dove hunting inFranklin Parish. I had been sitting by anold corn field and had not seen a doveall afternoon. Then I heard somethingcoming toward me and a few seconds

later a small coyote popped outabout 20 yards away. Since Ihadn't pulled the trigger yet thatday, that ole coyote wasextremely unlucky. I shot it withmy 12 gauge, using number 71/2s. I had it mounted, too.Switching gears, my oldestgrandson had a birthday in midJuly but this year his Dad, a

youth minister, was going toCzechoslovakia in mid-July so hisbirthday party was moved up to July 4thweekend. I drove up to Conway,Arkansas where they live, for thebirthday party, but I got there a littleearly and visited some of the fleamarkets in Conway first.

If you like flea markets, you willlove Conway, Arkansas. They havemany great flea markets there and someof them carry merchandise that appealsto hunters and fishermen. On this trip, Ifound the best flea market ever -Arkansas Peddlers. It's on the four-lanehighway that goes from Conway towardClinton, the Buffalo River, and MountainView. When I walked in the front door, Isaw mounted coyotes and a full bodymounted black bear. The bear was$2,000, but I wouldn't have bought itanyway because I have plenty ofmounted animals that I personally took,including two bear skin rugs from bearsI took in Idaho and Wyoming. They alsohad a great looking moose head, but itwasn't for sale. I did buy an oldmounted fish which I think is a pike,mainly because it was so big and itwould look way cool in my recreationroom, and because I don't presentlyhave someone telling me how stupid Iam for paying $20 for an old mountedfish. Women just don't understand thepotential income possibilities when youbuy stuff like that. For instance, if theeconomy gets any tougher, I can alwayscharge women who want a Polaroidphoto of themselves posing on one of mybear skin rugs. I'm convinced it couldhappen.

A LIFE OF TRIAL…AND ERROR

I took my dyingrabbit predator

call, sat in one ofmy deer stands,

and imitated adying rabbit.


PUBLISHERLRT Publications

______________________

EDITORIAL DIRECTORMona L. Hayden

[email protected](318) 547-1221

OUR GUARDIAN ANGELDebbie Hamilton Pope

June 14, 1952-August 24, 2008

SALESMona L. Hayden

(318) 547-1221Sunny Meriwether

(318) 547-8126

Websitewww.la-road-trips.com

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 56,000 individuals.

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

Copyright 2011 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

ROAD TRIPS

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

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


Insta-Gator Ranch and HatcheryAn Exciting Adventure (Rain or Shine)By John Price

Touch'em, hold'em, feed'em.You can even catch'em in ourtouch pool. Yes, we are talkingabout real live alligators! At Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery inCovington, you can do all this -even hold an egg while it hatchesin your hand. You can take an allday safari trip out intothe marsh to releasegators or go on a huntfor the big Bull Gatorsin September. Insta-Gator Ranch is theonly licensed alligatorranch in Louisiana thatis open to the publicwith guided tours andit's right here on theNorthshore inCovington.

During the 1960'sand 70's, the LA Wildlife &Fisheries through extensivestudies, determined that alligatorswere prey to many animals.Raccoons, snakes, birds, fish andeven bull frogs eat alligator eggsor babies. These findingssupported the development of theAlligator Ranching Programwhich is designed to helpconserve the American Alligatorand preserve our Louisianawetlands. Today there are overfifty ranchers in Louisiana andthey have been known to houseover 500,000 alligators on theirranches. That's more alligatorsthan could be found in the entirestate in the late 1960's.

In the wild an alligator lays30 to 40 eggs at a time, but only 6to 8 percent of hatchlings surviveto a length of 4 feet. An alligatorgrows about a foot a year in itsnatural habitat, so it takesapproximately 4 years to reach 4feet. At Insta-Gator Ranch,alligator eggs harvested fromnests in the marshes of Louisianaare incubated, hatched, and raisedto 4 feet in just 1 year. Once theyreach 4 feet, 12% (nearly twice asmany as would have survived ifleft alone) are released back intothe marsh. Needless to say,

nothing eats a 4 foot alligatorother than larger alligators orman. This program has been sosuccessful that the releaseprogram has been reduced from17% to 14% in 1999 and reducedagain to 12% in 2007. An alligatorpopulation growth from 300,000

in 1963 to nearly 3,000,000 in 2011,makes this possibly the mostsuccessful program of protectionfor any animal on earth.

When Insta-Gator Ranch andHatchery began business in 1989our primary interest was in raisingalligators for return and skin sales.In the summer of 2001, Insta-GatorRanch opened its doors to visitorslooking for an exciting adventure.To date, tens of thousands ofcustomers have enjoyed thatadventure, even in rain.

Upon visiting the Ranch,you'll be immediately impressedwith the ultra-light airplane andair boat used in harvesting eggsfrom the marsh. During the 1 1/2hour tour, your guide will takeyou to stations presenting

mesmerizinginformation andintriguing factsabout Louisiana'sprehistoric beast.Year round, you'llsee an alligator'snest full of eggs. Avideo presentationshowing therancher harvestingthe alligator eggs, while themomma gator tries to defend hernest, is even more impressive. InAugust, you can even hatch ababy alligator in your hand! Surethey may bite, but those cute littlebabies can't hurt you… much.

Walking on protectedwalkways through the Insta-Gator barns, you'll see alligatorsof varying ages swimming aboveand below the surface of crystalclear water, ranging from 12inches to 7 feet, and growing.Here is your opportunity to feedthe alligators and even witnessthe capture of a 4 foot alligatorand taping of its mouth so youcan touch, hold and even take apicture with this incrediblecreature. Your guide will showyou the alligator's clear 3rd eyelidand even let you whisper in itsear. Last but not least, you'll havethe opportunity to snap upalligatorswhile theyswim by atour catchpool. Thisoption willadd 10 - 15

minutes to your tour andMemories of a Lifetime.

Insta-Gator Ranch &Hatchery is located at 23440 LoweDavis Road in Covington, LA. Alltours are guided and reservationsare recommended. Basic tourprices are $16 for adults, $10 forchildren 12 and under, and $14for seniors over 62. There aregroup rates for school, summercamp and church groups. Formore information, Insta-GatorRanch.com offers you theopportunity to learn more aboutthe ranch by viewing a virtualtour movie. You can also purchasebelts, wallets and other fineleather products on site or atwww.Insta-GatorRanch.com.

For tour availability, callInsta-Gator at (985) 892-3669 ortoll free (888) 448-1560.

Sun! Wind!Heat! Drought!Trapped in astagnant weatherpattern. Cloudlessdays under a

relentless sun. Wilted plants. Weeksbetween significant rainfalls. Soils suckeddry by severe drought. Stressed crops andlandscapes. It's easy to getdiscouraged…but this too shall pass. [Note:As I write this in mid-July, we are gettingsome much needed rain.]

Adversity bringsopportunity. An often repeatedalternative is to incorporate nativeplants in the home landscape asthey have a proven ability tosurvive weather extremes. They'readapted to local soils, local climate, andthey require less irrigation. For example,July roadsides continued to blossom inspite of the drought - false dandelions,black-eyed Susan, rose-mallows, sensitiveplants. Fencerows still bloomed withelderberry, honeysuckle and trumpetcreeper…meadows with wildflowers likechicory, clover, cut-leaf coneflower, Mexicanpetunia, purple coneflower and spiderwort.All without human intervention.

A common landscape design is one thatfeatures shrubs around the foundation of ahome, a few trees scattered across the yard, andeverywhere else mowed lawn. It's neat, openand easy to maintain. My “naturalized”landscape has mowed lawns too but it getswoollier after that. My lawns are surroundedby walls of tall trees, banks of dense shrubs,thickets of climbing vines, and weedy stripsloosely dubbed meadows. They arepunctuated with beds of blooming annuals,perennials and seasonal bulbs. Every year my

few acres get taller andthicker, more colorful andmore abundant. Granted,this approach wouldn't fitevery landscaping tastebut in stressful times likethese it's an oasis of

blooming plants, a haven for wildlife. For example, July's woody plants still in

bloom included althea, buddleia, crepe myrtle,lantana and magnolias. Flowering herbaceousplants included cannas, cleome, crinum lily,crocosmia, cypress vine, daylily, dianthus, fouro'clock, impatiens, lion's ear, marigold, Mexicanhoneysuckle, milkweed, oriental lily,periwinkle, sages, salvias, summer phlox,Turk's cap, yarrow and zinnia. From A to Z, analphabet of color in the summerscape.

Blooms are more than just a pretty designelement. They feed hummingbirds and insectsthat in turn pollinate plants that recycle the airwe all breathe. Those same insects are sourcesof food for other insects, arthropods, reptiles,birds and small mammals. So, more plantsdraw more insects that draw more wildlife.That's a thriving ecosystem!

During this drought, my patio bird-bathhas been a magnet for backyard birds - colorfulorioles, cardinals and mockers to bathe;sparrows, doves and jays to drink. Saucywrens too, with their songs and antics.Meanwhile, mockers stripped pokeweed ofevery ripe berry. Did you notice the poke? Firsttheir long drooping stems were white withblooms then green with new berries then deeppurple with ripe berries. After the berries weregone, bright red stems were exposed. Just onebrief stroke of Nature's paint brush onsummer's broad canvas!

Did you know that dirt-daubers stingspiders and fill their mud nests with theparalyzed beasties to feed their young? Blackpipe-organ daubers build long parallel tubes inwhich to put spiders and lay their eggs. Blackand yellow daubers construct fist-sizedglobular nests containing several cells.Iridescent blue daubers with the nervouswings specialize in black widow spiders andusurp the nests of black and yellow daubers.Adult daubers feed on flower nectar and arenot aggressive toward humans. Talk aboutbeneficial insects!

To paraphrase an old standard - Buffalognats, they've gone home at last, gone home atlast, gone home at last; Buffalo gnats won'tcome out tonight, to bite any more this year.Over the meadow, scores of dragonflies dancein the afternoon sun - round and round they flitand fly, back and forth up in the sky. Spicebushswallowtails are more frequent - blacks, giantsand tigers too. Fluttering, flying, reminding meof Cat Steven's Oh Very Young lyrics: onlydancing on this earth for a short while… you won'tlast forever… you will vanish away.

“To cherish what remains of the Earth andto foster its renewal is our only legitimatehope of survival” ~ Wendell Berry. ConsiderGoing Native to improve our prospects. A life-long resident of Lake Providence, Larry Brock wasinspired by his grandfather’s passion for gardening andhis own desire to recover the horticultural uniqueness ofthis region. Larry is drawn to the relationships betweenplants, birds, insects and soil and can be found putteringoutdoors in his yard most any time, weather permitting.

Opportunity Through AdversityGOING NATIVE By Larry Brock

More plantsdraw more

insects that drawmore wildlife.


LEAD ARTICLE


Alligator Hunting SeasonBy Mona L. Hayden with assistance from Louisiana Department Wildlife & Fisheries

For everything there is aseason - including alligators!Hunters in Louisiana are gearingup for 30 days of alligatorhunting beginning August 31,2011 for the East zone(southeastern section of the state)and September 7, 2011 for theWest Zone (all of north, central,and southwestern LA). This huntwill target the adult male andimmature segments of thealligator population.

Louisiana is home toalmost 2million alligatorsfound in ponds, lakes,canals, bayous, rivers,swamps, and especiallycoastal marshes. Alligatorfarms throughout the statewith 57 licensed farmersaccount for an additional376,493 alligators, accordingto farm inventory as of December2010.

Noel Kinler, AlligatorProgram Manager for LouisianaWildlife & Fisheries, states, “From1962-1971, alligators were totallyprotected but the season reopenedin 1972, reflecting an expandingalligator population throughoutall wetland habitats in the state.The harvest has continued togrow over time and we have seensignificant recovery of the coastalhabitats from the devastatinghurricanes in 2005 and 2008. Since1972, 810,000 alligators have been

harvested. However, the severeeconomic recession saw a severelyrepressed price for skins.”Explaining how the commercialharvest is driven by the value ofthe gators to be harvested, Noelcontinues, “During 2007-2008, theharvest included about 35,000wild alligators each year but withthe recession in 2009, demanddropped precipitously. 24,427 tagswere issued but only 9,141 gators

were harvested. In 2010, 31,881tags were issued and 26,478gators harvested. We envision acontinued and gradual recoveryfor price, quantity, and demandfor our alligators.”

Louisiana Department ofWildlife & Fisheries assesses thehabitat quantity and quality eachyear to ensure the number ofgators harvested so as not tonegatively impact any particularlocation. This quota systemrepresents an allowable wildalligator harvest that, combinedwith the state authorized wild

alligator egg harvest program,represents a level of populationutilization currently unparalleledin the world of crocodilianmanagement.

The sustained usemanagement program wasimplemented to manage andconserve alligators as part of thestate's wetland ecosystem,provide benefits to the species, itshabitat and other species of fish

and wildlife associated withalligators, and to provide a

significant economic boostto landowners(approximately 81% ofcoastal habitats areprivately owned), andgator hunters and farmerswho lease land. A resident alligator

hunting licenses cost $25that includes tags. Lotteryalligator hunters may be requiredto pay a set fee per alligator tagissued in lieu of paymentsnormally made to the Departmentfor the value of alligatorsharvested. Hunters not possessingor having permission to harvestalligators on private lands orpublic lands/lakes can harvestalligators as an alligator sporthunter while accompanied by aguide.

Alligator hunters apply fortags prior to the season. Thelicense application form contains

hunter information, a legaldescription and map of theproperty to be hunted, and alandowner's signature grantingpermission for the hunter toharvest alligators on the property.LWF personnel then enter eachapplied property into a GIScomputer system which assessesproperty acreage by habitat typeand makes appropriate tagallocations to determine themaximum number of gators to beharvested. Tags can only be usedon the property indicated on thehunter's license.

Louisiana Wildlife &Fisheries reports that hunterscurrently harvest over 28,000 wildalligators and farmers harvestover 280,000 farm-raisedalligators annually. Raw meat andhide values are estimated at over$11 million for the wild harvestand over $46 million for the farmharvest. (These values consist ofraw meat and hides only and arenot reflective of hide values aftertanning and productmanufacturing, values associatedwith jobs, tourism, economy, etc.or egg values.)

The majority of the wildalligators are harvested by the

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fishing method with baited hooks suspended above the water.Primarily night feeders, alligators take the bait according to size. Thelarger mature gators can reach higher baits while the smaller gatorsfeed off the baits placed lower to the water surface. They should beimmediately tagged and transported to licensed facilities whichprocess alligators for their meat, hides and other commerciallyvaluable parts. Many raw Louisiana skins eventually go to Italy,France and Singapore for tanning and product manufacturing.

The largest reptile in America, male gators can reach 13' in lengthand weigh in at 500+ pounds while females reach 9' and can weigh200+ pounds. They mate during the spring with females laying anaverage of 35 eggs at a time. Hatching begins after about 65 days withthe baby gators measuring 8-12 inches long at birth.

Young alligators feed off insects, crawfish, small fish, and frogs,gradually including larger animals such as rats, crabs, larger fish andfrogs, and small birds. Once they've reached full maturity, their dietincludes even larger animals such as muskrats, nutria, beaver,raccoons, large birds and fish, snakes, turtles, deer, etc.

Alligators and hunting are an important part of Louisiana cultureand when pursued responsibly, can be a great adventure for everyoneinvolved.

Be sure to share your alligator hunting experiences and photographs onFacebook/LouisianaRoadTrips or email [email protected]. The best oneswill be featured on our website.

Charming efficient home (1993) on 4+/- VERY SECLUDEDacres off Forty Oaks Farm Road in West Monroe. GeorgeWelch/Good Hope school district, great neighborhood.Lots of extras including barn with concrete floor, aboveground pool, 600sf of decks, greenhouse, beautiful maturelandscaping with water feature. Backs up to finger ofNorthwood Lake with abundant wildlife. Large living room,den (could be 3rd bedroom), office, whirlpool tub,plantation shutters throughout, F/P,A wood, laminate &ceramic flooring, security system, built-in bookshelves,great condition. Perfect move-in ready home in the woods!Room to expand or build additional homes. Best value foryour money! $239,000

Contact:[email protected] or (318) 547-1221

BOOK REVIEW

Very New OrleansWritten and Illustrated by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

In Very New Orleans, this versatile artist has beautifully translatedthe charm and authenticity of one of the most unique and excitingcities in the world into sketches, watercolors, and fascinating trivia. Asa Louisiana native and book aficionado, I found myself lingering overeach page - several times.

Tidbits of history, culture, cuisine andmore information that you'll ever know aboutNew Orleans are gracefully depicted in a mostalluring style. For instance, did you know thatthe term 'The Big Easy' came from a 1900sdance hall and that Vieux Carre means 'OldSquare', as in The French Quarter? Fromplantationsand recipes tofolktales andvoodoo,nothing isamiss here.

The publisher donates a portionof the proceeds to Hurricane Katrinarelief organizations so if you live in orjust love New Orleans, there's nobetter place to learn so much thanbetween the covers of this captivatingbook. You'll want one for yourself andseveral to pass along. Ask for thisregional book at your favoritebookstore or find it at all major onlinestores.

Visit our website: http://www.la-road-trips.com/

Alligator Hunting Season continued

On the Scene

Hottest NOLAEvents in August By Deborah Burst

Red Dress Run, August 13, 12:30 till… Only New Orleans canpull off a red hot party in the middle of steamy August. The Red DressRun (RDR), held this year on August 13, is a wild costume party, saidto be the largest in the world and last year raised $200,000 for 50 non-profits in the New Orleans area. It's a sea of red: men and women, gayand straight, blinding pale skin with crimson colored sunburns andsome really bad accessorizing.

Sponsored by the New Orleans Hash House Harriers, apassionate running group who likes to drink beer in what they sayis “a drinking club with a running problem,” runners/drinkerscome from across the gulf coast, east coast and even stretching toCanada.

Besides the drinking and eating, enjoy hot babes in scantily clad red dresses, and well, somehot dudes in scantily clad red dresses too, if that's your thing. It's basically a drunken block-partywith registration at 9am and the race starting at 12:30 with red-dressers jogging, walking andcrawling from the staging area (to be announced) throughout the French Quarter. Barbeque andmore than 250 kegs of beer along with pit stops at sponsored bars keep the crew hydrated. Theparty ends where it all began with live music, food, and of course more beer.

You don't need to be a Hasher member to join the run. And if you don't have a dress, checkin with the Hash House guys and they'll suit you up. Last year the number climbed to 8,000runners. Refer to the New Orleans Hash House Harrier website for registration details.Registration includes RDR Swag, beer, barbeque, beer, livemusic, and more beer. www.nolareddress.tumblr.com,www.neworleanshash.com

Dirty Linen Night, August 13, 6-9pm... A spoof on the moretraditional White Linen Night heldthe weekend before; Dirty LinenNight welcomes the public to RoyalStreet for an open air art show. Strollthrough one of the most picturesqueand romantic streets in New Orleansdraped with iron-lace balconies andblocks of vintage art, antique andphotography galleries.

Enjoy live music and the usual vivacious streetperformers on the sidewalks with live entertainment innearby Dutch Alley. In keeping with the theme, some of thegalleries will be serving complimentary dirty martinis anddirty rice. The Royal House Oyster Bar, a Creole cuisinerestaurant, and exclusive sponsor of the 2011 Dirty LinenNight will host the official after-party featuringcomplimentary dirty martinis and hors d'oeuvres, a cash,bar, door prizes and live entertainment.

Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal Street, NewOrleans, LA (at the corner of Royal and St. Louis Streets)504-528-2601, www.royalhouserestaurant.com

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

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BOOK REVIEW

Dancing on GlassBy Deborah Burst

You never know when the moment willstrike: watching the blur of yellow windowson a long stretch of highway, the mindwanders playing out the people, town andfamilies…then the drama and suddenly youhave a story. Fill in the blanks with familiarnames and places, and it all becomeshauntingly real.

Pamela Binnings Ewen has craftedanother masterpiece that explores real-lifedilemmas deep inside historical fiction. Theseed of Dancing on Glass was sown from anevening ritual with husband Jimmy sitting ontheir back deck overlooking a golf course andcypress swamp. During the twilight hour justas the birds began to roost, every evening awhite egret would welcome Pam and Jimmyto her home. They named her Iris and soonshe introduced her beau and offspring.Infatuated with Iris and the secrets of thecypress forest, a story was born.

Set in New Orleans from 1974-1977women were entering a new frontierpreviously dominated by men.Many learned the hard way thatsuccess had its consequences.Amalise Catoir left the comfortsof her small town home to thebig city of New Orleans.Finishing up her law degree atTulane University, she workedand lived in the French Quarterenamored with its sultry andwhimsical flair. A kind-heartedand trusting person on thebrink of a major career, she wasperfect prey for a charming andmagnetic artist, Phillip Sharp.

He was a connivingman, a chameleonsucking the life out ofAmalise weaving hiscocoon of liesseparating her fromfriends and family.

The scenes are soreal you hear the streetside musicians, cravethe coffee and beignets and smell the sweetolive in Jackson Square. Like a miniguidebook, follow the life of Amalise insideCafé Pontalba (corner of St. Peter andChartres) where she waited tables or stepinside St. Louis Cathedral where she prayedfor redemption. Ewen took care in describingNew Orleans in the mid 70s with propernames and vivid descriptions such as Baileys,a popular restaurant for business lunches inthe Roosevelt hotel. Many of the bars andrestaurants are at the same location but nowwith different names.

Ewen's poeticprose fits perfectlywith the vintagebackdrop: Amaliseloved life here…sheloved the pink rumblingold brick of the lowbuildings, and the boxy

Creole cottages right on the street with their cool,shaded courtyards secreted inside, and she lovedthe cafes, like the Napoleon House, where thedecrepit phonograph played whatever record oneplayed---the changer slamming them down on theturn-table one at a time with a clunk and a bang.Said Amalise, “It's the music of the Quarter thatgets inside you…the wind chimes, foghorns, soulmusic, blues, jazz, the honky-tonk that fills the airand when you breath it in, it becomes a part ofyou, like oxygen.”

Pressured by Phillip, Amalise makes arash decision to marry him. The more her lawcareer blossoms, the more Phillip stalks hisprey. A real page turner, Dancing on Glassbrings to life a dilemma that still hauntswomen today, but how will Amalise survivethis fatal choice? What would you do when allseems hopeless and you find yourself foreverdancing on shattered glass?


Dancing on Glass will be released August 1st,with Pam and Jimmy doing a book tour inbookstores along the East Coast andthroughout Louisiana and East Texas. Referto www.pamelaewen.com for a fullschedule. And don't miss the sequel ofDancing on Glass. Set in New Orleans,Chasing the Wind will feature thecontinuing saga of Amalise and Jude, herchildhood friend and confident. Pre-pressheadliners: A mysterious child with a forgotten past. Love,yearning and envy. A razzle-dazzle financial wizard buildinga resort hotel in the city of New Orleans. When they collide-anything can happen!

I love this newspaper!!! I enjoyedlooking at it online and waswondering where can I pickup anactual copy of the printed edition.Please let me know where I can pickone up. Thank you and keep theroad trip ideas coming!

~Jimmy N., Metairie, LA

We were coming home from Dad's Father's Day meal at Jim Bowie'sRelay Station with several family members piled in the SUV (forsome reason, we were a little more cramped coming home thangoing… must have been all that delicious food we had indulged in).Anyway, Dad had picked up the May edition and... I read somearticles out loud for travel entertainment and we all laughed untilwe cried when reading What Happened to Disco? by JohnnyWink....Hilarious! Anyway, just wanted you to know wonderfulmemories were made on our "road trip" home thanks to you!!

~Melinda E., Jena, LA

I'm so glad you reported on the Cypress Bend Resort in Many. Meand my husband sneak off for a long weekend every couple monthsand always end up there. The hotel is just beautiful, the food is reallygood, and for us there's no better place to relax and spend somequality time together. Neither of us play golf but it's fun to just drivea cart around and take in the view.

~Belinda R., Caldwell Parish

BACK

TALK

Officer Down Part Two:

The Accidental Deaths ofDeputy Sheriffs Willis and EdwardsBy Lora Peppers

In the March issue, I brought youthe story of the shooting death of OfficerHaynie, Monroe's first policeman killedin the line of duty. It turns out that alittle over a year after Haynie's death,two more would fall in the line of dutyand this time, it was a tragic accident.

On May 29, 1895, around 9pm, areporter with the Monroe Heraldnewspaper received a telephone call tocome quickly to the Houston CentralDepot downtown. Two men had beenshot. When he got to the depot, he foundDeputy Sheriff Baxter Willis lying on ahandcar. The story that unknownreporter would write sent shockwaves inthe Parish. It seems Mr. Willis and aposse was searching for a man namedAbrahams who had fired into a freighttrain near Swartz several nights before.The group arrived at the Spring Hillsection, eleven miles north of Monroe

and split up into two groups.Deputy Willis went with onegroup and Deputy J.W. Edwardswent with the other.

The men had beensearching all day for Abrahamswith no luck. Both partiesdecided to head back to thesection house. By this time, duskhad fallen and it was hard tosee. Edwards and his possestumbled across Willis and hismen and, thinking Willis wasAbrahams, cried “Hold up yourhands!” He then fired on Willistwice with a 38 Smith andWesson. One shot hit Willis inthe right chest and another inthe left hip. Willis then thoughtEdwards was Abrahams. Heraised his weapon and fired atEdwards, killing him instantly.

Deputy J.W.Edwards leftbehind awife andchild.

Uponhearing

that hehad killed

Edwards,Deputy Willisexclaimed, “MyGod, Edwards,I am sorry itwas you Ishot!” Williswas loaded ona handcar by

the remaining members of theposse and taken to his father'sresidence in Monroe. Drs.Gladden and Forsythe (laterMayor Forsythe) were summonedto Willis' bedside.Unsuccessfulefforts were made totry and remove the bullets fromhis side and chest. After lingeringin agony for two weeks, on June13, 1895, Deputy Samuel BaxterWillis died of peritonitis that hadset into his wounds. He wasthirty-four years old.

No information on DeputyJ.W. Edwards remains, otherthan he was originally fromMississippi. More informationwas found however, on hiscolleague, Deputy Willis. Whenhe died, the Richland Beacon-News posted an article abouthim that had appeared in theMonroe Bulletin. They stated thathe was the son of Judge A.Willis, born in Claiborne Parishin 1860 to two of the finestfamilies in that area. Aftermoving to Ouachita, Willis wasvery politically active. He servedas Deputy under SheriffsMcGuire, Theobalds and Garrettand had their implicitconfidence. About his character,the Bulletin had this to say: “Hewas resolute, plucky, intelligent andconsiderate in thedischarge of his duty.But he had tired ofofficial life and had

become a close student of medicine,which profession he would haveadorned had he lived longer.”

Neither man has aheadstone that I have found.Their names are not on theOfficer Down Memorial and upuntil now, no mentions of theirdeaths have ever been found.Not even the Ouachita ParishSheriff's Department knows oftheir existence. Their deaths,added to those of Officer Searcyand Sheriff Wisner, now bring toa total of four men lost in theline of duty in that department'shistory. Let's hope they andtheir service in the line of dutywill never be forgotten again.

Lora Peppers, a Monroe native,grew up in Bastrop and graduatedfrom ULM. Her love of historydates back to childhood when one ofher favorite activities was visitinglocal cemeteries to examineheadstones. She also loves to travel,the Great Smoky MountainsNational Park being her favoriteplace on Earth. Her job as agenealogist and historian has givenher the opportunity to lead manylectures and author several books.She can be reached by e-mail [email protected].

ouisianaRemember When . . .

1. Hunting and fishing in Louisiana arelongstanding traditions for what?

2. What rodent is considered a nuisance because itdestroys coastal wetlands?3. How many crawfish are caught during the

crawfishing season which lasts throughoutthe year?

4. Alligator hunting season lasts howlong?

5. Why are snakes an importantcomponent of the ecosystem?

6. What are the chief enemies ofsnakes?

7. What are shooting hoursduring deer season?

8. Trapped animals should be released how far from the trap site toprevent their return?

9. In 1970, the LA Legislature created what system to preserve, protect,develop, reclaim, and enhance the wildernessqualities, scenic beauties, and ecological regimes ofcertain free-flowing Louisiana streams?

10. How many miles of water are included in the LANatural and Scenic Rivers System?

BONUS QUESTION: What famous author briefly lived inDelhi as a child and later had a character in his book,

“The Testament”, commit suicide byjumping off a bridge in Delhi?

Answers on next page 19


SIGNIFICANTINCOME

POTENTIALFull Time / Part Time

Memphis company addingteam members

to promote ship-to-doorfood business.

Must have computer.Email:

[email protected]


Hello folks, andwelcome back to the porch!There's nothing I'd enjoymore than a little downtime with some friends.Let's chat...~smile~ I can no longer ignore the

obvious. Mama's lectures, I mean gentle teachingshave finally taken. I know this because I've begunto concern myself with some of her morelegendary apprehensions. Lately, y'all, it's becomeimportant to me to have my personal itemsorganized so that if, heaven forbid, I'm in anaccident in my clean undergarments a friend or

to go out of town for the day, warning us notto go to town until the clothes were done. Inour defense, even former President WilliamJefferson "Bubba" Clinton would say, "Thereare different interpretations of the worddone.”

Our version meant sending all theclothes through the washer on the shortestpossible cycle and then draping and hangingthem all over the house to dry. A clothes dryerdoes take time and there was only so muchdaylight and our friends were waiting, afterall. Unfortunately for us, Mama and Papacame home much earlier than anticipated.

We paid dearly for that one. And to thisday, Mama is likely to take a sick headachejust thinking about the indignity the familycould've suffered had there been anemergency. Uh, oh! And now, I've gone andtold it. I really should go check on Mama.Y'all have a good one and drop me a note onthe porch. I'll be watching for you.

~Hugs, Shellie

Always Be Prepared For An AccidentALL THINGS SOUTHERN By Shellie Tomlinson

relative can come into my home and getadditional garments without bringingshame on the entire family. Mama raised usgirls to understand that leaving the housewith so much as a dish in the sink was toinvite a potential embarrassment we'dnever live down.

There was a time when my sisters andI laughed this off; noting we'd never onceheard anyone in our community revealfinding an accident victim's home in suchdisarray. To this, Mama would alwaysinsist that people around here are just toopolite to discuss things like that. We knewbetter than to question Mama but the truthis, we'd heard polite people discuss a wholelot worse, out of concern, of course.

I remember once when Rhonda and Iwere teenagers and our friends were goingout on the lake. We had been invited tocome along and we had our parents'permission to join them after we completedour Saturday chores. Papa and Mama left

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

Nothing like NOLABy Su Stella

Sometimes we justhave to go visit NewOrleans - one of the mostincredible places on thisplanet! When we lived in

Biloxi before Katrina hit and we could just take aquick daytrip there. Now we have to plan forsuch. I'll share with you some things we did onour trip last month.

If you want to stay at a really elegant hotel,I suggest Hotel Monteleone. It is situated in themiddle of theFrench Quarter,making itconvenient topark in theirsecure parkingarea and nothave to deal with your car until you leave. Thehotel has a rooftop pool with beverages and acarousel bar that slowly spins next to the lobby.Fresh fruit make their continental breakfastrefreshing before you head out into the heat.

Whenever you visit this fine city, always besure to bring your most comfortable walkingshoes as the sidewalks can be pitted. We startedour visit at the Louisiana State Museum, locatednext to the beautiful and iconic St. LouisCathedral, to see Living with Hurricanes -Katrina and Beyond. They did an incredible jobmaking the recent past come alive. The secondfloor is filled with Mardi Gras memorabilia and

is packed with the artistry, glamour and historyof this celebration.

Just outside the museum is the worldfamous Jackson Square with the statue ofAndrew Jackson atop his horse in the park. Ifyou want to really absorb the local culture, allaround the square are artists, musicians, fortunetellers and a host of characters. For those seekinglocal produce, international gifts, or a snack forlunch, the French Market will fill the bill and isjust a short walk.

You can easily spend hours in theFrench Quarter wandering odd stores,galleries, antique shops, andrestaurants. Stroll the Quarter in themorning if you prefer a calmeratmosphere because as daylight castslong shadows, the streets come alive

with locals and tourists and that oh-so-wonderful New Orleans music!

Since NOLA is a 24/7 kind of place, our tripusually entails arriving, swimming, eating,and napping at the hotel so later in theevening we are wide awake and ready to goout and see what's happening. Wanderingthe neon-flooded noisy streets is likestepping into another era, or at the very leasta costume party. You'll see everything fromfuture brides in mock veils with bridesmaidsto folks dressed in feathers, cowboy clothes,Goths, and a few wide-eyed Mom and Popsvisiting for the first time.

The world famous Café Du Monde is openaround the clock so we often enjoy our café aulait and beignets in the early hours after seeingthe night sites.

As in any city of this size, always avoiddeserted streets and be cautious of the usualscam artists. A good idea is to carry just onecredit card and a small amount of cash. Theblocks around the French Quarter are generallysafe and you'll see a strong police presence onfoot, bikes, and even horseback for added safety.It helps to be street smart when travelinganywhere these days.

If you have never visited New Orleans, putthis on your bucket list! If you're a huge fan ofthe grand city like me, you won't be able to stayaway for too long. You can be anyone you wantto be here or just be yourself so wrap thatfeather boa around your neck and click your redglitter heels together three time because there isno place like NOLA!

Wandering the neon-flooded noisy streetsis like stepping into

another era.

Toledo Near Record Low Water LevelsGuide Service

Questions: As to beexpected, with rampclosings and articlesabout Toledo andRayburn's low water

levels in numerous publications, everyone'swondering if our guide service is operational.YES, business as usual. In 2006, Toledo'slevels were even lower and we continuedfishing with no major problems. Obviously,we're very cautious whennavigating the lake but thefish are biting!

Fishing Reports/Bass:The current lake level is162.4' with full pool being172 feet, 9.6 feet below fullpool. There were very fewboats on the lake in late Julyand with school resumingand low lake levels, that willnot change except for theweek of Labor Day. Patternshave not changed verymuch other than we've beenfishing deeper on days withlots of bright sunshine. Ourpatterns have been fairlybasic with Texas and Carolina rigs making upmuch of our fishing day in depths of 15 to 30'.We have also been getting a few good

topwater bites early morning and late afternoonand when we're fortunate enough to get someclouds and light rain conditions.

Our recent producing topwater lures havebeen Berkley's Frenzy Walker (similar to a ZaraSpook), Chug Bug and Yellow Magic. Inaddition, on grassy points we have also beenfishing Stanley's Ribbit frog and a buzz bait(BillNorman's Triple wing). Crankbaits continue tobe productive and we are using a couple of mid-divers(Norman's DLN and Bomber's Model A)

plus our favorite deep diver which continuesto be Norman's DD22. We are running ourcrankbaits on 10,12 and 15 lb test Berkley 100%Fluorocarbon depending the depth we want tocover.

The lighter line allows crankbaits to rundeeper than the heavier line. Sometimes youwant to use a DD22 but you don't want it torun as deep so using larger line will help keepthe bait from digging. Colors we're havingsuccess with are firetiger, bumble bee, sexyshad and blue/chartreuse.

Schooling bass should be more active thedark side of the moon in August as they tendto be active for a couple of weeks then back offfor a while, impacted by the moon phase. Insummer months, my years of fishing journalsexposes the fact that the dark phase of the

moon(moon under foot) is generally much betterduring daylight hours for schooling bass on thesurface. When fish will school on the surface,

they are usually active at other depths aswell.

Before becoming a professional angler13 years ago, I'd plan my summer vacationaround the dark phase of the moon which Ifelt would improve daylight fishingconditions, especially the morning fishing.On other fish-catching patterns the dropshot and jigging spoons have been, attimes, productive near the river andespecially along main creeks where thereare huge amounts of baitfish (shad).

Crappie/Yellow and White Bass: "Thecrappie are still biting" says crappie guide,Noe Garcia with the most consistentpattern being baited brush holes with greenbrush in 18 to 28 feet. Many of thecrappie/white perch are running over apound. Yellow and white bass action hasbeen excellent on the south end usingtailspinners (Little George and Knock-off byBill Norman Lures) plus jigging spoons byKlassic Lures and a custom spoon a friendmakes for me. Some days we are catchingalmost any number we wish to catch.

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 angler,Brently Cooper,with a biglargemouth caughton a DD22crankbait, caught inthe Six Mile arealocated on thesouthwest part ofthe lake.


AugustCalendar of Events

August 27-28__________

Sik Nic Car Show, Gonzales225-621-1700

August 4 - 7___________

Satchmo Fest, ew Orleans

August 18-21__________

National Pro Fastpitch TournamentSPAR Frasch Softball Facilitywww.profastpitch.com

August 20_____________

The Arts and Crabs ExperienceLake Charles Civic Center & LakefrontPromenade337-439-2787

August 26-28__________

Gueydan Duck Festival888-536-6456

August 27_____________

White Linen NightSt. Francisville225-635-3873

Dry Creek Ranch Men's Skeet Shoot,Reeves, LA337-666-2657 515 3666

2011

La Dolce Vita!into the wee hours of the morning! Outdoor cafes,shops, mimes, street entertainers, and arcades linethe streets in this area; it is the perfect place to seeand be seen or just sample the Spanish way of lifelike the Meredith's did before heading off into thebeautiful blue waters of the Med where a littletaste of France and Italy awaited!

When Bob told me his favorite port stop inFrance was not the flashy celebrity rich beacharea of Saint Tropez but the little town of Aix enProvence (pronounced "X on Pro Vonce"according to him), I was truly surprised.Whereas some places in the French Rivierascream glitz and glamour, the Meredith's optedfor this charming little town, affectionatelycalled a suburb of Marseille, where they enjoyed"a great glimpse of everyday French life, historyand culture away from the coast - and the bestrestaurant of the trip!"

The history of Aix dates back to the 17thcentury when the Romans made the town a "spastop," but today, in addition to enjoying itsbeautiful fountains, pedestrian malls, famousspas, and boulevards lined with architecturallystunning townhouses, Aix is recognized as theculinary center of the Provence region. Until Mr.Meredith mentioned his great meal, I hadforgotten that I had once dined on hamburgersmade from quail in Aix!

“After our day in Aix and the port ofToulon, we were off to Florence and Romewhere the days were long, hot, and busy with somuch sightseeing. June is high season so thelines were sometimes challenging, especially atthe Coliseum and the Vatican, which were bothnothing less than awesome. Unfortunately, wehad to just hit the highlights of this great city.When there isso much to seeand do, wedecided to justthrow somecoins into theTrevi Fountainin hopes ofassuring areturn visit."

“My favorite port turned out to beNaples," said Meredith. "Pompeii must havebeen an absolutely amazing place before thatday in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius blew itstop. Thousands died as the city wascompletely buried in up to 50' of volcanic ashin 18 hours. It was surreal walking through anarea that was buried nearly 2000 years ago.

Seeing ruts in the limestone streetsfrom the chariots, the remains of homes andgovernment buildings, the life-like plastermolds made from the cavities left fromhuman bodies with their facial expressions,and the well-designed layout of the townmakes you very aware of how advancedRoman society was. It is also a reminder justhow everything can change in an instant."

In addition to Pompeii, the couple alsotoured Sorrento, a beautiful city wedged intoa cliff overlooking the twinklingMediterranean Sea and well known for itslemons. They also spent time in Positano, oneof the crown jewels of the Amalfi Coast andanother great place to sightsee, stroll, spendmoney, grab a pizza, and savor the sweet life.

When you think about it, the world grewup along the shores of the Med. It is still theperfect place to see, smell, touch, hear, and tastethe “la dolce vita," so why not call me atMonroe Travel Service and let's see how youcan make a little history of your own? Rightnow, we have some great deals on fall cruises tothe Med (7, 10, and 14 days) so call 323-3465 fora free brochure. We need to be making plans.After all, Mount Vesuvius moments happen allthe time. Who knows…the next one just mightrock your world. The time to travel is now!

TRAVEL ADVENTURE By Dianne Newcomer

“My bucket list isnow much shorter!“said Columbiaresident Bob Meredith.“Our Mediterraneancruise wasmagnificent. Belinda

and I had a great time. We saw a lot of placesin a very short period, and we were very tiredbut very rewarded every day!”

To hear such a glowing report is music toa travel agent's ears, but I have to admit I wasnot really surprised. After all, the Meredith'swere on one of Royal Caribbean's newer shipsand sailing their “Best of the Med” itineraryfrom Barcelona, Spain to ports of call likeProvence and Nice, France, and Florence,Rome, and Naples, Italy. How could they nothave a great time?

“Barcelona was way more than Iexpected,” admitted Mr. Meredith. Located soclose to Spain's border with France, it is aperfect jumping off point for a Med cruise.The Greeks, Romans, Moors, and French allleft their mark on the city's culture. Even withover 2000 years of history under her belt,Barcelona is neither dull nor stuffy. In fact, Ithink she was one of the most fun andrefreshing of the old European cities I havevisited, and, thanks to the touches of Gaudi,the city is definitely one of the mostwhimsical. Gaudi's most famous work, hisunfinished Church of the Holy Family orSagrada Familia, is mind-boggling. Thisarchitectural genius, who never met a straightline he liked, worked on this structure forover 40 years until his death in 1926. Work isstill on-going even today and is not expectedto be completed for another 50 years. If youdon't think you will ever make it to Barcelona,then Google and read about it. The SagradaFamilia is truly extraordinary.

Like NYC, it can be said that Barcelona isa city that never sleeps. I would suggest that isbecause dinner/supper commonly starts at10pm. The city's waterfront walkingpromenade, known as Las Ramblas, is busy


Louisiana in the Civil War

August 1861: In for the Long HaulBy Terry Jones

By August 1861, itwas apparent the shortwar that everyone hadpredicted was not to

be. The Confederates had followed up their Julyvictory at First Bull Run with another triumphat Wilson's Creek, Missouri, on August 10, butthe Yankees showed no hint of recognizingSouthern independence. The war would be along one.

Five days after the Battle of Wilson'sCreek, Capt. David Pierson wrote his father.Pierson had served as Winn Parish's delegate tothe Louisiana Secession Convention, where heopposed leaving the Union (North Louisiana'sWinn, Ouachita, Catahoula, and Caldwellparishes voted against secession). Nonetheless,Pierson went on to organize the Winn Rifles forthe 3rd Louisiana and marched off to war.

Pierson told his father, “Whilst we were inthe bushes forming our line, they sent theirbullets among us thick as hail and would havekilled half of our Reg't but we lay on our facesclose to the ground and the balls passed justover us. Already every bush & tree was riddledabove our heads. The first fire of the enemybrought down three of myCompany in a few feet ofwhere I was standing, one shotthrough the heart, the othertwo seriously wounded. . . .MyCompany fought bravely tothe last and kept together & inline better than any otherCompany in the regt.”

As men like Pierson leftfor the front, women andchildren often foundthemselves alone on isolatedfarms having to take over thechores normally left tohusbands. Patriotic zeal stillburned brightly, but life became increasinglydifficult in this time before food stamps and thesocial welfare net.

Sarah Lois Wadley, a seventeen-year-oldgirl in Northeast Louisiana, wrote in her diaryhow hard it had become for some of the localfamilies whose men had joined the army. “Mrs.Brantley has fifteen children, she has three sons,two sons-in law and one grandson in our army,she came down to try to get a little money fromFather, she said one of her sons had returnedhome on account of sickness and was nowgoing back again and she wanted to give himsome money and send some to his brothers. . ..We were very sorry that Father was not athome, if he had been he would have strainedevery nerve to have paid her under suchcircumstances. . . .Mrs. Brantley says thataround in her neighborhood every one hasgiven almost their last cent of ready money tothe war cause.”

Not far away from Miss Wadley lived KateStone, a vivacious twenty-year-old who tried tomake ends meet with her widowed mother andtwo younger siblings on their Madison Parishplantation. Throughout August 1861, Katenoted in her diary howeverything seemed to revolvearound the war.

August 24: “Nothing butwar news talked of andsewing societies beingorganized to sew and knit[for the soldiers].”

August 25: “After dinnerKate, Ashburn, and I went inthe carriage to the levee tosee the Swamp Rangers,Capt. Kup and Capt. Sweet'sartillery company, embark ontheir way to the front. All themilitary companies in[Vicksburg] escorted themdown to the river and therewas a great crowd.”

“Kate and I went to theEpiscopal church to see thelast sad honors paid to Mr.

William Cowan. Hewas buried withmilitary andMasonic honors, oneof the victims of thewar. Death claimedhim in the prime oflife before he couldfire one shot for hiscountry.”

August 28:“Mr. Abe Curry ishome on furlough.

He was in the battle at Springfield, Mo., and hewas twice knocked down but unwounded.”

August 30: “Mamma and I, after knittingawhile, went to work on the boys' uniformshirts. . . Mr. Abe Curry gave an interestingaccount of his campaign in Missouri and thebattle of Springfield but says fully half of thepeople are opposed to us. He thinks the armythere will suffer for clothes and shoes when thewinter sets in.”

Four of Kate's five brothers served in theConfederate army. Only one escaped harm.William was wounded twice, Coleman diedafter his horse fell on him, and Walter, whovolunteered when he was sixteen, died ofdisease. Sadly, the Stone family's losses werenot unique in Civil War Louisiana. Fewfamilies, black or white, would escape thedeath and destruction that was inexorablyheaded their way.

Dr. Terry L. Jones is a professor of history at theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe and has published sixbooks on the American Civil War.


Kate Stone's diaryhas beenpublished underthe titleBrokenburn (LSUPress).


August brings us much - we kick off footballseason, start back to school, attend practices andafter school activities, and get busy! I do lovesummertime and not having a school schedule,staying up late and sleeping late.

Summer is taste tantalizing with freshtomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, peaches,peppers, okra, peas, and corn. But I have to admit,this summer has been one to make me rethink mylove of the summer months. It has been HOT but

our taste buds have burned out. You gotta love all the tastes of summer!

by Stacy ThorntonRECIPES

Sweet Corn Chowder 3 slices bacon, chopped 1 medium onion, diced2 c. peeled diced fresh potatoes 3 c. sweet corn kernels1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper2 c. milk

In a heavy pot cook and stir bacon until crisp. Add onion and cook overlow heat until soft. Add potatoes, salt, pepper and enough cold water tocover. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes until potatoes arejust tender. Add corn with a bit more water if needed. Return to a boiland simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in milk and heat through.

Fried Chicken30 saltine crackers 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour2 tablespoons dry potato flakes 1 egg1 teaspoon seasoned salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper1/4 cup vegetable oil Buttermilk6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves or thighs

Soak chicken in buttermilk. Place crackers in a large resealable plasticbag and crush until coarse crumbs. Add flour, potato flakes, seasonedsalt, and pepper to bag and mix well. Beat egg in a shallow bowl; heatoil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Remove chicken frombuttermilk and discard buttermilk. One by one, dredge chicken piecesin egg then place in bag with crumb mixture, seal bag and shake to coat.Reduce heat to medium and cook coated chicken in skillet for 15 to 20minutes, turning frequently, until golden brown and juices run clear.

Museum FundraiserLink and Huawei Technologies are sponsoring a FUND

RAISING EVENT at ULM for Chennault Aviation and MilitaryMuseum in Monroe on August 19. The affair will take place in theULM Library banquet facilities on the 7th floor. Limited seating soearly reservations are encouraged. The program will feature musicby Ellis Marsalis Jazz Quartet, an address by Admiral WilliamOwens, former Vice Chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff, and others. An allexpense trip to China for two will be awarded to some luckycouple. Call 362 5540 for tickets and information.

Fresh Tomato Salsa2-3 medium tomatoes (finely diced) 1⁄2 red onion (finely diced1 jalapeño pepper (ribs, seeds removed, finely diced)1 serano pepper (ribs, seeds removed, finely diced)juice of one lime 1⁄2 cup cilantro (chopped)optional: oregano and/or cumin to taste salt/pepper to taste

Chop tomatoes and prepare peppers. Be very careful while handlingthese hot peppers. If possible, avoid touching with your hands byusing a paper towel. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hotwater after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours.Set aside some of the seeds from the peppers. If the salsa isn't hotenough, you can add a few for heat. Combine all ingredients in amedium sized bowl. Taste. If too hot, add more chopped tomatoes. Ifnot hot enough, carefully add a few of the seeds from the chilies, oradd some ground cumin. Let sit for an hour for flavors to combine.Makes 3-4 cups. Serve with chips, tortillas, tacos, burritos, tostadas,quesadillas, pinto or black beans.

Summer Fruit Salad2/3 c. fresh orange juice 1/3 c. fresh lemon juice1/3 c. packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest2 c. cubed fresh pineapple 2 cups blueberries3 bananas, sliced 3 kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced2 oranges, peeled and sectioned 1 c. seedless grapes2 c. strawberries, hulled and sliced

Bring orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, orange zest, and lemonzest to boil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Removefrom heat, stir in vanilla extract, let cool. Place fruit in a large, clearglass bowl in this order: pineapple, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bananas,oranges, grapes, and blueberries. Pour the cooled sauce over the fruit.Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours before serving.


After the balloonsleave Baton Rouge forthe Balloon Festival,they fly right over thenearby home of DonnaSchexnaydre,

innkeeper at The Victorian on the Avenue(www.BnBFinder.com/VictorianAvenue).Located in Donaldsonville, The Victorian onthe Avenue has had quite an exciting existence.Built in the 1890s, it has been used as fivedifferent shops and a private home. In Octoberof 2002, the house moved!

Donaldsonville used to be a thrivingmetropolis. One of the oldest cities inLouisiana, it served briefly as a state capital.During the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, the city wasa major port on the Mississippi, using ferriesto get across the river. With the constructionof the interstate, that all changed. All thecommerce moved to the east of the river andDonaldsonville fell into disrepair.

Enter the Donaldsonville DowntownDevelopment District, an organizationdevoted to rebuilding and restoring theDonaldsonville downtown area. The Victorianon the Avenue was donated to them, as was aplot of land on Railroad Avenue. SchexnaydreRestoration and Construction was brought in to

move the house and six months later, theSchexnaydre's bought and restored it,renovating The Victorian for use as a bed andbreakfast. It turns out the original house onRailroad Avenue looked a lot like TheVictorian so Donna always says: “The Ladyhas come home.”

The restored house has five rooms andfive bathrooms and, like the Schexnaydre's,has hosted quite afew characters.People from all overthe world havestayed at the inn butthe biggest impactwas made by peoplewho stayed afterHurricane Katrina.

Donaldsonvilleis only 30 miles fromBaton Rouge and 60 miles from New Orleansso the city played host to quite a few Katrinarefugees. They only lost power for one day.Donna remembers some guests calling aftertrying to go back home, in tears because theyhad no where to go; their home was stillunder water. Donna ended up housingmultiple families as well as finding room forothers at nearby properties that were empty.

At her own home, they hosted a Japanese filmcrew for thirty days!

The most emotional story comes from awoman who had been stuck in a house with 12others in Mississippi, all sharing one bathroom!The woman got into her car and started drivingwest. Somehow she ended up at the Victorian onthe Avenue. She said to Donna “I don't know howI got here, I've never heard of Donaldsonville, God

must have sent me to you,” and shejust started crying.

Today, Donaldsonville isgetting bigger all the time. A fewyears ago, the No Problem Racewayopened up nearby and peoplefrom all over the country come torace here. As for ballooning, theSchexnaydre's don't do itthemselves but have a number offriends with their own balloons

and travel to different competitions, competingand giving rides. For more information, visitwww.BnBFinder.com/VictorianAvenue.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.

A Donaldsonville RevivalBEDS & BEIGNETS By Mary White

Earning a DollarBy Robert Lemoine

A dollar. It usedto be so much. Now itseems like it's nothing.The new generationhas no appreciationfor it. The youth of

today see us go to the store and slide plasticthrough the machine and leave with "stuff".They have no idea how it works. My wife andI try to pay with cash on most items so ourkids see it's not magic. They watch us at fleamarkets when people give us money inexchange for merchandise. We've even letthem start helping with customers. I think itwill help them better understand how a dollarworks.

When I was younger, I wanted a toy thatcost about $50 and that was a lot of money inthe early '80's. I was told "NO". But my veryinsightful step-Dad said I could work for it. Hehad a pile of bricks thrown into the wrong spotin the yard and needed them stacked neatly bythe fence on the other side of the yard about250-300 feet away. I carried bricks, one in eachhand, then stacks of 4 or 5 at a time, and thenjust whatever I could handle. I was so tired.

Every day after school for about a week Icarried and stacked bricks until dark. When allthe bricks were moved, I had the money to getthat toy... the first Optimus Prime Transformer.I paid for it with my HARD EARNEDDOLLARS and had a couple of dollars left over.

A few years ago, they moved that stackof bricks to almost where they started out.Anyway, I hope to give our kids the same lifelesson that a dollar is not just somethingeverybody has and that you have to EARN it.Keep in mind that when we were growing up,our parents went to the bank to deposit apaycheck and went to the bank toget money. It was real, not just a"magic" piece of plastic.

This story was originallywritten on April 16, 2009, and I stillhave that toy tucked away instorage. Jeffy Cole, the man whotaught me about a dollar, left thisworld on April 24, 2010 whilesleeping peacefully in his bed. I'mvery grateful that he had the insightto show me how a dollar reallyworked. That lesson has echoed

through the years as I've grown up. Althoughbricks haven't earned me a dollar in a longtime, I still sometimes think, “How manybricks will this cost me?”

After his passing, those bricks movedonce again. They are now in my yard, stackedneatly where my boys placed them. That'sright, I used them to teach the same value Ilearned as a small boy. Who knows, thosesame bricks may be used in the future to teachanother generation the value of a dollar. MayGod bless you and keep you. Remember, thefastest way up is to kneel down.

A Little of This & That By Johnny Wink

Let me tell youwhat's going on thissummer at Megabucksin Jones. The big newsis that it's HOTTTTT. I

go outside to feed the animals and in amatter of minutes I'm wringing wet. Is it asuper hot summer or is it just me gettingold, or both?

At a friend's farm, his diesel pumpsare running 24/7 irrigating the crops. I surewouldn't want to pay that diesel bill. Onething that likes thishot weather is thesunflower fields. Ihelped plant five ofhis fields andthey're big andpretty right now.It's going to be agreat dove seasonthis year, but itdon't come cheapwith the cost ofseeds, chemicals, tractors, diesel and farmhelp. So when you want to hunt a place likethis and the cost seems high, you'llunderstand why. And if you don't want topay to hunt there, you can always huntdown the road and listen to them shootwhile you get a suntan. That's why peopleplay golf. They don't want to pay money tohunt in the sunflower field. Check it out onopening day of dove season. The golfcourses are full.

Okay, I've found out there isa shotgun shell company in SouthLouisiana named Spetrim Shot.Have you ever got in a duck blindand someone says, “I got thatone,” and the next one comes inand he says, “I got that one too?”According to him, he got them all.

You know this guy. Well, now there's a wayto fix this man's wagon - with coloredpellets. That's right, this company sellscolored pellets. Each box comes with brightcolored pellets. Orange, yellow, green, andblue. So, if the man has yellow pellets andyou have blue pellets, just open up the duckthat y'all just killed and see the color. Justmake sure everybody in the blind has adifferent color. Then you'll know for surewho got what duck. And it just might shuthim up. It sounds cool and I can't wait to

try it out this Teal Season. Just makesure your buddies all have differentcolors when you get to the blind.And to add to this new game, thiscompany loves LSU so much they'remaking school colors! You'll be ableto shoot purple and gold shotpellets. I hope they come out withGeorgia Bulldog colors becausethey'll be all over the rice fields inMorehouse Parish and the purpleand gold ones will be in the dead

ducks and geese. And don't forget theArkansas colors. You might find one or twopellets in a duck's butt. Maybe. We knowwhich state kills the most ducks by far - itain't even close. And don't forget, if youhave a youngster wanting to know if hekilled a duck, here you can.

Mojo has come out with some newproducts this year, too. I tested one out lastyear. It's a walking stick with an orange bigend on the bottom. If you've ever walked in

And if you don'twant to pay to

hunt there, youcan always hunt

down the roadand listen to them

shoot while youget a suntan.

really cold water and hit a stump or cypress knee,you would've wished for one of these. Also, there'sa Wing Tree that holds up to five Mojo's on onestand. I got to get a few of these. Remember, themore gizmos you have, the more birds in the bag. Isaw the video and it looks great. Paul Meeks sellsthat decoy stand. You can find it at your sportinggoods store this year.

The reports are saying good things about thehatch this year. Remember all the water we had?Well, a lot of it was snow runoff and that filled upthose small ponds in the Dakotas and Canada,letting the ducks spread out and hide frompredators. That means more ducks. As long as weget some cold weather we should do just fine thisyear.

Hey, those sunflower fields are looking sogood this year that a friend of mine, Hanah Fife,owner of Rusted Spoon Photography, brought someof her customers over for photo shoots in them.One person came all the way from Dallas with herwedding gown, got out in the sunflowers and hadsome really amazing pictures taken. Hanah doesgreat work and with a backdrop like this, wow! Ijust didn't think we'd have women in weddinggowns walking in and out of the sunflowers. I betpeople would've thought someone was gettingmarried. Well, it wasn't me because when I getmarried it's going to be in a rice field, not some olesunflower field.

See y'all next month, after I go on my annualspring vacation in August! But I can't tell youwhere yet because then everyone will want to go,too. So I'll tell you all about it next month.

Darrell Chitty, ArtistBy Carolyn Files

It was just a portrait of Murrell Butler, a painting of a man sitting in front of a window at ButlerGreenwood Plantation. I have met Murrell and easily recognized that artist Darrell Chitty captured thewhole being of Murrell, not just a physical representation.

Portraying the essence of subjects is what makes Darrell's work so compelling. You can hear the fourbeat cadence of hooves encircling a mist enshrouded track in MORNINGWORKOUT as horse and rider pass through sun's golden rays. CHILDRENAT PLAY radiates giggles and energy of four girls on the front lawn of aplantation. Heat and summer smells draw you into a landscape of roundbales of hay in a hayfield.

Degrees in both business and art have enabled Darrell to successfullymarket his paintings, photography, and computer generated work. He is amaster photographer who utilizes technology to keep current in his field.Darrell has developed webinars to teach and encourage artists and has heldworkshops in St. Francisville and at Butler Greenwood. He and his cousin, Anne Butler, are nowcollaborating on a book featuring Louisiana chefs that will be a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Darrell lives in Haughton, Louisiana and exhibits in various places. Visit his website atwww.DarrellChitty.com to view his work, learn more about him, or even purchase one of his pieces.


Hunter Education Safety CourseBy Sonny Harrington

If you're a hunter and were born on orafter Sept 1, 1969, it's mandatory that you takea hunter safety class to purchase a huntinglicense. Even if it weren't the law, this courseteaches you more about hunting than youmay ever learn on your own. And it's free.The LDWF administers the standard andprovides all supplies for the course.

The 10-hour course is held over two tofour days. The class covers but is not limitedto resident, basic game, big game, bowhunting, muzzle loader, and duck hunting.The classes are suited for all hunters, novice tothe more experienced, toteach hunterresponsibility, etiquette,and safe gun handlingtechniques. Topics range from guns andammunition to animals and survival skills.

Other states have different requirementsfor their resident hunter safety courses but aLouisiana Hunter Education CertificationCard is recognized if you decide to hunt outof state. Young hunters can observe in class atany age but need to be at least 10 years old totake the test for certification of completing thecourse. Underage kids can receive a certificateof attendance but they are not certified. ALouisiana basic resident hunting license costs$15 each year but you also need a big gamelicense for an additional $14 to hunt deer. Forserious hunters, I recommend buying alifetime license for $300 that includes basic,big game, bow hunting, primitive, La ducklicense, turkey stamp, and wildlife

management area hunting. Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries certified

instructors teach current hunting regulationssuch as tagging before moving a kill, baglimits, ethical practices, and wildlifeconservation. Hear about animal habitats,food plots for deer, trespassing laws (propertyno longer has to be posted to warntrespassers), and more. If you're a sportsman,most of this information will be invaluablesometime during a hunt, especially whenincident reports from the last hunting seasonare discussed. Nothing's better than learning

from other people'smistakes.

As a responsiblehunter, you need to

recognize your capabilities and limitations asa marksman and know your firearms andequipment. The course includes hands-oninstruction with firearms and ammunition toget the feel of different types of actions,safeties, mechanisms, and learn thenomenclature for shotguns. You'll also learnhow to sight in a rifle, about shootingpositions, shot types and patterns, andloading and transporting guns. Choosing thecorrect shot angle and learning the kill area ofan animal are also topics of discussion. A basicrule of firearm safety is NOT to mix alcoholand gunpowder; however, it can't be stressedenough as this is one of leading causes ofhunting accidents, with tree stands being theprimary cause.

Other valuable information providedincludes the five stages of hunterdevelopment (shooting, limiting out, trophy,method, and sportsman), how to leave land inbetter shape than you found it, how to aim for

a quick clean kill, how not to waste meat, howto identify a safety approved tree stand, andhow to field dress a deer to reduce weightwhen moving him.

LDWF oversees the Hunter EducationSafety Courses so check their website atwww.wlf.louisiana.gov for the class schedulein your area. The Hunter Safety Course isfunded by tax on Pittman-Roberson Act of1937 when Congress extended and earmarkedthe existing 11% sales tax on sport huntingammunition and firearms to be used forwildlife restoration, making it available forfree. Home study hunter safety coursesoffered on the website are available for $15but you'll still be required to attend a fieldday. A field day is separate from a standardcourse. With hunting season coming up in amatter of weeks, it's best to get hunter safetycertified as soon as possible.

Sonny Harrington is an LDWF CertifiedVolunteer Hunter Safety Instructor. He is also anNRA (National Rifle Association) Rifle & PistolInstructor.

ouisianaAnswers …

1. Commerce and recreation2. Nutria3. Between 75 to 105 million

crawfish4. 30 days

5. They act as predators andas prey for other wildlife.

6. Predators (hawks, owls,wild pigs, skunks),humans,automobiles, andhabitat destruction.

7. One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour aftersunset.

8. A minimum of five miles. 9. The Louisiana Natural and Scenic

Rivers System10. 3,000 miles

BONUS ANSWER: John Grisham


To report a game violation,

call 1-800-442-2511 anytime.

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The Charm of ChattanoogaA Renaissance City Overflowing with Pride, Passion, and CommunityBy Mona L. Hayden

You see it everywhere in Chattanooga.From the riverside parks and galleries tothriving businesses and restaurantsthroughout the pristine city, the sense of prideand passion is most evident. Adding to theallure are panoramic views of the beautifulTennessee River, a section of the AppalachianMountains and the Cumberland Plateau.

Located just 150 miles northeast ofBirmingham on the Tennessee/Georgia state line,Chattanooga has experienced an astonishingtransformationduring the last20 years. Today,the city glistenswith fresh paintand high rises,lush landscapesand dance stepsembossed indowntownsidewalks, anarray ofperforming arts,and about 165,000 people who are proud tocall Chattanooga home.

Even if you aren't lucky enough to livethere, you can always visit the Scenic City.Here are just some suggestions for yourroad trip but first things first - check intothe Chattanooga Choo-Choo HistoricHotel (choochoo.com). This historicallandmark is positioned on 24 acres and issure to whet your appetite for what you'reabout to discover. The grand lobby is a formerrailroad terminal that houses an 85 foot domeceiling built in 1909, the largest freestandingbrick dome in the world. Opt to stayovernight in an authentic sleep car or in aconventional room. You could easily make theChattanooga Choo-Choo a complete weekenddestination and never leave the property. Withdining options ranging from café style toformal, don't miss an evening at the StationHouse Restaurant where the wait-staff singsfor their supper! Shoppers will delight inoptions ranging from handblown glass tospecialty candy. Tour the 174' long ModelRailroad with over 3000 feet of track, theelaborate rose gardens with fountains,statuary, and sitting areas or just relax in thehot tub or outdoor pool. The Choo-Choo isfamily and pet friendly and welcomesreunions, groups, conferences, andconventions. If you can tear yourself away,take the free electric shuttle bus downtown tosee the attractions near the beautifulTennessee River.

First stop is the Tennessee Aquarium &Imax 3D Theatre (tnaqua.org). Perched

beneath six majestic glass peaks is the world'slargest freshwater aquarium where you cantake a River Journey or an Ocean Journey todiscover thriving forests and aqua treasures.Relax and be entertained in the Imax 3DTheatre while you're there. Just across theparking area is the Tennessee Aquarium'sRiver Gorge Explorer, a high-tech catamaranthat travels up to 50mph into the TennesseeGrand Canyon. Take a 2-hour cruise on this70-passenger hydrofoil-assisted vessel that isgenerally operated only in an oceanenvironment, as a Naturalist from theAquarium narrates the expedition andidentifies wildlife and historic sites.

Other places of interest include a visit tothe hands-on children's Creative DiscoveryMuseum (cdmfun.org) where you can easilylose track of time with exciting adventures and

exhibits.ExperiencetheTennesseeValleyRailroadMuseum(tvrail.com)and enjoy

riding authenticallyrestored steam anddiesel poweredpassenger trainsthrough tunnels,across water, andamong treetops onthe South's largestoperating historicrailroad. The railroadmuseum will celebrate its 50th anniversary onLabor Day weekend (Sept 2-5, 2011) so checktheir website for specific events.

If you want to know Chattanooga likethe locals do, spend a mere $15 for a 90-minute walking tour of thedowntown area with ChattanoogaSidewalk Tours(chattanoogasidewalktours.com).Stroll across the renovated WalnutStreet Bridge, one of the longestpedestrian-only bridges in theworld, for an incredible view of thecity with touring partners CarltonThomas or Krista Seckinger. Amblethrough Coolidge Park to see thevintage Carousel and the retail

revival on the North Shore where shoppingrules, as your guide points out notablelandmarks and shares tidbits of history andcurrent events. Learn how the city hasevolved into a prime tourism destination byutilizing the waterfront as 'Chattanooga'sFront Porch'. Krista is quick to say, “I love

sharing information about a city that's reallyspecial to me. I watched it revitalize and feltthe excitement.”

For the ultimate in relaxation andentertainment, catch a ride aboard theSouthern Belle Riverboat(chattanoogariverboat.com) as it cruisesthrough the Tennessee River Gorge. Selectfrom your choice of lunch and dinner cruises,

sightseeing and moonlightcruises, and seasonal andholiday cruises. Book theriverboat for weddings,receptions, reunions, and mostany celebration as it easilyaccommodates up to 500 guests.From prime rib to Papa John'sPizza, there's a theme foreveryone. The Fall Leaf Cruiseruns from October 15 to

November 6so keep thatin mind whenplanningyour trip.

Downtownacross theTennessee River,perched high onan 80 foot bluff,is a celebration

continued on nextpage > > >

of 100 years of architecture with the South'slargest collection of American Art - the HunterMuseum of American Art(huntermuseum.org). From the 1905 classicmansion to the sharp lines of the modern 1975East Wing and the contemporary steel andglass of the 2005 West Wing, the museumsfaçade coincides with the vast collection ofpaintings, paper, sculpture, furniture, andother art spanning these periods. The 1905mansion includes art from the Colonial Periodto the post-Civil War era while a sculpturepark is located immediately outside themodern structure.

Within walking distance is simply a feastfor the senses. No trip to Chattanooga wouldbe complete without a leisurely stroll throughthe Bluff View Art District(bluffviewdistrict.com), an enchanting fusionof restaurants, cafés, galleries, gardens, and ahistoric inn, all exuding the panache ofSouthern flair with European influence. Localresidents and entrepreneurs, Dr. Charles andMary Portera, shared the vision to reclaimthese neglected city blocks and began therevitalization by securing property to establisha bakery followed by a coffee house, placing astrong emphasis on quality and artisanalgoods. Today, the Bluff View Art Districtconsists of an historic inn, chic restaurants,and charming street-side shops where visitorscan observe culinary artisans at work throughtheir storefront windows making pastries andpastas, creating handmade chocolates,roasting gourmet coffees, and bakingscrumptious breads. The intimacy ofconversing with these artists provides a strongsense of connection, making the overallexperience one of kinship and community.Within the district is also the two acre RiverGallery & Sculpture Garden (river-gallery.com) displaying a most impressive

private collection of contemporary Americanart in a breathtaking natural setting. Without adoubt, time shared in the Bluff View ArtDistrict is time well spent.

Dining options throughout this charmingcity are unlimited. For the finest in Greekcuisine, Niko's Southside Grill(nikossouthside.com) delivers in a big way.The Boathouse Rotisserie & Raw Bar(boathousechattanooga.com) satisfies

cravings for Gulf coast foods while StickyFingers (stickyfingers.com) slathers mouth-watering BBQ sauce on their menu selection.

The Terminal Brewhouse(terminalbrewhouse.com), located adjacent tothe Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel inthe Terminal Station, brews andserves world-class beer while taking atwist on casual dishes to make themextraordinary. From Festo (pestomade with Feta cheese) and Fungi Pieto Pepper Smashed Steaks, all madefrom fresh local food, served with thebest brews around, this is one stopnot to miss. In typical Chattanooga'buy / support local' fashion, the backof the menu lists and promotespartners, vendors, and friends that providelocal fare to the restaurant.

Niedlov's Breadworks (niedlovs.com) isa downtown family owned bakeryspecializing in healthy artisan breads madefrom a sourdough starter and using naturaland organic ingredients. Owner John Sweet, aproponent of the slow food movement,composting, recycling, volunteerism, andmentoring, was named the 2010 TennesseeState Small Business of the Year by the U.S.Small Business Administration, recognizinghis efforts and dedication to his community.John has mastered the art of baking with hisbeautiful and delectable breads and othertasty treats. Niedlov's products can be foundon the menu at many restaurants as well as intheir downtown bakery.

Next door is Link 41, (linkfortyone.com)where owners Tom and Trae create artisan andcured meats from locally raised animals fortheir small USDA butcher shop. Farm to tableit is. Using natural ingredients, these hand-crafted products deliver big on quality andtaste with menu items like Baconage (hickorysmoked bacon and sausage), Brats (great porkand a custom spice blend), and Finn (theirversion of Italian sausage with whole fennelseeds). Link 41 has raised the bar, all for thelove of pig.

Bringing it all together is CrabtreeFarms, Chattanooga's community farm thatproduces over 80 varieties of vegetables,fruits, and herbs and is maintained by a groupof staff members and volunteers. With animpressive number of restaurants, foodartisans, and farmers markets participating inthe city-wide effort to buy local, this growingmovement not only provides an economicboost but builds a stronger community andpromotes better health within it. GainingGround (growchattanooga.org) is a group oflocal growers, sellers, and others committed tothe production and consumption of local foodin the Chattanooga area. Visit the site orcontact Director Jeff Pfitzer for moreinformation on Gaining Ground.

After you've been thoroughly enthralledby the city, you may want to venture out a bit.Nearby attractions include the renownedRock City (SeeRockCity.com) with itsawesome botanical and geological features.

Here you'lldiscovernumerousnatural rockformations,waterfalls,bridges, andeven a cliff-side terracewhere on aclear dayyou can see

seven states, all from the top of LookoutMountain. This American icon and privategarden is maintained by local mastercraftsmen and is a sight to behold. Remembertheir ingenious promotional campaign startedin the 1930s of painting barns next tohighways in exchange for adding the message“See Rock City”? Now you can see it, too,along with more than a half million otherpeople that travel to see this marvel each year.

For a real adventure, American's highestunderground waterfall can be viewed at RubyFalls (rubyfalls.com). This massiveunderground phenomenon is located deepwithin Lookout Mountain, 1,120 feet belowthe surface to be exact, although the entranceto the cave is at the foot of the mountainmaking it about 200 feet below. The 145 footunderground waterfall is best estimated to beabout 30 million years old and continues to bea prime tourist attraction.

With on the mountain top, don't miss outon what is billed as America's most amazingmile - the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway(ridetheincline.com). With a breathtakinggrade of tract at 72.7%, the world's steepestpassenger railway is an enclosed railcar with aglass roof giving riders a spectacular view ofthe mountains and the valley. This NationalHistorical & National Mechanical EngineeringLandmark is open year round allowing guestto enjoy the change of seasons.

Just recently, news that Chattanooga hasbeen selected as Volkswagen's NorthAmerican manufacturing headquarters with anew assembly plant, business has never beenbetter in the Scenic City. Become a fan onFacebook.com/ExploreChattanooga and seewhat other visitors are saying and keep upwith what's going on. You might as well aspack a bag and have the post office hold yourmail because the charms of Chattanooga willsoon be luring you in.

The Charm of Chattanooga continued



I recently boughtsome hair color. I wentgray, then decided Ilooked so washed outthat I needed help. Thedirections advised doing

a skin allergy test 48 hours prior to use. Amongthe warnings was one that struck me odd. Itread, “If you have a tattoo, the risks of an allergicreaction may be increased.” Why? What does mybutterfly tattoo have todo with allergies? Tattooaside, a friend told me if Iadmit I color my hair,then everyone will knowI have gray hair and bynot saying I do it, I'll foolfolks into thinking I'm younger than I am. Thefact of the matter is, at my age, my age is hard tokeep secret, bottle blonde or not.

While on a self-improvement kick, I decidedto exercise. I asked my doctor. He said go for it.

He probably figured I'd strain a muscleor get tired blood and come back fortreatment. Then he could charge me anarm and a leg for treatment. Too bad.They're already pledged to the electriccompany and gas station. So, with hispermission I bent, twisted, turned,jumped up and down and perspired foran hour. By the time I got into myleotards, I was too tired to exercise. My

tiger-striped leotards are very stylishbecause big girls wanna look goodtoo. But by the time I got them on,somebody called in a wild animalsighting.

Besides age, weight is hard to keepsecret too. I read that the key is to

dress thin to win. According to statistics,the majority of women in this countryare not super thin model material. Thisputs me in the majority. I'm overly fluffyand although fat is only deep skin, I'm

working onrectifying thatsituation andcompletelychanged myeating habits. I know by

having a figure that can shade my man in thesummer and warm him in the winter, thatdressing attractively is a challenge until Ireach my goal. High-end designers don'tknow that no one loves a bone but a dog andhe buries it. They don't care either. If you'refull-figured you're advised to wear verticallines. They'll add to the illusion of height andslimness and dark colors are supposed tominimize. Honey, they don't make stripesvertical enough nor colors dark enough forsome of us. We're supposed to choose jacketsor shirts that elongate the torso, but where doyou find ankle-length jackets and shirts?

Unfortunately, dressing thin doesn'tsolve much more than the visual problemshindering fluffy folks. Before I started on myhealthy weight reduction diet, I once tried tobuy health insurance. I filled out myapplication honestly which included givingmy actual height and weight. There's alwaysthe temptation to shave the numbers, but I'mpast the time in life to think I'd fool anyoneinto believing I'm skinny by saying I weighless than I do. Some things are obvious.Covered up gray hair and fluffiness are twoof them. Anyway, I found out I was too shortto get health insurance. The letter I receivedsaid my height/weight ratio made me less

likely to be accepted for healthinsurance. Actually, this was nobig surprise. I've been knowingfor quite some time that I'm tooshort. If I were six-foot-eight I'dbe just right, and Blue Crossaffirmed it.

Barbara Sharik makes her home atWit's End in Jones, Louisiana with acouple old dogs, young dogs andseveral stupid dogs, a cat, a talkingcockatiel and a white dove. She's activein civic affairs, serves as a Justice of thePeace, a Notary Public, is the Clerk forthe Village of Bonita and a columnistfor the Bastrop Daily Enterprise. Shehas authored several books. You can e-mail Barbara [email protected].

What does mybutterfly tattoohave to do with

allergies?

The Majority Doesn't Always Rule RUNNIN’ THE ROADS By Barbara Sharik


Scott's SeafoodNew Ruston Location!

In June, 2000, Scott and Betty Bond opened Scott's Seafood at 2812 CypressStreet in West Monroe (387-6212). Along with their son Brian and nephew Jason,they have a combined total of 77 years experience in the restaurant business and itshows in the quality of their food and service. The owners and staff take greatpride in providing a quality dining experience, whether you eat in or call aheadfor take-out. For times when you don't feel like cooking at home or eating in arestaurant, take advantage of the convenient drive-thru window and, new inRuston, their walk-up window. It's easier than ever to pick up a great meal andtake it home.

The new location of Scott's Seafood at 2480 Hwy 33 in Ruston (232-7500) isjust off the interstate. Take Exit 86 and drive 1.5 miles north. Visit their website atscottscatfish.com for their complete menu. Now with two convenient locations,there's no excuse not to enjoy some of the best catfish and sides in Louisiana!

Explore the New England Coast!By Lee Estes

We Louisianan'shave endured thehottest summer I canremember but I justtalked with mydaughter in

Connecticut who toldme of the delightfulweather they werehaving. I can't take offright now but I can writeabout that part of theworld.

Now is the time tothink about NewEngland fall foliage butthere's lots more for thevisitor to enjoy. I canonly make a fewsuggestions and show a few pictures of aperfect place to take a leisurely road tripalong the coast from Connecticutto Maine. From Jackson, MS, youcan make very good connectionsby air to Hartford, CT orProvidence, RI on SouthwestAirlines. Rent your car there andbe on your way.

I suggest you start in Groton,CT and visit the Submarinemuseum. Free admission, and youcan explore the inside of theworld's first nuclear poweredsubmarine. While aboard, imaginehow it must have been to travelacross the North Pole under the ice. Just a fewmiles further east takes you to Old MysticSeaport where the last remaining woodwhaling ship is anchored. No free admissionbut a valuable learning experience about earlyAmerican seamanship andlifestyle.

Your basic route along thiscoast can be followed on US1 withoccasional side trips whenever thespirit moves you. And move you itwill, because there are so manyinteresting and historical places atevery turn in the road. When youleave Mystic on US1, a shortdistance away is Rhode Island andafter turning north alongNarragansett Bay it intersectsRI138 to the right. That will take you acrossthe bay to Newport crossing ConanicutIsland. Newport is renowned for the fabulousmansions facing the sea which once housedthe most famous and richest people in thecountry. The Breakers, home of CorneliusVanderbilt II, is the most outstanding amongmany palatial mansions there. Most are open

to the public with tickets that include a visit toseveral, but The Breakers must be purchasedseparately.

Leaving Newport on RI 114 north youwill soon (about 30 mi.) intersect I 195 nearFall River, MA. A right turn for a short

distance and an exitat US 6 will carryyou to NewBedford, a majorwhaling port in theU.S. during the 19thcentury. By now youget the idea, followthe coast andexplore the wealthof opportunities. Ifyou don't fancy "Doit yourself" travel,

you can book a group program. Tauck Toursprobably runs the best available. Kinda pricey

but they take careof you.

Head northfrom NewBedford toBoston to visitOld Ironsides inBoston harborand contemplatethe great historicheritage of thecity. Further upthe coast youenter New

Hampshire with its wonderful VictorianArchitecture and its own, although short,Atlantic coast.

Maine is the easternmost part of theUnited States and a wonderful travel

experience. Thecoast is indentedwith numerousbays, islands,and quaintfishing andlobsteringvillages. US 1will keep younear thecoast butdon'thesitate to

wander off course. Little towns litteredwith lobster pots and relatedparaphernalia, colorful and crustycharacters intimately related to the sea,combine to keep things interesting. Youcan indulge yourself by eating lobsterin local restaurants and pounds (acommon local term for an eatery

serving locally trapped lobster). Anywhereyou stop around Penobscot Bay can be ajoyous adventure such as Wiscasset,Friendship, Rockland, Bucksport, and Castine.Rockland is home port of the Victory Chimes,a grand three masted schooner available forcruises and special events. For an out of theway adventure, head south on ME 15 toStonington where you can go to bed in amotel with the sea just beneath the floor andfind it a mile away when the tide goes outbefore morning. From Stonington, bookpassage on the mail boat to Isle A'Haut andvisit a part of Acadia National Park not on thepopular tourist agenda. Facilities are limitedon the island so be sure and take food andwater. Back on the mainland, it isn't very farto Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Island, a majorpart of Acadia National Park. Drive theperimeter but be prepared for lots of othertravelers.

In this short article, I have tried to offer aguideline for the New England coast. You canhave a wonderful trip in this area because ithas so much to offer, both historically andbeautifully.

Lee Estes, a Kentucky native, migrated to Louisiana in1956 with his wife, Lottie. He worked in aviation thenwith A&LM Railway. He began making photographs inEurope after WWII and ranked among the leadingmonochrome exhibition photographers in the U.S.during the 80’s. His extensive travels included leadingtours across the globe. Lee has authored threephoto/documentary books and is currently involved withthe documentation of The Dixie Overland Highway(US80) in Louisiana, funded by a grant from theLouisiana Endowment for the Humanities

Only luck can have a Model T emerging from acovered bridge.

Classic round barn, New Hampshire

Covered bridges are still found on countryroads in New England.

Atlantic Coast near Castine, Maine



Starr HomeplaceBy Beau Johnston

Have you been searching for that perfect staycationlocation? Search no more as Starr Homeplace invites you andthe whole family to attend a monthly community day held onthe second Saturday of each month. With the blistering heat ofsummer, no event is scheduled during August but will resumeon September 10th. The weather will be nice as you witnessexpert craftsmen practice their trades such as blacksmithing,wood working and many more! Learn these skills yourself asthey are eager to teach anyone interested.

Founder Joe Rolfe is dedicated to creating andmaintaining an environment for all the arts to come together atleast once a month and share their talents with each other. “Imost enjoy when I see people coming together brainstormingand inspiring each other. That's what Starr Homplace is allabout.” says Rolfe. He welcomes anyone who has a trade tovisit him in Oak Ridge and make use of his array of facilities.Blacksmiths from across the country travel to Starr Homeplaceand stay on site for several days during the months of Apriland October. There is a variety of talents on display though, aseverything from poetry reading and chainsaw sculpting takeplace. Marla St. John, an artist and noted architect, states“What a great place! They are giving our area such a gift bypreserving and sharing the arts, crafts, andarchitecture of past rural communities.”

“The great part is that you don't have to bean artist at all to attend. Spectators come outevery community day just to see who will bethere and be a part of the community” saysRolfe. All you need is $5 for adults and kidsunder 12 get in free. Lunch is provided for adonation and bringing your own is always anoption. Coffee is brewed by 8 am and dayusually winds down sometime after 2 pm.

Starr Homplace is located two miles northof Oak Ridge on LA 133/US 425, locally calledthe Mer Rouge Road. The tea is ice cold and themusic entertaining as you stroll through thecenturies of Northeast Louisiana past.

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Show & Shine Car& Bike Show

The Vintage Car Club of Minden will host its 2011 Show andShine Car and Bike Show on Saturday, September 10th in DowntownMinden. The event is co-sponsored by Minden Main Street and boaststhe largest trophy presentation in the Ark-La-Tex Region.

Free registration is open to car and bike owners interested inparticipating. Car classes will include antiques, sports and muscle cars,Corvettes, Mustangs, Mopar Class, imports and domestics, trucks,jeeps, street rods, rat rods. Motorcycle classes include custom, full, mild,and manufactured. Event Chairman Larry Gipson says “All entrants areurged to pre-register by September 1st and go into a drawing for $100prize.” Forms are available at Harris Corner in Minden, from anyVintage Car Club member, or at www.vintagemindencars.com.Registration will also be held on day of show.

A Swap Meet will also be held this year with new, antique andgently used items only (no junk please), especially those of interest tocar enthusiasts. Early setup (7-9am) is required. Please contact AlmoryWalker at 318-377-4924 with any questions.

There will be plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment with someproceeds donated to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude, UCAP, andlocal youth programs.

The Vintage Car Club of Minden is a family oriented, non-profitorganization that participates in area parades and car shows. The clubawards scholarships to deserving high school seniors in Minden,sponsors a Dixie Youth baseball team and a Minden City Leaguebasketball team, and provides assistance to needy families during theholiday season. For more information, contact Larry Gipson (318-377-9068); Tina Douglas (318-377-3411); or Cynthia Hawkins (318-371-2551)or visit www.vintagemindencars.com.

Living Garden FountainReturning to the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens next month is

the Living Garden® Fountain. Museum Executive Director Ralph Calhounsays it was very popular a couple of years ago so the museum decided onan encore exhibit. The thirty-minute performance combineschoreographed interpretive movement, music, and water as a beautifulstatue becomes a living fountain with water springing delicately from herfingertips and creating a sparkling corona around her head. The costumedperformer bears a strong resemblance to the five maiden statues MissEmy-Lou placed throughout her garden. The Living Garden® Fountainembodies Miss Emy-Lou's interest in music, dance, and gardens.

Performances are Friday, September 16th and Saturday,September 17th, at 3:00, 5:00, 7:00 and 9:00pm. Admission is $5 perperson. For more information, call (318) 387-5281 or visitwww.bmuseum.org.

Louisiana Road Trips August 2011

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