Columns

By Stephen Waguespack

Why again do we live here?

Summers in Louisiana can be brutal, with oppressive heat and swarms of mosquitoes an annual tradition. Our coastline is eroding, our topography is flat and many of our communities are threatened by water.

We have a history of political corruption and low-performing schools, both which are slowly starting to improve after decades of poor outcomes. Our tax code is a mess, and our public infrastructure needs updating.

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By Stephen Waguespack

Many have stepped up to help us over the years.

The horrific summer of 2005, dominated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, left an indelible mark on New Orleans and our entire coastal area that continues to influence many of our actions today. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike impacted most of our state just a few years later, triggering a collaborative effort that resulted in the largest evacuation in the nation’s history at the time. The Deepwater Horizon incident and resulting oil spill brought new challenges that caught the nation’s attention, as did the unprecedented floods of last summer. Louisiana has faced our fair share of adversity over the years, and the commitment of our communities and the compassion of our fellow Americans helped us get through it each time.

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day may get more attention, but National Grandparents Day, observed on Sept. 10, has gained in popularity. If you’re a grandparent, you might expect to receive some nice cards, but if you want to make the day especially meaningful, you may want to consider giving some long-lasting financial gifts to your grandchildren.

By: Raymond Powell

The movie and television industries are a 20th century thing. In 1889 Thomas Edison developed a machine called a “Kinetoscope” that had a group of pictures on a stripe with holes along the edge that could run through the machine to make it appear something was moving. About 1900 the machine was developed to make the film move without a jerking motion. The actors and actresses’ names were kept secret but about 1910 interest began to mount.

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By Stephen Waguespack

There has been a consistent drumbeat of late dominating the airwaves sung by a chorus of politicians, interest groups and talking heads…they want fiscal reform and they want it now.

Of course, they do. Don’t we all? I mean, who in their right mind would oppose something called “fiscal reform?” Just the very mention of it causes us to visualize a day when all Louisianans can finally live in the job-creating, budget-balanced society we have long pursued.

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By: Raymond Powell

After arriving in Mansfield in January 1948 and living with Mrs. Ellie Earle Stone Sheppard it was natural to have been acquainted with several of the early residents of Mansfield. Previous articles have been written about Mrs. Sheppard and Miss Ruby Roach but this article concerns another truly educated and prominent lady, Mrs. Fern Leming.

Mrs. Leming enjoyed relating the history of Mansfield and the June 5, 1843 founding of the parish and Thomas Abington’s suggesting the name of Mansfield.

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By Stephen Waguespack

Why again do we live here?

Summers in Louisiana can be brutal, with oppressive heat and swarms of mosquitoes an annual tradition. Our coastline is eroding, our topography is flat and many of our communities are threatened by water.

We have a history of political corruption and low-performing schools, both which are slowly starting to improve after decades of poor outcomes. Our tax code is a mess, and our public infrastructure needs updating.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Mansfield%20EnterpriseID391/

By: Raymond Powell

Have you ever slowed down in life and given thought to the many people and incidents that shaped your life? Most of us were shaped primarily by our parents, church ministers, school teachers and family members. Reflecting back on my youth, of course, these were the major contributors to my life but how about others? I was fortunate to have had Charley in my youth. Charley was a big black man, about 6 foot 2 inches and weighing 225 pounds.

Charley was one of three or four black tenants and a couple of white tenants on my father’s place. What set Charley apart from all the others was the time and attention that he paid to me.

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By Stephen Waguespack

This week, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released the 2017 edition of the Legislative Scorecard, highlighting the elected leaders who have a solid foundation in policies that promote economic growth. To review the report explaining LABI’s 2017 priorities, the outcomes of the recent fiscal session, descriptions of the bills used in the Scorecard analysis, the individual legislative scores and the detailed methodology behind the scores, please visit www.labi.org/score-card.

If you take a moment to review the Scorecard, a few things might surprise you

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By: Raymond Powell

In writing historical articles the casual reader is fascinated by the first couple of sentences. If this fails to catch his attention he usually goes on to something else. Eleven flags have flown over Louisiana throughout its history and here they are. Now that should make you wonder because you just know that can’t be true.

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