Columns

As a youngster did you have a hero? Over the years heroes to young people have changed – today most young people would answer by naming a movie celebrity, a singer, or an athlete. Many of these are great but some of the older citizens might agree with this writer and choose Charles A. Lindberg.

On a rainy, windy morning on May 30, 1927, twentyfive- year-old Charles Lindberg climbed into a small one-seat aluminum plane at Long Island and Thirty three and a half hours later he landed at LeBourget Field near Paris. He became an American and international celebrity with the accomplishment that no their person was able to perform. Even the French who believed they had the best fliers and planes in the world were impressed. Their famous and adored Frenchman, Charles Nungesser, tried to fly from Paris to New York before Lindberg two weeks earlier and crashed in Newfoundland.

Leave the leaves and turn out the lights: Fireies need your help

Many people think back on their childhood summers and recall evenings spent chasing fireflies across a field, perhaps catching the insects in jars to admire their fascinating blinking patterns up close.

But across the United States, fireflies — known in some parts as lightning bugs — are an increasingly rare sight. While scientists have pointed to several reasons for the decline, habitat loss is widely considered to be a primary driver.

“Oftentimes, fireflies only have one generation a year, and if they lose that habitat, then we lose their population in that area,” said LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook.

Not only are more and more kids missing out on the joy of watching glowing fireflies dance across the night sky. There also are ecologically concerning consequences of firefly population loss.

I addressed America’s 250th Anniversary a couple of weeks ago but given its momentous nature and historic significance, I thought I would more fully develop my thoughts.

I reflect on our liberty that has been guaranteed to us throughout America’s history only by the great sacrifice — the “last full measure of devotion” — of the 1.1 million Americans who died — and millions more who were grievously wounded — defending the freedoms we often take for granted.

I think of General George Washington who bravely held together a rag tag army, many of whom had neither shoes in that freezing weather nor a weapon, to defeat the British army and secure America’s independence.

Does God have a word for us in His Holy Scriptures? Yes, He does. He always has a word for His people either audible or written down. We should be listening like Noah of old when God gave him the dimensions of the ark and how to build it, or when Jonah, was instructed to go to Nineveh and preach against it. Then there is Saul, who became Paul, on the road to Damascus.

Here is a strong word from the Lord in Jeremiah 4:7-8: “The lion has come up from the thicket, and the destroyer of nations is on his way.”

“O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness that you may be saved. How long shall your next evil thoughts lodge within you?” (Jeremiah 4:10)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”Psalms 23:1-6 NASB1995 My foolish decisions could have got me killed. There were many close calls that could have destroyed my life. As I reflect on these seasons, I have experienced the following truth; “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

“Honor your father and mother that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord God gives you.” (Exodus 20:12) Last Sunday was Father’s Day. I miss my father so very much. We lived in Buna, Texas. That’s between Orange and Beaumont, Texas. Dad was born there in the Peachtree Indian Village between Jasper and Woodville, Texas. H went to school in Buna, played on Buna’s first basketball team in 1911. He went to Texas A & M and then entered the Army Cadets. He played on Texas A & M’s first basketball team as a guard around 1913-14. He volunteered for the Army from 1915-1917 and served in France as a Second Lieutenant. He returned to Buna after WWI, met my mother and married, and then developed a nursery business. He grew plants, shrubs, and young trees. My mother Beatrice became a florist. Three boys were born into the family. I was the first, born in 1936, then Victor, born in 1938 ad Phillip Charles in 1942. WE all graduated from Buna High School.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Mans field of old would not be recognizable today. The transportation was by horseback, buggy or wagon and people did not travel to Shreveport or other distant places unless it was absolutely necessary. Logansport, 22 miles in distance, was a two-day affair. Many of the people would get up and leave by wagon to pay their taxes in Mansfield which was the Parish Seat and ladies would shop for dress material, lace, etc. After shopping they would return to a campground just west of Attwood’s on the left side of U.S. 84. Reading one account of the family camping told of Dr. Stribling (built the Milton Baker house) stopping by for coffee. The campers would cook breakfast and be on the way back to Logansport by six o’clock.

Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with red, white and blue in the garden

The Fourth of July is approaching, and this year’s holiday marks a special milestone: The United States of America is officially 250 years old. Folks across the country are commemorating the occasion with lots of red, white and blue.

Why not bring that color scheme into the landscape?

At the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge, that’s exactly what staff members are doing as they refresh beds with warm-season annuals. Senior landscape manager Jason Stagg said there are plenty of patriotically hued plants that do well in Louisiana gardens.

Reds The Burden team is using Lucky Star Dark Red pentas for a punch of red in the Burden landscape this summer. The Lucky Star series, which was selected for the Ag-Center’s Louisiana Super Plant program, features small, five-pointed flowers that come in a range of vivid shades.

On June 19 at 6:30 pm Frierson Baptist will host a concert By Brian Free and Assurance. This Will Be A Free Event and a Love Offering will be taken.

Frierson Baptist Church Is Located At 299 East Street In Frierson, La.

For More Information Contact Jason Goff, Choir Director at 318-518-4820