News

The Almond Brothers Lumber Company sawmill in Coushatta, LA is the recipient of the 2020 Sawmill Safety Award in Division I, presented by the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA). This is the second time the Coushatta mill has received this respected award, having also earned the achievement in 2014.

SFPA Lumber Manufacturer members are considered for the award based on information submitted regarding occupational injuries and illnesses. The results for 2020 included reports from 43 mills that recorded nearly 14 million employee hours. Safety performance is judged by how each mill’s safety record stacks up against facilities with comparable lumber output throughout the year. Division I covers facilities that produce less than 50 million board feet of Southern Pine lumber annually.

On August 23, Gov. John Bel Edwards and State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter applauded the U. S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, the first such full approval of its kind. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and easily available all across Louisiana for people ages 12 and older. More than 2.2 million Louisianans have taken at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with nearly 40 percent of Louisiana’s population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to CDC data.

It may seem crazy to be thinking about winter feeding needs in the middle of July but now is the time to begin preparing for it. Cattle producers in Louisiana have experienced a u n i q u e Spring/Summer thus far with ample amounts of rainfall. This is indeed very good news for pastures and hay fields; however, we have been very limited on the amount of hay that has been harvested. Many producers did not get their mowers in the fields until the first part of July when they usually would be on their second or even third cuttings. I have spoken to some hay producers in the SW portion of Louisiana who have not baled the first bale as of the middle of July due to either the fields being too wet or not being able to catch a window of opportunity in the weather.

As we watch Afghanistan again devolve dangerously into a terrorist magnet ruled by the Taliban, we witness once again the timeless and immutable principle of history and nations that strength deters bad actors while weakness begets war.

Yes, Afghanistan has been a 20- year war beginning after 9-11 and yes, the American people no doubt wish to conclude America’s engagement there and our troops, finally, return home. However, the American people also remember why they were deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 and recognize strong and effective leadership as well as politically driven tactical and strategic incompetence when they see it. They shudder when they realize their weak and inept national leadership has fallen far below America’s high standard of competence, courage, and commitment to our strategic interests, our values, and the security of our country, and that the trust our international allies have placed in us has been seriously damaged.

Multiple factors are contributing to higher than usual Cleco Power bills, but some of the increases are temporary.

“By early next year, our fuel costs will be lower,” said Shane Hilton, president of Cleco Power. “The higher fuel charges from the February ice storms will roll off of bills in April 2022, and we intend to close Dolet Hills Power Station in Mansfield by the end of the year which will save customers who use 1,000 kWh approximately $9 to $15 per month in fuel costs. These savings will be higher for customers who use more than 1,000 kWh.

“We understand these increases come during the time of the year when customer bills are historically higher because of the hot summer months, but we will work with our customers, large and small, on an individual basis like we always have to assist them in navigating the changes to their bill.”

Factors contributing to higher customer bills include:

2020 Hurricanes

Louisiana Family Forum (LFF) has released its 2021 Legislative Scorecard, which serves as a tool for assessing lawmakers on key votes during the 2021 Regular and Veto Override sessions of the Louisiana Legislature.

“LFF selected votes reflecting a variety of issues such as protecting election integrity, limiting government growth, gambling expansion, and civil liberties. This guide provides a snapshot of how lawmakers voted this year,” said Gene Mills, President of LFF. “This report card is designed to assist the public in evaluating whether lawmakers embraced the principles of life, liberty, and limited government and to encourage conversations with legislators on important traditional values.”

LSU Health Shreveport currently offers the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (COVID-19 booster shot) at all LSUHS vaccination sites, including the North Campus (old Chevyland) located at 2627 Linwood Ave. Individuals that have received their first and second COVID-19 vaccines from locations other than LSU Health Shreveport should pre-register at https://redcap.link/LSU-PUBLIC-VACCINE-SURVEY prior to receiving the third vaccine at any LSUHS vaccination site. Individuals that received their first or second vaccination at a LSU Health Shreveport site do not need to pre-register.

Social Security Matters by National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens

Dear Rusty: If I were to apply for my Social Security retirement (I’m 68 on August 1, 2021), when could I realistically expect to receive my first check? Signed: Ready to Claim

With everyone busy with Back to School and a few other end of summer events,

The DeSoto Friends of the National Rifle Association Volunteer Fundraising Committee have moved their banquet date back to September 2. They are excited to have this extra window of time to prepare for the return of the banquet after taking last year off.

They are still seeking donations and sponsors from area businesses to help insure the banquet’s success in support of Friends of the NRA and community. This will be their first event since COVID-19 mandates prevented the gathering of crowds at public functions.

The NSU Music Academy is accepting students for the fall semester. The academy is under the direction of Northwestern State Assistant Professor of Piano Dr. John Price and Associate Professor of Piano Dr. Francis Yang and offers piano, voice, guitar and percussion lessons for students. Piano lessons are for those from age six as well as adults and voice lessons are for those eight and up.

Northwestern State students in the Dear School of Creative and Performing Arts provide lessons. Teachers are piano majors David Paz and Hannah Potter, guitar major Naydu Daza Maya, percussion major Jackson Forrester, and voice majors Valentina Herazo Alvarez, Ella Castro and Beth Olin.

Last spring students participated in a concert at NSU’s Magale Recital Hall, a virtual recital, the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival and the Central Music Teachers’ Association Sonatina Festival.