Columns

DEAR EDITORS: Last week, East Carroll Parish lost an educator and a friend. Ann Coleman Powell was a product of this community and an excellent ambassador for its people.

East Carroll Parish 911 Director Debra Hopkins informed the communications district board at its quarterly meeting recently that the purchase of new call taking equipment had been placed on hold. Hopkins said that she had officially rejected the requests for proposals that had been issued for new equipment until the problem of reliable internet in her office was resolved.

My niece has been in the hospital. She was there a total of five days I believe, suffering from a rare bacterial infection.

If I am honest, I am struggling to see the positives in life lately on the farm and on the daily. I'm winning the battle because I know that in rural communities like ours, life is full of seasons — both on the land and in the heart.

Judge Ragland five feet tall and imposing (This is the second column in a series depicting women who I think the world of.) Most of you don’t know the second strong Southern woman who has influenced my life, but believe me, she was a very unforgettable personality if you knew her. Alwine Mulhearn Smith Ragland was born in 1913 to an affluent family that owned the Mulhearn Funeral Homes in Monroe.

When I think back on this summer, I’ll think of this that myfriendwrotemelastweek: “I realized just recently that being in situations where you are beyond grateful and very happy does not necessarily equal enjoyment. Maybe that is one of the many things that come with aging.” This has been an interesting summer.

I’ve dedicated my career to helping patients manage chronic and often debilitating pain and over the years, it has been frustrating to see unnecessary barriers for access to treatments that have proven effective. For example, I’ve witnessed how cannabis-based treatments offer relief where other options have failed- especially for patients with complex conditions and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or chronic pain.

I have been blessed in my life to work with or for three very special ladies. These three ladies have shaped my life in different ways.

Have you noticed the uproar over in our neighboring parish? It seems that they just received notice from the school board in West Carroll that grades six through eight have to wear uniforms. My first thought was why just those grades? I mean, that’s kind of random.

Walking is something I know I can do, so I started with that. I was scrolling on social media, avoiding my impending responsibilities, when I came up on a video of a young man asking for assistance.