Columns

Angel Fortenberry Horn will never forget the tornado of February 21, 1971. She was at home that Sunday with her father, Benton Fortenberry, her nine-yearold sister, Ellen, and her sixmonth- old sister, Benita.

(Disclaimer, this is the written version of a sermon I gave at my church last Sunday. I make no apologies for the contents herein and frankly hope that I managed to step on more than a few toes by the end of it, as well as further the Kingdom of God. However, if a devotional is not what you were hoping to find in my columns that tend to be focused on mental health, please feel free to refrain from reading. I am not a preacher, nor do I claim to be an expert on anything I wrote about. I do have two masters, though neither pertain to scripture or theology. I promise to return to topics I am more knowledgeable about in the future.)

Oh the daffodils! I realized last week that the sweet little flowers I’ve hauled from home to home (we’ve only had three, but I’ve transplanted them every time) are blooming! They are transplants from the house my Mamaw lived in as a young bride, and were her mother’s before hers. They are a testimony to my love for old things, Louisiana history, gardening, and family.

Things that annoy us. We all have them. I think my biggest pet peeve, though, is littering. I bring a lot of out of town people into Lake Providence for meetings as the 911 director in the parish. They all talk about how beautiful the lake is. And they especially enjoy the Cotton Museum and Panola Pepper. I think Lake Providence is beautiful also. Of course, it’s like knowing people. Outwardly they can be beautiful, but they have to have something inside to make them truly beautiful. When I think of our town, I think because of the people it is inwardly beautiful, but outwardly… well, we could do better. I took this picture on North Hood Street. The trash in the slough is shameful. And that is such a beautiful area. The residents who own the property next to it keep it looking so nice.

My niece once told me that at school they would call her Cassie, as a joke, because certain of her comments felt “liberal.” I wondered who told them that, and how they defined liberal. She said they must have heard it from their parents. This is amusing to me because I know and like their parents, but I’d never had a political conversation with them.

DEAR EDITORS: expenses, disrupt workforce momentum, and keep communities in the dark. We don’t have time for political backpedaling. The American people — especially in rural states like Louisiana — deserve action. Some argue that Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are a viable replacement for fiber broadband. That’s simply not true. • Limited Scalability & Performance: LEO satellites lack the capacity to serve entire communities with the speed and reliability needed for modern digital access. • High Costs: Satellite service is expensive for both providers and consumers. Rural families and small businesses need real, affordable broadband solutions— not an overpriced, unreliable alternative. • No Long-Term Infrastructure: LEO doesn’t build community- owned assets. Fiber does. Fiber strengthens local economies, creates jobs, and provides lasting value. • Reliability Issues: Weather disruptions, congestion, and latency make LEO an unstable option—especially for critical industries like healthcare, education, and business. Satellite technology has its place, but it is not a substitute for real investment in fiber infrastructure. President Trump and Governor Jeff Landry have the opportunity to be champions for Louisiana by standing firm on the commitments made to rural communities. Louisiana put its trust in them, and now it’s time for them to deliver. This is a moment for decisive leadership—one that ensures high-speed connectivity, job growth, and economic opportunity for those who need it most. By securing broadband funding now, they can drive real progress and be the leaders who made a lasting difference.

Do you sometimes get the idea that some people have too much time on their hands? Did you know that today, February 20, is celebrated as National Love Your Pet Day, National Leadership Day, National Comfy Day, National Cherry Pie Day, and National Muffin Day. Well, count me in for all of them.

Sunday night, to my delight but Taylor Swift fans’ dismay, the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl. This marked their third consecutive appearance, which suggests a certain level of proficiency among their coaches and players. However, if you’re a conspiracy theorist like me, you might see things differently! If you follow professional football, you know the Chiefs’ victories often come with whispers of controversy, typically involving the referees. As far as I know, there haven't been any concrete allegations of cheating (which is more than we can say for the Tom Brady-era Patriots), but it does make me wonder, “Is the game rigged?” When it costs millions of dollars for a commercial slot during the big game, you realize that to some people, there’s much more at stake than just the two teams on the field. Don’t even get me started on the recent widespread normality of sports betting.

DEAR EDITORS: Our district, the East Carroll Parish School District, has seen noteworthy academic growth over the past two school years. We've been incredibly proud to be recognized as the “Number 1, Most Improved School District' in Louisiana for two years in a row.

One of the most popular questions I get this time of year is: 'what is the best way to lose weight? or 'what is the best diet for me?' Honestly, it’s not a one size fits all answer. Diet recommendations depend on your health history, likes/dislikes, etc.