Columns

It's My Turn By Debra Hopkins I have lived just about all of my adult life in East Carroll Parish. As I have aged, I have had more medical problems, and I have always sought the services of our local medical clinic under the auspices of the East Carroll Parish Hospital.

Growing up, I loathed Tallulah. Mainly the academy, but the town, too, I grew to detest. A few of my friends would go and hang out with some guys over there, but not me. The rivalry was too strong in my mind and heart. I had similar feelings about Oak Grove. I loved a rivalry though; if you knew me when I was young, you know how much I loved to ramble about how Case tractors were better than John Deere. I cringe when I think about it because frankly I was very annoying, especially given I had no idea what I was talking about. I only knew that’s what my dad drove so it must be the best! Most of you reading will know what I’m talking about– every year when Briarfield plays the Trojans, it’s a big deal! We hang up banners and talk trash. What I didn’t realize when I was a kid was that there was no difference between the boys on the other side of the field than me. I thought we were better; I thought I was better. I’m not. Now that my life isn’t defined by where I grew up and where I went to school, I realize those people are the same as me, they just grew up thirty miles down the road.

DEAR EDITOR: I would like to comment on the opinion piece in the August 29 issue of the paper. My qualifications to do so are as follows.

A couple of months ago I was sitting in my living room when I heard my door handle rattle. I got up and turned on the porch light. No one there. So I was going to sit back down when I heard the back door handle rattle. I was a little spooked – and I don’t scare easily. I texted my neighbor (who is also my hero; he is always there for me) and told him that someone was trying to break into my house. OMW, he texted back, and believe me, he was there within two minutes. He got out of his truck with his weapon drawn. The “intruder” was my nephew. He had no explanation for his behavior. That’s because he was high. It was a bad two or three days for him. Will is an addict. He has a problem he is aware of, but like a lot of us with demons, it takes over and free will gives in to obsession and addiction.

I had COVID a couple of weeks ago, and I had the worst headache. Being the good nurse that I am, I had ZERO medication at home to treat it.

Maybe they are... Did you know that Del Webb coined the phrase “the golden years” in 1959 as a marketing gimmick for his retirement company? Yep.

A public hearing to propose an increase in water and sewer rates for town residents was rescheduled by the board of alderman of the town of Lake Providence last week and will now be held in September.

Griffin Middle Academy’s new principal this year is Dr. Kerry Gray, originally from New Orleans. Dr. Gray said that he is excited to be at the helm of the junior high school. “I want to work with the school to put it in a position to be successful,” he said. “I want to institute the changes needed to be the best that we can be.”

East Carroll Parish Port Deputy Director Bryant Killen was just named to the new Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission. Killen was one of 12 picked by Gov. Jeff Landry to serve on this powerful state board.