Columns

I attended a conference last week in Memphis on creative placemaking. The concept is nebulous, and I can imagine some eye rolls, have already seen some, because it’s hard to define and sounds like something a bunch of hippie liberals dreamt up in order to make themselves feel better.

This has been a tough year. We’ve struggled with a winter storm the likes of which hasn’t occurred in our small town in decades, and some are still suffering from the repercussions of this event.

Party primary primer: Candidates will square off for control of Congress and key state-level offices in Louisiana next month in the state’s switch to closed party primaries. Voters can opt for the party ballot that aligns with their registration or switch parties to vote in the primary of their choice, which leads some to label the new system a “semi-closed” primary.

Springtime in Louisiana marks an important season for students—school testing. Along with sharpened pencils and encouragement, healthy routines at home can help children feel calm, focused, and ready to do their best.

MysonOscarhashadanawful sinus infection this week. I gave it to him, we’re sure, but there’s nothing that prepares you for the feeling of watching your child suffer without being able to do anything about it. And this is mild, I know, a far cry from scalded skin syndrome, that my niece, Hazel, went through. But it is a heartache like I’ve never experienced. As if that is not enough, every few hours we hold him down and suck his nose out with what I can only describe as a torture device. Okay maybe not that bad, but it feels barbaric. He thrashes and squalls, to the point that I’d really rather not do it. However when we finish, he can breathe again! And after a couple seconds, he’s our happy boy again. (He’s handled being sick much better than me. I’m in the foulest of moods, my wife can attest.) So every few hours we break out the snot sucker and do battle with our son, but every time it helps him breathe better, sleep better, and be happier.

The Wellspring hosted the East Carroll Parish SAFER (Stopping Abusive Family Environments Rural Services) Task Force meeting Wednesday, March 18 at First Baptist Church in Lake Providence. The meeting focused on stalking.

I have actually seen some who thought they were dying from the common cold. Have you ever watched a commercial on television trying to sell you a prescription drug for a disease you’ve never heard of, and yet when they list all of the symptoms, all of a sudden you feel like you have at least half of them? They talk about leg pain.

Let's talk about your blood pressure. None of us really like taking medicine.

Growing citrus in Louisiana has been a real struggle the past couple of years. Our recent winters have brought intense, though short-lived, arctic blasts that have damaged and even killed citrus trees.

I was recently seriously traumatized by a roll of toilet tissue at Kitty Degree Breast Center in Monroe. Yes, you read this right – a roll of toilet tissue.