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Have you heard that both the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Heart Association recommendthatadultseatat least two servings of seafood each week? A serving is three ounces cooked or about 3/4 cup of flaked fish. Often seafood contains less saturated fat and more omega-3 fatty acids than other protein foods. Omega-3s are essential fats, which means the body can't make them and must get them from food. Eating seafood may help ease inflammation in the body and promote a healthy balance of cholesterol and other fats in the bloodstream. As a result, omega-3s can help slow plaque buildup in arteries. Research shows that people who eat fish twice a week are less likely to have heart attacks or die from heart disease than those who don't consume fish. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna top the list of foods for heart health as identified by the Mayo Clinic. For the most health bang for your buck, grill or bake fish rather than frying them. Pair fish with vegetables to gain even more heart health benefits. Consuming fish is healthy for moms and their babies as well as part of a heart-heathy diet. However, some kinds of fish may contain high levels of mercury or other contaminants. Pregnant women, those planning to become pregnant or nursing, and those feeding young children should check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website for advisories regarding contaminated fish. Eating a variety of fish will help reduce any risks. The benefits of eating a variety of fish and seafood typically outweigh the potential risks if the amount of fish consumed is within the recommendations from the FDA. So, treat your heart right and enjoy some seafood this week!

A Mer Rouge man out boating on Lake Providence with his wife drowned last week. Seventy-two year old Devon “Danny” Parker was attempting to retrieve his boat that had drifted into the lake at the Schneider Lane boat landing. He waded into the lake, but went under water and did not resurface. A bystander called 911, and emergency personnel from East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office and East Carroll Parish Ambulance Service quickly arrived at the scene.

Arrests as of March 3, 2025: East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office: 2/26/25 – Ke’ree Brown, 17, charged with obstruction of justice, illegal carrying of weapon. Bond set at $30,000 2/26 – J’Shone Smith , 17, charged with possession of stolen goods.

Wyly Gilfoil avoided this interview for as long as he was able. In advance of its inevitable occurrence, he texted me an Emily Dickinson poem – “I heard a fly buzz - when I died.” The poem, in my interpretation, speaks to how the mundane intrudes upon even the most serious of moments. In a room where someone is dying, still the fly’s buzzing garners attention. Basically, he’s retiring, but so what?

Happy National Oreo Cookie Day and Adopt a Guinea Pig Month! Yeah, yeah, I’ll quit …. Maybe.

The East Carroll Parish Hospital Board voted last week to go ahead with renovations and new construction at the hospital. An architect will begin immediately drawing up plans to remodel the existing rooms and to add five new rooms to the back of the hospital.

A meeting between Lake Providence Mayor Bobby Amacker and Police Chief Leroy Threats to discuss the status of the town police department was scheduled for yesterday, after this issue went to press. Amacker said he hoped the meeting would clear up questions about the status of the department.

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On Saturday, there’ll be a new parade in town celebrating one of our state’s liveliest and most famous holidays. The Unity Events Committee has come together to put on a Mardi Gras celebration, beginning with a parade at 11 a.m. (route description below) followed by a festival at the town lot across from Providence Park.

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