By JIM BUTLER

The Red River Waterway Commission had a combined government fund balance of $74.3 million on Dec. 31, according to its annual audit report.

About $28 million of that was unassigned and available for general use.

The remainder of the fund balance is dedicated to capital assets, port infrastructure, and insurance.

The review by Payne, Moore & Herrington found no material weaknesses or discrepancies in its review.

The commission, created in 1965 after persistent championing by Cliff Fairbanks of Rapides as Red River navigation inched toward reality, has representatives from Rapides, Avoyelles, Grant, Natchitoches, Red River, Caddo and Bossier, and four at-large members appointed by the governor.

The commission’s general fund revenues were $13.9 million, with property taxes contributing $11.7 million. Expenses totaled $9.2 million.

The property tax is 2.34 mills, 65 percent of its yield goes to capital investment, and 35 percent to the General Fund maintenance account.

The net position of the commission’s Capital Account – public works, recreation and parks, port development – was $110 million on Dec. 31.

The commission has Rapides recreation sites at Boyce, Fort Buhlow, Alexandria Levee Park, and Poland.

Commissioners were paid a total of $35,346 in 2022.

Executive Director Colin Brown was paid $159,181, plus an auto allowance and cell phone allowance.

Alexandria Police Chief Chad Gremillion recently recognized two officers for performing life-saving measures to save the life of a victim of a recent crime. Cpl. Mark Stroud and Cpl. Darren Luneau recently leaped into action without hesitation and performed CPR, saving the young man. Our officers strive daily to go above and beyond, serving in any way they can. The Alexandria Police Department commends these officers for their selfless actions.

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By BRET H. McCORMICK

Justin Kees led the Buckeye Lady Panthers to their second straight state softball title, while Menard’s Emily DeSelle was one of the top power hitters in the nation this past season.

For those reasons and more Kees and DeSelle headline the inaugural Rapides Parish Journal All-Parish Softball Team. 

Kees, who took over the Buckeye softball program three years ago, reloaded a team that lost several all-state players from the 2022 Class 3A state championship squad and led the Lady Panthers to a No. 1 seed and Division II Select state title this season – the first time in school history the program repeated as state champion. 

The Lady Panthers played one of the toughest schedules in the parish and compiled a 25-9 record en route to being the only Rapides Parish team to win a state title in 2023. For his leadership, Kees was chosen as the All-Parish Coach of the Year over Tioga’s Brad Woodard, who guided the Lady Indians to their first state championship appearance since 1979 and a runner-up finish in Division I Select. 

DeSelle, Menard’s junior shortstop, led all hitters in Rapides Parish with 23 home runs and 68 RBIs. Her home-run total ranked her in the top five in Louisiana, according to figures compiled by GeauxPreps and MaxPreps. 

On the season, DeSelle batted .487 and also hit 16 doubles and four triples. She finished the year with an astonishing 43 extra-base hits as three out of every four hits DeSelle had went for extra bases. She helped lead Menard to the Division III Select quarterfinals. 

DeSelle was selected as the All-Parish Most Outstanding Player over several other strong candidates including Buckeye junior pitcher Olivia Henry, Pineville senior second baseman and Northwestern State signee Bailey Henderson, and Tioga junior pitcher Christina Lambert.

The All-Parish Softball Team, selected by a panel of local sports journalists with input from the parish’s softball coaches, consists of one player at each standard position, four pitchers, two utility players and a designated player. The “Best of the Rest” features the top 15 remaining players who were given strong consideration for the first team. Those selections were not chosen by position.

2023 RPJ ALL-PARISH SOFTBALL TEAM

Outstanding Player: Emily DeSelle, Menard
Coach of the Year: Justin Kees, Buckeye

FIRST TEAM

Pitcher: Olivia Henry, Jr., Buckeye – The two-time state champion was named Most Outstanding Player of the Division II Select tournament and finished the season with an 18-7 record in the circle, a 1.93 ERA, 204 strikeouts and two saves. Henry also batted .396 for the Lady Panthers with two homers, 15 doubles and 27 RBIs. 

Pitcher: Christina Lambert, Jr., Tioga – The District 2-4A MVP was a standout in the circle and at the plate for the Lady Indians. The left-hander went 15-3 as a pitcher with a 2.30 ERA and also hit .440 on the season with eight home runs and 40 RBIs. She pitched the Lady Indians to the Division I Select championship game, the first state title appearance for Tioga since 1979. 

Pitcher: Claire Thompson, Sr., ASH – A two-way standout in the circle and at the plate for the Lady Trojans, Thompson finished the season with a 23-8 record, 3.05 ERA and 192 strikeouts as a pitcher while also batting .434 and belting 10 homers. 

Pitcher: Cortlynne Bennett, Sr., Pineville – Bennett stepped up as the Lady Rebels’ No. 1 pitcher this season while also playing standout defense at third base. She finished the season with a 15-5 record and 3.55 ERA in the circle while batting .400 with six homers, 12 doubles and 34 RBIs. 

Catcher: Bevan Hartnett, Sr., Pineville – The Louisiana Christian signee moved from first base to fill a huge hole behind the plate for the Lady Rebels and continued her standout offensive performance with a .368 batting average, five home runs, 11 doubles and 37 RBIs.

First Base: Brielle Texada, Fr., ASH – The Lady Trojans’ newcomer made an immediate impact with her power at the plate, finishing second in the parish with 16 homers while batting .449 and driving in 54 runs. 

Second Base: Bailey Henderson, Sr., Pineville – The Northwestern State signee overcame a major shoulder injury that nearly ended her career to hit .426 on the season with seven home runs, 18 doubles and 38 RBIs while finishing as the school’s leader in career home runs with 34.

Third Base: Sydney Avery, So., Grace Christian – Avery helped the Lady Warriors to a semifinal appearance in Division V Select by batting .436 with eight home runs, 51 runs scored and a parish-leading 34 stolen bases.

Shortstop: Emily DeSelle, Jr., Menard – The All-Parish Most Outstanding Player put up ridiculous offensive numbers with a .487 batting average, 23 homers, 16 doubles and 68 RBIs. 

Outfield: Dayzja Williams, Sr., ASH – The speedy left-hander at the top of the Trojans’ lineup batted .492 with five homers, 25 stolen bases and only four strikeouts while covering as much ground as anyone in the parish in center field. 

Outfield: Kaitlyn Roberts, Jr., Tioga – The Lady Indians’ left fielder batted .457 on the season with six homers and 44 RBIs while also compiling a 4-0 record with a 1.18 ERA and two saves as Tioga’s No. 2 pitcher.

Outfield: Allison Brossett, Jr., Buckeye – The Lady Panthers’ speedy center fielder and leadoff hitter batted .344 on the season with three home runs, 13 doubles, 27 RBIs and 40 runs scored. 

Designated Player: Madelyn Halle, So., Pineville – A first-year starter at first base, Halle was the Lady Rebels’ top hitter in almost every offensive category, compiling a .509 batting average with 10 homers, 17 doubles and 46 RBIs.

Utility: Abbi Troquille, Jr., Tioga – The Indians’ smooth-fielding shortstop and a Southern Miss commitment, Troquille finished the season with a .515 batting average, .630 on-base percentage, six home runs, 30 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. 

Utility: Maddie Sinclair, Sr., Buckeye – The lone senior and emotional leader for the Lady Panthers, the Mississippi College signee set a single-season school record with 12 home runs while batting .437 with 13 doubles, 42 RBIs, 43 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. 

BEST OF THE REST (listed in alphabetical order)

Laryn Aymond, Sr., ASH – Lala, as she’s known by her teammates, made the switch from third base to catcher for her senior season, batting .282 with two home runs and 12 stolen bases. 

Mary Claire Brinkman, So., ASH – One of several new starters on the Lady Trojans’ retooled infield, the shortstop batted .323 with 13 stolen bases and a .950 fielding percentage.

Traxtyn Finney, Sr., ASH – The Lady Trojans’ second baseman hit .355 with three home runs on the season while providing key leadership on an infield that started two sophomores and a freshman. 

Sophie Giordano, So., Menard – The Lady Eagles’ third baseman batted .321 on the season with two homers, 11 doubles and 32 RBIs. 

Ava Guillot, Jr., Grace Christian – Guillot stepped in midseason as the Lady Warriors’ starting pitcher, moving over from shortstop following an injury, and played a key role with a .402 batting average and 27 runs scored for the Division V Select semifinalist. 

Chloe Kelly, Sr., Oak Hill – Perhaps the biggest “snub” from the All-Parish team, the pitcher/shortstop batted .538 on the season with seven home runs, 30 RBIs and 26 runs scored. 

Kaylee Methvin, Fr., Menard – Despite her youth, Methvin didn’t shy away from the spotlight, compiling a 14-2 record and 1.34 ERA for the Lady Eagles while striking out 162 batters in 153 innings. She also contributed at the plate with a .266 batting average, two homers and 20 RBIs. 

Adysen Mitchell, So., Buckeye – The right fielder and cleanup hitter for the state champion Lady Panthers, Mitchell batted .356 with five homers, seven doubles and 32 RBIs while also going 6-2 in the circle with two saves as the team’s No. 2 pitcher. 

Rikki Nitz, So., Buckeye – Stepping in for a graduated all-state player at first base, Nitz made just two errors on the season while batting .324 with six doubles and 16 RBIs. 

Zoe Roland, Jr., Tioga – A key glove at second base, Roland teamed with Abbi Troquille to form perhaps the parish’s top middle-infield tandem while batting .446 with four home runs and 43 RBIs. 

Sawyer Shelton, Fr., Menard – A speedy center fielder and left-handed slapper, maybe the fastest softball player in Rapides Parish, Shelton stood out with her strong defense and ability to get on base. She finished the season with a .458 batting average, .566 on-base percentage, two homers, six doubles, two triples and 23 RBIs. 

Cassidy Sicuro, So., Pineville – Moving over from second base to shortstop because of Bailey Henderson’s shoulder injury, Sicuro shined defensively for the Lady Rebels while batting .398 with 11 doubles and 34 RBIs.

Sidney St. Pe’, Jr., Buckeye – An irreplaceable cog behind the plate, St. Pe’ caught all but 14 innings on the season while finishing with a .989 fielding percentage, six home runs, seven doubles and 26 RBIs. 

Annalee Stevens, Jr., Pineville – A first-year starter, Stevens eventually found her way to center field because of her speed and defensive prowess while also providing great production at the bottom of the Lady Rebels’ batting order. On the season, Stevens batted .396 with 20 stolen bases. 

Wynlee Vincent, Fr., Grace Christian – The Lady Warriors’ batting leader split her time between shortstop and the outfield while racking up a .483 batting average with 43 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.

Photo: Graphic by BRET H. McCORMICK

Pineville Police Department Officers Devin Durr, Officer Denzel Bradley and Officer Kyle Smith recently graduated from the 92nd Alexandria Regional Police Academy Graduating Class.

Funeral services for Nita Ann Hicks will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in the chapel of Hixson Brothers, Pineville with Brother David Plunkett officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Ruby.

The family requests that visitation be observed at the funeral home Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Pallbearers will be Bryson Guin, Bowman Guin, Jacob Hicks, Rodney Hicks, Joshua Hicks, Marshall Hicks, Tyler Jonfore, and Paul Guillory.

Mrs. Hicks, 78, of Ville Platte, passed from this life on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at her home.

Mrs. Hicks was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church, Ruby. She was a homemaker an avid shopper. Nita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold W. Hicks; parents, Tony and Mary Donaghey Sanchez; brothers, Charles Sanchez, Calvin Sanchez, and Allen Sanchez, and sister, Mary Sanchez.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Tony Hicks (Vicki), and Glynn Hicks (Siti); daughters, Debra Wilson (Terry), Connie Zerangue (Larry), and Vonda Burnaman (Glenn); brothers, Carl Sanchez, Donald Sanchez, Robert Sanchez, Tommy Sanchez, and Clyde Sanchez; sisters, Patricia Sanchez Paul, and Peggy Sanchez; grandchildren, Rodney Hicks, Jacob Hicks, Brandon Bradley, Lillian Bradley, Juju Hicks, Bunga Hicks, Andy Hicks, Heather Wilson, Kandace Jonfore, Meagan Luneau, Marshall Hicks, Joshua Hicks, Paul Guillory, Alexis Burnaman, Bryson Guin, and Bowman Guin; great grandchildren, MaKynzi, Brylee, Tyler, Addi, Blaiklie, Dalyce, Henry, Jonah, Jentry, Jolene, Mason, Troy, Kollyns, Kennedy, Brent, and Mya, and numerous other family and friends.

The family requests visitation be held Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. until time of service on Friday, May 26, 2023.

Mrs. Kelly, 90, of Alexandria passed from this life, Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Rapides Regional Medical Center.

During her working career, she was a Registered Nurse. She was a devoted mother who dearly loved to read, do crossword puzzles and word games, and bake cookies for gift-giving. She loved her Lord God, and Savior Jesus Christ for her lifetime, and as His child, she was a member of Horseshoe Baptist Church in Alexandria and subsequently Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, for 53 years (beginning from the day Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon). She sang in the choir and in ensembles, and served in the nursery during Sunday School, teaching toddlers about Jesus.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ray Normand Kelly; parents, John Albert and Corrine Corley Zabasky; sister, Geraldine “Gerry” Carley; brothers, Gordon Kent Zabasky, John Zabasky and Alan Neal Zabasky, and son-in-law, Donnie Paul.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Keith Kelly, and wife, Tammy; daughters, Mona Kelly and Kathy Kelly Paul; grandson, Karye Kelly and his mother, Katie Rougeau; bonus daughter, Allison Kelly Stokes; bonus sister, Faye Welch and her beloved her granddogs, Chaney Kelly and Tyler Paul and a host of other family members and friends.

Pallbearers will be Russell Wilks, Brian Wilks, Rory Roark, Mark Wilks, Eric Stokes and Bo Douglas.

The family would like to thank the following for all their care to her, during the last 25 years; Dr. Michael Leddy, III, Dr. Howard Wold, Kelly White, P.A., Dr. Jeff Grizzaffi, Dr. Michael Buck, Dr. Steven Arnold, Jr., Dr. Virginia Locke, Dr. David Allie, Dr. Wesley Davis, and the RN’s and LPN’s at Lagniappe Home Health and the 4th-floor staff of Rapides Regional Medical Center South Tower.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Philadelphia Baptist Church Horseshoe Drive, 2022 Horseshoe Drive, Alexandria, LA 71301.

The Alexandria Historical & Genealogical Library hosted a book signing by long time area educator and historian Scott Debose, Saturday, May 20. The book is a history of Sabine Parish’s Fort Jessup, built in 1822 on what was then the western frontier of the United States. The original area of the fort is now the Fort Jessup State Historic Site.

Debose’s book traces the history of the fort during its years of active service from 1822 to 1846. Soldiers from the fort protected the nation’s western border, surveyed and built roads, as well as bringing order to the lawless “neutral strip” between the United States and Colonial Spain. The fort was closed in 1846 as America’s western expansion meant that its location was no longer on the frontier and the fort was no longer needed.

While Fort Jessup may be little known in the modern day, the fort played a major role in several areas. In 1845, over half of the U.S. Army passed through Fort Jessup on their way to Mexico. Ironically, the United States’ victory in that war was to make the fort irrelevant as a border outpost and led to its closure. Two United States presidents, Zachary Taylor and Ulysses Grant served at Fort Jessup as did over 40 officers who went on to become generals in the Civil War. As an interesting historical aside, two future U.S. Surgeon Generals served at the fort, one of whom was to treat President Abraham Lincoln after he was shot in 1865.

Scott Debose is a lifelong resident of Sabine Parish who has served as Many High School’s band director for the past 15 years. He holds two degrees from NSU, a bachelor’s in history and anthropology as well as a master’s in music education. His book, Fort Jessup – a History, is an interesting journey into a fascinating era of our nation’s story.

Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on May 17 around 6:25 am on Louisiana Highway 28 West at Belgard Bend.  The crash claimed the life of 48-year-old John D. McCabe.

The initial investigation revealed that a 2006 Honda Accord, driven by McCabe, was traveling south on Belgard Bend. For reasons still under investigation, McCabe failed to stop at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 28 West and was struck by an eastbound 2002 Ford F-250.

McCabe, who was not restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and juvenile passenger in the Ford, who were restrained, sustained no injuries. Impairment is a suspected factor in this crash. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

While not all crashes are survivable, proper use of seat belts can greatly decrease an occupant’s chance of death and may greatly reduce the extent of injury. Always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death.

Louisiana State Police would like to remind all motorists that if you feel differently, you drive differently. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and other drugs have many effects on the body that negatively affect driving skills. These drugs can impair visual ability, alter the sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle, and decrease reaction times. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and designate a sober driver. Not doing so can have deadly consequences.

In 2023, Troop E has investigated 21 fatal crashes, resulting in 24 deaths.

By JIM BUTLER

Ralph Hennessy’s first budget proposal as executive director of the England Authority forecasts General Fund revenues and expenses totaling $14 million each.

To reach that figure a revenue infusion of $2.6 million from prior years will be required.

A public hearing to receive comment on the proposal will be held Monday, May 22 in the Authority board room on Arnold Drive. The budget can be viewed at Hennessy’s office or on the Authority website.

Hennessy joined England in December. The budget he inherited for the current fiscal includes projected use of about $1.1 in prior years’ earnings.

The authority’s operation on the former England AFB is two fold — land based and air based.

Aeronautical revenue for the upcoming fiscal year is projected at $1.7 million, up from $1.2 million, and non-aeronautical at $10.3 million, down about $700,000.

Those revenues and the funds transfer amount to a 9.5 percent revenue hike year-to-year.

On the expenses side payroll – salary, wage, fringe benefits- will rise 24 percent to $3.4 million.

That’s not, however, a giant leap in existing payroll.

Hennessy’s plans include three slots not filled in the existing budget and seven new ones.

Total spending for them, some at 75 percent of the year, is about $$345,000 of the budgeted $700,000 in payroll cost increase.

Change in existing payroll is, ballpark, about 3 percent or a little under per slot, with a couple apparently reduced as turnover occurs.

The budget proposal expects spending decreases in two categories — Oak Wing Golf Course, down 7.7 percent to $1.6 million, and operating transfer to capital projects, down 18 percent to $1.5 million.

The Capital Fund, fed by grants, dedicated charges and transfers, will receive, and spend, $45.1 million, almost all on the air side.

Viewing college long ball and remembering the lost baseballs at Nichol’s field.

Suppose we were about 10 when we started playing our sandlot game on the only place available on Gay Road. It was a vacant lot next to Allen Nichol’s house, hence its name.

Stretching from Gay to Linda Road, its 100 feet by 150 (huge to us then; now just an empty spot of grass) was our first Field of Dreams (more nightmares in my case — no hit, no field, just desire).

Barbe, Penny, Boswell, Region, Fonville, Goodman, McDonald, Preston, Brian, Aderhold, Schmidt, Brown, Thomas — names stamped in the field’s dusty Hall of Fame.

Rules were simple. Home plate and second base only. Teams drawn by hands on bat handle. Foul balls were outs.

To the left meant dealing with the Townley girls (Linda and Kay) — not really so bad in retrospect.

To the right meant Mr. Nichols. Chasing a ball there (or raiding the plum trees, but that’s another story) was sorta like venturing into Boo Radley’s  yard. No one was up for that.

A ball hit there was a ball lost, which often meant game over.

Every once in a while three or four balls would appear on the ballfield, sort of like the tooth fairy and her nickels.

Years later, Nichols, the school superintendent, told me, the aspiring journalist, he still had a couple of the foul balls. He said I should stop by and get them.

Never did. Wish I had.

Jim Butler, a Bolton High School alumnus, was an acclaimed writer and editor at the Alexandria Town Talk for 36 years, the last 23 (1977-2003) as editor-in-chief. He led Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of Hurricane Katrina for the Gulfport (Miss.) Sun-Herald in 2005. Butler returned home to Cenla a few years ago, and sharse his talents and insight with Rapides Parish Journal readers.

By JIM BUTLER

Giles Hyundai hopes to be in its new location on the old Forest Glen site before summer is over, completing a process that started when the 11-acre site was purchased by the Pineville Downtown Development District.

Meanwhile construction of the new Central Louisiana State Hospital continues next to the Pinecrest Support Center on Esler Field Road.

Proceeds from the state property sale are dedicated by 2019 law (written by Sen. Jay Luneau) to costs of building the new hospital.

According to Doug Gann, Mayor Rich Dupree’s chief of staff (and, according to its most recent audit, the unpaid volunteer PDDD executive director), the process was defined in 2015 legislation.

Former Sen. Rick Gallot’s bill allows the State to sell property to the Development District and then the PDDD sells it via the Request for Proposals process.

The district is similarly currently seeking RFPs for developing a larger tract (across from Y-Not Stop) into a commercial medical complex.

Giles’ winning bid was $240,000, which was the State’s appraisal and the minimum bid allowed.

The appraisal was derived from the depreciated value of removing asbestos and then associated demolition costs of five old buildings, Gann noted.

Total cost of the project is upwards of the 6-7 million dollar range upon completion.

All of the current State-owned land on the Central site must be bought by the PDDD (Mike Tudor is chairman) and then sold through this similar RFP process.

For years Pineville officials struggled with how to better utilize the Central tract as a gateway to the city.

Through the long administration of Fred Baden the question began to take care of itself as legal and medical changes in institutional care and treatment of the mentally ill occurred.

The evolution, with Forest Glen and Central part of it, continued through the years Clarence Fields led the city.

Now, the Dupree administration has tools available to more productively use the 400 or so acres as the city pushes against geographical limits and to more effectively provide care for those who need it.

Dr. Arthur Seale must be smiling.

The pied-billed grebe is a rather nondescript water bird most of us have never heard of. However, when you mention “di-dipper,” heads nod in recognition. They’re one and the same.

Just about every country boy who spent any time around a lake while growing up has encountered these shy little critters that are there on the surface one minute; gone the next.

I see the little brown birds frequently on the surface of the lake at Lincoln Parish Park and they only let you see them for a short while. Try to get closer and they dive, popping up a few seconds later 10 feet from where they dived. 

According to George Lowery’s Louisiana Birds the most remarkable feature of these birds is their ability to submerge instantaneously, thus their French name of sac-a-plomb, which means “sack of lead”. Lowery also noted that it is virtually impossible to shoot a grebe because “at the flash from the muzzle, the bird submerges and is gone before the pellets arrive.” With all due respect, George, I beg to differ. Read on….

My first encounter with a grebe was down on Chee Chee Bay in Natchitoches Parish. I was in my early teens when I went to spend the night with a friend from school with the idea of going duck hunting the next morning. My friend, Arthur, lived near the lake, which made it convenient for us to be at the lakeside at first light, hoping to get some pass-shooting at a duck or two.

Arthur went one way; I went another as I waited in the cold dampness for a crack at a duck. While hunkering down behind some button willows next to the shoreline, I waited for what seemed an hour without a single duck flying my way. Then I spotted something moving on the water just up the lake from where I was. In my mind’s eye, it was a duck.

I formulated a plan to outsmart that duck and at least have something to show for my efforts that morning. By using the row of button willows as a shield, I belly-crawled through the cold mud for 100 yards until I had sneaked within shotgun range of the little brown “duck.”

When I’d gotten close enough, I eased to one knee, raised my gun, took aim, and fired. The “duck” rolled over, dead as a…..well, you know. Then I encountered a problem. The wind was blowing out and my prize was floating away toward the big lake.

Luck was on my side, though, because I spotted an old wooden boat somebody had beached just up from where I was. There was no paddle in the boat but I found a plank nearby that would serve as my paddle.

The boat was made of wood, it was big and very heavy. It took all the strength I could muster but I finally pushed and pulled; grunted and strained until I had the boat in the water. As you might expect, a boat such as this would never have been abandoned if it were still sea-worthy. It leaked; not too bad but enough that I figured I had to paddle fast to reach my duck and then get back to shore before it sank.

Flailing the water with the one-by-six plank, I was finally able to catch up with my “duck.” It was not until I had lifted it from the water that I realized my mistake. It was no duck; it was a di-dipper.

I had little time to browbeat myself because the boat was sinking. I had to fight the wind and paddle with all my might to get the boat back to shore. I just barely made it before the creaky old craft filled with water. I left it in the shallows and walked ashore, wet and muddy, with my di-dipper.

For the uninformed, the pied-billed grebe is described as a “ducklike water bird closely related to LOONS.”

After this hunt, I felt I may have been that grebe’s cousin.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com