By JIM BUTLER
Red reaches six-months high, then drops
Monday’s deluge pushed Red River to its highest stage at Alexandria-Pineville this year.
The river rose 2.47 feet overnight, reaching 23.47 feet on Tuesday. Flood stage is 34 feet.
According to the Corps of Engineers, previous high-water mark this year was 21.49 feet on Jan. 14. The low was reached a month later, 19.6 feet.
By Thursday afternoon this week’s surge had receded leaving the river at 20.89 feet.
Meanwhile tropical Arthur poured cats and dogs to the south Thursday with Avoyelles overwhelmed by upwards of 30 inches – let’s write that again, 30 inches – of downpour. Perspective: Alexandria’s annual average is 60 inches.
Cats and dogs is figurative, unlike instances in the mid-20th Century when it literally rained fish and frogs in Marksville.
The piscatorial event occurred in 1947 on Main and Monroe streets. A state biologist breakfasting there witnessed the finny event and collected several examples to preserve for museums around the state. He noted fish were falling about one per square yard for several blocks.
A decade later, The Town Talk reported frogs from the sky during turbulent weather the day before. Evidently any legs collected were not preserved.
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City Judges disclosure
Alexandria City Judge Richard Starling Jr. and Pineville City Judge Gary K. Hayes have filed financial disclosure statements that raise no conflict of interest issues.
The reports are required by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
As of June 17 Starling’s most-recent posted report was in September.
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Pineville personnel change
James Rachal has been appointed Pineville’s Public Works director, succeeding James Robertson.
The City Council approved Major Joe Bishop’s recommendation at its June meeting. Minutes reflect there was no discussion.
Bishop had not responded through Thursday evening to a query regarding the change.
Rachal had been serving as Parks and Recreation Director.
Under Robertson the city won the 2024 Cleanest City title in its category.
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Timber talk
State Sen. Heather Cloud, whose district includes parts of Rapides, has asked Gov. Jeff Landry to expand the geographic base of Louisiana Forestry Commission members.
She notes the heavy presence of the forestry and timber industry in Central and North Louisiana as obvious reasons to have some of the commissioners from those areas.
The state forester post is vacant and there are available commissioner appointments, any or all providing opportunities for such appointments, she wrote.