Eggs have been a large concern for many American consumers for several reasons, from shortages leading to high prices to stores limiting customers. But how are these issues affecting local businesses?

Since the initial outbreak of the bird flu, over 13 million egg-laying hens have died, causing a massive national egg shortage, which has contributed greatly to the rising price of eggs.

In hopes of keeping eggs stocked in stores despite the shortages, national chain stores like Kroger and Sam’s Club have implemented a limit for shoppers. 

As for local businesses like Ball Foods, a local grocery store, higher egg prices have had an impact on their business much like those of the national stores.

Grocery Manager Jaba Brennan said that while they do limit the amount of eggs customers can buy at one time, the store still wants to make sure they are doing everything they can to keep the egg prices as low as possible.

“We still offer ads and coupons to try and relieve the price for our customers,” said Brennan. “Demand is really high, supply is low. We want to be able to accommodate all of our customers. Eggs are a staple, so we try to make it to where everybody can get something.”

Brennan said they are also making sure they communicate to customers about the egg prices by posting announcements on shelves as they receive them.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is conducting a survey of freshwater anglers to gather information about fishing preferences and opinions, with a specific focus on the Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB).

The survey is available on the LDWF website for two weeks beginning Monday, Feb. 24. To access the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HPK86QB

Participation in this survey will support the LDWF’s Inland Fisheries Section in better managing fishing in the ARB for Louisiana anglers.

For more information about the survey or Freshwater Fisheries Management in the Atchafalaya River Basin, contact Fisheries Biologist Manager Brac Salyers, bsalyers@wlf.la.gov  or 337-735-8711.

by Brad Dison

During World War II, Leslie Townes was a civilian working with the United States military. Leslie was so skilled at his job that he led a group of sometimes as many as 30 other male and female civilians who also worked with the military. Leslie and his team went wherever they were needed, usually on short notice, and performed their jobs to perfection.

On April 30, 1945, when Soviet soldiers surrounded Hitler’s command bunker in Berlin and Hitler realized that Germany would lose the Battle of Berlin, he and several others in his bunker committed suicide. On May 2, the Berlin garrison surrendered to the Soviet army and the war in Europe was over. Leslie and his team had been working in Germany at the time the Soviets overran Berlin. Because of Leslie’s work, the Russians provided him with a pass and transportation to get into Berlin to see Hitler’s bunker. Remember, Russia was our ally during World War II. Leslie could not pass up the opportunity. Several Air Force men who had just returned from flying President Harry Truman to the Potsdam Conference accompanied Leslie to the bunker. Leslie said, “They drove me in a big car past all the rubble that used to be Berlin… There were all these Russian sentries guarding a big concrete dome sticking up out of the ground, covered by grass and mud, surrounded by huge bomb craters.” Leslie was shocked by what he saw inside. He said, “The place was a shambles, furniture scattered all around,” then added, “as if the last tenant had just gotten a divorce and his ex-wife had tried to take the rugs with her.”

Leslie and his Air Force escorts began collecting some of the smaller items from the bunker. The Russian guards made no attempt to stop them. The Russians had already rummaged through and collected what they considered valuable. Some of the items Leslie collected from Hitler’s bunker included stationary with Adolph Hitler’s initials and the handle from Hitler’s toilet. While the Air Force men collected other items, one of them noticed Leslie staring at a large swastika flag which covered one whole wall. As Leslie contemplated what that flag represented as he stood just feet from where the dictator met his demise by his own hand, one of the airmen said, “would you like to have that?” Leslie was a little doubtful. He did not want to leave the swastika flag flying as Hitler had left it, but he was unsure how they would get it out of the bunker. Finally, the airmen rolled it up from the floor to the ceiling and removed it from its fasteners. They folded it as well as they could. The guard, who had paid little attention to them until now, was watching their every move. The airmen gave the guard a couple packs of American cigarettes. In return, the guard gave them an iron cross that he had found in the bunker. Leslie referred to this as the first post-war Russian-American trade pact. As the guard lit a cigarette, Leslie and the airmen left Hitler’s bunker with Leslie’s large swastika flag. Leslie’s plan was to display the items in a museum.

Following the war, Leslie’s work with the U.S. military continued until his retirement in 1991. He had worked with the military for 50 years. In 1997, Congress passed a bill that made him an honorary veteran of the Armed Forces. Leslie was the first American to be so honored by Congress. During the presentation at the Capitol Rotunda, Senator Strom Thurmond presented a resolution which referred to Leslie as, “a great man, a great American, a great entertainer.” The man who took Hitler’s flag from his bunker, who led his troupe of performers around the world entertaining the soldiers for 50 years, was Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope.

Sources:

1. Bob Hope with Melville Shavelson, Don’t Shoot, It’s Only Me (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1990), 48.

2. The Times and Democrat (Orangeburg, South Carolina), October 30, 1997, p.3.

Oak Hill Fire Department has released its data relating to calls made between Feb. 11 and Feb. 18. 

The Mayor of Ball, Gail Wilking, announced Sunday morning that Ball’s Mardi Gras parade, scheduled to roll that afternoon at 2pm, was cancelled owing to a significant chance of rain. 

Somewhat ironically, the parade’s king is meteorologist Nick Mikulas, and he advocated for canceling and rescheduling the parade for everyone’s safety. The parade will now be held on Saturday, March 1, at 2pm. 

The Central Louisiana African American Culture & Heritage Center (AACHC) honored six local Cenla individuals for their contributions to society and for being an inspiration to many during the Center’s Feb. 22 celebration at the Martin Luther King Jr. branch of the RPL. 

Honorees for 2025 included:

• Brigadier General Sheridan Cadoria (Army Brigadier General, Military Pioneer and Icon)
• Lee A. Dotson, Jr. (Educator, Community Leader)
• Dr. Charles R. Joiner, MD (Doctor, Veteran, Pastor)
• Dr. Hayward B. Joiner, Jr., Ph.D (Educator, Community Advocate, Veteran)
• Judge Dorothy Baker Reyes (Superior Court Judge, Attorney)
• Coach Charles Smith, Jr. (Educator, Mentor, Coach)

Lakeisha Henton with the MLK branch explained why it’s important to honor these black pioneers as well as all such pioneers. 

“In this day and age, we need to make sure that we honor our heritage, our culture,” said Henton. “We have our own celebrities here. We have stood on the backs of many of them and their contributions. Our theme this year was Each Other’s Harvest, fostering community, and applauding achievement. And I think that our AACHC, along with the Rapides Parish Library, is here to be a repository and make sure that those stories don’t get lost.”

Henton added that although she’s honoring the past, she also hopes it serves as an inspiration to today’s generation of black youth.

“We are more than what is portrayed in the media, we come from royalty,” said Henton. “We have contributed so much to this world to where they need to understand and stand up tall. It’s not about black history month. Me, myself, I’m black 365 days a year, and for that, I am very proud. And it’s important because as we move along, there are shoes that need to be filled. And we have kids out there with the talent and the right guidance that can fill those shoes.

Henton said the AACHC has planned to continue honoring pioneers in the black community each year.

On February 24, 1930, American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh made a groundbreaking discovery—the dwarf planet Pluto. While initially classified as the ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto was later redefined as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), sparking debates among astronomers and space enthusiasts.

Pluto, located in the Kuiper Belt, is known for its icy surface, thin atmosphere, and heart-shaped region famously photographed by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in 2015. Despite its reclassification, Pluto remains a fascinating celestial body, continuing to capture the imagination of scientists and the public alike.

As space exploration advances, Pluto reminds us that there is still so much to discover beyond our solar system. Whether considered a planet or not, its discovery was a milestone in astronomical history and a testament to human curiosity and perseverance.

Constituents from Louisiana’s Sixth Congressional District voiced their concerns to Congressman Cleo Fields at a town hall held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. This town hall was prompted following a series of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.

“President Trump just needs to know that in America we elect leaders, not dictators. I mean this is a democracy, not a dictatorship. He’s the president he’s not a king and he needs to know that,” Congressman Fields said to the audience.

Among Trump’s proposals are plans that gave rise to the concerns voiced at the town hall. These plans include closing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, eliminating the Department of Education, and banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Congressman Fields said he is hopeful that Congress will be able to block these actions.

“I think the Congress of the United States will serve its powers like the Constitution gives us the opportunity to do,” Fields said.

Fields also shared his concerns regarding Elon Musk’s role in the American government. Fields stated that he felt Musk has too much access to citizens’ private information from the treasury department.

“Elon Musk has just gone too far,” Fields said.

As a result of this overreach, Fields has co-sponsored the Taxpayer Data Protection Act. This act aims to prevent bad actors from accessing citizens’ personal data.

“Elon Musk has not been confirmed by the Senate. He’s not been elected by the people, and so at the end of the day, I think all of this needs to calm down,” Fields said.

Fields addressed a wide range of issues raised by his constituents, from the ongoing insurance crisis and homelessness to food insecurity, veterans’ affairs, and concerns about potential cuts to funding for historically black colleges and universities, as well as Medicaid.

“Now I’m not going to make everybody happy every time. I’m going to try, I’ll do my best. But it’s impossible because everybody in the Sixth District doesn’t have the same views,” Fields asserted.

Fields added that he plans to take the concerns he heard Wednesday to Congress, making assurances to his constituents that more town hall meetings will be held throughout his term and that he is listening to them.

Following a report of a robbery on Cotton Street on Wednesday Pineville Police have arrested two teenagers. 

Pineville Police officers responded to the call of a robbery of a local business in the 200 block of Cotton Street on Feb. 19 around 7:48pm. Police obtained a search warrant for a residence on Wood St. following an investigation, during which Pineville SWAT assisted. 

Upon police arrival at the residence, two individuals fled on foot. Police deployed a drone with thermal imaging technology to track the suspects. Shortly thereafter, the suspects were taken into custody. 

Jessie Hunter, 18, and Ethan Johnson, 17, were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, criminal conspiracy, obstruction of justice (evidence tampering), resisting an officer and possession of marijuana. Each received a bond of $1,000.

Both teens remain in the Rapides Parish Detention Center at this time, pending further investigation and legal proceedings.

Languages are the foundation of culture, identity, and heritage, and February 21 marks International Mother Language Day, a UNESCO-recognized celebration of linguistic diversity. Established in 1999, this day honors the importance of preserving and promoting native languages worldwide.

With thousands of languages spoken globally, many are at risk of extinction due to globalization, cultural assimilation, and declining native speakers. According to UNESCO, nearly 43% of the world’s 7,000 languages are endangered.

From initiatives to revitalize indigenous languages to educational programs promoting bilingualism, today serves as a reminder of the richness that linguistic diversity brings to humanity. By encouraging people to speak, write, and share their mother tongues, we ensure that the world’s cultural heritage remains vibrant for generations to come.