For pet lovers everywhere, February 20 is a special day—National Love Your Pet Day! Whether you have a loyal dog, a curious cat, a talkative parrot, or even a scaly reptile, today is all about appreciating the companionship and joy that pets bring to our lives.

Studies show that owning a pet can significantly reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even improve heart health. From extra treats to long walks or cozy cuddles, pet owners across the country are encouraged to show their furry (or feathery, or scaly) friends a little extra love today.

Animal shelters and rescues also take the opportunity to promote pet adoption, reminding people that countless animals are looking for their forever homes. Whether you’re spoiling your current pet or considering adopting a new one, today is a perfect reminder of the unconditional love that pets bring into our lives.

28 people interested in trapping took part in a free Trapper Education Workshop at the LDWF Pineville office on Saturday, Feb. 15, to get expert tips from members of the Louisiana Trappers and Alligator Hunters Association on trapping basics to increase the odds of catching animals.

Trappers provided hands-on demonstrations of techniques to catch a variety of animals and in different environments, from woods and roadsides to creeks and other waterbodies.

Want to learn more about hunter and trapper education? Visit the website: https://buff.ly/3Kbhzd8

There are still a few spots left for the Big Branch Trapper Workshop on March 1. Register here: https://buff.ly/4gjfycb

BOM is a sponsor of the LA Bombers travel softball team. Pictured left to right: BOM’s Mandy Futrell, Jessica Anders, and BOM’s Maranda Evan’s.

The Alexandria Museum of Art will host an opening reception for George Rodrique’s “The River Is the Road” exhibit on Friday, March 7, at 6pm. 

Culminating its traveling schedule in Alexandria, this exhibit is the first of its kind and traces 45 years of the river in George Rodrigue’s paintings, exploring the unique ways Rodrigue used the river as a reference to his Cajun heritage, and ultimately as a metaphor for the journey of life. The exhibition, organized by the Life & Legacy Foundation, includes 45 original artworks, including paintings, pastels, and sculptures from the private collection of Wendy Rodrigue, the George Godfrey Rodrigue, Jr. Family Trust, and selected works borrowed from collectors – including AMoA’s Steamboat. This exhibit is funded in part by Telich Custom Homes and Morgan Stanley.

On February 19, 1945, one of the most significant battles of World War II began as U.S. Marines launched an assault on the heavily fortified island of Iwo Jima. The battle, which lasted for 36 days, saw more than 70,000 Marines fight against 21,000 Japanese soldiers, resulting in one of the most intense conflicts of the Pacific Theater.

The famous photograph of Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi, taken by Joe Rosenthal, became an enduring symbol of American resilience and sacrifice. The battle was a turning point in the war, providing the U.S. with a crucial strategic position closer to the Japanese mainland.

Today, veterans and historians continue to reflect on the bravery of those who fought, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

The LSUA Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Renaud L. Holcombe Endowed Scholarship, a generous gift from Dr. David Holcombe and his wife, Nicole Holcombe, in memory of their late son, Renaud L. Holcombe. The Holcombes have pledged $25,000, inclusive of corporate matching funds, over three years to fund the endowment, which will benefit students in the College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics at LSUA.

This scholarship reflects the Holcombe family’s commitment to supporting higher education and fostering opportunities for students pursuing degrees in Computer Science or Cybersecurity. Designed to assist full-time students who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence, the scholarship will help ensure that deserving students can achieve their educational goals.

Born in Brussels, Belgium, Renaud L. Holcombe moved to Alexandria, Louisiana, with his family. He attended Bolton High School and graduated from the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts. A gifted student, Renaud went on to earn a degree in Computer Science from Loyola University New Orleans. An amateur cyclist and glass-blower, and an avid reader, Renaud was a talented data architect who had a passion for life and learning. This scholarship honors his legacy by empowering others to follow in his footsteps.

Recipients of the Renaud L. Holcombe Scholarship must be full-time LSUA students majoring in Computer Science or Cybersecurity, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is renewable annually, provided recipients continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

The LSUA Foundation expresses profound gratitude to the Holcombe family for their meaningful gift, which will leave a lasting impact on the university and its students.

During Love the Boot Week, April 5-13, Keep Louisiana Beautiful (KLB) has partnered with Coca-Cola in spearheading the recycling of plastic bottles and aluminum cans for litter cleanup events happening in 27 parishes. This effort, facilitated by the Osprey Initiative, will lead to thousands of bottles and cans being diverted from the landfill. Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort held during Earth Month, with events organized by businesses, non-profits, schools, governments, and families in all 64 parishes. Events in eligible parishes can sign up for recycling when registering for Love the Boot Week at LoveTheBoot.org.

“Thank you to Coca-Cola for continuing to fund recycling during Love the Boot Week,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “It takes all of us working together to keep our communities clean. If you are having a Love the Boot cleanup in one of the 27 parishes where recycling is available, I encourage you to participate in this important effort to divert cans and bottles from the landfill.”

“At Coca-Cola, our bottles and cans can live many lives, and efforts like this to collect and recycle are fundamental to that process,” said Scott Ryan, Vice President of Franchise Operations for The Coca-Cola Company. “We’re proud to sponsor and participate in Love the Boot Week again this year and commend Keep Louisiana Beautiful for their leadership in litter reduction in the state.”

With support from Coca-Cola, Osprey Initiative will facilitate recycling from litter cleanup events in the following parishes: Acadia, Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Vermilion.

The recycling program will include a combination of pick-up and drop-off services, and 21 regional offices of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will serve as recycling drop-off locations for Love the Boot events.

This is a significant expansion from the 2024 recycling effort, which was successful in collecting 13,891 aluminum cans and plastic bottles at 62 sites in 15 parishes. Last year during Love the Boot Week, 19,441 individuals volunteered a total of 100,712 hours at 760 events in all 64 parishes, leading to the removal of 347 tons of litter. In addition to litter removal, volunteers focused on community beautification, planting 921 trees and 4,408 plants, and refurbishing 366 gardens.

Recycling bags will be shipped from Osprey to those who sign up for recycling. Osprey will pick these bags up, sort the material, and deliver the recyclables to a recycling facility.

“When items are properly recycled, they don’t end up littering our environment or entering our landfills,” said Susan Russell, KLB Executive Director. “Not only does recycling reduce waste, but it also requires less energy to use recovered materials when making products in comparison to virgin materials. We are grateful to Coca-Cola for funding recycling at Love the Boot Week events, so the bottles and cans collected can be repurposed rather than ending up in a landfill.”

Everyone in every parish is invited to register for a cleanup or beautification event and/or sign up to volunteer for Love the Boot Week at LoveTheBoot.org.

A former Pineville police officer was arrested on Saturday, Feb. 15, nearly three and a half months since her last arrest.

Lacy Ann Walker – formerly known as Lacy Fields – was arrested around 4:45am on Saturday after allegedly driving at dangerously high speeds. 

Jail records indicate that Walker was subsequently charged with Reckless Operation of a Vehicle – First Offense and Impersonating a Peace Officer. Her bond was set at a total of $1,000. 

Jail records show Walker was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle – first offense, and impersonating a peace officer. Bond was set at a combined $1,000.

Walker was arrested back in October 2024 for domestic abuse battery and aggravated assault with a firearm while serving as a Pineville police officer. 

Sources:

1.      “Franklin D. Roosevelt,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/franklin-roosevelt.

2.      “Dwight D. Eisenhower,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/dwight-eisenhower.

3.      “Ronald Reagan,” The White House Historical Association, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/ronald-reagan.

5.      “A New Deal,” Thirteen PBS, accessed February 16, 2025, https://www.thirteen.org/wnet/historyofus/web12/segment3.html.

As the world continues its shift toward renewable energy and portable technology, National Battery Day, celebrated annually on February 18, reminds us of the indispensable role batteries play in our everyday lives.

From the first voltaic pile invented by Alessandro Volta in 1800 to modern lithium-ion batteries powering everything from electric vehicles to smartphones, battery technology has been at the forefront of innovation. Today, researchers are working to develop more efficient, longer-lasting, and environmentally friendly batteries to support the growing demand for sustainable energy storage.

As industries push for cleaner solutions, advancements in battery storage will be crucial in the fight against climate change. Whether in a simple AA battery or a cutting-edge Tesla Powerwall, today is a day to appreciate the science behind keeping the world charged.