Most safety equipment on vehicles originated because of accidents.  Underride bars, the safety device attached to the backs of semi-trucks and trailers, were the result of one such accident.  

At around 1 a.m. on June 29, 1967, 40-year-old attorney Samuel “Sam” Brody; 20-year-old pre-law student Ronnie Harrison; 34-year-old Vera Jayne Palmer; three of Vera’s children: three-year-old Marie, six-year-old Zoltan, and eight-year-old Mickey Jr., along with their four dogs, left Biloxi, Mississippi, and began the 100-mile trip along US-90 to New Orleans.  The three adults and two chihuahuas rode on front seat of the gray 1966 Buick Electra sedan, and the three children and two more chihuahuas slept in the back seat.  At about 2:25 a.m., Ronnie drove the car along an extended straight stretch of the Chef Menteur Highway through the marsh which separated Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico. Mosquitos have always plagued the marsh during the summertime, and New Orleans city employees sprayed insecticide fog from city trucks in the never-ending battle for control.  These workers sprayed insecticide fog during the night to avoid the heavy daytime traffic because they had to travel at slow speeds along the two-lane highway.  

Forty three-year-old Richard Rambo was driving an 18-wheeler in the same direction on Chef Menteur Highway some distance ahead of the gray Buick when he saw a white cloud emanating from the slow-driving fogging truck.  Rather than depressing the brake pedal which would have illuminated the brake lights, Richard removed his foot from the accelerator pedal and the “jake brake” slowed the truck and trailer to about 30 miles per hour.  In the car, which was traveling about 70 miles per hour, Ronnie failed to notice that the truck and trailer had slowed significantly.  He never hit the brakes.  The car drove under the rear of the trailer with such a tremendous impact that it peeled the top off of the sedan.  The car stopped when its front end struck the back tires of the trailer.  Ronnie, Sam, Vera, and the two chihuahuas in the front seat were killed instantly.  Vera’s children and the two chihuahuas in the back seat were injured but ultimately survived.  

In 1968, the year after the deadly crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration made it mandatory that all commercial trailers be equipped with large metal guards to prevent cars from driving under the rear of semi-trucks and trailers.  Although technically called underride bars, the safety bars were nicknamed after Vera Jayne Palmer.  You see, Vera Jayne Palmer was a famous actress, Playboy Playmate, and sex symbol of the 1950s and 60s.  The world knows her by her married name, Jayne Mansfield. Because of the car crash that claimed her life, underride bars are commonly referred to as “Mansfield Bars.”      

Sources:

1.     The Shreveport Times, June 30, 1967, p.18.  

2.     Scott Armstrong, “The Dangers of Underride Truck Accidents, AKA Mansfield Bars,” February 14, 2025, https://albtriallawyers.com/the-dangers-of-underride-truck-accidents-aka-mansfield-bars/.

In 2006, 28-year-old Army Specialist Todd Shriver was just one of many soldiers fighting in Iraq against Saddam Hussein’s regime.  Todd and other soldiers in his unit were tasked with clearing buildings of enemy insurgents in the city of Ramadi, but the work was slow.  The soldiers listened for any movement in the room to be cleared.  If they heard nothing, the soldiers took a quick peak into a room, with a mirror if one was available, to check for any signs of obvious danger such as enemy soldiers or explosives.  They could be hiding anywhere.  Then, the soldiers cautiously and slowly walked or crawled through the doorway with their weapons at the ready.  Once a room was cleared, they repeated the process on a slow, seemingly endless cycle.  If they failed to notice a tripwire, just one…BOOM!           

Enemy soldiers had set booby traps in many of the buildings.  The explosives were triggered by nearly invisible trip wires.  The various branches of the military had spent an untold amount of money searching for a practical solution for finding these tripwires, but none of their ideas became standard-issue equipment.  Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, explained that soldiers often have to improvise on the battlefield and that commanders are given money to purchase nonstandard supplies.  During the war in Iraq, soldiers bolted scrap metal to vehicles in what they called “Hillbilly Armor.”  Troops removed old bulletproof windshields from damaged vehicles and attached them to working military vehicles to provide extra protection to gunners.  Medics used tampons to plug bullet holes until the wounded soldiers could be transported from the battlefield to medical facilities. Soldiers used condoms over the muzzles of their rifles to keep sand out.  

With no clear solution to easily locating tripwires, Todd and his fellow soldiers continued the slow process of clearing buildings.  One day in October 2006, Todd was assisting some Marines in clearing a building.  It was pretty much the same process of listen and look.  Then, the Marine did something Todd was not expecting.  He pulled out an aerosol can and sprayed its contents through the doorway. Todd was curious about the Marine’s action, but the soldiers knew to keep quiet.  After clearing a few rooms in the same manner, the Marine took out the aerosol can and sprayed it as he had through the other doorways.  This time, something different happened.  The contents that spewed from the can clung to a nearly invisible thread which spanned the doorway.  With a quick push of the can’s nozzle, the soldiers located a practically invisible tripwire that could have been deadly.  

Todd requested cans of the product, but none could be found in Iraq.  The product was plentiful in the United States, so Todd turned to his mother, Marcelle Shriver.  On a telephone call, Todd told her what the product was and how they could use it if they had it.  Todd’s mother sprung into action.  She sent her son a few cans of the spray, but they needed more.  With the help of her church, Todd’s mother sent him a few more dozen cans.  Word spread quickly about the need and manufacturers joined in the cause.  Within a year, Todd’s mother had sent more than 80,000 cans of the spray to soldiers in Iraq.  Todd’s mother was collecting the spray cans, not from hardware stores, but from party supply stores.  You see, the product in the aerosol cans that has saved countless lives by making the invisible tripwires visible was a silly solution called Silly String.   

Sources:

1.     “A Serious Use For Silly String,” December 6, 2005, CBS News, accessed August 17, 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-serious-use-for-silly-string/.

2.     Mel Evans, “Silly String care packages sent to troops in Iraq,” October 15, 2007, NBC News, accessed August 17, 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21309380.              

Judy was still young when World War II broke out. When she went onboard, she became the only female among about 50 males on the Royal Navy’s insect-class ship HMS Gnat. She could not speak English, but she understood a few words after a while. The Gnat’s designation as an insect-class ship was misleading because the Gnat was a well-armed gunboat that the Germans wanted to eliminate. On October 21, 1941, German submarine U-79 located the Gnat and fired a torpedo. The torpedo struck its mark and did enough damage to the ship to put it out of service, but not to sink it. The survivors, including Judy, were transferred to the dragonfly-class river gunboat, HMS Grasshopper. Four months later, on February 14, 1942, Japanese dive bombers attacked the Grasshopper, and it slowly sank. The survivors made their way to land and began their daring trek to safety in enemy territory. On land, the men searched but were unable to find a source for drinkable water. Once Judy learned what they were looking for, she joined the search. It was she who found fresh water. For that, the men began referring to her as their “guardian angel.”

The survivors were eventually captured by Japanese soldiers and taken to a prison camp. The men became official prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention, but the Japanese guards refused to register Judy as an official P.O.W. The guards were unsure what to do with Judy, but they refused to provide food, water, or shelter for her. The men shared their meager rations of putrid water and maggot infested rice with Judy. When the guards were abusing the men, Judy intervened. It usually ended the beatings, but the guards often trained their hostilities onto her instead. Somehow, one of the prisoners convinced the camp commandant to register Judy as an official prisoner of war. This meant that they had to provide food, water, and shelter for Judy.

Judy was unbreakable. Her determination to survive brought hope to the other prisoners. Then, after being in the camp for more than two years, a Japanese captain arrived and ordered the men to move to a ship which would take them to another camp. Judy, he ordered, would be left behind to fend for herself. The prisoners knew better than to try to convince the captain to bring Judy, but they were not going to leave her behind to die alone. They quickly came up with a plan in which they could communicate by using hand signals and low whistles. The men rehearsed loading Judy in and out of rice sacks and taught her the different whistle signals, the most important one was the signal for her to be still and quiet. On June 25, 1944, the prisoners loaded the sacks of rice from their former prison onto a ship which was to take them to their new prison camp. Judy was hiding in one of those sacks and made it safely aboard. Just one day into the trip, their ship was sunk by a torpedo. Judy not only survived, but she pulled survivors from the water. Finally, after Victory over Japan on August 15, 1945, and after three years of captivity, the prisoners, including Judy, were rescued.

Many English soldiers owe their lives to Judy, their guardian angel. In May 1946, Judy was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for bravery which is commonly referred to as the Victoria Cross for animals. Judy, a pure-bred English Pointer and mascot for the Royal Navy, was the only dog in history to be officially registered as a prisoner of war.

Sources:

1. “PDSA Dickin Medal,” PDSA, accessed August 10, 2025, https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal.

2. “Meet Judy,” National Military Working Dogs Memorial UK, accessed August 10, 2025, https://nmwdm.org.uk/dogs/judy/.

Sources:

1.     Bryan Times, August 1, 1983, p.3.

2.     The Blade, August 31, 1998, p.16.

3.     W.H. Chip Gross, “Contest Queen,” February 1, 2022, Ohio Cooperative Living, https://ohiocoopliving.com/contest-queen.

Mike was nervous. He was among many guests including Steven Spielberg and Bob Zemeckis who flew to England to meet Princess Diana at a film premier. While they waited in the reception area, the chief of royal protocol prepped the group for their formal introduction. Mike, a Canadian, grew more nervous with each passing minute because he was going to meet his future Queen. This was years before Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s divorce. Mike felt out of place in his starched, rented tuxedo, but he was excited to meet the princess. He began to sweat. While he waited, he quickly downed some beers to calm his nerves. Mike did not get drunk, but drunkenness is not the only consequence of poorly timed beer intake.

Mike stood in the receiving line and watched as Princess Diana spoke briefly with those ahead of him. He kept going over the dos and don’ts in his head as the chief of royal protocol had instructed. He planned to follow the protocols to a tee. He thought the princess looked stunning in her blue silk gown and pearl and diamond jewelry. When it was his turn, Mike spoke briefly with Princess Diana. He had planned to compliment her on her outfit, but in the moment, it slipped his mind. They spoke briefly and she moved on.

Mike was relieved that the receiving line was done. The next task was to sit back, relax, and watch the film. The ushers escorted the royal party to their seats, then came back for the others. Mike had expected to sit at least a row or two behind the royal party. He almost went into cardiac arrest when the usher led him to his seat right beside Princess Diana. Mike thought to himself, “except for the fact that she’s married and is the Princess of Wales, this is practically a date.” Mike could not believe his luck, then he began to sweat again. Before the film began, Princess Diana made small talk with Mike. According to the rules set forth by the chief of royal protocol, Mike could not initiate conversation with the princess, but he could respond; Mike could not rise from his seat until she did; and he could never, ever turn his back toward her. Those rules kept going through his mind.

Finally, the film began. Mike thought he could finally relax, well, as much as one could sitting next to Princess Diana. Just as the film’s opening credits appeared on screen, it hit him. Mike felt the sudden and unmistakable pressure of a full bladder brought on by the beers he drank to calm his anxiety at meeting Princess Diana. “I was a hostage to etiquette,” he said later. He knew Princess Diana would be too polite to speak during the film. What would he say if she did? He could not stand before the princess, and there was no reason for her to stand. Even if she did rise, Mike would have to back away from Princess Diana down the crowded row of royals and other guests. That would not work, either. Mike considered the one other alternative but thought that would have been worse than breaking all the other protocols combined. Mike had no choice but to hold it. He recalled that his “fantasy date with a princess turned into two of the most excruciating hours of my life.” Princess Diana never knew about the dilemma as she watched the premier of “Back to the Future” while sitting beside Mike…Michael J. Fox.

Source: Michael J. Fox, Luck Man: a Memoir, (Hyperion, 2002), 99-100.

No one was more excited than me when the cordless handheld telephones for land lines came out. No longer was I going to have to fight with a twisted-up cord when I went to answer the phone that nearly yanked the receiver from my hand. No longer would I have to have an extra long cord that would reach every corner of the kitchen that often clothes-lined the unsuspecting kid. No longer would I have to yell for the recipient of the call or sit in awkward silence until they picked up. No longer would the wrong
family member pick up the telephone by mistake when I yelled the generic “telephone honey.” One time our daughter picked up the phone and said “me honey”, to which I responded, “no, Daddy honey.” Then when my husband got on the line he was greeted by his boss who said, “is this daddy honey?”

With these new cordless phones, I could actually walk through the house politely looking for the one the caller wanted.  And while the cordless phone revolutionized phone etiquette in my house it also came with a few new problems of its own. Namely a bad connection. I don’t know if it was the fact that I bought an inexpensive phone, but the first-generation cordless phone had terrible static. As soon as you got two or three steps from the docking station you could barely hear the caller on the other end for all of the interference coming through the line.

Our spiritual lives can often resemble a cheap cordless phone.  When we get too far from our power source we start to get a bad connection. When we can’t hear our Father’s voice clearly, we will often lose our way.

So, what do we need to do to stay connected? Here are a few things I like to do. When I feel disconnected from the Father I will get into my Bible. Now I admit I am in my Bible all the time, but it is for sermon prep or Bible study. It is not always to just sit with the words. I like to read through the Psalms as a good starter. I also like to listen to music to get a better connection, and not necessarily Christian music either. My favorite 21st century musical theologian is Jelly Roll. I like how he sings out loud about the human condition and what most of us are thinking, feeling or experiencing. Finally, when I am feeling disconnected, I will just sit and listen. This one is hard for me. I am not good at sitting still and my
husband will tell you I am not good at listening. Usually one or a combination of all the above will get me back to where I need to be. I hope it does for you too.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the Lead Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. You can contact Ramonalynn directly at DrRevRL@fumca.org.

(Following is a chapter in my new book, “Fathers, Sons and Old Guns”. The book, containing
50 of the columns I have written over the years, is available from Amazon.com.)

I met the old fellow once way back in the woods as he ground his pick-up to a rattling halt and
stopped to chat when he noticed me walking along the woods road, shotgun over my shoulder on
my way home from hunting squirrels.

He told me he lived in Texas but that he owned a little piece of land back there in the woods and
that he had planned to dam up the little creek on his place and build a pond.

“I’ve got an old camping trailer I’m going to bring over here so I can have a quiet little place to
come on weekends,” the old man said.

The next year as I hunted these woods, I came across the little camper and an old dozer and it
was evident that the old guy was true to his word. Dirt had been pushed up along the creek and
the dam was indeed taking shape. Having found the site, I’d occasionally swing by the place at
the end of my hunting trips to check on the old gentleman’s progress.

Better hunting territory beckoned me elsewhere and I soon forgot the old man and his special
little spot back in the woods. It was not until some five years later that I recognized his name in
the obituary column. Even though I only saw him that one time, I was saddened by the news of
his death, regretting that I hadn’t gotten to know him better.

Awhile back, I returned to the old man’s woods to hunt when I remembered the camper and the
pond. Picking my way along the road, now choked with briars and brush, I stepped into a little
clearing at the base of the dam. Relieved that the earthen levee had withstood recent floods, I
threaded my way through the thicket that had grown up on the dam. My vision was obscured ty
the brush and I didn’t see the little trailer until I was almost on it.

I stopped and remembered – it had been at least five years ago that the old man had parked the
camper under the big beech across the dam. It was still there just has he had left it when he
returned to Texas for the last time, not knowing he’d never again sit under the beech in the cool
of the evening to drink in the wild sounds of an uncluttered forest a mile from civilization.

Peering through the window of the trailer, the scene I saw told a story in itself. Although spider
webs and dust had created a lacy veil over everything, I had the eerie feeling that the old man
had just stepped out back for a moment and would be coming down the trail at any minute. I
resisted the strange urge to knock and call out to him.

There was an open jar of mustard on the cabinet, spider webs clinging to a skillet on the stove, a
plate on the dining table. To the rear was a bed with a crumpled quilt let in disarray when he
crawled out for the last time one morning five years ago.

I walked away with the feeling of reverence; a sense of peace. The old man’s hideaway had
become as much a part of the wild woodlands as the silvery beech beneath which it sits in decay.

Sir, may you rest in peace….

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com.

My grandmother lived to 90 years of age, and in the last week of her life she gave me a wonderful gift. I guess she had been in the hospital for a week or so. It is really hard to remember just how long we had been there as days tend to run together when you are sitting at the bedside of a loved one. She had not spoken in days, nor eaten solid food.  She mostly slept, but suddenly there was this moment of real clarity. My Aunt and I were there together, as she stated in a clear and commanding voice “hold my arms up.” So we did – my aunt on one side and I on the other. Then looking to the ceiling and with a sound of surprise she said “Mama!”, my great-grandmother that I only remember meeting once when I was about four years old. This was followed by a joyous “Roscoe”, my grandfather who had died when I was 16. And then in a voice of awe she said, “Oh my Lord!”

It has now been over 20 years since her passing, but I truly believe even to this day that my grandmother looked at the face of Jesus that day as she prepared to move from this earth to her heavenly home. The veil between heaven and earth was so narrow, so shear, she could almost touch it and what a privilege it was for me to share that brief moment with her.

I have often thought about that moment in the years since. I am grateful to know we will recognize each other when we get to heaven. I have even speculated which of my relatives will accompany Jesus when it is my time. The other valuable lesson for me was a real Jesus showed up when my grandmother needed him. Prior to that encounter when my grandmother struggled to catch her breath she panicked. After that encounter there was a sense of peace. For that I am most grateful. I believe in a Jesus that shows up still today. How about you? I would love for you to email me your Jesus encounters.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor of First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. You can contact Ramonalynn directly at DrRevRL@fumca.org.

By JIM BUTLER

Rezoning would allow a residence for homeless boys to locate on Kimball Avenue in Alexandria.

Lewis Carruth Properties is asking the city’s Board of Adjustments & Appeals for a special exception in the land use.

The property is currently designated SF-2 single family. An exception for a philanthropic institution under the land Development Code is requested.

The board will consider the matter, and from any who support or oppose, at its 4 p.m. June 9 meeting.

Representing the petitioner will be Vicki Lee of Rosebud Health Care, a Baker-headquartered firm.

The proposed home would be a foster home for boys age 11-17, according to the petition announcement.

Kimball runs from Madonna to Darby streets, east of Texas Avenue. The location is near Kimball & Stimson, several blocks from D.F. Huddle Elementary.

As the Police Jury’s Ambulance Service Control Board moves toward the first transition of emergency medical response management in 30 years, the board’s membership is also shifting.

At a Thursday meeting, board chair Dr. Paul Coreil, chancellor at LSUA, said local fire chiefs around the parish will fill some of the seven board seats along with the ambulance contract administrator, Joshua Dara.

That group will oversee the transition as Pafford EMS, with its Louisiana operations headquartered in Ruston, takes over the role from Lafayette-based Acadian Ambulance after more than a year of assessment by the ambulance board and plenty of wrangling and intense discussions. The decision was made by a 5-4 Police Jury vote ending a meeting over about five hours in April, and was unanimously ratified by the Jury earlier this month in response to a formal challenge by Acadian.

During Thursday’s meeting, the framework of oversight of Pafford’s takeover was outlined by the board, which intends to glean reactions from local police and fire departments and seek input from parish residents during monthly meetings to continually evaluate Pafford during its probationary first year of the five-year contract.

Alex Pafford, who is the Louisiana director of operations for the new provider, said during the meeting that he and other Pafford personnel have begun a productive dialog with local elected officials and other community leaders.

He told the board that Pafford has been involved in 30 such transitions taking over ambulance service responsibilities in the past five years and each has been successful.

“This will be no different,” he said.

Pafford’s “Air One” helicopter will be housed at Lake Buhlow where a hangar and storage facility will be built. The Pineville headquarters should provide the best access to area trauma centers, he said, and improve response to rural residents in the north half of the parish.

The 28th Annual Law Enforcement Memorial Service will take place on Friday, May 23 at 10 a.m. on the front steps of the Rapides Parish Courthouse. The public and media are invited to attend this solemn ceremony honoring Central Louisiana law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The annual memorial service serves as a poignant reminder of the risks faced daily by law enforcement officers and the profound loss felt when one of their own is taken too soon. The ceremony will pay tribute to those who have given “the last full measure of devotion” in service to their community and country.

“When a law enforcement officer dies in the line of duty, the entire nation often feels the weight of that loss,” said a representative of the organizing committee. “It’s more than just the end of a career—it’s the loss of a protector, a public servant, a hero.”

The event will include participation from local law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and family members of the fallen, offering a time for reflection, unity, and gratitude.

Organizers encourage residents of Central Louisiana to attend the service and stand in solidarity with law enforcement and the families of the fallen.

“Please join us as we honor the memory of those who have gone before us and recommit ourselves to supporting those who continue to serve,” the spokesperson added.

Kees Park will close temporarily at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 23 to allow for final preparations ahead of the grand opening of its highly anticipated splash pad.

The park and the new splash pad will reopen to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 just in time for families to kick off a summer of fun and outdoor recreation.

City officials advise residents to plan accordingly and apologize for any minor inconvenience the temporary closure may cause. Crews will be working diligently during this time to ensure all amenities are safe, clean, and ready for the season.

“We appreciate the community’s patience as we put the finishing touches on what we hope will be a popular destination for families throughout the summer,” said a spokesperson for the City of Pineville.

The splash pad promises to be a refreshing addition to Kees Park, offering children and families a new way to beat the heat and enjoy the outdoors.

In a continued show of service beyond the badge, several members of the Alexandria Police Department joined Commissioner VanDyke this week in donating blood—a meaningful tradition this group has upheld every two months.

Officers who participated in the donation effort included Deputy Chief Cooper, Deputy Chief Bradley, Chief Gremillion, Lt. Mathews, and Sgt. Delaney, alongside Commissioner VanDyke. Together, they took time from their demanding schedules to support a cause that quite literally saves lives.

“From protecting our community to giving back in deeply personal ways, our officers demonstrate unwavering dedication,” a department spokesperson said. “This blood donation tradition is just one more example of their ongoing commitment to serve.”

The Alexandria Police Department encourages others in the community to consider donating blood, especially as summer approaches and the need for blood supplies often increases.

Louisiana State Police has zero tolerance for impaired drivers. To combat impaired driving in our area, Louisiana State Police E will conduct a sobriety checkpoint. The sobriety checkpoint will occur this Friday, May 23, 2025, weather and traffic conditions permitting, in Rapides Parish.

The mission will be to intercept and incarcerate impaired drivers before they can cause injury or death to themselves, their passengers, or members of the public. Drivers are less likely to drive impaired when they recognize the increased probability of law enforcement action.

We are asking the public to make the mature decision and to designate a sober driver. Remember, “You drink, You drive, You lose!”

To report aggressive/impaired driving, call *LSP (*577) from your cellular phone or your local law enforcement

The Alexandria Police Department is actively investigating a homicide that occurred on the evening of May 21 in the 4000 block of Clark Street.

Officers responded to the scene around 5:30 p.m. following reports of a shooting that left three individuals injured. Two of the victims sustained moderate injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Tragically, 17-year-old Corey Brooks succumbed to his injuries on Thursday afternoon.

This incident is currently under investigation, and police are seeking assistance from the public.

Anyone with information regarding this case or other crimes in the Alexandria area is urged to contact the Alexandria Police Department Detective Division at (318) 441-6416, or APD Dispatch at (318) 441-6559. Information can also be emailed to detectives at APDDetectives@cityofalex.com.

For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of CenLa by calling (318) 443-7867 or using the P3 Tipster App, available for download at http://www.p3tips.com/community/mobile. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

The Alexandria Police Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of Corey Brooks and remains committed to bringing those responsible to justice.

The Pineville Police Department is actively investigating a hit-and-run incident that occurred around 9:09 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on Highway 28 East.

Officers arrived on the scene to find a female pedestrian lying in the roadway. She was conscious and alert, and reported that she had been attempting to cross Hwy 28E to reach a nearby bus stop when she was struck by a vehicle. The driver fled the scene before authorities arrived, and the victim was unable to provide a description of the vehicle involved.

The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

The incident remains under investigation, and police are urging anyone with information to contact the Pineville Police Department at 318-442-6603.

In light of the incident, officials are reminding residents to practice pedestrian safety. “Whenever possible, use designated crosswalks and sidewalks,” a department spokesperson said. “If walking at night, wear bright or reflective clothing to stay visible and help reduce the risk of accidents.”

More details will be released as the investigation continues.

The North Rapides Business & Industry Alliance (NRBIA) held its May 2025 meeting today at Louisiana Christian University (LCU), where attendees heard key legislative and economic updates affecting the region.

District 27 State Representative Mike Johnson delivered a mid-session report from the Louisiana Legislature, focusing heavily on efforts to address high auto insurance rates. Johnson outlined several bills intended to reduce insurer liability and restrict certain claims, with the goal of ultimately lowering costs for drivers across the state.

Among the legislation discussed was House Bill 431, which would prohibit drivers who are deemed at least 51% at fault in an accident from collecting damages—except in narrowly defined situations. HB434 would increase the penalties for uninsured motorists by raising the amount of bodily injury and property damage that cannot be recovered from $15,000 to $100,000. Johnson also touched on HB450 and HB436, which would create new procedural requirements and limitations for filing lawsuits against insurance providers.

In addition to legislative updates, David Lamont, Senior Vice President of SunGas Renewables, gave an update on the company’s planned development at the former International Paper (IP) site in Pineville. Lamont reported that the project’s development phase is nearing completion, with construction expected to begin no later than summer 2026.

The meeting was well-attended and described as highly informative by participants, highlighting both public policy developments and economic growth initiatives in the region.

Olivia McClure, LSUAgCenter

Hydrangeas have long been a staple of Southern gardens, and it’s no wonder why. These beloved flowers, with their unique clusters of delicate blooms, offer a late-spring and early-summer splash of color to shaded areas — something that’s not always easy to find.

Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs. Like most shrubs, it’s best to plant them in the fall. But you can appreciate their beautiful blooms right now — or soon.

There are many species of hydrangeas out there, but in Louisiana, you’re most likely to encounter three. Each has its own unique characteristics, care requirements and bloom times.

Bigleaf hydrangea

This is what most people think of at the mention of the word “hydrangea.” With large, rounded flower heads, which are technically known as corymbs, this hydrangea is native to East Asia. It’s sometimes called French hydrangea, garden hydrangea and mophead hydrangea, and its Latin name is Hydrangea macrophylla.

The bigleaf hydrangea can grow well in both acidic and alkaline conditions. For many cultivars, soil pH determines the color of blooms. Acidic soil yields shades of blue, and alkaline soil prompts pinks and purples. White-flowering cultivars are available, too, and aren’t influenced by pH. Flowers typically emerge in May and last for a few weeks.

This plant does best in full shade. Some sun in the morning is OK, but it definitely needs to be shaded during the intense heat of the afternoon. Water regularly, especially during the intense heat of the summer.

Most bigleaf cultivars reach 4 to 6 feet tall and typically don’t require much pruning. But if you have an established shrub that you feel has become unruly or if you need to remove damaged wood, be sure to prune immediately after flowering ends in late summer.

Don’t prune at other times of year, as the bigleaf hydrangea blooms on old wood. This means it sets flower buds on the previous year’s growth.

Newer bigleaf cultivars are being bred with heat resistance and color stability in mind. Some even rebloom throughout the growing season.

Oakleaf hydrangea

Unlike the familiar bigleaf hydrangea, the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is native to the southeastern United States. In nature, it’s an understory shrub in forests that also can be found along high stream banks.

This hydrangea has a few things in common with the bigleaf hydrangea — like its preference for shade and pruning requirements. But there are some important distinctions.

For one, good drainage is crucial for the oakleaf hydrangea. Too much water will spell trouble for this plant, which is particularly susceptible to root rot.

Oakleaf hydrangea flowers appear a bit earlier, starting in late April in some parts of Louisiana. The foliage offers great red-and-orange fall color in northern parishes.

This species can reach well over 10 feet tall in perfect conditions — but in cultivation, it usually stays in the range of 4 to 8 feet. Its cone-shaped, bright white flower clusters make a statement in shaded areas. They contrast nicely with the shrub’s large, lobed, textured, green leaves that resemble oak tree foliage.

Panicle hydrangea

The panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), a native to Asia, is quite different from the bigleaf and oakleaf species.

It craves sun — although it can still benefit from some afternoon shade in our climate. It’s much larger and grows more vigorously. Older cultivars can reach 15 feet tall and higher; newer ones grow to between 3 and 8 feet tall in the Deep South.

The panicle hydrangea also blooms later, with the first flowers usually emerging in late May to June. The cone-shaped flower heads, or panicles, on many cultivars are initially greenish and later turn white and then pinkish. The blooms can stay on the plant for months as they cycle through the different colors.

This plant should be watered regularly during establishment and times of excessive heat and drought. But as long as you don’t overwater, this species is less particular about watering than others.

While other hydrangea species bloom on old wood, the panicle hydrangea sets flowers on new wood. That means pruning can be done in late winter or early spring. Pruning helps keep these robust plants’ size and shape in check.