It started for me long ago. My daddy always had a copy or two of the Big Three in outdoor magazines – Field and Stream, Sports Afield or Outdoor Life lying around and one of my early childhood pleasures was picking one up, flipping through the pages and reading articles written by guys that became my heroes.

My favorite was Grits Gresham. I thought of him as a local guy since his hometown, Natchitoches, was only 40 miles or so from where I grew up. Grits would transport me in fantasy to far distant lands as he wrote about hunting wild game animals all the way from Colorado to the Congo.

Other favorite writers were those who majored in humor writing. Ed Zern, Charlie Dickey and Pat McManus et al would find me flipping to the back pages to chuckle at the brilliant way they handled humor.

Today, you’ll be hard-pressed to find actual print copies of these favorite magazines of mine. Take Outdoor Life, for instance. I checked on-line to see how this magazine is offered to readers today. Here’s what I read…”Outdoor Life is a digital-only magazine covering hunting, fishing camping, survival and outdoor gear.”

Sports Afield? “Please click the link below to access your copy of the digital version.”

Field and Stream? They are giving it a shot at bringing back the print version of this popular magazine. “That’s right – print! We’re bringing back the magazine!” Good luck with that.

My interest has been drawn to a couple of on-line magazines that have emerged from the pack in recent years. Both Catfish NOW! and Crappie NOW! are edited by outdoor writer friends of mine. Keith “Catfish” Sutton heads the one on catfish while Richard Simms is editor of the one targeting crappie anglers.

About Catfish NOW!, in checking the web site, I read the following. “…is a user-friendly web-based magazine and social media platform. Our goal is to entertain and educate catfish anglers at all skill levels and outdoors enthusiasts from all walks of life. Catfish NOW! is FREE. A new issue is released around the 15th of each month. Readers can subscribe by using our subscribe button on the home page.”

Here’s what I learned about Crappie NOW! “An unequaled online-only crappie fishing magazine aimed at passionate crappie anglers from all skill levels. It is presented on a platform where readers can search for information on new crappie fishing tips, techniques destinations, equipment, tackle, tournament and the latest news from industry-leading professionals.” This publication is also free and can be accessed by using the subscribe button on the home page.

You can subscribe to Outdoor Life and Sports Afield online but you pay for the privilege. On the other hand, both the catfish and crappie magazines are entirely free and are financed by magazine sponsors.

I enjoy reading both these free ones and I can take them with me wherever I go; all I have to do is click a button and find out all I need to know about how to catch catfish and crappie. However, I have to admit that I miss sitting down and flipping through the pages of a magazine you can hold in your hands.

The times, folks, they are a-changing, aren’t they?

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

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The Pineville Police Department recently participated in a professional development training hosted by Police2Peace, an organization known for its focus on community-centered policing practices.

Funded through a U.S. Department of Justice grant, the training came at no cost to the City of Pineville or its taxpayers. The program offered officers the opportunity to deepen their commitment to policing that is effective, empathetic, and rooted in justice—principles that have long guided the department’s mission.

“We were proud to learn that our current practices already align with the values emphasized by the Peace Officer program,” the department shared in a statement. “This training reaffirmed our approach to building strong, respectful relationships with the community we serve.”

As part of its ongoing effort to foster transparency and connection with the public, the Pineville Police Department encourages residents to submit compliments for officers who have made a positive impact. A new feature on the department’s website allows community members to recognize officers for outstanding service.

To submit a compliment or learn more about the department’s work, visit: pinevillepd.com/compliment.

The department expressed its gratitude for the continued support of Pineville residents and reaffirmed its dedication to serving with integrity, professionalism, and respect.

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Local law enforcement officers, community members, and Special Olympics athletes came together for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Louisiana, held recently in Rapides Parish.

The run began at the Rapides Parish Courthouse and concluded along the banks of the Red River, bringing awareness and support for Special Olympics athletes across the parish. Participants carried the symbolic torch as a sign of unity, inclusion, and encouragement for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Following the event, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office hosted a supper for athletes and participants, providing a moment of fellowship and celebration after the run.

The Torch Run continues to be a meaningful tradition, highlighting the commitment of local law enforcement and the broader community to supporting Special Olympics Louisiana and its mission.

 

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The Rapides Parish School Board announced that free summer meals will be available to all children 18 and under beginning June 2. The program will run through June 26 or 27, depending on the location.

Children can enjoy both breakfast and lunch at any of the designated summer meal sites, regardless of where they live or attend school. All sites are open to the public, providing families with a convenient way to keep kids fueled and healthy during the summer break.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit their nearest site and take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their children receive nutritious meals throughout the summer months.

For a list of participating locations and meal times, visit rpsb.la/summer2025meals.

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There is a funny story about Karl Barth, one of the most famous theologians of the 20th century. He was on a streetcar one day in Basel, Switzerland, where he lived and lectured. A tourist to the city climbed on the streetcar and sat down next to Barth. The two men started chatting with each other. “Are you new to the city?” Barth inquired. “Yes,” said the tourist. “Is there anything you would particularly like to see while you are here?” asked Barth.  “Yes, indeed,” he replied. “I’d love to meet the famous theologian, Karl Barth. Do you know him or where I can find him to meet him?” Barth replied, “Well as a matter of fact I do. I give him a shave every morning.” Just then the streetcar comes to a stop and the tourist gets off quite delighted. He couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel to tell his wife that he met Karl Barth’s barber.

This story amuses me. The tourist was in the very presence of the one he wanted to meet most, and even with an obvious clue, he never realized he was talking to the great theologian Karl Barth himself.

Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been looking for something or even someone and it was right there in front of you the whole time? My dad used to say in those times growing up when I would overlook the obvious, “if it was a snake, it would have bit you!” I still often overlook the obvious, but I am trying to do better, to be better, to take in the spoken and the unspoken. To not rush so quickly to judgement or race by people and places in a mad dash to the next thing so as to take in the beauty of the moment. I’m not there yet. I am a work in progress.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

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

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In early May 2025, the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit received two independent and anonymous complaints that a subject may be selling narcotics from a local motel room. Agents began their investigation and quickly identified the suspect as William Cameron Leblanc, 20 of Church Point.

Through multiple surveillance techniques, RADE Agents were able to confirm these complaints, even observing Leblanc conduct several “hand to hand” narcotics transactions on the premises of the motel.

Agents developed sufficient probable cause to obtain search warrants on May 15 for two rooms paid for and occupied by Leblanc. Later that same day, RADE Agents executed the search warrants, Leblanc was taken into custody without incident and found in possession of a small bag that contained marijuana, a digital scale, and large sum of currency. A thorough search of each room revealed three softball sized plastic bags containing suspected Fentanyl, a small caliber handgun and narcotics packaging materials. The bags containing the suspected Fentanyl were later determined to weigh 1 pound, nine ounces and the assorted U.S. currency totaled $3,294.

Leblanc was arrested and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he was booked for Possession of CDS II (Fentanyl) with Intent to Distribute, Possession of CDS I (Marijuana), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Carrying of Firearms with Drugs, and Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses. Leblanc was also issued Civil Asset Forfeiture paperwork and the cash was seized. After further investigation, RADE Agents developed probable cause to apply for an arrest warrant for Leblanc for Distribution of CDS II (Fentanyl). The warrant was signed and approved and Leblanc was rebooked (still in custody) for the new distribution charge.

Leblanc remains in jail at the time of this release being held on a $271,000 bond. Agents say their investigation is still ongoing.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit is a multi-jurisdictional team comprised of the Alexandria Police Department, Ball Police Department, Boyce Police Department, Cheneyville Police Department, Forest Hill Police Department, Glenmora Police Department, Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office Lecompte Police Department, McNary Police Department, Pineville Police Department, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Woodworth Police Department, Grant Parish District Attorney’s Office, Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office and Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole.

The RADE Unit continues to target individuals suspected of trafficking narcotics in the Central Louisiana area. If you have information or would like to report any narcotics activity, you may do so by sending direct messages to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Facebook page.

“ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.”

Arrestee: William Cameron Leblanc, 20
1628 LA Hwy 35, Church Point, LA

Charges: Possession of CDS II (Fentanyl) with Intent to Distribute
Possession of CDS I (Marijuana)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Illegal Carrying of Firearms with Drugs
Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses
Distribution of CDS II (Fentanyl)

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Flying commercially in 1970 was a much more relaxed experience than it is today. The period from the 1950s to the 1970s is fondly considered “the golden age of travel.” Flying was more glamorous and luxurious. Many people dressed up to fly. Men often wore suits and women wore dresses. Their children were also dressed to impress. Smoking tobacco during flights was perfectly acceptable. Cocktails and other alcoholic beverages were often complimentary to passengers during flight. The food was comparable to that served in fine restaurants, often with multiple courses. The distance between the seats, the legroom, was normally between 36 to 40 inches. Today, legroom averages about 28 inches. There were no electronic devices, so airlines provided all sorts of entertainment to help passengers pass the time. At one point, American Airlines held in-flight fashion shows down the aisles. Airport security at the time was almost non-existent when compared to what it is today. There were no metal detectors, no scanners, and no drug-sniffing or bomb-sniffing dogs.

On Monday, September 21, 1970, William James drove to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on what was his 20th birthday. He bought a ticket to fly to Denver, Colorado, and waited to board his plane. He passed the time by chatting with another passenger. William was jovial because he had left his teenage years behind and had entered his twenties. While William was waiting to board the airplane, he jokingly told another traveler that he had two bombs in his luggage. Even in the relaxed atmosphere of commercial flying in 1970, claiming to have a bomb on an airplane was nothing to joke about. The other passenger passed the information to the ticket agent who immediately called a nearby United States marshal.

Shortly thereafter, a marshal pulled William aside for questioning. William tried to explain that he was just joking, but the marshal found no humor in his claim. About that time, Chicago vice detectives stepped in though the airline had not called for outside police assistance. The detectives had been waiting to arrest William based on a different tip they had received about his luggage. The marshal and Chicago detectives carefully searched William’s luggage. The marshal was relieved that they found no bombs, but the detectives were delighted because they found what they were looking for. Inside William’s luggage, they found five bricks of marijuana which weighed two pounds each and had a street value of about $20,000. Adjusted for inflation, that would be just over $163,000 in today’s money. The detectives arrested William and transported him to jail.

On the following day, the judge in Chicago’s narcotics court saw no humor in William’s bomb claim but was lenient in his sentencing. Rather than jail time, William was sentenced to probation. In this incident, many people surely told William that he was not funny and to take life seriously. Luckily for us, William did not listen because he is known around the world for his humor. The man who was arrested for carrying 10 pounds of marijuana in his luggage after he jokingly claimed that he had two bombs on an airplane appeared in many films including “Caddyshack,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Groundhog Day.” The world knows William James Murray as Bill Murray.

Sources:

1. Jacopo Prisco, “What the ‘golden age’ of flying was really like,” CNN, August 5, 2022, accessed May 18, 2025, cnn.com/travel/article/golden-age-flying-really-like.

2. Chicago Tribune, September 22, 1970, p.3.

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By Brad Dison

Public libraries are important to our communities because they provide free access to all the world’s recorded knowledge.  Public libraries promote education and literacy in safe and welcoming environments to people of all ages, backgrounds, and social class.  We, as citizens, have a responsibility to return the books we borrow by a set date, or we will face the shame of returning an overdue book.    

In April 2010, Mark Bartlett, head librarian at the New York Society Library, noticed that two books checked out by the same person had not been returned.  According to the library records, George checked out two books on October 5, and the books were due back on November 2.  On October 15, ten days after checking out the books, George had to travel for work.  He was a salesman of sorts who was trying to rally support for an idea rather than a tangible product.  He referred to it as a promotional tour.  He left New York City and, over the next two weeks, visited factories and farms in nearly 60 towns in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.  George, then 57 years old, hoped the trip would improve his health.  He had gotten sick during the summer and was not recovering as quickly as he had expected.

The fines on George’s overdue books began accruing on November 3.  When George returned to New York on November 13, he failed to return the books.  Perhaps his health did not improve as he had hoped.  Perhaps he was exhausted by the whirlwind trip.  Maybe he simply forgot.  When the head librarian learned of the overdue books, he sent a letter to George’s home address about the overdue books.  But there was a problem.  By the time the library learned of the overdue books, George had died.  In their correspondence with James Rees, representative of George’s estate, Mark asked if they could try to locate the overdue books.  Mark explained, “We’re not actively pursuing the overdue fines, but we would be very happy if we were able to get the books back.”  

Despite his best efforts, James was unable to locate the books.  As a last resort to rectify the situation, James decided to replace the books.  But there was another problem.  The books had become rare.  In May 2010, James found a copy of one of the overdue books, The Law of Nations, on a rare books website, made the purchase, and gave it to the library.  The price of replacing just that one overdue library book was $12,000.  James is still searching for a copy of the other overdue book.  $12,000 is a huge sum to pay to replace a library book, but the representative of George’s estate got off light.  Had the library not been so forgiving, the fines would have totaled around $300,000.

You see, in April 2010, the librarian learned that the books were overdue by 221 years.  They had been checked out on October 5 and were due back on November 2, 1789.  George, the salesman who traveled throughout New England, was rallying support for the United States Constitution.  On the ledger which recorded the name of the person who checked out the books was written by quill and ink, not George, but “President.”  George Washington had been President of the United States for less than six months when he checked the books out.  

Sources:

1.     Ed Pilkington, “Fine owed by George Washington for overdue library books now $300,000,” The Guardian, April 18, 2010, accessed May 11, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/18/george-washington-library-new-york.

2.     Catherine Treesh, “New England Tour,” MountVernon.org, accessed May 11, 2025, https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/new-england-tour#:~:text=George%20Washington%20went%20on%20his,%2C%20Massachusetts%2C%20and%20New%20Hampshire..

3.     “George Washington’s 221-year overdue library book: A timeline,” The Week, updated January 8, 2015, accessed May 11, 2025, https://theweek.com/articles/494173/george-washingtons-221year-overdue-library-book-timeline.

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Abraham Lincoln said of his own mother, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother.” Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “men are what their mothers make them.” Bruce Springsteen’s biggest fan was his mom. He would often show case her at the many concerts she would attend and thank her for all that she did for him. In fact, still to this day he credits his mother for his career and her courage in taking out a loan when he was only 16 years old and buying him his very first guitar. Now I don’t know if Springsteen ever paid her back, but her investment certainly paid off.

This Sunday, many will pay homage to their moms. Sending cards and flowers, making phone calls, even visiting graves. Many will be like Springsteen, Emerson and Lincoln, giving thanks and credit to their mothers for what they have accomplished or thanking them for how they turned out.

I am more closely akin to the young recruit while being interviewed for the police academy who was asked what he would do if he had to arrest his own mother – his answer, “call for backup.” My relationship with my mom has always been complicated. I typically call for backup when dealing with her.

For me, Mother’s Day is not easy. There is not a card designer in the world that would ever put into words the correct sentiment for me when it comes to my mother. Perhaps you may feel the same way either because of your relationship with your own mom or perhaps you have struggled to be a mom. No matter how you feel about this “Hallmark” holiday do not fret. Enjoy the day for what it is, an opportunity to acknowledge the female role models in your life.

I am grateful to my dad who often had to be both mom and dad to me when my mom was “out of sorts”. I was also blessed with wonderful “southern grandmothers”, both related and unrelated to me that stood in the gap, raised me up, and convinced me I could do anything I put my mind to. There were also teachers, Girl Scout leaders and other mothers, some of whom never had children themselves, who were great moms to me, who mentored and encouraged me throughout my life.

So even if you have a love-hate relationship with Mother’s Day, do not let that stop you from being a good role model and mentor to someone else. You never know what child in your circle of influence will need that from you. I know I did.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

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

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By Brad Dison

In 2002, Michael and Kelley Flamoe were house hunting in Tacoma, Washington.  They saw several houses which were all nice and would have fit their needs, but something held them back each time.  They were all nice houses, but none felt like home to them.  Then, the realtor took them to a house at 1112 North J Street in Tacoma.  The neighborhood was nice.  All of the houses on North J Street were at least two stories.  The houses were built on a hill about six feet tall, which gave them the appearance of being taller than they actually were.  To get from the sidewalk to the front doors of the houses took two flights of stairs sided with wrought iron hand railings which added to the charm of North J Street.  Across the road sat a large grey stone Catholic church.   It was a picturesque neighborhood.  This house had a unique feature in that it was the only house on the block which had numerous groupings of square columns rather than single round columns supporting the porch and roof.  Michael and Kelley loved the craftsman style of the home they were considering, and they had not even walked in the front door.  After viewing the house’s interior and large backyard, Micheal and Kelley decided their search was over.  At first glance, this house felt like home. 

Michael and Kelley moved in a short time later.  They were in the process of emptying their mountain of moving boxes when they heard a noise coming from the front of their new home.  It was a pleasant noise.  Michael and Kelley paused to listen more closely.  They heard people singing.  They remembered the large Catholic church across the street.  Perhaps the parishioners were singing, but they were certain they would be unable to hear the singing through the solid stone walls.  Michael and Kelley walked to the front room and peered from the picture window.  There, at the base of their two flights of stairs, stood a gathering of people who were singing to their new home.  Michael and Kelley gave an awkward smile and wave, their singing neighbors returned the gesture.  After three or four songs, they ended on a Christmas song, but Christmas was months away.  As soon as they finished singing, the crowd began returning to their nearby homes as if it were a perfectly normal thing to do.

To the crowd, it was perfectly normal.  They gathered once a week to sing to the house.  Michael and Kelley were not bothered by the act, or by the other strange happenings that occasionally happened in front of their home.  Carloads, and sometimes busloads, of tourists would stop in front of their home on the normally quiet street, pile out, take pictures of and selfies with the home, some would sing to the house, then they reboarded their mode of transportation and disappeared as quickly as they had come.  The weekly singings and the random visits by tourists happened long before Michael and Kelley moved in and it continues to this day.  You see, when Michael and Kelley moved into the home, they paid little attention to a bronze plaque embedded into one of the steps leading to the home.  It read, “Birthplace of Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby.”

Source: Steve Dunkelberger, “100+ Years Later: A Look Inside Tacoma’s Historic Bing Crosby House,” South Sound Talk, September 3, 2015, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.southsoundtalk.com/2015/09/03/bing-crosby-house-tacoma/.

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On those few occasions when I use a sports illustration in my sermon, just know I have worked hard to research and get my facts straight to make it relevant to the sermon of the day. Sport stats and stories do not roll off my tongue, but here is a little sports trivia I do know, the first year the Super Bowl was ever played was the same year my church established an arts festival -1967.

Now I have no idea why the Super Bowl was established except it is a good reason to eat tail gate food and gather with friends around the television to watch the commercials. However, the Arts Festival at First United Methodist Church was established to encourage the use of art as an expression of God’s creative spirit that dwells in all of us and as a means of adding art to the church’s permanent art collection. In 1980, the festival was renamed to honor the memory of Rev. Tom Peyton, a former associate pastor who made significant contributions to the Cenla art community.

This year the Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival kicks off on Friday, May 2 at 6:00 pm with the opening reception and award presentations as this is a juried art show with competitors from Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas and of course Louisiana, including the local area.

Other events include a special exhibit by photographer Jim Johnson, and a school art exhibit by local student artists running from May 2 to 11. On Sunday, May 4, Dr. Chris Holoman, President of Centenary College of Louisiana will be our guest speaker at 8:30 am and 11 am. Jazz on Jackson will take place in the courtyard off Jackson Street on Friday, May 9 from 6-8 with Modern Jazz Movement as our special guests. Children’s Day will feature author and storyteller Rob Butler. He will share his book “Saint Amant Max, The Cajun Puppy” with all the kids followed by Louisiana themed crafts and snacks. This will take place in the Johnson Center on Saturday, May 10 from 9-11 am and is limited to 50 children so be sure to stop by the festival to register. We are also offering a new event, an artist panel for students and youth on Friday, May 9 from 4:30 – 6 pm in the 50/50 room where area teens can explore ways to make art a career.

The exhibit itself will be open daily from the 10 am to 4 pm from May 2 – 11 and all exhibits and events are free and open to the public. Come enjoy this “super bowl” of art at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria (2727 Jackson St.)

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

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

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By Brad Dison

Robert Norman was born in Daytona, Florida, in October 1942. He grew up loving animals and nature. As a child, he raised a baby alligator in the family bathtub. For unknown reasons, he quit school and went to work with his father, Jack, as a carpenter. After an accident with a saw in which he cut off the tip of his left index finger, Robert lost what little desire he had for woodwork.

In late 1960 or early 1961, 18-year-old Robert joined the Air Force. He was initially stationed at a base in Florida, but, at six-foot-two, with flat feet, and an uncompleted high school education, Robert was not eligible to become a pilot. Instead, his superiors assigned him to a desk job as a medical records technician. In 1963, Robert was transferred to Eielson Air Force Base, about 25 miles from Fairbanks, Alaska. Robert had spent all of his life in warm and cozy Florida. The frigid environment in Alaska was in complete contrast to what he had known in Florida. Robert said he was 21 years old when he saw snow for the first time. He said later that Alaska, “has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery that I’d ever seen.”

Through the years, Robert earned numerous promotions. He eventually became a military training instructor, what most of us refer to as a drill instructor. To supplement his Air Force income and as a means to escape, he took a second job as a bartender and spent hours staring at the snow-covered mountains. “I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being late to work,” Robert explained. “The job requires you to be a mean, tough person, and I was fed up with it.” Robert was good at his job and earned the nickname “Bust ‘em up Bobby.” He said later, “I promised myself that if I ever got away from it, I wasn’t going to be that way anymore.” He hated the person he had to be at work, a “mean, tough person.” In 1981, after 20 years of service, Robert, then a master sergeant, decided he had had enough. He retired and was determined to never raise his voice again. He also abandoned the clean-cut hairstyle required by the military.

Based on classes he took while in the Air Force, Robert found a new vocation. He began teaching in 30-minute episodes which were broadcast on public television (PBS). He unexpectedly became a cultural phenomenon. Unlike his years screaming at fresh recruits during boot camp, Robert became known for his voice which was “so soothing that its effect was once compared to Demerol.” Robert taught the world to paint “pretty little mountains,” “happy little clouds,” and “happy little trees.” Thankfully, few people remember “Bust ‘em up Bobby,” but the world remembers Robert Norman “Bob” Ross and his television series entitled “the Joy of Painting.”

Sources:

1. The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts), July 15, 1995, p.49.

2. Blake Stilwell, “Famous Veteran: Bob Ross,” Military.com, May 31, 2013, accessed April 27, 2025, https://www.military.com/veteran-jobs/career-advice/military-transition/famous-veteran-bob-ross.html.

3. Sara Kettler, “How Bob Ross’s Time in the Air Force Inspired His Paintings,” Biography.com, June 4, 2020, accessed April 27, 2025, https://www.biography.com/artists/bob-ross-air-force.

4. “The Bob Ross Story,” Bob Ross, accessed April 27, 2025, https://experience.bobross.com/the-bob-ross-experience/.

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Our beloved state of Louisiana is low on the list for some things but we have one thing we can claim that no other state has. We have the only modern-day Will Rogers as senator representing Louisiana. Senator John Kennedy often appears in clips on national news channels for his comments that have the nation laughing.

Here’s an example. While appearing with a panel of U.S. Senators on a show recently, he was asked to comment on the behavior of a member of an opposing party. He kept a straight face while other members of the panel were laughing when he said “She’s the reason they put instructions on shampoo bottles.”

Kennedy is a master of the quip and was using one of the several techniques humor writers employ to bemuse their readers.

I received a book in the mail, Funny You Asked Me That!, from my friend, humor writer Jim Mize, who writes from his cabin in the mountains of South Carolina. Included in the book are several of his humor columns but what I have found intriguing is he explains techniques he uses to create the humor that caused me to laugh.

In the book’s preface, Mize writes “Within these chapters, you will find discussions of techniques, samples and opinions of humor from a student who has spent almost fifty years on the subject and is yet to graduate.”

When I was growing up, I loved to read the outdoors magazines such as Outdoor Life, Field and Stream and Sports Afield. As soon as I got my hands on a copy, I’d head to the back pages first to read the humor columns of Ed Zern and Patrick McManus. In Mize’s book, he is also a fan of these two great humor writers and has learned a lot from them, in person or by correspondence, of how they do what they do.

Another of his favorite humor writers, also mine, is the late Lewis Grizzard who wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Here’s something Mize included in the book that Grizzard wrote. “In the south, there’s a difference between ‘Naked’ and ‘Nekkid.’ Naked means you don’t have clothes on while Nekkid means you don’t have any clothes on and you’re up to something.”

Mize’s humorous writings have appeared in Gray’s Sporting Journal, Field and Stream, South Carolina Wildlife, In-Fishermen, Great Days Outdoors and several other national magazines.

On a personal note, I occasionally include a bit of humor in the columns I write. If bits of humor in my columns are created by some of the techniques Mize writes about, such as misdirection Fishing With Beanpole, tension, timing et al, it’s strictly by accident. This is one reason I am enjoying Mize’s book so much; it shows me when I try to write something funny, that there’s a reason a particular column might produce a chuckle or at least a smile and head nod.

Mize has produced a collection of humorous books that each hold special niches in my personal library. His first one, The Winter of Our Discontent, may be my favorite. Others of his include A Creek Trickles Through It, Hunting With Beanpole, and The Jon Boat Years. Autographed copies of any of his reasonably-priced books are available at www.acreektricklesthroughit.com.

I am a lifelong fan of reading and hearing funny stuff and if you are, get your hands on one of Jim Mize’s books. Also be sure to keep your television on to news channels to see and hear what Senator John Kennedy might say next.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com.

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In May 2000, I graduated with my Doctor of Ministry from Perkins School of Theology at SMU in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that date, I spent 4 years researching, writing, rewriting, editing and finally defending my dissertation in front of a live audience. It was a hard but proud moment when this huge body of work was finally complete. I had both my decree, a beautiful piece of paper, suitable for hanging, a bound copy of my dissertation on the bookshelf, and a bankers box full of file folders filled with my research, interview notes, first, second and third drafts, along with the final project notes.

I didn’t need any of the research, but I could not part with this bankers box of file folders. It was four years of my life – blood, sweat and tears – stuffed into that box. It was a reminder of my hard work, late hours, sacrifices my family made on my behalf, time away at school, countless books read and annotated, hours in the library and sheer guts and determination. So every time the United Methodist Church moved me, I moved that box. For the first few moves, I would make space in a file drawer for this body of work,
carefully placing each folder in alphabetical order. Sometimes I would muse over my writings and research as I would pack or unpack the bankers box. Reading over countless index cards and interview notes and smiling to myself.

As the moves and the years passed, I got to where I just moved the bankers box and its contents from place to place and office to office without unpacking. I knew I would never use it again for anything, but I couldn’t bear the thought of getting rid of it. In 2021, it sat in the closet on the floor in my office of the church that I was serving. Of course, we all remember what happened that February, snowmageddon happened. My church was shut down for two days, just long enough for a pipe to burst in the attic and
flood two-thirds of the building, including a pastor’s office and that tiny little closet.

You guessed it, that bankers box of research that I thought I could not part with, got soaked. Ink ran, words blurred, notes faded. That useless box of material that I had been dragging around for twenty-one years, was even more useless to me now, all water-logged and icky. What I thought I could never part with, went straight into the dumpster that day.

What are you dragging around? What old feelings or resentments need to be purged from your mental filing cabinet? What is taking up space in the closet of your dreams that needs to go straight to the dumpster? We could all use a good spring cleaning.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

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

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As a teenager, John “Duff” Lowe was a budding pianist. In February 1958, a friend of his from school knew of Duff’s playing ability and asked him to join his band. With little consideration, 15-year-old Duff agreed. Being in the band was tough on Duff. On Sunday afternoons, the band would rehearse for Saturday night gigs which were anything but frequent, and his bandmates lived on the other side of the city. Just to get to rehearsals, Duff, too young to drive himself, had to take two buses. Like the rehearsals, their sporadic bookings were usually across town as well. With his school schedule, Duff was unable to meet up with the band during the week.

On Saturday afternoon, July 12, 1958, five months after joining the band, Duff and his bandmates went to a shop owned by Percy Phillips. Percy sold a variety of consumer goods including electrical appliances, batteries, and bicycles from the front of the shop. In the back of his shop was a soundproof room where Percy had a small and simple recording studio. Bands paid a small fee to make a recording, and each song was recorded in a single take directly onto an acetate disc. On that hot July day, Duff and his bandmates went to Percy Phillips’s back-room studio and recorded two songs: “That’ll Be the Day,” a cover version of Buddy Holley’s 1956 hit song, and an original slow-paced doo-wop song called “In Spite of All the Danger.” Duff and his bandmates were proud of the record, but they could not afford to make duplicates. To solve the dilemma of who would keep the record, they decided that each band member would get to keep the record for a week, then he would pass it to another member. Duff was the last member in the rotation.

The band was, as the expression says, going nowhere fast. Duff tired of the long treks to and from rehearsals. He was also missing out on the camaraderie that the other band members were experiencing during the week. Two years after joining the band, Ricky Tomlinson, leader of another band called “Hobo Rick & the City Slickers,” heard about Duff’s abilities. With the lure of fame and fortune, and more importantly, less bus trips, Ricky convinced Duff to abandon his current band and to join his band. Have you ever heard of “Hobo Rick & the City Slickers?” They failed to become household names and only lasted a short time.

Duff became a successful stockbroker. In 1981, Duff was looking in his sock drawer when he found the old 10-inch acetate record that he and his original band had recorded at Percy Phillips’ studio 23 years earlier. We can only speculate as to Duff’s reaction to finding the recording which everyone thought was lost forever. Duff eventually sold the record to one of his former bandmates, Paul, and it is said to be the most valuable record in the world. That 10-inch acetate disc, recorded with Duff as a member of the Quarrymen, was the first recording of the band that became the Beatles.

Sources:

1. “John Duff Lowe – Piano,” The Original Quarrymen, accessed April 20, 2025, http://www.originalquarrymen.co.uk/html/duff.html.

2. “The Percy Phillips Studio Collection,” International Beatle Week, accessed April 20, 2025, https://www.internationalbeatleweek.com/special-events-percy-phillips/.

3. “The Quarrymen – That’ll Be The Day,” Youtube, accessed April 20, 2025, https://youtu.be/R4_LMMKq8Hw?si=_xdGsglSsFxWO_yf.

4. “In Spite of All the Danger – The Quarrymen,” Youtube.com, accessed April 20, 2025, https://youtu.be/RuuOAA9ekbg?si=qWnhgZc9v5EqIisZ.

5. The Daily Telegraph, August 18, 1981, p.8.

6. The Westmorland Gazette, September 7, 2017, p.M73.

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I love a parade! In fact, when we lived in New Orleans we used to go to 19 parades a year during Mardi Gras season. Our first year down there, I picked up every bead they threw our way, from what we called the “cheap beads” to the “nice beads” that were bigger, longer and fancier. By the time we got moved, I got pretty good at fighting my way to the front, and diving for the “good stuff.” I also got much more discerning over the years and did not bother to pick up “cheap beads” by about year three.

We just celebrated our “Palm Parade” on Sunday. It was fabulous. No one threw any beads out into the congregation, but I loved seeing all the children coming down to the front waving their palms while the choir sang.

It was a great celebration!

But here is the rub. If we just celebrate Palm Sunday and then slide right into Easter we go from parade to party without pausing for the hard stuff – you know the part we don’t like to talk about – the brutal beatings, the humiliation, the crucifixion, the death.

So I want to invite you to take a journey with me through the final hours.

First United Methodist Church of Alexandria (2727 Jackson Street) is hosting “come and go” self-guided meditations of the Stations of the Cross.

Maundy Thursday (April 17) 4-6pm
Good Friday (April 18) 4-6pm

The stations will include original artwork, scripture & a short devotional to read. It is time to reflect on the journey Christ made for all of us as he went from the fervent prayer in the garden to his death and burial.

Each meditation can be done at your own pace, alone, or families can go through together. All are welcome. The first station begins in the courtyard off Jackson Street then proceed through the sanctuary doors where someone will greet you and direct you to the next station.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the Lead Pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn directly, you can email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org.

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There is power in the words we speak. Some words have the power to build a bridge, others can blow it up. Some words can build you up while some words can tear you down. Some of the words we speak have the power to start a new chapter like “I love you”, “will you marry me?” or “it’s a boy!”

Then there are those words in our vocabulary that close a door like “I hate you”, “I want a divorce” or “so sorry for your loss.”

Words even have the power to inspire us like Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech and President John F. Kennedy saying, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country, ” or Neil Armstrong, when he stepped onto the moon’s surface spoke the words, “one small step for man, on giant leap for mankind.” Words even have the power to change the trajectory of a life, like when the crowd shouted “Hosanna!” on day, and then a week later chanted “Crucify him!”

Yes, there is power in the words we speak. When I was sixteen, as was our tradition, I would spend the week between Christmas and New Year with my grandparents in Fisher, Louisiana, an old sawmill town about an hour from Alexandria. One afternoon I was coming down the stairs, as my grandfather was heading up. He was a very tall man, so by the time he was two steps below me, we were face to face. He stopped and said, “I love you.” With all the maturity a sixteen-year-old could muster, I said, “Oh
PawPaw, I love you too.” He then cupped my face in his hands, kissed me and said, “No/Know I love you.” Those were his last words to me.

I have often wondered, did he say “no, I love you” refuting the immaturity of a teenager, or did he say “know I love you.” Words, spoken to me by my grandfather, as a blessing that I could take with me the rest of my life.

Lent and the journey to the cross is God’s way of cupping our face and saying “know I love you.” “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn, email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org.

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by Brad Dison

Each year since 1950, people have gathered at Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in August for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Not to be confused with soldiers having ink inserted into the dermis layer of skin, a military tattoo is a festival consisting of music, dancing, and general merrymaking focused on Scottish heritage and international culture. The most anticipated portion of the festival consists of numerous precision military displays.

Since 1961, His Majesty The King’s Guard of Norway, an elite unit tasked with protecting the Norwegian royal family, has participated in the military displays. In August 1972, while in Scotland for the Tattoo, the Royal Norwegian King’s Guard added another soldier to its regimental ranks. On that day, Nils Olav became a lance corporal, a rank which usually requires long or outstanding service to attain. It was Nils’s first day. His first duty as a soldier was to inspect his troops, a duty he performed with the confidence and skill of someone with much more experience. Nils proudly wore a pennant of the prestigious King’s Guard around his right arm. Most soldiers would have resented a newcomer reaching such a rank without earning it, but no one resented Nils. You see, Nils Olav’s family had deep Scandinavian roots, and he was, himself, a king.

Nils may have been given the rank of lance corporal on his first day, but promotions came slowly at first. In 1982, after 10 years as a lance corporal, Nils received his first promotion when he was made a full corporal. Five years later, he became a sergeant. In 1993, during that year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Nils was promoted to regimental sergeant major. Nils’s promotion and his inspection of his troops was televised in Norway and throughout much of Europe. Nils became somewhat of a celebrity Europe, though most people in America were unaware of his rising fame. In 2001, during a ceremony at the Tattoo in which Nils was awarded the Norwegian Army’s Long Service and Good Conduct medal, the Royal Norwegian Guard promoted him to colonel-in-chief. On the morning of August 15, 2008, Nils’s fellow soldiers gathered for Nils’s knighting ceremony. He has been known as Sir Nils Olav ever since. He eventually rose to the rank of brigadier.

If you are able to watch the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo this Fall, you will probably see Sir Nils Olav’s inspection of the troops. He has done it each year since 1972. But if you were to look closely at photos of Sir Nils through the years, you might notice minute differences in his appearance. You must have a keen eye to notice. In 1987, Nils Olav died and was replaced by a lookalike. He looked so much like Nils Olav that no one noticed. When the lookalike died some years later, he was replaced by yet another lookalike who continued his work in the military as if nothing had happened. Why did news outlets around the world not pounce on the story which should have captured our attention? You see, Sir Nils Olav is a king…a three foot tall king penguin. He lives at the Edinburgh Zoo and is the mascot for the Royal Norwegian King’s Guard.

Sources:

1. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, accessed April 5, 2025, https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

2. The Guardian (London, England), August 17, 1972, p.6.

3. The Daily Telegraph (London, England), August 18, 1993, p.4.

4. Irish Independent, August 18, 2005, p.T4.

5. East Oregonian, August 15, 2008, p.8.

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In sitting and thinking of what I love so much about living in Louisiana, high on my list is the distinct season changes we have here. One of my daughters lived in Hawaii for a few years and although I enjoyed wearing T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops when visiting there in January, I’d soon tire of Hawaii’s perpetual summer.

I have friends in New England who live for summer – all three weeks of it. They’re encased in ice and snow and sub-zero temperatures much of the year, and I’d hate living like that.

Louisiana has it all. Every 10 years or so, we get to see snow falling and on those rare occasions when it covers the ground, the whole area briefly takes leave of its sanity as we romp and play and make leaf-flecked snowmen. Schools dismiss and overpasses close as old guys slip-slide their Fords and Chevys into ditches and power poles.

At the opposite end of the spectrum are our summers. Folks not native to our part of the country suffocate in the humidity which comes close to matching the triple-digit temperatures. We who live here, though, know how to deal with it; we sit under air conditioning, sip iced tea and keep our eyes on the calendar, knowing that the refreshing chill of October is not that far away.

Springtime in Louisiana, though, is a special reward all its own. Granted, it’s a roller coaster ride for much of the season. We’re lulled by the azaleas and dogwoods and tender green grass into thinking spring is here to stay. Then the weatherman throws us a sucker punch and sends a spring cold snap. We fret over the peaches – will they be able to withstand a frost so late in the year? When will these storms and winds ever stop?

But they do and we get to enjoy a sweet special few weeks when we can sit on the porch late afternoons without a wrap or air conditioning. For the angler, this is an ideal time to be on the water somewhere nearby to fish in comfort with the knowledge there’ll be a fish fry tonight.

What’s your pleasure? Are you interested in catching bass? What about crappie? Do bluegills and chinquapins tickle your fancy? How about a good mess of freshly caught catfish? This time of year in our neck of the woods, you can do it all.

Bass fishermen who missed out on the spring spawn where big sway-bellied bass deposited their eggs often in water barely deep enough to cover their dorsal fins know where the fish are headed after leaving the shallows. They’ll be fishing deep water points at daybreak and watching for schools of shad to dimple the surface, knowing that bass could be exploding on the hapless school at any moment.

Crappie fishermen will be looking around submerged brush in deep water for their quarry. Innovative anglers outfit their boats with multiple poles, each set at different depths and offering a shiner or jig of a different color and/or weight.

Catfishermen armed with no more than a little bucket of worms and a big bucket to sit on will be lining the shores along Lake D’Arbonne knowing that this lake’s teeming population of eating-sized channel catfish are there for the taking.

It is the bream fishermen, however, who knows this time of year was made for him. Bluegills and chinquapins are on the beds on every lake and pond across our area and while they’re as fun to catch as they are tasty on the dinner table, they’re also one of the easiest to catch. Toss a cricket or red wiggler into a bream bed along the shore and it’s a pitch ‘til you win proposition. It’s springtime in Louisiana. Go for it … before the next storm blows through.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com.

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About midway through the pandemic, my favorite donut shop near my home finally opened to in-person customers in the lobby. Prior to that it was drive through only. When I say it is hard to take young grandchildren – ages 6, 4 and 3 at the time through a drive through to pick out a donut, that is an understatement. So I never tried. When they finally opened back to full service, I could not wait to walk my young grands into the donut shop to pick out their favorite delectable treat.

It took a few minutes for their eyes to focus on the one they thought would be their favorite. The oldest boy picked the chocolate glazed donut. The 4-year-old, who still to this day allows me to call him by his pet name “Ducky,” picked a plain glazed donut with colorful sprinkles on top. The 3-year-old girl chose a donut with pink icing and bedazzled with sprinkles from every color in the rainbow. The very nice and even more patient lady behind the counter put each donut carefully in its own individual box and handed them their purchase as I sent them to the table one by one. While I was paying up, Ducky comes back up to the counter crying. Getting eye level with his tears, I asked him what was wrong. He told me his donut was broken. “Broken?” I said, “come show me.” He returned momentarily with his donut box with the donut still inside. When he opened the lid, with tears still rolling down his face, the donut looked as pristine as when the cashier carefully placed it in the box. “How is it broken?” I asked. To which Ducky
responded, “there’s a hole in it!” I comforted my sweet boy and convinced him his donut was not broken, but how it was intended to be.

I think people are a lot like donuts. We get all dressed up and bedazzled to camouflage our flaws and brokenness to the world. Everything looks fine on the outside, but there is a hole in the middle caused by who knows what! Remember that as you encounter people on your day-to-day journey. We are all just a little bit broken, so be kind.

On the journey,
Ramonalynn Bethley

Ramonalynn Bethley is the pastor at First United Methodist Church of Alexandria. If you would like to contact Ramonalynn, email her at DrRevRL@fumca.org.

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In the 1980’s, Jay Winsten, a public health professor at Harvard, got interested in the idea of a “designated driver.” He’d picked up the concept in Scandinavia where it was the norm. At the time, the concept did not exist in the US. None of us knew what a designated driver was.

Winsten and his team at Harvard made it a goal to create a social norm in the United States: If you are going out drinking, you would pick a designated driver who would commit not to drink for the evening. How do you create a social norm out of thin air? Winsten’s inspiration was that you could make the behavior contagious by repeatedly exposing people to it, in many different contexts, even if those contexts were fictional.

Winsten and his team collaborated with producers, writers, and actors from more than 160 prime time TV programs, sprinkling designated-driver moments naturally into the plots. Segments featuring designated drivers appeared on Hunter, The Cosby Show, Mr. Belvedere, and Who’s the Boss? On one episode of the smash-hit L.A. Law, the heartthrob lawyer played by Harry Hamlin asked a bartender to call his designated driver. A designated-driver poster appeared in the bar on Cheers.

Winsten’s plea to the media was for “five seconds” of dialogue about a designated driver. He didn’t want a full episode or even a whole scene. He simply wanted the words mentioned repeatedly. Grant Tinker said about it, “Considering the simplicity of it all, it was very hard for us to feel our independence was being challenged.”

In 1991, three years after the campaign launched, nine out of ten people were familiar with the term designated driver. And they were behaving differently as a result. Thirty-seven percent of all Americans reported having acted as designated drivers, and 54% of frequent drinkers had been driven home by one. The behavioral change saved lives. Alcohol related traffic fatalities declined from 23,626 in 1988 to 17,858 in 1992.

I want you to ponder this under the rubric of “words create reality.” A new reality was created when two words were used repeatedly in the media. This is a positive story about words creating reality. I’m sure you can think of the other side of this issue where words create another reality when they become a constant drumbeat in the media.

What words have created your reality?

Better yet, whose words have created your reality.

Those words are changing your life.

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By Brad Dison

Ritchie was a sickly child. When he was six years old, he developed appendicitis. Following surgery, he contracted peritonitis, an inflammation of the lining of the abdomen. His recovery lasted a full year. In 1953, when he was 13, he caught a cold which progressed into pleurisy. After a brief stay at Myrtle Street Children’s Hospital, Ritchie returned home. A short time later, the 13-year-old contracted a disease which changed the course of his life. At first, Ritchie ran a low fever, became fatigued, and developed a minor cough. Ritchie’s condition gradually worsened over the course of a few weeks. His fever rose, coughing intensified, and taking a deep breath became painful. When Ritchie began experiencing chest pains, his mother took him to Myrtle Street Children’s Hospital once again. His diagnosis was tuberculosis, a bacterial disease that affects the lungs.

Being diagnosed with tuberculosis was a shock to Ritchie and his mother. In the year Ritchie contracted the disease, there were over 84,000 cases of tuberculosis in the United States. Nearly 20,000 of those cases, about 23%, were fatal. The percentage of fatal cases in Europe were similar.

“In those days,” Ritchie said, “they just kept you in bed for months. I was in bed for like ten months.” Ritchie said that while being treated, teachers would come in to teach and to keep the sick children entertained. Ritchie joked that while in the hospital, he learned to knit. “One woman came in, not so often, but she came in,” he said, “and she had percussive instruments [such as] maracas, tambourines, and a little drum.” By pointing at red or yellow dots, the woman taught the kids when to strike or shake their instruments. Ritchie said the woman handed the instruments out at random. “I’m in bed … she gives me this little drum and it was like a craziness.” Ritchie said, “I only would play the drum in this mad band that she’d bring in.”

Despite his suffering from tuberculosis, Ritchie was obsessed. He said, “I hit the drum, and I only wanted, from that moment, to be a drummer. And that was what my aim was.” He said it “became the only thing I ever wanted to do.” Ritchie slowly regained his strength and his health. His obsession with that little drum never waned. When he was 18 years old, Ritchie joined a band. For more than 60 years, Ritchie has been a fixture in the entertainment industry. On January 10 of this year, Ritchie released a country album entitled “Look Up” on which he sings, whistles, and, of course, plays drums.

Had Ritchie not contracted tuberculosis at 13, a disease which could have taken his life, and had the woman with the “mad band” handed him anything other than a drum, our musical landscape may have evolved differently. You see, Ritchie, the sickly child, was born Richard Starkey, but the world knows him better as Ringo Starr, the drummer for the Beatles.

Sources:

1. “Tuberculosis Symptoms and Causes,” Mayo Clinic, Accessed March 23, 2025, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250.

2. “TB Incidence and Mortality: 1953–2023,” CDC, October 31, 2024, accessed March 23, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/tb-surveillance-report-2023/tables/table-1.html.

3. Joe Taysom, “How a life-threatening illness made Ringo Starr learn drums,” Far Out, August 2, 2022, accessed March 23, 2025, https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/life-threatening-illness-ringo-starr-drums/.

4. Chris Barilla, “Ringo Starr’s Childhood Tuberculosis Hospitalization Kept Him in ‘Bed for Months’ but Ultimately Changed His Life,” People, February 20, 2025, accessed March 23, 2025, https://people.com/ringo-starr-says-tuberculosis-hospitalization-kept-him-in-bed-for-months-exclusive-11683518.

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