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School’s OutSchool is getting out for the summer and that means children will be out playing and not watching out for cars. You would have a hard time living with yourself if your vehicle hit a child. Be on the alert, especially when you pass through residential areas. The good part about …

Less for More There is no end to the ways that can be used to give us less for more. Budweiser, Anheuser-Busch’s flagship beer, is coming out with a pinched can designed to resemble their “Bow Tie” emblem. However, the can has been reduced to 11.3 ounces from the normal 12-ounce size. It …

LC Voters SpeakI am proud of my fellow citizens of Lake Charles for their recent electoral rejection of the proposed hotel on the Civic Center grounds. There are two old saws that state “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” and “Dance with the girl that brung you.” The concept to do something, …

Nothing Wrong with PatriotismI was brought up to respect our flag, the Pledge of Allegiance and our National Anthem, but there appears to have been a decline lately. Respect for our national heritage is an important part of our respect for our own identity. It gives us a perspective to our …

We Miss the Arcade AmphitheaterThe Arts and Humanities Council’s 2013 Live @ the Lakefront Music Fest series will be coming to a close on March 22, the day before the reopening of the greatly revised Millennium Park. The concerts are on the lakefront behind the Civic Center on our newly …

Hands Off Our Money!Anytime the politicos want more of your hard-earned dollars for some badly needed (in their opinion) additional taxes, they threaten that the most dire consequences will occur if they don‘t get the approval to get their hands on your money. It is always the most favored …

In a way, it’s nice to get past the holiday season. Life gets so hectic between Halloween and Mardi Gras. Since our past Mardi Gras season was on the short side, it was a jammed-packed whirlwind, winding up with some of the best parades that Lake Charles has ever offered. The hustle and …

Be a Responsible Pet OwnerI am an animal lover. I believe that having a pet is a huge commitment and responsibility, and it is the obligation of the person who “owns” them to provide the best care they can. After all, the pet has become captive to the owner, who now provides all shelter, …

Party SafetyAs the Mardi Gras season progresses, there are many party opportunities presenting themselves. Most of these festivities involve the consumption of adult beverages, which can lead to overdoing a bit. We have a number of balls we attend and have on occasion stretched consumption …

IT’S MARDI GRAS TIME!The 2013 Mardi Gras season has begun with Twelfth Night on January 6 and Lake Charles sure knows how to celebrate it. Mardi Gras gives us all a way to get together and pass a good time before the Lenten Season begins and reminds us to settle down and back away from all …

Nothing makes the holidays seem warmer or dearer than the memorable tales of good people doing good things for others. I recently learned of the generosity of one of those kind persons who aided some young folks in Merryville. The folks in charge at a Merryville school wanted to get their …

When you make your produce selections from your favorite purveyor of foods, you probably don’t even think about the massive quantities of those items that have been gleaned from the shelves and thrown into the dumpster. Is there a better resolution for vegetable and fruit that are approaching …

Appointment reminders are nothing new. It has become more common now to not only receive a call the day before the appointment, but to also get email, text and even postcard reminders. The cavalier attitude by some uncaring clients and patients has forced the need to use these extra means of …

After speaking with an old friend who is in the business of raising that succulent Southwest Louisiana delicacy known as crawfish, I was elated to find out that this season’s supply should be very plentiful and of excellent quality. He informed me that supplies should be coming in the next week or …

In a very few weeks, we will have the opportunity to select the President and Vice-President of the United States. There will be other important races and ballot matters to consider. Voting is a right and privilege that we, as Americans, have engrained in our Constitution. It is a right that has …

Read the Fine PrintOne of our readers approached me the other day to inform me of a very questionable solicitation for a product that was designed to appear to be a reward from his credit card company. It was an offer for a product at no cost other than a modest shipping and handling charge. Upon …

Raising the Speed Limit, Raising MoneyI find it interesting that our neighbors in Texas have raised the speed limit to 85 MPH on their new toll highway linking Austin with San Antonio. Safety interests are not encouraged by this move, but the devil is in the details. As I frequently remind my …

The Weather Channel Should Stick to WeatherEver since NBC purchased The Weather Channel, it seems to have lost its focus. Originally, they would present a local report and forecast every 10 minutes on the “8s” as they would call it. The intervening time would be filled with weather data and reports …

The State of Louisiana has followed Calcasieu Parish in prohibiting the roadside sale of pets. This is a step in the right direction to discourage rogue breeders from passing on animals of poor health from questionable backgrounds. There are ample sources of domesticated pets available, so we do …

My faithful readers know that I do not like deceptive business practices and when I learn of one, I want my readers to know about it. I could not help but notice that Clorox Bleach has announced that coming soon, they will be offering “Concentrated Clorox Bleach.” The claim being made is that it …