2023 Bogalusa Daily News Spring Magazine

WASHINGTON Living PARISH

Washington

Parish Garden

Club

celebrates 50 years

Magic City Garden Council brings three garden clubs together

BOGUE CHITTO STATE PARK has events coming up this spring

Easter is Penton’s favorite holiday

Women at the Helm of Our Lady of the Angels Healthcare Ministry: A Tradition of Providing Healing and Hope for Our Communities

What to make for dinner tonight?

PRACTICE @ 6

Do we need more MILK Set up that doctor’s appointment!

REMEMBER

to get plates for the party!

THE DOCTOR WILL HEAR YOU NOW

You’ve got a lot on your to-do list. With quick online scheduling, plenty of provider and location options, video visits and more, your health concerns are one less thing to worry about. Learn more at oloah.org/WeListenWeHeal.

Spring into Grilling Season with some Delicious Double D Smoked Sausage!

VOTED BEST SAUSAGE 6 YEARS IN A ROW!

FROM THE EDITOR

In Louisiana, there’s always that one morning that announces spring has arrived. Day after day, all winter, the cold temperatures, yellow grass and leafless trees are our daily reminder that for renewal to happen, we must live without a little bit of the color that makes our region beautiful. Then suddenly, you open your door and a warm breeze greets you. You sigh with relief, and maybe a little sinus congestion, that spring has finally arrived. You know it won’t last, that the heat of the summer is right around the corner, but for this brief moment, the weather is perfect. You slip into those favorite shorts and t-shirts, and you probably decide that you are going to treat yourself to a little sweet tea while sitting on the back porch. You don’t give a second thought to the fact that spring will be gone in a few short weeks, and the heat will be on. For most of my life, that turn in the weather has coincided not only with my aforementioned allergies but that overwhelming urge to get outside and plant something, prune something and cut the grass. It’s not only a time of renewal in my yard but for me as well; activity does much good for the body and soul after being cooped in all winter. I think about my work in previous springs, always looking to do more

with my landscaping. I hope this is the year I’ll complete my landscape, knowing I’ll only add to it next year.

It’s also a time to get together with family; I think about going fishing with my dad or gardening with my mom. Those memories also rebloom each season, even though they are no longer with me. I’ll always have those memories which drive me each year to cherish time spent in nature with family and friends.

With each passing season, I’m reminded that I’m getting a little bit older each year, and I think about lost opportunities because I’m too busy. There’s never enough time. Work, dinner, bed, repeat; focusing on the things, at least when I was younger, that I thought were important.

Climbing the proverbial corporate ladder, I got that promotion and had to move, never entirely completing those landscape projects because I have a new yard now.

Sometimes, I wonder if slowing down and having real-time spent doing the things I love with the people I love is not a better path. Having real conversations wouldn’t help remind me, and all of us, that we are all more alike than we are different. Constantly rushing, doing, and working, not taking time to slow down and smell the proverbial roses.

Most of us want the same things: health, happiness, and a sense that what we do matters. We should never feel that taking some downtime to enjoy ourselves is not ok. So, this spring, as events ramp up, I challenge you to take a chance to slow down, catch up with friends and family, sit still, do nothing, and listen to the beauty of what’s around us.

With

On The Cover

Pictured

Easter is Penton’s favorite time of year

Pastor said that Easter is the fulfillment of the gospel

By Chris Kinkaid The Daily News

First Missionary Baptist Church of Varnado Pastor Kelly Penton said Easter is his favorite holiday.

“Easter brings hope for a lot of people,” Penton said. “The old saying is that if you want the church back, wait till Easter because the church will be packed.”

Penton said Easter is the fulfillment of the gospel.

“It wasn’t just enough to shed the blood, it wasn’t enough to hang on the cross,” Penton said. “The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection.

“If it wasn’t for the resurrection, the gospel wouldn’t be true. The resurrection brings life to our savior, and because of his life, we all have that living hope.”

Penton said that Easter is one of the central holy days of Christianity that honors the resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion.

He said it’s definitely one of the most important celebrations on the calendar of Christians.

“Easter is when Christians glorify and give thanks for the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Penton said.

At First Missionary Baptist Church, Penton starts teaching the life of Jesus from the cradle to him dying on the cross and build-

ing it up to the big service on Easter Sunday with the theme of celebrating the life of Christ.

He starts this about a month before Easter.

On Easter Sunday, the young people do a display of the death on the cross.

Right after that, Penton gives a sermon.

Easter comes during the spring and Penton said spring allows the church to get out in the community more.

“It’s very important for our church to get out in our village to represent the lord and to show our love for the community,” Penton said. “We welcome people to come out to the church anytime. We’ve got things for kids. We’ve got basketball goals and there’s always somebody here from the church. I think it’s important to get outside of the walls of the church. The church is the people. The building is not the church. You have to get out and pray for people, love people and get to know them. It’s all about communication.”

The choir will be presenting in song ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ on Easter Sunday

First Missionary Baptist Church does outreaches throughout the year.

Some of the outreaches include a Christmas and Halloween Outreach. They also have free car washes during the summer.

One of those car washes was on March 25 at the church.

American Legion Post #24 has ceremony for Memorial Day

Annual ceremony takes place at the Ponemah Cemetery

By Chris Kinkaid The Daily News

American Legion Post #24 holds a ceremony every Memorial Day to honor those who have passed away while serving their country in the military.

The ceremony takes place in the Ponemah Cemetery Veterans Block.

After the ceremony, the post will sometimes do a luncheon at the American Legion hall — kind of a meet-and-greet.

FILE PHOTOS/Joe Culpepper

Shown are photos from last year’s ceremony.

AMERICAN LEGION: Ceremony has speakers

FROM PAGE 11

“We let people know what we do in the community and what we do during the year for the community,” said John Dominguez. Dominguez is the house manager and maintenance man for the post. He was in the Marine Corps. He served for eight years and did a tour in Vietnam in 1969-70.

Dominguez said they get some of the schools invited to the ceremony like the ROTC from Bogalusa and Franklinton and they have speakers.

“We have speakers, usually the mayor and some of the local politicians speak on what Memorial Day means to them,” Dominguez said. “The fire department will bring the ladder truck out and hang a big flag, usually 10x20. We go out there that morning, we

show every branch of the service and hang a wreath. At the end of the ceremony, we do a 21-gun salute and taps is played.”

Dominguez said that they try to get the wreaths hung by local veterans who were in that branch of the military.

Two other events they hold are Flags for First Graders and a July 4 parade.

“We go to all of the schools, give the kids a little stand with a flag on it, usually a coloring book, fliers for the parents on how to take care of the flag and we’ll give them a brief history about the American flag,” Dominguez said about Flags for First Graders.

They tell them what each star and stripe means.

“We have fun with them and we love it. We started this program about 10 years ago,” Dominguez said.

FILE PHOTOS/Joe Culpepper Shown is a photo from last year’s ceremony.

If our office can assist you in any way please feel free to call or come by. We’re here to help you.

FILE PHOTOS/Joe Culpepper

Shown is a photo from last year’s ceremony.

Doing Business The Right Way Since 1929.

Bill Hood Chevrolet is located at 69020 Highway 190 Service Road in Covington, LA. We are proud to be a part of and an active member in the Covington community. In fact, we’ve been here for nearly 100 years. Bill Hood Chevrolet was founded way back in 1929. Since then, we have existed on one motto: “Doing business the right way since 1929.”

Over the last 90 years, Bill Hood Chevrolet has prioritized customer experience with every new and used vehicle transaction and every service appointment. We will always welcome you with a warm smile and handshake, listen to your needs, be transparent on pricing, and fight to secure you the best deal and the best financing offer. Our sales staff is not pushy, but is rather there to hear what you are looking for and guide you to options that meet your needs without any high-pressure sales tactics.

As a Chevy flagship store, we carry everyone’s favorite Chevy trucks, as well as many of the higher trims on Chevy vehicles that our customers love. We also have a GMcertified service department with specially trained technicians who have specific knowledge of Chevy vehicles to perform higher-quality issues and more easily spot potential vehicle issues. In the service department, technicians use only genuine Chevy parts for the best fit and performance. Over the last 100 years, Bill Hood Chevrolet has been deeply involved in the Covington community and has been an avid supporter of the area—and of this great country in general. You might recognize us from our big American flag flying in front of the store, easily visible from the highway. If you share our American ideals of integrity, transparency, and kindness, you’ll fit in just fine at Bill Hood Chevrolet. We hope you’ll be a part of our continued history as we launch into our second century of business.

Your Satisfaction is and has Always Been Our #1 Priority!

Women at the helm of OLA Healthcare Tradition in providing healing, hope for communities

Special to the Daily News

The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters were unquestionably pioneers — women, founding a healthcare system in the deep South — proving beyond doubt that women can be exceptional leaders.

The health system that sponsors Our Lady of the Angels Health has a story that began 112 years ago when six Franciscan Sisters traveled from Europe and made Louisiana their new home. They immediately began caring for the sick and under served and, two years later, they opened St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe. This was the first of many hospitals founded under their leadership.

“Our Sisters made no distinction between what was clinical and what was social. They provided nursing care, to be sure, but they prayed with patients while they were dying, sang to those who were lonely while they bandaged their wounds and taught children their lessons while they were hospitalized. They understood the concept of social medicine, of population-based healthcare, of healthy communities, long before these ideas became commonplace,” said Sr. Helen Cahill, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady.

In 2014, they answered the call the save LSU Bogalusa Medical Center from imminent closure, and Our Lady of the Angels Health began serving the people of Washington Parish. Over the past nine years, they have expanded access to award-winning healthcare and invested millions into physical and organizational improvements. Our Lady of the Angels has garnered many national and regional accolades. They were named a Leapfrog Top Rural Hospital in 2020, they are 1 of 5 Louisiana birthing hospitals to achieve the rigorous Birth Ready+ designation, they have been recognized by Health Grades as a national leader in patient experience and outstanding patient safety, and they have

OLA: Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Sisters were

FROM PAGE 15

a CMS 5 Star rating for patient experience.

The Sisters paved the way for future generations by serving as examples of how women can have careers and flourish professionally, personally and spiritually. Today, their initial goal of opening one hospital has grown into what is now the region’s most esteemed Catholic healthcare system, and a majority women-empowered workforce. Women make up 65 percent of their team and are the backbone of their history.

“Not only did our Sisters open hospitals, these industrious women staffed them as well, often working fourteen or more hours a day, seven days a week. They nursed patients, fed them, did the washing, cleaned the hospital, and grew vegetables and raised animals to provide food and milk especially during the Great Depression,” said Sr. Barbara Arceneaux, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady.

The team at Our Lady of the Angels remains in awe of its Sisters and of so many who set a precedent of breaking barriers, disarming inequality and shattering ceilings by simply being God’s servants first.

Bogue Chitto State Park has events coming up for spring

1 event is the Easter Egg Hunt on April 8

By Chris Kinkaid The Daily News

The Bogue Chitto State Park has several events coming up in April.

They have an Easter event for children on April 8.

Bogue Chitto State Park Interpretive Ranger Denise McKinney said that children can come and have an Easter Egg Hunt. She said that they will have about 3,000 Easter eggs with different prizes inside.

Two events are taking place on April 29.

SEE PARK, PAGE 18

COURTESY PHOTO

Children are shown competing in a race at Bogue Chitto State Park.

PARK: Features different activities for participants

FROM PAGE 17

First, the Mom’s Fishing Competition will be held. It is a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries event. The event is free and is also open to children.

McKinney said that they will be fishing from a pond that is stocked on a regular basis.

There will be raffle prizes and fishing activities. The first 100 children that are registered will get a goody bag.

Registration is from 6:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.

That night is Astronomy Night.

McKinney said that the Pontchartrain Astronomy Society will be there and they will have a viewing of the sky.

They will have a bunch of different telescopes and members will be there to answer questions and give information.

The park also has dutch oven cooking the second Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. All of the food is served at noon.

Pictured is the dutch oven class.

Shown are pictures from Astronomy Night.

Magic City Garden Council brings 3 garden clubs together

By Chris Kinkaid The Daily News

The Magic City Garden Council has three garden clubs together.

The group has the Southeast Garden Clippers, the Northeast Garden Club and the Bogalusa Garden Club. The Garden Guild and Southeast Garden Clippers are part of the state garden club.

“Our goal was to bring the three garden clubs together so we could coordinate our efforts so we could improve Bogalusa,” Magic Garden Council President Brenda Simon said. “Some of the things we do is we maintain welcome signs coming into Bogalusa. We put the plants in them and we weed them. Sometimes, we’re called on by the city for things like the entrance time into Cassidy Park. We help with fertilizing the plants on Louisiana Avenue. We may not do the actual work, but we’ll get the supplies. Another thing we do regularly about five times a year is we provide the wreath for city hall. That’s usually when we have our meetings each season. This year, for the first time, we came together and decorated the city hall for Christmas. The big tree that’s in the entrance, we decorated with all dried and natural elements. We used pine cones because of the pine trees in the area. To help finish it off, we sold poinsettias in memory of someone who had passed. We had 64 poinsettias around the base of the tree and in different areas of the entrance.”

Simon has been the president for about 12 years and she is part of the Bogalusa Garden Guild.

The entrances into Bogalusa are the one coming from the Bush area on Highway 21, the one coming from the Varnado area, the one in Lakeview coming from Mississippi and the one on Highway 10 coming from Franklinton.

The group has a Garden of the Month from March through November. During the winter months, they don’t have it. This year, they decided to include businesses.

They divide the city into three different areas and each garden club is responsible

COUNCIL: Each club meets once a month from Sept. to May

FROM PAGE 21

for choosing a Garden of the Month.

Each club meets every month from September to May. They do not meet in the summer because it’s so busy.

All of them participate in the floral part of the Washington Parish Fair each year. They also take field trips to different garden centers. Simon said being in this is a lot of fun.

“I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve let things go, but I’m not let-

ting the garden club go,” Simon said.

Simon talked about her favorite part of the garden club.

“I think my favorite thing is learning new things about the plants, seeing the new arrangements you can make,” Simon said. “I love working in my yard. It’s the fact about learning new things and finding new things.”

Simon said that her love for gardening came from her mother.

“If anybody had a green thumb, it was her,” Simon said. “When I’m in my yard, it’s like being with her again.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

Pictured is the entrance to Bogalusa.

Pictured is one of the meetings.

MCCA has been rolling since 1981 Krewe rolled on Feb. 18 this year

The Krewe of MCCA has been rolling through the streets of Bogalusa since 1981, and the parade is still going strong.

This year, MCCA rolled on Saturday, Feb. 18.

The king and queen were Leo Mickenheim Jr. and Julie Hayden.

The king is decided by the captain.

“There’s no rule to it. There was a time when we had seven people vote, but then you may as well announce it that same night because within 24 hours, everybody knows,” Don Spiers said.

The queen is picked by the king and Spiers said the king and queen are really a secret.

“That’s part of the fun is the mystery,” Spiers said.

The king and queen are announced at the first meeting of the year, which is about eight weeks before Mardi Gras.

Each year, MCCA has a theme.

The theme for 2023 was ‘It’s Showtime’.

The theme is decided on in April.

“The committee pretty much stays constant except that the outgoing king and queen are on that committee,” Spiers said. “Everybody comes to a meeting with ideas. We change the costumes to where the costumes illustrate the theme. We want the floats and the costumes to illustrate the theme.”

The idea for MCCA began on a Wednesday afternoon after-golf session at the Bogalusa Country Club on Jan. 14, 1981.

Two businessmen, the current captain, Spiers, a Bogalusa realtor and builder, and Jack Wempe, who was the manager of the downtown Columbia Street J.C. Penney Department Store, were chatting.

Wempe was brainstorming for ideas on ways to put the brakes on the decline of Bogalusa downtown shopping and activity, particularly at his store.

Wempe asked about having a Mardi Gras parade, which would travel right through the heart of downtown on Columbia Street.

The two quickly got to work.

Fat Tuesday was March 3 that year, so they decided to hold it the preceding Saturday, which was Feb. 28.

They started to discuss and list men who would join by recruiting and heading up a group of friends to ride on floats.

They came up with several names right away, such as Bill McGehee and Lloyd Baudier.

McGehee had just been named Young Man of the Year, and Baudier had a twoway radio business and was a rider in the Krewe of Endymion, which takes place in New Orleans.

Spiers said Dixie Gallaspy was a great organizer, a friend and a popular social activist, so she was their obvious choice to be the queen, and they asked her to find a king.

She enlisted Vertress Young, who was a widely known and respected business

COURTESY PHOTO/Sharon Hartzog MCCA rolled through Bogalusa on Feb. 18.

MCCA: 1st parade was Feb. 28, 1981

FROM PAGE 24

leader, and he was the first king.

Baudier, who was their carnival consultant, told them that they needed a non-profit corporation, formed as the organization, so they recruited Spiers’ lawyer and lifelong friend, Don Fendlason.

They called the corporation the Magic City Carnival Association, leading to the acronym MCCA, which is pronounced “mecca.”

The parade rolled for the first time Feb. 28, 1981, and they rented eight floats, which included a king and queen float pulled with pickup trucks. They were followed by small groups of the wives and some of the MCCA members.

One of the ladies’ groups rolled down the streets of Bogalusa in a borrowed National Guard 0.75-ton vehicle, wearing Army uniforms and calling themselves MASH, which was a popular television show at the time.

The other was in a borrowed and decorated gravel truck from Lakeview Sand and Gravel. They costumed, decorated and rode in the gravel truck, naming themselves the Gravel Girls.

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free 866-632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339; or 800-845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

COURTESY PHOTO/Sharon Hartzog

Pictured are MCCA floats rolling down the street as parade goers show their excitement.

To

COURTESY PHOTO/Sharon Hartzog

Pictured are MCCA riders on a float.

COURTESY PHOTO/Sharon Hartzog

Shown is a MCCA float coming down the street.

Mitchell Salesman

Sumerel Salesman

France BDC

Washington Parish Garden Club celebrates 50 years

By Chris Kinkaid The Daily News

The Washington Parish Garden Club Council is celebrating its 50th year in May.

The group, which was formed in May of 1973, has seven garden clubs in Washington Parish.

On the east side are three from Bogalusa that includes the Northeast Garden Club, Southeast Garden Clippers and the Bogalusa Garden Guild.

On the parish’s west side, there are the Mt. Hermon Garden Club, Franklinton Garden Club, Designs by Pine Garden Club in Pine and the Home and Garden Club in Franklinton.

This group falls under the umbrella of the Washington Parish Fair Association and is responsible for all of the activities at the flower house.

This year’s fair theme is There’s No Time Like Fair Time and the Flower House Theme is Flower Power.

“All of them are volunteers and they take all of the entries that come into the flower house,” Minnie Posey said. “They take questions. Last year, we didn’t do it, but this year, we plan to have demonstrations in the flower house. The garden clubs usually take care of that. Some of the clubs are getting older members, so some of the younger members are stepping up. We get reviews that we have outstanding flower shows every year. We have plants and flowers that people have never seen. People bring flowers from all over.”

Posey is the Flower House Chairperson and a board member of the Washington Parish Fair Association.

The co-chair is Dana Truxillo.

They have a show each year to decide who has the best flowers and ribbons are awarded.

They have three divisions for the show that include Garden Club Niche Design, Student Section that starts with two years old to kindergarten up to college and there’s an adult division.

COURTESY PHOTO

Pictured a display from the Washington Parish Club’s Christmas Program.

GARDEN CLUB: Held a Christmas program in 2022

FROM PAGE 29

The judges come from outside of the parish. Entries start the Sunday before the fair from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., that Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and that Tuesday from 8 a.m. until

11 a.m. Sunday and Monday are for horticultural plants, while Tuesday is for cut flowers and arrangement. Besides the fair, they have had flower shows there as well. They had a show in 2022 called the Christmas Flower Show during the Christmas Festival.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Pictured are displays from the Washington Parish Club’s Christmas Program.

Pictured are displays from the Washington Parish Club’s Christmas Program.

Bogalusa Little baseball, softball gearing up for the season

COURTESY PHOTOS

Pictured is the Bogalusa Little League Baseball and Softball from past years. As of March 14, the start date for Bogalusa Little League is in early April.

As

of March 14, season is scheduled to start in April

Little league has been successful over the years