Qualifyin’ for “De Big One” az far az elections iz concerned iz now over. Dat means dem what’s been workin’ so hard campaignin’ are gonna have to shift into high gear az de election iz now jus’ weeks, an’ not months, away.
A whole buncha folks got de good news uf a free ride when de registration ended a few days ago. Some got las’ minute shockers and still udders got de only opponents day expected.
Probably da biggest news wuz local attorney Steven Dwight, who’s takin’ hiz first shot at runnin’, got no opponents in hiz qualifyin’ for de District 35 House uf Representatives seat. Dat seat wuz helt by Brett Geymann, who’z term-limited. Now, Dwight’s been workin’ like he had three or four strong opponents, an’ scared udders out uf runnin’. We know he’ll do a good job uf representin’ de Moss Bluff area in Baton Rouge.
Udder state an’ locals gettin’ free rides are state Rep. Mike Danahay uf de Sulphur area known az District 33. Sheriff Tony got a free ride, indicatin’ de fine job he does az chief law enforcement officer in our parish.
Same holds true for Clerk uf Court Lynn Jones. Assessor Wendy Curphy Aguillard (de incumbent) will face Ken Brunot.
State Sen. Blade Morrish also got a free ride. Two legislative races will get mos’ uf de attention. One will be to replace District 36 Rep. and House Speaker Chuck Kleckley. Dat race haz Mark Abraham an’ Dr. Keith DeSonier pitted against each udder. An in District 34, incumbent A.B. Franklin will face former District Judge Wilfred Carter, former City Judge Tom Quirk and Alvin Joseph.
In our next issue, we will break down dem what iz runnin’ for police jury. De las’ day to register to vote iz Sept. 23. So if you’re readin’ dis paper after de 23rd, you’re too late for de Oct. 24 election. Registrar uf voters Angie Quienalty haz set up offices on both sides uf de river so you can register without much trouble.
“Priority One” Iz A Buzz Word
Me an’ my fran Max have been goin’ to dem political forums de Chamber Southwest haz been holdin’. An’ it’s amazing dat every one uf dem candidates for governor have been talkin’ about improvin’ de workforce an’ roads an’ bridges for de upcomin’ boom in our area.
When you see dem same candidates for governor at forums in udder sections uf our state, day have education or public health or sometin’ else az top priority. Now dat tells you dat at least day read de papers from various sections uf our state to tune dar message to what folks want to hear.
Same ting in de presidential race. Trump must have 15 top priority speeches. What do day tink — voters in our state and country are a buncha cooyons???
Tourism Needs Help From Baton Rouge
One uf de main jobs uf de lt. governor iz to promote tourism in our state. In de past, we’ve had some dat wuzn’t too interested in helpin’ our section uf de state. Mitch Landrieu did a great job when he helt de office, an’ Jay Dardenne haz continued de tradition bigtime.
Now we gotta wonder, uf de list of what’s runnin, who will be best for Southwest Louisiana? Now remember, all uf dis tourism and conventions didn’t just land on de lake area. De Southwest Louisiana Convention an’ Visitors Bureau iz always gettin’ awards for being one uf de best in de south, an’ day deserve every trophy day get. Dem ball tournaments an’ conventions like to come to our area because day know day will be treated right.
But we need de help from Baton Rouge. So study dem candidates carefully, an’ be shore your choice will continue to support Southwest Louisiana an’ not trow all de money to New Awlins.
Jeff Davis Crime Still Big News
We continue to read an’ hear about crime issues in de Jeff Davis area. Just recently, a 10th person wuz arrested in connection wit’ de murder an’ robbery uf a well-known Lake Arthur citizen. We continue to hear uf shootings and drug arrests in dis small parish.
Voters thought that electin’ former State Policemen Ivy Woods sheriff would bring peace back to de parish, and it haz helped. But he haz opposition in de upcomin’ election from Chris Schexnider, which tells us dat not everyone iz pleased wit’ de status quo.
Regardless uf who wins in October, we hope de violent crime in Jeff Davis Parish stops.
Prostitution Arrests Alarming
Recent arrests by Sulphur Police involving prostitution and human trafficking at local motels brought to mind some of what we might expect as our population continues to grow.
Sulphur Police Dept. spokesman Mel Estes described how de women an’ dar pimps advertised on a popular internet site known as Backpage.com. Estes went on to say dat some of the women arrested, all from de Houston area, were juveniles.
Complaints from de area prompted de investigation dat started in August. Dat’s de way, folks. You see a crime, report it.
Let’s hope dis human traffickin’ does not spread in our area.
Task Force Haz Good Intentions
A legislative task force iz workin’ on documentin’ illegal immigrants in our state. State Rep. Valerie Hodges sez day will have a report for de Legislature on numbers. She pointed out we had a $1.6 billion deficit dis las’ legislative session. She also points out dat if de immigrants can be accounted for, den day can better be accounted for in de state budget.
De Pew Institute estimates dar were 55,000 illegals in our state in 2012. Now uf course, dat’s a fly in de water when you look at de numbers in California and Texas.
Better accounting will also probably mean more federal money to care for dese people.
Now you know de liberals are goin’ to call dis profilin’, an’ will fight de survey every step uf de way. We’ll watch for de report in January.
Parlez-Vous Francais?
A recent article about de declinin’ number uf French-speakin’ folks in our state wuz shockin’. De article claimed dat in 2000, dar wuz 179,000 folks in our state dat spoke French. By 2010, dat number had dropped to 115,000, which means only 2.8 percent uf our state’s population dat iz 5 or older speak French.
In Calcasieu, just a little mo dan 4 percent speak French.
Recently, me an’ Sedonia sawed a young mother wit’ three teenage girls, all speaking French. De mom sed it wuz a promise she had made to her late mudder to continue to speak French to de young ones.
I guess TV and computers have led to de decline. Shore wish my mom wuz around so we could chat a little French. Just wonder how bad de numbers would be if we didn’t have French immersion programs in our public schools.
It should also be mentioned dat a huge event celebratin’ de 250th anniversary uf de French bein’ kicked outta Nova Scotia an’ settlin’ in Southwest Louisiana will be helt at de beginnin’ uf October in our area. Dar will be great music from groups from trewout de state; special arts and crafts; great food an’ a whole lot mo.
Be on de watch for mo information about dis special celebration uf our heritage an’ make plans to attend an’ bring a friend an’ your children an’ grandchildren. Me, I’m gonna be dare.
Let’s Roll Wit’ Gold And Blue
De McNeese Cowboys are in for a great season. Wit’ a bigtime quarterback an’ lots uf returnin’ linemen an’ receivers, we should see a great show every time de Cowboys take de field.
We urge you to buy tickets, invite your friends, an’ get dar early for a little tailgaitin’ an’ enjoy de show. An’ be shure to wear gold an’ blue to show your support. Also, remember to wear gold an’ blue on Fridays to show all uf Southwest Louisiana you’re a McNeese fan.
Deep Taughts While Watchin’ De Dallas Cowboys
10) When will my wife Sedonia learn not to stand between me an’ de TV?
9) Iz de Houston Astros ready for de play-offs?
8) Ain’t it great to have a big crowd for a McNeese game?
7) How come T-Claude didn’t invite me to hiz tailgate party at de McNeese game?
6) How can dem drug stores charge me $100 for little pills I can hardly see?
5) Why do dem governors and presidential candidates constantly attack each udder?
4) Will de Saints turn it around and start winnin’?
3) Does Snookie tink I’m crazy axin’ $1,500 for a lab puppy?
2) When will our politicians quit yackin’ about Common Core?
1) Do dem football players on TV hear me when I yell at dem?
Final Shot
Lefty came along with me on a recent dove hunt to a plantation near New Roads. He missed 15 shots and hit two. When we kidded him about it at de camp later, he sed it wuz bad ammunition dat wuz too heavy for de gun he wuz shootin’. We all laughed so hard we wuz hurtin’. He got mad an’ promised never to come huntin’ wit’ us again. Dat Lefty, he’s a real sensitive guy.
‘Til next time, lache pas la patate.
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