Il Son Parti

For many years, Evangeline Downs Race Track in Lafayette has used the slogan “Il Son Parti,” which en francais means “there they go.” Well, all de candidates for various local offices an’ school boads an’ district attorney an’ judgeships have gotten into de gate by qualifyin an’ de gates are open an’ dar they go.

Sorry, our deadline didn’t allow us to list all dem what’s runnin’ an’ also dem what chickened out at de las’ minute. We ran trew all de judges races las’ time except for de Ward 3 City Court race, an’ dat, mon cher, iz all uf a sudden de talk uf de town.

It wuz expected dat Judge John Hood wuz gonna have a free ride … den, BOOM — Ron Richard jumps into de race. Richard, you may remember, ran for Congress against Congressmen Charles Boustany and did very well in de boxes that are heavily African American. We expect him to do well in dem boxes again. Hood haz de advantage in dat he’s de incumbent.

Dar will be some heated school boad races in the southern part uf hiz district, az well as de race to replace Judge Kent Savoie, who is runnin’ for de 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals against Jamie Yelverton. Dat race for de district judgeship also got a lot mo interestin’ wit’ attorney Brent Hawkins, a minority candidate, jumpin’ in de race against Jamie Bice and Rob McCorquodale.

Dat race between Bice, McCorquodale and Hawkins will be for de udder Ward 3 judgeship helt by Judge Tom Quirk, who was forced into retirement because uf da stupid law passed by de Legislature dat forces judges, constables an’ justices uf de peace out after a certain age. Some uf dem elsewhere in de state are runnin’ anyway an’ plan to let de courts decide if day should stay in office or not. Sounds like a clear-cut case of age discrimination to me.

In any case, we have two radder heated Ward 3 City Court races an’ a whole lot mo dat we will break down in de next issue.

Arts ‘N’ Crab Fest Filled Wit’ Candidates

Me an’ my wife Sedonia went to dat Arts ‘n’ Crab Festival at de Civic Center. Again dis year it wuz sold out. An’ de candidates for various offices saw it az a chance to mingle an’ shake hands wit potential voters, an’ day did. Dar was lots uf hand-shakin’ an’ visitin’ by a whole buncha candidates who’ve worked hard durin’ dis hot an’ humid summer.

We tell dat to folks dat tink about runnin’ for office — dat politicin’ iz really taxin’ from a physical standpoint, an’ until day do it, day don’t realize day have to be workin’ long hours listenin’ to folks tell dem about all dar complaints … especially folks runnin’ for school boad seats.

Parents an’ taxpayers are always willin’ to let de candidates have it when it comes to school boad issues.

MSU Football Shapin’ Up

De McNeese football team appears to be shapin’ up for anudder good season. De Cowboys will kickoff wit’ Nebraska on Sept. 6. Den day play some Southland Conference powerhouses.

De Southeastern University uf Hammond iz expected to finish first because uf dar quarterback, an’ McNeese iz expected to finish second because uf dar strong defense.

Dar’s a push on now by McNeese folks to buy season tickets, an’ we understand dat appears to be goin’ pretty good.

Folks, we encourage you to buy season tickets an’ to USE dem tickets to go to de game. If you can’t go, give ‘em to someone who will go. Dar’s nuttin’ mo embarassin’ dan to see a buncha empty seats.

Also, we urge you to show your support for de Cowboys by wearin’ blue an’ gold. If you don’t have any McNeese gear, now iz de time to spend a few bucks an’ get some shirts, caps an’ rain gear to show you support our university.

Finally: Action On Harrah’s Property

We wuz pleased to see in de news dat de City uf Lake Charles had hired a company to smash up de concrete left behind by Harrah’s Casino. And we see whare de city iz gonna finally hire a company to do some development uf dat property.

CRBE out of Los Angeles will be doin dat work. Now dis ain’t CRBE’s first rodeo. Day have developed properties all over de country. So day have de experience an’ knowhow to make tings happen.

To say it’s about time would be a gross understatement.

De Mardi Gras Boardwalk fiasco lasted waaay too long. Here we are sittin’ around wit’ de only beach along the interstate an’ it’s just an eyesore an’ an embarrassment. Let’s get de ball rollin’ on dis one.

Checkpoints A Good Ting

State Police are quick to point out dat a large number uf highway traffic deaths in our state involve drivers who are impaired by de use uf alcohol, drugs or both. In an effort to get mo uf dem kinda drivers off de roads, mo DWI checkpoints will be set up in our parish in de next few weeks.

Where dem checkpoints are gonna be is a secret. An’ wit’ de Labor Day holiday comin’ up, we want to remind folks dat you can get a DWI if you’re operatin’ a boat an’ have had too much to drink.

So if you gonna go out partyin’, get someone who’s not drinkin’ to operate de vehicle or boat. De penalty for a DWI plus de increase in insurance is big-time dollars. So use some common sense, an’ don’t drink and drive.

KBYS Gettin’ Attention

McNeese now haz its own radio station. KBYS iz de call letters, an’ it’s at 88.3 on your dial. Day play great oldies dat I haven’t heard in years.

KBYS iz funded by local donations an’ operated by volunteers. So give dem a listen, an’ if you like what you hear, send dem a few bucks.

Meantime, me, I’m gonna continue to listen to great hits from de ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s an’ mo. I could do wit’ less Barry Manilow an’ Barbra Streisand songs … or none at all.

By de way, you can also listen to dem on de internet. Just go to KBYS.net an’ you can hear dem anywhere in de world. It’s really great to listen to dem.

Common Core Still In De News

De legal battle continues over Common Core bein’ taught in our schools. It’s a shame folks can’t come to a compromise on dis. An’ it’s a shame dat some politicians are usin’ it for dar political gain. I’m not talkin’ about Jindal, but legislators and school board members az well.

We say let’s settle dis an’ move on to de bidness uf educatin’ our children.  De politics in education in our state iz ridiculous an’ continues to get mo worser.

Black Bear Program Too Successful

Several years ago, de Louisiana Dept. uf Wildlife and Fisheries started a black bear program in our state. Now, hunters applauded de program.

But now, like mos’ gubment programs, de estimate on de numbers movin’ forward are way off. Dar are too many bears, an’ dat’s affectin’ deer huntin’ in north Louisiana.

Mos’ uf de really big deer dat are processed at places like Hollier’s in our area are taken in North Louisiana. De Tensas iz where dem big ones come from, and dat’s whear de black bears appear to be gadderin’.

So, yes, de deer hunters like de bears, but not too many uf dem. Wonder how many mo studies are gonna have to be made by LDWF before day decide what to do.

Collins Was A True Leader

Like many uf you, we wuz saddened to learn uf de recent passin’ uf Roy Collins. Roy wuz a teacher and coach for many years. He wuz later a State Farm Agent for many years. He waz also a true community leader … servin’ on de school boad an’ as a member uf de boad for de Port uf Lake Charles. Roy Collins will be missed by many.

Deep Taughts While Watchin’ De SEC Network

10) Are de Astros gonna end de season ahead uf de Texas Rangers?

9) Iz T-Claude really gonna be a campaign manager for one uf dem candidates?

8) When are we gonna quit hearin’ about dat darn sinkhole in Livingston Parish?

7) Shrimp season has just opened. Is it gonna be better dan last year?

6) Iz de worse Texas NFL team de Dallas Cowboys or de Houston Texans?

5) Who borrowed my stovetop smoker an’ will day ever bring it back?

4) Can de Saints look any better dan day lookin’ now?

3) Why iz it dat de Cove Lane project still looks like an entrance an’ exit for gamblers?

2) Are my dogs adequately trained for duck huntin’ season?

1) Do I really have to go to my cousin Elvira’s fourth weddin’?

Final Shot

I axed my fran Lefty if he wuz ready for football season. He said he haz upped hiz weekly keg order from one to two kegs, an’ haz stocked up wit’ tree cases uf Jack Daniel’s an’ four cases uf Chivas Regal. Lefty sez he now haz two bookies. Me, I would say Lefty iz ready for some football.

‘Til next time, lache pas la patate.