Rufus Kelly was born in Many to Donald and Pauline Byles Kelly on January 16, 1938. He passed away May 6, 2020. He was 82.

He attended Many High School and graduated in 1956. He worked in the oilfield for a few years and was drafted into the Army. Rufus worked for Trainer Survey in Many and later in Mississippi. Rufus came back and married Neva Duggan Kelly in Florien. He worked at Boise-Cascade, Fisher Plant and retired after thirty-six years. He loved to look for arrowheads, fish and hunt. Rufus liked to listen to LSU and Many Tiger football on the radio.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Kelly and Pauline Byles Kelly; son, Vincent Kelly; and his brother, Dallas Kelly.

The battle of the swamp is getting worse and worse. With the cornavirus dilemma it has strengthened the Democrats quest and determination to dethrone Trump from power. The Democrats main source of power at this time is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She is able to finagle and enhance her power through the issues of this virus. Congress’s absence makes it easier for her to do back room deals and she has taken advantage of this. She has consolidated the power of institution in her person the way she wants to do it with no one there to speak up. Mrs. Pelosi has made herself the sole voice of a negotiator for the House as it passes massive funding and regulatory bills. As Congress sits at home, they don’t hear about legislative compromises and break-throughs between the Chairman and ranking members.

We’re all in this together! Newspaper ads, commercials and day-to-day conversation tell us that we are struggling during this pandemic. Honestly, I never thought I would have to live through these dark days in America’s history. My grandmother went through the Great Depression…and now this Grammie is surviving the Pandemic of 2019 and beyond.

Those of us who have lived a relatively long like, remember significant happenings that have marked time in our memories. To some, it was the bombing of Pearl Harbor and World War II; to others it was President John F. Kennedy’s assassination and to still others it was 9-11. Looking back, it seems like we measure the years in big events that have affected our lives.

Stop for a moment and think what we have learned from these huge happenings in our lives.

LSU AgCenter experts have been getting inquiries from the public about Asian giant hornets, but it’s not believed the insects have spread to Louisiana.

“We’ve been getting a lot of phone calls and emails,” said AgCenter public health entomologist Kristen Healy.

Some calls have been made by people who suspect they have seen one of the hornets that turn out to be other insects.

“There are a lot of things that look like them,” Healy said.

(The Center Square) – Fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic may cost Louisiana local government entities between $404 million and $1.1 billion by the end of the next fiscal year, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor estimates.

The pandemic, and the deliberate economic slowdown meant to contain the pandemic, are leading to lower tax and royalty collections for municipalities, parishes, school boards and sheriff’s offices.

The federal government has allocated $1.8 billion to help Louisiana governments, and 45 percent of that money is supposed to go to local entities, while the state can spend 55 percent. However, officials say the money must pay for efforts to fight the disease and cannot be used to plug budget holes.

Walk into any grocery store in February and there were aisles of well-stocked shelves with dizzying choices of packaged meats, vegetables, grains, fruits, snacks and treats. The hardest part was deciding which food and which brand to buy.

Contrast that to grocery shopping now. Customers wearing homemade cloth masks are finding those same grocery aisles depleted.

Food shortages at the retail level and milelong lines of cars at local food banks occurred at the same time as news of plowed-under vegetable and fruit crops in Florida and California and dumping of milk in Wisconsin. How did we get to the point of dumping food in the glare of food insecurity for 37 million Americans and an estimated increase of 17.1 million unemployed due to the coronavirus?

Kenneth McCormick was born November 27, 1936 and passed away April 20, 2020 after a well fought battle with cancer.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Kathryn McCormick, and their children: Allen Rials, Kathy Rials Ellzey, Don Rials and wife Beverly, Karen Sepulvado and husband Pat, and Kristy Steele and husband Bobby. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jeremy Fullerton, Donya Tatum and husband Chet, Jennifer Fullerton, Kim Rials, Melanie Brannam, Kenn Steele, Marissa Ross and husband Austin, and McKenzie Steele. He is survived by five great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Inez McCormick; brother, Joe Bill McCormick; sister, Rita Hildebrand; daughter-in-law, Karen Rials; son-in-law, David Ellzey; and granddaughter, Karla Sepulvado.

Mary Lewis was born November 5, 1944 in Port Arthur, Texas to Eldon Shoebroek and Orie (Moore) Shoebroek and entered into rest on April 23, 2020 in Natchitoches. Graveside services for her were held on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Marthaville Cemetery with Brother John Lewing officiating. She has been an Eastern Star Member for 57 years.

Joseph Sepulvado was born December 22, 1942 in Sabine Parish, to Ernest “Bocat” Sepulvado and Susan (Leone) Sepulvado and entered into rest on April 22, 2020 at his residence in Zwolle. Graveside services for him were held on April 24, 2020 at St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery with Father Joseph Ampatt officiating.

COVID-19 AND BLACK RESIDENTS