You cut openings for springs and torrents; you dried up ever-flowing streams. Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries and the sun. You have fixed all the bounds of the earth; you made summer and winter. PS 74:15-17, NRSV
In time of change, keep close to the things that stay the same.
Jesus said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (MT 28:20). Familiar words! However, sometimes it’s easier to remember them in the context of eternal things than every moment, each day. This is a good time to recall.
Perhaps this is a time to consider the changes that everyone knows about, here in the late summer. Summertime brings a special, additional reminder of God’s providence and generosity in the form of fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden or green market. A perfect peach or cooling watermelon seems to hold a hint of God’s bounty. And then the heat of summer and cycle of seasons take the fruit, even more quickly than it arrived. Spring into summer into fall; peaches to tomatoes to okra. Nature works in seasons; or perhaps things we treasure are ones that thrive in this seasonal world.
God’s unchanging providential hand guides everything through changes, month to month, spring to fall, age to age. But recently, occasions of uncertainty have multiplied. They bring worry, sorrow, even desperation. Possibly worse, they aren’t predictable, even while they’re happening. Change is necessary, and often welcome and good, but recently we’ve experienced a lot of the other kind.
Amid the changes, the ones that we can predict and the ones that are new, this is the time to remember what never changes. This is the moment to remember and to rely on Jesus’s unchanging presence in life. It’s also a moment to remember that God’s presence in each day does not mean that the day will be like the one before, or the one after. God works in seasons, as do all of God’s creatures.
This is a season of trouble and worry and grief. All of humankind deals with changes that are new, unwelcome, and frightening. Not like the hot, dry summer; not even like the occasional hurricane. This is new. New enough to invite all of humankind into partnership with each other and with God’s wisdom to bring about more change: change that will move us together towards restored health and renewed prosperity. With God’s help.
And so, let us pray, Gracious God, we offer thanks for all blessings of life, for those things that change from season to season, and for your love and assurance, which never changes. You are with us in warm days and cold, in darkness and in light. As we move from day to day through this troublesome season, keep us in accordance with your will, in peace with our brothers and sisters, and always with the certain knowledge of the protection of your loving hand. Through Christ, Our Lord and Our Protector. Amen.
Did you know that in 1905 a young lawyer – Paul Harris – founded the first Rotary club in Chicago? He invited a few business and professional men together to recapture the friendliness and camaraderie of the small-town life many of them had enjoyed.
The club was called “The Rotary Club” because members met in rotation at their various workplaces. Membership multiplied rapidly, and the second Rotary club was created in San Francisco in 1908. The first international Rotary club was organized in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1910. Rotary clubs now exist in over 200 countries and geographic areas. Although each club is unique in its culture, language, customs, and traditions, all 34,000 clubs operate in a similar manner. Every Rotarian is welcome to visit any and all of them!
Rotary International World Headquarters is located in Evanston, Illinois. Yes, we are big and complex. But we are also a bottoms-up organization. When you shake the hand of one Rotarian, you are shaking the hands of more than 1.2 million other Rotarians, all working to join leaders, exchange ideas, and take action to enrich youth, ensure health, build communities, and promote peace and world understanding.
If you are interested in changing the world, networking with community leaders, and having fun, we invite you to see what Rotary is all about by attending one of our weekly meetings. The Rotary Club of Winnfield meets every Wednesday at Noon at Lynda’s Country Kitchen in Winnfield, LA. I promise that there will be absolutely no obligation to join. We would like you to share our enjoyment of Rotary, increase your understanding and, help you decide whether Rotary is right for you.
Contact me via email (put ROTARY in the subject line) at jodidawnt@gmail.com or by phone832-573-5085. I look forward to hearing from you.
If you were raised in the Deep South or even have relatives in the South then you are aware of the summertime rituals that pepper the memories of most southerners. These mental snapshots most likely include some type of family member, a porch and some type of vegetable that needed tending to.
My summers were no different.
While my family never had a garden to tend, we always seem to have an endless supply of the goodness that came from God’s green earth. Snap beans. Purple hull peas. Tomatoes. Squash. Okra. Corn. These are just a few of the vegetables that became our chore during the heat of the summer.
When my siblings and I were much younger it produced many hours of joyful entertainment. As we grew older we discovered there were many more summer pleasures that we were missing out on because we were too busy being part time farmers. Farmers with permanently purple stains on our fingertips and under our nails.
We were interested in anything that did not include shelling, shucking, blanching or Zip-Lock bags.
One particular summer my parents left us in charge of shelling what seemed to be four mountains of purple hull peas. They had to be shelled and washed before we were allowed to partake of the lake activities with our friends. We felt like we were in a purple hull hell. Why did we need so many peas? It was never ending.
I called one of my friends and advised her of the terrible pea situation and that we may be late leaving for our date to soak up the rays at Saline Lake. Being the good friend that she was she explained that she had access to a pea sheller, a small machine that will shell these peas for us in a record amount of time.
What? There is a machine for this? I was in utter disbelief of this black magic. Of course, we took her up on her offer of salvation from the purple hull mountain that we were facing. When she showed up, she also brought another friend. This pea sheller did not disappoint.
We had formed an assembly line.
We had two friends force feeding the peas in the sheller and three of us washing and cleaning up the mess. When we were done there was nothing standing between us and our summer shenanigans. We proceeded to the lake even though, I just had a suspicion that we cheated the system. Our fingertips lacked the purple dye that normally accompanies the shelling. Something just felt off but we would have to worry about that later.
We had a lake, friends, baby oil and iodine waiting on us.
The water at Saline Lake seemed to be more beautiful than ever that day. The sun was beaming perfectly and not a cloud in the sky. There was even a small but helpful breeze blowing. It was a perfect day and I wish that I had realized at that moment that it would be the last time I saw the lake that summer.
When we arrived home, both my mom and dad were waiting outside for us as if to deliver the bad news that someone had passed away. But, it wasn’t a somber look. I recognized this look. It was a look that can only be delivered from the angry face of parents who love Jesus but will go ham on their children at the drop of a hat.
We slowly exited the vehicle as our parents waved goodbye to our friends. It was the last time we saw our friends that summer.
Apparently there is an art to operating a pea sheller. You were only supposed to feed it only a few at a time. Therefore, due to our lack of research we smashed more than half of that crop of peas as we fed the machine handfuls at a time. I tried to explain that we were never advised to not use an electric pea sheller. If you don’t set expectations then that’s when things may go awry.
My poor explanation bought us eight weeks of sitting at home to think about our lazy and selfish ways. Looking back I do firmly believe that the Holy Spirit was trying to warn me by saying, “Hey sis, you are cutting corners and this will end poorly for you.”
I should have listened to that still small voice.
Cutting corners has never worked for me, even though I give it a try every now and then. It seems as though I am most successful when I remind myself daily that everything we do we should act as though we are doing it for the Lord. Hard work always pays dividends in the end.
These days my purple hell peas come from the frozen section of the grocery store or a local farmer who has already done the grunt work. The great thing about buying peas already shelled and prepped is that there is no purple dye left on my nails for days. The sad thing about buying peas already shelled and prepped is that there is no purple dye left on my nails for days.
The best life lessons were learned on a porch in the heat of the summer with some vegetables.
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us. yes, establish the work of our hands” Psalm 90:17
NSU– Northwestern State’s fall sports schedules are moving to the spring of 2021.
The Southland Conference announced Thursday the league will postpone fall sports conference competitions in football, volleyball, soccer and cross country with the intent of playing in the spring semester.
The league’s fall sports teams are allowed to keep contracted non-conference games, if they so choose, and can schedule additional games, as well. NSU has chosen not to participate in any fall athletic competitions.
The decision was reached Wednesday by the Conference’s presidential Board of Directors, in consultation with campus athletic directors, in full consideration of the health, safety and well-being of the league’s student-athletes, coaches, administrators, support personnel and fans on the league’s 13 campuses. Southland members have been monitoring national, regional and local developments related to the worldwide COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic since the cancelation of spring sports in mid-March.
“All of us at Northwestern and other schools in the Southland Conference regret the negative impact on our students, personnel, alumni, friends and fans of suspending competition in athletics for the fall semester,” said NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio. “Our plans for resuming intercollegiate sports competition that is so deeply ingrained in the university and its image are already under way.
“Most conferences and universities in the nation are postponing athletic competition in the fall based on guidance from medical agencies and authorities across the nation. We feel it is in the best interests of our university, students and community that we also suspend intercollegiate sports, as much as we regret it.”
Added Director of Athletics Greg Burke: “Our athletic program has been preparing to play – and wanted to play – since the start of voluntary workouts began in June. Most recently and in compliance with an NCAA Board of Governors directive, a COVID-19 PCR testing option was secured and utilized for student-athlete testing while other protocols continued to be followed by our sports medicine staff.”
“This is not the outcome for which we were hoping. It, however, reflects the continuing volatility of a pandemic which has had a grip on our nation, including the world of college athletics, for nearly five months,” added Burke, who noted that nearly 90 percent of NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football programs have already canceled their competitive season.
NSU was scheduled to open its 2020 football season with a September 3 home game versus conference opponent Incarnate Word while other fall sports also were set to start their season in early September.
The Southland joins a growing list of all but two FCS conferences that have altered, canceled or postponed all or portions of fall competitions, including the Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Ivy League, the Mid-Eastern Athletic, the Missouri Valley Football League, Northeast, Patriot League, the Pioneer Football League and the Southwestern Athletic conferences.
The Southland’s fall sports offerings include football, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country and volleyball.
The cancellation of fall sports follows similar action taken in the spring that resulted in not holding the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, as well as the Indoor Track and Field Championships. All spring sports activities were also cancelled.
Said Burke: “This, again, is most disappointing for our student-athletes, who are dedicated to representing NSU both in the classroom and on the field of competition. The same sentiment applies to our coaches and staff, who invest in immeasurable amount of time year-round in preparing for each season. Finally, I know how much our fans, alumni, former athletes, parents and campus community look forward supporting our teams and this leaves yet another void for them.”
Burke indicated NSU teams will continue to remain engaged in athletic-related activities within the department’s “inner bubble” as allowed by NCAA rules. Ongoing testing and daily monitoring will also be a part of the health and safety protocol. The Southland Conference also is in the planning stages to conduct regular season championships in all four sports in the spring of 2021 with potential plans for NCAA postseason competition also a possibility.
The Northwestern State Athletics Mental Health Committee also has been and will continue to be involved and provide guidance regarding the impact this decision can have on NSU student-athletes.
FRISCO, Texas — The Southland Conference Board of Directors has determined that league competition in the sports of football, volleyball, women’s soccer and cross country will be postponed from the fall semester with an intent to explore conference competition in the spring semester. Meeting frequently in recent weeks, including Wednesday afternoon, presidents of the 13 Southland members also authorized planning for spring semester championship events for volleyball, soccer and cross country.
Institutions may choose to participate in limited fall competition.
“After thoughtful consideration, the Southland Conference Board of Directors reached consensus in postponing league competition for our fall semester sports,” Dr. Houston Davis, Board Chair and President of the University of Central Arkansas, said. “Protecting competitive opportunities in a safe manner for our student-athletes was paramount in the review, and a delay to the spring allows campuses and athletic departments to get a better handle on issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The Board concluded that an entire fall sports season is not likely, and that a postponement to spring can provide the important opportunities our teams annually seek,” Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett added. “While disappointed that we won’t be playing these sports in the Southland’s 58th year of fall competition, we look forward to a unique spring season of athletics that also includes NCAA postseason opportunities.”
It is expected that Southland athletic directors will immediately begin work with the Southland staff to determine spring competitive planning and other issues.
Everyone counts. The 2020 Census is used to determine Congressional representation as well as government appropriations for some programs. Most people received information in the mail a few months ago. However, with the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it may have been overlooked.
If you have not yet done so, please take time to respond soon. Data collection will end by September 30, 2020.
WINN: Thelma Jo Carter Gresham February 26, 1932 – August 09, 2020 Jeffery Lynn Braswell October 15, 1956 – August 11, 2020 Service: Saturday, August 15 at 10 am in the Southern Funeral Home chapel of Winnfield
John Harvey Evans September 17, 1933 – August 11, 2020 Service: Saturday August 15 at 10 am at Jena Cemetery
NATCHITOCHES: Jameka L. Waldrup August 17, 1995 – August 10, 2020 Service: Saturday, August 15 at 10 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches
SABINE: Ben D. Peterson September 20, 1936 – August 11, 2020 Service: Saturday, August 15 at 10 am at the Festival Grounds in Florien Larry Herrington February 14, 1943 – August 10, 2020 Service: Friday, August 14 at 2 pm at Pine Grove Baptist Church
The Louisiana Future Farmer’s America (FFA) Association recognizes the chapters that have had the most success in judging events throughout the year. The Sweepstakes award program recognizes the top chapter in each area and then declares an overall winner.
This year, the Winnfield Senior High School (WSHS) FFA chapter was recognized as the most successful chapter in Area II. Area II consists of DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, Winn, LaSalle, Grant, Rapides, Vernon, and Beauregard parishes.
WSHS’s accomplishments this year include: placing in Forestry (2nd in Area, 4th in State), Parliamentary Law (1st and 2nd in Area, 3rd in State), Geaux Teach Ag (3rd in Area), Environmental & Natural Resources (State Champion), Dairy Cattle Judging (1st in Area), Electricity (3rd and 4th in Area), Meats Evaluation (1st and 2nd in Area, State Runner-Up), and Conduct of Chapter Meetings (State Runner-Up).
In addition to these qualifying events, the chapter also earned 5th at Nationals in Parliamentary Law, had ten students earn excellent or higher at literary rally, and earned one state degree. The chapter is proud of their accomplishments but are already planning for the 2020-2021 school year.
Front row (from left): Micah Simmons and Aaron Johnson. Second row: Emma Vines, Karly Avant, Olivia Baxley, Joy So, Chloe Whisonant, Allison Phelps, and Annie Heard. Third row: Dalton Bartley, Lauren Poole, Chandler Poisso, and John Spikes – photo taken at LSU when the Parliamentary Law teams toured the LSU College of Agriculture before the state contest in December
Winn 4-H provides opportunities for youth from all backgrounds and interest to become a member and learn and grow through hands-one experiences. Any youth from the age of 9 years of age (before January 1st of the current 4-H year) can be a member. Youth can participate as long as they have not passed their 20th birthday on January 1. Because of our diverse age range, 4-H has lots of opportunities and experiences for all ages of youth to participate in.
For more information about Winn 4-H contact the local office at 318-628-4528.
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reporting a fourth death related to Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. MIS-C is a serious health condition in young people less than 21 years of age where different body organs can become inflamed and fail. These include the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.
Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes or feeling extra tired. The specific cause of MIS-C is not yet understood, but it is known to occur in some children and teenagers who have contracted COVID-19 or been exposed to another individual with COVID-19.
Louisiana is seeing an increasing number of cases of MIS-C among young people. As of August 10, 2020, the number of confirmed MIS-C cases in Louisiana has risen to 44. To date, infants as young as 1 month and teens up to 19 years of age have received MIS-C diagnoses in Louisiana. MIS-C causes severe illness requiring hospitalization, and the young people diagnosed with MIS-C in Louisiana have been hospitalized an average of 7 days. MIS-C is a mandatory reportable condition in Louisiana and the Department of Health urges clinicians across the state to report immediately any suspected cases to LDH.
Four deaths between ages 2 and 19 have occurred in young people diagnosed with MIS-C in Louisiana. Underlying medical conditions were reported in two of the four deaths. While individuals with underlying health conditions are at higher risk, anyone can be susceptible to severe health consequences associated with COVID-19. All Louisianans need to wear a mask and practice social distancing to stop the spread of COVID-19.
LDH recommends parents and caregivers watch for the symptoms of MIS-C in their children. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face, and severe abdominal pain. More information about MIS-C can be found here.
Sometimes a person can have talent, ambition, take all the right steps, and make all the right moves, but is unable to achieve success. It usually takes an act beyond their control to reach their goal. It can be a chance meeting or just being in the right place at the right time. Oftentimes, it can be a coincidence, and other times it can be as the result of an accident. George’s life changed as a result of one such accident.
Shortly after 3:30 a.m. on Friday, November 19, 1954, George and Charles left Las Vegas, Nevada, en route to Universal-International Pictures at Studio City, Los Angeles, California. George was going to the movie studio to record the theme song “Six Bridges to Cross,” for the motion picture of the same name. George agreed to record the song because he was good friends with Tony Curtis, star of the picture, and Jeff Chandler, the song’s lyricist and narrator for the picture, and because it was a good professional move to have his voice heard during the opening credits. George had made some television appearances, but most of his work was on the nightclub circuit. This was to be George’s first credited recording for a motion picture, and he hoped this recording would elevate his career to new heights.
The trip should have taken them just over four and a half hours to complete. George and Charles left Las Vegas following one of George’s performances as part of the Will Mastin Trio at the Last Frontier Hotel. Unable to sleep from the adrenaline the show had produced, George told Charles that he could get some sleep. He, George, would drive. Charles climbed into the back seat of George’s convertible and quickly fell asleep.
Just after 7:00 a.m., with about an hour left in their trip, George drove down Kendall Drive in San Bernardino, California. Up ahead, a car operated by 72-year-old Helen Boss was stopped in the middle of the road. She and her passenger, 69-year-old Bessie Ross, had missed their turn and were preparing to turn the car around. George saw no brake lights, nor did he see a blinker. Once he realized the car was stopped in the highway, he slammed on the brakes. It was too late. George’s convertible slammed into the stopped car. Mrs. Boss suffered a back injury and Mrs. Ross suffered a broken leg. Charles was thrown from the back seat into the rear of the front seat and broke his jaw. The force of the impact slammed George’s face into the hard-plastic and metal steering wheel. George received several cuts on his face, but the most damaging was a severe gash to his left eye.
Paramedics rushed George, Charles, and the women from the stopped car to the hospital. Dr. Frederick H. Hull, a well-known San Bernardino eye specialist, examined George’s eye. Later that evening, Dr. Hull operated on George, but, unfortunately, Dr. Hull was unable to repair and save George’s left eye. As a protective measure, Dr. Hull covered both of George’s eyes with bandages.
Entertainers and movie stars called the hospital to check on George. So many of them called that the switchboard jammed. George received hundreds of telegrams from entertainers, some he knew, most he had never met. He received hundreds of letters from fans wishing him a speedy recovery. In addition to telephone calls, telegrams, and letters, George received flowers and gifts from famous people, many of whom were not personal acquaintances. Well-wishers included such notables as Judy Garland, Louella Parsons, Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Jeff Chandler, Will Mastin, Sammy Davis, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Cantor, and Red Skelton, just to name a few.
Some of his friends even offered to give George one of their own eyes. However, whole eye transplants were, and remain, medically impossible. During the operation, Dr. Hull repaired George’s eye socket so that he could eventually use a false eye, and the false eye would move in unison with his good eye.
George was in good spirits throughout his recovery. When George awoke from surgery and realized his left eye had been removed, he quipped to nurse Iona Smith, “Thank God it was my eye and not my leg.” He would not allow the loss of one eye hinder his career as a nightclub entertainer. Three days after the operation, Dr. Hull removed the bandages from both of George’s eyes. Nurse Smith said George “was very happy that he was able to see again.” “God must have had His arms around me,” George said, “Otherwise, I would be blind today.” “This can’t hurt me,” George said bravely, “I can still dance as well as I could before. I can still sing as well. Nothing has changed.”
Just as George had predicted, his return to the stage was triumphant. In fact, he reemerged as a larger star than he had been before. Suddenly, people with more clout in the entertainment industry started paying attention to George’s many talents. Before the accident, George only appeared in three Hollywood “short” films. Following the accident, however, George secured nightclub bookings in multiple cities for the Will Mastin Trio. George received offers to appear on Broadway, television, and in movies. He eventually starred in more than seventy television and film productions in a career which lasted until his death in 1990.
Following his accident, he also began a ten-year recording career with Decca Records, followed by another ten-year contract with Reprise Records, and shorter recording contracts with companies such as Verve Records, Motown Records, and MGM Records. Although he had many hit songs, his only number one single came in 1972, some eighteen years after his accident.
Had George not lost his left eye as a result of an automobile accident, we might never have seen him in “Ocean’s Eleven,” “Robin and the 7 Hoods,” and, “The Cannonball Run.” We might never have heard him sing “Candy Man.” The omission of Junior behind Sammy Davis’s name in the list of well-wishers was no accident. You see, it was Sammy Davis’s son who lost his left eye in the car crash. George was the middle name of Sammy Davis Jr.
For more real stories about real people with a twist, order your copy of “Remember This?” at www.BradDison.com or listen to his podcast “Brad Dison’s Remember This?” Brad earned his master’s degree in the subject from Louisiana Tech University. He has written four history books and has been published in newspapers and scholarly journals. Keep up with Brad’s column through the Facebook group “Remember This? by Brad Dison.”
Sources:
The Napa Valley Register, November 20, 1954, p.1.
2. The San Bernardino County Sun, November 20, 1954, p.19.
3. The San Bernardino County Sun, November 21, 1954, p.17.
4. Daily News-Post and Monrovia News-Post, November 22, 1954, p.14.
5. Oakland Tribune, November 23, 1954, p.24.
6. Pasadena Independent, November 23, 1954, p.16.
7. The San Bernardino County Sun, November 23, 1954, p.26.
8. Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, California), December 1, 1954, p.4.
9. The Sacramento Bee, December 4, 1954, p.11.
10. The San Bernardino County Sun, December 4, 1954, p.29.
11. Valley Times (North Hollywood, California), December 7, 1954, p.2.
12. The Folsom Telegraph, December 16, 1954, p.11.
13. The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California), January 10, 1955, p.2.
Census Takers to Follow Up With About 56 Million Households Nationwide
This week, the U.S. Census Bureau began following up with households nationwide that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. Based on the current self-response rate of 63.3%, the Census Bureau estimates it will need to visit about 56 million addresses to collect responses in person. Up to 500,000 census takers across the country will go door to door to assist people in responding to the 2020 Census.
Census takers began following up with households on July 16 in a limited number of areas and added additional areas each week thereafter. Starting Aug. 9, all remaining offices began following up with households nationwide. Census takers have completed training on social distancing and safety protocols, will follow local public health guidelines, and will be required to wear a face mask when conducting follow-up visits.
“America has answered the call and most households responded to the census online, by phone or by mail,” said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. “To ensure a complete and accurate count, we must now go door to door to count all of the households we have not heard back from. During this phase, you can still self-respond online (at 2020census.gov), by phone (at 844-330-2020), or by mailing your completed questionnaire.”
The Nonresponse Followup (NRFU) operation is the final stage of conducting the once-a-decade population count of everyone living in the United States. Households can still respond now by responding online at 2020census.gov, by phone at 844-330-2020, or by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received. Households can respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.
What Households Can Expect In most cases, census workers will make up to six attempts at each housing unit address to count possible residents. This includes leaving notification of the attempted visit on the door. The notification will include reminder information on how to respond online, by paper or by phone. In addition, census workers may try to reach the household by phone to conduct the interview.
Census takers will go to great lengths to ensure that no one is missed in the census. After exhausting their efforts to do an in-person interview with a resident of an occupied housing unit, they will seek out proxy sources — a neighbor, a rental agent, a building manager or some other knowledgeable person familiar with the housing unit — to obtain as much basic information about the occupants as they can.
Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.
How to Identify Census Takers Census takers can be easily identified by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center to speak with a Census Bureau representative.
The Census Bureau Will Follow Up With Some Households by Phone In order to minimize the need to send census takers to households in person, the Census Bureau is training census takers to follow up with households by phone. Using information provided to the Census Bureau and third-party purchased data, the Census Bureau has a strong contact list for both landlines and cellphones assigned to houses on the Census Bureau’s address list. These phone calls will enable the Census Bureau to have maximum flexibility for conducting field operations, and is one more method that census takers can use to reach nonresponding households. Phone calls will be used on an as-needed basis and when in-person contact attempts have not resulted in an interview. If a voicemail is available, the census taker will leave a message asking the household to call one of the Census Bureau’s call centers.
Census Response Representatives to Visit Low-Responding Areas The Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) program will continue through Sept. 30. This is a separate activity from census takers going door to door. MQA representatives are in open, public places in the lowest-responding areas of the nation to encourage people to respond to the 2020 Census. These locations are where people naturally visit when leaving home and can be used to help increase self-response rates. MQA is part of the Census Bureau’s final push to encourage people to complete the 2020 Census.
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Aug. 11 that additional commodities are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) in response to public comments and data.
The USDA is also extending the deadline to apply for the program to Sept. 11, 2020.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit this spring right at the peak of crawfish season, crawfish producers felt the impact immediately,” Strain said.
“Since CFAP was first announced in May, we have been working with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, the LSU AgCenter and our congressional delegation to add crawfish to CFAP eligibility. After significant research and data collection which was supplied to Washington, crawfish is now eligible for direct payments under the CFAP. I commend USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue for acting quickly to include crawfish in CFAP direct payment eligibility,” Strain said.
The program is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
USDA collected comments and supporting data for consideration of additional commodities through June 22, 2020. The following additional commodities are now eligible for CFAP:
· Specialty Crops – aloe leaves, bananas, batatas, bok choy, carambola (star fruit), cherimoya, chervil (french parsley), citron, curry leaves, daikon, dates, dill, donqua (winter melon), dragon fruit (red pitaya), endive, escarole, filberts, frisee, horseradish, kohlrabi, kumquats, leeks, mamey sapote, maple sap (for maple syrup), mesculin mix, microgreens, nectarines, parsley, persimmons, plantains, pomegranates, pummelos, pumpkins, rutabagas, shallots, tangelos, turnips/celeriac, turmeric, upland/winter cress, water cress, yautia/malanga, and yuca/cassava.
· Non-Specialty Crops and Livestock – liquid eggs, frozen eggs and all sheep. Only lambs and yearlings (sheep less than two years old) were previously eligible.
· Aquaculture – catfish, crawfish, largemouth bass and carp sold live as foodfish, hybrid striped bass, red drum, salmon, sturgeon, tilapia, trout, ornamental/tropical fish, and recreational sportfish.
· Nursery Crops and Flowers – nursery crops and cut flowers.
CFAP was first announced on May 19, 2020 to provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to America’s farmers and ranchers who suffered losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
Additional details can be found in the Federal Register in the Notice of Funding Availability and Final Rule Correction and at www.farmers.gov/cfap.
NATCHITOCHES: Jameka L. Waldrup August 17, 1995 – August 10, 2020 Service: Saturday, August 15 at 10 am at the Winnfield Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Natchitoches
SABINE: Jimmy Earl Bush January 2, 1945 – August 9, 2020 Service: Thursday, August 13 at 10 am at Warren Meadows Funeral Home Chapel
