The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) concluded its first recreational alligator harvest on Oct. 31 with 3,606 hunters harvesting 1,817 alligators, the department announced. With the successful harvest, LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth said plans for the 2027 season are already in the works.

“Louisiana’s first recreational alligator season was a success!,’’ said Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry. “With more than 3 million alligators in our state, this was an exciting opportunity for families to enjoy our Sportsman’s Paradise. I’d like to thank the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for their great work. We can’t wait to bring it back next year!”

“The return of a recreational alligator season to the people of Louisiana was nothing short of historic,’’ LDWF Secretary Bosworth said. “I could not be more proud of staff both past and present for all the work that went into making this new hunting opportunity possible. And I’m looking forward to continuing on the success of this season for years to come.’’

The American alligator is a quintessential symbol of Louisiana culture and our rich hunting heritage. The return of this exciting new season created a controlled recreational harvest opportunity for resident hunters, separate from the existing commercial alligator program. It was established to provide Louisiana sportsmen and women with greater opportunity to utilize and enjoy the iconic species and create a new hunting tradition for generations to come. Louisiana’s wild alligator population has reached a point of full recovery following decades of joint conservation efforts between the LDWF, landowners, hunters and farmers.

LDWF conducted the season through a lottery process. The recreational season ran statewide from Oct. 1-31 in all eight harvest zones. Reported size class from the recreational season was comparable to long term historic harvest. Average harvest size was 7.5 feet.

Louisiana has a robust alligator resource capable of providing sustainable recreational harvest opportunities to Louisiana residents without negatively impacting a highly valuable commercial industry that provides more than $250 million dollars annually to Louisiana’s economy.

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Jennifer Reising of Noank, Connecticut, has won the 2027 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) with her impressive portrait of a wood duck.

The annual contest, in its 39^th year, determines the image on what is commonly called the Louisiana Duck Stamp. The 2027 stamp will be available in June of 2027.

The wood duck was the species selected for this year’s contest. Reising’s piece features a single wood duck at rest on the water with cypress trees in the background.

Second place went to Tony Bernard of Scott, Louisiana, and third place to Buck Spencer of Eugene, Oregon.

A total of 16 entries were submitted from artists representing seven states, including nine from Louisiana, with others from Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon and Texas.

“We, once again, had an outstanding slate of paintings to judge and select a winner from,’’ LDWF Waterfowl Program Manager Jason Olszak said. “This years’ selection was especially difficult. In only her second year entering the Louisiana contest, Ms. Reising really figured out what judges were looking for, and delivered a remarkable piece that adds to Louisiana’s long history of exceptional duck stamps.”

Judges for this year’s contest included Emily Seba of Baton Rouge, an artist who focuses on the natural world, Dr. Luke Laborde of Baton Rouge, who served for six years as the chair of the National Art Committee for Ducks Unlimited, Justin Higdon of Monroe, who is the senior regional director for Delta Waterfowl Foundation, Bob Dew of Youngsville, who serves as manager of conservation programs for south Louisiana for Ducks Unlimited, and Lucas Menard of Youngsville, a Louisiana self-taught artist who has focused on native wildlife among other mediums and formats.

The Louisiana Legislature authorized the Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp program in 1988. The program was created to generate revenue for conservation and enhancement of waterfowl populations and habitats in Louisiana. During the last 38 years, about $17 million has been generated for wetland conservation. In addition, revenue has supported wetland development projects on Wildlife Management Areas and the Louisiana Waterfowl Project, a cooperative endeavor between LDWF, Ducks Unlimited, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide habitat for waterfowl and other wetland birds on private lands.

For more information and to purchase the 2025 and/or 2026 stamp, go to the LDWF Louisiana Duck Stamp webpage. Additionally, these collector stamps for the most recent two years can be purchased through LDWF’s online licensing system. For more information on the duck stamp contest, contact Jason Olszak at 337-735-8687 or jolszak@wlf.la.gov.

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Over my many years of fishing bass tournaments, I’ve met and visited with several who left an impression not just on me, but the fishing world as well — several men who were true legends of professional bass fishing.

Men who were innovators in bass fishing products and techniques. Anglers who left their mark through outstanding tv productions. There was one meeting that I’ll never forget; the first time I met Forest L. Wood, the founder of Ranger Boats!

In 1998, in the span of eight hours, I was offered the opportunity to represent two boat companies as one of their pro staff members: Skeeter or Ranger Boats.

At the time, Ranger was still the king of bass boat manufacturing, and I knew that this was going to be a tremendous opportunity to be a part of something special.

The following day I called Ranger and accepted their offer. This was something I took great pride in and wanted to help Ranger Boats any way possible.

Each year during the first week of December, Ranger held what they called a “Product Knowledge Tour” exclusive for Ranger Pro Staff members and participating dealers.

All the big dogs in the professional bass fishing world were there. Names like Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, Larry Nixon and Dion Hibdon. Anglers who helped lay the foundation for Ranger Boats.

After my very first “Product Knowledge Tour,” I left at the end of Day Two to head back home. However, right next door to the Ranger Boat manufacturing facility is the Ranger Boats Museum.

I just could not pass up the opportunity to see what was inside. I had already heard about how much history was on display in this museum and wanted to take the time to go inside. The minute I walked in the door, I heard this deep voice off in the distance yell out, “Welcome to Ranger Boats!”

Low and behold, it was the man himself, Forest L. Wood, the founder of Ranger Boats! With the distinct sound of cowboy boots, he headed towards me with the same walk as the movie actor John Wayne.

He reached out to shake my hand, and we talked like we had known each other for years. Forest was a very personable man who never met a stranger. There was a quiet charisma about him which was probably developed over his many years as a fishing guide on the White River.

It was as if I was talking with my grandpa … and then things got even better! Moments later, the matriarch of the Wood family appeared in the form of Mrs. Nina Wood, his wife. Now I was even more impressed as she came over and gave me a hug like I was one of her own.

But that’s how Ranger Boats operated back then. If you were on their pro staff, you were family, and they treated you as such. Forest then took me on a personal tour of the museum and left no stone unturned.

An hour later I walked out in awe, got in my truck and headed back to Louisiana. While the museum was awesome and I highly recommend you stop in and see it if you’re ever in Flipping, Arkansas, my biggest take away was meeting Forest and Nina Wood!

They were two people who took the time to introduce themselves to a young man who was just another angler. They could have just sat in their office at the museum and let me tour on my own.

But no, they took the time to say hello and make this young man feel special and for that I will always be grateful. Rest in peace Forest and Nina Wood.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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If I had been Moses, I would have asked whether I could put my shoes back on before we discussed my future. A man makes better decisions, I figure, when he has his shoes on.

In the third chapter of Exodus, Moses is tending his father-in-law’s sheep when he notices a bush on fire that won’t burn up. He goes over for a closer look. God calls his name. Moses says, “Here I am.” So far, so good. Then God tells him to take off his sandals. He’s standing on holy ground.

God has heard the cries of his people in Egypt and tells Moses he’s sending him to Pharaoh to bring them out. Moses asks, “Who am I?” Later he wonders what to say, what to do if nobody believes him, and whether God has considered the fact that public speaking is an area in which Moses has considerable room for growth. By the next chapter, Moses is asking God to send somebody else.

I understand Moses. I’ve been in enough church meetings to know that “Here I am” and “I’ll do it” are two entirely different items on the agenda.

We have made “yes, but” an art form. At church, we say, “Yes, we need more young families, but those children do make a lot of noise.” At home, we say, “Yes, we ought to get together,” and spend the next seventeen messages in the family group chat establishing that nobody can do Thursday. We want somebody to fix the traffic in Ruston, preferably without moving a single orange barrel into our lane.

My favorite “yes, but” comes when somebody suggests we try something new at church. “Yes, but we tried that once.” Ask when, and you’ll find out it was in 1987, three people came, and one of them was there to fix the ice machine. The matter is considered settled.

There are times when the person who says “yes, but” saves everybody a great deal of trouble. If I’m about to back over your mailbox, please feel free to interrupt. And Moses had good reason to be scared. He knew what Pharaoh could do. Still, I know how easily I can turn a reasonable concern into a comfortable place to sit. Give me ten minutes and a legal pad and I can make a pretty good case for leaving a good thing to somebody else.

What I love about the story is God’s answer to Moses’ first question. Moses asks, “Who am I?” God says, “I will be with you.” God knows who he’s talking to. He knows Moses is scared, and there are people in Egypt who have been crying out long enough.

The thing in front of us this week may be smaller than a trip to Pharaoh’s palace. Maybe there’s a neighbor we’ve been meaning to check on. “Yes, but I wouldn’t know what to say.” You could knock and start with “How are you?” Then stay long enough to hear the answer.

If it helps, you can leave your shoes on.

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On Nov. 11, 2011, Bethesda Game Studios released The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, introducing players to a fantasy world filled with dragons, ancient ruins, magic and an enormous landscape waiting to be explored.

Now, 15 years later, the game celebrates a milestone anniversary, having become one of the most recognizable titles in modern video game history.

Released on the memorable date of 11/11/11, Skyrim was the fifth main installment in The Elder Scrolls series. The open-world role-playing game allowed players to explore the fictional province of Skyrim, complete quests, develop their characters and make decisions that shaped their adventures.

At the center of the story was the Dragonborn, a character capable of using powerful abilities known as Dragon Shouts. Players could follow the main storyline involving the return of dragons or spend countless hours exploring caves, joining factions, collecting items and discovering hidden locations.

Part of Skyrim’s lasting popularity came from the freedom it offered. Rather than requiring players to follow a single path, the game encouraged exploration and allowed players to create their own experiences.

The game also became a fixture of internet culture. Memorable dialogue, including the widely recognized reference to taking an arrow to the knee, inspired countless memes and jokes that continued circulating years after its original release.

Skyrim’s popularity extended well beyond its initial launch on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Bethesda released updated versions of the game for newer systems, including Skyrim Special Edition in 2016 and Skyrim Anniversary Edition on Nov. 11, 2021, marking the game’s 10th anniversary.

The Anniversary Edition expanded the experience with additional quests, equipment, gameplay features and other content.

Skyrim also developed an active community of players who created modifications, artwork, costumes and other fan projects inspired by the game.

Fifteen years after its original release, Skyrim remains a significant part of gaming culture, with its fantasy setting, memorable characters and open-ended gameplay continuing to attract players.

What began on Nov. 11, 2011, as another installment in a popular fantasy series became a lasting cultural phenomenon, making 11/11/11 a memorable date in video game history.

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Thursday, November 2, 1970, was a beautiful day in Florence, Oregon. One reporter wrote, “The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze.” A crowd of onlookers gathered about a mile south of the Siuslaw River to watch the Oregon State Highway Department’s planned demolition. By the time Walter Umenhofer arrived, the crowd had grown so large that he had to park his year-old car about a quarter of a mile down the highway from the demolition site. Walter and the other onlookers, along with a host of reporters watched for two hours as the highway department’s six-man crew led by George Thornton prepared for the explosion.

Walter and the spectators took turns taking photographs in front of the object that would soon cease to exist. Some onlookers tried to convince the workers to wait until the following Monday to set off the dynamite so more people could take one last look, but George refused. His team had done too much work to turn back. George was unsure how much dynamite he needed so he overcompensated. He explained, “I wanted to make sure we did the job the first time because I wouldn’t want to go back in there after it had been partially blown up.” Rather than placing the dynamite into the object, George and his team dug holes underneath it to place the explosives. When George’s men brought out the explosives, a green-helmeted sheriff’s deputy moved people back to what he thought was a safe distance. Then, George and his team carefully placed twenty 50-pound cases of dynamite. Many of the onlookers watched through binoculars and telescopic camera lenses as George gave the signal to push the plunger.

BOOOM!!! Within milliseconds of the explosion, everyone present realized that they were in danger. George and his team had used too much dynamite and the placement of the dynamite under the object sent sand and chunks of debris in every direction. A column of sand and fragments reached approximately 100 feet into the sky. Some newspapers reported the column reached “hundreds of feet into the sky.” The onlookers screamed, ran, and ducked for cover as the large chunks, some of which weighed up to a ton, flew over them. The blast was so powerful that it left a crater five feet deep and 50 feet across. Somehow, none of the onlookers were injured though they were all covered with sand and rubble. After the shock wore off, the onlookers began to make their way back to their vehicles. As Walter walked the quarter mile back to his year-old car, he saw that a crowd had gathered around it. Walter’s heart sank when he saw that a three-foot chunk of debris had struck the roof of his car with such force that it had crushed it flat to the top of the seats and had broken all the windows in the car. He told a reporter, “My insurance company’s never going to believe this.” With the huge number of photos and videos from the explosion as evidence, the Oregon State Highway Division’s insurance company had no choice and paid Walter for his car. For the rest of his life, Walter Umenhofer had a whale of tale that I would bet my meager life savings that only he, in the whole history of mankind, can claim. The object that destroyed Walter’s car in the explosion was part of a dead, beached sperm whale.

Source:

1. Eugene Register-Guard, November 13, 1970, p.1.

2. The Observer (La Grande, Oregon), November 13, 1970, p.9.

3. Victoria Advocate, November 26, 1970, p.1.

© 2026 Brad Dison. All rights reserved. Remember This? is distributed for licensed publication only.

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Ladies, here’s some information that probably won’t shock you. Most men don’t look at how much something costs if it’s something they really want. THEY BUY IT NO MATTER WHAT!

A few men might know the actual price, but it doesn’t factor into the equation or their decision as to whether they buy it or not. It’s a bottom line question — how bad do they want it?

Men are simple and selfish creatures and will not allow the price of something to decide if they purchase it. They will buy it, then ask for forgiveness later if their significant other handles the finances.

We, as men, do have a few considerations that might affect our decision. Will I be the only one of my friends that has one of these? Is this a product that will help me put more fish in the boat or more meat on the table to feed my family? Will this product help me win a bass tournament?

This also applies to men who grocery shop. While the rest of the nation is complaining about the high price of eggs and beef products, men are more concerned about making sure they get enough to feed everyone. If we’re having a hamburger cookout, we don’t look at how much ground beef is per pound. WE JUST BUY IT!

Even at the check-out counter, especially self-check-out, men don’t always pay attention to how much a product costs that we just scanned. We scan it, bag it and move on immediately. Whatever price is on the screen, that’s what we’ll pay. Very seldom do we stop and consider if that’s the right price or not.

I’m not saying we don’t care, because that’s not true. But we’re just not as conscious as we should be.

My wife brought this to my attention recently when she was checking out and had an issue with a tomato she was buying at the local grocery store. As she weighed it, the price came up way more than the tomato was supposed to be.

She contacted the clerk overseeing the self-check-out area and they made sure the right price was charged. But had that been me, I would have never looked at the price and would have walked out as if nothing was wrong … until my wife checked the receipt.

After watching several TV reports lately about how people are being overcharged at supermarkets and discount stores, there’s no telling how many times I have walked out of a store overcharged for whatever was in my buggy.

But with the economy still in distress and grocery prices unstable, the time has come to pay attention to what we are being charged. Some stores are in survival mode and are trying to stay in business.

While I don’t think a lot of this is intentional, it’s up to all of us to make sure we are not being taken advantage of as consumers and pay closer attention to what the register is showing.

So ladies, if you want to make sure your household budget stays intact, don’t ask your man to go shopping.

‘Til next time, to all the men out there, be aware of what you’re paying at the cash register and be more conscious of what things cost; our reputation is at stake.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Welcome to the holiday season officially known as New Hallowsthanksmas!

I am not certain how official it is. I believe I named it sometime in the 1980s, and, as far as I know, I remain the only person using the designation. Still, every tradition has to begin somewhere. Usually, in my family, it begins with somebody saying, “Are you going to eat that?”

New Hallowsthanksmas stretches from Halloween through New Year’s Day. Calorie counting is suspended. Sound nutritional advice disappears beneath a layer of cream cheese. Family members suddenly rediscover the road to your house, especially if you have a guest bedroom and dependable Wi-Fi.

It is a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the people we love. Occasionally, it also reminds us why we usually love a few of them from a distance.

Somewhere along the way, however, we turned celebration into a competitive sport.

How many dishes are necessary for Thanksgiving dinner? At what point does a meal become an agricultural exposition? Must we serve sweet potatoes in three different forms? Apparently, a sweet potato cannot enter the kingdom of Thanksgiving unless it has been baptized in butter and covered with marshmallows.

Then comes Christmas. How tall should the stack of presents be? Should we still be able to see the tree? How many parties constitute a successful season? And who decided every organization we have ever joined needs to hold its Christmas gathering during the same eleven days?

By January, we are exhausted, overdrawn, and eating leftover cheese ball because nobody has the strength to find a vegetable.

Someone asks, “How were your holidays?”

“We survived.”

That ought to tell us something.

Survival is a reasonable goal for a shipwreck. Surely we can hope for more from the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

Perhaps this year we could begin with a different question: What would help us receive the gifts God is actually giving?

Thanksgiving invites gratitude. Gratitude requires enough attention to notice what we already have. That is difficult when we are busy making lists of everything we still need to buy.

Christmas announces that God has come near. Yet we can become so occupied preparing for Christmas that we have little time to pray, worship, or notice the person beside us.

The first Christmas ought to give us permission to simplify. God entered the world in the vulnerability of a child laid in a manger. We keep acting as though the occasion requires matching pajamas, six coordinated wreaths, and a dining room that qualifies for a magazine cover.

There is nothing wrong with decorations, presents, or a good casserole. I am a Methodist minister. I would never recklessly endanger the casserole.

But we ought to ask whether our celebrations leave room for the love Jesus teaches us to practice.

Could we prepare one fewer dish and spend a little longer at the table? Buy one fewer gift and help a neighbor keep the lights on? Decline an invitation and visit someone whose calendar is painfully empty?

Could we listen to a relative without preparing our rebuttal? Offer an apology before passing the rolls? Remember that the people in our homes need kindness more than they need a flawless centerpiece?

Make a little room now. Leave an evening open. Spend within your means. Worship with your church. Welcome someone who might otherwise be alone.

When New Year’s Day arrives, may we have something better to say than “We survived.”

May we be able to say, “We gave thanks. We made room for Jesus. We loved the people he placed before us.”

And if there are only two kinds of pie, I believe the family will recover.

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On Nov. 4, 1922, a discovery beneath the sands of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings set off one of the greatest archaeological stories in history, revealing a treasure-filled tomb, a long-forgotten pharaoh and a mysterious curse that would capture the world’s imagination.

British archaeologist Howard Carter and his excavation team uncovered a stone step buried beneath ancient debris. That single step led to a staircase and eventually the sealed tomb of Tutankhamun, the young Egyptian pharaoh who had been buried for more than 3,000 years.

Carter had spent years searching for the tomb, and financial support for his excavations was running thin. His discovery would become one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century.

On Nov. 26, 1922, Carter and his financial backer, Lord Carnarvon, entered the tomb’s interior chambers.

Inside, they discovered an extraordinary collection of ancient Egyptian treasures, including furniture, jewelry, ceremonial objects and elaborate burial equipment. Among the most remarkable discoveries was a stone sarcophagus containing three nested coffins. The innermost coffin, made of solid gold, held the mummified remains of Tutankhamun.

The young pharaoh had died approximately 3,000 years earlier, at around 18 years old. Unlike many ancient Egyptian royal tombs that had been looted over the centuries, Tutankhamun’s burial chambers remained largely intact, providing an unprecedented look into the burial traditions of ancient Egypt.

The discovery soon became associated with one of history’s most famous supernatural legends: the curse of the pharaohs. In 1923, just months after the tomb was opened, Lord Carnarvon died following complications from an infected mosquito bite. His death helped fuel sensational newspaper stories suggesting that disturbing the resting place of an Egyptian pharaoh could bring deadly consequences.

The legend spread worldwide, with reports connecting other deaths and unusual events to the opening of the tomb. However, researchers have found no convincing scientific evidence that a supernatural curse was responsible. A study published in 2002 found no significant difference in survival among Western visitors exposed to the tomb compared with those who were not.

More than a century later, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb remains one of archaeology’s most recognizable achievements. The treasures uncovered by Carter’s team provided historians and researchers with invaluable information about ancient Egyptian royalty, religious beliefs and burial practices.

What began with the discovery of a single buried step on Nov. 4, 1922, ultimately revealed a remarkable collection of ancient treasures and gave rise to a mystery that continues to fascinate generations.

And while the legendary curse remains a story of superstition rather than established fact, the discovery itself forever changed our understanding of ancient Egypt.

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George Baldwin Selden was a brilliant New York patent attorney, but his passion was inventing. George only became an attorney at the insistence of his father, Henry Selden, a prominent attorney who defended Susan B. Anthony in her 1873 trial for voting as a woman. It was around that time that inventors began looking for a way to replace horses as transportation. Horses required constant care and horse manure was a constant sanitation problem. George designed a “gasoline and oil type” automobile and submitted his patent request on May 8, 1879. For George, a patent attorney, the process to attain a patent was almost second nature, but George intentionally delayed the finalizing of his patent. George’s strategy was to stall the patent process until interest in automobiles was peaking. After 16 years of intentional delays, on November 5, 1895, George was granted patent No. 549,160 for “a road vehicle, the motor being a liquid hydrocarbon gas engine of the compression type.”

George’s plan worked well. His patent granted him the exclusive right to manufacture, sell, and use gasoline powered automobiles for 17 years. It was considered “the pioneer invention” in the automobile industry. In 1899, George transferred rights to his patent to the Electric Vehicle Company in exchange for compensation which included future royalties. In another clever move, George made a huge profit and would continue earning royalties while the task of collecting royalties was done by the Electric Vehicle Company. In 1903, thirty-two members of the Manufacturer’s Mutual Association formed the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (ALAM) and leased the right to manufacture and sell gasoline powered automobiles. Lessees eventually included manufacturers such as Buick, Cadillac, Hudson, Packard, Pierce Arrow, and Studebaker. Notice that Ford was not included in the list. Henry Ford had applied for a license through the ALAM, but his application was rejected. A large group of independent manufacturers refused to pay royalties on the Selden patent and Henry Ford joined them. At one point, Henry tried to lure the ALAM into court to have the patent thrown out because of its “monopolistic control and exploitation by the automobile trust.” In a bold move, Henry Ford offered the ALAM $1,000 if they would file suit against him. He got his wish in October 1903 when the ALAM filed suit against the Ford Motor Co. and C.A. Durer & Company for manufacturing automobiles, the O.J. Gude Company for advertising their cars, and John Wanamaker, an owner of a Ford car. The court case dragged on for years and the Selden patent was upheld until January 9, 1911, when the United States Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision of the lower court and concluded that Selden’s patent was limited to a particular type of engine, which Ford’s automobiles did not use. George and the ALAM said they would take the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court if they had to but ultimately decided against it because the exclusive rights provided by the patent were set to expire in September of the same year. George B. Selden’s plan was brilliant. His plan is even more impressive when you learn that at the time he received the patent which granted him control over the automobile industry, he had never built a single car.

Sources:

1. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, November 12, 1900, p.12.

2. The Flint Journal, October 24, 1903, p.1.

3. The Union and Advertiser (Rochester, New York), September 16, 1909, p.9.

4. The Rochester Herald, January 10, 1911, p.1.

5. “Selden Automobile Patent Model, 1879,” National Museum of American History, accessed October 25, 2026, https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1305689.

© 2026 Brad Dison. All rights reserved. Remember This? is distributed for licensed publication only.

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Last week we broke the sad news that co-anglers no longer have a place to call home since Major League Fishing decided to eliminate co-anglers all across their tournament circuits.

Today, I want to talk about a couple of co-anglers I drew out in both the BFL’s and the Toyota Series. Like anything else, you can get a good one or a bad one depending on the co-angler you draw.

I can honestly say that most of the co-anglers I drew over time were great people. Not always good anglers, but 90 percent were really good folks who I have become friends with.

Then there are co-anglers I wish had never gotten into my boat! Let’s focus on those. The first one that comes to mind was a gentleman who was paired up with me years ago on Sam Rayburn.

While I try not to judge people (until I see them) this was one angler who was not the picture of health and was not looking to be on the front cover of GQ magazine.

This guy weighed 350 pounds plus, if he weighed an ounce. He had all kinds of health issues and notified me that he had major lower back issues while we waited for take-off on Day 1 of the tournament. He told me he needed surgery and was just putting it off.

One hour into the tournament I needed to make a long run up the lake to a group of fish I had found in practice. The problem was that the wind was blowing out of the north at 20 miles per hour. If you know Sam Rayburn, that means a rough ride!

As I headed across the lake in three-foot rollers, my co-angler, through high-pitched moaning and groaning, decided he could not make that kind of run. I then shut down the boat and told him he had two choices, either suck it up and make the run or I could drop him off back at the boat ramp and he could go home.

Before you think I’m being a little insensitive, the problem with this situation is that there’s a tournament rule that states an angler cannot handicap another angler in the boat. He was penalizing me by not allowing me to run the lake like I needed to in order to compete.

After a short phone call to the tournament director, the decision was made for me to drop him off at the ramp. While I really hated this, because I never had to kick anyone out of my boat before, it was obvious that he was in no kind of physical shape to be fishing bass tournaments.

My next bad co-angler was a gentleman who I was paired with on Day 2 of the National Championship on Red River. The Red River has been very good to me over the years, and I was actually in position to win this event, sitting in the top 5 after Day 1.

The co-angler I drew was from Tennessee and had at least 15 cups of coffee before he got into my boat that morning. This guy was so wound up and excited to fish on Day 2 but had never done that well in tournaments before.

He literally walked so much on the back deck of my boat that I thought he was going to wear a hole in my carpet. It only got worse after we left the dock that morning. My first stop was on the main river in a spot where I had caught at least a three-pounder three days in a row.

Let me back up and explain a rule that existed in this event. The rule stated that at no time may a co-angler make a cast in front of the boat or past the pro/boater during the tournament without permission from the pro/boater.

So now that you know the rule, the rest of this will make total sense to you. As I fished my first spot and caught the three-pounder, my co-angler decided he would throw past the front of the boat into the exact spot!

As I was putting the fish in my live well, I noticed him set the hook and pull a four-pound bass off the spot I was fishing. The only way he could fish this spot was to throw past the front of the boat, which was a rules violation.

Being the nice guy that I am, while fuming, I reminded him of the rule and requested he not do that again. He apologized profusely and said he wouldn’t do it again. So, I forgave and forgot and moved on to my next spot just off the main river.

When we arrived, after making three casts, I caught another quality bass on a spinnerbait going down the backside of a rock jetty. While I was boating this fish, my co-angler decided to make a cast past the front of the boat — AGAIN! He caught another bass that was a keeper.

Trying to be nice, I once more reminded him of the rule. The problem was that he was working off a caffeine high and was totally out of control with his actions and his emotions.

Then it all came to a head about 15 minutes later when I hooked another good fish on a Texas rigged worm and as I was fighting this bass, I noticed him throw a bait past my head and in front of the boat! At this point, I’m done with this idiot who obviously could care less about the rules, so I took things into my own hands…literally!

While fighting my fish, I simply reached up, grabbed his fishing line, and bit it in half, which cost him his favorite crankbait! He exploded and could not believe that I actually did that. I looked at him while putting my fish in the live well and in a very calm voice I told him that he had two choices.

“You can keep throwing in front of the boat if you want, but understand this, I will not sign your weigh slip at the weigh-in which means you’ll be disqualified from the tournament. Or you can quit casting past the front of the boat the rest of the day. Your choice, Slick!”

Let’s just say the last four hours of this event were extremely quiet, and he did not speak five words the rest of the day. I guess some guys are just slow learners and have no regards for the rules. But I was more disappointed when I didn’t get a Christmas card from him.

Despite these two bad apples, I have overwhelmingly enjoyed the vast majority of my co-anglers. The old BFL format will be missed now that it’s a team trail and will leave a void in the sport especially for the weekend warrior.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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Some of us are exhausted because we are doing chores for a dead duck.

Stay with me. This is a spiritual problem, although a shovel might have helped initially.

Arron Chambers, in Remember Who You Are, retells a story from Richard Hoeffer’s Will Daylight Come? about a boy named Johnny who received his first slingshot while visiting his grandparents.

Johnny practiced in the woods without hitting anything. Trees were safe. Squirrels relaxed. The entire woodland community lowered its threat level. Then he returned to the backyard, spotted Grandma’s pet duck, and took an impulsive shot.

For the first time all day, his aim was perfect.

The duck died.

Johnny panicked and hid the evidence in the woodpile. Unfortunately, his sister Sally had witnessed everything. Sally said nothing. That should have worried him.

After lunch, Grandma asked Sally to help wash dishes. Sally announced that Johnny wanted to help instead. Then she whispered three words:

“Remember the duck.”

Johnny washed.

Later, Grandpa offered to take the children fishing, but Grandma needed Sally’s help with supper. Sally graciously volunteered Johnny.

“Remember the duck.”

Sally went fishing. Johnny stayed in the kitchen, discovering that one dead duck could generate a remarkable amount of housework. For several days, Sally enjoyed the benefits of having a brother with a secret. Johnny did his chores and hers.

Finally, he confessed.

Grandma hugged him. She explained that she had seen the whole thing from the window. She loved him and had already forgiven him. She had been wondering how long he would let Sally make a slave of him.

What’s your duck?

An ugly sentence you cannot unsay? A betrayal? A failure your mind replays at two in the morning with the dedication of a cable channel showing the same movie all weekend?

You have confessed it to God. You have asked forgiveness. Perhaps you have begun the difficult work of making things right. Then comes the whisper.

“Remember the duck.”

So you keep paying. You cannot accept a compliment. You distrust joy. You volunteer for everything because somewhere inside you believe exhaustion might qualify as restitution. Surely, if you wash enough dishes, God will finally love you again.

But grace interrupts that bargain.

God’s forgiveness comes to us through Jesus Christ, who knows the whole story and still calls us to come home.

Confession matters. Repentance matters. Repairing the harm we have done matters. But none of those things requires a lifetime sentence in the prison of self-contempt.

There is a difference between taking responsibility and letting shame take possession. The cross tells us that sin is serious. It also tells us how far God’s love will go to rescue sinners.

Perhaps today you need to bring your secret out of the woodpile. Tell God the truth. Seek the help you need. Take the next faithful step.

And when that old whisper returns, remember this:

Grandma had a window.

God has seen the whole thing.

You can quit hiding and come home.

There is grace enough for you—and you might even get to go fishing.

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On October 28, 1886, one of America’s most recognizable landmarks was officially unveiled in New York Harbor. Now, 140 years later, the Statue of Liberty remains an internationally recognized symbol of freedom, democracy and the relationship between the United States and France.

President Grover Cleveland formally dedicated the monument during a ceremony attended by American and French dignitaries. The event marked the completion of a project that had taken years of planning, fundraising, construction and international cooperation.

Originally named “Liberty Enlightening the World,” the statue was a gift from the people of France to the United States, commemorating the friendship established between the two nations during the American Revolution.

The idea for the monument originated with French political thinker and abolitionist Édouard de Laboulaye in 1865. French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was selected to design the statue, while engineer Gustave Eiffel helped develop its internal supporting framework.

Construction began in France in 1875, with the statue completed in 1884. The monument was then disassembled and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 1885 before being reconstructed on Bedloe’s Island, now known as Liberty Island.

The statue itself stands approximately 151 feet tall. Including its pedestal, the monument rises more than 305 feet above the ground.

Its exterior consists of copper sheets supported by an internal framework. Although originally copper-colored, the statue gradually developed its familiar green appearance through the natural oxidation of the metal.

The October 28 dedication became a major public celebration despite unfavorable weather conditions.

According to the National Park Service, approximately one million people participated in festivities throughout New York City. A maritime parade featuring roughly 300 vessels traveled through the harbor despite fog and rain that significantly reduced visibility.

The celebration also included New York City’s first ticker-tape parade, establishing a tradition that would later become associated with major sporting victories, national celebrations and visits by prominent public figures.

During the dedication ceremony, Bartholdi unveiled the statue by releasing a French flag covering its face. President Cleveland formally accepted the monument on behalf of the American people.

The ceremony also reflected the social limitations of the period. The New York State Woman Suffrage Association chartered a boat to observe the festivities from the water after women attending without male companions were unable to obtain tickets to the official dedication.

Although the monument was initially intended to celebrate international friendship and liberty, its meaning expanded as millions of immigrants arrived in the United States.

Ellis Island opened as a federal immigration station in 1892, and the nearby Statue of Liberty became a familiar sight for people entering New York Harbor.

The monument’s connection to immigration was further strengthened in 1903 when a plaque featuring Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” was installed inside its pedestal.

Over time, the statue became one of the country’s most recognizable cultural images, appearing in photographs, films, television programs, advertisements and countless artistic representations.

Its torch, crown and distinctive silhouette have made it an enduring visual symbol of New York City and the United States.

The monument also experienced several important anniversaries and preservation milestones.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge designated the Statue of Liberty a national monument. In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt participated in ceremonies marking its 50th anniversary.

A major restoration project was completed in 1986, allowing the monument to celebrate its centennial with renewed structural and historical significance.

The statue was also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, acknowledging its international cultural importance.

Today, the Statue of Liberty and neighboring Ellis Island remain destinations for visitors interested in American history, immigration and the development of the nation.

October 28 serves as the anniversary of the monument’s formal dedication and a reminder of the international collaboration responsible for its creation.

From its beginnings as a French gift to its place in American popular culture, the Statue of Liberty has remained a defining landmark for 140 years, representing ideals that continue to shape discussions about freedom, opportunity and national identity.

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On April 3, 1783, in the same week that New Yorkers learned of the Treaty of Paris which officially ended the American Revolutionary War, proud parents William and Sarah welcomed a new boy into the world. William was a prosperous merchant who envisioned his son eventually joining the family business. As the boy grew older, however, he became less interested in his schoolwork and more interested in tales of adventure. He was the type of student who got lost in his own imagination when he was supposed to be studying. He longed for an adventure of his own. In 1798, an outbreak of yellow fever provided the boy with an unexpected adventure. To escape the epidemic, his parents sent him and his siblings to Tarrytown, New York, a small rural port town about 25 miles north of Manhattan along the Hudson River. The city boy fell in love with the countryside, especially a nearby Dutch settlement known as Slapershaven. The boy, Geoffrey Crayon, later described the settlement: “Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquility.” To Geoffrey, it was paradise.

When the threat of yellow fever subsided, the children returned to Manhattan and resumed their studies. Geoffrey continued to daydream at the expense of his education. More interested in the arts than in business, he dreamed of becoming a writer. In 1802, he began publishing articles about the local social and theater scene in the New York Morning Chronicle, a newspaper edited by his brother. In 1806, he took and barely passed the bar exam, but his passion remained writing. In 1807, he helped create a moderately successful satirical magazine in which he referred to New York City as Gotham more than 130 years before the name became associated with Batman. The War of 1812 was disastrous for many New York merchants, including Geoffrey’s family. In 1815, he traveled to England in an unsuccessful attempt to save the family’s trading company. Rather than returning home, Geoffrey remained in England to pursue his writing career. Although he failed to save the family business, his writing career thrived. His books were well received.

In 1819, Geoffrey began publishing essays and short stories in a collection called The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His thoughts often returned to the little Dutch settlement he had visited as a boy. Slapershaven had made a lasting impression on him, and he used the peaceful community as the setting for one of his most famous stories. Geoffrey eventually returned to the United States and settled near the place that had captured his imagination as a boy. He remained there for the rest of his life. His tale became wildly popular and has never been out of print. It has been adapted for television, films, and other media. So popular was the story that the old Dutch community, originally known as Slapershaven, Dutch for Sleepers’ Harbor, eventually became known by the name in Geoffrey’s book. Geoffrey Crayon was not the name given to him by his parents, it was the pen name of Washington Irving, the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Happy Halloween!

Sources:

1. Washington Irving, The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., 1820.
2. Chicago Tribune, November 30, 1859, p.1.
3. Washington Irving, Salmagundi, New York : R.F.Fenno, 1900, https://archive.org/details/salmagundi00irviiala/page/13/mode/2up.
4. Tarrytown Daily News, December 11, 1996, p.1.

© 2026 Brad Dison. All rights reserved. Remember This? is distributed for licensed publication only.

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