The Voice of Southwest Louisiana September 2017 Issue

September 2017 

Vol 5 No 2 

Bitterness, 

Anger, Rage... 

Q&A with 

Jessica Hunt 

Moved Back North: 

Things I Will Miss Most 

About Southwest 

Louisiana 

Peace in the Great Outdoors 

with Carra Sergeant, Licensed 

Professional Counselor 

SWLA Health, 

Wealth & Wellness 

Bridal Guide to Understanding 

and Decreasing Stress 

Emily Ashworth, RN, BSN 

Reflective Light 

Ronald J. Blanchard 

Husbands, Love Your Wives 

Adventures 

of the Lake 

Ian Thibodeaux 

A Wedding to Remember 

SWLA News 

Shattered and 

Scattered Pieces: 

Finding Peace After 

Hurricane Harvey 

SWLA 

BOOK 

REVIEW 

“K is for Kindergarten” 

By Erin Dealey

2 September 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 2

editor’s 

By Brenda Hill 

Nonviolent Protests... 

Nonviolent Resistance 

I 

learned phenomenal lessons during 

the Civil Rights Movement from the 

years 1954-1965. 

There were many conversations in my 

home about nonviolent protests and 

nonviolent resistance when showing 

disapproval or displeasure about issues. 

We owned the only black and white tv 

on our side of a segregated community. I 

still remember details about Emmitt Till’s 

murder, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 

church bombings, school integrations 

etc., on that black and white tube. 

For a young mind, those black and white 

images lacked the more colorful details 

of nonviolent protesters being slapped, 

spit on and brutally beaten while sitting 

at cafe counters to order a meal. 

Children were allowed to gather with 

friends, family and neighbors who came 

over to watch the current news and other 

reports happening around the world. 

We knew that this was an important and 

serious gathering for our community. 

Cameron, La. did not have nonviolent 

protests that I was aware of, but we 

watched nonviolent protests happening 

in other areas. 

When the news ended, conversations 

started about why protesters chose 

to be nonviolent while expressing 

dissatisfaction and disapproval of 

inequality between white and black 

America. The discussion emphasized one 

message in those gatherings. “We are 

all brothers and sisters and that is what 

Jesus died for.” 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 with 

nonviolent protests and nonviolent 

resistance ended segregation in public 

places and banned employment 

discrimination on the basis of race, 

color, religion, sex or national origin. 

It is considered a prime legislative 

achievement of the civil rights movement 

today. 

What will our children and grandchildren 

remember from today’s violent protests? 

How will the colorful graphic images 

impact them? 

Who is providing dialogue and 

explanations in their home, church and 

community about what is happening and 

why? 

Will they grow up and retaliate? Or not? 

“We are all brothers and sisters 

and that is what Jesus died for.” 

Volume 5 • Number 2 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM September 2017 3

September 2017 

The Voice's Choice will spotlight groups, 

individuals or topics that spread love, joy 

and peace throughout SWLA. 

3 EDITOR'S PEN 

NONVIOLENT PROTESTS...NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE 

6 SWLA NEWS 

I-10 BRIDGE 

14 SWLA BOOK REVIEW 

“K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN” 

16 REFLECTIVE LIGHT 

HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES 

8 SHATTERED AND SCATTERED 

PIECES: 

FINDING PEACE AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY 

10 LABOR DAY: 

A LOOK AT THE HISTORY 

11 CHRISTUS LAKE AREA 

HOSPITAL CELEBRATES 7TH 

ANNIVERSARY OF LIVEWELL 

WOMEN’S PROGRAM 

INSPIRATIONAL SURVIVOR ALLISON MASSARI TO 

HEADLINE CELEBRATION EVENT SCHEDULED FOR 

SEPTEMBER 21ST 

12 BITTERNESS, ANGER, RAGE... 

PEACE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS 

Cover Page Photo taken at Sunflower 

Trail in Gilliam, LA. by IRMA ROBIN 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Brenda Hill 

brenda@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

GENERAL MANAGER | Tracy Clark 

tracy@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

ART DIRECTOR | Vinh Alexander 

tvswlart@gmail.com 

SALES | Lori Ross 

loriross3422@gmail.com 

18 MY SENIOR MOMENT 2.0 

DIDN’T GIVE UP OUR DAY JOBS 

20 SWLA SPORTS 

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HOME GAMES 

22 SWLA HEALTH, WEALTH & 

WELLNESS 

BRIDAL GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING AND 

DECREASING STRESS 

24 ADVENTURES OF THE LAKE 

A WEDDING TO REMEMBER 

26 Q&A WITH JESSICA HUNT 

I’VE MOVED BACK NORTH: THESE ARE THINGS I WILL 

MISS MOST 

www.thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

COPY EDITORS 

Jason Clark, Cecely Clark, 

Ann Champagne 

CONSULTANTS 

Gene R. Hill, Sr., Reginald Clark 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Tori Hebert • Ronald J. Blanchard 

Joyce R. Kebodeaux • Ian Thibodeaux Emily 

Ashworth, RN, BSN • Jessica Hunt 

Carra Sergeant, LPC • Terri Schlichenmeyer 

Charles A. Honore graduated from 

Xavier University, taught chemistry, 

physics and served as counselor at 

Washington High School. Named 

Assistant Principal at W. O. Boston 

High School. After two years, named 

principal of Marion High School, 

then Director of Special Services for 

Calcasieu Parish Schools. Later, he 

became Assistant Superintendent, 

then Deputy Superintendent and 

finally acting Superintendent. He 

helped organize the Lake Charles 

Charter School System and serves as 

vice president of their board to offer 

parents a choice for their children. 

Honore's motto, "Be silent as to the 

services you have rendered, but speak 

to the favors you have received." 

Published and distributed by 

TEAM PUBLICATIONS LLC. 

4310 Ryan St. Ste. 135 

Lake Charles, LA. 70605 

In the McNeese SEED Center 

337.474.2210 

DISCLOSURE: All materials contained in the publication are copyrighted 

and may not be reproduced or reprinted in part or its entirety without 

the expressed written permission of The Voice of SWLA. The views expressed in 

articles of The Voice of SWLA are not necessarily the views of the ownership or 

sponsors in this publication. The Voice of SWLA assumes no liability for errors 

or omissions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all content. 


SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA 

CHARTER ACADEMY 

LAKE CHARLES 

COLLEGE PREP 

Volume 5 • Number 2 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM September 2017 5 

Charter_OverCrowdAd_F.indd 1 

7/14/17 1:19 PM

SWLA news 

By Brenda Hill 

I-10 

Bridge 

Public Meeting #2 was held 

at the Lake Charles Civic 

Center in the Contraband 

Room on August 3, 2017 

from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

According to the Louisiana 

Department of Transportation 

and Development (LADOTD), 

the purpose of this meeting was to 

provide an opportunity to gather 

information and provide comments 

about these following: 

• Preliminary Alternatives 

• Alternatives Screening 

Methodolology Screening Results 

• Reasonable Alternatives 

Recommended for Further Analysis 

on Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS). 

The proposed project included 

improvements to I-10 between the 

I-10/210 east and west interchanges in 

the Lake Charles region, including the 

Calcasieu River Bridge, a distance of 

approximately 9 miles. 

The project addresses four needs: 

• Inadequate System Connectivity 

• Increased Traffic Congestion 

• Roadway and Bridge Deficiencies 

• Roadway and Bridge Safety 

Concerns. 

Preliminary Alternatives under 

evaluation include: 

• No-Build Alternatives 

• Transportation Systems 

Management Alternative 

• Transportation Demand 

Management Alternative 

• High Occupancy Vehicle Alternative 

• Four Preliminary Build Alternatives 

(PBA). 

• The Preliminary Alternatives will 

undergo a two-tiered screening 

process. 

It is anticipated that by year 2040, 

traffic levels will exceed the bridges’s 

safe capacity of 37,000 vehicles per day. 

The LADOTD, using Federal funds, is 

proposing to replace the Calcasieu River 

Bridge (Structure No. 07104509127691, 

Recall No. 032780) located on I-20 in 

Calcasieu Parish. 

Under the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) Nation 

Performance Management Measures, the 

Calcasieu River Bridge is considered to be 

in poor condition. 


Editor's Note: This is the ninth in a series of stories that 

will focus on the Interstate 10 Bridge replacement project. 

LADOTD, in conjunction with the 

Louisiana State Historic Preservation 

Office (SHPO) and the Advisory Council 

on Historic Places (ACHP) has completed 

a Historic Bridge Inventory Study of 

pre-1971 structures in Louisiana. The 

Calcasieu River Bridge is categorized 

as a non-priority bridge because it is 

not an ideal candidate for long-term 

preservation. 

http://www.sp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_ 

LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/HBI/ 

Pages/default.aspx 

Several concerned residents from Lake 

Charles, Westlake, Sulphur and other 

areas came and shared their comments. 

Debra Ramirez passionately expressed 

her concerns about history from the 

past, such as Cole vs Matheson and 

Scott vs Continental Oil that should be 

considered in the replacement process. 

Sandra Bullock reminisced about surveys 

and information gathered over 40 years 

ago, and still waiting for a replacement 

bridge. 

Betty Bates, Westlake City Council, 

expressed her concerns for easy access 

from Westlake to St Patrick’s Hospital, 

via I-210, when experiencing medical 

emergencies. 

Elizabeth Hersey is right off the highway 

in Westlake and is concerned about big 

trucks that fall off the bridge. 

Comments on the project will be 

accepted for 45 days following the public 

meeting date. 

Comments that became part of the 

official public meeting record needed to 

be postmarked no later than August 14, 

2017. 

Visit www.i10lakecharles.com to submit 

comments online and to access more 

public meeting materials. 

Mail your comments to the following address: 

I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Project 

c/o HNTB Corporation 

2021 Lakeshore Drive Suite 230 

New Orleans, LA 70122 


SWLA news 

Shattered and Scattered Pieces: 

Finding Peace After Hurricane Harvey 

By Carra Sergeant, LPC 

Each of us at The Voice of 

Southwest Louisiana sends up 

our most sincere prayers for those 

affected by Hurricane Harvey, for all 

of your loss and especially of a family 

member, friend, loved one, etc. 

KPLC TV powerfully captured moving 

images of empathy, compassion and 

community support from our neighbors, 

helping and caring for those affected 

locally and throughout Texas. May these 

images forever light love in our hearts 

and minds, and lie in stark comparison 

to the images of hatred and divisiveness, 

seen just the week before. 

For some of you, the physical recovery 

has begun: you returned home and 

surveyed the shattered and scattered 

pieces of your lives. The clean-up effort 

begins as you sift through the remnants 

of your possessions. You make decisions 

regarding what can be retrieved, repaired 

or discarded. This may be your NEW 

NORMAL. Unfortunately, it may be that 

way for a while. 

It is likely that most of you have not yet 

even processed the emotional damage 

that you have incurred. You rage, you cry 

and then you square your shoulders and 

start doing WHATEVER you need to do to 

survive. The human instinct for survival 

is raw and primal. The adrenaline surge 

during a traumatic event pushes one 

into “autopilot” and (almost mindlessly) 

moves from one moment to the next. 

Eventually, however, the magnitude of 

this “new normal” comes crashing down 

and we reach an emotional crossroad. 

I lost my childhood home in Katrina. I 

lived in a FEMA trailer after Rita. Ten years 

later, I still get dizzy and nauseated at the 

thought of a hurricane headed towards 

SWLA. Hurricane Harvey reopened those 

wounds for me and though I am thankful 

to have not been impacted by Harvey’s 

devastation, I want you to understand 

this: the emotional impact of a hurricane 

is powerful and can be very long lasting. 

Several studies conducted after Katrina 

and Sandy, (http://www.nature.com/ 

news/hurricane-katrina-s-psychologicalscars-revealed-1.18234); 

(http://news. 

rutgers.edu/research-news/superstormsandy-child-and-family-health-studyfinds-lingering-effects-mental-healthdistress 

ptsd/20150729#.WayhosiGPIU), 

noted that instances of mental health 

issues almost doubled in the aftermath 

of these storms and revealed that these 

events had lingering scars. Post-Traumatic 

Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that 

is most often associated with postwar 

veterans, however, psychologists almost 

universally agree that survivors of natural 

disasters also experience PTSD. 

Symptoms may include, but are not 

limited to: heightened agitation 

continuing years after the event; 

nightmares and flashbacks; physical 

avoidance of any reminders of the events. 

So what do we need to do to take care of 

our emotional needs, while tending to the 

business of survival: 

Cry, rage, pray…repeat as often 

8 

September 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 2

Feeling scared, 

uncertain and sad does 

not mean you are weak. 

It means that you are 

human... 

as necessary: 

This has been a devastating blow to life 

as you knew it. Allow yourself to cry and 

grieve, and give yourself permission to 

get angry. Pray for strength to put one 

foot in front of the other as you rebuild 

your life. 

Take a “flight of fancy” and allow 

your mind to escape the horror: 

Turn off “autopilot,” stop moving for a 

second and imagine what your new life 

will look like. It may even help to write 

your vision down on paper. The act of 

journaling sends a chemical signal to 

your brain. It enables you to quickly 

adapt to a new reality. 

Allow yourself to accept 

emotional support: 

Feeling scared, uncertain and sad 

does not mean you are weak. It means 

that you are human. Talk about it to 

someone…anyone…everyone. You will 

find that you are not alone and that there 

is power in numbers. 

You have just endured a horrific 

event! Take care of your body: 

Try to eat healthier and although sleep 

may be elusive, try to get enough sleep. 

Take time to do something enjoyable, 

such as chat with a family member or 

play with your children (they need to play 

now more than ever before). 

Set a new routine to help you 

adjust to your “New Normal”: 

Schedule your activities each day and 

try to maintain that new schedule. 

Consistency, over a period of time, will 

bring an enhanced sense of peace to you 

and your family. 

None of this will be easy. There will be 

days when you are so worn out that you 

will find yourself on the brink of giving 

up, BUT YOU WON’T! There will be days 

when you just do not want to get out of 

bed, BUT YOU WILL! There will be days 

that you will be so angry that you want 

to yell and scream at anyone who comes 

near you, BUT YOU DON’T! There will be 

days when you do not want to raise your 

voice in prayer, BUT YOU DO! 

The beauty of brokenness is that God can 

put the pieces back together. Jeremiah 

17:14 

I look forward to being your monthly 

companion on your journey of creating 

PEACE FROM PIECES. 

CARRA SERGEANT 

Licensed Professional Counselor 

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist 

PEACE FROM PIECES COUNSELING 

3915 Patrick Street; Suite #109 

Lake Charles, LA 

For a private appointment, 

call 337-317-7651 


SWLA education 

Labor Day: 

A Look at 

the History 

By Tori Hebert 

Labor Day has multiple meanings. 

For some, it means a day off 

from work and quality time at 

the family B-B-Q. Some children around 

the country know that Labor Day means 

summer is over and it’s time to get back 

to the books. And for the fashion forward, 

Labor Day is the last expectable day to 

wear white clothing. No matter where 

Labor Day finds you, you are bound to 

see retail sales, family gatherings, and 

football games. It’s one last hoorah for 

summer and a warm welcome to the 

fall. The long weekend we enjoy today 

formed during hard times in American 

history. 

Labor Day finds its roots at the height 

of the Industrial Revolution. Twelvehour 

work days were normal and it was 

no surprise to see children as young as 

5 working around heavy machinery and 

factory tools. It was strenuous work, but it 

had to be done for families to just barely 

get by. During this time, labor unions saw 

exponential growth. The unions were 

formed to push for better hours, higher 

wages, and better working conditions. 

A major function to spread the word 

and raise attention to these goals were 

rallies and worker strikes. One of the most 

famous of these events is the Haymarket 

Riot of 1886. 

This gathering started out peaceful 

but ended with multiple deaths after 

a bomb was thrown in to the crowd 

and police opened fire. Another notable 

trial of the time was the Pullman railway 

car boycott. Railway traffic was stalled 

and the federal government would 

eventually send in military troops to end 

the boycott. This in turn caused riots in 

multiple areas and left thousands dead. 

The first Labor Day was celebrated 

on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. On 

this day, workers took unpaid time off 

to enjoy time outside and to march in 

New York City. This event was repeated 

again the next year and rapidly gained 

popularity in multiple cities. 

Twelve years later in 1894, the federal 

government made Labor Day a 

national holiday. The September date 

was chosen to be consistent with its 

previous celebrations, and because it 

was a convenient place between Fourth 

of July and Thanksgiving. The Haymarket 

Riot and the Pullman boycott, which both 

took place in May, are also believed to 

have had influence on keeping our Labor 

Day from being a spring holiday. 

As we look forward to fun in the sun, we 

must never forget the ones who came 

before us that paved the way for what we 

enjoy today. 

To learn more about Labor Day 

check out: 

Here’s Why We Celebrate Labor 

Day from Time.com 

Labor Day from History.com 

10 


SWLA nonprofit 

CHRISTUS Lake Area 

Hospital Celebrates 7th 

Anniversary of LiveWell 

Women’s Program 

Inspirational Survivor Allison Massari 

to Headline Celebration Event 

Scheduled for September 21st 

Join CHRISTUS Lake Area Hospital and CHRISTUS St. Patrick 

Health System for a night of insight and inspiration! Bring 

your girlfriends as we celebrate the 7th anniversary of this 

empowering women’s event on Thursday, September 21st at 

the Golden Nugget Lake Charles. 

The event will begin with a special Women’s Health Expo and 

Marketplace from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be open to the 

public. Participants can browse and shop through a variety of 

health, wellness and retail booths featuring LiveWell Partners, 

area physicians and local businesses. Ticket holders will be 

treated to a delicious dinner followed by an unforgettable 

presentation from 6 – 8:30pm. Ignite the FireWithin: A Night 

with Allison Massari. 

Featured presenter, Allison Massari is hailed as “life-changing” 

“riveting” “bold” “extraordinary” and “deeply moving” by 

audiences worldwide. Her storytelling message of courage, 

compassion, and perseverance resonates with participants long 

after an event has finished. Listed as one of the Top 10 Best 

Speakers for “motivation” and “personal development” in the 

United States by Meetings & Conventions Magazine for three 

years in a row, Allison has been featured on ABC, NBC and FOX 

networks. 

Her story is more than just one of survival. It is a story of 

resilience, courage and the rigorous pursuit of hope. Having 

triumphed over two traumatic accidents, one where she was 

severely burned on over 50% of her body, Allison captures the 

hearts of audiences, demonstrating how to move forward with 

speed and grace. Attendees should prepare to be taken on a 

journey. 

A limited number of tickets are still available; deadline to 

register is September 15th. Individual tickets are $40 per person 

or a table for eight is $300. For more information, please log 

on to ChristusHealth.org/Lake-Area and click on the LiveWell 

Anniversary Event or call (866) 200-3627. For questions 

regarding the expo and how to become a LiveWell partner 

please call (337) 475-4064. 

This is one girls' night out you won't want to miss! 

Allison Massari 


SWLA feature story 

By Carra Sergeant, LPC 

Bitterness, Anger, Rage... 

Peace in the Great Outdoors 

It seems that we are inundated on 

the internet everyday with people 

spewing rage. The newspapers are 

routinely showing vivid images of 

violence. Television’s “Breaking News” and 

radio headlines are filled with details of 

horrific acts of aggression, leaving many 

to feel overwhelmed, over connected, 

overstimulated and. ANGRY...FILLED with 

RAGE!!!!! 

As children, some of us are taught very 

early on that sharing our feelings may 

make us look weak. As time goes on, we 

learn that anger is the only “safe” emotion 

because it conveys strength and power, 

and most importantly, shows that we are 

in “control.” 

However, anger is mostly a secondary 

emotion that effectively shields you from 

getting in touch with the “root emotion” 

you are experiencing. 

Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) 

encourages us to: “rid 

ourselves of the bitter root, 

so it does not grow up and 

cause trouble to many.” 

If we are willing to examine what is at the 

“root” of our anger, most times we find 

that we are feeling hurt, embarrassed, 

scared, insecure, helpless, or worse, 

hopeless. 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionthe-self/200807/what-your-anger-may-be-hiding 

I have been a mental health practitioner 

for more than 30 years, and even as a 

seasoned therapist, I am not immune 

to this “bitter root.” I have personally 

experienced the anger, no - the SHEER 

RAGE, born of: 

• HELPLESSNESS…as an adult victim 

of sexual assault 

• HOPELESSNESS…while in the throes 

of substance abuse issues 

• INSECURITY…when my weight 

ballooned to 350 pounds 

• FEARFUL…facing my own mental 

health diagnosis 

• GRIEF...at death of both my parents 

• EMBARRASSED…at “less than wise” 

decisions I made while experiencing 

all of the above 

It seems HARD to maintain peace in 

today’s world. Male role-models are 

consistently targeted with violence, 

single mothers trying to keep food on 

the table and a roof over their children’s 

heads, children living in a state of fear 

and confusion because life sometimes 

just deals them a hand that puts their 

face down in the dirt, working families 

living paycheck to paycheck and protests 

declaring who and what matters. 

In my private practice, my 

clients generally voice one 

universal message, “I am 

in emotional trouble, I am 

scared and I am angry.” 

Fall Season is right around the corner and 

is generally a time of change and 

turnover. So, my dear readers and 

viewers, in this season of change, you 

have a choice to make: do you want to 

live your life “in pieces” or do you want to 

live your life “in peace?” If you choose 

“peace,” start your journey today. GO 

OUTSIDE (right now, if you can). Being 

outside, communing with God’s nature 

has been scientifically proven to have a 

calming effect on your spirit. Even in a 

busy urban environment, you can still 

find a good place to “get still.” If there is 

12 


Happy in silence 

Focus on the steps you take 

CARRA SERGEANT 

Licensed Professional Counselor 

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist 

PEACE FROM PIECES COUNSELING 

3915 Patrick Street; Suite #109 

Lake Charles, LA 

For a private appointment, 

call 337-317-7651 

Give thanks 

All Glory 

no park, go to your back yard. No back 

yard? Find an empty field. The point is, 

grab your headphones and get OUTSIDE 

(always take the usual safety 

precautions). 

www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/spendingtime-outdoors-is-good-for-you 

Utilizing these steps (start with 2 times 

a week), I CHALLENGE YOU TO CREATE 

A CALMING, HEALING ROUTINE FOR 

YOURSELF DURING THIS SEASON OF 

CHANGE: 

1. Put on your headphones. DO NOT 

TURN ON THE MUSIC. The point is to 

experience the quiet. 

2. Before beginning the exercise, take 

five deep breaths. 

3. Begin to walk with slow, purposeful 

steps. You are not exercising…you are 

re-purposing your brain. Pay attention 

to how the ground feels under your 

feet. Is it crunchy? Is it smooth? 

4. Watch your feet as you walk. Do they 

turn in or out? Are you a light stepper 

or a heavy walker? 

5. Note the thoughts that pop into your 

head (“jeez-this is stupid” is actually 

the most common thought reported). 

6. Eventually as you walk, you will 

come to a spot where it feels natural 

to just stand still. 

Once in that spot, look for 10 

seconds at what is directly in front 

of you. Take in as many details as 

you can: the colors, the smells, the 

people, the landscape. Turn your 

full body to the right and do the 

same thing for 10 seconds. Another 

right turn – 10 seconds, and then a 

final right turn – 10 seconds. When 

you make that final turn, you will be 

facing where you started, but you 

will have experienced a detailed 

view of 360 NEW degrees of your life. 

7. Standing in place, put your hands 

together in front of your heart and 

thank God for the opportunity to 

notice the finer details of life you have 

never taken in before. 

8. Raise your hands slowly and open 

them fully to the sky. Ask for and 

accept the calming energy that 

rains on you from above. PRESENT 

MOMENT – HOLY MOMENT! 

We live busy lives and I know that 

this seems like just one more thing 

to cram into an already overcrowded 

schedule. Set aside this time for yourself, 

and I promise you that this will be 

the healthiest gift that you have ever 

received. 

I look forward to continuing to 

companion you on your journey of 

creating PEACE FROM PIECES. 


SWLA Book Review 

14 


illustrated by Joseph Cowman 

©2017, Sleeping Bear Press 

$16.99 / $19.99 Canada 

32 pages 

“K is for Kindergarten” 

It’s official: you’re a Big Kid now! 

By Terri Schlichenmeyer 

by Erin Dealey 

Each week, it seems like you’re 

learning so many new things. 

You can tie your shoes, say 

your A-B-Cs, and make your own 

snacks. You help with chores around 

the house or maybe watch your 

little brother – all things that Big 

Kids know how to do. And in “K is 

for Kindergarten” by Erin Dealey, 

illustrated by Joseph Cowman, you’ve 

got some big excitement coming… 

For months and months, you’ve been 

waiting for the day to come. A is for “At 

Last!” Finally, it’s time to go to school, 

starting with Kindergarten – but do 

you know what happens? 

Well, the night before, you’ll go to bed 

early because S is for Sleep and even 

big kids need lots of that. Wake up, 

eat breakfast, brush your teeth, get 

dressed, and you may ride a bus where 

you’ll see smiling F is for Faces that you 

might even know! 

This shouldn’t give you the J is for 

Jitters. Kindergarten is fun and there’s 

lots to do so don’t be scared to leave 

your stuffies behind. E is for Elephant 

but yours has to stay home. 

Once you get to school, you’ll have a 

“Terrific Teacher” (that’s what T is for), 

who is V for “Very busy.” She’ll show 

you where the toys and activities are: B 

is for “bouncing balls at recess.” C is for 

coloring, G is for Games, O and P are 

for Outside Playground, where you’ll 

play with your new friends. 

Of course, Kindergarten is fun but 

it’s also work. You’ll be expected to 

follow the D for Directions because 

it’s important in every classroom. So 

is L for listening and knowing your 

Letters. H is for raising your Hand 

when you have a question. Q for Quiet 

that’s needed for reading time and for 

paying attention. 

Practice all those things and your 

teacher will say “W is for WOW!” 

Four days ago (or so it seems), your 

child was a babe in arms. 

The day before yesterday, he was just 

learning to walk. 

Today, your baby is heading to school 

and “K is for Kindergarten” will make 

both of you feel confident about this 

next big step. 

There’s a lot, in fact, to like about 

this book, for you and for your child: 

author Erin Dealey and illustrator 

Joseph Cowman fill each page 

with cute rhymes and colorful, silly 

drawings to go with them. Those 

parts of this book show kids the fun 

of kindergarten, as well as the serious 

basics they’ll learn on their way to 

being good students. Hidden in the 

illustrations are tiny details and a findit 

game they’ll love. 

For parents, Dealey and Cowman 

offer “Kinder Countdown” and “Kinder 

Challenge” on many pages. Those are 

activities to do with your child and 

conversation-starters, as well as tips 

to make it a great school year. Yes, 

smaller children may be interested in 

this book but its audience is targeted: 

for your late-4-to-early-6-year-old, “K is 

for Kindergarten” may be a pretty Big 

Deal. 


Reflective Light INSPIRED REVELATIONS FROM A MALE PERSPECTIVE 

Husbands, Love Your Wives 

by Ronald J. Blanchard 

As a man reflects upon a very 

special day within his life that 

would change him for all times, 

there is the vague, yet unforgettable 

sound of music that introduces the 

entrance of a phenomenal woman---his 

bride! Standing at the end of the church 

aisle, with a smile on his face and 

perhaps the hint of a tear streaming 

from his eye, he is the proudest man in 

the world, more than lucky---blessed! 

With an understanding that this day 

was ordained before the beginning 

of time, he shakes her father’s hand 

and makes a vow before God and all 

humanity. However, his words must 

become manifest as he takes her 

beyond verbal adulation. Walking the 

walk, he offers endless demonstrations 

of unconditional love. 

This vision in white, adorned in fine 

jewelry and diamond ring offered 

the potential to fulfill a man’s dream. 

Considering that within every man 

there is the desire to create a legacy 

of love through the wonderment of 

children, this can only be accomplished 

with the ‘right woman’ in his life. 

Time and consequences presents the 

opportunity for introduction, growth, 

and the development of relationships 

that may fill the void within each man. 

It is at this point, the unexplainable 

occurs—a man may get down on one 

knee and ask for her hand in marriage. 

Once she utters the word, “yes”, a man 

alerts all media outlets as he wants to 

share this news with global society. The 

man is so proud! However, the man may 

forget! 

There is no perfection 

within the flesh for true 

marriage is not based 

on the limitations of 

physical attraction... 

As two becomes one, there is 

the constant struggle to gain an 

understanding of the totality of his 

woman, his wife. The fact is that she is 

not ‘his’ wife, she is his partner for life. 

This may be spoken hypothetically, 

but the hope is that it is a reality. The 

man must learn to know that she is 

not there to complete his identity, but 

offer the assets of her individuality. 

Together, they form the bond of 

infinite possibilities as they contribute 

to society, nurturing today’s children 

that will become tomorrow’s people. 

The man must abandon the idea 

of self-centered thinking. He must 

consider this special woman in his life. 

Sometimes, facing present anger, he 

must remember the beauty of past 

thoughts. He must learn to appreciate 

the depths of her inner spiritual being 

and the magnitude of her soulful 

make up. Walking back to a day of 

joy and celebration, he can move 

forward. It is inevitable, that through 

time and change that the revelation 

of imperfections will become obvious. 

There is no perfection within the flesh 

for true marriage is not based on the 

limitations of physical attraction. There 

is a deeper lesson to learn. Love is 

invisible. 

The bride walks carefully down the 

aisle to the melody of a special song. 

Her future husband awaits. He appears 

somewhat nervous. He finds a slight 

cracking in his voice. There is a certain 

unsureness within his step. He holds her 

hands for stability. He looks deep into 

her eyes. He thinks, “my wife for life”, 

looking deeper into her eyes, he has a 

vision of eternity. 

16 


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My Senior Moment 2.0 

By Joyce R. Kebodeaux 

Didn’t give up 

Our Day Jobs 

Before retiring many thinks of 

retirement only as a time of 

not reporting to a job every 

day. Others have visions of fun and 

excitement, and then some of us just 

arrive there one day. However, we get 

here, whatever our plans the time comes 

and we are in a new stage of life. As in 

everything we’ve done before we need 

to learn. [Again] about Medicare, senior 

discounts and all that comes from the 

Golden Years. Each of us makes choices 

about things we can afford and what we 

are capable of doing. 

Pursuing something that interests us 

brought Linda Hebert Todd, May Hill, 

Chris Baldauf and I together. While it’s 

been said about writing, “Don’t Give 

Up Your Day Job," we didn’t have to. 

Linda retired from The Calcasieu Parish 

Library System as the Branch Manager 

in Westlake. May, a Registered Nurse 

worked in hospitals and doctor’s offices 

in this area and before moving to 

Louisiana. 

We all share an interest in different styles 

of writing and met through the Bayou 

Writers Group. The local group meets 

monthly at Carnegie Library to share 

ideas and learn from the guest speakers 

who come to share their expertise. 

Just days ago I drove to Austin Texas to 

attend a week long workshop sponsored 

by The Writers League of Texas. May and 

Linda rode with me. We shared a suite 

and also were treated to a delicious 

barbeque by my family in Manor Texas. 

Chris and husband George had gone up 

earlier than we did and stayed later to 

celebrate their five-year-old grandson’s 

birthday, visit with their family and see 

the sights. While we were in different 

studies there were activities planned 

where we were all together. At the 

readings of the classwork at Book People, 

a bookstore and much more, we got a 

good idea of what the other classes had 

studied during the week. 

While we each took different classes, we 

all enjoyed and learned a lot from the 

professors and authors. Meeting writers 

from other parts of the country we came 

back home filled with ideas for our own 

writings. The Bayou Writer Group is open 

to all ages interested in writing and 

welcomes everyone to join the group 

or attend their annual conference in 

October. All information is available on 

their website. 

This area of our state has much to offer 

people of all ages. Groups of people with 

similar interests have websites and put 

articles in the newspapers and television. 

Our churches are a good source of 

recreation and inspiration. Organizations 

geared toward the senior age groups are 

sponsored by the cities and parish at little 

or no cost. 

While I have just talked about writing 

in our retirements, I urge everyone 

entering this new phase of life to share 

their interests with others and see what 

happens. 

“Don’t Give Up your Day Job," 

"CITE" Cambridge Idioms Dictionary, 2nd Ed. Copyright (c) 

Cambridge University Press 2006, Reproduced with permission. 

Habit Suites in Austin, TX: Bayou Writers Member, L-R 

Linda Hebert Todd (West Lake), Joyce R. Kebodeaux 

(Lake Charles), May Hill (Sulphur). 

L-R: May Hill with Dalton Lormand in Manor, TX. May 

is familiar with goat ranching. Her sister raises goats 

in Ohio. Dalton Lormand is Joyce's brother-in-law. 

18 


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SWLA sports 

By Tori Hebert 

High School Football 

Home Games 

It’s time for Friday night lights! 

Get ready to support your local team and 

enjoy nachos, burgers, and soda from the 

concession stand. 

The table lists home games for Southwest Louisiana schools. 

The team listed first is the home team. 

SEPTEMBER GAME DATES 

September 1, 2017 Westlake v. DeQuincy 

Grand Lake v. Vinton 

Jennings v. Church Point 

Iowa v. Crowley 

South Beauregard v. DeRidder 

Rayne v. Welsh 

Notre Dame v. LaGrange 

East Beauregard v. Hamilton Christian 

Lake Arthur v. Elton 

September 8, 2017 DeRidder v. Washington-Marion 

Rayne v. LC College Prep 

East Beauregard v. Elton 

Crowley v. Westlake 

September 9, 2017 Sam Houston v. LaGrange 

September 14, 2017 Merryville v. East Beauregard 

Iota v. Lake Arthur 

September 15, 2017 Jennings v. DeRidder 

DeQuincy v. South Beauregard 

September 22, 2017 Grand Lake v. Elton 

Iowa v. Jennings 

Sulphur v. Sam Houston 

South Beauregard v. St. Louis 

Lake Arthur v. Vinton 

Hamilton Christian v. South Cameron 

September 29, 2017 Westlake v. Iowa 

Jennings v. Washington-Marion 

Elton v. Hamilton Christian 

East Beauregard v. Lake Arthur 

20 

October 5, 2017 






November 3, 2017 

OCTOBER GAME DATES 

Merryville v. Grand Lake 

Welsh v. Jennings 

Barbe v. Sulphur 

Iowa v. St. Louis 

Iota v. Crowley 

Washington Marion v. Westlake 

LaGrange v. Sam Houston 

Westlake v. Jennings 

Grand Lake v. Hamilton Christian 

DeQuincy v. East Beauregard 

Church Point v. Iota 

Welsh v. Lake Arthur 

LaGrange v. Sulphur 

South Cameron v. Merryville 

South Beauregard v. Iowa 

Notre Dame v. LC College Prep 

Crowley v. Church Point 

Barbe v. Sam Houston 

South Cameron v. Elton 

Westlake v. Lake Arthur 

Jennings v. St. Louis 

Iowa v. LC College Prep 

Vinton v. DeQuincy 

Merryville v. Hamilton Christian 

Washington Marion v. South Beauregard 

Elton v. Merryville 

East Beauregard v. Vinton 

South Beauregard v. Jennings 

Welsh v. Notre Dame 

NOVEMBER GAME DATES 

South Cameron v. Grand Lake 

Westlake v. South Beauregard 

Jennings v. LC College Prep 

LaGrange v. Barbe 

Washington Marion v. Iowa 

Notre Dame v. Lake Arthur 


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SWLA health, wealth & wellness Inform, Educate, Empower 

Bridal Guide to Understanding 

and Decreasing Stress 

By: Emily Ashworth, RN, BSN 

He popped the question, and 

you said YES!! Ideas of a rose 

petal covered aisle, the most 

beautiful gown and venue you have 

dreamed of, all flow through your 

mind and pour out onto paper as 

you begin to plan the day you have 

dreamed of since you were a little 

girl. Then, reality sets in…so much 

planning and so many questions. The 

emotions, thoughts, and feelings can 

be overwhelming, and cause your heart 

to race, your palms to sweat, headaches 

to occur and even cause you to become 

short-tempered, i.e., “bridezilla.” Why is 

your body responding this way? 

When many think about stress, work, 

arguments and unruly kids, other 

things may come to mind. A wedding 

can be a source of stress, and it can 

cause increased illness if stress is not 

managed properly. Understanding the 

manner in which the body responds to 

stress is something we all need to help 

us escape danger, organize ourselves, 

and much more, but if the body is in 

a prolonged state of stress, illness can 

occur. 

According to American Psychological 

Association, when the body is 

introduced to stress stimuli, a message 

is sent from the brain that tells the 

organs sitting above the kidneys to 

release hormones that tell your body 

to go into “fight or flight” mode. 

Blood flow is decreased in your nonessential 

systems like the digestive 

22 

system and reproductive system and 

increased in systems essential for the 

stress response like the cardiovascular 

system. The body’s response causes the 

heart to pump faster which increases 

your blood pressure and increases 

blood flow to help you run faster and 

respond quickly and efficiently to the 

stressor. The pancreas sends a message 

to the liver to release energy stored 

in the form of glucose to help fuel 

your body during the process. The 

immune system function also declines 

increasing the probability of you 

becoming sick. There are other organs 

pumping in overdrive during this time 

also (visit this link to see further details 

of the body’s stress response https:// 

www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body. 

aspx). Now, this response is great when 

avoiding a car accident, responding 

to a deadline that's given at work or 

even defending yourself. The body 

is then wired to return to its normal 

state or homeostasis once the stressor 

is no longer present. When the body 

remains in chronic state of stress 

sickness can occur. 

Remaining in a prolonged state of 

stress can lead to heart disease, 

diabetes, constipation, low sex drive 

and the onset of many other diseases. 

According to the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC), Wedding 

Health and Safety Tips, headaches, 

upset stomach, difficulty sleeping, 

fatigue, and short-temper are just a 

few symptoms of unhealthy stress 

management for the bride. 

To remain in a state of health, relaxed, 

and ready for your BIG DAY here are a 

few tips. 

❶ TAKE A DEEP BREATH 

I often tell people when I feel stressed 

out I feel nervous on the “inside.” The 

first thing I do is stand still and take 

a deep breath. Deep breathing is 

important and can help to slow the 

heart rate and help you return to a state 

of calm. Close your eyes and take slow 

deep breaths. This can help slow your 

heart rate and bring you to a state of 

relaxation. 

❷ THINK POSITIVE 

My parents always told me there is one 

thing in this life that you can control, 

and that is your response. Planning a 

wedding is not easy because it involves 

so many different elements and so 

many different people. Remember, in 

every situation; there is a positive. Pull 

out the positive, hang onto the positive 

and don’t allow the negative to drag 

you down or cause you to react in 

anger or rage. 

❸ PRAYER AND MEDITATION 

Prayer and meditation are two of the keys 

that are important in bringing clarity to 

the mind and peace to the heart. There 

is nothing more frustrating than a cloudy 


mind and frustrating thoughts. When you 

find yourself feeling upset, and spiraling 

out of control, take at least 10 minutes to 

pray and meditate and write a scripture 

and positive affirmation and say it daily to 

yourself. YOUR WORDS HAVE POWER. 

❹ LAUGH 

Studies have shown many health benefits 

to laughter. It is also known as one of the 

best glues to keep a marriage together. 

Fifteen minutes of laughter a day can 

improve your cardiovascular function 

and decrease mental stress. https://www. 

psychologytoday.com/articles/200504/ 

laughter-the-best-medicine 

Once you have taken a deep breath, 

changed your thinking, prayed and 

meditated and laughed your way through 

the stress, remember to communicate 

your thoughts and feelings with your 

loved ones. No one can read your 

mind and if you do not talk about your 

frustrations and allow the people around 

you to help in this beautiful process of 

planning your wedding, you can and 

most likely will find yourself in a chronic 

state of stress. Do not deny yourself the 

joy of planning for and experiencing the 

ceremony that joins you into what I deem 

one of the most beautiful and heartfelt 

unions…Marriage. 

Congratulations and Be Well!! 

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ 

HealthyLiving/StressManagement/ 

FourWaystoDealWithStress/Four-Ways-to- 

Deal-with-Stress_UCM_307996_Article. 

jsp#.WaAbg7lK2Ag 

https://www.cdc.gov/women/wedding/ 

wedding.pdf 

https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stressbody.aspx 

VINH PHOTOGRAPHY 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ 

articles/200504/laughter-the-bestmedicine 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/stayinghealthy/understanding-the-stressresponse 


ADVENTURES of the Lake 

Ianander Thibodeaux, a 

recent Mass Communication 

graduate from McNeese 

enjoys travel and writing 

about interesting experiences 

and adventures in SWLA. 

Message Ian S. Thibodeaux 

on Facebook to have your 

adventures featured. 

A Wedding 

to Remember 

By Ian Thibodeaux 

You’ve done it, you finally got the girl 

of your dreams! How did this even 

happen? It seems too good to be true 

and yet there she is walking down the aisle in 

her white dress. The crowd looks to her in awe 

as the sun shines down on her skin and makes 

her radiate with beauty. You’ve never seen 

anything like it and somehow it’s yours to look 

at every day. As she walks towards you, you 

start getting butterflies in your knees and they 

almost break from the excitement. When she 

finally arrives at the alter because it seems like 

it took forever, you say the vows that you’ve 

been holding in your heart just for her. She 

says hers and then you kiss. In that moment, 

time stopped. In that moment, it was just you 

and her and it’s a moment that you never 

want to end. You are now husband and wife. 

There’s no turning back now. For the first time 

in your life, you’re responsible for someone 

other than yourself. You can only hope and 

pray that you’re man enough to meet all of her 

needs and expectations. You probably never 

will, but that’s okay because she loves you. So 

for her sake, you’ll try. 

I’m not married, but I imagine that’s how 

my friend Dorian felt on his wedding day. 

You should’ve seen him. The man almost 

broke down in tears and rightfully so. His wife 

Siyanda was truly a sight to behold. My words 

really can’t do her justice. Dorian had been 

blessed with the best. Someone made just for 

him. It brought great joy to my heart to see 

my two friends become one. When the bride 

and groom had their first dance, he pulled her 

close and held her tightly yet carefully at the 

same time. It was then that I saw their hearts 

touch. When they looked at each other, I could 

tell they were doing it with all the love in the 

world as their eyes gleamed with bliss and 

satisfaction. They were really meant for one 

another. 

My time at Dorian and Siyanda’s wedding 

was definitely one of my most enjoyable 

moments in life. I was surrounded by good 

food, good people, and music that made 

your soul want to shake it up! Everything was 

perfect. When the wedding came to an end, 

as I saw them run off into the night for their 

honeymoon, I could not have been happier for 

them. My heart swelled with pride. However, 

I was also kind of sad because I realized that 

this was goodbye. Nothing would be the same 

after today. In a way, I felt like I was giving my 

dear friend Dorian away. I was a little uneasy, 

but when I looked at Siyanda and thought 

back to how she’s always been there for him, 

all of my fears melted away. I could tell he was 

in the safest hands possible. 

Mr. and Mrs. Botley, may your marriage be a 

testament for all marriages to come. I know 

you’ll show the world what real love is like. 

When the bride and 

groom had their first 

dance, he pulled her close 

and held her tightly yet 

carefully at the same time. 

It was then that I saw 

their hearts touch. 

24 



Q&A 

Left to Right; Jordy Stanley, Sarah Sterns, Megan Voorhies, Sarah Parks, CJ Hunt and 

Jessica Hunt. Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 8pm Tuesdays at Rikenjaks. 

1 

"I recommend the Smoked Boudin at the Market 

Basket on Nelson Street in Lake Charles" 

3 

26 

Michael Davis performing in Bayou Players McNeese State 

University Theater’s performance of Sleuth 

4 

September 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 5 • Number 2 

Bag 

Isle

Jessica Moved Back North. 

Q 

What will you miss most 

about Southwest Louisiana? 

A 

These are things I will 

miss most... 

Wednesday Night Hockey at Skate City 

of Donuts performing at The Lone Wolf Bar and Grill; 

of Capris, Lake Charles, LA 

2 

5 

By Jessica Hunt 

When I first moved to Lake 

Charles in 2013—I had never 

heard of Lake Charles and all 

I really knew about Louisiana I learned 

by watching reruns of Duck Dynasty. 

After four years of exploring, I’ve found 

many cool activities, places and friends. 

Whether you’re new like I was, or have 

lived here your whole life—I hope the 

contents of this list will inspire you to 

appreciate new things about Southwest 

Louisiana. 

1Trivia at Rikenjaks. Each Tuesday night, 

teams as large as six can play trivia 

covering a wide variety of fun topics ranging 

from history to current events and audio 

rounds featuring sound clips from music and 

movies. The top three teams win drink tabs 

to redeem at Rikenjaks and sometimes sweet 

swag. The “Quiz Master” Luke is entertaining 

and keeps everything fun. Even if you don’t 

place well in the rankings you will have a fun 

time. Luke also plays really good music— 

tell him Jessie told you to ask him about his 

playlist. 

2 

Wednesday 

Night Hockey at Skate City 

– The folks who play are welcoming 

of newcomers, even ones who have never 

played hockey. If you are at all interested, I 

highly recommend stopping by Skate City 

and giving it a try. The puck drops at 6:30pm 

and spectators are welcome. 

3 

Food—Southwest 

Louisiana is known 

for its unique food. I had never tasted 

true Cajun cuisine before moving to Lake 

Charles. My first time having Crawfish 

was an adventure—my husband and I 

were a spectacle at Steamboat Bills. Other 

patrons eyes were on us as we learned how 

to peel crawfish (and I am proud to say I 

did suck the heads). Crawfish are amazing 

however without a doubt my favorite food 

I discovered is boudin. My favorite place to 

buy boudin was the Market Basket located on 

Nelson Road in Lake Charles. One time when 

I was buying boudin, I met a gentleman 

with a large cooler in tow. He told me that 

he traveled all the way from Houston to buy 

boudin for his coworkers from this location in 

Lake Charles because “he lost a bet.” He said 

boudin was worth the trip. 

4Theater—Theater has an incredible 

presence in Lake Charles. If you want 

to be involved in theater there are many 

opportunities. If you are interested in 

performing or assisting behind the scenes, 

reach out to ACTS Theater, Lake Charles Little 

Theater, Itinerant Theatre, KC Productions 

and McNeese Theater(You don’t have to 

be a student to be involved in McNeese 

Theater productions—I didn’t know this 

and I wish I could go back and time and 

audition for productions at McNeese). I’m 

an introvert and being involved in theater 

was an awesome way to get involved in a 

community I care about and make friends. 

Volume 5 • Number 2 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM September 2017 27 

5 

Music: 

Lake Charles boasts many great 

music venues; Luna Live, L’Auberge, 

Golden Nugget and Isle of Capris are my 

favorites. I recently saw the New Orleans 

based band “Bag of Donuts” play at the Isle 

of Capris. I recommend them to any music 

lover. They puts on a great show covering 

popular songs spanning many decades. Go 

to http://bagofdonuts.com/shows/ to find a 

showtime.

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The Voice of Southwest Louisiana September 2017 Issue

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