The Voice of Southwest Louisiana June 2019 Issue

June 2019 

Vol 6 No 11 

Seven Days of 

Juneteenth 

Freedom Festival. 

~UPDATES~ 

EPIC CELEBRATION! 

Deep in the Heart of 

Southwest Louisiana... 

p14 Feature Story 

p7 

My Hair, My Health 

Emily Ashworth, MSN, RN 

p10 Carl W. Ross, Sr. M.D. 

Honors Fathers and 

Father Figures 

p16 Lake Charles College 

Prep 2019 Graduates 

p18 Blac & Blue 

Safety Tips from 

Chief Shawn Caldwell

SUNDAY 

9:30 A.M. BIBLE CLASS 

10:45 A.M. WORSHIP 

6:30 P.M. WORSHIP 

WEDNESDAY 

6:00 P.M. BIBLE CLASS 

MINISTER 

JERRY ARDOIN 

dacrewof6@yahoo.com 

Minister: 337.249.1719 

Church: 337.419.1911 

2 June 2019 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 11

editor’s 

Deep in the Wetlands is 

an Epic Celebration… 

By Brenda Hill 

I 

remember how productive my dad 

was after coming home from the 

marsh and wetlands throughout 

Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, with 

his hip waders on and his containers 

filled with all sorts of plants and wildlife. 

It was always an epic celebration of 

joy and unity when everyone from the 

community came over to help prepare and 

process everything to either eat it, share it 

and sell it to those near and far. And it lasted 

longer than a weekend for sure! 

As a child, I felt like I was part of 

something really ‘BIG,’ seeing all the 

people from the community using 

different kinds of equipment to perform 

interesting activities on unfamiliar looking 

plants and fish; process turtles, skin frogs, 

alligators, muskrats, boil crawfish, etc., 

networking, collaborating, conversating 

and rejoicing. Oh, what pride! 

Being exposed at an early age to this 

type of productivity that came from the 

marsh and wetlands, deep in the heart of 

Southwest Louisiana, purified me to see 

and understand the goodness and value in 

differences and diversity for an economic 

community to peacefully thrive. 

Because of these early experiences 

throughout my life, I anticipate with great 

excitement the Epic Celebration of Seven 

Days of Juneteenth Freedom Festival, 

right here in Southwest Louisiana. 

I am so encouraged by the City of Lake 

Charles and all the sponsors/supporters 

that chose to participate in this Epic 

Celebration. 

My desire is for all souls that 

participate in this festival to become 

educated, informed and empowered 

about the precious value of PRIDE, 

UNITY and FREEDOM! 

Pick up your copy of 

The Voice of SWLA while 

you’re out and about. 

SULPHUR 

• West Cal-Cam Hospital 

• Stines 

• Pitt Grill 

• SPAR 

• Goodwill 

• Hollier's 

• Dairy Barn 

LAKE CHARLES 

• Pujo St. Cafe 

• Chase (Downtown) 

• Steamboat Bill's 

• Civic Center 

• Carnegie Library 

• Luna Bar & Grill 

MOSS BLUFF 

• Peto's 

• Market Basket 

• Southern Spice 

VINTON 

• Post Office 

• Market Basket 

• Love's Truck Stop 

DERIDDER 

• Brookshires Bros. 

• City Hall 

• DeRidder Hospital 

• Post Office 

• Steamboat Bill's 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIANETICS 

T HE MOD ERN S CIENCE OF 

MENTAL H EALTH 

 

 

Volume 6 • Number 11 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM June 2019 3

June 2019 

The Voice's Choice 

The Voice's Choice will spotlight groups, individuals or topics 

that spread love, joy and peace throughout SWLA. 

“As I do for them, I do 

for Jesus!” 

Joan B. White is a 

Personal Service Worker 

(PSW) since 1980 and 

recently moved back 

to Lake Charles to care 

for her brother. She 

is married to Von Eric 

White and have three 

daughters and eight 

grandchildren. She 

credits her inspiration 

for care giving to her 

paternal grandmother 

who lived next door 

to them during her upbringing. “Momo taught me principles in the 

evenings, at home and instructed me about God, prayer and respect for 

my elders. By spending my evenings with her, I now understand that 

children learn a great deal during their evening hours.” Joan speaks freely 

about the necessity of having compassion and patience when caring for 

consumers(clients), and to ensure that they are safe, comfortable and well 

taken care of. "When my clients see me the next day, they believe all good 

will happen for them in that day. This gives me peace and happiness, and 

grace is my gift and blessings." 

12 My Senior Moment 2.0 

Living Life to 

the Fullest 

Rufus Myers, 

US Army, WWII 

8 Healthy Recipes 

Editor-In-Chief 

Brenda Hill 

brenda@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

General Manager 

Tracy Clark 

tracy@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

Creative Director 

Vinh Alexander 

tvswlart@gmail.com 

Community Coordinator 

Ken Williamson /Sales 

sales@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

Acquisition Editor 

Braylin Jenkins 

Copy Editors 

Jason Clark 

Cecely Clark 

Ann Champagne 

Consultants 

Gene R. Hill, Sr. 

Reginald Clark 

3 EDITOR'S PEN 

DEEP IN THE WETLANDS IS AN EPIC CELEBRATION… 

5 SWLA NEWS 

SWLA CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES SERVING ACADIA PARISH! 

6 SWLA NEWS 

LCNRA’S SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT 

7 SWLA HEALTH, WEALTH & 

WELLNESS 

MY HAIR, MY HEALTH 

8 HEALTHY RECIPES 

SWLA HEALTH CENTER 

10 SWLA HEALTH CENTER 

YOU AND YOUR HEALTH 

12 MY SENIOR MOMENT 2.0 

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST 

CONTENTS 

14 SEVEN DAYS OF JUNETEENTH 

FREEDOM FESTIVAL UPDATES 

SWLA FEATURE STORY 

16 SWLA EDUCATION 

LAKE CHARLES COLLEGE PREP 2019 GRADUATES 

18 BLAC & BLU 

JUNE IS NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH... 

20 PEACE FROM PIECES 

MENTAL HEATH: ADDRESSING THE SILENT CRISIS 

22 IT’S ABOUT TIME 

ADVENTURES OF THE LAKE 

24 Q & A WITH JAYLON MARTIN 

CONGRATULATIONS TO JAYLON MARTIN, AUTHOR, AND ALL THE 

LAKE CHARLES COLLEGE PREP, (LCCP) 2019 GRADUATES! 

26 SWLA NONPROFIT 

PURCHASING A HOME DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SCARY 

DISCLOSURE: All materials contained in the publication are copy-righted and not to 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. 

4 June 2019 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 11 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Brenda Hill 

Emily Ashworth MSN,RN 

Carl W. Ross, Sr. M.D. 

Joyce R. Kebodeaux 

Carra Sergeant, Ph. D.; LPC-S 

Lela Gholar Tizano 

FRONT COVER: 

Photo by VINH PHOTOGRAPHY 

PUBLISHED AND 

DISTRIBUTED BY 

Team Publications LLC. 

4310 Ryan St. Ste. 123 

Lake Charles, LA. 70605 

In the McNeese SEED Center 

337.474.2210

SWLA news 

Contributed Article 

SWLA Center for Health Services 

serving Acadia Parish! 

“Caring for the Community” is what 

we do and with that in mind, SWLA 

Center for Health Services is pleased 

to announce the doors of the new 

Crowley facility are open and ready 

to serve. SWLA strives to provide 

accessible and affordable health 

care to everyone (3). Our founders 

Milton J. Bellard and Judge Ulysses 

Gene Thibodeaux, started with a 

vision to eliminate all disparities 

in access to healthcare that would 

41 years later still hold a lasting 

effect on the Southwest Louisiana 

community. SWLA expanded services 

to address the medical care needs 

of neighboring communities like 

Crowley, Oberlin and Lafayette. The 

original Crowley location opened in 

August 2009 at 613 John F. Kennedy 

Drive with medical, dental lab and 

outreach services offered. The new 

location now located at 526 Crowley 

Rayne Hwy., had its grand opening, 

Wednesday, May 22, 2019, offers 

the same services, has expanded 

the medical and dental patient 

rooms and added behavioral health 

to address the growing issues 

facing our communities. The new 


6,000 square foot facility was built 

with growth in mind. Dental, Adult 

Medicine, Pediatrics, Behavioral 

Health, Medicaid Application 

Center, Medicare Counseling and 

Marketplace specialists are 

available for community access. 

Adding to the legacy of our founders 

the SWLA Center for Health Services 

in Crowley, La will be able to provide 

primary and preventive care for 

the entire family. SWLA Center for 

Health Services is patient-centered 

and continues to keep the legacy of 

the founders alive by providing, lowcost 

and accessible health care to 

everyone. 


serves four parishes and is 

determined to provide a consistent 

continuity of quality healthcare for 

the uninsured and underinsured 

populations in Southwest Louisiana. 


SWLA news 

LCNRA’S SMALL 

BUSINESS SUMMIT 

TO HOLD WORKSHOP ON 

PERSONAL AND BUSINESS 

CREDIT MANAGEMENT 

Contributed Article 

On Saturday, June 15, 

the Small Business 

Summit will hold 

a workshop on managing 

personal and small 

business credit for current 

owners and those thinking 

of starting a business. The 

session will run from 9:00 

a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Allen 

P. August Multi-Purpose 

Annex located at 2000 

Moeling St. in Lake Charles, 

LA 70601. The community is 

invited; please pre-register at 

WWW.LCNRA.COM. 

Attendees at the June 15 

offering will learn the basics 

of good credit management; 

how the use of personal 

credit impacts a small 

business' financial position; 

what it takes to build a good 

credit rating and how to 

repair past credit mistakes 

for future growth. Presenting 

will be Debra Lewis, Vice- 

President of First Federal 

Bank and a Small Business 

Summit member. She has 

10+ years of banking and 

lending experience, as well as 

15 years as a Certified Credit 

Counselor in the Lake Charles 

community. Ms. Lewis brings 

a deep understanding of 

financial goals and what 

it takes to reach them. 

Planners and sponsors of 

the Small Business Summit 

series include the LCNRA, 

Calcasieu Parish Police 

Jury, SOWELA Technical 

Community College, LSBDC- 

MSU, Hancock Whitney Bank, 

The SEED Center Incubator, 

Design Lab and local 

entrepreneurs. 

This business offering is 

being held in conjunction 

with the SWLA Center for 

Health Services' week-long 

celebration of Juneteenth. 

About the Lake Charles North 

Redevelopment Authority: 

The LCNRA is a political 

sub-division established by 

the Louisiana Legislature 

in 2010. Its mission is 

to explore, create, and 

implement initiatives that 

will result in the building of a 

redeveloped and revitalized 

Lake Charles North through 

the introduction of new and 

renewed developments/ 

strategies/plans to 

strengthen and mobilize the 

community. 

Through the Small Business 

Summit, the Lake Charles 

North Redevelopment 

Authority (LCNRA) partners 

with others to encourage a 

spirit of entrepreneurship in 

the district. 

6 June 2019 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 11

SWLA health, wealth & wellness Inform, Educate, Empower 

My Hair, 

My Health 

By Emily Ashworth MSN, RN 

Emily Ashworth, MSN, RN 

Director of Nursing at Southwest Louisiana 

Center for Health Services Lake Charles, 

Oberlin, Crowley, and Lafayette locations. 

Walking into my 

grandparents’ home 

brings back many 

memories. Watching my uncle walk 

down the hall to show us an eel 

he had caught while fishing would 

send us running down the hall yell 

for Momo to find her cooking in the 

kitchen. Standing at the stove as we 

would hold on to her pant leg waiting 

for Uncle Joe to put that eel away. I 

can also remember sitting in a chair 

while watching the pressing comb 

heat up on the stove in preparation 

for Momo or my mom to straighten 

my hair. Yes, that pressing comb… 

how many of you remember that? 

Our hair is associated with our 

identity and many times we are 

defined by it. Whether straight, 

curly, wavy, long or short we often 

use our hair to express our creativity. 

What does your hair say about 

you? Hair is an essential part of the 

health assessment. According to the 

National Institute of Health (NIH), 

changes in the hair such as split 

ends, frizz, and loss of luster are all 

signs of hair that has been altered by 

processing and is considered weak. 

Shiny, smooth hair no matter the 

pattern are signs of healthy hair. In 

addition to processing aren’t there 

other factors that can cause my hair to 

change? 

I’m so glad you asked! The health 

of your hair can be affected by the 

lack of vitamins, issues with the scalp, 

and age-related occurrences, vitamin 

deficiency, diagnosis of illness, or 

medications or genetics. A balanced 

plate is important for the growth and 

health of hair. Fish (salmon), eggs, 

avocado, beans, spinach, berries, 

sweet potatoes, nuts, seeds, oysters, 

shrimp and meat (chicken, red meat) 

all deliver vitamins A, B vitamins, 

biotin, C, E, D, iron, zinc, protein, and 

other nutrients our hair needs to 

grow healthy and strong. If you are 

unable to eat this variety of food, then 

you will need to take a hair vitamin 

supplement. (Please remember to talk 

to your doctor before taking any new 

vitamins/supplements and be mindful 

of any other diagnosis you many have 

or medication you are taking as some 

of the foods listed above may not be a 

good choice for you) 

As we age our hair naturally 

becomes thin, the color changes, 

the growth of our hair slows 

and for some men and women 

genetics is not kind and baldness is 

experienced. Ladies and gentlemen 

see your health care provider annually 

as a change in the production of 

testosterone, estrogen and other 

hormones as we age can also cause 

changes in our hair. The medication 

we are prescribed can also cause hair 

loss or change in the growth of the 

hair. 

Our hair is an expression of 

ourselves and we should embrace 

it whether thin or short, curly 

or straight it is a part of who we 

are. Align yourself with a licensed 

hair professional who can help you 

get and keep your hair healthy and 

strong! 

Be Well! 

References: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ 

pubmed/18004288 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ 

foods-for-hair-growth#section14 

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/ 

article/004005.htm 


SWLA Health Center 

Healthy Recipes 

AMERICAN BEEF STEW 

HANDS-ON TIME: 30 MINUTES | TOTAL TIME: 2 HOURS, 30 MINUTES | MAKES 8 SERVINGS 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Wash your hands with soap and water, then gather all your equipment 

and ingredients and put them on a counter. 

1. Put the flour, salt, and pepper 

in the bowl and mix well. Add 

the beef and toss until it is well 

coated with the flour mixture. 

2. Put the pot on the stove and set 

the heat to medium. When the 

pot is hot, add the oil. 

3. Very carefully add the beef 

cubes. Cook, without stirring, 

until the beef develops a 

browned crust and releases 

easily from the pot, about 5 

minutes. Carefully stir the beef 

and turn the pieces over. Cook 

again without stirring another 3 

minutes (you will have browned 

two sides of the cubes). Turn off 

the heat and transfer the beef 

cubes to the plate. 

4. Reheat the pot over mediumlow 

heat and add the onions, 

garlic, carrots, and celery and 

cook, stirring frequently, until 

the onions have caramelized, 

turning brown and sweet, about 

30 minutes. 

5. Carefully add the reserved beef, 

potatoes, and turnip. Add the 

thyme, stock, and tomatoes and 

stir well. 

6. Set the heat to low and cook 

partially covered until the beef 

is tender, about 2 hours. Add the 

vinegar and stir well. Taste the 

stew. Does it need more vinegar? 

A pinch of salt? If so, add it and 

taste again. 

7. Serve right away or transfer to a 

container, cover, and refrigerate 

up to 2 days. 

INGREDIENTS 

2 tablespoons white whole-wheat flour 

1⁄2 teaspoon salt 

1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper 

1 to 1 1⁄2 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1-inch 

cubes and patted dry with a paper towel 

1 tablespoon olive oil 

2 onions, coarsely chopped 

2 garlic cloves, minced 

4 carrots, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups) 

3 celery stalks, sliced (about 1 cup) 

1⁄3 pound potatoes (any kind), scrubbed and 

diced 

1 medium-size turnip (about 1/3 pound), 

scrubbed and diced 

1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried thyme 

3 cups low-sodium beef or chicken stock 

3⁄4 cup canned diced tomatoes with their liquid 

(about half of a 15-ounce can) 

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 

KITCHEN GEAR: 

Cutting board 

Sharp knife (adult needed) 

Measuring spoons 

Measuring cup 

Vegetable brush or clean sponge 

Can opener 

Paper towel 

Peeler 

Large bowl 

Large pot with lid 

Dinner plate 

8 

June 2019 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 6 • Number 11

See more at https://www.chopchopfamily.org/learn-to-cook/recipe 

CREAMY MAPLE-WALNUT DIP 

FOR BERRIES 

Berries are perfectly delicious just the way they are, of course. 

But sometimes we like to jazz them up a little with this sweet, 

tangy, nutty dip. 

HANDS-ON TIME: 5 MINUTES | TOTAL TIME: 5 MINUTES | MAKES 4 SERVINGS 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Wash your hands with soap and water, then gather all your 

equipment and ingredients and put them on a counter. 

1. Put the yogurt, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and nuts in the 

bowl and mix well. 

2. Serve right away, with the berries, or cover and refrigerate up 

to 3 days. 

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup plain yogurt 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

2 tablespoons real maple syrup 

1⁄3 cup very finely chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds 

2 cups any kind of berries, washed 

KITCHEN GEAR: 

Cutting board 

Sharp knife (adult needed) 

Measuring cup 

Measuring spoons 

Small bowl 

Spoon 


SWLA Health Center 

You And 

Your Health 

Carl W. Ross, Sr. M.D. 

Within the past few weeks, our nation 

paused to honor our mothers on 

Mother's Day. This day also honored our 

Grandmothers, Aunts, Older Sisters, and other female 

relatives and guardians, who cared for us as children 

into adulthood. 

Now our nation will pause to honor our Fathers, 

Stepfathers, GRANDFATHERS, Uncles, Older Sibling 

Brothers, Coaches, Mentors, and all the male figures, 

who helped shape the lives of the men of our nation. 

The health of our men is truly important, but today 

we are going to discuss more than Men's Health. 

Regardless of whomever has had a significant role 

in our lives as "Father and or Father Figure, we 

owe a great deal of indebtedness to them. There 

is a great degree of truth in the saying that, "We are 

literally standing on the shoulders of those who came 

before us, and did the best they could with what 

they had." (Visit brainyquote.com, azquotes.com and 

upworthy.com to see other related quotes) 

True, the road may have been "Rocky" in some 

instances, and the provisions not all that great, but all 

of us were helped by someone along our path in life. 

Now the ball is in our park. It is time for men of all 

ages to step up, level the playing field of life more, 

and provide for our generation of young men and 

women what was provided for us, and even more. 

In this modern era, we hear the terminology 

"Baby Daddy or Baby Mama." For obvious reasons, 

we should look upon these terminologies in a very 

negative way. We must not degrade the very essence 

of the parents who have given life to our youth by 

thinking that these are acceptable terms. 

When we reach the age that we are able to 

procreate a human life, we need to understand that 

we should not degrade the baby's parents with less 

than respectable terminology. To be very clear, with 

parenthood there is tremendous responsibility. We 

must realize that many of the younger parents are 

stepping up to provide for their children. They are 

answering the bell for each round in their children's 

lives every day. 

For those parents out there who are not providing 

for their children, it is past time to take a good look 

in the mirror and see if you like what you see. If you 

don't, now is the time to change, do better, and get 

involved in the lives of the human life that you have 

brought into existence. 

Our children did not ask to come into this world, 

they are a gift from a Divine Creator, Who does not 

make any mistakes. We don't have any idea what 

potential that child will have if given a chance to fulfill 

what they are destined to do in life. 

Their chance to be the best that they can be is 

truly in our ballpark. They will mimic what they see 

and say what they hear. If you are positive, they will 

be positive. If you are negative, they will be negative. 

If our pants are sagging with the “so called style of 

the day," our son's pants will be sagging. Our mothers 

10 


changed our diapers, they don't need to see our 

underwear. A good belt will keep the pants in the 

proper place. Respect our Maternal Queens and our 

Sibling Sister Princesses in our homes and on the 

streets. Moreover, as the Golden Oldie Song states, 

"Respect Yourself.” The apple does not fall far from 

the tree. (See YouTube; Respect Yourself The Staple 

Singers & Melissa Etheridge Respect Yourself) 

Our children not only need good ‘Fathers’ and 

or ‘Mentors,’ they need good ‘Role Models’ in their 

lives. Stay involved in their lives, stay connected, 

and it starts from the day of their birth. Stress and 

encourage academics. If they are involved in sports, 

be at the games. If they are involved in music or 

dance, be at the recitals. 

To be involved in our children's lives, we must stay 

healthy with regular health care evaluations. Keep 

your health in order, and see to it that your children 

get the health care they need to grow not only 

physically, but mentally, so they can become strong 

productive citizens in a world that if given the chance 

will seek to destroy them, and swallow them up. 

Remember, there is power in numbers. We cannot 

do this on our own, for as the song states, "No man is 

an island, no man stands alone. See each man as my 

brother, each man as my friend." Visit www.jah-lyrics. 

com Dennis Brown) 

We truly have, "Come this far By Faith leaning on 

Our Creator, Higher Power or whatever we want 

to call Him," and on the lives of those who laid the 

foundation for our lives through blood, sweat, and 

tears. 

They did not and have not failed us. Let us not 

fail those who now lean upon us for strength and 

guidance. We owe them nothing less. So now it is the 

bottom of the 9th Inning, and we are at the plate. 

Hit that Walk Off Home Run. It is the 4th Quarter, Hit 

that game winning 3 Point Shot. It is the 4th Quarter, 

Catch that Game Winning Touchdown in the lives of 

our children. 

Remember, do not be a "Baby Daddy" be the 

Strongest Dad, Father, Father Figure, Mentor you can 

be in the life of your child or children, or the youth 

who cross your path in life. Let us together change 

their lives, and the lives of generations to come as 

we approach and Celebrate "Father's Day" and 

throughout the remainder of our lives. 

Ju’Elles Catering 

536 Alamo Street 

Raymond 

Fondel 

Insurance 

Agency 

 

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My Senior Moment 2.0 

Living life to 

By Joyce R. Kebodeaux 

the fullest 

Rufus Myers celebrated his 95th 

birthday last month. He was 

born in Estherwood, La, a little 

community near the Mermentau River in 

Acadia Parish. Beginning school in Egan 

he spoke no English. Many times, he was 

sent to the principal’s office and was 

punished for speaking Cajun French. 

“Times were hard back then but we 

managed.” For school or work Mama put 

our lunch in a pail. We shared that at 

noon.” 

Rufus goes on to explain “I left school in 

the seventh grade to work for farmers in 

their rice fields. The pay was $1.00 a day 

for grown men but only 50 cents for boys. 

After work in the fields all day, I learned 

to repair machines at night. Me and my 

three brothers hunted and fished, not 

for sports but for survival. We hunted in 

the woods and fished in the river for any 

kind of animals or fish. Mama and my four 

sisters cooked everything we brought 

home,” Rufus remembers. 

“Times were hard, but we found ways to 

enjoy life. There were the house dances. 

The homeowners moved the furniture 

out of the house to make room for 

dancing. If they had a porch people 

danced there too. Some of the men in the 

family played the fiddle, accordion, guitar, 

wash board or spoons. I didn’t play music, 

but I loved to dance with the girls.” 

Rufus tells about when he worked for 

enough money to buy food for two 

weeks. Instead of buying food he got 

a pair of boxing gloves. He roped off a 

square in their yard and invited folks to 

watch as the men took 

turns boxing in his 

homemade boxing 

ring. Many came from 

miles away to join in 

the fun. 

“When I was older, 

I went to the dance hall in Iota.” He 

reminiscences.” The shutters were open 

to cool the dance hall but that didn’t help 

much. No alcohol was sold in the dance 

hall in those days. Women sat inside and 

waited to be asked to dance. They went 

in for free. The men had to buy a ticket to 

go inside. The ticket was pinned to the 

man’s shirt to show he had paid a dollar 

to go inside and dance.” 

When World War II broke out Rufus was 

drafted. After he served his time, he 

re-enlisted. He was in the U.S. Army for 

eight and a half years. His Cajun French 

served Rufus well. He was one of seven 

soldiers picked to be an interpreter for his 

commanders and high-ranking officials. 

He was assigned a car and he chauffeured 

generals and movie stars like Bob Hope 

and Doris Day. 

While Rufus was on a train sight-seeing, 

he met the beautiful German girl who 

would later become his bride. Rufus 

didn’t make a good first impression 

on Erika Liebl, but they resolved their 

differences and began dating. Erika 

moved into a rented room close to where 

Rufus was assigned. When the war ended 

Rufus went AWOL [Away with Out Leave] 

for a month. He and Erika vacationed and 

went sightseeing. He was reprimanded, 

Rufus Myers, US Army WWII 

lost one of his stripes and ordered to stay 

in the barracks. He sneaked out at night 

and continued dating Erika. 

It was while training for his next 

assignment in Korea that he was in 

a horrible accident. The jeep he was 

repairing caught on fire. He had third 

degree burns over much of his body. 

During the nine months spent in the 

hospital he couldn’t have visitors for fear 

of infection. When he was well again 

Rufus received a medical retirement from 

the army. 

After a short courtship the couple had 

been married by a German Justice of the 

Peace. Their first born, a boy was born in 

Germany. They named him after Rufus 

[RJ], They lived there until RJ was three 

years old. When they came to Southwest 

Louisiana, he spoke English, French and 

German. Back in the states, they were 

blessed with a baby girl, they named 

Tanya. [ Tanya Eubanks]. The family was 

complete. 

Rufus having learned to operate a 

bulldozer while he was overseas put his 

knowledge to the test. He was good at 

operating and repairing other heavy 

equipment too. 

After a while he started his own company. 

12 


Rufus and Johnson, 

brother, still enjoy boxing. 

Jonald J. Walker III, CPA, CGMA 

Kelly Love, CPA 

Ming Yang, CPA 

Rufus fishes for the big 

ones in his secret spot. 

He was known to be fair and honest. 

He said “I believe in giving a day’s work for a day’s 

pay. I did the dirt work for miles of Interstate 10, the 

Prien Lake Mall and many other construction jobs in 

Southwest Louisiana.” 

After he retired and was a widower he continued 

going to Cajun dances. “There are always pretty 

girls to dance with,” he laughs. “My favorite music is 

Zydeco. I like that beat.” 

As he celebrates his 95th birthday he also looks 

forward, with a positive attitude, about 5 years from 

now when he’ll be enjoying his100th birthday. 

Events|Seniors|Glamour 

337.842.7202 

WWW.VINHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 


SWLA feature story 

By Brenda Hill 

Seven Days of Juneteenth 

Freedom Festival -UPDATES- 

Juneteenth is celebrated 

to commemorate the 

emancipation of the last 

remaining slaves in a reluctant 

community, when Maj. Gordon 

Granger came to Galveston, Texas 

and informed them that they 

were freed two years earlier by 

President Abraham Lincoln. 

JayVon Muhammad, CEO, SWLA Center 

for Health Services, says Our healing must 

start with knowing our history and building 

our pride so that we can feel good about 

our black community and feel good about 

unity. These are just foundations for work 

that we would like to do in the future, 

and we want to give back by creating an 

environment that makes black people 

prideful about their history. Sometimes 

we don’t want to talk about that part of 

our history when that is one of the most 

powerful parts of our history. 

Thursday, June 13 th is the opening 

ceremony of the 7 days of Juneteenth 

Freedom Festival to begin with dinner 

and the first Black Excellence Freedom 

Awards being held at the Magnolia 

House Events located at 932 Enterprise 

Blvd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 

Recipients of the 2019 Black 

Excellence Awards 

2019 Black Excellence Award: Founder 

Milton Bellard and Ulysses Gene 

Thibodeaux 

2019 Black Excellence Health Care Dr. 

Raphael Branaco, Edwina Medearis and 

Dr. Joseph Semien. 

2019 Black Excellence Education, 

William Mayo and Eunice Dent. 

2019 Black Excellence Community 

Service, Bridgette Thierry. 

2019 Visionary Leadership, Reverend 

Edward Jordon and Adrian Wallace. 

2019 Black Excellence Music, Lawrence 

Ardion. 

2019 Black Excellence Justice, Genia 

Coleman Lee and Derrick Kee. 

Nominations for the awards were 

submitted from all four parishes that SWLA 

services. 

Tickets for this special evening are 

available at www.7dayfreedomfest.com. 

Friday, June 14th – SWLA will support 

Kiwanis Club of North Lake Charles 

Juneteenth Celebration being held at 

the Lake Charles Civic Center. Tickets 

for the Kiwanis event can be purchased 

on the Kiwanis Club of North Lake 

Charles website. Immediately after the 

Kiwanis Jam in June event we’ll party 

at the ‘Juke Joint' at Boutte’s with a 

live performance from Nebu Nezey. 

This event can only be attended if 

you have purchased an Underground 

Railroad Pass! The Underground pass 

gets you entrance to three (3) exciting 

events for the week – the 2019 Black 

Excellence Awards, the Juke Joint and 

the Cotton Club. 

Saturday June 15th 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 

p.m. Free Dental Clinic, spearheaded by 

Dr. Karlnelius Duhon with volunteer 

dentists for those who can’t afford dental 

care. 

Starting at 10:00 a.m. – Freedom 

Festival (community block party type of 

environment) with vendors and music. 

The Freedom Music festival also located 

at the 2000 Opelousas Street location will 

host an array of artists including: Jarius 

Daigle and The Network, Jarvis Jacobs 

and the Gents, Rusty Metoyer, Nebu 

Nezey, Marcus Davis and Bre’, Robert 

Saxey, Michael Davis, Darol King, Harold 

Guillory and Members Only. The music 

will start at 10 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. 

The FREE Dental Clinic for the 

community at SWLA Center for Health 

Services will serve 125 ndividuals with 

basic dental needs such as fillings, 

cleanings or extractions. Only one 

procedure per person will be fulfilled. 

Details on how to receive one of the 125 

spots will be posted on the SWLA Center 

for Health Services Facebook page. Look 

for the details starting June 5, 2019. 

The Cotton Club at Zephyr’s in 

downtown Lake Charles - Experience 

the music and ambience of the Cotton 

Club. Come dressed to impress! For this 

special evening, food and libations have 

been named to give respect to the many 

14 


ave individuals who forged the path for 

equity. 

Sunday June 16th – 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

Father’s Day Family Festival with jump 

houses, face painting, food and drinks 

a unity bike ride and things you do in 

a family environment at McMillan Park 

(sunlight Manor. Families are asked to 

come and join us in celebration of Fathers 

and Family life. 

STRETCH, YOGA, MASSAGE THERAPISTS, 

HERBS & HEALING WORKSHOPS, FREE 

NATURAL NAILS (Non-Toxic Ingredients), 

NATURAL HAIR 101, SMOOTHIE 

DEMONSTRATION AND MORE! 

Tuesday June 

18th Black 

Man’s Health 

Day - 

workshops with 

topics specific 

to Men’s health 

held at SWLA 

also includes a 

MENS BREAKFAST, Q&A ON HEALTHCARE 

ISSUES AND SCREENINGS FOR DIABETES, 

HTN, NUTRITION, OBESITY AND PROSTATE. 

Tuesday night, June 18, 2019 there will 

be a reception at the Historic City Hall of 

the Broken Time Exhibit from 5 p.m. to 8 

p.m. and public is invited featuring the 

artist who will be speaking on his works 

and life. 

WEDNESDAY 19TH- - JUNETEENTH 

FINALE – The Epic Day - Civic Center 

7:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony – Opens 

with African tradition to include great 

rituals and educational history about 

us. (African Americans) This will take 

place at the Lake Charles Civic Center 

Amphitheater. 

Wednesday at Dark – Public Fireworks 

Show (like 4th of July but, but celebrating 

the freedom of Blacks/African Americans) 

There is no other firework show that we 

know of honoring Juneteenth and the 

Black experience. 

“This will be a grand week where every 

day we will celebrate our history. We will 

come out of the week feeling remarkably 

pleased with a new expectation of 

greatness for our community. With a new 

sense of unity and commitment to honor 

those who suffered through that period 

that we celebrate for Juneteenth, says 

CEO, Jayvon Muhammad.” 

Information about each day’s events can 

be found on the the 7 Days of Juneteenth 

website www.7dayfreedomfest.com 

SWLA would like to thank and 

acknowledge this year’s sponsors and 

supporters including, CITGO, 107, JAMZ, 

Townsquare Media, KPPM, Digikast, 

Louisiana Healthcare Connections, 

Boutte’s, Zephyr’s, the City of Lake Charles, 

KZWA 104.9, Our Truth Our Change, the 

Convention and Visitors Bureau, Coca 

Cola, Lamar Advertising, TOS, Ad Source, 

The Voice of Southwest Louisiana, the staff 

and Board of Directors of SWLA Center for 

Health Services. SWLA Center for Health 

Services, “Caring for the Community”. 

4:00 p.m. on Sunday is the Unity Bike 

Ride (Recent donation of bikes!!) to be 

continued in a once per week event for 

the future. 

Monday, June 

17th Black 

Woman’s 

Health Day 

- workshops 

with woman 

specific topics 

held at SWLA. 

WORKSHOPS 

INCLUDE 

COMMUNITY 


SWLA education 

Lake Charles 

College Prep 

2019 Graduates 

Ta'Jah Janell Lashay Wilson 

delivered Valedictorian's address. 

Ninety graduates of Lake Charles College Prep 

were honored during graduation ceremonies 

on May 17th in Burton Coliseum. Ms. Jennifer 

Zeringue, Principal, Dr. Sabrah Kingham, Director of 

Education, the Honorable Gene Thibodeaux, President 

of the Board of Trustees, and Board Members, conferred 

honors on the second graduating class of LCCP. 

Ta'Jah Janell Lashay Wilson delivered the Valedictorian’s 

address and Keyshawna Ny'Asia Givs delivered the 

Salutatorian’s Address. 2019 Honor Graduates included: 

Jose Bentancourt Matheus, Rolando Edra Bigalbal, 

Destiny Joetta Gordon, Dante Damond Jones and 

Zhania Oshanee-Monae Rankins. 

Mr. Ted Williams, a Lake Charles native and a current 

resident of Washington, D.C. delivered the Keynote 

Address. He challenged the students to “erase the words 

‘I can’t’ from your vocabulary. When you say, ‘I can’t,’ you 

have already failed.” 

Dr. Sabrah Kingham, Director of Education, presents diplomas to Honor Grads, 

Keyshawna Ny'Asia Givs, Salutatorian and Jose Bentancourt Matheus. 

Using his own high school experience, his work in law 

enforcement, law school, and now as a legal analyst for 

MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News, Mr. Williams challenged the 

students and told them, “It may take some time to figure 

out your purpose in life. Keep seeking the unique role 

you were created to play in life and never give up.” 

Judge Thibodeaux reminded the students that they join 

last year’s eighty-two graduates as true Trailblazers. “You 

were and you are a part of a group of young people going 

where no one else has gone before. You are changing the 

way education is provided in Southwest Louisiana.” 

Paul Fuselier speaks to audience. 

For more information about Lake Charles 

College Prep, call 337-419-2868 

or visit online at lccp.us. REGISTRATION FOR THE 19-20 

SCHOOL YEAR IS UNDERWAY. 

16 


Helping families care for their loved ones is what we do… 

VA-Homemaker / Home Health Aide • VA Respite Care 

Temporary & Long Term Assistance 

Gulf Coast In-Home Care services can include: 

Up to 24-Hour Care • Caring Companionship • Light Housekeeping 

Meal Preparation Assistance • Errands and Shopping • Transportation Needs 

Medication Reminders • Hygiene Assistance • Bathing Services 

Holiday and Family • Respite Care • Temporary or Long-Term Care 

Assistance with Participation in Community Events 

Covered by VA benefits and/or Long Term 

Care Insurance. For more information, call 

us today and ask for a Gulf Coast In-Home 

Care Representative. You can also visit our 

website to learn more about how we care 

for veterans. 

Schedule a FREE Consultation Today! 

LaShanda McMahon, M.S. 

Program Director 

337-564-3113 • www.gcssla.org 

700 Pujo Street, Suite A • Lake Charles, LA 

Serving Our Veterans and Seniors • At Home with Gulf Coast. © 

GCIHC_LakeCharles_TheVoice_JuneHalf.indd 1 

5/15/19 5:32 PM 

M/WBE/DBE 

Vendor Certified 

The Voice of SWLA 

Like Us on 

Facebook 

Thank You For Voting The Voice 

of Southwest Louisiana 2018 Media 

Company of the Year! 

Advertise With Us! 

337.474.2210 

Tracy Clark, GENERAL MANAGER 

337.302.7872 CELL 

tracy@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

Our Community Is 

Talking, And We’re 

Still Listening… 

Brenda Hill, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

337.707.5564 CELL 

brenda@thevoiceofsouthwestla.com 

In the McNeese SEED Center 

TEAM PUBLICATIONS LLC• 4310 Ryan St. Ste. 123 • Lake Charles, LA. 70605 


Blac & Blu 

ONE COMMUNITY, ONGOING CONVERSATIONS 

June is National 

Safety Month 

...and those going on vacation, 

preparing for hurricane evacuation or 

out and about with community activities 

can plan with these safety tips in mind 

as provided by Chief Shawn Caldwell. 

• If you’re going on vacation, make 

sure your neighbors check your mail 

and retrieve your papers so potential 

burglars can’t determine if no one is 

home. 

• If you’re going to attend an event 

with children always make sure you do 

not leave them unattended and know 

their whereabouts. 

• When traveling to stores and getting 

out of your vehicles, always be aware of 

your surroundings. 

• Lock your vehicles, keep valuables out 

of sight. 

• Keep personal weapons secure if you 

have children and keep gun locks on 

weapons. 

• Get to know your neighbors; they 

can sometimes be better than alarm 

systems. 

• In our summer heat, remember to stay 

hydrated and drink plenty of water. 

Chief Shawn Caldwell, 

Lake Charles Police 

Department 

• Don’t text and drive; it can wait! 

18 



Peace from Pieces 

By Carra Sergeant, Ph. D.; LPC-S 

Licensed Professional Counselor 

June is Men’s 

Health Month, 

so that makes 

it a perfect time 

for us to talk about 

“the elephant in the 

room”: is your man 

MENtally Healthy? 

The escalating 

incidence of mental 

health issues in males is 

staggering. Generations 

of male socialization that 

reinforce the notion of 

the “strong silent type” 

have created a society 

where many men around 

the world suffer from 

mental health difficulties 

in silence. Let’s shed some 

light on this silent crisis. 

THE STATISTICS 

There is a tragic 

intersection 

of low rates 

of diagnosed 

depression 

and high rates 

of suicide and 

substance abuse 

among the U.S. 

male population. 

Men account for 

75 percent of all 

suicide victims in 

the U.S., with one 

man taking his 

own life every 

20 minutes. 

Worldwide, 

men are 37.5 

times more 

likely than 

women to take 

their own lives. Due 

to the stigma attached, 

men are less likely to 

ask for help and often 

do not enter the mental 

health system until a crisis 

occurs. 

Mental Health America (see 

link below) states that men are 

more predisposed to the following 

mental health issues: 

•• 

Over 6 million men suffer from 

varying degrees of undiagnosed 

depression. 

•• 

Anxiety and panic disorders affect 

MENtal Heath: 

Addressing the 

Silent Crisis 

at least ½ million men. They are too 

ashamed to ask for help. 

•• 

90% of all Americans diagnosed 

with Psychosis or Schizophrenia are 

males. 

•• 

Males account for 10% of patients 

diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia 

and 35% of those diagnosed with 

binge-eating disorder. 

•• 

Men are twice as likely to suffer from 

alcoholism or other substance abuse 

disorders. 

WHY IS THERE SUCH A GAP BETWEEN 

MEN AND WOMEN? 

There are several possible reasons for the 

gender disparity in mental health issues: 

Men are struggling to fill the 

breadwinner role: Traditional societal 

norms position men to be the primary 

financial provider in the home. However, 

the inclusion of women in previously 

male dominated industries has left many 

men in certain regions unemployed. 

Women are now as large a part of the 

national workforce as men. This can be 

quite a blow to the male whose identity is 

tied into being the “breadwinner”. 

Lines between work life and personal 

life get blurred: In many cases, a man’s 

sense of self-worth is linked to how much 

money he earns. This, combined with 

advances in technology, has made it such 

that some people never really escape 

the office. Over time, this can cause great 

stress and lead to depression. 

20 


Social media: This is not only a problem 

that affects men, but it’s easy to feel as 

though others are doing better than 

we are because on social media we see 

everyone’s holiday celebrations, vacations 

and gourmet dinners. When a person 

feels that something is lacking in his or 

her life, that sadness can pave a direct 

path to depression. 

Some groups of men feel rejected: 

There are very high rates of mental 

illness among veterans and gay men. 

Some have attributed this to the fact that 

these groups of men may feel (whether 

it is real or not) rejected by society and 

mainstream media. 

Sadly, many men quietly struggle with 

a mental health issue for long periods 

of time without any treatment. Through 

thousands of years of male socialization, 

certain definitions of what is and isn’t 

manly have been created. Rather than 

openly discuss problems, the more 

“manly” thing to do is “tough it out” on 

your own. This is something that is drilled 

into male psyches from birth. The term 

“man up” does not mean to go talk to 

people about your problems and ask for 

help. Wanting to be like their male heroes 

and likely following the examples men 

in their lives set, boys are taught from 

an early age to suppress their emotions. 

By the time they become adults, many 

are unable to properly express any 

emotion other than anger. The longer the 

condition remains untreated, the more 

severe the problem potentially comes. 

WHAT ARE OTHER SIGNIFICANT 

FACTORS? 

Other reasons why depression in men 

often remains undiagnosed include: 

•• 

Failure to recognize symptoms: Most 

people assume that feeling sad 

or emotional are the signs to look 

for when diagnosing depression. 

However, depression in men often 

shows up as irritability, anger, 

hostility, risk taking and escaping 

behavior. 

•• 

Ignoring or minimizing symptoms 

and signs: Many men assume 

they will just get over whatever 

problems are plaguing them and 

end up downplaying the impact the 

problem is having on their lives. They 

often assume that the problem will 

go away on its own. 

•• 

Reluctance to talk about the 

problem: Men don’t generally discuss 

problems openly with close friends, 

so speaking to a mental health 

professional about them is even 

more unlikely. 

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO FIX THE 

PROBLEM? 

The stigma of asking for help must be 

eliminated. Given the extremely high 

rates of depression and substance abuse 

among men, it is clear that mental illness 

in the male population requires extra 

attention. Perhaps the first step in the 

process involves changing the narrative 

about what it means to be a man. 

While it will take a considerable effort 

to undo several millennia of male 

socialization, boys need to have it 

impressed upon them that reaching out 

for help is not a sign of weakness. That 

will be difficult, however, considering the 

myriad subliminal messages prevalent 

throughout our culture; you see these 

male depictions in literature, television, 

movies, and in sports. The athlete who 

“plays through the injury” is always 

considered tougher and stronger than 

the one who isn’t able to do so. How do 

we as a culture on one hand tell our sons 

that they should speak up and ask for 

help when the majority of the idealized 

fictional and real-life men in our culture 

are celebrated for not doing so? 

Another step our society can take is to 

stop normalizing destructive behaviors 

in men by explaining it away as “boys 

being boys.” This age-old justification 

only serves to enable the behavior to 

continue. There needs to be increased 

attention to the unique needs of males. 

The good news is that as male celebrities 

and sports figures increasingly share 

their experiences with mental illness, 

the stigma of seeking treatment should 

continue to diminish. Recognition that 

mental illness is no different than physical 

illness in that it is not a moral failing 

or a choice can help people feel more 

comfortable with treatment seeking. 

There are also now many more options 

for men to become aware of and manage 

their mental health than in the past. 

Downloading a mood tracker (yes… 

there’s an app for that) can be a good 

first step towards improving awareness 

of mental health by helping you notice 

patterns or tendencies. It can also help 

you take a more objective view of how 

you’re doing, allowing you to view 

emotions on a longer time scale and less 

caught up in the moment. 

Taking care of your body is essential, but 

remember, your mind matters also. KEEP 

IT HEALTHY! 

Check out the following links for more info: 

Mental Health America 

https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/ 

infographic-mental-health-men 

Men and Mental Health 

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/menand-mental-health/index.shtml 

Man Therapy 

https://www.mantherapy.org/ 

If you struggling with depression, anxiety or 

relationship issues, please call for an appointment: 

Carra Sergeant, PhD, LPC 

PEACE FROM PIECES COUNSELING SERVICES 

For an appointment, call 

337-515-6716 

Website: peacefrompieces.net 


ADVENTURES of the Lake 

It’s About Time 

By Lela Gholar Tizano 

George heard the whirring of the 

lawnmower outside his window. He 

slipped on his shoes and stepped 

onto his front porch to see who had decided 

to start cutting his grass – without his 

permission. When he realized it was his son, 

Lionel, he was not surprised. 

Pastor Louis F. Guy I and 

Minister Louis F. Guy II 

George had spoken with Lionel plenty times 

before and from the looks of things he would 

have to remind his son again that although 

he could no longer be considered a spring 

chicken, he was not helpless. Cutting his grass 

was something that he was perfectly capable 

of doing for himself. 

“Hi, Pops,” Lionel yelled above the noise. 

George nodded and went back inside, 

slamming the door behind him. Minutes later 

he walked back onto the porch with a pitcher 

of fresh-squeezed lemonade. 

Lionel finished up then joined his dad on 

the porch. 

“You know, I look around here at all the things 

you’ve done and I’m starting to wonder if you 

think I’m a helpless old man or something. 

Yesterday you cleaned my gutters, took out 

my trash and washed my car, and then you come by here 

every Friday with lunch. Son, don’t you think I can do some 

of these things myself?” 

Lionel snickered then took a sip of his lemonade. “C’mon, 

Pops, it’s not like that and you know it. I don’t mind doing 

these things for you. You’ve done so much for me all these 

years; I just want to help you out as much as I can. I like 

spending time with you. The Bible says I need to honor my 

father. Is it alright if I do that?” 

George put his hand on Lionel’s shoulder, “yeah Son, I 

guess that’s fine. I just don’t want you treating me like an 

old man.” 

“Well, I gotta run. I gotta take David to baseball practice. Do 

you still want to come to his game tomorrow afternoon?” 

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” George answered. 

George settled in for the night and turned on the evening 

news. “What is the world coming to when young people 

begin to fight old people?” he asked, as he listened to the 

horrible things that were being reported. The more he 

watched the more he began to appreciate having Lionel 

fuss over him so much. All the extra things he did like 

installing security cameras and an alarm system made him 

feel safe. 

The next day Lionel and David picked him up for the 

game. George had a grin from ear to ear as he watched his 

grandson round the bases after hitting a home run. “David’s 

a fine young man,” he declared. 

“Yeah, he’s been practicing a lot, looks like he finally got 

him one.” 

22 


Roosevelt Tanner, Jr. and 

Roosevelt Tanner, Sr. 

$1,100 00 

Committed to the highest level 

3116 Ryan St. 

of customer service possible! 

Lake Charles, LA 70601 

Phone: (337) 564-6009 

www.lakecharles-la.minutemanpress.com 

“I’m not talking about the home run,” George said. “I’m 

talking about his manners and his upbringing. You 

don’t find young men like that too much anymore.” 

“I just try to raise him like you raised me, to be 

respectful and honest.” 

A prideful grin covered his face. “How about after the 

game you let this old man buy the two of you some 

ice cream.” 

“Okay, but I don’t want to keep you out too late past 

your bedtime,” Lionel joked. 

“Don’t worry about that. I just want to spend some 

time with the two of you.” 

TUESDAY - FRIDAY 9AM - 6PM 

SATURDAY 8AM - 4PM 

337-437-7111 

1719 BROAD STREET • LAKE CHARLES, LA 


Q&A 

CONGRATULATIONS 

to Jaylon Martin, 

Author, and all 

the Lake Charles 

College Prep, (LCCP) 

2019 Graduates! 

“My favorite hobbies are reading and writing 

which always begin with a technique of 

inspiration as soon as it comes to me.” 

Jaylon credits his first great 

writing experience to a junior 

high assignment given to his 

class by Mrs. Michelle Myers in 

the eighth grade at LCCP. Once 

he began the writing process for 

that project, he realized how much 

he loved to write and wrote an 

entire book off his assignment. 

The Voice of Southwest Louisiana 

asked Jaylon to update our 

readers, viewers and followers 

on successes, developments and 

after-graduation plans since last 

appearing in our May 2018 Issue. 

Gilbeaux, S. “www.yumpu.com.” 

TEAM PUBLICATIONS LLC, 

2018 May, The Voice’s Choice/ 

Promising Author. The Voice of 

Southwest Louisiana, 4,12. 

24 


QWhat made the difference for you to delve 

into the writing process with Mrs. Myers 

versus other writing assignments throughout your 

school years? 

AWhat made the difference for me to delve 

into the writing process with Mrs. Meyers 

versus other writing assignments in my school 

years is that it was a writing opportunity to create 

a world and characters that audiences today can 

connect with. Creating characters that inspire 

others are more impactful than writing about 

other characters or people that have already 

been written. 

QHow many books have you written and 

published thus far? 

AI have written and published three books: 

Black Star, Black Reality, and Black Magic 

which make up the book series Black Star 

Universe. The first book is about black stars; 

supernatural warriors with powers. The second 

book is about the supernatural warriors going 

into a realm called Black Reality. The third and 

final book is about the villain wielding black 

magic that can destroy the world. 

QHave you experienced any other 

achievements relating to your writing? 

ADue to my accomplishments of writing, 

publishing and selling all three of my books, 

I was recently inducted into the Black Heritage 

Festival Hall of Fame Playwright category. 

QHow did your gift of writing make room for 

you as an author/entrepreneur? 

AMy gift of writing not only showed me a 

whole new world, but it gives me this ability 

to create a whole new world for other readers, 

allows me to market and sell my books to them, 

and I have created bookmarks with my characters 

on them to promote the series with heroes from 

my culture. 

QWhat are your plans now that you have 

graduated from high school? 

AMy plans after high school graduation are 

to enroll at Sowela Community College to 

pursue a Creative Writing degree and then on 

to McNeese. 

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SWLA nonprofit 

Purchasing a 

Home Does 

Not Have to 

be Scary 

Homeownership is a big 

step with many variables 

to consider. Most of us will 

have to finance our home with a 

mortgage, and that can make the goal of 

purchasing a home seem daunting and 

unattainable, but just like any other goal 

approached with a solid plan of action, 

homeownership is achievable. Here are 

a few things to consider as you plan to 

purchase a home. 

1. Know and understand your 

financial status 

A typical budget strategy suggested 

by many financial planners is an 

after-tax 50/30/20 split: 50% needs 

(housing, bills, food, car, health); 

30% wants (shopping, dining out, 

hobbies); 20% savings & debt 

payment. It is important to know 

where you stand financially prior 

to purchasing a home. Be aware of 

your FICO credit score, know the 

percentage of your income needed 

to pay monthly debt, and what 

you need to have saved for a down 

payment. 

2. Prioritize, and know the difference 

between, “needs” and “wants” 

It is easy to get caught up in the 

latest and greatest trends being 

showcased in magazines and home 

improvement programs, so define 

and list your needs and wants, 

determine the compromises you 

are willing to consider, and visit 

scheduled open house events to 

choose between the two. 

3. Look at ALL costs associated with 

your monthly payment 

No more than 28% of your income 

should be allocated to home costs 

- including all costs associated with 

your home (mortgage payment, 

insurance, property taxes)! Consider 

utility costs, and saving for future 

repairs or changes. Be aware of 

your monthly finances, and budget 

accordingly, to ensure the home you 

are purchasing is the right home for 

your budget. 

4. Ask questions 

You will not know everything, so 

work with someone you trust and 

feel comfortable asking questions 

with. Conduct your own research, 

take a home buyer education class, 

or visit with an entity that offers 

credit counseling services. Set 

yourself up early in the process for 

success! 

5. Be patient 

Lenders need to know that you are 

reliable and stable. A consistent 

employment history is important, 

but no major bank changes, large 

purchases or large debt incurment 

prior to the home purchase are 

important factors, too. 

PROJECT 

BUILD 

A FUTURE 

Building Hope by Building Homes 

2306 Third St. • Lake Charles, LA 70601 

Through financial literacy classes and a home buyer 

counseling program, Project Build a Future has 

helped 100+ families in 18 years purchase a 

quality, affordable home. Our staff would be 

happy to speak with you to determine if and how you 

can achieve the goal of homeownership. Stop by our 

office, or call us today, for more information. 

Call For An Application: 337-439-7191 

26 


In Season Fresh 

Vegetables 

Pies and Cobblers 

Sweet & Regular Crust 

Paul’s Urban Gardening 

and Sweet Treats 

Catering Available 

Paul Charles 

(337) 707-1896 

714 King Street 

Lake Charles, LA 70601 

THE FOUNDATION HOUSE 

720 Enterprise Blvd. | Lake Charles, LA 70601 

Home Care Services 

Collision, Complete Paint Jobs, 

Towing Assistance, Limited lifetime 

Warranty on all Repairs 

We Hire Sitters 

www.blessedcare.biz 


We’re ready for the next storm. 

And your safety is our priority. 

At Entergy, preparing for storm season is a year-round commitment. Over the past few years, we’ve invested 

billions to upgrade the power grid with more efficient and reliable technology, while keeping rates low. We’re 

ready for the next storm, and we want you to be, too. Visit entergystormcenter.com to see how you can prepare. 

A message from Entergy Louisiana, LLC ©2019 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

14809 Entergy ELL HurricanePrep 9x11_4C.indd 1 5/22/19 1:54 PM

The Voice of Southwest Louisiana June 2019 Issue

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