Did you know that Abraham Lincolns’ dog was named Fido? Even if you did, there’s probably still a great deal you don’t know about our nation’s 16th president. That’s why Louisiana, along with other states, has formed the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
It’s a national initiative, formed to celebrate the 200th birthday of Lincoln next year (Feb. 12, 2009) and reflect on his contributions. There’s likely to be more talk of things like the Gettysburg address, and less about Lincoln’s dog, but the project’s offerings promise to be diverse.
While there is a federal panel overseeing the celebration, a state commission has been also been formed for Louisiana as well. Gov. Bobby Jindal made the appointments last week to “develop, plan and coordinate statewide events that educate the public about the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln.”
Local members of the commission are Dr. Carl A. Brasseaux of Lafayette, director of the UL Center for Cultural and Eco-Tourism at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and state Sen. Donald Cravins of Opelousas, a Democrat currently running for Congress against GOP incumbent Rep. Charles Boustany.
There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found dozens of images depicting children engaged in lewd sexual acts on his personal computer.
This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.
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