The state of the schools

All of the public school buildings in Bogalusa sustained damage due to Hurricane Katrina. Windows popped, roofs came off, interiors were damaged - along with equipment, of course.

One child we know is in Home Ec at Bogalusa Junior High. There are no sewing machines, he says, because they got wrecked in the storm.

Okay. It's a whole frickin' year after Katrina. Wonderful people all over the U.S. have donated money and supplies to our schools by the truckload. And apparently some equipment still hasn't been replaced.

Wasn't any of this insured? Hello?

Yes, as it turns out, it was. The city received 84.37 percent of the total claimed in damages, nearly a year after the storm. The date of the article is July 12, 2006. The insurer is American First Insurance.

Maybe shop around for another insurer, folks. I'm willing to pay taxes for better insurance coverage for the Bogalusa schools.

And sewing machines.