Medical mystery

At Fox News:

World's Smallest Boy? ... His family and doctors struggle to solve the mystery of his small size. Link

I'm not a doctor - and don't play one on TV, heh - but I betcha the little guy's a primordial dwarf.

Disturbance at "Christmas in the Park"

There was a loud argument (?) at Christmas in the Park, Cassidy Park, Friday night around 8:00 p.m.

Multiple law enforcement units responded; one parking lot attendant counted eight cars.

Outcome unknown.

Vote!

Our rural polling place had lines for ID check and voting machines at 7 a.m.

Counterfeiting funds terrorism

Law enforcement officials on Capitol Hill Wednesday told a House panel that the booming international trade in phony consumer goods is funding terrorism. Link

So, Bogalusa PD, this was not your best idea:

"We decided to just take the items off the street,” Culpepper said, adding both business are legitimate with the proper licenses. “It’s what they were doing that was the problem.” Link

Gee, Capt. Culpepper, I trust this isn't the way you approach drug dealing? Just take the drugs away, let the perps go? How 'bout armed robbery? Victim gets his money back, bad guy stays on the street?

I. Didn't. Think. So.

Counterfeiting funds terrorism. The Fox News article linked above is from 2003. This ain't nothin' new.

Friday's Daily News has a front-page article about a couple guys arrested while selling counterfeit items. Their names sound, oh, Middle-Eastern to me.

I wonder if their profits were staying in the USA - or if they were going overseas to buy explosives for IEDs to kill our soldiers and Iraqi citizens.

I'm sure it's difficult being a cop in a small town, where you've got to arrest your cousin or your in-laws. But you swore an oath of office; do your job, and leave the judging to the court and jury. Arrest the bad guys, including the store owners, because unless they unwittingly purchased fake goods from their regular supplier (doesn't sound like it), they're just as guilty as the ones driving the truck.

In the latest case, you might want to alert the FBI, in case the scoundrels have terrorist connections.

Motorcycle accident?

Apparent motorcycle wreck tonight on Avenue F.

Many police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance were pulled off the road just south of the AA meeting place. We saw a damaged lime-green bike.

We're praying no one was badly hurt.

So tell us who they are!

In this Daily News article, we learn great stuff:

An eight-agency task force, led by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, hit the streets before daylight Tuesday in a series of parish wide raids whose purpose was to round uo drug suspects. [...] By the time it ended, 15 suspects had been apprehended and taken to the Washington Parish Jail. And case detectives still had nine people to locate and bring into custody.

Seven comments, so far, from people wanting to know the names of the arrestees.

C'mon, Daily Snooze. It's public record.

Some good citizen might want to report a drug dealer who was missed - but they won't because, hey, hard to tell if somebody bonded out or got overlooked by law enforcement if you don't even know who was arrested.

So how 'bout giving us the information we need?

Fire

Looked like it was on Avenue F/1075 a few blocks north of the dance studio.

I didn't drive closer so as not to impede the firefighters.

Did we have a safe fourth?

Perhaps we'll read about it in the Daily News. Perhaps not.

There was a bad accident in front of the Texaco on Highway 21 around the end of last week, the result (we understand) of holiday drinkin' & drivin'.

When will people learn?

Daniel's Big Trip

Daniel, a wounded vet in med school, is driving around the country with his wacky Boxer Rocky and blogging it.

Cool stuff! Read it, and donate. Least we can do for one of America's heroes.

Gas

Can't live with the price, but can't live without it. And there are no easy answers.

Unfortunately, the time to economize on gas was before the price rose. Nowadays, you can't give away that nice big pickup truck or other guzzler you've been cruising in. So unless you've got an income or resources that will enable you to buy an economical car without trading in your dually, you're outta luck.

How many weeks will pass before you can organize a carpool to work? Maybe you should've done that sooner, huh?

My daddy used to say, "Do the math." In this case, it shows a no-brainer. Most of us don't need to carry seven passengers or a roomful of furniture every day. Therefore, we can drive a little Honda, and rent a truck for the occasions when we need one.

The math:

30 mpg, 1200 miles per month = 40 gallons, at $3.89 = $155.60

15 mpg, 1200 miles per month = 80 gallons, at double the cost.

You can rent a pickup truck for a day for the difference. Every single month.

Note to looney lefty liberals: We didn't invade Iraq to steal their oil, or it'd be cheaper.

Motorcyclist killed?

Still at the rumor stage, we heard that a local motorcyclist was killed by a young person driving on a learner's permit - with no accompanying licensed adult.

Local store busted

According to one of our sources, the Texaco at Avenue F and Highway 60 had a spot of trouble with ATF the other day for selling alcohol to a minor. Apparently the cashier didn't card the kid.

Real simple, idiots. Check ID or don't sell the booze.

I think I'll patronize a business with more respect for the law.

RIP, Justin Mixon

From wwltv.com [requires login]:

A soldier from Bogalusa died in Iraq Sunday from wounds suffered when his vehicle came into contact with an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense announced Monday.

Spc. Justin R. Mixon, 22, was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment.

Godspeed.

UPDATE:

More here.
Family?

Tornado?

Looks like strong winds, maybe a twister, hit the area near Highway 21 just south of Double D.

I couldn't see any structures damaged, but there were a lot of trees down and debris blown all the way into the median.

Alleged beating in front of Wal-Mart

A co-worker told us that one night last week, a person was badly beaten by a man wielding an aluminum baseball bat in front of Wal-Mart.

Anyone know anything? Leave a comment.

EpiPen debacle solved

We've been told by the mother of the allergic student that s/he will be allowed to keep the medication at hand during the school day.

Bogalusa City Schools; - attend at your own risk!

The following was sent to us by a close friend whose child attends a public Bogalusa school. While we haven't researched this and therefore can't vouch for its accuracy, similar things have taken place in other school districts. I've added links where appropriate to aid understanding.

My son was recently diagnosed with a severe allergy to stings (wasp, hornet, bee) and was told by his pediatrician to carry an EpiPen at all times in case of a future sting. Minutes count.

Bogalusa Middle School claims that my child's EpiPen will need to be left with the nurse - who isn't always at the school. They also claim that the medication will be available because someone else has a key, but they didn't elaborate on what their procedure will be. They don't want him to carry it because it's sharp. Gee, so are pencils, pens and scissors, all standard school supplies.

I talked to a woman at the Bogalusa School Board also. She claims that she is also allergic to stings and carries an EpiPen. She said as long as my child gets the shot within 15 minutes, everything is fine. Ha! 15 minutes passes pretty quickly if he'll need to leave to find the right teacher, or go to the health center (which isn't always open). What if he's stopped by a teacher on the way? What if the nurse is out and the person with the key can't be located immediately?

She had no good answers.

I asked her if they could assure me that the EpiPen would be available within 15 minutes. She said they could not. Nice of them to treat his life so cavalierly! I asked her if she was aware that there is a diabetic student who carries all her supplies with her, including syringes with needles. She was not.

I don't think my son should go to school without guaranteed quick access to his EpiPen, and that means he ought to be allowed to carry it.

Catherine Seipp wrote possibly the definitive article on children who need to carry asthma inhalers and the stupidity of school boards. Excerpt [emphasis ours]:

...Nancy Sander referred to the 1991 death of a New Orleans high school student, Catrina Lewis, who was delayed by security guards before being allowed to get her inhaler from the office. When it didn't help, she asked school staff to call an ambulance; instead they spent a half-hour trying to call her mother first. Catrina's sister, another student, finally called 911 herself, but emergency help arrived too late. In 1996, a New Orleans judge ordered Lawless High School's acting principal, a school counselor, and the school board to pay $1 million in damages to Catrina's family.

I wonder about several things:

1. Was the woman at the Bogalusa school board office a doctor? Or was she practicing medicine without a license?

2. Is she aware that the Louisiana State Board of Education's standard forms have a space for the prescribing physician to allow the student to carry their own medication?

3. Are they aware that public schools are required to accommodate a student with a medical condition, or pay tuition if necessary for the student to attend a school that can accommodate them?

And that's just for starters. I'm sure they aren't aware of much except the pleasure they get out of playing with children's lives and saying No. Dumbasses.

Virus goin' 'round

Sudden vomiting, uncontrollable diarrhea, chills. It's nasty, but over with quick.

Drink plenty of fluids. I know of one young adult who was hospitalized for dehydration.

High school lockdown

We've been told that Bogalusa High School was under lockdown Tuesday, Feb. 12, because a student brought a gun to school.

Developing...

Quit driving like idiots!

When I work late and come home on 21, I drive the limit or sometimes - shock! - 5 mph over.

Every single night, I'm passed.

Which means there are a hell of a lot of speeders out there.

Tonight a vehicle went off the road heading north on 21, just south of Sun.

Quit driving like you've got crap for brains. Obey the law. Slow down.