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This past weekend, following the State’s emancipation from the COVID-19 stay home edict, I spent time with my grandson Eli hiking on Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge. It’s amazing what you can do to entertain a 4-year-old who concludes the world is upside down (Note: his words, not mine), while enjoying outdoor pursuits.
Part of getting the grandkids out of the house and into the forest (Note: forest was also his word, not mine) is an opportunity for them to exercise and get rid of some of that pent-up energy from sheltering in place.
The treks can also be used for teachable moments. Essentially, kids love attention. Especially positive attention while learning.
The refuge didn’t disappoint us either. Just for the record, my grandson got to see up close green anole lizards, overcome a fear of picking up the spiky sweet gum seed ball, and see a pretty large alligator in its natural habitat, besides some pretty cool and interesting birds.
He and I also discussed what direction we were walking and the importance of paying attention in the woods. We moved two large tree limbs out of the way that fell along the trail, making it difficult for people to pass (Note: his suggestion, not mine). And when done, from the smile on his face, it meant a lot to him.
My grandson’s mom and dad are both schoolteachers who live and work in Lafayette, and coincidently had their second child on March 29, in the middle of the pandemic. Not only did they have to deal with the stay at home order, but had to reconcile the fact that no family members or friends would be coming over to visit, see and celebrate the newborn.
The two parents were appreciative the grandparents were happy to take the new “big brother” home for several days to help break up the monotony of being homebound. In fact, Eli’s grandmother offered to do this a couple of times during the past several weeks of the pandemic.
There’s a saying, “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” The first weekend in May, my wife and I heard Grand Isle was open again. Not knowing all of the facts, apparently the whole island was shut down to tourists during the coronavirus outbreak, where the beaches were closed, along with much of the amenities it’s noted for.
Being a nature photographer and a bird watcher of sorts, to have the island closed during the month of April, which is the peak period of the neotropical songbird migration “felt like” a huge loss and something missing. Two of the places I was planning to go was the State Park on the island and then Elmer’s Island.
Not thinking, I made the trip to visit these two public places, but unfortunately, they were closed due to the governor’s order, according to the signs on the gates. Yes, I admit that I grumbled and complained to my wife, calling it stupid and idiotic, but eventually got over myself. Moreover, realized just because the island was “open” didn’t mean the state parks and wildlife management areas were. “My bad,” as they say.
One of the things about Louisiana being known as the Sportsman’s Paradise is that the term just doesn’t encompass only a part of the state. The Sportsman’s Paradise is literally found and celebrated in nearly every square mile of Louisiana. For goodness sakes, we even fish in city parks in both New Orleans and Lafayette.
As such, access to our State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, and National Wildlife Refuges are critical to the general public for their use, enjoyment and pleasure. I have had the opportunity to visit and write about several of the State Parks and have to tell you what a treasure they are to the people.
There are 21 State Parks in Louisiana. They are relatively inexpensive to use and, in most cases, immaculately cared for. Most offer a wide range of activities such as hiking, biking, camping, fishing, swimming, birding, and nature viewing. Some even have golf courses. They have cabins to rent, overnight RV parking (most with utilities), and primitive camping.
Two of the closer State Parks here locally are Cypremort Point in St. Mary Parish and Lake Fausse Pointe in Iberia Parish. Both are real gems for outdoor enthusiasts.
All of Louisiana’s State Parks are now open following the governor’s order last Friday, with the exceptions of Chicot, Bayou Signette and Lake Bisteneau state parks. These have been designated Regional Isolation Facilities for COVID-19 outbreaks.
Besides State Parks, Louisiana has some 1.6 million acres of Wildlife Management Areas that have pretty much remained open throughout the crisis. There have been exceptions, like Elmer’s Island, but by and large the WMA’s have been places where outings like my grandson and I had this past weekend were available to the general public. However, public restroom facilities were closed, and social distancing was encouraged with no more than 10 people gathering at one time.
There are also 23 National Wildlife Refuges located throughout Louisiana covering some 550,000 acres. One of the more popular refuges located in Southwest Louisiana is Sabine NWR. Here, besides fishing, crabbing is an extremely popular activity.
During the coronavirus outbreak, my wife and I traveled this region and were surprised at the number of people who were not practicing social distancing while crabbing. Literally, they were crabbing near shoulder to shoulder. Additionally, with the Sabine NWR restroom facilities closed, some people felt it was appropriate to defecate on the sidewalks behind the building, where the refuge walking trail starts and ends. The trails, crabbing areas and boat launches were also disgustingly trashed by visitors using the area during the pandemic.
Days later, Sabine NWR issued a press release stating the NWR crabbing areas and walking trails would be closed until further notice, while USF&WS employees cleaned up the refuge.
A week later, another press release updating the status of the closures stated that refuge staff collected 1,450 gallons of trash in just “one” area left by citizens.
On Monday, May 18, yet another press release was issued by the refuge with the title, “Citations Written and Arrests Made as Sabine National Wildlife Refuge Areas Re-Open to the Public.”
The release went on to say, “Although frequent pleas from refuge staff and fellow visitors have made the news, and circulated on social media asking all visitors to carry out, what they carry in to the refuge, many are still leaving behind crab strings, bait, bait packaging and food and drink containers. That is not all; unfortunately, there has also been a blatant disregard for other laws and refuge regulations as well.”
I’m quite sure my grandson didn’t come up with the world being upside-down on his own. Nonetheless, I couldn’t agree with him more. We somehow have become a people who trash things that are good and seem to praise disobedience.
I hope the people who trashed the public access areas missed being able to use Sabine NWR’s facilities while the crabs were running, as much as I missed being able to enter Grand Isle State Park and Elmer’s Island WMA during the governor’s pandemic order. Like I said, “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”
All I can say is, we’re lucky to have Bayou Teche NWR located here in St. Mary Parish. It’s a place open to the public that I find normal in what has become an upside-down world (Note: My words, not my grandsons).

A high-profile bill that would stop coastal Louisiana parishes from suing oil-and-gas companies over alleged environmental damage is dead for the session, the author said Wednesday.
However, senators approved a separate bill that opponents said could lead to the same result.
Sen. Bob Hensgens, an Abbeville Republican, said the fiscal note attached to his bill will prevent the proposal from getting through the legislative process before the regular session ends June 1. Since legislative staff said the bill could cost the state money, it would have to go through spending oversight committees as well as those focused on natural resources.
Hensgens vowed to continue the effort in future sessions.
“We all know we have a lawsuit problem,” he said. “No one wants to invest here.”
Senate Bill 359 would establish that state government under a 1978 law has sole authority to issue and enforce permits for oil and gas exploration in the state’s coastal zone. The bill would kill an effort by parish governments to sue oil companies for allegedly violating their permits and damaging coastal wetlands. State officials, who already have intervened in the litigation, still could continue the lawsuits as the primary plaintiffs.
Hensgens said his proposal would have streamlined the lawsuits and “put the state in the driver’s seat” as the law intends. Gov. John Bel Edwards opposes the bill, saying the parish governments have legitimate claims and deserve their day in court.
Legislative Fiscal Office staff member Rebecca Robinson said the possible cost to the state of continuing the lawsuits is what led to the fiscal note.
“The future costs of litigating these lawsuits is indeterminable at this time but likely to be significant,” her note says. “Alternatively, there would be no impact should the [Attorney General] or [the Department of Natural Resources] choose not to continue prosecuting any of the ongoing litigation.”
The lawsuits could be worth billions. Freeport-McMoRan, which drilled a small portion of the wells in Louisiana’s coastal zone, has agreed to a tentative $100 million settlement, though not all of the parishes involved in that lawsuit have signed on and the deal may fall apart.
A few hours after Hensgens told senators he would not attempt to move his bill forward, the body voted 20-15 to approve Senate Bill 440 by Sen. Mike Fesi, a Houma Republican. Sen. Bret Allain, the Franklin Republican who did most of the talking on the bill’s behalf, said the bill was simply an effort to ensure any money collected through lawsuits or enforcement actions regarding coastal permits should go to coastal restoration.
But Sen. Eddie Lambert, a Gonzales Republican who wants the coastal lawsuits to move forward, called Fesi’s bill “an attempt to confuse the court” that could scuttle the potential Freeport-McMoRan settlement and derail other lawsuits. And some senators said they expected the bill to be amended by the state House of Representatives to include the goals of Hensgens’ bill.
When asked if he would refuse to let his bill be altered in that way, Fesi would not commit.
“I can’t say that,” he said.
Sen. Patrick Connick, a Marrero Republican who also wants the lawsuits to go forward, requested a fiscal note be attached to Fesi’s bill as well. Senate President Page Cortez said that decision was now up to the House.

August 4, 1938 — May 20, 2020
Kenneth Jules “Bullet” David, 81, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at the Carpenter House of St. Joseph Hospice in River Ridge, Louisiana.
Kenneth was born August 4, 1938, in New Iberia, the son of Jules and Marjorie Segura David.
He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by three sons, Timothy David and wife Catherine of Morgan City, Thomas David and wife Melissa of Opelousas, and Terrell David and fiancé Stacey Benoit of Schriever; one sister, Judy Esneault and husband Calvin of Baton Rouge; one brother, Mike David and wife Linda of Husser; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Rebecca, Luke, Sarah, Alyx, Elissa and Brandon David; one great-grandchild, Jack Kiernan; and his dear companion, Emma Lee Belanger.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Jules and Marjorie David; wife, Delores Westfall David; sister, Gail Roy; and brother, Wayne David.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2020, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father Brice Higginbotham officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, May 22, 2020, at Holy Cross Catholic Church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. Following Mass, Kenneth will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery Mausoleum. Due to recent health concerns and the restrictions in accordance with limited gatherings, current guidelines will only allow up to 198 family members and friends to be in attendance at the visitation. Those attending the visitation and Mass are required to wear a mask upon entering the church.
The David family would like to thank everyone for their understanding during this difficult time; and request that in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to Central Catholic High School, 2100 Cedar Street, Unit 1, Morgan City, LA 70380 or to The American Cancer Society in Baton Rouge, LA at www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html.

March 15, 1949 — May 20, 2020
Charlene was born on March 15, 1949, in Morgan City, La., as the daughter of Alrena Richmond Caudle and Charles H Roe.
From a young age, Charlene was a vivacious woman who thrived on working hard and helping others. In 1985, she began working alongside her father at Life Saving Equipment Repair Co. where she continued to cultivate a successful enterprise.
At age 17, she found her soulmate and partner for life, Jerry Gaddis Sr. They shared 51 loving years together. Charlene is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Carey Gaddis; her daughter and son-in-law, Allison and Keith Chighizola; and five grandsons, Greg and Alex Gaddis, and Grant, Kyle and Evan Chighizola. She is also survived by one great-granddaughter, Remmi Grace Waters; her mother, Alrena Richmond Caudle; her sister, Gaydell Roe Cantrell; and her brothers William, Patrick and Robert Roe.
She will be joined in heaven by her husband, Jerry Gaddis Sr., her father, Charles H Roe, her mother-in-law, Betty Wright Morris, and her niece, Sally Claire Cantrell.
In December 2019, Charlene was diagnosed with liver cancer. During her last moments, she was blessed to be surrounded by great friends and family when she passed peacefully on May 20, 2020.
Before she passed, she wished to thank her family and friends for showing her unconditional love and support throughout her life. She acknowledged the love, prayers, and support of everyone who reached out, especially her dear friends: Becky Williams, Red Cunningham, Laura and David Kirkpatrick, Caroline Duhon, Becky Harris and Bryan Gautreaux and Jennifer and Bruce Adams. She wanted to express great appreciation for total love and devotion shown by Ed and Marsha Arcemont and her caregivers Lan Tivet and Carey Gaddis. Her family would also like to thank Dr. Dishman and Heart of Hospice for outstanding care.
Visitation for Charlene will be held at Hargrave Funeral Home Friday, May 22 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. with Funeral Services following at the Morgan City Mausoleum at noon. The Reverend Ann Sutton will officiate services and pallbearers will be her grandsons, Greg and Alex Gaddis, and Grant, Kyle and Evan Chighizola, and her son-in-law, Keith Chighizola. Due to the current requirements regarding social distancing and limited gatherings, Hargrave Funeral Home can only allow up to 75 guests in the facility and family and friends attending the services at the Morgan City Mausoleum are asked to adhere to social distancing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Hospital in her name.