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Mr. James “Turk” Cross, age 79, a native and resident of Franklin, Louisiana, went home to Glory on January 1, 2020, at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Lafayette, La.
Visitation will be observed on Friday, January 10, 2020, at Otis Mortuary Chapel (501 Willow Street, Franklin, La.) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and funeral service also at Otis Mortuary Chapel, commencing at 1 p.m. The Interment will take place in St. John Society Cemetery, Pecot Street, Franklin, La.
Mr. Cross, leave to cherish his memory a daughter, Jaime Cross (Dave) Jones, of Franklin, La.; three brothers, Calvin (Deloris) Cross, and Ernest Harrison both of Franklin, La.; Edgar (Patricia) Harrison of Houston, Texas; three sisters, Glenda (Isaiah) Savage and Thelma (Marshall) Coleman both of Houston, Texas; and Joyce (Theopolis) Jones of Baldwin, La.; a nephew, Alton Levine of Franklin, La.
Officiating Minister, Rev. Deandre Johnson.
The Otis Mortuary, Inc. of Franklin, La. is in charge of arrangements.

Among his administration’s accomplishments in 2019, Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard listed water and sewer refurbishment efforts, road repavements, swift and decisive reaction to Hurricane Barry, and city-wide revitalization efforts.
And what he said he considered the most difficult of 2019’s issues was the city’s “aging infrastructure with our water distribution.”
“It becomes very, very frustrating,” Foulcard said, “when we have multiple lines that are broken throughout the city and we have to have those lines repaired pretty frequently.
“We have to go in and replace those lines with brand new PVC pipes. It is very frustrating and difficult addressing our aging infrastructure with limited resources. Which is why we have been so aggressive with doing our best preventatively to repair and fix lines that we see are in total disrepair.”
He added that the challenge of fixing Franklin’s water lines was made more evident to him after he spoke with other municipalities about their similar difficulties, and after looking at previous administrations’ estimates for replacing the city’s entire water distribution system.
“That was done maybe five or six years ago (the estimate), and that price tag was in the neighborhood of $30 million,” and that the problem of replacing many of the water lines is that they run down the middle of city streets.
So, the replacement of the lines comes, in many cases, with the added price and difficulty of having to replace the streets that must be dug through to reach the lines.
Foulcard went on to say that despite the looming specter of water line replacement, his administration did find some ground gained in 2019 through rural water grant funding utilized to replace a water line on Norman Bauer Drive. “We bored underneath Highway 182, near the John Deere store,” he explained. “We bored underneath and tied-in a brand new water line that provided a huge increase of water pressure to those apartments behind the John Deere store, and provided increased water pressure to the neighborhoods behind the car wash.
“On Roseville Street, we tied-in a water line which provided increased water pressure in the Blakesly subdivision, where St. John Elementary School is, in that entire subdivision water pressure has increased, which helps with fire ratings and things of that sort.”
Foulcard attributed those successes to the “tapping into” available grant funds.
He said, “We’ve applied for some other tie-ins, too: Clark Street, Morris Street, Liner Street, and the East Third Street area, which will help us with water pressure issues.”
According to Foulcard, since the refurbishment and retrofitting of the city’s water plant, there is a disparity between the power and ability of the water plant, and the dilapidated water distribution system throughout the city.
This, he reported, is why he is glad that the city takes part in the independent monitoring process from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
“They come in monthly, and two and three times a month, and independently go to random sites and run water tests throughout Franklin.
“So, the water has been safe, even if from time to time some neighborhoods get a little discoloration. So, I continue to ask residents to continue to be patient as we try to address the situation as best as we can.”
When asked about the previous year’s successes in and around the city, Foulcard said his administration was “very, very happy” about receiving a $30,000 National Recreation and Park Association grant in cooperation with Walmart, allowing new kitchens and bathrooms to be outfitted at both of Franklin’s recreation centers, as well as purchasing “a number of new tables and chairs.”
Foulcard also pointed to funding received from bonds from the St. Mary Parish Council which were used to repair roads around the city, and he is looking to a second round of funds which will be spent on “major street repairs to take place in 2020.”
“Hopefully we can get the Pocket Park up and running and we can get that taken care of so we can continue to breathe life into the downtown area, but also in other pockets of Franklin as well,” he said.
With the revitalization of Franklin a major platform of his administration, Foulcard stated that though he has hit some “benchmarks” in fulfilling campaign goals and administration platforms, he is by no means ready to declare victory or completion, yet.
“I don’t want to become complacent,” he revealed, “because I would like to continue to strive to do the things necessary to impact change.”
He stated that the administration’s blight mitigation project will continue throughout the next year, and is expected to yield more visible results as blighted properties in the city begin to come down.
“We currently have 19 properties that are condemned and awaiting demolition, and we have another 35 properties that will be going before the city council at our January meeting,” Foulcard explained.
“There have been 27 properties that have been completely demolished by the owner or the city in 2019. So, moving forward I would like to keep that same aggressive stance to continue to clean the city up.”
He expressed gratitude to St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff for agreeing to waive the parish’s tipping fees, allowing the city to carry on with blight mitigation at a fraction of the cost that would otherwise be incurred, and which made previous attempts by previous administrations, unfeasible.
As for Franklin’s future in 2020, Foulcard said, “I plan on aggressively pursuing the tourism angle so that we can cultivate businesses downtown and throughout the city. We are going to start making a hard push to encourage people to shop local, eat local, and fuel local.
“In 2020 we will hopefully have the rest of the sewer plant rehab work done so that we can meet the mandates regulated by the DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) concerning that nearly $2 million rehab being done in our sewer plant.
“We will also be paying homage to our bicentennial and the 200 years that the city of Franklin has been in existence. Each month we will be doing something in relation to the bicentennial.”
He concluded by thanking the city’s staff and employees of every department, saying, “They all play a huge part in some way to make things right in Franklin, as well as does a wonderful city council. We don’t always agree on everything, but we work and compromise to do what we feel is best for the city.”

United Way of Acadiana offering free tax prep for qualifying families
When people are financially stable, they can make financial decisions that benefit themselves and their families, which, in turn, benefits the community.
Being financially stable also puts families in a better position to handle crisis – job loss, illness or other unforeseen expenses. The VITA program is just one way United Way of Acadiana is creating financial stability.
In the last two years, this program put approximately $8 million back in the hands of hardworking families through free tax preparation assistance. During that period, volunteers assisted more than 5,600 Acadiana residents in filing their taxes, helping them claim nearly $2 million each year of the nearly $30 million in Earned Income Tax Credit that goes unclaimed annually. WHO:
If you work and have household income below $54,000 in 2019, you may be eligible for free tax preparation services and a quick refund.
You may also qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which could mean thousands for your family.To qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit, your Tax Year Earned Income and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must each be less than:
—$49,194:With 3 or more qualifying children
—$54,884:If married, filing jointly
—$45,802:With 2 qualifying children
—$51,492: If married, filing jointly
—$40,320: With 1 qualifying child
—$46,010: If married, filing jointly
—$15,270: With no qualifying children
—$20,950: If married, filing jointly
Additionally, if you make less than $66,000, you can file for free at MyFreeTaxes.com. It’s easy, safe, secure and free.
The nearest facility is in Iberia Parish, SMILE Community Action Agency, 722 Walton St., New Iberia, phone (337) 365-8151. Opening Day is Feb. 3, Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (appointment only.)

Cooler weather is perfect for planting trees and shrubs in Louisiana. Fall and winter are both great times, but especially winter. Trees and shrubs slow their growth in winter, particularly the above-ground portion of the plants. Deciduous plants drop their leaves to conserve energy during the cold months. More important, the roots remain active, but at a much slower pace because soil temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year.
Much like people, many plants slow down during cold winter months. Roots that are largely responsible for moving water, nutrients and gases through the plant will continue to do so. Planting trees in winter gives the plants several months to establish their roots before they begin active aboveground growth. Proper establishment is fundamental to growing healthy trees, and those planted in winter require less water because of lower temperatures and slower growth.
Winter is the best time for planting trees, and pecans are no exception. November through February is as good a time as any.
Pecan trees are very large, growing up to 60 feet tall and 40 feet wide. Keep this in mind before planting.
For one thing, you must have the space for a large tree like this. At a minimum, pecan trees should be planted 20 feet away from any buildings or structures, and farther is better. Pecan wood is relatively soft and brittle, and it is common to find fallen branches during the year.
Pecans are wind-pollinated. The pollen travels pretty far, so if a neighbor has nearby trees, hurray to you. If not, you need to plant at least two to get pecans to make nuts.
A number of recommended varieties for Louisiana are Elliot, Candy, Sumner, Houma, Caddo, Oconee and Melrose, which are more resistant to diseases and are better suited for home landscapes. Plant two different types — Elliot, Candy, Sumner or Melrose with either Houma, Caddo or Oconee are recommended.
Start by planting container-grown trees that are 4 to 5 feet tall. Never allow the roots of the trees to dry out prior to planting. Planting holes should be two to three times the diameter of the root ball and at the same depth as the container. Loosen the root ball when planting, and be sure to remove dead roots or prune them if they have become potbound. Place the root ball of the tree in the hole and backfill around it with the soil you removed from the hole.
As with all trees, it is essential to water heavily at the time of planting and for the next two weeks to get good root growth. It is important to water young trees during extended drought periods, especially during the first and even second summers after planting.
Mulch around newly planted trees to help conserve moisture and prevent weeds. Do not fertilize your trees the first year after they have been planted. Beginning year two, trees should be fertilized annually in February. Apply one pound of general-purpose fertilizer per inch diameter of the trunk measured 3 feet from the ground.
Here are some things to keep in mind when growing pecan trees.
Your trees will not make nuts right away. In fact, they will not produce nuts for many years, typically six to 10 years. Trees put all of their energy into their roots as they become established. This is essential. That is why they do not make right away. So be patient, and remember this before you start worrying. Many gardeners are perplexed to discover that their pecan trees have not produced nuts in the beginning.
In some cases, you may have trees that once produced but now have stopped producing or the nuts have little or poor-quality meat. Determining the cause can help you regain good pecan production. It is important to know that healthy leaves are essential for nut production. It takes about 40 pecan leaflets to set and fill out a single pecan nut. During the growing season, foliage manufactures food that is used and stored in the root system for nut production the next spring. Early leaf loss causes a shortage of healthy leaves that limits or reduced nut production the next year. Foliage damage during the growing season can also reduce that year’s crop. Keep leaves healthy, and you will improve your nut production.
Early leaf loss can be the result of a combination of problems, especially scab, a fungal disease that appears early on the leaves and nuts as small black lesions that later enlarge and completely blacken the leaves, eventually killing them and causing defoliation. Scab can attack and damage the shuck or outer covering of the nut and cause a poorly filled or hollow pecan.
If you see numerous black spots, streaks or areas on the shucks and the nuts are poorly filled, pecan scab is the problem. Leaf-feeding insects can worsen the problems. Insects such as aphids, mites and fall webworms attack pecan leaves, contributing to early defoliation.
The pecan variety dictates the severity of the scab problem. Many of the older varieties — such as Stuart, Success, Mahan and Desirable — are very susceptible to scab disease. Pecan varieties not considered scab-resistant can be kept in production only through the application of fungicides throughout the growing season. Large pecan trees can be difficult to spray with typical garden equipment available to consumers. Planting disease-resistant trees is your best defense.
My Granny picked pecans every fall, cracked and shelled them with love and mailed them to us every Christmas.
Who doesn’t love a good pecan pie or praline candy? Pecan oil is used for cooking and frying foods, offering unique flavor. Pecans are eaten raw or roasted. Pecans are an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, high in fiber and proteins as well as, more than 19 vitamins and minerals — including vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, B vitamins and zinc.