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Louisiana’s early voting period for this fall’s elections, for a slate of races ranging from governor and the Legislature to sheriffs and constitutional amendments, is scheduled to kick off with a certain amount of political fanfare this weekend.
Voters first crack at participating in the process comes Saturday morning. Voting commences at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., running until Oct. 5, excluding Sunday, Sept. 29.
During the early voting period’s brief run through Louisiana’s elections, voters have become more comfortable with the alternative, as evidence by an increase in this particular balloting.
Political consultant Mary-Patricia Wray, founder of Top Drawer Strategies, said this has moved the schedule for routine political activities up by a month or more in some instances.
That in turn may mean that voters are increasingly making their decisions known earlier in the process as well.
“As expected, undecided voters are making up their minds quickly ahead of early voting,” Wray said. “But with negative messages from the top of the ballot on screens and radios everywhere, turnout could be depressed. As candidates make their final pitches to voters, I expect personal, biographical persuasion to re-energize likely voters.”
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is encouraging voters to utilize the state’s smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to find out where to early vote. Voters can also access the same information via the department’s Voter Portal by visiting https://voterportal.sos.la.gov.
For further election information, visit www.GeauxVote.com or call 225.922.0900.

Political History: From
French to Spanish rule
Next week marks the 255th anniversary of France’s decision to officially unload the Louisiana territory to Spain.
It was a real backroom kind of a deal, with French officials keeping the colonists in the dark for two years. When France sent representatives to Louisiana to begin the process in 1762, they found a government that was described as “understaffed and corrupt.” The treasury, in fact, was nearly empty at the time.
In "Louisiana: The Land and Its People," author Manie Culbertson explains that Spain wasn’t in a big hurry to claim its prize:
The Louisiana colony went through a period when it was treated as though it belonged to no one. Neither country — France nor Spain — felt responsible for the colony. The Spanish had a policy of mañana [Spanish for “tomorrow”], that they would take the colony over when they got around to it.
Spain, of course, did eventually take ownership and it was up to French Governor Jean Jacques d’Abbadie to break the news to the locals. Ididn’t go over too well, according to Culbertson:
On September 30, 1764, d’Abbadie received official word from France that the colony belonged to Spain. He was ordered to make the transfer. This was nearly two years after the secret treaty ceded the colony to Spain. It was not until d’Abbadie posted an announcement on the door of the church, in the custom of the times, that the Louisiana people learned of the transfer.
The people reacted in horror to the news. They were French! They did not want to lose their mother country that they loved so dearly. The idea of changing their flag, laws, language, and customs made them furious. They were angry that the king had given them to Spain. Louisianians were also fearful. For a long time stories had circulated about treatment by the Spanish in Mexico, Florida, and the West Indies.
The colony was in a sad state. France was no longer concerned. Even though Spain owned the colony, there was no sign of the Spanish. Louisiana colonists had to manage for themselves.
The colonial haters didn’t have to spend too much time under that flag, though. By 1803, Louisiana was back in French hands — for a few weeks, at least, before it was transferred to the United States.
They said it
“The biggest surprise was how much I ended up liking (Ronald) Reagan. I voted for him twice in my twenties, but gravitated away from my conservative roots. In the ensuing years, I’d learned to have a healthy disdain for him and his policies. The research on the book didn’t change my mind about his politics so much, but I discovered that he was an enormously compelling and likeable person.” —Author Bob Mann of LSU, on his “Becoming Ronald Reagan: The Rise of A Conservative Icon,” in The Shreveport Times
“They both are clean, neither one of them is some sort of a crook.” —Eyewitness News Political Analyst Clancy DuBos, on the Jefferson Parish president’s race featuring Cynthia Lee Sheng and John Young, on WWL-TV
For more Louisiana political news, visit www.LaPolitics.com or follow Alford on Twitter@LaPoliticsNow.

The lack of four-season food sources is one of the leading causes of the world’s declining bee populations. At certain times of year, there simply isn’t enough nutrition in the natural environment to fill the collective demand.
Rapidly increasing urbanization, fencepost-to-fencepost farming, and pesticide use are among the factors reducing the diversity and abundance of flowering plant species.
So what’s a pollinator-dependent gardener to do?
“Plant flowering plants,” said Rebecca Finneran, a horticulture educator with Michigan State University Extension. “People often only think of annual flowers as pollinator plants, but trees, shrubs, perennials, vines and herbs can provide a tasty diet for all types of pollinators.”
The overall pollinator collapse is worrisome because bees, wasps, flies and butterflies are instrumental in growing more than a third of the food that makes its way to our tables.
Some ways gardeners can help:
—Determine when the hunger gaps occur in your area, which pollinator species are affected and then factor the appropriate plants into your landscape.
—Emphasize biodiversity. Include wild bees along with honeybees in your planning, since different bees do different things. With more than 4,000 species of wild bees in North America, the color, shape and size of blooms play a role in which type of pollinator will be attracted to your garden, Finneran said.
“The key is having a wide variety to ensure blooms will be available to pollinators throughout the season,” she said. “There is no ‘one size fits all,’ so I like to tell people to be thinking about mixing things up.”
—Be a little passive when dealing with natural surroundings. Let weeds bloom, and minimize the use of chemicals that can weaken or kill bees. Deadhead pollinator-friendly plants like daisies, tall phlox and catnip for re-bloom. Wait to deadhead things like hosta until they have fully finished blooming, Finneran said.
—Provide open ground and undisturbed areas for pollinator nesting cavities. Don’t plow them up, pave them over or rake them clean in the fall.
“People may run into city ordinances if they let their yards grow wild, so make them functional,” said Andony Melathopoulos, a bee specialist with Oregon State University Extension. “Make them into an attractive feature of your landscape while also making them into better pollinator habitat.”
Pollen is the only protein that bees eat. They can’t survive without it, nor can they raise their broods. Bees also collect nectar from flowers, using it to build their energy reserves while storing it briefly in their stomachs, where enzymes turn its sugars into a diluted honey.
Early spring can be one of the leanest times for pollinators, especially bees, Finneran said. “Cold, windy weather hinders long flights of some of our traditionally strong flyers,” she said.
You often see bees working in early blooming minor bulbs such as squill, or in an assortment of groundcovers, she said.
“Later in fall, we see a decline in resources, especially for bumblebees,” Finneran said. “Fall-blooming sedum, hyssop and snake root will offer these species food that will help them survive the winter.”
Eye-catching landscape design might be personally satisfying, but pollinators don’t care how your garden looks, Finneran said. Just offer them nutritious plants that bloom successively through the seasons.
“Design is a personal thing,” she said. “I have seen pollinators chasing a maintenance truck filled with spent sedum blooms.”
—Online:
For more about how to deal with pollinator nutrition gaps, see this fact sheet from the U.S. Forest Service: www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/gardening.shtml

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser proclaimed Oct. 2019 as Louisiana Archaeology Month.
The month is an opportunity for everyone in Louisiana to learn more about the state’s prehistoric and historic properties, artifacts, and objects of antiquity that must be protected and preserved. To celebrate Archaeology Month, the Office of Cultural Development’s Division of Archaeology will host educational events around the state.
“These family-friendly events are designed to give people a glimpse at Louisiana’s archaeological treasures that have historical value but to also hear from leading experts in the field,” Nungesser said. “I’m excited about this unique opportunity to bring awareness to our state’s rich and diverse archeological sites that are of interest to our citizens.”
Each event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience ancient techniques such as traditional stone tool and ceramic making, then be able to try their hand at ceramic making, or weave a mat using palm fronds or use a pumpdrill to make a pendant. There will also be an atlatl demonstration. An atlatl is an ancient tool used to throw a spear. Additionally, children of all ages are invited to participate in a mock dig using modern archaeological methods.
2019 Archaeology Month Events:
International Archaeology Day, Saturday, Oct. 19, Poverty Point World Heritage Site, 6859 La. 577, Epps, La. 71266, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Archaeology Day, Saturday, Oct. 26, St. Tammany Parish Library – Madisonville Branch, 1123 Main St., Madisonville, La. 70447, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
To learn more about other Archaeology month events around Louisiana, please visit the Archaeology Month webpage.

West St. Mary and Franklin play Thursday; Hanson Memorial and Centerville set to play Friday
West St. Mary and Franklin are opening District 7-2A at home Thursday while the Hanson Memorial Tigers will play host to Morgan City on Friday and the undefeated Centerville Bulldogs will head off to Metairie in non-district action to cap Week 4 high school grid action.
The West St. Mary Wolfpack will host District 7-2A newcomer Houma Christian Warriors for Homecoming Thursday at Wolfpack Stadium.
The Franklin Hornets will play host to the Loreauville Tigers Thursday at 7 p.m. at J. C. Dry Stadium in their District 7-2A opening contest.
The Hanson Memorial Tigers will play their 2019 home opener in an intra-parish battle against the Morgan City Tigers Friday at McCloskey Field.
The Centerville Bulldogs will once again make the journey to Metairie to play Ridgewood on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Playground in non-district action.
HOUMA CHRISTIAN AT WEST ST. MARY
West St. Mary will honor its senior players for Homecoming Thursday when the Houma Christian Warriors invade Wolfpack Stadium for the opening of the 2019 District 7-2A season.
West St. Mary (0-3) looks to post a victory for Homecoming in Thursday’s District 7-2A contest.
West St. Mary will celebrate Homecoming Thursday when Houma Christian (0-3) visits Wolfpack Stadium in the District 7-2A opener.
LOREAUVILLE AT FRANKLIN
Franklin will host Loreauville in District 7-2A action Thursday at J. C. Dry Stadium with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.
Franklin (0-3) is coming off a 31-28 loss to the Southside Sharks last Friday.
Loreauville is currently 2-1 following last week’s 48-20 victory over Elton.
Franklin and Loreauville clash in the District 7-2A opener Thursday at J. C. Dry Stadium at 7 p.m.
MORGAN CITY AT HANSON MEMORIAL
The Morgan City Tigers will visit McCloskey Field to do battle with the Hanson Memorial Tigers Friday at 7 p.m. in non-district action.
Hanson Memorial (0-2) is coming off of a 14-0 loss to the Westminster Crusaders last Friday in Opelousas.
Morgan City (0-3) dropped a 35-7 loss to Erath last week.
Hanson will host Morgan City on Friday at McCloskey Field at 7 p.m. in non-district action.
CENTERVILLE AT RIDGEWOOD
The Centerville Bulldogs will travel to face Ridgewood Friday in Metairie in non-district action.
Centerville is currently undefeated on the season at 3-0 following three straight victories. In last Friday’s action, the Centerville Bulldogs rolled past the Delcambre Panthers by a 41-13 margin.